[1986-08-09-WWF-Boston, MA] Bob Orton vs Tito Santata

[EnviousStupid]

One of those old matches where they're given plenty of time to play around with their grappling, leading to some very cool tricks and twists in how the match turns out. Tito in the one match shows how great a technical worker and fiery brawler he can be. Orton does a lot of classic cheating to get ahead, but he'll also break out these absurd-looking flying headscissors that had my jaw drop at first. Don't get the wrong idea though; it's a game of chess for both men, gradually figuring out a way to win. They spend a little too long taking their sweet time in certain holds for me to think of it as a MOTYC, but I'll take great wrestling from this era when it pops up.

[tcg91]

This was a very solid match and for some reason it's not famous at all. Lots of struggling and limb work, I appreciated the emphasis on small details, despite them not fully delivering when it was time to get to the 'exciting part'. Orton was more mobile than I would expect him to be and did outstanding work on Santana's ribs, triggering a later comeback. A real shame that, after like 30 minutes, this had such an abrupt finish with a heated but random pull apart brawl
***1/2 

[Superstar Sleeze]

Tito Santana vs Cowboy Bob Orton - WWF 8/9/86

Ace is donning the Pink Cowboy Hat as Gorilla he has recently taken a job with Adorable Adrian Adonis. They reference that it will be a rough job because Adonis has managed to antagonize everyone in the WWF: he was the impetus behind Orndorff’s turn on Hogan, he is Macho Man’s partner in crime inserting himself in Tito’s business, he has a personal feud with Junkyard Dog and Piper is set come back and wreck the Flower Shop. The Adorable One is the straw stirs the 1986 WWF drink.

I was hoping to see the technical side of Tito who basically wrestles every match like his opponent owes him money and I figured in a 30 minute draw I would see a different side of him. I was right there was a few flares of fisticuffs But for the most part this is wrestled straight. What I found was the Bob Orton show and I liked it! I just think Tito was totally overshadowed by Orton. in a different time and place, Bob Orton could have been the top heel in a territory hell watching this he wouldn’t have been a bad NWA Champion. He has a little Funk, Murdoch in him. He can wrestle on the ground, he can brawl, he can bump & stooge. I thought this was a very Flair-Esque performance from him. The changing of strategies first with the drop toe hold. Then he tries fists. He does some high flying a flying headscissors! He cheats goes for the hair and the eyes. Just like Flair he is thwarted at every pass either Tito goes for the arm or lights him up with a punch. Besides ramming his forearm into the turnbuckle, HEY WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS CAST?, it was a very subdued and sleepy performance by Tito. Orton was bringing the energy and fun. His second attempt of the flying headscissors where he gets caught up in the ropes woke me and the crowd up. I loved his Funk esque bump into the barricade toppling it over. I think once he realized it was so easy to topple The barricade he made sure to ram Tito into it and a great transition to heat. I liked him hanging Tito out to dry. After that the chinlock got a bit long in the tooth. Tito wakes up at the end does some spirited leg work climaxing with a figure-4. I am a bit confused what Orton does when he is in between Tito’s leg I thought he head butted him in the balls but then they worked the abdomen he was nowhere close to the abdomen. They light each other up as they go to a draw. Good heated brawl as Orton takes a Murdoch esque bump face first between the bottom and middle rope letting his feet catch the bottom rope. Good craic. 

Flair, Funk and Murdoch are all more charismatic than Orton and also have better offense on top. However, it is a shame Orton didnt get a chance to prove himself on top because I think he had the tools to do it. It was not Tito’s typical match. It was not a bad performance per se but it was uncharacteristically lifeless except at the end with the leg work and the punching. It is a very good match but 30 minutes you have to be great if I will ever watch you again. *** 1/2