[1985-05-07-CWA-Louisville] Randy Savage vs Jerry Oski

[Superstar Sleeze]

Southern Heavyweight Champion Randy Savage vs Jerry Oski - Memphis 5/7/85

This is a match I have heard a lot about but wasn’t too interested in because I never heard of Jerry Oski but I am on a Macho Man kick and figured it was time to finally plop down and watch this bad boy and I am glad I did.

This is a master class in how to work a compelling, effective heat segment with minimal high spots. Sounds like we might be missing 14 minutes of a 31 minute match But what we get feels like a complete match. Oski is working the Arm. Savage try as he might Cant really get much going against Oski who is a big muscle head type wrestler. Big in Memphis But would be average size in WWF. Savage tries to get something going with punches on the outside but Oski meets the moment. Abdominal Stretch. Tux distracts the ref and Macho Man throws him over the top rope and thus begins the master class. Excellent King of the Mountain. Savage is always changing positions. He throws Oski out, he goes out attack Oski, comes back in, brings Oski in and throws him back. Rinse lather repeat. This foments a sense of chaos and mayhem. Keeps both Oski and the viewer off balance and discombobulated. Secondly and this is the important part his grasp of control is tenuous at best. This creates a sense of tension. Can Savage hold Oski at bay? Can Oski surmount the mountain Savage has built for him to climb? Savage overreaches at one point and tries to bring Oski in with a suplex But Oski falls on top and gets a two count. Savage presses him off and his reaction is perfect. In desperation and he rushes outside and slams him into a post. Or Oski charges the corner and Macho Man evades sending Oski crashing to the floor where Tux Newman jabs him with the cane. Excellent heel work. Oski is competent but Savage is essentially wrestling himself. He is creating situations for Oski to succeed. Cant tell you one stock Oski high spot I could glean it was all Savage feeding. It was genius work. 
 

Savage feeds the Sunset Flip and throws him back outside which the announcer says must be the 8th time and I agree. Another Sunset Flip. You can feel the desperation from Savage as he goes for the piledriver. Back drop. Can Oski do it? Savage is fading. Oski misses the fist drop. Oski misses the elbow. MIDDLE ROPE MACHO MAN ELBOW! 1-2-NO! It is High Drama in Louisville! Macho Man thinks he has won after the knee drop. Oski O’Connor Roll! Do you believe in miracles? The real miracle is not Oski winning but how fucking good this match is as Savage basically is wrestling a broomstick. Everyone should study this match, masterful. ****