Pro Wrestling Chronicle

The pre-Flair Flair who isn’t Buddy Rogers and the Dog from down south tangle in Houston. It’s the fourth installment of the Mid South Diaries with Nick Bockwinkle vs Junk Yard Dog.

Match #4: Junkyard Dog vs Nick Bockwinkle 6/11/82

We begin with a Bruce Pritchard sighting. A young Brother Love/backstage McStooge is your ring announcer. Bobby Heenan is managing Bockwinkle and within 10 seconds you get a sense of his character and personality. Heenan wasn’t hype, guys. He had “it”. Bockwinkle is said to be World Champion, so they are recognizing his AWA world belt here. I’m a huge Bockwinkle mark, as I saw him as a pre-80s Ric Flair who was, much like Flair, the real deal. Think how cool it was when they came out with Windows, and then the Windows that was out by 2000. Both were huge upgrades, but Flair is still (one of) the greatest. Anyway, the Bockwinkle/Heenan package was a great import.

I’ve just found out they are in Houston, Texas. The Sam Houston Coliseum to be exact. Watts worked often with legendary promoter Paul Boesch, so Houston in the 80s saw a lot of Mid South talent (as well as World Class Dallas-based workers). Junkyard is soooo over with these people. Stips are the winner gets JYD’s “King of Wrestling” Crown. Also, if JYD wins, he gets 5 minutes with Heenan.

This is apparently a re-match from recent times. Great story, as in the prior match Heenan slapped the mat from outside while the ref was counting a JYD pin. JYD, thinking he’d heard the mat slapped a third time, let Bockwinkle up. Dopey babyface. Advantage Heenan!

Bockwinkle has great pacing, just as Flair did. I’m reminded of one when I see the other, for whatever reason. Bockwinkle takes his time and flows early on. The man looks graceful and well thought out in the ring, and then as time goes on he’s aggressive and savage. I also love that he consults with Heenan each time he loses the advantage.

Classic touring heel world champ layout. You may have seen it in a (say it with me) Ric Flair NWA match. Bockwinkle loses the opening lock up. He regroups. The champ picks his spots with subtle cheating. JYD comes back quickly with short power moves. Eventually Bockwinkle gains a consistent advantage, and the local babyface sells. Crowd is into JYD, who doesn’t do much, but does it well. His comeback should get these people crazy.

Bockwinkle is the star of the match, somewhat exaggerate and business exposing at times – but accept for the era. So many times watching these older matches I wonder how people could have ever seen this as a shoot. I don’t mean as kids. I mean adults, many times older adults, who had watched their entire lives. Anyway, Bockwinkle shows ass and sells extremely well. His facials and overall body expression is top notch.

JYD sells a ringpost shot like an idiot, but Bockwinkle’s antics both anger and entice the crowd. He’s solid, and the heat segment is okay. JYD no-sells far to much for my liking And sells horribly when he tries.

Again, out of nowhere JYD rolls him up after getting beat down. JYD over Bockwinkle in ten minutes. Wow, it must be a snapshot of what was a going on in the finishes department at the time, booking wise. Just pinning a guy out of nowhere like that is an odd finish for you to see like that today. It also reminds me that while Scott Levy (Raven in ECW, and this is my opinion) ushered in a great era of multiple false finishes in North America, we’ve become entirely to use to that ending. 15 different finishers by each wrestler and six 2.999 counts per competitor needs to be edited and/or protected. Also, you stole from Japan, Levy! You didn’t invent it. But that’s another story for another day.

Post match fun with Heenan jumping JYD, only to get beat the fuck up. Heenan hits JYD with something and BRODY comes in!! African American’s in the audience are going apeshit for Brody and JYD. “JYD – JYD”. Match never got out of first gear. You know that Bockwinkle pacing I was talking about? It only works if this had kept building. The start of a 25-30 minute classic. Bockwinkle rules though. JYD is best left to the history books. 3 stars and 5/10.

To see more thoughts from fans new and old on this match, click here.