Pro Wrestling Chronicle

The same angle and match up goes from classic to something else. It’s the continuation/progression of the big Rat Pack/JYD angle from our last Diaries. to much ice cream is never good, kids.
Match # 9: Dibiase/Borne vs “Stagger Lee”/Mr. Olympia 12/18/82

This match is a continuation of the storyline from our last match. With JYD suspended for 90 days, a masked African-American named “Stagger Lee” has shown up in Mid South. I’m assuming this new luchador (kidding) has the same shitty wrestling ability, but is just as over, as JYD (not kidding). This angle would be tough to pull off today, but in it’s day people enjoyed it. It’s got a frozen in time feel, like when I watch old Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant movies. It doesn’t matter if its 1940, 1981, 2008, or 2030. I love their movies for the acting, music, and depiction of the time period. Yet if you gave that to me as a present day product I’d reject it. It’s all about context and presentation, which is why 90s ECW and present day ROH get away with things national promotions can’t. Indies have more freedom creatively while national products are held to a “glossy” product standard.

The new angle is this: Stagger Lee was to tag with Mr. Wrestling II to take on the heel tag team champions. But as Watts explains (we don’t see it on this version) Wrestling II is being helped out of the ring after an injury. Dibiase and Borne are in the ring claiming if Wrestling II/Lee can’t go then they forfeit the match.

The stips for the match were No DQ and loser leaves town for 60 days. If they forfeit one of the faces, most likely Wrestling II, must leave for the 60 days.

Stagger Lee remedies this by bringing Mr. Olympia to the ring. You know, the guy who just happens to be JYD’s partner.

We start with all four brawling and the heels quickly powdering out. Seems to be the prototypical Dibiase heel stuff. Author Note: It’s not just Dibiase, it’s the whole promotion’s match layout at the time. Dibiase tries to sell for Lee (JYD) in the first minutes, but JYD is so bad he steps away when he’s suppose to hit Dibiase, who sells anyway. Not the first time on this set you see JYD’s incompetence. Meanwhile, Stagger Lee beats up both heels for powder # 2. Again, this would be great id there was a middle part, but it’s a five minute match.

After Olympia gets in for some offense, JYD screws up some more, and the match completely falls apart. The finish is similar to the last match, with Duggan running out. He has a hard hat on (don’t ask). Dibiase throws Mr. Olympia into a charging Duggan and his hard hat. Apparently it’s a knock out blow. Now Olympia is gone for 60 days. Since he already wears a mask, might he be able to pull the opposite of Stagger Lee and unmask with a fake name to team with “Stagger Lee”? Also, there were quotes around Stagger Lee’s name at the beginning, which amused me.

Good angle and a bad match. Poor Dibiase, it looks like Watts masterfully covered up how horrible JYD was with great angles and presentation, not to mention quick moving matches. JYD was money, so it’s not stupid, but it is a bummer to waste good stuff on a guy this bad. In this case Dibiase/Borne looked bad because of JYD. 2 stars and 3/10

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