Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Junk Yard Dog and Olympia continue there feud with the Rat Pack. No hype, just the match. If you read the last few, this one ties in. Okay… that’s a little hype.

Match # 10: Mr. Wrestling II/JYD v Borne/Dibiase 2/16/83

Borne and Dibiase are still your tag team champs, but this match is non-title. I’m sure Watts will fill us in as to why. Mr. Wrestling II is a famed masked wrestler with a gimmick that was gold in the territories and crap once wrestling went national. “Two”, as he’s often called, was getting long in the tooth by this point.

Fans chant “Ted and Sue” at Borne and Dibiase. I guess that passes for an insult in Louisiana circa 1983. The men actually go by “the Rat Pack”. Poor Borne, you can almost see the real life insecurities behind the character he’s playing. Talented guy though.

Side Note: Jim Duggan, as noted in an earlier review, was supposedly considered the loose cannon of the group. Watts mentions on commentary that Duggan randomly attacked someone. His character seems much more interesting than it became on the national stage. I can’t belive he’s still wrestling on national TV as of this writing (2/14/83 – almost exactly 25 years to the day this match took place).
Junk Yard Dog is in quotes on the screen as he’s introduced, so I guess that’s common of any nicknames. Makes “Stagger Lee” less funny in the quotes, though logical. The match begins. Mr. Wrestling II is famous for the knee lift, and he shows that off in the formula four man brawl and heel powder out that starts all of these matches.

We truly begin with Dibiase and JYD. Why? Shouldn’t it build to JYD getting his hands on the cerebral main heel. This layout is a bit out of character from what we’ve seen. I notice Dibiase works light with JYD and Wrestling II, but does try to lead the dance in subtle ways. Dibiase gets beat up and big bumps for Wrestling II’s kneelift as well. JYD just tags out when he’s done beating him up. Maybe he ran out of moves. Oddly building match.

Ted Dibiase is the man! He’s all over this Mid South set as the star through ten matches. He sells his ass off. He shows great heel charisma, especially with the crowd and his reactions to the babyfaces. The guy was already a commanding ring general by 1983. The cherry on top is his big bump through the ropes after eating it from the faces again. This touches off the heel outside the ring regroup, take two.

Wow, this is coming together pretty nicely. JYD seems more compitant. The tags between he and Wrestling II are quick and purposeful. Wrestling II does an awesome spot where he has Dibiase in an arm bar and still monkey flips Borne twice.

I’m beginning to come around on the matches layout and psychology. The babyfaces are completely supior in storyline, and no matter what these heels will get what’s coming to them. Except in the end, Borne and Dibiase always walk away the champs without major damage, as victors. So it’s JYD’s quest to rid the promotion of these men. Very different from the late 80s WWF/NWA matches. Those were face beats on heel to start, then long heel heat segment with distractions and cheating along the way. Then hope spots here and there until the big babyface comeback, and then the finish. This is something else entirely.

Dibiase is a saint for the crap he sells and bumps he takes where JYD is concerned. Dibiase and Borne finally double team Wrestling II to get the heat on the faces. It’s very rough stuff, in a good way.

Here comes the finish. Watts puts over how good the ref is (now that’s refreshing to hear) and two minutes later Dibiase collides with the ref . Ref bumps to the outside. Wrestling II kneelifts Dibiase from the ring. Duggan in as usual in this series of matches. He “spears” Wrestling II out of the ring. He’s in the three point stance eying up JYD, but before he can charge him wrestler Tiger Conway is in with a chairshot on Duggan. Conway happens to be the man Duggan attacked earlier, who they had mentioned on commentary. Kamala is out to attack Conway. DQ win for the faces in seven minutes as JYD clears the ring with chairshots.

The Rat Pack faction of Duggan, Borne, and Dibiase rules. The booking and angles converging in the match ruled. Parts of this match and people individually ruled, but this wasn’t quite the Duggan/Dibiase team match or the first loser leaves town match where Borne debuts. 3 ¼ stars and 5/10.

For more opinions and perspective on this match, click here.