Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match #16: Magnum TA/Wrestling II vs Midnight Express 2/10/84

Here we go! The original heel Midnights. Well, Karl Stern would disagree, but we’re splitting hairs. I grew up on the Stan Lane version in the late 80s. I’ve seen a little of the original via World Class and NWA tapes, but this is my first attempt at really studying them. Plus we get Jim Cornette, and I’ve done a 180 in my old age (27) become a big fan of Cornette. Also, Midnights means Rock N Rolls, but we’ll get to that.

Face tag team Champs we just saw in the Christmas cage match against the just-arrived heel Midnight Express begins with Cornette on the mic and Bobby Eaton/Dennis Condrey in the ring. The faces rush in and we get Wrestling II vs Condrey: Battle of the bathrobes.

Awkward miscommunication brawling at first, but it rights itself quickly. Eaton sells a good forearm well and now we’ll get the heel stall/regroup.

Fresh traditional start with Eaton and Magnum. Eaton pulls the old “I want him” point to the man on the apron only to get the jump on Mag. TA with an eye rake. Heel move # 2: another eye rake and TA is directed right to the Midnight’s corner where Dennis holds his arms. But Condrey punches Eaton, so they do the “Oh no, I didn’t mean…” heel look of shock. I don’t have to tell you this is great heel stuff all around.

Wrestling II does his goofy 1-2 chop/punch to the belly and then some knee lifts. Eaton and Condrey sell and stall, making Wrestling II look like a million bucks. Still not into the “II Dance”. More knee lifts and showin’ ass from the Midnights. They are so good, and Wrestling II must be an institution in the territory to be this over.

Honestly, Wrestling II looks even better here than he did when he was protected in the cage match (12/25/85). Midnights make him look like gold, but he’s holding up his end. You also see what looks like a genuine relationship between teacher and student. II treats TA like his own son.

So, to review, simple story. The heels try wrestling holds and tricks to beat the faces, but II and TA have an answer every time. Fans delight. Midnights bump like two young Ric Flairs then regroup constantly.

10 minutes and 8-10 heel powders to the floor later, it’s Wrestling II that actually makes the hot tag to TA. To stop a Condrey “hopespot”. Can heels have hope spots? I think so. Anyway, the heels are STILL eating it. If it weren’t for the fact the heels bump so beautifully, I’d be mad. I assume they get the heat in promos or outside of a match. Also, I know it’s a tag team title match, and the faces are the champs. I could go back and forth on the decision ideologically, but I’m okay with everything in this match.

TA really cut off the heels twice in two minutes by coming back within 5 seconds of being put down when it was obviously time to sell, but he finally sells for Eaton when the ref is distracted by Dennis C. He really goes to work on T.A., and you get a strong sense of why he’s thought of so highly. Unlike TA, who has to think (and therefore slightly hesitate) to do basic punch-kick, Eaton transitions from smart selling to good tag team offense. The Midnights control the ring and their tags quickly and efficiently. Condrey’s stock as a worker is rising with me as well. Even Wrestling II, as an entertainer and a valued piece of the Mid South pie, is gaining stock with me. TA really isn’t though.

Crowd is hot for a comeback almost immediately, but they smartly make them wait. Midnights tag in and out a dozen times in three minutes working on the left arm of TA. I’m learning to accept the lack of heel heat segments in bigger Mid South matches, or at least the length and placement of them. Then they give me this gift!

This is awesome. Every time the crowd reacts enough, TA gets close to making a comeback, and the Midnights shut him down. This happens several times, leading to Magnum TA crawling with Condrey on his back to within inches of the outstretched arm/hand of an animated Wrestling II. This is the art of Pro Wrestling. Just as he’s a hiccup away Bobby Eaton (non-legal man) runs across the ring and smashes II on the apron. II comes after him, and Eaton literally runs away. It might look goofy today, but in this context it was mega heat for its time. Now the Midnights can double team TA, and Cornette even gets punches and a racket shot in. That’s heel heat.

Somewhere in there they announced we’d hit the 15 minute mark of the match. They also announce you’ll be ejected for if you throw objects at the ring. Somewhere in there I fell in love with this match.
If only I could hear what Cornette was saying at ringside I’d be a happy man. They work on the arm a minute more before TA powers up and with both men practically on his back he makes the tag.

Wrestling II – House Of FIRE! Big backdrop. The knee lift. The people are on their feet. The pin… no ref. Distracted by the other Midnight as Cornette gets up and throws powder for the DQ finish.

Nuclear crowd heat as both heels take Cornette’s tennis racket to Wrestling II. Cornette’s whopping the hell out of TA on the outside. Crowd is in uneasy riot mode. The bell keeps ringing but no one stops. I think Watts is out to stop Cornette, but it’s hard to tell. You get the sense you’re seeing an event take place. A wild scene that you might see live on CNN in the early 90s when TV news was new. It’s the first thing that came to me. Cornette blows kisses to the angry mob as they leave. Awesome!

I’ve said it all already. This is my new # 1. I don’t need a clean finish because I’m not connected to the outcome in a direct sense. This isn’t real time, it’s historical in nature to me, and it was the right decision for booking at that time. I’d have the same amount of lieniantcy to an ROH match because they don’t do a ton of non-finishes. Also, it’s not like I’m giving this the highest possible recommendation. It is fascinating to think how I’d have viewed it if I was living through the time and took issue with the overall booking or not knowing the outcome in the moment. It often does artificially adjust all our scores. This match is the best so far of the entire set regardless. 4 stars and 8/10.