Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 19: Midnight Express vs Bill Watts/Stagger Lee (4/22/84)

In reviewing and ranking this match I find one of several dilemmas in this process. Several times on this first disk you read me mentioning in my reviews that I would love to know more about the backstory on some of the matches/angles I enjoyed. Well, it was pointed out to me that the build up for this next match can be found on one of the “extras” disks that came with the set. I decided immediately to watch the build up to the match, but I wonder if better knowing the story will artificially increase my scoring because I know what is being concluded. Also, does it hurt other matches or put them at a disadvantage that I don’t have an opportunity to be as connecte3d to them? Time will tell.
Here is the angle as its presented on the disk:

-The Midnights win the tag titles. I believe they won them from Magnum TA and Wrestling II. Cornette uses his mother’s money (mamma’s boy gimmick) to purchase a segment on Mid South TV and throw a party. He has a letter from his mom, confetti, hats, and a cake. It’s wrestling, so in the celebration the Midnights walk into the crowd and the Rock n Roll Express push Cornette into the cake.

Mid South shows a replay on TV causing Cornette to come out and threaten a lawsuit (from his mother). Bill Watts, as Mid South President, comes out to take responsibility for the replays. He thinks they’re funny. Twice Cornette puts his hands on Watts as Watts is trying to walk away. Cornette makes a lot of threats. The third time, after being forewarned, Watts slaps the shit out of Corny.
Next, JR is in the booth with Cornette commenting on the incident. They also show Cornette walking on set at ringside as Watts is interviewing Butch Reed. While Watts is distracted the MNX beat the crap out of him. Back in studio Cornette brags about taking out the “washed up old cowboy”. JR warns Cornette that he doesn’t realize what he’s done.

Cut to a Jim Ross interview of Bill Watts. It’s a great interview/piece of booking, as Watts takes us back to his time, and the way it is now. Says he won’t apologize to Cornette. Says fining Cornette doesn’t work because mommy pays. Beating Cornette up won’t do justice to th4e situation. Watts wants “one last stampede”, and to humiliate the MNX/Cornette. Back at the studio Cornette says Watts is too old and only one man.

Another Watts promo. He says he’ll get a “tough partner”. Only wants one match – stresses that. They show a video of Watts/J.R. going to talk with JYD. He’s home suspended. Words can’t do justice to the horrible production of this 80s home movie.

JYD is home suspended on a 90 day Loser Leave Town stipulation. They bring up JYD in 1980 teaming with Watts against the Freebirds, and I’m popping for the history used to help a storyline. JYD can’t come back, but “Stagger Lee” might. Lee is his masked alter ego. They visit “Lee”, who agrees to be the partner. It’s goofy as hell now, but it worked back then.

Watts officially announces Lee as his partner and threatens embarrassing stips.

Cornette promo with Midnights: “Watts, in Houston, you’re a dead man walking!”

Watts promo with Ross. He’s had a bandage on his head selling the beating he took for weeks. Stipulations to the match are if Watts/Lee lose, Watts works for Cornette for 6 months. Stagger Lee must be masked, and therefore be banned for life if it is indeed JYD (everyone knows it is). If Watts wins, Cornette must wear a dress. These promos really do talk you into the arena.

Cornette’s goes home promo focuses on Watts being old and working for him after he loses. Watts gives some history and keeps showing the dress Cornette will be forced to wear. One night only. Now, to the match.

My copy of the match starts after the bell. With the crowd going crazy. The apply titled JIP (Joined In Progress) has taken the beginning seconds, but the crowd is going berserk. Seriously, think of the biggest pop you’ve seen in wrestling, and there you go.

The first five minutes – literally – is Watts in the ring punching each Midnight Express member repeatedly. He stops early to tape his fist (one of his trademarks, I’ve read), but all he throws are hard right fists. Nothing else. The MNX back bump for almost every punch. No offense, just bump after bump, for minutes, from the Express. These are artful bumps. After all, it’s what they’re famous for doing, but you lose sight of things like that when it’s done so smoothly. One bump from a punch takes Eaton from the seated on the top rope position all the way to the concrete floor. Unreal. With all the context, it doesn’t get a bit old.

Watts looks in as good of shape as JYD… I mean Stagger Lee. Lee punches too, by the way.
A part of me thinks to not rate something g like this highly would be elitist smarkiness right out of the late 1990s message board/newsletter reader stereotype. Then I think I’m just falling in line, because this is just guys bumping for punches, and it only deserves a hat tip for angle and knowing Watts’ limitations with age. Still another part of me thinks there is a beauty and wisdom in understanding many styles and contexts/time periods, as well as the less is more approach. Honestly, the people are reacting like babyface Steve Austin and The Rock have united and are beating down 1989 heel Ric Flair and 2000 heel HHH at a dome show during the boom period. It’s not even “high end” Mid South, but it works.

Finally, Five minutes in Eaton and Condrey take charge and start with the quick tags on Watts. Typical and text book Midnight Exp. offensive strategy. All the dirty tricks and Jim Cornette too. Sooooo much crowd reaction for a head lock and a camel clutch, but they really wanted Watts to make the hot tag. They really milk it, even having a double crawl to partner and also a tag where the ref didn’t see it.

Look, it ends with Watts body slamming and pinning someone, but that’s not the point. Cornette gets surrounded and the place goes crazy. In a very prison-gay moment Watts, Boyd Pierce, JYD, and Magnum TA force Cornette to strip down. They douse him in baby powder then put a giant diaper on him. Watts, through his motions, reminds me that he’s made subtle homophobic statements in the build up about Cornette being gay and “coming out of the closet” to wear a DIAPER OR HIS MOTHER’S DRESS. This ends with JYD, in Stagger Lee mask, kissing Cornette to a pop and then high-fiving the faces. How perverse and disgusting can the messages wrestling sends be? WTF?!

Great as a spectacle, but average to dull as a match. Watts last stand, JYD being so over, and the work of the heels keep this from being nothing, but I’m buying the hype if I give this more then 3 stars. I can respect it without over rating it. Here’s my formula. I gave out:

-TA/Wrestling II vs Neidhart/Reed 3 ¼ and 6/10
-Reed vs Iron Sheik 2 ¾ and 6/10
-Mr. Olympia vs Bob Roop 2 ¼ and 4/10
- Stagger Lee/Olympia vs Dibiase/Borne 2 and 3/10

This match is not as good as the TA/Wrestling II vs Neidhart/Reed Christmas day match, even if I like the participants of this match a bit more. So it’s below 3 ¼ and 6/10 when I add up all the components. It’s definitely better then the Stagger Lee/Mr Olympia vs Dibiase/Borne match. So it’s got more going for it than 2 stars and 3/10. What I’m deciding now is where it ranks with Olympia/Roop and Reed/Sheik matches. Olympia vs Roop was a pretty tight TV match while the latter was a longer form arena contest. This match was also an arena presentation given time, but I liked Reed vs Sheik more. That said, Roop vs Olympia does not compare to this match. With that match, I’ll go 2 ¾ but also 4/10 – all by feel.