Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 20: Midnight Express vs Rock N Roll Express 5/24/84

As research for this match I watched the first ever meeting of the MNX and RNR. This was in February of the same year, shortly after the arrival of all four Memphis area talents, but a week or two before the Midnights won the tag titles.

If the first match (and really the word of mouth since I was a kid) is any indication, this should be awesome. Remember when the head scissors was the coolest move in the world, before the ‘rana? I barely do myself, but it was at one time. They do a head scissors, and then the rana. Both for the price of one.

The first match is a lot like the Rock N Rolls vs Reed and Landell, only better. Of course, it’s only a few minutes until a Russian run-in, but it helps with the primer for the match I’m reviewing, and I guess to that audience it planted the “what if” seed.

In early May they had a rematch and the RNR are now champs. Going into the match we have a contract signing in the ring with match maker Grizzley Smith as your Dana White/Vince McMahon – before there was a Dana White/Vince McMahon. Grizzley is bigger, but less maniacal. Jim Ross explains that next week we’ll see a no-DQ match for the tag belts, with Cornette putting up $50,000 against the Rock N Roll’s belts.

Cornette signs for the MNX. The RNRs both sign. G. Smith signs for Mid South and JR signs as a witness. It’s official. Then we get a commercial to advertise a contest in which woman can be ring rats for the Rock N Rolls. I shit you not! It’s really blatant and unbelievably funny. “Super Date at the Super Dome”. You must be 18 or older and female to apply.

It gets even odder. Before the match the Rock and Roll Express are presented with a new ring jacket by a chubby girl, an old lady with who always sits in the front row, and Mid South’s version of Straw Hat Guy John Baily – Cowboy Hat Old Man.

As for the match itself. Cornette’s racket gets taken by an outside the ring Mid South Ref right away. Very lose ropes on this ring. Everyone gets to shine early and really does get a lot of great action without much high risk stuff. It reminds me of the first ten minutes of one of the better modern ROH matches or high end WWE stuff.

Both teams control and pin attempts early, with the swing going face to heel in the middle. They get over the NO-DQ not with hardcore wrestling, but with each team taking a big bump over the top rope (illegal at this point).

The over the rope idea hammered home, and the Cornette racket in the back of our minds, they play on an angle from a few months back where Cornette pulled the top rope down and Robert Gibson flew over it. It’s done again here with all four men in the ring. Gibson goes over the top, but this time as Eaton attempts to collect him, it’s Eaton going face first into the ring post. Unfortunately, Gibson collides with Morton while getting back into the ring.

A great in ring story has now been set up. Gibson is injured, but Eaton is on the outside busted open. Both Condrey and Morton are tired, but in decent shape. Condrey goes to splash and therefore finish off Gibson, and Morton dives on top of his partner to protect him. That takes Morton out. Then Gibson back body drops Condrey over the top rope. Big bump and he’s out. So it’s back to the injured men. Meanwhile, Cornette sprays a rag with ether.

You got all that?!

Cornette saves Eaton from a sleeper with the rag. Morton is now out. The key here is Eaton sold the sleeper like he himself was pretty much out. He slowly crawls onto an out cold Morton for the pin and the tag belts. Post match interview Cornette has the check and he tears it up as they celebrate. Great chickenshit heel interview.

That’s the show. Very good match, not great, but very good. The athleticism and booking detail at the time both with the story overall and the match itself is amazing. Out of the blue thought, but I’m curious what a feud with the Midnights and a newly turned babyface ass kicking Doc/Gordy would have been like. 3 ½ and 7/10.