Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 49: Steve Williams/Jake Roberts vs The Fantastics 4/14/85

Not sure why Jake and Doc are a team here other then they’re both heels. I’ve never been a fan of miss-mosh teams that have totally different characters and yet are supposed to be a cohesive unit that’s not questioned storyline wise. That being said, I love all the players on both sides here.

Jake has that presence right away that I remember capturing me when I saw him nationally as a kid on Saturday mornings. He’s on his knees at the start begging for one of the faces to hit him in the face. One other note before we start. It’s crazy to see how big of faces the Fans were and heels Doc/Roberts are here, because if I put this on today it’s a reversal of the faces and heels without anyone really changing much. It’s a phenomenon that’s all over these Mid South matches (especially with how Watts saw the world), but never fails to fascinate me in that “old world” sort of way.

Roberts and Rogers start. Rogers is great at taking no crap and Jake is smug as ever. Williams does 2 fireman carry take downs on Rogers before eating some offense. It’s all very believable because Doc’s size advantage is played into the short stories told in the ring and Rogers has to work harder.

Fulton and Jake in. As usual the heel wins the first exchanges and then gets his. Jake is really great the way he does almost nothing and gets by on movement and words. Crowd is following this really smoothly. The patterns are predictable but done in such an enjoyable way it’s the positive part of predictable/pattern tag matches.

The Fans take control on Williams (his left arm in specific) and I’m realizing how well Doc could bump. I always enjoyed Doc’s All Japan stuff, but I’m fascinated to see more of his Mid South stuff going forward. He moves so well, and I’ve gotta think there’s some great tag team stuff with him and Dibiase as heels out there. The match layout is great because the heels make you feel like they “should” be winning by all physical rights, but the smaller tag team is just out thinking and hustling them. A lot of tags in and out bhy the fans.

Roberts turns it around when Williams sets him up to give Fulton a knee from the outside. Clever. Williams then explodes in the transition to offense, which I really liked here because he didn’t have to sell being worn down and the arm stuff was momentary.

The face selling stuff is done by Bobby Fulton, who is the team’s weak link to me, but not bad by any means. They work on his throat, and wind/breathing in specific. They cheat, but it’s rough and tumble stuff, not finesse stuff like the Midnights. AWESOME back body drop by Williams and hope spot cut off by Jake. This match has been enjoyable.

I should mention that I’m bias here as to the style of work. It’s a grittier tough guy with skills style indicative of Doc’s All Japan work or tag team with Gordy (see their matches with the Steiners from 92). When Fulton gets another hope spot Roberts ducks a crossbody. He then goes to his knees in front of Rogers and begs him to try to hit him. Great stuff.

More heeling and power moves from Williams. I’m glad his strength and size have played a role. The Fans comeback teases aren’t them out toughing or powering the heels, which is good thinking. Jake slows it down with a sleeper since Fulton is gaining more steam. Again, Jake does little but makes it work. Little by little Fulton gains the momentum (crowd is completely with this match all the way through) and eventually we get a well timed hot tag to Tommy Rogers. House of fire in, heels feed and do some great bumping for him.

Great finish with tons of heat. Fulton gets a pin on Williams with a roll up but the ref is out of position. Jake in and DDTs him, and Williams rolls over for the pin. The boos for this are huge, and in a good way you don’t hear nowadays. Total crowd buy in on the match story.

I can’t much wrong with this match at all. It is what I want to see as a fan, and it didn’t overstay its welcome. It wasn’t a classic or a built up portion of a feud, and it didn’t pretend to be. Straight forward heel-face tag match that should be on every wrestling card. Good characters you didn’t have to know, personality displayed in the match, great psychology and crisp wrestling. The heat was there and the timing was on. This was about the best solid 12 minutes you can expect. 3 ½ and 7/10.

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