Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 56: Rock N Roll Express vs Dirty White Boys (5/11/85)

This takes place in someone’s high school gym. Very indy looking. Big crowd though, and they chant “Rock N Roll” loudly. A LOT of women at a wrestling show. WOW. Dirty White Boys act like they’re leaving, but the bell rings and they come back in. Crowd really gives them heat when they tease leaving, which makes me wonder if they realize no one EVER leaves a match.

Speaking of formula matches, we go from Flair’s formula to the Rock N Roll Exp. Formula. Also reminds me why 80s Crockett was so great and Russo booking confuses me. I was born 20 years too late.

Gibson and (I believe) Denton start. Gibson loses the test of strength, but in a fun switch Ricky Morton crawls under the legs of his partner and punches Denton in the belly. Even if that wasn’t fun just Gibson starting it off the match. The heels really complain to the ref. Fans are so vocal. They do the test again, and Tony Anthony (heel) tries to sneak through like Morton did. Gibson kicks him in the face. Fans eat it up.

So far this is charming. That is definitely the word. It reminds me of a mom and pop indy show I went to with my friends at the famous Hamburg Fieldhouse as a teen. Really fun interactive old school match. It’s the same reason I love black and white Cary Grant movies.

Morton in. Denton hates the “Rock N Roll” chants. They’re growin’ on me. Morton hits ALL the signature RNR offensive spots and the heels do their part to bump and sell. Great solid crisp stuff. Gibson comes in to do his signature offense on Anthony, and then both.

Denton back in. He wants Morton. We get it. This is the greatest crowd EVER! Morton runs the ropes and bumps off a closeline the best I’ve ever seen sans 2 or 3 HBK spots in my life. Just amazing to see and hear the crowd turn from cheers to loud boos in a moment.

The heat segment is Morton bumping around for a good heel power team. It’s similar to Morton-Dr. Death stuff but not nearly as technical. DWB are tough strongmen brawlers and that comes through. The crowd is something out of a movie like Hoosiers. Morton hangs in (like he wouldn’t) through cheating, beatings, and tag team spots. The DWB definitely handle their job, cutting off the ring, getting into Gibson’s head, and distracting the ref.

10 minutes in. great Morton hope spot on a sunset flip. This is the greatest RAW TV main event style match ever. It’s not an all time classic and the formula would at times bore a non-fan, but it is the best of the short form old school tag team matches. Denton slows Morton with a sleeper. Morton ends up hitting a suplex, and it’s a race between the two for the hot tag. Morton dives to Gibson and Gibson does the house of fire on both heels. Roll up by Gibson, and Denton comes over to throw him over the top rope by his hair. The ref saw it. DQ win for The Rock and Roll Express in about 12-13 minutes.
I’ve made my feelings know in the body of the review. It’s great solid TV main event stuff. It’s not Match of the Year stuff, but it’s not supposed to be. These guys hold together the middle of the card.

I love finding an awesome show opener or hot match that only goes 10-12 minutes to recommend to my friends. This is that match now. Usually for one of those I go 3 stars. This was even better. 3 ½ and 7.5/10.

Match discussion here