Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 60: Rock N Roll Express vs Terry Gordy/Buddy Roberts 6/24/85

The first appearance of the Freebirds on this set, and as that is the case, Michael PS Hayes is out as the mouthpiece/manager of Gordy and Roberts. I was half expecting Roberts to have the wig and amateur head gear. Gordy is heavy here, but looks mobile. The RNR Exp. Always look exactly the same. They are your hard workin’ faces. Let’s get to the action, from some house show.

Buddy Roberts and Robert Gibson start out. I must admit that while I own a bunch of Freebirds World Class stuff on DVD, and have some later Mid South, I’ve watched very little. Gordy I’ve watched for a decade on All Japan tapes, and my infatuation for the trio grew through Meltzer’s touching Gordy Obit. (the first I ever read), but I don’t know much about Roberts.

They try several lock ups and Gibson seems to be coming out on top. I’m impressed with Robert’s presence, though he looks like a 60 year old Ric Flair, his mannerisms and movement is that of a veteran. Fans chant “Go home Freebirds” as Buddy gets punched in the face. Morton in now with a hesitant Roberts.

I felt, for the first time ever, someone worked hard to make Morton look good in a short exchange. Wasn’t much though. A flip and a sell. Gordy is tagged in. Man is he athletic for a big man. I try to judge him harsher to compensate for the fact Meltzer thinks of him as God’s gift to big men. Being a longtime reader with a strong imagination through reading written word, that affects you after seven years. So I try not to give Gordy a free pass. Gordy pretty much gains control for the smaller Roberts, and only sells off his own mistakes. Smart. He is pretty damn good. Oh well, Meltzer is probably right again.

With Roberts in Gibson takes a small beating, but he really gets it when he’s left in the corner with Terry Gordy. Buddy Roberts isn’t so tough when Robert Gibson manages to tag Morton. Good story of Roberts being the cocky mouth who can’t quite back it up here, but his younger big bad “brother” can. So when Roberts is in on offense he acts like a big man, but now that Morton’s in he begs off. Buddy sells his butt off and Gordy tries to muscle into the ring.

Heat on Morton (shocked?) begins when he misses a shoulder and goes into the steel post. A ragged Buddy tags out. Gordy is surprisingly light here for the bruiser he can be at times. Almost embarrassingly light on that clothesline. Roberts screws up (worked) right when he gets in, but he recovers with a bulldog. The story is fun, as are Roberts facial expressions and mannerisms, but I’m at a loss as to why this particular match is on the set. Gordy love perhaps? It’s not stellar, just okay, and even Morton isn’t amazing as the face in peril.

As heel stuff goes, Hayes gets in a good punch at ringside ang Gordy throws Morton over the top rope – just cause. Stuff around the ten minute mark is real solid, so the heel heat and mini-comebacks worked well when they hit a groove. Morton comes back on Roberts and makes the tag. Cluster with Gibson in and then the classic Gibson roll up and wait for someone to hit him. This time Gordy just picks him up, and it seems unorganized with Morton just walking around, and Gordy powerbomb/pile drives Gibson in an ugly finish. I assume it can be seen as a vicious finish and a dominant Gordy, but it’s not a total truth to me. 2 ½ and 5/10.