Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 65: Ted DiBiase & Dr. Death vs. Jake Roberts & The Barbarian (7/14/85)

A lot of fun stuff here. Jake is so great with how he carries himself, and you can really see what Raven was trying to emulate with his ECW character in the late 90s. I actually enjoyed Raven more in that time than I ever did Jake, but now I’m interested in going back to view the Jake of my WWF childhood.
Jake is this Kevin Sullivan like leader to the Barbarian’s dopey muscle follower of the group. I’m guessing Barbarian’s whole character was a pumped up Tasmanian devil type, influenced by the Road Warriors pheonom of that decade. I’m also realizing that this is not the same Barbarian of WWF and WCW fame. I think I read somewhere this might have been John Nord, but this is unconfirmed. Whatever the case I love this odd tag team, which has apparently turned babyface since the last time I saw them. Dibiase/Doc remain the heels.

Before the match the Fantastics come out looking like asses. They manage to screw up challenging whoever wins the match. Geeks. How were they ever over babyfaces?

Somewhere in here Jake tagged with Doctor Death Steve Williams recently and that seems to play into this match. The heel team is also the tag champs, hence the challenge from the Fantastics.

I love the characters in this because I’m a mark for Jake and Dibiase. They’ve got some WWE stuff I need to find, I’m sure of it. Jake has such a demeanor and cocky taunt to him. Jake has that serious edge and determination. Good exchanges both to show the crowd and in wrestling (headlock-roll up). I love the4 “I’m to smart for that – not clever enough” they put on. Jake and Williams obviously still have some heat because it’s worked in. Barb gets in some challenges to Williams and then gets tagged in. He’s really green but Dibiase makes him look good. They do a power spot where Dibiase gets pressed out of the ring off a pin attempt. Barbs stomping is kinda goofy though, but I guess that’s the point.
I love when Doc gets in with Barbarian and just takes his stiff sloppy shots. Dibiase just ate a few too. I’m sure they were pissed but they acted like complete professionals, and made the early babyface advantage stuff look good and have emotional consequence for the crowd. Barbarian can’t really sell or throw punches, just for the record.

Great tease of Jake’s finisher and shows how an over finisher can help a match. Barbarian has Doc in a DDT guillotine and tags in Jake. The fans right away yell “DDT” and Jake really wants to DDT his old partner, but Williams is aware of that and scurries to the ropes. Great tease and gives us something to anticipate. Also helps with the match structure if this plays out at all. Doc acts so effected by everything chanted at him while in with Jake. Jake again goes for the DDT before the reversal on the babyface, but again Steve Williams is quick to find the ropes. Williams is even vocal enough in the match that hear when he complains.

The heat segment comes when both Dibiase and Barbarian keep interjecting for their teams, and Dibiase uses the black glove to clobber Jake right in the eye. Nice touch of Williams right away continuing to work the eyes and head. Dibiase is so great at taunting the crowd and his opponent, which gives you someone to “hate” and sympathy for the opponent. Dibiase drops fists and Jake is bleeding everywhere.

Jake kicks out at all the right times for crowd response. They even tie him in the ropes again. I’m actually surprised at how much I enjoy Jake selling because I don’t remember being so into it when I was younger.

Crowd on fire for the hot tag. Short heat segment, but it worked. I like that Barbarian only has to do the hot tag work here because he’s not terribly good. Ref bump, and it looked alright, though with 4 men in there at times it’s obvious they are trying not to bump into each other. Jake gets the DDT and visual pin on Dibiase, so he doesn’t get Doc just yet. Not ref to count though. Doc gets the wrist guard shot, but it means less because Barb is in too soon with his poor full nelson (Never thought I’d miss Chris Masters). Heels end up beating the crap out of the Barbarian until Jake hits everyone with a boot he swings around. DQ on everyone to wild crowd heat. The heels stay outside while Jake does challenges and mic work on them. Very intense stuff.

A very good match up that did a lot with many limitations. Those limitations, and a finish built for a continuation, hurt my overall score, but I mostly enjoyed the match. Felt dull at times but moved well and I agree with most of the layout decision, just not always with the degree they were carried out. 3 ¼ and 7.2/10.

Match Discussion Here