Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 70: Jim Duggan, Dick Murdoch & Bill Watts vs. Kamala, Kareem Muhammad & Skandor Akbar (7/28/85)

As if this set wasn’t white trashy and overtly misguidedly nationalistic to begin with, the next match opens with Captain America and Captain Redneck on a monster truck at what looks like a state fair. Jim Duggan and Dick Murdoch are being driven to the ring in a monster truck with American flags on it saluting to people. Duggan really looks like he admires/looks up to Murdoch on this set, which is cool cause I know Murdoch had a big name in the territory, but just as important, he turns before the end of the year.

Oh look, Bill Watts joins them as they get to the ring. He’s in the match. The set is complete. Perhaps Watts will skip the match and give us all a position paper on foreign relations. Looking at the opponents, he already is. I’d guess a crazy America versus evil Foreigners brawl, but I’ll reset my head and start with an open mind.
This match is outside and the crowd is pretty rowdy. Shirts off and everything.
Skandor Akbar fakes injury, but has the North American champ as his substitute. Unfortunately, at this time it’s still The Nightmare. Watts gets on mic and says some of his own nonsense, before getting in a quick attack on Akbar. The faces clear the ring.

Grizzley Smith, match maker for Mid South, is out and in the ring. He forces Akbar to wrestle because he signed a contract. Very cool because the tease had people mad Watts wasn’t gonna get him, and now he does. Faces rule the ring for the first few minutes as heels stall or can’t get in. It’s not my thing at all (monster heels who never win or wrestle well and generic good ol boy faces), but fans love this stuff. It was perfect for it’s era.

Lots of USA chanting every time the faces punch/kick to clear ring.

Now the great Mid South refs restore order. Murdoch and Kareem to start. That breaks down quick. This is all Watts “walking Tall stuff”, with Duggan and Murdoch too. At least Murdoch is awesome when he’s in, especially when he starts selling for the heels. Good detail work heeling injures, pain, and getting the crowd to care. Heels, once in control, do tag well and cut off the ring. Suddenly Kamala is Dennis Condrey in a Freebird style six man team. Okay, Sure.

They continue to get the heat on Murdoch, and his hope spots do elicit the right responses., but then the faces get bored and cheat. They skip the Murdoch hot tag and just rush in. The heels to get Watts for a minute or two, but he ends up slamming Kamala and winning.

Fans of the era will enjoy the nostalgia, or maybe just like the depictions. I don’t. Worthless match for my tastes. Already saw Watts in the MNX match and Hacksaw in to many of these “monster of the week” things, plus Murdoch is wasted here. 2 stars and 3/10.

Match Discussion Here