Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 89: Dick Slater vs. Dr. Death (12/18/85)

Dr. Death has turned face by this point. His long-time partner is Ted Dibiase turned face in early November, and Steve Williams turned face soon after. I’m pretty sure this was after Doc saved people in a burning car on the side of a highway and it was reported in the local news. They turned this into an angle and interview on their TV show, bring in the true story of Williams saving people.
Slater is your upper mid card heel here. It’s listed as not only a TV Title Tournament match, but round 11 in the tourney. Round 11?!

One of the things I’m always looking for, especially early, is FLOW. I’m looking for a combination of movement and pacing, and not necessarily fast or a lot of reversals. These guys have a great flow together, and from what I’ve seen a lot of that is Doc. He’s also a lot more charismatic then usual in Mid South. Slater is also so much better with Doc then his stuff with Reed.

Slater gets the heat with a hangman’s neck breaker and a beautiful reversal into a side Russian Leg Sweep (the first I think on the set, and a favorite of mine). Builds to a good struggle over Slater trying for a Boston Crab. He never gets Doc over.

I’m not a fan of Slater’s selling at all, but his face first falling bump looks nice. I just hope he doesn’t ruin it by doing it every time. We get a sweet Back Body Drop too. Doc back in full control and the fans react. They didn’t do much for Slater’s heat segment though.

Headlock from Williams is reversed into a side suplex by Slater. The count on both doesn’t get much reaction, which is a shame, but these people may be thinking it’s going much longer. Thought I heard something from Jim Ross on commentary about 15 minute time limits. We go to a commercial with Slater sending Doc to the outside.

WTF!? They hate Slater. This is pure comedy the way they cut out his heat in every match. We come back to a Doc hope spot which may be, judging by both men selling, the comeback.

Not quite. Slater grabs a sleeper after a miscommunication. Wish I could see these guys do their act in full as it seems like it could get could. Williams starts a comeback once the crowd had chanted “OU” a sufficient amount of time. Big come back for Doc has the crowd where they want them and Dick Slater is bumming around nice for him. Slater head butts twice to hold it up. Another count ref count.

It has to be said: Doc is a goofy face. He does a lot a football inspired footwork which is silly to me, and I’m a Doc fan. Doc picks him up for the Oklahoma Stampede, but Slater’s foot is on the rope.

Submission attempt, but Dark Journey rakes the eyes. Slater starts to gain the advantage, goes for the suplex, and the crowd goes crazy when it’s blocked. Off the ropes Slater gets the win with a roll up holding the tights. Slater wins.

Really solid match I could not completely buy into for whatever reason. I liked it, but it just wasn’t quite there. I wasn’t sucked in. better than average. 2 ¾ stars and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here