Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 96: Buzz Sawyer vs. Butch Reed (Dog Collar Match) (12/31/85)

It looks like the Babyface Butch Reed was set to have a friendly run of the mill match with the evil Buzz Sawyer when Sawyer demands they have a dog collar match while the two are in the ring. Smart, considering he’s recently beaten Hacksaw Duggan, the other big fan favorite in Mid South, in a recent dog collar match. Butch Reed accepts as long as the fight is No Disqualification. Sawyer, who acts and looks like what you’d imagine a serial killer is, seems pleased with himself.

Tug of war and Reed gets the advantage early with forearms, punches, and choking with the chain. Sawyer was really good at going from imposing to selling, while still keeping a tough guy aura about him. Fans are vocal early as the hero pounds on Sawyer.

Nothing mind blowing in what is done, but it’s not suppose to be. A violent match that it seems Sawyer is a great architect at building as a heel. Reed actually mounts him and grates the chain over his face. Sawyer is busted open and staggers to sell the blood loss.

Sawyer gets an opening and takes Reed right to the floor. Biting, barricade shots, and otherwise violence with the chain. “GO Reed GO” chant from fans. They’re practically in the crowd. Sawyer drags Reed in and they do a good visual of Reed bumping for each chain-wrapped fist.

Reed makes a comeback and drops fist after fist (wrapped in chain) on Sawyer. Here’s where it loses me. Neither guy is a cardio machine and its showing. They also seem to run out of ideas or momentum, and Sawyer makes a full comeback after a million fists of chain to the head. It’s a quality control lapse not usually seen in Mid South. Sawyer tries twice to throw Reed to the floor, but Reed won’t go through the middle ropes. He just hits and stays. O-kay. He sends him down, and they start talking after Sawyer almost hits him in the face legit on another miscommunication.

They get it back after the pow-wow. Sawyer misses a move off the second rope and Reed capitalizes. Lots of silly looking chain shots to the gut and head first turnbuckle shots. Both go down after a clumsy shoulder block spot. Reed goes to the outside and the clever Sawyer puts his dog collar on the bottom rope (tied like it had been to his neck). Reed is trapped, Sawyer takes advantage with a big finisher, and he gets the win.

Post match Dick Slater is put to attack since that feud is still going on. Sawyer hits Reed with the chain until Hacksaw Duggan makes the save, and the fans go bonkers for him. The heels get the better of him too and deliver an awesome chain clothesline to him. They leave when Reed recovers.

Match was pretty good. It was quite as good as the Duggan-Sawyer dog collar, and I still don’t believe Reed is a top level worker with all opponents, but he wasn’t horrible here. I did like the finish too. Not a match to write home about, but it had its moments early. 2 ¾ and 5/10.

Match Discussion Here