Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 100: Dick Murdoch & Masked Superstar vs. Brett Sawyer & Al Perez (1/19/86)

Masked Superstar is a pre-Demolition Bill Eadie. He’s not very intimidating in that shirt though. Thankfully for me his partner is the great Dick Murdoch! Sawyer and Perez are very good smaller faces that never made it, but are very good.

Starts out with all four throwing hands intensely. Heels powder out and we even get chairs sent in the ring. Flying ones, you see.

Murdoch starts out and makes it fun early with the way he sells punches and being knocked silly. Eadie works well for the short time he’s in and the quick tag out. Jim Ross on commentary points out how good Murdoch is when on the offensive. Hot tag to Brett Sawyer and the man is small. I mean tiny. But Then what do I know, cause he’s not to small never to Murdoch.

Masked Superstar misses a running splah in the corner. Faces get the hot tap. Perez runs wild and Murdoch kills the faces with a chair when they pin Masked Superstar, and it’s a DQ finish.

This is a solid but average match, as pretty much this entire disk has been. Nothing blows you away, but not much is hated. I don’t have much else to say on this one. Murdoch made the match for me. 2 ¼ and 4/10.

Match Discussion Here

Match # 101: Dick Slater vs. Jake Roberts (1/24/86)

Slater has on the worst robe ever. Jake is your face here. I haven’t mentioned this in any of the reviews, but Jake doesn’t have a snake in any of these matches. Also, Duggan doesn’t have a board. Slater does have a North American title though, which he owns, and a Dark Journey. The person, not the prefer path of seemingly every wrestler.

Dick Slater earlier this week was given the greatest compliment of being called “a poor man’s Terry Funk” by a DVDVR board member. He also comes out after every opening bell with a gyration that can only be described as the chicken dance. It’s goofy as hell, but so were Funk and Tracy Smothers.
This is a personality clash I like. Slater is great when he’s cocky, and he knows how to move and bump to maximize its effect. Jake slams him early, then wins a gut kicking contest. Jake’s kick to the gut is really good, which is an odd move to be really good at.

Jake tries several times for the DDT early, and they pause an appropriate amount of time to not only get over the move attempted, but that it would have been trouble for Slater. Effective arm submission early, though most might find it run-of-the-mill. Jake is very aware of not only the fans but Dark Journey at ringside, which makes her relevant here more than in the other matches.

Slater gets out of the hold but Jake atomic drops him so hard he bumps over the top rope. Slater wants a DQ, which is funny. Chase ensues and ends with a knee lift. No DDT attempt as Slater is out again. That’s the first 5 minutes: Jake dominates, slater sells and shows fear, and Jake wants the DDT. I like the match story.

Slater gets the advantage via the old Flair spot where the ref won’t let Jake punch, so Slater takes a shot at him. He does the headlock and sneak a punch spot, which I enjoy. Slater also kicks Jake hard off the apron at one point. Good bump. Slater gets heat doing a boxer-punch routine and then pinning Jake using the ropes for leverage.

The progression of hope spots for Jake have good movement and great heel moves to cut the come back off. Slater can’t seem to keep him pinned though he tries.

The announcing is horrible by the way. Where’s Paul Boesch?

Slater’s sleeper on Jake never fully builds up the crowd, but its smart work, leading Jake to sit out into a jawbreaker. Punches and then a DDT attempt. Slater turns it into an awesome overhead suplex and sells afterwards. He makes up for his awkwardness with a strange presence and pacing. He knows when to sell appropriately.

Slater gets knux from Journey, bumps the ref out of position, and goes to him Jake. Jake blocks, DDT, and pin. NEW North American Title holder!

Nope. The Ref called for the DQ. Watts really helped make Tommy Gilbert look like more of an ass than he was in big Mid South matches. Gilbert counted 1-2- and stopped as he was about to go three. It’s brilliant live and for the time, as the fans explode. Problem is Gilbert should have never counted anything if he called for the bell on a DQ (Slater DQed for the brass knux). NA title doesn’t change hands and Jake wins but doesn’t get the belt. I like the finish for the crazy reaction and then let down, but it is a bit odd.

Match was very smart and well worked. I felt it told a simple yet effective story and had some creativity to it which the audience bought into. I can’t say it set new standard, and it could have been more than it was, but it was better than other Slater matches. 3 ½ and 6.8/10.

Match Discussion Here