Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 127: Hacksaw Duggan, Terry Taylor & Bill Watts vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (8/17/86)

It just dawned on me that in the last year the Mid South/UWF management figured out how to curtain off and maximize the arena in Tulsa to look good on TV. Good job. Tulsa has a real hot crowd most of the time too. The Cowboy Bill Watts brings out Terry Taylor, and Jim Ross acts surprised and happy. Not sure of the angle, but Watts is wearing a Doc t-shirt. Freebird’s music hits. Guess I’m not supposed to know Doc’s coming out if I were in 1986.

Hayes rules. He holds back Gordy, and they portray Gordy on commentary as always ready to fight. Hayes makes a stop at Ross’ announce position to yell about Watts having a bat. Watts’ goads them on the mic and Gordy wants at him again. Hayes still won’t go. Watts’comes at them with the bat, Roberts comes out and the heels run into the ring for safety. Lots of faces out (including a miget JYD rip off), and Hacksaw counts three Freebird. Takes him a moment, but he decides to be the third face. So we begin with the heels feeding the faces in a classic Watts’ “brawl and walk tall”. Great opening angle.

This match is the epitome of what is right and good about Mid South Wrestling under Watts. He and his fellow white meat babyfaces bounce the heels around. The heels bump like crazy for the less talented but super charismatic faces. The crowds is insanely hot. We even see comedy spots from the heels as no one wants to tag Gordy and get in. The guys feed off the corwd energy and go hard with their strikes, but they still make it look good and aren’t unprofessional. Best of all the lay out is classic as the faces run wild and each one “walks tall” while all the faces sell – Hayes the least as he’s seen as the ultimate prize – but tough Buddy Roberts turns the tide, and then big Gordy goes to work. Hayes adds the taunting. The heels tag quick and run interference and it works like clockwork. A well orchestrated show.

One of the most brilliant moments is the Buddy Roberts with Terry Taylor in a rear chin lock in the center. Neither is moving. The hold is synched nice, but they’re just resting. Meanwhile the faces are concerned and trying to wave on and rally Taylor, the heels are running back and forth on the apron taunting the faces and especially the crowd, and the crowd is going crazy chanting for Taylor or giving Hayes and Gordy boos. The art of the work!

After some scary good hope spots and cut offs Cowboy Bill Watts gets the hot tag, makes a run on all the heels, and nails Hayes, before being choked to death by the heels. They repeat the whole cycle with Watts and it is truly a “heat segment”. Awesome milking of Watts crawling and he makes the hot tag to Duggan, but Ref Fergie didn’t see it. Unfortunately here it breaks down a bit, where I felt they shouls have milked and gone back for another Hacksaw hot tag. All men in the ring. Taylor takes a great bump over the top rope. Fergie calls for the bell. Shit, that sucks! Watts turns the tables and clears the ring of all the heels. The 50 year old man clears the ring of Gordy, the UWF champion and resident giant tough guy. Selfish ass Watts. Faces get the “Born in the USA” pose for the crowd stuff in.

So close to being top ten. I’m not even sure this score will be on the proper scale since many of the old scores will be adjusted, but this was a good finish away from being very high. As it is, it’s still a favorite. 4 ½ and 8.6/10.