Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 128: Ted DiBiase & Dr. Death vs. Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts (Lumberjack Match) (8/31/86)

Christ the Freebirds were awesome in the 80s! If you saw World Class from ’82 through ’85 and then this run, you know why Shawn Michaels wanted to be Michael PS Hayes and the rest of the Kliq were trying to be some version of the Freebirds.

This is a lumber jack match. I’m thinking to myself how much more rewarding this would be if I’d watched the episodic TV, and I’m sure it would, but just as I say that Hollywood John Tatum steps up to make nice with Michael Hayes. Hayes was getting beat up, but the do-gooder that Tatum is, he put a stop to it. He is my new favorite 80s heel. Seriously.

The faces running wild early was good, especially because Doc is a monster and Buddy Roberts is a very good bumping heel. The back Body Drop, pathetic crawl for a tag, and sell off a double football tackle were fun as all hell. Dibiase’s beating of him s fun too, and when Hayes gets in he knows how to draw a lot of heat with the least effort. It’s the promos from TV I’d bet.

Buddy Roberts bleeds in every match he’s in. I’m not sure if he’s blading or opening something up, but it seems like hardway off a cut. That or completely a completely unnecessary blade job.

The match goes by to quick. Typical TV match. Everything in this one was solid to great, but it doesn’t quite resonate. It’s a bit to cookie cutter. The lumberjacks finally decide to fight each other (especially Gilbert’s people and the Fantanstics) just as Dibiase makes a comeback. Hayes starts violently choking and whipping Dibiase and the ref DQs him. That was pretty hardcore. They play that damn song again (Born in the USA), but more importantly they go to the commercials very quickly. I’ve noticed the trend on the set. Ross sends it to the commercials so quick after the match I’m reminded of Tenay’s “to the back” of TNA infamy. Oh well. Fun but short angle-based match. 2 ½ and 5/10.

Match Discussion Here