Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 133: Ted DiBiase & Terry Taylor vs. Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts (Country Whipping Match) (10/12/86)

This match comes out of the 8/31/86 lumberjack match I’d guess. Heel Freebirds are cocky when they come out. Faces come out to “Born in the USA” because we can’t have a face not come out to that song, can we? Enough about the song!

I can’t look at this or judge this through the eyes I’d normally use because it’s going to be worked as a stip match. So I won’t give my usual thoughts or tendencies in reviewing this match.

Hayes and Roberts let the faces rule the ring. Dibiase and Taylor get huge pops for their names. Nash and Hall in the NOW off-shoot WolfPack was admittedly an homage to the Freebirds. I can see that with the Freebird frustrated on the outside early on.

The faces just destroy the heels with strap shots. Hayes doesn’t want to get in, but does. Hayes stooges as well or better tha his partner Buddy Roberts. The faces look like stars here. The minute Taylor is in Roberts lets himself get slapped in the face once before getting the heat on the face. I hate that when Taylor and Dibiase are on a team they make Taylor sell. It would be so much better for him to get the hot tag, at least in my viewing bubble.

This is so interesting. The heel heat segment, hope spots, and cutoffs and/or tags are all worked using the straps in place of moves, holds, and strikes. These guys are pros and MAKE it work. Some of it is their ability to know how to work and execute, but some of it is their collective star presence.

Hot tag to Dibiase. This is the best use of straps I’ve ever seen. Freebirds work over Dibiase now.I love the misdirection rollercoaster ride. Dibiase comes back with solid wrestling moves. Crap, they go to commercial. Dibiase is selling again.

Ross brings up the history of the Freebirds and Dibiase as the Freebirds double team Dibiase. This match is unpredictable in the way the best tag matches are. Taylor keeps running in frustration or to break some heel tactic up. Lots of choking. Taylor gets the hot tag. Two big back body drops.
Everyone hits their marks. Reversal of a double Irish whip and Dibiase and Hayes crash into each other. Buddy Roberts goes after Taylor. Taylor ducks a clothesline and comes off the ropes with a flying crossbody. 1-2-3. Taylor and Dibiase win clean.

The brawl keeps going after the three count. Taylor takes a sick bump into the guard rail throat first. Back in the ring, Roberts has Dibiase up for that always teased pile driver. Dibiase gets out. Dibiase answers that historical reference with one of his own. He pulls out the ol’ Black Glove. Too bad Hayes hits him from behind into a stiff Roberts clothesline. Hayes puts on the black glove and the heels beat up the faces. Diabise gets clobbered with his own glove.

Not only a great stipulation match, but a great tag match, and a strong ending. Post-match angle puts this over the top as I’m scoring all of this together. 3 ¾ and 7.8/10.

Match Discussion Here