Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 147: Dick Murdoch vs. Dr. Death (6/13/87)

This was set up a month before in a post-match TV angle we just covered in match # 146. Eddie Gilbert and Dick Murdoch tried to break Doc’s arm, with Murdoch stomping the arm into a steel chair from the top rope. Huge injury angle in those days, and sometimes even now (when bookers or writers are sane.

This looks like it may have been taped at the New Orleans Superdome. It’s a gigantic event at any rate. Murdoch has Gilbert with him, which seems like an odd pairing from what I’ve seen. Gilbert mugs while Murdoch gives a confident death stare during intros. Doc has a big cast on selling the right arm/wrist injury. Ref announces he loses if he uses the cast as a weapon. The winner gets the UWF Champion, Big Bubba Rogers. Here we go.

Match starts off with waist locks, wrist locks, and lock-ups. Basic stuff done well. Murdoch is already using the injured wrist of Dr. Death to his advantage. One minute in we go to commercial, but we come back exactly where we left. Thank you!

Murdoch ends up getting his arm worked over, so he goes and regroups. Murdoch does the little things like a roll out, a well paced stare and subtle shake of an injured body part. In that respect he’s up there with people like Flair to me for intangibles within ring work.

Jim Ross at ringside is announcing and has John Aires, UWF commish, with him. He notes Aires has been negotiating with Jim Crockett and Murdoch’s former tag team partner, Dusty Rhodes. This may play in.

Murdoch’s arm gets wringed and he begs off more than once. Doc outwrestles him at every turn, storyline-wise. The slower-moving Murdoch sneaks in some stiff elbows and then stomps on the downed Doc’s injured wrist. Five minutes gone by as Murdoch gets greedy and tries to send Doc to the ring post outside, but gets his left arm/shoulder smashed for it. The old turnabout is fair play spot. Doc stays selling the hand and my love for them both grows.

Murdoch, not using the injured left side, comes hard again with elbows on Doc. He stays selling too. More targeting the injured wrist. Commercial break. When we come back they’ve shaved at least a short amount of time because Doc has a left arm hammer lock on a downed Murdoch. Gilbert distracts the ref while Murdoch hits Doc’s arm with a mic stand from Ross’ desk. Creative . He does it again a minute later, so JR moves it. Haha. He doesn’t tell the ref, he just moves it. JR – journalistic integrity to not get involved in what he covers. Do I need to mention the commish is sitting next to JR?!

Doc’s hope spots are good in that it never looks like he can be taken out, only contained. I believe it with this babyface, and it’s fun watching Cpt. Redneck contain him. This time as he comes back Gilbert again does his histrionics, but now Murdoch grabs the ring bell as a weapon.

Looks like they missed something because Doc got a slam when it looked like Gilbert wanted to stop him and make it a quick hope spot. Doc continues and rolls all over Murdoch, who feeds him without being over eager. Nice change of pace. 15 minutes in, so we only got 3 cut from us.

Doc gets near falls with big punches, but falls victim to being posted. He blades under the ring as we go to commercial. We come back having missed most of the heat. We’re now 20 minutes in, so a few more were shaved.

A set up ref bump is obvious, but is executed well. Crowd pops big form this stuff. Eddie Gilbert gets hit with the cast. Murdoch gets hit with the cast. Ref crawls in and makes the count. Doc wins. I’m a little deflated by the end. Big Bubba is in for a stare down, which is cool. Akbar, Gilbert, and Murdoch kill Doc while Bubba watches. Dusty Rhodes hits the ring and fights for the babyface. I haven’t a clue why. He blades noticeably when they get heat on him. I roll my eyes. Dusty steals all the attention. I just wanted to see a good finish for Doc, who won, and yet didn’t. Couldn’t been a bias score from me, but it won’t be. 3 ¼ stars and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here