Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 149: Dick Murdoch vs. Barry Windham (7/11/87)

Jim Ross and a heel Terry Taylor are on commentary for this match. They would be invaluable in helping elevate an already good match for the Western States Heritage Title. Off we go:
Taylor as a heel gets over the subtleties of wrestling. He says something about fear of getting hurt making you panic the minute you feel pain. Whatever it was, it worked.

It’s a tragedy Dick Murdoch probably wouldn’t have a major job if he came up today. In fact, I think he’d be underneath Trevor Murdoch in the WWE. Dick Murdoch is KING-Sized (as was once cool to say) with his arm submissions. They look like legit Japanese shoot moves, and he really gets them over. Windham is solid too, and he works Murdoch’s arm when turnabout is appropriate, but he’s a step or two off early. Nothing major, just that Dick’s arm drags, holds, and his selling are leading the match. Perhaps it’s because he’s the heel.

They put over little things on commentary which make ten minutes of simple moves look and feel important. Also, the star presence helps keep the crowd verbal. Ross puts over the title while stressing you also get a # 1 contender to the World belt contract if you win.

Murdoch gets sick of the arm work on him, so he does the best standing elbows in the business to Windham. Great selling even while on offense from Murdoch, who gets drop kicked for his strikes. He figures it out a moment later when rolling out of the ring and taking Windham’s arm with him. Damn commercial break # 2.

They are still trading crazy arm submissions when we come back. No one ever tapped to anything back then, but it’s still nice to see. These are not run-of-the mill headlocks after all. Besides, Murdoch is turning them into pins. Windham is reversing them. Murdoch threatens a punch, and Windham is savvy enough to elbow or head butt the twisted arm of Murdoch.

I’m not a fan of Windham running the ropes here. It looks awkward. Still, it’s amazing to see an equally big guy like Murdoch drop down then get up for a drop kick. He finally starts punching too, just hidden from the ref. Murdoch is picking him apart storyline wise.

Windham breaks out of a crossface chicken wing, runs the ropes well, and ends up with a high spot for this match. Both men continue to go back to arm holds/submissions. Murdoch is striking while he has the holds on more, but he’s not the only one. They’ve certainly set the bar low on high spots and build a solid match story/base to work off of.

Here’s a jumping off point: Windham with a neck breaker for a hope spot. Murdoch sells it big (gets up and trips backwards), then Windham gives one of his first punches. That right there was a two count! This is building back down (in tone, not the work) in a good/smart way. No need to do something huge now, as the crowd counts with the ref as Murdoch is almost counted out. Punch battle on the floor. Crowd is hot for them at the right times. They’re back in the ring, and eventually both sell laid out. 20 minutes in – more in reality (clipping).

Windham gets the worst in a collision and Murdoch gets the advantage for a few moments. They trade pin attempts a few times. It’s a well paced double worn down brawl now. Murdoch gets the better, but Windham won’t stay down. Murdoch is out on his feet. Windham in control, but Murdoch goes for flash pins. Crowd not as hot as I’d think.

Murdoch is brilliant. He actually stalls out climbing to the top rope and plays it as loss of energy/drained/weak. Windham presses him off the top. He goes for the figure four. Murdoch makes the ropes and hits Windham with a mic while Gilbert runs interference. 25 minutes in, Windham blades. Commercial break # 2000 it seems.

Back, Ross says they’ve got 4 minutes of TV time. Windham is being peppered by Murdoch elbows to the head. He’s bleeding and the crowd is behind him. Here comes the comeback. They take out Murdoch’s leg. D.M. hits Windham with the belt. The sell in opposite corners. 2 minutes left. It’s ON!

B.W. grabs DM and throws on the figure four. He’s got it on a while. 1 minute left! DM makes the ropes. Murdoch takes charge. He checks the time. Elbows Windham. Brainbuster. Covers Windham. He’s got the three but Gilbert has the ref distracted. He would have won. The bell rings to end in a time limit draw. 30 minutes shown of who knows how many (45?). Gutsy booking call here. Both guys lay prone on the mat. Ross puts over the match on camera.

A very good slow paced simple but complex match. I’ve said a mouthful already. I don’t think they needed to do more moves or high impact stuff. In many ways the physical escalation of moves was perfect. The story was there. I was left feeling that there was more they could have done when they did bring it above second gear. Perhaps I’m a victim of my own ECW and ROH Era. Than again, I tend to zone out at “Movez matches”. In any case I thought there was something missing, and maybe it was Windham’s charisma or story getting over. This was Murdoch leading and teaching a talented by not quite there yet Windham. He had the physical tools, but the effort wasn’t all there on his side for me. 3 ¾ and 7.1/10.

Match Discussion Here