Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match #1: Bill Dundee vs. Larry Latham (4/19/80)

We kick off the first match in studio with Lance Russell and Dave Brown announcing. Nifty sign of the times is the split screen of each man in their respective corners of the ring during announcements.
Latham would go on to play a member of the tag team The Moondogs as Moondog Spot. They were Memphis’ answer to the Wild Samoans in my mind, as big mountain men, savage-like brawlers who could smash any opponent with punches. Latham was a big guy but not a body builder type. I should mention I’ve seen little of his work.

Dundee is a favorite of mine from Australia that was oddly similar to a short Elvis and worked Memphis just as well. Great technical and character work in the ring from Dundee, as well a talker. He was a centerpiece throughout Memphis’ glory days in the 80s. I’ve liked Dundee for years, but the Mid South Diaries matches really put him over the top for me.

Odd choice of white background for the studio set here in Memphis. In later years I know that changed somewhat. Russell rules on commentary making the details seem legitimate. Latham has B-52 on his but which I assume has to do with his Blonde Bombers heel tag team. Dundee’s tights have “Super” and then an actual star on them. Retro-cool.

Dundee’s technical wrestling is superior! Not what you’d expect from the rep Memphis wrestling gets and it works well in an intimate setting like a studio taping. Dundee controls the early minutes with arm work and head locks. Dundee’s takedowns are goo as he’s undersized here. Some great reality when Dundee tries to grab a sleeper and Latham scrambles away. Dundee had a great leg drop in there on a comeback.
Latham feeds Dundee passably, but this is more the Dundee studio show. His offense is all him and his selling is better than Latham. Latham’s offense isn’t killer here, but the fan’s buy into it. They get a great collision and double ten count spot in at around 8 minutes. If there was an ROH in Dundee’s day he’d be a mainstay (especially at his smaller size).

Latham kills Dundee’s knee 9 minutes in for his first strong sustained offense. Dundee sells real well until the end when he uses it to run and spring off the ropes for the finish. Oh well, it’s a work after all. Dundee with a reverse crossbody into a pin for the win. A good baseline of what to expect out of an average match on this set. 2 ½ and 5/10.

Match Discussion Here