Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 88: Jerry Lawler vs. Randy Savage (Loser Leaves Town) (6/3/85)

These men actually had many matches throughout the first half of 1985 in Memphis. Savage was something of an early Brian Pillman Loose Cannon-type character at this time, terrorizing Japanese photographer Jimmy Suzuki and Lance Russell during different times at the studio show. They’d been building this up little by little over the last few months, some of which appears on an extras disk on this set. Lawler’s neck is damaged at one point, but he manages to come back a few weeks later.

Finally, in the big hype the Saturday before the match, Lawler does an awesome sit down interview with Lance Russell where he reveals the Loser Leaves Town stip. He basically says that with being out a year, he would not want to tour other territories, and there for would retire if he lost. They show an awesome music video reliving the Lawler-Dundee LLT match, and show the finish to a match with Eddie Gilbert which banished Jimmy Hart from Memphis do to the stipulation. Jackie Fargo told him as a rookie to save his money, and if he has to retire he can. They detail the history of Lawler and Savage.
This is just awesome. Savage comes out at the end for a face off that has big time fight written all over it.

No DQ, no ref, no time limit. Loser Leaves Town for a minimum of one year.

Savage stalls for much of the first 5-7 minutes. He’s an active staller though, so he moves around a lot at ringside. Simple story early. Savage throws a punch, gets blocked. Lawler counters and lands.
Savage gains an advantage off a double-bump midway through this one and just opens up on Lawler with punches. Lawler is busted open and they really milk it, as Savage throws boxing-style punches for minutes that number in the hundreds. Russell on commentary really puts over that this would be stopped under normal circumstances. The crowd is buzzing, hoping for a Lawler comeback.

They do an excellent fake finish where Jerry Calhoun stops the match due to Lawler’s busted eye. Lawler keeps selling the beating, but grabs the mic a minute later and notes this match can’t be stopped. Fans are throwing trash in the ring and officials are out to check with Lawler. The place goes from being hot at the finish to going nuts for a restart. Very cool reality –based moment.

Savage keeps punching but Lawler hulks up and makes the Superman comeback to an absolutely huge reaction. Punches, two fists from the second rope, and a pile driver. 1-2-3 Lawler wins. The place explodes. Great story, if sometimes a bit of a slower match (a good part of the middle was clipped out, which will hurt it unfairly in ballot placement). 4 stars and 8/10.

Match Discussion Here