Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 102: Jerry Lawler & Dutch Mantel vs. Bill Dundee & Buddy Landel (3/10/86)

This was one of those really well built up matches that had months of angles and development behind it. We get a few of these with every ballot. The footage is there to show the build up in the extras, and that will increase the enjoyment and therefore theoretically my score. I’m thankful for the ability to see all of this, but I’m aware these matches have an unfair advantage. Enough disclaiming. On with the background.

After Dundee beat Lawler in the Loser Leaves town match, the most Lawler you see are videos he sends in every few weeks to update the fans on what he’s doing in other territories. He wishes he could be back in Memphis. In the meantime, Dundee has his own all star faction to back him up. Buddy Landell is around to dress the team up, and Dirty Dutch Mantell is something of an enforcer type.

They run all over Memphis and the replacement babyfaces with Lawler gone, until Landell costs Mantell a match. Landell doesn’t like “the redneck” anyway, and he convinces Dundee that Mantell is “cramping our style”. They turn on the Dutchman and bloody him up.

Lawler is asked to come back from his six month exile early by promoter Eddy Marlin after Dundee roughs up announcer Lance Russell. They get Lawler on the phone and Dutch gets together with him. Dutch also gives a great promo from home with Marlin talking about his babyface turn.

Somewhere in there Dundee and Landell attack a young Jeff Jarrett, who is learning through refereeing, and then they go after Jerry Jarrett’s one good eye. How EVIL!

Finally, Dundee and Landell bring their own desk to the studio and steal the show. The Bill and Buddy Show commentate on matches and run the show ten years prior to the NOW doing it. Lawler and Mantell attack them and they have a huge pull apart brawl leading up to this match.

I love the way this match starts. They pair off Mantell going after Buddy Landell and Lawler with Dundee. Those are the issues so that makes sense. Good detail. Dundee stalls and gets frustrated, knowing what is coming. He goes after Lance Russell at ringside, then slides back in the ring and goes after Ref Calhoun. He does anything to not go after Lawler, knowing he’s out gunned. So when they settle it down to start the actual match, it’s Landell that is forced to start with Lawler.

Both Dundee and Landell stooge like crazy for Lawler and Mantell. Lawler teases the pile driver while they totally dismantle Landell. Landell cheats to get ahead. Hoping they go back to the pile driver late. It’s Memphis – they will.

Dundee finally in with Lawler. He gets beat inside and out. The heels once again take short cuts to control. Pretty appropriate wrestle-to-war and back scenario. Lawler then sells a table head shot and choking. Lawler bleeds. Dundee is bloody too. Dundee pulls out a chain, but Lawler ducks and Landell eats it. Everyone must bleed. Crowd going nuts as Lawler hulks up. All four in the ring fighting. Nope – Dutch takes Dundee out into the crowd and back. Seems like they don’t know how to end this. The heels bounce around a bit more. I love Dundee eating Lawler’s shots and getting tossed out of the ring a bunch. Fans boo the finish as Landell can’t continue in 12 minutes. A LOT of police at ringside to control the crowd on this night. A very good tag that mixed hardcore with good tag wrestling well. Great feud match. 3 ¾ and 7.5/10.

Match Discussion Here