Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 112: Jerry Lawler vs. Eddie Gilbert (No DQ) (3/28/88)

Joined in progress from the Mid South Coliseum. Crowd is hot, but you can see they are way down. There are seats and sections everywhere with no people in them. Memphis was slowly dying as an arena attraction at this point.

Each man does a promo tease involving fire at the start. Well, I guess we had to have a match based around fire. It’s a prerequisite for Memphis and Jerry Lawler. I’ve never gotten the babyface throwing fire first for no reason, and I’ll state that up front.

Early story is Gilbert keeps losing the lock ups to Lawler and fears the King going to his tights to throw fire. Even when he lands a punch he runs away and almost gets counted out. Missy Hyatt is with him and she looks the best I’ve seen her in over a decade. A young Missy was like Tammy Sytch in 1996.

Gilbert gains the advantage after a while and beats down Lawler. Nothing to write home about but they both knew how to throw punches and pace everything. The big spot is Gilbert tying Lawler’s neck to the turnbuckle and punching the crap out of him. That was pretty cool. Lawler pops the strap after that and Gilbert does cartoonish bumps off the famed Lawler punches. I’m not really into that style of bumping, especially in a more serious match like this, but it was decently effective.

Here’s where they lose me. Lawler gives Gilbert the piledriver because it’s no DQ. That should be a KO. But them Gilbert moves out of the way of the fist drop from the second rope. He’s fine. No ill effects. Meanwhile Lawler stays down like he’s dead from the fist drop miss. WTF? I know they were stalling for the fire spot, but get it together quicker guys. Even worse was the fact Gilbert wanted one of Missy’s shoes, but some guy stopped that from happening, and that took over a minute of standing around. Flash paper and a lighter should take about 10 seconds. What’s the hold up?

Lawler throws the fire, and at least that looks decent, and wins by count out when Gilbert and Hyatt leave after he’s burned. What a babyface. What a finish. What-EVER! 2 ½ and 5/10.

Match Discussion Here