Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Lex Luger vs. Dick Murdoch (Power Hour 11/10/89)

Jim Cornette and a more sports oriented, less hyperbolic Jim Ross on commentary. Talk about a dream team, and they helped paint the match’s picture completely for me. The first few minutes is as simple as punches and wrist locks, and the story works so perfectly. You can totally buy into Murdoch as this tough babyface who sells a punch like gold, but when he gets back up Luger better run – and does. Also dug the technical arm work of Murdoch and the way he’d wrench that thing while Luger kinda sells. Other than a body, Luger had no presence or believability to me. This match is Murdoch leading Luger through the paces.

I popped when Murdoch finally unleashed those big punches (with a great elbow beforehand). Ross promotes Dr. Death vs Sid Vicious on an upcoming Saturday show. This I must see on a comp some day. The crowd is really behind Murdoch, which is fun to see. Luger really sold he knee great there for a minute. As in, I’d really like to see more people sell a knee that well for a period of time. Murdoch’s block of a suplex using the ropes is another realistic thing I’d like to see more in modern day matches. Luger’s work on the back to build for the torture rack all made sense to me, and kinda gave him more of a dimension than he had later in his career. I’d definitely say Luger carried his end of this one. The ref seemed to be smarter as Luger tried to cheat, and the announcing was more informed, and it made me like this good, but not great match more than some “better” matches. The double-DQ finish was a bummer, but I’ll live.