This is one of the more famous matches in 80s Memphis history. Each man has put up his hair. There is no time limit and no DQ. It’s in a steel cage with Idol’s manager – a young Paul Heyman – on the outside. That is, after Heyman acts as though he’ll for some reason and the ref almost disqualifies Idol. This drives home the point that there will be NO outside interference. Finally, Idol has guaranteed he’ll refund the price of everyone’s ticket if he loses. That’s a lot of bucks.

I’ve seen this match twice now after this viewing and I’ve gotta say this match is more about the shock of the aftermath then the match itself. Lawler beats Idol pillar to post as Idol tries to escape. This goes on for five minutes or so and has excitement, but it isn’t gripping to me. There is crowd heat, but it’s mostly for Idol’s attempts at escaping the cage or running away. I’m not a fan of Idol’s selling and though it’s somewhat unfair to judge two punch/kick guys on MOVES, I didn’t see the flow of motion that makes me enjoy a match. That said, this would be my favorite part of the match until the end.

Idol gets the heat through an imaginary chain, which he used more than once in this match. I’m a fan of the fakery when it comes to pretending you have a chain in your tights and using it. Style points. Idol’s offense bores me and I’ve seen much better drama in several matches on this set. The crowd does start to rumble and build for Lawler eventually popping the strap down, but this whole middle bridge kinda bored me.

The finish is Lawler getting a visual pin after Idol pile drive the ref. The near falls in this weren’t where I wanted them to be in this match and I’m not sure why. Anyway, once the ref is gone and Idol is getting beaten up by Lawler Tommy Rich comes from under the ring and they beat up Lawler. They botch a stuff pile driver, but Idol does get the ref to make the official three count. Lawler loses the match and his hair.

The rest is just awkward as the crowd watches Lawler get beat up and have his head shaved. It’s a pretty amazing spectacle and I can see giving a high rating for the moment as a whole, but I’m not there with this match/angle. I’ve just seen too many great angles and moments in main event positions involving Lawler that were better than this one. The match itself is fine in thought and structure, but I found it uninspiring AGAIN. The post match bumps it up a bit, but I don’t see it as the penultimate Lawler feud/angle of the later 80s that others do. I needed Dundee or Mantell in one of these spots and I’m not sold on Rich completely and never bought into Idol. 3 ¼ and 6.5/10.

Match Discussion Here

This is the reprise of the last match, with the rules of the Bigelow vs Lawler classic that started the set. Same basic pairings and same general feelings as the last match. I found the Bigelow/Rich pairing far more fascinating than anything Lawler/Idol put together. Bigelow really works hard to be a freight train in this match, while Rich does great to stooge before getting guttural for the heel control.

The whole match is brawling all over the place. Crazy, out of control, and nothing to horrible. Like I said, pretty much same as the last match. Bigelow/Rich settles in to the main course in the ring, while Idol/Lawler do a lot of ringside brawling. No real pin attempts for the first 8 minutes. Great stuff with all four in the ring as they tie up Idol in the ropes, and then post Rich by the balls. That gets a pin fall. Lawler/Bigelow stand there just daring Rich to get up like they’re kings. Crowd counts along and Rich stays down on the outside for the fall. Lawler/Big win in a sprint. The best 8 minute death match with a neat booking twist of one fall. 3 ½ and 7/10.

Match discussion Here

Two rings with all four men going at each other at the same time. I guess each “match” is in a separate ring. You can trade at any time to switch the match up, but you can only go 2-on-1 for sixty seconds before a DQ. A goofy gimmick, but not all together terrible.

Tommy Rich works his ass off to make this match decent. I’m not inspired by another wild Memphis main event level brawl, but Rich makes me pay more attention to it. He bumps all over for the inexperienced Bigelow and bleeds for both men. He also saves Idol from beatings a few times as the Lawler/Bigelow team dominate the first ten minutes. Rich is the MVP while Idol adds next to nothing for me. Lawler does his usual great punches. This match suits him. Generally a lot of nothing goes on, but the fans are sucked in by the stars.

The match really picks up for me when they transition to the heels controlling. Rich does a good boxing spot with Bam Bam, while Idol finds a board with a nail in it. No, you are not watching an episode of the Simpsons. They really beat up and bloody Lawler with a board and nail. Very dramatic stuff.

Bam Bam’s comeback when the try to post Lawler by the balls is awesome. He really had it early on and had he been nurtured correctly and made better personal decisions he would have been a legend. A fiery comeback leads to Lawler popping the strap – and a bunch of ball shots. Lord Humongous (Memphis version) is out to give Idol a weapon. Boy, the Hum. get up is really gay. Anyways, it’s a DQ finish as the heels put Lawler in a noose and Bigelow gets handcuffed to the ropes. Rich is the star here. The faces locker room comes in to clear the ring. 3 ¼ and 6.5/10.

Match Discussion Here

So they were having a return match after all. I’m puzzled as to the finish of the last tag match these four had, but I’m glad the Birds are back. They got “their” match, too. Dug the last one. Looking forward to this one.

It’s a brawl from the start in street clothes. Gordy is so bad ass he makes Idol wait while he rams his own head into the turnbuckles. I’m shocked promoters saw this as toughness and not “exposing the business”. Wrestling is strange business.

Once it calms down we get a more typical tag match. Gordy makes Lawler look good. More impressive – Hayes makes everyone look good. Looks like they drew a huge crowd for this.

Hayes starts using his belt as a weapon. Hayes does the Moon Walk while Gordy works over Idol. The crowd is really hot. I’m not a fan of Idol at all, but the Freebirds make this interesting. It’s pretty much the same lay out as their last match. Faces clear the ring in a brawl. They let the Birds get some short heat and come back, and then Lawler sells. They even used Gordy on the apron hitting Lawler with the boot again. Gordy also beats up Lawler on the outside. It looked cool.

Lawler’s come back is a pile driver on Hayes. I must say Idol makes for an awesome partner on the apron as he leads the crowd in clapping and yelling. Fans are going crazy thinking Lawler is coming back, then Gordy just runs in and pile drives Lawler. Very clever use of the move here. Crowd in shock.

Idol gets in there eventually and ties up Hayes in the ring. He’s got scissors! He’s not gonna stab him though. He wants Hayes hair. Gordy comes in and bulldozes him. Hayes KOs the ref and Gordy holds Idol. They may have stabbed Ref Calhoun. The faces KO Gordy and Hayes with a cane. Chaotic scene. The Freebirds run away as Lawler chases them to the back. An expected, but disappointed, finish to a decent match. Great characters and personalities in a good specialized match. 3 ¼ and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here

Hell yeah. The Freebirds in Memphis. This was not their famed first run there, but a quick heel of the month stop in. And as we all know, if a big heel stops in for a week or two in Memphis, Jerry Lawler is getting fed. Austin Idol tags with Lawler to piggy back this “dream match”.

We brawl to start out. What a shocker. Not a bad thing, just predictable. Gordy and Hayes stooge a bit for Idol/Gordy and the powder out. Gordy working with Lawler is awesome. They reset and we get some traditional tag team action. Gordy is moving amazingly tonight. Offense or selling, he’s like a cat. Hayes sells huge for Lawler. Fans are buzzing, but this doesn’t have the big time feel it rightfully should have.

Idol violates the Freebirds with a cane, but the Freebirds take control a moment later. This is where Gordy shines in the ring, while Hayes rules on the apron. Good compelling action as the Lawler/Idol team find ways to outsmart the Freebird (and vice versa). Gordy hits as suplex on Lawler on the outside. This is a really good match. Lawler selling for a stretch is a lot better than Idol doing it. The Freebirds have their working boots on tonight.

Gordy hit Lawler with a wicked pile driver ten minutes in. Crowd is buzzing. He goes for it again. Idol gets the hot tag. Freebirds bounce around for both guys. Then it gets stupid. Lawler goes to throw fire at Hayes. This looks awkward and bad at the same time. He hits the ref, which actually came off well, but now the match has gone to shit. The Freebirds get to whipping Idol/Lawler. Gordy takes shoe of Randy Hales at ringside. This is pretty cool, but then Lawler just stops selling and takes the belt. Idol takes the shoe. How lame. I guess the Freebirds weren’t coming back so they didn’t want to leave it with a heel beat down. 3 ¼ and 6.4/10.

Match Discussion Here

Savage goes off at the start of this one. He beats down Idol with Angelo Poffo’s crutches, does the double ax handle off the top to the floor, and then does the elbow from the top rope.

I’ve figured out what I don’t like about Idol’s selling. He’s constantly angling to take head shots and he looks out of position for a lot of blows. It’s probably a style and generational thing, but a lot of guys sold great not only in the 80s, but in Memphis, so I feel it’s a valid concern. He certainly has the look and presence of a star though.

The story is Savage intensely dominating and staying on Idol, but not being able to get the pin. It’s a decent story the fans stick with, though the style loses me as a fan at times for what in my mind is sloppy selling or direction. Another big problem I have is ref Morton is just to old and slows down the pin fall attempts. In fact, the spots where Angelo Poffo distracts him are very awkward to watch too. I lose my suspension of disbelief.

Macho’s run and leap over the top rope while catching his opponents throat on that top rope was an awesome high spot for the time. Savage is a league or two above Idol for my money.

Idol comes back, and the match does improve. Fans love it either way. Idol somehow blocks an atomic drop and puts Savage in the “Las Vegas Leg Lock” which looks curiously just like a figure four. Ref Morton calls for the bell as Savage sells the damage perfect. New International Champion, Austin Idol. 2 ¾ and 5/10.

Match Discussion Here

Big time players in the big time arena with Lance Russell on the mic. It’s game time.
Lots of little cat and mouse distraction to start. Macho finally catches Idol. Savage is quick and athletic as hell here. Oddly enough he drops the big elbow from the top rope as one of his first offensive moves. It gets little reaction. Poor placement?

Idol gains an advantage by posting Savage on the outside as they brawl. Savage is carrying the offense and the selling in this one. He’s making the match, for better or worse. Good scrapping either way.

Idol starts bleeding off a belt shot (International title) on the outside. I never realized Savage’s father, Angelo Poffo, had managed him so much before the WWF run. He’s distracting Idol here. The Savage offense and bloody selling of Idol gets a nice sustained reaction from fans. One or two good near falls mixed in there.

Idol gets a slow small package for a hope spot, but I’m not impressed with him in this match. It’s all Savage making this one look good. Maybe I’m just not a fan of “the Heartthrobs” selling style, since he’s way over with the fans. Idol comes back, with good crowd presence, to a solid reaction. The stuff he does is punch/kick, but it’s appropriate for the match. You would not believe how dirty and disgusting the Memphis canvas ring is. It looks diseased.

Idol picks apart Macho’s leg after a missed move and the match becomes ten times more interesting. Poffo gets involved, and boy does that take forever. Macho gets a mystery chain, hits Idol, and gets the win in 13 minutes. 3 ¼ and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here

Bunkhouse match means anything goes. This is a rematch from our last match, where a horrible finish had Idol winning after Hansen had already won.

Russell: “Boy Hansen, spitting bullets tonight”. Classic.

Hansen takes the early advantage, getting a good heel reaction with his yell and Longhorns in the air. The retaining wire gets involved, used as a device to choke Hansen. Both guys are wearing jeans and tee shirts for this brawl. Hansen pulls a rope from his boot at the five minute mark and tries to choke out Austin Idol. Ref Morton gets involved and gets tied to the turnbuckle by his throat! Idol pulls out a tire tool but it gets used on him. This sends Eddie Marlin out to dive on Hansen and put a stop to this – Officially. He gets the Western Lariat for his trouble.

Idol comes back to defend Marlin by beating Hansen up with the tire iron, and Hansen just bails. Another bad finish to an average no DQ match. The highlight was the last minute, which was more fascinating or notable then good. 2 ½ stars and 5/10.

Match Discussion Here

Hansen set this up with Idol through our last match on the ballot. Hansen stalls to get heat, yelling that he doesn’t want the bullrope taped to his wrist. There is a cow bell in between the two in the middle of the rope. Never seen that before, but I imagine it’s a weapon.

Hansen ends up struggling and getting posted early. Good work by him to be in the right places. He’s playing to the crowd well. He ends up getting choked by the rope, but commands the bell and starts smashing Idol with it. Idol’s got a cut opened up above his eyes. He bumps around well, but the rope of course causes some work problems for the guys. The story is always an Idol comeback after Hansen beats him and touches three of the four corners, Jimmy Hart stuffs a Idol comeback with powder he gives to Hansen to throw. This match is for the International Heavyweight. Which may be a Japanese belt. Hansen is bleeding too.

Just like that, it’s over. Idol puts up a good fight at the finish, but Hansen touches the fourth turnbuckle to win. No. It’s reversed for some reason, and the fans really give it to Hansen. He, in turn, throws a fit. No idea why it was reversed, and I was uninspired by the match as compared to the potential it had. 3 ¼ and 6.2/10.

Match Discussion Here

Idol is famous in the Gulf Coast and Memphis areas, doing a gimmick based off his body and Superstar Billy Graham. Hansen is a legendary bad ass based much of the time in the AWA, but far more famous in All Japan. Ventura was a bad wrestler, a decent color commentator, and an infamous politician.
Hansen isn’t afraid to show some ass for the Lawler/Idol team, which isn’t how I know him. I know him as a killer from Japan. I guess Hansen/Ventura were in as a trade from the AWA. It’s also noted Austin Idol is the Southern Heavyweight Champ at the time.

Match isn’t much to write home about, but the personalities in the ring allow for the crowd to be vocal past the actual wrestling. Ventura and Hansen know how to play heel. There’s a lot of goading Idol into the ring to distract from a Lawler beating. Idol finally gets the hot tag after Lawler uses a cane to free himself. Idol sells for a while (bear hugs bore me) and then the King gets in to play superman.

Austin Idol has really good dramatic movements. His moves would have found a home in the WWF if he traveled. That’s a whole story in itself. Ventura is worthless in the ring, but did have “the body”.
Hansen chokes out Idol with a rope for the DQ and sets up our next match in the set. Big meelee to close the match with Idol getting to beat Jimmy Hart. The guys go all over Cook Convention Center. It’s far better then the match itself. 2 ¼ and 4/10.

Match Discussion Here