Dick Slater and Dark Journey are mid-ring with Jim Ross. He’s interviewing the two because it’s the finals of the TV tournament. But more importantly, Slater is the new North American Champion. He beat Butch Reed. Slater says he wants both the N.A. title and the TV title, even if Mid South says he can’t hold both. If that’s true then why did they let you come out for the match, sir? You goose!

Slater starts hot and heavy attacking Jake and chopping him on the outside. Slater moves as gracefully as William Regal. He tries for the cover early but Jake’s foot is on the ropes. Of course subsequent pinfall attempts involve tights-holdng. Beautiful neck breaker by Slater as Jake tries a comeback.

Jake with a back body drop off a Slater back body drop attempt, but Jake is a pro so he sells. He lets Slater cut him off and THEN gets an atomic drop a minute later. Jake looks thinner and in shape here too. Fans want the DDT. All his punches, the knee lift, and kicks out of the corner have A LOT of purpose. Jake goes after the interfering Dark Journey and Slater goes back on offense.

Jake hits a DDT out of nowhere minute later and wins the TV title clean in the middle. God, they still have that silly medal. That was about a five minute sprint, but it did tell a story and everything was well defined. Fun stuff. 2 ½ and 5/10.
Match Discussion Here

Match # 99: Dick Slater vs. Butch Reed (1/1/86)

So the last match Slater had won the title from Butch Reed, but here Reed has the ugly belt. It says it all happened the same day, so perhaps these are air dates. Either way Reed is your champion and all around good guy here. Slater has valet Dark Journey and a gravel voice.

Slater and Reed are both in the ring. Jim Ross is interviewing Slater. Dark Journey, for those who care, actually looks hot here. Nice tight red top and mini skirt. I’m usually not much for her one way or the other. Slater complains he’s always putting up something to get at Reed, and this time its Dark Journey for 30 days. Ross somewhat admonishes him. Apparently the title isn’t on the line now, but Reed agrees to put it up and stupid ol’ Grizzley Smith agrees. So it’s the North American title vs Dark Journey for 30 days. Slater gets booed big time. Reed shows some charisma (he signals Dark Journey will be shining his shoes, so he’s a pretty progressive black man, huh?).

Dick Slater is awesome. He bumps around for hip tosses and big power slams and then yells and holds his back as he runs to the outside. Still taking the old sell approach to punches to the face and the third is a slow fall, but I’ll live. Watts on commentary does mention the Jake match “next week”, so this and Match #98 are out of order.

Butch Reed and Duggan are the same reason # 231: Watts constantly says both are “Walking Tall” because he’s obsessed with his Cowboy nonsense. So says the Northeasterner that I am, living near Philly and NYC.

Slater drops a desperate elbow off the ropes and takes over. He puts together some good stuff, and I like the way it seems he’s working hard to contain a fire in Reed. As if Reed could dominate him even half dead, so he won’t give him that inch even on the ground. Slater goes for the spinning toe hold and Reed kicks him off. Both take their time so the crowd goes nuts. Reed quick to the punch gains control. Two moves later Reed kills Slater with a pile driver. Slater sells it to perfection. Reed continues to go at him, but hams it up a bit for the crowd. Watts puts over that it’s a receipt for Flair and Slater going after Butch Reed’s neck in the fall. This match just pumped a half a star.

Reed does a shoulder block that knocks him back a bit, and then he sells too. That’s what I hate about Reed and some wrestling lay out of the time. Reed’s BIG MOVE is the shoulder block missile, yet a regular one against a smaller man (hence why you do the shoulder block) hurts him too at times. I find it stupid. That said, once they are both down they can milk the count and crowd to a fevered pitch, which I imagine was the goal. Its how they went about it I take issue with.

Slater with the cradle pin and Reed reverses for a two. Atomic drop on Reed and another double ten count. Great timing calls on both. Slater goes for the figure four and it’s on. HOT crowd. Reed reverses the pressure. They sell it brilliant as they both try to stand on weaker knees. Slater tries to run the ropes but his knee is bad, so he misses Reed and Reed rolls him up off the ropes. A roll through and it’s Slater on top. Again, this is why I hate Reed. He’s holding the tights next to the ropes while HE’S pinned! Why are you helping him with leverage and also not grabbing the rope to break the count.
It’s all made worse by the fact Slater is suppose to be the ne grabbing the tights, but that wasn’t my focus as a fan. Slater gets the three.

I’m about to kill someone but the ref says no fall. Slater is already outside with Dark Journey. Thank you. It can’t end like that, not as a fan, but for the sake of my ballot.

Back inside Reed meets Slater with fists. He goes for the “spear” shoulder, but misses Slater and hits the turnbuckle. Slater pins but is pressed off by Reed. Slater lands on the ref with a knee, which Watts says was intentional (it was supposed to be, but Reed pressing him right there was too obvious a co-op.) Slater gets Dark Journey’s shoe and smashes Reed for the pin and a lot of crowd boos.

Up and down match for me that was awesome at times, and very frustrating at others. Overall I liked it and the finish was very skin of your teeth Flair-esque to me, which I liked. 3 ½ and 7.3/10.

Match Discussion Here

It looks like the Babyface Butch Reed was set to have a friendly run of the mill match with the evil Buzz Sawyer when Sawyer demands they have a dog collar match while the two are in the ring. Smart, considering he’s recently beaten Hacksaw Duggan, the other big fan favorite in Mid South, in a recent dog collar match. Butch Reed accepts as long as the fight is No Disqualification. Sawyer, who acts and looks like what you’d imagine a serial killer is, seems pleased with himself.

Tug of war and Reed gets the advantage early with forearms, punches, and choking with the chain. Sawyer was really good at going from imposing to selling, while still keeping a tough guy aura about him. Fans are vocal early as the hero pounds on Sawyer.

Nothing mind blowing in what is done, but it’s not suppose to be. A violent match that it seems Sawyer is a great architect at building as a heel. Reed actually mounts him and grates the chain over his face. Sawyer is busted open and staggers to sell the blood loss.

Sawyer gets an opening and takes Reed right to the floor. Biting, barricade shots, and otherwise violence with the chain. “GO Reed GO” chant from fans. They’re practically in the crowd. Sawyer drags Reed in and they do a good visual of Reed bumping for each chain-wrapped fist.

Reed makes a comeback and drops fist after fist (wrapped in chain) on Sawyer. Here’s where it loses me. Neither guy is a cardio machine and its showing. They also seem to run out of ideas or momentum, and Sawyer makes a full comeback after a million fists of chain to the head. It’s a quality control lapse not usually seen in Mid South. Sawyer tries twice to throw Reed to the floor, but Reed won’t go through the middle ropes. He just hits and stays. O-kay. He sends him down, and they start talking after Sawyer almost hits him in the face legit on another miscommunication.

They get it back after the pow-wow. Sawyer misses a move off the second rope and Reed capitalizes. Lots of silly looking chain shots to the gut and head first turnbuckle shots. Both go down after a clumsy shoulder block spot. Reed goes to the outside and the clever Sawyer puts his dog collar on the bottom rope (tied like it had been to his neck). Reed is trapped, Sawyer takes advantage with a big finisher, and he gets the win.

Post match Dick Slater is put to attack since that feud is still going on. Sawyer hits Reed with the chain until Hacksaw Duggan makes the save, and the fans go bonkers for him. The heels get the better of him too and deliver an awesome chain clothesline to him. They leave when Reed recovers.

Match was pretty good. It was quite as good as the Duggan-Sawyer dog collar, and I still don’t believe Reed is a top level worker with all opponents, but he wasn’t horrible here. I did like the finish too. Not a match to write home about, but it had its moments early. 2 ¾ and 5/10.

Match Discussion Here

I love the idea of Reed & Ladd teaming. It has that officially passing the heel torch feel. Both are good in their own ways. I remember Brown fondly as a face from late World Class/USWA, including an angle where he was knocked out and dressed like a lady in the ring. No idea who Master Gee is, but some of these men have not been following the wellness policy.

They establish right away that Ladd is the wily vet who runs his team. In fact, Ladd’s work/facials/talking make the first few minutes. It’s not great. Its slow motion, the faces stink, and Reed doesn’t get together with them well on running in. But Ladd works smart and takes a few key bumps. Ernie Ladd was an intellectual worker.

Reed gets a tag and that bulky HHH moment where you know he’d be pretty good if he didn’t carry so much muscle. Contrarily, it’s his mouth that makes his selling and ring presence great. He has to do little as the people bought in long ago.

My praise for the heels aside, this match sucks. It’s great in an old school psychology way. If you love wrestling in territories, or you love the thought process to laying out matches and being great territorial heels, it’s worth the view. But the babyfaces are paint-by-numbers crap being lead through a match. It isn’t like Reed & Ladd’s stuff is on par physically or stylistically with the midnights or Dibiase.

Back and forth test of strength stuff till Ladd gets the heel heat with a ‘well placed” knee to the back. Brick House Brown projects a pretty good babyface in peril selling, so it got better with this structure.

Brown almost gets a hot tag, but Hacksaw Reid throws an awesome All Japan-esque suplex. He follows with a great swinging neckbreaker. Reed could have been great under different circumstances. If only wrestling did reward size and often lead to substance abuse. Then again, that’s like saying if football was played with a basketball, Michael Jordan would have been awesome. Also, Ladd’s leg drop was amazing.

Hot tag to Gee, who only has a drop kick going for him. Wait, he has a good, but slow as all hell, roll up pin too. The refs looking right at this and not counting! Beck breaks it up so Ladd can get the pin.
Every Mid South house show match had the exact same layout for tags. This was on the less impressive end. 2 ¾ and 4/10

We know the issue. Slater is on the mic (voice like a gravel swallower) before this North American title match. I guess he still didn’t get his $50,000 bounty from Flair because he couldn’t take out Reed in their last match. Slater is willing to send manager Dark Journey to the back to prove he can beat the champ by himself. My guess is we’ll see her again.

Tommy Gilbert is the ref. Not sure where this is from but we have two new announcers. Wait, we are in Houston.

Reed is pumped from the beginning. I still have trouble getting into the character. Reed’s exaggerated punches would be at home in the WWF of the time. Slater sells sort of cartoony, especially face first for a punch. Nothing horrible, just not my style of work.

Great. More front face lock fun from Reed. They promo Jerry Lawler on a Houston card two days after Christmas. Reed beats Slater on the outside. He threw him over the top and into the steel barricade. Both would have been DQ in normal match, and they do put that over. Suplex back in and a neck breaker from the champ. Crowd quiet and nothing much to react to in terms of the flow.

Five minutes in. Slater, the heel, uses his boots to temporarily blind Reed. But before I can get into the heel heat the CLIP THE MATCH. Same place as last time: right where we start the heel heat. That had to be a few minutes if this was any good. We come back and the crowd is a bit hotter, as Reed is in control and pile drives Slater. He tries for another and Slater blocks it. Now he’s fine, going for the Figure Four. Wasn’t he just pile driven in 1985? When Reed stops him with a bunch Slater does the dead weight fall for a bump, which I really like but I’m realizing his how he “dramatically” sells everything. Unfortunately not protecting it makes it cartoonish to me.

The bump each other off a slow shoulder block, and not Reed’s diving finisher type body block. Dark Journey is outside with Slater now. She may have given him an object, but who knows. He’s back in and he just sells punches and a press slam. If she gave him anything he sucks as a bad guy. BTW, I figured about 6-8 minutes were clipped from listening to the time announcements.

Another shoulder block and the slow moving Slater gets him foot on the rope during a pin. They do a punch where Reed and Slater fall all over each other. This is amateur hour. So much worse than their other match a month before.

Okay, the do a ref bump when Reed presses Slater off after a two count. Slater just drops an elbow on Gilbert (No DQ) once he’s down. He pulls out the knux, though I’m not sure why he had to hide them or wait till the ref was down. Knux shots till the pin. Karl Fergie is in to count it (since wrestlers just pin guys without a ref to count making them look silly even in the context of wrestling). Fergie counts two but Tommy Young manages to stop him. Great, I already hate Gilbert as a ref and now they manage to screw up this contrived count with over thinking of the spot.

Clumsy confusion and I’m hoping this ends somehow with intrigue. Karl Fergie pulls Reed to the ringside floor. Gilbert is still woozy. Slater and Dark Journey in the ring irate. Fans aren’t even that hot. Grizzley Smith comes out to talk to the refs. Reed apparently left ringside off camera. Grizzley has the N.A. Title and gets on mic to say Butch Reed is still the champion. That’s it.

Fuck this match. I can’t believe this was on the set, or that I now have something to compare with the scaffold match. So below what this set has set as the standard. 1 star and 2/10.

http://board.deathvalleydriver.com/index.php?showtopic=42369

Remember how Flair wanted to pay Dick Slater to take out Butch Reed? Well Reed wasn’t completely taken out, and this babyface wants some revenge. There’s a lot of heat behind this angle and the players here, so there’s no better place to have the match than in Houston at a Paul Boesch show. In fact, Boesch will commentate. Excellent.

We start with Paul Boesch setting the stage Slater is on the outside looking in and glaring. He’s with Dark Journey (not a very sexy dresser, but a pretty girl). The crowd is giving it to Slater, but perhaps not as bad a Reed in the ring. He’s got a neck brace on, but that doesn’t stop him from yapping. He’s pumped. Slater hesitantly gets in the ring. The atmosphere for this is great.

Stare down here with the ref in the middle. Very intense. Reed gets him in the corner and Slater has a fun spot where he bounces legs on the rope and then on the floor and back. Reed’s neck not playing a part. Bummer. Slater bails out and throws a chair. Back in, they pause before locking up. Very veteran move. Reed works on Slater’s left arm. Slater really is an entertaining heel here, especially when he sells.

Slater gains control and goes right for that neck. All moves focused on the neck, including a neck breaker, and he pulls the brace off. That’s good since Reed was moving the neck far to much anyway and not grasping at it in pain.

Clipping!! I thought it started with a bit of clipping, but this was a jump cut to Slater on the ground with blood. Missed some stuff. Slater has a crazy act at times, which I like. He moves well and acts at times like he’s out of it trying offense. Reed is methodical taking it to him, milking it for the crowd. It’s definitely a less is more style, but it’s not quite the grudge match it should be. Where is Reed’s passion? This man went after your neck. As I say that he hammers Slater in the corner. He sends Slater off the ropes and Slater desperately sends Reed into Karl Fergie for a decent ref bump. It’s middle of the road only because Fergie was too concerned about bracing for it and didn’t bump out of the ring very convincingly, but the fans of the day probably didn’t notice.

Slater goes for a pile driver on the outside, and instead of the back body drop, Reed just stays with punches. He throws Slater back in the ring. This is my problem with Reed. He’s so hit and mss to me with passion, desire, knowing what to do next (instincts), and believability – his own buy in factor to increase mine towards him as a characters. If he believes it and feels it, then I will be more likely to do so in the TV context. That’s the intangible most people don’t mention in the argument as to why Ric Flair was so great.

Slater gets moving to bump Reed coming after him, but Reed hits that big shoulder block. Dark Journey in to stop the Reed momentum, and now Reed is gonna get him some Dark Journey. Slater crawls to
Reed and hits him with a sweet low blow. Slater is making this match work even with clipping and Reed being odd to me. Pin attempt and Tommy Gilbert is in to make the count for injured Tommy Gilbert. 1…2..no. Crowd pops. This has a WWE PPV pay-off feel. Dick Slater tullys Reed into Tommy Gilbert (thank you), but when he tries again to pile drive Reed he gets punched with a great KO blow. Ref Karl Fergie back in for the pin count. Reed wins, though Slater does the lame thing some old territory guys do where they kick out of the last second and then pop up. Seems to be some heat under the match, though I’m not sure if it’s legit. It gets played as storyline since Slater gets a chair and Reed ends up trying to hit him with it. Some African-American gentlemen in the front row seem like they’d like a piece Mr. Slater, who looks as racially sensitive as every redneck heel was in those days. 3 and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here

I guess they scheduled another taping while Ric Flair was still in town, since this is listed as happening only 2 days after the last TV taping. It’s supposed to be a non-title match between Flair and journeyman Al Perez. Fascinating to see Jim Ross call the famed Dibiase/Murdoch/Flair angle two days before then stand in the ring announcing this match with Flair feet away. Twenty three years later Jim Ross would give poetic commentary that accompanied the final match of Ric Flair’s career, a bit of perfection that night, and unique coincidence here.

Jim Ross makes sure to says Al Perez twice, since he sees Butch Reed walking into the ring. Reed isn’t mistaken, but he wants a piece of Flair after being to injured a “week ago” thanks the nefarious heel tactics. Flair calls Reed “monkey” without emphasis. Um..okay then. Reed calls him “boy”, but it doesn’t seem that equal. Flair tries to take the mic, but Reed won’t have it. He wants a fight without Dick Slater’s inference for Flair. Flair would, but he’s scheduled to face Perez, see. Another thinly veiled racial comment from Flair. So odd in today’s world. I know he’s a heel, but when HHH/Flair tried this on Booker T in 2003, it got the wrong responses and was dropped.

There is a cool wrap up as Reed dares Flair to jump him from behind. Flair takes his belt off, asks Ross if he looks like the kind of guy that would do that, then runs to do it. Reed turns and clobbers Flair. It’s on!

Bill Watts on commentary puts this match over. He mentions his pal, Dusty Rhodes. Reed punches Flair all over this ring and the fans react. We see Flair call a back-slide for Reed as he chops. He’s looking to calm it down after the pinfall, and Reed starts the fans clapping. These people love Reed, but they don’t get to crazy.

Test of strength. No, Slick Ric is the direst player in the game. Flair starts getting the heat on Reed. He’s strutting and prancing. Flair sends him to the floor after a beating in the corner. Story is Reed has a bad knee (seem familiar) and will he be able to overcome and be the first black champ?

This isn’t even for the title. It’s for a possible shot. They’re even running out of TV time so you get two spots for every segment they run at a house show. Flair’s long heel heat is over. Of course the hot babyface start is long gone. Reed’s made his hope spot (extended) comeback. They’ve gone back and forth with reversals off of running the ropes, and they’ve both been down for a short rest. We’re looking to go back and forth to the finish I’d guess.

Flair back in control with Watts cheerleading. Butch blocks a suplex and gives one of his own. Slow to the cover and count. Flair’s foot on the ropes. The crowd stopped reacting. Reed beat son him, but Flair’s desperation atomic drop equals him. Reed runs the ropes, back and forth, and unleashes a big shoulder block. Flair takes it heavy and well. Reed covers and pins Flair clean! Flair can’t believe and shakes his head no. Fans go crazy and Reed celebrates. In comes Dick Slater to attack Reed. Flair holds him, Slater headbutts the ref, and the evil heels get their heat back. This ties into the angle where Flair will pay Slater to pay off his challengers.

A good TV match with a satisfying match ending and the heels continuing the story. Wasn’t a perfect match, but few matches are. Good 6 minute TV match that accomplished just as much as that 60 minute draw in the Super Dome I hated. In fact, it’s about the same impact and wrestling story content for me, and I feel it’s about the same score. 6 minutes of 60 minutes, sometimes longer isn’t better when your face looks dead in spots and looks silly at the finish. And short doesn’t have to mean not enough, as Mid South had hot TV matches with angles/booking magic. 2 ¾ and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here

The rematch of one of my favorite Mid South matches on the set (Match # 75). If Reed holds up his end I’ll be very pleased because that would be three in a row in my mind. Not sure if Murdoch is full heel by now, but it has been a few weeks. He’s still the North American Champion it appears. Reed has something on the line to, but I’ll have to find out later. It looks like an Olympic medal to signify a title.

Early lock ups are good and done with purpose. Nothing crazy or mind blowing. Headlocks that Murdoch sells as almost taking him off his feet. Reed works on Murdoch’s arm like he started doing early in the last match (arm wringer & arm bars). Awesome story telling detail. This time it’s Murdoch who is put in a long arm/shoulder lock and threatens a punch. After getting to his feet he threatens a punch again, and winces like Reed till he’s taken down. He tries an arm drag takeover, but Reed hangs on and roles through. Murdoch did the same thing last time, except he ate a few elbows. Also, Reed hangs on a second time. Full role reversal.

Murdoch makes the ropes and sells the shoulder. Quick lock up and Reed messes with the shoulder again. Murdoch glares at him. Then again. They continue the story in reverse. They said something about a TV title only being on the line the first 15 minutes, so maybe that’s Reed’s medal.

Ten minutes gone by in the match. I like that Murdoch tries a quick roll up to get outta town the minute he has a slight advantage, but Reed stays on Murdoch shoulder. Murdoch’s big counter are overhead elbow strikes. Did Murdoch and Stan Hanson ever team? Would have been awesome. Ya think Steve Austin idolized those guys?

Reed keeps Murdoch in the key lock position on the ground and standing, and though Murdoch tries to body slam Reed, he can’t get him up with one arm. He does maneuver to the corer and start throwing fists/elbows. BTW, the ref looks like Karl Fergie. I just noticed, because he wasn’t invading the one foot between the wrestlers.

Must be some challenge or stip on the TV Title thing as the ring announcer has been saying “5 minutes gone, ten left for TV title on line”. When it got to ten minutes in, he went by the minute, and now it’s a minutes and 15 seconds. Geeze! It’s obnoxious because it’s hyping drama that the wrestlers aren’t reacting to. I’m so happy when they hit 15 minutes and the North Amer. Title is the only one on the line. Murdoch is pissed. Reed is excited. And they lied; it was less the 14 minutes.

They’ve hit a point where both participants are up and riled up at each other, realizing this is high stakes, and the time quotes at 15 minutes was good for setting the stage for second/third gear. I just didn’t need 25, 20, and 15 second updates.

Murdoch (I guess he’s the real athlete in this match) runs the runs to create movement (and therefore excitement) since the crowd is buzzing, and Reed does the spot where he leap frogs and eventually throws one big punch. Murdoch sells big and does the bump through the ropes to the floor. Same segment as the last match, we’ve officially moved forward, and every wrestler should have to watch these matches and learn. From how to build a match to taking the less is more approach, and as simple as Murdoch grabbing his face. Why don’t people grab their faces?! You were punched. Thank you Capt. Redneck.

Murdoch slow to get back in, and Reed really wants him now. He’s got the momentum and Murdoch is still dazed. Murdoch gets Reed into a position where he runs the ropes and Murdoch leap frogs. This time he turns and lands the punch. Some heat, but the crowd has been pretty reserved so far. Twenty minutes in we get our heel heat segment, with Murdoch meticulously going to work on Reed’s left knee. You can hear Reed screaming in pain the audio is so good. It’s mostly kick/punch/knee stuff early, but Murdoch will back off or make the ref back him off so you get the visual of Reed struggling in the corner.

Cool spot before Murdoch drapes Reed’s leg in the rope and destroys it with knees: Reed fights to his feet as Murdoch is backed off by the ref and acts like he’s ready to fight, even though we know he can’t walk at that moment.

The story is there, but so far the excitement and crowd involvement isn’t quite there. It’s one of those matches that would benefit from commentary where Ross was upset with Murdoch in parts. It’s below their previous match, though I’m enjoying the shorter form quite a bit.

The people pop when Reed comes back. It’s essentially a very smart hope spot. Reed powers up, grabs Murdoch’s arm, and keeps wrenching it up and down. This sends Murdoch to his knees in pain, as the shoulder has been worked on, but he throws forearm punches at Reed’s bad knee. Also great is that Reed gets up, still selling, an drops a knee on Murdoch’s shoulder, then sells hurting himself as well.

25 minutes gone by. It wasn’t a hope spot, because Reed maintained control, but because he grabbed a hold the crowd died. No big fire up spot. They club each other to death, and you do get the sense of a real fight with these two (no surprise), constantly trading blows, selling the knee or Shoulder, and control moving back and forth. It does die a bit from moment to moment, but the fans are more engrossed live then they were even 5 or ten minutes before.

More great detail work. Murdoch throws on the Fig Four, but his back is to the mat, so Fergie tries to count him twice. When he does it again and a count starts, he threatens to punch the ref to break up the count. Then, Reed gets out by grabbing the foot with his hand and powering it out of position. This is such great simple logic-based stuff.

Reed is somehow on offense from his knees, selling the bum knee. Murdoch is getting his body beat up enough he can’t maintain control. We’re heading towards the end, but the pace is so deliberate I don’ think people get that. So good, and yet at times, so uninspired. Am I bored or amazed?

30 minutes in. This is odd. Reed comes back for a moment and picks up Murdoch off a whip to the buckle. He spins Murdoch around and Murdoch’s foot clips Ref Fergie. It looks fine, the ref bump and all, but then Murdoch wiggles free and rolls up Reed for the visual fall. So the heel SHOULD be winning in the end? Perhaps I’m missing something, details or context. Murdoch releases him to grab Fergie and try to pull him in, and Reed rolls him up as Fergie gets in to pin him. Reed wins. I guess it’s plausible excuse booking for Murdoch to get his return match. Murdoch argues, but Reed is your North American Champion. Interesting that Murdoch actually goes over and shakes Reed’s hand. I’m guessing that keeps him a tweener and builds up the Flair angle, since Reed yells to the camera that he’s coming for Flair next.

Very good match. It got dull at times, but it was so good overall. Not the classic the last match was, but still such a smart match, and maybe the fact they aren’t speed demons (it’s a slower style) is making me think slightly less of it. So stiff though in a great All Japan 90s sort of way, and the selling is awesome. I also like that the fifteen minute mark signaled a change in the match. Then you also throw in their was a title change. Yeah, this ruled! 3 3/4 and 7.7/10.

Match Discussion Here

A rematch of a match I did not enjoy – the broadway earlier in the set from the Super Dome. I guess this constitutes an open mind and a second chance. Plus, it’s in Houston with Paul Boesch commentary. Flair gets up for that stuff, and Reed was awesome with Murdoch. What could go wrong?

Ric has one of his better looking robes tonight. Mid South and Memphis ruled for recognizing both the AWA and NWA belts at random. They do the big match face off in the center of the ring. Butch Reed looks very for real. I’ve never been a muscles mark though (well, not since age 12), so my big thing with Reed is my same problem with HHH periodically. Both aren’t the greatest athletes, but they are good. The muscle mass holds them back and makes good exchanges look clumsy or contrived because it slows you down. Been meaning to say that since the last Flair-Reed match.

Is that Tommy Gilbert already interjecting? God Damnit! Reed exerts power over Flair right away. That storyline I like. Flair tries to be quicker then Reed. Smart. Reed tries hard to combine his strength with sheer will in reversing Flair’s craft holds. This could be very good.

I’m enjoying that Flair seems inspired early, trying to direct Reed off him directionally pointing Reed’s knees w/ his hand and then picking up the closer leg for a knee breaker attempt. Reed though is equally on the ball and wrenches the head and neck until flair lets go. Past my perception of desire, or lack there of in the last match-up they had, is the lighting improvement. That helps A LOT with viewing.

Flair tries roll-ups off Reed side headlocks and uses power to keep control. Boesch is improving this like crazy, so if JR had done the Super Dome perhaps that, lighting, and a few layout changes might have inspired ME.

Flair gets away with only one chop in the corner. Don’t piss off the big man Ric. Reed flips out in a way you rarely see in the ring, showing great emotion. Flair seems pleased with himself and how he’s gotten Reed mad.

5 minutes in. Flair plays off this, having hit pay dirt. Lock up, knee to the gut, and a hard chop. Reed is stunned, then angry. Tommy Young breaks them up as Flair had hoped for. On one hand Young is annoying and over playing his role. But as others point out, he’s actually a more realistic version of a ref, and his interactions in Murdoch vs Reed were vital to the story. Seems that might be true here as well.

Flair runs the ropes, but gets hip tossed and press slammed. Flair is hoping to wear him out, but now he’s regrouping. He’s winded and in some pain. Young is still slowing Reed’s pace, storyline wise.

Reed with the power bear hug. I like it as long as it’s kept relatively short, which it is. Reed with strikes and a pin. Flair’s foot is on the ropes. His selling and focus are there tonight.

Flair tries to isolate Reed with hard chops and grabbing a hold quickly after. Reed teases that punch to keep the fans on the hook, but he actually does punch him. He sends Flair to the ropes and grabs a big bear hug. This one is off the ground, a bit longer, but not momentum killing. It leads to a few pin attempts. Great simple stuff so far. Boesch is explaining the psychology and motivations very well. I’m engrossed in this as a TV product for once.

Tommy Gilbert is in the fucking way!! There is no reason for him to be blocking Butch Reed and asking Flair God knows what. Flairs not gonna give up while he’s standing up in the corner. He’s not even badly hurt or cut! Reed finally gets by him, but it serves a diversion to allow Flair to chop and gain the advantage. Too bad Boesch didn’t sell it like a clever Flair heel ploy. Screw Gilbert! Reed absorbs blows and punches back. Flair flop!

Reed is getting winded and slow, and it slows the match slightly. Backslide is a great idea but looks slow. Flair ends up giving Reed a wicked leg breaker. Big sell by Reed and Flair put over as a leg work specialist by Boesch. Flair does the spinning toe hold into the Figure Four. Great drama thanks to commentary. Crowd definitely gets a lot hotter. Reed reverses the hold, but his leg is messed up. 15 minutes in Flair goes for the FF again, blocks a kick, but gets rolled up for a two count. Great stuff.

Flair always does a great job of selling his knee a bit off the FF reversal. He throws Reed out and Reed sells his knee, slowly getting up. Flair also got heat from ladies in the front row, and gave it back to them. Good to see. Reed looks very good doing the Flair formula match version 3b. Gets blocked getting in the ring, chopped. Second go, shoulder to gut and slingshot into sunset flip. Flair won’t go down, punches and hurts his down, and Reed gets the near fall. Off the ropes Reed grabs Flair in a sleeper. Second time he grabbed a submission after throwing Flair off the ropes. I love that because it helped continue the veil of movement and frantic pace without him having to move. Smart stuff.
Flair does what he does best. He makes Reed look like a killer. He almost goes down via arm drops.

Then he’s taken down for near falls, still in the sleeper. Story BTW is that Reed has bad knees from football injuries. Flair gets his knees up and they go knee-to-knee. They move to active hold exchanges and quick strikes. Very good Flair layout that ups the excitement and I’m a fan of these segments farther into the match. Flair chops, Butch hulks up. Flair is desperate, and he reverses Reed into another corner only to hit the ref. Very believable ref bump out of the ring.

20 minutes in. Cradle for a Reed visual fall. Flair tries to buy time sending Reed over the top rope, but Reed does the HBK “skin the cat” back in. Flair’s bump off the first punch IS wrestling! Reed with the shoulder block and Figure Four. Ref Gilbert back in calls for the bell. After some time Reed releases the hold, and in a fit of good thought, he celebrates. You know Gilbert DQed someone, so Reed gets the fans thinking he won the World Championship. Flair, selling he can’t move his legs, gives Flair his belt, but said Reed won via DQ. Reed wants to punch the ref, the fans look like they wanna riot, and his argument shows a lot of charisma.

This is the Butch Reed I was waiting to see. This is Flair back in form. I feel slightly bad having all these Flair matches fall into the top ten since technically he wasn’t a Mid South roster guy. But Flair’s matches hold up, and it would be a total lie to say they aren’t some of the best on the entire set.

Unfortunately for many others, Flair is in the main event which affords him the time to develop his matches, a lot of creative control, and he doesn’t have to protect anything or build towards a main event. He’s not a smaller cog in building a card like the RNR or MNX were many times when they’d steal the show but leave something for the main event. Also, much like Brian Danielson after him, Flair had the ability to do great 45-60 matches, but was best at telling a story in 22-28 minutes. This was about 23 minutes of well done stuff. 4 stars and 8.3/10.

Match Discussion Here

Match # 75 was already posted a month back. The link can be found here. It’s an amazing match that will finish in my Top 5 come ballot time. Here’s the link.

Flair is the heel touring NWA champion, who has been a great guest star throughout this compilation. Butch Reed was a resident heel in Mid South before turning in a great angle detailed earlier in the set (it involves Buddy Landell, Skandor Akbar, and some detail work involving a watch. Classic!) This is one of those big time Super dome matches for the NWA World Title, so I assume Butch Reed is holding the North American Title here, but that’s not a definite. Also, this match is announced as NO DQ. Reed seems happy about that.

I’m looking to see if Reed can really hang here. He’s shown me flashes of brilliance, and it’ said if you see the weekly TV he’d be majorly over with me, but I’m not as hot on him as many others. Dick Murdoch and the Guerrerros were revelations, and so far Reed has been a tentative thumbs up. This will probably be the deciding factor.

First ten minutes is grab a hold, kid. That’s good. It’s what they tell you to do if you lose your place in a match. These two didn’t lose there place so much as they’re going long, and this is wrestling workers equivalent of building from the ground up. Hammerlocks, wrist locks, and most prominent – headlocks.

Flair tries for a pins with roll ups, but he’s stuck in a side headlock much of the time. It’s a formula that is familiar, though this is way more dominated by Reed and the laying headlock. He doesn’t do much with it until after the ten minute mark. I’d have thought him a power man in this match, but the only “big move” so far has been a suplex by Reed. Also, great drop down and leapfrog spot. Reed can be very athletic, and I think 1985 Flair might have been his vintage wine year.

Flair finally gets out of the headlocks 12 minutes in, and though he’s mildly successful with chops, he remains dominated more than usual in this one. Reed just punches the crap out of him, and in one case it’s in the mount. Flair hasn’t shown much but begging off and selling here. It’s worked at Reed’s pace for the first twenty, which is giving of Flair considering the situation.

Flair starts making Reed chase him, and is successful the first time, but just gets a count from the ref the second time. Reed is being smart an generally making Flair come to him. It’s almost twenty minutes in that we get a test of strength, and I’m left wondering why Flair would playing into that (storyline wise), especially so late. Side headlocks and front facelocks where on Flair as we approach the 20 minute mark.

Too slow with much story in the first twenty, though the wrestling itself has been good. They’ve shown brief sparks but Reed has really stalled this out with rest holds, and I’m just hoping all these front face locks and headlocks will mean anything because they aren’t a proper display of Reed’s power advantage or size. Flair is creative in trying to get out, but it’s not much.

This is getting ridiculous! I respect working your way out of a hold, but you gotta work it (Low Ki vs American Dragon matches in 2001-02 come to mind). If you have the hold, grind it out, wear him down, and show the audience you’re doing it. I’m just not seeing that here, with the exception of Flair forcing Reed into the buckle at rare moments.

25 minutes in Flair chops his way out, but Reed throws him in Flair’s very own figure four. They struggle, but he makes the ropes. Then he’s forced to again. I guess this is the Flair gets dominated match, but it’s 25 minutes and they’ve barely been out of first gear.

Crowd is still with them, came alive for the fig four, and really cheer as Reed pulls Flair to the post and (maybe) slams the knee on the steel post. Reed works over the knee and Nature boy is in trouble. Eye gouge clears that up, and Reed goes over the top rope a minute later.

30 minutes into the match. Great Reed roll up and press slam. Crowd not totally into a Reed pin/near fall. They get very loud when Flair tries a flash pin on Reed using the ropes. Now it’s coming together (a little late I’d say) with Reed winning a punch battle, and Flair flailing before finally dropping. The title looks to be slipping away, but Flair is fighting the beating he’s taken.

Crowd actually counts along with a near fall on Flair in the middle, so Flair’s total beating is paying off. Reed can’t keep the shoulders down. Flair rolls to the ropes and the place is buzzing. I don’t quite get it, but it’s not like the match has been bad. A frustrated Reed threatens the ref because he can’t get the pin on Flair. He hit him a minute back with a killer piledriver that I’m surprised wasn’t a finish, and now he sends him hard over the top rope. Reed out to stalk Flair. Beating continues, and back in the ring he throws him.

Reed continues through the 35th minute with punches, a suplex, but fails to pin Fair for the 3 count. Flair comeback by straddling Reed on the top rope. He finally has the advantage for more than a moment.

Suplexes, pin attempts, and kicks to the knee highlight Flair’s offense. Both men look spent. They announce “50 minutes gone by” as Flair works on the knee some more. It’s actually 40, but I guess they are hoping no one is counting. Flair throws on the Figure Four a minute later. He tries it again, but Reed rolls him up. Reed seems like he’s got nothing left. Outside, Flair takes a post shot, then another.

We’re at 45 minutes and Reed is beating the crap out of Flair. The crowd seems content to just watch, though it might be a crowd lost in the dome sound wise. I just don’t feel inspired by a lumbering Reed and a decent selling Flair.

Picks up again as they start announcing 5 minutes left, then 4, then 3. They’re still pretending the match is ten minutes ahead. Reed grabs a sleeper at the 3 minutes left mark. I just don’t see the value, and it kills the crowd here. Then we get a horribly contrived ref bump. Flair tosses Reed over the top rope with two minutes left. He’s bleeding pretty good. Crowd back for a false finish on Flair. Then another. Sloppy and uninspired. What are people talking about with Reed. Kerry Von Erich manages to understand the idea of urgency more clearly.

10 seconds to go this dipshit Butch Reed presses Flair above his head and holds him up, throws him down as the bell rings and doesn’t even get a visual fall with the time running out. Flair does try to play dead, but he should slap Reed for wasting his time. Yuck to this time limit draw.

This is the longest match on the set at 50 minutes. I have no idea why they pretend it’s an hour, but that’s one of many problems I found. I tend to like the epic format, especially with Flair. This, however, was Flair trying in vain to carry this ass after he wasted the first 40 minutes being in control and yet not allowing Flair to work his match. I of all people am for the art form, and Flair switching up his game, but even with a million rest hold submissions that DID NOT play into any part of the match at ANY TIME, Butch Reed was blown up and doing illogical spots at different times in the last 15, 10, and five minutes. Not only that, he managed to make those look bad. Flair was not perfection here, but he was completely on from 20 minutes out of the finish. Even with a blade job and great selling down the stretch he never looked in solid peril. Was Reed trying to wear him down? Why was Reed the one exhausted then? I can come up with good worked reasons, but it’s stretching to say this was somehow great just because it went 50 minutes. The weakest broadway I’ve ever seen, and I wanted to look through rose colored glasses as Flair retired Sunday night (it’s 4.3.08 as I write this). 2 ¾ stars and 5/10.

(Note: It’s come to my attention post-review that this match WAS a 60 minute draw. About 10-12 minutes was clipped out at about the 35 minute mark, or about where Flair takes charge. I believe it’s pre-Flair on offense. No matter, my rating sticks. The clipping only serves to hurt it, and frankly, I was not alone in not noticing the cut. Amazingly, this is tracking well with a lot of other voters.)

Match Discussion Here