This is 2/3 falls for Murdoch’s UN championship belt.

Right away the hold and mat work feels more inspired and tighter than their first match on the set. Murdoch works Jumbo’s arm and Jumbo works from underneath. I like a match starting a little quicker and then settling down, rather then a long, slow start and a very fast paced finish. These two Jumbo vs Murdoch matches aren’t a perfect example of that, but it’s enough to make me fonder of this one.

Jumbo comes back, creating some movement, and Murdoch does a great job working from behind. Jumbo is solid in his control segment, and the jumping knee (Jumbo big move) looks great. Jumbo’s offense is good and Murdoch’s facials and selling are great as Jumbo went from arm to back work. Jumbo uses a backbreaker and a side suplex for the pin.

Murdoch is in survival mode in the second fall beginnings. Jumbo gets some early pin attempts. Murdoch fighting back is great. Murdoch hits his falling knee/headcrushing move and then the brainbuster for the second fall win. Jumbo is out of it to start the third and final fall. It’s a short fall, but an intense on. Jumbo comes back at the end with a back body drop off a Murdoch piledriver attempt, sending Murdoch head first into the buckle. Small package pin for Jumbo and he wins. Great finish. 3 ¼ stars and 6.3/10

This was 2/3 falls title match for Jumbo’s UN belt.

The first fall felt like something out of the 1970s, which given the date, makes sense. But as much as I loved Murdoch in Mid South, and as much as I am a fan of Jumbo from his Misawa feud a decade later, the first fall didn’t grab me. Very slow, simple technical work that didn’t inspire me. Jumbo works on Murdoch’s arm with holds. Murdoch comes back and wins with the brainbuster in a long seventeen minutes. The crowd wouldn’t make a noise and it helped to drain my initial excitement. The second and third falls really saved this for me. Jumbo took the second fall quickly. Murdoch comes back In the third after Jumbo injures his knee and gets the win with a spinning toe hold into a pin, a neat combo for a title change. Total time was roughly 24 minutes, so the last two falls went very quickly. Tough to get a baseline for the set off of this one, but I have to think each man has a more engaging performance in them. Solid, but unspectacular. 2 ¾ stars and 5.4/10

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.

Murdoch & Adonis vs Fujinami & Kimura 12/5/84

Great moment at the beginning when they give the ceremonial flowers out and Murdoch launches them into the crowd. I’m surprised at how hold-based the match is, and coming off of see the first Dragon Gate USA show live, it’s a big switch. I love the progressions and logic, though at times it’s a bit too slow for my tastes right now. I think a commentary I could understand over the match would help with some dead spots, but it’s really a question of mood anyway.

Murdoch and Adonis are a great team, who are really great at controlling the ring and making quick tags. It’s a bit lost on the newer style, which is usually tagging to set up a big double high spot. I’m reminded that I own a Murdoch/Adonis in NJ comp, and I’m hoping the NJ 80s set will make me wanna bust that out as I see what made the ballot and what didn’t. I should also mention that Murdoch and Adonis bump great for these guys when they do lose control of the match. I have trouble telling Fujinami and Kimura apart (same black tights and boots) since I’m new to seeing them (read about them forever), but they are really great fiery babyfaces when they make their runs, and the heel cut offs are great too.

I loved the section where Murdoch kept getting greedy for a second shoulder block, and Adonis would have to come in and make the save for him after he got caught. I learned from Mid South to love Murdoch and his punches, but in this match it’s all about how great he is at selling punches and swinging wildly back. This match is awesome for how the heel control segments flow into the Japanese hope spots and comebacks. They keep coming so close to getting over on those big ugly Americans, and then it’s snatched away continually. Adonis’ bumping might be more impressive in some respects than Murdoch, and that was a revelation for me (forgiving some of the theatrics at times).

The finish came a bit out of nowhere for me, but not every match is perfect, and this was a good primer for the NJ set. I do think Murdoch and Adonis got to much of the match, but I’m guessing this was a match with some overall booking thought long term or storyline wise, so who knows what came after this (perhaps the NJ 80s committee does). Oh, and the Murdoch/Adonis celebratory handshake is classic!

Looks like the Freebirds get to be babyfaces for once. That’s a welcome change for me. Murdoch and Gilbert tries to take out Bam Bam’s leg. First Doc, now this? Crazy Gilbert! What were those two thinking? We shall see in this match.

Gordy looks like he’ll eat these two alive. Roberts and Gilbert start. Cool punch-block spot right from the start and Gilbert sells one punch. He’s even Pratt-falling off the ring apron. I cannot wait for the Memphis equivalent of this set! Fun and solid in one move. Gilbert matches always start strong, but never satisfy all the way though. Maybe it’s a style problem as far as meshing with what I think match progression should be, though his Koko B. Ware match was amazing throughout.

Gilbert/Roberts stuff is fine, if not campy at times. Solid and fun, as I stated before. I dig that Gordy is revved up waiting to get in there even though Gilbert is getting beat up. He wants Murdoch. The masters that they are, they’ve been jawing across the ring all match.

We go to commercial and when we come back we get Murdoch vs Gordy. To bulls going at it, but both could really go for there size. Bam Bam Gordy wins the brawl, but clever Murdoch doesn’t sell everything, and gets Gordy in his corner.

Gilbert gets in and I wonder how they are going to do this. They try to reinjure Gordy, with Murdoch interfering. Gilbert messes up trying to have a slugfest with the big guy, and Gordy makes him pay. So they teased the heat. Buddy Roberts in, and now they GET the heat.

Murdoch tries to break Buddy Roberts arm, and even I wince at the striking and stretching they do to him. Roberts sells it decently, have dished it out for years. Gilbert in and he does the same. Tag team moves on the injured arm as well. Jim Ross said it: “Murdoch and Gilbert… it’s like they’re obsessed with breaking arms”.

Hot tag to Gordy. He cleans house with punches, but Murdoch is already gone to pick up and post Roberts. He’s in the ring two-on-one against Gordy. They destroy several refs until the locker room empties. Several guys blade and a big brawl ends the show. DQ win for the Freebirds.

Match was cool. Nothing blow away, but very focused and workmen-like. No finish and a duller progression hurts it, but the ending after the bell helps it. 3 stars and 6.3/10.

Match Discussion Here

This was set up a month before in a post-match TV angle we just covered in match # 146. Eddie Gilbert and Dick Murdoch tried to break Doc’s arm, with Murdoch stomping the arm into a steel chair from the top rope. Huge injury angle in those days, and sometimes even now (when bookers or writers are sane.

This looks like it may have been taped at the New Orleans Superdome. It’s a gigantic event at any rate. Murdoch has Gilbert with him, which seems like an odd pairing from what I’ve seen. Gilbert mugs while Murdoch gives a confident death stare during intros. Doc has a big cast on selling the right arm/wrist injury. Ref announces he loses if he uses the cast as a weapon. The winner gets the UWF Champion, Big Bubba Rogers. Here we go.

Match starts off with waist locks, wrist locks, and lock-ups. Basic stuff done well. Murdoch is already using the injured wrist of Dr. Death to his advantage. One minute in we go to commercial, but we come back exactly where we left. Thank you!

Murdoch ends up getting his arm worked over, so he goes and regroups. Murdoch does the little things like a roll out, a well paced stare and subtle shake of an injured body part. In that respect he’s up there with people like Flair to me for intangibles within ring work.

Jim Ross at ringside is announcing and has John Aires, UWF commish, with him. He notes Aires has been negotiating with Jim Crockett and Murdoch’s former tag team partner, Dusty Rhodes. This may play in.

Murdoch’s arm gets wringed and he begs off more than once. Doc outwrestles him at every turn, storyline-wise. The slower-moving Murdoch sneaks in some stiff elbows and then stomps on the downed Doc’s injured wrist. Five minutes gone by as Murdoch gets greedy and tries to send Doc to the ring post outside, but gets his left arm/shoulder smashed for it. The old turnabout is fair play spot. Doc stays selling the hand and my love for them both grows.

Murdoch, not using the injured left side, comes hard again with elbows on Doc. He stays selling too. More targeting the injured wrist. Commercial break. When we come back they’ve shaved at least a short amount of time because Doc has a left arm hammer lock on a downed Murdoch. Gilbert distracts the ref while Murdoch hits Doc’s arm with a mic stand from Ross’ desk. Creative . He does it again a minute later, so JR moves it. Haha. He doesn’t tell the ref, he just moves it. JR – journalistic integrity to not get involved in what he covers. Do I need to mention the commish is sitting next to JR?!

Doc’s hope spots are good in that it never looks like he can be taken out, only contained. I believe it with this babyface, and it’s fun watching Cpt. Redneck contain him. This time as he comes back Gilbert again does his histrionics, but now Murdoch grabs the ring bell as a weapon.

Looks like they missed something because Doc got a slam when it looked like Gilbert wanted to stop him and make it a quick hope spot. Doc continues and rolls all over Murdoch, who feeds him without being over eager. Nice change of pace. 15 minutes in, so we only got 3 cut from us.

Doc gets near falls with big punches, but falls victim to being posted. He blades under the ring as we go to commercial. We come back having missed most of the heat. We’re now 20 minutes in, so a few more were shaved.

A set up ref bump is obvious, but is executed well. Crowd pops big form this stuff. Eddie Gilbert gets hit with the cast. Murdoch gets hit with the cast. Ref crawls in and makes the count. Doc wins. I’m a little deflated by the end. Big Bubba is in for a stare down, which is cool. Akbar, Gilbert, and Murdoch kill Doc while Bubba watches. Dusty Rhodes hits the ring and fights for the babyface. I haven’t a clue why. He blades noticeably when they get heat on him. I roll my eyes. Dusty steals all the attention. I just wanted to see a good finish for Doc, who won, and yet didn’t. Couldn’t been a bias score from me, but it won’t be. 3 ¼ stars and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here

The first of four from the same Houston card. Four matches making it to a 150 match best of the decade review? Must have been a hell of a card. Then again, I’m sure a lot of great cards have happened over the years where no footage exists of each separate match, especially from the era before DVDs made indies into house show product salesmen.

Eddie Gilbert is a natural heel and he’s facing a familiar foe from Memphis (and my childhood), Koko B. Ware. Also the babbling Paul Boesch returns.

This match is definitely Memphis shenanigans and fun. Headlock escapes, bodyguard pep talks, hair pulling, and ref/crowd interactions. These matches always have minimal bumping and entertainment value. Smart work not only here, but from all the Memphis guys on the set. Koko was athletically gifted, and Gilbert knew how to bump and stooge, as they say. He also does the Memphis influenced upswing punches. The work isn’t of the technical sort, nor the bumps always believable, but it’s played as a pre-WWE product, and it gets over.

Gilbert’s abdominal stretch and rope grabbing heel stuff is good, and stablemate/bodyguard at least plays his part. All this makes Koko’s hope spots pretty over. Sunset flips never looked so good.
Like I said, match won’t blow you away, but it’s a match everyone should be lucky enough to see at their local indy show. The charisma of Koko and Eddie’s selling in the comeback is awesome. 12 minute match ends in a off the ropes drop kick finisher and pin. Koko wins.

I’m rewarding this match for going over ten minutes and not needing much fancy to keep me invested. I’m rewarding the fun heel spots and the great comebacks. I’m rewarding the story and the clean finish. But most of all I want to reward the characters and artists that Gilbert and Ware were. 3 ½ and 6.8/10.

Match Discussion Here

Match # 110: Ted DiBiase, Dr. Death, Terry Taylor & Hacksaw Duggan vs. Dick Murdoch, Buzz Sawyer & The Masked Superstars (2/28/86

Damn! So looking forward to this and it’s joined in progress. Crowd is hot and Duggan is making the heels look like fools. What else is new? Apparently a sub-plot is Dick Murdoch, presumably a heel team captain, not tagging in to the match yet.

Needs to be mentioned: Doc’s wrestling trip takedown is beautiful, and he works out off his controlling headlock very well in these matches. Dibiase is smooth as all hell with his ropes running and fist drop.
I’m hoping the Masked Superstars stay color coded correctly here as I only know Bill Eadie has the red mask. Not sure who the partner in the golden mask is. Good touch of Dibiase staring at Murdoch before locking up with this “superstar” though. Hope they build to Murdoch and Dibiase hooking it up.

Faces rule the first five plus minutes including a fun grinding headlock chain as each face tags in and grinds a headlock on Superstar 2 and Buzz Sawyer. Crowd very hot for all the stars and I’m happy to report I figured out they only cut the first two minutes.

Murdoch vs Duggan. He gets his tights held and does a fun spot where the faces let him go right into a Duggan fist. Sawyer gets atomic dropped into the face corner and pinball bumps for them too. Sawyer is working for all these guys.

Great reversal about 7-8 minutes in and the heel team efficiently works. Again, I come from lates 80s watching on Saturday mornings, but my greatest reference point is late 90s Monday nights. This is, with eight men spread out and the match constructed so well, comparable to the great RAW or Nitro main events.

Heels rotate through to get the heat on Taylor, who gets hope spots and near tags like a great MNX vs RNR match. Crowd totally behind Taylor well through the ten minute mark and beyond. Sawyer and Murdoch carry this for the heels.

Hot tag goes to Doc, and he hits the stampede for the pin… except they just stop counting it. Tommy Gilbert is distracted by all eight men getting in the ring. Has he never seen the finish to any tag match after a hot tag in Mid South? Oh well, faces win anyway when a heel gets DQed for Duggan getting tossed over the top. Not quite as well thought out and organized as the Gilbert vs Ware match I just reviewed, but that was one-on-one. Still a great fun match with some – some – drama thrown in. 3 ½ and 6.6/10.

Match Discussion Here

They cut TV promos beforehand. Murdoch was an average to decent promo, but had he been a great promo we would all be remembering him on the level of Dusty Rhodes or above. Superstar is the sidekick who doesn’t say much. Likewise Doc doesn’t say a word, but Dibiase gets over the Murdoch has taken a lot from him. Dibiase vows that that Murdoch won’t take his and Doc’s tag team belts from them.

Masked Superstar Bill Eadie was seriously a big time guy in Georgia? Really? I’ve gotta get my hands on more old territory stuff from Georgia because the Youtube clips I’ve seen have been fascinating, and I certainly see the booking and the voice of reason, Gordon Solie, being able to get over most people. That said, Eadie is dull as dirt to me in this role. Maybe it’s a time context or character usage problem in his Mid South run, but I’m not seeing anything that captures me.

Superstar and Williams start out. Williams sends Superstar bumping around, but mostly there’s not a ton to it. Dibiase gets in, and then Murdoch steps through the ropes. Now we got something. Just Murdoch’s pause to look at Dibiase, and then the audience, when he gets in, is better than what Eadie was doing for 3 minutes. Presence.

One punch. Murdoch gets stopped, so Ted Dibiase throws. And they make a minute out of that moment. Awesome sell on his but from Murdoch. This is wrestling, folks.

Great spot. Dibiase does the same thing, backing Murdoch in the corner, and Tommy Gilbert stops Dibiase as he did Murdoch from throwing the punch. Murdoch reverses but gets blocked by Dibiase and Dibiase does get his punch. When Murdoch tries to intervene on Gilbert admonishing Dibiase, Ref Gilbert waves Dibiase on to fight. Funny stuff.

Dibiase and Murdoch have some good exchanges, ending with Doc coming in and doing a leg drop to Murdoch’s arm. Murdoch goes to the outside as only he can, but gets beat a bit there too. Superstar as well.

Doc and Murdoch – simple stuff that works because Murdoch sells. Entertaining match so far. Nothing award winning , just fun solid stuff. Doc vs Superstar in a football shoulder block challenge? Yep, Doc wins several of those. So of course Murdoch tags in and gets down for some. Tommy Gilberts acts like a girl at a drag race officiating them charging. Murdoch runs at him and gives him a side elbow. Brilliant!

Ten minutes in and Doc press slams Masked Superstar. God he was a juiced up strongman. His torso is two of me. Murdoch vs Dibiase in a shoulder block challenge loses. The leapfrog only worked the first time.

Murdoch is the selling champ of all time. Screw Ricky Morton, it’s Murdoch. He sells a dukes up contest, but then the heels start with the heat thanks to some good ‘ol cheatin’.

The Murdoch-Dibiase stuff is very good in terms of face selling for bully heel. The stuff with masked Superstar is strong too, based on Superstar working pretty hard and tagging out quickly. The hopespots and cut offs are pretty strong here to, though lacking a sense of danger. Maybe it’s just me, but they’re all working hard yet it feels more like play now. Still, it is decent stuff. Don’t want it to sound lazy because it’s not.

Doc gets in and all hell breaks loose. Oklahoma Stampede by Doc, but Buzz Sawyer is in and the match ends in a DQ. Crap finish, but in the context it continues to build and weaves feuds together tighter as Hacksaw Duggan comes out with the 2×4 to clear the ring. Post-match interview. Doc is a dope. Great wrestler, but not a thinking man’s worker. He’s posing for no reason, even though Dibiase’s trying to get over disgust and some outrage in his promo. Blah blah, they wanna fight.

I liked aspects of the comedy in the match. I liked aspects of the serious work. But it didn’t blend perfectly or feel like they “meant” it, even if the work was at times world class stuff. Also, the finish kinda blew because if the heels wanted the titles than why have their cronie Sawyer come in at the end? I guess you can argue they said come in if it’s clear we’ll lose, but still, it seemed too soon. Overall interesting stuff, but like I said, won’t be top of the ballot stuff. 3 stars and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here

Just in the first minute you see the level of greatness you’re dealing with here. With the exception of Bill Eadie (Sorry Masked Superstar), who isn’t horrible either, this is a solid main event level gathering of five stars and a decent friend. Buzz Sawyer starts out acting all crazy, charging Hacksaw, and then bumping for all the face teams great punches. Crazy to see Dibiase and Williams teaming with Jim Duggan. I wonder what the make up angle was after Dibiase/Williams went face. I’d kill to see that TV episode.

Buzz crawls to and tags Murdoch who tells Hacksaw to back off. Murdoch really wants a hand shake, and they milk the audience for reaction to that. Dibiase gets in to offer his hand to his former rival, and asks for a tag. they’re doing nothing and I love it just for the subtext.

Duggan, the village idiot, of course milks it too long. almost four minutes later (legit) we actually have a short shake with no tricks and then go into a lock up. Duggan takes the wind out of my sails momentarily. Sawyer tries to grab Hacksaw on the ropes but Murdoch talks him out of it and keeps it fair. You can tell it’s all building up to some heeling, but I love the dynamic of the crazy heel being calmed by the evil psychological mastermind heel. Murdoch is just wrestling psychology brilliance in an aging man, as per his usual.

Murdoch uses nice realistic leverage to stand up Duggan against the ropes while in a headlock. Duggan breaks clean and Murdoch doesn’t take or give a shot. He just pats Duggan on the chest. Duggan does something great here. He immediately looks to Dibiase as if to say, “you would never have done something so noble” or “he doesn’t seem to be as evil as you guys”. It’s also bothering Buzz Sawyer.
Another collar-and-elbow tie up. They move off each other, Murdoch looks to his corner with a smile, and tries to punch Duggan. But the smart babyface that he is, he blocks the shot and give Murdoch one good punch. The only bump (a big one off the punch) in over five minutes. Real smart opening.

Murdoch goes to plan B: he sends in Sawyer, who acts crazy but ends up bumping for Dibiase. Murdoch breaks up a pin and Dibiase runs in to brawl with his arch-nemesis. All six men brawl in the ring. Faces clear out the heels, and now it’s time for healing between a proactive Dibiase/Williams unit and Duggan. High-fives and handshakes all around.

A frustrated Murdoch gets in for act two. He’s trying to hide an object. Duggan hits him and takes it, then uses it before throwing it to Dibiase. Better than it reads. Dibiase in and Murdoch bumps for him.
Superstar in and he actually bumps better then Murdoch for this stretch. Doc in for shoulderblocks and headlocks. Doc makes it look great, especially when Sawyer comes in to work with him. Sawyer is so good selling for Dr. Death that Dibiase comes in to try out Sawyer. This also rules.

Dibiase loses momentum when a well placed Murdoch breaks up a pin attempt with heavy boots. Masked Superstar joins in. Superstar really does look fine here on offense. He holds it together and does what the role demands. Murdoch comes in to decimate his rival similar to Stan Hanson. Brutal stuff.

Sawyer gets in and pulls out a perfect suplex. Dibiase as face in peril is good stuff. False tags and short hope spots. All the good stuff combined with heel cheating, a ref in bad positions, and cutting off the ring.

Murdoch decides to end the match once it breaks down again with the faces beating on the heels. He cracks Dibiase with a chair, which prompts Duggan to clear house with chair shots all around. Even Doc is still nervous, as he asks Duggan for a time out to check on the fallen Dibiase. DQ win for the faces, and it furthers Murdoch vs Dibiase.

This match played like a great RAW main event from the late 90s glory period. It was just a step off, but comparable to the great five on five the WWF presented on RAW in early February of 2000 from Dallas. Really want to reward the thought and not kill it for the break down and DQ finish. It was a solid character driven outing. 3 ¾ stars and 7.8/10.

Match Discussion Here

Masked Superstar is a pre-Demolition Bill Eadie. He’s not very intimidating in that shirt though. Thankfully for me his partner is the great Dick Murdoch! Sawyer and Perez are very good smaller faces that never made it, but are very good.

Starts out with all four throwing hands intensely. Heels powder out and we even get chairs sent in the ring. Flying ones, you see.

Murdoch starts out and makes it fun early with the way he sells punches and being knocked silly. Eadie works well for the short time he’s in and the quick tag out. Jim Ross on commentary points out how good Murdoch is when on the offensive. Hot tag to Brett Sawyer and the man is small. I mean tiny. But Then what do I know, cause he’s not to small never to Murdoch.

Masked Superstar misses a running splah in the corner. Faces get the hot tap. Perez runs wild and Murdoch kills the faces with a chair when they pin Masked Superstar, and it’s a DQ finish.

This is a solid but average match, as pretty much this entire disk has been. Nothing blows you away, but not much is hated. I don’t have much else to say on this one. Murdoch made the match for me. 2 ¼ and 4/10.

Match Discussion Here

Match # 101: Dick Slater vs. Jake Roberts (1/24/86)

Slater has on the worst robe ever. Jake is your face here. I haven’t mentioned this in any of the reviews, but Jake doesn’t have a snake in any of these matches. Also, Duggan doesn’t have a board. Slater does have a North American title though, which he owns, and a Dark Journey. The person, not the prefer path of seemingly every wrestler.

Dick Slater earlier this week was given the greatest compliment of being called “a poor man’s Terry Funk” by a DVDVR board member. He also comes out after every opening bell with a gyration that can only be described as the chicken dance. It’s goofy as hell, but so were Funk and Tracy Smothers.
This is a personality clash I like. Slater is great when he’s cocky, and he knows how to move and bump to maximize its effect. Jake slams him early, then wins a gut kicking contest. Jake’s kick to the gut is really good, which is an odd move to be really good at.

Jake tries several times for the DDT early, and they pause an appropriate amount of time to not only get over the move attempted, but that it would have been trouble for Slater. Effective arm submission early, though most might find it run-of-the-mill. Jake is very aware of not only the fans but Dark Journey at ringside, which makes her relevant here more than in the other matches.

Slater gets out of the hold but Jake atomic drops him so hard he bumps over the top rope. Slater wants a DQ, which is funny. Chase ensues and ends with a knee lift. No DDT attempt as Slater is out again. That’s the first 5 minutes: Jake dominates, slater sells and shows fear, and Jake wants the DDT. I like the match story.

Slater gets the advantage via the old Flair spot where the ref won’t let Jake punch, so Slater takes a shot at him. He does the headlock and sneak a punch spot, which I enjoy. Slater also kicks Jake hard off the apron at one point. Good bump. Slater gets heat doing a boxer-punch routine and then pinning Jake using the ropes for leverage.

The progression of hope spots for Jake have good movement and great heel moves to cut the come back off. Slater can’t seem to keep him pinned though he tries.

The announcing is horrible by the way. Where’s Paul Boesch?

Slater’s sleeper on Jake never fully builds up the crowd, but its smart work, leading Jake to sit out into a jawbreaker. Punches and then a DDT attempt. Slater turns it into an awesome overhead suplex and sells afterwards. He makes up for his awkwardness with a strange presence and pacing. He knows when to sell appropriately.

Slater gets knux from Journey, bumps the ref out of position, and goes to him Jake. Jake blocks, DDT, and pin. NEW North American Title holder!

Nope. The Ref called for the DQ. Watts really helped make Tommy Gilbert look like more of an ass than he was in big Mid South matches. Gilbert counted 1-2- and stopped as he was about to go three. It’s brilliant live and for the time, as the fans explode. Problem is Gilbert should have never counted anything if he called for the bell on a DQ (Slater DQed for the brass knux). NA title doesn’t change hands and Jake wins but doesn’t get the belt. I like the finish for the crazy reaction and then let down, but it is a bit odd.

Match was very smart and well worked. I felt it told a simple yet effective story and had some creativity to it which the audience bought into. I can’t say it set new standard, and it could have been more than it was, but it was better than other Slater matches. 3 ½ and 6.8/10.

Match Discussion Here