Jumbo and Baba try to rebound from their loss to Hansen/ Brody against another American team.

Lou Thesz is your referee. Hell yes! Jumbo and Slater wrestle the feeling out process, before Race gets in there. I sort of enjoy Race/Jumbo. Race stares at Baba, so you know that’s coming. The fans eat it up when he tags in. it’s an okay match up, but as per their singles matches I’m still not a huge fan. Race has a nice suplex spot in there. Race eats a high knee from Jumbo, and that looked great.

They build the match slowly, Jumbo/Slater being the most enjoyable match up for me. Baba executes his big moves just fine. Slater and Race work fine as a team, but nothing amazing. They end up getting gthe heat on Baba, who interestingly is the face in peril, and not Jumbo. I don’t really buy Baba in longer doses, as I find him a 50/50 proposition. I think he needs to be protected in tags for me to buy his work. He spends a significant amount of time coming back on Race, and I never like Race slowly bumping for the even slower Baba.

Slater has a figure four spot on Baba that I enjoy, and this gets a good crowd reaction too. Baba comes back on Slater after a few minutes, sends Slater into a headbutt on Race on the apron, then does a nice transition into a Russian legsweep, pinning Slater for the clean win.

While Baba as the face in peril was an interesting twist, I found myself not caring. Slater and Race were fine, but Jumbo was effectively muted. There was nothing actively bad about the match, but it just wasn’t for me. I got bored. Nothing grabbed me, though I liked Harely suplexing Baba, taking Jumbo’s high knee, and Slater’s figure four moment. I even enjoyed the finishing sequence, but this was just an average match where I never felt emotionally involved. 2 ½ stars and 5.3/10

Dick Slater is wearing an eye patch for this one. Not sure of the story on that. Mat work to start, and Slater looks good on a technical level. I like the effort and the resilience. Jumbo, the bigger guy, works the arm well, while Slater doesn’t just let him hold it. Slater’s work on Tsuruta’s knee is focused stuff. Great turn where Slater get’s back body dropped over the ropes to the floor. A good round of pin attempts and the crowd gets more vocal. They really start to build up the near falls well with big moves as this progresses. A great array of moves by both, increasing in drama that you can feel, with a great pace. The fight for Slater to keep the spinning toe hold on, and Jumbo’s desperation, is strong. This one eyed performance by Slater is impressive. He’s definitely giving his all and channeling Terry Funk. The finish is great too, with Slater charging, hitting the ring post through the buckles, and Jumbo dropping him on his head with a suplex for the pin. 3 ¾ stars and 7.5/10

Well now this match looks a lot better on the marquee. Slater is challenging for the belt because Duggan somehow acquired it, but apparently Duggan never beat Slater for it. Sounds good.

Slater gets beat up and bails out a lot early. Duggan always played the crowd well, and even if I never loved his work he was at least athletic. A few minutes in Duggan misses a splash in the corner and hits the buckle. Slater goes to work on his arm. Duggan isn’t as good at selling as Slater is at aggressive well thought out offense. You should see Duggan smell up a fall back on a side Russian leg sweep.

They clipped the match, but it may have only been a few seconds. I’m not crying in this case. Slater cuts off a comeback really well, and it has the desired emotional effect. Some brutality on the outside is kept smart and not overdone. It really slows down though and I begin daydreaming then coming out of it, realizing I’m not missing anything.

Duggan’s punch and buckle slam comeback isn’t to inspiring, but Slater fights back enough that eventually the people pop. Slater headbutts his balls after begging off. I really am starting to enjoy this Slater. He does a lot to make the psychology work towards the end.

Duggan wins clean with a spear. Slater saved it from being a nothing lead babyface match. Man did Duggan kill off heels. Why was he booked like that? Was it that he couldn’t do much? Watts was right to book him strong, but like this? I can’t get into it. Match was okay. 2 ¾ and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here

Match # 114: Gustavo Mendoza vs. Brett Wayne Sawyer (5/9/86)

Mendoza is a goofy Cuban/Castro gimmick guy. No idea about who babyface Brett Sawyer is, other than I can assume he’s the face given Bill Watts’ political leanings. Yep, they’ll be plenty of nonsense political views in my wrestling.

Brett Sawyer is Buzz Sawyer’s little brother according to Paul Boesch. Who knows, but I doubt it.

I’m shocked at the mat skills here. These guys don’t look and feel main event, or even semi-main event level, but they have their wrestling and presence down pat. A long technical wrestling and mat based match with a lot of wearing down strategy and almost no striking. Very unique. The Babyface Sawyer was on offense most of the time for the first 8 minutes or so, but it’s an odd choice that didn’t kill the flow. The crowd isn’t overly excited, but they are following it.

Sawyer wore down Mendoza’s arm and then knee while he complained about hair pulling. Mendoza comes back with a suplex. Sawyer comes back with strikes on the knee as mini-hope spots and Mendoza sells appropriately. At times he does need reminding though. I loved his neck breaker, and he moves well for a guy who’s not in great shape. Some of the pin spots with the heel in control aren’t done well or are very contrived, but they are all well meant and not flubs. It can be argued they never leave first or second gear, but I can’t imagine this was more then third on the card so it couldn’t steal to much heat.

Mendoza dives down with an elbow at the 15 minute mark, cutting off about the 4th hope spot. Sawyer comes back with a knee lift and later a suplex. Great drop kicks and a cross body by the babyface, who moves very well. He wins the match in about sixteen minutes.

A very strong mat based lower card match. Something a bit different without main event angles and expectations. Outperformed it’s expectation. Also probably one of the better matches of both careers. 3 stars and 6.1/10.

Match Discussion Here

This is a match I’ve never heard legend of, including the feud itself, and I’m surprised by that. The crowd is so passionate before the match can even start, waiting for an unhappy Dark Journey to get into the cage that will be suspended over the ring, that you begin to get involved in the match without really having a context for it. This is an example of pro wrestling doing entertainment right without using so-called entertainment as a blanket statement to be a low brow poorly written skit comedy show.

The stips here remind me of the Duggan-Dibiase feud and I’m left wondering where the build up to this match was on the extras disk. Anyone knowing the TV build up in the months leading up to this match please inform me in the comments section below. The match is for the North American title as well as either the TV title or one half of a tag title. I’m not sure because it’s hard to hear. The DDT is now legal (would love to know why it wasn’t), there is no DQ or time limit, and “there must be a winner”. I can see how this would be a hot ticket around Houston. Dark Journey finally gets in her cage and Jake essentially threatens to force sex on her afterwards via the microphone. Oh, that poorly raised Jake. Tehe.

Jake presence and playing to the crowd in Houston is awesome. The Gerreros-Fabs feud in the same time frame was good, but this was a lot better as an overall package. Certain G Brothers vs Fabs matches were probably better though. But Jake gets them chanting DDT and cheering Dark Journey in the cage well before the bell. Now, can the match be as good as my nonsense makes the preamble seem?

Early stuff (over five minutes) is the face Roberts dominating and taking advantage of the lack of rules. Slater goes over the top, arm against the ring post, and everything else. All the work is concentrated on Slater’s arm and vicious. It plays well and has purpose. Even with reversals Jake comes back hard the way a fed up babyface should. Great shots of Dark Journey so far above the ring to put everything into perspective too. The crowd is even super hot for rest holds, and at least Jake looks around to milk it.

Good spot where Slater almost gets a pile driver but Jake stalls it and back body drops him. Slater does get the advantage on the outside though, put Jake into the ring post. Slater’s heat on Jake is based around damaging the right shoulder, originally hit by the post. Another great spot was Jake getting his right damaged arm tied up in the ropes, which was played to perfection by both men. Slater even gets a chair and clobbers the arm 3 times from the outside. Crowd goes NUTS! Jake sells like crazy.

After ten minutes Jim Ross commentary kicks in, so this was probably a raw footage feed of the entire match and here is where it got picked up by TV. Jake still getting beat and takes another creative post shot. Loving the simplicity of this as they can and do pull off violence. They have now gotten heat on each other for about the same amount of time.

I love that when Jake tries to punch he hits Slater clean, but then crumbles form the pain of his shoulder’s movement. Someone needs to steal that presently. Slater does hit the piledriver and goes for the first pin I can remember. Two count. Very logical stuff. Slater stays on him.

Jake makes a comeback but still selling big, rubbing the arm and shaking it. Two boot shots (Jake took his boot off), but Slater reverses out of the DDT and hits a side Russian leg sweep. Then Dark Journey drops a chain down to Slater. I wish I could hear the crowd but it’s not mixed with the commentary. Damn. This is great.

Great teases and recovery! Slater gets clotheslined so he can’t use the chain. Jake tries to use it but gets back dropped to the floor (great recovery by Slater after a miscommunication). Ross points out here that Fergie is counting both men for no reason. He has been trying to officiate way too much in this match.

Slater goes up top and when Roberts slides in he’s hit with a hard elbow and pinned clean! Wow! Not expecting that. Big heel win gets Slater tons of heat and both the N.A. title and the TV title. They even threaten the people with arrest for throwing stuff at Slater. Thanks to Mid South for turning the crowd sound on again.

I think you can tell I loved this. It’s a top 20 match to me. High end for matches so far this year. Really makes for a very strong heel, which I tend to like. 4 stars and 8.2/10.

Match Discussion Here

I could have sworn the whole point of Match # 106: Terry Taylor vs Jake Roberts was to determine a number one contender for the North American Title, yet Taylor won and Jake is in the title match. What’s this all about?

This is no disqualification and Dark Journey is nowhere to be found at the start. Apparently Jake DDTed the young lady the week before, but he asks about her over the house mic anyway. Slater attacks straight out.

No detailed play-by-play reviews for a bit here. Trying new stuff. I liked that they took advantage and established the no DQ from the start w/ Slater choking Jake with the robe. The match layout seems to fit the story of Slater’s North American title run so far as well as the feud. By the way, the match IS for the title

Jake’s selling isn’t as pronounced in this match but it’s fine. I don’t need everyone to ham everything up, but Jake looks normal selling instead of above great, as he often can be. Just an observation.

Slater kills him with a big beatdown and heel stuff the fist seven minutes straight from the bell. Maybe one or two hope punches/kicks, which is a plus as Jake was great at desperation stuff. Stupid Tommy Gilbert interjects himself as the match escalates with Slater using wrist tape to choke Jake. Just as good are Slater’s punches, and his right fist being taped fits the match well.

Gilbert allows Jake to have a great emotional comeback by killing Slater with his boot. So that’s okay because he’s a face? At least Gilbert wasn’t threatening either with a DQ. Jake really connected to the Houston crowds, which is why I’d imagine this run was so effective with Slater as the main nemesis. Builds to a DDT tease, which Jake highlights well always. Slater’s reversal and suplex elevate the tease and the match. Also a great false finish where Jake gets his boot on the rope.

Jake comeback a second time lands the DDT. Jake is bloody by the way, which doesn’t add quite as much as I’d hoped. Jake wins clean with the DDT in around ten minutes. I’m not sure if this was a Dusty finish later on, but apparently that was it and Jake leaves immediately with the title.

Match was really getting good (and was already very entertaining), but that finishing sequence and clean pin was so quit it cut off the enjoyment too soon. Still, a good match and a fun feud. 3 ¼ stars and 6.6/10.

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

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

The first of a block of three matches involving Dirty Dick Slater, the heel with Dark Journey as his manager. I’ve said before I’m reminded of Tracy Smothers when watching him (Smothers came after Slater, but I saw Smothers first because of my age). I’d also said Bob Orton Jr., and I was happy to hear Orton Jr. and Slater for a time formed a tag team. That’s a heel team I wouldn’t mind seeing.

Slater is up against the super face of the territory, the local favorite Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Duggan has added “Ho” to the act now, which makes me roll my eyes, but to each him own. Slater hides behind Dark Journey, his female manager, as Hacksaw gets in the ring.

Slater teases leaving early after Duggan roughs him up and dominates him. Fans get on his case, and Duggan only encourages them. Duggan really had a lot of energy and presence in Mid South that got lost on the national scale. He was used a lot better and more effectively in Mid South.

Entertaining spots early as Duggan keeps Slater locked up in a head lock. Fans actually get into Slater not being able to push the big man off. When the ref goes to check around the back of the two for a hair pull Duggan will sneak in a clinched punch, then deny it as the fans cheer him on. Any reversal Slater makes out of this Duggan shuts down with a clothesline. Gotta mention Slater sells the beating like he’s finally getting his, and I can be up and down on Slater’s selling.

I have no idea what Hacksaw was doing sitting on the round after a missed elbow, but Slater turns in around with a head butt. We get choking right away, and five minutes in Slater has Hacksaw on the floor. He gets back in so the fans can cheer for Hacksaw get back in the ring. Slater cuts off whatever he could get then and grounds him with a sleeper/head lock. The story becomes Hacksaw trying to get out, getting close, then not. Slater has is foot on the rope for leverage and you can hear a female fan screaming about it.

Hacksaw with a brute of a comeback . His motions are perfect for hot comebacks and Slater sells well. Better than average match so far.

Hacksaw with a big shoulder block (do they still call it a spear?) and both men down. Crowd builds again. Hacksaw ties up Slater in the ropes. As an aside, why did Duggan and Reed both need the same background, nick name, and big move? Was one for the white fans and one for the black fans, since there seemed to be a big racial divide in the promotions fan base?

I should mention that Hacksaw brought down what I believe is his wife at the beginning, though you would have forgot a second later. This becomes relevant when Dark Journey tries to give Slater an object while he’s tied up, and while she does succeed, Hacksaw’s wife takes her out of the equation after that. Slater tries to hit Hacksaw, but Hacksaw blocks it. Camera work here ruins the finish, because you can’t see it well, but Hacksaw takes the knux and decides to hit Slater. He kills him with a shot and gets the pin. Stupid Hacksaw (the dumbest babyface I’ve seen on the set, along with Butch Reed) then allows his hand to be raised by the ref. The ref sees the knux, the decision is reversed, and the crowd boos the woozy Slater. Slater wins.

I’m so glad I didn’t live during this era. I would have given up on Duggan and Reed like I did Hogan as a child. Mid South really did do a lot of promotion to hillbillies and yokels. All the good ones were heels the fans legit hated. I’d love to see a Bruce Mitchell and his pals try to pull off the heel fan thing in this territory like they did in the Mid Atlantic. They would have been stabbed in the belly at their first show.
Match was pretty decent. It was the meat and potatoes brawling babyface taking that wuss heel out when he didn’t cheat, but it was well told. Hacksaw has his moments, and I think Slater has a good deal going in Mid South. Better than average match. 3 stars and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here

Dr. Death has turned face by this point. His long-time partner is Ted Dibiase turned face in early November, and Steve Williams turned face soon after. I’m pretty sure this was after Doc saved people in a burning car on the side of a highway and it was reported in the local news. They turned this into an angle and interview on their TV show, bring in the true story of Williams saving people.
Slater is your upper mid card heel here. It’s listed as not only a TV Title Tournament match, but round 11 in the tourney. Round 11?!

One of the things I’m always looking for, especially early, is FLOW. I’m looking for a combination of movement and pacing, and not necessarily fast or a lot of reversals. These guys have a great flow together, and from what I’ve seen a lot of that is Doc. He’s also a lot more charismatic then usual in Mid South. Slater is also so much better with Doc then his stuff with Reed.

Slater gets the heat with a hangman’s neck breaker and a beautiful reversal into a side Russian Leg Sweep (the first I think on the set, and a favorite of mine). Builds to a good struggle over Slater trying for a Boston Crab. He never gets Doc over.

I’m not a fan of Slater’s selling at all, but his face first falling bump looks nice. I just hope he doesn’t ruin it by doing it every time. We get a sweet Back Body Drop too. Doc back in full control and the fans react. They didn’t do much for Slater’s heat segment though.

Headlock from Williams is reversed into a side suplex by Slater. The count on both doesn’t get much reaction, which is a shame, but these people may be thinking it’s going much longer. Thought I heard something from Jim Ross on commentary about 15 minute time limits. We go to a commercial with Slater sending Doc to the outside.

WTF!? They hate Slater. This is pure comedy the way they cut out his heat in every match. We come back to a Doc hope spot which may be, judging by both men selling, the comeback.

Not quite. Slater grabs a sleeper after a miscommunication. Wish I could see these guys do their act in full as it seems like it could get could. Williams starts a comeback once the crowd had chanted “OU” a sufficient amount of time. Big come back for Doc has the crowd where they want them and Dick Slater is bumming around nice for him. Slater head butts twice to hold it up. Another count ref count.

It has to be said: Doc is a goofy face. He does a lot a football inspired footwork which is silly to me, and I’m a Doc fan. Doc picks him up for the Oklahoma Stampede, but Slater’s foot is on the rope.

Submission attempt, but Dark Journey rakes the eyes. Slater starts to gain the advantage, goes for the suplex, and the crowd goes crazy when it’s blocked. Off the ropes Slater gets the win with a roll up holding the tights. Slater wins.

Really solid match I could not completely buy into for whatever reason. I liked it, but it just wasn’t quite there. I wasn’t sucked in. better than average. 2 ¾ stars and 6/10.

Match Discussion Here

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.

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