The future Doink the Clown takes on the future Red Rooster. Both were a little more talented than all that noise.

Borne is the Texas Heavyweight Champion. Taylor seems to be the subtle heel here, and in the early going he’s doing his best Ric Flair impression. A slower, controlled start with bursts, Taylor bumping big or complaining to the ref. I like Ric Flair matches, so even a poor man’s Flair routine is pretty good as long as the structure is there. Taylor bails to the outside. He comes back in for more Flair formula, trying to wrestle and getting taken to school on the mat. Good movement off the ropes ends in a big belly-to-belly from Borne. Taylor sells big on the outside.

We get a jump cut for a commercial, but Borne is still in control back in. Taylor ends up throwing Borne to the floor to gain the advantage, then goes out after him to inflict some damage. Now I’m getting a Nigel McGuiness vibe from Taylor, who works the crowd. Taylor throws a decent punch. Borne comes back heavy with punches and Taylor does some over to top selling. Near falls from Borne, the ref gets out a position when Borne gets the visual fall, and Taylor pins him using the tights. Terry Taylor is the new Texas Heavyweight Champion.

A good poor man’s Ric Flair impression from Taylor. Borne looked strong, and though at times they weren’t on the same page, that was kept to a minimum. Everything looked fine, and the pace and flow was there for a simple story. The heel had to go over and did. I enjoyed this little match. Slightly above middle of the pack. 3 ¼ stars and 6.5/10

Decent 10 minute match that never really gets past 2nd gear. It built well for the ten minutes the match lasted, but then abruptly ended in a DQ finish when Dundee kept kicking at Taylor while his leg was tied up in the ropes.

It began with lock ups and holds, and Taylor outwrestled the heelish Dundee. Good stuff that builds. Dundee begins to act like he’ll leave, then gets in to cheat for the advantage. He holds it with punches, works over Taylor, and it builds again to Taylor coming back before being cut off with the leg in the ropes. What gives? That’s it. I was enjoying it until then, though Taylor can be tough to watch at times (read: dull). Where’s the rest of it, guys? 2 ¼ and 4/10.

Match Discussion Here

Magnum TA is announcing with Jim Ross. This must be post car accident. He shares the booth with Jim Ross for this rematch.

Early on both guys struggle and escape holds like this is a shoot match. I love that. Back and forth to show they are quick, equally talented, and gifted. They then go to commercial. Lame.

We come back soon after with both men still trading holds and circling around each other. Hammer locks are in vogue in this match, as are solid high hip tosses. Adams gets a pin attempt with a crucifix. Both men stand off and show frustration. The pace is picking up with stronger holds. They run the ropes an Adams catches Taylor in a leap frog for a powerslam. Two count. Taylor says screw it and knees him next time out. Smart escalation. Adams has a reversal answer. Commercial break, but I don’t think much is being cut in this one.

Magnum gets over the story on commentary. Adams is dictating the pace and controlling this close match. Nice verbal touch.

Taylor gains control with a suplex and works on the neck a bit. That goes out the window quick, but he shows enough stuff to impress wearing Adams down. Adams hope spots are very good. The crowd is just a little out of it. Adams will back off at times and give fair warning, while Taylor plays subtle heel. Adams with a knee lift that stuns Terry Taylor. He rolls out and sells needing a break. He’s certainly “losing”.

Damn. We get a dull rest hold in a well paced by deliberately slow match. That kills it for more for a few minutes, but they know what they’re doing because the crowd really starts coming alive cheering Taylor on. Taylor back up and sneaks a punch off a clean break. Adams gives it back tenfold. Carl Fergie gets on the heelish frustrated Taylor. JR notices and tells the story.

Adams grabs a submission sleeper that is played to go to a near fall (near submission). Crowd isn’t so sure. A third commercial airs. This time they take out a minute or two. Taylor is really going heel here as 15 minutes in he headbutts Adam’s stomach off a clean break. Adams keeps going for flash pins/rollups. Taylor cuts him off. Adams sells well. Punch war. Adams takes over and knocks Taylor out of the ring. You really get the impression this is a war, and it’s much more real/dramatic then their last meeting. Tells a better story too.

Lots of Taylor strikes and Adams near pins. You really believe Taylor could lose at any moment.
Ref Fergie in a horribly contrived ref bump with Adams. Taylor takes advantage and gives Adams a piledriver on the floor. Serious damage. Taylor climbs in and he wins via countdown. Huge heat. Would be horrible today, but an interesting finish for its time. I like that they put over the pile driver. Taylor afterwards does a heel interview to explain his internal logic. Magnum is mad and Eddie Gilbert plants heel seeds here. Great stuff. I liked this one. 3 ½ and 7/10.

Match Discussion Here

These two men were partners and tag team champions recently. We reviewed one of their matches with Hot Stuff International. Now they’ve decided to be singles competitors, though I’m not sure if Adams has turned yet. I can almost bet cash it won’t be Taylor who plays the heel in Mid South.

A great extended opening where both guys exchange holds and reversals. Really solid and well paced stuff that must have seemed quite fast and tight as work for the time. Both guys are considered by history to be strong workers (good hands), but on a rung below a top level inside the ring. Translation is they had great matches with Flair and higher level opponents. The series ends when Taylor runs the ropes and perfectly trips over Adams so that he falls outside the ring to the floor. He grabs his knee in pain. Neat match story developing.

Back in the ring Taylor doesn’t really want to slow down. He grabs a hold and shakes out his injured knee. Back and forth they go with more hammerlocks, arm bars, and a few strikes. Crowd isn’t sure who to root for. Commercial break. I can’t believe I’m almost used to these by now.

Adams reverses Taylor for a quick two a two. A moment later Taylor misses a knee drop on that back knee. Adam is in control. Taylor gets a few quick pin attempts, but mostly it’s just back and forth wear down fighting. Both men are beat up, but Taylor does have the suspect knee. Double clotheline at the side of the ring. Adams rolls out to the announcer’s desk. Taylor comes out after him. Taylor is climbing in but he might not beat the ten count. He hops in and sells the knee, and I just wonder how hot this would be with the right players. Taylor ends up counted out of the ring as the fans go unconcerned. This match should be sent to anyone who asks “why wasn’t Taylor ever NWA Champion?”

The match lacked some fire and passion, and you could tell the fans had no idea how the heck to feel, but it was so solid and well laid out you had to like it. I just got a little bored at great wrestling here and there, so the personalities (or lack thereof) hurt this match. Crowd heat and finish were just too flat, as was the heart. The work had it’s flaws, but it was very good most of the time. 2 ¾ and 6/10.

Match Discussion

The story is Adams and Parsons were once tag team partners in a tournament in Mid South (apparently because of the World Class connections). They broke up and Parsons went heel, joining Eddie Gilbert’s Hot Stuff International. Hence this match.

Gilbert bumps around for the atomic drop and sells enough to where he asks for a tag from Terry Taylor, who punches him. That’s jus the first spot of the match. Classic goofy Memphis Gilbert here. They milk the crowd. A bare knuckle boxing spot. Gilbert bumps. Very entertaining stuff they should think about doing in undercards on WWE today.

Otherwise it’s dull. Once the entertaining stuff is done early there’s a lull for me. Terry Taylor comes in and the stalling starts to bore me. They go to a commercial, which for once is a welcome reset for me.

Gilbert still selling low impact stuff when they return. The reversal comes when Taylor sails through the ropes thanks to the “evil King Parsons”. Even the bump was a bit uninspired, and Iceman’s work afterwards isn’t quite my cup of tea. I can’t believe this guy was a big deal to me (as was Brickhouse Brown, Gary Young, and even Percy Pringle) when I’d watch WCCW as a kid on ESPN. The logic behind them getting the heat is, at least, solid form stuff. The athleticism and care does get better as well.
Gilbert and Parsons know how to draw the heat from the fans, and they do it while beating on Taylor. They run in and out while Taylor gets close, but can’t quite get to Adams. Hot tag is just that from a crowd perspective, but the heels gain control after some near falls. This section was really good and definitely raised the match. The heels take control on Adams for a second heel heat segment.

Ends with a double hot tag, Taylor about to “get him some”, some country song with fiddles that fits the fanbase plays, and the rest of Eddie Gilberts faction hits the ring. Sting and Rick Stiener run in ends the match. Okay for what it was. All these TV matches have dud finishes to promote forward, but that doesn’t help us here. Middle of the road match, but that road puts this match at lower than # 80. 2 ½ and 5/10.

Match Discussion Here

This match comes out of the 8/31/86 lumberjack match I’d guess. Heel Freebirds are cocky when they come out. Faces come out to “Born in the USA” because we can’t have a face not come out to that song, can we? Enough about the song!

I can’t look at this or judge this through the eyes I’d normally use because it’s going to be worked as a stip match. So I won’t give my usual thoughts or tendencies in reviewing this match.

Hayes and Roberts let the faces rule the ring. Dibiase and Taylor get huge pops for their names. Nash and Hall in the NOW off-shoot WolfPack was admittedly an homage to the Freebirds. I can see that with the Freebird frustrated on the outside early on.

The faces just destroy the heels with strap shots. Hayes doesn’t want to get in, but does. Hayes stooges as well or better tha his partner Buddy Roberts. The faces look like stars here. The minute Taylor is in Roberts lets himself get slapped in the face once before getting the heat on the face. I hate that when Taylor and Dibiase are on a team they make Taylor sell. It would be so much better for him to get the hot tag, at least in my viewing bubble.

This is so interesting. The heel heat segment, hope spots, and cutoffs and/or tags are all worked using the straps in place of moves, holds, and strikes. These guys are pros and MAKE it work. Some of it is their ability to know how to work and execute, but some of it is their collective star presence.

Hot tag to Dibiase. This is the best use of straps I’ve ever seen. Freebirds work over Dibiase now.I love the misdirection rollercoaster ride. Dibiase comes back with solid wrestling moves. Crap, they go to commercial. Dibiase is selling again.

Ross brings up the history of the Freebirds and Dibiase as the Freebirds double team Dibiase. This match is unpredictable in the way the best tag matches are. Taylor keeps running in frustration or to break some heel tactic up. Lots of choking. Taylor gets the hot tag. Two big back body drops.
Everyone hits their marks. Reversal of a double Irish whip and Dibiase and Hayes crash into each other. Buddy Roberts goes after Taylor. Taylor ducks a clothesline and comes off the ropes with a flying crossbody. 1-2-3. Taylor and Dibiase win clean.

The brawl keeps going after the three count. Taylor takes a sick bump into the guard rail throat first. Back in the ring, Roberts has Dibiase up for that always teased pile driver. Dibiase gets out. Dibiase answers that historical reference with one of his own. He pulls out the ol’ Black Glove. Too bad Hayes hits him from behind into a stiff Roberts clothesline. Hayes puts on the black glove and the heels beat up the faces. Diabise gets clobbered with his own glove.

Not only a great stipulation match, but a great tag match, and a strong ending. Post-match angle puts this over the top as I’m scoring all of this together. 3 ¾ and 7.8/10.

Match Discussion Here

It just dawned on me that in the last year the Mid South/UWF management figured out how to curtain off and maximize the arena in Tulsa to look good on TV. Good job. Tulsa has a real hot crowd most of the time too. The Cowboy Bill Watts brings out Terry Taylor, and Jim Ross acts surprised and happy. Not sure of the angle, but Watts is wearing a Doc t-shirt. Freebird’s music hits. Guess I’m not supposed to know Doc’s coming out if I were in 1986.

Hayes rules. He holds back Gordy, and they portray Gordy on commentary as always ready to fight. Hayes makes a stop at Ross’ announce position to yell about Watts having a bat. Watts’ goads them on the mic and Gordy wants at him again. Hayes still won’t go. Watts’comes at them with the bat, Roberts comes out and the heels run into the ring for safety. Lots of faces out (including a miget JYD rip off), and Hacksaw counts three Freebird. Takes him a moment, but he decides to be the third face. So we begin with the heels feeding the faces in a classic Watts’ “brawl and walk tall”. Great opening angle.

This match is the epitome of what is right and good about Mid South Wrestling under Watts. He and his fellow white meat babyfaces bounce the heels around. The heels bump like crazy for the less talented but super charismatic faces. The crowds is insanely hot. We even see comedy spots from the heels as no one wants to tag Gordy and get in. The guys feed off the corwd energy and go hard with their strikes, but they still make it look good and aren’t unprofessional. Best of all the lay out is classic as the faces run wild and each one “walks tall” while all the faces sell – Hayes the least as he’s seen as the ultimate prize – but tough Buddy Roberts turns the tide, and then big Gordy goes to work. Hayes adds the taunting. The heels tag quick and run interference and it works like clockwork. A well orchestrated show.

One of the most brilliant moments is the Buddy Roberts with Terry Taylor in a rear chin lock in the center. Neither is moving. The hold is synched nice, but they’re just resting. Meanwhile the faces are concerned and trying to wave on and rally Taylor, the heels are running back and forth on the apron taunting the faces and especially the crowd, and the crowd is going crazy chanting for Taylor or giving Hayes and Gordy boos. The art of the work!

After some scary good hope spots and cut offs Cowboy Bill Watts gets the hot tag, makes a run on all the heels, and nails Hayes, before being choked to death by the heels. They repeat the whole cycle with Watts and it is truly a “heat segment”. Awesome milking of Watts crawling and he makes the hot tag to Duggan, but Ref Fergie didn’t see it. Unfortunately here it breaks down a bit, where I felt they shouls have milked and gone back for another Hacksaw hot tag. All men in the ring. Taylor takes a great bump over the top rope. Fergie calls for the bell. Shit, that sucks! Watts turns the tables and clears the ring of all the heels. The 50 year old man clears the ring of Gordy, the UWF champion and resident giant tough guy. Selfish ass Watts. Faces get the “Born in the USA” pose for the crowd stuff in.

So close to being top ten. I’m not even sure this score will be on the proper scale since many of the old scores will be adjusted, but this was a good finish away from being very high. As it is, it’s still a favorite. 4 ½ and 8.6/10.

This match was set up by the last match we saw, with Cowboy Bill Watt’s coming out of retirement. Seems like the show was promoted as “The boys are back in town”, which cause mean the good guys with Watts are making the comeback on the heels, or it could have been the UWF expanding using the Freebirds as the centerpiece as heels. I’m not sure, but the Freebirds did come out to the Thin Lizzy song of the same name.

The Cowboy “Walks Tall” as the heels feed for him early, which is a pretty good story because he really wants at Michael Hayes. One thing I hate, which is not exclusive to this match, is that I always felt Gordy bumped to much just because he was an athletic big man. It makes him seem to “normal” for me after a while, when he was actually a very talented big guy in a sea slightly smaller big guys. He bumps for Duggan and Watts here. It looks great visually, but I’d rather the story be Buddy bumps and tags in the muscle of the group, stand off as the faces try anything but can’t quite get over on Gordy, but they really want Hayes. Or even have Hayes come in, get knocked on his ass, and quickly tag Gordy in. They’d have to go about taking out Gordy differently because he’s a tough SOB. Oh well.

The very live crowd for this match that reminds me of the best NWA 80s crowds, or some late 90s Nitro and RAW crowds. It hinders the fun of development of the match when Jim Ross is constantly telling me that they’re going off the air in a moment or that there’s a minute left in a match that just started. I know why it was done in the moment, I just wish back then they did commentary for the house shows matches like this that weren’t a TV time concept match.

Heels get the advantage on Taylor. Maybe my ethics are off but Hayes punches Taylor right in the face and Ross calls it “a cheap shot”. What? I dig the team work and style the heels employ. Quick tags. Ross brings up that Duggan and Gordy use to team. I like the references to personal histories. I still however, hate the Gordy stomp/Bam Bam dance. It’s as lame as the Fantastics butt dance.

Christ Terry Taylor was a screw up at times. He doesn’t duck or run through Roberts’ leapfrog quickly enough, and when Roberts comes down on him he back body drops him horribly and lands on the guys face. Just before that I was going to point out the lack of real passion and fire Taylor had. His excitement and urgency is all pretend, just like his character. He doesn’t believe in what he’s doing, which is a shame, because he seems to get it very well on a cerebral level. Of Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, Ted Dibiase, and Terry Taylor, Taylor was the least of that WWF late 80s class in terms of believability.

Crowd gets a pay off when they do a double crawling hot tag to Hayes and then Watts. Everyone in the ring. Ref bump. Watts beats up Hayes and pins him via Eddie Gilbert in a ref shirt. But when Gilbert points to Watts as the winner he gets decked. I’m guessing Gilbert was a heel and this was post the Russian angle. Terry Gordy takes out Watts w/ a chair and the Agreadic Spike. Duggan saves. More brawling on the outside. Ends up with the heels in the ring and no official finish. Very NWO vs WCW from a decade later. Except here Watts rolls in and clears the ring.

But WAIT! This was and is an elimination match. The TV is gone but this is the raw tape. Okay, so now hopefully I’m gonna get what I want. Now I feel pretty good about this so far. Grizzley Smith claims Hayes is eliminated, but Watts is also via DQ. Alright. Let’s keep going.

Gordy vs Duggan now. There’s a miscommunication here as Duggan is use to just dominating and not selling. Gordy figures it out and bumps like crazy for him. This annoys me to no end. I’ll watch hundreds of John Cena matches before I watch another Hacksaw Duggan match post this process. Ugh!

So Duggan and Taylor against Gordy and Roberts. Well, at least I have a rooting interest. Heels gain control on Taylor and actually do a spot the faces did in the first fall. Crowd chants for Taylor but I’m not a fan of him selling personally. Buddy Roberts struggles with Taylor on a worked level, but Gordy does alright. One hope spot and Gordy tags out. A moment later it’s Buddy having trouble with trouble, so Gordy comes in and smashes Taylor with his lariat while he has Roberts in a roll up. Crowd goes from huge pop to boos and disbelief. Roberts pins Taylor so it.s 2-on-1. Good heel psychology and tags (MNX-like work), and Taylor got better towards the end. Ref also doing well at being distracted and the movement was there. Match is very good at this point.

Roberts sells the tired beaten up but triumphant heel well. Gordy is just a badass. The chants go up for the super faced of the UWF, a determined Duggan. The table is set, and then…

This finish SUCKS! The heels feed Duggan, who plays his usual superman role. After thirty seconds they get the better of him two on one. They go to throw him out of the ring but he throws them over the top rope. I, for once, remember that it’s old school rules and think Duggan is getting DQed. Nope. The music hits instantly, that f’n overbearing “Born in the USA” they played for every babyface that makes Watts look just as much an ass as Ronny Reagan for not actually getting the point, and Duggan somehow wins. I guess it was battle royal rules too. Whatever. Heel tease dissension.

Don’t get me wrong, the match was very good at times and never horrible, but Duggan and Taylor really bother me for style, presentation, and limitations. Still, if the glass is half full the Freebirds did a hell of a job, even if the finish blew in my opinion. 3 ½ and 6.8/10.

Match Discussion Here

Thankfully this one starts out from the beginning. Gordy is still the champion and Taylor the TV champ. Only the big belt is on the line tonight. I’m curious if this is still Houston. It does resemble the Houston venue, though in the last half year the background seats past the first few rows have gotten dark. The announcing here is Joel Watts, not Boesch and Ross. I guess it doesn’t matter if it’s in Houston, but I’d love to know.

Ah, Shreveport, LA. That’s where we are. Also of note is this was taped off Memphis TV. That’s interesting. I loved the feeling out portion early. Felt Taylor’s sleepers were a bit dull, but after a commercial we go into Gordy’s wear down offense. You can argue his sleepers are over done or to long, but they seem more purposeful. The offense off a sleeper escape here is quick, smart, and powerful stuff. Very strong work and it’s paced well. They did lose me when they went to the outside for a minute, though it was an attention span thing. Gordy gets out of a sleeper he’s put in via a reversal of fortunes. Gordy follows him out and slams his back against the post, then his throat on the guard rail.

We get a long tease of a count out, a flurry from Taylor struggling to get in, and Gordy sits down on the sunset flip for the pin. That, and he had the ropes at the end. Good heel work but Gordy was just a big goof personality wise and comes off that way when he’d dance around or do his “Bam Bam” dance.

Glimpses of greatness, but not the greatness in full. I only saw 13 minutes and that did not include the major reversal where Gordy starts getting the heat. Still, for 13 minutes of action the Gordy wears down Taylor with the sleeper wasn’t going to shoot up this list like a longer feud defining match. Didn’t help it was clipped. 3 ¼ and 6.4/10.

Match Discussion Here