September 1979

It feels trite to even say it at this point, as you could say it for almost every single match Rose had in Portland from like 1977-1983, but this was yet another example of maybe the most versatile wrestler ever working a very different match than any he's worked before or after. It's pretty remarkable, and I know it was almost a necessity as he worked the same arena in front of the same crowd every week for nearly six years straight. But still, the creativity is astounding and he was clearly a guy who took immense pride in his craft. This ruled, of course. In a vacuum, taken in context, whatever you like - it was a badass wrestling match. They start real tentatively, or …

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This was a stupidly effective and smartly worked skill vs. Power match. Sato is a wrestling machine, but Ripper can power out of anything she tries. Ripper even lies down for Sato to pin her and just pushs her off to demonstrate that. Ripper is so self confident here it's lovely. Ripper takes control by grabbing Sato's hand and crushing it with her grip. Ripper throws Sato around and a second has to re-locate Sato's leg at one point. The schoolgirls are in tears at this point. Sato really puts on a tremedous selling performance here and has to use stalling tactics and last ditch takedowns, making this look like Monster Ripper is the challenge of her life and not even she …

Ivan the Terrible has been a total revelation. I kind of get a Bill Dundee vibe from him. Ivan is biting Tiger right on the ass to start. Ivan tries to set up a Brooks sneak attack that fails. Love the midget interference spots. Tom with the beard pull. Ivan's pin ball stooging between Tom and Tiger was glorious In a great misdirection spot, Brooks runs into Ivan. I love the reversal's of the roles where the midget is the base, but Brooks is too fat. I've never heard a crowd laugh so hard in my life at a wrestling spot. Ivan milked that spot for all its worth. This match ruled. 3 1/2*

Lets see how good Tiger is. This will be a test for him. They tease a Dog collar match. Brooks using the headlock early. I'm liking all the jockying on the mat. Brooks feeding Tiger was a lot of fun. Their seems to be a lot of start stop momentum. Tiger's arm drags are beautiful and look like it hurt. Brooks throwing knees to the back. Then uses head butts, and forearms to the back. A back breaker gets 2. Brooks transitions into a chinlock. Now Brooks is cranking the neck. Liked Brooks covering Tiger's nose to cause problems to his breathing. Brooks is really roughing him up in the ropes. Tiger's comeback is a lot of fun. It has a lot of energy, and the crowd is with him.…

Midgets!!!!! Paul Boesch midget jokes never get old. Loved the reveal that Ivan is bald. Ivan is great working the schtick. Ivan is awesome. He has a lot of schtick, and charisma. He knows how to play to the crowd. Ivan is totally carrying this.I'm loving the sky is falling gimmick. I totally loved the comedy spots. This was very entertaining. 2 1/2*

*** SPOILER ALERT*** Ok...I believe Cornette has this labelled as 2/11/79, but I am going to disagree. Jimmy Snuka won the US Title in a tournament on September 1st. At the end of the match you can hear the ring announcer say that Flair is disqualified and "The Winner and Still US Champion....then it cuts off, but if he said Snuka, then it has to be 9/15.

Ricky Steamboat defends the Mid-Atlantic TV Title

The story of the match was Hart avoiding getting into the match. As a story this was done well. The payoff was Hart eventually getting caught in the ring. So far as story it was done well. Some of the work contained in the story could have been better. Still I thought this was fun. 2 3/4*

This is a captains match. The winner gets the 1st fall in the tag later. This was solid wrestling. Lewin was focused on the arm. Some of the arm work was done really well . Some of it fell flat. I thought Davd's selling was really well done. His work underneath looked good. The match lacked pizazz. Which is flaws from both wrestlers. 2 1/2*

This is their 4th consecutive match at MSG. I believe it was the only time a heel was brought back four times in a row to challenge the champion. The crowd is already in a frenzy as both men start their way down the aisle. There is no referee inside the cage, no pinfalls. Only way to end the match is escape the cage, through the door or over the top. Pat Patterson enters the cage first, and tries to ambush Backlund on the way in. Backlund unleashes a flurry of punches and immediately rams Patterson headfirst into the cage. He grabs Patterson by the hair and throws him into it again. Backlund elbows Patterson and rams his head down to the mat and hits a le…

The big stip of the match is if Brody wins he gets 5 minutes with Hart. Both of these guys are big draws all over the world. With that said I'm not a fan of either guys work. I feel both guys are overrated as great brawlers. Though they have their moments. Here at times they have some fun stuff. My favorite part was Lewin's and Hart's work with each other. Hart came across as a smooth operator. I thought this was the best Hart has looked on the Houston footage.