August 1983

I was watching this alongside a few other matches that feature Tiger Jeet Singh and while they were all at least good, this blew away all my expectations going in. This was one of the first matches of Terry Funk's retirement tour (lol) and the heels come out with their sticks and swords, ready to wail on the Funker like it's the last chance they'll get. Naturally, it starts off incredibly heated and has to take a few minutes to settle down into a proper tag match, though seeing all the chairs and monitors get tossed around was quite fun while it lasted. Terry & Jumbo both get to play the face-in-peril at different points as Singh & Ueda act as the dastardly foreig…

Like all of the other Fujinami/Choshu matches Ive seen, this was an intense, mat based war. They were able to convey an intensity going back and forth in their exchanging of holds that is not seen too much these days. The way they would work holds and treat them was more realistic than the typical body part weakening/selling that is more prevalent in the US. An example being Choshu hitting a shoulder breaker and then going into the scorpion. Yes, his previous attack was on the shoulder, but the scorpion deathlock is a deadly hold and when the opportunity arises, why wouldnt you go for it. An analogy would be in MMA, if someone is working a leg kick game standing and …

This is a double bull rope/Dog Collar match. Teddy really carried this with his bumping and willingness to take an ass kicking. The faces were ooozing charisma. JYD was able to stand next to Dusty and never got eclipsed. Kamala's character work was real good. Furthermore, I loved both teams promos. 3*

This is the battle of the Hacksaws and this was just a fight. They brawled and brawled. The crowd was super hot for this. Reed went to work for a bit on the leg which Duggan turned into a ground and pound. Duggan takes a ROH type neck bump that sends him 3/4 of the way across the ring. Post match Teddy comes out and the crowd is near riotous stage. My main problem was this went way too long for a brawl. As a side note Reed's pre match promo got some serious heat. 2 3/4*

Available on the Network, Vault, WWE Hidden Gems, 1983. "Japanese Pride, August 12, 1983"

Six-Man Tag Team Champions Von Erichs vs Fabulous Freebirds - WCCW 8/12/83 The Fabulous Freebirds come out with a way to top themselves for this entrance for their TV rematch for the Six-Man Tag Team Titles. The elaborate entrance includes Confederate soldiers leading them to the ring as if this was Gone from the Wind. The crowds boos at the mere mention of Georgia in “Georgia on my Mind”. Huge Go Home Freebirds! Chant, like WOW! Massive heat. Kevin Von Erich would like to remind us that his relatives also fought on the wrong side of the war just in case there are racist pricks in the audience cheering for the Freebirds. Love Kevin the wrestler, but Kevin the tre…

Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin & Terry Gordy vs Kevin & David Von Erich - WCCW 8/15/83 2 out of 3 Falls Kevin is PISSED at Garvin for parading the American Championship that he stole (I did not watch the rematch, but it is clear Garvin won the held up title). Ring jackets aren’t even off and he just pulverizes Jimmy Jam sending him packing. Then they send Gordy packing again and again. Red hot start! Garvin, Gordy and Sunshine regroup. Garvin is antagonizing the crowd and Von Erichs. Even getting his ass kicked, he won’t let up. Gordy wants him to calm down figuring otherwise he was going to have clean up his mess. Gordy whipped into buckles and dropkicked out. Ga…

This is pretty great. This is such a great feud. We start out with Ted stomping a mud hole into Duggan. Dibiase misses a charge into the corner and Duggan starts his comeback. The ring ropes breaks and Duggan uses it as a weapon. Dibiase returns the favor and beats Duggan down with the ring ropes. Dibiase is so great here at getting heat. He uses his punches so spot on here. He makes them mean so much. Loving how Ted works the cut. Ted has really one of the best fist drops ever. Duggan's come back is huge. The crowd is with him something fierce. Now Ted's bleeding. In a last second act of desperation, Ted loads the glove. Duggan gets the load and KO's Ted. 4*

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Wahoo McDaniel - AWA 8/28/83 I am so glad we have this on tape. There is no commentary and I dont know why we do, but it is so awesome. It was really cool to see Bockwinkel in this stiff, violent brawl. I have gotten to see very little, but what little I have seen, I liked a lot and am so grateful that we have a classic like this on tape. Bock ain't playing around, he has his fists taped up, but Wahoo is here to kick some ass. He targets the leg and and throws some tomahawk chops. The crowd seems pretty pro-Wahoo. Bock retreats to the outside where he grabs a chair and clobbers Wahoo. HOLY SHIT! He sends Wahoo into the…

I thought these guys were working hard here and ended up having a really fun and athletic match. It was borderline great to me, and I think I'd go **** on it.

This is Terry's 'retirement' match and this has one of the loudest crowds I have ever heard. You know you have a hot crowd when they are going apeshit for Dory Funk Jr. of all people! The match starts off with Dory being worked over by the heels. They mostly keep him immobilised with an armbar and strikes. Dory gets the crowd pops big whenever he gets in a lucky jab. Terry was sublime in this, egging his brother on and pacing up and down the apron when he's not tagged in and throwing some great punches and doing a marvellous selljob of his leg when he is the legal man. Everything looks snug and not one move looks phoney. This is yet another hellish brawl that we need more…

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race vs Ric Flair - MACW 8/31/83 I have told this story before I think, but I think it is humorous that after years and years of wanting to see 1980s wrestling specifically Ric Flair how underwhelmed I was as a teenager finally seeing Starrcade 1983 main event (as my first 80s match), which I still think is a pretty disappointing affair and I dont even think you can blame it all on Kiniski. Fortunately, I stuck with 80s wrestling. I have seen this match multiple times before since it is on a Ric Flair WWE DVD Set and I think this is definitely a lot better than Starrcade 83, but I have heard there are still better Flair/Race m…