March 1985

Road Warriors defend the AWA World Tag Team Titles....and get into a fight with fans!!!!

Dory Funk Jr. vs Steve Casey - MACW 3/2/85 Excellent scientific ten-minute draw here. Steve Casey was a lower midcard British talent in JCP, never heard of him before I watched March 1985 Crockett so maybe some WoS fans can shed some light. He won a squash, won a tag match with Kernodle and then had a great match with Tully Blanchard on 3/30 (***1/4 just under the threshold for me to do a full review, but his arm selling and comeback really made the match. I thought he made Tully look better by his own performance). This was just sublime. If you like pro wrestling as more of a sporting contest, this is the match for you. Just the way they moved around the ring, they …

Why has nobody else started a thread for this match? It seems like a nice exhibition at first, with a couple of skilled wrestlers doing their thing. The matwork is fluid and effortless, but it doesn't seem like either of them is really trying for anything. Then, Soranaka escapes Takada'a Octopus hold and Takada gets pissed and starts kicking the hell out him. Soranaka decides he isn't going to just curl up and die for him, and it turns into a heated fight. Complete with Takada bumping and letting Soranaka keep him locked up in holds for extended stretches, to make it look more likely that he's going to win, and Sornaka looking like superman for kicking out of …

This was such a gruelling battle. Maeda maybe a more compelling matchup for Fujiwara than Sayama, because he can go on the mat, and is larger, so we get all this compelling matwork were Fujiwara has to control or defend against him with double concentration. This was slow, but dripping with intensity right from the start. Fujiwara teaching his opponent a lesson on the mat and coming back through barrages of kicks was so awesome. He came across as the toughest, most determined man on the planet. Both guys wincing while in the double leg lock was such an epic visual. The finish I didn't see coming at all, but this is why shootstyle rules: it fit the story of the match, and …

A feeling out process to start. Savage on the bike.Savage feeuding Herc to do power moves. More stalling, and Hercules uses press slams some more. Savage on the bike. At this point Savage's back has got to be done. Savage has taken a big time ass kicking from him. Savage using the hide the chain for a bit until Hercules gets it and returns the favor on Savage for the pin. The psycholopy of the match is basic, but effective. 2 3/4*

High Flyers vs Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito - 3/7/85 All these great AWA matches and I have not even watched one Bockwinkel in the lot. God I love the AWA! They had great characters, brawls and technical matches. After all those bitchin' cage match brawls, this is exactly the break I needed with a fantastic pure tag team match. Who better to watch than the High Flyers, Bockwinkel and "Mr. Torture" Mr. Saito. A little background, the Road Warriors are now the tag team champions and I was informed that Brunzell and Gagne were injured for most of 1984. The High Flyers have been a tag team for about 12 years at this point. Comparatively, Bockwinkel lost the AWA World …

The match told a story. The problem I had was the guys were content to sit in rest holds until it was time to start working spots. The match started out with a spriritted brawling. It settles down and Butch owns Doc and Kamala to start.I really loved Reed's arm pit punches. Parson's in with a standing headbutt to Doc's arm.Parson's was guilty of using the armbar to sit, but would work spots around it. Butch is in and is still working the arm. So we got a lot of that throughout the match. Eventuall we build to the finish. 2 1/4*

Mid-South North American Champion Ted DiBiase vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan - Mid-South 3/8/85 No DQ Jim Duggan looks like Rihanna at the end of Bitch Better Have My Money. They beat the living fuck outta each other in this battle like they owe each other some cash money. DiBiase had returned to the territory from an extended stay in Georgia and All Japan. Hooking up with Dr. Death and Skandor Akbar to exact revenge against his former partner in crime and the man who banished him from Mid-South, Hacksaw Jim Duggan! DiBiase & Dr. Death had jumped Duggan to kickstart the feud on TV in the fall of 1984 and DiBiase defeated Brad Armstrong to win the North American Championshi…

Tenryu & Tsuruta defend the NWA International Tag Team Titles

The Road Warriors defend the AWA Tag Team Titles in All Japan

Taped in Dallas TX, March 8, 1985. Aired on WCCW TV 3/16/85 American Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) with Jim Cornette vs The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers) The previous week, the Midnight Express defeated Brian Adidas & Johnny Mantel and they really hyped this main event showcasing a video package of the feud up until this pint and how the MX had stole back the belts from the Fans. Were the Midnights married to the Fantastics for their entire World Class run? It would be a crying shame if we never got MX vs Kerry & Kevin. Does that exist? Corny also has “Crippler” Rip Oliver and Sunshine is goin…

WWF Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine vs. Tito Santana - WWF, MSG 3/17/85 Lumberjack Match Here is the fun, popcorn match of the series. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of hard blows from each men, but this was definitely more of a crowd pleaser until the ending. Valentine cheapshotted him at the beginning, but Tito came back and just popped Valentine really good right in the face. The Hammer was dazed and confused. TIMMMMMMBBBBBAAAAHHHHH! Santana just poured it on in the early going to the delight of the crowd while Valentine tried to figure out ways to get by the lumberjacks. Big John Studd was a helpful ally, but The Dragon quite the thorn in his sid…

Classy lucha title match. Faraon is such a great but rarely seen grappler, and this was one of those matches where you just sit back and watch a master work his magic. Not only did he always know what to do, he was transitioning seamlessly between his holds like shootstyle grappler. Also check out the way he would create space and defend himself when Atlantis tried working over his arm. Atlantis held up his end and provided some nice dives so I wouldn't say he was luggage here, altough it's pretty clear who is leading the dance here.

Ted DiBiase vs Hacksaw Jim Duggan – Mid-South, Houston 3/22/85 - Loser Leaves Town, Tuxedo Cage with Coal Miner's Glove On A Pole Match Believe the hype! This is one of the best matches of 80s and a perfect culmination of their intense, bloody feud. Clearly, the cage was needed to keep DiBiase's running buddies out and so DiBiase would have nowhere to run. After all the blood that was spilled, Mid-South was just not big enough for the two of them thus loser leaves town. DiBiase was famous for his loaded glove so they upped the ante with a coal miner's glove hanging from a pole in the corner this would actually be DiBiase's downfall. The one odd stipulation is the fact…

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel - AWA Winnipeg 3/28/84 This series of matches really speaks to the praise given to Bock about having a different match everytime he goes out. In the first match of this Winnipeg series, it felt like Martel really kicked some ass and established him as champion, which was critical in his nascent going up against The Man. In the second match, you get the classic. Martel starts on fire, but Bock works himself out of a jam and both men are left gasping for the finish line. Now in the third match, which must feel like Bockwinkel's last shot, Bock is fired up and extra no-nonsense. He starts the match on fire, there…

Not on DVDVR set. Available on Mid South House Shows, Volume 10. Ugh...there is no sound for the first few minutes

Aired on NWA World Wide Wrestling 3/30/85

NWA US Champion Wahoo McDaniel vs Magnum TA - Worldwide 3/23/85 Steel Cage Match Watching Mags in Mid-South, it was clear just how good of a babyface he was in terms of selling and just connecting with a crowd. Even with his technical execution being subpar, I thought his charisma overwhelmed any flaws. Once he was put in brawls with DiBiase, he could really shine. Here against Wahoo, his offense has come a long way. He is by no means the best, but it is no longer glaringly bad. Couple this with the babyface charisma and selling, he was a potent force. He has just debuted recently and was given a string of very quick wins with the belly to belly suplex, which has been…

Not on DVDVR set. Available on Mid South House Shows Volume 11

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