December 1985

Hacksaw Duggan vs Buzz Sawyer - Mid-South 12/27/85 Dog Collar Match Due to the out of control nature of the previous match and Buzz Sawyer's moniker of Mad Dog, it was only logical that they would have a Dog Collar match. I liked the dog collar posturing from Buzz Sawyer early only to have him running after Duggan balls up the chain and gives him a good thwacking and he realizes there is nowhere to run. Again, an argument with the ref is Duggan's downfall as Sawyer comes rushing in with the chain. He rakes the chain across the forehead as the crowd chants for Duggan. Sawyer is raking the chain across the open wound in a gnarly moment. Now Duggan cant get away from Saw…

Talk about it here. Starts with a minute or two of Ric Flair vs Mack Jeffers. Leads into this tag match. Talk about it here.

This isn't the best Ole Anderson match, but it may be the definitive one. If it isn't, it certainly displays all of his strengths as a singles worker. While the match doesn't have much of the classic Anderson "pick a limb and ruin it" strategy, it has Ole's selling, his mean-ass heel tactics, and simple, punishing offense. He brings Magnum down to Mother Earth with a hair pull to win a top wristlock, he's got a sick knee lift to a kneeling TA, eye rakes, slaps, body slams, and some basic armwork. All of it looks good and looks like it hurts. I really dig the atmosphere of the match. Ole and Magnum are within punching and kicking distance the whole time, and coup…

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Ronnie Garvin - WCW 12/28/85 This match is like one big mark out moment for me. This is one of my all-time favorite matches and that's with only having seen like the first 3/4s on Youtube. I only got my hands on the full thing and LORD HAVE MERCY!!! This may be the best TV match I have ever seen. Flair and Garvin just absolutely wail on each other for 15 minutes. There is no better sound than sound of flesh on flesh. The skirmishes they have are simply awesome. They just beat the living shit out of each other. Flair is so busy trying to go chop for chop with him he forgets to beg off until late in the match! Some highli…

Taped on 12/15, aired on NWA World Wide Wrestling 12/28/85 Available on the WWE DVD "Ric Flair The Definitive Collection"

If Butch Reed wins he gets Dark Journey for 30 days. I thought the bout would be worked in a more violent fashion. Instead the match was worked with good psycholgy, but lacked something for a blood feud. Reed had a neck injury so both guys worked the match around the neck. Reed worked revenge spots on Slater's neck, and Slater targeted Reed's neck. Slater dung his knee and Reed worked the leg and went for the Figure 4. The finish was pretty bad, and beating Reed cheap twice was terrible.The match lacked a spark, and with that finish hurt the match. 2 3/4*

Dick Murdoch vs Ted DiBiase - Houston 12/27/85 This is a result from the one of the hottest Mid-South angles of all time that successfully executed the double turn of the hated Ted DiBiase and the former North American champion Dick Murdoch. A quick synopsis is that Murdoch was pissed DiBiase got a NWA World Title shot against Flair and right before the match, Murdoch beat the living shit out of DiBiase bloodying him up and nailing him with Brainbuster. DiBiase proved he is all-man and came out to wrestler Flair with a giant bandage. DiBiase was ripshit that Murdoch cost him a title shot and so they went around the loop. This match is joined in progress and also the …

This has been a strong feud in Houston. We open up fast with the Guerreros wanting to push the pace. They get a nice shine early. They control the Fabs with their wrestling and tags. Keeping them off balance with their style. Keirn takes a powder to slow the pace. He suckers Hector only to have the tides turned. Keirn gets him the 2nd time only to get reversed again. I like the teases of the heat. Finally the Fabs use the # game and get the heat. Loved the tease of the hot tag. Only for the Stan Lane eye rake. Chavo's hot tag is en fuego. The crowd is nuts for the false finish. Then even more for the actual finish. Fabs get some of their heat back post match. 3 1/2*

These guys have been feuding over the tag belts. I'm curious what they can do in a singles bout. These guys do a good job working the opening headlock. Superstar pulling the hair is a nice heel touch. Perez with a great punch early. Perez is the babyface, but his facials scream heel. Superstar picks up on that one fan and starts to beat on Al in front of her hoping her anger would spread with the crowd. Which it did. The crowd got up for Al's comeback, but is cut off. The finish got heat, but overall pretty bland match.

I'm hoping for a quick spirited hoss fight here. This very plodding. Not much happening. Duncum is working Doc's arm. I like Doc's forearm shivers. It picks up late, but not enough to save it.

Brooks is in some get up to start, Taylor with some headlock work to start.Brooks with basic heel work that gets a reaction. Brooks with a hair pull sets up a head scissors.This is pretty dull. Gary Hart was the best part of the match. Their is a lot of laying around here.

AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee - Memphis 12/30/85 Lawler Leaves Town vs Hair of the Dundees So a shit ton has happened since the TV match where Dundee tricked Lawler into losing the Southern Championship so he could face Flair. Lawler ended up missing a bunch of bookings so Lance Russell went to his house and found him sloshed on the ground with empties all around him. Lawler claimed it was all Dundee's fault. I think this was a ruse to lure Dundee into a false sense of security. Then on Memphis TV we get the Hawaiian Flash, which is very clearly Jerry Jarrett to Dundee and Lance. Jarrett wants him to sign a match with the Hawaiian Flas…

Butch Reed vs Buzz Sawyer - Mid-South 12/31/85 Dog Collar Match Think about the roster Mid-South had at this time on the heel side you had Dick Slater, Dick Murdoch and Buzz Sawyer, which is pretty great. Then get a load of the babyface side: Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Ted DiBiase, Butch Reed and Jake Roberts. That is bonkers deep. Reed is looking for revenge on Sawyer. Sawyer wants a Dog Collar match and Reed is like you are playing right into my hand, sucka. Reed gets his No DQ match. I watched this six months ago and thought it was every bit as good as the Duggan Dog Collar match and still think so. It is just violence and hatred personified. I really like how such small …

Dick Murdoch vs Ted DiBiase - OKC 12/31/85 Dick Murdoch is just spectacular at every facet of wrestling and this here represents the peak of his brawling. He looks to jumpstart the match against Teddy, but he is countered with a powerslam and a big punch. Ted is walloping Murdoch who is doing his classic face down, ass up selling that always makes me laugh. Murdoch realizes that coming up at Ted does not work so he changes gears by playing some cat and mouse. When Ted tries to climb over the barricade, Murdoch lands a big blow to disorient Teddy. Murdoch focuses on the back of the head, neck area presumably to set up for the Brainbuster. He drives his head into the ta…

This was on the DVDVR set. Available on the Network, Vault, Hidden Gems, 1985. "Mid-South New Years Eve 1985"

This was on the DVDVR set. Available on the Network, Vault, Hidden Gems 1985. "Mid-South New Years Eve 1985"

This was on the DVDVR set. Available on the Network, Vault, Hidden Gems 1985. "Mid-South New Years Eve 1985"

New unreleased match! Available on the Network, Vault, Hidden Gems, 1985. "Mid-South New Years Eve 1985"