Posted October 16, 201014 yr comment_5457290 Ted DiBiase vs. Rocky Haga (05/02/80) - Clipped but it still felt like it went on forever. Terry Funk/Dick Slater vs. Jumbo Tsuruta/Giant Baba (05/02/80) - Already reviewed. Giant Baba ceremony for his 3000th match. Promo from the Funks, Jumbo Tsuruta, Nick Bockwinkel, Billy Robinson, Abdullah The Butcher, Rick Steamboat, and Dick Slater with Wally Yamaguchi (01/18/81) Giant Baba vs. Verne Gagne - AWA World Title & PWF Title Match (Baba's 3000th match, 01/18/81) - They clipped a big chunk out of the first fall, which was probably merciful because the matwork was neither quick nor tight. I did like Verne suddenly busting out two dropkicks and pulling Baba down into a sleeper for the fall. He went right back to the sleeper to start the second fall, but Baba fought his way out and nailed Verne with a bunch of chops and big boots to even things up. Baba continued laying in the shots to start the third fall, but then they spilled outside and grappled to a double countout. Not a terrible match; it was just slow and didn't build to anything memorable in the third fall. Giant Baba vs. Harley Race - NWA World Title (02/15/81) - Baba rocked Harley with a big boot right after the bell and totally dominated the first fall with strikes and headlocks. He also controlled most of the second until Harley hit a brainbuster out of nowhere to even the falls. The crowd got pretty hot for the third fall as Baba rallied and tried to put Harley away to win the title. But it ended on crap DQ when Harley punched Baba in the crotch to break a sleeper. We have better stuff from these two.
