Lawler attacking Kerry's arm early to cover for Kerry's drug induced accidental blade backstage is famous but it's not as significant a moment as I had recalled. Lawler is mostly working defense early bumping around for Kerry clotheslines and showing frustration. Lawler takes a discuss punch and goes down but ends up getting one over on Kerry who bumps over the top rope for some great Lawler punches. The sequence on the apron with Lawler trying to knock Kerry back down with punches only to eat the discus punch but getting his knees up on the slingshot splash follow up was awesome. Fucking Kerry Road Warriors Hawks the piledriver and hits a discus punch. Lawler ends up getting pressed off and onto the ref on a cover and then Kerry hits a piledriver but the ref is over late for the count. Really great nearfall there. They end up on the floor and Kerry wrecks his own arm when Jerry ducks on a discuss punch and Kerry smashes the ringpost. Lawler goes to his trunks and Kerry blades off the foreign object spot. Lawler comes off the top with a second fist drop and ends up caught in a stomach claw. Kery is a mess and Dusek is great at ringside talking about how Kerry can take the blood because he's from Texas. They end up back on their feet and Lawler goes back to his tights. Lawler is awesome dancing around and throwing great punches and Kerry is just bleeding to death throughout. Kerry ends up rolling to the floor and again Dusek is awesome as he goes over to check on him. Lawler hits a running punch to Kerry as Kerry tries to wipe the blood from his eye after being checked by the ref. Kerry makes his comeback and Lawler takes a bump up onto the buckles. Cool double knock down spot leads to a good nearfall and Kerry locks the Iron Claw back on. Dusek is working the ref throughout but the ref rings the bell due to the blood loss. This was a great match despite a few problematic moments. Dusek really did add a lot to this thing.

 

I thought this was already nominated but don't see it anywhere

Kerry blading himself on the arm was one of the wierdest things I have ever seen. Lets hope Cole blades his arm tomorrow and they do a montage of Jerry's greatest hits. Damn, Kerry's first lariat was SICK. Kerry's shine was solid but Lawler fights back with the sweet punches. Loved Kerry's brief comeback only to get caught by the knees on the splash. Lawler workks the mid section and GODDAMMITT!!! The piledriver no-sell.. fuck Road Warrior Hawk! Lawler has to sell Kerry's piledriver because he has a brain but the ref bump was one of the smarter ones I have seen. Kerry injures his claw hand on the outside and Lawler takes over and plays the chain game mixed in with the sweet punches. Fuck, Kerry's blade job is nuts. The battle was EPIC at the end and I don't blame the ref for stopping the ematch. Thiis would have been my #1 if not for the piledriver no-sell and the timing of the end. Still, epic match, easy nomination.

AWA World Heavyweight Title vs. World Class Heavyweight Title: Jerry "The King" Lawler © vs. "Modern Day Warrior" Kerry Von Erich © (12/13/88)

 

This would be on the set pretty much anyway due to historical significance but the match had just about everything you wanted in it with drama, blood, and workrate at a high level. Yeah the no-selling of the piledriver was what it was but they made up for it by the end and while the finish was controversial the Illinois state commission finish was kinda common at this time although I will say there was blood in the strap match before it so I have no real problem with it. Knowing what condition Kerry was in going into the match makes it even better because he was totally fucked up and still carried his own here. Epic match and a slam dunk nomination.