Posted May 14, 201213 yr comment_5502513 Caribbean Heavyweight Title: "Nature Boy" Buddy Landell © vs. TNT (9/17/88)BUDRO!!!!! This starts with some pretty good back and forth action to start with Buddy doing some fun selling for TNT's kicks. Buddy drops to the floor to regroup and he comes back in with some chops but TNT returns the favor quickly and starts back pounding on Buddy again. Buddy would send TNT to the floor where TNT starts laying in the shots on him then goes back to the ring where he continues to take it to Buddy but Buddy fires back when he can it's just TNT is that much better at striking. Buddy catches TNT though with a kneelift then drops the Corkscrew Elbow but TNT kicks out. Buddy then starts working TNT's left leg setting up the Figure-Four but he lets TNT get up and wants to fight him on his feet mocking him as he got up which was funny. TNT of course was all about this but Landell would just take TNT down again and went back to the leg where he would get the Figure-Four. TNT is selling his ass off trying to reverse the hold and he finally does but Buddy is in the ropes. TNT then gets up sells the leg and starts firing away on Buddy hitting a big savate kick in the corner then locks on the Cobra Clutch with Landell fighting his ass off sending TNT into the corner. Landell would miss a diving elbow drop and a knee lift into the corner then TNT would cover him for the pin even though Landell's foot was on the bottom rope. This was a damn fun match and a fairly easy nomination.
February 5, 201312 yr comment_5533388 TNT/Savio Vega has to be one of most underrated guys of the last thirty years. He's not necessarily an all time great, but he's a guy that was good in a lot of settings against a lot of people and almost never gets talked about. This was a really good showcase match for both him and Budro. Early on it's lots of chop/punch/kick exchanges which TNT decisively wins. When Buddy takes over he goes to the leg attack right away and mixes it up with some more stiff shots. Figure-four spot is well built to and looks good and TNT still sells the leg somewhat on his comeback. I loved the spot with Buddy positioning himself perfectly to escape the Cobra Clutch and inflict damage on TNT. This wasn't a great match, but it was a good one, where both guys got time to shine. Not out of this world, but I would have argued for this on every set I've been a part of.
