Boston Idol 1982

Boston Idol 1982

Pedro Morales vs. Adrian Adonis (3/14/82)

- Really solid back and forth match. Adonis has pretty great offense and I really liked his backbreaker into a pin that Pedro escapes by an eye rake. Fuck, when Pedro goes on offense, he just rams Adonis head into the ringpost and punches the shit out of him. Adonis is also the right guy to sell for Pedro’s punches. Finish has Pedro missing a charge in the corner, Adonis giving a really weak German suplex pin only for Pedro to get his shoulder up for the cheap win. Lame finish keeps this from the nomination pile but I wouldn’t mind seeing a longer match between the two. After the match, they use weapons as Adonis levels Pedro with the chain and Pedro responds by blasting Adrian with his IC belt. Fucking A.

Pedro Morales vs. Jimmy Snuka (5/22/82)

- Man, Snuka is killing Pedro and Pedro is selling it like death. I totally get the appeal of Pedro now. The people loved him and he really was great getting crowds to rally behind him. Snuka keeps trying to finish him off but Pedro keeps escaping, frustrating the hell out of Jimmy. Pedro’s comebacks consist of some punches and knee lifts and the crowd goes nuts. Match is thrown out when Pedro pushes the ref out of the way. This match needed some blood and a better finish but I enjoyed it. Really digging Pedro Morales so far.

Bob Backlund vs. Bob Orton Jr. (5/22/82)

- Great spot early on with Orton using the ref to help flip out of a hammerlock. This is followed by a really nice monkey flip into a leg scissors. Orton escapes but as he tries to bounce off the ropes, Bob opens his legs and Orton refuses to take the bait and get trapped in another scissors but eventually bails after Bob frustrates him. Eventually Bob locks Orton into a head scissors. They do a backdrop, power out into backslide sequence and Bob bails again. So far, story of the match has Orton failing to gain any traction and getting outsmarted by Backlund at every turn. About the halfway mark, Orton levels Backlund with a nasty forearm. He still doesn’t gain control but Backlund’s offense is pretty nasty. Backlund steps on Orton’s head while he is on all fours and smashes his head into the concrete. If Orton would have bladed, it would have been believable. Final run has both guys going back and forth with Orton bumping huge for Backlund. As the guys are fighting outside the ring, Orton beats the count and gets the win. With a better finish, I would have nominated this but I don’t think it would make the final cut on a set I feel is going to be loaded.

Bob Backlund vs. Jimmy Snuka (Cage Match) (6/28/82)

- Solid start but this really picks up when Snuka bleeds and Bob just attacks the cut with gusto. Snuka changes the tide with a low blow and a knee from the 2nd rope. When Jimmy goes up to the top, you can see Bob clearly playing possum and the crowd gets their money’s worth with the super leap. Bob wins crawling out but Snuka was the star. I liked this way more than the Kamala-Hogan cage bout but I think this fits more as an extra with the huge memorable moment capping it off. EXTRA

Buddy Rose Portland vignette

- This is the Mt. St. Helens promo hyping Buddy’s WWF debut and I think we need to discuss if this goes on the extras for the WWF or Portland.

Bob Backlund vs. Buddy Rose (8/30/82)

- Holy shit, Sheri Martel was one of Buddy’s ring girls! Early on, the match starts out similar to the Orton match with Buddy getting outsmarted early on in the mat, locking up and even on a roll up attempt that results in Buddy getting dropkicked out of the ring. Buddy grounds Bob with a headlock and keeps control even when Bob temporarily escapes. Man, Buddy taking it to Bob even giving Bob a taste of his own medicine with a nasty boot scrape. Really, I am not seeing Bob getting owned like this. It’s a nice change of pace although I wish they would work this headlock more. Bob changes direction and he gets control with his own headlock. Bob does his goofy arm cranks that people hate but his running headlock takeover off the turnbuckle was cool. Buddy is trying to desperately escape but Bob keeps blocking him. Bob even keeps it on after a nice belly to back suplex. Buddy breaks it with a nice crotch on the top rope leading to a tree of woe knee that looked sick. Buddy is kicking Bob square in the head and knocks him off the apron. After some back and forth, eventually, Bob locks on the chicken wing and Buddy goes to sleep. I enjoyed this match but I am a mark for both guys and good headlock worked matches. SOLID NOMINATION that should be on the set with the caveat that the other matches are different enough to also be included as separate entities. If all of their matches follow the same formula, we can just pick the best one including the one that made the Top Ten first time around.

Buddy Rose vs. Pedro Morales (11/22/82)

- Sheri Martel is not one of the ring girls here. Bummer. Buddy poses with e IC belt to get under Pedro’s skin. Buddy stalls by instructing the ref to make sure Pedro doesn’t have a closed fist and then does a Hail Mary in the corner. Awesome. When they finally connect, Pedro levels Buddy with a left hook. I mark out for Buddy so bad. Buddy stalls some more so Pedro kicks him in the ass. Love it. This is followed by Buddy trying to do a butt drop on Pedro’s leg but Buddy hits mat. So far, this is the kind of match Buddy fans will love but everyone else will hate. Buddy’s shtick is just the best. Buddy finally takes control and just steps on Pedro several times. He follows up with some nasty knee drops and a back body drop. Buddy also has the best backbreaker in the business. Buddy nails Pedro with every strike known to man… forearm, chop, punch, hammer blow. Pedro fights back with his high-octane offense (i.e. punches and slamming Buddy into the turnbuckle) Finish has Pedro missing a corner charge, Buddy trying to attack Pedro on the apron only to get caught on the sunset flip. Buddy throws a tantrum after the match. More Buddy Rose goodness here and I can’t be objective. SOLID NOMINATION. I may use a personal pick on this if I have to but I think most of you will enjoy this.