This is the bout where the title was held up. The work in the bout was really stiff looking. Nothing outrageous, but everything looked good and snug and made sense. First off the announcing really put over the Figure 4 as death. Also Backlund sold the Figure 4 as a match ender. Both guys laid it in on each other. Valentine went after the leg with some nice work. Valentine sprinkled in some of his signature bumps to pop the crowd. Their was a cool adominal stretch reversal where 1st Valentine had Backlund. Backlund then reversed it. While Valentine was trapped in it he was hitting Backlund's knee to escape. On Valentine's 1st attempt at the Fig. 4 Backlund immediately goes to his stomach so Hammer basically has him in an ankle lock and Valentine just kicks him in the stomach. That was awesome. The guys also have these 2 series of forearm exchanges that are God like in the intensity. I lost my shit in the 2nd batch of them and an curious what everyone else thinks.

 

Now I don't want everyone to think it is all about Valentine because Backlund was pretty great. He was great working revenge spots on Valentine's leg. He brought the intensity too and thought his forearms looked even more painful than the Hammers which the whole spot was designed for , but if Backlund wasn't up for the challenge the spot would have failed. Backlund's escaping of the Fig. 4 was great, and really established the Fig. 4 as a match ender. Finally, Backlund's selling of his knee injury was great. He even collapsed at times because the knee couldn't handle the weight.

 

High End Nomination.

BOB BACKLUND vs GREG VALENTINE (10/19/1981; WWF MSG; New York, NY; 00:27:13)
-    Someone shouts out “C’mon Bobby!” and you know they meant it. Oohhh, Bob came out on fire and got a backslide and was lucky his feet fell to the ropes. Great moment. I love how Valentine pretended to engage in a test of strength but immediately kicked him, attacked the leg and hooked in a leg lock. Backlund spun around to reach the ropes but as he is grabbing one heel, he is standing on the other foot that’s on the mat. Masterful. As Bob tries to get away, Greg locks in an ab stretch in desperation and bob’s struggle to escape and reverse made the crowd cheer. Greg escapes by pounding on the leg and hooking the leg again. Awesome. Spinning toe hold, kick to the face. When all else fails, forearm battle and a shoot headbutt that knocks both guys out. DAMN. Bob tries to life Greg but Greg falls on top. The leg is damaged. Figure 4 countered into a small package. Greg frustrated and throws Greg out. More forearms when Bob tries to get in. Pointed elbows. Punches to Greg’s face. Bob is now kicking Greg’s leg and still selling his leg. A forearm battle sees both guys falling with Bob getting an accidental 2 count. If you though the strike battle began in Japan in the 90s, you would be mistaken. Bob is in the ropes and attacks the leg again. Pulls in for the figure 4. Bob reaches the ropes. Bob hits the piledriver but favors his leg. He covers Greg but Greg is in the ropes. This is amazing. Desperate try for the figure 4. Bob keeps kicking Greg away. These guys are battling on their knees. This isn’t AEW! Airplane spin knocks down the ref but Greg gets dizzy, Bob falls on top, three count. Corny finish to an AMAZING masterpiece. The match is a top ten match that is out of the top five because of the finish. SLAM DUNK. 
The post-match was weird as the ref raises Valentine’s hand accidentally. Valentine leaves with the belt. Bob goes apeshit. They decide that the belt is held up. Weird.