This was a weird show. The main event was actually Rip Oliver vs. Billy Jack, with Olievr's Clan buddies locked in a cage at ringside. So that was supposed to be a grudge match, but they spent the vast majority of it working limbs. This, meanwhile, was presented as just another match. So of course, they worked a terrific brawl. Buddy started out working over a pre-exisiting cut and got Stasiak bleeding pretty quickly. Stasiak slugged back, and I loved the way Buddy fled in terror every time he set up the heart punch. Buddy finally posted Stasiak on the outside and left him to be counted out. Stasiak started the second fall by pulling Buddy's trunks down and spanking him, which was great. He then went to some aggressive armwork, wrenching the hell out of Buddy's shoulder. Buddy briefly turned the tide with a nasty elbow, but then he missed a tackle into the corner and posted his damaged shoulder. They only had a few minutes to work with by then, so the dynamic became Buddy trying to survive until the bell so he could win 1-0. Stasiak finally nailed the heart punch, which drew a big pop. But Buddy rolled out of the ring, and the time limit expired before Barr could count him out. That was a clever way to play with the time limit. Comparing this to the Oliver-Billy Jack match just emphasized Buddy's vast superiority to the rest of the roster. He was more creative, more expressive, bumped better and had better offense than anyone around him. Another solid nomination.

 

New Portland Disc 25

Buddy Rose vs. Stan Stasiak (3/12/83) (New Portland 25)

- Loved the first fall with Stasiak getting his head busted, taking control and punching the heel out of Buddy and trying to get that heart punch. Stasiak grabs Rose outside but gets posted. Buddy bites the cut because he can and wins by countout. So far, so good.

- OOf!!! Buddy tries to get out of the ring so Stan grabs his trunks with ass showing and punches his ass!!! Stan hooks an arm bar and tries to yank Buddy’s arm out of the socket then hooks the hammerlock and works the arm some more. Buddy keeps trying to escape but Stan is holding on to that arm. He eventually hits the heart punch to almost win the 2nd fall but the yrun out of time. Man… that was a kick to the nuts. If this had a good ending, I could see putting it on but that was one of the weakest finishes yet. Stasiak doesn’t even get the courtesy of the win for the 2nd fall.

I can’t put this through with that ending.