This was a "prison yard" match, which translates to no DQ with strap-carrying lumberjacks surrounding the ring. I've enjoyed this little feud so I'm hoping we get a nominated match from it. The story was that Henning had put Buddy Rose in the hospital. So Rose hired Convict -- Ed Wiskowski in an awesome black-and-white-striped costume -- to return the favor. Henning came out firing in this one, using his hand speed to outpunch Convict. But Convict caught him and drilled him with a backbreaker. This set up a long period of backwork, with Convict really conveying his size and strength advantages. I loved the spot where he hooked Henning in the ropes and repeatedly drove his knee into the small of Curt's back. Henning played a great face-in-peril as usual, selling the hell out of his back while also teasing comebacks with little flurries of punches. He finally seemed to punch his way out of trouble for good, only for Convict to cut him off and throw him up in a submission backbreaker. That set up a cool spot in which Henning flipped out of the hold and pulled Convict with him into a pinfall. The crowd went nuts for that one, and Convict responded by wrecking Henning with a piledriver.

 

Convict started the second fall by throwing Henning to the evil lumberjacks, who whipped the shit out of his back. With Henning back in the ring, Convict returned to working the back. More great selling and comeback teases from Curt. He turned the tide by blocking a toss over the top rope and using a headscissors to send Convict to the lumberjacks. The crowd loved Convict getting his receipt whipping. They slugged it out in the ring, with neither guy able to gain full control. Convict tried a move off the top but landed on Henning's knees. Curt quickly went to the top himself and hit a beautiful missile dropkick to the back of Convict's head. That drew a huge reaction, and Henning won the grudge match by taking a second straight fall.

 

Excellent match -- heated but very focused, with two creative, exciting finishes to the falls. As I said, I dug this feud, and this was a great way to wrap it up.

 

New Portland Disc 28

Curt Hennig vs. The Convict (Wiskowski) (Lumberjack Match) (21:49) (4/23/83)

- Hennig wins after a missile dropkick. Blah match with Hennig playing the role of the upset kid again. In the post-match, he gets attackaed by Hassan and that sets up his next feud.

LYNCH 8

Dylan's Thoughts...

Curt Hennig v. The Convict - Lumberjack Match 2/3 Falls Stasiak is the ref and this isn't just a Lumberjack Match it's a "Prison yard match" which apparently means the Lumberjacks are surrounding the ring with straps. I want to know what prison in America issues leather straps to inmates. I liked the early spot with Curt coming off the to and getting caught by The Convict, but you get the feeling Wiskowski is kind of overdoing his talking movements here and while Hennig is over as an under dog babyface, this isn't worked in a terribly compelling fashion early on. "Ever been hit with a wet leather thong? Bull Ramos used to lay it to me, about a half inch thick" Jesus fuck what the hell is Dutch Savage revealing here? The back work is okay. Curt wins the first fall with the floatover back body drop off the overhead backbreaker which looked really cool, but wasn't great. Post-match The Convict piledrives him and a fan throws a tomato in the ring which is awesome and the highlight of the match other than maybe Dutch's revelation. Second fall starts with more of the same with Hennig in peril and The Convict working a Boston Crab. It's not that the work is bad in this, but it's just too deliberate. The grounded bearhug and hope spot out of it looked really absurd. The spot with Hennig headscissoring Convict over the top was a good idea, but poorly executed and then The Convict takes the big Wiskowski face plant bump. The last sequence with Convict trying the top rope splash and the missle dropkick was good, but like the last match, too little, too late. Post-match angle with Hennig and Hasan wasn't half bad.

 

 

CHILDS PERSONAL PICK