I thought it was funny that in the pre-match they basically showed Kent loading up his knee pad. If Kent was a few years younger, or had been in better athletic shape (he was really in fine shape for his age) this could have been really good. I liked the idea of Invader working the arm and Kent working the headlock/chinlock base to contrast it. Some of the hope spots were pretty good and this had good heat. I even really liked Kent's bumping in this, which was spirited and much better than you would expect. The match also naturally and organically escalated and developed and I am generally a mark for matches like that. I even liked the loaded pad finish. On the other hand this match also really pissed me off, because for all the matches we saw that were clipped up, or didn't get the full time, this got nearly fifteen minutes and it really didn't need it. It could have gone eight minutes or so and been just as good, in all honestly probably better. And while I think this was an interesting match, that exceeded my expectations, I'm not sure it would hold up at all on second watch when packaged with a bunch of other strong matches. So I am pretty conflicted on this match. If I nominate it and it somehow makes the set, I have a feeling it becomes Buck v. Regal 2.0. If I don't nominate it, I think I'm cheating one of the few tv matches that felt fully developed. I'll put it on the dock, but I don't know about this one.

 

*Currently lowest rated tv match

WWC Jr. Heavyweight Title: Invader III © vs. "Bulldog" Don Kent (10/5/86)

 

Invader works over Kent's left arm early before Kent decided to work a reverse chinlock for what seemed like forever. This would turn into a back-and-forth battle with Kent winning the title using his loaded kneepad. Good match but not a nomination to me.

Well, fuck me I thought this was good as shit. It started a little slow but once Invader got in his face shine and started to work Kent's arm it got good. Those stomps to the arm looked sick as fuck. The rest of the arm work was really good stuff too. Kent takes control and uses a reverse chin lock as his base but they work around it was great hope spots. They're not just sitting their in the hold Invader III is fighting out of it every time in different ways. One time he elbows his way out, another time he slips under and fights for a wrist lock, another time he gets out and nails a body slam only for Kent to find a way to get him back in it. The hope spots in this were great as every time Invader III found a way to fight out of the chin lock Kent would get him with a kick to the gut or a great knee off of a rope running spot. The final few minutes of this were a lot of fun too with Invader getting a great fiery comeback with nice offense including a back body drop and a dropkick with great punches to boot. Kent comes back with big offense including a nice vertical suplex. Invader is on a roll until Kent takes the final lead, loads his knee pad up and drops a big knee on Invader for the win. I think only two minutes could be shaved off of this instead of half the match. The first two minutes were weak but man I fucking enjoyed the hell out of this. I can't see comparisons to Buck-Regal at all in this. Don Kent is far more electric then Mr. Electricity and Invader III is a much better worker than Buck Zumhofe in my eyes. SOLID nomination.