Posted October 31, 201311 yr comment_5569943 This is the 1st match between the 2. We recently reviewed this for Titans of Wrestling. All of us liked it. We open up with the Grand Wizard and Patera doing their schtick. They are a great tandem. We get some fun stooging by Patera early. Patera does some stalling here early. This works great on the basis of Patera's charisma. A fun spot was Patera putting Bob on the top rope and starts posing and whoooing. Patera starts to control with an arm lock. Bob does a nifty escape that looked very carny. Bob controls with the arm lock early talking trash saying Bob has wimp arms. Ken does a good job of shielding the ref and pulling the hair. While in control Patera is talking some serious shit. Now I don't want to make this out that this is just the Patera show, Bob is working his ass off underneath. His escape attempts were really good. Eventually Bob would escape and in a good pay back spot he shows Ken how to really work an arm, and the Garden is with him every step of the way. Bob worked hard underneath, Ken worked hard while on defense too. Bob and Ken work some fun spots around the arm. Ken works the bear hug and Bob escapes with a nifty inverted atomic drop. We also get a killer post match.
May 27May 27 comment_6030422 BOB BACKLUND vs KEN PATERA (01/21/1980; WWF MSG; New York, NY; 00:33:45) SOLID NOMINATION. Great shtick early on with Patera using the ropes to break and Bob getting some shine. Solid, if a little long Patera arm control with Bob getting in some great hope spots. I love Bob stomping on Ken’s head as he falls into the armbar after reversing. GREAT heel work with Ken turning the armbar into the pin, holding the ropes and then stomping Bob’s head at the break. I thought they worked the bearhug a little long but the inverted drop was a great payoff. Wild ending. Solid nomination.
July 30Jul 30 comment_6032943 BOB BACKLUND vs KEN PATERA (01/21/1980; WWF MSG; New York, NY; 00:33:45) Some similarities to the Backlund vs Duncum match from earlier in the month in Philly. Patera has more personality than Duncum, but I liked Backlund’s performance a bit more in the Duncum match. Arm control; segment goes long, it’s well worked but I didn’t feel as engaged the further it went (with the exception being when Backlund started working the arm wrenches, it’s like the punches in the corner where the crowd counts along). Now some bearhugs and I’m wondering why Will quit on the Backlund vs. Duncum match but gave this a solid nom. Great atomic drop sell by Patera. It’s an interesting detail that they keep kicking out at 1. Great counter by Backlund when Patera goes for the full nelson. Leg on the rope saves Patera from being pinned and then a ref bump. Half of the officials at ringside are checking the ref while the action continues in the ring. Another ref comes in just to call for the bell as Backlund and Pater exchange punches. They continue fighting and bunch of wrestlers try to break it up. To be honest, not really feeling this one. I think the ending sequence and post match could be an extra but don’t see this being better than the Backlund vs. Duncum match (may even prefer that one over this one). EDIT: After watching some more Backlund singles matches from this time frame, I'm upgrading this from no nomination to a Middle nom.
