Posted November 29, 201311 yr comment_5574585 I have already watched this. My question is - are we sure this is from 89? If so it's a nomination. Anyway here is what I wrote when I first saw it Extremely fun tv title match. Rip Rogers really was a hell of a journeyman and is a case of a guy who seemed to mesh well against just about anyone. Here he goes into PR and works a match built largely around hiding the foreign object spots. It's not genius work, but I did think it was very clever that Rogers method was to hide the object in his knee pad and he had was very good about making it look like a legit adjustment when he pulled it out to use it. He was also really good about positioning the ref in ways that obscured what he was up to. TNT bled as he always does and took some really nice bumps, including a sick post show, a slow mo bump to the floor and a couple of big bumps over the barricade and into the first section of seating. When he makes his comeback he fucking cleans the clock of Rogers with a kick on the floor and Rip does a good job reacting to everything. Finish with the teased superplex and TNT rolling through on the splash off the top was pretty much perfect for what was essentially a studio match. Very enjoyable.
November 29, 201311 yr comment_5574613 I'm more likely to think this is from 89, but I'm not completely sure. For one, the commentators are Joaquin Padin and Hector Moyano and I don't recall Padin announcing after 1989 (he could have but I'm not completely sure). Also, the commentators make it sound as if this were the finals of a tournament for the TV title. They keep referring that one of these men will obtain the title, they never reference either of them as champion or challenger. I'm also not sure if Rip Rogers did come down here sometime in 1990 or if he only had that stint in 89. All in all, I'd lean 89 but can't say with 100% certainty.
May 12, 20169 yr comment_5752427 I just rewatched this and, based on the commentary, actually think it's from 1989. Was Abudda Dein in WWC in 1990? I don't recall him being there in 1990, but want to make sure.
May 12, 20169 yr comment_5752433 The only reason I thought it was April 1990 was because Rip wasn't in a TV Title decision match but there was one in April where TNT won but it never said who he beat
May 12, 20169 yr comment_5752445 Yeah, that's what threw me off at first. but there's a few things that make me think this is actually from 1989. Joaquin Padin is on on commentary for the match and I'm pretty certain that he does not make it to 1990. The commentary team does mention it is the finals of the TV title tournament, but they mention that TNT had to defeat Abudda Dein in the semifinals while Rip Rogers got to sit by and watch earlier on the card (implying Rogers got a bye into the finals). since I'm pretty sure Abudda Dein was not here in 1990, that likely means that this is in fact the 1989 tournament final. It wouldn't be the first instance of a title lineage detail listed on Hisa's website being off for one of the WWC titles when compared to the TV footage that is available (understandable since it's difficult to get this information to begin with). The title lineage on wiki says that TNT defeated Abudda Dein in the final on June 17. There is a card lineup for Fathers Day of that year (June 18th) where TNT is defending the TV title against Abudda Dein. Rip Rogers was defending the Caribbean title against Kerry Von Erich. The TV title was apparently vacated on May 22, so it's very likely that the tournament took place in the first half of June (maybe even June 17). but ti appears that the finals was TNt and Rip Rogers, not Abudda Dein. As for the match, it is the finals to crown a new TV champion. There is no time limit, there must be a winner and anything goes.
May 13, 20169 yr comment_5752543 TNT vs. Rip Rogers Rip Rogers in any foreign country is always awesome to watch and he is hiding a gimmick in his kneepad as soon as the match starts. Rogers uses and hides the gimmick like a true master here as TNT can't catch a break. Rip punts TNT in the balls and gets warned for it but he just keeps going along like it's nothing and he has bloodied up TNT pretty good here. Rip throws TNT into the crowd which woke him up but Rip throwing him into the ringpost changed that quick. TNT is getting totally dominated here as Rogers grabs the TV title belt which he uses on TNT's back then his throat. TNT finally makes a big comeback and he nails Rogers with a Superkick on the floor which the referee counts a nearfall. Rogers takes a lot of punishment now and is selling his ass off which has the fans going nuts. TNT would crotch Rogers on the top rope and went for a Superplex but got knocked down with Rogers going for a cross body block but TNT cut it back to win the vacant TV Title. Very fun match and a low-end nomination.
