Best of WWF January-March 1981

This starts with Rick McGraw taking the Cobra Clutch Challenge which he almost wins but fails in the end which is followed by Sarge going up to Pat Patterson calling him a chicken and challenging him. Patterson ignores Sarge though. Extra material. (2/24/81)

WWF World Heavyweight Title: Bob Backlund © vs. Sgt. Slaughter (1/10/81)

This match was on the original WWF set and this rivalry produced some great matches. Backlund flusters Sarge early on by constantly putting him on the mat and this is where we get Sarge at his best as he bumps hard and sells just as hard. Sarge would finally slow Backlund down keeping him in a headlock while peppering him with punches which gave him the boost he needed. Backlund would fire off a big headbutt though that would allow him to follow with a piledriver for a nearfall. Both men are now groggy but Sarge seems to have a little more in the tank as he tries for the Cobra Clutch but Backlund kicks him off of him. Sarge would then climb up top but Backlund would press slam him off to stay alive and he would get some nearfalls including an O'Connor Roll which Sarge would use to push Bob to the floor with Sarge following up by slamming him on the railing. Sarge would then post Backlund as he got on the apron and then did it again this time bringing out the juice as fans throw popcorn at him which was funny. Backlund really tapped a gusher as the blood was spewing down his chest. Sarge then grabbed the ring bell and popped Backlund with it as well which angers Dick Graham & Kal Rudman highly. Sarge just beats the shit out of Backlund with punches as Backlund tries to enter the ring then bites him before Backlund finally returns to the ring. Backlund fires back with some desperation punches as Mario Savoldi checks the cut before Bob threw Sarge into the corner where he did his patented Sarge Bump to the floor which was wild for a man his size. Backlund then battered Sarge before backdropping him into the ring but he would get counted out in the process which pissed the fans off. Sarge then grabbed Backlund's belt and KOed both Bob and Mario Savoldi before Arnold Skaaland ran him off with a chair. This was a damn solid match and a fairly easy nomination.

Then we get Patterson interviewing Sarge after a squash with Sarge telling him that he & Wizard would up $10,000 for him to take the Cobra Clutch Challenge and calls Patterson yellow but he says that he isn't ready to do it yet. Extra material. (2/3/81)

Vince interviews Tony Atlas next with Vince wanting him to do some bodybuilding poses which of course brings out Hulk Hogan & Freddie Blassie with Hogan wanting to do some poses of his own as well as getting some racial comments in. Hogan then challenged Atlas to a match and not too long afterwards he would crotch him on the top rope. Extra material. (12/16/80)'

Next we get Black Demon taking the Cobra Clutch Challenge but he just walks away leading up to Slaughter baiting Patterson into finally accepting the challenge after calling him yellow again. Patterson breaks the hold but gets a wooden chair broke over his head then got the hold put back on him before being saved by DeNucci, Garea, Martel, & Monsoon. This was a hot fucking angle and a definite extra. (2/24/81)

Andre the Giant vs. Sgt. Slaughter (3/16/81)

This isn't long before the Andre injury that would change his career and he moves around so good here with Slaughter being awesome at bumping and selling for him. Sarge getting the Cobra Clutch on Andre as he had him in a leglock was a cool touch and made sense that he had to wait until Andre was grounded to lock it on. Andre powered out of it though and used a headbutt/suplex to take Sarge down but hurt himself in the process. Sarge got some offense in but Andre was just taking it to him until Sarge pulled Dick Kroll into him as a shield taking abuse from Andre prompting a DQ. This was a fun ass match but the finish sucked and killed any chance of this being a nomination.

"Mr. USA" Tony Atlas vs. "Incredible" Hulk Hogan (3/16/81)

This was a fun feud seeing the two strongmen go against each other and Hogan was really good working the heel in this feud trying to one up Atlas on poses. This was booked like a 1981 version of a 2015 WWE hoss battle just not with the workrate as it was all power moves and slow pacing. Atlas bloodies Hogan's nose which turns his intensity up some but Atlas has a hot crowd behind him and he just takes it to Hogan. Hogan tries to crotch Atlas on the top rope like he did on TV but Atlas would block it twice and he would crotch Hogan then pinned him even with Hogan's feet clearly on the ropes. Hogan was PISSED afterwards and slammed Kroll before hitting him with the legdrop. I dug this match a lot but it won't go on the set because there is so much better.

WWF World Tag Titles: Tony Garea & Rick Martel © vs. The Moondogs (King & Rex) (3/17/81)

This is from TV and the champs dominate the early portion of the match using their speed and agility to keep the Dogs grounded. This was almost a squash as the champs were all over the Dogs. King would rake Martel in the eyes allowing the Dogs to take control with Martel taking a pounding. Garea would try and help Martel who had good hope spots before finally getting the hot tag with Garea running wild starting a 4-way brawl. Garea would hit the referee by accident and it allowed King to hit him with the bone as Martel went after Albano and the Dogs win the titles. Very fun TV match and they loved switching the tag titles on TV but not enough for a nomination.

Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan (3/21/81)

Andre is pissed at Hogan and attacks him before the bell sending Hogan scurrying to the floor. Hogan comes back in and it soon becomes a battle of bearhugs before Hogan slammed Andre which was so common at this time period that it was hilarious that they pushed the slam in 1987 as such a big deal. Andre would come back though working over Hogan's left leg before countering an Axe Bomber by Hogan then stealing Hogan's own armpad then using it on Hogan with his own Axe Bomber. Hogan is now juicing as Cal Rudman says this is legalized murder and the crowd is going nuts for this. Hogan then comes fighting back before trying to slam Andre again which failed as Andre fell on top for the win. Hogan attacks him after the match but Andre makes his own save. This was a blast with Hogan bleeding like crazy and this match would definitely classify as a HOSS BATTLE today. Low-end nomination.

Steel Cage Match for the WWF Heavyweight Title: Bob Backlund © vs. Sgt. Slaughter (3/21/81)

Sarge is wearing his combat pants and boots over his tights. This is a bloody war with both men just beating the piss out of each other with everything they had. Slaughter gushed like a madman and Backlund attacking the cut was glorious. This was an escape the cage match which was never as fun but the battle between the two men of Slaughter trying to get out was great. Just an amazing match with Dick Graham & Kal Rudman losing their minds along with the crowd and a slam dunk nomination.

Then we get Kal interviewing The Moondogs which is definite extra material.

Next we get Stan Hansen killing Ricky Stallone before Backlund would come into the ring to stop him only to get his ass kicked and his shirt ripped which led to an angry Backlund promo afterwards.