which sucked harder?

I've seen little of it, but Valentine just shouldn't be a face.

R and B. Face Valentine didn't really do anything any different. He was just the grizzled veteran who had been around so long the fans accepted him even if he didn't care in the slightest.

 

R and B Valentine gave Hammer another chance to basically carry a team by himself. Part of it is lesser opponents (Bushwhackers) part of it is the 4 years have passed, but some of it also has to be his desire and or skills going way down, because I've never seen a match of theirs I liked.

 

Hammer also clearly had no faith in what he was doing, and that killed any chance of it working.

Greg Valentine should never be a face so I would have to give Boxcar the edge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ3W8PRGWDE

 

Watch this and basically shut up.

 

I can't even begin to oversell how great Nord was in this either. He's the most engaging WWF wrestler of this period, maybe? He's constant frenetic motion, just amazing energy. So fucking dynamic, so credible, even as he stooges and bumps harder than anyone in 91 except for Perfect and the Rockers, MAYBE.

Are you ranking The Bezerker Matt?

No. I wish I could. Thoroughly.

 

But he's more dynamically fabulous than great. If he had a few more years doing this, then sure, but he wasn't in the 80s.

 

But in WWF he's Brody on Ecstasy, a fulfillment of the promise that the Apter Mags and Meltzer gave us when they waxed poetic about Brody. He's not just better than what Brody was but he was better than what Brody was supposed to be, a technicolor barbarian, a Proto Barbaro Cavernario.

 

Watch the match. Watch what he brings to it. Watch how he moves in between moments.

 

Watch this and basically shut up.

 

I can't even begin to oversell how great Nord was in this either. He's the most engaging WWF wrestler of this period, maybe? He's constant frenetic motion, just amazing energy. So fucking dynamic, so credible, even as he stooges and bumps harder than anyone in 91 except for Perfect and the Rockers, MAYBE.

 

Nord was awesome in that match. And he was the only thing awesome about that match.

 

That match took place in Sacramento, at the then-Arco Arena (soon to be replaced this year). I recognized it because there were no championship banners.

 

Watch this and basically shut up.

 

I can't even begin to oversell how great Nord was in this either. He's the most engaging WWF wrestler of this period, maybe? He's constant frenetic motion, just amazing energy. So fucking dynamic, so credible, even as he stooges and bumps harder than anyone in 91 except for Perfect and the Rockers, MAYBE.

That was a fucking great match. Thanks for sharing that, man. Fuck me, that was the fucking tits. That split Nord did as a bump? Jesus Christ, that ruled.

Greg Valentine vs. The Berzerker (7/15/91)

 

This is from Prime Time. Mooney and Lord Al on commentary. Valentine's music is laughably generic. Fuji still in the suit here.

 

A series of Terry Funk style headbutts by Berzerker. Standing powerslam, of sorts. Misses a leg drop from the top. Valentine targets the leg. Which Berzerker sells hilariously. Big bump over the top rope. Forearms by the Hammer. Fuji grabs the leg, which allows Berzerker another in.

 

Dropkick sends Valentine down like a tree. Lol at Mooney and Lord Al speculating on what's going through Berzerker's mind. We've been in a little rest hold for a while now. Valentine comes back with some Mid-Atlantic chops. Berzerker with a flying tackle and gets two. Back to this reverse chinlock thing. Valentine comes back. Execution not very good through that bit, both the way the hold was applied by Berzerker and Valentine powering out.

 

Another fun comedy bump from Berzerker now and he gets crotched on the top rope. Fuji loses his hat as Greg goes after him with the cane. You know it's just occurred to me: Fuji was visibly balding in 1982 and here in 1991 he has a full head of hair. Do you think he was slyly wearing a piece? Anyway, Valentine gets counted out.

 

Fun little competitive squash with some good comedy work by Berzerker.

 

**

Greg Valentine vs. The Berzerker (7/15/91)

 

This is from Prime Time. Mooney and Lord Al on commentary. Valentine's music is laughably generic. Fuji still in the suit here.

 

A series of Terry Funk style headbutts by Berzerker. Standing powerslam, of sorts. Misses a leg drop from the top. Valentine targets the leg. Which Berzerker sells hilariously. Big bump over the top rope. Forearms by the Hammer. Fuji grabs the leg, which allows Berzerker another in.

 

Dropkick sends Valentine down like a tree. Lol at Mooney and Lord Al speculating on what's going through Berzerker's mind. We've been in a little rest hold for a while now. Valentine comes back with some Mid-Atlantic chops. Berzerker with a flying tackle and gets two. Back to this reverse chinlock thing. Valentine comes back. Execution not very good through that bit, both the way the hold was applied by Berzerker and Valentine powering out.

 

Another fun comedy bump from Berzerker now and he gets crotched on the top rope. Fuji loses his hat as Greg goes after him with the cane. You know it's just occurred to me: Fuji was visibly balding in 1982 and here in 1991 he has a full head of hair. Do you think he was slyly wearing a piece? Anyway, Valentine gets counted out.

 

Fun little competitive squash with some good comedy work by Berzerker.

 

**

Greg wasn't as terrible as a face as you might think. He actually had some nice fire on his comebacks and threw some okay jabs that he would never throw as a heel. I don't think his 'timber' trademark bump really translated as well to being a face as it did as a heel. His face run obviously wasn't a major success and was a brief footnote to his WWF career. On the other hand, his Rythm 'n Blues run didn't really do anything to make him look too rediculous considering the times and circumstances. I don't think either is particularly awful and worthy of scorn. There are certainly worse instances where wrestlers got terrible gimmicks and runs.

I do wish we had one longish R+B vs Hart Foundation house show match. I think we have some shorter PTW or CV stuff but that's not the same.

Re-watching some of their stuff just now, RnB strikes me as a rather inoffensive scum bag/actual tough guy combination with Honky providing some sneaking and stooging and Hammer doing most of the tough guy damage. I've seen way better versions of that team obviously, but I wouldn't consider them outright bad. Greg was obviously on the down side and was stiffer (in the can't move kind of way) than in his prime obviously. He was probably best suited to be in a team at that point in his career where he could have a gimmick to ride along with.

There is no bad Greg Valentine so I have no answer. Even as old as shit Hammer in JCW working for dimes Valentine has carte blanche for his contributions in the ring. Greg rules.

There is no bad Greg Valentine so I have no answer. Even as old as shit Hammer in JCW working for dimes Valentine has carte blanche for his contributions in the ring. Greg rules.

Judy Martin would eat him alive

There is no bad Greg Valentine so I have no answer. Even as old as shit Hammer in JCW working for dimes Valentine has carte blanche for his contributions in the ring. Greg rules.

These are my feelings exactly. I have watched the majority of Valentine's career through 89 and he is so amazing at dragging his opponents out of their comfort zone and having competitive matches that are really unique and interesting. I actually found it pretty difficult to find R&B matches on line, but will try again. I will have to watch the Berzerker match after those reviews and more face Hammer.

 

I could see Valentine in my top 20.

At least Valentine had music in '91.