VS 56 (Portland 1987) 3 Discs

"Blonde Bomber" Art Crews vs. Art Barr (6/6/87)

Fiery young babyface Art Barr is fun to watch but Billy Two Eagles isn't fun on commentary. Of course Art's dad is the referee Sandy Barr. Art is so athletic and is doing stuff at this time that few Americans were doing in the ring. Crews was a veteran though and took advantage of Barr's mistakes to put him away with the Gourdbuster to win.

Moondog Moretti vs. Mark Young (6/6/87)

Another young 2nd generation high-flyer here in Mark Young and it was amazing how Portland never put Barr & Young as a regular tag team. The match was nothing much and went to a time limit draw.

Next we get promos from the Northwest Tag champs Cocoa Samoa & Mike Miller yep....Miller was a babyface now and is pretty good at it. Miller is vowing revenge on Oliver for putting a dress and makeup on him.

Cocoa Samoa vs. George Skaaland (6/6/87)

Dutch Savage on commentary saying that Steve Doll is prettier than his daughter was hilarious. They are really playing up Doll coming into the area throughout the show. Cocoa just dropped Skaaland on his head with a suplex that looked fucking nasty. The match was okay and there was a decent amount of heat.

The Clan (Art Crews, Joey Jackson, & Rip Oliver) cut a promo next about Mike Miller and all the other faces in the area. Dutch Savage is fun here antagonizing Oliver.

Then Dutch Savage holds up a picture of Steve Doll and this is bordering on creepy.

Scott Peterson vs. Mighty Sputnik (6/6/87)

What a MULLET on Peterson here wow.....Sputnik looks like a bootleg member of The Nightmares with his multi-colored hair. Dutch says this match could main event any arena in the country.....wow......the match is just basic stuff but the hair on both men and Sputnik's outfit is wild.

Dutch then interviews Mike Miller and his friend "The Cajun" who he has brought in to help him against The Clan. Dutch talking about how big "The Cajun" was is great because he is a short fat guy.

Billy Two Eagles vs. "Gorgeous" Joey Jackson (6/6/87)

Joey's hair is fabulous here and he is trying to do a bootleg John Tatum gimmick in a lot of ways. He is also spraying perfume around the ring like the future Rick Martel which was funny. Dutch Savage on commentary said that he has had fans come up to him and asked if Joey was straight or not......This was fun thanks to Billy but it wasn't really good. Billy did a cool rope walk arm drag then did a springboard plancha to the floor that was insane. Billy also took a wild bump from the turnbuckle to the concrete floor. Jackson would hang Billy from the tree of woe and wouldn't let go thus got DQed by Sandy Barr to end the 1st fall.Next we get promos from Crews & Jackson and this is okay for what it was. The 2nd fall would start with Joey working over Billy until the time limit ran out which after that happened was when Billy made his comeback.

Rip Oliver is out next talking about his battles with Mike Miller then says that he doesn't want any kids to attend the show next week.

Don Coss starts the next show dedicating the show to the memory of his late wife Sandy who died a week or so earlier from cancer....this was a really touching moment.

Scott Peterson vs. George Skaaland (6/13/87)

This was a decently worked big man vs. smaller man match with Peterson using the Full-Nelson to win.

"Mean" Mike Miller vs. Joey Jackson (6/13/87)

Lead babyface Mike Miller is a hoot as the fans love him to death. Miller roughing up Joey's hair before the match was fun then he would tie him up in the ropes to rough it up some more which was fun. Jackson's John Tatum tribute gimmick is strong here as he has everything down but the facials and the crowd is eating everything up. Jackson on offense wasn't a whole lot as he was better taking offense than giving it. Miller had Jackson pinned after a diving elbow but Crews & Oliver ran out for the DQ. The Clan was beating Miller down until Cocoa Samoa, Steve Doll, & Scott Peterson made the save.

The Clan then cuts a promo next about what just happened with Miller.

Steve Doll vs. Mighty Sputnik (6/13/87)

Doll is over with the fans from the jump and Don Owen says that he was the "Wrestler of the Year" in the South. Doll was fired up and did a good job here in his debut.

Next we get a promo from Mike Miller about Rip Oliver & The Clan and how glad he was that the fans have taken to him.

"Blonde Bomber" Art Crews vs. Mark Young (6/13/87)

Crews coming out to "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" by Robert Palmer is hilarious. Young again impresses with his athleticism but he can't put together a complete match yet. This match had some fun spots but it was clunky at times although was the best match I've seen so far. Crews puts Young away with the Gourdbuster.

Then we get a promo with Cocoa & Miller with their Northwest Tag Titles and Miller keeps talking about putting a dress on Oliver.

"The Crippler" Rip Oliver vs. Billy Two Eagles (6/13/87)

Billy works over Rip's left arm early on but he would miss a monkey flip which allowed Oliver to get a Shoulderbreaker on him to win the 1st fall. Between falls we get promos from Steve Doll & Scott Peterson the future Southern Rockers. The 2nd fall starts up with 5 minutes left and Oliver goes to work on Billy's left arm. Billy would start his comeback up right as the bell rang for the end of the match.

Next we get promos from Crews & Jackson and this was not that great then Oliver joined in to talk about Miller.

Scott Peterson vs. Mighty Sputnik (6/20/87)

Pretty decent basic match here and Peterson is improving. Sputnik always comes from somewhere different each week which is funny. Oliver was on commentary talking up his Super Ninja coming in.

Billy Two Eagles vs. George Skaaland (6/20/87)

Another decent basic match which was the main theme of Portland at this time as you had a lot of young inexperienced guys working with some decent hands. You weren't going to get a lot of great matches just guys doing enough to get by. Billy Two Eagles though has been really fun in the matches I've watched and I desperately want to see an Eagles vs. Chris Colt match.

Then we get promos from Crews & Jackson wearing their "THE CLAN" shirts which is easily the best part of this promo.

Steve Doll vs. Moondog Moretti (6/20/87)

Moretti's rat tail is fabulous. Doll was really good here at playing to the fans something that some of the babyfaces in the area needed to learn from. The match itself again a basic but fine match nothing special until Doll threw Moretti into the corner and they broke the top ring rope. Doll immediately got the pin after that but that was quite the site.

Next we get promos from Rip Oliver and his Super Ninja (Shunji Takano) about coming for the babyfaces in the area.

"Mean" Mike Miller vs. "The Crippler" Rip Oliver (6/20/87)

Art Crews is handcuffed to Cocoa Samoa at ringside but he tried to get away until the babyfaces came out to stop him. This started out slow but Miller picked up quickly throwing shots at Oliver sending him to the floor. Miller roughhouses Oliver here with all kinds of cheap shots and punches before tying him up in the ropes for fun but a thumb to the stomach by Oliver gave him his chance for offense. Oliver then returned the favors to Miller but opted to lock in a reverse chinlock before Miller could come back with a desperation clothesline. Miller now makes a fired up comeback and he has Oliver reeling before Art Crews would trip him up on the floor with his good arm. Cocoa then laid out Crews and then while Oliver watching that, Miller cradle Oliver to get the win. Miller also gets a shot at Oliver's Northwest Heavyweight Title next week. The match was fair but it was lacking the spark to make it a nomination.

Then we get promos from Cocoa & Miller who was fired up from the previous match and he cut a good promo.

"Gorgeous" Joey Jackson vs. Mark Young (6/20/87)

Jackson attacks Young at the bell and steamrolls him to win the 1st fall easily. Young tries to fight back when the 2nd fall starts but Jackson just beats him down until the bell rings.

Doll & Peterson cut a promo where they talk about forming a regular tag team soon.

This is followed up by a promo from Oliver & Ninja again about next week.

"Gorgeous" Joey Jackson vs. Art Barr (6/27/87)

Jackson shakes Art's hand before the match in a nice touch and Jackson's hair is fabulous. Barr works a more grounded match here working on Joey's left arm but Joey would come firing back and showed his experience advantage here when working over Barr. Joey wins with a neckbreaker.

Scott Peterson vs. George Skaaland (6/27/87)

Basic match that goes to a time limit draw.

Then we get a taped promo from The Assassin from Florida and he is coming for Oliver with his snake.

Steve Doll vs. Mighty Sputnik (6/27/87)

Sputnik's look here is atrocious with the purple and yellow hair to match his tights. This is another spotlight match for Doll.

The Clan then cut a promo next about the Assassin video from earlier and Rip's match with Miller later.

Northwest Heavyweight Title: "The Crippler" Rip Oliver © vs. "Mean" Mike Miller (6/27/87)

Crews & Jackson must get into the penalty box during the match so it's a fair fight. Don Owen says on the mic that the sponsors made this match happen on TV which gives them a rub to the fans eyes. Miller takes it to Oliver early and often beating him from pillar to post. Oliver tries to go to the floor to recover but Miller would chase him down and posted him hard before bringing him back to the ring where he would punch him numerous times before missing and tumbling over the top rope to the floor. Oliver now is in control and he is taking the fight to Miller even throwing him into the penalty box cage. Miller juices as Crews & Jackson get some shots in from inside the cage. Oliver is ruthless working over Miller who the fans trying to motivate fight back which he does and he starts pounding Oliver on the floor until he gets hit with a low blow. The match would go back to the ring where Miller would catch Oliver with a backslide out of nowhere to win the match and the title. The fans go nuts as the finish was a surprise and after the match The Clan beat the hell out of Miller with the title belt until the faces make the save. I dug this match a lot and easily the best match I've seen of on this set of 3 so far. I think this is a fairly easy nomination.

Next we get promos from Cocoa Samoa in his ninja attire along with Doll & Peterson about what just happened.

"Blonde Bomber" Art Crews vs. Billy Two Eagles (6/27/87)

This had some decent action as Art bumped well for Billy before Art would go on offense with a couple of weird jumping kicks. Billy would make a comeback with some chops before hitting a sweet dropkick from the middle rope. Billy though went for another one and missed then ate a Gourdbuster to end the 1st fall. The 2nd fall sees Art take it to Billy early until taking a fucking insane bump over the top to the floor which would've made Buddy Rose blush. Billy then caught him with his slingshot plancha and wow this picked up quick. Rip Oliver shows up on commentary and is upset in fact so upset that he called Super Ninja "Super Nigger"......I'm not lying I had to rewind it to make sure. As this is going on the action has gotten strong with both men taking it to each other when time runs out. Terrible timing for the bell to ring because this was getting good.

Then we get a promo from the local boxing promoter about a card in Portland.

Next we get a promo from Oliver & Super Ninja about Oliver's problems.