Grappler/Abbuda Dein vs. Southern Rockers – Your heels mauled Peterson at the bell, so Doll was left to fight by himself. This was a decent version of pretty boy battling the odds. The fans got into it, and Dein’s lariat to take the first fall looked nasty. Peterson was back out for the second fall, with Doll continuing to get his ass kicked. Peterson wore a sling on his shoulder but took the hot tag nonetheless. Sandy Barr seemed to declare the Rockers champions after Grappler rammed Peterson’s bad shoulder into the ring post. Lame way to win the belts. No, the announcer had it wrong; that was just the second fall. Third fall picked up with Doll in peril again. Peterson again staggered to the apron with the sling on his shoulder. The crowd got excited for the Rockers’ comeback, with Peterson doing a fine job of selling the injury while on offense. Hey, Roddy Piper showed up in the crowd as the heels stomped on Peterson’s busted shoulder. Then, Piper threw popcorn in Dein’s eyes from ringside, allowing Peterson to beat him with a flash roll-up. Well, that was a fun bit of nonsense. The actual wrestling was so-so, but as a total story, this stood above the period competition enough to pull a nomination. If we keep it, we should include the Piper post-match promo.

 

Portland 12/3/88-1/7/89 Disc 3

Decision Match for the vacant Northwest Tag Titles: The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll & Scott Peterson) vs. Abudadein & The Grappler (1/7/89)

This is a brawl at the bell and the heels grabbed the belts then walked off. Grappler gave Peterson a shoulderbreaker on the floor and they had to help him to the back so Doll said that he wanted the heels solo. Doll got his wish and he put it to the heels but the numbers game would catch up to him as the heels would take turns working him over. Doll tried fighting back but ate a vicious clothesline from Abudadein to end the first fall. The 2nd fall would see more of the same from the first fall as Doll was giving all he had trying to fight the heels until Peterson finally showed up with his shoulder in a sling. Peterson would come in the ring and fired off some offense but Grappler would send him back to the floor and he rammed him into the post shoulder first for a DQ to even the falls. We get a promo from Top Gun between falls. Doll came back to start the 3rd fall solo again and he fought valiantly before Peterson returned yet again to help Doll but the heels would work over his shoulder. RODDY PIPER shows up and sits front row at ringside trying to rally on the Rockers. Doll would dropkick a distracted Grappler over the top rope to the floor with Piper going nuts. Abudadein would then choke Doll before Piper threw his coke into Abudadein's face allowing Peterson to cradle him to win the titles. Then we get a promo from the Rockers & Piper afterwards. The match told a great story and you get some twists and turns as well as the Piper stuff and this match is a fairly easy nomination.

1/7/89

After the Peterson injury, Doll does a solid job of keeping Dein away from the Grappler's tag. Eventually the heels take control and just abuse Doll. Loved how Doll tries to beak the bearhug but as he falls back, Grappler hooks his legs to keep him grounded as he made the tag. The announcer did a good job of explaining Doll was reaching for the tag by instinct but there was no partner there. The numbers game was too much and the heels take the first fall after the stiff lariat.

The 2nd fall was blink and you miss it but Peterson came back and the faces get the fall by DQ. 3rd fall, the Rockers try to fight but man, they are just overmatched. I love the finish with Doll being choked and Piper throwing the drink in Dein's face causing the flash roll up. This was all about the story and should absolutely go on the set. Loved that finish.