Bill Dundee vs. Tom Prichard (5/11/85)

 

This match takes place in a high school gym in Claremore, Oklahoma. This was much better and much longer than their Superdome match that would come a few weeks later as it went almost 15 minutes. Prichard had just turned heel not long before this so was just learning how to be a heel and did a pretty good job. Both men bumped great and sold for each other and Dundee’s punches were fantastic as usual. Dundee was awesome period in this and one of the best matches I’ve seen him in on the Mid-South stuff I have watched. The crowd was really into the match, which I always love and this is a definite maybe pick for me.

 

“Dr. Death” Steve Williams vs. Brad Armstrong (5/11/85)

 

Same high school gym as the previous match but with a different camera angle. Crowd was once again on fire here and was going apeshit for Brad while he was trying to fight out of a fucking test of strength, this was JCP TV taping level crowd here. Doc was really good here with his Memphis stalling tactics that had the fans hating his guts and his selling of Brad’s offense was off the meatrack. He was selling like Eddie Gilbert until he loaded up that brace and KOed Brad for the win. The fans were yelling at the referee to check Doc’s brace after the match but that wasn’t happening. The crowd was the definite star of this match although both men were fine especially Doc.

 

The Rock n Roll Express (Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton) vs. The Dirty White Boys (Tony Anthony & Len Denton) (5/11/85)

 

Once again back in the high school gym and you had to know that the fans would go apeshit over the RnR and they did in bunches. You could tell that the women’s panties were getting wetter and wetter as the match went on. The first part of the match was all about the DWB’s stooging around and the RnR getting the best of them mentally countering all of their moves and just making them look like idiots really. DWB’s get the advantage and the match picks up with Morton taking his regular beating from the heels until he makes the hot tag to Gibson. Morton used one of the best sunset flips I’ve ever seen for a nearfall, just mad ups. Gibson gets the hot tag and the roof comes off of the gym before the screwjob finish as when Gibson had Anthony in an O’Connor Roll, Denton grabs him and throws him over the top rope for the DQ. RnR got their double dropkick in after the match though to make the fans happy. Okay match but I’ve seen better between these two teams and once again the crowd was the MVP of this match.

 

Kerry Von Erich vs. One Man Gang (5/12/85)

 

This is a World Class match in Tulsa which those shows were always interspersed with Mid-South & World Class talent. Gary Hart was at ringside with OMG and was great at giving directions which we could hear loud and clear on this. Kerry’s discus punches were very nice in this as he hit three in a row at one point. Screwjob finish when the referee caught Hart pulling Kerry’s legs as he was running the ropes. Kerry got to knock OMG out of the ring though with a discus punch that the crowd loved. This was a fine match where both men looked pretty good and they worked together well.

 

Terry Taylor vs. Kamala (5/12/85)

 

This started out as a brawl before Kamala took over and started pounding on Taylor. I guess this is a no DQ match because Akbar gave Kamala his riding crop and beat Taylor’s ass with it in front of the referee and as soon as I said that, Akbar yelled at the fans “NO DQ.” Taylor was really good here taking a beating and dishing it out as well as he had Kamala selling for him before the double ref bump where Taylor was thrown into the ref and Kamala splashed the ref by accident. Taylor locked in the sleeper as Akbar rang the bell to distract Taylor before getting his ass kicked by Terry until Kamala broke it up. Kamala then hit his diving body press off the top rope before Chris Adams ran in and made the count. Adams then proceded to kick Taylor before leaving the ring. This match was to get over the Adams/Taylor match that would take place on the next show in Tulsa in a couple of weeks.

 

The Rock n Roll Express (Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton) vs. The Barbarian & Ted DiBiase (5/11/85)

 

Now this is an interesting pairing with Barbarian & DiBiase considering what would happen in the next couple of weeks. This match took place in a college basketball gym this time in Talala, Oklahoma as they did a doubleshot that day. This crowd was almost as hot as the Claremore crowd but not as hot as the women although screamed loud was nowhere near the level of Claremore. DiBiase worked probably the first 10 minutes of this match against both of the RnR and it was pretty good stuff and the RnR was all about pissing off the Barbarian in the corner making gestures and taking cheap shots at him. Barbarian came in and the match slowed down although they kept outsmarting Barbarian with little double team cheap shots that had him going nuts. Barbarian finally got the advantage and both him & DiBiase then pounded on Morton for his usual beating until the hot tag. I loved DiBiase using a bearhug especially since it was a signature move for the Barbarian to prepare for his full-nelson and of course Barbarian then came in after a tag and went right for the bearhug. Gibson finally got the hot tag and the match picked up with all 4 men brawling in the ring before once again a screwjob finish as Gibson ran the ropes and DiBiase who was on the floor pulled the top rope down for the DQ finish. RnR got their heat back though as they delivered double dropkicks and pounded on the heels before they left the ring. The finish was really sudden and happened right when the match was picking up but still I liked this one a lot and is a maybe for me.

 

The Dirty White Boys vs. Terry Daniels & Bill Dundee (5/11/85)

 

Back in Talala for this match as Daniels has enlisted Dundee to help him in his cause against the DWB’s. This was a LONG match and I guess it went long because some of the guys that were booked later in the show must have been running late. Dundee was awesome in this carrying the match for his team and the DWB’s were good too in this expanded match giving a long beating to Dundee. Dundee finally got the hot tag to Daniels and all 4 men fought in the ring before a ref bump but the match ended in a time limit draw so no screwy finish. DWB’s left the faces laying after the match for a moral victory. Dundee was so great in this match that it falls into the maybe file also.

We watched the first part of this

 

Bill Dundee vs. Tom Prichard (5/11/85)

 

The crowd was really into this, but I think at its heart it was an undercard opener. I loved Dundee in this, and maybe if it had a hot finish, but I think this stays off.

 

“Dr. Death” Steve Williams vs. Brad Armstrong (5/11/85)

 

Man that crazy crowd is awesome, this may have been the most over Brad Armstrong has ever been

 

The Rock n Roll Express (Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton) vs. The Dirty White Boys (Tony Anthony & Len Denton) (5/11/85)

 

I thought this was the best match we saw all night. I loved all the luchaesque comedy stooging by the DWB's, and they really worked over Ricky Morton during his face in peril section, including Morton getting chucked throat first into the ropes. Not the best finish, but all the awesomeness before it, plus the nuclear heat puts this over the top

 

Kerry Von Erich vs. One Man Gang (5/12/85)

 

I liked this, and if this was in the Sportatoreum it might make a World Class set, but Mid-South is a higher bar

 

Terry Taylor vs. Kamala (5/12/85)

 

Taylor was taking some big bumps here, but I have liked this match up more other places, could have used another couple of minutes and some blood

 

When we watch the last two matches, I will edit them in

Bill Dundee vs. Tom Prichard (5/11/85)

 

This match takes place in a high school gym in Claremore, Oklahoma. This was much better and much longer than their Superdome match that would come a few weeks later as it went almost 15 minutes. Prichard had just turned heel not long before this so was just learning how to be a heel and did a pretty good job. Both men bumped great and sold for each other and Dundee’s punches were fantastic as usual. Dundee was awesome period in this and one of the best matches I’ve seen him in on the Mid-South stuff I have watched. The crowd was really into the match, which I always love and this is a definite maybe pick for me.

Bill Dundee vs. Tom Prichard (5/11/85)

 

The crowd was really into this, but I think at its heart it was an undercard opener. I loved Dundee in this, and maybe if it had a hot finish, but I think this stays off.

 

Dundee's leg selling and the giant bump make me lean more toward Kris' maybe.

 

The Rock n Roll Express (Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton) vs. The Dirty White Boys (Tony Anthony & Len Denton) (5/11/85)

 

Once again back in the high school gym and you had to know that the fans would go apeshit over the RnR and they did in bunches. You could tell that the women’s panties were getting wetter and wetter as the match went on. The first part of the match was all about the DWB’s stooging around and the RnR getting the best of them mentally countering all of their moves and just making them look like idiots really. DWB’s get the advantage and the match picks up with Morton taking his regular beating from the heels until he makes the hot tag to Gibson. Morton used one of the best sunset flips I’ve ever seen for a nearfall, just mad ups. Gibson gets the hot tag and the roof comes off of the gym before the screwjob finish as when Gibson had Anthony in an O’Connor Roll, Denton grabs him and throws him over the top rope for the DQ. RnR got their double dropkick in after the match though to make the fans happy. Okay match but I’ve seen better between these two teams and once again the crowd was the MVP of this match.

The Rock n Roll Express (Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton) vs. The Dirty White Boys (Tony Anthony & Len Denton) (5/11/85)

 

I thought this was the best match we saw all night. I loved all the luchaesque comedy stooging by the DWB's, and they really worked over Ricky Morton during his face in peril section, including Morton getting chucked throat first into the ropes. Not the best finish, but all the awesomeness before it, plus the nuclear heat puts this over the top

Finish appeared to be DWB's were suppsoed to have ref distracted for thwo over top rope. Ref actually sees it and rather than get fined calls for DQ.

 

Like Phil really enjoyed the long opening comedy stuff and the DWB's beatdown, Ricky Morton with a great looking side suplex too.

 

Terry Taylor vs. Kamala (5/12/85)

 

This started out as a brawl before Kamala took over and started pounding on Taylor. I guess this is a no DQ match because Akbar gave Kamala his riding crop and beat Taylor’s ass with it in front of the referee and as soon as I said that, Akbar yelled at the fans “NO DQ.” Taylor was really good here taking a beating and dishing it out as well as he had Kamala selling for him before the double ref bump where Taylor was thrown into the ref and Kamala splashed the ref by accident. Taylor locked in the sleeper as Akbar rang the bell to distract Taylor before getting his ass kicked by Terry until Kamala broke it up. Kamala then hit his diving body press off the top rope before Chris Adams ran in and made the count. Adams then proceded to kick Taylor before leaving the ring. This match was to get over the Adams/Taylor match that would take place on the next show in Tulsa in a couple of weeks.

Terry Taylor vs. Kamala (5/12/85)

 

Taylor was taking some big bumps here, but I have liked this match up more other places, could have used another couple of minutes and some blood

This lacks blood but has everything else. Boith guys taking huige bumps and rail rides. Terry Taylor drapes Kamala's neck acrros rail and thewn jumps on him. I dug the false ring bell finish. I am going to nominate this as feels like when we sdo the final culling we should compare the various Kamala v Terry Taylor brawls and this may have enough spots and cool enough finish that it trumps lack of blood.

The Rock n Roll Express (Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton) vs. The Barbarian & Ted DiBiase (5/11/85)

 

I loved all of the early face comedy spots with the R+R's outsmarting Barbarian, the Ricky Morton in peril stuff was great too, especially Barbarians ridicolous trapped leg bear hug and Morton fishooking the eye to get out. Still we have a million R+R matches on this set all ready, and this has a really abrupt and crappy finish

 

The Dirty White Boys vs. Terry Daniels & Bill Dundee (5/11/85)

 

I fucking loved this, as it was a Bill Dundee show bumping all over the ring, breaking out a million great comedy spots, the DWB's were total bump freaks too, and Daniels was kept out of it for the most part. Man alive is Len Denton awesome during this period. This goes on a disc

Barbarian's capture arm bear hug was mostly awesome for the Morton sell. Odd match where Nord's stuff looks like unintentionally cool. I don't think he meant to capture the leg in the bearhug. At one point he throws one of the most listless clotheslines ever where he either accidentally potatoes Morton or Morton does a great clothesline eat.Unlike the DWB' tag match from same DVD , face in peril section here felt like it was all built on Morton's sell and not the heels stuff.

 

The same finish and I think I like the nord drops top rope to send Gibson over the top more as it feels more underhanded. Still the Robert Gibson goes over top rope for DQ but lands safely on his feet and runs in post DQ to clear house really is a shitty finish that kills the whole over top rope stip.

 

R n Rolls v DWBs working sae match was better of two.

 

Dundee and Daniels v Dirty White Boys:

 

Holy shit did they keep Terry Daniels out of the ring. He actually does three or four cool things in this match which may be three or four more cool things than I've ever seen him do before. But still he was kept the fuck out of this. Dundee and Denton look like they either blow a neckbreaker or execute the nastiest neckbreaker ever.