North American Heavyweight Title: The Nightmare © vs. Terry Taylor (6/30/85)

 

Some good back and forth action early on and I really liked Taylor’s kneedrops to the head as he put all his weight into it. Taylor then went a different route trying to work on Nightmare’s leg sorta playing off the Ric Flair angle from the month prior where Taylor “perfected” the figure-four leglock and Flair used Nightmare to be his bounty hunter to take the NA title. Nightmare counted the legwork with some armwork on his end. Taylor makes a small heated comeback but misses a running shoulderblock into post conveniently with the same arm that Nightmare had been working on. I also want to mention that Gilbert is at ringside shouting throughout the match talking shit about Taylor and it’s great. Nightmare has Taylor in a wristlock and the Tulsa crowd is going absolutely crazy for him to counter which he does into a backslide for a nearfall but Nightmare gets the control back using a shoulderbreaker for a nearfall. Man this armwork section by Nightmare is getting some tremendous heat and Gilbert’s constant yelling makes it even better begging for Taylor to submit. Gilbert calling Taylor stupid for not giving up and Carl Fergie yelling at Gilbert saying that he may be stupid but he won’t give up is great.

 

Taylor finally gets the advantage using a cross body block for a nearfall and does his damndest to keep the Nightmare from going back to work on his arm using a backdrop suplex to take him down. Gilbert tries to distract Taylor on the apron but Taylor won’t have it and catches Nightmare with a fist to the gut as he comes off the middle rope. They trade punches for a bit before Taylor hits the five-arm for a 1 count. Taylor runs Nightmare in the ropes and Nightmare ducks so Gilbert could hit Taylor with his stick. Nightmare drops an elbow and covers Taylor but Taylor gets a foot on the ropes at 2 making the Tulsa crowd go even more nuts. Nightmare tries for a piledriver but Taylor reverses it with a backdrop for another 2 count. They then hit their noggins as Taylor runs the ropes but as soon as they get up Taylor locks in a sleeper hold but Nightmare runs him to the corner with Taylor hitting his head on the buckle. Nightmare misses a kneedrop hurting his leg and Taylor goes to the figure-four but Nightmare pushes him in the corner. Nightmare then hits his piledriver for the 3 count. This was the best match I’ve seen the Nightmare in so far and it wasn’t all just Taylor, Nightmare really worked hard here. This is a definite DVD pick for me.

This is kind of hard for me. Nightmare worked much harder than he did in the Murdoch match but Taylor isn't nearly as good as Murdoch. Even though Taylor was champion, I never got the feeling that he was going to win this match unless it was by DQ or some other screwjob ending. I don't think this will make the final cut so I vote no.

Eddie Gilbert as a second was really great, but was easily the best thing about the match. I have liked the Nightmare much more in other stuff. Arm work felt long and time wasting. I did like the finish as Nightmare's piledriver ruled, but this doesn't move on.

The finish to this wasn't as hot as the finish to Nightmare v Brad and I don't think it was as good as Nightmare v Brad altogether. this is a no.