Posted August 2, 200718 yr comment_5420103 Magnum T.A. vs. Ernie Ladd This was a cage match that had a suprisingly dead crowd, Ernie Ladd isn't a singles match wrestler at this point, and completely blows the foriegn object finish. Terry Taylor vs. Adrian Street For your Street singles, this isn't as good as the Houston loser leaves town, but comparable to the Fulton singles. We might have to think about how much Street we want on the sets, as I love it all. This had some great stuff including an awesome takedown into a leg assisted armbar. Taylor has nice punches Bill Dundee vs. Dale Veasey This was a competative squash, I enjoyed it a ton but it isn't the kind of thing that should make a disc. Dundee punching is Dundee punching “Hacksaw” Butch Reed vs. Killer Khan Khan is an amazing John Tatum here, even better at John Tatum then Tatum is. Still this wasn't much outside of the great Khan shtick which we have other places. Rock ‘n’ Roll Express vs. Hercules Hernadez & “DR. Death” Steve Williams This was pretty good especially considering how shitty Hercules and Dr. Death were at this point. The beat down on Ricky Morton was pretty violent, including Hercules trying to throw him headfirst through a table. We have a great looking ref bump before Williams hits Gibson with the football helmet, Duggan runs in and spears Williams with the helmet, in a pretty great finish. Isn't the best R+R's match on the set, but it is pretty great.
August 2, 200718 yr comment_5420128 Magnum T.A. vs. Ernie Ladd This was a cage match that had a suprisingly dead crowd, Ernie Ladd isn't a singles match wrestler at this point, and completely blows the foriegn object finish. He blows three foreign object spots in a row. This is bad. Terry Taylor vs. Adrian Street For your Street singles, this isn't as good as the Houston loser leaves town, but comparable to the Fulton singles. We might have to think about how much Street we want on the sets, as I love it all. This had some great stuff including an awesome takedown into a leg assisted armbar. Taylor has nice punches The grapevining of the arm into a takedown was a HOLY SHIT spot. But this isn't as good as the looser leaves town match and shares alot of same spots (including the Terry Taylor molesting Miss Linda stuff). We need to figure out how we're going to handle stuff like this where we have a touring match. As this is less a series and more a touring match. I think for the purpose of putting together a set, danger in showing too many variations of same match that you diminish them all. The more time you see a series of spots the more it lessens those spots. Do we put on the best of a series or if a match up is good enough do we put it on every time it happens. I have mixed feelings on this. ---The first time I saw a Jumbo v Billy Robinson match, I got caught up in all the great sequences. The second time I saw a Jumbo v Billy Robinson match I realized that they used the same sequences in the same order in each falkl but just essentially changed the order of falls. Its been a while but I want to say the third fall in one version is moved into being the second in another. I watch one version of the match up and I really like the matchup. Watch two versions and struck by ways in which both matches are flawed. Watch one: “hey these two guys match up really well.” Watch two:” For two guys who match up well, these matches are kind of disappointing. I wonder if there is another match out there where they finally are able to put it all together”. ---I am a big fan of formula in wrestling. I’ve written before about loving Pepe Le Peu cartoons where you know exactly the sequence of things that is going to happen. Cat is going to get hit with white paint, skunk will mistake it for female skunk, unwanted advances, discovery that skunk is in fact cat, etc. The joy is in knowing what’s going to happen and anticipating the spots. First time you see Flair flop it isn’t anywhere near as cool as when you know its coming and wait for it. ---I like the Fujiwara v. Sayama series. They are different matches each time out with enough similar spots that the more times I see the more I get into the anticipation of those spots. On the other hand I have no idea as to the rationale behind how the voters on the Other Japan set ordered thse matches. Bu neither here nor there. This all maybe needs to be dragged into meta Battle Plans formula (keep your arguments out of my match lists). This is going to happen alot (as we will be getting Tulsa and Houston versions of same matchups, and it probably is kind of thing that we can semi-play by ear. But needs to be raised. Rock ‘n’ Roll Express vs. Hercules Hernadez & “DR. Death” Steve Williams This was pretty good especially considering how shitty Hercules and Dr. Death were at this point. The beat down on Ricky Morton was pretty violent, including Hercules trying to throw him headfirst through a table. We have a great looking ref bump before Williams hits Gibson with the football helmet, Duggan runs in and spears Williams with the helmet, in a pretty great finish. Isn't the best R+R's match on the set, but it is pretty great. Hercules not quite knowing how to execute a bodyslam and almost ganso bombing Morton through a table kind of should get this on. In the Hacksaw/Taylor v Death/Hernandez match, Dr. Death absolutely wastes opponent with his helmet as foreign object. Here he kinf od whiffs opponent in back, and Duggans helmeted spear isn't great either. But the ref bump is pretty nasty, the helmet spot being countered by Hacksaw geetting revenge spot is cool booking...and it's Robert Gibson getting the pin.
November 20, 200717 yr comment_5424198 Steel Cage Match for the North American Heavyweight Title: “Big Cat” Ernie Ladd © vs. Magnum TA (12/3/84) Ladd is great here as at this time he was a terrible worker but he knew how to work as a heel and his heel charisma was superb. Ladd does throw great punches though. Magnum shows a lot of fire here and works pretty hard especially considering he was about to leave the territory. Terry Taylor vs. “Exotic” Adrian Street (12/2/84) This was a fun match but since the majority is going with the LLT match which I haven’t watched yet I will defer to them. “Superstar” Bill Dundee vs. Dale Veasy (11/4/84) Fun little squash. “Hacksaw” Butch Reed vs. Killer Khan (12/3/84) Khan starts this off as the Mongolian Zbyszko stalling and dicking around before locking up with Reed then pushes him off after a clean break that pisses off Reed who would throw dem bones. Khan would regroup on the floor stalling some more but returned to the ring where he would receive more punishment by Reed who would throw him back out to the floor. Khan would get back in the ring where he would pound on Reed with some cheap shots thrown in and with help from Akbar who would trip up Reed. Khan joyfully signals for the Spike but Reed would block it then got back up and started kicking Khan’s right leg but Khan would use chops to get him back on the mat. Reed would make a comeback quickly though and got a quasi press slam on Khan before dropping a few fists. Khan would punch Reed in the gut though as he was getting up but would miss his diving kneedrop off the middle rope. Reed then hit his diving shoulderblock for the victory. This was basically a squash match for Reed. Mid-South Tag Titles: The Rock n Roll Express (Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton) © vs. Hercules Hernandez & “Dr. Death” Steve Williams (11/4/84) Doc & Herc were great here in the RnR early control section especially Doc who was bumping all over the place. Morton would get his ass kicked soon enough though and Herc posted him on the floor then slammed him on the railing. Morton juices here and Doc bashes him in the head with a tag belt before Herc nearly kills him by slamming him head first on the ringside table. Morton would come back in though and fought back on Doc but would get caught in a bearhug. Morton would continue to get his ass kicked by both heels as the OKC fans go wild chanting for him to make the tag to Robert. Morton would finally get the hot tag to Gibson who cleaned house on both heels before missing a reverse splash from the middle rope taking out Carl Fergie. Doc would barely hit Gibson with the football helmet but Duggan ran out and speared Doc while wearing his helmet with Gibson getting the pin to win the match. This was one of the best ass kickings on Morton I’ve seen on this set and the match is solid so it goes forward.
