Mid-South Tag Titles: Ted DiBiase & “Dr. Death” Steve Williams © vs. The Barbarian & Jake “The Snake” Roberts (7/14/85)

 

This is the OKC version of this match and what do you know the Fantastics come out before this one and make the same challenge as the Tulsa match this time though they didn’t get the city wrong. I’ve already nommed the Tulsa version of this on the same day so let’s see how this one holds up against it. Teddy & Jake start it off of course this time though a little more methodical as usual as Teddy doesn’t want to go past the middle of the ring where Jake used his foot to make an imaginary line. Barbarian gets the tag and unlike Tulsa, Teddy tags out to Doc so we are back to the usual formula. The same Doc complaining about his hair being pulled on takedowns formula from the Tulsa match was used also so it’s like a mixed hybrid so far although this crowd isn’t as nuts for the DDT faints on Doc like they were in Tulsa. There is more stalling in this one by the champs than the Tulsa match as well with Doc pacing around talkin shit to Barbarian and Jake likewise on DiBiase. Cool spot here as Jake ducked a clothesline by Doc and ran right into a DiBiase back elbow on the apron that looked like it hurt like shit. DiBiase tags in and starts going to war on Jake and the heel control section begins. Jake though gets a thrust to the throat of DiBiase who in turn tags to Doc to keep Jake from making a tag. Jake gets his ass kicked for the next 5-7 minutes before using a jawbreaker out of a reverse chinlock to get the tag to Barbarian. Barbarian cleans house on the champs before Jake joins the fray with the DDT chants echoing through the Myriad. Ref bump then a Jake DDT on DiBiase just like the Tulsa match and here comes the loaded armbrace but this time to the forehead of Jake. Barbarian has Doc in the full-nelson but DiBiase breaks that up with the loaded glove to the back of the head. They kick Barbarian’s ass and threw him over the top rope and just like Tulsa here comes Jake with his boot for the DQ finish. Jake has finally juiced at this point and the match ends in a wild brawl with the heels tucking their tail and running to the floor just like Tulsa but this time Jake & Barbarian stand toe-to-toe with them with the champs walking away. This was a good match but it wasn’t nearly as heated as the Tulsa match which I have nominated.

 

Texas Tornado Match: Hacksaw Duggan & “Capt. Redneck” Dick Murdoch vs. Kamala & Mr. Kareem Muhammad (7/14/85)

 

This one is from Tulsa so I expect a great crowd and it’s a brawl right as the bell rings. Duggan & Murdoch throw some fuckin awesome punches here and Murdoch uses his badass elbow smash to send Muhammad to the floor. I’m beginning to wonder if this is Texas Tornado rules because it’s all four men in the ring at the same time in just a wild brawl and referee Ronnie West is not making any of them leave. Duggan brings Akbar in the ring and he throttles him as Murdoch pounds on Muhammad on the floor. Akbar rakes Duggan’s eyes and Kamala hits his splash off the top rope. Murdoch comes back in the ring and starts beating the fuck out of Kamala finishing with a kick to the balls. They keep on Duggan on the floor as they double-team Murdoch with Akbar making sure Duggan doesn’t come in to help. That doesn’t last long as Duggan comes in like a house of fire and just beats everyone’s ass. Murdoch soon recovers and we are back where we started. Dr. Death comes running out but Duggan throws Kamala into him and hits a spear knocking Kamala to the floor. Murdoch then KO’s Muhammad and covers him but DiBiase comes running out and misses with a back elbow drop on Muhammad. It turns into a 2-on-4 breakdown as Duggan & Murdoch clean house on every heel in their way as Ronnie West calls for the DQ. IT’S BREAKIN DOWN IN TULSA as Duggan & Murdoch WALK TALL in the middle of the ring. The heels kept coming back in the ring and Duggan & Murdoch kept beating their ass as the crowd goes apeshit. Duggan teaching Murdoch how to do the foot stomp was awesome as well. This was a fantastic brawl and a definite DVD pick for me inching close to the slam dunk level of nomination.

 

Butch Reed vs. The Nightmare (7/14/85)

 

This one is also from Tulsa. After watching a lot of Mid-South from 82-83 it seems to me that Nightmare would’ve fit in so much better then but in 85 in the role he was in it just didn’t click at least for me. Reed keeps going for the mask when he can and delivers his awesome soupbones and there was a great spot where Reed put Nightmare’s mask sideways so he could hit him at will before Hot Stuff fixed that problem on the floor. Nightmare is on offense for the bulk of the match which sorta surprises me but Reed does a good job of selling. Reed makes his comeback and it’s great of course with the soupbones but Hot Stuff gets on the apron causing Nightmare to attack him from behind. Hot Stuff then throws his cane in the ring with Reed grabs and fights with the ref over it causing a ref bump. Nightmare tries a piledriver but Reed counters, pops Hot Stuff who bumped like a champ, and used the cane on Nightmare to get the pin. This was a good match for the Nightmare especially but still not good enough to get a nomination.

Mid-South Tag Titles: Ted DiBiase & “Dr. Death” Steve Williams © vs. The Barbarian & Jake “The Snake” Roberts (7/14/85)

 

Yeah this was pretty much a lesser version of the other match that day, fun but doesn't make a cut

 

Texas Tornado Match: Hacksaw Duggan & “Capt. Redneck” Dick Murdoch vs. Kamala & Mr. Kareem Muhammad (7/14/85)

 

Yeah this was spectacular, Duggan's spear was as good as his Rat Pack heel spear, and both Kamala and Kareem Muhammed were bumping like freaks. The cleaning house of everyone was great, Disc selection for sure

 

Butch Reed vs. The Nightmare (7/14/85)

 

I liked this alot, especially the Nightmare getting his mask turned around. Reed ruled as usual, but I still think this was a step below.