UWF TV Title: Terry Taylor © vs. “Hollywood” John Tatum (8/17/86)

 

Tatum is great here selling, stooging, and his facials were always fantastic. Tatum also throws some great punches here but he is working this match with a hard-on that really disturbs me. I guess he was getting excited while he was punching Taylor in the mouth. Gilbert comes down to the ring as Tatum hits a nice clothesline off the middle rope. Tatum really dominates this match but Taylor gets nearfalls every now and then. Taylor makes a comeback and hits a swinging neckbreaker with a kneedrop to the head before throwing some great punches with Tatum selling like death. Taylor eventually hits the five-arm before Missy comes in the ring before Tatum hits Taylor with a knee that knocks him into Missy. Gilbert gets powder ready to throw but he hits Tatum by accident. Taylor makes the cover for the 3 count as Jim Ross and the Tulsa fans go nuts. I’m throwing this one on the block it may be a low-end nomination but damn this was fun.

I actually liked this the most out of any match on this DVD, even more then Hacksaw v. Gordy. Tatum is such a blast, strutting, mugging, flopping around, that was all stuff I knew he brought to the table, but I never remembered all of this great John Tatum offense, his clothesline and punches were super. Crazy crowd and great finish, I don't think this is low end at all, awesome match.

This was my first John Tatum match, believe it or not, and I thought it was fabulous. Tatum's selling, beginning with his baleful flop between the railing outside the ring, was the highlight. The heel interference backfire at the end of the match was effective, with Taylor shaking off the powder outside the ring afterwards since he was still hit squarely in the face with the stuff along with Tatum. This also was the first time I heard a reference to the "five arm"--what a great name for a finisher. Like Phil, I enjoyed this a bit more than Gordy-Duggan on the same disc.