North American Heavyweight Title: “Capt. Redneck” Dick Murdoch © vs. “Hacksaw” Butch Reed (9/22/85)

 

Their disagreements have already started on TV but they shake hands before the match starts. The first 15 minutes of this is all scientific back and forth wrestling but it starts picking up when Murdoch delivers a brutal backdrop suplex on Reed for a nearfall. Reed then has to fight himself from punching Murdoch to break from a wristlock with the crowd ready for something to happen but it doesn’t. Reed decides to use forearms instead but Murdoch still retains control of the hold. Reed’s forearms finally get the upper hand on Murdoch and he is free with both men ready to start throwing punches, which the fans want badly. Murdoch gets the advantage again and goes back to work on Reed’s left arm sending Reed to the floor where he is ready to start fighting so they have a standoff again but Tommy Gilbert demands they not throw a punch. Reed continues to throw his forearms and they look awesome with Murdoch responding with his great elbows before going back to work on Reed’s left arm. Murdoch gets the first punch in as he punches Reed in the kidneys when Gilbert isn’t looking and then sneaks another one in driving Reed to the mat. Reed is pissed now and starts throwing the soupbones and now the match truly gets going. Murdoch starts laying the punches in and the fans are on his case as well as Gilbert so Murdoch decides to use his knees and really pounds on Reed. They do rolling inside cradles 5 times for nearfalls before Murdoch drops a knee on Reed’s head. Reed finally catches Murdoch proper with a soupbone knocking him completely out of the ring. Reed takes it to Murdoch on the floor but Murdoch pulls Reed back to the floor when he gets in the ring and bodyslams him right on the concrete.

 

Reed returns to the ring with 30:00 gone in the match and Murdoch continues his onslaught with a great looking piledriver for a nearfall with Reed getting his foot on the rope. Murdoch keeps the control on Reed and whines to Gilbert about slow counts getting the fans to boo him more. Reed then gets the advantage back with a knee to Murdoch’s face as he was running towards him in the corner that Murdoch sells like death then follows up with a big-time soupbone to the skull. Reed just starts killing Murdoch banging his head on all the turnbuckles and putting the boots to him. Murdoch just keeps getting punched and starts acting punch drunk by throwing small jabs to the air but he starts connecting while on his knees but Reed fires back and this was an awesome exchange. Murdoch gets the advantage and then hits a soccer kick to the side of Butch’s head that would make Randy Orton proud. Reed once again gets the advantage back and starts working on Murdoch’s back with two atomic drops for a nearfall. More awesome punches are displayed here by both men as now it is quite the war of attrition as they can barely stand on their feet with them holding each other up by leaning on each other before throwing punches at the same time knocking each other down. Murdoch tries to slam Reed but falls backward for another nearfall and the fans are really getting into this now as Reed puts Murdoch in the figure-four leglock that Murdoch tries to turn over a couple of times before finally getting it but Reed gets in the ropes. Reed continues working on the leg kicking it many times then dropping knees at the 45:00 mark of the match then tries again but Murdoch kicks him right in the face with his other foot but Reed even while down on the mat continues working on the leg with kicks and punches. Murdoch gets up though and tries to slam Reed but his momentum carries them both over the top rope for a double countout finish, which sucks. Reed continues his attack on Murdoch after the match and bangs his head on the title belt. Reed keeps pounding on Murdoch then hits Gilbert but Murdoch comes back now and it’s a slugfest until both men fall down due to exhaustion. They roll on top of each other still punching each other as Gilbert & Grizzly Smith try to pull them apart but to no avail as they continue to beat the fuck out of each other. Grizzly gets on the mic and demands they quit fighting then Gilbert tells them if they throw another punch it’s $500 for each one and both get off one more but still want to continue fighting. Reed gets on the mic and talks shit to Murdoch setting off the brawl even more with punches thrown now costing $1,000 a piece. They fight like motherfuckers with Gilbert & Grizzly in the middle and Grizzly has to pull Murdoch out of the ring to end it.

 

This match was kingsized and the post match may have been even better. This is a definite Top 10 on this for me right now and a slam-dunk pick if there ever was one.

 

North American Heavyweight Title: Dick Murdoch © vs. Butch Reed (10/14/85)

 

Now we are in New Orleans for the big rematch and Reed’s Mid-South TV Title is on the line for the first 15 minutes. We get a handshake at the bell so this match starts off like the OKC one and they work the early part of the match just like that one as well but the punches are thrown way earlier as Reed gets off the first shot breaking out of a clinch but it was on the shoulder. Murdoch steps up the pace because he wants that TV title too so he goes for an inside cradle at the 10:00 mark for a nearfall and he throws a lot of elbows here on Reed in various positions. Murdoch really catches Reed with a forearm and hits an atomic drop for a nearfall at the 14:00 mark. Reed is doing all he can now to keep his TV title and fights long enough to keep the title now leaving the NA Title up for grabs. Murdoch starts pounding on Reed but Reed nails him with a soupbone sending him to the floor. Murdoch is on the floor selling like death thinking he lost some teeth before rolling back into the ring. Murdoch stalls a little but Reed just keeps delivering the punishment until Murdoch catches him with a punch as he runs the ropes after a leapfrog. Murdoch now has full control at the 20:00 mark and starts going to work on Reed’s left knee with stomps and kneedrops. Murdoch keeps this up for quite a while with Reed selling bigtime and Reed’s fans are trying to rally him and Reed gets the advantage back after numerous kicks to the kidney but Murdoch once again starts punching the leg and Reed goes down. Reed gets back up though and drops his other knee on Murdoch’s shoulder but he can barely walk so he goes to work on Murdoch’s shoulder with an armbar. Both men now start punching the other’s weak spots and Murdoch finally gets the upper hand sending Reed to the mat followed up by a couple of stomps to the head before going back to work on the knee. Murdoch locks in the figure-four but Reed breaks out of it not too long after and uses his right foot to keep Murdoch away from him with kicks to the gut. Reed tries to drop his bad knee on Murdoch’s head but Murdoch moves and Reed hits the mat writhing in pain but he keeps coming back and pounds on Murdoch but Murdoch picks him up and drops his left knee on his knee at the 30:00 mark. Murdoch has the advantage again but Reed fires back and tries to slam him but knocks him into Carl Fergie and Murdoch gets an O’Connor Roll with no one to count. Murdoch pulls Fergie into the ring and Reed gets an O’Connor Roll of his own to win the title with the crowd going completely bonkers. Murdoch whines after the match but shakes Reed’s hand as a sign of respect. Reed tells the camera that Ric Flair is next.

 

This match wasn’t as good as the OKC one but it had the clean finish and still was a great match that was completely different than the OKC match due to there being more action. A definite nomination.

 

Hacksaw Duggan & Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. El Corsario (Savio Vega) & Lord Humongous (10/14/85)

 

Jake & Corsario start this out and Jake does the smartest thing anyone could do against Corsario and that is start stomping on his barefeet as the crowd chants DDT. Jake hits a beautiful high knee before going for the DDT but Corsario drops to the floor. Jake tries picking a fight with Humongous but he stands still and they focus on the mask of Humongous that is covered in dried blood, which is fucking great. Duggan tags in and delivers a clothesline to Corsario before posing in front of Humongous. Humongous finally tags in and we have a battle of the hosses as neither will back down until Duggan hits a back elbow dropping Humongous but he gets right back up. Duggan tries to slam Humongous but to no avail so Humongous slams him before missing a running splash on Duggan in the corner. Jake tags in and he tries to go for a DDT immediately but Humongous counters and hits a clothesline. Jake takes a beating from both men for a while and gets a tag to Duggan while in a bearhug by Humongous but the ref doesn’t see it. Jake finally gets an inverted atomic drop on Humongous and gets the tag to Duggan as Humongous tags in Corsario. Duggan cleans house on everyone and tags Jake in who goes for a DDT on Corsario but Humongous takes him out. Duggan picks Humongous off with a spear as Jake hits the DDT on Corsario for the win. Humongous headbutts Jake after the match and Jake blades on contact as Duggan is on the floor trying to get back in the ring. Duggan gets back in the ring with a chair and sends everyone running. This was a pretty good match as Jake was a great FIP.

 

Loser Leaves Town: The Midnight Rider (Hacksaw Duggan) vs. Skandor Akbar (10/13/85)

 

This is from OKC and the same situation as the Tulsa match from earlier in the day if Rider is proven to be Watts then he must go but if Akbar loses he is gone. Watts comes out before the match and the crowd goes nuts. Rider comes out looking a lot like Duggan surprisingly and beats on Corsario sending him to the floor with Watts and then beats on Akbar. Rider hits a spear on Akbar and gets the win to an insanely hot crowd. Both the Akbar matches from that day need to be extras.

North American Heavyweight Title: “Capt. Redneck” Dick Murdoch © vs. “Hacksaw” Butch Reed (9/22/85)

 

I thought the opening headlock stuff was a little underwhelming, but after that it was spectacular. Some of the best punch exchanges I have ever seen, seriously Lawler v. Dundee level awesome. Murdoch isn't afraid to kick someone right in the face. Plus the post match pull apart was epic. Beyond great slam dunk pick, could end up as my number one.

 

North American Heavyweight Title: Dick Murdoch © vs. Butch Reed (10/14/85)

 

Murdoch's rolling out of the ring sell of the first big punch was great, and this had alot of the awesome stuff of their first match. Finish felt a little abrupt for such a long match, and this didn't have the post match. Definitly the lesser of the two matches, but should still make a disc.

 

Loser Leaves Town: The Midnight Rider (Hacksaw Duggan) vs. Skandor Akbar (10/13/85)

 

Fun stuff, but not a match

 

Hacksaw Duggan & Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. El Corsario (Savio Vega) & Lord Humongous (10/14/85)

 

This was fun, and Jake was great, but not a good heel team at all. Savio was aways away from good