North American Heavyweight Title: “Hacksaw” Butch Reed © vs. Magnum TA (7/20/83)

 

Magnum kept control during the early part of the match using his speed and wrestling ability and then Reed turned the tide using his own ability but with his raw power as well. Reed was chunking some great soupbones here and hit a great dropkick but made a mistake when jumping off the middle rope by getting punched in the chest. Magnum made a fiery comeback and got a nearfall after a legdrop then hit his atomic drop/belly-to-belly suplex combo but Reed kicked out. Reed bailed to the floor to collect himself but Reed countered a Magnum bodyslam into an inside cradle for a nearfall. Reed would eventually take Magnum to the floor and started swinging his right knee around the ringpost but Magnum kept fighting back and hit Reed with the atomic drop again but on his bad knee. Reed then hit him flush with a diving shoulderblock for the 3 count to retain his title. This was a really solid TV match and a nomination on my end because Magnum made a name in this one.

I will have to rewatch this but I remember the crowd going batshit thinking Magnum would score the upset. The rematch with JYD as Special Ref was also pretty fun to watch but a step below if memory serves.

Butch Reed vs. Magnum TA (7/20/83) (TV 42) (9:51)

 

- Really solid TV match but at this point, I am not endorsing lower level picks. I gotta vote no.

I didn't love this match as TA definitly felt a little green and some of the moves seemed a bit off, still this was a pretty masterful job by Reed in making a wrestler and you can watch TA become a star during it. Really comparable almost to Sting v. Flair from the Clash, I think this actually might finish pretty high and is a disc worthy match

I don't think this will finish high because there is so much AWESOME stuff that will kill it. However, I even admitted I liked the match so I have no problem moving this along.