Western States Heavyweight Title: Barry Windham © vs. “Capt. Redneck” Dick Murdoch (7/11/87)

 

Taylor is on commentary for this and is pretty funny. This is one is going long and there is some really good solid wrestling early in the match. Murdoch throws a great dropkick for a nearfall before going back to work on Windham’s left arm, which was his main focus. Windham would hit a neckbreaker on Murdoch who sold it awesomly doing the Curly spot and Windham followed with the first punch of the match for a nearfall. Murdoch would roll to the floor where Windham would hit an atomic drop before going back to the ring but would go back to the floor for a slugfest that Murdoch got the better of. Murdoch would try to suplex Windham off the apron back into the ring but Windham would fall on him for a nearfall and they would run head first into each other off the ropes with Windham falling to the floor. We now go into full slugfest mode with both men just beating the shit out of each other with huge bombs and Murdoch’s selling is so great here. Murdoch would go up to the top rope and his mission trying to climb up was awesome and then he would get press slammed for his trouble. Windham would go for the figure-four but Murdoch would hit him with the microphone to break the hold as Gilbert distracts Carl Fergie. Windham is juicing from that shot and Murdoch would go to work on the cut with elbow smashes and punches but can’t really do a lot due to selling his left leg. Windham would kick the leg whenever he could and Murdoch sold it like death before finally locking the figure-four back in but Murdoch would get to the ropes. We are back to a slugfest with 30 seconds left and Murdoch would hit the brainbuster with less than 10 seconds left but Carl Fergie was distracted with Gilbert as time ran out. This was fucking awesome and a slam dunk nomination.

I loved this match. The story of the match. I thought both men worked their asses off. The work was compelling and smart. This is an easy nomination.

I'm not as huge a fan of this match as most people, but still think it's really good and should be on the set, if only because it gets discussed so much anyway.

I definitely think this match needs to be on the set. I like it more than Loss but don't know if it would make my Top Ten. With that said, it is one of those matches that has gained so much notoriety, it has to be on the set.

Yeah this is a top ten match. Murdoch was so awesome, I loved all of the exhaustion selling and the knee stuff. I also love Murdoch as New Jack grabbing random foriegn objects from the ringside. First 15 minutes of arm work were spectacular also. Definite match, probably will end up in my top ten.