Buddy Rose vs. Rick Martel (2/3 falls) (4/26/80)

- Buddy is wearing a mask/wig combo for the match. 1st fall has some nice legwork from Buddy. Awesome spot where MArtle gives Buddy an atomic drop but his leg is damaged from all of the legwork. This allows Buddy to work on the leg some more and get the easy submission. This first fall was pretty good almost all due to Buddy. 2nd fall sees Martel still selling the leg and Buddy trying to destroy it. Buddy gets posted and the tide turns. Martel in turn decides to post Buddy's back and work on his back and eventually win the 2nd fall with the Boston Crab. I love it when wrestlers work the body parts and it means something. 3rd fall and Martel continues too work on the back. I love it when Buddy went to slam Martel but couldn't complete the slam because his back was too injured. Early in the fall, Martel rips off Buddy's wig and Buddy is too embarassed to continue and runs to the back giving Martel the countout win. This match was awesome and is a slam-dunk nomination and a contender for any set you want to put it on.

 

(Lynch Vol. 1)

I actually liked Martel in the first fall. Buddy IS the catalyst to every good match, but Martel uncorked some great offense here and there and I really dug the pinpoint dropkick drop kick and primitive frankensteiner (did this predate Rick Morton doing the same move?!) for the big win in the first fall. Martel had alot of fire. I'm actually liking him more here in Portland than I did 5 years later as bland AWA champ.

 

The promo in between falls... was EPIC. Piper nearly crying/actually crying was nuts. When he goes "I don't know if I can keep wrestlin" ... I cracked a smile! He IS just like Funk! Half the fun of these 2/3 fall matches in Portland is the between match promos.

 

Ok... a spot ALWAYS done in Portland is the "Wrestler A" ducks down and Wrestler B kicks him instead of going over for a backdrop. That's ANOTHER spot that I never see anymore but dominated wrestling in the 80's... and ITS awesome, just cause the fans get so much energy and pop for a big kick and a fast backbump on that spot. In this match, it was Martel on the receiving end, so you heard screeches and it was just like a turn of tables in the match.

 

LOVED the dueling double stomps in this.

 

After this match, I'm really psyched to see what happens in Martel vs. Buddy loser leaves PNW.

Yeah, this should rock.

 

EVEN the start of this match ruled and was fever pitch nuts... Martel flips over Rose's back.. snap mare style and then does a rolling cradle for a 2 and 3 quarters near fall.

 

Again, Rose makes a science out of stalling in an entertaining and effective way.

 

Rose does the old Fuller leglock variation for a near submission.

 

Buddy is wearing the "hair mask" in this too, so a great story in the match is having Martel trying to rip it off for most of it.

 

Buddy takes out his knee and wins first fall with a cool half crab.

 

Martel with a comeback in fall two.. wins with a regular version of a boston crab.

 

Third as Martel all fired up and bouncing Rose all around. Martel does a clinic on working the back in this fall too.

 

Rose goes to slam Martel.. and his back gives out. GOD, I love smart, basic shit like this in wrestling.

 

Martel finally unmasks! Rose and Rose hits the deck and gets counted out. Martel wins. People go nuts.

 

I really dug this. Clearly a nominated match. MASKs are over in Portland.

Man did I love this, the mask/wig combo is such a great chicken shit heel move and Buddy milked it for all it was worth. Great body part selling by both guys. Martel gets totally destroyed in the first fall, and makes a great realistic comeback in the second. Man Buddy Rose takes a great backdrop, it wasn't high but it was really fast. Finish was pretty much perfect for the match. Great, great stuff. Got me amped for a future Portland set.

This is just an amazing bout between the 2. Like everyone says it's a slam dunk pick. Both guys told a great story within the bout.

This was a beautiful piece of pro wrestling, with the great legwork by Buddy in the first fall, a perfect transition, top-notch selling from both guys and a nifty ending that played off Buddy's vanity and the key promotional storyline of the moment. I don't need to say too much more because this has gotten an appropriate amount of love. Slam dunk.

First fall was just incredibly great. I have watched this before but I forgot how great this was as this has the body part work you expect and love out of Portland, but it came in a totally organic way after they went to the mat. Buddy has a variety of cool ways to hurt you on the ground and there are several fun spots with Martel trying to make runs and Buddy cutting him back down. The Buddy mask/wig was an excellent prop as Buddy knew how to milk it and every time Martel even reached for it the crowd went nuts. First fall also had some awesome Buddy hysterics/bumps and I really liked Martel's sell of the knee on the atomic drop hope spot, which bled right into Buddy finishing him with the half crab.

 

The stunned still reaction of Buddy when they announce Rick is coming out for the second fall is tremendous as is Martel's body part selling right out of the gate. Buddy's shooting for the double leg early was about as Portlandy as Portland can get and Martel taking over by destroying Buddy's back with post shots when Buddy tries to get even more vicious by wrapping Rick's leg around the post was an excellent and totally believable transition. Buddy's expressive selling is awesome and makes Martel's ground and pound look like the sickest thing ever and Martel's finishing Boston Crab was beautiful.

 

Third fall was extremely heated and just a ton of fun as Martel goes for the back and has Buddy on the ropes. Buddy tries to come back and but it doesn't work and Buddy flees when Martel gets the mask/wig off.

 

Just a great match. This doesn't even need my endorsement but it gets it.