Texas Death Match: “Gorgeous” Gary Young vs. “Superstar” Bill Dundee (6/23/89)

 

Dundee takes the first fall really quick then goes to the floor so he can punch Akbar and then it wouldn’t be a couple of minutes more before Dundee won the second fall. Dundee would keep up the pressure with some good punches but going after Akbar would catch up to him as Young nailed him on the floor followed by Akbar posting him. Young just starts pounding on Dundee using everything from a coke cup to Akbar’s riding crop but Dundee would counter though with a kick to the balls followed up by some awesome punches. Young would counter that though with a high kneelift and by the way this was all on the floor. Dundee would start back throwing bombs once back in the ring but he would dropkick Young into Bronko Lubich allowing Cactus to bring out a coal miners glove that Young would use to KO Dundee. Young would hit Dundee as the 10 count was going behind Bronko’s back to seal the deal and this was fun stuff. I really liked this and this goes on the block.

2. Bill Dundee vs Gary Young - Texas death match

 

Some of the falls are not convincing. Dusek while commentating put the reasoning on why the falls were so easy. I thought this was good, but not a nomination.

This was really great, Dundee is so awesome here with his variety of punches. I especially dug the fuck out of the jabs and kidney punches. Best part was definitely Young throwing Dundee right into the crotches of the ringside rats. Even if the match wasn't great, it has to make the set for that.

Well, the match is great, so I don't think we have to worry about that. The finish was absolutely ludicrous. I've talked about the idiocy of booking matches with No DQ rules to end with ref bumps that allow the heel to sneak in a foreign object shot before. This has the added stupidity of Young hitting Dundee with the glove again when he's getting back up and Lubich is counting him, and then trying to hide the glove again even though there was no way that Lubich didn't see it, it wouldn't be illegal even if he had, and that all of this apparently doesn't merit restarting the count. So, yeah, that kinda sucked. Fortunately, everything leading up to that wall banger was fantastic. I back this as a strong nomination.

I think shoe missed the point of the early falls. Young took the falls for the chance to regroup as much as it was Dundee dominating. The announcers even mention how it was a mistake for Dundee not to take a fall when Young was in control so he could regroup. So far, out of the three Young-Dundee matches I have watched today, the work has been strongest in this match. I also don't know where Lubich would have seen the glove. Granted, it was stupid of Young to hide it in a No DQ match but you can forgive a guy in the heat of the battle and World Class refs don't have a rep for being the most reliable either. This gets moved to the love section.