A lot of these matches have started with the babyfaces rushing the ring to waylay the heels. This is one of my favorite ways to open the match, but I think the returns are starting to diminish. It's not a bad beating, just not a standout one. Still, everything else in this match is great. I have loved the Young/Travis pairing out of the ring. This is my first chance to actually see them in the ring, and they do not disappoint. Both guys are great cowardly stooge heels, with Travis being the standout here, tagging Young post-haste when Adams comes in and refusing to tag back out. But once they get control, both guys can kick some ass as well. Adams gets the hot tag, but Embry accidentally clotheslines Adams when Billy Joe ducks out of the way, allowing the heels to pick up the match. Terry Garvin has been implying that the faces' egos would eventually cause them to turn against each other (and I must say, I am really starting to like the Lowrance/Garvin commentary team), and sure enough, Adams is pissed at Embry over how the match ended. There's dissension in the ranks, and for once, Embry actually does come off as the sympathetic one, since it was clearly an accident, and Percy Pringle is actually trying to play peacemaker instead of antagonizing Chris the way he did Dusek and Travis. Nomination.

Chris Adams & Eric Embry vs. Gary Young & Billy Joe Travis (Texas Tag Title Tournament 1st Round Match) USWA Texas 11/89-12/89 #2

- Adams and Embry do a good job controlling Young early and Travis is back as the class clown. However a big Jumbo knee by Young that Embry sold like death turned the tide. Commercial cuts right after the bump but Embry is FIP so I don’t know if we missed any momentum shifts. I really enjoyed the Embry-Travis match up with Travis stooging and Embry hittins some nice hoep spots. Nice stretch run with Embry accidentally hitting Adams with a huge lariat giving Travis the pin. I haven’t been digging the Young solo stuff but enjoy the Young-Travis tag team. Another nomination. Embry and Adams argue after the match.

USWA Tag Titles Tournament - Quarterfinals: Billy Joe Travis & "Gorgeous" Gary Young vs. "Gentleman" Chris Adams & "Flamboyant" Eric Embry (12/1/89)

 

Young & Travis with the matching tights is fucking awesome. Zack Ryder would be envious. The faces dominate early which allows the heels to sell and be the chickenshits they are until Young hits a couple of nice kneelifts to gain the advantage. Embry works FIP and the heels especially Travis is a real dick here but Embry is pesky fighting back whenever he got a shot. Adams would get the hot tag and goes to work on the heels until Embry joins in where they double up on the heels until Embry hits Adams by accident with a clothesline followed up with a Travis pin to win the match. Adams shoves Embry after the match and there is friction as they are setting up an Embry heel turn. This was a solid match and moves forward.