Posted April 7, 201015 yr comment_5449126 Young/Travis Interview It works Kevin Von Erich vs. Sheikh Braddock Even this deep into the project, Kevin still amazes me. He has been working sporadically as of late for...umm...various reasons. This is his first match back from his latest sabbatical, and he just goes in there and doesn't miss a beat, having a really good match with Braddock of all people. Granted, it's a total one-man show, but Kevin is a guy who can give you a really good one-man show even against someone as lousy as Braddock. I love this guy. Jeff Jarrett vs. P.Y. Chu-Hi (Strap on a Pole Match) In their last match, the ref was exceptionally lax. In this match, Tony Falk actually blocks Chu-Hi from using an open-hand chop! Oy vey.... Matt Borne vs. Jeff Gaylord Match is unremarkable, but Skandor Akbar's interaction with the commentary team was hilarious, including the sudden revelation that Gaylord was the newest member of Devastation Inc. ("But Gaylord is a technician...Gaylord is an animal!"), his complimenting of Terry Garvin for "bringing a little class to the USWA" (Marc Lowrance: "What about me?"), and his general opinion of Borne ("Borne thinks this is going to be a piece of cake...WE DON'T HAVE CAKE!"). Bill Dundee vs. Gary Young The would-be rubber match of the feud, except it ends in a time limit draw. Still, this had almost as much action as the Texas Death Match, and a time limit draw is less of a bullshit finish that what that had. Still not as good overall, but a solid nomination nonetheless. Eric Embry vs. Buddy Landell (#1 Contender's Match for the Texas Title) Landell's debut. Embry cuts loose on Landell early on. This turns into a slugfest pretty quickly, with Tony Falk having to restrain both guys several times. Eventually, Buddy gets tired of it, shoves Falk down, and then piledrives him, leading to the match getting thrown out. Chris Adams vs. Billy Joe Travis Over almost before it begins, as Adams lays into Travis, but Skandor Akbar passes Travis a glass Pepsi bottle, and Travis breaks it oevr Adams' head, KOing him and getting himself disqualified. He then pulls Toni Adams into the ring, seemingly hankering for another spankering, but the faces chase him off before anything more can happen. Extra. Jimmy Jack Funk & Dustin Rhodes vs. P.Y. Chu-Hi & Buddy Landell (Texas Tag Title Tournament 1st Round Match) Well, this makes absolutely no sense. The tag titles were apparently vacated when Matt Borne lost the fall in that loser leaves town match, but that was not a title match, and they waited until Borne came back to stage the tournament to determine the new champs. Whatever. Match is unremarkable until Gary Young runs in to attack Dustin. The heels get DQ'd, and are none too pleased with Young for spoiling their chances at championship gold. Kerry Von Erich Interview Kerry was supposed to team with Kevin in the tournament, but apparently, Kevin was double booked and couldn't make it. They are teasing dissention between the brothers, though Kerry denies anything is wrong. Kerry Von Erich & Bill Dundee vs. The Stud Stable (Texas Tag Title Tournament 1st Round Match) Underwhelming. Recap of the various misdeeds of Billy Joe Travis Chris Adams & Eric Embry vs. Gary Young & Billy Joe Travis (Texas Tag Title Tournament 1st Round Match) 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. Jeff Jarrett & Matt Borne vs. Sheikh Braddock & The Punisher (Texas Tag Title Tournament 1st Round Match) JIP, but probably not by all that much. A commercial break cuts out most of the heel control section. Considering the heels involved, this is probably a good thing. The bayfaces look good on offense, so this comes out alright. Jimmy Jack Funk & Dustin Rhodes vs. The Stud Stable (Texas Tag Title Tournament Semifinal Match) JIP, but again, not by much. Not that it matters, as the match is a bit on the dull side. Highlight is Terry Garvin on commentary talking about how great Miss Sylvia is because she knows "the only reason women were put on Earth was to bear the pain of childbirth so men don't have to", and an incredulous Marc Lowrance responding by saying there's no need to bring religious fundamentalism into this. Jeff Jarrett & Matt Borne vs. Gary Young & Billy Joe Travis (Texas Tag Title Tournament Semifinal Match) Jarrett and Borne are a great team, but we've really only seen them against crappy teams or teams with one good wrestler and Sheikh Braddock. I think this is my first real chance to see them against another actual good tag team, and for the most part, it doesn't disappoint. Both teams do what they do best, as Jarrett and Borne bring the big offense when they're in control and Borne makes a fine FIP, while the heels stooge around really well but crank up the viciousness when they take control. The match has a terrible finish, as Jarrett gets tripped by Akbar while Tony Falk isn't looking, and then gets DQ'd for assaulting Akbar (?!), but then Dustin Rhodes comes out to tell Falk that Akbar tripped Jarrett, and Falk just sorta takes his word for it and reverses the decision. Stupid finish to a great match...I'm calling it a nomination, as what it did well, it did really well. Jarrett/Borne vs. Stud Stable Confrontation Fast forward to the aftermath of the tournament - which the Stud Stable won - and Jarrett talking about how it was only because of Miss Sylvia and the loaded boot. This draws Rob Fuller to ringside, and Jarrett - who is starting to step up his game as a micworker - has some choice words about Sylvia that send Fuller flying off the handle. They start slugging it out, and soon Brian Lee and Matt Borne hit the ring to join the fracas. Definite extra.
July 5, 201015 yr comment_5452741 USWA @ Dallas, TX – The Sportatorium – November 17, 1989 Dustin Rhodes d. The Eliminator Kevin Von Erich d. Sheik Braddock Strap on a Pole: Jeff Jarrett d. PY Chu-Hi Matt Borne d. Jeff Gaylord by DQ Bill Dundee fought Gary Young to a draw #1 Contender for the Texas Heavyweight Title: Eric Embry d. Buddy Landell by DQ Chris Adams d. Billy Travis by DQ USWA @ Dallas, TX – The Sportatorium – December 1, 1989 USWA Tag Titles Tournament – Quarterfinals: Dustin Rhodes & Jimmy Jack Funk d. Buddy Landell & PY Chu-Hi by DQ USWA Tag Titles Tournament – Quarterfinals: Robert Fuller & Brian Lee d. Bill Dundee & Kerry Von Erich USWA Tag Titles Tournament – Quarterfinals: Billy Travis & Gary Young d. Chris Adams & Eric Embry USWA Tag Titles Tournament – Quarterfinals: Matt Borne & Jeff Jarrett d. Sheik Braddock & The Punisher USWA Tag Titles Tournament – Semifinals: Robert Fuller & Brian Lee d. Dustin Rhodes & Jimmy Jack Funk USWA Tag Titles Tournament – Semifinals: Matt Borne & Jeff Jarrett d. Billy Travis & Gary Young by DQ USWA Tag Titles Tournament – Finals: Robert Fuller & Brian Lee d. Matt Borne & Jeff Jarrett
