There's a sizable clip in the first fall, but overall, this was probably more exciting than their first match. The first fall was like a mini-match in itself. They started with nifty, high-energy matwork. Dick tried to take over the fall with his brawling but Jumbo wore him down by going after his back and neck. His offense looked great as he finished Murdoch off. Again, they went for a quick burst of action in the second fall. These guys did a nice job of flowing from one fall to the next instead of essentially re-starting with every break. Murdoch got to hit his big offense (knee driving Jumbo's skull into canvas, brainbuster) to even it up. Actually, the whole thing was a mirror image of the first match. Murdoch was dominating Jumbo in the third fall, but Jumbo countered out of a piledriver and seized Murdoch into a quick roll-up to regain his title. Despite the clip, this featured a lot of action and a smart build that played off the first match. Another yes for this pairing.

 

Ginnetty Assorted 1980

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Dick Murdoch, 3/5/80

- Another JIP match but I don’t think we miss much at all. We start off with more arm work by Murdoch and more cool pinning and maneuvering. If Kamata would have worked the match in this manner, I would have pushed that match forward. IN a twist from the last match, Jumbo hooks the head scissors in this time, however it was brief because Dickie goes back in armlock mode. However, Jumbo gets him in an airplane spin and takes control. Now Jumbo starts attacking the back. However, Murdoch spins out of a Boston Crab so he starts attacking Jumbo’s back. Damn, I love this matchup. However, Jumbo hits a gut-wrench to take the 1st fall.

- 2nd fall HIP with Jumbo still attacking. Shit, Jumbo was stomping Dick in the corner but the camera angle doesn’t allow you to see why Jumbo went down. I love how Murdoch tries to go for a bodyslam but his back gives out and Jumbo gets a nearfall. After some more action, Murdoch fights his way out of the corner, is able to hit his top rope knee driver and the brainbuster to even up the falls. Damn, so far so good.

- 3rd fall, Dick picks up where he left off and attacks the neck, even following Jumbo outside and hitting an axehandle. He keeps the punishment coming inside even hitting a top rope elbow. He isn’t Randy Savage but his focus is insane. You think he would have the match after hitting the spinning neckbreaker but Jumbo kicks out. After a Dickie powerslam, he goes for a piledriver but Jumbo counters, Dic goes flying in the turnbuckle, hits his head and Jumbo gets the small package for the rollup and the title. Shit, another great match between the two and another easy nomination. I think I liked the 1st match more but this was another Strong Nomination.

2 out of 3 falls for the NWA United National Heavyweight Title: "Capt. Redneck" Dick Murdoch © vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (3/5/80)

 

This starts out with good matwork like their previous match but at a faster pace and with more impact moves sprinkled in as well. Murdoch tried to maul Jumbo but Jumbo fired back working over Murdoch's neck and back setting up him taking the first fall with a gutwrench suplex to a good pop. The second fall continues with much of the same action from the first with a hyped up Jumbo working over Murdoch but it wasn't long before Murdoch would take back the advantage with the calf branding being the catalyst followed up by a brainbuster to even up the falls. Murdoch was aggressive starting the third fall as he wanted to finish off Jumbo hitting a big diving elbow drop off the top rope and an Oklahoma Stampede but Jumbo would counter a piledriver with Murdoch hitting the turnbuckle face first then caught him with an inside cradle to regain the title. This was a blast and this is a definite nomination.