American Heavyweight Title: "Ravishing" Rick Rude © vs. "Modern Day Warrior" Kerry Von Erich (12/13/85)

 

This is a rare Rude/Kerry singles match and we get Kerry posing like Rude before the match which was funny but not as funny as Pringle calling Kerry "horseface." The match would really get going when Kerry missed a running knee into the corner allowing Rude to work over the right knee setting up for the figure-four leglock. Kerry would get free though and put a figure-four of his own on Rude before going for the iron claw that Rude would break out of so Kerry would hit him with the discus punch. Kerry went for the pin but Rude put his foot on the ropes and as he argued with David Manning, Rude snuck in and hit his DDT on Kerry to beat him cleanly in the middle of the ring. This was a solid match and I'm throwing it on the block.

The usual Rude shtick to begin with (Posing, stalling, test of strength) that I love. Too bad they don't break into the arm wrestling contest. Rude's work on the leg ruled. He attacked it and Kerry sold it like a motherfucker. The comebacks by Kerry were rock solid and there wasn only one real awkward moment when the two ran into each other. Rude picking up the clean pin was a plus as well. Easy nomination.

Oh man, Pringle is such a ham. I love it. This was a fantastic bout for reasons already covered. Two awesome wrestlers having an awesome wrestling match. This moves forward.