It's Never Too Late: Mark Henry's Hall of Pain (WWE, 2011)

It's Never Too Late:

Mark Henry's Hall of Pain

WWE, 2011-2013

For match reviews follow this link:
 http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2017/11/hall-of-pain-mark-henry-wwe-2011-2013.html

 

 

 

Before you read another word of this blog, you must watch the following video. Do not skip. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Watch what I consider the greatest pro wrestling promo of all time.

 

 Mark Henry Retirement Speech RAW June 17, 2013

 

 

Anybody who knows me knows I love pro wrestling. My brother has gone on record "There is no bigger fan of anything than you are Martin of pro wrestling." While, I do recognize there are bigger pro wrestling fans than even me. I love pro wrestling. There is no match ever that I would call perfect. Not Flair/Steamboat, not 6/3/94, not 6/9/95, not any match. That promo is perfect and it is the only perfect thing pro wrestling has ever produced. Mark Henry, you did pro wrestling proud, brutha.

 

 

Now Place to be Nation is running the Place To Be Nation Greatest Wrestler Ever in WWE project and I could no longer deny Mark Henry and his Hall of Pain! Since finding prowrestlingonly.com, I have been hearing of this amazing Mark Henry run in 2011, dubbed the Hall of Pain.  I was aware of it in real time. I remember loving the Sheamus Summerslam 2011 match, that was the first time I really took notice of Sheamus someone who I have come to love. I remember marking out with my brother via text the night after WrestleMania XVIII when Mark Henry, the God of Trash Talk, layed the verbal and physical smackdown on CM Punk. Still, I never got around to watching it because there is so much else to watch and at the end of the day, if I am being honest it was Mark Henry. You know Sexual Chocolate and then the oversized midcarder that sort of came and disappeared and did jobs. I am sorry, Mark, I did not know. Part of me always believed that's why I watched, but until you watched you don't understand how great this run is.   

 

What I came to find is perhaps the single greatest monster heel run in pro wrestling history. Mark Henry ruled pro wrestling in 2011 after 15 years of being treated like a joke.

 

It's never too late. Mark had been wrestling since 1996 that is 15 years without really ever sniffing the main event scene. Yes, having gone back and watched some of his 2006 stuff, you could see this as a possibility, but I don't think anyone thought it could be this great of a reality. I don't think anyone would believe he would be given the opportunity to go on quite a tear. It is really an amazing example of that if you work hard & prepare for the right opportunity when it comes along you can still make your dreams come true. This kid from Silsbee, TX makes you believe in that. If you told me or pretty much any pro wrestling fan that in 2010 when Mark Henry was teaming up with Yoshi Frickin Tatsu and doing jobs on a regular basis that he would go onto this Hall of Pain run they would have called you crazy. I that is the beauty of this run more than even its greatness is that it was unexpected and proves that it is never too late.

 

  

Mark Henry's run begins in an innocuous way. He is the victim of Big Show attack. Big Show had snapped due to something Alberto Del Rio did and he took his frustrations out on innocent Mark Henry. Before 2011, this would be nothing. Mark Henry would have done a job or two that would be it. Instead, Mark Henry was done being other people's victims. At Money in the Bank (July) 2011, he broke the Big Show's ankle after winning the match inducting his first victim into the Hall of Pain. From there Mark Henry would win his first and only World Heavyweight Championship in September of 2011 from Randy Orton and he would hold until December losing it to the man he injured, The Big Show.

 

What makes Mark Henry's run so special is threefold. The booking is incredible. He maims Big Show, Kane, Kozlov and Khali. He basically clears out all the other giants, super heavyweights and monsters of WWE. He is not picking on little dudes. He is going after the Redwoods and felling them. He is given a real honest to goodness push and so many times in WWE with their wishy-washy booking it hard to find them really get behind people. Then the capitalize on this by actually having him win the World Championship from Randy Orton. The cherry on top is they had an actual blood feud to go to. When Big Show makes his return and he doesn't just want the title, he is out for blood. The fact it is personal raises the stakes. I loved the ring breaking spot at Vengeance as the perfect way to put over this super heavyweight clash, but also awesome is that Big Show breaks Mark Henry's ankle at Survivor Series, he gets his receipt going into December when he finally wins. It is great old school pro wrestling booking between a avenging babyface and a monster heel. Then of course there is the super fun sidebar with little Daniel Bryan trying to fell big, bad Mark Henry.

 

On top of great booking, there were great promos. Mark Henry ain't flashy. He is credible and genuine, which is even more important. He makes you believe in every word he is saying. You already watched what I called the greatest promo of all time. When Mark Henry says he is gonna kick your ass or split your wig, you believe. The promo after he wins the World Championship is money. "I am not going to share this with any of you" because in his words we were all haters and doubters. I was a doubter, but I am a believer now. Watch that promo!

 

 

 

Finally, in-ring work, I don't think besides Vader there has ever been a monster this good at working on top. His offense during heat segments is incredible. It is at the pace he should be going, but it is always gripping and it is always interesting. It is impactful and it is brutal. You really believe that his opponent has no chance against this gargantuan man. He is athletic look at that crazy move he does to Sheamus where comes down with all his weight on Sheamus' neck up against the middle rope and then slides to the floor. That is badass. He is great at cutoffs. Those headbutts are amazing. He makes babyfaces earn their comebacks. Watch how he is frugal with his bumps. He will go down to one knee or weeble wobble before he bumps late in the match and then crowd is pumped because his opponent finally knocked him off his feet. He is respecting his own size. If he bumps all the time, it means nothing, by waiting until late the pop is that much sweeter. However, when he is wrestling the Big Show, he changes up his game. He bumps & feeds for Big Show because the Big Show has 8 inches and 50-100 lbs on him. So now he is the smaller guy (crazy to think about) and he is showcasing Big Show's size. That's great psychology. He had a great hard hitting match with Sheamus, I thought he had a Match of the Year Candidate with Randy Orton which showcases one of the best monster heel performances of all time, he had a great cage match with Daniel Bryan where David vs Goliath was on full display and him and Big Show had the best super heavyweight vs super heavyweight matches of all time.

 

He would go onto have that great match with CM Punk in 2012 that I mentioned and in 2013 he had the Retirement Speech and he got to work with John Cena. One thing I want to mention, but didn't do a review was in 2014, he had an amazing match with Rusev where he donned his Olympic patriotic colors and defended America against the Russian hero. He was awesome in it.

 

In 2011, Mark Henry made up for lost time. He had a lot of lost time to make up for. He did himself proud and earned the right to be considered not just one of the greatest pro wrestlers in WWE history but one of the greatest in all of pro wrestling history. Just follow Mark Henry's example, it is never too late.



Hall of Pain: Mark Henry (WWE, 2011-2013)

Match Reviews for Mark Henry's Hall of Pain Run (WWE, 2011-2013)

 

 

 

 

For a general discussion of Mark Henry check out this link:

 

 

Must See Mark Henry Matches:

 

1. Mark Henry vs Big Show - Money In The Bank 2011

2. Mark Henry vs Sheamus - Summerslam 2011

3. World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs Mark Henry - Night of Champions 2011

4. World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Big Show - Vengeance  2011

5. Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Big Show - Survivor Series 2011

6. World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan SD! 11/29/11 Steel Cage Match

7. WWE Champion CM Punk vs Mark Henry - RAW 4/2/12

8. WWE Champion John Cena vs Mark Henry - Money In The Bank 2013

 

 

Rey Mysterio vs Mark Henry - Smackdown 4/29/11

Let the Hall of Pain BEGIN! The draft was the night previous on RAW and this marks the beginning of Mark Henry's renewed push. He steamrolled John Cena on RAW to make a statement but ultimately cost Smackdown getting John Cena as Cena was drafted back to RAW. This is Rey Rey's last match on Smackdown he gives a really good going away speech. Rey was without a doubt the heart & soul of Smackdown from 2002-2011. We will miss you Rey. Gone, but never forgotten. Mark Henry says the only sad thing is that Rey's farewell is Mark's debut. Rey kicks Mark Henry in the leg and The World's Strongest Man swats him away like a gnat. Rey powders. He get back in and runs into the brick wall known as Mark Henry. Mark stands on Rey. These two rule together. Rey does his belly slide, but he rolls through. He ends up shoving Henry into the stairs and the big man takes quite tumble. Back from break, Henry crotches Rey on the top and then just steamrolls him. Henry misses the big ass splash. Rey dials up 619 then Dashing Cody Rhodes with the MASK~! comes out and attacks Rey for the DQ. OMG I forgot how much I liked "disfigured" Cody gimmick that was his best run ever. I was actually live in Manchester for the Birth of "Dashing" Cody Rhodes. Great debut for Mark because he uses all his size and power, but never goes for any covers so Rey never kicks out. He uses none of his finishes the splash or the slam meaning they are not cheapened. Great restraint from Mark Henry while still showing off his power and Rey was a great ragdoll for the big man. Really good TV match. ***1/4

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Mark Henry vs Big Show - Money In The Bank 2011

"You know nobody is going to look at me cross because I will break their face in" - Mark Henry

Somebody's gonna get their ass kicked. Somebody's gonna get their wig split. Excellent super heavyweight match. Maybe the greatest super heavyweight clash of the titans match ever. I feel like I am missing something obvious. Apparently, Big Show beat the shit out of Mark Henry when he was venting over Alberto Del Rio. Mark Henry was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Well Mark Henry is nobody's victim. He gave Big Show the World's Strongest Slam through the announce table at the last PPV and put him through the Steel Cage Wall in a different match.

Big Show comes out firing. Huge chops, rapid fire. Red hot start. Big Show with the FLYING shouldertackle, the big man leaves his feet! Mark Henry dropkicks the stairs into the Big Show's knee. Great knee work from Mark Henry. It was crazy watching Henry apply a single leg crab to the Big Show. You realize how gargantuan each man is. Big Show gets a flying shouldertackle from the ropes and then goes for the Chokeslam. Mark Henry hits the World's Strongest Slam. WOW! Kick out! Double WOW! Worlds Strongest Slam and then a pair of World Strongest Splashes! Post-match, Mark Henry inducts The Big Show into the Hall of Pain when he gives the Vadebomb to Big Show's injured leg jammed into a steel chair. Somebody gonna get their ass kicked. Both cut an intense pace, great knee work by Henry, awesome finish and just crazy watching two behemoth pick each other and kick ass. Big Show got his ass kicked. ***3/4

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Mark Henry vs Bobby Howard - Smackdown 7/29/11

The second inductee of the Hall of Pain: Kane. As Mark Henry demolished Kane's knee in similar fashion as he did Big Show's at Money In the Bank in the Smackdown after MITB. Now nobody on the Smackdown roster wants to face the World's Strongest Man. Hence this dweeb (perfect word from Michael Cole) comes and gets fed to the lion. Mark Henry is ready to induct this chump into the Hall of Pain when Teddy Long (ex-manager and current GM of SD!) comes out to tell Mark that he cant wrestle anymore because he cant find anyone to fight the big man. Sheamus comes out to a huge pop. WHAT?!?! There is even a Sheamus chant. Wow! He actually had a chance. Damn. Mark Henry says he talks too much. They scuffle and Sheamus sends Mark Henry packing setting up their barnburner of a match at Summerslam 2011.

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Mark Henry vs Sheamus - Summerslam 2011

This is when I first noticed Mark Henry and Sheamus as something special. I like so many were swept up in the Summer of Punk Part Deux. The pipebomb promo piqued my interest and saved my wrestling fandom. Then I went to the RAW in Boston before Money In The Bank and the interactions among Cena, Punk and Vince led to the best promos I have ever seen live. 2011 was the only year were I bought two PPVs in the same calendar year: Money In The Bank and Summerslam. I was NOT watching Smackdown at the time. My brother and I didn't really care for either guy at the time, but by the end of the match we were sold and both of us were going crazy for the finish.
My favorite type of match is two big uglies just going out there and clubberin' and tossin' each other around. This is exactly what this was. Mark Henry was on a roll. Inducting Big Show, Kane and Vladimir Kozlov into the Hall of Pain. Watch this match and notice how judicious Mark Henry is with leaving his feet. It makes those bumps mean something. Watch Sheamus' punches how they lose something in the heat segment. Watch the struggle. Sheamus is punching a brick wall basically. They are both fighting through each other's offense. Sheamus is able to take Mark Henry to one knee, but when he goes for the Irish Curse Backbreaker his reach is exceeding his grasp. Mark Henry just hurls him over the top rope. 
Mark Henry press slams Sheamus from the floor into the ring. That's power. Huge clothesline and Worlds Strongest Splash gets two. There is this insane spot. Sheamus is on the ropes like he is going to take a 619. Mark Henry comes crashing through with all his weight to the floor. To the floor. Booker gets in the best line ever, he just left a skid mark on that boy. Damn straight. Awesome spot from the big man. There is a "Lets Go Sheamus" chant. They really might have had something with him. Sheamus just does not have much behind the punches. Argentine backbreaker, Sheamus breaks the clasp, but takes the Bret Bump. Mark Henry goes for the Vaderbomb, but misses. See that's how you setup a heroic babyface comeback against a monster: missed moves! Axehandles from Sheamus rock Mark Henry and the flying one takes him off his feet to a big spot. Mark Henry gets how to be a monster. Sheamus is just all over Mark suffocating him with knees and forearms. Battering Ram! He wants the Brogue Kick. Miss. Henry is looking for the World Strongest Slam, but Sheamus evades. BROGUE KICK~! He kicks him straight out of the ring. Great bump by Mark. Sheamus follows him outside. That's unwise. Boy, you bout to get hurt. Worlds Strongest Slam to the post and then World Strongest Slam THROUGH THE BARRICADE! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! My brother and I lost it for that. That's when we knew Mark Henry was for real. Mark Henry wins by countout. Great use of the countout victory. Awesome power match with both exhibiting a strong grasp of babyface and heel psychology and awesome power moves. ****

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Mark Henry vs Sheamus - Smackdown 8/26/11

Mark Henry won a battle royale to become the number one contender to the World Championship the Smackdown after Summerslam. He has a great interaction with Bret Hart at the beginning of the night talking about disrespect. He is so authoritative when he speaks. Nothing flashy, just to the point. Another good match outta these two. Great lock ups, I like Sheamus going for the knees early learning from Summerslam that just straight ahead firepower wont work. Mark Henry gets a big boot and splash in the corner to take control. Backbreaker, Sheamus takes the Bret Bump. It is all Mark Henry early. Sheamus gets a DDT out of a press slam. Sheamus is a great babyface comeback. Lots of fire and big moves. The barrage of axehandles, I liked the kneelifts to the head on the apron. The Battering Ram to get two was a great climax to this segment. Mark Henry powders. Sheamus tries to reach through the ropes and Mark Henry slings him through the ropes hard to the floor. Mark Henry is thinking Worlds Strongest Slam through the announce table by Sheamus throws him onto the announce table and throws a chair on him. Sheamus wins by countout. Mark Henry aint gonna be embarrassed. He is looking to get him some. Sheamus is always spoilin for a fight. Sheamus grabs the steps and chucks him at Henry but hits the post. Henry clobbers him from behind. WORLDS STRONGEST SLAM ON THE STEPS! The post-match angle was awesome. Another damn good outing from these two. Ill have to check to see if they have any matches while Mark is World Champ. ***1/2

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World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs Mark Henry - Night of Champions 2011

"WELCOME TO THE HALL OF PAIN" That post-match promo has to go down as one of the best championship victory promos of all time.

It seems that Mark Henry coined the term "Hall of Pain" on the Smackdown before this show. I gotta check out that promo. Amazing match. Best Mark Henry match I have seen thus far. There are a couple different elements at work here. It is not just Mark's power and mass versus Orton's speed and guile. Mark Henry is the "Worlds Strongest Failure" according to Randy Orton. He is a career underachiever. How will he perform in the biggest match of his career. Henry shows off some of that power early but Orton goes for the legs. Orton can be uptempo when he wants to be. Garvin stomp by Orton focused on the legs. Mark ends up on the outside and rips the cover off the announce table. Show his inexperience. Orton has him rattled. Mark hits a big boot on Orton. I cant believe Mark can pick up his leg that high. Orton has one last gasp with the sleeper. Great idea. Mark backs him in he corner. Orton is on the top rope and one swing of that bear paw sends Orton crashing to the floor. Mark Henry in control is a beautiful thing. Mark Henry is just in a zone. One of the best super heavyweight, power heat segments. Stretching Orton's back across the ring post. Big bodyslam and that big ass splash. Orton is trying to fire up and Mark hits these huge headbutts. The entire Hall of Pain run built to this moment and Mark Henry was ready. However, this confidence turns to arrogance. Mark Henry starts to toy with the World Heavyweight Champion. I use that term to remind everyone this is the World Heavyweight Champion he is wrestling, Mark Henry is on the roll of a lifetime, but even he should not take the World Heavyweight Champion lightly.  Orton starts to build some momentum. He has a great punch and European Uppercut. Henry stymies him with one of those big headbutts. Orton to the mat. Henry splash, but nobody is home. Here is the Champion's opening. He is rocking. I liked the rapid fire ten count punches in the corner with Henry on one knee. Orton hits some massive clotheslines but Orton cant get him off his feet. Standing dropkick knocks the big man down! We got a fight on our hands now, boys!

Now we get to unique part of the match. Henry shoves Orton off when he goes for the Hangsman DDT and hits a heavy clothesline. Mark Henry hits the World Strongest Slam and Orton kicks out?!?! What's unique? This was not an act of finisher trading. This was a spot that was built to. Mark Henry had control let that control slip from his grasp by getting cocky and once he regained control he went for the kill, but Orton kicked out. This actually built to another segment instead of spot trading. By kicking out of the World Strongest Slam in this context, you truly believe Orton will win. In a typical wrestling match with this build, Orton is a 95% chance of winning. I think this one of the most effective red herrings they have ever produced.

Having had his finish kicked out of, Mark Henry does the sensible thing and goes for a bigger bomb. The Vaderbomb. He eats feet. You feel that Orton finish stretch that will end up in victory. He kicks Mark Henry down to size. DDT. Hangsman DDT. Yep Orton has this one. He moves in for the kill and with one flick of his tree trunk like leg Mark Henry takes Orton's knee. Orton sells it like he has been shot in the leg. Orton's selljob is incredible. The way he is writhing in pain. Everything he tries to get up, he sort of collapses. He cant put any pressure on his leg. He uses Mark Henry to get up. Mark Henry is all business. Not a single shred of mercy. Orton defiant goes for the RKO and Henry throws him off. World's Strongest Slam. 1-2-3. WELCOME TO THE HALL OF PAIN!

Amazing match. Early frustration from Mark Henry before settling into a groove. I loved how he earned that heat segment fighting through a sleeper and knocking Orotn off the top. He ruled that heat segment. I loved how he got cockier and cockier allowing Orton back in. Orton was terrific in this match. Good selling early, awesome fire late and the leg selling at the end was downright awesome. The kickout of the Worlds Strongest Slam is one of the best false finishes they have had in awhile. Like I said 95% of the time when a match is paced like that, the babyface goes over after kicking out of a heel's finish. Awesome curveball. Loved the finish with Mark injuring the leg, Orton's selling, the last ditch RKO attempt and then Mark Henry finishing the job. Badass. ****1/2

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World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Randy Orton 

Hell In A Cell 2012 Hell In A Cell

Not nearly as good their Night of Champions match, but few matches are. Has there been any good Hell In A Cell matches at this PPV? Since there is no bloodletting, it is kinda just a normal match with an occasional cage shot. I will say they do use the cage better than most. Orton comes out the gate home. He shoves Henry into the cage twice. He hits a massive clothesline to knock Mark Henry off his feet. This was a good shine. The big angle development since Night of Champions a scant two weeks prior was that Orton hit the RKO on Smackdown so you know it is possible. What you are saying is that he has a chance. They play tug of war with each other arms by the ring post which was cool. Orton tries to jump on Mark Henry. Bad idea. Mark catches him and drives him into the post and the cage. So they did use the cage to transition to Mark Henry on offense. Save for Vader, Mark Henry is the best super heavyweight at offense. He does it completely differently than the big striking Vader. He is just pure power. Two great powerslams one is outside the ring. He hurls the steel steps at Orton. He friggin chucks it like nothing. Good thing Orton got out of the way. I love the little things like Orton trying to Irish Whip and Mark just whipping into the near buckles and squashing him with a splash. The repeated backbreakers and bearhug was great psychology from the big man. Henry goes for the Worlds Strongest Slam on the steps, but Orton climbs the cage and kicks Mark Henry in the head. Orton unloads, dropkick takes the big man off his feet. Hangmans DDT. RKO~! 1-2-NO! OH SHIT! Orton goes for the punt, caught, WORLDS STRONGEST SLAM! Orton you got your ass kicked.

There was more dead space and this felt more routine than Night of Champions, but these two have great chemistry. ****

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World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Big Show - Vengeance  2011

I love these two together. The video package before this is amazing. Great emotional babyface return promo by Big Show. Then Mark Henry doesn't want to give him a match so Big Show chokeslams him through a table and hits with a chair. Fuck yeah! Big Show starts off red hot and has Mark Henry reeling. Henry wants his title to go home. Big Show gets him back in the ring and Mark Henry hits a flying chop block. BIG BODYSLAM BY MARK HENRY! Good leg work. I like that once Big Show gets out he cant hold Mark Henry's wait. They have a great slugfest on their knees which means they are about Rey Mysterio's height. Damn! Big Show gets the best of it. Look at Mark Henry BUMP N FEED for Big Show. Look I love respecting size and all that but you got to be impressed by Mark Henry there. Plus he is the smaller man in the match. That's always mind blowing when Mark Henry is the smaller man. Big Show HUGE BODYSLAM on the Worlds Strongest Man! He is calling for the Chokeslam, Bang, 1-2-NO! Awesome. Mark Henry gets the Worlds Strongest Slam for two. Mark Henry is incredulous. He thinks to himself the only way to top it is go to the top. CHOKESLAM OFF THE TOP! HOLY SHIT! 1-2-NO! What are they going to have do to finish each other off? Big Show now goes to the top...Mark Henry meets him...No...NO...OH MY GOD...THEY BROKE THE GODDAMN RING!!! The crowd lost their fucking shit for that. This was a great super heavyweight slugfest and the finish run was really well done but that finish puts it over the top. Best pure superheavyweight match of all time! ****1/4

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World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan - Smackdown 11/4/11

Daniel Bryan is the current holder of the Money In The Bank Contract. To my knowledge this is the first real interaction he has had with a world champion since winning that match. Big Show wants a rematch with Mark Henry because he was not beaten the ring just exploded. Mark is saying no. One way to retaliate is to help Daniel Bryan win the World Championship and that's what Big Show sets out to do. The beginning of the match is fun with Daniel Bryan trying the best he can to bring the big man down but is just flung all around the ring. Henry is squeezing Bryan's head up against the post and Big Show scares off the Worlds Strongest Man to establish his presence. The finish stretch is electric. Daniel Bryan hits a dropkick to the knee and brings Mark Henry to one knee. When he is doing his patented kicks, you feel the rumble from the crowd. He blasts Mark Henry in the head with a kick and the place comes UNGLUED! I think they go something with this Daniel Bryan kid. Mark Henry presses him off with authority! Bryan goes up top, Henry catches him, Guillotine Choke. Mark Henry chucks him off. Mark Henry is PISSED! Great facial expression from him. I'd be pissed to if some pissant try to choke my ass out. Mark Henry repeatedly splashes Daniel Bryan in the corner. It is clear he is no longer trying to win a  match but injure Bryan. So Big Show Knock His Ass Out. Big Show gets some water to revive Daniel Bryan to try to have him cash in his MITB contract. By the time Bryan, comes to it is too late and Henry hits the Worlds Strongest Slam on Bryan and then blasts Show with the briefcase. Teddy Long comes out and we are going to have a Holla Holla Rematch at Survivor Series. Holla! Once Daniel Bryan gets Mark Henry off his feet, this is just pure awesome pro wrestling theatre. ***1/4

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World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan - Smackdown 11/11/11

Daniel Bryan has a couple "hunnies" (AJ & Kaitlyn as Booker T would say) fawning over him. Booker T also insinuates that Daniel Bryan does not look like he has ever had a girlfriend. What!??! Michael Cole was still doing the heel gimmick this late, which I don't remember. Bryan bows up to Mark and slaps his hand out of his face. He even gives him some backsass. Mark Henry says he has guts just a shame he is going to spill all those guts over the ring tonight. Oh Hell Yeah! Michael Cole says Daniel Bryan is a hypocrite for almost cashing in last week since Bryan stated he was waiting for Mania.

Not as good as last weeks, but still entertaining. This time Daniel Bryan gets a missile dropkick to knock Henry down to one knee. Kicks and head kick lead to LeBell Lock. Henry powers out and it is on! He squashes Bryan in the corner. Bryan does ask for more before Mark puts him out of his misery with the World's Strongest Slam. I am sure the internet was abuzz at the time that Bryan got his ass handed to him here by Mark Henry. Goes to show you, you got to be patient.

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World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Big Show - Survivor Series 2011

Big Show took down Mark Henry via a waistlock and then armdragged him. He armdragged Mark Henry. That was something else. Just basic spots are eye-popping when these two do it. The body of the match is very similar to Vengeance. I don't feel like they really broke new ground with Henry targeting the leg. It felt a lot more sluggish too. Henry hits his slam and a pair of splashes. The match gets better once Henry drives Big Show through the barricade. Again this pales in comparison to the Sheamus spot. Big Show makes it back to the ring and delivers a superkick. Without a doubt, the spot of the match is Big Show hitting a TOP ROPE ELBOW DROP!!! WOW! Mark Henry kicks out at two but is clearly rattled and punts Big Show in the nuts to trigger a DQ. Mark Henry wants to eliminate the Big Show so he gets a chair and wraps it around Big Show's leg. Big Show moves and Henry hits nothing but canvas. KO PUNCH! Big Show gives Mark Henry his receipt by legdropping a chair and shattering his ankle. The match itself is the least of all their matches, but check out the top rope elbow drop from the Big Show and the post-match angle is awesome as Big Show gets a measure of revenge. ***1/2

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World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan

Smackdown 11/29/11 Steel Cage Match

Daniel Bryan's little hunny, AJ, kisses him on the lips before the match. Daniel gives a pretty good promo to Matt Striker before the match. He is confident that he can get the job done tonight given the fact that Mark Henry's ankle was broken by Big Show at Survivor Series. This is one of the best cage matches of the all time, a good mix of cage use early and escape attempts. Mark Henry is like a wounded bear injured, but still very dangerous. Daniel Bryan tries to take advantage of his limited mobility by trying to escape the cage. Henry catches him both times. Bryan tries to chop the big redwood down with kicks, but Henry just flings Bryan into the cage and then splashes him into the cage. The best is when Goliath uses the slingshot on David. Henry pulls Bryan back on the ropes and then lets go sending Bryan into the cage. Henry's ankle is really bothering him. He keeps trying to leave via the door, but Daniel Bryan desperately holds onto the injured ankle. Mark Henry hits two of his BIGGEST clotheslines. These were just awesome. Bryan did a great job selling, Mark Henry is selling the ankle really well. Eventually Daniel Bryan gets Mark Henry down and applies the LeBell Lock. Henry powers out, but Bryan wriggles free and it is the ankle lock. HUGE POP! Henry uses his power to whip him off. Bryan goes for the escape. I thought they did a great job building Bryan's escape teases. The crowd was wicked into this. Henry ultimately hits the Worlds Strongest Slam from the top rope to win the match. Mark Henry's knees must hate him. Excellent David vs Goliath match with the wrinkles of the injured ankle and the steel cage. ****

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World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Big Show - TLC 2011 Chair Match

All good things must come to an end. Given how both men have injured one another with steel chairs, it is fitting that steel chairs come into play. However, calling something a chairs match is very silly as I think we all realize. Sub-5 minute match where the first two minutes or so are stalling so definitely their weakest effort. Mark Henry slams Big Show's hand into the stairs. Big Show cant grip for the chokeslam (exhibited twice) and has nothing behind his punches. Mark is just wailing on him with a chair and stomps on a chair to the hand. Mark winds up and Big Show catches him with the KO punch. 1-2-3! New World Champion! Big Show's first world championship in nine years. Mark Henry attacks after the bell and hits a DDT on a pile of chairs. Big Show is out! Daniel Bryan cashes in. Thus would begin the saga of the Yes Movement! A good little match that on the surface is just that, but it would turn out to have massive ramifications on the landscape of the WWE. ***

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World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan vs Mark Henry

Smackdown 1/20/12 Lumberjack Match

I hate heel vs heel matches. Face vs face matches are implicitly intriguing. You can get really good technical wrestling out of it. Or the tempers flare halfway through the match narrative. Or the subtle heel narrative. Heel vs heel matches inevitably are heat vacuums because you don't want to see either of these assholes make a comeback. In the monster heel vs the annoying prick heel matchup, I think most people enjoy watching the annoying prick get his ass handed to him, which for the most part is what they go for here. Daniel Bryan is manhandled throughout the match. Being tossed around like a ragdoll. I don't know how I didn't see it coming, but I too like Josh Matthews was wondering why Bryan was going out of his way to antagonize the lumberjacks. Eventually Bryan does make a comeback and see this is what I am talking about. I no longer want to see this and Bryan is still making a babyface comeback. It would be more tolerable if he was heelish about it. It is the usual chop the tree down, dropkicks and Yes kicks (not yet Yes kicks, also he has not been Yesing as much since the first Yesing). Mark obliterates him with a clothesline only gets two. Press slams him over the top onto the lumberjacks. Mark Henry ends up on the outside and it is bedlam. The Lumberjacks attack Bryan and Henry. Henry tries to restore order by picking the lumberjacks off of Bryan but they swarm him. Again, Bryan escapes with the championship in a No Contest. Teddy Long makes Daniel Bryan vs Big Show vs Mark Henry in a Steel Cage for the Rumble! Now that's gonna be awesome!

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World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan vs Mark Henry vs Big Show - Royal Rumble 2012 Steel Cage Match

Three months of excellent booking all culminates here. If a triple threat is actually booked in such a way that warrants a triple threat match I will watch it. How can Daniel Bryan survive with these two gargantuan humans in there? Well one way to solve that is not be in there with them. He tries to make a run for it and Mark Henry yanks him down into a BIG SHOW SPEAR! Big Show then unloads with red hot strikes and splashes Mark Henry up against the cage three times. At this point, Bryan is back up and trying to escape again. Having finished off Mark Henry, Big Show can turn his attention in kicking that little pipsqueek's ass. Big overhand chops and cage shots. I love when an annoying jerk gets his ass handed to him. Big Show's KO punch meets nothing, but steel. Ow! Bryan dropkicks Big Show's knee when he charges. Bryan hits a nasty dropkick to Mark Henry's head. Then hits another dropkick on Big Show. Bryan wants out via door now it is Mark Henry's turn to whup this boy. Mark Henry gets his licks in including the great slingshot spot until Big Show hits him with a superkick. Bryan smacks the hell out of Big Show. Dumb move. Big Show with big sledgehammer blows to Daniel Bryan. Great selling and feeding by Bryan. Big Show hurls Bryan into the cage. Some really great bumps into the cage by Bryan. Colossal bodyslam by Big Show on Bryan. Looked fucking great. Mark Henry is back up and takes Big Show off his feet with a clothesline. Now he can turn his attention to Daniel Bryan then stands on the little man. They working the triple threat formula instead the cage well and it is giving the giants time to rest. Mark Henry goes for the splash into the cage, but eats cage. SPEAR BY BIG SHOW! Daniel Bryan covers! Mark Henry kicks out. Big Show back to chucking Daniel Bryan all around the cage. Bryan gets a tornado DDT and then the LeBell Lock. Henry breaks it up. Henry goes for the Worlds Strongest Slam. KO PUNCH! Big Show covers and Daniel Bryan shoves him off. Daniel Bryan races up the cage and Big Show has him with one hand but Daniel Bryan falls to floor to win.

It is pretty telling that Mark Henry didn't get one major nearfall in this match. After this match, Mark Henry would be shunted down the card with one brief bright spot in 2013 when he faked his retirement against Cena. Another great angle was Mark Henry showing off his American and Olympic Pride against Rusev in 2014. This pretty much is the end of the road for the Hall of Pain. It was an amazing run that caught me off guard while it was happening when I was reading about it (didn't have time for Smackdown in college on Friday nights), but finally getting to see it was a true treat. Mark Henry was in the zone. As for this match, I thought it was a brisk fun beat the shit out of Bryan match where Bryan was great bumping for these giants and Big Show was really motivated. Very fun match. ***3/4

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WWE Champion CM Punk vs Mark Henry - RAW 4/2/12

When I decided to go to WrestleMania in 2012 with my Dad & brother for my graduation from my master's program I saw it as the ultimate gift to myself. In a lot of ways, I was actually in nadir of my wrestling watching. I didn't watch Smackdown at all. I was totally clueless to the whole Yes Movement and I was wondering why everyone was chanting Yes in the parking lot. Honestly, a lot of the storylines headed into RAW did not pique my interest. The pipebomb promo of 2011 renewed my interest in pro wrestling, but I still was not as into it. WrestleMania XVIII was an incredible experience. It was very important in rejuvenating my love for wrestling, but I would say the night after was all the more reason. I have told the story many times that it was Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XIX that made me a lifelong fan again after I completely stopped watching in September of 2001. Well his return in 2012, spurred on a resurgence in my desire to plunge deep into pro wrestling like I never had before. It was in the summer of 2012, I discovered this message board and my life has never been the same. Thank you, Brock! The other thing I remember from that night was how fucking awesome CM Punk vs Mark Henry was. I was already back in my apartment in Michigan and my brother was back home in Boston. We were texting together just marking out about how amazing this match was.

Context, the night before CM Punk defended his championship against Chris Jericho and injured his back. Mark Henry was rewarded with a title shot because CM Punk called John Lauranitis a toolbox at the top of the show. This is without a doubt in my mind the greatest in-ring verbal trash talk I have ever heard. You have your old stand-bys like "That all you got." "I own you.", but then you got some really clever ones "Oh, you wanna count? Count this" then Mark Henry counting along to each stomp. The pinnacle of this and it was burnt in my mind from this match is "Did I tell you to move? You only move when I tell you to move". It is ***** trash talk that is for sure.

Incredible performances from both men, just a perfect David vs Goliath match. CM Punk is trying valiant but keeps getting manhandled and his back just isn't holding up. The number one reason he is staying in this match is that he keeps moving out of the way of things. Mark Henry is beating the tar out of him though. CM Punk is laying in his shots. I loved his elbow flurry before the bearhug could be cinched in. There is one flurry of kicks and then Kenta Kobashi like chops that is just electric. Mark Henry sold all this like a million bucks so when it was time to go down it felt like a huge deal. CM Punk's selling and fighting through the pain is some of the best I have ever seen. Mark Henry played the monster role flawlessly. He gave CM Punk openings but he also knew when to cutoff him. It really made you question how CM Punk could win this match? Guess what ultimately he loses! How about that for a curveball! It has been so long since I had seen the match I totally forgot. CM Punk hits two fabulous running knees in the corner. I got to emphasize this CM Punk's strikes looked fantastic in this match. He goes for his standard bulldog out of the corner but Mark Henry throws him over the top rope on the floor. CM Punk goes splat, but Mark has been knocked so loopy he does not capitalize so CM Punk gets counted out. To me it was a strange finish because Mark Henry was on his way down the card and they never followed up on it. God, I wish they had a program together. I think they could have put together something really special.

I wouldn't bat an eye if someone said this was the best Mark Henry match ever, I like the Orton Night of Champions match better for the definitive finish, but this was a joy to watch. Definitely check it out if you haven't. ****1/4

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Mark Henry's Retirement Speech RAW 6/17/13

 

"BABY IM COMING HOME"

Honestly, I think this is my pick for the greatest promo in pro wrestling history. I just watched it and the part where he talks about his daughter crying everytime when he leaves, I welled up. Jesus! I knew what was going to happen and I still welled up. I was smiling too while it happened because he got me. That's pro wrestling, baby. Hell even when I watched this in real time in 2013 I smelt the angle from a mile away it still didn't keep me from being swept up in it. From the great self-depreciating humor of "I figured if you forgot me, you would remember this jacket" and "Don't cry for me, Argentina, I am doing enough crying for myself." to talking about the respect he has for everyone that works for WWE, the pride he has in his career, though he has one regret and his family. It is really the perfect retirement speech and that's what makes it so good. He is crying and smiling. Honest to God, you think he is retiring. The promo Cena cuts before this is amazing. Talking about how terrible 2012 was with no World Championship victories, losing to The Rock, but he never gave up and his fans never gave up on him. He is earnestly thanking his fans. Then he discusses how he will be ever-vigilant for his next challenger. Here comes Big 'Ol Mark and Cena is crying & smiling along with the rest of us. "Thank You Henry" chant, damn he worked us good. Mark Henry, you did pro wrestling proud, brutha. "BABY I'M COMING HOME!" World's Strongest Slam. I STILL GOT A LOT LEFT IN THE TANK! THATS WHAT I DO! If  I gave out star ratings for promos this is the six star promo.

I am excited to watch the match because I aint never seen the match.

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WWE Champion John Cena vs Mark Henry - Money In The Bank 2013

On the heels of what I have called the greatest pro wrestling promo of all time, we get a damn good David vs Goliath. Cena's disdain for babyface shines can be forgiven here as he eats a knee right from jump when he charges into the Human Brick Wall known as Mark Henry. Mark Henry puts on one of the best heat segments in history. Torturing Cena and treating him like a ragdoll. The Headbutts and body attacks were there and so was that insane straddle to the floor that Alberto Del Rio does but now it is 412 lbs Mark Fucking Henry doing it, but he busted out new ways to inflict pain such as the Front Suplex to the steel steps and the Giant Swing (loved the one into the barricade). I will say I would have liked more struggle from Cena, but his selling was great and the offense was good. Cena tried hope spots like dropkick and a slam (his back gave out), but Henry snuffed it out. It was only when Henry was applying a head vice that Cena started to make the big man reel with punches. First shoudlertackle didn't knock the big man down, but the second one sure did. I think he should have went for more. Cant get up the massive Mark Henry for the FU. Mark Henry squashes him like a pancake, but only gets two. Cena does hit the FU but only for two. Know that is depressing. You finally do the move you want to do and it doesn't even finish the job. He goes up top, crossbody, CAUGHT, WORLD STRONGEST SLAM, PHILLY ERUPTS, 1-2-NO! HUGE REACTION! That was great. Henry is pissed and tears off the turnbuckle pad in anger. Then a light bulb goes off. He gets some chairs to distract the ref tears off a different corner. He goes to send John in and Cena reverses and the Big Man takes straight to the chest. STFU, but Mark gets the ropes. Mark Henry pushes Cena into the ref and BOOM kicks a field goal through the uprights and Cena is down. 1-2-NO!  Worlds Strongest Slam, no Cena picks the ankle and it is STFU and that leads to the tap out.

Awesome David vs Goliath match. Could have used more struggle in the beginning. Great, great offense from Henry and Cena sold well, but would have liked Cena to fight and then have Henry fight through Cena. The transition to the finish run was fine, the punches were good would have liked Cena to switch up against Mark Henry, but hey what are you gonna. Finish run from the first flattened FU to the end was awesome. Great one last gasp of Mark Henry! ****



History Beckons The Macho Man: Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - WWF, 1985-87

History Beckons The Macho Man:Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat
WWF 1985-1987

Incredible chemistry between two of the greatest wrestlers of all time. My one complaint is that we don't have their steel cage matches from after Mania III because seeing how bloody and hate-filled their Toronto matches are I can imagine they would be classics. Don't just settle for Mania III, take the time to watch all the house show matches from this series. Not only did they never have a bad match, they never had a well that was good match, they were all great. I would say more, but I both tired and I wrote a lot below so check out the reviews!

 

Everyone must watch the larynx crushing angle on the November 22, 1986 edition of Superstars. If you are reading this blog, you know of the angle and you have read about it. But you may have been like me and didn't seek it out. Do yourself a favor and watch it. It is a ***** angle and an all-time great selljob by Ricky Steamboat and Vince McMahon on commentary. Terrific pro wrestling theatre.

 

Ranking the Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat Singles Matches:

 

1. WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Wrestlemania III

2. WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - WWF, Toronto 2/15/87

3. WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Toronto 7/27/86

4. WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Boston 11/1/86

5. Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Boston 12/7/85

 

Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Boston 12/7/85

 

I gotta say WrestleMania III overshadows a great series of matches (I know hardcores know about Toronto 2/15/87), but I think overall this is an underexplored series even though the main match is so famous. They had amazing chemistry together. I am not going to say this was on par with Savage's selling in the Bret Hart SNME match, but this was damn close. Macho Man takes us to school on how to sell as he does a great job with his arm throughout the match. Just amazing. I loved Macho Man shoving Steamboat at the bell, putting Liz in front of him, Steamboat backs off and he jumps him. It is such a great dick move. Steamboat overwhelms him and throws him shoulder first into the post. It is just textbook arm work here from Steamboat and the selling from Savage is magnificent. They way they work in and out of the armbars is just great. Savage taking those powders to nurse the injury. Steamboat following him out there. All great stuff. I loved Savage using the skin the cat to attack Steamboat and then nail the double axehandle to the floor. The little things Macho Man does like doing the sneak up and then high knee to Steamboat sending him flying over the railing is just great. Savage uses the arm as a way to give Steamboat life, but The Dragon does a great job selling all these sneak attacks. Savage missing the elbow drop really should have been an opening for some that Dragon breathing fire like we would see against the Nature Boy, but don't quite get to those fever pitch levels. They foreshadow the Savage/Tito title switch finish which would be executed two months later in the Boston Garden as Savage pulls something out of his tights and nails Steamboat with it as he brings back into the ring for the win. All in all, just great classic wrestling with the Savage selling arm showing why he is one of the all-time great sellers. ****

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WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Toronto 7/27/86

There is something about these two and Toronto that just creates magic. You take two of the best wrestlers of all time and then add all the fixins' you get one helluva match. I could watch Savage and Steamboat run around the ring and have Savage end up in an armdrag everytime and never get tired of it. These two work with such energy in AND out of holds. Everything goes back to that armdrag-armbar, but Savage sells so well and outside that hold they come up with some great criss cross routines. I loved Savage's reverse crossbody with Steamboat rolling through for a nearfall. Savage is so selfless everything is about Steamboat looking better than him. Even when it looks like he might get control, Steamboat sends him packing and he has to hide behind Elizabeth. Savage is milking this for all its worth both to let his arm heal and to get under the skin of the Dragon. It is working. The stall tactics work here most effectively because of how well, Steamboat sells them. At first Savage looks like a fool because when he does get back in, Steamboat spits on him and gets under his skin! Two can play at mind games and Steamboat gets back in the driver's seat. It is only when Savage used Steamboat own momentum to send him crashing into the buckles the complexion of the match changed. He rams Steamboat into the railing and then double axehandle off the top for two. He goes again, but Steamboat catches him and then sends the Macho Man flying over the railing. I am loving how heated this has become. The ref is actively trying to get Steamboat to stay in the ring, holding his leg. It looks like this will give Savage the advantage, but Steamboat sends the Macho Man into the post and he taps a gusher. He is bleeding profusely. Steamboat is chopping that cut. When he comes off the top with the overhand karate chop on the cut, everyone in Toronto thought there would be a new champion. Savage in an excellent move pulls the ref in front of him and Steamboat chops him. Then we get all the Steamboat nearfalls with the dramatic slow counts. I am eating this up with a spoon. You can tell how influential Savage is on wrestling not just from character and work, but layout, this would be the normal for the next twenty years. Savage has a foreign object and jabs it in Steamboat's eye. What makes this work so well is Steamboat commitment to selling for the rest of the match (2-3 minutes), taking swings at the ref, blindly back dropping Savage over the rope and then wandering too close and being pulled to the outside. The ending outside brawl is fantastic and Steamboat beats the count for the win! Incredible match! One of the best in the WWF during this timeframe from opening matwork where Steamboat both injures and frustrates Savage. Savage after trying to wrestle straight tries stalling tactics and finally gets his opening. Of course, Steamboat makes a big comeback but they throw in a bladejob, ref bump and a foreign object to put the icing on a delicious cake. Excellent wrestling and excellent theatre. ****1/2

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WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Boston 11/1/86

Tremendous match this pre-dates the larynx crushing angle on TV by a couple weeks so this wrestled more straight. Savage is the consummate heel. I have said this time and time again. In that ring he is utterly despicable. Here it is the stalling, the hair pulling, and foreign object. He is such a product of Memphis, but this is what the WWF needed as variety from your Studds & Bundys. Steamboat is a great white meat babyface here. He does a great job not losing his concentration during Savage's stalling tactics. He is committed to working the left arm. Some really nice, deep armdrags by the Dragon. Savage is making him earn these holds by creating movement through hair pulls. I love that. Savage is achieving three things at once: hair pull - heel, movement - interest, Steamboat overcoming the cheating - struggle. Awesome stuff! Like I said it is not the psychology but the execution from these two is completely on point. Loved Steamboat wrenching the arm against the ropes. Savage realizing his arm is in a bad way and hair pulling is not working; reaches down into his tights and finds an foreign object to jab in the Steamer's eyes. Savage is perpetual motion now with the double axehandles and bodyslams on the outside. He makes sure to sell the arm. The arm prevents him from suplexing and piledriving Steamboat. Great stuff! Steamboat looks ready to mount the comeback backdropping out of the aforementioned piledriver, but Savage goes fishing for the foreign object again. This time he misses the straddle on the ropes. Now the Dragon is breathing fire! Great series of hot nearfalls for Steamboat here reminiscent of Mania III. Savage sends The Dragon flying over the top rope when he sidesteps an overzealous Steamboat. He gets greedy and goes for a double axehandle to the outside misses and loses by countout.

Terrific psychology and execution throughout. Loved Savage's selling of the arm and his commitment to cheating. This is workrate meets great heel psychology. ****

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WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - WWF, Toronto 2/15/87

I could have sworn I had seen this match before, but I don't think I have. What a tremendous match! Perhaps even better than the Mania match, which I need to rewatch now. Steamboat made his return at the January Saturday's Night Main Event during Savage and Steele's match. I really enjoyed the Savage vs Steele feud and SNME matches. The turnbuckle stuffing spot is pretty funny. It was the perfect feud to put even more heat on Savage, but it was all to really get that heat on Savage for the Steamer.

After crushing having larynx crushed and needing to re-learn how to talk, many have criticized the Mania for the lack of violence and hatred from Steamboat. Around the horn in the Northeast loop (Boston, Philly, NYC and Toronto) for two shows in each city they saw Steamboat win or lose by DQ and not win the title. This explains the cleaness and neatness of the Mania match as Steamboat had gotten his licks in and now was coming from the title. Besides a single pinfall cover by Ricky which I think was out of force of habit. Steamboat focused on using his energy and technique to set up his chops and this maybe the most violent Steamboat ever looked. Savage was great at selling the discombobulation and tries to head for the hills, but Steamboat chucks him back in. Again, Macho Man powders and this time with some cat and mouse game Savage nails The Dragon and throws him over the top. Savage sells well, but once recuperated he sends Steamboat into the railing. Big bodyslam by Macho man on the floor. I like how this match has more selling and more drama. Savage is matching violence with Steamboat. The big spots on the floor is allowing more time to breathe. Finally, Savage lays Steamboat across the top rope and drills that throat with an elbow. I think if we got some choking and coughing from Steamboat that would have sealed the deal as this being a tippy top great match. Still Savage is coming off the top with the double axe handle and now a kneedrop to throat. Camera is not letting us see if he is choking or coughing. Classic Savage clothesline stymies a Steamboat rally. Savage is here to preserve his title reign so it makes more sense for him to go for all these covers. Steamboat is draped throat first across the middle rope and Savage looks to really hurt him by crushing with all his weight, but Steamboat moves! Love that spot! There was so much drama if he would or would not move. Somehow, Savage has a minor cut on his forehead, but dont know how.Steamboat does the skin the cat spot, but Savage dont play that and he just clobbers him with a clothesine. Savage looks to hit the double axehandle on the railing, but gets a punch in the stomach.  Steamboat uses speed and armdrags and then chokes the hell out of Savage. I love how Steamboat is using his normal offense to create opportunities for violence. Now, it is a larynx for a larynx as he snaps Savage's throat against the top rope. Steamboat mocks Savage's throat selling. he drops Savage on the top rope. How does a taste of your own medicine feel! Savage powders and tries to send him in teh railing, but it is the Macho Man that tastes the steel. Savage with that awesome tippsy selling right into a Steamboat big karate shot from the top. Catapult and now Savage is busted wide open. The way Savage's body conforms to the turnbuckles on that spot was awesome. Savage is straight money in this match. He is selling so well! he always trying to escape, but he is so disoriented that he cant escape the Dragon. Savage has enough wherewithal to grab the tights to send him out. Savage drills from behind on the ramp with a high knee. Great use of the ramp! Steamboat chants and he is pissed! He goes for the sunset flip and only gets two and now they do the Mania match finish with a ton of nearfalls for Steamboat. It is the O'Connor Roll that does him as Savage is able to reverse and pull tights.

Awesome match! Savage is covered in blood with the championship, but Steamer is so pissed he runs down the ramp and blasts him. I think you can see the change in Steamboat within this match. Up until the end, he wants to get his licks in first with chops then targeting the larynx and finally busting Savage wide open. Eventually after all this payback, he does want to add on top of that taking the championship away from Savage thus why he goes for the pinfall barrage. The pinfall barrage plays right into Steamboat's wheelhouse of quickness. The object of wrestling is put your man down for three the more attempts you make that better chance you have of getting that win. I think this match and the other matches in Northeast showed Ricky he could get his revenge or he could get the championship, but not both. After two months of kicking ass, he set out to win the title at Mania. Savage's performance in this is just tremendous. I think above all his selling was just perfect. He was discombobulated from the being and that just sold how much fire Steamboat had. When he was on top, he slowed it down and really targeted the neck. The cheap win with the tights covered in blood and leaving with the title is just a great heel ending. One of the best matches in 80s WWF and one of the all-time classics. ****3/4

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WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Wrestlemania III

History beckons the Macho Man! One of the all-time great promos and singular lines in pro wrestling. I had forgotten that during the Steamboat promo that they do mention this is the Dragon's last shot, which is only further proof why the match was worked the way it was and the correct way to go about it. I always loved how they weaved in the George Steel story into this match. I love how Savage moves Liz away from Steele because of what happened at the last SNME where he kidnapped her. Well-played spot. The finish is just awesome with Steel saving Steamboat from the bell. It is too bad that Savage could not get himself to be hit with the bell a little bit more convincingly.

Much like Hogan vs Andre, this match has been talked to death and I don't have a completely revolutionary fresh take, but I did enjoy this match more than I ever have in the past. The first time I watched this was probably about ten years ago and I hate to admit I was pretty underwhelmed. It just seemed like guys moving really fast, but without much substance to it. This match for me at least has gotten better with each subsequent watch and I really enjoyed it this time around. The Toronto match really helps put things into perspective. I highly recommend watching the Toronto match before this one to get the full experience. In fact, I would imagine if you go back and watch 2 or 3 of their 86 matches it would help even more. It is actually surprising how many spots are similar to Toronto but they work them in different fashions, but it is still organic. They even played off the Toronto finish with Savage reversing a O'Connor Roll, but this time Steamboat kicked out.

I think there are times when Steamboat does show aggression that have been brushed over like the choke on Savage at the beginning and the aggression of his chops. Savage is a particularly nasty heel in this and in general that is his style. He takes shortcuts and uses nasty short strikes to keep his opponents at bay. The eye rake when Steamboat was unleashing all that karate popped me. I really loved his use of the high knee in this match. It was a well-delivered attack and it was always to the back. Great dick move. Around this time, he decks Steamboat in the midst of the skin the cat and Jesse delivers my all time favorite line "You have to get up pretty early in the morning to get one up on the Macho Man."

This is a type of feud that I think could benefit wrestling more and that is the one-sided hate feud. Steamboat hates Savage and that's clearly evident. Savage does not actually hate Steamboat. He is lashing out in fear of losing the title. It makes sense for Savage to cheat like a muthafucka and go for a ton of pinfalls. Steamboat does actually work aggressive at times, but this is tempered by the fact that this maybe his last shot for the IC title.

Do they move too fast in this match? Yes and no. I think this match is very influential on the current style used today. Pack in a ton of action and lots of nearfalls at the end = This Is Awesome chants. I think they move way too fast at the beginning. There are way too many momentum shifts and there is very little rhythm. it does not feel like a struggle. I would say around the high knees that match settles into a nice structure with Steamboat fighting underneath due to Savage's cheating. I actually dig the urgency of Steamboat's nearfalls. It is a really heightened sense of drama. I think during the finish the speed at which they were going was warranted and was a boon to the match.

Overall, I thought they moved a bit too quickly early on, last half was wicked hot. It was downright revolutionary for the WWF at the time. Those nearfalls were wicked hot. You always think of the one after the karate chop near the ropes that gets a monster pop because everyone thought Steamboat had won. I also did not think there was one consistent thread through the entire match like a real cool overarching story. I am sticking the Toronto match ahead, but this is a badass match and very, very important in the history of wrestling for how it influenced the fans, wrestlers and the promotion. ****3/4

Best of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat: WWF Years 1985-1988

Best of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat:
The WWF Years (1985-1988)

 

Ricky Steamboat came into the WWF around the time of the inaugural WrestleMania. At first, he was positioned as an upper midcard babyface performing well against midcard heels like Greg Valentine and Bob Orton. From the outset, Steamboat was the number three working babyface behind Hogan & Santana (Andre was a special attraction and JYD was more of a fun attraction). This blog covers those beginning months.  There is tag team match with Tito Santana taking on the Dream Team at Maple Leaf Gardens in April of 1985 that I think is the best WWF tag match of all time and I would say is the second best match of 1985 in WWF. So definitely check that one out.

 

Then he moves onto a feud with Don Muraco (coming down the card from working Hogan) to give Steamboat his first major feud when Muraco & Fuji hung Steamboat from the ropes with his karate belt (quite the visual!) and really establish him as someone the fans should take seriously.

 

http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2017/10/how-to-train-beach-bum-ricky-steamboat.html

 

From there, he started a major program with the recently debuted, Jake The Snake Roberts, in the spring of 1986 when Jake The Snake DDT'd Ricky Steamboat on the cement. This led to some amazing matches in 1986 and I think their one from August 9. 1986 in Boston Gardens is the WWF match of the year.

 

http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-dragon-vs-snake-ricky-steamboat-vs.html

 

 After a great performance with the Snake, he furthers moves up the card and takes the Number two babyface position (with Andre turning heel there is no doubt, he is the second most popular wrestler in WWF at its peak) and is paired with the Macho Man Randy Savage producing some of the best matches in WWF history. Everyone talks about WrestleMania III, but watch their house show matches and you will see that not only did they never have a bad match, I rated all their matches at least ****. They had insane chemistry. All hardcore fans would say check out their Toronto February 15, 1987 match which is as good if not better than Mania III (depends on my mood).

http://ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com/2017/10/history-beckons-macho-man-randy-savage.html

 

 

After that, Steamboat had a child and I believe that led him to not working such a rigorous road schedule so he dropped the IC Title to Honky Tonk Man. The rest of this blog covers that and the Rick Rude program.  

 

Must See Miscellaneous Ricky Steamboat in WWF:

 

1. The Dream Team w/Jimmy Hart vs Tito Santana & Ricky Steamboat - MLG 4/21/85

2. WWF Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man vs Ricky Steamboat - MSG 8/22/87 Lumberjack Match

3. Ricky Steamboat vs Ace Cowboy Bob Orton - WWF, Cap Center 7/20/85



The Dream Team w/Jimmy Hart vs Tito Santana & Ricky Steamboat - MLG 4/21/85

 

This match sure lived up to the hype and may be the best Beefcake performance I have ever seen. This match was all about tempo. Santana was in his red-hot feud with Valentine who had broken his leg and taken his title. The crowd was molten for that angle. The babyfaces worked their entire end in an up-tempo, fired -up fashion. The Dream Team knowing they could not match this attempted every trick in the book to break their momentum and work a real grinding style. This led to a really good match.

 

Early on Steamboat and Santana have a hot shine sequence with Beefcake and Valentine just bumping all over the place for them. I have been down on WWF Steamboat, but he was pumped for this match just flying around the ring. You know that Tito is going to bring the hate with his fists balled up. Beefcake and Valentine do their best to stall and break this momentum, but at first there seems like no end to this onslaught. Until, Tito goes for the figure-4 on Valentine, who grabs his trunks and hits a knee in the midsection. Once he hits a shoulderbreaker he consolidates the advantage for the Dream Team and grinds the match to a halt. They work on Santana with some double teams and Valentine slaps on an arm bar. Tito is almost able to make the tag, but Valentine knocks Steamboat off the apron and then Beefcake comes around and beats on Steamboat. The crowd was just eating this all up. The Beefer gets cocky and goads Steamboat. Tito is able to crawl past Beefcake and get the hot tag to Steamboat. IT IS BREAKING LOOSE IN TORONTO! Steamboat with his best hot tag I have seen. He unloads on both the Hammer and the Beefer with karate shots. The crowd was losing their shit for this. Steamboat grabs the sleeper hold, but Beefcake with an eye-rake. Valentine and Steamboat have a good exchange until an eye-rake does Steamboat in and Valentine consolidates with a gut buster. I preferred the Steamboat FIP is a better at selling and the Dream Team really unloaded with double teams and offense. Valentine starts to warm him up for the figure-4, but Steamboat knows his way around the figure-4 and grabs an inside cradle. Steamboat fights out of the corner and is able to Tito. ARRIBA! Double noggin knocker. Tito drops Valentine with a right. Flying Burrito to a huge pop! Beefcake saves. Melee ensues. They are double teaming Tito and Steamboat flies off the top onto Beefcake. Tito blocks Valentine's atomic drop and applies the figure-4 for the submission victory. ARRIBA! Wooooooooooooo, I am out of breathe after that one.

 

This is babyface wrestling 101, folks. Steamboat and Santana gave maximum effort and I bet it is real easy when you have a crowd as hot as this one at the Maple Leaf Gardens. The Dream Team wrestled a smart match to ensure constant heat throughout the match as they built not one, but two really hot tags. In some of those double FIP AWA tags, the first hot tag is not all that hot, but in this match that Steamboat hot tag is just as red-hot as the following Santana one. Beefcake actually wrestled pretty well here and was not as awkward as usual. The Hammer is going to clog the lane every time and make sure that babyface earns every shot. This up there with the Bulldogs match as one of the best WWF Tags of the 80s. ****1/2

 

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WWF Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine vs Ricky Steamboat - WWF, MSG 6/21/85

Gorilla Monsoon is the fucking worst. Nobody could take the sails out of hot comeback faster than him with his nonchalant "Nope, he is not going to get him." I will take Vince's bombastic and naive belief that every nearfall is a potential winning fall than Gorilla's constant undercutting of drama.

This is the Superstar Sleeze dream match on paper and I think this would be a dream match for most wrestling fans. It does not quite live up to OMG RICKYSTEAMBOAT VS GREG VALENTINE~! The beginning is pretty pedestrian surprisingly. For whatever, Valentine did not seem very engaged in the beginning of the match. He was content to bump and sell, but he was not his usual chippy self. Then Steamboat kept locking these holds on Valentine as if to contain him, but Valentine was not supplying energy. I think those clamps are perfect to keep a runaway babyface down or I guess really any explosive wrestler. Valentine was not demonstrating that on this night. I think Steamboat needed to provide more of the energy. He was at times, but he needed to go full throttle. The Valentine heat segment was good. I expect greatness out of The Hammer, so I could not help but be disappointed. It was the standard stiff shots and then setting up for the figure-4. On the flip side, it was standard great Steamboat selling. The entire match up until the finish felt very routine. Basically, it was each guy doing what he did well, but not really responding to each other. Then Steamboat wakes up on the outside and sort of Hulks Up and the crowd's interest is piqued. Then all of sudden it becomes a couple Carolina boys doing Carolina boy things in the ring when they fucking start wailing on each other. This is what I wanted. Steamboat had a tremendous comeback showing great fire and exuding charisma. It was either on a big karate chop or the top rope cross body when the crowd and the match were at a fever pitch that fucking Gorilla said "Nope, he is not going to get him." What a fucking asshole.Valentine had a brief spell of offense before Steamboat Karate'd his ass out of the ring to lose by countout. I will say Steamboat's kicks look aesthetically pleasing in the sense that when his kicking the air it looks smooth and well-executed, but man he just is not connecting at all. Of course, kicks were never part of his repertoire, but hey now he is the Karate Kid so he needs to do KICKS~! This reminds me Jimmy Hart was great in this match first worrying about all the Karate bullshit and then when Steamboat was down and out taunting by calling him the Karate Kid. Great Mouth of the South performance. It is a good match, but not at level I wanted it to be at. ***

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Ricky Steamboat vs Ace Cowboy Bob Orton - WWF, Cap Center 7/20/85

The Landover crowd is rocking for the recently debuted Ricky The Dragon Steamboat. I have to say Steamboat committed himself to the Karate gimmick better than I would think a lot of proud veterans would. He had working at a high level and he could have been badass Steamboat in the Carolinas, but he went out there and executed Vince’s vision, which is pretty cool. I think those intense spots where he is summoning his chi and what not aka flexing his bulging muscles got him over huge. Yes, this is during the time period where Bob Orton had the cast. Bob Orton was such a great midcard heel and perfect for his role.

I really enjoyed Steamboat’s mannerisms in this. I thought he was intense and charismatic. I really liked him mocking Orton in the arm bar. Steamboat focused his shine working on injured arm, but they both always kept things moving. It began with an armdrag into arm bar and some nice karate strikes to the arm. Orton keeps it moving as he tries to get out in numerous ways including to go through ropes, a punch that was blocked and a bodyslam, but Steamboat always maintains control. Steamboat is really fun in this. Orton backs him into corner and starts laying on the heavy artillery. Headscissor by Orton tries again and goes flying over ropes into railing on the second attempt. He throws soda in Steamboat’s eyes and goes to town. Cool transition. Orton powerful knee lift. Good heat builds to the cast shot, but misses. Big chop by Steamboat but he missed a fistdrop. They slug it out in Carolina boy fashion. Orton midsection shots stops the Dragon rally, but he is backdropped out fo pilederiver. Top rope crossbody by Steamboat!!! 1-2-No! Great nearfall!

Inverted atomic drop by Orton and Steamboat crumples to mat. Really awesome selling there by the Steamer. Steamboat skins the cat and enziguiri (not a good looking one, but he is trying). Orton takes a huge bump through the ropes. Another karate shot by Steamboat while Orton is on apron. Orton eyerake while on apron and Steamboat wins suplex struggle and brings him in hard way. Steamer eats knees on splash attempt. Orton adjusts the cast! Cast shot and DQ.

Damn it was just getting good. Steamboat fends him with chops and kicks. Gene Okerlund “This guy had the guts to do whats right.” In reference to the ref DQ’ing Ace Cowboy, which I think in terms of grandstanding righteous indignation that has to rank up there. Steamboat wants some more of Orton, but Orton retreats. This was well on its way to being a great midcard match to get Steamboat over. I don’t mind the finish, it just rendered the match incomplete. Sometimes you get to that level finish and it feels right. I felt these guys still had more left to give. Plus I think that The Dragon was higher enough on the pecking order he probably should have gotten the clean win. I really fun Steamboat performance.  ***3/4

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Bret Hart vs Ricky Steamboat - Boston 3/86

 

I disagreed with my previous review of this match most notably that Bret was the better wrestler in this match. I think it is pretty even. Steamboat's selling and his fire on this is very good. Bret is the one constructing the framework for the match and does an admirable job. The match is missing the glue and those little details. Having recently watched Steamboat vs Orton, you can see how fun a Steamboat arm-based babyface shine can be. I would argue Bret takes the bigger, more spectacular bumps off the armdrags than Orton, but Orton fills the time just so well. Orton adds wrinkles of trying to get out of the hold and when he is thwarted thats where the entertainment comes from.  Bret transitions with a swinging neckbreaker, a little bit too much of a babyface transition. I thought the best sequence of the match was one of his favorite 80s sequences: goes for a backbreaker, opponent reverses into a bodyslam, but the wrinkle here is Bret gets the knees up on the splash. Excellent, excellent sequence as you get the hope spot, Steamboat desperately trying to capitalize, but in his overzealousness he over reaches and the Hitman is able to one-up him. Bret does Bret follows up with his bodyslam on the parquet floor and successfully gets the backbreaker. Bret misses second-rope elbow and here comes the Steamer.Steamboat had plenty of fire and Bret was bumping big off the chop. I am surprised Bret got a visual pinfall off a ref bump. Based on Bret's booking pattern, I think Vince always liked Bret and wanted to push him as a singles guy. This is definitely evident as soon as late 87, but this could have been the first evidence of that. Bret has shown he already has all the tools to be a major singles star in between the ropes. The finish is Steamboat rolling through a Bret cross body for the win. A very good match, solid stuff, but nothing that inspires just perfectly acceptable wrestling. ***1/2

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WWF Intercontinental Champion Ricky Steamboat vs Honky Tonk Man - WWF 6/2/87

It feels like a pretty routine title defense for Steamboat that worked in most of his familiar spots and he was working with great energy. Honky was bumping for him and besides a short heat segment really did not do much. He teased Shake Rattle Roll and then Steamboat came off with a BIG off the top, in a conventional match it would have been over. The finish was strange. Jimmy Hart distracted the ref, but Steamer dispatched of both, but when he went for the pin, Honky kinds but not really got on top and the ref did not break his count. It was a weird finish and not one that really protected Steamer when you could have used the manager. Thus began the reign of the Greatest IC Champion who ever lived.

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WWF Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man vs Ricky Steamboat - MSG 8/22/87 Lumberjack Match

I figured I should watch at least one full-length Honky Tonk Man match in my life (correction: I have seen the Savage SNME match that leads to the MegaPowers forming so I guess this number two). This seems like his most critically acclaimed match and I have to admit this is a pretty damn good way to spend about 15 minutes. Highly entertaining. Honky Tonk feels like an overpushed jobber. Like if they gave Heath Slater the IC or US title and let him run with it. I think Slater is horribly underutilized and would shine. My point is that Slater's value is in bumping and stooging. That's Honky Tonk's value. Tremendous shine. Big smile the whole time. I loved Steamboat skinning the cat so fast the heels couldn't get him. While Honky was desperately trying to find a way out, but kept being held up at the apron and getting throttled. Steamboat giving chase into the lumberjacks were great. The bumping by Honky Tonk in the ring made each Steamboat cover feel huge. The Islanders trip Steamboat so Animal Steele trips Honky Tonk to a huge pop! Love it! Honky blocks a monkey flip and Steamer does a huge sell. Honky does not do much for me on offense. Steamboat really roared back with his comeback. Had some really good strong nearfalls. Jimmy Hart distracts the ref and Steele comes in counts for Steamboat. Raises his hand. Steamboat decks the Mouth of the South. In the fracas, Honky gets the megaphone and knocks out Steamboat to retain. All in all, really fun match especially the beginning when Honky Tonk was a total ham and Steamboat was on fire. The end was good wrestling theatre. ***3/4

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Ricky Steamboat vs Rick Rude - MSG 12/26/87

 

I often forget that Steamboat stuck around after dropping the IC Title to Honky Tonk Man. The result was a feud with Ravishing Rick Rude, which I have never watched before (it is not as critically acclaimed as their '92 WCW feud). Rude is such a great character. He doesn't quite have that swagger when he tells all the New York Sleazebags to piper down while he shows all the ladies what a real, sexy man looks like but it was definitely there. Steamboat did not look pumped here. Very subdued entrance. I am guessing he took a lot of time off for his newborn and doesn't seem invested. Nice opening shine with Steamboat skinning the cat, but hitting Heenan in his bad neck on the way up and then back body dropping Rude out of the ring who takes a big bump onto a chair. Besides that bump, thought Rude did an excellent job selling the arm which Steamboat worked on for like 10 minutes. Steamboat won wrist control out of a test of strength. Really good, straight wrestling here. Is there anyone better at simple criss cross exchanges than the Dragon. Simply electric. I thought Rude did a good job creating movement for Steamboat to work in armdrags. Nice eyepoke and great selling of the arm while throwing bows with his good arm. Steamboat runs him into the buckles, but as he is charging he runs into them too.

Second half of the match is Rude working holds. I thought they worked good hope spots then cutoffs before going back into holds. Rude cant flex his left bicep, but he can his right. Love it! Rude misses the seat drop. Steamboat goes for the slam, but his back gives out. Steamboat gets out of bearhug but Rude hooks the ropes to avoid dropkick. Eventually Steamboat gets the famous Electric Chair spot and then Rude goes up top and Steamboat catches him. Classic Steamboat finish run with a ton of nearfalls for both men. Steamboat gets the big chop off the top and the bell rings calling for the time limit. Heenan gets on the mic to say he could beat the Dragon now but it is a trap and Rude blindsides him and smashes the microphones into his head. Steamboat makes a comeback and throws him out.

It was clear they were working a WWF time limit draw with all holds, but it was such a textbook match. I just enjoyed the selling and the beauty of the exchanges. It was simple, lo-fi, but effective. ***1/2

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Ricky Steamboat vs Rick Rude - WWF Royal Rumble 1988

It is generally unusual that matches that happened in WCW are more fondly remembered than the ones in the WWF, but this is for good reason as Steamboat/Rude's series in 1992 is lightyears better than the matches in late 87 and 88. I thought this was a condensed and more pedestrian version of their MSG draw a couple of months or so before this, the inaugural Royal Rumble. Rude does not have Heenan, which does lessen the fun. They do the spot where Steamboat skins the cat and sends Rude flying. The issue with this match is Rude just isn't as good as in the MSG match. He is not bumping as big. His offense is so weak that Steamboat is not bumping for him. He is trying to help him by selling but there is no heat. He finally musters up a transition but it is just a lame kneelift to the back. They do the usual Rude chinlock spots. Then they do the usual Steamboat nearfall sequence. The wrinkle in the end is Rude throws the ref into a diving Steamboat. He picks up Steamboat into an Argentine backbreaker. Ref calls for the bell you think Rude has won due to submission they even play his music, but Steamboat wins by DQ. The MSG match is actually very good and I recommend that. I think this is totally skippable and probably the worst Steamboat match I have seen in the WWF.          

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Ricky Steamboat vs Rick Rude - WWF Superstars 2/6/88

I was interested to watch this match because I don't recall reading about an angle between these two so I thought by watching this I might find something. The angle here was the Heenan Family (Race & Hercules) started to interfere after Steamboat was rolling with some top rope moves. So ULTIMATE WARRIOR in black trunks came out. I honest to God didn't even recognize him. He was kinda treated liked a JTTS getting beaten down and it was Hacksaw Duggan who made the real save. So it made sense Rude/Steamboat, Duggan/Race and Warrior/Herc going into WM IV. As for the match, sub-5 minutes, I could watch these two do criss cross sequences all day so beautiful.

 

 

The Dragon vs The Snake: Ricky Steamboat vs Jake Roberts - WWF 1986

The Dragon vs. The Snake
The Story of The Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs Jake "The Snake" Roberts Feud
WWF, 1986

Ricky Steamboat vs Jake Roberts - WWF Boston 6/27/86
 

I really enjoyed this match! These are two wrestlers that I have been a little down on, but I thought they weaved a great story in this match. I think a lot of my issues with Jake The Snake was twofold. One was not watching enough Jake to get him and understand him. Since he is not a pure power or speed guy, it does not immediately leap off the page. On top of that, a lot of what I was watching was  babyface Jake The Snake and I don't know if that's where Jake excels. From watching this and watching the SNME angle shot before this where he jumps Steamboat, cracks his head on the concrete with the DDT a couple times and lays the snake on The Dragon that Jake the Snake the heel enjoys torturing and humiliating his opponent even more than winning. On the flip side, Ricky Steamboat is pissed that he had been injured by The Snake and was red hot this match. Steamboat has a bit of a different way of showing violence and part of that is because of who Steamboat is (we know he is not the world's flashiest person) and the sanitized WWF environment. He wears his anger on his face and how quickly he is moving rather than the his moves per se.

Steamboat comes out hot looking to avenge being shown up and hurt at SNME, but one thread of this match is that his overzealousness catches him. By attacking Jake on the outside when he tries to get back in the ring, he catches a wicked knee lift. Jake immediately wants to replicate SNME with a quick DDT and presumably place the snake on him. Once could be a fluke and twice would show Jake is the man. Upon trying the DDT, Steamboat starts firing off chops and even a really heated belly to belly. I struggle sometimes with how I feel about wrestlers that really take time to signal to their audience what they are going to do. On one side, the wrestler should be in the moment and just execute. On the other, it is a powerful took to make the audience aware something big is going to happen and therefore more likely to pop because they won't miss it and are now anticipating it. I think Steamboat worked that fine line perfectly. It was especially apropos when Roberts was caught in the ropes. This gave time for Steamboat to measure his man thus getting the crowd involved and deliver a ferocious chop. I loved Steamboat's urgency going through the ref's leg just to get another chop. Soon we see how Steamboat's urgency comes back to haunt him as when he slides through Jake's legs he gets popped. Jake was showing a bit more energy here than he has in past performances, but his menacing, stalking aura is more suited to be a heel. I really his goading the struggling babyface to hit him in the face spot. It is such a dick thing to do and it is just so abusive father-ish to me. C'mon you want to hit me, but you can't, boy. It is just mean. That's the humiliating and torturing of Steamboat. There was one other time when Jake could have gone for the win and instead choose to punch Steamboat in the head more. There were other times when he reverted to a more normal heel especially how he reacted to Steamboat coming out of the sleeper. Steamboat's selling was HUGE in this and I was absolutely digging. I loved him being hurled over the top and just letting himself end up in what ever shape he did on the apron. He was a mess. Jake got a little cocky going for the snake and ended taking a big single leg pick up bump off his knee lift. Steamboat came ALIVE! Again, Jake was lying in wait and Steamboat overzealous ate knees on a splash. Steamboat rolled towards the apron where Jake successfully hit his knee lift. Roberts followed the Dragon, but was shoved into the post. Just as Steamboat was going to come crashing down on Jake the Snake with his flying chop the match was called off with Steamboat being counted out. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

They have a pretty heated post-match brawl with Jake The Snake looking to hit the DDT (he bladed really obviously on camera and it was funny trying to hear the announcers explain why he is bleeding), but Steamboat freeing himself and hitting the flying karate chop. I really loved the juxtaposition of the two energies of this match. Steamboat was firey and avenging. Roberts bided his time, struck at the right moment and then stalk and tortured his prey. This is really the type of match that WWF excels in more than probably about any promotion in history. It was very much more character-driven than it was victory-driven. I think that hurts a lot of WWF matches, but when they really knock it out of their park in their style, it is really fun to watch and really expands the breadth of what pro wrestling is and can accomplish. ****1/4  

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Ricky Steamboat vs Jake Roberts - WWF Boston 8/9/86

They wrestled a totally different match this go around and one that I thought is pretty unique overall. Jake Roberts is definitely a low risk, conservative type wrestler. He does not have much in the way of flashy moves or bumps. He bides his time and measures the moment. He transformed this into a really interesting strategy of blocking Steamboat's chops at every turn. This frustrated the Dragon and stymied his uptempo game. The Snake played into the dickishness by reminding everyone how smart he is for formulating this strategy. There were times where it looked like Steamboat would be able to goad him into his game like a quick slugfest or a criss cross but both times Jake remembered his game plan and refused to be suckered into it. Jake planned on leveraging this counterwrestling strategy by attacking the arm, which would negate the chop. Overall, this was a much better plan than his last outing in the Garden, which was high-risk counterwrestling waiting for the right time to use Steamboat's momentum against him. Eventually, Steamboat was able to break down Jake's defenses, I think the best example was when Jake went block high and Steamboat hit low to set up a chop flurry. Steamboat really started to get on a roll. I thought this paid off the first part of the match perfectly. Then they upped the ante when Steamboat hit his left hand on the post going for a chop. What a perfect transition! What ensued is why I love pro wrestling. Steamboat milking the hand injury for all its worth. Jake giving into his tortuous inclinations. He was smashing that hand into everything and working it over. It was just awesome. Steamboat trying to use other body parts come back, but Jake going right back to the hand. Jake The Snake wanted to choke Steamboat and this was his flaw when he deviated from his game plan. It led to Steamboat snapping Roberts' throat over the top rope. I liked the symmetry there. Steamboat basically fought back with one hand in a really thrilling comeback where he hurled Roberts into the barricade and table. I am really liking violent Ricky The Dragon. I really liked the Snake's selling. Steamboat continued his barrage even hitting his big karate flying chop. I did think the finish was a misstep. Roberts sent The Dragon into the ref and then got two visual pins on the Dragon, short arm clothesline and then gutbuster before Roberts frustrated with no ref was rolled up for the loss. I feel like the finish does no one any favors. If the plan was to advance Jake The Snake up a rung to face, Hogan, which I think he earned with these great performances then just let him win, don't make slip on the banana peel and even a loss would not kill him. How does that help Steamboat who is trying to gain revenge and all he gets is a roll up. On top of that, Jake still gets to plant him with a DDT. This was a very protected finish for Jake The Snake. I usually don't let booking cloud my judgment of a match, but even just on face value, it is a very unsatisfying finish. Really badass and unique stuff in this match and up until the finish an absolute classic. ****1/2

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Ricky Steamboat vs Jake Roberts - WWF Big Event 8/28/86 SnakePit Match ("No DQ" Match)

Again, they had a different match from the previous outings with this being their big blowoff brawl in front of a massive Toronto crowd. WWF will never be known for their brawls like a Southern territory would be, but this is still time period where they could have them with blood and all the fixins.

They play off the SNME angle where Jake The Snake heads him off getting to the ring and looks to hit the DDT on him early, but Steamboat is able to fight through this with chops. What's funny about this is that Jake is wearing this purple sequined robe that makes him look like a white trash, washed up magician. In another funny moment, they were talking about how tall Jake was and he is pretty deceptively tall. Like you don't think of Jake the Snake in pantheon of tall wrestlers, but he dwarfed Steamboat. They were saying he had long arms and long legs. Then I swear Johnny V added "He has a long peck too." All this humor was great because the match actually started off pretty slow with Steamboat working the arm. It was solid work, but it was not setting the world on fire. Actually that's what I expected out of these going into these matches, but I was happily proven wrong. Things really got going once Jake took over on the outside. He was kicking some ass until The Dragon got a hold of chair and actually laid a pretty good one in on him. Steamer hit the big flying chop, but did not get the win. I think that was Steamboat's downfall in these blood feuds. He did not have that one move that could really serve as the Grand Finale. Jake whipped him into the buckles and Steamboat tumbled to the outside. Jake was great on the outside and catapulted him into the post. We get blood BABY! Jake kicks some ass hits his big moves (short arm clothesline, gutbuster), but not the DDT so you know he ain't winning. The finish is so lame. It is the heel clearly pinning the babyface in a way to get rolled up. It is a fine spot, but as a match finish super lame. Steamboat needed a better finish. It was a pretty solid brawl, but nowhere as good as the Boston matches. ***1/2

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Ricky Steamboat vs Jake "The Snake" Roberts - SNME 10/4/86 Snakepit Match

Man, Jake The Snake should only be allowed to wrestle Steamboat. I usually find the Snakeman to be completely devoid of energy and his matches to be plodding borefests, but I have loved these Steamboat matches. It is not just The Dragon either. Roberts actually looks motivated! He is bumping and running! WHAT!?!? The shine is great loved Steamboat ducking Roberts punches and chopping him. Great bumps by Roberts throughout the shine. Just lots of energy. Steamboat is on fire. He looks to end it early with a big splash from the top, but Roberts gets the knees up. Great heat segment ensues not just because Steamboat is the king of selling because Jake is vicious. He gets a gutbuster and is just nasty working the ribs. I would have liked to see some DDT teases, but the work on the ribs was great. Finish is out of nowhere just a crucifix just as the match was really getting good. It was SNME so you knew it be short, but hot damn this was building nicely until abrupt finish. They tease the DDT on the concrete, which is what started this feud on May edition of SNME, but Steamboat gets out and he pulls out his dragon (looked like a small alligator, maybe it was a Komodo Dragon, I am no reptile expert) to scare off Jake & Damien. Thus this was the TV blowoff to their feud. One of the best Jake Roberts performance I have ever seen both in bumping on offense! ***3/4