Pro Wrestling Love vol. 26: Best of World Class Championship Wrestling (Kerry Von Erich, Ric Flair, Fabulous Freebirds)

Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 26:

The Best of World Class Championship Wrestling 1983-1989

Objective:  Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project (hosted at gwe.freeforums.project.net) into more manageable chunks to help me build my Top 100 List for the project.

Motivation: Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own understanding of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and even hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by the sands of time.

Subject: This twenty-sixth volume of Pro Wrestling Love is the conclusionof the Top 12 countdown of the best matches to take place in World Class Championship Wrestling between 1983-1987. The time period is set because this was the peak of the territorial era in regards to footage. Footage before 1983 in regards to American wrestling is a dicey proposition. There are some gaps after 1983, but for the most part from 1983 on we have everything. Originally I was going to end this countdown in 1987 as believe that to be the end of the territorial era (Crockett buys out Watts and World Class & AWA are on their death bed), but I figure I might as well include 1988 and 1989 in this because World Class is sold to Jarrett & Memphis in 1989 to form the USWA. World Class had a terrible 1986-87 so you won’t see any matches from those years. There was a slight rebound in 1988 when the Fabulous Freebirds make a return and Jerry Lawler vs Kerry Von Erich feud over who the real world champion is. You can revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com. You can check out the full version of these reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by going to the forums and finding the folders associated with the date of the match.

Contact Info: @superstarsleeze on Twitter, Instagram & ProWrestlingOnly.com.

Bonus Match

I have not explored Southwest Championship Wrestling (San Antonio-based, Joe Blanchard) in great depth, but I did discover a classic on Youtube years back that I think has a very strong possibility of making my Top 100 best matches and I wanted to make sure that it was recognized. I hope to one day explore Blanchard's Southwest Championship Wrestling in more detail. 

Terry Funk vs Bob Orton - Southwest 5/26/83
SCW World Championship Tournament

Kudos to the modern guy who does commentary on this. He was not half bad and got the psychology over pretty well.

Holy shit! Why has no one talked about this match? Probably because it happened in Southwest! This may be the most logically progressive match I have ever seen. Like every move that one did to the other caused a reaction and had a consequence. It was a beautifully constructed narrative. Easily one of the best matches of 80s.

They start off with mutual respect deal and it is chippy, but respectful. Then Funk starts elbowing the back of the neck. Then he slaps Orton. That's the story of the early part of the match. Funk is disrespecting Orton and it backfires on him! Orton gets madder and madder. First Orton whips him into the corner hard and he goes to work on the back. Some of the best bearhug spots you will ever see and again Funk is using elbows and non-technical ways to get out. Finally, when Orton goes for a pin, Funk kicks out and LUNGES at him with a nasty JYD-style headbutt. It was one of the nastiest I have seen Funk throw. He throws two more nasty ones crawling at Orton hard. Orton takes a breather, but now Orton is fucking pissed. He gets in the ring and now he is slapping Funk. He throws Funk out hard right onto the Japanese photographer. Orton basically turns heel mid-match because Funk was being a dick to him! Plus we get two Orton control segments back to back that are totally friggin different!!! HOW COOL IS THAT! Funk's selling is so fucking awesome. Those Orton punches and Funk holding on for dear life on the apron. Holy shit!

BEST PART OF THE MATCH: Funk sort of half falls into Orton and half tries to attack him and Orton sees he is in a position for the piledriver and hits it for two. That's what I mean by logical progression.

Funk single leg pick up and just goes all out on the knee hoping to escape this match with the Spinning Toehold. Rake of the eyes because Orton is a douche. Funk is so sympathetic. Bang heads! HUGE Suplex Struggle! FUNK WINS TO EARN HIS CONTROL SEGMENT! God Bless this match! Funk works over the knee with a variety of toe holds, but is still out of it cant put Orton away. Orton crotches Funk on the top rope out of desperation. Orton is great in this. Orton brutalizing Funk with rights. SLUGFEST! We are getting it all. FUNK BALLSHOTS ORTON WITH HIS LEG! Perfect. Funk atomic drop and punches. Bell rings for a draw!!! NNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!! Still brawling!

I could have watched another 20 minutes of this easy. Nearly perfect wrestling. Only reason not to go ***** is it just does not feel complete. Like they had so much more to give. Awesome, awesome.

Rest In Peace Fritz, David & Kerry.

Top Six Matches of World Class Championship Wrestling 1983-1989

#6. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race vs Kevin Von Erich - 6/17/83

Going into the 80s rewatch, this was my pick for Harley's greatest match and still feel that way. If only Harley would only wrestle Von Erichs in Texas! I think the fact that Von Erichs constantly fight back forces a lot of Harley's bad tendencies out of him. Kevin is such an unusual wrestler. I really cant think of anyone like him. My number one issue with him is that he just doesn't sell. He sells his ass off well rather his arm off here. You combine Kevin's "think shoot, but work" mentality with amazing selling you have a recipe for success. Harley keeps his bad bumping (that bump off the atomic drop is a great example of bad bumping) and his spot-throwing to a minimum instead he focuses on the arm. In the early going, Kevin is working his ass off to win the match. We get a ton of nearfalls around the crossbody, sleeper, throwing over the top rope (legal in this match) and the Claw! Mercer does a great job documenting this onslaught and that Kevin is primed to win. Harley is pretty decent at taking all this. They establish going over the top is legal because it has been a way for the champion to get out of having the title switch hands in Texas. Kevin has been using a lot of Irish Whips to either set that up or his body scissors, which does not always look great. I am pretty sure that the transition spot should have been Kevin going over the top and taking the bump to the floor on his shoulder for maximum effect, but instead went through middle rope, not a huge deal. Kevin is amazing selling the arm and Harley to his credit never relents. Kevin shows he cant do the Irish Whip, which was his staple move of the match. He then varies his offense with dropkick and a bodyscissor to avoid using the arm. I love that shit! He puts his hand down his pants to sort of create a natural sling. It is a bit weird, but I kinda like where his head is at there. Harley would punch the arm whenever in trouble as a cutoff and using a gnarly shouldebreaker. He came off the top and its the Claw with the good arm, but without the other arm to support it, Harley is able to throw him to the floor on his bad arm! Awesome drama. Harley is not letting him come back in so David comes out and to tell his brother to quit before career-altering damage is down. Harley kicks David in the head and he bumrushes the ring and hits a high knee on Harley to trigger the DQ.

Easy way to protect Kevin, sell the next match Harley/David for the next big event. I pretty much loved everything up until the finish. I think a countout victory for Harley would have been fine. One of the all time great Kevin performances and the best Harley match in my book.

#5. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich vs Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez - Hair vs Hair 10/6/85

Definitely lived up to the hype and build of this feud. This was the last shining moment of World Class as it was all downhill from here sadly. 

The Dynamic Duo are not happy that David Manning is the ref. I liked all the quick pins early. This match is not about hurting each other. It is about humiliation. The quick pin means you avoid getting your head shaved and you get to shave your rival's head. it makes sense to go for quick pins. Also, liked that unlike most Von Erich matches we do get some selling from the Von Erichs and real sense of heat. Kevin was fighting hard, but it was a thumb to the throat by Gino that turns tide. Adams really manhandled Kevin to force him to sell and it was a great performance from Kevin. I loved the Iron Claw to the abdomen as a hope spot only for Adams to come crashing down on Kevin. I thought the hot tag was not milked enough, but this is Texas so that is to be expected, but Kerry is so over there is still a huge reaction. The crowd wants to see Dynamic Duo lose their hair and Von Erichs to keep that every nearfall is super hot. Adams sells the Discus Punch so well. Kerry is a great hot tag such a great presence. SUPERKICK~! Damn, I love that move. Great nearfall. Kerry reverses a suplex into a sleeper hey this isn't a Flair match. 

Gino interferes and Kevin trips over Kerry to get to Gino. I love that type of chaos. The heels switch out. Adams comes up short on the Superkick and DISCUS PUNCH! Does anyone sell it better than Adams? Kerry charging into corner and Kevin is great trying to corral his brother into his corner. Gino slams a chair into Kerry and KEVING IS PISSED! Everyone arms themselves with chairs. Kerry milks the count. Gino applies sleeper on Kerry. They knock heads the favorite spot of the 80s. Both tag out and Kevin meets Adams in the middle and overwhelms him. Nice dropkick and big bodyslam. Misses kneedrop. Kevin never hits those moves. Adams hits a great suplex really gets some nice force on it. Kerry and Adams slugfest. CLAW~! Gino interefers. Kerry fighting with Gino. SUPERKICK~! Powder into Kerry's face, but Kevin cross body. Powder into Adams' face and Kerry rolls up for win.

The hair cutting post-match is great. Adams gets the Friar Tuck hair cut and Chris Von Erich tackles the escaping Gino and they give him the Missing Link haircut. You cant separate the great post-match from the great match together they form a classic wrestling moment.

#4. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kevin Von Erich
Parade of Champions 5/5/85

WCCW Match of the Year, 1985

Kevin Von Erich is my favorite Von Erich! Dude is just fucking relentless. Talk about "thinking shoot, but working" he personifies it. I watched this match on a plane to Italy last summer and I was floored by it then and still am. This is just nonstop fighting between two wrestlers who hated each other and wanted to be champion. The entire match is Flair trying to figure out a way to get through Kevin's perpetual motion, which is his usual strategy. Kevin Von Erich is the epitome of a good offense is a good defense mantra. He is just always coming forward and attacking. Every other Von Erich would break on the ropes or not use a closed fist. Kevin Von Erich just flies with reckless abandon. In the beginning, Kevin frustrates Flair with an O'Connor Roll, besting him in a test of strength and fire right back at him in the corner (Flair's domain). Quickness, strength and aggression, what the hell is Flair going to do? Flair just keeps going at it and Kevin traps him in the sleeper. Flair might be the best ever at selling a sleeper at this point in his career. He looks to be at a total loss. "WE WANT THE CLAW" is the chant goes up and Flair does all he can to avoid that. Flair catches him with a running atomic drop that buys him some time, but not much as Kevin Von Erich puts on the best abdominal stretch ever I mean he hooks his foot behind his own foot. Finally, I know what Gorilla was talking about! There is a great struggle over the Irish Whip out of a corner. Everything in this match is earned. Flair is putting forth a kickass effort and is just being beaten by someone who is wrestling like a man possessed.

There is two rings at this event. Flair does his Flip in the corner and falls into the other ring. KEVIN HITS A SPLASH FROM ONE RING TO THE OTHER! HOLY SHIT! There is no rest for the wicked, Flair! Kevin kicks some more ass and Flair can just Flop. Iron Claw, oh so close! Flair gouges the eyes and throws him to the outside. Finally, Flair gets a chance to recuperate. This has been a war! Wait, here comes Kevin again. Oh, hell! Flair tries to escape into the other ring. Flair gets his short knee. He is going up top, oh no, this is not going to end well. Press slam off the top! Kevin just takes his foot presses Flair's face up against the ropes. Kevin might be the most underrated asskicker of all time. Goes for the Iron Claw so Flair goes for his bridge sequence, which ends in a backslide that is how Kerry won it 1-2-NO! Texas Stadium erupted for that nearfall! IRON CLAW! They tumble to the outside. There is a melee with Flair restraining Kevin from returning to the ring triggering a double countout and retaining his title. Kevin loses his fucking shit. He decks the ref and that puts the Iron Claw on Flair and will not let go. It takes David Manning, his brothers Kerry & Mike and his father Fritz to finally convince him to let go before he kills Flair.

Wow! Kevin Von Erich kicked the shit out of Flair, but it never felt like a squash or an exhibition. Kevin was determined from the outset to win the match. You truly believed that this was the most important thing in the world to Kevin and he was going to do whatever it takes to win. It was never a squash because Flair was just as invested as Kevin. He wanted to win the match and was constantly fighting back, but Kevin was fighting through his offense. It was a truly great brawl by these two badass wrestlers.

#3. Terry Gordy vs Killer Khan - Texas Death Match 11/22/84

WCCW Match of the Year, 1984

World Class' Rocky IV moment that predates Rocky IV by a year as a Freebird and Von Erich shake hands at the end of this bout proving that there is hope for all of us to just get along.

I can totally understand why this finished number one atop the Texas poll even if it will not finish there for me (Top 5, no doubt). This match epitomized everything Texas has been lacking hatred, violence and blood (notable exception the awesome Kerry/Hayes Cage match). Texas (non-NWA Championship matches) is characterized by insane crowd heat, big time babyface offense, lots of heel bumping and feel good matches. I love action blockbuster, popcorn, feel good matches, but there were times when I just wanted the Freebirds/Von Erichs to cut loose and really brawl with each other. As much as I love 7/4/83, the closest they got to that brawl was in 1988, but man alive if they could have done that in 1983 that would have been something else.

The vast majority of Killer Khan's offense was biting the forehead and Asiatic Spikes to the throat of Gordy. Now that's heel offense! This is not a spring brawl, but a war of attrition that feels like a clash of the titans. When Gordy takes for a bit, Khan throws him to the outside smashes his face into the post and Gordy does a big time blade job. Khan gets the first pin with a knee drop, but Gordy makes the ten count. Now it is Gordy's turn to throw Khan out and ram his head into the post busting him open. Gordy nails a piledriver, but now Khan makes the ten count. This is minimalistic brawling at its finest. The suplex struggle between these two bloody warriors late into the bout is a great testament to machismo. Khan misses the kneedrop that won him the first fall. Gordy applies the Oriental Spike to the throat. This is an all time great finish as he digs his thumb into the neck of Khan who is grunting and struggling only to struggle less and less as his life force is being drained. It is pretty poignant. It is Magnum/Tully in its levels of brutality and uncomfortableness. Kerry counts Khan down. Khan is choking and not going to make the ten count, but Akbar interferes to Kerry kicks his ass and now Missing Link. Gordy and Kerry fend off Devastation Inc. Kerry declares Gordy the winner and sticks out his hand. No handshake, Gordy calls Kerry back to the ring ostensibly to rumble, but instead we get the Handshake to end all Handshakes.

The Handshake and Oriental Spike finish with Khan's selling make this an all-time classic. It was just missing a spark from the beginning of the match until the finish. I thought everything was really well-worked from beginning to end, but it could have used just a little more pep. I would say Top 25 US match from the 80s and Top five for Texas, pretty easy.

#2. Kerry Von Erich vs. Michael Hayes - Loser Leaves Town Steel Cage 11/24/83

Off the top of my head, I can't think of a better sub-ten minute match! Absolutely electric match that pays off the entire angle in one incredibly climax! They met in the very structure that caused this blood feud a steel cage and after a year it is time for the ultimate blowoff, a Loser Leaves Town match. Kerry and Michael play their roles to perfection and cut a terrific pace. Michael never once backs down from Kerry and this makes for one helluva fight, Those fists were flying early and love the early attempt at the Claw. Hayes throwing Kerry into cage and choking him with the bandage was perfect heel wrestling, Even better was Kerry using these tactics against Hayes and Hayes is busted wide open. I love the Sleeper in the 80s it is such a BIG move in the sense of a titanic struggle. Hayes applies it first to break Kerry's momentum only to see Kerry power up and apply his own. I love this tit for tat, taste of your own medicine wrestling. Here comes the big Hayes push for victory, suplex, bulldog and piledriver in succession, but Kerry gets foot on ropes. I think thats lame in a cage match. It is Loser Leaves Town just hotshot everything BABY and kick out of the piledriver BABY! Kerry nails a suplex out of a suplex struggle. Here comes BAM BAM! The very man that slammed the door into Kerry's head in shot heard round the world. Head collision and both are out. Buddy Roberts scales the cage and tosses in knux. Hayes catches them, but Kerry nails a discus punch and the knux go flying. Fritz slams Gordy into the table. Kerry obliterates Michael Hayes. Buddy climbs to the top to save Michael, but crotches himself on the cage and falls pathetically to the ring. Love it! Kerry 1-2-3! Banishing Michael from Texas! Fritz slams the door on Gordy to tie up that loose end and finally Von Erich vengeance is achieved!

The match is a little too short and there are a couple details I did not like that keep this from being absolutely perfect like DiBiase/Duggan. In terms of blowoffs and paying off multiple elements of a blood feud, this is hard to beat and it is like the DiBiase/Duggan of World Class! Really fucking awesome and not talked about enough!

#1. Six-Man Tag Team Champions Fabulous Freebirds vs Von Erichs 

Two Out Of Three Falls 7/4/83

WCCW Match of the Year, 1983

Huge July 4th event! Freebirds come out to “Georgia On My Mind” and the first mention of Georgia draws a lusty chorus of boos! Georgia vs. Texas is in full swing! The Freebirds have their Confederate sequined robes and the Georgia state flag. They sure know how to make an entrance. The places blows up for the Von Erichs.

This is the loudest, most sustained heat I have ever heard. The crowd LOVES the Von Erichs and HATES the Freebirds. This is the ultimate wrestling atmosphere. The opening of this match is about as basic as you get but they were popping for every Von Erich offensive move like it was Hogan’s legdrop. Roberts has his headgear/wig deal. The crowd is all over him with chants of “Baldie”. Gordy drives Kevin into corner and Roberts gets heat on Kevin. It is a titantic struggle as the Birds are using strong heel tactics to try to keep the superhero-like Von Erichs down. Kerry explodes out of his corner illegally because of Gordy jawing at him. WOW what a hot moment! The heat really is tremendous. Kevin makes it to David who opens a can on Buddy complete with high knee, but Buddy tagged out and a Gordy cross-body wins the fall for the Birds. Big time Birds celebration and after how the Von Erichs started off that was huge for the Birds to go up 1-Nil.

David lets his brothers know that was his bad and he wants to redeem myself. Kicking ass, gets lured into Freebirds corner, but slips out before Hayes can get a hold of him and Hayes is pissed. Nice bit of psychology. Hayes goes up to jaw with fans and David beats him up. David is too tempted by getting his licks in on Terry and Buddy. Short heat on him, but Buddy misses dropkick and Kerry is in to a huge reaction. Kerry is just rocking n rolling. Roberts blindsides Kerry. I have noticed in a lot of these matches most of the heat ends up on Buddy. He is the one that causes the heat segment through dirty tactics. Heat segment on Kerry. Trying to get tag, but Hayes stops. Double arm clothesline by Birds and Kerry kicks out to big pop. Kevin cant handle it and he dropkicks everyone and Claws Gordy. Ref tries to break it up Kerry and David double arm clothesline on Buddy to knot it up at one piece. I loved the symmetry of Kerry kicking out of the illegal double clothesline and then here the Von Erichs fight fire with fire to win the match.

Melee breaks out after the second fall. David Manning says fuckk all you all, I will DQ you muthafuckas if it comes to it and brings out another ref to a pop and Hayes protests. Kerry kicks some Roberts ass and falling Tenryu elbow. Roberts hits headbutt to midsection with Kerry up against ropes (again Buddy getting that heat started). All the Birds working on Kerry’s midsection is great. We get a string of bearhugs. Buddy does not phase him and goes for headgear, but that gets him in trouble. Kicks Hayes on telegraphed back drop and tags out to Kevin. Kevin is a house of fire and claw on Hayes. Gordy buries a knee in Kevin’s back. Kevin obliterates Manning and also falls to outside. Melee. Kevin trips up Hayes from outside. Top rope reverse cross body on Hayes wins the titles! CROWD EXPLODES!

Loved this match. Both teams use face/heel dynamics perfectly to make every simple move look like the most important move ever. This match is definitely buoyed by one of the greatest, hottest crowds ever. The reason not to go full monty is because the work was a bit too simplistic and minimalistic. As a pure character piece and indulging a rabid crowd, it is hard to beat this match.

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 25: Best of World Class Championship Wrestling (Kerry Von Erich, Ric Flair, Fabulous Freebirds)

Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 25:

The Best of World Class Championship Wrestling 1983-1989

Objective:  Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project (hosted at gwe.freeforums.project.net) into more manageable chunks to help me build my Top 100 List for the project.

Motivation: Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own understanding of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and even hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by the sands of time.

Subject: This twenty-fifth volume of Pro Wrestling Love is the beginning of the Top 12 countdown of the best matches to take place in World Class Championship Wrestling between 1983-1987. The time period is set because this was the peak of the territorial era in regards to footage. Footage before 1983 in regards to American wrestling is a dicey proposition. There are some gaps after 1983, but for the most part from 1983 on we have everything. Originally I was going to end this countdown in 1987 as believe that to be the end of the territorial era (Crockett buys out Watts and World Class & AWA are on their death bed), but I figure I might as well include 1988 and 1989 in this because World Class is sold to Jarrett & Memphis in 1989 to form the USWA. World Class had a terribly pathetic 1986-87 so you won’t see any matches from those years. There was a slight rebound in 1988 when the Fabulous Freebirds make a return and Jerry Lawler vs Kerry Von Erich feud over who the real world champion is. You can revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com. You can check out the full version of these reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by going to the forums and finding the folders associated with the date of the match.

Contact Info: @superstarsleeze on Twitter, Instagram & ProWrestlingOnly.com.

Honorable Mentions

American Tag Team Champions Fantastics vs Midnight Express – 12/25/84

American Tag Team Champions Midnight Express vs Fantastics – 1/11/85

The Midnight Express vs Fantastics is most famous from their 1988 series in Crockett, but don’t sleep on their work in World Class. It may not be quite as good, but it is still worth the time to seek out. Plus it has a different feel from the 1988 series because this is the Dennis Condrey version of the Midnight Express.

Kevin Von Erich vs Chris Adams – Cotton Bowl 10/27/84

Six-Man Tag Team Champions Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts vs Von Erichs – 12/31/84

Kevin Von Erich vs Chris Adams – No DQ 9/2/85

Chris Adams was a true Gentleman when he got his start in World Class. However with the departure of the Freebirds, World Class was in desperate need of heels to put against Dallas’ favorite sons. Thus in the big October 1984 Cotton Bowl show Chris Adams inexplicably turned heel and aligned himself with the evil Gary Hart and would align himself with Gino Hernandez to form the Dynamic Duo. There will be more to be said about this feud later in the countdown.

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler vs WCWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich – 9/23/88

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler vs WCWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich – Steel Cage 11/25/88

I really enjoyed the Lawler vs Kerry feud when I finally got a chance to see it on tour. I thought these matches were right on the same level as the famous SuperClash III match. In fact, I thought the September match had a better inconclusive finish (they both deck the ref) and the November Cage match was a great ass kicking match from Kerry and a superb heel performance from Lawler. Really that what this feud comes down to, the consummate babyface in Kerry Von Erich and the consummate heel in Jerry Lawler.

Fabulous Freebirds/Jimmy Garvin vs Von Erichs/Iceman King Parsons – Elimination Match 5/27/83

Six-Man Tag Team Champions Von Erichs vs Fabulous Freebirds – 8/12/83

Six-Man Tag Team Champions Fabulous Freebirds vs Von Erichs – 9/5/83

The Freebirds vs Von Erichs feud of 1983 reminds me a lot of the great Greg Valentine & Tito Santana feud in that their crime is that they had too many great matches together. Thus they all sort of blur together and it is hard for one to stand out from the other. There are definitely more Freebirds vs Von Erichs to come down the line, but these are some of the good ones that should be checked out also.

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Terry Gordy – 2/4/83

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich vs Terry Gordy – 5/7/84

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich vs Ric Flair – 5/11/84

World Class was a famous stopover for the Nature Boy Ric Flair as he would defend his World Championship against the Von Erich boys. In fact besides Japan, World Class is the best place to get a gauge on what Ric Flair’s first title reign was like. The match that just missed the cut (i.e. the 13^th match) was his defense Gordy which I just thought was really cool because it was a heel vs heel match. The Freebirds had just turned on Kerry on Christmas Day in the steel cage World Title match. The Texas crowd, which normally lustily hated the Nature Boy, was cheering Flair heartily screaming “Go Flair Go” and popped huge for his win. It is not too often to see Flair play the babyface on tour and it worked out well against the huge, athletic Terry Gordy. Also, I am a huge Kerry Von Erich Fan and I was so elated when he won the World Championship from Flair that I had to put that match at #12. It always brings a smile to my face to see him with the Belt. I thought in his short run as Champion he had great matches with Gordy, Flair and Jumbo Tsuruta.

Rest In Peace, Von Erichs

#12. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich 

 Parade of Champions 5/6/84

Great match? Not really. Awesome moment? OH HELL YEAH! I have seen this match a handful of times, but watching after seeing the other Von Erich bouts in order really hit home for me last night. I was as excited as every one of those 32,000 people in Texas Stadium (announcer claims 50k and the largest audience ever in attendance to watch pro wrestling) to see Kerry Von Erich capture the World Championship achieving his dream and honoring his late brother. The entrance was perfect with Kerry coming out with the Yellow Rose and wearing "In Memory of David Von Erich" on his jacket and the yellow trunks. The crowd starts up with a Go Kerry Go! Even though they are in stadium, the crowd is just as rocking as an intimate arena crowd. Flair does not seem psyched out, but maybe he is as he is brings the fight to Kerry trying to go for amateur takedowns. Or maybe it is the fact that he can lose title by DQ thus stripping him of his champion's advantage and forcing him to wrestle more like a challenger. I think he knows the moment and he needs to hush the crowd and bring Kerry down. On May 6, 1984, Kerry would not be denied. Kerry in a criss cross stops on a dime and hits a nice dropkick. Flair breaks his rhythm by retreating to the corner. We are getting the more standard Flair vs power wrestler here. Kerry gets the big punches and huge press slam that is such a great picture and gets a huge pop. It makes sense to work a bigger match in front of a stadium crowd. They work their usual spots like the sleeper and the tussle over the ab stretch. Flair tries to create motion to get something going, but Kerry gets the CLAW out of nowhere for the big pop! Flair knee to gut and then press slammed off the top and Flair Flip as we get now trademark Flair spots. He is desperate looking for the figure-4 with no prep work to salvage this match, but Kerry kicks him off twice. They go through the hiptoss sequence, but Kerry gets a backslide and 1-2-3! WOW! WHAT A POP! One of the loudest pops you will ever hear. Just an amazing moment for Kerry and his family after the heartbreak of the loss of David. It serves as the climax to the first half of Flair's reign as he transitions away from the travelling champion to Horsemen Flair. It is also a satisfying conclusion to the Flair/Von Erich program. Of course, Kerry would drop title back in Japan and Flair/Von Erich would continue in other territories, but this was a great moment for this series.

#11. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kevin Von Erich - 4/1/83

It is always Kerry, Kerry, Kerry and David, David, David, what about Kevin Von Erich!!! Kevin is an aggressive offensive dynamo. He is not going to take any shit and quite frankly does not give a shit. He is going to punch and claw his way through any situation. He does not wait for Flair to cheat, he just attacks. I love it! Kevin Von Erich does not believe in clean breaks. He believes in winning goddamnit! I love that spunky, high energy babyface of the 80s and Kevin was probably the best because he had the cool moves, he laid his shit in and he had the aggression. Kevin is telling Flair to put up his dukes early and is totally crowding the Nature Boy. I think Flair the master of the corner in setting up a transition is really thrown off by Kevin not giving him a clean break. Their brawl out of the corner is a great heated exchange. Kevin also adds dropkicks and flying headscissors to make him a dual threat. Kevin was definitely the best brawler of the family. Flair punches Kevin right in the face and Kevin yelps "I think my nose is broke!" Flair is in the ropes and Kevin calls for the Claw. The other brothers would be dissuaded not Kein who applies and yanks Flair out! Flair desperately gets out only to be put in a sleeper, he rakes the eyes. Great selling by Kevin! We get our first Flair press slammed off the top rope. On a kick out, Kevin lands on Bronco and when he moves Flair elbows the ref. Flair sends Kevin over the top and they do a great job teasing the countout. Flair works in his high impact blow like that nasty elbow. In the middle of a backbreaker, Kevin just punches Flair in the side of the head. This is a fight! Kevin kicks him legs up, but Flair has it scouted. Kevin starts teeing off on Flair. I love when the Von Erichs grab Flair by his mane and just start going off. Kevin runs through the ref. Kevin sends Flair over the top, but that is not the right side because the ref ain't over there so Flair gets him to toss him over the other side. Back in, Kevin hits a tremendous reverse crossbody. 1-2-3! THE CROWD GOES WILD! I am so confused and excited at the same time! Of course, Bronco reverses the decision since he saw Kevin dump Flair over the top. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! That is just cruel to do that with your fanbase. I hate, hate, hate those finishes. I am usually very open minded when it comes to a finish if a DQ or countout sets something up that is a good finish. This is cruel and stupid. Great match otherwise, I am so, so, so looking forward to more Kevin Von Erich. Everything he does is perpetual struggle. Him and Flair could have some Flair vs Garvin level encounters if they really let them go. I love the dynamic with Kerry being able to wrestle that long championship style while Kevin wrestles these high energy sprints. Flair is of course a master of it all. The finish brings the match down, but the work beforehand was World Class! 

#10. Kevin & David Von Erich vs Terry Gordy & Jimmy Garvin 

Two Out of Three Falls 8/15/83

Kevin is PISSED at Garvin for parading the American Championship that he stole (I did not watch the rematch, but it is clear Garvin won the held up title). Ring jackets aren’t even off and he just pulverizes Jimmy Jam sending him packing. Then they send Gordy packing again and again. Red hot start! Garvin, Gordy and Sunshine regroup.

Garvin is antagonizing the crowd and Von Erichs. Even getting his ass kicked, he won’t let up. Gordy wants him to calm down figuring otherwise he was going to have clean up his mess. Gordy whipped into buckles and dropkicked out. Garvin is only making things worse with his attitude. Kevin takes a swipe at Garvin and then headscissors on Gordy. Garvin wont shut up. Easy to talk when you ain’t in the ring, Jimmy Jam. David lays one in on him try speaking with a knuckle sandwhich in your mouth. Kevin in the headscissors still clawing towards Garvin and shooting daggers at him. Awesome! Kevin is the man; he is a constant state of pissed off. He is the Tito Santana of World Class. Gordy makes the tag and holds him down while Garvin repeatedly knees him. Kevin headscissors on Garvin and the girls in the front row lose their shit for a headscissor. Imagine that today! Again, Kevin gets in wrong corner and they stomp away on him prone. Kevin makes it to David in and bombs away. Garvin sells well for David. David kneedrop for two, but misses next one and Garvin tags out and lets Gordy take care of him. Garvin single leg pick up and Gordy presses advantage. Gordy gets knees up in corner and flying kneedrop takes the first fall! Birds 1-0. Relatively clean win for the Birds. Garvin and Sunshine are such a great heel act. Gordy was at his best being the muscle, but also realizing he cant fight the Von Erichs two on one so shut up, Jimmy! The Von Erichs rage was very entertaining. Surprised how clean the fall was. Gordy & Garvin celebrate.

Garvin picks up where Gordy left off and kneedrops on David. David tags but ref doesn’t see it. Garvin hits the chinlock. Gordy goes a clubberin’ with David fighting back. Kevin blasts in and Kevin is the man! Gordy overwhelms dumps him to outside with trunks. Kevin keeps comin’. Hot shot by Gordy. Gordy Tags Garvin. Kevin keeps comin’! Love how chippy this is. Fighting in corner. Criss cross and Kevin tags in David hits a high knee and wins second fall. 1-1 Tied. Kevin constantly fighting back is what pro wrestling is all about. I love exasperated the heels were they just could not keep this fucker down. Great stuff!

Wild start to the third fall. David thinks piledriver then Gordy is inspired and thinks the same thing. Neither can wrangle it on the other. David applies the claw and Garvin saves and Kevin obliterates Garvin. Fight over suplex and David wins. David applies Claw and Garvin rakes eyes. Kevin attacks Garvin again. Double sleeper and ref rings the bell. Von Erichs win?!!?!? Double dropkick on Gordy after bell. Double DQ! Booooooooooooooo.

Shitty finish aside, this was a fucking war. The second best tag match of the Von Erich vs Freebird war after the Independence Day match. What an incredible fucking year and feud for these seven men! Watch as much Freebirds/Garvin vs Von Erichs in ’83 as you can.

#9. American Heavyweight Champion Kevin Von Erich vs "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin - 7/18/83

Zack Galfinkas clearly took his grooming cues from the sleeziest man in wrestling, “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin. Garvin and Sunshine were a tremendous heel act and perfect as the top singles heel down from the Freebirds and as their ally. My love for Kevin Von Erich is well-known and one of the first matches I ever watched of him was this one. I was excited to re-watch it and it did not disappoint.

Kevin outclasses the preening, cocky Jimmy Garvin in the beginning with a dropkick out of chain sequence then bodyscissors. Kevin Von Erich is one of the wrestlers that has a credible body/head scissors. There is something about the way he does it that has me believing. Maybe part of that is Garvin’s great verbal selling in the hold. Garvin shows he can wrestle with a drop toehold and Indian detahlock and Garvin tries a pinning combination. Von Erich, always fighting, punches out. Garvin does not let up with good vicious knees to back. Garvin hits the chinlock.. Kevin blocks and throws Garvin into turnbuckle and Irish Whip. Kevin reverse crossbody from top rope to win first fall! Garvin is pissed at himself and rightfully so he dominated the first fall and let it slip right through his fingers.

Kevin starts the second fall with a nice armbar takedown. Kevin applies a headscissors. Sunshine is such a fun valet. Good facial expressions and reacts well to events in the ring. He basically piledrives Garvin when he tries to escape headsicssors. Garvin pops up, but ends up in a hammerlock, love foiling the heel like that. Great verbal selling by Gorgeous Jimmy again. Kevin is really working it and wrenching it, so good. Nice reversals in hammerlock with Kevin getting the best of it. Kevin now applies the double wristlock. Garvin powers up and hangs Kevin up on top rope, but Kevin keeps fighting. Big splash and Kevin eats feet to face. NASTY! KEVIN WENT FULL BORE INTO THAT! Tied 1-1. Kevin looked to have this title defense against Jimmy Jam all sewn up, but he blows it in the second fall.

Garvin presses his advantage clubbering and drops Kevin throat first in the top rope. Garvin back to the chinlock. Michaels Hayes is on apron and at first I thought it was Sunshine. Lets be honest, Hayes has way better than Sunshine so sorry for dissing you, Michael! Kevin throws Garvin’s head into turnbuckle and great selling by Garvin knowing what is coming next! Kevin applies the vaunted Iron Claw to the head of Gorgeous Jimmy. Is that perm enough of a helmet? Garvin gets to ropes. Kevin dropkick sends Jimmy Jam out to the floor. Sunshine slaps Kevin so Kevin spanks Sunshine! Garvin comes crashing down on him for the victory!!!

Sunshine taking one for the team! Kevin is a total hothead in the ring and that’s what makes him great. Sunshine and Garvin parlayed that into an advantage of their own. Great action in there, loved the symmetry of the first two falls and a super hot finish run. Another great Kevin Von Erich match! 

#8. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich vs Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez - 2/22/85

Call me crazy, but I think the Dynamic Duo had better matches with the Von Erichs than the Freebirds. They were more willing to meet the Von Erichs with fire rather just feed and bump. This match felt downright Japanese. Everyone was just running into each other and breaking stuff up. It was total chaos and I loved it.

The beginning was great with Adams hitting a superkick out of nowhere on Kerry. So Kerry had to scramble for the tag. I love how Kerry had the presence of mind to hold Adams for Kevin. Kevin was a total madman in this match. This match is a perfect example why I love Kevin (and at times I hate him). He goes at everyone full force, but sometime he recovers too quickly. He takes some big missed splashes. You know that lamest spot in wrestling, you know the one where, a wrestler is on his back and the opponent is coming off with a double axehandle I think and eats a boot. Like honestly what did you expect to hit. Well Kevin takes that bump with full on splash! Kevin is the man! The problem is Kevin does not sell these for long and is ready to get right back on offense. At the same time, this is just a chaotic fight. This would not feel that out of place in All Japan 1980s. Kerry nails Adams with a wicked discus punch. As soon as Kerry gets the ab stretch, Gino interferes and Kevin comes flyin in to smack Gino. There is one time where Kevin so desperately wants to attack Gino he trips over Kerry and Adams' bodies. It was awesome. Gino & Adams have to fight for their lives just to get offense in. Kerry was great at selling and definitely needed to do that since his brother just straight refuses to. I loved the kneecrusher as a set up for the abdomen claw. Adams attacks and here comes Kevin! Adams cant prevent the tag. Kevin and Adams have this great clash before a wicked Kevin dropkick. This is just gnarly how they are fighting for everything. Kevin's bodyscissors, which I love is the first time the match has not been an all out-sprint. Adams selling and Kevin working it into covers makes it a great spot. Gino finally gets tired of it and elbows Kevin. Kerry just blasts Gino. Kevin drags in Gary Hart into the ring and Adams hits Kevin hard in the back of the head. The ref calls the match off, which I totally buy because this match was a melee. Don't have a problem with that finish.

As I said in the body, this feels like an 80s All Japan tag with Kevin playing the role of Hansen just an absolute madman. The offense and general story is not as high quality, but it is immensely entertaining. Adams & Gino have to fight for their lives to stay on top. They bump when they have to see Adams on that Discus punch and there are some other times, but they are willing to meet the Von Erichs toe to toe, which gives these matches more of a gritty, fight feel than the feel-good Freebirds matches. Really, really looking forward to hair vs hair now!

#7. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich vs. Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) 

Badstreet Match 2/16/88

World Class Match of the Year, 1988

Finally, the Von Erichs and the Freebirds have the brawl that I always knew they had in them. I think scaling it back to 2 vs. 2 was a big boon. Another big difference was Gordy was working way bigger in this match. His first instinct was to stand his ground rather than bump. There are two reasons for that. Probably the biggest was his knees were shot as he two giant metal braces on them. I would hazard having worked Japan for at least five years now had rubbed off on him and he definitely seemed more offense-focused which made more a more awesome stand up battle rather than the usual feel-good Von Erich/Freebird battle. A note the Freebirds were sans Michael Hayes and incorporated Iceman King Parsons as the third member. This coming off the infamous Christmas 1987 where Fritz faked a heart attack to try to kickstart business.

The beginning of this match is why I fucking love pro wrestling. Kerry and Gordy just go fucking nuts on each other. They were really throwing haymakers at each other and it felt like a real struggle. I loved Kerry's discus punch to Gordy and his first bump came off that. Gordy clinches with the house of fire Kerry and throws a nice belly 2 belly when Kerry was trying to loosen up his belt. Gordy tags in Roberts and Kerry catches his boot and rips off his belt and just goes crazy on Buddy. This is fucking awesome! Kerry discus punch and tags in Kevin. He is like lightning punching both Birds right in the mouth. A melee breaks out in the corner and Kerry jumps on the pig pile. Gordy throws Kevin over the top rope for a nasty bump. Then he suplexes Kevin on the floor. So Kerry tries to give him a taste of his own medicine only to have Buddy clobber Kevin with his boot so Kerry nails Buddy with his belt. Just when you think how can this any crazy, you have to watch the next spot. I really cant do it justice, but I will try.

You know how when someone hits someone with a chair usually there is enough delay to give the other person some time to prepare. In real life, if you were armed with a chair against assailant, you would just start swinging for the fences while the assailant charged you. That's what fucking happened. I mean Gordy fucking smashes Kerry in the head as he charging him. It looked like a fucking shoot. This match is so damn good. 

Kevin slams Buddy on the floor and ground and pounds him. He tries to apply the claw. My biggest problem of the match is Kerry does not really sell those awesome chair shots. Buddy with a quick knee to the midsection allows him to tag in Bordy. Gordy shows his new no-selling attitude. He absorbs Kevin's punches. Kevin rolls away takes off his boot and Gordy no sells those shots going after Kevin's eyes. Kevin gets a foreign object from Kerry and Gordy is finally disoriented. Kevin looks for the claw to the head and settles for the stomach. Kerry leaps over them and decks Buddy! Kerry is looking for his belt and cant find it. Love it! Gordy a little quickly gets up and piledrives Kevin and gives a great maniacal laugh. Now backdrop driver, yep Japan definitely has taken a hold of him. One more time?!?!?!? Kevin back drops out and here comes Kerry house of fire! He immediately piledrives Gordy and then piledrives Buddy! I love it! Kerry has found his belt and attacks Buddy. Gordy decks kerry so here comes Kevin with a boot to clobber Gordy. They both deck Gordy with a belt. Iceman and Adams brawl on the outside and the ref calls the match off. 

Lame finish aside, this was a fucking war! For one night in 1988, they totally recaptured the magic of the Von Erichs vs Freebirds as the crowd was absolutely electric for this match. I think Gordy working a lot stronger with his first tendency to fight back rather than bump made a huge difference. This is one Kerry's best individual performances in terms of just being a total asskicker. There was not enough selling to take it to the next level for me, plus the bullshit No Contest in a Badstreet match was lame. Still the second best Von Erich vs Freebirds match and Ill be shocked if it is not in my top tier of matches for Texas. 

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 12: Best of All Japan 1980-1984 (Jumbo Tsuruta, Terry Funk, Stan Hansen)

Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

The Unholy Month of Rocktober begins today and I feel like I need to make a music recommendation. I highly recommend Mercyful Fate’s Time Album from 1994. Like most heavy metal from the 90s, it is unsung and under the radar. It is the perfect soundtrack for Halloween! Will you heed the Master’s Call? Hail Satan! :P

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 12:

The Greatest Matches of All Japan Pro Wrestling 1980-1984

Objective:  Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project (hosted at gwe.freeforums.project.net) into more manageable chunks to help me build my Top 100 List for the project.

Motivation: Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own understanding of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and even hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by the sands of time.

Subject: This twelfth volume of Pro Wrestling Love ends the Top 12 countdown of the best matches to take place in All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1980-1984. The ending date makes sense as that was the last year All Japan used their booking paradigm of bringing in gaijin World Champions from the NWA & AWA to defend against their major stars (i.e. Jumbo Tsuruta, Giant Baba and Genichiro Tenryu). In 1985, there was a paradigm shift to native vs native feuds with the invasion of New Japan pro wrestler, Riki Choshu. This was also in part necessitated by American World Champions not making the trip over to Japan as frequently (Crockett needed Flair for their national expansion and AWA was in its downward spiral). The beginning date is more out of convenience as it is both the beginning of the decade and the start of DVDVR All Japan 80s project. That project was used as a source of recommendations for the matches I watched to determine the best matches to take place in All Japan between 1980-1984.   You can revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com. You can check out the full version of these reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by going to the forums and finding the folders associated with the date of the match.

I'm Telling You I Would Pick The Revenant Bear

DVDVR hosted a best of All Japan in 1980s project. I have leveraged that project and its rankings to watch key matches from All Japan in the 80s. I finished up my first half of the 80s run a year ago, but never got around to post my final thoughts. With the impetus of the Greatest Match Ever Project, I am getting it out now.


It actually makes good sense to look at All Japan between 1980-1984 because in 1985 the booking paradigm shifts once Choshu invades and the gaijin talent dries up. The booking from 1980-84 focused around two major things.

1. Foreign world champions coming overseas to defend their championships. This would be Ric Flair & Harley Race from the NWA and Nick Bockwinkel & Rick Martel from the AWA. They would usually defend against AJPW Ace Jumbo Tsuruta and occasionally Genichiro Tenryu.

2. Stan Hansen. The resident monster gaijin that jumped from New Japan to All Japan in a shocking angle in late 1981 was positioned against the top two babyfaces of All Japan those being Giant Baba and Terry Funk.

Who were the main characters of All Japan 1980-84:

1. Giant Baba - Founder, Owner and booker of All Japan. He was the historic top star of the promotion but by 1980 was getting up there in years. He was the PWF World Heavyweight Champion during this time, the top singles title in All Japan. He fought feature bouts against the top monster gaijin, Stan Hansen. He is a weird looking dude with really skinny arms, a very boxy torso, a Giant head and is really tall. Somehow he makes it all work.

2. Jumbo Tsuruta - Baba's understudy in the 70s blossomed into the Ace of All Japan in the early 80s. He started taking the World Championship Title Challenges from Baba as Baba was winding down. He started the decade as the United National Champion (tertiary title) but was promoted to International Heavyweight Champion as Dory Funk Jr was winding down. He has an amateur background. He is strong on the mat and an excellent bomb thrower down the stretch (suplexes, an excellent bodyslam, High Knee and Boston Crab). He can be dry at times, but when he raises his arm, the crowd in Budokan goes wild. Jumbo has a one of the greatest victories in All Japan history when he defeats Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and successfully ends the tour as the Champion.

3. Genichiro Tenryu - Jumbo's understudy. You don't see too much of him during this time period. When Jumbo graduates to International Champion, Tenryu picks up the United National Belt. He does have an excellent match with Ted DiBiase around this timeframe for that title. Tenryu does not really make a splash until the Choshu feud in 1985. He has a sumo background. He is stoic badass that can become really violent. He is raw and hard hitting. No one has a better contemptuous stare than Tenryu.

4. Terry & Dory Funk - Terry Funk did the impossible he became a beloved babyface in Japan. Since the 1950s, Americans were brought in as evil foreigners for the native Japanese to vanquish. Terry Funk started that way but ended becoming a hero to the Japanese people. Crowds had huge banners for Terry Funk and he even had cheerleaders! Whereas Jumbo was positioned a top, technical challenger for the championship, Terry Funk was the heart & soul of All Japan. He was where the emotion was. This led to many violent, brutal masterpieces with the top monster heel of All Japan, Stan Hansen. Terry Funk was an extraordinary babyface seller in All Japan and a great brawler.

5. Stan Hansen - The man who made All Japan run. A violent tour de force. A bull in the China Shop. In one of my reviews below, I state in a choice between fighting Stan Hansen and the Bear in the Revenant, I may just pick the Bear. Stan Hansen is a terrorizing, overwhelming monster. He is underrated seller. When Stan Hansen sells for you, it means something.

6. "Nature Boy" Ric Flair - Flair wins his first championship in 1981 from Dusty Rhodes. Most fans are familiar with his title victory against Harley Race at the first Starrcade in November of 1983. Most of what we know of Flair's first title reign comes from his matches in Japan. He has a excellent trilogy with Jumbo Tsuruta. Flair is very over in Japan and is definitely treated as a major special attraction. Flair is more understated in Japan than he is America. There are still a smattering of Woos and a strut here and there, but he is much more focused on amateur style wrestling, which he is good at and then those classic hot finish stretches that Ric Flair is known for.

Below you will find the matches that I think are sixteenth to eleventh best matches that took place in All Japan between 1980-1984. If you think I missed a match, let me know.  I watched 31 matches from this era. So I may not have liked a certain as much as you and we can discuss or maybe I overlooked a match.

Happy Halloween!

The Best All Japan Matches from 1980-1984

#6. Nick Bockwinkel vs Billy Robinson - AJPW 12/11/80

All Japan Match of the Year, 1980

Verne Gagne is AWA World Champion at this time so no titles on the line that I know of. There is a clip. The beginning is some of the best 70s/80s American style matwork (I usually call this NWA Champion-style, but with both working for AWA that seemed wrong) you will ever see. To me American style matwork is your headlocks, wristlocks, armbars, short arm scissors, hammerlocks, chickenwings, toeholds, figure-4s, and crabs and these two just work it beautifully. We clip to Bock with a standing reverse top wristlock. He just has this evil, sadistic grin on his face that no one else can replicate. He is taking immense joy in wrenching Robinson's arm. The struggle is real for Robinson to buck Bock. First gets a headscissors (this is when the ankles are crossed), but when he tries to put Bock in motion, Bock converts an armdrag into a kneeling reverse top wristlock with him kneeling on Robinson's face, so now he is in a worse predicament. Robinson is able to get his leg over Bock's head and gets a double underhook, but Bock does a beautiful job blocking by grapevining the leg. Lock-up and Robinson grabs a tight and I mean DOUBLE TIGHT headlock. They work in out of that headlock, but Bock has lost control. Until one criss cross where he gets a marvelous drop toehold and rolls up right into a figure-4 of the left calf (this when one leg is straight and other is tucked behind the knee of the straight leg making a "4" with your leg). The commitment of the drop toehold was great because Robinson did not just go with it Bock got it tight and you really felt Robinson trip because of it. The match winds up once they get standing. Bock slaps Robinson hard. Robinson is incensed and goes to clobber Bockwinkel, but Bock ducks sending poor Billy crashing over the top rope out onto the floor.

Bock gives chase, which was unexpected, I thought we would get King of Mountain. Robinson ends up bodyslamming him on the floor. Should have sticked to the script, Nick. Robinson comes charging in again for a punch and Bock back drops him out. Robinson really wants to wipe that smirk off Bock's face. Bock waits for Robinson to come to him this time and bodyslams him into the ring. Bock's heat segment is pretty damn good. Piledrivers, whip into the buckles and just generally kicking ass. Bock throws some serious bows and this wakes Billy up who starts blocking and then roaring back. Neckbreaker, back suplex ROBINSON BACKBREAKER!!! Only getting two. Hits a second Robinson Backbreaker, but hurts his plant leg. Bock POUNCES on this! Robinson shakes him off. Bock scrambles from outside back into the ring. Applies Figure-4 tons of drama. Robinson makes the ropes. The time calls get closer together. Fire fight to end it and they call it off as a draw.

Pretty incredible match from the tight matwork to the hot finish run. Besides Lawler, I don't think there are two people that can get more out of so little in regards to highspots. You really see Bock in full display here. The opening matwork, then trying to incense his opponent and then pouncing on a weakness. Just great selling and pacing. Robinson is so great at offense, but I thought he sold really well for Bock with those two big bumps to the floor and then his knee. ****1/2

#5. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Jumbo Tsuruta

AJPW 6/8/83 2 Out of 3 Falls

Exactly six years before I was born. Seen this twice or thrice before, loved it, lets see how it holds up.

First 20 minutes: Jumbo is a wrestler who tries to control his own destiny but so many things end up out of his control. He always takes it to his opponent; it is that challenger mentality. But he always gets hosed by a DDQ or Countout finish, but goddamnit he tries to win it, but somehow things awry. It is all Jumbo in the first ten minutes. I thought this was a good demonstration of Flair's commitment to selling especially verbally. Good work on the arm, liked the Irish whip into buckles great bump and then holler by Flair. The best attribute of Flair is he never stops trying to win so he makes his opponent work for it. Flair tries to create something off a criss cross ends up in an ab stretch. From there we transition to back psychology and Jumbo really never relents for the rest of the twenty minutes except when he is on defense. Flair is not throwing as many short knees or chops, but does land a couple after a bearhug. He misses the elbow and sells his back! Nice! Jumbo pounces. The weakest part of the first twenty minutes was definitely the transition to Flair's first heat segment. Flair takes a stroll to break Jumbo's momentum, but comes back and just takes over like it is his turn. So pretty weak. Great arm work though. Punches to the armpit, tight hammerlocks, short arm scissors using the ropes. Jumbo uses a drop toehold to hold Flair why getting his arm rejuvenated. Then it's right back to the Boston Crab. Never lets go of the ankle, but is able to get back on the back of Flair. Good wrestling. Flair breaks the hold and tries to go for the arm. Stump puller and Jumbo right back to the Boston Crab. Flair makes the ropes. He is grabbing his back and Jumbo is feeling it. Now Jumbo is ready to throw some bombs. Atomic drop. Flair HOLLERS and Flair Flop! BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Only a two! Flair is feeling the heat, big chop and chucks Jumbo outside.

Besides the transition, very solid opening twenty minutes. The challenger, Jumbo has picked a body part used holds to finally build towards bombs that will yield a pin. Flair is using momentum breaking tactics and focused on arm. Thought Flair's selling and movement were great. Jumbo has had most of the highspots in the match thus far and is wrestling soundly.

Second Twenty Minutes:

Flair is selling inside the ring so well. Huffing and puffing, grabbing his back, not going after Jumbo. The turning point for Flair seems to be a back suplex. It rang Jumbo's bell and Flair was able to put him in a surfboard. "Cmon Jumbo!" yells Flair. I love tests of strength especially in this context. With the first fall on the line about 25 minutes gone by, feels like do or die time. Some weird botches in this match. Like the crossbody and Jumbo ducking a punch ending up in the piledriver position just to reverse it. Flair begs for Jumbo to chop him over the top. Great bump by Flair, feels like a great fist-pumping moment for Jumbo fans. Flair is so good. Flair grabs the leg from the outside! Yanks it across the apron! Desperation Flair! Here we go! Flair big time suplex back in, inside cradle off the figure-4 though. Flair has the foot, ENZIGUIRI! HIGH KNEE!!! MUTHA OF ALL BACK DROPDRIVERS! JUMBO TAKES THE FALL! 1-0!

Pretty incredible first fall. Really sound opening twenty minutes followed by a red hot last five. The in between five was marred by weird botches and awkwardness.

After losing the first fall, Flair clearly needs to come out cooking, but also look Jumbo to press the advantage. Flair has an interesting strategy to start. He comes in firing at Jumbo with heavy hands and at first Jumbo is able to overwhelm him. Flair now down 1-0 just keeps firing. He tries an atomic drop, but it is reversed, he blocks. He gets a suplex and then a piledriver. What's interesting is Flair is trying to win with bombs. Then we see a strategy more up Flair's alley. The front facelock. He locks that in. Saps Jumbo's energy, totally grinds his momentum to a halt, gives time for Flair to recover and the biggest thing of all he basically wastes ten minutes off the clock here. He is still going for pinfalls, but he is killing time. This is boring as hell and the match rating is gonna suffer, but you cant deny it is smart. He throws Jumbo out. Jumbo takes a couple tries and yanks him out. He throws him into the post and busts Flair open.

Jumbo up 1-0 & Flair is bleeding. Can he pull out the championship victory with twenty minutes left.

Last Twenty Minutes: These two are athletic freaks. They wrestle a grueling 40 minutes and now they decide to have a fireworks show. I loved Jumbo pounding on the cut and Flair throwing those wild punches. Flair was killing it in the selling department. Collapsing and hollering as Jumbo was kicking ass. Jumbo feels like an ass kicker. There was some really great fist fights. HIGH KNEE! I was urging to Jumbo to cover and I already know he wont win that's how good that spot was. Flair Flip. Flair headbutts down low! Great spot! Jumbo reverses a suplex attempt into a back drop driver attempt, but Flair blocks by grapevining the leg. Jumbo grabs a sleeper. There is a HUGE nearfall, 1-2-Foot on ropes! I marked out for it. Flair throws him out and Jumbo comes back covered with streamers with a MISSILE DROPKICK off the top! Awesome visual.

I think I figured it out Flair just cant take a Thesz Press. Jumbo GOES FLYING over the ropes in an insane bump when Flair ducks the High knee. NOW We Go To School! Jumbo earns his keep in selling here. Flair is relentless on the leg and Jumbo is great selling in the confines of the figure-4. Flair runs the clock out with really compelling leg work and a figure-4. Jumbo was selling so well and the drama was high. Jumbo does not submit, but the clock runs out on him and winning the NWA Championship.

The first fall is an incredible, basic strategic wrestling match. The last twenty minute is this insanely dramatic action-packed match with blood, bombs, bumps and drama down the stretch. Two things keep this from classic status the beginning ten minutes of second fall are pretty damn boring. Even if it makes sense, it was boring. During the finish run, it felt incomplete. It was missing that big Jumbo run. It would be like a tag match without a hot tag. It just did not feel right. Flair was awesome at selling and really timed the match out well. Jumbo killed it offensively and then in the end came through in the selling of the leg. Just an awesome NWA Championship and one of the best Broadways ever. ****1/2

#4. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich vs Jumbo Tsuruta
AJPW 5/22/84 Two Out Of Three Falls

All Japan Match of the Year, 1984

Nothing puts a big smile on my face quite like typing 'NWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich". Seen this match twice before and loved it. Lets watch this one again. I love that classic NWA Championship build with the collar-elbow tieups, the circling, the caution, the tests of strength. It allows you to settle into the match and really get into it. Jumbo is not shy about throwing bombs in a championship. He made it to the promised land in February against Bock so he has that monkey off his back. He is free to go for broke. I love little things like the struggle over the Irish whip with Jumbo kicking Kerry in the gut and after lots of struggle hoisting him in the air for the butterfly suplex. Kerry's response to immediately retreat to the ropes. Kerry's reactions to everything in the first fall was pitch perfect. Kerry tries to make in roads on the arm but instead eats a cross body for two. Jumbo shoots in with ease and gets an ab stretch. Kerry is used to Dallas where is an overwhelming favorite. Now he is in Japan where everyone loves Jumbo. Kerry needs to fire up because Jumbo is dictating this match. Banana split rollup. Kerry forms the Claw hand. I get excited. The struggle over the claw was AWESOME! Both sold the drama of it so well and the crowd was right there with a Tsuruta chant. Kerry gets the stomach claw. Kerry is able to pick Jumbo up and seat him on the top rope. Something Jumbo did to him earlier to show him up. Now things get chippy! Pride is on the line. The handshake that started the match has been replaced by shoving. It is Jumbo that comes out the winner with TWO big high knees. Kerry's sell of the second one is so damn good. Kerry is left on the outside, but gets a sunset flip back in for two. ENZIGUIRI BY JUMBO! BACK DROP DRIVERRRRRRRR! 1-2-3! Jumbo up 1-0.

Jumbo looked great in the first fall besides the Claw, Kerry looked lost what to do with a firing on all cylinders Jumbo Tsuruta. Things got worse for Kerry before they got better. Jumbo pressed his advantage. He was taking no prisoners. He just starts pounding on Kerry's head with fists until it literally starts bleeding. Kerry's selling in this match is fucking awesome. Some of the best I have ever seen. He looks down and out being held up by the turnbuckles, but has just enough fight left in him. He gets a sleeper, which stops the bleeding figuratively because literally his face is now a crimson mask, but Jumbo gets out. Jumbo risks DQ by pounding on Kerry some more in the corner. This is a brutal Jumbo. Even the crowd that wants Jumbo to win does not seem happy with these tactics. The ref does not want to DQ the Japanese hero, but backs him up. Jumbo needs to get Kerry off his feet because Kerry is doing the smart thing by standing in the corner. Jumbo gets him out hits a suplex and then a piledriver. Miraculously Kerry kicks out twice. I was actually thinking to myself after the piledriver. Kerry needs to be thinking Discus Punch/Claw. He needs a home run. Lo and behold, Kerry starts firing off those big, looping Texan rights. SPINS AROUND CLOCKS JUMBO WITH THE DISCUS PUNCH! Jumbo bounces off the ropes CLAW~! Jumbo goes down, fights it off, back to his feet, Kerry with all his Texan might drives Jumbo's head back into the mat for three count. Incredible second fall. Totally believeable way to get Kerry back into the match. Tied 1-1.

I liked how they have taken advantage of the fact that Jumbo will be over no matter what to have him play the roughhousing heel and Kerry do what he does best play sympathetic babyface. 1. Because it is more natural for both 2. It is unexpected. You would expect in Japan to play Kerry to play subtle heel. So it is a nice wrinkle. Kerry refuses to let go of Jumbo with the claw. There is a great visual of Jumbo being attended by all the young boys while Kerry stands alone in the corner bleeding. They comes out. Jumbo is still selling the effects of the claw as Kerry looks spry floating around like Muhammad Ali just tagging Jumbo with rights. He goes for the kill with the CLAW! Jumbo resists. Kerry runs into a knee. Jumbo says enough of this fucking claw and just DESTROYS Kerry's hand. This is the hook of the match. This is what everyone remembers. Jumbo's utter decimation of Kerry's right hand. Just watch it. It is beautiful pro wrestling. Kerry is awesome selling it and even throws a punch then grabs his hand. Kerry is able to get a suplex out of an armbreaker then a piledriver, but misses a reverse elbow from the top which bother his bad hand. Jumbo wastes no time and hits a Big Time Jumping Knee and immediately applies the Boston Crab. Kerry flexes all his muscles and powers out of it. They end up on the outside and Kerry applies the CLAW, but Jumbo hits a backdrop driver. It is a moot point as the ref counts to ten. Double Countout. Jumbo raises Kerry's hand.

Incredible offensive performance from Jumbo. He did not care about being a dick. He wanted to be World Champion again. All is fair in love and war. Kerry was in his element selling his ass off. The blood added a lot as Kerry really did look overwhelmed. He survived long enough to win the stand up war with some nice punches and the claw. When it came time for Jumbo to sell, he did a great job too. The hand work is all-time great stuff. I want to give this ***** so badly, but the finish just does not do it for me. I don't mind the double countout, but want something more chaotic. Still up until that, they absolutely killed it. Two of the all-time greats putting on one helluva championship wrestling match. ****3/4

Modern Day Warrior

#3. Stan Hansen vs Terry Funk - AJPW 4/14/83

Insane violent spectacle! Funk's selling of this brutal beatdown is transcendent. You first realize that Funk is deeply lacerated, not from looking at his face, but rather from his blood pooling on Hansen's stomach. Then when he was being back into the ring by the crazed sadist, he looked like a bloody dog tangled in streamers beaten to a pulp.  The look on his face as he was being hung, with the rope in his mouth, bleeding profusely was unsettling and horrifying. Dory, who apparently is the world's toughest nerd, is able to save his baby brother. As he was being tended to by his brother, he was a sickly bloody mess. It was gruesome and maybe the nastiest wrestling has ever looked.

Funk tried to stay away from Hansen early avoiding being corner with speed and his jab. Hansen slapped him and when Funk went for a bodyslam it was all over. Hansen threw him down and began to unload. Bullying him at every turn and just using his elbows, knees and fists as weapons. I loved Funk just wailing away on Hansen knee out of desperation or throwing a dropkick outside. The struggle over the spinning toehold is one of the most poignant moments in wrestling. You just hope against hope that Funk can cause enough to pain make Hansen submit. Hansen like a ferocious, wounded animal keeps kicking him off and punching him hard in the face until he is bleeding. It was titanic. At every stage, Funk would dive for the leg and attempt to submit him knowing full well he was going to be blasted in the head and his cut be further opened up. I think Hansen not selling the leg is a curious choice. It adds to his monster dynamic that he can't be harmed and that Terry Funk will eventually be a tragic hero left for dead by the ultimate bully. Hansen drops Funk on his balls on the top rope and thus commences the gruesome scene above.

It is hard to say this is even a match. It feels like something so much more. I would say at the very least one of the top 5 most violent matches in a way that is really unsettling from the sense you really feel for Terry Funk. It is definitely something everybody should watch at some point. ****3/4

#2. Terry & Dory Funk vs Brusier Brody & Jimmy Snuka - AJPW 12/13/81

All Japan Match of the Year, 1981

Loved this match the first time I saw it and love it even more now. Total stone cold classic. Stan Hansen showing up in All Japan was just massive on par with the NWO invasion. The announcer loses his shit and Baba (I think it is Baba) is all like what the fuck. Well I don't speak Japanese, but that was his tone suggested to me. The crowd is BATSHIT! The match follows is crazy awesome. Easily the best thing, I have ever seen Brody and Snuka apart of. They are just the perfect monster heels to go up against the lovable Funk brothers.

Snuka looks fucking stacked here. Wow! Terry tries to antagonize Snuka. He runs him over and Snuka just brushes it off with a kip up. He is like an athletic Creature from the Black Lagoon. The Funk have to double up on Snuka, who takes a Flair Flop. Someone has been working Mid-Atlantic. Love the three tries before Junior gets him over on the butterfly suplex. Kick out at one because he is a coked-out monster! HUSS! HUSS! Here comes Brody! Big dropkick by Brody and Junior kicks out at one. Two can play at that game says, Dory. Terry has the dropkick scouted now and hooks on to the ropes. Love that spot! Terry bumps huge for Brody making him look like a mountain. Great one arm slam by Brody! Terry gets the tag and Dory is rocking it, but Brody refuses to bump. This is the opposite of a Harley Race match.

Great sequence as Snuka looks to leapfrog, but Junior catches him mid-air and turns into a Spinning Toehold. That's their equalizer against these monsters. Brody chops the hell out of Dory and Terry is pissed. Nice headlock work by the heels. Terry clubs Brody in the back of the head when he walks too close to their side of town. Brody distracted and Dory unloads with Euro Uppercuts, awesome psychology. Terry creating the distraction for his older brother. Double suplex on Brody, everything has to be doubled up on the heels. Brody sends him for the ride and Terry takes the Flair Flip and is selling his ass off for Brody. Funk throws Snuka out of the ring in desperation. Like the Creature of the Black Lagoon, he rises again to hit a springboard splash in 1981!!! HOLY SHIT! Dory has enough and throws Snuka out. So Terry not to be outdone hurls his body from the top rope to the floor on SNUKA!!! HOLY SHIT!!! Talk about upping the ante and fighting fire with fire. Brody does some arena brawling with Terry that just adds to the chaos.

Dory looks to have Snuka beat multiple times, but Brody saves or Snuka is too close to the ropes. Terry gets in and he wants Brody. Off come the pads! It is on like Donkey Kong! They throw haymakers at each other and when Terry gets trapped in their corner he ballshots Snuka. Awesome! Awesome! The Funks work over the leg in spectacular fashion to set up a Double Spinning Toe Hold spot!!!! Brody and Terry end up outside. You knew it was going to happen and then it does. Brody feeds him to the Lion. LARIAOOOOOTOOOOOO!!!! Terry is fucking dead. Dory looks to have Snuka beat and then realizes his brother might have just been decapitated. He checks to see he is still alive and then does the manliest thing ever and goes it alone with the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Frankenstein. Dory is ripshit and blasts his way through Snuka. Tag to Brody and Dory attacks him as he is coming through the ropes. THIS IS WAR! Dory has Brody's mane and is just teeing off on him! Finally the numbers game catches up to him. Snuka hits a diving headbutt. 1-2-NO! HUGE POP! Brody suplex and Dory presses him off!!! He is HULKING UP! That would be hilarious if Dory started to do the Hulk Up routine. Snuka splash eats knees! Dory kneecrusher on Snuka's bad leg. DO YOU BELIVE IN MIRACLES???? SPINNING TOEHOLD! TAP! TAP! TAP! Brody clubbing blow to the head and a King Kong Kneedrop puts Dory out of his misery. Alas.

Hansen celebrates with the Axis of Evil. Dory keeps fighting so Hansen beats the shit out of him. JUMBO TSURUTA AND GIANT FUCKING BABA SAVE!!!! HOLY SHIT! CROWD IS SO LOUD! HANSEN VS BABA...MONEY!!!

Awesome, awesome, awesome match and angle!!! Snuka and Brody are like old school movie monsters. The Funks are great selling and doubling up their offense. Loved Terry flying off the top rope not to be outdone by Snuka. Then when they finally look like they have the monsters down each with a Spinning Toehold, the new big badass rips off Terry's head and Dory has to go it alone. One of the all-time best tag matches, yes, I am going all the way for this one. *****

#1. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy vs Dory & Terry Funk

AJPW 8/31/83 Terry Funk Retirement Match

All Japan Match of the Year, 1983

Terry Funk kills any chance of running for public office in America by proclaiming that "Japan is Number 1 forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever". Guess America is just playing for second place.

The crowd loves the Funks like this has to be one of the most over babyface acts of all time. The dichotomy between the brothers is on display here as Dory gives one of the more uninspired face in peril segments in the way of selling compared to Terry basically giving the performance of a lifetime. In Dory's defense, I loved how much he was struggling to get out every armbar and how much fire he had, but could have used some more selling. Stan Hansen is a Terry Funk seeking missile to start and wants to re-open a cut above his eye. Dory is fucking useless trying to save his brother. Love the chaos in the midst of all the streamers. Terry tags out to big brother and they look to double team Hansen, who is wiser than he looks. Hansen grabs Dory by the arm and bullies him over to his corner. This is one of the best Gordy appearances I have ever seen. He was in lockstep with Hansen in terms of strategy, but presented a more vulnerable side. Dory may have not sold well, but he was firing those forearms off with all he had. Loved the heels always grabbing that arm and pulling him back to their corner to prevent the tag.  This crowd is going apeshit for Dory Fucking Funk! Terry starts to get pissed about the constant double teaming and says two can play at that game. I love Dory forearming through a Hansen kick. That's what makes pro wrestling look great. This has been nothing, but balls to the wall action. Hot tag to Terry, who is bleeding, but he does not give a fuck as he FINALLY levels Hansen with a series of punches to a huge pop. Unfortunately Gordy cheapshots him and Terry cant press his advantage. This leads to Hansen kicking Terry's leg really fucking hard like really fucking hard. The leg work that ensues is amazing. The heels are vicious and dicks about it. Gordy was constantly holding Terry from the outside by the foot while Hansen would stomp and drop his weight on the knee. You just felt like poor Terry was helpless against these animals and his face showed all the pain. Gordy even went as far to use the Spinning Toehold against him! Terry blasts him in the head and then headbutt. Hot tag to Junior! Melee ensues leaving Terry and Terry in the ring. Gordy belly flops and Funk sunset flips from the middle rope to win his retirement match! Hansen ever the sore loser attacks Terry's leg and murders a young boy with a lariat before being restrained by a school of young boys.

I have always loved this match and again it was a total energetic tour de force. The heels dominate the match and beat the shit out of the Funks, but the Funks are not going down without a fight. I wish Terry got the win over Stan, but Hansen was staying not Terry. At least Terry finally got to knock him off his feet. Still it is a great feel-good moment and balls to the wall action. One of the best tag team matches ever! *****

All Japan is such a great wrestling promotion and I would even go so far as to say the best promotion in wrestling history. I want to make sure that I explore the most popular and famous promotion, World Wrestling Federation and looking at arguably their biggest boom period: The Attitude Era!