This Day in Wrestling History Live Writeup Thread
03-24-2018
, 04:13 PM
Mean Gene is with our celebrities for the evening: Regis Philbin, Alex Trebek, and Marla Maples (she of "second wife of Donald Trump" fame). Regis says there's one wrestler he just can't get close to because he scares him. I was expecting Undertaker, but Regis says Earthquake, by stated reason that Earthquake tipped over a Pizza Hut delivery truck and ate everything inside.
After some cringey dialogue with Marla, Gene moves onto Trebek, and they engage in some fairly entertaining "who's on first" style of back-and-forth before sending it back to the ring.
After some cringey dialogue with Marla, Gene moves onto Trebek, and they engage in some fairly entertaining "who's on first" style of back-and-forth before sending it back to the ring.
03-24-2018
, 04:28 PM
Dino Bravo vs. The Texas Tornado
Tornado takes his time entering the ring and ends up taking a cheap shot from Bravo. He temporarily fights back, but Bravo clotheslines him hard out over the top, and the two briefly brawl on the floor. Back inside, Tornado with an atomic drop, a sloppy-ass clothesline, a corner whip, and an attempted claw that Bravo blocks. Now Bravo back on the attack, throwing chops. Tornado reverses a corner whip, but then runs into Dino's raised boot.
Bravo executes a horrible inverted atomic drop. God, Dino Bravo was just terrible. He drops a couple of elbows and gets a near-fall. Sends Tornado off the ropes, and after a couple of ducked clotheslines, Bravo hits a side salto. Another two-count. Bravo to the second rope for a bad-looking elbow that had zero elevation; he basically just falls clumsily into Von Erich. Kicks to the gut by Dino, and another attempted "jump" off the second rope, but this time he runs into Tornado's patented claw. Tornado wears him down with the claw, releases, runs off the ropes, and hits the spinning tornado punch to score the pinfall.
Utter garbage, but at least it was short.
Result: Texas Tornado via pinfall
Rating: 0 stars
Tornado takes his time entering the ring and ends up taking a cheap shot from Bravo. He temporarily fights back, but Bravo clotheslines him hard out over the top, and the two briefly brawl on the floor. Back inside, Tornado with an atomic drop, a sloppy-ass clothesline, a corner whip, and an attempted claw that Bravo blocks. Now Bravo back on the attack, throwing chops. Tornado reverses a corner whip, but then runs into Dino's raised boot.
Bravo executes a horrible inverted atomic drop. God, Dino Bravo was just terrible. He drops a couple of elbows and gets a near-fall. Sends Tornado off the ropes, and after a couple of ducked clotheslines, Bravo hits a side salto. Another two-count. Bravo to the second rope for a bad-looking elbow that had zero elevation; he basically just falls clumsily into Von Erich. Kicks to the gut by Dino, and another attempted "jump" off the second rope, but this time he runs into Tornado's patented claw. Tornado wears him down with the claw, releases, runs off the ropes, and hits the spinning tornado punch to score the pinfall.
Utter garbage, but at least it was short.
Result: Texas Tornado via pinfall
Rating: 0 stars
03-24-2018
, 04:56 PM
The Warlord (w/ Slick) vs. The British Bulldog
Gorilla says, "Well, don't look for any flying headscissors, don't look for too many dropkicks, this matchup is pure power!" Reminiscent of those times when Jim Ross would basically open a match by saying, "by the way, these guys suck at the 'wrestling' part of wrestling."
Warlord and Davey Boy tie up, with Warlord powering Davey back into the corner. Warlord flexes and returns to work, hammering Davey's back. The two collide a couple of times in mid-ring to a stalemate, but Bulldog's third attempt at a running start knocks Warlord down and out of the ring. After a quick regroup, Warlord re-enters, and suckers Bulldog in with an offered test of strength before kicking him in the gut. Bulldog goes for a crucifix, but Warlord counters into a Samoan drop. Several elbows in a row by Warlord, and a pin attempt gets a count of two.
Warlord reverses a corner whip and then catches Bulldog into a bearhug as he staggers out. Bulldog struggles in the hold before punching his way loose, but once he gets loose he only gets in more trouble; he gets a running start and promptly runs into a stun gun by Warlord. Both slow to rise, they trade punches, but Warlord again gets the advantage and slams Bulldog to the mat. After some flexing, Warlord slaps on a chinlock that goes on for a while. Eventually Davey fights his way to his feet, gets loose, and hits Warlord with a standing dropkick.
Bulldog smashes Warlord's head into the corner several times, then he hops up to the second rope and connects from there with a forearm smash. Warlord kicks out of the pin attempt, then goes for a backdrop. Davey stops short, kicks him in the face, sets up for a piledriver, but Warlord powers him up and over and basically gets his original backdrop through, albeit in slow motion. Bulldog hangs on to try to turn it into a sunset flip, Warlord sits down into a pin, Bulldog reverses into his own pin, and neither man is able to get a three-count.
Bulldog charges Warlord and runs face-first into a boot. Warlord lies in wait as Davey slowly gets his feet, and he slaps on the full nelson. Bulldog starts to fade, but eventually finds enough adrenaline to power his way out of the hold. Warlord is stunned that his hold was broken, he tries to pick Davey up, but Davey slips out and gets Warlord up over his shoulder. Running powerslam, 1-2-3, Bulldog wins.
Not good, but also not nearly as bad as the Bravo-Von Erich garbage.
Result: British Bulldog via pinfall
Rating: *
Gorilla says, "Well, don't look for any flying headscissors, don't look for too many dropkicks, this matchup is pure power!" Reminiscent of those times when Jim Ross would basically open a match by saying, "by the way, these guys suck at the 'wrestling' part of wrestling."
Warlord and Davey Boy tie up, with Warlord powering Davey back into the corner. Warlord flexes and returns to work, hammering Davey's back. The two collide a couple of times in mid-ring to a stalemate, but Bulldog's third attempt at a running start knocks Warlord down and out of the ring. After a quick regroup, Warlord re-enters, and suckers Bulldog in with an offered test of strength before kicking him in the gut. Bulldog goes for a crucifix, but Warlord counters into a Samoan drop. Several elbows in a row by Warlord, and a pin attempt gets a count of two.
Warlord reverses a corner whip and then catches Bulldog into a bearhug as he staggers out. Bulldog struggles in the hold before punching his way loose, but once he gets loose he only gets in more trouble; he gets a running start and promptly runs into a stun gun by Warlord. Both slow to rise, they trade punches, but Warlord again gets the advantage and slams Bulldog to the mat. After some flexing, Warlord slaps on a chinlock that goes on for a while. Eventually Davey fights his way to his feet, gets loose, and hits Warlord with a standing dropkick.
Bulldog smashes Warlord's head into the corner several times, then he hops up to the second rope and connects from there with a forearm smash. Warlord kicks out of the pin attempt, then goes for a backdrop. Davey stops short, kicks him in the face, sets up for a piledriver, but Warlord powers him up and over and basically gets his original backdrop through, albeit in slow motion. Bulldog hangs on to try to turn it into a sunset flip, Warlord sits down into a pin, Bulldog reverses into his own pin, and neither man is able to get a three-count.
Bulldog charges Warlord and runs face-first into a boot. Warlord lies in wait as Davey slowly gets his feet, and he slaps on the full nelson. Bulldog starts to fade, but eventually finds enough adrenaline to power his way out of the hold. Warlord is stunned that his hold was broken, he tries to pick Davey up, but Davey slips out and gets Warlord up over his shoulder. Running powerslam, 1-2-3, Bulldog wins.
Not good, but also not nearly as bad as the Bravo-Von Erich garbage.
Result: British Bulldog via pinfall
Rating: *
03-24-2018
, 06:13 PM
WWF Tag Team Titles: The Hart Foundation (c) vs. The Nasty Boys (w/ Jimmy Hart)
Macaulay Culkin is shown smiling in the crowd during the Harts' entrance. At first I think that Gorilla Monsoon has no idea who he is, as he just references him as "that youngster," but then he makes a Home Alone reference. Probably still a chance that he blanked on Culkin's name.
Bret Hart vs. Jerry Sags to start. Bret wrestles Sags into the corner, but as the referee tries to force a break, Sags takes a cheap shot and is able to get control. Misses with a clothesline off the ropes, and Bret comes flying in on the way back with a great-looking Thesz press. Brian Knobbs tries unsuccessfully to run interference, and Bret turns his attention back to Sags, tripping him and then stomping on the lower abdomen.
Sags tags Knobbs, who for some reason calls out the Anvil. Bret obliges and tags the Anvil in. Anvil hammers away with forearms, an armdrag, and a shoulderblock that clears the ring. Knobbs eventually re-enters, Neidhart drags him down by the arm, but Knobbs regains control for long enough to make the tag to Sags.
Sags with an Irish whip, but Neidhart aggressively slams him down by the head on the way back, and he tags in the Hitman. Bret smashes Sags into the turnbuckle, followed by a corner mount and a ten-punch. Irish whip, punch to the gut, and he hits the Russian legsweep on the doubled-over Sags. Elbow off the second rope, Knobbs runs in to distract Bret out of a pin attempt. Referee Earl Hebner does nothing about Knobbs just staying in the ring and continuing to attack for a while, but Knobbs eventually leaves on his own.
Sags clotheslines Bret down and sends him sprawling to the floor. Anvil attends to his partner, then chases Jimmy Hart around a bit, but things end up settling down on their own. Bret returns inside and bumps against the corner on a corner whip by Sags. Backbreaker, pin attempt, two-count. Sags sits into a camel clutch, and the heat segment is on. It features three different camel clutches along with a neckbreaker by Sags. Bret counters with a neckbreaker of his own, but Knobbs blocks the quest for a hot tag. He eventually does get the needed opening when he dodges a corner charge, but the referee's back is turned and he disallows the tag once it was finally made. Amidst the chaos however, Knobbs inadvertently hits Sags with Jimmy Hart's megaphone, Bret finally makes a hot tag that counts, and Neidhart is in.
Neidhart clotheslines both Nasties. Whips Knobbs off the ropes, clotheslines him twice, and hits a powerslam. Sags breaks up the pin attempt, that draws the Hitman back in, and now we have some four-way chaos. Accidental collision between the Nasty Boys. The champs hit the Hart Attack, but again Earl Hebner is distracted, Jimmy Hart slips his motorcycle helmet in, Knobbs wallops Neidhart with it, and with the heaviest of sighs, we have new Tag Team Champions.
This match featured an exceptionally boring heat segment. Final act was decent outside of the regrettable result, but I still mostly regarded the match as boring.
Result: "...and NEW Tag Team Champions," The Nasty Boys via pinfall
Rating: **
Macaulay Culkin is shown smiling in the crowd during the Harts' entrance. At first I think that Gorilla Monsoon has no idea who he is, as he just references him as "that youngster," but then he makes a Home Alone reference. Probably still a chance that he blanked on Culkin's name.
Bret Hart vs. Jerry Sags to start. Bret wrestles Sags into the corner, but as the referee tries to force a break, Sags takes a cheap shot and is able to get control. Misses with a clothesline off the ropes, and Bret comes flying in on the way back with a great-looking Thesz press. Brian Knobbs tries unsuccessfully to run interference, and Bret turns his attention back to Sags, tripping him and then stomping on the lower abdomen.
Sags tags Knobbs, who for some reason calls out the Anvil. Bret obliges and tags the Anvil in. Anvil hammers away with forearms, an armdrag, and a shoulderblock that clears the ring. Knobbs eventually re-enters, Neidhart drags him down by the arm, but Knobbs regains control for long enough to make the tag to Sags.
Sags with an Irish whip, but Neidhart aggressively slams him down by the head on the way back, and he tags in the Hitman. Bret smashes Sags into the turnbuckle, followed by a corner mount and a ten-punch. Irish whip, punch to the gut, and he hits the Russian legsweep on the doubled-over Sags. Elbow off the second rope, Knobbs runs in to distract Bret out of a pin attempt. Referee Earl Hebner does nothing about Knobbs just staying in the ring and continuing to attack for a while, but Knobbs eventually leaves on his own.
Sags clotheslines Bret down and sends him sprawling to the floor. Anvil attends to his partner, then chases Jimmy Hart around a bit, but things end up settling down on their own. Bret returns inside and bumps against the corner on a corner whip by Sags. Backbreaker, pin attempt, two-count. Sags sits into a camel clutch, and the heat segment is on. It features three different camel clutches along with a neckbreaker by Sags. Bret counters with a neckbreaker of his own, but Knobbs blocks the quest for a hot tag. He eventually does get the needed opening when he dodges a corner charge, but the referee's back is turned and he disallows the tag once it was finally made. Amidst the chaos however, Knobbs inadvertently hits Sags with Jimmy Hart's megaphone, Bret finally makes a hot tag that counts, and Neidhart is in.
Neidhart clotheslines both Nasties. Whips Knobbs off the ropes, clotheslines him twice, and hits a powerslam. Sags breaks up the pin attempt, that draws the Hitman back in, and now we have some four-way chaos. Accidental collision between the Nasty Boys. The champs hit the Hart Attack, but again Earl Hebner is distracted, Jimmy Hart slips his motorcycle helmet in, Knobbs wallops Neidhart with it, and with the heaviest of sighs, we have new Tag Team Champions.
This match featured an exceptionally boring heat segment. Final act was decent outside of the regrettable result, but I still mostly regarded the match as boring.
Result: "...and NEW Tag Team Champions," The Nasty Boys via pinfall
Rating: **
03-24-2018
, 06:32 PM
We see clips from the Brother Love Show, when Rick Martel tried to spray his "Arrogance" fragrance on Jake Roberts's snake, and ended up inadvertently blinding Jake by spraying it into Jake's eyes. A week later on the Brother Love Show, Martel took a cheap shot at a blinded Jake, leading Jake to DDT Brother Love when he meant to DDT Martel. That sets us up for tonight's blindfold match.
We're backstage for a quick pre-match promo by Jake. "The blind leading the blind? Even a fool knows that a man only has five senses. A snake? He has six. We always do it better...in the dark." For some reason that's all we get this time with Jake. I'm guessing there was a longer interview edited down, as it was obvious that this was joined in progress.
We're backstage for a quick pre-match promo by Jake. "The blind leading the blind? Even a fool knows that a man only has five senses. A snake? He has six. We always do it better...in the dark." For some reason that's all we get this time with Jake. I'm guessing there was a longer interview edited down, as it was obvious that this was joined in progress.
03-24-2018
, 06:45 PM
Blindfold Match - Rick Martel vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
As the stipulation states, both men get blindfolded, as each has a hood over their face. The officials tie the hoods on, the bell rings, and here we go.
Each wrestler tries to feel their way around the ring, looking for contact to attack. The crowd helps guide Jake, and he makes first contact. They wrestle on the ground a bit before regaining their feet. Martel goes for an Irish whip, Jake goes running diagonally off on the way back, and there's no result.
Gorilla incredulously says, "What did he expect to do with that move?!" That spot is entertaining, but Gorilla probably shouldn't want the crowd to think about Irish whips that hard. Why do unblinded opponents routinely just run straight into backdrops and such?
As the stipulation states, both men get blindfolded, as each has a hood over their face. The officials tie the hoods on, the bell rings, and here we go.
Each wrestler tries to feel their way around the ring, looking for contact to attack. The crowd helps guide Jake, and he makes first contact. They wrestle on the ground a bit before regaining their feet. Martel goes for an Irish whip, Jake goes running diagonally off on the way back, and there's no result.
Gorilla incredulously says, "What did he expect to do with that move?!" That spot is entertaining, but Gorilla probably shouldn't want the crowd to think about Irish whips that hard. Why do unblinded opponents routinely just run straight into backdrops and such?
03-24-2018
, 06:58 PM
The crowd continues to try to help Jake, as he points and they react. The wrestlers wander, they back into each other, and then they try to charge but end up charging past each other. After more aimless wandering, Jake does make his way back over to Martel, but gets bodyslammed once he gets too close.
More wandering. Martel grabs the referee, but the referee seems to verbally warn him off from attacking. More wandering. More wandering. Jake manages to grasp onto a waistlock, but it immediately leads to a rope break. More wandering. Martel, down on his hands and knees, accidentally grabs the bag containing Jake's snake, and he has to scurry off.
More wandering. Jake grabs onto a side headlock, but Martel pushes him out to the floor. Martel actually tries to follow him out, and he secures a steel chair to try to defend himself, but he ends up getting spooked when he backs into the ringpost, and then he swings and jars his hands when he whacks the chair against it. Odd that he couldn't differentiate between touching a human being and touching cold metal. Still a funny spot, well-executed by Martel.
Jake uses the audible cue to find Martel, and he drags him into the ring, but Martel fights back and is able to apply the Boston crab. Jake powers his way out of Martel's finishing hold quickly. They go back to trying to feel each other out, but finally Jake is able to capitalize and hit the DDT to win the match.
FWIW, I did think this was a bit more enjoyable than I remembered it being. I credit both performers for doing as much as anyone could with it.
Result: Jake Roberts via pinfall
Rating: *1/2
More wandering. Martel grabs the referee, but the referee seems to verbally warn him off from attacking. More wandering. More wandering. Jake manages to grasp onto a waistlock, but it immediately leads to a rope break. More wandering. Martel, down on his hands and knees, accidentally grabs the bag containing Jake's snake, and he has to scurry off.
More wandering. Jake grabs onto a side headlock, but Martel pushes him out to the floor. Martel actually tries to follow him out, and he secures a steel chair to try to defend himself, but he ends up getting spooked when he backs into the ringpost, and then he swings and jars his hands when he whacks the chair against it. Odd that he couldn't differentiate between touching a human being and touching cold metal. Still a funny spot, well-executed by Martel.
Jake uses the audible cue to find Martel, and he drags him into the ring, but Martel fights back and is able to apply the Boston crab. Jake powers his way out of Martel's finishing hold quickly. They go back to trying to feel each other out, but finally Jake is able to capitalize and hit the DDT to win the match.
FWIW, I did think this was a bit more enjoyable than I remembered it being. I credit both performers for doing as much as anyone could with it.
Result: Jake Roberts via pinfall
Rating: *1/2
03-24-2018
, 07:31 PM
"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka vs. The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer)
Undertaker stands stoically in the corner, just glaring icily toward Snuka for a long time. Snuka eventually turns around toward his corner, and that prompts Undertaker to spring into action, charging in and hitting Snuka from behind. Taker pounds away with a right hand, chokes Snuka, then whips him off the ropes and hits his trademark flying clothesline.
Snuka whips Taker into the corner, but immediately runs into a big boot on the follow-up. That knocks Snuka from the ring. Undertaker with the big suplex to take him back inside. Taker drops the elbow, misses entirely, but no-sells and sits up. Snuka puts up a token flurry of offense, with punches and headbutts, but Taker reverses an Irish whip, and then ducks as Snuka dives at him; Snuka hits stomach-first against the ropes and goes falling to the floor.
Snuka tries to re-enter with a springboard cross-body. Taker can't quite catch him, so he eventually puts him down and picks him back up. Tombstone, pin, ding ding ding. The Streak begins.
Result: The Undertaker via pinfall
Rating: *
Undertaker stands stoically in the corner, just glaring icily toward Snuka for a long time. Snuka eventually turns around toward his corner, and that prompts Undertaker to spring into action, charging in and hitting Snuka from behind. Taker pounds away with a right hand, chokes Snuka, then whips him off the ropes and hits his trademark flying clothesline.
Snuka whips Taker into the corner, but immediately runs into a big boot on the follow-up. That knocks Snuka from the ring. Undertaker with the big suplex to take him back inside. Taker drops the elbow, misses entirely, but no-sells and sits up. Snuka puts up a token flurry of offense, with punches and headbutts, but Taker reverses an Irish whip, and then ducks as Snuka dives at him; Snuka hits stomach-first against the ropes and goes falling to the floor.
Snuka tries to re-enter with a springboard cross-body. Taker can't quite catch him, so he eventually puts him down and picks him back up. Tombstone, pin, ding ding ding. The Streak begins.
Result: The Undertaker via pinfall
Rating: *
03-24-2018
, 09:01 PM
Alright, we're back.
Next up is a video recap of the events that have led us to this retirement match between the Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage, including that bizarre segment where Sensational Sherri propositioned Warrior from her knees.
As Howard Finkel is starting his introduction for this match, Bobby Heenan has something catch his eye, and he points out Miss Elizabeth in the crowd, looking pensive as always.
Next up is a video recap of the events that have led us to this retirement match between the Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage, including that bizarre segment where Sensational Sherri propositioned Warrior from her knees.
As Howard Finkel is starting his introduction for this match, Bobby Heenan has something catch his eye, and he points out Miss Elizabeth in the crowd, looking pensive as always.
03-24-2018
, 09:21 PM
Retirement Match - "Macho Man" Randy Savage (w/ Sensational Sherri) vs. The Ultimate Warrior
I will always love that Warrior takes a deliberate walk to the ring, totally against his usual character, to sell the gravity of the match before it ever starts.
Savage and Warrior do a bit of stalling before things get under way, then they lock up into a rope break. On second lock-up, Warrior powers Savage to the mat. Savage sheds his top and re-engages, punching the Warrior and raking the eyes. Warrior sends Savage off the ropes and shoulderblocks him hard to the mat. Clothesline off another Irish whip. Warrior picks Macho up in a chokehold overhead and flings him to the mat. Inverted atomic drop. Regular atomic drop. Warrior picks Savage up again, drawing Sherri into the ring, and Warrior flings Savage into her. Sherri is left to recover on the floor.
Warrior hammers Macho with right hands, and Macho ends up with his arms tied up in the ropes. Referee Earl Hebner gets him loose. Warrior with an Irish whip, a punch to the gut on the way back, and then a backdrop attempt that is countered by a boot to the face. Savage with a big running clothesline. He scales to the top rope and comes off with an attempted cross-body. Warrior catches him clean, sets him down, and slaps him while shooting him a furious glare. I love it.
A tilted Savage wisely leaves to go cool down for a second. Oh wait, he's not being wise, he's going to get a chair. He flings the chair into the ring, Earl Hebner goes to dispose of it, and Savage uses the distraction to clobber a distracted Warrior from behind. I love that sequence.
I will always love that Warrior takes a deliberate walk to the ring, totally against his usual character, to sell the gravity of the match before it ever starts.
Savage and Warrior do a bit of stalling before things get under way, then they lock up into a rope break. On second lock-up, Warrior powers Savage to the mat. Savage sheds his top and re-engages, punching the Warrior and raking the eyes. Warrior sends Savage off the ropes and shoulderblocks him hard to the mat. Clothesline off another Irish whip. Warrior picks Macho up in a chokehold overhead and flings him to the mat. Inverted atomic drop. Regular atomic drop. Warrior picks Savage up again, drawing Sherri into the ring, and Warrior flings Savage into her. Sherri is left to recover on the floor.
Warrior hammers Macho with right hands, and Macho ends up with his arms tied up in the ropes. Referee Earl Hebner gets him loose. Warrior with an Irish whip, a punch to the gut on the way back, and then a backdrop attempt that is countered by a boot to the face. Savage with a big running clothesline. He scales to the top rope and comes off with an attempted cross-body. Warrior catches him clean, sets him down, and slaps him while shooting him a furious glare. I love it.
A tilted Savage wisely leaves to go cool down for a second. Oh wait, he's not being wise, he's going to get a chair. He flings the chair into the ring, Earl Hebner goes to dispose of it, and Savage uses the distraction to clobber a distracted Warrior from behind. I love that sequence.
03-24-2018
, 09:32 PM
Warrior fights back, putting Savage down with repeated right hands. He kicks away at Savage in the corner. Rares back and throws more right hands. Warrior's momentum is finally disrupted when Savage sidesteps Warrior's corner charge, sending Warrior out to the floor. Sherri messes with Warrior until Savage rejoins the fray, hitting a top-rope axhandle to the floor.
Sherri keeps attacking Warrior, leading him to aggressively shove her to the floor. She's done her job in distracting him though, as Savage attacks from behind and then rams Warrior into the post. Sherri is insatiable, and continues to attack, throwing a kick before Savage brings Warrior into the ring. Savage records a two-count, then goes for a neckbreaker. Warrior counters into a backslide for a count of two.
Savage backs up, spits on Warrior, and then bails out of the ring. Sherri distracts Warrior from the other side of the ring, Savage attempts to capitalize again, but Warrior sees it coming this time and catches Savage's kick attempt. Warrior gets a really long running start before attempting a weird flying shoulderblock (or splash?) that looked doomed from the beginning. Sure enough, Savage sidesteps it.
Sherri keeps attacking Warrior, leading him to aggressively shove her to the floor. She's done her job in distracting him though, as Savage attacks from behind and then rams Warrior into the post. Sherri is insatiable, and continues to attack, throwing a kick before Savage brings Warrior into the ring. Savage records a two-count, then goes for a neckbreaker. Warrior counters into a backslide for a count of two.
Savage backs up, spits on Warrior, and then bails out of the ring. Sherri distracts Warrior from the other side of the ring, Savage attempts to capitalize again, but Warrior sees it coming this time and catches Savage's kick attempt. Warrior gets a really long running start before attempting a weird flying shoulderblock (or splash?) that looked doomed from the beginning. Sure enough, Savage sidesteps it.
03-24-2018
, 09:40 PM
Savage slaps on a reverse chinlock. Gorilla calls it "almost a type of sleeper." Are you sure you don't mean "leverage move," Gorilla? Warrior finds the strength to work his way back to his feet, he runs the ropes, and the two end up clotheslining each other hard in the middle of the ring. While the two are down for an extended timing, Sherri runs interference on Earl Hebner. Amidst the distraction, Warrior makes his way over and wraps up Savage in a small package, which is good for a visual pin but not a real one.
Warrior is pissed that Hebner was out of position, he registers his complaint, and Savage hits him with a high knee in the back, knocking him into Hebner and causing a ref bump. During the ref bump, Savage holds Warrior for Sherri, who tries to hit him from the top rope, but instead accidentally hits Savage with her heel. Instead of keeping after Savage, Warrior goes and stalks Sherri, eventually catching her as she tried to escape through the ring...but Savage rolls him up in a schoolboy and nearly gets the cheap pinfall. 1, 2, barely a kickout.
Savage picks up Warrior and drops him throat-first along the top rope. He continues working the throat, grabbing Warrior by the hair and pulling him down throat-first along the adjacent top rope as he jumps to the floor. Savage re-enters, hits a scoop slam, then heads to the top and...
He hits the flying elbow.
Warrior is pissed that Hebner was out of position, he registers his complaint, and Savage hits him with a high knee in the back, knocking him into Hebner and causing a ref bump. During the ref bump, Savage holds Warrior for Sherri, who tries to hit him from the top rope, but instead accidentally hits Savage with her heel. Instead of keeping after Savage, Warrior goes and stalks Sherri, eventually catching her as she tried to escape through the ring...but Savage rolls him up in a schoolboy and nearly gets the cheap pinfall. 1, 2, barely a kickout.
Savage picks up Warrior and drops him throat-first along the top rope. He continues working the throat, grabbing Warrior by the hair and pulling him down throat-first along the adjacent top rope as he jumps to the floor. Savage re-enters, hits a scoop slam, then heads to the top and...
He hits the flying elbow.
03-24-2018
, 10:00 PM
Instead of going for the pin, Savage quickly pops up and goes for the second elbow. Great! Oh...he's getting up and going for a third. ****. If you're an educated Savage mark, you know that the jig is officially up at this point. The heel running up the score never, ever works in the WWF, if it works anywhere. Savage hits a third elbow, a fourth, a fifth, goes for the cover, and...yeah, Warrior kicks out on two. We know.
Savage does his part and acts shocked. He tries to go back to work. He drops repeated axhandles, but the Warrior hulk-up is on. Warrior shakes the ropes as he regains his feet. Heenan says the ropes are "where he gets his energy." Monsoon confirms, "That's where he gets his strength from! Those ropes!" Wait, WTF? I always assumed that Warrior shaking the ropes was a symptom that he had gained power, not that he was grabbing onto them and being functionally electrocuted with power or something.
Warrior knocks Savage down with rights and clotheslines. He signals for the press slam. He executes the press slam. Splash, turns Savage over, 1, 2, no! Savage kicks out.
Savage does his part and acts shocked. He tries to go back to work. He drops repeated axhandles, but the Warrior hulk-up is on. Warrior shakes the ropes as he regains his feet. Heenan says the ropes are "where he gets his energy." Monsoon confirms, "That's where he gets his strength from! Those ropes!" Wait, WTF? I always assumed that Warrior shaking the ropes was a symptom that he had gained power, not that he was grabbing onto them and being functionally electrocuted with power or something.
Warrior knocks Savage down with rights and clotheslines. He signals for the press slam. He executes the press slam. Splash, turns Savage over, 1, 2, no! Savage kicks out.
03-24-2018
, 10:07 PM
Warrior is so disheartened by the kickout that he looks to the sky as if he was just sent a message from up on high. Apparently hearing nothing, he makes as if to leave, and in doing so voluntarily give up his career forever. Man, if one finisher kickout at WrestleMania does that to him, this is one guy who officially couldn't cut it in 2018 WWE.
As Warrior is grappling with his decision from the apron, Savage attacks. He hits Warrior upside the head and knocks him to the floor. Savage chokes Warrior against the guardrail, gets Sherri to hold him there, and then Savage goes for the Steamboat spot, trying to injure Warrior's throat against the rail. Warrior sidesteps, and Savage tastes steel.
As Warrior is grappling with his decision from the apron, Savage attacks. He hits Warrior upside the head and knocks him to the floor. Savage chokes Warrior against the guardrail, gets Sherri to hold him there, and then Savage goes for the Steamboat spot, trying to injure Warrior's throat against the rail. Warrior sidesteps, and Savage tastes steel.
03-24-2018
, 10:15 PM
Warrior returns Savage to the inside, sets up and hits the flying shoulderblock. Gorilla yells, "Clothesline!" It knocks Savage outside the ring. Warrior goes and gets him, returning him inside. Another flying shoulderblock. Also knocks Savage to the floor. Warrior again goes to get him and returns him inside. For the third time, a flying shoulderblock that sends Savage to the floor.
Once again, Warrior pulls Savage back into the ring. He puts his foot on Savage's chest, Earl Hebner counts to three, and the Ultimate Warrior wins the retirement match.
Honestly, I'm always surprised that some around here (iso, True North) regard this as a five-star match, because IMO the final act of the match sucks. They announce the winner the second Savage gets up to attempt a third elbow, and then Warrior wins with a foot on the chest (after a significant delay) despite not hitting one convincingly devastating move.
Don't get me wrong: it's a great match, a historic one. But the whole ending sequence is irritating to me and would never allow me to give it serious consideration for five stars.
Result: The Ultimate Warrior via pinfall
Rating: ****1/2
Once again, Warrior pulls Savage back into the ring. He puts his foot on Savage's chest, Earl Hebner counts to three, and the Ultimate Warrior wins the retirement match.
Honestly, I'm always surprised that some around here (iso, True North) regard this as a five-star match, because IMO the final act of the match sucks. They announce the winner the second Savage gets up to attempt a third elbow, and then Warrior wins with a foot on the chest (after a significant delay) despite not hitting one convincingly devastating move.
Don't get me wrong: it's a great match, a historic one. But the whole ending sequence is irritating to me and would never allow me to give it serious consideration for five stars.
Result: The Ultimate Warrior via pinfall
Rating: ****1/2
03-24-2018
, 10:25 PM
Quote:
Honestly, I'm always surprised that some around here (iso, True North) regard this as a five-star match, because IMO the final act of the match sucks. They announce the winner the second Savage gets up to attempt a third elbow, and then Warrior wins with a foot on the chest (after a significant delay) despite not hitting one convincingly devastating move.
I also disagree about the devastating move. It wasn't anything that Warrior did, though:
03-24-2018
, 10:28 PM
Anyway, as those familiar with this match know, the three-count is far from the end of this thing. Warrior celebrates for a moment, climbing each corner, but then he pretty quickly exits stage left.
As soon as Warrior has left the picture, Sensational Sherri walks into the ring furious. She stands over Savage and berates him, then rares back and kicks him in the guts. A second time. And then a third time. The camera pans to Miss Elizabeth, who watches on with concern. Sherri keeps attacking, slamming Savage's face into the mat. Elizabeth has had enough.
She jumps over the guardrail, runs to the ring, and flings Sherri to the outside.
Savage, clueless as to who was just hitting him, gets up and sees Elizabeth. He momentarily points an accusing finger at her, but realizes that it was actually Sherri that was just kicking him. He looks intensely at Elizabeth, who is looking back at him with tears in her eyes.
Heenan: "She loves him! She's in love with the Macho King!"
Monsoon: "She's loved him since the beginning!"
Heenan: "And I think he loves her!"
Savage finally processes the moment, shakes it off, and...
Gorilla Monsoon proclaims, "What a woman, and what a man! ... What a moment in history."
It really never loses its impact. What a tremendous moment in wrestling history.
As soon as Warrior has left the picture, Sensational Sherri walks into the ring furious. She stands over Savage and berates him, then rares back and kicks him in the guts. A second time. And then a third time. The camera pans to Miss Elizabeth, who watches on with concern. Sherri keeps attacking, slamming Savage's face into the mat. Elizabeth has had enough.
She jumps over the guardrail, runs to the ring, and flings Sherri to the outside.
Savage, clueless as to who was just hitting him, gets up and sees Elizabeth. He momentarily points an accusing finger at her, but realizes that it was actually Sherri that was just kicking him. He looks intensely at Elizabeth, who is looking back at him with tears in her eyes.
Heenan: "She loves him! She's in love with the Macho King!"
Monsoon: "She's loved him since the beginning!"
Heenan: "And I think he loves her!"
Savage finally processes the moment, shakes it off, and...
Gorilla Monsoon proclaims, "What a woman, and what a man! ... What a moment in history."
It really never loses its impact. What a tremendous moment in wrestling history.
03-24-2018
, 10:31 PM
Quote:
My list of 5* matches. Savage vs. Warrior not included.
I also disagree about the devastating move. It wasn't anything that Warrior did, though:
I also disagree about the devastating move. It wasn't anything that Warrior did, though:
I just really think, the way wrestling is booked even back then, and particularly in a match already featuring multiple finisher kickouts, that a delayed cover like that is already suspect enough without it being a boot on the chest. I remembered you complimenting that aspect (the boot on the chest part) and I always firmly disagreed.