Andrew Lutzke
The Fantastics vs. Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey (9/28/1984)
This is a no-DQ match. A four-way brawl breaks out almost right away. The heels are quickly disposed of and the brawl continues on the arena floor. The Fantastics dominate, tossing the heels together and delivering a double noggin knocker. The first several minutes is almost nothing but the heels being rocked and rattled in the ring. A cheap shot by Condrey finally gives the Express an opening to take control.
Fulton and Rogers both suffer from the wrath of the Express’ punches, suplexes, and choking before Fulton’s arm becomes a focus point for their attack. The Express use this variation of moves to control the meat of the match.
The Fantastics finally rally as the screams of the crowd become frantic. Condrey is tied in the ropes and abused. A series of near falls ends abruptly when Tommy Rogers accidentally knocks the ref to the floor. Jim Cornette quickly gets involved as he uses ether to smother Rogers, meanwhile Fulton is double teamed in the ring, which directly leads to the pin at around the 15-minute mark as Fulton can’t overcome the numbers game. A solid match,but past the opening brawl the matches with these teams are starting to blend together. Not bad, but not great
Chris Adams vs. “Exotic” Adrian Street (10/10/1984)
Bill Watts denounces Street’s flamboyant look and mannerisms (in other words, gay bashing). Street prances around the ring. Street slaps Adams with disdain. Adams answers in kind. The men trade arm work, each trying to gain the advantage by maintaining their vertical base as their opponent is ground to the mat. Street wrenches on Adams’ fingers in a nasty looking spot. Street rolls out of several moves Adams attempts to set up. The Exotic one then poses in an over the top manner, earning him a superkick to the face. Adams blows this big opportunity though by charging at Street, only to crotch himself in the ropes.
Street wraps Adams’ leg around his head to try and stretch the ligaments unnaturally. Street eats an enziguri. Terry Taylor (who is feuding with Street) comes down and kisses his valet, Miss Linda. Street does something off camera to earn himself a disqualification at about the 6-minute mark, but the action does not stop there. Street accosts his valet, yanks her hair and slaps her multiple times before dragging her to the back. I was loving Street’s unique moves, Street presents an interesting character and I was genuinely disappointed in the match having ended abruptly.
The Fantastics vs. Chavo and Hector Guerrero (10/12/1984)
The Fantastics are still in the middle of sharing some love with their fans when the Guerreros start the fight. The heels are quickly dispatched and the Fantastics return to playing to the crowd. Chavo finds himself rattled by a series of snap mares, followed by being entrapped in an arm wringer. Chavo takes flight as he endures several big arm drags. Both Rogers and Fulton take turns abusing Chavo’s arm. Hector does not fare much better until Rogers misses a dropkick. Rogers is quickly sent to the floor and into the railing. Rogers spends the next several minutes being battered by the heels.
Rogers finally makes the hot tag and the Guerreros fly for Fulton’s punches. Things quickly turn into a four-way brawl. Fulton attempts to pin Hector as the ref is tied up with getting Rogers out of the ring. This allows Chavo to perch himself on the top rope, where he comes off with a senton onto Fulton’s back. This earns the heels the win at about the 12-minute mark. The Guerreros were well trained in playing both heel and face, knowing to temper their highspots and how to make the babyfaces look good while they are selling.
Brickhouse Brown and Master Gee vs. Ernie Ladd and Butch Reed (10/21/1984)
Master Gee almost doesn’t even make it in the ring as Reed confronts him and tries to get in some kicks. Ladd and Brown work to keep Gee and Reed from brawling before things can get formally started. Ladd tries to use his size to control Brown, but twice Brown is able to take him down with speed and skill. Gee comes in and rattles both heels with flying head scissors, sending them to the floor in retreat.
Ladd continues to sell for both babyfaces, taking way more bumps than I expect from a man of his size and age. Reed eventually tags in and is quickly shaken by Brown’s strikes and sent to the floor via a dropkick.
Reed wins the restart after trapping Brown in a chicken wing and a surfboard. Brown turns the tables on Reed, then gives Gee the chance to stretch Reed out with a surfboard of his own.
Ladd and Reed manage to isolate Brown and spend several minutes battering him with strikes, power moves and wear down holds. Brown finally powers up and tags in Gee, who rocks both heels with dropkicks. All four men brawl. Gee cradles Ladd, but the ref is busy with Brown, leaving Reed to smack him from his blindside, dazing Gee enough for Ladd to score the pin at the 15-minute mark. Gee had a good dropkick and head scissors, and they protected him by having him do little else. Brown had a good look was never more than a jabroni in the WWF and WCW.
JYD vs. Butch Reed (Street Fight)
This is joined in progress. Reed is wearing dress clothes. JYD is in jeans and a t-shirt. Reed attacks the Dog from the second rope, then sends JYD to the floor. JYD is piledriven on the cement floor. He’s up in less than a minute. I really hate that spot unless it’s going to leave a guy out for months with injuries. Reed wraps his tie around JYD’s throat and chokes him down. Reed then takes the JYD’s belt and whips him as Watts alludes to slaves being beaten on commentary. JYD gets a few punches in desperation and some fans at ringside leap in the air for this small glimmer of a comeback.
JYD has his knees battered as Watts explains how athletes are nothing without healthy knees to support their bodies. JYD’s cowboy boot comes off and the men scramble to use it. Dog gets it and badly rocks Reed with it’s steel toe. Buddy Landell runs in and tries to hit JYD but knocks the ref instead. JYD disposes of Landell. JYD delivers his “thump” powerslam to Reed. This brings out Ernie Ladd, who drops a leg drop on JYD. This proves to be enough for the pin after 7-minutes or so was shown.
Ladd, Landell and Reed prepare to tar and feather the JYD, but Sonny King of all people runs in and backs down the 3 heels. Dr. Death and the Rock and Roll Express eventually come in too. JYD delivers a series of headbutts to Landell, then helps pour some sticky liquid and feathers on him. Landell does a Flair flop onto the pile of feathers in a nice finishing moment. Reed was dastardly, but JYD (I love him) laid there for several minutes taking abuse while remaining immobile, surely not his finest hour.
More to come…
