Wrestling Classics

[Moderndaywarrior]

The first meeting was a wrestling clinic by almost any standards,in the end Ric was a little too Slick for "The Bock", locking on The Figure Four to make it 1-0.....will "The Nature Boy" dominate or does "Tricky Nicky" still have an ace up his sleeve....let's find out!

 

Bockwinkel vs Flair II

 

Flair goes for quick holds at the start but he's a little to arrogant,Nick spins behind and drives the Forearm into the Back twice,to the Head,then grabs a Hammerlock.Nick working the arm....oops,there's that closed fist again!Fireman's Carry and Nick starts wearing down Flair's Neck and Leg....whenever the ref is out of position he Punches Flair in the head to add insult to injury.Three minutes in and Flair slides out of a Face Lock....he kicks Nick in the knee!Second kick whiffs and Nick takes him over in a Side Headlock,he holds on and works the neck until Flair makes the ropes and even then he doesn't let go,he just drag Flair to the middle of the ring,slaps on a Hammerlock and Drives in a Knee to the Gut.Nick working a classic style now;holds to wear the man down and as soon as the ref can't see,a cheap shot.Flair gamely fights free of an Arm Bar but his Punches have little effect on Nick ,who yanks him back into an Arm Bar.Crowd starts booing Bockwinkel,he just gives an arrogant sneer and delivers a Hammerlock Single Leg Takedown on Flair!Flair drops down and dodges a knee,he points to his head so the crowd who the smarter man is,who draws alot of boos....too bad while he was showing off how smart he was,Nick recover and picks Flair up,Fireman's Carry Takedown, into a Straddled Arm Bar!Flair slips free and stuns Bockwinkel with a short right,taking over to deliver a classic beatdown of Punches and Kicks,occasionally stopping to yell "Shut Up!" at the fans booing him.Flair is on top for five minutes until Nick puts on the brakes during a Snap Mare,gets Flair in a Double Underhook....Suplex!Nick nails him with the Knee Jab but Flair comes back with a Kick into the Knee and he grabs the left arm and twists,Nick rolls through and lands a Flurry of Punches!Knee Jab by Nick....Body Scissors and he Drives Flair down with it!Arm Bar and Nick grinds the forearm in, Wrenching away on a Hammerlock,now Wrenching a Head Scissors....Knee Jab!Flair with a cheap shot to stun Nick,he follows with a classic Flair Knife Edge Chop,yu could hear that one in the upper deck!Flair back to the Knee with a Kick...he traps Nick in a Small Package.....not even a 1 count!Flair with the Backslide...1...2....kick out!Flair wails away with punches...short arm knee to the stomach...Flair picks Nick up from behind,but it gets turned into a flying body press!1.....kick out at 1.5!Flair slips a punch,Standing Headlock,he backs Nick into the corner...series of chops is blocked! Flair with a forearm, backslide!1....kick out!Flair with the Hammerlock,he drives Nick into the corner,then mounts him for a series of Ten Punches In The Corner!Flair,who was in trouble,suddenly looks his old arrogant self.....Flair Measured Elbow Drop....Grounded Elbow Drive to the Amr....Measured Knee Drop...crowd booing Flair badly.....Flair Measured Elbow Drop.....noone home and Flair catches a Knee to the face!Now they forget all about technique and duke it out,punches,chops and kicks galore!Flair wins the fight and slams Nick,he goes up the turnbuckles.....knee drop(OMG THAT was the move he was trying to do those other 7 million times when he got bodyslammed off the top!)Flair moves in for the kill....Nick pulls the ropes down and shoves him over the top to the ooutside! Flair hit the ground hard...Nick goes out and drags him back in...Small Package.....Bockwinkel has the Trunks!1....2....3!No....No....Flair just barely made the ropes!Nick drags him back to the middle,Piledriver!1.....2......out at the VERY last second!Flair scrambles away,catches Nick with a Slam and goes up again....Miss! Nick pulls him into The Abdominal Stretch.....ref checks.....Flair is weakmhe could go......no,he escapes!Flair slams Nick,he goes up a thrid time....Flying Knee!1....2.....Nick turns it into a Small package,he has the trunks...1...2....kick out!Flair is asking for mercy...Nick comes in...but he sees it coming,he's used that trick too....he blocks the sucker shot and sets Flair up....Piledriver!1.....2....no!Flair slips behind...he picks Nick up....Knee Breaker turned into a pin by Nick!1....2....Flair is out!Nick with a Small Package..1....2....Flair barely out!Flair slow to recover,and Nick locks in The Oriental Sleeper! Ref checks....arm falls once......falls twice.......falls again....that's it! Bockwinkel has put Flair out with The Oriental Sleeper! Series evens at 1-1 as wild applause and "That was awesome!" chants break out.

 

The winner......in 39:20......Nick Bockwinkel!

Rating: A+ (was there any doubt?)

[D. Boons Ghost]

That very well could have been one of the greatest WS matches I have come across.

 

And not just because Bockwinkel won.

 

A tremendous read; thanks!

[thatoneguy]

And here we are, yet again, an even 1-1. But damn if Bockwinkle wasn't on fire at the end of the last match.

[Moderndaywarrior]

The Nature Boy took a little snooze in a fantastic match and Bockwinkel evens things up,but who's the best? Final match,and just to make sure it's settled we'll make it 2 out 3 falls!

 

Bockwinkel vs. Flair III : The Rubber Match

 

They circle....Flair comes in,Nicj goes to the eyes and follows with a closed fist!Nick grabs some standing holds,working the arm and neck....takedown by Nick,Flair scrambles free....and they go toe to toe,slugging it out! Flair wins the fight.tells some guys in to first row to "Shut up,I'm trying to wrestle!" and lands a few shots,he follows with a Suplex!Flair working head,Nick ducks....a pair of European Uppercuts and Nick goes back to the Flair's neck with holds.Flair gets free,but who's that on the apron, it's Bobby"The Brain"Heenan!He fires off a few choice words for Flair....Flair levels him with a right and Heenan gets all tangled up in the ropes!The crowd gets a good laugh at Heenan stuck upside down as Flair goes to work.He work's Nick's neck and arm on the mat until Heenan(who by now has freed himself) threaten's to "slap the taste" out of Flair's mouth...Flair gabs him....Nick sneaks up behind a delivers a Forearm to the Back!Flair comes back.......now it's Nick....now Flair.....fast chain wrestling action!Flair gets the advantage with a trademark chop and Nick falls into the corner.Flair takes him Pillar to Post then mounts up....1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Punches!Flair measures......Elbow!Seated Bionic Elbow...Flair Measured Elbow Drop....Flair is on fire!Nick finally rolls away and slows the action back down with standing holds..Flair with the revserse into a Schoolboy....only 1!Flurry of Punches and Flair has Nick down,Low Blow by Nick!Flair rolls away and Nick misses and elbow.....Flair Measured Elbow Drop!Reversal sequence,Nick stays one step ahead,Heenan points to his head and shouts something about Flair being stupid....boos erupt as Nick sneers and levels Flair with a big roundhouse!Flair bounces right back up and lands a Flurry.....he catches Nick off guard with a Spinning Toe Hold!Nick is out....Flair with a Small Package...he has the trunks!1....2.....Nick barely gets out!Nick is angry and Flair begs off,he suckers him into a cheap shot!Ref is angry but Flair brushes him off and goes back to the Spinning Toe Hold!Nick is in big trouble,but he slips out of the hold!Flair charges,Nick ducks,and comes up with a Double Underhook Suplex!Bockwinkel takes over with Straddled Arm Bars and Knee Jabs.....Flair gets away...Small package with a handful of trunks...1.....2....kick out!Flair begs off again,but this time Nick just floors him with a hard right and applies a Driving Body Scissors!Bockwinkel scoops him up....Piledriver!1....2....3!Bockwinkel takes the first fall!Short break and the bell for fall two sounds....Flair charges but Nick sidesteps and Knees Flair in the Gut!Back Suplex puts Flair down and Nick goes to the arm....he works Arm Locks......out of nowhere he gets a Hammerlock and starts rolling with it......it's the old Rolling Hammerlock!Ref comes in to check....Flair is screaming like a banshee......he reaches out for the ropes....comes up short.....reaches....comes up short......and gives it up!Bockwinkel proves his dominance by taking two straight falls!

 

The Winner in two straight falls......at......48:50.......Nick Bockwinkel!

Rating: A+(natch,that first D rated match was just their warmup)

[D. Boons Ghost]

Great match!!

 

Bobby Heenan proves to be the deciding factor in the epic Bockwinkel vs. Flair debate. As he probably should.

[rjhabeeb]

Yeah thats what I like to see

[Moderndaywarrior]

I was suprised Nick won the second fall in rapid fashion,but it was cool to see him break out The Rolling Hammerlock,a very rarely used move(but a good one!).

 

WS2 did a good job with it though,imo,it was close to what I'd expect:hold for action with just enough "dirty" spots to build the story without being the escessive,and the ending.....both guys managing to come SO close to losing that you'd believe it could go either way,until one guy finds a way to snatch victory from defeat......classic stuff.

[Moderndaywarrior]

Next we'll take a look at two teams EVERYONE knows....

 

The Rock N' Roll Express vs. The Midnight Express

 

The R N' R's started off in Memphis as a sort of "Poor man's Fabulous Ones";at the time Stan Lane and Steve Keirn were the first "Pretty Boy" type team around(in Memphis anyway),they were without a doubt the most popular team in the Mempis promotion's area of all time.In the early 80's,Memphis was running two towns per night and since the Fabs couldn't be in two places at once(unlike years back,when promoters would use the trick of pushing masked teams like The Infernos,then put different guys under the mask,thus allowing one team to actually be in two places at once),one town always felt shafted because they didn't get to see The Fabs Wrestle....so Lawler and Jarrett came up with the notion of making a secondary pretty boy team to run the "B" towns on the circuit...thus forming the pairing that would go on to NWA greatness(imo more due to Ricky Morton's ability to get the crowd going by getting beat up),while the Fabulous Ones would go to the AWA and languish for a few years(imo due to Verne having no clue how to book them).....they would break up and Keirn would go on to be....um.....skinner....while Stan Lane would go on to be an eventual member of our other team in this classic feud....

 

The Midnight Express:"Loverboy" Dennis Condrey started off in the 70's,spending alot of time in Memphis(where he would form another classic heel team with Phil Hickerson) and Ron Fuller's SECW.Condrey eventually became a member of the "Original" Midnight Express,along with Randy Rose and future PYT Norvell Austin,managed by everyone's favorite mama's boy,Jim Cornette."Beautiful" Bobby started off at a young age,he spent a lot of time wrestling to time limit draws with a certain "Macho Man" back before the ICW was formed,he would settle in Memphis and be brought in to team with Condrey and Cornette,forming the Midnight Express lineup most are familiar with,(the other more well known lineup being Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane)....almost an Anti-Rock N' Roll express with their "Young and ****y" image.

 

The actual feud(IRL) didn't start until mid-1984 after Bill Watts had brought in Bill Dundee to help get the gates up for MSW;noting that MSW had not "Pretty Boy" teams,Dundee arranged to bring in Morton and Gibson(since they weren't really getting over in Memphis,The Fabulous Ones were a tough act to follow).By that time Condrey and Eaton,along with Cornette,were already in the area;the two teams would trade a few wins(and,IIRC,the MSW Tag Titles) a few times,leading to a big ME express win.The following week on MSW TV the Midnights and Cornette rolled out a cake and held a victory party...Cornette is his usual loudmouth self and manages to upset Morton & Gibson,who come out,words are exchanged,and Cornette ends up face first into the victory cake. Boyd Pierce(Pearce?) and Bill Watts thought this was the funniest thing they'd ever seen and replayed the incident several times on TV....Cornette took offense,blamed the R N' R's for embarrasing him on national TV,and the stage was set for years and years of fantastic matches.

 

If Lawler could see the future and decided to run this program in Memphis a year earlier,who would have won? Let's go to WS2 for the answer....

 

Same deal as always: 3 match series 2v2(match),Regular,Virtual Arena

 

 

Predictions are welcome.

[D. Boons Ghost]

<p>Oh, wow... this is a classic tag team match-up: The Teenyboppers vs. the Guys with the theme song from Midnight Express and the nerdy manager. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

I'll have to admit to not being much of a Rock & Roll Express fan, but I have always enjoyed Ricky Morton's work - especially his getting the crap beaten out of him by the original Dynamic Duo (Blanchard & Hernandez) while teaming with Ken Lucas in Texas. </p><p> </p><p>

Bobby Eaton, on the other hand... I've always been a fan. </p><p> </p><p>

Midnights take it in 3.</p>

[Moderndaywarrior]

Same here;growing up I went with the R N R's mostly because Cornette annoyed me...now that I have matured I think I prefer the Midnights.Condrey was good with Hickerson and Rose;Eaton was just flat out talented,one of those few that could brawl,wrestle,and even fly....Ricky Morton sure does take a good butt kicking though.<img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[D. Boons Ghost]

Same here... the first I ever heard of Condrey was his teaming with Hickerson in Memphis. Much like Eaton's partnership with Koko Ware, the Condrey & Hickerson tag team is tremendously underrated.

 

I never got a chance to see the original Midnight Express (Condrey, Rose & Norvell Austin), but I've heard great things about them.

 

 

And - again like yourself, Cornette flat-out annoyed me when he first hit the scene. As a big Adrian Street fan, I detested the fact he had Corny as his manager in Memphis. Miss Linda, I felt, was a thousand times better.

 

Cornette would eventually grow on me. Still, I've always felt he was a tad overrated as a mouthpiece. Of course, this makes me a stupid mark. But... whatever.

[Moderndaywarrior]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="23536" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Same here... the first I ever heard of Condrey was his teaming with Hickerson in Memphis. Much like Eaton's partnership with Koko Ware, the Condrey & Hickerson tag team is tremendously underrated. <p> </p><p> I never got a chance to see the original Midnight Express (Condrey, Rose & Norvell Austin), but I've heard great things about them. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> And - again like yourself, Cornette flat-out annoyed me when he first hit the scene. As a big Adrian Street fan, I detested the fact he had Corny as his manager in Memphis. Miss Linda, I felt, was a thousand times better. </p><p> </p><p> Cornette would eventually grow on me. Still, I've always felt he was a tad overrated as a mouthpiece. Of course, this makes me a stupid mark. But... whatever. <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Never saw the original ME live,but i have seen it on tape,they are good in a Condrey/Hickerson kind of way,with Cornettes mouth in the background.Good call on Eaton/Ware though,that was a good "all arounder" kind of team.</p><p> </p><p> I agree,I wouldn't put Cornette on a level with Bobby Heenan or Ernie"Grand Mr.J.Wellington Abdullah Klean Wizard Farouk" Roth,but he's still pretty far up there.Even now when I watch ME footage,I STILL think "Jesus,that Cornette is such a loud mouthed annoying jerk,I'd really like to see him get beat up";being able to still generate heat 20 years after the fact must count for something lol.</p>

[Moderndaywarrior]

<p>Classic feud on! <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Rock N' Roll Express vs. The Midnight Express I:</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Morton sprints across the ring and nails Condrey with a forearm as soon as the bell rings....and......big shocker here......no effect, Condrey starts beating Morton up with punches and kicks.Condrey has Morton down,he's punching him as he lays there and drops a knee.Morton rolls away from an elbow drop,and he's all over Condreys leg with the classic hamstring pull.Condrey recovers and decks Morton,then mares him down...now he's kicking Morton as he lays there...Morton rolls away from an elbow....dives across the ring....tag to Gibson!Gibson takes right over on Condrey with the front face lock,hammers him with forearms and a knee to the gut.....atomic drop!The girls in the crowd start cheering as Gibson nails a sweet handstand knee drive to the arm before locking on a straddled arm bar....another knee drive to the arm....fistdrop to the forehead....third knee drive and the girls are going nuts!Gibson is on fire....fistdrop...working the legs...Condrey finally makes a rope and lands a cheap shot....Gibson fires back..Cornette up,he grabs Gibson's arm,Gibson drills him with a hard right to send him to the floor,he turns and catches Condrey charging in with a jab...jab......flurry of jabs!Rapid fire dropkicks...gibson bounces off the ropes and soars...he's gonna put this one away already!Whoops,Gibson crashes and burns,Condrey punches away until Gibson gets up...drop toe hold,a tag,and eaton is in!Gibson fires off a punch but Eaton isn't having it,he beats Gibson up,and nails a beautiful slingshot back breaker!Eaton measure...big knee dropp misses!Gibson with a headlock to get control...Eaton punches out,and a second slightshot backbreaker!He measures....knee drop to the head of gibson connects!Gibson throws a weak punch,Eaton gives him a jab flurry,and a second measured knee drop.Eaton with back to back slingshot backbreakers and he goes to the arm.Gibson looks down and out,Eaton shouts "How'd ya like that?There's your pretty boy!"....chorus of boos....strangely enough it sounds like the men are cheering though.He lifts Gibson......Diving DDT!1.....2.....3!Midnights go up 1-0 in a slightly disappointing opening match.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>The winners......in 17:30.....the Midnight Express!</strong></p><p>

<strong>Rating: E</strong></p>

[thatoneguy]

C'mon R&R! Pull it together! I swear though, I've got Deja Vu thanks to this topic.

[captainlou]

Your classics are starting to give me an itch to resurect the Undertaker for another try but I don't know how much interest there would be.

[Moderndaywarrior]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="captainlou" data-cite="captainlou" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="23536" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Your classics are starting to give me an itch to resurect the Undertaker for another try but I don't know how much interest there would be.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><p> I say go for it,I'll be a reader for sure. <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[thatoneguy]

I'll be checking it out too. I loves me some Mean Mark.

[Moderndaywarrior]

Rematch time!

 

Rock N' Roll Express vs. Midnight Express II :

 

Morton and Eaton start it off....classic slugfest at the bell,both guys taking shots but firing right back,Morton switches up and goes to the arm with an arm wringer,getting Eaton off guard.Morton with a few standing face and head locks....headlock takeover....and a knee into the leg.Eaton blocks a hold,recovers but it's still Morton...forearm....forearm...jab....jab....and a single right hand from Eaton gives him the upper hand.Eaton with a headlock,Morton elbows free,and Morton is firing away with punches!Morton springs off the ropes,right into a hip toss by Eaton,who scrambles over and tags Condrey.Condrey controls him with a face lock,and it's a fistfight again! Ricky is actually getting the better of it until and ineffective jab leads to a takedown and a grounded punch by Condrey.....Loverboy Dennis in control,really working the head and neck with headlocks,punches,and kicks....he puts Morton's leg on the seond rope and leaps.....Ricky rolls away and Conrdey comes down hard knee first!Condrey up and Ricky fires in punch after punch...he tags Gibson and he keeps it going with a long headlock hold...Condrey forces his way out and pounds Gibson with punches,headlock takeover....Condrey is working Gibson's neck as well with punches,kicks,and headlocks on the mat.Flying knee drop misses and Gibson capitalizes...Hamstring pull....handstand knee drive to the injured leg!Gibson working an inside toe hold.....reverse to a face lock by Condrey...series of punches,tag and Eaton is in.Top wrist lock but Gibson wins out and takes it to a headlock...Eaton battered by punches,he responds with a solid right,stunning Gibson and he follows up.....sets for the backbreaker,Gibson nails him with a forearm....Gibson dropkick misses and Bobby goes to the arm with a straddled arm bar...Eaton measures....knee drop across the forehead of Gibson!Bobby working the arm,Gibson makes the ropes.....jabs by Eaton,Gibson clinches and turns it into a small package,only a 1 count....flying forearm by Gibson brings Eaton down!Eaton recovers,dropkick by Gibson sends him into the corner,Gibson follows in and mount hims for the old 10 punch in the corner,the crowd loved that one!Gibson sets a back suplex...standing switch...Eaton drops him down with the Atomic Drop!Gibson blocks a wrestling hold,dropkick puts Eaton in the corner,another 10 punch,this time Eaton holds on to Gibson and turns it into the slingshot backbreaker!Measured knee drop,Gibson is in big trouble....Condrey comes in,ref puts him back and while that happens Cornette tosses the tennis racket to Eaton....big swing ducked,forearm and the racket goes flying!Slugfest,Gibson is cut off,Condrey tags in...dropkick....Gibson with a roll,Morton is in!Morton's on fire....jab flurry...punches....spinning head scissors!Fly fist drop missed!Condrey back in control,working the head with punches and kicks,and a nice seated bionic elbow....lifts Morton from behind....Knee Face Driver!Rope assisted knee drop....seated bionic elbow...running kick and he rubs Morton's face into the mat!Morton gets mad,fights his way up....flurry of shots...drop kick puts Condrey in the corner...corner dropkick and condrey slumps down...swan dive....no,it missed Eaton is in.Eaton with an arm bar,Morton is not letting him work it any more,and the girls in the crowd start hollering "Go,Ricky,Go!"..Morton with a few shots...cut off when Eaton slips behind and picks Morton up...off the ropes,Slingshot backbreaker!Eaton with two measures knees,and he applies a short arm scissors,Ricky is in agony!Morton somehow makes it out with some help from the female fans...Eaton is unfazed though,he administers The Divorce(a type of single arm DDT)....1....2.....3!Midnights take the series in two straight;I'll run the third match just to see if the R N. R's get truly swept or manage to win one for pride's sake.

 

The winners.....in34:10.....The Midnight Express!

Rating: C+(too few high spots i think)

[Moderndaywarrior]

Well,one thing I have learned so far from this series (other than ME owns the RNR's...and also Bockwinkel is the man:))

 

From a WS2 perspective,the most important thing needed for a well rated match is opponents with enough overness to be able to go for awhile regardless of any energy difference,they either:

 

A. Need to be close enough in overness to allow back and forth action

 

or

 

B. The "Underdog" needs to be "on his game" enough to make up for the energy difference enough so that it looks like he has a real shot at winning.

 

 

The other thing I have learned: High rated moves do help but more importantly you need some near falls/near submissions to get the crowd going.

 

 

Funny how it works out just like real wrestling like that.

[Moderndaywarrior]

Midnights have already won the series,let see if Ricky and Robert can pull one out for pride's sake:

 

R N' R Express vs. Midnight Express III:

 

They lock up...Morton with an arm bar to an arm twist, that's a classic old school opening sequence right there.....of course responds by just punching him in the face,and ties him up in knots with grounded arm bars and headlocks.Ricky's already wearing down but he rolls away from a big knee drop,and the girls go wild.Ricky makes the tag,Robert in and he's beating Eaton down a little,Eaton shows him how it's done though,headlock takeover and he works Gibson with all sort s of face,arm,and head locks,now Robert is hurting too.Condrey in,and you can tell he's an old school Memphis heel, he just punches Gibson over and over,no attempt at an actual move whatsoever.Gibson gets the hands up,fire a few shots back,takeover,and Gibson works the leg;he misses a knee drop though and while Gibson is favoring the leg,Condrey grabs him and rubs his face into the mat....exchange of blows and the girls cheer for Robert,he ducks behind and tags Ricky in,who promptly delivers an atmoic drop on Condrey.Conette is up......and Cornette is down...but Condrey snuck a cheap shot in and he's back in control.Morton ducks a clothesline....Knee face driver! All Ricky,he's going to town with holds targetting the legs.....eventually Conrdrey muscles out and brings in Eaton...Eaton with a big atomic drop,big knee drop misses and Morton works the leg.Eaton recovers and Morton punches him around a bit,Robert in,the beating continues.... fist drop gets nothing but mat....and Eaton with an impressive series of moves in return....atomic drop...neckbreaker....backbreaker.....Diving DDT! Cover...1....2.....3! Midnight Express reigns supreme,but the match still stank

 

The winners......in 20:50.....The Midnight Express

Rating: E

 

Next up....Pencils and fire and swords.....oh my!

[Moderndaywarrior]

We'll go it old school hardcore,it's

 

The Sheik vs. Tiger Jeet Singh

 

The Sheik started off in the late 40's as you standard wrestler of the time,but eventually found his bloodhtirsty "Sheik" character was the ticket to draw big money....he was one of the first hardcore madmen(and uncle to Sabu), doing things like throwing fire,and using his lengendary pencil which he ALWAYS managed to sneak into the ring(and always managed to end up getting stabbed with himself after the good guy got it away from him),as well as a penchant for rolling his eyes into his head and refusing to release submission holds,he became one of the first internationally hated bad guys...The Sheik held the old U.S. Title for 7 years straight,headlining cards in Detroit and Montreal every other week,always coming SO close but never losing a match until Bobo Brazil finally pinned him after a Coco Butt,starting off a feud that lasted into the 1990's(!).One of the most attacked wrestlers(by fans) and one of the scariest as well,the Sheik was one of the few who could bail from the ring and actually make the fans back away in fear.

 

Singh,on the other hand,was a product of NJPW's Antonio Inoki:during the 70's when Inoki was at his peak, he was blocked from using most American talent due to an agreement between the N.W.A. and Baba's AJPW.Wanting a foreign heel, Inoki did and angle where he was out on the street and was jumped a crazy Indian guy,setting off a feud that would last for years,until Singh jumped ship to Baba's AJPW. Every bit as crazy as the Sheik,Singh was much like NJPW's answer to The Sheik....Singh also worked the Montreal area and found great success there as a good guy due to a large Hindu population.This eventually led to an inevitable "Madman vs. Madman" feud between the two that would see just about every crazy stipulation ever employed(and a good deal of weapons too).

 

Let's see how crazy these two can get in WS2....three match series...hardcore rules.

[D. Boons Ghost]

One of the best Sheik stories, and one that solidified his gimmick:

 

In Chicago, The Sheik was set to face Lou Thesz. Thesz had let it be known that he couldn't stand Farhat's gimmick. As result, Thesz was going to break both of The Sheik's legs.

Farhat, the jive cat that he was, knew the score. At the opening bell he scurried out of the ring, up the aisle, and straight into the winter streets, where he promptly hid under a bus for something like two hours.

 

The publicity for the stunt was off the charts.

 

 

Jeet Singh? Eh... not so much.

[Moderndaywarrior]

And heeere we go.....

 

The Sheik vs Tiger Jeet Singh I

 

Sheik open with the side headlock....to a hammerlock....and they say he can't wrestle.....oh wait,that's more like it,pencil to the arm....pencil to the leg....now Sheik is choking Singh!Singh goes down and just for fun the Sheik stabs him in the arm with the pencil again before picking him up and beating him up with punches and kicks.Singh ducks a punch,hammerlock...and now he's pounding the shoulder area....Sheik with the switch to a facelock.....gutwrench suplex.Now Sheik i stomping the arm and tearing away at the face of Singh,and Tiger is bleeding!Singh muscles up and goes back to the hammerlock,pounding the shoulder,it sets up a sidebeaker.Sheik up,back to the hammerlock,Singh uses the tights to set up the forearm to the back,Sheik with a standing switch....wrenching hammerlock takedown.Singh quickly recovers,back to the hammerlock,wailing on the shoulder,Singh tries to press the advantage but Sheik cuts him off with the greco roman shot to the throat....Sheik with a hammerlock....pencil to the shoulder!Singh is driven into a corner on the hammerlocked arm,Sheik follows with the corner eye gouge!Sheik with the wrenching hammerlock takedown,he picks Singh up,reversal to a headlock by Singh....now Singh is beating the Sheik up with punches....he stops,looks like Singh is communing with Allah,who tells him to quit messing around and use the foreign object Singh brought with him to counter the pencil....and Singh obliges by raking Sheik in the eye with the object.Sheik is blinded and goes down,Singh follows up with another eye rake with the object...Singh tries it again,Sheik moves out of the way and stabs Singh in the arm with his pencil.Sheik goes to hit Singh in the throat but Singh(who is starting to bleed more) beats him to it with a throat thrust.Singh rips at the face and drops a seated hammer,Sheik is in the ropes so Singh lets him up....so he can clip him in the eyes with his foreign object...Singh follows with another shot to the eye on the ground,Sheik responds with the pencil.....no! Singh blocked it....struggle.....Singh has the pencil! Singh has the pencil! Sheil takes one in the arm,in the head, Sheik is down!Singh slams Sheik's face into the face and the Sheik bleeds(which is about as suprising as Dusty bleeding).Singh has the arm bar on,he has the pencil and goes to the crowd.....pencil to the eye of the Sheik!Sheik finally scurries away and seems to be looking for something as Singh moves in for the kill.....FIREBALL BY THE SHEIK!FIREBALL BY THE SHEIK!Singh immediately goes down....cover....1....2....3! Sheik goes up 1-0 in a classic Sheik match,once again the AI impesses me with the way it put the match together....suprisingly it was kind of low rated.

 

The winner......in 16:40......The Sheik!

Rating: C-

[D. Boons Ghost]

... looks like Singh is communing with Allah,who tells him to quit messing around and use the foreign object Singh brought with him to counter the pencil...

 

Absolutely brilliant commentary. I laughed. I cried. I threw a fireball into my wife's makeup case. Hah! Eye line that, witchiepoo!

 

Great stuff!

[Moderndaywarrior]

Yeah,the AI was awesome on that one....it basically went.....Sheik jumps the guy,oh no,he's stabbing the good guy with the pencil....the good guy is bleeding,the good guy got the pencil away from Sheik and stabs him with it.....the Sheik is bleeding,looks like Sheik is going to lose.....no,something crazy happens and the Sheik sneaks away with the win.

 

So pretty much,the AI re-created every headline match the Sheik ever had.....which may leave me no choice but to call in Bobo Brazil and see if the Coco Butt can get the job done:)