Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

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Monday Night Raw
Live From Washington D.C
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We open RAW with a recap of the Kane-CM Punk-Batista-JBL-Cena storyline development from last week.
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[Opening Credits]
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John Cena's music hits to a somewhat muted reaction by his standards. Cena walks to the ring in an all business manner. He has a new T-shirt its not cool like the other one, the one thing that I assocaited with John Cena and cool is gone. Cena talks about the mixed reaction and says he's not perfect. He's made a mistake, and the way he's raised if you make a mistake you own up and face the consequences, god hang me a bucket. He socked Batista in the mouth and that has consequences, the crowd are slowly gaining interest. He asks Batista to come out and deal with the consequences right now. "Batis-ena" chant rings out.

Batista comes out wearing an incredibly gay tank top or basket ball jersey. Batista says he knows stuff happens in the heat of the moment he's watched the video package and he knows its a mistake. He likes and respects John Cena, so when he beats CM Punk at Summerslam he's gonna give John Cena the first title shot. Cena says Batista has had two shots and is in a losing streak, Cena admits he is too but other people deserve a shot. Batista can't argue with Cena's logic, but people keep interfering in his match. He knows CM Punk can't beat him and neither can Cena. John Cena says he knows Batista is happy to be home. John Cena says Batista-Cena should headline Wrestlemania, but he says it should happen tonight on Batista's home turf and we find out here tonight. Batista says he's gonna whip his arse infront of all his friends.

Here comes the Money! It's Shane O Mac and he's got on his dancing shoes, and there's one thing on his mind. He's got a new General Manager who has already made a series matches, including CM Punk vs. a hot technical free agent? John Cena will be facing JBL and Kane, and Cena's partner will be Batista, Shane dances across the stage as we go to comercial.
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Not a bad start, Batista was fumbling his words a bit but the likes to play it cool, the crowd were a bit muted though, Cena kept his cringeworthiness to a minimum and it was nice to see Shane so decent start. Interest to see the hot technical free agent, it best not be D'Lo Brown. I'm still in shell shock however, a wrestler actually watched a replay, found out he was struck by accident and was cool about it.
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[Commercial Break]
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Kelly Kelly & D'Lo Brown vs. Santino & Beth Pheonix
Well I'm all in favour of anything involving Satino and Beth. We see Santino talking to the "Glamarous Amazon" Santino says he's irrestitable, and Beth says the relationship is strickly proffesional and Santino agrees he's not a peice of meet and tells her to keep her eyes up here. Micheal Cole is chronically annoying.
D'Lo blocks Santino's kick and spins him into an atomic drop. D'Lo rolls through a sunset flip and kills Santino with a diving closeline. D'Lo misses a blind charge and Santino scores with a neckbreaker. Beth says lift him up, Santino can't he tags in Beth and she can, D'Lo escapes, Beth says bring it on and Kelly tags in. Kelly runs into a back breaker. Santino asks Beth for the tag and misses an elbow drop on Kelly, he knocks D'lo off the apron and rolls up Kelly Kelly for the win.
That was pretty fun and what wrestling that did occur was competantly executed. Santino comic timing and post match celebration was too briliant for words. (3/4*)
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Post Match: Santino celebrates like he's one the world cup in brilliant fashion. He hugs Beth and she acts all awkward and uncomfortable. Santino is sad, he tries to sneak in a kiss but Beth catches him and he walks off, Beth grabs him by the back of the hair and they have a big kiss and walk off.
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[Commercial Break]
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We go backstage to a full size portrait of Vince, Shane and JBL are looking at it. JBL says he wants the World Title and says Cena and Batista don't deserve a World Title shot. Batista lost his match and JBL beat Cena clean at the Great American Bash. Shane tells him to take it up with the new GM. Shane's mobile goes and he's got his own music as his ringtone, just like dad, ah....Shane has to go and speak with the new GM. Ooooh the intrigue.
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WWE World Tag Team Title Match
Jim Duggan & Jerry Lawler vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase
A referee runs down to the ring with a note and gives it to Lillian Garcia, the new GM has ordered that Jerry Lawler will not be teaming up with Jim Duggan he'll be teaming up with Micheal Cole, YES! YES! OH GOD YES! Please say he gets DDTed.
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[Commercail Break]
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WWE World Tag Team Title Match
Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase
We're back without commentary and Cole is complaining as the champs make there way to the ring, seriously he's nearly crying. Cole seems shocked when the ref tells him he has to hold the tag rope, a referee should really know that.
The match bell rings, Jerry bitch slaps Ted who tries to retaliate but runs into a boot. Ted comes back with a closeline. Rhodes in he tries to slap Jerry but gets one for his efforts. The ref is really inforcin the rules pulling both men out of the corner, Cody scores with a second rope bulldog for two. Cody locks in a keylock, some of the crowd try to come to life but most of them seem very disinterested. Jerry fights back with some lovely punches taking down both men. He goes for the piledriver but Ted hits him on the back and Cody back body drops him. Cole tries to help Jerry up but accidently tags in. Cody tosses Jerry and pulls Cole in. The crowd chant "Get the Tables" I agree but instead Cole throws a punch and nails Cody, Cody blocks his next attempt and Cole squirms before a closeline floors him. Cole's facial expression as he got pinned was awesome.
Not much of a match, and Cole gets his first real taste of being Vince's number one new whipping boy. (1/4*)
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[Commercial Break]
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YES YES YES!!! This is the best Raw ever its.....Mike Adamle! Apparently he got a call in head office earlier in the week and told him to be here tonight, and he sounds good.
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Jamie Noble is in the ring with the insanely beautiful Layla, he says he's got the looks of Obama and eats oats like McCain. He wants to impress the new GM and he's challenge Kofi for the IC title.
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Jamie Noble vs. Kofi Kingston
Jamie gets a body slam for two but runs into boot. Kofi scores with two dropkicks sorry "double leg dropkick" thank you Mike. Kofi gets the big legdrop and a second rope crossbody but Noble rolls through for two. Kofi counters the fireman's carry into his spinning scissor kick for two.
Fun Squash. (1/4*)
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[Commercial Break - End Of First Hour]
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JBL has joined Mike Adamle and Jerry Lawler and he tells Adamle to shut up as its not the home shopping network. Big pause for CM Punks promo. JBL plays on Regals man's man gimmick.
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CM Punk vs. William Regal
Regal gets a side headlock and then a droptoe hold into a face lock, Punk spins into a hammerlock, Regal wrestles him down with an arm drag into a pin for two. Regal has a side headlock which Punk breaks with a jaw breaker. Punk lays in the knees but Regal fires back with rights and lefts. Regal puts Punk's head against the ring post and big boots it, CM Punk is now bleeding from the side of the head that was brutal. Regal locks in a full nelson, and Punks nose is really bleeding. Regal floors him with a big forearm and then drops a knee. Adamle goes nuts for a forearm rub to the face. Punk gets a cradle for two but Regal runs him down with a running knee. Regal locks in a half nelson and the crowd slowly come to life as JBL lists his accomplishments. Regal fights out and unloads with the kick slap combo, Regal blocks one kick but gets brutalized with another roundhouse. Regal gets an awesome realese dragon suplex with CM Punk doing the back flip sell. Out of nowhere Punk hits the Go 2 Sleep for the win.
Well that was a good little half way match up, its great to have Regal back horrible ring attire aside, good stiff action. (*1/4)
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JBL goes to confront Punk but Kane comes to the ring, his pyro made Punk jump. Kane nails JBL, Punk hits Kane with a roundhouse but Kane swats him with a big boot, Kane looks demented as JBL calms him down.
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[Commercial Break]
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Possible last ever highlight reel. Jericho is dressed in a suit and they still have the broken Jeritron 5000 behind him. Jericho says he told the truth and he was villified and ostrasized just because he grew up and matured. Jericho wasn't seen as a international superstar just a party host and showman. He played that part becuase that's what the fans wanted. That was a mistake, he should have done what he wanted. He can't believe he wanted to host his own talkshow rather than going for the world title. He says he reached for fools gold rather than real gold. He said tonight is the last Highlight Reel ever. He says he's made a tribute to the man who's careers over and someone we'll never see in that ring again. That man is Y2J not HBK. We see him as Doink, we see him ripping on Steph's boob job, ripping on Randy's personality, planet of the apes Stephanie pie gag and then its back to the ring. He says do you miss that guy, Chris Jericho doesn't, he's embarssed by that guy. Chris Jericho has matured, he could have been a puppet on a string, he says he could have done what the fans wanted forever and they still would never have idolized him like Shawn Micheals, this crowd is really lame. Jericho took matters into his own hands, throwing him through the Jeritron and damaged his eye sight and maybe ended his career. That means more to Jericho than the rest of his career combined, because when he destroy Shawn Micheals he destroyed all of the fans as well. Lance Cade gets on the mic and says these people don't apprecaite him but he does. He was floundering before he met Jericho. Jericho saved him and for that he'll be forever grateful. Jericho appreciates Cade. He says he also apprecaites messing up Shawn's sight. He wants Shawn to listen to him, stay home, hold onto your wife and raise your kids. Be thankful for what Shawn has, be thankful for your sight, move on Shawn, Jericho has. Chris Jericho says he's the most dominent man having ended HBK's career no one deserves a title shot more than Chris Jericho.
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Good segment, the dead crowd didn't help, but this is the most ridiculously nuanced storyline in wrestling history. Well played Mr. Jericho.
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[Commercial Break]
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JR has joined King and Adamle on comentary but he doesn't know why he's supposed to be here either.
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Mickie James vs. Jillian Hall
Jillian counters a Mickiecanranna and sends Mickie face first. Jillian gets a hand spring elbow and a neck snapper and plays to the crowd allowing Mickie to get a roll up for two. They go to a finisher counter sequence and Mickie wins with the tornado DDT to win the match
Fine for what it was. (1/2*)
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Katie Lea attacks Mickie James while her father looks on sending her into the ringpost and tells the new GM that she'll be the new Woman's Champ and Paul will be the new IC Champ.
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Todd Grisham asks if he can have the scoop on the new GM but Shane says it could be a man or a woman and keeps his cards close to his chest.
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[Commercial Break]
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Summerslam Line Up So Far:
Triple H vs. Great Khali
Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry
Undertaker vs. Edge - Hell In A Cell
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We then get a plug for Jenny McCarthy on Saturday Nights Mainevent.
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Cena and Cryme Tyme are discussing the match and saying they should watch out for Batista. Batista appears and they establish that they don't trust each other very lamely.
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[Commercial Break]
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John Bradshaw Leyfield & Kane vs. John Cena & Batista
Wow when JR is next to Adamle you can really tell just how good JR is. Cena and JBL start the match, JBL pounds Cena down but he pops back up and scores with the throwback. Batista in and he scores with some shoulderblocks in the corner. JBL gives Batista club to the back but he just no sells it and gives JBL a running powerslam. The faces then clear the ring and give each other a thorough stare down.
[Commercial Break]
JBL is working over Cena when we comeback. JBL scores with two consecutive spinning neck breakers. Kane in and he scores with a low dropkick on a seated Cena. Kane lays some elbows in on Cena in the corner. Kane scores with a body slam on Cena and then locks in a chinlock. Cena fights up, Kane uses all his energy to hold Cena back and drag him over to JBL. JBL lands a big slug of Cena and then tags out. Slugfest, Kane runs into an elbow but Cena runs into a big side salto for two. Kane goes up top but Cena dodges the flying closeline and Cena scores with a DDT. HOT TAG! Batista unloads, corner closeline on JBL, Batista dodges a closeline and spine busters JBL, Batista closelines Kane. When Batista tries to run the ropes Kane low bridges Batista and he takes a big bump to the outside. Kane drops an elbow on Batista back in the ring. Kane lays some shoulders into Batista in the corner. Kane gets a body scissors on Batista, you know Batista is loving this. Batista pounds his way oout and tries to crawl to Cena. JBL tags in and knocks Cena off the apron. JBL nails some big shots on Batista in the corner. Batista runs into a boot and JBL goes for the Closeline from Hell but Batista cuts him off with a spear. Batista gives Kane a big boot and JBL gives Batista a big boot. JBL accidently hits Kane, Kane tries to chokeslam JBL but Batista spears Kane. Cena tags in and the FU wins it.
Well that was a very strong main event, drag at bit in the middle when Kane and JBL ran out of ideas but a very strong finish. (**1/4)
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Shane McMahon comes out and introduces the new General Manager for RAW MIKE ADAMLE! He announces that at Summerslam it will be Batista vs. John Cena.
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Final Thoughts: Very Fun edition of Raw, I'm enjoying the roster shake up feels much fresher and Adamle as GM has been me and Ole's fantasy booking pick since he debuted.

Royal Rumble 1990
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We have a cheesy graphic introduction a as Vince McMahon runs down the card and the competitors, the Rumble looks relatively strong, can't say the same for the card. Jesse Ventura has a pony tail, a mickey mouse shirt and mouse ears, he gives Tony Schavoine a goofy hat.
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The Fabulous Rougreau Brothers vs. The Bushwhackers.
God I hate the Bushwhackers I'd trust the Rougreaus to get a good match out of just about anybody but not them. Jesse is awesome on commentary, the Rougreaus hug to a big round of boos. The Brothers try to double team but Luke breaks that up. Butch breaks up a sleeper and then bites Jock and bites the ref. The Bushwhackers try to use the battering ram but the Rougreaus bail and the Whackers dance. Jock mocks the crowd and Luke unloads and bites him again. Jock gets a leapfrog and plays to the crowd. Jock dodges a closeline but it nails Raymond and Butch sneaks into the ring and closelines Jock to the floor from behind. The Whackers dance again as the Rougrueas regroup. Jock calls butch a kitchen saying they hit him from behind, that of course distracts Luke allowing Raymond to sneak attack. Raymond in and he scores with a side kick for two. Raymond scores with a hard Irish whip as the crowd reaches fever pitch. Raymond introduces Luke to the ring apron drawing a ludicriously cartoony sell. Back in the ring Raymond gets one. Luke starts biting Raymond again but he's floored. Raymond whips Luke into Jock who nails him with a forearm and a cocky pin gets two. Jock scores with a flying reverse elbow for two and Jock kips up. The Rougreaus work over Luke in the corner. The Rougreaus then double team flap jack Luke onto the top rope. Luke bites and nearly make the tag but the Rougreaus dive in to stop him. Jock locks in a abdominal stretch and Raymond tags in and nails Luke in the gut. Raymond cinches in a camel clutch and then changes to a body slam. Jock goes for a splash but Luke gets the knees up. HOT TAG. Butch scores with a gut punch, an awful knee lift, the Whackers then whip the two heels into each other. They go for the battering ram but Hart dives in and breaks it up and the crowd go nuts, Jimmy tries to weasel out but just as they have him cornered the Brothers come in with a double dropkick for two. The Rougeaus set up a double team but the Luke trips Jock and the Whackers use the battering ram for the win.
Well not exactly a classic but the Rougeaus worked well to tell a decent stories with the horribly limmited Bushwhackers. However it was a good pick to start the show because the crowd were massively into this one. (*3/4)
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Ted Dibiase cuts a pretty good promo saying it doesn't matter he's number one this year it doesn't matter what number he draws he'll walk out the winner.
The Genius is then in the ring and he reads a promo about how dumb the Barber is.
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Brutus Beefcake vs. The Genius
The genius randomly decides to do a cartwheel and they lock up. Genius unloads on Beefcake in the corner but Brutus comes back with an atomic drop. Genius does a cartoon oversell and runs out of the ring. The Genius uses an eyepoke and then unloads on Beefcake but he misses a running dropkick in the corner. Brutus wins a test of strenght and stomps on the hangs. Genius tries to run away but gets caught and Beefcake sort of crotches him and the Genius bails. The Genius works over Beefcake in the corner and goes for a back body drop but Brutus levels him with a boot. Brutus scores with a stump puller but the Genius comes back again with a dropkick for two. The Genius gets a roll up for two and he then scores with a body slam. The Genius comes off top with a axe handle but is met with a gut punch. Brutus follows up with a gut punch and a body slam and calls for the sleeper but the Genius counters and the ref gets bumped. The Genius unloads with some totally limmited offense but he runs right into a sleeper. Brutus puts him to sleep and starts dancing. Brutus gets the scissors and cuts away chunks of the Genius hair. Mr. Perfect runs out and unloads on Beefcake giving him the Perfectplex as the ref calls for the DQ. Curt beats him up with a chair post match.
Not too bad. (3/4*)
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The Heenan family cut a pre rumble promo.
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I Quit Match
Ronnie Garvin vs. Greg Valentine
Valentine tries to walk off but Garvin chases him and then slugs down Valentine in the ring and goes for the cover but the ref tells him there's no pins. Greg comes back with a series of ruff chops in the corner. Garvin fires back and Greg does the Flair Flop and Greg bails. Ronnie does his best impression of a boxer and scores with some jabs. Valentine comes back and floors Garvin and begins droping elbows. Greg scores with a headbutt to the midsection. Greg lays in some big shots leading to a slugfest that Garvin wins but a headbutt floors both men. Garvin goes for a piledriver but Greg counters to a back body drop but Garvin counters that into a sunset flip but Greg blocks that punching him in the face and they go to a pin sequence even with no pinfalls. Both men go down off a punch. Valentine is up first and goes for a figure four but Valentine shoots him off and gets a roll up for no apparent reason. Greg comes back with a couple of knee drops and he goes for a pin too. Valentine eventually regains some IQ and locks in the figure four but Garvin is apparently smilling apparently the leg brace is blocking it and Garvin makes fun of him. Garvin gets a roll up? Fuck this is dumb. Greg then uses the over the shoulder torture rack and he follows up with an elbow drop. Greg tries another figure four? Even though it doesn't work but its blocked anyway and he opts for a choke. Garvin comes back unloading with lefts, rights, chops and headbutts. Garvin gets a leg trip and he applies the falling indian death lock but Greg makes the ropes. Greg bails to the outside. Chopfest on the outside, Garvin goes for a piledriver on the outside but Greg counters back body dropping Garvin on the outside. Back in, Garvin misses a corner dropkick and ties himself in the tree of woe, Greg stomps Garvin until the ref unhooks him. They do a shoulderblock collision spot and both men are down. While Garvin is down Jimmy Hart takes the leg brace off and Greg scores with a back breaker and applies the figure four for Garvin holds on and tries to reverse the hold he does it but Greg makes the ropes and uses them for leverage. Garvin tries to stand but he just collapse, Greg begins working over the knee and goes for another figure four but Garvin rolls him up? Seriously this late in the match? Greg floor Garvin and goes up top but Garvin hops over and gives him a military press Garvin takes off the Hammer's knee brace and Greg gets a roll up? OH COME ON! Garvin ties Valentine in the ropes and picks up the knee brace and tries to attack Jimmy Hart but Greg attacks but Garvin is ready for him and kills him with the brace. Garvin then locks in the figure four for the win.
Really stupid in places, especailly with the roll ups, I understand them going for pins at the beginning as they get used to the new rules but I meant fifteen plus minutes in and there both still going for pins. Some of it was very good, some of it was really dull. (**)
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Curt cuts a promo on Beefcake backstage.
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Brother Love loves us and he introduces Sherri. They describe a peasent and say they know a woman like that who has no talent, finesse, she's ugly and overweight. They then introduce Saphire. Saphire and Sherri get in each others face. Brother Love doesn't let her talk, they then make face of how fat Dusty is. It goes on like this until Dusty comes out and kicks Brother Love's arse and letting Saphire slap him.
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Hacksaw Jim Duggan is backstage and he says he's coming after the Big Boss Man.
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Big Bossman vs. Jim Duggan
Slugfest to start, Bossman wins but Hacksaw comes back with two closelines sending the Bossman to the outside, the crowd love it. Bossman pulls Duggan out and they brawl outside. Bossman introduces Jim Duggan to the ring post but Duggan misses a charge and he meets the ring post shoulder first. Back in, Bossman scores with an avalanche in the corner. Duggan blocks a big boot but Bossman comes back with an Enzenguri. Bossman follows up with a headbutt. Bossman scores with a back rake and he keeps knocking Duggan down but Duggan keeps getting up. Bossman scores with a sloppy rope rider. Bossman introduces Duggan to the ringpost but he no sells it and tries to come back with a back body drop but he's decked immedietly. Bossman scores with a double throat thrust on Duggan. Bossman distracts the ref allowing Slick to choke Duggan. Bossman slugs down Duggan and applies a chinlock. Duggan fights out and unloads but he runs straight into a kitchen sink. Bossman applies a choke. Bossman takes Duggan down again and applies a facelock and then a knee drop for two. Bossman wins a slugfest and applies a bearhug but Duggan fights out with some big shots. Three headbutts send both men down. Bossman keeps working over Duggan in the corner. Duggan unloads with four short arm closelines and then one big running closeline sending Duggan to the outside. Bossman comes right back with a headbutt but Duggan evades the elbow drop. Duggan slugs away and gets a five punch in the corner. Duggan misses a blind charge and Bossman floors him with a closeline. Bossman comes off the top rope but misses with the big splash. They do a sloppy double shoulderblock spot. Slick holds Duggan but Bossman misses an hits Slick. Bossman uses the night stick leading to a DQ. Duggan comes in and nails Bossman with the 2x4 sending him to the outside he then slugs Slick to the outside. Bossman then throws chairs at Duggan and walks off.
Well that was pretty fun, the non-finish was a bit lame but I won't discount it becuase the post match made up for it. (**1/4)
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Dusty cuts a promo saying he's gonna win the Rumble, then the Rockers cut a promo, then its a horrible Snuka promo apparently he goes fishing with Sharks, Slick then tells us Akeem is gonna win the rumble. ITS THE WARRIOR, THIS PROMO IS REALLY STUPID EVEN FOR HIM, BUT ITS RATINGS NONE THE LESS, BUY THE DVD FOR THIS PROMO, I could quote everything its so so good. Jake the Snake is up next with a far more reasoned promo, its realistic and its just damn awesome, he says the winner won't be the best wrestler or the best athlete its gonna be the man who's willing to go the extra mile and sacrifice and to fake that sounds like him. The heart foundation are next, there not great, Honky is next and he isn't bad. Then its Hogan and he cuts a Hogan promo.
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The Royal Rumble
Entrant Number One is Ted Dibiase, Entrant Number Two is Koko B. Ware. Ted unloads straight away and scores with a reverse elbow. Ted gets a knife edge chop in the corner and follows it with a hard irish whip. Ted does some head pounds but Koko no sells it and unloads with a standing dropkick. Koko unloads with a jab and dance flurry. Koko goes for a closeline and Ted back body drops him clean over the top rope. Koko B. Ware is Eliminated. Hot Start. Entrant Number Three is Marty Jannety. Ted jumps him as he comes through the ropes but Jannety slides underneath and scores with two dropkicks before charging right into a big boot. Ted then scores with a closeline and Marty does a really nice sell. Ted comes off the second rope but is meet with a gut punch. Marty scores with a flying back elbow. Marty goes for a flying crossbody and Ted drops down and Marty goes flying over the top rope. Marty Jannety is Eliminated. Wow that was like two three minute miny matches. Entrant Number Four is Jake the Snake. The crowd are going absolutely nuts. Ted goes to meet him outside the ring and Ted body slams him on the outside and the he locks in the Milliopn Dollar Dream but Jake runs him into the ringpost. Back in, Jake scores with a back body drop and a short arm closeline and calls for the DDT. The crowd go apeshit. Ted counters the DDT with a back body drop. Ted misses and elbow and then charges into a knee lift. Entrant Number Five is Randy Savage. Amazing Start. Jake kills Randy with a back elbow but Ted comes back flooring Jake with a leg trip sending him hard into the turnbuckle. Savage scores with a second rope knee drop, Ted scores with a second rope axe handle and Randy scores with the bombs away axe handle and they tie Ted in the ropes and beat down on Jake. Entrant Number Six is Roddy Piper. Best rumble opening EVER! Roddy starts slugging everyone he dodges a double team closeline and scores with a double closeline of his own. Roddy unties Jake and they both unload with flurries back to back, they think about hitting each other and instead eye poke the heels. Jake gets an atomic drop on Ted and both men try to eliminate Randy. Savage does and axe handle of Piper and he does a great sell nearly going over the top rope, Ted drops knees on Piper and its brawling all round.Entrant Number Seven is The Warlord. Jake is scoring with a jab flurry but the Warlord makes the save and unleashes his lame offence on everyone. Piper starts laying huge bombs on the Warlord while on the other side Savage and Randy try to eliminate Jake. Randy scores with a second rope axe handle on Jake. Piper runs around nailing everyone and gives Savage and Ted a noggin knocker. Entrant Number Eight is Bret Hart. Savage tries to hold Bret for Ted but Bret dodges and Ted cleans Savage's clock. The Warlord gets a hard irish whip on Bret but runs into a boot. Bret and Piper double closeline the Warlord and then high five each other. Its brawling all round as Piper introduces Ted to the turnbuckle, Jake nearly eliminates Ted. Entrant Number Nine is Bad News Brown. Jake goes for a DDT on Ted but Savage closelines him over the top rope to make the save. Jake The Snake is Eliminated. Piper scores a big round house right and nearly sends Ted over the top rope but Savage makes the save. Its back to general rumble stuff until...Entrant Number Ten is Dusty Rhodes. Dusty gives Savage some bionic elbows and then a back elbow, Savage charges Rhodes and Savage is back body dropped High over the top rope. Randy Savage is Eliminated. Dusty gives Ted a ten punch in the corner. Entrant Number Eleven is Andre The Giant. Andre comes in and Hip tosses the Warlord over the top rope. The Warlord is Eliminated. Fuji and Heenan then get in each others face. Andre scores with the corner arse thump on Dusty, Andre then throws Piper in and scores with shoulderblocks on both men. Piper and Dusty turn it around and unload on Andre but he puts a stop to that with a Noggin knocker. Entrant Number Twelve is The Red Roster. Bad News Brown charges Piper and is back body dropped over the top rope, he then pops back up on the apron and pulls Piper backwards over the top rope. Bad News Brown and Roddy Piper are Eliminated. Brown and Piper brawl back up the ramp as referees try to seperate them and the crowd chant "Roddy". Virgil stops Dusty from eliminating Ted. Entrant Number Thirteen is Demolition Axe. Andre the Giant tosses the Red Rooster. The Red Rooster are eliminated. Axe pounds the crap out of Andre taking him off his feet, he tries to choke Andre who comes back with a choke of his own. The crowd start a "weasel" chant. Dusty and Axe tie Andre in the top rope and unload on him in the ropes beating the crap out of him. They say their gonna toss him but when they unhook him they give him a double chop. Entrant Number Fourteen Is Haku. Ted gives Bret Hart and Atomic drop and a second rope axe handle. Andre and Haku work down Dusty and Axe. Dusty no sells and gives Haku the flip flop and fly before collapsing. Haku unloads with chops and kicks on Axe while Andre holds him back. Entrant Number Fifteen is Smash. Smash runs straight over to Axe and helps him beat down Andre and Haku. Demoliton scores with a double back elbow on Haku. Haku saves Dibiase from elimination. Andre starts choking down Dusty who fires back with an eyepoke. Entrant Number Sixteen is Akeem. There's eight in the ring now. Axe and Smash give Andre a double closeline. Ted tosses Bret Hart and at the same time Demolition try it again and get Andre. Andre slugs Axe from the outside. Bret Hart and Andre the Giant are eliminate. Dibiase floors smash with a closeline and follows up with an inverted atomic drop. Entrant Number Seventeen is Jimmy Snuka. Superfly is met by Akeem who just pounds the crap out of him. Akeem plays to the crowd and Snuka gives him a flying chop and sends Akeem over the top rope. Akeem is Eliminated. Ted and Dusty are both slugging it out on there knees. Dusty gets to his feet and drops a bionic elbow drop. Ted comes off the second rope with an axe handle on Dusty. Entrant Number Eighteen is Dino Bravo. Bravo tries to body slam Haku out but Jimmy stops it. Demolition give Ted Dibiase a double back elbow. The crowd go nuts everytime Ted Dibiase is in jepordy. Its rumble stuff all round. Entrant Number Nineteen is Earthquake. Its Tremors!!!!!!! Earthquake gives Dusty a back closeline and sends him over and out. Dusty Rhodes is Eliminated. The match is low on big faces now. Earthquake lifts Axe up and over the top rope with ease. Axe is Eliminated. Earthquake lays some knees in on Haku in the corner. Haku comes back with a second rope headbutt. Entrant Number Twenty is Jim Niedhart. He goes straight for Earthquake but loses a slugfest. Three men try to eliminate Earthquake, they get his legs up but call for help, Snuka gets him level with the top rope. Ted comes up and helps him teeter on the top rope and Bravo gives him the final push as six men toss Earthquake in afun spot. Earthquake is eliminated. Jim and Smash give Ted a double atomic drop. Entrant Number Twenty One is the Ultimate Warrior. The crowd are going bananas. Bravo gives Warrior an inverted atomic drop but Warrior just tosses him anyway. Dino Bravo is Eliminated. The Warrior is no selling everything and starts brawling with smash. Jim and Warrior hit ted with about twenty knife edge chops absolutely killing Ted. Entrant Number Twenty Two is Rick Martel. Smash meets him with a slugfest. Ted misses a back elbow and is floored by a big forearm by Niedhart. Haku backbody drops Smash but he lands on the apron but Haku finishes him with a superkick. Smash is Eliminated. Martel is closelined over the top but in a nice spot he hangs on to the bottom rope with one hand and stays in. Entrant Twenty Three is Tito Santana. Tito goes straight for Martel and gives him ten headpounds in the corner. Warrior runs the ropes and scores with a big closeline on Haku. Tito blocks a second rope axe handle with a gut punch. Haku lays a series of shoulderblocks in on the Warrior. Entrant Number Twenty Four is the Honky Tonk Man. Big boos for Honky. Honky is met with the Warrior but Ted helps Honky double team him. Ted then helps Honky eliminate Jim. Jim Niedhart is Eliminated. The Warrior then knocks Ted over the top rope with a running closeline. Ted Dibiase is Eliminated. The Warrior gives Martel a lifting choke. Entrant Number Twenty Fire is Hulk Hogan. The roof is blown off this place. Hulk sloppily closelines Snuka out. Jimmy Snuka is eliminated. Hogan gives Haku a running corner back elbow and then big boots Haku over the top rope. Haku is eliminated. Martel gives Santana an atomic drop and is then tossed by Warrior. Tito Santana is Eliminated. Hogan gives Honky a back elbow and rips his shirt off. Honky picks up the ripped shirt and chokes out Hogan with the shirt. Entrant Number Twenty Six is Shawn Micheals. Hogan tosses Honky, Warrior Tosses Shawn Micheals and the Warrior tosses Rick Martel.
Honk Tonk Man, Shawn Micheals and Rick Martel are eliminated. Hogan and Warrior have the bit stare off as the crowd go mad. They start a shoving match, they shoulderblock each other but no one goes down, they criss cross leading to the double closeline spot. Entrant number Twenty Seven is the Barbarian. He drops elbows on both Hogan and Warrior, Barbarian gives Hogan a big boot and Rick Rude runs out of nowhere to work down Warrior. Aparently Entrant Twenty Eight is Rick Rude. Rude scores with a dropkick on Warrior. The heels are just pounding down both men but Hogan Hulks Up! Hogan then closelines all three men and Warrior goes over, Warrior comes back in the ring and closelines both Barbarian and Rude. Warrior is Eliminated. Entrant Number Twenty Nine is Hercules. Herc unloads on the heels whipping them both into Hogan's big boot and the faces have the advantage. Hogan body slams the Barbarian and gives him two elbow drops and then tries to eliminated Barbarian and fails. Hogan scores with the axe bomber closeline on the Barbarian. Entrant Number Thirty is Mr. Perfect. Perfect runs straight to the ring and attacks Hogan from behind. The commentators are debating whether Hogan intentionally eliminated the Warrior. Barbarian floors Rude with a big boot and then Herc closelines Barbarian out. The Barbarian is Eliminated.
The Final Four are Hercules, Hulk Hogan, Rick Rude and Mr. Perfect.
Perfect gives Herc a standing dropkick and Rude closelines Hercules up and over the top rope. Hercules is Eliminated. The heels try a double team but it fucks up and Perfect gets knocked to the apron. Hogan whips Rude and Curt low bridges Rude out of the ring. Rick Rude is Eliminated. Hogan slingshots Perfect back into the ring. Henning scores with a closeline and goes for the Perfect plex and nails it but Hogan hulks up and catapults Henning into the ringpost. Hogan scores with two closelines and then tosses Henning over the ringpost and out. Mr. Perfect is Eliminated and Hulk Hogan is your Royal Rumble winner.
That was an awesome Rumble from start to finish, a amazing opening with big stars and Ted Dibiase doing a superb job as the Marathon man. Lots of fueds and storylines weaved together, the draw didn't seem silly this year. The middle slowed a little but there was always something going on and moves being hit not just stalling. The Warrior-Hogan showdown was a great touch. It felt for a moment that the ending would be lame with Hogan left as teh obvious winner but Perfect played his role very well. The elimination of Rude was very clever and the Perfect Plex Hulk up moment was a really good choice to end the match when I though Hogan was just gonna run through him in a second. Fun and superbly booked, they learnt the lessons of last year and pulled out a great Rumble. (****1/2)
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Final Thoughts: The midcard is unispiring but passable but make no mistake this is a one match show. The Rumble is great and combined with Warriors ridiculous promo this is a much see, even if you only watch an hour and a bit of it.

Royal Rumble 1989
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Best Two Out Of Three Falls Match
The Heart Foundation & Jim Duggan vs. Dino Bravo & The Fablous Rougeau Brothers
Jock flips over Bret's back drop attempt but Bret scores with a diving closeline. Bret stacks the heels in the corner and Niedhart scores with a charge and then a series of shoulderblocks on all three men. Raymond low bridges Bret Hart to regain the momentum for his team. Bravo scores with a side walk slam and the The Rougeau Device secures the first fall. The Rougeau Brothers & Dino Bravo win the first fall.
Bret is still out of it, Raymond scores with a nice side gut wrench suplex for two. Jock in and he scores with a flying reverse elbow, and then a hard irish whip for two. Dino Bravo comes in and scores with an inverted atomic drop. The Rougeaus get a double team gut buster for two. Bravo comes in and locks in a bearhug. Bret slugs out of the hold but Dino holds on to stop the tag. Jock comes in but Bret scores with a sunset flip for two. Jock regains the momentum and locks in a camel clutch. Raymond sneaks in and he applies the hold. We then get a really sloppy closeline spot with Bravo and Jock comes back in and applies the boston crab. Bret crawls in the hold to the tag but the ref is distracted and he won't let the Anvil in. Raymond goes to an abdominal stretch and Jock lays in some mocking slaps. Raymond flips into the ring and showboats before scoring with a back kick for two. Bret falls ontop of a slam for two. Jock goes for a monkey flip but Bret blocks and counters into a nice inverted atomic drop. HOT TAG, Duggan is in and he's throwing cartoon sailor bombs. He gives the heels a noggin knock knocker. He gives Jock a body slam and shoots Anvil in with the slingshot splash, he does the same with Bret and they win the second fall. The Heart Foundation and Jim Duggan win the second fall.
Duggan lays in the stomps and then gives Raymond a ten punch in the corner. Duggan gives Raymond a closeline but tries to attack the heel corner but gets overwhelmed. Bravo scores with a kick to the gut. We then get the GAYEST ROPE CHOKE IN THE HISTORY OF MAN. Duggan no sells Bravo's head pounds but the heels use the numbers to overwhelm Duggan. Bret and Anvil dive in to break up the cheating. Bravo scores with a body slam and an elbow drop for two. Bravo gets an inverted atomic drop and it sends Duggan into Bret for the tag. Bret cleans house with atomic drops. Bret scores with a nice back breaker, he goes for the second rope elbow but Raymond shoves him off the second rope. Anvil dives in and the ref tries to pull him out and while the ref isn't looking Duggan nails Bravo with the 2x4 and that wins the final four. The Heart Foundation & Jim Duggan win the first fall.
Very wise choice for an opener, nothing mind blowing but a good way to start the show and get the crowd pumped, everyone played there rolls well. (**1/2)
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We then go to wrestlers drawing ther number, Ted isn't happy and ask Slick if they can talk. The rest is bad comedy. Apparently its "Good News For Bad News". Demolition and Honky aren't happy. Jake hopes Andre's still in there when he gets in. The Rockers don't really give anything away. Oh and the Bushwhackers trade numbers ugh.
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Oh god, its time for the super pose down, god this is gay, I'll never complain again in my entire life about a bikini contest again, I'd kill for Kelly Kelly and Layla right now. It's Rick Rude vs. The Ultimate Warrior incase you didn't know. Well the Warrior obviously wins each round, first its biceps, then its abs. Rude is clearly the winner realistically, but no suprise who the crowd pick. Basically this goes on for twenty minutes, its not we're near as bad as the weight lifting Rude and Heenan play there roles very well. Rude nails Warrior with a pipe and then chokes Warrior with it to end the segment.
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Sherri gets on the mic before hand and challenges the winner.
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WWE Woman's Title
Judy Martin vs. Rockin' Robin
Robin unloads to start the match. Judy misses a blind charge and Robin scores with two dropkicks. Sherri gets on the mic and calls both challenges overated. Robin runs straight into a knee. Robin scores with a horrible closeline. Judy scores with a slam of sorts and a knee drop. Sherri is awesome on commetary, she has quite a sexy voice. Robin gets a leg trip and applies a boston crab. Judy flips out and Robin rolls through in a roll up for two. Judy gets a small package for two. Robin gets a knee lift and an elbow drop for two. Robin misses a dropkick. Robin counters a suplex landing on her feet and gets shoved off. Judy scores with a closeline for two. They do a horrible spot leading to a DDT for two by Robin. Judy misses an elbow drop. Judy counters a body slam into a scoop slam for two. Judy gets a backslide for two. Robin kicks Judy off a back drop attempt for two. Robin scores with a small package for two. Robin fakes a second rope dive, and Judy drops down, Robbin then leaps and wins with the flying crossbody.
Well they didn't fuck too much up. (3/4*)
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Slick is backstage with the Twin Towers he says there gonna kick arse. Slick is asked about the Million Dollar Man, Slick says he doesn't even know who he is. They look at the footage of Ted's draw. Slick tells him to stay out of his business.
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Okerland talks to Rude about the pose down, Rude says he didn't lose and he blew the Warrior away.
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We then go to some pre recorded promos with various wrestlers saying there gonna win the rumble.
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King Haku vs. Harley Race
Harley shoves Haku and his podium over. Race then introduces Haku to the ringpost. Race scores with a knee lift, a closeline and a nice suplex for two. Race throws Haku to the outside but this time Haku introduces Harley to the ringpost. Big knife edge chop from Haku. Harley scores with an inverted atomic drop and a series of elbow drops. Haku gets a thrust kick and lays some shoulders in the corner. Hard Irish whip from Haku and its the Race corner spot. Haku then brings Race in with the Race rope flop. Haku lays in some chops and headbutts. Headbutt and punch no sell fest. Harley Race scores with a big closeline and a piledriver gets two. Tame shoulderblock spot and then its a totally uncalled for Harley Race rope spot number two. Haku suplexes Race back into the ring for two. Haku misses with an elbow drop. Harley Race scores with a suplex for two and tosses him to the outside. Race goes for a piledriver on the outside but ends up getting back body dropped hard on the floor. Haku throws Harley back first into the ring apron but Harley comes back with the piledriver on the outside. Race scores with a spinning neckbreaker for two. Harley floors Haku with a short arm closeline for two. Haku comes back with some big chops and shoulders in the corner. Haku scores with a body slam and Haku misses a top rope flying headbutt. Race then misses with a second rope headbutt. Harley misses with a closeline and Haku scores with the Thurst Kick for the win
Fine match very sloppy in places. (**)
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Another batch of Rumble interviews.
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The Royal Rumble
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Entrant Number One is Demoliton Axe. Entrant Number Two is Demolition Smash. They are equal to start neither man can shoulderblock the other over. Well if they were smart they'd just wait for the neck guy to come in. Axe scores with a closeline but Smash came back with a body slam and closeline. Smash applies a chinlock but Axe breaks it. Axe unloads and nearly elimates Smash who lands on the apron. Smash begins pounding Axe in the corner. Entrant Number Three is Andre the Giant. Smash and Axe brawl as Andre walks to the ring. Demolition score with the double closeline and floor Andre and they start working down Andre. Andre battles up to his feet and he swats both men with a knee smash and a chop. Entrant Number Four is Mr. Perfect. Andre gives Demolition a Noggin Knocker. Andre gives Axe a big boot and he tosses Smash. Demolition Smash is Eliminated. Henning in working over everybody before settling into double teaming Andre. Axe gives Perfect a hard Irish whip. Andre gives Axe the Giant choke and Henning then monster sells Andre's headbutt. Entrant Number Five is Rugged Ronnie Garvin. All three men have Andre tied in the ropes and they try to tosses Andre but he kicks them all off. Andre floors Garvin. Andre sits on Axe in the corner. Henning does the mega sell off an Andre punch. Andre puts Ronnie Garvin in the double nerve pinch. Chopfest between Garvin and Mr. Perfect. Entrant Number Six is Greg Valentine. Valentine starts laying in the bionic elbows on Valentine but Andre still manages to fight them all off and Andre hiptosses Garvin over the top rope. Ronnie Garvin is Eliminated. Curt Henning body slams Axe who comes back with a closeline and its another oversell from Henning. Andre locks in some chokes on Axe. Entrant Number Seven is Jake The Snake. He goes right after his enemy Andre and they brawl, Andre locks him in a choke. Valentine tries to break it but Andre will not let Andre go. Andre has just killed Jake as Henning oversells a knife edge chop, I'd be lying if I said he's selling wasn't cool. Andre lays shoulders in on Jake in the corner. Entrant Number Eight is The Outlaw Ron Bass. Andre tosses Jake the Snake with ease. Jake The Snake is Eliminated. Andre gives Henning and Valentine a noggin Knocker. Ron Bass mounts and rains down blows on Axe. Andre shoulder blocks but Henning and Valentine in the corner. Andre gives Henning a giant chop. Entrant Number Nine is Shawn Micheals. HBK unloads on Ron backs. Mr. Perfect back body drops Axe over the top rope. Axe is Eliminated. Perfect tosses Micheals but he skins the cat and stays in, HBK then dropkicks Henning and he goes flying over the top rope and manages to pull him self back under the bottom rope on the way down. Perfect and Valentine kick the crap out of Shawn drawing some big sells. Entrant Number Ten is Bushwhacker Butch. But Jake runs in with the snake and throws it in the ring and Andre runs and jumps over the top rope, everyone is scared. Andre The Giant is Eliminated. Wow the crowd went nuts for that. Ron Bass whips Shawn into a Perfect closeline, They try it again but Shawn counters and Sends Bass into Perfect. HBK scores with a noggin Knocker and then a second rope flying fist. Entrant Number Eleven is The Honky Tonk Man. Shawn Micheals and Mr. Perfect are whipped head first into each other. Shawn is nearly gone and Perfect makes the save. Henning makes a good effort to eliminate Honky. Entrant Number Twelve is Tito Santana. Tito goes aggresively after Mr. Perfect and he kills him with a back body drop and a closeline. Ron Bass stops that moment giving Tito a shoulderblock. Perfect and Bass double suplex Shawn Micheals. Entrant Number Thirteen is Bad News Brown. Luke and Tito work together to toss Honky. Honky Tonk Man is Eliminate. Tito gives Valentine a stump puller. BNB chokes HBK in the corner as Valentine drops Elbows on Luke. Shawn Micheals comes off top with a double closeline on Brown and The Outlaw. Valentine gives HBK an atomic drop and he nearly goes flying over the top rope. Entrant Number Fourteen is Marty Jannety. The Rockers double team Bass scoring with a double back elbow and a double dropkick sends Bass over the top rope. The Outlaw Ron Bass is Eliminated. Jannety gives Perfect the descending head pound spot in the corner. Tito scores with the flying forearm on Valentine but can't eliminate him. Perfect crotches Micheals on the top rope. Entrant Number Fifteen is Randy Savage. He explodes on Brown and gives him a running reverse elbow in the corner. Its getting pretty crowded and its rumble brawling all round. Savage scores with a second rope double elbow. Brown misses a blind charge on Savage and floors himself. Entrant Number Sixteen is Arn Anderson. Randy Savage back body drops Valentine over the top rope. Greg Valentine is Eliminated. Shawn floats over a body slam and scores with a super kick on Arn Anderson. Savage and Arn scores with a double reverse elbo of Shawn sending him backwards over the top rope. Shawn Micheals is Eliminated. Jannety scores with a second rope missile drop kick on Arn. Jannety crotches Arn on the top rope. Entrant Number Seventeen is Tully Blanchard. Randy Savage scores with a back elbow. Tully comes off the second rope with a flying axe handle on Tully Blanchard. Jannety counters an inverted atomic drop with a closeline. Arn scores with a perfect Spinebuster on Jannety and Tully and Arn start dropping elbow and after a struggle they eliminate him Marty Jannety is Eliminated. Entrant number Eighteen is Hulk Hogan. He cleans house and tosses Mr. Perfect. Mr. Perfect is eliminated. He gets a noggin knocker and then a flurry of punches on Bad News Brown. Tito Santanta has dissapeared so Tito Santanta is Eliminated. The heels work over the mega powers. Entrant Number Nineteen is Bushwhacker Luke. Oh great. Hogan and Brown toss Butch.Bushwhacker Butch is Eliminated. Savage scores with a running Bionic elbow on Brown who comes back with a running boot. Hogan gorrilla presses Blanchard onto the top rope. Brown gets a running back elbow on Savage. Hogan gives Blanchard and Luke a Noggin Knocker and then Hogan scores with the Big boot on Arn. Entrant number Twenty is Koko B. Ware. Koko socres with a dropkick on Blanchard. Arn goes up top but Hulk Hogan takes him down with a military press. Randy Savage gives Arn a atomic drop and Arn goes flying into Tully. Hogan tosses Koko and Luke. Koko B. Ware and Bushwhacker Luke are Eliminated. Brown floors Savage with a big knife Edge chop on Savage. Entrant number twenty one is The Warlord. Hogan closelines the Brainbuster over the top rope. The Brainbusters Are Eliminated. Hogan closelines The Warlord out. The Warlord is Eliminated. Brown and Savage are both nearly out when Hogan comes and tosses both men. Bad News Brown and Randy Savage are Eliminated. Savage is angry and shoves Hogan, Eliz runs down to stop a fight and Savage and Hogan end up shaking hands. Entrant Number Twenty Two is the Big Boss Man. Boss Man gets an eye rake but Hogan kills him with a closeline and Hogan drops three elbows and pounds the shit out of Bossman. Hogan scores with a body slam but Boss Man comes back with an Avalanche in the corner and a beautiful piledriver and he plays to the crowd. Great action. Boss Man scores with a body slam but he misses the big splash. Entrant Number Twenty Three is Akeem. Hulk scores with a corner closeline on Bossman and then Body slams Akeem. The Twin Towers begin pounding down on Hogan as the crowd go bananas. Boss Man nearly eliminates Hogan. Hulk gets a noggin knocker and then scores with a back suplex on Bossman. The Twin Towers get a double Avalanche in the corner and they toss Hogan. Hulk Hogan is Eliminated. Hogan pulls the Towers under the ropes and both men brawl on the outside. Entrant Number Twenty Four is Brutus Beefcake. Hogan low bridges Bossman to eliminate him. Big Boss Man is Eliminated. Hogan beats Bossman to heel up the entrance way. Akeem is working over Beefcake. Entrant Number Twenty Five is Red Rooster. The crowd ain't thrilled. Akeem body slams the Rooster. Brutus scores with a second rope axe handle. Brutus and Terry Taylor whip each other shoulder first into the Akeem. The momentum has really dried up. Akeem is resting on the ropes as the faces lay the boots in. Entrant Number Twenty Six is The Barbarian. The life is just sucked out of the crowd. Terry Taylor gets a seven punch in the corner. Wow the pace has slooooowed, shame it was really rocking for a long time. Akeem scores with the big splash on Terry Taylor and he dances to the crowd. Entrant Number Twenty Seven is Big John Studd. The crowd aren't happy doesn't look to be a happy ending in sight, and to say they sucked the life out of the crowd would be an understatement. Its Rumble action all round nothing to see here. Entrant Number Twenty Eight is Hercules. He's supposed to be the hero? Really, they had the match perfectly book until Hogan went out, they should have left somebody for the fans to properly get behind. Brutus gets a ten punch in the corner. Big John floors Hercules with a closeline. Entrant Number Twenty Nine is Rick Martel. Martel tries to create some movement but its not really happening. Martel scores with a dropkick on Roster but he can't eliminate him. Its lame action all round. Entrant Number Thirty is Ted Dibiase. Ted pounds away on Hercules and then unloads on the Roster. Roster dodges Ted closeline and scores with a flying forearm. Ted gets some knife edge chops in the corner and Terry Taylor Flair flips out of the Rumble. Red Roster is eliminated. Hercules dodges Ted's closeline and scores with a series of closelines. Ted begs off but Herc keeps coming. Hercules puts Brutus in a bearhug, Brutus returns fire with a sleeper and Ted Dibaise eliminates both of them. Brutus Beefcake and Hercules are Eliminated. Barbarian scores with a running powerslam on Martel and he follows up with a top rope diving Headbutt. Barbarian misses a closeline and Martel eliminates Barbarian with a dropkick. The Barbarian is Eliminated. Final Four: Rick Martel, Akeem, Big John Stud & Ted Dibiase.
Rick Martel scores with three dropkicks on Akeem but Akeem catches him and tosses Martel. Rick Martel is Eliminated. Ted and Akeem double team Stud, Ted Dibiase scores with a second rope axe handle, Akeem scores with an Axe Handle. Akeem gets a Avalanche, Akeem goes for another but Stud pulls Ted infront and Stud tosses Akeem. Akeem is Eliminated. Ted tries to buy him off but it doesn't work, Stud chokeslams him into the corner. Stud scores with a body slam and then a double arm suplex. Then Stud gets a gut wrench suplex. Stud then scores with a closeline that Ted sells Beautifully and Stud tosses him for the win. Ted Dibiase is Eliminated and Big John Studd is Your Royal Rumble Winner. Post match Studd kills Virgil.
Well the first two thirds were incredibly good, once Hogan got eliminated it all went down hill as there were no over or credible babyfaces, it picked up again with the final four and the finish was a great moment for the fans but there were seven or eight awful minutes after Hogan left. (***1/2)
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Randy Savage says everything is good with the Mega Powers and after that Jesse and Gorrilla talk about the show.
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Overall Thoughts: That was a very good show all things considered, no awful matches on the show. The women's match was short enough to be inoffensive. The opener was strong, the rumble was a good one, a great one for twenty minutes and even the pose down was a fun memorable angle. Definitely a recommended viewing for anyone who likes historic shows and this was the first 30 Man Rumble and a fun show.

Okay I'm mainly reviewing the matches on the DVD, the main feature is decent, with some fun clips and bios of each characters although they recycle alot of footage for the likes of Flair and Hogan, but there mostly fun recaps to give you a good introduction or a fun little trip down memory lane.

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Disk One
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NWA United States Title Dog Collar Match
Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine
Starcade 1983
The commentators are really selling the danger of this match and how deadly the chain is. We start with both men having a tug of war with their necks and then a more conventional tug of war. The tentatively draw closer together and Piper whips the chain into his face to score first blood, figuratively. Greg swings the chain wildly and Piper dodges and we're back to stand off. Slugfest but after a bit of a stalemate both men back off. They go together tentatively and Piper jumps up and unloads on Greg with some big chain asisted blows. Piper pulls Greg in with the chain for a big right. Piper then low blows Greg using the chain and it draws the Flair flop. Greg gets control and lays in some big slug, he then gets a chainmare and Greg wraps the chain around Piper's eyes and neck and locks in a choke. Piper fires back a with a fist and a knee to the gut. Piper then locks in a chain assisted camel clutch. Piper then wraps the chain around Greg's face and squeezes in a cool visual. Piper uses the chain and the turnbuckle to catch Greg in the corner and he lands a series of stiff shots. Piper pulls Greg in for a big shot and Greg has done a nice blade job. Piper whips the chain into Greg as they go to the outside and brawl. Greg regains control on the apron and Greg pounds away with the chain of Roddy dodgy ear. Greg then throws him ear first into the ringpost. Piper is bleeding from the ear and Greg beats Piper around the outside of the ring. Greg is now just pounding the hell out of Piper. Greg goes for a suplex but Piper punches out of it and both men exchange wild slugs. Valentine gets a bionic elbow to the ear followed by an elbow drop for two. Valentine gets a running elbow for two. Piper explodes with a takedown and kicks the shit out of Valentine. Piper whips the chain at Valentine and he does another Flair flop. Piper covers up and Piper hits him hard with the chain. Piper gets a fist drop with the chain. Slugfest but Piper wins with a flurry of jabs ending in a big Haymaker. Piper scores with a huge right hand. Valentine scores with a sloppy closeline. Knee drop from Greg gets two. Valentine drops a knee on the mid section of Piper and then another to the head and he's still getting twos. Greg goes for a suplex and both men blocks serval times but Piper wins and scores with the suplex and we get the awesome visual with the two blood covered men lying ontop of each over with the chains accros their faces. Hard Irish whip from Greg and on the rebound Valentine cinches in the Sleeper and it could be over. Piper fights back but fades again as his legs go he throws a punch falling backwards to break the hold. Valentine then comes off the second rope with an axe handle. Greg the drops a second rope elbow for two. he tries it again but Piper pulls him off top into a big right hand, Piper lays in a quick flurry of blows and gets the three count.
Well that was a terrible finish to a brutal and blood thirsty match that felt like an epic encounter in a real blood fued. The post match Angle with Greg hanging Piper slighty redeemed the anticlimatic finish. All in all a good bloody brawl sloppy in places. (**1/2)
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Sgt. Slaugther vs. Iron Shiek
Madison Square Garden 1984
Sarge scores with a standing dropkick to start the match. Sarge nails Shiek with a big boot, Sarge scores with a nice body slam and a jumping stomp. The ref wants to check the boots but Sarge turns his back and puts his fingers in his ears. Sarge gets a several headlock and closed fists while the ref isn't looking. Slaughter intodruces Sheik to the turnbuckle and then Sarge tosses him clean over the top. That pops a huge "USA" chant. Sarge scores with a big right hand. He follows up with a snapmare and two knee drops but Sarge breaks up his own pin. Sarge scores with a reverse elbow and then again won't let the ref get a count. Sarge then rakes Sheik's eyes over the top rope. Hard Irish whip from Sarge followed by a gut punch. Sheik reverse an Irish whip and its the Sarge corner spot, love that spot if you don't know he bumps over the top rope into the ringpost and to the outside. Sheik follows him out whips him into the ringpost and then nails him with a chair shot to the back. Sarge beats the count but Sheik is desperate to keep him out and stomps the tar out of him but Sarge won't give and inch and makes it back. Big right hand from Sheik who then introduces Sarge to the turnbuckle. He tries to ram Sarge into the spikey shoe but Sarge blocks and scores with a running shoulder block. Sarge can't keep the momentum however as he runs into a nice back elbow from Sheik. Sarge is doing a great selling job. Sheik gets a heavy shot to the back and sends Slaughter to the outside again and Sheik mocks the crowd. Sheik then stomps on Sarge's head and then rams Sarge's head into the pointed boot twice and Sarge has done and monster blade job and is blinded. Sheik claws at Sarge's cuts and the commentators are going nuts. That's a really great blade job by Sarge and Shiek is taking his time letting everyone get a good look. Sheiky bites into Sarge's wound. Sheik follows up with a really nice side suplex and Sheik drops an elbow drop. Sheik spits on Sarge and blows snot on him. Sheik scores with a scoop slam and he goes up top. Sheik goes for the flying stomp but Sarge rolls out the way. Sheik tries to recover with a suplex but Sarge counters and scores with an awesome vertical suplex, great stuff. Sheik is pounding away at Sarge's back but Slaughter is shaking it off and its stiff shots all round. Sarge unloads with a flurry and the mega windmill punch floors him, wow that was cool. Sarge scores with a running closeline and he tries to take Shiek's boot off but Sarge shoves the ref down, the ref shoves Sarge, Sheik shoves the ref, and its a DQ. Sarge swats away all sorts off bad guys before the numbers become too much.
Argh that finish blows....seriously...I'm not happy. That was well on its way to four stars and beyond, it was just awesome, brilliantly executed, intense and bloody but we were robbed of the last ten or fiteen minutes, damn. Oh well. (***)
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WWE Intercontinental Title Lumber Jack Match
Tito Santana vs. Greg Valentine
Madison Square Garden 1985
I tell you what I better get a proper finish in this one. Greg goes straight on the offensive dropping elbows down on Tito. Tito dodges a closeline and scores with one of his own. Tito unloads on Valentine and he Flair flops to the outside and the heel lumberjacks protect him. Tito gives Greg a hammerblow and this time the lummberjacks put him back in. Tito blocks a kick spins Greg and scores with a atomic drop and then a knee lift. Greg tries to bail but the heels roll him back in. Tito goes for a ten punch but Greg counters into an inverted atomic drop. Santana comes back with a flurry of punches and a stump puller. Tito goes for a figure four but Greg bails and Rocky Johnson throws him right back in. Tito introduces Greg to the ring matt. Tito comes off stop with a flying chop, Greg does another Flair flop and that gets two for Tito. Tito again rams Greg into the matt. Greg tries to run away and he's thrown right back in. Tito runs straight into a mega hard knee lift for two. Greg drops a knee for two. Forearm drop gets two for Gregory. Hammer blow inside the ring gets two. Greg then gets a low blow body splash, yeah you read that right. Greg tries to get the half crab but Tito blocks it as the crowd start to get behind him. Greg begins to work down Tito and tosses him to the outside. Greg tosses Tito and they throw him back in on his face. Greg tosses Tito the otherside and the lumberjacks try to put him back in but Greg won't let him in. Greg scores with the hammer blows accross the ropes. Greg comes of the second rope with a forearm and a knee drop for two. Greg pulls him to the centre of the ring and bitch slaps Tito and tries the Figure Four but Tito counters with a roll up for two. Big running forearm from Greg floors Tito and an elbow drop gets two. Greg gets caught charging with a flapjack into the top rope. Forearms from Tito draw a cartoony sell from Greg. Slugfest and its another Flair flop from Greg, he really doesn't understand that timing is everything. Greg tries to escape but JYD won't let him. Tito scores with a nice suplex for two. Tito gets a short range knee drop then a jumping stop. Valentine's selling is really stupid. Tito pulls Greg to the centre ring and goes for the Figure Four but Greg counters with the droptoe hold. Tito levels Greg with a running forearm and Tito locks in the figure four but Hart distracts the ref and the heel lumber jacks pull Greg to the ropes. Tito gets into it with Studd through the ropes, we then get a slugfest and we then get a head to head collision and Greg falls ontop of Tito and claims the win.
Well I'm not so annoyed at that finish, good use of the lumberjack match but make no mistakes this was mediocre and Valentine's selling is just too over the top, he did five Flair flops for God's sake. (**1/4)
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Wrestling Classic Tournement Final
Randy Savage w/Elizabeth vs The Junk Yard Dog
Wrestling Classic 1985
Randy won't get in the ring, he throws a chair in and JYD hits himself in the head and Savage bails again and again. Savage gets in the fans faces. They lock up but JYD shoves Savage down again and again. JYD scores with an atomic drop and then locks in a bear hug, oooh interesting. Randy eventually breaks the hold to the thrill of nobody. Terrible start to this one. JYD whips Savage backwards into the ropes and gives Savage a back pound, JYD then headbutts Savage in the back and he hangs himself up in the ropes. JYD kicks him while he's down. This is a really bad start. Savage scores with a diving closeline but JYD kicks out with authority. Randy takes JYD to the outside and scores with the bombs away axe handle. We get a lot of mild brawling and stalling. Savage scores with another bombs away elbow drop. Savage hits JYD in the back with a chair shot. Savage chokes JYD on the guard rail and drops and elbow drop. Back in the ring and this time JYD counters the bombs away with a punch to the gut. JYD scores with the doggy style head butts and Randy oversells to the moon. JYD pulls Savage out of the corner hard and scores with a headbutt. Savage charges JYD and he's back body dropped to the outside in a nice bump and that gets the count out victory.
Yawn, man they are really trying to bury Savage, not only is he snubbed by not being one of the "80s wrestling stars" they then put this travesty on there. JYD was no great worker but come on, geez, they had better matches than that, oh and another lame finish. (1/2*)
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Weasel Suit Match
Bobby Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Madison Square Garden 1988
Heenan runs away too start, well durh, Heenan won't get involved and Warrior shakes the ropes, that'll show him. Warrior hides and waits for Heenan to come round and gives him a lifting choke. Heenan hits Warrior in the throat with some knucks. He then jabs the Warrior in the throat with a pen or something but the ref can't catch him. He know jabs Warrior in the kidneys and then the side of the head with the foriegn object. Warrior blocks it this time however and unloads with the knife edges chops and throws away the foriegn object. Warrior sends Heenan though the ropes into the ringpost, he then gives Heenan a hard irish whip and he does a hard flipping sell. Warrior gives Heenan a hard Irish whip and Heenan does the hammock sell and Warrior chokes Heenan out with the sleeper and its Weasel suit and Bobby does what he does best.
Fun fans revenge match, Heenan was a total pro, erh...Warrior didn't mess up. (1/2*)
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Disk One Final Thoughts: Really fun stuff in the main feature with a quick walk down memory lane, as far as the matches go, its a mixed bag, poor finishes all round. The first two matches are well worth a watch, a good bloody brawl and an 2/3 of a superb Sarge match. Bobby Heenan's match is fun and you can see why everyone loved Heenan incase you'd forgot. JYD match is awful and I suspect its there to make Savage look bad. The Tito match was like all Tito matches competent.
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Overall Star Rating: *1/2
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Disk Two
Well with one exception the wrestling didn't really set the world alite on the last DVD but never fear Flair is here and he's brought Arn Anderson, Ricky Steamboat, Jerry Lawler and Kerry Von Erich with him, oh yeah.
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Million Dollar Challenge Match
NWA Heavyweight Title Match
Dusty Rhodes vs. Ric Flair
Specail Guest Referee: "Smokin" Joe Fraizer
Starcade 1984
The circle each other and Dusty wins the first exchange with a bionic elbow and Flair pops up but is met with a headlock. Flair tries to pick a leg but Dusty drives him down. Clean break in the ropes as both men stare each other down. Knee to the gut and a series of big chops from Flair, but Dusty explodes with a jab medley and Flair is down again. Dusty slaps the side head back on. Dusty scores with a shoulderblock, leapfrog by Flair but he turns right into a running foreram. Flair regains control with an eye rake. Snapmare and knee drop gets two for Flair. Flair introduces Rhodes to the turnbuckle, Flair gets the Flairmare but misses the knee drop and Dusty slaps on the figure four right away, Flair won't give it up but he isn't going anywhere. Dusty gets a few two counts out of the hold before Flair makes the ropes. Hot start. Dusty pulls Flair out of the corner and he drops an elbow drop on the leg and locks in a hold. Flair rolls out of a Dusty headlock into a wristlock but Dusty powers him down into an arm bar. Flair works his way to the corner and Ric lays in some shoulderblocks but Dusty immediately comes back with a bionic elbow and a body slam. Dusty slugs Flair and its Flair flop time, bionic elbow and this time Flair fires back with a series of chops but Dusty just beats him down. Hard Irish whip and it Flair Flip to the outside time. Dusty suplexes Flair into the ring for two. Dusty scores with a shoulderblock but they run the ropes again and Flair gets the reverse elbow. Flair goes up top but of course he's military pressed down, Dusty misses his elbow drop. Flair comes right back with a sleeper but Dusty runs around and dumps him out of the ring, they really recovered from the mid match slump. Flair pulls Dusty to the outside and they have a frantic slugfest ending when Flair pushes Dusty headfirst into the ringpost. Dusty has bladed over the left eye. Smokin' Joe checks the eye and holds Flair back but let it continue. Flair charges with a high knee, a snapmare and he mounts Rhodes and he throws a mega fast flurry on the eye. Dusty pops right up and says its go time. Flair goes right for the eye and and pounds and rakes away. Joe gets in between again and this time he stops the match and declares Flair the winner.
Only Thirteen minutes but a good fast past all action thirteen minutes. Only the one lull when Dusty had to catch his breath. Its another none finish, but it made sense in the context of the match and was a good use of Fraiser and made wrestling look tuff next to boxing. As well as setting up the rematch. Fine match again missing an ending. (**3/4)
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NWA National Tag Team Title Match
The Minesota Wrecking Crew vs. Wahoo McDaniels & Billy Jack Haynes
Starcade 1985
Arn and Haynes lock up and Haynes shoves Arn off with ease. Shoulder block from Haynes. Leapfrog from Arn but he showboats and Billy gets a military press. Ole tags in Arn has had enough. Slugfest but Haynes wins and Ole gets bounced around the faces corner. Wahoo in and he starts with a big running chop and Ole's had enough and Arn is back in. They lock up, Arn tries a cheap shot in the ropes but he get levels by a bit chop from Wahoo. Sideheadlock takedown by Wahoo but Arn counters into a headscissors. Wahoo tries to headstand out but Arn blocks it until Wahoo pops up with a diving closeline. Ole in and he begins pounding Wahoo and he scores with a snapmare then cinches in an armbar. Wahoo comes back slugging Ole off, but Arn makes a blind tag and takes down Wahoo with a spinning arm lock. Arn then hammerlocks the arm and stomps and drops knees on it. Ole in and he continues stomping down on the arm. Ole scores with a body slam for two. Ole throws Wahoo arm first into Arn's knee, Haynes has had enough and he slugs down both men. Wahoo chops out of Arn's armbar but Arn gets a clever leg trip and stops the tag. Ole can't stop him and Wahoo rolls to a HOT TAG. Haynes cleans house, a noggin knocker, a knee to the gut, but the Anderson's double team him and Wahoo has to tag back in. Wahoo scores with a big back chop for two when Ole makes the save. Ole trips Wahoo and Arn gets two. Wahoo is all over Arn and so Ole trips him and holds his legs down right in the corner and Arn smothers him with the pin for the quick win.
Well I'm sure they have better Wrecking Crew matches in the Archives but as a quick introduction that wasn't bad at all. (*1/2)
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Championship Unification Match
Jerry Lawler vs. Kerry Von Erich
AWA Superclash III 1988
They lock up and Jerry rings Kerry's arm over the top rope cutting it open early (or covering up for a cut he got last night). We have another lock up and a stand off. King fakes a clean break and goes for the cheap shot but Kerry see it coming and blocks and slugs Jerry down. Jerry bails to the outside. Kerry combs his chair and makes Jerry jump. Kerry scores with a brutal closeline to start the action. Kerry dodges a Lawler closeline and Kerry levels him with another one of his own. They lock up yet again, Jerry dodges a closeline, goes for one of his own but Kerry dodges and scores with one of him own and gets a roll up for two. Jerry is pissed, Kerry's one step a head all the way so far, nice start. They go to a knucklelock and Kerry takes him straight down to his knees and holds him down. Jerry manages to take him down but he misses the fist drop and Kerry floors Lawler with a discuss punch. Both men start pulling each others hair. Kerry is checking on his arm and Lawler goes to work with a flurry of big punches with the final uppercut sending Kerry up and over the top rope. Jerry catches Kerry coming in with some uppercuts but Kerry comes back with a discus punch. Kerry goes for a slingshot splash but Lawler gets the knees up, nice exchange. Jerry takes control with a kitchen sink and goes for the piledriver and scores with it but Kerry NO SELLS IT and while Lawler struts Kerry flaws him with the discus punch for two, welcome to third gear. Kerry gets the snapmare and goes for the Iron Claw but Lawler crosses his arms and blocks it. Kerry decides to lay in some big punches. Kerry goes for a knee drop but misses. Lawler gets a snapmare for two and Kerry presses Lawler off onto the ref. Kerry scores with a killer piledriver but the referee is down and he eventaully gets a two count. Kerry slugs down Lawler and they fight to the outside. Kerry misses a discus punch and nails the ringpost by mistake. Jerry pulls something out of his tights and nails Kerry with it, Kerry is busted wide open and Jerry scores with the Second rope diving piston punch. Lawler then scores with a fist drop, Lawler goes up to the second rope with his knucks and goes for the piston punch but Kerry catches him in the stomach with the Iron claw and he has it locked in. Kerry's blood is just pouring all over Lawler and the mat, its a monster blade job, Kerry switches the claw to Lawler's head and he has Lawler down but Lawler makes the ropes. The ref is checking Kerry's head, Kerry pulls Lawler back to the centre of the ring a reapplies the hold but Lawler fights up, there's blood everywhere. Lawler dodges a Stinger splash and Kerry goes headfirst into the ringpost. Jerry nails a big jab but Kerry comes right back with a huge flurry. Jerry uses the knucks in his tights to floor Kerry. The WCCW chairman tells the ref to check Lawlers tights but Lawler puts the knucks behind his head and lets the ref check. Jerry then floor Von Erich with a knuck shot. Jerry then gets a mount a hails down a tonnes of piston punches. Kerry misses a discuss punch and Lawler just starts teeing off with the jabs . Kerry comes back charging but Lawler nails him with the object again. The ref asks Kerry if he's okay and Lawler runs in with a big right hand. Kerry has had enough and starts unloading on Lawler drawing the hamock sell in the corner. They do the double knock out spot and both men are down. Kerry's face is a total mess and the ring is blood red. Kerry gets a near fall and then he locks in the Iron Claw he gets a couple of two counts and just as Lawler passes out the ref calls for the bell and the ref stops the match on a blood stoppage. Jerry is the unified champion.
Bloody, brutal and brilliant. Kerry's blade job was a nasty sight. The match was an intense brawl, Jerry played his role brilliantly and was a total pro, Kerry wasn't quite on his level but he wasn't too far off. This was just a gruelling brawl, good stuff. (***1/2)
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NWA World Heavyweight Title Match
Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair
The Chi-Town Rumble 1989
Here we go! They dance around each other and lock up. Steamboat gets a shoulderblock and drops down for a two count. JR is suprised by a shoulderblock to start a match. Steamboat gets a shoulderblock, Ric tries to drop down but Ricky Steamboat jumps right down into a headlock, Flair fights up into back suplex but Ricky flips out and lands on his feets. Ric is frustrated and bails and they square up again. Ric gets a big chop and Ricky explodes with three of his own. Hard Irish whip from Ricky and a back body drop and Ric is begging off. Ricky blocks a kick but Ric chops out and Steamboat absolutely levels Flair with a monster chop. Flair tells Steamboat to watch it and grabs a headlock, he spins into a hammerlock, Ricky counters to a droptoe hold and then follows up with a dropkick and a sideheadlock takedown for a 2.9 count. The crowd for that was it. Flair rolls Steamboat over for two but can't break the headlock. Ric runs Ricky up the turnbuckle but Rick runs up the Turnbuckle and gets a headlock takedown which Ric rolls through into a pin for two but Ric still can't get out of the hold. Ric finally gets a break in the corner signalling a chopfest. Hard Irish whip from Steamboat and a monster running chop gets a near fall and Ric bails to regain his composure. Great start. They lock up and Steamboat gets the sideheadlock and Ric breaks it in the corner and gets a chop and a shoulderblock, Ric runs the ropes, Steamboat gets a leapfrog and Flair runs right into a double back handed chop and Flair Flops through the middle ropes in a nice exchange. They go to the knucklelock, but Ric breaks it and tells Steamboat if he's got any guts they'll lock it up in the middle of the ring. Flair gets a chop, Tries an Irish whip but Steamboat runs up the second rope and leapfrogs Flair and then hiptosses Flair out of the corner, flying headscissors, running dropkick and its back to the sideheadlock takedown for a near fall and were back in the headlock, great exchange, the change of pace in this matchup is excellent. Ric comes back with a chop and a couple of bionic elbows but Steamboat comes right back with a shoulderblock but Flair catches him with a reverse elbow and just as it looks like Flairs gonna take control Steamboat explodes with a series of chops and one big chop sends Flair backwards over the top rope, basic moves but a fantastic pace and superb execution. Great story of Steamboat kicking it up a gear to not let Flair get in a groove. Flairs had enough he pulls Steamboat outside, gives him a big chop and eye rake and introduces Steamboat to the barracade. Ric lays Ricky on the top rope and gives him a bionic elbow. Back in, Ric gets the snapmare pulls the pad down and scores with the knee drop for two. Ric Flair scores with the double arm suplex for two. Ric scores with a chop and he slugs down Ricky in the corner and Woooh!s to the crowd. Chopfest, Ricky wins knocking the absolute shit out of Ric. Hard Irish whip, Flair Flip and Ric comes off top with a flying crossbody but Ricky rolls through and nearly wins it. Ric tries to beg off but Steamboat comes Straight at him but Ric nails an inverted atomic drop and Ric cinches in the Figure Four Leglock, awesome sequence. Ric is cheating like mad using the ropes, "Steamboat" chant, the crowd work themselves into a frenzy. Ricky isn't going anywhere, Ric gets a couple of twos and continues to use the ropes eventually the ref catches Ric and forces the hold to be broken. Ric is now in charge and he's kicking away at the leg. Chopfest, Slugfest, chopfest Ricky wins he whips Flair but he misses the karate chop and Flair goes for the crossbody and both men go up and over the top rope. They don't let up its straight into a chopbattle on the floor. Ric shoves Steamboat headfirst into the ringpost. Flair scores with a hanging vertical suplex bringing Steamboat in off the apron for a nearfall. Ric scores with a back suplex and that gets two and now he gets in the referees face but Tommy Young shoves Ric back. Ric scores with a back breaker and pins with his legs on the rope for a series of twos, Ric gets distracted by the crowd and Ricky gets a roll up for two. Ricky counters a whip jumping off the second rope with a crossbody but Ric dodges it. Ric gets a headlock takedown, Ricky counters to headscissors, Ric rolls ontop, Ricky bridges up and scores with a butterfly suplex for a nearfall. Ricky counters a reverse elbow into a backslide for two. Both men trade chops, Ric tries a hard Irish whip but Ricky comes out of the corner with a closeline, a chop drop. Steamboat gets a flying shoulder tackle, Steamboat goes up top and scores with a flyign judo chop. He goes up top and scores with a flying cross body but he hits Flair and the ref. Ric gets a roll up with the tights but there's no ref for that either. Ric tosses Steamboat and goes to revive the ref, but Ricky skins the cat and climbs the top rope and goes for the flying crossbody but Ric side steps it and Ricky crashes and burns sucking the life out of the fans. Ric Woohs and goes for the figure four and Ricky counters into the inside craddle for the win just when all hope is lost.
Absolutely brilliant, perfect. Twenty three minutes of excellent action going up through the gears execellently. They had the crowd believing in the near falls from the second minute. There ability to pick up the pace out of nowhere and then sustain it is superb. Nothing particularly flashy, mostly basics but it shows you what you can do, with great selling, prefect timing and a good attitude to make each other look good, one of my favorite matches of all time. (*****)
.
Ric Flair vs. Jay Youngblood
Mid Atlantic Wrestling 1982
We join this one in progress. Jay grabs a sideheadlock and runs Ric over with a shoulderblock, Ric goes for a hiptoss but Youngblood counters and Ric looks pissed in the corner. Youngblood counters Ric's hammerlock into one of his own, Flair comes back with a shoulder block but runs right into a droptoe hold and Flair turns it into a deathlock Flair scrambles to the ropes to break it. He's making Youngblood looked a million bucks. Ric gets in the refs face. Youngblood scores with a back body drop, two dropkicks and a body slam. Ric is not happy at all. Flair shoves over Youngblood down like a bitch and its Styling and Profiling time. Flair offers a clean break but Youngblood kills him with a chop flooring Flair. Ric's had enough and he unloads but Youngblood comes right back at him and its a Flair Flip with Ric landing in the corner of the ring. Ric manages to shoot Youngblood through the middle ropes to the outside. Ric gives Jay a hammerblow and then brings him back with the hanging vertical suplex and a knee drop. Jay counters the Figure four with a roll up for two. Jay gets a crossbody for two. The double back chop draws the Flair flop. Jay gets a rollu up for two, an inside craddle for two but the time limmit bell sounds. Flair starts laying into Jay, he absolutely tosses the ref accross the ring before Steamboat breaks it up. We then go to promos by Ricky and Flair.
Well that was a superb seven minutes of wrestling. Fast paced and fun. It shows you what Flair did best, he goes to a town takes on anyone the promotion wants, in this case Youngblood, and makes him look like a superstar. He just sold for an effective no body for seven straight minutes and by the end of it Steamboat is refering to Youngblood as a title contender. This match was put on the DVD for that reason, plus it came with promos from Flair and Steamboat attach. Short but very sweet. (**1/4)
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Disk Two Final thoughts: The main programme isn't so hot as they recycle alot of clips from other DVDs but the extra matches are excellent. Get this just for the Flair-Steamboat match, it still baffles me that that match didn't make it onto the Flair collection, either of them, but I guess they had to sell this DVD somehow. The AWA match is very good and everything else is solid fun stuff.
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Overall Star Rating: ***
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Disk Three
WWE World Title Steel Cage Match
Jimmy Snuka vs. Bob Backlund
Madison Square Garden 1980
Backlund drags Snuka into the ring and unloads. Snapmare and a he stands and spins on Snuka's head. Knee lift from Bob and he continues to pound down on Snuka. Backlund headbutts Snuka, and then slugs him down. Snuka tries to crawl out the door but that ain't happening. Snuka comes back with his unique chops and strikes. Snuka lays in some big blows. Snuka rams Buckland into the cage and drops a knee. Snapmare from Snuka and he drops a fist. Snuka tries to make an escape but Bob grabs his ankle. Snuka whips bob into the cage, backbreaker by Snuka, knee drop, second drop elbow drop from Snuka. Snuka goes for the door but again Bob grabs ahold of his ankle. Bob blocks and punch and he slugs Snuka down. Bob crawls for the door but can't make it and he whips Snuka hard face first into the cage and Snuka does a really good job of the sell. Bob catapults Snuka into cage and he takes another big bump. bob then rakes Snukas face accross the mesh and Snuka has done a pretty big blade job. Bob is pounding away. Bob tries a headbutt but he comes off worse. Bob throws Snuka into the cage and tries to escape but Snuka blocks it with a back kicks. Snuka chops down Backlund. Snuka scores with a backbody drop and then scores with a second rope knee drop. Snuka scores with a running elbow drop then a knee drop and then another. Bob is selling like he's dead. Snuka scores with a suplex and he heads up to the top of the cage and he makes the monster leap but misses the crowd go ape shit as Backlund wins.
Well a slow start but that one really built up and got going and that was quite the incredible finish. Sure by modern standards it wasn't that big a leap but Snuka just looked incredible doing it flying perfectly through the air and the crowd went nuts for it, decent match big bonus for the ending. (**1/4)
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WWE World Title Match
Iron Shiek vs. Bob Buckland
Madison Square Garden 1983
Sheik jumps Bob to start choking him with him ring robes and laying in the boots. Iron Sheik goes straight after the injured arm of Backlund but Backlund manages to spin him off but Sheik runs back in and applies the arm bar. Bob again manages to roll Shiek off but the Sheik comes right back and reapplies the hold. Bob fights up but gets knocked down with a shoulderblock but Bob comes back with a hip toss, Bob does it with the right arm (good one) but falls down and sells the left arm which then The Sheik then locks in the arm bar on his left arm. Shiek pounds away on the arm. Sheik switches to a hammerlock and front chancery for two. Bob kicks out and fires away. Shiek cuts him off and goes to the surfboard. Bob drops down and kicks Shiek off. Bob comes back with a headbutt and a club. Bob scores with a forearm but hurts his own arm. Bob follows up with the stump puller. Bob goes for a swinging neckbreaker but both men go down. Sheik goes to a kind of abdominal stretch rings of saturn move. Sheik goes back to the surfboard and Bob tries to power up and scores with a headbutt. Bob gets the twisting stomp. Shiek prays to Bob to get him to stop but he's having none of it. Shiek falls on top off a body slam attempt for two. Sheik goes into a surfboard again, ugh....this one is really stuck in second gear. Bob powers up but Shiek rolls through his counter and back into the surfboard. Bob tries the counter again but meets with the same result. Finally he counters rolling Shiek into a clever pin for two. Bob gets a headscissors Shiek rolls on top and Bob bridges out and goes for the backslide but Bob collapses holding the arm. Sheik misses an elbow drop. Bob floats over on a suplex and gets a roll up for two. Bob is selling the neck for some reason and Shiek cinches in the camel clutch and Arnold Scolder throws in the towel.
Yawn the last minute or so was okay. (*1/4)
<:AtomicElement>
Paul Orndorff vs. Salvator Bellomo
Madison Square Garden 1984
Orndorff attacks from behind and he beats the crap out of Bellomo, elbow drop, body slam and Paul plays to the crowd. Orndorff works over Bellomo for a minute or two. Orndorff scores with a big back body drop and that gets two, Orndorff isn't happy about that and says its a slow count. Bellomo falls onto of Orndorff for two, Paul pops up and stomps the hell out of thim. Bellomo dodges a blind charge and Orndorff mets the ringpost. Bellomo scores with a couple of mule kicks, Orndorff misses a elbow drop. Bellomo applies an arm wringer and then more of an arm bar dropping down on the arm. Orndorff fights out but Bellomo goes for the arm, Bellomo rolls through an arm drag and hangs onto an arm wringer. Orndorff scores with a norhtern lights suplex but Bellomo applies a headscissors as they land. Orndorff scores with a back suplex and he lays in the boots. Orndorff chucks Bellomo to the outside where Piper gets in his face. Orndorff scores with a sloppy body slam on the outside and then poses to the camera. Orndorff gives Bellomo a hammer blow, then a stalling vertical suplex and that gets two. Bellomo tries to fight back but he keeps getting cut off. Body slam by Orndorff, he goes up top and misses his move. Bellomo fights back with a headbutt to the gut. A tame shoulder block, a Cartwheel? Orndorff scores with a powerslam but refuse to accept the pin and instead finsihes him with a pin.
Extended squash match, not particularly good. (*1/4)
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WWE World Title Match
Hulk Hogan vs. Iron Sheik
Madison Square Garden 1984
Hogan sneak attacks the Sheik and the crowd are going nuts. Hogan closelines the Sheik with his own robe. Hogan unloads, scores with the axe bomber closeline and follows up with the knee drop. Eye rake from Hogan, choke lift, Hogan then spits on the Shiek. Big boot from Hogan and that gets two. Running lariat and elbow drop gets two for Hogan. Hogan misses a blind charge and he Sheik lays the boots in. Sheik scores with a back breaker and Hulk powers up at two. Sheik lays the boots into Hogan and then locks in a boston crab. Hogan powers out of that too. Sheik scores with a side suplex and its camel clutch time but Hulk eventually powers up and the Atomic Leg Drop ends it.
Well that was a fun five minutes. (*)
<:AtomicElement>
Bob Orton vs. Jimmy Snuka
Madison Square Garden 1985
They lock up and break in the corner. They lock up again and Snuka sends him to the mat. Snuka gets the hard Irish whip and does the reverse hamock sell, Snuka kicks him and he bounces up, he kicks him up again and this time he crotches himself on the top rope. Headlock from Snuka, Orton can't escape. He eventually does and they criss cross, two leapfrogs from Snuka but Orton rolls under the chop. Snuka chases Bob around the ring but Orton ends up running into the chop for two and its back to the headlock. Orton tries a reverse leapfrog but he gets caught with an atomic drop and Orton bails. Orton scores with an inverted atomic drop, he then pulls Snuka accoss the edge of the apron and then drops an elbow. Orton follows it up with a knee to the face. Orton brings Snuka in with a hanging vertical suplex. Orton goes up top but he eats knees on the big splash. Back chop from Snuka floors Orton. Side kick, snapmare, second rope fist drop, elbow drop, sloppy backbreaker and he goes for the second rope head butt and misses. We get a stupid axe hand to the back spot sending Orton into the ringpost. Orton gets a knee lift sending Snuka to the apron allowing Snuka to win with a sunset flip.
Nothing much to see here. (*1/4)
<:AtomicElement>
The War To Settle The Score
Roddy Piper vs. Hulk Hogan
Madison Square Garden 1985
Big slugfest to start as both men unload. Piper gets a mount and flurry but Hogan comes back with a running back elbow in the corner. Hogan follows up with two body slams and a running elbow drop. Piper scores with an corner closeline for two. Piper kicks Hogan in the side of the head and that gets two. Piper is working over Hogan, and Piper locks in the Sleeper hold jumping on Hogan's back. Hogan of course comes straight back running Piper into the top turnbuckle and both men are down. Piper rakes the eyes. Hogan knocks Orton off the apron and unloads on Piper. They trade eye rakes in a funny spot. Axe bomber from Hogan. Atomic drop from Hogan. The ref gets bumped, Piper holds Hogan and Orndorff scores with the top rope knee drop and the heels lay the boots in. Cyndi Lauper is on the apron. The heels go to attack her when Mr. T comes to the rescue, they tell him to come into the ring. Piper jumps T and lays him out, the heels lays the boots in and Hogan recovers and T and Hogan work together and the heels run away and the police seperate them.
Not really a match just an angle to set up the first Mania (N/A).
<:AtomicElement>
Disk Three Finally Thoughts: Again the main package is fine but there's not anything worth watching on the extras. The cage match is okay but not must see. But then this was 80s WWE what were we expecting?
<:AtomicElement>
Average Star Rating : *1/2

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This is your one stop shop of pop culture reviews I most specialize in Music, Politics & Film. I occasionally delve into TV reviews. I've got a Politics MA and a War Studies BA, I'm taking a year out before starting a Phd so when it comes to History and Politics I'm pretty well versed but I tend to keep this blog fun rather than serious.

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