We get a great capsule of The Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Rich feud. First we see the ceremony for Rich and Gilbert to receive the Tag Team of the Year award, sadly the team is no more and they have a bloody brawl in the studio after Gilbert is too good for the local Memohis fans after he has won the International title and is elsewhere defending it. After the initial brawl Gilbert makes up with Rich then attacks him. Just a crazy angle not to be repeated in today's wrestling environment. Next we get a clip of Gilbert running in to cost Rich a match behind the referee's back. This looked like a crazy feud that I wish I was able to see the blowoff of. It is stuff like this that made Memphis so awesome.
Sergio El Hermoso, Bello Greco & Rudy Reyna vs Solar I, Ultraman, Super Astros (UWA 2/84)
I can't say I know much about Lucha Libre, fact is it usually confuses me to the point of giving up on it completely. I have done enough research to understand The different components of Lucha but can never seem to put it together when watching matches. The wrestlers in this match give a fantastic performance while delivering a good story. Los Exoticos (El Hermoso/Greco/Reyna) are extremely flamboyant characters facing lichadors, who are the embodiment of everything good in Mexico. This match has everything from great ground grappling to comedy to dives into the crowd. The Luchadors win in an extremely entertaining match that has me wanting to watch more Lucha.
Jerry Blackwell vs Blackjack Mulligan (JCP 1978)
Though I have seen very little of either of these wrestlers, I know Jerry Blackwell is a big fat monster and Mulligan is a big Texan. Jerry Blackwell breaks the boring slow big man stereotype by going out and dominating Mulligan with interesting offense. Blackwell threw some stiff forearms to take a quick advantage. Jerry's greatest offensive weapon is his size which he used for a bulk of the match, he even broke out a splash from the bottom rope. Mulligan got the win with his great claw finisher that just wore down and finally outlasted Blackwell. This was a fantastic television match.
Roddy Piper Interviews (Al Tomko's All-Star Wrestling 1979?)
This was four interviews Piper had in the Vancouver and, as expected, all are top notch but I was to focus in on the last interview. Piper is hyping a future cage match between he and Rick Martel against the Sheephearders. To hype the match he takes an unopened beer bottle and smashes it over his head then gives an emotion driven promo while blood and beer roll down his face. His line about the $45,000 difference between winning and losing was a highlight. Piper is much more than what we got in WWF and WCW and his 70s and early 80s stuff is worth tracking down.
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