So this was a month.
WWE Network kicked the Hidden Gems content into overdrive for the month of December, offering not just the weekly dose of new content but also 12 Days of Hidden Gems leading up to Christmas. And these weren’t just 5-minute dark matches – they were complete shows that took place either around or on Christmas. And the thing I have learned about wrestling Christmas shows from the 80s is that there is no overt Christmas imagery, they just run normal-ass shows and wish you Merry Christmas at the end.
I could probably split all this up into a bunch of posts, but Happy Wrestling Land doesn’t play for the traffic, brother – it plays for the professional wrestling.
So the way this is split up is I have the three Hidden Gems released prior to the 12 Days of Christmas, then I have the Hidden Gems from the 12 Days of Christmas, and at the end I have the lone Hidden Gem released after the 12 Days of Christmas. I hope that makes sense. The history lessons will be light on the 12 Days stuff considering they are full shows and I might somehow hit the WordPress character limit.
Beyond the Christmas-themed 12 Days of Hidden Gems, TLC defined the first two weeks of content drops, with two Ladder Matches and an early Rollins vs. Ambrose match, while the final drop of the year had a New Year’s Theme.
If you want my TL;DR review of all of this, by the way: the AWA feels like a 1970s WWF transplanted to the mid-1980s but somehow even more behind the times. These guys ruined like five Christmases in a row. Good riddance Vince raided them.
Do check out these: the Macho Man Holiday Message, both Hennig/Bockwinkel matches, Bockwinkel vs. Billy Robinson from Christmas 1982, the Hogan announcement from Christmas 1983, the Rockers/Rose & Somers Cage Match from Brawl in St. Paul, the Rockers vs. Midnight Express from Christmas 1987, and pretty much all of the AWA/NWA Night of Champions Supershow.
The Crusher and The Colonel – $10,000 Ladder Match: “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell vs. Colonel DeBeers (AWA 11/27/86)
Jerry Blackwell and Colonel DeBeers have themselves here what was billed in some circles as a Step Ladder Match. Blackwell had been having a little run here as a lead babyface, though late-80s AWA is a bit like post-NOAH All Japan – you might be on top, but are you REALLY on top?
This match was third from top on a show that also saw the future Vader win a Handicap Match, Curt vs. Boris Zhukov, Nick Bockwinkel defend the AWA World Title against Larry Zbyszko, and a mixed 6-man tag that saw Buddy Rose, Doug Somers & Sherri Martel team up to take on The Midnight Rockers and Despina Montagas, who is married to TARZAN GOTO! Fun Facts!
Legend has it that neither fella trusted anybody, so they had the AWA tie the money to the lights and bring a ladder in. That legend is stated by Rod Trongard, the iconic-ish voice of the AWA who is all over the Hidden Gems this month. Greg Gagne and Nick Bockwinkel (wearing a gorgeous powder blue suit) introduce the footage, which is JIP and has the ladder already in the ring. Billy Robinson acts as referee and watches as they brawl and brawl assssssssssssssnd brawl. It’s nothing fancy, it’s not even really good brawling, but Jerry Blackwell has this inherent charm where he is this huge fat guy in a black shirt and pants who should by no means be mobile but is for some reason. DeBeers eventually takes a big impressive bump off the ladder and Blackwell grabs the bag of money. Then DeBeers attacks and Super Ninja joins in and DeBeers takes the money and LEON WHITE makes the save. This is kind of sort of a trip but not enough to warrant any further inspection. *1/4
The Stairway to Hell – Stairway to Hell Match: The Sandman, Tommy Dreamer & Spike Dudley w/ Beulah McGillicutty vs. Buh Buh Ray, D-Von & Big Dick Dudley w/ Sign Guy Dudley and Joel Gertner (ECW 5/16/98)
Welcome to late-90s ECW, where everybody is a major superstar even if the wrestling is a bit suspect. Sandman, Dreamer and Spike were en route to a Street Fight with these same Dudleys trio at Heatwave ’98 a few months later, a feud which featured The Dudleys breaking Beulah McGuillicutty’s neck. E-C-DUB E-C-DUB E-C-DUB.
This match headlined at A Matter of Respect 1998, a show that also featured RVD/Lance Storm vs. Sabu/Chris Candido, Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Al Snow in one of Snow’s last ECW Arena appearances, and Justin Credible vs. Jerry Lynn in a 25-MINUTE 2/3 Falls Match. E-C-DUB E-C-DUB E-C-DUB.
This whole thing is like 30 minutes and not really any good but at the same time it’s pretty prime ECW – Joel Gertner intro, Spike Dudley chugging a beer, Buh Buh mocking Beulah’s looks, Beulah calling Bubba fat, and Tommy Dreamer and D-Von Dudley doing some “good old-fashioned wrestling” that makes you question the system that allowed either to become prominent members of WWE corporate. The gimmick is that there are ladders around the ring and barbed wire tied to the ceiling and they do not use any of that gimmick for the first 20 minutes of this. It is straight wrestling and it is not much, like some kind of developmentally disabled All Japan 6-man tag. A ladder eventually comes into play and Sandman just drops it on the back of Big Dick’s head in a moment I don’t think poor Big Dick was prepared for. Beulah and Gertner have a little showdown and some barbed wire gets grabbed 29 minutes in – Dreamer takes a bump on it, then a Sandman DDT wins it for the good guys. *3/4
Building an Iron Man – 30:00 Iron Man Match – FCW Jack Brisco 15 Title: Seth Rollins [c] vs. Dean Ambrose (FCW 9/18/11)
FCW newbies Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose square off here in a 30-Minute Iron Man match for the FCW 15 Title, which followed a 20-Minute Iron Man Match that followed a 15-Minute Iron Man Match, both of which went to draws. The match is very good. Both of these guys, especially in 2011, are kind of in the CM Punk mold – they are capable enough technical wrestlers but that isn’t their strong suit… they have charisma and will try cool shit they saw on tape like a Terry Funk see-saw in the ropes or a Lucha pinfall exchange or a little dance during a stretch of offense. It was a WWE-style match that I don’t think had one chinlock, which is quite the accomplishment.
The finish is hot – they’re evenly matched, just throwing elbows, and Seth is making frustrated faces while girls are shrieking in the crowd. Seth eventually has to kill Dean dead with two Avada Kedavra’s and a Fisherman’s buster. It’s a good main event type match between two guys still figuring it out, who’d go on to master what they were trying to figure out before they – for better or worse – became prototype WWE guys. ***1/2
Day 1: Big Time Wrestling Christmas Star Wars 1981 (12/25/81)
Day 1. Wrestling Star Wars in Texas. On Christmas. Never before seen footage. 20 of the best wrestling talents from around the world. 2 title matches. A 16-man battle royal. 2 rings.
Bill Mercer is on commentary. Mark Lowrance is ring announcing. Your referees are Bronco Lubich and David Manning. This is (soon-to-be) World Class Championship Wrestling.
1. NWA Brass Knuckles Title: Ernie Ladd [c] vs. Jose Lothario: Mercer says Brass Knucks is kind of an “inside wrestling” type of thing – it “indicates the toughness and the uh, violence, that certain men really enjoy.” Spooky. This match is a heck of a thing on paper but it’s a little over 5 minutes and all about Ernie Ladd reacting to Jose Lothario’s punches. A top rope punch wins the title for Jose and he is just ecstatic. Nothing match. *
2. UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship: El Solitario [c] vs. Killer Tim Brooks: Solitario is a quick guy and Irwin bumps around for him for a bit before a Solitario plancha and inside crossbody by Solitario ends it. Lame. *1/4
3. Texas Death Match: Fritz Von Erich vs. Great Kabuki w/ Gary Hart: Gosh, this match sucks. Kabuki goes after Fritz pre-bell and the crowd is hot, but then they settle into a bunch of nerve holds and claw holds and lumbering around. Fritz is ancient but over. Gary Hart gets involved from time to time and takes a classic big bump. They go to a double draw but since it’s a Texas Death Match, there MUST! BE A WINNER! Kabuki wins it a few minutes later by standing up. *
4. David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich vs. Frank Dusek, Wild Bill Irwin & Tengu: Tengu is Umanosuke Ueda, the inspiration for Toru Yano. His story is that he is from Singapore and used to be under Gary Hart’s tutelage until he got into it with Kabuki. I love stuff like that – he isn’t affiliated with the heel Hart, but remains a heel cause he’s still a dick. This is a match with a lot of punching and slightly awkward high spots by the very over Von Erich boys. It seems at points like they’re experimenting on the spot with the two rings gimmick – Kerry does a dive across that JUUUUUST makes it. Everyone just kind of brawls around and anybody who isn’t tagged in stays in the middle of the two rings. Irwin hits Tengu by mistake and Kevin pins him with a stiff elbow drop. **1/2
5. $10,000 16-Man Two-Ring Battle Royal: The best part about this match is that it is a 16-man battle royal that only has 14 men. The participants are David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, Big Daddy Bundy, Blue Demon (not really), Jose Lothario, Al Madril, Armand Hussein, Frank Dusek, Wild Bill Irwin, Tengu, Killer Tim Brooks, Carlos Zapata, El Negro Assassino and Richard Blood (not Steamboat). Bundy is wearing a singlet and stretchy blue jeans and brown dress shoes and has a mostly full head of hair.
They start in one ring, get thrown to the other ring, and once everybody is in the other ring they try to win – then, the winner of the first ring Battle Royal faces the winner of the second ring for $10,000. Wild Bill Irwin goes after David with no regard for the instructions still being read, which I appreciate. Killer Tim Brooks cuts a HUGE bladejob for some insane reason. Bundy wins the first ring, then Irwin and Lothario are the final two in the second. Lothario gets tossed, and Bundy squares off with Irwin which ends with Bundy winning 10k. OK. *
Gem Status: Terrible show but it’s WCCW baby, what a trip.
Day 2: AWA Christmas Night 1981 (12/25/81)
This is the EARLIEST AWA show on the Network, says WWENetworkNews.com. And it is the drab boring 80s wrestling you were warned about. Just a bleak hour of TV.
1. Rene Goulet vs. Kenny Jay: One thing I do appreciate about these AWA Christmas shows is that they usually start in the middle of a wrestling match. There’s no BS – men are fighting under a spotlight. Of course, then there’s the matches. Goulet works a LONG headscissors here and gets booed. Kenny then works a LONG toe hold. A crappy knee off the second rope ends it. DUD
2. Curt Hennig vs. Evan Johnson: Babyfaced Curt Hennig battles Evan Johnson, who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Curt is young and skinny and working holds, while Johnson… also works holds. The crowd turns on Johnson with heckles of boring, a frequent occurrence on these AWA shows. An announcement that there are three minutes left in the time limit is met with boos. Now I do dig when there’s a rookie match where they get fired up and pissed off at each other as the time runs out and they do pull that dynamic off here, but it’s too late. Yeesh. I shouldn’t be using star ratings for these. *1/4
3. Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell vs. Jerry Blackwell & Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie: Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell are the most basic of babyfaced tag teams and that’s not really a bad thing. It’s a lot better than most of AWA’s offerings. Gagne takes some heat, Blackwell does a fat man corner bump, and Brunzell comes in at various intervals swinging his fists around. I like how Greg Gagne, when on defense, would hold the ropes while on his back and kick at his opponents. Brunzell’s eventual hot tag is very good and Blackwell getting in place for everything is tremendous. He gets a figure-four on Kaissie, Blackwell splashes him, and in the confusion Adnan pins him. **1/4
Gem Status: K.
Day 3: A Very Macho Holiday Message – Macho Man Randy Savage Speaking Engagement (12/22/92)
This is straight-up 10 minutes of raw footage from Macho Man Randy Savage making a public speaking appearance for George Steinbrenner’s charity for at-risk children. Steinbrenner speaks for the first few minutes of the clip, then we go to a guy at a podium at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. He introduces Savage by saying “any fan of wrestling knows him well” which gets a few golf claps, then says Savage’s name resulting in a MASSIVE POP. Savage enters and receives FULL ORCHESTRA ENTRANCE MUSIC. It is beautiful.
The speech is basic motivational stuff but also it is Macho Man Randy Savage doing it. He is kind of trying to talk normal, like he’s toned it down to a 10. He offers encouragement to the kids about believing in yourself. “It’s very nice to be important… but it’s more important to be nice.”
Gem Status: At 10 minutes, completely worth checking out.
Day 4: AWA Christmas Night 1982 (12/25/82)
There is some continuity controversy with this show as what this show actually is is three matches from AWA’s Christmas 1982 show, then two matches from AWA’s Christmas 1981 show, which was partially aired on Day 2. Had the two matches patched in here aired where they should’ve, I would’ve had a lot better opinion of that 1981 show. Both shows took place at the St. Paul Civic Centre and had a Brunzell/Gagne vs. Blackwell/Al-Kaissie tag, with the 1982 show featuring Hulk Hogan vs. Jesse Ventura. So the WWE Network is missing that and the Brunzell/Gagne vs. Blackwell/Al-Kaissie 1982 tag, which… nevermind, I’m good. Lots of wrestling out there.
1. Baron Von Raschke vs. Jacques Goulet: We join a match in progress once again to begin the show. This is a whole lot of Baron working babyface and Goulet working holds. A chinlock gets called as scorpion hold on commentary – you’re not fooling me. Baron moving out of the way on Goulet’s charge into the corner gets a monster pop. Baron somehow works the crowd into a frenzy fighting out of a chinlock 10 minutes into this stinker, then rolls up Goulet for 3. So blah but also completely technically fine. *3/4
2. Ken Patera vs. Steve Olsonoski: Olsonoski is a terrible wrestling name, so thankfully Trongard calls him Steve-O. Patera sells for Steve-O here and it’s OK. An old wrestling match that goes a while and is generic and generally boring but there’s enough pops here and there to appreciate the intent. Steve-O tries a neckbreaker, Patera holds onto the ropes, then drops an elbow and puts his feet on the ropes for 3. Eh. Go back to the WWF, Ken. *1/2
3. Rick Martel vs. Bobby Heenan: Curt Hennig is the referee for this contest in which Bobby “The Brain” Heenan cowers and Rick Martel clenches his fists. There is a whole lot of standing around but it’s also classic shtick BS. Martel dropkicks Heenan in the butt, Heenan takes a brilliant bump where he bounces his head off the turnbuckle, then Martel covers for 3. **
4. AWA World Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel [c] w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Billy Robinson (12/25/81): One of the charms of AWA is that most of it is pretty dry, but then you’ll get a random Midnight Rockers classic or this big time PURE WRESTLING contest. This has a whole lot of Billy headlocks alongside a lot of awesome wrestling, featuring old men smoothly trading holds and running the ropes and taking bumps that don’t seem to feel so nice. Billy goes for a butterfly suplex during this and the way he flexes his leg muscles to try and hit it as Bock just refuses to go up is so good. Bock drags Billy into the ring with a sleeper, Billy covers Bock with his back, and the crowd FLIPS OUT as the 3 is counted and Billy wins the title… or NOT. Because they both had their shoulders down and Bock lifted his at 3. Allegedly. Good shit. ***1/2
5. Hulk Hogan & Tito Santana vs. Ken Patera & Bobby Duncum (12/25/81): Classic Terry, classic Tito. Hogan is wearing yellow and poking Patera’s eye and wiggling his boot – he was ready to take over the entire industry. He and Tito teeing off on Patera is professional wrestling. Tito gets worked over among massive “WE WANT HULK” chants and once the people get Hulk they deliver on their end with a gigantic pop. Heenan involves himself at the finish which leads to Tito taking a huge bump off a Duncum lariat and the ref DQ’ing Hulk for some reason. ***1/4
Gem Status: Much better, AWA. Thank you.
Day 5: Mid-South Christmas Night 1983 (12/25/83)
Just two matches featured here.
1. Jim Duggan vs. Krusher Darsow: Before Barry Darsow became Krusher Khruschev, he was Krusher Darsow. Also, Hacksaw Jim Duggan is here. This match has a lot of shoves and lock-ups and shoulder tackles. These are MEN. And the crowd is hot for these men. Darsow works over Hacksaw, Hacksaw stomps around – it doesn’t need to go 20 minutes, but it’s alright. Duggan misses a tackle and falls to the floor where he’s counted out. **1/2
2. Steel Cage Match – Mid-South Tag Team Title: Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart [c] vs. Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum T.A.: We are in a Steel Cage on Christmas Night in 1983 and Butch Reed is BUMPING. He is BUMPING!!! This match kind of feels like a Battle Royal, with a lot of fumbling around with the occasional highspot. T.A. takes a big time bump to the floor because there is room for a floor around this Mid-South cage. I think Dr. Death is the referee. T.A. cuts a big bladejob and takes heat before Mr. Wrestling II tags in and takes heat himself. Reed does a cut-off on II here late in the match that is so well-timed that I nodded in approval. Otherwise, eh – cool atmosphere but besides Reed nothing here stood out out as anything especially good. **3/4
Gem Status: Nice.
Day 6: AWA Christmas Night 1983 (12/25/83)
This is a terrible show with a little bit you have to see.
1. Brad Rheingans vs. Billy Robinson: A very solid match that isn’t any interesting. Lots of Brad working headlocks. The aging Billy takes a spill over the top rope off a back elbow. There is a roll-up sequence here that might make you think maybe all technical wrestling prior to the 90s wasn’t so good. **1/4
2. Jesse Ventura vs. Steve Olsonoski: All of the evidence I have gathered over my time as a wrestling fan has led me to the conclusion that Jesse “The Body” Ventura is the best worst wrestler ever. I don’t feel like I’ve seen an era of Jesse in-ring where his body didn’t seem completely shot. This match features a long Jesse headlock and the occasional awkward high spot from Steve-O before Steve taps to a Canadian backbreaker. *
3. Rick Martel vs. Superstar Billy Graham: I’m a big fan of how the AWA always called Rick Martel “Ricky.” I also liked how a powerslam would be called a “power bodyslam.” I say those things because I am trying to mention something positive about this real piece of shit match. Billy Graham is coming off his run on top with the WWWF and his win of the WWWF Title over Bruno is mentioned with great fanfare by Trongard. He is also no longer getting major reactions and so his bullshit is exposed pretty quick. Lots of holds and punches and Ricky selling, all assisted by half-hearted face/heel work. Bad. DUD
The WWF-bound Mean Gene Okerlund interviews Blackjack Lanza in the ring about his Texas Bunkhouse Match vs. Bobby Heenan on January. But his face is covered by his hat and he’s barely audible. Woops!
And just as I was going to write this show off, Mean Gene also announces that Hulk Hogan is still in Japan and won’t be able to be here. The crowd BOOOOO’s in an absolute rage, like I’m talking pure disgust. Gene tries to run through some bullshit about how they’ll be surprised by who’s in the main event over loud, loud boos. In reality Hogan had given notice to the AWA and would debut in the WWF two days later.
Aaaaand cut to the 8-man tag where BARON VON RASCHKE is the replacement for Hogan. Lol. Lol lol lol.
4. Greg Gagne, Jim Brunzell, Ray “The Crippler” Stevens & Baron Von Raschke vs. Ken Patera, Jerry Blackwell, Mr. Saito & Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie: This match is if anything a who’s who of AWA stars. Beyond that it’s a pretty average 6-man with the occasional highspot. There are huge WE WANT THE HULK chants as Gagne takes heat, something that takes this show from one for the bin to a must-see treatise on the downfall of the AWA. Gagne and Brunzell do a double slingshot splash with The Baron and The Crippler’s assistance, and commentary says Raschke is pinned even though it was Adnan. *3/4
5. AWA World Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel [c] w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Mad Dog Vachon w/ The Crusher: Midwest legend The Crusher gets a monster pop. The crowd is into Crusher chasing Heenan around and Mad Dog getting in shots on Bock, but this isn’t pretty. Just a brawl among them all. Mad Dog drops a nasty piledriver and covers, Heenan goes up top and is pushed off by Crusher, then Mad Dog’s hand is raised only for the reveal that it’s a DQ win and Bock keeps the title.
Things actually get weird afterwards as Heenan and Bock beat up Crusher while Mad Dog… walks around outside and… throws a chair into the ring. I THINK he was trying to be off-camera, but he is caught in all his awkward glory. Crusher throws a few weak chairshots until Mad Dog finally joins in and Heenan goes flying over the top.
Gem Staus: Worthless with the exception of the Hogan announcement.
Day 7: AWA Christmas Night 1984 (12/25/84)
1984 was the year after Hogan, Gene, Heenan, and Ventura all left the AWA, but there was still hope with the Blackwell face turn, The Road Warriors, and Curt Hennig coming up. This card is aired in its entirety, with the exception of a Road Warriors vs. Fabulous Ones tag was maybe cool. Maybe.
1. Billy Robinson vs. Steve Olsonoski: Steve-O being a consistent presence during my Christmas season was not something I expected. I’ll respect Billy Robinson for his influence in wrestling and know this was late in his career, but his undercard matches are such bummers. He does a backbreaker early and sells as if his knee blew out, so Steve-O works over said knee and AWA ruins another Christmas. After like 10 minutes of this, Billy does like 2 things, and Steve-O… makes a comeback? 15 minutes. No. *
2. Steve Regal vs. Baron Von Raschke: An unbearably boring match – the hilariously named “Mr. Electricity” Steve Regal jaw-jacking with a fan before the bell is as good as this gets. Otherwise it’s Regal working holds and begging off. Raschke’s comeback is over but that’s because of the 80s not because it’s good. *
3. Mr. Saito vs. Jim Brunzell: So. Many. Leglocks. And it goes to a draw. But there’s no drama in a draw countdown if nobody looked like they wanted to win it beforehand. DUD
4. Curt Hennig vs. Nick Bockwinkel: This isn’t top-tier stuff, but it’s classic work. Bock is a pro who bullies Hennig and will bump when it matters, while Hennig is a noodle of a boy who happens to be incredibly technically sound. The first half of this is Bock keeping Hennig outside the ring by hammering from the inside, which he celebrates by getting up on the middle rope like a triumphant piece of shit. All of this results in Hennig being FIRED UP when he makes it inside, which is worth it. Hennig reaches the ropes after suffering through a long figure-four, so Bock breaks it but then gets caught with an inside cradle for 3. Bock busts open Hennig, piledrives him twice, and clocks him with a chair afterwards. Hennig’s bump on the piledriver is beautiful. This wasn’t the match this boring show needed, but it is fun stuff from two talented wrestlers. ***
5. Jerry Blackwell & Greg Gagne vs. King Kong Bundy & The Masked Superstar w/ Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie: This is at least kinda chaotic. Bruiser Brody selling for Greg Gagne is a good rib too. Brody is over and on a tear here. He takes a massive bump into the ropes off of a Blackwell boot where his arms are all outstretched that makes ya appreciate the little things in wrestling. Blackwell gets a visual pin on Brody when Gagne counts 3 off a power bodyslam while the ref is down, then Brody uses a foreign object and pins Blackwell. Not good, but probably the most fun thing on the show. Brunzell saves his buddies from a heel beating, then Blackwell headbutts referee Jim Mitchell and raises his hand to thunderous applause. **3/4
6. AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel [c] vs. Jimmy Garvin w/ Precious: Garvin bumping around for Martel early on is a blast, but once this settles down it’s kind of a drag. Unsurprisingly – holds. Lots of holds. And a crowd that isn’t about those holds. Garvin uses a foreign object and pins Martel, thinks he’s won the title, and the decision is reversed. Ehhhh. **3/4
Gem Status: The best match isn’t even that good.
Day 8: SMW Christmas Chaos (1/7/95)
A break from AWA is nice, though we’ll be back soon enough. This is basically a full episode of the SMW TV that covered some of Christmas Chaos, which was a 3-show SMW tour in TN and SC that had similar cards. This show took place in the midst of the insanity that was the Boots the Cat angle SMW ran where Chris Candido killed the future Balls Mahoney’s cat with a legdrop. That angle was aired on a Hidden Gem from June 2018 and was discussed in Network Reflections – Hidden Gems (June 2018).
Day 1 in Knoxville saw D-Lo Brown lose to The Power Ranger, Tracy Smothers in an I Quit Match, Buddy Landel beating SMW Champ Dirty White Boy via DW, Cactus Jack & Smothers vs. Chris Candido & Boo Bradley, and The Rock & Roll Express defeat The Gangstas for the SMW Tag Titles. Day 2 Johnson City had a Cactus/Candido Falls Count Anywhere match instead of the Bradley tag and The Rock & Roll retaining the titles. Day 3 saw the same.
The bleach-blonde slightly ill-fitted gray suit-wearing Buddy Landel introduces the show with Jim Ross and Les Thatcher because his Hollywood agent has bought him airtime.
He putzes around with Dirty White Boy in one of their three matches for White Boy’s SMW Heavyweight Title, and Landel putzing around is better than most. Landel brings a chain to the ring but White Boy ends up using it for a DQ, then runs Landel off.
Landel’s recollection of this confrontation is that he stomped White Boy’s brains in. JR says White Boy is on his way for an interview, and Landell is quick: “Gee! Do you know what time it is on the West Coast? I have got a conference call!” He scurries off.
This episode of Smoky Mountain Wrestling television features Jim Ross throwing to a Jerry Lawler promo and that is a trip. He talks trash about Dirty White Boy: “I didn’t know he was homeless, but then I looked around Knoxville and saw some of the homes – and who would want to live there either? Heh heh!”
Cactus Jack and Bruiser Bedlam have a 5-minute brawl from a non-Christmas Chaos show. Cactus is Cactus but it ain’t any good. Bedlam uses a foreign object and goes for the cover, but Brian Lee runs in and protests which leds to Bedlam getting DQ’d. A questionable use of Cactus Jack.
SMW broadcaster Chip Kessler gives me the heebie jeebies as he introduces the tag match between Cactus & Smothers vs. Candido & Bradley. Only the finish is shown and it is seriously brilliant – Candido holds Cactus for a Bradley splash from the top, but Tracy pulls Cactus away by the legs which moves Candido into position to take the Bradley splash. Cactus then covers for 3.
The angle is just the perfect Christmas treat – Candido slaps Boo around, Boo fights back, Tammy steals Boots the Cat and runs to the back. Cut to Candido being chased by Boo while carrying a bag with the “cat” (God I hope it’s in quotes). Boo slams Candido but Tammy hairsprays his eyes and Candido drops a leg off the top onto the cat bag. Then a POWER RANGER runs in and Boo has to fight him off too.
The last few minutes of The Rock & Roll Express vs. The Gangstas is shown, with their old rival Jim Cornette managing The Rock & Roll’s. The blacks were causing trouble and they had to unite I guess. The Gangstas’ POSSE is banned from ringside. They bump around for Rock & Roll and it’s a lot of fun. Cornette stands on the outside wearing a basic white t-shirt with “ROCK + ROLL” written on it in black marker, and I love the thought of Cornette determining that the ampersand would be too hard to write out. New Jack hits Cornette, but Ricky hits Jack with the tennis racket for the 3-count and a big pop. Post-match The Gangstas beat everybody’s ass. Cornette tries to fight them off with the tennis racket but he is overwhelmed and cuts a major bladejob. D-Lo Brown shows up. Dirty White Boy and Cactus finally arrive for the save.
The show ends with a bandaged and crutch-wielding Cornette cutting a promo from his couch next to a white Christmas tree. It is a classic Southern wrestling exposition promo where every action that led us here is logically laid out: he appreciates Rock & Roll but they aren’t friends. Corny needs friends of his – he needs The Heavenly Bodies to help, but they’re in the WWF. So he called them up and told them to leave WWF or do whatever they had to do and they said, “We’re gonna go cancel some dates right now – and they did. January 28. Just so happens that’s Super Saturday Night Fever.” He then brings up how Commissioner Bob Armstrong suspended them, which sent them off to the WWF in the first place, and says he wants to talk to Bob.
Gem Status: Just an OK episode of TV with some mid-90s oddities scattered throughout.
Day 9: AWA Brawl in St. Paul (12/25/86)
This is the best AWA show of these Hidden Gems – limited crap and some legitimately awesome matches. It is also a show where a few gentleman who likely defined what the modern day smark became sit in the front row and are picked up on the mic talking shit to all the wrestlers all throughout the show.
1. Earthquake Ferris vs. Brian Knobbs: Earthquake Ferris looks like The Yellow King from True Detective. He has a very ideal little enhancement match here with the future Nasty Boy, who sports a mullet and screams YEEEAAAHHH when he’s announced. He looks like such a young bully, a perfect 80s wrestling look. He also does some great 80s trash talk – “You’re a little too slow there, chubby!” A front row guy keeps yelling KNOBBBEEERRR throughout the match. Ferris hits an Avalanche, does the Ferris Wheel (an Airplane Spin), and drops a splash for 3 in under 4 minutes. Ideal enhancement wrestling right here. **
Ferris lets out a near Dean Scream to his post-match ringside interview, then ends it with this rallying cry: “Merry Christmas, and we did it – YEAHH!!”
2. Steve Olsonoski vs. Boris Zhukov w/ Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie: Steve-O strikes again. This is a whole lot of headlocks and shoulder tackles and armbars and sloppily performed wrestling maneuvers while the front row guys do their best job of alienating the rest of the crowd from ever attending a wrestling event again. “Come on ref, don’t worry about your haircut – it’ll grow back!” Arggghhhh. Steve-O just seems tired – four years of the AWA undercard will do that to you. Zhukov covers him after an elbow drop and he gets his foot on the rope at 2, but the referee counts 3. I think Sheik was supposed to push it off but he puts no force behind it. Eh. Ugh. DUD
3. Greg Gagne, Scott Hall & Bull Power vs. Mr. Saito, Larry Zbyszko & Super Ninja: The referee in this match is namedropped as Jerry Saganowich and it occurs to me that the guy getting heckled for his haircut is the future Jerry Sags, partner of undercarder Brian Knobbs. There’s some tomfoolery with the referee situation as Scott LeDoux, boxer and occasional wrestler, had become a referee and Zbyszko didn’t trust him because Zbyszko had broken his elbow before. So Zbyszko got a new ref, and that’s how I now know that Jerry Sags started as a referee.
Outside of the “WIFEBEATER” chants by the dorks in the front, this is a decent match with a real cast of characters. Bull Power – the future Big Van Vader – is an amazing hot tag… he just throws Vader hammers at Saito, body smashes him, and flexes to big cheers. Then he gives Larry a massive press slam. “BIG” Scott Hall’s work here is limited but when he tags in the crowd is HYPED. He and Larry do a neat spot where Larry tries an Irish whip out of the corner and Hall holds on, so Larry takes a bump. Super Ninja soon throws salt in Hall’s eyes leading to what is kind of a melee and what may or may not have been a 3-count. LeDoux runs into the ring and is attacked by Zbyszko, leading to a big brawl and not even commentary knowing the referee’s decision. Sounds about right. **3/4
4. AWA World Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel [c] vs. Curt Hennig: It is Christmas Night in 1986 and Bock is once again the AWA World Heavyweight Champion, while young Curt Hennig is two years wiser. These two sell the hell out of some slightly underwhelming action early, as Bock targets the leg. Referee Billy Robinson does these slow counts throughout the match that everybody thinks are 3’s that really mess with everything. Robinson eventually gets bumped, Hennig checks on him, Bock attacks from behind and sets up a piledriver, Hennig reverses and sends Bock over the top to the floor, then does a not-so-perfect missile dropkick for…. a bell ring, as Hennig has been DQ’d for throwing Bock over the top rope. DRAT!
This is a good time and their selling brings the drama but but the finish is shit and it never gets as good as you want. “Learn from your lessons as I have over the years,” Bockwinkel says after Hennig protests the finish and Verne admits the throw might not have been intentional but he must allow the referee’s ruling. ***1/4
5. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka vs. Colonel DeBeers: Apparently, DeBeers did something to Snuka on October 15th in Las Vegas. The crowd pops for Snuka jumping into the ring and going after DeBeers and they pop for his war cry. He punches away at DeBeers’ bleeding head for a bit then gets DQ’d for pushing the referee. Crazy Snuka is alright. **
6. Steel Cage Match: The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty) vs. Buddy Rose & Doug Somers w/ Sherri Martel: This is JIP right at Buddy Rose taking a bump into the cage. Rose/Sommers take a beating for a while and I mean a while – it’s like a reverse heel beatdown formula tag, with the clever babyfaces kicking butt and the baddies bleeding and bumping all over the place. There’s a great spot where Jannetty drops an elbow from the top on Somers and Somers wobbles around, so Michaels just gently touches him to knock him down. Sherri Martel screaming on the outside for her men is AMAZING too. Michaels eventually takes a big cage bump and loses a ton of blood of his own, and the experience of Somers biting at Shawn’s head wound as Sherri screams KILL HIIIIIM KILL HIIIIIMMM!!!! is one that you must feel. It is so wild that somebody in the crowd DOUSES Sherri with some kind of substance and there’s a bunch of commotion. Rose and Jannetty end up atop the cage, Rose falls, Jannetty hops down to the top rope, and hits a crossbody on Somers for 3. Pretty awesome. ****
The show ends with more inconclusive AWA Championship nuttiness – Sherri, Rose, and Somers kick Shawn out of the cage and beat down Marty as Shawn tries unsuccessfully to get over the top. He finally makes it in and cleans house, and then Rose, Somers and Sherri are informed the belts aren’t theirs. I think. Or maybe they were told the Rockers hold a claim to them. I don’t know. A bloodied Jannetty does a pretty impressive parkour leap up and out of the cage and chases them off.
Gem Status: The Midnight Rockers vs. Rose & Somers in a Steel Cage is a bonafide Hidden Gem, and Bockwinkel vs. Curt Hennig is real good too.
Day 10: An Extreme Christmas Gift – 3-Way Dance – ECW World Heavyweight Tile: Steve Corino [c] w/ Francine and Jack Victory vs. The Sandman vs. Justin Credible (ECW 12/23/00)
This was the main event of the last ECW show at the ECW Arena. It was supposed to be Corino vs. Credible but Sandman, who was holding the title hostage from current champion Corino, inserted himself into the match through the clever contractual loophole of pointing out that he had the title. The match is less than 10 minutes and kinda crappy but a bit of a trip. Lots of crowd brawling and chair contraptions and selling for The Sandman who was coasting more than ever at this point. Credible gets clobbered with a Singapore cane by both Francine and Corino and goes out first. Corino is a bloody mess as Sandman begins throwing chairs in the ring, which leads to another CHAIR RIOTT because shit was crazy. Corino at one point just outright CHUCKS a chair directly at Sandman, who ducks and almost causes the chair to hit the crowd. A Sandman DDT on the chair pile gets a Holy Shit chant, but he soon slips on said chair pile and goes down to a cowbell shot from Corino. *3/4
Gem Status: Last ECW Arena show is a cool bit of trivia, but the match isn’t much.
Day 11: AWA Christmas Night 1987 (12/25/87)
Tonight’s card is brought to you by the AWA and Schmidt Beer, as well as the sneaking sensation that AWA is beginning to accept its fate. A raffle is announced before the show that includes a video cassette recorder, 19-inch color television, and a trip for two to Las Vegas. A man named Rob is also introduced as having donated $250 to the Minnesota Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, so he gets to ring announce for the first match. Lucky Rob will also be presented with a plaque by Verne on television. Unfortunately the poor guy does a bad job and gets booed.
The video source here changes randomly and is sometimes really poorly lit.
1. Jammin’ Mitch Snow vs. Slick Nick Kiniski: Ouch. Kuninski is actively bad, he looks the part enough as a basic bleach blonde heel but doesn’t even sell for an armbar – he just STANDS there. He also charges into the corner like 5 legitimate seconds after Jammin’ Mitch has already moved. Slick Nick wins with a rollup with tights. DUD
2. Alan West w/ Madusa Miceli vs. “Mr. Magnificent” Kevin Kelly: The future Nailz is a douchebag who flexes a lot, while Alan West is a guy forcing Madusa to be in his corner against his well. I’m conflicted here. This is not a very good wrestling match. Kelly works over West, who does a poorly executed comeback before Madusa helps Kelly win. Kelly puts his foot on the rope for a pin kickout twice within a minute, which I respect. *1/2
3. If Nord Wins, He Gets 5 Minutes with Al-Kaissie: Nord the Barbarian vs. Soldat Ustinov w/ Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie: The future Berzerker does back bumps when his name is called and I’m into it. He brawls with Soldat into the crowd, and though the dark camera barely follows them the crowd seems PUMPED. – Nord misses a legdrop off the top, but Soldat misses a shoulderblock and is pinned. Nord then clobbers Kaissie with a clothesline, but Soldat helps Kaissie escape. The match is like 5-minutes long and more fun than usual but still kind of trash. *3/4
4. AWA World Tag Team Title: The Midnight Express (Loverboy Dennis Condrey & Ravishing Randy Rose) [c] w/ Paul E. Dangerously vs. The Midnight Rockers: The Rockers had returned to AWA after a cup of coffee in the WWF that proceeded their big run, and they’d make their re-debut about six months after this. Here they wrestle the Condrey/Rose version of The Midnight Express and it’s very fun, though more about getting to the 30-minute draw than anything. There are also some random edits. The Rockers keep out-smarting and out-wrestling the Express and it’s real good stuff, highlighted by a spot where Rose does a drop-down, Shawn drops down next to him and looks at him, Rose rolls out all confused, and Marty taps him on the back and punches him. One tape edit gets us right to Trongard hilariously screaming, “In your face, Randy Rose!” Trongard is something here actually – he keeps saying it’s a 60-minute time limit the entire match, then hears the 2 minutes left announcement and exclaims, “I was under the impression this was an hour-long event!” Shawn eventually starts getting worked over and yeah he’s very good at wrestling. Him revving up with two shoulder tackles off the ropes then running into a clothesline from Rose is AWESOME. ***1/2
5. Wahoo McDaniel vs. Adrian Adonis w/ Paul E. Dangerously: Adonis is only a year out from his WWF run but the already rotund man has exploded. Commentary says he is 458 pounds versus his announced 290. This match… is a match. The ref gets bumped, Adonis hits Wahoo with Paul E’s phone, Wahoo gets his foot on the rope at 2, then hits Adonis with the phone and gets DQ’d. Better days… DUD
6. AWA World Heavyweight Title: Curt Hennig [c] w/ Larry Hennig vs. Greg Gagne w/ Verne Gagne: In a tremendous silly gimmick, Verne and Larry are tied together on the outside with a leather strap. Larry and Curt have accused French referee Scott LeDoux of COLLUSION with the Gagnes, who are also French, so Larry tells LeDoux to get out and Marty Miller steps in.
A few years after their first meetings, Hennig has basically become a young Bockwinkel – his body has filled out and he’s the confident heel champion. The match is pretty good – good control by Hennig, good timing on everything, hot comeback by Gagne. Just a very solid wrestling match where Gagne worked an arm and Curt worked a leg. Hennig also takes a bump 3 feet in the air off a Gagne kneelift. Verne and Larry get into it and Hennig is evntually DQ’d, so he keeps the title. ***1/4
There’s a big pull-apart brawl between the Hennig Family and Gagne Family after the match where Verne just SNAPS the leather strap at the Hennig men.
After the show, we are treated to 10 minutes of empty arena ringside interviews taped for TV with The Midnight Rockers, Midnight Express, Verne & Greg Gagne, Larry & Curt Hennig, and Adrian Adonis with Paul E. Dangerously.
Gem Status: A minor curiosity but not great.
Day 12: AWA Nite of Champions II (12/29/85)
For a brief window of time in the mid-1980s, the NWA and AWA joined forces to create Pro Wrestling USA, an organization that ran supercards to combat the WWF’s domination of the wrestling world. Unfortunately it didn’t quite pan out, but there were some quality wrestling shows including this one, which is basically a prime Jim Crockett Promotions card guest starring some AWA guys.
This show took place at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey and is listed in other places as NWA/AWA Star Wars.
It also has a single guy yelling BOOORRIINNGG throughout the night.
The Rock & Roll Express cuts a promo before the show, and Ricky lays it down: “We’re comin’ lookin’ real good for all the young ladies… ladies of the 80s, 85 and it’s still alive, Rock & Roll forever, hogs – get ready, Rock & Roll is here to stay!”
1. Ron Bass vs. JJ Dillon: Dillon’s pale pudgy old man in gross tights look is a keeper. Bass putts him in holds, he works over Bass briefly, and suddenly – CLAW. **
2. NWA World Midget’s Title: Little Tokyo [c] vs. Cowboy Lang: This has the usual tricks but these dwarfs can work, brother. They popped the crowd huge a few times – Lang deadlifts Tokyo and gently puts him on the turnbuckle, then later he bites Tokyo’s foot. Tokyo eventually gets his revenge as he puts his feet on the ropes for a cover about 5 minutes in. **
3. Sherri Martel vs. Debbie Combs: Poetry in motion, working holds to boring chants in the AWA. Combs takes a rolling cross armbreaker so bad it nearly kills the business. Love Sherri but no good. DUD
4. WWC Universal Heavyweight Title: Carlos Colon [c] vs. The Barbarian w/ Paul Jones: #1 Paul Jones Jones unlocking The Barbarian’s chains when the bell rang was always a great gimmick. This is another 5-minute match but it’s pretty fun – Barb doing a big gorilla press slam on ol’ Carlos is awesome, and he throws a lariat that’s so good the crowd pops. Colon reverses a bodyslam with an inside cradle for 3. **
5. Paul Ellering vs. Buddy Roberts: This is announced as a Special Challenge Grudge Match. It’s another quickie. Paul Ellering is wearing a freaking neckbrace for the duration. Buddy does a see-saw in the ropes but ends up stuck on his head. The crowd is hyped as Ellering goes to work, but Buddy does a bulldog and throws Ellering neck-first into the ropes. This brings out the Road Warriors who kick Buddy’s ass to a monster reaction. He goes FLYING on a double shoulder tackle.
6. NWA World Tag Team Title: The Rock & Roll Express [c] vs. The Long Riders (Wild Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin): This is a great Rock & Roll tag with a just OK team. Scott Hog Irwin is impressively fat and out of shape – his first move of the match is a rope-running sequence where he just awkwardly jumps up maybe two inches on a leapfrog and Gibson just runs into him. Once this becomes all about Rock & Roll controlling Bill it becomes pretty awesome, and the way he desperately throws his body at Gibson to get a tag opening is great stuff. Robert takes a beating and finds an opening by putting his knees up for a splash, and the way Bill scurries over to try and knock Ricky off the apron is so good. Ricky manages a sunset flip for 3 in the melee. Post-match the Long Riders say they’ll stand right there until The Rock & Roll Express returns, then leave about 10 seconds later.
7. Russian Death 2-on-1 Handicap Match: Sgt. Slaughter vs. Boris Zhukov & Chris Markoff: It occurred to me during this match that it indeed was Bill Apter’s very prominent face taking pictures at ringside all show. The match is a 2-on-1 Russian Death Match and the crowd is HYPED as Sarge works over the baddies with a leather strap, though everything they do feels super light. Regardless – absolutely thunderous U-S-A chants. But also – it’s like 15 minutes long. A bloody Slaughter takes advantage of Markoff running into Zhukov and hits an Axe Bomber on Markoff to win it for America. *1/2
8. NWA U.S. Heavyweight Title: Magnum T.A. [c] vs. Tully Blanchard w/ Baby Doll: This is just a month after the Starrcade I Quit classic and an absolutely wild brawl, as these guys will do. On a show with blood, Tully bleeds big. They throw awesome punches and everything is crazy intense and a little over 10 minutes of outright madness ends with a Magnum belly-to-belly. ****
9. NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair: Looky here, it is two of the greats. Dusty’s fire on his jobs and his swagger combined with Flair’s selling… MAGIC. This is a match with less stakes than Starrcade the previous month and it feels like a better match for it. Flair works a leg, then bleeds and sells like crazy. Everything is timed perfectly and the crowd is hanging on all of it. Prime stuff from two legends. ****
10. The Road Warriors vs. Ivan Koloff & Krusher Kruschev: Solid, fun, nothing special – Warriors beat ass, Ivan bleeds, Animal takes heat, Hawk tags in, Warriors have the pin but Nikita runs in, Ellering protests and The Russians are DQ’d. After the match Ellering gets a chain across his injured neck for being a snitch. ***
11. AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel [c] vs. Stan Hansen: This is historically significant but a real bummer of a match with extra loud boring heckles. It has the typical Hansen chaos, but also a whole lot of armbars. An uncomfortable amount, actually. Martel submits to a straight-up Boston Crab about 12 minutes in. **3/4
Gem Status: Prime Jim Crockett Promotions card guest starring some AWA guys… that’s a good show.
Mid-South New Year’s Eve 1985
This has most of the matches from this New Year’s Eve extravaganza, though it’s missing Ted DiBiase vs. Dick Murdoch. Each match gets a very old school graphic prior that names the competitors. The commentary goes in and out.
1. The Bruise Brothers (Mad Dog Boyd & Pork Chop Cash) vs. Eddie Gilbert & The Nightmare: Mad Dog is over as hell, raising his briefcase and nodding along to the crowd’s adulation. The match is fun bullshit – Eddie Gilbert takes some bumps, gets some offense in, and bumps again. Also, Pork Chop Cash shakes the referee’s hand after a sequence. **3/4
2. Terry Taylor vs. Rob Ricksteiner: Basically a Young Lion match, with a few armbars and holds before Taylor finishes off Ricksteiner, a “rookie with a lot of promise,” with a flying elbow. *
3. Jake Roberts vs. Sir Oliver Humperdink: Jake Roberts is about done in Mid-South and wrestles this match with one hand tied behind his back. It’s ultra basic BS – cheap Humperdink offense, Jake comeback, DDT setup, and a run-in by Lord Humongous who takes a back body drop very poorly before Jake pins Humperdink with the DDT. Jakes does a little jig and heads to the WWF. **
4. Jim Duggan w/ Debra Duggan vs. Dick Slater w/ Dark Journey: One of those manly matches with a lot of big punches and holds that’s technically alright but also kind of boring. Slater gets tied in ropes, Debra pulls Journey off the apron when she tries to help (“You’ve got a couple of wildcats that look like they’re gonna hook up out there!” shouts Trongard), Duggan punches Slater out and gets 3… but he had brass knuckles, so actually Slater wins. God damnit, Verne. It’s New Year’s. **
5. Dog Collar Match: Butch Reed vs. Buzz Sawyer: This is a wonderful dirty ugly wrestling match where Buzz Sawyer starts leaking blood from his forehead about a minute in. Reed follows soon after. They brawl and grab at each other and whip each other with the chain. There’s a moment where Buzz Irish whips Reed into the ropes, but Reed just hits the ropes and stops.
Sawyer soon unhooks himself and ties Reed to the bottom rope – as he approaches to attack the crowd shrieks, and he does a bulldog where Reed looks like his neck legitimately snaps – amazing. ****
Dick Slater attacks Butch Reed along with Buzz and Jim Duggan runs out for the save, but it’s too late. The bell rings and rings (seriously, turn the sound down if you watch this) as Duggan tries to fight them off, then he too gets overwhelmed until Reed resurfaces and runs them off.
Gem Status: Heck of a Dog Collar Match.
