WWE All Star Search #14 - The Wrestling Classic
Hello Turnbucklers! We are here once again to further our search for who is really the greatest of all time. This is going to be our final edition of 1985 and our #14 edition overall! This time we're looking at the Wrestling Classic, which I do believe is WWE's first attempt at PPV. This is a singles match tournament where by the winner gets a nice car and a shit load of money. Some of the matches within the tournament, on paper, would make your eyes water with excitement. Steamboat vs Savage stands out to me as does Orndorff and Santana! We do get a WWE Title match on this card too and it's between our two highest scoring superstars so far, Hogan and Piper. I'm expecting quick matches and little storyline progression but I might be pleasantly surprised!
The Card:
Adrian Adonis vs Corporal Kirchner
Dynamite Kid vs Nikolai Volkoff
Randy Savage vs Ivan Putski
Ricky Steamboat vs Davey Boy Smith
Junkyard Dog vs The Iron Sheik
Moondog Spot vs Terry Funk
Tito Santana vs Don Muraco
Paul Orndorff vs Bob Orton
Dynamite Kid vs Adrian Adonis
Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat
Junkyard Dog vs Moondog Spot
Tito Santana vs Paul Orndorff
Hulk Hogan (WWE Champ) vs Roddy Piper [WWE Title Match]
Randy Savage vs Dynamite Kid
Randy Savage vs Junkyard Dog
The Show:
Our commentary team tonight are Jesse Ventura and Gorilla Monsoon.
Into the back first where we see tonights tournament entrants picking their opponents from a hat. Randy Savage gives Liz a bollocking as he ain't too happy with his pick!
Adrian Adonis vs Corporal Kirchner
So a return for Corporal Kirchner! Think of this guy as the WWE's half hearted replacement to fill the patriotic serviceman gap that was left by a departing Sergeant Slaughter. Last time we saw him he had a stinker against Moondog Spot...if that's possible! Adonis is still in his leather biker phase it seems and gets decent heat. Match itself is very quick as the majority will be on this card. Both men get offense in but its Adonis that comes out on top with his DDT after reversing a suplex attempt. Cool finish but the match itself was nothing at all. Kirchner looked good enough but right decision to send the more experianced and established one through to the next round. Match Rating: 3/4*
Dynamite Kid vs Nikolai Volkoff
Straight into the next one now...and straight back out of it. Dynamite Kid nails a missile dropkick during Volkoff's singing and gets the 3 count instantly. I understand the purpose of it and at least they used the comedy character to suffer the embarassment. Match Rating: DUD
Randy Savage vs Ivan Putski
OK, a Savage match should pick things up, surely? Out he comes with Liz and she gets a huge pop and he gets huge boo's which is always nice. I'm suprised Putski is still around at this point and I doubt we'll see much more of him...or at least I hope. The match itself, well, most of the first half is stalling on the part of Savage and the rest are weak punches on behalf of Putski. There is some psychology in it though, as Putski's stamina gives out on him in the end giving Macho the easy win after a simple sweep of Putski's legs. It made Macho look good believe it or not, especially in the brains and stamina department. Time for Putski to leave the WWE landscape too. Match Rating: 3/4*
Ricky Steamboat vs Davey Boy Smith
Now this is more like it! On paper this could be a good match although their differing styles may clash. I'd expect Steamboat to get the win in this one, mainly because he's a singles wrestler and there would be no real useful reason for Smith to move forward. Both men get good reactions which is great for a face/face dynamic. The match itself is great, with plenty of fast pace. Steamboat gets to show off his quickness and versatility whereby Davey gets to show off his strength. The match lasts less than 3 minutes which is a HUGE disappointment. The finish comes when Davey charges at Steamboat and crotches himself in the ropes...and that's it...Davey can't continue. Such a copout ending that makes very little sense, I mean his opponent was no where near the win...but the ropes were enough to derail him. So very weak. Match Rating: 3/4*
Into the back with Mean Gene and he's with Junkyard Dog! He waffles on in his JYD style about winning the tournament but he manages to forget the name of Chicago Bears...smooth!
Junkyard Dog vs The Iron Sheik
This one could be shenanigans central although again, in ring wise, not expecting a masterclass...or even a * match. JYD comes out to a decent pop and Sheik gets good heat. I guess Sheik will always have good heat, he's just so hateable, like Pierce from Community. Match is how you'd expect, weak strikes and lots of heely stalling. Sheik tries for a full nelson and the camel clutch but neither can keep JYD down and he wins with a headbutt in another 3 minute match. Entertaining for any nostagic fan, painful for any wrestling fan. Match Rating: 1/4*
Moondog Spot vs Terry Funk
Who thought it was a good idea to put Moondog Spot in this show? This one is heel vs heel which is a weird one considering who's in this. Funk is with Jimmy Hart and together they try and convince Moondog Spot to forfeit the match alongside them resulting in no winner. All goes to plan until Funk tries a sneak attack before legging it to the ring. Things go wrong however as Moondog Spot beats him to it and wins via the countout! Who's idea was it to let Spot progress?? This is one more time Terry Funk looks like a fool instead of the intense nutcase he should be! Match Rating: DUD
Tito Santana vs Don Muraco
Straight into the next match and on paper this could be OK. These two have history over the Intercontinental title that is around Santana's waste but this match has nothing to do with the belt. Muraco is with Mr Fuji so of course both get decent heat. Santana still got a decent pop but it's less intense than it was a year previously. The match itself sees Muraco in control for the majority. He uses his strength to maintain Santana in restholds...but its all dull stuff. Muraco does manage to nail a powerslam and gets the 3 count! But wait! Santana's foot was on the ropes so it doesn't count. No one tells Muraco as he gets rolled up for the real 3 count mid-celebration. Muraco really got screwed out of that one and Tito looked like a fluky bitch after being beaten all match. Again, this match was barely 4 minutes long. Match Rating: 1/2*
Into the back with Mean Gene and Bobby Heenan. Of course Heenan is his awesome self and claims that although none of his lads are there to cash in the Orndorff bounty (see: Previous All Star Searches) he'll still be watching!
Paul Orndorff vs Bob Orton
Hold on, more storyline development? These two were on the same page back at Wrestlemania 1 but things have obviously gone sour between the two since. Orndorff has been impressing me over 1985 and hopefully Orton will be a good foil for him. Orndorff hasn't really changed his style since his face turn and I think that helps him find a niche as a 1980's face. It gets heated from the off with Orndorff taking control from the beginning. Orndorff aims for Orton's cast and surely Orton must realise it's a huge bullseye! Orton does take control eventually and locks on a long bodyscissors. Eventually Orndorff does escape and Orton tries fora jumping headscissors. Unfortunately he eats the ropes but that doesn't end the match like earlier. The match ends when Orton just clocks Orndorff with the cast right in front of the ref and gets DQ'd. The ending made Orton look like an absolute moron but apart from that, it was harmless. Match Rating: *
That's the first round out of the way as Vince McMahon and Lord Al go through the tournament so far. Lord Al by the way leeches on some poor woman.
Dynamite Kid vs Adrian Adonis
At this point, I'm hoping the quality and time of these matches increases. Neither men look too gassed despite previous (short) appearances. Dynamite gets the early control and sends the heels reeling and they reassess the situation. Its seems to work as Adonis nails a lovely suplex on Dynamite. He locks on a chinlock and Jesse Ventura disappears from commentary to go for a chat with Randy Savage...but that's not what you're being paid to do Jesse! Dynamite gets out of the chinlock and hits a nice backdrop. He misses with the following diving headbutt allowing Adonis to lock on a sharpshooter...in WWE 1985! So he's introduced the sharpshooter and the DDT to the WWE so far, well done Adonis! He goes for a bulldog but misses allowing Dynamite to fight back including a crisp clothesline. He hits a nice snap suplex but Jimmy Hart tries to get involved. It doesn't end well for him as the heels end up bumping into each other allowing Dynamite the 3 count around 5 minutes in. Best match of the night so far. Dynamite is very easy to get behind and made Adonis look great. Adonis continues to teach me just how impress me with solid in ring work and a nice array of yet to be seen moves. Match Rating: *3/4
Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat
Jesse Ventura is back at commentary and am I ready for this one! Hells yes! Savage heels it out to start with only a sprinkling of stalling before he pearl harbours Steamboat. Steamboat holds his own though and chops Savage all the way out to the floor. Savage comes back in the ring and charges at Steamboat...but eats nothing but floor again in a really cool headscissors spot. Steamboat follows outside this time and hits an atomic drop of Savage as the crowd eat it up. Savage gets some offense in but it all falls short once he heads up top. Of course being a heel it doesn't work out for him and he eats a suplex from the Dragon. A crossbody gets a 2 count for Steamboat. Savage heads to the apron and gets something out of his tights. Steamboat goes for a suplex but gets hit with whatever Savage had in his tights and that gets the 3 count for Macho! Short and sweet! Two more minutes given and it could have rated much higher. I expected Savage to get more offense in but that's a small complaint. Match Rating: *3/4
Junkyard Dog vs Moondog Spot
Not much to say to this one and Moondog Spot misses he chance to take control, eats a JYD headbutt and that gets the 3! Oh, I should mention JYD counted the pin himself as there was inexplicably no ref. Waste of time and made no sense if logic is important to you. Match Rating: -*
Tito Santana vs Paul Orndorff
Tito comes out with his knee bandaged up for this one. It would be logical for Orndorff to go through on this as Tito has his IC belt. We get some good chain wrestling from the two to start us off with each getting a couple of close near falls. There's a stand off but Orndorff is notably teasing using his old heely bastard tactics. He doesn't resort and hits an atomic drop instead. When Tito is down however, there's more notable heel teasing but he allows Tito back up. A drop toe hold later and Orndorff begins to work the injured leg as the crowd quietly start to turn on him. He goes for a figure four but its countered. Both men end up on the outside and brawl to a countout finish. An average match at the time but the storytelling was spot on. Interesting that they are teasing an Orndorff heel turn so soon after his face turn. If they wanted to test him out as a face...why not let him win this tournament...and then turn him heel if THAT didn't get him over. Match Rating: **
Hulk Hogan (WWE Champ) vs Roddy Piper [WWE Title Match]
The fact that these two are still feuding makes me a happy boy, as to me, there is no one at this point who can match up to Hogan's hero more so than Piper. Piper of course gets major heat on his way out and Hogan gets a major pop! The crowd is ready for this one as they brawl to start, first inside the ring and then on the outside. Piper tries to cheat back in the ring but eats a Hogan clothesline in the corner. Hogan runs through his arsenal but theref distracts him long enough for Piper to get a cheap shot. His momentum doesn't last for long as Hogan gets a bearhug locked on. Piper cheats again to eascape and locks in a sleeper. Hogan sends Piper to the floor to escape and Piper eats the ringpost. Back in the ring Piper nails Hogan with a chair but ends up in a sleeper of Hogans. Out comes Orton to nail Hogan with the cast and that's what gets the DQ win for Hogan. Typical Hogan - Piper match of the times but with a silly finish. Why not just DQ Piper for the chairshot? Match Rating: *1/4
Randy Savage vs Dynamite Kid
Another potentially good match and I'm praying it doesn't disappoint on a card full of them so far. Gorilla Monsoon says you couldn't write a tournament like this...and I think it's time someone told him the truth. They lock up to start and Dynamite hits a strong shoulderblock followed by a big crossbody. He can't pin him though as Savage is in the ropes. He can get a sunset flip but eats a splash by Macho in retaliation. They hit a nice double KO spot using clotheslines. Macho gets up first and heads up top. He hasn't learned any lessons yet as of course, Dynamite stops him using an awesome dropkick while Savage is up top. Dynamite hits a nice superplex but Savage hooks his legs for the cheeky win! Crisp and cool, best match of the night so far! Match Rating: **1/2
Randy Savage vs Junkyard Dog
Junkyard Dog gets a bye straight to the finals due to the finish of Orndorff/Santana. It's strange that JYD got the bye when wrestling 101 says the face has the more troubled route to the final while the heel gets a breather. Of couse, lots of stalling by Savage to start involving chairs and Liz. JYD actually no sells chair shots to himself...as to why I don't know. They finally start with JYD getting the early advantage including headbutts (of course). He locks on a bearhug but Savage manages to escapes before JYD works his back. We get a caught in the ropes spot with Macho Man and JYD takes advantage of this like all good faces do...with kicks and chokes. Savage comes back with a clothesline for 2 followed by an ax handle from the top when JYD rolls outside. Another ax handle to the outside by Savage and we almost get another countout. Savage uses a chair and its blatantly ignored by the watching ref. Back in the ring and Savage goes up top again but behold...JYD counters and nails his patented crap headbutts. Savage charges at JYD but gets backdropped out to the floor in a nice bump...and gets counted out! That's how this ends? Sigh, JYD wins the whole tournament on a countout...after getting a bye. The wrong guy won on this one plain and simple. Match was decent and Savage was awesome as always, showing the WWE audience at the time something completely different. Match Rating: *3/4
Save 10% on Soniclear by Michael Todd True Organics - The world's 1st and only anti-microbial sonic brush
Junkyard Dog gets a bye straight to the finals due to the finish of Orndorff/Santana. It's strange that JYD got the bye when wrestling 101 says the face has the more troubled route to the final while the heel gets a breather. Of couse, lots of stalling by Savage to start involving chairs and Liz. JYD actually no sells chair shots to himself...as to why I don't know. They finally start with JYD getting the early advantage including headbutts (of course). He locks on a bearhug but Savage manages to escapes before JYD works his back. We get a caught in the ropes spot with Macho Man and JYD takes advantage of this like all good faces do...with kicks and chokes. Savage comes back with a clothesline for 2 followed by an ax handle from the top when JYD rolls outside. Another ax handle to the outside by Savage and we almost get another countout. Savage uses a chair and its blatantly ignored by the watching ref. Back in the ring and Savage goes up top again but behold...JYD counters and nails his patented crap headbutts. Savage charges at JYD but gets backdropped out to the floor in a nice bump...and gets counted out! That's how this ends? Sigh, JYD wins the whole tournament on a countout...after getting a bye. The wrong guy won on this one plain and simple. Match was decent and Savage was awesome as always, showing the WWE audience at the time something completely different. Match Rating: *3/4
Save 10% on Soniclear by Michael Todd True Organics - The world's 1st and only anti-microbial sonic brush
Wrestler Scores:
- Adrian Adonis +5 (21)
- Corporal Kirchner +2 (5)
- Dynamite Kid +7 (19)
- Nikolai Volkoff +1 (24)
- Randy Savage +8 (19)
- Ivan Putski +1 (7)
- Ricky Steamboat +6 (35)
- Davey Boy Smith +4 (17)
- Junkyard Dog +6 (26)
- Iron Sheik +2 (29)
- Moondog Spot +2 (7)
- Terry Funk +1 (11)
- Tito Santana +5 (51)
- Don Muraco +3 (17)
- Paul Orndorff +7 (39)
- Bob Orton +3 (22)
- Roddy Piper +4 (47)
- Hulk Hogan +5 (62)
So there we go, The Wrestling Classic! My advice like it normally seems to be is to watch it for historical context, avoid it for overall quality. There are some good matches on here and a lot for Randy Savage, JYD and Dynamite Kid fans in there. It was cool to see Steamboat/Savage volume 1 and also cool to see Savage/Dynamite and neither disappointed really. Savage gained huge points here mainly for his workrate and effort...could have scored higher though with less stalling and a promo. Dynamite was made to look great all night and Steamboat had two good matches. JYD would've scored higher if his final win wasn't so lame...as well as his in-ring quality. Finally Hogan and Piper scored average because their match simply wasn't that great nor felt anyway special in this one. The time to put the belt on Piper came and went at War to Settle the Score. Anyway...onto 1986 and our All Star Search just got bigger...as now I'll be looking at weekly television too...jobbers and all! I can't wait! So see you next time when we look at January and Saturday Nights Main Event 4!
Follow me: @thewrestlindork
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