WCW Classics Report 8-20-01 Submitted by Patrick Sands on Monday, August 20, 2001 at 9:25 AM EST
WCW CLASSICS REPORT 8-20-2001 By: Patrick Sands
Ok guys here we go again on that long wonderful adventure through the Classics of WCW. I just finished watching Summerslam and let me tell you, its got nothing on the Classics, no amount of blood Kurt Angle spills could ever top NWA in its hey day. This is your first classics report since I arrived back on campus for my senior year of college from a very very relaxing summer, not that I am bitter about coming back to school, but ANYWAY, lets jump to the classics only on Turner South.
Your Host is the one and only "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. He opens by telling us that three of his favorite people will be on the classic, we are now sent to the history of the feud between Bill Irwin and Tommy "Wildfire" Rich. From September of 1983 we see Bill Irwin in a match with a random jobber named Fred Lane, as Tommy Rich messes up a pin and the ref is totally ignorant of anything happening. This leads to Lane tripping up Irwin and getting the pin. Irwin goes on to tell Gordon Soley that the little midget could not beat him and basically that Tommy Rich has hell to pay. Dusty sends us to take a look at this bad blood feud right now.
--Wild Bill Irwin v. Tommy "Wildfire" Rich. This is from July of 1983. Gordon Soley is the commentator. Irwin opens with a flurry on Rich before delivering a knee to the abdomen. Rich fights back with several right hands to the head. Rich delivers an elbow and Irwin is back into the turnbuckle. Rich continues with the right hands as Irwin smashes Rich into the turnbuckle. Irwin now stomps Rich to the canvas. Irwin sends Rich for the ride but gets caught with his head down by a big boot from Rich. Rich whips Irwin to the ropes and hits a big elbow. Rich now applies an abdominal stretch to Irwin. Buzz Sawyer charges the ring and breaks it up and we have a disqualification as Rich gets the beat down. Scott Casey runs out of the crowd to rescue Rich and all is well with the world. Winner: Tommy "Wildfire" Rich via dq. Rating: 1 1/4.
Dusty welcomes us back to the Classic and puts Dick Murdoch over as an outlaw all over the world. Captain Redneck is one of the greatest athletes ever in the ring, according to Dusty.
--Captain Redneck Dick Murdoch v. Joe Young, strap match. This match is from June of 1983. Murdoch has a whip with him as he talks to some announcer that I do not recognize. Murdoch opens with a slam on Young. Big elbows by Murdoch. Young tries to leave the ring and Murdoch pulls him back in by the strap. Murdoch chokes Young with the strap and touches corner one and corner two before Young can stop the momentum. This infuriates Murdoch so he whips the hell out of Young. Murdoch suplexes Young (they called it a brainbuster, but it was not.) Murdoch touches all four corners and we've got ourselves a major squash. Winner: Dick Murdoch Rating: 1/2 (woulda been a flat out 0 but gotta give them 1/2 for the gimmick.)
Dusty tells us the main event is next and will be right back with Rufus R. Jones. Next week on the Classic we see that Mr. Wrestling #1 will face Mr. Wrestling #2 in a sure fire classic.
Dusty says he use to travel down the Highways with Rufus. He wants the people to know how he is, that he bites like a crocodile and kicks like a mule. We get a Rufus interview from November of 1983. Rufus reminds us that he walks tall and does his thing, he says bring it on to Dick Slater. We have a clip from April of 1983 with Jones against someone named Fuchi. Rufus dances around a good bit and delivers chops to Fuchi. Fuchi miraculously gets an advantage but it is quickly squashed by Jones. Fuchi with a single leg take own on Jones. Fuchi has another advantage, but Jones hits two big tackles followed by a headbutt and Jones defeats Fuchi. Dusty says Rufus could move almost as good as the American Dream. Rufus was a crowd pleaser.
--Rufus R. Jones v. Hans Shroeder. This is from January of 1984. Bob Caudle lets us know that Shroeder is a very tough man. Shroeder locks on an armbar but Jones counters into a leg hold as the ref breaks the hold. Shroeder locks on a headlock as Jones starts to boogie and he shakes out of the headlock to the delight of the crowd. Arm bar by Schroeder reversed by Jones into an arm bar of his own. Shroeder backs Jones into the Corner and locks on a headlock, which is reversed into another arm bar by Jones. Test of strength is won by Shroeder, but Jones starts to dance. Rufus gets the leverage and gains the advantage. Another arm bar by Jones and now he adds a head butt to the arm of Shroeder. Jones smashes Shroeder into the turnbuckle. Jones rips at the face of Shroeder. Jones locks on a headlock but Shroeder makes it into the ropes. Shroeder gains the advantage with a few hard right hands. Shroeder whips Jones and after two tackles resulting in nothing, Jones knocks Shroeder down and then knocks him down a second time. Headbutt by Jones gets the pin. Winner: Rufus R. Jones by pinfall. Rating: 1/4.
Dusty says it will get more "classicer" every time out and he will see us next week.
After watching this and Summerslam today, I can hardly contain myself. Not the best WCW Classics episode ever, but it was not bad. We had ourselves a solid opener tonight, followed by a bad match with a good gimmick, leading all to Rufus R. Jones. This has been your "WCW Classic" reporter here at LordsofPain.net, Patrick Sands signing off, reminding you as Dusty would, to come get you some of this and keep the emails coming.
