Hard to ask for much more from a 12-minute TV six-man. Williams was damn near a force of nature in this, clobbering both Hayes and Roberts like they owed him beer money and the interactions with Gordy ruled. I saw it in all three of the matches I watched a couple months ago with those two opposite each other, but the spot where Gordy tries to hit a back body drop only for Williams to slip out of it and immediately hit a German suplex really is awesome. Hayes was a total blast yet again, showing alllll of the ass and getting punched up and down the place, landing in the wrong corner and getting popped by both Fantastics, turning around and getting ham hocked by Williams. Frustratingly we come back from a commercial break with Fulton already in peril, and I kind of knew that would be the case but it didn't stop me from muttering "fuck off" off to myself when the fact was confirmed. It all breaks down into a melee towards the end and then to PEEVE us even more we run out of TV time before the finish, although we do get a post-match clip of some more heels and babyfaces joining the fray at the very end. I have not a clue who won the match. The safe bet is probably on nobody.
Dr. Death & Ted DiBiase v Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes (Badstreet Match) (1/25/87)
This was more of a regular tag than a wild out of control brawl. Ordinarily you'd want the latter if you've seen even one WCCW Badstreet match, but what we did get was still really good. The layout was simple enough, first with some DiBiase in peril followed by Williams in peril, the latter coming after he gets clobbered with a cowboy boot and takes that sweet blade to his forehead. The DiBiase segment was really good stuff as the Birds go after the neck and Gordy fucking drills him with a huge back suplex, then just chucks him into the corner and DiBiase's neck snaps back disgustingly as he hits the buckles. The Birds really crack Williams with that boot and the ref' can't do anything because it's no DQ (technically). Tommy Gilbert would often be kind of annoying as a ref' because he'd sometimes get super involved and confrontational, but those moments where he's trying to keep DiBiase out are probably the better for him having actually been a wrestler before. DiBiase can reeeeeally try and get in there to save his partner and Tommy can make pushing him back look good, and he actually has the physical capabilities to do it. A DQ finish, even for interference, in a Badstreet match is a bit rubbish, but these are the 80s, I guess. Hayes narrating over it is amusing at least.
Ted DiBiase v One Man Gang (2/6/87)
What a nice wee spirited brawl. This might be my favourite DiBiase, the babyface brawler who'll bleed and punch and maybe get hit with a chair. He does all of those things here and the chairshot looked particularly nasty. Gang is such a fun big boi, someone I was always whatever on until about six-seven years ago. He was great here, working DiBiase's cut forehead and wiping blood on himself like war paint. His missed splash always looks good, like it would knock enough wind out of him that the opponent could conceivably make a comeback. Sure enough we get some revenge bloodletting and DiBiase is pretty great at dishing out some payback. The ref' bumps towards the end were not the greatest it must be said, but they brought it back around with the finish. A really nice eight minutes.
