NWA Classics 24/7 #27

Jack Brisco v The Spoiler (Houston Wrestling, 7/27/79)

I should probably watch more Spoiler. To be honest I haven't really thought about Brisco in years either, but I at least formed an actual opinion of him way back whenever (though that's been a loooong time as well). It's not that this is the first Spoiler/Super Destroyer match I've seen, it's that it might be the one closest to his peak and man that guy was fun as hell. This had a bunch of great headlock work in the first five-six minutes, and while Brisco is someone who'll always be active in holds to keep them semi-interesting it was Spoiler who was doing all sorts of neat stuff. I've probably seen it done before, but the way he held Brisco in the headlock so he could choke him over his knee at the same time is such a cool spot that more people should've pinched. He also sends the ref' around to check for Brisco pulling the mask (he's not, obviously), then when he's in the clear he yanks Brisco back down to the mat with a handful of hair. It was all just really solid heat-building. There was another awesome part where he perched up on the top rope waiting for Brisco to get back in the ring, scoping Brisco's movements before giving him a double axe handle as Brisco was halfway through the ropes. It doesn't sound like much, but he looked super menacing just by the way he quietly bided his time, and the longer he waited the more worried you were for Brisco. The claw v figure-four part of the match ruled as well. Initially Brisco countered the claw with a kneebreaker (after some really nice desperation selling while in the hold), then as he went to the half crab Spoiler was trying to grab anything he could to get out of it. By the time Brisco finally managed to get the figure-four on proper you had Spoiler almost crawling up Bronko Lubich's shirt for a reprieve. The two falls coming in quick succession worked as well, not just as comeuppance for Gary Hart's interference but because the second one made Brisco look he's always thinking on his feet. He was the world champ for a reason, you know. Imagine how much more cool Spoiler footage we could be getting if NWA On Demand was still a thing.