Wednesday, 18 November 2020

The Enforcer v The Ragin' Bull!

Arn Anderson v Manny Fernandez (World Championship Wrestling, 4/19/86)

This got plenty of time, and it was good because it's these two getting plenty of time, though I wonder if it wouldn't have been even better had they stuck to the usual 15-minute time limit for these TV title matches rather than expanding it to 20 (I'm not sure why they did that here). 15 is right in the sweet spot. You get the stooging, enough time for a compelling control segment, and then a few minutes to work towards a finish, assuming of course they're going to use the full 15 minutes. 10 condenses things a little too much when you've got world class stoogeer like Arn or Tully carrying the belt. With 20 you obviously get longer to build, but this dragged a wee bit in the middle and could've used a few minutes shaved off. BUT who really gives a shit as it was still Arn and Manny working a nice title match on television. Arn can't do a thing early on and has to roll outside several times after being popped by Manny's punches. Each powder lasts longer than the previous, maybe because he's increasingly inclined to milk the clock, maybe because each one of those punches is taking a little more out of him. Manny controls the body of the match by working the leg, and it's fine stuff and Arn sells it well. I especially liked Arn fighting back with a running knee to the gut and crumpling in a heap as it was done with the bad leg. Also liked him throwing on a bodyscissors and pointing to his imaginary watch. The bodyscissors was never going to outright win him the match at that point in it, but if he can keep Manny grounded then it means Manny can't hurt him, and it's Manny who needs to win - Arn just needs to survive. 

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