Okay, this might actually be the best US tag matchup ever. I'd always been Team MX v RnRs, and the Midnights v the Rock 'n' Rolls is obviously still top shelf, but at some point the Midnights v Fantastics jumped them as a pairing and now I sleep soundly within the warm EMBRACE of that RED HOT opinion. Put me on yer Observer Radio and I'll unleash all sorts of molten takes. Honestly I'm not even sure this is the best Midnights/Fantastics match, but they have about a dozen excellent ones and this is definitely up there all the same. It's the Fantastics' debut in Crockett, a few weeks before the 1988 Crockett Cup. The Midnights are fully raging that both teams are only separated by three seedings in the tournament. They expect to mop the floor with them in short order but the Fantastics collar them again and again early, always frustrating the MX and going back to the armbar. They were going long here so the build was patient, but the timing on everything was brilliant and every time the crowd think the MX might've seized an advantage the Fantastics reel them in again. Even some amazing Bobby Eaton punches can't swing control and of course Cornette is livid as they get run in circles. Eventually we get what the nerds all want, which is Tommy Rogers playing face in peril as the Midnights run distraction and double teams and Bobby Fulton loses his mind. The transition was basically a pop-up throw from Eaton into a Lane superkick and it was every bit as cool as it sounds. Lane's striking - his karate, if you will - was as good as it's ever been and his follow-up spin kick to the stomach might've ruptured Tommy's spleen. They didn't really do as many teased comebacks and cutoffs as I expected, but Rogers in peril was stellar stuff. It's one of Fulton's best performances as well, taking the beatdown for the second heat segment and eating some awesome MX double teams. The leapfrog onto Fulton's back as he's draped over the ropes looked killer and once again Bobby Eaton was throwing some absolutely scorching right hands. His top rope elbow drop wasn't far off Macho Man territory here either. My main gripe with this is that of a 35-minute match we probably miss eight minutes due to commercials, which obviously isn't the fault of the wrestlers but will still PEEVE the superdweebs. On the other hand the superdweebs - I count myself among that number - are placated somewhat as we get to see the important TRANSITIONS~ and such. The Fantastics scoring the upset with their own rocket launcher ensures that the feud will continue and at the end of the day that's the main thing. That this might not even be the best MX/Fantastics match to air that WEEK is sort of bonkers.
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