The Last Match: 80's Big Men

It has been a very long time since I wrote a The Last Match blog post.  Recently though I came across match footage of The Big Boss Man's last match and it was in Japan.  So I took a look see and sure enough he did, so I thought it was time a new The Last Match post.

Big Boss Man Ray Traylor

August 31, 2004 Tokyo, Japan IWA Japan 10th Anniversary Show

Semi Final: defeated Freddy Krueger

Finals: was defeated by "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan for the vacant IWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hard to believe the final matches of Ray Traylor's career were in Japan, although at only age 41 when he passed away less than a month after these matches, I don't think he intended them to be.  After his WWE fun finished in 2002 he didn't wrestle again until March 2004 when he was brought to Japan for IWA.  His final tour was August 28th through the 31st.  You can find his last match on YouTube. 

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan

May 12, 2019 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Destiny World Wrestling

defeated by Gursinder Singh

In a career that spanned 40 years I best know Hacksaw for the 2 x 4 carrying, cross eyed, flag carrying all American WWF mid card guy.  It wasn't until many years later that I saw his Mid-South run where he was on top of the territory.  When he entered WCW I would have like to have seen him return to his Mid-South style rather than continue his WWF character.

One Man Gang

March 28, 2009 Franklin, Pennsylvania International Wrestling Cartel: Night of Legends

defeated by "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan

Also known as Akeem the African Dream, Gang wrestled for 32 years debuting in 1977 with runs in Mid-South, World Class, before going to the WWF.  He debuted as the One Man Gang in 1987 and in 1988 debuted the Akeem character, joining the Big Boss Man as the team the Twin Towers.  He left the WWF in 1990 wrestling on the independents until 2001 with a couple of short stints in WCW where he won the WCW United States Championship.

Earthquake

July 19, 2003 Tokyo, Japan All Japan Pro Wrestling

teamed with George Hines & Robbie Brookside defeated Hiroshi Hase, Masayuki Kono & Shigeo Okumura

John Tenta ending his career in Japan is fitting as he began combat sports career as a sumo wrestler in the Japan Sumo Association and in pro wrestling with All Japan Pro Wrestling.  He joined the WWF in 1989 in a very memorable segment sitting on Dino Bravo while he did pushups and then attacking the Ultimate Warrior when he attempted the same.  After a good run with the WWF he followed Hogan to WCW where he had a string of gimmick names and then had to walk around with half  beard for a few months.  His last WWF run was a member of the oddities under a mask as Golga before ending his career back in Japan with All Japan. 

Until Next Time!

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WWF at the LA Sports Arena December 17, 1988

I had to urge to watch some 1980's WWF but didn't want to watch a PPV so I headed over to the Old School section in the Vault of the WWE Network.  I quickly found this show and noting that it was exactly 29 years ago this day it was a no brainer and I fired it up.

WWF Live at the LA Sports Arena December 17, 1988

Commentary: Rod Trongard and "Superstar" Billy Graham
Live on The Z Channel

Boris Zhukov  vs. "Leaping" Lanny Poffo

Boris opened with the Soviet National Anthem and Poffo countered with a poem:

That Great Big Ugly Russian
Thinks he's worth a million bucks
He had better stick to wrestling
Cause his singing really sucks

Zhukov jumps him before the bell by Poffo quickly gains control before Zhukov takes a powder to the floor.  They worked side headlock spot where Boris had one on Poffo and held the hair to prevent from being wiped off and then Poffo used Zhukov's beard to do the same.

Poffo worked the left leg and knee during the match using a step over toe hold and standing ankle lock to wear the big Russian down.  Zhukov got the pin in about 13 minutes with a clothesline off the second rope.

Winner: Boris Zhukov

Greg "The Hammer" Valentine vs. Tito Santana

Valentine is wearing the shinguard and Trongard referenced that it was to be called the Heart Breaker.  They spoke about it in great detail actually.  These two had some serious wars over the Intercontinental Championship just a few years before.

A really good and stiff back and forth match that went the 20 minute time limit.  I'm positive that after this match these guys felt this match.  It started slow and built and built leading to an exciting finish Tito slapping on the figure four just as time expired.

I think the WWE could benefit by returning to time limits in matches and have a draw once in a while to continue a feud.

Winner: 20 minute time limit draw

Bad News Brown vs. Jim Powers

I thought that this was going to be a squash match but surprisingly it wasn't.  Bad News tried to jump Powers at the bell but Power side stepped him.  Bad News left the ring a couple times threatening to walk to the back.  Powers managed to keep staying just ahead of News until he was bodyslammed on the floor.  News then worked him over for a few minutes punishing him with strikes and chokes until the ghetto blaster ended it at just about 11 minutes.

Winner: Bad News Brown

In Ring: While Powers was still in the ring Mr. Fuji came out annoucing that he had a new tag team The Powers of Pain.  He then kicked Powers then dropped kicked Fuji.  The Powers of Pain ran out and attacked Powers laying him out.

World Tag Team Champions: Demolition: Ax & Smash vs. The Powers of Pain: Warlord & Barbarian with Mr. Fuji

The match started after the commercial break with all four men starting until it ended with Ax and the Barbarian.  Typical big man match, except tag team edition.  Powers of Pain cheated a lot as they aer new founded bad guys, Demolition was on the unusual end having to sell as they are the baby faces.  Match was halted after six minutes when Fuji and his cane got in the ring and the referee disqualified both teams.

Winners: Double Disqualification

"Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase with Virgil vs. Hercules

DiBiase jumped Hercules as he slid in the ring which didn't end up well with Herc sending DiBiase to the floor.  Hercules got quite the pop, which just goes to show how over the Million Dollar Man was as a heel.  DiBiase took over control of the match wearing the big man down but couldn't put him away.  Hercules made a comeback after DiBiase missed a series of elbow drops and then took a series of clotheslines and a powerslam.

Herc then stood over DiBiase talking trash and then paintbrushed him with several slaps to the face just like DiBiase is known for and the crowd ate it up.  Hercules locked in the full nelson, but DiBiase made it to the ropes and on the break Hercules accidentally hit the referee.  Hercules put DiBiase in the torture rack backbreaker and with the referee still down Virgil hit Hercules with his own chain in the abdomen.  DiBiase scored the pin at about nine minutes for the win.

Winner: "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase

Backstage: Rod Trongard is with Slick and the Big Boss Man for a promo about their match.

Backstage: Rod Trongard said he was with Hercules Cortez who cut a promo about Ted DiBiase and Virgil.

Akeem the African Dream with Slick vs. Koko B. Ware

This match was 11 minutes of garbage.  Just terrible.  Koko didn't have Frankie, his offense was stick and move.  Akeem's offense was lumbering wear down holds like a long bear hug and slowing plodding around the ring.  Finish came when Koko went to dive at Akeem in the corner, he moved, and Koko ate the turnbuckle landing on his back where he was crushed by the 747 splash.

Winner: Akeem the African Dream.

Women's Champion: Rockin' Robin vs. Sensational Sherri

Sherri did a lot of jaw jacking with the fans before the start of the match.  I really enjoyed this match, it wasn't a five star classic by any means but you got to see the veteran in Sherri leading the rookie Rockin' Robin who had only been wrestling about a year at this time.  One of my favorite moments was when Sherri was being pinned and instead of kicking out she pointed to her foot that was on the bottom rope.

These two girls beat the crap out of each other and Robin got the pin in just over ten minutes with a wicked vicious looking bulldog.

I was pretty excited to see this match on the card.  I haven't seen a lot of Rockin' Robin matches in the WWE as most of her them were on house shows and not television.  Typically the match of hers I've seen the most is her title win over Sherri from Paris.

Winner: Rockin' Robin

Main Event
Hulk Hogan vs. The Big Boss Man with Slick

Boss Man tried to hit Hogan with the nightstick as he was getting into the ring so Hogan pulled him to the floor and proceeded to slam him into the ring posts repeatedly and even hit him in the head with a steel chair.  He rolled Bossman back in the ring and took the night stick to him before Slick jumped on Hogans back.  Bossman then accidentally splashed Slick in the corner leading to Hogan handcuffing Slick to the bottom rope outside the ring.  I guess this is no DQ?

Back in the ring Hogan would beat up Boss Man and then go to the floor and open hand slap Slick a couple times.  The fans were going insane for Hogan through all this.  Boss Man took control and uncuffed Slick.  Boss Man nailed Hogan with a piledriver and only got a one count.

Boss Man hit his finish, but it was awkward and the commentators called it a double clothesline that Boss Man got the better of Hogan on.  Boss Man hit a splash, Hogan kicked out on two Hulking up.  The big boot sent Boss Man to the floor who then pulled Hogan out posting him and handcuffing him with a cuffs that had a two foot chain.  Hogan rolled back into the ring with his hands cuffed still, Boss Man continued the offense, which the referee allowed.  Hogan eventually broke the chair and a clothesline and leg drop later Hogan won in about 13 minutes.

The pop when he won shook the hard camera.  And of course Hogan must pose.

Winner: Hulk Hogan

Except for the Koko and Akeem match this was a very good show and a good audience that got into it.  If you haven't watched it it's worth your time.  I've always been a fan of Rod Trongard not because he's a fantastic commentator, but because his voice is amazing.  Also when I think of him it's his time in the AWA that comes to mind.

Checking with The History of WWE it appears that WWE ran five shows this day with two matinee shows including one in Oakland that featured the same exact matches as this show with one change in that Demolition won via pinfall.

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Later Readers!

My first WWF/WWE Event

I have always been a wrestling fan, I can’t remember not watching wrestling and that’s thanks to my Dad who was also a fan.  I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I am a much bigger fan than he ever was, but I still have him to thank for my love of wrestling.

It was my Dad who took me and my Cousin Chrissy to my first ever World Wrestling Federation show on June 4, 1989 at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine.   Now I don’t remember all the fine details but I will tell you what I do remember.

Actual tickets stubs that were ripped on opposite sides and I lined them up to reform a single ticket

We bought the tickets at the back of a department store from Ticketron, I believe it was Sears, my Dad didn’t tell me what we were doing and when I heard him order them I got so excited.  During Superstars they would always have a segment talking about WWF On Tour and whenever they mentioned Maine, which was more often back then, I would beg to go and finally he relented.

My brother was jealous that I was getting to go to the show and he wasn’t so our stepfather took him and they sat in a different section on the floor.

At the souvenir stand my Cousin Chrissy and I both got a poster and a t-shirt, she got the Hulk Hogan Teddy Bear T-Shirt and I believe she got a Mrs. Elizabeth poster but she can’t recall.  I got an Ultimate Warrior poster and a No Holds Barred t-shirt that I still have.   My brother got the Hulk Rules rip off shirt.

This is the same poster that I got that day

What was peculiar about the No Hold Barred shirt was the fact that Hulk Hogan signed it, in fact he signed all of them, but some reason mine was signed twice one on above the other.  A couple other kids walking by pointed it out as they also had No Holds Barred shirts that were signed, but only once!

My son Canaan wearing my No Holds Barred T-Shirt I got at this show

The double autograph

Canaan wearing my brothers Hulk Rules shirt from this show, the bandana is mine from another time

I can’t recall the entire card but I do remember most of the matches and have been able to piece some of them together thanks to www.thehistoryofwwe.com

and the results they had from June 3^rd at the Boston Garden and June 5^th in Cedar Rapids, IA along with WWF’s style of running the same card in different cities as they could get away with it then. 

My dad has taken photos, however I had never seen them and he lost them.  I recently asked Phil Laine if he had any photos of the show as he goes to every wrestling show practically.  Of course he was front row and he had doubles and gave be the second set.  He mostly has photos of the Hogan match but there were a few others. 

The Results:

Paul Roma defeated Boris Zhukov

Tim Horner defeated Barry Horowitz

The Warlord defeated Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart

Dino Bravo pinned Hercules special guest referee “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin

“American Dream” Dusty Rhodes (sub for Jake “The Snake” Roberts) defeated “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase

Bret “Hitman” Hart fought Mr. Perfect to a 20 minute time limit draw

Tag Team Champions: Demolition: Ax & Smash defeated Twin Towers: Big Boss Man & Akeem the African Dream

“Macho Man” Randy Savage with “Sensational” Sherri Martel defeated World Champion: Hulk Hogan via count-out

The opening match I know had a guy named Mike in the match.  I remember thinking, hey that’s my name, and that I didn’t know either guy in the match. 

I remember being disappointed that Jake wasn’t there as he was one of the guys that I was looking forward to the most, but Dusty Rhodes was an amazing substitute.   My dad used to rent all the tapes and I had seen Dusty Rhodes in classic battles with Tully Blanchard and Ric Flair, he hadn’t even debuted in the WWF on TV yet so it was so excited to see a wrestler the NWA unexpectedly.

So cool to see Demolition in person!  I still remember the Bret Hart vs. Perfect match being one of the best matches I have ever seen.  Even at almost 10 years old I was able to appreciate it for how magnificent it was.

When Hulk Hogan came out the crowd was the loudest and everyone was standing and jumping.  Hogan was the only guy I couldn’t see until he was elevated on the ring apron.  At that time I was a huge Hogan fan so when he lost I was really disappointed.  I realized that he was still the Champion, but he still lost.  

Phil's Photo's:

Bret "Hitman" Hart vs. Mr. Perfect

Dino Bravo vs. Hercules with special referee "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin

Demolition vs. Twin Towers

"Sensational" Sherri & "Macho Man" Randy Savage

Hogan hulking up

Famous pose sending the fans home happy

What was your first WWF/WWE show?

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Later Readers!