WRESTLING ON THE INTERNET NOT FROM THE NOW

[Cobra Commander]

notes on the 4/22/84 Omni show

Spoiler

1984 has to be near the end for Roop doing anything, right? He's built like an egg in a red white and blue singlet and he's working pre-Fantastics Tommy Rogers in an opener. Rogers and Roop had a fun basic-ish sort of match. The level of little man energy in Tommy Rogers that i've noticed in the various Vault releases is a lot of fun. I think if Tommy Rogers had come along slightly later, he would have been just in time to be able to work against similarly small dudes in the 2000s. I love how the Omni ropes look like they're barely hanging on for dear life like they're made out of multiple materials. Bob Roop with a fun cocky cover after a backbreaker. Roop hitting the mat on various moves like flat back bumps hurt him. Rogers wins with a sunset flip out of the corner, which I think looks better than the sunset flip off the ropes which has a certain amount of cooperation.

At least the first two matches have the introductions clipped out but the Vaultsmaster has divided this video into chapters if you want to know who the hell is in the match. Tim Horner, Sweet Brown Sugar (not Koko), Les Thornton, Rocky Jones (Mike Masters). These are four guys in a match. This matchup also makes me think how few tag matches are on these Omni shows that don't involve the Road Warriors. In other words, this is a early in the card tag match which means it might be worked like how they worked early in the card singles matches in the Omni. I assume that Les Thornton is in the role of holding everything together. Mike Masters looking like a bit of a hateable meathead in this matchup. Ref not about to fall for a blind tag into a headscissors. All the headscissors making me think "how much of 1984 Georgia is worked like endless 1990 WCW TV matches with Ole booking". One of the best parts of the 'sans commentary' tag team matches is getting to hear fans reacting when the heels cheat behind the ref's back. Tim Horner looking like a candyass rookie Nascar driver at this time. Nice pop for the tag before the fans have to boo a little bit since the ref didn't see the faces tag. SBS gets in and Les Thornton is gonna do some selling for his offense. That front dropkick off the ropes looks neat. Tim Horner wins with the only finisher he ever uses, that roll off the ropes.

Aw yes, Jake Roberts vs Brad Armstrong has intros. This is one of two times when Jake and Brad were in the same place and worked together (the other being 1985 Mid-South). These Omni Jake matches have been a lot of fun and Brad is always really good. Nice flip sell from Jake on a collision off the ropes as Jake is tremendous at selling like he's not 5 inches taller than Brad. I think Brad is taller than Ronnie Garvin but he might not be. Jake is just so amazing at working like he's not 6'5" and I've typed this before but why the fuck did he not go back to wearing those pants once he got really fat. The gut might have been less noticable with those pants than with tights. But there's a certain amount of missed opportunities since he turned heel in 91 and then almost immediately his career went off the rails. Oh man, Jake selling in a way that makes me think he's going to run in fear of getting hit by the Russian Legsweep. Jake is just such an amazing chickenshit begging off. Like I bet Jake Roberts working Ivan Putski in the 80s would have been amazing even if Putski is just a short muscle dude because Jake would be in so much fear of getting hit by the Polish Hammer even if Jake is a foot taller than Ivan Putski (obviously stars didn't align for that matchup). Oh man, Jake selling a bearhug from Brad Armstrong is just as much fun as all his other selling. I don't associate Brad Armstrong with Bearhugs but Jake is selling the peril of being bearhugged by Brad Armstrong. Maybe there's some Bob Armstrong matches from 1977 where Bob used his large old man arms to bearhug heels. Jake selling a punch to the gut like his stomach is about to burst. Another bearhug sequence. Like if you think about this, this does make sense with Jake's build. Oh, Jake teasing countering a bearhug with the DDT would be a cool spot. I could see Jake Roberts beating some lunkhead like the Warlord by countering a bearhug into the DDT in 1990. Jake back in the bearhug and selling it like he's melting. Jake grabs a leg and gets a cradle for two before we go back to the bearhug. Bearhugs are usually not associated with good matches for most people but, this is weirdly captivating for how to do this match. Both guys get to sell their gut a bit after Jake counters a splash by putting his knees into Brad's stomach. Jake may have just done a "hide the foreign object" spot or a phantom weapon spot. Got some action on the outside. Ref just coming over to take the chair away before Jake can use it on the outside. Jake just running his shoulder into Brad's lower back is neat looking offense. Jake puts the sleeper and Brad is in peril for a few. Jake kicking at a downed Brad like it's a fight in a backalley. That Jake kneelift was sweet. Jake does the irish whip and gets the duckdown countered multiple times. That Brad dropkick is sweet. Brad hits the Russian Legsweep with Jake almost blocking it, and the Legsweep gets a three count, but Jake put his foot on the rope *after* 3 (you could quibble with the camera not showing the ropes but) and Paul Ellering/Jake trick the ref into thinking that Jake broke the count. Brad dropkicks Ellering. Jake hits the DDT. Match over. That fucking ruled. Jake Roberts worked like the world's biggest coward who also had a bazooka that he could whip out at any time. It rules, it rules, it rules. Georgia Jake fucking rules. Brad Armstrong does too.

Now time for the other man who is a revelation in these Omni matches. The Spoiler. Spoiler vs Ronnie Garvin is for the National TV title too. Putting his foot on the bottom rope during a collar and elbow is a neat little Spoiler thing. Got a chinlock/headlock/facelock sequence for awhile in this one. The early part of this is being worked at a deliberate tempo, alright. Gonna have to check with kayfabe doctors about the wrestling physics of choking a man with his back over the bottom rope. Spoiler walking the turnbuckles to do the throat snap over the top rules. A lot of Spoiler just working like he's trying to smother Garvin. We can't tell how full the Omni is but it looks like the front row is made up of people with strongly held opinions about the band 38 Special. Ronnie picks up a chair and is talked out of it. Spoiler picks up a chair. Ronnie gets the chair and hits him with it and that's not a DQ. Obligatory "going for the mask" spot broken up with a punch to the gut that is almost sold like Spoiler punched Ronnie Garvin in the balls, which would be a more effective low blow than those uppercut low blows. Spoiler moves out of the way of a Garvin kneedrop and we got some selling. Feels like Garvin missing a kneedrop and selling his knee would have been a turning point if they did that in a match with Garvin and Flair. Spoiler and Ronnie squaring up to threaten to punch each other which ends with Spoiler on the upside. The claw is blocked so we get an abdominal stretch instead. Spoiler and Roop both doing the "grab the rope on an abdominal stretch" spot and I wonder where they were during Mike Rotundo's impressionable years. Alright, got Spoiler working Ronnie's hand a little. Backbreaker followed by doing two more backbreakers while kneeing is cool. Ronnie asking the fans if he should ram Spoiler's balls into the ring post. Paul Ellering continuing to look like he runs a karate dojo that scams 9 year olds. Spoiler might be the wrestling equivalent of using seasoning to make the food taste better by 1984 but he has some neat little flourishes that he can put into this match. Also Ronnie Garvin with hair looks like he had the same hair that Shane Douglas was wearing at various points of the mid-90s. This kneelock feels like it's been going on forever. Feels like Spoiler is arguing what constitutes breaking a hold while the Ref tells him about rope breaks. Spoiler stalking a downed Garvin in a nice visual. Faint sounds of a time call in the background. Spoiler breaks a count with his foot on the ropes, Garvin goes in to attack that ankle and eats shit once Spoiler moves his foot. Alright, some Ron Garvin right hands through the ropes to Spoiler in the ring. Spoiler in peril on the ropes from Ron Garvin's punches. This match certainly answered my question of how they were dividing up 50 minutes between Garvin/Spoiler and Bundy+Superstar/RWs. Spoiler just throws Ronnie directly into the ref for a very unintentionally(?) hilarious ref bump. Garvin punches counter the Claw until we get interfrence against Garvin. Spoiler applies the claw and the ref wakes up. Garvin comes back to his feet. Another claw. More punches to the stomach. Looks like Garvin is bleeding a bit. Spoiler off the top into a Garvin punnch and Garvin retains. I think this was what we call a "big fight feel" these days. It was certainly worked at a pace and the end was just the two guys trying to win it with the claw or the hands of stone.

And now our main event sans intros. Bundy looks massive next to Rhoad Warrior Hawk, so he's very fucking wide. You know it's a hell of a match if the smallest guy in the match is one of the Road Warriors or Bill Eadie. Animal and Bundy going at each other and it's looking rough (in the good way). I think Masked Superstar as a babyface is also a bit rare too, not as rare as good guy King Kong Bundy, but. Bundy's so fucking wide they could just work spots of whipping one of the Road Warriors into Bundy's chest on the apron. Road Warriors working "just tag any part of our body" tags since they are evil afterall (and green). Gnarly Bundy shoulderblock to knock down Animal. These Bundy interactions vs the Road Warriors making me think that a Bundy/Studd vs Road Warriors match wouldn't have been good but Bundy vs Animal would have been the best part of those matches too. Bundy knocks Animal off the apron and drops a hell of an elbow on Hawk for the win. That was fun and worked at the right pace. Heel Road Warriors in 83/84 have also been a revelation as I like them working more as scuzzy musclemen more than babyface supermen.

And now it's time for Paul Ellering to get in there with King Kong Bundy. The Road Warriors are sent away. Paul Ellering using the ref as a human shield (is that Nick Patrick? he has too much hair to be Nick Patrick?). Our Hero King Kong Bundy is kicking some ass. Bundy with a kneedrop. Powerslam and Bundy gets a 5 count for the win. Bundy drops an elbow postmatch. Bundy's elbow drops look vicious and they look like nobody taught him how to drop an elbow because they don't look like the other fat man elbow drops

My rankings of matches from most to least favorite: Jake/Brad, RWs/Bundy+Superstar, Garvin/Spoiler, Bundy whipping Paul Ellering's ass, Rogers/Roop, and Horner+SBS/Thornton+Rocky Jones. A lot more quality than one would expect from a promotion on the verge of getting eaten by the whale that was the 1984 WWF

 

[MarcosLoura]

Once again the Vault doing God's work

Little sidenote - I'm saying this as someone who didn't experience this era live and in color, good lord is that the trio of JR, Lawler and Vince on commentary absolute fucking ass. Just ad lib quips of pure cheeks.

[Cobra Commander]

a certain amount of the WWF's improvement in late 97/early 98 involved getting Vince off commentary, even before Vince went fully heel on TV. I've typed this before but Vince was on TV too much in the mid-90s

As for the Vader video, Rip Rogers either pitched the "unleash your steam helmet in my face" spot or he will say he did.

[Web Conn]

I just watched this match for the first time ever. 

 

[Corwo]

Just stumbled upon this Apolo Estrada vs. Negro Navarro match Roy Lucier uploaded a couple of years ago, and it's excellent. The first two falls feature some of the most spiteful wrestling I've seen in ages, and an all-timer of a heat segment from Navarro. 

 

[zendragon]

 

[Mister TV]

WrestleMania I Closed Circuit footage and fan interviews.

 

[Dragon]

AJPW Super Power Series 1994 31 05

Giant Kimala vs Satoru Asako 

 

[Curt McGirt]

I liked Estrada/Navarro from above alright, though it was a bit lazy when they weren't spitefully cheap-shotting each other. I think as a regional star Apolo was probably content to do little. There was a cruel version of an abdominal stretch from Negro where he pulled Apolo's arm through his legs though that somebody should steal. Ricochet, maybe. 

Anyway this was attached in the Youtube of that so I figured it should probably go here. Just look at that lineup, plus, Popitekus! I bet somebody gets splattered real good. 

[Dragon]

30 minutes ago, Dragon said:

AJPW Super Power Series 1994 31 05

From the same show

Stan Hansen vs Tamon Honda

 

 

[Dragon]

AJPW Super Power Series 1997 18 05

Gary Albright and Bobby duncum jr vs Giant kimala and Tamon honda

 

[Web Conn]

Here’s a 44 year old Giant Baba wrestling a 21 year old Terry Gordy in The Omni in February of 1982

 

[Zimbra]

4 hours ago, Dragon said:

AJPW Super Power Series 1997 18 05

Gary Albright and Bobby duncum jr vs Giant kimala and Tamon honda

 

Do you have the Bobby Duncum Jr/Tamon Honda singles match?  I know it was on youtube years ago but seems to have disappeared.

[Zimbra]

Titanes Del Ring marathon happening on youtube from Chilean state TV

[Dragon]

1 hour ago, Zimbra said:

Do you have the Bobby Duncum Jr/Tamon Honda singles match?  I know it was on youtube years ago but seems to have disappeared.

I'll see what i can dig up. 

[Dragon]

全日本プロレス  Super Power Series 1997 18 05 

Steve Williams and The Lacrosse vs Jun Akiyama and Mitsuharu Misawa

Energetic match.

 

全日本プロレス Real World Tag League 1997 15 11

Real World Tag League 1997 Match

Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada vs Bobby Duncum Jr. And Stan Hansen

 

[Cobra Commander]

This week on the WCW Vault: Gladiators vs Mulkeys

the build to the Gladiators makes the whole thing even better.. I know the whole thing turns bad by the end of 87 but Dusty is fucking cooking as a booker in early 1987

Edited April 25 by Cobra Commander

[Dragon]

On 4/24/2026 at 4:23 PM, Zimbra said:

Do you have the Bobby Duncum Jr/Tamon Honda singles match?  I know it was on youtube years ago but seems to have disappeared.

It's here but clipped.

 

[Dragon]

WCW Nitro April 27, 1998

WCW United States Heavyweight Championship

Goldberg (c) vs Norton 

 

[zendragon]

You don't see quality Howard Costell impressions on kids shows anymore

[bobholly138]

Dont think this has been online before.

Bayou Independent Wrestlin 2-17-2008,think it was in West Monroe LA

Portia Perez vs Rachel Summerlyn

Heard about the match and saw it a few years back and wondered why Portia was on a show this far south. Then later on found out her BF was booked on the  same event.

 

[Cobra Commander]

“Well we own this Puerto Rican tape library so unleash Yokozuna vs Solomon Grundy”

Also another chance for you to see HBK vs Diesel from IYH

 

[Dragon]

AJPW Summer Action Series 1994 30 06

Stan Hansen and Takao Omori vs Kenta Kobashi and Tamon Honda 

 

[Cobra Commander]

I think the highlight of that Kokina vs Solomon Grundy match is the test of strength where Grundy would put up his right hand with Yoko's right hand up, and then Yoko puts up his left only for Grundy to lower his right and raise his left. Just an amusing way to eat up some time.

Stalling chickenshit heel Rodney Anoa'i is certainly something that we didn't see a lot of. Makes me wonder what sort of 1970s San Francisco wrestling stuff the various Samoans could drop in the 80s/90s with barely anybody figuring out about it because 70s SF wrestling was rarely saved on film. Like how the SST had a period working as a chickenshit Southern heel team.

Looking at Cagematch and it feels like a lot of early Yokozuna is not on their site. 3 matches in 1985, 1 in 1986, 1 in 1987, then 1988 there's more results. The Kokina/Grundy match wasn't in CageMatch (CM only has one Yoko match from his 1991 run in Puerto Rico)

So if they wanted to just drop rando early Yoko matches on the Vault, they might have Kokina the Samoan vs Ron Simmons from the 1987 UWF. They have Kokina vs John Nord from the 1990 SuperClash.

Edited April 28 by Cobra Commander

[porksweats]

How about Edge and Christian teaming against Don Callis and Rick Martel?