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Post by elliott on Dec 8, 2017 19:58:29 GMT -5
Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat (Intercontinental Title - WWF WrestleMania III - 3/29/87)
Don't really have anything to say other than I love it. I think criticisms about Steamboat's demeanor and approach are extremely misguided. This shit is perfect. Strong candidate for my list.
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Post by Cap on Dec 9, 2017 16:02:46 GMT -5
Second
Not sure what else to say about it. I love the match. It may not make my list on some nit-picky shit I have with the logic of the last third or so of the match, but that is mostly unimportant to me. I am sure it will get beat to death (like it has many times over). Let me put it this way, It might not make my list, but I wouldn't bat an eye if someone put it #1 on theirs. These two were LIGHTS OUT together and they put on a show in this one. Very strong contender, obvious nomination.
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Post by maddog1981 on Jan 4, 2018 20:05:44 GMT -5
Great angle leading up to this match which I feel was kind of rare for WWE at the time. I liked the intensity of the match and how they used the injury in the match to get more heat for the match. Great finish to as it gave the fans what they had been dying to see while keeping Savage strong as he was going to move on to bigger things.
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Post by gordi on Jan 14, 2018 23:21:33 GMT -5
I remember watching this on closed circuit in the Pacific Coliseum with my then-girlfriend and her brothers, live as it happened. We had all seen the build-up to this and we were on tenterhooks for the match itself. We all really wanted Steamboat to win. It was the greatest, purest, non-ironic marking out moment of my life going through the emotional roller-coaster of this match with my friends, and with an arena full of strangers.
It boggles my mind that anyone could nit-pick this match... but then, I am absolutely the same way with other great matches that I am watching out-of-context.
This match, though... I'll never be able to divorce it from that amazing context. It's all caught up in one of my all-time favourite moments as a wrestling fan. Will finish pretty high on my list, because of that.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Jul 22, 2018 19:07:37 GMT -5
Impact and influence matter to me. Is there a match that has had more impact on US Wrestling than this match?
WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Wrestlemania III
History beckons the Macho Man! One of the all-time great promos and singular lines in pro wrestling. I had forgotten that during the Steamboat promo that they do mention this is the Dragon's last shot, which is only further proof why the match was worked the way it was and the correct way to go about it. I always loved how they weaved in the George Steel story into this match. I love how Savage moves Liz away from Steele because of what happened at the last SNME where he kidnapped her. Well-played spot. The finish is just awesome with Steel saving Steamboat from the bell. It is too bad that Savage could not get himself to be hit with the bell a little bit more convincingly.
Much like Hogan vs Andre, this match has been talked to death and I don't have a completely revolutionary fresh take, but I did enjoy this match more than I ever have in the past. The first time I watched this was probably about ten years ago and I hate to admit I was pretty underwhelmed. It just seemed like guys moving really fast, but without much substance to it. This match for me at least has gotten better with each subsequent watch and I really enjoyed it this time around. The Toronto match really helps put things into perspective. I highly recommend watching the Toronto match before this one to get the full experience. In fact, I would imagine if you go back and watch 2 or 3 of their 86 matches it would help even more. It is actually surprising how many spots are similar to Toronto but they work them in different fashions, but it is still organic. They even played off the Toronto finish with Savage reversing a O'Connor Roll, but this time Steamboat kicked out.
I think there are times when Steamboat does show aggression that have been brushed over like the choke on Savage at the beginning and the aggression of his chops. Savage is a particularly nasty heel in this and in general that is his style. He takes shortcuts and uses nasty short strikes to keep his opponents at bay. The eye rake when Steamboat was unleashing all that karate popped me. I really loved his use of the high knee in this match. It was a well-delivered attack and it was always to the back. Great dick move. Around this time, he decks Steamboat in the midst of the skin the cat and Jesse delivers my all time favorite line "You have to get up pretty early in the morning to get one up on the Macho Man."
This is a type of feud that I think could benefit wrestling more and that is the one-sided hate feud. Steamboat hates Savage and that's clearly evident. Savage does not actually hate Steamboat. He is lashing out in fear of losing the title. It makes sense for Savage to cheat like a muthafucka and go for a ton of pinfalls. Steamboat does actually work aggressive at times, but this is tempered by the fact that this maybe his last shot for the IC title.
Do they move too fast in this match? Yes and no. I think this match is very influential on the current style used today. Pack in a ton of action and lots of nearfalls at the end = This Is Awesome chants. I think they move way too fast at the beginning. There are way too many momentum shifts and there is very little rhythm. it does not feel like a struggle. I would say around the high knees that match settles into a nice structure with Steamboat fighting underneath due to Savage's cheating. I actually dig the urgency of Steamboat's nearfalls. It is a really heightened sense of drama. I think during the finish the speed at which they were going was warranted and was a boon to the match.
Overall, I thought they moved a bit too quickly early on, last half was wicked hot. It was downright revolutionary for the WWF at the time. Those nearfalls were wicked hot. You always think of the one after the karate chop near the ropes that gets a monster pop because everyone thought Steamboat had won. I also did not think there was one consistent thread through the entire match like a real cool overarching story. I am sticking the Toronto match ahead, but this is a badass match and very, very important in the history of wrestling for how it influenced the fans, wrestlers and the promotion. ****3/4
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Post by mvz on Sept 9, 2021 4:45:13 GMT -5
This match and feud was such a big part of my childhood fandom and probably helped lock me in as a lifelong fan. So it may be difficult For me to be clear-eyed about this match. But I watched it for the first time in a while and it holds up for me. I hear what some people say about the Pace of the opening but I find it really exciting. Both wrestlers convey desperation but they stay true to their characters. Savage’s offense is as cool as ever and I love Steamboat’s series of pinning combinations. And the ending works in the context of the match and all the storytelling leading up to it.
So glad I gave this another look, I feel like this belongs.
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Post by puropotsy on Feb 28, 2023 19:25:56 GMT -5
I came into this re-watch wondering if this would be great or just great for 1987 WWF. Turns out it’s great. I don’t know if it will make my final list but there was a great sense of atmosphere and not just the building or else all the matches on the show would be classics. The false finishes were fun. The referee bump is fine but the George Steele interference takes it down and I have the February match between the two ahead of this.
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