Magnum TA vs Tully Blanchard (JCP -11/28/1985)

Second

I don't know what to say about this match that hasn't been said 100 times. This is just top shelf stuff that is universally loved. It is probably a lock for the top 30 for me and will get its consideration for the top tier. It is just a classic. Its nomination speaks for itself.

The cage match that all cage matches should be judged by. This would probably be the top fourth of my list.

Great match. Bloody and violent. There's a decent chance this will be in my top 100.

I am genuinely curious how many #1s this will get. It feels like one of those matches that gets called "favorite of all time" and I will be very curious to see how well it holds up to people and how often it really finds itself in that top spot.

Its a lock on my list, but somewhere outside the top 10 probably

This is something that I think has a very strong shot to finish number one in the overall list. It is not a number one candidate for me personally but I think this will make a lot of ballots.

NWA US Champion Tully Blanchard vs Magnum TA - NWA Starrcade 1985



In all my years of fandom, I don't think there is more UN-polarizing match than this one. It is universally praised as a ***** classic and undoubtedly one of the great violent brawls in history. There have been so many words used to describe this masterpiece of hate by so many people. I will try to do the match justice with my words.



What makes this match so special in my opinion are the screams of agony from Tully Blanchard into the microphone and Magnum's guttural roars of pain. It takes this match to a whole new visceral level. The eye gouging by both men is incredible. This is not a violent brawl in the usual fantastical sense of pro wrestling. This looks like what would happen between two men that truly hate each other. The match is one of the few matches where there is a real sense of fear for one of the competitors because of the danger they are in. Tully seemed to be in real danger when Magnum throws his shoulder into the arm and it was cut open. Magnum just loses control at the sight of blood and starts punching it and biting it. Baby Doll's reactions are pitch perfect. She is one of my favorite characters in pro wrestling and I really enjoyed her in this match. Tully claws at the eyes and just lunges at Magnum out of self-preservation. Then begins the mic punches from Tully. Goddamnit, Magnum say I Quit, ok you wont THUMP! Say it! THUMP! Say it! THUMP! One of the most famous sequence in pro wrestling history. Magnum gets into the mic shots too. Tully hits a inverted atomic drop and after a series of mic shots. Tully looks to be in control. Baby Doll chucks in a wooden chair, which Tully infamously shatters. Tully tries to drive a stake into the cut on Magnum's forehead , but he blocks. Magnum jabs the wooden stake into Tully eye and with blood pouring down his face and wails of indescribable pain Tully finally says YESSSSSSS! I love the ending of the match with Tully cowering in the corner of the cage looking like a pathetic, shivering man from the triumphant Magnum who slings the belt over the shoulder. *****

So greatest brawl of all time or greatest brawl of all time? Not so fast my friend! Slaughter/Sheik and Duggan/DiBiase are right there with this. I think Duggan is just as much as wild man in the cage and I think DiBiase does even better job selling that he is in there with a lunatic. It is more fantastical in its execution, but it is just as sweet in its payoff. Slaughter/Sheik has the advantage of not having the cage in my opinion which allows for Slaughter to bump huge and there is a more natural progression of shine-heat-comeback that takes you on a ride you can naturally go with and is so exciting. Magnum/Tully is so violent and so jarring. I think it is really cool how all three matches are paid off with a unique weapon. For Duggan/DiBiase it is the coal miner's glove, Slaughter/Sheik it is the boot and Magnum/Tully it is the wooden stake. When I think the matches are so close, things like context and the surrounding angle seems like it could break the tie. The DiBiase/Duggan angle is one of the all time great angles with DiBiase's return and the bloody Duggan cutting one of the greatest promos ever to the tuxedo match and DiBiase destroying Duggan's car. That bloody promo is fucking incredible and what a visual. For Slaughter/Sheik, the Pledge of Allegiance in Allentown gave my goosebumps and actually moved me. I am a sucker for these patriotic angles and Slaughter just knocked it out of the park. I loved the matches that let up to the Bootcamp match and how each match built on the next. Now we come to Magnum/Tully and I will be honest the buildup was pretty meh. I watched pretty much every Tully/Magnum promo from when Tully won the title to Starrcade right before I watched the match and they were entertaining promos, but this was not the next level shit I expected. The tit for tat dressing up as a cop was fun. The breaking of Sam Houston's arm was probably the highlight of the angle. "She likes it!" "She likes it!" angle with Magnum forcing himself on Baby Doll is definitely not timeless and I dont want to ruin anyone's memories, but I did not like a babyface doing those things to a woman. It soured me a little on the angle. Being objective, there is nothing that Magnum/Tully angle has that touches Duggan/DiBiase and Slaughter/Sheik. I think that is why I enjoyed those matches more. As for the best brawl, I still don't know. It is too close to call. I just don't think it is an open and shut case for Magnum/Tully.

This holds up so well. It’s like the Lawler vs Funk Empty Arena Match with fans. The use of the spike really adds such a layered amount of drama. Tully is so intense going after Magnum with it and feels like Michael Madsen in Reservoir Dogs. Then Magnum valiantly fights out with knees to the ribs and takes over with an all-time great finish. Is Tully quitting because it’s in his eye or because of the fear of it? Finish aside, the whole match holds up as well.