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Post by kas on Mar 4, 2020 17:01:24 GMT -5
One of my biggest blind spots in this project is US tag matches, and I really do not know where to start or who to seek out apart from Rock n Roll Express and Midnight Express.
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Post by bossrock on Mar 4, 2020 17:36:43 GMT -5
I am in very much the same boat as you, and I don't even know which are the "best" Rn'R and MX matches. But I would definitely recommend Larry Zbyszko and Arn Anderson vs. Dustin Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat. Probably my favorite 90's U.S. tag match.
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Post by elliott on Mar 4, 2020 18:17:11 GMT -5
I'll do separate posts so its broken up a little bit starting with Rock n Roll Express. edit: Bolding all the absolute must see stuff The Rock n' Roll Express are the greatest tag team of all time. They started teaming exclusively in 1983 and have longevity, consistency, and the top tier matches that make them the obvious GTTOAT in my eyes. I've watched hundreds of RnR matches and can't honestly recall them ever having a bad match. The highest end stuff is: vs The Russians 7/9/85. They win the world tag titles in their first televised JCP match. Loonnnng tag that lasts the length of the TV show. Working on the Crockett project I have it has a top 3 match in JCP/WCW history. vs Ole & Arn Anderson. They had an awesome trio of matches. 7/19/86 is probably the best. The best Andersons match ever for sure. The GAB 7/26/86 is very good. The Starrcade Cage match is awesome and pretty close to 7/19/86 vs Midnight Express. I mean, you can't go wrong with any of their matches. 6/30/85, 2/1/86 handheld, 2/7/86 Superstars on the Superstation, 3/22/86 handheld, 4/12/86 World Pro, 8/16/86 Handheld, the scaffold match. WrestleWar 90 is like their greatest hits album and is one of the most fun matches of all time. I would also highly recommend RnR's & Duggan vs Midnights & Ernie Ladd 6/8/84 and 7/2/84 vs Ragin & Ravishin'. They had multiple great matches against Rick Rude & Manny Fernandez. The best and most famous is the long 12/6/86 match. More great matches on 12/20/86 and 2/87. vs Dirty White Boys 5/11/85 Mid-South is one of my all time favorite matches. Classic southern tag team match with one of the hottest crowds you'll see outside of Puerto Rico. vs Heavenly Bodies. This is basically a continuation of RnRs vs Midnights so you really can't go wrong with any of their matches from 92-94. vs Randy Savage & Lanny Poffo 6/25/84 & 7/9/84. These are short super heated sprints. vs The Nightmares 1/13/85And its not technically Rock n Roll Express, but Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich vs Midnights from Havoc 1990 I remember liking. Also watch the breakup and singles match at GAB 91. Just don't watch anything else from GAB 91.  |
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Post by elliott on Mar 4, 2020 18:46:01 GMT -5
Folks tend to say they favor the Midnight Express more than the RnR's. I couldn't go that far because the MX switched up members while the RnR's just kept on going. But I get why people do prefer the MX. Fans like us tend to like heels more. And Jim Cornette is so much fun. As an overall act, I can't really fathom the idea of not loving the Midnight Express. You get great work inside the ring and out.
vs RnR's covered above.
vs Mr Wrestling II & Magnum TA was the first big feud for the Condrey/Eaton MX. 2/10/84 is the must see match and probably the earliest great match we have on film of Condrey/Eaton MX.
vs Bill Watts & Stagger Lee 4/22/84. Huge feud and match at the time. Insane crowd.
vs The Fantastics. The MX's most famous feud outside of the RnR's rivalry. This feud ran in World Class, Mid-South & Crockett on and off for 5 years. YOu can't go wrong with any of their matches. 8/9/84, 9/28/84, 12/25/84, 1/11/85, 3/8/85, 3/26/88, 3/27/88
vs Road Warriors. The Night of the Skywalkers Scaffold match is probably the 1st or 2nd most famous match of the 80s not involving Hogan or Flair. They were generally speaking the best opponents for the Road Warriors in traditional tags as well.
The Midnight Express had great matches with various short lived tag teams as well.
vs Dusty & Magnum TA 5/4/86
vs Windham & Garvin 2/21/87
vs Flair & Windham Clash 12/7/88
vs Southern Boys 7/7/90
vs Pillman & Zenk
vs Lightning Express
Midnights are one of those teams, like the RnRs, where they just didn't really have bad stuff. Even the squash matches are fun. Goodhelmet put out a 30 disc set that I would recommend to anyone.
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Post by elliott on Mar 4, 2020 18:55:37 GMT -5
The Fabulous Ones I absolutely adore. They were really the inspiration for the RnR Express and all the teams like that. With the one major difference being that the Fabs were serious ass kickers.
vs The Moondogs is one of the great feuds of the 80s. 4/4/83, 5/2/83 stretcher match, 6/13/83, 1/9/84. I don't think any of these are longer than 10 minutes but they are all holy shit level brawls.
vs The Sheepherders 6/22/85 and 8/6/85 Cage match
vs Pretty Young Things 4/22/85 and 6/25/84 these are their other big Memphis feuds.
vs Hector & Chavo Guerrero in Mid-South was a great matchup. 1/4/86 Mexican Death match is the best match. But also 12/29/85, 12/27/85 and 2/28/86 Texas Tornado Cage match are all well worth watching.
vs Bockwinkel & Mr Saito 9/30/84 is their best AWA match.
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Post by elliott on Mar 4, 2020 19:02:15 GMT -5
The Rockers are definitely the best of the Rock & Roll Express inspired teams. I'd put them ahead of the Fantastics.
vs Buddy Rose & Doug Somers. This is one of the all time great tag team feuds. 8/30/86 is widely seen as their best match and one of the best tag matches of the 80s. But seriously, watch every single Rockers vs Rose & Somers match.
vs Adrian Adonis & Bob Orton Jr 1/88 is the non-Rose & Somers AWA match to see.
I feel like its probably not necessary to go through their WWF run? I will if needed, but I assume most people are pretty familiar with that run? vs Power of Pain 1990 MSG, Orient Express Royal Rumble and vs Haku & Barbarian WM VII were always my favorites of the WWF run. Of course theres the Brainbusters matches.
I'll do more teams later.
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Post by elliott on Mar 5, 2020 3:14:01 GMT -5
The High Flyers were one of the biggest discoveries of the DVDVR 80s Set projects. Most people who watched that set came away extremely impressed with the Flyers. Folks might not realize their longevity. The earliest footage of them teaming together is from 1974. Unfortunately we have very little from the first 6 years they teamed together. We do have quite a bit from the 80s though. Brunzell was a great classic babyface and Greg Gagne was one of the most unfairly maligned wrestlers ever for decades. Turns out he was super solid in the ring. I'd have no problem calling him good-very good in the ring.
vs Tito Santana & Rick Martel 8/29/82 is an awesome babyface vs babyface tag with an absolutely spectacular finish.
vs Jerry Blackwell & Sheik Adnan 4/18/82 Cage match. As a rule, Blackwell in a cage is amazing.
vs Jerry Blackwell & Ken Patera 11/24/83.
Flyers & Hulk Hogan vs Ken Patera, Jesse Ventura & Bobby Heenan 3/13/83 is one of the most fun matches of the 80s. Fucking batshit insane crowd. Heenan at his best.
vs East-West Connection. 3/1/83 & 3/22/81 Cage Match Adonis & Ventura are a really underrated team. Classic combo of great work (Adonis) and heat seeking schtick (Ventura).
vs Nick Bockwinkel & Mr Saito 3/7/85. Bockwinkel & Saito were one of many awesome great short lived teams from the 80s.
vs Road Warriors 3/28/85 is one of the best Road Warriors matches believe it or not.
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Post by elliott on Mar 5, 2020 3:34:02 GMT -5
The Fabulous Freebirds. Any combination of Hayes/Gordy/Roberts was awesome. They specialized in like 8-14 minute super stiff slugfests.
Hayes & Gordy vs Lawler & Dundee 7/14/79 (definitely find the version with the Hayes & Gordy prematch promo). Hayes poops his pants in a great match.
Hayes & Gordy vs Lawler & AUstin Idol BadStreet match 8/5/85 & 8/12/85 Badstreet match
Hayes & Roberts vs Ted Dibiase & Terry Taylor Country Whipping Match 10/12/86
Of course the big feud is with the Von Erichs. You can't go wrong here. 7/4/83 2/3 falls is generally considered their classic. But there is so much involved with this feud that is amazing shit:
Lumberjack match 2/18/83
Freebirds & Jimmy Garvin vs Von Erics & Iceman King Parsons Elimination Match 5/27/83
Birds vs Von Erichs 8/12/83
Gordy & Jimmy Garvin vs David & Kevin Von Erich 8/15/83
Freebirds vs Von Erichs 9/5/83
Gordy & Hayes vs Kerry & Kevin Country Whipping Match 11/4/83
6 Man Elimination match 11/21/83
Gordy & Garvin vs Kerry & Adams 11/28/83
Badstreet Match 7/4/84
Freebirds vs Von ERichs Bunkhouse Elimination Cage 9/3/84
Hayes & Gordy vs Kerry & Brody 4/4/86
Gordy & Roberts vs Kerry & Kevin Badstreet 2/12/88
etc etc. And all the singles matches are worth watching too.
You can avoid late 80s/early 90s Hayes & Garvin teaming. That was not good.
Edit: I'm choosing not to bold all of the Freebirds vs Von Erichs stuff, but consider it all bolded. Any Freebirds/Von Erichs stuff is great.
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Post by elliott on Mar 5, 2020 3:41:12 GMT -5
Dynamic Duo Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams were an awesome short lived tag team that should have been an all time great team if not for coke.
Really they only have the feud with the Von Erichs, but it was fucking awesome and loaded with great matches.
Dynamic Duo & Jake Roberts vs Von Erichs 12/31/84
vs Kerry & Kevin Lumberjack match 2/22/85
vs Kerry & Kevin Texas Tornado 3/22/85
vs Kerry & Great Kabuki 6/14/85
vs Kerry & Kevin 7/4/85
vs Kerry & Kevin Texas Tornado 7/26/85
vs Kerry & Kevin Hair vs Hair 10/6/85
vs Kerry & Kevin Texas Tornado Cage Match 11/28/85
vs Kerry & Kevin 12/25/85
Between this one about the Dynamic Duo, and the last post about the Freebirds, it should be obvious that the Von Erichs were a really great team as well with a ton of shit worth watching if you like really hard hitting pro-wrestling in front of insanely hot crowds.
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Post by elliott on Mar 6, 2020 16:32:21 GMT -5
The Fantastics are another classic babyface team in the mold of the Rock & Roll Express, only without the main event runs. Lots of fans like us have actually favored the Fantastics over the RnR's because people generally think the Fantastics were a better offensive team (hard disagree). They are not as good as the RnR's, but they are still a top 10 US team for sure. They also had a nice little run in All Japan with a few matches definitely worth watching
vs Midnight Express is their most famous feud. 3/26/88 & 3/27/88 are the best matches, but they have great shit going back to Mid-South and Texas as mentioned in the earlier post about the MX
vs Chavo & Hector Guerrero 10/12/84
vs Bill Dundee & Dutch Mantell 9/22/85
w/ Terry Taylor vs Sheepherders & Jack Victory Barbed Wire Cage Match 5/25/86
vs Joe & Dean Malenko 7/15/89 All Japan
vs Joe Malenko & Tsuyoshi Kikichi 9/1/90
vs Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace 9/7/90
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Post by elliott on Mar 8, 2020 2:56:34 GMT -5
Hector & Chavo Guerrero were an excellent mid card tag team. Neither of them were all time greats like Eddie, but but were excellent wrestlers. They could work well as faces or heels and work brawls, longish technical matches and workrate sprints.
vs Fantastics 10/12/84
Chavo & Hector Guerrero & Buddy Landell vs Bill Dundee & JOse Lothario & Brickhouse Brown 11/16/84
vs Rock & Roll Express 2/13/85
vs Fabulous Ones 12/27/85, 12/29/85, Mexican Death Match 1/24/86, Texas Tornado Cage Match 2/28/86
For some Chavo recommendations, check out these:
Chavo vs Mr Olympia 6/24/83
Chavo vs Steve Keirn Loser Painted Yellow 1/31/86
Chavo vs Buzz Sawyer 6/13/86
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Post by elliott on Mar 8, 2020 3:15:55 GMT -5
Heavenly Bodies are a great 80s making their way through the 1990s. The next step in Jim Cornette's feud with the Rock & Roll Express. Great, old school southern style tag team. Almost certainly a top 10 US team of the 90s and probably top 5 if you cheat and count both versions together.
Their biggest rivalry of course was against the Rock & Rolls, but they had great matches against several different teams.
vs Rock & Roll Express 10/24/92, 1/30/93, 2/21/93, 2/6/93, 11/24/93, Iron Man Match 3/12/94, Loser Leaves Town Cage Match 4/1/94
Heavenly Bodies & Bruise Brothers & Jim Cornette vs Rock & Roll Express, Bob, Scott & Steve Armstrong SMW Rage in a Cage 8/14/93
Bodies & Jim Cornette vs Bob, Scott & Steve Armstrong 8/13/93
vs Steiner Brothers 8/30/93
vs CHris Jericho & Lance Storm 8/5/94
vs The Thugz 8/4/95
Heavenly Bodies & Robert Gibson vs Tracy Smothers, Dirty White Boy & Brad Armstrong 11/25/95
Heavenly Bodies & Robert Gibson vs Tracy Smothers, Dirty White Boy & Ricky Morton 11/25/95 & 11/26/95
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Post by elliott on Mar 8, 2020 3:30:15 GMT -5
The Moondogs are kinda tough because there are different versions over the years. In the WWWF at first it was Randy Colley & Sailor White. Then Larry Latham replaed White. Then later, Larry Latham used the gimmick & ran through various partners over the years. We'll just use the Moondogs gimmick overall.
The most famous feuds are against the Fabulous Ones in the mid 80s and then against Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett in 1992. Both are all time classic feuds. Moondogs vs Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett was the 1992 Observer Feud of the Year. Over Tsuruta & Co vs Misawa & Co, Rick Rude vs Steamboat, and Ric Flair vs Randy Savage. And the Moondogs feud should have won.
Moondogs vs Fabulous Ones 4/4/83, 5/2/83 stretcher match, 6/13/83, 1/9/84.
vs Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett 1/17/92, 1/25/92
Moondogs & Big Black Dog vs Jerry Lawler, Jeff Jarret & Junkyard Dog 2/24/92
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Post by elliott on Mar 8, 2020 3:40:09 GMT -5
I wanted to include the North-South Connection Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch. They didn't have a long run as a team, but it was a high profile run with big time matches in WWF and New Japan. Some of which are highly regarded.
The big stuff to see:
vs Bob Backlund & Brian Blair 7/7/84
vs Sgt Slaughter & Terry Daniels 7/23/84
vs Tatsumi Fujinami & Antonio Inoki 12/7/84
vs Fujinami & Kimura 12/8/84
vs Brisco Brothers 12/28/84 MSG
vs Fujinami & Kimura 5/24/85
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Post by elliott on Mar 8, 2020 3:48:29 GMT -5
The Pretty Young Things Koko Ware & Norvell Austin are another one of the great short lived teams of the 80s. With a longer run and more footage, they could have been an all time great team. Fucking phenomenal brawling team.
vs Tommy Rich & Eddie Gilbert 4/12/84, Falls Count Anywhere 5/18/84
vs Skip Young & Iceman Parsons 8/17/84
vs Fabulous Ones 6/25/84, 4/22/85
vs The Daydreamers 3/25/85 Texas Tornado
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