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Post by elliott on Jan 16, 2018 23:41:33 GMT -5
Harley Race vs Andre the Giant (Houston - 1/7/1979)
One of the other fantastic discoveries from NWA Classics. Andre vs Harley in a long NWA World Title Match. Something I'll need to rewatch, but I remember being blown away by this like everyone else when it popped up.
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Post by shrike02 on Jan 18, 2018 1:16:53 GMT -5
Seconded. Somehow Andre manages to both be vulnerable and a monster in the same match. Great stuff.
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Post by El Mckell on Feb 3, 2018 8:02:01 GMT -5
The end of the first fall on this manages to be simultaneously be a really cool moment and a way to protect Andre. And this match simultaneously exceeded my expectations and disappointed me, this is a good match from guys i normally don't like at all but also there was a ton of hype on PWO for this and it didnt match that hype for me. Not the Harley Race the popped up on classics on demand that i'll be putting on my list.
***1/4 thirded
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Post by superstarsleeze on Mar 15, 2019 18:20:40 GMT -5
I dont think this quite as good as the Stan Hansen or Killer Khan matches but this is a cool match to have. Harley Race is not one of my favorites, but this is one of his better performances. I enjoyed watching Andre working the NWA Championship style and the finish to the first fall was great. Third fall was a bit underwhelming.
NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race vs Andre The Giant - Houston 1/7/79
Probably the most famous match to be uncovered by the NWA On Demand Streaming Service of Houston Wrestling.
First Fall: Andre kicks Harley's ass with a variety of holds!?! Yes The Giant acquitted himself as a master of arm psychology. Lots of great pro wrestling technique coupled with gargantuan size makes for an impressive visual as he is wrenching the arm of the champion. Harley does a great job putting his size over and the challenge of wrestling a giant. He takes a big back body drop early and powders. Pretty much any time he can break free of the Giant's grasp he powdered. He was really good at verbal selling while in the holds, really hollering. I thought he may have an opening when Andre hit a vertical suplex early and rung his own bell, but the Giant recovered and went back to work on the arm. I loved the butterfly suplex by Andre. Andre DIVES for the cover, but Harley evades. Andre crashes and burns hurting himself. I love the psychology when a behemoth can only hurt himself. Outside the ring, Harley hits him with a chair and then HARLEY RACE BODYSLAMS ANDRE THE GIANT! HE DID THE IMPOSSIBLE! That's the sound of millions of Hulkamaniacs feeling betrayed and lied to. Harley takes the first fall by countout. Race 1-0
Second Fall: Andre is looking amazing in this. In this fall, we see a lot more badass offense from the big man. As the fall begins, Andre is recovering on the outside. Harley tries to press the advantage and is met with a Giant-size headbutt that sends him flying. Andre gets back in the ring. Harley starts using some nice uppercuts. Then he bearhugs Andre. It looked like Andre called the spot to me. It has been pointed out this looks ridiculous and it does, BUT Andre does sell the hell of it and that makes it great. Harley gets Andre on his back with the bearhug to get some nearfalls and Andre uses his tree trunk legs to wrap him up in a bodyscissors. This is where it gets good. Harley is hollering as Andre squeezes. Andre gets him over for a nearfall and Harley makes the ropes. Andre works over the back. He is just chucking Harley around but his mobility has been compromised by his bad back (slam on concrete and bearhug). Also everytime, he hits a big move, Harley powders so he cant cover. On the third time, he goes out after the champion and brings him back in by BODYSLAMMING HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE WHILE ON THE FLOOR! That is impressive! Andre leaps with a big splash and this time he nails it to tie it up! Tied 1-1!
Third Fall: Is a bit of a letdown. Andre works over the back (he injured with bodyscissors) with some clubbing blows. Harley tries punching his way out of trouble, but that only makes the Giant mad. Andre hits headbutts and big only meaty rights. He even sits down on Harley. You knew the screwy finish was coming. Harley powders. Andre gives chase. Harley stops Andre from re-entering. Double Countout.
I am all for screwjob finishes, but this one was just alright and the rest of 3rd fall was just alright. They did not finish on a high note. The first fall was cool seeing Andre work a bunch of NWA-style championship holds. The finish to the first fall was excellent; Andre hurts himself and Harley uses the outside to win. Second fall was a great Andre comeback fall. Andre has better matches in New Japan and Harley has the Funk match as the best match from Houston thus far, but this is still worth tracking down. ****1/4
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Post by jetlag on May 3, 2019 2:46:59 GMT -5
This was really good and a testament to Andre's greatness as he works ~25 minutes, makes his opponent look believable hanging with a 7 ft behemoth without losing his aura. He pretty much dominates the first fall locking in a variety of holds with his gigantic hands. I dug the spot where Harley knocks himself out with a diving headbutt as it further emphasized Andre's invincibleness. Andre is determined to work this like a title match, exemplified by him signaling to Harley that's it not a good idea for him to go "there" when Harley tries grabbing his hair from a bearhug. Harley mostly works this in desperation mode, going for weapons, distractions and attacking on the outside. Andre shows his sensibleness by concluding his series of arm/shoulder holds with a butterfly suplex to set up the finish. Nice symmetry with each fall escalating and finishing with a sequence on the outside. Body slam over the 3rd rope was crazy. 2nd and 3rd falls are really hard fought, showing some great toe to toe fighting and a great Andre comeback.
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