MD: So we're going to wrap things up a bit. Ironically, I just saw the Killer Bees 2/3 falls match yesterday and it's worthy of inclusion, if only for Ax's selling, so we'll have that and more Strike Force and some Islanders and some of the singles matches and Survivor Series matches and what have you, here and there, over the months to come. Today, we've got a couple of things.
First off, a new tribute video by Vic.
VR: Well the project is over. It could be restarted in a few months. But right now I am beyond burnt out and my tires are just rims. I came into this thinking Demolition was one of the greatest tag teams ever. That has not changed. Except I think they are the greatest tag team ever. I think you could put them into any environment and they would have great matches. I can picture them wrecking thing in AJPW or going to Mexico or WCW or ECW.
Now I think some people will try to dismiss them because they did not have **** matches with the Young Stallions and Bolsheviks. By other standards I could say Powers of Pain. But Barbarian was always good. With all the wrestling I have saw I think the idea of the carry job is at best a partial myth. In any promotion all the great tag teams were great because they had good support. If you were to list the best Midnight Express, Rock and Roll Express or Kawada and Taue's top matches it would be against other great teams.
My biggest surprise is Bill Eadie never worked in a major promotion again.
Also credit to Matt for cranking these out when I was busy with other less fun things.
MD: And here's my top ten favorite Demolition matches that we went over in this project. It's a little like you'd expect, of course. Of the matches we watched, there were only a few that I didn't think were pretty good, at the very least. The biggest surprise (past Smash's cool stun gun) was the non-formula of the matches. The one big similarity about Demolition matches was that Ax and Smash (especially Ax) made the opponents work for every little thing. What that ended up meaning was that stories almost HAD to exist in the matches. They were FORCED onto the matches by the fact that if you just did whatever, without rhyme or reason, it simply wouldn't register. It wouldn't work. There had to be some semblance of a string of offense and logic for the Demos to let themselves get beat down for any length of time. In the end, it made both teams look better 9 times out of 10, because it made the match better.
So here's my list. We'll get Vic's later.
10. Demolition & Fuji vs British Bulldogs & Ultimate Warrior - MLG - 7-24-88 (PTW 8-1-88): This is one of the most enjoyable matches we covered on the blog. About 60% of that is because of Warrior's antics. The camera's on him, unlike the other 88 six man, and he's not nearly as developed as a character as he is in the 90 six man. No, here he's just a crazed bull full of energy and random hand motions. And then Demos have to deal with him which leads to a lot of the fun in the match, that and the Bulldogs having to keep a straight face. There are other interesting things like Fuji matching up well against broken down Dynamite and the rollicking finishing segment.
9. Demolition vs Rougeau Brothers - Boston - 3/5/88: We've said a bunch of times that we really would have wanted to see heel Rogs vs face Demos. This is a really good match to watch for the project, however. The reason why is that it really highlights the Demolition motto: "make them work for it." Actually, the Demolition motto is probably "Carpe Clubber!" but you get the idea. The Rogs try a whole bunch of stuff and none of it works because Ax and Smash don't let up. It's heel Demolition in a nutshell.
8. Demolition© vs Twin Towers - Boston - 4/22/89: The MLG match has more character. This, however, is a little big longer and they make use of the time to give it a better structural build. Honestly, you should watch both of them and compare/contrast. If I saw this in the arena I'd definitely want to see the return match.
7. Demolition© vs Brainbusters 2/3 Falls - Worcester, MA - 7/18/89 (Aired SNME #22 - 7/29/89): The first two falls are great but the last fall just feels a bit too rushed for this to be higher. The first fall really builds off of the last match with the Demos wanting their hands on the Busters, and the Busters knowing not to underestimate the Demos. The second fall ends with a callback to the previous match. It's just such smart, high-end stuff.
6. Colossal Connection © vs Demolition - 12/28/89 - MSG: They do such a good job working around Andre's physical limitations. Demos would tag out after every little hit from him, when he was on the ground. That's how you make an immobile giant (with great timing) look like a million bucks. This is a match that does not look like much on paper, but everything works so well down to the solid story about Haku and Andre not working well as a unit and it still not really mattering since they're such a force.
5. Demolition© vs Twin Towers - Boston - 6/3/89: So many things work well in this match. It feels like a return match. Garvin works great as the ref. Ax is King Ax, god of killer babyfaces with his hot tag. The finish is one of the best finishes I've ever seen in that you have no idea what just happened until you see the replay and then you cheer big for it. There's payoff and emotion and everything else.
4. Demolition © vs BrainBusters - Des Moines, IA - 4/25/89 (Aired SNME #21 5/27/89): This is one of my favorite "match as angles" ever. I put it up there with stuff like the Bruno/Larry Z exhibition. It's just that cool to me. Busters come in confident. Demos counter them at every turn. Busters cheat like maniacs. Demos counter them. Busters cheat even harder. Finally Smash gets furious and the Busters pick up the DQ win and get to make the rematch on their terms. Artists at work.
3. Demolition © vs Rockers - MSG - 10/1988: I'll admit, it's been a while since I've seen this one now, since we started the project off with it, but this match is pure excitement and at such a pace. I read that Shawn didn't think the Demos sold enough for them, but that's crazy. Look at the first come of minutes and the way they were keeping up with the Rockers and their offense, selling it like the Flash beating up Gorilla Grodd or something. Really exciting finishing sequence too. You really think that the Rockers are going to win for a minute there, even decades later when you know better.
2. Demolition © vs Hart Foundation - MSG - 8/29/88 - Summerslam: I'm usually not someone to care much about "big match feel," but this has it in droves. The Harts are so over and they have this real presence that makes them seem larger than life. This is Godzilla vs King Kong and they're fighting in a jungle in the middle of Tokyo. It's a great mix of the two styles, with the Demos so frustrated by the Harts that they have to capitalize on an injury, but once they do, they never let up. Big spots. Big stakes. Hot crowd. Great stuff.
1. Brainbusters © vs Demolition - MSG - 9-30-89: This is personal preference right here. #2 or #3 could be in this spot just as easy. Arn and Tully wrestle a perfect match. They do everything right and Demolition just fights back at every turn. It's never about no-selling with Demolition. It's always about toughness and fighting back. I think that's something people don't understand without watching a lot of these matches. It's not hulking up and it's not unstoppable no-selling. This match is portrayed as two teams at the very top of their game giving it their all and it's totally believable and it absolutely works.
VR: Now my top ten Demolition matches.
10.Demolition vs Legion of Doom and the Ultimate Warrior - MSG - 9/21/90 This match had a big time main event vibe. Once it got cooking it was really good, Also its Demolition vs the Road Warriors.
9. Demolition © vs Colossal Connection - Huntsville, AL - 12/13/89 This match tells a really clear story and is very unique in wrestling. The good guys get their asses kicked cleanly. No manager interfering, no weapons. They just get beat fairly in the middle of the ring.
8. Demolition vs Rougeau Brothers - Boston - 3/5/88
One of my favorite heel Demos matches. Its like a mugging. Rougeaus did a great job playing two guys in over their head and swinging blind.
7. Demolition© vs Brainbusters 2/3 Falls - Worcester, MA - 7/18/89 This is the big title change and a really well put together 2 out of 3 falls match. Tully and Arn are great. Nobody could sell as much as they do and look credible. But they manage to do it. They make you think "Demolition is really tough. These guys must be super tough to even stay in the ring with them."
6. Demolition© vs Twin Towers - Boston - 4/22/89
The first Towers match. Picked this over the MLG match because I thought the Towers looked more monstrous here. I wanted to see the rematch more.
5. Colossal Connection © vs Demolition - 12/28/89 - MSG Love this match. Again was a coin flip between this and the Towers 6/3/89 match. This has a great story that does build off the title loss. In that match Demolition lost because they had underestimated the giant. Here they adjust their strategy and its the Connection who are floundering.
4. Demolition© vs Twin Towers - Boston - 6/3/89
Best match of the Towers series. This was a great return match. Not just a random match in the series it feels like a continuation. Akeem is great in this. When AX slams him I cheered. The finish was great with Towers being foisted by their own petard.
3. Demolition vs the Hart Foundation Summerslam 1988
This match feels like the Best vs the Best. Not even so much in actual work just perception. The two top teams of the era facing off. Has my favorite hot tag ever with Neidhart destroying the Demos then watching as everyone in the arena stands up cheering.
2. Brainbusters © vs Demolition - MSG - 9-30-89:
I could of flipped a coin between 1 and 2. This is a great match too and I can't stress how great Tully and Arn were. These were too great tag teams allowed to put together a great tag team match.
1. Demolition © vs Rockers - MSG - 10/1988
I watched this back in 2006 and thought it was really good. Rewatching it for this Project and was blown away by how great it was. I think its the best WWF tag team match ever. I would put it up against any match and thinK it would fare well. Just twelve minutes of full throttle kick ass tag team wrestling. Demos were perfect as ass kickers and Rockers were perfect as underdogs.
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