The Rockers

[Superstar Sleeze]

The Rockers vs The Brainbusters 3/89 MSG

 

With these four in 1989, the question was how far above great could they get. I have watched this match a couple times and I enjoyed it the most this go around. The Rockers maybe the best babyface shine team in history as they know how to work a really fun opening ten minutes. Not to be out done, few bump, stooge and show ass as well as Arn & Tully. The Rockers do a great sequence of in sync spots with dropkicks and dives to the floor. I loved the transition of Shawn going for a headscissors and then being dropped on his head. You cant really beat Marty as a hot tag and Shawn as a babyface in peril in 1989 as both guys just have their act down. While Tully & Arn are at their best taking all sorts of shortcuts and working over Shawn slingshotting him into Tully's forearm or into the bottom rope throat-first. Marty gets the hot tag and explodes. This leads to a rocket launcher by Shawn before Arn pulls out the ref causing the DQ. The Rockers should have went over unless it was due to the fact they wanted to build Busters to get the belts.

 

This is an excellent popcorn match that the Rockers excel. It felt more like a Rockers match than the typical Anderson tag match (hyperfocused limb work and extended heat segment). It was a real testament to the Rockers' ability at this time that AA would let them run their match.

[Jimmy Redman]

So as it happens, the From the Vault for this week's Smackdown is the Rockers vs Powers of Pain, MSG 15/1/90.

 

Really freaking great tag. The Rockers' double team offense rules. Marty is the FIP and takes ABSURDLY GREAT bumps all over the shop. Barb's powerslam catching him off the top was awesome. The build to the hot tag is great and the finish is really well done. Everyone looked great here.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Finally getting to the Rockers!!! Callooh! Callay!

 

I was reading through this and the Demolition thread and I have gathered that the 10/88 had a bit of a rep as a great match. I just watched and I would say that I still prefer the Strike Force/Islanders & Bulldogs/Dream Team a bit more, but this was very, very good for a WWF Tag. I think Rockers/Powers Of Pain is quite a good deal better than '88 Rockers/Demos match. Since there is two reviews above me on the same match, I will keep it brief.

 

WWF Tag Champs Demolition vs The Rockers MSG 10/88

 

This is the compressed version of the RnRs vs the Russians (well without the babyface title change) as this is one of the better speed vs power tag matches, but it is not just that. Demolition being outquicked is only one part of their match formula. The other is that the babyface always have to double up their moves. I love Smash barking "Stay in one place!" to Marty. It might be the most Darsow has ever added to any of his tag matches. I do like the wrinkle of Demolition matches where it does seem like from the outset that all the babyface teams will overwhelmed immediately only for face teams to find an initial way around it. In this case, it was the rapid arm work as they trapped Smash in their corner. They really made sure to move as quickly as possible. The crowd was really going bonkers for this and this was just a month before Demolition's babyface turn, which really shows how fast the Rockers got over. Marty does a quick FIP, but the real fireworks start when Shawn crashes and burns to the floor when Ax holds down the top rope.

 

Demolition demonstrates a real singular purpose in attacking Shawn's lower back with the Boston Crab, sledges and bearhugs. This is the part of the match, which was psychologically sound, but I agree with Soup was missing that extra something to put this in the all-time classic canon. What is so great about the Rockers is that their is not a huge gulf in talent between the partners. Shawn's FIP is as good as Marty's hot tag. Now we see that Rockers are not only keeping Demos outbalance with quick work, but lots of doubling up of their moves: double dropkicks, double slams, double clothesline. Rockers look like they are going to get the pin, but Ax breaks it up. Ref detains Michaels and Smash carries Marty over to be punched in the face by Ax for the pin.

 

This has all the usual Demolition motifs: babyfaces initially overwhelmed, they use their speed & double team moves; heel transition spot; Demos beatdown; go home. This is definitely the best Demolition match because the Rockers are best suited for this role even though Tama outbumped both the Rockers in his match. Demolition is just there on offense. It makes sense, but it does nothing for me. The Rockers being on offense was definitely the more entertaining parts of the match. Demolition as babyfaces just seem like it is going to be weird.

[Smack2k]

Midnight Rockers had a nice run in Memphis as well after their first WWF days and before they returned to AWA Full time later in '87..

 

One match they have shown highlights of so I cant tell if it was good or not is vs. Rock 'N Roll Express....I would have really loved to see this match in 1987....think it could have been really good. Was it ever shown anywhere in full?

 

Outside that, they were heels in Memphis (or turned heel) and were really good at it...Shawn was a good cocky heel. Its strange hearing Shawn say he really didnt care and wasnt into it when they were there since they thought they missed their big chance with WWF...but you couldnt tell from his on camera stuff...

 

WWF Rockers I was never as much into...I think because they were just another tag team for a while in the group and not featured like in the other territories....Gorilla always called them "Tag Team Specialists.."...which I thought meant "Shitty singles wrestlers..."

[Superstar Sleeze]

After watching all these WWF tag matches, I was being to think all this heel in peril stuff was a bit overstated, but then Demos/Bees and Rockers/Busters worked lengthy heel in peril segments.

 

The Rockers vs The Brainbusters - 1/89 MSG

 

This match is all about the Busters putting over the Rockers as the hot, new WWF tag team. Double A slaps Michaels and Michaels returns the favor showing he wont back down. Another fun spot is Tully tries to tag out while in a wristlock by having Arn tag his foot, but ref wont allow it. In an excellent sequence. Both the Busters put top wristlocks on Marty, Marty skins the cat; dropkicks the both of them; slams Arn and gives Tully a double superkick. The Rockers are rolling. Tully, sensing things are getting out of hand, feigns extending an olive branch only to kick Marty. Jannetty gets an atomic drop onto Tully, but when Shawn enters the match in the confusion he misses a dropkick, but Shawn is able to get a hurricanrana on Arn and a double dropkick re-establish the Rockers on top. Shawn gives chase to Tully and Arn is lying in wait and Shawn eats a clothesline.

 

The Busters double team and choke Michaels, but they are not zeroing in one body part. Shawn's punches look so much better here than in the 00s. The Busters are not doing much in the way of spots but they are following up on their advantage. Tully/Shawn do to the bridge into backslide sequence that I have always liked. Shawn must have been over the moon working with Tully and especially doing that sequence. Shawn does the leap for the tag, but Tully catches him and gives him a reverse atomic drop. AA follows up with a spinebuster for 2. AA does his knucklelock sequence and Shawn gets his knees up. They both tag out. Tully is hilarious begging off for Marty. The Rockers get the rocket launcher, but Arn saves. As Marty goes to suplex Tully, Arn grabs Marty leg out from under him and holds down his tassel as Tully gets the pin. That would also be the finish for Rude/ Warrior Wrestlemania V match.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Rockers vs The Brainbusters - 3/89 Boston

 

This is the definitely worst match of the lot. Marty may be stoned out of his mind as he works in slow motion during this match and is also working the face in peril. The Rockers work a really deliberate pace, which surprises Tony Schiavone, always weird to hear him commentate on WWF matches and is quite boring. The beginning stuff with Shawn and Tully is pretty good as Tully amuses me. Tully armdrags Shawn and struts over to Arn to celebrate. Shawn armdrags Tully and he crawls to Marty's corner and bitches out. Arn comes in and they do some slugging both looking good. The Rockers do some synchronized dropkicks and Marty barley makes contact. They double hiptoss and double dropkick Arn and he needs up on his ass calling for a timeout. Funny stuff. Arn ends up hitting the post with his shoulder, which results in a long and boring heel in peril segment on Arn's arm. This Boston crowd is nothing like New York and is dead, but I dont blame them. I know Marty blew two spots, but I cant seem to recall what they were. They work Tully's arm and it just goes one. Synchronized figure-4s wake up the crowd and the heels break up with eye-rakes.

 

This time Marty goes for headscissors only have his neck dropped across the rope. Tully hotshots him for go measure and there is plenty of choking to take away Marty's wind. At some point, AA thrusted his hips at Shawn, somebody missed Naitch a lot. All the focus is on Marty's neck. Arn does his knucklelock sequence, but this time he catches himself and parlays it into catapulting Marty into Tully's forearm. Marty does the leap for the tag spot. Marty starts piling on the hope spots with a flying bodypress for 2 and a sunste flip for 2. Jannetty even gets a vertical suplex so Tully punches Shawn, which distracts the ref and Arn dumps Marty over the top rope. Shawn gets the hot tag after Marty gets in some more punches. Shawn is not as good as Marty at the house of fire stuff. Shawn and AA end up outside brawling, but Rockers get back in hit the Rocket Launcher and just like MSG AA pulls out the ref for the DQ.

 

This is the least of the matches as Marty was blowing spots and looked awful. Shawn looked pretty good, but was not as good as Marty as the hot tag. The Busters were a bit more focused in their heat segments and their antics were great, but were dragged down by that interminable heel in peril segment. I think the Rockers will end up being the best WWF Tag Team, but everyone can lay an egg. We will see how the SNME matches hold up.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Rockers vs The Brainbusters w/Bobby The Brain Heenan - 3/89 SNME

 

What a sprint! I am out of breath just having watched this. This is the match I was really looking for from these guys. Busters blindside early. Tully goes for the kill with his slingshot suplex and Marty counters, but Tully counters into a rollup only for Shawn to cross body block Tully while in the rollup. Busters try to whip the Rockers into each other they do a little do-see-do and knock the Busters out. Crazy good opening sequence as Busters powder. Shawn press slams Arn off the top and it ends up with the Busters taking synchronized superkicks. Shawn hits a nice headscissors on Tully. Arn gets one shoulderblock on Shawn, but Shawn gets a drop toehold on the next one. Heenan pulls down the top rope, which gets him ejected of course he hems and haw to great crowd heat.

 

Marty actually starts the next segment and Marty goes for the atomic drop, but while hoisted up Tully tags Arn. Arn comes in and smashes Marty. Marty bumps great for that. Marty playing a much more active face in peril. Arn dumps Marty over the top onto the floor. I love when Arn desperately tries to grasp for the ropes on a sunset flip attempt by Jannetty. Tully/Jannetty get to do the bridge/backslide/leap for tag/reverse atomic drop sequence that always looks good. Arn in with a wicked spinebuster and Shawn makes the save. Arn attempts a Vaderbomb attempt and eats knees. Both teams tag. Tully bitches out for Shawn, who does a much better job on this hot tag as the crowd is rocking. Shawn attempts a suplex on Arn, only for Tully to sunset flip Shawn and Arn to blast Shawn. Marty retaliates by diving on Tully. They end up on the floor where they back body drop Tully onto Arn. The result is a double countout. The Rockers get back in the ring and give both Busters a double dropkick for the symbolic victory.

 

This was such a great sprint as it was bell-to-bell action that got over both tag teams to a national audience. The Rockers played a great high-energy tag team that could not be stopped until the Busters started using underhanded tactics. The Busters worked a tough, rugged style, but worked hard to put over the Rockers. They worked some very intricate sequences for the 80s and they came off great. My favorite match of theirs by far and one of the best 80s tag matches from the WWF.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Rockers vs The Brainbusters w/Bobby The Brain Heenan - 11/89 SNME 2 out of 3 Falls

 

This is a pretty good match in the Rockers series. I would put it below the January MSG match and the barnburner 3/89 SNME match.

 

There is dissension in the Heenan Family due to the Busters' loss of the tag belts and whether Heenan is meaningful to the success of the team. Marty gets wrist control and Tully tries to use some hair to get the advantage, but Marty keeps kipping up. Marty attempts a sunset flip, but Tully holds onto Arn and Shawn comes crashing down on Tully's back. The Rockers go up 1-0 quickly and Heenan is irate and berates the Busters. Heenan shoves Tully and realizes his mistake and powders.

 

Rockers hit synchronized superkicks to start second fall and Heenan deserts his own tag team. Well soon he will fashion a new one out of his current clients in the form of the Colossal Connection. I am actually intrigued to watch some Colossal Connection matches. Rockers were really hit and miss with their double dropkick they did not always connect together, They were really good at the double kip-up. Lots of double teaming from the Rockers before Shawn gets dropped over the top rope on a headscissors. I like that transition spot so I dont mind seeing it 3 times, now. Tully gets pin to even it up.

 

Marty tries to guard Shawn as he is gasping for breath. They clear Marty out and AA gets a wicked spinebuster for 2, but Marty saves. Arn does his knucklelock sequence and ends with Shawn being catapulted into Tully. Tully throws Shawn over the top rope onto the floor. Shawn is on jelly legs, but manages blocking being sent into the post on the apron. He hits a cross body block off the top for two. Arn in and he hits Marty to prevent tag. Marty punches Arn and his head rocks back and collides with Shawn's. That was a pretty well-done execution of that spot. Marty tags in after Shawn crawls under AA's legs. Marty is a house of fire, but gets caught by being outnumbered. Arn sets Marty up for the spike piledriver, but Shawn knocks Tully off the top and hits a cross body block off the top to win the match.

 

This is the Brainbusters farewell as they finally put the Rockers over clean as fresh laundry. It was a fitting ending and pretty good much for the time allotted to it just under 10 minutes. I will say 2 out of 3 falls matches on SNME are a pet peeve of mine because multiple falls do not normally occur inside 10 minutes unless it is under these rules. It is the Rockers/Busters it is still a pretty good match.

[Superstar Sleeze]

The Rockers vs Twin Towers - Wrestlemania V

 

I thought I'd at least get all the Twin Towers match out of the way. As a complete match this is fine, but the finish to this is really friggin' good. Rockers try to turn this into a track meet so start by making the Towers chase them and Shawn hits a dropkick on Bossman. Once Akeem gets in, Shawn shows him up by doing a decent moonwalk. Shawn is my hero. I hate Akeem. Marty gets sandwhiched and Ventura's predictions look to be coming true as Marty is doinated by fat man offense like being trapped in the corner as they both splash him. Bossman holds Marty, but Akeem splashes Bossman. Marty crawls to Shawn. Shawn gets a dropkick and then punches in the corner. They double Irish Whip Akeem. They get double shoulderblocks from the middle rope for 2. Akeem kills Shawn dead with a clothesline. Apparently, you don't show up Bossman misses a top splash; Shawn gets 2. Marty tabletops Bossman; double dropkick to Akeem on the apron; both ascend to the top and double missile dropkick Bossman. Holy shit that was pretty cool. Akeem saves. Shawn off the top rope gets caught in a powerbomb by Bossman and a splash by Akeem finishes them.

 

They were working the match I expected them to work and I was fine with that. Then they kicked into overdrive with that home stretch. That was some really good stuff and stuff that I do not think any other babyface tag team in the WWF could pull off. I would say it is stuff like that make it seem like the Rockers are the best WWF Tag team of all time.

[soup23]

I agree with your last paragraph and its why I enjoy watching the Rockers matches. They were willing to pinball vs. POP or Twin Towers, go technical with Arn/Tully to an extent, or work a fast paced junior style tag with the Orient Express. Great versatility sprinkled throughout their run.

[Sidebottom]

Glad to see Rockers / Demolition matches getting credit here, that was classic tag team wrestling.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Soup, not to nitpick, but maybe go Southern is the way to put it with Arn & Tully. Dont forget getting schticky with the Rougueas

 

The Rockers vs New Dream Team w/Jimmy Hart - 6/89

 

Rockers have taken over well for the Islanders as the team that just cant have a bad match. This is just good, solid tag team wrestler that is entertaining throughout. I was expecting a little bit more because I think The Hammer may be the best WWF worker of the 80s, but this settles in that good territory. Bravo is incredibly better when compared to Beefcake. He definitely has energy and I won't ever fault someone for that.

 

The story of the match is as you expect Rockers' speed and continuity versus the strength of Bravo & ruggedness of Valentine. They establish Bravo is stronger than Marty so Marty blind tags Shawn, who dropkicks Bravo in the back into a Marty slam and then a slam for Valentine; Rockers clear the ring. Valentine gets in with Shawn and Demolition wishes they were this good at clubbering offense. Valentine works over Shawn's shoulder and rams it into the post. Shawn creates space and then rams The Hammer's shoulder into the ringpost. I love payback spots. This is a couple minutes of Rockers' targeting Valentine's arm it is well done, fast pace work that never delves into heel in peril. Valentine with a forearm shot tags in Bravo, who takes a monkey flip form Marty. On the second monkey flip, Bravo catches Marty and gives him a reverse atomic drop. Bravo then lets out what can only be described as the "Howard Dean Scream" as he tags in the Hammer. Marty is the face in peril as New Dream Team works over him in entertaining fashion. This heat segment was better than some of Busters' heat segment. They were constantly tagging out and never just settling for choking. Bravo hits a great gutwrench suplex. Bravo misses the elbow. The crowd pops huge. Shawn comes in a house of fire. Ducks punches and punches of his own and suplexes Bravo. Double dropkick on Bravo, dropkicks for everyone including the Mouth of the South. Double fistdrop from the top, but Valnetine breaks it up. Shawn & Dino bump heads; Valentine puts Bravo on top; Jannetty breaks it up. Jannety in as a reverse sunset flip and Valentine clothesline him as the ref detains Shawn so the New Dream Teams WINS?!?!?!?!?!??!?

 

Wait Valentiner/Bravo won? They have not been a regular team since 1987. I just dont get it. It seems like The Rockers have been pushed hard to this point maybe Vince sees they will hit a ceiling since the Demos and Hart Foundation are also faces. I wish Valentine/Bravo got a serious push as the number 2 heel team.

 

Fuckin' weird finish aside, it was a fun match which cut a brisk pace and everything was well-executed. The Rockers are definitely the best home stretch team in the WWF as that stuff was wicked entertaining to watch.

 

 

Just watched The Rockers vs Rougeaus from London '89, but Im too tired to comment. In short, I fuckin loved that match. I have seen it before and really remember enjoying. I liked it just as much if not more. I have grown to love "less is more", but sometimes you just want to them throw the kitchen sink at you. Well, that match had pretty much every tag team trope stuffed in it and it fuckin ruled. I will say more tomorrow, but just loved it. I know it is a bit polarizing for all the bullshit at the beginning and propbably for cramming too much in. I didnt care because it had me smiling ear to ear for 25 minutes. Right up there with MX/RnRs Wrestlewar '90 in type of match that will just make me smile in any given situation.

 

The Rockers vs Hart Foundation MSG 11/89

 

This match is equitable without trading spots back and forth with not rhyme or reason. If there is one thing that is Bret's bread and butter it is the face vs face matches. He is an incredible subtle heel. Most babyface vs babyfaces matches establish a sense of equality between the combatants. Heels are usually inferior in some way to their face counterpart which incites their underhanded tactics. Not to be disappointed, this match at the beginning is very symmetrical. Bret hits a move. Marty hits that move. Bret misses an elbow. Marty misses an elbow. So on and so forth, you can sense that brimming tension from experience you just are waiting for the Hart Foundation to get so frustrated they cheat. It is that tension that keeps you in suspense becuase just dont know when it is going to happen. Anvil actually has a really good sequence with Shawn. Shawn attempts to shoulderblock Anvil, but cant. He smartens up and tries a high cross body and Anvil catches him, but Shawn rolls through into a pinning combination. Once again, there is that sense of frustration. Anvil just needs to get a hold of this quick little bugger and Shawn is frustrated that Anvil is so much stronger that it creating such an obstacle. When Marty comes in, he gets steamrolled and Anvil feels like he finally go it. Then Marty hits a drop toe hold into a front facelock. Marty breathes a sigh of relief and Anvil is like "Fuck, again". Anvil gets frustrated tags out and Bret misses an elbow. Eventually Bret gets an atomic drop and he tags in Anvil. Finally, Bret has enough and he slides and buries the knee in Shawn's back while he is running the ropes, vintage Hart Foundation. It blows off Act One of the Tension.

 

One thing I really like about this is that while it is super segmented like most Bret matches there is more of a sense of struggle. Shawn is not just a rag doll for the Harts he is fighting back and getting pinning combination of the Harts. He just cant get to his corner. Anvil is working the lower back with power holds and Bret is employing his usual crisp offense. Shawn is easily the best FIP they have ever had. This is the best Hart Foundation heat segment I have seen. Anvil misses the slingshot splash and they got me on that one.Instead, it was a missed elbow by Bret that gave SHawn the opportunity for tag to Marty.

 

I didnt think the crowd was in step with Marty, but it was a good hot tag by Marty. He was focused on getting pinfalls as opposed to big spots, which I think fans are used to. Backslides, cross bodies, and sunset flips not vicious holds, but quick barrage to try win the match and again a lot of suspense. When Bret grabs with a double leg takedown and stomps him in the gut. Finally breaking the momentum of Marty. He sells the breather so well. It expresses "I weathered that storm. Damn that little fucker is fast". Bret ducks and Marty high cross bodies nothing but the concrete floor in a nasty bump. Marty tags out quickly. Shawn gets steamrolled by Anvil and bumps out of control for that one. Still only 2. Now standing dropkick by Shawn gets 2. It is just a barrage of nearfalls back and forth between Shawn and Bret. Shawn wrangles Bret into an abdominal stretch. Anvil comes in break this up and Marty is hot comes in shove Anvil. Bell rings signaling a draw. Both teams go at it, but mid card babyfaces come out to break it up. The tension comes to boiling point, but it is not allowed to spill over

 

I think I talked by myself into liking this as my favorite Hart Foundation match. The Demolition match is close, but this one is a well-structured three Act play. You see the frustration that neither team can get the advantage, which ends with Bret burying the knee in Shawn's back. Act II is FIP, which has the usual tension of when will Shawn get the tag. Act III was a just a barrage of nearfalls where you were wondering who would get the duke and if maybe someone's temper would get the best of them. Instead we were robbed of a finish, but in a good way that made you want to see it climax later.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Soup, I did not like the Rockers/Hart Foundation 2 Out of 3 Falls match as you, but I think your own love of that match will actually increase if you watch the MSG 11/89 between the two.

 

Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart 2/90 Wrestle Challenge

 

The Anvil does the world's most clumsy job giving Bret's shades to a kid. I hope he was not the ring-bearer at anyone's wedding. They do some basic face vs face wrestling to prove they are equals. Bret busts out the sequence from their MSG match where Bret does a reverse atomic drop and hits a clothesline. Hey Bret misses an elbow too. Deja vu. Bret does his euro uppercuts into backslide sequence. Now they do Bret's backbreaker countered into a slam sequence. Bret is making Shawn look really good here, not a total knock on Shawn, but an observation. They fight over a vertical suplex in the ropes. Neither one wants to break. Shawn shoves Bret and Bret hits Shawn with a straight right. Marty gets on the apron and hits Bret with a straight right and it breaks down to a melee. It definitely presented an interesting angle on TV between two biggest face teams besides Demolition. At this point, the roster was way too babyface heavy and this shook things up.

 

The Rockers vs Hart Foundation SNME 4/90

 

They basically work the sprint version of their MSG match, which hurts the feel of the match a lot. They are literally doing the same spots as the ones from the MSG match. If I am calling out Marty doing a drop toehold that's pretty pathetic. I had seen this match before because it was on the Bret Hart DVD and I always really like it, but now seeing the "complete" match from MSG, this took a huge hit from me. Since they are trying to get all the spots in, the match loses that tension that was building in the MSG match. Instead, they are just transitioning between spots with no breathe. Bret's sliding knee no longer feels like the climax to a great opening act to the match, but rather just another move. Now if they constructed new spots and created a new match for their sprint then I would judge it on its merits. Instead, it is just the clipped down version of the MSG match. For example, Rockers/Busters matches for the most part seemed unique. Of course, the big change in this match and the MSG match is the appearance of Demolition. Bret gets distracted first and Shawn dropkicks Bret to the outside and Demolition acts like lumberjacks. Marty's hot tag is pretty much the same though Anvils misses his slingshot splash here instead of the heat segment. They do the Anvil tossing Shawn onto outside when he kicks out as the spot to lead to Demolition getting involved. They look to send Shawn back in, but Marty, ever the hot-head, punches Ax. The match breaks down into a melee.

 

Having seen the "full" version, this match seems like a let-down. As a sprint, it is fun because they cram a ridiculous amount of spots into the match, but less is more in this situation. I would put this firmly behind the Rockers/ Busters SNME sprint.

 

The Rockers vs Hart Foundation - 2 Out of 3 Falls 10/90

 

I feel like I should watch this again because it was late at night and my brother watched it with me. Normally, I watch these matches by myself with undivided attention, but my brother, who I enjoy watching RAW with often has a lot of questions, which distracts me. Though he did point how dead the crowd was. I thought this match was overly long. Usually the SNME 2 out of 3 Falls match are like 10 minutes, which bothers me to end. So I was happy in that this match went a more appropriate length given the stipulation however I felt like they lost the story of the match after the rope break and just started throwing things out there, which made it feel long.

 

First good thing as this was not a carbon copy of the MSG, which makes sense as this is the direct continuation of their SNME match and it feels like the continuation. You have spots where the wrestlers are learning from each other. The Rockers double team Bret, but duck the Anvil's clothesline and hit a double superkick. Bret still gets them with a double noggin knocker and Anvil hits his double clothesline. I marked pretty hard for the Rockers' duck and at that point, I thought this match was going to be pretty great. Marty is then tentative to go toe to toe with Anvil. He knows that Anvil usually steam rolls him so he gets started then hooks the ropes. Rockers end up on top with a double dropkick. The Rockers are learning from their mistakes and the Hart Foundation is not adapting. Rockers really get the best of the Hart Foundation with their double team moves. They double Irish Whip Anvil into the ropes knocking Bret off the apron. A double bodyslam should set up the double fist drop, but Bret breaks it up. Anvil gets the Oklahoma Slam on Shawn and Shawn does the Flair Flip in the corner. Bret gets frustrated after a nice series of moves: backbreaker, Russian Leg Sweep and a piledriver. This allows Shawn to tag Marty and Marty sits down on a Bret sunset flip to get 3. The first fall was incredible. The Rockers looked smart. They learned from the previous encounter and kept the Hart Foundation off balance. Once, Bret got into a groove he thought he had the fall won and then the Rockers pulled it out and he was fuckin pissed, really well-done.

 

Bret is right on the attack as he is hot over the ending to the fall that he thought he had in hand. Bret and Marty really jockey for position on a suplex. They double team Bret again, but Anvil clears the ring with just his presence. Bret then sits in a front facelock, which my brother points out is boring. I have to agree. At some point, the top rope breaks by Marty. Bret gets wicked flustered slapping on a chinlock as you can see him trying to figure out what to do. Bret then takes the bump of the match as he takes his usual front-first bump into the turnbuckles, but only the bottom two and it looked sick. Marty's superkick gets two, but Bret hits a swinging neckbreaker for 2. Bret bodyslams Anvil on top, which brother thought was pretty cool. Hart Foundation hit Demolition Decapitation for 2 and Shawn breaks up a Rocket Launcher. Bret hits a belly to back suplex, which sets up the Hart Attack to pick up the fall. I think if they cut out the beginning of this fall and just had the Hart Foundation pour it out it would have been better. The rope breaking made some of the spots look very awkward.

 

Ring crew fixes the ropes.

 

Hart Foundation gets the sliding knee in here and Anvil hits a back body drop. Bret is pressing the advantage with European uppercuts, but no backslide by Marty. Instead, Bret cross bodies the ropes, a dangerous proposition given that the ropes had just broken. At this point, I thought they just started throwing things out there as they sort of take turns hitting spots. I think the idea of was to create drama with both teams trading blows and never knowing when the match would stop. I just thought this looked too choreographed and they did not transition well between spots. Bret matches usually have good logical progression and the first two falls show that, but not the final fall. The final sequence sees Anvil suplexing Bret onto Marty's knees. Yet, Anvil clears the ring and they look to hit Hart Attack Shawn interrupts and Marty gets the pin. It just seemed like a mess as you have the Rockers injuring Bret, but the Anvil reclaims control only for Shawn to intervene.

 

I just thought the match overstayed its welcome and plus the rope problems make this a disappointing match as the first fall started off so promising. Actually the first fall by itself would have been a classic match. The two additional falls dragged it down as they lost that fell that this match was a continuation instead they just started throwing things out there.

 

The Rockers vs Hart Foundation Tokyo Dome 3/91

 

See Rockers vs Hart Foundation MSG 11/89. They basically do the same match verbatim only performed worse and with a finish. The Dome is not feeling this match and there is pretty much zero heat for this. The Rockers looked stoned. Bret looks wicked sick and very pale. Neither team seems very into match and just do the same spots from the MSG 89 match with no passion. The only difference is Hart Foundation add some attacks to heel it up a bit more, but to no avail the whole match feels perfunctory. The finish is that Bret rolls through Shawn's cross body and is able to get the win this time. Ostensibly because Bret was more over in Japan than the Rockers since he has worked there. Watch the 11/89 MSG match.

[Migs]

I watched 11 discs worth of Rockers matches a while back, and came away thinking that they are a bit underrated. I think they had good matches consistently and also were better at keeping matchups fresh than, say the Hart Foundation. Love the Harts but they would legit go out and do the same match, move for move, on a nightly basis (see their Rougeau matches from 88). The Rockers were really good at varying things. The matches with the Brainbusters are probably my favorite WWF tag matches of the 80s, maybe even better than Harts-Bulldogs in 85, which are incredible.

[Superstar Sleeze]

I have to say the Hart Foundation vs Rockers matches were very much the same match over and over that save for the 10/90 match. This is true for a lot of 80s wrestling, which is why I dont watch the MSG, Boston and Philly matches from the same period. I will just choose one of the three. I try to watch the continuation of feud rather just all the matches.

 

The Hart Foundation/Bulldogs came off really underwhelming to me. If you care to further discuss them I be interested. I really liked the first SNME match between the Busters and Rockers, but the rest of stuff felt just good rather than great. My favorite programs have been the Islanders vs Strike Force and Dream Team vs British Bulldogs. I have not found a Rockers program I was really into yet, but they really only had Busters (early 1989), Rougeaus (rest of 89), Hart Foundation (late 89-early 90), Orient Express (90-91) and Nasty Boys (Mid-Late'91) then done. The rest was just a series of one-offs. I believe the Rockers are the best tag team of the WWF and I am looking forward to the OX & Nasties stuff. However, even though they are a lot better than the Bulldogs or the Dream Team in my opinion, they never achieved a really great program from what I have seen so far. I think they peaked with the Busters, but it never quite got it where I wanted it to.

[Migs]

I have to say the Hart Foundation vs Rockers matches were very much the same match over and over that save for the 10/90 match. This is true for a lot of 80s wrestling, which is why I dont watch the MSG, Boston and Philly matches from the same period. I will just choose one of the three. I try to watch the continuation of feud rather just all the matches.

 

The Hart Foundation/Bulldogs came off really underwhelming to me. If you care to further discuss them I be interested. I really liked the first SNME match between the Busters and Rockers, but the rest of stuff felt just good rather than great. My favorite programs have been the Islanders vs Strike Force and Dream Team vs British Bulldogs. I have not found a Rockers program I was really into yet, but they really only had Busters (early 1989), Rougeaus (rest of 89), Hart Foundation (late 89-early 90), Orient Express (90-91) and Nasty Boys (Mid-Late'91) then done. The rest was just a series of one-offs. I believe the Rockers are the best tag team of the WWF and I am looking forward to the OX & Nasties stuff. However, even though they are a lot better than the Bulldogs or the Dream Team in my opinion, they never achieved a really great program from what I have seen so far. I think they peaked with the Busters, but it never quite got it where I wanted it to.

I definitely think they peaked, program-wise, with the Busters. (I think you covered all of them save for an okay run of matches with Power and Glory.) The Orient Express stuff was sometimes very good, other times a bit flat.

 

I'd argue the variation in the matches is part of what makes Rockers-Busters fun - some of the matches, like the SNME one, are completely different, and even the house show matches would go in different directions (they had 2 in the same day at Boston and MSG with different FIP sections and with one being 5 minutes longer).

 

I'd have to rewatch the Harts-Bulldogs matches to really go deep, but I think what set them apart from other 80s WWF tags was the quality of the offense, and the way the structure tended to be a bit more free form. 80s WWF tag wrestling was VERY formulaic, so even slight deviations feel pretty good. They were just so far ahead of the other teams at the time that it's sort of stunning to watch. I do like the matches with the Dream Team too, though, as Valentine was one of the only other guys on the roster who could keep up with the Bulldogs. Has anyone ever done a Dream Team comp? I'd be curious to see more of them... there's an amazing match they had with Santana and Steamboat that made me wonder if they're a bit of a lost great team.

[MartelFan38]

I have to say the Hart Foundation vs Rockers matches were very much the same match over and over that save for the 10/90 match. This is true for a lot of 80s wrestling, which is why I dont watch the MSG, Boston and Philly matches from the same period. I will just choose one of the three. I try to watch the continuation of feud rather just all the matches.

 

The Hart Foundation/Bulldogs came off really underwhelming to me. If you care to further discuss them I be interested. I really liked the first SNME match between the Busters and Rockers, but the rest of stuff felt just good rather than great. My favorite programs have been the Islanders vs Strike Force and Dream Team vs British Bulldogs. I have not found a Rockers program I was really into yet, but they really only had Busters (early 1989), Rougeaus (rest of 89), Hart Foundation (late 89-early 90), Orient Express (90-91) and Nasty Boys (Mid-Late'91) then done. The rest was just a series of one-offs. I believe the Rockers are the best tag team of the WWF and I am looking forward to the OX & Nasties stuff. However, even though they are a lot better than the Bulldogs or the Dream Team in my opinion, they never achieved a really great program from what I have seen so far. I think they peaked with the Busters, but it never quite got it where I wanted it to.

I definitely think they peaked, program-wise, with the Busters. (I think you covered all of them save for an okay run of matches with Power and Glory.) The Orient Express stuff was sometimes very good, other times a bit flat.

 

I'd argue the variation in the matches is part of what makes Rockers-Busters fun - some of the matches, like the SNME one, are completely different, and even the house show matches would go in different directions (they had 2 in the same day at Boston and MSG with different FIP sections and with one being 5 minutes longer).

 

I'd have to rewatch the Harts-Bulldogs matches to really go deep, but I think what set them apart from other 80s WWF tags was the quality of the offense, and the way the structure tended to be a bit more free form. 80s WWF tag wrestling was VERY formulaic, so even slight deviations feel pretty good. They were just so far ahead of the other teams at the time that it's sort of stunning to watch. I do like the matches with the Dream Team too, though, as Valentine was one of the only other guys on the roster who could keep up with the Bulldogs. Has anyone ever done a Dream Team comp? I'd be curious to see more of them... there's an amazing match they had with Santana and Steamboat that made me wonder if they're a bit of a lost great team.

 

[MartelFan38]

At what point do we need to go the other way with the Rockers and start calling them overrated?

 

Granted they were excellent in the ring, but from a Kayfabe standpoint, what did they ever accomplish, especially once they entered the WWF. I know this will be contreversial but I'd think about it.

[Migs]

The Rockers v. The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (London, 10/10/89)

 

This made the original DVDVR top 100 of the 80s list... and I have no idea why. Long, slow, plodding. They open with a long segment with Shawn and Jacques comparing athleticism (Shawn can moonsault, Jacque can't). Almost no high spots to speak of. The more I watch the heel Rougeaus, the more I love the characters they play while turning but the less I enjoy the matches. Their offense just doesn't suggest that they're a real threat - it's a couple of neat double teams and a lot of chinlocks. Shawn takes a nice bump over the top rope on a superkick. I feel like the Rockers were a bit prone to matches like this - if they didn't get the big high spots, they end up being not very memorable.

[Superstar Sleeze]

My short answer to that is the LOD signing really fucked them and unless you want to wait on that break up then there was no time to give them belts. These external forces should not be held against them.

 

Since Chad sort of brought this up in his response to my comments on his article on WWF Tag Wrestling, I will give my answer here. He believed that Rockers could have had their tag title from the phantom win in October 1990 through Wrestlemania VII and this is really their only feasible window. Demolition were the anchors of the tag division and a direction that Vince was more comfortable going in. Even though with Martel/Zenk and once Zenk left with Santana, he tried to go with a traditional pretty boy tag team, but given Vince's philosophy on wrestling, you know he felt that was too traditional "rasslin'" and that Demolition much like Warrior really captured what his audience wanted and the direction he wanted to go in. Since Demolition as turned babyface, there was nowhere in 1989 that Rockers could win the the titles. In 1990, it was already foregone conclusion based on what he see in 1989 that Bret was going to be pushed to the I-C title, but with Eadie retiring they needed a babyface anchor tag team. However, the LOD came in around Summer of 1990 so everyone knew that for the next year it would be just lame duck champions. The Nasty Boys were excellent heel transition champions for LOD. So basically, the window for the bridge from Demolition to the Nasties was Summerslam to Wrestlemania VII. I believe it did make more sense for Bret Hart to hold the tag titles in this period because the fans would identify him as a winner and as a champion so that it would be easier to transition him to the IC belt. Shawn and Marty were hardly sure things at this point from singles and obviously Marty flamed out due to the dreaded personal demons. The Rockers were excellent in delivering those fast-paced tag matches that gave the card some more breadth. They always played an excellent number 3 babyface tag team to Hart Foundation, Demolition and LOD.

 

Yes, the Hulkamania era coincided with the most loaded the tag division has been in the WWF, but what is shocking going through all these matches is how much each year they were just hanging on by thread. Each year, they reloaded just in a nick of time before the division imploded finally in 1991. A lot of problems later on stemmed from stacked the babyface side was Demolition (1989), Hart Foundation, Rockers and LOD (1990) and how undermanned the heel side was. The heel side was so undermanned in 1989 that Bret Hart worked singles pretty much the entire year against Mr. Perfect. It was twofold Vince was grooming him, but on the same token there really was not team for the Hart Foundation to wrestle. The Rougeaus had been done to death and Brainbusters were the Demo's foils. That is why you see the short-lived Hart Foundation/Rockers program to bridge Harts to Demolition because the roster was just that thin at that point.

 

Now the whole point of that preface was to explain the Rockers did the best they could given the circumstances around them. You can't blame them for not getting over because they did get over. You can't blame them for not getting pushed because there were external forces outside their control. The LOD signing really fucked them. The tag division in WWF was always there to add variety, not to draw. So Rockers never had time on their side because they were going to be pushed as singles stars. Thats why the metric of why you didnt get pushed as a singles star should not be applied to tag teams in WWF especially when tag teams had singles potential.

 

I would argue from a pure match quality point of view that the Rockers are a Top 5 North American tag team with ease and if you want to add drawing and those metrics I still think they would be in top ten in North America.

[Superstar Sleeze]

The Rockers v. The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (London, 10/10/89)

 

This made the original DVDVR top 100 of the 80s list... and I have no idea why. Long, slow, plodding. They open with a long segment with Shawn and Jacques comparing athleticism (Shawn can moonsault, Jacque can't). Almost no high spots to speak of. The more I watch the heel Rougeaus, the more I love the characters they play while turning but the less I enjoy the matches. Their offense just doesn't suggest that they're a real threat - it's a couple of neat double teams and a lot of chinlocks. Shawn takes a nice bump over the top rope on a superkick. I feel like the Rockers were a bit prone to matches like this - if they didn't get the big high spots, they end up being not very memorable.

I know this is a very polarizing match, which is why I waited to do a review for it because I wanted to really do a well-written review. I absolutely love this match. I don't want to say it as good RnR/MX at Wrestlewar '90, but really is not far off. The opening match histrionics all through the Rockers changing off and the ref asking the crowd was hilarious. Pro wrestling can be a lot of things, it can be a violent brawl, a great championship match, but for a light-hearted match, this is pro wrestling. I just had a huge smile on my face. Then I thought the Shawn FIP was really dramatic and the best the Rougeaus ever looked in the WWF by far. I love, love this match. I have Survivor Series '88 and Rockers/OX to do, but hopefully I will watch it again soon.

[Ricky Jackson]

I thought this Rockers/Rougeau bros match was great too.

[Superstar Sleeze]

I have definitely heard some other nay-sayers for the match and I understand why it is so polarizing because of how overboard they go with pre-match gimmicks. I just happened to really like it as a light-hearted match.

 

Now onto Rockers into the 90s, tag landscape has begun to thin out as Rockers are basically left to anchor the tag midcard against teams like the Orient Express and Power & Glory. You can already feel that tag wrestling is in recession and the Rockers are a part of a dying breed in 1990.

 

WWF Tag Champions Colossal Connection vs Rockers - Primetime Wrestling 3/90

 

This is just a short TV match to further the angle with Demolition leading into Wrestlemania. Rockers has been programmed with Hart Foundation, but there was to be no Hart Foundation/Rockers Wrestlemania match. You can really see how much bigger Haku has gotten as he really starts to looks more like the power wrestler they were pushing. Shawn & Marty start off with some double team dropkicks which cause Andre to get tangled in the ropes. Andre selling for the little guys. They did not do much with that. Some normal Rockers double teaming, but would get broken up whenever they got close to Andre, which is a great use for him. Haku kicks Marty in the head while Andre holds him and they beat on Shawn until Demolition makes the save and the match gets thrown out. I was expecting a bit more, but still I see how they made the Colossal Connection work given Andre's limitations. He sure liked to sit on people at his age. Nothing to go out of your way to see, but cool to see Andre work the Rockers.

[Jimmy Redman]

I love the Rockers/Rougeaus match so much that I almost can't fathom anyone not being able to enjoy it. It is about the most fun to have watching pro wrestling.

[Migs]

I will say that I have watched that Rockers-Rougeaus match multiple times... it just doesn't do it for me. In trying to self analyze, I think two things really hinder my enjoyment:

 

1) The Length

 

The thing lasts, what, 20-25 minutes? And it never really pushes the pace, or uses the slow build to get to a more fun finish. If you're going that long, I think it needs to build into a higher level of excitement at the end than this match gets to. It's all prelude, and it's A LOT of prelude. I know someone's going to come back and tell me that they love the length, and that it gives it time to develop. I just don't see what it develops into.

 

2) The Rockers' other matches

 

I might have gotten a chuckle out of this match if the Rougeaus were doing a version of it with the Bushwackers. But what I want from the Rockers are those high spots, the athleticism. I know they are capable of something more exciting, so when they deliver me that match... I'm not feeling it. There are certainly times when wrestlers confound your expectations for them and it works in a positive way, but this isn't one of them.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Here we go...

 

The Rockers vs Rougeaus - 10/89 London, England

 

This is pro wrestling. I know pro wrestling can be a lot of things, but this really captures the fun, light-hearted aspect of wrestling that develops into a dramatic story: can Shawn Michaels make the tag? It is such a simple hook. I often feel compelled to dig deeper to prove that it is more impressive match. In this match, it is beauty is how shallow it is. It is two pricks trying to show up the good guys. The good guys goofing on the bad guys and having fun at their expense. The crowd is laughing along right with them. This level of entertainment and fun is what is missing from most WWF face control segments. Until the pricks can grab a handful of hair, then it becomes a dramatic effort from Michaels to get the hot tag to escape an incredible onslaught from the dastardly, underhanded bad guys. The amount of offense Michaels takes and his selling is the drama that most their WWF heat segments are missing. The go home stretch calls back to the opening with the good guys using the bad guys own dirty tactics against them to pick up the victory.

 

Who are these guys and what did they do with the Rougeaus? The Rougeaus have been the most underwhelming tag team that I have seen in my viewing. Their heat segments tend to be borefests and Raymond seems devoid of any charisma. In this match, the Rougeaus look like the best WWF heel tag team ever in this one match. They stooge and bitch out like the Busters and they have the offense of the Midnight Express in this match. I understand the beginning can be tedious for some, but I like bullshit. You will see that Marty does want to lock up twice, but each time Jacques calls him a chicken and goads him into doing the relatively easy feat of athleticism. I am a sucker for heels that congratulate themselves over simple feats. However, now the Rockers get the idea how they can really show up the Rougeaus with Shawn's moonsault and shaking the ropes for Jacques. How much Jacques throws his head being rammed into the top turnbuckle is awesome. I laughed again (only thing I laugh at each time).

 

I love how Jacques scurries away into the protective embrace of Raymond. The MX used Cornette to bitch out for them, but here the Rougeaus do it themselves. The leg work is incredible and the best Rockers control segment with all the switches without tags. Jacques, the ref and crowd just make this segment so great and another stretch where I can not stop smiling. Then while Jacques is arguing, Raymond will actually get to the corner, but he wont be there. I just love that stuff. Hell, even Raymond is great for all his work within this hold and constantly keeping it moving. Eventually, Jacques grabs Shawn's hair and Raymond rams a pretty nice knee into Shawn's back transforming this match from light-hearted to a dramatic affair. Already, you can tell Rougeaus are game for what I consider the best heat segment in WWF 80s tag wrestling. Shawn takes his Flair Flip bump into the turnbuckle and bumps huge off a double chop. The stars are just aligned in this match as Shawn is having his best FIP and the Rougeaus are just fucking on. Raymond's savate kick sends Shawn tumbling over the top rope and they start working on Shawn's back. They do the Boston Crab/knee combo and then Raymond throws Shawn onto Jacques' knee. Seriously, where the hell have these Rougeaus been. "We are really seeing the Rougeaus at their absolute best." - Tony. Tony always knows what's up. Jacques does a fake clap for a tag and the crowd boos the shit out of him. I love this crowd! Raymond busts out the rolling short arm scissors into a pin combination and Shawn reverses. I love this match!

 

Jacques knees Raymond by accident and lets out a nice, hearty "Fuck!". Here comes Marty doing his best Rick Martel. Hands above his head, so energized just hitting anything in blue and yellow including the Mouth of the South. Raymond trips him from the outside allowing Jacques to get a piledriver. Now the Rougeaus go for the coup d'grace the Megaphone, but Shawn is able to get it and hit Jacques for Marty to get the pin. Once again, the Rockers give the Rougeaus a taste of their own medicine.

 

I love the MX/RNR Wrestlewar '90 match and I really don't think this is far off of it. I think this is probably the match I select as the best WWF tag match of the Hulkamania Era (84-91) when all is said and done. It has the best control and heat segments with an actual, logical finish with a really good transition that bridges light-hearted with dramatic. The criticism I know is that there is a lot of bs in the beginning, but I enjoyed it and it played into the control segment well with the Rockers still fucking around with the Rougeaus and it sort of fuels the Rougeaus fire to really kick their ass even though they were the ones that instigated it. Shawn is really off the charts selling and bumping for the Rougeaus.

[soup23]

Please tell me you are doing Rockers vs. POP from 1/90 next?

[Superstar Sleeze]

Ask and you shall receive, brutha.

 

The Rockers vs Powers of Pain w/Mr. Fuji - MSG 1/90

 

This one has been pimped in the 1990 yearbook and very rightfully so. This is the Rockers' David vs Goliath masterpiece. They have the incredible sprint against the Brainbusters, a dramatic "face vs face" tag match with the Hart Foundation, a wicked entertaining light-hearted match with Rougeaus, a speed vs power Championship match with Demolition, bloodbath against Rose & Somers and an ultra-hot PPV opener against the Orient Express. (Yes, I mention this all to build to upcoming post on why the Rockers are worthy to be in the discussion with the Rock n Rolls). This takes on a different dynamic than the Demolition. The Demolition match reminded me how the RnRs wrestled the Russians it was speed versus power, but not necessarily size. In those matches, the heel teams use their power to attack specific body parts and work holds. This match worked more like a David vs Goliath spotfest (I mean that in a good way). The Powers of Pain are just throwing out all these badass bombs to defeat the Rockers. The Rockers are attempting to overcome pure power and are treated more like smaller wrestlers in this match. Out of all their classic matches, this has to be the most surprising because Powers of Pain really did suck. Look, Barbarian has the raw talent, but did not seem to pull altogether into one solid match until this match where he looked like the next big power heel in the WWF. Hell, the fuckin' Warlord looked great in this match. Jesus, if that is not an achievement I do not what is.

 

Barbie chucks Shawn around early to establish the power advantage. Marty dropkicks Shawn on top of Barbie to demonstrate that the Rockers will need to use teamwork and tricks to overcome this power advantage. The Rockers clear the ring with a series of double teams done continuing the theme of teamwork including a Marty dropkick to help Shawn over on a rana and they tabletop Warlord. Warlord catches Marty with a wicked powerbomb eventually the Rockers were going to get caught and POP made them pay. Let the shit kicking commence. HOLY SHIT! The height that Marty takes on that back body drop needs to be seen. Holy shit now they just throw Marty up in the air and let him land hard on the canvas. A big boot by Barb sends Marty to the outside to take a cane shot from Fuji and Barbie rams him back first into the post. This onslaught ends when Barb missed second rope elbow. Shawn sunset flips Warlord, but Marty clothesline him, it is all about teamwork! In all the chaos, Shawn gets tripped by Fuji's cane and as he is getting up Barbie stops him in his tracks with an elbow for the win. Shawn in a fit of rage (Shawn temper tantrum? No way, right?) dropkicks Fuji, but Powers of Pain take control and beat the ever-loving shit out of Marty with the cane and a Hart Attack.

 

I love this match in a string of great Rockers performances this one stands out for how concentrated they were on telling the teamwork story and how great Marty was at eating all the POP offense. For one match, Barbarian took all this athletic spots finally lived to his potential with some great work throughout the heat segment into the finish.

 

Barbie chucks Shawn around. Shawn regroups with Marty. Marty cross bodies Shawn on top of Barbie. Rockers quick, Barbie throws them together. Double supekicks and double coltheslines & clears the ring. Marty bandaged. Warlord just punches. Marty dropkicks him over in a Shawn rana. They tabletop Warlord. Warlord catches Marty with a powerbomb and showboats. HOLY SHIT that back body drop! Holy shit that throw up in the air. Shawn saves. Barbie chokes him on apron. Warlord holds him & Barbie jumping headbutt to back. Barbie big boot -> Jannetty outside -> Fuji cane shot -> Barbie back first into post -> Huge clothesline. Marty hope spots ends with Barbie catching him into powerslam. Barbie misses second rope elbow. Shawn with hot punches. Shawn sunset flip Warlord and Marty clothesline him over. Marty dropkicks Shawn onto Warlord and Barbie elbows Warlord. Fuji trips Shawn with cane and Barbie elbows Shawn while he is getting up for the win. WOW! Shawn dropkicks Fuji out. POP beats the shit out of Marty with Hart Attack and cane.

 

Killer match right up there with Rockers best stuff and a contender for best Hulkamania Era WWF tag team match.

----------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Rockers vs Orient Express w/ Mr. Fuji - Wrestlemania VI

 

The Rockers should have came to "White Punks On Dope" for this match because this is wicked slow for a Rockers match. It reminds me of one of the March Busters match where stuff would happen, but it just felt lethargic. Pat Tanaka rules and I need to see more Badd Company from AWA. We do some standard fare Rockers double teaming to clear the ring. I will say whether sober or high as shit, The Rockers were never good at synchronizing their double team moves. It is not because one guy is more athletic or anything their timing just was always off on the superkicks or dropkicks etc. Sato holds the top rope and Jannetty spills onto the outside where Fuji takes liberties with him. It is a psych-job as Marty tags in Shawn and they hit a double dropkick. Crowd seems pretty dead for this (this Wrestlemania more than most feels like a one match card). Tanaka kicks Shawn in the head and Sato hits one of the best gutbusters I have seen. Tanaka follows it up with his explosive cross body and then holds Michaels for Sato to hit a knee drop from the top. OX is bringing the high quality offense before the vulcan nerve pinch. OX came to play, too bad the Rockers didn't. In a moment that encapsulates the match, Shawn hits Tanaka with a desperation clothesline except ti felt like Tanaka was waiting for it. Everything seems off and even Gorilla calls this "lethargic". The Rockers absolutely blow a double dropkick. They set up Tanaka for the double fist drop, but Fuji uses his cane to bring Jannetty down. Sato throws salt in Jannetty's eyes while he is stalking Fuji for the countout loss. Then in the spot of the match, Marty actually walks over the guardrail and faceplants to sell the "salt" in the eyes. That was frigging' awesome, it looked so real. This match sets up their loooooooooong feud as the tag division was starting to get pretty thin. They had not yet built up the chemistry they would have at Royal Rumble '91 where they tear the house down.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Rockers vs Orient Express - 6/17/90

 

They are definitely clicking a lot better in this match, but it is nowhere near the level they would achieve at Royal Rumble '91. This match has way more heat and energy as both teams are bringing it. It has its slow patches, but they are definitely working more towards putting on a compelling match with struggle and urgency. The Rockers clear the ring per usual with some double team moves, but Tanaka cuts this short with a wicked punch on Michaels. Michaels fires up out of the corner with punches of his own. Both teams trade some armbars and this is the boring stretch of the match that does not really have that struggle and it seems like is going down the same road as Wrestlemania VI even though there is more energy from the Rockers. There is a really well done leapfrog into a partner collision spot during this stretch that gives you hope. Same heat transition spot only Jannetty gets kicked in the back of the head and he takes the cane shot here. Tanaka does the leapfrog over his partner to crash down on Marty's back. They hit the chinlock. They do some tag teases, Sato gets two off a fist drop and here comes Shawn who is a house afire. There is even a wicked clothesline by Shawn, man, Shawn really could go. Melee ensues and things break down on the floor. The Rockers beat the count back in. I preferred this match to Wrestlemania VI because of the energy of the match, but they still were not firing on all cylinders.