Tag Teams Back Again Episode 13: Strike Force vs. The Islanders Part 2

[Ricky Jackson]

http://placetobenation.com/tag-teams-back-again-episode-13-strike-force-vs-the-islanders-part-2/

 

 

Kelly and Marty ring in the new year by finishing their epic two-part look at the Strike Force vs The Islanders feud from 1987 WWF!

 

Matches discussed on the show:

 

10/3 Boston

10/10 Philly

10/16 MSG, Best 2 of 3 falls

10/6 Milwaukee, Tito Santana vs Haku

11/7 Boston, Two Referees

11/7 Philly, Two Referees

12/5 Philly

 

Playlist (For both parts)

[Superstar Sleeze]

Because we are just 2 SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

[BigBadMick]

You ducking me, Marty?

 

From the thread on part 1 -

 

Marty, I'm curious about a point you made at the end of the show.

Were you saying that WWF traditionally didn't book matches differently at the beginning, middle and end of feuds? Or were you just applying that to tag matches?

[Superstar Sleeze]

This is definitely more applicable to tag team matches.

 

To me the typical structure was to program two opponents/team together sometime run an angle on TV before or after the loop. The angle would then establish what the hook would be the loop. Then on TV they would advance the program a bit more and establish a new hook for the second loop. Then if it makes a third loop then so on so forth.

 

So within a loop, you get all matches that are samey. From loop to loop, there is usually a different structure.

 

Now WWF almost always still had an angle to motivate a program, but within that program the escalation would happen more loop to loop rather than week to week.

 

Strike Force/Islanders feels more like an episodic blood feud rather than the usual style of a program with a singular angle motivating it. They ran the angle on TV with Islanders turning heel and then taking out Zenk. So from MSG June through October you get the episodic build. Islanders debut as heels with Heenan against the Stallions call out the Can-Ams. Martel answers the challenge is willing to take on both. He keeps getting double teamed and this leads to Tito joining the fray and triggering two great tag matches in MSG. It feels more like a traditional build.

 

WWF was more of a character-driven promotion. You pair up two characters/teams (a face and a heel) shoot an angle and then led the characters and angles give you a hook to the match. Rather than Southern promotions that would build on a week-to-week basis.

[Eegah]

"Like Peter and Jesus, Kelly and Tito." Fantastic stuff, enjoyed the show. Someone should let Rick Martel know that this corner of the internet loves him more than maybe any other.

[JerryvonKramer]

Marty, if I was laying out matches, you'd never see another test of strength spot ever again.

[Superstar Sleeze]

I cant believe you don't like the test of strength. It just represents the masculine struggle so well. It can be used to effectively in the beginning to set the tone. Establish characters and the narrative. It is a skirmish in a larger battle. It is like the Javelin throw at the beginning of a battle in Illiad. It is both a ritual, storyline piece and effective act of war. Your disdain for the beauty of the test of strength is confusing. There are so many great ones: the collar-elbow tieup, your traditional Greco-Roman Knucklelock, then my favorite the side headlock into a top wristlock battle. So many more! I should write a blog about this. You are really missing the party, Parv!

[JerryvonKramer]

Try saying that after watching dozens of matches from the 70s, and you will lose that love for the Greco-Roman Knucklelock.

 

I mean I've seen the sequence so many times now. Elbow and collar tieup into a Greco-Roman Knucklock, maybe it progresses into a backslide. Head lock. Head lock take over. Into a head scissors. YAWN.

 

Let's get to the bit where they start doing moves already.