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[1986-07-27-WWF-Toronto, ONT] Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat


paul sosnowski

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Yeah, this match is great! I'd say it's my third favorite of their matches I've seen, and that's high praise. I think I'd probably rate it around the same too. I thought Steamboat did such an excellent job selling his fatigue down the stretch.

 

I've seen:

 

07/27/1986 - Toronto

11/22/1986/taped 10/28/1986 - Superstars

01/10/1987 - Philadelphia

01/27/1987 - Ft. Myers

02/15/1987 - Toronto - My personal favorite of the bunch.

and of course, Mania III - 03/29/1987

 

Any recommendations out there for something I may have missed? I think all of these matches are fantastic. If you watch them in order, you really have such a great story. If I'm missing any, somebody point me in the right direction.

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I think I had seen the Houston match, either way I really enjoyed it. I loved the callback with the foreign object to the Tito Santana match in Boston. Philly was similar, but I thought it was better than the Boston match all around. WC I had seen, and it's short but sweet. 12/7/85 was really good too. Lot's of great selling from Savage in that one.

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You know who you are, thanks for the hookup!

 

WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Toronto 7/27/86

 

There is something about these two and Toronto that just creates magic. You take two of the best wrestlers of all time and then add all the fixins' you get one helluva match. I could watch Savage and Steamboat run around the ring and have Savage end up in an armdrag everytime and never get tired of it. These two work with such energy in AND out of holds. Everything goes back to that armdrag-armbar, but Savage sells so well and outside that hold they come up with some great criss cross routines. I loved Savage's reverse crossbody with Steamboat rolling through for a nearfall. Savage is so selfless everything is about Steamboat looking better than him. Even when it looks like he might get control, Steamboat sends him packing and he has to hide behind Elizabeth. Savage is milking this for all its worth both to let his arm heal and to get under the skin of the Dragon. It is working. The stall tactics work here most effectively because of how well, Steamboat sells them. At first Savage looks like a fool because when he does get back in, Steamboat spits on him and gets under his skin! Two can play at mind games and Steamboat gets back in the driver's seat. It is only when Savage used Steamboat own momentum to send him crashing into the buckles the complexion of the match changed. He rams Steamboat into the railing and then double axehandle off the top for two. He goes again, but Steamboat catches him and then sends the Macho Man flying over the railing. I am loving how heated this has become. The ref is actively trying to get Steamboat to stay in the ring, holding his leg. It looks like this will give Savage the advantage, but Steamboat sends the Macho Man into the post and he taps a gusher. He is bleeding profusely. Steamboat is chopping that cut. When he comes off the top with the overhand karate chop on the cut, everyone in Toronto thought there would be a new champion. Savage in an excellent move pulls the ref in front of him and Steamboat chops him. Then we get all the Steamboat nearfalls with the dramatic slow counts. I am eating this up with a spoon. You can tell how influential Savage is on wrestling not just from character and work, but layout, this would be the normal for the next twenty years. Savage has a foreign object and jabs it in Steamboat's eye. What makes this work so well is Steamboat commitment to selling for the rest of the match (2-3 minutes), taking swings at the ref, blindly back dropping Savage over the rope and then wandering too close and being pulled to the outside. The ending outside brawl is fantastic and Steamboat beats the count for the win! Incredible match! One of the best in the WWF during this timeframe from opening matwork where Steamboat both injures and frustrates Savage. Savage after trying to wrestle straight tries stalling tactics and finally gets his opening. Of course, Steamboat makes a big comeback but they throw in a bladejob, ref bump and a foreign object to put the icing on a delicious cake. Excellent wrestling and excellent theatre. ****1/2

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