Classic Pro Wrestling Match Video Library

[LWPD]

Classic Pro Wrestling Match Video Library

Page 1
Harley Race vs Giant Baba 12/9/75
Antonio Inoki vs Stan Hansen 9/2/77
Rusher Kimura vs Superstar Graham 4/79
Jack Brisco vs Dory Funk Jr. 1/27/74
Jerry Lawler vs Austin Idol 4/27/87 'Steel Cage/Hair vs Hair'
Terry Funk vs Jumbo Tsuruta 6/11/76
Ric Flair vs Nick Bockwinkel 1/16/86

Page 2
Antonio Inoki vs Big Van Vader 12/27/87
Giant Baba/Jumbo Tsuruta vs Bob Backlund/Bob Roop 7/25/74
Don Leo Jonathan vs The Destroyer 12/13/75
Antonio Inoki vs Billy Robinson 12/11/75
El Hijo Del Santo vs Negro Casas 7/18/87
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk vs Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik 12/15/77
Rikidozan vs Masahiko Kimura 12/22/54
Bruno Sammartino vs Giant Baba 8/7/68
Ric Flair vs Harley Race 2/28/82
Karl Gotch vs Antonio Inoki 3/6/72

Page 3
Playboy Buddy Rose vs Rick Martel 4/26/80
Antonio Inoki vs Strong Kobayashi 12/12/74
Billy Robinson & Horst Hoffman vs Terry & Dory Funk Jr. 12/6/77
Great Muta vs Hiroshi Hase 12/14/92
Killer Karl Kox vs Dick Murdoch 12/9/76
Dick Murdoch vs Cyclone Negro 1976
Bruiser Bob Sweetan vs Tully Blanchard 'Texas Death Match' 1982
Andre The Giant vs Stan Hansen 9/23/81
Antonio Inoki vs Otto Wanz 6/13/84
Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu 12/12/83

Page 4
Tosh Togo vs Stan Hansen 3/73
Buddy Rogers vs Joe Garcia 1961
Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik Vs Billy Robinson & Horst Hoffman 12/14/77
El Hijo del Santo vs Psicosis 5/3/95
Sgt. Slaughter/Don Kernodle vs Ricky Steamboat/Jay Youngblood 3/12/83
Antonio Inoki & Riki Choshu vs Black Gordman & Great Goliath 6/77
Jerry Lawler vs Ric Flair 8/14/82
Jumbo Tsuruta/Giant Baba vs Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk 3/13/75
Horst Hoffman vs The Destroyer 12/17/75
Dynamite Kid vs Davey Boy Smith 2/3/84

Page 5
Horst Hoffman vs Dory Funk Jr. 12/15/75
Nobuhiko Takada vs Super Vader 12/5/93
El Canek vs Antonio Inoki 7/6/82
Dynamite Kid vs Tatsumi Fujinami 8/17/79
Aja Kong vs Megumi Kudo 12/6/93
Giant Baba vs Horst Hoffman 12/18/75

[LWPD]

Harley Race vs Giant Baba 12/9/75

This was from All Japan. Legend/owner/booker Giant Baba is seen in his prime. A young Handsome Harley Race is seen on tour after a brief run with the NWA World Title. Two legendary names from the 70's in a well worked lengthy match.

Looking back, Harley Race had one of the most expansive offensive arsenals of the era. His LOW card does a good job of capturing what was once a very high-end move set. HR had multiple legit finishers. Combine that with his ring generalship, and he was as polished as they come!

[LWPD]

Antonio Inoki vs Stan Hansen 9/2/77

This was from New Japan. Owner/Booker/Native Hero Antonio Inoki was the NWF World Champion. A young Stan Hansen is seen at a critical point in his development. A 70's style puro classic.

The 'us vs them' theme of hero vs outside invader has been a commercially successful booking formula for many years on end. Subtle patriot vs antagonist build up promos, the playing of competing national anthems and ringside corner representation grouped by nationality/phenotype are all timeless selling points that have worked from border to border.

[LWPD]

Rusher Kimura vs Superstar Graham 4/79

This was from the IWE promotion based in Japan. Rusher Kimura (marketed as the King of the Steel Cage) was a perennial headliner and forerunner to the wacky puro garbage styles found in later years. Here he battles touring legend Superstar Billy Graham, who at age 35 is seen at his peak. Far from a mat classic, yet still an interesting sampling of both men during their respective primes.

[LWPD]

Jack Brisco vs Dory Funk Jr. 1/27/74

This was from All Japan. NWA World Champion Dory Funk Jr. defends against a young Jack Brisco. DFJ was a master ring general, a stoic approach, fundamentally sound yet creative with his transitions. Jack was a true stud, he had a legit amateur background, fiery physical charisma with a workman like approach. This match is fairly famous among hardcore fans, high-end NWA Pro Style featuring two of the best of the era.

Given their accomplishments, The Briscos and The Funks would be dream signings for LOW. As things stand, there are some good fan made cards of them available in the PDF Download Library. There are SEVEN versions of Terry Funk!

[LWPD]

Jerry Lawler vs Austin Idol 4/27/87 'Steel Cage/Hair vs Hair'

This was from Memphis at the famed Mid South Coliseum. Local legend and Southern Champion Jerry Lawler takes on Austin Idol in a Steel Cage/Hair vs Hair match. Special stip, if Idol does not win, he will refund the entire crowd their cost of admission. This is famous for the surprise appearance by Tommy Rich and post match 'ruptured testicle' angle. A super hot crowd with near riot level heat seen at the close.

I love the reverse psychology of the 'refund' gimmick (which even back then I'm sure fans thought wasn't going to happen) packaged against a must see historic consequence that in itself was very difficult for the audience to buy into (the Memphis Icon having his head shaved bald). From the size of the crowd, it really worked. On top of that, the result set up weeks of money drawing follow up material. An example of kayfabe era booking at its best!

[vx]

The Lawler head shaving was a great moment indeed. Later, Lawler would show up in a dress and attack Tommy Rich. Rich made a great heel in the Memphis area.

[miamidrew]

Thanks for the giant baba vs Harley race watch. I'm a watch it when I get the chance

[LWPD]

Terry Funk vs Jumbo Tsuruta 6/11/76

This was from All Japan. NWA World Champion Terry Funk defends against young challenger who would one day be king, Jumbo Tsuruta. The format was 2 out of 3 Falls with ceremonial war drums and chants adding to the atmosphere. Even today, this is widely considered a match of the decade candidate among hardcore fans.

Jumbo was a high level athlete in Greco Roman wrestling, who competed in the '72 Summer Olympics. He entered pro wrestling a year later, and at Baba's request was trained at the Funk promotion in Amarillo. A true phenom, this match captures how quickly he developed after only three years in the business. RIP

[LWPD]

Ric Flair vs Nick Bockwinkel 1/16/86

This was a rare title vs title match from Winnipeg, Canada. NWA World Champion Ric Flair takes on AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel. At the time, this was considered an inter-promotional dream match, but things being as they were, an inconclusive finish was inevitable.

A master ring general, Bockwinkel worked at the top of the card in the AWA long past his physical prime. In this match he is seen at age 52!