80s Europe #7

 Alan Kilby vs. King Ben, WoS 10/7/1981

Really unique match. I know Alan Kilby can be pretty great, while King Ben hasn't done anything for me, but they both went all out here in a contest that was basically worked greco roman mixed with some shootstyle holds and stiff strikes. Forget about the classy british grappling and reversals, most of this was built around really intense lockups, attempted and failed throws and struggling over pin attempts. At one point Ben breaks out a top wristlock, Kilby starts working an armbar on the ground... add in some stiff, awkwardly landing strikes (including a flying headbutt from Ben that almost KOd Kilby) and sheer wild eyed determination from Kilby and you've got yourself one hell of a match. This match felt like it belonged in the 1960s rather than 1981, but the folks sat there in awe and really appreciated this contest that just kept building and building. Great finish too.

 

John Elijah vs. Ray Steele, WoS 7/22/1982

John Elijah was this bear of a man, who looked like he had insane upper body strength. And this had a bunch of great hold for hold work mostly focussing on the upper body. Elijah had this way of selling when he was forcing his way out of Steeles holds as if he was performing insane feats of strength. There‘s an artform to working this way that is lost now, and they executed a really good match in this style. Slow paced but the crowd was hot for it and there were some great holds and generally really good work.

Fit Finlay vs. Young David, WoS 3/13/1982

A look at a Finlay match where he doesn‘t cheat. He doesn‘t even step on Davey Boys hands. This had some really good matwork and holds. You get the sense Finlay vs. Atlantis would‘ve been amazing. David didn‘t leave his mark on the match as much as Finlay, but he looked intense. A lot of this was like if you‘d ask what junior wrestling between two super athletic guys with no high flying would look like. Finlay had some awe inspiring bridging and both guys had some great looking suplexes. Overall good technical action although it didn‘t have as much heat or story as their better bouts.

 

80s Euro Compendium 

80s Europe #6

 
Terry Rudge vs. Alan Kilby, WoS 6/18/1981

This was from one of the biggest shows ever in Britain at the Wembley Hall, main evented of course by Big Daddy vs. Haystacks. These two delivered  an appropriate match. Starts with some slick heavyweight grappling before Rudge naturally turns up the hit. Kilby was a bit nondescript here but reliably likable, and Rudge is one of the biggest asskickers of all time and makes this entertaining bitchslapping Kilby and headbutting him in the face. It got pretty unruly for a WoS bout and resembled shootstyle here and there the way Rudge as butting Kilby around. Tremendous tremendous heat as you'd expect.

Clive Myers vs. Keith Haward, WoS 7/15/1981

 Slick technical match with some fun kung fu spots from Myers. He was doing this goofy "Iron Fist" gimmick at this point, but largely turned down the bullshit to go at it with Haward. Haward had the reputation of being a wrestling machine, but I thought Myers outclassed him here. It was like everything Haward could do, Myers could do faster and slicker. His pin off the butterfly suplex was awesome. Classy Myers showing.

Alan Kilby vs. Tom Dowie, WoS 1/13/1981

Tom Dowie was another old as dirt, bald wrestler. He had some fun ways to block Kilbys moves, and really great heel mannerisms. His punches from the side headlock where possibly the greatest I've ever seen, really turning such a simple heel move into an artform. His corner bumps were amazing as well. Kilby put in another tremendous babyface performance. He may have been the best babyface in the country, how can you not love a deaf wrestler. And when it was time to trade blows he looked hard as iron. This was mostly heatseeking built around Dowie doing a handful of things but super effective. One of those super simple but great WoS matches.

1980s EURO COMPENDIUM