This review is dedicated to the memories of Paul "Playboy Buddy Rose" Perschmann, Frank Lionel "Dutch Savage" Stuart and Tommy "The Dynamite Kid" Billington. R.I.P.
Two out of Three Falls: NWA PNW Heavyweight Champion The Dynamite Kid vs. "Playboy" Buddy Rose, NWA Pacific Northwest Wrestling, The Portland Sports Arena, Portland, OR, September 24, 1983.
Historical background: Pacific Northwest Wrestling was one of the longest running NWA territories, starting in 1942 and closing in 1992. It was one of the few NWA territories that neither Vince McMahon nor Jim Crockett ever tried to buy. Except for a one-shot appearance for Los Angeles, Portland and WWE were the only U.S. territories for which Dynamite Kid ever wrestled, everywhere else was in Europe, Canada and Japan. Rose was one of Portland's biggest names. Quite unlike his WWE run, Dynamite was a heel here as a member of Rip Oliver's Clan, which was the main heel faction at the time.
FIRST FALL: They circle and lock up and there's a clean break in the middle of the ring. They tie up again and Rose hits an armdrag. Back to their feet, they circle and Rose trips up Dynamite but Dynamite kicks Rose away. Before Dynamite can get up Rose cartwheels out of the way. (Rose was famous for his ability to move around and take impressive bumps for a guy his size. He described himself as being "built for go not for show.") They tie up and Dynamite grabs a headlock. Dynamite holds on to the headlock and Rose drops to his knees. The commentators talk about Dynamite being one of the fastest men to come into the territory in years, comparing him to Jimmy Snuka. Rose powers Dynamite into the ropes and whips him off to the other side. Dynamite comes back with a shoulderblock and then Dynamite does a criss-cross and Rose leapfrogs Dynamite and hits a hands-free reverse monkey flip that shocks the commentators! Rose back to his feet and he hits a leaping crossbody for 2! Rose then hits a Sunset Flip, which the commentators call a Victory Roll, for 2! Dynamite rolls out to the floor. The announcers acknowledge the action being almost too fast to call. Back in the ring, they tie up for a test of strength, which Dynamite wins, powering Rose to his knees. Rose back to his feet and he flips Dynamite into a pin attempt. The commentators note that Dynamite looks confused as to where Rose could have learned a British move like that. They look to tie up again and Rose slaps Dynamite in the face. Again. And again. Again. Then Rose hits a dropkick. Again. Rose whips Dynamite into the ropes and hits a back body drop, sending Dynamite crashing into the ropes. Rose knee drops Dynamite's head and folds him up for the pin, which gets 2. Rose whips Dynamite into the ropes and chops him. Dynamite responds with some right hands and smashes Rose's head against the turnbuckle. Dynamite whips Rose diagonally across the ring, with the commentators saying that the ring moved from the impact. Dynamite pulls Rose to his feet and headbutts him. Then a big punch. Dynamite tries for the pin and gets nothing. Dynamite decks Rose, who falls onto the ropes. Dynamite then shakes the ropes to launch Buddy backwards. That gets 2. Dynamite goes to a choke hold. Referee Sandy Barr does the arm check and Rose starts a comeback. Dynamite releases the hold and continues to work over Rose. One shot sends Rose backwards over the ropes to the floor. Rose tries to get up but Dynamite knocks him down to the floor again. Rose gets up on the apron and Dynamite grabs his head but Rose blocks the turnbuckle shot and counters with a few of his own. Rose follows with some left hands and snaps Dynamite off the ropes. Rose rolls back in and covers Dynamite for 2. Rose stomps Dynamite, brings Dynamite back to his feet and powers him into the corner. Rose decks Dynamite and whips him HARD across the ring into the diagonally opposite corner. Rose tries it again and Dynamite counters with a whip of his own. The commentators say that Rose and Dynamite are going at it "tooth and nail" and call it "out and out war." Dynamite approaches Rose and Rose dropkicks Dynamite. Rose covers for a 2 count. Another Rose kneedrop to the head. Another two count. The commentators say that Rose must be thinking, "What have I got to do?" Dynamite takes over with punches and Rose's arms get tied up in the ropes. Barr frees Rose's arms. Dynamite chops Rose, slams him and drops a fist. Dynamite climbs up and hits a top rope knee drop to win the first fall at 10:06. Repeat, all of that was just the FIRST FALL!
SECOND FALL: Dynamite starts with kicks, punches and headbutts, sending Rose into the corner. Then a Vertical Suplex and a fist drop to the chest. It gets 2. Then a snapmare and a knee drop to the head for 2. Commentator Dutch Savage says that he is retiring and admits to being a former alcoholic and drug addict and that if anyone is having those problems to get in touch with him. They exchange punches and Dynamite delivers another headbutt. Then a Gut Wrench Suplex for 2. Then a knee drop to the back. It gets 2. Dynamite gets a chinlock and more like a neck lock, twisting Rose's head. The commentators talk about Dynamite beating Curt Hennig for the title and how Rip Oliver might be using Dynamite to soften up Rose in the event that Rose tries to go after him. Rose grabs Dynamite's nose to break the hold. Rose smashes Dynamite's face against the turnbuckle. Rose whips Dynamite into the ropes and delivers a devastating...poke to the eyes. Dynamite takes a big bump off of it, and Rose delivers a series of fist drops and elbow drops, just "going to town on him." All of that gets 2. Buddy is confused and one of the commentators says, "I don't believe it!" The commentators acknowledge that Dynamite is cut. Dynamite whips Rose into the corner and hits a back elbow. Dynamite climbs up but Rose meets him up there and hits Dynamite's own Super Backdrop Suplex for the 3 count and to tie up the falls at 14:05!
THIRD FALL: They tie up and Rose goes for a Vertical Suplex and Dynamite blocks it a few times. Rose finally hits it to a good pop. Again. Then a Snap Suplex. It gets 1. Then Rose hits a High Angle Backdrop Suplex! Back to their feet, Dynamite grabs a side headlock and Rose whips him into the ropes. They collide and Rose lands on top for 2! Back up, Dynamite goes for a slam but Rose counters into an inside cradle for 2. Rose gets a backslide for 2. Rose goes for a leg roll pin and Dynamite kicks him in the face to escape. Dynamite delivers a forearm across the back of Rose's neck. Dynamite hits his own Snap Suplex and goes up to the top, but Rose rolls out of the way of the Diving Headbutt. Rose gets a Figure-Four Leglock but Dynamite gets to the ropes. Rose kicks the back of Dynamite's leg and applies a Spinning Toe Hold. Rose kneedrops Dynamite's stomach. Dynamite rakes Rose's eyes to escape. Dynamite gets back up and grabs Rose's hair but Rose keeps working on Dynamite's leg. Rose clips Dynamite's leg from the front! Rose tries for a dropkick and Dynamite catches the legs and turns it into a Boston Crab. Rose powers out and turns it into a pin but Dynamite's feet are in the ropes. Barr counts to three but waves it off. Dynamite gets a reverse rollup with a handful of trunks for the pin to retain at 19:51! ****1/2.
Absolutely amazing stuff. The sheer pace of this was mind-blowing. Highly, highly recommended and you can watch it here.