A look back at an MSG show from 1982
Whenever I have a moment to spare – which unfortunately is becoming less and less frequent – I turn on WWE 24/7 to sample the On Demand channel’s latest offerings. One of my favorite features is the presentation of WWWF/WWF house shows from the ’70s and ’80s.
I watched a Madison Square Garden show from December 1982 a couple days ago. Here are a few observations:
The best match on the card was an Intercontinental title match between champion Pedro Morales and Magnificent Muraco, the former champion. This is back when the I-C title really meant something.
Muraco is one of my all-time favorite heels. It’s too bad the McMahons’ booking philosophy for decades was to have a babyface world champion who would hold the title for years at a time, because Muraco would have made a great heel world champ.
His Intercontinental title programs with Morales and Jimmy Snuka were classics. On this night, he and Morales battled to an exciting double disqualification. Muraco won go on to regain the title from Morales the following month at the Garden. …
The main event was a lumberjack match between WWF champion Bob Backlund and Superstar Billy Graham. I was a huge mark for Graham when he was WWWF champion in the late ’70s, but he was a shell of himself in ’82. As documented in his autobiography, Graham had a lot of personal problems at that time.
Moreover, his appearance and gimmick drastically changed. The once-flamboyant Graham was now doing a horrible karate shtick. The bleached-blonde hair, tie-dye tights, jive talk and ripped physique (which he has admitted was achieved through heavy steroid use) were replaced by a clean-shaven head and black mustache, black karate pants, monotone promos and a drastically less impressive physique. …
The opening contest – one of the preliminary matches as they used to be called – pitted S.D. Jones against a fresh-faced guy who was on the smaller side named Eddie Gilbert. The two babyfaces wrestled to a 20-minute draw. Gilbert, who was 21 at the time, was a decent worker, but he was definitely charismatically challenged. It’s hard to believe just a few years later he became “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert, a brash heel. …
The commentating was handled by Vince McMahon (his father, Vince Sr., was still in charge) and Gorilla Monsoon. I always liked listening to both of them. Calling a match was much different in that era. There was more focus on play-by-play and explaining the holds than there is today.
That’s not to say that there still wasn’t some entertaining banter between the announcers. There was one exchange between McMahon and Monsoon that made me chuckle.
It occurred during a women’s tag team match that pitted The Fabulous Moolah and Wendy Richter (just a year and a half later, these two would be wrestling each other live on MTV in perhaps the most famous women’s match of all time) against Princess Victoria and Elizabeth Chase.
Monsoon: Elizabeth Chase is ambidextrous.
McMahon: Yes. She goes both ways.
Monsoon: Probably.
Keep in mind that this was 26 years ago.
Comments
You're spot on about the commentary. These days it seems like it's almost a rule that commentators don't talk about the match and the TNA commentators are the worst. The best commentator these days in my opinion is Matt Striker who gives a play by play account, explains the moves in full kayfabe and gives interesting wrestling trivia. Interestingly enough the other good commentary I've heard lately was from Scott Steiner when nWo... I mean MEM took over Impact. He was surprisingly articulate and in control of himself! I know some people like J.R. and he's not too bad but there is just something about his commentary I don't like, personal taste I guess.
Posted by: Jon G.S. | February 25, 2009 10:24 AM
one final comment on Monday's Raw; I thought that Vicki would say that she couldn't make up her mind on who should face Cena and, then, schedule a handicap match with Cena vs. Edge and Big Show. That would have made alot more sense than throwing Chavo at Cena.
Posted by: Magnificent Mark | February 25, 2009 11:17 AM
I logged most of my pro wrestling live event hours at many monthly shows at Madison Square Garden back in that day and the years leading up to it prior to pay per view, Wrestlemania, Hulkamania, and such.
Those were special shows indeed that formed the basis for the high esteem bestowed on MSG in WWE to this day.
It used to be that the heavyweight championship only changed hands there for the most part and there was no entrance music or pyrotechnics or other embellishments of any kind. Just the wrestlers, their characters and their feuds and their matches without the moniker of "sports entertainment".
I guess the appeal is broader nowadays largely due to the enhanced production that goes into WWE.
I guess the key to success is to find a happy medium between the two.
Posted by: AMC | February 25, 2009 11:51 AM
I agree with your opinions of "The Superstar" , and "The Rock" ( the original ) .
Billy Graham's new look with the karate crap just didn't cut it . The whole look was gone , the physique , the golden locks etc . This is definitely not how I wish to remember him . As far as "The Magnificent One", I always felt he was ahead of his time . Foregoing the bleached blond look , he was just a big tanned , charismatic tough guy .
Kev , I had no idea Eddie Gilbert ever wrestled for WWWF .
I think Shane McMahon is"ambidextrous" .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | February 25, 2009 1:39 PM
I really miss the days of the IC belt holding a lot of prestige. The IC matches were usually the best matches on the card and told the best stories. Shawn Micheals, Breta Hart, Perfect, Bulldog, Savage, Steamboat, Rude - all great IC champs. Only blemish on the IC belt back then was when Warrior squashed Honkey in 20 seconds or so at Summerslam (I forget which year)
They looked like they were going to try to bring the belt back to its status with the tournament several weeks back, but they;ve dropped the ball on that one..... why???
They seem to be improving storylines again, but I don't understand why storylines they do have are only reserved for the higher ranked guys. The mid card needs some great story lines. R-Truth, Morrison, Punk, KINGSTON, Umaga, Mysterio... All these guys and others are capable of a great story line and we know their matches are fantastic. They need to be given the time.
Posted by: Rob | February 25, 2009 5:08 PM
Watching these old MSG shows, you will see a young Ted DiBiase in an opening bout, a young Ric Flair, Rick Martel, and even David Von Erich. They all wrestled in the opening 2 bouts. Also, the main event was always in the middle of the card.....if you remember when Hogan won the title, there was a tag match after it with the Samoans. And the days of the intermission....I miss it!!!!
Posted by: G | February 25, 2009 10:45 PM
Speaking of Vince McMahon on commentary, remember when he worked with Jesse Ventura? "The Body" would always refer to him as just "McMahon." That was before we were supposed to know Vince was the boss.
Posted by: Bob Buscaglia | February 26, 2009 1:06 AM
"And the days of the intermission....I miss it!!!!"
They still have those G, they are called Jamie knoble/Kozlov matches lol
Posted by: Colin | February 26, 2009 8:54 AM
i have a quick question about the on demand programs why is it that on the WCW programs why did they change the theme music of most of the Wrestlers pre NWO it's rediculous watching the Road warriors not coming out to Iron Man or Midnoght Express not coming out to the theme music of the same name and so on and so on it seems the only person who music did noy get changed is Flair's the horseman didn't have music and they use their 90's music just wondering why
RESPONSE FROM KE: It has to do with copyright issues.
Posted by: frank | March 1, 2009 10:46 AM
A question about the Muraco-Morales match... Did anyone notice towards the end when Muraco was on the ring ropes and Morales on the floor that Morales reached into Muraco's tights, pulled out what I can only assume was a blade and attempted to cut himself unsuccessfully before sticking the blade back into his own tights.
It's quick but you can clearly Morales pull something out of Moraco's tights and run it over his right eye. Apparently we were supposed to get some juice in that match up but it didn't happen.
RESPONSE FROM KE: I didn't notice it but I don't doubt what you're saying.
Posted by: Michael Bowen | March 2, 2009 2:24 PM