The OtherArena

[Frank_Jewett]

Gordon Solie interviews Mr. Wrestling II and The Assassin

Set up for the challenge match with the Freebirds facing Austin Idol and Kevin Sullivan

Match day arrives and Idol is nowhere to be found

Hayes reads a telegram from Idol saying that he's running out on the match

Kevin Sullivan and Mike Davis wrestle the Freebirds

Austin Idol arrives for the famous "four flat tires" angle

"I'm amazed, quite frankly, that you'd show your face here, now, after what's happened."
- Solie treating Idol like a cowardly heel

"I once wanted to be a Freebird? You gotta be ribbing me, Solie. Me, want to be a Freebird? That's like saying Ronald Reagan would want to be John Anderson."
- Austin Idol in his over-the-top Foghorn Leghorn voice

Frank

[Tigerman73]

I loved Gordon Solie, my favorite is when the heel would start rambling on about how great he was or some other nonsense. You'd catch Solie shaking his head and rolling his eyes. Funny stuff. I don't know if he was the best of all time, but he's up there with the best of them announcing wise.

[Frank_Jewett]

I thought Solie really helped get this angle over. Idol had been a heel in the past, but rather than simply flipping over to Idol's side like post-Jesse announcers, Solie questioned whether Sullivan should trust Idol. Solie's scolding "I'm amazed that you would show your face" comment to Idol always brings a smile to my face. A lot of announcers would have tipped the swerve, knowing that Idol was in fact still a babyface, but Solie played along for the skeptics at home.

The Assassin tweaking hot-headed Wrestling II is another of my favorite WTBS skits. There's Solie taking it all too seriously (in his ugly hipster jacket) as two grown men in sportscoats and masks debate pro wrestling. Great straight camp!

Frank

(Is it just me, or is anyone else thinking Wrestling II could have been the guy who played James Garner's dad on "The Rockford Files?" ;) )

[Kevin Tyler]

I had seen the Wrestling II angle before, but what I didn't notice the first time, and what made me reach for the Windex this time, is Wrestling II wearing a clip on tie. Now I understand the need for one since the angle was going to get physical. But still... once that jacket came off, Wrestling II looked like the assistant manager of a KFC.

[Kevin Tyler]

Frank,

Without watching every clip uploaded because I'm assuming/hoping you have, is the Ted DiBiase/Mr. R match and angle on there? I've always wanted to see that.

[Frank_Jewett]

It's posted, though not with a Georgia tag.

Mr. R pins Ted DiBiase

DiBiase should have known Mr. R wasn't Tommy based on how cleanly Mr. R hit the Thesz press. ;)

Frank

[Kevin Tyler]

Thanks, Frank. Very much appreciated.

[Tigerman73]

My personal favorite angle


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa7iI_Hpb5I

[jdw]

The Big Turn of 1980

Wicked stuff.

John

[Tigerman73]

[jdw]

What's interesting about the riot comment is that the crowd is initially stunned and not up at the turn. It seems that the start going batshit when the babyfaces start trying to get into the cage, are rebuffed and the heels keep kicking the crud out of Dusty. Then the first one in gets creamed as well. By that point you can see the crowd would like to kill the heels. :)

Yeah, pretty much everyone nails their spots on the interviews. Ole is exceptional. Dusty is Dusty, and at that point awesome on the mic. And Ivan is quite good too. :)


John

[Tigerman73]

[jdw]

And they kicked the shit out of him. :)

John