Match #29 Jan. 11, 1985, WCCW, One Man Gang vs. Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels makes his debut here, but not in any type of good fashion. This is part of Michaels' tryout in WCCW, so he gets beat up throughout this match. The One Man Gang really lays into Michaels throughout the entire match. Michaels doesn't even get a single offensive move off. One Man Gang finishes the match off with a big splash to end this match at slightly over two minutes.

My Grade: C
Nothing offensive, just a squash match, basically.

Match #28 Sep. 22, 1984 Hulk Hogan vs. Big John Studd, WWF Championship

A longer match than the Hogan/Shiek match here, but I wouldn't say it was any better. A typical big man match here as Hogan tries to chop the Studd down early on and is mostly successful in doing so. The only times Hogan would get in trouble in this match would be when he'd attempt to bodyslam Studd, and everytime, it failed. Studd would try to wear down Hogan with a bearhug before dumping him outside. Studd would lay boots onto the head of Hogan, busting Hogan open. This would give Hogan that adrenaline rush and he would come back into the match all fired up. Hogan would get the advantage again, but tries to slam Studd, and fails. They both end up on the outside and bump heads. Studd is able to get into the ring before the count of ten to get the victory via count out, but Hogan regains the title, even though Studd would take it anyways.

An interesting thing to note in this match, would be Gene Okerlund on commentary saying how he wouldn't be surprised if Bobby Heenan amassed a big stable of superstars. Oh, how right he would be.

My Grade: D+
Just not that great of a match.

Match #27 Jan. 23, 1984, Iron Shiek vs. Hulk Hogan, WWF Championship

We've made it to 1984, and this is the infamous match that starts Hulk Hogan's WWF Title reign. A pretty short match by title match standards we've seen thus far. Hogan basically beats down Shiek until Shiek is able to take back control. Shiek locks in the Camel Clutch, which no one at that time had been able to break out of. Hogan is able to out muscle Shiek and get out of the clutch and hit the big leg drop to get the pinfall and the WWF title.

My Grade: C-
An average match, but an important one in history.

Match #26 Nov. 24, 1983, Starrcade, Harley Race vs. Ric Flair, NWA World Heavyweight Championship (Steel Cage)

I'm probably going to ruffle some feathers here, but even though this is a historical match, in terms of history, I just cannot get into this match. I mean, it's not a bad match, but every time I watch it, I just can't find a way to really enjoy it. I really do not even know why.

You've probably seen numerous highlights of this match, but in case you have not, here is the low down. Race takes the title in controversial fashion, Race then puts a $25,000 bounty on Flair so he will not have to face him again. None of that works and we get this rematch inside a steel cage at Starrcade '83, with Gene Kininski as the special referee.

The match is more of a fight than a wrestling match. They just lay into one another, with both wrestlers getting bloodied. Of course if you've seen this before, you know the finish comes with a crossbody off the top rope by Flair to get the pinfall.

My Grade: C
Just something about this match is off for me.

Match #25 Nov. 24, 1983, Starrcade, Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper (Dog Collar Match)

This match is just violent. Even by 1983 standards, it is just plain violent. Valentine and Piper just whip each other, beat each other, and just use that chain senselessly on one another. Both men get bloodied in this match, Valentine at first, and then Piper later, with his ear actually taking the most damage. There is a few wrestling moves thrown into this match here and there, though most of the match is just using the chain as a weapon. Piper would get the win here by basically tying up Valentine with the chain and using the leverage to pin him. Afterwards, Valentine tries to hang Piper, but Piper eventually fights back and fights off Valentine.

My Grade: B
A solid and violent brawl.

Match #24 Nov. 24, 1983, Starrcade, Brisco Bros. vs. Jay Youngblood & Ricky Steamboat, NWA World Tag Team Championships

Starrcade '83 was a revolutionary event for it's time. It is considered to be the first pay per view event and launched the wrestling business towards pay per views. Three matches from Starrcade on on the list, so this is part one, with the NWA Tag Team titles on the line.

This was a rather good match here for tag team wrestling. A good story was told here and you could feel the drama within the match. In the beginning of the match, it's Steamboat and Youngblood gaining the advantage over the veteran Brisco Brothers. The Brisco's would finally cut them off and take advantage of Steamboat and beat on him. Steamboat would get the hot tag from Youngblood, but the Brisco's cut him off as well. Steamboat and Youngblood would gain the advantage again, and with a Steamboat assisted press slam with Youngblood, they would get the pinfall and win the belts.

My Grade: A-
A very enjoyable match for the tag straps.

Match #23 Oct. 17, 1983, Don Muraco vs. Jimmy Snuka, WWF Intercontinental Championship (Steel Cage)

This is the steel cage match I am sure every wrestling fan has seen a clip of. The Intercontinental title is on the line here as Don Muraco defends against 'Superfly' Jimmy Snuka. This is a very short match compared to past cage matches on the list thus far. Both men get busted open before ten minutes have even elapsed in the match. They both brawl throughout the contest until Snuka starts to gain the upper hand.

Snuka hits a cross body that knocks Muraco backwards into the cage and he manages to fall out of the door to retain the title. That doesn't end things in the ring as Snuka comes out and pulls Muraco back into the ring. Snuka hits a suplex on Muraco and then climbs the cage, all the way to the top, and hits the infamous dive off the cage.

My Grade: C-
A mediocre cage match, but the spot at the end is always going to be something shown for years to come.