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 #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.

Match #20 May 23, 1983, Bob Backland vs. Sgt. Slaughter, WWF Championship

Bob Backland is back with his fourth WWF Championship defense on the list against Sgt. Slaughter. The back story to this match, is that Slaughter viciously beat Backland with his riding stick causing this title match.

Backland starts off the match just laying into Slaughter. He throws him into all four corners of the ring, repeatedly. Backland has control for about seven minutes into the match until Slaughter is able to take over. After that the match slows down tremendously and gets sloppy. The fans seem to lose interest as well after being really hot for the first few minutes. The finish would come when Backland would have the crossface chickenwing applied and Slaughter would finally get to the ropes. His manager, The Grand Wizard, would hand him the riding stick and Slaughter would hit Backland in the head with it causing the disqualification. Slaughter would toss the ref out and look to beat Backland again with the stick, but Backland would outsmart Slaughter and get the stick himself. Slaughter would run for the back as the crowd finally comes back for this as Backland tried to get his revenge for the earlier beating.

My Grade: D+
Just not a good match from these two. The drama was there, but they seemed to not capitalize on it.

Match #16 Jan. 16, 1982, Bob Backland vs. Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine, WWF Championship (Steel Cage)

World Wrestling Federation Champion, Bob Backland is back with another title defense inside the steel cage. The hard hitting, Greg Valentine is his opponent tonight, but in unfortunately, another clipped match. I would've like to see this match, as Backland has been really good in his title defenses thus far, proving why he held the title for five years. Backland would end up beating a bloodied Valentine after a piledriver to walk out of the cage and retain the WWF Championship.

My Grade: N/A
Not enough footage.

Match #15 Apr. 6, 1981, Bob Backland vs. Stan Hansen, WWF Championship (Steel Cage)

WWF Champion Bob Backland is back with another cage match for the WWF Title, but this time against a legend in Japan, Stan 'The Man' Hansen. Not as good, in my opinion, as the Backland and Patterson steel cage match, but this one is more of a brawl then that one was. Hansen gets bloodied early on and they continue to duke it out. No lariat from Hansen which was kind of disappointing, but still a good match from these two which sees Backland retain the title.

My Grade: B
A good match, but not as good as Backland/Patterson.

Match #14 Sep. 13, 1980, WWF, Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant

This is a really unique match up here. The main event of WrestleMania 3, seven years before. The interesting thing is that Hulk Hogan, known as 'The Incredible' Hulk Hogan, is a heel here, managed also by Freddie Blassie. You also get to see how well Andre could go inside the ring, as this is well before his health problems started to come into play.

The match plays out with Andre using his size to his advantage and Hogan playing more of a cowardly heel by going out of the ring and getting advice from Blassie. Not a long match, with Hogan clotheslining Andre with a loaded elbow pad to end the match.

My Grade: C+
Not the best match by any means, but a real interesting look at these two before they get big. Check it out if you get the chance.

Match #13 Sep. 24, 1979, Bob Backland vs. Pat Patterson, WWF Championship (Steel Cage)

This match is joined in progress, but it doesn't hinder the quality of this match. The first Intercontinental Champion, Pat Patterson is taking on reigning WWF Champion, Bob Backland. These two guys just slug it out inside the confides of the steel cage. I will say, thus far, this has been my favorite match on the list, because these guys put it all out there in this match and it really shows. I believe this is one of the first cage matches where there is fighting a top of the cage.

Lots of drama here with near escapes and both men being bloodied. Patterson tries to use brass knuckles to gain an advantage at the end of the match to win, but Backland is able to outsmart him and escape outside the door to retain the World Wrestling Federation Championship.

My Grade: A-
A really fun match, and a good brawl to top it off.