Klassik Kombat: The Best of Jerry Lawler Vol. 2

Thanks again to Jacob Ziegler for sending me this tape.

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Match 1: Jerry Lawler vs. Hulk Hogan

Before the match begins, a disclaimer tells us that “These are the only surviving fragments of this legendary match.” At least they apologize in advance for the clipping. Of course, while Hogan’s entrance is clipped, Lawler gets the Undertaker treatment by riding out on a white horse. Sadly, Lawler can’t summon lightning to destroy the ring.

The two men lockup to start and Lawler is thrown into a turnbuckle. We are now clipped to a side headlock by Lawler, which Hogan escapes out of by picking Lawler up and placing him on the top turnbuckle. Hogan is in quite good shape here. Lawler blocks Hogan’s right hand and slaps Hogan. He taunts. We are clipped now to Hogan’s finishing sequence of a back elbow/scoopslam/legdrop but since we are in Memphis that only gets 2!!! Another clip showcases a Hogan clothesline. We are then clipped to Lawler reversing a turnbuckle whip. Lawler follows with a body slam. The STRAPS COME DOWN~ He punches away at Hogan and it takes 8 of them to knock him down. Lawler mounts Hogan and unloads with right hands. The ref makes him break the hold and once Hogan gets up, Lawler goes back to work with right hands. Lefts and right stagger Hogan into the ropes. We are clipped again to a ref bump. This allows Jimmy Hart to come in and smash a walking stick over Lawler’s back. The ref sees this, however, and Hogan is DQ’d @ 7:00. The segment ends with Lawler using the remains of the walking stick to attack both Hogan and Jimmy Hart. **

Match 2: “The King” Jerry Lawler vs. “Bruiser” Bob Sweeten

This is a piledriver vs. piledriver match. You can find this match on Wrestling Gold Volume 1. This match takes place right after the Andy Kaufman incident so Lawler is the defacto heel at the Hemisphere Arena in San Antonio.

Lawler bails to start. When he finally gets back into the ring, the ref checks Lawler for weapons. Lawler bitch slaps Sweeten and bails again. The King takes this time to grab the microphone and insult Sweeten. The King makes his way back in before the ridiculously long 10 count (must be the same ref in the Maven vs. Shelton Benjamin match from New Year’s Revolution 2005). They lockup and Sweeten misses a punch. Lawler slugs him and bails again to avoid Sweeten. Lawler takes the microphone again and taunts Sweeten some more. Basically for the next 10 minutes, these series of events continue as Lawler cheapshots Sweeten and bails before receiving any punishment. The crowd is absolutely against Lawler which makes the match fun to watch but painful to transcribe.

After 10 minutes or so, the match “officially” begins. Lawler rakes the eyes twice while letting the ref know that they were punches. He snapmares Sweeten who immediately gets back up and a big slugfest begins. Sweeten wins and tries a piledriver but Lawler charges into a corner to break the hold. Sweeten works the arm for a while until Lawler fights out. He knocks Sweeten down after some lefts and rights and gets a kneedrop. Lawler tries a piledriver but Sweeten counters with a back body drop. Sweeten goes on the offense again with nothing special until he gets a back suplex for 3. However, Lawler places his foot on the ropes after the 3 count and pleads his case. Of course the match is restarted. Lawler is whipped into the corner. Sweeten charges but runs into a big boot. A rope assisted pin ends the match @ 15:00. This was the Jerry “The King” Show and we were all privileged just to watch it. I mean it too. *

Match 3: Lawler vs. Kendo Nagasaki (Black Ninja)

We are JIP with a chop to the forehead by Kendo. Another chop knocks Lawler down. Kendo uses a claw to the pressure point to kill some time as Lawler doesn’t escape until the third arm drop. Kendo goes right back on the kill with another chop and another pressure point hold. We sure don’t see those used anymore. Maybe some new OVW wrestler will debut it as their finisher. Lawler breaks this hold but is immediately put into an armpit hold. Lawler breaks that up in the corner and boots Kendo in the midsection. The STRAPS COME DOWN~ Lawler unloads with his trademark offense (punching) into he is thrown into the ref. Kendo gets an illegal thrust to the throat to stop Lawler’s offense and he celebrates with Dancing!!! Another wrestler makes his way down to try to get the ref to DQ Kendo for the thrust (or his pitiful dancing). It’s a moot point anyway as once the ref gets up Kendo does another strike to the throat which gets himself DQ’d @ 5:05. The Black Ninja chokes out Lawler to end the segment. ½ *

Match 4: Lawler & Austin Idol vs. the Road Warriors

Animal starts with Lawler. Animal boots Lawler in the midsection and press slams him. Hawk tags in and he boots Lawler in the midsection and press slams him. Lawler bails. We are clipped to Lawler punching Hawk in the corner (which is no sold). Hawk returns the favor in the corner and they lockup. Hawk whips Lawler into a turnbuckle. He charges at Lawler but runs into Lawler’s boot. Lawler climbs to the middle rope and jumps off with an elbow. We are clipped to Lawler’s comeback as the STRAPS COME DOWN~ Lawler fights off both Road Warriors with punches and makes the hot tag to Idol. Idol is a casa en feugo as he knocks both RWs down. In a neat sequence, Animal picks up Lawler in a powerslam position and repeatedly rams Lawler’s head into the turnbuckle. Idol knocks Hawk down and Animal trips over Hawk. Both faces cover for 2 as Animal powers out. The ref is bumped. Paul Ellering tries to hold Idol who escapes a clothesline attempt. Both faces schoolboy their opponents but the ref is still down. The faces break the pin attempt and an Animal clothesline hits Hawk for 2. The Road Warriors then dump the ref for a blatant DQ @ 5:30. **

Match 5: Lawler vs. Macho Man Randy Savage in a Steel Cage

I would be remiss in not pointing out that the Steel Cage is not connected to the ring. Instead it hovers over the ring ala Hell in the Cell. Also, this cage does not look sturdy enough for climbing so the loser must be pinned.

Lawler goes to work on Savage in the corner. They lockup and Lawler gets some punches to the midsection. Savage tries to bail by climbing the cage but there is no escape. He does spit on Lawler, though. The two trade reversals for a while until Lawler throws Macho’s head into the steel. They lockup and Macho wins and goes to work on Lawler’s arm. Lawler gets to the ropes to break an armbar but Savage pulls him back into the middle of the ring. We are clipped to Lawler trying to escape the cage. Savage uses a foreign object on the King. This gets 2. Savage works the head with some punches and a double axe handle from the turnbuckle to the floor. The King’s face meets the cage for a while and the ring post as Savage continues the assault by using the surroundings. Back in the ring, Savage’s irish whip attempt is reversed and Lawler sends him into a side of the cage. Fist drop. Lawler steals Macho’s foreign object and uses it on Savage. He opts not to pin him which allows Savage to snap mare him down. Macho Elbow misses. Lawler gets a scoop slam and we are clipped once again.

Lawler’s attempt at a piledriver is stopped by the ref (as we are in Memphis) and Macho back drops out for 1. Savage gets an airplane spin that gets me dizzy. Lawler gets a desperation punch and they both fall down. We are clipped again to Lawler getting dumped over the ropes. Macho climbs to the top and comes off with a fist drop. He slams Lawler’s head into the cage many times. The crowd begins to cheer on Lawler as the action moves back into the ring. Lawler blocks Savage’s punch and unloads one of his own. The STRAPS COME DOWN~ and lefts and rights stagger Savage. Lawler throws Macho into the cage. Unfortunately, for everyone, Big Joe Lo Duc comes in and attacks Lawler for the DQ @ 13:35 (20:15). Lo Duc gives Lawler a back breaker and the Macho Elbow finishes the beatdown. ***

Match 6: Lawler vs. Rick Rude for the Southern Heavyweight Championship

We are JIP with Rude slugging Lawler in the corner. Rude stomps him down and gets a 2. Rude slugs him down again. While Rude distracts the ref, Jim Neidhart and Angel attack Lawler. Vertical suplex. Elbow drop gets 2 for Rude. Swinging neckbreaker gets 2 as Lawler gets his foot on the ropes. Another pin attempt gets 2. Scoop slam and elbow drop gets 2. Rude continues to attack Lawler with punches and elbows until Lawler hulks up. The STRAPS COME DOWN~ and Lawler’s right hands stagger Rude. Rude throws Lawler into the ref. This allows Neidhart to come into the ring but his clothesline accidentally hits Rude. Lawler climbs to the second rope and comes off with a fist drop. Angel comes in and distracts Lawler as Rude gets a weak looking double axe handle. He covers for 3 @ 5:20. Lawler attacks Rude and Neidhart before getting “clobbered” by a chairshot from Angel. He knocks Angel down, which is the first case of male on woman violence in wrestling!!! The King is double teamed by the heels until The New Fabolous Ones (Tommy Rich and Eddie Gilbert) makes the save. The Pretty Young Things (Koko B Ware and his partner) attack the faces and they all brawl out of the ring. *

2 Ring Triple Chance Battle Royal for $10,000

I have to say this is quite the unique match. Imagine two rings next to each other with enough wrestlers to have a large battle royal. There are way too many guys getting eliminated at once for me to do play by play. Rick Rude wins Ring 1 in 2 minutes and change. Lawler eliminates Ron Sexton to win Ring 2. Now Rude and Lawler fight for the money. We are clipped to a ref bump. Lawler throws a fireball (maybe he does have magical powers) at Rude which allows him to win the match!!! DUD

Match 8: Lawler vs. Kamala

We are JIP as Kamala abuses the King. He gets a double choke and lift before throwing King to the ground. Lawler bails to the outside. Kamala gets a heart punch as Lawler has a very difficult time breaking the 10 count. The King gets back into the ring but his punches have no effect on Kamala. We are clipped to a test of strength attempt. Lawler wisely kicks out of it but is quickly put into an armpit pressure point hold. We are clipped to a splash on Lawler’s back for 2. Kamala punches the head and gets 2 scoop slams. A running splash gets 2. Lawler hulks up and THE STRAPS COME DOWN~. It takes 6 punches to knock Kamala down. Fist drop misses though. A thrust to the throat sends Lawler to the outside. Kamala rams Lawler’s head into the announce table and chokes him out with a cord. Lawler barely beats the count. Kamala beats down Lawler again and dumps him again to the outside. This time Lawler’s head meets the steel post. Lawler barely beats the count again. Kamala dumps Lawler again as the ref is distracted with Jimmy Hart. Unfortunately for Kamala, the King blasts Kamala with a steel chair twice and beats the count for the win @ 10:20. *** This match told a perfect story as each man played their part well and it was fun to watch.

Match 9: Lawler vs. King Kong Bundy

For every minute Lawler is not pinned, he gets $1,000. So the storyline of the match is that the King is just trying to survive and not win the match. Bundy destroys Lawler to start and all three of his pin attempts get 1. 1 Minute mark. Bundy continues to try to pin Lawler but Lawler wisely bails. 2 Minute mark. The King’s head meets the ring post but an elbow drop gets 2. Bundy locks on a bearhug which is not the smartest of moves. 3 minute mark. He releases the hold but an elbow drop misses. King wisely bails again and taunts Bundy from outside. Bundy chases after him as we reach the 4 minute mark. Bundy enters the ring to try to win via count out but Lawler slides in just to break the count. He then bails again. 5 minute mark. Bundy finally catches the King outside and throws him back into the rung. Bundy knocks the King down a couple of times. 6 minutes. Bundy’s big splash misses. The STRAPS COME DOWN~ and the King unloads on Bundy knocking him down. Rude is on the apron and gives Bundy a chain while the ref is distracted. Bundy uses the chain on the King and the splash ends the match @ 6:57. * ½ for an entertaining exhibition.

Match 10: Lawler and Macho Man vs. Rick Rude and King Kong Bundy

King and Rude lockup to start and Lawler whips Rude into Macho’s elbow. Macho slams Rude’s head into the turnbuckle. Rude escapes Lawler to tag in Bundy. Lawler and Bundy lockup and Macho enters the ring to elbow Bundy to a nice applause. Bundy is held back by the ref in trying to attack Macho. They lockup again and Bundy pushes Lawler into the heel corner. Rude tags in but is dumped to the outside. Macho throws Rude into a table before sending him back inside. Bundy is tagged back in. Bundy and Lawler lockup and Lawler is whipped into the turnbuckle. A corner splash misses as Macho moves Lawler from Mr. Fat Ass. Rude tags back in and asks for Macho to be tagged in. His wish is granted. We are clipped to Savage punching Rude. Macho sends Rude into the King’s boot. Rude is thrown outside and Macho comes off the top rope with a double axe handle to the floor. We are clipped to Rude entering the ring with Lawler. They lockup and Rude rakes Lawler’s eyes. Macho breaks up a piledriver attempt on Lawler. We are clipped to Macho getting the hot tag. Macho airplane spins Rude. Lawler punches Rude into a Macho atomic drop. Bundy tags back in and misses a charge. Macho gets a crossbody for 2 as Rude breaks it up. The King is tagged back in and Bundy works on the King. The two work Lawler over with knee drops and clotheslines and a lot of constant tags. Bundy misses his Big Splash allowing Lawler to hulk back up. He unloads with rights. Rude comes in and all four men brawl. Macho throws the ref to get DQ’d at 16:22 (20:02) **** ½

Match 11: Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Nick Bockwinkle

Chain wrestling to start as Lawler has to prove to Bockwinkle that he can do more than brawling. We are clipped quite a bit here until around the 25 minute mark. Bockwinkle is working him over with knees and a snap mare before misses a big punch. Lawler crossbodies for 2. Bockwinkle is right back up to kick Lawler in the gut and send him outside. He rams Lawler’s head into the announce table and the ring apron. He rolls the King in for 2. The dissection of Lawler’s face continues as he is rammed into the turnbuckle. Lawler hulks up and throws Bockwinkle into the corner. He knocks Bockwinkle down a bit before Bockwinkle throws Lawler into the ref in an act of desperation. Bockwinkle comes off the top with a elbow for 2. Lawler fights back and rams Bockwinkle’s head into the table outside. Back in the ring, Bockwinkle takes over with an eye rake. This pisses the King off as the STRAPS COME DOWN~. He unloads with rights and lefts and refuses to let the ref break it up. Bockwinkle tries to fight back but misses Lawler and cold-cocks the ref! Lawler knocks Bockwinkle down and counts the pin himself but when the ref revives, he DQ’s Bockwinkle @ 12 minutes. **

Match 12: Jerry Lawler in a $5,000 Battle Royal

Another match that is too hard to transcribe as there’s way too many people being eliminated. Lawler dumps the final two people to win the match @ 3 minutes. DUD

Match 13: Lawler vs. Terry Funk in an Empty Arena Match

Before the match, we get to see an interview with Lawler as to why this match is taking place.

The only other match I’ve seen like this is Rock vs. Mankind from Halftime Heat in January 1999. Unlike that match, Lawler and Funk mainly brawl close to the ring. They lockup to start but decide to fuck the scientific and begin brawling outside. Lawler attacks Funk into a group of folding chairs. He uses a chairshot on Funk before Funk bails back into the ring (which already busts Funk open). Once Lawler makes his way back into the ring, Funk is ready to greet him with a sign shot. Funk piledrivers Lawler on the floor. He throws Lawler into a group of folding chairs. Funk breaks off a piece of a 2×4 and throws it into the ring. Funk slams Lawler’s head into a table three times before throwing him into the ring. Funk tries to stab Lawler with the 2X4 but Lawler kicks Funk’s arm. Funk stabs himself in the eye. Funk’s eye is busted open and he screams like a girl. The match ends @ 5:20 in a victory for Lawler. Funk asks for a doctor and continues to insult Lawler as the segment ends. ½* Good angle, nothing match.

Match 14: Jerry Lawler vs. Man Mountain Link

The less I say about MML, the better. Imagine a fatter King Kong Bundy with less than half the talent. Of course, Lawler has a gift of making shit shine as he does here. At the 3:30 mark, MML scoop slams Lawler and pins him with a Big Splash to win the Southern Heavyweight Title. I’m quite shocked. Thankfully, the rematch is shown in highlight form. This time, MML dominates but misses the Big Splash. Lawler uses a fireball to stun MML for the 3 count to win back the title for the 16th time. DUD

Match 15: Jerry Lawler vs. John Tolos

Tolos jumps Lawler to start and goes right away working over Lawler’s arm. After a few minutes of armbars and stomps to the targeted area, Lawler throws Tolos into the corner to rattle off 25 punches. Lawler gets a fist drop and a sunset flip off of a whip for nothing. Tolos fights back and dumps Lawler over the top rope. Since we are not in Memphis, the match must continue. Inside the ring, Tolos’s backbreaker gets 2. Lawler hulks back up and the STRAPS COME DOWN~ Lawler unloads with rights and lefts to knock Tolos down. A second rope fist drop gets 2. Tolos fights back but misses a knee drop. The piledriver ends the match @ 7:50. Note: this is the first match, where the piledriver was successfully used. **

Match 16: Jerry Lawler vs. Eddie Gilbert

They lockup to start and Gilbert gets a quick arm drap. He scoop slams Lawler and follows with a hip toss. Lawler comes back with the same sequence of arm drag, scoop slam, and hip toss. Gilbert bails. Gilbert comes back in with a cheapshot and taunts Lawler. He bails a couple more times just to infuriate the King. After a lot of stalling, Gilbert gets a low blow on Lawler and mounts him with punches. Lawler hulks up and the STRAPS COME DOWN~. Lawler unloads with punches before Rick Rude runs in for the DQ @ 6:45. ½ *

Match 17: Jerry Lawler & Dutch Mantell vs. Bill Dundee & Buddy Landell

The heels stall a while to start until the faces (Lawler and Mantell) attack on the outside. In the ring, Lawler locks up with Landell. Landell misses Lawler with a big right and clocks his partner! He atomic drops Landell and the ref stops a piledriver attempt. Lawler settles for a punch instead. Dundee tags in and scoop slams Lawler. A top rope leg drop misses. Lawler attacks Dundee both in and out of the ring to bust him open. The heels work over Lawler using the usual heel schemes. The King hulks up as all four men into the ring. Dundee tries to use a chain on Lawler but misses and hits Landell. Landell is busted wide open. The four men brawl until the ref stops the match due to blood @ 12:45. Lawler’s team wins. For the record, Mantell might have tagged in once for a quick second or two. **

Match 18: Lawler, Dusty Rhodes & Magnum T.A vs. Tully Blanchard, Arn & Ole Anderson

This is a bunkhouse brawl and of very low quality. If it wasn’t for the fact that Dusty is so damn fat, I would not have made him out. He really needs the polka dot outfit. Basically, the whole match is one big pier six brawl. There’s really no flow to this match just a lot of carnage. Dust comes off the top rope with a big elbow to pin Tully @ 6:01. DUD

The 411: While the tape seems to peter off after the excellent tag match, there's enough goodness on this disc to warrant a recommendation. Younger fans (such as myself) who only know Jerry the King as a Puppy Loving announcer should purchase this compliation just to see how good he was with a variety of opponents. Recommended!!!
Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]