Just over a year removed from his professional debut, Bam Bam Bigelow produced the work of his life. As a rookie, Bigelow headed to Memphis, quickly making rivals with Jerry Lawler. That peaked on September 8th 1986, as they headlined the Mid-South Coliseum in a Texas Death Match. It’d be a two title affair also, with Bigelow putting his AWA Southern Heavyweight Title on the line opposite Lawler’s AWA International Heavyweight Title.
Bigelow backs Lawler up at the bell, then hurling him across the ring for an early advantage. He repeats that feat too, though only after sustaining a sharp right hand. Bigelow responds with a blow of his own but Lawler outsmarts him afterwards, evading the big man to reset things. He can only avoid Bigelow for so long though, eating three more right hands as Lawler struggles to regain his footing.
Once they spill to the floor though, Bigelow gets greedy, firing a right hand that Lawler ducks, ricocheting into the ring post. Now wounded, Bigelow is moving with some caution, allowing Lawler to uncork a snappy jab in the meantime. This is gorgeous graps, my goodness. We’re only five minutes or so deep here but every single step has mattered, it’s masterful. Speaking of such, Lawler tricks Bigelow with a test of strength tease, firing another jab instead.
Now enraged, Bigelow responds accordingly, overpowering Lawler to the mat and dropping three headbutts for an early pinfall. I’m aware that there’s some variation on this front so for the sake of clarity: this Texas Death Match means that you must score a fall first, with your opponent then being given ten seconds to beat the count after a thirty second break. Obviously, Lawler beats the referee’s count, but only after some screams from the anxious live crowd first.
Lawler is hurt upon returning upright, only encouraging Bigelow’s assault in the corner. He’s all over Lawler here, dropping further headbutts and scoring yet another pinfall. My god. Bigelow’s arrogance costs him however, turning his back as Lawler beats the count, allowing for a brief brawl in centre ring. That quickly favours Bigelow anyway, battering Lawler’s ribs and going back to that trusty headbutt. The big man hesitates slightly though, questioning himself and allowing Lawler to move.
He snatches a pinfall as a result, now earning a fall of his own. Loved the spot itself, but didn’t love the fall personally, felt unearned considering Bigelow’s prior dominance. Either way, Lawler jumps on a seemingly blinded Bigelow, landing some gorgeous punches that the big man sells fabulously. He soon follows up with a big fist off the top, scoring another fall. I’d have preferred that as the one that initially kept Bigelow down but regardless, it’s all levelled up.
That doesn’t actually matter to be clear, it’s just a thing that they’d frequently note. I don’t really know why but clearly, I have decided to follow their lead in that regard.
Bigelow survives but barely, staggering around as Lawler lands further knockout blows. I am in awe of Bigelow’s bumping and selling here, it’s quite extraordinary. Lawler certainly isn’t going to be left behind in that regard either, being floored by each Bigelow offering at this point. It’s getting scrappy now too, with Bigelow biting Lawler as he draws blood at last. The people shriek in response, with Bigelow hitting Lawler hard enough to again hurt his hand.
He then chokes Lawler unconscious, forcing a ten count in which ‘The King’ barely staggers upright at 9. Bigelow’s final onslaught doesn’t do the trick either, instead being caught in Lawler’s own sleeper-hold. He eventually counters, scoring yet another pin only for Lawler to pull the straps down upon beating the count. A clobbering follows, with Bigelow being bumped around by right hands as they spill to ringside. The exhausted Bigelow is suddenly outgunned, being overwhelmed by Lawler’s surging momentum.
Unfortunately, they do not reach their natural conclusion, with a referee bump confusing things. Ultimately, it’s a virtual no finish, with neither man beating the final count, hilariously. With that being said, the rules state that even still, whoever stands first will be the winner. It’s Lawler, because of course. This earns an incredible reaction from the live crowd because again, of course. I don’t always need super clean finishes by any means but my god, this deserved something conclusive.
At times, this is a borderline masterpiece. The big man – little man dynamic is so present throughout and Lawler leads the way extraordinarily. He’s the ultimate example of maximising a skillset, making magic with just a right hand and babyface fire. Each blow feels monumental here, selling big for Bam Bam along the way. His grasp of psychology really unlocks Bigelow’s potential too, placing his weaponry perfectly and shaping the rookie’s pace.
Unfortunately, the big man pretty much peaked as a rookie, having a great career but struggling to truly sustain the flashes that he showed here. It’s not a perfect match, feeling actively hampered by the stipulation at times. By the end, it does feel as though it’s been stretched to its limits but they maintain the people if nothing else. Either way, this reaches heights that pretty much embody the strengths of the David vs. Goliath genre.
Terrific match, a snapshot of an all-time prodigy.
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