12/26/1983 Memphis

Mid America Title Match: Randy Savage (with Angelo Poffo) def. Terry Taylor (C) in 11:40

We got a nice cameo from Miss Elizabeth introducing this match with a much more noticeable southern accent. This poor woman had no idea what she would be getting into at this point in life. Icebergs have moved faster than the first six minutes of this match, with both men working headlocks liberally, keeping the usually hot Mid South Coliseum crowd sitting on their hands. They did a spot where Savage got caught in the tree of woe, and Taylor, who looked like his face could have been the Wonderbread logo in this era, started kicking the shit out of him. Savage, because he’s legitimately fucking crazy, decided it was a good time to break out the blade. It was Randy Savage in 1983, so of course, he comes off the top three times in less than five minutes, including missing the elbow. It’s hard to believe his hip ended up in such bad shape. Man, during the comeback, it hit me Savage might be the guy that best pulled off being a believable badass and the begging-off heel simultaneously. It speaks to the diverse levels of his work. Taylor went after Angelo Poffo on the apron, and Savage kneed him in the back, then finished him with a clothesline at 11:40. The second half of this was all action, despite the plodding start. **1/2