1. 5/9/88 - Curt Hennig vs. Jerry Lawler (CWA @ Memphis)
https://www.facebook.com/MidSouthColiseum/videos/484669058357326/How Can I Watch It: Search for it online (or in the video above) The match that Jerry Lawler calls one the favourite matches of his career took place at the famous Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis in front of 8,000 rabid fans, all of them enthralled at the prospect of their hero Lawler winning the AWA World Heavyweight Championship or being forced to retire, as was the stipulation. With Curt on his way to the WWF, AWA promoter Verne Gagne realised he had to get his belt off him, and Lawler was deemed the man to do it with. Lawler played his part and bled like a stuck pig, while Hennig threw himself around the ring with typical reckless abandon, wanting to go out on good terms and put Lawler over as much as he could. For 25-minutes they battled until a weary Lawler finally covered for the match-winning pinfall and the title. Jackie Fargo, Lawlers hero, was the referee for the match, though how that came about is a typical carny promoter story. CWA set up a premium rate 900 number which gave fans the option to choose who would serve as the guest referee, Fargo or Hennigs father Larry The Ax Hennig. To worry fans into voting the promotion claimed the number had been advertised by Hennig in Minnesota and thus the voting was neck-and-neck. Any fan who hadn't already voted did so, leaving Lawler and co-promoter Jerry Jarrett a few grand richer after the fact. Fargos refereeing helped the match, adding to the drama when fans began to worry that he would take pity on Lawler taking such a shoeing and might throw in the towel on him. Alas he didn't, though he did nearly blow the pop of the finish by counting to four rather than three in his excitement. For some reason the match has never seen the light of day on a WWE DVD release, with neither Hennigs 2007 disc The Life and Times of Mr. Perfect or Lawlers 2015 outing Its Good to be the King featuring it. The closest we have come is a match from two months earlier from AWA which received an airing on Lawlers set, but never this. For its rarity and historical importance, it takes and deserves top spot on this countdown.
The author of the highly acclaimed 'Titan' book series, James Dixon has been involved in the wrestling business for 25 years as a fan, wrestler, promoter, agent, and writer. James spent several years wrestling on the British independent circuit, but now prefers to write about the bumps and bruises rather than take any of them. His past in-ring experience does however give a uniquely more "insider" perspective on things, though he readily admits to still being a "mark" at heart.
James is the Chief Editor and writer at historyofwrestling.co.uk and is responsible for the best-selling titles Titan Sinking, Titan Shattered, and Titan Screwed, as well as the Complete WWF Video Guide series, and the Raw Files series.
