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Professor Wrestling: Your Greatest Feuds

The Readers Strike Back

Posted: 8:16 am EST January 21, 2005

Listen up! Class is in session.

This week, it's your turn to write the column as I clean out the old e-mail bag. We'll take a look at your letters on wrestling's greatest all-time feuds. Check out the previous column on that issue right here. Right now, we start it out with a great letter from reader David Johnson:

I know that everyone has an opinion of what they consider the greatest wrestling feud. From Sgt. Slaughter vs. the Iranian Sheik to Dusty Rhodes vs. any combination of The Four Horsemen. However, the most exciting wrestling match I ever saw had to do with the feud between Ivan & Nikita Koloff vs. Don Kernodle. I know that its not one of the more well-known feuds, but some of the old NWA matches were classics.

The match I am referring to is when Don Kernodle teamed with Ricky Steamboat to take on Ivan and Nikita in a Flag vs. Flag match. The Russians had stolen Don's stars and stripes, so Don took the Russian hammer and sickle flag, and they had several matches in an attempt to take back the others' flag. It was a televised Saturday afternoon match and it looked like it was held in a small gymnasium. The audience probably numbered from 2,500 to 5,000. It was in the early '80s at the height of the Cold War, so everyone naturally hated the Russians.

Every time the crowd would get behind Don & Ricky, the Russians would cheat and retake the advantage. Finally, at the end, Don & Ricky threw Ivan out of the ring and put Nikita up for the finishing move, using Nikita's own famous "Russian Sickle" clothlesline against him. Don & Ricky got the pin and the entire building erupted. I mean all those people stood up and shouted, danced, screamed and yelled. You would have thought that Don & Ricky had won the Cold War single-handed.

The crowed was screaming and jumping so hard it shook the platforms that the TV cameras were on and the cameramen could barely keep centered on the ring. But just as Don & Ricky were ready to retrieve our beloved stars and stripes, Krusher Kruschev came up from behind and blindsided Don & Ricky and then took the flag away from them.

This was just one example of the many feuds from the old NWA days. Maybe it was because of the world situation at the time, but I will always remember their feud and that one match as one of the best.

Next up, student John Bauman:

The Rock n Roll Express vs. the Midnight Express. We are talking matches that involved steel cages, kendo sticks, barbed wire, scaffolding, coal miner gloves and Jim Cornette and his tennis racket. Another one that never got dull was Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn. Lynn never beat him in ECW for the TV title, but the respect for each other was that of two great warriors who said never die.

I really like this list, from C Damiani:

1. Jerry Lawler vs. Andy Kaufman This one played out on Letterman ... in a time where that stuff just didn't happen. Watch that footage... those crowds went wild for Kaufman. That was one of the loudest arenas I've ever heard.

2. Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko Maybe it isn't a top ten, but when Larry turned on Bruno, the crowd ate it up. Remember just how big Bruno was as a star back then. And they sold out plenty of venues as the grudge played out.

3. Rock-and-Roll Express vs. Midnight Express You want to talk about heat? How long did these guys fill arenas in the South with this one?

Dusty Rhodes

TNA Image

4. Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes Now, I'm a HUGE Steamboat fan, but how can you pick that feud over this one, which went on for years and definitely drew more fans in the overall. These two were perfect together, and while their matches weren't as good, the crowd reactions were off the charts.

Here's a reader from Texas, who also noted the Cornette-fueled feud:

I nominate Junkyard Dog vs. Kamala, the Ugandan Giant and The Rock n Roll Express vs. The Midnight Express. Who can forget Jim Cornette with his tennis racket? Also, Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan in a classic "Coal Miners Glove" match. I'm really showing my age, but I want to thank The Professor for giving us longtime 'rasslin fans something entertaining to read about.

Santana Rodriguez, Rosenberg, Texas

Thanks, Santana. It's my pleasure to bang out this column every Friday. We opened up shop last WrestleMania, and it looks like we're still going strong heading into this year's big show.

Also added to the mix this year, more coverage of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, the up-and-coming promotion featured on FoxSportsNet. I have to mention that TNA put on a solid pay-per-view last Sunday night, and consistently puts on matches that blow WWE away. I hope Mr. McMahon is watching, because competition only makes both promotions better.

Next week: the "Royal Rumble" preview!

That's it. Class dismissed!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting Systems. He is currently feuding with his children, Prof. Jr. and Professor Juniorette, who fail to listen to a word he says.)

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