Post by hbkshawn88 on May 14, 2013 18:01:31 GMT
Steel Cage Match
WWF Heavyweight Title
Bob Backlund vs. Stan Hansen
Madison Square Garden
April 6, 1981
WWF Heavyweight Title
Bob Backlund vs. Stan Hansen
Madison Square Garden
April 6, 1981
The Match: Before this match starts, the ring announcer Howard Finkel announces that the only way to win this steel cage match is by exiting through the door or out over the top of the cage. Today, pinfalls and submissions count in WWE steel cage matches. That doesn’t bother me a lot, but I like it better when you can only win by escaping the cage. The referee is outside of the cage for this match because this match can’t end in the cage. Backlund enters the cage and Hansen immediately attacks him. Hansen tries to whip Backlund off the ropes and into the cage, but Backlund reverses it and Hansen goes face first into the cage. Backlund picks Hansen up and shoves him into the cage again. Backlund whips Hansen to the turnbuckles and then again shoves Hansen into the cage. Nice use of the cage as a weapon so far. Backlund does some ground attacks on Hansen and then dragged Hansen’s face across the steel mesh of the cage. Hansen is in the corner, but he is able to fight off Backlund a little bit. Hansen starts to climb the cage, but Backlund quickly gets him down. Hansen attacks Backlund and shoves him face first in the cage. Hansen gets Backlund in the corner and attacks him there. Backlund fights out of the corner. Hansen grabs Backlund by the back of the head and shoves his face into the cage. Backlund reverses an irish whip and then shoves Hansen into the cage. The cage is being used a lot in this match. I’ve lost count of how many times someone has gone face first into the cage. Backlund hits Hansen with a piledriver. I think that’s the first wrestling move I have seen in this match. It has been mostly punches, kicks, and using the cage as a weapon.
Backlund tries to climb out of the cage, but Hansen stops him before Backlund can get close to escaping. Backlund is down on the mat and Hansen tries to hit him with an elbow drop, but Backlund moves out of the way. He avoided the elbow, but can’t avoid a punch to the face from Hansen. Backlund’s face is shoved into the cage twice. Hansen tries it a third time, but Backlund blocks it and is able to shove Hansen’s face into the cage. No one has been busted open yet surprisingly. Backlund shoves Hansen’s face into the cage again. I love seeing Backlund and Hansen continue to use the cage as a weapon. Backlund grinds Hansen’s face into the steel mesh of the cage. Hansen is in the corner, but he quickly fights out of it. Backlund hits Hansen with some punches and the fans watching at home can see that Hansen is now bleeding. It’s hard to see because Hansen’s hair is in the way. Hansen and Backlund go back-and-forth with punches. Backlund kicks Hansen in the groin. Vince McMahon on commentary reminds the TV viewers that there are no holds barred in this match. Backlund tries to leave the cage, but Hansen stops him. Hansen whips Backlund into the ropes and then hits Backlund with an elbow. Backlund falls down. Hansen goes for an elbow drop, but Backlund avoids it just like he did earlier in the match. Backlund does some ground attacks on Hansen. Backlund hits Hansen with a backdrop. Hansen gets up and fights back. Hansen slams Backlund and hits him with a knee drop. Hansen tries to exit through the door, but Backlund stops him. His head is out of the cage, but Backlund is grabbing Hansen’s leg. Hansen is back in the cage. Backlund tries to escape through the door, but Hansen holds on to him. Hansen brings Backlund back into the ring. Hansen punches Backlund a few times. Hansen starts to climb out of the cage, but Backlund stops him. Backlund pulls Hansen down by grabbing the tights. Backlund climbs the cage and Hansen climbs the cage too. They are fighting on the top rope. Headbutt by Backlund! Hansen falls off the ropes and onto the mat. Backlund is off the ropes too. Hansen gets up first and immediately tries to climb out of the cage. Backlund pulls Hansen’s leg and Hansen hits his head on the top turnbuckle. Hansen is down. Backlund walks out of the door and he is the winner!