Hidden Gems: Ahead Of Their Time

This was a big one on the indy scene for its time.

GWF Light Heavyweight Title: Lightning Kid vs. Jerry Lynn
Date: January 6, 1992
Location: Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Bruce Prichard, Greg Johnson

This is from the Global Wrestling Federation, a pretty low level/lame Texas promotion which did produce some names like these two, Ahmed Johnson and John Bradshaw Layfield. The Kid (better known as 1-2-3 Kid/X-Pac) is defending and this is 2/3 falls. There are also special rules here as you have to win via your designated finisher (Lightning Strike for Kid and sleeper for Lynn). It is also the feud that made both guys’ careers and they fought each other roughly 1427 times over the years.

Feeling out process to start with Lynn grabbing the wrist but Kid springboards out to grab a wristlock of his own. Lynn busts out his own springboard to escape and it’s time for a test of strength. The Kid gets sent outside for a breather, only to get taken down amateur style back inside.

Lynn even goes into referee’s position to offer some more amateur stuff but Kid wisely kicks him in the ribs. A headscissors puts Lynn outside and a top rope flip dive takes him down again. Back in and Lynn slaps on the sleeper for two arm drops…..and the three arm drops for the first fall at 6:44.

We take a break and come back with both guys fighting back up. Kid kicks away but gets backdropped to the floor and Lynn is right there with a baseball slide. A middle rope spinning springboard dive takes Kid down again but he is right back up with the Lightning Strike (which apparently is a Tombstone) for the second fall at 9:41 shown.

Back from another break with Lynn fighting out of a front facelock and then elbowing Kid down. Another sleeper is broken up but the referee gets bumped. Lynn drops Kid again and covers out of instinct, only to have to avoid Scott Anthony’s (Raven) top rope shot with a chain, which hits Kid by mistake. The sleeper gives Lynn the title at 14:02 shown.

Rating: B-. The stipulation was a little weird but it was nice to see the two of them having to try to get into a position for their hold and that worked out well enough. It might not have been a classic, but this was amazing stuff when you consider the WWF was still in the Hogan Era. These two were ahead of their time in this country and it is great to see them getting their stuff in like this, especially in a national promotion (yeah it was national, but not exactly well received).

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