The Match that made Barry Windham

When there is talk of the best wrestlers never to win the NWA Title, names like Ted DiBiase and David Von Erich usually come to mind first.  I would like to toss in the name of Barry Windham to the mix on this debate.  Now, before I go any further, I do know that Barry finally won the NWA title in the early 1990's but I am sure you can agree with me that the NWA Title was not the same title that it was for over 50 years.  It was a watered down version of its former self.  If regional wrestling continued through the rest of the 1980s and 90's, Barry Windham would have made an excellent NWA World's Heavyweight Champion.

I respect Barry Windham a great deal.  He was a second generation wrestler who did not ride his father's coattails.  Barry paid his dues in CWF the hard way.  When he debuted in CWF in 1980, fans did not know that Barry was the son of Blackjack Mulligan. 

I saw Barry from the beginning.  From his beatings he suffered at the hands of Don Muraco on CWF TV, to being elevated to a tag team with Reggie Parks, to winning the Florida TV Title over Mr. Saito, to eventually being a true top contender to the NWA World Title.  Barry Windham was a young man who truly got bigger and better with each passing year in the 1980's.  Even as a thin, inexperienced rookie in 1980, he showed the talent that would one day bring him to superstardom in the wrestling world.

The match that I would like to focus on was on CWF TV back during Barry's first reign as Florida TV Champion.  His opponent, Hangman Bobby Jaggers.  Jaggers was a top heel in CWF challenging Barry for his TV Title.  Jaggers was a dangerous wrestler who was known to load his elbow pad with a foreign object and beat his foes bloody with it. 

I am going to include as much of Gordon Solie's play by play as well.  For those of you who heard Gordon do play by play, you can appreciate his comments.  The match was made that much more effective just by Gordon Solie doing the broadcasting duties.

During the ring introductions, Gordon Solie describes the young champion. "Tall, sinewy, great tendon strength.  Held on to that Florida Television championship, he as fought some of the best, he is an outstanding young athlete.  Tremendous heart, tremendous desire, but now he is facing a supreme test in Hangman Bobby Jaggers."  That, my friends, is vintage Gordon Solie!

Barry is introduced first, from Sweetwater, Texas weighing in at 230lbs (I am sure they were being generous).  And, from Dunlap, Kansas, weighing it at 265lbs, Hangman Bobby Jaggers!

Windham has the early advantage with a flying forearm smash that rocks Jaggers and a high hip toss that frustrates the challenger.  Bobby complains to the referee Ted Marshall of a hair pull but it falls on deaf ears.  After an arm drag take down by Windham, Gordon Solie comments on the young champion.  "Even though time is his ally, Windham is very definitely carrying the battle to Hangman Bobby Jaggers."

Bobby Jaggers eventually takes the match over with a fist to the face and an elbow smash to the top of the skull.  A swinging neckbreaker has Windham down but Barry kicks out of a pin attempt at the count of two.  Jaggers continues his physical offense, dominating the young TV champion.  "How much longer can Barry Windham take the onslaught of the Hangman Bobby Jaggers", Gordon states.

Jaggers puts a side headlock on Windham who surprises Bobby by tossing him into the ropes.  Barry leap frogs him and Jaggers goes crashing into Referee Ted Marshall who falls outside the ring.  Barry grabs Jaggers again and throws him into the ropes and greeting him with his finisher, the lariat!  Jaggers is out for the count.  Windham covers him for the pin!  "There is no referee!" Gordon exclaims! 

Barry gets up to aid the fallen Ted Marshall.  Hangman Bobby Jaggers stumbles to his feet and loads his elbow as Gordon cries out "look what he is doing with the elbow pad....caught, he caught Windham.   More...