While he was quite honorable while presenting Stu Hart with the prestigious Mazurki award, the Angel did not wear a halo in the UWF. The triple team threat was always present whether the Freebirds were in singles or tag competition, and the Angel added yet another nefarious element to the mix. He would ably aid his Freebird brothers during the never-ending frays against the likes of Ted DiBiase, Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, Jim Duggan, Terry Taylor, Savannah Jack, the Missing Link, and, of course, the cowboy from Bixby, OK, Bill Watts. The Angel won a couple of televised singles matches, albeit it was against enhancement talent like Johnny West. He did quite well in the UWF/Pro Wrestling Illustrated tournament in the winter of 1986, upsetting Chavo Guerrero and Savannah Jack before falling in the semifinals to the One Man Gang. In addition to that surprising success, my main memory of Mr. Angel is his vicious assistance to his Freebird brothers in an absolutely mauling of DiBiase and Williams in a “Badstreet Rules Match.” The Angel also had a brief mid card feud with Gary Young in 1987, shortly before turning on the Freebirds to join Devastation, Inc. 

Ken Massey was “enhancement talent” in the UWF. He did get Television Title matches against Buddy Roberts and Savannah Jack at different points, but most of his bouts had Massey doing the honors for guys such as Terry Taylor, Iceman King Parsons, and Chavo Guerrero, However, Ken Massey was hardly limited to wrestling under one name. He was also the Red Devil and the illustrious Blue Cyclone, named after the goofy Ray “Not the Wrestler” Stevens song. Like Gary Young, Massey worked some cards twice, only under two identities. 

The match was pretty much a squash. Mr. Angel had decent ability and Mr. Massey did not have much of a chance. The Angel pinned Massey at around the 5:00 mark…

“When The Angel of Death - comes down after you
Can you smile and say - that you have been true
Can you truthfully say - with your dying breath? 
That you're ready to meet the Angel of Death?”

“The Angel of Death,” by Hank Williams. 

Up next was a UWF Tag Team Title clash pitting champions Leroy Brown and Bill Irwin against Joe Savoldi and Gary Young. Brown and Irwin were members of Skandar Akbar’s collection of henchmen, Devastation, Inc. They captured the belts from John Tatum and Jack Victory in Tulsa on November 9, 1986 to become the promotion’s eighth tag champs. Both Brown and Irwin had worked the Florida territory in the 1970s when Bill Watts was the area’s heavyweight champion. Brown enjoyed a fair amount of success and demonstrated excellent mic skills. Bill Irwin, along with his brother Scott, were just beginning in the wrestling’ business. Watts always favored big, tough brawlers with some measure of charisma. When the opportunity arose, Watts brought the duo into the UWF.

Leroy Brown and Bill Irwin would routinely thrash pairings such as Joe Salvoldi and Jeff Raitz on television, but they were also a part of Devastation’s attempts to raise as much hell as humanly possible under as many combinations. Brown and Irwin tagged with the One Man Gang to face Jim Duggan, The Missing Link & Chris Adams in one of those crazy “we’re outta time” brawls that closed UWF TV. Another memorable “match” had Duggan, Iceman King Parsons, Adams & Savannah Jack slugging and stomping it out against the Gang, Buddy Landel, Irwin and Brown.

We discussed Gary Young in the previous installment. He was taking place in his second match of the evening, tagging with Joe Savoldi. Savoldi came from a wrestling family. His father Angelo was one of the world’s top lightweights in the late ‘50s-early ‘60s, winning the world title three times, all in Oklahoma City. Joe Savoldi wrestled in Mid South as enhancement talent,  putting over guys on television. He filled the same role in the UWF, working both in singles and tag matches. However, he did get a memorable shot at the “big time” in the UWF. Around the time of the Superdome Extravaganza, Savoldi had a shot at the Television Title against Buddy Roberts. Savoldi won, albeit by disqualification.

The match between Brown/Irwin and Young/Savoldi was entertaining.

The face team got in some offense, but the overpowering nature of the Devastation dudes was too much. Wild Bill pinned Jumpin’ Joe for the victory… 

“And it's bad, bad Leroy Brown
The baddest man in the whole damned town
Badder than old King Kong
And meaner than a junkyard dog” 

“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” by Jim Croce. 

Sorry, I do not know any tunes where I could work in a Devastation or Wild Bill reference with wrestling. If you know of any, send them this way cl11@swt.edu

Well, that’s it for this time. Thanks once again for stopping by and taking the time to read my ramblings. Special thanks to Vince Fahey and all of those who make this one of the Web’s very best sites. As usual, please feel free to e-mail any suggestions, requests or questions to cl11@swt.edu. I hope that everyone's year has been a healthy and happy one. My own feelings about Christmas are explained by Linus' soliloquy in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." May everyone have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve and Day. Please remember our military as they serve our country. Enjoy your holidays, and make sure you take time to tell the people in your life that you love them. Take care. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

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