Before the match "Mean" Gene Okerlund interviews Dusty Rhodes wearing a policeman's hat, and holding a nightstick. I think it was part of emphesising the "common man" part of his character. Rhodes says he sings and dances better than Honky Tonk Man, and tonight he'll prove he's better than Honky Tonk in the ring. Honky Tonk Man enters first with Jimmy Hart by his side. Jesse Ventura on commentary mentions Honky Tonk's "greatest hits" collection with his guitar here in the WWF. Honky Tonk man clears the ring for Rhodes' entrance, as most people would with a guy holding a police baton walking towards us.
THE
HONKY TONK MAN VS. DUSTY RHODES
WWF Summerslam 1989 (28th August 1989)
Honky
Tonk Man dances at the bell, stalling. Rhodes is happy to show off
his moves too, and the crowd preferred Dusty's. The American Dream
sends Honky Tonk Man into the corner from a collar-elbow tie up, and
breaks it clean off the ropes, happily dancing out of the corner.
Rhodes is in Honky Tonk Man's head in the opening minute here, Honky
Tonk charges but gets back dropped onto his arse. Honky Tonk Man
takes a breather outside of the ring to avoid Dusty's Bionic elbow.
Dusty Rhodes allows Honky Tonk Man to get back in the ring as we get
a crowd shot, and they lock up again, Rhodes grabs control of the
arm, and teases an elbow but winds Honky Tonk Man up by ruffling his
hair up instead. Again Honky Tonk Man's aggression gets the better of him as he walks into an atomic drop. Dusty connects with his elbow knocking Honky Tonk Man into the corner. Rhodes climbs the turnbuckles and hits the 10-punch in the corner. Honky Tonk Man drops to the mat. Rhodes dances around whilst locking in a spinning toehold, and Honky Tonk Man finds an opening to rake his eyes.
Honky Tonk Man gets back to his feet and applies a standing headlock on Rhodes. Honky Tonk Man keeps his body between the referee and Rhodes as he hits Rhodes with illegal fists. Rhodes is able to counter the headlock and hits Honky Tonk Man with some quick revenge. Honky Tonk Man sends Dusty Rhodes across the ring and drops to the mat, Jimmy Hart tries to trip Dusty from the outside but couldn't get it. Rhodes tries to confront Hart but he scarpers, Rhodes follows him back in the ring, but Honky Tonk Man used the distraction to grab Jimmy's megaphone. Rhodes runs into a megaphone shot to the gut, Honky Tonk Man covers, but Rhodes kicks out at 2. Rhodes tries to fight to his feet but Honky Tonk Man forces him out to the apron. Honky Tonk Man keeps the referee's attention whilst Jimmy Hart chokes Dusty Rhodes out. Honky Tonk man brings Rhodes back to his feet and hits him with a right hand, dropping Rhodes to his knees. Honky Tonk Man stands over him with a reverse chinlock, the move starts to take affect but Rhodes finds it in himself to dance for the fans, using their energy to get to his feet and elbow himself free. Rhodes runs into a knee to the gut.
Honky Tonk Man works the neck with more strikes before going back to a chinlock. This time Rhodes drops to the mat. The referee checks his arm but it only drops twice. Dusty Rhodes is able to roll on to his front and Honky Tonk Man tries to wrench it harder but Rhodes is able to get to his feet and elbow free again. This time Rhodes doesn't waste any time and he scoops Honky Tonk Man up, slamming him to the mat. Honky Tonk Man is quick to his feet avoiding an elbow drop and goes back to the chinlock, making me think Randy Orton studied this match. The American Dream gets back to his feet and forces Honky Tonk Man into the corner, Honky Tonk Man has to break the hold on the ropes and Rhodes follows up with a shoulder block. Honky Tonk Man takes a shortcut raking at Rhodes' eyes and fighting him across to the opposite corner. More right hands from Honky Tonk Man in the corner fire Rhodes up and it starts a slugfest, Rhodes gets the advantage out of the corner, jabbing at Honky Tonk Man and dancing around him. Honky Tonk Man's out on his feet until a double shot to the top of the head drops him.
Dusty Rhodes sends Honky Tonk Man from corner to corner, but misses the charge and is sent into the referee. Jimmy Hart retrieves the guitar as Honky Tonk man bring Rhodes to his feet, Honky Tonk Man holds Rhodes for Jimmy Hart, but Rhodes breaks free at the last second! Dusty Rhodes hits a jumping elbow drop and covers. The referee crawls over to count the three.
WINNER: "THE AMERICAN DREAM" DUSTY RHODES
There wasn't much to this match, creating a ceiling for it. Which is understandable for a midcard feud. Honky Tonk Man spent the match slowing Rhodes down to try and squash the fans' support, but they were vocal throughout. Jimmy Hart was able to add to the match with his interference, which is always good to see. Honky Tonk Man and Jimmy Hart used every trick in the book and in the end it came back to bite them, with the elbow drop protecting Rhodes' integrety. WORK RATE: 3.25/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT: 3.25/5
OVERALL: 6.5/10
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