GREG VALENTINE VS. RODDY PIPER

Today marks the birthday of Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. Valentine is one of only a few people that wrestled on both the original Wrestlemania and Starrcade cards. Another man on this list is his opponent at Starrcade, the future “Rowdy One” Roddy Piper.

Roddy Piper and Greg Valentine are being chained together in the ring before the introductions for this match. Greg Valentine is the United States champion but this is a non-title match. Gordon Sole and Bob Caudle are on commentary for this match.

GREG VALENTINE VS. RODDY PIPER (Dog Collar)

JCP Starrcade 1983 (24^th November 1983)

  They both tug with their neck, but neither man moves or gets an advantage over the other. I'm not sure that would be my first plan. They start reaching down the chain, Piper hides a section behind him as Valentine steps into range. Piper whips Valentine, who backs away. Greg Valentine catches on, he aims for Piper's head but Piper ducks three attempts, backing himself into the corner. They exchange right hands in the middle of the ring then back away again. Piper whips at Valentine and hits a chain-assisted right hand, he drops the links as he keeps attacking Valentine, then grabs it again because why not? Roddy Piper drives the chain into Valentine's face then backs up, Roddy Piper pulls Valentine into a right hand that knocks him down. Greg Valentine gets to his feet only to be dropped again. Greg Valentine fights back with strikes as he gets to his feet, Piper staggers back into the corner. Greg Valentine wraps the chain around his fist and starts targetting Piper's recently injured ear.

  Greg Valentine snapmares Piper down and wraps the chain around his head, again damaging the ear as well as impairing Piper's vision. Greg Valentine brings Piper to his feet and gets in more strikes on the ear. Piper thumbs the eye and drops Valentine with a knee-lift. Roddy Piper wraps the chain around Valentine's face, getting in some right hands. Piper throws the chain around the ringpost and uses it as a lynch, keeping Valentine in the corner. Roddy Piper hits rights in the corner and bites Valentine, busting him open. Greg Valentine walks into a right hand that knocks him down to one knee. We see a crowd shot as Valentine lunges for Piper and begins choking him down to the mat. It goes outside where Piper hits Valentine with the chain, so Piper takes a shot at the ear, chain-assisted of course. Piper throws a chair at Valentine, but it's caught. The chair was a distraction for the chain-assisted fist! Piper knocks Valentine into the railing and climbs on the apron, it's a risky strategy but it pays off as he drags Valentine up with him, until the referee separates them, allowing Piper to Drive the chain into Piper's face and knock him down with a shot to the ear.

  Valentine climbs on Piper, continuing the attack on the ear. Piper rolls to the floor, but Valentine sends him ear-first into the ringpost. The ear is the focus of the attack on the floor, even getting sent into a standing chair. Greg Valentine gets in the ring, keeping Roddy on the floor for a while longer. The chain keeps Piper standing, he is able to roll back in the ring. The left side of his head is covered in blood and his balance is gone but he's not quitting. Greg Valentine wraps the chain around his fist for more punches to the ear. Valentine sets up for a suplex, but Piper hits him in the gut with a chain-assisted right. Valentine knocks Piper into the ropes but he rebounds with one of his own. Valentine gets another reply in and Piper stumbles to the corner. Valentine hits an elbow to the top of Pier's head and an elbow drop. He covers but only gets a nearfall. Another elbow drop gets another nearfall. Greg Valentine tries to run the ropes but Piper yanks the chain, dropping him.

  Roddy Piper goes on the attack with rights and boots to Valentine's head, then he whips him again with the chain. Greg Valentine goes down so Piper whips him again, falling with the chain. Roddy Piper wraps the chain around his fist again and drops it across Valentine's head. Greg Valentine gets to his feet, fighting back with shots to the ear. They brawl and Piper gets the better of it, dropping Valentine to his knees. Piper lifts Valentine with the chain and drops him to one knee again with jabs and haymakers. Valentine backs Piper into a corner and chokes him with the chain, Valentine drops Piper with a shot to the ear and measures up for a high knee drop! Valentine tries to force Piper's shoulders to the mat, but they won't stay down for 3 seconds, so Bob Caudle thinks Piper's winning that psychological battle. I mean yeah, but he doesn't look very victorious this second. Greg Valentine hits a chain-assisted fist drop and gets another nearfall. Greg Valentine brings it back to their feet and they struggle for a vertical suplex, a battle that Piper eventually wins. You should hear the crowd for that suplex, too. The eventual wrestling move was too much for the two wrestlers as the referee begins counting them down (IN A DOG COLLAR MATCH!) They both thankfully beat the count and Piper is sent corner to corner, staggering back out into a sleeper hold. Roddy Piper shows just enough life to wrap the chain around his hand, breaking a hold with a shot to Valentine's skull. Greg Valentine beats the referee's count, coming off the middle rope with another shot to the ear. Greg Valentine drops the elbow before climbing back up the corner. Roddy Piper is able to pull Greg Valentine down and seems to get a shot at him whilst he's in the air. Piper hammers at Valentine with the chain, even hooking both of Valentine's legs with it when he pins Greg Valentine for the victory.

WINNER: RODDY PIPER

  Valentine jumps Roddy Piper after the match, thowing him over the top rope and choking him with the chain, hey at least your title wasn't on the line, pal. As Gordon Solie finally realises the same and corrects himself.

The commentary said this was for the championship, but it hasn't been advertised as such anywhere else I've seen, not strange in context, back at this time these cards were used to sell house shows around the territory. The crowd were fully behind Piper, wanting him to put Valentine away after having his ear injured. Greg Valentine was able to work a strange body part, making the match minimalistic, but it worked as these guys brawled around and made it feel like they wanted to kill each other. There was no point putting the championship on the line because they would tear each other limb from limb, the survivor would be in no condition to defend it. – WORKRATE: 2/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.75/5 OVERALL 5.75/10