Buddy Rose vs. Rick Martel

[6.0] "The third and final match we get between these two as Martel is gone from Portland shortly, a real tragedy even watching this some 40 years later that Martel's run lasted as short as it did. The first two matches these guys had were all-timers in my mind so I can only feel a little disappointed that this one is *only* great, doesn't help that we lose the finish of the second fall due to dodgy footage. It does feel like a setup match in some ways too, a little less focus on the finer details but the big swings and broad strokes are obviously great too. This is a great Rose stooging performance more than anything else and that's never a bad way to go, loved him trying to step up to Martel in a fist fight with the two step and immediately eating shit. Can only wish they used the no DQ stip a little more, not in terms of using weapons or anything stupid that wouldn't have made sense but maybe Rose getting to openly cheat could've been played upon more. Martel wins the third clean as a whistle with an atomic drop right onto the top turnbuckle and the crowd goes nuts for it. Hell of a run for Martel that pretty much ends here."

[8.0] "Martel and Rose just don't disappoint when they're up against each other. As I watch through more Buddy Rose matches, I see why people say his 2/3 falls matches in Portland manage to not feel too samey, despite doing them week in and week out. The finish to this one, for example, being a reversal of the same illegal move he used to pin Martel earlier is a nice touch. As is the case in wrestling, turnabout is fair play. I really wish we had footage of the loser leaves town match that comes after this, but that's the way it is with wrestling from this era."

[8.0] "Great end of a feud (we don't have the loser leaves town from next Tuesday), there is a bit of clipping (we miss the finish of the second fall) but it's a great match."

[8.0] "This would be Rick Martel's last title defense before his Loser Leaves Town match against Buddy Rose next week (which is not on tape, sadly), where he'd go on to drop the title and leave Portland to join the WWF. Roddy Piper and Ed Wiskoski are barred from ringside after the events of last week, and there is no disqualification. The first fall saw Martel trying to overcome Rose's underhanded tactics. Rose cut Martel off early by putting his boots up right into Rick's throat, and we got a brief heat segment before Martel made a comeback and caught Buddy off guard with a rana for the first fall. Martel went after Rose's back in the second fall, punishing it with simple but painful work. Rose was selling huge for Martel here, but he was able to take advantage when put in a headlock, dropping the Quebecois crotch-first onto the turnbuckle to tie things up. The third fall began with a fun boxing showdown - obviously won by Martel - before Rose finally took over. He grinded Martel down with a stomach claw, lowering the momentum but building more anticipation for Martel's eventual comeback. Martel retaliated by trying to unmask Buddy and going after his stomach in return! The finish was classic poetic justice, with Rose getting his crotch dropped atop the turnbuckle, the same illegal move he used to win the second fall. This wasn't on the level of some of their best stuff, but it was another excellent addition to the Rose/Martel rivalry. [****]"