DVDVR Puerto Rico 80s Set: Abdullah the Butcher v. Victor Jovica (Chain Match) (July 1986)

Disc 2, Match 16: Abdullah the Butcher v. Victor Jovica (Chain Match) (July 1986)

This is my first review in a while for SC. Work's been nuts for me since about February and we've got another baby coming in September. I have a bit of a window right now to get some things done though. I should tackle Lucha Underground, but the slots of time I have right now don't fit 45 minute blocks well. Apologies to Eric. Instead, I'm going to keep moving forward with the DVDVR PR set.

I had watched this match before I fell off on these and really enjoyed it. It might be part of why I fell off, because I wasn't sure I could do it justice in a write-up. I'm not entirely sure I can now either but I'll give it my best shot.

This was actually a big surprise. It's one of the best chain/strap matches I've ever seen, a combination of blood, guts, and logical escalation, with a hero (who the Trinidad crowd was absolutely behind), a hugely self-aware monster, a hot crowd, and a great, satisfying finish. I don't believe a word of the announcing, from the crowd size to the way they were painting Jovica as some sort of jobber to the tournament to get the main event slot, none of it. Some of it is entertaining, mind you, but thankfully the match is gloriously minimalist and stands on its own.

This was a bloodbath from the get go with Jovica bleeding and Abby using the chain around his fist to work his wound. It really never looked back. I absolutely loved the use of the chain in the match. It was the great equalizer, as it let Jovica believably come back from the early damage. It was a meaningful object of escalation. When Abby took back over by using his usual "object," the devastation of it felt all the more powerful because he chose to go with that instead of the chain. The escalation worked for Jovica too as he went from chain-assisted punches, to shots to the ribs, to whips, to (one one of his final comebacks) clotheslining shots to the throat followed by outright choking. Every comeback feels earned, intuitive, and clever. You really got the sense that Jovica was trying to figure out how to topple the monster and Abby, to his credit, understood that the chain was an equalizer and that he could be more giving in this match without losing any heat. There was more of a sense of danger for him than usual; some of his desperation tactics, whether it was a punch or kick out of nowhere (with alarming speed) or just him rushing to win the match towards the end, made him come off as a truly wounded beast.

Likewise, the winning gimmick, to touch all four corners was utilized well (and cut off equally) well. There was never a moment where someone seemed like they could have won if they weren't ignoring the gimmick which is a problem in other such matches. It was only when his opponent was beaten down that Abby or Jovica went for it. If one of them tried to touch too early, he'd pay for it. Jovica would use the chain defensively to try to root Abby so he couldn't make it all the way around. Abby would do the same, even rolling out of the ring so that his girth could prevent it. When Jovica finally used the chain in the most PR way possible to get the advantage, it was a big triumphant moment and the crowd realized it; the sound for this one wasn't great, but the roar was impossible to deny. Post-match Abby made sure to get his heat back, which let the babyfaces come down, drive him away, and celebrate with Jovica. Great match, one of the best chain matches of all time.