The Flying Hammerlock Video Review #30: Dory Vs. RVD

 

This review is dedicated to the memories of Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr.  R.I.P.
 

Dory Funk Jr. vs. "Mr. Monday Night" Rob Van Dam (w/Bill Alfonso), Terry Funk's WrestleFest: 50 Years of Funk, Tri-State Fairgrounds Maxor Pharmacies Coliseum, Amarillo, TX, September 11, 1997.
 

This show was supposed to mark Terry Funk's retirement, which, of course, didn't stick as he still wrestled for many years after this.  Van Dam was still a heel in ECW at the time.   This show was originally released on VHS and later on DVD, though this match was left off for some unknown reason.
 

Dory looks old, but then, he'd looked old for years.   Alfonso rants a lot, including insulting Dory's grandson.   The bell rings, and RVD walks around, points to Dory and does his points-to-self pose as Joey Styles questions whether taking this match was a smart move for Dory.   Stalling to start while Fonzie blows on his whistle.  RVD jumps around but Dory ignores it.   Fonzie gets on the apron and does the RVD pose and RVD does some more posing and taunting.  Joey comments on RVD's tights which have WWF and WCW logos on them, as this was during the time when he was on the WWF side of the ECW-WWF feud.  They finally tie up and Dory grabs a side headlock.  RVD has no counter for the basic hold. A "Dory" chant starts as they back into the ropes and RVD whips Dory across.  Dory comes off as RVD drops down and as Dory comes off the other side Van Dam leapfrogs him but Dory responds with a hard forearm to the mouth, sending RVD to the floor.  RVD complains while Fonzie blows his whistle and rants some more.  Dory decides he's heard enough and exits the ring to go after Alfonso, which shuts Fonzie up if only for the moment.   RVD gets back in the ring and Dory follows.  Dory goes to tie up again but RVD kicks him in the gut, then another kick and a legsweep.   Then a corkscrew legdrop to the back of Dory's head.   Van Dam showboats a little before stomping Dory's head.  RVD brings Dory to his feet in the corner and punches away at him.  RVD whips Dory to the opposite corner and rolls to the corner but Dory moves out of the way but RVD leaps up to the second turnbuckle.  RVD misses whatever he was going for and Dory nails him with an European Uppercut.   Then two more to knock RVD down.   Dory mocks RVD's pose.   RVD gets up and Dory gives him another Uppercut to send him over the ropes and out to the floor.  RVD grabs Dory's legs and pulls him out to the floor.  RVD punches and kicks Dory and smacks his face into the ring apron.  RVD rolls back into the ring.  He gets up, runs off the ropes and tries for a somersault dive over the ropes which misses but his boot does make contact with Dory.  Both guys are down as Fonzie trash talks Dory.   Both guys make it to their feet and make it back into the ring.   Dory is down and RVD dropkicks him in the face.  RVD gets up and stomps on Dory.  RVD punches Dory a few times.  Dory gets up and goes to the corner and RVD unleashes more punches and kicks.  RVD does a back handspring and dropkicks Dory's chest.   RVD pulls Dory away from the corner, climbs up top and delivers a legdrop.  It gets 2.  RVD punches Dory in the face a few more times.  RVD gives Dory a cross-corner whip but when RVD follows Dory elbows him in the face.   RVD kicks Dory in the gut.  Dory whips RVD off the ropes and hits him with a back elbow.  RVD gets up and gives Dory some more punches and kicks in the corner.  RVD whips Dory off the ropes but Dory responds with a flying forearm.  Dory hooks RVD's arms and goes for the Butterfly Suplex but RVD blocks it.  Again.  Then a few more times.  Dory finally hits the move.  Dory grabs RVD's leg and applies the famous Funk Spinning Toe Hold a few times but RVD grabs the bottom rope.  Dory pushes the referee to the side but RVD hits the Vandaminator.  Dory is down on the apron under the ropes and RVD hits a slingshot stomp to the face.  RVD gives Dory a chairshot right to the head.  RVD rolls Dory into the ring and punches him a few times.  RVD runs off the ropes and hits a tumbling splash.  It gets 2.  RVD poses, slams Dory and climbs up top.  RVD hits the Frogsplash and does a nonchalant cover and Dory kicks out at 2.   RVD brings Dory up and delivers more punches and kicks in the corner, and Dory responds with punches of his own.  RVD starts a cross-corner whip but stops it and goes for some kicks but the spinkick misses.  Dory gives RVD a forearm to the face and whips him off the ropes and back body drops him.   Dory trips up RVD and grabs his leg and sets up for the Spinning Toe Hold again but RVD rolls him up into a small package but only gets 2 1/2.   Back up they exchange punches and kicks.   RVD grabs a side headlock but Dory sits RVD on the top rope and hits a slingshot belly to back suplex.  With RVD down, Dory grabs a half-nelson cradle and gets the pin at 11:32!  ***1/2
 

Very good match and a distinct clash of styles.   Recommended and you can watch it here.