Where the idea for Morrison vs. Ziggler on Smackdown came from

Brad Curran, in the comments of the previous article about Morrison vs. Ziggler and how it should go, correctly identified one of the key elements of the way I was suggesting that feud be booked. Brad noticed that this was very similar to a Mid-South storyline that occurred almost 25-years-ago, taking place between Ric Flair and Ted Dibiase. The other storyline referenced is the famous feud that lead to the Wrestlemania III battle between Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat.

Ted Dibiase, as discussed here, was the top heel in Mid-South. It wasn’t always so, however. He was once the company’s number two babyface. During much of this time, he was number two to his mentor, Dick Murdoch. After Junkyard Dog, Dibiase’s friend took over the number one face spot, Ted couldn’t take it and turned heel. At this point, Ted Dibiase was the top heel and most evil man in Mid-South for three years, while Murdoch, “Captain Redneck”, was a face through-and-through even after his protégé went heel. This sets the stage for our third major player to enter the scene: Ric Flair.

In 1985, Flair was the NWA Champion, touring territories and taking on all comers. Well, at this point, Flair was a chicken heel and didn’t want to face all comers, so he said he’d only face the top man in each territory; in Mid-South that meant Flair would only face the North American Champion, one Dick Murdoch.

Right before Murdoch’s match with Flair, he had to get through his top challenger for the North American strap, Butch Reed. Reed, a burly face, managed to beat Murdoch and get the title, only to be jumped by Dick Slater and Ric Flair after beating Flair in a non-title match. Reed was injured and Flair appeared to be in the clear.

The next week, it was announced that since he was long overdue a shot, Ted Dibiase would be facing Flair for the NWA Title. As the match was set to begin, who should emerge but Ted’ former mentor, Dick Murdoch. Murdoch demanded Dibiase step aside, but Ted said since he held the title longer and more often than anyone, the shot was his. Without further mincing of words, Murdoch brutally assaulted Dibiase, making him bleed and executing one of the best-double turns in wrestling history in the process. Flair was happy since he wouldn’t have to face a top challenger.

Ted Dibiase eventually made it to the back and was revealed by Jim Ross to be severely injured. Bill Watts was then cut to and he announced that Dibiase insisted on going through with the match, but he was cut up so badly that parents might not want to let their children watch.

The match did, in fact, go on, with Dibiase still bleeding as he came to the ring. Moments into the match, Flair was covered in blood that wasn’t his own, but still Dibiase fought back. Eventually, Ted made a big comeback, nearly taking the title, but was dumped to the floor and lost by countout.

The match was over and Ted was a tragic hero in defeat… but the dastardly Dick Murdoch came out while Dibiase was still on the floor and gave him a brainbuster on the concrete. Dibiase didn’t move and the injuries were sold as career ending while the fans constantly chanted “Teddy, Teddy.”

Here is the Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat feud from my good friend and PulseWrestling colleague Andy Mac:

“One of the greatest feuds of the 1980s culminated in arguably the greatest WWF match of the decade. Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat were two territory stalwarts swept up by Vince McMahon in his quest for wrestling dominance. Savage instantly captured the attention of the WWF fan base for being different than the lumbering giants that dominated the roster. He was smaller, faster, cockier, and had the flashiest damn robes in the world. He wasn't quite in the Hulkster's league but he was a prime choice for the intercontinental title which he won from Tito Santana. Savage also had at his side the lovely Elizabeth, still for my money the best female manager ever. This brought about two challengers, the newly fan friendly George "the Animal" Steele who had a childlike crush on Miss Elizabeth and Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat who was motivated by more competition than anything else.

Savage had Elizabeth to distract George Steele, but the noble dragon would not be distracted by any woman. Savage had to take matters into his own hands and did so by crushing the windpipe of Steamboat via a diving leap with the ring bell in his hands Steamboat was temporarily shelved to recover but was able to get back in time for the biggest show in the history of wrestling, Wrestlemania III. The ensuing bout was a spectacle to behold and stands the test of time the way few 1980s WWF matches do. Good triumphed over evil in the end and with some well timed help from the Animal Steamboat dispatched the heretofore dominant Savage ending 13 month reign with the title.”

What does all of this have to do with the current WWE and John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler on Smackdown? Let’s head over to PulseWrestling to find out.