WWE The Best of WWE At Madison Square Garden Season 1 Episode 3 Texas Death Match for the WWE Championship: Bob Backlund vs. Ken Patera, May 19, 1980
- TV-14
- May 19, 1980
- 30 min
In this episode of WWE's "The Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden", viewers are taken back to May 19, 1980 for a Texas Death Match for the WWE Championship between Bob Backlund and Ken Patera. The Texas Death Match was a brutal stipulation that saw no disqualifications or count-outs, with the only way to win being to incapacitate your opponent to the point where they cannot answer a ten count.
The match starts with both Backlund and Patera showing off their strength and athleticism, with Patera taking control early on by throwing Backlund into the turnbuckle and hitting him with a series of strikes. Backlund fights back with his own strikes, but Patera's strength advantage proves too much for him to overcome initially.
As the match progresses, both men begin to use weapons such as chairs and tables to gain the upper hand. Patera takes advantage by placing Backlund's head in between a folding chair and hitting it with a second chair, causing Backlund to collapse onto the mat. Backlund, however, refuses to stay down and continues to fight back.
The match takes a dark turn when Patera brings out a steel bar and hits Backlund with it repeatedly. Bloodied and battered, Backlund still manages to fight on, hitting Patera with a series of punches and kicks that bring the crowd to their feet.
As the match nears its end, both men trade blows and submission holds, with Backlund unleashing a series of suplexes on Patera. In the end, however, it is Backlund who is unable to answer the ten count after Patera hits him with a devastating backbreaker.
This episode of "The Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden" showcases the brutality and intensity of the Texas Death Match stipulation, as well as the incredible resilience and determination of both Bob Backlund and Ken Patera. It is a must-watch for fans of classic WWE matches and those who appreciate the art of professional wrestling.