Bret’s first title win
By Scott Keith on 19th April 2021
Hello,
Bret's title win over Ric Flair was famously done seat-of-the-pants. The video wall at the entrance way prominently displayed the Coliseum Video logo, which suggests it was always intended to be a “Coliseum Exclusive,” but what's interesting is how long it
took to finally come out: I don't know the exact release date, but the “Smack 'em, Whack 'em” tape was clearly produced during the lead-up to WM9, several months after the title change happened. I don't know what the production schedule was on these videos
and how much lead time was needed, but did that lag , not to mention the fact that it was never televised to begin with (despite the Prime Time Wrestling banners) have something to do with the haste in getting the title onto Bret, in order to prevent the various
politicians backstage from nixing it (so the story goes)?
Incidentally, Bret has slagged the match, but it actually is terrific. One could give it **** 1/2 without feeling any shame. The only thing I'd really mark against it is that it has an ending, but not really a *finish*. Bret does his stuff, then just slaps
on the Sharpshooter, and Flair gives up, almost like how Bret would wrap up a TV squash. I was hoping for something a little more intricate, especially given that creative finishes were a speciality for Bret.
I don’t think there was any malice with the release schedule, it was just a messy period for the company and they didn’t have it together. And you’re right, it was a great match!