Here is the steel cage match that inspired Mick Foley, Tommy Dreamer, and others to become pro wrestlers.
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00:00But on January 22nd, 1983, Morocco did reclaim the title from Morales.
00:05The Magnificent One would go on to have one of the most successful reigns in history,
00:09and one of his main adversaries was a man from the Fiji Islands.
00:13Appearing on the World Wrestling Federation scene was Jimmy Superfly Snuka,
00:17a physical specimen as well as a super athlete.
00:21Now, everyone always talks about Eddie Guerrero and Rob Van Dam's frog splash,
00:25but in reality, Superfly was the originator who inspired a future generation of superstars.
00:31Now, people typically remember where they were when signature moments in history occurred,
00:36and that is why when you talk to wrestling aficionados,
00:39they all have a story about this next match.
00:42Take McFoley, for instance.
00:44He's recounted many times his story about hitchhiking to Madison Square Garden
00:48to watch Jimmy Superfly Snuka take on Don Morocco inside a steel cage for the Intercontinental title.
00:55It just seems that Mick, along with everyone else in the sold-out garden,
00:59knew they were in for something truly special that evening, courtesy of the one and only Superfly.
01:07Fans waiting anxiously for the cage to be complete,
01:10but before that, let's go right to a very interesting interview
01:13with the Magnificent One, Don Morocco, with Vince McMahon in the locker room.
01:19With us, ladies and gentlemen, the reigning Intercontinental champion,
01:22the Magnificent Morocco, who has indeed reigned for some time as Intercontinental champion,
01:28and has no doubt raised the ire of many an opponent.
01:32And tonight, Mr. Morocco, you walk to the ring to face the Hungry Cage
01:40in a match that corners you and Snuka.
01:43As was said before, with no place to run, no place to hide,
01:48inside the steel cage, Mr. Morocco, this, I'm sure you will grant,
01:52is the most grueling match in professional wrestling today.
01:56So what do you want me to do?
01:58You want me to get excited? You want me to cheer? You want me to get...
02:01Oh, everybody all riled up. It's all been done.
02:03It's all been said. I've already did it all.
02:06I got them here. I got Snuka riled up.
02:09I got the people riled up. Everything's coming down.
02:12All the preparation's ready. I've been training for months.
02:16I'm not a champion, just a day champion. I live as a champion.
02:20I eat as a champion. I breathe as a champion.
02:23So now we're just talking about preliminaries.
02:26We're talking about stretching my legs, stretching my arms,
02:28getting a little sweat so I don't pull anything before I first walk into the cage.
02:32Because it is a cage, isn't it?
02:34And you know what it's like. You don't know what it's like.
02:36Nobody knows what it's like. Nobody but me.
02:38To go out there and stand in front of 22,000 people and feel the heat.
02:42Feel everything come down right on top of me.
02:46I'm supposed to worry about a cage.
02:48I'm supposed to worry about my skin getting torn.
02:51I'm supposed to get my face getting torn, about getting hurt.
02:55When I got 22,000 people spitting on me,
02:58this is what I set out for to begin with.
03:01To have only the finest come after me.
03:05Superfly is the finest.
03:07But just like everybody else, he hasn't been the smartest, has he?
03:11And as of yet, because I still have this, he hasn't been the best.
03:14Because I am the best.
03:18And we got minutes or hours or however long the time goes,
03:21however long it is now until we set foot in that cage.
03:25Good luck, Snooker.
03:27Good luck, brother. You're going to need all you got.
03:30You better be warmed up.
03:32You better be loose. You better be thinking about it.
03:35I've done my thinking.
03:37We're on the eve.
03:39This is our playground right outside here.
03:41Right outside these doors. You walk out these doors,
03:44and you're in the heart of the Big Apple.
03:47The whole world revolves.
03:49Right now it's revolving around us, Snooker.
03:52In the cage.
03:54Thank you very much for your time.
03:56The Magnificent Morocco.
04:00Well, the stage is set.
04:02Ring announcer Howard Finkel has introduced both combatants,
04:06the Magnificent Morocco and Superfly Jimmy Snooker.
04:09This 15-foot-high steel cage is erected.
04:12The door is open,
04:14and we're just waiting for the appearance of these two combatants
04:18as this match of such great magnitude
04:23is about to take place in this overflowing, jam-packed crowd
04:27here at Madison Square Garden.
04:31Oh, incredible what these two men must be going through.
04:34What goes through their mind?
04:36Morocco, if you take that belt away from him,
04:39that's where you're going to hurt him in the pocket.
04:41And that's when you're going to break his heart.
04:43Morocco may believe the belt doesn't mean nothing to him,
04:46but it means everything.
04:48Well, you're absolutely right, Pat.
04:50And this, the most dangerous of all professional wrestling matches,
04:54the steel cage, here they come.
04:57The champion, the Magnificent One, supporting the gold, Don Morocco,
05:01along with his manager, the infamous Captain Luis Albano,
05:06making their way down to the steel cage.
05:09Boy, the rules are very simple, folks.
05:12Very, very simple in the steel cage match.
05:14The first one to get out of the cage,
05:17either through the steel door or over the top of the steel cage,
05:2115-foot high, down to the arena floor,
05:23the first one to reach the arena floor
05:26here at Madison Square Garden is the winner.
05:29I want to tell you, it's a funny feeling to enter the ring
05:32surrounded with a cage like this
05:34because you don't know how you're going to come out of this match.
05:38You may come out a winner,
05:40but on a stretcher and out of wrestling for good.
05:43The steel cage can definitely terminate your career at any given night.
05:48Morocco now checking it out,
05:50checking the cage out, throwing forearm blows at the steel cage.
05:54He is ready for this match.
05:57He is psyching himself.
06:00He wants Snooker. He is ready.
06:03This crowd will be exploding any moment,
06:07waiting impatiently for the arrival of the one and only,
06:12the Superfly, Jimmy Snooker.
06:16Pat, the interview that Snooker made prior to this match
06:20had to be one of the most fantastic interviews I've ever heard in my life.
06:25This man poured his soul out, poured his heart out,
06:29and he is ready. This is a vendetta.
06:31This is the end of the line for the Morocco-Snooker endeavor.
06:36One sign saying Morocco number one.
06:39One sign out of 22,000.
06:43When Snooker flies, Morocco dies.
06:47Here they come, making their way now out of the dressing room area.
06:51Buddy Rogers leading his band, Superfly, to the ring.
06:56Listen to the crowd here at Madison Square Garden.
06:59Madison Square Garden.
07:1322,000 plus on their feet
07:17to welcome the Superfly,
07:21who is now doing his own little bit of checking
07:25to make sure this cage is sturdy.
07:29Boy, the last thing you'd want is to have this thing collapse.
07:32Well, if there was some way, somewhere where it's loose,
07:37where Morocco could sneak out.
07:41Of course, the first one out of the ring is the winner,
07:44but it's through the door or over the top.
07:48Never happened in the history of professional wrestling that the steel cage collapsed.
07:53There's always a first for everything.
07:55Absolutely.
07:59World Wrestling Federation, we're bringing you the greatest in professional wrestling
08:03tonight right here from Madison Square Garden,
08:06as Don Morocco, like a caged lion, pacing back and forth,
08:10awaiting the Superfly's entrance into the steel cage.
08:16Referee at the door, who will be assigned to open and close the door
08:20and request from either wrestler with the championship belt,
08:23the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship belt around his shoulder,
08:26ready to award it to the winner.
08:28Final instructions now by Buddy Rogers,
08:31and the Superfly is inside, the door is closed, and we're ready to go.
08:42Pandemonium at the Garden.
08:45Morocco is truly a pro guerrilla.
08:48He is standing there smiling, really showing no fear at all,
08:53but inside he has fear.
08:56Oh, that exchange, he blows right off the bat,
08:58and the Superfly with a big headbutt takes the upper hand.
09:02There is no rules, absolutely none whatsoever, no referees.
09:08Referee's only job is to open and close the door,
09:11Referee's only job is to open and close the door to the steel cage upon request.
09:19Very, very dangerous match, as I said earlier,
09:21you could be the winner of the match, but end up a loser.
09:24Absolutely, you end up in the hospital.
09:27Very, very dangerous piece of equipment,
09:29nothing but nuts and bolts and steel and turnbuckles,
09:34things that can tear you wide open and terminate your career forever.
09:39Nobody knows it any better than the two men that are inside this 15-foot high steel cage.
09:44As Snooker drops a big chop.
09:47Morocco calling for the door to be open, but Snooker right on top of him.
09:51This is what you have to be very careful when your opponent is near.
09:54When he's near that door, all he has to do is slide right out those steps and he's the winner.
10:01Snooker has got to get Morocco away from that corner.
10:04Positioning is so important in this type of match.
10:07Knowing where your opponent is all the time,
10:09knowing where you are in relationship to that door.
10:12Knowing how long it will take you to get to your opponent should he be near the door.
10:16How long it will take you to stop him from climbing up that three-tiered turnbuckle
10:20and over that top rope to the arena floor.
10:25Morocco's head now being banged into the top turnbuckle by the Superfly,
10:31who's pulling out all this, both men pulling out all the stops here.
10:34This is the end of the line.
10:38Oh, a knee in the midsection, but a very loaded knee.
10:44That looked kind of low.
10:45The area that the Superfly is clutching seems to be kind of...
10:48He's going to slingshot him here, Pat.
10:51Right into the side of the steel cage.
10:54What a maneuver by Morocco.
10:56As the Superfly got slingshot.
10:59Holy mackerel.
11:04He's busted open.
11:05Snuka is busted wide open from that last slingshot maneuver
11:09by the Magnificent, one who now climbs half in and half out.
11:12He's on the apron.
11:13Look at this.
11:15Ripping the face of Snuka against the steel cage.
11:18Where he's already been broken wide open,
11:20just adding insult to injury by raking his head across those sharp,
11:26sharp pieces of fence here on the steel cage.
11:30Morocco's got to be careful.
11:31Snuka is near the door also.
11:33But I don't think Snuka right now is thinking about the door.
11:36Definitely not, Pat.
11:37He's trying to get everything back together again.
11:39He's been busted wide open here early in the match.
11:42Gets thrown in a turnbuckle,
11:43and he brings up a knee in the zone and sends Morocco down.
11:47But Snuka is in a lot of trouble.
11:51Snuka climbing the rope on the inside.
11:54Going up to him, but Morocco's on his feet and stops him.
11:58Snuka had ideas about going over the top, Pat.
12:01In as bad a shape as he is.
12:03Morocco once again bangs his head into the top of the steel cage.
12:09What is Morocco trying to do?
12:11He's got him up in a half fireman's carry.
12:12I don't know what he's trying to do.
12:14It looks to me like he is actually trying to dump Snuka over,
12:19knowing that if he does that,
12:21Snuka would win the match,
12:22but he would be the wrestler, period.
12:26Snuka had an opportunity to go to the outside,
12:28but doesn't have it all together.
12:29He could just as easily be on the arena floor right now.
12:33But he's looking to punish the Magnificent One.
12:36This is a vendetta.
12:41Snuka now climbing down carefully.
12:46Didn't get down quick enough.
12:47Morocco caught him.
12:49Another big right hand.
12:51Snuka been hurt much more seriously than Morocco
12:54so far in this match.
12:55Big slam sends the fly down.
12:58Flat on his back.
12:59Bleeding profusely now.
13:01Maybe the forehead, maybe the eye.
13:04Who knows?
13:05It's too hard to tell.
13:06The door is open.
13:07Morocco is in a position to get out.
13:10Got one leg out.
13:11Superfly grabs him by the tights.
13:14Oh, he lifted a leg up there.
13:18Would be an automatic disqualification in any other tight match.
13:21Would be an automatic disqualification in any other tight match,
13:24but not the steel cage match.
13:30Morocco now going to where he's going to fling Superfly into the corner.
13:33Oh, and a reversal!
13:35An upside down Morocco!
13:38Morocco almost landed it right on top of his head.
13:43Last minute reflex.
13:44Brought his body weight over.
13:47Oh, as he gets slammed heavily
13:49right into the center of the steel cage.
13:51And the fans love it.
13:53You know, there's much more to this match
13:55than just getting out of the ring.
13:57There's a lot of hate between these two men,
14:00and they really want to punish one another.
14:02Hey!
14:04Morocco is now busted open.
14:06He's bleeding profusely as well.
14:09Both men taking their toll
14:12as the steel cage takes its toll.
14:16Superfly got Morocco in the center of the ring.
14:19He's going up to the second turnbuckle.
14:23Could be a vicious headbutt.
14:25Oh, he dropped a big forearm right across the throat area.
14:29Morocco's in a great deal of trouble.
14:31There's a chance for Smuka
14:34to crawl out.
14:37He wants to inflict more punishment, Pat.
14:40What we think and what he thinks is different.
14:42Absolutely.
14:44He's waited a long time
14:46to get Morocco into this kind of position.
14:49And he's definitely not looking for an easy way out.
14:52Because Superfly wants to punish this man
14:55for the months and months and months of aggravation
14:58and humiliation caused him by Morocco.
15:02That's uppermost in his mind tonight.
15:04Even more so than the Intercontinental title.
15:07A vicious headbutt.
15:10Superfly with another vicious headbutt.
15:12The door is open.
15:13And Morocco's outside.
15:14He crawled to the arena.
15:16I can't believe it.
15:18I can't believe it.
15:24Morocco must have called for the door to be open.
15:26As Superfly came with that vicious headbutt,
15:28Morocco went upside down backwards.
15:30Oh, no. That was an accident
15:32that Morocco was able to get out of that.
15:35Unbelievable situation.
15:36Morocco was trying to make his way out to the dressing room.
15:39He is hurt.
15:40But Smuka is coming out of the cage.
15:48Smuka on the floor now.
15:50He's got the magnificent one.
15:51He's going to bring it back into the cage.
15:54That won't help him.
15:55I'm sure this match is over.
15:56This match is over.
15:57There's no question about it.
15:58Superfly is going to get some further satisfaction,
16:01though I guarantee you
16:02he's going up for a suplex.
16:05Yes.
16:06Big suplex.
16:08Morocco is down and out in the center of the ring.
16:12Even though the match is terminated,
16:14the Superfly says,
16:15as far as I'm concerned, it's not over.
16:18He's climbing the outside,
16:19going to the top turnbuckle
16:21for the Superfly leap.
16:22No, wait.
16:25He's climbing to the top of the steel cage.
16:28I don't believe it.
16:31Superfly perched 15 feet high.
16:36Oh, my God.
16:39Oh, my God.
16:4920,000 plus throwing bananas here
16:52in Madison Square Garden
16:55as the Superfly flies 15 foot high
16:59from the top of the steel cage,
17:01destroying the magnificent Morocco
17:04who still lays unconscious in the center of the ring.
17:08Now Jimmy's got the belt.
17:13And the fans are on their feet
17:17giving the I love you sign
17:19right back to the Superfly.
17:26He drops the belt in disgust
17:29onto the body of Morocco
17:32who won this match on a flute.
17:38Let's take another look
17:40at the magnificent leap
17:43by the Superfly.
17:46As we see Morocco
17:48covered with blood
17:52face up in the ring.
17:54Let's go back and take another look
17:57at how he polished off Morocco
17:59after the match was over.
18:00Superfly climbed to the top turnbuckle
18:02then decided to go to the top of the cage.
18:04And look at this.
18:06Here he is some 18 to 20 feet high
18:08coming down on the prone body
18:10of the magnificent Morocco
18:12who will definitely need help.
18:15Let's take another reverse angle.
18:17Doctor is in the ring now.
18:19Look at this man
18:21covered with blood
18:22still wanting to get revenge.
18:24The I love you sign
18:26to the 22,000 plus here in the garden.
18:28And look at this leap.
18:30Unbelievable.
18:33Superfly crushing
18:36the magnificent Morocco
18:41who needs help now
18:43as the doctor is in the ring
18:45and Morocco will undoubtedly
18:47have to go to the hospital tonight.
18:53Mick Foley being thrown off the cell
18:55is perhaps the only moment in WWE history
18:57that is replayed as often as
18:59Snuka flying off the cage.
19:01So it's no surprise where Foley
19:03drew his inspiration 15 years later.