The Un-Dream Match 1.10.07: Saba Simba vs. PY Chu HI

Posted by Mike Campbell on 01.10.2008

You can be sure of one thing, there will no USA chants in this match.

The Un-Dream Match
P.Y. Chu Hi vs. Saba Simba

The wonderful thing about wrestling is that anyone can become anyone. In a matter of two years one person was a denist, Kevin Nash, and then the Undertaker's murderer/necrophiliac younger brother. Another person was a Headbanger, a bad imiation of Beaver Cleaver, then a goofy kid named Chaz, before reverting back to a Headbanger. Shane Douglas was a Dean for the love of God! So with that in mind, this edition of The Un-Dream Match will be a match between two wrestlers who had successful careers as themselves, and then went on to have new identities that completely flopped.

Saba Simba vs. PY Chu Hi

Brief Background:

"Mr. USA" Tony Atlas had enjoyed a successful career. A former WWF Tag Team Champion with Rocky Johnson and he'd always been quite popular. He'd also worked around the territorial loop, and in Puerto Rico. However, in the '90's the territories had dried up and Vince McMahon didn't think that plain old Tony Atlas would fly with the current WWF fanbase. So Tony found his African Roots and became Saba Simba! It got over as well as can be expected (which is to say not at all), and just to rub salt in the wound, Roddy Piper was on commentary burying him and the gimmick. The only notable thing to come out of Saba Simba's WWF run was Greg Valentine's babyface turn. By 1991 he was back to the independant scene, and joined WCW in 1992 as "Terrible" Tony Atlas.

Phil Hickerson was a mainstay in the Southeast during the 1970's and '80's, he'd formed a very successful tag team with Dennis Condrey (of Midnight Express fame). Hickerson had countless titles to his credit in the Memphis and Continental territories. When the CWA (Memphis) and World Class merged to create the USWA, the powers that be deicded that good old boy Phil Hickerson wasn't going to cut it in Texas. Ten years before Jimmy Yang was shocking people with an Asian Man talking with a Southern accent. Phil Hickerson found his inner Asian and became P.Y. Chu Hi.

Strength:

You'd think that without question, the edge would go to Simba. Part of working for Vince means staying in good shape to look good on TV, and Simba Simba certainly looks like he fits that bill. Contrast with hairy and fat Chu Hi, who looks like he hasn't even seen a gym in years. However, the question in my mind would be if Simba is actually strong enough to use it to his advantage. Chu Hi is no small man, and if Simba strains himself trying to play the power game, he could easily cost himself the match. So I don't see this playing a factor

Advantage: none

Speed:

Now this I would easily give Saba Simba the nod. He may be a big powerful man, but he's also in decent shape, whereas Chu Hi is also a big man, and is not in good shape. While Simba would probably encounter problems trying to use his strength, he could easily use his speed to make Chu Hi run out of gas.

Advantage: Saba Simba

Brawling:

Chu Hi spent the bulk of his career in Memphis and Continental. Not exactly areas of the country that are known for their technical wrestling. As a born again Asian, Chu Hi would probably be more apt to use chops, and nerve holds, but there's no reason why he couldn't let the fists fly or sneak in some illegal tactics. Simba was usually too busy doing his tribal dances to show much of anything, but before discovering his roots, he was more of a power wrestler, never having much use for brawling.

Advantage: PY Chu Hi

Stamina:

I don't personally think either of them would be able to go non-stop for an hour. But Simba's superior conditioning would allow him to go for longer than Chu Hi. Like the strength, Chu Hi could possibly offset this, by stalling. Something that everyone who went through Memphis in those days would know about. But if Simba could keep him in the ring and keep things moving, he'll win for sure.

Advantage: Saba Simba

Intangibles:

There's only two real intangibles here, first off would be Roddy Piper on commentary burying Saba Simba. This would definitely be getting under Simba's skin, and if he'd watched some of his recent matches to try to prepare, he'd definitley have Piper on his mind. Plus, Chu Hi would have Tojo Yamamoto in his corner, to give him a hand if he needs one.

Advantage: PY Chu Hi

Willingness To Cheat:

Chu Hi has all those years of experience in Memphis, teaming with Denins Condrey, who wasn't exactly renowed for his sportsmanship. Contrast with Simba, who's all about fair play. Simba would only cheat if Tojo tried to give Chu Hi something, and it backfired on him. Even then, Danny Davis would probably see it and call for the disqualification.

Advantage: PY Chu Hi

Who Would Win?

If this actually happened, only a few people would know who won, because people watching on TV would change the channel, and the live crowd would probably go take a leak, get some nachos, or hit the merchandize area. But as for the match, Chu Hi would take the cake this time. This things that Simba could use to get the advantage, are things that Chu Hi could work around. The best Simba can hope for is the ref to catch Tojo trying to cheat and get ejected from ringside, or for Chu Hi to get caught red-handed and disqualified.

Winner: PY Chu Hi