Pinned to the Mat

It's career week at school. We learn that Zack longs to be a game show host because all you have to do is brush your teeth and smile. Kelly wants to be a housewife and/or actress (According to Zack she would be a great actress because she starts every night in his dreams. You're not alone there preppy). And Slater...well, all Slater is interested in is his wrestling match against Valley on Friday.

And it's not just any regular jobber Slater is facing. It's Valley's undefeated wrestling machine, Marvin Nedick. Zack calls a timeout to let the home audience know that every year he bets against Nedick, and every year he loses. But he's confident his horrible losing streak is about to come to an end. The wager? Nedick's dirtbike vs. Zack's non-existent dirtbike. It's a sure thing. Slater is a stud. There's no way Zack can lose, right?

At the Max, Slater declares his ambition to become the next Hulk Hogan. "Slatermania is runnin' wild!" No one considers that a real career (besides me) and Slater becomes concerned about his future.

Hazy pink dream sequence! We fast forward 25 years or so to a reunion at the Max. Jessie is Judge Jessie Spano. Lisa is a world-famous fashion designer (her name is on Belding's ass!). Screech is Captain Screech Powers, the great space explorer. Zack is the most successful game show host ever, and he introduces his lovely wife Kelly Morris (a bit of foreshadowing?). And here comes Slater. He's a bodacious professional wrestler, and in my opinion, the most successful of the group.

Stressed out about his future, Slater quits the wrestling team and joins the cooking club. Solid career move. And he's no typical jock. It seems young Albert Clifford is rather astute in the kitchen.

Nedick enters the Max and calls Slater a pussy for quitting the wrestling team. He even calls him a chicken, but Slater doesn't budge. Apparently Slater has more self-control than Marty McFly.

Zack hatches a brilliant plan to pit Screech against Nedick, assuming Slater won't be able to bare the sight of Screech getting pounded. Cut to the gymnasium, where we once again see the greatest cheer in the history of cheers.

"Be-bah-be-bah-bah-bah-be-be! Be-bah-be-bah-bah-bah-be Go Bayside!"

Nedick starts assaulting Screech, and the outlook is grim. That is until Slater comes to the rescue. Apparently he realized that he's just a kid and doesn't need a career. He easily squashes Nedick, and everyone is a better person. Except for Zack, who gets detention for gambling. Tough break Morris.

QUOTES!

Jessie: (to Zack) I didn't know you wanted a career in medicine.

Zack: Why not? I'm sick of school!

Kelly: I still want to be an actress, but I also want to be a mom and have lots of kids.

Zack: And one day I'd like to help you with that.

Slater: Why have a litter of preppies when you can have a bunch of little stud muffins like me?

Nedick: Who's worried? Come Friday I'm going to be riding something in the dirt. Either your bike or your face.

WHAT DID WE LEARN TODAY? Don't gamble a dirtbike you don't have on a wrestling match that your friend is sure to win until he becomes worried about his future and quits the wrestling team to become a chef but then realizes he's just a kid and decides to wrestle again.