Sunday, August 30, 2020

Round Two of The Crockett Cup Continues!

MIKE RICKARD'S FANTASY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
ROUND TWO CONTINUES:

Catching up? Here is the background info:
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings

BRACKETS
Updated brackets going into tonight's matches.
[Links to previous matches at the bottom of this post.]



THIS WEEK'S MATCHES: #19 AND #20
(Second Round Matches #3 and #4):

“Bulldog” Bob Brown & Marty Jannetty vs. Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi
Ole & Arn Anderson vs. The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda)

The 1985 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament is underway. Wait, did you just say 1985? It’s time to take a look at one of wrestling’s biggest events from the mid-80s and see what it might have been like with a few historical alterations. What if Jim Crockett Promotions hosted its tag team tournament the Crockett Cup in 1985 and included teams from promotions outside the National Wrestling Alliance (“NWA”) including the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), All Japan Pro Wrestling, and more? In this case, you’d have 48 of the greatest tag teams in the world battling in a winner take all tournament for $1,000,000 and the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Trophy. 

The first round saw 16 teams competing to advance to round two with eight teams making it in. Now, these eight teams will battle the 16 top-seeded tag teams that received a first-round bye. As we saw in round one, some wrestlers are willing to bend or break the rules in order to get closer to the $1,000,000 prize so expect the unexpected as round two begins.

Second Round Rules: Here are the rules for the round two of our tournament. A pool of referees from the NWA, AWA, and WWF have been appointed for the tournament and randomly selected for each match. The second-round matches have a forty-five-minute time limit and are sanctioned under NWA rules (throwing an opponent over the top rope is an automatic disqualification). The matches are one fall with a win obtained by a pinfall, submission, count-out, or disqualification. 

The second-round matches are being held over two nights. The first eight matches will take place took place at the Richmond Coliseum on Saturday April 13. Bob Caudle and David Crockett are calling the matches tonight. The remaining eight matches in round one take place at the Asheville Civic Center on Sunday April 14. Last time around, the Russian Team of Ivan and Nikita Koloff defeated Blackjack Mulligan and Chief Wahoo McDaniel, but not without controversy as the Russians got an assist from a steel chain. In match two, the Rock-n-Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) scored a decisive win over the Mega Maharishi and Kendo Nagasaki. As we head into the next two matches of round two, keep in mind that these titanic teams are battling for more than just bragging rights—they’re competing for the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Trophy and a cool one million dollars.

The next two matches in round two pit four incredible teams. In our first encounter, Ole and Arn Anderson will battle Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda while the second one pits Marty Jannetty and “Bulldog” Bob Brown against Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi.

Gordon Solie is backstage with the U.S. Express, Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda. Solie says he’s followed their careers since their time in Florida and that they look better than ever. There are a lot of teams to watch, but Windham and Rotunda are two young lions who he thinks could go all the way. Barry Windham thanks Gordon for his kind words and he said while it’s good to be back in the Mid-Atlantic area, it’s distressing to see there are still teams like Ole and Arn Anderson taking shortcuts to get ahead. He promises he and Mike are going to remind them you don’t have to cut corners to win. Out of nowhere, Arn Anderson smashes Mike Rotunda in the back with a chair as Ole Anderson clips Barry Windham in the right knee. Gordon stands back as Ole holds Windham’s leg, and Arn comes down hard on it with the chair. Ole grabs the microphone and tells Gordon “That’s not a shortcut, that’s the Anderson way!” Arn and Ole start brawling with Denny Brown, and Rocky and Don Kernodle who run out for the failed save. However, when Johnny Weaver, Jimmy Valiant, Buzz Sawyer, and Sam Houston run out, the Andersons bid a hasty retreat. 

Johnny Weaver talks to Gordon Solie while Mike Rotunda helps Barry Windham to his feet. “The Dean of Wrestling” tells “The Dean of Wrestling Announcers” that this is another example of the carnage being caused by guys like the Andersons and the Koloffs. He says that the wrestlers like Dusty Rhodes and Magnum T.A. have to form their own group to deal with these gang tactics. 

Gordon sends things back to Bob Caudle and David Crockett who are seated at ringside. David says he can’t believe what he just saw. Things keep getting crazier and crazier in this tournament. Bob Caudle tells David they’re going backstage as NWA President Jim Crockett is waiting with an important announcement. 

Gordon Solie interviews Jim Crockett Jr. who tells Gordon he’s trying to keep his composure. He said there are a lot of guests from other promotions and he’s embarrassed by what the Andersons just did to the U.S. Express. Crockett announces that he’s fining the Andersons $10,000 each and he’s waiting for the ringside doctor to examine Windham’s knee. In the meantime, they’ll run the match between “Bulldog” Bob Brown and Marty Jannetty vs. Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi.

“Bulldog” Bob Brown and Marty Jannetty vs. Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi
Referee Jerry Calhoun gives each wrestler a quick look to make sure there’s no funny business like foreign objects then signals for the bell. Jannetty seems eager to get in, but “Bulldog” Brown is holding his hands up and starts the match against Antonio Inoki. Collar and elbow tie-up as Brown gets Inoki in a side headlock. Inoki tries to whip Brown into the ropes, but Brown isn’t going anywhere. Bob Caudle notes that Brown is built like a fire hydrant and he knows how to put the pressure on. Inoki starts to maneuver, moving to Brown’s side and then behind him as Brown finds Inoki slipping out. David Crockett says “What a reversal!” as Inoki escapes, applying a top wrist lock on Brown. Now, the pressure is on the Bulldog as Inoki guides his opponent towards Sakaguchi, tagging him in. Inoki holds Brown as Sakaguchi chops “Bulldog” then applies an armbar. 

Sakaguchi keeps the armbar on as Brown works to escape or reverse it. Bob Caudle says Brown is an experienced wrestler, but so are Inoki and Sakaguchi, and they have the size advantage. Brown continues his efforts to escape, finally reversing the arm bar and turning it into a hammer lock. Brown leverages Seiji into his corner and tags Jannetty. Brown and Jannetty whip Sakaguchi into the ropes and they hit a double back-drop on their foe. Elbow-drop by Brown followed by one by Jannetty as Brown goes to his corner, beating Jerry Calhoun’s five-count. Jannetty drops a knee across Sakaguchi’s head then picks him up, hip tossing him into the corner. Sakaguchi gets up and walks into a dropkick from the future Rocker. Jannetty whips Sakaguchi into the ropes and goes for a back body-drop, but Sakaguchi gives him a boot to the head for his trouble. 

Sakaguchi is looking to regain the momentum and whips Jannetty into the ropes, but Jannetty rolls out of the way of Sakaguchi’s attack and bounces off the ropes with a cross body-block. Cover on Seiji, but he kicks out at two. Jannetty drops an elbow on his opponent, but no one is home. Sakaguchi whips Jannetty into the corner and charges in, but Jannetty raises a knee, Victory roll by Jannetty but once again Sakaguchi kicks out at two. David Crockett says Jannetty is using his speed to keep the pressure on his opponent and if Seiji Sakaguchi slips, he may find himself out of the tournament. 

Jannetty picks Sakaguchi up and whips him towards Bulldog Brown, but Sakaguchi reverses, sending Marty towards Antonio Inoki. Inoki moves quickly as Marty crashes into the corner and Inoki holds Jannetty as Sakaguchi charges in with a running knee. Inoki and Sakaguchi hit a double suplex on Jannetty as Inoki follows up with the Inoki Driver. Things are breaking down fast as Jannetty is on his back. Inoki climbs to the top rope and hits a flying knee on Jannetty, covering him as Bulldog Brown comes in, only to be intercepted by Sakaguchi. While Brown and Sakaguchi exchange blows, Jerry Calhoun counts Jannetty’s shoulders down for the 1-2-3. 

Winners: Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi.

Referee Jerry Calhoun raises Inoki and Sakaguchi’s arms in victory while Bob Brown checks on Marty Jannetty. 

Gordon Solie. is backstage with Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda. Windham’s knee is bandaged up. He says he might be a bit banged up, but the Andersons are going to pay. Rotunda tells Gordon the Minnesota Wrecking Crew tried to put out their fire, but they’ve started an inferno instead. 

Ole and Arn Anderson vs. the U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda)
Referee Sonny Fargo doesn’t get a chance to do his pre-match preliminaries as Windham and Rotunda charge the Andersons, with Barry slugging away at Ole and Mike laying in to Arn. The U.S. Express start getting the upper hand as Rotunda whips Ole into the ropes and dropkicks him, sending him through the ropes. Windham whips Arn into the ropes and hits an elbow to the chest. Rotunda hip tosses “Double A” into the corner as Barry walks towards the babyface corner. Sonny Fargo motions for the bell to ring, starting the match. 

Rotunda doesn’t waste any time and applies a deep armbar on Arn, but Anderson is close enough to the ropes that he reaches it forcing a break. Ole has made it over to the heels’ corner and looks ready for action. David Crockett says the U.S. Express are hot and looking for revenge. Bob Caudle reminds David they can’t let the Andersons get under their skin and throw off their game plan. Arn throws a punch at Rotunda after he breaks the armbar, but Rotunda fires back, knocking Arn down. Rotunda picks him up and slams him down hard onto the mat before bouncing off the ropes and dropping an elbow. Rotunda picks up Anderson and whips him towards Windham, who is waiting to tag in. Tag to Barry as Rotunda holds out Anderson’s right arm. Windham comes off the second rope with a double axe-handle as Arn writhes in pain. Barry whips Arn into the ropes and hits a shoulderblock, knocking Arn down. Snapmare on “The Enforcer” as Barry applies a chinlock to Anderson. Arn works his way to the ropes again as Bob Caudle points out Anderson’s good ring awareness. David Crockett points out that Windham isn’t slowing down as Windham whips Arn into the ropes, hitting a dropkick. Another whip into the ropes, but this time Arn hangs onto the ropes and Barry dropkicks thin air, crashing to the mat. Arn tags in Ole then drags Barry towards the heel corner. 

It’s time for the Andersons to perform some unwanted ring surgery. Dr. Arn provides an assist by placing Barry’s taped knee on the bottom rope while Dr. Ole drops his own knee onto it. Jerry Calhoun tells Arn to get back to his corner so he does, jumping out of the ring, grabbing Barry’s bum knee, and smashing it onto the ring apron. Calhoun warns Arn to get back to his corner as Ole continues targeting Barry’s tender knee. Ole drops an elbow to Barry’s right leg as David Crockett says this is the classic Anderson strategy—take a body part and make it useless. 

Bob Caudle says David’s got that right as Ole stomps at Barry’s bad leg, tagging in Arn.    
Barry’s woes continue as Ole holds Barry’s right leg down while Arn drops a knee down. David Crockett says you don’t see many uncle and nephew teams in wrestling and Bob Caudle points out that Ole and Arn are cousins. David isn’t so sure and Bob admits there is some confusion about that before reminding David of the uncle and nephew team of Rip Hawk and Ric Flair. David quickly changes the subject and notes what a terrific team the U.S. Express are. 

Arn runs over towards Rotunda and punches him, leading to Mike running in and referee Jerry Calhoun ordering him back to his corner. Rotunda protests and as he does, the Anderson’s double-team Windham, with Ole exiting the ring, grabbing Barry’s right leg, and slamming it into the steel ring post. David Crockett implores the referee to turn around and he does, just as Arn pins Barry. Two-count, but Windham apparently isn’t done yet. Arn goes to bodyslam Barry, but the wily Windham rolls him up for a small package…1, 2, Arn kicks out. 

Barry gets up as Bob Caudle points out Windham seems unable to put any weight on his right leg. Anderson punches Windham but Barry fires back. Barry fights back, slugging away at “Double A,” but Anderson is close enough to Ole to make the tag and Ole comes in, kneeing Windham in the back. The Andersons start stomping away at Barry and Rotunda has enough, entering the ring and dropkicking Ole into the corner then dropkicking Arn out of the ring. Rotunda goes out after Arn, slugging away at his foe. 

Back in the ring, Windham is brawling with Ole, with neither man getting the advantage until Ole kicks Barry in his bad wheel. Ole goes for a suplex, but Windham blocks it, hitting a swinging neckbreaker out of nowhere. David Crockett says that’s a move you don’t see very often from Windham, but Bob Caudle says at this point, Windham needs any weapon available in his arsenal. Cover on Ole, but he kicks out at two. Outside the ring, Rotunda and Arn continue to brawl while Barry continues punishing Ole. Arn gets the upper hand for a moment when he whips Rotunda into the post, but “Double A” is clearly running on fumes and he leans against the mat apron. Back in the ring, Barry lifts Ole up for a suplex but his right knee buckles and Ole falls on top of him hard. Ole covers Barry but Windham gets his leg on the bottom rope. However, “The Enforcer” knocks it off before the referee sees it and Ole gets the 1-2-3.

Winner: Ole and Arn Anderson

Ole rolls out of the ring as he and Arn head to the back. They’re going to round three while the U.S. Express are headed back to the WWF. 

NEXT UP:
Join us next time as round two of the tournament continues with Jim Cornette’s Midnight Express (“Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey) taking on Jimmy Hart’s Hart Foundation (Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) and the PYT Express (Norvell Austin and Koko Ware) taking on “The High Flyers” (“Jumping” Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne). Stay tuned wrestling fans as the quest for tag team immortality continues!

********************************************************

PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS FANTASY SERIES
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings Announced  

SECOND ROUND
Second Round: Matches 1 & 2 (Tournament 17 & 18)

     Mulligan/McDaniel vs. The Russians
    Rock & Roll Express vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki
Second Round: Matches 3 & 4 (Tournament 19 & 20)
    Brown/Jannetty vs. Inoki & Sakaguchi
    Ole & Arn Anderson vs. Windham/Rotunda)


FIRST ROUND
First Round: Matches 1 & 2
    Hennig/Blackwell vs. Mulligan/McDaniel
    Tyler/Whatley vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki
First Round: Matches 3 & 4
    Windham/Rotunda vs. Bockwinkel/Saito
    Rougeaus vs. Inoki/Sakaguchi
First Round: Matches 5 &6
    Barbarian/Graham vs. Hart Foundation (Hart/Neidhart)
    High Flyers (Brunzell/Gagne) vs. Savage/Poffo
First Round: Matches 7 & 8:
    The Von Erich vs. Blanchard/Abdullah the Butcher
    Tenryu/Tsuruta vs. The British Bulldogs
First Round: Matches 9 & 10:
    Graham/Blair vs. DiBiase/Williams
    Valiant/McGraw vs. Lawler/Dundee
First Round: Matches 11 & 12:
    Piper/Orton vs. Patterson/Fernandez
    Rock & Roll RPMs vs. Youngblood Brothers
First Round: Matches 13 and 14:
    Dynamic Duo (Gino & Chris) vs. American Starship
    Sawyer Bros. vs. Steamboat/Snuka
First Round: Matches 15 and 16
    Batten Twins vs. Fabulous Ones
    Weaver/Houston vs. Sheepherders

http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Friday, August 28, 2020

Bob Armstrong Passes Away

Bob Armstrong with his son Brad
Georgia Championship Wrestling 1982
Reunited.

Our heartlfelt condolences to our friend Jillian on the death of her grandfather, and to all the family and friends of "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. Rest in peace.

****

My first vivid memories of Bob Armstrong were from the Knoxville territory in the mid-1970s under a mask as the Georgia Jaw-Jacker. 
 
My fondest memories though, are of him as the foil to Roddy Piper in early 1982 on Georgia Championship Wrestling, including an angle with his son Brad. They brought that feud simultaneously to the Mid-Atlantic area, too, and it headlined several Mid-Atlantic towns off the exposure it had on the Superstation.
 
Another cool moment was Bob appearing as the surprise partner of his son Brad against Jimmy Garvin and Bill Dundee on WTBS World Championship Wrestling the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 1986. 
 
Those are just three small memories of what was nearly five decades of wonderful memories Bob Armstrong gave to his many fans. Rest in peace. - DB


Masked Superstar: The First Twist of the Turn

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway
 

August of 1980 would see a gradual change developing in one of the Mid-Atlantic area’s most feared “bad guys,” the Masked Superstar. From the Superstar’s first stint in Jim Crockett Promotions that began in September of 1976 through about six months of his second stint in the territory that began in the winter months of 1980, there was no hint that the masked marvel would be gravitating towards becoming a “fan favorite.” 

The Mid-Atlantic wrestling television tapings that took place at the WRAL TV studios in Raleigh, North Carolina on August 13, 1980 would in hindsight, provide the first clues that the Superstar would be turning into a “good guy.” The first TV show taped that evening, the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television program, didn’t seem to offer much out of the ordinary. On that show, Superstar teamed with fellow rulebreakers Greg Valentine and the Iron Sheik for an easy win. But it would be the second show taped later that night, World Wide Wrestling, that would provide the first twist in the turn to come.

The Superstar had a match earlier in the World Wide Wrestling show against young Brett Wayne, and came out in the show’s final segment for an interview with announcer Rich Landrum. Joining the masked man on the set were the NWA World Tag Team Champions Ray Stevens and Jimmy Snuka, along with their manager Gene Anderson. From the get-go, something seemed amiss during this interview segment.

Anderson immediately took control of the interview, extolling the virtues of his team, then claiming, “The Superfly and the Crippler, the greatest and the best World’s Champions that have ever held the belts!” At that time, Landrum turned toward the Superstar, but Stevens immediately cut in and asked Landum why his announcing partner, Johnny Weaver, wasn’t asking him questions. Stevens bellowed, “You know, I’d like to ask you a question. How come you come out here and interview us? Why doesn’t Johnny Weaver come out here and interview us sometime? I’d like to slap him right across the mouth! What’s the matter with him, doesn’t he have any guts?”

Rich responded, “I don’t think that plays a part in it in an interview…you want to come out and tell us how great you are.” Stevens then proceeded to tell the viewing audience that he and Snuka along with manager Gene Anderson were an unbeatable combination. Landrum answered, “It’s difficult to compete with a three-man team like that.” 

At that juncture Landrum attempted to bring the Superstar into the interview saying, “Superstar…” But Gene Anderson cut in immediately saying, “Hold it, hold it…” before Superstar could even get in a word. Anderson continued, “Jimmy, show ‘em that body! Flex that body, show ‘em that belt!” Gene continued extolling the virtues of Snuka’s physique and Stevens’ knowledge and experience, which Ray readily agreed with. 

Stevens then asked, “What do you think Superstar?” The masked man only got out, “I was just going to say…” before Stevens interrupted him and explained, “Well, I’ll tell you what, they [Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood] don’t have a chance! There’s nobody that can compare to us, the athlete that Jimmy Snuka is, the wrestling that I know, and like I said with our main man [Gene Anderson] behind us right here, nobody’s gonna come close to beatin’ us.” 

A clearly frustrated Landrum then stated, “You know ya’ll are fine champions [but] I’d like to talk to the TV champion the Superstar about…” Surprisingly Landrum was then cut off by Snuka, who rarely spoke but on this occasion blurted out, “We wanna talk about these belts!” Anderson immediately picked up where Jimmy had left off reeling off the names of the area’s good guys and shouted, “You don’t have a chance, you get that through your head, you don’t have a chance and if any of you people want to sign a contract with the World’s champions, you just put your names on the dotted line and I’ll sign ‘em and I’ll have ‘em in the ring.”

Landrum again engaged the Superstar saying, “Superstar, you…” before Stevens butted in and bellowed, “If they wanna pay the price to try and win this [belt], they have to pay dearly with PAIN, and I mean a lotta pain because my partner and I enjoy hurting people and that’s exactly what we do.” Ray continued on about that subject and when he finished, Rich took a final stab at bringing the Superstar into the segment saying, “Super, I’d like to hear from you.” The Masked man replied, “It’s about time, I’d like to…”

At that instant there was a commotion on the set with the floor manager coming over to Landrum, whispered something in his ear which Landrum followed up on by explaining, “I’m sorry, they took all the time. Well fans, as always, too short on time [so] that’s it for this week, look forward to seeing you next week right here on World Wide Wrestling.”

Over the next couple of weeks, several more circumstances continued to push the Superstar towards a “good guy” turn, including showing compassion for Brett Wayne during another television match with him after a clothesline maneuver clearly hurt the youngster, and holding back Greg Valentine to keep the sides even when Blackjack Mulligan and Valentine’s friend Bobby Duncum had a dust-up on TV.

Superstar’s good guy turn was completed at the beginning of September 1980 when Anderson came out to the TV interview area and again interrupted the Superstar’s interview, leading to Anderson hitting the Superstar with his cane and soon thereafter the Superstar turning the tables and breaking the cane on Anderson and throwing Stevens through the air onto Snuka. In his interview after that incident, Superstar pointed to the interview interruption on August 13th as a big component of his turn to the good side.

The Masked Superstar had a solid run as a good guy, winning the NWA World Tag Team Titles with Paul Jones on Thanksgiving night of 1980 and then again in early 1981 before leaving the Mid-Atlantic area for good in the late spring of 1981. And looking back on it, the good guy persona of the Masked Superstar was born because of the disrespect shown to him during an otherwise normal interview segment at the end of the August 13th World Wide Wrestling taping…the first twist of the turn.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: January 1, 1983

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
on the WWE Network

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it appeared on the WWE Network. Results are included for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as available. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. Follow @TaubGVWire

For links to all available summaries as well as links to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast, visit our TV Summary Index.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 01/01/83
(taped 12/29/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network Direct Link to this show Mid-Atlantic 01/01/83
WWE Network feed.   [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]

Match 1
One Man Gang & Paul Jones (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Mike Rotundo & Jimmy Valiant

Stu Schwartz is the referee for the hour. Caudle notes that Mike Rotundo defeated Leroy Brown on Christmas to win the TV title. Anytime Valiant came in, his Network overdub music played for a moment. No idea why. Valiant is able to handle Gang. As the referee becomes distracted by seemingly nothing at all, Jones trips Rotundo. Gang follows with a big splash for the win.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Bill Apter
Apter is in studio. Caudle holds a copy with Bob Backlund on the cover. Apter has the Inspirational Wrestler of the Year award. It goes to Roddy Piper, but Piper isn’t there to accept it. Caudle throws it to a TV clip from Flair and Valentine destroying Piper’s face from the 12/04/82 episode. Caudle then throws it to taped comments from Piper, recorded from the World Wide set. This is recent, as Piper’s face is healed. Piper says this isn’t the first time someone took a shot at him, but this will be the last time for you (Flair).

As a side note, Apter appeared at a taping that morning in Tampa for Championship Wrestling from Florida. He presented Barry Windham the Most Improved Wrestler of the Year. And yes, Apter wore the same outfit on both shows.

[Break]

Match 2
Bruiser Brody d. Vinnie Valentino

Wow, Bruiser Brody in studio. All Bruiser, winning with a knee to the throat.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Mike Rotundo
Caudle says what a Christmas present for Rotundo to win the TV title. Rotundo thanks the fans in Charlotte, and all the babyfaces who supported him. Valiant showed him how to fight guys. Valiant comes out with a hug and kiss. The Network overdub drowns most of it out.

[Break]

Match 3
Tommy Gilbert d. Don Kernodle by reverse decision DQ

This is Gilbert’s first appearance, at least for this run. Caudle is impressed with Brody. Gilbert makes a fight of things, with some reverse kicks. But, Kernodle utilizes a top-rope clothesline, and finishes Gilbert with the Cobra Clutch. Kernodle refuses to break. Steamboat comes in and jumps off the top rope to lay a chop on Kernodle. Kernodle scatters and the referee officially reverses the decision.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Don Kernodle; Paul Jones, One Man Gang and Sir Oliver Humperdink
Kernodle says Slaughter couldn’t be there because he is meeting President Reagan at the White House. He complains about Steamboat interfering in his match. Their goal in 1983 is to put them out for good.
Humperdink is sporting a bandage on his head. He talks about how his House will take care of Jimmy Valiant, Roddy Piper and company. Jones says the House of Humperdink is not dad.

[Break]

Match 4
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco d. Jim Dalton & Ken Timbs

Jack works a long period of mat wrestling with Dalton. Jerry works on Timbs’ leg. Timbs is back in a singlet this week. Jerry forces Dalton to submit to the Figure Four. Timbs tries to make the save, but Jerry comes in and rolls him up.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
This is in lieu of local promos. Jerry says it’s a thrill to team with his brother. Jack says the House of Humperdink is crumbling. He talks about One Man Gang and Bruiser Brody arriving. They will run them off. He is glad Youngblood is back, and thinks he and Steamboat will win the tag team title. Then, the Briscos can challenge for it. Jerry also mentions Dory Funk, Jr.’s $100,000 challenge. Jack says he’s beat him before.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jack Brisco
Brisco holds a Polaroid of Piper and a fan, Gerard. Brisco talks about the House of Humperdink, but they’re ready.

Match 5
Rick Steamboat d. Masa Fuchi

Fuchi works on Steamboat’s left arm. Caudle says his use of the Kiwi Roll reminds him of Abe Jacobs. Steamboat breaks free, and eventually hooks on the Octopus hold (although it is not called that) to secure the submission.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ricky Steamboat
Steamboat talks about the ways of Slaughter and Kernodle and their run-ins. He says they need to fight fire with fire. Kernodle comes out and asks Steamboat “in a nice way” to get out of there. Steamboat doesn’t. Steamboat wears a shirt that says “Great Hawaiian Punch.” Kernodle tears Steamboat’s shirt and we have a brawl going on. Credits start rolling. Caudle is still calling the action. Steamboat gets the better of it.

Caudle closes it with “Fans we’ll see you next week.

**************************************************

Note: As we start a new year, a review of the champions at the star of 1983:
NWA World Heavyweight: Ric Flair
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight: Jack Brisco
United States Heavyweight: Greg Valentine
TV: Mike Rotundo
World tag team: Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle
The Mid-Atlantic tag team champions were unofficially discontinued by Oct. 1982.
 

Jim Crockett Promotions ran man towns on a weekly basis: Fayetteville, NC and Greenville, SC on Mondays; Columbia and Raleigh on Tuesdays; TV taping in Charlotte and Sumpter, SC on Wednesdays; and Charleston, SC on Fridays. Many other cities ran every two-, three- or four weeks: Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheville, Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke, and many others I’m sure I’m leaving out.

*************************************************

Results for the week, 12/27/82-1/02/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 12/27/82 Greenville, SC; Greenville Memorial Auditorium
Mark Fleming beat Ken Timbs
Keith Larsen beat Jim Dalton
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Bruiser Brody & Gene Anderson
Jimmy Valiant beat One Man Gang by DQ
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle

Tue., 12/28/82 Raleigh, NC; Raleigh Civic Center
Bruiser Brody d Pork Chop Cash
Mike Davis d. Ricky Harris
Jimmy Valiant d. One Man Gang [listed on ad as John Gray]
Paul Jones d. Jerry Brisco
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight championship: Jack Brisco d. One Man Gang [sub. for Jos LeDuc]
Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle d. Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood

Tue., 12/28/82 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
King Parsons beat Jim Dalton by referee’s decision
Ben Alexander beat Frank Monte
Mark Fleming beat Ken Timbs
Johnny Weaver draw Tommy Gilbert
Mike Rotundo beat Gene Anderson
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Roddy Piper & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ric Flair & Greg Valentine

Wed., 12/29/82 Charlotte, NC; WPCQ-TV studio
Paul Jones & One Man Gang beat Jimmy Valiant & Mike Rotundo
Bruiser Brody beat Vinnie Valentino
Tommy Gilbert beat Don Kernodle by DQ
Jack & Jerry Brisco beat Jim Dalton & Ken Timbs
Ricky Steamboat beat Masa Fuchi
Ricky Steamboat beat Frank Monte
Tommy Gilbert beat Ken Timbs
Mike Rotundo beat Masa Fuchi
Bruiser Brody beat Mark Fleming
Jack & Jerry Brisco beat Ben Alexander & Jim Dalton

Wed., 12/29/82 Sumter, SC

Thu., 12/30/82 Norfolk, VA
King Parson beat Bill White
Pvt. Nelson beat Porkchop Cash
One Man Gang beat Johnny Weaver
Sweet Brown Sugar & Jimmy Valiant beat Bruiser Brody & Dory Funk, Jr.
Sgt. Slaughter beat Ricky Steamboat by DQ
Jimmy Valiant beat Jos LeDuc by countout
Roddy Piper & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ric Flair & Greg Valentine

Fri., 12/31/82 Richmond, VA

Sat., 1/01/83 Charlotte, NC; Charlotte Coliseum
NWA World Champion Ric Flair beat Roddy Piper
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Greg Valentine beat Bob Orton, Jr.
Johnny Weaver, Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Pvt. Nelson, Paul Jones & Gene Anderson
Abdullah the Butcher & Jimmy Valiant beat Jos Leduc & One Man Gang
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Tommy Gilbert beat Ricky Harris

Sun., 1/02/83 Roanoke, VA; Roanoke Civic Center
Frank Monte beat Mark Fleming
Tommy Gilbert beat Ricky Harris
King Parsons & Porkchop Cash beat Masa Fuchi & Gene Anderson
Jimmy Valiant, Sweet Brown Sugar & Abdullah the Butcher beat Dory Funk, Jr., Paul Jones & One Man Gang
Roddy Piper & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ric Flair & Greg Valentine

Sun., 1/02/83 Asheville, NC; Asheville Civic Center
Mike Davis beat Ken Timbs
Johnny Weaver & Jerry Brisco beat Pvt. Nelson & Jim Dalton
Mike Rotundo beat Dizzy Hogan
Jack Brisco beat Paul Jones
Jay Youngblood beat Pvt. Kernodle
Ricky Steamboat beat Sgt. Slaughter by DQ

Sun., 1/02/83 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Frank Monte beat Ricky Harris
Vinnie Valentino beat Bill White
Tommy Gilbert beat Masa Fuchi
Jimmy Valiant & Abdullah the Butcher beat Gene Anderson & One Man Gang
Greg Valentine beat Bob Orton, Jr.
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle by DQ
NWA World Champion Ric Flair double DQ Roddy Piper

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Vindication: The Heel Turn of Chief Wahoo McDaniel (Part 4)

The Story of the Heel Turn of Chief Wahoo McDaniel (Part 4)
The Finale: Part Four in a Four-Part Series
by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Catch up on the earlier parts of this series:
PART ONE: Wahoo's Black Saturday
PART TWO: The Conspiracy
PART THREE: The Awesome Twosome

As summer turned to autumn in 1984, the "Awesome Twosome" of Wahoo McDaniel and Tully Blanchard were blazing a trail of terror through the Mid-Atlantic area, but it became clear that Wahoo wasn't interested in long term tag team action. He wanted his U.S. title back. The NWA held up the belt back in August and Jim Crockett Promotions had been dragging its feet on figuring out how the whole situation between Wahoo and Ricky Steamboat would be settled. Each wrestler made a credible claim to the title.

Eventually, the decision was made not return the title to either Wahoo or Steamboat, and the issue would be resolved in a tournament to be held in Charlotte, NC on October 7, 1984.

Charlotte had hosted a United States title tournament once before, back in October of 1981 when Jimmy Snuka won the honors after, interestingly enough, Wahoo McDaniel had been stripped of the same title under questionable circumstances in a wild feud with Roddy Piper that involved Abdullah the Butcher. The fact that the title had been taken from him again and put in a tournament obviously angered and frustrated the Chief, and he made that point abundantly clear to David Crockett and Bob Caudle on the two JCP television programs.


THE TOURNAMENT
Initially sixteen wrestlers were entered in the tournament. Barry Windham, one of the original 16,  defaulted by no-showing the event, having left days earlier to enter the World Wrestling Federation.

The tournament featured three wrestlers from outside of the territory. Superstar Billy Graham came in from Florida and Carlos Colon flew in from Puerto Rico. The third outsider was Manny Fernandez, who had arrived full-time a few weeks earlier and who would stay with the promotion for the next several years.

The Charlotte card was part of a huge weekend for Jim Crockett Promotions. The night before in Greensboro was the big “Starrcade Rally” show, with a concert and autograph signings, and where announcements of the big matches would take place for the upcoming mega-event Starrcade ’84. Originally, the card was to have been the launching point for a big push for Barry Windham, who had recently arrived to the territory from Florida. Instead, Barry and his father, Blackjack Mulligan, jumped ship to the World Wrestling Federation. The defection left a big hole in Jim Crockett’s long-term plans moving forward.

History will never know for sure what the original plans for the tournament were and how the departure of Barry Windham might have affected them. There seems little doubt that the finals would have come down to Windham and Wahoo McDaniel, building toward a title match between the two at Starrcade ’84. However, it’s less certain who would have won that final match in the tournament had Windham stayed with Crockett.

The likelihood is that Wahoo McDaniel would still have won this tournament, which would have set up Windham winning the U.S. title from him at Starrcade ‘84. Windham had been introduced on television in early August as having signed the most lucrative contract in pro-wrestling history (!) with Jim Crockett giving him the keys to a brand new sports car as well. He was clearly in line for the huge push, and would have no doubt been the top contender in the area for Ric Flair’s NWA world championship, just as he had been in Florida over the last couple of years. The other less likely possibility was to put Barry over strong by having him win this tournament and then defeat Wahoo again at Starrcade.

Manny Fernandez assumed Barry Windham’s spot in the tournament. He defeated Superstar Billy Graham and reigning TV champion Tully Blanchard before eventually losing to McDaniel in the  finals.

Wahoo defeated former tag-team partner Mark Youngblood, as well as Mike Rotundo, and  finally Fernandez on his way to his 5th United States championship.



 First Round Matches
• Wahoo McDaniel defeated Mark Youngblood
• Mike Rotundo defeated The Assassin #1 (Jody Hammilton) by DQ
• Ivan Koloff defeated Brian Adias
• Dusty Rhodes defeated Don Kernodle
• Superstar Billy Graham defeated Carlos Colon by count-out
• Manny Fernandez received a bye when Barry Windham defaults
• Tully Blanchard defeated Jimmy Valiant
• Ricky Steamboat and Ron Bass wrestled to a draw – Both eliminated

Second Round Matches - Quarter Finals
• Wahoo McDaniel defeated Mike Rotundo
• Dusty Rhodes and Ivan Koloff double-DQ – Both Eliminated
• Manny Fernandez defeated Superstar Billy Graham via DQ
• Tully Blanchard received a bye due to Steamboat/Bass draw.

Third Round Matches – Semi Finals
• Wahoo McDaniel received a bye due to the Rhodes/Koloff double DQ
• Manny Fernandez defeated Tully Blanchard

Final Round – Tournament Championship
• Wahoo McDaniel defeated Manny Fernandez to win the U.S. Championship



Needless to say, after Wahoo had regained the title by winning the tournament, he was on cloud nine and cocky as ever. But you really couldn't blame him. It had been a long, hot, controversial summer, and he had finally been vindicated.

Wahoo went on to defend the U.S. title Thanksgiving night at Starrcade '84, soundly defeating Superstar Billy Graham. As 1984 came to a close, a new challenger appeared on the horizon.  Magnum T.A., having just arrived from the Mid-South territory, quickly established himself as the number one contender for the United States Championship and eventually defeated Wahoo for the title in a dramatic moment on "World Wide Wrestling" taped March 23, 1985 in Charlotte.

THE SUNSHINE STATE
Wahoo immediately left the Mid-Atlantic area after the loss to Magnum, and became the booker for the Florida territory, as well as its number one popular star. When he entered the sunshine state, he left his "bad guy" days behind him.

Later that summer, Dusty Rhodes would recruit Wahoo to return to the Mid-Atlantic area for a few select appearances over the next months. He asked Wahoo to be his partner against Tully Blanchard and his paid henchman Abdullah the Butcher.  Wahoo sent in a tape from the set of "Championship Wrestling from Florida" asking Dusty for his forgiveness and his trust, and telling him he would be there if he needed him. Wahoo received a heroes welcome when he did return.

In the early fall, Wahoo returned once more to team with Dusty and Magnum in their battles with Tully Blanchard and the Andersons, only a few months before the latter would join NWA Champion Ric Flair and form the Four Horsemen.




Originally posted 5/1/20 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway 
 
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For more on the history of the United States title, check out our book "Jim Crockett Promotions' United States Championship."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Series Breakdown:
Part Three: The Awesome Twosome
Part Four: Vindication (This Article)
* * * * * * * * * * * *

http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Monday, August 24, 2020

Happy Anniversary

Twenty years ago today - - August 24, 2000 - - I uploaded the very first posts to the Mid-Atlantic Gateway. That was at the old midatlanticwrestling.net address. (Our old site is still archived there.) Then in 2015, we moved over to the blogging format that you see now. 

David Chappell and I would like to thank all of you for following along with us over the past twenty years as we continue our look back at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions.

Hopefully, twenty more years to come!

- Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway 

Friday, August 21, 2020

Crocket Cup '85 Round Two Begins!

MIKE RICKARD'S FANTASY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
ROUND TWO BEGINS

Catching up? Here is the background info:
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings

BRACKETS
Updated brackets going into tonight's matches.
[Links to previous matches at the bottom of this post.]



THIS WEEK'S MATCHES: #17 AND #18
(Second Round Matches #1 and #2):

Blackjack Mulligan/Wahoo McDaniel vs. Ivan & Nikita Koloff
Rock & Roll Express (Morton & Gibson) vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki
The 1985 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament is underway. Wait, did you just say 1985? It’s time to take a look at one of wrestling’s biggest events from the mid-80s and see what it might have been like with a few historical alterations. What if Jim Crockett Promotions hosted its tag team tournament the Crockett Cup in 1985 and included teams from promotions outside the National Wrestling Alliance (“NWA”) including the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), All Japan Pro Wrestling, and more? In this case, you’d have 48 of the greatest tag teams in the world battling in a winner take all tournament for $1,000,000 and the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Trophy. 

The first round saw 16 teams competing to advance to round two with eight teams making it in. Now, these eight teams will battle the 16 top-seeded tag teams that received a first-round bye. As we saw in round one, some wrestlers are willing to bend or break the rules in order to get closer to the $1,000,000 prize so expect the unexpected as round two begins.

Second Round Rules:
Here are the rules for the second-round matches. A pool of referees from the NWA, AWA, and WWF have been appointed for the tournament and randomly selected for each match. The second-round matches have a forty-five-minute time limit and are sanctioned under NWA rules (throwing an opponent over the top rope is an automatic disqualification). The matches are one fall with a win obtained by a pinfall, submission, count-out, or disqualification.

The second-round matches are being held over two nights. The first eight matches will take place at the Richmond Civic Center on Saturday April 13. Bob Caudle and David Crockett are calling the matches tonight. The remaining eight matches in round one take place at the Asheville Civic Center on Sunday April 14. As we head into the first two matches of round two, keep in mind that these titanic teams are battling for more than just bragging rights—they’re competing for the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Trophy and a cool one million dollars.

The first two matches in round two feature the Russian Team taking on Blackjack Mulligan and Wahoo McDaniel along with The Rock and Roll Express battling the Mega Maharishi and Kendo Nagasaki. 

Bob Caudle and David Crockett are at a special stage for round two and they’re joined by several colleagues from other promotions including the WWF’s Gorilla Monsoon, CWA’s Lance Russell, and Championship Wrestling from Florida’s Gordon Solie. Bob introduces each announcer to the fans watching the event on closed-circuit television and pay-per-view and asks them what they think so far. Gorilla tells Bob this is one of the biggest nights in professional wrestling and the fans are literally hanging from the rafters. Lance Russell says that he’s tickled pink to be part of such a historic event and that this may be the greatest collection of tag teams the world has ever seen. Gordon Solie says that his esteemed broadcast journalists have said it all but he’d be remiss in not pointing out that the fans are about to see the world’s grandmasters of human chess on display. David Crockett adds that he’s confident the Mid-Atlantic team of Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda will prevail, but Bob Caudle reminds David the U.S. Express are a WWF team now. 

Bob faces the camera and says, “With that, let’s take it to a special video presentation from NWA President Jim Crockett Jr.” 

NWA President Jim Crockett Jr. is sitting in his office and informs the viewers that the NWA board of directors met to discuss a grievance filed by the Fabulous Freebirds in regards to the NWA barring the team from invoking its “Freebird Rule” wherein any two members of the three-man group could wrestle in a match. After careful deliberation and an extremely close vote, the NWA has agreed to honor the Freebird Rule, citing past precedent in other territories. However, the rule will also apply to the Russian Team as it would be unfair to let the Freebirds choose any two wrestlers while the Russians could not. Thus, each team will be allowed to choose two of three wrestlers for each match they are involved in.

Tony Schiavone is backstage with the Russians (Ivan and Nikita Koloff as well as American turncoat Krusher Krushchev). Schiavone asks Ivan who will make up his team now that the Russian team can field any combination. Ivan tells Tony that the Americans tried to cheat him and his comrades out of competing as they normally do, but the Soviet government lodged a diplomatic protest when they learned the Freebirds would be allowed to compete under their no-good capitalist “Freebird Rule.” Ivan says tonight his team is going to crush the Americans and show the world the superiority of Russian training and ideology. Schiavone presses Ivan about who is on their team tonight and Ivan says “That is state secret.” Nikita growls menacingly before the Russians leave.

Gordon Solie is outside the babyface dressing room with Blackjack Mulligan and Wahoo McDaniel. Gordon asks them about their upcoming match against the Russian team and whether their game plan will be affected by not knowing who they’ll be facing. Blackjack Mulligan tells Gordon it doesn’t matter whether it’s those two Russian polecats or that traitor Krusher Krushchev, they’re going to get a king-size whupping courtesy of him and the Chief. Wahoo tells Gordon he’s had his share of battles with Ivan and he knows every one of the Russian team is a force to be reckoned with. McDaniel says in the end it doesn’t matter who they’re facing because they’ll all bleed equally well when he and Mulligan bust them wide open. They got past a tough first-round team in Larry Hennig and Crusher Blackwell and they’re ready for round two.

The Russian Team (Ivan and Nikita Koloff) with Krusher Krushchev vs. Blackjack Mulligan and Wahoo McDaniel
Krusher Krushchev enters the ring and begins waving the Soviet flag as heavy boos fill the arena. Uncle Ivan is shouting something at the fans while Nikita takes his heavy chains and drapes them in the heels’ corner. The boos turn to cheers as Blackjack Mulligan and Wahoo McDaniel make their way to the ring. Bob Caudle says that he hopes referee Scrappy McGowan is ready to officiate this one. David Crockett tells Bob he hates how the Russians mock the United States and its wrestlers. Bob asks David what he thinks of Nikita’s finisher, the Russian Sickle and David says it looks pretty devastating and he’s glad he’ll never have to take it since he’s an announcer. 

Mulligan and McDaniel are in the ring and they’re staring daggers at the Russians. Scrappy tells Krusher Krushchev he wants him out of the ring then checks all four competitors for any foreign objects. Scrappy signals for the bell as Ivan and Wahoo start things off. Collar and elbow tie-up as both men try to dominate. Bob Caudle points out that Wahoo and Ivan have wrestled numerous times before and there’s no love lost between the two. Wahoo manages to get Ivan into a neutral corner and fires off a chop. Uncle Ivan is shouting something at the referee and Bob Caudle says it’s obvious he’s unhappy he didn’t get a clean break. David Crockett says Ivan’s just upset he couldn’t get a cheap shot in first. Scrappy forces Wahoo to back up and as he does, Ivan lands a cheap shot, staggering the big chief. Koloff unloads with a forearm to the back followed by a snapmare. Ivan applies a facelock and goes to wear McDaniel down. Wahoo gets up to his feet so Koloff whips him into the ropes and catches him with an elbow to the chest. Tag to Nikita as the uncle/nephew team whip Wahoo into the ropes and land a double elbow to Wahoo’s chest. Wahoo goes down and Nikita drops an elbow on the former New York Jet. Cover but Wahoo kicks out at two as David Crockett says it’s way too early to expect a cover. Nikita picks up Wahoo by the hair, getting a warning from the referee. Wahoo fires off a chop, knocking Nikita back. Nikita rakes the eyes and rams Wahoo’s head into Ivan’s extended boot. Tag to Uncle Ivan who bodyslams Wahoo, showing the Russian Bear may be getting older, but he's still a powerful foe. Ivan stomps Wahoo in the head then drops an elbow on the big chief. Blackjack is rallying the fans as the crowd cheer “Wahoo! Wahoo!” 

Ivan whips Wahoo into the corner and charges in with a big forearm. Ivan backs up and drives his shoulder into Wahoo’s breadbasket. Bob Caudle says Wahoo needs to make a tag as the Koloffs are dealing out a lot of punishment. Ivan whips Wahoo into the ropes and catches him with a knee to the gut. Ivan wastes no time and applies a bearhug on Wahoo as McDaniel is on one knee. Bob Caudle points out that Koloff has both of McDaniel’s arms pinned, which is only going to make things tougher. The sweat is pouring down McDaniel’s face as Koloff continues the pressure, McDaniel trying to slip an arm free. David Crockett says Koloff has all the leverage which is only going to make escape all the more difficult. Still, McDaniel isn’t giving up and almost gets an arm free when Ivan lifts him up, reapplying the hold. This time though, Wahoo’s arms are free, but Bob Caudle notes it looks like Wahoo’s attempt to escape cost him a lot of gas. Wahoo fires off a punch but Koloff isn’t letting go and that seems to be Wahoo’s last gasp. Referee Scrappy McGowan checks Wahoo’s arm and it goes down. David Crockett asks why Blackjack isn’t coming in for the save. McGowan checks Wahoo whose arm goes limp a second time. Blackjack looks to be getting in the ring, but then Wahoo rakes Koloff’s eyes, with “The Russian Bear” loosening the hold. Wahoo rakes the eyes again and Koloff releases the hold.

Fourteen minutes into the match and Wahoo looks spent. Ivan’s incredible constitution is on full display as he throws McDaniel into the corner and charges, only for Wahoo to somehow raise a boot. Koloff staggers back but comes back in, getting a kick to the gut. David Crockett cheers “C’mon Wahoo, make the tag!” as Wahoo leans against the ropes and fires off a chop, again staggering Koloff. Bob Caudle wonders if Wahoo could even stand if it wasn’t for the ropes. Another chop sends Koloff reeling as Wahoo stumbles to his corner where Mulligan is waiting. 

The big Texan comes in as Uncle Ivan runs to his corner and tags in Nikita. Nikita charges at Blackjack and it’s a battle of two bulls as they start exchanging blows with the referee giving them a wide berth. Nikita finds himself on the losing end of the fisticuffs so he goes for an eyerake, but Mulligan stops him. Knee to the gut on “The Russian Nightmare.” Mulligan whips Koloff into the ropes and lands a jumping elbow. Cover on Nikita for a two count. Ivan comes in as Mulligan slugs him, knocking him down. 

Blackjack bodyslams Nikita then drops a knee across the Russian’s head. Mulligan is on fire and you can beat there’s no love lost between the big Marine and “The Russian Nightmare.” Another whip into the ropes as Mulligan hits a back body-drop on Nikita. Mulligan kicks Koloff in the head and covers him for a two-count. Elbow drop on Nikita as Mulligan picks him up and throws him into the ropes. Bob Caudle points out Mulligan is giving Nikita no time to catch his breath and Koloff’s stamina is something fans have questioned due to how quickly he usually wins his matches. Whatever the case, Mulligan throws Nikita into the ropes, this time applying the clawhold. Blackjack has the hold in the center of the ring and Nikita’s in trouble! Nikita drops to a knee and Ivan runs him, kneeing Blackjack in the back and breaking the hold. Wahoo staggers in and slugs Ivan, knocking him down. Meanwhile, Krusher Krushchev gets on the ring apron, waving the Soviet flag. Wahoo grabs Kruschev and punches him, then pulls him over the top ropes, with the American turncoat landing hard. Scrappy McGowan goes to get Krusher out of the ring as McDaniel stomps at Krushchev. Meanwhile, Nikita and Ivan see the wrestling equivalent of the missile gap and grab Nikita’s chain, joining hands as they hit a double clothesline on Blackjack Mulligan who was busy watching Wahoo and Krusher. A big mistake as Nikita falls on top of Mulligan and Ivan gets the referee. Wahoo is so busy pummeling Krusher he doesn’t realize what’s going on until the match is over. 

Winners: Ivan and Nikita Koloff

David Crockett can’t believe what’s happened and Bob Caudle says opponents are going to have their hands full dealing with the Russian team in round three. 

Tony Schiavone is backstage with the Rock and Roll Express and welcomes Ricky and Robert to the Mid-Atlantic area. Morton says it’s great to be here and while they’ve been tearing things up in Mid-South Wrestling, they’d love to come here someday. Tonight though, they’re here for one reason—to start their journey to the Crockett Cup and the one-million-dollar prize. Ricky says, "There are a lot of tag teams talking about how bad they are and all the things they can do, but you see, everybody knows and everyone who has seen the Rock and Roll Express in action knows they can take poison ivy and turn it into a rose bush, Jack! We are the Rock and Roll Express, and we love ya!"

The Rock and Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) vs. the Mega Maharishi and Kendo Nagasaki
The female fans are screaming with delight as Ricky and Robert slap their hands at ringside. Ricky throws a bandana out to the crowd as does Robert. The Mega Maharishi and Kendo Nagasaki are already in the ring. Bob Caudle points out the team scored a controversial win over Buzz Tyler and “Pistol” Pez Whatley. Ricky Morton starts off against Kendo Nagasaki. Kendo gets in the first blow, chopping Morton in the chest. Nagasaki leverages Ricky into the ropes and chops him again, with referee Tommy Young admonishing him for not giving a clean break. Kendo whips Ricky into the ropes and goes for a chop but Ricky rolls out of the way and bounces off the opposite rope, hitting a high cross body-block. Morton picks up Kendo and suplexes him. The Mega Maharishi comes in, but so does Robert Gibson. David Crockett says he’s amazed by the team’s speed and teamwork as they double-suplex Maharishi. Kendo charges at Ricky but gets a big right hand. Ricky and Robert whip Kendo into the ropes and hit a double dropkick. Robert covers Kendo as Tommy Young makes the 1-2-3. 

Winners: The Rock and Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)

The Mega Maharishi is furious and is screaming at Tommy Young. He goes to slug Tommy, but the Rock-n-Roll double dropkick him, sending him out of the ring. David Crockett says the Rock-n-Roll Express have made a fantastic first impression. 

Join us next time as round two of the tournament continues with Ole and Arn Anderson battling theU.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda) and “Bulldog” Bob Brown and Marty Jannetty taking on Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi. Stay tuned wrestling fans as the quest for tag team immortality continues!


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS FANTASY SERIES
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings Announced  

SECOND ROUND MATCHES

Second Round: Matches 1 & 2 (Tournament 17 & 18)
     Mulligan/McDaniel vs. The Russians
    Rock & Roll Express vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki

FIRST ROUND
First Round: Matches 1 & 2
    Hennig/Blackwell vs. Mulligan/McDaniel
    Tyler/Whatley vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki
First Round: Matches 3 & 4
    Windham/Rotunda vs. Bockwinkel/Saito
    Rougeaus vs. Inoki/Sakaguchi
First Round: Matches 5 &6
    Barbarian/Graham vs. Hart Foundation (Hart/Neidhart)
    High Flyers (Brunzell/Gagne) vs. Savage/Poffo
First Round: Matches 7 & 8:
    The Von Erich vs. Blanchard/Abdullah the Butcher
    Tenryu/Tsuruta vs. The British Bulldogs
First Round: Matches 9 & 10:
    Graham/Blair vs. DiBiase/Williams
    Valiant/McGraw vs. Lawler/Dundee
First Round: Matches 11 & 12:
    Piper/Orton vs. Patterson/Fernandez
    Rock & Roll RPMs vs. Youngblood Brothers
First Round: Matches 13 and 14:
    Dynamic Duo (Gino & Chris) vs. American Starship
    Sawyer Bros. vs. Steamboat/Snuka
First Round: Matches 15 and 16
    Batten Twins vs. Fabulous Ones
    Weaver/Houston vs. Sheepherders


http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: Christmas Day 1982

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
on the WWE Network

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it appeared on the WWE Network. Results are included for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as available. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. Follow @TaubGVWire

For links to all available summaries as well as links to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast, visit our TV Summary Index.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 12/25/82
(taped 12/15*/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network Direct Link to this show Mid-Atlantic 12/25/82
WWE Network feed.   [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]
*Gateway note: MACW doubled up tapings for two straight nights at the WPCQ studios to get enough TV taped for the rest of December and into the new year. We believe taping dates were 12/14 and 12/15.

Note: The taping date is an educated guess. I see no records of JCP running from 12/17-12/24/82, as they took their annual pre-Christmas break. The prior year, the taped multiple days in the same week to allow for such a break. Match results don’t indicate either way for 1982. My guess is this was taped Thursday, Dec. 16. The card listed that night in Sumpter was probably the night before.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
[TAPE] World Wide Wrestling: Youngblood breaks the Cobra
Youngblood is glad to be back. We go to a tape from last week’s World Wide Wrestling, Steamboat & Youngblood vs. Pvt. Nelson & Ricky Harris. Nelson as Youngblood in the Cobra Clutch. Sgt. Slaughter, who is at ringside, is gloating. Youngblood breaks out with a side Russian legsweep and score the pin. Slaughter can’t believe it. Back to the Mid-Atlantic studio. Youngblood lets Slaughter know that he broke the Cobra Clutch, and other people will study it.

[Break]

Match 1
Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Bill White & Frank Monte

Tommy Young is the referee for the hour. Quick teamwork from the babyfaces. Youngblood pins Monte after being slingshotted in from his partner.

[Break]

Match 2
One Man Gang (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Ron Ritchie

For the record, Gang entered Mid-Atlantic after finishing  a 10-month run in Mid-South. No references to George Gray this week. Weird to see Gang in his early days with long hair and not wearing black. Easy win with the power slam.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sir Oliver Humperdink
A few parting shots from Humperdink. He says ’83 will be his year.

Match 3
Dory Funk, Jr. d. Mark Fleming

We go right to our next match. No mention of the $100,000 Golden Challenge anymore. Caudle says we’ll see footage of another House of Humperdink member, Bruiser Brody. Funk wins with the spinning toe hold submission.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Dory Funk, Jr.
This is in lieu of local promos. The two discuss various goings-on. Funk praises Steamboat & Youngblood, even Sweet Brown Sugar. But, Sugar has a big mouth. It’s a conspiracy against Funk. He says he’s fought animals — no, not going the racist rout, he means it literally i.e. cattle — so he’s a tough guy.

[Break]
Match 4
Sweet Brown Sugar d. Ken Timbs

Caudle notes Sugar has a hard head. Of course. Sugar wins with a weird looking move. It looks like he is going for a flying head scissors, but ends up rolling forward. Timbs is on his back, with Sugar’s legs squeezing his head. The move befuddled Caudle.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sweet Brown Sugar; Jack Brisco; Roddy Piper
Sugar responds to Funk. He promises to pay Funk back as long as (Sugar) is “young, gifted and black.” Brisco comes in to talk about One Man Gang and Bruiser Brody in the area. He calls Humperdink a rooster.
Piper is in. He still has a big bruise on his left temple. He said he has to be on good behavior. He talks about Flair & Valentine. A calmer Roddy this time.

[Break]

Match 5
Non-Title: Jack Brisco [Mid-Atlantic ch.] d. Joe Lauren

Very interesting match. Short, but Lauren controls nearly all of it. Brisco’s only moves are of the defensive variety. Big bear hug by Lauren (aka the future Road Warrior Animal). Brisco reverses a body slam into a roll up to escape the win. 

[Break]

Match 6
Bob Orton, Jr. d. Masa Fuchi

We jump to the next match (see explanation at the end). Caudle still pronounces it “Fuji.” Lots of wrestling here. Orton, showing his versatility, wins with a jumping splash from the inside turnbuckle. Think of that move Vader used to do. Not sure why the abrupt cut into the match. Wonder what got cut.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudel: Jack Brisco; Bob Orton, Jr.
Brisco puts over Lauren. Obviously, they saw something in that power house. Brisco talks about causing trouble to the House of Humperdink. Saying Jos LeDuc is going after him. Orton talks more of the battles against Humperdink.  He puts over Ernie Shavers as the trouble shooting referee.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sir Oliver Humperdink

[TAPE] Championship Wrestling from Florida: Bruiser Brody
Humperdink throws to a clip from Championship Wrestling from Florida, of a studio match involving Brody. Humperdink does most of the narration. James J. Dillon and Big John Studd are in Brody’s corner. Bill Alfonso is the referee, and you can faintly hear Gordon Solie in the background. Brody wins with a knee to the throat. Humperdink talks smack on Brisco, Piper, etc.

Match 7
NonTitle: Greg Valentine [United States ch.] d. Pork Chop Cash

Valentine dominates, and pins Cash by taking a abdominal stretch and falling back into a pinning position. Didn’t even work the legs.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine; Dory Funk, Jr.; Don Kernodle
Valentine noted the finish of his match, saying he could be called the Man of 1,000 Holds. Valentine cedes to Funk, to allow him to catch his breath. Funk calls Sugar and Ernie Shavers “Stymie and Buckwheat.” Caudle refers to a video earlier in the hour of Ernie Shavers (which I guess explains the cut between the Brisco and Orton matches).

Kernodle talks smack on Youngblood and Steamboat. Valentine then gets concern saying he should be barred from the studio. Piper is on the set. Piper says he doesn’t want trouble. Valentine pokes him and calls him a punk. Piper then knocks Valentine down with a big right hand. The Hammer sells the heck out of it. He recovers to run down Piper.

“So long for now!”

*********************

End notes: As this is the last episode of 1982, my awards for the year:

MVP: Roddy Piper
Piper did it all. Great heel. Great babyface with a turn in August. Dynamite interviews. And his matches were decent too.
Babyface: Jimmy Valiant
Very subjective here. But, fans ate up Valiant’s act. He was in Mid-Atlantic as a babyface all year long.
Heel: Sgt. Slaughter
Slight edge over Piper. Slaughter was in the territory all year as a heel. Just carried on that great bully demeanor.
Technical wrestler: Jack Brisco
Need I say more.
Match of the year: Brisco vs. Piper, 7/10/82 Mid-Atlantic TV
Since this can only really be based off what was aired on TV, this match was dynamic. Culmination of weeks of smack talking on both sides. The top heel and babyface meeting. The importance of the championship. And, a finish that saw Piper nail Brisco with a roll of coins, then completely deny it. Classic stuff.
Tag team: Slaughter & Kernodle

A very helter-skelter year for tag teams in Mid-Atlantic. Especially, with the World tag team tournament debacle. But, once Slaughter & Kernodle showed up in September as new tag team champions, they gelled and engaged in an outstanding feud vs. Steamboat & Youngblood that culminates in the next year.

******************************************

Results for the week, 12/20/82-12/26/82
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock

Sat., 12/25/82 Charlotte, NC; Charlotte Coliseum
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle
Jimmy Valiant, Bob Orton & Jerry Brisco beat Jos Leduc, Bruiser Brody & Oliver Humperdink
Jack Brisco beat Paul Jones
Mike Rotundo beat Leroy Brown to win NWA Television Title
Johnny Weaver & Sweet Brown Sugar beat Gene Anderson & Dory Funk, Jr.
Bill White beat Mike Davis
Rick Harris beat Porkchop Cash
Pvt. Nelson beat King Parsons

Sun., 12/26/82 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine in a Texas death match
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Dory Funk, Jr. in match with Ernie Shavers as special referee
Jack Brisco beat Bruiser Brody by DQ
Mike Rotundo beat Paul Jones
Jerry Brisco & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Gene Anderson & Masa Fuchi
One Man Gang beat Mike Davis

Sunday, August 16, 2020

An Embarrasement of Riches for Paul Jones in 1975

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

In the illustrious Jim Crockett Promotions career of “Number 1” Paul Jones, a career that spanned from the late 1960s through the late 1980s, Paul experienced an untold number of high water marks. But there was probably no higher high for Paul than in the late autumn of 1975, immediately after Jones defeated Terry Funk for the United States Heavyweight Championship on November 27, 1975 in the Greensboro Coliseum.

Paul’s first interview as the new United States Champion on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television was conducted on December 3, 1975. Having just aced the U.S. belt, Jones was considered the number one contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Title in many circles. And at that time, Paul was also the reigning Mid-Atlantic Television Champion. Truly, an embarrassment of riches for Mr. #1!

Announcer Bob Caudle began the show, telling the fans, “First of all, we have a guest right here with a new championship belt…the new U.S. Heavyweight Champion Paul Jones, and Paul, you defeated Terry Funk.” Jones slipped onto the set and emotionally replied, “Well, that’s right. I’m so proud of this belt, I’m lost for words. But I want to say, I want to thank the people that stood behind me, the long fight to get this belt, and finally I won it, and I just feel great all over.”

However, not all of Paul’s news was good. Jones continued:

“But I also have some bad news tonight. You know, this Mid-Atlantic TV belt here…I’ve won this belt three times. It’s real close to me, and I feel like…the U.S. belt, I’m going to have to travel all over the United States to defend this belt in every city every state, so I feel like I won’t be able to do justice to the TV belt, which I have a lot of respect for and I’m real proud of it.” Paul then broke the bad news about his TV belt, explaining, “But what I’m going to have to do; I’m going to have to put it up for grabs. As much as I hate to, with all the hard matches I’ve had to win this belt. So I hate to do it, but I feel like I wouldn’t be doing the TV belt any justice by keeping it and carrying it around the country with me, and I’m just going to put it up for grabs.”


http://midatlanticwrestling.net/yearbooks.htm



Caudle commiserated with Jones, commenting, “Well Paul, I know you hate to do that, like you say you’ve had it for a long, long time and it’s a beautiful belt.” Jones replied, “It really is, and I hate to part with it, but this belt here, I have to defend it all over the United States…and I just don’t have time.” Caudle countered, “Well, Paul, you’re going to be a great champion, a great U.S. Heavyweight Champion, I’m sure of that, and congratulations to you again.” Jones answered, “Thank you Bob,” as he exited the interview area.

Before running down the television card, Caudle interjected, “So Paul Jones, the new U.S. Heavyweight Champion, and David, he is relinquishing this TV championship belt.” Color commentator David Crockett offered, “And one thing, Paul has made this Mid-Atlantic TV championship belt mean more than any other TV championship belt in the whole United States.” Caudle added, “No doubt.” Crockett continued, “And also, when Paul Jones won the United States Heavyweight Championship from Terry Funk, he had to go through the whole Funk family, so that’s a great accomplishment, because Terry Funk is one of the greatest wrestlers in the world, and Paul Jones has the right to win that belt…he’s something else.”

‘Something else’ was the right way to phrase it, as Paul Jones was unquestionably on top of the wrestling heap in December of 1975, to the point he gave up an excess title! An embarrassment of riches for sure, but wrestling wealth that was well-earned and well-deserved in the minds of his legions of Mid-Atlantic fans.

 
Originally published February 23, 2017 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway
 
http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/p/us-title-book.html

Friday, August 14, 2020

Bloopers!

 

Norfolk VA 5/29/75 - OLD Anderson and Wahoo McDNAIEL
Richmond VA 8/10/79 - GONG Anderson and LOCO Samoa
Columbia SC 2/05/80 - CARL Jones and Swede HAMPTON
Greenville SC 01/07/80 - Brunzell defeats Brunzell
Asheville NC 11/30/75 - The Minnesota Matador and Blackjack MALLIGAN
Charlotte NC 9/19/81 - A Fourth Youngblood Brother? JOEL Youngblood
Greensboro NC 7/05/62 - Johnny Weaver wins with the SWEEPER hold!
Greenville SC 5/14/79 - JERRY Youngblood and MOUSE Morowski
Hampton VA 4/30/77 - MACW's first inter-gender match? Johnny Eagle vs. MRS. X
Greenville SC 7/21/75 - Not familiar with this guy: BOYCE Malenko.
Charlotte NC 5/8/77 - MID-CHAMPIONSHIP Wrestling and Rick MAGRAW
Raleigh NC 2/3/76 - Larry ZABISCO
Columbia SC 01/24/78 - GREGG Valentine
Wilson, NC 09/27/74 - TIGGER Conway
Saluda VA 04/19/79 - JEAN Anderson, SARGENT JOCK Goulet, more!
Hampton VA 4/20/80 - Steamboat wrestles Steamboat. Plus that devil Paul Jones!
Asheville NC 07/04/73 - Two-Ton" HARRY!
Greenville SC 06/16/80 - Nifty!
Winston-Salem NC 12/02/75 - TROY Atlas and MICK "The Judge" DuBois
Spartanburg SC 10/21/72 - JEAN Anderson, ROMMIE ARVIN, and Poncho BALDER!
Rocky Mount, NC 3/23/77 - Rufus R. Joyner
Lynchburg VA 11/18/77 - JOLLY Blanchard and Baron Von RASHICE!
Toronto ON Canada 11/2/80 - Jimmy "The Fly" Snuka!
Greenville SC 10/20/75 - WORKED Tag Team Title Match!
Greenville SC 8/11/80 - FAT BOY DUNCAN!
Greensboro NC 01/13/80 - DUCK Sommers!

View all the Newspaper Bloopers in sequence by clicking here.

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: December 18, 1982

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
on the WWE Network

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it appeared on the WWE Network. Results are included for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as available. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. Follow @TaubGVWire

For links to all available summaries as well as links to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast, visit our TV Summary Index.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 12/18/82
(taped 12/15/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network Direct Link to this show Mid-Atlantic 12/18/82
WWE Network feed.   [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]

Bob Caudle opens the show. The World tag team champions will be here. So is “One Man Gang” George Gray.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sweet Brown Sugar
Sugar throws to a tape. David Crockett presides over a contract signing between Sugar and Dory Funk, Jr. in his $100,000 Golden challenge. Funk says he’s willing the time limit to 15 minutes. Crockett explains the contract also calls for a special referee, boxing legend Ernie Shavers. Sugar is laughing. Funk is agitated. He attacks Sugar for laughing and bodyslams him on the concrete floor. Back to the interview. Sugars vows revenge on Funk.

[Break]

Match 1
Non-Title: Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle [World Tag Champs] d. Mike Davis & Abe Jacobs

Before the match starts, Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood jump in the ring and attack Slaughter & Kernodle. The action goes around to the announcer’s desk. We hit a break as the action is still going on.

[Break]

The match starts after the break. Stu Schwartz is the referee for the hour. Steamboat & Youngblood leave the studio. Interesting move where Slaughter gets his partner up in a fireman’s carry, then drops his knee into Davis’ throat. The extra weight made the move that much more devastating. Slaughter pins Davis after the Atomic Bomb (clothesline off the top rope, with Kernodle holding Davis). After, Steamboat & Youngblood run in, and the four men brawl to the back.

[Break]

Match 2
Jimmy Valiant & Bob Orton, Jr. d. Ricky Harris & Jim Dalton

A jump cut, and the Network edit music leads to the next match. Valiant has dollar signs on the side of his tights, and “Honey & Money” on the back. Orton has Dalton in the piledriver, and Valiant spikes him for the pin. I always thought the spike piledriver was illegal. I guess not.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jimmy Valiant & Bob Orton, Jr.
Orton says Slaughter & Kernodle better watch out. He tells Humperdink that nothing is safe. Valiant says Orton is a street fighter. Caudle asks Orton about Ernie Shavers. He says a wrestler can beat a boxer, but Shavers isn’t here to wrestle. He’s here to keep law and order.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sir Oliver Humperdink & One Man Gang
Humperdink introduces his new man. Of course, that means to get his hands on Jimmy Valiant. 

Match 3
One Man Gang (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Keith Larsen

Caudle refers to him as “One Man Gang” George Gray. A short victory, finishing off Larsen with the power slam.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Classic fired-up babyface promo from Youngblood. Slaughter & Kernodle put him out of action. They took fod off his table. He’s back and he wants revenge. Steamboat (clean shaven) concurs, saying Slaughter & Kernodle are scared of them.

[Break]

Mach 4
Dory Funk, Jr. d. Ron Ritchie

Caudle refers to the video earlier of Funk attacking Sweet Brown Sugar. Caudle talks about how Orton and Valiant have been training Sugar, and that Ernie Shavers will be a special referee for upcoming bouts. Ritchie gets his offense in. But, he makes a mistake, missing a leap over Funk. A moment later, Funk applies the spinning told hold for the submission win.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Dory Funk, Jr.
This is in lieu of local promos. Funk says Ernie Shavers coming in is a conspiracy. Funk says he is better than Flair (remember, both are heels at the time). 

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Dory Funk, Jr.
Funk talks about his $100,000 challenge. He wonders where the challenge is from Dusty Rhodes or Mike Graham? 

[Break]

Match 5
Mike Rotundo d. Ken Timbs

For whatever reason, no Leroy Brown. Orton and Valiant are out to support Rotundo, and join Caudle on the mic. Rotundo has a new cap, noted by Orton. Valiant gets his jive in on the mic, talking about how tough Rotundo is. Valiant says One Man Gang is bigger than Andre. When Rotundo gets the airplane spin on Timbs, Valiant chimes in “Let’s go to the bar and get some beer, brother.” I guess that means it’s the finish. It was.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle; One Man Gang and Sir Oliver Humperdink
Kernodle denies they ran from Steamboat & Youngblood. They will put them out of wrestling permanently. Slaughter starts quoting the lyrics to “Dirty Laundry” by Don Henley. He talks trash on Youngblood. 30 more seconds, and he would be in the morgue.
Slaughter then shakes Oliver Humperdink’s hands, and thanks him for Mr. Gray watching their back. Humperdink gives more ominous warnings to Jimmy Valiant.

“So long for now!”

****************************************************

Results for the week, 12/13/82-12/19/82
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock

Mon., 12/13/82 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Ben Alexander d. Abe Jacobs
Mike Davis d. Joe Lauren
Jim Dalton & Rick Harris d. Ron Ritchie & Keith Larsen
Keith Larsen DRAW Masa Fuchi
Dusty Rhodes d. Leroy Brown
Roddy Piper d. Greg Valentine by DQ

Tue., 12/14/82 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Pork Chop Cash d. Ben Alexander
King Parsons d. Bill White
Paul Jones d. Pork Chop Cash
Jack Brisco d. Jos LeDuc
Roddy Piper d. Greg Valentine

Wed., 12/15/82 Charlotte, NC; WPCQ-TV studio
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling:
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Mike Davis & Abe Jacobs
Jimmy Valiant & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ricky Harris & Jim Dalton
One Man Gang beat Keith Larson
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Ron Ritchie
Mike Rotundo beat Ken Timbs
World Wide Wrestling:
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Ricky Harris & Pvt. Nelson
Jimmy Valiant & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Masa Fuchi & Joe Lauren
One Man Gang beat Mike Davis
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Keith Larson
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle D Ron Ritchie & ??

Thu., 12/16/82 Sumter, SC
Ricky Harris beat Abe Jacobs
Pvt. Nelson beat Ben Alexander
King Parsons beat Jim Dalton
Mike Rotundo beat Leroy Brown by countout
Jimmy Valiant beat Jos LeDuc in a cage match