Taped from Shreveport, LA
Airdate: March 13, 1982 (taped 03/03)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Boyd Pierce & Ted DiBiase
Can Rhodes overcome Wiskowski? How will Orton fare against Sharpe? What happens when Olympia squares off against Roop?
Opening montage.
Match 1: Jesse Barr & Buddy Landel versus Jesse Tanner & Bill Ash
Highlights:
- At this stage in his career, Landel had neither bleached blond hair nor a moniker of any sort.
- Landel backdropped Ash and followed with a dropkick.
- When tags were exchanged on both sides, Barr mounted the second turnbuckle and lowered the boom onto Tanner.
- Ash tagged in, dealt Barr a knee lift, and connected with a back elbow.
- As tags were exchanged on both sides again, all four wrestlers were in the ring.
- Barr dropkicked Ash while Landel whipped Tanner into a Barr back drop.
- After Landel hooked a belly-to-belly suplex, he pinned Tanner at 3:44.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for the young up-and-comers.
Match 2: The “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes versus the “Polish Prince” Ed Wiskowski
Highlights:
- This match occurred on 2/17 with “Cowboy” Bill Watts on commentary.
- As Wiskowski gave Rhodes a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through. In fact, he “injured” his right knee.
- Rhodes unloaded a Flip, Flop, & Fly followed by a bionic elbow.
- When Wiskowski slammed Rhodes, he mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but ate knees.
- Rhodes landed an elbow drop and pinned Wiskowski at 3:38.
Rating: **
Summary: Rhodes took advantage of a major mistake by Wiskowski and won.
Match 3: The Grappler versus Frank Monte
Highlights:
- In case you’re curious, DiBiase noted that the reason Grappler carried a cane and wore a loaded boot was due to DiBiase’s placing him in the figure-four leg lock. Quite the confidence, no?
- Monte hooked an inside cradle and got 2.
- When Grappler tied him to the Tree of Woe, he stomped the BEJEEZUS out of Monte.
- He slammed Monte and landed an elbow drop for 2.
- As Monte rebounded with a flying back elbow, Grappler countered a back drop attempt with a reverse shoulder breaker.
- He rammed Monte shoulder-first into the top turnbuckle then down to the mat with full force.
- 1-2-3.
- Grappler won at 3:11.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Grappler.
Match 4: Killer Karl Kox versus Don Cerrano
Highlights:
- Before the bell rang, Kox ambushed Cerrano.
- He dealt Cerrano a knee to the midsection, hooked a brainbuster, and pinned him at 0:54.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Extremely quick showcase match for Kox. There must be another reason he’s on this episode.
Match 5: “Iron” Mike Sharpe versus Bob Orton
Highlights:
- Sharpe trapped him in a bear hug, but Orton escaped.
- When he fed Sharpe a knee to the midsection, Orton dropkicked him.
- He slammed Sharpe but missed a leg drop.
- As Sharpe slammed him, Orton sought refuge on the concrete floor.
- Orton returned to the apron, but Sharpe brought him back in the hard way.
- After he slammed Orton again, Sharpe got 2.
- He reversed a cross corner whip leading to an Orton flip.
- While Orton was caught in the Tree of Woe, Sharpe ruined his weekend.
- He backdropped and hip-tossed Orton before hooking a Canadian backbreaker.
- With Orton’s submission, Sharpe won at 4:36.
Rating: *
Summary: Impressive work by Sharpe to overcome Orton’s shenanigans and score the W.
In the ring, ring announcer Reisor Bowden interviews both Orndorff and Roop. They’re concerned because matchmaker Grizzly Smith hasn’t determined who the #1 contender for the North American title is. Claiming bias, each wants the match. Sounds like a good angle’s about to start.
Match 6: “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff versus Tony Torres
Highlights:
- To cement how EVIL he was, Orndorff grew his beard this week.
- He slammed Torres and got 2.
- As he slammed Torres again, Orndorff missed a knee drop.
- Torres grabbed him by the leg, but Orndorff snapped off an enziguri.
- When he clotheslined Torres, Orndorff landed an elbow smash.
- He powerslammed and pinned Torres at 3:12.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Showcase match for Orndorff.
Match 7 (non-title): Mid-South Mississippi champion Mr. Olympia versus Bob Roop
Highlights:
- Roop attempted a Boston crab, but Olympia powered out immediately.
- When he hooked a backslide, Olympia got 2.
- Roop attempted another Boston crab, but Olympia escaped.
- As Olympia hooked a single-leg crab, Orndorff approached the ring.
- To the delight of the Shreveport faithful, Kox also approached the ring to ease Olympia’s mind.
- Kox sentenced Orndorff back to the locker room much to the chagrin of Roop.
- After Kox caused a distraction, Olympia cradled Roop and got 2.
- He countered a slam attempt with an inside cradle for another 2.
- While Roop sought refuge on the concrete floor, he felt threatened by Kox and quickly returned to the ring.
- Olympia caught Roop in the midsection, landed a fist drop, but couldn’t get 3.
- Reversing a cross corner whip, Roop came up empty on his follow-through.
- Olympia delivered an atomic drop, slammed Roop, and got yet another 2.
- Scoring with a cross body block, Olympia once again couldn’t pin Roop.
- He dropkicked Roop but only got 2.
- Planting Roop with a forearm smash, Olympia could only muster 2.
- Olympia trapped Roop with a sunset flip, but Roop kicked out.
- Giving Roop a cross corner whip, Olympia took him down but couldn’t get the pin.
- He hip-tossed Roop, but the bell rang to signal the TV time limit.
- As a result, referee Alfred Neely ruled the bout a time-limit draw at 7:48.
Rating: ***
Summary: With Kox at his side, Olympia unloaded his entire arsenal, but Roop managed to survive until the time limit expired.
Conclusion: Another solid episode as Mid-South is on fire with strong talent and matches. Somehow, Roop escapes the wrath of Olympia despite Kox’s involvement. Sharpe conquers Orton while Rhodes topples Wiskowski. I look forward to next week to see what might happen to either Roop, Orndorff, or both.
Next week, DiBiase defends the North American title, but who will be his opponent? Stay tuned.
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for MSW 03-20-82!
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