Taped from Shreveport, LA
Airdate: March 20, 1982 (taped 03/17)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Boyd Pierce & Jim Ross
Can DiBiase retain the North American title? Or will Roop find a devious way to attain it? How will JYD and Olympia fare on this episode? What’s the latest on Ladd? Orndorff? Pick up some Irish grub for St. Paddy’s Day and enjoy some good old-fashioned Southern ‘rasslin!
Opening montage.
Hey! Look who’s behind the microphone to assist Leprechaun Boyd Pierce in calling the matches. I wonder if this guy’s gonna pass muster.
Prior to the opening match, Bob Roop interrupts Pierces’ elongated introduction of Ross. He mentions that “something really bad has happened to…Orndorff.” According to Roop, DiBiase defeated Orndorff by pinfall in a cage match. He also believes that Orndorff won’t be here and wants the match in his place. I smell a ruse.
Ross describes Ernie Ladd’s knee that has been repaired by Dr. James Andrews, and footage of the arthroscopic surgery is shown.
According to Ross, Ladd’s recovery will be very quick. Following that, Reisor Bowden interviews Ladd who is obviously on crutches. Ladd shows his leg in a cast but promises to return to deliver some justice.
After a commercial break, we revisit the destruction of Ladd by One Man Gang and the Samoans. Next, we revisit One Man Gang’s demolition of Dick Murdoch.
Match 1: One Man Gang (w/ General Skandor Akbar) versus Buddy Landel
Highlights:
- Finally! A match!
- Oh, I do NOT like Landel’s chances here.
- When Landel hooked a front face lock, Gang vaulted him across the ring.
- He slammed, splashed, and pinned Landel at 1:27.
- GET OUT THE SPATULA!
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for Gang.
Prior to the next match, Roop politicks some more to not only take Orndorff’s spot against DiBiase but also skip his match against Kox. Since Bowden can’t or won’t help him, Roop’s rather frustrated.
Match 2: Bob Roop versus “Killer” Karl Kox
Highlights:
- Before the bell, Roop ambushed him, but Kox absorbed the punishment and…
- Kox dealt Roop some elbow smashes and followed with a knee lift.
- As Kox avoided a drop toe hold, he unloaded with another knee lift.
- Roop rebounded with a back elbow and tied Kox up in the ropes.
- When Kox freed himself, he blasted Roop halfway across the ring.
- He dumped Roop with a brainbuster and pinned him at 2:00.
Rating: **
Summary: Roop’s frustration led to his getting destroyed by the ex-Marine.
Match 3 (non-title): Mid-South tag team champions the Wild Samoans (w/ General Skandor Akbar) versus Jesse Barr & Terry Gibbs
Highlights:
- Yes, folks, this was the same Gibbs who wrestled the Ultimate Warrior in his first WWF televised match.
- Barr leapfrogged Afa and followed with a dropkick.
- When he rolled up Afa, Barr got 1.
- Afa rebounded with a big chop and tagged in Sika.
- As Sika headbutted Barr, Afa tagged in and unfurled his own head butt.
- Sika tagged in and dropped Barr with a back elbow.
- After Afa tagged in, he gave Barr a cross corner whip and methodically nailed him.
- Sika tagged in, gave Barr his own cross corner whip, and hip-tossed him across the ring.
- While Gibbs tagged in, Sika dumped him with a Samoan drop.
- 1-2-3.
- The Samoans won at 3:43.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for the Samoans.
Match 4 for the Mid-South North American title: Ted DiBiase (champion) versus Bob Roop
Highlights:
- Where’s Paul Orndorff?
- Nonetheless, Roop clotheslined DiBiase and hooked an inside cradle for 1.
- As DiBiase rebounded with his own clothesline, he hammered Roop for 2.
- DiBiase dealt him a pair of elbow smashes, but Roop reversed an Irish whip.
- When DiBiase ducked a clothesline, he scored with a cross body block for 2.
- Roop stooped to the lowest level by taking DiBiase WAY DOWNTOWN. Evil!
- After DiBiase stopped being able to sing soprano, Roop attempted a figure-four leg lock.
- DiBiase blocked it, tried his own, but Roop quickly grabbed the bottom rope to escape.
- While DiBiase landed a knee drop, he got 2.
- He escaped a shoulder breaker attempt and powerslammed Roop.
- Trapping Roop, DiBiase secured a figure-four leg lock.
- Roop reversed the hold, yet DiBiase wouldn’t submit.
- Reversing the hold, DiBiase forced Roop to grab the bottom rope.
- DiBiase tried to reapply the hold, but Roop blocked it and knocked referee Alfred Neely down to the concrete floor.
- Suddenly, Gang yanked DiBiase by the left leg and wrenched it against the ring post. How dastardly!
- Roop took advantage by hooking a figure-four leg lock, and DiBiase fought off the pain.
- Unfortunately, DiBiase fell unconscious from the pain, so Neely called for the bell.
- Roop won at 7:02.
- WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Rating: ***
Summary: Thanks to the nefarious actions of Gang, Roop reaps the benefits and steals the North American title from DiBiase.
Match 5: Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia versus Tully Blanchard & Mike Boyer
Highlights:
- Boyer, also known as Boyette, was an enhancement talent in Houston prior to this match.
- Before the bell, Boyer and Blanchard ambushed Olympia and JYD.
- Olympia sent Boyer packing with a dropkick, and JYD fed Blanchard an atomic drop.
- When Blanchard scored with a springboard elbow drop, he got 1 with a HUGE kickout by JYD.
- Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Olympia caught Boyer in the midsection.
- As he slammed Boyer, Olympia landed an elbow drop and got 2.
- JYD tagged in and powerslammed Boyer.
- In the meantime, Olympia prevented a save by brawling with Blanchard.
- 1-2-3.
- JYD and Olympia won at 0:46.
Rating: *
Summary: All four wrestlers knew they had limited time, so they sprinted from bell to bell to…
After the match, Orndorff finally arrives at the arena. What made him late for work? Some bad catfish? Did some dirty rice turn heel on him? Did some cornbread give him cauliflower ear?
Following a commercial break, Orndorff claims car trouble and blames DiBiase. Instead, he figures out from his experience in the heel locker room that it was Roop all along. He cuts a promo on Roop to end the episode. Needless to say, but Orndorff’s NOT having a good St. Patrick’s Day.
Conclusion: Roop captures the North American title thanks to actions orchestrated by Orndorff. In other matches, JYD and Olympia won in a track meet, the Samoans made mincemeat out of Blanchard and Boyer, Kox decimated Roop to warm him up, and Gang turned Landel from chicken into chicken salad.
Next week, JYD tags with Kox to battle the Samoans!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for MSW 03-27-82!
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