Taped from Shreveport, LA
Airdate: June 5, 1982 (taped 05/26)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Boyd Pierce & “Cowboy” Bill Watts
Can JYD dethrone Roop to become North American champion? What are Gang and Akbar up to? You won’t believe what Ellering has for us. Also, the newcomer Williams is back. Got a hankering for some squared-circle action? This is the place to be!
Opening montage.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE: RSG-ites, please forgive my short hiatus as I suffered from a debilitating illness. Yes, folks, your favorite Rock Star fell victim to COVID. However, after a best 2-out-of-3 falls, loser-leaves-town match, I vanquished that sucker right out of the territory.
Having said that, it’s football season again, so RSG places the Monday Night War on hold in favor of some southern ‘rasslin’ for y’all. So grab some spicy fried chicken, dirty rice, and a few Sazeracs, and enjoy some grapplin’!
Once again, “Precious” Paul Ellering’s out to educate and train children while suffering from “Pac Man Fever.” HA! The song plays, and Ellering teaches them to pull plastic rings apart. When the rings are folded into one, he’s the only one of course who can rip them apart. Next, he rips a license plate apart. Bartender, I’ll have what he’s having.
Match 1: “Captain Redneck” Dick Murdoch versus the Turk
Highlights:
Murdoch fed the Turk a smorgasbord of elbow smashes but ate a forearm smash. When he thwarted a back drop attempt, Murdoch planted the Turk with a brainbuster. 1-2-3. Murdoch won at 2:57.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Showcase match for Murdoch.
Match 2: Ted DiBiase versus Randy Base
Highlights:
DiBiase gave Base a cross corner whip followed by a hip toss. As he powerslammed Base, DiBiase pinned him at 2:22.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for DiBiase.
Match 3: “Dr. Death” Steve Williams versus Billy Starr
Highlights:
Williams slammed Starr and applied a bear hug. When Starr escaped, Williams gave him a cross corner whip but ate a double thrust to the throat. He gave Starr another cross corner whip, wisely hesitated this time, and hip-tossed him. As he dealt Starr yet another cross corner whip and hip toss, Williams unloaded a pair of three-point stance tackles. Cross corner whip #4 led to a powerslam, and Williams pinned Starr at 3:36.
Rating: -**
Summary: While I understand that Williams is still playing football for the University of Oklahoma, Watts should have had this kid training a lot more before putting him on TV. This was ROUGH.
We revisit last week when Murdoch prevailed over Harris due to heel miscommunication and subsequently pummeled Akbar. He reclaimed his entrenchment tool, but One Man Gang ambushed him from behind. As Harris prepared his noose, he and Gang hanged Murdoch until “Iron” Mike Sharpe and Jesse Barr prevent a hideous murder.
Match 4: “Hangman” Harris (w/o General Skandor Akbar) versus Mike Reed
Highlights:
Harris mauled Reed before guillotining him with the dadgum top rope. As Harris applied a dadgum hangman’s neckbreaker, Reed submitted. Harris won at 2:59.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for the future Black Bart.
That’s enough appetizers, folks. It’s time for the real steak’n’potatoes.
Match 5 for the Mid-South North American title: Bob Roop (champion) versus Junkyard Dog
Highlights:
Roop hooked a front face lock, but JYD hoisted him atop the top turnbuckle to escape. When he slammed him down to the mat, JYD no-sold a knee to the midsection. He slammed Roop, fed him a soup bone, and got 2. As Roop skedaddled to the apron, he guillotined JYD with the top rope. JYD halted some of Roop’s nefariousness but fell victim to a swinging neckbreaker.
After Roop got 2 but inevitably shot across the ring due to an immense kickout, JYD responded with a side-Russian leg sweep. Who knew JYD could wrestle? He powerslammed Roop, but Gang interrupted the potential title change by yanking JYD out of the ring. Before referee Alfred Neely could call for the bell, Gang obliterated him on the concrete floor.
Gang wrenched JYD’s left knee against the ring post until Ernie Ladd arrived and demolished him with a series of chair shots. Back in the ring, Roop dismantled the injured JYD with a shoulder breaker. Roop mounted the top turnbuckle, but DiBiase stormed the ring and shielded JYD from further destruction.
Attempting to continue his onslaught, Roop got caught by a JYD clothesline much to the delight of the Shreveport faithful. JYD annihilated Roop until both Assassin and Grappler rescued the North American champion. As a result, JYD won by DQ at 2:46.
Rating: ***
Summary: Decent little match with a TON of heat following it. It’s stuff like this that makes you tune in each week, folks.
Match 6: The Assassin & the Grappler versus Coco Samoa & Jesse Barr
Highlights:
Grappler tagged in, but Coco hip-tossed him. As Coco slammed Grappler, Barr tagged in but ate a pair of backbreakers. Grappler got 2 and tagged out. When Assassin sandwiched Barr in the corner, Grappler tagged in and secured a bear hug. Barr rang his bell to escape, but Grappler retaliated with a slam. After he landed an elbow drop, Grappler got 2.
Barr punted Grappler and tagged out. While Coco landed a leg drop, he got 2. Coco whipped Grappler into the heel corner and attempted a monkey flip. On the other hand, Assassin headbutted him sending him reeling down to the mat. Grappler planted Coco with a shoulder driver and pinned him at 4:07.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for the masked men.
Match 7: “Iron” Mike Sharpe versus Jim Starr
Highlights:
When Watts bored the absolute BEJEEZUS out of me plugging the repainting of his plane, Sharpe ultimately unfurled a flying knee.
He gave Starr a cross corner whip, followed with a forearm smash, and got 2. As he slammed Starr, Sharpe got another 2. The bell rang, and a stalemate occurred at 3:22.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Pure time filler.
Conclusion: If you can muster the strength of a handful of enhancement matches, the main event of Roop versus JYD is worth your time. And guess what? It even leads to something.
Next week, Ernie Ladd squares off against One Man Gang! Unbelievable!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for MSW 06-12-82!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).