UWF Beach Brawl

Who will win the TV title tournament final? Who wins the women’s title match? Can Wet’n’Wild finally defeat Orton and Cactus with Tolos in a shark cage? Will Orndorff defeat DeBeers in a strap match? Let’s find out!

For those curious, I chose the PPV version of the show which includes a BONUS match at the end.

Brian Ricco welcomes us to the event and introduces Herb Abrams who is holding the UWF TV title belt. When Ricco asks for a prediction, Abrams chooses Williams.

Backstage, Frankie E interviews Bigelow who will bring “mobility, yobility, and hobility” whatever those are.

Afterward, Frankie E interviews Williams who claims to be the “true champion.”

For those unaware, Fire Cat was portrayed by Brady Boone. In case you forgot, Cooper was the wrestler who took the superplex in the opening montage for Fury Hour. Is that as bad as being the skier in Wide World of Sports? You decide!

When the Blackhearts made their entrance, Luna wore a boa constrictor around her neck. Scary!
Fire Cat jumped into the ring and distracted referee Scott Dickinson.
Meanwhile, the Blackhearts delivered their patented double somersault shoulder block to Cooper.
Speaking of Cooper, he supplied Apocalypse with a swinging neckbreaker and gave him a cross corner whip.
Apocalypse leaped to the second turnbuckle and launched a flying back elbow to Cooper.
As Destruction tagged in, he landed a lariat.
Cooper reversed an Irish whip and backdropped Destruction.
After Cooper hip-tossed Destruction, Fire Cat tagged in, and they scored with a Hart Attack for 2.
Fire Cat then leapfrogged Destruction and followed with a huracanrana. Wow!
While the Blackhearts might have switched illegally on the concrete floor, Apocalypse hoisted Cooper atop the top turnbuckle.
He then provided Cooper with a gutwrench superplex, mounted the second turnbuckle, but missed a big elbow.
When Fire Cat tagged in, Apocalypse gave him a cross corner whip but ate a spin kick to the midsection.
Fire Cat then moonsaulted over him and scored with a superkick.
As he hooked a cradle for 1, Fire Cat snap-suplexed Apocalypse for another 1.
Apocalypse rebounded with a spinning heel kick, but Fire Cat hooked a crucifix for 2.
After Destruction tagged in, the Blackhearts exploded with a double lariat to Fire Cat for 1.
Destruction then hooked a Northern Lights suplex for 1.
While Destruction hit a flying back elbow, Apocalypse tagged in and secured a belly-to-back suplex.
Fire Cat rebounded with his own flying back elbow and followed with a DDT.
When tags were exchanged on both sides, the Blackhearts double-guillotined Cooper with the top rope.
Destruction tossed Fire Cat over the top rope to the concrete floor, and the Blackhearts disposed of Cooper with a Veg-o-matic at 6:50.

Summary: Showcase match for the Blackhearts with solid workrate, teamwork, and high-flying.

After the match, Luna mugs Fire Cat on the concrete floor before Dickinson stops her. Maniacal!

Backstage, Ricco interviews Luna with the Blackhearts who refers to Fire Cat and Cooper as “scrubs.” They want REAL competition. In case you’re curious, Meltzer reports that the teams had a match on 6/7 in Ft. Lauderdale and didn’t cooperate.

Match 2 (street fight): Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy versus ~~Don Muraco~~ Johnny Ace

For those expecting the “beach bum,” he hightailed it to ECW.

Gordy reversed a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow.
As Ace leaped to the second turnbuckle, he launched a cross body block for 2.
Gordy rebounded by BLASTING Ace, giving him a cross corner whip, and following with a corner clothesline for 2.
When Gordy landed an elbow drop, he got another 2.
He then unleashed a belly-to-back suplex but couldn’t get 3.
After Gordy powerbombed Ace, he only got 2.
He then gave Ace a second cross corner whip followed by another corner clothesline for 2.
While he gave Ace a third cross corner whip, Gordy ate boot on his follow-through.
Ace then clotheslined and dropkicked Gordy over the top rope to the concrete floor.
As Ace attempted a plancha, Gordy failed to catch him, and Ace SPLATTED on the concrete. OUCH!
Gordy ensured Ace’s brains were deep-fried rather than scrambled, and they brawled deep into the Manatee Civic Center.

When referee Billy Silverman reached the count of ten, he counted both wrestlers out at 6:25.

Summary: It appears that Ace was not prepared for a “street fight” and wrestled a regular match. I don’t blame him as he was inserted into the match with insufficient notice. Since both Gordy and Ace wrestle for All-Japan Pro Wrestling, they know each other well enough to assemble a decent match.

Afterward, Gordy and Ace brawl among the Palmetto faithful until Gordy brings a banquet chair into the ring with him. Smartly, Ace doesn’t follow suit until Gordy’s back is turned. Gordy parades among the Palmetto faithful, but Ace catches up to him. Silverman shoos Ace backstage, and Gordy leaves to cheers.

Prior to the next match, Larry Power grabs the microphone and claims that not only Tolos was BARRED from ringside but also he is “unhappy about” it.

When the Power Twins removed their pre-match garb, they tossed it at DeGeorge who was PISSED.

Unbeknownst to referee Scott Dickinson, David put a knee into Brunzell’s back from the heel corner. SNEAKY!
David tagged in, and the Power Twins clobbered Brunzell in their corner.
As Brunzell escaped, Blair tagged in, but David reversed an Irish whip and trapped him in a bear hug.
Blair escaped by ringing David’s bell, nailed both Power Twins, and catapulted David into Larry.
After Larry illegally switched with David on the concrete floor, Brunzell tagged in, and Mass Confusion tied up Larry in a double spinning toe hold.
Blair tagged in, and Mass Confusion punished Larry’s hamstrings.
While Blair slammed him, Brunzell tagged in, and Mass Confusion split Larry’s uprights.
Brunzell hooked a somersault rollup on Larry for 2.
When tags were exchanged on both sides, Mass Confusion split David’s uprights. At this point, we can refer to the heels as Power Outage, right?
Larry tagged in, and the Power Twins double-clotheslined Blair.
As Larry secured a bear hug, he sandwiched Blair in the heel corner.
He then mounted the second turnbuckle and lowered the boom on Blair.
After David tagged in, he supplied Blair with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Larry tagged in, and the Power Twins double-backdropped Blair.
While Blair attempted a slam, his back gave out due to the punishment inflicted by the Power Twins.
Brunzell distracted Dickinson, so the Power Twins double-teamed Blair in their corner. Nefarious!
When Larry continued to distract Dickinson, David took liberties with Blair in the heel corner.
David tagged in and dealt Blair an elbow drop.
As Larry distracted Dickinson, a false tag occurred.
Dickinson returned Brunzell to the babyface corner, and the Power Twins double-guillotined Blair with the top rope. Nasty!
After Larry tagged in, Blair ducked a double clothesline, and clotheslined both Power Twins.
Larry prevented the hot tag by nailing Brunzell and tossed Blair down to the concrete floor alongside Brunzell.
While Mass Confusion donned yellow masks, Larry brought whom he thought was Blair back into the ring.
Larry then reversed an Irish whip, but Brunzell supplied the Power Twins with a double noggin knocker.
When Brunzell backdropped Larry, he nailed David on the apron.
Brunzell then uncorked a dropkick for 2.
As Brunzell attempted a sunset flip, Larry grabbed the second rope to block it.
David distracted Dickinson again, so Blair hooked a sunset flip on Larry.
1-2-3.
Mass Confusion won at 13:04.

Summary: Great bit of turning the tables on the Power Twins with the double switcheroo. Both the psychology by Mass Confusion combined with the tag formula made this an entertaining match.

Match 4 for the vacant UWF Women’s title: Rockin’ Robin versus Candy Devine

For those unaware, Robin is the sister of Sam Houston and half-sister of Jake “The Snake” Roberts.
They shook hands, but when Robin turned her back, Devine nailed her with a double axe handle. Sinister!
As Devine clotheslined her, she backdropped Robin.
Devine then gave Robin a cross corner whip but ate a mule kick on her follow-through.
When Robin dropkicked her, she landed an elbow drop for 2.
Robin then leapfrogged Devine and hammered her with a forearm smash.
After Robin mounted the second turnbuckle, she hooked a sunset flip for 2.
Devine rebounded with a catapult and trapped Robin in a Boston crab.
While Robin used momentum to escape, she got 2.
Devine immediately rolled her up for 2.
As Devine dropkicked her, Robin screamed out of fright.
Robin rebounded with a lariat and got 2.
When Robin predated Erik Watts by mistiming a dropkick, Devine attempted a flying shoulder block, but Robin forgot the script and evaded her.

Robin then ducked a clothesline and provided Devine with one of her own.
After Robin supplied her with a ten-punch count-along, Devine reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on her follow-through.
Robin then secured a rollup and pinned Devine at 6:18.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Summary: The two blown spots by Robin mar this match, yet Devine was a true pro for maintaining the flow of the match.

Prior to the next match, we revisit the 10/8/90 episode when DeBeers objected to Larry Sampson as a referee due to Sampson’s skin color. We then revisit the 11/12/90 episode when DeBeers intentionally rammed Billy Jack Haynes into Sampson, kicked Sampson while trapped in a full nelson, and attacked him post-match. Next, we revisit the 5/27 episode when DeBeers assaulted another referee and whipped “Soul Train” Phillips with a belt.

Match 5 (strap): “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff versus Colonel DeBeers (w/o Mr. Black)

For those curious, DeBeers came to the ring to Motley Crue’s “Shout at the Devil.”

Instead of tying both wrestlers to the strap, referee Scott Dickinson tossed it up for grabs.
DeBeers caught it and whipped Orndorff with it.
When he gave Orndorff a cross corner whip, DeBeers came up empty on his follow-through.
With DeBeers caught in the corner, Orndorff leg-pressed him down to the mat.
He then grabbed the strap and whipped DeBeers.
As Orndorff used the strap to enhance a fist drop, DeBeers rebounded with a slam.
He failed to locate the strap, mounted the top turnbuckle, and leaped.
After Orndorff nailed him with the strap on the way down, he supplied DeBeers with a knee lift.
He then landed an elbow smash for 2.
While Orndorff countered a back drop attempt with a piledriver on the strap, he pinned DeBeers at 3:16.

Summary: Short but effective strap match as the local wrestler (Orndorff) beats the wily heel from South Africa.

After the match, Orndorff waves the American flag, but DeBeers retrieves a cattle prod from his ring jacket and zaps Orndorff with it. While Orndorff quivers in the ring, DeBeers steals the American flag. Heinous!

CAPTAIN LOU’S CORNER: Albano interviews “halfwit” Luna along with the Blackhearts. Since Luna wore the snake around her neck, Albano runs them down and hightails it. He must suffer from ophidiophobia. This HAD to be cut for timing purposes.

Ivan rammed Backlund shoulder-first into the top turnbuckle and hip-tossed him.
As Backlund countered a keylock with lifting Ivan and placing him atop the top turnbuckle.
He then backdropped Ivan, got reversed on a cross corner whip, yet implemented an O’Connor roll with a bridge from the corner.
1-2-3.
Backlund won in 2:25.

Summary: Extremely short match as the producers desperately try to regain the pace of the show.

After the match, Albano returns to the ring to encounter Mr. Red. He then nails Mr. Red. While Ivan tries to rescue his manager, Albano pants Mr. Red. HA! An embarrassed Mr. Red hightails it backstage while Albano celebrates in the ring.

We then revisit the 3/18 episode when Beach CREAMED Cactus with his surfboard causing a bloody mess. Next, we revisit the 4/8 episode when the heels got some revenge on Wet’n’Wild.

Match 7: Wet’n’Wild versus “Cowboy” Bob Orton & Cactus Jack (w/ John Tolos)

When Wet’n’Wild made their entrance, two women accompanied them.

Wet’n’Wild rammed the heels together and tossed Tolos into the shark cage.
With Tolos suspended above the ring, Cactus tossed Beach down to the concrete floor.
Orton nailed Beach, and Cactus leaped from the apron to obliterate Beach.
As he suppled Beach with a backbreaker on the concrete floor, Cactus mounted the second turnbuckle and delivered a Cactus elbow. Wow!
Orton tagged in and delivered a short-arm clothesline to Beach.
After Orton suplexed Beach, Cactus tagged in and hooked a side-Russian leg sweep for 2.
Cactus came off the ropes, but Beach caught him and hit a modified fallaway slam.
In the meantime, Tolos blew his whistle incessantly.
Wild Thing tagged in and provided the heels with a double noggin knocker.
While a double reversal of a cross corner whip sent Cactus into referee Scott Dickinson, all four wrestlers were in the ring.
Orton tossed Beach down to the concrete floor and requested something from Tolos.
When Tolos threw brass knuckles to him, Orton inadvertently WALLOPED Cactus.

Wild Thing dropkicked Orton over the top rope down to the concrete floor and pinned Cactus at 4:42.

Summary: Extremely rushed match with no heat segment to fuel the Palmetto faithful.

After the match, the heels argue until Orton nails Cactus from behind. Devious! A BUSTED OPEN Cactus and Orton brawl both within and outside the ring until officials separate them.

Prior to the main event, we revisit the 4/29 episode when Bigelow defeated Rusty Brooks. We then revisit the 5/27 episode when Williams took Wild Thing TO SCHOOL. Later in the episode, wrestlers separate Bigelow and Williams in a tease for tonight’s main event.

Match 8 for the vacant UWF TV title (final): Steve “Dr. Death” Williams versus Bam Bam Bigelow

Abrams came to the ring to showcase the title belt.
As Williams used Abrams as a distraction, Bigelow clotheslined him.
He then reversed a cross corner whip and followed with an avalanche.
When Bigelow struck him HARD, Williams was BUSTED OPEN.
Bigelow then gave Williams a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through.
After Williams clotheslined him, Bigelow sold it with a 360° flip. Woohoo!
Williams viciously kneed him in the head, and Bigelow was BUSTED OPEN too.
While Williams clotheslined him, he followed with a dropkick.
Bigelow attempted a suplex, but Williams countered with an inside cradle for 2.
As Bigelow gave Williams another cross corner whip, he ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Williams then dealt Bigelow a knee lift, but Bigelow responded with a Samoan drop for 2.
When Bigelow slammed him, he went to the apron and unleashed a springboard splash for another 2.
He then PLANTED Williams with a DDT, mounted the top turnbuckle, launched a flying splash, but couldn’t get 3.
Bigelow then missed a clothesline, so Williams hooked a belly-to-belly suplex for 2.
After Williams clotheslined him again, he tried to steamroll Bigelow with a three-point stance tackle.
Bigelow didn’t budge, so Williams successfully bowled him over with another tackle.

While he powerslammed Bigelow, Williams got another 2.
He then gave Bigelow a cross corner whip and attempted an Oklahoma Stampede.
When Bigelow blocked it by grabbing the top rope, Williams gave him another cross corner whip.
He then powerslammed Bigelow again.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-3.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Williams won at 8:47.

Summary: Extremely tough big man match that told a great story, had some contentious near falls, and crowned a worthy new champion.

After the match, Abrams interviews the invigorated NEW TV champion. Williams credits Bigelow and welcomes all challengers. Abrams ups the ante by challenging “any champion of any federation” while touting Williams.

Backstage, Ricco interviews Williams who refers to Bigelow as a “tough cookie.” Williams will “work that much harder” for each challenge.

Prior to the match, Mr. Red grabs the microphone and requests everyone stand for the Soviet national anthem. Zhukov does a piss poor job of singing, and the Palmetto faithful deride him for it.

For those unaware, Sampson was making his pro wrestling debut.
DeGeorge noted that Mr. Red hailed from Gaffney, SC, which is home of the big peach.

When Sampson rolled him up for 2, he delivered a cross body block for another 2.
He then slammed Zhukov but couldn’t get 3.
As the Palmetto faithful chanted “U-S-A,” Zhukov gave Sampson a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Zhukov put a knee into the midsection, and headbutted Sampson out of the ring.
After Zhukov brought him back into the ring the hard way, Sampson rebounded with a back elbow.
Sampson then clotheslined him for 2.
While Sampson failed to properly secure an inside cradle, he earned another 2-count.
Zhukov then levelled Sampson with a Russian sickle to the back of the neck.
1-2-3.
Zhukov won in 6:02.

Conclusion: First of all, I cannot believe Abrams would book the Manatee Civic Center for this show. The arena holds 4,000 people, yet Abrams only netted 550 folks for the show. I have seen wrestling in this arena yet don’t believe Abrams, who averaged 200-500 patrons for most of his shows could have filled it.

Second, this show has an awesome main event along with two solid tag team matches. Therefore, I heartily recommend watching the show. However, I have one word of caution. If you’ve never seen Herb Abrams’ UWF before, the lack of excellent production values and announcer quality will act as a stark contrast to both WCW and WWF in 1991. Before seeing this show, watch some of the UWF Fury Hour episodes to get a better taste of the product.

According to Meltzer, of the 14 million total subscribers nationwide in June 1991, only 2.3 million had the capability to order the show. In addition, SportsChannel America wasn’t available to a large percentage of the available audience hence a low buyrate. Meltzer also believed that the WWF may have pressured the cable companies (i.e., pulling Summerslam ’91) to refuse to carry the PPV, but that’s speculation on his part.