Saturday, August 30, 2008
A Piece of my Mind Aug 30th 2008 by "The Big Cheese" Sal Corrente
There are many times that names come up in conversation from the “old days”. One of the names is JYD. The man named Sylvester Ritter later became The Junkyard Dog. I met JYD through my association with The Wild Samoans. It was Afa who tracked down JYD for him to come to NY. I remember sitting there with Afa when the call came from Vince for Afa to track down JYD. I can remember Afa telling me that he never heard an ovation like when The Junkyard Dog walked into the Louisiana Superdome. The Samoans had been involved in a program in the territory against JYD and Mr. Olympia (Jerry Stubbs).
I got to be friends with JYD and when he left WWF I used him on shows. I also took him over to Hamilton, Bermuda for a show. I actually got to work in Bermuda several times for a guy named Eddy DeMello. He had a lot of power on the island and did a lot of promoting of various events. On this particular trip I took JYD, Ivan Koloff, Carolina’s Own David Isley and Thunderfoot #2 Gene Ligon. There were others on the trip that I cannot recall at this time.
I had Ivan in a single with JYD that eventually turned into a tag match. I remember JYD saying to Isley over the house microphone "I don’t know much about you kid but let’s get these guys". It was sometime later in the trip that JYD recommended Isley talk to Stan Hansen about going to Japan. It wasn’t long after that Isley was on his way to work for the Giant Baba. It was a huge thrill for him to go to Japan and work with legends. I remember him coming back and telling me that he was in a six man tag match with Abdullah the Butcher and somebody against Baba and two guys. He told me that when Baba went to shoot him into the ropes that Abdullah walked the apron and said “Please go off your feet kid”. You see Abdullah knew that Baba’s chop would probably not look very good and he wanted to be sure the Japan new comer would go off his feet for a move that couldn’t break an egg.
You might ask yourself "why would Abdullah need to do that?" But I spoke to Gorgeous Gary Royal who had the chance to work in Charlotte against The Giant Baba. He barely sold anything and Gary Royal was for sure one of the better workers of his era. I have wrestled Gary numerous times and I can tell you wrestling Gary Royal is like taking a night off every day. When he got back to the dressing room JJ Dillon gave him a hard time for not selling for someone as legendary as The Giant Baba. It wasn’t only his stature as a legend but also the head of All Japan Pro Wrestling. All Gary told JJ was that he didn’t think he would want him to sell that stuff it all looked so horrible. You see Gary didn’t even know who Baba was except some big Japanese guy. I can personally tell you that Gary can and would sell for anyone. He has no ego but he just didn’t know. So that type of thinking is why Abby had to be sure of the result in Isley’s case. It’s one thing to not sell for Baba in Charlotte. It would be a whole other issue in Osaka.
I am not trying to speak poorly of Baba. I have had many conversations about Baba with Bruno Sammartino and in his youth he was a great competitor. This stuff all happened at the end of his career a career that he managed very well. In Isley’s case, he will always be grateful to JYD and I will always think of how electric it was to hear Another One Bites The Dust as JYD made his way to the ring whether it was in Madison Square Garden or some show I booked him on.
There has been a lot of talk this week about Raven’s lawsuit with WWE. I have seen quotes from WWE’s long time attorney Jerry McDevitt. He seems to believe this case is a non-issue. I am well aware of McDevitt’s reputation and I would certainly feel comfortable if he was representing me based on everything I have heard about him. He has kept WWE out of a lot of hot water over the years. I have run businesses for many years and if WWE wrestlers qualify for Independent Contractor status then many businesses should have employee status reevaluated. The other solution is the IRS has no clue about what wrestling really is. I wonder if previous inquiries have really been done correctly. The IRS should go on the road for a week and see how “independent” these wrestlers really are.
All in all many times wrestlers and wrestling have flown under the radar because for so many years it was such a secret fraternity. As time has gone by we have clearly seen that things are opening up and as time goes by more truths are uncovered. The more exposed and available the business is to the public the more things truly need to be in order. In the world of WWE the more they get away with the more they attempt to get away with. I have to say if you can beat the IRS that’s really accomplishing something. I think I’d like to see the outcome of this case as the main event at Wrestlemania. I know that wouldn’t work out but the finish will have more to do with the future of the wrestling business than any match they could put together.
It seems you can’t go anywhere without hearing someone talk about the Ric Flair situation and there is good reason for that. It doesn’t add up or make any sense to anyone who has thought about it for more than five minutes. The way Flair left WWE for other opportunities I would have thought he going to be a contestant on Dancing with the Stars this year. I think he would have made a great choice. I wasn’t over thrilled with this year’s lineup he would have added some real “flair” to it. In this situation the numbers don’t add up and the big opportunities have yet to show themselves. In this business most stuff leaks out so whatever reasons are out there over time we may here about them. In Ric Flair’s case he has always performed on the biggest stage in our business and now he walks away for better money opportunities? How about the worldwide TV recognition that the WWE brings with it?
It was just recently that Flair appeared at Greg Price’s Mid Atlantic Legends event. It has been long coming that Flair appear at this event. He should have been there years ago when the other Horsemen were there. This event is held in Charlotte and it didn’t seem right that Flair never appeared there before. I hope that Greg and the Charlotte wrestling fans are happy two legends appeared at the convention which I understand was a huge success. In all that I have just said one thing is still a fact Ric Flair did not leave WWE to attend these types of events. It doesn’t matter how much he can make at these events. I have heard numbers between $350,000.00 and $500,000.00 being his WWE salary so before he can say this experiment made him one penny he has to beat whatever his WWE salary was. I say look for the real story and look for Ric Flair to be back in the WWE after he rakes in all the big money he has been missing on the autograph and Indy circuit.
This picture is me with Erin Murphy who playes Tabitha on the tv show Bewitched. You may wonder why this is relevant well because she is one of the celebrity participants in Hulk Hogans Celebrity Wrestling starting soon on CMT. I can tell you Erin is a great girl and I was very happy when she was selected.
Memphis Wrestling TV Report 8.30.08
----Corey Maclin & Jerry Lawler open the show talking about Lawler’s shirt. Corey is just laughing being his bumbling acting self. Maclin announces that Awesome Kong will be on Memphis Wrestling today. Maclin does not pronounce “Gauntlet” correctly. They put over the show at the Delta Fair for tonight!
----Maclin tells about the lineup for Delta Fair. Glen Jones [who??] will sing the National Anthem. Wrestling is free. Lawler vs Bagwell, Brian Christopher vs Chris Masters , Eugene, “Too Kool 2” [Tim Grind/Flex], Koko Ware, Mr. Hughes, Derrick King/Johnny Dotson vs “Los Locos”, Kid Kash and “Nature Boy” Kevin White. Maclin also announces the debut of Mucho Dinero?? Not sure, but that is probably a local guy doing a lucha gimmick.
----Match clip airs of Brian Christopher/Scotty Too Hotty vs Doug Gilbert/Spellbinder from one of the Legends shows. Brian C interview talking about Chris Masters. Brian says he is going to put horse manure in Masters’ face from the rodeo at the fair. Masters interview about tonight.
----“Wrestling Professor” comes out. 11.17.90 is the date today. “New Kids” [Brian Christopher/Tony Williams] vs Joey Mags/Sarge O’Reilly. Brian was soooo small. A little sloppy all around. Brian C does interview after the match saying that people say they are too small and too young.
----Interview with Eugene via phone with a match playing in the background with OVW match of Eugene vs Armando Estrada.
----“Gauntlet Match” [from Northeast Wrestling DVD “Wrestlefest XII” 4.19.08] starts with Awesome Kong vs Roxie. She beats her. Followed by Amber. Kong beats her. “Velvet Sky” Talia Madison. Madison wins by DQ, when Kong powerbombs the ref.
----Derrick King/Johnny Dotson at Taco Bell talking about “Los Locos”. “Los Locos” squash from OVW airs.
----Same Maclin promo airs about the show tonight!!
----“Buff” Bagwell interview with Corey Maclin. This was bad.
----Romeo Roselli with Talia Madison vs Jerry Lawler [I think from Northeast Wrestling DVD “New Spring Slam” 6.01.06] Madison trips Lawler to start the heat. Lawler ends up using the “Stunner”, kisses Madison and then piledrives Roselii for the win. Why does Lawler use the “Stunner”??
NOTES
----Funny that the new opening features Bill Dundee a few times…Nice touch to see the guys doing interviews targeted for “tonight”…They did a real good job promoting the show for the Fair. This show seems to be the format for new Memphis Wrestling. It will be interesting to see what kind of ratings they will do…Maclin did say they were filming the Delta Fair stuff, so maybe we will get original material aired next week.
...Make sure to vote in the poll today if you watched the show. I will be posting the complete show on Tuesday for those that don't get it.
----Maclin tells about the lineup for Delta Fair. Glen Jones [who??] will sing the National Anthem. Wrestling is free. Lawler vs Bagwell, Brian Christopher vs Chris Masters , Eugene, “Too Kool 2” [Tim Grind/Flex], Koko Ware, Mr. Hughes, Derrick King/Johnny Dotson vs “Los Locos”, Kid Kash and “Nature Boy” Kevin White. Maclin also announces the debut of Mucho Dinero?? Not sure, but that is probably a local guy doing a lucha gimmick.
----Match clip airs of Brian Christopher/Scotty Too Hotty vs Doug Gilbert/Spellbinder from one of the Legends shows. Brian C interview talking about Chris Masters. Brian says he is going to put horse manure in Masters’ face from the rodeo at the fair. Masters interview about tonight.
----“Wrestling Professor” comes out. 11.17.90 is the date today. “New Kids” [Brian Christopher/Tony Williams] vs Joey Mags/Sarge O’Reilly. Brian was soooo small. A little sloppy all around. Brian C does interview after the match saying that people say they are too small and too young.
----Interview with Eugene via phone with a match playing in the background with OVW match of Eugene vs Armando Estrada.
----“Gauntlet Match” [from Northeast Wrestling DVD “Wrestlefest XII” 4.19.08] starts with Awesome Kong vs Roxie. She beats her. Followed by Amber. Kong beats her. “Velvet Sky” Talia Madison. Madison wins by DQ, when Kong powerbombs the ref.
----Derrick King/Johnny Dotson at Taco Bell talking about “Los Locos”. “Los Locos” squash from OVW airs.
----Same Maclin promo airs about the show tonight!!
----“Buff” Bagwell interview with Corey Maclin. This was bad.
----Romeo Roselli with Talia Madison vs Jerry Lawler [I think from Northeast Wrestling DVD “New Spring Slam” 6.01.06] Madison trips Lawler to start the heat. Lawler ends up using the “Stunner”, kisses Madison and then piledrives Roselii for the win. Why does Lawler use the “Stunner”??
NOTES
----Funny that the new opening features Bill Dundee a few times…Nice touch to see the guys doing interviews targeted for “tonight”…They did a real good job promoting the show for the Fair. This show seems to be the format for new Memphis Wrestling. It will be interesting to see what kind of ratings they will do…Maclin did say they were filming the Delta Fair stuff, so maybe we will get original material aired next week.
...Make sure to vote in the poll today if you watched the show. I will be posting the complete show on Tuesday for those that don't get it.
RassleResults: Big Time Wrestling Lee County Fair, Pennington Gap, VA
Big Time Wrestling
Friday Aug. 29
Lee County Fair - Pennington Gap ,VA
*Fantastic Bobby Fulton beat Beau James
*Frat Boy beat Justice
*Rolling Thunder beat Eclipso
*Misty James beat Rebecca Lynn
*Ricky Morton beat Bobby Eaton (name dropper) -Jimmy Valiant Special Ref
*Buff Bagwell beat The Sheik of Arraby
800 - free with admission to the fair
credit: CW Crippler
Friday Aug. 29
Lee County Fair - Pennington Gap ,VA
*Fantastic Bobby Fulton beat Beau James
*Frat Boy beat Justice
*Rolling Thunder beat Eclipso
*Misty James beat Rebecca Lynn
*Ricky Morton beat Bobby Eaton (name dropper) -Jimmy Valiant Special Ref
*Buff Bagwell beat The Sheik of Arraby
800 - free with admission to the fair
credit: CW Crippler
Michael Johns chimes in on the Kevin Lawler situation.."Life Isn't Fair"
I wanted to chime in on Kevin Lawler for a minute. I've been around Kevin numerous times, as has most of the boys. You know the drill, though. If you're at a
I read Dustin's blog, and I will say that editing can make anybody Attila the Hun, or
Good people have bad luck, and make mistakes. All I will say for Kevin is, he's always treated me like a person. There's never been any sign of an ego, or like he looked at me as a mark, or anything. All our conversations have been as normal as any I'd have with a friend. I called him once about a spot as our Champ, and he politely declined, as he wasn't working as much, and offered to let me call Brian. Again, I was looking to bring back Kevin/Derrick, so, I wanted Kevin. I declined Brian's number, and thanked him for his time. Kevin just sticks out in my mind, because, I can memorably list the people that rank "high" in the business that have been genuinely nice to me. Kevin, The King, Jimmy Hart, C4P, Dr. Tom. Dr. Death, Baldo, Terry Taylor, Billy Travis,
I'm not saying Kevin's innocent, or that I think he's guilty. I'm saying Kevin Lawler is a genuinely nice guy. Stuff like this isn't supposed tohappen to them. Life isn't fair.....
Memphis Wrestling Ratings and Poll Weekly Report
1st Quarter
-Intro
-Duggan vs Executioner 2
0.5 ( 8103 viewers )
2cnd quarter
-DK/Dotson – interview
-Los Locos – interview
-Kash interview with match
-Wrestling Professor segment [start]
0.5 ( 8103 )
3rd Quarter
-Professor segment [finish]
-Bagwell interview
-Lawler vs Landell [start]
0.4 ( 6482 )
4th
-Lawler vs Landell [finish]
-Masters – interview
-Brian C - interview
0.1 ( 1621 )
Viewers from Start to Finish: [-6482 viewers]
Final Rating: 0.4 ( 6482 viewers ) 1 share
----There is nothing good about this rating. It is the lowest I have seen since starting the site and as Ron Guidry said earlier this week, it was probably the lowest ever for a Memphis Wrestling show. What does all this mean?? Well, for starters the show has lacked anything that viewers want to see. They watched the first two shows and said, “Screw it!” The drop from start to finish was 80% of total viewership!! Traditionally when there is a low rating, then the show bounces back with a real good rating next week, so we will just have wait and see.
Memphis Wrestling Weekly TV Poll
Thumbs Up 57%
Thumbs Down 42%
+15%
----This was the highest winning margin so far with the show getting a “Thumbs Up” for the third week in a row. The participation in the poll was down about 25% and I am assuming it was because we did not post the show online this week.
-Intro
-Duggan vs Executioner 2
0.5 ( 8103 viewers )
2cnd quarter
-DK/Dotson – interview
-Los Locos – interview
-Kash interview with match
-Wrestling Professor segment [start]
0.5 ( 8103 )
3rd Quarter
-Professor segment [finish]
-Bagwell interview
-Lawler vs Landell [start]
0.4 ( 6482 )
4th
-Lawler vs Landell [finish]
-Masters – interview
-Brian C - interview
0.1 ( 1621 )
Viewers from Start to Finish: [-6482 viewers]
Final Rating: 0.4 ( 6482 viewers ) 1 share
----There is nothing good about this rating. It is the lowest I have seen since starting the site and as Ron Guidry said earlier this week, it was probably the lowest ever for a Memphis Wrestling show. What does all this mean?? Well, for starters the show has lacked anything that viewers want to see. They watched the first two shows and said, “Screw it!” The drop from start to finish was 80% of total viewership!! Traditionally when there is a low rating, then the show bounces back with a real good rating next week, so we will just have wait and see.
Memphis Wrestling Weekly TV Poll
Thumbs Up 57%
Thumbs Down 42%
+15%
----This was the highest winning margin so far with the show getting a “Thumbs Up” for the third week in a row. The participation in the poll was down about 25% and I am assuming it was because we did not post the show online this week.
Friday, August 29, 2008
RassleResults: EWP Aloca, TN 8.28.08
80back up some - Hottest matches and crowd in a few weeks
Shawn Streets pinned Jim Miller with a schoolboy roll-up following a missed charge into the corner by Miller.
Jason Maxx defeated Chase Ownes by disqualification after the Power TRIP ran in and attacked Maxx going after his already aggravated knee from the match and trying to put him out like they did Willie B Badd.
Shane Willians defeated the SoCal Kid after a piledriver. Afterwards the King got on the mic and asked where his scheduled opponent, Johnathan McMurray, was. Shane started to run down Johnathan until Shawn Streets came out to defend his partner's honor and challenged Shane to a match.
Shane Williams defeated Shawn Streets by pinfall. Streets had the go-behind position on the King but Shane ran into the ropes to stun Streets and pinned him with his feet on the ropes. Then the King started to talk about Jeff Anderson which he was informed that the Wildman is reinstated to the Fleatorium and came in through the front as Shane ran back to the locker room. Jeff said those 4 famous words and said that he'll get a hold of Shane Williams when, where and how he wants to so make sure you're there or you might miss it.
The Power TRIP retained the EWP tag Team Titles against Trooper T & Menace after a Hart Attack on Trooper. After the match they gave Trooper the Killswitch and attacked Menace as he was getting back in the ring.
Edward Idol defeated Robbie Race in a Lumberjack match. Edward went up top as Robbie was down but Robbie got up and caught Idol and shoved him off onto the lumberjacks (SoCal Kid, Shawn Streets, Chase Owens & Suito Maximo) While the Spur was checking on them Shane Williams came out and punched Robbie with a foreign object.
Wayne Adkins & Keith Knox defeated Beau James & Sigmon in the Double Jeapordy Pole Match by Wayne getting the contract for a title match. All 4 men were bloodied by the end of this match. After the match was over Knox got the strap down and laid into Sigmon and the incoming Chase Owens & Kole Layton King until Dr. X ran out with the "Good Mood" spray to Beau James with a towel as Beau soaked it up and got it around the mouth of both men to put them unconscious and was about a use his Indiana Jones whip on Keith nox's back until Jeff Anderson came in with a weapon to clear the ring.
Notes: The ether was real deal and James threw the towel in the crowd for evreyone to smell
Credit: Zilfer
Shawn Streets pinned Jim Miller with a schoolboy roll-up following a missed charge into the corner by Miller.
Jason Maxx defeated Chase Ownes by disqualification after the Power TRIP ran in and attacked Maxx going after his already aggravated knee from the match and trying to put him out like they did Willie B Badd.
Shane Willians defeated the SoCal Kid after a piledriver. Afterwards the King got on the mic and asked where his scheduled opponent, Johnathan McMurray, was. Shane started to run down Johnathan until Shawn Streets came out to defend his partner's honor and challenged Shane to a match.
Shane Williams defeated Shawn Streets by pinfall. Streets had the go-behind position on the King but Shane ran into the ropes to stun Streets and pinned him with his feet on the ropes. Then the King started to talk about Jeff Anderson which he was informed that the Wildman is reinstated to the Fleatorium and came in through the front as Shane ran back to the locker room. Jeff said those 4 famous words and said that he'll get a hold of Shane Williams when, where and how he wants to so make sure you're there or you might miss it.
The Power TRIP retained the EWP tag Team Titles against Trooper T & Menace after a Hart Attack on Trooper. After the match they gave Trooper the Killswitch and attacked Menace as he was getting back in the ring.
Edward Idol defeated Robbie Race in a Lumberjack match. Edward went up top as Robbie was down but Robbie got up and caught Idol and shoved him off onto the lumberjacks (SoCal Kid, Shawn Streets, Chase Owens & Suito Maximo) While the Spur was checking on them Shane Williams came out and punched Robbie with a foreign object.
Wayne Adkins & Keith Knox defeated Beau James & Sigmon in the Double Jeapordy Pole Match by Wayne getting the contract for a title match. All 4 men were bloodied by the end of this match. After the match was over Knox got the strap down and laid into Sigmon and the incoming Chase Owens & Kole Layton King until Dr. X ran out with the "Good Mood" spray to Beau James with a towel as Beau soaked it up and got it around the mouth of both men to put them unconscious and was about a use his Indiana Jones whip on Keith nox's back until Jeff Anderson came in with a weapon to clear the ring.
Notes: The ether was real deal and James threw the towel in the crowd for evreyone to smell
Credit: Zilfer
Dustin Starr Comments..
----My story I ran about Kevin Lawler got some press over at "World of Wrestling" with Dustin Starr. Honestly it was not meant at a stab at what Starr said about Lawler, but that is the way Starr interpeted it and probably how others did. It more was about me agreeing that he should have been buried. I guess my comment should have been "I agree with the comments that Starr made about his friend being buried on the TV story. Buried; really?? What do you expect when a person is in a house uninvited and has made keys for himself??" Check out what Starr had to say. Thanks for putting me over bro. LOL
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Link to Kevin Lawler arrest story
Here's the link to Ch. 3's website where the video of the story has been posted. Just click on the story listed as "Jerry Lawler's son"
http://www.wreg.com/global/Category.asp?C=145413
http://www.wreg.com/global/Category.asp?C=145413
"Smackdown: How Big Business destroyed regional professional wrestling" by Dylan Hayes
----I usually don't do the "copy & paste" approach of news reporting, but I thought this article was so good and many of you would enjoy it. If you want to comment about it, then go to the Kayfabe Board and lmk what you think. If you would like to read comments made about Hayes' article CLICK HERE.
In American culture, pro wrestling is usually regarded as one of the lowest forms of low-brow entertainment — slightly above Jerry Springer, but solidly below NASCAR. Critics treat it as a comedic expression of the tastelessness of the American working class, a sort of redneck theater, scripted and choreographed, with poor acting and a poorer clientele.
But in its heyday, the sport nestled comfortably within the traditional, communal atmosphere of small town USA. The larger-than-life characters would often play off of regional stereotypes and real world conflicts, allowing for the sort of morality plays that appealed to the ethos of main street America. The decline of the wrestling business and its emergence as an entertainment industry was masterminded by one of the most ruthless corporate tyrants in recent memory, and in the process became a stark example of the dangers of modern "sports entertainment," both for the performers and those who applaud them.
Pro-wrestling has always been a strange business, straddling uneasily between sport and entertainment, and the tension is not always easy on its stars.
Its best performers make good money, but even then, neither their salaries nor their living conditions match those of your typical "pampered athlete." The typical salary is far less than a million dollars, and unlike most major-league sports, wrestlers are expected to perform year round. Their tours are world-wide, and most pay their own traveling and living expenses while on the road. Health care and pension plans are nonexistent, but the physical intensity leads to frequent injuries, leading many wrestlers to work while hurt.
It is not surprising, then, that injuries often become a gateway to painkiller and steroid abuse — addictions that have long plagued the industry. The list of wrestlers who have died because of drug abuse — much of it with prescriptions from doctors with questionable credentials — is unbelievably long. Some of the worst abusers, men like Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Scott Hall, have managed to eke out a tormented existence, estranged from their families and working years past their physical primes in order to finance their expanding "recreational" habits.
Wrestlers that seek employment outside their industry often find themselves stumbling back into the waiting arms of the squared circle. Many cannot cope in normal middle class settings after years of groupies, drugs, and artificially inflated egos. Paranoia is rampant. The wrestling business is notorious for its backstabbing and politicking, as grown men argue intensely over the method in which they will "win" staged battles and keep their "spot on the card." Sabotage is common.
Despite these misgivings, I am indeed a long time fan. I grew up on the old National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), a loose band of regional territories. The organization's shows were no less "fake" than the modern product, but the organizational structure was drastically different. These territories were governed through a sort of federalist system. Each "territory" had its own booking office, TV show, tour dates and regional champion. Becoming a world champion meant becoming the shared property of the NWA, responsible for promoting the organization by performing all over the world. This arrangement worked until cable television and other forms of mass media made both the globe and the lifespan of the average wrestler much, much smaller.
It's true that many of the problems that plague the wrestling industry today existed back then as well. For understandable reasons, the profession has always been prone to alcoholism, brawling, and backstabbing, and family life has never been easy. But there was also something much more humane about the locally-oriented, territorial roots of the wrestling industry in the United States. In his book Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit and the Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry, author Matthew Randazzo writes:
"Unlike the NWA territories which kept a wrestler within driving distance of his family at most times, these international brands sent their wrestlers from one end of the continent to the other...This in effect put an end to the camaraderie that had existed in the territories. No longer were wrestlers members of a freewheeling carnie brotherhood, a traveling biker gang; now they were interchangeable cogs within a heavily bureaucratic corporate behemoth, cowering in their cubicles in fear of the next downsizing."
While a "biker gang" may sound unseemly, it really was an ideal arrangement for many of the wrestlers, or "boys," as they often referred to themselves. Jobs were plentiful, and performers had options in a diversified market; work could be found almost anywhere in the country. Though the pay wasn't always great, many promoters had local connections that enabled their employees to eat and travel for cheap. Because the weekly and monthly schedules were concrete, with little deviation, even very active regions had schedules that gave wrestlers uniformity and a structured work environment. The relative smallness of the business also allowed more opportunities for spending time with his family, if he had one.
In this era, pro wrestling was often one of the few weekly sources for small town family entertainment. Back then, wrestling was strictly a morality play in which the good guys -- "faces," in wrestling jargon -- were pitted against the bad guys, or "heels." In places like Tennessee and Texas, pro wrestling became an established part of life, with arenas regularly packed to capacity with fathers and sons cheering for decency to triumph over decadence, which it always did. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the industry as a whole.
When Vince McMahon and Ted Turner seized the industry in the 80's, it was a legal move, but not a moral one. Using slick financial techniques, the two moguls moved into the markets of the smaller companies, bought up their syndicated television time slots, signed away many of their stars and then purchased the hollow shells that were left, often at fire-sale prices. Along with these buyouts and takeovers came a switch from the standard good vs. evil plot lines for a model based on grandiosity and largesse. "Bigger is better" applied to the business model, the scope of the enterprise, and the actors themselves.
"Superstar" Billy Graham failed to live up to his namesake when he helped introduce steroids into wrestling in the 70's, and the body-altering drug went from a fancy to a full blown necessity after McMahon and Turner's takeover. Combined with the rise of Hulk Hogan's "Hulkamania," it was nearly impossible to get a well paying job in the business unless one was on the "juice." Where once, the business had been filled with tough looking, dock worker types like Harley Race and legit amateur legends like Danny Hodge, it was now filled with pro football washouts and body builders, nearly all of whom were "roided" to the gills.
As steroids exploded so did recreational drug use. Cocaine was prevalent and even used as payment in emergency situations. As modern fans became accustomed to even harder-hitting, daredevil wrestling styles in the late 80's, painkiller abuse spiked. The corporate wrestling bosses largely viewed their talent pools as expendable and ran worker after worker into the ground.
Since wrestlers were independent contractors, they had virtually no power in disputes with their employers. Tag Teams — two wrestlers who worked in conjunction against other tandems — were broken up at random, even though their success often depended on remaining a team. Releases were given for the most minor infractions and via the most insulting methods. The future "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was released from WCW by fax while out with an injury. The then soon-to-be Governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura, met a similar fate.
By early 2001, the layers of bureaucratic chaos created by Turner's outfit — which had been extremely profitable just a few years before — collapsed under the weight of its own excesses and the company was purchased by the last remaining lion in the jungle, Vince McMahon. With no serious competition in the market place, the centralization of the sport was complete.
The business had become an industry, and the end result of this downturn has been entirely predictable: dozens of wrestlers have died, whatever semblance of family life wrestlers may have once enjoyed is gone, and the old pro wrestling so many grew up on has morphed into one of the most monstrous arrangements of corporate criminals and drug addicts imaginable.
In retrospect, bigger was not better for the wrestlers or their fans. It was just plain bad.
In the wake of the Benoit tragedy, many wrestling fans wanted some sort of action, but what could be done? The calls for industry regulation would drive the independents out of business altogether and further strengthen McMahon's monopoly-like power over the industry. Breaking up the WWE would certainly embarrass McMahon, but it would likely lead to a drastic reduction in pay for the workers. Organic change is even more complex. Cosmopolitan elites and their yuppie hanger-ons are quick to disassociate themselves from a "faked" sport on which the supposedly tasteless American working class feeds, but ironically, showing contempt for the "phoniness" of wrestling actively contributes to devaluing the lives of its participants.
The sad reality is that pro wrestling cannot easily be changed back to what it once was. Perhaps wrestlers themselves could arrive at the realization that they are not cogs in a machine, but men with responsibilities and duties. Alternately, a fan boycott could be organized. But the the excesses of pro wrestling are so ingrained in our culture of hyper-urbanization and its accompanying pathologies that such efforts would be terribly difficult, if not impossible. For now, spectacle trumps sport in the squared circle, and its only a matter of time before the next Chris Benoit ducks under the rope.
In American culture, pro wrestling is usually regarded as one of the lowest forms of low-brow entertainment — slightly above Jerry Springer, but solidly below NASCAR. Critics treat it as a comedic expression of the tastelessness of the American working class, a sort of redneck theater, scripted and choreographed, with poor acting and a poorer clientele.
But in its heyday, the sport nestled comfortably within the traditional, communal atmosphere of small town USA. The larger-than-life characters would often play off of regional stereotypes and real world conflicts, allowing for the sort of morality plays that appealed to the ethos of main street America. The decline of the wrestling business and its emergence as an entertainment industry was masterminded by one of the most ruthless corporate tyrants in recent memory, and in the process became a stark example of the dangers of modern "sports entertainment," both for the performers and those who applaud them.
Pro-wrestling has always been a strange business, straddling uneasily between sport and entertainment, and the tension is not always easy on its stars.
Its best performers make good money, but even then, neither their salaries nor their living conditions match those of your typical "pampered athlete." The typical salary is far less than a million dollars, and unlike most major-league sports, wrestlers are expected to perform year round. Their tours are world-wide, and most pay their own traveling and living expenses while on the road. Health care and pension plans are nonexistent, but the physical intensity leads to frequent injuries, leading many wrestlers to work while hurt.
It is not surprising, then, that injuries often become a gateway to painkiller and steroid abuse — addictions that have long plagued the industry. The list of wrestlers who have died because of drug abuse — much of it with prescriptions from doctors with questionable credentials — is unbelievably long. Some of the worst abusers, men like Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Scott Hall, have managed to eke out a tormented existence, estranged from their families and working years past their physical primes in order to finance their expanding "recreational" habits.
Wrestlers that seek employment outside their industry often find themselves stumbling back into the waiting arms of the squared circle. Many cannot cope in normal middle class settings after years of groupies, drugs, and artificially inflated egos. Paranoia is rampant. The wrestling business is notorious for its backstabbing and politicking, as grown men argue intensely over the method in which they will "win" staged battles and keep their "spot on the card." Sabotage is common.
Despite these misgivings, I am indeed a long time fan. I grew up on the old National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), a loose band of regional territories. The organization's shows were no less "fake" than the modern product, but the organizational structure was drastically different. These territories were governed through a sort of federalist system. Each "territory" had its own booking office, TV show, tour dates and regional champion. Becoming a world champion meant becoming the shared property of the NWA, responsible for promoting the organization by performing all over the world. This arrangement worked until cable television and other forms of mass media made both the globe and the lifespan of the average wrestler much, much smaller.
It's true that many of the problems that plague the wrestling industry today existed back then as well. For understandable reasons, the profession has always been prone to alcoholism, brawling, and backstabbing, and family life has never been easy. But there was also something much more humane about the locally-oriented, territorial roots of the wrestling industry in the United States. In his book Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit and the Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry, author Matthew Randazzo writes:
"Unlike the NWA territories which kept a wrestler within driving distance of his family at most times, these international brands sent their wrestlers from one end of the continent to the other...This in effect put an end to the camaraderie that had existed in the territories. No longer were wrestlers members of a freewheeling carnie brotherhood, a traveling biker gang; now they were interchangeable cogs within a heavily bureaucratic corporate behemoth, cowering in their cubicles in fear of the next downsizing."
While a "biker gang" may sound unseemly, it really was an ideal arrangement for many of the wrestlers, or "boys," as they often referred to themselves. Jobs were plentiful, and performers had options in a diversified market; work could be found almost anywhere in the country. Though the pay wasn't always great, many promoters had local connections that enabled their employees to eat and travel for cheap. Because the weekly and monthly schedules were concrete, with little deviation, even very active regions had schedules that gave wrestlers uniformity and a structured work environment. The relative smallness of the business also allowed more opportunities for spending time with his family, if he had one.
In this era, pro wrestling was often one of the few weekly sources for small town family entertainment. Back then, wrestling was strictly a morality play in which the good guys -- "faces," in wrestling jargon -- were pitted against the bad guys, or "heels." In places like Tennessee and Texas, pro wrestling became an established part of life, with arenas regularly packed to capacity with fathers and sons cheering for decency to triumph over decadence, which it always did. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the industry as a whole.
When Vince McMahon and Ted Turner seized the industry in the 80's, it was a legal move, but not a moral one. Using slick financial techniques, the two moguls moved into the markets of the smaller companies, bought up their syndicated television time slots, signed away many of their stars and then purchased the hollow shells that were left, often at fire-sale prices. Along with these buyouts and takeovers came a switch from the standard good vs. evil plot lines for a model based on grandiosity and largesse. "Bigger is better" applied to the business model, the scope of the enterprise, and the actors themselves.
"Superstar" Billy Graham failed to live up to his namesake when he helped introduce steroids into wrestling in the 70's, and the body-altering drug went from a fancy to a full blown necessity after McMahon and Turner's takeover. Combined with the rise of Hulk Hogan's "Hulkamania," it was nearly impossible to get a well paying job in the business unless one was on the "juice." Where once, the business had been filled with tough looking, dock worker types like Harley Race and legit amateur legends like Danny Hodge, it was now filled with pro football washouts and body builders, nearly all of whom were "roided" to the gills.
As steroids exploded so did recreational drug use. Cocaine was prevalent and even used as payment in emergency situations. As modern fans became accustomed to even harder-hitting, daredevil wrestling styles in the late 80's, painkiller abuse spiked. The corporate wrestling bosses largely viewed their talent pools as expendable and ran worker after worker into the ground.
Since wrestlers were independent contractors, they had virtually no power in disputes with their employers. Tag Teams — two wrestlers who worked in conjunction against other tandems — were broken up at random, even though their success often depended on remaining a team. Releases were given for the most minor infractions and via the most insulting methods. The future "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was released from WCW by fax while out with an injury. The then soon-to-be Governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura, met a similar fate.
By early 2001, the layers of bureaucratic chaos created by Turner's outfit — which had been extremely profitable just a few years before — collapsed under the weight of its own excesses and the company was purchased by the last remaining lion in the jungle, Vince McMahon. With no serious competition in the market place, the centralization of the sport was complete.
The business had become an industry, and the end result of this downturn has been entirely predictable: dozens of wrestlers have died, whatever semblance of family life wrestlers may have once enjoyed is gone, and the old pro wrestling so many grew up on has morphed into one of the most monstrous arrangements of corporate criminals and drug addicts imaginable.
In retrospect, bigger was not better for the wrestlers or their fans. It was just plain bad.
In the wake of the Benoit tragedy, many wrestling fans wanted some sort of action, but what could be done? The calls for industry regulation would drive the independents out of business altogether and further strengthen McMahon's monopoly-like power over the industry. Breaking up the WWE would certainly embarrass McMahon, but it would likely lead to a drastic reduction in pay for the workers. Organic change is even more complex. Cosmopolitan elites and their yuppie hanger-ons are quick to disassociate themselves from a "faked" sport on which the supposedly tasteless American working class feeds, but ironically, showing contempt for the "phoniness" of wrestling actively contributes to devaluing the lives of its participants.
The sad reality is that pro wrestling cannot easily be changed back to what it once was. Perhaps wrestlers themselves could arrive at the realization that they are not cogs in a machine, but men with responsibilities and duties. Alternately, a fan boycott could be organized. But the the excesses of pro wrestling are so ingrained in our culture of hyper-urbanization and its accompanying pathologies that such efforts would be terribly difficult, if not impossible. For now, spectacle trumps sport in the squared circle, and its only a matter of time before the next Chris Benoit ducks under the rope.
"What Memphis Watches" MEMPHIS WRESTLING TANKS!!! by Ron Guidry
Last week I said Memphis Wrestling and Ch.50 were probably happy that their rating had grown a half a point. After seeing this week’s Memphis Wrestling rating they had to be saying “ What the f___??? ”. The number (0.4) has to be the lowest rating for a pro wrestling TV show in Memphis that I’ve ever seen. I think it would be safe to say the old clips and matches from the northeast aren’t going to cut it. Here’s a list of a few show that out drew MW in the 11am timeslot: Sushi Pack, Dino Squad, Saved By The Bell, Yu-Gi-Oh and American Kitchen. I can understand Sanford and Son and The Andy Griffith show drawing better numbers than MW back on Ch. 30 because those shows are classics, they’ll never go out of style. But getting outdrawn by Saved By The Bell is sad. Maybe MW need to bring back Dustin Diamond. Screech=Ratings!!!!!
TNA Impact’s rating was up a lil’ bit this week. Nice to see them bounce back from a few weeks of low numbers. Friday Night Smackdown went into that night with some stiff competition in the closing ceremonies of the Olympics and they held their own. Only dropping 1 point from last week Smackdown did a very respectable 5.1 and maintained that consistency that SD has shown from week to week. With the way Memphis Wrestling’s numbers have looked since they moved to Ch. 50, it will be very, very interesting to see how Smackdown’s numbers will be affected when they make the move to MyNetwork Ch.50 in a month or so.
I have no ratings for RAW this week since it ran on Sci-Fi. The ratings I get from the station do not have Sci-Fi on the list but check out the Impact replay and WWE A.M. numbers. I guess a lot of wrestling fans stayed home Saturday night.
If you have any questions or comments just email me at: rpg187@gmail.com.
Thanks and enjoy!!!
TNA Impact (Thursday) 8-21-08
Final Rating: 2.1 (34,031 viewers) 3 share
Quarter hours:
1st hour: 2.2 ( 35,651 viewers )
1.7 ( 27,549 )
1.8 ( 29,169 )
2.0 ( 32,410 )
2nd hour: 2.1 ( 34,031 viewers )
2.5 ( 40,512 )
2.1 ( 34,031 )
2.1 ( 34,031 )
WWE Friday Night Smackdown 8-22-08
Final Rating: 5.1 (82.646 viewers) 8 share
Quarter hours:
1st hour: 4.5 ( 72,923 viewers )
5.3 ( 85,887 )
4.5 ( 72,923 )
4.4 ( 71,302 )
2nd hour: 5.0 ( 81,025 viewers )
5.7 ( 92,369 )
6.0 ( 97,230 )
5.5 ( 89,128 )
Memphis Wrestling 8-23-08
Final Rating: 0.4 ( 6482 viewers ) 1 share
Quarter hours: 0.5 ( 8103 viewers )
0.5 ( 8103 )
0.4 ( 6482 )
0.1 ( 1621 )
TNA Impact Replay 8-23-08
Final Rating: 1.2 ( 19,446 viewers ) 2 share
Quarter hours:
1st hour: 1.6 ( 25,928 viewers )
1.4 ( 22,687 )
0.8 ( 12,964 )
0.8 ( 12,964 )
2nd hour: 0.8 ( 12,964 viewers )
1.0 ( 16,205 )
1.5 ( 24,308 )
1.4 ( 22,687 )
WWE A.M. 8-17-08
Final Rating: 2.5 ( 40,512 viewers ) 5 share
Quarter hours: 2.9 ( 46,995 viewers )
2.3 ( 37,272 )
2.3 ( 37,272 )
2.3 ( 37,272 )
----Ron Guidry works for a Memphis TV station and provides the rating analysis every week. He was formerly known as “The Penguin” with the old Kick Ass Wrestling promotion.
TNA Impact’s rating was up a lil’ bit this week. Nice to see them bounce back from a few weeks of low numbers. Friday Night Smackdown went into that night with some stiff competition in the closing ceremonies of the Olympics and they held their own. Only dropping 1 point from last week Smackdown did a very respectable 5.1 and maintained that consistency that SD has shown from week to week. With the way Memphis Wrestling’s numbers have looked since they moved to Ch. 50, it will be very, very interesting to see how Smackdown’s numbers will be affected when they make the move to MyNetwork Ch.50 in a month or so.
I have no ratings for RAW this week since it ran on Sci-Fi. The ratings I get from the station do not have Sci-Fi on the list but check out the Impact replay and WWE A.M. numbers. I guess a lot of wrestling fans stayed home Saturday night.
If you have any questions or comments just email me at: rpg187@gmail.com.
Thanks and enjoy!!!
TNA Impact (Thursday) 8-21-08
Final Rating: 2.1 (34,031 viewers) 3 share
Quarter hours:
1st hour: 2.2 ( 35,651 viewers )
1.7 ( 27,549 )
1.8 ( 29,169 )
2.0 ( 32,410 )
2nd hour: 2.1 ( 34,031 viewers )
2.5 ( 40,512 )
2.1 ( 34,031 )
2.1 ( 34,031 )
WWE Friday Night Smackdown 8-22-08
Final Rating: 5.1 (82.646 viewers) 8 share
Quarter hours:
1st hour: 4.5 ( 72,923 viewers )
5.3 ( 85,887 )
4.5 ( 72,923 )
4.4 ( 71,302 )
2nd hour: 5.0 ( 81,025 viewers )
5.7 ( 92,369 )
6.0 ( 97,230 )
5.5 ( 89,128 )
Memphis Wrestling 8-23-08
Final Rating: 0.4 ( 6482 viewers ) 1 share
Quarter hours: 0.5 ( 8103 viewers )
0.5 ( 8103 )
0.4 ( 6482 )
0.1 ( 1621 )
TNA Impact Replay 8-23-08
Final Rating: 1.2 ( 19,446 viewers ) 2 share
Quarter hours:
1st hour: 1.6 ( 25,928 viewers )
1.4 ( 22,687 )
0.8 ( 12,964 )
0.8 ( 12,964 )
2nd hour: 0.8 ( 12,964 viewers )
1.0 ( 16,205 )
1.5 ( 24,308 )
1.4 ( 22,687 )
WWE A.M. 8-17-08
Final Rating: 2.5 ( 40,512 viewers ) 5 share
Quarter hours: 2.9 ( 46,995 viewers )
2.3 ( 37,272 )
2.3 ( 37,272 )
2.3 ( 37,272 )
----Ron Guidry works for a Memphis TV station and provides the rating analysis every week. He was formerly known as “The Penguin” with the old Kick Ass Wrestling promotion.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
MLW Poster!!
----Just got this from MLW's Darrell and Susan. I thought I would post it - it has an updated lineup for the show. Great looking poster!!
Shows for The Weekend 8.29.08 to 8.30.08
----CLICK HERE to take a look at the "Shows for The Weekend". Nothing special this weekend outside of the regular shows. RWA has a very creative "Asylum Straight Jacket Match" match scheduled Saturday night, which might be worth checking out. It features The "Asylum" [Arnez/Psycho/Pappy] vs "Natural Born Playa'z" [Southside/Mr. Pimptacular/Mike Anthony]. It was described as the following in the RWA report this week......
The Asylum Straight Jacket Match. One of each members of the teams will have a straight jacket placed on them and locked. The keys will be hung from the ceiling. The only way to get the key is to climb the ladder and at that point the match gets really bad for one team and really good for the other. The team that gets the key can unlock their tag partner and they 3 get a 3 on 2 advantage. The other member in the straight jacket also can be put in the match as anything goes, weapons, no DQ, the team that cannot answer the 10 count is the loser of the match. This match could end the career of one member of these two teams.
The Asylum Straight Jacket Match. One of each members of the teams will have a straight jacket placed on them and locked. The keys will be hung from the ceiling. The only way to get the key is to climb the ladder and at that point the match gets really bad for one team and really good for the other. The team that gets the key can unlock their tag partner and they 3 get a 3 on 2 advantage. The other member in the straight jacket also can be put in the match as anything goes, weapons, no DQ, the team that cannot answer the 10 count is the loser of the match. This match could end the career of one member of these two teams.
Kevin Lawler Arrested!!
----It has been reported over at “World of Wrestling” with Dustin Starr about his friend Kevin Lawler being arrested on Monday. WREG Channel 3 ran a story today with them saying that it looks like Kevin made duplicate keys so he could return to the house after hours. Kevin runs the “King’s Carpet Cleaning” and entered the house thinking no one was home. The resident screamed and he backed out of the house. This is second incident involving him being in a house “after hours” as he was found with just his shirt on in May 2005 lying on someone’s bed. Starr made comments about his friend being buried on the TV story. Really?? What do you expect when a person is in a house uninvited and has made keys for himself??
----Kevin was always considered the “black sheep” of the Lawler family, even though his brother is Brian. There was an infamous story in the sheets during the time WCW would run shows in Memphis. Kevin wanted to go see Great Muta and Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat. Jerry told him that if he went, then he was not invited to Christmas dinner. Kevin went to the show and wrote all of this in a letter to Dave Meltzer. Not sure if he went to Christmas dinner or not, but that let’s you know how much Jerry hated the big promotions in the day.
----Kevin was always considered the “black sheep” of the Lawler family, even though his brother is Brian. There was an infamous story in the sheets during the time WCW would run shows in Memphis. Kevin wanted to go see Great Muta and Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat. Jerry told him that if he went, then he was not invited to Christmas dinner. Kevin went to the show and wrote all of this in a letter to Dave Meltzer. Not sure if he went to Christmas dinner or not, but that let’s you know how much Jerry hated the big promotions in the day.
"Flashback" Aug 1979 by Mark James
This Week’s Flashback Highlights August 20 & 27, 1979
Twenty-nine years ago, Jerry Lawler was a month into a big heel run. Bill Dundee was the area’s top babyface. Also new to the area and the business was a youngster, Terry Boulder, the Hulk. In a few short years he would be the WWF World champion and known as Hulk Hogan.
Aug 20, 1979
The main event had Jerry Lawler, in full heel mode, defeating Bill Dundee. Lawler’s heel turn, which I talked about a few weeks ago, was brought about because of the wrestling fans association voting Dundee the “Wrestler of the Year” and giving him the AWA World title shot against Nick Bockwinkle, (which took place on July 30, 1979).
Jimmy Valiant had returned to the area and along with Steve Regal lost to the Southern Tag Team Champions, Wayne Farris and Larry Latham, (along with their manager, Sgt. Danny Davis.) For most of the summer, Farris and Latham had feuded with Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee. When Lawler-Dundee renewed their feud against each other, the tag champs were put against various teams and dominated the tag team scene for many months.
Future Hall-of-Fame tag team, the Fabulous Freebirds, (Terry Gordy and Michael Hayes), were stuck in the middle of the card (as usual in Memphis.) On this card, they got the win over Tommy and Eddie Gilbert.
In recent weeks, the Hulk (Hogan) had been trying to win the Southern Heavyweight Title from Ron Bass. When the Hulk was about to win, the champ’s manager, Sonny King, would interfere and save his belt. On this card the Hulk got his revenge with a win over Sonny King in a one-on-one match-up.
Speaking of the Southern champ; Ron Bass lost by DQ to a young Ricky Morton.
Twenty-nine years ago, Jerry Lawler was a month into a big heel run. Bill Dundee was the area’s top babyface. Also new to the area and the business was a youngster, Terry Boulder, the Hulk. In a few short years he would be the WWF World champion and known as Hulk Hogan.
Aug 20, 1979
The main event had Jerry Lawler, in full heel mode, defeating Bill Dundee. Lawler’s heel turn, which I talked about a few weeks ago, was brought about because of the wrestling fans association voting Dundee the “Wrestler of the Year” and giving him the AWA World title shot against Nick Bockwinkle, (which took place on July 30, 1979).Jimmy Valiant had returned to the area and along with Steve Regal lost to the Southern Tag Team Champions, Wayne Farris and Larry Latham, (along with their manager, Sgt. Danny Davis.) For most of the summer, Farris and Latham had feuded with Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee. When Lawler-Dundee renewed their feud against each other, the tag champs were put against various teams and dominated the tag team scene for many months.
Future Hall-of-Fame tag team, the Fabulous Freebirds, (Terry Gordy and Michael Hayes), were stuck in the middle of the card (as usual in Memphis.) On this card, they got the win over Tommy and Eddie Gilbert.
In recent weeks, the Hulk (Hogan) had been trying to win the Southern Heavyweight Title from Ron Bass. When the Hulk was about to win, the champ’s manager, Sonny King, would interfere and save his belt. On this card the Hulk got his revenge with a win over Sonny King in a one-on-one match-up.
Speaking of the Southern champ; Ron Bass lost by DQ to a young Ricky Morton.
An enjoyable card… Watching Lawler, who had been a babyface for 2 years, switch to a vicious rule breaker, may have been shocking for some but it was a needed change. Farris and Latham continued their dominance of the local tag team scene. Hulk continued to thrill the fans,
Aug 27, 1979
Lawler finally got his AWA World title match against Nick Bockwinkle. The King took the champ to a 60 minute draw in a great match.
Bill Dundee got some gold of his own, as he defeated the current Southern Heavyweight champion, Ron Bass.
The Southern tag team champions, Wayne Farris and Larry Latham lost by DQ to the new team of Tommy Gilbert and the Hulk (Hogan). Hulk’s popularity was really big during this time in Memphis. His “larger-than-like” muscles were something the Memphis fans weren’t used to and they liked it.
Earlier in the night, the Fabulous Freebirds, (Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy) were broke the rules to defeat the new team of Steve Regal and Rick Morton. The father and son team of Buddy and Ken Wayne went to a draw with Dallas Montgomery and Eddie Gilbert.
The fans got a payoff with Dundee getting the Southern belt from Bass… One thing I hadn’t remembered about the Lawler-Bockwinkle match was this was only Lawler’s second AWA World title match in Memphis, (the first match happened a year earlier on Aug 21, 1978)… The promotion continued to tease the fans with putting Hulk in another title match. He had been in singles title matches all summer, but never held a title in Memphis… Farris and Latham reign as tag champs was safe, as they snuck away with the belts yet again… The Freebirds continued to go nowhere fast in the territory.
----Mark James is the author of “Memphis Wrestling History – Cards, Matches, Results, Newspaper Clippings” Vol 1 and "Vol 2: The Programs 1972 - 1976" James also is the webmaster to the BEST Memphis Wrestling site in the area – www.memphiswrestlinghistory.com - Click on his site and order his books!!
Aug 27, 1979
Lawler finally got his AWA World title match against Nick Bockwinkle. The King took the champ to a 60 minute draw in a great match.
Bill Dundee got some gold of his own, as he defeated the current Southern Heavyweight champion, Ron Bass.
The Southern tag team champions, Wayne Farris and Larry Latham lost by DQ to the new team of Tommy Gilbert and the Hulk (Hogan). Hulk’s popularity was really big during this time in Memphis. His “larger-than-like” muscles were something the Memphis fans weren’t used to and they liked it.
Earlier in the night, the Fabulous Freebirds, (Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy) were broke the rules to defeat the new team of Steve Regal and Rick Morton. The father and son team of Buddy and Ken Wayne went to a draw with Dallas Montgomery and Eddie Gilbert.
The fans got a payoff with Dundee getting the Southern belt from Bass… One thing I hadn’t remembered about the Lawler-Bockwinkle match was this was only Lawler’s second AWA World title match in Memphis, (the first match happened a year earlier on Aug 21, 1978)… The promotion continued to tease the fans with putting Hulk in another title match. He had been in singles title matches all summer, but never held a title in Memphis… Farris and Latham reign as tag champs was safe, as they snuck away with the belts yet again… The Freebirds continued to go nowhere fast in the territory.----Mark James is the author of “Memphis Wrestling History – Cards, Matches, Results, Newspaper Clippings” Vol 1 and "Vol 2: The Programs 1972 - 1976" James also is the webmaster to the BEST Memphis Wrestling site in the area – www.memphiswrestlinghistory.com - Click on his site and order his books!!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Coach's Corner "Plans, Heart and There Are Good Things in Wrestling"
----I was watching TV the other night when they aired a commercial for Memphis Wrestling. Corey Maclin was his usual bumbling laughing self. Jerry Lawler and he actually said to watch the show, but they had no idea what was going to be on it. I laughed at first and then thought, they are probably telling the truth. Here before us is the creative team that might rival whoever made “Waterworld”. How can you have TV and not really have a plan?? I was talking with a current worker [former RRO award winner] who is currently working out of this area. He said that the bookers he is working for now have matches and angles planned out for the rest of the year. What?? How can you plan like that?? How many guys reading this right now went to the arena this week with no idea who you were working?? Promotions with faltering crowds need to take a long look at themselves – make plans and stick with them. That makes not only workers trust you, but the fans also.
----You have heard the saying, “If you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything.” Or something like that; right?? If you were naming the four best workers in the area, would they include Psycho, Arnez, Justin Smart and “Indian” Quixote? Psycho is too fat, Arnez does not take enough heat, Justin is green and well…Quixote is the drizzlin shiznitz; right? Oh yea, Joey McNew is an idiot that has no business being a wrestling promoter and all three of his shows have been disasters. Well, all the of that may be true, but let me tell you – that one night in Kennett, MO those four guys along with booker Motley Cruz and promoter McNew put on a show that the fans enjoyed. It doesn’t matter that none of the bouts were “match of the year”. The fans went home happy and I look for a lot of them to return for the next show. All the people “hating” on this promotion and crew – all I can say is – give them a chance. Even though I personally would have probably marked out more for the four guys would have been Stan Lee, Derrick King, Flash Flanagan and Greg Anthony – I would add those four guys from Kennett that worked their asses off on my roster any day of the week. They got something some of your guys are lacking – heart.
----When I first heard that XOW was “invading” ASWF, I laughed and said, “Do those guys still run shows?” I then took a minute to think. These guys have continued to keep their names out there, even though they are not running regular shows [up until this weekend]. I think that is very smart marketing in doing a feud in NBW earlier this year and then keeping the name alive with ASWF invasion. Did I really think I still would be writing about the Tony Watts/Bill Russ promotion this late in 2008?? Nah, the promotion was formed out of more controversy than probably any group in this area. They have kept their name in the mix and more people probably know about them in this area than most promotions. And look at the talent they had on their show this past weekend!! Some of the best in the area, so how can you go wrong? Ok…so they are still using that stupid “Deadman”..but other than that you guys are over with me.
----Are there really that many good things to talk about in this area?? Another promotion that I felt would not make by this time in 2008, is RWA. They run their weekly shows in an arena that was built for Bert Prentice. So I am thinking from the start that these guys are cursed. LOL Frank Martin has jumped in and got the community working with them. There is a church group that comes to the show – what other group can say that?? I am told the payoffs are not that big right now, but that is the understanding when being hired. This is considered a “start up” company and when it does flourish, the Martin says the workers will benefit. His rosters have also changed back and forth, which keeps it fresh. He also has been able to take guys most considered “not that talented” along with guys like Ali Stevens and Rodney Mack to make the fans want to come in. The workers also talk about how it might be one of the best dressing rooms in the area – no backstabbing and no bitching. Keep up the good work guys.
----I remember a few years back when talking about RAW in the dressing room, one of the workers in the dressing rooms said, “I don’t watch that crap.” And, I really wondered how could a worker not follow the main show of the business?? Well, I have to admit that it has been a long time since I watched any of the major promotions’ shows. You got nothing on TNA – Sting is in a bad mood again?? Wow!! ECW looks so bad with a roster that has NO ONE that I get excited about watching. RAW is going to be the top show; right? Well, at least there seems to be some things I want to go out of my way to see – like Jericho/Michaels, JBL/Punk and even the Lawler/Duggan stuff with Dibiase/Runnels. I think there has to be SOMETHING right with the universe, when CM Punk is world champion. Smackdown?? Well, I am so sick of watching Eddy’s ex-wife that I want to puke. Every time I see her – I think she is just exploiting Eddy. I may be total off base on that, but it is just the way I see her. And what the hell happened with MVP?? Talk about being forgotten in the shuffle?? Here is a guy that was being pushed as being the next big thing having good matches with Chris Benoit and now he is just “lost” on Smackdown.
THOUGHTS ON COACH'S CORNER - VOICE YOUR OPINION ON KAYFABE BOARD
----You have heard the saying, “If you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything.” Or something like that; right?? If you were naming the four best workers in the area, would they include Psycho, Arnez, Justin Smart and “Indian” Quixote? Psycho is too fat, Arnez does not take enough heat, Justin is green and well…Quixote is the drizzlin shiznitz; right? Oh yea, Joey McNew is an idiot that has no business being a wrestling promoter and all three of his shows have been disasters. Well, all the of that may be true, but let me tell you – that one night in Kennett, MO those four guys along with booker Motley Cruz and promoter McNew put on a show that the fans enjoyed. It doesn’t matter that none of the bouts were “match of the year”. The fans went home happy and I look for a lot of them to return for the next show. All the people “hating” on this promotion and crew – all I can say is – give them a chance. Even though I personally would have probably marked out more for the four guys would have been Stan Lee, Derrick King, Flash Flanagan and Greg Anthony – I would add those four guys from Kennett that worked their asses off on my roster any day of the week. They got something some of your guys are lacking – heart.
----When I first heard that XOW was “invading” ASWF, I laughed and said, “Do those guys still run shows?” I then took a minute to think. These guys have continued to keep their names out there, even though they are not running regular shows [up until this weekend]. I think that is very smart marketing in doing a feud in NBW earlier this year and then keeping the name alive with ASWF invasion. Did I really think I still would be writing about the Tony Watts/Bill Russ promotion this late in 2008?? Nah, the promotion was formed out of more controversy than probably any group in this area. They have kept their name in the mix and more people probably know about them in this area than most promotions. And look at the talent they had on their show this past weekend!! Some of the best in the area, so how can you go wrong? Ok…so they are still using that stupid “Deadman”..but other than that you guys are over with me.
----Are there really that many good things to talk about in this area?? Another promotion that I felt would not make by this time in 2008, is RWA. They run their weekly shows in an arena that was built for Bert Prentice. So I am thinking from the start that these guys are cursed. LOL Frank Martin has jumped in and got the community working with them. There is a church group that comes to the show – what other group can say that?? I am told the payoffs are not that big right now, but that is the understanding when being hired. This is considered a “start up” company and when it does flourish, the Martin says the workers will benefit. His rosters have also changed back and forth, which keeps it fresh. He also has been able to take guys most considered “not that talented” along with guys like Ali Stevens and Rodney Mack to make the fans want to come in. The workers also talk about how it might be one of the best dressing rooms in the area – no backstabbing and no bitching. Keep up the good work guys.
----I remember a few years back when talking about RAW in the dressing room, one of the workers in the dressing rooms said, “I don’t watch that crap.” And, I really wondered how could a worker not follow the main show of the business?? Well, I have to admit that it has been a long time since I watched any of the major promotions’ shows. You got nothing on TNA – Sting is in a bad mood again?? Wow!! ECW looks so bad with a roster that has NO ONE that I get excited about watching. RAW is going to be the top show; right? Well, at least there seems to be some things I want to go out of my way to see – like Jericho/Michaels, JBL/Punk and even the Lawler/Duggan stuff with Dibiase/Runnels. I think there has to be SOMETHING right with the universe, when CM Punk is world champion. Smackdown?? Well, I am so sick of watching Eddy’s ex-wife that I want to puke. Every time I see her – I think she is just exploiting Eddy. I may be total off base on that, but it is just the way I see her. And what the hell happened with MVP?? Talk about being forgotten in the shuffle?? Here is a guy that was being pushed as being the next big thing having good matches with Chris Benoit and now he is just “lost” on Smackdown.
THOUGHTS ON COACH'S CORNER - VOICE YOUR OPINION ON KAYFABE BOARD
Live Like A King!!
----A RRO visitor sent along a message via e-mail yesterday that he drove past Jerry Lawler’s house on Walnut Grove in Memphis. It is no secret that Lawler lives on Walnut Grove and has lived there as long as I can remember. His house is now for sale or rent, because Lawler has bought a new house in Germantown. So the RRO visitor called to just see how much the cost of rent was?? “King” is renting the place for $3,500 a month!! So, wanna live like a King?? Rent the home of former “King” Jerry Lawler. Is that as high I think it is for even Memphis??
RassleResults: RWA Jonesboro, AR 8.23.08
Show opened with The Big Indian Quixote and Rottn Randy coming out to talk about their victory over Chris Steel and Classy Meltin Massy. They were interrupted by Massy and the Rat Pack lead to the ring by Rik Burton. Massy then started telling the group how well they have been doing plus what mistakes they have made. Massy pointed out that Chris Steel lost to a Squaw. At that point he had the group jump Quixote and Rottn. They did not get far before the RWA Heavyweight Champion Rodney Mack and Ron"By God"Rage hit the ring. This set up the tag match and the main event. Rodney Mack and Ron Rage VS Rik Burton and Zane Richards.
1st Match: Lucky VS J.D. Kerry VS P.P.3 Winner, PP3
This was a good match and very quick match with all three workers going full speed from the beginning. To start the match PP3 was searching Lucky and found 2 gold balls. Crowd found this really funny. PP3 won the match after Kerry missed on a cross body off the top rope.
2nd Match: Chris Steel with Classy Meltin Massy VS Mike Titan. Winner Steel.
Mike Titan is the second student to graduate from Rodney Mack and Jazz Wrestling school here in the RWA. This young man is 6' 6" and 375 lbs. He had an impressive second match. This kid is so strong not even he knows how strong he is. He threw Steel around like a stuffed animal. He also threw Massy around and Massy is not small by any stretch of the imagination. Titan throws hammers to the top of the head instead of punches. However Massy distracted the ref and Steel pulled out a chain and knocked Titan out to get the three count.
3rd Match: Big Indian Quixote VS The 7 foot monster Silas. The Big Indian gave Silas all he wanted. Quixote does not back down from anyone and did not look to be intimidated by Silas. Silas was knocked off his feet again in this match, Silas is not used to being off his feet and the Indian is the only one to do it so far in the RWA. Silas caught the Indian on the second rope and slammed him to the mat. Silas showing his strength then picked him up and choked slammed him to get the three count.
4th Match: The Fabulous Luke Graham Jr. VS Soul Train Jones. This was a classic old school vs new school match. Soul Train match Luke pretty much move for move. The crowd saw a wrestling match and not a brawl and seemed to really like it. The ref was knocked out for a brief period when Soul Train caught him with an elbow as he was winding up to throw a punch. The second ref Biscuit came in and made the count. The first ref got up and DQ'd Soul Train for hitting him so Graham got the win by DQ. But this is far from over.
5th Match: The Asylum, (Arnez, Psycho, Pappy) VS The Natural Born Playa'z (Southside, Mr. Pimptacular, Mike Anthony) This was a Hale County Street Fight. This fight was a brutal match with street signs, kendo sticks, wet floor signs, chairs a bat with barbwire wrapped around it all used in this match. Psycho hit a side slam on Mike Anthony on top of a chair and then hit the Dream Catcher on the chair. Mike Anthony was out as Mr. Pimptacular came in from behind and caught Psycho with a sign to the head and rolled Mike over on Psycho for the 3 count.
Psycho grabbed Frank Martin the owner of the RWA who was watching the match ring side placing Kayte to his ear. This is where it gets real strange as the doll seems to speak for the Asylum. The Asylum has demanded a match that has never been preformed. This is the most dangerous match in wrestling. The Asylum Straight Jacket Match. One of each members of the teams will have a straight jacket placed on them and locked. The keys will be hung from the ceiling. The only way to get the key is to climb the ladder and at that point the match gets really bad for one team and really good for the other. The team that gets the key can unlock their tag partner and they 3 get a 3 on 2 advantage. The other member in the straight jacket also can be put in the match as anything goes, weapons, no DQ, the team that cannot answer the 10 count is the loser of the match. This match could end the career of one member of these two teams.
The Main Event.
Rik Burton and Zane Richards VS Rodney Mack the RWA Champ and Ron Rage of P.O.B. This tag match was one of the best matches this reporter has seen in quite sometime. One could tell that all of these guy's are veterans. Every move was well executed, each team tagged with great timing. As Rik Burton was about to get the advantage for the pin fall. The Big Indian came out and came off the second rope hitting Burton in the back of the head and rolled Ron Rage on to Burton for the three count. The after math of this match, Zane Richards challenged Rodney Mack to a match, Burton is tied into a match with the Big Indian. Now where that leaves Ron Rage only time will tell.
Note: The Midnight Cowboy was not at the show. The Cowboy had a stint put in his heart. No one knows at this time if the Cowboy will ever wrestle again. The RWA family would like the Cowboy to know that we are all behind him and he is in our prayers. Get Well Soon Cowboy.
There were 150 in the building and the announcement was made that the RWA has a Web site being built. All the information is being gathered by the company building the web site keep an eye out for the New RWA Web site. This Saturday the 30th. Shawn Sultz will be in action in Jonesboro. This reporter has talked to Shawn and yes he is going to wrestle. Also the Hale County Straight Jacket match. Plus one lucky fan will win a $50.00 Gas Card and an Oil change.
Credit: RWA Reporter
1st Match: Lucky VS J.D. Kerry VS P.P.3 Winner, PP3
This was a good match and very quick match with all three workers going full speed from the beginning. To start the match PP3 was searching Lucky and found 2 gold balls. Crowd found this really funny. PP3 won the match after Kerry missed on a cross body off the top rope.
2nd Match: Chris Steel with Classy Meltin Massy VS Mike Titan. Winner Steel.
Mike Titan is the second student to graduate from Rodney Mack and Jazz Wrestling school here in the RWA. This young man is 6' 6" and 375 lbs. He had an impressive second match. This kid is so strong not even he knows how strong he is. He threw Steel around like a stuffed animal. He also threw Massy around and Massy is not small by any stretch of the imagination. Titan throws hammers to the top of the head instead of punches. However Massy distracted the ref and Steel pulled out a chain and knocked Titan out to get the three count.
3rd Match: Big Indian Quixote VS The 7 foot monster Silas. The Big Indian gave Silas all he wanted. Quixote does not back down from anyone and did not look to be intimidated by Silas. Silas was knocked off his feet again in this match, Silas is not used to being off his feet and the Indian is the only one to do it so far in the RWA. Silas caught the Indian on the second rope and slammed him to the mat. Silas showing his strength then picked him up and choked slammed him to get the three count.
4th Match: The Fabulous Luke Graham Jr. VS Soul Train Jones. This was a classic old school vs new school match. Soul Train match Luke pretty much move for move. The crowd saw a wrestling match and not a brawl and seemed to really like it. The ref was knocked out for a brief period when Soul Train caught him with an elbow as he was winding up to throw a punch. The second ref Biscuit came in and made the count. The first ref got up and DQ'd Soul Train for hitting him so Graham got the win by DQ. But this is far from over.
5th Match: The Asylum, (Arnez, Psycho, Pappy) VS The Natural Born Playa'z (Southside, Mr. Pimptacular, Mike Anthony) This was a Hale County Street Fight. This fight was a brutal match with street signs, kendo sticks, wet floor signs, chairs a bat with barbwire wrapped around it all used in this match. Psycho hit a side slam on Mike Anthony on top of a chair and then hit the Dream Catcher on the chair. Mike Anthony was out as Mr. Pimptacular came in from behind and caught Psycho with a sign to the head and rolled Mike over on Psycho for the 3 count.
Psycho grabbed Frank Martin the owner of the RWA who was watching the match ring side placing Kayte to his ear. This is where it gets real strange as the doll seems to speak for the Asylum. The Asylum has demanded a match that has never been preformed. This is the most dangerous match in wrestling. The Asylum Straight Jacket Match. One of each members of the teams will have a straight jacket placed on them and locked. The keys will be hung from the ceiling. The only way to get the key is to climb the ladder and at that point the match gets really bad for one team and really good for the other. The team that gets the key can unlock their tag partner and they 3 get a 3 on 2 advantage. The other member in the straight jacket also can be put in the match as anything goes, weapons, no DQ, the team that cannot answer the 10 count is the loser of the match. This match could end the career of one member of these two teams.
The Main Event.
Rik Burton and Zane Richards VS Rodney Mack the RWA Champ and Ron Rage of P.O.B. This tag match was one of the best matches this reporter has seen in quite sometime. One could tell that all of these guy's are veterans. Every move was well executed, each team tagged with great timing. As Rik Burton was about to get the advantage for the pin fall. The Big Indian came out and came off the second rope hitting Burton in the back of the head and rolled Ron Rage on to Burton for the three count. The after math of this match, Zane Richards challenged Rodney Mack to a match, Burton is tied into a match with the Big Indian. Now where that leaves Ron Rage only time will tell.
Note: The Midnight Cowboy was not at the show. The Cowboy had a stint put in his heart. No one knows at this time if the Cowboy will ever wrestle again. The RWA family would like the Cowboy to know that we are all behind him and he is in our prayers. Get Well Soon Cowboy.
There were 150 in the building and the announcement was made that the RWA has a Web site being built. All the information is being gathered by the company building the web site keep an eye out for the New RWA Web site. This Saturday the 30th. Shawn Sultz will be in action in Jonesboro. This reporter has talked to Shawn and yes he is going to wrestle. Also the Hale County Straight Jacket match. Plus one lucky fan will win a $50.00 Gas Card and an Oil change.
Credit: RWA Reporter
RassleResults: EPW Booneville, MS 8.23.08
The Executioners (Axe & Dagger) defeated The Revolution (Cyrus & Chazz) w/Dustin Burcham.
EPW Champion "Dangerous" David Cox vs. "Prime Time" Nick Grimes ended in a time limit draw. Rematch this Saturday night, no time limit. If Grimes defeats Cox, Cox gets a return match the following week. If Cox wins, Grimes get a rematch the following week with same stipulations.
Cassanova Kid over Slammer, Damion Rage, & LSD in a 4-way match.
"Monkey Boy" Danny Morris over Dalton Storm & BJ Fuller in a 3-way.
Tysin Starr defeated Izzy Rotten.
The Ghost Riders (Buzz Harley & Blade) defeated PHAT Foundation (Justin Rhodes & Chris Fontaine) to become #1 contenders for the Tag Team Championship. Good match.
The main event was supposed to be Bonecrusher & his wife, Michelle, taking on 24/7 (Kross & JR Mauler). Michelle came out with Bonecrusher and it was revealed that she had been attacked earlier in the week by 24/7 and was injured and would not be able to compete. Bonecrusher had, however, been given permission by EPW Promoter, Edith Poole, to choose someone to be his partner, and he had called an old friend. Michelle was given permission to stay at ring side in Bonecrusher's corner. Bonecrusher actually started the match by himself, but his partner came out a few minuted later and it was none other than Cody Hawk. This match quickly deteriorated into a brawl, much of it fought outside the ring. At one point Kross grabbed Michelle, but Bonecrusher grabbed Kross before he could do any damage. Michelle got in several pretty good shots with her good arm, however. The referee finally threw the match out when it was obvious that he was never going to regain control. The locker room emptied and everyone tried to pull the four men apart, but it took about 15 minutes to finally get them separated and to the back. Great match, wild action in & out of the ring. I am sure these two teams will go at each other again this Saturday night. It is not over by a long shot.
The crowd was standing room only. I counted 132 in the building. I know for a FACT that paid attendance was 101. Additional chairs had to be brought from the back to accommodate the fans who were standing. Congratulations to Edith and everyone at EPW on EPW's largest crowd ever and on a great show.
Credit: "Axeman" Randall Lewis @ www.wrestlingnewscenter.com
EPW Champion "Dangerous" David Cox vs. "Prime Time" Nick Grimes ended in a time limit draw. Rematch this Saturday night, no time limit. If Grimes defeats Cox, Cox gets a return match the following week. If Cox wins, Grimes get a rematch the following week with same stipulations.
Cassanova Kid over Slammer, Damion Rage, & LSD in a 4-way match.
"Monkey Boy" Danny Morris over Dalton Storm & BJ Fuller in a 3-way.
Tysin Starr defeated Izzy Rotten.
The Ghost Riders (Buzz Harley & Blade) defeated PHAT Foundation (Justin Rhodes & Chris Fontaine) to become #1 contenders for the Tag Team Championship. Good match.
The main event was supposed to be Bonecrusher & his wife, Michelle, taking on 24/7 (Kross & JR Mauler). Michelle came out with Bonecrusher and it was revealed that she had been attacked earlier in the week by 24/7 and was injured and would not be able to compete. Bonecrusher had, however, been given permission by EPW Promoter, Edith Poole, to choose someone to be his partner, and he had called an old friend. Michelle was given permission to stay at ring side in Bonecrusher's corner. Bonecrusher actually started the match by himself, but his partner came out a few minuted later and it was none other than Cody Hawk. This match quickly deteriorated into a brawl, much of it fought outside the ring. At one point Kross grabbed Michelle, but Bonecrusher grabbed Kross before he could do any damage. Michelle got in several pretty good shots with her good arm, however. The referee finally threw the match out when it was obvious that he was never going to regain control. The locker room emptied and everyone tried to pull the four men apart, but it took about 15 minutes to finally get them separated and to the back. Great match, wild action in & out of the ring. I am sure these two teams will go at each other again this Saturday night. It is not over by a long shot.
The crowd was standing room only. I counted 132 in the building. I know for a FACT that paid attendance was 101. Additional chairs had to be brought from the back to accommodate the fans who were standing. Congratulations to Edith and everyone at EPW on EPW's largest crowd ever and on a great show.
Credit: "Axeman" Randall Lewis @ www.wrestlingnewscenter.com
Check out this match- Larry Sweeney vs. Bill Dundee
Check out the CheapHeatTv youtube page for more matches from past and present. I will be adding more matches weekly. If your a wrestler or promoter and you'd like your matches uploaded to be featured here on the RRO site email me at genejackson95@gmail.com. Other videos currently available are "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert vs. "Nightmare" Ken Wayne from 1988, Sid Vicious "breaks Jamie Dundee's neck", and more. Check them out at www.youtube.com/cheapheattv
Meanwhile check out this week's featured match:
"Superstar" Bill Dundee vs. "Sweet & Sour" Larry Sweeney from XCW Midwest's Xtreme Heat in New Albany, Indiana on Aug. 7, 2007
Meanwhile check out this week's featured match:
"Superstar" Bill Dundee vs. "Sweet & Sour" Larry Sweeney from XCW Midwest's Xtreme Heat in New Albany, Indiana on Aug. 7, 2007
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