Mid-South Wrestling – May 27th, 1982

May 27, 1982

Your hosts are Boyd Pierce and Bill Watts

The show starts off with Paul Ellering showing two kids how to do military presses. The kid on the left looks extremely pissed off and has his arms crossed.

Ted DiBiase vs. The Grappler

They start off fighting against the ropes. DiBiase then gets two with an elbow smash before he goes to work on the arm as Watts mentions how The Grappler cost DiBiase his tag team match two weeks ago. The Grappler fights back and ends up stomping DiBiase after putting him in the tree-of-woe. He gets a nearfall with an elbow drop then chokes DiBiase out by using the ropes. The Grappler then gets a nearfall with a corkscrew then applies a front facelock. The Grappler misses a knee drop though as DiBiase fights back. DiBiase misses an elbow drop then both men collide after an Irish whip sequence with The Grappler falling to the floor. The Assassin now runs out and tries to call time out but DiBiase brings him inside and starts hammering away. The Grappler is now loading up his boot as the ref is tied up with DiBiase and The Assassin but Ernie Ladd runs out with a chair and whacks The Grappler then DiBiase sees The Grappler down after he’s finished with the Assassin and covers for the win (6:15) **3/4.

Thoughts: Good match. Both guys have history together too as The Grappler beat DiBiase for the North American Title 18 months prior. The end also continues the Akbar vs. Ladd feud which has bee heating up.

Skandor Akbar introduces us to the “The Hangman” Rick Harris (The future Black Bart) as he tells us Harris is not part of the Akbar Army and not a bounty hunter, as that is a dirty word, but that if he hurts Dick Murdoch he just might get a bonus. This continues the angle of Akbar bringing in men to take out Murdoch.

“The Hangman” Rick Harris w/ Skandor Akbar vs. Dick Murdoch

Murdoch takes down Harris and works the arm before applying a chinlock as Watts tells us JYD will be facing Bob Roop next week for the North American Heavyweight Title. Harris backs Murdoch into the corner then starts hitting him with clubbing forearms. Akbar grabs Murdoch’s bag from the ring post and uses it to taunt him. The crowd gets behind Murdoch, who Watts tells us will be touring Japan in two weeks, as Murdoch gets up. They slug it out as Murdoch is now in control. Akbar grabs Murdoch’s bag and heads inside as both men are fighting for control of an abdominal stretch but accidentally hits Harris. Murdoch then dumps Akbar outside and finishes Harris off with a brainbuster (4:37) *1/2. After the match, Akbar takes the entrenching tool out of the bag but Murdoch heads out and punches him down. However, the One Man Gang runs out to beat on Murdoch then Harris grabs his rope and hangs Murdoch over the top rope until Iron Mike Sharpe and Jesse Barr run out for the save and check on Murdoch.

Thoughts: The match itself wasn’t anything special but the attack was done well as the Murdoch vs. Akbar feud continues to heat up as the crowd loves Murdoch.

One Man Gang w/ Skandor Akbar vs. Coco Samoa

Watts tells us he met with Murdoch backstage and that he will find a way to get even with Akbar. The match starts as Coco frustrates Gang with his speed. Gang eventually catches Samoa and hammers away until hitting a suplex then dropping an elbow for the win (3:38).

Thoughts: A squash match win for Gang, who continues to get built up as a monster.

Bob Roop & The Assassin vs. Iron Mike Sharpe & Mike Hudspeth

Sharpe starts off in control as he works the arm of both men until getting trapped in the opposing corner. He escapes and tags Hudspeth, who gets beat down until The Assassin puts him away with a headbutt (2:37).

Thoughts: This really just seemed like a way to get Roop & The Assassin on TV as Roop’s match next week against the Junkyard Dog was discussed here.

The Turk vs. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams

This is the debut of Williams, who is still enrolled at Oklahoma University as Watts tells us under new NCAA rules he can retain amateur status while being a professional in wrestling. Williams is just massive here too as he starts off the match with a fireman’s carry and some other basic stuff as Watts lists off his accomplishments. The Turk cheap shots Williams after a test-of-strength as Watts points out how Williams does not see tactics like that in amateur wrestling. Williams fights back though then puts The Turk away with a running powerslam (3:56).

Thoughts: Williams showed a ton of potential here. He was green and seemed a bit timid but you could see the athleticism and presence right off the bat. And Watts hyping him up for weeks through his collegiate career helped matters too.

Randy Base & Jim Starr vs. Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia

JYD & Olympia take control to start as Watts puts over the Tag Teams in the company. JYD hits Starr with a powerslam as Base runs in to break it up as Starr remains on the mat then the ref rules the match over in favor of JYD & Olympia as Watts was talking about the toughness of Mid-South and those who cannot cut it can go somewhere like Atlanta (1:43).

Thoughts: The finish to this was all sorts of fucked up. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. Also odd for Watts to take a shot at people who are not tough enough to hack it in the Territory to go elsewhere. He’s usually respectful when talking about other places.

Billy Starr vs. Jesse Barr

Watts is even baffled over the finish to the previous match by stating how it happened so fast he must have missed it take place. This is the “stand-by” match as Watts says guys use this time to impress the “matchmakers.” They go back-and-forth briefly then Starr takes control but cannot put Barr away as time expires (2:13).

Thoughts: Pretty much just time to remind us about next week’s main event. Barr is starting to impress a little too.

Final Thoughts: A much better show than last week. They advanced some angles and Steve Williams debuted on top of a good match between Dibiase and The Grappler. And with next week’s big North American Title match the company is back on track after last week’s bad show.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Sunday: WWF Prime Time Wrestling 7/17/89

Monday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 7/22/89

Tuesday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 7/23/89

Wednesday: Revolution Pro Wrestling High Stakes 1/21/17

Thursday: Highspots Shoot Interview with Lex Luger

Friday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 7/29/89

Sunday: Mid-South Wrestling 6/3/82