Mid-South Wrestling – June 24th, 1982

June 24, 1982

Your hosts are Boyd Pierce and Bill Watts

The show starts off with Watts telling us about a stunning announcement. He tells us that on 6/21, the Junkyard Dog defeated Bob Roop to become the North American Heavyweight Champion. Watts says that Roop is protesting but JYD was ruled the winner. Watts then says as the result of JYD becoming the North American Heavyweight Champion, he will have to vacate the Louisiana Heavyweight Title due to the vigorous travel schedule and a one-night tournament will be held on 7/6 in Baton Rouge, LA to crown the new Louisiana Heavyweight Champion. Watts then mentions how DiBiase was promised a No-DQ match for the North American Title today against Roop but he is no longer the champion so he will have to wrestle JYD. Watts then brings up how DiBiase and JYD are great friends but will have to wrestle today. We then hear a clip from JYD talking about having to vacate the Louisiana Heavyweight Title. We then hear from DiBiase, who says when he was promised a No-DQ match and have to leave if he lost, he never imagined it would be against JYD. DiBiase says that in his professional career he has always maintained that he can beat any man walking and has some doubts whether he can beat him but at the same time, JYD does not pay his bills or put a roof over his family’s head and tonight will do his best to reclaim the belt. Man, imagine tuning into this show expecting to see DiBiase finally get some revenge against Roop only to see that Roop lost to JYD a few days prior and now JYD will have to face DiBiase, his best friend?

We then hear from JYD talking about having to defend the North American Title against DiBiase and talks about being the best man in his wedding and does not fear having to watch his back as he knows DiBiase is a fair man. We will see if that is the case later on in the show.

Bob Roop tells us he has a legitimate claim to be upset as he had a contract to face DiBiase, not JYD, then challenges JYD to a match next week for the North American Heavyweight Title as he knows DiBiase is unable to beat JYD. Roop says this DiBiase could not beat himself so how could he possibly beat the man who won the title from him?

Jeff Sword vs. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams

The announcers put over Williams’ college athletics as Watts says his children look up to him as well. Watts now talks about his son winning a wrestling tournament due to what he learned from Williams’ camp as Williams overpowers his opponent. Sword fires away in the corner but runs into a backdrop then Williams waits for the rebound to hit the Oklahoma Stampede but Sword stays in the corner so Williams picks him up and hits the move for the win (3:04).

Thoughts: Watts constantly puts over Williams on commentary but its not translating yet with the TV audience. The potential is there and he has shown improvement with each match but Williams is still just an unknown to most of the fans in attendance.

Big John Studd & Super Destroyer vs. David Price & Ernie Kirkland

Watts tells us that Studd & Destroyer have come from Georgia to get the Tag Team Titles from JYD & Mr. Olympia. For those unaware, the Super Destroyer is Scott Irwin under a mask. Studd & Destroyer stay in control as he talks about Mid-South having the toughest guys in wrestling. Studd then puts Kirkland away with the backbreaker submission (2:19).

Thoughts: Good, quick match to establish Studd & Destroyer as a team as they would be facing JYD & Mr. Olympia for the Mid-South Tag Team Titles at the upcoming Superdome show.

No DQ Match for the North American Heavyweight Championship: Ted DiBiase vs. Junkyard Dog (c)

Roop is a guest commentator for this match as he assures us he will not interfere because its “low class” and it might give DiBiase a reason to weasel out of his deal of leaving if he loses as he tells us their is no way he can beat JYD. Good, Roop was just an awesome heel. Roop plays up the JYD & DiBiase friendship and how they’ve helped each other out and driven on the road together many of times as they fight over a wristlock. They end in a stalemate as JYD holds back and lets DiBiase get up. DiBiase gets angry but then slaps hands with JYD as they square off. JYD scoops DiBiase up for a slam but DiBiase uses his momentum to back JYD into the ropes where DiBiase hooks them with his legs. DiBiase then catches JYD with a powerslam and covers but JYD shoves him off as DiBiase hits the ref. DiBiase gets right up and tries for the figure four but JYD shoves him as DiBiase goes over the top rope and appears hurt on the floor. JYD goes out with the ref to check on DiBiase and helps him get up and gently pushes him into the ring. DiBiase gets up but adjusts his glove then punches JYD and covers for the win as he is once again the North American Heavyweight Champion (5:21) **. JYD is out cold as the crowd is in shock as DiBiase casually puts the belt over his shoulder and leaves as Roop tells us he knew all along DiBiase loads his glove.

Thoughts: Wow, this was just fantastic. DiBiase cheating to defeat JYD shocked everyone. Well, the announcers later on said they would have to wait to see if he in fact loaded his glove on replay as they too are in disbelief that DiBiase would act like this but its clear something would have to had knocked JYD out cold like that. The action in the match wasn’t much and JYD practically acted like DiBiase’s big brother by helping him out and letting him get up as this would lead to the feud that won the 1982 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Feud of the Year.

And this is Ted DiBiase in his shoot interview with RF Video about the turn:

DiBiase said that Bill Watts came up with the loaded glove gimmick. He said that they needed a heel in the territory and at the time, Ernie Ladd was the booker and DiBiase knocked on his door and said that he would be a heel by turning on JYD. DiBiase said he came up with that as he always teased JYD for working 5 minute matches and doing a lot of taunts and dancing yet he made all of the money as he was working his ass of in 30 minute matches. They built up a program and they were facing off in the finals for the North American Championship and would cut babyface promos leading up to the match. The finish was when JYD kicked DiBiase out of the ring and the ref was counting out DiBiase, JYD stopped the ref as he did not want to win like that and rolled DiBiase back in the ring then DiBiase loaded up his glove and won the match that way.

We are now shown a clip from WWF TV as we see Andre the Giant got his cast removed as he is interviewed by Vince McMahon. He asks if Andre is ready for Killer Khan as Andre feels great and ready to fight anyone. He then tells Khan he is at 100% as we are shown an older clip of Andre on crutches telling Vince he is getting his cast off and he will be back wrestling in just a few weeks. Blassie interrupts to tell us Andre is washed up and yells at him but Andre whacks Blassie with his crutch. Andre almost falls and leans on the ring apron then Khan comes out to pick up the crutch to beat him down. Pat Patterson comes out in his suit and stops Andre from trying to run as we cut back to Andre being asked how he felt about that. Andre calls out Khan and he will knock Blassie out if he tries to come into the ring. They showed this to hype the Andre/Khan feud as both guys were being used here at this time. Khan hurting Andre to that degree gave him mega heel credibility too.

Killer Khan w/ Skandor Akbar vs. Joe Stark

Khan destroys Stark as Watts tells us that Khan will face Ernie Ladd next week. Plus, JYD will answer Bob Roop’s challenge and Mr. Olympia will defend the Mississippi Heavyweight Title against The Grappler as that is a stacked show. Khan slams Stark then finishes him off with a middle rope knee drop (1:48).

Thoughts: Quick match to further establish Khan as a devastating heel.

Billy Starr vs. Buck Robley

Watts talks about the Superdome show on 7/17 as Robley beats on Starr. He gets two with a swinging neckbreaker as Watts talks about Robley teaming with JYD against the Fabulous Freebirds. Watts talks about DiBiase loading his glove and that he’ll have to wait until seeing the replay to see if DiBiase did it as Robley catches Starr with the sleeper for the win (3:46).

Thoughts: The match was basically a backdrop for the announcers to talk about other stuff going on in the company.

Before the scheduled One Man Gang & The Grappler vs. Ernie Ladd & Tom Jones match, The Assassin asks Ladd to finish this once and get a partner to make this a six-man tag. Assassin laughs about him getting DiBiase or JYD. Ladd & Jones leave then come back with Buck Robley as the bell rings.

The Grappler & One Man Gang w/ Skandor Akbar & The Assassin vs. Ernie Ladd & Tom Jones

All six men start brawling as Watts tells us they will have investigated the DiBiase situation before next week’s show. The faces are in control but the bell rings as the show is over (1:02).

Thoughts: A nice way to fit in the Ladd vs. Akbar feud on the show as they can play up on this in the future.

Final Thoughts: Well, this was one of the best hours of wrestling you will ever see. What you were expecting coming in and what we got was a swerve in the best possible way.

The DiBiase turn was brilliant. Here was a guy who got screwed over by losing the title then grew increasingly frustrated over not getting a rematch to the point he had to demand a shot, vowing to leave forever if he lost (something JYD did not agree with two weeks prior). Then, the man who robbed him for his title lost to his friend a few days prior so he had the title match with the stipulation in place and decided being a nice guy was not going to get what he wanted anymore and needed to provide for family so he made sure to win back the title he lost and keep his job by any means necessary. You could see why DiBiase would snap but at the same time he did so by turning on his friend, who did not want to hurt him.

They also set up for a huge show next week with a title match and a follow up on whether or not DiBiase cheated and a possible JYD vs. Roop match.

Anyway, this is a show all wrestling fans should watch and what follows is one of the hottest wrestling feuds of the 1980’s.

Here is my schedule for the next several days:

Sunday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 9/2/89

Monday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 9/3/89

Tuesday: WWF Superstars of Wrestling 9/9/89

Wednesday: EVOLVE 78 2/24/17

Thursday: RF Video Shoot Interview with George Steele

Friday: WWF Wrestling Challenge 9/10/89

Sunday: Mid-South Wrestling 7/1/82