Mid-South Wrestling – May 5th, 1983

May 5, 1983

Your hosts are Boyd Pierce and Bill Watts

This week, we will see Kendo Nagasaki vs. Jim Duggan and Mr. Wrestling II vs. Tiger Conway JR. Also in action are Butch Reed & Tiger Conway Jr. and more!

Watts tells us how Ted DiBiase & Mr. Olympia set up Chavo Guerrero in Texas by pretending they were a Mexican promoter and saying Gran Markus would appear to wrestle Chavo so they could attack him.

We get a replay of last week’s promo by Hacksaw Jim Duggan and his attack on Kendo Nagasaki & Skandor Akbar. Also, we see DiBiase tell Akbar he will not fight Duggan unless there is a reason.

Kendo Nagasaki w/ Skandor Akbar vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Duggan attacks Nagasaki before the bell as the crowd goes wild but DiBiase comes in and loads his glove before decking his former friend. Akbar is celebrating in the ring while Duggan is laid out on the floor as Watts screams about DiBiase double-crossing his former partner (0:20).

Thoughts: And DiBiase has officially turned on his former friend even after stating just last week he would not attack Duggan unless provoked, kicking off one of the best feuds not only in Mid-South but of the entire 1980’s.

Back from break, the announcers talk about DiBiase’s attack on Duggan then wishes Chavo Guerrero a speedy recovery while promising we’ll see footage of that attack next week.

Now, we see Chavo from the 4/16 Superdome show against Wild Bill Irwin. The match is joined in progress as Watts puts over Chavo’s heart and courage. Chavo won with a bridging back suplex. What we saw was decent enough and Chavo was one of the best in-ring talents in North America at the time.

We now hear prerecorded comments from King Kong Bundy. He talks about coming here to wrestle top flight talent and knows the promoters were impressed after his Atlantic City Avalanche last week. He then tells Mr. Wrestling his 27-inch will protect him from the power knee lift and that he will put him down.

King Kong Bundy vs. Mr. Wrestling II

Bundy attacks Mr. Wrestling in the corner. He continues to hammer away but whiffs on a clothesline then Mr. Wrestling grabs a headlock. Bundy drives Mr.Wrestling into the corner to finally break the hold then stomps away. Bundy beats down Mr. Wrestling as Watts tells us that we will see DiBiase vs. Tim Horner next. The crowd gets behind Mr. Wrestling, who starts to fight back. He fires away then hits the power knee lift three times before Bundy finally goes down. Bundy sidesteps another power knee lift then knocks Mr.Wrestling down. Mr. Wrestling avoids a splash then Bundy accidentally splashes the ref in the corner. Bundy misses a corner splash but Mr. Olympia runs in and dropkicks Mr. Wrestling with a loaded boot. Bundy then hits Mr. Wrestling with the Atlantic City Avalanche and gets the five count for the win (4:50) *1/2.

Thoughts: The action here was as good as it was going to be given the participants. They are continuing the Olympia vs. Mr. Wrestling II feud and it got Bundy a pin over a credible opponent as he gets pushed up the card.

Ted DiBiase w/ Skandor Akbar vs. Tim Horner

The crowd chants for Duggan as DiBiase bails to yell at them. Watts talks about DiBiase’s history of turning on people, including JYD, then beats on Horner. He stays in control but Horner fights back. DiBiase bails after getting taken down by three straight arm drags then returns as Horner works the arm. DiBiase blocks a reverse rollup after an Irish whip sequence then knocks Horner back down. DiBiase hits a reverse elbow smash then hits a turnbuckle smash. Horner reverses an Irish whip in the corner but gets kneed on a charge. DiBiase heads to the middle rope for an elbow drop as the crowd is giving him all sorts of shit. Watts says that Kerry & David Von Erich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds will take place next week as DiBiase hammers away. That did not take place next week by the way. Horner hits a forearm smash in the corner then starts to run wild until he misses a charge. DiBiase hits another elbow smash from the middle rope and follows with a backbreaker. DiBiase pulls Horner up after a powerslam so he can inflict more punishment while Watts calls him “cocky and mean.” He beats the crap out of Horner then the crowd goes mental as Duggan runs out with a 2×4 and whacks DiBiase for the DQ (6:32) **1/2. The board breaks over DiBiase’s back and DiBiase bails as the crowd goes wild for Duggan.

Thoughts: I thought the match itself was good with the story of Horner refusing to back down despite being overmatched but the big news was Duggan running back out to attack DiBiase with a 2×4. The crowd went nuts for the end and have been responding well to Duggan’s new character.

Duggan comes over to the announcers table with Watts. He holds up the broken 2×4 and tells us sometimes a man needs to walk tall and he is that man. Duggan calls himself a proud man with a proud family and will fight for what is right. The crowd is going insane as DiBiase is getting rolled outside while Akbar is in disbelief.

Ron Cheatham & Don Clark vs. Hacksaw Butch Reed & Tiger Conway Jr.

Reed overpowers Clark while showing off his agility as Watts talks about his career and how sometimes you get so mad you take matters into your own hands. He also puts over Akbar’s Army as Conway now tags into the match. Clark finally tags in and loses a slugfest to Reed. Conway tags in and hits a few slams then hits a crossbody after one of the worst Irish whip sequences I’ve ever seen. Cheatham accidentally stomps his partner trying to break up the pin then the match breaks down. Reed & Conway hit stereo dropkicks then put Clark away after a flying shoulder tackle from Reed (4:54).

Thoughts: The action was poor and there was no charisma to speak of between Reed and Conway. So far in his run, Reed looks great but has not made any sort of connection. Then again, that is expected when you are portrayed as a generic babyface. Clark makes Frankie Williams look coordinated and the worst Mid-South enhancement talent I’ve seen so far at this point.

Tony Zane vs. Ken Woodby

Pierce says both men are rookies trying to move up the card. Watts says you have to give them a chance then talks about how the crowd was chanting for Duggan during the commercial break. Both men end in a stalemate after some basic mat work as the announcers put over the stars in the promotion as Pierce tells the fans to chant like they do in the TV studio instead of throwing stuff like they do in other towns. Woodby ducks his head for a back drop and gets kicked then Zane drops an elbow for the win (3:00).

Thoughts: Just a backdrop for the announcers to talk up the promotion. The action was poor and the finish was weak even for this time period.

Final Thoughts: The Duggan/DiBiase storyline has been an instant success with the TV crowds. Mid-South has not had a hot TV feud in a while and this has woken up the fans in attendance, who have not had much in terms of great angles over the past couple of months. With word of newer talents coming into the company and the Akbar Army being positioned stronger than ever we should get a more exciting product in general.