Mid-South Wrestling – September 1st, 1983

September 1, 1983

Your hosts are Bill Watts and Jim Ross

This week we have the Road Warriors vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Magnum TA. Also in action are Buzz Sawyer, Junkyard Dog, Ted DiBiase, and Krusher Darsow.

Watts talks about Missing Link and Skandor Akbar saying his name is “Max.” We then see Watts interview Akbar ask for further information but Akbar is pissed that fans think he is crazy.

The Missing Link vs. Tim Horner

Ross and Watts both state how Link looks familiar. Horner fires away and hits a crossbody but only gets one as Link now hammers away. Ross puts over Horner’s improvement and labels him a future star but Link stays in control. Link gets a nearfall with a powerslam but Horner comes back with a pair of dropkicks. Horner tries another crossbody but Link ducks and he hits the ropes. Link beats on Horner then headbutts the kidney for the win (2:04) *1/4.

Thoughts: Good action while it lasted but this Link angle as to figuring out his identity and Akbar getting pissed off fans think is crazy is just not very good. The fans do not care and Akbar cannot even be bothered to stand at ringside for his matches.

Road Warriors vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Magnum TA

Duggan & TA go after the Warriors before the bell but Pierce stays in the ring and finishes his ring introductions anyway. Duggan & Magnum clear the ring as the crowd goes crazy. Watts talks about the Warriors not respecting anything and mocking Duggan here and on Georgia TV. Magnum works the arm of Hawk but Animal tags in and beats him down. Watts talks about the Warriors beating up and firing their manager, Paul Ellering, then Animal misses a charge in the corner. Duggan tags but the Warriors hit him with a double clothesline then dump him outside. Hawk runs Magnum into the post on the outside then returns where Duggan hits a double clothesline of his own. Duggan knocks Hawk outside with a spear then spears Animal but Hawk comes off the top to break up the pin and that results in a DQ (3:28) *1/2. Both teams brawl after the match with Duggan & Magnum clearing the ring.

Thoughts: It was obvious going in both teams would be protected since they were champions of their respective promotions. It was a fun, chaotic match while it lasted.

Watts calls Junkyard Dog the biggest wrestling star in the world and how he got beat 57 straight times while traveling the world at the beginning of his career is now the people’s champion who helps everyone regardless of age or race. We now get video of JYD visiting a child at the hospital. The poor kid was a burn victim. This video was shown on the news as well. JYD was shown talking about losing his son five years ago and wants to do good for someone.

Boris Zurkhov vs. Junkyard Dog

Pee-Wee Anderson is the ref of this match. JYD takes Zurkhov over with a hip toss then Zurkhov bails as Watts puts over JYD as a person. Zurkhov returns and lands a few kicks but runs into a forearm smash. JYD works a chinlock as Watts continues to put him over. JYD wins a slugfest then whips Zurkhov into the corner and follows with a clothesline before using a powerslam for the win (2:07) 1/2*.

Thoughts: JYD’s weight gain is becoming more noticeable. He had any easy win here as Watts was hinting at a JYD/Sawyer feud.

We are shown a video of Buzz Sawyer’s workout routine. It was narrated by Paul Ellering. Sawyer is shown cracking cinderblocks with a chain then eating while standing in a dog chain. This is to build to a JYD vs. Sawyer match with the premise of Sawyer thinking he is the only “dog” around. So looks like we are going to get a JYD/Sawyer feud after all.

“Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer vs. Johnny Rich

Sawyer beats on Rich in the corner. Rich avoids a charge then works the arm as Watts tells us that Butch Reed is not here due to a contract dispute with Grizzly Smith over a lack of competition as Reed has beaten everyone but did mention Andre the Giant as possible competition. Rich still works the arm until Sawyer knocks him outside. Sawyer hammers away and rakes Rich’s face across the top rope. Rich eventually fights back and hits a dropkick that barely gets two but Sawyer hits him low and follows with a vertical suplex. Sawyer misses a falling headbutt then Rich fires away but Sawyer reverses an Irish whip and catches Rich with a powerslam for the win (4:08) *1/2.

Thoughts: The action was decent but if Sawyer is going to feud with JYD it would have made more sense to win decisively instead of selling most of the match. Rich was not presented as a scrub and a solid talent but he was on offense most of the match. And we heard why Reed is not here as that should get him more heel heat.

We are shown clips from last week’s DiBiase & Bundy vs. Magnum & Williams match where Duggan ran out and intercepted the foreign object DiBiase used to load his glove and hit DiBiase, allowing Magnum to cover for the win. Watts tells us that DiBiase has issued a challenge to Duggan then are shown a clip from DiBiase telling Duggan he’s sick of him and his cheap victories and getting screwed out of money so he promises to leave Mid-South if he cannot beat Duggan. That match will take place next week.

King Kong Bundy vs. Art Crews

Bundy shoves Crews down a few times then hammers away. Watts wonders if JYD can get up Bundy for a powerslam as Bundy has Crews in a chinlock. Crews lands some shots and forearm smashes but is sent back down. Bundy kicks Crews in the face and beats him in the corner before hitting an avalanche then using the Atlantic City Avalanche for the win after a five count (2:59).

Thoughts: Looks like a Bundy/JYD match is going to take place down the road with the story of whether or not JYD can slam Bundy and if Bundy can beat JYD with the five count.

Krusher Darsow vs. George Weingeroff

The announcers put over Darsow’s size as he breaks cleanly in the corner but cheap shots Weingeroff the second time around. Darsow eats boot on a charge but sends Weingeroff back down. Weingeroff hits a pair of dropkicks as Darsow retreats to the corner but runs into a clothesline. Darsow drops an elbow then runs Weingeroff into the corner twice before hitting a slam and after that uses a backbreaker submission for the win (2:18).

Thoughts: Darsow is huge but not connecting in any way. Oddly enough, Darsow credited Weingeroff for teaching him how to work so I imagine they worked on house shows.

Rip Rogers vs. Rick Rood

This is Rood’s Mid-South debut. They start off on the mat and end up in a stalemate as the announcers put over the talent to come out of Minnesota, where Rood is from. Watts says we will see One Man Gang if time is permitting before telling us that Mike George and Dick Murdoch are also returning to Mid-South. Next week, JYD vs. Bundy will take place as Rood hits a dropkick. Rood works a side headlock on the mat as the announcers talk about DiBiase always having a plan and to expect something next week. Rood stays in control with a headlock until Rogers breaks that up with a back suplex. Ross tells us that the Road Warriors will be back next week as Rogers covers for two after a snapmare. Rood comes back with a sunset flip for a nearfall and follows with a small package. Rood then hits a monkey flip in the corner and another dropkick before getting the win with a swinging neckbreaker (4:52) *1/2.

Thoughts: Its a trip watching a thin, generic babyface Rood get his start. He was very green and Rogers did just about all of the work. In watching these shows I’ve grown to really appreciate Rogers as a talent. He was great at getting guys over. Anyway, the big news was learning that Bundy/JYD will happen next week and learning other talents will be returning.

We are now shown the end of One Man Gang vs. Mike Davis from Mid-Atlantic wrestling. Gang is managed by Oliver Humperdink.

Final Thoughts: They set up for a big show next week with DiBiase vs. Duggan and JYD vs. Bundy. We also saw the groundwork for a few other storylines and feuds and saw new talent come in, making it a decent show.