Mid-South Wrestling – November 17th, 1983

November 17, 1983

The opening montage this week is switched to “Dr. Death” Steve Williams

Your hosts are Jim Ross and Buddy Nichols

This week in action are Nikolai Volkoff, Magnum TA & Mr. Wrestling II, “Leaping” Lanny Poffo, and Krusher Darsow

Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart vs. George Weingeroff & Tony Torres

Reed & Neidhart are introduced as the “top team in the Nation.” Reed and Weingeroff start the match. Reed overpowers Weingeroff then Weingeroff comes back with a dropkick. Neidhart tags in and beats on Weingeroff as the announcers put over the champs. Weingeroff finally tags out after hitting Reed with a dropkick but Torres gets trapped in the opposing corner and beat down until Neidhart hits a Samoan Drop for the win (3:40).

Thoughts: Just a match to put the Tag Champs on TV. As we will see later, Mid-South is trying to revamp their Tag Team Division.

Handicap Match: Nikolai Volkoff vs. Mike Jackson & Randy Barber

Volkoff once again brings the Russian National Anthem and demands it plays before his match. Volkoff jumps his opponents before the bell. Jackson & Barber beat on Volkoff in the corner and take him down with a dropkick but Volkoff kicks out of a pin from both men. Volkoff kicks both men away and clears the ring then slams Jackson on top of Barber and pins both men (1:39).

Thoughts: Volkoff is still being pushed strong but is not getting over as strong as his push with the TV crowd.

We are now shown a video montage on Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Its designed to make Duggan look like an American hero as the announcers prefaced this by talking about the problems in America today due to foreign countries. It features “In America” from the Charlie Daniels Band. They made it pretty clear that Duggan will be part of the USA vs. Russia feud in Mid-South.

Doug Vines & Jeff Sword vs. Magnum TA & Mr. Wrestling II

Good reaction for Magnum & Mr. Wrestling. Magnum & Mr. Wrestling work over Vines to start. Sword tags in and he does not fare any better than his partner. Vines is back in and Mr. Wrestling grounds him as Ross talks about the strategy Mr. Wrestling has implied as Magnum works the arm. Mr. Wrestling & Magnum continue to stay in control then Magnum makes a blind tag and catches Vines with a belly-to-belly suplex for the win (7:23).

Thoughts: I get the point of Mr. Wrestling “coaching” Magnum and trying to make him better but there was no need for a squash match to last this long. The crowd did seem to like the team though and they are going to be a focus going forward.

Art Crews vs. Larry Higgins

Both guys mix it up to start. Higgins decks Crews then works the arm on the mat. Crews fights back and lands some forearm smashes before grabbing a side headlock. Crews hits a crossbody for two then goes back to the headlock. Ross talks about being at the airport and when he told people he was from this area they all asked him about the Junkyard Dog. Crews uses a back drop as Higgins could barely get over on that then Higgins blocks a reverse rollup and drops an elbow for the win (5:10) *.

Thoughts: Crews was a solid hand but Higgins sucked. I’m a bit surprised Higgins got the win but man does Mid-South need fresher talent on the lower card.

John King vs. “Leaping” Lanny Poffo

We get a stalemate after some mat work then Poffo takes control. The announcers put over Poffo’s athleticism then King lands some shots in the corner. Poffo takes control then uses a slingshot splash for the win (3:01).

Thoughts: The announcers put over Poffo on commentary but really he does not have much direction here and is not going to be part of plans going forward now that Dundee is the booker.

Paul Garner vs. Krusher Darsow

Darsow slams Garner as the announcers put over his strength. Darsow now works the arm then blocks a slam and hits one of his own. Darsow continues to overpower Garner then uses a backbreaker submission for the win (1:43).

Thoughts: They continue to put over Darsow for only having one loss and becoming a fan favorite.

We are then shown clips from a match that took place in Houston between Steve Williams and Bobby Duncum. Williams won the match and its pretty much the same clips we saw in the opening montage. Ross then tells us Williams will return next week. Plus, newcomer Dennis Condrey will be here next week.

The Road Warriors are now with Ross. They talk about the competition in Mid-South and dare any team to come and try to take away their National Tag Team Titles.

Final Thoughts: Nothing happened here as far as big angles or good matches but they are making it known the Tag Team Division will be revamped and are going to strongly push the USA vs. Russia feud. Things will heat up the closer we get to 1984.