Mid-South Wrestling – December 15th, 1983

December 15, 1983

Your hosts are Boyd Pierce and Bill Watts

Watts talks about Junkyard Dog confronting Krusher Darsow last night and how it was similar when JYD confronted Pez Whatley in Georgia. We then see a replay of last week with JYD confronting Darsow and slapping him then having Nikolai Volkoff run in for an attack until Jim Duggan & Magnum TA made the save.

Krusher Darsow w/ Nikolai Volkoff vs. Koko Ware

The camera shows fans waving American flags in the crowd. Darsow slams Ware then stomps away. Watts goes on about Russian War Bonds and missiles as Darsow cuts off a comeback and goes back to overpowering Ware until he puts him away with the backbreaker submission (1:57).

Thoughts: Darsow was put over strong here as Ware came off as nothing more than enhancement talent.

We get another Magnum TA training video as Magnum is shown running in the cold weather. Mr. Wrestling II is increasing his distance from five to ten miles today to make the “champion of champions.” Mr. Wrestling then yells at Magnum to work out harder.

Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart vs. Mr. Wrestling II

Mr. Wrestling avoids Neidhart then uses a double leg takedown. Mr. Wrestling takes control on the mat as he works the leg. Mr. Wrestling now works the arm and doesnt break after a few forearm smashes by Neidhart. Mr. Wrestling finally breaks the hold after getting backed into the corner as Neidhart now works the arm. Mr. Wrestling escapes and hits a knee lift then sets up for the power knee lift but Neidhart picks up the ref and uses him as a shield. The ref rolls outside then Mr. Wrestling uses a reverse rollup but Butch Reed runs out for attack. Reed & Neidhart try to unmask Mr. Wrestling but Magnum runs out and runs wild. Magnum takes Reed outside then Mr. Wrestling gets up and hits Neidhart with the power knee lift and Magnum grabs a chair to back off Reed as the ref rolls inside and counts to three as Mr. Wrestling gets the win (5:33) *3/4.

Thoughts: This was a bore prior to the ref bump but once Magnum ran down it was a blast and the crowd went nuts. Mr. Wrestling barely sold anything and he was a guy known to protect his character a bit too much. The crowd was hot for this and should set up for a tag match down the line, maybe even a title shot.

Midnight Express vs. George Weingeroff & Randy Barber

Condrey runs over Weingeroff a few times but Weingeroff fights back. Barber tags in but Condrey takes him down as the Midnight Express take control. Watts tells us the next time the Midnights wrestle that Cornette will be on commentary since he feels no one can properly talk about his team then the Midnights use the back suplex/flying elbow smash combo for the win (1:43).

Thoughts: The Midnight Express continue to shine especially since all of the other Mid-South teams are two singles wrestlers slapped together.

“King” Carl Fergie vs. Junkyard Dog

JYD fights off an attack before the bell then has Fergie begging for mercy in the corner. Watts talks about JYD being named the King of Wrestling in Houston then talks about Jerry Lawler wrestling next as JYD now works a reverse chinlock. Fergie escapes and uses a front facelock as the fans get behind JYD, who breaks the hold by tossing Fergie in the air. JYD chokes out Fergie with his boot as Watts covers up his weight gain by saying he put on weight to fight the super heavyweights. Fergie misses a ropewalk elbow drop in a terrible spot then JYD hits a clothesline before the powerslam for the win (3:21).

Thoughts: JYD needs long chinlock sequences even in TV squash matches as his cardio is garbage. The crowd was more into JYD here than they had been in months.

Larry Higgens vs. Jerry Lawler

Watts talks about Andy Kaufman and how he wrestled women, thinking, he was tough, then goes on to talk about Lawler’s ability. Watts says his friend Jerry Jarrett is in attendance as Watts talks about Lawler’s artistic ability. Lawler dropkicks Higgens through the ropes then Higgens returns and bails after a flurry of offense from Lawler. Higgens is knocked off of the apron as Watts says there is a huge announcement coming up next and its about a TV Title Tournament then Lawler hits a flying fist drop for the win (2:55).

Thoughts: Lawler was over with the fans and worked a fun match. We also had a Jerry Jarrett name drop on TV and mention of a TV Title coming to Mid-South.

Nikolai Volkoff w/ Barry Darsow vs. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan

Duggan runs in to attack Volkoff during the Russian National Anthem as fans are waving American flags in the crowd. Volkoff fights back then catches Duggan in a bearhug as Watts talks about Russian wrestling tactics. Volkoff goes back to the bearhug after roughing up Duggan against the ropes as the crowd chants USA. Duggan then reverses the hold until Volkoff rakes the eyes. Duggan wins a slugfest as Watts goes on another pro-USA/anti-Russia tangent. Duggan lands more punches then a clothesline but misses a spear and spills outside as Watts yells “the Russian got out of the way. Darsow puts Duggan in the backbreaker as Volkoff distracts the ref then rolls him back inside. Volkoff then picks up Duggan for the overhead backbreaker but that only gets two. Volkoff is beside himself and Darsow enters the ring but gets speared by Duggan and that is a DQ (4:14) **. Volkoff is also speared then Duggan tosses a chair into the ring but that gets used against him and its 2 vs. 1 until JYD, Magnum, Mr. Wrestling, and Lanny Poffo make the save.

Thoughts: Decent back-and-forth match. With the Russians bailing again after being outnumbered you have to figure some other Russians will be appearing soon.

Doug Vines & Tom Lentz vs. Rick Rood & “Leaping” Lanny Poffo

Watts has just about lost his voice after the last match then talks more about what we saw as Rood & Poffo work the arm of Vines. Watts talks about Rood being hungry as Watts said Duggan received a standing ovation during the break. Watts then said that Mr. Wrestling II chewed out Magnum TA for saving him earlier in the show, stating he wrestles his own matches. Lentz hits Poffo with a poor excuse of a swinging neckbreaker Poffo fights back as we learn that Grizzly Smith might book Darsow vs. Duggan for next week. The announcers mention how Volkoff & Darsow were outnumbered in the previous segment as the match breaks down until Rude puts Vines away with a crossbody (4:44) *.

Thoughts: Lentz is horrendous and the action itself was lousy but the real focus was on commentary where next week will likely be Duggan vs. Darsow and how Mr. Wrestling II got pissed at Magnum for making the save in his match against Neidhart.

Final Thoughts: The Russians and Mr. Wrestling II/Magnum TA storylines continue to dominate the shows. It was fun to see Lawler in Mid-South and the Midnight Express appear to be getting a big push too as the Tag Team Division needs work. There is a lack of in-ring talent but at least the storyline focus is improving.