Mid-South Wrestling – January 12th, 1984

The first Mid-South episode of 1984 is not on the Network or available anywhere else that I can see.

January 12, 1984

Your hosts are Jim Ross and Bill Watts

This week, we will see Steve Williams vs. Krusher Darsow.

We are shown a clip from last week where Darsow is in the ring with Nikolai Volkoff and challenges all of the top guys to come out. We get Terry Taylor instead as he calls out Darsow for being a traitor and while not “Magnum TA he is here to stay.” Darsow calls out Taylor for being skinny then Volkoff attacks Taylor. Volkoff continues on the attack but Taylor fights. Taylor hits a dropkick then beats him with a surprise sunset flip in the corner. The fans go nuts as Taylor clears the ring as Watts screams how Taylor is walking tall for America. You could tell by how they talked him up during his vignettes but they are really pushing Taylor hard out of the gate. And he is getting over as a heart throb as this was a new concept for Mid-South.

Doug Vines vs. Terry Taylor

Taylor grounds Vines after a waist lock then Vines reaches the ropes. Taylor now works the arm as Watts puts over his patriotism then Taylor hits a flying forearm for the win (1:40). After the match, Darsow & Volkoff come in and corner Taylor but flee when Junkyard Dog & Jim Duggan make the save.

Thoughts: Taylor is already over with the crowds as the post-match stuff was used to continue what happened last week when Taylor beat Volkoff so that appears to be a program going forward. And it showed Duggan & JYD having Taylor’s back when they made the save so he gets a bit of a rub for that.

Jeff Sword & Larry Higgens vs. Junkyard Dog & Jim Duggan

JYD drops Higgens with a headbutt then tags out soon after that with Duggan now hammering away. Sword tags in then bails during an Irish whip sequence. Ross talks about Magnum TA’s training under Mr. Wrestling II as Watts notes how the referee is Carl Fergie as he did such a great job with the Tag Team Title cage match that Grizzly Smith paid him to be a ref, with Ross noting Fergie knows about rule-breaking himself. JYD & Duggan stay in control until Duggan spears Sword for the win (2:56). After the match, Darsow & Volkoff run for the attack but JYD & Duggan fend them off and clear the ring as the crowd chants “USA.”

Thoughts: We saw more of the Russians trying to attack JYD & Duggan but they ended up failing.

Paul Garner & Don Ralston vs. Mr. Wrestling II & Magnum TA

Magnum works the arm of Ralston as Watts talks about The Russians wanting a title shot and both Butch Reed and Jim Neidhart wanting to get partners for a rematch. Jim Cornette now comes into the ring holding two bags. He grabs the mic and says he told everyone that Magnum & Mr. Wrestling II are “chicken” for not putting up the belts against the Midnight Express then the Midnght Express themselves run out and blindside the champs with Condrey hitting Mr. Wrestling from behind in the head with a foreign object. Mr. Wrestling is out then the Midnights hold down Magnum as Cornette takes out a jar of molasses (on commentary it was not said what the substance was but Magnum said it was molasses in his shoot interview for Highspots) and pours it on Magnum then takes the other bag, which is filled with feathers, and dumps it all over Magnum as he is now covered. The Midnights & Cornette bail when Rick Rood & Steve Williams hit the ring.

Thoughts: Tremendous stuff and this really got over Cornette as a hated heel. Plus, it sets up the Midnights for a Tag Team Title feud. The crowd was super heated for this angle. For a fun story, in Magnum’s shoot interview he said how after the show he went to shower off the molasses and feathers but the water was ice cold and it was the dead of Winter so he basically turned blue getting the stuff off of him.

George Weingeroff & “Leaping” Lanny Poffo vs. Midnight Express w/ Jim Cornette

Cornette talks about his family fortune making him unstoppable and dubs Magnum the “Mid-South Chicken” before introducing his team. Watts tells us that Mr. Wrestling is “semi-conscious” backstage. Poffo takes Condrey down with a side headlock then does the same to Eaton. The Midnights regroup briefly then Poffo works the arm of Condrey. Poffo & Weingeroff maintain control until Eaton tags out as he has Poffo backed up against the ropes. Eaton knocks Poffo over the top rope as the Midnights are now in control. Condrey knocks Weingeroff off of the apron and prevents Poffo from making a tag. Poffo finally escapes and makes the tag before dropping outside. Weingeroff beats on Eaton until Condrey attacks from behind then the Midnights hit the back suplex/flying elbow smash combo for the win (6:07) **.

Thoughts: The action was fine but nothing more. The Midnights & Cornette are now a bonafide heel act for Mid-South.

Watts is now with Mr. Wrestling II and Magnum TA, who is still covered in feathers. Mr. Wrestling is pissed and says there will be a lot of “clucking” going on and promises to pluck everything from the Midnight Express until there is nothing left. Magnum calls this the most humiliating thing that has ever happened and says he will wrestle the Midnight Express anywhere, any place and that its up to Mid-South if the titles are on the line. Great stuff by these two as they vow revenge.

Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart vs. Tom Lentz

Neidhart gets some cheers from the crowd. Neidhart attacks Lentz from behind then hammers away in the corner. Watts talks about Neidhart being pissed at Reed over being called stupid and an “ironhead” as Neidhart stays on the attack and hits a Samoan drop for the win (1:54).

Thoughts: Now that he has split from Reed, Neidhart is a babyface and will feud with his former partner.

“Dr. Death” Steve Williams vs. Krusher Darsow

Williams attacks Darsow before the bell as Watts tells us that Williams hates Russia and loves America. Williams slams Darsow then finally removes his jacket and hits another slam. Williams tries a splash from the middle rope but Darsow gets his knees up then Darsow stomps away. Watts talks about Russians and Americans each thinking the other is the bad guy but Darsow being a traitor makes him the worst. Darsow uses a chinlock as the crowd gets behind Williams. Darsow maintains the hold then catches Williams with a knee smash after Williams broke free. Darsow now hits a slam of his own then knees the back a few times and gets a two count. Darsow hits another slam but misses an elbow drop as both men are down. Williams fires away then screams before hitting a few football tackles as the crowd ramps up as Darsow rolls outside. Volkoff comes out now and slips something to Darsow as the ref was talkng to Williams. Volkoff now distracts the ref as Darsow nails Williams from behind with that object and gets the win (5:20) **.

Thoughts: This was surprisingly decent when you consider the inexperience level of both men. Darsow actually looked good here although Williams still has a long way to go. This was also the most over Williams has been in Mid-South up until this point.

“Hacksaw” Butch Reed vs. Rick Rood

Reed catches Rood with a high knee then beats him down as Watts talks about the tough jobs referees have in wrestling. Reed tosses Rood outside then chokes him out against the ropes as Watts talks about Rood’s lack of experience. Rood now fights back as Watts says he is going to be tough and is asking for matches. Reed rolls outside then returns and beats down Rood as we learn that Grizzly Smith is trying to sign the Rock ‘N Roll Express and that “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel will be here next week. Reed works a front facelock then inflicts more punishment before hitting a press slam for the win just before curfew (4:40) *1/2.

Thoughts: On commentary, Watts was putting over Rood for lasting this long against Reed as they were building him up as someone with inexperience but trying to get tougher and asking for top competition. To be honest, Rood did not show much babyface charisma at all in this match.

Final Thoughts: This was a Memphis wrestling show under the Mid-South banner. There was a point to every segment and we saw a lot of run-ins and confrontations to keep things interesting instead of standby matches with stale lower card workers. Plus, they are pushing new acts like the Midnight Express, Jim Cornette, and Terry Taylor as the territory was in dire need of new blood as we are starting off 1984 with a bang.