If the screen grab for the video doesn’t get you reading the review, I don’t know what will!
Last week… Hacksaw Jim Duggan destroyed the Lybian from Libya.
Bill Watts Presents…. Mid South Wrestling Classic – yeah, someone’s put a different logo on this one, but it’s still the same UWF stuff.
Hosted by Jim Ross, and the first shot of the crowd is some kids with a Confederate flag. Michael Hayes has refused to come out for commentary, so Sunshine will replace him.
Art Crews and Gustavo Mendoza vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Terry Taylor
Can’t remember if I’ve commented already on Crews’ Max Headroom look. Terry is going for an unusual look with green jacket, trunks and kneepads and gold boots. The heels try to single him out, so Hacksaw just walks in and beats on Mendoza. Double elbow, whip together, and Taylor sends out Crews with the Fivearm while Duggan finishes Mendoza with the spear.
Weird commercial where there are two voiceovers on it at the same time for a first blood bunkhouse brawl just after Christmas.
Sunshine joins Jim with a scowl on her face and hot leather boots, red mini-skirt and a see-through blouse looking like the MILFiest MILF that ever MILFed. They throw to Bam Bam and Michael in a prior interview. Terry’s refusing to have surgery that’ll leave him with a scar on his arm he has to remember, so he’s going to put them on Steve Williams and the One Man Gang instead.
Back to Sunshine with her take on the Gang getting the belt – “Was it a gift?! Is this Merry Christmas One Man Gang?! No way!”. Sunshine was awesome!
Recap of Hayes and Roberts destroying the Fantastics last week with the Angel of Death. Tommy getting beaten while his bow tie is still on is an awesome visual.
The Lybian vs. Savannah Jack
So, he wasn’t destroyed that badly, then. Surely you could’ve kept the guy off TV for a week or two to sell the beating. I’m pretty sure Lethal Larry Cameron came up for discussion recently and it’s not hard to draw comparisons between him and Jack. Big clothesline that looks like it rattled some teeth. Jack leapfrogs over a backdrop and gets the superkick when the Libyan Lybian turns around for the win.
Promos for that bunkhouse brawl, although they’re unlistenable again as there are mixed up audio tracks over them again.
Hollywood John Tatum vs. Chavo Guerrero
OK, so John was still around, then. But first, Joel Watts and a bunch of babyfaces, including Danny Hodge, present a cheque to an Arkansas official. Back to the match. Chavo’s a weird one for me as he’s got the same fire that all the Guerrero brothers had, but it’s like he didn’t develop the charisma that Eddie eventually got. It’s all point at the camera, say hi, standard babyface stuff. Making up for that is the fountain of charisma, Tatum, who never dried up and always great facial expressions. Tatum misses an elbow and eats a dropkick and does a great falling back punching sell. Jack Victory is out to support him, so maybe it’s a trio with them and the Nature Boy. John gets a front facelock, which Chavo does a basic version of a Northern Lights suplex to reverse out of. Surfboard, which Chavo uses as a drop hold to punish John further with. Flying forearm hits the referee instead of Tatum. Jack comes in to interfere but gets hit with the moonsault and the referee recovers in time to disqualify Tatum. I was expecting someone to come in to even it up, but Chavo flips out of the ring to avoid a beating. Alright match with some good moves in it.
Eddie Gilbert vs. Ken Massey
Eddie is doing a deal where he’s been blinded with paint by the Missing Link and Dark Journey, which he explains prior to the match. The crowd roars with approval when they hear he’s had yellow paint thrown in his face. Nobody believes a word of it, JR included, but Eddie walks out. He’s also walking like his legs and stomach are out. Rick Steiner substitutes for him and immediately gets the body vice/run into the corner. Belly-t0-belly finishes within seconds.
Sting vs. Dr. Death Steve Williams
From the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Tournament, with the famous cover with everyone trying to grab the trophy show on screen first. When Sting goes to shake his manager Eddie’s hand on the outside Eddie of course knows exactly where the hand is to grab despite his blindness. Sting gets a slam and elbow, followed by a flying fistdrop and his jumping elbow. He goes for a flying splash off the second, but Doc raises a knee JUST high enough to hit the ribs. Comeback culminating in the Stampede, but Missy Hyatt distracts the ref, seemingly signalling some interference, but instead he just turns around and counts the pin for Williams.
Recap from Power Pro Wrestling (match not shown, oddly), with Ted Dibiase challenging One Man Gang and getting flattened to write him out for a month, probably for a tour of Japan.
One Man Gang vs. Jeff Gaylord
Another PWI match. Gaylord is one of the great morons of wrestling, with an awesome Mark Lewin-like look, but never showing an ounce of sense in and out of the business. Gang, the far better worker, pounds away with precision shots, moving Gaylord around the ring. Gaylord tries a comeback, but immediately gets avalanched and Gang gets the 747 for the win. Total squash.
Wild Bill Irwin vs. Gary Young
Bill can’t decide whether he wants to go for the cowboy or biker look this week, so tries both. Leroy Brown just chills at ringside and watches. Bill gets the Bruiser Brody kneedrop and jumping kicks with the boots. Gary tries a comeback, but is cut off with a kick. Flying elbow off the second looks to finish, but Young gets his foot on the rope. Piston kick to the face with the boots knock Young out for the pin. The ref reverses it as Irwin continues the beating and throws Young out to post and open up. Jim has PERSISTENTLY dropped comments about Young and Jim Duggan being friends, so Duggan and Taylor come out to protect him and rush the ring to clear the tag champs out.
Melting it down: Good TV episode, although disappointing that Sunshine disappeared without comment halfway through. Quick pace, with an influence that’s not entirely unlike the Attitude Era.