1987 Best of Memphis TV Yearbook review (vol. one, part one)

So, after conferring with our fearless leader, Scott the First, I am going to expand my horizons. Whilst watching WWE Evolve, I fell down a rabbit divot (later the full hole) and realized how much wrestling is on the TUBI channel. I decided to review some of it and share it with you with some Totally Tubi-lar Wrestling from 1987. So, let’s review some wrestling like Mott the Hoople (originally) and Contraband (cover) sang…All the Way From Memphis.

Note: These matches are in no set order so I have to some digging to find them, helping me with dates are the fine people at Wrestlingrecaps.com and prowrestlinghistory.com. Thanks. Also, since the volumes are two-hours long, I will be breaking them for two installments of a volume. In case you are wondering, there are four total volumes

However, we are graced with Lance Russell with Dave Brown for most of these matches.

Badd Company (Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond ) and King Carl Fergie vs. Jeff Jarrett, Billy Travis ad Tracey Smothers from September 5, 1987 TV.

I was a huge fan of Badd Company and a really bright spot in the dire days of the AWA (with their manager, Diamond Dallas something or another.) They started as a face team that turned heel in March of this year (ergo why you’ll see them as faces and heels here and in the future.) Fergie is a relative of Lawler, ergo he could crib the “King” moniker. Jarrett is, well, Jarrett. Travis was the next in line young babyface after Jarrett who teamed with Jarrett and had title runs of his own. Tracy Smothers is well-documented but was in solo competition here versus being in the Southern Boys/Young Pistols team with Steve Armstrong.

The faces come to the ring to “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabirel (think it’s Travis’ theme)

Stalling to start, but Fergie and Jarrett. Start. Jarrett backed Fergie to the corner but Fergie shoves him. Fergie get control with a knee to the gut an elbow and a fist. Fergie runs Jarrett’s head to the turnbuckles. But after a criss cross Fergie eats a hiptoss, Badd Company hits the ring and they also eat hip tosses as Fergie and Company bail to the floor as “Prince” Brickhouse Brown tries to keep cooler heads (sorry, Brown was both wrestling and heading the “Commission” as a heel. His backstory is forthcoming.) Jarrett gets an arm wringer and tags Travis who hits an elbow on the arm from the second turnbuckle. An arm drag becomes an armbar until he can reach and tag Tanaka.

Travis gets the armbar on Tanaka as Smothers gets in the ring and he works the arm until Tanaka rakes they yes and gets a head lock, Tanaka gets a shoulder block and a hip toss until Smothers rebukes Tanaka with a kick and another armbar. Diamond comes into the ring and gets the advantage by slugging away on Smothers in the corner. Fergie is tagged and rams Smothers into the turnbuckles. Smothers tried to rally but eats a kick during a backdrop attempt. However, Smothers reverses a body slam and runs hm and Fergie into the ropes for a cradle but Brown is there with the object of International Origin and slugged Smothers who crumples to the floor and Fergie gets the pin.

(fall two)

Smothers and Diamond start the second fall; Smothers gets a hip toss takedown but Diamond quickly reverses it to a headscissors. Smothers grabbed an armbar but a hair pull stops the advantage. Meanwhile, Jarrett and Tanaka are jawing on the apron as Tanaka started to encroach into the opposite corner. Jarrett, a former ref, warned the ref and asked the fans to back him up. They did.

Diamond the same maneuver and locked an armbar. One good heel move deserves another as Diamond again waits for the ref to turn his back. Smothers finally got out and got a shoulder block and a dropkick coming off the ropes and Smothers tags Travis, who worked the arm.

After a series of reverses, Diamond slugged away at Travis and tags Tanaka who eats a hip toss and Jarrett gets tagged. Travis and Jarrett pull the old maneuver of slugging Tanaka in the gut and Jarrett gets a sunset flip for two. Jarrett got a side headlock until Tanaka throws him to the ropes only to eat a shoulder block and a right hand. Fergie is tagged.

The crowd is rabid chanting for Jarrett as Fergie pulls Jarrett to the turnbuckle. Fergie gets some shoulderblocks on Jarrett but Jarret reverses a whip to the other turnbuckle into a backdrop. Fergie bails to the corner. Jarrett gets the crowd event louder as he grabs the headlock and tags in Smothers, who wrenched the side headlock. Fergie backed him to the turnbuckle and slugged and booted away. Fergie again attempts to whip his opponent into the turnbuckle but Smothers reverses the toss and hits a monkey flip on Fergie. A flying headscissors and dropkicks send Fergie to the floor Fergie stalls but eventually gets into the ring and asks for timeout.

Smothers grabbed the arm and tags Travis and hits the armbar. Fergie finally regained the momentum by flinging Travis to the ropes, who leapfrogged a backdrop but gets a knee to the spine on the rebound from Diamond. Fergie boots him down. Brown lands a shot for good measure. Diamond is tagged and hits a suplex. Diamond tags Tanaka who chops away at Travis. Tanak rammed him into the turnbuckle and then flung him to the ropes and nailed Travis with his patented Flying corkscrew forearm.

Diamond is tagged back and threw Travis to the ropes and hit him with a forearm to the back. Diamond got a backdrop but a second attempt is met with a knee. Travis tried for the hope crawl but Diamond had the wherewithal to hold the leg and prevent escape and tagged Fergie. Fergie drops an elbow and got to the second turnbuckle but a bodypress is met with knees. Fergie tried for a body slam but Travis gets a small package for two. Fergie tagged Tanaka as Travis still could not hope crawl for the tag. Tanaka set Travis for a huge back kick. Travis crumpled to the ring but Tanaka only for a one count. Fergie is tagged but Tanaka forgot to hold onto Travis who tags in Smothers.

Smothers came in afire and throwing fists to Badd Company and Fergie. Jarrett enters the ring and we got a schmozapalooza. IN the fracas, Fergie threw Smothers for a backdrop but Smothers could not pull off a sunset flip completely. Jarrett, however, clotheslines Fergie into the flip and Smothers gets the pin and the win.

The crowd goes nuts for the faces.

(Note: Why there was a second fall, I do not know. I checked to see if a fall was shown and not aired or edited, but my sources say no. So, magic hand wave, let’s go to the next match.)

Mr. Helo vs. Brickhouse Brown

Helo is Japanese wrestling star Hiromichi Fuyuki. This was pre-heel turn Brown. It’s an arena match but in Jackson, TN so the date is unknown. Fuyuki was there in the first half of 1987 and Brown was a face in the first quarter of the year, so I am triangulating to February or March of the year.) Brown was a staple of southern territory wrestling through the 1990’s and had a JTTS run in the WWF/E. People loved his style and was someone Watts thought about momentarily in his never-ending pursuit of replacing JYD with another person of African-American ethnicity.

JIP as Helo chopped away at Brown and slingshots chokes Brown off the ropes. Helo stomps away at Brown and stalks him as Brown is recuperating and Helo grabbed he Nerve Hold of Discomfort. Helo pulled the hair and then does the same nerve hold sequence.

Helo held the hold for a long time until he backs Brown into the corner and chopped away. However, another toss to the turnbuckles is reversed and Brown gets the backdrop. Brown got fired up and slugged away on Helo and then stomped away at him. Brown kept up the attack until Helo fell out of the ring to manager Tojo Yamamoto (looooonnnnggg time Memphis wrestler/manager with a billion face/heel turns.) Helo takes his time to get but did get into the ring…gradually. Brown slugged away at then hit a really nice dropkick (Brown always delivered great dropkicks.) He then gets a fist drop on Helo for two.

Yamamoto got on the apron band distracted the ref. Brown thought about heading to the second turnbuckle but decides to bodyslam Helo closer to the turnbuckle. NOW, Brown goes to the second turnbuckle and nails the missile dropkick. Yamamoto distracted the ref and Brown. Brown turned around and Helo hits the LARIATOOOO and gets the win a handful of tights as insurance. Heels have to heel, I reckon.

Moondog Spot vs. Bucky Siegler

Spot is Larry Latham, who used to team with Wayne Ferris (the Honky Tonk Man in the WWF/E) as the Blonde Bombers and became a Moondog in 1981 to replace Moondog King who had VISA issues. He was also the Mid-America titlist at the time (a secondary title in Memphis; trust me, there are a litany of titles in Memphis.) This match is from a June 20, 1987 TV taping. (note, two days later, Jarrett defeated Spot for the title.)

Downtown Bruno manages Spot and is on commentary. During the initial lockup and action, we get some commentary on the legend of Parts Unknown from Bruno. He said it is the greatest place in the world and that he spent a lot of time. Bruno will not tell us where it is (my guess is in the Azores Islands. Spot is actually the President there. (So, you see, in these days of encroaching fascism, there is still a place where true democracy still lives. )

Spot (President Spot? President Moondog?) is attacked by Siegler at the bell and eats a bodydrop and an elbow drop for two. He reverses another Irish whip to a backbreaker. He continued to beat on Siegler with a series of punches and boots.

Siegler does not learn his lesson as he tries another Irish Whip and Moondog takes the chance t boot him. Right after Bruno said someone from Charleston, SC, is no match from someone from Parts Unknown. (Yeah..)

Bruno also engages in some Gorilla Monsoon biology and talks about Moondog Spot’s strength being a calcium deposit in his medulla oblongata. Calcium or not, Spot picked up Siegler and hit standing powerslam for the victory.

Post Match: The President stands victorious with bone in hand after match; triumphant and relieved that he lives in a country not facing insurrection.

Allen West vs. Goliath

Goliath also is Robert White. He really did nothing of consequence in wrestling after his run ended in Autumn of 1987 as Goliath until a comeback in 1993 as (ironically) Moondog Splat as one of the 67 Moondogs (at least it felt like that amount) that permeated Memphis in the early 1990’s.

When Goliath arrived, he was billed as the Super Heavyweight Champion after defeating Abdullah the Butcher. (No match ever occurred.) It was a way of advance hyping him and giving him a mini feud with Stan Frazier (AKA Giant Hillbilly, Kamala 2, Giant Rebel, Lone Ranger, Plowboy Frazier, Playboy Frazier and most notably, Uncle Elmer in the WWE/F.)

West was an upper mid-card wrestler with solid build and a “Rocker” adjacent persona. He held-the Mid-American title in 1987 and feuded with Tanaka for the belt. He also had a stay in the AWA prior and teamed with “Jammin’” Mitch Snow as the “Beach Patrol” (we like to party, party, party. Consult your local Hulk Hogan albums for reference.)

This match took place on Feb. 3, 1987 as part of a one-night tournament for the Southern Title (Memphis version) ultimately won by Austin Idol who beat Soul Train Jones (AKA Virgil in the WWE/F) in the finals. This match was filmed at the Memphis Coliseum.

Goliath weighed 417 pounds and West weighs 253, according to Lance Russell. A test of strength goes as planned. However, two dropkicks by West send Goliath reeling into the ropes but a body press attempt is caught into a backbreaker. Goliath stomps away as Bruno puts the badmouth on West within mic shot of Russell. Goliath hits A FULL BODYSLAM and a backdrop for two-and-a-fraction. West ate an elbow drop as Goliath meandered around and high-fives Bruno.

Goliath continues to pound away on Smothers with “big man offense” – stomping, kicking, punching and FULL BODYSLAMS. Goliath gets a two count as Bruno complains about the slow count. Goliath whips West into the turnbuckles, takes his time but missed the charge.

West gets the hope spot and slugs away at Goliath. West Irish whips Goliath into the ropes and hits a flying back elbow, which has Goliath staggering and another dropkick finally does the job and Goliath is on the mat. West gets just a one-count, though. Goliath is in the ropes but the referee has to restrain West from attacking. This gives Goliath a chance to pull the object of international origin, slug West, hide said object, and the get the win.

We jump ahead a couple of weeks to March 28 AND WE GET THE DEBUT OF PAUL E. DANGEROUSLY!!! Man, it is night and day seeing Heyman now vs. 1987. (Note: announcers frequently switched between calling him Dangerously and Dangerly a la Jim DUGGan and Jim DOOgan.) Dangerously has Lord Humongous in tow (the Sid Eudy version.) When the big money folks in New York bought the contract of Humongous, there’s was only one man who could look after the investment was him. He is going to show that 1987 will be the year of Living Dangerously. All the faces; Jarrett, Bigelow, Southern, Jarrett and others are on notice (setting the tone for the WWE) we have been warned that Humongous is making his way to the top and anyone is his way is going down.

Dangerously answers a Russell question that Humongous does not need any polishing and he is the most awesome machine of human destruction on Earth. As we will find out right now.

Humongous vs David Johnson

Johnson attacked Humongous in vain as Humongous picked him up for a gorilla press and Samoan dropped him. Dangerously is indignant to Russell and Brown why this is Humongous’ opponent and demands two to five extra guys; or even Lawler or West. Humongous whipped Johnson into the ropes and hits a clothesline to the chest for the victory.

Post-match: Dangerously is still yelling at Russell and Brown for more opponents and, lo and behold, West and Diamond hop in the ring and Humungous and Heyman beat a retreat to the backstage.

We jump in time to the October 3rd TV taping and we get David Wilson and Greg Jones vs, Badd Company..or do we?

Tanaka goes to Russell and Brown. He has an announcement; Diamond is felling it today and will be taking on the duo by himself.

(quick note: Russell and Brown bring up the fact Wilson and Jones were on the wrong side of haircut by Don Bass. Bass was a looooong time Memphis staple and teamed with “Outlaw” Ron Bass, the WWF/E, Georgia, Florida and Mid-Atlantic famed brawler. He had a “Singing Cowboy” gimmick at the time and administered haircuts to those he defeated.)

Diamond pounded away on Wilson and nailed a back elbow off the ropes. He used the old-school heel tactic of rubbing Wilson’s face into the mat before whipping him into the ropes and hit a huge clothesline on Wilson. Diamond gets a gourd buster for a win. So, I guess he was feeling it. The pride of Thunder Bay is victorious.

Post match: Badd Company head to the Russell and Brown and want to talk to them. Diamond heard the fans cheering for him (Ron Howard narration: they weren’t) and Badd Company is the best team in wrestling and why everyone is watching this season program (season?) He heard Traci Smothers and Steve Armstrong (the Southern Boys) were a good tag team in the, well, the South ( They reference their success in FL) but they aren’t in FL and references a match they had.

Russell disputes the fact but Tanaka gets the mic and complains Smothers hit him with something in the eye and it’s not very manly (it can be felonious, though.) Tanaka will KILL HIM when they meet again (Whoa, Pat, take it down a notch or 80!!!!!!!!) Diamond then runs down the rednecks in Memphis. We should not forget they’re the best.

We jump back in time to see Tanaka in action – as a face on the February 21 TV taping. It is a opening interview as Tanaka talks about fighting Boy Tony (because he is a take on Boy George, get it? Admittedly, it’s four or five years too late..still. Boy Tony is, in actuality, Tony Falk. Falk wrestled in the area for two decades into the 21st Century and was recognized by KY Governor Andy Brashear honored with the status of Kentucky Colonel last year. Neat. He had a litany of gimmicks, including Cowboy Tony and the Nightstalker, among others

“Karma Chameleon” plays as Bruno and Boy Tony arrive – with Tony on crutches. Russell asked what is this stuff right here. Bruno really wanted a match. But, Tony was in a health spa, doing a bench press of 400 pounds or so and doing back squats of the same weight. And then, doing forearm curls of 350 pounds. He was getting ready and jumped on the exercise bike for cardio (you can’t ignore cardio, gang.) Tony was doing 70 MPH and the chain broke on the bike and that’s how he hurt his ankle.

The camera pans to the ankle and Bruno reiterates he wanted to wrestle Tanaka and his funny tights comparted to a real man like Tony. Bruno apologizes to Russell and he and Tony goes t leave. Tanaka said that’s a good story but the only gym he’s seen is Jim Bean (ooh, burn…) Bruno and Tanaka start arguing as Tony gradually sneaks around Tanaka and one can imagine what happens next – one good crutch thrust to the throat.

Tony and Bruno continue to beat on Tanaka and shove away the ref, trying to break it up. They then get a dress Tony brought and put it on Tanaka. Russell is indignant as only the ref attempted to save the day.

Tony and Bruno run down Tanaka on the mic until Billy Travis and Allen West save the day (it’s about time, guys.) Russell apologizes for what happened. Tanaka gets the mic and said the second time this happened in consecutive weeks and the next time he gets his hands on Tony he’s going to kill him (PAT, BUDDY, YOU GOT TO CHILL JUST A BIT!!!! )

This next one is an odd. Another jump break and we get Bruno and the Downtown connection of Boy Tony, Goliath and Big Bubba (not that Big Bubba, though, this is Fred Ottman AKA Tugboat, Typhoon, Big Steel Man, Uncle Fred, Dusty Rhodes’ brother-in-law and yes, Shockmaster.) But we get a VO Narration telling us that we are going to show a match in progress between Bruno and Emily Arthur (although the VON calls her Emily Antler. The internet refers her as Emily Arthur.) She was a valet to Dale Veasey, looong time jobber in the south who was wresting as the Hunter in Memphis (the VON said he was the Deer Hunter but no mention of that online. On the other hand, Deer Hunter is an awesome movie.) Veasey also was part of the fabled JTTS tag team the State Patrol as James Earl Wright stateside with Buddy Lee Parker (Dwayne Bruce) but held tag titles in Puerto Rico.

Arthur challenged to a boxing match which took place on January 26 in Memphis Coliseum. We are joined in progress as Arthur is slugging away on Bruno on the back of the head whilst Bruno is on the ground (both things are illegal in boxing and possibly warranting a lifetime suspension.) Big Bubba is on the apron. Lou Winston, a midcarder with some success in the tag division (as a member of Memphis Vice – yup, a play on, well you know) tries to get Bubba to get down. However, as the referee tried to get Winston out of the ring. Bubba enters and hits Arthur. (NOT COOL, BRO!!) and gets out of the ring. Bruno then picks up Arthur (also illegal) and then hits an overhead right/right hook to the jaw above Arhtur’s defense for the knockout. There was a litany of illegalities there and the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and the International Boxing Federation should take umbrage with that.

We now move to June 6, 1987 TV and a match featuring:

Jerry “The King” Lawler and “Superstar” Bill Dundee vs. “Stretcher” Jack Hart (Barry Horowitz to the WWF/E crowd) and “Golden Boy” Chic Donovan.

Donovan had been all over the Southern territories. Hart deviated from his usual claim to fame that he used in Florida and later the WWF/E; instead of a loser who caught a break, he was treated as a noteworthy deal in Memphis from the onset. They are managed by Paul Dangerously (referred as Dangerly) Dundee and Hart start and Dundee gets the advantage with a series of armdrags and a hiptoss. Lawler is tagged,. Note, Lawler is showing the effects of his hair vs hair match versus Austin Idol (the infamous cage match with Rich hiding under the ring. Hopefully, I will get a chance to review that at a later date.)

Lawler slugs Hart who bails to the ropes as Lawler catches glimpse of Heyman, who is wearing a TOWEL (due to an angle just before the match when Heyman wanted to manage Dundee and gave his credit card – with no limit – and Dundee and Lawler beat the pants off him – literally.) Heyman wants to leave but threatens to call Idol and Tommy Rich to avenge this humiliation and threatens to kill them (Again with the Killing!!! It’s the part of the Ten Commandments for a reason; Fifth one, Thall Shalt Not Kill. It’s right there in writing.)

Dundee rifled off a series of weak punches on Donovan who tags Hart. Hart seemed ready to fight but an eye rake and another series of week punches (I mean, as a guy who spars, yeesh) deters him. Hart drops and we get our first Fargo strut of the volume. Heyman didn’t leave and implored Hart to kill him. (can someone call Detectives Stabler and Benson, please?)

We get an old Memphis face trick as Hart and Dundee do a prolonged crisscross on the ropes, only for Dundee to stop in the corner as Hart keeps going before he realizes what happened. Hart is angry. Dundee puts Hart in the corner but an eye poke stops Dundee and Donovan gets the tag to continue the beat down.

Donovan choked Dundee on the ropes as Heyman again gets on the mic and runs down all the managers who could not run Lawler out of town, invoking the names of Jimny Hart, Jim Cornette and JD Costello (a manager in the Hart mold the previous year.) Heyman is not a wimp, no weasel or some old, fat retired wrestler; but he will be the one who will destroy Lawler.

Meanwhile, Dundee recovered from the rope choke and tagged Lawler who hits a series of punches on Hart and Donovan. The straps are down, so Lawler means business. We get a double noggin-knocker and a tag to Dundee. Dundee goes to the second turnbuckle for a leaping sunset flip on Donovan for the victory.

We then go to Lance Russell who throws us (figuratively, not literally) to the Memphis Coliseum for an International Title Match (I warned you all about the quantity of titles. It’s almost AEW/ROH esque) between Phil Hickerson and Terry Taylor. This match took place…in 1985? Okay, time is a loop here, but alright. It took place on August 19. Hickerson, the champion, was a staple in Memphis for decades until the 1990’s. He was the famous P.Y. Chu-Hi in the famous match with Eric Embry that turned World Class into the USWA. Terry Taylor is well documented in and out of the ring.

We are JIP (six minutes and change) as Taylor worked the armbar. He held it for a while. I mean, a while. Hickerson gradually gets to his knees and then his feet. Hickerson is not a svelte human. He gets an eye rake and elbow drop to break the hold and threw Taylor to the ropes for an inverted atomic drop. Hickerson drops the knees on Taylor. A FULL BODYSLAM by Hickerson who got a thumb thrust to the throat to drop Taylor. A choke drop (almost a forerunner to a chokeslam but both in a standing position) drops Taylor. Russell and Randy Hales (a substitute announcer turned on-air personality/manager) debate If it was a claw or a choke whilst Hickerson gets a backbreaker on Taylor for two.

Taylor tried to regain the momentum by headbutting Hickerson in the gut but Hickerson continued to pound on Taylor and gets a two-and-a-fraction. A (sort of) flying back elbow lands for Hickerson and gets two from that. ANOTHER FULL BODYSLAM gets two as Hickerson yells at the ref about counting slow.

This gives Taylor a chance to hit Hickerson but gets caught trying to nail a backdrop Hickerson boots him down and gets another forearm to the chest. Taylor, though, tried the Superman recovery with a series of chops and punches in the corner and off the ropes. Hickerson is down and Taylor stomps his face, gets fist drop and knee drop but only for one.

Hickerson hits a thumb to the throat to stop the momentum. Hickerson double thrusts Taylor and gets a two before Taylor got his foot on the ropes. Hickerson goes for a body slam but Taylor reverses it to a small package for two. Hickerson tried for a standing neckbreaker which is reversed to a backslide for two. Taylor Irish whips Hickerson and went for a backdrop but Hickerson got a sunset flip (!!) but Taylor holds on and slugs Hickerson. Taylor is feeling it as he admonishes Hickerson and Hickerson asks for time out. Taylor now gets a thumb to the throat and picks Hickerson up for a back suplex (!!) for two. Taylor goes to the far side top turnbuckle for a flying body splash for two (got most of it but he’s not Jimmy Snuka.) Hickerson gets thrown to the ropes but collides with the ref.

Taylor hits the rope for his flying forearm, but no referee. Taylor gets up as does Hickerson but Hickerson nails Taylor and threw Taylor over the top rope. Hickerson admonished the fans but Taylor gets back int the ring and slugs away at Hickerson.

Hickerson tries for a piledriver but Taylor backdrops him overt the top rope. Hickerson picked him back to the apron and attempted a suplex. We then get a weird jump cut as the referee is raising the hand of Hickerson for Taylor throwing him over the top rope. The fans try to pick a fight with Hickerson but Security intervenes. Taylor is beside himself as we go to what would be a commercial break. (The match had a Dusty Finish editing of a Dusty finish.)

We jump forward to February 7, 1987 to the studio with Russell and Brown. This happened to be their 20th anniversary of announcing and the have a cake to celebrate it. But, wouldn’t you know, here to Downtown Bruno with Big Bubba. Bruno admonished Russell and Brown that it didn’t matter how long they have been here, be it 30 or 900 years, they would be nothing if it was not for him. Brown (!!!) said it has been 20 years and they have sat here put up with managers insulting everything they are doing and trying to celebrate a little bit with the fans. Brown wants Bruno to leave. Russell seconds the notion. Bubba grabs the cake and Bubba shoves Russell back into his chair; again, not cool, Bubba. Bubba admonished Russell. Meanwhile, Bruno is messing around and putting his hands on the cake.

One senses what is coming and yes, with Bubba’s back to the cake and Bruno oblivious to everything but messing with the cake, Travis and Jarrett run into frame and shove Bruno’s head into the cake. Bruno is irate while Russell and Brown laugh and Russell thanks God for it. We get a close up of Bruno’s face. Russell said Bruno was asking for it. Russell and Bruno do apologize to the good people at Cecil’s (I believe it is Cecil’s Deli and Bakery which is still in business, I think) but it is worth it. Russell and Brown are still snickering and laughing as we go to break.

The 411 on the 901:

The time jumps were Quantum Leap on meth. I do wish they would notate when things were happening versus having to rifle and dig. Nonetheless, this was a blast and showed that even with the WWF/E and the Crockett juggernauts devouring territories like vultures and carrion, this area was there for the long haul (more or less. It was a slow death but lasted longer than most.)

It was awesome to see Heyman in his big break. Previously, he was a underboss in Florida but you could see the wheels turning. It was an original take on what Hart and Cornette started, just with a New York twist. You heard it in his rapport and his interview, this was something folks in Memphis had not seen in this manner.

You could see Badd Company was going to hit it big as a team. Their moves were crisp. It’s a shame they got pigeonholed by the device of crappy gimmicks once they joined the WWF/E but even then, they generated great tag matches.

The referees were hellbent on keeping time. There were no excited counts – almost to a detriment. Everyone..took..their..time..and counted..to three. It was a weird experience.

Also, as much as we focus on announcers, it is not that hot a take to say Russell and Brown made, arguably, the best announce team. They both had a long history announcing other news and sports around the area and they were smooth. I loved listening to them. They were great.

See you in a bit for part two of volume one….All the Way from Memphis. Keep fighting the good fight.