1987 Best of Memphis Wrestling Yearbook (Volume Four, Part One)

Ooookay, we’re back and getting ready for another round of exciting Memphis action from 1987 (by and large, explanation forthcoming.) Lance Russell and Dave Brown describe the action. In this edition, we have the beta test of the Hot Ones Challenge gone horribly amuck, a fallacious Texas history lesson, we learn the intricacies of a “massacre match,” new tag team champs via tournament and the totally Tubi-lar fun that can be described as Humongous. And, it can only be found (as the song goes) …All the Way From Memphis. Shall we? We shall.

(As always, these matches are in no set order so helping me with dates are the fine people at Wrestlingrecaps.com and prowrestlinghistory.com. Thanks for the assist.)

Chick Donovan vs. Koko Ware

So, this was the anachronism I mentioned earlier. In 1987, Ware was transitioning from UWF to the WWE/F. There was a coliseum match on June 22, 1981 in Memphis. Any other facts are lost but it has the look and feel of that time. Further research indicates there was footage shown on television on July 11 of that year.

Nonetheless, we are joined in progress, with Ware working the wrist lock and arm wrench. We get a story how Wayne Ferris (Honky Tonk Man) interfered in a match with Donovan and Donovan was incensed and didn’t want any interference. Meanwhile, the wrist lock continues until Donovan backs him to the ropes and slugged him. Ware gets a shoulder block off the ropes and a leapfrog and a huge dropkick off the ropes.

Donovan takes a powder on the floor and takes his sweet time doing so. Donovan climbed back on the apron but jumped back to the floor as Ware approached him. The referee tried to restrain Ware as Donovan slooowly saunters around the ring. Ware had enough and jumped to the floor and chased Donovan back into the ring. Donovan took a swing which Ware slipped. Donovan then ran back onto the floor when Ware tried to retaliate. Donovan did grab a chair in case Ware gave pursuit.

More sauntering ensued but Donovan eventually got back into the ring. The two measured each other and Donovan got an advantage with two knees to the torso as he and Ware fought on the ropes. Donovan also got a back elbow off the ropes. Ware and Donovan took turns beating on the other in the ropes and on the mat. Donovan got the upper hand via kicking and hitting and then ran Ware hard into the top turnbuckle. Donovan got a FULL BODYSLAM and the Ric Flair adjacent elbow for a two count.

Donovan continued to beat on are with a series of elbows and forearms. Donovan got a clothesline off the ropes. However, Donovan attempted the figure four leglock (hmmm. I wonder where he got that) but Ware booted him into the turnbuckles. Ware slowly got to his feet and started to slug Donovan. Ware got his dance on and hit a huge dropkick and a biiiig backdrop.

Ware continued to beat on Donovan in corner but two headbutts (!) dropped Ware to the mat. Both struggled to their feet but Ware got to his and whipped Donovan into the ropes. Donovan responded with….something. Russell called hit a shoulderblock, which, I guess is true or they botched a powerslam attempt. Anyway, Donovan got up and started to beat on Ware.

Russell also let us know that Donovan’s grandfather was a former lightweight champion who also went by Chick. The internet has no recollection of that but we continue. Donovan dropped Ware’s neck on the ropes and got a two count from that. Ware again tried to rally an slugged away on Donovan. However, a kick the momentarily stopped it. However, Ware reversed a whip to the turnbuckles and Ware beat on Donovan with a series of forearms in the corner.

A snapmare out of the corner lead to another Ware punch. Ware, though, threw Donovan to the ropes for another dropkick. Donovan held on and Ware crashed to the mat. NOW, WE GO TO…another Flair adjacent figure-four leglock for the victory.

The Rising Sun – Mr. Helo (Hiromichi Fuyuki) and Mr. Shima (Akio Sato) (With Tojo Yamamoto in tow) vs. Benny Trailer & Jerry Garmen

We head to the WMC studios for the June 6 taping of the show. Shima, as indicated was Akio Sato. Fuyuki was a stalwart in Japanese Wrestling and some of its important factions. Yamamoto was ingrained into Memphis wrestling switching between face and heel almost monthly. Garmen and Trailer were long time Memphis jobbers. Neat point of interest, the heels are dressed the same, as are the faces.

Shima started with Trailer and started to immediately beat on him. Helo was tagged and also beat on Trailer and hit a clothesline on Trailer. He followed it with a body slam and a leg drop. Fuyuki pounded away on Trailer and tagged Shima.

Trailer fought off Shima and hit a back elbow off the ropes. Trailer grabbed a headlock and tagged Garmen who also got a back elbow off the ropes for one. However, Shima responded with a kick to the torso. He also landed a huge stomp off a snapmare. Huge chop dropped Garmen off the ropes. Helo tagged back into the match and started to chop away on Garmen and hit a vertical suplex on Garmen.

More chops ensued until Garmen slugged away Trailer . Helo again attacked Trailer with a series chops to the back of the head and choked him on the top rope. Shima tagged back and got an arm bar followed by more stomps on the arm. More sumo chops to the shoulder and a kick to the torso continued the punishment.

Helo tagged in as Garmen tagged back. Helo continued to beat on him and tagged Shima who hit a chop to the forehead off the ropes. Helo tagged back and hit another huge chop to drop Garmen. Helo whipped Garmen to the ropes and a huge back kick dropped Garmen for the count.

Earthquake Ferris (with Downtown Bruno in tow) vs. Ed Mattox

We jump ahead a couple of weeks for the June 27 WMC episode and we get Earthquake Ferris. Ferris had a good push in the previous year to this taping. As enhancement talent, he worked as heel and face but started to get a sustained face push in late 1986 to early/mid 1987, feuding with the likes of “Mr. Magnificent” Kevin Kelly (Nailz) and the Nasty Boys (heels at the time.) He brought in to Memphis as a one-shot as a quasi-mercenary by Downtown Bruno for one purpose, to beat up and hurt the newly turned face Big Bubba (covered in Volume three, part one.) Mattox was another longtime Memphis enhancement talent.

Ferris locked up and pounded on Mattox in the ropes. Ferris whipped Mattox to the ropes and sort of hit a back elbow (file it under “Didn’t get all of it” as it looked like Mattox was going to duck it and hit the ropes on the other side.) Ferris continued to pound away on Mattox and landed a FULL BODYSLAM and dropped the elbow for two.

Bruno, meanwhile, extolled the virtues of himself, saying he was the best manager and talker in wrestling and went to the Superstar Billy Graham freestyle rhymes. Whilst he was doing that, Ferris threw Mattox to the ropes and NOW Mattox ducked the clothesline but Ferris caught him as he attempted a bodypress. Ferris hit a powerslam but did not pin Mattox.

Ferris whipped Mattox to the corner and after some gloating hit a corner splash. Mattox slumped to the mat and Ferris hit the ropes and delivered a flying bodysplash for the victory.

Post Match: Well, it’s Memphis, so you know what this means; Bubba stormed the ring and started to brawl with Ferris. Bubba and Ferris traded shots until the litany of wrestlers tried to separate the two and keep the peace. Bubba swatted them away and continued to attack Ferris. The wrestlers got the two separated as Ferris now swatted the wrestlers aside and attacked Bubba.

After another separation, it was Bubba’s turn, again, to swat away the wrestlers and attacked Ferris. Some of the bigger names emerged to keep the peace as Ferris finally exited the ring. Bubba tried to pursue but the faces finally calmed Ottman down. One funny scene was Memphis wrestling official/announcer Randy Hales fecklessly trying to restore order.

Next we jump back in time to Valentine’s Day but stay in studio with Russell interviewing “Maniac” Johnathan Boyd. He talked about a match between The Fabulous Ones and the Sheepherders (Luke Williams and Butch Miller.) If the Fabulous Ones want to play a game and hide baseball bats under the ring, Boyd said he has a game for them.

The match is called the “Ultimate Mid-South Massacre.” The rules are simple (and should be obvious to even the most dimwitted individual who holds an advanced degree in hyperbolic topology.) Boyd said there’s going to be a football. On the end of said football will be a key. Inside the ring, there will be two penalty boxes. Inside the penalty boxes will Paul Diamond (still a face at this point and having problems with the ‘herders) and in the other, himself. There will be two padlocks on the corner which the key would open. So, the team that can play the best game of rugby (Boyd said it is New Zealand’s sport) can get the key and open the cage and let their person free.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE – inside the cages with Diamond and Boyd will be baseball bats and when the person is free, they can use the baseball bat to their heart’s content. No rules, just who plays the game the best, which are the New Zealanders. Boyd has a plan to end the Fabulous One’s career FOREEHVAHHH and they are going to do it.

We get a quick jump to the Memphis Coliseum on March 16 but stay with Boyd as we get

“Maniac” Johnathan Boyd vs. The Patriot

The Patriot is not the popular Del Wilkes iteration but, according to our friend, the internet, Doug Gilbert (Eddie’s brother.) This was the opening match on the card featuring the insane two-ring brawl of Austin Idol and Tommy Rich vs. Jerry Lawler and Bam Bam Bigelow.

We get a salute of the New Zealand flag by Boyd before the lock up. Boyd and Patriot state at each other but Boyd got the upper hand with a series of punches and then pounded on Patriot on the ropes. Boyd hit a armdrag and continued to pound on the Patriot in the ropes. Boyd got a snapmare and then a chinlock.

Patriot muscled out of it but Boyd grabbed the mask and reapplied it. Boyd dropped the knee e of Patriot but released the hold. Boyd dropped Patriot and grabbed a toe hold and got a series of two counts (a grab of the tights helped.) However, the Patriot reversed it and applied his own toehold and dropped two legdrops on the knee of Boyd. Boyd reached for the ropes but Boyd yanked him off the ropes via his leg.

Patriot continued to work the leg with a step over toe hold. But, when Patriot leaned into it to add pressure, Boyd slugged him. Boyd got a thumb to the eye that sent Patriot into the corner and then Boyd bit the forehead/mask in the corner. Boyd continued to beat on the Patriot in the corner rand on the ropes, until the Patriot reversed and beat on Boyd in the corner. Boyd went to the apron but the Patriots continued to kick away at the prone Boyd. Referee Frank Morrell had to restrain him.

This gave Boyd time to load his glove he wore with the object of international origin and slugged Patriot. The Patriot crumpled to the canvas and Boyd got the cover and the win.

We go back to the WMC studios on April 4 for our next match:

The Hunter (Dale Veasey with Bambi in tow) vs. John Paul

Bambi still the most 1987 woman ever. Also, she is not a valet, Brown alluded; rather, she is Hunter’s “mascot.” In the ring, Hunter shoved Paul down after the initial lock up. Paul responded with an armdrag. Hunter backed Paul into the ropes and pounded away on him. However, Paul ducked a clothesline and hit a flying bodypress for one. Russell and Brown extolled the strength of Hunter – Russell added he has Bambi, too.

No sooner did they say that, Hunter whipped Paul to the ropes, dropped to the mat as Paul hit the other ropes. Paul tried another bodypress but Hunter caught him and hit a fallaway slam. Hunter nailed Paul with a double thrust and then choked Paul on the ropes. When the referee tried to control Hunter, Bambi grabbed her high heel and dug into Paul’s eye. Hunter headbutted Paul to the mat.

Paul tried to rally but another headbutt stopped that. Hunter hit a vertical suplex and a legdrop for a two count. Paul tried again to rally but Hunter continued to beat on Paul and hit a fist drop after a snapmare. Paul had a momentary rally as he avoided a Hunter charge on the ropes. Paul whipped Hunter to the ropes but Paul’s backdrop attempt was blocked and the Hunter hit a reverse neckbreaker. Hunter picked up Paul and hit his nice standing powerslam for the victory.

We head back to Memphis Coliseum on June 8 for an opening round match for the Southern Tag Team Titles.

Billy Joe Travis & Mark Starr vs. Moondog Spot & Jack Hart (with Downtown Bruno in tow.)

The titles were vacated when Donovan left the area (he and Hart were the champ); hence, the tournament. Hart and Starr started and Starr started the offense with a series of headlocks and shoulderblocks off the ropes. Travis is tagged and gets the FULL BODYSLAM for a one count. Hart bailed to the floor and Travis pursued him ready for a fight. This brought Spot into the match.

Travis got a armlock, held it and tagged Starr. Russell vaguely acknowledged who Spot previously was (long time Southern Territory staple Larry Latham) by saying he was an amateur wrestler who changed and became Spot. Meanwhile, Strr got the armlock but Hart was tagged and pounded away on Starr. Hart got a rope burn on Starr and then a back kick off the ropes.

Hart continued to pound away on Starr and tagged Spot, who hit a knee lift for one. Spot got a clothesline and an axe handle off the turnbuckle. He also slugged Travis for good measure. Hart was tagged and pounded on Starr and got a forehead rake via his foot. A gutwrench suplex got two a two count for Hart. Hart continued his offense; Starr tried to rally but a headbutt to the abdomen stopped that. Spot tagged again as Hart hit a back suplex.

Spot got a fistdrop and a vertical suplex as Starr tried to recover but a headbutt brought him back down to the mat. Hart was tagged and continued to pound on Starr. Starr tried to rally but Hart beat on him as went down the ropes (Spot assisted the beatdown.) Another headbutt dropped Starr until FINALLY Starr made the rally and tagged Travis.

Travis pounded on Hart and Spot and now we have us a schmozzapalooza. All four are in the ring as Spot and Starr squared off. Meanwhile, Hart threw Travis to the ropes but the two (sort of) ran into each other, with Travis getting the worst of it. Hart went into his trunks and grabbed the object of international origin. He whipped Travis into the ropes but Travis got a sunset flip. Hart stayed firm and was going to hit Travis with the glove and object. Jerry Calhoun was busy trying to get Spot out of the ring. This gave Starr a chance to hit a clothesline on the Hart to complete the sunset flip and give Travis and Starr the victory.

We continue with Spot – in happier news. We go back into the studios for the June 20 airing when Lance Russell gave us news a-plenty. We have a new tag team champs, a new Southern champ and a new Mid-America Champion and he (they) is (are) joining us now – it is Spot and Bruno.
Bruno, though, has something new; actually, two things – a limp and a cane. Bruno doesn’t want to talk about it (but eventually does) but wanted to move on and talk about Spot. Bruno talked about the limp and cane. He said Big Bubba who chased Bruno all over the arena, through the people and studio. He ended up with a sprained ankle.

Now, he pivots to Spot’s victory over Jarrett for the title. He said everyone talked about how great Jarrett was but they beat him, his dad, took the title, made him bleed and made him look like a fool. That is comprehensive.

Bruno wondered where Jerry Jarrett (the father of Jeff) is. He wondered where Eddie Marlin, Memphis promoter (and Jerry’s father-in-law, ergo Jeff’s grandad) is. Bruno said they left the country because they were embarrassed. So, Bruno got the old southern wrestling staple – a bone on a pole match. The Moodndogs never lost a bone on a pole match (well, you’re jinxing it now.) We get an extreme close up of Spot with his bone as Bruno said they should stay out of the country.

We then get the quick pivot to the Memphis Coliseum on March 2 as we get:

Lord Humongous (with Austin Idol in tow) vs. The Patriot

(note this also Aired on the March 14 TV episode) Idol grabbed the mic and ran down the Patriot and stated no one cares about him and they never will. Patriot took umbrage but this gave Humongous time to jump the Patriot and beat on the Patriot in the ropes. The referee tried to contain Humongous, which gave Idol a chance to hit the Patriot with a chain. Humongous picked up the Patriot and hit a clothesline to his chest and gave him the victory.

Post Match: Idol extolls the virtues of Humongous as Humongous picked up Patriot and gave him a somewhat sloppy gorilla press and slam.

We then go back to the finals of the Mid-Southern Tag Tournament:

Mr. Shima and Phil Hickerson (with Tojo Yamamoto in tow with kendo stick) vs Mark Starr and Billy Travis

(Hickerson is a looooong time Memphis staple with multiple face and heel turns. In case one is wondering, Mr. Helo left the promotion a week prior and Hickerson returned as a heel.)

Travis and Shima start as Shima rammed Travis into the turnbuckle as Hickerson was tagged and hit a back elbow off the ropes. Hickerson hit a vertical suplex and continued the offense by pounding on Travis in the corner. Travis tried to rally but an eye rake stopped that. Travis was thrown to the turnbuckles but managed to climb to the top for a reverse bodypress but Hickerson ducked and Travis hit the mat.

Hickerson continued his offense with a double legdrop (landing in a weird manner, almost like it was a back splash gone awry.) Nonetheless, Hickerson got two before Travis got his foot on the rope (despite Yamamoto’s efforts to knock it away.) Hickerson continued to pound on Travis in the corner as Shima tagged. Shima threw Travis into the turnbuckles. But, Travis did the same as before; but this time feinting the bodypress once to throw off Shima before successfully connecting for a two count.

Hickerson broke up the pin as Shima continued to beat on Travis. Shima threw hi to the floor and Hickerson got a chop on him before Starr came around to help his partner. Yamamoto and Hickerson continued to beat on Travis as Hickerson bodyslammed him on the floor. Yamamoto got the weakest cane shot I ever saw but Travis sold it. Hickerson held Travis as Yamamoto jammed the stick into Travis’ abdomen.

Back in the ring, Shima hit Travis with a hard chop off the ropes. Shima tagged Hickerson slugged away on Travis and threw Travis over the top but referee Frank Morrell did not see it. Shima climbed to the top turnbuckle but Mark Starr, again, came to the rescue to make sure nothing happened to his partner. Hickerson landed a huge knee to the abdomen off the ropes and doubled that with a hard body shot off the ropes. Hickerson also got a clothesline off the ropes for two-and-a-fraction.

Hickerson complained to Morrell and Shima came into the ring. Travis attempted to rally but Shima ended it with a bodyslam for a one count. Shima continued to beat on Travis until Travis reversed a backdrop with a knee lift. Shima tagged Hickerson and tried to beat Travis, but Travis got to his knees and scurried away from Hickerson to get the hot tag on Starr.

Starr pounded away on Hickerson until we get an edit to the finish of the match. Hickerson held Starr as Yamamoto climbed on the apron to throw the salt (or powder) of racial stereotype. However, as one can imagine, Starr ducked and Hickerson got the brunt of it and Starr got the pin and Travis and Starr are your new Southern Tag Team champions.

Well, it would not be Memphis if there was not an over-the-top angle and here it is (this was briefly mentioned in volume, part two of my review.) We return to the WMC Studios for the November 28 airing. As Russell and Brown welcome us and run down the programming (including the title match between Lawler and “Hangman” Bobby Jaggers covered in Vo. 1 pt. 2) As Russell is talking we get the sounds of mariachi music and Hector Guerrero and Manny Fernandez appear with noisemakers and in their wrestling gear (complete with Guerrero sporting a bandolero.)

They are celebrating the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo (note my knowledge of Texas History indicates they are nearly nine months late.) They are having a party – they even put a party hats on Brown and Russell. They call it “Slaughter at the Alamo” (my knowledge of Mexican culture refutes that.) All the volunteers that fought volunteered to be slaughter (hitting home since Tennessee’s nickname is the “Volunteer State.”) Fernandez made the joke the only reason they had 2,000 there was because they only had five cars. Guerrero chimed in the reason they were all on horseback because someone forgot the jumper cables. Ah, the 1980’s.

Russell immediately threw it to break but when they returned the party continued. Fernandez said the reason they were fired up to battle for the Alamo were jalapeno peppers (they infused it in their breakfast, Fernandez said.) They immediately call for someone from the audience to try one of the peppers. One kid volunteered but Guerrero dis[patched him.

Fernandez pointed to a female who headed to the announce table. She identified herself as Elizabeth (hmmmm…) and Fernandez and Guerrero asked if she ever had a jalapeno pepper. She said yes and Guerrero said this is the hottest and most exciting thing you will ever taste in her life. Guerrero said in Mexico they called it “biting the chili, mamacita.” Elizabeth is aghast and scared to do it and it’s time to leave because it burned her tongue.

So, we try someone else. Guerrero headed into the crowd to find another person. Fernandez said they all volunteered and they all got slaughtered. Russell just wanted a match to start. Fernandez wanted to show to this is the most awesome tool today. Kayla is picked from the audience and does, in fact, take a bite. Good on Kayla. Kayla immediately regrets it and her eyes start to water. She headed back after trying to accost Guerrero ?)She does get a round of applause.

Guerrero said the secret is in the pepper seeds. Guerrero said all the people who are imitators of the Mexican food should remember that it is the jalapeno (Guerrero emphasized every syllable) that makes it hot. Apparently the duo was next but Fernandez said why because the ring is empty and there is no one ready to go. They are now unhappy on this the (ignore history) anniversary of the Alamo.

Meanwhile, Kayla had to leave the studio via security. But, as Kayla left, the Nasty Boys entered (in their face paint stage.) Knobbs started to jaw with Fernandez and Guerrero as they both entered the ring.

The Mexican Connection (Manny Fernandez and Hector Guerrero) vs. The Nasty Boys

The two teams start to shove the other before the bell rang. Eventually, referee Jerry Calhoun got control and Knobbs and Fernandez started. Fernande3z pounded on Knobbs in the corner until Knobbs reversed a throw to the turnbuckle and Fernandez hit the buckles and then was subject to a Knobbs backdrop. Fernandez begged for time and collected himself.

Side Note: Kayla returned and got a decent pop. Cool. A fact also noted by Russell and Brown.

Back in the ring, Fernandez and Knobbs traded armlocks before Knobbs tagged Sags. Sags pounded on Fernandez’ arm until “The Raging Bull” got a leg takeover and a leg and armlock and turned it to a pin attempt until Sags broke the hold.

The crowd started to chant “Nasty” as Fernandez threw Sags to a corner and tagged Guerrero. Guerrero got a hiptoss but to the Nasty Boys’ corner, so Knobbs tagged. Guerrero pulled Knobbs into the ring and threw him into a elbow smash by Fernandez on the apron. After a FULL BODYSLAM, Fernandez tagged back. Fernandez picked up Knobbs and hit another back elbow and tagged Guerrero, but missed a bodysplash off the ropes.

This gave Knobbs a chance to tag Sags who pounded away on Guerrero and got a huge hiptoss. A clothesline off the ropes dropped Guerrero and Sags went for the pin until Fernandez broke up the pin. Hey, it seemed like a good time for a schmozapalooza, so they had one. Whilst Calhoun tried to restrain Knobbs. Guerrero grabbed Sags and Fernandez hit El Ataque cardíaco, técnicamente el ataque Hart por la victoria (the heart attack; technically, the Hart Attack for the victory.)

Post Match: Hey, the party doesn’t stop. We go back to the announce table with Guerrero and Russell. Guerrero puts the party hat back on Russell while Russell asked for a break. Guerrero said the pepper should be used and eaten in all your foods (as fearless leader says “Huge, if true.”) We have to have it and have to do it right.

Meanwhile, Bill Dundee walked to the announce table and dowsed Guerrero with a bucket of wáter (You know, Bill; Kayla could have used that earlier.) The two start to brawl. There is a funny visual as Fernandez ran to the table to beat on Dundee and slipped cleanly on the wáter but managed to take out Dundee’s legs out from him. Fernandez beat on Dundee and held him while Guerrero bit the pepper and rubbed it into Dundee’s eyes. The heels leave as Dundee is writhing in pain. Luckily, Lawler, Jarrett and Travis (carefully) run to help Dundee. They carry Dundee to the back with Randy Hales following suit.

Russell fulfilled our SAT/GRE Word of the Day as he said the Connection had no compunction about doing anything in the world. Russell recapped what happened and wanted desperately wanted to get to the next match and get away from all this Alamo stuff. Meanwhile, he is still wearing the hat.

Long Distance Information:

One: Memphis truly delivered bonkers angles. This one was incredible. The jalapeno pepper angle was a continuation of the previous week’s airing when Guerrero and Fernandez wanted Russell to try some chili and Dundee took umbrage with it, complete with green card references. Nice. Guerrero and Fernandez ended up blinding Dundee with said chili. I am not sure if the fans were plants or not but if they were, kudos on the staff for pulling it off as if they were fans, even the escort out of the studio and return.

Two: More on the angle, Fernandez and Guerrero did a masterful heel job for the overt and subjective digs at Mexicans and on the Americans in their spiel. You could not do it now, mind you.

Three: Humongous just looked awesome. Sid Eudy did just magnificently and he did it better than anyone else who donned the mask and gear. Whoever (Jerry Jarrett? Jeff Jarrett?) saw the movie and picked him as a wrestling character deserved applause.

Four: Helo and Shima had great chemistry. You could see Fuyuki’s appeal as a wild man compared to the methodical Shima.

Five: I mentioned bonkers angles. Bonkers angles are hit and miss (Memphis made it work most of the time in the 1980’s. However, the match stips can be a bit much and the “Massacre” match is way too much. It seemed like a lot superfluous activity for a simple payoff. The week after the match, by the way, the feud blew off in a “barbed wire match.” The stip is excessive but easy to grasp and perceive.

Six: I always thought was Ferris was a good hand but seeing him as a quasi-mercenary heel was odd. He was a recognized name and good on his feet, it just seemed odd. He was gone after his match with Bubba, for the record. Also, I loved his old finisher. It was the airplane spin known as “The Ferris Wheel.”

Seven: Pole matches are just a southern thing. It’s weird. However, The same thing I said about Ferris can be said about Spot. It was natural to see him as a heel but he had great moves and agility for a big wrestler (until the 1990’s when he got too big and old and it was extreme match ahoy.)

Eight: Russell and Brown were perfect for Memphis. It is a joy listening to them work every week.

Nine: If you head to prowrestlinghistory.com you can see the Bracket and full result of the tag tournament. They held the title for just over a month before losing it to the Clones (Kelly Twins.)

Lastly: Note to self, use compunction at least once a day.

Keep fighting the good fight.