SMW TV (Re-visited) Review – Greenville, SC Taping – 10.30.91

You might be saying to yourself “Didn’t you already do this?” (or more than likely have no memories of me covering SMW) and yes, quite a few years ago (EIGHT to be exact), I was working my way through the weekly TV of Smoky Mountain Wrestling, but distractions in my personal life took center stage and I walked away from those reviews. I’ve had the itch to jump back into SMW, but with that long of a gap since watching, I feel like I need to at least do some speed running of the shows I’ve previously watched to get me back there. To speed up the process, I’ll probably do some fresh take watches where I group each TV taping together so that I’m not publishing the same weekly reviews, but offering a condensed version that acts more like bullet points than a detailed breakdown.

The first taping, held on October 30th, 1991 from the Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, SC would make it to broadcast on February 1st and 8th, 1992.

If you would like to read the old recaps from 2017, here are Episode 1 (02.01.1992) and Episode 2 (02.08.1992).

Episode #1: February 1st, 1992:
Caudle and Mantel run down who we are expected to see in action, including “White Lightnin” Tim Horner, Bobby Fulton, “Primetime” Brian Lee, and THE MYSTERIOUS Black Scorpion (I’m sure I get to rant on this one later). We’ll hear from managers Ron Wright and Jim Cornette, Smoky Mountain Commissioner Bob Armstrong, and a MAIN EVENT of Bobby Fulton vs. Ivan Koloff. A little sloppy introducing Fulton twice there. Dutch has negative thoughts regarding Brian Lee, so we know to take him seriously.

Robert Gibson vs. Killer Kyle – Introduced without much context, Killer Kyle previously worked as enhancement talent for WCW as Mark Kyle, and he’s sent to the ring like an old gangster with a mysterious violin case with “Green Onions” for his entrance music. I’m immediately getting vibes that he could be a fresh attempt at the Big Bubba Rogers gimmick, but we’re in Episode 1, so we’ll need to wait to see where this goes. Gibson missed a decent chunk of late 1990/early 1991 with a leg injury, came back to feud with Ricky Morton who had turned heel to join the York Foundation, and was gone at the conclusion of the ‘91 Great American Bash Tour. Gibson is using ELO’s “Rock ‘N’ Roll Is King” for his entrance. A short, by-the-numbers match with a basic opening, short heat segment, and Gibson almost out of nowhere with a sunset flip finish at 3:18. The time would suggest “squash”, but it was 50/50 until the sudden finish.

Bobby and Jackie Fulton (The Fantastics) with a promo to hype Bobby’s match later in the program against Ivan Koloff. If you’re a start-up indy company in the late 80’s/early 90’s, you’re probably giving a call to Koloff.

Commissioner Bob Armstrong standing by to give the details on how he’s going to run Smoky Mountain Wrestling. AFFORDABLE, FAMILY PRICES! Fines will be levied and they will not be cheap for infractions such as throwing your opponent over the top rope, using foreign objects, or putting your hands on a referee.

“Prime Time” Brian Lee vs. Barry Horowitz – Poor Horowitz gets the “already in the ring” introduction. Best known at this point for his enhancement work with the WWF, Horowitz spent the second half of 1990 and early 1991 with WCW and saw modest success with Global. Brian Lee uses “Everybody Wants You” by Billy Squier for his entrance music and is quite the interesting choice to be a top babyface, but the pickings were slim to fill that spot, so I can’t blame Cornette for giving it a try while putting heavy focus elsewhere, but we’ll cross that bridge later. Lee’s lack of experience shines on several occasions, mistiming spots. Horowitz with the meat and potatoes heel work with Lee fighting from underneath a little too much. Lee makes his big comeback and finishes with the Cancelation (an over the shoulder back breaker) at 4:39.

Ron Wright cuts a promo, seated in a wheel chair. He needs a hip and knee implant and he’s scouting the top ‘rasslers. He’s hoping to get a contract, make some money, and get the surgery he needs so desperately.

“White Lightnin” Tim Horner vs. “Golden Boy” Joe Cazana – Oh boy, TIM HORNER, the punching bag of SMW lore, the guy who was to help run day-to-day operations and somehow underperformed at marketing, merchandising, and getting a training school going, not to mention being under the impression he would be the top guy for the territory. Mr. Horner is using Garth Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls” for his entrance music. Cazana is an enhancement talent who was regularly booked by WCW in 1990 and 1991 when they were in, you guessed it, the Smoky Mountain area. All kidding aside, Horner is a very competent, if very vanilla, worker. Another by-the-numbers match that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Cazana gets a little bit of shine as unspectacular as it is before Horner finishes with the Natural Bridge (an O’Connor Roll with bridge) at 4:26.

Jim Cornette standing by with a promo, running down Greenville, SC while also talking up Smoky Mountain Wrestling. He throws shade at the “big corporations” for being a sideshow where it’s about selling toys at Toys ‘R Us and taking steroids and not about THE WRESTLING. He talks up the legacy of the Midnight Express and promises a dynamic tag team that’s going to revolutionize professional wrestling.

Paul Miller vs. The Black Scorpion – OH BOY. I guess every promoter has one axe to grind (like Herb Abrams booking “Davey Meltzer” to get squashed a few times for his UWF). Bob Caudle’s play-by-play does connect the dots that this is a continuation of the character from WCW. The crowd mostly naps as this ends up looking like a squash win for the Scorpion, but he gets too arrogant and is caught going for one slam too many with a small package for three at 3:13, and thankfully be the only appearance of the Black Scorpion. I’m glad Cornette got it out of his system. (Late Note: In one interview, Cornette says it’s Carl Stiles under the hood, a.k.a the guy with a glass eye who had it plucked out for angles across all the territories he worked)

“Prime Time” Brian Lee gets promo time to mention a Heavyweight Title Tournament. Dutch Mantel interrupts, playing the role of “vet who offers unwanted advice.” Lee says “you may be a good wrestler, but you’re not ready for Prime Time.”

Bobby Fulton vs. Ivan Koloff – TV Main Event. Koloff is introduced from Moscow, USSR, which was accurate for the taping date, but outdated by the time it was broadcast. Fulton comes out to ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.” They have a nice back-and-forth for a few minutes and we see Ron Wright scouting the action from his wheelchair. The action picks up as the fight spills to the floor, and we see Wright pass something off to Koloff. He pops Fulton with whatever it was and covers for three at 7:00. Post-match, Jackie runs out to argue, and here comes Ivan’s nephew Vladimir. The beat-down is on and Jackie gets hung with their chain. Fine match that ramped it up a little to feel like it meant more than anything else we’ve seen so far, with a finish that suggests we will see a tag team match sooner than later.

The version of the episode I have available doesn’t include the show-closing announcement that Bob Armstrong is going to fine Koloff $500 and announces the tag team match for next week. Also, Bobby Fulton promises to kick Ron Wright in the booty.

Episode #2: February 8th, 1992:
With Dutch Mantel scheduled for in-ring competition, Bob Caudle is joined by Jim Cornette at the announcer’s desk. We’re going to see “Hollywood” Bob Holly, “Hustler” Rip Rogers, Dutch Mantel vs. Scott Armstrong, and The Fantastics vs. The Koloffs.

“Hollywood” Bob Holly vs. Tim Frye – Yes, it’s pre-Sparky Plugg Bob Holly, doing a Hollywood playboy character, but here he’s more of a Hitman knock-off (and I swear his jacket has “Beautiful” Bob Holly on it). He’s only a few years into his career, and his biggest exposure was occasional enhancement work for WCW in the Summer-Fall of 1990 (including semi-competitive TV matches with Ric Flair and Barry Windham). He comes out to David Bowie’s “Fame.” Frye, like the other enhancement talent, is a regular in the area who got the occasional work for WCW when in the area for TV. It’s a showcase for Holly, who flashes some arrogance and fine execution in his offense. Cornette compares him to Bobby Eaton as he finishes with a flying knee drop at 4:30. I don’t know if the character has legs, but his work in the ring would definitely get over in the area.

Pretape from Ivan Koloff (with Vladimir standing there looking like a goof) to hype the upcoming tag match and put over Vladimir as better than Nikita. He’s already failed the eye test, but maybe he can work (spoilers: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA…)

Pretape from Robert Gibson. He’s out to prove he still has it, recovering from a serious knee injury that took him out for the better part of a year.

“Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff vs. Rip Rogers – I’m surprised Orndorff’s name wasn’t mentioned in the intro running down the show. Ignoring Bob Armstrong who is meant to be in a non-wrestling role, Paul Orndorff is easily the biggest name they have available, and like Koloff, is an easy Starter Pack option for a promotion looking to get on TV. Rogers is yet another territory guy who was working regularly for WCW in the second half of 1990 and throughout 1991. A surprisingly competitive match. We’re notified during the action that the Piledriver, Paul Orndorff’s signature move, is on the banned list in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Huh. I’m sure babyface Paul will handle that decision well. Rogers attempts a Piledriver himself but Orndorff counters and hooks the legs to block a sunset flip, securing the three-count at 6:28. Probably the best match of the taping if you’re a workrate snob, but almost every match is acting as an introduction for the TV audience, so everything is short and to the point.

Bob Caudle standing by with Danny Davis (not ex-referee “Dangerous”, but Southern territories mainstay “Nightmare” Danny). He’s no longer “Nightmare”, he’s “Nitro”, because he’s like a bottle of nitroglycerin ready to explode. WCW fans probably watched Davis without realizing it, as he worked tapings as one of the masked Galaxians (an enhancement team). He would retire a few years later and open Ohio Valley Wrestling.

Brian Lee gets another promo spot to hype up a potential match with Dutch Mantel. Lee says he’s 6’5” and 275 pounds, so he’s not hard to find.

Scott Armstrong vs. “Dirty” Dutch Mantel – Scott’s definitely not an Armstrong most fans remember. His biggest National run was as enhancement talent for WCW in the late 90’s and as one of the head referees in WWE in the late 2000’s through 2013, when he was used as a crooked referee in a finish that screwed Daniel Bryan out of the WWE Championship (man, it was THAT long ago?). Dutch is a big name for the Southern territories who has left his best days behind him, but he’s still a solid promo and can do what is needed between the ropes. Mantel’s use here feels more like a double-dip, using him for PBP but also getting a match out of him and saving finding another body. Mantel is introduced from Oil Trough, TX and is played to the ring by the worst recording of “Rawhide.” Simple match, with Dutch using all the heel schtick in his bag and Armstrong being… well, a typical Armstrong. Fine fundamentals. Scott appears to have the match won, but Dutch throws up his hands and clotheslines him with the bull whip for the DQ at 4:47. Dutch keeps punishing Armstrong until Brian Lee saves.

Bullet Bob announces that Dutch is fined $500 for using the bull whip, and next week Dutch will wrestle Brian Lee. Jim Cornette interrupts, offering to pay the fine for the privilege of watching Scott get whipped. Cornette keeps hyping up his mystery team and takes more shots at the bigger promotions. OK, Jim, I know you’re playing to your audience, but we can hold off on it EVERY week.

Ron Wright claims his innocence for what happened last week and has never harmed a hair on any man in his life. He’s looking for someone that can make him money so he can get the surgery. The Ron Wright poor-old-man grift is fantastic.

The Fantastics vs. Ivan & Vladimir Koloff – TV Main Event. In case you skipped over, this version of the Fantastics are brothers Bobby and Jackie Fulton. Always a pleasure to see guys get straight to fighting when there’s bad blood (especially taped the same day) instead of waiting around. Bobby and Jackie take turns working over Ivan until Vladimir comes off the top with an axe-handle to Bobby. Vladimir looks clunky in there but Bobby is doing his best to make him look OK. It’s a mostly decent heat segment with some solid double team spots sprinkled in. Jackie runs wild with dropkicks and slams coming off the hot tag. Heck breaks loose and Jackie surprises Ivan with a flying body press for three at 9:02. Bobby and Ivan doing most of the work was the right call. Jackie is OK, but Vladimir is like Boris Zhukov levels of awful fake Russian (and also ridiculously inexperienced, with less than a YEAR under his belt). I spoke too soon with Orndorff/Rogers; this was the best match of the day, and I’d argue Bobby Fulton the best worker in general with Ivan Koloff right there with him.

Pre-tape with Terry Gordy who cuts out a coked-out promo that barely makes any sense. I guess someone saw he was available, brought him in, and immediately noped out, because he’s not around much.

Tim Horner follows that up with one of the most GOD AWFUL promos you will ever hear. He’s stumbling over his words and losing his concentration and it’s not even a “get hyped for a match” promo, he’s just trying to put over the territory, and poor Bob Caudle has to hold his hands throughout the whole thing. When I’m screaming at the TV “HOW TERRIBLE OF A PROMO ARE YOU?!”, it’s that bad. Worst promo across both episodes of TV and nothing comes close.

Final Thoughts: It’ll be fun catching up with the early months of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. These two episodes are a great Starter Pack that introduces the audience to their roster and what style they were going for, now we’re just going to need to string together some more shows as we develop some rivalries and introduce Championships. If you were attending this as is and not looking at it as two episodes of TV, it’s a solid spot show of simple formula Southern wrestling.