SMW TV (Re-Visited) – Knoxville, TN Taping – 03.12.92

Now that we’re putting some fresh TV behind us, it feels like the wheels are in motion to get some interesting things going as we took our time introducing the roster and putting on a couple of short programs as we try to figure things out. The last taping from Knoxville concluded with the announcement of the upcoming Tag Team Championship Tournament, while we don’t have a confirmed date for whatever is planned to crown the first Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Champion. This taping covers the episodes broadcast on March 21st, March 28th, and April 4th, 1992.

March 21st, 1992:
Bob Caudle and the Dirty Dutchman welcome us, teasing us with appearances from Robert Gibson and Bob Holly. We’ll see footage of Jim Cornette’s new tag team, the Tag Championship Tournament kicks off with cousins Johnny and Davey Rich meeting the Maulers, and we’ve got the big Six-Man Tag when Jimmy Golden teams with Ivan and Vladimir Koloff to take on the Fantastics and their mystery partner.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll” Robert Gibson vs. “Golden Boy” Joe Cazana – I was ready to go off about how poorly suited Gibson is to do quasi-squash matches, but then I look at most of the babyface side of the depth chart and that complaint becomes a common concern. They put together a nice chain with Gibson going to work on the left arm. Cazana goes to the eyes (insert your joke here) and grabs a chin-lock. Cazana with a slam but he misses a flying elbow drop. Gibson with a BAAAACK body-drop and the bulldog finishes at 4:12. Yeah, I can’t get into solo Gibson. Ricky Morton needs to hurry up and leave WCW.

Bob Armstrong runs down the brackets of the Tag Team Tournament. We throw it to a hype package of “The Wild Bunch” (Joel Deaton and Billy Black) set to “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf.

Hector Guerrero vs. Keith Hart – No, it’s not the famous Hart Family “Keith Hart.” Speaking of guys unfit to do a squash showcase, we get another look at Hector Guerrero. We get a friendly handshake to start and trade jumping head-scissors before shaking hands again. This friendly technical chess match might work if Hart had any credibility. Now that we’re taping three weeks, you can get away with not having every match competitive. Hart misses a dive through the ropes and Hector follows with a plancha. Back inside, the “Jalapeno Roll” puts Hart down for three at 4:13. The action is fine, but selling so much for enhancement talent doesn’t raise Hector’s stock.

Jim Cornette introduces video footage of himself and Phil Rainey on location to visit the training location for his new tag team. Cornette addresses the driver as “Herd” and calls him a lousy driver. The training facility ends up being the local Hooters, and all the ladies on shift swarm them and we never get a look at the team.

“Hollywood” Bob Holly vs. Paul Miller – With so much exposure, it’s time to start doing something with Holly other than throwing him out here for a token squash match. Holly’s arrogance allows Miller to surprise him with a cross body press. Holly cuts Miller off with a clothesline and plants him with a slam. Miller gets fired up but Holly catches Miller with a swinging neck breaker and finishes with “The Star Drop” (missile dropkick) at 3:33. Kinda sloppy, and probably my least favorite of Holly’s matches so far.

Bob Caudle standing by with the Dirty White Boy and Mr. Ron Wright. Wright is still playing up the old man grift and Tony Anthony promises to win the Championship Tournament and get Wright out of his wheel chair (or buy him a gold one if he can’t).

SMW Tag Team Championship Tournament 1st Round Match: Johnny and Davey Rich vs. The Maulers – The Maulers are Jack Victory and Rip Morgan, who WCW fans might remember as the New Zealand Militia and later the Royal Family (in both cases, lower-card heels). Victory also played about a dozen random masked jobbers, easily identified by a certain part of his body (HE’S GOT A DUMPER). Davey and Johnny come out to MC Hammer’s “2 Legit 2 Quit.” That is quite random. Davey and Johnny control early with double-team efforts. A cheap-shot from the apron allows Victory to take Davey’s head off with a clothesline. Basic heat segment, just a bunch of clubberin’. Davey creates separation and hot tags Johnny, who runs wild with right hands. Heck breaks loose as Davey hooks Victory with a sleeper. Morgan from behind, whacking Davey with his boot, and Victory falls on top for the three-count at 5:38. Just by-the-numbers work.

The Fantastics interview with Bob Caudle. They reveal their partner is an original member of the team; Tommy Rogers! We come back from a break and Jimmy Golden says that Ivan and Vladimir couldn’t make it because both their wives went into labor. Tommy Rogers didn’t come 1,000 miles for nothing and threw the first punch! They bring the fight into the ring, with the Fantastics 2.0 and The Wild Bunch going at it, so I guess we have a new match….

Bobby & Jackie Fulton and Tommy Rogers vs. Jimmy Golden & The Wild Bunch – There’s no bell as Rogers continues pounding on Golden, who hasn’t been able to remove his windbreaker. Rogers looks like he’s been taking advantage of that chicken and broccoli diet. Golden tries to trap Bobby Fulton in the corner, but he manages to scramble out of danger. Deaton and Bobby with a fine exchange as the Fantastics Trio remain in control. Jackie is stunned with a back suplex and dumped out of the ring. Deaton can’t take advantage, getting knocked over the top rope. Bobby greets him on the floor with a dropkick and Jackie follows with a plancha. Bobby ends up playing the face-in-peril, getting a hope spot here and there before getting cut off. Heck breaks loose with all six men in the ring. Jimmy scoops up Bobby for a slam, but Rogers comes off the top with a dropkick, knocking Fulton on top for the three-count at 5:30 (give or take). Post-match, it’s a big beat-down on the Fultons, who are due to face the Wild Bunch next week in the tournament! This was fine until they went home immediately.

March 28th, 1992:
As usual, Bob Caudle and The Dirty Dutchman welcome us with a preview of this week’s action; Prime Time Brian Lee! The Dirty White Boy! Another attempt to look at Jim Cornette’s Team! The Tag Team Championship Tournament continues with the Fantastics vs. the Wild Bunch!

The Dirty White Boy (w/ Mr. Ron Wright) vs. Jumpin’ Joey Maggs – We’re already talking about the Heavyweight Title Tournament and can expect the DWB to be a big player in that field. Wright joins in on PBP for a moment to shill his fundraiser, complete with chyron and a Bob Caudle disclaimer that SMW doesn’t endorse it. Maggs looks OK to start, but some dirty tactics from the Dirty White Boy turns the tide. Maggs fires up, but a dropkick misses and White Boy finishes with a twisting back suplex at 4:09.

Bob Armstrong announces the details for the Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Title Tournament! On Friday Night, May 15th, Smoky Mountain Wrestling presents the Volunteer Slam from the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. Dirty White Boy, Brian Lee, Tim Horner, Robert Gibson and Jimmy Golden are guaranteed spots. Six “Wild Cards” will compete in matches to fill the other three spots, and those names include Dixie Dy-No-Mite, Dutch Mantell, Scott Anthony, Hector Guerrero, Buddy Landell and Paul Orndorff. Huh.

Showcase on Tim Horner, who sings Garth Brook’s “SHAMELESS” for all of us. I’m sure Rick Rubin was wondering why his money was funding this. As bad as you can possibly imagine.

“Hollywood” Bob Holly with more Julia Roberts references in his pre-tapes. He’s not in the tournament because he can just beat the champ and save some time.

Jimmy Golden vs. Tommy Angel – Golden offers a handshake and DOESN’T sucker-punch! Angel frustrated Golden with slams as Dutch whined about being a Wild Card. BREAKING NEWS: Ivan and Vladimir Koloff have not paid their fines and will not compete until they do so. Angel takes most of the offense, to my surprise. Golden shakes the cobwebs and a dropkick is enough to put Angel down at 4:06. From what I recall, this was a deliberate attempt to make something as simple as a dropkick acceptable as a finish if they run it out a few times. Golden keeps attacking but Robert Gibson makes the save.

Jim Cornette gives us another tape and for the second week in a row, a mob of women prevent us from getting a look at his new team. Maybe next week…

“Prime Time” Brian Lee vs. “Golden Boy” Joe Cazana – Dutch is still mad and cries conspiracy over Lee being seeded and not himself. OK, put this feud to bed, please. Cazana with the jump before the bell, but it’s not long before Lee takes over. He catches Cazana with a powerslam and finishes with the Cancelation at 2:00. Post-match, Lee makes an offer to Dutch; meet him in the ring and if Brian Lee doesn’t beat him, Dutch gets Lee’s spot in the tournament. Lee butchers the hell out of it and sounds like he’s just giving Dutch the spot to wrestle him, but Dutch covers.

Highlights of last week’s Main Event leads us into…

SMW Tag Team Championship Tournament 1st Round Match: The Fantastics vs. The Wild Bunch – Winners here face Jack Victory and Rip Morgan in the Semi-Finals. Bobby and Black start with some chain work and Black getting frustrated. Deaton goes for the arm but is quickly overwhelmed by a Fantastics double-team. Neither team can control for long for the first 5-6 minutes, with plenty of tags to keep the action moving. It doesn’t take too long to notice that Billy Black is kind of a “flippy stuff, cool moves” guy, and some of it is very sloppy. Bobby becomes the official face-in-peril (no surprise). We cut to a shot of a kid mid-spot, so you know someone messed up. Deaton with a slam and springboard elbow drop. He fights to turn Bobby over with a Boston crab, but Bobby powers out. He gets dumped, where Black works him over with a chair. Back inside, Deaton misses an elbow in the corner, allowing Jackie the hot tag. Jackie runs wild and hits Deaton with a German suplex for two. Cheap shot from Black and Deaton connects with a DDT. More heck breaks loose and we get a “heel is dumb” finish as Bobby is at ringside to trip up Deaton, which draws Black’s attention to try and pull his partner back up, and that allows Jackie to roll him up for three at 11:50. This was somewhere between being a good match and being annoying. The weak finish definitely hurts more than Black’s offense. **½

April 4th, 1992:
Bob Caudle and Dutch Mantel greet us again. Dutch is scheduled to wrestle, so I was expecting maybe Jim Cornette to fill in for him this week. We’ve got the debut of Dixie Dy-no-mite! Killer Kyle! Tim Horner! Maybe we’ll find out the identity of Jim Cornette’s team! In the MAIN EVENT, Brian Lee takes on Dutch Mantel, with Lee’s spot in the Tournament on the line.

DIXIE DY-NO-MITE vs. BARRY HOROWITZ – No matter how many times I type it, I have to explain that yes, that is how SMW spells it on their chyrons. Dixie is a masked Scott Armstrong, literally wrapped in a Rebel flag. We actually pay off his identity further down the road, but for now, he’s anonymous. Dutch with the wisest nugget of information: “Obviously, he’s from the South.” They have a perfectly fine match, but nothing to suggest Dixie will be anything more than a bottom-feeder on the babyface side of the depth chart. Dixie wins with the Confederate Kick (Super-Kick) at 6:30.

Commissioner Bob Armstrong preaches clean living and not using steroids to get ahead in life. Whispering words of wisdom, Bullet.

White Lightnin’ TIM HORNER vs. T.J. TRAVIS – For the love of God, I hope we never endure another moment like Horner singing on TV. It’s another showcase for White Lightnin’, one of the five men with guaranteed spots in the Heavyweight Tournament. Horner looks fine with his execution, but his in-ring work is never the problem. Horner controls most of it and the Natural Bridge finishes at 4:16.

Jim Cornette is back with another video promising the reveal of his new tag team, but wouldn’t you know it, the women can’t keep their hands off them! Don’t worry, they will be here LIVE, NEXT WEEK… because they’ve got a tag team match, playa.

Bob Caudle is standing by with Killer Kyle, who remains silent throughout all of the questioning about his lack of participation in the Tournament and what he keeps in the Violin case.

KILLER KYLE vs. KEITH HART – The booking of Killer Kyle is one of the few headscratchers in these early shows. There’s obviously plans for him, but he sells too much and did a clean job on TV in their first show. Maybe they figure more people are checking them out and aren’t bothering making that canon? Not That Keith Hart uses his speed to create distance, but his strikes have zero effect. Kyle does a better job of working like a goon and Hart takes a good beating. The Rub Out (spine-buster) finishes at 3:37.

We recap earlier footage of Paul Orndorff’s unhappiness with the Piledriver being banned and go over the 1st Round of the Tag Team Championship Tournament.

THE DIRTY WHITE BOY (w/ Mr. Ron Wright) vs. PAUL MILLER – Another showcase for a Tournament participant, and one of the odds-on favorites. Dutch compares the White Boy to Bonds and Canseco. With so much time before we get to the Volunteer Slam, I feel like we’re going to see a lot of “showcase” style squashes where we aren’t building rivalries but just filling time. White Boy dominates, though Miller shows some heart. White Boy with a forward powerslam and modified chokeslam (the Bucksnort Blaster) for three at 2:54. In a post-match interview, Ron Wright is hot and bothered because no one is sending in those donations and White Boy screams a bunch about the Tournament.

Recap of the exchange between Brian Lee and Dirty Dutch from last week, leading into…

“Prime Time” BRIAN LEE vs. DUTCH MANTEL – TV Main Event. Brian Lee must pin or make Dutch submit if he wants to keep his spot in the Heavyweight Championship Tournament. The Dastardly Dirty White Boy attacks Lee from behind, blasting him with a steel chair! He loads up for another swing, but Bob Armstrong intervenes. Dutch takes advantage of the situation, choking Lee with his poncho. Into the ring, Dutch works the back and hits a short-clothesline for a two-count. He locks in the abdominal stretch, and believe it or not, uses the ropes for leverage. Dutch throws everything he has, but Brian Lee keeps fighting back. Lee staggers Dutch with roundhouse rights. A rake of the eyes slows him down and the action spills to the floor. Lee sends Dutch into the post and brings the action back in the ring. Dutch digs into his trunks but Lee scoops him from behind and a roll-up gets the three count at 6:48. Eh, I wish they had a better finish, but Lee took everything that Dutch could throw and left the winner, which is the bottom line.

Final Thoughts: Three weeks of TV and a LOT of filler content with the crutch of running a Tag Team Tournament AND building up the participants of a single-elimination Tournament scheduled for mid-May. We finally put Brian Lee vs. Dutch Mantel to bed, and in a weak pool of babyface stars, it feels like Lee is the one getting the big push, with Horner a distant second. After so many weeks of teases, we’ll finally get a look at Jim Cornette’s mystery team next week. The next TV taping covers FOUR WEEKS of content, but one of those is one match and a bunch of recaps, so we’ll see if I can cram it all into one shot.