Garth Reviews SMW

We’re still nudging things along at a slow pace, working our way through the Tag Team Championship Tournament and setting the table for the one-night tournament to crown the inaugural Smoky Mountain Wrestling Champion at The Volunteer Slam on May 22nd. We’ve got a short turn-around time for this taping, with the first episode making it to broadcast just two days later, and we’re covering FOUR WEEKS of TV with this one, though there’s an asterisk attached to that. We’re at the Hancock County High School in Sneedville, TN on April 9th, covering TV through May 2nd.

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.

Now that we’re through the first two tapings that were in the can for 3-months each, it’s time for something a little closer to where we are in the broadcast timeline and should have a definitive look at our roster now that we’re taping consistently AND running live shows between tapings as well. This taping will cover the episodes broadcast on February 29th, March 7th, and March 14th, 1992. Now that we have three episodes to cover as we play catch-up, I’ll try to limit the long-winded details and will ignore all “SMW is coming to your town!” ads unless they are specific market promos.

(If there’s any confusion, these are all fresh looks at each episode of TV, though I have recapped episodes into October 1992 that are in my archives if you want to compare any changes in my personality or tastes)

We’re continuing to play catch up by covering the full taping of Smoky Mountain Wrestling TV that would make up the episodes broadcast on February 15th and 22nd, 1992. Once we get through this taping, we’ll be more up-to-date when it comes to the gap between taping and broadcast. This was taped on Thanksgiving Day, and is a decent house (for what they were going for) considering it’s a start-up territory that wouldn’t make TV for another 3-months.

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.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – OCTOBER 3RD, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… The Dirty White Boy finally had enough of Tim Horner, attacking him from behind and stringing him up from the top rope, Paul Orndorff failed to cash-in on the $10,000 bounty over Brian Lee’s head, The Stud Stable accused The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express of being drug addicts like Guns ‘n’ Roses, Ronnie Garvin is still upset over his towel being destroyed, and the Mystery Man behind the bounty on Lee’s head has offered to meet him in the ring at an unspecified date.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – SEPTEMBER 26TH, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… Tim Horner defeated the Dirty White Boy in a Non-Title Match, Jimmy Golden and Robert Fuller cost the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express their chance at the Heavenly Bodies’ Tag Team Championship, “Primetime” Brian Lee was attacked, again, by the Mongolian Mauler, and Paul Orndorff has promised to stick a bunch of people, including Brian Lee, who has a $10,000 bounty over his head.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – SEPTEMBER 19TH, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… The Dirty White Boy defended his SMW Heavyweight Title against “top contender” Newton Steffey, but it was revealed as a sham when the name he pulled was really Tim Horner’s… The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express assisted Dixie Dy-No-Mite and Danny Davis in upsetting The Stud Stable and have been granted a random title opportunity from Jim Cornette himself. If you don’t smell something fishy, I don’t know what to tell you… Someone is still out for Brian Lee’s blood, having sent a 2nd letter to Commissioner Bob Armstrong… Paul Orndorff and Ronne Garvin still hate each other, nothing is resolved, lather, rinse, repeat.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – SEPTEMBER 12TH, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… The Heavenly Bodies defeated The Fantastics to become the 2-time SMW Tag Team Champions when Jim Cornette assaulted Bobby Fulton with an ether-soaked rag. Whoops, sorry, he was treating a cut and that no-good alcoholic passed out in the ring. The win not only netted them the Tag Team gold but saved Mama Cornette’s $20,000 as well… Brian Lee’s been attacked again, but now we find out through an anonymous letter that the (games)master behind the attacks will reveal himself in due time. I think that hint gave it away, but it’s a reference that’s 30+ years old, so maybe it’ll jump over the heads of my readers… Tim Horner still wants a title shot, Dirty White Boy thinks Tim Horner is a bum, and the Piledriver War wages on between Mr. Wonderful and the Hands of Stone.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… The contract is signed, and the stipulations are confirmed: The Fantastics defend the Tag Team Titles against former Champions, The Heavenly Bodies, where there will be No DQ’s, and the winning team takes home $20,000, courtesy the bank account of Mama Cornette. Oh, and Jim Cornette’s tennis racket is barred from ringside… The Dirty White Boy continues to be a fighting Champion, drawing “Nitro” Danny Davis’ name from a hat and barely getting by him after using a foreign object. Paul Orndorff and Ronnie Garvin still hate each other and are threatening to cripple the other with a piledriver. In the TV Main Event, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express and Stud Stable fought to a Double Disqualification, prolonging their rivalry.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – AUGUST 29TH, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… The saga surrounding Brian Lee continues, as we found out there’s a $10,000 bounty on his head, as well as a second attack from the mysterious (and yet to be named) Mongolian Mauler… Jim Cornette offered $10,000 of his mama’s cash for the Fantastics to give them their rematch ASAP, but was turned down… Paul Orndorff and Ronnie Garvin wrestled another non-finish with the Piledriver as the center-piece of the match….The Dirty White Boy is offering a title shot to anyone who wants one, except Tim Horner, because he doesn’t deserve it, obviously… The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express and Stud Stable are on a collision course and scheduled to meet this week.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – AUGUST 22ND, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV, we got a detailed recap of all the big happenings at Fire on the Mountain, including Brian Lee being attacked by a mysterious man that looked like a Genie. The only new content from last week featured Tim Horner issuing a challenge for the SMW Heavyweight Title, and the Dirty White Boy successfully defending the title against Dixie Dy-No-Mite, with a little bit of help from the dastardly Killer Kyle.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – August 15th, 1992

– Last time on SMW TV, we covered the “Fire on the Mountain” Super Card that took place on August 8th, 1992 from the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, TN. It’s been a while since we’ve covered some Smoky Mountain Wrestling. In the last recap I published, I noted there might be a delay in the follow-up episodes due to Hurricane Irma, and yes, for a couple of weeks, I did lose electricity, and doing recaps was the furthest from my mind. At the same time, I found out my fiancée and I were expecting our first child together, and suddenly my time to watch wrestling has dwindled. I continued to do projects elsewhere, but the coverage of SMW went quiet… until now. Due to unpopular demand, we shall pick up where we left off, almost 16 months ago, as we cover the fallout from Fire on the Mountain. Hopefully another natural disaster doesn’t interfere with things.

SMW Fire on The Mountain ‘92

– Taped on August 8th, 1992, from the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, TN.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – AUGUST 8th, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… Heavy pushing for the upcoming “Fire on The Mountain”, with extended video packages to promote the Heavenly Bodies/Fantastics Barbwire Cage Match, but strangely enough, NOT the match for the Heavyweight Title… Brian Lee and The Dirty White Boy had an impromptu match where Lee fluked into a victory… Buddy Landell hasn’t been seen and might not show up at all at FOTM… Dixie Dy-No-Mite and Killer Kyle will continue their feud in taped-fist matches… Jimmy Golden and Robert Fuller have promised to beat and whip the Rock N’ Roll Express until they’re obedient ponies.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – AUGUST 1st, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… The Heavenly Bodies defeated Hector Guerrero and Ben Jordan, then attempted to hogtie Jordan with barbwire to send a message to The Fantastics… The Dirty White Boy appears to live in a junkyard, and promises to leave Fire on The Mountain as the Heavyweight Champion… Brian Lee made short work of the swastika wearing Stormtrooper… Ricky Morton has arrived in SMW, reforming the Rock N’ Roll Express to even the odds against Jimmy Golden and Robert Fuller… Paul Orndorff laid out Ron Garvin with a Piledriver following the Main Event at Summer Blast, so they’re on a collision course… Buddy Landell has been missing recently, and Horner has questioned his intestinal fortitude.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – JULY 25th, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… Fire on The Mountain is coming on August 8th with a Double Main Event. The Heavenly Bodies defend their Tag Titles against The Fantastics inside a Barbwire Cage, with Commissioner Bob Armstrong as special referee, and Brian Lee defends the Heavyweight Title against the Dirty White Boy, with the stipulation that the DWB must leave SMW if he’s defeated… Tim Horner challenged Buddy Landell to an “I Quit Match”… Dixie Dy-No-Mite defeated Killer Kyle in a Mask vs. Violin Case Match, and was beaten down when inside the case was revealed to be nothing more than a roll of tape… Robert Fuller made his debut, siding with Jimmy Golden in his rivalry with Robert Gibson.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – JULY 18th, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… The Fantastics and Heavenly Bodies continue to be one of the more prominently featured storylines in the company, with constant pull-apart brawls and strong promo work to build up their upcoming match at Summer Blast… Stan Lane is officially working the gimmick with the head gear where loud noises bother him (he’s got to protect a rug he’s wearing)… Brian Lee stepped up to the plate to help the Battens in a one-sided slaughter at the hands of Mr. Wonderful and The Dirty White Boy… Robert Gibson promised no funny business next time he’d step in the ring with Jimmy Golden… Buddy Landell promised to whip Tim Horner like his “mammy” should’ve done a long time ago… Ron Garvin’s arrival was promoted with a montage featuring him in the ring with legends such as Andre the Giant, Bob Orton Jr., and Jos LeDuc.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – July 11th, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… The “Main Event” of The Batten Twins vs. Dixie Dy-No-Mite and Danny Davis was immediately interrupted by a scuffle with The Fantastics and Heavenly Bodies… Paul Orndorff and the Dirty White Boy aren’t scared of Ron Garvin, but Mr. Ron Wright isn’t as confident… Brian Lee continues to be a fighting Champion, easily vanquishing Paul Lee… Jimmy Golden pinned Robert Gibson under dubious circumstances, so they’ll rematch at Summer Blast… Buddy Landell and Tim Horner have incorporated a leather strap into their feud, and are also on a collision course for Summer Blast…

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING TV – July 4th, 1992

– Last week on SMW TV… Summer Blast ’92 is coming together with the top three matches already signed… Brian Lee has enlisted “Hands of Stone” Ron Garvin to even the odds against Dirty White Boy and Paul Orndorff… The Fantastics and Heavenly Bodies got into a wild backstage brawl, costing each man $1,500 in fines, and will face off at Summer Blast in a Smoky Mountain Street Fight… Tim Horner repaid Buddy Landell for costing him a shot at the Tag Titles, by costing him his match with Brian Lee for the SMW Heavyweight Title. Landell was about to use an illegal object, so the interference wasn’t totally unjustified.