The SmarK Rant for Memphis Wrestling – 12.24.83

The SmarK Rant for Memphis Wrestling – 12.24.83

Originally written 02.10.26

So we are in the midst of the invasion of MACHO MADNESS for the first time in Memphis and I really loved our first foray in 1983 so we’ll hit it again, courtesy of KrisPLettuce and his FREE Google Drive of Memphis:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CkLc-tHkZN-djhBnSlmkmNXR9aTLlbOy?usp=drive_link

Taped from Memphis, TN

Your host is Lance Russell

We’re joined with footage from the Mid-South Coliseum, featuring the Fabulous Ones v. Bill Dundee & Jim Morris, the guy who would be known as Harley Davidson later on, and Hillbilly Jim much later on. This ends with Morris dumping Keirn on the top rope and putting Dundee on top for the pin.

Eddie Marlin joins Lance at the studio, announcing that Dundee will be facing Steve Keirn on Boxing day, with a guaranteed loser leaves town stipulation where the loser has to stay out of Memphis for one year, with no backdoors or loopholes. So we hear from Keirn, who assures everyone that Stan Lane won’t be anywhere in the building because he’s gone home for Christmas, and he doesn’t want fans to think that he was scared of Bill Dundee. And of course we also hear from Dundee, who apparently took offense to the Fabs calling him “Tattoo” (as in the character from Fantasy Island) and now he’s gonna take it out on Keirn.

And we get a video package of Dundee’s greatest hits, set to Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation”, which would seem to be an indication he’s leaving.

Back at the studio, Lance runs down the rest of the card for the Coliseum, including a main event of Jerry Lawler v. Austin Idol with the winner getting an AWA World title shot against Nick Bockwinkel. So we hear from Austin Idol, who is still a babyface at this point and doing a friendly rivalry match with Lawler. And he wishes it could be anyone but Lawler, but it is what it is.

Jerry Lawler joins Lance in the studio as I’m kind of wondering if we’re actually getting any wrestling on this episode because time is rapidly running out. Jimmy Hart interrupts and he’s concerned about Jerry’s chances against Austin Idol, and he offers Lawler a deal where he will be in Lawler’s corner against Idol and then they can both live out their dream of winning the World title. So Lawler promises that he’ll put Jimmy in the hospital if he tries to come be in Lawler’s corner, and Jimmy flips out and swears revenge.

Back from the break, Jimmy demands that Lance call Austin Idol, so Lance awkwardly has a stage hand set up a telephone on the desk. “Boy we are sure wasting a lot of time with you, Jimmy” notes Lance. So Lance does get through to Austin and makes him the same offer, along with a cheque for $5000. Austin is like “OK, call me back in about 20 minutes” and Hart celebrates because he has a deal! Lance isn’t so sure.

Angelo Poffo does a promo from the parking lot, putting over his son, Randy Savage, noting that he was ICW World champion for four years, so he’s more than capable of taking the Mid-America title from Terry Taylor at the Mid-South Coliseum. And Terry will THANK HIM. This leads to a video package set to “Fame”.

Back at the studio, Jimmy Hart is really excited about his deal with Austin Idol, although again Lance points out he doesn’t actually have any deal to announce.

So this was a weird edit of the weekly Memphis show, as it omitted all the wrestling matches and just left the promos.

For those wondering, by the way, Steve Keirn beat Bill Dundee and he did stay away for a long time, and Lawler beats Austin Idol to retain the Southern title and earns a shot at Bockwinkel.