The SmarK Rant for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – 01.15.83

The SmarK Rant for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – 01.15.83

Taped from Charlotte, NC

Your host is Bob Caudle

Ken Timbs v. Johnny Weaver

It’s a HOT OPEN as we’re joined in progress with this main event in any armory in the country. Timbs is working a headlock but Weaver cradles for two and slugs Timbs down, but Timbs rakes the eyes and goes for a clothesline, but Weaver rolls him up for the pin instead at 2:00 shown.

Mike Rotundo joins Bob at the desk, and he’s concerned about this Dick Slater guy coming into the territory with Oliver Humperdink, causing trouble for everyone. So Slater interrupts and Rotundo freaks out, but Slater lets us know that he’s not here for a fight or to cause trouble. Honestly, he’s just got a bad rap and he wants to apologize for turning on Bob Orton last week, because he was just having a bad day and didn’t mean to do it. Bob Caudle is like “Well, he sounds sincere to me!” and then throws to a video of Jimmy Valiant and his generic version of “Boy from New York City”.

Dick Slater v. Mike Davis

Slater makes sure to give Davis a handshake to show he’s truly reformed after last week’s mishap. Davis hits him with a hiptoss and works the arm, while Greg Valentine joins us on commentary and he’s confused about Slater’s statements because they had invested a lot of money in him and now’s a worthless traitor. And he finds that personally disappointing! Slater takes Davis down with a jackknife cradle for two and a small package for two. Caudle quizzes Valentine on whether he’s worried about Slater turning on HIM, and Greg has no comment about that subject. Davis comes back with a dropkick and drops a knee for one, but he misses a crossbody and lands on the floor. So Slater goes out and gently helps Davis to his feet and back into the ring like a sportman. But then he SNAPS and beats on him with chops and elbows in the corner and Valentine is delighted by this. Slater drops a knee for two and a back suplex finishes at 4:43.

Dick Slater joins us at the desk afterwards and clarifies that everyone who believed him 10 minutes ago are a bunch of FOOLS.

Sgt. Slaughter and Don Kernodle join us, as Don still has the sad pieces of his beautiful jacket that he was tricked into tearing up last week because he’s kind of a dummy. Don says that if Steamboat & Youngblood want a fight then come out and they can have a title match RIGHT NOW. Bob: “You’ve ripped up Steamboat’s shirt before.” Sarge: “Yeah but his clothes are GARBAGE. This was a beautiful coat!”

Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle v. Tony Gilbert & Vinnie Valentino

So the champs have promised to take out their anger on these poor bastards, but Kernodle goes after Gilbert and gets pushback right away. So he brings in the Sarge, who beats on Tommy until Kernodle comes in with a back suplex. They haul Vinnie to the corner and double-team him, and Kernodle drops a fist on him and goes to a facelock. Sarge drops a knee for two and they team up to clothesline Valentino on the top rope for two. Kernodle with a dropkick and he goes to a facelock, and then they finish with the back suplex into the Slaughter cannon combo at 5:40.

Bodyslam Contest:

Oliver Humperdink has FIVE GRAND for anyone who can slam the One Man Gang, and the first contender is King Parsons, who tries a couple of times and gets nowhere. Next up, Private Jim Nelson, who can’t get Gang off his feet and hurts his back. And finally, DIZZY HOGAN, who makes a very inauspicious debut here in Mid-Atlantic and can’t slam him either. And then Jimmy Valiant runs down and chases the Gang away, but doesn’t try for the slam. Dizzy Hogan of course would be repackaged one or two times in his career after this.

Dory Funk Jr. joins us and he’s upping his $100,000 challenge to 30 minutes at a time, and challenging Jack Brisco to come for the money next. Also Dick Slater and Greg Valentine stop by and Slater clarifies that everyone who believed him was an idiot.

Private Jim Nelson, Ricky Harris & Bill White v. Jimmy Valiant, Mike Rotundo & Bob Orton Jr.

Nelson immediately gets worked over in the babyface corner and brings Harris in for a try. Ricky works a headlock on Rotundo, but Bill White comes in and Valiant quickly clobbers him. Rotundo hits a gut wrench on Nelson for two, but Harris cuts him off and the heels work Mike over in their corner until he escapes and brings Orton in to run wild. Nelson takes some funny bumps off Orton’s forearms and then Rotundo finishes Harris with the airplane spin at 3:45. Afterwards, Bob Orton is a big fan of the Who because HE WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN by Dick Slater.

Dory Funk Jr. & Red Dog Lane v. Jerry Brisco & Sweet Brown Sugar

We join this after the break, as Brisco has immediately taken out Lane with the figure-four and left him with an injured knee on the floor. So Dick Slater comes out to check on Lane’s knee personally, at which point Brisco dives on him and they brawl. So Slater comes into the ring and decides to take Lane’s place personally. Sugar hits Funk with a dropkick to send him to the floor. Over to Slater and Sugar also gives him a dropkick, as Slater takes a wacky bump off that, clearly channeling Terry Funk here. Funk and Slater take turns boot-raking Sugar, but Brisco comes in with a double dropkick and it’s a big brawl with Slater staggering around punching the air like Terry Funk again. Brisco cradles Funk, but Slater pushes them over, and then Sugar rolls them over again for the pin at 5:00. And then the heels all attack Brisco and beat him up until Sweet Brown Sugar recovers and makes the save.

Jay Youngblood & Ricky Steamboat do a promo from World Wide Wrestling, and they know that they’re in Kernodle’s head and soon they’re gonna be in Sgt. Slaughter’s head as well.

And finally, Bob Orton Jr joins Bob at the desk, and he wasn’t aware of the triple-teaming happening in the last match because he was busy in the dressing room after his previous match, but knows that Slater is a crazy person. Obviously Bob does eventually turn and join the dark side with Slater but I’m not sure how long after this.

Not quite the super-hot episode that last week was, but Dick Slater is certainly giving things an air of unpredictability so far.