The Rock N' Roll Express

Welcome back to more Dream Matches! This week, I have a huge “Wait, THAT happened?” match, as the BRITISH BULLDOGS face the ROCK ‘N’ ROLL EXPRESS! In the AWA. And it goes… well, let’s see why this isn’t a tape trading legend, why don’t we?

Next up, I continue my look at Manabu Nakanishi in WCW, as “Kurasawa” takes his martial arts to the “Macho Man” Randy Savage in a pair of matches set six months apart- the latter of which when Kurasawa had definitely entered the job squad!

And finally, remember last week when I subjected y’all to Sgt. Craig Pittman vs. The Cobra? Well now they’re TAG PARTNERS, and their opponents are the freakin’ Faces of Fear! This one actually ends up great… if you want to see how the mechanics of wrestling work, because Pittman here is SO BAD that he actually throws off all three other wrestlers, none of whom seem to know what to do with him flailing around all weird. It’s one of the greatest examples of a wrestler being such a stiff that nobody can do anything with him.

THE BRITISH BULLDOGS (Davey-Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid) vs. THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL EXPRESS (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson):
(AWA When Worlds Collide, 1989)
* This is a completely wild Dream Match I had no idea existed, as the Bulldogs typically existed in the WWF & Japan while the Express were mostly in the Southern companies/NWA. The Bulldogs are shredded to the gills here, just on ALL the steroids (especially Smith), while the Express are the same doughy guys they always were, absolutely dwarfed by their opponents (neither of whom were that big in the WWF). Makes you realize why they never did a run in the WWF around this time, ya know? The Express are in black & blue tights, and the Bulldogs are in their white & blue ones with the Union Jacks on the asses. Luscious Johnny Valiant is doing commentary, putting over the Bulldogs but mentioning that the Express match their experience. Legend Pat O’Connor is the ref here.

Lance Russell and Dave Brown are calling the action, originating from the WMC-TV5 studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

Brown talks with Scott Bowden, who says PG-13 are not in the same league as the Rock N’ Roll Express.  He shows footage of the feud earlier in the year between the two teams to make it seem like the Express dominated it.

Lance Russell is back from vacation and he reunites with Dave Brown in the booth to call the action from the WMC-TV5 studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

Brown interviews Randy Hales, who announces that Bob Armstrong’s court injunction to prevent the USWA from acquiring total control of SMW is over.  From this point forward Armstrong is banned from WMC-TV5 studios.  Hales also announces a lumberjack strap match between Jeff Jarrett and Armstrong, a “loser leaves town” match between referees Gene Johnson and Frank Morrell, and a USWA tag team title match where Jesse James Armstrong and Tracy Smothers will defend against Doug Gilbert and a mystery partner.  No specific date is given for these matches since there will be no card at the Mid-South Coliseum on December 18.

Chip Kessler and Les Thatcher are calling the action and they are concluding the tapings from Jellico, Tennessee.  This is also the go home show for Fire on the Mountain.

Jim Cornette tells Kessler and Thatcher that Brad Armstrong has no chance against his militia in a gauntlet match.

Chip Kessler and Les Thatcher are in the booth and they are still covering action from the Jellico, Tennessee tapings.

Chip Kessler and Les Thatcher call the action from the Jellico High School tapings.  Kessler has been trying to channel Vince McMahon to kick off each program by screaming “Neexxtt” but he just ends up sounding like he is grunting on the toilet.

Chip Kessler and Les Thatcher call the action, which is still from the Jellico High School tapings.

Chip Kessler and Les Thatcher are in the booth and they are broadcasting from a new set of television tapings from Jellico High School in Jellico, Tennessee.  According to prowrestlinghistory.com, the tapings took place on July 6, but no attendance figures were reported.

Chip Kessler and Les Thatcher are in the booth and they are concluding the tapings in Sevierville, Tennessee.

The closing moments of the Buddy Landel-Brad Armstrong SMW Championship match in Barbourville, Kentucky are shown.  Timekeeper Kenny Rison, referee Mark Curtis, and Tracy Smothers recap the crazy endings of Jim Cornette ringing the bell prematurely to keep Armstrong from winning, Landel using a foreign object to get a pin until Tracy Smothers got Curtis to restart it, and Armstrong pinning Landel after a side Russian leg sweep.  Cornette and Landel are incensed about Armstrong having the SMW title, and Landel calls Armstrong a thief while Cornette hilariously punches a wall and hurts himself.  Armstrong says the belt is his because possession is nine-tenths of the law.  Commissioner Bob Armstrong says the situation is a mess, so he declares the SMW Championship vacant until Landel and Armstrong meet again for the title in Knoxville.

Chip Kessler and Les Thatcher call today’s action, which is still taped from Sevierville, Tennessee.

Chip Kessler and Les Thatcher are handling the broadcasting duties and they are taped from Sevierville, Tennessee.

Thatcher interviews Commissioner Bob Armstrong and Armstrong’s Avenger.  Armstrong says he has faith in the Avenger against SMW Champion Buddy Landel.  He promises a surprise.

Lance Russell and Dave Brown are in the booth and they are broadcasting from the WMC-TV5 studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

Brown tells fans that Brian Christopher will be out of action for six weeks with a broken shoulder blade.  Russell follows up by saying that Randy Hales was hurt in the Rock N’ Roll Express-PG-13 USWA Tag Team Championship match in Memphis on Monday.

Chip Kessler and Les Thatcher kick off a new round of television tapings in Sevierville, Tennessee.  According to prowrestlinghistory.com, the tapings took place at Catan’s Chapel Elementary School and drew 300 fans.

Lance Russell and Dave Brown are calling the action and they are broadcasting from the WMC-TV5 studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

Lance Russell and Dave Brown are calling the action, broadcasting from the WMC-TV5 studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

A video package highlights Brandon Baxter’s issues with Jimmy Valiant.

Lance Russell returns to today’s broadcast alongside Dave Brown and they are broadcasting from the WMC-TV5 studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

Russell interviews Brandon Baxter, who is upset that he is not being treated like a star in the USWA like he was in the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF).  Baxter demands that Russell tell him who Bill Dundee is going to have as his mystery partner for an upcoming match and that brings Dundee out.  As expected, that leads to Doug Gilbert and Brian Lee backing up their manager, but PG-13 make the save.

A replay of the Boo Bradley-Killer Kyle Jersey Dog Fight match at Volunteer Slam airs.

The PG-13-THUGS match for the USWA Tag Team Championship, which took place at Volunteer Slam, is shown.

(I was doing a 2.5 hour move yesterday, so I was not able to get my regular USWA column up.  Read below about what was happening in Memphis in mid-June 1995!)

Dave Brown and Corey Maclin are handling the announcing today and they are broadcasting from the WMC-TV5 studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

Brown interviews Brandon Baxter, who proclaims a new era in the USWA.  He welcomes out Doug Gilbert, Brian Lee, and Jimmy Harris and dubs his group “the Legend Slayers.”

Like Volunteer Slam IV, footage of this show comes from a fan cam.  It took place on Saturday, May 20 at the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.  According to prowrestlinghistory.com, the show drew a paltry 200 fans.

This show took place at the Louisville Gardens in Louisville, Kentucky on June 11.  According to Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer, the show drew a crowd of 3,500 and a gate of $25,000.

Corey Maclin welcomes out Jim Cornette, who walks to the COPS theme and is sporting his military-style jacket from WrestleMania X.  Cornette puts over how the Gardens is better than the Omni or Madison Square Garden and then welcomes out Lance Russell.  Russell and Maclin will be doing commentary.