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Mr. Dufour’s Wayback Machine: WWF May.23rd, 1983 MSG
Loading...Mr. Dufour’s Wayback Machine: May.23rd, 1983
Welcome everyone to the first edition of Mr. Dufour’s Wayback Machine, where we travel back in time to review wrestling shows of years gone by.
I have been an avid wrestling fan since my father rented Wrestlemania 3 from the local video store in 1987. As I’ve gotten older I’ve become greatly interested in the history of pro wrestling, more specifically the WWF between 1980 and 1986.
Today we travel back to May 23rd, 1983 in New York at the world famous Madison Square Garden.
Your current champions are:
World Title: Bob Backlund
Intercontinental Title: Don Muraco
Tag Team Titles: The Wild Samoans
Women’s Champion: Moolah
Your host for tonight’s action is Gorilla Monsoon and your ring announcer is Howard Finkel
Match #1: Don Kernodle vs Baron Mikel Scicluna
Don Kernodle is a newcomer to the WWF, coming off a very successful stint in Mid-Atlantic as Sgt. Slaughter’s tag team partner. Tonight he’s facing Baron Scicluna who is about 100 years old and probably not the wrestler that you’d want to face just entering a company if you want to get over. Monsoon refers to Scicluna as “raw boned”, which is an adjective that you don’t hear anymore. As expected, the action is VERY slow and the crowd is completely dead for this. Neither seem to be getting the upper hand here as the two take turns on offense, until Baron Scicluna throws Kernodle into the ropes to attempt a backdrop when Kernodle counters with a sunset flip for the three count.
Result: Don Kernodle @ 10:57 via sunset flip
Rating: *. That was a chore to get through. Scicluna was wonderful back in the 60’s, but it’s 1983 and he had LONG over-stayed his welcome.
Match #2: Mac Rivera vs Pete Doherty
I love me some Duke of Dorchester so this should be fun! Mac Rivera would later become Jose Luis Rivera, who would later become one half of the Conquistadors. The bell rings and Doherty immediately starts what can only be described as twitching combined with nervous walking. It’s a sight to see. Doherty begins the match with a little bit of stalling, followed by a lot of brawling. Doherty controls the action throughout the match until Rivera hit a backdrop, followed by a big splash for the three count. There wasn’t more to Rivera’s offense other than that closing sequence.
Result: Mac Rivera @ 10:39 via big splash
Rating: * ½. Slightly better than our opening match, but not much better. Doherty’s antics bring up the rating as Rivera has the personality of a slug.
Match #3: Ivan Koloff (With Freddie Blassie) vs Jules Strongbow
There we go! Finally some life into this crowd! Ivan Koloff is one of my favourites. Unfortunately he’s facing Jules Strongbow who is just plain terrible. Some fast paced action to start as Jules gets the early advantage forcing Ivan to beg off. Ivan attempts to make peace with Jules but tries a kick to the gut which Jules catches and delivers an atomic drop. The crowd is really into this match. Jules then takes it to the ground and works the arm for an extended period of time. Ivan is able to regain control from Jules and starts working his back. The advantage is short-lived as Jules is able to get Ivan into a sleeper hold. Ivan back Jules into the ropes and breaks the hold. Ivan sends Jules into the turnbuckle to continue working on Jules, which hurts Jules long enough for Ivan to climb to the top rope and deliver a flying knee to the back. A 3 count and that’s all she wrote!
Result: Ivan Koloff @ 11:23 via flying knee from the top rope
Rating: ** ½. That was a surprisingly enjoyable match! The two worked at a good pace, the crowd was into it, and I loved how Ivan’s earlier work on Jules’s back came into play later on in the match.
Match #4: Swede Hanson vs Salvatore Bellomo
We have a rare face vs face match up here. Swede Hanson has seen better days as one half of the Blonde Bombers with Rip Hawk in the Carolinas, so a win for Bellomo is a definite possibility. Swede takes the action to the ground and slows things down, until Bellomo gets to his feet and hits some impressive counters. The two act very sportsmanlike as Hanson gets tangled in the ropes and Bellomo untangles Hanson instead of hitting him. Hanson later returns the favour, ending with a tap of the cheek as to say “we’re even”, which draws laughter from the crowd. The two later work in some comedic spot s with the ref, and you can tell both are just out there having a good time. Bellomo attempts a flying headscissors, but Hanson is able to counter it by putting Bellomo on the top turnbuckle. Bellomo though pushes off and lands on top of Hanson to get the upset victory! Bellomo reacts like he just won the world title!
Result: Salvatore Bellomo @ 10:28 via….I’m not sure of what to even call that.
Rating: ** ½. What a fun match put on by two guys out there having fun. The crowd really fed off these two and it was an enjoyable bout.
Match #5: Chief Jay Strongbow vs Iron Mike Sharpe
This should be a barn burner. You might find this hard to believe, but Iron Mike received a pretty decent push in 1983. He actually had a WWF Championship match against Bob Backlund at the Philly Spectrum. Well the Chief has seen better days (a common theme in 1983 throughout the WWF), so expect lots of antics in this one. Sharpe goes into full stall mode outside the ring, in between yelling at the fans for chanting “wimp”. Mike finally gets into the ring, only to bail once again when Chief Jay starts his war dance. The two eventually lock up and it’s all Sharpe with a series of clubbing blows. Chief Jay makes his comeback when Mike Sharpe attempts to bring a chair into the ring and ends up getting his own head smashed into it. The crowd is going crazy for this match. Sharpe adjusts something in his forearm brace and nail Chief Jay in the back of the head which knocks Chief Jay outside. The two fights outside of the ring, eventually working their way back in the ring where Sharpe gets tangled in the ropes. The Chief tries to gets at Sharpe’s arm brace and when he won’t stop, the ref calls for the bell! Oh come on!
Result: Double DQ @ 6:48
Rating: ** ¾. So far the most entertaining match. Chief Jay was very limited in the ring at this point, but he could still work his gimmick and the crowd still adored him. Iron Mike was the perfect foe for Strongbow tonight.
Match #6: For the WWF Title: (Champion) Bob Backlund (With Arnold Skaaland) vs Sgt Slaughter (With Grand Wizard)
This feud began when Slaughter attacked Backlund with his swagger stick while Bob was attempting the Harvard Step Test. Footage is shown of the incident, followed by a backstage interview with Backlund. Backlund cuts an intense promo and for once it’s not half bad. The two meet in the ring during introductions and Backlund takes off his jacket to reveal numerous welts from the swagger stick. It’s all Backlund the first five minutes. Slaughter is taking some crazy bumps. People forget how agile Slaughter was in the early 80’s. Slaughter counters a Backlund running forearm with the Slaughter Cannon, and the Sarge takes control for the next 8 minutes until he misses a corner charge. Backlund slaps on the crossface chicken ring, but the Grand Wizard hands Slaughter the swagger stick which he uses to nail Backlund with. The ref calls for the bell and Slaughter is DQ’d. Slaughter tries to use the stick after the match, but Backlund ends up getting a hold of it and chases Slaughter out of the ring! Great match!
Result: Bob Backlund @ 16:47 by dq
Rating: *** ½. What a fun match! For all of Bob’s shortfalls on interviews he really brings it in the ring. Slaughter could really move at this time and the two put on a hell of a performance.
Match #7: Samu (With Captain Lou) vs The American Dream Dusty Rhodes
Right on! After some early Rhodes gyrations Samu and works a variety of clubbing blows before settling into a reverse chinlock: a spot that goes on for far too long. A mini comeback by Rhodes is stopped short by an eye rake. Samu goes for a top rope splash but the Dream moves out of the way. An atomic drop followed by a running crossbody and that’s it. Well that stunk. Post match, Dusty cuts an in ring promo with Gorilla calling MSG the place to be. The promo was way better than the match.
Result: Dusty Rhodes @ 9:10 via running crossbody
Rating: * ½. That was not good. Samu controlled the entire match and just killed the crowd with that reverse chinlock spot that went on far too long. The finish was flat and the crowd didn’t react nearly as well to this match as I expected.
Match #8: Leilani Kai vs Susan Starr
Hopefully this is short. Kai is far ahead of Susan Starr in terms of in ring ability so thankfully it has been mostly Kai on the offense until Starr makes her “comeback. Staff hits two horrible looking dropkicks followed by a botched money flip in the corner. Ugh. Starr reverses an attempted slam by Kai and gets the 3. Not short enough.
Result: Susan Starr @ 6:40 via roll-up
Rating: 1/2*. Womens wrestling sure has come a long way since 1983. That’s all I have to say.
Match #9: Afa (With Captain Lou) vs Jimmy Snuka (With Buddy Rogers)
This match occurred 13 days after the death of Nancy Argentino. When cuts to the locker room area where Buddy Rogers conducts an interview with Snuka. God was Rogers ever terrible in this role. Captain Lou immediately tries to district Snuka outside of the ring, and gets nailed by Buddy rogers for his troubles. Afa gets in some early offense but that doesn’t last long. Neither does this match as Snuka hits his usual spots and finishes Afa off with the Superfly Splash off the top rope. Afa gets taken out on a stretcher to sell the effects of the splash
Result: Jimmy Snuka @ 3:02 via Superfly Splash
Rating: **. The crowd was into it, and Jimmy looked amazing as usual.
Match #10: For the Women’s Championship: (Champion) The Fabulous Moolah vs Princess Victoria
Oh God damn it. I love Women’s wrestling and all, but Women’s wrestling in the WWF was awful in the early 80’s. The two trade the advantage back and forth and later work in some comedy spots with the ref. Moolah takes control for most of the match. Victoria makes a comeback but misses a second rope splash. Moolah with the cover and that’s it.
Result: Moolah @ 5:40 via missed splash
Rating: * ½. Not horrible. That’s the best compliment I can give. They at least tried different spots to make this watchable.
Match #11: For the Intercontinental Championship: (Champion) Don Muraco vs Rocky Johnson
This match has curfew draw written all over it. Muraco cuts a tremendous backstage promo before the match. Muraco really got lost in the Hogan era. He was so friggen good as a heel. Johnson gets the early advantage and works the leg of Don Muraco. Johnson works the same double toe hold spot for 6 minutes. Could you even imagine if someone tried to do that today? Muraco elbows his way out of it and takes control, but only for a moment as Johnson locks in a full nelson, which Muraco escapes from. Johnson follows up with a shitty looking dropkick and locks in the sleeper. The bell rings! We have a new champion! Oh no! Curfew is up and the bout is ruled a draw!
Result: Draw due to curfew elapsed.
Rating: * ½. Rocky Johnson was never one of my favourites and his offense looked like shit tonight. Muraco bumped well for Rocky, but I even think the crowd knew a title change wasn’t happening tonight.
