Mid-South Wrestling (8.28.1982) Review

-WWE Network preceded this with a promo for “Total Divas.” The audience that’s watching Mid-South Wrestling isn’t the audience that’s watching Total Divas.

-Originally aired August 14, 1982.

-Your hosts are Boyd Pierce and Skandar Akbar.

-Over Akbar’s objections, we rewatch last week’s Iron Mike Sharpe/Killer Khan match and the Buck Robley/Akbar match. Akbar complains about getting “molested” by Robley and needing to stand up for himself. #AkbarToo.

IRON MIKE SHARPE (Louisiana Champion) vs. MIKE BOND
-Just the sight of Iron Mike Sharpe wearing a title belt makes me glad that WWE Network exists.

-Sharpe wears Bond down with a side headlock and shoulderblocks him. Iron dropkick and a series of armdrags. Piledriver finishes with ease. Sharpe just obliterated Bond.

KILLER KHAN vs. COCO SOMOA
-Akbar remains at the commentary table because he wants to prove that his wrestlers are devastating without him, to offset accusations that Akbar’s cheating is the only reason for their success.

-Khan chops and stomps Samoa, and a knee off the second rope finishes! Damn, Coco didn’t get ANY token offense like he usually does, and Khan made short work of him.

HACKSAW DUGGAN vs. FRANK MONTE
-Duggan pounds away at Monte with forearms and a hiptoss. Frank finally starts throwing punches to break the ice for the jobbers, but Duggan slams him and drops an elbow. Neckbreaker gets two. Backdrop and a knee by Duggan. Monte gets a second wind and throws forearms but Duggan “spears” him, which looks NOTHING like what you’re picturing; it’s like Duggan is jumping up and yelling “Surprise!” and happens to make body contact while doing it. He rams Monte from corner to corner and powerslams him to finish it.

NORTH AMERICAN TITLE: TED DIBIASE (Champion) vs. “Captain Redneck” DICK MURDOCH
-New insight from Jim Cornette’s podcast: Murdoch legit idolized Killer Karl Kox, which is why he ripped off the gimmick wholesale when Kox abruptly retired.

-It’s a fistfight to start and DiBiase gets the hell out of there when Murdoch gets to be too much for him. Murdoch bites him and won’t let him run away. Murdoch just keeps kicking his ass as Hacksaw Duggan strolls down to ringside to lend moral support. Chinlock by Murdoch, which makes DiBiase sick with envy that there are no wrestling holds that rhyme with “DiBiase.” Unless you want to make a case for the Asai moonsault, but that’s a stretch.

-DiBiase takes over with a backdrop and knees to the back. We get more fisticuffs, and DiBiase gives Murdoch a backbreaker for two. Murdoch grabs the leg and starts snapping it back and forth. Murdoch just relentlessly works over the leg. DiBiase hangs in there. Murdoch tries for the figure four, but DiBiase kicks him away. Murdoch gives him one more hard right and sends him to the floor, before finally getting distracted by Duggan like you knew he would. For the record, Murdoch instigates, stomping on Duggan from the apron for no reason.

-DiBiase takes advantage with a sneak attack. Murdoch rolls up DiBiase as Duggan gets on the apron. DiBiase kicks out and Murdoch collides with Duggan, knocking Duggan off and knocking himself loopy. Murdoch goes for a bodypress and accidentally takes out the referee while he does it. Murdoch goes for the brainbuster, but Duggan runs in and spears him, and DiBiase’s body lands on top as the referee revives, crawls back in, and counts three for DiBiase to retain the belt. Fantastic match, as these guys let it all hang out and quite convincingly beat each other to death in the limited time they had on Mid-South TV.

MR. WRESTLING II vs. BILLY STARR
-II with a beautiful hiptoss and a knee that sends Starr to the floor. II slingshots him back in and applies a side headlock. Starr gets free and gets fired up with a knee and forearms. Slam by Starr, but an elbow misses and II’s good and mad now. Backdrop by II, followed by a ig suplex for two. Running kneelift finishes it.

COL. BUCK ROBLEY vs. TUG TAYLOR
-Snapmare by Taylor, but Robley turns it into headscissors as Boyd Pierce confirms that JYD vs. DiBiase is happening next week, and Grizzly Smith has appointed Mr. Wrestling II to be special guest referee! Robley uses some shots with the cast and elbows Taylor down. Sleeper closes this one for Robley.

ONE MAN GANG vs. VINNIE ROMEO
-Akbar keeps his word and remains at the table while Gang hammers down Romeo, and a big-ass elbow finishes.

6.1

The final score: review Average

The 411

Not much to say about everything else this week, but the feature is a doozy!