UWF Power Pro Wrestling (1.3.1987) Review

-Fish & Chips on Patreon keeps prolonging the death of this promotion with more episodes that I haven’t seen yet. What can I do? My hands are tied.

-Cold open: One Man Gang squashes Jeff Raitz.

-Originally aired January 3, 1987 from the Cowtown Coliseum, next door to Billy Bob’s.

GARY YOUNG vs. JACK VICTORY
-Victory gets the advantage with slams while JR reminds us that because the Cowtown Coliseum is located next door to Billy Bob’s, that means that if we buy tickets to a taping, we can go next door to Billy Bob’s after a taping. This was just a bad choice for a “home arena.” You’re invading a territory, which means you’re already dividing the ticket-buying audience, and you could probably get away with it if you picked a smaller venue, but instead these tapings look about 2/3 empty every week.

-Young works the arm but gets flung out to the floor by Victory. Mike George suddenly arrives on the scene as Victory takes control. Hard clothesline by Victory, and it looks like he’s going to put Young away but a foot on the ropes saves the day. Snap suplex by Victory gets another two-count. Oh my god, corral these fans over to the hard camera side, I feel like I’m watching a well-lit high school gym show.

-Bell sounds after ten minutes for the draw. This was sluggish as hell, it felt like an MSG curtain jerker.

ICEMAN KING PARSONS vs. STING (with Missy Hyatt)
-Terry Taylor pops in for commentary. Ring announcer introduces Iceman King Parsons as being “a member of The Family,” apparently hearing the song “We Are Family” on the PA system and assuming that’s the faction that Parsons belongs to.

-Chops and dropkicks by Parsons, and Sting goes scurrying to the floor. Sting comes to life and connects with the as-yet-unnamed Stinger Splash in the corner. Parsons fights back and backdrops Sting for two. Sting tries a Stinger splash off the ropes and stunguns himself. Parsons dives on top of him and goes for the win. Missy tries to stop it by clonking Parsons on the head with her purse, but the referee catches her and gives Parsons the win by DQ. Another dud, but again, Sting is definitely turning into something at this point.

-We get a commercial for UWF Power Paks on this January 3 episode of Power Pro Wrestling, and Bruce Prichard reminds us to order now to get them in time for Christmas. Uh, yeah, 356 days, I hope that’s enough advance.

TERRY GORDY vs. MIKE REED
-Reed applies a standing side headlock, but Gordy turns it into a suplex and just heaves the guy with it. Side headlock by Gordy, followed by such a badass clothesline that the fans just can’t boo Terry anymore and they pop like huge. Oriental spike knocks Reed out for the win.

UWF/PWI $50,000 TOURNAMENT FINALS: “Dr. Death” STEVE WILLIAMS vs. ONE MAN GANG (with General Akbar)
-Joined in progress from Sam Houston Coliseum. Gang is tangled in the ropes Andre-style and Dr. Death rams into him until Gang gets free and slips to the floor for a breather. Gang heads back in and hammers Dr. Death, but an avalanche misses. Dr. Death tackles Gang and slams him. Dr. Death goes for the Stampede, but Gang grabs the ropes on the way up to give himself leverage, and Doc collapses with Gang on top for a two-count. We pause for a break.

-Battle of the Monster Trucks is now available on VHS!

-Back from break as JR lets us know that UWF wrestlers are neither cartoon characters nor bodybuilders. Brawl goes to the floor, with Skandar Akbar distracting the referee and Doc actually being the one to capitalize, connecting with a chair, and Gang does a GORY blade job from that. Double shoulderblock takes out both guys AND the referee, so here comes Akbar, knocking out Williams with his riding crop. Gang heads to the second turnbuckle but crashes on the attempted 747, and Doc rolls over for the three-count to win the tournament. Good, hossly action for a bit.

CHAVO GUERRERO vs. MIKE GEORGE (with Jack Victory)
-George gets the early edge with a hair pull. Chavo gains control with strikes and kicks. Victory tries to interfere from the floor, so Chavo slingshots himself over the top and on top of Victory. That just makes the feller mad so Victory follows him back into the ring, and we have a beatdown.

5.2

The final score: review Not So Good

The 411

Feature bout was a good one if you're particularly a fan of this promotion, but other than that, this week was kind of a dud.