LowBlowPodcast

All fixed. IF the list is up to date then we can open free agency back up. I will try to keep up on everything.

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM It is the calm before the storm as professional wrestling is returning to the North East as Vincent K. McMahon has returned to the Tri-State area and assumed control of what was once known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation and Capitol Wrestling Corporation owned by his father Vincent J. McMahon. The elder McMahon, Vince Sr, passed away on May 24th due to complications from pancreatic cancer at the age of 69, leaving in his will a sizeable donation to his son who immediately went to work on reimagining his fathers one time very successful business. In November of 1983, McMahon Sr. ceased operations of the now World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the North East due to health and financial complications. Vince Jr. headed to Mid South Wrestling and was groomed by ‘Cowboy’ Bill Watts. McMahon served as head of talent relations for Bill Watts’ Mid South Wrestling while also being part of management with talent and match making. McMahon was quick to bring in some Northeastern names the likes of Don Muraco, Ivan Putski, Big John Studd, and Bobby Heenan. These talents mixed with the likes of Ted Dibiase, The Junkyard Dog, and former NFL great Wahoo McDaniel along with younger talent like Gino Hernandez. McMahon was able to put the pieces together for what was the most successful show in North America in 1984 as over 20,000 people filled the Louisiana Superdome. It was two days after the death of his father but also the beginning of the transition. McMahom grew tired of the political aspirations of Watts and knew that the North East needed professional wrestling and they needed it bad. “I have a vision for what this sport can become and a way to deliver it to the fans to make it a full family experience that is enjoyable for all ages. When you had an arena like Madison Square Garden and no wrestling, these two things just don’t sit well with me. I want to bring wrestling back to its home and that’s what I plan on doing” McMahon said. McMahon is not coming alone, as he has acquired some of the top talent in the country to the Stamford based promotion. Mainstream stars like Ricky Steamboat, Randy Savage, and Ted Dibiase are well known in the area. Other well-known regional stars like Roddy Piper, Gino Hernandez, Jim Duggan, and Tony Atlas will also be vital pieces to the puzzle. Former WWWF Champion, Ivan Koloff is making his return to the area with his nephew Nikita Koloff as one of the most successful tag teams in the country. McMahon knows that the primary drive behind professional wrestling at this time is television… “Right now it is a television focused world. Our television drives people to our local events, which then sets up opportunities for special closed circuit programs. It is a driving force that is very cyclical but television is the most important. I was looking to sell the Mid South product around the country but people were not interested in the production and some of the names, they did know of the WWF, they knew of some of the wrestlers, but they were looking for something different. It was ultimately the main reason for returning. Without these television deals, there would be no WWF” explained McMahon. The WWF is in line to do their first television tapings tomorrow night in Hershey Pennsylvania at the Hersheypark Arena. One of the keys to selling his product were the voices that would be delivering the product. Longtime WWF favorite Gorilla Monsoon will return to the booth with Bobby the Brain Heenan to host the Saturday morning Wrestling Challenge program. Superstars will air on Sunday morning with Vince McMahon himself and Jesse Ventura hosting the program. These television shows will lead to live events throughout the North East and other spot shows in the country. Saturday will host shows in the Meadowlands, Boston Garden, Maple Leaf Gardens, and The Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, Texas. Sunday’s live events will be held in Madison Square Garden, The Sportatorium in Hollywood, Florida, Philadelphia Spectrum, and the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. McMahon says that it is important to hit the major markets while also staying close to home. “We will be running our television tapings on Tuesdays along with a three day live event loop throughout the North East. We are going to split up our wrestlers and have two separate shows each day. We will then look to some of our major markets on Saturdays and Sundays with Monday being an off and travel day for the wrestlers. It is going to be a strenuous project to get started but like most things, once the cycle is started, all things will fall into place” said McMahon. There are a lot of fans lining up to get a glimpse at the new WWF and look forward to what wrestling will become back here in the North East. If McMahon is true to his word, we know he will have a lot of firepower to get started and a lot of drive to become a power house promotion in the power house world of wrestling.

All set.

Yep.

Much like the AWA, the WWA stays powerful through the change and even adds what many (myself included) to be the top tag team in wrestling (The fantastics) to the mix. Some great things on the horizon.

I agree. PNW has got some nice momentum starting up and putting together a roster of your own. Gonna be fun to see how it plays out.

AWA stays strong in a season of change. I like how the Bodies have been used since you got them and wonder how the next month will be for them. Where do the Road Warriors fit in the whole scheme of things when all is said and done. With a major player like Hogan pulling up stakes, who could take his spot at the top of the AWA throne.

Love the new French Flavor to the project. Great start!

Okay I went through the Free Agency and got through a majority. If you run through and see someone who needs to be taken off, please post it on there so I can edit. I think the roster database is up to date as well. Again, if something is missing, let me know. A LOT of moves over the past 24 hours to freshen things up for the Summer. I am invested and very excited in the 11th month of this project and kicking it into high gear for the year anniversary next month. I am going to do my best to give the WWF justice and hope everyone likes how I present the product. Keep doin work!

104 - The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs) Points: 12 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 5 Average Vote: 23.6 High Vote: 22 (victory) Low Vote: 25 103 - The Thugs (Tony Anthony & Tracy Smothers) Points: 13 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 1 Average Vote:13 High Vote: 13 (f) Low Vote: 13 102 - Masato Yoshino & Naruki Doi Points: 14 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 2 Average Vote: 19 High Vote: 18 (MintProzac) Low Vote: 20 101 - Pretty Young Things (Norvell Austin & Koko Ware) Points: 14 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots:1 Average Vote: 12 High Vote: 12 (Chuck Gunter (ChuckScumm on PWO board)) Low Vote: 12 100 - Owen Hart & Yokozuna Points: 15 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 3 Average Vote: 21 High Vote: 21 (Trust Issues,LordMo, &Ismael Retana) Low Vote: 21

110 - Buddy Rose & Ed Wiskoski Points: 9 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 2 Average Vote: 21.5 High Vote: 21 (Cross Face Chicken Wing) Low Vote: 22 109 - The Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner) Points: 9 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 1 Average Vote: 17 High Vote: 17 (JazeUSA) Low Vote: 17 108 - Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio Jr. Points: 10 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 3 Average Vote: 22.66 High Vote: 18 (Jingus) Low Vote: 25 107 - Cody Rhodes & Goldust Points: 10 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 1 Average Vote: 16 High Vote: 16 (Trust Issues) Low Vote: 16 106 - Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas Points: 11 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 2 Average Vote: 20.5 High Vote: 16 (kbc) Low Vote: 25 105 - Ashura Hara & Genichiro Tenryu Points: 11 #1 Votes: 0 #2 Votes: 0 #3 Votes: 0 Top 10 Votes: 0 # of Ballots: 1 Average Vote: 15 High Vote: 15 (f) Low Vote: 15

Loans don't need to be updated. You both still have the rights to the people from your promotion, it is just a quick change.

Ricky and Robert don't count against you since they are on the loan. I will fix this up tomorrow.

Should be up to date as of the Lutte / Florida trade.

Awesome transition show. I forgot to mention you taking over Mid South. Great stuff.

WWF sends Billy Robinson to Lutte for Sgt. Slaughter.

Where did Slaughter go?

Okay guys, I have updated the database... please double check there and see what needs to change and post it on there. I will attack free agency hopefully tonight or tomorrow... again as of right now there is a HOLD on Free Agency until I get it updated.

WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION Owner: Vincent K. McMahon Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura Referees: Dick Woehrle, Dick Kroll, & Nick Patrick Ring Announcers: Howard Finkel & Gary Michael Capetta TITLES WWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT Hulk Hogan defeated Ted Dibiase -8/5/1984 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden Ric Flair defeated Hulk Hogan - 4/20/1986 - Boston, MA - Boston Garden WWF INTERCONTINENTAL Gino Hernandez defeated Ricky Steamboat - 6/10/1984 - New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden Rick Martel defeated Gino Hernandez - 6/23/84 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Maple Leaf Gardens (2)Gino Hernandez defeated Rick Martel - 7/22/84 – Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia Spectrum Randy Savage defeated Gino Hernandez - 12/30/84 - New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden Barry Windham defeated Randy Savage - 3/30/1986 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - WrestleMania II (2)Randy Savage defeated Barry Windham - 8/30/1986 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada - The Forum - SNME X WWF TAG TEAM The Russians (Ivan & Nikita) defeated Hillbilly Jim & Uncle Elmer - 6/9/1984 - East Rutherford, NJ – The Meadowlands The Brisco Brothers defeated The Russians - 7/8/84 - New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden Dick Slater & Bob Orton Jr defeated The Brisco Brothers - 8/11/1984 - Boston, MA - The Boston Garden The British Bulldogs defeated Dick Slater & Bob Orton Jr - 9/8/1984 - St. Louis, MO – Kiel Auditorium (2)The Russians (Ivan & Nikita) defeated The British Bulldogs - 10/7/1984 - Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion (2)The British Bulldogs defeated the Russians - 2/2/1985 - Los Angeles, CA - Olympic Auditorium Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams defeated the British Bulldogs - 3/31/1985 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden - WrestleMania I Demolition defeated Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams - 6/9/1985 - Los Angeles, CA - Sports Arena (2)Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams defeated The Machines 7/6/1985 - Houston, TX - Sam Houston Coliseum Barry Windham & Tito Santana defeated Gino Hernandez & Rick Rude (Sub for Adams) 10/26/1985 - Long Island, NY - Nassau Coliseum - SNME IV The Fabulous Ones defeated Tito Barry Windham & Tito Santana 10/28/1985 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden The Hart Foundation defeated The Fabulous Ones - 3/30/1986 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - WrestleMania II Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated The Hart Foundation - 7/6/1986 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon WWF TELEVISION Curt Hennig defeated Greg Valentine - 6/28/1986 - Hartford, CT - Civic Center - SNME IX TELEVISION WWF Wrestling Challenge Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby The Brain Heenan Shown on Saturday mornings in National Syndication WWF All-American Wrestling Gene Okerland & Lord Alfred Hayes Shown on Sunday mornings in National Syndication WWF Superstars Vince McMahon & Jesse the Body Ventura Shown on Sunday mornings in National Syndication WWF Prime Time Wrestling Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura Show on Monday evenings on the USA Network

Well the cat is out of the bag; Mid South is turning into the WWF. There are a NUMBER of deals made to have this go through, please bear with me as I put them all out here… WWF sends Wahoo McDaniel, Junkyard Dog, Tully Blanchard, Scott Casey, and Magnum TA to Mid Atlantic for Randy Savage w/ Elizabeth, Ricky Steamboat, & The Freebirds WWF sends the Freebirds, Adrian Adonis, and Dick Murdoch to USWA for Roddy Piper, Tony Atlas, Hercules, The Missing Link, and Killer Khan WWF sends The Fantastics to WWA for The Rougeau Brothers WWF sends The Rougeau Brothers to Lutte for Jesse Ventura and Brutus Beefcake. WWF sends Don Muraco, Masked Superstar, Koko Ware, Norvell Austin, & Tonga Kid to Portland (Stampede) for Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith, William Regal, & John Nord The database is going to put together shortly....

Okay guys, we have got a LOT of changes going on today. Let's run through them in a list and go from there... 1. Mid South has OFFICIALLY turned into the WWF. I will be updating the trade deals and database shortly. 2. Perfectly Straightedge is going to move out of Stampede with 10 men and join the USWA as Florida. 3. Straightedge and Kevin will be sharing some talent that will be highlighted later on. 4. Jprice is going to come in and take over what is remaining from Stampede and move it to Portland. I am still trying to get my from Sutton set up with Southeastern and should have that locked down before too long. I am going HOLD free agency for 24 hours so I can get everything updated and everyone on the same page so please bear with me and in 24 hours everything will be set and ready to move forward. Check the trade deals and database for updates.

World Wrestling Federation updates... We continue to get updates on the World Wrestling Federation as each day passes. As of this morning, it was announced that the WWF would have northeastern syndication on Saturday and Sunday mornings with Challenge and Superstars respectively. Vince McMahon has brokered deals to bring in Gorilla Monsoon to headline Challenge along with Co-Host Bobby Heenan. McMahon is still looking to finalize a contract for his color commentator on Superstars. The WWF has signed an exclusive deal with the MSG network to showcase 6 specials throughout the year to be televised. These are expected to be big shows for the WWF and run concurrently with the other shows from Philadelphia and Boston. The first major signings that have been announced from the WWF is Ted Dibiase and Gino Hernandez. These two are sure fire locked to be prime time players for the WWF for the foreseeable future. Vince McMahon has continued to circle the nation to find top stars to bring in. McMahon is expected to have a press release on the full WWF roster on the 1st of June. McMahon did release today that he had worked out a weekly schedule with special shows every Saturday and Sunday in The Meadowlands & Madison Square Garden, Boston Garden & The Sportatorium in Hollywood Florida, Maple Leaf Gardens & The Philadelphia Spectrum, and The Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston & The Olympic Arena in Los Angeles. Syndication will continue in these local markets as McMahon continues to expand the WWF.

In late breaking news, Vince McMahon Jr has reopened the WWF in honor of his late father Vince McMahon Sr. Reports came in early this morning that McMahon brokered a deal going behind the back of Bill Watts and effectively ending a majority of the Mid-South contracts while signing those individuals to new contracts for the World Wrestling Federation. There are some individuals who chose to not signed deals as they were contacted late over the weekend and watts is said to be fuming. McMahon offered big time money for individuals to join the northeastern promotion and there are plenty who took the deal. McMahon also reached out to other individuals around the country and is said to be bringing in top talent from almost every territory. The deal came to fruition when McMahon secured syndication for his television on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the northeastern area Los Angeles Chicago and Florida. There are many who are wondering just who will be jumping ship but McMahon has already set out a memo with upcoming towns. The week long layoff will allow the WWF to get their ducks in a row and prepare for their tours. Expect names of individuals who will be on the roster to be released on June 1st.

5/26/1984 - Mid South Wrestling Presents: The Last Stampede! Live from the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana Attendance: 22,453 Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell vs Koko Ware & Norvell Austin -A hot opener with four of the brightest young stars in wrestling. We see Koko and Austin really work well and get some nice heat. On the flip side, Blair and Brunzell work hope spots well and we see a nice 11-minute opener to get the crowd going. We see a lot of fast paced action and the finish sees Koko and Norvell with a double back body drop on Brunzell but he lands on his feet and then drops down as Blair hits a double flying cross body! Novell gets up and runs at Brunzell who drops down and Norvell goes over the top to the floor. Koko leaps at Blair who hits him with a huge dropkick and he backs up into Brunzell who grabs him for a crucifix for the 1…2…3!! Blair and Brunzell with the big win here as the crowd pops! Ivan Putski vs The Barbarian -A real prime showcase for the Barbarian who looks like a complete monster. He handles Putski well who gives him exactly what is needed to put him over. This one only goes about 8-minutes and we see the power of the Barbarian and in the end he hoists up Putski on his shoulder and then a big SHOULDER BREAKER for the 1…2….3! Barbarian looks great here and he has got a bright future in front of him! Wahoo McDaniel vs Scott Casey -This one has got a lot of heat with Casey and Wahoo’s story being one of passion and betrayal. This is a 15-minute blood bath with both of these guys just bleeding buckets. They battle outside the ring and into the crowd as the fans are screaming for their lives. The brawl goes back into the ring and we see Casey looking to finish but it is Wahoo who has got something left in the tank. He hammers away with some huge chops and then an overhead chop that puts Casey down on his knees. Wahoo hits the ropes and then jumps and hits another overhand chop and Casey crumbles. The referee goes to check him out as Wahoo is standing over him bloody. The referee calls for the bell and awards the contest to Wahoo who is bloodied and raises his arm in the air. MID SOUTH TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP Magnum TA vs Rick Rude © w/ Bobby Heenan -A great prime time contest for both of these men. Rude is rocking the title and Heenan is getting some great heat. This one goes 25-minutes and it does have some weak spots. Neither Rude nor Magnum is in their prime yet, but with Heenan’s help they get through. This one doesn’t have the blood and guts of the other but has some decent wrestling. In the end we see Rick Rude hit the Rude Awakening but Magnum is right next to the ropes. Rude works him over a little more but Magnum makes his big comeback. The crowd is rocking with him as he looks to finish but Heenan is up on the apron. Rude is able to grab Magnum and looks for the Rude Awakening but Magnum powers out, pushes him into Heenan and knocks him off the apron! Rude turns around and Magnum is there for the BELLY TO BELLY FOR THE 1….2…..3!!! MAGNUM HAS WON THE TV TITLE FOR A SECOND TIME! The crowd is going wild here as Magnum holds the title high in the air and the fans behind him all the way. ALL-AMERICAN BRAWL Bill Watts, Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams vs The Russians (Ivan, Nikita, & Krusher) -This one is pretty simple… both teams come out for a fight and a fight is what they get! Watts is nowhere near ready for the beating but he pairs up with Ivan and they do some decent work. Rotundo sells big time for Nikita and then we see Dr. Death beating the piss out of Kruschev. We see all six men interact with one another and it is Nikita who is greener than grass but he definitely gets his strength over. We see the Americans, Ivan, and Krusher all bloodied up but Nikita stands strong. The finish sees Ivan and Krusher lock up Williams and Rotundo in the ropes with Russian chains and then they holds Watts and we see Nikita kill him with a couple of huge Russian Sickles. Ivan holds up Watts one more time as Nikita wraps the chain around his arm and then nails Watts one last time and puts him down as Ivan covers him for the 1…2….3! The Russians have won and the crowd is irate! They are showering the ring with debris as the Russians have a hard time getting out of the ring to the back. *INTERMISSION* WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP The Fantastics © vs The Guerreros © (Hector & Chavo) -We come back from intermission with a white-hot tag team contest. We see these four men put on a clinic. They go 28-minutes and get close to the 30-minute time limit as it comes down to the last 120 seconds. We see all four men get involved and even the Guerreros really take control of Tommy Rogers. They are beating him down to nothing left but he makes the huge tag to Fulton who is a house of fire! They come back with some huge shots and strikes all over the place. We see every man putting everything they have got and in the last two minutes we see greatness. Hector comes off the rope with a huge dropkick on Fulton. Chavo and Hector double up on Rogers but he hits a flying double head scissors! Fulton and Rogers run with a double dropkicks on both men. Chavo runs at both of them again and a double monkey flip and Chavo goes flying over the top rope to the floor! Hector comes and kicks Fulton right in the throat and goes for another on Rogers ducks and then comes behind with a backslide for the 1….2…3! THE FANTASTICS HAVE WON THE WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES! THE CROWD EXPLODES! The fans are just going nuts. Security is trying to hold the fans back as some of them jump into the ring! Rogers and Fulton hold both titles high in the air as this is a magical moment! MID SOUTH NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP Jim Duggan © vs King Kong Bundy w/ Bobby Heenan -Heenan is back out here looking for the biggest prize in Mid South. This one is a messy brawl for about 14-minutes. We see these guys go outside the ring and inside. Heenan gets involved and helps Bundy get control. Bundy is working the ribs pretty well here and Duggan is selling in a big way. We see Bundy hit him in the turnbuckle 4 times with a big splash and Duggan is selling in a big way. Bundy goes for the AVALANCHE for the 1….2….3… But Bundy says keep counting for the 4…. And Duggan kicks out! Heenan is screaming at Bundy! He had the title won but he won’t take it. He picks up Duggan and walks him around the ring but Duggan jumps over his back and throws Bundy into the turnbuckle… Bundy staggers back and Duggan with a powerslam! Both men are down and Heenan is screaming for Bundy who slowly gets up, as does Duggan. Heenan tries to hold on to Duggan’s leg as Bundy runs for a splash but Duggan gets out of the way and Bundy nails the turnbuckle! Duggan hits the ropes and leaps for a flying shoulder block and Bundy goes flying! Duggan covers for the 1….2….3!! DUGGAN HAS WON IT! Heenan is crying outside the ring and he comes in as Bundy and Heenan double up on Duggan and he goes outside but gets the 2x4! He comes in and just CRACKS Bundy over the skull with the 2x4 and it shatters! Heenan takes his man, bloody as all get out up the aisle. Duggan holds the title high in the air. MAIN EVENT Ted Dibiase & Junkyard Dog vs Gino Hernandez & Tully Blanchard -We have seen some matches try to steal the show but this is the reason why everyone is here. Gino and Tully have got so much heat as security brings them down to the ring. Dibiase comes out to a nice ovation but fans are still luke-warm on him. The fans come unglued when the JYD comes out and it is pure chaos. JYD is kissing fans all the way to the ring. These guys get a solid 30-minutes and my oh my it is great as a spectacle. Dibiase does some great in ring work with Hernandez and Blanchard to carry the match but it is JYD who makes the match special. He comes in with some huge bombs and he has got the crowd going wild. We see the tease near the end with Dibiase getting busted up on the corner. Hernandez and Blanchard work over the Dog badly but somehow he finds a way to break free. He goes to tag Dibiase who drops down and is shaking his head. He is shaking out the cobwebs but here comes Blanchard to try and finish off the Dog. Dibiase is getting screamed at by the crowd as Hernandez and Blanchard are going for a spike pile driver but Dibiase jumps back in and we’ve got a four way brawl and the crowd is back in! Dibiase and JYD go back to back and then we see Dibiase throw JYD down and take a huge clothesline. Hernandez and Blanchard are working as a unit but JYD has got the momentum. We see him with some huge strikes and then Dibiase comes back and he and Hernandez go out of the ring to the floor. Inside, Blanchard goes for a knee lift but JYD grabs him and hoists him up for the THUMP and the 1…2….3!!! THE CROWD EXPLODES! Blanchard goes out of the ring but Dibiase grabs the briefcase… he steps into the ring and teases hitting JYD with it… instead he opens it up and they start tossing the money around! They shake hands and what a night. The Superdome has seen it all. So long for Mid South Wrestling!

Mid South notes from the Superdome -There is a somber feeling in the arena tonight with the talent feeling the waves from Vince McMahon Sr's death. A great deal of the talent worked for McMahon at one point or the other. Vince Jr's absence is also being felt as Bill Dundee is not in the building but has already given out the assignments for the night. Bill Watts has been absent most of the week as negotiations between him and the USWA have heated up. He is running the event tonight with help from Grizzly Smith and Joel Watts. It just isn't a good feeling in the arena at this point. -There are many who think this show will be the kickoff for Watts to move towards national syndication for Mid South. Many within Mid South see this as the culmination of the first half of the year and the kick off point for a big summer. - If the USWA rumors are true, expect Jim Ross to take a main production role and perhaps be the voice of the entire company. Ross is highly touted as one of the top announcers in the sport right now and is said to be a key piece of the puzzle if everything comes together. -Dick Slater and Bob Orton are in the building but not expected to be used. They signed pay per appearance deals with Mid South but did not have a program going into tonight's card... that doesn't mean they won't show up in an angle. Before McMahon left, he had ideas to put them with Tully and Gino and that could still go through, however Bill Dundee wanted to keep them as a tag team. -Expect the Guerreros and Fantastics to put everything on the line tonight. There is a lot of talk about this being a match of the year candidate with both teams coming in with a lot of momentum.