Pre-match mic work is so fucking awesome in this as Smothers just shit talks Tammy to all hell and leads a massive tramp chant. Lee suckers him and Tracy skins the cat back in, dropkicks him over, the ropes, hits his big baseball slide, a dive off the apron and then pinballs Lee off the wall for a great opening. Smothers is so fucking over as a face it is crazy. Really love Lee powering out of the first fall attempt and Tracy taking a bump on his throat on the middle rope. Tracy keeps coming back with the quick big spots, hitting a sweet backfist, a cross body, and a bunch of good punches in the corner before getting overwhelmed with a good looking clothesline off a reversal. Tracy takes a great bump off of a Lee punt to the ribs and then a rail bump after another teased comeback. God damn the pace in this is hectic but it is really awesome. The five minute call has already seen multiple momentum swings, some good bumping, great spots, et. Every time Tracy looks to make a comeback he gets stopped whether it be a sunset flip or a rope running spot out of a hulk up that ends with a sweet powerslam. There is a really great sequence in here with Tracy missing a dropkick, Lee missing an elbow and then Tracy eating the knees on a splash attempt to set Lee up for more control. Lee ends up taking a theatrical crotch bump on the ropes and Tracy rally fires it up. Tracy hits a really good looking superkick for a good nearfall. Crazy double knockout spot off the ropes with Smothers really leaning into it. Tammy ends up tossing her purse into the ring and we get a double dq for the finish. Despite the bs ending, this was a great match.

This was pretty awesome. Smothers is probably Lee's greatest opponent. Both guys in the bouts that I've seen them in together show great chemistry. The pre match stick work was gold. Smothers owns this crowd. They work a really fast paced bout here. Smothers had the superkick working big time here. I loved Lee's one arm full rotation powerslam. That was sick. Lee took some nice bumps for a big guy. Smothers took a lot of hard looking ones. Lee was great at working on top working Smothers neck. Eventually, this would lead to a great Lee crotch bump. I thought the finish was abrupt, but it did lead to the big stip match set up for the next night. If we got another 5 minutes or so we would be talking about one of the 10 best bouts in SMW history. Still really good stuff and a good nomination.

SMW Heavyweight Title: "Primetime" Brian Lee © vs. "Wild Eyed Southern Boy" Tracy Smothers (8/13/93)

 

Tim Horner is ringside to counter Tammy who is just 20 years old here. Tammy gets on the mic to pump up Lee before the match and trash Smothers so Tracy gets the mic and he just tears her up until Lee sneak attacks him. Tracy is relentless working over Lee here as he throws him into a wall and the fans go nuts for everything he does. Both men are working hard here as Tracy is all over the ring with Lee staying with him and they trade the advantage numerous times. Tracy has a sunset flip for a pin but Tammy has Mark Curtis hemmed up so he couldn't count which allows Lee to slow it down and work a chinlock. Tracy doesn't stay down long though as he gets up but eats a big powerslam trying to run the ropes. Lee then goes back to the chinlock before Tracy hulks up and fires back with punches leading to an exchange where both men missed big spots leading up to Lee crotching himself trying to hit a grounded Tracy. Smothers fires up taking it to Lee and gets a nearfall after his savate kick. There would be a great double collision though with Tracy really hitting hard which leads to Horner & Candido getting involved and Lee going for his glove which Mark Curtis sees and calls for the bell. Smothers gets the glove but Tammy distracts him and Lee regains it back before Horner runs him off. Shitty ending but a really fun match and it moves forward.