Boris Zuhkov & Mr. Olympia vs. Tim Horner & Johnny Rich (5/25/83)

 

Zuhkov is replacing the “injured” Ted DiBiase as Olympia’s partner (DiBiase was really going to All-Japan) and this is their first match as a team and Jim Nelson’s first match in this gimmick. Basic TV match but Olympia & Horner looked good.

 

Hacksaw Duggan vs. Tony Zane (5/25/83)

 

Squash match.

 

Hacksaw Duggan & Junkyard Dog vs. Kendo Nagasaki & Yoshiaki Yatsu (5/25/83)

 

Here is the beginning of the Butch Reed turn angle as Dick Murdoch “no-showed” and they brought out the face locker room to be voted upon to become JYD’s partner. Duggan was obviously the favorite of the fans but you could tell that Reed was pissed. Another big time squash match.

 

Tito Santana vs. Rip Rogers (5/25/83)

 

Rogers with black hair is fantastic. Good little competitive match.

 

King Kong Bundy vs. Tom Jones (5/25/83)

 

Yet another squash. Reed came in after the match and made a remark about not being picked by the fans but challenged Bundy to come back to the ring to prove himself, which he does for an impromptu match.

 

Butch Reed vs. King Kong Bundy (5/25/83)

 

Reed hit Bundy with a flying shoulderblock knocking him out of the ring and Bundy brings a chair in the ring but Reed grabs it and uses it to pound on Bundy getting a nearfall. Reed then climbed up top and hit him with a flying shoulderblock that sent Reed all the way out to the floor. Reed rolls in the ring and gets the Avalanche for his trouble for the 5 count. This was a fun little match.

 

Super Destroyer vs. Terry Allen (not yet Magnum TA) (5/25/83)

 

This was Terry’s debut in Mid-South and Watts gave him the Magnum name during the match. Competitive match with Magnum looking really good and actually pinned him using the atomic drop. Not too shabby.

 

El Gran Markus vs. Art Crews (5/25/83)

 

Nothing match.

 

Johnny Rich vs. Tony Zane (5/25/83)

 

Rich’s shirt made the match with his picture in the middle of JOHNNY RICH PRO WRESTLING.

 

Mr. Olympia vs. Mr. Wrestling II (5/25/83)

 

Good back and forth match with Akbar getting involved but to no avail as Olympia jobbed after two Million-Dollar Kneelifts. Fun stuff.

 

Boris Zuhkov vs. Tom Jones (5/25/83)

 

Nothing to see here.

 

King Kong Bundy vs. Mr. Wrestling II (5/25/83)

 

II comes out and says that he has bought out Art Crews’ contract with Bundy and he wants to avenge Reed’s loss from last week. II gives it all he’s got using his knees but Bundy throws him over the top rope for the DQ. Bundy then piledrives II on the floor for good measure. As you could tell II was on his way out of Mid-South.

 

Magnum TA vs. Kendo Nagasaki (5/25/83)

 

The superpush of Magnum starts kicking into high gear as Magnum beats the piss out of Kendo with his cane before basically squashing him. Yatsu comes out and Magnum takes out both of them.

 

Hacksaw Duggan vs. Super Destroyer (5/25/83)

 

Speaking of superpushes, Duggan’s is well on its way here. I always loved the Super D and it pains me to see him be a JTTS here in Mid-South. The match was fine though.

 

Rip Rogers vs. George Weingroff (5/25/83)

 

This won’t make the set but I loved this little match and am a huge fan of Weingroff in general because he was legally blind and was a really good worker. The match went to a TV time limit draw.

Lots of fun stuff, nothing disc worthy, I was hoping for a more epic finish to the Wrestling II v. Olympia feud, that really should have ended in a mascara contra mascara. Man did Ted DiBiase suck on commentary.