The Assassin vs. Tony Torres (4/28/82)

 

Assassin cuts a great promo on Ladd before the match, WWE really should’ve had the Assassin be a promo coach for them. Torres then tries to sneak attack him before the bell and he paid for that.

 

“Big Cat” Ernie Ladd vs. Hacksaw Higgins (4/28/82)

 

Ladd the babyface is always wild.

 

Ted DiBiase vs. Bob Roop (4/28/82)

 

This is a non-title match but DiBiase is looking for revenge on Roop for beating him for the North American title. This was a very good wrestling match as both men traded holds with some great reversals and counters. DiBiase threw some great punches in this. I always loved the matches with DiBiase/Roop/Orndorff because it always centered around the figure-four but this one had a different finish as DiBiase won with his powerslam. DiBiase then used Roop’s own shoulderbreaker on him after the match and counted 3 himself. I really liked this a lot and it’s on the border of a nomination.

 

Dick Murdoch vs. Hacksaw Duggan (4/28/82)

 

This was Duggan’s first TV match in Mid-South and he’s managed by Akbar, that’s fantastic. This starts out as nothing but a wild brawl but Duggan slows it down working on Murdoch’s arm. Murdoch used some great elbow drops in this before finishing Duggan with his brainbuster or so it seemed. Murdoch grabbed his trenching tool and starts chasing Akbar around the ring. Duggan then caught Murdoch with a knee to the back and tried to use the trenching tool himself but Murdoch countered with an atomic drop. Murdoch finally used it and got the 3 count.

 

Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. “Bruiser” Bob Sweetan & Kelly (Ken) Wayne (4/28/82)

 

Wow Ken Wayne working under a different first name and teaming with Sweetan, awesome. This was pretty much a squash match.

 

One Man Gang vs. Cocoa Samoa (4/28/82)

 

Cocoa tried to use his speed to get away early in the match but OMG destroys him.

 

The Grappler vs. Buddy Landell (4/28/82)

 

Landell gave it a go but Grappler just overpowered him.

 

Dick Murdoch vs. Hacksaw Higgins (4/28/82)

 

Murdoch made easy work of Higgins.

 

Bob Roop vs. Buddy Landell (4/28/82)

 

Good little match.

 

Mr. Olympia vs. Kelly (Ken) Wayne (4/28/82)

 

Olympia looked awesome here especially his punches.

 

The Assassin & One Man Gang vs. “Big Cat” Ernie Ladd & Iron Mike Sharpe (4/28/82)

 

Not a good match but it was fun especially when DiBiase ran in from the announce table.

 

Louisiana Heavyweight Title: Junkyard Dog © vs. “Bruiser” Bob Sweetan (4/28/82)

 

This was just a fight nothing pretty here. Lots of great punches thrown here as you would expect and JYD at this time was still a quality worker. Alfred Neely took a helluva ref bump before Sweetan tried to come off the top rope but JYD caught him and used the Thump for the win.

 

Ron Cheatham vs. Ricky Ferrara (4/28/82)

 

Pretty good match between the jobbers.

 

Hacksaw Duggan & The Grappler vs. Jesse Barr & Cocoa Samoa (4/28/82)

 

The match ends in a TV draw.

I enjoyed the heck out of both Murdoch v. Duggan and Sweetan v. JYD although neither are disc level matches. Still heel Akbar protege Duggan rules.

 

Ted DiBiase vs. Bob Roop (4/28/82)

 

Maybe I was wrong about DiBiase as a technician. The counters here were awesome, I especially loved the spinning toe hold reversal DiBiase used. Roop was great as usual, and I loved how they went from brawling to mat work back to brawling. I think this a selection for sure.