Boyd Pierce introduces Jim Ross to Mid-South Wrestling and this is his first announcing gig for Watts and Bob Roop comes out and tells them that Paul Orndorff probably wouldn’t be there for his match on the show and he wants the shot at Ted DiBiase instead. (3/17/82)

 

They show a video of Ernie Ladd’s knee operation from 2/26/82 and it is pretty graphic for the time followed by a Ladd promo.

 

One Man Gang vs. Buddy Landell (3/17/82)

 

Gang squashes Landell.

 

Killer Karl Kox vs. Bob Roop (3/17/82)

 

HERE COME THE JUDGE!!!!, what a great theme song. Kox comes out with his trenching tool and working the crazy Marine gimmick that Murdoch would steal a month later. Roop jumps Kox at the bell but Kox comes back and takes over. Kox is really slow here and he is looking ready for retirement, which he would do not too long later. Kox hits the brainbuster for the win.

 

The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) vs. Jesse Barr & Terry Gibbs (3/17/82)

 

Squash time.

 

North American Heavyweight Title: Ted DiBiase © vs. Bob Roop (3/17/82)

 

Sure enough Orndorff doesn’t show up so Roop gets his shot. Good back and forth match with DiBiase finally getting the figure-four locked but Roop executes the reversal that he had patented and DiBiase sells it like crazy. DiBiase tries and tries to turn it over and he does but Roop grabs the ropes. DiBiase then tries for it again but Roop kicks him right into the referee and One Man Gang shows up and wrenches DiBiase’s leg around the ringpost. Roop then drags DiBiase back in and locks in a modified figure-four which looks swank and DiBiase passes out in pain. DiBiase suffers a knee injury because of this and is out of action (gone to Japan IIRC.) This is another borderline nomination for me.

 

Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia vs. Tully Blanchard & Mike Bowyer (3/17/82)

 

The heels try to jump the faces at the bell but that was a mistake. This was a really fast paced match with the heels bumping like crazy and JYD hits the Thump on Bowyer in like a minute. Paul Orndorff shows up and walks past the ring after the match and after the break he talks about how his car was tampered with by Ted DiBiase and that’s why he didn’t make his booking but he figured out it was Bob Roop that did it. Orndorff has quite the beard here.

 

Jesus Christ, Boyd Pierce’s coat is insane on this episode as he loosk like a big fruit basket.

 

Paul Orndorff vs. Cocoa Samoa (3/17/82)

 

Orndorff is pissed off and takes it out on Cocoa. Bob Roop is supposed to wrestle Buddy Landell in the next match but Orndorff runs Landell off and starts destroying Roop and other heels who try to stop him.

 

Iron Mike Sharpe vs. Mike Bowyer (3/17/82)

 

Sharpe wins with the Canadian Backbreaker.

 

Junkyard Dog & Killer Karl Kox vs. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) (3/17/82)

 

JYD & The Judge, what a team. This wasn’t a technical masterpiece for sure but it was tremendous fun as there was a ref bump, Akbar getting beat on, and Kox breaking out his trenching tool. JYD was in awesome shape at this time.

 

One Man Gang vs. Terry Gibbs (3/17/82)

 

Squash.

 

Mr. Olympia vs. Tully Blanchard (3/17/82)

 

This was a really good back and forth match, Blanchard hung with Olympia the whole way and the finish was nice too.

 

Jesse Barr vs. Ricky Ferrara (3/17/82)

 

Barr looks really good here.

KKK was fun for a guy who kind of sucked, I enjoyed both of his matches. Tully v. Olympia was fine, but not as good as I was hoping it would be.

 

North American Heavyweight Title: Ted DiBiase © vs. Bob Roop (3/17/82)

 

This wasn't as good as the later DiBiase v. Roop match so I am going to say no. Roop's figure four variation was fucking sick looking though