Nick Bockwinkel vs. Terry Allen (early 1982)

 

This is from the Junction in San Antonio with a very young Magnum TA. Good little match with Allen getting offense in and showing potential but Bock takes this.

 

“Polish Power” Ivan Putski vs. “The Continental Lover” Eddy Mansfield (early 1982)

 

This wasn’t a good match.

 

Tito Santana vs. Kelly Kiniski (early 1982)

 

Not a bad match.

 

“Chief” Wahoo McDaniel vs. Tully Blanchard (mid 1981)

 

The funny part about this mach is that the ring announcers are doing commentary from the ring apron. Tully jumps Wahoo before the match but Wahoo would just chop the shit out of him to get him off of him. Wahoo just took it to Tully here but Tully would hang tough and would get the advantage but would make the mistake of trying to trade shots with Wahoo. Wahoo just pounded him but Tully would cheap shot him on the break, which would give Tully the chance to get the advantage back but Wahoo starts throwing chops again then hits a double-arm suplex for a nearfall. Tully would go to the floor to recover and would grab Wahoo’s leg taking him out to the floor as well where their battle would continue until Wahoo threw referee Juan Reynosa aka Tarras Bulba down for the DQ. This was fun stuff but I’m not sure on nomination.

 

Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert (fall 1984)

 

This is from WMC Studios and Eddie is still learning to be a heel but he shows the signs of how awesome he would become as he was getting all the chickenshit heel schtick down but he was still trying to get the heel offense down. Lawler made Gilbert look great here and Gilbert sold the strap dropping with the comeback well until Rick Rude & Jimmy Hart ran in to attack Lawler for the DQ. This was very fun but not a nomination.

 

International Heavyweight Title: “The Universal Heartthrob” Austin Idol © vs. Masao Ito (6/16/84)

 

This is also from WMC and Ito is accompanied by a mystery masked man in camo. Ito uses his odd looking offense to take it to Idol early including throwing some real hard chops. Idol would make a quick comeback though using bodyslams then his diving elbow off the middle rope. Idol would soon go for the Las Vegas Leglock but the mystery man would take Idol to the floor and hit him with the nunchuks laying him out for the countout. Ito wins the title on a countout. Nothing much here.

 

The Dynamic Duo (Tully Blanchard & Gino Hernandez) vs. Terry Allen & Magnum TA (early 1982)

 

Lou Thesz is on commentary for this and Allen looks like he is wearing speedos here that would make Latin Lover blush. This is a fun little match but not nomination material.

 

Southern Heavyweight Title: Terry Taylor vs. Sabu (Cocoa Samoa) (11/29/82)

 

This starts out slow with Sabu using a lot of strikes to keep Taylor at bay but Taylor would fight back. This is kind of a sloppy match at times though with these guys having not much chemistry with each other. Taylor would look good on his comeback though throwing great punches but Sabu would just chunk him over the top rope for the DQ. Not a good match.

 

“Chief” Wahoo McDaniel & The Uptown Boys (Marty Jannetty & Tommy Rogers) vs. The Grapplers (Tony Anthony & Len Denton) & Ted Oates (mid 1984)

 

This is from the Central States area and this Tommy Rogers is really Tommy Lane as the Uptown Boys are doing a knockoff RnR Express gimmick. This was okay but nothing spectacular.

Just watching the Memphis on these for now

 

Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert (fall 1984)

 

I think this is definitly at least a borderline nomination, as Gilbert was pretty awesome as a chickenshit heel, and Lawler looked great bumping him all around the ring. I espeically loved Eddie going completly horizontal on a Lawler punch. Cheap finish, wouldn't make a Mid-South set, but I think we need to shift expectations a bit

 

International Heavyweight Title: “The Universal Heartthrob” Austin Idol © vs. Masao Ito (6/16/84)

 

This was in fact nothing much. I wonder why they picked it

 

Southern Heavyweight Title: Terry Taylor vs. Sabu (Cocoa Samoa) (11/29/82)

 

I liked this a bunch more then Kris did. I like Sabu's little shots to the throat and short chops, and Taylor does a great job being beat on until the hot comeback. Crazy over the top rope bump too. Not a nomination, but a fine match