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What the HECK?/Intro- Missouri and Central States, Spring 1984
This is a rare compilation tape that I picked up through the Fucking Internet.
It contains matches from around the St. Louis area, from the AWA, WWF and
Central States Wrestling. There's also a few World Class matches mixed in. The time period
is roughly May-June 1984, and several promos for upcoming NWA cards at the
Kiel Auditorium are included. Central States was an
NWA affiilate, so there's alot of cross-promotion going on. Roughly 5 and 1/2 hours,
I'm breaking it down to readable segments. Same formula I used for the
ol' AWA TCS tape. This is part 1 of a likely 3 part series.
But with so much going on, let's get down to ringside for
an episode of Central States' All! Star! Wrestling!
Match 1: Art Crews vs. Tommy Sharpe
Joined in progress. Way in progress. Last minute of the match, with
Crews delivering a belly-to-back suplex, then coming off the second rope
with a bodypress to score the 3 count.
Local St. Louis promo with commentator Kevin Wall and
"Crazy" Luke Graham. Wall plugs a big upcoming show, June 1 at
the Kiel Auditorium. Main event is set to include NWA World Champion
Kerry Von Erich defending against Ric Flair! Graham talks about his opponent,
"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. Graham channels Hank Hill and sez:
"that boy ain't well!"
Match 2: Wahoo McDaniel vs. Unknown Masked Jobber
Wall provides the intro to this NWA match, but the match itself has no
commentary. No idea who the masked jobber is. He's wearing a blue mask, with
a top-knot ponytail. ID him correctly and you'll be moderately rewarded.
Wahoo starts with an armbar into a takedown. Knucklelock happens, then it's
back to the armbar. A few chops from Wahoo until the UMJ pulls the hair and gets
in a few shots. Wahoo reverses an armbar, whips him to the
ropes for a big chop, then delivers a vertical suplex to score the 3. No need for
fancy ingredients, a basic squash will do.
Wall is back, this time with Tommy Rogers of the Uptown Boys, who will also be in action
on the 1st. Who was the other Uptown Boy? Well golly, READ ON for the answer, true believer!
T.G. Stone offers a rebuttal to Rogers.
Match 3: Scott Ferris vs. Jerry Anderson
Ferris is a rocked-up dude with a bad attitude. Anderson has a bitchin' afro and
looks like Snowball from "The Warriors".
(The actor that played Snowball disappeared after filming "The Warriors"..or DID he?!!). Pretty much
a squash as Ferris hooks a front facelock and turns it into a suplex. Kneedrop, whip to the ropes
and an elbow gets Ferris a 2 count. Anderson fights back briefly, until Ferris hooks him
into an overhead shoulder breaker. Powerslam from Ferris gets 2. Ferris hooks
a cobra cluthc type of hold and takes Anderson down for another 2. Big gorilla
press-slam and a reverse piledriver (aka "tombstone") scores the pin for
Ferris.
An in-ring interview with Central States Tag Team Champions, the Grapplers.
Standard "we is heels and we is bad" stuff.
Pretty sure Grap 1 was Len Denton. I think Grap 2 was Tony "Dirty White Boy/T.L.
Hopper" Anthony.
Match 4: Ric Flair vs. Guy Rose
A re-broadcast from NWA/JCP with Gordon Solie on the call. Joined-in-progress, with
Flair working a side headlock into a takedown. Flair works a reverse nelson in a mat
sequence. Flair with a crossface and hooks the arm for a 2 count.
ROse fights up, goes for a headlock and FLair shoves him off to the ropes.
Flair leapfrogs and runs into a hiptoss from Rose. Flair recovers with
an arm wringer, then works a wristlock into a takedown. Flair tosses Rose into
the corner for some chops. Rose is whipped to the ropes for an elbowsmash, then
a snapmare and kneedrop from Flair. Vertical suplex and the figure four cinch
the victory for Naitch.
Match 5: Ted Oates, Jerry Oates & Marty Jannetty vs. Grappler 1, Grappler 2 and
T.G. Stone
I know the suspense is killing you, but remember the other Uptown Boy?
That'd be Marty Jannetty. Some tease, eh?! T.G. Stone looks like
the bastard child of Eric Embry and Vampiro, complete
with huge-ass shoulder tatoos. Jannetty and Stone start, with Stone
sneaking in a few slaps then bailing. Jannetty with a side headlock into a takedown.
Shoulderblock, leapfrog and a shot to the bazooka sends Stone to his corner. Jannetty
delivers a backdrop on Grap 1. Grap
1 pounds on Jannetty, then both guys tag off to Grappler 2 and Ted Oates, respectively.
Ted clears the ring, allowing the Graps to do an illegal switcheroo. Ted manages to slam
the fresh Grap 1 and tags Jerry. Quick sequence with Jerry bridging up on
an overhead wristlock. Jerry with a dropkick, and Grap 2 is tagged in. Jannetty
works on Grap 2 for awhile, while commentator Kevin Wall tells us that
Grap 2 has a reputation for getting the shit kicked out of him
and being the "sacrificial lamb" of the team.
In other words, we have the heel equivlaent of "playing Ricky Morton"!! Ted Oates returns
and gets nailed by a clothesline. Heels do the typical doubleteam clubbering on
Ted. Grap 1 with a swinging neckbreaker for 2. Grap 2 returns and tries a backdrop, but
Ted nails him with a knee. Guys trade headbutts, then Stone comes in for a chinlock.
Grap 1 misses a dropkick attempt and Ted Oates counters with a piledriver slam.
Hot tag to Jannetty who clears the ring. Jannetty with a backdrop, slam
and a Thesz press on Grappler #1 for 2. All 6 guys enter the ring and start brawling.
Ref get bumped and it's a double disqualification.
Cut to some AWA footage, now. Ken Resnick is with Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell, who
are showing off a trophy they recently won in Japan.
Match 6: Blackjack Mulligan vs. Jerry Blackwell (w/Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey)
Y'know, it looks like this MIGHT have been filmed in the old Denver Auditorium Arena!
JIP, with Blackwell pounding Mulligan into the corner. Mulligan reverses an irishwhip
attempt and sends Blackwell into the opposite turnbuckle. FLying elbowsmash from
Mulligan sneds Blackwell to the outside. Mulligan offers a handshake and squeezes
Blackwell's hand. Blackwell responds with a kick to the tummy, a headbutt
 |
| NOT
the Village People |
and GASP, an EYEPOKE! Brawl breaks out with Mulligan gaining the upperhand. Whip
to the ropes and Blackwell gets backdropped. Mulligan splits the legs, stomps
and drops an elbow. Mulligan covers, but pulls him up at 2.
Mulligan whips him to the ropes again for another flying elbow. Covers once more,
and again pulls him up at 2. Another whip and a big clothesline from Mulligan.
Once more he pulls up Blackwell at 2. Whip again and Mulligan hits a nasty
Clothesline From Sweetwater to finally score the pin.
Ken Resnick has some pre-recorded comments from both Blackjacks: Mulligan
and Lanza. The gist is that
the Blackjacks have both beaten Tag Team Champs
Blackwell and Ken Patera in individual matches.
Lanza talks about a recent lumberjack match with Patera, while
Mulligan challenges the "NWA and Ric Flair".
Resnick is back again, this time with Rick Martel. Martel is focussed on
winning the AWA Title from Jumbo Tsurata. Martel says "I..uh..." ALOT
in one of the wimpiest interviews ever.
Match 7: WCCW American Heavyweight Championship:
Chris Adams (c, w/ Sunshine) vs. "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin (w/Precious)
A re-broadcast from a World Class show at the Will Rogers Arena. JIP with
Garvin working an armbar. Adams with a drop toehold and works Garvin to the mat.
Garvin with a suplex for 2. Garvin follows up with a slam, then misses
from the second rope. Adams kicks away on Garvin's knee and gets 2.
Adams whips him to the rops for a backdrop attempt, but Garvin nails
him with a STIFF knee. Adams punches back and delivers a catapult to Garvin.
Garvin puts on the brakes and nails Adams. Adams throws him to
the turnbuckle, drops a knee and then a reverse piledriver into a slam. Adams goes up top
for a splash, but Garvin counters by getting his knees up. Garvin drapes him on the ropes
and gets 2. Precious and Sunshine start arguing on the outside and distracting the ref.
In the ring, Adams rolls up Garvin for a pin attempt. Precious reaches in with
her fragrance can and sprays Adams in the eyes. Garvin hits a belly-to-back suplex to get
the pin and become the NEW American Heavyweight Champion. Annonced time is
18:04 (I really should keep track of match times...someday). Afterwards, the referee
(Mark Hazzard?) gets on the house mic and declares that this is the last time
the ladies will interfere in a match.
A special music video of the Great Kabuki, who is in Japan training for his big match
against Kamala the Ugandan Giant. Above average camera work, with closeup shots
of raindrops on tree leaves. Kabuki kicks and twirls his numchuks for added effect.
This is set to the tune of some crappy mid-80's new wave tune. "Day after day..
night after night" is the chorus. Don't know and don't really care...but if you can identify
the tune you'll be...mildy rewarded!
Match 8: "Cowboy" Bob Orton vs. Michael Ray
From a WWF show in St. Louis on June 15, 1984. Vince McMahon and "Mean" Gene
Okerlund provide the call. Orton with a drop toehold and armbar into a crossface.
Ray works a headlock to take Orton down, but Orton rolls him over for a quick 1 count.
Orton pounds away, whips and elbows. A headlock happens.
Ray powers up, but Orton steps in and trips him. More headlockin'.
Now it's evolved into a front facelock. Orton hiptosses, dropkicks, then
tosses Ray out through the ropes. Orton lifts Ray overhead for a one-armed
press (!) into a side backbreaker. Slam and headlock from Orton. Orton seals
the match with a second rope super-plex to score the 3.
"Mean" Gene interviews Roddy Piper. Piper is wearing his old
panther/Black Cat Fireworks mascot t-shirt, and is snarlin to match
the animal. Funny. Piper takes us through some recent highlights of
his match against Jimmy Snuka at the Kiel Auditorium. Snuka is pummeling
the Hot Rod, but Piper insists "I was playin' possum!". Snuka dives over
the ropes ont Piper at ringside ("He was tryin' to kill me!!). Piper
promises more merriment when the two meet in St. Louis, next.
 |
| Curious George |
Match 9: George "The Animal" Steele (w/Mr. Fuji) vs. Bob Boyer
More from the WWF show. Boyer looks like the old feller who used to cut my hair, circa
fourth grade. Fuji is wearing a tophat, not his trademark bowler, for
all you trivia geeks. Steele makes like King Louie to scare away Boyer.
Steele pounds, stomps, pounds, stomps and..oh, headlock! Steele nails Boyer with
a foreign object to the throat, then hides the object as the ref searches.
Steele throws Boyer through the ropes, then brings him in to apply
a flying hammerlock. Steele wins by submission, then thinks about chewing a
turnbuckle.
Why'd You Tape This??
The matches aren't amazing, but the interviews really carry this portion of the tape.
The constant promos for the upcoming Kiel show are a nice reminder of the
days of regional wrestling.
Mostly jobber matches, and nothing worth remembering. Funniest thing would be the 80's wardrobes. Tommy Rogers has perfect
REO Speedwagon hair and the Grapplers give an interview in polo shirts while wearing
their masks!
Looking ahead at the match listings, things will pick-up. Wahoo vs. Flair,
Kerry vs. Flair in a cage, Martel vs. Tsurata,
Von Erichs vs. Freebirds and a WWF Tag Title match are all supposed
to be on this tape. There's a even a special surprise at the
end of the tape (part 3).
Comment about this article: email me or visit the NEW ES Bulletin Boards!. Corrections, feedback and
questions are encouraged.
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