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What the HECK?/Intro- Missouri and Central States, Spring 1984 - Part 3
Fans, welcome back! Final installment of the Missouri/Central States tape. The
majority of this portion is WWF and AWA. This means NO
Oates Brothers, T.G. Stone or Marty Jannetty. I know you're devastated.
KPLR-TV 11's Larry Madison introduces "Wrestling at the Chase", this week
featuring WWF action from the St. Louis Coliseum. "Wrestling at the Chase"
went back decades in St. Louis, featuring matches from the hotel of
the same name (umm..that name would be "CHASE" not, "Wrestling"). The last
show to actually originate from the Chase was probably in 1981, but the show
kept the name for a few more years.
Match 1: Ivan Putski vs. Lanny Kean
Vince McMahon and "Mean" Gene Okerlund have the call. Putski starts
with two hiptosses, a bodyslam and a "baaaaack body-drop". Kean bails to the apron,
but Putski flips him over the ropes. Kean manages a side headlock
and chops at the throat. Putski invites another a headlock, then lifts
Kean up and tosses him. Putski cinches in his own headlock and makes like
Nolan Ryan on Robin Ventura. Only he adds a bellow of "Polish Power!!!"
More headlock merriment, until Putski decides to end it with a whip
to the ropes and the Polish Hammer (double axehandle) to score the pin. Lame
match, but it gets better.... Putski grabs the house mic. Oh shit.
Putski is glad ot be back in St. Louis, but promised the promoters he wouldn't
sing. He's feeling exceptionally happy and serenades the arena with
a polka rendition of "Melody in Love". Putski finishes it off by telling everyone:
"always be happy!! Now, I'm gonna' drink some beer and REALLY get happy!"
WWF Update with Vince McMahon
Vince talks about the growing popularity of new WWF Champ Hulk Hogan.
Hogan recently did a radio promotion for a New York radio station and got to
meet Brooke Shields. Ooookay.
Mean Gene is in the studio to interview Big John Studd. Studd bets EVERYONE
in St. Louis one dollar that his manager, Roddy Piper, will pin Jimmy Snuka. Studd
is set to face S.D. Jones in St. Louis and knows S.D will get a hernia if he tries a
slam him.
 |
| For my next trick
I'll mix in authentic Russian words like "da" and "comrade". |
Gene brings in "Evil Russian" Alexis Smirnoff. Basic "I am evil..and Russian..
and a rassler" stuff. First time I've ever seen this guy. He looks like
a stage magician, or the Amazing Ukrainian Motorcycle Driver from your
local circus...or Jos LeDuc.
Match 2: Billy Travis vs. Alexis Smirnoff
I think Travis went on to Slightly Better Things in the CWF, circa 1988 or so.
Smirnoff is billed as being "from Russia". Shouldn't be too hard to
send him a birthday card. Lock-up and Smirnoff goes to the side headlock. A recurring
theme for the rest of this tape! He twists it into a hammerlock takedown, which Travis counters
with a leg-scissors. Travis with his own hammerlock, then wrings the arm and
hits a few elbowsmashes. Smirnoff fights back and hits a shoulderblock. Travis is bounced off
the ropes and blows a leapfrog attempt. Smrnoff grabs the legs, stomps, drops a knee and
gets a 1 count. Smirnoff with a diving headbutt, slam, backdrop and legdrop for 2.
Travis whips Smirnoff into the turnbuckle and follows up with
a monkeyflip. He tries again, but makes the mistake of trying to injure
Smirnoff's boot with his jaw. Smirnoff hits a vertical suplex to get the pin.
Match 3: Spike Huber vs. "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
Huber's a local favorite and the crowd is behind him.
Swap hiptosses and head scissors to begin. Orndorff reverses an armbar and slams
Huber. Huber manages another armbar and Orndorff tries to slam again. Huber drops behind
and rolls him up off of the ropes for a 2 count. Orndorff kicks,
hits a German suplex and bulldogs Huber's head to the mat. Evil Heel Techniques:
lcaes to the eyes and ROPE BURN to the eyes! Huber shoves off Orndorff to the turnbuckle
and comes back with an atomic drop, slam and a legdrop. Whip to the ropes and
Huber dropkick! He tries again, but this time Orndorff manages to grab the ropes. Orndorf
capitalizes with the piledriver to get the pin.
Gene is in the studio with pre-recorded Orndorf comments. Orndorf has an upcoming
WWF Title shot in St. Louis against Hulk Hogan. "I watch film of rasslers,
and it only took me 3 minutes to figure out Hogan!" Well, that's only 2 minutes
longer than it took everyone else.
Match 4: WWF Tag Team Championship:
Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas (c) vs. Dick Murdoch & Adrian Adonis
Re-broadcast from back east. Atlas is billed as "Mr. USA" and Adonis is
still "plain ol'" Adrian Adonis. But he does look a little
Village People-ish with his leather jacket. Johnson works Adonis's arm, then whips him to the ropes.
Adonis does a half-ass cartwheel to counter. Atlas comes in and the heels try pounding on
him. Murdoch and Adonis whip Atlas in for a double elbowsmash. Adonis chokes him on the ropes,
until Atlas fires back with a headbutt. Tag to Johnson who delivers a dropkick.
Match breaks down as all four guys brawl. Mudroch and Adonis are whiped into each other.
Johnson applies a Boston crab on Adonis, but Murdoch saves with a kick to the head.
Atlas pulls Murdoch out of the ring and presses him in the air. Johnson reaches over
to club him, and Atlas slams him to the ground. Adonis sneaks up beind Johnson and rolls
him up for the pin and the titles. Newwwwwwww World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions.
Hulk Hogan is in the lockerroom to talk about his pythons and Paul Orndorff. Hogan will
be "flyin' in high" to St. Louis. I guess that was supposed to end the show on
a happy note.
 |
| Drive one home TODAY! |
Quick clip of a Bruiser Brody car commercial! Brody throws a steel chair into
the back of a Ford pick-up.
Match 5: Barry Windham vs. Roger "Nature Boy" Kirby
Back to Central States, and this might have been Windham's debut in the area.
Windham with a slam and works the legs. Elbowdrop for a 2 count. Kirby counters
with a kneelift and a shoulderblock. Windham with a series of hiptosses for another 2.
Kirby rakes the eyes with his laces an Windham staggers around with the ol'
"I can't see" mime routine. Kirby hangs his neck on the ropes, pounds, slams and gets
a 1 count. Brawl evolves...or the match breaksdown..take yer' pick. Windham comes off the ropes
with a leapfrog, then delivers a flying clothesline for the 3 count pin. Windham rolls out
to anouncer Kevin Wall, who asks him about...King Kong Bundy?
Quick promo from King Kong Bundy! He's bringing the 5 count to Kansas City, bitches!
Match 6: Baron Von Raschke vs. Stan Hansen
Big brawl around ringside to begin and Hansen starts tossing chairs into the ring!
Hansen nails Baron in the eys an chokes him with the crowd barrier rope.
He pulls Baron into the ring for a kneedrop, slam and an elbowdrop.
Hansen whips him to the corner, snapmares and cinches a rear chinlock.
Baron fights back, whips and elbows Hansen out of the ring. This time, Hansen
picks up a steel barrier! More brawling back in the ring until Baron slams Hansen.
Baron with the goosestep and tries to apply the claw. Baron misses and hits the mat.
Hansen bounces off the ropes with his wicked lariat clothesline to score the pin.
Hansen runs out and grabs the ringbell! Sounds lame, but a fun brawl to watch.
Wall interviews Hansen in the ring. The gist is he "dont' care 'bout nuthin".
Double negatives, the pulse of pro wrestling promos.
The Grapplers are standing by in their polo shirts and masks. Their new manager,
Jimmy Hart is on hand. Ted Oates has been injured, but the Grapplers plan on
brutalizing Jerry Oates' new partner, Thomas Ivey.
For some reason, an entire Jamie Farr Mars Bar Commerical is included! (Klinger
for M*A*S*H...or "himself" from the Gong Show!!). Funny.
Whoever taped this liked to mix-in all sorts of wrestling footage..but I'm
clueless of the Jamie Farr/pro wrestling connection. Best guess is the original taper
was trying to catch the entire Bruiser Brody commerical.
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| Stylin'! |
Match 7: Wahoo McDaniel vs. Ric Flair
Special referee: "Avalanche" Buzz Tyler
More Central States, JIP (again, dammit!). Wahoo whips Flair to the turnbuckle,
backdrops and tomahawks chops him. Flair shoves off a headlock and hits a shoulder-block.
Elbowdrop gets a 1 count for Flair. Wahoo chops his way back and hits a headbutt. Flair throws
him to the corner, where Wahoo hits the ringpost and tumbles out to do the blade job.
Flair gets into a Mild Argument of Misunderstanding with Tyler. Wahoo is snapmared back in
and Flair drops a knee to get 2. Flair works a front chancery on the mat for awhile, using
the Evil Heel Rope Leverage Trick to keep the fans interested. Flair pulls him up for a suplex
to get another 2. Flair with an abdominal strecth, which Wahoo powers out of.
Wahoo hits a headbutt then goes into his WARDANCE routine. STIFF chops to Flair's head.
Wahoo whips Flair to the ropes for a backdrop and hooks small package for 1. Flair Flop into
the turnbuckle. Wahoo covers, but Flair gets his foot on the ropes. Wahoo with a slam
and an underhook suplex for 2. Flair goes to the EYES and tosses Wahoo out.
Brawling fun outside for a bit. Back in, Flair goes for a suplex, but Wahoo
reverses it and covers for 2. Flair chops back and whips Wahoo to the corner. Flair
grabs the legs and tries to use the ropes, but this time Tyler notices it and
breaks the count. Flair with a piledriver, belly-to-back suplex and a brawl evolves.
Wahoo sends Flair to the corner, then sloppily rolls him up to
score the pin! Announcer Kevin Wall that mentions that when this match was originally
signed, Flair was the NWA Champ. So Wahoo would have become the NEW NWA champ if not
for Kerry Von Erich.
Match 8: Curt Hennig vs. Rooster Griffin
Over to the AWA with Rod Traumgard and Billy Robinson on the call. Griffin is
worthless mulleted blonde guy and gets no real offense of mention. Hennig works him to the mat with
a waistlock, but since this is the AWA, Griffin turns the tide by going to the EYES!
Hennig comes back with a dropkick, shoulderblock, hiptoss and a lonnnnng armbar.
Griffin blows a slam attempt, so Hennig quickly ends it with a German suplex and
bridge for the pin.
Match 9: Craig Carson vs. King Kong (Bruiser) Brody
This is Brody's return match to the AWA. Carson tries to evade, but Brody quickly
pounds the crap out of him. He easily picks up Carson for a slam, then tosses him out.
Big puffy boot to the grill and another slam. Brody whips Carson to the ropes and
hits a dropkick. Brody's flying kneedrop scores the pin. Cut to pre-recorded
comments of Ken Resnick with Brody. Brody's been brought in for "a reason". Good to know.
Match 10: AWA Tag Team Championship, 2/3 Falls:
Baron Von Raschke & the Crusher (c) vs. Nacho Barrera & Tom Lance
Yes, Nacho Barrera and Tom Lance are booked in a 2/3 falls title match!
BVR works on Lance's back and delivers an armbar. Lance counters by ...yup,
going to the EYES! Lance delivers a kneelift then tags off to Nacho. Crusher enters and
pounds away for a bit. Baron returns to drop a knee, hits a backbreaker and
a legdrop. Nahco counters by...going to the EYES! Heels pound on the Baron for awhile,
until Nacho tries to attack Baron's boot with his chin. Crusher comes in to take
Nacho on a Tour De Ringposts. Crusher with a backdrop, then winds up for his
bolo punch to score the pin.
No wait, where are you going!? There's the second fall! Crusher bearhugs Lance, then
both guys tga off to their partners. Baron hits Nacho with a kneelift, backdrop
then the Iron Claw to score the submission.
Ken Resnick has a quick studio interview with Blackjack Lanza. The Blackjacks throw
out a challenge to any team in the AWA.
Match 11: AWA World Heavyweight Championship:
Jumbo Tsurata (c) vs. Rick Martel
Special Referee: Leo Nomellini
Okay, it's 1984, but Martel appears to have a bald spot! It apparently
went away in 1987! JIP to an Ultimate Overhead Wristlock Challenge. Tsurata with
a piledriver for 2, then follows it up with forearm shots and an abdominal stretch.
Martel reverses it into his own abdominal stretch, which the cmaera completely misses.
Tsurata makes the ropes to break. MArtle works the lower back, hits a slam and
shoulderbreaker. Martel tries a slingshot splash in from the apron, but Tsurata gets
his knees up. Tsurate suplex gets 2. Both guys are sent to the canvas with shoulderblocks.
Tsurata dropkicks Martel in the back and works a German suplex for 1.
Tsurata whips Martel to the ropes, but Martel reverses and manages to stun-gun
him on the top rope. Martel flies off the ropes with a flying bodypress to
score the pin and become the NEW AWA Champion.
Ken Resnick's guests are Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby Heenan. Bockwinkel calls out
Martel, Flair and Von Erich, while Heenan calls out promoters
Pat O'Connor, Stanley Blackburn and Bob Geigel.
Match 12: Larry Zbysko vs. Bruce Dean
Lockup and Larry goes to a single-leg takedown. Hammerlock,
backdrop and neackbreaker follow. Dean gets a few shots in, but Larry
knees him and delivers a slam. Larry suplex gets 2. Larry finishes
things up with a piledriver to get the pin.
Local announcer Steve Olsinowski stumbles over hype for the upcoming
St. Louis show. Terrible, but things instantly improve, since
he calls in his special guest- Jesse "The Body" Ventura! Jesse
challenges Pat O'Connor to put up sufficient money along with the
NWA and AWA titles. He talks about his partner, "Mr. Torture" Mr. Saito a little.
Special Feature: The Sally Jessy Raphael Show w/ Ric Flair and the Fabulous Ones
The Fabulous Ones, Steve Kerin and Stan Lane are the first guests.
Lane goofs it up alot when Sally asks about groupies. Lane prefers to call
them "gropies" to the delight of the predominantly female audience. The team then narrates
a quick clip of a match against the Road Warriors. Sally asks them about the recent
changes in pro wrestling, and the Fabs relate it to the success of music videos.
Lane then demonstrates how to throw a hiptoss. Sally and an audience member
take turns hiptossing Lane.
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| The latest styles for the office, on the next "Sally"! |
Ric Flair is the next guest. He's in a full suit and Sally announces "wow, you look
like a regular person almost!" It's somewhat of a shoot interview as Flair talks about
playing his character, then touches on his family and annual salary. Flair gets a little nervous
when he talks about how he got into wrestling and his original ambition of becoming a dentist.
Flair takes a few questions from the audience, most of which are "isn't it fake". Flair
denies any choreography or pre-determined results and tries to relate his matches
to Otis Anderson of the St. Louis Cardinals. Another lady breaks the monotony by asking
"when is Mr. Flair gonna' take his clothes off?!"
All three wrestlers are out for the next segment and more "is it fake" questions.
One lady mentions that it's her birthday and would like a kiss from all three. Lane
hits a four-point lip-lock, but since Flair admitted to being a married man, he just pecks
her. Steve Keirn REALLY gets into! I'm sure this broad can look back now and must beam with
pride over once making out with Skinner on TV!!
Why'd You Tape This??
Despite the JIP effect, there's some decent stuff on here. I've seen so many matches that I couldn't really care less
if they're in their entirety anymore.
Flair/Wahoo is good, Huber/Orndorff is better than expected and
Baron/Hansen is a kick. The WWF Tag Title switch might be
neat for historical purposes, but it's basically a fancy brawl.
The interviews are what kept me interested. Where else can you
see King Kong Bundy cutting a promo from the men's room?
I suspect that this was taped when the NWA and AWA
were working in cahoots as "Pro-wrestling USA", which would explain
all the NWA/AWA crossover promos. I'm sure fans of rare matches might be interested
in the lesser known bouts of big stars. In other words, if you're
dying to complete your Nacho Barrera Compilation Tape, give me a holler, bunky!
...and remember: always be happy! Now I'm gonna' go drink some beer and really get happy!
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questions are encouraged.
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