So I'm sitting here, dozing off watching the women's football world cup. Anyway I clicked on a Twitter link to a blog and thought how quaint, how very 2005, I used to have one of them and talked to an empty stadium about the wrasslin.
That catch as catch can, loaded glove, blade in the mouth territory wrasslin daddy, the best around. So.......here I am. Lets go back to the rock (n' roll express) one more time!! Oooo mercy!
Memphis 87
I'm actually typing this on my phone, my how technology has changed me. But one thing that hasn't changed is my love of the mempho wrestling. I've just recently got through 1986 which was the year of way too many jobber/undercard tag teams! Onwards to 87, for some reason I haven't got this year on disc but who really needs them anymore as YouTube has pretty much every non wwe show on there.
They did a great set up by having Tommy Rich cost Lawler the match by colliding/elbowing him on the apron. Lance and Dave weren't sure if it was deliberate but reader I did. Tommy's been getting a bit upset about not getting a title shot while Lawler's always getting them against AWA champ Nick Bockwinkel. Don't people remember that Tommy is a former NWA world champ, beat Harley Race. Come on Eddie Marlin, where's his title shot??
Speaking of Eddie Marlin, the Rock N' Roll RPM's are out calling him grandad and that he's protecting his grandkid Jeff Jarrett and his best mate Billy Joe Travis.
The Rock N' Roll RPM's are taking on John Paul and one of the Bryant's. I think there's 3 Bryant brother's but this ain't Jerry of Memphis Vice "fame", they were one of the many tag teams of 86. John Paul came in too as a tag team with the more experienced Ric McCord. Like alot of the teams he got an early push, then was just a glorified job guy, usually having his partner do the job after McCord left him on his lonesome. And that what happens here Mike Davies gets the pin on Bryant. Jarrett and Travis come out to build their feud with the RPM's, explaining they're inexperienced but ready to go and Jeff's dad and grandad ain't gonna help them one bit.
Emily Arthur comes out, she's feuding with Downtown Bruno. God knows why but it's fun. Guess that's why! She must be someones girlfriend or something because she's not a wrestler, keeps saying she's a computer analyst! Apparently she's been doing alot of training with Lou Winston and Jerry Bryant (The Memphis Vice) so she should be just fine.
"Jerry Lawler, having been the heavyweight champion 4 times I can understand the fervour which you feel about becoming the champion for the 1st time". That can only be the great Nick Bockwinkel. He talks about Lawler backstabbing his friends (Rich and Austin Idol) to get the title match, which is slowly building up the big feud of the year. Thanks Nick.
Downtown Bruno's a year or so away from understanding all of this, and while he is an obnoxious squirt of a manager, he hasn't got in the Cornette/Jimmy Hart groove yet and is just throwing everything at the wall, hoping something sticks.
There's a six man tag, Tojo/Goto/Sato against Jarrett/Travis/Tanaka. I love Tojo and the Japanese have been here a long time now under his tutelage, brawling on tv every week. I'm not sure how much they've learnt while in the territory, stuff to take back to Japan as their careers grow in the 90's. Hopefully how to get rats to pay for your food and a place to stay in every stop around the territory loop. They're the important things. Wow Lance just admitted to ending the show a minute early, so we didn't get a finish to the 6 man match. He takes that extra unexpected minute to thank Randy Hales for the hard work and good job he puts in commentating at the arena shows. While Lance praises Randy, Tojo and his oriental crew make their way back to the dressing room, disappointed with a no contest due to Lance's timkeeping but even more disappointed at the lack of American blood shed by their 3 foes.
Saturday, 6 July 2019
Saturday, 22 August 2015
They Can't Hear You Scream In Florida 84 (But in Memphis they can)
Man, I'm a sucker for punishment so am gonna watch some more Wrasslin from Florida in 1984. But only a little bit....
This Warrior tag team have done a little promo. They're juiced up blonde guys apparently called Steve and Jim Warrior! It looks like they're getting a little push but then get absolutely destroyed by The Russians (Neidhart & Darsow), treated like complete jobbers. I don't know if this was a sign of the times in Florida, that trained amateur wrestling could easily beat the roided gym guys but it did surprise me. The Saint, who is sort of their manager, puts on a little glove which looks like a fingerless golf club but one punch from it campacitates the Warrior brother with ease. IT'S LOADED! Dutch Mantell runs in with his bull whip Shu baby and clears house. I realise that I must've watched this last time cos all the stuff after it I've definitely watched. I'm done with Florida for a while, think I need some Mempho action in my life.
Yes!!! It's mempho wrestling 1991 and I feel a lot better, getting 7 years away from Buddy Colt and Jesse Barr. I love Gordon Solie but that's about it. It's a good time for Memphis, the sons of the two biggest stars are coming through, Jamie Dundee and Brian Christopher. But we're not supposed to know that Brian is Jerry's kid. "You people know me, I'm the best in the world". Bizarrely, Terry Funk forgets Tojo Yammamoto's name and stalls for about 15 seconds trying to remember it and they keep rolling but he never remembers it.
Jeff Jarrett & Eddie Gilbert vs Steve Austin & The Scorpion
Wow, can you guess who's getting beat here? Austin is so ready for the major leagues I almost think Chris Adams offered his wife as a sacrifice in the hope he'd get a WWF run in a few years time. I love Eddie Gilbert but just want him to turn on Jeff. And Jamie "Ice Ice Baby" Dundee is Austin's and the Scorpion's manager. Dundee, Austin and Gilbert are 3 of my favourite 90's wrestlers. By the end of the decade one's the main man, one's dead and one's bitching about his pay off for the one WWF PPV he worked. But god I love all 3. Oh yeah, Scorpion got pinned.
Lawler comes out to talk smack about the Texas wrestlers with Jarrett and Gilbert, it's so easy for him. But Eddie hovers behind them with heelish intentions. Jeff stumbles over his promo like usual, then Eddie steps up to the plate and kills it. I want a ticket for Monday night after that. Eric Embry and Tom Pritchard are the Texas wrestlers. Dr Tom is the biggest Roddy Piper impressionist in wrestling and there's a few. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy but every time he ruffles his hair it reminds me.
Lance Russell's taken the money and is doing the syndicated WCW shows but Dave Brown holds all this crazyiness together. I don't think there's a better guy ever to pull a disgusted face when the heels say something a bit naughty. Reader, I'm going to tell you a truth or two now. I really don't get Billy Joe Travis or Eric Embry. Good luck to both of them and all that, but both are pretty throw away and non descript. Embry can't be too far away from a motorcar accident and Billy has got about a decade left in him. Don't get me wrong, they're a million times better than the majority of 1991 wrestlers but personally I'd take Buddy Landell or Tommy Rich and a fair amount of other southern wrestlers over them every time. For the last year Billy Joe has just come across as Jeff Jarrett's kiss ass best friend when the USWA was also doing TV in Texas. God that was awful. Thankfully half way through the year it's finished, or at least my DVD's haven't got Michael St John cutting between Memphis and Texas pretending it's all live.
At the end of a Bill Dundee match his son and Steve Austin come out. Austin's got a loaded glove (see the Saint, Florida 1984) and he beats the hell out of Bill. He's a bloody mess but still has time for a call to arms promo. Gaylord and Dirty White Boy couldn't do the job and Bill ain't the biggest in the world but he'll beat Austin's brains out, if that's what it takes to get his son back. My favourite thing about all this is how Jamie calls his dad "Bill". "Take a good look at this face Austin, cos one night you're gonna wake up and it's gonna be standing over your bed and I'm beating your brains out". Did I mention I want a ticket for Monday night?
This Warrior tag team have done a little promo. They're juiced up blonde guys apparently called Steve and Jim Warrior! It looks like they're getting a little push but then get absolutely destroyed by The Russians (Neidhart & Darsow), treated like complete jobbers. I don't know if this was a sign of the times in Florida, that trained amateur wrestling could easily beat the roided gym guys but it did surprise me. The Saint, who is sort of their manager, puts on a little glove which looks like a fingerless golf club but one punch from it campacitates the Warrior brother with ease. IT'S LOADED! Dutch Mantell runs in with his bull whip Shu baby and clears house. I realise that I must've watched this last time cos all the stuff after it I've definitely watched. I'm done with Florida for a while, think I need some Mempho action in my life.
Yes!!! It's mempho wrestling 1991 and I feel a lot better, getting 7 years away from Buddy Colt and Jesse Barr. I love Gordon Solie but that's about it. It's a good time for Memphis, the sons of the two biggest stars are coming through, Jamie Dundee and Brian Christopher. But we're not supposed to know that Brian is Jerry's kid. "You people know me, I'm the best in the world". Bizarrely, Terry Funk forgets Tojo Yammamoto's name and stalls for about 15 seconds trying to remember it and they keep rolling but he never remembers it.
Jeff Jarrett & Eddie Gilbert vs Steve Austin & The Scorpion
Wow, can you guess who's getting beat here? Austin is so ready for the major leagues I almost think Chris Adams offered his wife as a sacrifice in the hope he'd get a WWF run in a few years time. I love Eddie Gilbert but just want him to turn on Jeff. And Jamie "Ice Ice Baby" Dundee is Austin's and the Scorpion's manager. Dundee, Austin and Gilbert are 3 of my favourite 90's wrestlers. By the end of the decade one's the main man, one's dead and one's bitching about his pay off for the one WWF PPV he worked. But god I love all 3. Oh yeah, Scorpion got pinned.
Lawler comes out to talk smack about the Texas wrestlers with Jarrett and Gilbert, it's so easy for him. But Eddie hovers behind them with heelish intentions. Jeff stumbles over his promo like usual, then Eddie steps up to the plate and kills it. I want a ticket for Monday night after that. Eric Embry and Tom Pritchard are the Texas wrestlers. Dr Tom is the biggest Roddy Piper impressionist in wrestling and there's a few. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy but every time he ruffles his hair it reminds me.
Lance Russell's taken the money and is doing the syndicated WCW shows but Dave Brown holds all this crazyiness together. I don't think there's a better guy ever to pull a disgusted face when the heels say something a bit naughty. Reader, I'm going to tell you a truth or two now. I really don't get Billy Joe Travis or Eric Embry. Good luck to both of them and all that, but both are pretty throw away and non descript. Embry can't be too far away from a motorcar accident and Billy has got about a decade left in him. Don't get me wrong, they're a million times better than the majority of 1991 wrestlers but personally I'd take Buddy Landell or Tommy Rich and a fair amount of other southern wrestlers over them every time. For the last year Billy Joe has just come across as Jeff Jarrett's kiss ass best friend when the USWA was also doing TV in Texas. God that was awful. Thankfully half way through the year it's finished, or at least my DVD's haven't got Michael St John cutting between Memphis and Texas pretending it's all live.
At the end of a Bill Dundee match his son and Steve Austin come out. Austin's got a loaded glove (see the Saint, Florida 1984) and he beats the hell out of Bill. He's a bloody mess but still has time for a call to arms promo. Gaylord and Dirty White Boy couldn't do the job and Bill ain't the biggest in the world but he'll beat Austin's brains out, if that's what it takes to get his son back. My favourite thing about all this is how Jamie calls his dad "Bill". "Take a good look at this face Austin, cos one night you're gonna wake up and it's gonna be standing over your bed and I'm beating your brains out". Did I mention I want a ticket for Monday night?
Friday, 17 July 2015
Random Wrestling
Man, I feel like posting about that good ol' wrasslin again brother! Maybe just for today, who knows, maybe I'll be back again in a few years. Anyway, I was looking at this blog for the first time in a good while and noticed in 2008 I did a little post about Florida 1984 and scarily enough I'm starting this here night, in the year 2015 BT (Before Trump) watching Florida 1984! I really think I must've managed about 3 discs worth of it in the last 7 years. But man I've been busy, what with this, that and the other. So anyway, let's get right back into it! Let's bleach our hair blonde, tape a razor blade to our wrist and hang around gyms waiting for our guy to turn up with the steroids/ somas/ horse tranquilisers, cos it's mid 80's wrestling and that's what happened (I think).
Ok, Gordon Solie runs this show unably assisted by the grim faced Buddy Colt, forever staring off into the distance, seemingly daydreaming about collegiate/ amateur wrestling and college/ amateur wrestlers who are now pros in Florida. Oh, and if they played a bit of football too, well that would be nice. Looking at old pictures of Colt the wrestler, with bleached blonde hair, I can't believe this is the same guy. Anyways, Jesse Barr is giving another of his really unconvincing, stuttering promos. He hasn't got it, move on. Dory Funk jr, Ric Flair and Solie, amongst others, are trying to make us believe he has but my eyes tell me differently. Flair comes out in Barr's corner, he's up against Larry Hamilton. Brian Blair joins Solie and Colt ringside. Blair says Barr's natural style is greco roman and he would've gone the Olympics but turned pro instead! It's all amateur mat based stuff and the pro werestling is rough around the edges. Barr finishes him off with a sort of cradle suplex into a pin which I have to say looked pretty boss. Flair and Barr talk smack to Brian Blair (who mentions that he's just got back from Japan, although sadly not rocking a Ribera jacket).
Flair vs Rhodes $1 million challenge match - Starrcade 1984 - watch at Eddie Graham Stadium.
Now it's Bob "Mr Personality" Backlund cutting a promo about wrestling the winner of the Flair/ Rhodes title match. According to Solie Bob's got backers who are willing to put up a $500,000 bond to secure the fight. I can't imagine who these backers are, maybe Bob was the original Nigerian Prince e-mail scammer. As we cut to commercials, Backlund and Colt discuss the local bus timetable changes and what funerals they are attending this week.
I guess the 70's must've been a very different time cos former world champs Backlund and Funk jr are as boring and as miserable on the mic as someone whose just been told he's got 1 day left to live.
Gordon now tells us that Sweet Brown Sugar used to be a high hurdler and running back. Hopefully someone channel surfing who usually sneers at this fake fighting, pro wrestling lark will hear that one of the carny brethrin can actually do real sports and then become a fan. Let us hope so.
Colt suddenly wakes up out of his amateur wrestling daze and spouts out that the Russians eat our food and drive our cars! A call to arms indeed. The Russians are Neidhart and Darsow managed by The Saint. Now Neidhart actually first visited Russia when he went to a track event as a shot putter. So see, real sport is bad and turns you communist kids. So strap a blade to your wrist or in your shorts or under your tongue and be a pro wrestler instead!
Now it's Superstar Graham vs Barr. Superstar ain't like Backlund or Funk jr, he's still the promo king baby! He's in a weird position here, just seems happy for a job and money and his past glories seem a long way from this bald headed Bruce Lee wannabe posing in the ring. But he's still great and prepared to bump around. To be fair, Barr looks pretty good here and ends up winning using the ropes for the pin, then he cracks Superstar over the head with a chair.
It's back to Gordon and Brian Blair and more missing Florida kids. Cue Mr Blair. "I know I'm going to be out there looking for children and I hope you guys are too". And on that note we move on.
Ok, Gordon Solie runs this show unably assisted by the grim faced Buddy Colt, forever staring off into the distance, seemingly daydreaming about collegiate/ amateur wrestling and college/ amateur wrestlers who are now pros in Florida. Oh, and if they played a bit of football too, well that would be nice. Looking at old pictures of Colt the wrestler, with bleached blonde hair, I can't believe this is the same guy. Anyways, Jesse Barr is giving another of his really unconvincing, stuttering promos. He hasn't got it, move on. Dory Funk jr, Ric Flair and Solie, amongst others, are trying to make us believe he has but my eyes tell me differently. Flair comes out in Barr's corner, he's up against Larry Hamilton. Brian Blair joins Solie and Colt ringside. Blair says Barr's natural style is greco roman and he would've gone the Olympics but turned pro instead! It's all amateur mat based stuff and the pro werestling is rough around the edges. Barr finishes him off with a sort of cradle suplex into a pin which I have to say looked pretty boss. Flair and Barr talk smack to Brian Blair (who mentions that he's just got back from Japan, although sadly not rocking a Ribera jacket).
Flair vs Rhodes $1 million challenge match - Starrcade 1984 - watch at Eddie Graham Stadium.
Now it's Bob "Mr Personality" Backlund cutting a promo about wrestling the winner of the Flair/ Rhodes title match. According to Solie Bob's got backers who are willing to put up a $500,000 bond to secure the fight. I can't imagine who these backers are, maybe Bob was the original Nigerian Prince e-mail scammer. As we cut to commercials, Backlund and Colt discuss the local bus timetable changes and what funerals they are attending this week.
I guess the 70's must've been a very different time cos former world champs Backlund and Funk jr are as boring and as miserable on the mic as someone whose just been told he's got 1 day left to live.
Gordon now tells us that Sweet Brown Sugar used to be a high hurdler and running back. Hopefully someone channel surfing who usually sneers at this fake fighting, pro wrestling lark will hear that one of the carny brethrin can actually do real sports and then become a fan. Let us hope so.
Colt suddenly wakes up out of his amateur wrestling daze and spouts out that the Russians eat our food and drive our cars! A call to arms indeed. The Russians are Neidhart and Darsow managed by The Saint. Now Neidhart actually first visited Russia when he went to a track event as a shot putter. So see, real sport is bad and turns you communist kids. So strap a blade to your wrist or in your shorts or under your tongue and be a pro wrestler instead!
Now it's Superstar Graham vs Barr. Superstar ain't like Backlund or Funk jr, he's still the promo king baby! He's in a weird position here, just seems happy for a job and money and his past glories seem a long way from this bald headed Bruce Lee wannabe posing in the ring. But he's still great and prepared to bump around. To be fair, Barr looks pretty good here and ends up winning using the ropes for the pin, then he cracks Superstar over the head with a chair.
It's back to Gordon and Brian Blair and more missing Florida kids. Cue Mr Blair. "I know I'm going to be out there looking for children and I hope you guys are too". And on that note we move on.
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Monday, 12 April 2010
PAUL LEE WATCH
Yep it's that time of the week again folks for another match from the archives of the man, the myth, the legend that is Paul Lee. When I say time of the week grapple fans I mean time of the year or biyearly as the last one of these humdingers was 7th April 2008. I had to google what the word was for every two years and askoxford.com told me it was biyearly. Not sure about that, I probably got unlucky and instead of asking an Oxford professor I got some drunk sitting on a park bench or Oxford Utd's star centre forward whoever he may be in 2010. If it was 1985 it would have been John Aldridge and I wouldn't trust him to give me the right answer. Dean Saunders maybe.
Anyway, it's back, Paul Lee Watch and all I had to do was put a Smoky Mountain DVD in my DVD player and away we go. Jesus H Christ, he's up against the Heavyweight Champion Brian Lee!! Dutch Mantell mentions that Paul might well be Brian's illegitimate child which made me chuckle. Our hero points to Brian's belt, PAUL LEE WANTS THE TITLE BABY! Sadly I doubt this is a title match as Paul has never ever won a match in Smoky Mountain so I doubt he's the number 1 contender. Brian Lee's music is awesome but I'm still not sure about him as heavyweight champ. He's 6,5 plus but I'm never sure if the locals truly believe in him like they should do, maybe it's because he's from Florida, I don't know. He wins me and them over every now and again, me particularly when all his promos about coming to towns involve him talking about how fit the local women are. This week he talked about the good lookin' women of Benton, Tennessee and how his good friends Tim and GIBSON told him how pretty they were. Getting White Lightnin' Tim Horner's and Rock n' Roll Robert Gibson's seal of approval must surely mean there's some real beauties in Benton!
Paul goes for it early on but ends up getting gorilla pressed by the champ. The flea market Ric Flair then gets control with a rake to the back but then Brian no sells our heroes fierce chops that Jeep Swenson probably taught him to do. Then Paul does what everyone's been waiting for with a perfect Flair turnbuckle bump! He lands on his feet, runs to the next turnbuckle and goes for something high risk that only he and Flair know about but Brian Lee catches him and powerslams him onto the hard, unforgiving canvas. Personally I think Paul's done by now and if I would have been in this Southern School Gym/Armory in 1992 I would have ran to the ring with tears in my eyes, begging the match to be stopped. Thankfully the champ finishes him off with the CANCELLATION, a sort of screwy Razors Edge neck breaker that went a bit wrong but looked all the better for it. Down but not out Paul Lee lives to fight another day and you may read about that day right here soon (2 years time).
Anyway, it's back, Paul Lee Watch and all I had to do was put a Smoky Mountain DVD in my DVD player and away we go. Jesus H Christ, he's up against the Heavyweight Champion Brian Lee!! Dutch Mantell mentions that Paul might well be Brian's illegitimate child which made me chuckle. Our hero points to Brian's belt, PAUL LEE WANTS THE TITLE BABY! Sadly I doubt this is a title match as Paul has never ever won a match in Smoky Mountain so I doubt he's the number 1 contender. Brian Lee's music is awesome but I'm still not sure about him as heavyweight champ. He's 6,5 plus but I'm never sure if the locals truly believe in him like they should do, maybe it's because he's from Florida, I don't know. He wins me and them over every now and again, me particularly when all his promos about coming to towns involve him talking about how fit the local women are. This week he talked about the good lookin' women of Benton, Tennessee and how his good friends Tim and GIBSON told him how pretty they were. Getting White Lightnin' Tim Horner's and Rock n' Roll Robert Gibson's seal of approval must surely mean there's some real beauties in Benton!
Paul goes for it early on but ends up getting gorilla pressed by the champ. The flea market Ric Flair then gets control with a rake to the back but then Brian no sells our heroes fierce chops that Jeep Swenson probably taught him to do. Then Paul does what everyone's been waiting for with a perfect Flair turnbuckle bump! He lands on his feet, runs to the next turnbuckle and goes for something high risk that only he and Flair know about but Brian Lee catches him and powerslams him onto the hard, unforgiving canvas. Personally I think Paul's done by now and if I would have been in this Southern School Gym/Armory in 1992 I would have ran to the ring with tears in my eyes, begging the match to be stopped. Thankfully the champ finishes him off with the CANCELLATION, a sort of screwy Razors Edge neck breaker that went a bit wrong but looked all the better for it. Down but not out Paul Lee lives to fight another day and you may read about that day right here soon (2 years time).
Saturday, 13 March 2010
A Message From Our Leader
Hello people of earth stop
I write to you from a new decade stop
Nothing has changed as far as I can tell stop
I still watch wrestling stop
I can't stop stop
I may write about it here again stop
I write to you from a new decade stop
Nothing has changed as far as I can tell stop
I still watch wrestling stop
I can't stop stop
I may write about it here again stop
Friday, 4 September 2009
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