Post by Mickey Yarber on Apr 7, 2017 1:46:37 GMT
Kingsport Times-News
04-06-88
Sports Secion
By K. Fabin
(also syndicated in the Johnson City Press, Bristol Herald Courier, Knoxville Sentinel, Coal Fields Daily, and the Virginia Mountaineer newspapers)
Smoky Mountain Wrestling presented another action packed card at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium last night, as the crowd of 803 were treated to six contests. The action started earlier in the evening however, as the Rock and Roll Express were signing autographs in the concourse before the matches.
Manager Ron Wright confronted the Rock and Roll Express and was bad mouthing them to no end, and even threatened to hit Ricky Morton. The Express got up from behind their table and approached Wright, but were then attacked from behind by The Jive Tones. They knocked Morton out of the way, and then proceeded to hit Gibson in the leg with a folding chair before being chased off by security.
The official action kicked off with a preliminary bout that saw Mike Enos pick up a victory over Mark Starr by pinfall in 9:03.
Ivan Koloff and his nephew Vladimir Pietrov defeated Jimmy Backlund and Todd Champion after 9:33 when Pietrov caught Backlund with the Russian Hammer for the pin fall.
Before the third match of the evening began, Ricky Morton of the Rock and Roll Express came to the ring and took the ring announcers microphone and told the crowd about what happened before the show, and that Robert Gibson is at the hospital now getting x-rays on his leg. He said the Express weren’t scheduled to wrestle tonight, but he wants either one of the Jive Tones in a match here tonight! He then through the microphone down and stormed off.
The Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Champion, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff presented his “open challenge” to any wrestler in the arena for a non-title bout. His challenge was answered by George South. The champion thought it was humorous that South accepted the challenge. South was game for the first couple of minutes, but then succumbed to a running high knee by Orndorff and was pinned after just 4:00.
The champion wasn’t done though, and said that wasn’t enough of a challenge, so he asked any other wrestler to come out. This time, the challenge was answered by Nelson Royal. Royal faired better than South, but still Orndorff got the victory in 4:50.
Again Orndorff made the challenge, and Johnny Rich came out. Orndorff put him away after 6:00.
Orndorff issued the challenge again, and was absolutely shocked…and the crowd excited…when “Exotic” Adrian Street surprised everyone in the Smoky Mountain area and answered the challenge! He gave Orndorff all he wanted in a solid back and forth affair. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan came to ringside and was yelling at Orndorff which distracted him. Street took advantage and rolled up Orndorff from behind and scored the pin after 7:03! Orndorff was livid after the decision.
In the main event, Phil Hickerson pinned “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan in a “no holds barred” match when Smoky Mountain Champion Paul Orndorff came to the ring, and hit Duggan across the back with his own 2x4 board. Orndorff and Hickerson wanted to take advantage of the two on one situation, but Adrian Street returned to help Duggan.
A real treat for the fans in attendance, as they got to see United States Women’s Champion Debbie Combs successfully defend her title over Heidi Lee Morgan with an inside cradle pin after 12:24 of action.
After the women’s match, an announcement was made that a tag team main event has been signed for next week, as “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and “Exotic” Adrian Street will team up to take on “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff and Phil Hickerson! Tickets are on sale now, so be sure to get your seat for that big main event next Wednesday night here at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium!
In the last bout of the night Ricky Morton defeated Shaska Whatley by DQ at 6:30 when Tiger Conway Jr. and manager Ron Wright interfered in the match. All three men were beating on Morton until The Bullet ran to the ring to make the assist. He and Morton successfully ran the Jive Tones from the ring to close the show.
A tag team match for next Wednesday night at the Civic Auditorium has already been signed between the Rock and Roll Express and the Jive Tones! Tickets are on sale at the Civic Auditorium box office, the customer service counter at Singletons, and Big Johns on Hwy 11W.
Smoky Mountain Wrestling will be live tonight at the high school in Jellico TN with a 7:30pm Belltime.
The Rock & Roll Express are slated to face The Jive Tones with manager Ron Wright in the main event, and Lord Jonathon Boyd is scheduled to face Johnny Rich, plus more!
Working on it now.