Post by Mickey Yarber on May 20, 2017 4:35:47 GMT
Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Tennessee Thunder Tour
Saturday May 20, 1988
Knoxville Civic Coliseum
Knoxville, TN
- In the opener, George South pinned Rip Rogers with a back slide at 8:55
- In a Grudge Match, Sam Houston pinned Nelson Royal with a crucifix at 11:20
- Scott Armstrong, Johnny Rich, and Phil Hickerson def. Black Bart, Joel Deaton, and David Deaton when Scott superkicked Bart for the pin at 18:00
- Up next was the Doug Furnas ceremony. Ron Fuller and some other official looking people came to the ring with a plaque, and ran down Doug's history in Knoxville as a Volunteer at the University of Tennessee. They ran through his power lifting accomplishments, and his recent successes in the world of professional wrestling. Furnas then came to the ring and accepted the plaque and was thanking the fans and saying a few words when a commotion was detected at the back of the building. A spot light shown that way where Ivan Koloff could be seen leading Vladimir Pietrov to the ring. Once there, Ivan took the microphone and started a promo about how Furnas may be good, but Vladimir is the premiere athlete in the world. He said that Furnas looks strong, and hearing the speeches, he thinks that Furnas may be the best challenger yet to Pietrov.
Furnas said that he isn't here to wrestle, just to see and thank the fans. Ivan said that Furnas is like everyone else...he's scared of Vladimir and knows he would be ground to dust under his boot if he faced him. Furnas then said that he doesn't know about all of that, that if he and Pietrov met in the ring, Vladimir may just taste defeat for the first time. Ivan tried to goad Furnas into accepting Vladimir's open challenge, but Furnas was not dressed to wrestle, and that's not what he was here for. He thanked the fans again before turning to leave. When he did, Ivan shoved him from behind! Furnas spun around and nailed Ivan with a big right hand! He stood over the fallen Ivan and was pointing down to him when Vladimir clubbed him over the head from behind.
He knocked Furnas down and began to put the boots to him, but Furnas picked him self up and started rocking Pietrov with rights and lefts as the crowd went crazy! Ivan got back to his feet and hit Furnas from behind with the microphone though, then he and Pietrov put the boots to him and kicked him out of the ring to a loud chorus of boos. Ivan got back on the mic and said that it's like he already said...American's are soft, and people like this Doug Furnas from Tennessee are no match for Vladimir. He and Vladimir stood there basking in the boos as Furnas, with a ripped shirt, crawled back into the ring and got in a stance.....he then yelled at Ivan, and as he and Pietrov turned around, Furnas took off and caught both of them with a double clothesline that sent them both from the ring!
Before any other physical confrontation could happen, cops came to the ring and kept them all separated as both sides were motioning for the other to come fight. Furnas then got on the microphone and said that he'll accept Pietrov's open challenge right here in Knoxville! Ron Fuller then took over the microphone and asked him if he was sure, which Furnas said yes, he then asked the Russians and they wanted it too. Fuller then said that he'll get the contracts signed, and in 9 days on May 29 when SMW is back here in Knoxville, the two of them can have at it!!!
- No DQ Match - The Bullet and The Mongolian Stomper fought hard throughout, but in the end, The Bullet pulled out the victory when he caught Stomper with a judo thrust to the throat for the pin at 11:09
- In a non-title match, The Rock and Roll Express def. The Jive Tones at 20:05 with a double drop kick on Shaska
- Smoky Mountain Title - Cage Match -
"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff vs. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
The two went at each other tooth and nail, and before long, each had rammed the other into the cage opening both men up. Orndorff controlled for a while, but Duggan rallied back to take the fight back to the champion. At one point, referee Mark Curtis went down, and Orndorff took advantage and gave Duggan a low blow. He then lifted Duggan up for a piledriver, and dropped him right on his head with it! The piledriver is illegal in Tennessee, but the referee could not see it. He covered Duggan, but Curtis was very slow getting over to make the count, and Duggan managed to kick out before 3!!! Orndorff got desperate, and kept trying to put Duggan away with no luck. Finally, he climbed to the top rope to try something, but Duggan fell into the rope, causing Orndorff to fall and straddle himself on the rope! He fell off, and when he got up, Duggan was in position and nailed him with a running football tackle! He lifted Orndorff up and shot him into the ropes and then delivered another one! He covered Orndorff and got the deciding three count to win the match and the belt at 21:30!!!
NEW SMOKY MOUNTIAN CHAMPION "HACKSAW" JIM DUGGAN!!!!
While the cage was coming down, and announcement was made to remind fans to get their tickets on their way out for the 29th to see Doug Furnas vs. Vladimir Pietrov!!!
Working on it now.