Post by Mickey Yarber on Aug 17, 2017 6:58:46 GMT
Smoky Mountain Wrestling on TNN
Saturday Night 08-12-88 10:00 PM
Taped Thursday 08-10-88
Hosted by Les Thatcher & Joe Pedicino
(Picture this kind of like the old NWA TBS show on Saturday night with the same type of atmosphere, and feel to it, but slightly more fans as this is taped at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Ballroom where the USA Championship Wrestling show was filmed in the late 80’s. Les Thatcher and Joe Pedicino at a podium in front of a backdrop that features both the SMW and TNN logos on it. Interviews conducted by these gentleman take place there, while interviews with Bonnie Blackstone take place at ringside.)
- Les Thatcher and Joe Pedicino welcomed all the fans into the show tonight, and hyped up the Ole Anderson vs. Ivan Koloff main event later in the show before being joined by promoter Ron Fuller. Fuller thanked everyone for tuning in, and said that today’s TV Title challenger would be Gary Royal before leaving things to Les and Joe, promising to be back in a little while. Les and Joe introduced the first match of the broadcast…..
- Match: Scott Armstrong pinned Nick Busick after a 5 minute match with his super kick.
- Les and Joe then re-played the video from last week hyping the arrival of “Fabulous One” Steve Keirn to SMW tonight on the program. They re-iterated that every week for a while we will be seeing a new face in SMW, as so many top wrestlers from around the world are wanting to come here to compete.
Commercial Break
- Out of the break, and Les and Joe were joined at the podium by The Destruction Crew, Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom. They had words for the Rock & Roll Express saying that they have been around here for a while and wasn’t getting any attention, so they went out and done something about that by attacking the R&R. Bloom said that Morton and Gibson said it’s going to be a fight…well, bring it on. The Destruction Crew will tear down the image of the Rock & Roll Express!
- Match: The Destruction Crew def. Paul Garner and Randy Mulkey with a Doomsday Device on Mulkey in a showcase match for the heel team.
- After the match, Ron Fuller was back at the podium with a briefcase, and asked Sam Houston to come out. Houston made it out and Fuller congratulated him on winning the TV title last week, but said that as of today, the “Beat the Champ” TV Title will not be defended any longer, and Houston will be recognized as the last champion. Sam looked a little dejected until Ron opened the briefcase and said that going forward, the title will be known as the TNN Television Title, and Sam Houston is the first champion by way of the being the reigning “Beat the Champ” Champion. He pulled a nice new title belt out of the briefcase and presented it to Sam. Fuller said that no longer will we be pulling the name of a challenger out of a hat, but the championship committee will determine the challengers. Also, the new TNN Television title will also be defended on live shows and not just on TV, but the 15-minute time limit rule will still apply. Sam thanked him and shook his head before holding the belt high over head for the fans to see.
- Thatcher said we’ll see Houston make the first defense of the TNN Television title right after the break!
Commercial Break
- MATCH: Sam Houston pinned Gary Royal with a bulldog in an energetic win.
- After the bout, the Russians…Ivan Koloff, SMW Champion Vladimir Pietrov, and the Russian Assassin were out for an interview where Ivan said that Ole Anderson is delusional and after tonight, he may even be crippled. He then went on to say that Vladimir is the Smoky Mountain Champion, and nobody can beat him, especially Jim Duggan. He finished with saying that it won’t be long until The Russian Assassin beats Sam Houston and takes back the TV title.
- On the way to commercial break, the camera man caught Hillbilly Jim sitting in the crowd waving as Thatcher said that big Jim is here tonight to watch and cheer on his cousin Luke in action. Thatcher said that after the break, we’ll see the Smoky Mountain champion in action! Don’t go away!
Commercial Break
- MATCH: SMW Champion made short work of Chris Hamrick and finished him with his Russian Hammer blow for the pinfall with Ivan cheering him on from ringside.
- Thatcher and Pedicino introduced a hype video of “Hangman” Bobby Jaggers, who they say is coming to SMW next week, right here on TNN! Jaggers was featured using a lot of heel tactics and carrying a hangman’s noose with him.
- Before the commercial break, a pre-taped spot with Joe Pedicino was shown, running down where the fans could catch Smoky Mountain Wrestling this week and the main events of those cards.
Commercial Break
- MATCH: Jimmy “Boogie Woogie Man” Valiant & “Pistol” Pez Whatley def. The Blonde Bombers, Rip Rogers and Ken Timbs in somewhat of a feature match in about 10:00 when Boogie dropped an elbow on Timbs for the pin.
- Boogie and Pez did an interview at ringside with Bonnie Blackstone where Boogie said that the Midnight Express can run but they can’t hide Daddy!, cause the Boogie Man and the Pistol are coming for the belts! Whoo! Mercy Daddy! Pez said it ain’t gonna be long now till they’ve got the gold around their waists. They danced with the fans as the show went to break.
Commercial Break
- MATCH: “Fabulous One” Steve Keirn made his SMW debut with a win over Terry Adonis in impressive fashion by making Adonis submit to a Boston Crab.
- At the podium, Keirn was welcomed to SMW, and he said he is here to get a shot at the SMW Champion, and he hopes that comes sooner than later, as he can’t wait to get in the ring with that big Russian and take the belt back for the USA. Thatcher and Pedicino wished him luck, and then invited him to stick around and join them on commentary for the next match. Keirn said he would be happy to.
Commercial Break
- MATCH: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan def. Rick Connors with a running football tackle in a short match. After the bout, The Blonde Bombers hit the ring and jumped Duggan from behind. They got him down and started putting the boots to him. Keirn dashed from the podium and into the ring quickly and started fighting with both of them! Duggan got to his feet, and he and Keirn ran the Bombers from the ring.
- After Duggan got his breath, he and Keirn went to the podium where Thatcher was waving them over. Thatcher said that last week, Gypsy Joe had tried attacking Duggan, and now this week, it’s the Blonde Bombers. He again asked Duggan what in the world is going on. A fired up Duggan said that he don’t know, but if these guys have a problem with him, they should get in the ring face to face and settle it….if they can! He let it be known that he wants the Bombers in the ring, and then asked Keirn if he would be his partner, to which Keirn agreed. He then said that he wants Ron Fuller to make that match as soon as he can before stomping off.
Commercial Break
- Out of the break, and “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel was at the podium and said that he’s not surprised that people are jumping on Duggan. He said if he wasn’t so busy, he’d jump on the goof too. But he has other matters right now, namely Sam Houston and the TNN Television title. He said that new built would look mighty fine around his waist, and he wants Houston to put the belt on the line against the “Nature Boy”!
MATCH: “Gorgeous” Gary Young vs. Cousin Luke
On his way out to the ring, Young stopped by where Hillbilly Jim was sitting, and told him to watch how a real man takes care of business.
Luke was fired up to start the match, and had Young reeling with some big bumps. Eventually, Young took over after a poke to the eyes. He then went to work on the leg of Luke, and made a point every so often to stop and yell at Hillbilly Jim at ringside. It looked like he could put Luke away on several occasions, but continued to work on the bad leg. He draped it over the bottom rope, and came off the middle rope with a splash on it that sent Luke riving in pain on the mat. He set him up for another, but Hillbilly Jim came out of the front row and pushed Young off the turnbuckles! He got in the ring and chased Young around but Young slipped away before Jim could get his hands on him. He then went over to check on Luke.
Winner – Gary Young by DQ
- After Luke was helped from the ring, Thatcher got ahold of Hillbilly Jim who said he just came down here to Tennessee to see his cousin and watch him wrestle, and then this sissy boy tried to hurt him. Where he comes from, that don’t stand, and Gary Young needs to find the guts to fight ol’ Hillbilly! He said when you mess with his family, you’re messing with him, and that don’t go unanswered. He then left to a big cheer from the crowd.
Commercial Break
- MATCH: The Rock & Roll Express def. Tony Faulk and Johnny Blaze with a double drop kick on Blaze.
- Afterwards, they told Bonnie Blackstone at ringside that the Destruction Crew have pay back coming for costing them the SMW Tag Team titles, and Monday night in Knoxville, that pay back is coming jack!
- Before commercial break, Joe Pedicino was running down this coming week’s live action when promoter Ron Fuller stepped into the shot and said that he hated to interrupt, but he has some big news. This Monday night in Knoxville, he has signed Jim Duggan and Steve Keirn to face the Blonde Bombers, and not only that, he also just signed for Gary Young to wrestle Hillbilly Jim Monday night, and also Tuesday night in Harlan KY, and Wednesday night in Hazard KY! He again apologized for the interruption and left. Pedicino finished running down the list.
Commercial Break
- Smoky Mountain Tag Team Champions, The Original Midnight Express team of Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose were at the podium and said that Jimmy Valiant and Pez Whatley are living in the past if they think they can beat them, because the Express are the tag team of the future! Condrey said that tomorrow night in Johnson City, the Express are going to put the Street People in their place, and walk out STILL tag team champions.
- MATCH: Ole Anderson pinned Ivan Koloff with a school boy roll up after Ivan swung at him with a chain and missed.
- Thatcher and Pedicino wrapped things up and invited the fans back next Saturday night at 10pm here on TNN for more great Smoky Mountain Wrestling action!
Smoky Mountain Wrestling TV
Syndicated Show
Taped Thursday 08-10-88
Civic Coliseum Ballroom, Knoxville TN
- “White Lightning” Tim Horner pinned Nick Busick with his Natural Bridge roll up
- Russian Assassin pinned Paul Garner with an over-the-knee back breaker
- Vic Steamboat pinned Rick Connors with a flying chop from the top rope
- Gypsy Joe pinned Hamrick with a swinging neck breaker
- The Blonde Bombers beat Johnny & Davey Rich by nefarious means in the main event.
Working on it now.