Memphis Wrestling TV 12/9/88: A day that will live in infamy
Dec 10, 2017 0:17:04 GMT
Post by thecommish on Dec 10, 2017 0:17:04 GMT
Power Pro Wrestling ‘The Power Hour’ TV 12/9/1988
The Power Hour opening:
The Power Hour intro video rolls with footage of ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff, Terry Gordy, The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys, Bill Dundee, Bam Bam Bigelow, Dutch Mantell and other stars of Power Pro Wrestling. Playing over this action is the classic disco version of ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ from 2001 A Space Odyssey.
The camera then shifts to Lance Russell and Dave Brown sitting behind the desk, and in front of a green curtain, in the WMCTV Channel 5 studios in Memphis, TN for another edition of The Power Hour.
Lance and Dave welcome everyone watching to The Power Hour, and mention that we have a lot of exciting news, as well as a title match when Southern Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas defends the title right here today against Jeff Jarrett.
Mr. Russell called out matchmaker Eddie Marlin to share some exciting news with the fans watching at home. Mr. Marlin arrived in the studio, and wished Lance and Dave, and all the fans watching, a healthy and happy holiday season.
Mr. Marlin mentioned that he’s been talking for several weeks now about some big goings on here in Memphis, and now he can finally share everything with the fans watching.
First and foremost, Mr. Marlin announces that himself and Jerry Jarrett have reached an agreement with promoters in Alabama, Kentucky and Northern Florida to expand the reach of the promotion. That includes live events and TV, re-branding as Championship Wrestling, in all of those markets starting next week.
With that expansion, will come a rechristening for the promotion, returning to the Continental Wrestling Association moniker, and a new top titleholder. Firstly, all of the Southern Champions will remain in tact.
But two weeks from Monday night (on December 18) at the Ellis Auditorium, there will be a tournament to decide the new CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion. In that tournament will be, PPW Heavyweight Champion Terry Gordy, former champion ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff, Southeastern Heavyweight Champion ‘Wildcat’ Wendell Cooley and Florida Heavyweight Champion ‘Gentlemen’ Chris Adams.
Mr. Marlin explains that this will be single-elimination tournament, and he’ll announce the brackets right here next week on The Power Hour. The winner will be crowned the first CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion.
But that’s not all! Mr. Marlin has been concerned that this situation between PPW Heavyweight Champion Terry Gordy, Bam Bam Bigelow and ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff has got out of control.
So, he’s talked to all three men and signed a blockbuster main event for an event called Christmas Chaos on Christmas Eve as the Continental Wrestling Association holds its return to the Mid-South Coliseum.
In this Christmas Chaos main event, Terry Gordy and Bam Bam Bigelow will face Nikita Koloff and a partner of his choosing in a bout that will be No Holds Barred, and a special troubleshooting referee will be assigned.
In this match, if Gordy or Koloff happened to become the Unified Heavyweight Champion beforehand, and they are subsequently pinned at Christmas Chaos, that man will lose the title belt even though it’s a tag bout.
Lance Russell is bowled over by that news, and asks who Koloff’s partner will be. And even more intriguingly, who has been selected as the troubleshooting referee?
Mr. Marlin just smiled as he acknowledged that both are interesting questions. He’ll let Nikita Koloff announce his own partner later in the show, and he’ll reveal the troubleshooting referee right here next week!
Lance Russell thanked Eddie Marlin for sharing all of this big news with us here on The Power Hour, and then threw us to our first commercial break.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #1
- - Included spots for Covington Pike Toyota and localised promos with the Stud Stable for this Monday’s night card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
Lance Russell and Dave Brown welcomed us back to The Power Hour, and shared that Eddie Marlin also asked them to mention that the CWA will have an open-door policy for talent from anywhere in the world.
And just to prove that fact, Eddie Marlin has already been contacted by Wild West Wrestling in Houston. Starting this Monday night, some of the stars from Wild West Wrestling will be competing here in Memphis when the fans see the legendary Dick Murdoch teaming with Dr. Tom Prichard and Black Bart.
Lance Russell: “It’s bell time Dave, and here we go Daaaaaaaavey!”
OPENING CONTEST: SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ROBERT FULLER AND JIMMY GOLDEN VS. JERRY LYNN AND 'SOUTHERN ROCKER' SCOTT PETERSON
Fuller and Golden proved why they’ve been so difficult to unseat as the Southern Tag Team Champions when Fuller pinned Peterson with a spinning neckbreaker at 6:13. Both members of the Stud Stable had trouble with young Jerry Lynn early on, and Fuller was nearly pinned after a dropkick from the second rope. However, Scott Peterson wasn’t as lucky, having been trapped on the Stud Stable’s side of the ring and systematically worn down.
After the bout, Southern Tag Team Champions Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden joined Lance Russell and Dave Brown for some comments after the match.
Mr. Russell recapped the recent events between the Stud Stable’s battles with the Armstrongs, Dirty White Boy and Dutch Mantell. We’ve been hearing that Dutch has been trying to come up with a match to settle this thing, and apparent he’s done it.
Let’s go now to comments from Dutch Mantell, and then we’ll hear from the Stud Stable.
[VTR]
Dutch Mantell is sitting in front of a Christmas tree and a roaring fire in his home.
Dutch Mantell: “You know, I’ve been saying for a quite a while that we need a match to settle things between my friends and I, and the Stud Stable. We’ve had street fights, and they’ve solved nothing.
“We’ve had a chain match, and it’s solved nothing. We’ve even had my own personal specialty, the Texas Death Match, and that’s still not solved anything. In all my years, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“So we need some kind of match that is so violent, so bloody, so brutal that it’s guaranteed to be the end of the line for one team or the other.
“Now, I try to be a nice guy these days but I’ve got an active imagination, and I admit even the ol’ Dutchman has dark inclinations from time to time. And I believe I’ve come up with a war to settle the score, so to speak.
“What I’d like to do is take myself and two partners, and take any three members of the Stud Stable, and step inside a steel cage. Now, that’s dangerous enough but it’s not all.
“From time to time, we’ve seen guys climb over the top of the cage to interfere, and that’s exactly what we don’t need at this point. So this cage will have a top!
“That’s not all. Locked onto the cage will be pairs of handcuffs. What I propose is that one representative from each team start off in the cage for five minutes. Once that time limit expires, we’ll flip a coin between the two teams, and the winning side will get to send another man into the cage.
“We’ll keep alternating the coin flip until all six men are in the cage, at which point the cage will be triple padlocked. The only way a team can win is to handcuff two members of the opposing side to the cage, and then force the third member to quit or pin that man.
“I call this Rage in the Cage. Now, this is a sick and twisted match and I know full well that it must come from a sick mind. I’m not proud of what it says about me that I came up with it, but desperate times make a man's mind embrace its darker impulses.
“I went to Eddie Marlin earlier this week, and he told me he couldn’t in good conscious sanction a match this violent. But what he will do is allow it in an unsanctioned capacity, with no liability from the promotion, if the Stud Stable will agree.
“So Robert Fuller, the ball is in your corner now. Do you have the guts to send three of your finest into the Rage in the Cage against us on New Year’s Eve at the Mid-South Coliseum? Let’s find out.”
[End VTR]
Back in the WMCTV Studios, Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden are not as gregarious as usual as Lance Russell mentions that this sounds like the most brutal match in this history of professional wrestling.
Robert Fuller complains that he’s no barbarian like that mangy beast Dutch Mantell and there’s no way in hell that the Stud Stable will never step into the Rage in the Cage.
Lance Russell shrugs and mentions that nobody actually expected Fuller to have the guts to put his money where his mouth is. Fuller shot Russell a nasty look and then pulled his ‘dear cousin’ Jimmy Golden aside to speak.
There was some heated debate, before Robert Fuller threw his arms up and walked back over to Lance Russell and, with a deadly serious expression, agreed for the Stud Stable to take part in the Rage in the Cage.
Lance Russell seemed genuinely surprised by that decision, and said he was interested to see which three members that the Stud Stable would send into the Rage in the Cage. Fuller answered that he’d make that announcement a little bit later on after he had some time to consult with his 'dear cousin'.
With that blockbuster announcement, Lance Russell and Dave Brown sent us to another commercial break with the news that he’d be speaking with ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff after the break.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #2
- - Including localised promos with Dutch Mantell and Jeff Jarrett for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
The Power Hour came back from commercial break with a reply of Robert Fuller planting Scott Peterson with the swinging neckbreaker.
When The Power Hour returned to live action, ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff had joined Lance Russell and Dave Brown to discuss the huge main event match coming up on Christmas Eve.
Koloff stressed to Lance Russell that he considers himself to be a man who stands alone, and he asked Eddie Marlin to let him face both Terry Gordy and Bam Bam Bigelow by himself but was refused.
The Russian Nightmare makes it clear that he plans to go into this match as the CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion, following the upcoming tournament.
So as far a partner, he knew he needed a man who’d be motivated to keep up his end of the bargain . There’s a commotion as ‘The Universal Heartthrob’ Austin Idol enters the WMCTV studio with a big grin on his way, to the cheers of the crowd.
Lance Russell is surprised to see Austin Idol getting involved in this situation since he’s another guy who tends to stand alone! Idol agrees with Lance, but mentions that he’s got some motivation.
Austin Idol admits he couldn’t care less about this grudge between Koloff and the duo of Gordy and Bigelow, and quite frankly he doesn’t even like The Russian Nightmare.
But he’s been offered an opportunity he just can’t turn down. Idol reveals that Koloff has promised to give him the first shot at the CWA Unified Heavyweight Title after Christmas Eve should he win it. That title means money, lots of money, which is what Idol cares most about in life.
So, the Idol will stand side-by-side and protect Koloff from losing the gold on this one night because it’s simply in his best interest to do so! Koloff shoots Idol a death stare, and makes it clear that he doesn’t need protection.
Koloff steps up to Idol and says he doesn’t like Idol either. But they can get through one match on the same side, and then see which one of them is truly worthy of being the champion later on.
Idol nods his head in agreement, adding that all Nikita Koloff has to do is follow his lead and everything will work out just the way it’s supposed to!
Lance Russell questions this unlikely tag team about the special referee. Koloff makes it clear that it doesn’t matter who this troubleshooting referee is, as along as he knows how to count one-two-three.
Mr. Russell thanks both ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff and ‘The Universal Heartthrob’ Austin Idol for joining him and then sends us back up to the ring for our next bout.
MATCH #2: ‘THE BEAST FROM THE EAST’ BAM BAM BIGELOW VS. FREEZER THOMPSON
Bigelow used his incredible strength and ferocity to put away the large Freezer Thompson away with a diving headbutt off the top rope at 4:11. The Beast from the East attacked Thompson before the bell even rang and didn’t let up in the four minutes from bell to bell. After the bout, Bigelow went up top and landed a second diving headbutt on the prone Freezer Thompson.
After the bout, ‘The Beast from the East’ Bam Bam Bigelow was joined by the PPW Heavyweight Champion Terry Gordy at the desk with Lance Russell and Dave Brown.
First and foremost, Bigelow is upset that he’s been left out of the upcoming tournament to crown the CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion. Russell mentions that Bigelow has yet to win any titles in the promotion, whereas Koloff had a successful reign as PPW Champion until recently.
Bigelow scoffs, and says he could take the title any time he wants. Terry Gordy shoots his partner a nasty look and reiterates that we can find out about that once they’re finally rid of Nikita Koloff!
Gordy assures Lance Russell that he will be walking out of the upcoming tournament as the new CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion, and then he’ll walk out of the Christmas Eve tag team match with his belt too.
Russell questions how this dangerous duo plan on dealing with ‘The Universal Heartthrob’ Austin Idol, who has insinuated himself into this growing blood feud?
Bigelow warns that he’s going to make it his personal mission to maim Austin Idol in their upcoming tag team match, as a lesson to anyone else here in Memphis who tries to cut in line in front of him.
Not only will Austin Idol never get that promised title match from Nikita Koloff, he’ll never step foot into a wrestling ring once again when the Beast from the East is finished with him!
Putting Idol out of the picture will leave Nikita Koloff completely isolated, Terry Gordy interjects. And it won’t matter who the referee is because he’ll have no choice but to count one-two-three when the Freebird pins The Russian Nightmare right in the middle of the ring in the Mid-South Coliseum.
Lance Russell reminds finds that we’ll what happens when these four men hook up in just over two weeks time! We’ll be back after this commercial break.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #3
- - Including localised promos with Dutch Mantell and Jeff Jarrett for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
The Power Hour came back from commercial break with a replay of Bam Bam Bigelow coming off the top rope with a diving headbutt on Freezer Thompson.
As we returned live to the WCMTV studios, Lance Russell and Dave Brown were once again joined by Southern Tag Team Champions Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden, as well as Stud Stable members Jamie Dundee and Mr. Olympia.
Robert Fuller is, again, much more serious than usual as he warns Dutch Mantell that has no idea what he’s got himself into challenge the Stud Stable to the Rage in the Cage match on New Year’s Eve.
Fuller admits that the Stud Stable don’t usually have to show their ‘rage’ because they get things done fairly easy even with the handcuffs that the rules of professional wrestling place on them.
But in the Rage in the Cage, the handcuffs will be quite literally placed on Dutch Mantell and his friends while the handcuffs will metaphorically be off for the Stud Stable since anything goes!
Robert Fuller can’t think of anyone he’d rather go into battle with than his ‘dear cousin’ Jimmy Golden and their close friend Mr. Olympia. There’s no combination of three on the other side that can possibly compare.
There’s a bit of a commotion here as ‘Superstar’ Bill Dundee makes his way out to the WMC5 studio, looking slightly puzzled.
The Superstar wonders if perhaps he’s heard incorrectly because it sounds like Robert Fuller has decided to bench him from the Rage in the Cage match.
Fuller puts up his hands up and tries to assure Dundee that it’s not like that, he just wants to make sure his teammates are people he can count on most. And quite frankly, Bill Dundee hasn’t got the best win-loss record lately.
The Superstar snickers and asks how many times he’s been the one to make sure that Fuller and Golden hold onto those Southern Tag Team Championship belts around their waists?
And more than that, Bill Dundee asks Lance Russell to remind Robert Fuller that there’s nobody who’s won more cage matches here in Memphis than The Superstar. Lance agrees with that assessment.
Fuller places his hand on Dundee’s shoulder and tells The Superstar that he knows the way it goes in the Stud Stable: Robert Fuller is the man in charge and he makes the decisions! The decision has been made.
Bill Dundee snickers again as he scratches his chin. Well if that’s the way it’s going to be, Dundee says, then he quits the Stud Stable!
Robert Fuller and Jamie Dundee try to talk him down as Bill Dundee is getting more and more heated, ranting that he’s not going to be treated like a second banana by anyone, no less a pompous goof that isn't fit to shine his boots, like Fuller!
That remark leads Jimmy Golden to give Bill Dundee a hard shove! Dundee comes right back with a big shove on Golden, as Jamie Dundee steps in between and tries to play peacemaker between the two sides.
Robert Fuller is trying to talk down everyone as Bill Dundee furiously tries get his son out of the way so he can get in the faces of the Stud Stable. Jamie finally manages to talk his dad down.
Just as it looks like cooler heads have prevailed and the Dundees turn to leave, Jimmy Golden and Mr. Olympia jump The Superstar from behind! Bill Dundee is fighting both, and holding his own as Jamie looks distressed at this in-fighting.
However, Jamie’s concern turns to anger when Robert Fuller lands a knee across his father’s back! Now all three Stud Stable members are attacking Bill Dundee on the floor of the WMCTV studio.
Now, Jamie Dundee jumps on Robert Fuller’s back and starts slugging away at him! Fuller reaches up, grabs Jamie by the neck and vicious hurls him onto floor of the studio with a sickening thud.
Mr. Olympia and Jimmy Golden have thrown Bill Dundee into the ring and they working him over two-on-one. Jimmy Golden eventually ties up The Superstar in the ropes.
The Stud Stable then regroup on the floor as Bill Dundee struggles to free himself. Jamie Dundee is rolling around the floor in pain, until Jimmy Golden pulls the young manager up by his neck.
Lance Russell is appealing to the Stud Stable that enough is enough, and that there’s no cause for this! Nevertheless, Jimmy Golden hoists Jamie Dundee into position for a piledriver on the floor.
Robert Fuller is on the apron and he leaps off. The Stud Stable have just spiked Jamie Dundee on the floor of the WMCTV studio with a pile-driver! And fans, Jamie Dundee isn’t moving here.
Lance Russell is calling for help, but remember, the Dundees have earned themselves absolutely no friends in the locker-room besides the Stud Stable in recent months.
Now it’s Mr. Olympia who has Jamie Dundee up, and hoists him into position for a suplex. Fuller is again on the apron, and flies off for a spike-brainbuster on the floor to Jamie Dundee.
Enough is enough, even though we’re talking about the Dundees, and out come ‘Bullet’ Bob Armstrong, the Wild-Eyed Southern Boys and the Dirty White Boy to begin brawling with the Stud Stable.
Robert Fuller understands more than anyone that discretion is the better form of valor, and calls off his Stud Stable toward the dressing room. It’s a frantic scene as Bob Armstrong and Tracy Smothers free Bill Dundee from the ropes, and he darts to the floor.
Tears are welling up in Bill Dundee’s eyes as he watches medical personnel arrive and load the unconscious Jamie Dundee onto a stretcher. The Superstar rushes with the medics out of the studio, presumably rushing Jamie to Baptist Memorial Hospital.
A sombre Lance Russell sends us to commercial break.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #4
- - Including localised promos with Nikita Koloff and Southeastern Champion ‘Wildcat’ Wendell Cooley for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
The Power Hour returns with slow-motion footage of Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden executing the spike piledriver on the studio to Jamie Dundee.
As we come back to the studio, ‘Bullet’ Bob Armstrong is standing by with Lance Russell and Dave Brown, all of whom are clearly shaken by what we just saw happen to Jamie Dundee before the break.
The Bullet makes it clear that he has no love for Bill Dundee, and certainly none for Jamie, after all they’ve done in the last few months, but what he just saw the Stud Stable do has no place in professional wrestling.
And that’s exactly why this Rage in the Cage match is needed. Armstrong has spent the better part of this decade watching Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden destroy careers and ruthlessly claw their way to the top.
‘Bullet’ Bob isn’t sure yet which trio will be representing his side in the Rage in the Cage, but Armstrong makes it clear that he wants to be one of the participants facing the Stud Stable on New Year’s Eve.
Bob Armstrong then heads over to the ring, where he’s joined by The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys for our penultimate studio match of the day.
MATCH #3: ‘BULLET’ BOB ARMSTRONG, THE WILD-EYED SOUTHERN BOYS (STEVE ARMSTRONG AND TRACY SMOTHERS) VS. CHRIS FRAZIER, PAT HUTCHISON AND TONY FALK
The Armstrongs and their close family friend Tracy Smothers are successful here when Smothers connects with a super kick on Pat Hutchison with a super kick at 7:01. The Southern Boys had the crowd going with their speed-oriented offense, and of course the fans were on their feet as The Bullet drilled Hutchison with his Georgia Jawjacker. One tag and a super kick later, Smothers made the cover for the three count.
Lance Russell and Dave Brown send us to a commercial break. When we come back, Southern Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas defends his title against Jeff Jarrett in our TV main event.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #5
- - Including localised promos with Downtown Bruno and the Bruise Brothers for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
The Power Hour returns with a replay of Bob Armstrong connecting with the Georgia Jawjacker on Pat Hutchison.
As we come back to live action, Eddie Marlin is back out to speak with Lance Russell and Dave Brown about the disgusting attack from the Stud Stable on Bill Dundee and his son Jamie earlier on.
Mr. Marlin admits that there’s a lot of water under the bridge between himself and the Dundees, maybe more than a lot, but he’d never condone what happened out here earlier.
Normally, he’d fire anyone responsible in such a sneak attack on the spot but he knows that the fans want to see the Rage in the Cage match on New Year’s Eve. So instead, he’s going to fine Robert Fuller, Jimmy Golden and Mr. Olympia $1,000 each! If they don't pay in the next 7 days, the Stud Stable will be stripped of the Southern Tag Team Titles.
Mr. Marlin makes it clear that the newly-reformed CWA will not be putting up with disgusting tactics like the ones used by Robert Fuller and his allies earlier. Lance Russell sends us up to the ring.
TV MAIN EVENT: SOUTHERN JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION SHANE DOUGLAS VS. JEFF JARRETT
In an exciting back-and-forth match, Jarrett scores a pin-fall on Douglas right in the middle of the ring after a cross-body block off the top rope to become the new champion. Douglas and Jarrett traded near-falls throughout the entire match. Douglas even was able to connect with his belly-to-belly suplex, but Jarrett should tremendous heart in kicking out. Jarrett courageously fought his way back into contention and subsequently ended the three-month title reign of Shane Douglas.
After the match, Lance Russell and Dave Brown were joined by Jerry Jarrett and Eddie Marlin in congratulating Jeff Jarrett on becoming the new Southern Jr. Heavyweight Champion.
Before Jeff can really get a word in, there’s a commotion as the notorious ‘International Hustler’ Rip Rogers makes his return to Memphis alongside his valet Ms. Brenda Britton.
Rip Rogers sneers as he apologies for interrupting this ‘mutual admiration society', but he wants to let Jeff Jarrett and everyone watching know that the International Hustler is back in Memphis and he will be taking that Southern Jr. Heavyweight Title before long!
Jeff Jarrett makes it clear that he’ll defend against Rip Rogers any time he’d like, but Eddie Marlin interjects to say that Rogers has only just signed his CWA contract.
Mr. Marlin expects Rip Rogers to get a shot at any title he wants before long because he’s one of the best rasslers in the world today, but he needs to win some actual matches before he makes any demands.
Rogers brags that he can beat anyone who’s put in his way. Mr. Marlin nods, and says we’ll find out because this Monday night at the the Ellis Auditorium, Rogers will face the impressive Jerry Lynn!
The International Hustler boasts that he will beat this “punk kid from Minneapolis”, and anyone else put in his way - including Jeff Jarrett. His valet Miss Brenda commandeers the microphone to warn fans NOT to call her “flea bag” or else!
Jeff Jarrett and Rip Rogers go nose-to-nose, until Miss Brenda leads her International Playboy away.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #6
- - Including localised promos with Bart and Brad Batten for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
Lance Russell and Dave Brown have just enough time to run down Monday night’s exciting card from the Ellis Auditorium right here in Memphis:
Back in the WMCTV studio, Lance Russell and Dave Brown recap all of the happening’s from today’s show and get in one last plug for Monday night in Memphis.
© CONTINENTAL WRESTLING ASSOCIATION, 1988
The Power Hour opening:
The Power Hour intro video rolls with footage of ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff, Terry Gordy, The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys, Bill Dundee, Bam Bam Bigelow, Dutch Mantell and other stars of Power Pro Wrestling. Playing over this action is the classic disco version of ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ from 2001 A Space Odyssey.
The camera then shifts to Lance Russell and Dave Brown sitting behind the desk, and in front of a green curtain, in the WMCTV Channel 5 studios in Memphis, TN for another edition of The Power Hour.
Lance and Dave welcome everyone watching to The Power Hour, and mention that we have a lot of exciting news, as well as a title match when Southern Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas defends the title right here today against Jeff Jarrett.
Mr. Russell called out matchmaker Eddie Marlin to share some exciting news with the fans watching at home. Mr. Marlin arrived in the studio, and wished Lance and Dave, and all the fans watching, a healthy and happy holiday season.
Mr. Marlin mentioned that he’s been talking for several weeks now about some big goings on here in Memphis, and now he can finally share everything with the fans watching.
First and foremost, Mr. Marlin announces that himself and Jerry Jarrett have reached an agreement with promoters in Alabama, Kentucky and Northern Florida to expand the reach of the promotion. That includes live events and TV, re-branding as Championship Wrestling, in all of those markets starting next week.
With that expansion, will come a rechristening for the promotion, returning to the Continental Wrestling Association moniker, and a new top titleholder. Firstly, all of the Southern Champions will remain in tact.
But two weeks from Monday night (on December 18) at the Ellis Auditorium, there will be a tournament to decide the new CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion. In that tournament will be, PPW Heavyweight Champion Terry Gordy, former champion ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff, Southeastern Heavyweight Champion ‘Wildcat’ Wendell Cooley and Florida Heavyweight Champion ‘Gentlemen’ Chris Adams.
Mr. Marlin explains that this will be single-elimination tournament, and he’ll announce the brackets right here next week on The Power Hour. The winner will be crowned the first CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion.
But that’s not all! Mr. Marlin has been concerned that this situation between PPW Heavyweight Champion Terry Gordy, Bam Bam Bigelow and ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff has got out of control.
So, he’s talked to all three men and signed a blockbuster main event for an event called Christmas Chaos on Christmas Eve as the Continental Wrestling Association holds its return to the Mid-South Coliseum.
In this Christmas Chaos main event, Terry Gordy and Bam Bam Bigelow will face Nikita Koloff and a partner of his choosing in a bout that will be No Holds Barred, and a special troubleshooting referee will be assigned.
In this match, if Gordy or Koloff happened to become the Unified Heavyweight Champion beforehand, and they are subsequently pinned at Christmas Chaos, that man will lose the title belt even though it’s a tag bout.
Lance Russell is bowled over by that news, and asks who Koloff’s partner will be. And even more intriguingly, who has been selected as the troubleshooting referee?
Mr. Marlin just smiled as he acknowledged that both are interesting questions. He’ll let Nikita Koloff announce his own partner later in the show, and he’ll reveal the troubleshooting referee right here next week!
Lance Russell thanked Eddie Marlin for sharing all of this big news with us here on The Power Hour, and then threw us to our first commercial break.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #1
- - Included spots for Covington Pike Toyota and localised promos with the Stud Stable for this Monday’s night card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
Lance Russell and Dave Brown welcomed us back to The Power Hour, and shared that Eddie Marlin also asked them to mention that the CWA will have an open-door policy for talent from anywhere in the world.
And just to prove that fact, Eddie Marlin has already been contacted by Wild West Wrestling in Houston. Starting this Monday night, some of the stars from Wild West Wrestling will be competing here in Memphis when the fans see the legendary Dick Murdoch teaming with Dr. Tom Prichard and Black Bart.
Lance Russell: “It’s bell time Dave, and here we go Daaaaaaaavey!”
OPENING CONTEST: SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ROBERT FULLER AND JIMMY GOLDEN VS. JERRY LYNN AND 'SOUTHERN ROCKER' SCOTT PETERSON
Fuller and Golden proved why they’ve been so difficult to unseat as the Southern Tag Team Champions when Fuller pinned Peterson with a spinning neckbreaker at 6:13. Both members of the Stud Stable had trouble with young Jerry Lynn early on, and Fuller was nearly pinned after a dropkick from the second rope. However, Scott Peterson wasn’t as lucky, having been trapped on the Stud Stable’s side of the ring and systematically worn down.
After the bout, Southern Tag Team Champions Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden joined Lance Russell and Dave Brown for some comments after the match.
Mr. Russell recapped the recent events between the Stud Stable’s battles with the Armstrongs, Dirty White Boy and Dutch Mantell. We’ve been hearing that Dutch has been trying to come up with a match to settle this thing, and apparent he’s done it.
Let’s go now to comments from Dutch Mantell, and then we’ll hear from the Stud Stable.
[VTR]
Dutch Mantell is sitting in front of a Christmas tree and a roaring fire in his home.
Dutch Mantell: “You know, I’ve been saying for a quite a while that we need a match to settle things between my friends and I, and the Stud Stable. We’ve had street fights, and they’ve solved nothing.
“We’ve had a chain match, and it’s solved nothing. We’ve even had my own personal specialty, the Texas Death Match, and that’s still not solved anything. In all my years, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“So we need some kind of match that is so violent, so bloody, so brutal that it’s guaranteed to be the end of the line for one team or the other.
“Now, I try to be a nice guy these days but I’ve got an active imagination, and I admit even the ol’ Dutchman has dark inclinations from time to time. And I believe I’ve come up with a war to settle the score, so to speak.
“What I’d like to do is take myself and two partners, and take any three members of the Stud Stable, and step inside a steel cage. Now, that’s dangerous enough but it’s not all.
“From time to time, we’ve seen guys climb over the top of the cage to interfere, and that’s exactly what we don’t need at this point. So this cage will have a top!
“That’s not all. Locked onto the cage will be pairs of handcuffs. What I propose is that one representative from each team start off in the cage for five minutes. Once that time limit expires, we’ll flip a coin between the two teams, and the winning side will get to send another man into the cage.
“We’ll keep alternating the coin flip until all six men are in the cage, at which point the cage will be triple padlocked. The only way a team can win is to handcuff two members of the opposing side to the cage, and then force the third member to quit or pin that man.
“I call this Rage in the Cage. Now, this is a sick and twisted match and I know full well that it must come from a sick mind. I’m not proud of what it says about me that I came up with it, but desperate times make a man's mind embrace its darker impulses.
“I went to Eddie Marlin earlier this week, and he told me he couldn’t in good conscious sanction a match this violent. But what he will do is allow it in an unsanctioned capacity, with no liability from the promotion, if the Stud Stable will agree.
“So Robert Fuller, the ball is in your corner now. Do you have the guts to send three of your finest into the Rage in the Cage against us on New Year’s Eve at the Mid-South Coliseum? Let’s find out.”
[End VTR]
Back in the WMCTV Studios, Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden are not as gregarious as usual as Lance Russell mentions that this sounds like the most brutal match in this history of professional wrestling.
Robert Fuller complains that he’s no barbarian like that mangy beast Dutch Mantell and there’s no way in hell that the Stud Stable will never step into the Rage in the Cage.
Lance Russell shrugs and mentions that nobody actually expected Fuller to have the guts to put his money where his mouth is. Fuller shot Russell a nasty look and then pulled his ‘dear cousin’ Jimmy Golden aside to speak.
There was some heated debate, before Robert Fuller threw his arms up and walked back over to Lance Russell and, with a deadly serious expression, agreed for the Stud Stable to take part in the Rage in the Cage.
Lance Russell seemed genuinely surprised by that decision, and said he was interested to see which three members that the Stud Stable would send into the Rage in the Cage. Fuller answered that he’d make that announcement a little bit later on after he had some time to consult with his 'dear cousin'.
With that blockbuster announcement, Lance Russell and Dave Brown sent us to another commercial break with the news that he’d be speaking with ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff after the break.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #2
- - Including localised promos with Dutch Mantell and Jeff Jarrett for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
The Power Hour came back from commercial break with a reply of Robert Fuller planting Scott Peterson with the swinging neckbreaker.
When The Power Hour returned to live action, ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff had joined Lance Russell and Dave Brown to discuss the huge main event match coming up on Christmas Eve.
Koloff stressed to Lance Russell that he considers himself to be a man who stands alone, and he asked Eddie Marlin to let him face both Terry Gordy and Bam Bam Bigelow by himself but was refused.
The Russian Nightmare makes it clear that he plans to go into this match as the CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion, following the upcoming tournament.
So as far a partner, he knew he needed a man who’d be motivated to keep up his end of the bargain . There’s a commotion as ‘The Universal Heartthrob’ Austin Idol enters the WMCTV studio with a big grin on his way, to the cheers of the crowd.
Lance Russell is surprised to see Austin Idol getting involved in this situation since he’s another guy who tends to stand alone! Idol agrees with Lance, but mentions that he’s got some motivation.
Austin Idol admits he couldn’t care less about this grudge between Koloff and the duo of Gordy and Bigelow, and quite frankly he doesn’t even like The Russian Nightmare.
But he’s been offered an opportunity he just can’t turn down. Idol reveals that Koloff has promised to give him the first shot at the CWA Unified Heavyweight Title after Christmas Eve should he win it. That title means money, lots of money, which is what Idol cares most about in life.
So, the Idol will stand side-by-side and protect Koloff from losing the gold on this one night because it’s simply in his best interest to do so! Koloff shoots Idol a death stare, and makes it clear that he doesn’t need protection.
Koloff steps up to Idol and says he doesn’t like Idol either. But they can get through one match on the same side, and then see which one of them is truly worthy of being the champion later on.
Idol nods his head in agreement, adding that all Nikita Koloff has to do is follow his lead and everything will work out just the way it’s supposed to!
Lance Russell questions this unlikely tag team about the special referee. Koloff makes it clear that it doesn’t matter who this troubleshooting referee is, as along as he knows how to count one-two-three.
Mr. Russell thanks both ‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff and ‘The Universal Heartthrob’ Austin Idol for joining him and then sends us back up to the ring for our next bout.
MATCH #2: ‘THE BEAST FROM THE EAST’ BAM BAM BIGELOW VS. FREEZER THOMPSON
Bigelow used his incredible strength and ferocity to put away the large Freezer Thompson away with a diving headbutt off the top rope at 4:11. The Beast from the East attacked Thompson before the bell even rang and didn’t let up in the four minutes from bell to bell. After the bout, Bigelow went up top and landed a second diving headbutt on the prone Freezer Thompson.
After the bout, ‘The Beast from the East’ Bam Bam Bigelow was joined by the PPW Heavyweight Champion Terry Gordy at the desk with Lance Russell and Dave Brown.
First and foremost, Bigelow is upset that he’s been left out of the upcoming tournament to crown the CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion. Russell mentions that Bigelow has yet to win any titles in the promotion, whereas Koloff had a successful reign as PPW Champion until recently.
Bigelow scoffs, and says he could take the title any time he wants. Terry Gordy shoots his partner a nasty look and reiterates that we can find out about that once they’re finally rid of Nikita Koloff!
Gordy assures Lance Russell that he will be walking out of the upcoming tournament as the new CWA Unified Heavyweight Champion, and then he’ll walk out of the Christmas Eve tag team match with his belt too.
Russell questions how this dangerous duo plan on dealing with ‘The Universal Heartthrob’ Austin Idol, who has insinuated himself into this growing blood feud?
Bigelow warns that he’s going to make it his personal mission to maim Austin Idol in their upcoming tag team match, as a lesson to anyone else here in Memphis who tries to cut in line in front of him.
Not only will Austin Idol never get that promised title match from Nikita Koloff, he’ll never step foot into a wrestling ring once again when the Beast from the East is finished with him!
Putting Idol out of the picture will leave Nikita Koloff completely isolated, Terry Gordy interjects. And it won’t matter who the referee is because he’ll have no choice but to count one-two-three when the Freebird pins The Russian Nightmare right in the middle of the ring in the Mid-South Coliseum.
Lance Russell reminds finds that we’ll what happens when these four men hook up in just over two weeks time! We’ll be back after this commercial break.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #3
- - Including localised promos with Dutch Mantell and Jeff Jarrett for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
The Power Hour came back from commercial break with a replay of Bam Bam Bigelow coming off the top rope with a diving headbutt on Freezer Thompson.
As we returned live to the WCMTV studios, Lance Russell and Dave Brown were once again joined by Southern Tag Team Champions Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden, as well as Stud Stable members Jamie Dundee and Mr. Olympia.
Robert Fuller is, again, much more serious than usual as he warns Dutch Mantell that has no idea what he’s got himself into challenge the Stud Stable to the Rage in the Cage match on New Year’s Eve.
Fuller admits that the Stud Stable don’t usually have to show their ‘rage’ because they get things done fairly easy even with the handcuffs that the rules of professional wrestling place on them.
But in the Rage in the Cage, the handcuffs will be quite literally placed on Dutch Mantell and his friends while the handcuffs will metaphorically be off for the Stud Stable since anything goes!
Robert Fuller can’t think of anyone he’d rather go into battle with than his ‘dear cousin’ Jimmy Golden and their close friend Mr. Olympia. There’s no combination of three on the other side that can possibly compare.
There’s a bit of a commotion here as ‘Superstar’ Bill Dundee makes his way out to the WMC5 studio, looking slightly puzzled.
The Superstar wonders if perhaps he’s heard incorrectly because it sounds like Robert Fuller has decided to bench him from the Rage in the Cage match.
Fuller puts up his hands up and tries to assure Dundee that it’s not like that, he just wants to make sure his teammates are people he can count on most. And quite frankly, Bill Dundee hasn’t got the best win-loss record lately.
The Superstar snickers and asks how many times he’s been the one to make sure that Fuller and Golden hold onto those Southern Tag Team Championship belts around their waists?
And more than that, Bill Dundee asks Lance Russell to remind Robert Fuller that there’s nobody who’s won more cage matches here in Memphis than The Superstar. Lance agrees with that assessment.
Fuller places his hand on Dundee’s shoulder and tells The Superstar that he knows the way it goes in the Stud Stable: Robert Fuller is the man in charge and he makes the decisions! The decision has been made.
Bill Dundee snickers again as he scratches his chin. Well if that’s the way it’s going to be, Dundee says, then he quits the Stud Stable!
Robert Fuller and Jamie Dundee try to talk him down as Bill Dundee is getting more and more heated, ranting that he’s not going to be treated like a second banana by anyone, no less a pompous goof that isn't fit to shine his boots, like Fuller!
That remark leads Jimmy Golden to give Bill Dundee a hard shove! Dundee comes right back with a big shove on Golden, as Jamie Dundee steps in between and tries to play peacemaker between the two sides.
Robert Fuller is trying to talk down everyone as Bill Dundee furiously tries get his son out of the way so he can get in the faces of the Stud Stable. Jamie finally manages to talk his dad down.
Just as it looks like cooler heads have prevailed and the Dundees turn to leave, Jimmy Golden and Mr. Olympia jump The Superstar from behind! Bill Dundee is fighting both, and holding his own as Jamie looks distressed at this in-fighting.
However, Jamie’s concern turns to anger when Robert Fuller lands a knee across his father’s back! Now all three Stud Stable members are attacking Bill Dundee on the floor of the WMCTV studio.
Now, Jamie Dundee jumps on Robert Fuller’s back and starts slugging away at him! Fuller reaches up, grabs Jamie by the neck and vicious hurls him onto floor of the studio with a sickening thud.
Mr. Olympia and Jimmy Golden have thrown Bill Dundee into the ring and they working him over two-on-one. Jimmy Golden eventually ties up The Superstar in the ropes.
The Stud Stable then regroup on the floor as Bill Dundee struggles to free himself. Jamie Dundee is rolling around the floor in pain, until Jimmy Golden pulls the young manager up by his neck.
Lance Russell is appealing to the Stud Stable that enough is enough, and that there’s no cause for this! Nevertheless, Jimmy Golden hoists Jamie Dundee into position for a piledriver on the floor.
Robert Fuller is on the apron and he leaps off. The Stud Stable have just spiked Jamie Dundee on the floor of the WMCTV studio with a pile-driver! And fans, Jamie Dundee isn’t moving here.
Lance Russell is calling for help, but remember, the Dundees have earned themselves absolutely no friends in the locker-room besides the Stud Stable in recent months.
Now it’s Mr. Olympia who has Jamie Dundee up, and hoists him into position for a suplex. Fuller is again on the apron, and flies off for a spike-brainbuster on the floor to Jamie Dundee.
Enough is enough, even though we’re talking about the Dundees, and out come ‘Bullet’ Bob Armstrong, the Wild-Eyed Southern Boys and the Dirty White Boy to begin brawling with the Stud Stable.
Robert Fuller understands more than anyone that discretion is the better form of valor, and calls off his Stud Stable toward the dressing room. It’s a frantic scene as Bob Armstrong and Tracy Smothers free Bill Dundee from the ropes, and he darts to the floor.
Tears are welling up in Bill Dundee’s eyes as he watches medical personnel arrive and load the unconscious Jamie Dundee onto a stretcher. The Superstar rushes with the medics out of the studio, presumably rushing Jamie to Baptist Memorial Hospital.
A sombre Lance Russell sends us to commercial break.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #4
- - Including localised promos with Nikita Koloff and Southeastern Champion ‘Wildcat’ Wendell Cooley for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
The Power Hour returns with slow-motion footage of Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden executing the spike piledriver on the studio to Jamie Dundee.
As we come back to the studio, ‘Bullet’ Bob Armstrong is standing by with Lance Russell and Dave Brown, all of whom are clearly shaken by what we just saw happen to Jamie Dundee before the break.
The Bullet makes it clear that he has no love for Bill Dundee, and certainly none for Jamie, after all they’ve done in the last few months, but what he just saw the Stud Stable do has no place in professional wrestling.
And that’s exactly why this Rage in the Cage match is needed. Armstrong has spent the better part of this decade watching Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden destroy careers and ruthlessly claw their way to the top.
‘Bullet’ Bob isn’t sure yet which trio will be representing his side in the Rage in the Cage, but Armstrong makes it clear that he wants to be one of the participants facing the Stud Stable on New Year’s Eve.
Bob Armstrong then heads over to the ring, where he’s joined by The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys for our penultimate studio match of the day.
MATCH #3: ‘BULLET’ BOB ARMSTRONG, THE WILD-EYED SOUTHERN BOYS (STEVE ARMSTRONG AND TRACY SMOTHERS) VS. CHRIS FRAZIER, PAT HUTCHISON AND TONY FALK
The Armstrongs and their close family friend Tracy Smothers are successful here when Smothers connects with a super kick on Pat Hutchison with a super kick at 7:01. The Southern Boys had the crowd going with their speed-oriented offense, and of course the fans were on their feet as The Bullet drilled Hutchison with his Georgia Jawjacker. One tag and a super kick later, Smothers made the cover for the three count.
Lance Russell and Dave Brown send us to a commercial break. When we come back, Southern Jr. Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas defends his title against Jeff Jarrett in our TV main event.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #5
- - Including localised promos with Downtown Bruno and the Bruise Brothers for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
The Power Hour returns with a replay of Bob Armstrong connecting with the Georgia Jawjacker on Pat Hutchison.
As we come back to live action, Eddie Marlin is back out to speak with Lance Russell and Dave Brown about the disgusting attack from the Stud Stable on Bill Dundee and his son Jamie earlier on.
Mr. Marlin admits that there’s a lot of water under the bridge between himself and the Dundees, maybe more than a lot, but he’d never condone what happened out here earlier.
Normally, he’d fire anyone responsible in such a sneak attack on the spot but he knows that the fans want to see the Rage in the Cage match on New Year’s Eve. So instead, he’s going to fine Robert Fuller, Jimmy Golden and Mr. Olympia $1,000 each! If they don't pay in the next 7 days, the Stud Stable will be stripped of the Southern Tag Team Titles.
Mr. Marlin makes it clear that the newly-reformed CWA will not be putting up with disgusting tactics like the ones used by Robert Fuller and his allies earlier. Lance Russell sends us up to the ring.
TV MAIN EVENT: SOUTHERN JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION SHANE DOUGLAS VS. JEFF JARRETT
In an exciting back-and-forth match, Jarrett scores a pin-fall on Douglas right in the middle of the ring after a cross-body block off the top rope to become the new champion. Douglas and Jarrett traded near-falls throughout the entire match. Douglas even was able to connect with his belly-to-belly suplex, but Jarrett should tremendous heart in kicking out. Jarrett courageously fought his way back into contention and subsequently ended the three-month title reign of Shane Douglas.
After the match, Lance Russell and Dave Brown were joined by Jerry Jarrett and Eddie Marlin in congratulating Jeff Jarrett on becoming the new Southern Jr. Heavyweight Champion.
Before Jeff can really get a word in, there’s a commotion as the notorious ‘International Hustler’ Rip Rogers makes his return to Memphis alongside his valet Ms. Brenda Britton.
Rip Rogers sneers as he apologies for interrupting this ‘mutual admiration society', but he wants to let Jeff Jarrett and everyone watching know that the International Hustler is back in Memphis and he will be taking that Southern Jr. Heavyweight Title before long!
Jeff Jarrett makes it clear that he’ll defend against Rip Rogers any time he’d like, but Eddie Marlin interjects to say that Rogers has only just signed his CWA contract.
Mr. Marlin expects Rip Rogers to get a shot at any title he wants before long because he’s one of the best rasslers in the world today, but he needs to win some actual matches before he makes any demands.
Rogers brags that he can beat anyone who’s put in his way. Mr. Marlin nods, and says we’ll find out because this Monday night at the the Ellis Auditorium, Rogers will face the impressive Jerry Lynn!
The International Hustler boasts that he will beat this “punk kid from Minneapolis”, and anyone else put in his way - including Jeff Jarrett. His valet Miss Brenda commandeers the microphone to warn fans NOT to call her “flea bag” or else!
Jeff Jarrett and Rip Rogers go nose-to-nose, until Miss Brenda leads her International Playboy away.
COMMERCIAL BREAK #6
- - Including localised promos with Bart and Brad Batten for Monday night’s card at the Ellis Auditorium. - -
Lance Russell and Dave Brown have just enough time to run down Monday night’s exciting card from the Ellis Auditorium right here in Memphis:
-PPW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP-
PPW Heavyweight Champion Terry Gordy vs. ‘Bullet’ Bob Armstrong
-SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS-
Southern Champions Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden vs. Dirty White Boy and Dutch Mantell
-SOUTHERN JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP-
Southern Jr. Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett vs. Bobby Blaze
-GRUDGE MATCH-
Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Austin Idol
-THE STARS OF WILD WEST WRESTLING ARRIVE-
Dick Murdoch, Dr. Tom Prichard and Black Bart (w/ Miss Texas) vs. Bart Batten, Brad Batten and Chris Hamrick
‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff vs. ‘Missouri Tiger’ Jeff Gaylord
Rod Price and Hollywood John Tatum vs. The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
The Bruise Brothers vs. Curtis Thompson and Todd Champion
Jerry Lynn vs. ‘International Hustler’ Rip Rogers
PPW Heavyweight Champion Terry Gordy vs. ‘Bullet’ Bob Armstrong
-SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS-
Southern Champions Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden vs. Dirty White Boy and Dutch Mantell
-SOUTHERN JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP-
Southern Jr. Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett vs. Bobby Blaze
-GRUDGE MATCH-
Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Austin Idol
-THE STARS OF WILD WEST WRESTLING ARRIVE-
Dick Murdoch, Dr. Tom Prichard and Black Bart (w/ Miss Texas) vs. Bart Batten, Brad Batten and Chris Hamrick
‘The Russian Nightmare’ Nikita Koloff vs. ‘Missouri Tiger’ Jeff Gaylord
Rod Price and Hollywood John Tatum vs. The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
The Bruise Brothers vs. Curtis Thompson and Todd Champion
Jerry Lynn vs. ‘International Hustler’ Rip Rogers
Back in the WMCTV studio, Lance Russell and Dave Brown recap all of the happening’s from today’s show and get in one last plug for Monday night in Memphis.
© CONTINENTAL WRESTLING ASSOCIATION, 1988
Working on it now.