SMW May 1996 - 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25

[jackknight]

Chito said:

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING


Saturday, May 4, 1996
2pm to 3pm

Taped earlier in the day at East High School in Morristown, TN

Broadcast on these local stations:
WBIR-10 covering East Tennessee
WHAS-11 covering central and eastern Kentucky
WHNS-21 covering western North and South Carolina
WVSX-59 covering the Bluefield-Beckley-Blacksburg area in WV






"Don't change that channel, all that flippin' around! You're about to see the hottest show in town. The biggest stars and the biggest brawls. The biggest hits and the biggest falls. Non stop action, no messin' around, pretty soon we're comin' to your town. The way you like it, way it used to be...Smoky Mountain Wrestling's on TV."




LES THATCHER, DUTCH MANTELL and STAN LANE open the show in the broadcast area, in front of a large SMW banner, and they welcome us back to Morristown, TN for another edition of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Wrestling the way it used to be. Wrestling the way YOU like it!


This week, it’s the end of the line for either the Rock n’ Roll Express or the Heavenly Bodies. Their feud goes back to the beginning of the year, at Final Resolution in January, when the Bodies beat the RnR’s for the Tag titles, and injured Ricky Morton in the process.

Now, Morton and Gibson have regained the titles, and today, the two teams will meet one last time . . . and the losers will have to split up FOREVER!


LES, STAN and DUTCH talk about the match coming up between the two teams. They’re split on which team they think will win, Thatcher goes with the RnR’s, Dutch thinks the Bodies will win, saying that they’ve always come through when they’ve needed to. Stan Lane isn’t sure, he talks about the fact that the Bodies have Jim Cornette in their corner, one of the greatest managers the sport has ever known, but on the other hand, he’s been in the ring with Morton and Gibson plenty of times, and he knows just how tough they are.


We see a video montage, highlighting the feud between the two teams, set to Bob Seger’s 1978 hit, “the Famous Final Scene”.

Clips include the Bodies beating the Express for the titles at Final Resolution in January, and Ricky Morton being injured. Then Morton and Gibson regain the titles on April 6 at Bluegrass Brawl in Louisville.


LES THATCHER talks about VOLUNTEER SLAM, coming up in two weeks, on Saturday, May 18 from Chilhowee Park in Knoxville, TN.

A graphic pops up on the screen, showing the matches that will take place, as Les talks about them.

LES talks about a title that had been defended around this area for many years, the United States Jr. Heavyweight title, but has been forgotten in recent years. He says that the title is being brought back, and at Volunteer Slam, Scott Armstrong will wrestle Rip Rogers for the vacant title!

Also signed for Volunteer Slam, NWA World Champion Terry Funk will defend the title against Brad Armstrong. Les says that Funk told him, just prior to winning the World Title, that he looks at Brad as kind of a protégé, he feels Brad is one of the most talented wrestlers in the World, and he wants to help him harness that talent. It will be interesting to see what happens when the two men square off at Volunteer Slam for the biggest prize in wrestling, the NWA World Heavyweight title!

As well, Tracy Smothers has agreed to give Buddy Landel one more shot at the SMW Heavyweight Title, and this time there will be a special guest referee. We’ll find out at the end of today’s show just who that referee will be!

Also on the show, the Flame will face Steve Armstrong, and Ludvig Borga makes his in-ring debut against one-half of America’s Team, Sgt. Slaughter.


MATCH #1:
SCOTT & STEVE ARMSTRONG beat THE MOONDOGS via pinfall when Scott catches one of the Moondogs with a flying bodypress from the top rope.




DUTCH MANTELL interviews BUDDY LANDEL and HARVEY WHIPPLEMAN in front of the SMW banner.

DUTCH talks about the announcement made last week, that Al Snow had been suspended by SMW for his using the Snow Plow brainbuster on Commissioner Bob Armstrong in Charlotte.

Footage is shown of Landel and Snow attacking Armstrong as he presented the Carolina Cup trophy to his sons Brad and Steve in Charlotte, with Snow using the Snow Plow on “Bullet” Bob.

Footage is then shown of the announcement last week, that Snow has been suspended for 90 days.

LANDEL says this is typical of SMW and Bob Armstrong. They’re trying to stack the deck against him. He says that it won’t matter, because at Volunteer Slam, he’s going to kick Tracy Smothers’ brains in, and take the SMW title. And when he holds the SMW title, HE’LL have the power, he’ll be in control, and there will be nothing that SMW, or that wrinkled old piece of crap Bob Armstrong will be able to do to stop him!




We see pre-taped comments from JIM CORNETTE and THE HEAVENLY BODIES. They talk about the match coming up, and Cornette says that he can barely contain his excitement! He says that he’s been trying to get rid of the Rock n’ Roll Express for what seems like an eternity . . . and now it’s finally going to happen!

PRICHARD says that SMW would never survive without the Heavenly Bodies around, and moreso, the entire sport would crumble without the single greatest tag team in history, so they have to win the match, the very survival of professional wrestling depends on it!

DEL RAY says the RnR’s don’t stand a chance, and says that this will be the last time the fans ever see the Rock n’ Roll Express together as a team!


We then see pre-taped comments from SMW Tag Team Champions THE ROCK N’ ROLL EXPRESS. Morton and Gibson are training for the match, and take a moment to cut a promo on the Bodies. Morton says that there’s no way that they are going to let Jim Cornette break up their team. Gibson thanks the fans for supporting them over the years, and says that with all the great Smoky Mountain fans behind them, they can’t lose!


MATCH #2
SMW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, LOSING TEAM MUST SPLIT UP:
THE ROCK N’ ROLL EXPRESS (Champs) VS. THE HEAVENLY BODIES (w/ Jim Cornette).

The match starts off slow, with a feeling-out process between Morton and Del Ray. These two teams know each other like the back of their hands, but with so much on the line, neither team wants to be the one to make the first mistake.

Morton takes control at the onset of the match, but a good ol’ fashioned greco-roman thumb to the eye from Del Ray stops him dead in his tracks. Del Ray takes over, and the next few minutes see Morton get worked over in the Bodies corner.

Prichard and Del Ray are masters of double-teaming, and doing it while avoiding detection from the referee. Jim Cornette constantly distracts referee Dave Hebner, giving the Bodies plenty of time to double team Morton. At one point, Del Ray wraps the tag rope around Morton’s neck, choking him, while Prichard, in the ring, repeatedly kicks him.

Robert Gibson tries to come in and help his partner, but unfortunately for him, all that does is distract the referee, and give the Bodies more time to double team Morton.

Morton gets a second wind, and starts firing off rights and lefts at both Bodies, then catches Prichard with a dropkick that sends him through the ropes and to the apron. Morton goes to FINALLY tag Gibson in . . . but Jim Cornette, thinking quickly, distracts the referee, and he doesn’t see the tag!

The fans are not happy as the referee forces Gibson back out of the ring, and the Bodies continue to double team Morton.

Morton gets slammed to the mat by Del Ray, but when the Gigalo goes for an elbowdrop off the ropes, Morton rolls out of the way, then crawls towards his corner. He reaches out for the tag, but with just inches between his hand and Gibson’s, Del Ray grabs Morton’s leg and starts to drag him back towards the Bodies corner.

Morton climbs to his feet, with Del Ray still holding his leg, and delivers an enziguri, which drops Del Ray to the mat. Morton then scrambles to his corner . . . AND MAKES THE HOT TAG!!!

Gibson comes in and cleans house, knocking Del Ray through the ropes, then grabbing Prichard by the hair and pulling him over the top rope and into the ring. Gibson delivers a standing dropkick that catches Prichard right in the chin, and sends him through the ropes as well. Gibson goes to the top rope . . . and dives onto both Heavenly Bodies on the floor!!!

Back inside, the Bodies are able to get the upper hand again, after Prichard hits Gibson with a low blow. They work him over, using quick tags to keep the fresh man in the ring, but Gibson is able to get to his corner and tags out to Ricky Morton.

Morton seems to have recovered somewhat from the beating that he took earlier in the match, and takes the fight right to both Prichard and Del Ray. He knocks the Bodies around, but Prichard attacks Morton from behind as Ricky throws punches at Del Ray. Del Ray then holds Morton’s arms as Prichard goes to hit him . . . but Morton ducks out of the way, and Del Ray gets hit in the face by Prichard!

Morton then dropkicks Prichard, sending him tumbling over the top rope and to the floor. Morton tags Gibson in, and the Rock n’ Roll Express pull Del Ray off the mat, whip him into the ropes . . . and hit a double dropkick!

Morton leaves the ring as Gibson covers Del Ray. Dave Hebner is in position, and makes the count . . .
.
.
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ONE
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.
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.
.
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TWO!
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.
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THREE!!!

The Rock n’ Roll Express have defeated The Heavenly Bodies in this Losing Team Splits Up match!!!

JIM CORNETTE is beside himself at ringside, he throws the tennis racket to the floor and throws a tantrum like a child!

The Rock n’ Roll Express celebrate in the ring as Cornette storms off, followed a moment later by Del Ray and Prichard, both with their heads hung in shame.




LES THATCHER is in the ring with SMW Champion TRACY SMOTHERS. Thatcher says that he has spoken with the SMW Championship Committee and they have approved the special guest referee for the SMW title match at Volunteer Slam between Smothers and Buddy Landel.

LES says that Smothers was right, it’s someone that both of them know well, and then introduces the referee for the Smothers vs Landel match at Volunteer Slam . . .


JERRY “THE KING” LAWLER!!!!


LAWLER shakes hands with Les Thatcher, and then says that it’s been a while since he’s been home in Tennessee, and he’s missed these great fans!

LAWLER then says that he’s going to call the match right down the middle, and the better man will win!


THATCHER, MANTELL and LANE wrap up the show, and talk about what took place, including the Rock n’ Roll Express beating the Heavenly Bodies in a Losing Team Splits Up match, and the announcement of Jerry Lawler as the special referee for the Smothers – Landel match at Volunteer Slam on May 18!

[jackknight]

Chito said:

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING


Saturday, May 11, 1996
2pm to 3pm

Taped earlier in the day at East High School in Morristown, TN

Broadcast on these local stations:
WBIR-10 covering East Tennessee
WHAS-11 covering central and eastern Kentucky
WHNS-21 covering western North and South Carolina
WVSX-59 covering the Bluefield-Beckley-Blacksburg area in WV






"Don't change that channel, all that flippin' around! You're about to see the hottest show in town. The biggest stars and the biggest brawls. The biggest hits and the biggest falls. Non stop action, no messin' around, pretty soon we're comin' to your town. The way you like it, way it used to be...Smoky Mountain Wrestling's on TV."


---The show opens with highlights of the Rock n’ Roll Express defeating the Heavenly Bodies the previous week




LES THATCHER, DUTCH MANTELL and STAN LANE open the show in the broadcast area, in front of a large SMW banner, and they welcome us back to Morristown, TN for another edition of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Wrestling the way it used to be. Wrestling the way YOU like it!


---LES, DUTCH and STAN hype this week’s show, which will include comments from Jim Cornette regarding the loss of his meal ticket last week, as well as comments from Jerry Lawler, who we now know will referee the SMW title match between Tracy Smothers and Buddy Landel next Saturday night at Volunteer Slam. Plus, Ludvig Borga will be in action. NWA Champ Terry Funk will be here, as will his opponent for the title at Volunteer Slam, Brad Armstrong. We’ll also get an update on the condition of SMW Commissioner “Bullet” Bob Armstrong.


---THATCHER interviews JIM CORNETTE at ringside. Cornette says that everyone’s talking like his managerial career is over, and while it’s true that a team like the Heavenly Bodies only comes along once in a great while, his career is far from over! Jim says that he went to the SMW promoters earlier in the week, with a contract for a match at Volunteer Slam between the Rock n’ Roll Express and a team of Cornette’s choosing. He says that Morton and Gibson signed the contract, and that was the biggest mistake of their lives, because he went out and found a team that will end the careers of Morton and Gibson and KILL the legacy of the Rock n’ Roll Express! Cornette says we’ll find out who the team is next Saturday night at Chilhowee Park!


---We see a promo for VOLUNTEER SLAM, next Saturday night, May 18, at Knoxville’s Chilhowee Park. NWA Champion Terry Funk defends the title against Brad Armstrong! SMW Champ Tracy Smothers meets Buddy Landel, with special guest referee Jerry “the King” Lawler! SMW Tag Team Champions the Rock n’ Roll Express face Jim Cornette’s mystery team! Rip Rogers and Scott Armstrong wrestle to crown a new United States Jr. Heavyweight Champion! All that, and plenty more!


MATCH #1: LUDVIG BORGA beats BOBBY BLAZE via pinfall, in about 90 seconds, after delivering a Gutbuster Drop, then pinning Blaze by placing one foot on Bobby’s chest.




---Next up is footage of Al Snow and Buddy Landel attacking Commissioner Bob Armstrong in Charlotte and sending him out on a stretcher. The video cuts to last week’s show, where Armstrong announces that SMW has suspended Snow for 90 days.


---LES, STAN and DUTCH talk about the attack on Bob Armstrong, and the suspension of Al Snow. Thatcher wonders how well Landel will do against Smothers now that he doesn’t have Al Snow there to interfere on his behalf. Mantell thinks Landel will do just fine, and predicts that we’ll have a new SMW Champion next Saturday night at Volunteer Slam.

THATCHER then says that Bob Armstrong is doing much better, he no longer has to wear the neckbrace, and he’s up and moving around. Les says that he hopes to see Armstrong back on SMW TV soon.


---BUDDY LANDEL, along with HARVEY WHIPPLEMAN and TAMMY LYN BYTCH, cuts a promo, where he talks about Al Snow’s suspension, and then someone walks into the shot, wearing a black singlet with a big, white “B” on it, and a black mask. Buddy Landel says that THE BULLET used to wrestle in these parts, and was a close friend of Bob Armstrong. But now, the Bullet has realized just what a lowlife Bob Armstrong truly is, and he’s joined Landel instead! Buddy says that the masked man knows the Armstrongs better than anyone, and will help him rid SMW of Bob and his bastard kids once and for all!




MATCH #2: NWA World Champion TERRY FUNK beats SEAN CASEY via pinfall with the Piledriver.




---TERRY FUNK is interviewed at ringside, and he talks about defending the title against Brad Armstrong at Volunteer Slam. He says that Armstrong is a very talented young man, and he thinks it’s going to be a great match, though he’s confident he’ll walk out of Chilhowee Park still the Champion.


---SMW Champion TRACY SMOTHERS cuts a promo, where he talks about facing Buddy Landel at Volunteer Slam, with Jerry Lawler as the special referee. Smothers says that he and Landel have beaten each other up, they’ve spilled a lot of blood, Landel tarred and feathered him at one point, but it all ends next Saturday night. He’s going to beat Landel, one-two-three, right in the middle of the ring and finish this feud once and for all.




MATCH #3: SMW Tag Team Champions THE ROCK N’ ROLL EXPRESS beat ORIENTALS I & II via pinfall when Morton and Gibson hit Oriental II with a double dropkick, and Gibson pins him.




---THE ROCK N’ ROLL EXPRESS are interviewed at ringside. They hype their match at Volunteer Slam against Jim Cornette’s mystery team, with Morton saying that it doesn’t matter who this team is, it doesn’t matter how big and bad they are, he and Gibson will be victorious. Gibson talks about Cornette’s comments that his team will kill the legacy of the Rock n’ Roll Express, and says that Rock n’ Roll can never die, and as long as their hearts are pumping, he and Morton are gonna keep on rockin’ and rollin’!


MATCH #4: BRAD ARMSTRONG beats RASTA THE VOODOO MAN via pinfall with the Russian Legsweep.




MATCH #5: THE FLAME beats SGT. SLAUGHTER via Count-out. The Flame sends Slaughter to the floor, then distracts the referee while LUDVIG BORGA comes out, with a chain wrapped around his arm, and nails Slaughter with a vicious Lariat! Slaughter, busted open from the chain, hits the floor like a ton of bricks, and is counted out. It’s several minutes before Slaughter comes to, and medical personnel help him to the back.




---JERRY “THE KING” LAWLER cuts a promo, and talks about officiating the SMW title match at Volunteer Slam. He says that it’s no secret to fans in Tennessee that he and Landel don’t get along, but he won’t let that influence him in any way, he’s going to call the match right down the middle, and he’ll make sure the best man wins.




---THATCHER, MANTELL and LANE wrap up the show, then they hype next week’s show, as well as next Saturday night’s Volunteer Slam show at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville.

[jackknight]

Chito said:

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING


Saturday, May 18, 1996
2pm to 3pm

Taped earlier in the day at East High School in Morristown, TN

Broadcast on these local stations:
WBIR-10 covering East Tennessee
WYMT-12 covering eastern Kentucky
WHNS-21 covering western North and South Carolina
WVSX-59 covering the Bluefield-Beckley-Blacksburg market in WV






"Don't change that channel, all that flippin' around! You're about to see the hottest show in town. The biggest stars and the biggest brawls. The biggest hits and the biggest falls. Non stop action, no messin' around, pretty soon we're comin' to your town. The way you like it, the way it used to be...Smoky Mountain Wrestling's on TV."





LES THATCHER, DUTCH MANTELL and STAN LANE open the show in the broadcast area, in front of a large SMW banner, and they welcome us back to Morristown, TN for another edition of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Wrestling the way it used to be. Wrestling the way YOU like it!


---LES, DUTCH and STAN hype this week’s show, where they will look at the matches that will take place later tonight at Knoxville’s Chilhowee Park at Volunteer Slam 96.

LES runs down the matches that will take place tonight at Volunteer Slam:

* The SMW Championship Committee has reinstated the US Jr. Heavyweight Title that used to be defended in this area. “Rugged” Rip Rogers and Scott Armstrong will wrestle tonight for the vacant title!

* Sgt. Slaughter takes on the Hell Raiser from Helsinki, Ludvig Borga!

* Steve Armstrong takes on the masked Flame!

* SMW Tag Team Champions the Rock n’ Roll Express have agreed to wrestle a mystery team that Jim Cornette has signed!

* The war between SMW Champ Tracy Smothers and “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel continues as they battle for the title. Jerry “the King” Lawler will be the special referee!

* Brad Armstrong has the opportunity of a lifetime as he challenges his friend Terry Funk for the NWA World Heavyweight Title!


---THATCHER, LANE and MANTELL interview JIM CORNETTE at the broadcast table. Cornette his a sly smile on his face, and says that he can barely wait until Volunteer Slam, because the team he went out and signed is going to squash Morton and Gibson like the cockroaches they are! He won’t tell anyone who the team is, telling the announcers that they’ll have to wait just like everyone else.




---We see a video highlighting the feud between the Rock n’ Roll Express and the Heavenly Bodies. The video shows Ricky Morton being injured back in January, and the recent match at Bluegrass Brawl where Morton and Gibson regained the titles. The video ends with clips of the RnR’s beating Prichard and Del Ray in a Losing Team Splits Up match a few weeks back on TV.


---THATCHER, LANE and MANTELL interview SMW TV Champion JIMMY VALIANT at the announce table. Valiant talks about some of the upcoming challenges for the TV title, when suddenly AC/DC’s “Back in Black” begins to play, and CHRIS CANDIDO walks out to the table! Candido makes fun of Valiant, saying he’d heard that Valiant was still around, but he didn’t believe it, he assumed he was finishing out his days in some retirement community in Boca Raton. Candido says he decided to come and see it for himself. He refers to Valiant as “Gramps” several times. Valiant doesn’t take kindly to it, and gets in Candido’s face . . . but Chris spits his gum right in Valiant’s face! Jimmy takes a step back . . . then nails Candido in the mouth with a big right hand that knocks Candido to the floor!

Valiant pulls Candido up, but Chris drives a knee into Valiant’s gut, then delivers several clubbing forearms down across the back of Valiant’s neck. Candido then drags Valiant to ringside, and slams his head into the ring apron before grabbing a chair and bashing Valiant over the head with it.

Candido then rolls Valiant into the ring, picks him up, and hits a Slingshot Suplex. From there, Candido goes to the top rope and hits a diving Legdrop on Valiant. Several wrestlers and officials hit the ring and separate the two men, before dragging Candido away from the ring.

A moment later, Valiant gets to his feet, and staggers over to the announcer’s table. Valiant challenges Candido to a match, right here next week!


---We see a video montage of THE FLAME, particularly him burning opponents with fireballs.


---STEVE ARMSTRONG cuts a promo backstage, talking about the Flame, and says that he’ll beat him at Volunteer Slam and take the mask off, so we can finally find out who’s under the mask.




---We see a video of Buddy Landel and Al Snow attacking Bob Armstrong in Charlotte after the finals of the Carolina Cup tournament last month. Snow drops Armstrong on his head with the Snow Plow, sending the Commissioner out on a stretcher.

---From there, we see Armstrong announcing that SMW has suspended Snow for 90 days.

---The video cuts to last week’s show, where Buddy Landel introduced a masked man that he claimed to be the Bullet.


---We go to pre-recorded comments from AL SNOW, sitting by a pool.

SNOW says that SMW has been conspiring against him since he arrived in the promotion, and now they’ve suspended him, and taken away his ability to make a living. He says that everything finally got to him, he had a complete breakdown. As a result, he’s SUING SMW for emotional distress! He’s also going to sue Bob Armstrong personally. He says he’s currently at a “therapy session”, though as the camera zooms out to reveal the surrounding area, it looks more like a luxury resort. Snow says he’s going to make sure that Bob Armstrong and SMW pay for every cent of it!




---THATCHER, LANE and MANTELL talk about what we just saw. Thatcher and Lane can’t believe that Snow would stoop to this level, but Mantell praises Snow, saying that it’s about time someone finally made SMW, and Bob Armstrong, pay for everything they’ve done!


---MATCH #1: SMW Tag Team Champions THE ROCK N’ ROLL EXPRESS battle BUDDY LANDEL & THE FLAME to a NO-CONTEST in a Non-Title match. Morton and Gibson have the match in hand as we near the 10-minute mark, but when Gibson gets thrown out of the ring, things quickly go downhill for the Champions. With Gibson on the floor, JIM CORNETTE comes out, and drives the handle of his tennis racket right into the throat of Gibson! Gibson has to be helped to the back, leaving Ricky Morton alone in the ring.

Morton puts up a valiant effort, but he’s soon overwhelmed by the Nature Boy and the Flame. Suddenly, BOBBY FULTON runs down and jumps into the ring. Fulton and Morton fight off Landel and the Flame, and the heels leave the ring and head for the locker room.

With Morton and Fulton still in the ring, JIM CORNETTE comes back out, and joins Thatcher, Lane and Mantell at the announce table. Cornette tells Morton that Ricky’s worst nightmare is going to become a reality tonight in Knoxville, and says that if Bobby Fulton decides to stick his nose into the match like he did here today, Cornette says he can’t be held responsible for what happens to Fulton!


---BUDDY LANDEL cuts a promo on SMW Champ Tracy Smothers. He talks about their match coming up tonight, and says that Jerry Lawler is as untrustworthy as they come, and says the King had better just stay out of his way.

LANDEL then talks about how Tracy Smothers always talks about how proud he is to be a Southern boy, and he’s always waving that Confederate flag around. Landel says that he’s going to show the fans exactly what he thinks of the South . . .

LANDEL holds up a Confederate flag, then tosses it down into a garbage can beside him. He’s not done, though, he pulls out a container of lighter fluid, pours plenty into the garbage can . . . and then lights a match, and tosses it in! As the flag burns, Landel says that should tell the fans exactly what he thinks of the South, and what he thinks about all of them!




---We see footage of NWA Champion TERRY FUNK in action, including his title win over Shane Douglas a few months back in Providence, RI. We then see pre-recorded comments from Funk, where he says that Brad Armstrong is a very talented wrestler, and thinks that Brad will be World Champion someday, but that day is not today, and Funk believes that he’ll retain the title at Volunteer Slam.




---SMW Champion TRACY SMOTHERS cuts a promo. He talks about what Buddy Landel did earlier, and with a wild look in his eyes, Smothers promises to not only beat Landel, but he tells the fans that he’s going to tear the Nature Boy apart, and he’s going to do it for the South and for all these great fans!





---THATCHER, MANTELL and LANE wrap up the show, and hype Volunteer Slam, tonight at Knoxville’s Chilhowee Park.

[jackknight]

Chito said:

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING & THE NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE
PRESENT…

VOLUNTEER SLAM

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1996

FROM CHILHOWEE PARK IN KNOXVILLE, TN






LES THATCHER is the ring announcer for the show, and he welcomes everyone to Chilhowee Park for Volunteer Slam ’96! Les runs down the matches that are scheduled to take place . . . “Rugged” Rip Rogers and Scott Armstrong will wrestle for the United States Jr. Heavyweight Championship . . . Sgt. Slaughter takes on the Hell Raiser from Helsinki, Ludvig Borga . . . The Flame meets Steve Armstrong . . . SMW Tag Team Champions the Rock n’ Roll Express will meet Jim Cornette’s mystery team . . . SMW Champion Tracy Smothers defends the title against Buddy Landel, with Jerry “the King” Lawler as special referee . . . and in the main event, NWA World Champion Terry Funk puts the belt on the line against Brad Armstrong.




MATCH #1
FOR THE VACANT US JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE:
“RUGGED” RIP ROGERS beats SCOTT ARMSTRONG. Things don’t start out well for Armstrong, as Rogers offers a handshake and Armstrong accepts. It proves to be a mistake on Scott’s part, as Rip kicks him in the stomach, and starts stomping away on Armstrong. Rip keeps that advantage throughout the early going, but Armstrong eventually makes a comeback, and Rogers decides to take a breather outside the ring. He doesn’t get a chance to rest though, as Armstrong follows him out. Scott chases Rogers around the ring, with Rip rolling back into the ring, but as Scott climbs through the ropes, Rogers charges at him and delivers a vicious kneelift that knocks Armstrong back out to the apron. Rogers pulls him up by his hair, and suplexes Armstrong back into the ring. As Scott slowly gets to his feet, still feeling the effects of the kneelift, Rogers runs the ropes, and catches him with a Sunset Flip. The Sunset Flip gets Rogers the 1, 2, 3 and Rip Rogers is the new US Jr. Heavyweight Champion!


MATCH #2:
LUDVIG BORGA beats SGT. SLAUGHTER. The fans were treated to an exciting technical match in the opener, but there’s nothing scientific about this. This match ends us as nothing more than a knock-down drag-out. Slaughter puts up a valiant effort, but in the end, it’s Ludvig Borga getting his hand raised after hoisting Slaughter up onto his shoulders, and delivering a Gutbuster Drop for the pinfall.

After the match, Borga takes the house mic from Les Thatcher, and tells the fans that their so-called “All-American hero” proved to be no challenge at all for him!


MATCH #3:
THE FLAME beats STEVE ARMSTRONG after slipping an object into his mask after a ref bump, and headbutting Armstrong, knocking him out cold and getting the pinfall.


JIM CORNETTE comes out before the next match starts, and says that it’s time for the Rock n’ Roll Express to finally get what’s coming to them! He calls Morton and Gibson out, and a moment later, they hit the ring.

Morton and Gibson tell Cornette to bring out whoever he’s found, and they’ll whoop them.

Morton and Gibson don’t see two giants coming out of the crowd behind them. Cornette tells them his team is already here, and as Morton and Gibson look at each other, then turn around, Cornette introduces Ron and Don, the Bruise Brothers!

The Bruise Bros. jump on Morton and Gibson and pummel them. They toss the Champions to the floor, and that’s the last time the two teams set foot in the ring. For the next several minutes, the Bruises give Morton and Gibson a horrible beating, hitting them with anything they can get their hands on.

Within minutes, both Morton and Gibson are bleeding heavily, but the Bruise Bros. don’t let up. Don grabs Morton by the throat, then lifts him up . . . and CHOKESLAMS HIM ONTO THE TIMEKEEPER’S TABLE!!! As Morton lays there on the table, stunned, Don joins his brother and they double-team Robert Gibson. Ron and Don both grab Gibson around the throat . . . DOUBLE CHOKESLAM ON THE GROUND!!! Gibson’s head bounced off the ground like a basketball, and he’s not moving!

With Cornette calling the shots, the Bruise Bros. go back over to Ricky Morton, who’s still laying on the timekeeper’s table. Don grabs the ring bell, and repeatedly brings it down, bashing Morton in the ribs with the heavy bell!

Several wrestlers tried to come out and help, but Cornette hit them with his tennis racket, and chased them off. Finally, security, several officials, and the entire babyface locker room rush out. Cornette and his Bruise Brothers take off, Cornette laughing like a madman as medical personnel tend to Morton and Gibson.




MATCH #4:
THE ROCK N’ ROLL EXPRESS VS. THE BRUISE BROTHERS (w/ Jim Cornette) is declared a NO CONTEST.




MATCH #5
SMW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
JERRY LAWLER IS THE SPECIAL REFEREE:
TRACY SMOTHERS (Champ) VS. BUDDY LANDEL (w/ Harvey Whippleman & the Bullet). Before the bell even sounds, Lawler makes the Bullet leave ringside, which the masked man is not happy about, but Lawler gets on the house mic and tells him that if he doesn’t leave, Landel will forfeit the match!

Lawler calls the match right down the middle, just like he said he would. Although Buddy Landel doesn’t seem to think so, as he argues with Lawler every chance he gets.

Late in the match, Landel applies a abdominal stretch, and grabs the top rope for leverage. Several times, Lawler looks over, but Landel always lets go of the rope just a split second before Lawler sees it. Finally, Lawler catches Landel holding the rope, and he kicks Landel’s arm, causing him to let go of the rope, but it also allows Smothers to flip Landel over and then roll him up. Landel kicks out at 2, and immediately gets in Lawler’s face. The two argue for a moment, until Smothers grabs Landel for what looks like a belly to back suplex. Landel has other ideas, though, and swings his leg backwards, catching Smothers with a low blow and that drops Tracy to the mat.

Landel bounces off the ropes and delivers a kneedrop, then covers Smothers, but the Champion kicks out at 2. Landel complains of a slow count, and argues again with Lawler. This time, Landel shoves Lawler! Lawler warns him, but Landel does it again! This time, Lawler hauls off and PUNCHES LANDEL IN THE MOUTH!!!

Tracy Smothers has recovered, and he connects with a Superkick on Landel, then goes to the top rope. He waits for Landel to get back to his feet, then hits the Jawjacker elbow! Smothers covers Landel, Lawler is right there, and the count seems a little fast, but either way, Smothers gets the pinfall and retains the SMW Title!

THE BULLET charges down to the ring, and starts stomping Tracy, then yells at Lawler for hitting Landel. Buddy Landel jumps Lawler from behind, and they brawl on the mat while Smothers hits the masked Bullet with the Superkick. Smothers tries to pull the mask off, but the masked man is able to roll out of the ring. He’s joined at ringside by Landel, and they take off as Tracy Smothers and Jerry Lawler stand tall in the ring.




MATCH #6
NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
TERRY FUNK (Champ) VS. BRAD ARMSTRONG. Funk and Armstrong shake hands before the match, and wrestle a mostly clean and scientific match. Funk, however, does begin to show some frustration as the match progresses, and he starts using the occasional closed fist. The fans started out cheering about equally for both men, but as the match progresses, it becomes clear that the fans are solidly behind Brad Armstrong, and that seems to irritate Funk as well. Late in the match, Brad goes for a headlock, but Funk grabs him by the hair and pulls him down to the mat, which draws some boos from the fans.

As we pass the 20 minute mark, Funk takes control of the match, and after wearing Brad down, Funk drops the challenger with the Piledriver and gets the 1, 2, 3!

Terry Funk has retained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship!

Afterwards, Armstrong slowly gets to his feet, and offers Funk a handshake. Funk hesitates for a moment, but then shakes Brad’s hand before Brad leaves the ring, followed shortly after by Funk.

[jackknight]

Chito said:

SMOKY MOUNTAIN WRESTLING


Saturday, May 25, 1996
2pm to 3pm

Taped earlier in the day at East High School in Morristown, TN

Broadcast on these local stations:
WBIR-10 covering East Tennessee
WYMT-12 covering eastern Kentucky
WHNS-21 covering western North and South Carolina
WVSX-59 covering the Bluefield-Beckley-Blacksburg market in WV






"Don't change that channel, all that flippin' around! You're about to see the hottest show in town. The biggest stars and the biggest brawls. The biggest hits and the biggest falls. Non stop action, no messin' around, pretty soon we're comin' to your town. The way you like it, the way it used to be...Smoky Mountain Wrestling's on TV."





LES THATCHER, DUTCH MANTELL and STAN LANE open the show in the broadcast area, in front of a large SMW banner, and they welcome us back to Morristown, TN for another edition of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Wrestling the way it used to be. Wrestling the way YOU like it!


---LES, DUTCH and STAN hype this week’s show, then talk about last Saturday night’s VOLUNTEER SLAM in Knoxville.

---A video montage airs, showing clips from Volunteer Slam, focusing on the Bruise Brothers attacking the RnR Express, Jerry Lawler refereeing the match between Smothers and Landel, and Brad Armstrong challenging for the NWA title.


---THATCHER, LANE and MANTELL interview JIM CORNETTE and THE BRUISE BROTHERS. Cornette is smiling from ear to ear, and says that Morton and Gibson are laid up in the hospital, they had to be taken from Chilhowee Park in an ambulance, all thanks to these two men!

Cornette continues gloating, but there’s some commotion . . . RICKY AND ROBERT ARRIVE ON THE SCENE!!!

The Rock n’ Roll Express are here, and they confront Cornette and the Bruise Brothers.

Morton says that the Bruise Bros are awfully tough when they come out of the crowd and jump people from behind, but he thinks that if the two teams meet in the ring, he and Gibson can whup them!

Cornette says he doubts that, but we can find out right here and now . . . that is, if Morton and Gibson have the guts to put those SMW Tag titles on the line!

Morton and Gibson agree, then make their way into the ring, and call for the Bruise Brothers to join them. We’ve got an impromptu Tag Team Championship match, right here on television!!!




---MATCH #1: SMW Tag Team Champions THE ROCK N’ ROLL EXPRESS VS. THE BRUISE BROTHERS (w/ Jim Cornette). The two teams start brawling as soon as the Bruise Bros. climb into the ring and the first few minutes see all four men in the ring together. Morton and Don end up leaving the ring and brawling around ringside, while Gibson and Ron battle in the ring. Morton comes back into the ring, and he and Gibson hit Ron with a double dropkick that sends the big man through the ropes and to the floor, but behind them, Don Harris climbs back into the ring, and turns both Morton and Gibson inside-out with a running double clothesline.

Don goes for the cover on Gibson, but Robert is able to kick out. Don starts clubbering Gibson with heavy forearm smashes, but Morton breaks that up and the RnR Express double-team Don. Jim Cornette makes his presence felt at that point, as Ricky Morton runs the ropes, Cornette reaches underneath the bottom rope and trips Morton. This gives Don a chance to hit a kneedrop to the back of Morton’s head, and Ron Harris pulls Morton out of the ring and to the floor while Don turns his attention to Gibson. Don whips Gibson into the ropes . . . and delivers a vicious boot to the jaw! Gibson crumbles to the mat, but Don picks him up, and delivers a Chokeslam!

Don covers Gibson by placing a boot on his chest, but it makes no difference, Gibson is out, and the Bruise Brothers get the 1, 2, 3 . . .

The Bruise Brothers are the NEW Smoky Mountain Tag Team Champions!




CORNETTE runs back over to the announce table and gloats, while the Bruise Brothers continue to destroy Morton and Gibson in the ring, battering them with chairs and the Tag Title belts!

LES THATCHER tries to get someone to break it up as we go to a commercial break.


---MATCH #2: LUDVIG BORGA beats CHRIS MICHAELS via submission after locking Michaels in the Torture Rack.




---THATCHER, LANE and MANTELL talk with the new United States Jr. Heavyweight Champion RIP ROGERS. Rogers brags about winning the belt, and then says that he had some modifications made, to make the belt more appealing. Rogers pulls the belt out of a bag that he’s carrying it in . . .

HE’S PAINTED THE BELT PINK!!!

Rogers says that now the belt is a real thing of beauty! Les, Stan and Dutch can’t believe it.




---We see a video highlighting what took place last week, where Chris Candido came out and challenged Jimmy Valiant to give him a shot at the TV title.




---MATCH #3: SMW TV Champion JIMMY VALIANT VS. CHRIS CANDIDO. Valiant takes the fight to Candido to start, but Candido is quick to jab a thumb into the Champion’s eye, and that stops Valiant dead in his tracks. Candido takes over and wears Valiant down. The match comes to an end when Candido drops Valiant with a DDT, then goes to the top rope and hits the New Jersey Jam flying legdrop for the 1, 2, 3!

CHRIS CANDIDO IS THE NEW SMW TV CHAMPION!!!




---Footage is shown of Tracy Smothers beating Buddy Landel at Volunteer Slam, with some help from special referee Jerry Lawler.


---THATCHER, LANE and MANTELL interview SMW Commissioner BOB ARMSTRONG. Armstrong talks about the events that took place, and says that he understands that Jerry Lawler was frustrated with Buddy Landel, he knows first-hand just how aggravating Landel can be, but Lawler should not have put his hands on Landel, he was there to referee the match. Armstrong says that the Championship Committee has decided that Landel deserves a rematch.

So, next Saturday night at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Landel will get a rematch for the belt, and this time, it will be inside of a STEEL CAGE. This way, no one will be able to get into the ring, and neither of the competitors will be able to leave! He says that this will settle things once and for all between Tracy Smothers and Buddy Landel.


BUDDY LANDEL comes out to the announce table. Landel says that’s all well and good, but he’s not going to be satisfied with just taking Smothers’ belt, he wants to punish Jerry Lawler for what he did! He demands that Armstrong also give him a match with that good-for-nothing piece of garbage Jerry Lawler and he wants it right here next week on TV!

Armstrong says that he’s sure the fans want to see Lawler get his hands on Landel as well, so he will do whatever he can to get that match signed for next week’s show.




---THATCHER, MANTELL and LANE wrap up the show, and hype next week’s show, which as we just heard, could very well feature Jerry Lawler facing off with Buddy Landel! Matches that we do know will take place next week will see Scott Armstrong challenging the mysterious masked Bullet, and SMW Champ Tracy Smothers squaring off with the masked Flame in a non-title match.