Thanks to Pariah and Victory Roll for the comments!May 14, 2018
Card #544: Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis1) S.D. and S.T. Jones picked up a big win in an amazing opener over “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz and “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe. This was a competitive match between these two teams. Rodz hit the shoulder breaker on S.D. a few minutes into the bout but S.D. kicked out. “Special Delivery” battled back and took control. The Joneses managed to keep Rodz in the ring for several minutes. “Special Delivery” hit a suplex for a two-count. “Soul Train” hit the Russian leg sweep but Sharpe made a save before the three-count. “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son” busted open the New Yorker after his Philly Shuffle and some of his potent punches. S.D. went up to the top rope but before he could leap, Sharpe ran over and shoved him off, causing him to crash hard. Rodz made a desperation cover but S.D. kicked out. Sharpe finally tagged back in and worked over S.D, throwing him shoulder-first into the ring post. He attacked the shoulder but then went for a front facelock. “Special Delivery” backdropped his way out of the move into a pinning combination but Sharpe kicked out. S.D. quickly tagged “Soul Train,” who jumped in and executed the leg sweep on Sharpe. He turned into a cover and scored the pin, while a one-armed S.D. took down an intervening Rodz with a running head butt. The Memphis fans popped big as “Living in America” played! ****
2) Luke Harper scored a strong win over Hillbilly Jim. Harper avenged being eliminated from the 15-man Battle Royal by Jim 10 days earlier at
Derby City Stampede. While Jim had some offense, it only took one big boot from Harper to put him down and to give the big Nebraskan the win in about two minutes. ¼*
3) “Dastardly” Danny Doring picked up a quick win over Dennis Upton. The Amish RoadKill accompanied his tag team partner to ringside but did not need to get involved. The Mississippi native Upton went for an armlock but Doring ducked under and nailed him with right hook that knocked Upton out of his long socks. Doring did the Dastardly Strut and then hit a body slam on Upton. He then went up to the top rope and came off with the Danaconda to score the pinfall in 30 seconds. The “Dastardly One” looked very impressive tonight, as he looks forward to his shot at Pepper Gomez and the Mid-America title in two weeks in Chattanooga! DUD
4) “Classy” Freddie Blassie picked up a controversial disqualification win over Jim Powers after 16 minutes of action. “The King of Men” dominated the first few minutes of action and made it look like victory was going to be a sure thing. Powers reversed a whip into the turnbuckles and caught Blassie on the rebound with the power slam but only scored a two-count. Blassie was in trouble and bit Powers’ forehead to briefly regain the offensive but the New Yorker surprised him with a running knee lift for a near fall. Another running knee lift a few moments later knocked “The Vampire” out of the ring. Blassie grabbed a steel chair from ringside and brought it into the ring. He went to strike Powers with the chair but Powers blocked it, took the chair away, and then nailed Blassie with it, right in front of Paul Morton. Morton had no choice but to disqualify Powers. Blassie was hurting from the chair shot but was happy to get his hand raised in victory! ***¼
5) The Heavenly Bodies defeated Jake “The Milkman” Milliman and “Sodbuster” Kenny Jay. Tom Prichard definitely got a measure of revenge on Milliman for being eliminated by him in the 15-man Battle Royal at Derby City Stampede, as he and Chris Candido kept Milliman from making a tag to Jay the entire match. Milliman put up a fight and Jay did make some pin saves to keep the match going. But Prichard finally scored the pinfall after eight minutes with the enzuigiri, while “The Suicide Blonde” stopped Jay from another save. ¼*
6) “Wildfire” Tommy Rich made his first appearance in Memphis and scored a quick pinfall on George South in 60 seconds. While South had some offense at the bell, Rich quickly took over. He whipped South into the ropes and caught him with the Thesz Press to score the pinfall. Even though it was a short appearance, the Memphis fans gave “Wildfire” a big ovation after the match, as his
theme music played! DUD
7) “Superstar” Bill Dundee picked up a big win over Mr. Hughes in about six minutes. The former Southern champ Hughes went after the Aussie right at the bell. He hit the spike slam about two minutes into the match but Dundee kicked out. Hughes missed a clothesline and Dundee rebounded off the ropes with a crossbody block to knock down the big man. Dundee stayed in control and went up to the top rope. Before he could leap, Jim Cornette got up on the apron. Dundee walked across the rope and kicked “The Louisville Slugger” off the apron in a great display of balance! With no Hughes to protect Cornette, Dundee went back to the corner and came off with the Superstar Bomb. He covered Hughes and scored the pinfall! As Dundee got his hand raised by Paul Morton, he signaled to Cornette, who was recovering from the fall, that he wanted another match with “Exotic” Adrian Street! *¼
8) Mad Dog Vachon came out the winner over “Bullet” Bob Armstrong in a competitive match via disqualification. This was a physical match that went outside the ring on several occasions. Vachon scored a near fall midway through the bout with a running knee lift. The “Bullet” took control and blasted Vachon with some karate chops, knocking down the Algerian brawler and scoring a two-count. Armstrong hit a vertical suplex shortly thereafter and scored another two. Vachon took control in a brawl outside the ring by driving Armstrong into the commentators’ table. Armstrong was hurting, as Vachon threw him back into the ring. Bob’s sons Brad and Brian came down to ringside out of concern for Bob’s welfare. Vachon hit another knee lift, this time targeting the injured ribs. He then hit a gutbuster on Bob and then spit on Brian at ringside! As Vachon made a cover, Brian lost his temper and jumped in the ring, attacking Vachon with stomps. Scott Bowden was left with no choice but to call for the bell and disqualify Bob after 22 minutes. Brad jumped in and tried to calm down his brother. Vachon quickly retreated before the Armstrongs could dish out more punishment. You can bet this war is not over! ***¼
9) In match #4 of the
Seven Levels of Hate series, “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce tied up things with a win in a Dog Collar Match over Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana in 20 minutes. Joe Wheeler brought the dog collar chain to the ring and made sure both wrestlers were secured. When he rang the bell, the action was brutal. Pearce seemed extra vicious in this match, perhaps not wanting to fall farther behind in the series and knowing how important this match was. He hit a vertical suplex a few minutes into the bout for a two-count. The former Mid-America champion came off the top rope with a clothesline, using the chain with it and scored another two. Pearce began to punch away at Cabana with the chain wrapped around his fist, busting open the host of The Art of Wrestling. Cabana fought back and had some control but Pearce cut him off with the Last Ride lariat, again using the chain. Pearce picked up Cabana into a hangman’s neckbreaker submission with the chain wrapped around Cabana’s neck! Cabana was in trouble but managed to break free by elbowing and punching his way out. Cabana’s neck was hurting him and Pearce again wrapped the chain around his neck. He then hit the jumping piledriver and scored the pinfall. Jim Cornette was very pleased with Pearce’s win and Pearce looked impressive, tying the series at two wins each and gaining more momentum as he challenges “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson for the Southern Heavyweight title in the main event next week in Johnson City! ***
10) The main event was a rematch for the USWA World Tag Team titles. The champions The Flying Redheads, coming 10 days off of a defense against the Tolos Brothers at
Derby City Stampede, put the titles on the line against another brother tandem—former champions Brad and Brian Armstrong! In another great sign of sportsmanship between these teams, all four men shook hands before the bell. Red Bastien and Brad started off the bout for their respective teams. Brad went for a sleeper very early but Bastien got to the ropes. Brian tagged in but so did Billy Red Lyons a few moments later. The challengers kept Lyons in the ring for several minutes. Brad hit the Russian leg sweep and went for a cover but Bastien made a save. The Memphis fans were split in their support of both teams and some fans booed the Redheads for making a save! Lyons finally made the tag a few moments later and Bastien ran wild on “The Road Dogg.” Bastien hit the airplane spin into the atomic drop on Brian but Brian got a foot on the ropes. Bastien maintained control and tagged back to the rested Lyons, who went the sleeperhold on an Armstrong. Brian got to the ropes before Lyons could sink in the pressure. Lyons pulled Brian to the center of the ring and applied the figure-four leglock. Brian was in trouble but with his brother and half of the Mid-South Coliseum cheering him on, made it to the ropes for a break. The champions stayed in control until Brian made a blind tag, while Lyons had him in a headlock. Brad jumped in and surprised Lyons. Brad took control for a few minutes and then tagged back to Brian. Bastien took over on the younger Armstrong and went for another sleeper. Brian ran forward toward the Armstrongs’ corner and ducked down, sending Bastien into the top turnbuckle to break it up. He immediately tagged Brad and Brad and Bastien went back-and-forth. Bastien gained the upper hand and hit two beautiful dropkicks. He went for a third but crashed hard to the mat as Brad dodged it. Bastien got up to his feet and was blasted with a dropkick from Brad! Brad immediately made a cover and scored the pinfall after 24 minutes. It happened so quickly that Lyons didn’t have time to make a save! Paul Morton called for the bell and
awarded the Armstrongs the World Tag Team titles! The Memphis fans gave a big ovation for the title change and the great match! The Redheads were disappointed in the loss but again showed great sportsmanship in offering their hands to the new champions. “Bullet” Bob Armstrong and several other fan favorites came out to celebrate with the new champions! (Brad and Brian are now two-time champions. Brad is now a three-time champion individually, while Brian has had five total reigns, putting him in fourth place with Greg “The Hammer” Valentine for the highest number of individual World Tag Team title reigns!) ***¾
