Through the Booking Glass: Year 1 Week 31

For any of you who care about the Super Bowl, have fun.  I’ll be watching the game and doing a shot every time Richard Sherman makes a play and doesn’t actually have to hold to make it.  I don’t expect to do a lot of drinking tonight.

August 1983, Monday, Week 3

The Championship Wrestling Association out of Memphis has offered Eddie Gilbert a contract.  No word yet as to whether this will affect his WWF bookings.

We received a report that Pat Patterson looked fatigued last night in his victory in Quebec City, Quebec over Bobby Bass last night.  He’s been asked to take some time off but says he wrestles so little for the WWF that he feels time off is not going to help him.  We have received word of the WWF looking to use him in the ring more in the next few months, so hopefully he doesn’t wear himself too thin.

August 1983, Tuesday, Week 3

Eddie Gilbert has received another offer, this time from Championship Wrestling from Florida.  He is reportedly unhappy with his push in the WWF, so there is a chance he could leave for one or both of his offers.

Championship Wrestling taping (August 1983, Tuesday, Week 3)

Sgt. Slaughter defeated Salvatore Bellomo in 4:26 by submission with a Cobra Clutch.  This was really good.  After the match, Slaughter was interviewed at ringside by Vince McMahon.  Slaughter said that next time at the Spectrum there will be no rules, which is his domain, and that will give Slaughter the advantage he needs to take out Bob Backlund and finally get the WWF Heavyweight Title he deserves.

Rocky Johnson pinned Israel Matia in 3:44 with a Dropkick.  After the match, Pat Patterson interviewed Johnson, who said despite falling short with Salvatore Bellomo last weekend, he will not rest until he takes the tag team titles from the Samoans.

WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco pinned S.D. Jones in 3:55 with a Tombstone Piledriver.  Not as good as some of their recent matches so it felt off.  After the match, Patterson interviewed Muraco who said no matter what happens in his upcoming battles with Jimmy Snuka, there is no way Snuka will win the Intercontinental Title.

Swede Hanson defeated Samu in 3:09 by pinfall.

Buddy Rogers’ Corner was next, and Rogers’ guest was Andre the Giant.  Andre showed off many of the trophies he has won all over the world, then said he loves wrestling and the fans and will continue to wrestle as long as his body allows him to.

Tony Atlas pinned Bob Bradley in 0:34 with The Press Slam.

Tiger Chung Lee pinned Frankie Williams in 1:45 with a Tombstone Piledriver. Williams looked off his game.  Well, more so than usual.

Tito Santana defeated Tiger Conway Jr. in 2:46 by submission with a Figure-Four Leglock.  After the match, Pat Patterson interviewed Santana, saying he would like a shot at Don Muraco but that he’d make sure to save enough for Jimmy Snuka to get his shots at him.

In an extremely short match, George Steele defeated Barry Hart in 3:12 by submission.  Steele seemed off his game tonight.

This was a good show, but it needed a real main event.

August 1983, Wednesday, Week 3

The WWF drew the usual 1,300 sell out at Agricultural Hall last night.  All reports were that the show was excellent and if the match order were different to where the main event was satisfying it could have been one of the best shows they’ve ever done.

Aside from the main event which was already announced, the WWF is waiting until after next week’s taping to work on the lineup for the September Spectrum show.  They want to make sure who is and isn’t available before finalizing a line up since the show will not be taking until the last Saturday of the month.

August 1983, Thursday, Week 3

Just one day after saying they would wait to announce matches for the next Spectrum show, the WWF gave us confirmation that The Wild Samoans and Ivan Koloff would face Jimmy Snuka, Tito Santana and Rocky Johnson in a two out of three falls match at that show.  It is definitely a better idea for them to announce a few matches ahead of time, as the earlier they get the promotion out, the better.

August 1983, Friday, Week 3

Don Kernodle vs. Israel Matia has been added to the WWF show at the Spectrum next month.  No, I don’t think that’s going to put any additional people in the seats.

August 1983, Saturday, Week 3

Word out of Championship Wrestling from Florida is that Brian Blair and Sir Oliver Humperdink have become enemies.  Apparently they can’t be seen in the same room without a full blown verbal war erupting.  Friends of both have been attempting unsuccessfully to patch up their differences.  This could mean the end of Blair in CWF, at least as a featured player, as Humperdink manages most of the top heels and it would be tougher to keep Humperdink out of the picture as a result.

Speaking of the CWF, can you believe that perennial enhancement talent Barry Hart is a champion? It’s true, as last night in Mobile, AL, he and Koko Ware upset Gorgeous George Jr. and Rick Rude to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Titles.

August 1983, Sunday, Week 3

TV ratings continue to hold steady.

Eddie Gilbert has signed a pay per appearance deal with the Championship Wrestling Association out of Memphis.  Gilbert has told WWF management that he will give CWA bookings priority as it is closer to home for him, plus he is unhappy with his recent lack of a push.

 

 

Written by JHawk

Jared Hawkins is an indy wrestling referee and a former recapper of WWE Raw and SmackDown for the now-defunct www.thesmartmarks.com and co-hosts Pro Wrestling Weekend, available through smartmarkradio.com every Sunday at 6pm Eastern. When not doing something wrestling-related, he is generally getting higher doses of his anxiety medication due to the aggravation of his Cleveland sports teams.

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