JHawk
July 1983, Monday, Week 3
We forgot to report yesterday that TV ratings held steady again, so the changes to TV aren’t hurting them any more than expected.
George Steele vs. Salvatore Bellomo has been added to Saturday night’s show at the Capital Center in Landover, MD.
July 1983, Tuesday, Week 3
Mr. Fuji vs. Tito Santana has been added to next weekend’s show at Madison Square Garden.
The taping for Championship Wrestling tonight will be back at the Hamburg Fieldhouse.
Championship Wrestling taping (July 1983, Tuesday, Week 3)
Sgt. Slaughter pulled into the back of the arena in a camouflage limo. Nice. I want that car. As Slaughter makes his way to the ring, Pat Patterson stops him for an interview. All Slaughter says is “Backlund, watch this!”
Sgt. Slaughter defeated S.D. Jones in 4:11 by submission with a Cobra Clutch.
Rocky Johnson pinned Bob Bradley in 1:50 with a quick cradle.
In an extremely short match, Bill Anderson defeated Brian Blair in 2:15 by submission. This was very bad.
Andre the Giant is in Buddy Rogers’ Corner, and he makes some comments about George Steele’s potential World Title run. The interview seemed forced.
Iron Mike Sharpe pinned Chief Jay Strongbow in 3:13 with a Running Forearm Smash.
Salvatore Bellomo pinned Israel Matia in 2:39 with a Pizza Splash. I’ve seen this match so many times that it’s going to haunt my nightmares.
Bob Backlund had an interview with Vince McMahon hyping his upcoming singles match at Madison Square Garden with George Steele.
Ivan Koloff pinned Swede Hanson in 3:22 with a Russian Sickle.
Jimmy Snuka is interviewed backstage by Pat Patterson, he hypes an upcoming singles match against Don Muraco.
In an extremely short match, George Steele defeated Jimmy Snuka in 3:29 by submission. I’m shocked at this call, but Steele’s got Backlund in two weeks so it’s hard to argue.
Tiger Chung Lee pinned Nick DeCarlo in 2:47 with a Tombstone Piledriver.
Pat Patterson interviewed Adrian Adonis, who said that as long as Don Muraco keeps his paychecks coming, he will be there to stop Jimmy Snuka at every turn.
Adrian Adonis pinned Curt Hennig in 50 seconds with a bulldog. After the match, Adonis went to piledrive Curt Hennig but Rocky Johnson ran out to make the save. Pat Patterson then interviewed Johnson, who said he was not going to allow a good kid like Hennig to be treated like that.
July 1983, Wednesday, Week 3
The WWF announced a sellout crowd of 2,200 at the Hamburg Fieldhouse last night. The vast majority of the crowd loved the show.
For the second time this year, Gorilla Monsoon has won a best announcer poll, this time from a local radio station in Philadelphia.
July 1983, Thursday, Week 3
Mac Rivera vs. Swede Hanson has been added to the card at the Capital Center. Jesus, I think the TV tapings at Agricultural Hall might draw better at this point.
July 1983, Friday, Week 3
In what appears to me to a desperate attempt at last minute ticket sales, a steel cage match between Baron Mikel Scicluna and Andre the Giant has been added to tomorrow night’s card at the Capital Centre. This is looking to be one of the worst shows ever.
July 1983, Saturday, Week 3
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling made an offer to Buddy Rose, but Rose already turned it down to concentrate on his WWF and Pacific Northwest Wrestling bookings.
Here’s a preview for what looks to be a horrible card at the Capital Centre tonight.
Steel Cage Match with Andre the Giant vs. Baron Mikel Scicluna: Andre’s going to win and if this goes longer than a few minutes it will be absolutely wretched.
Jimmy Snuka vs. Don Muraco for the Intercontinental Title: Muraco may or may not appear as his deal with Southwest Championship Wrestling keeps him off most major shows, so I’m honestly expecting Adrian Adonis to take his place and give us a non-finish.
George Steele vs. Salvatore Bellomo: Given Steele’s got another shot with Backlund at MSG next weekend, I’d expect him to win easily here.
Swede Hanson vs. Mac Rivera: Should be an easy win for Hanson.
Mr. Fuji vs. Rocky Johnson: I’d normally expect Johnson to win but he’s being depushed so who knows?
Just announced earlier today: Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Jules Strongbow. I’d expect Jay to win here to end the feud.
The Sheik announced that he will be retiring shortly.
Capital Centre live coverage (July 1983, Saturday, Week 3)
Gorilla Monsoon is commentary alone.
As expected, Don Muraco is not here and will be replaced by Adrian Adonis. Muraco missing big shows is really getting old and they’re going to have to take the belt off him soon.
In a match that had an average crowd reaction and some decent in-ring action, Bob Bradley pinned Tony Garea in 12:41 with a Piledriver. How far has Garea fallen recently? Garea is in urgent need of a change in character.
In a match that had an average crowd reaction and some decent in-ring action, Chief Jay Strongbow pinned Jules Strongbow in 10:42 with a Tomahawk Chop. The Chief was tiring near the end but most seemed happy with the way the feud ended here.
In a bout that had solid in-ring action but not much in the way of heat, S.D. Jones defeated Israel Matia in 10:17 by pinfall. These two have terrific chemistry which is why the match didn’t seem like a total waste of time.
In an extremely short match, Swede Hanson defeated Mac Rivera in 2:30 by pinfall.
In a match that had some good action and average heat, George Steele defeated Salvatore Bellomo in 7:43 by submission.
In a bout that had a good crowd and good action, Rocky Johnson pinned Mr. Fuji in 13:16 with a roll up. Best match of the show so far.
In a bout that had great heat and great wrestling action, Adrian Adonis (defending the Intercontinental Title on Don Muraco’s behalf) drew with Jimmy Snuka in 15:38 following a double disqualification when referee Joey Marella was thrown to the mat by both men. Absolutely incredible match.
They’re setting up the steel cage.
A commotion was heard backstage once the cage was set up, and as Andre the Giant made his way to the ring, he and George Steele were arguing near the entry way. Not sure if this is an angle or if they were legitimately arguing, although my guess is the former.
Andre The Giant defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna in a Cage match in 10:27. Andre hit his seated splash from the top rope (holding the cage to make sure he didn’t fall over) just before the finish. Scicluna looked exhausted by the end but Andre was fantastic. Really good.
While they were taking the cage down, Superstar Billy Graham cut a promo, hyping himself to the moon.
In an extremely short match, Superstar Billy Graham defeated Tony Atlas in 1:34 by submission.
In an extremely short match, Masked Superstar defeated Tito Santana in 2:01 by submission.
Not the slightest idea why they bothered having two matches after the cage match (and short matches at that) and the pacing was weird but the show was much better than it looked on paper.
July 1983, Sunday, Week 3
With the boys in the locker room upset about yet another Muraco no-show, Dick Kroll kept the locker room loose and relaxed with some hilarious road stories last night.
The show last night drew a weak crowd of 2,914 paid, but if they expected any different with such a horrible lineup on paper, it was their own fault.
Match of the night bonuses went to Adrian Adonis and Jimmy Snuka.
Swede Hanson’s contract is coming up and he has been offered an extension. I expect him to take it because at 50 I’m not sure anybody else is willing to take a chance on him.
No change in TV ratings this weekend.
Muraco actually worked for the Memphis-based CWA yesterday as they made their debut in Florida, defeating Porkchop Cash in the opener. Yes, he missed the number two match in the WWF as Intercontinental Champion to work an opening match for Jerry Jarrett.
