JHawk
I have a few of these in the can and ready to go so I figured I would get an extra one in this week.
But allow me to get a cheap plug in for a minute. I encourage you to go over to smartmarkradio.com this coming Sunday (October 6) at 6pm Eastern/3pm Eastern, or listen to the archive any time after 8pm Eastern, as we will be interviewing NWA World Champion Rob Conway. With Conway’s extensive experience in WWE, this should be a fun interview.
April 1983, Monday, Week 1
TV ratings held steady this weekend.
A much better month for the WWF, as they have improved in popularity in a large portion of the United States, and largely because of the compensation they get for Andre being loaned out to other promotions, turned a profit last month. However, ticket sales outside of Allentown are still way down, and the Andre loans are only going to work for so long, especially since Andre is losing at a lot of these extra bookings so a lot of the mystique is falling.
Pat Patterson will be missing the next two weeks of TV for a vacation, and the WWF will be using a series of guest commentators during that time. Despite Lord Alfred Hayes making an appearance last week, the plan is to use him for interviews and hype segments on a semi-regular basis as opposed to him doing commentary.
Several contract offers have been made to new talent, including to Adrian Adonis, who was requested by not only Vince McMahon but also Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco.
April 1983, Tuesday, Week 1
Andre the Giant will take on Big John Studd at the Capital Centre show on Saturday, Week 3.
Championship Wrestling taping (April 1983, Tuesday, Week 1)
The Grand Wizard is joining Vince McMahon on commentary this week.
Big John Studd defeated Jesse Hernandez in 1:41 by submission with a Reverse Bearhug. After the match, Vince McMahon interviewed Studd about his match in Landover with Andre the Giant.
Ivan Koloff defeated Barry Hart in 5:12 by pinfall with a Russian Sickle. After the match, Vince McMahon interviewed Koloff, who vowed to win the WWF Heavyweight Title from Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden later this month.
Tito Santana pinned Bob Bradley in 3:36 with a quick cradle.
Buddy Rogers’ Corner was next, and in what felt like a repeat from a few weeks ago, Bob Backlund was attempting to set the record for the Harvard Step Test. In doing so, Arnold Skaaland said this was an attempt to get in top condition for Backlund’s scheduled title defenses against Ivan Koloff and Iron Mike Sharpe later this month.
Jimmy Snuka pinned Baron Mikel Scicluna in 3:17 with a Superfly Splash. Snuka looked really good here, and this could potentially be the last good match of the Baron’s career as he and Snuka have great chemistry.
Iron Mike Sharpe pinned Mac Rivera in 1:43 with a Running Forearm Smash. After the match, Sharpe hit Rivera with the forearm again, knocking him out of the ring. McMahon then interviewed Sharpe at ringside, saying Backlund better hope he loses to Ivan Koloff, because there’s no way he leaves Philadelphia as champion anyway.
S.D. Jones defeated Buddy Rose in 1:46 by pinfall.
Vince McMahon interviewed Lou Albano and the Wild Samoans. Albano said the Strongbows will get just one shot at regaining the title, and being in the ring with the belt at MSG is the closest they’re ever getting to seeing the gold again.
McMahon interviewed Andre the Giant, who said money on the line or not, he will slam Big John Studd in Landover and prove he is the one true giant.
In a match that had excellent in-ring action and great heat from the audience, Andre The Giant defeated Don Muraco in 8:52 by count out. Muraco retains the Intercontinental Title.
The show ended on the Buddy Rogers’ Corner set, as Backlund broke the record for the Harvard Step Test as the show apparently goes off the air. Backlund legitimately did the test the entire time without stopping, so nobody can question he’s in shape.
This is the best show they’ve done all year in Allentown.
April 1983, Wednesday, Week 1
Details are sketchy, but Eddie Gilbert and Brian Blair got into a heated argument backstage last night. While Blair has caused problems backstage, most say Gilbert was the one who started the argument. Booker Jared Hawkins tried to calm Gilbert down but Gilbert stormed off.
Allentown last night did its usual sellout of 1,300. By all reports, the show was incredible.
Last night’s loss to Big John Studd was Jesse Hernandez’s last shot with the company, as his one month deal expired and he is not being re-signed.
We received reports that S.D. Jones looked sluggish last night and could probably use some time off.
Georgia Championship Wrestling took a contract offer to Adrian Adonis off the table. Adonis is expected to sign with the WWF before the week is out.
Several signings have been made in the last 24 hours. Veteran Tony Parisi signed a one month deal and will likely do a TV job or two. Canadian star Nick DeCarlo signed a three year deal but isn’t expected to get a push. Veteran ladies wrestler Donna Christenello also signed a long term deal for occasional appearances.
All-Star Wrestling taping (April 1983, Wednesday, Week 1)
Ray Stevens is joining Vince McMahon on commentary.
In an extremely short match, Don Muraco retained the Intercontinental Title, pinning S.D. Jones in 5:27 with a fast roll up. The matches are good but there have been a lot of them recently, so hopefully that’s it for a while.
Jules Strongbow defeated Buddy Rose in 4:59 by submission. Strongbow continues to use some subtle heel tactics but nobody here seems to care.
Big John Studd defeated Chief Jay Strongbow in 2:01 by submission with a Reverse Bearhug. I feel like the Strongbow pushes should be reversed.
Barry Hart defeated Mac Rivera in 2:42 by pinfall with a Horowitz Roll-Up. Nice to see Hart get a win but holy crap, did this suck!
Ivan Koloff was the guest on Buddy Rogers’ Corner, and he vowed to become the only man to pin both Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund in separate title matches.
Tito Santana pinned Charlie Fulton with a flying forearm in 3:54. Nice to see Santana is finally getting some sort of push.
Tony Garea pinned Johnny Rodz with a high cross body in 6:37. Finish looked weak but a remarkably even match.
Ivan Koloff defeated Nick DeCarlo in 3:10 by pinfall with a Russian Sickle. Koloff looked good, and these two have good chemistry when working together.
In an awful match that was completely devoid of heat, Jose Estrada defeated Frankie Williams in 3:40 by pinfall with a Piledriver. At least it was better than Hart-Rivera.
Don Muraco made his way to the interview set, and he told Rocky Johnson not to bother in Landover or in the Garden, and he will be leaving both buildings as Intercontinental Champion. Rocky Johnson appeared on the set moments later, saying he’s got two more shots at the Intercontinental Title and he plans on making both of them count.
Vince McMahon interviewed the Strongbows about their title shot at the Garden in a few weeks against the Samoans. This almost felt like a rib on the Strongbows as they clearly weren’t expecting the questions McMahon was asking them and they were completely thrown off.
Afa defeated Pedro Morales in 50 seconds by disqualification. Lou Albano tried to toss a chain into Afa almost at the bell, but Morales grabbed it and used it first. Not sure why they bothered even having the match. And yes, that was the main event.
April 1983, Thursday, Week 1
The attendance at the Hamburg Fieldhouse last night wound up being 992 paid. Most felt the show was good overall but a complete letdown compared to some other recent efforts.
Liz Chase’s contract expired and she is officially done with the WWF.
Penny Mitchell has signed what I’m told is a nine month deal, so she’ll make infrequent appearances throughout the rest of the year.
As mentioned at last night’s taping, Don Muraco vs. Rocky Johnson for the Intercontinental Title is official for the Landover, MD card on Saturday, Week 3.
April 1983, Friday, Week 1
A lot of news to go over today.
World Class Championship Wrestling is looking at expanding its roster, and has made offers to several WWF talents, including Don Muraco and Bob Backlund. They have also declared war on the AWA, the WWA out of Indianapolis, and Mid South Wrestling.
Central States Wrestling is also being shaken up. Head booker Sam Muchnick has left the company, leaving owner Bob Geigel booking until a replacement can be named. Possibly out of sheer frustration, Geigel has declared war against the AWA and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Between WWC, WCCW and CSW, Verne Gagne might just want to hide in a bunker and lay low until about 1991 or so.
Why is all of that relevant? Both companies have informed the WWF that they consider them to be hostile and will likely not be working with them anytime in the future. I doubt this happening with Central States means anything, but with WCCW already making plays at some WWF talent, things could get real ugly real quick.
Onto the rest of the news.
Victor Rivera signed a one month deal and will likely do a handful of TV jobs.
April 1983, Saturday, Week 1
New Japan has offered Andre the Giant a contract extension. I have no idea what terms they’ve offered, only that it’s a non-exclusive deal and won’t affect his WWF bookings more that his current deal does.
April 1983, Sunday, Week 1
World Class has made yet another offer to a WWF talent, this time to Bill Eadie, aka the Masked Superstar. By my count that is six offers they’ve made to WWF talent at this point if you include the ones the WWF isn’t pushing anyway. I have no idea what the nature of the offered deal is.
