JHawk
May 1983, Monday, Week 3
Sgt. Slaughter has worked all four of his agreed upon appearances with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
TV ratings for the syndicated shows dropped to their lowest point all year, although with Championship Wrestling changing affiliates due to the syndication network changing and All-Star Wrestling being a lame duck show, this was to be expected.
The legendary El Santo has announced his retirement.
May 1983, Tuesday, Week 3
Don Muraco added another title to his resume last night, as he defeated Adrian Adonis in Lahaina, Hawaii to win the Southwest Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.
Championship Wrestling taping (May 1983, Tuesday, Week 3)
Bob Backlund is once again doing the Harvard Step Test for the entire hour, but this time he is using the ring steps in response to Sgt. Slaughter’s claims from last week that Backlund wasn’t really doing it for the full hour.
In an extremely short match, Tito Santana defeated Ray Stevens in 5:05 by pinfall.
In a non-title match, The Wild Samoans defeated Eddie Gilbert and S.D. Jones in 5:12 when Afa pinned Jones with a Samoan Drop.
In an awful match that was completely devoid of heat, Brian Blair defeated Mac Rivera in 3:27 by submission with a Sleeper Hold. Both are seen as essentially jobbers so nobody cared.
George Steele defeated Chief Jay Strongbow in 2:24 by submission to the flying hammerlock. Based on a few comments I could overhear on commentary, the story is that Strongbow is so distraught over Jules turning on him that he’s having trouble concentrating inside the ring.
Salvatore Bellomo pinned Bob Bradley in 3:31 with a Pizza Splash.
Buddy Rogers’ Corner was next, and he interviewed Arnold Skaaland as Backlund continued to do the Harvard Step Test.
Ivan Putski pinned Israel Matia with the Polish Hammer in 2:57.
I could hear Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson discussing last week’s Rogers Corner segment, so they may or may not be replaying it.
Sgt. Slaughter came out to the ring for his match with Tony Garea. Before entering the ring, Slaughter grabbed Arnold Skaaland and threw him down to the ground. Backlund stopped the Harvard Step Test to check on Skaaland, then went into the ring to go after Slaughter. Slaughter whipped him repeatedly in the back with his riding crop until Tony Garea and Eddie Gilbert chased Slaughter off. Immediately following, Vince McMahon interviewed Backlund, who was bleeding from the back. Backlund said the match on Monday at Madison Square Garden was now about more than the title. Now it’s personal, and Slaughter might not like the end result.
Jimmy Snuka defeated Jose Estrada in 4:14 by pinfall with a Superfly Splash.
Pat Patterson interviewed the Invaders, who said they will mow over every team they can to prove they are worthy of a shot at the WWF Tag Team Titles.
Mr. Fuji & Tiger Chung Lee defeated The Masked Invaders in 3:52 when Tiger Chung Lee defeated Invader # 1 by pinfall with a Kiwi Roll and a handful of tights. The Invaders argued with referee Dick Kroll about the finish.
May 1983, Wednesday, Week 3
Susan Starr lightened the mood before the show backstage by drawing cartoons of some of her colleagues, although supposedly Chief Jay Strongbow and The Fabulous Moolah were not amused at the implication that they were having an affair.
The show did its usual sellout of 1,300 in Allentown.
The Masked Superstar has signed a non-exclusive contract extension with Georgia Championship Wrestling.
Just a week after notification of a failed drug test, Invader #1 failed another test, this time for cocaine. He was fined his entire purse for last night’s show and told that a third failed test will result in an automatic termination.
All-Star Wrestling this week will also feature the Backlund-Slaughter segment as well as the Ivan Putski-Israel Matia match taped last night.
All-Star Wrestling taping (May 1983, Wednesday, Week 3)
In a bout that had solid in-ring action but not much in the way of heat, Salvatore Bellomo defeated Johnny Rodz in 7:48 by pinfall with a Pizza Splash.
In an extremely short match, Swede Hanson defeated Samu in 2:37 by submission. Hanson was off his game.
In a non-title match, Don Muraco pinned Barry Hart in 4:01 with a Tombstone Piledriver. Muraco looked good here.
S.D. Jones defeated Bill Anderson in 3:15 by pinfall.
In a bout that had solid in-ring action and average heat, Mr. Fuji & Tiger Chung Lee defeated Tony Garea & Eddie Gilbert in 12:28 when Lee pinned Garea with a piledriver. I’m shocked at how good this was.
Pat Patterson interviewed Bob Backlund and Arnold Skaaland about Backlund’s match Monday night with Sgt. Slaughter.
In an extremely short match, Bob Bradley pinned David Sammartino in 2:59 with a Piledriver. What is with all the piledriver finishers tonight?
Lou Albano was interviewed by Vince McMahon and pushed Muraco’s upcoming title defenses against Rocky Johnson.
Superstar Billy Graham defeated Tito Santana in 3:50 by pinfall.
May 1983, Thursday, Week 3
Last night’s taping of All-Star Wrestling drew a crowd of 824.
Add Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Iron Mike Sharpe to Monday’s show at Madison Square Garden.
May 1983, Friday, Week 3
Ray Stevens’ contract has expired and he has left the WWF.
Chief Jay Strongbow had expressed an interest in retiring. Booker Jared Hawkins told him that his experience will be valuable to the young guys on the roster, so he has decided to work for another year before settling into an agent role.
May 1983, Saturday, Week 3
Sgt. Slaughter will take on Chief Jay Strongbow at next Saturday’s show at the Capital Centre.
May 1983, Sunday, Week 3
Swede Hanson vs. Salvatore Bellomo has been added to tomorrow night’s show at Madison Square Garden.
