JHawk
This edition of Through the Booking Glass represents six months’ worth of articles, and this is probably the longest I’ve ever gone through one sitting of any scenario of TEW. I’m having a lot of fun with this, even if it is frustrating losing some key players. That will make the second half of 1983 very interesting. Thank you all for reading this throughout, and please keep reading.
June 1983, Monday, Week 4
WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund has been offered yet another contract, this time with Pacific Northwest Wrestling. This is also not expected to affect his WWF bookings, but PNW is beginning to look like the WWF’s northwest territory.
June 1983, Tuesday, Week 4
Buddy Rogers is in the last month of his contract. He has been offered an extension through the end of the year.
Antonino Rocca, 62, who was the biggest draw in Madison Square Garden in the 1950s and was allegedly Buddy Rogers’ opponent in the first ever WWWF title match, has officially announced his full retirement from the business.
Championship Wrestling taping (Tuesday, Week 4)
In an extremely short match, The Masked Invaders defeated Bob Bradley and Mac Rivera in 4:05 when Invader # 2 pinned Mac Rivera with a Heart Punch.
George Steele defeated Tony Atlas in 0:52 by submission with a flying hammerlock. After the match, Pat Patterson interviewed Steele, which consisted of one word answers but seemed to be pushing the Backlund-Steele matches next month.
Tiger Chung Lee defeated Swede Hanson in 1:29 by pinfall with a Kiwi Roll.
Buddy Rogers’ guest this week was Andre the Giant. Andre cut a generic promo thanking the fans for their support and saying that he would continue to fight for the fans.
Salvatore Bellomo defeated Israel Matia in 2:35 by pinfall with a Pizza Splash. The crowd was totally turned off having a match on the show between two guys so low on the card.
Tito Santana pinned Butcher Vachon in 3:32 with a flying forearm.
Vince McMahon conducts an interview with Jimmy Snuka, who discusses the angle and brawl with Don Muraco from last week. Part of the interview was hard to understand, but it ends with Snuka getting angry and tossing chairs around the arena, just missing hitting McMahon in the head. I wish he wouldn’t have missed, but it was an intense segment.
Don Muraco (w/Lou Albano) pinned Nick DeCarlo with an inverted piledriver in 2:31. Announced as a non-title match. The crowd was hot for this one as they were chanting “We want Snuka” so this feud is hitting on all cylinders. Muraco looked good out there and Albano did a good job keeping the match entertaining as well.
In a match that had an average crowd reaction and some decent in-ring action, Samu and The Wild Samoans defeated S.D. Jones, Tony Garea and Eddie Gilbert in 5:59 when Samu pinned Eddie Gilbert with a Flying Headbutt. After the match, Patterson interview Lou Albano with the Samoans, and they discussed the challenge of the Invaders.
Ivan Putski defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna in 2:18 by pinfall with a Polish Hammer. Scicluna was off his game tonight but at least he didn’t blow up like he normally does.
In a major upset, Iron Mike Sharpe defeated Pedro Morales in 2:18 by pinfall with a Running Forearm Smash after Lou Albano interfered.
June 1983, Wednesday, Week 4
The second straight taping from Hamburg had another sell out of 2,200. We’ve heard pretty good feedback all around, in particular when it comes to the Don Muraco-Jimmy Snuka feud.
Sky Low Low has announced that he will be retiring from active competition in three months. He is arguably the greatest midget wrestler of all time, and with so little competition (no pun intended) it is expected that few promotions will feature midget wrestling once he calls it quits. He has been given a try out with the WWF as a road agent and is expected to maintain a similar role in other companies once his retirement is final.
Jose Gonzalez, aka Invader #1, tested positive for soft drugs and was fired after the show last night because it was his third offense. Gonzalez said in a statement, “I was upset at first, but now I think this is the wake up call I needed. I’m going to try my best to deal with my problems and get my career back on track.” I would expect someone else to be used as one of the Invaders but that’s speculation on my part at this point.
June 1983, Thursday, Week 4
Despite the announcement of his impending retirement, Vince McMahon has personally signed Sky Low Low to a two year contract extension. The midget legend is being used as a road agent.
The Championship Wrestling Association out of Memphis has offered Bob Backlund a contract. The contract is not expected to affect his WWF bookings.
June 1983, Friday, Week 4
Leilani Kai appeared on a radio show in Easton, PA for WEEX 1230AM last night. During the interview, she stated that she loves her first match in a new promotion. She said the thrill of making a debut always brings out the best in her.
June 1983, Saturday, Week 4
Pacific Northwest Wrestling has offered a contract extension to Jules Strongbow.
Don Kernodle vs. Tito Santana has been added to the next show at the Philadelphia Spectrum, which will be taking place in two weeks. With Invader #1’s firing, the previous match between the Invaders and Mr. Fuji and Frankie Williams is off the books, although I’m expecting all three to be involved in the show in some capacity.
Lou Thesz, considered by 95% of the free world as the greatest champion ever, has officially retired. Also retiring last night was Bob Orton Sr.
June 1983, Sunday, Week 4
TV ratings held steady this weekend.
Bob Backlund has turned down all of his recent contract offers, saying his commitments as WWF Heavyweight Champion are keeping him too busy to take other bookings.
Buddy Rogers has signed a contract extension that will keep him in the WWF for the rest of the year.
Shohei “Giant” Baba, who retired recently, has been named as the latest member of the Hall of Immortals. The 45 year old Baba held a total of 31 titles during his 22-year career, including three brief reigns as NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
