JHawk
Welcome to another edition of Through the Booking Glass, where we redo the WWF based on a bunch of randomness.
Before I get into this week’s column, remember that if you’re reading this on Sunday, you’ll want to tune into Pro Wrestling Weekend tonight at 6pm Eastern/3pm Pacific as we interview NWA World Heavyweight Champion Rob Conway as well as give our predictions for WWE Battleground. That interview will also be archived by 8:05pm Eastern time and will be available at smartmarkradio.com.
This one’s a little shorter than some of our more recent efforts, but trust me when I tell you things are going to get much more interesting.
April 1983, Monday, Week 2
Syndicated ratings were up for the weekend and are at the highest point they’ve been in a month.
Adrian Adonis finally signed his contract as expected. He’s expected to get a big push and will be around long term. Many consider Adonis to be among the best workers in the world right now, which is amazing considering he doesn’t look like a “star” to a lot of people.
April 1983, Tuesday, Week 2
Despite the future of several of their wrestlers in question due to offers extended by World Class Championship Wrestling, it’s business as usual for the WWF as far as future bookings. Just announced for this month’s show at the Spectrum on Saturday, Week 4 is Don Muraco and Big John Studd taking on Andre the Giant and Rocky Johnson with Swede Hanson as the guest referee.
Championship Wrestling taping (April 1983, Tuesday, Week 2)
Andre the Giant is on commentary with Vince McMahon. That sounds like it will be unintentionally hilarious.
WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco pinned Curt Hennig in 44 seconds with a Tombstone Piledriver. After the match, Vince McMahon interviewed Muraco regarding his upcoming matches against Rocky Johnson.
Sgt. Slaughter defeated Barry Hart in 2:39 by submission with a Cobra Clutch. Slaughter looked really good here.
Tony Garea defeated Jose Estrada in 2:31 by pinfall.
Rocky Johnson defeated Johnny Rodz in 2:55 by pinfall with a Johnson Shuffle. The move is silly. “Let me dance while I hit you with a series of punches that wouldn’t even knock out Leon Spinks.” These two don’t click at all. Rodz is starting to become stale to the crowd and could probably use some sort of shake up.
Big John Studd (w/ Freddie Blassie) defeated Salvatore Bellomo via disqualification at 3:38 when Andre the Giant left the broadcast booth, entered the ring, and attempted to attack Studd after Studd repeatedly pulled Bellomo off the mat instead of making a cover. Studd ran off to the back while Andre demanded he return to the ring.
Vince McMahon interviewed Adrian Adonis, who said he was back in the area to prove he’s the best wrestler in the world today.
Vince McMahon interviewed Ivan Putski, saying he was going to stop Adrian Adonis before he can gain any momentum.
Ivan Putski pinned Adrian Adonis in 7:24 when Adonis went for a sunset flip but Putski sat down on his shoulders for the pin. A bit of an upset but Adonis looked really good, so no complaints.
Vince McMahon interviewed Freddie Blassie, who hyped George Steele to the moon.
In an extremely short match, Jimmy Snuka pinned George Steele in 33 seconds with a Superfly Splash. What is with these short main events lately?
April 1983, Wednesday, Week 2
Last night’s show did the usual sell out of 1,300 at the Allentown Agricultural Hall. Some didn’t like the lack of live action but overall the reaction is that the show was awesome.
Not sure of the reasoning behind it, but both shows are showing repeats of the Wild Samoans’ tag team victory as well as the Iron Mike Sharpe-S.D. Jones match from that same show this week. The Sgt. Slaughter-Barry Hart match taped last night will also air on both shows.
World Class Championship Wrestling has now made offers to Big John Studd, as well as road agent Bruno Sammartino. Georgia Championship Wrestling has also made an offer to Bob Backlund.
Expect Barry Hart to be used less as even head booker Jared Hawkins noticed some fatigue.
All-Star Wrestling taping (April 1983, Wednesday, Week 2)
Vince McMahon is by himself at the commentary area.
Ivan Koloff defeated Invader # 1 in 3:36 by pinfall with a Russian Sickle.
In an extremely short match, Don Muraco pinned Frankie Williams in 3:49 with a Tombstone Piledriver to retain the Intercontinental Title. These two don’t work well together and Williams looked horrible, but Muraco still looks like a star every time he wrestles. After the match, McMahon interviewed Muraco, who said he’s tired of Rocky Johnson claiming he’ll be the next champion when he has clearly proven he can’t win the big one.
Jimmy Snuka defeated Ray Stevens in 2:40 by pinfall with a Superfly Splash.
Vince McMahon interviewed Buddy Rose, who said that he is willing to do whatever it takes to get another shot at a championship.
In a bout that had a good crowd and good action, Masked Superstar defeated Chief Jay Strongbow in 8:29 by submission to a cobra clutch.
April 1983, Thursday, Week 2
There is no walk up crowd to speak of in Hamburg at this point. Attendance was 969 paid, with 940 of them being bought at least 24 hours in advance. The show was awesome by all accounts, so we’ll see how word of mouth helps next week.
Maple Leaf Wrestling offered a contract extension to Tony Parisi, which the WWF won’t contest as Parisi is only in short term to begin with.
Roy Shire is taking over as head booker of Central States Wrestling. Shire has been out of wrestling since the San Francisco promotion folded in January 1981, but he’s the only promoter to ever book a good battle royal so he has that going for him.
April 1983, Friday, Week 2
World Class Championship Wrestling has made an offer to The Iron Sheik.
Georgia Championship Wrestling also made an offer to the Sheik, as well as to Bruno Sammartino.
Add Superstar Billy Graham vs. Salvatore Bellomo to the Capital Centre show next Saturday.
April 1983, Saturday, Week 2
The WWF announced today that Bob Bradley will take on Jose Estrada at the Capital Centre next Saturday. They’re already scrounging for matches people might care about and we’re only four matches in.
April 1983, Sunday, Week 2
Superstar Billy Graham will take on Jimmy Snuka at the Madison Square Garden show next Monday night.
