JHawk
Since it is actually related to this column, I want to refer you to Jonathan Dehn’s fantastic article on this very site regarding Total Extreme Wrestling 2013. As you know, I use that to help with this very article, and aside from the fact that I love the real world/historical mods, I agree with pretty much everything he said in this article.
With that, let’s get moving.
May 1983, Monday, Week 2
Don Muraco signed a pay per appearance deal with Southwest Championship Wrestling.
Andre the Giant worked for Championship Wrestling from Florida last night, losing to Bobby Duncum.
In a good news bad news situation for the WWF, Championship Wrestling will remain on the air next season, albeit on a smaller scale. They will be airing in syndication in the Tri State area, covering New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. This will at least give them coverage in their home base to push their live events on TV but gives them very little coverage outside the territory unless somebody picks them up on a satellite dish. All-Star Wrestling will be off the air indefinitely at the end of the month.
May 1983, Tuesday, Week 2
Pedro Morales will be wearing a soft cast for the immediate future but is considered fully fit from his fractured wrist.
The WWF officially announced that Dusty Rhodes will face Samu at the Madison Square Garden show on Monday, Week 4.
Championship Wrestling taping (May 1983, Tuesday, Week 2)
In a non-title match, Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco pinned Eddie Gilbert in 3:42 with a Tombstone Piledriver.
Ivan Putski defeated Charlie Fulton in 1:47 by pinfall with a Polish Hammer.
George Steele pinned Barry Hart in 37 seconds.
Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Mac Rivera in 4:23 by pinfall with a quick cradle. Nice to see Fujinami even if his opponent wasn’t exactly up to par.
Rocky Johnson pinned Ray Stevens in 3:42 with a Johnson Shuffle.
Buddy Rogers’ Corner was next, and it was Sgt. Slaughter turn as guest. In the segment, he discussed his upcoming shot at Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden, but claimed Backlund was lying about his record in the Harvard Step Test and wouldn’t believe it until Backlund was on camera for the entire time doing it.
Sgt. Slaughter defeated Jules Strongbow in 4:38 by submission with a Cobra Clutch.
Tito Santana defeated Jose Estrada in 4:18 by submission with a Figure-Four Leglock.
Ivan Koloff pinned Tony Atlas in 3:08 with a Russian Sickle. Both men seemed off their game tonight.
Vince McMahon interviewed Don Muraco about what Muraco claimed would be Rocky Johnson’s last two shots at the Intercontinental Championship, coming at both Madison Square Garden and at the Capital Centre in the next two weeks.
In a bout that had solid in-ring action and average heat, Tony Garea defeated Iron Mike Sharpe in 5:59 by pinfall with a surprise cradle.
Vince McMahon goes to interview The Wild Samoans and Lou Albano. McMahon discusses all of their matches at both MSG and the Cap Centre, including announcements of Afa vs. Snuka at MSG (this in addition to the Spectrum next month), Afa vs Backlund in Landover, and Sika vs. Snuka in Landover. When asked about the challenge of the Invaders, Albano claimed that they haven’t proven anything to anybody to deserve the shot. This brought out the Invaders, and Albano began to yell at them until he slapped one of them in the face. This triggered a long brawl throughout the interview area until everybody went back through the curtain. Afa came off like a star and Sika looked good, but Invader #1 looked completely out of place.
And that’s the show. I loved the closing segment.
May 1983, Wednesday, Week 2
Ivan Koloff was complaining of chronic shoulder pain last night after the show, but it’s not serious and he’s expected to work through it.
Invader #1 failed a random drug test last night, which explains why we received reports of him feeling “out of place” last night. All we were told is there were “soft drugs” in his system. He was fined 25% of his pay and was reportedly furious with the situation.
The Allentown Agricultural Hall was sold out again last night to the tune of its usual 1,300.
Last night’s Buddy Rogers’ Corner segment will air on both shows to help build toward the Slaughter-Backlund match at MSG.
All-Star Wrestling taping (May 1983, Wednesday, Week 2)
Ivan Putski pinned Ray Stevens in 3:33 with a Polish Hammer.
George Steele defeated Frankie Williams in 1:39 by submission with a Flying Hammerlock. Williams was off his game but Steele looked good.
In a bout that had solid in-ring action but not much in the way of heat, Tony Garea defeated Jose Estrada in 6:12 by pinfall.
Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Tiger Chung Lee in 3:26 by submission with a Dragon Sleeper. This was disappointing but Lee was a step off.
Tito Santana pinned Bob Bradley with a flying forearm.
Ivan Koloff pinned S.D. Jones in 4:11 with a Russian Sickle. Koloff was clearly favoring his shoulder which took the match down a few notches.
The Wild Samoans defeated The Strongbows in 5:29 when Afa pinned Jules Strongbow with a Samoan Drop to retain their WWF World Tag Team titles. After the match, Jay Strongbow attempted to console Jules, but Jules wound up attacking Jay and beating him down in the ring. The turn didn’t go down well as most people were indifferent to Jules anyway, and you have to care about someone to hate them.
Tony Atlas defeated Israel Matia in 2:44 by pinfall with The Press Slam.
Pat Patterson interviewed Jules Strongbow, who said he was tired of riding Chief Jay Strongbow’s coattails when it was time for Jay to be brought out to pasture, essentially blaming his age for their recent rash of losses. And yet Jules was the one being pinned. Yeah, Jules’ turn is dying a quick death already.
Pat Patterson and Vince McMahon announced that should Bob Backlund still be champion at that point, he would defend the WWF Title at the next Philadelphia Spectrum show in two weeks against Ivan Koloff.
In a non-title match, Don Muraco pinned Salvatore Bellomo in 3:56 with a Tombstone Piledriver. After the match, Muraco was interviewed by Vince McMahon regarding his upcoming title defenses against Rocky Johnson.
May 1983, Thursday, Week 2
Paid attendance at the Hamburg Fieldhouse was 839.
The WWF has made Don Muraco vs. Swede Hanson official for the Spectrum for June, Saturday, Week 1. Muraco’s Intercontinental Title will be on the line should be still be champion at that point.
May 1983, Friday, Week 2
Former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Whipper Billy Watson has announced his retirement.
Susan Starr vs. Leilani Kai has been added to this month’s show at Madison Square Garden. I doubt that moves tickets at all but they’re expecting a pretty good crowd since most of the card has been announced ahead of time.
May 1983, Saturday, Week 2
Don Muraco will be in a feud with Junkyard Dog in Memphis. The matches will be horrible but the promos will be superb.
May 1983, Sunday, Week 2
The WWF received word that Freddie Blassie is planning on retiring from the wrestling business entirely next month and that The Fabulous Moolah will be retiring from active competition in August. Booker Jared Hawkins tried to talk Moolah out of her retirement as she is scheduled to get her new title belt at Madison Square Garden next Monday, but she said she feels it is the correct decision. I’d expect Moolah to be kept on as a road agent.
Rene Goulet defeated Jake Milliman in Denver last night to win the AWA Light Heavyweight Championship.
