Through the Booking Glass: Year 1 Week 28

Before I get into this, I want to give a cheap plug to my podcast, Pro Wrestling Weekend, which will be available at smartmarkradio.com at all times. This weekend (January 12), we will be interviewing David Jackson, the president of the Wrestling Cares Association regarding their big show on January 18, plus we will analyze and probably over analyze the WWE Network. I will just say in regards to the WWE Network that “Holy shit Vince just take my credit card right now because it looks awesome!”

With that, let’s head back to 1983.

July 1983, Monday, Week 4

Don Kernodle vs. Rocky Johnson has been added to Saturday’s show at Madison Square Garden.

July 1983, Tuesday, Week 4

Another match has been added to Saturday’s show at Madison Square Garden, as Sgt. Slaughter will take on Swede Hanson. I’m expecting Slaughter to get at least one more shot at MSG before the feud with Backlund is over, so this is probably signed to get him in position for it.

Tony Garea has been getting a surprising number of positive reactions from female fans in recent weeks, so Garea will be doing a “heartthrob” gimmick moving forward. Rocky Johnson and Chief Jay Strongbow will also have minor tweaks made to their characters although those are going to be so minor that nobody will really notice.

Championship Wrestling taping (July 1983, Tuesday, Week 4)

Every seat is full at Agricultural Hall in Allentown, PA tonight.

In an extremely short match, Don Muraco pinned Chief Jay Strongbow in 1:33 with a Tombstone Piledriver to retain the Intercontinental Title.

Ivan Putski pinned Tiger Conway Jr. in 3:20 with a Polish Hammer.

In an extremely short match, Samu and The Wild Samoans defeated Swede Hanson and Tony Garea & Eddie Gilbert in 5:28 when Samu pinned Hanson with a Flying Headbutt. Garea started a heartthrob gimmick but it pretty much consists of him smiling and wearing a Member’s Only jacket, so he’s not taking it over the top and it got over.

Don Kernodle pinned Nick DeCarlo in 2:46 with a Piledriver. They have little chemistry so it was an awkward match.

Jimmy Snuka pinned Bob Bradley in 2:39 with a Superfly Splash. Bradley was helped to the back afterwards holding his ribs.

Buddy Rogers’ Corner was next, and Mr. Fuji (w/Lou Albano) was interviewed about his upcoming match at the Garden with Tito Santana.

Mr. Fuji pinned Frankie Williams in 36 seconds with a Kamikaze Clothesline.

Tiger Chung Lee pinned Curt Hennig in 2:27 with a Tombstone Piledriver. Hennig was helped to the back after the match.

Rocky Johnson and Invader # 2 defeated Buddy Rose and Johnny Rodz in 2:40 when Invader pinned Rodz with a Heart Punch. Rose and Rodz actually made a really good team and I’d like to see more of it.

The show ended with Pat Patterson interviewing The Wild Samoans and Samu (w/Lou Albano) who vowed to defeat Andre the Giant, Ivan Putski and Dusty Rhodes Saturday night at the Garden.

July 1983, Wednesday, Week 4

Road agent Penny Mitchell was the most popular person backstage last night as she brought enough alcohol to Agricultural Hall to float a battleship. That explains the incoherent promos.

A 1977 TV match between George Steele and Bob Backlund will be airing as part of Championship Wrestling this weekend to help hype the show that night at Madison Square Garden. I’ve heard worse ideas. Overall they at least look like they’re trying to make a final push for the show, which is good.

Don Muraco and Chief Jay Strongbow had such a short match because both men have had insane schedules lately. I’m still shocked they’ve allowed Muraco to keep the Intercontinental Title with all the major shows he’s ended up missing lately.

Some industry insiders are pegging Iron Mike Sharpe as one to watch in the next few years. If you can ever get him out of the shower, that might be a possibility.

July 1983, Thursday, Week 4

Pat Patterson has been offered a contract extension that is said would keep him with the WWF until he chooses to retire.

Swede Hanson has signed his extension which will keep him in the company until July 1986.

July 1983, Friday, Week 4

Iron Mike Sharpe vs. Tony Garea has been added to the show at Madison Square Garden tomorrow night.

July 1983, Saturday, Week 4

Pat Patterson signed a contract extension that will keep him in the WWF for the next ten years, albeit in a non-exclusive basis. He’ll announce and wrestle for the foreseeable future and is expected to become a road agent once he hangs up the boots.

Here’s a preview for tonight’s event at Madison Square Garden.

Bob Backlund vs. George Steele for the WWF Heavyweight Title: I’m still expecting more matches between Backlund and Slaughter for the title, so I’d bet Backlund’s winning here. I don’t expect it to go under a minute this time around.

The Wild Samoans and Samu vs. Andre the Giant, Ivan Putski and Dusty Rhodes: Any result other than Andre pinning Samu would shock me to no end.

Don Kernodle vs. Rocky Johnson: I expect Johnson is going to win this but if the match gets some time it should be a good sign for Kernodle, who is being under-utilized.

Iron Mike Sharpe vs. Tony Garea: Could go either way, but Garea’s career is realistically on the back end and Sharpe is around long term so Sharpe should go over.

Sgt. Slaughter vs. Swede Hanson: Slaughter should win easily to set up for a series of matches with Backlund.

Mr. Fuji vs. Tito Santana: Santana should go over here.

Live coverage from Madison Square Garden (July 1983, Saturday, Week 4)

Gorilla Monsoon is doing commentary alone.

Iron Mike Sharpe went to a 15-minute time limit draw against Tony Garea. This was shockingly good.

Ivan Koloff pinned S.D. Jones in 5:47 with a Russian Sickle.

In a bout that had solid in-ring action but not much in the way of heat, Nick DeCarlo and Invader # 2 defeated Johnny Rodz and Buddy Rose in 10:34 when Invader # 2 pinned Rose with a Heart Punch. Rose looked really good here.

In an extremely short match, Bill Anderson defeated Salvatore Bellomo in 5:30 by submission. This match might have killed the crowd by itself.

In a bout that had great heat and great wrestling action, Masked Superstar drew with Jimmy Snuka in 12:06 following a double disqualification. They continue to brawl after the match before Don Kernodle, Rocky Johnson, Buddy Rose, Johnny Rodz, Invader #2 and Nick DeCarlo come out and get the two men separated. Snuka kept yelling for Muraco as Superstar was being dragged to the back, so the story is Snuka is so obsessed with Muraco that he’s seeing all of his opponents as Muraco instead.

In a bout that had a good crowd and good action, Andre The Giant, Ivan Putski and Dusty Rhodes defeated Samu and The Wild Samoans in 12:43 when Andre The Giant pinned Samu with The Bodyslam.

In a match that had some good action and average heat, Sgt. Slaughter defeated Swede Hanson in 10:19 by submission with a Cobra Clutch. Slaughter looked good but Hanson was tiring toward the end. Best match of the show so far.

Bob Backlund cut a promo saying he since George Steele is a wild man, he’ll have to be a wild man himself in order to retain his title.

George Steele defeated WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund (w/Arnold Skaaland) by disqualification when Backlund hit Steele with a foreign object that Steele brought into the ring. The vast majority of this match centered around Steele clearly having the foreign object, which Monsoon called a “gimmick” on commentary, and hiding it repeatedly from referee Dick Kroll. There was a false finish late, as Backlund pinned Steele with a dropkick but Kroll saw Steele’s foot under the bottom rope and continued the match. Steele attacked Backlund from behind and knocked him into Kroll, which led to the finish.

After the match, Lord Alfred Hayes interviewed Backlund backstage, who said he was going to find the commissioner on duty and file a protest since Steele brought in the object and he was defending himself.

In a bout that had a good crowd and good action, Rocky Johnson defeated Don Kernodle in 6:02 by pinfall with a Johnson Shuffle.

Tito Santana pinned Mr. Fuji in 5:43.

July 1983, Sunday, Week 4

A horrible turn out at Madison Square Garden last night, as just 3,257 paid to attend. I’m surprised as this was the strongest card on paper since at least April. The card was not that good despite the lineup. Match of the night bonus went to Sgt. Slaughter and Swede Hanson.

That was Dusty Rhodes’ last appearance for the time being, as he was being loaned out for just that one appearance.

Pat Patterson has signed an extension with the Montreal-based IWA but will not be missing any WWF bookings.

TV ratings remain steady for Championship Wrestling. I can sense the company picking up momentum based on word of mouth but so far is hasn’t translated at the box office.

Tony Atlas worked for Southeastern Championship Wrestling last night and won the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title, defeating Super Olympia in Florence, AL.