JHawk
August 1983, Monday, Week 1
TV networks are scheduling for the fall schedule. I’m hearing many different things regarding WWF TV this month as to whether they’ll focus on expanding Championship Wrestling, looking for a new home for All-Star Wrestling, or maybe a completely new show altogether. Only time will tell.
While many insiders are claiming the WWF to be last in the regional battles across most of the company, they had no exposure anywhere outside the Tri State area where they are unopposed. Sponsorships and the introduction of merchandise, including a line of shirts for individual wrestlers, are keeping the company afloat at this point, as the overhead is incredibly high and I’ve been told if not for some deals they have where local companies are paying for advertising in the programs, the company would have lost nearly $400,000 last month. Luckily 20 years of operating in your home base allows you to have an effect on the local businesses. As it is, the company made close to $75,000 over the month due to a late sponsorship deal with the snack cake company Tastykake.
Masked Superstar and Super Destroyer won the NWA National Tag Team Title last night, defeating Bad Habit (Buzz Sawyer & Tito Santana) at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN last night. Georgia Championship Wrestling drew a monster crowd of 50,000 for the show last night which also aired on closed circuit TV in several Georgia cities.
August 1983, Tuesday, Week 1
Charlie Fulton is in the last month of his contract but is expected to sign an extension.
The WWF announced today that the only major show in the month of August will be at the Spectrum on Saturday, Week 2. Bob Backlund will defend the WWF Heavyweight Title against Sgt. Slaughter in a long-awaited rematch of their May encounter at MSG.
I’m hearing that only a couple of contract offers went out and not for anybody who will be around long term or with any kind of push.
WWF Championship Wrestling taping (August 1983, Tuesday, Week 1)
The compay is taping from the Fieldhouse in Hamburg, PA tonight.
In an extremely short match, Sgt. Slaughter defeated Swede Hanson in 4:11 by submission with a Cobra Clutch. Slaughter looked really good here. After the match, Slaughter was interviewed by Vince McMahon at ringside. Slaughter told Bob Backlund he had one more week to enjoy his run at the top, as he planned to take the WWF Heavyweight Championship at the Philadelphia Spectrum.
Tito Santana pinned Bob Bradley with a Flying Forearm in 3:50.
As Rocky Johnson headed to the ring, Pat Patterson stopped him for an interview about his upcoming match tonight against The Masked Superstar. Johnson put over Superstar as a tough competitor, then said he has not given up his dream of winning WWF gold, even if he needs to get a partner and go for the tag team titles.
The Masked Superstar pinned Rocky Johnson with a swinging neckbreaker in 2:17. So much for making a run at WWF gold.
Mr. Fuji defeated Nick DeCarlo in 2:33 by pinfall with a Kamikaze Clothesline. Fuji was really off his game but Capt. Lou Albano did a great job at ringside as Fuji’s manager.
Bill Anderson was the guest in Buddy Rogers’ Corner, cutting a generic promo to put himself over. This was clearly a way to kill three minutes.
Andre The Giant defeated Mac Rivera and Baron Mikel Scicluna in a Handicap match in 4:56 when Andre pinned Rivera with The Bodyslam.
In an extremely short match, WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco pinned Curt Hennig in 2:04 with a Tombstone Piledriver. Albano did a great job here as well and is extremely underrated in his role as manager. After the match, Vince McMahon interviewed Muraco, who said it doesn’t matter if he sends Adrian Adonis after Snuka or takes care of business himself, but Snuka will never win the Intercontinental Championship.
Tony Atlas defeated Tiger Conway Jr. in 2:53 by pinfall with The Press Slam.
Tiger Chung Lee pinned S.D. Jones in 3:30 with a Kiwi Roll.
This show was great until the Muraco interview but died a quick death late.
August 1983, Wednesday, Week 1
The TV taping at the Hamburg Fieldhouse last night drew another sellout of 2,200.
Based on the interview Rocky Johnson did at the taping last night, Johnson will team with Salvatore Bellomo at the Spectrum next weekend to go for The Wild Samoans’ Tag Team Titles.
August 1983, Thursday, Week 1
Charlie Fulton signed a two year contract extension with the WWF.
Veteran wrestler Great Goliath, best known in the old Mike LeBell Los Angeles territory for this tag team with Black Gordman, has signed a nine month deal for occasional appearances. I’d expect him to mostly put people over. There have been rumors of the WWF running some shows in California and this could be a way to pop the house there for the first few shows.
August 1983, Friday, Week 1
Stan Stasiak, the shortest reigning WWF Heavyweight Champion of all time with his nine day title reign in 1973, announced his retirement from the wrestling business last night. Funny story about Stasiak’s title win: He was so in shock when he was told he was going to be winning the title that he asked promoter Phil Zacko three or four different times what the finish was, as he assumed it was a rib.
August 1983, Saturday, Week 1
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling has offered Eddie Gilbert a contract. I’m expecting him to take the deal, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he leaves the WWF over it.
There have been reports of Tony Atlas and Jules Strongbow having problems with each other backstage, as apparently several wrestlers have heard them arguing regularly over the last few weeks. It is said to be simply a clash of egos, but it is expected that one will fall from grace within the company. Since Jules has been used very little since his heel turn, I’d expect the company to take Atlas’ side barring something major.
Little Beaver will be retiring within the next few months and is hoping to get a job behind the scenes with a major company.
August 1983, Sunday, Week 1
Billy Red Lyons has signed a six month deal to wrestle occasionally.
TV ratings held steady again this week. I hear there are a few deals coming out to expand coverage for Championship Wrestling as well as to possibly bring All Star Wrestling back on the air but nothing has finalized yet.
