JHawk
So how was your week? Not very likely we get this newsworthy a week ever again.
November 1983, Monday, Week 1
October actually turned into one of the better months the WWF has had this year. The company turned a profit of nearly $30,000 this month, its best since July. They’re also favoring better in popularity across the country according to our latest polls, only favoring poorly in the Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, and South West areas. The hope now is they can get All-Star Wrestling back on the air in December and possibly expand Championship Wrestling into other areas, although I don’t anticipate either of those happening.
The WWF is looking into getting more aggressive in signing wrestlers over the next few months, although their primary target, Paul Orndorff, is under an exclusive contract with World Class Championship Wrestling and will be unable to come in. An attempt was also made to bring Negro Casas in from Mexico, but he is currently unwilling to leave Mexico.
November 1983, Tuesday, Week 1
Referee Dick Worhele’s contract is set to expire in about a month. The WWF will likely not re-sign him for right now to try to help cut costs, but booker Jared Hawkins likes his work and said he will most likely bring him back in at some point.
Championship Wrestling taping (November 1983, Tuesday, Week 1)
The show opened with Bob Backlund cutting a promo on the Masked Superstar, vowing to defeat Masked Superstar in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Day.
Tony Garea defeated Charlie Fulton by disqualification in 5:07 when George Steele interfered. After the match, Steele continued his attack on Garea until Jimmy Snuka made the save.
The Wild Samoans defeated Swede Hanson and Salvatore Bellomo in 4:53 to retain the WWF Tag Team Title when Sika pinned Bellomo with a Headbutt.
Jimmy Snuka pinned Bill Anderson in 2:33 with a Superfly Splash.
In an extremely short match, Tiger Conway Jr. defeated Nick DeCarlo in 1:21 by submission. After the match, Conway locked in a version of the camel clutch and kept it on until several referees finally broke it up.
Buddy Rogers’ Corner was next, and Rogers interviewed Eddie Gilbert. Gilbert credited Bob Backlund for the recovery he has made thus far, saying he doesn’t need the neck brace all the time and he plans on coming back at 110%.
Buddy Rose enters the ring with Don Kernodle and The Grand Wizard, and he cuts a brief promo saying they’re going to stop The Soul Patrol’s title hopes before they ever get started.
In a match that had some good action and average heat, The Soul Patrol defeated Buddy Rose and Don Kernodle in 6:49 when Johnson pinned Kernodle with a Johnson Shuffle. Rose’s timing was unusually off tonight.
Mr. Fuji & Tiger Chung Lee defeated The Tonga Kid and Invader # 2 in 2:32 when Fuji pinned Invader # 2 with a Kamikaze Clothesline. And with that ends any chance of Invader #2 doing anything memorable on this run.
Ivan Koloff pinned Steve Lombardi in 3:13 with a Russian Sickle. After the match, Vince McMahon interviewed Koloff, who told Pat Patterson that Thanksgiving Day in Philadelphia will be Patterson’s last match.
Not as good a show as last week as this show needed a real main event but still good overall.
November 1983, Wednesday, Week 1
WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund has taken rookie Steve Lombardi under his wing as a protégé. Pat Patterson is also said to be behind Lombardi as well.
The taping in Allentown drew its usual sellout of 1,300.
Set for arguably the biggest push of his career, Tony Atlas failed a drug test for marijuana. As a first offense, he just received a fine, but this could cause his push to be delayed or outright cancelled.
November 1983, Thursday, Week 1
Vince McMahon Sr., 69, and Stu Hart, 68, have officially retired from the wrestling business.
Veteran wrestler Bobby Colt has signed a four year deal. He will be used mostly on TV and probably in an enhancement role.
November 1983, Friday, Week 1
Negotiations to bring WWF All-Star Wrestling back on the air have fallen through. There is still at least one negotiation ongoing to expand the coverage of Championship Wrestling.
November 1983, Saturday, Week 1
Mike Graham’s deal has expired so he’s history.
Invader #2 (Johnny Rivera) is currently working through a strained rotator cuff. He’s hoping not to miss any bookings but he’s likely to be used less until the injury fully heals. The injury occurred in a tag team match in Puerto Rico against Kerry & David Von Erich.
Long time midget superstar Little Beaver has retired from active competition.
November 1983, Sunday, Week 1
TV ratings held steady this weekend.
“Mr. Electricity” Steve Regal has been signed to a short term deal (three months from what I understand).
