This week Throwback Thursday heads back to Bill Watts’ beloved Mid-South territory to review a classic edition of Mid-South Wrestling, as seen on the WWE Network and Peacock, that aired 38 years ago this month!
It had been nearly three months since Bill Watts highly successful stint on WTBS came to an abrupt end. The short run on WTBS (March 10, 1985 to May 26, 1985), in which Watt’s Mid-South Wrestling became a ratings powerhouse, proved to Watts that his brand of pro wrestling could in fact work nationally. Good relations with the Von Erichs in Dallas and Paul Boesch in Houston, as well as the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), gave Watts hope of building an expansive territory that could, one day, compete nationally with both the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP).
To help boost Mid-South, and prove to potential investors that the promotion could draw a large crowd, Bill Watts was prepared to put his money where his mouth was. With the August 10, 1985, Superdome Extravaganza on the horizon Bill Watts booked himself, in what would turn out to be Watts’ final retirement match, in a marquee “American nationalist” program for the Superdome card.
The program, centered around Watts’ mission to rid his territory of the “terrorist” Skandor Akbar, played heavily on the very real fears Americans had of the growing radical jihadist movement in the Middle East after a spate of airplane hijackings and tragedies such as the Munich massacre (1972) and the Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979). While not all of the incidents were related directly to jihadist extremism it was, in the eyes of many Americans, a distinction without a difference. Watts, outraged by the direction of both the country and the world writ large, used this program with Akbar to voice his beliefs, concerns, and values to what he hoped would be a large and receptive audience.
Headlined by an NWA World title showdown between Mid-South mainstay “Hacksaw” Butch Reed and NWA World Champion Ric Flair, the card highlighted the deep and evolving Mid-South roster, which included names like Ted DiBiase, “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, the Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton), Dick Murdoch, Jake Roberts, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Drawing well over 15,000 fans, the most for a Superdome card since the August ’84 show (18,000), and a gate in excess of $105,000, the event would be the penultimate Superdome card under the Mid-South Wrestling banner.
The top story in Mid-South at the time this edition of Mid-South Wrestling aired was the next week’s huge Superdome Extravaganza event. Marquee matches included the aforementioned NWA World title showdown between Ric Flair and Butch Reed, the Mid-South Tag Team title “steel cage” match between the teams of Jake Roberts & the Barbarian and the Champions Ted DiBiase & “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, and (of course) the “loser leaves town” tag team war between Bill Watts & Jim Duggan and Kimala & Kareem Muhammad, with the man losing the fall forced to leave the territory.
The top song in the country the week this edition of Mid-South aired was Tears for Fears’ “Shout” off their number-one album Songs from the Big Chair. On television NBC’s The Cosby Show reigned supreme as the iconic Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, & Crispin Glover, was the top film in theaters.
Now let’s head over to the WWE Network on Peacock hit ‘play’, and let’s see how well this edition of Mid-South Wrestling holds up in 2023!
Edits are not an issue with this edition of Mid-South on the WWE Network and Peacock. Context, meanwhile, is great. Nearly every prior edition of Mid-South, dating back to December 12, 1981, is available for you to enjoy on the WWE Network and Peacock right now!
Mid-South Wrestling #308 (WATCH)
Date: August 3, 1985 (TAPED: July 31, 1985) – Location: Irish McNeil Boys Club, Shreveport, Louisiana
Attendance: N/A – TV Ratings: N/A
Commentators: Jim Ross & Joel Watts – Interviews: Jim Ross & Joel Watts
CHAMPIONS AT THE TIME:
NWA World Heavyweight Champion: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (May 24, 1984, Yokosuka, Japan, from “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich)
Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion: The Nightmare (May 30, 1985, Mid-South Wrestling, from Terry Taylor)
Mid-South Television Champion: “Hacksaw” Butch Reed (July 22, 1985, New Orleans, Louisiana, from “Dirty” Dutch Mantell)
Mid-South Tag Team Champion: Ted DiBiase & “Dr. Death” Steve Williams (May 3, 1985, Houston, Texas, from the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson))
Following the usual Mid-South open of the era we inside the Irish McNeil Boys Club where Jim Ross, with Joel Watts, welcomes us to the show. Joel then announces the “breaking news” that “Hacksaw” Butch Reed is the new Mid-South Television Champion after defeating “Dirty” Dutch Mantell for the title on July 22nd in downtown New Orleans at the Municipal Auditorium.
Mantell, Watts tells us, has asked for a rematch this week and Butch Reed has agreed to it. Jim Ross then transitions to the Bill Watts/Skandor Akbar saga, saying it will end in a “final confrontation” at the Superdome on August 10th. No one, Ross says, can “better explain” the tremendous struggle “for supremacy in Mid-South” like “Cowboy” Bill Watts before tossing to a video package hosted by Bill Watts.
“Cowboy” Bill Watts begins by talking about Skandor Akbar’s heinous fire attack on “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan on May 4, 1985. Watts says that Akbar is from the “Far East”, where terrorism can bring one to “hero status”. Watts then tosses to footage of the recap of the attack from earlier in the year on Mid-South Wrestling.
Watts says the “ball of fire” “shattered” his life. Only three things matter to Watts, he says: God, family, and country. After the attack Watts says he had to really think about what happened to Duggan, what Akbar was trying to accomplish, and what was happening in America and the world that could even lead to something like this happening. After some soul searching Watts says he decided to make “some statements” and tosses to a replay of those statements.
In the “statements”, which originally aired on the May 25, 1985, edition of Mid-South, Watts calls Duggan a “man’s man” who gave “150%” of himself in everything he ever did and to the fans. “Look what happened to him”, Watts says. After mentioning the attack on Terry Daniels, a marine, Watts says he can’t handle it, that ghe’s going “crazy”. They terminated the contracts of both Kimala and Skandor Akbar, Watts says, until the pair found a lawyer.
After going off on lawyers Watts explains how he was stopped from terminating their contracts. Watts says he’s not trying to stop Akbar from making a living, he just doesn’t know whose life Akbar will take next. So as Watts sat back and thought he looked at his Greek wrestling statue, reminding him of how men used to settle their differences.
Watts says he’s sick of the run around, that it needs to “get back to the basics”, where it was when he first started. A wrestler trains in the gym, works hard, signs his name on the line, and if he could kick some tail he’d win the “prize and the money”. Watts wants one last “fling at it”, he says, that he can’t be cooped up in an office with his hands tied and watch these things happen; he’s got to make a statement. Watts says he needs to know if still has what it takes to “walk tall” and “stand up for America” and what he thinks is right.
We then cut back to present day Bill Watts, who tells us that “wrestling is all I have” and that the fans that support him and Mid-South mean “a lot” to him. Watts says he can’t do everything for everybody but says that he would never ask anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself. That’s why Watts has come out of retirement and put his “fanny” on the line. But Akbar’s “oil money”, Watts says, “corrupts everybody”.
And when Ted DiBiase & “Dr, Death” got involved, Watts says, he had to come to Duggan’s rescue. We then see footage of that save from the June 8, 1985, edition of Mid-South. In the footage we see DiBiase & “Dr. Death” double-team Duggan, holding him for Akbar to burn with his cigar, before Bill Watts, chair in hand, makes the save, running off the heels before tending to Duggan.
Back to the present, Bill Watts says he makes no apologies for the weapons he needs to use because this is a “war against a terrorist”, the same kinds of people who, on June 14, 1985, hijacked TWA Flight 847. Watts says he’s no “bleeding heart liberal”, he’s a “law and order man”, an “American supremacist”. In this “war”, Watts says, it has to come down to a “final solution” between Akbar and Watts.
The people are on Watts’ side, he says, and lists a number of babyfaces who have come to Watts aid, including Mike Graham, who we see being burned when he came to the aid of Watts on the July 27, 1985 edition of Mid-South Wrestling. Watts says Akbar can’t get away with it and vows to put everything he has on the line in a final showdown with Akbar in the Superdome.
Back at the announce position Jim Ross puts a bow on the long Watts narration/promo and hypes the “final confrontation” at the Superdome before tossing to a pre-taped promo from “Cowboy” Bill Watts & “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Watts begins by explaining that when Mike Graham was burned it “all flushed out”, that Akbar’s army and tactics are “flushed out”. It’s down to “survival”.
In the Superdome, Watts says, it has to take place. It’ll be a “Missing in Action” match, Watts says, with no DQs and fleeing the ring resulting in a forfeit. It has to be settled. Watts says he and Duggan are putting everything on the line in the match, from time and money to investments and pure heart. If either Watts or Duggan lose the fall then the defeated man must leave Mid-South for 90-days. But if Akbar’s team loses Skandor Akbar must leave the Mid-South area because, Watts says, Akbar is the one who pulls the strings.
Duggan is next, saying it’s all on the line because this is “the land of the free and home of the brave”. That’s why Duggan, Watts, Murdoch and the others have been sticking together. Everything is on the line, Duggan reiterates, and somebody has got to go. Watts pops back in to say that they ask no quarter and give none, that they’ve asked nobody to take their place. It’s down to Watts & Duggan in the Superdome for “Missing in Action”!
We head back to the announce position where Joel Watts puts a bow on the promo and tosses to a pre-recorded promo from Skandor Akbar. It’s a “tough, tough world”, as Duggan and Bill Watts have found out, Akbar says. Akbar could “care less” about Bill Watts or America; the only thing Akbar cares about is “money”. Right now Akbar is “riding high” in Mid-South and has no intentions of leaving the area.
Watts had better get it straight that Akbar has enough money to “spend to the end of time” to see that he eliminates Bill Watts and Jim Duggan. It’s all coming down in the Superdome, and Akbar gladly agrees to the stipulations. Just when they think they have the deck stacked against Skandor Akbar, he says, they are “sadly mistaken”. Back at the announce position J.R. wraps the Akbar promo and hypes the big “Missing in Action” match before tossing to our first Peacock ad-break.
After the break we return once more to the announce position where J.R. sets up tosses to a pre-taped promo from former Television Champion “Dirty” Dutch Mantell. Mantell says that there’s a situation in Mid-South that “needs to be corrected”. Everybody knows that Butch Reed is the new TV Champion and that he took the strap from Mantell, who is and always will be a sore loser. Mid-South had the “foresight”, Mantell says, to “make” Reed put the TV title up against Mantell this week.
Mantell wonders how Reed likes being forced to do something and says more is on the line than the TV title. Reed is the front-runner for NWA World Heavyweight title, Dutch says, and World Champion Ric Flair has promised Mantell a “substantial” sum of cash if Mantell can take Reed out. So not only will Mantell get his TV title back, he says, he’s going to make “a lot of money”! Back at the announce position Joel Watts wraps the Mantell promo before tossing to the ring for this week’s main event.
Ring announcer Boyd Pierce introduces Mantell (12:58) as Reed takes his time getting into the ring. As Reed enters the ring, however, Mantell jumps him. Before the bell even has a chance to ring Mantell hurls the referee to the floor and begins to brutally whip Reed with his bull whip.
Just as quickly Reed grabs the whip and wrestles it from Mantell, who ends up tasting a bit of his own medicine. Reed whips away on Mantell, even going after the referee, before intercepting an interfering “Superstar” Bill Dundee and giving Dundee a taste of the whip. Reed whips both men from the ring as the bell rings and Reed stands tall.
We then head to the next Peacock ad-break with a replay of Reed intercepting Dundee and going to work with the whip.
Coming back from the break ring announcer Boyd Pierce introduces Karl Stiles as Dick Murdoch makes his way to the ring. But, as the match is set to begin, “Sir” Oliver Humperdink arrives, telling Boyd Pierce that an agreement between himself and Stiles has been reached. Humperdink says he doesn’t agree with Watts on much but he does agree that people have to take care of their business in the ring.
Humperdink then tells Murdoch that he and the Nightmare don’t want to wait until the Superdome to face Murdoch, that they want to do it right now. Murdoch tells Humperdink to get his “Pillsbury Doughboy body” out of the ring and put the North American Heavyweight title on the line. But Humperdink says it’s not Nightmare that Murdoch will be facing but the man coming up behind Murdoch: Humongous!
—Singles Match (16:58)
Humongous (sub. for Karl Stiles) w/Oliver Humperdink vs. “Capt. Redneck” Dick Murdoch
Murdoch paces around Humongous before trying to lock up but Humongous easily shoves Murdoch on his duff. Humongous overpowers Murdoch, who injures his elbow on Humongous’ helmet, and easily manhandles Murdoch. A headbutt sends Murdoch to the floor, busting Murdoch wide open.
Humongous works the cut, opening it wider, before slamming Murdoch back into the ring. After a running headbutt Humongous cinches in the shininomake (cobra clutch). Murdoch begins to fade and, after the arm drops three times, the referee stops the bout at 3:31.
WINNER is Humongous (sub. for Karl Stiles) w/Oliver Humperdink (Submission, 3:31)
After the match Humongous holds the shininomake until Humperdink breaks the trance. We then head to the next Peacock ad-break with a replay of the shininomake finish.
—Tag Team Match (23:57)
Jake “The Snake” Roberts & The Barbarian vs. Ken Glover & The Mongol
This is another squash. This Barbarian, for those who may not know, is Nord the Barbarian, the future Berzerker in the WWF. Jake and Barbarian beat the snort out of poor Ken Glover and have a great time doing it. Soon enough, after a sloppy stalling powerslam, Mongol tags in, running straight into a big Barbarian boot.
After a stalling powerslam on Mongol, Barbarian scales the ropes for a twisting elbow drop before tagging Jake back in. As the fans chant for the DDT Jake knocks Glover off the apron and drops Mongol with the DDT for the 1-2-3 at 2:54.
WINNERS are Jake “The Snake” Roberts & The Barbarian (Pin, 2:54)
Following the match we head to the next Peacock ad-break with a slow-motion replay of the DDT finish.
—“Non-Title Singles Match” (27:54)
Wendell Cooley vs. Mid-South Tag Team Champion Ted DiBiase
Cooley, who would be a mid-card star in the months to come, gives DiBiase a run for his money as this one gets going. Cooley frustrates DiBiase, using his agility and quickness to get the better of the Tag Team Champion. Soon enough, though, DiBiase blocks a Cooley dropkick and pounces, dropping the hammer on Cooley with a vengeance. In the end, after having his fun torturing Cooley, DiBiase lands a powerslam before cinching in the figure-four leglock for the submission win at 2:46.
WINNER is Mid-South Tag Team Champion Ted DiBiase (Submission, 2:46)
After the match we head to the next Peacock ad-break with a replay of DiBiase’s powerslam and figure-four leglock finish.
—Singles Match (31:32)
Jerry Grey vs. Al Perez
Yet another squash here. Al Perez would wind up teaming with Wendell Cooley in the coming weeks, winning the Tag Team titles on Mid-South Wrestling in just a few short weeks, but that’s a story for another day. Perez uses his exceptional wrestling ability to ground and frustrate Grey early on.
Against the ropes Grey opens up on Perez, working a few solid heel tactics that leave Perez reeling. Grey looks to be cooking then, landing a few near-falls, before Perez kicks Grey in the gut to turn the tide, dropping the wrestling in favor of fighting. Grey swings wildly at Perez but Perez sees it coming, ducks, and hooks the bridging belly-to-back suplex for the pinfall at 3:00.
WINNER is Al Perez (Pin, 3:00)
Following the match we head to the next Peacock ad-break with a slow-motion replay of the belly-to-back finish.
Coming out of the break we head to the ring where Boyd Pierce begins to introduce our final bout when “Sir” Oliver Humperdink cuts Boyd off. Humperdink says he doesn’t want people to ask who Humongous is anymore because we just watched him destroy a “top, great wrestler” on today’s show. Humperdink then introduces the North American Heavyweight Champion, the Nightmare.
—“Non-Title Singles Match” (35:28)
Jerry Backlund vs. Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion The Nightmare w/Oliver Humperdink & Humongous
“Jerry Backlund”, for those who may be aware, is the future “Gigolo” Jimmy Del Ray of Jim Cornette’s Heavenly Bodies with, of course, Tom Prichard. As for this match, it’s a complete and utter destruction. Nightmare opens up on Backlund from the jump, beating the bejabbers out of Backlund with a variety of moves and attacks but refuses to pin Backlund, continually pulling Backlund up at the count of two. In the end, after having his fun torturing Backlund, Nightmare finally puts Backlund away with a nice piledriver for the 1-2-3 at 3:28.
WINNER is Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion The Nightmare w/Oliver Humperdink & Humongous (Pin, 3:28)
After the match we head back to the announce position where Jim Ross quickly brings in “Superstar” Bill Dundee for an interview. Ross says that folks would like an explanation about Dundee’s recent actions but Dundee says he doesn’t owe anybody anything. Dundee says he was the first guy to bring class to wrestling and now everybody wants to be like Dundee.
Dundee calls Bobby Fulton a “poof” and rips his “K-Mart jacket”, saying the studs on the back of Dundee’s jacket cost more than Fulton’s entire wardrobe. Dundee says he’s going to wrestle Fulton next week on Mid-South Wrestling, and if Fulton can win he’ll win Dundee’s ring “suit”, giving Fulton a little “class to his act”. J.R. clarifies Dundee’s announcement before Dundee walks off, leaving Ross & Watts to hype next week’s card, wrap this week’s goings-on, and hype the “final confrontation” at the Superdome before signing off and bringing this week’s edition of Mid-South Wrestling to a close!
Final Thoughts
While this is an action-packed, fun edition of Mid-South Wrestling, it’s more than a bit tedious. The first thirteen minutes of the show are dedicated exclusively to the Watts/Akbar saga with enough redundancy and reiteration to make a politician proud. That aside, the story is told well and the proceeding matches and promos deliver what we have come to expect from Mid-South Wrestling.
If you haven’t seen this edition of Mid-South, or it’s been some time, this is well worth a look, if only to hear Bill Watts tell his own story rather than those of his roster. Who knows, you may actually like it, and that’s never a bad thing!
Already subscribed to the WWE Network on Peacock? Then you can relive this classic edition of Mid-South Wrestling right now or experience it for the very first time! As always, let us know what you think in the comments section below!
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Thanks for reading – until next week, see ya at ringside!