This week Throwback Thursday takes another trip to Bill Watts’ beloved Mid-South territory in the archives of the WWE Network and Peacock as we revisit a classic edition of Mid-South Wrestling that aired 40 years ago this month!
In the early days of June 1984, Mid-South Wrestling was coming off the most historic, record-breaking house show run in the history of the territory.
Thanks to the popular, iconic Jim Cornette/Bill Watts feud, Bill Watts’ Mid-South Wrestling drew 25,000 fans to the New Orleans Superdome for the “Last Stampede” event on April 7, 1984, drawing a gate of $176,000.
Both the attendance for the “Last Stampede” and the gate were second only to the August 2, 1980, Superdome Extravaganza (headlined Junkyard Dog and Michael Hayes in a “steel cage dog collar” match) that drew 28,000 for a gate of $183,000.
The “Last Stampede”, as it was known, became the most famous Superdome card in Mid-South history.
Watts and head booker Dutch Mantell rode the wave of success across the territory, selling some 100,000 tickets over the next five week stretch.
Now, as the dust settled from the “Last Stampede”, Watts and Mantell were in a state of transition, building the young Rock ‘N’ Roll Express for a hot feud with the Mid-South Tag Team Champion Midnight Express.
Behind the camera Bill Watts’ partnership with the Von Erichs in Dallas, Texas, was growing, with Watts incorporating some of the World Class angles into his won Mid-South programming.
Kerry Von Erich, Chris Adams, Precious, and Jimmy Garvin were just a few of the Dallas grapplers making their way to Mid-South Wrestling in the summer of ’84.
As Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation (WWF) began to “go national”, partnerships with neighboring territories became a necessity.
Beyond the Von Erichs, Bill Watts maintained and nurtured important key relationships with the likes of Eddie Graham (Tampa), Jerry Jarrett (Memphis), Ole Anderson (Atlanta), and Houston’s Paul Boesch, who helped Bill Watts secure television in the Houston market, greatly increasing Watts syndication footprint.
As Watts and Dundee looked forward to the next Superdome Extravaganza on July 16, 1984, hopes were high that the momentum that the promotion earned in April could be carried over to the summer and beyond.
The top stories in Mid-South the week this edition of Mid-South Wrestling aired included the escalating feud between the Mid-South Tag Team Champions Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) and the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson); Terry Taylor’s war with Television Champion Krusher Khruschev; and Butch Reed’s personal issues with Junkyard Dog.
Now let’s head on over to the WWE Network on Peacock, hit ‘play’, and see how well this edition of Mid-South Wrestling holds up 40 years later!
Edits for this edition of Mid-South Wrestling are not an issue on the WWE Network and Peacock. Context, meanwhile, is solid with nearly every edition of Mid-South Wrestling—dating back to December 12, 1981—available for you to enjoy right now on the WWE Network and Peacock!
Mid-South Wrestling #247 (WATCH)
Date: June 2, 1984 (TAPED: May 23, 1984) – Location: Irish McNeil’s Boys Club, Shreveport, Louisiana
Attendance: N/A – TV Ratings: N/A
Commentators: Jim Ross & Joel Watts – Interviews: Marc Lowrance & Jim Ross
IN POP CULTURE:
Number One Song: “Let’s Hear It For The Boys” (Deniece Williams)
Number One Album: Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture (Various)
Number One on Television: The A-Team (NBC)
Number One Film in Theaters: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Merritt Butrick, & Christopher Lloyd)
U.S. President & Vice President: Ronald Reagan & George H.W. Bush
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: Magnum T.A. (May 13, 1984, Tulsa, Oklahoma, from Mr. Wrestling II)
Mid-South Tag Team Champions: Midnight Express (“Loverboy” Dennis Condrey & “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton) (May 26, 1984, Mid-South Wrestling, taped May 23, 1984, from the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson); this was a no disqualification, no time-limit $50,000 versus Tag Team titles bout; Jim Cornette used a drug soaked towel to subdue Robert Gibson to enable the Midnight Express’ win)
Mid-South Television Champion: Krusher Khrushchev (April 14, 1984, Mid-South Wrestling, taped April 11, 1984; Khrushchev defeated Terry Taylor in the finals of the inaugural 10-man Mid-South Television Championship tournament; the tournament originally included eventual winner Khrushchev, Masao Ito, Jim Neidhart, Buddy Landell, Nikolai Volkoff, Butch Reed, Jim Duggan, Junkyard Dog, & Magnum T.A.; however, due to injuries sustained in a “Coal Miner’s Glove” match with Barry Darsow (prior to Darsow adopting the Khrushchev moniker), Duggan was replaced by Lanny Poffo prior to the start of the tournament; being an Olympic year, the winner of the inaugural tournament not only won $10,000 but a championship medal as well)
Following the standard Mid-South Wrestling open of the era, sans original music of course, we head inside the Irish McNeil Boys Club where Jim Ross, with Joel Watts, welcomes us to the show.
J.R. chats with Joel Watts, who gives us a rundown of the card to come on this week’s show, before turning our attention to a story coming out of Dallas and the Von Erich’s World Class Championship Wrestling territory.
There, we’re told, Jimmy Garvin’s former valet/manager Sunshine is suffering a “nervous breakdown” in the wake of recent goings-on involving Garvin and Garvin’s new manager (and real life wife) Precious.
These events have led to a new woman, one Stella Mae, joining the story. J.R. then sets ups and tosses to an interview with “Gentleman” Chris Adams from a recent edition of World Class TV.
We then cut to footage of Marc Lowrance interviewing Chris Adams. Lowrance asks what we all want to know: Who is the “wild” Stella Mae? Where did Stella come from? What is Stella Mae here for?
Adams agrees with Lowrance that Stella Mae is “wild” and explains that Stella Mae is Sunshine’s (or Valerie, as Stella Calls Sunshine) Aunt who raised Sunshine, teaching Sunshine all Sunshine knows.
Before Adams goes any further, though, Adams would like us to see a clip of Stella Mae’s World Class debut, which Lowrance tosses to.
The footage we see comes from the May 14, 1984, event in Fort Worth, Texas.
We join the footage with Precious & Jimmy Garvin double-teaming Mike Von Erich when Stella Mae (at that point just “some woman”) jumps into the ring, going after both Precious, Garvin, and even referee David Manning.
Back at the announce position in Shreveport Jim Ross puts a bow on the footage, calling Mae a “female truck driver”, and sets up post-match comments from Stella Mae that J.R. says Mid-South had to electronically edit.
The frozen portion of the promo begins with Stella Mae calling Garvin out, telling Garvin that by “truck” or “two-by-four” Stella is going wipe Garvin out and send Garvin back to Florida.
Chris Adams tries to calm the situation down but Stella Mae is unstoppable. Valerie was a “good girl” until Garvin got his hands on her, Mae says. But now Stella Mae is going to take care of Garvin, warning Garvin that Garvin isn’t “playing with a little girl anymore”.
Back in the original interview location, where we started with Lowrance and Adams, Adams goes on about Stella Mae. “The woman”, Garvin says, is “wild”, “crazy”, and after Jimmy Garvin.
Adams apologizes for Stella’s actions and language, but says he can understand the situation. Adams again reiterates the relationship between Stella Mae and Sunshine as well as Sunshine’s recent mental health struggles, which are all Garvin’s fault.
The whole reason Stella Mae is here is to get even with Garvin, Adams says, revealing that Stella Mae wants to team with Adams to face off against Garvin & Precious.
Adams then challenges Garvin and Precious—anytime, any place—for a match with Stella Mae as Adams’ partner. In the end, Adams says, it may be Adams who stops Stella Mae from “killing” Garvin, so Garvin had better “thank the Lord” that Adams will be in the match.
Back in Shreveport, J.R. wraps the segment, promising to keep us updated on the story, before hyping an interview with Jim Cornette and tossing to our first Peacock ad-break of the hour with a replay of Stella Mae’s debut.
Coming out of the break we head straight to ringside where Jim Ross is set to interview a very happy and self-satisfied Jim Cornette.
J.R. talks about the finish to last week’s chaotic “no disqualification” Tag Team title match where $50,000 was at stake. Everything Cornette told J.R. after the match, Ross says, turns out to be a “blatant lie”.
Cornette says he sees J.R.’s lips move but hears Bill Watts or Grizzly Smith’s voice. Cornette is from Kentucky, something Cornette is proud of. Kentucky is a place of “blue bloods” and “thoroughbreds”, where a Cornette’s word is respected.
With that J.R. sets up and tosses to the closing moments of last week’s “no DQ” Tag Team title bout between the Midnight Express and the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express.
The actions we see becomes too frantic to call after Ricky Morton makes the hot tag to Robert Gibson. Cornette low bridges Gibson before Gibson posts Eaton, busting Eaton wide open.
Back in the ring Condrey attempts a a diving elbow from the top rope only to have Morton throw himself atop Gibson to take the brunt of the move. In a flash Gibson sends Condrey over the top before leap frogging Eaton, ducking a right hand, and cinching in a sleeper hold.
As Eaton collapses he kicks out his feet, knocking the referee to the floor. At that point Cornette produces a white towel and an aerosol cal, drenching the towel with the contents of the can.
While Gibson holds tight to the sleeper, Cornette enters the ring and smothers Gibson with the doused towel, rendering Gibson unconscious.
As the referee gets to his feet Cornette urges Bobby Eaton to get up and make the cover, which Eaton does, to score the pinfall win.
Back at ringside J.R. talks about the smell from the spray Cornette used, which Cornette continues to claim was nothing more than “antiseptic spray”. Cornette reminds us that the match was “no disqualification” and that the Midnight Express won. J.R. again asks about the substance Cornette used, but Cornette doesn’t care what J.R. or anyone else thinks.
As Cornette continues to crow and mock Jim Ross, J.R. wraps the interview and the segment, sending us to the next Peacock ad-break with a replay of Cornette drugging Robert Gibson.
After the break we return to the announce position where J.R. & Joel Watts chat about the preceding segment, reminding us all yet again that the Tag title bout was a “no DQ” affair, before tossing to the ring for this week’s opening bout.
—Tag Team Match (12:51)
Dale Veasey & Steve Brinson vs. The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express’ “Rock ‘N’ Roll is King” entrance music (by Electric Light Orchestra) is, as you’d expect, overdubbed for the Network version of this show.
This is a fun, fast-paced squash. Gibson & Morton dominate the early going, working Brinson’s knee before Veasey tags in. Despite Veasey’s best efforts a rally just isn’t in the cards.
In the end, after Gibson drops Brinson with a shot on the apron, the Rock ‘N’ Roll hit their patented double dropkick for the 1-2-3 at 2:36.
WINNERS are The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) (Pin, 2:36)
The Rock ‘N’ Roll celebrate their win as we head head to the next Peacock ad-break with a photo of NWA World Women’s Tag Team Champions Velvet McIntyre & Princess Victoria.
After the break JR says the pair, not named in the segment, will be heading into the area soon to defend the titles, hyping the appearances as can’t miss.
In reality, McIntyre & Victoria would make only a scant few appearances in the territory, namely against the team of Wendi Richter & Peggy Lee Leather at the July 16, 1984, Superdome Extravaganza card.
By this time, however, all four ladies were be under contract with the WWF. In fact, as Moolah had done with the NWA Women’s World title in December 1983, the Women’s Tag Team titles were now property of the WWF and had been since early April 1984.
The WWF would keep the physical belts and recognize McIntyre & Victoria as the inaugural WWF Women’s Tag Team Champions. The pair debuted, as Champions, on the March 31, 1984, WWF on PRISM Network event in a winning effort against Wendi Richter & Peggy Lee Leather.
Joyce Grable & Wendi Richter remained the final recognized NWA World Women’s Tag Team Champions until August 28, 2021, when The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle) defeated Red Velvet & KiLynn King at NWA EmPowerrr to revive the titles.
J.R. then turns his attention to another chaotic situation from last week’s show, this time involving “Nature Boy” Buddy Landell and Mark Ragin, tossing to a replay of the events of last week.
We join the footage with Mark Ragin, his entrance music (Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”) overdubbed, making his way to the ring.
The young, athletic, and fast Ragin gets the better of Landell from the start. Landell, flustered and embarrassed, soon hurls Ragin over the top rope to give Ragin the win via DQ.
Landell puts the boots to Ragin on the floor before Sonny King makes the save. King is all over to Landell until Butch Reed hits the ring. Though King fights of Reed at first, the numbers are too much and Landell and Reed soon have the upper hand on King.
Landell holds King for Reed to waylay but King, of course, ducks. Reed floors Landell by mistake, giving King an opening to come storming back.
King batters Landell & Reed, driving both to the floor, before a weary, staggered Mark Ragin reenters the ring to help hold the heels off.
Back at the announce position J.R. puts a bow on the replay footage and tosses to the ring for our next contest.
—Singles Match (17:13)
Masao Ito vs. Sonny King
This match would mark Masao Ito’s final televised bout on Mid-South Wrestling. Ito, after competing in his final bouts in Houston for Paul Boesch, would be wrestling full-time in Memphis by the second week of June ’84.
After a long run in both Florida and Georgia, and a slew of promotions before that, Sonny King was finally making his Mid-South in-ring debut in this match.
As for the match, it’s nothing to write home about. Be it communication, timing, or a clash of styles this match is a bit of a hot mess.
Sonny King works Ito’s arm from the start before rolling Ito up for a series of awkward near-falls. King continues to ground Ito with a gorgeous arm bar until Ito fights his way to his feet and attempts a rally.
Ito lands a few moves before King comes storming back. King lands a jumping headbutt and goes for the cover but Ito wriggles to the ropes in what looks to be a clear botch of the finish.
King sends Ito into the ropes but Ito, tripping over his own feet, falls on his face before reaching the other side of the ring. King lands a second headbutt and quickly covers Ito, hooking both of Ito’s legs tight, to score the three-count at 3:50.
WINNER is Sonny King (Pin, 3:50)
Following the match Sonny King celebrates his debut victory on Mid-South Wrestling as we head to the next Peacock ad-break with picture of Paul Boesch meeting Vice President George H.W. Bush.
Coming out of the break we return to the ring where ring announcer Boyd Pierce attempts to introduce the forthcoming North American Heavyweight title bout between Magnum T.A. and Mr. Wrestling II.
When Mr. Wrestling I & II hit the ring, however, they begin to argue over who should actually be getting the title match.
Mr. Wresting I (whom we’ve known as II for a long while) argues that he, Mr. Wrestling I, should be getting his return match. Pierce says it’s not up to him, that he’ll introduce whatever match has been “sanctioned and signed”, and that’s Mr. Wrestling II versus Magnum T.A.
Mr. Wrestling I says he’s going to get Grizzly Smith out here to straighten it out when Mr. Wrestling II (Hercules Hernandez) dry-gulches Mr. Wrestling I, knocking I from the ring and posting Wrestling I on the floor.
—Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship (25:42)
Mr. Wrestling II (Hercules Hernandez) w/Mr. Wrestling I vs. Magnum T.A.(c)
Again, so everyone is on the same page, Mr. Wrestling II is actually Hercules Hernandez while Mr. Wrestling I is, in reality, the actual Mr. Wrestling II.
With Wrestling I laid out on the floor Wrestling II reenters the ring to go after Magnum T.A. The loose ropes, loosened for the Tag Team title match, nearly break Magnum’s neck in the early going as Magnum opens up on an overconfident Wrestling II as Wrestling I is helped to the back.
Magnum is in control until missing a shoulder block in the corner. Though Magnum is never truly out of the match, Wrestling II is in full control, scoring a number of near-falls.
Wrestling II grounds Magnum with a front chancery and looks to have the Champion reeling as he easily fights off Magnum’s attempts to make a comeback.
Soon enough, though, Wrestling II misses an elbow drop from the second rope that gives Magnum the opening to stage a spirited rally. Magnum lands the belly-to-belly but Wrestling II kicks out, sending Magnum atop the referee, all but knocking the referee out.
Out of nowhere, as Wrestling II sends Magnum over the top rope to the floor, Wrestling I reenters the ring. With a metal plate strapped to his thigh Wrestling I goes to work on Wrestling II, belting Wrestling I with a big running knee lift that sends Wrestling II to the floor.
Wrestling I turns to go after Magnum but the Champion quickly turns the tide, dropping Wrestling I with a pair of dropkicks that sends Wrestling I to the floor.
As the referee deals with Wrestling I, Wrestling II climbs back into the ring and walks headlong into a beautiful belly-to-belly to give Magnum the pinfall win at 4:49.
WINNER and STILL Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion, Magnum T.A. (Pin, 4:49)
After the bell Magnum T.A. slips out of the ring as Mr. Wrestling I & II continue to argue in the ring. As Wrestling II flees the ring, leaving Wrestling I all alone, we head to the next Peacock ad-break with a slow-motion replay of the match-ending belly-to-belly suplex.
—Tag Team Match (32:50)
“Hacksaw” Butch Reed & “Nature Boy” Buddy Landell vs. Mike Jackson & Mark Ragin
This is a fast-paced, tight squash that sees Landell & Reed absolutely demolish Mike Jackson without giving Mark Ragin a chance to even tag into the match, subtly putting over the threat Ragin poses.
Jackson does a good job early on flustering and upsetting Landell. Using his own speed and agility, Jackson gets the better of Landell before Reed illegally belts Jackson with a forearm as Jackson attempts an O’Connor Roll on Landell.
Reed & Landell continue to maul a game Jackson, mocking Mark Ragin as they go, before Landell drives Jackson’s face into the mat and Reed connects with the running spear/slingshot for the 1-2-3 at 2:36.
WINNERS are “Hacksaw” Butch Reed & “Nature Boy” Buddy Landell (Pin, 2:36)
Following the bell Butch Reed & Buddy Landell celebrate as if they’ve won a gold medal as Mark Ragin checks on the fallen Mike Jackson. We then head to our next Peacock ad-break with a slow-motion replay of finish.
—“Non-Title Singles Match” (36:30)
“Leaping” Lanny Poffo vs. Mid-South Television Champion Krusher Khruschev
This match would mark Lanny Poffo’s final televised match on Mid-South Wrestling before joining his brother, Randy Savage, in Memphis full-time.
Not much of a match here. This is an overlong squash designed to eat up the last three and a half minutes of TV time.
While it’s not an entirely terrible match, it’s nothing to write home about. Seeing as Poffo was leaving the area in the next few weeks it makes little sense to have Poffo look the least bit strong, especially against the territory’s TV Champion and rising heel.
Poffo looks good to start, trying to work on Khruschev’s arm, but it doesn’t last long. In fact, Poffo puts up just enough offense to establish a minimal threat before Krusher drops the hammer, never really letting up.
Poffo’s selling is the star of the match, however, and his skillful ability to fight from underneath but not steal any of Krusher’s shine is a real treat to watch. Khrushchev rides a front chancery and batters Poffo as the final minutes begin to tick away.
Krusher cuts off another Poffo rally and finally puts Poffo away with the Canadian backbreaker for the submission win at 3:38.
WINNER is Mid-South Television Champion Krusher Khruschev (Submission, 3:38)
After the match Krusher Khruschev continues to hold on to the backbreaker well past the bell before finally letting Poffo go.
Back at the announce position Jim Ross wraps this week’s show and hypes next week’s card before signing off, bringing yet another exciting edition of Mid-South Wrestling to a close!
Final Thoughts
This is, yet again, another fast-paced, story-driven hour of Mid-South Wrestling!
The star of the hour is, hands down, the segments dealing with the wild Rock ‘N’ Roll Express/Midnight Express feud. Cornette’s promos are gold and action we see is on a whole other level.
It’s also interesting to see a World Class angle (Stella Mae) play out on Mid-South TV, something we don’t get to see all that often.
The rest of the action is good to great, including the odd Ito/King affair, and the promos are solid.
If you’re looking for some great old-school rasslin’ than this hour of Mid-South Wrestling is for you! Who knows, you may end up liking 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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