This week Throwback Thursday returns to Bill Watts’ beloved Mid-South territory for another incredible edition of Mid-South Wrestling, as seen on the WWE Network and Peacock, that aired 42 years ago this month!
Since taking over the bulk of the territory from Leroy McGuirk in 1979, Bill Watts had turned Mid-South into one of the most successful territories in the sport.
By late summer 1982, Bill Watts had finally unified the former Tri-State Wrestling territory, gaining full control over pro wrestling in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Watts’ syndicated Mid-South Wrestling had slowly become one of the highest-rated programs in the territory, often out performing prime time programming on the three broadcast networks.
Six weeks before this edition of Mid-South Wrestling aired Bill Watts ran a near-record setting event at the New Orleans Superdome, drawing some 22,800 fans to a card that included Andre the Giant thrashing Killer Khan and Ted DiBiase going to war with Junkyard Dog.
The house show tour coming out of the event was one of the most successful and lucrative in the promotion’s history.
This was thanks, in small part, to Watt’s strategic partnerships within the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and beyond. Watts, a non-member in good standing, had forged professional relationships with some of the most important promoters (and bookers) in the cartel.
From Vincent J. McMahon, Sr., (New York) to the Von Erichs (Dallas) to Jerry Jarrett (Memphis) to Eddie Graham (Tampa) to Ole Anderson (Atlanta), Bill Watts had formed a unique network of partnerships that not only expanded awareness of the Mid-South brand but provided Watts’ territory with fresh, hungry talent eager to learn in front of a rabid, no-nonsense fan base.
Of all of Watts’ connections, however, it was his partnership with renowned Houston promoter Paul Boesch that truly elevated and expanded the reach of Mid-South Wrestling.
While Watts would end up supplying the bulk of the talent for Boesch’s events at the legendary Sam Houston Coliseum, Paul Boesch would help secure television clearance for Watts’ weekly Mid-South Wrestling program in Houston, greatly expanding Watts’ syndication footprint.
Things began to change, however, in June 1982 when Vince McMahon, Sr., agreed to sell his World Wrestling Federation (WWF) territory to his son, Vincent K. McMahon.
Though the younger McMahon was willing to honor past agreements and talent sharing pacts in the moment, distrust in the younger McMahon’s true motives and intentions was growing.
At a time when cable television was beginning to destroy the NWA’s carefully manicured territory system and long-standing promoters were falling by the wayside, a sense of unease permeated the air.
For Bill Watts, a fighter and survivor by nature, the coming challenges presented new opportunities and new avenues of growth heretofore unimaginable. And with a stacked roster, a dedicated fan base, realistic booking, and massive syndication footprint, Bill Watts was ready to face the future.
The top story in Mid-South the week this edition of Mid-South Wrestling aired was the continued feud between North American Heavyweight Champion Ted DiBiase and Tag Team Champion Junkyard Dog, who was refusing to wrestle on TV until a rematch with DiBiase was signed.
Other top stories included DiBiase & Jim Duggan’s aim to wrest the Tag Team titles from JYD & Mr. Olympia as well as Skandor Akbar’s long running war with with “Col.” Buck Robley.
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 in 2024!
Edits for this edition of Mid-South Wrestling are not an issue on the WWE Network and Peacock. Context, meanwhile, is solid. The bulk of Mid-South Wrestling, dating back to December 12, 1981, is available for to enjoy right now on the WWE Network and Peacock!
Mid-South Wrestling #154 (WATCH)
Date: August 21, 1982 (TAPED: Aug. 18, 1982) – Location: Irish McNeil Boys Club, Shreveport, Louisiana
Attendance: N/A – TV Ratings: N/A
Commentators: Boyd Pierce & Bill Watts – Interviews: Boyd Pierce & Bill Watts
IN POP CULTURE:
Number One Song: “Eye Of The Tiger” (Survivor)
Number One Album: Mirage (Fleetwood Mac)
Number One on Television: Filthy Rich (CBS)
Number One Film in Theaters: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, & Drew Barrymore)
U.S. President & Vice President: Ronald Reagan & George H.W. Bush
CHAMPIONS AT THE TIME:
NWA World Heavyweight Champion: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (September 17, 1981, Kansas City, Missouri, from “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes; Lou Thesz was guest referee for this bout)
Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion: Ted DiBiase (June 26, 1982, Mid-South Wrestling, taped June 23, 1982, from Junkyard Dog; this was a “no disqualification match)
Mid-South Tag Team Champions: Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia (May 5, 1982, Jackson, Mississippi, from The Samoans (Afa & Sika))
Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Champion: Killer Khan (July 6, 1982, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Khan won the vacant title in a one-night tournament; the title was vacated after then-Champion Junkyard Dog won the North American Heavyweight title; specifics on the tournament or whom Khan defeated in the finals are unknown at this time)
Mid-South Mississippi Heavyweight Champion: Mr. Olympia (January 23, 1982, Mid-South Wrestling, taped January 20, 1982, from Bob Orton, Jr.)
Following the standard Mid-South Wrestling open we head to the announce position in the Irish McNeil Boys Club where Boyd Pierce, with “Cowboy” Bill Watts, welcomes fans to the show, giving us a rundown of the card to come.
Pierce then tosses to Bill Watts who, after commending Grizzly Smith for the quality of this week’s card, talks about “Precious” Paul Ellering re-injuring his knee (for the third time) and how the injury may well spell the end of Ellering’s career.
Watts then turns to the “jockeying” behind the scenes between Grizzly Smith, North American Heavyweight Champion Ted DiBiase, and Junkyard Dog. JYD, Watts reminds us, has refused to wrestle on television for the last three weeks to protest DiBiase’s refusal to give JYD a title rematch.
DiBiase claims that he has already successfully defended the title against JYD. In order for JYD to earn another title show, though, DiBiase is demanding that JYD & Mr. Olympia must defend the Tag Team titles against DiBiase & “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan on TV.
Finally, Watts tells us (to make a long story short), Grizzly Smith has persuaded JYD to to defend the title here this week with the understanding that if JYD & Mr. Olympia successfully defend the title here today that JYD will receive another shot at the DiBiase for the North American Heavyweight title on Mid-South TV.
Watts then talks about this week’s Louisiana Heavyweight title bout between Champion “Killer” Khan and “Iron” Mike Sharpe, saying that despite the match being a “standby match” that doesn’t make it any less important than the others, that it’s just Grizzly Smith trying to give fans the best TV matches possible.
This week’s first match, Watts says, is going to be a great one featuring the Mid-South TV debut of Kevin Von Erich. Watts talks about the Von Erich wrestling family, comparing it to the Gagnes, Funks, and Grahams. Watts says he’s never seen a wrestling dynasty quite like the Von Erich dynasty before tossing to the ring for this week’s opening bout.
—Singles Match (3:09)
Billy “The Star Child” Starr vs. Kevin Von Erich
This marked Kevin Von Erich’s Mid-South debut. The match, as one might suspect, is a fast-paced squash.
Billy Starr is, for the most part, the perfect opponent for Kevin’s debut bout, making Kevin Von Erich look like a true rising star.
After a short feeling out process Kevin springs on Starr, using his speed and athleticism to take Starr down. Back on their feet Starr tries to slow Kevin down with an armbar but Kevin easily escapes to drop Starr with a beautiful dropkick.
Though Starr is game, he is no match for Von Erich, who grounds Starr with a modified Indian deathlock. Soon enough the pair hook up for an old school test of strength that Kevin, after easily driving Starr to his knees, escapes with a high dropkick.
Starr fights out of an armbar and pushes Kevin to the corner where Starr tries to cool Kevin’s momentum with a few cheap shots. This only serves to anger Kevin, who comes storming back in typical Von Erich fashion.
Kevin hurls Starr into the corner and delivers a running splash/knee to Starr before dishing out a hard bodyslam. In a flash Kevin hits the ropes and lands a high running body splash for the pinfall win at 3:17.
WINNER is Kevin Von Erich (Pin, 3:17)
Following the match we head to our first Peacock ad-break of the hour with a slow-motion replay of the finish.
—Mid-South Tag Team Championship – “Tag Team Grudge Match” (8:02)
North American Heavyweight Champion Ted DiBiase & “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan vs. Junkyard Dog & Mississippi Heavyweight Champion Mr. Olympia(c)
As Bill Watts explained earlier in the hour, if JYD & Mr. Olympia can successfully defend the titles in this bout then JYD will earn himself a televised North American title match with Ted DiBiase at a later date.
As this one gets going, with JYD getting the better of Duggan, Bill Watts expertly recaps the JYD/DiBiase saga and clearly lays out the stakes in this match.
JYD continues to frustrate Duggan, who tries (and fails) to tag in a reluctant DiBiase, before Mr. Olympia enters the match. Olympia quickly gets the better of Duggan. After a flying head scissors Duggan manages to make the tag to DiBiase.
DiBiase and Olympia do the ol’ criss-cross before Olympia turns a DiBiase powerslam attempt into a near-fall. An angry DiBiase runs into a pair of hip tosses and a slam before Olympia makes the fast tag to JYD.
DiBiase, seeing the tag, quickly retreats to his corner where he all but forces the tag to Duggan. JYD works Duggan’s arm until DiBiase illegal enters the ring, distracting Dog and giving Duggan to opening to floor JYD with a stiff forearm shot.
The heels try to work over JYD but Dog, seeing DiBiase tag in, comes roaring back. JYD goes after DiBiase, who retreats yet again to his corner to tag a tiring Duggan back in as JYD tags Olympia.
The Champions, employing quick tags, take the fight to Duggan before DiBiase (on the apron) lands a knee to Dog’s kidneys, stopping Dog cold.
The heels work over JYD with high impact maneuvers and quick tags. DiBiase fights off a Dog rally before tagging in Duggan, who cannot prevent Dog from tagging Olympia back in.
Olympia is a ball of fire, taking the fight to Duggan as DiBiase illegally enters the ring. All four men are in the ring now as the referee tries to gain control.
Duggan & DiBiase try to ram the Champions together but Olympia turns the tide, ramming Duggan into JYD’s head! Dog drops DiBiase with an atomic drop that drives DiBiase to his corner.
As the referee gets JYD out of the ring a weary Olympia reaches for the tag. But, as Olympia and Dog make the tag, Duggan waylays Olympia from behind, driving Olympia into Dog, who falls hard to the floor.
The heels, unaware of the tag, continue to focus on Olympia. After a slam Duggan tags DiBiase back in. DiBiase powerslams Olympia and cinches in the figure-four as JYD gets to his feet on the floor.
Dog breaks up the figure-four before cracking Duggan with a headbutt that leaves Duggan loopy. In a flash JYD whips DiBiase into the ropes and delivers the Thump powerslam for the 1-2-3 at 7:18 to retain the Mid-South Tag Team Championship.
WINNERS and STILL Mid-South Tag Team Champions, Junkyard Dog & Mississippi Heavyweight Champion Mr. Olympia (Pin, 7:18)
After the match the Champions leave the ring and celebrate as Duggan & DiBiase look on in utter disbelief. We then head to the next Peacock ad-break with a slow-motion replay of the finish.
—Singles Match (17:40)
Tug Taylor vs. “Capt. Redneck” Dick Murdoch
Dick Murdoch’s entrance music, “The Marine’s Hymn” (by The Goldman Band and from the Full Metal Jacket soundtrack), is intact and unedited here. Tug Taylor, laying the disrespectful heel, holds his hands over his ears as “Capt. Redneck” makes his way to the ring.
Taylor starts hot, backing Murdoch into the near corner where Tug attempts to take the fight to Murdoch. Murdoch, though, easily fights out of the corner and, after delivering a stiff bodyslam, ground Taylor with a side headlock.
As Murdoch opens up on Taylor, Bill Watts recaps the North American title picture coming out of the prior bout and hypes Dick Murdoch’s North American title match with Champion Ted DiBiase that is booked for next week’s edition of Mid-South Wrestling.
Eventually Tug Taylor fights out of another Murdoch side headlock and makes a strong rally, backing Murdoch into the corner where he delivers a slew of shots. In a flash, however, Murdoch lands a shot to Taylor’s gut and a pair of uppercuts to Tug’s jaw that staggers the bigger Taylor.
Murdoch lands a few more heavy shots before dropkicking Taylor in the mouth. After a reverse elbow, and some mugging for the crowd, Murdoch hits his patented brain buster for the pinfall at 2:30.
WINNER is “Capt. Redneck” Dick Murdoch (Pin, 2:30)
Following the match Murdoch celebrates as we head to the next Peacock ad-break with a slow-motion replay of the finish.
—Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Championship (21:32)
“Iron” Mike Sharpe vs. “Killer” Khan(c) w/Skandor Akbar
Skandor Akbar had been trying to get even with Mike Sharpe after taking a pair of Sharpe’s piledrivers on Mid-South Wrestling.
Akbar had successfully fought to have the ban on the piledriver lifted before training with One Man Gang & “Killer” Khan to develop his own piledriver.
Mike Shapes, their intended first victim, beat Akbar to the punch, piledriving Akbar the first time. The very next week, with Khan by his side, Akbar ate the second Sharpe piledriver.
This one is even to start, with both wrestlers testing the other’s strength. Sharpe turns a Greco-Roman knuckle lock into an armbar, but Khan, with a handful of hair, pushes Sharpe into the ropes where Khan breaks the armbar and delivers a cheap shot to Sharpe’s mid-section.
Khan works a front face lock that Sharpe turns into a standing armbar. Khan eventually gets to his feet and again backs Sharpe into the ropes where Khan kicks Shape in the knee. Khan continues to target Sharpe’s knee, selling the arm all the while.
Khan tries grounding Sharpe with a modified ankle hold but Sharpe fights his way free and to his feet. Sharpe returns to Khan’s arm with a vengeance, tearing at the arm and stomping on Khan’s hand.
Khan tries to get a rally going but misses a running elbow drop. Sharpe opens up on Khan then as a worried Akbar flirts with interfering. Sharpe runs into a low knee from Khan and takes a knee drop before evading a second.
Akbar makes his move then, distracting Sharpe and giving Khan the opening to waylay Sharpe. In a flash Khan drops Sharpe with a double throat thrust and, after a slam, lands the knee drop from the second rope.
Rather than complete the three-count, Khan listens to Akbar, choosing to go for the piledriver instead of the pin. Khan agrees and goes for the piledriver three times before Sharpe back flips his way free.
Sharpe pulls Akbar into the ring and slams him, sending the referee to the floor, before stomping away at Akbar. Khan attacks Sharpe from behind, though, and holds Sharpe for Akbar to wail away on.
As Akbar goes to town on Sharpe, Col. Buck Robley rushes to the ring to make the save. Robley flattens Akbar, sending Akbar to the floor before Khan sends Robley to the floor.
Khan turns his attention back to Sharpe, lifting the challenger for a bodyslam. Sharpe puts on the brakes, though, and catches Khan in an inside cradle. The referee makes his way back to the ring in time to count the pinfall at 7:27 to give “Iron” Mike Sharpe his lone Louisiana Heavyweight title, ending Khan’s lone reign at 46 days.
WINNER and NEW Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Champion, “Iron” Mike Sharpe (Pin, 7:27)
After the match Mike Sharpe & Buck Robley celebrate Sharpe’s title win on the floor as Akbar & Khan look on in shock from the ring. As the crowd cheers on Sharpe & Robley we head to the next Peacock ad-break with replay of the small package finish.
—Singles Match (30:58)
Mike Bond vs. Mr. Wrestling II
Mike Bond is no match for Wrestling II. Despite Bond’s best efforts Wrestling II easily controls the action from the start, grounding Bond with a wrist lock armbar. Wrestling II continues to work Bond’s arm, using Bond’s over-zealousness against him.
Eventually Mike Bond lands a sneaky elbow to Wrestling II and makes a strong rally. Bond lands a backbreaker but is unable to score even a one-count before Wrestling II is trying to get to his feet. In his haste to score the upset Bond goes after Wrestling II’s mask, setting the explosive II off.
Wrestling II opens up on Bond, landing a flurry of stiff looking forearms before landing a back body drop out of the corner. As Bond gets to his feet Wrestling II, like a confident matador, sets up for his famed running knee lift, dropping Bond with the knee to score the three-count at 3:23.
WINNER is Mr. Wrestling II (Pin, 3:23)
Following the match Mr. Wrestling II celebrates his win as we head to the next Peacock ad-break with a slow-motion replay of the finish.
Coming out of the break we return to the ring where ring announcer Reisor Bowden introduces the next “special challenge” match featuring One Man Gang against Buck Robley.
Just before the bell rings, however, Skandor Akbar, clad in wrestling trunks, hits the ring. Akbar tells Robley that their feud has come to the Mid-South area, and that it’s Akbar or Robley, that Robley has stuck his nose “where it doesn’t belong”.
Akbar says he’s been accused of hiding behind his men, but “like all great generals” Akbar has to do what he’s got to do. Robley forgets that Akbar was once the North American Heavyweight Champion “for a long time” and was once a “great wrestler”.
Akbar could have One Man Gang whip Buck Robley but Akbar says he’s going to do it himself. Akbar calls Robley yellow and officially lays down the challenge to fight Robley.
Robley tells Akbar that all Akbar has to do is ask and Robley is ready to fight. Akbar agrees and tells Gang to leave he ring as Reisor Bowden announces that Akbar is wrestling in Gang’s place.
—“Special Challenge Grudge Match” (35:14)
Skandor Akbar (sub. for The One Man Gang) vs. Col. Buck Robley
Before One Man Gang is out even out of the ring or the referee can call for the bell Skandor Akbar is across the ring, jump starting the bout.
Akbar is all over Robley, whipping Robley into the far corner. Suddenly Robley finds an opening, delivering some of the best, tightest punches you’ll ever see, and floors Akbar.
Just then One Man Gang gets on the apron to interfere. As Robley pounds on Gang, however, Akbar sets up a fireball. As Robley turns Skandor Akbar throws the fire just as Robley throws a dropkick that both deflects the fire and puts Akbar on his can.
As Robley goes after Akbar the One Man Gang enters the ring to save Akbar. Before Gang can even touch Robley, though, the referee calls for the bell at :40-seconds, disqualifying Akbar.
WINNER is Col. Buck Robley (Disqualification, 0:40)
As the bell rings Robley fights off Gang as Akbar gets to his feet. But as Robley goes after Akbar, “Killer” Khan joins the fray and, with Gang, swarms Buck Robley.
The heels beat the snort out of Robley with Akbar & Khan holding Robley down as Gang drops a series of heavy elbow drops on Robley.
Suddenly Dick Murdoch, Mike Sharpe, & Mr. Wrestling II hit the ring to make the save as the heels take a powder. As the heels depart Mike Sharpe tends to the injured Robley as Murdoch & Wrestling II keep eyes on the heels.
We then head to our final Peacock ad-break of the hour with a slow-motion replay of Akbar trying to burn Robley with a fireball.
Coming out of the break we head to the interview location where Bill Watts announces that Grizzly Smith told Watts that there is not enough time to air the scheduled standby match between Jesse Barr and Vinnie Romero.
With the time running short, though, Watts thought it would be a good opportunity to interview Jim Duggan & North American Heavyweight Champion Ted DiBiase about the title picture in the wake of their loss to JYD & Mr. Olympia earlier in the hour.
Watts asks DiBiase about having to give JYD a title match in the wake of the loss but DiBiase calls the match the “biggest rip-off that ever came down the pike”, that JYD wasn’t the legal man and that DiBiase had Olympia beat Olympia with the figure-four leglock.
Not only did the referee let JYD back in the ring to beat on him DiBiase says, but he allowed JYD to “thump” him for the three-count, calling it a “conspiracy”.
Second, DiBiase says, is that as Champion DiBiase is only “obligated” to defend the title once every thirty days. Next week “they” are sending Dick Murdoch “after” DiBiase, he says, and that if it’s not JYD it’s that “crazy” Buck Robley.
DiBiase accuses Mid-South of “stacking the deck” against him because they want “get rid” of DiBiase and protect JYD like “they’ve always protected” JYD.
But DiBiase tells Murdoch to show up next week with all his redneck charm to face DiBiase with everything Murdoch’s got because “this time” DiBiase isn’t “the rookie” or “the pupil”, DiBiase is the North American Heavyweight Champion and DiBiase plans to teach Murdoch “a lesson”.
Watts cuts in to say that they didn’t call DiBiase down to the interview location for a “promotional tour” of himself but to talk about the situation with JYD and what both DiBiase & Duggan call an “illegal decision”.
DiBiase & Duggan again argue the particulars of the finish, that Olympia never tagged JYD and that Olympia submitted. DiBiase then demands and impartial referee, a wrestler that is “respected around the world”, and DiBiase doesn’t care who it is, for the title bout with JYD. And DiBiase wants the referee to referee that match right here on TV at the Irish McNeil Boys Club.
The film, Watts says, will show whether DiBiase’s “gripe” is “legitimate or not” and we’ll just “have to see”. Boyd Pierce then wraps the show and tosses to the show-closing credits to bring another exciting edition of Mid-South Wrestling to close!
Final Thoughts
This is yet another fun, action-packed, story driven edition of Mid-South Wrestling!
The matches we see are all good to great, particularly the Tag Team title bout and the Louisiana title match between Killer Khan and Mike Sharpe. Even the squash matches are good wrestling matches worth watching. Everything in this hour has a meaning and a purpose, advancing key stories simultaneously.
The show-closing promo from Ted DiBiase, 28 years old at the time, is another classic from DiBiase that further illustrates the natural greatness of DiBiase.
From the matches to the stories to the commentary (another great hour from Bill Watts here) to the promos, this is just about as perfect an edition of Mid-South Wrestling as there is. While it may not be an all-time classic hour, it exemplifies what set Mid-South apart from nearly every other territory running at the time.
So what are you waiting for? If you’re looking for some good ol’ fashioned rasslin’ action this hour Of Mid-South Wrestling is just what the rasslin’ doctor ordered! 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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