Memphis Wrestling, 1983: Long Live The King!!

[tucking fypo]

Death of the Territories
I’m trying my hand one last time with the DOTT mod. I had trouble converting DOTT from TEW 2016 to TEW 2020 so this will likely be my last new save on TEW 2016 before getting into the recently released TEW 2020 and getting acquainted with all of the new features.

I am the head booker for the Championship Wrestling Association, commonly referred to as the “Memphis area”, and home to the King, Jerry Lawler, who helped thrust Memphis Wrestling into the national spotlight in July 1982 with his appearance alongside Andy Kaufman on Late Night with David Letterman. CWA is loaded with young talent and charismatic managers but also has an experienced roster that is heel heavy, waiting to play spoils to Lawler’s success, though not many are known outside the Southeast region.

The Game World
Rankings of companies in America. Global ranking in parentheses.
1. WCCW (2nd)
2. MACW (3rd)
3. GCW (4th)
4. CWF (8th)
5. WWF (9th)
6. MSW (11th)
7. AWA(13th)
8. SWCW (15th)
9. CWA (16th)
10. PNW (18th)
11. CSW (20th)
12. WWC (23rd)
13. WWA (25th)
14. SECW (26th)

--CMLL is currently the #1 company in the world.

--It certainly is a steep hill to climb to even be in the US top three and I’ve never stayed with a game long enough to jump two levels, in this case, from regional to national. Our starting prestige is 30.0 and momentum is 82.5. CWA has its highest popularity in the Southeast at 70. All of the other regions are no higher than 30. I will try to remember to update the popularity at the end of each month.

--CWA has a TV show on Saturdays and an event on Mondays. There will be a big event on the last Thursday of each month. These big events were not common in Memphis at the time. I went ahead and upped the production values to high quality, broadcast quality to industry standard and music to licensed to avoid any potential penalties.

--CWA is not involved in any alliance but has working agreements with the AWA, Central States, and Southeastern. A non-aggression pact has been agreed upon with WWC. The alliance deal struck me as odd. CWA’s primary titles are AWA and NWA named. If the ball can get rolling, the title belt names will be strictly CWA, maybe through a title unification.

--Lastly, I might add a TV title down the road to give the midcard and lower guys some exposure, though CWA wasn’t big on TV titles. The CWA was actually NWA-affiliated through 1986 but I’m not messing with that. It will be tough enough trying to get to cult popularity.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Title Roll Call
AWA Southern Heavyweight – 92 prestige
Austin Idol, 2 time champion, Nov 1982 to present

AWA Southern Tag Team – 60 prestige
The Sheepherders, Dec 1982 to present

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight – 60 prestige
Sabu the Wildman, Nov 1982 to present

Here is a list of the CWA roster in January 1983. All are on pay-per-appearance contracts. I list the age and contract simply as a point of reference when going into contract negotiations with new workers.

Main Eventers
Jerry Lawler, 33 y/o, $1850/app, face
Austin Idol, 33, $1300, heel
Dutch Mantell, 33, $1300, heel
Jacques Rougeau, 22, $1200, heel
Porkchop Cash, 33, $1200, heel
Moondog Spot, 30, $1000, heel

Upper Midcarders
Norvell Austin, 34 y/o, $800, heel
Ray Candy, 31, $900, heel
Ricky Morton, 26, $1300, face
Jonathan Boyd, 39, $900, heel
Luke Williams, 35, $800, heel
Moondog Rex, 32, $1300, heel

Midcarders
Steve Keirn, 31 y/o, $1000/app, face
Phil Hickerson, 37, $700, heel
Leroy Brown, 32, $700, heel
Troy Graham, 33, $700, heel
Roger Smith, 36, $800, heel
Bobby Eaton, 24, $900, face
Bobby Fulton, 22, $600, face
Don Bass, 37, $800, heel
Sabu the Wildman, 37, $1000, heel
Stan Lane, 24, $1000, face
Randy Savage, 30, $2100, heel
Robert Gibson, 24, $1100, face

Lower Midcarders
Lord Humongous, 27 y/o, $600/app, heel
Adrian Street, 42, $1100, heel
King Cobra, 36, $600, heel
Barry Horowitz, 22, $600, heel
Lanny Poffo, 28, $800, heel

Openers
Rick Gibson, 27 y/o, $500/app, face
Koko Ware, 25, $800, face
Terry Taylor, 27, $900, face
Carl Fergie, 29, $600, heel

Enhancement Talent
Wayne Farris, 29 y/o, $900, heel
Norman Frederick Charles, 36, $1000, heel

Managers
Angelo Poffo, 57 y/o, $900/app, heel
Jimmy Hart, 38, $1400, heel
Jim Cornette, 21, $1900, heel
Jackie Fargo, 54, $1400, face
Miss Linda, 35, $700, heel
JJ Dillon, 40, $600, heel

Announcer/Color
Lance Russell, 56 y/o, $1700/app
Dave Brown, 42, $900

Referees
Jerry Calhoun, 32 y/o, $1400/app
Paul Morton, 54, $500

Personalities
Eddie Marlin, 53 y/o, $900/app
Tojo Yamamoto, 55, $900
Andy Kaufman, 33, $1000

Road Agent
Jerry Jarrett, 40 y/o, $1500/app

--Andy is an interesting case. He has a broken neck, presumably from a Lawler piledriver, and is out for the next 13 months. It would make sense to just fire him. His contract stipulates he is not to be involved in any in-ring work. However, his color announcing rating is 80 and he is a positive influence in the locker room. He will likely work alongside or in place of Dave Brown during events.

--Jackie Fargo is another question mark. He is currently set managing and is a mentor to Steve Keirn, one half of the Fabulous Ones. He also has loyalty to Jarrett and Lawler and is a locker room leader. I will likely keep him around to counter some of the negativity, such as Idol and Savage, either as a personality or road agent alongside Jarrett.

[tucking fypo]

Tag Teams
Rock ‘n’ Roll Express – Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson

The Sheepherders – Jonathan Boyd and Luke Williams

The Fabulous Ones – Steve Keirn and Stan Lane

The Moondogs – Spot and Rex

Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware

The Interns – Don Bass and Roger Smith

Ray Candy and Leroy Brown

This is a deep tag team division. I will use Eaton and Ware in both tag action and singles frequently. If I decide to use Ricky Morton in singles more than the RnR Express, the Gibson Brothers, Rick and Robert, can put on C matches and above with their experience.

According to our Creative Team,
Franchise Players are Jerry Lawler, Dutch Mantell, Austin Idol, Jacques Rougeau, and Moondog Rex

The Hottest Prospects are Stan Lane, Bobby Eaton, Koko Ware, Robert Gibson, and Terry Taylor

The Showstoppers are Randy Savage, Ricky Morton, Stan Lane, Jerry Lawler, and Robert Gibson.

--My goal in the first few weeks is to build up the bank. CWA starts out with $100,000. Due to improving production values, we will start our first show with $85,000. The Monday night shows in the Southeast region will probably be sellouts, so that will help. The Great Lakes or Mid-South region will be our target areas in order to get to cult status and written contracts. Building up our bank accounts will be key as owner Jerry Jarrett may cap or block potential offers. Jarrett’s goals will be given to me on Tuesday, after our first event the night before.

--I check the list of unemployed workers who have some recognition in the Southeast and Mid-South regions and extend offers to the following workers: Lou Winston, Wendell Cooley, and Rip Rogers. An offer is made to another Memphis mainstay, Bill Dundee. That will strengthen the main event face scene if Jerry Jarrett approves the offer.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 1, January 1983
Memphis, TN: Mid-South Coliseum
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

--Lance Russell interviews Jimmy Hart to open the show. Hart hypes the Moondogs, and gives a stern warning to the Fabulous Ones and his desire to bring the tag team titles back to the First Family. (C, 65)

--Adrian Street, accompanied by Miss Linda, hypes his upcoming match with Rick Gibson. (D-, 51)

--Adrian Street w/Miss Linda def. Rick Gibson in 7:28 by pinfall. (C+, 69) After his victory, Street prances around the ring and taunts Gibson. (C, 65)

--Jim Cornette is interviewed by Lance Russell and announces that he is scouting talent and is prepared to make offers to several wrestlers for his managerial services. Russell rolls his eyes as Cornette explains how his Momma in Louisville, Kentucky, would be disappointed if he fails to get the best that Memphis has to offer. (C, 64)

--Jacques Rougeau gives a promo, hyping his match later in the evening against Jerry Lawler. (D-, 51)

--Randy Savage def. Terry Taylor in 5:41 by pinfall following a flying elbow drop. (C+, 68) Savage looked good.

--Ricky Morton is interviewed by Dave Brown and explains that he would usually be teaming with his tag team partner, Robert Gibson, but could not turn down the opportunity to wrestle Austin Idol for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in the main event. He thanks promoter Eddie Marlin for the opportunity. (D+, 58)

--The Fabulous Ones, Steve Keirn and Stan Lane, come out for a promo challenging the Moondogs or anyone in the First Family to a match anywhere, anytime. Keirn and Lane also warn the Sheepherders that they have not forgotten about them and want the Southern Tag Titles back around their waist. (C+, 68)

--The Fabulous Ones def. Ray Candy and Norvell Austin by pinfall in 10:03 when Keirn pinned Austin. (C+, 67)

--Jerry Lawler cuts a promo running down Jimmy Hart and the First Family. Lawler ends his interview by challenging Austin Idol for his heavyweight title and says he will do whatever it takes to win back his title. (B-, 72)

--Jerry Lawler def. Jacques Rougeau in 17:38 by pinfall following a piledriver. (C+, 69)

--Lance Russell interviews current AWA Southern champion, Austin Idol, who says that Lawler does not deserve another chance at the belt. Nonetheless, Idol accepts the challenge and tells Lawler his opportunities to challenge for the title are running out. (B, 80)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Austin Idol w/ Jimmy Hart def. Ricky Morton in 17:26 by submission with the Las Vegas Leglock. (B-, 72) Morton looked good. Idol makes his first defense of the Southern title.

Show rating: B-, 72

Post-show Notes
--Barry Horowitz and Carl Fergie were both wasted on drugs and in no condition to work. Both were fined. Fergie improved his behavior as a result.

--Norvell Austin thinks that Terry Taylor doesn’t connect with fans and has little upside. As long as he doesn’t have a rooster gimmick, he’ll be okay.

--Jacques Rougeau is exhausted because of his grueling schedule.

--Adrian Street thinks he would be better off without Miss Linda as his manager and valet. I moved Miss Linda, his wife, to a personality.

--Paul Morton, father to Ricky Morton, was also reassigned as a Personality. Some of the road agent notes said that his refereeing was not very good. That could have affected some of the match grades. Obviously, if I fired him that would create tension with his son. Ricky has enormous upside and he will pushed hard as part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express or as a singles competitor as the plucky underdog. Morton has been money in every 80’s mod I’ve played on TEW.

Weekly News

CWA owner, Jerry Jarrett, has given me five goals. The first two are the most critical.

1. CWA gains popularity in America within the next two years.

2. CWA cannot fall below regional level within the next two years.

3. I cannot hire or extend the contract of anyone with an industry reputation of 35 or less.

4. I cannot hire or extend the contract of anyone with less than 35 athletic ability.

5. I cannot hire or extend the contract of anyone with less than 35 stamina.

--I fire Tommy Gilbert, JJ Dillon, and Frank Morrell. I reassign Angelo Poffo from personality to manager of both Lanny Poffo and Randy Savage.

--I am also considering offering Tommy Rich and Eddie Gilbert contracts, as both have name recognition in the Memphis area. Rich would have conflicts on Thursdays and Saturdays and is working for both Southeast Wrestling and Georgia. Gilbert would be available on Mondays but not on Thursdays or Saturdays. He is currently working for the WWF and Maple Leaf. I will hold off on offering them right now.

--Mid-Atlantic has made an offer to Steve Keirn.

--Cooley ($840/app), Winston ($500/app), Rogers ($900/app), and Dundee ($1280/app) all accept my offers. I am the only company that Cooley, Winston, and Rogers work for. Dundee works for Mid-South and is available on the nights we have shows. The creative team thinks that Wildcat Cooley is a main eventer. I will throw him into a feud with Adrian Street and recreate some of the great moments they had in CCW.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 1, Jan 1983
Jackson, TN: Oman Arena
5,000 (Sell Out)

Pre-show match
--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. Wayne Farris and Troy Graham in 4:55. Eaton pinned Farris after delivering an Alabama Jam. (B-, 71)

--Lance Russell starts the show by interviewing Jimmy Hart. Hart hypes the First Family and their future dominance in the CWA. Hart calls out Lawler and the Fabulous Ones, saying they better watch their backs. (C+, 69) Russell then interviews Austin Idol. Idol blisters Lawler, claiming he is a phony that will be exposed for everyone to see. Idol says that Lawler may not even make it to the River Rumble later in the month to even challenge for the title. (B, 82)

--Wildcat Wendell Cooley def. King Cobra in 6:27 via a Wildcat Slam. (C, 60) After the match, Cooley meets Adrian Street as he is on his way to the dressing room as Street comes out for an interview. They have words and almost come to blows. Street then pokes fun at the “Cowboy” in the last match and says no self-respecting Brit would ever dress like that (C, 61)

--Dave Brown interviews Jim Cornette and asks him how his “talent search” is going. Cornette says he is close to offering his managerial services to two wrestlers. Brown asks which two and Cornette tells him to shut up and mind his own business. (C-, 57)

--Bill Dundee def. Phil Hickerson in 7:18 via a small package. (B-, 72) Dundee and Hickerson showed great chemistry. Dundee is interviewed by Lance Russell after the match. Dundee says its great to be back in Tennessee and thanks the fans for their support. (C+, 64)

--Randy Savage def. Rick Gibson in 6:36 with a flying elbow drop. (B-, 71) Savage looked good. After the match, Savage takes the mic from Lance Russell and says he is being overlooked. Savage puts the entire roster on notice. (B, 82)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Sheepherders def. The Fantastics in 6:54 when Jonathan Boyd pinned Bobby Fulton. (C, 63) The Sheepherders make their first title defense. Boyd and Williams showed excellent chemistry teaming together. Boyd was off his game. After the match, the Sheepherders challenge the Fabulous Ones to come out and see what real men look like. The Fabulous Ones run out and a brawl between the two teams ensue. Several workers emerge from the back to break the teams up. (C-, 54)

--Austin Idol comes out to the announce desk and reminds fans about how Lawler will be beaten easily in their upcoming match. Idol says he will remain with Russell and Brown for Lawler’s upcoming match. (B, 80)

--Jerry Lawler def. Rip Rogers in 15:54 with a piledriver. (B-, 71) After the match, Lawler is attacked by members of Hart’s First Family, the Moondogs and Idol, much to the disgust of Russell and Brown. Lawler is left a bloody mess after the attack when the Moondogs attacked Lawler with Moondog Spot’s bone. Idol then adds insult to injury by applying the Las Vegas Leglock. (C+, 68)

Show rating: B-, 75

[tucking fypo]

Post Show Notes
--Our first TV show draws 163,000 viewers and a 0.21 rating. I have deals with seven stations over the United States. Many are very small and on in graveyard so the popularity jump will be very minimal. I have three month deals with all except WMC-TV out of Memphis.

--I received a road agent note saying that Moondog Spot is not suitable for his gimmick. His gimmick is literally “Moondog” and is rated very good. This may be one time I go to the editor and fix this. The “Monster” gimmick would be satisfactory but…..he’s a Moondog. Oddly, he could be a “Rapper” or an “Ass Man” and not draw any penalty from it. I’ll stick with Moondog.

--Rip Rogers is exhausted. He apparently has a grueling schedule though I’m his only employer. The promotion product could be a reason as match intensity is high.

--I have to get Lawler an interview segment on every show. I missed it on this TV show. He is rated 100 on the mic.

News
--Jesse Ventura has been fired from New Japan. I ask for negotiations with The Body. He wants $2500/appearance. Jerry Jarrett caps me out at $2200. No go.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 2, Jan 1983
Mid-South Coliseum: Memphis, TN
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre-show match
--Lanny Poffo def. Rick Gibson in 5:02 with a diving senton. (C, 59) Poffo and Gibson showed great chemistry together in the ring.

--Jerry Lawler comes out and discusses the events of this past Saturday. He promises Idol it will take more than a little blood to get rid of The King. Lawler then threatens Jimmy Hart and promises a black day for the Family soon. (B+, 83)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--Sabu the Wildman def. Bobby Fulton in 7:11 with a piledriver. (C-, 55) Sabu makes the first defense of his title. Sabu and Fulton don’t click in the ring and it showed in their performance.

--The Fabulous Ones come out and admit that the odds are against them in their battles against the Sheepherders and the Moondogs but remain focused on regaining the tag team titles. (C, 64)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. Roger Smith and Don Bass in 6:51 when Eaton pinned Smith after an Alabama Jam. (B-, 71) Smith and Bass showed excellent chemistry when teaming together. After the match, Eaton and Ware are interviewed by Lance Russell. Ware says he and Eaton respect the Fabulous Ones but tells them to not count them out of the tag title picture. (D+, 52)

--Superstar Bill Dundee comes out and again tells the audience how good it is to be back in Tennessee and hypes his upcoming match with Austin Idol. Dundee promises Idol a fight. Dutch Mantell comes out and tells Dundee that no one cares that he is back in Tennessee and that if he really wanted a fight, Dirty Dutch is the dirtiest, meanest of them all. The two have words back and forth before Lance Russell steps between them. (C, 65)

--Jerry Lawler def. Norvell Austin in 13:13 via a piledriver. (B-, 76) Lawler and Austin showed excellent chemistry.

--Randy Savage comes out and says that promoter Eddie Marlin should show him the respect he deserves and give him a title match. He claims he has proven himself over and over and will do so again in his next match. (B, 77)

--Randy Savage def. Robert Gibson in 11:10 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B, 77) After the match, Savage points to the announcer’s desk and yells at Russell to tell Marlin he wants a title shot. (B, 80)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Austin Idol w/Jimmy Hart def. Bill Dundee in 15:43 by DQ after Lawler attacked Idol following outside interference by Jimmy Hart on Dundee. (B, 79) After the match, Lawler grabs a house mic and challenges Idol to come back out and take his beating now rather than later. (B, 79)

Show Rating: B, 78

[tucking fypo]

Weekly News

--WWF has fired Captain Lou Albano but he is quickly picked up by Southwest and All Star.

--Moondog Spot has been tipped as a future star with CWA.

--It is tempting to ask Buzz Sawyer into contract negotiations. He fits the brawling, blood and guts style of the CWA. He is ultra-popular in the Southeast (88) but has the known downside of being an extremely negative influence. This would add to an already mostly heel roster.

--Jimmy Hart signs a PPA deal with ASW.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 2, Jan 1983
Owensboro Sports Center: Owensboro, KY
Attendance: 5,000 (Sell Out)

Pre-Show Match
--Koko Ware def. Barry Horowitz in 4:47 with a Bird Buster. (C, 65)

Pre-Show Promo
--Bobby Eaton and Koko cut a promo, hyping their quest for tag team gold. (C-, 56)

--Lance Russell interviews Jerry Lawler to open the show. Lawler challenges the First Family to a tag team match later in the show and doesn’t care if Austin Idol is in it or not. He picks his partner while Jimmy Hart can pick his two best. (B+, 86)

--Wendell Cooley def. Norman Frederick Charles III in 6:26 with a Wildcat Slam. (C+, 69) Cooley and Charles showed great chemistry and it made for a great bout.

--Adrian Street comes out and taunts “Cowboy” Cooley as Russell is about to announce Cooley as the winner. Cooley glares at Street from the ring throughout the interview before going to the dressing room. (C-, 54)

--Jacques Rougeau def. Rick Gibson in 6:01 with a flying elbow. (C-, 58)

--Jimmy Hart and the First Family (Idol, the Moondogs, Wayne Farris, and Troy Graham) come out and gladly accepts Lawler’s challenge. He tells Lawler that the Moondogs will gladly take up the challenge. (C, 62) Austin Idol then hypes his upcoming match with Lawler at the River Rumble. (B+, 83) Idol looked excellent out there.

--A backstage camera at the Owensboro Sports Center has caught a wild brawl between the Fabulous Ones and the Sheepherders. The brawl spills over to the ring where several wrestlers attempted to break up the two teams. (C-, 54)

--Dutch Mantell def. Tommy Rogers in 6:58 with a piledriver. (B-, 71) After the match, Mantell taunts Bill Dundee and welcomes him to Kentucky, where the men are men and the horses are scared. (C+, 68)

--Randy Savage comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. Savage calls out promoter Eddie Marlin. Marlin tells Savage he has heard enough of his complaining but will get his shot to move up the card to challenge for a title. He warns Savage to be careful what he wishes for. Savage scowls at Marlin before walking away. (C, 62)

--Lanny Poffo w/Angelo Poffo def. Terry Taylor in 4:36 with a diving senton. (C-, 54) Taylor and Poffo do not click and it showed in their performance.

--Ricky Morton def. Lou Winston in 6:04 with a missile dropkick. (C, 63) Morton looked good out there.

--Jerry Lawler comes back out and introduces his tag team partner, Bill Dundee, ahead of their match versus the Moondogs. (B, 77)

--Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee def. The Moondogs w/Jimmy Hart in 12:16 by a countout. (C+, 67) With the Moondogs in trouble and Lawler and Dundee getting the best of them, Hart ordered the Moondogs out of the ring and to the dressing room.

Show Rating: B-, 74

Show Notes
--A lackluster main event but somehow manage a B- rating. This show increased our popularity in two regions.

--Before the show, some of the workers were turned off by Bobby Fulton’s selfish behavior. I gave him a stern warning but nothing came out of it.

--Apparently, Angelo Poffo has also been showing signs of selfish behavior. I give him what amounts to a slap on the wrist because I like his sons. Nothing noteworthy came out of it.

--Jerry Lawler was brought before the Wrestler’s Court. Some of the boys didn’t like the fact that Lawler didn’t join them for drinks. Judge Jackie Fargo ordered Lawler to buy drinks for everyone at the next show.

--Dutch Mantell doesn’t think that Lou Winston “gets it” and thinks he should be cut loose. Tempting.

--Koko Ware didn’t like the fact that Barry Horowitz was clearly wasted on drugs during their match. Horowitz was fired and, predictably, has simmering tension with me.

--Bill Dundee suffered a “swivel hips” injury in the match with the Moondogs after Spot botched a move. Dundee will work his way through the injury. I will give him Monday night off.

TV rating: 0.20 (154,520 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 3, Jan 1983
Horner Hall: Hot Springs, AR
Attendance: 1,700 (1,800 capacity)

--Dutch Mantell comes out with a bullwhip and cuts a promo, demonstrating to Lance Russell how to properly use a bullwhip. He wants Bill Dundee to pay attention. (C, 61)

--Dutch Mantell def. Wendell Cooley in 12:50 with a piledriver after Cooley was distracted by Adrian Street. (B-, 71). After Cooley recovers, he is interviewed by Lance Russell. He swears vengeance on Street. (D, 44)

--Bobby Eaton def. Rip Rogers in 14:14 after an Alabama Jam. (C, 61) Eaton looked good.

--The Fabulous Ones come out and challenge the Sheepherders to a Southern tag title match at River Rumble. They want their answer on the Saturday TV show. (D+, 50)

--The Fabulous Ones def. Roger Smith and Don Bass in 10:06 when Stan Lane pinned Bass after a Savate Kick. (C, 63) Smith and Bass have excellent chemistry and it showed in their performance.

--Lance Russell interviews Jim Cornette. Cornette tells Russell he will make an official public offer to two wrestlers on this Saturday’s Championship Wrestling. (C, 63)

--Jerry Lawler cuts a backstage promo hyping his upcoming Southern Title match versus Austin Idol at River Rumble. (C+, 66)

--Jerry Lawler def. Troy Graham w/Jimmy Hart in 13:45 by pinfall. (C-, 54) Lawler and Graham didn’t click and it made for an awkward bout. So awkward, that Lawler suffered a shoulder injury. Hart did a good job at ringside.

Show Rating: C, 60

Post Show Notes
--What a stinker of a show. This was our first trip outside the Southeast region. Lawler’s injury leading up to River Rumble in 10 days is very problematic. I need him in the ring but will need to give a few days off heading into the title match. Luckily, he is still available for angles.

--Carl Fergie showed up wasted on drugs and was in no condition to work. He was fired on the spot. He did improve his behavior as a result but has simmering tension with me now. The big unintended consequence is that Lawler is furious with my decision. Fergie and Lawler are cousins.

Weekly News

--I terminate the contract of Jacques Rougeau. He just doesn’t fit here. I’m not sure he would be anything but job fodder with a negative attitude if I kept him.

--Bobby Eaton has been tapped as a future star and “one to watch”.

[JonInMiddleGA]

fwiw, I found enough here that felt completely spot on that I actually read a couple cards worth of stuff to my son (who has almost certainly played more TEW than I have at this point).

It's like me booking Georgia Championship, sometimes you just know what feels right for a territory

[tucking fypo]

That's why I can't start out in this mod playing a promotion like Pacific Northwest, Southwest, or even the WWF. I grew up watching Memphis Wrestling every Saturday morning at 11:00 and couldn't wait for Big Jack Eaton to deliver the results of the big Monday Coliseum show on Tuesday's evening sports segment on WMC. I also remember watching wrestling out of the TBS Studios and the late Saturday night World Class shows on KTVT in the mid-80's.

I'm sure you're the same way with Georgia, Jon. It's like you can still see and feel the action.

[tucking fypo]

Before the show,
--I make Jerry Lawler the new figurehead of the promotion. He is loyal to CWA and would likely consider us a priority if he did sign with another company. Considering I just fired his cousin, Carl Fergie, I’m not so sure now.

--The roster desperately needs more faces. With the focus on getting more popular in the Mid-South region, along with the Southeast, I extend offers to Steve Williams, Junkyard Dog, Jerry Stubbs, and Handsome Jimmy Valiant.



CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 3, Jan 1983
Knoxville Civic Coliseum: Knoxville, TN
Attendance: 5,000 (sell out)

--Randy Savage comes out and reminds everyone of Eddie Marlin’s promise from last week. Savage also thinks that the match with Koko Ware should be the main event. (B, 80)

--Wildcat Wendell Cooley def. Rip Rogers in 7:45 by pinfall with a Wildcat Slam. (C, 60)

--Jim Cornette comes out with a big smile on his face and tells Lance Russell his two offers are ready and would like to call Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee out. Cornette makes his case and gets whiny when Lawler and Dundee openly mock his voice and clothing style. Cornette storms off the set almost in tears. (C+, 69)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--Sabu def. Terry Taylor in 5:37 by pinfall following a piledriver. (C+, 67) Sabu makes his second title defense.

--Backstage, promoter Eddie Marlin is seen running to an altercation in the parking lot. The Fabulous Ones and the Sheepherders are brawling. The Sheepherders retreat when they are pummeled with 2 X 4’s. Marlin is clearly frustrated. (C-, 54)

--Norvell Austin and Porkchop Cash def. The Fantastics in 5:37 when Austin pinned Bobby Fulton. (C-, 57)

--Dutch Mantell is cutting a promo when he is interrupted by Superstar Bill Dundee. Dundee challenges Mantell to a match at River Rumble. Dundee tells Mantell that dirty and mean doesn’t mean anything when you challenge the Superstar. (C, 65)

--Bobby Eaton def. Lanny Poffo w/Angelo Poffo in 5:43 by pinfall after an Alabama Jam. (B-, 71)

--Ricky Morton comes out and hypes his upcoming match with Adrian Street. (C, 60)

--Ricky Morton def. Adrian Street with a missile dropkick after Street was distracted by Wendell Cooley. (B-, 73) Street is enraged and pleads his case to Jerry Calhoun to no avail. (C, 61)

--Jimmy Hart comes out with Austin Idol and explains how Lawler suffered a shoulder injury on Monday night at the hands of Troy Graham. Hart tells Lawler he would understand if Lawler would not want to fight Idol at River Rumble because it would be an unfair fight. Lawler doubles down and tells Hart he can’t wait to get in the ring in the Mid-South Coliseum next Thursday night. (B-, 74) Idol tells Lawler he won’t be responsible for any hospital bills after Idol hurts his shoulder and breaks his legs with the Las Vegas Leglock. (B+, 83)

–Randy Savage w/Angelo Poffo def. Koko Ware in 12:49 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B, 79) The match had superb wrestling and good heat.

Show Rating: B, 78

Show Notes
--Savage and Koko come up big in the main event with Lawler, Idol, and Dundee not wrestling tonight. It is also the highest rated match I’ve had since beginning this dynasty.

--Before the show, Moondog Rex poked fun at Lanny Poffo for his lack of push. Lanny was annoyed that I took no action. Troy Graham was brought before the Wrestlers Court for not joining the guys out after the show was over. Jackie Fargo ordered Graham to buy drinks for everyone after the next show. Don’t mess with Fargo on the drinks, apparently.

TV Rating: 0.22 (165,420 viewers)

Other News
--Rick Martel is the new AWA World Heavyweight Champion following his win over Nick Bockwinkel in Rochester, Minnesota last night.

--Tommy Rich is the new figurehead for Georgia.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 4, Jan 1983
Pine Bluff Center Hall: Pine Bluff, AR
Attendance: 1,753 (2,000 capacity)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and hypes his upcoming title shot against Austin Idol at River Rumble. Lawler tells Idol that his tag partner for tonight, Troy Graham, did injure his shoulder last week and that Graham will pay. He says he more focused on regaining the Southern title. (C, 64)

--Terry Taylor def. King Cobra in 7:21 by pinfall following a Five Arm. (C-, 53)

--Randy Savage comes out and explains to the fans what greatness looks like. He tells Koko Ware that he’s good but his best will never be good enough to beat him. Savage mentions in passing that his tag partner, Bobby Eaton, will never be good enough and challenges him to a match at River Rumble (C-, 57)

--Koko Ware def. Phil Hickerson in 8:57 by pinfall following a Bird Buster. (C, 56)

--As Superstar Bill Dundee talks about his upcoming match with Dutch Mantell, Mantell walks out with bullwhip in hand. The two exchange words and almost come to blows before Lance Russell steps between them. (C+, 66)

--Jimmy Hart hypes his First Family as Austin Idol and Troy Graham walk into the ring for the next match. (C+, 69)

--Austin Idol and Troy Graham w/Jimmy Hart def. The Fantastics in 10:19 after Idol made Rogers submit to the Las Vegas Leglock. (C, 64) Hart did good work at ringside. Idol and Graham showed excellent chemistry when teaming together. After the match, Idol tells Lawler there will no excuses for him when “the women’s pet and the men’s regret” leaves Memphis, TN, with the Southern title.

--Dutch Mantell def. Bobby Eaton in 19:34 by pinfall following a piledriver. Randy Savage distracted Eaton and Mantell low-blowed Eaton as referee Jerry Calhoun was occupied with Savage. (B, 82) Mantell and Eaton had great chemistry and it showed in their performance.

Show Rating: B-, 74

Show Notes
--Dutch and Eaton put on a great match as Savage looks to be a thorn in Eaton and Ware’s side. The brothers Poffo will continue this trend.

--Lawler and Dundee continue to recover from their injuries heading into the River Rumble.

[tucking fypo]

The card for River Rumble:

--”The Universal Hearthrob” Austin Idol (c) vs. Jerry Lawler for the AWA Southern Heavyweight title

--The Sheepherders (c) vs The Fabulous Ones for the AWA Southern Tag Team titles

--Bobby Eaton vs Randy Savage

--”Wildcat” Wendell Cooley vs “Exotic” Adrian Street

--”Superstar” Bill Dundee vs “Dirty” Dutch Mantell

Weekly News
--Two big contract signings this week. I sign “Dr. Death” Steve Williams to a six-month contract at $2,200 per appearance and also sign the Junkyard Dog to a six-month contract at $2,300 per appearance. These two will help the face/heel balance, particularly at the main event and upper midcard level.

--Both Williams and JYD have decent overness in the Southeast region so that will help when I need to do a Monday night Southeast show. JYD is at 100 popularity in the Mid-South.

--Jerry Stubbs, at $1,050 per appearance, and “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant, at $1,250 per appearance, were added to the roster. Both are good workers. Valiant has Memphis connections and is decently over in the Southeast.

--I fire Porkchop Cash. He’s not a bad worker but his commitments to Mid-Atlantic and Central States keep him from being very effective here. He is constantly complaining of being tired.

--Ray Candy has been hyped up as “one to watch”.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I fire Porkchop Cash. He’s not a bad worker but his commitments to Mid-Atlantic and Central States keep him from being very effective here. He is constantly complaining of being tired.


When your name is Porkchop, well, stamina is likely going to be a consistent concern :lol:

[tucking fypo]

CWA River Rumble
Thursday, Week 4, Jan 1983
Mid-South Coliseum: Memphis, TN
Attendance: 9,998 (10,000 capacity)

--Lance Russell interviews Randy Savage about his current winning streak in CWA. Savage tells Russell that when you’re the best its hard to stay humble. Russell reminds Savage that Bobby Eaton is no pushover as Savage talks over him. (B, 81)

--A video clip is shown of recent events between Wendell Cooley and Adrian Street, including the losses involving distractions by each wrestler on the other. (D+, 50)

--Adrian Street def. Wendell Cooley in 7:11 following a fast roll-up and grabbing the tights by Street. (B-, 74) The match featured superb wrestling and the two had great chemistry and it showed in their performance.

--A video is shown highlighting the recent history between Bill Dundee and Dutch Mantell. (C-, 58)

--Dutch Mantell def. Bill Dundee in 8:37 by pinfall following a piledriver. (B-, 74) Dundee was slowed by his hip injury.

--Jimmy Hart is interviewed by Lance Russell. Hart hypes the First Family and Austin Idol’s imminent win over the injured Jerry Lawler. (C, 64)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Fabulous Ones def. The Sheepherders in a wild brawl in 16:09 by pinfall when Keirn pinned Boyd. Jerry Calhoun had constant trouble with run-ins but refused to DQ any of the participants. (B-, 71) The Fabulous Ones win the AWA Southern Tag Team titles for the 3rd time.

--Bobby Eaton hypes his upcoming match with Randy Savage. (C, 59)

--Randy Savage w/Angelo Poffo def. Bobby Eaton in 13:11 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B, 79) The match had superb wrestling and great heat from the fans.

--Jerry Lawler cuts a promo hyping his upcoming match with Austin Idol. (B, 77)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Austin Idol w/Jimmy Hart def. Jerry Lawler in 11:22 by pinfall. Idol had Lawler in the Las Vegas Leglock when Jimmy Hart distracted referee Jerry Calhoun long enough for Idol to pull a foreign object from his tights and hit Lawler in the jaw, knocking him out. Calhoun counted the pinfall while Idol had the Leglock hooked. (B-, 74) Idol celebrates with Hart as Lawler lay in the middle of the ring. (B, 79) The match had fantastic heat and great wrestling. Idol makes his third defense of the AWA Southern Heavyweight title.

Show Rating: B, 77

Show Notes
--Dundee and Lawler’s injuries came into play but still had decent matches. I will need to take it easy on them until they are 100%.

--Not any terrible matches on the card but some of the promos are still lacking.

--Dutch Mantell continues his solid run this past month. I had been hesitant in using him since he had really done nothing for me in other mods of this time. He will be a mainstay on the main event scene.

--Randy Savage feels that Wendell Cooley doesn’t “get it” when it comes to working the crowd and feels he should be fired.

--Alot to build on from this show as we head toward the end of the month. I will post Saturday's TV and then update the DOTT '83 universe.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 4, Jan 1983
Von Braun Civic Center: Huntsville, AL
Attendance: 5,000 (Sell Out)

--Lance Russell interviews Austin Idol and Jimmy Hart about their underhanded tactics in their win over Lawler at River Rumble. Idol ignores him and says he feels so good that he is making an open challenge to the first person that walks through the curtain and he knows that Lawler is not in the arena. The Junkyard Dog makes his debut as Idol and Hart are panicking. Russell says it looks like we have a match as Idol and Hart angrily retreat. (B+, 85)

--Steve Williams def. Phil Hickerson in 5:57 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 73) The match featured great wrestling and decent heat. After the match, Williams hypes his debut in the CWA, saying his goal is to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight title. (C+, 66)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. Roger Smith and Don Bass in 9:01 when Eaton pinned Bass following an Alabama Jam. (B-, 74) After their win, Eaton and Ware challenge Randy Savage and the partner of his choosing to a tag team match on next week’s show. (C-, 53)

--Ricky Morton hypes his upcoming match with Norman Frederick Charles III and says he has his eyes on CWA gold in the near future. (C-, 60)

--Ricky Morton def. Norman Frederick Charles III in 5:37 by pinfall after a missile dropkick.

--Dutch Mantell comes out and gives a scathing promo directed at Bill Dundee, saying it was too bad his 11-year old runt kid didn’t see him get beat in the middle of the ring at River Rumble. Dundee bolts from the locker room and attacks Mantell, sending him over the announcer’s table. A host of jobbers come out to break it up. (C, 62)

--Jerry Lawler gives a prerecorded interview from his home. He tells Idol and Hart to watch their backs in the upcoming weeks and promises fans he will be back better than ever soon. (B-, 72)

--Randy Savage w/Angelo Poffo def. Jerry Stubbs in 6:40 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B-, 73) After the match, Savage makes his way to the announcer’s table. Savage says he’s already proven his superiority over both Eaton and Ware but will have a partner ready for next week. (B+, 85)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Austin Idol and the Junkyard Dog fought to a double stoppage at 16:36 as referee Jerry Calhoun lost control of the match. (B, 82) Idol retains the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title. The match had superb wrestling and great heat.

Show Rating: B, 81

Show Notes
--Before the show, Jackie Fargo showed his protege, Steve Keirn, some tips on the microphone.

TV Rating: 0.22 (171,500 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

January Review
With the end of the month here, it’s nice to take a break from the summaries and simming and give an update on various happenings with the promotion and the wrestling world, in general.

In the regional battles, CWA was
--first out of 8 in the Great Lakes;

--first out of 10 in the Mid-Atlantic;

--first out of 9 in the Mid-South;

--first out of 11 in the Midwest;

--first out of 10 in the Southwest;

--first out of 6 in Tri-State.

As a result, our momentum has increased from 82.5 to 92.8. Our company prestige made a big jump from 30 to 44.

In terms of financial muscle, we are the #14 company in the world by turning a $209,024 profit in January. As the DOTT mod rolls through, there is the possibility that some of the smaller companies could go under. Building up the bank would allow a buyout of the failing company and maybe pick up some valuable workers along the way, along with higher popularity in their home region than what I have.

With that being said, Central States Wrestling is $202,000 under right now and are not willing to be bought out. There are a number of contracts that look interesting: Harley Race, Manny Fernandez, Rick Martel, Terry Funk, among others.

These are the company rankings in America followed by change in America from January 1. World ranking is in parentheses.

1. Georgia Championship Wrestling, +2 (World #2)

2. World Class Championship Wrestling, -1 (#3)

3. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, -1 (#4)

4. World Wrestling Federation, +1 (#8)

5. Championship Wrestling from Florida, -1 (#9)

6. Mid-South Wrestling, NC (#11)

7. Southwest Championship Wrestling, +1 (#13)

8. American Wrestling Association, -1 (#14)

9. Championship Wrestling Association, NC (#16)

10. Pacific Northwest Wrestling, NC (#17)

11. Central States Wrestling, NC (#20)

12. World Wrestling Council, NC (#23)

13. World Wrestling Association, NC (#25)

14. Southeastern Championship Wrestling, NC (#26)

--CMLL continues as the #1 company in the world.

Champions Roll Call (America only)
GCW – National Heavyweight, Killer Karl Cox

WCCW – Texas Heavyweight, David Von Erich

MACW – NWA World Heavyweight, Ric Flair
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight, Iceman King Parsons

WWF – WWF Heavyweight, Bob Backlund

CWF – NWA Florida Heavyweight, Kevin Sullivan

MSW – North American Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog

SWCW – SWCW Heavyweight, Dick Slater

AWA – AWA Heavyweight, Rick Martel

CWA – AWA Southern Heavyweight, Austin Idol

PNW – NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight, Sheik Abdullah Ali Hassan

CSW – NWA Missouri Heavyweight, Harley Race

WWC – WWC Universal Heavyweight, Carlos Colon

WWA - WWA World Heavyweight, Greg Wojokowski

SECW – NWA Southeastern Heavyweight, Austin Idol

[tucking fypo]

Main Eventers
Jerry Stubbs
JYD
Dutch Mantell
Jimmy Valiant
Steve Williams
Jerry Lawler
Bill Dundee
Austin Idol

Upper Midcarders
Moondog Rex
Rip Rogers
Luke Williams
Randy Savage
Norvell Austin
Ricky Morton
Moondog Spot
Steve Keirn

Midcarders
Sabu the Wildman
Bobby Eaton
Leroy Brown
Ray Candy
Roger Smith
Don Bass
Koko Ware
Bobby Fulton
Robert Gibson
Wendell Cooley
Jonathan Boyd
Stan Lane

Lower Midcarders
Troy Graham
Tommy Rogers
Phil Hickerson
Adrian Street
King Cobra
Lanny Poffo

Openers
Rick Gibson
Terry Taylor
Lou Winston

Enhancement Talent
Wayne Farris

Occasional Wrestler
Norman Frederick Charles III

Managers
Jimmy Hart
Jim Cornette
Angelo Poffo

Announcers/Color
Lance Russell
Dave Brown
Andy Kaufman

Authority Figure
Eddie Marlin

Referee
Jerry Calhoun

Road Agent
Jerry Jarrett

Personalities
Jackie Fargo
Paul Morton
Tojo Yamamoto
Miss Linda

--I will look over the roster again in a couple of weeks. The roster still seems a little bloated. Stubbs is the big question. I can’t see him winning any gold at the moment but he can put on a good match. Main eventing jobber right now. He could be good down the road, perhaps in a tag team.

–Ricky Morton, Randy Savage, and Koko Ware move up. These three could help be the backbone of the promotion, along with Lawler.

CWA Titles Roll Call

AWA Southern Heavyweight, 100 prestige (+8 from January)
Austin Idol, 4 title defenses, began 2nd reign Nov 1982

AWA Southern Tag Team, 70 prestige (+10 from January)
Fabulous Ones, no title defenses, began 3rd reign Jan 1983

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight, 41 prestige (-19 from January)
Sabu the Wildman, 2 title defenses, began reign Dec 1982

Creative Meeting
Franchise Players – Jerry Lawler, Steve Williams, JYD, Dutch Mantell, Austin Idol

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 1, Feb 1983
Wisdom Gymnasium: Stephenville, TX
Attendance: 2,000 (Sell Out)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
Sabu the Wildman def. Tommy Rogers in 6:44 with a piledriver. (C, 62) Sabu makes the third defense of his title.

Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware come out and hype their upcoming TV bout with Randy Savage and his mystery partner. (D+, 50)

Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. Ray Candy and Leroy Brown in 8:14 by pinfall after Eaton pinned Candy following an Alabama Jam. (B-, 74)

“Dr. Death” Steve Williams is interviewed by Lance Russell. He hypes his upcoming match with Norvell Austin and makes a challenge by saying it doesn’t matter if its Idol, Lawler, Dundee, or Mantell with the title, he wants it. (C, 62)

Junkyard Dog def. Troy Graham w/Jimmy Hart in 9:28 by pinfall after a series of brutal dog headbutts. (B-, 73) The match had fantastic heat and great wrestling. Hart did good work at ringside. After the match, JYD thanks the fans for all of the success he’s had. (A+, 100)

Steve Williams def. Norvell Austin in 9:14 by pinfall after the Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 74)

Dutch Mantell comes out and hypes his upcoming main event match with Jerry Stubbs. He follows by taunting Bill Dundee. (B, 79)

Dutch Mantell def. Jerry Stubbs in 12:02 by pinfall after a piledriver. (B, 80)

Show Rating: B, 82

Post Show Notes
--A really good show which helps us improve in the Mid-South. Dutch has been really good the past two weeks.

--Also, a good show in that I can give some of the top stars a break. No Idol, Dundee, or Lawler.

Game World Notes
--GCW has reached cult size. They are offering contracts right and left. They have over $1,000,000 in the bank right now. One of the offers is to Austin Idol.

--GCW has signed AWA Champion Rick Martel to a written contract. His AWA title reign will be short-lived. Perhaps this opens the door for Hogan in the AWA? I usually see Baron Von Raschke or Wahoo win the title in January or February.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 1, Feb 1983
Fair Park Arena: Birmingham, AL
Attendance: 6,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Incidents
--Austin Idol caused damage to Bobby Fulton’s rental car. I chose to slap Idol on the wrist because Idol is the champion and Fulton’s not.

--For the third time, Jackie Fargo is sentencing a worker to buy drinks for everyone because he didn’t join the boys for a night out. This time it’s King Cobra.

Pre Show Match
The Gibson Brothers def. King Cobra and Lou Winston in 6:14 by pinfall after Robert pinned Winston after a Rocker Dropper. (C, 64)

Pre Show Match
Terry Taylor def. Phil Hickerson in 5:48 by pinfall after a Taylor Five Arm. (C-, 55)

--For the first time in two weeks, Jim Cornette emerges with a smile on his face and tennis racket in hand. Lance Russell asks about the racket. Cornette responds that he has taken up tennis. He calls out Dutch Mantell and offers to help him defeat Bill Dundee. Cornette believes Dutch should be the #1 contender for the Southern title. (C+, 68) Dutch thinks it over and warns Cornette that if he crosses him or he his not made #1 contender by the end of the month, he will wrap the bullwhip around his throat so tight that his mother in Louisville, Kentucky, will feel it. As Dutch leaves, Cornette follows from a safe distance. (C+, 69)

--Ricky Morton def. Rip Rogers in 7:39 by pinfall following a missile dropkick. (C, 64) After the match, Morton celebrates his win and thanks the fans for coming out tonight. (C, 63)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware come out for an interview with Lance Russell. They want Randy Savage to come out with his partner. Savage and Lanny Poffo emerge and begin arguing with Eaton and Ware. The argument spills into the ring and the match begins. (C, 65)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. Randy Savage and Lanny Poffo in 9:44 when Ware pinned Poffo after a Bird Buster. (B, 81) Savage was heads and shoulders above everyone else.

--Lance Russell interviews Bill Dundee. Dundee taunts Cornette and Mantell telling Russell that Cornette has finally found a shoulder to cry on. (C+, 69)

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Sabu the Wildman in 6:47. Following botched interference by Adrian Street, Cooley got the schoolboy rollup on Sabu for the pinfall. (C+, 68) Wendell Cooley wins the NWA Mid-America title. After the match, Sabu attacks Adrian Street for costing him the title. (C, 61)

--Jerry Lawler appears in what looks like another pre-recorded interview from his home. He tells Austin Idol to make sure he has eyes in the back of his head and that you’re looking at the next Southern Heavyweight champion. (B, 78)

--Junkyard Dog def. Norman Frederick Charles III in 7:16 by pinfall following a series of dog headbutts. (C+, 68)

--Lance Russell interviews Austin Idol and Jimmy Hart. Idol taunts Lawler at not even showing his face on TV today. (B, 81) As Idol continues to rant, Lawler appears from the under the ring, approaches Idol, and fireballs him in the face as Hart runs away. (B+, 85)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Fabulous Ones def. The Moondogs w/Jimmy Hart at 12:53 by DQ after the Sheepherders interfere and viciously attack Keirn and Lane. (B-, 75) The Fabulous Ones make their first defense of the Southern tag titles. The 4-on-2 attack continues until Steve Williams and JYD make the save, running the Sheepherders and Moondogs from the ring. (B-, 72)

Show Rating: B-, 76

TV rating: 0.26 (200,540 viewers)

Post show notes
--Savage thinks that Jonathan Boyd is unsafe in the ring and should be fired before someone gets crippled.

--Ricky Morton says that Lou Winston can’t sell anything worth a damn and needs to learn how to work.

--Andy Kaufman’s body type has changed to “Toned”.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 2, Feb 1983
Mobile Municipal Auditorium: Mobile, AL
Attendance: 10,112 (Sell Out)

--Jerry Lawler is interviewed by Lance Russell. He says he is going to make an offer that Austin Idol can’t refuse. He says this Saturday on Championship Wrestling, he wants a shot at Idol’s Southern Heavyweight Title. Lawler tells Russell that if Idol pins him or makes him submit, he cannot challenge for the title over the next six months as long as Idol holds it. (B-, 76)

--Bobby Eaton def. Rip Rogers in 8:12 by pinfall with an Alabama Jam after overcoming a Randy Savage distraction that almost cost him the match. (B-, 72)

--After the match, Savage and Lanny Poffo are interviewed by Lance Russell. They claim Eaton and Ware’s victory this past Saturday was a fluke and will not happen again. (C+, 66)

--Ray Candy and Leroy Brown def. The Fantastics in 8:23 by pinfall after Candy’s piledriver on Bobby Fulton. (C, 64)

--Jim Cornette comes out and hypes his newest client, Dutch Mantell. He says after Dutch wins the Southern title, he will come after the tag titles. (B-, 71)

--Junkyard Dog def. Norvell Austin in 10:06 by pinfall after The Thump. (C, 59) JYD and Austin had good chemistry and it showed in their performance. After the match, JYD warns the Moondogs not to interfere in any more matches on behalf of Jimmy Hart or Dr. Death and the biggest dog in the pound will teach them a lesson (B+, 87)

--“Dr. Death” Steve Williams def. Moondog Spot w/Jimmy Hart in 11:57 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 74)

--Lance Russell interviews Jimmy Hart and asks him about Lawler’s challenge. Hart says he and Idol have discussed it and they want an additional match stipulation, no disqualification. Hart also adds that Lawler’s attack on Idol could have been prevented if Eddie Marlin had taken precautions to protect the promotion’s champion. (B-. 73)

--Randy Savage w/Angelo Poffo def. Jerry Stubbs in 13:34 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B, 80)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and tells the audience he accepts Hart and Idol’s “no disqualification” stipulation. He reminds Idol that fireballs will be legal. (B, 81)

Show Rating: B, 79

Weekly News
--C-State has released one-quarter of their roster in an effort to save money. They are now $255,000 in the red. I have $387,000 available. They are still not willing to be bought out.

--Bill Dundee is now at 100% and fully fit.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 2, Feb 1983
Viking Hall: Bristol, TN
Attendance: 5,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show
--Paul Morton is showing signs of selfish behavior in the locker room. A stern warning has improved his behavior.

--Lance Russell interviews promoter Eddie Marlin. He tells the audience that the Idol/Lawler match stipulations are Lawler’s inability to challenge for the Southern title over the next six months if Idol holds it. It will also be a no disqualification match. (C, 62)

--Austin Idol and Jimmy Hart come out and confront Marlin over Lawler’s vicious attack last week. Marlin and Idol have words and Idol decks Marlin with Hart looking on in shock. Lawler runs out and makes the save on Marlin as Hart pulls Idol away from the ringside area. (C+, 69)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Troy Graham w/Jimmy Hartin 5:49 by pinfall with a Wildcat Slam. (C, 62) Cooley makes his first defense of the Mid-America title. After the match, Adrian Street saunters out and challenges “Gwendolyn” for the Mid-America championship at Crowning Glory in 12 days. (C, 61)

--Jerry Lawler hypes his upcoming title match with Austin Idol, warning Jimmy Hart of some big surprises if any of the First Family decide to interfere in their match.

--Bill Dundee def. Sabu the Wildman in 6:10 by pinfall with a sunset flip. (B-, 75) After the match, Dundee challenges Dutch Mantell to a match at Crowning Glory. Jim Cornette approaches the announce table and accepts Dundee’s challenge. (C+, 66)

--Eddie Marlin comes back out and tells Lance Russell that as a result of earlier events in the show, he has added one stipulation to the Idol/Lawler match: If Idol loses, he must leave town for at least six months. Idol and Hart storm out and are enraged with the decision. Idol says that if he loses, he is taking the Southern belt with him. (B-, 72)

–Norvell Austin def. Jerry Stubbs in 7:44 by pinfall. (B-, 75)

--Lance Russell interviews Junkyard Dog and Steve Williams. JYD and Williams warn Hart and the Moondogs not to get involved in the title match later. (B-, 72)

--A music video with the Fabulous Ones is shown. They are doing such things as flexing for the camera and chopping wood. (C, 64)

--The Sheepherders def. Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware in 12:20 by countout after Randy Savage and Lanny Poffo both distracted both Eaton and Ware, drawing them out of the ring, allowing Jerry Calhoun to count them out. (B, 78)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match—No Disqualification
--Jerry Lawler def. Austin Idol w/Jimmy Hart in 10:02 by pinfall. The Moondogs interfered in the match but JYD and Williams made the save for Lawler and drove the Moondogs from ringside. Lawler then applied the Las Vegas Leglock to Idol, reached inside his trunks for a pair of brass knucks and knocked Idol out for Jerry Calhoun to count the pinfall. (B, 78) Lawler wins the AWA Southern Heavyweight title for the 29th time. After the match, JYD and Williams come out to congratulate Lawler on the victory. (B-, 76)

Show Rating: B-, 76

TV Rating: 0.25 (189,680 viewers)

Post Show Notes
--Idol has signed a written deal with Georgia. He is leaving the promotion tomorrow so he drops the title to Lawler on TV.

--Randy Savage thinks Jonathan Boyd “sells like crap” and I should find someone that can.

Other News
--Jim Brunzell beat Billy Robinson to win the vacant AWA World Heavyweight title. Jim Brunzell....

--Georgia Championship Wrestling is ravaging the smaller companies, signing 18 workers to written deals, including Sgt. Slaughter, Idol, Magnum TA, Harley Race, Dick Murdoch, and Rick Martel. How long can Karl Kox continue as champion?

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 3, Feb 1983
Mid-South Coliseum: Memphis, TN
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

--Randy Savage cuts a promo in the ring to open the show, taunting the team of Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware. Savage challenges Eaton and Ware to find a partner of their choosing for a six-man tag match at Crowning Glory. (A, 93)

--Terry Taylor def. Rip Rogers in 6:34 by pinfall after a Five Arm. (C-, 54)

--”Dr. Death” Steve Williams def. Norman Frederick Charles III in 6:10 by pinfall after the Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 74) After the match, Williams threatens the Moondogs and Jimmy Hart, telling them to stay out of other people’s business. (C+, 68)

--Adrian Street def. Robert Gibson in 7:02 by pinfall after grabbing a handful of tights. (B-, 74) After the match, Street asks Lance Russell if he’s seen “Gwendolyn” anywhere. Russell rolls his eyes as Street sashays back to the dressing room. (C+, 69)

--Jerry Lawler comes out to a hot crowd and hypes his championship win over Austin Idol on TV this past Saturday. (A, 90)

--Bill Dundee and Jerry Stubbs def. Roger Smith and Don Bass in 11:14 by pinfall after Smith was small packaged by Dundee. (B, 78) After the match, Dutch Mantell and Jim Cornette come out and taunt Dundee, saying that Dundee is literally a small bump in the road on their way to the Southern title. (B-, 74)

--Randy Savage w/Angelo Poffo def. “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant in 8:39 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B-, 75) Savage and Valiant had pretty good chemistry and it lifted the match.

Show Rating: B, 79

Post Show Notes
--A great show from top to bottom with some solid promos to go along with it.

--Jerry Stubbs believes Don Bass needs to learn how to work because he can’t sell worth a damn.

--Randy Savage thinks that Terry Taylor doesn’t connect with fans and is a waste of time.

--Jerry Lawler is now fully fit after his injury.

Weekly News
--Miss Elizabeth has announced the formation of a band that could lead to some tours in the future. Liz and the Macho Men, perhaps.

--Wayne Farris’ contract is up in 30 days and has told me he will not re-sign as he is a freelancer who likes to spend a short time with a promotion and move on.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 3, Feb 1983
McKenzie Arena: Chattanooga, TN
Attendance: 7,841 (10,000 capacity)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and hypes his upcoming tag match alongside Bill Dundee against Dutch Mantell and Phil Hickerson. (C, 64)

--Koko Ware def. Norman Frederick Charles III in 6:02 by pinfall with a Bird Buster. (B-, 74)

--Jimmy Hart explains that since the choke artist, Austin Idol, couldn’t take care of Jerry Lawler, even when he was injured, he will find someone that will. (C+, 67)

--The Fabulous Ones cut a promo hyping their upcoming tag title defense versus the Sheepherders. (C+, 66)

--Bobby Eaton def. Troy Graham w/Jimmy Hart in 5:45 by pinfall following an Alabama Jam. (B-, 74) Following the match, Randy Savage and Lanny Poffo come out to the announce desk and taunt Eaton and Ware. They say that Eaton and Ware’s win was a fluke and they have found the perfect partner for the six-man tag match at Crowning Glory.

--Junkyard Dog and Steve Williams hype their match with the Moondogs next Thursday night at the Mid-South Coliseum.

–-Randy Savage w/Angelo Poffo def. Jerry Stubbs in 9:44 by pinfall with a flying elbow drop. (B, 81)

---Lance Russell interviews Adrian Street. Street taunts “Gwendolyn” in advance of their Mid-America title match at Crowning Glory. As Street walks away, he turns around and says that Russell is “such a butch”. (C, 64)

--Ricky Morton def. Sabu in 7:35 by pinfall following a missile dropkick. (B-, 74)

--Jerry Lawler comes out with his Southern title and taunts Dutch Mantell and Jim Cornette in advance of the tag match alongside Dundee. (B+, 86)

--Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee def. Phil Hickerson and Dutch Mantell w/Jim Cornette in 16:11 by pinfall after a Lawler piledriver on Hickerson. (B, 80)

Show Rating: B, 80

TV Rating: 0.25 (189,560 viewers)

Post Show Notes
--Jackie Fargo has been passing microphone tips on to his protege, Steve Keirn.

--I release Andy Kaufman. I haven't been using Kaufman except at color commentary with Dave Brown and Lance Russell. Maybe when he comes off his broken neck next January, I can bring him back in and throw him in some major storylines. IRL, I couldn't see Kaufman being happy just sitting there calling matches and not constantly irritating people. That's what Jim Cornette is there for right now.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 4, Feb 1983
Horner Hall: Hot Springs, AR
Attendance: 1,875 (Sell Out)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Fabulous Ones def. King Cobra and Sabu the Wildman in 8:08 by pinfall after a Lane Savate Kick on Cobra. (C, 61) The Fabs make their second defense of the tag titles.

--Bill Dundee def. Don Bass in 8:54 by pinfall after a piledriver (B-, 72) After the match, Dundee hypes his upcoming match with Mantell, saying that the worst thing Mantell has done is taking that whiny wimp Cornette as his manager. (C, 61)

--Junkyard Dog def. Ray Candy in 8:47 by pinfall following the Thump. (C, 65) After the match JYD steps out of the ring for a promo and is attacked by the Moondogs. Jimmy Hart gets in a few cheap shot as well. (C, 60)

--Randy Savage hypes the six-man tag match with their mystery partner and says that there’s no way Eaton and Ware can match the intensity of their partner on Thursday night. (C, 68)

--Steve Williams and Dutch Mantell w/Jim Cornette drew to a double stoppage after referee Jerry Calhoun lost control of the match. Match time was 15:31. (B, 82)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and tells Lance Russell that he is available to wrestle Thursday night and has accepted Eaton and Ware’s invitation to be their partner in the six-man tag match at Crowning Glory. Randy Savage sprints to the announce desk and tells Lawler he’s made the biggest mistake of his life. (C+, 70)

Show Rating: B-, 75

--I request negotiations with Manny Fernandez, Buzz Sawyer, and King Kong Bundy. Sawyer is signed at $2000 per appearance and will make his debut at Crowning Glory. He is a gamble in the locker room but should produce some solid, violent singles matches.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Crowning Glory
Thursday, Week 4, Feb 1983
Mid-South Coliseum: Memphis, TN
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

--Jerry Lawler, Bobby Eaton, and Koko Ware hype their main event match against Randy Savage, Lanny Poffo, and a mystery partner. (C+, 68)

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Adrian Street in 9:42 after a Wildcat Slam. (B, 81) Cooley makes his second defense of the Mid-America title. After the match, Cooley celebrates his win (C+, 68)

--Jimmy Hart hypes the Moondogs upcoming match versus Junkyard Dog and Steve Williams and warns Lawler he has a big surprise waiting for him. (C+, 70)

--Steve Williams and Junkyard Dog def. The Moondogs in 8:45 following an Oklahoma Stampede by Williams on Moondog Rex. (B, 71)

--A video is shown featuring the latest feud between the Fabulous Ones and Sheepherders. (C, 62)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Fabulous Ones def. The Sheepherders in 15:46 when Steve Keirn pinned Jonathan Boyd. (B-, 73) The Fabs make their third defense of the tag titles.

--Jim Cornette comes out for an interview with Lance Russell, saying that after Mantell defeats the “short guy with dark hair”, his eyes will be on the Southern Heavyweight title. (B-, 75)

--Bill Dundee def. Dutch Mantell w/Jim Cornette in 12:43 by pinfall after Cornette accidentally hit Mantell with his tennis racket. (B, 80) After the match, Cornette and Mantell argue over whose fault the loss was on. (B-, 77)

--Before the main event, Randy Savage comes out for a promo, taunting Jerry Lawler. He tells Lawler not to get too comfortable with his Southern title after Savage pins him tonight. He then introduces their partner for the main event, a debuting Buzz Sawyer (A, 92)

--Jerry Lawler, Bobby Eaton, and Koko Ware def. Randy Savage, Lanny Poffo, and Buzz Sawyer in 10:28 following a Lawler piledriver on Poffo. (B, 80) After the match, Savage and Sawyer are angry at Poffo for the loss and beat him down. (B+, 86)

Show Rating: B, 82

Post Show Notes
--Dutch Mantell, Lanny Poffo, and Norman Frederick Charles III have all signed written deals with Georgia. Mantell and Poffo are jobbed out at the big event. Mantell’s departure leaves a huge void on the heel scene, as opposed to early January, which saw a heel-heavy roster. He leaves with a solid 78 average match rating, with a high of 82 in a draw against Steve Williams and a win over Bobby Eaton. He had a record of 5 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.

--Manny Fernandez signs for a bargain at $1400 per appearance.

--Wendell Cooley and Adrian Street continue to impress with their feud, pulling out an 81 rated match tonight.

--Lawler not only has Savage to deal with now but has Buzz Sawyer lurking.

--I have to find a solid matchup for Ricky Morton for the next two months to build his momentum up.

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware come out on top in their feud with Savage and Poffo. It may be time for a strictly tag push but they would probably be just as good in six-man or singles.

--I re-sign Tommy Rogers to a $700 per appearance deal over the next year. He and Bobby Fulton will make other tag teams look good at this point in 1983.

--An odd tag team has been formed in the AWA with Hulk Hogan and Rene Goulet. They call themselves The Low Lifes.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 4, Feb 1983
Macon Coliseum: Macon, GA
Attendance: 5,000 (Sell Out)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and taunts Randy Savage and his team’s loss in the six-man tag match at Crowning Glory. Lawler adds that Joe Leduc broke his leg after throwing him over the top rope onto an announcers table and Terry Funk loved blood and they were both ten times crazier than Buzz Sawyer and he beat them. (B-, 71)

--The Moondogs w/Jimmy Hart def. The Gibson Brothers in 7:32 by pinfall following Moondog Spot’s running elbow drop on Rick Gibson. (C+, 68) After the match, Hart hypes the First Family and says that he is working out the contract terms of new members of the Family and will introduce them next Saturday on Championship Wrestling. (B-, 72)

--Ricky Morton def. Troy Graham in 6:09 by pinfall after a missile dropkick. (C, 68) After the match, Morton hypes himself, saying it doesn’t matter if its Randy Savage, Jerry Lawler, or the Moondogs, he will continue his pursuit to be the best wrestler in CWA. (C+, 68) Randy Savage comes out and asks Morton if he was feeling alright today because it appeared he was called out. Savage warns Morton that the teeny boppers in the audience won’t save him from the Macho Man. (A, 90)

--Randy Savage def. Jimmy Valiant in 12:09 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B, 80) Savage continued pounding away on Valiant after the bell until Ricky Morton came back in for the save on Valiant. (B-, 77)

--Lance Russell interviews Jim Cornette and asks him if he got rid of Dutch Mantell. Cornette says that Dutch Mantell couldn’t beat “that Australian Chihuahua, Bill Dundee” so he doesn’t need him and he can go back to Oil Trough, Horse Trough, whatever you call it, Texas, unemployed. He also brings out and hypes the newest member of the “Cornette Dynasty”, a debuting Manny Fernandez. (C, 64)

--Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette def. Jerry Stubbs in 11:07 by pinfall after the Flying Burrito. (B, 81)

--Adrian Street comes out and tells everyone that he is finished with “Gwendolyn” and challenges Lawler for the Southern title. Lawler appears and tells Street he is going to punch the lipstick off his face and accepts the challenge. (B, 82)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Jerry Lawler def. Adrian Street in 9:46 by pinfall following a piledriver. (B, 81) Lawler makes his first defense of the Southern title

Show Rating: B, 82

TV Rating: 0.26 (201,940 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

February End of the Month Review
--Surprisingly, the Wendell Cooley/Adrian Street storyline was the second hottest in the company in February, right behind Lawler/Idol. Cooley has been a nice surprise. IRL, he had most of his success in the southern promotions, CWA and CCW.

--As long as Steve Williams' attitude can be held in check in the locker room, the 22-year old has much promise and could help carry a promotion.

--GCW’s raid on the smaller promotions continue. We lost Austin Idol, Dutch Mantell, Lanny Poffo, and Norman Frederick Charles III in February. Idol and Mantell, along with managers Jimmy Hart and Jim Cornette, were set to combine forces to try to take down Lawler, Williams, and JYD, with some help from the new signees.

--Finances continue to go up with the increasing rise of the economy and the wrestling industry. CWA stands at $527,460, an increase of $218,436 from the beginning of the month. I am stocking up on cash now to prepare to buy out any smaller promotions that are struggling financially. C-State continues to say they are not in bad enough shape financially to be taken over. They are currently $384,000 in debt.

--We maintain our place as the 14th richest company in the world and 7th richest in America.

Best match of the month
--Steve Williams and Dutch Mantell fought to a no contest (B, 82) at the last Monday night show in Hot Springs, AR.

Best card of the month
--Three shows tied at (B, 82), most recently this past Saturday’s TV show.

In the regional battles, CWA was
--first out of 8 in the Great Lakes;

--first out of 10 in the Mid-Atlantic;

--first out of 9 in the Mid-South;

--first out of 11 in the Midwest;

--first out of 10 in the Southwest;

--first out of 6 in Tri-State.

As a result, our momentum has increased from 92.8 to 100. Our company prestige made a big jump from 44 to 57.

Champions Roll Call (America only)
These are the company rankings in America followed by change in America from January 1. World ranking is in parentheses. Champions for each company are listed.

1. Georgia Championship Wrestling, +2 (World #1)
--NWA National Heavyweight, Killer Karl Kox

2. World Class Championship Wrestling, -1 (#3)
--NWA Texas Heavyweight, David Von Erich

3. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, -1 (#4)
--NWA World Heavyweight, Ric Flair
-- NWA United States Heavyweight, Greg Valentine

4. World Wrestling Federation, +1 (#8)
--WWF Heavyweight, Bob Backlund

5. Southwest Championship Wrestling, +3 (#9)
--SWCW Heavyweight, Gino Hernandez

6. Championship Wrestling from Florida, -2 (#10)
--NWA Florida Heavyweight, Vacant (Kevin Sullivan signed with GCW)

7. Mid-South Wrestling, NC (#12)
--North American Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog

8. American Wrestling Association, -1 (#15)
--AWA World Heavyweight, Jim Brunzell

9. Championship Wrestling Association, NC (#16)
--AWA Southern Heavyweight, Jerry Lawler

10. Pacific Northwest Wrestling, NC (#17)
--NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight, Billy Jack Haynes

11. Central States Wrestling, NC (#20)
--NWA Missouri Heavyweight, The Super Destroyer

12. World Wrestling Council, NC (#23)
--WWC Universal Heavyweight, Carlos Colon

13. Southeastern Championship Wrestling, +1 (#25)
--NWA Southeastern Heavyweight, Tommy Rich

14. World Wrestling Association, -1 (#26)
--WWA World Heavyweight, Greg Wojokowski

--Georgia and Southwest are red hot promotions at the moment. Georgia sits on $1.3 million to continue their expansion. Southwest, however, only has $102K but is putting on consistently good shows.

[BYU 14]

Fun catching up on this. I love TEW 2020, really hoping there is a solid 80's mod released at some point for this version.

[Comey]

Is this Steve Williams Dr. Death or Steve Austin?

[tucking fypo]

Fun catching up on this. I love TEW 2020, really hoping there is a solid 80's mod released at some point for this version.

Glad you like it, BYU. Agreed on the TEW 2020 DOTT. I've spent more time on the various versions of DOTT than any other since I first bought TEW 2010.

I'm sure the '85 mod, Risky Business, will be released at some point and the Golden Age is pretty good. I'm hoping a great edition of WOTI will be released soon. I'm having a lot of fun with this, though, especially with Jim Cornette.

[tucking fypo]

Is this Steve Williams Dr. Death or Steve Austin?

Nice catch!! I kept wondering how many would think of that if they knew Austin's real name. I felt a little silly at first putting Dr. Death or any other nicknames for other wrestlers in front of their name. The only one I really wanted to do consistently was "Exotic" Adrian Street but decided against it.

[tucking fypo]

Main Eventers
Ricky Morton
JYD
Steve Williams
Jerry Lawler
Bill Dundee
Buzz Sawyer
Manny Fernandez

Upper Midcarders
Randy Savage
Moondog Spot
Jimmy Valiant
Jonathan Boyd
Jerry Stubbs
Moondog Rex
Luke Williams

Midcarders
Rip Rogers
Norvell Austin
Steve Keirn
Stan Lane
Roger Smith
Ray Candy
Robert Gibson
Sabu the Wildman
Adrian Street
Wendell Cooley
Koko Ware
Bobby Eaton
Don Bass

Lower Midcarders
Bobby Fulton
Terry Taylor
Troy Graham
Tommy Rogers
Phil Hickerson
Leroy Brown

Openers
King Cobra
Lou Winston

Enhancement Talent
Wayne Farris
Rick Gibson

Managers
Jimmy Hart
Jim Cornette
Angelo Poffo

Announcers/Color
Lance Russell
Dave Brown

Authority Figure
Eddie Marlin

Referee
Jerry Calhoun

Road Agent
Jerry Jarrett

Personalities
Jackie Fargo
Paul Morton
Tojo Yamamoto
Miss Linda

–Ricky Morton continues to work his way up the roster. He is now a main eventer and is actually seen as our #1 Franchise Player, according to the Creative Team. He will see his profile increase further with his upcoming feud with Randy Savage, who himself could well be a main eventer by the end of March and into April.

--I look through the roster and see that Ricky Morton, CWA owner Jerry Jarrett, Lawler, Norvell Austin, and Randy Savage all have loyalty to the CWA.


CWA Titles Roll Call

AWA Southern Heavyweight, 100 prestige (NC from February)
--Jerry Lawler, 1 title defense, began 29th reign Feb 1983

AWA Southern Tag Team, 85 prestige (+15 from February)
--Fabulous Ones, 3 title defenses, began 3rd reign Jan 1983

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight, 46 prestige (+5 from February)
--Wendell Cooley, 2 title defenses, began reign Feb 1983

Creative Meeting
Franchise Players – Ricky Morton, Jerry Lawler, Steve Williams, Buzz Sawyer, Junkyard Dog

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 1, Mar 1983
Jackson, Mississippi
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

--Lance Russell runs down the card and brings out Jerry Lawler and his partner for tonight in the main event, the Junkyard Dog. They hype their match against Buzz Sawyer and Randy Savage. (B+, 85)

--Norvell Austin def. Terry Taylor in 6:08 by pinfall. (C, 64)

--Lance Russell interviews Wendell Cooley. Cooley hypes his victory over Adrian Street and says he is ready for all comers. (C, 61)

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Wayne Farris w/Jimmy Hart in 7:02 by pinfall after a Wildcat Slam. (B-, 72) Cooley makes his third defense of the Mid-America title.

--Bill Dundee def. Troy Graham w/Jimmy Hart in 6:35 by pinfall following a piledriver. (B-, 72) After the match, Dundee taunts Jim Cornette and his “dynasty”, telling Lance Russell that Mantell couldn’t handle the Superstar and is gone from the company. (B-, 71)

--A backstage camera catches Jim Cornette talking to Norvell Austin just outside of the dressing room. Cornette notices and starts swinging his tennis racket wildly at the cameraman. (C, 63)

--”Dr. Death” Steve Williams def. Phil Hickerson in 7:22 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 74)

--Jerry Lawler and JYD fight Buzz Sawyer and Randy Savage to a double countout in 16:12 when the action spilled outside the ring, leading to Jerry Calhoun’s countout. (B+, 88) Sawyer and Savage have great chemistry and it showed in their performance.

Show Rating: B, 82

Post show
--As expected, Buzz Sawyer’s problems surface as he was wasted on drugs. I give him a stern warning and he has improved his behavior.

--I sign Rick Rude to $900 per appearance. He will start where someone like Hart or Cornette can help on the mic.

--I pick up Hercules Hernandez, who was unemployed, for $600 per appearance.

--Rip Morgan is also signed for $600 per appearance. He will team with Jonathan Boyd as part of the Sheepherders when Luke Williams’ contract runs out.

--I sign King Kong Bundy at $1420 per appearance. He will join either Hart or Cornette in their stable.

--Tommy Rogers is re-signed at $700 per appearance.

--I open negotiations with Ricky Steamboat, who was not re-signed by Maple Leaf. He works for Mid-Atlantic on Wednesdays and one Friday per month. This would be a huge signing.

--Buddy Landel is signed for $500 per appearance.

--Dennis Condrey is signed at $1200 per appearance. He will make an appearance on the Saturday TV show.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 1, Mar 1983
Louisville, Kentucky
Attendance: 6,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Rick Rude def. Terry Taylor in 4:34 after a Rude Awakening. (C, 65)

--Jimmy Hart comes out to start the show to a chorus of boos as he introduces the “shut-ins at home” to the newest members of the First Family, King Kong Bundy and Rick Rude, and says that Lawler’s days are numbered and so is Jerry Stubbs after the next match. (C+, 68)

--King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart def. Jerry Stubbs in 6:45 by pinfall after a Big Splash. (B-, 75)

--Jim Cornette comes out and announces the newest tag team to Cornette’s Dynasty and the next Southern tag team champions, Dennis Condrey and Norvell Austin. He calls his new team the “Midnight Express.” (B-, 72)

--The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette def. The Fantastics in 7:45 by pinfall after a full nelson faceslam by Condrey on Bobby Fulton. (C, 64)

--Jimmy Hart comes back out to the announce table with Bundy and Rude for an interview with Russell. Hart asks Randy Savage to come out. Savage obliges with Bundy and Rude clapping as he approaches Hart. Hart offers Savage his managerial services and wants him to join the First Family. Savage walks away with no response as Hart looks confused. (B, 78)

--Bobby Eaton, Koko Ware, and Ricky Morton def. Randy Savage and the Moondogs w/Jimmy Hart in 10:59 by pinfall after a missile dropkick by Morton on Moondog Rex. Randy Savage left the Moondogs midway through the match after not being tagged in at all. (B, 82) Eaton, Ware, and Morton celebrate their win after the match. (C+, 67)

--Lance Russell interviews Jerry Lawler on his title defense later versus Don Bass. (A, 93) Manny Fernandez and Jim Cornette then come out and argue with Lawler, leading to a brawl between Fernandez and Lawler. (C+, 70)

–Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette def. Jimmy Valiant in 10:16 by pinfall following a Flying Burrito. (B, 81)

--Randy Savage comes out and is asked to explain his actions in the six-man tag match earlier in the show. Savage says that Jimmy Hart needs to understand it’s real hard for him to trust people, especially managers that wear sunglasses indoors. (B+, 85)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Jerry Lawler def. Don Bass in 10:19 by pinfall after a flying fistdrop. (B, 82) Jerry Lawler makes his second defense of the Southern title

Show Rating: B+, 85

TV Rating: 0.29 (222,110 viewers)

Post Show Notes
--According to Jackie Fargo, a bunch of the boys in the back complained about Ricky Morton leaving a mess everywhere and not cleaning after himself. Morton is told to clean up and, as expected with Fargo, ordered to buy drinks for everyone after the show.

--A solid card and main event as things heat up in the Hart and Cornette stables. The Midnight Express make their debut, along with Rick Rude.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 2, Mar 1983
Louisville, Kentucky
Attendance: 14,437 (Capacity: 15,000)

--Lance Russell interviews Jimmy Hart and Jim Cornette to open the show. Hart says he and Cornette may compete for the best wrestlers but both are determined to rid the area of Jerry Lawler. Cornette warns Bill Dundee to stay out of his business. (B, 77)

--Adrian Street def. Terry Taylor in 6:04 by pinfall after grabbing a handful of tights. (B-, 74)

--Jimmy Hart comes out with his newest signees, King Kong Bundy and Rick Rude. He hypes their future role in the First Family. (C, 60)

--Junkyard Dog def. Ray Candy by pinfall after the Thump. (C, 62) After the match, JYD makes his way to the announcers table when he is confronted by Buzz Sawyer. The two argue as Lance Russell cools things down between them. (A+, 98)

--Bill Dundee comes out and hypes his main event match with Buzz Sawyer. (B, 79)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Fabulous Ones def. Rip Rogers and Lou Winston in 6:38 by pinfall following a Lane Savate Kick on Rogers. (C+, 68) Following the match, The Fabulous Ones are interviewed by Lance Russell. Stan Lane hypes up the fact that they are fighting champions. (C+, 69)

--Jimmy Hart comes back out and says that even though things didn’t go as planned in their six-man tag match this past Saturday that he is determined to get Randy Savage in the Family. (B-, 73)

--Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart def. Jerry Stubbs in 7:46 by pinfall after the Rude Awakening. (C, 60)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and hypes his match at WrestleBowl against Manny Fernandez. Lawler tells Fernandez that there will be blood. (A+, 100)

--Buzz Sawyer def. Bill Dundee in 16:41 by pinfall after Jim Cornette distracted referee Jerry Calhoun while Sawyer hit Dundee with Cornette’s tennis racket. (B+, 88)

Show Rating: B+, 88

Post Show Notes
--A great main event with Lawler’s A+ promo makes this our best show so far in 1983.

Weekly News
--I sign Ricky Steamboat at $2,600 per appearance for three months. He is a freelancer so will not look to extend at the end of the three months. Hopefully, his schedule with Mid-Atlantic won’t interfere with his CWA schedule.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 2, March 1983
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Attendance: 8,877 (Capacity: 10,000)

In a couple of pre-show incidents,
--Troy Graham caught heat with the rest of the locker room by pulling a tasteless rib backstage. Sources say a gerbil was involved.

--The other involved Terry Taylor and Lance Russell. They bonded backstage, having discovered a shared love of classic 80’s power ballads, supposedly including those of Foreigner and Journey.

Pre Show Match
--The Gibson Brothers def. Troy Graham and Wayne Farris in 6:08 by pinfall when Robert Gibson rocker dropped Farris. (C, 65)

--Junkyard Dog def. Buddy Landel in 9:05 by pinfall following the Thump. (B-, 76) Landel makes his CWA debut. After the match, JYD hypes himself up and thanks the fans in Hattiesburg for coming out tonight. (B, 82)

--Lance Russell hypes the main event, a six-man tag match with Jerry Lawler, Ricky Morton, and Steve Williams facing Randy Savage, Manny Fernandez, and Norvell Austin. (C, 60)

--Jim Cornette comes out to be interviewed by Russell. He hypes the “greatest tag team in the world, the Midnight Express” and Manny’s opportunity at Jerry Lawler. (B, 79) The Midnight Express comes out and tells the Fabulous Ones they are coming for their Southern Tag titles. (C+, 68)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart by DQ in 7:53 after King Kong Bundy interfered on Rude’s behalf after Cooley seemingly had the match won after a Wildcat Slam. (C+, 66) Cooley makes his 4th defense of the Mid-America title. After the match, Bundy and Rude continue their assault on Cooley until Steve Williams runs out to make the save. He warns Bundy to pick on people his own size. (C, 64)

--Jimmy Hart makes his way out to be interviewed by Lance Russell. He warns Dr. Death that Bundy is the most dangerous man in the promotion and will flatten him. He challenges Williams to a match at WrestleBowl. (C+, 68)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware come out and hype their upcoming match with the Moondogs. (C, 64)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. The Moondogs w/Jimmy Hart in 10:09 by pinfall after Eaton’s Alabama Jam with Moondog Spot’s bone on Moondog Rex’s throat. (B-, 76)

--Randy Savage comes out for a promo, hyping his participation in the six-man tag match in the main event where he belongs. (A, 93)

--Jerry Lawler, Ricky Morton, and Steve Williams hype their six-man tag match. (B, 81)

--Randy Savage, Manny Fernandez, and Norvell Austin w/Jim Cornette def. Jerry Lawler, Ricky Morton, and Steve Williams in 15:53 by pinfall after Jim Cornette hit Morton with the tennis racket, allowing Savage the chance at the flying elbow drop. (B, 78)

Show Rating: B, 82

TV Rating: 0.26 (201,580 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 3, March 1983
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Attendance: 14,293 (Capacity: 15,000)

--Jim Cornette comes out and taunts the Fabulous Ones, hyping what he calls the next AWA Southern Tag Team Champions, the Midnight Express. He says that come WrestleBowl, Dennis Condrey and Norvell Austin will wipe CWA clean of the “ugliest male dancers” he’s ever seen. (C, 65)

--The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette def. The Fantastics in 6:55 by pinfall after a Condrey full nelson faceslam on Bobby Fulton. (C+, 67)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and hypes his main event match with Sabu the Wildman. He also tells Lance Russell he can’t wait to get Manny Fernandez one-on-one in the ring at WrestleBowl. (A+, 100)

--King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart def. Robert Gibson in 7:09 by pinfall after the Big Splash. (B-, 74)

--Lance Russell interviews the Fabulous Ones about their upcoming title defense against the Midnight Express. The Express comes out and a brawl ensues with the Fabs getting the best of the Express and driving them to the locker room. (C, 60)

--Randy Savage def. Rick Gibson in 6:51 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B-, 74) After the match, Savage tells Lance Russell that he has no manager now and hypes his upcoming match against Ricky Morton at WrestleBowl. (B+, 88)

--Buzz Sawyer def. Jerry Stubbs in 11:01 by pinfall following a Bulldog. (B, 81) JYD comes out to the commentary halfway through the match. After the match, Sawyer comes face-to-face with JYD as Lance Russell tries to cool tensions. (A, 94)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Jerry Lawler def. Sabu the Wildman in 12:44 following a piledriver (B, 82) Lawler makes his third defense of the Southern heavyweight title.

Show Rating: B+, 86

Weekly News:
--Wayne Farris leaves the company. He is a freelancer so no hard feelings. Farris will possibly return to CWA in the future with a new gimmick. It is said he loves Elvis and can play the guitar….

--”Dr. Death” Steve Williams is becoming a big problem backstage as he claims he is carrying CWA on his backs. He is now labeled a very negative influence.

[PilotMan]

I couldn't find the 2016 DOTT mod anywhere recently. Is it gone and dead, or does it live on somewhere?

[tucking fypo]

https://tewdb.com/img782.htm

This is the latest version I found. I couldn't convert it to TEW 2020 because of an error saying something about editing shows. I tried to correct it repeatedly but of no use. I've seen others say they've had no problem converting to 2020 but some of the attributes were off.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 3, March 1983
Montgomery, Alabama
Attendance: 9,221 (Capacity: 10,000)

Pre Show Match
--Jimmy Valiant def. Adrian Street in 7:01 by pinfall after a Boogie Woogie Elbow Drop. (B-, 76)

--Bill Dundee def. King Cobra in 6:46 by pinfall with a small package. (B-, 74)

--Lance Russell interviews Cornette’s Dynasty as Dundee glares at Jim Cornette when leaving the ring. Cornette says that since Randy Savage is now a free agent, he can join the Dynasty. (B-, 71) Cornette then hypes Manny Fernandez’s AWA Southern title shot against Lawler next Thursday night at the Mid-South Coliseum at WrestleBowl. (C+, 69)

--The Moondogs w/Jimmy Hart def. Jerry Stubbs and Terry Taylor in 7:03 by pinfall after Moondog Spot hit Taylor with his bone. (B-, 71) After the match, Hart challenges Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware to a rematch of last week’s dirty win over the Moondogs. He explains how Eaton illegally stole Moondog Spot’s bone and used it as a weapon. (C+, 70) Eaton and Ware come out and accept Hart’s challenge as the Moondogs warily watch Eaton and Ware. (C, 63)

--A video is shown hyping the Fabulous Ones and their current tag team title reign. (C, 58)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Luke Williams in 6:55 by pinfall after a Wildcat Slam. (B-, 75) After the match, King Kong Bundy and Rick Rude hit the ring and attack Cooley. Again, Steve Williams makes the save as Bundy and Rude slide out of the ring. (C-, 54) Wildcat makes his fifth defense of the Mid-America title.

--Lance Russell interviews Randy Savage and asks him about Jim Cornette’s offer. Savage says he doesn’t have to show loyalty to anyone. He then tells Ricky Morton the only person coming from the top rope will be the Macho Man when he lands on Morton’s throat. (B-, 75)

--As Savage’s interview is done, Jim Cornette comes out with Manny Fernandez and says he respects Savage’s decision. Jerry Lawler and Ricky Morton then come out and interrupt the interview, with Lawler telling Savage and Fernandez that it would be best for them to send Cornette back to his mother’s bosom in Louisville, Kentucky. (B+, 88)

--Junkyard Dog def. Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart in 7:41 by pinfall after the Thump. (B-, 76) After the match, Hart tells JYD that he will shock the world come Thursday night as Russell and Dave Brown wonder what that means (B, 77)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and hypes his tag team match with Ricky Morton against Manny Fernandez and Randy Savage. (A+, 100)

--Jerry Lawler and Ricky Morton versus Manny Fernandez and Randy Savage ended in a double stoppage in 16:20 as both teams began bringing weapons into the ring and Lawler and Savage both punched referee Jerry Calhoun, who was trying to restore order. (B+, 87)

Show Rating: B+, 88

TV Rating: 0.35 (267,840 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 4, March 1983
Grambling, Louisiana
Attendance: 2,200 (Sell Out)

--King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart def. Bobby Fulton in 7:25 by pinfall after the Big Splash. (C-, 56) After the match, as Bundy prepares to deliver to more splashes, Steve Williams comes in and attacks Bundy, forcing him from the ring. Rick Rude helps Bundy to the locker room. (C+, 67)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko def. Troy Graham and Phil Hickerson in 8:02 by pinfall after Eaton delivered an Alabama Jam on Graham. (B-, 72)

--Bill Dundee comes out to be interviewed by Lance Russell. He says that since he is not on the card for Thursday’s WrestleBowl, he might hang around the locker room and see if he can find Jim Cornette and have a little talk. (B-, 76)

--Steve Williams def. Rip Rogers in 10:25 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B, 78)

--Lance Russell interviews Junkyard Dog about his WrestleBowl match versus Buzz Sawyer. Sawyer comes out and attacks JYD. Soon the fight turns into a massive brawl with King Kong Bundy and Steve Williams joining. The Fabulous Ones come out to help break up the brawl and are attacked by the Midnight Express. (C, 64)

--Jerry Stubbs def. Roger Smith in 8:39 by submission with a Figure Four Leglock. (C, 62)

--Lance Russell interviews Jerry Lawler. Lawler hypes his Southern title match against Manny Fernandez and warns Cornette to stay out of the match. (A, 94)

--Bill Dundee def. Don Bass in 9:24 by pinfall after a piledriver. (B-, 75)

Show Rating: B, 78

--Steve Williams instigated a backstage fight with Buzz Sawyer. Sawyer turned the tables on Williams and got the better of him. Williams has now been involved in several backstage incidents. He also stated again that he is carrying CWA and has made the locker room unhappy with his comments. His days in CWA may be numbered. He is a very negative influence in an otherwise positive locker room, save Buzz Sawyer.

--Luke Williams leaves the company on his terms. He is a freelancer so he may look to come back down the road. The Sheepherders have not been heard from much since Crowning Glory when they were defeated by the Fabulous Ones.

[tucking fypo]

The card for WrestleBowl:

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match – Jerry Lawler (c) vs. Manny Fernandez

NWA Mid-America Title Match: Wendell Cooley (c) vs Rick Rude

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match – The Fabulous Ones (c) vs The Midnight Express

King Kong Bundy vs. Steve Williams

Randy Savage vs Ricky Morton

Junkyard Dog vs Buzz Sawyer

The Moondogs vs Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware

[tucking fypo]

CWA WrestleBowl
Thursday, Week 4, March 1983
Memphis, Tennessee
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and hypes his main event title match with Manny Fernandez and again warns Jim Cornette to stay out of his business unless he wants dropped on his head. (A+, 100)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart by disqualificaton in 8:02 when the First Family attacked Cooley after Cooley delivered a Wildcat Slam on Rude, almost guaranteeing a victory. (B-, 71) Bundy is able to splash Cooley three times, leaving him injured in the ring. (C+, 67) Cooley makes his sixth defense of the Mid-America title.

--Jimmy Hart comes out and introduces the newest member of the First Family, Buzz Sawyer. Sawyer begins barking and taunts Junkyard Dog before their match. (A, 89) Hart hypes the Moondogs next match with Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware. (B-, 75)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. The Moondogs w/Jimmy Hart by pinfall in 8:44 after a Bird Buster by Koko on Moondog Spot. (B-, 75)

--Junkyard Dog hypes his upcoming match with Buzz Sawyer. (A+, 100)

--Steve Williams def. King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart in 7:18 by pinfall after two Oklahoma Stampedes. Rick Rude tried to interfere but was met with an Oklahoma Stampede himself. (B-, 74)

--Ricky Morton comes out and gives a promo, hyping his upcoming match with Randy Savage. (C+, 68)

--Randy Savage def. Ricky Morton by pinfall in 15:40 after a flying elbow drop. (B, 82) After the match, Savage continues to beat down Morton and goes for another elbow drop when a debuting Ricky Steamboat comes out and saves Morton, chasing Savage off the top rope. (B+, 87)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette def. The Fabulous Ones by pinfall after Jim Cornette bashed Steve Keirn in the head with his tennis racket, allowing Condrey the pin. (B-, 76) The Midnight Express claim their first AWA Southern Tag Team titles. After the match, a jubilant Cornette tells the crowd the Southern title will be the next title in the Dynasty. (B-, 71)

--Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart def. Junkyard Dog in 17:35 by pinfall after a Bulldog in a physical brawl that went all over the ringside area. (B+, 86) After the match, Sawyer hypes his win and claims he is now the biggest dog in the promotion. (A+, 100)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Jerry Lawler def. Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette in 20:23 by pinfall after Bill Dundee intercepted Jim Cornette before he used his tennis racket on Lawler. Lawler retrieved the racket with referee Jerry Calhoun down and belted Fernandez to get the pin. (B, 78) Lawler makes his fourth defense of the Southern Heavyweight Title.

Show Rating: B+, 86

Post Show Notes
--A great show topped off by Sawyer’s clean win over JYD and Dundee’s save for Lawler in the title match. Dundee will continue to be a thorn in the Dynasty’s side.

--Ricky Steamboat made his debut by saving Ricky Morton, much to the chagrin of Savage. Morton, Savage, and Steamboat will continue their storyline into April.

--The Midnight Express win the tag titles in their first challenge to the Fabulous Ones. Eaton and Ware now lay in wait after a convincing win over the Moondogs.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 4, March 1983
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Jerry Stubbs def. King Cobra in 7:05 by submission with a Figure Four Leglock. (C, 64)

--Lance Russell interviews Jim Cornette to start the show. Cornette hypes The Midnight Express’ Southern tag team title win against the Fabulous Ones at WrestleBowl. Dennis Condrey and Norvell Austin say there is no better tag team in the United States as the Midnight Express and they will show it tonight against Ricky Steamboat and Ricky Morton. (C, 60)

--Buddy Landel def. Tommy Rogers in 5:51 by pinfall after a corkscrew elbow drop. (C-, 56)

--Ricky Steamboat and Ricky Morton and tell Lance Russell they are teaming later in the show against the Midnight Express, saying that the Express will have the shortest tag team title reigns ever tonight in the main event. (B+, 88)

--Bill Dundee def. Leroy Brown in 8:27 by pinfall after a piledriver. (B-, 75) After the match, Dundee tells the audience that there was no way Cornette was going to get involved in another title match at WrestleBowl. Dundee warns Cornette he will be watching him if he tries to get involved in any more matches. (B, 80)

--Jimmy Valiant def. Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart in 8:49 by pinfall after a Boogie Woogie Elbow Drop. (B-, 73)

--Lance Russell interviews Jerry Lawler, who hyped his win against Manny Fernandez at WrestleBowl. Lawler tells Jim Cornette he knew the tennis racket would come into play and had his own “insurance policy” in Bill Dundee during his match against Manny Fernandez. (A+, 100)

--Steve Williams def. Sabu the Wildman in 6:39 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 76)

--Junkyard Dog comes out for an interview, apologizing to the fans for his loss to Buzz Sawyer at WrestleBowl. He promises the fans nothing will stop him in his quest to destroy the First Family. (A+, 96)

--Lance interviews Randy Savage, who rages at Ricky Steamboat for getting involved in Macho Man business on Thursday night and warns him to watch his back. (A+, 100)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette drew with Ricky Steamboat and Ricky Morton in 15:00 when the TV time limit expired. Randy Savage distracted Steamboat throughout as Jim Cornette was chased from ringside early by Bill Dundee. (B+, 83) The Midnight Express makes their first defense of the Southern tag team titles.

Show Rating: B+, 88

TV Rating: 0.36 (270,520 viewers)

Weekly News
--Finally, Wahoo McDaniel won the AWA World Heavyweight title by defeating Jim Brunzell at the AWA End of the Month Show in Gary, Indiana.

[tucking fypo]

March Month in Review
--Buzz Sawyer had quite the month, putting on three of the top four matches in March, defeating Bill Dundee and teaming with Savage to take on Lawler and JYD. Both rated at B+, 88. He could be the favorite heading into next month’s King of Kings event.

–I couldn’t turn down the opportunity forming the Midnight Express with Jim Cornette, though Condrey and Norvell were original members IRL, along with Randy Rose. They had the highest rated match of any regular tag team so far in 1983 when they fought Steamboat and Morton. No doubt that having Steamboat in that match helped.

--Jerry Lawler continues to be solid, giving consistently great promos and adding heat to storylines, though his highest rated matches in 1983 have been in tag team matches.

--Wendell Cooley continues with the Mid-America title. He has averaged in the B-, C+ range in his title defenses and has added prestige to the title. His injuries at WrestleBowl at the hands of Bundy and Rude will be exploited by the First Family.

--Steve Williams is still a valuable member of the roster but is a very negative influence on the locker room. He is skating on thin ice.

--Angelo Poffo has been moved from managing Randy Savage to being a personality. This is mainly for storyline purposes but Poffo is a positive influence backstage. As long as Savage is in the promotion, Poffo stays.

Best matches of the month
--Buzz Sawyer def. Bill Dundee on the Monday Night Tour rated a B+, 88.

--Jerry Lawler and Junkyard Dog drew with Sawyer and Randy Savage on the Monday Night Tour. It also rated an 88. This match also rated as the highest tag team match of the month.

Finances
--We continue our string of great gates with great attendance. We have $1,022,352 in the bank with a $494,892 profit in March. We are the sixth richest company in America, up one spot since March 1. World Class has the most money, just under $2,000,000.

Regional Battles
--We placed first in all of the regional battles for the third straight month.

--Our prestige is now 61, a +4 from last month. By winning the regional battles, CWA's momentum is 100.

CWA Title Roll Call with Prestige

AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship, 100 prestige (no change from last month)
--Jerry Lawler, 4 title defenses, won Week 2, Feb 1983

AWA Southern Tag Team Championship, 100 prestige (+15 from last month)
--The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey and Norvell Austin), no title defenses, won Week 4, Mar 1983

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship, 66 prestige (+20 from last month)
--Wendell Cooley, 6 title defenses, won Week 1, Feb 1983

[tucking fypo]

Company Rankings in order and change in America from January 1 with world ranking in parentheses. Listed below each promotion is the company champion.

1. Georgia Championship Wrestling, +2 (1)
--NWA National Heavyweight, Stan Hansen

2. World Class Championship Wrestling, -1, (5)
--NWA Texas Heavyweight, David Von Erich

3. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, -1 (6)
--NWA World Heavyweight, Ric Flair
--NWA United States Heavyweight, Greg Valentine

4. Southwest Championship Wrestling, +4 (8)
--SWCW Heavyweight, Gino Hernandez

5. World Wrestling Federation, NC (9)
--WWF World Heavyweight, Bob Backlund

6. Championship Wrestling from Florida, -2 (11)
--NWA Florida Heavyweight, Bob Orton, Jr.

7. Mid-South Wrestling, -1 (13)
--North American Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog

8. American Wrestling Association, -1 (15)
--AWA World Heavyweight, Wahoo McDaniel

9. Championship Wrestling Association, NC (16)
--AWA Southern Heavyweight, Jerry Lawler

10. Pacific Northwest Wrestling, NC (17)
--NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight, Billy Jack Haynes

11. Central States Wrestling, NC (21)
--NWA Central States Heavyweight, Manny Fernandez

12. World Wrestling Council, NC (23)
--WWC Universal Heavyweight, Carlos Colon

13. Southeastern Championship Wrestling, +1 (25)
--NWA Southeastern Heavyweight, Tommy Rich

14. World Wrestling Council, -1 (26)
--WWA World Heavyweight, Greg Wojokowski

Other champions from around the world:
All-Japan – NWA International Heavyweight, Jumbo Tsuruta

Calgary Stampede Wrestling - CSW North American Heavyweight, Leo Burke

CMLL – NWA World Middleweight, Rayo de Jalisco

Maple Leaf Wrestling – NWA Canadian Heavyweight, Raymond Rougeau

New Japan – NWA World Junior Heavyweight, Tiger Mask; IWGP Champion – Andre the Giant


Franchise Players
Ricky Steamboat
Ricky Morton
Jerry Lawler
Buzz Sawyer
Steve Williams

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 1, April 1983
Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 15,000 (Sell Out)

--Jerry Lawler lifted the backstage area before the show by drawing some funny pictures of fellow workers.

--Lance Russell interviews Jim Cornette, who is followed out by the Cornette Dynasty. Cornette says that Bill Dundee interfered in Manny Fernandez’s title match against Lawler and that Lawler should have been disqualified. He tells Dundee he has crossed the line and will pay dearly for his actions. (C+, 69)

--Adrian Street comes out and gives a promo. He says that he hasn’t been focused the last few weeks because he’s been costume shopping. Lance gives Street a quizzical look as he skips away to the ring (C+, 70)

--Bill Dundee def. Adrian Street in 6:48 by pinfall after a quick roll up. (B-, 75) Street then hops up and prances out of the ring as a confused Bill Dundee looks on. (B-, 71) Bill Dundee then gives an interview asking Lance Russell what the heck that was about and wonders aloud if Jim Cornette’s mother is involved. (B, 80)

--Ricky Morton comes out and gives a brief promo, telling fans its time to team back up with his old partner, Robert Gibson, for a match tonight. (C+, 69).

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express def. Ray Candy and Leroy Brown in 10:23 by pinfall after a double dropkick on Brown, allowing Morton to get the pin. (B, 81) After the match, the Gibson and Morton hype their return to the tag team ranks. (B-, 72)

--Jerry Lawler comes out with his AWA Southern title draped over his shoulder for an interview with Lance Russell. Lawler tells Cornette he really talks tough when he’s surrounded by his so-called Dynasty. Lawler warns Cornette to stay out of his business and give the tennis racket gig a break. (A, 90)

--Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart def. Jimmy Valiant in 11:39 by pinfall after a diving splash. (B, 81) After the match, Jimmy Hart hypes who he calls the next Southern heavyweight champion as Sawyer howls in the background. (B, 79)

--Wendell Cooley comes out heavily bandaged up around his ribs, and tells Lance Russell about his injuries suffered at the hands of King Kong Bundy and Rick Rude. (C+, 67) King Kong Bundy then comes out with Hart, challenging Cooley to a Mid-America title match. Cooley says he should be cleared to wrestle by his doctors in just over a week but he will defend his title within the 30-day requirement. (B-, 72)

--Buzz Sawyer comes back out with Jimmy Hart and tells Lance Russell that to get what you want, sometimes you have to act a little crazy. Sawyer then begins screaming and runs around the ring wildly, scaring most of the kids on the front row. (A+, 100)

--Ricky Steamboat def. Sabu the Wildman in 7:22 by pinfall after a flying karate chop. (B-, 75)

--A camera catches Bill Dundee walking backstage when he is attacked by Manny Fernandez. Fernandez hits Dundee with several chair shots on the back as Jim Cornette taunts Dundee from a distance. (B-, 73)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Jerry Lawler def. Buddy Landel in 16:08 by pinfall after a piledriver. (B+, 85) Lawler makes his fifth defense of the Southern title.

Show Rating: B+, 87

--Buzz Sawyer opines that King Kong Bundy needs learn how to sell and is not worth pushing until its addressed.

--I sign the Barbarian, who was previously unemployed. He is now loyal to CWA.

--The main event scene is stacked right now so I put Ricky Morton back with Robert Gibson in the R ‘n’ R Express. He will still be in some singles matches but this will give the Midnight Express more than just the Fabulous Ones to think about.

--Another seemingly poor-named tag team has emerged, this time in Mid-Atlantic. Dory Funk Jr. and Big John Studd now make up Team Life.

--WWA and WWF have rising tensions between them. WWA now has a hostile relationship with CWA. In response, I look over their roster and there’s no one I would come close to signing. I would not even buy them out if they were in financial peril. They are the lowest rated promotion in the world.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 1, April 1983
Mobile, Alabama
Attendance: 9,952 (Capacity: 10,000)

Pre Show Match
--Steve Williams def. Rip Rogers in 7:09 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 75)

Pre Show Segment
--Rick Rude gives a promo to the crowd, hyping his next match with Rick Gibson. (D+, 50)

Pre Show Match
--Rick Rude def. Rick Gibson in 5:49 by pinfall after a Rude Awakening. (C+, 66)

--The show opens with Randy Savage and Junkyard Dog arguing at the announcers table with Lance Russell trying to calm both down. Russell tells them to settle it in the ring when both agree to face each other in the main event. (A+, 97)

--Lance Russell interviews Jimmy Hart, who hypes King Kong Bundy’s challenge to Wendell Cooley and the Mid-America title. Hart says Cooley is complaining about his ribs because he has a yellow streak down his back and is making excuses to avoid Bundy. (B-, 75)

--King Kong Bundy def. Jerry Stubbs in 6:10 by pinfall after the Big Splash (B-, 75) After the match, Wendell Cooley hits the ring with a 2X4, hitting Bundy several times in the ribs and knocking him off his feet before the rest of the First Family comes out and chases Cooley off. (C+, 68) Cooley gladly accepts Hart and Bundy’s challenge and the match will be next Saturday on the TV show. (C+, 70)

--Jim Cornette comes out with a piece of paper in hand. He tells Lance Russell he has a restraining order on Bill Dundee and that Dundee can’t come within 100 yards of him. Russell looks over the paper and rolls his eyes as Cornette continues. He tells Cornette that the paper is handwritten and an ‘X’ was written as the signature. Cornette threatens Russell with the tennis racket as Bill Dundee comes out, trailed by Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware as Cornette scampers to the locker room. (B+, 86)

-- Dundee, Eaton, and Ware cut a promo, challenging Cornette’s Dynasty to a match right now, saying that the Midnight Express have more problems than just the Rock ‘n’Roll Express and the Fabulous Ones. The Dynasty runs out and a brawl takes up the ringside area at the announcers table. Referee Jerry Calhoun starts the match when things get under control. (C+, 70)

--Bill Dundee, Bobby Eaton, and Koko Ware def. Cornette’s Dynasty (Condrey, Austin, and Fernandez) in 12:29 by pinfall after Bobby Eaton delivered an Alabama Jam on Norvell Austin as the action spilled outside the ring. (B, 79) After the match, the Fabulous Ones hit the ring and beat down an already tired Midnight Express as Dundee goes after Manny Fernandez. (B-, 74)

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express def. Don Bass and Roger Smith in 11:02 by pinfall after a double dropkick on Smith, allowing Morton to get the pin. (B-, 76)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and challenges any of Cornette’s Dynasty or Hart’s First Family to a singles match for the Southern heavyweight title or in a tag team match next Saturday on the TV show. He tells Lance Russell he’s itching for a fight and wants to drop someone on their head. (A+, 100)

--Junkyard Dog def. Randy Savage by disqualification in 16:58 when the Rick Rude and the Moondogs interfered and beat JYD down as Savage joined in. (B+, 86) Lawler came to JYD’s rescue with a chair and chased the First Family off. (A, 90)

Show Rating: A, 89

TV Rating: 0.44 (336,410 viewers)

A couple of pre show incidents:

--Norvell Austin received some serious heat from the locker room about his selfish behavior. He was given a stern warning and promised to improve his behavior. In addition, he was jobbed out in the six-man tag match.

--King Cobra was very late for the show, violating company rules. He was given a stern warning as well and did not like it. His behavior will likely get worse.

Post Show Notes
--Wendell Cooley gets some measure of revenge on Bundy as they head toward next week’s Mid-America title match.

--Jim Cornette’s Dynasty had a bad night with the loss in the six-man tag match and the return of the Fabulous Ones in a post-match beatdown of the Midnights. Cornette’s skills are improving every week. I checked his mic skills, charisma, and acting skills in the editor and all have increased by 3-4 points since January 1: Mic is 89, Charisma is 83, and Acting is 85. Not bad for the 21-year old Cornette.

--Lawler will see a pickup in action next week. I’ve kept him mostly on the mic with only one match since he defeated Manny Fernandez at WrestleBowl in order to give some other workers the spotlight.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 2, April 1983
Nacogdoches, Texas
Attendance: 3,170 (Capacity: 5,000)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Moondog Rex by pinfall in 7:51 after a Wildcat Slam. Cooley was in visible discomfort from his rib injury to Bundy. (C+, 66) Cooley makes his 7th defense of the Mid-America title.

--Randy Savage and Buddy Landel come out and hype their upcoming match against Jerry Stubbs and Jimmy Valiant. (C+, 70)

--The Fabulous Ones def. Leroy Brown and Ray Candy in 8:39 by pinfall after Stan Lane’s Savate Kick on Brown. (B-, 73) After the match, the Fabs hype their beatdown on the Midnight Express on this past Saturday’s TV show, saying it was good to stomp a mudhole in anything that hangs with Jim Cornette. (C+, 67)

--A backstage camera catches Wendell Cooley laying on the ground and a masked man standing above him with a chain. Promoter Eddie Marlin steps in as the masked assailant runs away. (C, 58)

--Bill Dundee def. Sabu the Wildman in 8:41 by pinfall after a piledriver. (B-, 75) After the match, Dundee hypes the six-man tag win from Saturday, saying he could get used to working with Eaton and Ware, as long as they save Manny Fernandez for him. (B-, 76)

--Eddie Marlin comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. Marlin explains the rules for the King of Kings event later in the month.

**The winner will get a Southern heavyweight title shot at the Night of Champions event in May;

**The 10 participants and five teams for the event will be chosen randomly. There will be a series of tag team matches,, over the next two weeks on Championship Wrestling and one match next Monday night at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

**There will be no time limit and there must be a winner in each match.

**The 10 winners from the 5 tag team matches will then compete in a battle royal to determine the #1 contender for the Southern heavyweight title. (C, 62)

--Randy Savage and Buddy Landel def. Jerry Stubbs and Jimmy Valiant in 15:53 by pinfall after Savage’s flying elbow drop on Stubbs. (B-72)

--Steve Williams hypes his match tonight against Don Bass. He warns the First Family with a focus on King Kong Bundy, telling Bundy that Cooley will pay him back for the sneak backstage attack and that if he thinks he will get help in their title match this Saturday, he will be Cooley’s backup. (B, 79)

--Jerry Lawler hypes his reign as Southern heavyweight champion. He says it won’t matter who wins the King of Kings battle royal because he plans on holding the title for a very long time. (A+, 100)

--Steve Williams def. Don Bass in 9:23 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 75)

Show Rating: B, 80

[tucking fypo]

Weekly News
--Championship Wrestling from Florida has let it be known they now have a hostile relationship with me. As a result, I check their roster to see if there is anyone I might pick up if their schedule permits. If they work for two companies, I’m out.

**Barry Windham has commitments to Mid-Atlantic and CWF. He is 22 and has good overness in the Southeast, along with above average skills for someone his age. Not now.

**Black Bart is one-half of the Florida Bahamas Tag Champions and CWF is his only contract. Bart’s brawling skills would match what we need in CWA. He might be the lone signee I could get. I will likely hold off for now

**“Cowboy” Bob Orton is the Florida Heavyweight Champion but has two employers, Mid-Atlantic and CWF.. He is the best brawler on the roster. No go for now.

**Dusty Rhodes’ only commitment is to CWF. Of course, his stats in Psychology, Mic, and Charisma are off the charts. I check to see if he is interested and Dusty says he is not interested in joining CWA at the moment.

**27-year-old Jake Roberts has three commitments: World Class, CWF, and Georgia (where he is on PPA). He’s one of the best statistically but with three commitments, its not the time to sign.

**Joe Leduc is solid across the board. Unfortunately, Mid-Atlantic and CWF are his commitments. Leduc and Lawler have a history. It was five years earlier, in 1978, that Leduc made his Blood Oath against Lawler on Memphis television on Saturday morning wrestling that shocked many fans, and Lance Russell. Dude legit scared me.

--I sign Hercules Hernandez to a six-month contract at $600 per appearance. He was recently released by the flailing Central States.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 2, April 1983
Oxford, Mississippi
Attendance: 9,500 (Sell Out)

--Jimmy Hart comes out with his First Family and hypes King Kong Bundy’s title shot against Wendell Cooley later in the show. Lance Russell asks Hart about his group’s sneak attack on Cooley as a way of softening him up before his title defense. Hart denies any involvement in the attack on Cooley. (B-, 73)

--Promoter Eddie Marlin comes out and announces the first match that will determine the first two entrants in the King of Kings battle royal later in the month. He reminds the audience that the drawing is completely random which could make for interesting tag teams. Marlin announces the first match as Bobby Eaton and Adrian Street will take on Dennis Condrey and Moondog Rex. (C, 61)

King of Kings Qualifying Match
--Bobby Eaton and Adrian Street def. Dennis Condrey w/Jim Cornette and Moondog Rex w/Jimmy Hart in 9:55 by pinfall after an Eaton Alabama Jam on Dennis Condrey. Bill Dundee chased Cornette from ringside and Steve Williams chased Hart from ringside. Street was not willing to work with Eaton until Eaton pulled him into the ring by his hair. Street obliged by tagging Eaton back in and walking away. Rex accidentally hit Condrey with the Moondog bone, allowing Eaton the pin. (B-, 75)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and tells Lance Russell that he believes in second chances, especially in title matches. He then says he would be glad to defend his Southern heavyweight title against Manny Fernandez in the main event but only if Jim Cornette is not allowed at ringside. (A+, 100) Jim Cornette comes out and accepts Lawler’s challenge on behalf of Manny. He tells Lawler that Manny might suffer without him at ringside but says Manny is still the better wrestler. (C+, 67)

--Ricky Steamboat def. Buddy Landel in 12:42 by pinfall after a Flying Crossbody. (B, 82)

--Lance Russell shows backstage camera footage from a few minutes ago, showing Wendell Cooley being attacked by the masked man as Cooley was preparing to wrestle King Kong Bundy. (C+, 66)

--Lance Russell calls out Adrian Street, who hypes his performance in his tag team win earlier in the night and says that he is the only real man that can win the King of Kings battle royal. He then wishes “Gwendolyn” good luck in his title defense against Bundy and hopes he will be able to wrestle Bundy.

--Eddie Marlin comes back out for two announcements and asks Jimmy Hart and King Kong Bundy to join him at the announcers table. Marlin tells Hart that because of the masked man’s attack, Wendell Cooley will not be able to defend the Mid-America title against Bundy because of the injuries sustained in the two recent attacks. He tells Hart it’s not a good look for his guys to attack Cooley like that. Hart and Bundy are livid as Marlin explains that Cooley still has 25 days to defend the title. Hart and Bundy plead their innocence. (C+, 68)

--Marlin then makes his announcement for the second qualifying match for the King of Kings battle royal. The first team will be Steve Williams and Koko Ware facing off against Bill Dundee and Randy Savage. (C+, 69)

--Before the match, Bill Dundee says that sometimes you have to work with jerks and weirdos and tonight is no exception. He also tells Williams and Ware that it’s nothing personal tonight because he wants a shot at the Southern heavyweight title. Dundee also takes a jab at Cornette, saying his Momma wanted a girl, his father wanted a boy, and they were both satisfied. (B, 81)

King of Kings Qualifying Match
--Bill Dundee and Randy Savage def. Steve Williams and Koko Ware in 10:02 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop by Savage on Williams. Dundee and Savage got along strangely well during the match, prompting Russell and Dave Brown to wonder how two people like Dundee and Savage and their personalities could get along with so much on the line. (B, 82)

--After the match, Bill Dundee offers a handshake to Savage on the win with the crowd behind Savage. Savage responds by punching Dundee and beating him down before leaving the ring. (B+, 86)

--Jerry Lawler hypes his upcoming title match against Manny Fernandez, reminding Lance Russell that everyone’s favorite ball boy, Cornette, and his tennis racket won’t be there to help Manny tonight. (A+, 100)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Jerry Lawler def. Manny Fernandez in 16:05 by pinfall following a piledriver in a bloody match. (B+, 87) Lawler makes his 6th defense of the Southern title.

Show Rating: A, 89

TV Rating: 0.41 (311,860 viewers)

Post Show Notes
--I make an offer to The Spoiler. He is not currently employed as he was not re-signed by Georgia. He will be a nice addition to the roster if terms can be reached.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 3, April 1983
Louisville, Kentucky
Attendance: 14,768 (Capacity: 15,000)

--Jerry Lawler comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. He tells Russell he has a great idea that will make everyone happy. He says that he has yet to have an opponent for the King of Kings event because of the tag team qualifying matches. He offers that the losers of the five tag team qualifiers be put in their own battle royal on Saturday’s Championship Wrestling telecast. The winner of that 10-man battle royal would face him in the main event of King of Kings. (A+, 100)

--The Fabulous Ones def. Phil Hickerson and Troy Graham w/Jimmy Hart in 6:57 by pinfall after a Stan Lane Savate Kick on Graham. (B-, 75) After the match, Lane and Keirn hype their tag team success. Keirn also says he and Lane have discussed that if their names were called tonight or Saturday, they will be ready to fight, whether its together or against each other. (B-, 75)

--Bill Dundee comes out and challenges Randy Savage to match later in the card, referring to Savage’s sucker punch of Dundee on Saturday’s show. He says it obvious that Savage doesn’t appreciate it when people help him so he will teach him a lesson about respect. (B, 81)

--Promoter Eddie Marlin comes out and announces the next King of Kings qualifying match: Junkyard Dog will team with Buzz Sawyer to take on Ricky Morton of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express and Norvell Austin of the Midnight Express. (B-, 75) Sawyer comes out with Jimmy Hart and says there’s a conspiracy to keep him from winning the King of Kings battle royal. He calls out JYD and says not to mess this match up or their will be a price to pay. JYD comes out and the two begin arguing. (A+, 100)

--King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart def. Tommy Rogers in 5:48 by pinfall after the Big Splash. (B-, 74) After the match, Hart hypes Bundy and tells Wendell Cooley he doesn’t know what he’s trying to pull with the fake masked man attacks but he can’t hide from the First Family. (C+, 66) Cooley comes out and accuses Hart and Bundy of orchestrating the attacks, which they deny. (C+, 70)

--Jim Cornette comes out to a chorus of boos from the Louisville crowd for an interview with Lance Russell. Cornette says he’s ashamed to be at home in Louisville, Kentucky, in front of a bunch of uncultured backwoods hicks who need an hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes. Cornette then hypes Norvell Austin’s tag team with Ricky Morton, saying that the only thing worse than kissing your sister is teaming with someone that looks like your sister. (B-, 72)

King of Kings Qualifying Match
--Junkyard Dog and Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart def. Ricky Morton and Norvell Austin w/Jim Cornette in 12:25 when the match deteriorated and Morton and Austin were counted out fighting each other outside the ring while JYD and Sawyer were fighting each other in the ring. (B, 81)

--Jerry Stubbs def. Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart in 7:01 by submission after the Figure Four Leglock. (C+, 70)

--Bill Dundee def. Randy Savage in 16:39 by pinfall after a distraction by Manny Fernandez. Fernandez distracted referee Jerry Calhoun while Savage retrieved a chair. Savage’s attempted chair shot on Dundee missed, hit the ropes, and bounced back to hit Savage in the face, knocking him out for the Dundee pin. (A, 92)

Show Rating: A, 92

Weekly News
--Dick Slater is the new Southwest Heavyweight Champion, defeating Gino Hernandez.

--I re-sign Leroy Brown and Don Bass to three month contracts at $900 per appearance. A pretty good bargain when considering that both are good workers in their tag teams.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 3, April 1983
Albany, Georgia
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

--Lance Russell interviews Jerry Lawler. He hypes his match later in the show and his Southern title defense at King of Kings against the winner of tonight’s battle royal. (A+, 100)

--Eddie Marlin comes out to announce the fourth qualifying match for the King of Kings battle royal. Manny Fernandez and King Kong Bundy will team up against Moondog Spot and Robert Gibson. (C, 63)

King of Kings Qualifying Match
--Manny Fernandez and King Kong Bundy def. Moondog Spot and Robert Gibson by pinfall in 4:20 after Fernandez, Bundy, and Spot ganged up and beat down Gibson. Bundy pinned Gibson after a Big Splash. (C+, 67)

--Jimmy Hart comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. Hart says that Junkyard Dog was too worried about fighting his tag team partner, Buzz Sawyer, last Monday night and almost cost them a chance at the Southern title. JYD comes out and lets Hart know that Sawyer is not in the building tonight. He chases and eventually catches Hart, who tripped himself up. He gives Hart two dog headbutts while on the Civic Center floor before King Kong Bundy helps him escape to the locker room. (B+, 86)

--Wendell Cooley hypes his upcoming title defense against Leroy Brown. He says he knows the masked man will eventually make a mistake and he will find out who it is and he’s sure the person responsible will be part of the First Family. (C+, 67)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Leroy Brown in 4:56 by pinfall after a Wildcat Slam. (C+, 66) The masked man appeared midway through the match and distracted Cooley. Cooley makes his 8th defense of the Mid-America title. After the match, Cooley chased the masked man to the back where a car was waiting on him to take him away. (C-, 55)

--Eddie Marlin comes out and announces the final qualifying match for the King of Kings battle royal. Steve Keirn and Stan Lane will team together to face Ricky Steamboat and Jerry Stubbs. (C+, 69)

--Ricky Steamboat is interviewed by Lance Russell. Steamboat hypes his upcoming tag match with Jerry Stubbs against “the best tag team in the world”, the Fabulous Ones, and thanks the fans for supporting him in the CWA. (B+, 86)

King of Kings Qualifying Match
--Ricky Steamboat and Jerry Stubbs def. The Fabulous Ones in 8:35 by pinfall after Steamboat landed a flying crossbody on Keirn. (B-, 76) After the match, both teams offer a handshake to each other as a mutual sign of respect. (B-, 74)

--Lance Russell hypes the upcoming battle royal by running down the list of participants, in which the winner will face Jerry Lawler at King of Kings for the Southern title: Steve Keirn, Stan Lane, Moondog Spot, Robert Gibson, Ricky Morton, Norvell Austin, Steve Williams, Koko Ware, Dennis Condrey, and Moondog Rex. (B-, 72)

--Dennis Condrey wins the battle royal for the right to face Jerry Lawler at the King of Kings main event. The last two remaining were Dennis Condrey and Steve Williams. Jim Cornette distracted Steve Williams long enough for Condrey to push him over the top rope for the win. (B, 79) After the match, Cornette celebrated with Condrey along with Norvell Austin as Williams sat stunned in the corner. (C, 62)

--Bill Dundee comes out for an interview and thanks Manny Fernandez and the bad reflexes of Randy Savage for helping him win this past Monday night. As Savage comes out to respond, Dundee says that Savage and Fernandez should know you can’t put anything over on the Superstar. (B+, 86)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Jerry Lawler def. Sabu the Wildman in 9:41 by pinfall after a piledriver. (B, 82) Lawler makes his 7th defense of the Southern title. After the match, Dennis Condrey and Norvell Austin beat down Lawler as the show ends. (B-, 72)

Show Rating: B+, 86

TV Rating: 0.42 (321,380 viewers)

Post Show Notes

--The King of Kings battle royal is set: Bill Dundee, Randy Savage, Bobby Eaton, Adrian Street, Junkyard Dog, Buzz Sawyer, Jerry Stubbs, Ricky Steamboat, Manny Fernandez, and King Kong Bundy

--The winner will get a title shot at Jerry Lawler, or the Southern heavyweight champion at that time, at next month’s Night of Champions.

--I sign The Spoiler and re-sign Leroy Brown and Don Bass.

--Former CWA wrestler, Wayne Farris, has been let go by Southeast Championship Wrestling. He is now unemployed. I ask for negotiations and he says it is too soon to return to CWA. He still considers himself a freelancer.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 4, April 1983
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Attendance: 2,840 (Capacity: 3,700)

--Jimmy Hart comes out with King Kong Bundy and Buzz Sawyer and is interviewed by Lance Russell. Hart wants Eddie Marlin to come out. He asks Marlin why King Kong Bundy has not received his Mid-America title shot and Cooley defended the belt this past Saturday against Leroy Brown. Marlin agrees with Hart and tells Hart that Bundy will receive his title shot on Saturday’s TV show because of Bundy’s participation in the King of Kings battle royal on Thursday night. (C, 62)

--Jerry Stubbs def. Troy Graham w/Jimmy Hart in 5:40 by submission after a Figure Four Leglock. (C, 59)

--Lance Russell interviews Wendell Cooley about Eddie Marlin’s announcement that he must defend the Mid-America title against Bundy this Saturday. Cooley accepts the challenge ahead of him and that he expects the masked man to show up, if he has the guts. (C, 65)

--Jimmy Valiant def. Phil Hickerson in 6:42 by pinfall after a Boogie Woogie Elbow Drop. (C, 60)

--Randy Savage def. Bobby Fulton in 6:52 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (C+, 70) After the match, Savage says that Bill Dundee’s win over him this past Saturday was the biggest fluke in the history of wrestling. He promises Dundee he will be coming for him during King of Kings. (B, 81)

--Steve Williams def. Sabu the Wildman in 7:47 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 75)

--Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee come out to hype their match with the Midnight Express, saying that they’ve won the Southern tag team titles three times and don’t be surprised if number four is tonight. Jim Cornette comes out with the Midnight Express and argues with Lawler and Dundee with Cornette telling Lawler he needs to be worried about defending the Southern heavyweight title against Dennis Condrey. (B, 82)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee def. The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette by disqualification in 11:47 when Randy Savage and Manny Fernandez attacked Dundee and Lawler. (B, 81)

--The beatdown continued until Cornette landed tennis racket shots on the heads of Lawler and Dundee. (B, 80) The Midnight Express retain their titles on a disqualification.

Show Rating: B, 78

Post Show Notes
--A solid card for a Mid-South region show. The show rating was lower than usual compared to our recent outings. Still, I’ll settle for a B show outside our home region. Hopefully, this will be a nice lead-in for Thursday night’s big event.

[tucking fypo]

CWA King of Kings
Thursday, Week 4, April 1983
Memphis, Tennessee
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

--Lance Russell opens King of Kings by showing a video hyping the battle royal and how each wrestler got there through the tag team qualifying matches. (A, 90)

--The Fabulous Ones def. Leroy Brown and Ray Candy in 9:40 by pinfall after a Savate Kick by Lane on Brown. (B, 80) After the match, the Fabs are violently attacked by the Sheepherders, Jonathan Boyd and Rip Morgan, and run into the ringposts multiple times, bringing blood to both Lane and Keirn. (C, 62)

--Wendell Cooley comes out and hypes his championship match with King Kong Bundy on Saturday’s show. He tells the fans he will be ready for the masked man if he decides to interfere. Cooley also warns any member of the First Family, including Jimmy Hart, to stay out of his matches. (C+, 67)

--Ricky Morton def. The Spoiler in 11:49 by pinfall after a missile dropkick. (B-, 75)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and hypes his Southern heavyweight title defense against Dennis Condrey in the main event. Lawler ends the interview by reminding the competitors in the King of Kings battle royal that one may be crowned the King tonight but there’s still only one King of Memphis. (A+, 100)

King of Kings Battle Royal
--Buzz Sawyer wins the King of Kings battle royal in 22:50 after eliminating the Junkyard Dog. (B, 80) JYD got the most eliminations. Bill Dundee and Randy Savage were among the last competitors with Sawyer and JYD. Sawyer wins the title shot against the Southern heavyweight champion at next month’s Night of Champions.

The order of elimination was as follows:
--Jerry Stubbs was eliminated in under 1:00 by King Kong Bundy;

--Adrian Street was eliminated by JYD;

--King Kong Bundy and Manny Fernandez were both eliminated by JYD;

--Bobby Eaton was eliminated by Randy Savage;

--Ricky Steamboat was eliminated by Buzz Sawyer following a Savage low blow;

--Bill Dundee and Randy Savage were both eliminated by JYD when Dundee caught Savage on the top rope getting ready for an elbow drop on JYD; as Dundee prepared for a superplex from the top rope, JYD knocked both Dundee and Savage off balance and onto the floor;

--JYD was eliminated by Sawyer; JYD had Sawyer up for the Thump when Sawyer grabbed the ring rope and pulled both competitors over the top; Sawyer held on while JYD hit the floor.

--Lance Russell interviews Buzz Sawyer and Jimmy Hart. Sawyer says that people’s worst nightmare came true because he will be the new Southern champion come the Night of Champions. Sawyer barks all the way back to the locker room. (A+, 100)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Jerry Lawler def. Dennis Condrey w/Jim Cornette in 20:59 by pinfall after a piledriver in an excellent match with superb wrestling and great heat. (A, 89) Lawler makes his 8th defense of the Southern heavyweight title. After the match, Lawler celebrated his victory. (A, 90)

[tucking fypo]

Post Show Notes
--All of the buildup was for the battle royal. I just can’t make myself put the battle royal above the promotion championship match. It ended up working out. A great show was capped by Lawler and Condrey working well together and putting on an ‘A’ match with minimal buildup, aside from the last week.

--The countdown is on to the promotion’s biggest event of the year, Night of Champions. The event itself was not something that CWA did at all in 1983. The biggest shows would come out of their partnerships with the AWA and World Class in the mid to late 1980’s (both in their death throes in 1987-88 but very popular in 1983). The weekly Monday night shows were the major events.

--The Sheepherders have returned to feud with their old nemesis, the Fabulous Ones, albeit with a new member to replace the departed freelancer, Luke Williams. The new member, Rip Morgan, made up an incarnation of the Sheepherders in the ‘80’s but with Luke Williams. I may actually talk Butch Miller into coming to CWA one day but without the ridiculously cartoonish gimmick they were shamed into taking in the WWF.

--Morton vs Spoiler was a throwaway match with no hype. Morton needed a boost. The Spoiler is 43 years old but can still put on an above average to good match with the right opponent. However, creative has put him on the time decline list, along with Jonathan Boyd.

Game World News
--Don Muraco is the new WWF Champion, ending the 5 year, 2 month reign of Bob Backlund in the Nassau Coliseum.

--In Georgia, the Masked Superstar is the new NWA National Heavyweight Champion, ending Stan Hansen’s one-month reign as champ.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 4, April 1983
Decatur, Alabama
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Buddy Landel def. Jerry Stubbs in 6:38 by submission after a Figure Four Leglock.

--As the show opens, Lance Russell interviews Randy Savage, who explains that his problems with Bill Dundee are not over. He asks Dundee if he’s ready to “feel the madness”. Savage then displays a fit of intense anger by threatening Russell and Dave Brown at the announcers desk. (A+, 97)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. Rip Rogers and The Spoiler in 6:46 by pinfall after an Alabama Jam by Eaton on Rogers. (B-, 76) After the match, Eaton and Ware cut a promo hyping their quest on winning the Southern tag titles from the Midnight Express. (B-, 71)

--The Fabulous Ones come out for an interview with Russell. Keirn explains that they knew the Sheepherders would be back one day to finish what they couldn’t a few months ago when they took the tag titles away from the Sheepherders. Lane adds they don’t care if a little more blood is spilled. (B, 78)

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title Match
--King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart def. Wendell Cooley in 6:14 by pinfall after a Big Splash. The masked man attempted to interfere in the match but was met with fury by Cooley as they fought outside the ring, much to the surprise of Bundy, who just stood in the ring and waited.

--Adrian Street then came out and piledrived Cooley on the arena floor as Jerry Calhoun was distracted by Hart. Cooley’s lifeless body was then thrown into the ring for Bundy to finish. (B-, 76) King Kong Bundy wins the Mid-America title for the first time. After the match, Jimmy Hart celebrates the title win with Bundy. (B, 80)

--A disgusted Lance Russell attempts to interview Adrian Street and the masked man. Street says that “Gwendolyn” should have been more focused and careful in his match with Bundy. Street then introduces his friend, who removes his mask. The person is revealed to be a debuting Hercules Hernandez. Street blows a kiss to the TV audience as he leaves the set. (C+, 68)

--Bill Dundee comes out and says he wants to give Lance Russell and Dave Brown an extra pair of eyes for the upcoming match between Randy Savage and Tommy Rogers. (B, 82)

--Randy Savage def. Tommy Rogers by pinfall in 7:58 after a flying elbow drop. (B-, 75). After the match, Dundee is clapping as Savage makes his way toward the announcers table. Savage again says its too bad they were thrown out of the ring together by JYD at King of Kings because he was close to finishing Dundee. Dundee responds that it doesn’t matter because the last time there was a match with Savage, he needed Manny Fernandez’s help and didn’t know how to use a chair. (B+, 86)

--Jim Cornette comes out and hypes Dennis Condrey’s effort against Jerry Lawler at King of Kings, saying that Lawler was lucky the match didn’t last another two minutes as Condrey had the match won. (B+, 86) Cornette then hypes the Midnight Express and their tag team title reign. (B+, 88)

--Ricky Steamboat def. Rick Rude in 7:43 by pinfall after a flying crossbody. (B-, 76) After the match, Steamboat thanks the fans for coming out tonight and that he should have known that Savage would use underhanded ways to get ahead in the battle royal and wasn’t prepared for it. (B+, 86)

--Jerry Lawler comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. Lawler hypes his almost three-month reign as Southern champion. Buzz Sawyer and Jimmy Hart make their way out and interrupt Lawler. They tell him that at next month’s big event, Night of Champions, the Sawyer era begins and Lawler will fade into obscurity. Lawler responds by saying that Sawyer’s best day couldn’t match The King’s worst day and he will walk out with the title. (A+, 100)

--Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette def. Steve Williams in 13:19 by pinfall after the Flying Burrito. (B, 82) After the match, Cornette’s Dynasty comes out and congratulates Manny on his victory. (B+, 87)

Show Rating: B+, 88

TV Rating: 0.39 (293,580 viewers)

Post Show Notes
--Bill Dundee asks for a $430 pay raise. He is currently making $1280 per appearance. No problem with this. He is a cornerstone of CWA.

[tucking fypo]

April End of Month Review

--Buzz Sawyer wins the King of Kings and is poised to take on Jerry Lawler in the hottest storyline in the company.

--Bill Dundee and Randy Savage’s feud is the second hottest storyline but could surpass Lawler/Buzz come Night of Champions. Dundee defeated Savage on the Monday Night Tour in week 3, which rated a 92. Manny Fernandez lurks in the background of this feud as Dundee continues to insult Cornette and Savage refuses to be stuck to either Cornette or Hart.

--Adrian Street is the mastermind behind the masked man attacks on Wendell Cooley, much to the surprise of King Kong Bundy and Jimmy Hart. Cooley and Street will rekindle the solid feud from January and February, along with Hercules Hernandez.

--The Fabulous Ones and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express continue their drive for the tag titles, held by the Midnight Express. The Sheepherders have entered the fray and have their sights on getting retribution on the Fabulous Ones, who took the tag titles from them in January.

--Ricky Steamboat’s contract ends in just over a month so he will be around for the Night of Champions. He is a freelancer so he will move on after his contract is over.

Best Matches of April

**Singles – Bill Dundee defeated Randy Savage on the Monday Night Tour in Week 3 with a 92 rated match.

**Tag Team – Bill Dundee and Randy Savage defeated Steve Williams and Koko Ware on Championship Wrestling in a King of Kings Qualifying Match with an 82 rated match.

Best Card of the Month
Monday Night Tour, Week 3 rated a 92. The main event was Dundee vs Savage.

Finances and Prestige
--We made $533,128 in April. This puts us at $1,555,480. Jerry Jarrett has rated by performance as excellent.

--Our prestige sits at 63, up from a 61 on April 1. Our momentum is 100 based on winning all US regional battles in April.

CWA Titles Roll Call

AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, 100 prestige (no change from last month)
--Jerry Lawler, 8 title defenses, Won February 1983

AWA Southern Tag Team Champions, 100 prestige (no change from last month)
--The Midnight Express, 2 title defenses, Won March 1983

NWA Mid-America Champion, 81 prestige (+15 from last month)
--King Kong Bundy, 0 title defenses, Won April 1983

[tucking fypo]

Here's a look at the game world on May 1, 1983

Company Rankings in order and change in America from January 1 with world ranking in parentheses. Listed below each promotion is the company champion.

1. Georgia Championship Wrestling, +2 (1)
--NWA National Heavyweight, Masked Superstar

2. World Class Championship Wrestling, -1, (5)
--NWA Texas Heavyweight, David Von Erich

3. Southwest Championship Wrestling, +5 (6)
--SWCW Heavyweight, Dick Slater

4. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, -2 (7)
--NWA World Heavyweight, Ric Flair
--NWA United States Heavyweight, Greg Valentine

5. World Wrestling Federation, NC (9)
--WWF World Heavyweight, Don Muraco

6. Mid-South Wrestling, NC (12)
--North American Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog

7. Championship Wrestling Association, +2 (13)
--AWA Southern Heavyweight, Jerry Lawler

8. Championship Wrestling from Florida, -4 (15)
--NWA Florida Heavyweight, Bob Orton, Jr.

9. American Wrestling Association, -2 (16)
--AWA World Heavyweight, Wahoo McDaniel

10. Pacific Northwest Wrestling, NC (17)
--NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight, Billy Jack Haynes

11. Central States Wrestling, NC (21)
--NWA Central States Heavyweight, Manny Fernandez

12. World Wrestling Council, NC (23)
--WWC Universal Heavyweight, Carlos Colon

13. Southeastern Championship Wrestling, +1 (24)
--NWA Southeastern Heavyweight, Tommy Rich

14. World Wrestling Association, -1 (25)
--WWA World Heavyweight, Greg Wojokowski

--Some moving going on with CWA moving up two spots nationally and worldwide. Southwest continues their meteoric rise. They are now the third ranked company in America and sixth worldwide.

--The AWA looks to be in a steady decline. I will “break away” from the AWA and NWA soon (although there was no alliance to start the game) and focus on a new CWA World Heavyweight title with an eye on unification with the Southern and Mid-America titles. A TV title might also be added to the mix to defend on every episode of Championship Wrestling.

--Championship Wrestling from Florida really surprises me. With a roster of Dusty, Orton, Windham, and The Snake, they’ve only averaged a 58 in their five shows from April. Jake Roberts was part of the two highest-rated matches in April but is stuck in the midcard with wins over their lower midcard , openers, and enhancement talent. Dusty is the head booker.

American companies in the red
Central States at -$589,686

World Wrestling Council at -$259,560

World Wrestling Association at -$167,032

Southeastern at -$65,106

--I’ve noticed that for all of the in-ring success Southwest has had, they are losing around $20,000 per month. They sit as just over $67,000 in the bank right now. World Class and Georgia, on the other hand, have over $2.2 million on hand. CMLL is the richest company in the world right now with $3.3 million.

--The wrestling landscape in America will probably look very different in the next two to three months.

Other champions from around the world
All-Japan – NWA International Heavyweight, Jumbo Tsuruta

Calgary Stampede Wrestling - CSW North American Heavyweight, Leo Burke

CMLL – NWA World Middleweight, Rayo de Jalisco

Maple Leaf Wrestling – NWA Canadian Heavyweight, Raymond Rougeau

New Japan – NWA World Junior Heavyweight, Tiger Mask; IWGP Champion – Andre the Giant


Franchise Players
Ricky Steamboat
Ricky Morton
Jerry Lawler
Buzz Sawyer
Junkyard Dog

Most Popular Workers in America
1. Andre the Giant
2. Superstar Billy Graham
3. Wahoo McDaniel
8. Junkyard Dog
38. Buzz Sawyer


Most Popular Workers in the World
1. Andre the Giant
2. Harley Race
3. Superstar Billy Graham
13. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams
83. Junkyard Dog

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 1, May 1983
Tallahassee, Florida
Attendance: 15,000 (Sell Out)

-Jerry Lawler comes out for an interview with Lance Russell hyping his title defense tonight against Randy Savage and his opponent for Night of Champions, Buzz Sawyer. (B-, 76) He is then ambushed by Sawyer and members of the First Family. (B, 79) Sawyer then taunts Lawler, repeatedly yelling if that’s crazy enough “fo’ the Kang”. (B+, 87)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart def. Jimmy Valiant in 8:13 by pinfall after a Big Splash. (B-, 74) Bundy makes his first defense of the Mid-America title. After the match, Jimmy Hart hypes Bundy and his title win over “Gwendolyn” this past Saturday on Championship Wrestling (C+, 68) Hart then tells Lawler that come the end of the month, Buzz Sawyer will be the new Southern champion. (C+, 69)

--The Sheepherders come out for an interview and are immediately attacked by the Fabulous Ones. Keirn and Lane throw the Sheepherders into the ring and beat the hell out of them for two minutes before the Sheepherders can finally escape. (C, 62)

--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def. Terry Taylor by submission after a full nelson. (C, 60) Street hypes the strength of Hercules and the demise of “Gwendolyn”. He says it looks like it will be awhile before he returns to the promotion. (C+, 67)

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express def. Phil Hickerson and Troy Graham in 6:40 by pinfall after a double dropkick on Graham. (B-, 74) After the match, as Morton and Gibson are leaving the ring, Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express come out and taunt the R’n’R Express, telling them they can leave so the fans can see a real tag team. (C+, 68) Morton and Gibson respond by telling Cornette there’s only one way to see who the best tag team is and put the tag team titles on the line. Cornette said he didn’t say anything about a match or putting the belts on the line. (B-, 72)

--Lance Russell interviews Bill Dundee, who says that Savage acts like he’s the best but he didn’t win the King of Kings battle royal, Dundee pinned him in the middle of the ring after Savage hit himself with a chair, and will probably lose to Lawler tonight. He says that Savage talks a big game but can’t beat anyone in a big match. (B+, 87)

--Bill Dundee def. Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette by disqualification in 15:37 after Randy Savage interfered in the match, leading to a 2-on-1 beatdown of Dundee. (B+, 87) The beatdown continues until Jerry Lawler comes out for the save and helps Dundee drive Savage and Manny from the ring. (A, 91)

--Buzz Sawyer comes back out and grabs a chair away from a fan. He comes over to Lance Russell and says crazy is hitting yourself over the head with a chair. He proceeds to himself in the head with the chair several times before drawing blood, taking Russell by surprise as he gets away from Sawyer. (A, 90)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Jerry Lawler def. Randy Savage in 17:17 by a quick pinfall after a Dundee distraction on Savage. (B+, 88) After the match, an irate Savage comes over to Lance Russell and swears vengeance on Dundee, challenging him to any match of his choice at Night of Champions. (B+, 85)

Show Rating: B+, 86

Post show notes
--Some of the promos on this show were lower than usual. Can’t figure out why. Maybe I need to get out of the Southeast a little bit.

--Junkyard Dog asks for a $1270 pay raise to what he’s worth at $3570. I give him the full raise, which makes him happy. I would say he’s worth it, we have some money to spend and it makes people happy.

--Lawler and Sawyer are sitting at an 86 on storyline heat with Dundee and Savage right behind at 84. Anything less than B+ rated matches at Night of Champions would be a disappointment.

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express have challenged The Midnight Express to the tag team titles but Cornette balks.

Game world notes
--Central States has lost two of their five TV slots for Wrestling at the Chase. The struggle continues for them. Naturally, I attempt a takeover and am rejected.

--A slew of upcoming retirements have hit the timeline: co-founder of the AWA, Wally Karbo; former WWF champion, Stan Stasiak; Bob Orton, Sr; Mae Young; Mildred Burke; Whipper Billy Watson; Tojo Yamamoto

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 1, May 1983
Memphis, Tennessee
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart def. Bobby Fulton in 5:39 by pinfall after a Rude Awakening. (C, 61) After the match, Jimmy Hart hypes Rude as the next big thing in wrestling and a future champion. (C+, 67)

Pre Show Match
--Bobby Eaton def. Bill Ash (one-night deal) in 7:20 by pinfall after a spinning neckbreaker. (C+, 70)

--Ricky Steamboat comes out to be interviewed by Lance Russell. Steamboat says he is tired of Buzz Sawyer’s antics lately and challenges him to a match later in the show so he can be humbled. (A+, 97) Sawyer and Jimmy Hart come out and accept Steamboat’s challenge with Hart saying nothing or nobody is gonna stop the Mad Dog from winning the Southern title. (A, 90)

--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def. Jerry Stubbs in 6:08 by submission after a full nelson. (B-, 72) After the match, Street tells Lance Russell that Hercules is his bodyguard, just in case “Gwendolyn” wants to make a move on him. (C, 65)

--The Sheepherders, Jonathan Boyd and Rip Morgan, come out for a promo with Lance Russell. Boyd and Morgan express their displeasure at the Fabulous Ones for their attacks on the “most respected and feared team in professional wrestling”. (C-, 56).

--The Fabulous Ones come out and spray their way toward the announcers table. Keirn says the entire arena is filled with the smell of goats and sheep. Lane wonders aloud to Keirn if that was the just the smell of their old ladies. (B-, 75)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette def. Rick Gibson and Terry Taylor in 7:21 by pinfall after Dennis Condrey landed a full nelson faceslam on Gibson. (B-, 75) The Midnight Express make their third defense of the AWA Southern tag team titles.

--After the match concludes, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express come out and sarcastically congratulate the Cornette and his team. Ricky Morton again challenges the Midnight Express to a title match, this time at Night of Champions. Cornette says he will think about it and get back with them. (C, 64)

--Jerry Lawler comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. He asks Russell what have we come to when people are hitting themselves in the head and drawing blood on purpose in 1983. (B-, 74) Buzz Sawyer then comes through the crowd and attacks Lawler at the announcers table. Sawyer lays Lawler on the table and performs a diving splash onto him from the edge of the ring through the the table. (A+, 100)

--Bill Dundee def. Don Bass in 8:25 by pinfall after a piledriver. (B-, 76)

--As Dundee is leaving the ringside area, Randy Savage comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. He says he has yet to hear an answer from Dundee on what type of match he wants and, furthermore, challenges Dundee to any type of match at Night of Champions. (B+, 88)

--Ricky Steamboat comes out and cuts a promo. He says that promoter Eddie Marlin has approached him and asked him about an inter-promotional match at the Night of Champions. He says he doesn’t know who he is facing but welcomes a challenge from any wrestler from any part of the United States. (B+, 83)

--Junkyard Dog and Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette fought to a draw in 9:52 when Jerry Calhoun lost control of the match and declared a double stoppage. (B, 82)

--Following the match, Jim Cornette taunts JYD and challenges him to a no time limit, no disqualification match at Night of Champions so he can’t have the chance to cheat. JYD agrees to the match. (B-, 71)

--Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart def. Ricky Steamboat in 16:27 by pinfall after a small package. The match had sensational wrestling and fantastic heat. (A, 91)

Show Rating: A, 92

TV Rating: 0.44 (335,910 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 2, May 1983
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Attendance: 2,987 (Capacity: 4,000)

--Jim Cornette comes out with the Dynasty to start the show. Cornette says that he has consulted with his business manager, his mother in Louisville, Kentucky, and says that he will accept the challenge made by the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express for the tag team titles at Night of Champions. (C, 62)

--The Moondogs w/Jimmy Hart def. The Fantastics in 7:29 by pinfall after Spot used his bone to hit Bobby Fulton and get the pin. (C, 60)

--'Dr. Death' Steve Williams def. Buddy Landel in 9:12 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 73)

--Williams then gives an interview with Lance Russell. He says he’s never liked Jimmy Hart and the First Family. He challenges any member of the First Family to a match at Night of Champions. (B+, 83) King Kong Bundy and Rick Rude sprint out and beatdown Williams, with Hart watching from the announcers desk. (C, 62)

--Bill Dundee def. Hans Schroder (one-night deal) in 6:49 by pinfall after a piledriver. (B-, 75) After the match, Dundee tells Lance Russell that he needs a little more time to think about his match stipulation but will have an answer by Saturday for the TV show. (B, 79)

--Junkyard Dog def. Rip Rogers in 8:37 by pinfall after the Thump. (B-, 75). Following the match, JYD says that he can’t wait for the match with Manny Fernandez at Night of Champions because Manny has something he wants. Russell looks confused as JYD walks away. (B+, 87)

--Randy Savage def. Koko Ware in 12:17 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B, 81) Savage continues to punch Ware after the pin. Bill Dundee comes in to make the save for Koko. (B, 79)

Show Rating: B, 81

Post Show Notes
--I make my first talent trade. This one is with Georgia. I will probably do all talent swaps for three appearances. I am trading their National Heavyweight Champion, Masked Superstar, in exchange for Steve Williams and $7,000. He is not available on Saturdays but will appear on two Monday night shows and the Night of Champions event. The biggest event of the year needs massive star power. He will be paid $2,650 per appearance.

--A rule I will have is that I can’t job out the incoming talent in all three appearances. For challenge sakes, a borrowed worker will not take more losses than wins for the duration of the contract (usually three appearances).

--Out of the blue, Southeastern Championship Wrestling has a hostile relationship with Southwest, the WWF, and CWA. The common denominator is that none of the companies are part of the NWA. It will be interesting to see where this goes.

[Chas in Cinti]

Still following this, extremely entertaining...

[tucking fypo]

Still following this, extremely entertaining...

Appreciate that, Chas. This has been one of my more enjoyable dynasties in the TEW series.

[tucking fypo]

The next show will be lengthy but quite important in the DOTT '83 universe.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 2, May 1983
Memphis, Tennessee
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def Jerry Oates in 6:58 by submission after a full nelson. (C-, 58)

Pre Show Match
--Buddy Landel def. Porkchop Cash in 6:39 by submission after a figure four leglock. (C, 65)

--Very solemnly, Lance Russell opens the show by saying that CWA owner, Jerry Jarrett, has a very important announcement regarding the future of Championship Wrestling after the first match. (B, 81)

--Randy Savage comes out with Buzz Sawyer as both hype their upcoming matches at Night of Champions and their tag team match later in the show against Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler. Savage and Sawyer say that the team of Dundee and Lawler cannot match the intensity of the Macho Man and the Mad Dog and this match is just a preview of things to come. (B+, 87)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart def. Bob Yuma (one-night deal) in 6:34 by pinfall after the Big Splash. (C+, 69) Bundy makes his 2nd defense of the Mid-America Title.

--CWA owner, Jerry Jarrett, comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. He thanks the fans for their support in helping the CWA become home to the best wrestling in the United States.

**Jarrett tells Lance that CWA has bought Central States Wrestling, one of the most respected and well-known promotions in the United States since 1948. Jarrett hypes the rich history of the promotion, including such wrestlers as Harley Race, Dick Murdoch, Bruiser Brody, and Dusty Rhodes. He said his goal is to expand CWA to all parts of the United States.

**He explains that Manny Fernandez is the Central States Heavyweight Champion and that he never defended the belt in CWA because of Central States Wrestling by-laws that kept Fernandez from defending, or even displaying a Central States title belt, in other promotions. He says that Fernandez will defend his Central States title at Night of Champions against Junkyard Dog.

**Lastly, Jarrett says that as of July 1, 1983, the AWA and NWA affiliation will end on all CWA titles, including the Southern title, the Southern tag team title, and Mid-America title. Jarrett announces that the holders of the Southern Heavyweight title and the Central States Heavyweight title will face off at the July 4th event, Red, White, and Bruise and unify the titles into the new CWA World Heavyweight championship. He adds that a TV title will be added and the final match for that title will take place in the last TV show of June before the July 4th event, Red, White, and Bruise. (C+, 65)

--Lance Russell interviews Jim Cornette, who comes out with the Midnight Express. Cornette says he’s glad Jerry Jarrett finally finished talking. Cornette hypes their upcoming tag team title defense against the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express at Night of Champions (B, 79) Morton and Gibson come out and tell Norvell Austin and Dennis Condrey that their days are numbered as tag team champions. The two teams argue but come short an all-out brawl. (C, 61)

--Promoter Eddie Marlin comes out and tells the TV audience that Ricky Steamboat’s opponent at Night of Champions will be one of the best wrestlers in the country, Masked Superstar. (C, 60) Steamboat comes out and thanks Marlin for working this deal out. Steamboat says that he respects Superstar and is looking forward to the challenge. (B+, 87)

--Junkyard Dog def. Buzz Tyler in 10:53 by pinfall after a series of dog headbutts on Tyler. (B-, 75) After the match, JYD says that come Night of Champions, he will be the new Central States Heavyweight champion when Manny Fernandez will become the next Thump. (B+, 86)

--The Fabulous Ones come out for an interview with Lance Russell. Keirn and Lane say that after they defeat the Sheepherders at Night of Champions, their next goal will be to get the tag team titles back around their waist. (B-, 75)

--Jim Cornette comes back out and hypes Manny Fernandez. He says that Manny won’t back down from a challenge and will gladly defend the prestigious Central States title against Junkyard Dog. He also says that if Jerry Jarrett comes back out and talks anymore, they will have to put up mirrors throughout the arena to make it look like a crowd is still there. (B-, 72)

--Ricky Steamboat def. Rip Rogers in 9:23 by pinfall following a flying crossbody. (B-, 75)

--Bill Dundee comes out and hypes his upcoming match versus Randy Savage at Night of Champions. He tells the audience that he has decided he wants that match to be a Last Man Standing match. He says the only way to win is to beat your opponent so badly that he can’t answer the ten count and it is a no holds barred match. He tells Savage to get ready for the beating of his life. (B+, 85)

--Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee def. Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart and Randy Savage in 17:31 by pinfall after a Lawler piledriver on Buzz Sawyer led to the clean pin. (B+, 85)

--As Dundee and Savage continue fighting back to the locker room, Lawler chases Hart away from the ringside area. Lawler then goes under the ring to retrieve a large bucket filled with syrup and begins to empty its contents on Sawyer. He then goes back under the ring to get two large sacks filled with feathers and empties those on a recovering Sawyer as Lance Russell complains about the mess left in the ring. Lawler leaves Sawyer in the ring a sticky mess. (A+, 100)

Show Rating: B+, 88

TV Rating: 0.40 (304,400 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

--I bought out Central States. They surprisingly and finally agreed after going mountains into debt. Five more workers had been released by Central States when I attempted a buyout. They were $607,679 in debt, a hefty price tag no doubt, but I had $1.8 million to spend. I pillaged the promotion and kept Buzz Tyler, Porkchop Cash, The Super Destroyer, and Super Destroyer II.

--The Missouri Heavyweight champion is the Super Destroyer (Bill Irwin). He will keep the mask for now. The Central States Champion is Manny Fernandez. The belts will be brought over to CWA with a title unification later. There will be three main event titles in CWA, way too many for a regional promotion, unless we’re talking about World Class, where they loved their titles.

--The Central States Tag Team titles were vacant so I’m not sure whether I need to acknowledge them in the coming week.

--I fired Porkchop Cash in January. He has improved enough to where I can throw him in some matches and he could be effective. His stats, particularly brawling, basics, and psychology, has improved greatly. IRL, he was part of a tag team with Troy Graham called The Bruise Brothers. A funeral was held by Jimmy Hart on Saturday morning wrestling on WMC-5 and they were re-introduced and rebranded as the New Fabulous Ones, after Keirn and Lane’s departure from Memphis. Lance Russell’s disgust at Hart is great. The video is worth checking out. Joe Leduc also makes a special appearance at the funeral.

Jimmy Hart and the 'death' of The Bruise Brothers - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GsKFvsiDC0)

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 3, May 1983
St. Louis, Missouri
Attendance: 4,167 (Capacity: 5,000)

--Jim Cornette opens the show by hyping the Central States Heavyweight champion, Manny Fernandez, and his title defense against Jerry Oates in tonight’s main event. There is a smattering of cheers at the mention of Central States. (C+, 70)

--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def. Terry Taylor in 6:38 by disqualification when a returning Wendell Cooley attacked Street and then Hercules and began choking him out with a piece of rope. (C, 59) Cooley then rages over to the announcers desk and is interviewed by Lance Russell. Cooley challenges Hercules to a match at the Night of Champions. (C, 60)

--Lance Russell shows highlights of this past Saturday’s tag match involving Randy Savage, Bill Dundee, Buzz Sawyer, and Jerry Lawler and Lawler’s post match syruping and feathering of Sawyer. (B, 81)

--Porkchop Cash def. The Spoiler in 8:01 by pinfall after a Cash In. (C+, 68)

--King Kong Bundy comes out with Jimmy Hart. Bundy tells Lance Russell that after he beats Steve Williams at Night of Champions to retain his Mid-America title, he will have his eye on bigger and better things. (B, 79)

--The Sheepherders def. The Fantastics in 7:02 by pinfall after Jonathan Boyd’s flying headbutt on Bobby Fulton. (C-, 55)

--Lance Russell calls out the Fabulous Ones for an interview. Keirn and Lane hype their Night of Champions match versus The Sheepherders. They say it will be a major step in them getting back the tag team titles. (C+, 68)

--”Dr. Death” Steve Williams def. Buzz Tyler in 9:25 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 75)

--Junkyard Dog cuts a promo talking about his match at Night of Champions versus Manny Fernandez. He says he can’t wait to Thump Jim Cornette after he wins the Central States title. He asks Lance Russell who would name a move, the Flying Burrito, besides an idiot managed by an idiot. (B+, 84)

--Masked Superstar def. Jimmy Valiant in 11:31 by pinfall after a swinging neckbreaker. (B, 80) After the match, Masked Superstar promises a victory against the nice guy, Ricky Steamboat, on Thursday night. (B-, 71)

--Buzz Sawyer rages out to the announcers desk and asks Lance Russell why the match from Saturday night was shown. Russell says he’s just following what was written on the paper in front of him. Sawyer warns Russell not to show it again or he will beat him down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and back. (A+, 98) Jerry Lawler comes out with another bucket of syrup and threatens Sawyer for a second layer as Sawyer slowly retreats away from ringside. (A, 93)

Central States Heavyweight Title Match
--Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette def. Jerry Oates in 9:38 by pinfall after the Flying Burrito. (B, 79) Manny makes his 16th defense of the Central States title.

Show Rating: B, 82

Weekly News
--I re-sign Bill Dundee to a deal at $2,250 per appearance. I also re-sign Sabu the Wildman at $1,100 per appearance.

--Tully Blanchard is the new Southwest champion, his 7th reign.

[tucking fypo]

The card for Night of Champions

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title
Jerry Lawler (c) vs Buzz Sawyer

Central States Heavyweight Title
Manny Fernandez (c) vs Junkyard Dog

AWA Southern Tag Team Titles
The Midnight Express (c) vs The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express

NWA Mid-America Title
King Kong Bundy (c) vs Steve Williams

Last Man Standing Match
Bill Dundee vs Randy Savage

Masked Superstar vs Ricky Steamboat

The Fabulous Ones vs The Sheepherders

Hercules Hernandez vs Wendell Cooley

[tucking fypo]

CWA Night of Champions
Thursday, Week 3, May 1983
Louisville, Kentucky
Attendance: 15,000 (Sell Out)

--The Fabulous Ones def. The Sheepherders by pinfall in 6:44 after a Savate Kick by Stan Lane on Rip Morgan. (B-, 75)

--”Dr. Death” Steve Williams comes out and hypes his title match with King Kong Bundy. Williams says he will be the first to bodyslam Bundy since Bundy came into the promotion almost three months ago. (B-, 75)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--”Dr. Death” Steve Williams def. King Kong Bundy w/Jimmy Hart in 6:44 by pinfall after Williams’ two Oklahoma Stampedes on Bundy. (B-, 75) Dr. Death wins the Mid-America title for the first time.

--Lance Russell interviews Ricky Steamboat about his upcoming match against Masked Superstar. Steamboat says he is excited about facing Masked Superstar and says the fans are the reason he is getting this opportunity. (A+, 100)

--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def. Wendell Cooley in 7:52 by a quick rollup when Adrian Street threw salt in Cooley’s eyes with referee Jerry Calhoun down, allowing Hercules the pin. (C+, 67)

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express come out and tell the Midnight Express to be ready for the match of their lives. They also warn Jim Cornette to keep his distance from the ring or he will feel four boots to the face. (b-, 71)

--Lance Russell interviews Masked Superstar. Superstar says that he supposes it is nice that Ricky Steamboat says nice things about him and respects him and how excited he is to wrestle him. Superstar then tells Lance the only thing he wants to do is beat people up and win. (B, 79)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express def. The Midnight Express in 12:51 by pinfall after a double dropkick on Dennis Condrey. Jim Cornette ran into the ring during the match, hoping for a disqualification and title retaining but was met with a missile dropkick by Ricky Morton. (B-, 80) The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express win the Southern tag team titles for the first time.

--Bill Dundee comes out for a promo and taunts Randy Savage about the upcoming Last Man Standing Match and how Savage only thinks with his emotions, not with his brain. He says he will find a way to beat Savage, whether Savage likes it or not. (A, 94)

--Masked Superstar def. Ricky Steamboat in 14:05 by pinfall after a spike DDT. (B, 80)

--Lance Russell interviews Randy Savage in advance of his match with Bill Dundee. Savage tells Dundee that it doesn’t matter if he has emotions or not, Dundee will be knocked out tonight and then touch all four corners and he will be the last man standing. (A+, 98)

Central States Heavyweight Title Match
--Junkyard Dog def. Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette in 15:38 by pinfall after a Thump. Again, Cornette tried to distract JYD and referee Jerry Calhoun but he was met with a vicious headbutt, drawing blood on Cornette. (B+, 85) JYD wins the Central States Heavyweight title.

--Buzz Sawyer comes out with Jimmy Hart and gives a fiery, rambling promo on Jerry Lawler. He tells Lawler it took a full day for Jimmy Hart to get all of the syrup and feathers off him from last week’s attack. Buzz says he will do something tonight that will hurt Lawler more: taking the Southern title from him in front of his adoring fans. (A+, 100)

--Lance Russell reminds the fans in attendance that the next match is a no holds barred match and there must be a winner. (B-, 76)

Last Man Standing Match
--Randy Savage def. Bill Dundee in 18:47 when Savage touched all corners with the hand of an unconscious Dundee. Manny Fernandez ran in during the match and wrapped a cloth with some chemical on it around Dundee’s head, putting him to sleep. Savage then touched all corners dragging Dundee along to each one. (B, 82)

--Lance Russell interviews Jerry Lawler, who hypes his three-month reign as Southern champion. He taunts Sawyer, saying it sounds like he and Jimmy Hart had some good bonding time over the past few days. He wonders if Hart stayed with Sawyer and gave him a full body bath to get the syrup and feathers off of him. Sawyer fumes in the ring as he waits for the title match. (A+, 100)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart def. Jerry Lawler in 22:24 by pinfall after a Bulldog in a match that saw a bloodfest from the early minutes of the match. (A+, 99) After the match, Hart and Sawyer celebrate the title victory as Sawyer coats Hart’s cheap white suit with blood. (A, 90) Sawyer wins the Southern heavyweight title for the second time.

Show Rating: A+, 97

[tucking fypo]

Post Show Notes
--All four titles change hands at the biggest event of the year, topped off by an epic main event and the highest rated match in CWA in 1983.

--Randy Savage thinks that Hercules Hernandez is money and I should strap a rocket to him.

--Sawyer goes clean over Lawler, somewhat of a rarity whenever Lawler lost a title in Memphis. Sawyer actually held the Southern title for a couple of days in early 1979 before it was vacated after he defeated the Mongolian Stomper (not vacated by the well-known title vacator, Stanley Blackburn, mind you) hence his second reign. Buzz is white-hot right now with the King of Kings win and winning the title over the top face in the company but will have a bigger challenge next month.

--Savage goes over Dundee after interference by Manny, setting up the Dundee-Manny battle that has been on and off this year, with Cornette in the middle.

--With Steamboat and Bundy leaving after their contracts are over (they are freelancers), they put over Masked Superstar and Dr. Death. Steamboat has a couple of days left so he will be on the card for Saturday night. This is Dr. Death’s first run with a title in CWA. His attitude has been better and he is a very reliable worker. This will add to the prestige of the Mid-America title.

--Masked Superstar has one appearance left on his deal. That will be a match on the Monday Night Tour in week 4.

--I’m still at a crossroads with the Missouri Heavyweight title and the vacant Central States tag team titles. For storyline purposes, I thought about putting the tag belts on the Super Destroyers (Scott and Bill Irwin, a solid tag team in their own right) and have them feud with the Fabs to set up the unification with the R’n’R Express or Midnight Express. Having The Super Destroyer (Scott Irwin) as the Missouri champion clouds things up a bit.

--The upcoming TV title tournament will feature no one higher than midcard status to give more matches and experience to less used or more jobbed out workers. It wouldn’t make sense to me to defend a TV title on the Monday night tour since there is technically no TV on Monday night. There is an announcer and colour commentator, however.

--There is only three weeks between big events over the next two months so feuds will be short on some ends and built up on others.

--JYD now holds the Central States title, along with the North American title in Mid-South. I am his priority company which helps with scheduling, of course.

--Jim Cornette loses three belts, the Southern tag titles and the Central States title. He will have plenty to say about that. Jimmy Hart gains the top title, the Southern title, but loses the Mid-America title and King Kong Bundy.

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express win their first tag team titles. This is actually Robert Gibson’s sixth time as a tag team champion; four with his brother, Rick Gibson and once with Bill Dundee. Ricky Morton is a tag team champion for the fourth time; two times previous with Ken Lucas and one time with Eddie Gilbert.

--The World Wrestling Council is looking for buyers and I bite. They are $349,815 in debt. Again, having a strong financial backing is key. It still puts me at $1,127,049. I disband the promotion and don’t pick up any contracts, titles, events, or TV (I share the same broadcaster with them) but I do absorb their popularity in Puerto Rico (40). I will not make a big deal of this acquisition on TV as I did Central States. I had 7 popularity there before. I’m sure as hell not picking up Invader #1’s contract. I don’t want that bastard in my locker room, particularly the showers.

--I release The Sheepherders, Jonathan Boyd and Rip Morgan. They don’t have good chemistry and I just don’t like the team itself. I have signed the 24-year-old Meng. I will eventually pair him with the Barbarian. They will need a mouthpiece soon.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 3, May 1983
Starkville, Mississippi
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Jerry Stubbs def. King Cobra in 6:58 by pinfall after a figure four leglock. (C+, 66)

--Jimmy Hart comes out carrying the AWA Southern title with Buzz Sawyer following behind. Hart says he told everyone that Sawyer was going to end Lawler’s reign as champion. He tells Lance Russell to get ready for a new age of Memphis wrestling with the First Family in charge. Sawyer hypes his win and says Lawler couldn’t hang with the Big Dog and he will do it again, if necessary. He warns Ricky Steamboat he will be the next victim in the main event tonight. (A, 90)

--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def. Bob Yuma (one-night deal) in 6:51 by submission following a full nelson. (C, 61) After the match, Street hypes the upcoming TV title tournament, saying that Hercules is the clear favorite to win. (C, 65)

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express come out to a hot crowd and hype their title win over the Midnight Express at Night of Champions. They say that although they’ve both held tag gold before, it means more this time because it might shut Jim Cornette up. (B, 79)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. Sabu the Wildman and Lou Winston in 7:29 by pinfall after an Eaton Alabama Jam on Sabu. (B-, 75) After the match, Eaton and Ware hype their participation in the TV title tournament. (B-, 73)

--Lance Russell interviews Jerry Lawler, in which Lawler says that he has no excuses for losing the Southern title to Sawyer. He says that since Hart wants to run around acting like the champion and wearing the belt, maybe he would like to fight the King. Otherwise, he will ask Eddie Marlin for a rematch, although Sawyer is not obligated to grant it. (A+, 100)

--Randy Savage def. Porkchop Cash in 8:30 by pinfall after a flying elbow drop. (B-, 76) After the match, Savage taunts Bill Dundee, telling Lance Russell that it’s hard to win matches when you’re asleep, like Bill Dundee was at Night of Champions. Lance reminds Savage of why he fell asleep and Savage explains that Manny Fernandez was just telling a bedtime story to ‘mini-Superstar’ and that a no holds barred match means that nothing is illegal. (A+, 100)

--Bill Dundee def. The Spoiler in 9:01 by pinfall after a piledriver. (B-, 75) Dundee quickly exits the ring after the pin as a camera follows Dundee to the dressing rooms. Dundee then attacks Jim Cornette and Manny Fernandez near the restrooms. Dundee finds the nearest cord and begins choking out Fernandez while Cornette runs away screaming for help. (B, 79)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart def. Ricky Steamboat in 15:43 by pinfall after a diving splash. (A, 93) Sawyer makes his first defense of the Southern title.

--Sawyer continues his assault on Steamboat after the match as Junkyard Dog comes out to make the save. Sawyer tries to surprise attack JYD when his back is turned on him but is repelled after Steamboat comes to and helps drive Sawyer and Hart from the ringside area. (A+, 100)

Show Rating: A, 92

TV Rating: 0.54 (407,020 viewers)

Post Show Notes
--Jerry Jarrett has given me an additional goal: it is of high importance to keep JYD above 71 overall popularity in America.

--Ricky Steamboat has left Mid-Atlantic. He will now be unemployed.

--I go into talent trade discussions with Georgia again. I borrow Larry Zbyszko for three appearances at $2,200 per appearance. I am also exchanging $20,000 for the agreement. I don’t mind throwing around money at this stage. Larry is a 99 in psychology and 92 on the mic. This will be worth it.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 4, May 1983
Knoxville, Tennessee
Attendance: 12,700 (Sell Out)

--Lance Russell reminds the fans in attendance that the TV title tournament will begin with three matches this Saturday on Championship Wrestling and an announcement by Jerry Jarrett. (C+, 68)

--”Dr. Death” Steve Williams comes out and hypes his Mid-America title win over King Kong Bundy at Night of Champions. He says he has heard that Bundy will not be around anytime soon after his loss. Williams says that the Mid-America title is a prestigious belt and getting it out of the First Family and Jimmy Hart’s greedy hands was the best thing to happen for the promotion. (B-, 74)

--Jimmy Valiant def. Sabu the Wildman in 6:41 by pinfall after the Boogie Woogie Elbow Drop. (B-, 74) After the match, Valiant hypes his charisma and talks a lot in first person as he plays up to the crowd. (C+, 69)

--Wendell Cooley def. Phil Hickerson in 7:28 by pinfall after a Wildcat Slam. (C+, 68) After the match, Lance Russell interviews Cooley about his loss at Night of Champions after Adrian Street threw salt in his eyes. Cooley says that Street has gotten dumber over the last four months. He says that Street shouldn’t even be considered for the TV title tournament. (C, 64)

--The Super Destroyers def. The Fantastics in 6:50 by pinfall following a superplex by Super Destroyer #1 on Bobby Fulton. (B-, 72)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--”Dr. Death” Steve Williams def. The Spoiler in 9:32 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede (B, 81) Williams makes his first defense of the Mid-America title

--Junkyard Dog comes out for a promo hyping the main event versus Masked Superstar. He says he respects Superstar but he will be next in line for the Thump. He also tells the fans he has a special challenge for Buzz Sawyer on Championship Wrestling this Saturday. (A+, 100)

--Junkyard Dog def. Masked Superstar in 16:01 by pinfall following a Thump. (B, 82)

Show Rating: B, 82

Post Show Notes
--I request and receive a working agreement with All-Japan Pro Wrestling. They have a solid roster with some workers that I would like to have but since I’m regional and they are bigger, those workers would consider AJPW a priority over me.

--Masked Superstar ends his three-match deal with us. He had 2 wins and 1 loss. Back to Georgia for him.

--Mid-South Wrestling did not re-sign Bill Dundee so that leaves us as his only employer.

--Roddy Piper is the new Pacific Northwest Champion, defeating Billy Jack Haynes in Butte, Montana. It is his third reign as PNW Champion.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 4, May 1983
Huntsville, Alabama
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

--Lance Russell opens the show by showing footage from earlier today as Bill Dundee and Manny Fernandez are seen brawling in the parking lot in front of the Von Braun Center. The Midnight Express join in the brawl and help Manny beat down Dundee. Manny finishes off Dundee with a piledriver on the hood of a Pontiac Grand Prix. (B, 81)

--Lance Russell explains to the fans at home that the tournament for the new CWA Television title will take place over the next five Saturdays with 16 participants, culminating with the semifinals and finals on the last Saturday in June. He adds that the title will be defended on weekly TV. (B-, 72)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Buzz Tyler def. Terry Taylor in 6:19 by pinfall following an avalanche. (C-, 58) Tyler advances to the quarterfinals of the TV title tournament.

--Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express come out and express their frustration that they will not be given a rematch for the Southern tag titles and they helped take it out on Bill Dundee. (B, 80)

--The Fabulous Ones come out and interrupt Cornette, declaring that they are clearly the #1 contenders for the titles. Keirn says that Dennis Condrey and Norvell Austin couldn’t even win 1-on-1 contests with them. Cornette steps in and challenges Keirn and Lane to singles matches against Condrey and Austin at the Battle of Memphis. (B-, 72)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Jerry Stubbs def. Sabu the Wildman in 6:32 by submission following a figure four leglock. (B-, 72) Stubbs advances to the quarterfinals of the TV title tournament.

--Lance Russell interviews Jimmy Hart, who hypes Rick Rude’s participation in the TV title tournament. He says that everyone overlooked Buzz Sawyer and he took away Lawler’s Southern title. He says that people are underestimating Rick Rude and that he will bring another title to the Family. Rude hypes his physique and taunts the Huntsville men for not being man enough to tell their wives to start exercising more. (C, 65)

--Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette def. Porkchop Cash in 6:33 by pinfall after a Flying Burrito. (B-, 75) After the match, Cornette and Manny taunt Bill Dundee and tell him to stay out of the Dynasty’s business or his head will hit pavement next time. (C+, 67)

--Jimmy Hart comes out with the Moondogs and says that if the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express had any guts, they would defend the tag team titles against the Moondogs at the Battle of the Memphis. (B, 80) Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson come out and accept Hart’s challenge. (B, 79)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Jerry Oates def. Troy Graham in 4:35 by submission following a spinning toehold. (C, 63) Oates advances to the quarterfinals of the TV title tournament.

--Randy Savage comes out for a promo with Lance Russell. Savage that it’s time for the Macho Man to achieve greatness and gold in Championship Wrestling. Savage challenges ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams to a match for the Mid-America title. (B+, 83)

AWA Southern Tag Team Title Match
--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express def. Ray Candy and Leroy Brown in 9:56 by pinfall after a double dropkick and pin on Brown. (B, 82) Morton and Gibson make their first defense of the Southern tag titles.

--The owner of CWA, Jerry Jarrett, makes his way out to the announcers table. Jarrett announces that the Missouri Heavyweight Champion, Super Destroyer, will defend his title Monday night in St. Louis. Jarrett says if he successfully defends the title there, Jarrett will waive the 30-day title defense requirement and he will face the Mid-America champion at Red, White, and Bruise on July 4 to unify the titles and form the new CWA American Heavyweight Championship. (C+, 67)

--Junkyard Dog comes out with Jerry Lawler and tells Buzz Sawyer that since he can’t face him for the title unification until July 4, he has an offer that Sawyer can’t refuse. He challenges Sawyer to a tag team match at the Battle of Memphis with Lawler and himself facing Sawyer and anyone of Sawyer’s choosing. (B+, 84)

--Sawyer comes out with Jimmy Hart and accepts the challenge. He tells JYD and Lawler that they need to be careful what they wish for. He says he has an old friend in mind and tells JYD and Lawler to be in St. Louis on Monday night to see. (B+, 87)

--Jerry Lawler def. Buddy Landel in 9:41 by pinfall following a piledriver. (B, 82)

Show Rating: B+, 83

TV Rating: 0.53 (400,940 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

May End of Month Review
--All titles changed hands at the Night of Champions event, with Buzz Sawyer defeating Jerry Lawler for the Southern heavyweight title in the hottest storyline in the company, sitting at 96 heat.

Best Matches of May
**Singles – Buzz Sawyer def. Jerry Lawler at the Night of Champions event (99). The match is being considered as one of the best matches in the United States this year.

**Tag Team – Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler def. Randy Savage and Buzz Sawyer on Championship Wrestling in Week 2 (85)

Best Card of the Month
--The Night of Champions event rated a 96. The main event was the Southern title match between Buzz and Lawler.

Finances and Prestige
--We lost $87,150 in May due to buying out Central States Wrestling and the World Wrestling Council. Jerry Jarrett is still pleased at my performance. The bottom line reads that we have $1,468,330 available. Still a considerable amount. Ticket sales for May were the highest to date at just over $1.8 million.

--Our prestige is now 70, up 7 points from a 63 on May 1. Our momentum is 100 based on winning all US regional battles in May. The only region I don’t have coverage in is New England. The WWF wins that one. I can’t get any TV coverage in New England unless I go ‘Small’ or combine with other networks, which I’m not doing at this point. If I did somehow get coverage there, it would help guys like Buzz, Lawler, and JYD expand their popularity in America.

CWA Titles Roll Call

AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, 100 prestige (no change from last month)
--Buzz Sawyer, 1 title defense, Won May 1983

AWA Southern Tag Team Champions, 100 prestige (no change from last month)
--Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, no title defenses, Won May 1983

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Champion, 100 prestige (+19 from last month)
--’Dr. Death’ Steve Williams, 1 title defense, Won May 1983

NWA Central States Heavyweight Champion, 95 prestige (+10 from last month)
--Junkyard Dog, no title defenses, Won May 1983

NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion, 94 prestige (no change from last month)
--The Super Destroyer, 3 title defenses, Won February 1983

Company Rankings ranked in order and change in America from January 1 with world ranking in parentheses. Listed below each promotion is the company champion.

1. Georgia Championship Wrestling, +2 (1)
--NWA National Heavyweight, Masked Superstar

2. Southwest Championship Wrestling, +6 (5)
--SWCW Heavyweight, Tully Blanchard

3. World Wrestling Federation, +2, (6)
--WWF Heavyweight, Don Muraco

4. World Class Championship Wrestling, -2, (7)
--NWA Texas Heavyweight, David Von Erich

5. Championship Wrestling Association, +4, (8)
--AWA Southern Heavyweight, Buzz Sawyer
--NWA Central States Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog

6. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, -4 (10)
--NWA World Heavyweight, Ric Flair
--NWA United States Heavyweight, Greg Valentine

7. Mid-South Wrestling, -1, (11)
--North American Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog

8. Championship Wrestling from Florida, -4 (15)
--NWA Florida Heavyweight, Bob Orton, Jr.

9. American Wrestling Association, -2 (16)
--AWA World Heavyweight, Wahoo McDaniel

10. Pacific Northwest Wrestling, NC (17)
--NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight, Roddy Piper

11. Southeastern Championship Wrestling, +3 (22)
--NWA Southeastern Heavyweight, Tommy Rich

12. World Wrestling Association, +1 (24)
--WWA World Heavyweight, Greg Wojokowski

--We are now the 5th ranked promotion in America and on the heels of World Class. Southwest jumps to #2 and is now one of the top five promotions in the world. Mid-Atlantic and World Class are the biggest decliners this month.

--It appears that Georgia, the WWF, and World Class are here to stay. They are all financially strong and are putting on shows in the C+ to B range consistently. As I said in the beginning, it will be a challenge to break into the top three unless I get to ‘Cult’ status.

--I still plan to make the break from the AWA and NWA titles “official” next month, just in time for the July 4th event, Red, White, and Bruise. I’m still juggling some things around in my head. I will likely just rename the Southern tag titles the World Tag Team titles. The TV title will still stand. I will not mention the Central States tag titles since they were vacant. The winners of the big tag team match at RW&B will become the World Tag Team champions. I’m not confident enough to have two sets of tag titles yet.

[Comey]

Who would you want to bring in the most, should you have the opportunity to do so? For me, it'd be Piper.

[tucking fypo]

No doubt for me it would be Piper, followed by DiBiase. It's difficult to not sign someone like Piper but he works for three companies at this point in the dynasty and I would not be the priority company. Basically, he's four nights a week and I would be lucky to get him any.

It's also a challenge to just wait things out in this particular dynasty and not accidentally go into the editor.

[Comey]

When did Foley start showing up? I read Have a Nice Day, but nearly twenty years ago.

(I just looked up his first book on Amazon. No Kindle version. That's interesting.)

[tucking fypo]

The editor says Foley is set to debut in July '83. He has 77 in brawling, 83 in hardcore, and 90 selling. A superstar in waiting. If I get to cult, I will hold off signing him until someone else can offer a written.

[tucking fypo]

American companies in the red
World Wrestling Association at -$245,227.

Southeastern at -$94,747

Other companies in the red
All-Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling is almost gone. They are looking for buyers for a -$479,919 debt.

All-Star Wrestling (Al Tomko) is at -$106,981.

Atlantic Grand Prix sits at -$83,870.

Southwest, the second-ranked American company, is sitting on shaky ground financially after May. They have $15,423 in the bank. They will probably join the list above next month unless they cut some of their roster. If they continue hemorrhaging money at this rate, it will still be quite a while before they fold.

CMLL continues to be the richest company in the world right now with $3.65 million. World Class is the richest American company at $2.57 million.

Other champions from around the world
All-Japan – NWA International Heavyweight, Jumbo Tsuruta

Calgary Stampede Wrestling - CSW North American Heavyweight, Leo Burke

CMLL – NWA World Middleweight, Rayo de Jalisco

Maple Leaf Wrestling – NWA Canadian Heavyweight, Raymond Rougeau

New Japan – NWA World Junior Heavyweight, Tiger Mask; IWGP Champion – Tatsumi Fujinami (won in May 1983)

Franchise Players
Ricky Morton
Buzz Sawyer
Jerry Lawler
Larry Zbyszko
Junkyard Dog

Most Popular Workers in America
1. Andre the Giant
2. Wahoo McDaniel
3. Superstar Billy Graham
7. Junkyard Dog
38. Buzz Sawyer
39. Steve Williams


Most Popular Workers in the World
1. Andre the Giant
2. Harley Race
3. Superstar Billy Graham
15. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams
83. Junkyard Dog
97. Buzz Sawyer

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 1, June 1983
St. Louis, Missouri
Attendance: 4,804 (Capacity: 5,000)

Pre Show Match/Promo
--Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart def. Dare Bergeron in 5:45 by pinfall after a Rude Awakening. (D+, 52). After the match, Rude insults the men in attendance, telling the women in the audience ‘this is what a real man looks like’. (C, 59)

--Jim Cornette comes out with his Dynasty. He hypes Norvell Austin’s match this coming Saturday in the TV title tournament and Manny Fernandez’s dominance of Bill Dundee. Cornette says that if Dundee isn’t still in a neckbrace next Thursday night, be at the Mid-South Coliseum in Redneck-phis, Tennessee, and fight Manny one more time. (B, 79)

--Meng def. Rick Gibson in 7:23 by submission after a Tongan Death Grip. (C+, 68)

--Jimmy Hart comes out and hypes the Moondogs, telling Lance Russell that here stands the next Southern tag team champions and it might be a good idea for Porkchop Cash and Terry Taylor to go ahead and lay down. (C, 63)

--The Moondogs w/Jimmy Hart def. Porkchop Cash and Terry Taylor in 8:09 by pinfall in a hard-fought match after Moondog Spot hit Terry Taylor with his bone as Jerry Calhoun was preoccupied with Cash and Moondog Rex. (C+, 68)

--Lance Russell interviews Randy Savage, who exclaims that all he’s heard is ‘Steve Williams this, Oklahoma that, Stampede this, Title that’. He says no rookie should have had a chance at any title before the Macho Man. Williams comes out and tells Savage to be there in Memphis next Thursday night and that he will join Bundy on the list of people to leave the territory. (B+, 88)

NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title Match
--Super Destroyer def. Jerry Oates in 9:24 by pinfall following a superplex. (B-, 75) Super Destroyer makes his 2nd defense of the Missouri title. He is also granted a waiver of the 30-day title defense requirement.

--Buzz Sawyer comes out and introduces his partner for the match at the Battle of Memphis, Larry Zbyskzo. Sawyer and Zbyskzo hype the tag team match. Zbyskzo ends the interview by saying that with the best brawler in wrestling teamed with the best technician in wrestling, they will send JYD and Lawler packing. (A+, 96)

--Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette def. Jimmy Valiant in 11:37 by pinfall following a Flying Burrito. (B, 79)

--Jerry Lawler def. Super Destroyer #2 by disqualification following interference by Sawyer and Zbyszko. (B+, 86) The three men continue beating down Lawler until the crowd erupts as Junkyard Dog enters the ring swinging his chain and helping Lawler drive Destroyer, Sawyer and Zbyzsko from the ring. (A+, 100)

Show Rating: B+, 87

--I signed a game-created wrestler, Dare Bergeron. That actually sounds like a cool name so hats off to the TEW engine. He has good brawling (79), great basics (91), decent mic skills (68), great safety skills (96), and can sell (93). It will be awhile before he gets his first win in CWA. This is probably the best game-created character I’ve seen so far. I sign him at $160 per appearance. He is only 17 years old.

--I have to find a good program for one or both Super Destroyers. They are too valuable to just job out all of the time but that might be what is needed in June.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 1, June 1983
Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Danny Davis (one night deal) in 7:12 by pinfall following a Wildcat Slam. (C+, 70)

--Lance Russell starts the show by hyping the six-man tag main event with Jerry Lawler, Junkyard Dog, and Bill Dundee going up against Buzz Sawyer, Manny Fernandez, and Randy Savage. (B, 81) Sawyer, Manny, and Savage come out and promise a beatdown in Georgia tonight. Sawyer says that Larry Zbyzsko is right down the road if Lawler or JYD want him to come visit. (A+, 100)

--Russell hypes the continuation of the TV title tournament tonight with three matches. (B-, 72)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Adrian Street def. Tommy Rogers in 5:48 by submission following a sleeper. (B-, 76) After the match, Street hypes his client, Hercules, and his title qualifier later in the show. (C, 62) Street advances to the quarterfinals of the TV title tournament.

--Lance Russell interviews the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express about their upcoming title defense versus the Moondogs next Thursday night at the Mid-South Coliseum. The Express say they are ready for the challenge and plan on keeping the titles for a long time. (B-, 76) As Morton and Gibson are exiting the interview area, the Moondogs attack Morton and Gibson with the Moondog bones and beat the Express to a pulp, leaving both in a pool of blood. (C+, 69)

--The Fabulous Ones def. Roger Smith and Don Bass in 8:24 by pinfall following a Keirn piledriver on Bass. (B-, 76) After the match, Keirn and Lane talk about their singles matches versus Dennis Condrey and Norvell Austin at the Battle of Memphis, saying that after next Thursday night, it will be back to tag team business and winning the tag titles back. (B, 80)

--Jimmy Hart comes out and hypes the First Family’s upcoming title wins. He says that after the Moondogs win the tag team titles, Rick Rude wins the TV title, and Sawyer retaining the Southern title, there will be a parade in the streets of Memphis, Tennessee. (B-, 71)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def. Bobby Fulton in 5:06 after Fulton submitted to the full nelson. (C-, 61) After the match, Hercules flexes for the cameras while Street wonders aloud where “Gwendolyn” is. (B, 77)

--Jim Cornette is interviewed by Lance Russell. Cornette says his team is ready for Keirn and Lane next Thursday night and reminds the fans that both Condrey and Austin are accomplished singles wrestlers, and not just former tag team champions. (B-, 76) He also talks about the ‘Australian chihuahua’ Bill Dundee and his upcoming loss to Manny Fernandez in the six-man tag and next Thursday night in Memphis. He says that after next Thursday night, Bill Dundee may not have a neck to help keep his thick head on. (B, 82)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Bobby Eaton def. Norvell Austin w/Jim Cornette by pinfall in 7:48 following a Cornette distraction turning into an accidental tennis racket headshot onto Austin. (B-, 76) Eaton becomes the sixth wrestler to advance to the quarterfinals of the TV title tournament.

--Bill Dundee, Jerry Lawler, and Junkyard Dog come out and hype their match versus Manny, Sawyer, and Savage. Lawler says all Sawyer is good at is running his mouth and telling anyone and everyone how crazy he is. JYD tells Sawyer to hug that belt as long as they can because he will win it soon. (A+, 100)

--Jerry Lawler, Bill Dundee, and Junkyard went to a no contest with Randy Savage, Manny Fernandez, and Buzz Sawyer in 15:31 when referee Jerry Calhoun lost control of the match and all of the action spilled out to the ringside area. (B+, 86)

Show Rating: A, 89

TV Rating: 0.51 (386,860 viewers)

Post Show Notes
Television Title Tournament Quarterfinals
--Jerry Stubbs vs Buzz Tyler
--Hercules Hernandez vs Jerry Oates

--Bobby Eaton vs Adrian Street
--Rick Rude/Rick Gibson winner vs Phil Hickerson/Koko Ware winner

--It's curious how I ended up with so many 76 rated angles and matches.

--This is the last TV show before the Battle of Memphis event next Thursday night. This will give another three weeks to get ready for the big July 4th event, Red, White, and Bruise.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 2, June 1983
Conway, Arkansas
Attendance: 4,718 (Capacity: 5,000)

Pre Show Match
--Sabu the Wildman def. Dare Bergeron in 6:12 by pinfall after a flying chop. (C+, 68)

--Steve Williams is out for an interview with Lance Russell when Randy Savage interrupts. Both have an argument before Russell steps between them. (B+, 85)

--Dennis Condrey def. Terry Taylor in 7:14 by pinfall following a full nelson faceslam. (C+, 69)

--Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware def. Meng and the Barbarian in 7:03 by pinfall following two Alabama Jams on the Barbarian. (B-, 75)

--Jerry Lawler and Junkyard Dog come out for an interview hyping their tag match against Buzz Sawyer and Larry Zbyszko on Thursday night. Buzz and Larry storm out the four men begin to brawl around the ringside area. (A+, 99)

--Steve Keirn def. Buddy Landel in 8:30 by pinfall following a piledriver. (B-, 71)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--Steve Williams def. Super Destroyer #2 in 11:34 by pinfall following an Oklahoma Stampede (B, 81) After the match, Randy Savage comes out and tells Williams that a rookie wrestler won’t be any problem against an established wrestler like himself. He tells Williams he’s not worried about their match on Thursday night. (A, 89)

NWA Central States Title Match
--Junkyard Dog def. The Spoiler in 9:44 by pinfall after the Thump. (B, 81) JYD heads over to the announcers table when Lawler comes back out, where they are interviewed by Lance Russell. They hype their tag match on Thursday night and promise the fans a victory. (A+, 100)

--Larry Zbyszko def. Bill Dundee in 16:01 by pinfall following a small package. (A, 89) After the match, Larry taunts JYD and Lawler, saying they have no chance against a legend like himself. (A+, 95)

Show Rating: A, 90

Post Show Notes
--A solid show going into the June Battle of Memphis event. Larry sets himself up as a major threat to Lawler and JYD by defeating Bill Dundee. He and Sawyer will be a formidable tag team.

--Larry Z could be the backbone of the roster if not for the fact that he’s not available on Saturdays due to his Georgia contract. I have a couple of more important contracts to deal with at the end of the week.

--Moondog Spot is becoming a problem backstage. He briefly improved his behavior after being called out on it by the rest of the locker room. Of course, our old friend Jackie Fargo ordered him to cut it out and…buy drinks for everyone after the show.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Battle of Memphis
Thursday, Week 2, June 1983
Memphis, Tennessee
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Meng and the Barbarian def. The Fantastics in 6:48 by pinfall after a Meng superkick on Tommy Rogers. (C+, 66)

Pre Show Match
--Bobby Eaton def. Rip Rogers in 6:48 by pinfall following an Alabama Jam. (B-, 71)

--Jim Cornette opens the show with an interview with Lance Russell. Cornette tells Russell and the fans that they will see the best singles wrestlers that make a tag team tonight in the Midnight Express. He says after they win both matches, they will be winning the tag team titles on July 4. Cornette ends the interview by asking Lance how Memphis girls turn on their bedroom lights. “They open the car door, Lance!!” Russell feigns disgust as Dennis Condrey makes his way out for a match. (B, 81)

--Dennis Condrey w/Jim Cornette def. Stan Lane in 11:09 by a quick pinfall after a distraction by Jim Cornette. (B, 80) Lance Russell calls Cornette over to call him out on his interference. Cornette says ‘if you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying’. (B, 81)

--Steve Keirn def. Norvell Austin w/Jim Cornette in 7:40 by pinfall after a small package when Stan Lane distracted Norvell Austin by attacking Cornette and ripping his pants off of him, forcing him to the backstage area. (B-, 73) After the match, Keirn, Lane, Condrey, and Austin brawl around ringside as Lance Russell pleads for them to go somewhere else. (C+, 69)

--Jimmy Hart comes out and hypes the Moondogs upcoming title match against the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. (B+, 84)

AWA Southern Tag Team Titles
--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express def. The Moondogs in 9:34 by pinfall after Morton took Spot’s bone to the top rope when referee Jerry Calhoun was down, threw it to Moondog Rex, who caught it, while Morton missile dropkicked the bone into Rex’s face for the cover. (B, 80) The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express make their 2nd defense of the Southern tag team titles.

--Bill Dundee def. Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette in 15:35 by pinfall following a piledriver. (B+, 85) After the match, Dundee chases Cornette, who had duck taped his pants together, away from ringside. Dundee pulls Manny to the outside onto the announcers table and piledrives him again. (B, 80)

--A video montage is shown of the events leading up to the Steve Williams/Randy Savage title match. (B+, 86)

NWA Mid-America Title Match
--’Dr. Death’ Steve Williams def. Randy Savage in 16:17 by pinfall after an Oklahoma Stampede. (A, 93) Williams makes his 3rd defense of the Mid-America title.

--Junkyard Dog and Jerry Lawler come out and hype their tag team match against Buzz Sawyer and Larry Zbyszko. (A+, 100)

--Before the match, while JYD and Lawler are in the ring, Buzz Sawyer and Larry Zbyszko cut an interview with Lance Russell with Zbyszko taunting Lawler and Sawyer barking at JYD, who barks back at him. (A+, 100)

--Junkyard Dog and Jerry Lawler def. Buzz Sawyer and Larry Zbyszko in 20:32 after a Thump by JYD and ensuing piledriver by Lawler on Zbyszko. (A+, 99) JYD and Lawler celebrate the win as the show ends. (A+, 97)

Show Rating: A+, 97

Post Show Notes
--Great show with our highest show rating of 1983, exceeding last month’s Night of Champions by 1 point. Also, another match of the year candidate, this in a tag team match, and far exceeding any tag match I’ve had in this run.

--Larry’s three appearance run comes to an end as he heads back to Georgia.

--I check to see if I can strike up a working agreement with the WWF, since there are only a couple of Saturdays that would come into conflict. They have a few notable faces that could work in CWA. Just a few.

--It turns out that Jerry Jarrett wants nothing to do with the WWF or Vince McMahon. Still some hard feelings about what happened in real life, I guess.

--Dr. Death and Savage put on what would have been the best match on any other card in another promotion. Savage is slowly becoming a legit contender and Dr. Death has established his potential dominance. No backstage attitude could lead to a stellar run if he can keep it up. The Creative Team thinks that Savage is an upper midcarder. I put him at main event status just because...its Randy Savage!!

--The tag team scramble continues as the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express defend against the Moondogs while the Midnight Express and Fabulous Ones split their singles matches. A big announcement is coming in the future for these teams at Red, White, and Bruise.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 2, June 1983
Texarkana, Texas
Attendance: 3,627 (Capacity: 5,000)

Pre Show Match
--Super Destroyer #2 def. Dare Bergeron in 5:35 by pinfall after a bicycle kick. (C+, 69)

Pre Show Match/Angle
--Buddy Landel def. Porkchop Cash in 8:02 by submission after Landel applied the figure four leglock. (C+, 68) After the match, Landel says that he is being overlooked and puts the company on notice. (C-, 57)

--Lance Russell interviews a maniacal Randy Savage. Savage says he was cheated out of winning the Mid-America title by ‘that fake football player’. Russell reminds Savage of needing Manny Fernandez’s help to beat Bill Dundee, which makes Savage destroy the ringside area. (B+, 84) Savage then makes a challenge to Junkyard Dog for his Central States title tonight as he walks away. (B+, 86)

--Before his TV title tournament match, Rick Rude grabs a house mic and insults the ‘heavy men and women’ in the Texarkana crowd. He then apologizes by saying ‘I’m sorry if I offended any of you. I hope this doesn’t make you go home and cut yourself….A PIECE OF CAKE!!’ (C+, 68)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart def. Rick Gibson in 6:21 by pinfall after a Rude Awakening. (C, 65) After the match, Hart hypes Rude’s performance and tells the crowd they are looking at the first CWA Television champion. (B, 79) Rude advances to the quarterfinals of the TV title tournament.

--Junkyard Dog comes out and accepts the challenge made by Savage and will face Savage in the main event for the Central States title. (A, 89) Savage sprints to the ringside area and jump JYD as Lance Russell calls for order. Jerry Lawler comes out to make the save and drives Savage away. (A+, 100)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Koko Ware def. Phil Hickerson in 6:31 by pinfall after a Bird Buster. (B-, 73) Koko advances to the quarterfinals of the TV title tournament.

--Wendell Cooley comes out for an interview. Cooley admits that Adrian Street has gotten the best of him and Hercules Hernandez is the real deal. He tells Russell it is time for him to move past Street and Hercules and compete for other titles in the CWA. Russell looks surprised by Cooley’s remarks. (C, 65)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Jerry Stubbs def. Buzz Tyler in 6:44 by submission following a figure four leglock. (C+, 68) Stubbs advances to the semifinals of the TV title tournament.

--Jim Cornette comes out and hypes the Cornette Dynasty. He says he wants the Midnight Express to be named the #1 contenders to the tag team titles and he won’t take no for answer. (C+, 67)

--Adrian Street and Hercules Hernandez come out for an interview with Lance Russell. Street says he thought ‘Gwendolyn’ was more of a man than this as Hercules clinches his fist in the background. Street says either he or Hercules will win the TV title. (C+, 68)

CWA Television Title Tournament Match
--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def. Jerry Oates in 6:44 by submission following a full nelson. (C+, 66) Hercules advances to the semifinals of the TV title tournament.

--Jimmy Hart comes out and introduces the newest member of the First Family, the toughest man in the business, Meng, and says that Jerry Lawler is toast after the next match. (C, 64)

--Jerry Lawler def. Meng by disqualification in 9:18 following interference by Randy Savage (B-, 76) After the match, Savage tells Lawler to stay out of his business and not to even get around the ring for his match with Junkyard Dog. (A, 89)

--Lance Russell makes an announcement at the request of promoter Eddie Marlin. Russell says that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express will defend their tag team titles against the Midnight Express and the Fabulous Ones in a Total Elimination match at Red, White, and Bruise. (C, 63)

NWA Central States Title Match
--Junkyard Dog def. Randy Savage in 12:02 by countout when Savage walked out of the match when JYD clearly had control of the match. Savage was yelling at JYD that this match doesn’t even matter as he walked away. (B-, 76) JYD makes his 2nd defense of the Central States title.

Show Rating: B+, 84

TV Rating: 0.54 (408,690 viewers)

Post Show Notes
TV Title Tournament Update
--Jerry Stubbs vs Hercules Hernandez
--Bobby Eaton/Adrian Street winner vs Koko Ware/Rick Rude winner

--The last two quarterfinal matches will be the only two TV title tournament matches on the next Saturday TV show. The semifinals and finals will take place at the last Saturday show in June.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 3, June 1983
Louisville, Kentucky
Attendance: 15,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
Buzz Tyler def. Dare Bergeron in 6:48 by pinfall following an avalanche. (C, 60)

Pre Show Match
--Meng w/Jimmy Hart def. Tommy Rogers in 6:34 by submission following a Tongan Death Grip. (C, 59) After the match, Hart hypes Meng as a future star and enforcer of the First Family. (B-, 73)

--Koko Ware def. Phil Hickerson in 6:34 by pinfall after a Bird Buster. (B-, 72) After the match, Bobby Eaton joins Ware as they cut an interview with Lance Russell. They hype their upcoming matches in the TV title tournament. (B, 77)

--Manny Fernandez def. Terry Taylor in 7:17 by pinfall after a Flying Burrito. (B-, 74) As the match finishes, Randy Savage comes out and taunts Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler, saying that the hype around their ‘friendship and tag team’ is overrated. He tells Lawler and Dundee that he and Manny Fernandez could easily beat them in a tag team match. (A, 91)

--As ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams comes out for an interview, he is jumped by the Super Destroyers. The Destroyers perform a double superplex with ease on the massive Williams, leaving him laying in the middle of the ring. (C+, 70)

--Super Destroyer 2 w/The Super Destroyer def. Jerry Stubbs in 11:03 by pinfall following a superplex. (C+, 69)

--Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler come out and hype their upcoming match versus the Moondogs. They accept Randy Savage’s challenge and say that Red, White, and Bruise would be a good place to have the match. (A+, 100)

--Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler def. The Moondogs in 10:48 following a Lawler piledriver on Moondog Rex. (B, 81)

--Buzz Sawyer and Jimmy Hart are interviewed by Lance Russell. Sawyer hypes the title unification match and promises Jimmy Hart that the title will stay in the First Family. (B+, 86)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title Match
--Buzz Sawyer def. Jimmy Valiant in 11:37 by pinfall following a diving splash. (B, 81) Buzz makes his 2nd defense of the Southern title.

Show Rating: B+, 85

Game Notes
--Ricky Steamboat has signed a PPA deal with Mid-South. It would be nice to have him right now but that won’t happen for at least another two plus months.

--All Japan moves to cult size. They join Georgia and CMLL as the only other cult promotions.

--Freddie Blassie has retired and is now out of the business.

--Southwest Championship Wrestling has cut production costs as a cost-saving measure. This looks like the first step to cut losses. They are already $44,000 in debt.

--I find myself putting Lawler in more tag matches as of late. After RW&B and just past the six month mark, I’ll need to look over the roster for something fresher.

[Comey]

Koko B Ware disgraced Phil Hickerson so brutally he was forced to change is name and take up another sport entirely.

He took up golf, and found fame as Phil Mickleson. Pssh. We know who you really are, guy.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 3, June 1983
Fort Myers, Florida
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--The Spoiler def. Dare Bergeron in 6:51 by pinfall via a piledriver. (C, 60)

Pre Show Match
--Buddy Landel def. Bobby Fulton in 7:06 by submission after a figure four leglock. (C-, 58)

--Jimmy Hart is followed out by Meng and Rick Rude as Hart is interviewed by Lance Russell. Hart hypes Rick Rude’s upcoming TV title quarterfinal match against Koko Ware. (B, 77)

CWA Television Title Tournament, Quarterfinal Match
--Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart def. Koko Ware in 9:34 with a quick roll up after a Meng distraction. (B, 77) Rude advances to the semifinals of the TV title tournament. After the match, a frustrated Ware goes over to the announcers table and challenges Meng to a match. (B-, 73)

--The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette def. Jerry Stubbs and Jerry Oates in 10:11 by pinfall after a Dennis Condrey full nelson faceslam on Oates. (B-, 75)

--After the match, Jim Cornette calls Lance Russell over for an interview. Cornette calls out Eddie Marlin and asks him to explain the ‘Total Elimination Match’ for Red, White, and Bruise to help the Fort Myers fans who are rare in intelligence because its rare when they show any. Marlin calls out the Fabulous Ones and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. Marlin tells the teams
**there can only be one winner;

**one member of two teams start in the ring and anyone can be tagged in by anyone else;

**if you fail to accept a tag, you and your partner will be disqualified;

**when a member of a team is pinned or submits, that person must leave the ringside immediately or his team is disqualified and fined;

**the last person left in the ring wins the tag team titles for his team through pinfall or submission. (C+, 68)

--Cornette whines to Marlin that it is 4-on-2. Stan Lane interrupts and tells everyone else that they are in to win the tag team titles. Morton says the same thing as Cornette, Condrey, and Austin walk off in anger. (B-, 72)

--Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee come out and hype their match with Randy Savage and Manny Fernandez at Red, White, and Bruise. He tells the fans to be ready for some fireworks when the King and the Superstar light up their opponents on July 4th. (B+, 84)

CWA Television Title Tournament, Quarterfinal Match
--Bobby Eaton def. Adrian Street in 7:58 by countout. Street went looking under the ring for a chair or some type of weapon and his body went limp, allowing for Jerry Calhoun’s 10-count. (B-, 75) Hercules Hernandez comes out and fireman-carries Street to the locker room while a confused announce team wonders what happened. (B-, 73) Bobby Eaton advances to the semifinals of the TV title tournament.

--Lance Russell reminds the TV audience that the semifinals and finals of the TV title tournament will be next Saturday on Championship Wrestling. (B-, 71)

--Buzz Sawyer comes out with Jimmy Hart and hypes his title unification match with Junkyard Dog on July 4th. JYD comes out to the interview area and the two begin arguing, coming short of blows. (A+, 100)

--Randy Savage and Bill Dundee fought to a 15:00 time limit draw. (A, 90) After the match, Manny Fernandez hits the ring, followed by Jerry Lawler and the four men brawl to end the show. (A+, 100)

Show Rating: A, 91

TV Rating: 0.59 (445,830 viewers)

Game News
--Stanley Blackburn has apparently retired and left the business. Too bad he can’t continue screwing people out of winning and keeping the AWA title.

--The Spoiler’s contract is up and he is a freelancer so he will walk after his contract is up with no hard feelings. As with Bundy and Steamboat, I tried to give six-month contracts when negotiations began three months ago but they thought it was too long and wanted something shorter. Perhaps I can get them back when I hit ‘Cult’.

--I request negotiations with the WWF champion, Don Muraco, the NWA US champion, Greg Valentine, the Florida heavyweight champion, Barry Windham, and Ted Dibiase. It is time to be a little more aggressive.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 4, June 1983
Monroe, Louisiana
Attendance: 5,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Rip Rogers def. Dare Bergeron in 6:10 by pinfall following a sleeper. (D+, 48)

Pre Show Match
--Rick Rude def. Jerry Oates in 6:45 by pinfall following a Rude Awakening. (C, 59)

--Lance Russell interviews Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee to start the show. Lawler says he likes his tag team with Bill Dundee and thinks they could be tag team champions but has his eye on the title unification match at next week’s July 4th event. Dundee says Cornette and Fernandez can plot and scheme all they want but they will not get rid of him. (A+, 100)

--Bobby Eaton def. The Spoiler in 10:30 by pinfall after an Alabama Jam. (B, 78)

--The Super Destroyers come out for their first interview since joining CWA. Destroyer #1 promises to unify the Missouri Heavyweight Title and the Mid-America title next Thursday night. Destroyer #2 says that after his partner wins versus Steve Williams, they will dispatch the tag team division, beginning with bottom feeders like Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware. (C, 63)

--Adrian Street comes out with Hercules Hernandez walking. Street hypes Hercules' match this Saturday for the TV title. Lance Russell asks Street what happened under the ring this past Saturday. Hercules steps in and says after the arena emptied, he looked under the ring and found a pair of brass knucks. He said whoever did it will pay by getting racked. (C, 64)

--Randy Savage def. Porkchop Cash in 11:29 by pinfall following a flying elbow. (B, 80) After the match, Manny Fernandez joins Savage as they hype their tag match versus Lawler and Dundee. (B+, 85)

--’Dr. Death’ Steve Williams comes out for an interview and says he is looking forward to tonight’s tag team main event when he and Junkyard Dog will face the Super Destroyers. Williams says there is no way Super Destroyer #1 will walk out of the arena at Red, White, and Bruise with gold around his waist. (A+, 100)

--Jim Cornette comes out and tells Lance Russell that Jerry Jarrett and Eddie Marlin have been conspiring against the Midnight Express and the Express has been wrestling against the odds and the match on July 4th proves it. He said all four of their opponents will try to get rid of them first in the Total Elimination match but says that his team will walk out of the ring the tag team champions. (B-, 73)

--Jerry Lawler def. Roger Smith in 10:17 by pinfall following a flying fist drop. (B, 81)

--’Dr. Death’ Steve Williams and Junkyard Dog and The Super Destroyers fought to a double stoppage as both teams refused to listen to Jerry Calhoun and the match got out of control. (B+, 86)

Show Rating: B+, 86

Post Show Notes
--Not a bad show. Williams and JYD had each other’s backs when they entered the CWA. This is their second tag match. The first being against the pre-Zambuie Express, Ray Candy and Leroy Brown. It did help with the storyline involving Williams and The Super Destroyer, leading up to RW&B.

--The Dundee/Manny feud will come to a head at RW&B. Lawler and Savage, however, need to go on a little longer.

--I am sitting on the edge of ‘Cult’ size after this show. I inherited Central States’ popularity after the buyout back in mid-May. They were sitting just short of 44. Hopefully, after the next TV show and the July 4th event, I will be able to sign written deals and start killing promotions like Vince did.

--The bloodletting begins in Southwest as Jonathan Boyd, Chick Donovan, Kelly Kiniski, Eddie Mansfield, and Al Perez are released. This leaves only 19 wrestlers on their roster. Bigger names to come? They have, however, cut their production expenses on music and broadcast quality.

--After the Saturday TV show, I will post a six-month review. It will be lengthy but it feels necessary at the point. I like doing the reviews and looking at game world, company, and individual progress. And it helps me recharge.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 4, June 1983
Jackson, Mississippi
Attendance: 10,000 (Sold Out)

Pre Show Match
--Don Bass def. Dare Bergeron in 6:27 by pinfall following a running powerslam. (C, 63)

Pre Show Match
--Koko Ware def. Lou Winston in 6:03 by pinfall following a Bird Buster. (B-, 72)

--Steve Williams comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. He is confronted by the Super Destroyers and they eventually begin attacking Williams. They beat Williams down until several backstage workers come out to break it up. (B-, 74)

--Lance Russell goes through the matchups for the TV Title tournament and says that the semifinals and title match will be tonight with Bobby Eaton versus Rick Rude in the first semifinal and Hercules Hernandez versus Jerry Stubbs in the second semifinal with the winners facing off later in the show. (B, 78)

CWA Television Title Tournament, Semifinal Match
--Bobby Eaton def. Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart in 6:49 by pinfall following botched Hart interference. (B-, 75) Eaton advances to the TV title tournament finals. After the match, Jimmy Hart complains to Lance Russell that this is not the way things are supposed to be. (B, 80)

CWA Television Title Tournament, Semifinal Match
--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def. Jerry Stubbs in 5:46 by submission following a full nelson. (B-, 75) Hercules advances to the TV title tournament finals. Before the match, Street was seen checking under the ring and giving Hercules the all-clear.

--As the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express make their way out for an interview, the Midnight Express come out and demand what Morton and Gibson are trying to pull for their tag title defense. The Fabulous Ones then come out and tell Jim Cornette, Dennis Condrey, and Norvell Austin to suck it up and come ready for a fight on Thursday night. (C, 64)

--Lance Russell calls out Bill Dundee for an interview. Dundee hypes his tag match with Jerry Lawler against Manny Fernandez and Randy Savage next Thursday night. Dundee tells the fans he’s sick of Jim Cornette and sick of Manny Fernandez. Dundee challenges Manny to a match right now because he wants to fight tonight. Fernandez and Jim Cornette oblige. (B+, 84)

--Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette def. Bill Dundee in 10:14 after Manny used the ropes for leverage and securing the pinfall. (B, 82) After the match, Cornette taunts Dundee, saying he is no better than the backwoods rubes who live in Jackson, Mississippi. (B, 77)

CWA Television Title Tournament Championship
--Bobby Eaton def. Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street in 9:44 by pinfall to become the first CWA TV champion. (B, 82) During the match, the lights went out while Jerry Calhoun was down. When they came back on, Adrian Street was laying in the floor ringside and Wendell Cooley standing behind Hercules, knocking him out with a pair of brass knucks and leading to the Eaton pinfall. After the match, Cooley said if Hercules ever comes to, he can show up on July 4th and fight again. (B-, 74)

--Randy Savage comes out and hypes his match in the main event versus Jerry Lawler and the tag match with Manny Fernandez against Lawler and Dundee. Savage says that Lawler is ripe for the picking because he is too worried about recapturing the Southern title. (B+, 86)

--Jerry Lawler comes out to respond to Randy Savage. Lawler tells Savage that beating Savage tonight will be a sign of things to come for he and Fernandez. (B+, 86)

--Randy Savage def. Jerry Lawler in 13:01 after a quick rollup by Savage followed by using Lawler’s tights for the pin. (B, 82) After the match, Lawler sat in the corner stunned as Savage celebrated. (B+, 87)

--A camera catches Junkyard Dog and Buzz Sawyer brawling in the back parking lot. The brawl ends after JYD used his chain to choke out Sawyer, leaving him lying in the parking lot while he chased Jimmy Hart away. (A+, 100)

Show Rating: B+, 87

TV Rating: 0.54 (410,390 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

Post Show Notes
--There will be no Monday show this week. The next event will be Red, White, and Bruise.

--With the move to ‘Cult’ the networks let me change Championship Wrestling from 90 minutes to 2 hours.

--Tony Schiavone enters the game world and I immediately sign him. He is rated a B- in Announcing and C+ in Colour Commentary. I will put him in Colour along with Dave Brown and always alongside Lance Russell.

--With the move to ‘Cult’, I sign the following current workers to written contracts: Jerry Lawler, Robert Gibson, Norvell Austin, Rick Rude, Koko Ware, Hercules Hernandez, Dave Brown, Lance Russell, and Jerry Calhoun. Several more are pending.

--Manny and Savage get big singles wins on the last June show and are looking to carry the momentum to July 4th and beyond.

--Bobby Eaton becomes the first CWA Television champion with a little help from Wendell Cooley and his brass knucks. Cooley is set to take on Hercules, who suffered only his second loss since joining CWA in April. The first loss was to Cooley for the Mid-America title.

--Tojo Yamamoto leaves the company after contract expiration.

--Bruno Sammartino left the WWF due to contract expiration. This ends a 20-year run as the most popular wrestler in company history.

[tucking fypo]

DOTT Mid-Year Review

I’ll take a thorough look at the DOTT universe, which has changed significantly since the beginning of the year.

The TEW Mid-Year Awards

Wrestler of the Year
--Genichiro Tenryu has been in 42 matches and NINE of them have been rated 99. His average match rating is 88. There’s nothing that would suggest he won’t be #1 on the Top 100 list at the end of the year.

Company of the Year
--New Japan Pro Wrestling has had 20 shows rated an A to A+. The Love to Burn Tour event in January rated a 96 and featured Tatsumi Fujinami defeating Tiger Mask in the main event, which scored a 99. The match before that was also scored a 99, when Antonio Inoki defeated Andre the Giant.

Tag Team of the Year
--Tatsumi Fujinami and Akira Maeda have teamed together seven times at an average of 88. Their highest rated match was against Hulk Hogan and Antonio Inoki (96)

Match of the Year
--Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Tiger Mask at the NJPW Betrayed Tour event in May. It rated a 99.

Show of the Year
--The Battle of Memphis is the highest rated event so far in the DOTT 1983 universe. It rated a 97.

Young Wrestler of the Year
--Akira Maeda has wrestled in 11 A or above matches.

Veteran Wrestler of the Year
--Umanosuke Ueda is leading the field so far with 3 A or above rated matches at age 43.

Female Wrestler of the Year
--18 year old Chigusa Nagayo has stood out for her 84 average match rating over 32 matches.

Independent Wrestler of the Year
--Spike Huber has only wrestled three matches and has a 64 average match rating.

99 Rated Matches
All Japan 9
New Japan 7
CWA 1

# of A and above rated matches
New Japan 61
All Japan 45
CWA 9
All Japan Women’s Pro 5
Southwest 5
WWF 5

[tucking fypo]

TEW Most Popular in the World
1. Andre the Giant
2. Harley Race
3. Superstar Billy Graham
4. Terry Funk
5. Jack Brisco
14. ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams
80. Junkyard Dog
82. The Spoiler
99. Buzz Sawyer

TEW Most Popular in America
1. Andre the Giant
2. Wahoo McDaniel
3. Superstar Billy Graham
4. Ric Flair
5. Jimmy Snuka
6. Junkyard Dog
38. Buzz Sawyer
40. Steve Williams
55. Manny Fernandez
65. Bill Dundee
91. The Super Destroyer (Scott Irwin)

Company Rankings ranked in order and change in America from January 1 with world ranking in parentheses. Listed below each promotion is the company champion.

1. Georgia Championship Wrestling, +2 (1), Cult
--NWA National Heavyweight, Masked Superstar

2. Championship Wrestling Association, +7 (5), Cult
--AWA Southern Heavyweight, Buzz Sawyer
--NWA Central States Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog

3. World Wrestling Federation, +2, (6), Regional
--WWF Heavyweight, Don Muraco

4. Southwest Championship Wrestling, +4 (7), Regional
--SWCW Heavyweight, Tully Blanchard

5. World Class Championship Wrestling, -3, (7), Regional
--NWA Texas Heavyweight, David Von Erich

6. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, -4 (10), Regional
--NWA World Heavyweight, Ric Flair
--NWA United States Heavyweight, Greg Valentine

7. Mid-South Wrestling, -1, (12), Regional
--North American Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog

8. American Wrestling Association, -1 (15), Regional
--AWA World Heavyweight, Wahoo McDaniel

9. Championship Wrestling from Florida, -5 (16), Regional
--NWA Florida Heavyweight, Bob Orton, Jr.

10. Pacific Northwest Wrestling, NC (17), Regional
--NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight, Roddy Piper

11. Southeastern Championship Wrestling, +3 (22), Regional
--NWA Southeastern Heavyweight, Tommy Rich

12. World Wrestling Association, +1 (24), Small
--WWA World Heavyweight, Greg Wojokowski

World Rankings and Size of Foreign Companies
2. Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, Cult

3. New Japan Pro Wrestling, Regional

4. All Japan Pro Wrestling, Cult

9. Joint Promotion UK, Regional

11. Calgary Stampede Wrestling, Cult

13. Maple Leaf Wrestling, Regional

14. Universal Wrestling Association, Regional

18. International Wrestling, Regional

19. Big Time Wrestling (UK), Regional

20. All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling, Regional

21. Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling, Small

23. All Star Wrestling, Small


Companies in the Red
--All Star Wrestling, -141,953

--Atlantic Grand Prix, -179,376

--Southeastern, -154,124

--Southwest, -25,020

--World Wrestling Association, -322,502

--I’ve decided to go into the Game Editor and “inject” some cash into All Japan Women’s Pro. They were almost $500,000 in debt. The game world needs it and it helps the women’s wrestling scene. GLOW and Japan’s Women Pro don’t come in until 1986.

--The WWA is looking for buyers. Not biting on this one.

--By the looks of it, there could be 3-4 less companies by October. There are 24 companies left worldwide.

[tucking fypo]

June Report
--CWA now has $1.83 million available after posting a solid $362,780 gain in June.

--With the company size increasing to ‘Cult’, our company prestige increases to 86, an increase of 16 from June 1. Company momentum stands at 98.

Best Matches of June
**Singles – ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams def. Randy Savage at the Battle of Memphis (93)

**Tag Team – Junkyard Dog and Jerry Lawler def. Buzz Sawyer and Larry Zbyzsko at the Battle of Memphis (99)


Best Card of the Month
** The Battle of Memphis rated a 97, our highest of the year so far.


The card for Red, White, and Bruise

CWA World Heavyweight Title Unification Match
AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Buzz Sawyer vs NWA Central States Champion Junkyard Dog

CWA American Title Unification Match
NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion Super Destroyer #1 vs NWA Mid-America Champion Steve Williams

CWA World Tag Team Title Match
Total Elimination Match
Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Champions) vs The Midnight Express vs The Fabulous Ones

Manny Fernandez and Randy Savage vs Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee

Bobby Eaton vs Super Destroyer #2

Koko Ware vs Meng

Hercules Hernandez vs Wendell Cooley

[tucking fypo]

CWA Red, White, and Bruise
Monday, July 4, 1983
Lexington, Kentucky
Attendance: 23,000 (Sell Out)

--Lance Russell opens the show by running down the card for the event. (B-, 74)

--Wendell Cooley def. Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street in 3:46 by pinfall following botched interference from Street. (C-, 56) Street attempted to pass a pair of brass knucks to Hercules. It was caught by Cooley, who hit Hercules, and hit the Wildcat Slam for the win.

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express come out and hype their upcoming Total Elimination title defense versus the Midnight Express and the Fabulous Ones. Morton and Gibson promise the fans they will become the first CWA World Tag Team champions. (B, 79)

Non-title match
--Super Destroyer #2 w/Super Destroyer #1 def. Bobby Eaton in 7:12 by pinfall following a Bicycle Kick. (B-, 75) After the match, Super Destroyer #1 tells the crowd that there may be no Missouri Heavyweight champion after tonight but he will leave with a title. (C, 65)

--Meng w/Jimmy Hart def. Koko Ware by pinfall following a Jimmy Hart distraction of referee Jerry Calhoun, allowing Rick Rude to come in and give Koko the Rude Awakening and leading to the pin for Meng. (B-, 74)

--’Dr. Death’ Steve Williams comes out for an interview with Lance Russell. Williams says he is looking forward to becoming the first CWA American champion and warns Super Destroyer #2 to stay away from the ring. (A, 92)

--Randy Savage, Manny Fernandez, and Jim Cornette are interviewed by Tony Schiavone. Manny says that he doesn’t mind bleeding if it means that his partner can drop the flying elbow on Lawler or Dundee. Savage reminds Dundee to not get caught napping during the match, referring to his win over Dundee at the Night of Champions in May with help from Fernandez. (B, 79)

Mid-America Title/Missouri Heavyweight Title Unification Match
--The Super Destroyer def. ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams in 14:01 by pinfall following a failed shoulder block into the ringpost by Williams and ensuing Superplex by Super Destroyer. (B, 81) The Super Destroyer wins the CWA American Title.

--The Midnight Express and Jim Cornette come out and hype what Cornette calls the most unfair match in the history of professional wrestling, masterminded by the half-brained dimwits Eddie Marlin and Jerry Jarrett. (B-, 73)

--The Fabulous Ones are then called out by Lance Russell. Stan Lane and Steve Keirn say that even though the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express are great champions and good friends, you get in the ring to win and friendships are out of the window, especially when titles are on the line. (B, 77)

Total Elimination Match for the the World Tag Team Titles
--The Fabulous Ones def. The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express by pinfall in 17:18 after Stan Lane’s Savate Kick on Dennis Condrey. (A, 91) The order of elimination was Robert Gibson, Norvell Austin, and Steve Keirn, which left Ricky Morton, Stan Lane, and Dennis Condrey.

--Lane savate kicked Morton to the shock of the fans in attendance and Condrey covered to eliminate Morton. Lane then savate kicked a celebrating Condrey for the pinfall. The Fabulous Ones are the first CWA World Tag Team champions.

--After the match, as the Midnight Express left ringside, Lane offered a handshake to Morton as Keirn grabbed the belts and Gibson looked on, telling Morton it wasn’t personal. Morton walked away from the handshake. (B+, 86) The Fabulous Ones celebrate their win to a few boos from the Lexington crowd. (B, 81)

--Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee come out to hype their match against Savage and Fernandez. Lawler tells Cornette he has another thing coming if he’s trying to pull something tonight. Dundee says that after tonight, Cornette might need a neckbrace after a piledriver by he and Lawler. (A+, 100)

--Junkyard Dog hypes his title unification match versus Buzz Sawyer in the main event. JYD tells the fans that they will not leave this arena disappointed as he leaves the arena with two belts. (A+, 100)

--Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler def. Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette and Randy Savage by pinfall in 18:20. (B+, 85) As Lawler, Savage, and referee Jerry Calhoun were incapacitated, Jim Cornette unzipped his tennis racket and handed a cloth to Manny. Dundee low-blowed Manny and put the cloth on Manny’s face, putting him to sleep. Dundee then ducked a tennis racket to the head by an interfering Cornette and put the cloth on his face and put him to sleep. Dundee then pinned Manny after Calhoun recovered, leaving Dundee the only man standing with bodies everywhere.

--Buzz Sawyer cuts a promo and tells the fans that he has been the best wrestler in CWA since he arrived five months ago. He said nothing changes tonight and he will walk out as the first CWA world champion. (A+, 100)

AWA Southern Heavyweight Title/NWA Central States Heavyweight Title Unification Match
--Junkyard Dog def. Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart in 22:49 by pinfall after the Thump in a match that featured a hot crowd and exceptional wrestling. (A+, 99) Junkyard Dog wins the new CWA World Heavyweight Title. After the match, JYD celebrates his victory with the fans. (A+, 100)

Show Rating: A+, 96

--Incredible show with another A+ match involving Buzz Sawyer. The Total Elimination tag team match was the highest rated match in 1983 for any of the participants involved and the highest for any regular tag teams so far.

--I hope people don’t mind the expanded storytelling in some of these matches but I feel some of the endings deserve an explanation, such as the Total Elimination tag team title match. I’m not as talented as many of the folks over on the TEW boards but I picture some of these endings going down in 1983.

--Before the jump to ‘Cult’, JYD was up for renegotiation and told me that CWA was too small for him and I was ready to let him walk. The original plan was to put over Buzz while JYD walked away and for Buzz to continue his reign of terror on the roster and rev up for another big feud with Dundee and then Lawler. The move up was apparently good enough for JYD as he agreed to a written deal, hence the title change. JYD is by far the most over worker on the roster.

--I want to declare war on other companies but Jerry Jarrett won’t let me. He wants to keep good relationships with other companies, except the WWF, and has blocked any attempts at changing those relationships. I can’t even get a hostile relationship. Nothing.

--In other news of the day, Dave Righetti pitched a perfect game against the Red Sox.

CWA Title Roll Call
**CWA World Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog (won July 1983)
100 prestige

**CWA World Tag Team, The Fabulous Ones (won July 1983)
100 prestige

**CWA American, The Super Destroyer (won July 1983)
95 prestige

**CWA Television, Bobby Eaton (won June 1983)
55 prestige

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 1, July 1983
Memphis, Tennessee
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Buddy Landel def. Dare Bergeron in 6:43 by submission after a figure four leglock. (C-, 54)

Pre Show Match
--Ray Candy and Leroy Brown def. Terry Taylor and Porkchop Cash in 7:21 by pnfall after a Candy splash on Taylor. (C+, 69)

--Junkyard Dog comes out for an interview with Lance Russell with the new CWA World Title belt around his waist. JYD thanks the fans for helping him win the world title. He says it was about time the belt was taken from that ‘bald-headed maniac’, Buzz Sawyer. (A+, 100)

--Wendell Cooley def. The Spoiler in 7:56 by pinfall following a Wildcat Slam. (B-, 74)

--A backstage camera catches the Super Destroyers beating down ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams. A figure emerges from the shadows as the Super Destroyers stop what they are doing and step back. A debuting Barry Windham helps Williams up to his feet. (B-, 75)

--Lance Russell tells the TV audience that all TV title matches will have a 10-minute time limit. (B-, 73)

CWA Television Title Match
--Bobby Eaton def. Troy Graham in 6:03 by pinfall following an Alabama Jam. (B-, 76) After the match, Rick Rude comes out and taunts Eaton, saying that Eaton was lucky to have pinned him in the TV tournament semifinals. Rude said it is just a matter of time before the title belongs to him or someone in the First Family. (C+, 68) Eaton makes his first defense of the TV title.

--Lance Russell calls out the newest CWA signing, Barry Windham. Windham says he is in CWA to face the best wrestlers in the world. He says he’s been keeping up with things in CWA and he is tired of the Super Destroyers sneak attacking people. He challenges Super Destroyer 2 to a match later on and tells Russell that he will be hanging around near the ring so there will be no interference in the next match. (B, 82)

--’Dr. Death’ Steve Williams def. Sabu the Wildman in 6:40 by pinfall following an Oklahoma Stampede. (B-, 75)

--Jim Cornette comes out for an interview with the Midnight Express in close tow. Cornette tells Lance Russell about the unfair treatment the Cornette Dynasty has received. He says that the Midnight Express should be tag team champions. Russell reminds him of Dennis Condrey’s overconfidence after he pinned Morton. Cornette calls Russell a stupid man as he and the Express walk off. (B-, 72)

--The Fabulous Ones come out with the new CWA tag team belts around their waist and to a mixed greeting from the fans. Stan Lane and Steve Keirn call out the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. Lane tells Morton that he’s not sorry for the kick to the jaw because he had to come up with the best way to pin Dennis Condrey and says that Morton would have done the same thing. Lane offers his hand to Morton and Morton shakes but doesn’t let go. Morton tells Lane and Keirn not to get too comfortable with the belts as Robert Gibson pulls Morton away. (B+, 88)

CWA World Tag Team Title Match
--The Fabulous Ones def. The Barbarian and Meng by disqualification in 9:09 after interference from the Midnight Express. (B, 81) The four beat down the Fabulous Ones with the crowd expecting help from the back that never came. (B, 80) The Fabs make their 1st defense of the world tag team titles.

--Buzz Sawyer comes out with Jimmy Hart and gives a wild, rambling promo about how the world title should be around his waist right now and he should be given an immediate rematch. (A+, 100)

--Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart def. Jerry Stubbs in 10:48 by pinfall after a diving splash. (B, 82) Buzz continued to intensely beat down Stubbs after the match. (A, 91)

--Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee come out with a tennis racket and waving a cloth. Lawler and Dundee hype their win over Randy Savage and Manny Fernandez two nights ago. They say that if Cornette needs his tennis racket, he is welcome to it any time. (A+, 100)

--Barry Windham def. Super Destroyer in 17:15 by pinfall after a Superplex. (B, 79)

Show Rating: B+, 87

TV Rating: 0.55 (417,640 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 2, July 1983
Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 13,886 (Capacity: 15,000)

Pre Show Match
--Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street def. Porkchop Cash in 6:56 by submission following a full nelson. (C+, 70)

Pre Show Match
--Koko Ware vs Adrian Street in 7:20 by pinfall following a Bird Buster. (B-, 75)

--Jim Cornette comes out to start the show, explaining how promoter Eddie Marlin got tired of hearing him complain about the world tag team title match so he is giving Manny Fernandez a world title shot tonight in the main event versus the Junkyard Dog. (B-, 74)

CWA Television Title Match
--Bobby Eaton def. Buzz Tyler in 6:49 by pinfall after an Alabama Jam. (C, 62) After the match, Rick Rude and Jimmy Hart once again come out and challenge Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware to a tag team match Monday night. He announces that his partner will be fellow First Family member, Meng. (C+, 69)

--Bill Dundee comes out for an interview with Lance Russell and hypes his recent upswing in momentum. As he is about to finish the interview, he is interrupted by Greg Valentine. Valentine tells Lance Russell and the TV audience that he respects Dundee’s toughness but there’s a reason why he is called the ‘Hammer’ and challenges Dundee to a match later in the show. (A, 90)

--The Super Destroyers def. The Fantastics in 6:48 by pinfall after a bicycle kick by Destroyer 2 on Bobby Fulton. (B-, 76) After the match, the Destroyers are met by Barry Windham and Steve Williams, who are out for an interview. A face-off occurs but with no contact. (B+, 84) Windham and Williams challenge the Super Destroyers to a match anywhere, anytime. (B+, 83)

--Jake Roberts def. Don Bass in 7:49 by pinfall after a DDT. (B-, 76) After the match, Roberts says he is glad to be in the CWA. He says he knows a little about some of the new guys coming in and no one should ever trust them. (B+, 88)

--Lance Russell says that he is about to introduce a new CWA signee, Ted DiBiase. He goes into a spiel about how he is the best wrestler in the world and the Junkyard Dog should just go ahead and put the world title around his waist to save himself some embarrassment. JYD comes out and the two begin brawling around the ringside area. (A+, 100)

--Greg Valentine comes back out and introduces the man he wants to be associated with in CWA, Buzz Sawyer. Valentine says that with them together, they will be an unstoppable force, especially for Bill Dundee tonight. (A+, 100)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and responds to Valentine. He tells Valentine not to write any checks ‘his rear end can’t cash’. Lawler says he will be watching Valentine’s upcoming match with Dundee carefully. (A+, 100)

--Jerry Lawler def. The Spoiler in 10:06 by pinfall following a piledriver. (B, 82)

--Tony Schiavone interviews the current world tag team champions, the Fabulous Ones. Keirn and Lane say that as far as they are concerned, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express have earned the right to be the #1 contenders for the tag titles. Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express come out and argue with the Fabs, saying that Condrey pinned Ricky Morton in the middle of the ring so that makes them one over the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. (B-, 76)

--Randy Savage comes out and talks about his latest setbacks. He tells Lance Russell that the last time he looked, he wasn’t the one who was pinned in the tag team match with Manny Fernandez. (A, 89)

--Greg Valentine def. Bill Dundee in 13:18 after Buzz Sawyer distracted Dundee long enough for Valentine to recover and get a quick roll up. (B, 82) Sawyer and Valentine stomp a mudhole in Dundee after the match until Jerry Lawler comes out to make the save. (A, 91)

CWA World Heavyweight Title Match
--Junkyard Dog def. Manny Fernandez in 15:31 by pinfall following a series of dog headbutts. (B, 78) JYD makes his 1st defense of the world title.

Show Rating: B+, 87

TV Rating: 0.54 (406,510 viewers)

--Change of plans. I need a Monday night show to complement Saturday’s show and to give more workers in the ring. I thought one show a week would be enough but its not with the loaded roster.

--Stampede is upping their game, signing Ric Flair to a PPA deal.

--I sign referee Tommy Young, one of the best in the world. As an aside, also Flair’s favorite referee.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 3, July 1983
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Attendance: 5,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Moondog Spot def. Dare Bergeron in 6:55 by pinfall following a running elbow drop. (D+, 48)

Pre Show Match
--Phil Hickerson def. Bill Mulkey (one night deal) in 7:03 by pinfall following a piledriver. (D, 45)

Pre Show Match
--Terry Taylor def. George South (one night deal) in 7:24 by pinfall following a Five Arm. (D-, 37)

--Randy Savage def. Jerry Oates in 9:11 by pinfall following a flying elbow drop. (C+, 68) After the match, Savage is interviewed by Tony Schiavone. Savage says being aligned in tag teams held him back so for the foreseeable future, he will be strictly a singles wrestler. (B-, 74)

--’Dr. Death’ Steve Williams def. The Spoiler in 9:54 by pinfall following the Oklahoma Stampede. (B, 78) After the match, Williams hypes his and Barry Windham’s tag match versus the Super Destroyers on Championship Wrestling this Saturday. (B+, 85)

--Rick Rude comes out with his tag partner, Meng, and hypes their upcoming match against Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware. He insults the men in the audience by saying ‘the men around here are the reason they invented double doors’. (C+, 70)

--Rick Rude and Meng w/Jimmy Hart def. Bobby Eaton and Koko Ware in 9:10 by pinfall following a Rude Awakening and ensuing pin by Rude. (B-, 75) After the match, Jimmy Hart tells the fans its just a matter of time before the TV title comes to the First Family.

CWA American Title Match
--The Super Destroyer def. Jimmy Valiant in 12:31 by pinfall following a superplex. (B, 80) After the match, Steve Williams comes out and gets in a staredown with Super Destroyer. (B+, 86)

Show Rating: B, 79

--I release the Moondogs. Spot is becoming a problem backstage and I can’t have one without the other. I also release Buzz Tyler and Lou Winston. The contracts of The Spoiler and Porkchop Cash are expiring and they will not be re-signed.

--I sign Iron Mike Sharpe, Jimmy Golden, and Eddie Gilbert. Both are good workers and have good brawling skills and psychology. However, they will be there for nothing more than to put over other workers. Gilbert is young but talented. His time will come.

--The core of CWA is still there six months into the dynasty: 21 workers and also Lance Russell and Dave Brown, among others. I want to keep the core together as much as possible.

--David Von Erich is the new figurehead for Mid-South Wrestling. Of course, he is the figurehead for World Class and is loyal to them. He is fast becoming one of the most popular wrestlers in America, just as it should have been IRL. In fact, the Von Erichs and Freebirds are all loyal to World Class so any attempts to sign written deals will fail. If all else fails in World Class, you have all day Freebirds vs Von Erichs.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 3, July 1983
Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 13,361 (Capacity: 15,000)

Pre Show Match
--The Barbarian def. Bobby Fulton in 6:02 by pinfall following the Kick of Fear. (C, 65)

Pre Show Match
--Roger Smith def. Dare Bergeron in 6:36 by pinfall after a piledriver. (C-, 58)

--Lance Russell begins the show by interviewing Greg Valentine and Buzz Sawyer. Valentine lays his claim as the toughest wrestler in the business and Sawyer says that Bill Dundee loves hanging around his royal buddy, Jerry Lawler, because that’s the only way he can move up in the company. (A+, 100)

CWA Television Title Match
--Bobby Eaton def. The Spoiler in 8:18 by pinfall following an Alabama Jam. (B-, 75) Eaton makes his 3rd defense of the TV title.

--After the match, Eaton and his partner, Koko Ware, say that if the First Family wants a fight and the TV title, they can come get it. (B-, 75) Ware hypes his match against Rick Rude later in the show. (B-, 73)

--Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler come out and hype their success as a tag team and their match against the Midnight Express in the main event. (A+, 100) Dundee taunts Greg Valentine, telling Lance Russell that Valentine’s face looks like that because he chews rocks. (A, 92)

--Ricky Morton def. Hercules Hernandez w/Adrian Street in 7:04 after botched interference led to a quick roll up by Morton for the pin. (B-, 75) Hernandez sat incredulous in the ring as Street tried to make his case with him. (C+, 69)

--After the ring clears, Ricky Morton goes over for an interview with Tony Schiavone. Morton says he thinks the Fabulous Ones are great tag team champions but are not unbeatable. (B-, 73)

--Jim Cornette comes out and hypes the Midnight Express’ match against Lawler and Dundee later in the show. He said he’s had work hard to motivate his Dynasty due to their recent string of defeats. Cornette finishes by telling the Nashville fans that if he got all of the fans in the arena together, they might come up with a full set of teeth. (B-, 74)

--Ted DiBiase def. Wendell Cooley in 7:57 by submission after a sleeper. (B-, 76)

--After the match, DiBiase makes his way to the announcers table and is met by Junkyard Dog, who has the world title around his waist. He tells Lance Russell that DiBiase sure likes to talk a lot but isn’t sure if he has what it takes to face him in the ring. (A+, 97) DiBiase accepts JYD’s challenge and says he will be ready for next Saturday’s title change. (A+, 98)

--The Super Destroyers fight ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams and Barry Windham to a double disqualifcation in 11:33 after all of the wrestlers got into physical altercations with referee Tommy Young. (B-, 76) The two teams continue fighting to the back to the arena. (B, 79)

--Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart def. Koko Ware in 9:48 by pinfall following a Rude Awakening. (B-, 76)

--After the match, Rude challenges TV champion Bobby Eaton to a match next week and wants him to put his title on the line. (B-, 72) Jimmy Hart chimes in and says he is scouting for new members of the First Family because the Moondogs couldn’t cut it. (B-, 73)

--Buzz Sawyer w/Jimmy Hart def. Porkchop Cash in 6:44 by pinfall following a diving splash. (B-, 75) Greg Valentine comes out and congratulates Sawyer on his victory as they taunt the crowd on their way to the back. (A, 90)

--Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee def. The Midnight Express in 16:03 by disqualification when Buzz Sawyer and Greg Valentine interfered. (B+, 88) The Express, Sawyer, and Valentine continue their beatdown on Lawler and Dundee as the show ends. (B-, 75)

Show Rating: A, 90

TV Rating: 0.57 (434,560 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 4, July 1983
Valparaiso, Indiana
Attendance: 5,000 (Sell Out)

--Jake Roberts def. Buddy Landel in 10:23 by pinfall following a DDT. (B, 79) After the match, Jake tells the fans he’s heard a few rumors about Ted DiBiase and his plans in the next couple of weeks and says that Junkyard Dog should watch his back. (B+, 84)

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express def. Troy Graham and Rip Rogers in 7:59 by pinfall after a double dropkick on Graham. (B-, 74) After the match, Lance Russell interviews the Express. Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson say that the three-way match is in the past and they are moving on but somehow they will regain the tag team titles. (B-, 75)

--Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette def. Jerry Oates in 10:39 by pinfall following a Flying Burrito. (B-, 74) Jim Cornette comes over to the announcers table and says that the Cornette Dynasty will be newly focused on winning championships and that if they can’t do it, he will find wrestlers that can, getting a glare from Fernandez. (C+, 68)

--Before his match with Bobby Eaton, Randy Savage gives a scathing promo toward the management of CWA, saying that he will be in no more tag team matches with Manny Fernandez and its Jerry Jarrett and Eddie Marlin’s fault. He says that Jim Cornette is a good salesman but can sometimes be a distraction. (B, 80)

Non-title Match
--Randy Savage def. Bobby Eaton in 13:38 by pinfall following a flying elbow drop. (B, 80) After the match, Savage and Eaton continue fighting back to the dressing rooms. (B-, 72)

Show Rating: B, 80

Game Notes
--All Japan is now on a firing spree. Among those let go include Dory Funk, Jr., Stan Hansen, and The Great Kabuki. I don’t guess I noticed they were close to negative in finances. This shocks me. Perhaps they can right the ship if they reduce some of their production values.

--All of this leaves Stan Hansen unemployed. He worked All Japan and Georgia but has now found himself looking for employment. I’m not sure whether to snatch him or not. Part of the challenge is knowing you have stiff competition to play and sim against. He has been part of five matches rated 96 or higher. He had a run in Memphis in late 1983 and only appeared one time on Saturday TV, choosing to wrestle on Monday nights.

--I will be working the Great Lakes region on Monday nights for the next few weeks. I need 41 popularity to make it five regions at 41 or above, which is the threshold needed for a TV deal that would reach nationwide and medium size. I sit at 37 right now. The current TV deals end in 2 months.

--The Masked Superstar is the new WWF champion and getting the reign he almost received IRL. He defeated Jimmy Snuka for the vacant title. It became vacant when the Magnificent One signed for me.

--I get a notification that Jake Roberts was wasted on drugs in his match with Buddy Landel, which upset Landel, of course. I give him a stern warning and he improved his behavior. He also has loyalty to me now.

--I release Jimmy Valiant, Ray Candy, and Leroy Brown. I’m cutting down the roster a little bit to make some room for the newest signees: the former WWF champion, Don Muraco, and the former Southwest champion, Tully Blanchard.

--It looks like the real 1983 has arrived. The WWF now has a hostile relationship with me. Probably had something to do with me signing their champion. Vince has also stated that his company has hostile relationships with Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, the AWA, and Mid-South.

--The recently released Moondogs have signed with Southwest. Their style should fit in well there. Southwest’s default setting is ‘Texas Blood and Guts”.

--I’m toying with adding a six-man tag team title. I have a loaded roster but only five available belts. I’m like World Class. I love having titles. I will likely add a special tag team tournament in the next few months. It will be something similar to the Crockett Cup and no random tag team drawings.

[Chas in Cinti]

Good to see this pop back up in the feed... enjoying it!

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 4, July 1983
Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 13,610 (Capacity: 15,000)

Pre Show Match
--Adrian Street def. Dare Bergeron in 6:19 by pinfall following a sleeper. (B-, 75)

Pre Show Match
--The Barbarian def. Terry Taylor in 6:40 by pinfall following the Kick of Fear. (C+, 68)

Pre Show Match
--Wendell Cooley def. King Cobra in 6:58 by pinfall after a Wildcat Slam. (C+, 70)

--Ted DiBiase comes out to start the show. He says he doesn’t know what Jake Roberts is talking about with ‘plans’ but its none of his business anyway. He tells Roberts he will never smell CWA championship gold as long he is here. (B+, 88)

CWA Television Title Match
--Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart def. Bobby Eaton in 9:57 by pinfall after Buzz Sawyer distracted referee Jerry Calhoun long enough for Rude to hit a low blow on Eaton followed by a Rude Awakening, seconds ahead of the time limit. (B, 78) Rude wins the CWA Television Title. This is his first reign.

--After the match, Rude is celebrating his victory with First Family member, Buzz Sawyer, when Koko Ware comes out and attacks Rude and Sawyer. (B-, 73) Meng then runs out and helps Sawyer and Rude beat down Eaton and Ware. (C+, 70)

--’Dr. Death’ Steve Williams def. Jimmy Golden in 6:21 by pinfall following a new move called the Doctor Bomb (gut wrench powerbomb). (B-, 75) After the match, Williams and Barry Windham challenge the Super Destroyers to a match at the August event, Dog Days. (B+, 85)

--Lance Russell interviews the Fabulous Ones. They tell Lance Russell that Eddie Marlin had talked to them about having a match with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express for the tag team titles next week but Jim Cornette keeps getting in the way. Stan Lane and Steve Keirn say they really don’t care who they have to go against but Cornette is being annoying. (B, 79)

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express def. Roger Smith and Don Bass in 11:31 by pinfall following a missile dropkick by Morton. (B, 82) Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson make their way over to Tony Schiavone for a promo, hyping their possible tag title match versus the Fabulous Ones next week. (B, 79)

--Following the pin, Jim Cornette comes out with his Dynasty and Manny Fernandez hanging way behind Dennis Condrey and Norvell Austin. Cornette says the ‘Toilet Roll Express’ can have their tag team title shot next week but the Midnight Express will get the leftovers at Dog Days and get the belts back around their waists. (B, 77)

--Cornette remains out and hypes Manny Fernandez, saying that people are misinterpreting what he said last week about replacing people in the Dynasty. He said that Fernandez has been loyal from day one and expects it to continue. (B-, 75) Cornette also says that is sounds like Randy Savage has a problem with he and Manny. He tells Savage to show up next week and they can talk about it. (B, 80)

--Junkyard Dog comes out and hypes his world title defense against Ted DiBiase in the main event. He says that when Jake Roberts says ‘watch your back’, the Junkyard Dog listens and will have eyes in the back of his head during the match. (A+, 100)

--Jerry Lawler def. Iron Mike Sharpe in 7:41 by pinfall following a flying fist drop. (B-, 76) After the match, Lawler goes over to Lance Russell for an interview when he is approached by Greg Valentine. Valentine runs down Lawler and challenges him to a 1-on-1 match at Dog Days to see if he can keep up with the Hammer. Lawler accepts the challenge. (A+, 100)

--Jake Roberts def. Super Destroyer #2 in 9:46 by pinfall after a DDT. Barry Windham distracted Super Destroyer long enough for Roberts to get the advantage and pin. (B, 82)

--Buzz Sawyer comes out and taunts Jerry Lawler for accepting Greg Valentine’s challenge. He says that if Bill Dundee is smart, he will just walk away from the challenge he is making to Dundee. (A+, 100) Dundee comes out and accepts Sawyer’s challenge by pushing Lance Russell’s mic into Sawyer’s chest. (A+, 100)

CWA World Heavyweight Title Match
--Junkyard Dog def. Ted DiBiase in 16:22 by disqualification when a debuting Don Muraco attacks JYD from behind as he was readying DiBiase for the Thump. (B+, 88) As Muraco and DiBiase lay boots into JYD, Jake Roberts slides into the ring and helps JYD fend off Muraco and DiBiase. (A, 92) JYD makes his second defense of the CWA World title.

Show Rating: A, 91

TV Rating: 0.56 (424,880 viewers)

[tucking fypo]

July Month in Review
--Several signings with the move up to ‘Cult’, including Ted DiBiase, Don Muraco, and Barry Windham. I have one more who is yet to make his debut.

--JYD wins the new CWA World title and the Fabulous Ones win the World Tag Team titles. Super Destroyer #1 is the American champion. The Super Destroyers are good workers but I will likely need to make a decision on them soon.

--Rick Rude wins the Television Title and had a decent run in July. He will given a little more air time now.

--I’m still mulling over Stan Hansen, as he is still unemployed.

--Don Muraco debuts in CWA and immediately aligns with Ted DiBiase against JYD and Jake Roberts.

--Greg Valentine is now Buzz Sawyer’s ally in their feud with Lawler and Dundee. Lawler will have to find a way to get back in the title scene.

--Steve Williams now has Barry Windham watching his back after the Super Destroyers’ numerous attacks on Williams. Williams lost the title unification match to Super Destroyer #1 and is looking to get revenge.


Best Matches of July
**Singles – Junkyard Dog def. Buzz Sawyer for the CWA World title at Red, White, and Bruise. It rated a 99.

**Tag Team – The Fabulous Ones def. The Midnight Express and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express at Red, White, and Bruise, rated a 91.

Best Card of the Month
--Red, White, and Bruise rated a 96.

Finances and Prestige
--It was another productive month financially with a $395,961 profit. This puts CWA at $2,227,071.

--Our prestige sits at 87, an increase of 1 from July 1.

--Our momentum is 93, a decrease of 7 from July 1. There are no regional battles now so momentum is based solely on show rating.

CWA Titles Roll Call

CWA World Heavyweight Champion, 100 prestige
--Junkyard Dog, 2 title defenes, Won July 1983

CWA World Tag Team, 100 prestige
--Fabulous Ones, 1 title defense, Won July 1983

CWA American Heavyweight Champion, 90 prestige
--The Super Destroyer, 1 title defense, Won July 1983

CWA Television Champion, 72 prestige
--Rick Rude, no title defenses, Won July 1983

[tucking fypo]

Company Rankings ranked in order and change in America from January 1 with world ranking in parentheses. Listed below each promotion is the company champion.

1. Georgia Championship Wrestling, +2 (1), Cult
--NWA National Heavyweight, Masked Superstar

2. Championship Wrestling Association, +7 (5), Cult
--CWA World Heavyweight, Junkyard Dog

3. World Wrestling Federation, +2, (6), Regional
--WWF Heavyweight, Masked Superstar

4. World Class Championship Wrestling, -2, (7), Regional
--NWA Texas Heavyweight, David Von Erich

5. Southwest Championship Wrestling, +3 (8), Regional
--SWCW Heavyweight, Dick Slater

6. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, -4 (10), Regional
--NWA World Heavyweight, Ric Flair
--NWA United States Heavyweight, Vacant

7. Mid-South Wrestling, -1, (12), Regional
--North American Heavyweight, Vacant

8. American Wrestling Association, -1 (14), Regional
--AWA World Heavyweight, Wahoo McDaniel

9. Championship Wrestling from Florida, -5 (16), Regional
--NWA Florida Heavyweight, Bob Orton, Jr.

10. Pacific Northwest Wrestling, NC (17), Regional
--NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight, Roddy Piper

11. Southeastern Championship Wrestling, +3 (21), Regional
--NWA Southeastern Heavyweight, Tommy Rich

12. World Wrestling Association, +1 (24), Small
--WWA World Heavyweight, Greg Wojokowski

--We remain at #2 in America and 5th in the world. We have been swapping world ranks with the WWF throughout the month.

--Southwest continues to slide down the rankings but on the upside for them, they have pulled out of debt and are sitting at $37,052. The cut in production values helped them as they are still running five shows per month. They are a long way from ‘Cult’ status, however.

American companies in the red
World Wrestling Association at -$398,873 and Southeastern at -$177,093

Other companies in the red
All-Star Wrestling (Al Tomko) is at -$173,580.

Atlantic Grand Prix sits at -$268,503.

All Japan has pulled back in the black at $37,543.

CMLL continues to be the richest company in the world right now with $3.65 million. World Class is the richest American company at $2.57 million.

A new company has emerged, Spotlight Association of Wrestling. It was created in-game and is based in Japan. It’s key feature is a mix of traditional and lucha libre. Interesting.

Other champions from around the world
All-Japan – NWA International Heavyweight, Jumbo Tsuruta

Calgary Stampede Wrestling - CSW North American Heavyweight, Leo Burke

CMLL – NWA World Middleweight, Rayo de Jalisco

Maple Leaf Wrestling – NWA Canadian Heavyweight, Raymond Rougeau

New Japan – NWA World Junior Heavyweight, Super Strong Machine (Nunji Hirata)

[tucking fypo]

Franchise Players
Ted DiBiase
Buzz Sawyer
Jerry Lawler
Don Muraco
Junkyard Dog

Most Popular Workers in America
1. Andre the Giant
2. Wahoo McDaniel
3. Superstar Billy Graham
6. Junkyard Dog
21. Greg Valentine
31. Don Muraco
33. Ted DiBiase
37. Buzz Sawyer
40. Steve Williams
57. Bill Dundee
58. Manny Fernandez
64. Jake Roberts
74. The Super Destroyer (Scott Irwin)
98. Jerry Lawler
**I don’t know how I’ve missed seeing Bill Dundee. He couldn’t have jumped from beyond the Top 100 right in at #57.

Most Popular Workers in the World
1. Andre the Giant
2. Harley Race
3. Superstar Billy Graham
14. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams
72. Don Muraco
78. Junkyard Dog
81. Ted DiBiase
95. Buzz Sawyer
100. Greg Valentine

[tucking fypo]

CWA Monday Night Tour
Monday, Week 1, August 1983
Birmingham, Alabama
Attendance: 27,227 (Capacity: 30,000)

Pre Show Match
--Jimmy Golden def. Ben Spratt (one night deal) in 6:17 by pinfall following a spike piledriver. (C, 61)

Pre Show Match
--Troy Graham def. Dare Bergeron in 7:08 by submission after a sleeper. (D+, 48)

--Jake Roberts def. Sabu the Wildman in 7:28 by pinfall following a DDT. (B-, 75) Following the match, Tony Schiavone interviews Roberts. Roberts says that he knew that Ted DiBiase was up to no good but wasn’t expecting to see Don Muraco. (B+, 88)

CWA American Heavyweight Title
--The Super Destroyer def. Wendell Cooley in 8:57 by pinfall following a superplex. (B-, 73) The Super Destroyer makes his second defense of the American title.

--’Dr. Death’ Steve Williams and Barry Windham come out and hype their tag match in the main event against Buzz Sawyer and Greg Valentine. They say this match is a warmup to what the Super Destroyers will have to go through. (B+, 85)

--Don Muraco def. Eddie Gilbert in 10:15 by pinfall following the Hawaiian Hammer (tombstone piledriver). After the match, Muraco tells the fans that they know what a real world champion looks like and it looks magnificant. (A, 94)

--Jerry Lawler comes out and hypes his upcoming match versus Randy Savage. He says that Savage should’ve never associated himself with Jim Cornette or Jimmy Hart. For that alone, he says, is enough to question his intelligence. (A+, 100)

--Jerry Lawler def. Randy Savage in 15:36 by a quick pin following botched interference by Manny Fernandez on Savage. (B+, 87) After Lawler leaves, Savage screams and points at Cornette and Manny that he will be talking to them Saturday. (B-, 76)

--Buzz Sawyer and Greg Valentine make their way out and wonder why they are facing a couple of rednecks. They say that the midget and the crown boy might not be any better. (A+, 100)

--Buzz Sawyer and Greg Valentine drew with ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams and Barry Windham in 16:18 when referee Tommy Young declared a no contest when all hell broke loose. (A, 91)

Show Rating: A, 92

Game Notes
--Interesting mail in the box today. Among other things, Ric Flair has chosen to relocate and reside in…..Alberta, Canada???

--Jerry Blackwell and Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey have been getting along very well. Thus, the origin of the horrible Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell, I suppose? **face palm** Never was a fan of that.

[tucking fypo]

CWA Championship Wrestling
Saturday, Week 1, August 1983
Jackson, Mississippi
Attendance: 10,000 (Sell Out)

Pre Show Match
--Meng def. Dare Bergeron in 5:40 by pinfall following a superkick. (B-, 76)

Pre Show Match
--Wendell Cooley def. Iron Mike Sharpe in 7:29 by pinfall after a Wildcat Slam. (B-, 76)

--The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express come out for an interview with Lance Russell. They hype their chance at the world tag team titles. The Fabulous Ones come out and once again say they respect the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express but they are not winning the tag team titles tonight. (B-, 76)

CWA Television Title Match
--Rick Rude w/Jimmy Hart def. Jerry Oates in 7:32 by pinfall following a Rude Awakening. (B-, 71) After the match, Rude and Hart challenges anyone in the back to the TV title. (B, 77) Koko Ware comes out and says he accepts Rude’s challenge on next week’s show. (B, 79) Rude makes his first defense of the TV title.

--Bill Dundee def. Jimmy Golden in 7:50 by pinfall following a piledriver. (B-, 75) Dundee is then interviewed by Tony Schiavone. Dundee taunts Buzz Sawyer and tells him to be ready for an all-out brawl at the Dog Days event. (B+, 87)

--Lance Russell briefly reviews the rivalry between The Super Destroyers and Barry Windham and ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams and then shows a video of the feud. (C+, 68)

--Lance Russell then interviews Jim Cornette, who is out alone. Cornette asks Randy Savage to come out. Savage angrily tells Cornette that he has already said he doesn’t need help. Cornette tells Savage he and Manny Fernandez never meant to cost him the match on Monday night against Jerry Lawler. Savage, in a suddenly calm voice, says he will make things square and tells Cornette and Manny to stay out of his business. (A, 92)

--Hercules Hernandez def. Tommy Rogers in 6:28 by submission following a rack. (C+, 70)

--Jimmy Hart comes out and hypes the First Family’s dominance over CWA. He said that no one will take the TV title away from Rude and Buzz Sawyer will continue to dominate everyone, including Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler. (B-, 74)

CWA World Tag Team Title Match
--The Fabulous Ones and The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express fought to a no contest when the Midnight Express and Manny Fernandez attacked both teams. (B, 82) After the match, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson were thrown out of the ring as Cornette’s Dynasty continued to beat down Keirn and Lane. Morton and Gibson grab chairs and attack the Dynasty, driving them from the ring. The Fabs and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express shake hands afterwards. (B+, 86)

--Don Muraco and Ted DiBiase are interviewed by Tony Schiavone. They hype themselves as the best wrestlers in CWA and there’s nothing that Junkyard Dog and Jake Roberts can do to change that. (A, 90)

--Jake Roberts def. Manny Fernandez w/Jim Cornette in 12:43 by pinfall following a DDT. (B, 82) During the match, Savage distracted Manny, allowing Roberts to execute the DDT. After the match, Savage tells a shocked Cornette and Manny that everything is now square. (B+, 86)

--As Savage, Cornette, and Manny leave arguing, Jake Roberts and Junkyard Dog come out and tell Muraco and DiBiase to go ahead and pencil in a tag match at Dog Days. JYD tells them as an added bonus, he will give each of them a world title match on the next two TV shows. (A+, 100)

--Buzz Sawyer def. Bobby Eaton in 15:44 by pinfall after a Don Muraco distraction led to a Sawyer bulldog. (A, 91) After the match, as Muraco and Sawyer celebrate, Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler appear. Muraco and Sawyer challenge Dundee and Lawler to come in the ring and a brawl breaks out as the show ends. (B+, 88)

Show Rating: A, 91

TV Rating: 0.62 (470,310 viewers)