Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – January 2, 1982

After a brief break due to the holiday, Mid-Atlantic Wrestling returns. Last week we ended with Blackjack Mulligan Jr trying to break the Cobra Clutch, and just as it looked like he was going to do it the show ended. Will we see the conclusion of this hot angle? Announced for the show we have Terry Taylor and Bob Davis facing Sgt Slaughter and Pvt Nelson pus Ivan Koloff in action. Let’s go to the ring.

Bob Caudle & David Crockett welcome us to the show, which we can’t hear as the music is too loud and plays too long. They talk about the action tonight, but we didn’t hear most of that. Bob asks who contributed the most this past year, Crockett says the fans made this show number one. Crockett announces they will allow the fans to vote on who contributed the most in 1981, and thanks the fans.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – December 12, 1981

Returning to the Mid-Atlantic territory for another exciting hour of wrestling. Previously we had Ole Anderson and Ray Stevens team up to defeat Buddy Landell and Paul Jones in a match for the tag gold. It seemed like Stevens was going to replace the injured Gene Anderson, but during the match Ole rammed Landell into Stevens for the win, and Stevens did not like being used and both men left with a belt. Also more talk on the upcoming tournament and the battle royal to decide the opening round, tonight we should know the opening round. Let’s go to the ring.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – November 21, 1981

We missed a few weeks again, hopefully it gets a little better next year. Previously we saw Sgt Slaughter introduces his newest Cadet, Private Jim Nelson (later known as Boris Zhukov), and Ivan Koloff challenge Ron Bass. This week we have the Grappler and Super Destroyer in the main event face Ricky Steamboat and Jake Roberts, that should be a happening. Let’s go to the ring. <–!more–>

Bob and David welcome us to the show and talk about tonight’s card. They introduce NWA rep, Sandy Scott who talks about some problems here, and he wants the best talent here. Sandy says they have contacted some big names and he will talk more about it later. David says tonight Jay Youngblood, Slaughter and Piper and more will be here.

1. Ricky Harris v. Jay Youngblood

Jay gets a nice pop from the crowd, as we get the classic battle of cowboys and Indians! Jay gets him in the ropes and we get a clean break, test of strength and Youngblood catches him with a dropkick and a few armdrags sends Ricky to the corner. Side headlock takeover from Jay as he controls the much larger man, Harris powers out and eats another dropkick and right back to the side headlock. Again Harris powers up and gets Jay in the corner, Harris charges and misses, Jay back to the headlock. Really, is that all he does, this is so boring. Harris again breaks the hold and hiptosses Jay then misses an elbowdrop and guess what, back to the freaking headlock from Jay! Harris breaks the grip and backdrops Jay, as Harris tries to save this match, he slams Jay down and gets one. Jay gets sent in and Jay comes back with a series of chop and a running elbow for three.

1. Jay Youngblood pinned Ricky Harris
Bob calls in United States Champion, Sgt Slaughter and Private Jim Nelson, and Sarge calls out Wahoo for calling him a coward last week. He demands a film rolled, and it’s a Wahoo interview from last week where he says he has no challengers and calls Piper, Slaughter and other cowards. Slaughter says he has an open contract for a match with Wahoo, and demands he come out now. Slaughter heads to the ring.

2. Sgt Slaughter v. Ken Hall

Slaughter quickly overpowers the jobber and quickly takes him down, a series of kneelifts as Slaughter in full control. Stomachbreaker from Slaughter and then a second one, as he calls out Wahoo. Slaughter works over the shoulder and hits a vicious clothesline and into the Cobra Clutch for the easy win.

2. Sgt Slaughter annihilated Ken Hall

Bob with Sandy again, and they talk about the big money athletes make, Sandy says he has an incentive. Sandy says they will offer a 1982 Cadillac in a match, either a tournament or battle royal, and one of the names coming is Tommy Rich. We see clips of a Tommy Rich match from who knows where, and he’s facing a guy who looks like Mario ate Luigi! They actually air the entire match as it’s a dark arena and Tommy is in control for almost the entire match. Rich botches the Thesz press the first time, and they redo the spot for the ending. That was the best they could find of Rich, one where he botches the end. This brings in Piper who talks about the $17,000 Cadillac, and he will win it, this brings out Ole and Slaughter. Ole demands to know the time and place, Slaughter says he would look great in a Cadillac. Sandy puts over the Mid-Atlantic, United States and one half of the Tag Champions and asks what would happen if they faced each other. We then get a video of Angelo Mosca, so I guess he’s gone from WWF, as we watch him destroy a jobber. This a cool way to introduce some new blood, as we get footage of new guys from other areas. Piper makes fun of Mosca as we still have the match playing, and Sandy asks about all those guys in one match could happen. After the break, Bob is with Jay Youngblood, Jake Roberts and Ricky Steamboat, Jay says he’s tired of hearing Slaughter talk about how great he is and accepts the open contract for the United States Title. Steamboat talks about the new talent coming in, but he’s concentrating on beating Roddy Piper for the belt, but he needs a match with him first. Jake says Steamboat needs a petition to get this title match, and calls out Ole Anderson and says he will mow him down.

3. Jimmy Valiant v. Dick Rivers

Most of the match happened during the commercial, as we saw a couple armdrags and a big elbow drop for the win.

3. Jimmy Valiant crushed Dick Rivers

Bob is joined by Roddy Piper, who says he’s tired of people calling him a coward and people demanding he gives title shots. We get a video of Steamboat in the ring being beaten by a masked guy, and Piper makes fun of him. No one does promos like Piper, as he is so exciting to listen to. Piper says he can beat Steamboat anytime, and Steamboat needs to impress him.

4. Jake Roberts & Ricky Steamboat v. The Grappler & Super Destroyer

Jake and Destroyer start and Jake quickly takes him down, quick tag and Jake also makes a tag. Steamboat works the leg of Grappler who tags in Destroyer, but Steamboat works his leg. Jake back in and continues to work over the leg, Steamboat back in to maintain the work. Some double teaming gets Steamboat in trouble, but he comes back with a dropkick and tags in Jake who slams Grappler. Side headlock takeover from Jake, as he tries to wear down the Grappler. Jake tags in Steamboat who locks on a sleeper on Grappler, who falls back to his corner and brings in Destroyer who nails Steamboat with a back elbow. Steamboat comes back with a chop and tags in Jake, who catches Destroyer with a high knee. Back body drop and another kneelift from Jake, then into the front facelock from Jake, Destroyer powers up. Jake nails Grappler but this allows Destroyer to catch him and they double team Jake. Destroyer drops a knee and gets two, as the crowd is behind Jake. More double teaming on Jake, and Grappler with a back drop face first, and that almost gets three. Destroyer reaches in for a tag, and locks the bearhug on Jake who’s in trouble and needs the tag. Fast tags and cheap shots from the masked team as they take Jake apart in their corner. Roberts goes after the mask of Destroyer but here comes Piper and Ole Anderson as Jake catches Grappler in a DDT, which means nothing, yet. Steamboat tagged in and takes out both masked men with chops, All four in the ring, Steamboat covers Grappler and Piper yanks him out. Piper and Steamboat brawl in the ring, as Jake holds Ole at bay. Where did Grappler and Destroyer disappear to? *** That was a great main event, fast paced and exciting but no finish hurt it.

4. Jake Roberts & Ricky Steamboat defeat Grappler & Super Destroyer by disqualification ***

After the match Bob is with Steamboat and Roberts, and we see the rest of the Steamboat match that Piper played earlier. Steamboat finished off the masked man after Piper’s interference, and demands a match with Piper. He calls him a white ghost and says he will finish off Piper as soon he gets a chance.

MATCH RECAP
1. Jay Youngblood pinned Ricky Harris
2. Sgt Slaughter annihilated Ken Hall
3. Jimmy Valiant crushed Dick Rivers
4. Jake Roberts & Ricky Steamboat defeat Grappler & Super Destroyer by disqualification ***

There was a lot of talking and video clips this week, as both a way to debut new faces and continue storylines. Three matches were really fast, but the main event was really good, and a great ending to the night. Mid-Atlantic is really an impressive territory with some of the best talent of the era. Next week the Tag Titles are on the line, plus Roddy Piper in a tag match main events the show!

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – October 31, 1981

The previous episode of Mid-Atlantic is missing as we jump to Halloween, and tonight we will see Sgt Slaughter in action against Don Kernodle. Should be a great contest, as this episode must be missing something as it is about five minutes shorter then others. Let’s go to the ring.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – October 17, 1981

We missed a few weeks, but we return to the Mid-Atlantic region for more amazing action. Tonight in action we will see Sgt Slaughter, plus the debut of The Great Kabuki. Kabuki was a major draw in the Texas region, and now he’s arrived in Mid-Atlantic. Let’s go to the ring.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – September 26, 1981

Back to the Mid-Atlantic area as we continue with some great Jim Crockett productions. Last week Roddy Piper and Ole Anderson lost via disqualification to Frank Monte and Paul Jones in a shocker. Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood won a tag match and Ron Bass successfully defended his TV title. This week our main event is Jay Youngblood facing Ole Anderson, that should be fantastic. Let’s go to the ring.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – September 19, 1981

We return to the Mid-Atlantic territory, as last week we saw footage of the attack on Wahoo McDaniel from Abdullah the Butcher. Also in action was Jake Roberts and Ricky Steamboat as a tag team plus the debut of Sgt Slaughter. Tonight Roddy Piper teams with Ole Anderson in action, also Slaughter and Ron Bass have matches. Let’s go to the ring.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling – September 12, 1981

For this first time we venture out of the Northeastern territory and the World Wrestling Federation. We head south to the Mid-Atlantic territory, this show would later become known as WCW Pro and started in 1958. These shows were filmed in Raleigh, North Carolina and was a part of the National Wrestling Alliance, but had their own champions. The reigning, defending Mid-Atlantic Champion at this time is Ivan Koloff, the former WWF Champion, who defeated Ricky Steamboat in November 1980. The Mid-Atlantic United States Championship is currently vacant, last held by Wahoo McDaniel who had to vacate the gold after being injured by Abdullah the Butcher. Mid-Atlantic also had their own tag team champions, The Imperial Russians, Nikolai Volkoff and Chris Markoff, who defeated Dewey Robertson in a handicap match on June 27th 1981. The final championship here is the Television title, currently in the hands of Ron Bass who won the belt from Greg Valentine on September 6th 1981. With a bit of history out of the way, we can proceed to some new ground, tonight we will see Ron Bass team up with Jay Youngblood plus an appearance from Abdullah the Butcher. Let’s go to the ring.

WWF All Star Wrestling – May 2, 1981

We enter another new taping cycle, and with each cycle I’m seeing more and more changes to what I recognize and less of the seventies look. Even some of the old guard is fading away and more of the mid eighties names are appearing, like George Steele, Don Muraco, Moondogs, etc. Soon we’ll see debuts from Greg Valentine, Nikolai Volkoff, and others. It’s interesting to see the changes as the WWF starts to get more of the weird and wild characters and away from the serious people. Not a lot of people were fans of the change, but it changed not just the WWF but the public perception of wrestling as well. The changes happen slowly, but watching these shows you can see it happening. At the end of this episode is a bonus match, not on the Network but it needs to be seen, stay tuned. Let’s go to the ring.

WWF All Star Wrestling – April 18, 1981

Last week we saw the debuts of Mil Mascaras and George the Animal Steele, plus the ladies made their first appearance. Tonight we have Domenic Denucci versus Killer Khan as our main event, plus Sgt Slaughter is in action. Should be an interesting main event, as Khan doesn’t seem to be with Blassie on a regular basis. Let’s go to the ring.