Mid-South Wrestling 19/12/1981

B. Brian Blair vs Tom Renesto Jr

A lot to like from Blair here. Loved how on the early rope running sections, it really looked like Blair was trying to trip Renesto Jr on the drop downs. Blair works the arm quite nicely, putting real pressure on a hammerlock. The end is a bit sloppy, as Blair struggles to get Renesto over on a suplex and gets the submission with a figure four, despite doing no leg work

Paul Ellering vs Don Serrano

As someone who had never seen Ellering in his wrestling career before, this was a bit of a shock. He’s pretty huge, full head of blonde hair and very much positioning himself in the Jesse Ventura/Billy Graham personality department. Watching the match, the chubby Serrano seems like the better wrestler, outsmarting Ellering and moving fluidly around the ring. He even cartwheels his way out of danger at one point. Ellering is much clumsier in comparison. He does control the latter half of the match and gets the win with a neckbreaker.

Junkyard Dog vs Mike Boyer

Really quick squash here, but JYD is able to show real physical charisma in the short time it runs. Feels like a real contrast with the previous Ellering match. The Thump gets JYD the win.

Paul Orndorff & Bob Orton Jr vs The Monk & Carlos Zapata

Orton and Orndorff have real nice tag team chemistry, as they just dominate Zapata. Orton’s offence looks really good here, and I love the way on most of his strikes, he drops down to deliver the blow, adding visual impact and making each blow resonate with a thud. Orton also hits a swank looking STO into an armbar. The Monk makes the hot tag, but fares no better, as Orndorff locks him into a figure four for the submission.

Bob Roop vs Mike George

Really enjoyed this one. These are two burly looking men, neither man willing to give an inch. Loved the early spot where Roop locks in a full nelson, rams George’s head into the top turnbuckle before George gets a foot up to block it. George then locks in his own full nelson, rams Roop’s head into the turnbuckle but, when Roop gets a foot up for his own block, George rolls him up from behind for two. Roop gets sustained control with a series of eyerakes on the ropes, putting real vim into each one. George fires back with a Russian legsweep that seems to have real weight behind it. George gets rammed shoulder first into a ringpost, only narrowly beating the ten count. George sells the injury nicely, wailing away on Roop with his good arm, but Roop shoves him shoulder first into the corner and finishes with a jumping knee. Nice stuff.

Ed Wiskowski vs Mike Bond

Wiskowski is pretty much all over Bond from the get go. No room to comeback, just a solid beating, with a running headlock into the turnbuckle looking good. A back breaker gives him the win.

The Iron Sheik vs Frank Monte

Pretty pedestrian squash here, though Sheik hits a massive German suplex to win. That’s basically it.