Mid-South Wrestling 16/01/1982

Bryan Blair vs The Monk

Fun stuff with Blair just working smoothly around the Monk, looking for ways to take him over to the mat. Monk gets a little shine, nice suplex, but Blair takes him down with an Abdominal Stretch pin for the win.

Ernie Ladd & the Wild Samoans vs Dusty Rhodes, Andre the Giant & Junkyard Dog

My opinion on this hasn’t changed since reviewing it for the True Giants DVD:

This is a really quick sprint, but it’s a load of fun. It’s not pretty, but they work a high tempo and keep the tags quick enough to maintain that pace. Loved the heels trying to isolate Andre in their corner, only for him to free himself, dragging Ladd and one of the Samoans with him as he gets to his own corner. The heels find it hard to gain any traction, until Ladd breaks an Andre pin with a legdrop, and

the Samoans slam Andre. Things quickly break down and Andre is able to hit a 2^nd rope splash on Ladd for the win.

Mr Olympia vs Carlos Zapata

Olympia just works circles around Zapata, moving quickly and with pace. Loved the match winning sleeper, Olympia just hooks Zapata viciously around the neck and Zapata makes these amazing facials as he dozes off.

Ed Wiskowski vs Tommy Wright

Wiskowski is a fun beast here, dominating the bout after stomping Wright on the mat following a roll-up, and Wright is never able to fully recover. Wiskowski is nicely stiff, with fun little touches like holding Wright by the hair in order to punch him in the face. Love the splash to the back as Wright is sat up, and a backbreaker gets the easy win.

Dick Murdoch vs Bob Roop

This is really neat, loved the start with Murdoch anticipating a Roop cheapshot, and sidestepping, causing Roop to amusingly spin past him. Roop does a lot of work on Dick’s wrist, adding just enough little touches and bits of digit manipulation to keep it interesting. In places it verges on just holding Murdoch by the wrist, then Roop will just add a little something at the right time to mix it up. Murdoch fires back, but Paul Orndorff interferes on the outside, tripping Dick’s leg on the brainbuster attempt, causing Roop to fall on top for two. Murdoch leaps over a trip attempt when running the ropes, but Orndorff interferes to draw the DQ. Fun stuff.

The Wild Samoans vs Frank Monte & Jesse Barr

Ernie Ladd paid off the original opponents for Monte and Barr to let the Samoans replace them, and this is a massacre. Lots of stiff looking headbutts from the Samoans, both standing and diving, whilst an attempted crossbody by Barr is met with a stiff elbow to the face. Samoan Drop ends the beating.

Mike George vs Bob Orton Jr

Surprisingly brief – only four minutes long – but a lot of fun. Both men throw some meaty looking blows, and I loved the stiff looking elbows thrown by Orton. The end is pretty nifty, as George powers Orton into the turnbuckles and fluidly grabs him in a side Russian leg sweep for the win. Wish this was 3-4 times longer.