Boon

​East Tennessee - Wright/Thatcher - ​(News from the Wrestling Observer) ​- In another busy week for in's and out's in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Talent out this week is the Batten Twins, who dropped the titles to Doug Vines and Jeff Sword, it's believed the Batten could make more money working in around St. Louis and Kansas on independent shows without the hassle of travelling to Tennessee each week, they are also holding out for Harley Race to put some of his Wrestlemania pay into re-opening the St Louis office. ​Smoky Mountain have set up a deal with Japanese promotion JWA and in a talent exchange rookie Akira Nogami comes in and Ron Wrights right hand man Phil Hickerson has gone over there. Although this seems odd, its more of a talent scouting opportunity for the East Tennessee office. Akira Nogami will be tagging along with Hiro Saito who will be managed by someone, but we don't know who as of yet. ​Last seen in Dallas as Lance Von Erich, blue chipper Ricky Vaughan has come in, this deal came about after Brian Adias (school friend of Kerry Von Erich) saw potential in from his time in Portland. ​Jerry Lawler and the Rock N Roll Express have signed deals through the summer, although the plan isn't to sign full time, its something both parties are interested in. ​The Mongolian Stomper has also signed a deal, it's unknown what his role will be. ​- ​With Jerry Lawler in the fold, he is pushing Les Thatcher and Ron Wright to consider running the Mid-South Coliseum, with Jerry Jarrett busy with the USWA, MSC is not always booked on Mondays, and Lawler feels if Smoky Mountain can get onto WMC-5 in Memphis then they could easily run the MSC with the likes of him and Rock N Roll Express. Thatcher and Wright aren't fully on board, reason being is that they know how big a draw those three guys are in Memphis, but without them on written contracts it could cause issues. ​- We brought you the story last week but its believed All Star Wrestling will change their name over to Power Hour before long, this is to try and market the show across the country, this is no way being down to run shows elsewhere, just a way to make a bit of extra cash. One station that has picked up the show is Spanish International, a channel in the New York City metropolitan area, this is a Spanish speaking channel, and the show has been put on at 2am on a Wednesday morning and is running 2 weeks behind, the show name is Toda La Estrella Lucha. We don't expect it to stay around for long, but for the time being its much easier for us to get footage due to the amount of tape traders in the New York area, not a bad idea to get more eyes on the company, by that I mean traders video taping everything and not a cult following of wrestling fans sitting up to 2am to watch some southern wrestling. - ​Due to the talent pool being very dry at the moment Ron Wright and Les Thatcher have asked Mike Jackson to tour the UK for the next few weeks with Shirley Crabtree's Joint Promotions to see what talent is like over in the United Kingdom, two high on the list were David Taylor and Marty Jones. Shirley Crabtree also known as Big Daddy, the biggest draw in the UK is trying to get himself booked in the US, Crabtree a 600 pound man who mainly does tag matches where he tags in and gets the win, is very much over and would be crazy to leave. Mike Jackson has said to have taken a liking to David Taylor and thinks he could get over as a British Tough Guy.

In a loan exchange that has shook the world of professional wrestling, rookie Akira Nogami will be coming into Smoky Mountain Wrestling and going back in his place for his first tour of Japan, the immensely talented tag team specialist Phil Hickerson...

No probs dude, not that it matters greatly, but Ill bring in Tarzan Goto.. Need a foreign team that can go, so Saito and Goto will be more than capable of doing that... Oh, yeah. They'd make a great 80s-style foreign heel team. They both have that stocky build/shaggy beard look that suits that role so well. Hold fire on Tarzan Goto Kevin, gordi has loaned another dude to me...

No probs dude, not that it matters greatly, but Ill bring in Tarzan Goto.. Need a foreign team that can go, so Saito and Goto will be more than capable of doing that...

Smoky Mountain Wrestling would like to add Hiro Saito and The Cobra (George Takano) to their roster. Along with Lance Von Erih who will go under the name Ricky Vaughan. Id also like to add Ron Wright as a manager, if no one is against that..

Apologies the first 2 dates shouldn't be on there...

Buddy Rose was a great face in Portland, in fact Buddy Rose was so good he could flip back and forth and get over, very underrated because of his WWF run..

I really enjoyed all the little bits you've added to the show from the betting lines to all the news in the build up to the show and then the aftermath. I think ll the results are the right ones, but interested to see how you book Gino and Adams as tag champs as they are a personal favourite of minute. I'm on the flip side to Kevin with the Andre timing, seemed about right if not a tad too long, although could have longer matches he was very limited and any more would of seemed unnecessary. Hogan winning, I didn't expect anything else, first PPV ever should have a heel winning the main event, in any circumstance.

Love these house shows you put one, everyone seem's to have a little angle, that builds to TV, I can see Austin Idol spending some time on the side lines for this attack on Densmore.

Love the purse angle...

Smoky Mountain has come to terms with the Batten Twins, Mark and Brad.

Monday 8th April 1985 Knoxville Civic Auditorium, Knoxville, TN Bell Time 19:30 ​- In tonight's first of 2 Dark Matches, Ron Ritchie, Mike Jackson and Ken Timbs defeat Tony Falk, Steven Dunn and Steve Gatorwolf in 7 minutes when Ken Timbs hits a drop kick on Tony Falk and covers him for the 3 count. ​- Tom Lintz defeats Tommy Wright in 4 minutes with a body slam and the pinful using a handful of tights for leverage. ​​1. Tonight's opening match see's Phil Hickerson and Pat Rose defeat Larry Hamilton and Josh Stroud in 6 minutes following a big splash from Phil Hickerson to Josh Stroud. There was nothing to note in this match and could of easily have been inter changed with either of the two dark matches. ​- 2. The Memphis Vice (Jerry Bryant and Lou Winston) defeated The Infernos (Fire and Torch) via disqualification in 10 minutes when Torch brought a chair into the ring to use as a weapon, when Paul Morton threw the match out. ​- ​3. The Great Gama Singh defeats Brian Adias in 13 minutes when he took the tag rope from the corner and used it to assist in his Camal Clutch finished without the referee knowing and Brian Adias passed out. The result means Gama Singh is now the number 1 contender for the Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Championship. Following the match Singh lays a Pakistan national flag over Adias motionless body. ​- 4. In our Smoky Mountain Tag Team Title match, the champions The Karachi Puraa's (Vulkan & Mulkan Singh) defeat The Wild Hogg's (JR & Lk Hogg) with Captain Lou Albano via disqualification when the Wild Hogg's lost control of themselves and referee Paul Morton had to throw the match out at 8 minutes, meaning the Puraa's retain the titles. ​- 5. Jerry 'The King' Lawler defeats The Flame in 12 minutes in a heated brawl that went all around the ringside area. Lawler tried several times to hit a piledriver but The Flame was just to big for him, in the end Lawler hit a top drop fist drop for the win. - 6. In tonight's main event for the Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Championship, Don Kernodle defeats champion Ron Starr in 16 minutes. During the match Ron Starr deliberately tried to get himself disqualified several times, but Ken Lucas the special guest referee was very good in giving Kernodle his chance to win as he could see what Starr was up too. The end came when Ron Starr had several near falls and clearly was getting frustrated with Lucas and his counts. In the end Starr got so hot he went to hit Lucas, only for Lucas to block the punch and push's Starr away, this lead Kernodle rolling up Starr in a school boy and gets the 3 count for the win and the title. Following the match Starr goes to hit Lucas again only for Lucas to block and hit him back with a big right hand, and we end the show with Lucas and Kernodle celebrating.

Smoky Mountain All Star Wrestling Saturday 6th April 1985 Knoxville Civic Ballroom, Knoxville, TN Taped in front of a live studio audience at the Knoxville Civic Ballroom, Knoxville, TN Hosted by Charlie Platt and Les Thatcher Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Champion - Ron Starr Smoky Mountain Tag Team Champions - The Karachi Puraa's (Mulkan Singh and Vulkan Singh) The opening credits roll and we pan to Charlie Platt and Les Thatcher sitting at the announcer desk for another exciting week of pro wrestling action from Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Charlie Platt tells the fans they have new tag team champions here in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, The Karachi Puraa’s defeated The Batten Twin’s this past Monday in Knoxville, Les Thatcher says we will hear from them later on in the show. We will also have Brian Adias in singles action, the Wild Hoggs will be making their return to television and in our TV main event this week, we will see Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler and the Memphis Vice in 6-man action. At this point, Ron Starr comes out to the announcers table, the champion tells Platt and Thatcher that he’s heard a crazy rumour that Don Kernodle will be getting another title shot, Les Thatcher steps in and tells Starr that’s right, Thatcher explains that although Starr retained the title he lost the match, so this week in Knoxville we will see Don Kernodle versus Ron Starr for the Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Title. Starr is livid at the news and goes to walk off, Les Thatcher tells Starr not to go as there’s more, to make sure you stay in we have appointed a special referee, and I’d like him to come out now. From the back Ken Lucas, East Tennessee wrestling legend, walks out, this past week when Ron Starr refused to stop his attack on Don Kernodle, Ken Lucas was the man who broke it up, and this week he will be the law. Ron Starr who is outraged says Thatcher and the whole of Smoky Mountain Wrestling is out to get him, as he goes to storm off, he turns and slaps Ken Lucas before retreating very quickly to the back. === Commercial === We return from the break with Tony Falk in the ring when Brian Adias makes his way to the ring. Adias has recently made his way to Smoky Mountain and is hoping to make a name for himself. The match gets under way and Adias makes the match his own very quickly. Brian Adias picks up the victory after 4 minutes of action with a side Russian leg sweep. Following the match, Brian Adias joins Charlie Platt and Les Thatcher, he tells them he’d like to throw his name into the hat for a heavyweight title match, Thatcher tells Adias if he continues the way he’s going, it won’t be long. ​=== Run down of this week’s action coming to Smoky Mountain area ===​ Following some local promo’s Les Thatcher and Charlie Platt are joined by Gama Singh, who wearing both Smoky Mountain Tag Team titles, along with the new tag team champions Mulkan Singh and Vulkan Singh. Vulkan and Mulkan won the titles this past Monday when Mark Batten injured his ankle and the Puraa’s took full advantage, Gama tells Thatcher that his Puraa’s did well for him this past Monday winning the tag team titles, now he knows it’s his turn to enter the squared circle, so he challenging the winner of the Smoky Mountain Heavyweight title match this weekend. Les Thatcher interjects himself and say’s Gama hasn’t earnt himself a title match, but if he wants one how about he faces Brian Adias this Monday night and the winner faces off with the winner of Ron Starr and Don Kernodle. Gama Singh says he will easily overcome Adias and move on to take the title from either Starr or Kernodle to add to his Tag Team Titles. There is a commotion from the back of the studio, two wild men are charging towards the ring as another wild looking man seems to be in charge of them, as they get closer, it’s clear that its Captain Lou Albano and his Wild Hogg’s, Lou Albano approach’s Gama Singh when Vulkan and Mulkan stand in front of him for protection, Albano tells Gama not to get comfortable with the titles because his Wild Hogg’s are coming for them, and he’s about to show him what they can do. Back into the ring and we have The Wild Hogg’s ready to face off with Steven Dunn and Steve Gatorwolf. The bell rings and the Hogg’s charge at Dunn and Gatorwolf, completely destroying them in the progress. The Hogg’s get the win after 3 minutes when JR Hogg hit a double axe handle smash from the second on Steve Dunn and covers him for the victory. The Wild Hogg’s and Captain Lou Albano send a very clear message to the tag champs The Karachi Puraa’s. === Commercial === After the commercial break, we go to the ring where Mike Jackson and Tommy Wright are waiting for their opponents to come, when The Flame leads out his team of the Infernos, Fire and Torch. The Flame joins Platt and Thatcher for commentary as Fire and Torch make their way into the ring. The bell rings and the match is underway, we go to about 5 minutes when Fire scoops up Wright and drops him with a standing spine buster and covers him for the victory. During the match The Flame spends the entire match bad mouthing The King Jerry Lawler, he challenges Lawler to a one on one match this Monday in Knoxville. === Run down of this week’s action coming to Smoky Mountain area === For today’s main event we have Pat Rose and The Masked Machines (Tony Falk and Steven Dunn under mask’s) as their opponents make their way to the announcers table, Jerry Lawler tells Charlie Platt and Les Thatcher it was great to get back into the ring in the Knoxville area and it looks like he’s back this Monday as he’s accepting the Flame’s challenge. Lawler and The Memphis Vice, Lou Winston and Jerry Bryant make their way to the ring. The match is underway, Pat Rose and the Masked Machines jump their opponents at the bell and a six man brawl is underway, referee Paul Morton struggles to get the match under control but it isn’t long until Lawler and The Memphis Vice take control and get the victory when Lawler hits a piledriver on Masked Machine #2 and covers him for the victory. Before Lawler, Bryant and Winston get a chance to celebrate The Flame, Fire and Torch storm the ring and attack all 3 men and leave them to beaten in the middle of the ring to end the show. === Show Ends ===

Cena genuinely looks surprised and made up his mums there...

Mojo's winning isn't he...

If Braun is reappearing later, he's better of sittng in the front row and waiting, time he gets back up the ramp and back down it'll be Raw...

Can't help think, this won't be the last time we see Braun tonight...

Yep. Old-school baby. I do love the set-up. As always. Love giant outdoor set-ups. Always a ton of fun. Love the look and production of these shows. They've done a cracking job this year

Goldust rocking his 1996 gear

I think the pre-show is free, so they're trying to encourage people to subscribe to the network. That's a point, it's on youtube isn't it...

What's the need for a commercial?

Same here, done 8 shows over the last 3 days from the sofa, 1030 here now hoping to stay awake for the whole show...

Just this weekend, normally fine. Did a great job all in all, considering WWNlive doing two shows, Chikara would of taped their shows and The Floslam ones, that's a lot of tech work to flick between sites etc...

Yeah it's as good as good for the replays, must be something to do with the media player floslam use for the live streaming.

Smoky Mountain would like to book The Rock N Roll Express for the 6th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 27th and 29th