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Episode #9 May 30, 1991 WBIR-TV (Channel 10-Knoxville), WJHL-TV (Channel 11-Johnson City) After the regular opening, we get about a 20-second video clip of “Bam Bam” Terry Gordy celebrating his Smoky Mountain Title win from Volunteer Slam last week! Next, we go right to Les Thatcher and “Dirty” Dutch Mantel with Ahmed, his “bodyguard” standing behind him. Terry Gordy is walking out with the title strap over his shoulder. Les Thatcher: Welcome wrestling fans, coming to you from Knoxville Auditorium Studio for Smoky Mountain Wrestling… wrestling the way it used to be and the way you like it. I’m Les Thatcher along with “Dirty” Dutch Mantel. Folks you just saw it. Terry Gordy is the first ever Smoky Mountain Champion and he is joining us right now. Terry Gordy: (with a neck brace on): Les Thatcher… I told you a few week’s ago… there’s not a man alive that can beat me. I told you this Smoky Mountain Title was mine. I told you it didn’t matter if it was Mr. So-called Wonderful” Paul Orndorff or if was Irwin R. Schyster… that I’d beat them all and I did just that. Les Thatcher: Speaking of Mr. Wonderful … he’s the one who put you in that neck brace your wearing. Terry Gordy: That’s right Mr. Thatcher… after our match, he couldn’t be a man and shake my hand. Instead, he uses an illegal move … the piledriver … and he nearly broke my neck … but did that stop me. No… I went on to win the title just as I said I would. Now as for you Paul Orndorff… I’m not through with you. You tried to put me out of the tournament … now I’m going to put you out of wrestling! Les Thatcher: There you have it folks… the first Smoky Mountain Wrestling Champion… “Bam Bam” Terry Gordy. Now, let’s get to ring announcer Tommy Noe for our first match. And guess who it is … Match #1: “White Lightening” Tim Horner vs “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff After a really good 7-minute match, Orndorff gets the win with a sling-shot suplex … or at least it looks like. As the ref gets to 2, Orndorff pulls him up by the hair and continues the attack. After another minute, Orndorff starts signaling to the crowd that he is going for the piledriver. Les Thatcher is reminding everyone that this is against the rules but Orndorff doesn’t seem to care. Slowly, he places Horner’s head between his legs and continues to antagonize the fans. The heel turn is complete…. Horner is up for the piledriver. WHAM… Piledriver on White Lightening!! The crowd exploeds… It is Terry Gordy from behind with a running clothesline to the back of Orndorff’s head. Horner is down but the champ is all over Orndorff. We get about 30 seconds of a brawl before Mr. Wonderful escapes and heads to the locker room. Both Thatcher and Dutch are hyping up this feud of the two big Smoky Mountain stars. Thatcher is disgusted by Orndorff’s turn and the recent use of the dirtiest move in wrestling while Dutch wonders if Terry Gordy would have ever won the title if he followed every rule. Commercial Break “Fans, if you like to see all the great action from the historical Volunteer Slam and see just how “Bam Bam” Terry Gordy became the first Smoky Mountain Wrestling Champion, order your very own VHS Tape of Volunteer Slam: A Night to Remember! Just send $14.99 to P.O. Box 1279, Morristown, Tennessee. You can also call (703) 989-6819 to order each and every episode of Smoky Mountain Wrestling! Coming out of break, we have a fired up, Mr. Wonderful fuming about how Terry Gordy had no right interfering in his match and …. WHAM… Terry Gordy is back and the brawl is on again… this one needs a giant pull apart to stop it and some stern words from Commissioner Bob Armstrong. Bob Armstrong: First of all, this needs to stop now. Here at Smoky Mountain Wrestling, we settle things in the ring and that is exactly what we will do. This week, at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, you two can beat the you know what at of each other for all I care… and the Smoky Mountain Title will on the line! This seems to calm both men down and they start to head off but Armstrong stops Paul Orndorff. Bob Armstrong: Also. Paul Orndorff… I’m fining you $100 for your use of the piledriver in the Volunteer Slam and another $500 for what you just did to Tim Horner and if you use it again… you will be fined $1000 each time you use the piledriver. Orndorff kind of laughs and reminds Armstrong how much money he’s made in professional wrestling and that $500 doesn’t mean a thing to him. Armstrong is just shaking his head at the disrespect from Orndorff as Mr. Wonderful storms off. Les Thatcher now hypes up this week’s event in Johnson City as he reminds everyone that the first ever Smoky Mountain Tag Team Champions will be crowned at this event and “Bam Bam” Terry Gordy will have his first Heavyweight Title defense against “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. Armstrong rejoins the conversation to announce the first-round match-ups for the tag team tournament: The Destruction Crew vs “The Fab One” Steve Keirn & “White Lightening” Tim Horner The Wild-eyed Southern Boys vs Killer Kyle & The Assassin Ivan Koloff & Boris Zhukov vs The Batten Twins TNT (Shawn Michaels & Jeff Jarrett) vs “The Hustler” Rip Rogers & Irwin R. Schyster These brackets send “Dirty” Dutch into a tither as he doesn’t understand how Bob Armstrong has left the two best wrestlers in Smoky Mountain Wrestling out of the tournament. When Bob asks who, Dutch names himself and Ahmed! Armstrong kind of laughs which angers Dutch even more but Bob goes on to explain that they have never even wrestled in a tag team match even though they always seem to be in the ring together… attacking Stunning Steve Austin. Dutch starts arguing back about how Armstrong is not very biased in his treatment of certain people around here… Suddenly Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers (The Wild-eyed Southern Boys) come out and it is Steve Armstrong who takes offense to the criticism that his father is getting and if Dutch and Ahmed want a shot to get into the tag tournament… the Southern Boys are willing to give up their spot if Dutch and Ahmed can beat them TONIGHT! Dutch and Ahmed both nod at each other and now Les hypes up the big upcoming TV main event for tonight!!! Match #2: IRS with Ron Wright vs “Jumping” Joey Mags After Ron Wright tells the fans how disappointed he is in them about the lack of donations he has been receiving from them for his necessary surgeries as he has given his whole life to them… fighting the Christian cause and all. IRS takes the mic and reminds them how stupid they all are that they didn’t even know they could write-off these donations as a tax deduction and that they need to chip in to help a Knoxville legend. IRS goes on to tell Ron not to worry as he will soon be the Smoky Mountain Champion as the money will be rolling in. As for the match. IRS continues to be extra-violent ever since that loss to Tim Horner a few weeks back. He completely destroys Mags with the finisher coming by way of the Audit! (Samoan Drop) IRS was so dominant that this is the first match Les Thatcher has seen Ron Wright not get involved! After the bout, Ron and IRS return to the podium to continue to throw some coals on the fire and get the fans more angry then before. Ron Wright: (try reading this in an old man Southern accent) Bob Armstrong… you call yourself a fair commissioner. You say you play it down the middle… that you’re by the book. Well what kind a man takes a cripple in a wheelchair who’s a needin a whole lot of surgeries just to ever walk again … a wrestling manager who’s just doing his job… and you up and roll him me away from the match where my man Irwin R. Schyster had Terry Gordy beat. Last week at Volunteer Slam my man was set to be the first ever Smoky Mountain Champ until you came down where you don’t belong and when you rolled me away, the Christian man that he is, Irwin R. Schyster, out of pure concern for me, lost focus momentarily and that’s when that heathen Terry Gordy took advantage of what Bob Armstrong did to win the title…. Bob Amrstrong… you are the same lowdown crook that I have always known you to be. IRS: First and most important, I am glad that my manager Ron Wright is okay after a very stressful situation. Next … it is obvious that Terry Gordy and Bob Armstrong had some sort of deal to make sure that I was not the champion. The problem was that they both acted just like the rest of the people here in East Tennessee … like common criminals. But just like the rest of you Moonshiners, remember this … The Tax Man always catches you … and for Terry Gordy … that means I’m coming for you and that title and there is nothing you can do about it. Bob Armstrong … your actions are nothing sort of heinous…and for that… we are declaring war …. On your entire family! Commercial Break “Fans if you’d like to raise money for your school, club or civic organization and you’d like to see all the excitement Smoky Mountain Wrestling provides, then this message is for you. Bring the stars of Smoky Mountain Wrestling to your town simply by calling (703) 989-6819 or send your letters to P.O. Box 1279, Morristown, Tennessee. Wrestling the way it used to be and wrestling the way you like it! BE THERE!! Match #3: Stunning Steve Austin vs Killer Kyle After this match, nobody can deny that Killer Kyle has the ability to be a star in this business. From his size and power to the way he moves around the ring, he is double-tough! The problem for Killer Kyle was that Stunning Steve is just that much better. In the end, Austin shows off his own power as he hoists Killer Kyle up and nails him with the Stun Gun for the win. Austin to the podium. Steve Austin: Since the day I got here to Smoky Mountain Wrestling, “Dirty” Dutch Mantell has been a thorn in my side. He told me from day one that I’m not very good but as soon as I wanted a match with him, he tries to whip me with his Shoo Baby or goes out and hires a bodyguard to do his dirty work. Commissioner Armstrong says if I get him in the ring, there is nothing he can do to protect Mantel. The problem is, every time I get near him in the ring it is 2-1… Now him and Ahmed have cost me a shot at the Smoky Mountain Title. That’s taking money out of my pocket. That’s gone too far. Dutch… I’ve already gone to Mr. Armstrong and he promised me that soon, very soon, it is me and you alone in the ring and I promise you this … revenge is on my mind! After Stunning Steve leaves, we get a VTR interview with the Destruction Crew where they claim they are the team to beat this week in Johnson City in the Tag Team Tournament. They specifically call out The Southern Boys and let them know that this is a wrestling match and not a popularity contest and the louder the fans cheer for Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers… the harder they are going to hit them! Commercial Break Hypes Monday, June 1: Freedom Hall-Johnson City and the upcoming tournament to crown the first ever Smoky Mountain Tag Team Champions and the Smoky Mountain Title Match between Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy © and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff! Before out next match we see Ivan Koloff, Boris Zhukov and Dick Murdoch with Les Thatcher. Ivan Koloff: Finally… the Smoky Mountain Tag Team Tournament… there is no way out now. There is no way your American bureaucracy can stop me and Boris. It is inevitable. Boris and me will be the Smoky Mountain Tag Team Champions. Dick Murdoch: You tell em Ivan… and Les Thatcher … let me tell you and these stupid fans something. I’m getting sick and tired of you people calling me Captain Red. Just because Ivan and I have been friends a long time and because I trust him and he trusts me doesn’t make me Captain Red. I’ve been in this business a long time and deserve respect! (All this said while the crowd get louder and louder with their chants. Dick Murdoch: Shut up! I said I deserve respect. Shut Up, I said! (Murdoch is almost foaming at the mouth he is so mad. Spit is flying everywhere) The more Murdoch asks them to stop, the louder they got. He got so feed up,he walked off with the Russians following him. Match #4: Dutch/Ahmed vs TNT A couple things became obvious here. First, Ahmed is a monster. Second, speed kills. No matter how much Ahmed used his power, the Southern Boys would eventually get the momentum back as Ahmed would have them slip out of his grasp. The last thing was that Dutch wanted Ahmed to do all the work while he got all the praise. This plan backfired in the end after Ahmed nailed Smothers with a powerslam, Dutch demanded to be tagged in only to be rolled up by Tracy for the win. Dutch seemed to be yelling at Ahmed at the end of this match. Commercial Break Main Event: Destruction Crew vs TNT The last two bouts on this show, along with the addition of Terry Gordy and Paul Orndorff to the card in Johnson City this week were simply to try and get a good walkup crowd as tickets sales have been a bit slow for this next big event. If the job of this last match was to stir up interest in the tag tournament, it did just that as these two teams were giving it their all. Bumping, selling, 4-way melees … total chaos. The problem was that it was too much chaos and the action spilled out onto the floor with each team giving it their all as we ran out of time. Les Thatcher: Folks if you are anywhere near Johnson City this Monday Night, make sure to make your way down to Freedom Hall as it is going to be a historic night in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Not only will the first tag team champions be crowned but we will also see “Bam Bam” Terry Gordy making his first Smoky Mountain Title defense against none other than “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff! We are all out of time for this week but make sure to join us right here next week for another great show. So long from the Volunteer State!

WWF is a mystery and is Terry Taylor pulling all the strings .... or is the Million Dollar Corporation. The King of the Ring was so well done and you put so much work onto it. Great job. Lawler-Funk.... Always a money maker. Again, awesome job! Can't wait to get all the clues to see where Taylor stands... what roll Nails plays in all of this drama and same goes for Andre! I might need popcorn for the next epipisode.

Great idea bringing tv to Puerto Rico before you have a major event there. Also loved the Latin American feel to the night with so much of the action. You have built up Maxx Payne as being a bit unhinged and the guitar shot to Brown confirms it. Should be fun following this one. Great promo between Garvin and Slater... this one would be fun to see in a bar. Colon and Kokina get some nice heat for the major event. Can't wait for this one!

Awesome job with such a stacked roster. You are able to really capture the feel of a major promotion. You have stars that are treated like stars and then superstars that are treated like superstars. Great job bringing Lex back and he is already in the middle of it! Love the tag team division- so much power! so much speed. From Doom to the Road Warriors to the Steiners to the Freebirds to the RnR Express... really makes it fun to read. Also, great job with the Hennig-Dustin angle. Can't wait to see the clash!

Really great catching up on all thatis going on the AWA! Loved Title NIght and Carlos Colon certainly deserves a title shot. You have run him against every wild man in the AWA for years and he has continued to shine. He is as big in the AWA right now as he was in WCC in real life. Hogan getting attacked by the 3 Japanese stars and then Morrow pouring champagne over him... huge heat! I really wonder if Hogan is gone after WrestleRock? Garvin and Slater going at it after their loss to the Heavenly Bodies... Wow... that match is going to be SNUG! Rich and Tully... two of my favorites. This could be fun! WrestleRock is coming and I can't wait. Easily one of my favorit shows of the year!

Great storytelling with the who Valet for 12 hours angle. Can't wait to see where Tasha turns next with her entire stable fired!

Presents Knoxville Coliseum May 22, 1991 (Attendance 1,000) IF YOU WANT MORE OF THE ACTION, YOU WILL NEED TO BUY THE VHS TAPE FOR $14.99 Smoky Mountain Title Tournament: Round 1 Irwin R. Schyster defeats “White Lightening” Tim Horner when he caught Horner with “The Audit” after a little “help” from manager Ron Wright. “Stunning” Steve Austin & “Dirty” Dutch Mantel with Ahmed ended in a double-count-out as they brawled all the way up the ramp and behind the curtain. “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff defeated Dick Murdoch when he caught him with a big powerslam. This was an instant classic and needs to be seen by all! Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy defeated “The Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff with the powerbomb. Four Team-Tag Team Battle Royal: The Wild-eyed Southern Boys defeat The Destruction Crew, TNT, and the team of The Mighty Yankee and Killer Kyle Semi-finals Irwin R. Schyster gets a buy into the finals as a result of the Austin-Mantel DCO. Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy defeats “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff by DQ as Orndorff connected with the piledriver when he thought the ref was knocked-out … but he wasn’t. Finals-Winner wins the Smoky Mountain Title Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy, in a neck brace from Orndorff’s piledriver defeats Irwin R. Schyster with the Oriental Spike after Ron Wright’s interference was seen by Commissioner Bob Armstrong and Armstrong wheeled Ron Wright up the ramp and out of the building. This distracted IRS and allowed Gordy to get the win. If you want to see any more of these matches, you will need to send $14.95 to the Smoky Mountain offices to buy the VHS tape. Also, as a part of this project, I would like to find a way to make SMW financially successful. While they did have money coming in from the founder of Def Jam Records, Rick Rubin, he was not going to keep giving money unless he eventually saw a return on his investment. The owners of SMW in real-life where Jim Cornett and Sandy Scott who were also in it to make money. With Cornette tied up in another promotion right now, I am going to pretend that Les Thatcher and Ron Wright were the main owners with Bob Armstrong and Dutch Mantel also owning some shares in the company. This is not too far-fetched as Thatcher held a share of the ownership in Heartland Wrestling in the Cincinnati area. Also, Ron Wright was part of the attempted coup on Ron Fuller in Knoxville along with Ron Garvin, Bob Roop, Bob Orton and Boris Malenko in 1979 when they felt Fuller was skimming off the top. Together they formed Allstar Wrestling in Knoxville so Wright has a lot of local knowledge to add to the promotion. Bob and Dutch are legends in southern wrestling and their careers are winding down so what better way to stay involved then to be part owners of the new Smoky Mountain Wrestling. By all accounts, the first Volunteer Slam drew just over 1,000 people with an average ticket price being $8.00. Let’s say that the all-in price when you add in tickets + merchandise (shirts, autographed pictures, hats, and VHS tapes of the first television shows) was about $10 per person to SMW. The Knoxville Civic Center would have kept all food and parking money. So, we have brought in $10,000. I have always heard that the money brought in at a wrestling show gets divided in thirds. One third to the venue (the Civic Center for rent), one third for expenses/promoters. This would be money for the tv announcers, ring announcer ring crew, refs, managers, a few errand boys, and the rest to be divided up between Thatcher, Wright, Armstrong and Mantel. Some of these might get “double-pay.” For example, Thatcher would get his ownership share and his announcer share while Ron Wright would get a manager share and an owner share. Similar things would happen for Dutch as a wrestler/owner. This leaves about $3,300 for the wrestlers. From what I have researched, the main event guys get about 16% of the gross (10,000), the semi-main guys get about 8%, any angle guys get about 6% and the preliminary bouts get only about 2%. This being a tournament, the numbers might be a little different but here is how I would have written out the paychecks for Volunteer Slam. Terry Gordy- $500 (3 matches + Champ) IRS- $300 (2 matches) Orndorff $300 (2 matches) Austin $200 Koloff $200 Horner $200 Dutch $200 Murdoch $200 Smothers $175 S. Armstrong $175 Michaels $175 Jarrett $175 Enos $175 Bloom $175 Bass $75 (Mighty Yankeee) Killer Kyle $75 While these numbers seem low, remember that the money would be worth slightly more than double today. Also, for the first 6 months, SMW was only running about 7 shows per months and many of these were in high school gyms with much lower attendance figures. So wrestlers might only work one to three shows per week depending on their status with the company. I see my job in this project to get SMW into more venues like the Knoxville Civic Center and less high school gyms. This is going to be done by expanding the television stations airing the product. I will not break with the fact that Smoky Mountain Wrestling was never able to secure a national TV contract. So expansion must be slow and well-thought. Also, the roster must remain small and ever-changing. SMW will always be looking to rent out its talent. Any thoughts on the plan? Any information you have on how territories paid their wrestlers? I have included an actually pay check of Ricky Morton wrestling one night in Smoky Mountain to give an idea of what these guys were paid. While it is by no means WWF money, the top stars in SMW did alright.

Nice week of shows. I was wondering how you do your loop. Do you move all your wrestlers from one area to another or do you almost have a California crew and a northern part of your territory crew. The reason I ask isyou are able to find work for so many wrestlers and don't really have total jobbers.

Episode #7 May 16, 1991 WBIR-TV (Channel 10-Knoxville) WJHL-TV (Channel 11-Johnson City) After the regular opening we go right to Les Thatcher and “Dirty” Dutch Mantel with Ahmed, his “bodyguard” standing behind him. Les Thatcher: Welcome wrestling fans, coming to you from Knoxville Auditorium Studio for Smoky Mountain Wrestling… wrestling the way it used to be and the way you like it. I’m Les Thatcher along with “Dirty” Dutch Mantel. We are just over a week away from Volunteer Slam at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum on Friday, May 22 where we will crown the first ever Smoky Mountain Champion. On today’s show, we will see the newly formed tag team, TNT…. Shawn Michaels and “Double J” Jeff Jarrett as they take on the extra tough team of “The Hustler” Rip Rogers and “No Class” Don Bass. We have Irwin R. Schyster trying to get on the winning side tonight but it won’t be easy as he takes on “The Fab One” Steve Keirn. Killer Kyle makes his return to Smoky Mountain Wrestling against Bart Batten. The Destruction Crew tries to get ready for the upcoming tag team tournament against Dixie Dynamite and Joey Mags. We will also be hearing from The Wild-eyed Southern Boys as they will pick their tag team partner for today’s main event against Ivan Koloff, Boris Zhukov and “Captain Redneck” Dick Murdoch! What a match that’s going to be. Ron Wright is here again and he says he has a big announcement for everyone. And Dutch, you’re going to love this… Stunning Steve Austin is hear and he says he has a message for both you and Ahmed! Dutch Mantell: Well, I don’t think I’ll be sticking around to hear what Mr. Austin has to say. He doesn’t respect me and I don’t respect him. I am really interested to see who the Southern Boys found to be their tag team partner. I mean that would be one stupid person to face The Russian Bear, Ivan Koloff, Boris Zhukov, and Dick Murdoch!... I really can’t wait to here from my good friend, Ron Wright. I hope his luck is finally changing! I mean he is such a great person and he has always fought for these fans in the Knoxville Area. It is such a shame these moonshiners aren’t chipping in to help with his medical bills. Les Thatcher: Oh brother… I don’t think I can listen to this anymore so let’s get to the ring for our first match. Match #1: TNT (Jeff Jarrett & Shawn Michaels) defeats the “Hustler” Rip Rogers & “No Class” Don Bass when Jeff Jarrett connects with a top rope drop kick on Bass. Les Thatcher tries his best throughout the match to explain that TNT might just be the favorites in the upcoming Smoky Mountain tag team tournament on June 1st at the National Guard Armory in Johnson City. Next, we see a replay from a few weeks back when Boris Zhukov attacked the Southern Boys in their match against Ivan Koloff and Dick Murdoch. This led to Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff getting involved and we end up with a wild brawl all over the studio. After the video replay, we see the Southern Boys with Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff where Les reminds everyone that the Southern Boys have been granted a 6-ma tag team match tonight against Koloff, Zhukov and Dick Murdoch….. Tracy Smothers: First of all, Steve and I would like to thank Paul Orndorff here for helping us out that night. I mean we should never have trusted a word coming out of the mouth Ivan Koloff when he said his cousin, Boris was back in Russia. We should have known that they were planning some devious attack that night. Well, Steve and I have been over in Japan the last two weeks battling some of the greatest tag teams in the world but to be honest, all we’ve been thinking about is Ivan Koloff, Boris Zhukov and that “Captain Red” Dick Murdoch! Commissioner Armstrong promised us a rematch against them with a partner of our choosing and tonight we’re here to collect. Les Thatcher: So, I guess that means you are ready to name your partner for tonight? Steve Armstrong: We are Les and it was a pretty easy choice. We’ve got to fight fire with fire so Tracy and I looked at each other and we just blurted out the same man at the same time. (Paul Orndorff is nodding his head) Steve Armstrong: Our partner tonight is going to be none other than “Bam Bam” Terry Gordy! Les Thatcher: You guys can’t go wrong with Terry Gordy… I mean I wouldn’t want to be the Russians or Murdoch knowing Gordy is coming after me! Paul Orndorff: What… Gordy… It was me that saved your butts a few weeks ago when Zhukov came after you all. And now… I’m not good enough! You two made the wrong choice… not only for tonight but for your futures! (Orndorff storms off) Steve Armstrong: I understand why Paul is upset but honestly, we’ve seen the tapes from the last few weeks and we weren’t sure we could trust him. He’s been yelling about this and that and blaming my father for not being able to use the piledriver and all. Paul is a great wrestler but in a 6-man tag match we all have to be on the same page and I think we got that in Bam Bam. Let’s not forget, he is one of the original Freebirds… one of the best 6-man tag teams in history. Dutch Mantell: uh oh… trouble in Paradise… or should I say trouble in Perfectville… anyway… I don’t think you two have any shot tonight even if I was your partner! As the Southern Boys walk off, Ron Wright rolls in. Ron Wright: (try reading in a slow, Southers accent) It’s been a long haul for ol Ron Wright here but there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. I finally found a man that thinks just like me. A man that wants the best for the people of this region of the country. A man that knows just how hard most people work here in Appalachia. A man who wants to weed out the bad apples and reward the others… a truly Christian rassler who has agreed to let me be his manager. This should not be a surprise to any of you who want the best for our people and I will bring him out in just a little while…. I am just so overwhelmed with joy that I a might actually cry… I can finally see a path where I earn some money to have those surgeries to get up out of this here wheelchair! Old Ron Wright is still not past accepting your generosity so if you want to speed up this process, please send your donations down here to the offices at Smoky Mountain Rasslin …care of Ron Wright… Bless you all and bless my new rassler. Commercial Break “Fans if you’d like to raise money for your school, club or civic organization and you’d like to see all the excitement Smoky Mountain Wrestling provides, then this message is for you. Bring the stars of Smoky Mountain Wrestling to your town simply by calling (703) 989-6819 or send your letters to P.O. Box 1279, Morristown, Tennessee. Wrestling the way it used to be and wrestling the way you like it! BE THERE!! Next we get a promo from IRS where Les Thatcher reminds him of his defeat last week at the hands of “White Lightening” Tim Horner! IRS: The only way Tim Horner could ever beat me is to cheat and that’s exactly what he did. Pretending to be the Tennessee Volunteer … to make me prepare for one wrestler only to be disguised as another. Once a criminal … always a criminal. That is exactly why I have joined forces with the one and only honest person here in Smoky Mountain Wrestling… Mr. Ron Wright! Ron rolls back out with a huge smile on his face and the two shake hands… with Ron letting everyone know that together, he and Irwin are going to clean up Smoky Mountain Wrestling and make this a place where Christian rasslers can be treated fairly…. And ol Ron can finally get those surgeries to give him a new hip and a new knee. Dutch is really excited for Ron and Irwin while Les just rolls his eyes. Match #2: I.R.S. defeats “The Fab One” Steve Keirn with the help of Ron Wright who somehow times it perfectly that he backed his wheelchair up and into the ring post just as Keirn was climbing up to hit I.R.S with what Les thought was going to be a flying elbow drop. Instead, Keirn crashed to the mat and I.R.S went to work and eventually nailed Keirn with “The Audit” (Samoan Drop) for the win. Dutch was so happy for Ron Wright that he has found another Christian wrestler like himself and that he is going to start to earn some real money while helping the people of East Tennessee get away from the dredges of society like Tim Horner! Next, we hear from Kolff, Zhukov and Murdoch- hype up todays main event! Ivan: I heard the Southern Boys talking about how we cheated. How we said Boris was back in Russia. Well, he was. Look back on my interview and I said he would be back very, very soon… and he was. It was you two who are the cheaters. It is you who jumps off the top rope to get a win when you are not the legal man! Tonight… it is us who have found the best partner… not you. Dick Murdoch: I must admit it… the Southern Boys had a tough choice in picking their partner for tonight. Paul Orndorff… the one trick pony with his only move … the piledriver… being outlawed or Bam Bam Gordy. Bam Bam is nothing but a cartoon character …. See him on the Flintstones every week… A joke … Gordy, if you get in my way tonight, I’m going to drop you on your head! Commercial Break Next we get a promo from Stunning Steve Austin to hype up his win against Ahmed and the upcoming Volunteer Slam. Steve Austin: Oh Dutch … the time is coming…last week I beat you and your goon all over the arena. Ahmed might be big… he might be strong … but he is nothing like Stunning Steve. Soon, hopefully at Volunteer Slam, it will just be you and I Dutch and we both know what the results will be. Bob Armstrong said that the matches at Volunteer Slam will be chosen randomly … I have a feeling that your name is going to be right next to mine…. And you will be my first stepping stone on the way to the Smoky Mountain Title. Match #3: Destruction Crew vs Dixie Dynamite & Joey Mags The Destruction Crew had a quick pre-match promo where they seemed to take offense to Les Thatcher saying that TNT (Michaels and Jarrett) might just be the favorites to become the first ever Smoky Mountain Tag Team Champions on June 1st. They used this match to utterly destroy their opponents to show everyone that they are the actually favorites to win the belts. They nailed both Dixie Dynamite and Mags with the Shaker Heights Spike where one person whips their opponents into the ropes and then tosses them in the air only for the other to grab his head from about an 8-foot height and slam him face first into the mat. The beating went on and on and every time the ref started to count, they pulled them up. Les Thatcher, the ref, and the crowd were getting very angry as Dixie Dynamite and Joey Mags seemed to be injured. Finally, the crowd erupted as Shawn Michaels and Jeff Jarrett hit the ring and got in a few shots before Enos and Bloom headed for the hills. TNT dared the Destruction Crew to come in and fight but they wanted no part of the young guns! Les and Dutch both hyped up the tag team tournament in a few weeks with Les saying that TNT is still his choice to win the titles while Dutch is disgusted that Michaels and Jarrett interfered in a great match. Dutch is getting sick and tired of the lack of respect these young wrestlers have for the business and that it all started with Steve Austin! MATCH #4: Killer Kyle vs Bart Batten Nice showcase for Killer Kyle who is still very mysterious with his dark suit, sunglasses and black case that could be carrying a weapon according to Les Thatcher. Ring announcer Tommy Noe adds to the mystery by saying he is from Hell’s Kitchen, NY! As for the bout, Killer Kyle does a great job of combining speed and size and connects with a bunch of power moves with the end coming from the powerslam! Commercial Break Main Event: The Southern Boys and “Bam Bam” Gordy defeat Ivan Koloff, Boris Zhukov, and Dick Murdoch when Gordy nailed Zhukov with a devastating powerbomb. The situation was a little uneasy as Paul Orndorff joined Les and Dutch on commentary and he was furious when Gordy bounced Zhukov’s head off the mat with the powerbomb. Orndorff is really convinced that Commissioner Armstrong is biased by outlawing his piledriver but allowing all these other dangerous moves. At one-point Orndorff moved closer to the ring and nobody knew what was going to happed but cooler heads prevailed as Orndorff shakes the babyfaces hands after the bout as Les is relieved that all is well in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Les Thatcher: What an hour this has been! Folks, if you are anywhere near the Knoxville area on May 22, get your tickets to Volunteer Slam. You will be a witness to history as the first ever Smoky Mountain Champion will be crowned! Until next time, so long from Knoxville!

Great event with Dusty going down to Rude. At this point, Rude is way over Dusty but I wasn't sure what to expect in Florida. Nice job. I feel the last 3 matches could have gone either way and the results give us a glimps as to the direction WCW is going. Doom over the Road Warriors has us all set up for Doom -Steiners at some point. Dustin/Steamboat over the Dangerous Alliance might just be the first battle in a war. Sting over Sid with some help from a returning Lex gives us so many options. Can't wait to see where you go. One note. The Bayfront Center is in St. Pete. The only reason I know this is that it is one of only two wrestling events I was ever at. I was in St. Pete with my mother for NY Mets Spring training and the stadium was right next to the Bayfront Center and it was advertising a huge show. I talked my mother into going and saw Dusty and Andre vs Blackjack Mulligan and Ox Baker which should have been the main event but the main event was for the NWA TItle with Harley and Mike Graham.

Just to start off, I really loved this format. I know everybody is different but for me, it is the promos that make the shows and you nailed it! Tunney... Lawler... Funk... perfect set up for the big match. And your match results were quick with the added info like when Andre came in fuming and took out all 4 men. Great job and really looking forward to the King of the RIng!

Seattle Showdown better bring is some huge crowds to pay all those wrestlers. Some really great matches on there. I'm most interesred in Dibiase vs Dr. Death. That to me, is two of the all-time best. Again, loved the promos in your shows. The back and forth between Coss and the Playboy was so well written. Great job.

Wow... PiP is in disarray but this might have been last straw as Tasha gets spanked!! Love this angle and it continues to carry West Virginia Wrestling.

Episode #6 May 9, 1991 WBIR-TV (Channel 10-Knoxville), WJHL-TV (Channel 11-Johnson City) After the regular opening we go right to Les Thatcher and “Dirty” Dutch Mantel with Ahmed, his “bodyguard” standing behind him. Les Thatcher: Welcome wrestling fans, coming to you from the Knoxville Auditorium Studio for Smoky Mountain Wrestling… wrestling the way it used to be and the way you like it. I’m Les Thatcher along with “Dirty” Dutch Mantel and boy do we have some show today but first, let me call in Smoky Mountain Commissioner “Bullet” Bob Armstrong as he has some very exciting news for you fans. Bob Armstrong: Thank you Les and I do have a lot of great news so bear with me a minute. First, I liked to welcome all the fans watching us on WJHL Channel 11 in Johnson City. Johnson City has a long history of great wrestling but of late, they have been starved for wrestling action. Folks, I promise you if you give Smoky Mountain Wrestling a chance, you won’t be disappointed; lots of great action at an affordable price for the entire family! Bob then goes on to give a whole lot of other important information including: Volunteer Slam- Friday, May 22 at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium- there will be a one-night, 8-man single elimination tournament to crown the first Smoky Mountain Champion. The wrestlers competing in Volunteer Slam will be announced later tonight. Another big night of wrestling will happen on Monday, June 1 at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City where the first Smoky Mountain Tag Team will be crowned! More on that next week. Next, Bob reviews the rules of Smoky Mountain Wrestling as there has been some people who seem to be a bit confused. 1. NO PILEDRIVERS 2. AUTOMATIC DQ FOR TOSSING YOUR OPPONENT OVER THE TOP ROPE 3. NO PUTTING YOUR HANDS ON THE REFEREES OR THE ANNOUNCERS 4. FINES FOR ANYONE USING AN ILLEGAL OBJECT Next Bob plays a VTR of all the dirty deeds of Ron Wright, including handing a weapon to Ivan Koloff against the Southern Boys, giving a pair of brass knuckles to Dirty Dutch in his match against Stunning Steve Austin and grabbing hold of Tim Horner’s leg in his tag team match. As a result of all of these dirty deeds, Bob has banned Ron Wright from ringside until he has a signed contract with a current Smoky Mountain wrestler. Ron Wright, wheelchair and all, comes rolling in and is fuming. “Now I am hearin what you’re a saying but I just can’t believe it. I’m nothin but a poor, old cripple and I couldn’t have those things you accused me of even if I wanted to … and by no means do I want to… I’ve been nothing but one of the finest, most upstanding rasslers this part of the country has ever seen.” Bob reminds Ron Wright that he has known him for over 20 years and he’s not buying a word of this nonsense. Armstrong warns Ron, “Don’t go to ringside without a contract” and then the Commissioner walks off. Les Thatcher: Wow… what a start to tonight’s show but how about we get to the ring for our first match tonight as “Freebird” “Bam Bam” Gordy is about set to make his Smoky Mountain debut. Match #1: “Bam Bam” Terry Gordy destroys The Mighty Yankee with the win coming with a huge powerbomb! Post-Match Promo by Terry Gordy bout the upcoming Smoky Mountain Title Tournament. “Let me speak truthfully to all these people here. I don’t think there’s a man alive that can beat me…. As you just saw the bombs are already starting to fall. I don’t care if its Dick Murdoch, Ivan Koloff, Irwin Schyster, or Paul Orndorff …. I’m here for that Smoky Mountain Title and I’m a gonna drop another bomb on whoever gets in my way. Just ask that commissioner of yours who the favorite is. I’ve already dropped a few bombs on him in my career and he knows exactly how tough a man I am. Fans… hitch a ride on the Bam Bam bus as its gonna be a wild ride! Next, we get a promo from “White Lightening” Tim Horner in response to Irwin R. Schyster’s words from last week and Ron Wright’s interference in his tag team match last week against the Destruction Crew. “Fans … I just want ya’ll to know that I take serious offense to last week’s comments by I.R.S.. He’s been going around here insulting myself and all the people of East Tennessee…..saying all we do is make and sell moonshine. He even said my nickname, “White Lightening” is prove that I’m a moonshiner. Let me tell you something I.R.S. … the people of this region of the country are some of the hardest working people I’ve ever met. We work with whatever the Lord has given us… I.R.S., If you dare get in the ring with me I’ll show you what “White Lightening” really stands for. Also, The Tennessee Volunteer, that you defeated last week is real disappointed in his performance and vows to do better for you fans this week so let’s really get behind him today. One more thorn in my side is Ron Wright…Wright … you talk about being this Christian Rassler … a rassler of the people …. Well, I’m one person who has seen enough of your nonsense… interfere in my match again and I won’t be tuning the other cheek. Next, we get a promo from Jeff Jarrett and Shawn Michaels who hypes of the friendship these two have made here in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and their big match tonight against Ivan Koloff and Boris Zhukov. Jeff Jarrett: That’s right Les. I saw Shawn’s first match here in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and I just loved his energy … his athleticism …. His confidence… I went up and introduced myself and found out we got a lot in common. We hit it off right away. Shawn Michaels: That’s right … we’re just two Southern boys … he’s from Tennessee… I from Texas… and both love to mix it up in the ring … we love to listen to music… A couple of Southern Rockers full of TNT! When we heard that there’s going to be a Smoky Mountain Tournament to crown the first Smoky Mountain Tag Team Champions, we said, “Hey, why not us.” We asked Commissioner Armstrong to give us a match and he gave us Ivan Koloff and Boris Zhukov tonight. Listen up you two … TNT … Tennessee and Texas together….Jarrett and Michaels are about to show you two Russians what we’re all about. Commercial Break “Fans if you’d like to raise money for your school, club or civic organization and you’d like to see all the excitement Smoky Mountain Wrestling provides, then this message is for you. Bring the stars of Smoky Mountain Wrestling to your town simply by calling (703) 989-6819 or send your letters to P.O. Box 1279, Morristown, Tennessee. Wrestling the way it used to be and wrestling the way you like it! BE THERE!! Match #2: Irwin R. Schyster vs The Tennessee Volunteer This rematch from last week was asked for by The Tennessee Volunteer who wants to make I.R.S. pay for his comments about the people of Tennessee. I.R.S., grabs the house mic prior to the start of the match and gives another of his degrading segments. He continues to be all over the people of East Tennessee and goes on to say that Tim Hornser’s words a littler early prove just how dumb the people of the Smoky Mountains are as they believe his corrupt nonsense. I.R.S. let’s everyone know that the time is coming for Horner to pay the Taxman! As for this match, the Tennessee Volunteer is much more aggressive than last week and is all over I.R.S. for the first couple of minutes. Unfortunately, he was a little over aggressive and rushed into the corner too soon and I.R.S moved away. Now, I.R.S. begins a severe beating of the Tennessee Volunteer. It looked over when he lifter the Volunteer up for the Samoan Drop but the Volunteer shimmied away and quickly rolled up I.R.S. 1…2…3! The fans go wild as we have just seen the biggest upset in the short history of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. The Tennessee Volunteer quickly rolls out of the ring as I.R.S is fuming! Next, we see the Tennessee Volunteer rip his own mask off and it’s none other than Tim Horner! The crowd explodes as I.R.S. is so hot he is almost ripping his own hair out. Dutch is screaming that Tim Horner is a cheater… just like on his taxes while Les Thatcher thinks Dutch has lost his mind as Horner did nothing wrong! Match #3: Mr. Wonderful “Paul Orndorff vs “No Class” Don Bass Give Don Bass some credit here as he is one tough dude who knows his way around the ring and his size, nearly 300 pounds, gives Orndorff all he can handle. In the end, Orndorff tires of Bass’s dirty tactics and starts throwing big elbows and haymakers of his own. Orndorff seems to forget the Smoky Mountain rules as he hoists Don Bass up for the piledriver but referee Mark Curtis grabs the legs of Don Bass and pushes him back down. Curtis now admonishes a fuming Orndorff about the piledriver … Orndorff quickly whips Bass into the ropes and catches him with a clothesline for the win! A fuming Orndorff heads over to the podium where Dutch Mantel is heard saying “tisk, tisk, tisk… you’ve been a naughty boy! Les tell Orndorff to “pay Dutch no mind. Paul Orndorff: Les… I getting a little frustrated here. I’ve been doing a little research here about how Commissioner Bob Armstrong banned the piledriver and I just don’t get it. Les Thatcher: Well, you must admit Paul that it’s a very dangerous move. Paul Orndorff: Come on Les, let’s be real. This is professional wrestling. It’s a dangerous sport. I mean Dick Murdoch is here in Smoky Mountain Wrestling…. His finisher is the brainbuster. Yes… he picks a man up in a suplex position and drops him on his head…. Sounds dangerous to me. Then you got the Destruction Crew with some crazy move called the Shaker Heights Slam where two men slam their opponents head off the mat after lifting him like 10 feet off the ground. Again… sounds dangerous to me. We just saw Bam Bam whatever his name is … pick a man up and slam him as hard to the ground on the back of his head as he could… I mean that man could have broken his neck. The neckbreaker isn’t banned here in Smoky Mountain Wrestling … The DDT isn’t banned here in Smoky Mountain Wrestling … but Mr. Wonderful can’t go out there and use a move a piledriver. I want to know why. The fans want to know why. Commissioner Armstrong talks about calling it right down the middle but I think he has a double standard. Les Thatcher: Paul … I think you know just how deadly that piledriver really is. Paul Orndorff: Deadly yes… but my job is to win matches. We just heard Gordy out here saying there isn’t a man alive that could beat him and how he is the next Smoky Mountain Champion. Well, I don’t think there’s a man alive that can beat Mr. Wonderful … piledriver or not! Orndorff, storms off as Dutch agrees with Orndorff about the double standard by Bob Armstrong and wonders why his Shoo Baby is considered illegal! Commercial Break After the break, we have the Destruction Crew come out to hype up the upcoming tag team tournament and they are laughing at the idea that two little punks like Shawn Michaels and Jeff Jarrett think they can win the Smoky Mountain tag belts when the Destruction Crew are around. They admit to using a little TNT themselves when they blew up some buildings in Chicago and now they are about the blow up Michaels and Jarrett. They also elude to some favoritism by Commissioner Armstrong about how he is waiting for the Southern Boys to return from Japan before holding the tag team tournament. Match #4: Shawn Michaels & Jeff Jarrett vs Ivan Koloff & Boris Zhukov What a debut for Michaels and Jarrett as they go toe to toe with the big Russians. They were even able to fend off Dick Murdoch who tried to get in the ring when the ref had been knocked down. As Murdoch climbed up on the apron, Michaels nailed him with a superkick and Captain Redneck went flying. Unfortunately for JJ and Michaels, the bell sounded and we got a 10-minute draw! Mr. Wonderful rushed down to ringside to make sure that there were no more 3 on 2 shenanigans. After the bout, Dutch could be heard warning the Russians and Murdoch to watch out for Paul Orndorff and his illegal piledriver as he tried to kill Don Bass just a little while ago. Les simply told him to knock it off. Commercial Break Before our next match, we get a replay of wild ending from last week’s show Main Event: “Stunning” Steve Austin vs Ahmed with Dutch Mantel With Ahmed and Dutch already in the ring, Austin comes running down but instead of getting ready for Ahmed, he makes a bee-line for Dutch. Dutch rolls out onto the floor and is running around the ring as fast as he can with Austin in hot pursuit! WHAM… Ahmed with a huge running forearm on Austin as he turned the corner. Dutch is screaming at Ahmed to kill him and it looks like Ahmed just might do that with power move after power move. Somehow, Austin makes the comeback and nails Ahmed with a flying clothesline and down goes the 300+ pound beast. The problem was that Austin was still not focused on Ahmed and once again exits the ring and goes after Dutch. But this time Dutch was ready and gave him a nasty eye rake before “helping” him back into the ring where Ahmed was waiting! Ahmed now works over Austin who is tangles in the ropes. Every time the reg shoves Ahmed back, Dutch gets in 3 or 4 blows. This goes on for what seems like eternity as Les is getting really concerned for Austin’s health. Next, we see nasty moves by Ahmed who is just clawing and ripping and Austin’s body and then finally locks in a massive bearhug! When Austin refused to submit, Ahmed drops him to the ground and then whips him into the ropes. WHAM… somehow Austin kicked Ahmed in the chest as he went for a back body drop! Austin whips Ahmed into the ropes…. STUN GUN! Austin with the cover. 1…2… Dutch with the run-in! 2 on 1 attack is under way but it is short lived. As they whipped Austin into the ropes, he came off the ropes with a double-clothesline and sent both Dutch and Ahmed to the ground! Austin tosses them both out of the ring and gets a huge ovation from the crowd. Next, we see Commissioner Armstrong come out to announce the names for the Smoky Mountain Title Tournament at Volunteer Slam… In no particular order: “Stunning” Steve Austin, “Captain Redneck” Dick Murdoch, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, Irwin R. Schyster, “White Lightening” Tim Horner, “Bam Bam” Terry Gordy and “Dirty” Dutch Mantel. Next we see Terry Gordy come back out “That’s right… you know it’s like this… I’ve been to Freebird Mountain and all around the world. I’ve been from Freebird Mountain to Tokyo, Japan. Now I’ve come from Freebird Mountain to the Smoky Mountains and I’m about to become the first ever champion here in Smoky Mountain Wresting. I heard Mr. Wonderful out here before saying that he thinks that there isn’t a man alive that could beat him. I heard I.R.S out here bragging about what he is going to do …Dutch Mantel thinks he is something special… Well, Orndorff… piledriver or no piledriver you couldn’t beat me on your best day. I.R.S…. you better just focus on Tim Horner or you might not make it Volunteer Slam… and Dutch Mantel … Dutch Mantel… never mind… Dutch aint worth my time. The bombs are gonna be droppin… I’m the next champ… the first champ… the only champ in the Smoky Mountains. Les Thatcher: Well folks, we’re out of time. Join us next week as we get ready for Volunteer Slam. So long from Knoxville.