Jan 7, 1988: Episode #1
The show opens with a video of Ernie Ladd vs Cowboy Bill Watts from Battle of the Bayou.
He seemed to relish in attacking Watts every chance he got, and it seemed like Ernie Ladd picked up on this. In the end, brawls were all over the arena, but Tully stayed out of the fray. Tully slowly climbed up on the apron. Nobody noticed. When he entered the ring, the ref looked at him but could do nothing about it as it was a no DQ match. Watts was busy throwing elbows at Ladd when Tully came up from behind and delivered a devasting kick to the groin. Watts goes down. Tully signals to Ladd to help him but The Big Cat just looks at him. Next, Tully scoops up Watts and hits a slingshot suplex. Watts is basically done as Tully exits the ring.
Ladd, satisfied he did nothing wrong, props Watts up in the corner.
WHAM… Running Big Boot by Ladd on Watts.
1…2…3! Ernie Ladd has won the bout and is in control of Louisiana Wrestling and WTBS!
As the bell sounds over and over again, the brawls on the outside slowly subside as people notice the match is over! You can almost see their expressions change. They quickly went from fighting mode to people deep in thought.
Gordon Solie: Thank you so very,very much indeed to the first episode of Mid-South Wrestling in 1988 and what a year’s it’s going to be. The Revolution is over. Ernie Ladd is the winner. Bill Watts and the UWF is no more. Now, we can get back to wrestling the way it should be. I’m Gordon Solie and it is my pleasure to be coming to you tonight from the Irish McNeils’s Boys Club in Shreveport, Louisiana. So many things have happened since we were last with you and in the next hour, we’ll do our best to get you caught with everything as well as bring you some great action inside the ring. First, I would like to bring out the president of Mid-South Wrestling, Ernie Ladd.
Ernie Ladd: Thank you Gordon. What a night! What a night! I told you that over-inflated blowhard Bill Watts couldn’t back up even one word of what came out of his fat mouth! I told you he had no friends in this business.
Gordon Solie: To be fair Mr. Ladd. He did put up one heck of a fight and if not for Tully Blanchard, nobody knows what the outcome would have been.
Ernie Ladd: Gordon… when you cheat so many people in this sport, it’s bound to come back and bit you in the … you know what! As far as Tully is concerned, Tully did what he thought was right. I tried to speak with him after the match but couldn’t find him. It seems he feels that his job is done. He feels vindicated for what Watts did to him back in the NWA. Tully has gone back to try and recapture the NWA title… a title that he feels he never lost. As for Mid-South Wrestling… we will continue to do business as usual. Problems will be solved inside the ring! Anything that happens outside of that ring is not my business… unless it effects my business. 1988 is going to be one heck of a year and we got a lot to sort out after Battle of the Bayou. Thanks Gordon!
Gordon Solie: Thank you Mr. Ladd. It appears the timekeeper is about ready/ Let’s head up to the ring for our first bout.
MATCH #1
Mighty Goliath & Nord “The Barbarian” with Colonel Buck Robley defeat Action Jackson & Scott McGhee in a great opening match that eventually saw Nord hit the front suplex on Scott McGhenn. The fan favorites almost had the victory after Jackson hit a big dropkick Goliath, but Robley interfered.
At the podium, Colonel Robley is going on and on about cheating by Scott Steiner and Hercules Hernandez at The Battle of the Bayou that cost his men the Mid-South tag titles. Suddenly, Ted Dibiase, Mike Rotundo and the Sheik come out to the podium.
Ted Dibiase: Buck, I hate to interrupt your interview time, but I have a proposal to make you that I think you will find somewhat overwhelming.
Buck Robley: I’m all ears friend.
Ted Dibiase: It seems that my goal to control Mid-South Wrestling keeps hitting some sort of hiccup. Sheik and I keep looking to add the greatest tag team in wrestling to our Million Dollar Corporation, but we keep coming up short. The last two, Avalanche and Typhoon were talented but it seems like they were more interested in the buffet then the ring. Sheik and I decided to cut our loses and sent them packing… That brings us to your team. It has tremendous talent. Tremendous potential. What I’m getting at is… I would like to buy Goliath and Nord from you.
Colonel Robley: Ted, the reason I got back in the business was to manage world champions. I think these two men will do that for me. Sorry old friend, they are not for sale.
Ted Dibiase doesn’t hesitate and pulls out a check and hands it to Robley.
Colonel Robley: Ummmm, nice doing business with ya. (Buck simply walks away with Gordon Solie not sure if we’ll ever see him again.
Ted Dibiase: (Pointing at Goliath) You seem to be the weak link here. Every time I replay that match from Battle of the Bayou in my head, I see you just flopping around on the mat. I have no time for losers. Goliath… you are fired!
Goliath looks confused….
Ted Dibiase: Go ahead you overgrown knucklehead… Get out of here!
Goliath still looking confused, finally just shuffles off. Nord, unsure what is going on.
Ted Dibiase: Come on Barbarian, time to go meet your new tag team partner.
The group heads off with Gordon Solie unsure exactly what happened.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Gordon Solie: Fans, joining me right now is the senior editor of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Bill Apter.
Bill Apter: Thank you Gordon. We at Pro Wrestling Illustrated had a contest for Mid-South Wrestler of the Year and the fans voted in overwhelming fashion for Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Many of the votes came in with comments where the fans pointed out that Dr. Death lost one match the entire year and that he succeeded in his quest to rid the area of the “Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff.
Gordon Solie: Joining us right now to accept his Wrestler of the Year award…. Steve “Dr. Death” Williams.
Dr. Death: Thank you Bill. Thank you Gordon. Most of all, thank you to the fans. I know what this sport means to you, and I just try to give them 100% which is exactly what they deserve.
From the back comes Woman and Lex Luger….
Gordon Solie: Waitaminute here. You two have no business being out here right now. This is Dr. Death’s time.
Woman: Pardon our interruption Mr. Apter, but I must correct you. Steve actually lost two matches last year. The last one coming to the new Mid-South Champion, my wrestler… The Total Package… Lex Luger.
Dr. Death: Woman… I think you have a long way to go before you understand what a Total Package is! As far as Lex winning that title at Battle of the Bayou… you and I both know that the only reason he won that match was because Ivan Koloff clobbered me with that Russian Chain after you distracted the ref!
Lex Luger: Do you ever stop making excuses!
WHAM… Williams clobbered Luger and the brawl is on!
Eventually we get pure chaos as it is Luger, Ivan Koloff, Wahoo McDaniel squaring of against Dr. Death, Dick Murdoch and JYD!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
When we come out of break, a bloodied Dr. Death is at the podium…
Dr. Death: You think attacking me with the help of Ivan Koloff and that turncoat Wahoo McDaniel … you think grinding my face into the concrete floor… you think this blood running down the side of my face is going to do anything to me? Am I supposed to sit here and feel sorry for myself. Am I supposed to be frightened? Am I supposed to sniffle and cry? I DON’T THINK SO! In fact, all you’ve done is make me angry. Angry that I let a chump like you take my title. Angry that I allowed a jezebel like Woman to play a role in my defeat. Angry that I allowed Ivan Koloff and Wahoo McDaniel to attack me during my match! Now, I will tell you this. You, Lex Luger, need to be afraid. Afraid of what I am going to do to you. The pain you are going to feel … Both physical and mental. I am going to break every bone in your body and when I walk out of the ring with my Mid-South title, you will be left sitting there wondering what Death feels like!
Gordon Solie: Lex Luger… I’d be worried. Very worried. Let’s go back to the ring.
MATCH #2
Vader (without Woman who seemed rattled from the earlier brawl) destroys JT Southern with the end coming from the powerbomb
After the bout, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Paul Ellering are all at the podium and want to discuss Ted Dibiase and The Million Dollar Corporation
Paul Ellering: Tic… Tic… Tic… Sheik Adnan…. The bomb is ticking. Soon everything is going to blow up in your face. You’ve tried and tried to buy the greatest stable of wrestlers but you have failed miserable. You overpaid for Ted Dibiase… Mike Rotundo is nothing but a smug over-rated book keeper and now you’ve hired Nord “The Barbarian.” Nord … well… the problem here you see is that Nord has half a brain which actually increases the average intelligence of your stable of wrestlers. Tic…Tic… Tic… BOOM!
Jake Roberts: Oh what a wicked web we weave when our goal is to deceive. Ted Dibiase…. We all saw you use that loaded black glove to defeat Ron Garvin at Battle of the Bayou. We’ve seen you buy and sell your way to the North American Title! Well, I can tell you one thing for certain. The old adage “that money doesn’t buy happiness” is 100% true. I am going to spend all of 1988 making sure you are very, very unhappy!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
MATCH #3
North American Title Match
“The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase © with Sheik Adnan Al Kassie vs Barry Colbert
It seems like Dibiase is out to make a point in this match as he just beats Colbert from pillar to post before locking in the Figure 4 for the victory! The problem for Colbert is that he refused to release the hold and as pulling on the ropes for added leverage. Colbert could be heard screaming by everyone in the small confines of The Boys Club. The ref is pleading with Dibiase, but he could care less. Sheik has even joined in and is pulling on Dibiase’s arms to add even more pressure on to Colbert.
Gordon Solie: Oh come on. This is completely uncalled for! Dibiase is going to permanently injure this youngster. We need help out here!
The crowd erupts… It is Jake Roberts to the rescue. He climbs up to the top rope and leaps off with a knee to the shoulder of Dibiase. Dibiase releases the hold and the Sheik pulls him to safety. The Snake is daring Dibiase to come back for more, but he heads over to the podium.
Ted Dibiase: Solie…. I’m sick of this. Same problem as 1987 all over again. Jake “The Snake in the Grass” Roberts keeps interfering in my matches. I mean this is ridiculous. I’ve heard of jealousy but come on. If you want a piece of me , put your name on the dotted line.
Gordon Solie: So, it’s Jake Roberts fault you refused to release the Figure 4? As for the contract, I’m sure Mr. Roberts would have no problem meeting you any time any place.
Ted Dibiase: As I said a minute ago… same problems as 1987 and you Gordon Solie were a problem then and are a problem now! Let’s go Sheik!
As Dibiase and Sheik leave, Eddie Gilbert and Missy Hyatt come out.
Gordon Solie: Oh, this just gets better and better.
Missy Hyatt: You got that right Solie. Look at Hot Stuff. Look at me! It doesn’t get any better than this.
Eddie Gilbert: Gordon, I’m confused. How have we gotten this far into the show and you’ve yet to mention what went down last week in Baton Rouge.
Gordon Solie: It has been a very busy show Mr. Gilbert.
Missy Hyatt: But nothing is more important than Eddie and myself.
Eddie Gilbert: That’s right! Last week in Baton Rouge, I pinned Michael Hayes and now the Freebirds are OUTTA HERE!
A gasp from the fans…
Gordon Solie: That’s right folks. I’m afraid that it’s true. Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts are no longer a part of Mid-South Wrestling.
Eddie Gilbert: Let’s be clear about this. Michael Hayes tried to do what Tom Prichard did and put his lips on Missy Hyatt. As a result, he got me so angry that I bounced his ugly head off the canvas with the Hot Shot and as we know, nobody gets up from the Hot Shot! For once, I agree with Gordon. Earlier you said 1988 is here and it is going to be better than 1987. With the Freebirds gone and Tom Prichard soon to follow, 1988 is going to be awesome!
Missy Hyatt: That’s right Tom Prichard. At the Battle of the Bayou, my team of Rick Steiner, Brian Adams and Eddie Gilbert were robbed of victory when “The Doctor of Dementia” Tom Prichard laid his ugly, fat, hairy lips on me and kissed me. I went into rescue mode. All I can think about was dying of disgust and it cost us the match as Eddie came to my rescue. I have now made a full recovery. Our next goal is to rid Mid-South once and for all of Tom Prichard just like we did the Freebirds. The last time Prichard flirted with me, it nearly cost him his life. This time, I promise it will cost him his career.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Main Event Match
Louisiana Title Match
Junkyard Dog defeats “Mean” Mike Miller with the Big Thump!
In a spirited interview, JYD is howling how excited he is for 1988 and can’t wait to get his hands on Ivan Koloff and Wahoo McDaniel!
Gordon Solie: Fans, what an hour it was. Things are really heating up here in Ernie Ladd’s Mid-South Wrestling. We are just about out of time, but I wanted to inform you that next week, we will be coming to you live from The Riverside Centroplex in Baton Rouge. If you are anywhere near the state capital next Saturday night be sure to be there in person. It’s going to one heck of a show. We are out of time. So long from the Pelican State.
