Atlantic Coast Championship Wrestling TV #9
May 11th, 1984
Sportatorium, Tampa, FL
(After the opening credits, we go to Tony Schiavone & Bob Caudle at the broadcast booth to start this week’s show.)
Bob Caudle: From the Sportatorium in Tampa, FL, it’s Atlantic Coast Championship Wrestling. I’m Bob Caudle and I’m joined as always by my broadcast colleague Tony Schiavone. Tony, the least we can say is that a few people in ACCW, notably Greg Valentine, are playing with Eddie Graham’s nerves and we have to wonder how much more can Eddie Graham take.
Tony Schiavone: Indeed, some people are worried that this might affect the way Eddie runs business here in the territory and at some point, he will have to get Greg Valentine to step in line. And from what we understand, Valentine was scheduled to compete again, just like last week, in a 6-men tag match with Ricky Steamboat & Paul Orndorff but Valentine didn’t even show up to the Sportatorium. Eddie is scheduled to appear a bit later today to address the situation. In the meantime, we’re told that Ric McCord has volunteered to team with Orndorff & Steamboat later in the show. But in the meantime, we’ll talk with Jack & Jerry, the Brisco Brothers.
(Nice reaction from the Sportatorium faithful as the Briscos make their way to the podium)
Tony Schiavone: Alright, Jack and Jerry, we’ve seen you compete in singles action lately and it will still be the case as Jack will take on Porkchop Cash on May 14th in Miami but you’ll be back in action together the next night in Orlando as you’ll take on another tough brother duo, The Youngbloods.
Jerry Brisco: We definitely have a lot of history together, not so much with Mark Youngblood but Jack, myself and Jay are no strangers to each other. As good as we are as a team, we’re equally as great as singles wrasslers. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Greg Valentine, Jack would still be the Atlantic Coast Heavyweight Champion. And he would still be the Florida Heavyweight Champion as well. We know he’s behind guys like Sweet Brown Sugar & Phil Hickerson showing up and attacking Jack. Same for the Cuban Assassin being the Atlantic Coast Heavyweight Champion as we speak. But I know that my brother will regain that title eventually but the best way we can reassess our dominance in Atlantic Coast is to dismantle every tag team until Eddie Graham grants us that match with Bill White & Johnny Weaver.
Jack Brisco: That’s right, Jerry. Everybody knows here that we’re the benchmark of tag teams in the entire AWA. We can and we will beat every team in front of us. So we’ll start with the Youngbloods in 4 days and we’ll beat everyone else afterwards.
Bob Caudle: Since I have you here, Jack, I think the occasion is fitting for me to ask about the way that you’ve got yourself that slot in the Atlantic Coast Heavyweight Championship match against Paul Orndorff. Some would speculate that someone has been pulling some strings in your favor to make that happen. Can you confirm to us that this was the case?
Jack Brisco: If you’re implying that Eddie Graham and I have conspired to have Greg Valentine removed from the title match against Paul Orndorff, you couldn’t be more wrong…
Bob Caudle: Well, I guess we can put those rumours to rest ---
Jack Brisco:…..but I didn’t say that someone else did.
Tony Schiavone: Wait a minute, so you did conspire with someone to take Valentine’s position?
Jack Brisco; I will not make any further comments on the matter.
Jerry Brisco: Yeah, we’re kinda busy and a bit late behind schedule so we’re gonna leave.
(The Briscos return backstage, leaving Caudle & Schiavone with a puzzled look on their face.)
Bob Caudle: Tony, I think I can speak for the both of us when I say that what we’ve just learned from the Brisco Brothers is pretty serious. Someone did conspire to have Greg Valentine removed from his title shot. But it’s not Eddie Graham!
Tony Schiavone: I don’t know who it is but this will only add to Eddie Graham’s ire as he’s now been wrongfully accused of keeping Valentine out of the title picture. So, perhaps, Eddie will be able to share his thoughts on this later in the show. But first, we’re ready for some in-ring action so let’s get to it!
Match #1
The Missing Link (w/Miss Elizabeth) beat Bulldog Bob Brown in 8:54 with a falling headbutt
Bob Caudle:….an impressive showing again from The Missing Link and he’s definitely been able to bounce back with Miss Elizabeth as his valet. But for now, let’s talk to the replacement of The Missing Link in the House of Humperdink, along with Sir Oliver Humperdink, Konga the Barbarian!
(Sir Oliver Humperdink makes his way to the booth, with Konga the Barbarian behind him.)
Bob Caudle: Sir Oliver Humperdink, you took a gamble by removing The Missing Link out of the House of Humperdink and to replace him by this barbarian you call Konga. And so far, it has paid off for both men.
Sir Oliver Humperdink: Let me correct you right here, Bob Caudle. I didn’t take any gamble on this; the gamble pretty much played itself out. The Missing Link became a nuisance to the House of Humperdink because he couldn’t think straight. He was infatuated by that leech of a woman he call his valet and it was becoming a problem for me and my House. So, nature took care of things and Link is out of the House of Humperdink. And we’re stronger than ever for this. The House of Humperdink is more dangerous than ever with Konga in its ranks, rather than with The Missing Link
Bob Caudle: And now, the big question is when do you expect to take care of The Missing Link once and for all because we’ve been hearing through the grapevines that you believe that there’s no place in pro wrestling for 2 sadistic men like Konga and the Link.
Sir Oliver Humperdink: You’re gonna have to be patient, Mr. Caudle. Do you honestly believe that I’m gonna give you my strategy? I’ll be biding my time and Konga and I will be striking when we’ll be ready. You can rest assured that once that happens, The Missing Link will literally be missing from this territory because Konga will make sure that he never shows his face in Atlantic Coast ever again. And he’s gonna bring that tramp with him as well!
(Konga leaves with Humperdink as Tony Schiavone joins Bob Caudle back to the booth.)
Bob Caudle: So, no regrets from Sir Oliver Humperdink about throwing the Missing Link out of the House of Humperdink and replacing him with Konga the Barbarian. However, I think it could prove to be more difficult than he thinks to get rid of The Missing Link.
Tony Schiavone: Let’s not take anything away from Link’s manager, Miss Elizabeth. She might be petite in stature but she’s highly intelligent. She can definitely lead The Missing Link to his highest potential here in Atlantic Coast and we know that he’ll have to go through Konga to do so so we’ll see how this plays out. We hope to hear from Eddie Graham when we come back!
***commercial break***
(Back from the break, we see Eddie Graham trying to talk to someone or some people in a parked car outside of the Sportatorium, presumably the Brisco Brothers, but the car speeds off before Eddie Graham can get any answers. Eddie gets back in the Sporatorium angry but the feed seems to be momentarily cut. When the signal comes back on, the only image seen on the screen is of the Soviet Union flag and the Soviet anthem is being played.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U06jlgpMtQs
(The normal feed returns and we join a confused Bob Caudle & Tony Schiavone to the booth.)
Bob Caudle: Folks, we apologize for what just happened and we’ll try to get to the bottom of this. But now, I think that – yes, Eddie Graham is on his way to the broadcast booth so let’s get a word with him.)
(A rather agitated Eddie Graham makes his way to the booth to join Caudle & Schiavone.)
Bob Caudle: Alright, Eddie, I know that you’re not in the best moods, after what we learned earlier in the show but have you been able to speak to the Brisco Brothers about what they told us?
Eddie Graham: I tried my damndest but I couldn’t get anything out of them and I hope to get to the bottom of this as much as you all do. On one hand, I’m happy that the Briscos proved I wasn’t behind Greg Valentine’s allegations. But on the other hand, someone else is playing with me and I don’t like it. For instance, for Monday’s show in Tampa, I was scheduled to have Brad Armstrong come in to wrestle Abdullah the Butcher as a feature attraction. But I got a telegram a few days ago from Brad telling me that he had other commitments and “someone made sure that he didn’t come here.” Now, I also know that he has a big Loser Leaves Town at the Omni against Arn Anderson tomorrow and Dusty Rhodes is on the same card so I’ll try to get Dusty to talk to Brad to see what this is all about. I know the Armstrongs, they’re an upstanding family, they’re a beacon of integrity in this business but I’m sick and tired of that someone playing with me at the moment.
Tony Schiavone: Now, in something a little bit unrelated, another thorn to your side recently has been the House of Humperdink and we’ve seen the likes of Kevin Sullivan using that Golden Spike on many opponents lately, causing several injuries and something needs to be done about that.
Eddie Graham: Indeed, it has to be. Kevin Sullivan, I’m not gonna beat around the bush. You’re a madman, pure and simple. This territory isn’t a horror movie or a circus sideshow, it is a pro wrestling promotion and I want to make sure it stays that way. So, get your butt out here so we can settle this, once and for all.
(Kevin Sullivan makes his way out along with Fallen Angel and stands face to face with Eddie Graham.)
Kevin Sullivan: What’s the maaaatter, Eddie? You don’t like when someone doesn’t play by your rules? This isn’t a tyranny, Eddie. This is how it’s supposed to work in the world. We are the only ones in charge of our destiny and we make our own rules and abide by them. You created your own rules and you do abide by them, aren’t you? But your rules don’t apply to our reality. Ya see, Eddie, the Golden Spike is more than a weapon. It enlightens you. It shows you the way. It shows you the path. It gives you more power than you could’ve imagined in your own life. The Golden Spike is the way, Ehhhhhhhhhhdie.
Eddie Graham: I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about since you wanna be a lunatic and I’m in a crappy mood, I’m gonna give you the occasion of saving your job. Tuesday night in Miami, I’m booking you against Greg Valentine and I don’t care what happens in that match. If Valentine doesn’t end up laying on the mat, you and your merry band of misfits can kiss your jobs goodbye. And if I see you use that Golden Spike in that match, you’re gonna get fired on the spot. I run a wrestling show around here, I’m not in the business of crippling people. Sullivan, you better not get on my last nerve because you won’t like it.
Kevin Sullivan: You can threaten me all you want, Ehhhhhhhhhdie, but you know I speak the truth. The Golden Spike is the way, Ehhhhhdie. Be careful what you wish for because you might get it. If I’m being honest, I’m gonna do it not because you told me to but because I feel like giving you and everyone in Atlantic Coast a taste of what’s to come around here. I kinda like Valentine and if I don’t mind beating the crap out of someone I like, imagine what I could do to someone I don’t like. Someone like….ya son Mike. Or…….you, Ehhhhhhhdie.
(Before things get physical, Sullivan retreats with a maniacal laugh as Fallen Angel only returns a smirk to Eddie Graham and Eddie’s face says it all.)
Tony Schiavone: Do you realize, Bob, that Eddie Graham was willing to make a deal with the devil just to get even with Greg Valentine? That’s how bad Eddie wants to get at Valentine.
Bob Caudle: Honestly, I think that Eddie Graham should reconsider his line of action because this cannot end well. He has a territory to run and he cannot in good conscience let his emotions affect the rest of his judgment. There’s too much at stake here and I think that as long as he doesn’t have the Atlantic Coast Heavyweight title back in the fold, things will get crazier around here. Not only that but all the singles titles. All of them aren’t held by current ACCW roster members right now.
Tony Schiavone: We’ll go to another commercial break and we’ll speak to Dusty Rhodes & Don Kernodle when we come back.
***commercial break***
Bob Caudle: We’re back on Atlantic Coast TV and let’s please welcome Dusty Rhodes and Don Kernodle.
(Huge crowd roar in the Sportatorium as Dusty Rhodes and Don Kernodle make their way to the booth.)
Bob Caudle: Alright, Dusty. First and foremost, tomorrow, you got a date at the Omni. You’re teaming up with Tommy Rich to take on old enemies in Ole Anderson & Mad Dog Buzz Sawyer.
Dusty Rhodes: Well, Bob Cawdle, you’re certainly right that I got a date at the Omni tomorrow night but we’re gonna do a lil’ wee bit different of dancin’ in Atlanta as myself and Tommy Rich are gonna go toe-to-toe with Ole Anderson and Buzz Sawyer. Ole Anderson, our hatred for one anutha goes waaaaay back. You’ve taken every conceivable shortcut to end my career and make sure that the American Dream would be no more. But I promised Tommy Rich that I’d be standin’ side-by-side with him and to give you and Buzz Sawyer the beatin’ you’ve deserved for so, so, so long. And tomorrow night, I can guarantee you that you’re gonna get it. But this is for another day and time. The reason I’m here with Don Kernodle is because just like for Tommy Rich tomorrow, I’m here to support a friend. A friend who’s seen his own flesh and blood turn his back on him. Today, I’m here for Don Kernodle because he wants to settle a score with Rocky Kernodle.
Don Kernodle: That’s right, Dusty. A couple of months ago, on this very stage, in that very building, my brother Rocky turned his back on me and for what? To be Greg Valentine’s personal lackey? Where did that get you, Rocky? What could you accomplish more with him that we could’ve done together? You’ve been avoiding me for way too long and we need to settle this. So I came here today, with Dusty, in hopes that you’ll accept my challenge of a match. We don’t even have to make it a one-on-one match. We can make it a tag match if you don’t want to be around me that bad. But you even refuse that. By doing so, you didn’t show anyone that you were “The Best Kernodle” as you called yourself. You’re “The Most Scared Kernodle”…”The Biggest Coward Kernodle”…And I could go on and on but I can assure you that we’re gonna get in the ring soon and once we do, I’ll ---
(Kernodle is interrupted by a shot of Green Mist in the face! The camera pans to see The Great Kabuki & Purple Haze! Haze rams Dusty Rhodes’ face on the ringpost as Kabuki puts the boots to Don Kernodle. As Rhodes is temporarily incapacitated, Kabuki hits Kernodle with a solid thrust to his throat! Kernodle goes down hard, clutching his jaw as a slew of referees make their way to the booth to have Kabuki & Haze retreat. Sir Oliver Humperdink finally appears and orders his troops to the back as Dusty crawls to Kernodle to check on him. Bob Caudle & Tony Schiavone order to go to a commercial break.)
***commercial break***
(We see VTR footage of Boomer Lynch pulling up in the parking lot of a motel. Boomer gets out of the car and gets into the motel. Boomer goes to the desk and starts talking with the clerk.)
Boomer Lynch: Hey, still have a vacancy here?
Clerk: Yeah, sure, to what name?
Boomer Lynch: Rufus R. Jones.
Clerk: Here’s your key, Mr. Jones. Have a nice stay.
Boomer Lynch: Thank you.
(Boomer Lynch grabs his key and heads to the room assigned to Rufus Jones. What could this be about?)
MAIN EVENT
Match #2
Ric McCord, Paul Orndorff & Ricky Steamboat beat Ashley Franklin, Chad Headley & Ashton Wayne after Orndorff pinned Headley with the piledriver
Bob Caudle & Tony Schiavone previews next week’s show:
-Konga the Barbarian vs Angelo Mosca Jr
-Don Kent vs Rufus Jones
-In the feature bout, Dusty Rhodes vs Rocky Kernodle
-An update on Don Kernodle and an interview with the Brisco Brothers
