[1994-07-16-USWA-TV] Jerry Lawler vs Tommy Rich / Tommy Rich and Jerry Lawler

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

They show a clip from Mid South Coliseum of Lawler vs Rich in a barbed wire match, which I'm sure was great in full. Mickey Poole rises from the grave and cuts the barbed wire, which distracts Lawler long enough for Rich to get him with an ether-soaked rag and pin him. Back at the studio, Rich explains how losing his hair in the Dundee match back in 1977 ruined Mickey Poole's life, as he lost his job and his wife left him. They show an old clip, and Mid South Coliseum looks the exact same, with the only difference being it was a lot more packed and heated back then. Rich provokes Lawler into coming out and having a fight, but Sid attacks Lawler from behind. Good stuff.

[Kevin Ridge]

Clips of a barbwired match between Lawler and Rich. The ring is set up with both the ring ropes and barbwire. Short clip per usual for USWA. Rich out for interview with some back history talk. They show clips of older action. Probably the best head shaving job I’ve ever seen. Lawler out to confront Rich and Sid interrupts later. Sid is sporting shorter and darker hair. He still remains incoherent whe he talks. Lawler takes a decent chokeslam and they sell it as really hurting Jerry.

[Kevin Ridge]

triple post

[Kevin Ridge]

triple post

[Exposer]

Highlights of a match where Mickey Poole helps Tommy Rich beat Lawler. Tommy cuts an awesome promo about how when Poole lost his hair for Lawler his life was ruined. Rich goads Lawler out to the studio then challenges him in the ring. Sid shows up and chokeslams Lawler leaving him hurt in the ring. Great stuff.

[soup23]

I loved all of this. The clips from Midsouth looked awesome and heated. Tommy Rich gives a long time promo and I can actually buy the embarrassment he says Poole received and that is why he has been away so long. Sid as a monster in Memphis actually works too. Also refreshing to have Lance here as he adds a lot to this angle talking about Jerry’s pride getting the best of him and asking legitimate questions to Rich.

[PeteF3]

They resurrect an angle from 1977, 17 years later, as Mickey Poole is back for revenge after Lawler cost him his hair. This is well-done, but imagine something like the WWF of this time building a main event angle around something Arnold Skaaland did pre-expansion. That would be crazy. This is a heated promo from Rich, incidentally. He suckers Lawler into the ring so he can get laid out by a brown-haired Sid Vicious. Lawler sells the "throttle slam" like death. Kind of different booking, as Memphis has never been a big "finisher" territory, outside of the piledriver.