[1991-03-16-USWA-Memphis TV] Eric Embry, Tom Prichard, Terry Funk and Jerry Lawler

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

The announcers are gleeful that Lawler has regained the Unified title, but Team Texas is out before they can say too much about it. Tom Pritchard's neverending Roddy Piper impersonation has become the most annoying thing in 1991 wrestling. They cut to highlights of Lawler vs Funk at MSC, with Jackie Fargo as special referee. Fargo is doing too much to put himself over for my tastes, but it doesn't really take down the match. Funk throws furniture all over the ringside area in a crazy scene, actually picking up the entire guardrail and hitting Lawler with it. The match looks to have pretty great, and once again, I wish we had it in full. Fargo makes a fast count and purposely turns his head after a piledriver so Lawler can get the win. I don't like the way Funk pops right up after the piledriver, but it is what it is.

 

Back in the studio, Embry and Pritchard whine about the ripoff and they have a pretty valid point, although Funk won the title by cheating too, so I guess it's fair. Lawler hears all of this whining and is out to show off the belt. Just as you'd think, that doesn't last long, as the heels jump him, but Eddie Gilbert quickly makes the save and we've got ourselves a brawl! The babyface triumph is short-lived, as the Texas Hangmen storm the ring and attack Lawler and Gilbert. Jeff Jarrett finally runs out with a step ladder and clears the ring.

 

"Just what we need, two more from Texas." -- HA!

[PeteF3]

Great-looking clips from the MSC, but I'm really sour on the finish. After going a relatively long time without the title it feels anticlimactic for Lawler to regain it with a crooked referee and a fast count.

 

Embry and Prichard are incensed, then they bring out Lawler, who cuts a victory promo before getting jumped. Eddie Gilbert evens the odds temporarily, until the Texas Hangmen run in to make it 4-on-2, much to the chagrin of Dave & Michael at the table.

[Kevin Ridge]

Pritchard wants to talk about justice and injustices of wrestling. Embry wants to see the tape of the Funk/Lawler match. Looked to be some big action on the outside with the use of tables and the ring guardrail. Jackie refuses to count a Funk pinfall after he used a weapon. Lawler ends up winning the title. Funk got the shaft. Everyone bumps for Fargo’s punches after the match. Back in studio with Embry and Pritchard attacking Lawler. Gilbert saves though before the Texas Hangman make the odds too tough.

[soup23]

Kings gear in the MSC match is terrible. I feel conflicted with the Fargo stuff because it does pay off Funk's promo but it does cheapen the unified title since as I have commented before, Funk has actually stabilized. Funk throwing everything was sick. Match overall looks at least to be a great spectacle like their first two matches we have. Finish pissed me off and didn't set well since it didn't feel as much like Funk got his comeuppance as he was screwed. This honestly should have been Lawlers biggest win since he beat Von Erich.

 

Brawl back in the studio is a good one and this was a fine way for the Hangman to make their presence known.

[garretta]

When you have Fargo as the referee, naturally the match is going to be about him; there's no reason to bring him in otherwise. You knew he was going to be the reason Lawler got the belt back, and so he was. Yes, Terry got screwed. Yes, Embry and Prichard have a valid point. But it's Lawler, it's Fargo, and it's Memphis, so too bad so sad and a round of raspberries for one and all.

 

Seriously, the action we got was tremendous, but it always is with these two, who bring out the craziness in each other like no one else ever, and that's really saying something in Funk's case. I'm actually more bothered by Fargo punching out Funk after the match than I am what he did during the match. The screwy pinfall can be spun as a heel getting what he deserved, but there's no way to spin an old man like Fargo getting the best of a man who walked into the MSC that night as World champion, and no-selling the beating he got to boot.

 

I know what a legend Fargo is in Memphis, but you'd think he could have been convinced to at least take a bit of a beating from the two hottest heels in the territory. Maybe it was in the agreement for his use that he got to come out on top decisively; if it was, he should be wrestling whenever needed for the rest of the angle, since he can obviously still go toe-to-toe with guys like Embry and Prichard.

 

I didn't catch as much Piper as usual in Dr. Tom, and I think he's a better talker than Embry, to be honest (although Embry sounds sleazier). The Hangmen make a good addition to this feud, and I'm wondering who the fourth Tenneseean will be to make the sides even. By all rights it should be Dundee, but he's been doing his own thing of late.

[dawho5]

I am completely with Loss on Pritchard's impression of Piper. It needs to be gone rightNOW. Great clips from MSC and I do wish that Lawler could have gotten the title back under better circumstances. This is, however, Memphis and I'd agree that wonky booking in title matches or big name matches is just going to be there. Funk throwing the railing around was all kinds of spectacular.