[1997-08-23-USWA-TV] Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Lawler is back out, but this time he is here to address Dutch Mantell. Dutch called himself an icon, and Lawler objects to this. He points to his action figure yet again (he must have been really proud of this!) as proof that he's a bigger star than Dutch Mantell. His career accomplishments could be listed on a piece of confetti. This is all to hype Tommy Dreamer vs Dutch Mantell at an upcoming show, which is an interesting match that I'd buy a ticket for. He threatens Dutch not to lose the title to Dreamer and make Lawler have to go to ECW to get it back, or he'll come after Dutch. He promises he'll be at ringside during that match.

 

This is followed by James Beard coming out to apologize for how today's show started. Since the Brian Christopher match scheduled for later in the show can't happen, Beard has announced the new match as PG-13 vs Dunn/Flanagan. Brian Christopher is upset and wants to know where Travis is. Beard points out that Travis doesn't work for the USWA, and Christopher wants him hired so he can get him in the ring. James Beard says it will not happen, and Brian Christopher starts getting physical and will not drop the issue.

 

Good stuff, but nothing could change the USWA's fate, despite their best efforts.

[Kevin Ridge]

Dreamer going after Dutch Mantell’s title. Jerry doesn’t want Dutch losing the belt to Tommy and to keep it in the USWA. TV looks to be mostly from the studio show as we barely see clips from their live shows anymore.

[soup23]

James Beard is the new Eddie Marlin I guess. I liked the build to Dutch vs. Jerry and Lawler has a had an impressive resume in 1997. The Christopher vs. Travis feud seems hot at this point. Very good and noteworthy show overall for the USWA at this point in time.

[PeteF3]

We get a strong promo from Lawler and an even better confrontation between Christopher and James Beard, as Christopher demands a match with Billy Travis but Beard refusing to authorize it as Travis is supposed to be suspended. A pretty crazy episode of TV, up there with the best Raws and Nitros of this time period in all honesty. It helps that we have two rather long-running feuds getting focus, with Lawler vs. Dutch and Christopher vs. Travis.