World Wrestling Association results thread 1983

[JHawk]

August 13, 1983 - WWA Superstar Challenge live from WTTV Studios in Indianapolis, IN (airing on tape delay in syndication and as “Wrestling at the Chase” in St. Louis)

 

David McLane welcomes us to the show and runs down tonight’s two title matches: Larry Zbyszko defending the NWA Midwest Television Title against Spike Huber and Nick Bockwinkel defending the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title against Mike Rotundo. He is then joined by Black Gordman and Goliath. Gordman and Goliath discuss the tag team scene in the WWA and say they are after the WWA Tag Team Championships regardless of who the champions are after next week’s big show in Chicago. To prove they’re worthy, they say they’re going to defeat the number one contenders tonight and take their spot in that championship match.

 

1. One fall with a 15-minute time limit: Bobo Brazil & Brickhouse Brown defeated Black Gordman & Goliath in 11:04 when Brazil pinned Gordman with a Coco Butt. Gordman and Goliath failed to get their revenge from their loss to the top contenders last month. McLane: “Gordman and Goliath can’t seem to get on track lately. You have to wonder if time might be passing them by.”

 

McLane interviews Nick Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel says he has a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Rotundo’s wrestling acumen, but traditionally the Missouri Title is a steppingstone to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and he will rest until he takes that title and becomes a triple crown champion.

 

A pretaped promo from NWA World Heavyweight champion Harley Race airs. Race puts over the family legacy of the Guerreros and says he feels Chavo Guerrero might be the best wrestler the family has ever had, but when they step into the steel cage on August 20 in Chicago, he is going to be in Race’s domain. “Don’t misunderstand me, Chavo. You are one tough customer. But I refuse to walk out of that steel cage next weekend without this title belt around my waist.”

 

2. One fall with a 15-minute time limit for the NWA Midwest Television Title: Larry Zbyszko© pinned Spike Huber with a piledriver in 4:56. McLane: “Huber is a terrific young talent, but he simply does not have the experience to beat a man like Zbyszko yet.”

 

A pretaped promo from Dick the Bruiser airs. Bruiser discusses the upcoming six man tag team match on August 20 where he, Mando Guerrero and Andre the Giant will face King Kong Bundy and The Zambuie Express. He says his goal, one way or another, is to get his hands on Bundy and get his revenge for the injuries he suffered last month.

 

3. One fall with a 10-minute time limit: King Kong Bundy (w/Gary Hart) pinned Frankie Laine in 5:46 with an avalanche and a splash. Bundy dominated the veteran Laine who never got out of the gate. After the match, Bundy hit a second splash on Laine and was threatening a third one before referee Connie Marker threatened a suspension.

 

A pretaped promo from Bob Orton Jr. airs. Orton says he is making his way to the area next week and will be in Chicago to team with Don Kernodle to take on Spike Huber and Keith Larsen. Orton says it doesn’t matter if it is singles action or tag team action, he will prove he is the best wrestler in the world and will defeat anybody the WWA chooses to put in his way.

 

4. One fall with TV time remaining for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel© defeated Mike Rotundo by disqualification in 11:34 when Rotundo grabbed a pair of brass knuckles Bockwinkel was trying to use and punched the champion with them. McLane called the result a travesty and said he wants to see a rematch without Bockwinkel resorting to those type of tactics.

 

McLane is joined at the interview area by WWA Commissioner Arnold Skaaland. Skaaland says the final lineup for the August 20 show in Chicago has been set, and he and McLane run down the card.

-Bob Orton Jr. & Don Kernodle vs. Spike Huber & Keith Larsen
-Masked Superstar & NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs. Mike Rotundo & Jimmy Snuka
-NWA Central States Tag Team Champions The Zambuie Express & King Kong Bundy vs. Mando Guerrero & Dick the Bruiser & Andre the Giant
-NWA Midwest Television Title: Larry Zbyszko (champion) vs. Tony Atlas
-WWA World Tag Team Title: Jerry Valiant & Abdullah the Great (champions) vs. Bobo Brazil & Brickhouse Brown
-Carlos Colon vs. Abdullah the Butcher
-Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jack Brisco
-Main event inside a steel cage to unify the NWA and WWA World Heavyweight Titles: Harley Race (NWA World Heavyweight Champion) vs. Chavo Guerrero (WWA World Heavyweight Champion)

 

McLane then signs off and we’re off the air.

[KrisZ]

That's a strong lineup there in Chicago.....great work JHawk

[Beast]

Central States and WWA was a perfect merger because you both had lots of old school stars leading to even more name value matches. You get your intriguing main event with Race vs. Chavo, but Dory/Brisco, Zbyszko/Atlas, and Superstar/Bockwinkel vs. Rotundo/Snuka all draw fans.

 

Excited to see what the roles will be after the dust settles and everyone is established.

[JHawk]

August 20, 1983 – WWA Superstar Challenge live from the WTTV Studios in Indianapolis, IN (airing on tape delay in St. Louis as “Wrestling at the Chase”)

 

David McLane is in the studio welcoming us to the show, and he tells us tickets are still available for the big show coming up later tonight in Chicago at the International Ampitheatre. McLane said we will preview some of the big matches happening on tonight’s show, and we will have some live action inside the studio as well.

McLane then introduces commissioner Arnold Skaaland, who says that tonight is one of the biggest shows he has ever been associated with and hopes that after tonight, the WWA will be seen as one of the best wrestling areas anywhere in the country.

 

1. One fall with a 10-minute time limit: Don Kernodle (w/Bob Orton Jr.) vs. Spike Huber (w/Keith Larsen) ends in a time limit draw. McLane mentions early on that these four will be meeting in tag team action as part of the show at the International Ampitheatre. Kernodle does appear to have the match won in the final minute following a powerslam, but he gets distracted as Orton attacks Larsen on the floor and rams him into the ringpost. After the match, Orton and Kernodle leave the ring as Huber checks on his apparently injured partner.

 

McLane introduces a video package highlighting the history of the six man tag team match tonight: The Zambuie Express attacking Dick the Bruiser in the Missouri Title tournament, King Kong Bundy injuring Dick the Bruiser, Bruiser’s return and subsequent rescue from Mando Guerrero and the announcement of Andre the Giant as the third partner.

 

McLane interviews NWA Midwest Television Champion Larry Zbyszko about his title defense later tonight against Tony Atlas. “I’ll give credit where it’s due, McLane. Tony Atlas has an incredible body. He looks like swallowed a truck and it got stuck in his chest. But as big as those muscles are, he has a little tiny brain, and that is where I will prevail.” Zbyszko then questions why the title is on the line when tonight’s show is not televised, and McLane says that cameras will be present at all WWA events which makes the TV title viable to be on the line.

 

A pretaped promo from NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race airs. Very similar to the last promo of his that aired on TV, Race vows to leave the cage the unified World Champion.

 

2. One fall with a 10-minute time limit: Hercules Hernandez defeated Frankie Laine by submission to a horizontal backbreaker in 2:45. McLane puts over Hernandez’s strength and is impressed with how quickly Hernandez puts him away.

 

McLane interviews Dory Funk Jr. and J.J. Dillon. Funk tells Jack Brisco not to worry because he has had his pickup truck checked out by a mechanic so there should be no problem with him getting to Chicago and proving that Texas will always be superior to Oklahoma.

 

3. One fall with a 10-minute time limit: Bobo Brazil pins Fred Marzino with a Coco Butt in 4:16. Brickhouse Brown joins McLane on commentary and puts over Brazil as a mentor and friend and that they plan on bringing the tag team championships home tonight.

 

McLane introduces a video package featuring a series of highlights of various Abdullah the Butcher vs. Carlos Colon matches, with a special focus on some of their bloodier brawls. McLane reminds everybody that this long-running feud will make its way to Chicago tonight.

 

4. One fall with TV time remaining: Masked Superstar vs. Jimmy Snuka ends in a double disqualification at 2:34 when Nick Bockwinkel attacks Snuka and Mike Rotundo enters the ring to even the sides. The four wrestlers continue to brawl to the locker room, with McLane saying “With all the bad blood in these matches tonight, I’m not sure the International Ampitheatre will be able to hold the action!”

 

McLane then brings in Chavo Guerrero for an interview as the lineup for tonight’s show scrolls along the bottom of the screen. “It’s been over three years since I had a shot at that NWA World Title, David. As much respect as I have for this WWA belt, the NWA belt has been seen as the top belt anywhere in the world for the last 35 years. No matter what happens inside the cage, I lose this title tonight. That makes me that much hungrier because now I have everything to lose. Harley Race, know this. If you want to leave Chicago tonight with that World Heavyweight Title…well, you’d better make sure that I can’t get up, because knocking me down is not going to enough.”

 

The show ends with a video package, played to the tune of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”, highlighting the big show in Chicago tonight.

 

The Chicago show should go up later tonight but there's a possibility of it needing to wait until tomorrow.

[dawho5]

Great lead-in to the Chicago show. Really loaded card with what seem like no throwaway matches in the Amphitheatre. When Bock is in match #2 you know you've got a pretty beefed up roster. Also, Colon vs. Abby with two matches to go seems a bit off. I think the mat is going to be blood red by the time that match ends and probably not very safe to wrestle in.

[JHawk]

August 20, 1983 – World Wrestling Association @ the International Ampitheatre in Chicago, IL

 

1. One fall with a 20-minute time limit: The Masked Superstar & NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel defeated Mike Rotundo & Jimmy Snuka in 8:12. This was an even match most of the way until all four men began to brawl in the ring. As referee Connie Marker attempted to separate Bockwinkel and Snuka, the illegal men in the ring, Superstar slipped an object into his mask and headbutted Rotundo, knocking him out cold. Superstar covered, and the referee turned around and counted the pin.

 

2. One fall with a 30-minute time limit: Dick the Bruiser & Mando Guerrero & Andre the Giant defeated King Kong Bundy & NWA Central States Tag Team Champions The Zambuie Express (w/Gary Hart) in 6:42. Hart’s team was able to get Bruiser trapped in the corner and worked over his ribs for several minutes, but at the five minute mark all six men wound up in the ring. After an Andre headbutt sent Bundy out of the ring and a Mando dropkick sent Kareem Muhammad to the floor, Mando knocked Elijah Akeem down with a dropkick, Andre sat down on him, and then Andre slammed Bruiser on top of Akeem for the pin. Hart was noticeably upset at ringside.

 

3. One fall with a 20-minute time limit: Abdullah the Butcher and Carlos Colon went to a double countout in 4:29. After the match they continued to brawl for several minutes before they finally disappeared to the locker room area.

 

4. One fall with a 30-minute time limit: Bob Orton Jr. & Don Kernodle defeated Spike Huber & Keith Larsen in 14:46 when Orton pinned Larsen following a superplex. Late in the match, Huber was thrown head first into the ring post and knocked out cold. After the match, Orton grabbed Larsen and piledrove him to the mat. Kernodle began asking Orton what he was doing when Orton went for a second piledriver. Kernodle attacked Orton from behind to stop the piledriver, then caught him with a series of punches before Orton took a powder to the floor. Orton looked up at Kernodle with a confused look on his face while Kernodle and a now conscious Huber checked on Larsen.

 

INTERMISSION

 

5. One fall with a 15-minute time limit for the NWA Midwest Television Championship: Tony Atlas defeated Larry Zbyszko by disqualification in 10:35 when Zbyszko hit Atlas with a chair. Atlas appeared to have won the title less than a minute earlier following a press slam but Zbyszko was able to get a foot on the bottom rope. Atlas celebrated with the championship belt for a few minutes until being informed that Zbyszko retained the title due to the disqualification.

 

6. One fall with a one hour time limit for the WWA World Tag Team Championship: Bobo Brazil & Brickhouse Brown defeated Jerry Valiant & Abdullah the Great to win the titles when Brown pinned Valiant with a flying bodypress in 12:59. Following the bout, Dick the Bruiser, Mando Guerrero, Andre the Giant and Tony Atlas came out and celebrated with the new champions.

 

7. One fall with a 30-minute time limit: Dory Funk Jr. (w/J.J. Dillon) and Jack Brisco battled to a double disqualification in 16:08. A scientific wrestling match most of the way, a frustrated Funk punched Brisco in the face at around the 12-minute mark, which angered Brisco and got the bout turned into a brawl. The end finally came when both men ended up so focused on each other that they threw the referee down to the canvas. The brawl continued for several more minutes until the locker room cleared to separate them.

 

INTERMISSION

 

8. Steel Cage Match to unify the WWA World Heavyweight Title and the NWA World Heavyweight Title (one fall, no time limit): NWA Champion Harley Race pinned WWA Champion Chavo Guerrero in 29:43 to become the unified champion. While the cage can be used as a weapon (and Race did use it as such a few times), the cage was largely designed to keep the two men in the ring. It also prevented people from interfering, as former WWA champion Bobby Colt came to the ring in the opening moments and tried to get in the cage, only to be thwarted by security and sent to the back. After that, it was a largely back-and-forth match as Guerrero and Race had what some in attendance called the best cage match they’ve ever seen. In the end, Guerrero went to the top rope and attempted a moonsault, but Race lifted his knees. As Chavo was doubled over catching his breath, Race took him over in a fisherman suplex and got the unifying three count. After Race was presented with the championship belt, he extended a hand to Chavo. Guerrero hesitated but shook Race’s hand, then left the cage to allow Race his moment in the spotlight.

[goc]

I don't want to nitpick but man the card placement for that Chicago show seems all over the place. I'm glad Dory had a good mechanic though.

[KrisZ]

Harley becoming the unified champion is a great touch and solidifies the WWA.

[JHawk]

If anything I might have opened with the Orton/Kernodle vs. Huber/Larsen match in retrospect.

 

I felt overall the show went well with several stories still ongoing

[Jesse Ewiak]

When Nick Bockwinkel is in your opener, ya' know it's a loaded show.

Seven minutes is about the right amount of time for the second match. Hopefully, Mando did most of the work, and just let Dick and Andre get their spots in.

Guessing the blood started to flow outside of the ring. Otherwise, there's some issues with the rest of the show.

Zybysko - Atlas II!

Good match to move the tag titles to a 'bigger team' now that you've expanded as a territory.

Of course Harley won the main event, but it also improved Chavo's position in the NWA as a whole.

[Beast]

Great show. Now that you've absorbed Central States, that seems like a perfect type of card for the Chase.

 

Anything that makes Chavo look like a worldbeater I'm a fan of.

 

Looking forward to the Kernodle/Larsen storyline.

[JHawk]

August 27, 1983 - WWA Superstar Challenge live from the WTTV Studios in Indianapolis, IN (airing as Wrestling at the Chase in St. Louis, MO

 

David McLane welcomes us to the show and goes over the results from last weekend’s show in Chicago. This is followed by an extended review of Chavo Guerrero vs. Harley Race. After the video, McLane informs us that Chavo is in Japan for the next several weeks but made some comments in the locker room immediately following the match.

 

Cut to a pretaped promo from the locker room, where Chavo sings the praises of Race. “I gave him everything I had, and I simply could not do enough to keep him down. But this is not the end for Chavo Guerrero. I will be back, and I will one day become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion.”

 

McLane then brings in WWA Commissioner Arnold Skaaland. Skaaland announces that on October 15 at the Kiel Auditorium, Race will defend the title (provided he is still the champion) against an opponent to be named. Nick Bockwinkel makes an appearance and claims that as the Missouri Heavyweight Champion, he feels he should get the opportunity. Skaaland tells Bockwinkel that the challenger will not be named for several weeks but his title reign, and how the next few weeks go, will be taken into consideration.

 

1. One fall with a 10-minute time limit: Bob Orton Jr. battled Keith Larsen to a time limit draw. Early in the match, Don Kernodle came out to ringside to watch the match. A solid performance by Larsen, as he worked Orton’s left arm for several minutes. Larsen got away from the arm and went into a headlock, which Orton countered into a back suplex and began to take control. With time winding down, Larsen gained control, and he appeared to have the match well in hand before the bell rang. After the match, Orton grabbed a chair from a fan at ringside and nailed Larsen in the back of the head with it. As he went to use it a second time, Kernodle entered the ring and took it from him, taking a swing at Orton who wisely ducked out of the way and headed to the locker room.

 

McLane brings Kernodle to the interview area and asks Orton why he saved Larsen in Chicago last week and why he saved him tonight. “Well, McLane, it’s like this. Keith here doesn’t want me saying this because he’s his own man and wants to make it in this business on his own, but he’s my little brother.” McLane looks shocked. “So I can’t help but be a little overprotective of him. Now I have a lot of respect for Bob Orton Jr., but I just can’t sit back and let him try to put Keith permanently out of the business.” Kernodle says he wants a shot at Orton and he doesn’t care if it’s on TV next week or in St. Louis on October 15.

 

McLane introduces a pretaped promo from NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race. Race praises Chavo Guerrero on his performance and says he’ll be proud to defend against Chavo any time the NWA Championship Committee sees fit.

 

2. One fall with a 10-minute time limit: Spike Huber pinned Zoltan the Great with an airplane spin at 6:00. Zoltan had flashes of offense but overall this wound up being a showcase for Huber.

 

McLane interviews King Kong Bundy and Gary Hart. Hart acknowledges that the war with Dick the Bruiser likely isn’t over, but today Bundy has to take on Andre the Giant in a rare TV appearance for Andre. Hart claims there isn’t a man or giant alive who can beat Bundy, and Bundy will show why he is the best big man in the WWA.

 

An interview with Bobo Brazil and Brickhouse Brown, taped in Chicago, airs. Brazil praises Brown on the progress he’s made over the past two months and says without Brown, the titles would probably still be with Jerry Valiant and Abdullah the Great. Skaaland interrupts the interview and says he is negotiating with NWA President Jim Crockett about having a unification match with the NWA World Tag Team Champions.

 

3. One fall with TV time remaining: Andre the Giant defeated King Kong Bundy by countout in 7:15. After a hard hitting contest where neither man gained a clear advantage, Andre clocked Bundy with a headbutt that sent Bundy tumbling out of the ring. Bundy started to reenter the ring…then smiled and shooked his head, voluntarily walking to the back for the loss. Andre stayed in the ring for several minutes begging Bundy to return to the ring.

 

McLane interviews James J. Dillon. Dillon says that Dory Funk Jr. is in Japan this weekend out of protest for Jack Brisco’s blatant cheating last week. When reminded it was Funk who threw the first punch, Dillon claims that just proves how blatantly biased McLane is because no such thing happened.

 

McLane announces for next week: Larry Zbyszko defending the NWA Midwest Television Title vs. Mando Guerrero and Masked Superstar vs. Mike Rotundo.

 

4. Standby Match (One fall with TV Time Remaining): Bobby Colt pinned Kelly Kiniski in 4:52 when he rolled through a Kiniski bodypress into a pin. McLane seemed shocked that Colt didn’t rely on a handful of tights for the pin.

 

Colt makes his way to the interview area demanding a shot at Harley Race so he can prove his loss to Chavo Guerrero was a fluke. We’re running very low on time so McLane pulls the mic away to sign off, and we go off the air with Colt screaming at the top of his lungs.

[dawho5]

Good TV, moves a few things forward with an Andre match to boot.

[Beast]

Very intrigued by who will be Race's next challenger. You've built up a couple of names into big players so it'll be fun to see how the next months play out.

[goc]

Cool to see that you didn't just immediately drop Bobby Colt as soon as he lost the belt.

 

Larry Zbyszko vs. Mando Guerrero sounds like a fun match that I would like to see just for Larry reacting to Mando's odd movements.

[LowBlowPodcast]

Nothing wrong with the Chicago card in my opinion. One of the more stacked supercards of the month and a main event with a huge payoff. Very productive stuff going here and the influx will only make it better.

[JHawk]

September 3, 1983 - WWA Superstar Challenge live from the WTTV Studios in Indianapolis, IN (airing as Wrestling at the Chase in St. Louis, MO

 

David McLane welcomes us to the show. On tonight’s card, Masked Superstar takes on Mike Rotundo in the main event, plus Larry Zbyszko will defend the NWA Midwest Television Title against Mando Guerrero. And in the interest of giving the main event ample time, it opens the show.

 

1. One fall with a one hour time limit: Mike Rotundo pinned Masked Superstar with an airplane spin in 10:34. Superstar actually controlled most of the match, but Rotundo turned the tables with his amateur skills late in the contest.

 

McLane interviews Rotundo at ringside. Rotundo will be competing in the Omni in Atlanta tomorrow for the NWA’s 35^th Anniversary show and will get a match against Nick Bockwinkel for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title. Rotundo says he hasn’t forgotten how the match ended last time and he vows to be the one to take the title from Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel comes out to ringside and tells Rotundo that the ultimate goal is getting a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against whoever the champion might be, and losing to someone inferior is not on the agenda. Rotundo says we’ll see how inferior he is in Atlanta. Shockingly the segment ends without incident.

 

2. One fall with a 15-minute time limit: Don Kernodle & Keith Larsen defeated Black Gordman & Goliath in 5:35 when Larsen pinned Goliath. Bob Orton Jr. did commentary with David McLane and told McLane to get Arnold Skaaland on the phone so he can take care of Kernodle for his betrayal the past few weeks. After the match, Gordman and Goliath began to argue over the loss.

 

Dory Funk Jr. and J.J. Dillon make their way to the interview area. Funk repeats what Dillon said last week and says that at any time he will face Brisco in a rematch to settle the score. Dillon says he has full confidence in Funk to win the war, but he’s afraid the war might not end unless one man ends up with his career finished.

 

3. One fall with a 10-minute time limit for the NWA Midwest Television Title: Larry Zbyszko© pinned Mando Guerrero in 7:24. Zbyszko was frustrated in the opening few minutes as he couldn't catch up with Guerrero's speed, but Zbyszko eventually went to the eyes to gain the advantage. After a couple of minutes, Guerrero began a comeback and had Zbyszko in the corner, peppering the champion with forearms while the referee was starting his mandatory five count. Zbyszko had the wherewithal to take down Guerrero with a double leg and put his foot on the middle rope for the pin. Guerrero complained about the cheating to no avail as Zbyszko celebrated with the championship belt at ringside.

 

David McLane introduces WWA Commissioner Arnold Skaaland. Skaaland talks about the impressive performances we have already seen today and says it will continue next week. Skaaland encourages everybody in Indianapolis to come to the studio next Saturday morning or to watch the show live on TV as he announces a huge double main event. Next week, WWA World Tag Team Champions Bobo Brazil & Brickhouse Brown will take on NWA Central States Tag Team Champions The Zambuie Express in a non-title match, plus Chavo Guerrero will return from Japan to take on Nick Bockwinkel. McLane asks about the possibility of Bob Orton Jr. vs. Don Kernodle and Skaaland says negotiations for that match are ongoing but no contracts have been officially signed.

 

4. King Kong Bundy win a 10-man battle royal in 7:47, last eliminating Dick the Bruiser. Also participating were Salvatore Bellomo, Bill Anderson, Blackjack Mulligan, Bob Orton Jr., Bobby Colt, Frankie Laine, Fred Marzino and Tony Atlas. It came down to Bundy, Atlas, Bruiser and Colt. Colt wound up dumping Atlas as Atlas was trying to eliminate Bundy. This led to Colt and Bundy double teaming Bruiser for several minutes. Bruiser was eventually able to eliminate Colt but was almost immediately eliminated by Bundy from behind. After the match, Bruiser and Bundy exchanged words, causing David McLane to remark “I don’t think they got enough of each other in Chicago!”

 

McLane briefly wraps up the show as we go off the air.

[JHawk]

September 10, 1983 - WWA Superstar Challenge (airing as Wrestling at the Chase in St. Louis, MO) live from the WTTV Studios in Indianapolis, IN

 

David McLane welcomes us to the show and highlights our big double main event: NWA Central States Tag Team Champions The Zambuie Express vs. WWA World Tag Team Champions Bobo Brazil & Brickhouse Brown, plus Nick Bockwinkel vs. Chavo Guerrero. He then introduces WWA Commissioner Arnold Skaaland, who announces that after Bockwinkel successfully defended the Missouri Heavyweight Title in Atlanta against Mike Rotundo last weekend, that his match with Guerrero will now be a title defense. Bockwinkel then comes out and says that while he has no issues with facing Guerrero and will beat him tonight to prove that he, and not Guerrero, deserves the title match against NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race in St. Louis on October 15. Skaaland wishes him luck and announces he will name Race’s challenger next week.

 

1. Non-title champion vs. champion match scheduled for one fall with a 15-minute time limit: NWA Central States Tag Team Champions The Zambuie Express (w/Gary Hart) defeated WWA World Tag Team Champions Bobo Brazil & Brickhouse Brown by countout in 7:41. Late in the match, Hart distracted the referee and Brazil, which allowed the Express to double team Brickhouse on the floor and Elijah Akeem to splash Brown on the concrete. Brown was unable to return prior to the referee’s ten count. After the match, Brazil went to check on his partner. Brown shoved him aside before he looked up and realized it was his partner. The two men walked to the back together.

 

McLane interviews Larry Zbyszko. McLane announces Zbyszko will be defending the NWA Midwest Television Title against Keith Larsen next week. Zbyszko says he’s sure Larsen is a tremendous athlete, but he has done nothing in the WWA to warrant receiving a title shot besides hang on to his brother’s coat tails. This brings Don Kernodle to the interview area, who says if Zbyszko isn’t careful, Larry will have to answer to him. Zbyszko says “Focus on Bob Orton, because if your brother won’t be in wrestling after next week.”

 

2. One fall with TV time remaining for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel© went to a time limit draw against Chavo Guerrero at 33:53. A technical masterpiece spanning past several commercial breaks, the second half of the match saw Bockwinkel trying to take out Chavo’s legs to set up the figure-four leglock. In the final few minutes, Guerrero began a comeback that saw him gain a number of few falls. Guerrero finally tried to go to the top rope to set up his moonsault, but his knee buckled and Chavo tumbled to the mat. Bockwinkel then locked in the figure-four leglock, but Chavo refused to submit and held on for over two minutes to force the draw just seconds before the show went off the air.

[dawho5]

Bold move to have a two match show, but those would be the two matches to do it with. Not defending the TV title is a bit odd, but at least Zbysko showed up. I am curious as to who is challenging Harley next week given that result.

[JHawk]

September 17, 1983 – WWA Superstar Challenge (airing in St. Louis, MO as Wrestling at the Chase) live from the WTTV Studios in Indianapolis, IN

 

David McLane welcomes us to the show, and he introduces us to WWA Commissioner Arnold Skaaland. Skaaland says that before the show is over that not only will he announce who will challenge the NWA World Heavyweight Champion in St. Louis on October 15, but he will also announce some other matches as well. At that, Nick Bockwinkel comes to the interview area and tells Skaaland there is no reason to wait until the finale of the show to announce him as the rightful number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Title. Skaaland says that the official announcement will be made later in the show.

 

1. One fall with a 10-minute time limit for the NWA Midwest Television Title: Larry Zbyszko© defeated Keith Larsen (w/Don Kernodle) by countout in 6:00. Larsen appeared to have the match in hand when Bob Orton Jr. came to ringside and began attacking Kernodle. Larsen left the ring to save his brother and was counted out doing so.

 

Gary Hart comes to the interview area with The Zambuie Express, King Kong Bundy and his newest charge, Hercules Hernandez. “Ever since we can to this area, Dick the Bruiser has been a thorn in my side. So I am offering $25,000 to any wrestler who can take Dick the Bruiser out of commission permanently.” McLane: “You’re putting a bounty on Dick the Bruiser’s head!” Hart: “You’ve got that wrong, McLane! We are not heathens! We do not hire bounty hunters! But if someone wants to do the job before we do it ourselves, I’m happy to reward them appropriately!”

 

2. Non-title match scheduled for one fall with a 15-minute time limit: NWA Central States Tag Team Champions The Zambuie Express (w/Gary Hart) defeated Salvatore Bellomo & Spike Huber in 14:07. The story of the match saw the Express beating down Huber, who refused to stay down and kept fighting back. He finally made a tag to Bellomo, who used hit and run tactics on his two larger opponents before missing a dropkick to Elijah Akeem and getting splashed by Kareem Muhammad for the pin.

 

A pretaped promo from Mando & Chavo Guerrero aired. In it, the Guerreros said that while singles gold is always in their sights, they would like a shot at either the WWA World Tag Team Titles held by Bobo Brazil & Brickhouse Brown, or the NWA World Tag Team Championships held by the Russians.

 

3. One fall with a 10-minute time limit: Tony Atlas pinned Fred Marzino with a press slam in 1:19.

 

After the match, Hercules Hernandez makes his way to the ring, bringing David McLane and a microphone with him. He tells Atlas that he is truly the strongest man in the WWA and is issuing a challenge for a weight lifting challenge between the two of them. Atlas accepts and McLane speculates as to when we are going to see that challenge.

 

4. One fall with a 10-minute time limit: Brickhouse Brown (w/Bobo Brazil) pinned Zoltan the Great with a series of dropkicks in 1:15.

 

McLane interviews Brown after the match, and Brown thanks Brazil for his teaching and mentoring and for allowing him to share the spotlight that comes with being the WWA World Tag Team Champions. They say they’re looking forward to the unification match for the NWA World Tag Team Champions and promise that no matter when that match happens, they will bring the titles home.

 

Black Gordman and Goliath enter the interview area. They tell McLane that it is no secret they’ve been on a bit of a losing streak, but they vow their luck will be changing when they compete against Kelly Kiniski and Jerry Oske next week. McLane says Kiniski and Oske are not a team worth taking lightly and looked great in some recent workouts, but Gordman states that a good workout does not necessarily translate to a good match and they expect their experience to carry them next week.

 

McLane then interviews Tony Atlas. Atlas says he can tell just by looking at Hercules Hernandez that he has incredible strength, but nobody is stronger than he is and he will prove it next week in the weightlifting contest.

 

5. One fall with TV time remaining: Jimmy Snuka defeated Bob Orton Jr. by countout in 5:11. Orton was in complete control of the match until Don Kernodle ran out from the back. Orton ran from the ring and out the back door of the studio, with Kernodle on his heels.

 

Arnold Skaaland joins David McLane at ringside, and he says it’s time to announce who will face Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Title on October 15. Before he can make the announcement, Nick Bockwinkel comes to ringside and says it’s a foregone conclusion, so he wants to be close to hear the announcement. Skaaland then says that due to his previous run as a champion, prior bouts with top contenders, and his fantastic performance in last week’s match, Harley Race will defend his title on October 15 against….

 

….

 

CHAVO GUERRERO!

 

Nick Bockwinkel is livid and begins to yell at Skaaland. Skaaland says that Bockwinkel’s recent run as Missouri Champion was taken into account, including his recent defenses against Guerrero and Mike Rotundo, but he received a long distance call from Puerto Rico from someone who wanted a match against Bockwinkel that he couldn’t turn down. So on October 15, Nick Bockwinkel will be defending the Missouri Heavyweight Title against…

 

….

 

SGT. SLAUGHTER!

 

As Skaaland leaves the interview area, Bockwinkel screams “You can’t do that to me” as he follows the commissioner to the back. McLane briefly discusses the huge announcements and signs us off the air.

[dawho5]

Bock vs. SARGE! Love it.

[Beast]

Just a total grab-bag of some of the biggest names in 1983, these would be super fun shows. You've done a good job of not being overwhelmed by the huge influx of absorbing Central States.

 

And helluva double main event on October 15th.

[LowBlowPodcast]

I know you may be a little behind but it seems like you changed your schedule up and it looks to be working. Like beast said, you've got a great influx of talent and it is just a matter of time before everyone finds the right spot on your roster. It is a promotion like yours that makes me want to see more of it and look forward to what you've got coming in the future. Keep doin work!

[goc]

I like that two match TV show, a Chavo vs. Bock match going that long on TV would have been a real treat in 1983.

 

Interested in seeing the big strong man feud between Tony Atlas & Hercules Hernandez. Personally, I'm rooting for Gordman and Goliath in their match against Kiniski and Oski.

[JHawk]

September 24, 1983 – WWA Superstar Challenge (airing in St. Louis as Wrestling at the Chase) from the WTTV Studios in Indianapolis, IN

The show opens with David McLane attempting to run down the card. He mentions the weightlifting contest between Tony Atlas and Hercules Hernandez, the big tag match between Black Gordman & Goliath vs. Jerry Oski & Kelly Kiniski, and he begins to announce Larry Zbyszko’s TV title defense when Nick Bockwinkel storms the interview area demanding mic time. “It is absolutely ridiculous, David McLane, that a man like Sgt. Slaughter, who the last I saw has been in Puerto Rico, can come here to the WWA and get a shot at my Missouri Heavyweight Title. Traditionally, the holder of this championship is the number one contender to the World Title. Instead, I have to get into a ring in St. Louis with this failed drill instructor. Now I’ll give him all the credit in the world. He has made a fine career for himself. But he has done nothing in this area to earn a shot at my championship, and I am officially filing a formal protest with the NWA Board of Directors over the signing of this contest.”

 

1. One fall with a 10-minute time limit: Dory Funk Jr. (w/James J. Dillon) defeated Salvatore Bellomo. McLane puts over Funk’s experience edge and says it’s bound to be the difference in the contest. Funk never allows Bellomo to get started, spending the bulk of the match working on the leg and getting a submission with a spinning toe hold in 5:40.

 

After the match, McLane interviews Funk and Dillon. Dillon does most of the talking, saying he wants to assure the war between the Funks and the Briscos ends once and for all on October 15. “One more match, Brisco! Let’s see if you can outlast my man here! St. Louis has been the home of some of your greatest triumphs, as well as the home to some of his greatest triumphs! Let’s settle the score in the Kiel Auditorium once and for all!”

 

2. One fall with a 15-minute time limit: Jerry Oski & Kelly Kiniski defeated Black Gordman & Goliath. Gordman and Goliath actually dominate the match, keeping Oski isolated from the opening bell. Gordman then grabs hold of Oski and calls Goliath into the ring. Goliath goes for a forearm, and Oski moves, caushing the blow to hit Gordman instead. An irate Gordman begins to yell at his partner, and during the argument, Oski tags in Kiniski, who pushes Gordman into Goliath and places Gordman into a rolling cradle for the pin at 4:05. After the match, both men are clearly blaming each other for the loss and continue to arguing until Bobby Colt, Jerry Valiant and Abdullah the Great enter the ring and get in between them. Colt whispers something into each man’s ear, and they nod and shake hands before the entire group heads to the back.

 

David McLane stands in front of a weight bench, claiming it is now time for the weight lifting competition between Hercules Hernandez and Tony Atlas. But as McLane begins to go over the rules, Hernandez and Gary Hart make their way to the interview area and Hernandez’s arm is in a sling. “Unfortunately, Mr. McLane,” Hart says in a somber tone, “there is no way my man can have this competition today. While training for this competition, my man attempted a bench press of 595 pounds, but as he was lifting the bar, he tore his bicep completely off the bone.” Atlas comes out to the interview area and begins to claim Hernandez isn’t hurt, to which Hart says he will show the X-rays if necessary. After a few minutes, Atlas agrees to postpone the competition to another day, and Hart and Hernandez head to the back. McLane decides to use the time to interview Atlas, but after a few minutes, Hernandez returns without the sling, grabs one of the metal plates, and jams it into Atlas’ ribs. Atlas goes down in a heap as Don Kernodle, Keith Larsen and the Guerreros run out from the back and chase Hernandez to the back before checking on Atlas.

 

3. One fall with a 10-minute time limit for the NWA Midwest Television Title: Jules Strongbow defeated Larry Zbyszko by countout in 5:52 when Zbyszko, seemingly in trouble during Strongbow’s War Dance comeback, left the ring, grabbed the belt, and headed to the locker room area. Zbyszko keeps the title, and McLane talks about how disgusting it is for Zbyszko to hold onto the title that way.

 

McLane interviews Blackjack Mulligan. Mulligan hasn’t been in the territory much lately, and when asked why, he said he has had some business to attend to in Texas but during that time, he has reflected on his career and feels he needs to change some things. He issues an open challenge to any WWA wrestler for a match in St. Louis on October 15.

 

4. One fall with TV time remaining: Blackjack Mulligan pinned Fred Marzino with a clawhold in 28 seconds. Strictly a showcase for the returning Mulligan.

 

McLane says that Tony Atlas has been transported to the hospital for X-rays but the belief was that he is not seriously injured.

 

McLane is then joined by WWA commissioner Arnold Skaaland. Skaaland announces that two matches are being added officially to the October 15 card at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. Dick the Bruiser will finally get his one on one match with King Kong Bundy, plus he is making it official that the NWA World Tag Team Champions, currently Nikolai Volkoff and Krusher Khrushchev, will be in St. Louis to face WWA World Tag Team Champions Bobo Brazil & Brickhouse Brown to unify the titles. With that, McLane announces Bob Orton Jr. will face Keith Larsen next week in a return match from a few weeks ago and signs us off the air.