Central States Results

[dedhemingway]

Missouri Heavyweight Championship Tournament
July 4th, 1983
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO

- Central States July 4th Missouri Heavyweight Championship Super Show opens up with former Missouri Heavyweight Champion Sonny Myers in the ring, holding the belt, as all eight men competing for the prestigious title are introduced. They spend the entire segment shooting daggers at each other, particularly King Kong Bundy and Dick the Bruiser, although Bundy’s manager, Gary Hart, seems more interested in the appearance of Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan at the side of Nick Bockwinkel.

With the introductions done, Myers allows each man to take a moment to touch the belt, before they gather for a picture. With that, they all leave, in relative peace, save for Bockwinkel, Heenan, and young Bobby Eaton, of Southeastern Championship Wrestling, who will be competing first.

Bobby Eaton [southeastern] versus Nick Bockwinkel [Central States] w/ Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan

The night’s action starts off with, arguably, the biggest star present in the tournament, former AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel, taking on the rising talent Bobby Eaton, who enters the tournament representing Southeastern Championship Wrestling. Eaton, to his credit, represents well in the early going, giving the veteran a run for his money, until the veteran is able to turn the table, with a little help from ‘The Brain’. While there’s no outright interference, Heenan’s mere presence works to divide Eaton’s attention, allowing Bockwinkel to take over, and leading to the end of the match, as Eaton is caught, and dropped, with a piledriver just after twelve minutes.
Winner: Nick Bockwinkel via piledriver at 12:13


David Von Erich [southwest] versus Jim Neidhart [stampede]

Something of a clash of titans to continue the tournament, as the 6’7” ‘Yellow Rose of Texas’, and a man selected by Central States in the 1983 Dispersal Draft before getting traded away, David Von Erich takes on the fireplug Jim Neidhart, an American representing Calgary based Stampede Wrestling. In wrestling, height can easily turn into a disadvantage in leverage, and Neidhart looks to prove this, using his strength and weight to his advantage in the early going in a bid to upset the more accomplished Von Erich. With strikes and slams Neidhart wears down DVE, but he’s unable to put him away at any turn. His inability to spring the surprise seems to have been Neidhart’s downfall, as he resorts to attempting to punch out the Von Erich, which, as anyone who has seen the boys from Texas wrestle knows, just isn’t going to work. Once David gets his temper up, even athletic and agile Neidhart isn’t able to keep him from victory, going wobbly-kneed after a run of punches from Von Erich and falling victim to a well targeted high knee around the fifteen minute mark.
Winner: David Von Erich via high knee at 14:58

Dick Slater [WWC] versus El Gran Apollo [southwestern]

Another experience mis-match as the well-traveled Dick Slater takes on the young El Gran Apollo in a match that, while still competitive, comes in a bit more one-sided than the previous two bouts. Apollo starts things off hot, looking great with a series of athletic moves, but Slater is quick to put a handle on things, and once he does he goes straight for his opponent’s legs, looking to take them out from under him and set up for the figure four leglock. This seems to take the steam out of El Gran Apollo, as, despite a desperate comeback later in the match following a miscalculation by Slater, he’s unable to ever truly get back into the match, and is forced to submit to the figure four leglock right around ten and a half minutes.
Winner: Dick Slater via figure four leglock @ 10:27

Dick the Bruiser [WWA] versus King Kong Bundy [Central States] w/ Gary Hart

The final match of the first round, and it’s a wild one, as King Kong Bundy, who, along with his manager, the great Gary Hart, made it clear that he believes himself to be ‘unbeatable’, daring any man to sign on the line to face him, squares off with one of the toughest men in the entire sport, a former Missouri Heavyweight Champion who went out of his way to sign on that line, Dick the Bruiser. Right from the beginning this one is out of referee Bobby Whitlock’s hands, as Da Bruiser, twice the age and half the size of his massive opponent, takes the fight right to Bundy! This savage attack seems to stun the big man, but only for a moment, before they begin trading blows, a losing proposition for Da Bruiser, but one he seems to take a relish in. Despite more than holding his own, he’s unable to take Bundy off his feet, and the match eventually spills to the outside where the war continues. Whitlock is eventually forced to call this one, counting out both men, but that does little to quell the carnage.
Winner: Match declared a DRAW as a result of a DOUBLE COUNT-OUT at 7:46


- This leads to the second half of H&H Incorporated, Armand Hussein, bringing out his charges, The Zambuie Express, Elijah Akeem and Kareem Muhammed as reinforcements! Carnage reigns in the Kiel Auditorium as the three big men using the number game to destroy Dick the Bruiser, with only the appearance of the Express’ opponents, the Central States Tag Team Champions, ’Bulldog’ Bob Brown and Buzz Tyler, at the head of a posse of other wrestlers, ending the beating and allowing Da Bruiser to be taken to the back.

With nearly a dozen men still in the ring following the wild brawl, senior official Sonny Myers comes out to attempt and restore order, and this is, eventually, done, after Myers is able to convince Gary Hart to take King Kong Bundy back to the locker room. This leads to the departure of most of the other wrestlers, until we’re left with just the teams competing for the Central States Tag Team Championships still in the ring.

Central States Tag Team Championships
’Bulldog’ Bob Brown and Buzz Tyler © versus The Zambuie Express [Elijah Akeem & Kareem Muhammed] w/ Armand Hussein

Another wild one right from the outset, as the pre-match action has got both of these teams riled up, amped and ready to go at it. The Express take control from the outset, thanks to the underhanded actions of their manager, Hussein, who, despite his protests to the contrary, is a little more ‘hands on’ than is allowed. The champions are able to overcome this once they isolate Elijah Akeem in their corner, but are never quite able to keep control of the big man. Despite the tenacity that earned Brown the name ‘Bulldog’, the massive size advantage enjoyed by the challengers is a massive mountain to overcome, and, while there are several moments in which it looks like it will be pulled off, that never quite comes to fruition. Tyler, with about fifty pounds on Brown, fares somewhat better, but, again, the actions of Hussein come into play. When Myers moves to admonish him once again, it only allows the Zambuie Express to double up on the champions, and this leads to their downfall, as Kareem Muhammed smashes Tyler with a splash for the title change in under thirteen minutes.
Winners and NEW Central States Tag Team Champions: The Zambuie Express [Elijah Akeem & Kareem Muhammed] via splash at 12:47

- The Express, and Hussein, are ecstatic, but the crowd is decidedly not, making their displeasure known to the massive African tag team. They seem to take no notice, nor do they seem to care about the underhanded method in which they’ve won the championships, celebrating with glee as they head to the back. Brown and Tyler are, obviously, much less enthused with the result, but can audibly be heard threatening revenge.

- As this is going on, an announcement is quickly snuck in, as, due to the double count-out between Dick the Bruiser and King Kong Bundy, Nick Bockwinkel will receive a BYE into the finals of the Missouri Heavyweight Championship Tournament.

David Von Erich [southwest] versus Dick Slater [WWC]

A great, great, match-up here between two near equals in terms of talent, although it could be argued that Von Erich has achieved more in his career. That only adds to Slater’s desire to make himself two-for-two this evening against talents from Houston, and he shows a lot of fire as he takes it to DVE. Again, like against Jim Neidhart, Von Erich eventually fires up, but, unlike the young competitor he faced in the early rounds, Slater is more prepared for it, refusing to go toe to toe in a slugfest against the lanky Texan. Opting instead to try and out-wrestle the ‘Yellow Rose of Texas’, Slater finds some success, and seems to have a strategy for this match, stretching it out and relying on his conditioning to take him to the finals. Von Erich is no slouch in the conditioning department, however, and, despite the reputation of the Texas boys as brawlers, is more than capable on the mat as well, and, after some early control by Slater, the match becomes much more even. As things more towards the half hour mark, though, both men start to slow down, and it’s then that David Von Erich’s will to win shines through, as he catches Slater with the same high knee that put down Neidhart. It’s not enough this time, but, minutes later, when he’s able to lock on the vaunted Iron Claw, taught to him by his father, that proves to be what it takes to move him into the finals to face a fresh Nick Bockwinkel.
Winner: David Von Erich via Iron Claw at 28:29

- With only two matches remaining, a short intermission is held.

- Upon return from the intermission, the fans are treated to the elaborate entrance of the ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair, the once, and possibly future, NWA World Heavyweight Champion, who has come in to enemy territory tonight to reclaim that belt. While it would be wrong to call the reaction mixed, there’s a definite undertone to it as the current champion, Harley Race, makes his home in Central States.

Speaking of Race, he’s out second, belt in hand, and, from the moment he and the challenger lock eyes, they never tear away. Without so much as a look, he hands the belt off to senior official Sonny Myers, who shows it to Flair, the challenger touching it with a wistful look, then holding it aloft. The bell is rung, and we have championship action here in St. Louis!

NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Harley Race © versus Ric Flair

While these two great champions have faced off many times, there’s still a lengthy feeling out process here, and during that time it really seems like it could be Ric Flair’s night. ‘The Nature Boy’, younger, more athletic, seems quicker at each step, though Race is working hard to keep pace. Both of these men are known to be able to go the distance, but, as the early minutes drag on, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be needed, Flair is in another gear. Obviously, a great champion like Harley Race isn’t going to go down quietly, however, and, after about fifteen minutes of this, he clearly makes a decision, working in a closed fist here, a thumb to the eyes there. If he’s going to walk out of St. Louis the champion, Ric Flair is going to have to overcome every trick in Harley Race’s encyclopedia.

At first, ‘The Nature Boy’ seems to take things in stride, despite the change in tempo he’s still in good position, able to fight out of the predicaments that the champion puts him in. As the match wears on, however, you can see how Race’s tactics wear on Flair. With each subtle little bit of veteran gamesmenship, Flair looks more frustrated, more annoyed. He shoots a look at Sonny Myers after a clear hair pull, but receives nothing in return. The match passes thirty minutes, and, clearly, if anything is going to be done about the way this match is being contested, Ric Flair will have to take it into his own hands.

He waits, biding his time, fighting the good fight. He wants to take home the championship, but he wants to do things the right way, and, for a moment, it looks like he might do it. Near forty minutes gone, and he has Race on the figurative ropes. ‘The Nature Boy’ heads to the top, looking for a crossbody, and the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, only to crash to the ground with Race, bloody, stumbling, sends Sonny Myers into the ropes. It’s very hard to tell if it was done on purpose or not, but what Ric Flair does next sends a clear answer as to what he believes. As Harley Race reaches down to pull up the challenger, frustration gets the better of ‘The Nature Boy’, as he responds with a forearm that lands very...low...and, as his luck would have it, Myers, recovered from being sent into the ropes, sees it clear as day, and he’s calling for the bell.
Winner and STILL NWA World Heavyweight Champion: Harley Race via DQ at 42:01

- Ric Flair is livid, and, perhaps, rightfully so, though, as any child could tell you, on the school yard, they always notices who retaliates, never who instigates. For his part, the champion, Harley Race, makes no fanfare about his retaining the title, merely accepting it and leaving quietly, knowing, perhaps, down in his heart, that, on this night, he has escaped.

- It’s rare that anything would follow a match such as that, but, the demands of a tournament make for strange formats, and it’s time for the finals of the Missouri Heavyweight Championship Tournament. One of these two men will walk out tonight with the belt that Sonny Myers brings to the ring, pulling duty in both of tonight’s biggest matches.

David Von Erich is out first, and the length of the NWA World Championship match, alongside the intermission, means he’s had just under an hour to rest following that clash with the very game Dick Slater. His opponent, once again accompanied to the ring by Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan, has set for closer to two, but Nick Bockwinkel doesn’t look any the worse for not having competed since the opening bout of the night, and, thanks to that, is the clear favorite.

Both men are given their moment with the belt, then it’s held aloft for the second of our two main events on the evening.

Missouri Heavyweight Championship
David Von Erich versus Nick Bockwinkel w/ Bobby Heenan

A clue to how much remains in David Von Erich’s tank may lie in his actions in the early going of the match, as he takes the fight to the always methodical Bockwinkel. Looking to put his opponent, and the match, to bed early, Von Erich is on fire, but it’s just not enough to blitzkrieg the wily, and prepared, veteran. With calm and collected cool, Nick Bockwinkel weathers the storm, and, much like Slater, looks to ground the lanky Texan. The more accomplished mat grappler, the former World Champion has more success than his predecessor from Puerto Rico did, and is nearly able to put away the ‘Yellow Rose’ before the fifteen minute mark.

It’s not to be, however, as Von Erich shows that famous spirit, continuing to battle despite clearly being near exhaustion. This allows Bockwinkel to pick his spots, nullifying, to an extant, Von Erich’s length and athleticism. As the match wears on, the mental strain of having to keep attention on both Bockwinkel and Heenan at ringside plays a toll, as, unlike in the opening round against Bobby Eaton, ‘The Brain’ is more involved in this one, even tripping up Von Erich at one point, drawing the ire of Sonny Myers.

Despite all of this, as things near the half hour mark, David Von Erich is in good position. He rolls Nick Bockwinkel up several times, though is never quite able to put him away, and escapes an attempt at the sleeper hold following a miss on the high knee. For his part, Bockwinkel is able to counter the Iron Claw on two separate occasions, and it’s the second of those two attempts to put the match away that turns into Von Erich’s downfall, as Bockwinkel gains control of David’s arm, then uses it to leverage him around into a pinning predicament that the exhausted Von Erich iis unable to escape, ceding the Missouri Heavyweight Championship to Nick Bockwinkel.
Winner and NEW Missouri Heavyweight Champion: Nick Bockwinkel via pinning hold at 31:22

- Ever the gentlemen, Bockwinkel offers his hand to Von Erich, and it’s accepted, but it’s very clear just who this night belongs to as Sonny Myers presents the belt to Nick Bockwinkel. After holding it for a few moments, Heenan wraps it around Bockwinkel’s waist, before the pair are asked for a few comments.

Both men are, for this night at least, on their best behavior. Gracious in victory, they praise the competition that they faced, although it’s clear from their words that they consider themselves superior, and, perhaps, rightfully so. It must be noted that, thanks to the action involving King Kong Bundy and Dick the Bruiser, David Von Erich had the tougher road, but Heenan is quick to dismiss that, claiming that David would never want anyone to make excuses for him.

The pair speak about Nick Bockwinkel’s new home in Central States, how he’s here to make it his own, and that tonight was just the beginning. They do allude to Bockwinkel’s future, his announced dates in the North East with the World Wrestling Federation, but that’s the future, and this was about tonight.

They finally excuse themselves, and the show comes to an end.

[goodhelmet]

Loved this show. I don't know if I could watch David go 30 minutes TWICE but I got my money's worth with the Flair-Race match and the Bock-Eaton match.

[goc]

Good show. Bockwinkel vs. Bobby Eaton & David Von Erich are both matches I wish I could see.

[KrisZ]

Good stuff here my man

[Flyin' Brian]

Great show. Really like your writing style. Enjoyable to read.

[Beast]

Sorry, I overlooked this. Only figured it out when I noticed Bockwinkel had your belt along with the WWF one.

 

Agreed on the writing style, so good. And I'm biased but the Flair match was amazing. Very interested to see where this promotion is headed.

[goodhelmet]

Yo dedhemingway.... looking forward to more results!!!