[1985-12-21-CWA-Mid-South Coliseum] Jerry Lawler vs Bill Dundee (Lawler's Wife's Hair vs Southern Title)

[Jetlag]

This is Lawlers wifes hair vs. Dundees Southern Title. It's 80s territory wrestling baby! I love coming home late at night and discovering a previously unseen match in what is arguably the greatest matchup in US wrestling ever has been uploaded. And this is another fucking classic in the pantheon. And it's a great showcase for Bill Dundee as he is basically an unstoppable killing machine here as he beats the shit out of Lawler and Calhoun for +20 minutes. Dundee has about a dozen great punch variations and he makes Lawler his punching bag. Nearly the entire match is Dundee kicking ass and while it can be hard to make a 10 minute control section compelling it is no problem for a wrestling master like Bill Dundee. His demeanor along with Lance Russell commentary made you believe that this short australian psycho would damn well beat the shit out of every single person in that arena. He beats Lawler so bad Lawler can't even make a strap drop comeback. I can't remember that happening in any other match. Arena environment comes into play with Dundee using those chain bareers and steel posts in painful ways. It's Lawler/Dundee so you get some big Lawler bumps (including Lawler getting launched into the ringside announce table), a great hope spot, clever transition and the greatest damn punches you've ever seen. The finish worked as a perfect payoff too and considering these two would produce another super classic a week later there's nothing to grief over.

[paul sosnowski]

This match doesn't show up in Memphis record books, but if you watch the 12/21/85 TV show, they are hyping it as a special Saturday night card at the Mid-South Coliseum and there is an interview with Paula Lawler (Jerry's second wife)

 

[tcg91]

Classic Memphis match, which can be both a good and a bad thing. Dundee looked great and got most of the offense, which helped putting over his heel turn and his aggressive behaviour. I wasn't really a fan of how Dundee didn't sell his leg after he crashed in the corner leg first, which was hyped as Lawler's first main break, but the usual brawl was pretty good anyway. Not the best babyface finish, but this was going towards a rematch and so no harm was done
***

[josephweirdness]

15 hours ago, tcg91 said:

. Not the best babyface finish, but this was going towards a rematch and so no harm was done

Actually disagree on this point as I think the finish works extremely well. Dundee spends the whole match running roughshod on both Lawler and Calhoun, and the rising tension between Dundee and Calhoun is a major element of the last third or so of the match. Having Calhoun stand in his way--which we've already seen precedent for with Calhoun breaking up the rope chokes--and having that be the opening that lets Lawler take the win is pretty pitch perfect American morality wrestling to me.

[tcg91]

On 2/15/2026 at 5:27 AM, josephweirdness said:

Actually disagree on this point as I think the finish works extremely well. Dundee spends the whole match running roughshod on both Lawler and Calhoun, and the rising tension between Dundee and Calhoun is a major element of the last third or so of the match. Having Calhoun stand in his way--which we've already seen precedent for with Calhoun breaking up the rope chokes--and having that be the opening that lets Lawler take the win is pretty pitch perfect American morality wrestling to me.

It is a very fair point. I don't really care for referees getting too involved, I guess that played a part too.