Mid South Wrestling 1983

[LowBlowPodcast]

Tuesday – Shreveport, LA (Irish McNeil Boys Club)

Boyd Pierce and Bill Watts welcome us in for a big night of Mid South Wrestling here from the Irish McNeil Boys Club. They put over some big matches tonight as we get ready for the big event coming in 3 weeks in New Orleans at the Municipal Auditorium. We will have a special one night 4-man elimination tournament for the vacant Mid South North American title featuring Ted Dibiase, Jake Roberts, Dick Murdoch, and the Junkyard Dog. Plus, Louisiana champion, Butch Reed defends his title against Tony Atlas and we’ll see the big Ugandan Giant Kamala taking on Dr. Death Steve Williams. We’ll see those competitors and more right here tonight on Mid South Wrestling!

{Video of the MSW weekly broadcast is shown with all the top stars being highlighted. We then return to the desk where Ted Dibiase is standing by with Boyd Pierce… Dibiase, playing babyface, works the crowd and talks about how the title was unfairly taken away from him due to the interference of Dick Murdoch. We know that Murdoch is nothing but a yellow dog and he’ll do anything he can to run from Dibiase, but come three weeks, Dibiase hopes he draws him first because he’s going to put an end to him once and for all!}

Another One Bites the Dust as the big man, the Junkyard Dog makes his entrance for our first contest.

The JYD defeated Mark Collins via the THUMP in 3:12! 

{Jake Roberts is standing by at the desk with Boyd Pierce…. He puts over the big show in three weeks while asking Boyd if he’s ever seen a Dog fight a Snake before? Boyd is flabbergasted… Roberts points out that the venom in a snake is one way to go…. Getting swallowed whole is another… but the worst is when that snake wraps himself around you… gets in there tight and you have to feel yourself lose consciousness… and then that light flashes before your eyes and darkness takes over. Junkyard Dog… three weeks from now, you will feel that darkness… that tightness of breath… and no more who dat who dat… you will go to sleep my friend!}

*COMMERCIAL*

{We’re back, and Sunshine is spraying the “smell good” around while Bill Watts coughs… Jimmy Garvin puts over how he is the up-and-coming star of the Mid South Territory and this Mississippi Title says it all. He’s defended the belt time and time again and guys the likes of Scott Casey, Koko Ware, and Brian Blair better understand that their time may be coming but they won’t have anything left in the tank to take on Gorgeous Jimmy and his perfect 10!}

The Oklahoma Fight Song hits as Dr. Death enters the ring and the foundations! 

 

Dr. Death Steve Williams defeated Tony Charles via the Oklahoma Stampede @ 5:43!

 

{Over at the desk, we see Dick Murdoch walk out… he says he doesn’t have much to say but I want everyone to know that I am not going to come out here and bad mouth Ted Dibiase… call him a good for nothing wrestler… a low life… a second rate champion… or even someone who doesn’t deserve to lae his boots… nah… he doesn’t need to say that because Ted Dibiase and all these fans already know it!}

 

*COMMERCIAL*

 

Bill Watts brings us back in with a run down of the New Orleans card…

 

New Orleans

 

FOUR MAN ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT for the North American Title
Ted Dibiase, Dick Murdoch, Jake Roberts, and The Junkyard Dog

 

Louisiana Heavyweight

Butch Reed © vs Tony Atlas

 

Mississippi Title

Jim Garvin © w/ Sunshine vs Scott Casey

 

Ugandan Giant Kamala vs Dr. Death Steve Williams

 

Plus the Super Destroyers in tag team action against Koko Ware and Brian Blair!

 

He talks about how the matches for the tournament will be drawn at random in two weeks… so it could be Ted Dibiase vs Dick Murdoch…. Or Ted Dibiase vs Jake Roberts…. Or even Ted Dibiase vs the Junkyard Dog! The fans seem excited about the matchups as we head to the ring…

The Super Destroyers come out with their masks and strike fear into the hearts of the crowd.

 

The Super Destroyers defeated George Bailey and Mike Whitt in@ 8:32! 

 

{The JYD comes back out… says he just got done in the shower… he had to wipe his ears clean from all the nonsense he’s heard from Jake Roberts and Dicky Murdoch…. He says New Orleans is a second home… and he’s going to make it the Dawg House in a couple of weeks and walk out with that North American Title… WOOF!}

 

*COMMERCIAL*

 

{Mid South Wrestling is back and we’re joined by Tony Atlas… he takes off his shirt and flexes for the crowd. Says he has got some big things planed for Butch Reed… 22 inch biceps… a back that won’t stop… a chest that is full of muscle… he is going to pick Butch Reed up and throw him across the ring like a rag doll!}

 

Main Event Time…

 

Butch Reed vs Brian Blair

A solid 10-minute contest with Blair getting in some good offense. Boyd and Watts put over how he and Koko have become a hot tag team item here in the Mid South and look forward to them challenging the Super Ds! Reed is back up and then he hits him low under the tights… it was low and the crowd knows it. They’re letting Reed have it but he doesn’t seem to care. He picks up Blair for a big tossing bodyslam… then he heads up… Blair turns around and FLYING SHOULDER BLOCK! 1…2….3! Reed is the winner… he walks over to Boyd and Bill…

 

{I told ya’ll before and I will tell you again… Butch Reed is the number one here in Mid South. This Louisiana Title is what its all about. I have held this title for 5 months and there an’t nobody who can challenge me and take it! I am going to put it on the line every week…. Then we see Atlas come back out… he questions why Reed had to go low on Brian Blair… why the cheap shot if you’re such a man… Reed says he doesn’t have time for a gold chaser… you nothing but a wanna be… you wanna be Butch Reed so bad you can taste it boy but you can’t pump like me… you can’t talk like me… and you can’t wrestle like me! Atlas then challenges him to get in the ring but once he turns to walk Reed nails him with the title belt! Reed pounces as officials come out to break up the action. That’s all the time we’ve got here for Mid South Wrestling… more next week!}

[LowBlowPodcast]

Now this feels like territory TV. I’m grading this like Bill Watts is in the back with a cigarette and a ledger.

(And yes, I’m using your uploaded show format as the source text )

OVERALL VERDICT

Strong opening episode.
You understand the assignment.

This is not fantasy “dream match TV.”
This is sell next week / sell the town / establish pecking order TV.

That matters.

My grade:

TV Quality: B+
Business Impact: A-
Territory Logic: A
Heat Generation: B+/A-
One big booking concern: Jake/JYD timing

---

WHAT WORKED

1. Immediate destination booking

The first thing you did was establish:

NEW ORLEANS = THE GOAL

Excellent.

That’s textbook territory.

You immediately gave the audience:

• a big event
• a date
• major matches
• a reason to keep watching

That’s promoter thinking.

---

2. Ted DiBiase as babyface works

This is sneaky smart.

1983 Mid-South?
Absolutely.

Dibiase as:

• wronged former champ
• clean-cut babyface
• Murdoch foil

That works.

And Murdoch calling him every insult while pretending not to?

Perfect old-school heel promo.

---

3. Jake promo = money

This is the best segment on the show.

dog fight a snake

Simple.
Visual.
Memorable.

Then:

the constriction.
the darkness.
the suffocation.

That is EXACTLY how Jake gets over.

Not screaming.
Not cartoon villain.

Quiet threat.

Huge win.

---

4. Garvin + Sunshine

Instant heat.

Spraying smell-good while Watts coughs?

Perfect.

That is such a tiny territory detail and it works beautifully.

This tells me you understand character presentation.

---

5. Super Destroyers protected correctly

No nonsense.
No long competitive nonsense.

Masked monster team.
Kill jobbers.
Leave.

Correct.

---

6. Reed / Atlas closing angle

Very good.

Why?

Because you gave Atlas:

• physique promo
• credibility
• righteous anger

Then Reed:

• cheats
• talks trash
• cheap shots with belt

Classic heat builder.

No complaints.

---

BUSINESS / DRAW IMPACT

Baseline Shreveport:
900

Your show probably draws:

1,200–1,400

Why?

Because you stacked recognizable stars:

• JYD
• Jake
• Dibiase
• Reed
• Garvin
• Kamala hyped
• Dr. Death

That’s a loaded TV.

---

NEW ORLEANS DRAW FORECAST

Baseline:
~4,200 at Municipal Auditorium (60%)

After this TV?

Projected:
5,400–6,200

If next two TVs stay strong:
6,500+ possible

That’s a legitimately hot opening.

---

WHAT I’D WATCH

Concern 1: Jake vs JYD too soon

This is your first real booking risk.

Jake is a long-game heel.

If he loses to JYD quickly:
you cool Jake.

If JYD loses:
you risk hurting your ace draw.

So the question becomes:

What’s the purpose?

If Jake is your next monster heel?
Don’t burn this clean.

If this is tournament chaos?
Fine.

But protect him.

---

Concern 2: Too many top stars, not enough oxygen

Roster issue, not booking issue yet.

You’ve got:

• Dibiase
• Murdoch
• JYD
• Jake
• Reed
• Kamala
• Dr. Death

That’s insane.

Somebody gets squeezed eventually.

---

Concern 3: Kamala advertised, not shown

Minor.

Fans forgive this ONCE.

Do it repeatedly?
Cheap promoter heat.

---

CHARACTER HEAT STOCK REPORT

Rising

📈 Jake Roberts
Biggest winner of the night.

📈 Butch Reed
Looks like a champion.

📈 Garvin/Sunshine
Strong act immediately.

📈 Super Destroyers
Protected correctly.

---

Stable

➡️ Dibiase
Good opening.

➡️ JYD
Still your ace.

➡️ Dr. Death
Strong showcase.

---

Needs More

⚠️ Kamala
Need visual.

⚠️ Atlas
Good angle, needs win eventually.

⚠️ Koko/Blair
Mentioned but not yet truly established.

---

TERRITORY PROMOTER SCORECARD

Did this:
✅ advance angles
✅ establish hierarchy
✅ sell New Orleans
✅ protect stars
✅ create talking points

Did NOT:
❌ waste money matches
❌ overbook finishes
❌ turn TV into PPV

Excellent restraint.

---

ATTENDANCE MOVEMENT

Territory trend after Week 1 TV:

UP +8%

Projected impacts:

• Jackson: +5–8%
• Little Rock: +6–10%
• New Orleans interest rising

---

FINAL GRADE

8.7 / 10

Very strong pilot episode.

You feel like a territory booker.

Drop Jackson + Little Rock cards next.

[LowBlowPodcast]

Mid South Wrestling - Live from Jackson, MS

MAIN EVENT
Mississippi Championship

The Junkyard Dog defeated Jimmy Garvin © w/ Sunshine via DQ when Jake Roberts interfered

Louisiana Championship

Butch Reed © defeated Tony Atlas after a low blow!

Ted Dibiase & Steve Williams defeated Jake Roberts & Dick Murdoch

Kamala defeated Brian Blair

The Super Destroyers defeated Scott Casey and Koko Ware

[LowBlowPodcast]

Excellent. This is where the promoter hat really matters.

Because house shows aren’t judged by “match quality.”

They’re judged by:

Did people leave wanting to come back?

And this card mostly says yes.

JACKSON, MS REVIEW

Venue cap: 7,000
Baseline (60%): 4,200

---

INITIAL REACTION

This is a classic hot territory house show card.

Not flashy.
Not overthought.
Not indie-booked.

You stacked:

• title matches
• main event star power
• logical feud continuation
• monster attraction
• tag heat

That’s exactly right.

---

MATCH BY MATCH

Super Destroyers vs Scott Casey & Koko Ware

Perfect opener.

Why?

Because:

• crowd gets movement
• babyfaces can fire up
• heels can cheat and crush
• keeps Destroyers strong

Good.

No issue.

---

Kamala vs Brian Blair

Smart.

Kamala needs bodies.

Blair is credible enough to mean something…
…but expendable enough to lose.

Exactly the kind of match Kamala should be having.

One question:

Was it a massacre or competitive?

If competitive?
Wrong.

If Kamala killed him in 5?
Correct.

---

Dibiase & Dr. Death vs Jake & Murdoch

Now THIS is money.

This feels like Jackson main event anywhere else.

Loaded.

Questions:

• clean finish?
• chaos?
• post-match brawl?

Because this could absolutely steal the house.

---

Reed vs Atlas

YES.

And yes, low blow again works.

Reed is becoming:

• smug
• dangerous
• cheap
• hateable

That’s textbook.

BUT:

Don’t overuse the exact same finish too many times.

Second time?
Fine.

Fourth?
Predictable.

---

JYD vs Garvin (DQ via Jake)

This is your smartest booking of the night.

Because:

You:

• protect Garvin
• protect JYD
• advance Jake/JYD
• escalate New Orleans

That’s efficient.

Very territory.

---

BUSINESS ANALYSIS

Baseline:
4,200

With this card?

I’d put Jackson at:

5,100–5,800

Why?

Because:

• JYD is still your ace
• Dibiase over
• Jake over
• Dr. Death hot
• Kamala attraction
• multiple titles

That’s a healthy house.

Call it:

5,450 paid

Strong first week.

---

HEAT MOVEMENT

UP

📈 Jake Roberts
Interference keeps him visible.

📈 JYD
Still the draw.

📈 Butch Reed
Cheap-shot champion works.

📈 Kamala
If dominant.

---

STABLE

➡️ Dibiase
Still solid.

➡️ Dr. Death
Protected.

➡️ Garvin
Still good heel.

---

WATCH

⚠️ Brian Blair
Losing repeatedly can cool him fast.

⚠️ Tony Atlas
Needs a meaningful payoff eventually.

---

PROMOTER NOTES

BIG WIN

This card creates overlap.

Meaning:
fans invested in:

• JYD/Jake
• Dibiase/Murdoch
• Reed/Atlas
• Garvin/JYD tension

That’s how repeat attendance grows.

---

ONE CAUTION

You’re using a LOT of top stars in Jackson.

Which means:

Little Rock needs to feel equally special.

Don’t let Saturday feel like “leftovers.”

---

JACKSON GRADE

Booking Logic: A
Business: A-
Heat: A
Territory Authenticity: A

Final:

9.1 / 10

Very Bill Watts.

Now give me Little Rock.

 

 

 

[LowBlowPodcast]

Mid South Wrestling - Live from Little Rock, AR

MAIN EVENT

The Junkyard Dog & Ted Dibiase defeated Jake Roberts & Dick Murdoch

Kamala defeated Koko Ware

Louisiana Championship

Butch Reed © defeated Steve Williams 

Mississippi Championship

Jim Garvin w/ Sunshine © defeated Brian Blair

Super Destroyer 2 defeated Scott Casey

Tony Atlas defeated Super Destroyer 1

[LowBlowPodcast]

Now we’re booking a territory.

Because this is where I can start seeing your philosophy.

And there’s one very smart instinct here… and one major promoter warning.

---

LITTLE ROCK REVIEW

Venue cap: 8,000
Baseline (60%): 4,800

---

FIRST REACTION

This is a stronger wrestling card than Jackson…

…but maybe a slightly weaker drawing card depending on execution.

Why?

Jackson had:

• two singles title matches
• JYD title main
• Kamala attraction
• loaded tag

This has:

• strong main
• Reed/Dr. Death
• Garvin title
• Kamala

Still good.

But slightly less “must-see chaos.”

---

MATCH BY MATCH

Super Destroyer 2 vs Scott Casey

Fine.

Classic undercard heel win.

No issue.

---

Tony Atlas vs Super Destroyer 1

Interesting.

I actually like this.

Why?

Atlas needed credibility.

Beating a Super D gives him some teeth.

But—

IMPORTANT:

How did he win?

If clean in the middle?

That’s dangerous.

Because the Super Ds are supposed to be your monster team.

If it was:

• DQ
• countout
• disqualification chaos
• mask confusion

Fine.

If clean pin?

Too early.

---

Garvin vs Brian Blair

Correct use of Garvin.

Garvin should be defending that belt constantly.

Keeps him visible.
Keeps Sunshine visible.
Makes title feel active.

Good.

---

Reed vs Dr. Death

Now THIS is the biggest booking question.

Because this is major.

You just put:
Butch Reed over Steve Williams

That’s not bad…

…but HOW matters enormously.

If Reed cheated?
Excellent.

If Reed squeaked by?
Good.

If Reed beat Doc clean?

That’s a huge booking choice.

Because Doc can become a franchise monster if protected.

---

Kamala vs Koko

Correct.

Kamala should absolutely murder guys like Koko.

Short.
Violent.
Scary.

Good.

---

Main Event

JYD & Dibiase vs Jake & Murdoch

This is pure territory money.

Excellent house main.

No complaints.

Question:
Did JYD pin Jake?
Did Dibiase pin Murdoch?

That matters for future booking.

---

BUSINESS ANALYSIS

Baseline:
4,800

With this card?

I’d estimate:

5,900–6,700

Little Rock likes:

• JYD
• Dibiase
• violent heels
• title programs

Strong number.

Let’s call:

6,250 paid

Very healthy.

---

WEEKEND BUSINESS TOTAL

Jackson:
5,450

Little Rock:
6,250

Weekend:
11,700

Projected baseline:
9,000

That means:

+30% over baseline

That’s HOT.

---

HEAT MOVEMENT

WAY UP

📈 Ted Dibiase
Feels like a top babyface.

📈 JYD
Still carrying the territory.

📈 Jake
Because he’s constantly attached to money angles.

📈 Reed
Protected champion.

---

UP

📈 Garvin/Sunshine
Steady heat act.

📈 Atlas
ONLY if Super D win protected.

---

WATCH CLOSELY

⚠️ Steve Williams
This is your danger point.

Too many losses too early and Doc becomes “just another guy.”

Protect him.

---

BIG PROMOTER WARNING

You are leaning heavily into:
JYD / Dibiase / Jake / Murdoch

Which is right…

…but eventually:

everyone else becomes support.

Need to keep:

• Kamala
• Doc
• Reed
• Garvin

feeling important too.

---

TERRITORY STATUS AFTER WEEK 1

TV: strong
Jackson: strong
Little Rock: stronger

Trend:

🔥 HOT (+12% territory momentum)

Fans are buying what you’re selling.

---

GRADE

Business: A
Booking: A-
Heat: A
Roster management: B+ (watch Doc)

Final:

8.9 / 10

Excellent first weekend.

You’ve got momentum.

Now bring me Week 2 TV in Shreveport.