This show was originally created for UK VHS release in the 90's. It has an airdate of 5/3/92.
Match #1: Terry Gordy & Steve Williams vs. Steven Dane & Khris Germany.
We get the Miracle Violence Connection teaming up before their great run in WCW in 1992. Steven Dane is Steve Casey, who had a brief run in WCW in '89. Germany is still active today on the indy scene, mainly in Texas. This was taped sometime in 1991. Williams and Germany start. Williams shoves Germany to the mat on a lock up. They trade armlocks, then Williams takes him down with some amateur mat wrestling. Doc with a back suplex and tags in Gordy. Gordy slaps on a front facelock then tags in Doc again. Doc goes to a body vice/half-nelson combo on the mat. To the full nelson now, then he slams Germany to the mat. A few chops in the corner then to the front facelock. Tag to Gordy and he also goes to the facelock. Germany manages to tag in Dane, and he gets a side headlock on Gordy. Gordy gets his own headlock and takes it to the mat. They get back to their feet and into a wristlock power match, but they break when they hit the ropes. Lock up and Gordy gets the side headlock. Dane shoves him off the ropes and hits a dropkick. Dane tags in Germany, but Gordy goes nuts on him with knees. Doc tagged in and he follows suit with the knees. Oklahoma Stampede! Cover...1....2....3! (6:10) *1/2
WINNERS: Terry Gordy & Steve Williams. Pretty much a one-sided squash. Gordy and Doc looked good with the mat wrestling and were dominant throughout save for the one dropkick landed by Dane. Of course, Doc & Gordy would end up in WCW in 1992, win the WCW and NWA World Tag Team Championship, and were probably the best team in wrestling in the early 90's.
Match #2: Gary Young (w/ Cactus Jack and Skandor Akbar) vs. Ed Robinson.
Robinson has some hideous tights here and yellow boots, so I hope Young kicks his ass. Lock up and Young shoves Robinson to the mat. The camera keeps cutting away to Akbar and Cactus outside. Now Scotty the Body (Scott Levy) shows up. Meanwhile, Young has an armbar on Robinson. After a few moments of watching Scotty on the outside, Gary Young kicks Robinson in the midsection then follows up with a clothesline off the ropes. Young tosses Robinson to the floor in front of Cactus who lays in a boot, and then Akbar gets a shot in, all while the ref is distracted by Young. On the apron, Young gets a forearm to the chest. Back in the ring, Young hits a suplex then drops an elbow. Off the ropes, Robinson tries for a sunset flip, but Young blocks it with a right hand. Young now chokes Robinson on the ropes. Whip off the ropes and Young hits a dropkick. Cover...1...2....Young picks him up. Young takes his head to the buckle then drops him with a right hand. Young Gets an airplane spin, then goes up top for a splash! Cover...1....2....3! (6:00) *
WINNER: Gary Young. This match was way too long for a squash. Young was just playing around in there. It was a very dominant win and Robinson deserved everything he got due to those tights.
Match #3: Grab For the Green Battle Royal.
We join in with The One Man Gang making his entrance, as apparently he was a surprise promised by Skandor Akbar. The goal here is to grab a bag of money held at the top of a pole in the corner while eliminating guys over the top along the way. Participants include the Gang, Cactus Jack, Gary Young, Billy Travis, Steve Lawler, Steven Dane, Bill Dundee, the Rock n Roll RPMs, Rod Price, The Dog of War, Jimmy James and maybe some other guys they don't name. Along the way, the bag of money falls off the pole and lands in the ring. They cut to commercial so they can figure out the ruling on this highly unprecedented incident. When they come back, the money has just been put back on the pole. The final four in the match are One Man Gang, Bill Dundee, Gary Young and Billy Travis. Dundee eliminated Young, then Gang dumps Travis over, leaving just Gang and Dundee as the final two men in the ring. The Gang pulls Dundee down from the a pole-climbing attempt and tosses him to the mat, then drops a leg on him. Dundee makes a comeback attempt as Gang misses a corner splash. Dundee climbs the pole and grabs the money but Eddie Gilbert is in the ring, knocks Dundee out, hands the money to the Gang, who decides to splash and cover Dundee for the pin anyway. (10:46) 1/2*
WINNER: The One Man Gang. This was an interesting idea but poorly executed. The rules were a bit confusing as you could grab the money and win but you could also throw guys over the top rope as well as pin someone. It was a mess on several levels; Eddie Gilbert interfered in the match in plain view of the referee while the announcers declared the referee missed it. Also, the pole came loose during the match as well as the money dropping from the pole. You may find hilarity in this however.
Match #4: Jeff Gaylord vs. Jimmy James.
The highlight of Gaylord's career was probably appearing as The Black Knight at Survivor Series '93. He was also ranked as high as #83 in the PWI 500 in 1991. I don't know anything about Jimmy James, so make something up. Lock up and Gaylord shoves James hard to the mat. Another lock up and another hard shove off. Lock up and James tries for a wristlock but Gaylord shoves him off. Lock up and another wristlock for James and Gaylord keeps shoving him down, then he poses in the corner. Side headlock for James, as the announcers note that the fans are turning on Gaylord. Gaylord picks up James and sits him on the top rope, turns his back and James comes off with an axhandle.This pisses off Gaylord who proceeds to whip James to the corner and follow in with a clothesline. Gaylord uses the ropes to choke James. Gaylord then dumps James to the floor and taunts the crowd. Back in the ring is James and he meets a kick to the gut coming off the ropes. Gaylord gets a rear chinlock. Gaylord with an ugly suplex, then whips James to the corner but a charge hits boot. James with a couple dropkicks but misses a third one. Gaylord slams James then goes up and hits a flying shoulderblock. Gaylord grabs what's called the Tiger Stretch which looks like a submission but he gets the 1...2...3! (5:40) *
WINNER: Jeff Gaylord. Another squash for this show. Gaylord was.....not good. He had some charisma and the ladies thought he looked good, but it's Texas so that doesn't tell you much. James appeared to be a total scrub here with little to no offense.
Match #5: Jeff Jarrett vs. Eddie Gilbert (c) - USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship.
FINALLY, a potentially good match here. Lock up to start and to the corner where Gilbert gets in some rights. A whip to the opposite corner is reversed and Jarrett gets a back bodydrop and Gilbert bails to the floor. Back in the ring for a lock up and to the corner. Gilbert with a right hand, but Jarrett gets his own and Gilbert flops to the mat. Lock up and Gilbert gets an arm twist bringing Jarrett ti his knees. The crowd is solidly behind Jarrett here. Jarrett reverses the arm lock, drops Gilbert to the mat and legdrops the arm. Jarrett gets an armbar but Gilbert pushes him off the ropes where Jarrett gets a sunset flip...1...2...kick out! Jarrett gets an armbar on the mat. Gilbert takes Jarrett down by the legs, but Jarrett comes back with a hammerlock. Gilbert backs Jarrett into the corner and lays in some rights. Whip to the corner, but a charge misses and Gilbert hits the post. Jarrett hammers the arm and gets the armbar again. Gilbert responds with a punch to the midsection to break out, then hits a suplex. Gilbert misses an elbowdrop and Jarrett gets an armdrag, where they head to break. When they come back, Gilbert has an Indian deathlock applied. Jarrett manages to grab Gilbert's arm that he had been working and takes Gilbert down, but Jarrett has issues with his knee. Good psychology here as each guy is selling the body part that has been worked on. In the corner, Gilbert drags Jarrett out to the middle and applies the figure four leglock! Crowd is hot for Jarrett as he tries to reverse the hold. The referee counts the shoulders down for 2 as Jarrett is selling the hold. Gilbert has untied Jarrett's bootlace to gain an advantage, which is interesting. Jarrett finally reverses the hold but Gilbert makes the ropes for the break. Now each guy is selling their leg injuries. Jarrett kicks Gilbert's a couple times and tries for a dropkick but misses. Gilbert makes the cover...1...2....kick out! Whip off the ropes, but Jarrett gets a crucifix! 1...2...kick out! Whip to the corner is reversed by Gilbert, who charges but Jarrett goes up and over and gets a roll up. 1...2...kick out! Whip off the ropes and both guys collide in the middle. Both men down. When they both reach their feet, they knock each other down with rights. To their feet, whip for Jarrett and they hit each other with clotheslines! To their feet, whip is reversed by Gilbert and gets Jarrett up for a slam but he knocks out the ref on the backswing. Jarrett to the middle rope and he hits the flying dropkick. The ref is slow to move while Jarrett makes the cover, so Jarrett checks on the ref, while Gilbert goes to his towel in the corner and reveals a chain. Gilbert misses a right with the chain and Jarrett rolls him up! 1..2...3?? The ref is saying it was a 2, when everyone else thought it was 3. Jarrett has the chain and hits Gilbert! Cover...1....2....3!! (13:39) ***1/2
WINNER: And NEW USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, Jeff Jarrett! Wait a minute! Gilbert is telling the referee to check Jarrett for the chain. The chain comes out of Jarrett's tights and the old school ref is asking the crowd where the chain came from. He doesn't listen to the crowd, however, and awards the match and the title to Gilbert. WINNER: And STILL champion, Eddie Gilbert. This was a solid match between two professionals. The crowd was hot for it, the selling was great for a while, but the ending ruins it. Total Dusty finish.
Match #6: Billy Travis, Matt Borne & Jeff Jarrett vs. Rod Price, The Dog of War & Steve Austin.
Price is referred to as "The California Stud". I have no clue who The Dog of War is, and I recognize the name Steve Austin from....somewhere. Oh yeah, The Six Million Dollar Man. Borne and Price start us off. Lock up and to the corner we go. Price with a cheap shot and then he slugs away on Borne. Tag to Austin who clips Borne from behind. Rights for Austin but Borne won't go down. Borne ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own for a 2 count. Price comes in to break up the pin but elbow drops Austin instead. Borne gets an armbar on Austin and tags in Jarrett. So now we get our Austin-Jarrett match that the WWF should have given us in 1999. After some mat wrestling, Travis is tagged in. Austin tags in Dog who misses an elbow drop. Travis gets a couple of sentons and then cleans house all on his own. Tag to Borne, but Dog rakes the eyes and pounds away. Borne gets a belly to belly suplex and an elbow drop then tags in Jarrett. Whip off the ropes and Jarrett hits a back elbow. To the face corner, and Travis is tagged in. He takes Dog's head to the corner buckle, then a whip to the opposite corner. Travis charges and misses a splash and Price is tagged in. He gets a backbreaker then chokes Travis on the ropes. To the heel corner and Austin is tagged in. Whip off the ropes and Austin gets a back bodydrop. The cover is broken up by Borne. We get some double teaming from the heels while the ref is distracted. Price stays in the ring and gets an armbar on Travis. Travis escapes but Price puts him down with a clothesline. Austin tags in and drops Travis throat first on the top rope. Dog of War in and he gets a swinging beckbreaker. Cover...1...2..kick out! Dog gets the rear chinlock on the mat. To their feet, Travis gets out of the hold and gets a sunset flip coming off the ropes for a 2 count. Travis makes the hot tag to Jarrett and everyone is in the ring. The ring clears, and Jarrett goes to the top for a flying crossbody on the Dog. 1...2....3! (9:39) **1/2
WINNERS: Billy Travis, Matt Borne & Jeff Jarrett. Fast-paced, if somewhat standard, six man match. Nothing too flashy here but it wasn't dull. Based on this match, you would never know that Austin would be the guy to change the face of wrestling.
Match #7: Rod Price & Steve Austin (w/ Jeannie) vs. Ed Robinson & Khris Germany.
Price and Robinson start us off, as they lock up. Price kicks Robinson down to the mat and then hits him with a clothesline. Austin tagged in, as Austin now looks more like the guy that would debut in WCW in a just a short time from now. Austin with a whip, misses a clothesline, but takes Robinson down with a Fujiwara armbar. I call it that because I've seen it written in other places. It could also be a Fujivice armbar for all I know. Austin with a fireman's carry take down, tags in Price. Price puts Robinson down with a right hand, then chokes him on the top rope. Tag in to Austin who whips Robinson into a Price overhead slam, then comes off the top to knock Robinson to the mat. Robinson tries for a backslide but Price kicks him down. Robinson manages to finally tag out to Germany. Austin takes Germany to the heel corner and stomps him. Tag to Price who whips Germany off the ropes into a belly to belly suplex. They cut to a commercial and come back to Austin slamming Germany on the floor. Price follows out and adds a slam of his own, then drops a big elbow on the floor. Back in the ring, Price whips Germany into an Austin clothesline. Austin officially tags back in and slaps on the armbar, then takes Germany down by the hair and stomps the arm. Germany is dumped to the floor where Price slams his head into the post. Austin chokes Germany on the ropes. Whip by Austin, but Germany gets a sunset flip! 1...2...kick out! Austin puts on a rear chinlock. To their feet, and Germany runs into a knee coming off the ropes. Price in now and he pounds the back. Price throws him to the floor where Austin gets a short-arm clothesline. On the apron, Price gets a forearm across the chest then gets a suplex. Cover...1....2....Price picks him up! In the corner for some knees then a whip to the opposite corner. Price gets a rolling elbow, and Austin gets a rolling shoulderblock. Double team whip off the ropes, double flying shoulderblock! Price covers..1....2....3! FINALLY! (11:00). *
WINNERS: Rod Price & Steve Austin. What a loooooooong squash this was. There was really no need to extend the match to the ten minute mark. It was total domination by Price and Austin and it wasn't even interesting. You could still see Austin's greenness in parts. Cut about seven minutes off this and you accomplish the same thing.
Match #8: Awesome Kong (w/ J.C. Ice) vs. Frogman LeBlanc & Tommy Knight.
J.C. gets on the mic before the match and does the intros for Kong, who is a fat masked wrestler. The 90's were a horrible time for fashion, judged on J.C.'s wardrobe. Kong dumps Frogman to the floor where J.C. gets his kicks in and is chased off by Knight. Kong goes to the floor to do some stuff to both guys, then tosses Frogman back in. Kong gets a clothesline off the ropes on Frogman. Both guys in the ring now and Kong just pounds on both guys then slams Knight. Double noggin knocker for Kong. Kong gets a double DDT on both jobbers. Kong slams Knight on top of Frogman then comes off the ropes with splash on both guys. 1...2....3! (4:00) 1/2*
WINNER: Awesome Kong. What a horrible wrestler this Kong was. Not much varying offense or mobility. Awesome would go on to team with King Kong to form a tag team that would briefly appear in WCW. Awesome Kong passed away recently. J.C. Ice would go on to become one half of PG-13.
Match #9: Jerry Lawler vs. Terry Funk (c) - USWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Funk is on the mic when we come back, rambling about taking on any five members of the audience. It takes some time to get Funk in the ring. They grapple into the corner and start to brawl as the referee tries to separate them. Funk bails to the floor as the announcers note that Scotty the Body has arrived ringside. Back in the ring, they lock up and go to the corner. Lawler whips Funk to the opposite corner but doesn't follow up. Lawler whips Funk to the corner again, as Funk oversells and almost falls over the top. In the corner, Funk gets a flurry of lefts and then tosses Lawler to the floor. Outside, Funk rams Lawler's head into the rail post, then gives him a DDT on the floor! Funk kicks Lawler's head from the apron then whips him into the string they use for a guardrail. Seriously, it's a string separating the crowd from crazy Terry Funk. Funk tosses a chair into the ring, but the referee relieves him of it, allowing Lawler to come back with a DDT on the chair! Funk crawls outside to the floor. We take a break and then come back still outside. Lawler rams Funk's head into the ring post. Funk is on the announce table and Lawler chokes him with the microphone cord. Lawler rams Funk's head into the table a couple times. Back in the ring, Lawler clotheslines Funk back down to the floor. Funk brings in a piece of wood and Lawler smashes it over Funk's head. Back in the ring, Funk gets a sleeper! Lawler fights it off for a while as the ref starts to check the arm. Lawler won't go to sleep and starts to fight back to his feet. Lawler with the jawbreaker to break the hold. Funk goes to the piledriver, but Lawler backdrops out. Lawler hits a piledriver! Lawler hits a second piledriver! Lawler hits a third piledriver. Cover..1....2....foot on the rope because this ain't Memphis, Kingfish! Funk chokes Lawler with some wrist tape and the referee tries to break it but Funk attacks the referee! The ref calls for the bell because that's a DQ. (11:00) **1/2
WINNER: Via disqualification, Jerry Lawler. Terry Funk is still the champion however. This match was a brawl from the get go, as crazy Funk tried to work in all sorts of crazy spots on the floor. When I say crazy, I mean old man crazy, not the good crazy. With two old school pros in the ring like Lawler and Funk, it's hard not to get a decent match from the two. This wasn't their best attempt, but it was entertaining for the most part.
This show was mostly filled with overly long squash matches with a couple of merely good matches thrown in. If you're curious about the USWA, I suggest you check it out. If you're looking for great workrate or angles, this is not the show you're looking for.
UP NEXT: WCW WRESTLE WAR '92!!
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