WWF: Championship Wrestling
August 2, 1980
Allentown, PA
Allentown Agricultural Hall

Your current WWF champions are as follows:
WWF Heavyweight Champion: Bob Backlund (2/20/1978)
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Ken Patera (4/21/1980)
WWF World Tag Team Champions: The Wild Samoans (4/12/1980)

Pop Culture #1s of the Time:
#1 Movie of the Week: Caddyshack starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield & Ted Knight
#1 Song of the Week: “Magic” by Olivia Newton-John
#1 TV Show of 80-81 Season: Dallas starring Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy & Barbara Bel Geddes

Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Bruno Sammartino. The ring announcer is the ever popular Joe McHugh.

• Pedro Morales vs. BB Coleman
  

Sammartino points out how going for the ropes to break a hold instead of trying to find a counter to the hold is the coward’s way out. That’s some old school ring psychology you never hear about these days. Reaching for the ropes is a must for everybody – face or heel. It’s a dramatic device used for the past twenty or thirty years instead of a sign of weakness of your wrestling ability. Very interesting point he made there. BOSTON CRAB by Morales earns the submission at 5:11.

• Sgt. Slaughter (w/The Grand Wizard) vs. Billy Berger
  

This is the WWF TV debut for Sgt. Slaughter. He makes it clear that he’s the biggest bully on the block barking at Berger and intimidating him as he’s backing him up against the ropes. Slaughter works over Berger with gutbusters and tries to drive the wind out of the guy. Slaughter drops some nasty knees on Berger’s chest. Slaughter Cannon sets up the dreaded COBRA CLUTCH for the submission win at 4:15. Great debut for Slaughter as they build him up as the next challenger to Backlund.

• Harley Race vs. Paul Figeroua
  

So surreal seeing the NWA world champion appearing on WWF TV in a squash match. Bob Backlund heads down and shakes everyone’s hand. When Race shakes his hand, he jerks Backlund towards him to let him who the boss is. They share a moment together and then Backlund heads down to talk with Vince McMahon. Backlund knows sooner or later that he will be wrestling Harley Race and so he’s out here to see Race wrestle. Harley Race comes over and barks to the people that he’s here in the WWF to unify the belts. He feels Bob Backlund has been running from him in other areas of the world and figures Backlund can’t escape him on his home turf. They will face each other at Madison Square Garden on September 22. Race pins Figeroua in short order with one of his famous knee drops in just 19 seconds.

• The Hangman (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. Ron Lee
  

Hangman is a French Canadian fellow who likes to beat up people. He’s a real CLUBBERIN’ type guy. He keeps picking Ron Lee up off the mat when he’s got him covered just to let everybody how much of a dick he is. He wins with – you guessed it – the Hangman’s Neckbreaker at 7:29.

• Rick Martel vs. Jose Estrada
  

This is not the TV debut, but very early in Rick Martel’s first of several runs in the WWF. McMahon remarks how handsome Martel is. Estrada is a dirty Puerto Rican who keeps attacking Martel’s face. I mean, what a cheater. Martel’s vision must be impaired. Nevertheless, Martel fires back on Estrada with some great punches and dropkicks. He even finishes off Estrada with an exciting hurracanrana for the pinfall at 6:43. Definitely the premier match of the show. Somewhere, Tony Garea is REALLY enjoying this match if you know what I’m saying. **½

Afterwards, Vinnie Mac gets a word with Rick Martel. He gives the usual response that he’s happy to be here where all the top competition is at. He appreciates all the fans support and can’t wait to do great things here. He seems way too blown up to give much more of a coherent interview though.

• Tony Atlas vs. Mike Masters
  

Graham Cawthon says this is a replay from 11/24/79 episode of Championship Wrestling. We’ll take his word for it. Atlas quickly takes care of Masters and finishes him off with a suplex and a jumping splash at 2:51.

Fun little show here. Harley Race made Bob Backlund look as meek as Opie Taylor. Sgt. Slaughter debuts and looks awesome. Rick Martel looking great against Jose Estrada. Nothing bad on this show whatsoever.