Memphis Wrestling
October 25, 1980
Memphis, TN
WMC-5 TV Studio

The current Memphis wrestling champions are as follows:
CWA World Champion: Bobby Eaton (10/20/1980)
AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion: Tommy Rich (9/29/1980)
AWA Southern Tag Team Champions: Tommy & Eddie Gilbert (9/29/1980)

Your hosts are Lance Russell and Dave Brown.

• Bobby Eaton (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Mike Meroni
  

Since we are a week behind watching the Louisville feed, Eaton isn’t announced as the CWA world champ. This week, Eaton has crowns on his tights and he’s Jimmy Hart’s “New King”. Not much happening here. Bobby has his way with Meroni and keeps lifting him up at the count of two. The Flying Fist Drop wins in 4:55.

Time for a Louisville promo. The undefeated Magnificent Zulu will be meeting Superstar Bill Dundee. He poses while Tommy Rich discusses his upcoming title defense against Austin Idol. Sounds like Idol didn’t show last week claiming he had hurt his neck. Tommy just thinks he didn’t have the guts to show. Rich confirms Idol will be in the building this week because they put some money up. Rich will leave Louisville once again as the Southern Heavyweight champ. Does Zulu ever tire of posing?

• Tommy Rich (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Tony Boyles
  

Rich reprimands the few fans cheering for him. Those people must have cable. Rich overwhelms the underdog Boyles and hits him with an elbow as he comes off the ropes to get the pinfall in 3:04.

Afterwards, Tommy Rich hijacks the announce table because this show lacks personality.

• Ken Lucas & Rick Morton vs. The Angel & Sgt. Danny Davis
  

Rich thinks Morton should be called “Pussy” Morton or “Punky” Morton? I didn’t quite catch that, but it got a laugh from the marks. Rich doesn’t feel like Russell and Brown are very good commentators now that he’s been all over the country and heard others that he feels are better. Of course, Gordon Solie gets some love from Rich. Lucas and Morton are announced as the NWA Mid-America tag champs. Angel shines against Lucas and Morton to start, but Sgt. Danny Davis does not. Morton stuns Angel with a backdrop though, but Angel thumbs Lucas in the throat to take back control. Morton comes in and does a little face in peril before hot tagging Lucas. He readies Davis for a sunset flip from the apron by Morton for the three-count. (8:15) Tommy Rich calls the sunset flip an illegal move. Lance instructs Rich to head back now to the dressing room. Awesome. **

Lance Russell runs down the Louisville Gardens card.

• Koko Ware vs. Tom Maley
  

Tommy Rich is still sitting at the commentary table running down the babyfaces. He asks Dave to nudge him if he falls asleep watching Koko. To be fair, it’s not a very exciting match. Koko wins with a fancy rollup (although it didn’t exactly turn out right) in 2:53.

• Tony Charles vs. David Oswald
  

Gotta love Lance Russell treating Tommy Rich like a kid who just needs a little discipline. Charles dominates this guy on the mat and catches him with a jumping dropkick as Oswald comes off the ropes in 3:51.

• Robert Gibson, Tojo Yamamoto & Carl Fergie vs. Dr. Bill Irwin, Gypsy Joe & Jimmy Kent
  

More commentary from Tommy Rich in this “expiration of time” match. Dave Brown is very quiet around Tommy. Gypsy Joe starts out working on Gibson’s leg. As Gibson fights his way up, they come to a stalemate and tag out. Now we get Irwin and Fergie. While they grapple in the middle of the ring, Fergie fires the first real shot with a slam. As usual, Irwin settles for the cheapshots. Irwin tries to slam out of an armbar, but his legs give way as Fergie falls on top. Gibson tags in and goes for the abdominal stretch with his back turned to the heels. Lots of tagging in and out. Old man Jimmy Kent rakes the face of Fergie and reaches Gypsy Joe. Tojo tags in and starts chopping. Gibson hits him with a standing dropkick. Fergie comes in, but he’s backed up into the ropes on the wrong side of town. He gets owned by Irwin with a backbreaker. Tag to Gibson, the heels continue to dominate. Kent fails to hold onto Gibson though as Gibson comes back with a backdrop. He then applies that toehold and bridges back to get the leverage and the three-count on Kent. (10:00) Rich complains of a fast count. Everyone played their roles really well here. Good back and forth stuff, but the finish came out of nowhere. I think a draw would have been more fun. ***

We hear from Superstar Bill Dundee who will be facing the undefeated Magnificent Zulu in the Louisville Gardens this Tuesday night. Hmm, he doesn’t seem very confident.

Even though it doesn’t seem like Tommy Rich is ready to go, we are all done for this week. Until next time, so long for now!