Post by Chief on Jun 5, 2012 17:18:19 GMT -5
Note: I've been stuck at home the last couple days with pneumonia so I finished this show early and figured what the hell, mind as well post it.
Universal Wrestling Federation
“Power Pro Wrestling TV”
Sunday, June 10th, 1992
Taped at the Irish McNeil Boy's Club in Shreveport, Louisiana
The show opens with a video package showing Big Van Vader giving the Vader Bomb to Paul Orndorff and the Vader Splash to Jim Duggan and the Junkyard Dog.
A second video package is shown of “Dr. Death” Steve Williams delivering the Oklahoma Stampede to “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel and Jim Duggan (twice).
An image of Vader and an image of “Dr. Death” swirl around the screen until they meet in the middle in a big “explosion.” Bill Watts does a voice over: “Tonight at the UNO Lakefront Center in New Orleans, on the opposite sides of a tag team match, the two BADDEST men in the UWF will FINALLY get their hands on each other! Don't miss it!”
Jim Ross stands by the announce desk with a microphone to open the show. He says that earlier today when Steve Williams arrived to the building an unknown assailant attacked him from behind, slamming his head against the car and severely injuring his right arm. Bill Watts is with him right now as he's being examined and they should have an update on his condition within the hour. Ross regrettably says that Doc's participation in the main event tonight is in jeopardy.
Backstage, a camera man peers through the door of the trainer's room just in time to see Steve Williams fling a chair across the room into the wall. With his forehead bandaged and his right arm hanging limp at his side, Williams is angry and yelling. “BILL, I KNOW THIS WAS CORNETTE! I'M GONNA KILL HIM!” Bill Watts is there trying to calm him down but even Bill being as tough as he is, is staying the hell away from Doc. Williams continues to throw things around in frustration and Watts tells the camera man that this may not be the best time for an interview.
Commercial Break – Tonight at the UNO Lakefront Center in New Orleans, the UWF presents it's first BIG card of the year! Tickets are still available!
Jim Ross says he does envy the job of Bill Watts right now and runs down the TV card for today:
NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Jushin Liger will take on Tom Zenk, just hours before his big rematch with Brad Armstrong tonight!
Making his big return to the Mid-South, Hacksaw Butch Reed will be in action!
With his tag partner potentially injured for tonight, Terry Gordy will have a warm-up match against Mando Guerrero!
And the Television Main Event will see Jim Cornette unveil Big Van Vader's mystery partner, as he does battle with “White Lightning” Tim Horner!
Ross mentions that the Sheepherders were supposed to wrestle on today's program but after this past week in Lafayette, the KTBS executives deemed them “too violent for TV.”
vs. 
10 Minute Time Limit – Non-Title: NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Jushin Liger vs. Tom Zenk – After his spectacular TV debut two weeks ago, the crowd is much more vocal and behind Liger. They are surprised when Liger waves off Zenk's handshake and starts off very aggressively.
With a height and weight advantage Zenk is able to hold his own and fend off Liger, but the World Jr. Heavyweight Champion is just so quick and so innovative with the way he uses his body to hurt his opponent. Zenk comes off the top rope with a flying cross body but gets DRILLED with a drop kick in the mid section that sends him tumbling to the outside!
Liger doesn't give him an ounce of breathing room as he leaps out onto the apron AND THEN OFF THE MIDDLE ROPE WITH A MOONSAULT! Jim Ross can't help but be impressed! As is the rest of the crowd.
They stop cheering when Liger carelessly drags Zenk by the hair and rolls him into the ring. He takes a bow before pinning Zenk but the bigger Zenk gets a shoulder up at two and three-fourths!
Zenk narrowly dodges Liger's nasty rolling wheel kick but turns around right into a hurricanrana! One, two, kick out! The momentum allows Zenk to turn Liger into a pinning combination but Liger rolls back to his feet – ENZIJURI! Zenk is staggered - ROLLING WHEEL KICK! Tom Zenk is DOWN! – one, two, three! Jushin Liger gets a most impressive victory at 8:36!
Jim Ross is blown away at the two-strike combo that helped Liger finish off Zenk as it's shown again in slow motion. He puts over Liger as seriously dangerous because of his striking and his innovative high flying.
Ross tries to get a word with Liger, “Wait right there Ross, I'll handle this...” The camera pans over to see “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel and Mr. Hughes heading over to the announce desk!
Commercial Break - “Prime Time” Brian Lee tells “Dirty Dutch Mantell he has no where to run tonight in New Orleans and Lee promises to make Dutch pay for every lash of the bullwhip he's been hit with.
Back from the commercial, Jushin Liger is STILL standing there with Buddy and Hughes! Buddy says that he's taken young Liger under his wing while he's in the states. Liger's told him that he is VERY POPULAR over in Japan as the man who taught Ric Flair everything he knows. Jim Ross tries hard to suppress laughter as Buddy says that.
When Liger said that to him, Buddy knew he had to help him out. And the first thing Buddy did was enlighten him about the Armstrong Family. He told Jushin that tonight Bob Armstrong is AGAIN going to stick big banana nose in his son's business, and those Armstrongs are going to SCREW him out of the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title. Jushin couldn't believe it – he didn't want to believe it but Buddy told him it was true. Buddy told him that the worst part would be, that even if the fans saw Bob and Brad openly screw Jushin out of the title, they'd STILL love them anyway! That's how the fans are in the US! He told Jushin that these stupid, ignorant, Mid-South fans don't like him because he's DIFFERENT and don't appreciate his abilities.
Jim Ross interjects to ask Jushin Liger if he can really, truly believe what Buddy is saying and...Jushin Liger nods his head! Wow!
Buddy has taken it upon himself, selflessly, to watch Liger's back and make sure those cheating Armstrongs don't take advantage of him tonight. The crowd has now completely turned their back on Armstrong.
They all turn to leave when Ross stops Buddy to ask him about the fake manager's license for Mr. Hughes last week. Buddy pleads his innocence and blames it on the State Commission being incompetent. He says AS SOON as Watts alerted him to the mistake, he got a correct license to him...well, maybe a couple days later. Buddy says it's been a busy week. Buddy leaves, telling the fans in New Orleans they are going to be disappointed tonight when the “Nature Boy” points old Bullet Bob out to pasture.
Commercial Break – The following has been paid for by Jim Cornette: A video package, mockingly set to “Another One Bites the Dust” showcases Big Van Vader running roughshod over the UWF locker room. Every time the chorus rolls around, a slow motion replay of Vader crushing the Junkyard Dog with the Vader Splash is shown.
Jim Ross lets the viewers know that the previous commercial was in no way, shape, or form produced by the UWF.
Backstage a camera man peers around the corner to see Bill Watts helping “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, with his arm in a sling, into an ambulance. The camera man, trying to stay a safe distance is still noticed by Williams. “Cornette you weasel, I know you can hear me. Even if I can't wrestle, I'll still be in New Orleans. I KNOW you did this to me and TONIGHT, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!” Bill Watts lets the viewers know that he will be coming out at the end of TV today to address the main event situation.
10 Minute Time Limit: Mando Guerrero vs. Terry Gordy – Jim Ross talks about the rivalry the Freebirds and Guerreros have been having all over the Mid-South area. Despite how talented he is, Gordy has little trouble with Mando and puts him away in 4:43 with a high angle belly-to-back suplex that Jim Ross calls a 'back drop driver.'
Terry Gordy stops for a word with Ross where Ross asks him his thoughts on the injury of his partner for tonight, Steve Williams. Gordy says that Doc's injury doesn't change a thing and he will happily take Vader and his mystery partner on, two-on-one.
Jim Ross changes the subject to Michael Hayes and asks Gordy what he thinks about what's been transpiring between Hayes and Cornette. Gordy tells Ross that despite what Cornette thinks, you have to be tough to be in this sport for as long as Hayes has. You have to be tough to win titles at the regional level and you have to TOUGH AS HELL to win the NWA World Tag Team Titles. Hayes has done that. Hayes lined them up and he knocked them down. That was just how they went about things and it had nothing to do with toughness. Gordy says he and Hayes have gotten into it over the years and even he's surprised when push comes to shove, how tough Hayes is. Ross tells him good luck on his match tonight.
Commercial Break – As a special bonus to those attending the BIG card in New Orleans tonight, the Junkyard Dog will be in action!
Jim Ross presents some disturbing footage of the Sheepherders attack on the Masked Assassins from this past week. The footage stops before the blood starts flowing. Ross notes that the Herders were heavily fined for their actions...but those fines were paid immediately from an anonymous source. Also that anonymous source has hired a lawyer to try and force the UWF into putting the “too violent for TV” team ON TV.
vs. 
15 Minute Time Limit: Hacksaw Butch Reed vs. Sir David Taylor – Butch Reed was not announced to the live crowd as being there, so they went crazy when he came out from behind the curtain. Ross noted that Nikita Koloff would be unable to make it to the show tonight and Butch Reed was brought in as a late minute replacement.
Reed is all over Taylor in the first minutes of the match, obviously being very excited that he's back home in the Mid-South area. Ross puts Reed over as a fantastic athlete, talking about his days playing with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the same breath, Ross cites Taylor as being a master craftsmen in the European style of wrestling. As the show heads to break, Taylor takes down the over excited Reed and begins stretching him on the mat.
Commercial Break – A change has been made to the BIG card tonight in New Orleans and it'll be Hacksaw Butch Reed squaring off with Michael Hayes!
Back from the break, David Taylor still has Hacksaw on the mat, cranking back viciously with a side head lock. The fans rally behind Reed who climbs to his knees, wraps his arms around Taylor and then stands up! Wow, look at the raw power of Reed!
Hacksaw lets Taylor dangle in the air a bit before dropping him with an atomic drop! Taylor flies into and rebounds right back into the arms of Reed who lifts him high up into gorilla press slam position. LOOK – HE'S BENCHING THE BODY OF DAVID TAYLOR!
GORILLA PRESS SLAM! ONE, TWO, THREE! Hacksaw Butch Reed solidly wins his return match at 8:04!
Jim Ross interviews Butch Reed and Reed says he couldn't be happier to be back...home. The Mid-South is where he got his start, where the fans took to him and believed in him, where he got to team with his idol the Junkyard Dog, and where he took the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair to the toughest sixty minutes of Flair's career.
Why is he back? The NWA is buzzing right now that the UWF has the toughest wrestlers in pro wrestling. Everyone from Duggan to Gordy to Orndorff to Albright to Vader is here. Hacksaw was born here in the Mid-South, born here in Louisiana and he definitely considers himself one of the toughest son of a bitches in wrestling. He's come back to get another sixty minutes with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion...and this time there ain't a way in hell he's gonna lose.
Commercial Break – Bob and Brad Armstrong can't believe Jushin Liger got suckered in by “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel but that doesn't change a thing because Buddy is going to get his at the hands of Bullet Bob and Brad is bringing the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight title home. TONIGHT AT THE UNO LAKEFRONT CENTER IN NEW ORLEANS!
Back from the break Jim Ross is joined by the “center of controversy” Jim Cornette. Cornette asks Ross if Ross loved the “Another One Bites the Dust” video as much as he did. He didn't even let Ross answer before saying that he's thinking of pitching it to Queen to become the official video for the song.
Jim Cornette doesn't let Ross get a word in edge wise as he changes subjects to tonight. Cornette says that the UWF is just FULL of cowards. First Hayes and now the so-called “Dr. Death.” He winks as he says that he's “appalled” that Doc would throw such allegations his way. He's thinking about hiring a lawyer to see him for defamation of his character. Cornette says he can't blame Steve Williams BUT he didn't have to fake an attack and an arm injury to get out of fighting Big Van Vader – all he has to do it ADMIT that Vader is the tougher and better man.
With that Jim Cornette turns and loudly introduces the NEW “KING OF THE MID-SOUTH”, the UNSTOPPABLE, the MASTADON, the WRECKING BALL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, Big Van Vader!
A growling Vader emerges from the back and man, does the crowd ever HATE this man. Vader asks if there ANYONE in the UWF that can stand up to him.
Jim Cornette calls tonight the greatest night in his career. Not only is he going to debut the GREATEST TAG TEAM he's ever managed, the NEXT rightful NWA World Tag Team Champions but Vader is going to dispose Terry Gordy.
Cornette slaps his head and says he's gotten so excited that he's forgotten why he even came out here in the first place – to reveal and introduce Vader's partner for tonight.
“May I introduce you to the ONLY man Big Van Vader would have as his partner tonight...the “Master of the ARM-BAR” (hint, hint)...GARY ALBRIGHT!
vs. 
20 Minute Time Limit – Television Main Event: Gary Albright vs. “White Lightning” Tim Horner – Cornette and his men march down to the ring as Jim Ross is absolutely floored at the announcement of Albright as Vader's partner. What is Terry Gordy possibly going to do?
Bill Watts joins the announce desk and says he's just gotten word from the hospital. He'll make his official announcement following this match but he puts over Albright as JUST as dangerous as Vader.
Commercial Break – The following has been paid for by Jim Cornette: A video package, mockingly set to “Another One Bites the Dust” showcases Big Van Vader running roughshod over the UWF locker room. Every time the chorus rolls around, a slow motion replay of Vader crushing the Junkyard Dog with the Vader Splash is shown.
Ross talks about the match starting during the break and “White Lightning” was able to fire off a drop kick before the world class wrestling machine Gary Albright took him down.
He immediately wrenches the arm behind the back of Horner and viciously attacks it. Watts talks about his impressive work over in Japan for the UWFi promotion where he knocked out opponents left and right with suplexes. As if on cue, Albright dead lifts Horner up with the hammerlock still intact and back drops RIGHT ON THE ARM!
Sandy Scott tries to get down to check on Horner but gets shoved out of the way as Albright snatches Horner up – OH MY EVERY LOVING GOD, DRAGON SUPLEX! The fans in Mid-South have NEVER seen that move before and the camera pans around to see the stunned faces in the crowd.
Tim Horner is OUT cold. Even Cornette has his hands on his head, impressed. Bill Watts is speechless as Gary Albright slaps on the seated arm bar, referred to as the 'crowbar' by Jim Ross. The pain wakes Tim Horner back up and he submits LOUDLY at 5:19.
Jim Cornette jumps into the ring, giving Gary Albright a standing ovation. Bill Watts gets on the microphone from the announce desk and announces that “Dr. Death” Steve Williams will NOT be able to participate in tonight's main event. The severity of his injury is unknown and he is currently undergoing X-rays at the hospital. Watts DOES think that Jim Cornette was behind the attack but has nothing to back up that claim. He states again that that is his own opinion.
Despite Terry Gordy's insistence on this being a handicap match, Bill Watts is allowing Gordy a substitute partner. Seconds later, out comes Jim Duggan! Without the tape on his ribs, Duggan explains that he would love another crack at Big Van Vader.
“Jim, Jim, you don't have to do that...” Everyone turns and from under the curtain emerges.. MICHAEL HAYES! “This is MY fight.” Disappointed, yet understanding, Duggan nods at Hayes and Hayes starts to head down to the ring.
“From day one, Cornette, you've called me a coward.” Hayes climbs onto the apron. “You've told me that ALL I do is hide behind Terry Gordy.” Hayes climbs into the ring and goes right to the center where Cornette, Vader, and Albright are.
“WELL WHO'S HIDING NOW? Tonight, the Freebirds are riding into New Orleans together. And TONIGHT, just like NOW, I'm going to walk up to you Vader...and I'm going to look you right in big ugly face of yours...and I'm going to KICK YOUR ASS.”
The crowd explodes while Vader just laughs. And laughs. WAIT A SECOND – HAYES HITS VADER IN THE FACE WITH THE MIC! MICHAEL HAYES IS TAKING IT TO VADER! THERE'S ALBRIGHT – HE TACKLES HAYES DOWN BUT HAYES REVERSES AND NOW HE'S ON TOP OF ALBRIGHT!
BAM! TENNIS RACKET TO THE BACK OF THE SKULL OF HAYES! JIM DUGGAN AND TERRY GORDY HIT THE RING! Jim Cornette heads for the hills as ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! DUGGAN AND GORDY ARE TRADING BLOWS WITH ALBRIGHT AND VADER!
The ENTIRE locker room floods the ring and they finally get everyone separated. Michael Hayes climbs to his feet, shakes off the racket hit, AND DIVES OVER EVERYONE BACK ONTO VADER!
Jim Ross's voice is going hoarse yelling about all the action going on in the ring. He tells fans that this right here is only a FRACTION of what it's going to be like at the UNO Lakefront Center in New Orleans TONIGHT.
“IT'S THE FREEBIRDS VERSUS BIG VAN VADER AND GARY ALBRIGHT TONIGHT! TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE - FANS YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!”
The show ends with a shot of crowded ring where you can see Vader bleeding from the nose and Michael Hayes all bruised up with a messed up looking eye.
© UWF, 1992
Universal Wrestling Federation
“Power Pro Wrestling TV”
Sunday, June 10th, 1992
Taped at the Irish McNeil Boy's Club in Shreveport, Louisiana
The show opens with a video package showing Big Van Vader giving the Vader Bomb to Paul Orndorff and the Vader Splash to Jim Duggan and the Junkyard Dog.
A second video package is shown of “Dr. Death” Steve Williams delivering the Oklahoma Stampede to “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel and Jim Duggan (twice).
An image of Vader and an image of “Dr. Death” swirl around the screen until they meet in the middle in a big “explosion.” Bill Watts does a voice over: “Tonight at the UNO Lakefront Center in New Orleans, on the opposite sides of a tag team match, the two BADDEST men in the UWF will FINALLY get their hands on each other! Don't miss it!”
Jim Ross stands by the announce desk with a microphone to open the show. He says that earlier today when Steve Williams arrived to the building an unknown assailant attacked him from behind, slamming his head against the car and severely injuring his right arm. Bill Watts is with him right now as he's being examined and they should have an update on his condition within the hour. Ross regrettably says that Doc's participation in the main event tonight is in jeopardy.
Backstage, a camera man peers through the door of the trainer's room just in time to see Steve Williams fling a chair across the room into the wall. With his forehead bandaged and his right arm hanging limp at his side, Williams is angry and yelling. “BILL, I KNOW THIS WAS CORNETTE! I'M GONNA KILL HIM!” Bill Watts is there trying to calm him down but even Bill being as tough as he is, is staying the hell away from Doc. Williams continues to throw things around in frustration and Watts tells the camera man that this may not be the best time for an interview.
Commercial Break – Tonight at the UNO Lakefront Center in New Orleans, the UWF presents it's first BIG card of the year! Tickets are still available!
Jim Ross says he does envy the job of Bill Watts right now and runs down the TV card for today:
NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Jushin Liger will take on Tom Zenk, just hours before his big rematch with Brad Armstrong tonight!
Making his big return to the Mid-South, Hacksaw Butch Reed will be in action!
With his tag partner potentially injured for tonight, Terry Gordy will have a warm-up match against Mando Guerrero!
And the Television Main Event will see Jim Cornette unveil Big Van Vader's mystery partner, as he does battle with “White Lightning” Tim Horner!
Ross mentions that the Sheepherders were supposed to wrestle on today's program but after this past week in Lafayette, the KTBS executives deemed them “too violent for TV.”
vs. 10 Minute Time Limit – Non-Title: NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Jushin Liger vs. Tom Zenk – After his spectacular TV debut two weeks ago, the crowd is much more vocal and behind Liger. They are surprised when Liger waves off Zenk's handshake and starts off very aggressively.
With a height and weight advantage Zenk is able to hold his own and fend off Liger, but the World Jr. Heavyweight Champion is just so quick and so innovative with the way he uses his body to hurt his opponent. Zenk comes off the top rope with a flying cross body but gets DRILLED with a drop kick in the mid section that sends him tumbling to the outside!
Liger doesn't give him an ounce of breathing room as he leaps out onto the apron AND THEN OFF THE MIDDLE ROPE WITH A MOONSAULT! Jim Ross can't help but be impressed! As is the rest of the crowd.
They stop cheering when Liger carelessly drags Zenk by the hair and rolls him into the ring. He takes a bow before pinning Zenk but the bigger Zenk gets a shoulder up at two and three-fourths!
Zenk narrowly dodges Liger's nasty rolling wheel kick but turns around right into a hurricanrana! One, two, kick out! The momentum allows Zenk to turn Liger into a pinning combination but Liger rolls back to his feet – ENZIJURI! Zenk is staggered - ROLLING WHEEL KICK! Tom Zenk is DOWN! – one, two, three! Jushin Liger gets a most impressive victory at 8:36!
Jim Ross is blown away at the two-strike combo that helped Liger finish off Zenk as it's shown again in slow motion. He puts over Liger as seriously dangerous because of his striking and his innovative high flying.
Ross tries to get a word with Liger, “Wait right there Ross, I'll handle this...” The camera pans over to see “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel and Mr. Hughes heading over to the announce desk!
Commercial Break - “Prime Time” Brian Lee tells “Dirty Dutch Mantell he has no where to run tonight in New Orleans and Lee promises to make Dutch pay for every lash of the bullwhip he's been hit with.
Back from the commercial, Jushin Liger is STILL standing there with Buddy and Hughes! Buddy says that he's taken young Liger under his wing while he's in the states. Liger's told him that he is VERY POPULAR over in Japan as the man who taught Ric Flair everything he knows. Jim Ross tries hard to suppress laughter as Buddy says that.
When Liger said that to him, Buddy knew he had to help him out. And the first thing Buddy did was enlighten him about the Armstrong Family. He told Jushin that tonight Bob Armstrong is AGAIN going to stick big banana nose in his son's business, and those Armstrongs are going to SCREW him out of the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title. Jushin couldn't believe it – he didn't want to believe it but Buddy told him it was true. Buddy told him that the worst part would be, that even if the fans saw Bob and Brad openly screw Jushin out of the title, they'd STILL love them anyway! That's how the fans are in the US! He told Jushin that these stupid, ignorant, Mid-South fans don't like him because he's DIFFERENT and don't appreciate his abilities.
Jim Ross interjects to ask Jushin Liger if he can really, truly believe what Buddy is saying and...Jushin Liger nods his head! Wow!
Buddy has taken it upon himself, selflessly, to watch Liger's back and make sure those cheating Armstrongs don't take advantage of him tonight. The crowd has now completely turned their back on Armstrong.
They all turn to leave when Ross stops Buddy to ask him about the fake manager's license for Mr. Hughes last week. Buddy pleads his innocence and blames it on the State Commission being incompetent. He says AS SOON as Watts alerted him to the mistake, he got a correct license to him...well, maybe a couple days later. Buddy says it's been a busy week. Buddy leaves, telling the fans in New Orleans they are going to be disappointed tonight when the “Nature Boy” points old Bullet Bob out to pasture.
Commercial Break – The following has been paid for by Jim Cornette: A video package, mockingly set to “Another One Bites the Dust” showcases Big Van Vader running roughshod over the UWF locker room. Every time the chorus rolls around, a slow motion replay of Vader crushing the Junkyard Dog with the Vader Splash is shown.
Jim Ross lets the viewers know that the previous commercial was in no way, shape, or form produced by the UWF.
Backstage a camera man peers around the corner to see Bill Watts helping “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, with his arm in a sling, into an ambulance. The camera man, trying to stay a safe distance is still noticed by Williams. “Cornette you weasel, I know you can hear me. Even if I can't wrestle, I'll still be in New Orleans. I KNOW you did this to me and TONIGHT, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!” Bill Watts lets the viewers know that he will be coming out at the end of TV today to address the main event situation.
10 Minute Time Limit: Mando Guerrero vs. Terry Gordy – Jim Ross talks about the rivalry the Freebirds and Guerreros have been having all over the Mid-South area. Despite how talented he is, Gordy has little trouble with Mando and puts him away in 4:43 with a high angle belly-to-back suplex that Jim Ross calls a 'back drop driver.'
Terry Gordy stops for a word with Ross where Ross asks him his thoughts on the injury of his partner for tonight, Steve Williams. Gordy says that Doc's injury doesn't change a thing and he will happily take Vader and his mystery partner on, two-on-one.
Jim Ross changes the subject to Michael Hayes and asks Gordy what he thinks about what's been transpiring between Hayes and Cornette. Gordy tells Ross that despite what Cornette thinks, you have to be tough to be in this sport for as long as Hayes has. You have to be tough to win titles at the regional level and you have to TOUGH AS HELL to win the NWA World Tag Team Titles. Hayes has done that. Hayes lined them up and he knocked them down. That was just how they went about things and it had nothing to do with toughness. Gordy says he and Hayes have gotten into it over the years and even he's surprised when push comes to shove, how tough Hayes is. Ross tells him good luck on his match tonight.
Commercial Break – As a special bonus to those attending the BIG card in New Orleans tonight, the Junkyard Dog will be in action!
Jim Ross presents some disturbing footage of the Sheepherders attack on the Masked Assassins from this past week. The footage stops before the blood starts flowing. Ross notes that the Herders were heavily fined for their actions...but those fines were paid immediately from an anonymous source. Also that anonymous source has hired a lawyer to try and force the UWF into putting the “too violent for TV” team ON TV.
vs. 15 Minute Time Limit: Hacksaw Butch Reed vs. Sir David Taylor – Butch Reed was not announced to the live crowd as being there, so they went crazy when he came out from behind the curtain. Ross noted that Nikita Koloff would be unable to make it to the show tonight and Butch Reed was brought in as a late minute replacement.
Reed is all over Taylor in the first minutes of the match, obviously being very excited that he's back home in the Mid-South area. Ross puts Reed over as a fantastic athlete, talking about his days playing with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the same breath, Ross cites Taylor as being a master craftsmen in the European style of wrestling. As the show heads to break, Taylor takes down the over excited Reed and begins stretching him on the mat.
Commercial Break – A change has been made to the BIG card tonight in New Orleans and it'll be Hacksaw Butch Reed squaring off with Michael Hayes!
Back from the break, David Taylor still has Hacksaw on the mat, cranking back viciously with a side head lock. The fans rally behind Reed who climbs to his knees, wraps his arms around Taylor and then stands up! Wow, look at the raw power of Reed!
Hacksaw lets Taylor dangle in the air a bit before dropping him with an atomic drop! Taylor flies into and rebounds right back into the arms of Reed who lifts him high up into gorilla press slam position. LOOK – HE'S BENCHING THE BODY OF DAVID TAYLOR!
GORILLA PRESS SLAM! ONE, TWO, THREE! Hacksaw Butch Reed solidly wins his return match at 8:04!
Jim Ross interviews Butch Reed and Reed says he couldn't be happier to be back...home. The Mid-South is where he got his start, where the fans took to him and believed in him, where he got to team with his idol the Junkyard Dog, and where he took the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair to the toughest sixty minutes of Flair's career.
Why is he back? The NWA is buzzing right now that the UWF has the toughest wrestlers in pro wrestling. Everyone from Duggan to Gordy to Orndorff to Albright to Vader is here. Hacksaw was born here in the Mid-South, born here in Louisiana and he definitely considers himself one of the toughest son of a bitches in wrestling. He's come back to get another sixty minutes with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion...and this time there ain't a way in hell he's gonna lose.
Commercial Break – Bob and Brad Armstrong can't believe Jushin Liger got suckered in by “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel but that doesn't change a thing because Buddy is going to get his at the hands of Bullet Bob and Brad is bringing the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight title home. TONIGHT AT THE UNO LAKEFRONT CENTER IN NEW ORLEANS!
Back from the break Jim Ross is joined by the “center of controversy” Jim Cornette. Cornette asks Ross if Ross loved the “Another One Bites the Dust” video as much as he did. He didn't even let Ross answer before saying that he's thinking of pitching it to Queen to become the official video for the song.
Jim Cornette doesn't let Ross get a word in edge wise as he changes subjects to tonight. Cornette says that the UWF is just FULL of cowards. First Hayes and now the so-called “Dr. Death.” He winks as he says that he's “appalled” that Doc would throw such allegations his way. He's thinking about hiring a lawyer to see him for defamation of his character. Cornette says he can't blame Steve Williams BUT he didn't have to fake an attack and an arm injury to get out of fighting Big Van Vader – all he has to do it ADMIT that Vader is the tougher and better man.
With that Jim Cornette turns and loudly introduces the NEW “KING OF THE MID-SOUTH”, the UNSTOPPABLE, the MASTADON, the WRECKING BALL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, Big Van Vader!
A growling Vader emerges from the back and man, does the crowd ever HATE this man. Vader asks if there ANYONE in the UWF that can stand up to him.
Jim Cornette calls tonight the greatest night in his career. Not only is he going to debut the GREATEST TAG TEAM he's ever managed, the NEXT rightful NWA World Tag Team Champions but Vader is going to dispose Terry Gordy.
Cornette slaps his head and says he's gotten so excited that he's forgotten why he even came out here in the first place – to reveal and introduce Vader's partner for tonight.
“May I introduce you to the ONLY man Big Van Vader would have as his partner tonight...the “Master of the ARM-BAR” (hint, hint)...GARY ALBRIGHT!
vs. 20 Minute Time Limit – Television Main Event: Gary Albright vs. “White Lightning” Tim Horner – Cornette and his men march down to the ring as Jim Ross is absolutely floored at the announcement of Albright as Vader's partner. What is Terry Gordy possibly going to do?
Bill Watts joins the announce desk and says he's just gotten word from the hospital. He'll make his official announcement following this match but he puts over Albright as JUST as dangerous as Vader.
Commercial Break – The following has been paid for by Jim Cornette: A video package, mockingly set to “Another One Bites the Dust” showcases Big Van Vader running roughshod over the UWF locker room. Every time the chorus rolls around, a slow motion replay of Vader crushing the Junkyard Dog with the Vader Splash is shown.
Ross talks about the match starting during the break and “White Lightning” was able to fire off a drop kick before the world class wrestling machine Gary Albright took him down.
He immediately wrenches the arm behind the back of Horner and viciously attacks it. Watts talks about his impressive work over in Japan for the UWFi promotion where he knocked out opponents left and right with suplexes. As if on cue, Albright dead lifts Horner up with the hammerlock still intact and back drops RIGHT ON THE ARM!
Sandy Scott tries to get down to check on Horner but gets shoved out of the way as Albright snatches Horner up – OH MY EVERY LOVING GOD, DRAGON SUPLEX! The fans in Mid-South have NEVER seen that move before and the camera pans around to see the stunned faces in the crowd.
Tim Horner is OUT cold. Even Cornette has his hands on his head, impressed. Bill Watts is speechless as Gary Albright slaps on the seated arm bar, referred to as the 'crowbar' by Jim Ross. The pain wakes Tim Horner back up and he submits LOUDLY at 5:19.
Jim Cornette jumps into the ring, giving Gary Albright a standing ovation. Bill Watts gets on the microphone from the announce desk and announces that “Dr. Death” Steve Williams will NOT be able to participate in tonight's main event. The severity of his injury is unknown and he is currently undergoing X-rays at the hospital. Watts DOES think that Jim Cornette was behind the attack but has nothing to back up that claim. He states again that that is his own opinion.
Despite Terry Gordy's insistence on this being a handicap match, Bill Watts is allowing Gordy a substitute partner. Seconds later, out comes Jim Duggan! Without the tape on his ribs, Duggan explains that he would love another crack at Big Van Vader.
“Jim, Jim, you don't have to do that...” Everyone turns and from under the curtain emerges.. MICHAEL HAYES! “This is MY fight.” Disappointed, yet understanding, Duggan nods at Hayes and Hayes starts to head down to the ring.
“From day one, Cornette, you've called me a coward.” Hayes climbs onto the apron. “You've told me that ALL I do is hide behind Terry Gordy.” Hayes climbs into the ring and goes right to the center where Cornette, Vader, and Albright are.
“WELL WHO'S HIDING NOW? Tonight, the Freebirds are riding into New Orleans together. And TONIGHT, just like NOW, I'm going to walk up to you Vader...and I'm going to look you right in big ugly face of yours...and I'm going to KICK YOUR ASS.”
The crowd explodes while Vader just laughs. And laughs. WAIT A SECOND – HAYES HITS VADER IN THE FACE WITH THE MIC! MICHAEL HAYES IS TAKING IT TO VADER! THERE'S ALBRIGHT – HE TACKLES HAYES DOWN BUT HAYES REVERSES AND NOW HE'S ON TOP OF ALBRIGHT!
BAM! TENNIS RACKET TO THE BACK OF THE SKULL OF HAYES! JIM DUGGAN AND TERRY GORDY HIT THE RING! Jim Cornette heads for the hills as ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! DUGGAN AND GORDY ARE TRADING BLOWS WITH ALBRIGHT AND VADER!
The ENTIRE locker room floods the ring and they finally get everyone separated. Michael Hayes climbs to his feet, shakes off the racket hit, AND DIVES OVER EVERYONE BACK ONTO VADER!
Jim Ross's voice is going hoarse yelling about all the action going on in the ring. He tells fans that this right here is only a FRACTION of what it's going to be like at the UNO Lakefront Center in New Orleans TONIGHT.
“IT'S THE FREEBIRDS VERSUS BIG VAN VADER AND GARY ALBRIGHT TONIGHT! TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE - FANS YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!”
The show ends with a shot of crowded ring where you can see Vader bleeding from the nose and Michael Hayes all bruised up with a messed up looking eye.
© UWF, 1992
