[NWA] UWF in Tulsa, OK - 06/21/92!

[Chief]

Universal Wrestling Federation
Thursday, June 21st, 1992
Live at the Tulsa Coliseum in Tulsa, Oklahoma


Quick results as I try to catch-up and not the best card either.

Note: “Dr. Death” Steve Williams was NOT in the building.

The Junkyard Dog defeats Hector Guerrero at 3:31 with the 'Big Thump' power slam. Crowd was very into JYD as he prepares for his big match against Vader this week on “Power Pro Wrestling.”

“Dirty” Dutch Mantell and “Dirty White Boy” Tony Anthony defeat “Prime Time” Brian Lee and Jim Duggan at 12:49. Lee and Mantell brawled to the back while Anthony used a chain and the Bucksnort Blaster to pin Duggan.

Intermission – Brian Lee came back out to tell Dutch Mantell to come out and fight him like a man. An official comes to out to let Lee know that Dutch has left the building. Lee says he is still looking for a fight and will fight anyone from the back.

“Prime Time” Brian Lee vs. Hacksaw Butch Reed – Lee hung in there with the big dog Butch Reed earning him some points with the crowd. The much more experienced Hacksaw put him away with a flying shoulder block at 13:11. After the match Reed helped Lee up, dusted him off, and rose his hand as a sign of respect.

The Midnight Express and The Heavenly Bodies went to a 25:00 draw. The Midnights looked like they haven't lost a step while the Bodies kept up with them at every turn. Bobby and Stan wanted five more minutes but the Bodies said “no thanks” and headed for the back.

Bob Armstrong vs. “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel – Buddy has Mr. Hughes sub for him as his neck was still “sore” from Bob's attack on TV. Hughes went for an over the shoulder running power slam but Bob slipped behind him and O'Connor rolled him for the win at 7:17.

Big Van Vader and Gary Albright vs. The Fabulous Freebirds – Match never started as Vader allowed Hayes a free punch which Hayes accepted...with brass knuckles. The four battled all over ringside throwing each other into everything and breaking everything they could get their hands on. Gordy got the best of Albright but Albright kept him on the outside while Vader was able to get Hayes back into the ring.

The Vader Splash followed and Vader symbolically counted the pin fall for himself. Vader looked to continue his attack when Jim Duggan ran in wielding a steel chair. He nearly broke the chair over Vader's back several times but Vader no sold it AND punched chair out of his hands. Duggan said “screw it” and went toe to toe with Vader as if he had nothing left to live for. The brawl was broken up quickly BUT the crowd got behind Duggan's “never say die” attitude.

Duggan got on the microphone and said he will beat Big Van Vader in two weeks in Oklahoma City...or die trying.

© UWF, 1992

[Deleted]

Okay here goes. I love the placement of JYD here, him opening up shows with wins just feels so right for the area when taking into account the reputation he has around here. Opens up the show with a bang if you will.

That being said, man I hate seeing Hector jobbing to him so quickly though (although keeping his matches short is a great idea). Just a huge fan of Hector, second favorite Guerrero if you will. But hey, everyone has their roles.

Wow did NOT see Duggan getting pinned happening in match no. 2 that's a huge shock right there. And then Lee does double duty? Interesting...

Bodies/Midnites is a fun little program... them going 25 minutes was a real treat.. odd time limit though, why not 30? Don't think I've ever seen 25.. all the same really.

Budro and the Armstrongs feud has been a ton of fun thus far. Buddy is so entertaining man, a sharp contrast from the "tough guys" here which goes a long way it helping him along. He stands out and that's a good thing.

I'm not a fan of the way the main event went down. It would have made for better TV for sure, but not giving the fans a main event is a bit much. Especially when taking into account that brawls around ringside only play out for those with ringside seats, just saying. Reeked of a TV angle and a very good one at that. But yeah, gotta give the fans a match to send them home dude.

Think about it man, the people are there for Vader/Albright Vs. the Freebirds so you've gotta give it to them, or at least a suitable replacement as a opposed to just an angle.


Overall the angles are fantastic man, this show? It was fun but no main event? As stated the angle was great, probably a little more effective if you hadn't had Duggan taking the fall earlier in the night, but still it was just a fantastic angle that I would have preferred to see play out on TV.

[Grape Ape]

I can certainly see what Drew's talking about with the main event but to get outside of the ring, I would imagine there was a little action inside of it first. Maybe a little hard to tell because of the abbreviated version?

More shocking for me were the falls by Duggan and afterwards Lee. With Duggan's build for his rematch against Vader, him losing to Anthony, even with a chain, makes him less believable of having a chance against the big guy.

Brian Lee has been having such a good run here that being nailed by Butch Reed is almost like a slap to wake him up and tell him where his place is in the pecking order. Reed in a handicap squasher would have worked just as effectively without hurting Brian Lee. Nice gesture by Reed afterwards, maybe it won't hurt him.

All in all, good card. Keep it coming.

[Chief]

Very valid points from the both of you.

I will say that the main event might've looked completely different if I was able to describe the entire thing. I see what you are saying about only the first few rows being able to see them fight at ringside but I picked this smaller intimate arena just for that purpose.

I was going to go with Hayes vs. Vader as the main for this show but I thought that could've been saved for a much bigger show. In hindsight I could've had this just be a match and have Vader pin Hayes. All and all I went with my gut.

The show lacked in talent due to no Dr. Death and four of my big names in the tag main event. I do not think Reed beating Lee hurt. Reed is an established main event player, en route to working towards a World Title shot, and Lee is still young, new to the area. I think the fact that he held his own after already competing in a match says something. At the end of the day, Reed is a bigger star then Lee and Lee winning here in front of this small audience wouldn't do anything for him.

As for Duggan, this plays into the part of the story where he just hasn't been the same since the Vader fight. You will see something different from him on TV but I think the emotion of Duggan will be able to sell this match.

I will freely admit that this show was thrown together to catch-up. I appreciate the fair criticism.

[appstorm]

I like the team of Mantell and Anthony. Lee is certainly a fighter. An Armstrong win is always a good thing. The MX and Heavenly Bodies is a money rivalry right now. Hoping that The Freebirds get another shot.

Good stuff.

[somethingsavage]

Yeah, there were a few mishaps here & there, but this was still a stellar card. I don't mind these abbreviated events & house shows AT ALL, man. It keeps the cards coming, keeps your finger on the pulse of the territory, and keeps everything active. If this is what it takes to get a show up every now & then, so be it. You do good work, bro. Plain & simple. This promotion definitely carries its own feel & flavor of action. So I'm just glad to see you putting out the shows.

Yes. Drew pointed out the drawbacks of the main event's booking. And I agree 100%. I won't harp on it, but that was CERTAINLY a type of angle that was custom-built for television. Just the whole layout of it felt like a TV idea. I could easily hear Ross shouting as that one took us off the air, with a chaotic scene & a "non-finish" led us through the rolling credits. Always happened that way.

I do think Hayes/Vader one-on-one for the house show (and saving this angle for TV) would have been a better way to go, but ultimately? It is what it is. It was still a fun piece of the puzzle in the story you're telling with Michael Hayes & the Freebirds, so I dig it. Fun match, with specific character-driven booking.

As far as all the Hector Guerrero stuff goes? Yeah. The guy's a good hand, a quality worker, and a versatile performer. But there's only so many spots on a roster with this kind of talent. Only so much room for pushes. Only to many top talents & so many enhancement talents. Likewise, this is what it is. I don't mind it all. Now, if you were having the Junkyard Dog getting squashed in 3 minutes - rather than doing the squashing - in the Mid-South territory, THEN I'd be on board with the criticism. ;D

Still liking your treatment for Budro & the Armstrongs. Your Bullet Bob is so freaking enjoyable, man. He wins by hook or by crook, and I love that. This ain't exactly his Vegas work, but it was never going to be. Even so, you've found the perfect spot for him in the mid-card, and he's still getting over like gangbusters.

Great tag team action, too. A half-hour draw between the Midnights and the Bodies was the way to go. It kicks off their rivalry with a highly competitive feel. If you had brought the Midnights in & immediately let them take the fall, then that eliminates all the suspense right away. This keeps it neck & neck for now. Plus, watching those four guys trade innovative double-team maneuvers for 25 minutes would have been just plain cool.

Absolutely loving your efforts with Brian Lee, man. One building block at a time, you're creating a made man out of him. I found NO fault in this booking. He brawls to the back with Dutch, returns, and DEMANDS to do more fighting. That brings out Reed. Knowing his slim chances, he stares adversity in the faces & simply MANS UP. That's powerful stuff, man. Say what you will, but the Mid-South fans would have ate that up. I know I would have, too.

Sure. Reed wins. But it doesn't devalue Lee one bit. In fact, it elevates him. And, even if you don't agree with that, the point Chief made is right on target - Lee winning here (in such a small setting) would have done NOTHING to help him anyway. Likewise, Lee losing to someone like Reed here does nothing to harm him. If Lee is to ever go over a guy like Reed, it NEEDS to occur on a grand stage, to do the victory & Lee's elevation by way of that win, ANY sort of justice. (Hope you followed me on that one.) Haha. Got a little off track.

I can see the Duggan loss being a surprise, but it plays perfectly into the story of Duggan's self-doubt. We're witnessing a change within Duggan, and this could be another layer added to his burden of issues. I'm eager to see what you do with old Hacksaw on television now.