Donnie watches WWF 1982

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; Mr Fuji & Mr Saito- Since 13/7/82


WWF Championship Wrestling
August 14th, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 Ivan Putski vs Frankie Williams
Very bad and deeply evil.

They run an amazing video about Buddy Rose living in Hawaii


Match#2 Joe Thunder w/Lou Albano vs Barry Hart
Another terrible one from this oaf, and i need to know how this ever happened. Truly odd choices being made from all ends. Bad elbow does it
1/2*

Match#3 Superstar Billy Graham vs Steve King
Heartbreaking to think this idiot wrestles until 1987, and even manages to wrestle at Starrcade 85. Fuck him, and fuck this.

Match#4 Andre the Giant vs Johnny Rodz
YES. Incredible Andre squash on top of Rodz being the best possible punching bag for him. Boot and Splash do the deed.
**

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; Mr Fuji & Mr Saito- Since 13/7/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
August 21st, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 The Strongbow Brothers vs Johnny Rodz & Siccluna
Nearly 7 minutes of complete trash. Bad Thez press does it
1/2*

Match#2 Buddy Rose w/Grand Wizard vs SD Jones
Buddy mauls him to start and it's fantastic watching him go at it. SD offers nothing as always, but Buddy can and does work for two like few men can. Buddy wins with a flying crossbody off the top.
**

Post match, Buddy talks some shit to SD, so the big loser gets mad and chases him off.

They replay the Buddy Rose pre-tape from a few weeks ago.

Match#3 Swede Hanson vs George Rosella
Nah

Match#4 Salvatore Bellamo vs Mack Rivera
Sal goes on the mat for a while and it's ok enough, but he's pretty dry and not all that exciting. He wins with a splash.
1/2*

Match#5 Superstar Billy Graham vs Barry Hart
please kill me.

Match#6 Bob Orton vs Mike Masters
Bob once again does the best of anyone on TV with the meanest possible squash. Piledriver ends it
**

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; Mr Fuji & Mr Saito- Since 13/7/82

WWF MADISON SQAURE GARDEN
AUGUST 30TH, 1982

This a cut from the old WWE 24/7 site they used to run, so it's only 2 matches long. Which is cool with me tbh.

Match#1 Pedro Morales (c) vs Jimmy Snuka (WWF Intercontiental Championship-Ivan Putski is the referee)
A fun brawl breaks out right away and Snuka takes some wild bumps for the old man, and once again really show how good he can be when he gives a shit. The highlight is throwing himself over the top and landing face first on the concrete. Insane stuff. Snuka takes over with an eye rake, and his control is very good for the limited time it gets. Pedro gets dirty in revenge and goes after the eyes to cut him off and beats him pillar to post. They end up choking each other on the mat and neither man will let go, so Putski DQ's them both in a real coward act.
**1/4

Post match. they keep fighting until Pedro gets the best of it and runs him off.

Match#2 Bob Backlund (c) vs Buddy Rose (WWF World Championship)
Love WWF striking while the iron is hot and throwing Buddy into this spot, and not some loser like Graham. AWESOME fight on the mat to start with that great struggle happening mixed with Bob being a lunatic and Buddy being a shithead trying to find a way in any way he can. Backlund manages to dump him over the top rope and Rose splats on the back of his fucking skull!!! Good control work from Bob as always, until Buddy drops him onto the ropes in the corner to take over in a nice twist. Buddy is mean as hell with it and really batters Backlund all around the place and is just a mean bastard in general. Buddy goes for his knee drop but Backlund moves and mounts a wild comeback with the last bit of his energy. He locks in the Chicken-Wing and chokes Buddy out cold to retain the title. Awesome shit, and another wonderful moment for Bob's best year as champion.
***

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; Mr Fuji & Mr Saito- Since 13/7/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
September 11th, 1982
Allentown, PA

To open the show, Patterson and Vince are holding a massive trophy, and they say we'll find out what it's for later in the show. Cool hook if nothing else.

Match#1 Mr Fuji & Mr Saito (c) w/Lou Albano vs The Strongbow Brothers (WWF World Tag Team Championships)
Fuck off, you evil bastards. Really not good as always as none of these men can't do a thing right, or offer anything worth being in the spot other than WWF not having any other teams. Shit breaks down and Albano hits Jay in the head with something and the heels retain. Can't wait for the Wild Samoans to show up and skull fuck all these turds for good.

I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Match#2 Ivan Putski vs Mack Rivera
Thankfully only 90 seconds so it can't hurt me, or you. Polish Hammer ends it
1/2*

Match#3 Swede Hanson w/Freddie Blassie vs Bob Bradley
After a few weeks of being MIA, Blassie makes his return to try and get someone to give a shit about this old man. It's not happening, but you can't blame them for trying. Well, you can, but you get my point. Shitty backbreaker does it
1/2*

Match#4 Superstar Billy Graham vs Barry Hart
Oh, come on. This might be the worst WWF TV episode of this project thus far. Bad kung-fu and a limp wristed chokehold from the old man happens for a while, which leads to Patterson talking about how different he is these days since his peak a decade ago. Love seeing horrible people get buried. Bearhug finishes it.
Catching Covid.

Before the next match, Patterson brings out the trophy and says it comes from Japan and it was won by Bob Backlund. Cagematch says he wrestled two matches in Japan in 82, and neither was for any trophy, so this is all really weird and bullshit.

Match#5 Tony Garea & Steve Travis vs Johnny Rodz & Charlie Fulton

Only 2 minutes and really weird. The heels beat the crap out of Travis and it rules, but then Garea gets the tag and beats Rodz with a scoop slam.
1/2*

Match#6 Buddy Rose vs Brad Williams
THANK YOU, BUDDY ROSE. He whips the jobbers ass and saves this godforsaken show. He kicks the dogshit out of the kid in the best showcase possible for our hero. knee drop ends it
**

Match#7 Bob Orton w/Grand Wizard vs Vic Taylor
Awesome showcase for Orton, and it's now a two horse race for WOTY between him and Rose. Brutal as hell and a jobber wiling to take a beating, and you can't not love this. He wins with a gross spike Piledriver
**

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; Mr Fuji & Mr Saito- Since 13/7/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
September 18th, 1982
Hamburg, PA

Tonight; Rocky Johnson and Crippler Ray Stevens debut.

Before the opening match, Buddy Rodgers is introduced to the crowd and shakes hands with Jimmy Snuka, and Albano is PISSED. Oh shit.

Match#1 Jimmy Snuka w/Lou Albano vs Miguel Feliciano
The crowd is now 100% behind Snuka, so we've started the famous turn that i hope we have footage of. Fun wildman stuff from Snuka this week, however he's not as mean and it seems like it's a way to further the turn by not having him outright murder someone. Flying Headbutt does the job.
*1/2

Post match, Albano distracts the ref so Snuka can go after the kid, but he stands there and just smiles and Lou is even more upset. This rules.

Match#2 Crippler Ray Stevens w/Freddie Blassie vs Barry Hart
Crippler is old as hell and only a few months from retirement, but it's still rad to have him here. He works the neck for a while and it's classic old school stuff that's all mean and not flashy at all. He wins with a running powerslam.
*

Post match, CRIPPLER PILEDRIVES HART ON THE CONCRETE. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, DUDE. He leaves and poor old Barry is taken out on a stretcher.

Match#3 Rocky Johnson vs Mike Tores
Soul man makes his debut, and our collective futures are changed forever. He does a lot of punching and a looooot of rolling on the mat and popping back up like he's the coolest dude in the world. Really easy to hate, tbh. He wins with a punch to the face.
3/4*

Match#4 Pedro Morales vs SD Jones
Even Vince admits they've met many time this year, which is pretty fucking damning for him to say. Same match as every other time, and i really have nothing new to add because they aren't doing anything new. Pedro wins with a sunset flip.
1/2*

Match#5 Buddy Rose vs Tony Galon
Good fun from our hero as always. Impossible not to love a fat man beating someone up, unless you suck. Knee Drop ends it
*3/4

We go to the debut of Buddy Rodgers Corner, the new weekly interview segment!!! Something i've been waiting for is stuff like this so the shows can actually having something to break up the squashes and house show hype work. His first guest is Vince, who explains this will be the new show and all the views are Buddy's and not the WWF's. Rodgers says he's going to call it like he sees it, and he'll tell the truth 100% of the time. He says Snuka is the best wrestler in the world, and he's being misused by some people in his life. He hopes he can be part of his career in the future.

Match#6 The Strongbow Brothers vs Swede Hanson & Charlie Fulton
Mother of God. Only goes 60 seconds, but nothing is good no matter the time its given. Bad running elbow ends it
Iron Eyes Cody

Match#7 Ivan Putski vs Bob Bradley
Boring Putski showcase, and i can't wait for him to go away. Hammer does it.
1/2*

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; Mr Fuji & Mr Saito- Since 13/7/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
October 9th, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 Rocky Johnson vs Jeff Craney
This week, Rocky goes to the mat and he's not very good at it all. Feels like I'm being a massive dick, but he's just not a very good wrestler thus far, and we can only hope he gets better. He wins with a Sunset flip
1/2*

Match#2 Pedro Morales vs Bob Bradley
Same old shit from the old man. Can not wait for Muarco to return and take his title back from this hack. Crab does it.
1/2*

Match#3 The Strongbow Brothers vs Charlie Fulton & Jose Estrada
Eat shit

It's time for Buddy Rodger's corner with Snuka and Albano. Buddy makes it clear he only invited Snuka as he gives a darn about him, and not Lou. Buddy says he's been looking into Snuka's contract and it turns out he never had won, and Albano has been ripping him off. Lou screams he's nothing but a liar and storms off the set. Buddy declares Snuka a free man and gives him a hug. Snuka talks for the first time and says he likes to stay quiet, but he would like Buddy to become his manager. Rodgers says he'll give him an answer soon.

Snuka walks down to the ring to face Ray Stevens, but Albano rushes the ring and spins him around to confront him, AND SNUKA SHOVES HIM, SO ALABNO PUNCHES HIM AND SNUKA DROPS HIM, BUT STEVENS ATTACKS FROM BEHIND AND HELPS ALBANO BEAT HIM DOWN. THEY THROW HIM OUT OF THE RING AND CRIPPLER POUNDS ON HIM AND HE HITS HIM WITH A FUCKING PILEDRIVER ON THE EXPOSED CONCRETE. FUCKING CHRIST. Incredible, incredible angle.



Match#4 Eddie Gilbert & Curt Hennig vs Tony Galon & Mack Rivera
Holy shit, what a dream team. They're both babies and it's not what it could have been in the late 80's, but it still rules to see them together in any form. Hennig is great on the mat working the arm for a while, and he's really coming along nicely as the weeks go by. Eddie looks good as well when he gets his turn, but he's still a ways away from it clicking. Curt hits a series of sick running forearms and then an elbow drop to win.
**

Match#5 Andre The Giant vs Mikel Siccluna
YES KILL HIM. Andre runs through one of the worst old bastards ever, and i couldn't be happier about it. Boot and splash combo ends it
*

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; Mr Fuji & Mr Saito- Since 13/7/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
October 23rd, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 Superstar Billy Graham vs Jeff Craney
Ah fuck. Kung-Fu Billy is the complete worst, and i hope he lives every day in suffering.
1/2*

Match#2 Ivan Putski vs Mack Rivera
Please stop. Hammer does it.
1/2*

Post match, he sings the Polish anthem.

Match#3 Buddy Rose w/Grand Wizard vs Frankie Willams
Buddy saves the show as always with a great little squash. Elbow gets him the dub.
*3/4

Match#4 Curt Hennig vs Victor Marcado
Great little showcase for Curt. Arm work and good offence. He wins with a powerslam
*

Match#5 Rocky Johnson vs Tony Galon
Another bad one for Rocky. Dude just needs to go away and replace himself with his son. He wins with a Torture Rack of all things.
Black Adam

We go to another edition of Rodgers Corner. Snuka is wearing neck brace and his head is bandaged. Rodgers says he didn't suffer a broken neck, but he'll be out for a while as a result of the attack. He announces he will be his manager moving forward. Snuka thanks the fans for supporting him, and he then thanks Buddy for being his true friend.

Match#6 Salvatore Bellomo vs Bob Bradley
Fine enough showcase for Big Pussy. He has some cool takedowns and mat work, and there were way worst dudes to be pushed over him, so I'm glad he got a little run before it all turns to shit. He wins with an Abdominal Stretch.
*

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; Mr Fuji & Mr Saito- Since 13/7/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
October 30th, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 Superstar Billy Graham w/Grand Wizard vs Tony Rico
What a cool name for a jobber. Sounds like a male stripper or low-rent mobster from a 70's arthouse movie. Oh, the match? Yeah sucked a dick.
1/2*

Match#2 Rocky Johnson vs Johnny Rodz
Rocky's bombing out there, so of course they call upon the best wrestler in the fed to carry his ass for a while. Big bumps and stooging to make all the nonsense look decent, and no one is better than Rodz at that. Johnny gets to control for a while as well, and it's another moment of "hey, just push him" come to life. Rocky hits a REALLY bad flash crossbody to win.
**

Match#3 Buddy Rose vs Victor Mercado
Great shit from Buddy for a few minutes. Brutal as hell work on the legs this week, and Vince is horrified when Rose smashes them against the ringpost. Really puts him over the top. Buddy wins with a knee bar.
**

Match#4 Eddie Gilbert vs Bob Bradley.
FUCK YEAH. Eddie does some cool takedowns and works the head and neck, and you can already see he has SOMETHING to him. Truly one of the most underrated wrestlers ever, and one of the tragic losses of what could have been. Eddie wins with a sick running forearm.
**

It's time for Rodgers corner. He covers the beatdown of Snuka and says Albano owns half of Steven's contract and this was a long term plan. He promises that Snuka will be back soon.

Match#5 Don Muraco w/Lou Albano vs Jeff Craney
OH MY GOD YES. THANK YOU THANK YOU. Massive "beach bum" chants break out, and my heart is so warm right now. He kicks the fuck out of Craney and never lets up for a few minutes, and it's wonderful. Tombstone does it.
**

Match#6 Ray Stevens w/Freddie Blassie vs Jerry O
Like i said last time, Ray is very old and close to the end truly mattering or caring, but he's still a mean son of a bitch and hasn't lost it all that much, which is pretty insane given how long he's been doing this. He beats the snot out of O (hate that name btw) with some great punches and just a lot of mean looking stuff. Gross Piledriver ends it.
**

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; Fuji & Mr Saito- Since 13/7/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
November 6th, 1981
Allentown, PA

Match#1 Don Muraco w/Lou Albano vs Barry O
Another great one for Don. All the great neck work from last year is bought back, and O dies a thousand times as he should. Tombstone does it.
**

Match#2 Eddie Gilbert & Curt Hennig vs Jose Estrada & Tony Russo
Love to see the boys get more work (yes, they're going to win WOTY by virtue of actually being good in this fucking horrible year for tag wrestling). Great stuff from them as always, but with the new twist of the old men controlling Hennig for a while. Good mean stuff from them, and Curt is a great FIP. Gilbert gets the hot tag and nukes Russo with a forearm to win.
**

RODGERS CORNER; Buddy Rose and Grand Wizard are the guests this week. Buddy says he's never worked a day in his life because he doesn't need to. He hangs out in Vegas where he gets comped everywhere he goes because he's a true winner. One of his girls says he knows how to push all the right buttons. Buddy says he is nothing but class.

Match#3 Rocky Johnson vs Charlie Fulton
Once again, Rocky stinks the joint up without anyone there to hold his hand. Bad punch does it.
1/2*

Match#4 Mr Fuji & Mr Saito (c) w/Lou Albano vs The Strongbows (WWF World Tag Team Championships)
Gets nearly 8 minutes and it's the worst as always, and this is maybe the single worst tag title feud in 80's WWF history. Goddamn trash. I can't and won't write anymore about this. The Brothers win the titles back after Jay hits his horrible Thez Press on Saito.
1/2*

Post match, Patterson interviews them and Jay screams "WE CAN GO HOME NOW". Please, feel free.

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; The Strongbow Brothers-Since 6/11/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
November 20th, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 Don Muarco w/Lou Albano vs Eddie Carson
Love to see Vince not wasting any time and getting right to Don's push. Brother is the best and needs some gold, and i know just the old shithead he can beat to a pulp. Muarco goes nuts with knees to the chest and hits maybe 20 of them, and it's a fucking beating and a half. He keeps it up and Carson gets mauled and killed with a Tombstone.
**1/2

Match#2 Mr Haiti vs Joe Esparda
Cagematch doesn't even have a profile for this dude, so we're hitting new heights with this dude. He's not very good at all, in fact he sucks. Bad offence and selling, just a real bum. He wins with a bad headbutt
1/2*

Match#3 The Wild Samoans w/Lou Albano vs Pete Sanchez & Charlie Brown
We're finally fucking here and now the tag division can righted, and the entire landscape of WWF changes when it comes to the Anoa'i family and their influence on pro wrestling from this point on to now(15/5/23), Awesome squash because there's maybe no such thing as a bad Samoan squash. Chops, kicks and those fucking goddamn headbutts. Perfect stuff from the boys. Charlie Brown tries to headbutt a Samoan and HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NOPE. After more and more hideous murder, a gross Samoan Drop does it.
**

Rodgers Corner; This weeks guest is Rocky Johnson, sadly. He talks about being friends with Snuka and helping to get him back where they wanted him, which is weird because we've never seen any of that. He talks about his ameture boxing days and it's so boring that Rodgers quickly ends the interview. DEAD.

Match#4 Jimmy Snuka w/Buddy Rodgers vs Joe Martin
Weird to bring him back in a squash and not a hot return to attack Stevens, but I've given up hope of this year making any fucking sense. Good stuff from Snuka, even if it's mostly now held back because he's a face. Flying Headbutt ends it.
*

Match#5 Big John Studd w/Freddie Blassie vs Steve King
Oh shit, he's here and now our battle of the giants can take place. 82 has mostly been a weird year, but seeing these guys show up is really cool if nothing else. Not a great squash as Studd only does some slams and some bad strikes, and it's not what i expected from a monster dude like him. He wins with a backbreaker.
3/4*

Match#6 Ray Stevens vs Curt Hennig
Perfect shows zero fear and goes after him and a great little fight breaks out between them. Hennig gets the best of it and Vince loses his shit at the kid getting it done. Hennig hits a great dropkick to the face, but Stevens hangs on to the ropes when he tries a second and he takes over on him. He beats the shit out of him in awesome fashion, and i love old man Crippler beatings. Stevens with a nasty stuck piledriver.
**3/4

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; The Strongbow Brothers-Since 6/11/82

WWF AT THE SPECTRUM
NOVEMBER 11TH, 1982

Gorilla Monsoon makes his commentary debut in another of those puzzle piece moments.

This is another 24/7 cut with only 4 matches.

Match#1 Tiger Mask (c) vs Eddie Gilbert (WWF Junior Heavyweight Title)
Gorilla gushes over the small boys being able to do things like no one else, and it's a great to get them over, even it's the most tired of praise ever lumped on the CW/LW/Junior's divisions over the last 40 years. Fun feeling out to start with both men showing off their speed and agility, and the crowd loses it over everything which is awesome as hell. They go to the mat and Eddie does well for himself and controls with basics for a while and looks really good the entire time. Tiger takes a hell of a beating, but he's always on the verge of a comeback when he flips out of stuff, or breaks out a new counter Eddie just isn't ready for. Gilbert suplexes him over the ropes and back into the ring, but Tiger hooks the legs and manages to get the pin.
**3/4

Match#2 Curt Hennig vs Jose Estrada
Perfect once again shows no fear and rushes in and drags Jose to the mat and dominates him for a while. Once again, simple basics done really well by one of the best to ever do it, even as a baby rookie. He works a headlock for a long time and it's that classic squeezing of the head and always cranking it (lol) in different ways to make it interesting. Jose finally gets loose with a knee to the gut and starts beating the shit out of him. Jose keeps it up and dodges a dropkick and hits an elbow to win.
**3/4

Match#3 Superstar Billy Graham vs Jay Strongbow.
1977 called and they want their bad match back ASAP. I guess??? i should be happy that the tag titles aren't be defended in that hideous feud, but this ain't no upgrade. Horrible offence, selling and all round professional wrestling. Superstar hits a terrible looking chop to send Jay out of the ring and he wins via coutout.
Fuck you

Match#4 Bob Backlund (c) vs Buddy Rose (WWF World Championship-SD Jones is the guest referee-Lumberjack match)
Jesus, no need for SD on top of the lumberjacks. Backlund gets to it right away and pinballs him all over the joint, and it's a wonderful maniac performance from Rose as he finds new ways to hurl himself around. The lumberjacks are WAY meaner here as they outright hang Buddy's neck on the ropes and shove him back in every time. The fix is in. Bob wreaks the arm as only he can, and that's great shit as always, along with Buddy's selling. Bob controls him for a while and it's the classic WWF heel in peril bit, but it's these two, so it's awesome and fine with me. Buddy finally boots him into the ropes to get him off, and the paid off jacks don't even attack him. Buddy keeps kicking his ass and knocking him around the place in revenge, and it rocks so much. He can't finish it though, and Bob manages to grab the chickenwing and he strangles him and strangles him until Rose finally passes out.
***

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; The Strongbow Brothers-Since 6/11/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
December 4th, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 Superstar Billy Graham w/Grand Wizard vs
i actually zoned out and missed the jobbers name, and i don't care to rewind and find out. Bad match
poop.

Match#2 Tiger Mask vs Mack Rivera
Super fun showcase for TM. Vince loses his minds over dropkicks and dives, and it's so rad. TM wins with a reverse crossbody off the top to a prone Rivera.
*3/4

Match#3 Don Muarco w/Lou Albano vs SD Jones
Don is forced to sell and bump for this jackass, and SD dominates him for a few minutes in an insane choice. Muraco finally just ducks under an attempted flying something and sends SD throat first into the ropes and then he pins him. Horrible match, but a perfect finish for a loser like SD Jones.
1/2*

Match#4 Jimmy Snuka w/Buddy Rodgers vs Jose Estrada
Jose jumps him and lays in a really good beating, and again looks like a dude who should be pushed. Snuka easily fights back and unloads all his cool offence and wins with the flying Splash.
**




Match#5 The Wild Samoans w/Lou Albano vs Eddie Gilbert & Curt Hennig
GOD YES. The boys go one a sweet run of offence and do really well, but it's a classic case of only a matter of time before they get killed. Afa hits Hennig with an ungodly Samoan Drop to win.
**

Match#6 Big John Studd w/Freddie Blassie vs Jack Carson
A bit better than last time now that Studd is putting some muscle behind his shots, and really hurls the jobber around in cool fashion. Studd wins with the Canadian Backbreaker
*

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; The Strongbow Brothers-Since 6/11/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
December 11th, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 Ivan Putski vs Mack Rivera
POLISH POWER.

Match#2 Don Muarco w/Lou Albano vs Curt Hennig
YES. Hennig rushes him like he always done and gets far with a headlock, but Don cuts him off with a backbreaker and starts beating the living shit out of him. Curt takes some insane bumps, including going over the top rope and landing on the ground headfirst. JESUS DUDE. Don beats him with a Powerslam.
**

Match#3 Big John Studd w/Freddie Blassie vs Barry Hart
Good squash from Studd as he's getting more comfortable with it and getting meaner and meaner. Helps that Barry is the best to ever do it as well. Canadian Backbreaker ends it.
*3/4

Match#4 Rocky Johnson vs Masked Executioner
Very bad stuff from this goof. Horrible punch does it
1/2*

Rodgers Corner with Bob Backlund and Eddie Gilbert. Backlund sings Eddie's praises and talks about his family and how they feel he has a heck of a future. They shake hands, and Eddie thanks them for taking the time with him, and he'll give them 110%. Rodgers says next week they're teaming together. Fuck yeah.

Match#5 Ray Stevens w/Freddie Blassie & Lou Albano vs Peter Sanchez
Another good but short one for Stevens. He beats the hell out of him and wins with a flying knee-drop in 60 seconds.
*

Match#6 Superstar Billy Graham vs Charlie Brown.
NO

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; The Strongbow Brothers-Since 6/11/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
December 18th, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 The Wild Samoans vs Miguel Feliciano & Jeff Craney
WWF actually pushing them off the bat is the single best move this horrible division has had since my boys, the Yukon Lumberjacks were a thing. Brutal and downright fun for a few minutes, and you can't ask for more than that. Samoan Drop kills one to win.
**

There's a segment with two kids wrestling and Backlund presents them with jackets. Super corny and silly, and one of the rare right reasons people give Backlund shit for.

Match#2 Mr Fuji vs Curt Hennig
After weeks of getting offence in and looking like the future Perfect star, he gets beaten by this old shit in 40 seconds. Fuji wins with an ugly Vader Bomb.
Making someone eat their own dog.

Match#3 Ray Stevens w/Freddie Blassie & Lou Albano vs Eddie Carson
Really need to give this stable a name asap. Standard good shit from Stevens as always, and there's not much more to add. Piledriver gets it
*3/4

Rodgers Corner with Big John Studd. Rodgers announces the famous $500 body slam challenge with the prize going up every week. Studd says no one has ever slammed him and then he screams nonsense and his eyes dart across the screen and the interview ends quick. Wild.

Match#4 Bob Backlund & Eddie Gilbert vs Spanza & Martin
Awesome showcase for Backlund and his new son. If i knew it never lead to a match between them, i would figure this as the new Bruno/Larry story, but alas not meant to be. Gilbert gets the W with a nice sunset flip
**

Match#5 Jimmy Snuka w/Buddy Rodgers vs Mr Saito
Nice to see Saito where he belongs, and not fucking with the tag guys anymore. He's still horrible and doesn't care, but Snuka has enough cool stuff to make it work. Snuka weirdly wins with a sunset flip
*

Before the next match, a fan tries to slam Studd but lol no.

Match#6 Big John Studd vs Charlie Brown & Pedro Torres
We've now reached the handicap squash stage of the push, and it's pretty cool no matter how bad the wrestler is just by virtue of two dudes getting killed by one. He batters them for a while and the improvement continues. Canadian Backbreaker ends it
*3/4

 

[BigVanDonnie]

WWF World Champion; Bob Backlund- Since 20/2/78
WWF Intercontinental Champion; Pedro Morales -Since 23/11/81
WWF Tag Team Champions; The Strongbow Brothers-Since 6/11/82

WWF Championship Wrestling
December 25th, 1982
Allentown, PA

Match#1 The Wild Samoans w/Lou Albano vs Victor Mercado & Pete Sanchez.
The Samoans take their spot as TTOY with another wonderful squash. So excited to see what they do with a full years worth of work in 83, because the last month has ruuuuled. Gross slams and strikes and those fucking headbutts. Afa's Samoan Drop ends the fun.
**1/2

Match#2 Don Muarco w/Lou Albano vs Tony Rico
Only 2 minutes this week, but it rules because Riso gets some awesome token offence in before Don cuts him and kills him with the Tombstone.
*3/4

Match#3 Tiger Mask vs Joe Martin
Good showcase for TM. He's not an amazing squash guy as his style doesn't lend to being brutal or mean, but it's still cool watching him do wild shit and the jobber having no chance of stopping him. TM wins with a running summersault splash.
*1/2

Rodgers Corner with Stevens and Blassie. Rodgers says he was forced to have these two on here and he doesn't want it at all, but his man Jimmy is going to take them out. Stevens says he doesn't care about how anyone feels about him, and Snuka will never get a chance to take him out. Albano storms on and makes them leave this bums show.

Before the next match, another fan tries and fails to slam Studd.

Match#4 Big John Studd w/Freddie Blassie vs Eddie Gilbert
The best Studd match yet as one would expect. Backlund watches on and rides every bump and hit, and it's a great way to set up his next feud. Studd beats the fuck out of poor Eddie with slams and strikes, and i think we can finally call hm good. Studd hangs him upside down int the corner and refuses to stop attacking him, and he throws the ref away for the DQ.
**

Backlund rushes the ring to try and help, BUT STUDD PUNCHES HIM IN THE NECK AND DROPS HIM. He leaves the champ down in an awesome visual. Bob slowly gets up and helps out Eddie. Wonderful angle.

Match#5 Superstar Billy Graham w/Grand Wizard vs Eddie Carson
Nah, we're good.