Smoky Mountain Wrestling presents Night Of Legends
Date: 8/5/1994
From: Knoxville, TN
Jim Ross and Les Thatcher are on commentary for this professionally shot event. It is not a fancam. The lighting is fantastic and they drew a crowd of 5,000, which is a fantastic number for SMW. Ross and Thatcher are in the ring to welcome everyone to the event.
Backstage, Doug Furnas cuts a promo that he’s the strongest and baddest guy in wrestling and not Killer Kyle.
Opening Contest: Killer Kyle vs. Doug Furnas: Furnas and Kyle shove each other before locking up. Kyle wants to do a test of strength and Furnas locks up with both men struggling to get the advantage. Furnas gains the advantage as Kyle drops to his knees. Kyle knee lifts Furnas and delivers a scoop slam. Furnas isn’t bothered by the slam and Kyle is shocked. Furnas doesn’t budge on a shoulder block attempt. Furnas powerslams Kyle coming off the ropes. Furnas waits in the corner and runs over Kyle with a shoulder block knocking Kyle to the floor. Furnas puts a headlock on Kyle and Kyle drops to a knee. Furnas keeps the headlock on Kyle for a lengthy time, but Kyle hits a back suplx. However, Furnas keeps the hold on. Kyle breaks free with a strike to the midsection. Kyle drops Furnas throat first over the top rope. Kyle stands on the middle rope and taunts the crowd. Kyle knee strikes Furnas to the mat. Kyle chokes Furnas over the middle rope and eye rakes Furnas. Kyle hooks Furnas for a suplex and drives Furnas to the mat with a vertical suplex. Kyle covers Furnas for a near fall. Kyle plants Furnas with a side slam for a two count. Kyle hammers away on Furnas several times. Furnas absorbs the blows and doesn’t budge on a clothesline attempt. Furnas catches Kyle with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Furnas nails Kyle with a dropkick and a powerslam for a near fall. Furnas runs into a boot in the corner. Kyle connects with a clothesline out of the corner. Furnas connects with a rolling body scissors (maybe tried for a hurricanrana?), and pins Kyle for the win. (*1/2. The extended headlock segment by Furnas brought a lull to the match for me. The big crowd is making the atmosphere a lot better than most any other big event I’ve seen for SMW. Furnas is a talented guy and his offense didn’t really get a chance to shine here.)
Backstage, Bob Orton Jr. and Dick Slater cut a promo. Orton talks about Garvin and Stomper never being a tag team before and they will never team after their match. Slater chimes in and says their record goes way back. Slater says nobody has kept them done on the mat. Orton says they love to fight and the fight is on.
Backstage, Ronnie Garvin and Mongolian Stomper cut a promo. Garvin knows that Orton and Slater two of the toughest. Garvin promises to use weapons and they are two of the craziest guys in wrestling. Garvin lost it years ago. Stomper doesn’t say a word.
Second Contest: Ronnie Garvin & Mongolian Stomper vs. Bob Orton Jr. & Dick Slater: All four men are in the ring going at it with Garvin and Stomper gaining the advantage. Stomper tosses Orton to the floor and Slater is kicked to the floor. Slater tosses a chair into the ring, but Stomper and Garvin go to the floor to continue the fight. Garvin grabs a chair and stalks Orton around ringside. Garvin and Orton end up starting off the match legally. Orton tries for a tackle, but Garvin avoids it and works over Orton with a strike and rams Orton into Stomper’s boot. Orton falls to the floor where Slater checks on his partner. Slater backs Garvin into the ropes and delivers a strike to the midsection. Garvin ducks a right hand and atomic drops Slater. Stomper drops Slater throat first over the top rope. Slater slithers to his corner and accidentally crotches himself. Orton and Stomper get in the ring with Stomper sending Orton into the corner and drops Orton with a strike. Garvin returns to the match to work over Orton. Orton avoids Stomper and Stomper accidentally strikes Garvin. Garvin and Stomper shove each other, but they deck Slater and Orton as it was a ruse. Slater and Orton beg off in the corner.
Garvin and Stomper ram Slater and Orton into each other. Garvin puts a sleeper on Orton, but Orton breaks free with a jawbreaker. Slater tags into the match and stomps Garvin. Slater clubs Stomper on the apron and that leads to Stomper distracting the referee. Garvin is double teamed for a moment. Slater manages to get a two count. Slater connects with a swinging neckbreaker and delivers an elbow drop for a two count as Garvin gets his boot on the ropes. Orton returns to the match and knee drops Garvin. Orton brings Garvin to the apron and delivers another elbow strike to the throat. Orton catapults Garvin into the bottom rope. Orton argues with the referee as Garvin tries to tag out, but Slater decks Stomper and Garvin is double teamed again in the corner. Garvin struggles to stay on his feet. Orton puts a chin lock on Garvin, but Garvin doesn’t submit. Slater distracts the referee and thus Stomper doesn’t get tagged in legally. Garvin is driven down with a double vertical suplex. Orton covers, but Garvin kicks out at two. Orton elbow strikes Garvin, but Garvin tries to tag in Stomper, but the referee continues to not see the tag. Slater tries to keep Garvin down, but Garvin refuses to stay down for long.
Garvin begins to fight back with strikes on Slater, but Slater drops down and keeps body control on the mat. Garvin makes the tag, and the referee saw it. Stomper clubs away on Slater while Garvin works over Orton. Stomper takes his boot off and hits Slater and Orton. The referee has called for the bell. Orton returns with a chair, but Garvin grabs the chair to keep the heels on the floor. (*. I mean, that was a rather boring match. Stomper did essentially nothing and the offense on Garvin wasn’t all that entertaining.)
Jim Ross is in the ring to conduct an interview with the most controversial tag team in professional wrestling. Ross calls out New Jack and Mustada Saed, the Gangstas. D’Lo Broiwn is with them, as well. Ross says they’ve gotten complaints from several groups. Ross says their interviews will now have a disclaimer for every interview and if they go over the line they will be censored. Jack calls the fans rednecks and hillbillies who are privileged to see them. Jack doesn’t care about what the hillbillies have to say to him. Jack says the NAACP are “trained Negros” and they have them right where they want them. Jack isn’t selling out to them. Ross asks what their objective is in SMW. Jack says they’ve beaten up until they got tired of beating them up. Jack notes that someone pointed out they hadn’t beaten up the Rock ’n’ Roll Express. Jack tells Ross that they’ve beaten up felons and mentions that the Express has beaten tag teams by wrestling, but he’s talking about eye gouging, hair pulling and teeth pulling fight. Jack tells everyone to kiss his black ass. Mustafa didn’t say a word, nor did D’Lo.
Backstage, Tammy Fytch and the SMW Tag Team Champions Chris Candido & Brian Lee cut a promo. Fytch is upset because she has to be handcuffed to Ricky Gibson at ringside. Fytch is worried about the pervert. Lee says nothing is going to happen to Fytch. Lee promises to take out the Rock ’n’ Roll Express tonight. Candido says the Express don’t belong in the ring with them. Candido says they are two of the greatest stars and they are keeping the belts.
Backstage, Rock ’n’ Roll Express cut a promo. Morton mentions how Fytch gets involved each time they wrestle the champions. Morton introduces Ricky Gibson into the scene. Ricky says it is a special night and he’s proud to be a legend. Ricky is going to make sure Fytch doesn’t get involved and he knows what he’s doing.
Prior to the start of the match, Fytch is officially handcuffed to Ricky Gibson at ringside. They sit at ringside.
Third Contest: SMW Tag Team Champions Brian Lee & Chris Candido vs. Rock ’n’ Roll Express (Morton & Gibson): Gibson and Candido kickoff the match with Gibson getting control, but Candido goes to the corner to cause a break. Candido eye rakes Gibson followed by a scoop slam. Candido heads to the top rope, but Gibson dropkicks Candido off the top to the floor. Gibson backdrops Candido and continues with strikes. Gibson shoulder blocks Candido and knocks Lee off the apron. Gibson catapults Candido over the top to the floor onto Lee. Lee gets in the face of a police officer, who shoves Lee back. Ricky is cornered by Candido and Lee, but they backoff when Ricky threatens to use his cane. Gibson tries for a sunset flip on Candido, but Morton tags in and bulldogs Candido. Lee accidentally stomps Candido. Candido is sent to the floor by Morton and the same happens to Lee. Ricky whacks Lee with the cane over the back. Lee and Candido regroup on the floor by hugging. Lee misses several wild strikes and is sent to the floor by Morton. Ricky is taunting a distressed Fytch at ringside. Lee slams Morton to the mat to gain the advantage, but misses a knee drop attempt. Gibson tags in and the Express yank on Lee’s legs before decking Candido off the apron. Gibson slams Lee and delivers a knee drop. The Express deliver another leg roll and deck Candido off the apron again.
Morton returns to the match and gets a rollup on Lee for a near fall. Lee tosses Morton with a hip toss. Lee knee drops Morton on the groin and Candido argues with the referee. Candido tries for a cover, but Morton kicks out at two. Candido eye rakes Morton and decks Gibson off the apron. Lee comes off the top rope to strike Morton. Candido slams Morton and delivers a strike on the mat. Candido catapults Morton into Lee leaping off the top for a strike (they edited to the crowd, which means Lee missed it). Morton tries to fight back, but Candido stops Morton with a slam. Gibson prevents a double team move in the corner and Morton almost pins Lee with a rollup. Morton is double teamed in the corner, but Gibson makes the save. Gibson gets tagged in and hits a double clothesline and backdrops Candido. Gibson backdrops Lee. Fytch gets on the apron, but is pulled down by Ricky. Gibson was sent to the floor over the top, which would have been a DQ, but the referee didn’t see it. Candido misses a top rope crossbody hitting Lee and that allows Morton to cover Lee to win the titles. (**1/2. A decent formula match between these two teams. The handcuff angle at ringside didn’t ultimately make too much of a difference, really. The finish is likely going to mean Lee is turning face again, if I had to guess.)
Les Thatcher provides a lengthy history of wrestling in Knoxville.
Earlier in the evening, Chris Jericho legit broke his right arm and wrestles the match with a cast on.
Fourth Contest: Thrillseekers (Jericho & Storm) vs. The Heavenly Bodies (Del Ray & Prichard): Storm and Jericho deliver superkicks and clotheslines the Bodies to the floor. Storm leaps off the top to hit a crossbody to the floor. Cornette is freaking out for his men to get up. Prichard backs Jericho into a corner and delivers a few chops. Jericho backdrops Prichard and continues with a chop and backdrop to Del Ray. Jericho chops Del Ray to the mat, as well. The Bodies bail to the floor to regroup. Del Ray and Storm are legally in the match now. Storm kicks Del Ray away and hits a hip toss followed by a kick to both Del Ray and Prichard. Storm controls Prichard with a hammerlock on the mat and arm drags both Bodies. Prichard decks Storm and Del Ray helps out to double team Storm. Jericho saves Storm from a double suplex and they kick the Bodies to the floor, again. Storm atomic drops Del Ray and Prichard. Prichard ends up stopping Storm with a bulldog after Del Ray slid through Storm’s legs. Prichard sends Storm to the floor where Del Ray delivers a stomp from the apron to the floor. Prichard slams Storm and drives Del Ray down onto Storm with a back suplex for a two count. Del Ray hits a nothern lights suplex on Storm and Prichard hits a leg drop with help from Del Ray for a two count. Prichard slams Storm and connects with a knee drop for a two count.
Del Ray leaps off the top to axe handle Storm and taunts the crowd. Del Ray nails Storm with a savant kick for a two count. Prichard comes off the middle rope to hit an elbow drop as Del Ray hit a side slam for a two count on Storm. Prichard drives Storm down with a vertical suplex. Prichard climbs the ropes and misses an elbow drop attempt. Storm crawls to the wrong corner, but finally tags in Jericho. Jericho cleans house with strikes to both Bodies. Jericho clotheslines Prichard and slams Del Ray with one arm. Prichard pulls Jericho to the floor and sends Jericho face first into the guard railing. Jericho has been busted wide open and Cornette jabs Jericho with the end of his tennis racket. Del Ray chokes Jericho over the top rope, and Jericho is bleeding a ton. Del Ray pummels Jericho with right hands in the corner. Prichard enters the match and continues to punch Jericho in the corner. Jericho kicks Prichard away in the corner, but Prichard eye rakes Jericho. Prichard distracts the referee to allow Cornette to jab Jericho with his tennis racket. Del Ray pummels Jericho with more strikes for another two count. Prichard delivers a knee drop to the cut on Jericho’s forehead several times, but Jericho kicks out on the cover attempt. The referee checks Jericho’s cut, but the match continues. The referee is covered in blood. Del Ray pummels Jericho with more strikes and the referee finally calls for the bell. Wait a minute, the referee restarts the match. Del Ray pummels Jericho with strikes. Jericho leg sweeps Del Ray and gets the pin. (***1/2. Okay. So, this is not a street fight as I had heard or read elsewhere. It’s never promoted or mentioned as being such a match. Jericho working with a broken arm is a courageous and gutsy thing to do. I’m sure people focus a lot on Jericho’s bloody appearance, and it certainly added to the match. I wish Jericho had gotten beaten up for a few more minutes after the restart because the finish just felt out of nowhere and made Del Ray look kind of dumb to lose by a rollup to a guy who was seemingly on life support.)
Jim Cornette and the Heavenly Bodies remain in the ring pissed off about what the referee did to them. The referee says that Jericho didn’t quit and wanted more and still beat them. Cornette flips out.
Backstage, SMW Heavyweight Champion Dirty White Boy cuts a promo about wrestling Terry Gordy tonight. White Boy has gone through hell and back again and he asks if Gordy is man enough to take it.
Fifth Contest: SMW Heavyweight Champion Dirty White Boy vs. Terry Gordy: They lockup with White Boy getting headlock control for a few moments. White Boy shoulder blocks Gordy and they have a standoff. The referee, by the way, still has Jericho’s blood all over him. White Boy keeps the headlock on Gordy for a little while longer. Gordy yanks White Boy down by his hair and they have another standoff. Gordy rolls over on the mat, but White Boy keeps control on the mat with a headlock. Gordy again yanks White Boy down by his hair. Gordy blocks a right hand after another headlock and decks White Boy. Gordy scoop slams White Boy followed by a forearm drop. Gordy rams White Boy into the corner. Gordy clotheslines White Boy in the corner two times causing White Boy to drop down in the corner and Gordy stomps White Boy. Gordy tries for a vertical suplex, but White Boy fights it off. Gordy punches White Boy several times in the corner. White Boy rams Gordy into the corner face first a few times. Gordy eye rakes White Boy and sends White Boy through the ropes to the floor. Gordy drops White Boy over the top rope. Gordy drops White Boy throat first over the top rope and White Boy falls to the floor. White Boy fights back by dropping Gordy over the top rope. White Boy kicks Gordy and continues with right hands. White Boy decks Gordy with a right hand. Gordy boots White Boy in the corner and almost wins with his feet on the ropes.
White Boy drops Gordy after several punches. Gordy sends the referee into White Boy and the referee is down. White Boy and Gordy choke each other in the corner. Chris Walker enters the ring and attacks White Boy. Walker holds White Boy for Gordy to hit an axe handle. The referee calls for the bell as White Boy is double teamed. Rock ’n’ Roll Express slide into the ring to make the save. (DUD. Not good, at all.)
I’m not joking when I say there is a 57-minute video package highlighting everything that’s happened in SMW to lead into the main event match. That has to be a record. Did I watch it? Absolutely not.
Backstage, Jim Cornette is with Bruiser Bedlam, Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. for an interview. Cornette says none of them are a coward. Dory says this is one of the most important main event matches to happen all over the world. Dory takes this very serious and he doesn’t care for Bob Armstrong on the other side. Terry chimes in and puts over Cornette’s outfit for the evening. Funk suggests they throw the flags away and they put their hands in as a show of unity.
Backstage, Bob Armstrong, Tracy Smothers and Road Warrior Hawk cut a promo. Armstrong wonders if Cornette can dig himself out of the hole he’s in now. Smothers says there are no cowards here and they are ready to fight. Hawk chimes in and says it’s bad for Bedlam, Funk’s and Cornette that they’re going to be in the ring. Hawk talks about having hamsters and feeding them to his snakes just for fun. Hawk threatens to slap the sequence off his jacket.
Main Event: Bruiser Bedlam, Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk vs. Bob Armstrong, Road Warrior Hawk & Tracy Smothers in a coward waves the flag match: All six men start brawling as soon as the match begins. The heels are sent to the floor where Terry Funk throws a piece of railing into the ring. That leads to a massive brawl outside the ring around ringside. Smothers shakes the ropes as Funk is crotched over the ropes. Smothers leaps off the top to axe handle the Funk’s. Terry smashes Smothers over the head with a chair shot. Dory clubs away on Smothers leading to a triple team in the corner. Dory spikes Smothers with a piledriver. Smothers has been busted wide open. Terry slaps Smothers several times and spikes Smothers with a piledriver. Bedlam delivers a shoulder breaker to Smothers and delivers a headbutt. Smothers is dropped chest first over the guard railing. Terry and Dory deliver a spike piledriver to Smothers on the floor! Smothers gets back to his feet shockingly quick. Bedlam atomic drops Smothers and tags in Terry. Terry delivers a neckbreaker to Smothers. Ron Wright is at ringside as the flag holder for the face team. Terry drives Smothers down with another neckbreaker. Dory hits a double under hook suplex. Dory continues with a vertical suplex and tags in Bedlam. Bedlam hits a vertical suplex on Smothers. Terry hits a vertical suplex, as well.
Dory hits another suplex on Smothers. Dory accidentally forearms Terry. Hawk gets tagged in and cleans house press slamming Terry. Hawk shoulder blocks Bedlam. Hawk slams Bedlam and goes to the top rope. Hawk nails Bedlam with a flying clothesline and chokes Bedlam. Cornette tosses powder into Wright’s face. Cornette is hunched down waving the flag hoping the referee will see it. Wright recovers and decks Cornette with a right hand on the floor. Cornette tries to hit Wright with the flag, but misses and the referee takes that as waving the flag. After the match, Cornette is slammed to the mat by Hawk. (1/2*. That’s honestly a shitty ending to the match. I get the finish is showing Cornette getting outsmarted, but it’s such a cop out. It seems as if SMW books themselves into situations that they can’t deliver a solid outcome and they try to get creative to not hurt the big names. This finish wasn’t a good one.)
Final Thoughts:
There are a couple of good tag matches and the Gangstas segment was effective in getting them over. If you enjoy legends working matches well past their prime and a crowd of 5,000 eating it up, then this is a much better show than it was for me. Gordy/White Boy was not good, at all. The main event finish is really frustrating. Seekers/Bodies and Express/Candido & Lee were both quality matches and held this together to make it at least an average show.
Thanks for reading.