CWA TV
Date: 1/23/1988
From: Memphis, TN
Opening Contest: Rock & Roll RPMs (Mike Davis & Tommy Lane) vs. Rikki Nelson & Billy Travis: Lane and Travis start the match with Travis hitting a crossbody off the ropes. Nelson tags in and they back elbow Lane to the mat. Nelson delivers a quick clothesline and a scoop slam for a two count. Nelson continues with a dropkick to drop Davis to the mat. Davis comes off the ropes and elbow drops Nelson before tagging in Lane. Lane clotheslines Nelson to keep control followed by a scoop slam and a standing fist drop. Davis backdrops Nelson followed by a snap suplex. RPMs double team Nelson with a back elbow strike. Travis gets tagged in, but the referee didn’t see the tag. Davis continues to work over Nelson over the middle rope. Lane returns to the match and rams Nelson into the corner face first. Lane decks Travis on the apron and puts a chin lock on Nelson. All four men are in the ring brawling at this point. The referee has been knocked down. Nelson gets a rollup on Davis and gets a three count for the upset win. (*1/2. Nelson looked solid in there with his selling and I’m fine with the upset victory as long as it leads to Travis and Nelson actually teaming for a bit.)
Lance Russell chats with the RPMs for a moment and they aren’t happy about what just happened. Travis and Nelson head over for a chat with Russell. Nelson has never seen a wrestler with an RPM. They return to the segment and mention they’ve been the tag champions longer than anyone else in the company. They want a loser leaves town match and they agree to the match.
Lance Russell interviews Terry Taylor. Taylor yawns as Russell mentions his accomplishments. Russell asks what business Taylor had to get involved in the match between Dundee and Lawler. Taylor brings up sending his application for the ring tournament but was denies. So, Taylor had to make an example of Dundee and Lawler. Taylor doesn’t want to take care of the young wrestlers, but he will if he has to in order to get Dundee or Lawler in the ring. We see a pre-tape promo by Bill Dundee. Dundee wants the ring the most and he’s not finished with Lawler. Dundee is going to take care of Taylor and go back to Lawler and the ring. Dundee doesn’t care where Taylor has gone because this area is the toughest of them all. Taylor drops to his knees to get on Dundee’s level. Taylor thinks that Dundee is nervous after he was stumbling over his words. Taylor says that Dundee couldn’t beat him with his other half helping him.
Second Contest: Terry Taylor vs. Ron Bruise: This is interesting that Ron Bruise is already getting a jobber treatment since his arrival with his brother was given some hype a few weeks ago. Taylor scoop slams Bruise and taunts the crowd by posing. Bruise slams Taylor to the mat. Bruise gets arm control with a wrist lock, but Taylor breaks free. Taylor dumps Bruise to the floor and delivers a few strikes. Bruise drops Taylor with right hands, but Taylor sends Bruise to the floor. Taylor plants Bruise with a DDT for the win. (*. I’m not sure if Taylor is really going to make a difference in the CWA. I think it’s hilarious that they hyped up the Bruise Brothers only for them to be job guys.)
Lance Russell interviews Jimmy Jack Funk and Teijo Kahn. Funk cuts a promo on Manny Fernandez and says the man he knows would never be a sissy. Funk is willing to forgive Fernandez if he gives him a proper apology. Funk is furious and goes to the ring. Funk is laying down but comes back over to Russell as we go to commercial.
Lance Russell interviews Manny Fernandez. Fernandez does the things that he does because that’s the way he is. Fernandez knows that he has made a lot of mistakes in his life. Fernandez has some justice he’s going to take care of. Fernandez may be a sissy lover, but he’s not a sissy. Fernandez promises he will rock Funk. Fernandez calls Funk out and they head to the ring.
Third Contest: Manny Fernandez vs. Jimmy Jack Funk: Funk starts off with a few strikes against the ropes, but Fernandez hit a crossbody for a two count. Fernandez continues with a standing dropkick and puts a wrist lock on Funk. Fernandez chops Funk a few times and keeps a wrist lock on Funk. Fernandez headbutts Funk and continues with a chop. Fernandez comes off the ropes, but misses a kick. Funk drops Fernandez throat first over the top rope. Fernandez comes off the ropes to deck Funk with a clothesline. Fernandez nails Funk with a leaping forearm, but Kahn runs into the ring and beats on Fernandez to cause the disqualification. Funk is gouging Fernandez and Kahn drops Fernandez with a glove on his hand. Funk has his cowbell and chokes Fernandez with it. Jeff Jarrett runs into the ring with a broom to run the heels from the ring. (**. It’s a fine segment and they kept my interest with the action, which is a rare thing to happen on TV.)
Lance Russell interviews Gary Young. Young says he’s here to win. He calls out Scott Hall, Jeff Jarrett, Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler. Young is coming for all four men and he’s going to do his talking in the ring.
Fourth Contest: Gary Young vs. Don Bruise: Bruise doesn’t get all the way up on a leapfrog and is clipped by Young early into the match. Bruise monkey flips Young out of the corner. Bruise clotheslines Young and is met with a knee lift to the gut. Young almost wins following a suplex. Bruise nails Young with a boot to the face. Bruise knee lifts Young in the corner a few times. Young kicks Bruise in the corner. Bruise gets out of a slam with a rollup for a near fall. Young counters with a handful of tights to win the match.
A pre-tape promo by the AWA Tag Team Champions Midnight Rockers is aired. Michaels says that they took care of business to win the tag titles. They are loved up in the north country, but down in the south they are put in a no disqualification match against Scott Hall and Ken Wayne. Michaels says no other team can do what they can do in the ring. They will prove they are number one and they are coming for Hall and Wayne.
Main Event: Scott Hall & Ken Wayne vs. Rodney Napper & Mad Dog: Wayne and Hall make short work of their opponents this week. Wayne leaps over Hall in the corner to hit a leg drop for the win. That was a cool finisher for the team.
Lance Russell interviews Jerry Lawler to close the program. Lawler brags some more about having the ring and will get a shot at Curt Hennig for the AWA World Championship. Lawler puts the ring on the line to get a shot at the championship. Lawler isn’t going to allow Hennig to take any shortcuts in their match.
Final Thoughts:
Midnight Rockers continue to be the best act in the promotion. Scott Hall should be the top guy and it’s baffling that they are keeping him in the midcard. I’ll consider this an average episode, which is a better rating than the last few weeks.
Thanks for reading.