Written by: Bob Colling
CWA TV
Date: 2/27/1988
From: Memphis, TN
Lance Russell and Dave Brown welcome everyone to the show and promote what we’ll see this week. Jerry Lawler will be in action against Scotty The Body, a new wrestler to the area. We’ll also see the debut of Doug Gilbert and Missy Hyatt to the area.
Backstage, Lance Russell interviewed Ricky Morton regarding Manny Fernandez. Morton says they were happy to wrestle the Midnight Rockers and thought they won the tag titles. The titles were held-up and that’s when Fernandez got involved. We see footage of Fernandez costing the Rock n’ Roll Express the tag titles. Morton had Michaels pinned when Fernandez hit Morton with a 2×4 allowing Michaels to earn the pin. Fernandez shared some pre-tape comments saying that there is no confusion because he does things his own way. What goes around comes around and it came around on the Express. They got in his way once before and they can’t stop him. Fernandez assures the Express will never catch him or the tag titles. He’ll come after them with a vengeance. There will be no more Rock n’ Roll Express. Morton responds saying that Fernandez couldn’t beat the Express. Morton wants to see Fernandez do it his way. Morton wants to see what Fernandez has to offer in the ring.
We see footage from The Coliseum where the Giant Kokina wrestled a Zebra Warrior. Kokina managed to win the match by pin after a big splash off the ropes. Samu and Kokina continued to attack the Zebra Warriors after the match. Zebra Warriors were able to avoid stereo splashes, though.
Brother Ernest makes his way out with the Great Samu and Giant Kokina. Ernest says the Zebra Warriors looked good, but asks who walked out the winner, which was Kokina. Ernest says they are looking for more in their international search for talent.
Opening Contest: The Great Samu & The Giant Kokina vs. Rodney Napper & Rikki Nelson: Samu won the match for his team following a middle rope back suplex. After the match, they continued to attack their opponents with Kokina hitting a splash on Napper. They also hit standing headbutts. Nelson tried to help, but was knocked down, too.
Lance Russell recently talked to Eddie Gilbert, Doug Gilbert and Missy Hyatt. Eddie got involved in a Jerry Lawler match recently, which was a shock. Eddie says that when he was a little kid growing up that Lawler was his idol and wanted to be like Lawler. Eddie realized that in order for him to be the king then he’d have to beat Lawler. Eddie recalls being a champion in 1984 and wrestled Lawler in 1985. Eddie claims that the referees helped Lawler in their match. Eddie has had to live with the agony of defeat. Eddie says it took some planning and some time. Eddie has a Rolex and diamond ring. Eddie says that good things comes to those who wait. We see footage of a match between Lawler and Tommy Rich, which saw Eddie Gilbert get involved. Eddie slapped Lawler and reached into his pocket to throw a fire ball into Lawler’s face. Lawler is out of action for the time being. Eddie believes he knows everything about Lawler. Eddie wants Lawler to feel the pain and agony. Eddie wants Lawler to be able to come back and win the CWA Heavyweight Championship. Eddie wants Lawler to be at his very best so that Eddie can beat him. Eddie is back in the area to beat Lawler. Eddie wants them to give him Jarrett and others, he’s up for the challenge. Eddie is confident to wrestle Lawler one on one at Lawler’s very best.
Lance Russell interviews Missy Hyatt and Doug Gilbert. Hyatt is annoyed with having to wait backstage when there isn’t any catered food. Hyatt knows that they need good ratings and she’s here now to help with that. Hyatt says that Doug is going to show how tough he is in just a few moments. Doug is apparently going by the “Hitman” with his nickname. Hyatt makes fun of Russell’s attire putting him down for wearing a suit from Sears. Hyatt is vague about where Eddie Gilbert is at and why she’s in the corner of Doug’s.
Second Contest: Doug Gilbert vs. Ken Raper: Gilbert won the match following a side slam. Missy was on commentary throughout the match.
Main Event: CWA Heavyweight & Tag Team Champion Maxx Payne & CWA Tag Team Champion Gary Young vs. The Bruise Brothers (Don & Ron): Young and Ron kickoff the tag main event. Ron shoulder blocks Young followed by a scoop slam. Ron keeps a headlock on Young to maintain control of the contest. Ron comes off the ropes with a couple of shoulder blocks. Payne tags into the contest and hammers away on Ron followed by a slam and elbow drop. Payne locks in a bearhug on Ron and Young misses a middle rope clothesline. Young knee lifts Ron to the mat. Young scoop slams Ron and tags in Payne. Payne powerslams Ron for a three count. This is an expiration of time match, so we’ll get another fall since there is over eight minutes left on the show. I was not expecting the Bruise Brothers to get dominated like that.
Payne and Don are in the corner with Don hammering away on Payne to get the advantage. Don rams Payne into the corner face first. Bruise Brothers hit double dropkicks on both Payne and Young. Payne returns to the match and works over Ron with strikes in the corner and tags I Young to keep control of the contest. Ron hits a crossbody on Young for a near fall. Payne tags back into the match to double clothesline Ron. Payne comes off the ropes with a splash for a near fall. Payne locks in a bearhug and drives Ron down to the mat with a spinebuster. Young knee drops Ron and tries for a cover, but Ron kicks out at two. Payne enters the match and knee lifts Ron coming off the ropes. Young returns to the match delivering a knee lift to drop Ron. Young beats on Ron with right hands in the corner. Ron fights back with strikes, but Payne tags in and connect with an atomic drop. Payne beats on Ron with strikes to the back and a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Payne works over Ron hitting a powerslam. Young returns to the match missing a splash off the top. Don gets tagged in and cleans house with right hands on Young. Don elbows Young coming off the ropes. Don backdrops Young and catapults Young into the ropes chest first. Don continues with dropkicks and a double dropkick to Payne. Brother Ernest leaves the commentary table to help. Ernest nails Don with his book allowing Young to pickup another victory. (*1/2. This whole segment was a bit of a shock to me as I really though the Bruise Brothers would win at least one fall. I’m assuming they are big on Payne and Young. It was funny that Young had trouble hitting moves off the middle rope for some reason this week. I think it’s a good decision to give the heels a clear dominate win with one of them being rather clean.)
Final Thoughts:
I’m not sure what happened to the Lawler/Body match, but it never happened this week and the copy I have doesn’t appear to have a different time compared to other episodes. I’m all in on Eddie Gilbert being back with Missy and Doug. I thought that promo was fantastic. Having Eddie back in the area is great and I’m looking forward to the advancement of the feud with Lawler in the coming weeks.
Thanks for reading.