Written by: Bob Colling
CWA TV
Date: 3/5/1988
From: Memphis, TN
Footage from the Coliseum is shown where Jerry Lawler was spiked with a piledriver by Tommy Rich and Doug Gilbert. Eddie Gilbert enters the ring slaps Lawler. Lawler fought back with a kick, but Gilbert tossed a fireball into Lawler’s face. I believe that happened two weeks ago.
Lance Russell and Dave Brown welcome everyone to the program. Russell says that Lawler is out of action due some burning on his chest and face. Eddie Gilbert will be on the show as well as Tommy and Doug. There will be a AWA Southern Tag Team Championship match. Sure seems like a big show this week.
We get more footage from the match between Lawler and Rich that took place at the Coliseum. Doug Gilbert originally got involved to give Lawler a victory by disqualification. Frank Morell, who was the referee, was knocked out too. Eddie Marlin and Tommy Gilbert had an argument on the floor, but Tommy decked Marlin at ringside and attacked Marlin. Eddie Gilbert eventually entered the ring and that led to the fireball.
Lance Russell brings out Eddie Gilbert and Missy Hyatt for an interview. Hyatt talks about thinking she should be the color commentator and replace Dave Brown, whom she thinks will die soon anyway. Eddie cuts a promo saying that he’s sick and tired of everyone standing behind Lawler. Eddie promised to takeover Lawler’s spot, but admits that he was younger three years ago, but now he has the right plan to overtake Lawler. Eddie asks how many fires that Lawler has thrown throughout the years. Eddie is back and he’s going to takeover. Eddie hopes that Lawler is in his bandages because he’s no good. Eddie promises this is just the beginning. Eddie calls Lawler a coward and hopes he never returns to the area. Russell thinks that Eddie is trying to get famous by using fire. Eddie thinks that people should lookup to him for what he did to Lawler. Eddie doesn’t need the people and never will need them. Eddie and Missy stand behind the commentary table.
Brother Ernest comes over and credits Eddie Gilbert for his great usage of fire on Lawler.
Opening Contest: The Great Samu & Giant Kokina vs. Rikki Nelson & Doug Dancing: Similar to their first appearance, Samu and Kokina are dominate against their enhancement opponents and look good in the ring. Kokina won the match following a big splash.
Lance Russell talked to Brother Ernest in a pre-tape promo and it’s announced that the Bruise Brothers won the CWA Tag Team Championships from Maxx Payne and Gary Young. However, Ernest promised they’d get a rematch.
Eddie Gilbert cuts off Lance Russell during a Renegade Rampage to praise his father, Tommy. Missy Hyatt spoils the trivia question for the next week and Russell is pissed about that. Dave Brown returns to his seat to allow Gilbert to go to the ring for a singles match against Ken Wayne.
Second Contest: Eddie Gilbert vs. Ken Wayne: Wayne drops Gilbert with a right hands sending Gilbert to the floor to regroup. Wayne shoulder blocks Gilbert and controls Gilbert with a side headlock. Gilbert hits a back suplex, but Wayne hangs onto the hold. Gilbert backs Wayne into the corner to deliver a few right hands. Gilbert misses a splash in the corner and Wayne goes back to a headlock. Wayne runs the ropes, but is tripped by Hyatt. Gilbert stomps on Wayne to maintain control of the contest followed by a standing fist drop. Gilbert connects with a snap suplex for a two count. Wayne takes Gilbert over with a snap suplex of his own. Wayne decks Gilbert with a few right hands and a standing dropkick for a two count. Wayne hammers away on Gilbert in the corner. Wayne dives to the floor to take Doug Gilbert out. Eddie comes off the top rope to axe handle Wayne from behind. Eddie rams Wayne face first onto a chair as the referee has thrown the match out. Eddie slams Wayne, but misses a fist drop. Wayne gets in the ring and avoids both Eddie and Doug in the corner. Wayne escapes to the floor and avoids any further attack. (*1/2. I was actually surprised that this wasn’t a showcase for Eddie. I thought he’d dominate and keep things moving along, but Wayne controlled the majority of the match and came out looking strong. Perhaps Eddie is all talk and that’s the point of the character.)
We see footage again from the Coliseum where Tommy Gilbert attacked Eddie Marlin at ringside during the Lawler/Rich match.
Lance Russell is with Tommy Gilbert for an interview and Tommy says that he would have punched Marlin in the face had Marlin not turnaround. Tommy claims that he carried Eddie Marlin when they were a tag team. Eddie Marlin comes out to confront Tommy. Marlin notes that he’s too old to wrestle, but he’s not too old to fight. Marlin seemingly challenges Tommy to a fight and walks off.
Third Contest: Tommy Gilbert & Doug Gilbert vs. Jeff Jarrett & Billy Travis: Tommy and Travis kickoff the tag match with Travis backing Tommy into the corner, but backs away cleanly. Travis slams Tommy after a hip toss and Tommy flips out in the corner. Jarrett tags in and they back elbow Doug coming off the ropes. Jarrett leg sweeps Doug to the mat and tags in Travis. Doug knee lifts Travis and delivers a scoop slam followed by an elbow drop and knee drop. Travis avoids another elbow drop and Doug crashes to the mat. Jarrett enters the ring and works over Doug and Tommy with strikes. Travis enters the ring and Jarrett slams Doug. Jarrett comes off the middle rope to dropkick Doug. However, Eddie Gilbert enters the ring and attacks Jarrett to cause a disqualification. After the match, Eddie Marlin gets in the ring and decks Tommy with a right hand to a huge pop! (*. The match was basic and didn’t have much to it, but the aftermath with Marlin getting physically involved was nicely done and the crowd reacted big to it.)
Main Event: AWA Southern Tag Team Champions Maxx Payne & Gary Young vs. Bruise Brothers: Don and Young kickoff the title match. Young gets early control with a wrist lock, but Don quickly counters and tags in Ron. Ron comes off the middle rope with an elbow strike. Don shoulder blocks Young followed by a hip toss and arm drag. Don tags back in and they hit a double shoulder block on Young. Don keeps an arm bar on Young on the mat. Young fights free of an arm bar, but Ron tags in as Don throws Young into the ropes and almost falls down. Ron catches Young with a powerslam on a leapfrog for a near fall. Young is punched by both men and taken down to the mat where Ron keeps arm control. Young knee lifts Ron a few times and they collide on shoulder block attempts. Payne finally tags into the match and beats on Ron with strikes to the back in the corner. Payne clotheslines Ron and taunts the crowd. Payne powerslams Ron to the mat and delivers a right hand. Payne elbows Ron to the mat. Payne slams Ron followed by a big splash for a two count and tags in Young.
Ron is met with a double clothesline, but Young misses an elbow drop. Don gets the hot tag and hammers away on Young with strikes. Don backdrops Young and is punched several times. Don connects with a standing dropkick and they dropkick Payne over the top to the floor. The referee is distracted in the corner as Payne accidentally hits Young with the book. Don covers Young and gets the pin to win the tag titles! (**. It’s not an offensive match by any means which is a positive since I tend to hate the Bruise Brothers. I’m still surprised that Payne continues to not get a lot of attention despite being the top champion in the company. Maybe with the title change that will lead to a change here. I’m not interested in the Bruise Brothers as champions, though.) After the match, Payne and Young attack the Bruise Brothers in the ring and on the floor. A few enhancement guys try to get involved, but they aren’t much help at all.
Final Thoughts:
I’m a little baffled by the booking of the Gilbert’s as they didn’t come across as being a strong force on the show. Eddie should be protected far more than he is as it would negatively impact his feud with Lawler, I would think. The show was strong since it featured a lot of top talent and there was a title change. So, I overall enjoyed it. I just hope for stronger booking of the Gilbert’s.
Thanks for reading.