Pro Wrestling USA
Episode 2
Sept. 25, 1984
Taped at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee
Host/Interviewer: Jack Reynolds
Ring Announcer: Lance Russell
Play by Play: Gordon Solie
Color Commentator: Terry Funk
Segment 1
Jack Reynolds starts off the show with a recap of what Pro Wrestling USA is and what happened on the first episode, including the Super Clash match announcements. Rick Martel has accepted Nick Bockwinkel’s challenge for the AWA World Heavyweight Title and that will be the main event today.
Dusty Rhodes then comes in. “Jack Reynolds. I can’t say that myself and Nick Bockwinkels see eye to eye on a lot in this life. But, I can’t say he didn’t have a good idea last week in challenging Rick Martel. A former champion saying I deserve that right to give it one more try, win that prestigious title one more time and be the man who goes into Super Clash on Thanksgiving night to unify the NWA and AWA belts. Ric Flair out here last week talked about being world champion like sitting on top of a mountain. I’ve been to the top of that mountain two times before, daddy, and I know I can climb it again.”
Reynolds asks if Rhodes is challenging Ric Flair to a similar match next week for the NWA World Heavyweight Title and Rhodes says yes. This immediately draws out Ric Flair.
“Dusty Rhodes, you’ve never had an original thought in your life before. Now, here you are stealing the best that a real, true world’s champion like Nick Bockwinkel had to offer. Woo! You’ve been to the top of the mountain twice. I’ve been there three times. And the last time you were there, it was me who knocked you to the bottom. If there is any man in this world, who has a claim for a title shot before Super Clash, it’s Harley Race. But we all know he’s off in Japan stylin’ and profilin’. Woo! I don’t need a warm up match for Super Clash, but it wouldn’t hurt. Rhodes, you asked for it and you’re going to get it. Main event next week of this very program, Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes one more time for the last time for the NWA World Heavyweight Title. Woo!”
Match 1
Super Clash Battle Royal Qualifier
“Superstar” Billy Graham vs. Tracy Smothers
Referee: Bill Alphonso
Finish: Smothers goes for a victory roll out of the corner, but Graham blocks it and delivers a wheelbarrow slam. Graham with a leg drop to the back of the head. He pulls Smothers up on the cover, shaking his head no. He locks in the full nelson and Smothers submits.
Winner: Billy Graham by submission
Time: 4:12
Segment 2
The Fabulous Freebirds of Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Jack Roberts are out with Jack Reynolds. “We are p*ssed off…” Reynolds tells Hayes not to swear on the air. “I don’t give a damn, censor me. The Fabulous Freebirds are the World Class Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champions and are going to be part of the tag title unification match at Super Clash? Nooooo! Who is, Ivan Koloff and Don Kernodle vs Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzel. Who the hell are they?”
Reynolds tells Hayes not to swear again. “I’ll swear all I damn want, Jack. Look, in a tag team match each team has a corner of the ring that’s their corner they work out of with their partner on the apron holding that tag rope. That ring, last I checked had four corners, so you can have four teams. Down in Texas the Freebirds have been in plenty of four-man and six-man elimination tag matches. A man loses, he goes to the back. Same thing here. A team loses, they go to the back. No different.”
Reynolds asks if, using Hayes’ logic, if the CWA Tag Team Champions of the Fabulous Ones, of Stan Lane and Steve Kerin should be involved too.
“Hell, why not? I’m saying take the four tag champions here in Pro Wrestling USA right now. Let them all face off in one match and let the winner take all at Super Clash as the Undisputed, Unified Tag Team Champions.”
Match 2
Super Clash Battle Royal Qualifier
“The Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez vs. Sam Houston
Referee: Marty Miller
Finish: Fernandez grabs the top rope to block Houston executing the bull dog. He falls on his back and Fernandez nails a series of elbow drops. He whips Houston into the ropes and goes for the flying forearm smash, but Houston ducks it. Fernandez dodges a dropkick and nails a second forearm smash for the duke.
Winner: Fernandez by pinfall
Time: 7:32
Segment 3
Eddie Gilbert is out with Jack Reynolds. “Man, Jack, I’m hearing nothing but apecial challenge after special challenge out here today. So, why should I be different from anyone else? There is no way that Super Clash should happen without Eddie Gilbert on the card…” Reynolds reminds Gilbert how he lost his qualifier match for the battle royal last week.
“We’re not talking about that right now, Jack. We’re talking about how a super show isn’t a super show without Hot Stuff front and center. I challenge anybody in the world of professional wrestling today. United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, that company back east we don’t talk about it, I don’t care. Show up at Super Clash, get in the ring with me and find out why I’m Hot Stuff and you’re nothing but cold junk.”
Match 3
Super Clash Battle Royal Qualifier
“The Man With the Hands of Stone” Ronnie Garvin vs. “Hacksaw” Butch Reed
Referee: Tommy Young
Finish: Garvin slips out of a power slam attempt by Reed. Reed turns around right into a big right hand. Garvin Stomp. Reed avoids a sitdown splash and tries to sucker Garvin with a small package, but he rolls it over and holds it for the victory.
Winner: Garvin by pinfall
Time: 9:40
Segment 4
Jack Reynolds has Bob Backlund to address the upset win by Mr. Saito over him last week. “I make no excuses for losing the match last week to qualify for the Super Clash battle royal. Was I cheated by Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie? Yes. But a reason is not an excuse. I’m now going to whine and I’m not going to cry. And I’m not going to call out all those critics who say Bob Backlund has lost a step. If I have, it’s a step nobody else had to start with. I’m a former world’s champion and I will be again here in Pro Wrestling USA. Mark my words.”
Match 4
Super Clash Battle Royal Qualifier
“Wildfire” Tommy Rich vs. Black Bart with “Outlaw” Ron Bass
Referee: Bill Alfonoso
Finish: Bart with a shoulder breaker, but he misses a falling headbutt. Rich goes to the top rope, but Bass makes his presence known, so he changes direction with a double ax handle to the outside. Bart comes out and they try to double team Rich, but he fights out of it and gets a double noggin knocker. Rich rolls back into the ring and a woozy Bart follows to eat a dropkick and he succumbs to the Fire Driver (sitout suplex slam).
Winner: Rich by pinfall
Time: 6:50
Segment 5
Jack Reynolds has The Crusher. Reynolds mentions how The Crusher came to the aid of Ricky Steamboat last week when he was attacked by “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell and Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie. “Jerry Blackwell has been a thorn in my side for a long time. He’s walking around calling himself the Crusher when every man, woman and child in the world knows there is only one Crusher in professional wrestling. It’s me. This is a day of challenges and here’s mine. Blackwell you face me at Super Clash. We both enter as the Crusher, but only one man can leave with that name.”
Match 5
AWA World Title Match
Rick Martel © vs. Nick Bockwinkel
Referee: Tommy Young
Finish: Bockwinkel wears down and uses his weight advantage on Martel throughout the match, who gets a few hope spots. Bockwinkel works a figure four leglock for a while. Martel, with the crowd behind him, eventually turns it over. Bockwinkel turns it over again and they roll to the floor. Bockwinkel with a knee lift as they stand. He goes to whip Martel into the ring post, but Martel reverses and Bockwinkel posts his shoulder. Martel dropkicks Bockwinkel to send him back into the post again. Martel rolls Bockwinkel into the ring and finishes with a slingshot splash from the apron.
Winner: Martel by pinfall
Time: 17:02
Post-match, an upset Nick Bockwinkel attacks Martel from behind and beats him down. Bob Backlund runs out and it looks like he's going to help Martel, but he joins in on the beat down to a chorus of boos from the fans. Beat down continues as we fade to close.
