Mid-South Wrestling 12-12-81

Original Airdate: Saturday, December 12th, 1981

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This is my first exposure to Mid-South, as I am adding another timeline to the blog here. 

The Monk vs. Bryan Blair

Ernie Ladd is the guest commentator tonight. The Monk is not very good and before I can even really recap anything, Blair turns an abdominal stretch into a pinfall. At least it was quick? 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Tom Renesto Jr. vs. King Cobra

After a criss-cross, Cobra hits a back body drop. Cobra hits some average dropkicks and then works on the arm of Renesto. Cobra hits a leaping headbutt and gains the victory. Another poor match here. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Ed Wiskowski vs. Jim Garvin

Garvin looks quite a bit different here. I know it's 1981, but the announcing is so bad. Wiskowski dumps Garvin into the turnbuckle and gets in a few shots before the referee takes Garvin down. Garvin hits a running forearm and gets a 2 count. Garvin goes for a sleeper hold, but Wiskowski dumps Garvin through the ropes and to the floor. Wiskowski hits a leaping knee and then dumps him on the top rope from a body slam. He hits a gutbuster and that is all. This was a step up over the last two matches, but that's not saying much. 

Match Rating: 1/2*

They are now showing what happened last week between Terry Orndorff and Junkyard Dog. Paul Orndorff comes down to interfere and another man in a yellow mask. JYD throws him over the top rope and is disqualified.

Jerry Novak & Aaron Holt vs. Junkyard Dog & Mike George

JYD is in such good shape here. All four men start brawling and the jobbers get thrown into each other. JYD hits a powerslam and gets the victory. This show has been something else so far. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Iron Sheik vs. Buddy Ryan

This would be more interesting if Buddy Ryan was the football coach. Sheik is lightyears better looking here than what I have seen in WWF. This was quick as well, with Sheik winning after a suplex. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Mixed Tag Team Match

Diamond Lil & Rick Ferrara vs. Little Barbie Doll & Tony Charles

The ladies start things off and show off some solid wrestling skills. There is lots of audible laughing despite them not playing for laughs here, which is pretty sickening. The men are tagged in and they both look like jobbers. The ladies are back in and Barbie hits a back body drop and then a splash that doesn't tough Diamond and gets the pinfall victory. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Paul Orndorff vs. Ted DiBiase

It's sad to see Orndorff here so soon after his passing. This match feels like it's moving a million miles per hour compared to the slow motion garbage on the rest of the show. After a lot of back and forth, DiBiase hits a nice flurry of moves and then locks Orndorff into the Figure Four. Orndorff rolls it over and DiBiase is in pain. I'm not sure why he doesn't grab the bottom rope that is right in front of him. They start running down next week's card, as time is running out. The bell rings and Orndorff won't let go. That's all for this week. This was the best 6 minutes of the show. 

Match Rating: **

I really hope that this is not an indicator of what to expect from Mid-South. If it is, I won't be watching this much longer. This episode was pretty pointless and had nothing worth going out of your way to watch. 

Overall Rating: 28%