Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Two more match reviews added today to the Mid South Diaries. More Bob Roop on the menu, and a pre-Wrestlemania appearance by Mr. Wonderful. In fact, we promise Mania doesn’t even exist as of these matches happening. join us…

Match #2: Paul Orndorff vs Mr. Olympia 2/3/82
Mr. Olympia comes in as the Mississippi Heavyweight Champion. Mid South had a title for each of the two or three states they were running a the time. They phased this out over the next two years or so. Orndorff plays the heel here and shows good intensity. You can see where he became a star. As for the match itself, they use an atomic drop early in the match, it’s watchable for me. For those that don’t know the face in the match, Mr. Olympia, is a muscled up masked wrestler played by Jerry Stubbs. Stubbs was a good worker by this point, having been through Mid Atlantic and Georgia as a mid-carder, and Southeastern/Continental (Alabama) with a push.

A nice attention to detail and logic, as the ref notices Orndorff is punching with a closed fist (that HEEL!), and makes him open it by grabbing his hand. This kind of stuff is a hallmark of Mid South I’d always heard about and enjoyed the idea of in booking (as long as the heel does it behind the refs back then once or twice for heat to maximize the rules gimmick and potential). One thing I loved about living in the northeast, which from a worker/promotional standpoint has set the tone for the business the last twenty years at the grass roots level anywhere outside of Japan, was viewing these principles re-introduced through an educational process in ROH. After ECW (born in Philly), ROH was the perfect reaction (also born in Philly – my second hometown).

The story of the match once the heel Orndorff is firmly in control is that he’s close to putting Olympia away, but can’t get the three count. Orndorff carries this with his looks to the crowd after he hits one of his bigger moves and then Olympia kicks out at two. He also carries the body movements here, as his offense is great and when he sells that excellent too. Olympia’s selling is okay, but it’s inconsistent. Orndorff is doing the little things that make the match for me.

Mr. Olympia wins the match with a sleeper in the middle. A good little match, and the last decade to fifteen years has corrupted me to the point I was blown away to see a consice match end with a sleeper finish. Good little TV match, and I’m loving the intamat studio-like feel (though this was done at the Irish McNeil Boys Club in Shreveport, LA). Orndorff’s involvement put this over the first match, but that seemed more equal a dance. 2 ½ stars and 4/10.

To view other fan’s thoughts on the match, click here.

Match #3: North American Champion Bob Roop vs Ted Dibiase 4/2/82

Dibiase is the babyface here, chasing the title he once held. This has more of a main event feel than the other matches so far, as well it should. The North American Heavyweight Title, at least the Mid South incarnation, has it’s roots in a fictious tournament in Los Angeles in 1969. It was called the NWA Tri-State North American title from 1969 until Watts bought the territory in 1979. It then became the Mid South N.A. Title. It was the promotions main belt, and the world title was whoever the NWA champ was during the time period. Then for big shows that champion would be brought into the territory, usually for a few days leading to a TV taping and a Superdome show.

So Roop is your main champion here and the established fan favorite Dibiase is looking for his belt back.

Watts, on commentary, sells Roop as a “master of strategy”. They do a great job of subtly getting across Roop’s strengths as a heel wrestler. He’s a counter-wrestler. He’s only aggressive after gaining a solid advantage, and otherwise plays off of what he’s given in the ring. Roop lets the fired up good guy come to him, and then makes his move. The idea is a novel approach given the big offense/night of a 1001 moves wrestling style many employ today. I’m surprised not one prominent wrestler hasn’t adopted that as a style and/or gimmick.

Speaking of offense, Dibiase gains control of most of the match, and he’s got some fun stuff when in control. The most notable move might be his famous dropping fist fall he would later use in the WWF. Dibiase works on the left arm until Roop catches him. He focuses on Dibiase’s right leg. Watts fills all of this in verbally quite well. A promoter/booker doing his own commentary can many times be a decent way to get across ideas, but here I don’t even think Watts was booking his promotion. He just knew what to get over from being a worker himself, and the ideals of the promotion in general. That, or the booker gave him notes.

Roop really stays on the leg, even with Dibiase’s desperate comebacks. I’m very pleased with the effort and psychology of this.

Ending comes out of nowhere. Dibiase gains the advantage. He beats Roop piller to post, as they say, and hits a powerslam. 1-2-3. Just like that. They aren’t much on false finishes here, or apparently big finishers, but the ending was appropriate, if not surprising.

Post match Dibiase hits a shoulder breaker on the left shoulder of Roop. That was a bit silly- unnecessary.

Wrapping up. Both men showed a lot of presence and poise, as well as that emotion all workers need in the ring to be great – a sense of desperation. It was a simple match layout to follow, and everything was decent to passable move-wise. Finish was flat with me, but the crowd dug it. Post match was a bit silly for its obviousness. 3 stars and 6/10

To view other fan’s thoughts on this match, click here.

John Philapavage can be reached by e-mailing Johnnyp@mmaopinion.com