AWA Championship Wrestling
Broadcast and recorded 8/4/77 from the studios of Ch3 Memphis, TN
Syndicated across the territory on a 1-week tape delay in an edited format.
 
The theme to 2001 plays as a classic Greek statue is rotated 360 degrees with the words Championship Wrestling emblazoned over it. The scene then fades to Lance Russell and Dave Brown and the announce position
 
LR: Wrestling fans, welcome once again to Championship Wrestling. I’m Lance Russell and along side me, as always, is Dave Brown. Dave, we have an action packed afternoon of wrestling in store today.
 
DB: That we do Lance. Jerry Lawler will be here in action, along with Kelly Kiniski to face off with Mr. Ebony Tom Jones. We’ll see Southern Tag Team Champions Tommy Rich and Ricky Fields in action against the Medics in a non-title match. The Spider will be here to face off against Don Ross. And of course, we will hear from our special guests.
 
LR: That we will Dave, and it all begins right after these messages.
 
-Commercial Break-
 
LR: We’re back fans, and our first match looks ready to go so take it away Davy.
 
Kelly Kiniski defeats “Mr. Ebony” Tom Jones in a spirited, but scientific match. Jones looked like he was about to shock the studio audience when he locked Kiniski into a full nelson, but Canada’s next great athlete drove Mr. Ebony back into the corner hard breaking the hold. Jones staggered out of the corner right into the waiting arms of Kiniski, who delivered a big Canandian back breaker to secure his victory.  
 
LR: Kelly Kiniski, come on over here. Kelly, it’s another impressive victory here today on Championship Wrestling.
 
KK: Lance, Tom Jones is a strong competitor and he really made me work this week. But there is only one man that I really want to see in the ring any time soon, and that is that bearded goon Black Angus Campbell. Campbell, last week out here, you busted me open and for the first time in the CWA, I was left lying on the ground. Now last week, I may have rushed into our match. I signed the contract when there was still blood pouring down my forehead. Even with me coming in hot headed, your best efforts couldn’t put me away in the ring and you had to level me with a steel chair. I don’t think you have what it takes to put me away Campbell. I don’t think you can match me in the ring and to prove it, I’m wanting to again, no cheap tricks, no watered down opposition. You think you’re the toughest man in Memphis, you have to prove it against me in the ring.
 
LR: Kelly Kiniski with another challenge for Black Angus Campbell of the BBC. Folks, our special guests are on with us next. Stay tuned.
 
-Commercial Break-
 
LR: Fans, we told you we had some special guests here with us today, and here they are: AWA World Tag Team Champions Dick the Bruiser and the Crusher. Gentlemen, welcome to Memphis and the CWA.
 
C: Tank ya Lance. It’s a real pleasure to be here in dis great wrestling town wit dees great fans. But we didn’t come here for no meet and greet. We came here to settle things wit da two bums who are flappin’ der lips and sayin’ they’s da best tag team in da woild. Those two limey son of a gun, Rocco and Breaks.
 
DB: And we know you boys are in the back, so get out here!
 
The entire BBC, Roach, Campbell, Rocco, Breaks, and Lord Raven come out to the interview area. Lord Raven has a humongous smirk on his face.
 
LJR: So you two hulking brutes are the ones who keep stealing away the World Tag Team Titles from the BBC. Dick the Crusher and the Bruiser, I believe.
 
DB: It’s Dick the Bruiser and the Crusher you nancy boy, and don’t you dare forget it again.
 
LJR: Oh, I’m certain I won’t Mr. Da Bruiser. But it is nice of you two to be here today after the thrashing my men gave you up and down the West Coast, and even last night in Nashville. They scored the fall and should rightfully be the World Tag Team Champions. So, if you would be so kind and to relinquish the belts.
 
C: We ain’t handin over no belts to no limeys or der weasel manager. Day want’em, dey can try and pry’em offa our dead bodies.
 
DB: Cause all these fans know there isn’t a single one of you Limeys that can beat either the Crusher or me.
 
LJR: Oh really? Care to make that a sporting wager gentlemen? If one of the BBC can defeat either of you “men” in the ring, not only will Mr. Rocco and Mr. Breaks get another shot at the World Tag Team Titles, but it will be Monday night in the Mid-South Coliseum.  
 
DB: You’re on you crumb bum. It don’t matter who you send out. I’m the World’s Most dangerous Wrestler and when I drop your man like a sack of potatoes, then I shut your lousy Limey mouth.
 
LJR: As you wish Mr. Da Bruiser. We’ll see you in the Main Event.
 
C: He’ll be dare!
 
LR: Fans, a huge match for later on. But before we go to more action, we have to take a commercial break. Stay tuned.
 
-Commercial Break-
 
LR: Fans, we’re back, and after that huge announcement for our main event, it’s good to see a face heading towards the ring that offers us a main event type of match every time out: Jerry Lawler.
 
Jerry “the King” Lawler defeats Ken Dillenger with a big fist drop off the second rope. Lawler barely seems to break a sweat before the conclusion of the match. After which he joins Lance Russell.
 
LR: Jerry, you are almost there for your title shot against Ron Bass. Last Monday night, you put away Butch Malone.  
 
JL: That’s right Lance. Tojo Yamamoto, 3 down and just one to go. That’s all that stand between me and getting my shot at that ugly mug of the Outlaw Ron Bass. I’ve sent Dr. David Schultz packing back to whatever mail order medical school he came from. I planted your Mississippi monster in the center of the ring, and I beat up that bulldog Butch Malone. All that stand between me and you Ron Bass is the so called Professor of Wrestling. Well Bill Ash, you’ve been wrestling in tag matches and against Junior Heavyweight since you came to Memphis. Monday night in the Mid-South Coliseum, you’ll be not only facing a real heavyweight in this business, but the King of Memphis. And nobody beats the King in his town.
 
The Audience begins to boo as Ron Bass, bedecked in his belt and accompanied by Sugar Bear Harris, approaches the interview area.  
 
RB: Cry me a river Lawler. Just because Jerry Jarrett picked another Golden Boy than you doesn’t mean you stand a chance in getting past Professor Bill Ash. And even if, IF you get past Billy Ash, then you will get to face me and you’ll have a quick reminder of what I can do to a man by watching Ronnie Garvin get the beating I’ve had saved up for that cripple Jarrett. But just so you don’t feel left out…
 
Bass slaps Lawler across the face and the King comes back and connects with a hard left, only to open himself up to a beating from Sugar Bear Harris and the Southern Heavyweight Champion. The beating ends as Bass drills Lawler in the head with the Southern Heavyweight Title and then Sugar Bear Harris splashes the King on the concrete of the studio flood.  
 
LR: I need folks to know, we need some help out here. Jerry Lawler looks awfully hurt. Can someone get out here? We’ve got to get a break.
 
-Commercial Break-
 
LR: We’re back, and I guess Sugar Bear Harris is having another one of his body slam matches right now. And After what we just saw that man do to Jerry Lawler, I wonder who’s going to be foolish enough to step out from the back to take him on. Well it looks like we have a contestant. It’s a newcomer to Championship Wrestling, but he certainly ahs the sporting background to maybe do something we haven’t seen here. George Welles.
 
Sugar Bear Harris defeats former San Francisco 49’er George Welles with a big splash in the corner that he follows up with a body slam. Welles showed some serious aggression, going right at Harris, but even the former NFL man can’t power up the Sugar Bear for the important body slam.
 
LR: Fans, we’ll be back after these messages.
 
-Commercial Break-
 
LR: We have action set to go, so take it away Davy.
 
The Spider, with the Miser at his side, batters Don Ross from pillar to post, finishing off the muscle man with a flying elbow off the top rope The Spider looks to be at the top of his game. After the match, the Miser and all of his charges invade the interview area.
 
M: Lance Russell, say nothing and listen well. Dutch Mantel is a menace and he should be fined, if not banned from this territory for bringing a weapon to the ring in the form of that sadistic bullwhip. My men are athletes, not gladiators.
 
LR: Mr. Miser, there has been footage that shows your men using, not quite legal tactics themselves.
 
M: That is a bunch of camera tricks Lance Russell and you know it. The Spider is a clean wrestler through and through and Phil Hickerson and Dennis Condrey are as clean in the ring as fresh snow.  
 
LR: Speaking of your tag team sir, they are scheduled to face Bobby Jaggers and Tito Montez again in the Mid-South Coliseum.
 
M: I said it the last time we faced those brutes. My men are finished with them. We have proven our point, that we are the better team and now we have moved on to bigger and better things like the Southern Tag Team Titles.
 
PH: Jaggers and Montez, Monday night, heck any night in this territory, we will plant you in the ground and prove why we are the new face of wrestling here in Memphis. You boys are standing on the tracks and the train is a comin’ and you ain’t getting out of the way.
 
M: And Mantel, don’t turn your back because you never know when a Spider will strike.
 
LR: The Miser and his men fans. We’ll be back with the Southern Tag Team Champions in action, right after this.
 
-Commercial Break-
 
LR: Joining me right before they go into the ring, the AWA Southern Tag Team Champions, Tommy Rich and Ricky Fields. Gentlemen, you told me you wanted to respond to the Miser and his men.
 
RF: That’s right Mr. Russell. Now Ricky and I have been fighting champions and we’ll admit that you boys beat us right here in that ring last week. You think you can do it with the belts on the line, we’ll be happy to prove you wrong.
 
TR: And if you think you’ve seen all that Tommy Rich and Ricky Fields can do in the ring, you ain’t seen nothing. Wait til’ we get all fired up and you will see why we are the Southern Tag Team Champions.
 
LR: Thanks boys, and good luck in the ring. Over to you, Davy.
 
Ricky Fields and Tommy Rich defeat the Medics in a non-title match after Ricky hit a big dropkick of the top rope and Tommy applied the spinning toe hold to Medic #2 to get the submission victory. As soon as the bell rings to conclude the match, Dennis Condrey and Phil Hickerson jump into the ring and start pounding away on Tommy and Ricky. Tommy is tied up in the ropes and this allows a two on one mugging of Ricky. Dennis delivers a big underhook pile driver to Fields and it looks like he and Phil will repeat the same thing with Tommy until Dutch Mantel and Bobby Jaggers hit the ring and clean house.
 
LR: It looks like Phil Hickerson and Dennis Condrey were here to take out the Southern Tag Team Champs. Thank goodness for Bobby Jaggers and Dutch Mantel. I have a feeling that things in the tag team division are far from settled. We’ll be back after these messages
 
-Commercial Break-
 
LR: Well, we’re back fans and Dick the Bruiser looks like he is ready to go in the ring, but where is his opponent? Lord John Raven, so who will take on the Bruiser tonight, Rocco or Breaks?
 
LJR: It’s just what I thought might happen Lance Russell. You seemed to think I meant that either Mr. Breaks or Mr. Rocco would be the one to take on that beast for a shot at taking our tag team titles. I said a member of the BBC, nothing more.
 
LR: So is it Black Angus Campbell? If you have a man that can match the Bruiser’s physicality, it would be Campbell.
 
LJR: Angus has other fish to fry and Pat Roach, the European Heavyweight Champion, doesn’t need to dirty his hands with the likes of this scum.
 
The Crusher and the Bruiser take umbrage with the scum term and both start jawing at Lord Raven to, “get the bum out here!”
 
LR: If it’s not Rocco, it’s not Breaks, or Campbell, nor Roach I’m stumped. Who’s left in the BBC to face Dick the Bruise… Oh no. Not this monster.
 
LJR: That’s right Lance. Meet my Scottish Giant. You bit off more than you can handle Dickie. HAHAHAHAHA!
 
In this special main event, the Scottish Giant defeats Dick the Bruiser with a powerful splash in the corner that seems to crush the ribs of the tag team champion. The Crusher tries to buy his partner some time, but he gets clobbered with one of the Giant’s ham like fists and he goes flailing off the ring apron. A heavy clothesline takes the Bruiser off his feet as he attempts a last recovery, but the Giant drops a standing elbow from almost 7 feet in the air and crushes the Bruiser for the 1-2-3. After the match, the Giant hauls himself up and drops the elbow again across the chest of Dick the Bruiser. The Crusher has regained his feet and comes charging in like a bull in a china shop, but even he isn’t powerful enough to drive back the Giant. Only when Kelly Kiniski comes charging from the back with a steel chair and lays into the Giant does the massive man mountain finally retreat.
 
LR: The BBC has their title shot, but will the Bruiser and the Crusher have anything in the tank to keep their gold. That is Monday in the Mid-South Coliseum fans. Much more action going on there and across the Championship Wrestling region. For Dave Brown, I’m Lance Russell. See you next time for more AWA Championship Wrestling

Boy, I knew the BBC was tough but Bruiser and crusher getting manhandled like this was unbelieveable.
 
Lawler only has to beat Ash? Bass, shine up that belt. Even that Harris splash won't stop the King.
 
I hope Condrey and Hickerson win those belts.
 
Love the Kiniski push.
 
Great TV.

I like what you do with Lord Raven! You use him very well!
 
Good win by Fields and Rich over the Medics!
 
Big win by the Scottish Giant!
 
Great show!