Wrestling At The Chase
8/12/77
 
Taped on 8/12/77
 
Larry Matysik welcomed the audience and ran down the lineup for the show. He then introduced the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champ Jerry Brisco, who did color on the opening match:
 
Spike Huber took on Checkmate in an exciting, scientific bout. Matysik. Informed the fans that Huber had defeated Checkmate last week in Kansas City and that if he won here, he would be Jerry Brisco’s opponent on August 26 at the Kiel. Brisco put over both guys as great competitors and they lived up to it! Huber finally pulled out a close win with a backslide. Jerry said that he looks forward to defending his belt against Spike on the 26th.
 
After a break, Larry said that he was proud to bring on a special guest…..NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION TERRY FUNK! Funk talked about his August 26 title  defense against Jack Brisco, admitting that he doesn’t like the Briscoes one bit, but respects Jack’s wrestling ability.
 
With Funk on commentary, Missouri Champ Jack Brisco wrestles Tony Russo. Jack puts on a clinic and finishes Tony with the figure four.
 
Stan Hansen is interviewed. Stan says that he’s in a tough position since Central States Champion Bob Slaughter has brought in Tank Patton as his “hired gun”.  In one locker room are guys that have sided with Slaughter and in the other locker room, guys who he spent the last several months trying to cripple. Hansen says he only found one man who would team with him today, George Barnes from Australia.
Hansen and Barnes take on Central States Champ D.I. Bob Slaughter and his “recruit” Tank Patton. Hansen starts off against Slaughter and beats his former associate from pillar to post! It’s all Hansen until he misses a running lariat and goes flying out of the ring. As Slaughter distracts the ref, Patton, bashes Hansen upside the head with his combat helmet! Slaughter is busted open! Slaughter and Patton take over and dish out a bunch of punishment to Hansen! Finally, a beaten and bloody Hansen makes a comeback and with his last bit of strength crawls over to tag Barnes. Barnes looks at the bloody Hansen and sees Patton and Slaughter across the way….GEORGE BARNES HOPS OFF THE APRON AND LEAVES HANSEN HUNG OUT TO DRY! Hansen is no match for Slaughter and Patton. Patton puts him away with a powerslam moments later. Slaughter and Patton continue to beat on Hansen until NWA troubleshooter official Lou Thesz and promoter Clarence Grigsby threaten them with fines.
 
Bob Backlund takes on Ron Slinker. Lou Thesz joins Matysik on commentary and really puts Bob over as a future World Champion. Thesz also announces that Bob will wrestle the Great Hussein Arab on August 26th at the Kiel and the winner will receive a Missouri Title Shot at Jack Brisco! Backlund gets the pin on Slinker after a rollup and bridge.
 
Bob joins Mickey Garagiola at ringside as do Tatsumi Fujinami , Pat O’Connor and Jos LeDuc. Bob thanks the fans for all the cards and letters sent Arnold Skoaland and says that Arnie slowly recovering after Ox Baker’s heart punch. Bob says the Heenan Family is going to have their hands full on the 26th. Bob says not only will he wrestle Hussein Arab for the Missouri Title shot, but Tatsumi will go against Ox Baker. Pat O’Connor talks about getting a rematch with Seiji Sakaguchi that night and says that this time, he’ll be prepared for Heenan and Sakaguchi’s cheating! Jos LeDuc talks about his Lumberjack match with Sterling Golden and promises that if he doesn’t finally beat the Hulk, he’ll go back to Canada!
 
Jos LeDuc takes on Ron Sexton. Sexton is a fine wrestler, but LeDuc is an irresistible force and immovable object at the same time! Big Jos gets the win with his awesome bearhug.
 
The Heenan Family stroll to ringside. After a staredown, LeDuc tells Golden that he’ll see him on the 26th and leaves. Heenan says that on August 26th, the Family will show why they dominate St. Louis, Kansas City, and the entire territory. He also warns Arnold Skoaland not to come back if he knows what’s good for him! Heenan also tells the fans that next week, the entire Heenan Family will be in eight man tag team action! Golden predicts victory in the Lumberjack match and tells LeDuc to “get ready to go back to stinkin’ Canada, brother!” Hussein Arab claims that he is already the “uncrowned Missouri Champion” and that Backlund is a “just a boy” compared to him. Baker tells Fujinami that he’s going to heart punch him just like he did Skoaland and if there’s anything left of Backlund, he’ll do the same to him. Heenan then announces Pat O’Connor’s retirement…”after he wrestles Sakaguchi, he won’t have a choice!”
 
The NWA World Tag Team Champions Ken Patera and Jesse Ventura strut out to talk to Matysik. Not only will Central States Tag Team Champions Ted DiBiase and Harley Race get title shot on 8/26 in St. Louis, they’ll also get one on 9/3 in KC and that match will be 2 out of three falls! Ventura says that he and Ken sent the “bodies by Budweiser Andersons to the glue factory” and that they’ll do the same with “has been and never was”. Ventura says that Ted and Harley might not even make it since they’re defending the Central States Titles on TV today and their opponents are tough.
 
The main event sees Race and DiBiase defend the Central States Tag Titles against Bearcat Brown and Chris Markoff. The challengers are rugged vets and they do give the champs a run, but DiBiase and Race prevail when Ted pins Markoff after a powerslam.
 
Next week…
 
The Brisco Brothers!
 
World Champion Terry Funk!
 
The Heenan Family in 8 man tag team action!
 
And just signed….
 
TED DIBIASE VS. JESSE VENTURA!!!!