Southwest Championship Wrestling
Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio Texas
Sunday Sept. 30, 1982
Sanctioned by the AWA
(SWCW #14)
 
 
ADVERTISED MAIN EVENT:  AWA SOUTHWEST TITLE MATCH - TEXAS BULL ROPE RULES
Big John Studd (c) w/ Fred Blassie vs. Blackjack Mulligan
Both men are tied together by a 10 ft bullrope, with cowbell in the middle!  Winner determined by pinfall or submission only.
 
For all the tough talking by John Studd before the bout, he seemed very reluctant to get connected to the rope.  In the beginning stages of the match, there were several tug of wars, and a feeling out process by both men getting used to being hooked together.  Some basic power moves by both men followed in the early going.  At about the 8 minute mark though, the two big men were already slugging it out and using the rope in a variety of ways.  Studd prefereed to use the rope to choke Mulligan, while Mulligan preferred wrapping the rope around his fist to throw haymakers at the champ.  Both men tried on numerous occassions to use the bell.  Mulligan was the first to succeed, and when he connected, he busted Studd open good.  Mulligan worked on the cut with right hands until Studd was dripping crimson.  Some lowblows and choking from Studd turned the tide though, and before long he had used the bell to open Mulligan up as well.  The two men continued to battle on this way for several more minutes, with each man getting bloodier with every minute that passed.  Studd looked to finish Mulligan when he wrapped the rope around his neck and threw him over the top rope and tried to hang him.  Mulligan was able to get free though as he used the bell upside of Studd's head.  At that point Fred Blassie tried to interfere, and was busted open by a cowbell shot as well!  Mulligan then got back into the ring and rocked Studd with three more shots with the bell.  Give Studd credit though, he never left his feet.  As Studd staggered around, Mulligan climbed to the rope and came off with a huge shot to Studd's head with the bell.  As he went for the cover, Blassie came in.  Mulligan got up and gave him another stiff shot with the bell.  He then wrapped the rope around his arm and waited for Studd to get to his feet.  When he did, he launched at Studd with his patented lariat clothesline and then dove on him for the pinfall and the title belt!
 
Winner, and new AWA Southwest Champion, Blackjack Mulligan at 21:30.
 
 
In other bouts.....
 
- Tully Blanchard pinned Eddie Mansfield with a slingshot suplext at 13:02.  Mansfield spent a large chunk of the match on the floor stalling.  Finally, Joe Blanchard came to ringside and threw Mansfield in, and Tully put the beating on him that the fans wanted to see.  Mansfield recovered enough to put up a fight before the end, but on this night, Blanchard would not be denied.
 
- AWA Southwest Tag Team Champions, The Fabulous Blondes def. Tiger Conway Jr & Al Madril at 18:44.
 
- Kendo Nagasaki pinned Jose Lothario with a thrust kick at 11:30.
 
- Rip Rogers pinned Wendall Cooley w/ Rock Riddle at 12:28.  Riddle continued to cheat behind Cooley's back to help him.  Cooley finally caught him in the act, and admonished him.  Rogers gained control, and the match turned into a back and forth brawl.  The referee went down on an errant elbow from Cooley.  With the ref down, Riddle got to the apron and pulled a pair of brass knux from his pocket.  He tossed them to Cooley to use.  Cooley looked at them and then tossed them back to Riddle.  Riddle was irate and went on a tirade aimed at Cooley.  Colley refused the knux again.  Riddle then threw the knux to Rogers, who had no problem using them to blast Cooley into unconciousness and covered him as the ref revived to make the count.  Rogers and Riddle then left the ring area together.
 
- The Spoiler pinned Thunderbolt Patterson with his claw hold at 13:54.
 
- Fire & Flame, The Infernos def. Charlie Cook & Mike Boyette at 9:41 after a double team move that saw Flame go to the top tope, and then Fire "launch" him off onto a prone Boyette for the pin.
 
- "King" Carl Fergie pinned Ricky Romero following a pile driver at 8:00

Again, quite enjoy the alternate format here, ME was a doozy with a good call of the match.  Agree with the sort of bitterweet spots for Lothario & Romero.  If they get their sporadic wins, the fans will love it.  I'm not a scholar of the story of Mr. Riddle but I'm seeing his run here clicks with what I know of his real life...rather mercurial.
 
Nice presentation of a quality evening of entertainment.