Southwest Championship Wrestling
December 25, 1982
HemisFair Arena, San Antonio TX
Sanctioned by the AWA
 
 
Steve Stack stood center ring to welcome everyone to tonight's show, and said the three quarterfinal matches in the Southwest Tag Team Title Tournament will begin things.
 
 
Match 1:  The Fabulous Blondes vs. Ricky Romero & Al Perez.....winner faces Jose Lothario and Tully Blanchard in the semi-finals
 
The Blondes were their usual cocky selves, and as a team that has been together for a while, they displayed great tag wrestling.  The experience of Romero, and the youth and fire of Perez though kept them in the match.  It was a miscue by the good guys that led to their downfall though, as Romero missed a dropkick that allowed Timbs to capitalize and nail him with a knee drop to the throat while he was down.  From there, the Blondes worked him over and finished him with a rocket launcher with Embry being pressed from the top rope by Timbs onto Romero for the pin at 14:29.
 
 
Match 2:  The Fantastics vs. Johnny Mantell & The Hangman
 
Mantell and Hangman were bent on trying every dirty trick in the book, but The Fantastics are a solid young team, and weathered the storm and finished off The Hangman with a double dropkick for the pin at 15:32.  After the match, Mantell tried to hand Rogers with the bullrope, but Bobby Fulton saved him from any real damage.
 
 
Match 3:  The Galaxians vs. Hector & Mando Guerrero
 
The quick Galaxians, Alpha and Beta proved to be quite the test for the seasoned Guerreros as they matched them move for move, and hold for hold.  It was quite an aerial duel too as both teams utilized several top rope moves.  In the end though, Hector caught Beta with a flying head scissors that put him in perfect position for Mando to nail him with his back flip body press from the top rope at 13:03.
 
 
Match 4:  TV Title Contenders Battle Royal - The final two men will meet on tv next week to determine the champion.  The entrants are:
"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, Magic Dragon, Charlie Cook, Pat Rose, Tito Santana, "Outlaw" Butch Beckler, Gary Young, Killer Karl Krupp, RT Tyler, Tiger Conway Jr., "King" Carl Fergie, Al Greene, Roberto Soto, Mil Mascaras, and Manny Fernandez
 
The action, as you can imagine, was fast paced as all 15 men really want the chance at the tv title.  It was wild and hard to call, but when the eliminations started, they came fast and furious.  Order of eliminations:
 
1.  Butch Beckler, courtesy of Charlie Cook
2.  Roberto Soto by Paul Orndorff
3.  Magic Dragon by Tito Santana
4.  RT Tyler by Pat Rose
5.  Pat Rose by Mil Mascaras
6.  Al Greene by Paul Orndorff
7.  Gary Young by Manny Fernandez
8.  Killer Karl Krupp by Manny Fernandez
9.  Charlie Cook by Carl Fergie
10.  Mil Mascaras by Orndorff & Fergie
11.  Manny Fernandez by Tito and Conway
 
At the 10 minute mark, we were down to the final four of Orndorff, Tito, Fergie, and Conway.  They paired off in opposite corners and were going at it.  Conway had Fergie on the verge of elimination on one side, while Orndorff and Tito had each other close to elimination on the other side.  Tito tossed Orndorff out and went to help Conway.  Orndorff landed on the floor on a side of the ring where there was no referee, so he quickly slid back into the ring.  Tito and Conway got Fergie out to the floor, and thought the match was over and both raised their hands.  Orndorff charged in behind Tito and drilled him with a knee to the back that put Tito up and over to the floor.  The referee's called for the bell, signaling that Orndorff and Conway are the last two men remaining.  When Tito realized what was happening, he pleaded his case to the referees that Orndorff had already been eliminated, but they wouldn't change their decision.  A livid Tito got at Orndorff in the ring, and the two of them engaged in a pull apart until Conway and several referees got control of the situation.  Total time of match was 12:34.
 
 
Match 5:  Tournament Semi-Final
Jose Lothario & Tully Blanchard vs. The Fabulous Blondes
 
Much like on tv, the team of Lothario and Blanchard never seemed on the same page.  Tully was in for a little while early on, but The Blondes managed to isolate Lothario and work him over for a great while.  Lothario got his second wind and battled back.  Tully begged for the tag, but Lothario was on fire.  He didn't go for the tag and went for the win with a Thesz press on Embry, but Timbs came off the top rope with a knee across the back of Lothario.  Embry rolled over on top of him for the three count at 15:38.
Tully was livid after the match, and wanted to know why Jose didn't tag him.  Lothario still seemed dazed.  Tully gave up his case and helped Lothario up and started helping him out of the ring, but suddenly leveled Jose with a clothesline.  He then picked up Jose and delivered his slingshot suplex to his partner.  The crowd was stunned, but quickly started booing as Tully left the ring alone.
 
 
Match 6:  Tournament Semi-Final:
The Fantastics vs. The Guerreros
 
It was a mat classic, as both baby face teams wrestled a scientific match.  The end came when Mando went for his back flip press, but Fulton rolled out of the way and Mando crashed hard on the mat.  Fulton quickly gave him an Oklahoma roll and cradled him for the pin at 13:18.
 
 
Match 7:  Abdullah the Butcher vs. Bruiser Brody
 
The two men engaged in a wild brawl that ended in a double countout at 7:28 when both men were fighting on the floor.  The fight didn't end with the bell though, as they continued to battle their way all the way back to the locker room.
 
 
Match 8:  Southwest Heavyweight Title Match
Blackjack Mulligan vs. The Spoiler
 
Mulligan and Spoiler fought each other to a stand still mostly, with BJM barely having an advantage.  It went back and forth until Mulligan finally got the upper hand.  He worked over Spoiler, and got in position for his lariat.  He delivered it with such force, that it knocked Spoiler back in to the referee who took a hard bump, and the momentum of BJM carried him out through the ropes to the floor.  The ref was down, Spoiler was down, and BJM was down on the floor.  When BJM started getting back up, Tully Blanchard came to ringside and started verbally abusing him for giving up the tag team belts.  He slapped BLM!  Mulligan was stunned, but Tully picked him up, and ran him head first into the ring post!  BJM was busted open.  Tully then rammed him into the post again to knock him out.  He then lifted up BJM's limp body and rolled him into the ring.  Spoiler came around, and saw Mulligan laying there, so he went over and applied his brain claw.  The referee revived and crawled over and counted Mulligan's shoulders down for the winning pinfall at 19:40.  The Spoiler is the new Southwest Heavyweight Champion.
While Mulligan was still down, Tully came into the ring with the house microphone and cut a promo on BJM saying that he was a selfish hog, that BJM didn't know what friendship was.  He said that Mulligan cost him his tag team titles, so now he has cost Mulligan the Southwest belt.  He threw the mic down and spit on a prone BJM before leaving to a huge chorus of boos.
 
 
Match 9:  Southwest Tag Team Titles - Tournament Final
The Fabulous Blondes vs. The Fantastics
 
The Blondes were very cocky as they faced the younger Fantastics.  While the Blondes employed a lot of great tag wrestling, the Fantastics have been together for a while and are no slouches either, and dished out a lot of quick tags and double team moves themselves.  The match was back and forth for a while, but The Blondes slowly turned the tide in their favor.  First, they worked over Fulton for a while, but he managed to escape their corner and make the tag, but Rogers faired no better as the Blondes punished him for an extended period too.  The former champs seemed ready to claim the belts again.  They started show boating and taking their time setting up their moves and taunting the fans.  Timbs picked up Rogers for a body slam and paraded around the ring before planting him.  He applauded himself, and got set to do it again.  This time while carrying him around the ring, Bobby Fulton rushed in and dropkicked his own partner in the back and caused him to land on top of Timbs in a pinning predicament!  Rogers hooked Timbs leg, and Fulton held off Embry just long enough for Rogers to get the pinfall out of no where at 35:17 for the tag team titles!  The fans came unglued and poped big time for the win!  The Blondes were in disbelief as the Fantastics celebrated on the floor with the belts and the fans.  Winners and new Southwest Tag Team Champions, The Fantastics!
 
End

After reading the World Class and PNW Christmas shows and commenting that the right people went over up and down their cards, I realized something about my own show.  Christmas night may not have been the best time to turn one of the top baby faces heel and have him beat up their beloved Jose Lothario and cost BJM the title.  Probably left a very sour taste in their mouths on what should be a joyous and happy occassion.  Hopefully the Fantastics claiming the belts at the end of the night saved things, I don't know.

I always think the deal is what are the fans talking about as they walk back to the cars. Did they get their money's worth or do they feel cheated? The fans will remember what happened, as being the might the true Tully shone through. They will be back to see him get throtled. By Mulligan or Lothario, it doesn't matter. I feel sorry for Tito but I want to yell hooray for Tiger. Kudos to The Fantastics.
 
Great stuff.

Great work, a good card with the Fantastics making things right.  As far as Tully & Lothario goes, heck, I set my clock on that as soon as the Tully/BJM thing started!  Christmas being the date is good for the shock factor being bigger IMO.
 
And, good switching gears with the TV and TT drama overlapping well.  I enjoy visiting the land of the armadillos - you do very well at making some surprising guys feel very competitive.  Fergie AND Tiger Jr. in the final BR four worked as an example.  Keeps me very interested.

Tully as the spoiled brat heel against his dad is gold. Sure that Mr. Yarber will take said fastball and knock it over the fence.