June 9, 1984 Southeastern Championship Wrestling Television Show Review
By: Karl Stern (@dragonkingkarl, @wiwcool, karl@whenitwascool.com)
We continue our look at the NWA Southeastern Championship Wrestling promotion and television program from Dothan, Alabama television studio.
This is the first full television show I've found in a while so it's going to be cool to watch a pretty much full show again. There are three of the four television shows for June 1984 on YouTube, missing only the 23rd and I may have that in my personal collection once I get around to converting it. So, here we go, June 9, 1984.
The video is pretty rough at the start but we have Charlie Platt telling us about the R.A.T. Patrol (Johnny Rich & Scott Armstrong & Tonga Kid) and how they came to be. It is video from an earlier show where Arn Anderson & Jerry Stubbs & Sonny King are brawling with Scott Armstrong & Johnny Rich while there was a box sitting at ringside. Jerry Stubbs goes over and opens the box and hidden inside is the Tonga Kid who joins the brawl. Scott Armstrong is wearing a mask for some reason. I don't remember why he was doing that.
To the ring for our first match: The R.A.T. Patrol, Inc. (Johnny Rich & Scott Armstrong & Tonga Kid) verses Greg Koswald & Rip Rogers. The R.A.T. Patrol, like The Freebirds and Midnight Express, were a three member team and one member would sit out of regular tag team matches. Today we see Scott Armstrong & Tonga Kid working as a team with Johnny Rich abstaining. We find out in commentary that the R.A.T. Patrol hold not only the NWA Southeastern tag team titles but also the NWA U.S. Junior title and any one of the three members can defend it. Heel Ron Fuller comes out to join Charlie Platt & Ric Stewart on commentary. The R.A.T. Patrol wins following a superkick from Scott Armstrong and a sunset flip from Tonga Kid on Koswald.
We get the run down for this weeks Birmingham, Alabama Boutwell Auditorium card: Steve Armstrong verses Rip Rogers... Jacques Rougeau verses Tommy Gilbert... Vic Rain verses Rick McGraw for the NWA Alabama title... R.A.T. Patrol (Johnny Rich & Scott Armstrong & Tonga Kid) verses Arn Anderson & Jerry Stubbs & Boris Zurkoff... Bob Armstrong verses Ron Fuller in a no DQ match... NWA World heavyweight champion Ric Flair verses Jimmy Golden.
Rick Stewart then interviews Sonny King, Arn Anderson, Jerry Stubbs, and Boris Zurkoff and we get comments from the R.A.T. Patrol as well.
Our next match is in the ring. Paul Barnett verses NWA Alabama champion Rick McGraw. Too bad that Rick McGraw had such a serious drug problem, he really showed a lot of promise. He was short and honestly, he probably would have been better had he not bulked up so much. He'd be dead in less than two years. Really too bad. Rick McGraw wins with a clumsy over head slam.
Rick Stewart has a sit down interview with Ron Fuller about his upcoming match with Bob Armstrong. Ron Fuller is mad that the NWA Southeastern champion Jimmy Golden is getting a shot at the NWA World champion Ric Flair since Fuller is the Continental champion. Ron Fuller has a sweet cowboy hat.
We then cut scene to Rick Stewart & Charlie Platt both sitting down with Sonny King & Boris Zurkoff & Arn Anderson & Jerry Stubbs. Billy Spears comes out and informs that his men have fired Sonny King and that he is now their manager. Arn Anderson has a great line, "He's got the money Sonny!" Of course, Sonny King gets a beat down.
Rick Stewart sits down for an interview with the NWA Southeastern champion Jimmy Golden talking about his upcoming match with Ric Flair. Jimmy Golden looks like he just rolled out of bed. Also, per contract stipulation, this is Golden's last shot at the NWA World title.
We get video highlights from a prior Pensacola, Florida match between Ric Flair and Jimmy Golden.
To the ring for our next match: Tommy Gilbert verses Steve Miller. I'd watch out for Steve Miller, he can fly like an eagle and reach out and grab ya (groan). Billy Spears comes out to watch the match. Charlie Platt says that Sonny King has challenged him to singles matches in the arenas. Tommy Gilbert wins with a flying knee.
Next up are dueling interview with Vic Rain & Tommy Gilbert and Jacques Rougeau & Rick McGraw. Rick McGraw is a horrendous interview.
Bob Armstrong comes out to the desk to talk to Charlie Platt & Rick Stewart. We see recent video of Ron Fuller verses Bob Armstrong.
Time for the six man tag team main event: Arn Anderson & Jerry Stubbs & Boris Zurkoff verses Jacques Rougeau & Greg Cooley & Sonny King. Greg Cooley is the brother of future Continental wrestling star Wendell Cooley. Sonny King is a last minute substitution for the babyface team. Boris Zurkoff gets the pin on Greg Cooley while Anderson & Stubbs & Spears hold and attack Sonny King at ringside.
You can get a McDonald's hamburger, drink, fries, and pie for $1.89 in 1984.
Interview with "Hustler" Rip Rogers & Ron Fuller then with Steve Armstrong (making his Birmingham, AL debut and wearing a sweet tiger shirt) & Bob Armstrong & Jimmy Golden.
The show ends with an intense promo by Sonny King about Billy Spears.
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June 9, 1984 (Dothan, AL) (Television Show): Charlie Platt & Ric Steward are the hosts... Video of the debut of the R.A.T. Patrol with Johnny Rich & Scott Armstrong & Tonga Kid brawling with Arn Anderson & Jerry Stubbs & Sonny King... R.A.T. Patrol (Scott Armstrong & Tonga Kid) defeated Rip Rogers & Greg Koswald... Interview with the R.A.T. Patrol and Arn Anderson & Jerry Stubbs & Sonny King & Boris Zurkoff... Rick McGraw defeated Paul Barnett... Ron Fuller interview... Interview with Sonny King & Boris Zurkoff & Arn Anderson & Jerry Stubbs where they fire Sonny King and hire Billy Spears as their manager... Jimmy Golden interview... Video highlights of Ric Flair verses Jimmy Golden from Pensacola, FL... Tommy Gilbert defeated Steve Miller... Interview with Vic Rain & Tommy Gilbert and Jacques Rougeau & Rick McGraw... Bob Armstrong interview... Video of Ron Fuller verses Bob Armstrong... Arn Anderson & Jerry Stubbs & Boris Zurkoff defeated Jacques Rougeau & Greg Cooley & Sonny King... Interview with Rip Rogers & Ron Fuller then with Bob & Steve Armstrong & Jimmy Golden... Promo by Sonny King (Referee: Larry Brock)
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