July 18, 1981 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 1981.  I have been watching these in chronological order on YouTube and there is a three week jump until this episode and this is the last 1981 television episode up right now.  I'll be going through my personal collection to see if I can find others and fill in the gaps.

Three weeks ago the NWA U.S. Junior title was vacant after Brad Armstrong was injured by Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose.  Norvell Austin returned to the area as a heel.  Mr. Olympia (Jerry Stubbs) had won the NWA Southeastern title without explanation.  Ray Candy had won the NWA Alabama title from Jimmy Golden.  Ron Fuller was under a bounty by Jimmy Golden who was bringing in various people to try and collect it.  Any or none of that may still be relevant three weeks later so let's see.

This is only a partial episode.

Charlie Platt starts us off telling us that Michael Hayes is back in the area (at least briefly) and will be on the show today.  Ray Candy is also still in the area.  He then introduces Tommy Wright who debuted three weeks ago.  He is now the NWA U.S. Junior champion.  Tommy Wright is a completely forgettable junior heavyweight.  It might as well have been Les Freeman or Tim Horner or Tommy Lane in the role.  They have a new U.S. junior belt.  I said it last time but Wright is a horrible promo.

We go to the ring for our first match:  Ray Candy verses Bob Owens.  This match is two fat guys fightin'.  This match is going on way too long for two fat guys just wallerin' around on each other.  Candy finally wins with a head butt.  Charlie mentions that Candy is still the NWA Alabama champion.

Norvell Austin joins Charlie Platt at the desk.  Charlie says that Norvell has been recently teaming with Jimmy Golden.  We saw them get together three weeks ago.  Norvell is working a program against Ray Candy over the Alabama title.  We see video of Norvell against Candy from the arena.  

We now get the hype video for the upcoming week's Birmingham, Alabama Boutwell Auditorium show:  Ron Fuller verses Michael Hayes (managed by Jimmy Golden) in a $15,000 bounty match, Mr. Olympia verses The Assassin for the NWA Southeastern title, Ken Lucas verses Ron Bass in a coal miners glove match, NWA Southeastern tag team titles Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose (advised by Tommy Weathers) verses Bob Armstrong & Mystery Partner, Ray Candy defends the NWA Alabama title against Norvell Austin in a match that can only be won by using the head butt, NWA U.S. Junior title Tommy Wright verses Mike Hendricks, Jimmy Golden verses Roy Lee Welch. 

Interview with Mr. Olympia & Ray Candy and Norvell Austin.  

Interview at the desk with Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose & Tommy Weathers.  Weathers is the referee that turned heel three weeks ago in the injury angle with Brad Armstrong.

We go to the ring for our next match:  NWA Southeastern champion Mr. Olympia verses The Raider.  Mr. Olympia wins a basic squash with the powerslam. 

Mr. Olympia joins Charlie Platt at the desk to watch of film of himself verses Jimmy Golden from one of the arenas.  Norvell Austin interferes in the match and almost costs Olympia the match.   

Personality profile is up next with Ron Fuller talking about Michael Hayes.  He says that earlier in the year his brother Robert Fuller had trouble with the Freebirds in Georgia so he is especially happy about Jimmy Golden picking Hayes to be the next person to try and collect the bounty on him.  We cut to Jimmy Golden & Michael Hayes cutting a promo on Ron Fuller.  Michael Hayes is really young here and a heck of a promo.

We now switch gears to Ken Lucas talking about Ron Bass.  They are building up a series of pole matches this week.  They are putting Ron Bass' loaded glove on top of it.  Ron Bass gets rebuttal time.

We go back to the ring for our next match:  Tommy Wright (the NWA U.S. Junior champion) is supposed to have a tag team partner against Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose (with Adviser Tommy Weathers) but Wright's partner no-shows.  Mr. Olympia comes back out to team with Wright.  

The match is a pretty hot back and forth match.  Olympia and Rose in particular have good chemistry.  The match breaks down into a brawl and Condrey pulls something out of his knee pad to hit Tommy Wright with but Bob Armstrong jumps in to the rescue.  It breaks down into a huge fight and even the Wrestling Pro (who I suspect is the veteran Gulf Coast wrestler) gets involved.

The tape ends with the introduction of Roy Lee Welch for the main event.

July 18, 1981 (Television Show): Charlie Platt hosts... Tommy Wright promo as new NWA U.S. Junior champion... Ray Candy defeated Bob Owens... Norvell Austin promo and video verses Ray Candy...Mr. Olympia & Ray Candy and Norvell Austin interviews...Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose & Tommy Weathers interview...Mr. Olympia defeated The Raider...Mr. Olympia promo and video verses Jimmy Golden...Ron Fuller promo... Jimmy Golden & Michael Hayes promo... Ken Lucas promo...Ron Bass promo...Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose defeated Mr. Olympia & Tommy Wright by DQ...tape ends with introduction of Roy Lee Welch & Michael Hayes ...     (Referee: Bruce Soronson)

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