Posts : 996 Join date : 2008-04-17 Age : 39 Location : Tha Dark Houze!
Subject: McMemphis. (McMahon In Memphis Wrestling doc.) Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:27 am
A Documentary charting the WWF's influence on Memphis Championship Wrestling in 1993, inc. an early Vince McMahon heel turn. Look's like a must for old school WWF fan's.
Full Chapter-by-Champer run down in spoiler tag's.
Spoiler:
McMemphis: Chapter 1 - The Vile Paul Neighbors 01:38 It's August 21, 1993 on USWA television. This is the continuation of Lawler's feud with Bret Hart but - more importantly - the begining of Vince McMahon working heel for the first time ever. This is years before the Mr. McMahon character was born.
So what you have here is where it starts. Clips of Owen and Bret Hart against Jerry Lawler and Jeff Jarrett. Heel referee Paul Neighbors has finially pushed the King too far and a stretcher match between the two is announced.
McMemphis: Chapter 2 - A Royal Guarantee 05:31 Segment where Jerry Lawler and Paul Neighbors promote their upcoming stretcher match. Two big announcements here. First, Lawler guarantees everyone their money back if Neighbors doesn't go out on a stretcher. Neighbors then comes out and announces that Vince McMahon will be in his corner this week at the Mid South Coliseum. Neighbors is hilarious here as he first blows the big McMahon announcement a segment early and also can't figure out how to stay on camera during his interview. I love Memphis!
McMemphis: Chapter 3 - A Yankee in the King's Court 06:34 From the August 21, 1993 USWA program. This is a segment of Jerry Lawler's King's Court segment taped in Boston specifically for the USWA. Vince McMahon is the guest.
Things start fairly straight forward with Lawler doing his WWF heel act and Vince being good guy announcer. But notice what happens around the 3:00 mark. Vince and Lawler switch roles. Vince's delivery changes to subtle heel. Lawler starts to slip into his Memphis voice. Thing go back to the regular WWF characters at the 6:00 mark. I wonder what the Boston crowd made of this.
McMemphis: Chapter 4 - Don't Forget the Softball Plugs 01:16 Still from the August 21, 1993 USWA show. One of the things that made the WMC show the WMC show. In the middle of promoting Vince coming to the Mid South Coliseum, the King needs to get in a plug for his upcoming softball games. Again I say. I love Memphis.
McMemphis: Chapter 5 - The Mother of All Matches 03:35 From the USWA's August 28, 1993 show. To promote this week's cage match between Jerry the King Lawler and Bret Hitman Hart, clips are shown from the August 16th Mid South Coliseum show. This match is Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Lawler vs Owen and Bret Hart. Nice post match heel promo from Bret.
McMemphis: Chapter 6 - The Heel Debut in Memphis 05:59 If Bret Hart going heel in Memphis was shocking this was absolutely jaw dropping.
Again, you have to put this in context. August 23, 1993. Vince has never been acknowledged as anything more then the WWF's lead announcer. 20 years worth of just being a commentator. Most fans didn't even know he owned the company until the early 90's. Suddenly, he's getting booed out of the Mid South Coliseum.
The match here is a stretcher match between Jerry Lawler and heel referee Paul Neighbors. But make no mistake, the confrontation between Lawler and Vince was the big draw. About 3,600 showed up for this match, the Memphis crowd since the AWA title switch in 1988. Great historic stuff. This aired on the August 28, 1993 USWA program.
McMemphis: Chapter 7 - You Asked For It And You Got It 03:44 August 26, 1993 from USWA TV. Vince McMahon sends in the first of his heel interviews. Again this is years before the Mr. McMahon character was born.
McMemphis: Chapter 8 - Put My Money Where My Mouth Is 05:42 USWA wrestling August 28, 1993. Another firey interview from the King in advance of a cage match against Bret Hitman Hart.
McMemphis: Chapter 9 - Hitman Defeated 05:29 Clip from the August 29, 1993 main event at Mid South Coliseum. Cage match with Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler. This basically marked the end fo the Hart feud in Memphis as from here on out McMahon would send a new wrestler...uh...sports entainer to get the King.
McMemphis: Chapter 10 - Giant Invasion at WMC 08:18 From USWA Wrestling September 4, 1993.
Giant Gonzales shows up at the WMC studio for an interview with manager Bert Prentice and then a squash match against Sam Norris. This is followed imediately by an angle where Prentice allows recently fired heel referee Paul Neighbors to buy an interest in Prentice's wrestlers. Just in time for Neighbors to second the Dogcatchers against TD Steel and Tim Sadler. Prentice left shortly after this.
McMemphis: Chapter 11 - Surprise Surprise Surprise 05:04 Another great set of interviews from Jerry the King Lawler and Vince McMahon on the September 4, 1993 edition of USWA TV.
This is the clip where Vince quotes Jim Neighbors. McMahon is so perfect as the subdued smug heel and Lawler is a perfert opponent showing the fire that has made him a legendary draw in Memphis.
McMemphis: Chapter 12 - Tatanka the Native American 08:01 Segment from the September 11, 1993 edition of USWA.
Typical fun Memphis nonsense. Jerry Lawler is about to have a squash match with Lee Vincent to open the show. Dave Brown asks the King to wait while they show clips of McMahon's next opponent for Lawler. It's undefeated Native American superstar Tatanka. Worth mentioning Tatanka was another guy working face in the WWF but heel in Memphis. Quick squash match followed by an attack by Paul Neighbors and two of his guys.
McMemphis: Chapter 13 - King of the Cheaters 03:41 Another incredible Vince McMahon interview. This time Vince is in ultra-smug mode promoting the upcoming Lawler Tatanka in Memphis. This aired on USWA TV, September 11, 1993.
McMemphis: Chapter 14 - The True Secret of Voiceovers 04:09 Jerry Lawler responds to Vince McMahon on the September 11, 1993 edition of USWA on WMC in Memphis.
McMemphis: Chapter 15 - Vince Wears the USWA Title 03:05 From USWA TV on September 18, 1993.
Of this whole run, this is my favorite Vince McMahon interview. The show opens with the news that Tatanka has defeated Jerry Lawler for the USWA Unified Championship. Vince sends in an interview gloating about the victory wearing the USWA belt.
Now I've talked about how shocking a lot of this was at the time. Bret as a heel, Owen as a heel, Vince as a heel, etc. But this was off the scale.
The WWF didn't make it a habit of acknowledging that other promotions existed. It was assumed to just be Vince's rule for TV. Now you have McMahon himself showing up on Memphis TV with their championship. Oh and it's worth saying that this WWF invasion was booked about a billion times better than any invasion angle the WWF has done.
McMemphis: Chapter 16 - The End of the Trail Match 02:33 Clips of the September 13, 1993 match between Jerry the King Lawler and Tatanka.
McMemphis: Chapter 17 - Tatanka = No Genius 10:53 From the USWA show on September 18, 1993.
Tatanka heels it up big time at the WMC show. Wow this is something. Tatanka is either a really good actor or he's not real sharp. Lawler does the same "aw shucks" routine that he pulled on Ric Flair when he visited the WMC studio years before. The King tricks Tatanka into putting up all the heels' belts in a Survivor Series type match. Of course Tatanka falls for it. Tatanka is actually perfect here as the obnoxious not so bright heel - again either he's a really good actor or....
McMemphis: Chapter 18 - Challengers 03:34 September 18, 1993 from USWA wrestling.
The Moondogs (as faces here) and manager Richard Lee along with Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Lawler promote the upcoming Survivor Series style match against the Dogcatchers, Tommy Rich and Tatanka.
McMemphis: Chapter 19 - A Squash 05:09 From the September 18, 1993 edition of USWA. Tatanka in a squash against Freezer Thompson. Typical squash match but its always interesting seing WWF gimmicks in a studio setting. Just always seem out of place.
McMemphis: Chapter 20 - Champions 01:40 September 18, 1993 USWA TV.
Tatanka, Tommy Rich and the Dogcatchers promo to hype the upcoming Survivor Series type match against Jarrett, Lawler and the Moondogs.
McMemphis: Chapter 21 - Oh Yeah, Dig It 02:28 Dave and Corey open the September 25, 1993 edition of USWA wrestling by announcing McMahon's next challenge for Jerry Lawler. In two weeks he'll take on Randy Macho Man Savage. A video of Savage is shown where he says "Oh Yeah" and "Dig It" a lot.
One think I really liked about this feud was how Vince kept raising the stakes. First it was Gonzalez, then the undefeated Tatanka who was a bigger star. Now a major name in Savage. Good booking.
McMemphis: Chapter 22 - The Tape Didn't Arrive Dave 04:05 USWA wrestling from September 25, 1993. Dave Brown introduces a tape from Vince McMahon but is told by the director that the tape hasn't arrived. Jerry Lawler takes the opportunity to promise that he'll burn Savage when they meet up in two weeks and invites Vince McMahon back to Memphis.
Again, if you've only seen Lawler in the WWF, hopefully now you understand why he's been a top draw in Memphis for so long. Amazing promo work by the King.
McMemphis: Chapter 23 - No Longer Undefeated 05:40 From the September 25 1993 edition of USWA TV.
Jerry Lawler promotes the USWA shows around the horn and then shows a brief clip of him regaining the Unified Championship from Tatanka.
McMemphis: Chapter 24 - You Have No Chance In Hell 05:10 October 2, 1993 edition of USWA wrestling.
Randy Savage sends in an interview to promote this Monday's match against Jerry the King Lawler in Memphis. Savage uses Vince's future catch-phrase No Chance In Hell. Long but good interview from the Macho Man.
McMemphis: Chapter 25 - Death, Taxes & Randy Savage 06:28 A great great segment from the USWA's October 2, 1993 program. Three things happening here to promote Monday's "Fire on the Mountan" match between Lawler and Savage.
First, Vince McMahon gives another incredible heel interview talking about what you can believe in. Vince oozes smugness here.
Second is another great Lawler interview where he promises to light the Macho Man on fire.
Last you have a video montage of Lawler burning people over the years ending with Giant Gonzales.
McMemphis: Chapter 26 - Fire on the Mountain 02:16 Clips of the Jerry Lawler Randy Savage bout from Mid South Coliseum in Memphis. Lawler, as promised, tries to burn the Macho Man. This aired on the October 9, 1993 edition of the USWA.
McMemphis: Chapter 27 - King of the Hicks 02:58 October 9, 1993 edition of USWA wrestling.
Randy Savage announces Vince McMahon will be in his corner for this Monday's rematch for the title against the King.
McMemphis: Chapter 28 - The Equalizer 07:48 From USWA TV October 9, 1993.
Longtime WWF employee and longtime Memphis manager Downtown Bruno/Dr. Harvey Whippleman is announced as Jerry Lawler's second to balance the scales against Vince McMahon and Randy Savage.
McMemphis: Chapter 29 - The Final Interview "Machovision" 04:29 October 9, 1993 USWA wrestling.
Vince gives another great interview. This time he's promoting his retun to Memphis' Mid South Coliseum for the Lawler Savage match.
Following the interview - as a result of Vince McMahon's legal threats - Eddie Marlin strips Jerry Lawler of the Unified Title.
This turned out to be the final interview from Vince in the program with Lawler. A few weeks later Lawler ran into legal problems and parted company with the WWF. Vince did make at least one more appearence on USWA TV in 1995 urging Lawler to turn heel.
McMemphis: Chapter 30 - Epilogue 02:33 From the October 16, 1003 edition of USWA wrestling.
And that was it. Eddie Marlin comes out and gives a rah rah rah speech but Vince basically won the feud.
Here's the Lawler Savage write up from the Pro Wrestling Torch: "Oct. 11 at the Coliseum, Savage pinned Lawler to capture the USWA Unified Title. Savage came off the top rope with an elbow onto Lawler after McMahon knocked out Lawler with a punch. During the match, McMahan tripped Lawler, held his tights, and gave Savage his chair with which to hit Lawler."
Vince didn't send another interview in. Savage never returned to defend the title. The following week they did USWA vs WWF match with Doink, Koko Ware and Shawn Michaels but without any interviews from the WWF guys.
Koko came in a few weeks later and Crush sent in an interview but by the end of November Lawler was out of the WWF and the feud was basically over. What's the old line about the world ending not with a bang but with a whimper?
Hope you enjoyed the Hart McMahon run. Kudos to Pro Wrestling History and the Pro Wrestling Torch which have great on-line archives for putting stuff like this together.
