06.15.1985 - Hello, Continental Wrestling
A new era begins with the debut of the first Continental Championship Wrestling show. First off, the show’s new theme (although for this week only) was Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer (better known as the theme from Beverly Hills Cop). The opening montage (again for this week only) features the inside of Boutwall Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, the Flame and Boomer T. Lynch arriving outside the arena, Steve Armstrong mingling with fans, Bullet Bob Armstrong doing push-ups, Ric Flair and Ron Fuller getting ready in the dressing room and inside the arena.
New host Gordon Solie introduces the new show. He runs down some of the competitors on today’s show and then introduces the NWA Heavyweight Champion, Ric Flair. Flair puts over Gordon (and himself) as the number one men in their chosen professions. Flair is cocky, but not really as a heel. He shakes Gordon’s hands and walks off stage. Gordon throws it to Mike Jackson, doing the ring announcing.
Match 1: Ric Flair vs Josh Stroud. No 2001 theme for Flair. A smattering of boos for the champ. Gordon puts over Stroud as a former USFL draft pick (1985, remember). Flair wastes no time throwing him to the floor for some punishment. Gordon seemingly flip-flops Flair’s history, saying he was born in the Carolinas and moved to Minneapolis. Flair goes to work on the mat, working on Stroud’s arm. It appeared Flair gave Stroud a couple extra kicks after Stroud did not go over very well for Flair’s butterfly suplex. After an abdominal stretch, Stroud gets a brief bit of offense, before getting chopped in the corner. From there, Flair starts on the usual series of set-ups and then puts on the figure four to Stroud. The submission comes in just under nine minutes.
Gordon introduces a music video on Bullet Bob Armstrong, set to his entrance music, George Thorogood’s Bad to the Bone.
Gordon introduces Bob Armstrong and Lord Humongous. They preview their tag match against Ron Fuller and the Flame, where the singles titles of Armstrong (Continental) and Humongous (Alabama) are on the line.
In the ring, Mike Jackson interviews Ron Fuller and the Flame. Ron says he will be a triple champion after the match.
Match 2: The Flame vs. Jason Walker. No music for the Flame (aka the Assassin). Gordon tries to put over Walker’s intestinal fortitude to start the match and that he needs to use to speed and agility, since he has a 100 pound weight disadvantage. The Flame makes short work on the match, winning with a flying clothesline in just under five minutes.
Gordon interviews Porkchop Cash and Scott Armstrong. Porkchop (with tiny American flag) previews his Texas Death match with Boomer H. Lynch. Scott tells Bill Ash he is now in the driver’s seat and shows off the US Junior Heavyweight title.
Mike Jackson is in the ring with Boomer Lynch and Bill Ash. Ash says that Armstrong stole his title and “the Professor” will put his brain to work to find a way to get his title back.
Match 3: Ron Fuller vs Larry Clark. No music for the Stud. Gordon runs down all of Ron’s basketball and wrestling credentials. Ron starts working on the leg, possible setting up for the Fuller Leg Lock. Instead, he wins with the piledriver in just over four minutes.
Gordon interviews the Nightmares, sporting bouquets of flowers. Gordon says he will begrudingly give back their Southeastern tag titles. We see video of a Nightmare cage match between them and Steve Armstrong and Johnny Rich. Steve Armstrong was the first person to escape the cage. But that left it as a two on one advantage on Johnny Rich. They brutalize Rich, while Steve tries to get back in the ring. They say instead of “here’s Johnny,'“ they ask “where’s Johnny?” Gordon says that Tommy Rich will be coming into the promotion. They say their flowers will going to Johnny RIch in the hospital. And they leave having been given back their tag belts.
Gordon interviews Steve Armstrong, who says that Tommy RIch is coming in. They throw to an interview from Georgia, with Freddy Miller interviewing Tommy Rich. Tommy says he brought Johnny into the business and he is fired up to come in and get revenge.
Gordon interviews the Nightmares, who continue the “where’s Johnny?” bit.
Match 4: Southeastern Title: Jimmy Golden vs Austin Idol. Idol comes to the ring to The Kid is Hot Today by Loverboy. Golden comes out to no music. The belt gets shown off before the match starts. Idol starts out hot and Golden takes a powder. No Tennessee Stud at ringside. Idol spends the early part of the match working a headlock. Gordon name drops having lunch with Larry Little, the former Miami Dolphin. Golden takes a bump over the top rope and the ref refuses to let Idol follow him to the floor. Golden claims Idol threw him over the top rope and wants a DQ. Golden back in the ring finally takes control after a high knee. Golden throws Idol to the floor and follows him outside and drops him throat first on the ringside barricade. Idol sells the throat and tried to get back in the ring, but is thwarted by Golden. Idol finally gets back in the ring by dropping Golden’s throat on the top rope. Idol puts Golden in the figure four, but Golden makes it to the ropes for the break. Idol tries a boston crab, but Golden reverses into a sit out. Idol reverses that. Golden is under the ropes and even Gordon points that out, but the referee still counts three and Idol is the new champion in almost nine minutes.
Gordon interviews an out of breath Idol and congratulates him on his victory.
in the ring, Mike Jackson is not happy about losing his belt. Golden says there’s a return clause in the contract and he will get his belt back.
Idol now with his breath back says Golden is a crybaby.
We cut to a match in-progress for the tag titles in a cage between the Nightmares and the Armstrongs (Steve and Scott) . We get maybe two minutes of action before the show goes off the air. Gordon invites everyone to write their station to let them what they thought of the program.
The show ends with credits rolling over the action still in the ring and Axel F playing again. For the record, the executive producer is Cheri Jo Welch, the then Mrs. Ron Fuller. No other names hidden in the credits at this time.
