Weekend Wrasslin' (April 1980)

## Background

Last week, Jet Set Strutter announced the Jet Set Strutter invitational battle royal, a 10-man over-the-top-rope challenge to determine the number one contender to his World Championship. The wrestlers were chosen by Strutter, and Average Guy was specifically prohibited from competing.

Last week also saw the crowning of a new Ladies Champion in Queen of Mean and the announcement of Buck Bronco as Television Champion Memphis Prince’s opponent for Champ Clash, which will be held in Prince’s hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

## Matches

As promised last week, the show began with the Jet Set Strutter invitational battle royal. The final two came down to the heel Dr. B and the Cimmeternian warrior He-Beast the Barbarian. Dr. B hit his signature move, the Clubber, and tossed He-Beast over the top rope, securing the win and a match against Jet Set Strutter for the World Title at Champ Clash.

Next up, Chet Skye of the Neon Express defeated Jobber Joe in Joe’s seventh straight loss. This match only received a single star rating, the lowest of the night.

After that match, Average Guy was scheduled to appear and share his thoughts regarding his omission from the battle royal when he was attacked out of nowhere by Mad Abner. Abner injured Guy’s foot before leaving, offering no explanation for the assault.

After that segment, The Island Warriors (cousins Savai’i and Tupu) made their tag team debut in a victory over The American Heroes (Dangerzone and Warhawk). The duo won using a double-team finisher, the Samoan Skullcrusher.

Up next, Honest Al interviewed World Champion Jet Set Strutter and new Ladies Champion Queen of Mean. Strutter congratulated Dr. B on his victory and said he “look[ed] forward to beating him” at Champ Clash. When Honest Al pressed him about the assault on Average Guy earlier in the night, Strutter dodged the question of whether he had anything to do with it and would only say that “that slob got what he had comin’ to him.” Al then asked Queen of Mean if she was nervous about having to defend her title at Champ Clash without yet knowing who her challenger would be. Queen said she didn’t care if it was Aurora, Princess Starbright, Countess, or some unknown wrestler, she was willing to take on any challenger and beat them in the ring. She then offered a title match to Honest Al and threatened to knock him out. Strutter praised Queen’s prowess and teased that they might even form a tag team together as the men’s and women’s world champs.

After that segment came the main event: Television Champion Memphis Prince defending his title against boxer turned wrestler Max Power. Although Prince was already scheduled for a title defense against rival Buck Bronco at Champ Clash, it was noted that that match would instead feature Power should he win tonight. After a back-and-forth bout that saw Max Power make several knockout combo attempts, Prince was able to hit his trademark piledriver and retain the title.

## Reception

Although Wrestle World’s return to the Rassletorium once again sold out the venue, the event itself was not well received. No match garnered more than two stars, and the only two segments that did were non-wrestling segments. Dr. B’s victory in the battle royal was not met with much enthusiasm, as there was little interest in a heel vs. heel encounter between him and Jet Set Strutter for the World Title.

Wrestle World pulled an 11.77 rating for Weekend Wrasslin’, up from the previous week’s 10.97, but still not enough to pull ahead of RnR. In fact, RnR secured their fifth straight ratings victory this week,, breaking their own previous winning streak record.

The show also earned the lowest revenue ever for a Wrestle World event, but this is attributed mostly to the unexplained absence of a merchandise stand. Merchandise is typically a major driver of profits for every WW show.

## Results

The Jet Set Strutter invitational battle royal included: Damon Van Winkle, Devin Van Winkle, Dr. B, He-Beast the Barbarian, Gepetto Rocco, Hardhat Bud Duncan, Major Malice, Robolectro 2000, Star Boy, and Thumper Moore