The Return of the “Big Cheese”

A person fans had not seen in a while was the “Big Cheese,” Ted (or as Jim Duggan would say, “Theodore”) DiBiase.  DiBiase had lost a loser leaves town match to Duggan earlier in 1983, and had since made his way to Georgia, where he was a multiple-time National heavyweight champion.  DiBiase would make plans to make his way back to the Mid-South area, plans that we will see in further detail next month.  Nevertheless, DiBiase was ready to make a big splash again in the area where he had not only established himself, but established his heel persona. 

The Departure of the Dog

In June 1984, Junkyard Dog defeated Butch Reed in a ghetto street fight at the Superdome show.  Soon after, JYD would divert his attention to partnering up with Hacksaw Duggan to battle Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express.  The two teams were poised to go at it during the August 1984 Superdome show that was main evented by an NWA title match between Ric Flair and Kerry Von Erich.   

That match to my knowledge never took place, as inexplicably to fans who had seen their “dog” chew through every “bad guy” in the area, JYD left Mid-South with no notice, and a string of no-shows to enter the WWF.  Not only were fans thrown into a loop, but bookers and insiders were as well.  Why?  Why did JYD turn his back on the millions who had supported him for nearly four years as he battled foe after foe?  Was it fame?  Exposure?  Money?  Who really knows?  Perhaps it was a mixture of all three, and possibly more reasons.  The bottom line was that JYD left Mid-South with a bad taste in its mouth, as he no showed nearly two weeks of headlining dates against Butch Reed, which would lead to some interesting moves in the fourth quarter of 1984.  Yet, even the loss of the Dog could not stop the momentum of Mid-South during 1984.  

Too Exotic for Terry TV

Terry Taylor would finally down Krusher Khruschev in June at the Superdome for the Mid-South TV title.  He would enjoy a lengthy reign with many successful defenses, and a memorable champion vs. champion match against Magnum T.A.  But nothing could prepare him for what was to face him in late September 1984.   

Exotic Adrian Street had entered the Mid-South area during the third quarter of 1984 with his valet Miss Linda.  Street had been around for years, and had just recently completed stints in Florida and the Carolinas.  He had been a heel in both areas, but got over in the Carolinas when he turned face to help one-time enemy Jimmy Valiant in his never-ending battle with Paul Jones.   

Immediately, Street would push the envelope of acceptability from Mid-South fans with his pre and post match antics, making many fans believe that he was a homosexual, something that fans in 1984 would have not put up with for very long (Which is quite funny, since for many long-time fans, they know that Street has been married to Linda for many years).   

It was only natural that a ladies man like Taylor would find himself up against an ambiguous-at-best- (character played, not real life) Street.  When the two squared off on September 26, Street would win the match….in a most unusual way.  Street would kiss Taylor, setting him up for further distraction, that would garner Street his first and only title in Mid-South. 

Looking Forward

Mid-South action was always revolving.  You could never point to a completely non-static time.  The third and fourth quarters of 1984 would prove that over and over again.  People would come and go, and the constant was always the same:  The action.

NEXT MONTH:

As we turn into the final quarter of 1984, we encounter a shocking loss, an unexpected turn of events, and the ascension of one man to the top of the singles charts as far as the hearts of Mid-South fans are concerned.