- Charles Laffere   

Easter Everywhere

Everybody got his or her cascarones ready to go? My wife likes getting popped with those so much that she’s having her hair done Saturday. Haw!!! 

“Kicked in the teeth again
Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win
Kicked in the teeth again
Ain't this misery ever gonna end?
And I've been kicked in the teeth
Kicked in the teeth again”

“Kicked in the Teeth,” by AC/DC

No, NO ONE will be getting kicked in the teeth at our Easter celebrations. Just the usual—hiding chocolate eggs, eating brisket and ham, spending time with the family, seeing relatives whose names I have forgotten. Maybe I did get kicked in the head somewhere down the line… 

“That boy he don't know how to lose
He's out to win
He got the lot to call the last shot
Shaker, he's a breaker, he's a maker
He's a landslide, landslide 
Walking, talking, rocking landslide”

“Landslide,” by AC/DC 

In addition, in honor of AC/DC’s recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, selected lyrics from Angus and the boys will be featured in this month’s installment… 

“I want first blood (a look in the eye)
First blood, a need in disguise
Bad dog come back for more
First blood, first blood” 

“First Blood,” by, well, you know who. 

My name is Charles Laffere and welcome back to my spot here at the Kayfabe Memories cyber ranch. Last time we met, there was a summary of the transition from the Mid South promotion to the Universal Wrestling Federation. By 1986, Bill Watts’ “new” UWF was the hottest territory in the business. To augment the name change, Watts moved Mid South’s base of television operations from the “traditional” studio setting of Irish McNeill Boy's Club Shreveport, Louisiana to Tulsa, Oklahoma.  

Bill Watts had a knack of recognizing and playing to the strengths of his wrestlers talents. He also had the ability to “hook” the viewer, creating a fan base that couldn’t wait to see next week’s show. In accord with his Mid South booking methods and unlike many of his mid to late ‘80s territorial contemporaries, Watts’ UWF constructed storylines that were durable, intriguing, and logical. Promoters of this specific time frame were struggling to cope with Vince McMahon’s hostile takeover of the North American wrestling scene. Increasingly, promotions began to rely on one or two shot, “cameo” appearances from main eventers. If a wrestler worked for Watts, he would be expected to work hard and stick around the promotion for a while. 

In 1986, the UWF had a solid roster filled with valuable role players and top-notch stars. Mid-South Kayfabe Memories Hall of Famers Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and Ted DiBiase, along with the venerable Terry Taylor, were three of the best workers in the world. The Fantastics were a tag team with massive chick appeal.  KM HOFer (wait, can I say that here?) Hacksaw Jim Duggan could tear the roof of the sucker at any UWF event with his vociferous fan base. And the Freebirds were a “heat” machine matched only by Ric Flair and the Four Horseman. It was a great time to be a wrestling fan… 

“Breakin' out, about to shout
Feel the need for one more round
Don't you struggle, don't try to bite
You want some trouble, I'm the king of vice” 

“Back in Business”  More...