Herb Abrams' UWF begins airing on ESPN Classic next week

[ashamed wrestling fan 0]

What a move by Muraco!

[Drury37 0]

Suddenly there is a match from another location where the lights are off and the mat is red, oookay.

[Jaxxson Mayhem 0]

I love Bruno's analysis of almost every jobber. "He's an average sized wrestler, a big man in his own right, 245 250 pounds but he looks like a little child compared to *UWF star*"

 

Were the original UWF episodes an hour and clipped down by ESPN or is this how they aired?

 

 

An hour clipped down.

[Guest Brett Wolverton]

Am I the only one that has noticed that Bruno has a tendency to sound like Christopher Walken while doing commentary and that Abrams comes off almost as a wannabe Joey Styles (or heaven forbid Styles was a wannabe Abrams)

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Anybody remember ICW? Mario Savoldi was the promoter and his son, "Jumpin'" Joe Savoldi, wrestled. Tony Atlas was the heel champion managed by "Boston Bad Boy" Tony Rumble. It was a stopover spot for guys who left the WWF. Later on, they supposedly merged with WCCW, and became IWCCW.

 

I do remember seeing IWCCW on cable a couple times, at least. They had Atlas, like you mentioned. The big angle I remember them promoting at the time was a confrontation between Honky Tonk Man and Rick Rude, over who was the greatest Intercontinental Champion. Of course, the angle actually went nowhere, and the two never even had a match against each other in IWCCW. Even though I was only about 12 at the time, I could even tell the shows seemed really amateur, even compared to GWF at the time.

[majormayhem1 0]

Anybody remember ICW? Mario Savoldi was the promoter and his son, "Jumpin'" Joe Savoldi, wrestled. Tony Atlas was the heel champion managed by "Boston Bad Boy" Tony Rumble. It was a stopover spot for guys who left the WWF. Later on, they supposedly merged with WCCW, and became IWCCW.

 

I do remember seeing IWCCW on cable a couple times, at least. They had Atlas, like you mentioned. The big angle I remember them promoting at the time was a confrontation between Honky Tonk Man and Rick Rude, over who was the greatest Intercontinental Champion. Of course, the angle actually went nowhere, and the two never even had a match against each other in IWCCW. Even though I was only about 12 at the time, I could even tell the shows seemed really amateur, even compared to GWF at the time.

 

Alot of the action eminated from high school gymnasiums. I actually went and saw an IWCCW house show once. The main event was Koko B. Ware vs. The Tazmaniac. I did the dirty bird dance in the ring with Koko after the match, which is one of the shining moments in my life.

 

 

[JHawk 0]

I love the horrid editing. Night one: "John Tolos with some harsh words for Brian Blair, we'll see how Blair fares later on." Only they didn't show a Blair match or a Tolos promo."

 

Then last night there was leaving the brawl to go to the Luna Vachon interview from like six months later, plus the random match from July 1991 mixed in with the New Year's episode.

 

And God, Abrams sucked on commentary!

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Alot of the action eminated from high school gymnasiums. I actually went and saw an IWCCW house show once. The main event was Koko B. Ware vs. The Tazmaniac. I did the dirty bird dance in the ring with Koko after the match, which is one of the shining moments in my life.

 

I do remember them being in a gymnasium. I specifically remember either Brooklyn Brawler or Barry Horowitz walking past a set of indoor bleachers on his way to the ring.

[Drury37 0]

Tonight's show is from Universal Studios right in front of Nickelodeon.

[JHawk 0]

The Bob Orton-Brian Blair match from the Penta Hotel was awesome before the shitty finish.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Bob Orton Jr. was actually quite the worker, pretty underrated. I actually saw him wrestle at an indy show in Milwaukee in '98, and he was still pretty decent in the ring for being such an old guy.

[GreatWhiteNope 0]

Here's an Episode Guide for the first week of shows -

 

Week 1

 

Episode 1 - Aired 01/08/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 10/11/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

 

-Billy Jack Haynes defeated Gary Keyes (submission)

-Ken Patera defeated Rikki Attaki (submission)

-Paul Orndorff defeated Matt Starr (pinfall)

-Ivan Koloff drew Nikita Koloff (time-limit)

 

Episode 2 - Aired 01/08/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 09/24/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

 

-Steve Williams defeated Davey Meltzer (pinfall)

-Col. DeBeers defeated Michael Allen (pinfall)

-David Sammartino defeated Cactus Jack (disqualification)

 

Episode 3 - Aired 01/09/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 09/24/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

 

-Paul Orndorff defeated Rikki Attaki (pinfall)

-Billy Jack Haynes defeated Spitball Patterson

-B. Brian Blair drew Dan Spivey (double countout)

 

Episode 4 - Aired 01/09/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 06/19/1992 at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium (Spartanburg, South Carolina)

 

-David Perry defeated Viper II (pinfall)

-Nightstalker defeated Johnny Kidd (pinfall)

-Helmut Hessler defeated Jeff Husker (pinfall)

-Jimmy Valliant defeated Viper II (submission)

 

Episode 5 - Aired 01/10/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 06/19/1992 at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium (Spartanburg, South Carolina)

 

-Bob Orton (UWF Southern States Champion) defeated Midnight Star (pinfall)

-Ivan Koloff defeated Jake Steele (pinfall)

-Wet N' Wild (Sonny Beach and Steve Ray) defeated Johnny Kidd and Mike Meyers (pinfall)

 

Episode 6 - Aired 01/10/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 09/24/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

 

-Black Knight defeated Davey Meltzer (pinfall)

-Dan Spivey defeated Michael Allen (disqualification)

-Jay Strongbow defeated Houdini (submission)

-David Sammartino defeated Col. DeBeers (disqualification)

 

Episode 7 - Aired 01/11/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 09/24/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

 

-B. Brian Blair defeated Rikki Attaki (submission)

-Billy Jack Haynes defeated Larry Luddin (pinfall)

-Paul Orndorff drew Steve Williams (double countout)

 

Episode 8 - Aired 01/11/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 12/06/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

*Taped 07/20/1991 at War Memorial Auditorium (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)

 

-Col. DeBeers defeated Rikki Attaki (pinfall)

-Don Muraco defeated Terry Cooley (pinfall)

-B. Brian Blair defeated Louie Spicolli (submission)

-David Perry defeated JR James (pinfall)*

-Ivan Koloff defeated Steve Ray (pinfall)

 

Episode 9 - Aired 01/12/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 04/07/1991 at Universal Studios Florida (Orlando, Florida)

 

-Blackhearts defeated Bobby Bitman and Dusty Wolfe (pinfall)

-Power Twins defeated Corporal Kirschner and David Perry (pinfall)

-Lynx defeated Vern Henderson (pinfall)

-Bam Bam Bigelow, Paul Orndorff and B. Brian Blair defeated Rusty Brooks, Boris Zhukov and Bob Orton (pinfall)

 

Episode 10 - Aired 01/12/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 01/09/1991 at Penta Hotel (New York, New York)

 

-Bob Orton defeated B. Brian Blair (disqualification)

-David Sammartino defeated Ivan Koloff (countout)

[MrRant 0]

This is on tonight!

 

You know your avatar is misspelled right?

[GreatWhiteNope 0]

This is on tonight!

 

You know your avatar is misspelled right?

 

Yes, but TNA didn't.

[MillenniumMan831 0]

Thanks for the listing Nope, downloaded the 1st 6 eps and it's nice to have them listed in order.

[GreatWhiteNope 0]

Episode Guide for the second week of shows -

 

Week 2

 

Episode 11 - Aired 01/15/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 12/06/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

 

-Ivan Koloff defeated Matt Starr (pinfall)

-Don Muraco defeated Killer Intern (pinfall)

-Steve Ray defeated Blue Knight (pinfall)

-Col. DeBeers defeated Louie Spicolli (pinfall)

 

Episode 12 - Aired 01/15/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 11/11/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

 

-Steve Williams defeated Robbie Allen (pinfall)

-Bob Orton defeated Stephen DeLeon (pinfall)

-B. Brian Blair defeated Louie Spicolli (submission)

 

Episode 13 - Aired 01/16/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 11/11/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

 

-Paul Orndorff defeated California Grappler (pinfall)

-Nikita Koloff defeated Spitball Patterson (pinfall)

-Billy Jack Haynes defeated Col. DeBeers (disqualification)

 

Episode 14 - Aired 01/16/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 06/19/1992 at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium (Spartanburg, South Carolina)

 

-Sunny Beach defeated Barry Horowitz (pinfall)

-Pez Whatley drew Vladimir Koloff (double countout)

 

Episode 15 - Aired 01/17/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 06/09/1991 at Manatee Civic Center (Palmetto, Florida)

 

-Blackhearts defeated FireCat and Jim Cooper (pinfall)

-Killer Bees defeated Power Twins (pinfall)

 

Episode 16 - Aired 01/17/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 11/11/1990 at Reseda Country Club (Reseda, California)

 

-Bob Orton defeated Kevin Benjamin (pinfall)

-Paul Orndorff defeated Spitball Patterson (pinfall)

 

Episode 17 - Aired 01/18/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 01/09/1991 at Penta Hotel (New York, New York)

 

-Bob Orton defeated Sonny Blaze (pinfall)

-Paul Orndorff defeated Chris Michaels (pinfall)

-King Parsons defeated Col. DeBeers (pinfall)

 

Episode 18 - Aired 01/18/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 01/09/1991 at Penta Hotel (New York, New York)

*Taped 02/15/1991 at Penta Hotel (New York, New York)

 

-Steve Williams defeated Mike Durham (pinfall)

-Cactus Jack defeated Mike Williams (countout)

-Brian Blair defeated Bob Orton (disqualification)*

 

Episode 19 - Aired 01/19/2008 at 1:00am ET

 

Taped 07/20/1991 at War Memorial Auditorium (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)

 

-Paul Samson and Jim the Animal defeated Nightmare and Mike Lauria (pinfall)

-Super Ninja defeated Mad Man Pondo (pinfall)

-Blackhearts drew FireCat and Steve Ray (double disqualification)

 

Episode 20 - Aired 01/19/2008 at 1:30am ET

 

Taped 01/09/1991 at Penta Hotel (New York, New York)

 

-Steve Ray defeated Louie Spicolli (pinfall)

-Sunny Beach defeated Mike Williams (pinfall)

-Paul Orndorff drew Steve Williams (double countout)

[Guest JuanJoseNYC]

If memory serves me correctly, but ESPN does indeed own the rights to the GWF programming, except in the case where GWF was seen every Tuesday night on the old SportsChannel network. But even then, I would most definitely like to see the GWF shown on Classic in some form.