Southern Discomfort: Wrestling on the Indie Circuit

Southern Discomfort: Wrestling on the Indie Circuit is a wrestling documentary that was released on November 26, 2002.  I can't recall the first time that I watched film but I know for sure is that I love it!  I've owned the DVD for over 20 years and recently decided to take a dive into it's background.

The movie was released in November 2002 but as you can see on the poster the wrestling matches were filmed at Saks High School, August 19, 1995 in Anniston, Alabama.

What I find unique is that this was filmed during a time when code of kayfabe was still heavily followed in the wrestling world.  The wrestlers on this documentary didn't break character at all, Bambi was selling her ass off in the back after her match.  Fast forward over 7 years later when it came out and kayfabe is all but dead, not knowing this was filmed in 1995 people probably thought it was odd.  

I can't say enough how much I love it, it gave is a rare look at indie wrestling from 1995.  Over 400 fans packed into a high school gym with temperatures over 100 degrees for a night of professional wrestling! 

Fred Olen Ray who appears on the show as Freddie Valentine, is a producer, writer, and director of over 200 low to medium budget films in various genres.  The man you see at the beginning of the film hanging posters on telephone poles and the side of a barn is David F. Friedman an Alabama native and film producer and writer of dozens of B movie and sexploitation films.  David passed away on February 14, 2011.

The promotion putting on the matches on this night is Dixie Championship Wrestling, I cannot find any other shows from this promotion.  However Fred Olen Ray ran All-Star Championship Wrestling out of California and competed in several deathmatches under the name Freddie Valentine.  A DVD of his matches was released in 2001 under the name ACW Wrestling's Wildest Matches.

I cannot find a listing for the entire card but this is what I've been able to piece together.

Cliff Badd vs. Jack Lord 

NWA World Women's Champion: Bambi pinned Peggy Lee Leather with a cross body block off the second rope

The Iron Sheik with Tony The Godfather submitted The Power Raider with the camel clutch

“Bullet” Bob Armstrong pinned The Flame with "Fabulous" Freddie Valentine

Shane Anderson with Tony The Godfather pinned Big Boss Hoss 

Shanghai Pierce wrestled “Nasty” Steve Lane with Miss Susie to a double count-out

A Masked Wrestler won a Battle Royale that unmasked, revealing himself as Rick Montana

The only wrestlers I had heard of who are featured in the film are The Iron Sheik, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong, Peggy Lee Leather, and Bambi aka Selina Majors.  Peggy Lee and Bambi beat the tar out of each other in their match, it was very hard hitting. 

The wrestler Shanghai Pierce in the film is credited as being Mark Canterbury aka Henry O. Godwinn on IMDB, however it is not.  Yes Canterbury wrestled under that name, however in 1995 when this was filmed he was in the WWF.  He also has a tattoo on his upper left arm that is not present on this Shanghai Pierce.  Mark Womack was one of the referees for the night.  Almost every wrestler had a title belt.

During one interview segment with Shane Anderson you can see the Iron Sheik urinate in the sink in the background, he's back too to the camera.  

  

Rick Montana

Rick Montana, who passed way April 19, 2018, was an actor, authors, filmmaker and host of the Rick Montana Show, is a focal point of the film.  He is the ring rental, ring crew, ring announcer, and battle royal winner.

The Flame

Frank Barnhill, a local restaurant owner by day, evil fireball throwing wrestler by night, under the name The Flame was managed by Freddie Valentine on the show.  He opened his owner wrestling promotion in 1998 in Alabama.  He passed away on May 7, 2005.  

The Power Raider, Ted Lipscomb passed away August 19 2010.  He more famously wrestled at "The Nightmare" Ted Allen. 

The Iron Sheik passed away June 7, 2023

"Bullet" Bob Armstrong passed away August 27, 2020

Peggy Lee Leather passed away May 22, 2023

It was released under the name Alabama Outlaws: Wrestling on the Indie Circuit on Amazon Prime Video.  This version of the film has 25 minutes of footage added to the documentary.  I watched it tonight and the added footage doesn't really add to the overall story that is being told.  It's extended wrestlers interviews, extended footage of the matches, and more fan reaction.  It's essentially more of the same footage that was already shown, no other matches were shown or wrestlers interviewed that were not in the first version.

 

On November 18, 2014 it was re-released on DVD under the name Iron Sheik "The Maim Event".  The feature is the same uncut version with the extra footage however it has a two bonus features a Freddie Valentine highlight video and a Bloody Bonus Hardcore Match - Abdullah the Butcher vs Fabulous Freddie Valentine that took place in 2000.  

I found newspaper article from the August 21, 1995 Anniston Star talking about the show and the documentary.

Overall it's a fun look at a night of wrestling in Alabama in 1995, it's really what independent wrestling is all about.  

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my new book Limitless Wrestling: The First Five Years, or any of my other books as well.  

Until next time!!

Bonus: I found this review for the film on IMDB:

behind the story

djmarkspinzinc21 July 2009

I was the Ref in this movie and had a great time doing it, it will always take me back to the days when I was helping rick Montana haul this heavy ring in and out of high schools and National guard armory's all over Alabama. I met some great guys and some not so great guys, I met famous and infamous all in the same night. Some made it but more were left at ringside broken and bloody made to work for $20.00 and a hot dog per night.

I live in the same town as David F. Friedman and use to go see him often but have not in a while, Great man with hundreds of stories and plenty of things in his personal collection to share with you if you stop in.

Watch this movie if you want to see a real "outlaw" show and how it was put together.

WCW's Women's Division

Until the last few years the women's wrestling scene in the United States had been treated like a side attraction instead of a featured contest.  There were times in the WWE like in the mid 1980's with the Rock N' Wrestling era of Wendi Richter or early 1990's with Alundra Blayze where it was a strong mid-card attraction.

The American Wrestling Association revived their Women's Championship in 1984 until the promotion folded featuring Candi Devine, Sensational Sherri, Wendi Richter and others.  It was also around this time that several women's promotions started popping up such as GLOW, POWW, Delta Tiger Lillies, LPWA, and others.

Jim Crockett Promotions and later World Championship Wrestling attempted their own run at a women's division on a few occasions with minimal success.

Misty Blue

In 1986 Misty Blue was brought in, billed as the Women's United States Champion she wrestled Linda Dallas a dozen times and Kat LaRoux once in matches featured at house shows in February, April, & September.  She also made a single television appearance on the September 6, 1986 episode of WCW World Wide.

Misty Blue, Linda, & Kat returned in 1987 with Misty wrestling Linda a half dozen matches in February & April.  In July during the Great American Bash Tour wrestled Kat LaRoux for eight shows.

On August 29, 1987 in Houston Blue was billed at the NWA World Women's Champion defeated Camrade Orga.  On November 26, 1987 in Greensbobo, NC Misty Blue won a 7 women $15,000 Battle Royal, Kat Leroux, Linda Dallas, Jamie West, Venus, Mad Dog Debbie & Whitney Hansen

In February and March of 1988 Misty Blue, Linda, and Kat were back for a few house shows.  December 12, 1988 her whole troupe of girls made it to the WTBS studios in Atlanta for the World Championship Wrestling televisions tapings.  January 1989 they worked two house shows.

Susan Sexton vs. Bambi at Clash of the Champions XII

In September 1990 now under the Ted Turner WCW banner Women's Wrestling returned to TBS with a different group of ladies.  Bambi defeated Peggy Lee Leather on Worldwide and lost to LPWA Women's Champion Susan Sexton at Clash of the Champions XII in Asheville, North Carolina.  The two also faced off four house shows.

February 24, 1991 at Wrestle War 91 in Phoenix, Arizona live on Pay-Per-View, WCW introduced to the world of Joshi Puroresu.  The ladies of All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling; Itsuki Yamazaki & Mami Kitamura defeated Miki Handa & Miss A when the former Jumping Bomb Angel Yamazaki pinned Miss A.  The four ladies faced off at two house shows in Chicago and Georgia prior to the PPV with Miki and Mami switching teams.  Miss A is better know as Dynamite Kansai.

Miki Handa & Miss A vs. Itsuki Yamazaki & Mami Kitamura

These ladies wow'd this crowd as until this time they had never seen women's wrestling like this before.  Hard hitting, fast paced, and exciting the crowd got behind them.

Later that year in October Misty Blue, Linda Dallas, Kat LaRoux, & Black Venus returned for four house shows in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.  It would be there last tour in WCW.

Madusa has been in WCW as a valet for Rick Rude since 1991 and although she never competed in a women's match she did face Paul E. Dangerously in a series of 5 Minute challenges in November and December of 1992.

At World War III Pay-Per-View at the Norfolk Scope, November 26, 1995 women's wrestling returned to WCW for the first time in four years.  Once again they featured the stars of Joshi Puroresu in a cross promotional battled.  Bull Nakano & Akria Hokuto of All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling defeated Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki of JWP.  The next night at Monday Nitro in Salem, VA the two teams faced off again with Nakano and Hokuto once again gaining a victory.

Ozaki & Suzuki vs. Hokuto & Nakano

Many wrestling fans will remember Nakano as a former WWE Women's Champion and her matches against Madusa who was known as Alundra Blayze in the promotion.

On December 18, 1995 Madusa showed up on Monday Nitro throwing the WWF Women's Championship in the trash.  Madusa would not return to WCW television until January 29, 1996 when she would lose to Sherri Martel in a short match on Nitro.  Madusa then had a series of matches with Col. Robert Parker in March and April.

In June of 1996 WCW really started stepping up their women's division with Madusa wrestling the likes of Bull Nakano, Akira Hokuto, Debbie Combs, Malia Hosaka, and Leilani Kai.  She even faced Nakano at WCW Hog Wild PPV in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 10, 1996.

Akira Hokuto with Sonny Onoo

November 1996 WCW teamed with the GAEA promotion from Japan to promote a tournament for the WCW Women's Championship.  Akira Hokuto defeated Madusa in the finals of the tournament to win the Championship at Starrcade December 29, 1996 in Nashville, Tennessee.

WCW and GAEA would also crown a WCW Women's Crusierweight Tournament that was won by Toshie Uematsu on April 7, 1997 in Huntsville, Alabama on WCW Main Event.

Toshie Uematsu

The Women's division in WCW from June 1996 until June 1997 was featured on Pay-Per-Views and Monday Nitro occasionally, however the weekend and syndicated shows heavily featured matches from both divisions including tournament matches.  The Women's division essentially came to and end on June 15, 1997 at the Great American Bash when Madusa lost a career vs. title match to Women's Champion Akira Hokuto. This would be Hokuto's last match in WCW.  Later in 1997 the WCW Women's titles were abandoned.

I re-watched that match at the Bash between Madusa and Hokuto was a damn good match.  Hokuto with a relentless onslaught and Madusa fighting back from the bottom until a knee injury slowed her down, but she wouldn't quit and continued fighting.  It was great!  The only downside was Bobby Heenan on commentary talking about how'd he never seen a women take such a beating and fight so hard, and ect.

Madusa would return to WCW in 1999 as part of Randy Savages entourage.  At this point the women in WCW were treated as eye candy and only had the occasional match which was usually a mixed tag, evening gown or other gimmick.

Madusa herself would go on to have matches with several male wrestlers like Benoit, Meng, and even defeating Evan Karagias for the Cruiserweight Championship.  However she did have a few matches with actual women wrestlers like Mona (Molly Holly), Rhonda Singh, Sherri Martel, and Patty Stone Grinder (Leilani Kai).

The best years in women's wrestling for WCW was in 1996 and 1997 but they needed to use Japanese talent to do so.  Also it seems that when it got to it height it just disappeared.  I very pleased that today women's wrestling is where it is on the independents, on the national scene, and around the world.  

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Women's Wrestler Bambi

Selina Majors began her in ring career in 1986 under the name Bambi for the Powerful Women of Wrestling promotion.  PoWW was promoted by David McLane who also created G.L.O.W. and the Women of Wrestling promotion.

In 1987 Bambi would go to the AWA feuding with Madusa Miceli, she also competed in the Lingerie Battle Royal at AWA SuperClash III.  Also in 1987 she would become a wrestler and valet in the Continental Wrestling Federation seconding Tom Prichard to the ring and tagging with him against the Dirty White Boy and Dirty White Girl.

Bambi vs. Judy Martin

In 1990 she joined the LPWA: Ladies Professional Wrestling Association. She would see her highest profile match at that point in her career as she wrestled the LPWA Women's Champion Susan Sexton at the NWA Clash of the Champions XII on September 5, 1990 in Asheville, North Carolina.

Late 1991 she would return to World Championship Wrestling when they revitalized their women's division.  Primarily feuding with Madusa she also had matches with Judy Martin and Leilani Kai.

In February 1994 Bambi traveled to Japan competing for the Frontier Martial Arts promotion also known as FMW.  She competed in various matches in singles and tag team competition teaming at times with Leilani Kai.  She also wrested in the FMW & WWA Women's Title Tournaments.

Madusa vs. Bambi WCW Power Hour 1991

Later in 1994 she entered Smoky Mountain Wrestling feuding with Tammy Fyth, later Sunny in the WWE.  She would team with the Rock N' Roll Express: Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson in a series of six person tag team matches against Fytch and her charges Chris Candido & Brian Lee.

Through-out her career Bambi had a long running feud with Peggy Lee Leather that crossed promotions.  They had matches in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, NWA, WCW, and all across the independents.  They feud went to the next level in late 2000 early 2001 in the Women of Wrestling Promotion.

On the very first episode of WOW television Leather, now going by the moniker Thug defeated Bambi, now going by Selina Majors.  Fast forward to episode 12 in November 2000 Majors defeated Thug in a falls count anywhere match.  On episode 15 in December they fought to a no-contest in a Lumberjack Match.

Their feud in WOW came to a head at the promotions only Pay Per View event WOW Unleashed February 4, 2001.  In a Steel Cage match Thug defeated Majors.  This cage was essentially a Hell in a Cell cage without the roof.

After WOW closed it doors Bambi continued wrestling on the independents in the South.  There is a documentary called Southern Discomfort: Wrestling on the Indie Circuit that is pretty fantastic.  It came out in 2002 and is about an indie show in Alabama.  Bambi and Peggy Lee Leather had a match against each other that night and are featured in the picture.  Worth watching if you can find it.

After a few years off Bambi returned to wrestling in 2016.  She wrestled Amber Gallows failing to capture the NWA Women's Championship on February 20, 2016 in Barnesville, Georgia and returned to WOW as Selina Majors when the promotion reactivated in fall of 2016.

Bambi vs. Peggy Lee Leather 2005

You can find many of her matches as both Bambi and Selina Majors on YouTube, including her Steel Cage match with Thug and recent match with Amber Gallows.  You can also see her match with Sexton from the Clash of the Champions on the WWE Network.

I've always been a fan of Bambi and she is someone that I would love to meet some day at a convention or even better to watch her and Peggy Lee Leather have one more match in person.

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https://www.cagematch.net//?id=2&nr=4315&page=4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selina_Majors