Retro Wrestling Re-View Power Pro Wrestling Podcast Ep. 9: DK Proposes to Miss Jackie

Episode #9 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View Power Pro Wrestling Podcast takes Gene Jackson, Robb Helt, and Brian Tramel back to the June 13, 1998 episode of Memphis Power Pro Wrestling, and this one feels like Power Pro is starting to level up in a major way. The road to Blast Off at the Dome is getting hotter, WWF names are starting to drift into the picture, ECW gets represented, and the show suddenly feels a whole lot bigger than it did just a few weeks earlier.The episode opens with the fallout from Jerry Lawler slapping Randy Hales, as the build continues toward Lawler’s punishment match against Kane at the Mid-South Coliseum. Gene, Robb, and BT dig into how Power Pro is using Lawler’s WWF connection to bring in names like The Godwinns, Road Dogg Jesse James, “Double J” Jeff Jarrett, Tennessee Lee (Robert Fuller), Kane, Paul Bearer, and others while still trying to keep the Memphis flavor intact.The show also features ECW’s Tracy Smothers, who arrives with attitude to spare and makes it clear he hates Power Pro, Randy Hales, Memphis, Elvis, Mud Island, and pretty much everything else in sight. Tracy takes on Young Gun Lance Jade, giving the guys a chance to talk about Tracy’s Memphis roots, his ECW run, and how much fun he is when he’s turned loose on a microphone. Backstage, referee Bill Rush has been attacked and someone has painted a STREAK down his back. A big highlight this week is the continuing rise of Derrick King. His match with Tony Falk, with Brandon Baxter and Miss Jackie involved, gives the crew a chance to discuss how naturally Derrick is starting to come across as a babyface. What began as the strange Jackie obsession angle now looks like it may be turning into something that could actually get Derrick as a babyface over in a bigger way.This is one of the strongest “direction” episodes so far. Power Pro is no longer just throwing chaos at the wall every week. Now there’s a real Coliseum show to sell, a major Lawler angle, outside star power, young guys being positioned, and a sense that the promotion may be moving toward something bigger.If you’re following the Power Pro journey, Episode #9 is a key stop. It has Memphis weirdness, WWF star power, ECW attitude, Derrick King momentum, Billy Joe Travis getting more interesting by the week, and enough moving parts to make Gene, Robb, and BT question where this whole thing is headed next. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★