Did Fire & Flame Go Off Script? Wild Memphis Wrestling Clip Resurfaces

Old-school wrestling fans know that Memphis wrestling could get absolutely unhinged, but a recently resurfaced clip featuring the masked tag team Fire & Flame attacking two fans at ringside might take the cake.

In the footage, which has been making the rounds on social media, Fire & Flame are working a match in Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) when suddenly, they turn their attention to two fans in the front row. One of the masked men violently shoves a woman to the ground, and the other delivers a nasty belly-to-back suplex to a male fan, who lands hard on the floor. Instead of chaos breaking out, the match just keeps going—which has led many to wonder: was this a work, or did these two take things too far?

What Was CWA?

For those unfamiliar, Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) was one of the premier territory promotions in the 1970s and ‘80s, running out of Memphis under the legendary Jerry Jarrett and Jerry “The King” Lawler. Memphis wrestling was known for wild brawls, intense feuds, and moments that blurred the line between reality and fiction—long before social media made that nearly impossible.

A Work or a Shoot?

At first glance, this clip looks way too real to be part of the show. The bump the male fan takes is brutal, and the woman being thrown down makes for a shocking visual. But, as hardcore Memphis wrestling fans have pointed out, Fire & Flame kept wrestling after the attack and the incident was even referenced on future programs. That strongly suggests that this was part of the storyline rather than a legitimate assault.

It wouldn’t be the first time Memphis wrestling pushed the envelope when it came to audience involvement. The territory was known for riot-inducing heat, and it wasn’t uncommon for wrestlers to mix it up with fans to sell the illusion that things had gotten out of hand.

Old-School Chaos Lives On

While the footage may seem shocking today, it’s a reminder of how different wrestling was back in the territory days. In the era before WWE took over the industry, regional promotions like CWA thrived on making things feel real, and that meant blurring the lines between fans and wrestlers in ways that would never fly today.

What do you think—was this just another day at the office for Memphis wrestling, or did Fire & Flame cross the line?

[h/t Kris Zellner]