September 5, 1987
River City Wrestling #299

Fargo, North Dakota

 

Opening Bout:

-squash match

 

September 12th - "the Fan Favorites Battle Royale" featuring the return of Vendetta, and just added special guests Baron von Raschke and Brad Armstrong.

September 19th - "the Villians Battle Royale"

September 26th - The two battle royale winners will face each other in a best 2 out of 3 falls match to see who wins a Heavyweight Title match

 

Champion places the seeds of intrigue into the bounty hunter situation by asking Disalvo who he thinks may have placed the bounty on his head. Disalvo doesn't appear to have thought about it much and is kind of caught off guard. He says he doesnt care who placed it, he just wants to send a message by beating up on Studd so no one else dare come try to collect it.

Tonight's main event will pit Big John Studd against Steve Disalvo for the RCW Heavyweight title, but as Champion points out Studd does not need to win the title to accomplish his goal, he needs to injure Disalvo. Finally Disalvo seems to get interested in who might have placed the bounty on his head. However, he will have the Great Wojo in his corner tonight instead of Lisa Caress who is feeling the stress of the situation. Disalvo warns Studd that there is a price on his head too, and that the Great Wojo will collect it tonight.

 

 

-squash match

 

Owen Hart comes out to announce that Kevin Kelly can't duck him any longer. He has a contract for a match against the "magnificent one" tonight. Ron Strong takes the opportunity to ask about Ben Bassrab's behaviour last week, but rather then answer the question Hart says he is Bassarab's friend, not Mommy, and he would prefer to concentrate right now on his match with Kelly.

 

Today's sponsor, Chevrolet "The Heartbeat of America" [commercial]

 

-good job by Mercury of handling the more experienced Lightfoot

 

Nick Mercury insists that he is done with Boris Zhukov and is looking forward to the challenge of next week's battle royale.

 

Nick Mercury has been kind enough to provide the production crew with a homemade video of himself strutting around town in pastels, set to "Sharp Dressed Man" by ZZ Top.

 

-fairly even match but the Indian duo are on their way to a title shot

 

Bobby Bold Eagle & Sunny War Cloud are joined by Joe Lightfoot. They announce that they have a title shot next week against the Terminators and promise all their treaty people that they will come out of that match as the champions.

 

[end of first hour]

 

-very even match, with Owen controlling perhaps a bit more of the action then Kelly. No outside interference from Madusa this time as she has still not returned from her quest to beat Orca. Kevin Kelly vaults his name to the top of the contender ladder.

 

Kevin Kelly gloats, and without Madusa there he has twice as much time to impress himself.

 

"Crazy, Crazy Night" by Kiss provides the music, while RCW provides highlites of past fall battle royales.

 

[Chris Champion retained the RCW TV Title]

-Lozansky seemed to have Champion's number tonight, he was just faster, better on the mat, better technically, and had seen enough of Champion's underhanded tactics to anticipate and counter them.

But then once again Ben Bassarab looking like he had one too many drinks came down to the ring. This time though Owen Hart must have been waiting for this and intercepted Bassarab, getting between him and the ring and talking hm down.

However this provided just the distraction that Champion required and he was able to capitalize by nailing Lozansky from behind with the superkick.

 

Post-Match:

Bassarab tried to swipe the title belt from the announce table but Owen was able to talk him out of it. Ron Strong tried to get a mic to Bassarab but Owen told him to get lost, and walked his friend to the backstage area.

 

 

Strangler Steve Disalvo (/w The Great Wojo) (champion)

v

Big John Studd

 

Studd goes right after Disalvo at the opening bell and skirts the disqualification rules daring referee Buddy Lane to disqualify him or maybe just not caring. He choked and punched Disalvo at will. Finally the champion began to fight back with fists of his own, backing Studd away with punches, backing him across the ring, then clotheslining him as he bounced off the far ropes, and then again as he lay across the ropes.

Disalvo took the match over with a front face lock, and then a bearhug but didn't really seem to know what to do with the huge man. More punches and clotheslines, and then what was a pretty credible bodyslam of the huge man.

With Studd on the mat for some reason Disalvo called Wojo into the ring. Disalvo held Studd's arms down and told Wojo to come off the ropes which he did; but instead of attacking Studd the Great Wojo nailed the crouched Disalvo with a boot to the face.

 

[Steve Disalvo retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

 

Post-Match:

The Great Wojo continued to attack Disalvo, riding him on the mat with a full nelson. Big John Studd was up now and the 2 on 1 attack began in earnest, and not surprisingly no one was coming down to put a stop to it. They bloodied the champ on his knees, and when Lisa Caress came down to the ring they intimidated her to cower into the corner.

The fans actually cheered when "the Magnificient" Kevin Kelly came down to the ring. He had a steel chair and he began laying chair shots into both men. He stunned them long enough so he could drag Disalvo out of the ring, and the two men left up the ramp together with Lisa Caress.

 

That's it for another edition of River City Wrestling.

 

See ya next week!!

 

September 12, 1987
River City Wrestling #300

Winnipeg, Manitoba

 

guest: Kevin Kelly

The magnificent one comes to the ring and takes a seat on the couch after shaking hands with Champion. The host immediately asks him why he had a change of "heart" and helped out Steve Disalvo last week. Kelly said he might have his difference with Steve Disalvo, but he wants to take the title off of a warm body, not a cold one. He claims that Disalvo was so greatful for the save that he agreed in front of witnesses to give Kelly a title shot in return for Kelly being his tag partner tonight against Studd and Wojo. Next the discussion turns to the travels of his valet Madusa Micelli, and Kelly says let's just call her out.

Madusa surprises the crowd by coming to the ring wearing the North American Women's Title. She gives Champion a short hug before announcing that she hunted down and speared that whale Orca and has brought the title back to RCW!! The fans actually cheer for Madusa. However the new champion says there is no competition right now in RCW so she's not sure who she will be defending the title against.

The red haired vixen comes to the ring, for her first appearance on an RCW show. She says she is just what Madusa ordered, some competition. She tells Madusa to be careful what you wish for, you just might get it, and get more then you can handle. The two women get into some finger pointing and a pushing match ensues. Velvet nails Madusa with a one-legged dropkick and then rolls out of the ring before Kevin Kelly can grab her.

 

-the fans were really cheering hard for the popular Baron.

 

Baron von Raschke says he's happy to be back in front of a Winnipeg crowd, wants to win the battle royale and beat that bum Disalvo, flashes the clawhold, and says that is all the people need to know.

 

The WWF is returning to the Winnipeg Arena on Thursday night, September 24th

Paul Orndorff will take on King Kong Bundy, Greg Valentine & Dino Bravo will take on the Rougeau Brothers, Don Muraco will face Bob Orton, and also in action will be Randy Savage, the Hart Foundation, Ted Dibiase and many more superstars of the squared circle.

 

As Chris Champion and Boris Zhukov were introduced to wrestle for the TV Title, for the 3rd straight week Ben Bassarab came out, and as last week he was intercepted by Owen Hart. Marty Goldstein also came to the ring and between the two of them they talked him down. Bassarab grabbed a mic and said he's sorry for his antics of the past two weeks but he's sober now and wants his title shot - now, not later. Goldstein says he isn't the top contender and needs to make his way up again. He offers Bassarab a spot in tonight's fan favorite battle royale and Bassarab accepts.

 

[Chris Champion retained the RCW TV title]

Zhukov controlled most of the bout but Champion kept fighting back, and nailed Zhukov in the head with his superkick finisher. But Zhukov's abnormal head shook off the effects so Champion had to do it again, this time to the middle of the chest to pick up the win.

 

Post-Match:

Ben Bassarab hits the ring, and tackles Champion to the ground. He pounds on him and the two get tangled up and roll around the mat until RCW officials, and wrestlers including Owen Hart come out to break it up.

 

Commercial break for the Demtel Rabbit, a state of the art machine to connect multiple televisions and videos, etc, to allow viewing of different TV shows or videos from other TVs.

 

[The Terminators retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

-the Indians had their moments but got worn down as the match progressed and the power of the tag champs took over. It was a clean and hard fought win for the champs.

 

The Terminators insist that now that they have dominated the tag team scene, they will use their team ability next week to dominate the villians battle royale. When asked which one of them would win after that, they seemed to get into a disagreement only to stop abruptly and laugh at Ron Strong, "psych".

 

-Battle royale guest Armstrong had little trouble with Lightfoot.

 

[end of first hour]

-lots of mayhem to get the fans razzed up and into this one, but all semblence of order went out the window in the last minute as the two teams brawled outside the ring. The final straw came when all four men began to brawl each other, regardless of which team they were on. In fact when Buddy Lane finally called for the bell it was Kelly brawling with Disalvo, and Studd brawling with Wojo.

 

Interviews:

Short pre-battle royale interviews are held with;

Ben Bassarab

Vendetta

Baron von Raschke

Nick Mercury

The Queen City Killers

& Brad Armstrong

 

14. Brian Jewel (elim by Cambridge & Jett) 0:53

13. Dr. Gold (elim. by Vendetta) 1:19

12. Shawn Cummings (elim by Bassarab) 2:20

11. Buck Zumhoffe (elim. by Daill) 3:29

10. Hoyt Daill (elim. by Raschke/Mercury) 3:43

9. Owen Hart (elim. by Bassarab) 5:05

8. Jett Black (elim. by Vendetta) 5:39

7. Alex Cambridge (elim. by Vendetta) 6:06

6. Nick Mercury (elim. Armstrong/Raschke) 8:45

5. Baron von Raschke (elim by Armstrong/Bassarab) 9:55

4. Mike Lozansky (elim. by Vendetta) 11:58

3. Brad Armstrong (elim. by Bassarab/Vendetta) 14:06

2. Ben Bassarab (elim. by Vendetta) 15:50

 

 

Notes:

Dr. Gold was an interesting character we had not seen before, wrestling under a mask and wearing a surgical gown. Bassarab seemed to work with Owen Hart as a tandem until the moment arose when he could take advantage of Hart's trust and eliminate him. Throughout the match Bassarab drew jeers from the crowd for his tactics and soon became a target inside the ring, but still managed to survive to the final two. The win by Vendetta was a very popular one with the crowd, as was the appearance of Baron von Raschke.

 

That's it for another edition of River City Wrestling.

 

See ya next week!!

 

 

 

September 19, 1987
River City Wrestling #301

Winnipeg, Manitoba

 

Annoucement: It is with deep regret that RCW informs its fans that former RCW tag champion, Scott Hogg Irwin, passed away suddenly on September 5th, 1987. He will be missed everywhere by fans, and family, including his brother and best friend Wild Bill Irwin. May he rest in peace.

 

-excellent opening match for the evening, which saw Riggs control the first 6 minutes of this match with his superior strength and bullying tactics. But Armstrong made the spirited comeback, and after some dropkicks had Riggs dizzy enough to hit the finisher and pick up the win

 

The Terminators are very upset about that result, and Terminator Wolff challenges Brad Armstrong to show up again next week and fight him.

 

Paramount pictures is proud to release to theatres this weekend "Fatal Attraction" starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close.

A married man's one night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.

On the other side of drinks, dinner and a one night stand, lies a terrifying love story.

 

-hard match and high paced, but as soon as things did not go smoothly for Bassarab he began to cheat, drawing the ire of the crowd. He used the tag rope to choke his opponent and took the bout outside the ring on a couple of occasions to hit snap suplexes on the floor.

 

Post-Match:

Bassarab was getting jeered as he left the ring victorious and headed to the back. The suddenly he stopped as if he changed his mind, and walked back to the ring where a still dazed Cummings was leaving through the ropes. Bassarab nailed him with a punch to the head, dragged him out of the ring, snap suplexed him, then bodyslammed him.

Owen Hart came running down and nailed Bassarab with a running forearm shot. He unleashed some mounted punches until Bassarab brought a knee up into the crotch of Hart. He then gave Hart a snap suplex on the floor before leaving the ringside area.

 

After a commercial break an obviously hurt Owen Hart grimaces through an interview. He says he doesn't know exactly what has come over Bassarab but he no longer considers him a friend. He says Bens new friends are self-pity and a bottle of Crown Royal. Owen says that if Bassarab isn't too yellow show up next week and settle this like men in the ring, one on one.

 

-funny moment before the match when Zumhoffe was blasting Tutti Frutti from his ghetto blaster, so Mercury produced his own ghetto blaster from under the ring, popped in a casette tape and began to play some Rick Springfield. The fans seemed to prefer Zumhoffe's music choice.

High paced match fought clean, and in the end it was the teamwork of QCK that made the difference over the thrown together opponents. The teams shook hands again after the match.

 

"Slow 'an Easy" by Whitesnake plays as we get clips from RCW and around the globe of female wrestlers Madusa and Velvet McIntyre.

 

-squash match

 

Vendetta makes it very clear, he doesn't care who emerges from tonight's villians battle royale, he will be ready next week to take the next step to being the RCW Heavyweight champion.

 

Promo:

-Conclusion of first week of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork

-President Reagan's optimism over expected signing at 2nd summit with Mikhail Gorbachev of arms control treaty recently agreed to in principle between United States and USSR

 

[end of first hour]

 

-squash match.

 

Post-Match:

During the match, North American Women's champion Madusa Micelli came down to the announce table to do some color commentary. She said a lot of derogatory things about Velvet's ability and pretended like she was an unknown, despite her success over the past few years. After the match was over McIntyre came over and yelled at Madusa about the things she said, and the two went chest to chest. Velvet said she wanted a shot at the belt, but Madusa said she hadn't earned it yet and would have to beat a better wrestler then Ultra Vixen to get it. Velvet said, fine, I will beat you next week in a non-title match to get my title shot. Madusa could hardly say no at this point.

 

Promotional video showing scene from "Body Slam" starring Dirk Benedict, Tanya Roberts, Roddy Piper, Lou Albano, and Sam Fatu.

M. Harry Smilac (Dirk Benedict) is a down-on-his-luck music manager who is having a hard time attracting talent and booking gigs for his band, Kicks. When making arrangements for a campaign fund-raiser, he mistakes Rick Roberts (Roddy Piper), a professional wrestler, for a musician and hires him. At that moment he becomes a wrestling manager and starts to book matches for him and his teammate Tonga Tom (Sam Fatu). The team is a success, and Harry decides to take his wrestlers and his band on a "Rock n' Wrestling" tour

 

Pre-battle royale interviews with the following;

Big John Studd

Great Wojo

The Terminators

Three Little Indians

Kevin Kelly

Chris Champion

 

 

14. Joe Mirto (elim. by Studd) 0:23

13. Tom Stone (elim by Wojo) 0:41

12. Rick Renslow (elim. by Studd) 1:10

11. Rick Guntner (elim. by Wojo) 1:16

10. Kevin Kelly (elim. by Lightfoot/Eagle/War Cloud) 3:04

9. Chris Champion (elim. by Lightfoot/Eagle/War Cloud) 3:39

8 & 7. Boris Zhukov & Great Wojo (elim. by Studd/Wolff/Riggs) 5:52

6. Joe Lightfoot (elim. by Riggs & Wolff) 7:22

5. Sunny War Cloud (elim. by Riggs & Wolff) 8:45

4. Bobby Bold Eagle (elim. by Studd) 10:03

3. Terminator Wolff (elim. by Studd) 12:47

2. Terminator Riggs (elim. by Studd) 13:01

 

 

That's it for another edition of River City Wrestling.

 

See ya next week!!!  

September 26, 1987
River City Wrestling #302

Calgary, Alberta

 

-squash match

 

The Queen City Killers are interviewed because they won the match, not because they really had anything to say, and appear to be out of the tag title picture at the present time.

 

Promo:

-United States transfer of captured Iranians to Omani officials for repatriation

-Senator debate over President Reagan's refusal to invoke War Powers Act in Persian Gulf

-Unions' effort to boost morale of striking NFL players

-Gene Upshaw said considering offer by Fox Network to broadcast game played by striking players.

-"New York Times" said claiming White House acknowledges Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork may possibly not be confirmed

 

-competitive match but Mercury really used it as a platform to showcase his high octane attack

 

Nick Mercury is really jazzed and thinks its marvelous that he will be getting a shot at Chris Champion's TV title. Mercury says when he is done with Champion his career won't be worth a pack of dead rats in a tampon factory.

 

"Rock Myself To Sleep" by April Wine is set to highlites of RCW's "rockers"; Buck Zumhoffe, Nick Mercury, Mike Lozansky, Brad Armstrong, and the Queen City Killers.

 

-maybe not a huge surprise that Armstrong would pick up the win despite the size difference, but the quick nature of the win did come as an eye opener.

 

Post-Match:

Terminator Riggs who also lost to Armstrong last week came down and took out BA from behind. It was a two on one beatdown. The tag champions with their pride wounded nailed the doomsday device and left Armstrong lying.

 

As Armstrong is helped out of the ring the tag champ Terminators say that is what happens to cheaters who hold the trunks on pinfalls. They tell Armstrong that if he shows his face in RCW again they will mangle it, and not in a match, wherever they see him.

 

-this match went back and forth with neither woman holding the advantage for more then half a minute. McIntrye was able to bridge away from a superkick attempt, take Micelli down with a legsweep, then when the champ got back up take her down again with the finisher.

 

Velvet McIntrye says Madusa can no longer claim that she has not beaten anyone worthy, and that next week she wants her title shot. And in case anyone still thinks she can't handle herself watch the following footage.

 

Footage:

 

[end of first hour]

 

Chris Champion again brings up the issue with the champ, "who put the bounty on your head?". Again it looks like Disalvo doesn't care or hadn't thought about it, until badgered by Champion. Finally, he grabs the TV champion by the neck and drags him across the table. He says it looks like Champion is way too concerned about this, and he wonders if he knows something he isn't letting on? Champion says no, he just wants to help. Disalvo tells him, fine, look into it, and warns Champion that if he doesn't get him an answer soon then he is going to treat Champion like he is the one who put the bounty out.

 

Promo:

7:00 21 Jump Street: "Besieged"  Hanson and Hoffs go undercover in order to put a crack ring out of business. Penhall, working on the same case, returns to squad car and becomes convinced that his new partner, Sgt. James Addabbo, killed a drug pusher.

8:00 Werewolf: "Friendly Haven"  Eric is convinced that Skorzeny is responsible for the killings of some hunters in a small town and not Bigfoot like the townspeople think.

8:30 Married with Children: "Poppy's By the Tree" In the second season opener, the Bundy's go to a sleazy, dumpy motel in Dumpwater Florida. Trouble heads their way when an axe murderer, who hates tourists, arrives.

Followed by the "Tracy Ullman Show" and "Duet"

 

-Bassarab did not want to lock up with Hart and avoided him. Hart controlled Kelly, tagged out to Cummings who further worked on the Magnificent one, tagged out to Hart who made several pin attempts but could not get the 3 count. He tagged out to Cummings who finally lost the advantage when he walked into a big boot in the corner. Kelly tagged out and Bassarab entered the ring for the first time in the match 4 minutes in to a huge jeer from the crowd. Hart immediately entered the ring to get to Bassarab but was held back by Buddy Lane. This allowed Bassarab to chop Cummings in the throat and then choke him over the top rope. The Edmontonian hit his typical offense with an elbowdrop from the 2nd rope, a pair of snap suplexes, a German suplex, and then tagged out to Kelly. Kelly could not put Cummings away and eventually missed an elbow drop that allowed Cummings to roll away and tag out to Hart. Owen went to work on Kelly who had no choice but to tag in to Bassarab. Ben immediately did a run and hide routine and caught Owen with a knee trying to get back into the ring. He worked over Hart who then managed to tag in to Cummings. After a very short flurry by Cummings he got too close to the enemy corner and Kelly clocked him in the back of the head with a fist. Bassarab hit a German suplex, tagged out to Kelly who hit a big boot to the face, then his finisher to win the match.

 

Commercial break including today's sponsor, the Amiga 1000 Personal Computer from Commodore.

 

Interview:

After a commercial break we return to the ring where Owen Hart throws out a challenge for the turncoat Ben Bassarab to meet him one on one in the ring next week.

 

 

Vendetta   v  Big John Studd

 

The two battle royale winners hook it up.

Vendetta tries to rumble with Studd to no avail, after some initial success the bigger man levels the Haitian fan favorite. Studd goes right after the back of Vendetta, punishing it before nailing an impressive underhook backbreaker drop and getting a 2 count. Studd then punishes him further with a Canadian backbreaker and covers for a 2 count. A long Boston crab is barely survived by Vendetta who leaves the ring for a breather. Studd follows and tries to throw Vendetta into the guardrail, but its reversed. Studd crashes into the steel barricade and is then clotheslined by Vendetta, almost flipping backward into the crowd. Back inside Vendetta makes the mistake of going for a backbody drop but his back is still injured and Studd too big, and he just sort of crashes to the mat under the weight.

Studd recovers, nails a double underhook suplex, then locks on a Boston crab again. Vendetta refuses to submit, but eventually his hand is raised and falls, once, twice, three times.

 

 

Referee Buddy Lane has to enforce the 1 minute rest period and keep Studd at bay. Finally as the bell rings Studd goes charging in. But Vendetta expects it and rocks Studd with a forearm to the jaw, and then slams his head into the top turnbuckle 10 times. He comes off the ropes with a clothesline but the big man will not go down. Vendetta climbs to the top, maybe taking too much time, but still manages to nail a top rope clothesline, and this time Studd goes down. Vendetta covers, 1, 2, kickout.

Vendetta works him over for a couple minutes before going for a DDT, but Studd exerts his power refusing to go down, and clobbers Vendetta across the back, followed by a high knee lift, then a running forearm smash. The big man takes control of this match again and he has not forgotten the back as he goes to work on his opponent's weak spot. He rams his head repeatedly into Vendetta's lower back while pushed into the corner, holds a standing surfboard, and nails a pair of backbreakers but can't finish him off.

He sets up for a powerslam but Vendetta wiggles away, landing beside Studd and takes him down with a wicked legsweep. It looks like it might have popped something in Studd's knee as he grasps at that area. Vendetta goes right to work with stomps, leglocks, and then a figure four on his monstrous legs. It is doubtful that Vendetta will get the hold on but once he locks it in Studd submits very easily within seconds.

 

Vendetta 1 - 1 John Studd

 

As the two men lock-up to begin the 3rd and final fall it looks like a match between two wounded soldiers, Vendetta walking stiffly and trying to massage his own back while he circles Studd who is limping badly on that knee.

Vendetta feigns a lock-up only to lash out and kick the knee of Studd. He tries for a single leg takedown but Studd is too big for that and lifts his injured knee right into the face of the Haitian. He walks off the injury before grabbing Vendetta from behind and putting him in a side headlock. He works that hold for a minute as Vendetta tries in vain to push him off before finally forcing a rope break. Studd though does not break clean and punishes Vendetta with a meaty chop across the chest, and gets smacked across the face in return. This errupts into a brawl that spills outside the ring. They fight to the guardrail where Vendetta drives his shoulder into Studd's leg, ramming the injured knee into the guardrail but at the same time hurting his own shoulder. Once again both men look like wounded ducks as they climb back into the ring.

Studd grabs Vendetta in a double choke, and then at the 5 count hoists him into the air and slams him to the mat in a devastating display of power. He reaches down to pull up Vendetta by the hair but his opponent lashes out with a foot and kicks him right in the injured knee. But Studd falls heavily onto Vendetta driving his forearm into the Haitian's jaw. It looks like a fluke knockout as Buddy Lane counts, 1, 2 shoulder up!!

Vendetta rolls away from Studd, then when the giant pursues he pushes him into the corner and drives his shoulder into Studd. He tries to monkeyflip Studd out of the corner but the huge man holds onto the ropes and sends Vendetta flying backward. Studd runs out of the corner for a clothesline, but Vendetta ducks away and takes Studd down with a droptoehold, which he holds onto with a toehold. Studd makes his way to the ropes for a break.

They jostle on the ropes and Lane gets between them which lets Studd sneak in a forearm shot to the jaw of his opponent. Studd nails a side suplex and covers for a 2 count. He then punishes the back some more with elbow drops and stomps before placing Vendetta into a Boston crab. This time though he is too close to the ropes and Vendetta is able to effect the rope break after a few seconds.

They fight out of the corner exchanging punches, two of Vendettas to meet each one thrown by Studd. Finally Vendetta grabs Studd's arm, twists it behind his back, rides him into the buckle, and rolls him up for 1, 2, kickout. Studd staggers to his feet, and Vendetta nails a standing dropkick to the injured knee. Studd drops to one knee, and Vendetta coming from behind locks onto the head and nails a DDT on Studd from his kneeling position. He covers and gets 1, 2, 3 !!

 

 

That's it for another edition of River City Wrestling.

 

See ya next week!!