Cameron refused to lock-up and wanted Jewel to stand by while he posed for the crowd. Unfortunatley inept referee Jurgen Hermann decided to allow Cameron to do just that even though the bell had already rung. Eventually though Jewel could take no more and attacked Cameron from the side. He hit him with forearms and drove him into the corner. Whip to the ropes, clothesline knocks Cameron to the mat. Jewel picks up the newcomer and rocks him with a forearm uppercut. He whips him to the ropes but telegraphs a back bodydrop. Cameron instead of taking advantage though stops inches in front of Jewel and poses again for the crowd. Jewel thinking he had dodged a bullet tried to whip Cameron to the buckle but the muscular black man reversed it and sent Jewel head first into the corner and then took him over with a side suplex on the rebound for a 2 count. A couple of punches and kicks, a jumping clothesline, and then a powerslam and that's all he needed to pick up a decisive victory.

 

 

 

Nick Mercury comes to the ring with referee Buddy Lane. He says he has heard reports that the cloaked one has been seen backstage tonight. He challenges the coward to put down his Dungeon Master's Guide for 2 minutes and come to the ring so he can do some hit points of damage to him.

 

The lights to the arena go out.

 

About 10 seconds later they go on and the cloaked figure with the black opera mask on underneath is standing behind Mercury. The fan favorite in pastel colored tights seems to sense him and turns around. He rocks the cloaked one with a punch, and another, sending him reeling back to the corner. Buddy Lane steps in to seperate the two while calling for the bell.

 

 

As Lane steps away the cloaked one lashes out with a chop to the throat, a sucker attack which finds its mark on Mercury. A double leg takedown follows, and then a half-nelson, turns him over for a 1 count.

Mercury tries to scramble to his feet but his opponent lashes out again this time with a legwhip and takes Mercury down. He covers again for a 1 count. The cloaked one puts on a chickenwing and holds Mercury for a good 30 seconds but can't get the submission so he releases the hold. The mysterious one applies an arm wringer which sets up the heel kick and a pin attempt for a count of 2 this time.

The cloaked one follows up with three straight hip tosses followed by a backbody drop from a still position. This time its Mercury though that lashes out with a legwhip and takes his opponent down. Nick mounts him and lays in a series of closed fist punches, causing Buddy Lane to pull him away and try to calm him down. While he was doing this the cloaked figure pulled the cloak up his arm, turned around a bracer that he was wearing and tapped it to show the crowd it was loaded.

He swung at Mercury who blocked it and caught him with a palm thrust strike, then a fireman's carry into a slam. He covered and got a 2 count. Mercury applied a front facelock, then a sleeperhold on two occassions but couldn't get the submission. He tried to use his advantage by pulling down the hood of his opponent which revealed only short jet black hair and an earring. He tried to remove the opera mask but was thrwarted by a punch to the solar plexes. Mercury though got the next shot in with a knee to the gut, whipped him to the ropes, and took him over with a powerslam. He covered and got a 2 count.

They then did a criss cross sequence which ended when the cloaked figure just slipped out of the ring. Mercury followed but then the cloaked figure just slipped back inside the ring.

He caught Mercury with a knee coming into the ring, then followed up with a bulldog, a hanging vertical suplex, a tiltawhirl backbreaker, and a 2 count. Mercury battled back and the two exchanged punches and kicks until the cloaked figure caught him with a thumb to the eye. He whipped Mercury to the ropes and devastated him with a clothesline using his loaded forearm. As if Mercury was going to get up the cloaked one felt it necessary to drag him to the middle of the ring and nail him with a single-arm DDT and then covered for the win.

 

??? defeated Nick Mercury by pinfall after a single arm DDT and use of a foreign object at 7:27

 

The Cloaked figure swung by the announce table. Standing on the table he grabbed a mic and in a caustic voice said three words, "I am Rogue".

 

 

Mike Valiant (/w Hollywood)  v  Kevin Kelly (/w Madusa Micelli)

 

In a surprise move Valiant brought out Hollywood to manage him in the match and to keep an eye on Madusa who she will face later on tonight. At first referee Jurgen Hermann tried to send her to the back but apparently she had the right paperwork and Lane allowed her to stay.

Kelly though used all the fuss to attack Valiant from behind just before the bell could ring. Valiant still had on his shiny gold satin warm-up jacket, as Kelly whipped him to the ropes and knocked him down with a big shoulderblock. He repeated this, and then banged Valiant off the mat with a bodyslam, covered for a 2 count. He worked a front facelock while the lovely Hollywood banged on the ring apron to get Valiant and the fans awake. Valiant fought back with elbows to the midsection, but then came off the ropes and collided with Kelly again and went down. Kelly punished Valiant right up until the 5 minute mark when finally the man making his return from retirement made his comeback. He went after the legs of Kelly with kicks, and then elbows and knees to the quads, and a legspreader. But then Valiant tried to change the strategy and after a dropkick went for a piledriver, but Kelly was able to backdrop Valiant over instead, even with banged up legs.

Valiant went recklesly after Kelly in the corner and paid for it eating a big boot, then was rocked with a clothesline. Kelly went for a legdrop but Valiant moved out of the way. When the fan favorite came off the far ropes though he was tripped up by Madusa a move that went undetected by the ref, but not so by Hollywood. The two women got tangled up outside the ring, but inside Kelly took full advantage of the outside interference. After a high knee lift, he nailed a bodyslam, a backbreaker, and then his reverse neckbreaker finisher to get 1, 2, 3.

 

 

 

 

Champion called his guest out to the ring, saying they had no advance notice that they were going to appear. Champion first says he has a bone to pick with Goldstein. Why does he have to defend his TV title tonight here when it is not a televised event? Goldstein says that Champion will defend the belt whenever and wherever RCW tells him to. Champion asks Goldstein if thats because he has absolute power in RCW as the matchmaker. Goldstein says no, he has a board of directors and a championship committee to answer to. Champion nods taking this all in. Goldstein asks if that's it, if he can go now. Champion tells him he should stick around as he will find the next part interesting too.

Champion says he made a promise a couple months back to Steve Disalvo to find out who put the bounty on his head that brought in John Studd and then the Great Wojo to try and take him out. Well tonight he is here to say that he now knows who put the bounty on him. Disalvo demands to know who, but Champion demures. First of all Champion says he is still lacking the proof but knows how to get it. Secondly he says that the answer is so profound, so shocking that it will only serve to distract Disalvo from the job at hand tonight, winning the title belt. Disalvo flips out, tossing his large armchair into the ropes, then grabs Champion in a double chokehold. He then regains his composure and just gives Champion a push to the mat. Disalvo says that Champion better not be pulling his chain or he's going to kill him. Champion promises the answer and proof in January.

 

 

 

Bad Company: Bruce Hart & Brian Pillman

v

Top Guns: Ricky Rice & Derrick Dukes

 

The match started with a round of handshakes and a nice applause from the crowd. Tempers flared early though between Hart and Rice as Hart didn't think Rice gave him enough room after a rope break. With every hook-up this match gained in intensity and the two teams began to take a severe disliking to each other. It went back and forth but after a flying dropkick to the chin Rice tried to pin Hart, only to have Pillman drag him off to break the pin. This started a 4 man brawl that spilled outside the ring.

Bad Company gained the advantage during that brawl and then pressed the advantage isolating Ricky Rice for a couple minutes but not able to put him away. Finally after an elbow to the chin, and a somersault to escape, Rice tagged out to Dukes. But as Dukes chopped and kicked away at Hart he made the blind tag out to Pillman who took advantage of the situation to clip the knee of Dukes from behind. He went to work on the leg and knee of Dukes before tagging out to Hart who did the same. They followed this up with several quick tags where the departing member would hold down the leg and the incoming member would jump off the second rope with a knee drop to the knee of Dukes. Hart then locked on the figure-four, but returning an earlier favor was Rice by breaking it with a boot to the chest of Hart. This sparked a two on one beat down on Rice, which ended with tossing him over the top rope.

Hart tagged out to Pillman who continued to work over the knee of Dukes before tagging in his partner who again tried to lock on the figure-four. But Dukes countered by kicking Hart off and then tried to crawl over to make the tag to Rice but was caught before he could do that. Pillman was tagged in and it would take a second comeback for Dukes before he could make the tag.

Rice came in a house on fire and went to work on Pillman. He put Pillman in the Boston crab. Bruce Hart came in to break it up but was headed off by referee Buddy Lane. This though allowed Dukes to enter the ring and drop a knee to the back of Pillman while in the crab. Pillman continued to fight the crab and got the break by getting to the ropes. However, 30 seconds later and he was back in. Again Hart tried to enter the ring and again Lane headed him off. Dukes paused before crawling through the ropes to take advantage and make it a double team, and then when he decided to enter the ring he was grabbed by Stu Hart, Bruce's father who had climbed over the steel barricade. He pulled Dukes down and tossed him head first into the ringsteps. This distracted Buddy Lane and allowed Bruce to enter the ring and catch Rice in the back of the head with a big boot. He followed up with a Russian legsweep and then Pillman made the cover to get the 1, 2, 3.

 

[Bad Company retained the Stampede International Tag Titles]

 

Marty Goldstein comes to the ring looking pissed off. He says that's the second straight match that ended thanks to some outside interference. Goldstein says he doesnt know what the hell Stu Hart was doing sticking his nose into that match, he shouldn't disrespect RCW and its fans by doing something like that. Goldstein warns everyone that the next person who interferes in a match tonight will be suspended from RCW for the entire 1988 year.

 

Promo:

Coming to River City Wrestling in Janaury 1988, the world's strongest man Ted Arcidi.

 

 

Madusa Micelli (champion)  v  Hollywood

 

Mike Valiant and Kevin Kelly tried to come down and stay with the ladies but they were both sent to the backstage area by referee Jurgen Hermann.

Micelli tried to attack Hollywood before the bell but Hollywood was ready for it and moved out of the way, then gave the champ a double axhandle to the stomach. A hairtoss to the mat, a quick kick to the back, then a backbreaker like move pulling the torso of the champ downward onto both of Hollywood's knees, and the challenger was in charge. She nailed a dropkick, a back bodydrop, and a vertical suplex but only got a 2 count. The challenger made her first mistake going for a splash in the corner with Madusa moving out of the way. The champ almost cheated her way to a win by making the cover with her feet on the second buckle, but incredibly it was actually caught and disallowed by referee Hermann. Hollywood battled back, but after a criss cross sequence Madusa caught her with a drop toe hold and then a facelock. Madusa kept trying to work in a chokehold, then nailed a vertical suplex, then a German suplex into a bridge for 1, 2 Kickout!! Madusa complained to Hermann about a slow count which allowed the challenger to gather her wits.

The two ladies battled in the middle of the ring with kicks and punches, then rolled around together trying to gain the high ground. Madusa moved out of the way of a dropkick then bridged her challenger for 1, 2, kickout. The champ then went for a Samoan drop but Hollywood countered by fighting he way out, dropping behind the champ, putting her in an inverted facelock, working her down until Madusa's head was between Hollywoods' thighs, then lifting her up and nailing her with a nasty looking inverted piledriver. She covered and got 1, 2, 3 !!

 

[Hollywood won the North American Women's Title]

 

Chris Champion (champion)  v  Mike Lozansky

 

Collar elbow hook-up to start but Champion smacks Lozansky across the face. Referee Buddy Lane steps between them though when Lozansky looks to use a closed fist. They lock up again and Lozansky powers Champion to the ground, who then gets up and complains about a phantom hair pull. Next lock-up and Champion uses the ropes to get a break.

Lozansky grows frustrated but controls it well and soon enough grounds Champion and works him with an armbar. He then has the chance to return the favor of the slap by issuing several hard and legal slaps to the side of the face of the champ.

But when Champion gets to his feet he's mad and goes right at the challenger with closed fists, and then a choke hold. Lane tries to reign him in but Champion has the advantage now and works over the challenger with some more hard rights, followed by a belly-to-belly suplex, a couple of savate kicks, then a reverse russian legsweep for a 2 count. Champion then keeps it on the mat with a front facelock, before turning it into a reverse neckbreaker and another 2 count.

He then resorts to stomps and chokeholds again. Lozansky fires back with fists and makes a comeback. Lozansky goes to work with a pumphandle suplex, a slingshot into the top turnbuckle, and a roll-up for a 2 count.

Champion takes a powder out of the ring and stalls for time. After a full minute of stalling he caught Lozansky with a chop to the ear from the ring apron, and then a shoulder to the gut. Climbing to the top rope though he got caught and Lozansky tossed him off to the mat below. Lozansky dropped a fist from the 2nd buckle for a 2 count. He then went to work with an elbowsmash clothesline, and a Giant swing, to disorient the champ further. Lozansky dropped an elbow from the 2nd buckle and then went to the top. He came off the top with a splash but Champion was able to move out of the way at the last second. Both men were slow to get to their feet and both recovered at about the 8 count.

Champion tried to catch Lozansky with a superkick,but the Bullet arched backward to duck under the kick, and then took Champion down with a leg sweep. But when he went for a dropkick when Champion got back up, the champ moved out of the way.

Champion then nailed a running clothesline, a front face mat slam, and covered for a 2 count. He went for the superkick again, a second time, but again Lozansky managed to duck away. Lozansky went to work but couldn't hold the advantage for more then a minute before Champion took it back with a chop to the throat, followed by some palm strikes, and kicks. Champion then nailed Lozansky with a flying bulldog and made the cover, 1, 2, Champion grabbed the tights as Lozansky tried to kick out, 3.

 

[Chris Champion retained the RCW Television Title]

 

 

 

The Terminators: Riggs & Wolff

v

Buck Zumhoffe & Baron von Raschke

 

They didn't waste any time as they started with a four man brawl that Raschke and Zumhoffe actually won until they tried to whip their opponents into each other. The Terminators stopped short, then Riggs whipped Wolff into the corner where he squashed Zumhoffe. The tag champs then double teamed Raschke and gave him a hotshot off the top rope. Finally referee Jurgen Hermann managed to get things sorted out.

Zumhoffe was the legal man and was worked over by the Terminators for the next four minutes of the match before finally getting a tag in to Raschke. The fan favorite Baron went to work on Riggs, then Wolff when he tried to enter the ring. He smashed their heads together, tossed one into the corner, and then threw the other one in for a collision. Raschke went to work with kicks and punches before bringing the fans to their feet by locking on the clawhold on Riggs. Wolff though entered the ring and caught Raschke from behind to break the hold.

This brought in Zumhoffe for our second four man brawl, this time it spilled outside the ring. When order was restored Riggs had the advantage over Raschke, and then tagged in Wolff. After a bearhug and some punches, Wolff nailed a powerslam and covered the Baron, 1, 2, kickout!!

The Terminators used quick tags and cut off the ring to keep Raschke in trouble, until finally when they went for one more quick tag Raschke put Wolff into a hammerlock and drove him into his partner, the two big men smashing heads. Raschke covered Wolff, but Lane refused to count saying they had tagged out when they smashed into each other. Raschke didn't realize this but Riggs had as he jumped off the 2nd buckle and landed on the back of Rascke. He then continued to work the back with another bearhug, some punches to the lower back, and a pair of back breakers. He couldn't get the pin though and eventually Raschke tagged in Zumhoffe.

Buck picked up the pace of the match taking Wolff down with a pair of dropkicks, then a clothesline from the 2nd buckle, then a baseball slide inside the ring, and a drop toe hold off the ropes, making a cover for only a 1 count. Zumhoffe tagged in to Raschke who went with kicks and punches to soften his opponent before once again putting on the clawhold. This time as he had it locked on Wolff, Riggs ran in but Raschke caught him in a clawhold with his other hand long enough for Zumhoffe to come in and dropkick Riggs down and then roll him out of the ring. In the meantime Raschke had worked Wolff down to his back and referee Buddy Lane counted the 1, 2, 3!!

 

[Buck Zumhoffe & Baron von Raschke won the RCW Tag Team Titles]

 

Post-Match:

The tag champs accepted their new belts and then went out to celebrate with the fans while the Terminators looked on in disbelief.

 

 

 

 

Match started with Owen trying to lock up and Brody giving him a chop to the head instead. Brody went to work right away and choked Owen across the middle strand, ran his head along the top strand, drove his shoulder into him in the corner a few times, and then a one-armed bodyslam, for a 2 count.

Owen though fought back with a standing dropkick while Brody was on pause mode "huss". Owen took him down with a drop toe hold, then worked a series of armbars and front facelocks. Owen then picked up the pace with a pair of flying dropkicks, a flying forearm smash, flying headscissors, and an elbowdrop from the second rope for a 2 count. He then worked over the back of Brody for a minute before trying to lock on the sharpshooter but Brody kicked his way out of it.

The crazy man from Albuquerque New Mexico then grabbed Owen by the trunks and threw him out of the ring. He followed Owen outside where he slammed his head off the ring apron, gave him a bodyslam, and then tossed him into the guardrail.

Brody took the match back inside and went to work with stomps, an atomic drop, a pair of forearm smashes, and then his stalling piledriver for a 2 count. Brody got very agitated when Owen kicked out so he tried for the pin again pulling Owen down by the hair but only got a 1 count. He tried again and this time Owen kicked out before the 1 count. Brody then tried to throw Owen out of the ring again but this time Owen landed on the apron with Brody unaware. He climbed to the top rope and Brody turned around and got nailed by a dropkick from the top rope for 1, 2, KICKOUT!!

Owen tried for another flying dropkick but this time Brody hung onto the ropes and Owen hit the mat. Brody then dragged Owen to the corner, left the ring and then pulled Owen shoulder first into the ringpost twice, entered the ring to break the count, then did the same thing, entered the ring to break the count, then pulled Owen to the floor again. Brody gave Owen a one armed bodyslam outside the ring and a kneedrop. But back inside on the cover he only got a 2 count.

So Brody once again tossed Owen out of the ring and followed. Buddy Lane tried to restrain the wild man but was pushed away. Outside Brody grabbed a chair and swung it at Owen, but luckily the Calgary native saw it coming and dived out of the way. He swung again and Owen had to roll out of the way. Owen then scrambled and grabbed his own chair as both men swung and smashed chairs. Owen then rolled back inside and challenged Brody to enter the ring. However Buddy Lane called for the bell and Brody decided to just drop his chair and leave the arena instead.

 

 

Referee Jurgen Hermann comes down to the ring but is followed afterward by Buddy Lane. After a short heated discussion Lane sends Hermann to the back, and as head referee will officiate this match himself, breaking the alternating pattern that the refs usually follow. The announcers say that it just shows the importance of the upcoming match.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collar elbow hook-up and Disalvo tosses Vendetta back against the ropes. The two circle and when they go to hook up again Disalvo slaps the champ across the face. Vendetta just straightens his neck back around and the two men have a staredown until Buddy Lane gets them going again. Disalvo feigns another punch, but as Vendetta flinches the Strangler instead just pulls his hand back to fix his hair, and laughs at the champ.

Boot to the gut by the champ, forearm uppercut and this match kicks into gear. Vendetta keeps the challenger bouncing off the ropes and hits him with a flying fist, a spinning heel kick, and a flying bulldog, but only gets a 2 count.

He tries to bulldog Disalvo into the steel cage but is thrown off by the challenger and bounced off the cage wall himself. Disalvo clotheslines the champ then drives his shoulder into Vendetta's midsection three times, hammering the champ against the cage wall each time. Vendetta grabs the cage with both his hands and lashes out kicking Disalvo in the chest, then nails him with a flying clothesline. Both men are down and quickly back to their feet.

Top wristlock by Vendetta, but Disalvo grabs a handfull of his hair and pulls him back to the mat. The challenger drops a knee to the sternum and then takes the opportunity to use a closed fist to the nose of the champ. Dragging him back up by his hair he puts him in a full nelson, giving him the rag doll treatment for almost a full minute before a rope break.

Disalvo bodyslams the champ, boot rake, then drags his head across the steel cage drawing blood. He goes for the piledriver but Vendetta fights it and the challenger uses his knee to drive the champ head first into the mat instead. He puts on a half-nelson, until Vendetta regains his feet and counters with a hammerlock. A rope break occurs and both men take a little distance before circling each other, Vendetta now wearing the crimson mask.

We are around the six minute mark in the match.

The two men exchange punches and kicks and Vendetta finds himself backed into the corner. He fights his way out though and delivers an atomic drop to the challenger, then a standing dropkick. Disalvo though is still on his feet and goes for a running clothesline but the champ counters with a drop toehold, knocking Disalvo head first into the cage wall.

Vendetta goes to work with an impressive vertical suplex on the big man, a backbreaker, a standing surfboard, and an abdominal stretch. He weakens the challenger but not close enough for a win. After a dropkick, and a running clothesline the champ hooks up for the DDT but Disalvo counters with a kick, and throws Vendetta off. When the champ tries to hook up again Disalvo catches him with a thumb to the eye, then a rake of the nails across the back, and then smashes his head into the cage wall. He lifts the champ across his shoulder to drive him head first into the cage wall, but Vendetta counters by dropping behind him, driving Disalvo into the wall, and covering for 1, 2, kickout!

We are now about 11 minutes into the match.

Vendetta goes for a bodyslam but looks too weak and Disalvo adjusts in mid-air lands beside the champ and bulldogs him to the mat. Disalvo is first on his feet at the count of 5, pulling Vendetta up by the throat, and then chopping him twice across the chest, and then applying an illegal double choke. Vendetta chops away at the arms of the challenger to no avail as Disalvo risks DQ before finally relinquishing the hold. Lane buys the champ a few seconds by getting in the way and warning Disalvo, but its not enough as the champs feeble punch bounces off the challenger. Disalvo whips Vendetta to the ropes and sends him heels over head with a wicked looking running clothesline. He covers for a 2 count.

Disalvo lifts Vendetta onto his shoulders and after an abbreviated airplane spin he drives him into the mat, for another 2 count. A full-nelson turned into a slam is next for another 2 count. Frustrated the challenger batters the champ with fists and then bangs his head off the cage wall 5 times before covering for another 2 count.

In the middle of the ring Disalvo then nails Vendetta with a piledriver. That should be all she wrote as Disalvo covers for 1, 2, KICKOUT, Disalvo should have hooked a leg. He then goes for another piledriver, but Vendetta slams his head into the lower midsection of Disalvo instead, and then clips his leg out on his way down. Disalvo lashes out as both men lay on the ground and catches the champ with a vicious looking boot to the face. He crawls over and covers for 1, 2, kickout.

We are now around 15 minutes into the match.

Disalvo gets to his feet but when he tries to pull Vendetta up something appears wrong with the challenger's leg as it almost buckles him to the mat. He releases the champ and tries to walk it off but still appears quite hobbled. Walking over he hammers forearms into the back of the champ before choking him over the second rope. Vendetta is bleeding profusely now from the head, blood having now dripped all down his chest as well. The challenger covers for another 2 count.

Frustrated Disalvo whips the champ into the ropes but his bad plant leg gives out and he hits the mat. A disorientated champ runs right into the challenger his knee catching him in the head, and both men are down. Lane applies a slow count and both men use the ropes to get to their feet at the count of 9.

They meet in the middle of the ring, and Vendetta shoots on Disalvo taking him down with a single leg and then taking the match to the mat with a leglock. After working over the legs and knees of the challenger for a couple minutes he locks on the figure-four. Disalvo is in a lot of pain but manages to slowly make his way to the ropes for a break. Vendetta does not break clean and risks DQ as Buddy Lane lectures him. Disalvo tries to get to his feet as the champ circles him but his knee won't support him. The champ goes for a sidekick but Disalvo catches the leg and twists Vendetta to the mat. He then works legholds of his own for a couple minutes until locking on his own figure-four. Vendetta tries to get to the ropes but is having a difficult time moving the bigger challenger. Finally he is able instead to turn it over, reversing the pressure and making the challenger scream in pain. They roll out of the move and Vendetta uses the ropes to get to his feet. Buddy Lane is concerned about the blood being lost by the champ and insists on spending a few precious seconds checking him out before allowing the match to continue. In the meantime Lisa Caress was able to slip a roll of coins to her man through the cage wall.

We are now about 22 minutes into the match.

Jurgen Hermann comes running down to the ring and is trying to get Lane's attention to warn him about the roll of coins but Lane is too concentrated on the match to heed the warning, but Vendetta seems to understand. Vendetta kicks away at the challenger and finally Disalvo is able to get to his feet using the cage wall for support. He lashes out with his loaded fist at Vendetta, but partly because of his unstable footing and partly because of Vendetta moving out of the way, the punch hits Buddy Lane instead knocking him out. Vendetta retrieves the busted open roll of coins and throws it at the wall sending them scattering. Disalvo hobbles over and clotheslines the champ, both men going down. As they lay there Jurgen Hermann had the officials open the cage door and he goes in to referee and to try and revive Lane.

With both competitors down and out, one bleeding heavily from the head, the other with a bad knee, and two referee's in the ring, the crowd could sense this great match might be coming to an end soon and came to their feet with cheers reigning down.

Disalvo crawled over and covered Vendetta but there was no ref to count. Disalvo looked up but did not have the strength to go get Hermann where he was checking over Lane. Instead he just laid across the champ until Hermann saw and came over to count the 1, 2, shoulder up! Cover, 1, 2, shoulder-up. Punch to the head, cover, 1, 2, shoulder up. Punch to the head, school boy pin with the knees on the shoulders, 1, 2, Vendetta rolled his legs up to grab Disalvo by the shoulders and pull him down into a pin, 1,2, kickout.

From their knees the men exchanged punches, but Vendetta then rolled backward to gain space and got to his feet. Disalvo did the same, heavily favouring the injured knee. Vendetta tried to shoot again on the challenger but Disalvo timed it right, and drove Vendetta to the mat putting him in a front chancery. He worked the hold, putting it down to a chokehold whenever Hermann wasn't checking. Finally Hermann caught him and forced a break. Disalvo tried to put the same hold on again but Vendetta countered with a hammerlock and dragged the challenger to one knee. Vendetta then pulled the challenger backward driving Disalvo's back into the champs' knees. Vendetta tried for a figure-four to end the match but Disalvo was able to counter by reaching up and clocking the champ, then pulling him down to the mat in a roll-up.

Hermann counted 1, Vendetta tried to roll-out but Disalvo grabbed a handfull of tights for leverage, 2, again Vendetta tried to roll-out but Disalvo still had the tights, 3, NO, No, Buddy Lane revived and crawled over out his hand under Herman's to block the count, pointing out the tights to the other ref.

The match was made to continue as Disalvo banged his hands off the mat in frustration and Hermann helped Lane get to his feet and then left the ring, leaving Lane to again call the match.

Vendetta caught Disalvo distracted from behind and rolled him up, 1, 2, kickout. Disalvo headbutted Vendetta then punched him in the head, all from his knees, covered 1, KICKOUT with authority. Disalvo though punched Vendetta in the midsection, then a couple more times in the head. Back on his feet he set the champ up for another piledriver to end the match but as he came down his leg gave out and the two men just crashed to the mat with Vendetta laying on top of Disalvo, for the 1, 2, shoulder-up!

The fans were going absolutley crazy at this point. Once again Lane took a few seconds to check on the head of the champ and called for a ringside doctor but in the meantime allowed the match to continue. Both men got to their feet and exchanged punches, before Disalvo rocked Vendetta with a punch right to the throat. He then elbowed the champ twice between the eyes, and with Vendetta backed into the cage wall clotheslined him for extra measure. Vendetta was on his way down to the mat but the challenger propped him up, grabbed him by the hair and tried to throw him head first into the cage wall, right where the cage door was. But Vendetta countered at the last second sending the champ head first instead, bouncing on the top rope his head made contact with the cage door. The door which had now been opened and closed, and opened again as the ringside doctor prepared to enter was not latched. Disalvo's head knocked the door flying open, sending the good doc to the ground, then as the challenger's head lay over the top rope the cage door bounced back and hit him hard again. Disalvo flew backward to the mat. Vendetta covered, and got the 1, 2, 3 !!!

 

[Vendetta retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

 

Mike Lozansky, Vic Gate, and Buck Zumhoffe all came out to help support Vendetta as he walked to the back, head hung down, bleeding profusely, belt laying across his shoulder with Gate holding it there so it wouldn't fall.

Back inside Lisa Caress tried to help a despondant Steve Disalvo to his feet.

 

That's it for another great year of River City Wrestling.

 

See ya in 1988!