March 1, 1986
River City Wrestling #227
Thunder Bay, Ontario

 

-Backlund's warm-up match for the big cage match against David Schultz, nothing more then a TV squash match.

 

Bob Backlund says he doesn't know what to think of Schultz anymore. He suggests that Schultz might want to see a psychiatrist or something. Backlund says he's not sure if Schultz is really inherently a bad man, but tht their friendship is over.

 

-Schultz' warm-up match, another squash.

 

David Schultz makes it short and sweet. He blames the fans and howdy doody Bob for driving him to the brink of insanity. Schultz says his only true friend is the Heavyweight title, and on March 15th he is taking it back.

 

-good competitive match

 

The Fabulous Ones come out to the ring with a contract. They say they are owed a rematch for the Tag Titles, and they want that rematch on March 15th at the Hall of Fame show. The Fabs say that the Longriders think they are tougher then they really are and so they want to make the match a Streetfight, with all 4 men legal. They sign the contract and leave it at the announce table for the Longriders to sign.

 

[Misty Blue Simmes retains the Canadian Women's Championship]

-Corrie actually had control of most of this match as she was unrelentlesly vicious. She used her long nails across the back of the champ, choked her with her own leotard strap, and pulled the champs hair whenever possible. Simmes turned things around though, managed to nail a DDT out of nowhere, and then hit the Superfly to escape with her title.

 

The Longriders come out with their tag belts to the announce table to look over the contract. As they discuss it the Fabulous Ones come from the crowd, leaping over the guardrail, and attack the 'riders from behind. A four man brawl errupts which the Fabs take control of, with Keirn busting Scott Hogg's head open on the steel steps, and Stan Lane nailing Wild Bill with a superkick knocking him completely out.

 

[end of first hour]

 

Phillip Navarre comes to the ring along with some assistants carrying metal plates. Navarre calls out Prof. Toru Tanaka for their strength challenge.

Navarre reminds Tanaka what he said last week, this will be a test not only of physical strength, but also will power, and stamina. He offers Tanaka a chance to back out, but the huge martial arts competitor just says, "Japan number one...Tanaka number one son".

Navarre says that they will go over and stand on a table beside the announce table. Standing and facing each other, plams up, they will both hold these metal plates, one in each hand. The first man to drop a weight or rest his arm will be the loser. Tanaka examines each weight, and seems to grin, tossing the weight up and down like a child's toy.

The wrestlers make their way over to the table which has been set up and stand there facing each other, their hands about two feet apart. Palms up they hold the weights up. After showing the competition for about a minute the announcers say we will keep an eye and a camera on this contest as the show continues.

 

Angel of Death comes to the ring. He says he was very disappointed in Mike Sharpe's performance last week in their tag match loss to Jos LeDuc and Rufus R Jones. A of D says he has a better partner this week, a guy he has brought in from Stampede, a native of Quebec, Dangerous Dan Kroffatt.

 

-Kroffat has a bit of the high impact, agile, Stampede style of wrestling, but combines it with a martial arts background, lots of kicks. Angel of Death should have had the match won but choose to showboat a bit, and missed a dropping headbutt on Jones when he took too much time and Jones moved out of the way. Jones then followed up with his own headbutt for the win.

 

Post-Match:

Angel of Death waited paitently for his new partner to get to his feet. Then scooped him up and gave him a powerslam. He continued to lay the boots in on the youngster until LeDuc and Jones returned to make the save.

 

We get a minute or so of Prof Tanaka and Phillip Navarre facing each other, holding their weights palm up. Tanaka looks strong, but angry as he growls at Navarre. Navarre looks like he is having a hard time keeping his arms steady but he is also nagging at Tanaka, telling him how the weight just keeps getting heavier, how he should just give up, that there is no shame in losing such a contest. Tanaka is doing his best to control his anger.

 

A highlight package as well as comments from wrestlers are shown to make the Hall of Fame case for both Marty Goldstein and Chris Lyon.

We are told that the announcement as to which if either man will be elected to the H of F will be made next week.

 

March 15th, Hall of Fame & St. Patrick's Day Bash.

**possible Hall of Fame innauguration

**Steel Cage match - Bob Backlund v  David Schultz

**Streetfight - Longriders v Fabulous Ones

**TV title will either be defended or forfeited

**Women's Title will be on the line

 

Promo: On Tonight's Evening News

-Status of investigation into Friday's assassination of Swedish Prime Min. Olof Palme.  Circumstances surrounding his murder reviewed. Palme's controversial career, include his comparison of United States bombing of Vietnam with Nazi atrocities in World War II, recalled.

-Massachusetts's vol. work training program, Educ. and Training (E.T.) developed in response to criticism of workfare, examined

-Snowfall in Jacksonville, Florida, today detailed

-"Boston Globe" reported claiming percentage of top college football players tested positive for drugs earlier this year during NFL tryouts

-New York Mets player Keith Hernandez reported fighting baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth's ruling on drug abuse among major league players

 

Once again we see Prof Toru Tanaka and Phillip Navarre, now both of them are starting to have a bit of a quiver in their arms. Navarre stops his banter, closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and seems to be trying to escape into some sort of meditation. Now its Tanaka's turn to banter, with his "Japan number one...Tanaka number one son...Europeans weak".

 

 

Ben Bassarab  v  Chris Lyon

 

The two men were attached by a steel chain to leather cuffs they wore around their wrists. As soon as they were cuffed Lyon attacked Bassarab trying to catch him by surprise. Bassarab though was ready and blocked the initial punch. He wrapped the chain around Lyon's neck and then pulled him across his back to increase the leverage. After a few seconds Lyon managed to tumble off the back of Bassarab, but still had the chain wrapped around his neck. He tried to kick out several times at Bassarab who refused to let go of the chain. Finally Bassarab let go to whip Lyon to the ropes. Lyon came bouncing off the ropes, Bassarab telegraphed a back body drop and Lyon hammered him across the back with the chain. Lyon then took the chain and brought it smashing up under the chin of Bassarab, knocking him flat on the ground.

Lyon proceeded to wrap the chain around his opponent's ankle and leaving the ring wrapped it around the ringpost, smashing Bassarab's ankle against the steel. He then pulled Bassarab forward, crotching him into the ring post. Back inside Lyon tried to drag Bassarab to all 4 corners for the win but after the second corner Bassarab was able to stop the momentum and exchange punches with Lyon.

The two men exchanged punches and kicks, and then took the match to the floor. Lyon got Bassarab all tied up against the guardrail so he couldn't protect himself well while Lyon kicked him repeatedly in the side of the thigh and ribcage. Lyon then took Bassarab down with a back suplex. Back inside he tried to touch all 4 buckles but again only got 2 of them.

Bassarab wrapped the chain around his fist and began to batter Lyon, busting him wide open. With Lyon on his knees Bassarab wrapped the chain around the back of his neck and then dropkicked him in the head. Ben tried to touch all 4 buckles but Lyon recovered and yanked him back just a foot away from the 4th buckle.

The two brawled again and now Bassarab was also busted open. Lyon tossed Bassarab over the top rope and the youngster probably saved his arm by landing on the ring apron instead of coming to a sudden jolt when he ran out of slack. The two traded punches with Bassarab on the apron and Lyon inside the ring. Lyon then sprung off the turnbuckle nailing Bassarab in the head with the chain. Bassarab fell off the ring apron. Lyon then pulled him back toward the ring, and tried to yank him back into the ring, backward. Finally Bassarab regained his footing and climbed back into the ring. Lyon nailed him with the chain, clotheslining him to the ground. He wrapped the chain around his elbow but when he tried for the elbowdrop Bassarab rolled out of the way.

Ben whipped Chris into the ropes and nailed him with a flying dropkick. He sent him to the ropes again for a crossbody block finisher but Lyon held onto the ropes and Bassarab hit nothing but air.Turning to more conventional wrestling moves Lyon hit Bassarab with a side Russian legsweep, followed by a neckbreaker and a slingshot suplex. He tried for the pin but when reminded by Destroyer about the rules tried to touch all 4 buckles. That delay may have saved Bassarab as he yanked Lyon back about a foot short of victory.

The two then tried to pull each other in, having a tug of war, and then began to circle each other, going faster and faster, all the time working their hands up the chain closing the gap between the two. Finally Bassrab let go, did a somersault, which caused Lyon to lose his balance and fall. Bassrab nailed Lyon with a dropkick, and then came off the ropes with a fist wrapped in chain to the head.

Both men were now bleeding profusely and the Destroyer looked on in concern.

Bassarab managed to touch 3 buckles before Lyon clotheslined him from behind. He then gave him a bulldog and he too was able to touch 3 out of 4 buckles.

The two men battled to the corner and up the turnbuckle with Bassarab on the second and Lyon on the top. Bassarab then headbutted Lyon in the groin and took him over to the mat with a suplex. He then went and touched buckles, 1, 2, 3, and 4.

 

 

Bassarab falls down, victorious but bloodied. Destroyer frees both fallen men.

In the meantime we cut away to the strength contest. Tanaka is shouting at Navarre "Japan number one" but Navarre is in a trance and seems able to ignore him. Tanaka's arms are shaking and he finally gives it up, dropping the weights. Navarre though is still in his trance like state so Tanaka picks up one of the weights and hits Navarre, fairly weakly, across the head. It fazes Navarre but doesn't drop him. So Tanaka goes to his feet and hits Navarre with a heavy side kick, this time dropping him. Tanaka is all over Navarre now, kicking him while he is down. RCW officials are on site now and trying to get Tanaka off of Navarre.

In the meantime inside the ring the Destroyer was distracted watching that unfold. Lyon nails Bassarab from behind with the chain, and then wraps it around the Destroyer's neck, choking him out. Officials have to be diverted from Tanaka to Lyon, trying to break up two beatings at the same time.

 

 

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

 

See ya next week!!

 

 

 

March 8, 1986
River City Wrestling #228
St. Paul, Minnesota

 

- a succesful return to RCW by the East Indian technician.

 

Great Gama was interviewed and if his tactics in the previous match were not enough to make him disliked by the fans, then his rude comments towards Americans and the RCW fans was sure to be more then enough.

 

-squash match

 

The Fabs talk about how fired up they are for their streetfight next week against the Longriders, and how they want their tag titles back.

 

-a glorified squash match

 

LeDuc and Jones bring out young Dan Kroffat who last week was attacked by his own partner Angel of Death following their loss to LeDuc and Jones. Kroffat challenges Angel of Death to a match next week.

 

-the rematch from their double collission did not settle anything.

 

Marty Goldstein comes out and on the spot makes the Women's Championship Match next week to be a Triple Threat match with champion Misty Blue Simmes defending against both Tawney England and LeLani Kai.

 

[end of first hour]

 

- a big upset for Gallahad over Bassarab, who had just himself defeated Chris Lyon. This bodes well for Gallahad in the TV title picture. However, in this match the victory came about as Bassarab came up limp after a criss cross sequence. He favoured one leg the rest of the match and that was enough of an advantage for Gallahad to exploit to pick up the win.

 

Post-Match:

Ron Strong gets a few words in with Ben Bassarab after the match. The young man from Edmonton tells Strong that he injured his groin muscle during the match and he's not sure how bad it is.

 

Destroyer is interviewed by Mike Stone. He is evasive as to his condition. Stone says that Gallahad looks to be the #1 contender for the belt and if Destroyer can't defend it next week he will be stripped. Destroyer says he is working hard in rehab and if it was up to him he would limp into the ring, but the problem is that so far the doctors refuse to clear him to wrestle. Destroyer then goes on to say that regardless of what happens, when he returns to the ring his sites will be firmly affixed to getting revenge against Chris Lyon for his attack with the chain last week.

 

-glorified squash match

 

The tag champion Longriders take their turn to talk about next week's streetfight against the Fabulous Ones.

 

Bob Backlund & Phillip Navarre

v

Dr D David Schultz & Prof. Toru Tanaka

 

Backlund and Navarre started strong turning back everything their opponents could throw at them. But Tanaka turned things around against Navarre and while referee Buddy Lane was distracted he rammed him head first into the ringpost. Somehow Navarre was able to kick out after that, but he was bloodied. Navarre played Ricky Morton for a couple minutes until he was able to tag in Backlund. The RCW champion battered away at Tanaka but was taken out frm behind by Schultz. A brief 2 on 1 attack followed. Backlund managed to tag in Navarre, but he too was already suffering, and although the spirit was willing, the body was weak and losing blood ~ quite a bit of blood. When the rulebreakers tried for another 2 on 1 Backlund came in to even up the odds and we had a 4 man brawl. Tanaka took use of the distraction to fish out a pair of brass knux and nail Navarre in the head. The Frenchman hit the mat hard and fell out of the ring.

Schultz too threw Backlund out of the ring.

Buddy Lane applied the 10 count and at first Backlund tried to help his partner back into the ring but when Navarre stumbled and fell, and Backlund could see how much he was bleeding, Backlund actually stopped any further attempts by Navarre to get back into the match, taking the countout loss.

 

 

"ScrapIron" George Gadasky, former RCW head referee, and current member of the RCW Hall of Fame committe comes to the ring.

He has two announcements to make, the second one of course being who if anyone will be going into the RCW Hall of Fame next week.

The first announcment however, will be the appearance of a special guest referee for the Phillip Navarre v Prof Toru Tanaka match next week. That special guest referee is no stranger to Tanaka, having worked with him on a couple major motion pictures; one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars, and a legend in the world of kickboxing and martial arts; Chuck Norris!!

As for the Hall of Fame, after much contention as to which three options to choose this year between no inductees, Marty Goldstein, or Chris Lyon a decision was finally made. The 6 man committe was at a stalemate until last week when witnessing the brutal attack by Chris Lyon on the already injured Destroyer after the chain match. Several members of the board were not impressed that this was an attack on an RCW official. The final decision of the board is that Marty Goldstein our matchmaker and commissioner will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The fans cheer the announcement, more to see Chris Lyon be kept out probably then to see Goldstein go in.

 

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

 

See ya next week at the Hall of Fame inductions and St. Patrick's Day Bash!!

 

 

March 15, 1986
River City Wrestling #229
Winnipeg, Manitoba

 

 

 

 

Bassarab started strong by backing Kid to the ropes with some lefts and rights. He tried to whip Kid across the ring but it was blocked, countered, but blocked again by Bassarab, countered, blocked by Gallahad who again tried to whip Bassarab across the ring, blocked, Gallahad frustrated tried for a lariat, but Bassarab fell backward into a crabwalk position to duck under. Gallahad stepped over Basarab to a mount, driving him down to the mat, but Bassarab brought his legs up hooking Kid's arms, taking him over for 1, Gallahad rolled through into a pin, 1, grabbed the tights, 2, kickout. Both men scramble to their feet.

They lock up, Bassarab drops to his back, goes to monkey flip Gallahad who tries to shift his weight, he's balancing precariously on Bassarab's feet, their fingers still locked together. Wyatt Hall goes to apply the count as Bassarab's shoulders are on the mat, and suddenly Bassarab flips Gallahad over, landing right on Hall.

Both men scramble to their feet again, this time with the ref kocked out. They trade punches and kicks. Suddenly someone comes running out of the audience, wearing a Destroyer mask...it's obviously Chris Lyon...he clotheslines Bassarab from behind. They follow up with a double team slingshot suplex. Hall is recovering so Lyon leaves through the crowd. The pin is applied, 1, 2, KICKOUT!Gallahad goes to work, kick to the gut, snap suplex, float over, 1, 2, Kickout. German suplex, then another this time releasing Bassarab and bouncing him off the mat. Gallahad climbs to the top turnbuckle, but Bassarab getting to his feet without even looking does the smart thing and rolls out of the ring.

The fans are completely behind Ben Bassarab in this match.

The real Destroyer comes down to ringside. This distracts Wyatt Hall, but Destroyer is complaining to Hall about what Lyon had done coming out of the audience. Gallahad is also distracted, is arguing with the Destroyer and Hall, all the while no count is being applied and Bassarab is getting a good rest.

Finally Destroyer leaves and Gallahad rolls out of the ring, and goes after Bassarab. But Ben is too rested and gets in the first punch. They brawl outside the ring, then roll back inside to beat the count. Bassarab nails a gutwrench suplex then a kneedrop from the 2nd buckle. He covers and gets a 1 count.

Bassarab goes for another suplex, but Gallahad blocks it, takes Bassarab over with his own suplex. He applies an scissors lock on the arm of Bassarab before walking him over to the turnbuckle and smashing the arm several times on the buckle. He then wraps it around the top cable and bends it. He breaks at the 5 count, but then reapplies. Bassarab battles back with a knee to the gut, then a kick, then an elbow with his other arm...but its his left arm, and the blow just glances off Gallahad's head awkwardly. Gallahad recovers with a kick to the "lower" abdomen which draws a warning from Hall. Gallahad suplexes Bassarab out of the corner. He goes to the top but Bassarab recovers and takes his opponent off the top with a slam. He comes off the far ropes and nails Gallahad with a flying cross body block, covers, and gets 1, 2, 3 !! Big win for Bassarab who is cheered loudly by the crowd.

 

 

 

 

 

Kroffat seeking a bit of revenge from A of D for his beatdown suffered a few weeks ago after their tag team loss. Angel of Death attacked Kroffat before the bell as he was removing his crimson silk warm-up jacket. Angel of Death used the jacket to tie up the arms of Kroffat as good as he could to press the advantage, working Kroffat with punches to the head. A of D turned his attention to the shoulder of Kroffat working it over with stomps, smashes into the buckle, and then a shoulderbreaker. He applied a half nelson but couldn't get the submission.

Kroffat fought back, and once he could get some seperation from the larger man he went to work with karate kicks and chops, and then a flying backelbow catching Angel coming off the ropes. Kroffat nailed a dropkick but when he went for a second, Angel moved out of the way. A of D threw Kroffat shoulder first into the buckle, then took him over with a side suplex, dropping him right on the same shoulder. He then applied a shoulderbreaker, pin, 1, 2, lift shoulder up. Angel dropped his knee twice into the shoulder of Kroffat and then re-applied the pin, pressing down on the shoulder, 1, 2, kickout. Angel lifted his legs up to bring a knee down on the shoulder, but Kroffat snuck his knees in and Angel landed on the knees instead. Kroffat whipped Angel to the ropes, but he grabbed onto the ropes, so Kroffat tried for a dropkick but nobody was home, and Kroffat landed on the hurt shoulder instead. Angel gave another shoulderbreaker, pin, 1, 2, 3.

 

 

 

 

 

Simmes started the match against Kai, and it was vicious from the start with punches, nail rakes, and chokes. Simmes settled things down a bit and worked an armbar until Kai tagged out to England. Tawney took Simmes down with a couple Japanese arm drags, then dropped a heel into the gut of Simmes. She worked a hammerlock and Simmes while in the hold tagged out to Kai.

Kai then took over by clotheslining England. Using the hair she snapmared England over, and then applied a reverse chinlock. Back on their feet she tried for a flying crossbody but England was able to shift her body and slam Kai to the mat for a 2 count. Kai and England got to their feet and brawled, with Simmes making a blind tag off of the back of Kai. She went to work on England with a kick to the gut and a swinging neckbreaker. The pin attempt was broken up by Kai who pulled Simmes off by the hair. A 3 lady brawl errupted with Simmes and England taking Kai over with a double suplex, and then Simmes ducking under an England clothesline, and taking her over with a belly to back suplex. She covered and got the pin.

 

[Misty Blue Simmes retained the Canadian Women's Title]

 

 

 

Gene Kiniski, Bulldog Bob Brown, Stan Mullen, George Gadasky, and Jack McAdam from the Hall of Fame committee are all present; the only one missing is Matt Brock the wrestling magazine columnist.

A brief overview of Marty's contributions to RCW as a matchmaker, part owner, and commissioner are reviewed. He is presented with a plaque and a ring, and the bigger plaque for the Hall of Fame is also unveiled in an in-ring ceremony.

Then the predictable happens.

Chris Lyon wearing that faux Destroyer mask hits the ring. He wants Goldstein but the Hall of Fame committee who passed him over again this year also make good targets. Kiniski tries to get in Lyon's way but using his momentum from the bull rush he easily knocks the former World champion to the ground and then stomps him in the head. Both Mullen and Gadasky grab at the arms of Lyon but he just grabs them and smashes their heads together. Bulldog Bob Brown just steps away drawing the ire of the crowd. Jack McAdam just stands there in horror until Lyon tosses him out of the ring. Kiniski is back on his feet but Lyon puts on a pair of brass knux and hammers him down to the mat again. He goes after Goldstein and manages to get in one solid punch to the head with the knux.

Then the Destroyer hits the ring.

Destroyer nails Lyon with a football tackle. Lyon reaches up and pops him in the head with the knux but its a glancing blow. The two scramble to their feet. Lyon goes for a wild punch but Destroyer ducks under and then takes Lyon down with a flying crucifix. Lyon manages to roll through though and catches Destroyer with the brass knux to the head. He then grabs the masked man's arm, puts it down on the mat and starts to drop his knee onto it over and over again.

Marty Goldstein is busted wide open, but  is back on his feet and grabs at Lyon from behind. Lyon abandons Destroyer and grabs Marty by the throat with both hands, trying to choke him out.

Ben Bassarab hits the ring, grabbing a steel chair on his way in. He ~waffles~ Lyon across the back of the head. Lyon falls face first to the mat but Bassarab is so worked up he hits Lyon over the back of the head with the chair again...and a third time. Finally Goldstein and Kiniski are able to get in the way and talk Bassarab down.

The whole ring and ceremony is a shambles.

 

[end of first hour]

 

 

 

The Longriders (champions)  v  The Fabulous Ones

 

The rules are simple; their are none. All four men are legal and the first team to score a pinfall wins the match, and the titles.

The match was one long brawl, inside the ring, outside the ring, and into the audience. Referee Buddy Lane stayed in the ring whenever at least one competitor was there and didn't venture out to count pins. Both teams tried to hurt an opponent enough so that they could turn into a double team on the other opponent.

The Fabs managed to give Wild Bill a spectacular double superplex with the Fabs each standing on the 2nd buckle/rope. On the other hand minutes later the 'riders punished Steve Keirn with a version of the doomsday device. Neither team seemed ready to score an early pinfall. Only Steve Keirn escaped having his head busted open.

Scott Hogg Irwin sent Keirn over the top rope to the floor below. They then double teamed Stan Lane. With both opponents hurt they set up a table outside the ring against the ring apron. They then sent Stan Lane hurtling over the top rope, and landing through and breaking the table. He was out like a light. They then tried to take Keirn to the top rope for another double team but the Fab fought back. He fought back down off the buckles, and had them reeling, until Bill grabbed him by the legs and Scott tried to decapitate him with a clothesline. Scott then set up Keirn for a piledriver with Wild Bill stuffling it from the top turnbuckle. That was enough to get the decisive victory.

 

[The Longriders retain the RCW Tag Team Titles]

 

 

 

Phillip Navarre  v  Prof. Toru Tanaka

 

The first four minutes of this match were slow, with Tanaka complaining a lot to Norris about him being American and favoring Navarre (who is French), and about the tactics of Navarre. At one point Tanaka complained about Navarre pulling his hair. When Norris pointed out that Tanaka was bald the Japanese star changed his tune saying that Navarre had pulled his ear. Tanaka also took a couple opportunities to slip out of the ring to jaw with the fans, going beyond his normal "Japan number one" saying, to now include "Toyota put fat Ford workers out of job, ha-ha".

The third time Tanaka decided to go out and jaw with the crowd was too much for Navarre who took the bait and followed him out. Tanaka caught him with a standing sidekick, followed by a karate chop just below the throat. He worked Navarre over with martial arts moves outside and then inside the ring. He tried to get a submission with a nerve hold but Navarre managed to fight his way out of it. Navarre came off the far ropes but walked right into a bearhug, which he too managed to fight his way out of. He came off the far ropes again, this time though he slid under Tanaka and then took him down with a kick to the back of the calf, followed by an inverted facelock and then slammed him into the mat. He covered and got a 2 count. Navarre punished Tanaka a bit and then tried for the coup de grace, but Tanaka was too big and countered with a chop right betwen the eyes of the Frenchman.

Tanaka nailed a powerslam and made the pin, 1, 2, foot on the bottom rope. Instead of following up though Tanaka decided to complain to Norris once again, but this time made the mistake of putting his finger into the chest of Norris. The special guest referee twisted the hand of Tanaka off, and when Tanaka pushed him, he pushed back. When Tanaka chopped him, he chopped back. And then Tanaka was caught off guard, probably never saw it coming, just felt the rush of air, as Norris nailed him with a roundhouse kick. Tanaka just stood there, arms windmilling in the air. Navarre picked him up from behind and dropped him, driving the back of Tanaka's head into the top turnbuckle, in a modified Coup de Grace. Navarre made the pin and Norris counted the 1, 2, 3!!

 

 

Announcement:

Marty Goldstein comes to the ring with The Destroyer.

They recount what occured earlier with Chris Lyon attacking both of them during the shambles of a Hall of Fame presentation.

Destroyer jokes that these Hall of Fame presentations are bad karma for him. Two years ago he was inducted but then lost a loser leaves town match to Chris Lyon that night. Now here he is tonight, with a serious arm injury, again at the hands of Chris Lyon, and that he won't be able to meet his obligations as the Television champion. He will not be able to meet the 30 day window and thus, handing the belt to Goldstein, must forfeit the title.

Goldstein talks about how unfortuante the injury is, and wishes Destroyer well in his rehabilitation of the injury.

In the meantime the commissioner says that he has scheduled an 8-man tournament for next week to crown a new RCW Television champion. The 8 participants in the single elimination tournament will be Rufus R Jones, Phillip Navarre, Dan Kroffat, Ben Bassarab, Kid Gallahad, Great Gama, Angel of Death, and Kelly Kiniski.

Goldstein also mentions that the following week on March 29th RCW will be pre-empted to bring a special WWF preview show for their extravaganza WrestleMania II.

Goldstein finishes by saying that starting tonight Chris Lyon will be serving a 30-day suspension for his actions against the Destroyer tonight, and because of that he is not going to be in that TV title tournament. However, Goldstein says, that suspension is not punishment for wrecking his personal glory at the Hall of Fame presentation tonight. Instead, when Lyon comes back in April, if he chooses to come back, his first match will be a handicap match. It will be Chris Lyon against himself (Marty Goldstein) and a partner of his own choosing.

 

 

Bob Backlund (champion)  v  Dr D David Schultz

 

The match started with Schultz offering a handshake. Backlund though after receiving advice from the fans refused. This made Schultz irrate and he charged Backlund, which proved to be a mistake as the former world champion was ready and threw Schultz head first into the cage. Backlund controlled the match early trying to keep Schultz grounded with a reverse chinlock, abdominal stretch, and a waistlock. Eventually Schultz fired back with elbows, and then slammed Backlund to the cage wall. He went after him with stomps and kicks, choking him with his boot.

Schultz then turned his attention to a power attack of bodyslams, full-nelson, and a piledriver. But even after the piledriver he could only get a 2 count. He tried for his corkscrew neckbreaker but Backlund managed to block it. The match degenerated into a brawl again with both men taking turns smashing and grinding the other's face into the cage wall.

Both men were busted wide open now.

Schultz tried for another piledriver but Backlund countered with a backbody drop into the cage wall. Backlund went to work with a belly to belly suplex, a swinging neckbreaker, and then a piledriver of his own, but only got a 2 count. Backlund managed to get a crossface chickenwing on the challenger but he reached the bottom rope for the break. Schultz chopped Backlund to the throat and then kicked him several times in the midsection. He tried for his finisher again but this time Backlund shoved him off into the cage wall, and then nailed him on the rebound with an atomic drop driving him again off the cage wall. That was enough to pick up the decisive win.

 

[Bob Backlund retains the RCW Heavyweight Title]

 

That's it for a special edition of River City Wrestling.

 

See ya next week for the Televison Title Tournament !!

 

 

 

March 22, 1986
River City Wrestling #230
Brandon, Manitoba

 

 

Quarter-Final Bout #1

-two fan favorites hooked up in a clean bout to start the evening

 

Quarter-Final Bout #2

-Navarre thought he had the match won, going for the coup de grace but Gallahad had enough in him to counter with an inside cradle aided by a handful of tights to gain a tainted victory and advancement in the tournament.

 

Quarter-Final Bout #3

-Kroffat got what he failed to get last week, revenge against the Angel.

 

Quarter-Final Bout #4

-the only way Jones could work a 12 minute match at his age and weight was to include long stretches as the recepient of submission type restholds from his East Indian opponent, and to add in some comedy spots. The match wore thin with the faithful fans and came to a less then fulfilling end.

 

Semi-Final #1

-nothing new from these two, as they put on a Stampede style match with more suplexes then the A-Team has bullets, as well as some submission holds like Boston crab, camel clutch, and the figure-four which finished the match.

 

Semi-Final #2

-another Stampede style match, with plenty of high impact moves mixed in with some submission and ground wrestling. Gama looked to have this match won on two seperate occassions with a camel clutch, but Kroffat's superb conditioning allowed him to reach the ropes, and go on to mount a comeback.

 

 

Ben Bassarab  v  Dan Kroffat

 

The match began with a handshake from these two fan favorites. On the lock-up the shorter but more agile Bassarab ducked around and put his opponent in a waistlock. He tried to take him down but Kroffat maintained his footing, broke the fingerlock of Bassarab and turned it into a hammerlock. Bassarab ducked under put on a hammerlock of his own, but then Kroffat nailed him with a back elbow.

The two continued to feel each other out and to play by the rules.

Kroffat grabbed the advantage when Bassarab telegraphed a backbody drop and the Quebec native fed the Albertan a high knee lift. Kroffat then hit Bassarab with a quick powerbomb, then turned him over into a Boston crab. Bassarab battled to the ropes. Kroffat continued to work over the back with backbreakers and forearm shots. A bow and arrow submission also punished Bassarab.

Finally the Albertan battled back and after a crisscross and nailed a clothesline. Bassarab pressed his advantage with a snap suplex, a slingshot into the top buckle, and then a release German suplex. He tried for the crossbody block finisher but Kroffat managed to hold his feet and turn it into yet another backbreaker. He followed with a Boston crab and for almost 90 seconds Bassarab worked his way to the ropes and refused to submit. Kroffat tried to go right after Bassarab but the Albertan lashed out with a kick from his back, and then rolled out of the ring.

He wanted a break but Kroffat could smell blood and went right after him. He tried to roll Bassarab back into the ring but Ben blocked it and bounced Kroffat's head off the ring apron. He then used the ring apron to spring off of, and nail Kroffat with an elbow to the head. Ben rolled Dan back into the ring, still heavily favoring his back.

Bassarab hesitated, not sure what to do next, pausing in a suplex position, and that delay allowed Kroffat to nail Bassarab with a hanging vertical suplex, for a 2 count. Kroffat thought he had it won and went for the spinning heel kick, but Bassarab had it well scouted, ducked under, took Kroffat down with a double leg, and tried for a pin but only got a 2 count.

Kroffat whipped Bassarab to the buckle and chased in after him. Bassarab grabbed the top buckle and tried to leap over the charging Kroffat, but Dan caught Ben's legs and tried to powerbomb him off, but Ben insistently held onto the top ropes. Referee Buddy Lane was on the spot and because Ben was holding onto the top ropes Lane began a 5 count against Kroffat to break his hold. Finally Kroffat released his hold on Ben's legs but that allowed Ben to wrap his legs around Kroffat's neck and take him down with spinning headscissors. It was a devastating blow and gained Bassarab the duke.

 

[Ben Bassarab won the vacant RCW Television Title]

 

Bassarab celebrated his 3rd RCW Television title victory, the second in a row coming from a tournament after the title was vacated.

 

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

 

We are pre-empted next week for a WWF preview of the WrestleMania II extravaganza.

 

We'll see ya in two weeks!!