February 2002

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #915
February 2, 2002
St. Paul, Minnesota


On Tonight's show.
Our main event will be a return match between the Hennig Brothers and Steve Corino/Al Snow.
Also, we will play a videotape sent to the RCW offices by Nick Mercury, which states why he is here in RCW and who has sent him.

<<< cue "Turn the Page" by Bob Seger>>>
Troy Black comes out to a mixed reaction of boos and cheers, but overall a pretty dead reaction.
He hails from Kingston, Ontario, Canada and comes in at 5'11 and 235 pounds.

<<<cue "Freebird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd>>>
His opponent is the double tough Buddy McElroy formerly from Chattanooga, Tennessee but now hailing from Badstreet Atlanta G.A., and entering the ring at 6'4 and 289 pounds.

Black is no match for McElroy who just punishes the youngster. During the match the crowd begins chanting "We want Schultz, We want Schultz" which just made McElroy even madder and he took it out on Black. Finally McElroy began to taunt out at Schultz as well, daring him to come down to the ring.
But Schultz never came and the fans bood as McElroy clamped on the Asiatic spike and got the win.
[Winner by submission at 5:23 Buddy McElroy]

Post-Match:
McElroy punished Black some more after the match, and taunted Schultz who never came out.

Big Announcement:
Frank Dusek the President of the PWA has sent word that the WWA North American Champion Kai Hanson will be coming to Chicago on March 9th to defend his title on the RCW's stop on the Barry Windham farewell tour 2002. In addition, it has just been learned that WWA-CWA Americas Champion Cesar DeHoyos will also be wrestling on that big TV taping. It's shaping up to being a great night of wrestling.

[commercial break]


<<< cue "Wait and Bleed" by Slipknot >>>
The IBZ, Shaggy and Wiked Klown, come to the ring and are soundly jeered by the fans. Wiked Klown stops to rip up a fans sign that taunts him with "Wiked Klown phears phoniks".

<<< cue The "Kids Aren't Allright" by The Offspring >>>
The new duo of Devon Storm and J.J. Extreme come running out from the back. They are really pissed at IBZ ruining their chances of winning tag team gold last week with their interference.

IBZ are no match for Extreme-Storm, and take to running early. But outside the ring Klown catches Storm by opening up a fire extinguisher into his eyes. Long time inept official Jurgen Hermann of course is looking the wrong way. Then Hermann doesn't DQ the IBZ when they double team Extreme. They fail to get a 3 count but Storm still hasn't recovered from the chemicals in his eyes. Storm's former partner Ace Darling comes out to help Storm. But Storm is blinded and nails Darling with a right cross to the jaw. NOW Jurgen Hermann is distracted by the outside stuff, and doesn't see the drop toe hold on Extreme by Shaggy driving his face into an open steel chair. And he's still not looking when Wiked Klown uses the ring bell off the top turnbuckle onto a prone Extreme. Hermann turns around in time though to count the 3 count.
[Winners by pinfall the IBZ after using foreign objects at 4:45]

Studio Interview:
Jim Davies has the rough duty of interviewing the Spinebusters, Jerry Orth and Bryan Caruthers. Davies tells us that Orth injured his knee last week and will be out for a couple of months. This of course would seem to necessitate forfeiture of the tag titles.
Orth is livid calling it a conspiracy by RCW to strip them of the titles because nobody could beat them fair and square. That's why the RCW had them defend against those unknowns Storm & Extreme last week. Caruthers is a bit more under control, but through clinched teeth he says that RCW has NOT seen the last of the Spinebusters.

[commercial break]


Highlight package of the Al Collins & Joe Blum versus Johnny Devine & Greg Pawluk feud which has been raging ever since December of last year. 

<<< cue "Choke" by Kittie >>>
The fans boo as the Young Guns. Hotshot Johnny Devine and Pistol Greg Pawluk make their way to the ring.

<<< cue "Burning Heart" by Survivor >>>
The fans are on their feet as they cheer for two legends of the mat game. Al Collins comes out in his red trunks and boots. He brushes aside his comb over and the fans cheer him even louder. Joe Blum comes out to a similar reaction in his camouflage clothing.

Devine and Pawluk leave the ring and attack their opponents before the match can even begin. It turns into a four man brawl. Blum gets the better of Devine and is absolutely pummeling him in the crowd. In the meantime Pawluk is holding his own against Al Collins. Pawluk is showing off the product of all his training in Stu Hart's dungeon. Blum manages to drag Devine into the ring to get the action back inside.
This only lasts a few minutes before Pawluk has had enough and enters the ring with a chair. Collins blocks the chair shot though and then DDTs Pawluk on the chair busting him wide open. The referee Marty Stevens disqualifies the Young Guns for brining the chair in to the ring.
[Winners by disqualification Al Collins & Joe Blum at 3:03 after Greg Pawluk was dq'd for using a foreign object.]

Post-Match
A livid team of Collins and Blum throw out a challenge to Pawluk & Devine to meet them one more time in the ring whenever they want. The losing team will have to disband and no longer will they be allowed to tag team together.

[commercial break]


Preview Segment:
As promised by RCW Heavyweight Champion, Sam Holiday, the next shot at his title would be granted to Al Hardamann. That title defense will take place next Saturday here on RCW Rage. By defending it Holiday narrowly makes his 30-day window. But what kind of shape will his ankle be in after the severe attack by Raymond Bingham with the lead pipe? Hardamann can be a real animal when he smells blood, and he's a straight shooter. It's going to be a tough match for Holiday.

Main Event - Return Match:
Curt & Jesse Hennig v Al Snow & Steve Corino
Corino and Snow have the Hennigs either running or in trouble for much of this match. Jesse was isolated first, but when Curt got tagged in he didn't fare well either. Snow had the match won over Curt with the Snowplow, only to have Jesse break it up. This happened a second time, and then a third time. Finally referee Wayne Hart warned Jesse that next time it would cause a DQ. Corino was on the verge of ending the match, he was hoisting Curt up into a powerbomb or a piledriver, when he spent too long showboating and Curt back flipped him. As Corino staggered to his feet he reached for the ropes to steady himself and Jesse reached over the ropes, having had fished out a set of brass knux from his trunks, and nailed Corino in the head. Referee Wayne Hart only saw the punch, not the knux, and so he counted the subsequent pin.
[Winners by pinfall at 8:12 Curt & Jesse Hennig when Curt pinned Corino, after Jesse hit Corino with brass knux]

[commercial break]


Video Taped Statement from Nick Mercury 
Mercury says that he has come from the PWA where Frank Dusek tried to bury his career. He has been sent as a messiah, a hero to the people, by Brandon Myers the true Undisputed champion of wrestling. He has come to these back woods to establish that Bad Attitude is indeed International. Mercury says that Myers has given him only until the end of March to finish his assignment. Put together a Bad Attitude chapter that will win ALL the RCW titles. RCW is known as the Proving Grounds, and Mercury says this is the way that he will prove himself to Myers.

FADE TO BLACK


Dark Matches Before RAGE
American Heavyweight Title Match: Diamond Dallas Page (C) (/w Kimberly) defeated Al Hardamann by disqualification for use of a foreign object
"Total Destruction" Steve Riley and Stan Baker battled to a no-contest
Bryan Caruthers defeated Terry Hendrix by pinfall after a spinebuster slam
Van Hammer defeated Ace Darling by pinfall after a powerbomb
Marcus Schultz defeated J.W. Ousley by pinfall after a dragon suplex

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #916
February 9, 2002
Edmonton, Alberta


The show opens with a very rare appearance by President Jack Larkin.
Larkin welcomes Canada to WWA - River City Wrestling, and the great tradition of mat wrestling in Middle America.
[Breaking Kayfabe: This is kind of weird since River City Wrestling was founded in Winnipeg Canada, has spent most of its life in Canada, and has regularly promoted in Winnipeg, and occasionally farther afield. However, the entry into the WWA World Wrestling Alliance is new, and they are kind of separating themselves from past history.]
On a sombre note Larkin says that Commissioner Jim Brunzell suffered a concussion as a result of being hit with a coal miners glove. As much as he hates to kick a man while he is down, Larkin says that he has no alternative but to strip Brunzell of his powers effective immediately. The RCW is NOT about figure-heads and those in power stepping into the ring. All his executive know what the score is, but in the heat of passion Brunzell forgot this. Larkin says it is possible that Brunzell will once again be Commissioner one day; the door is not closed to one of the most important figures in our history and a RCW Hall of Famer.
In the meantime he has decided to appoint two separate commissioners, one for Canada, and one for the U.S.
The commissioner in Canada is going to be none other than, Bret Hart!!! [the fans go nuts at this announcement]. The U.S. commissioner will be announced on the Feb 23rd edition of RCW RAGE from St. Paul, Minnesota.


<<< cue "Hitman's Theme" by Moist >>>
Bret Hart comes out to a long ovation by the fans.

[Commercial break]


Back inside the ring is Bret Hart. He says there is a lot of housekeeping to be done tonight. You may want to get a pen and paper to try and keep track of all this. First off there will be a "BattleDraw" to determine a first RCW Canadian Heavyweight Champion next week. The RCW tag team belts were last defended on Jan 24th by the Spinebusters. It looks like Jerry Orth is too injured to defend his title. If as expected, the Spinebusters do not defend their belts in 30 days the titles will be stripped. A 4-team event would then be held on the March 7th RAGE [which will also be The Barry Windham 2002 Farewll Tour stop in RCW] to determine new tag champions. Also, at the February 23rd RAGE two Fatal 4-way matches will be held. Those matches will be to determine who will face Barry Windham for the Undisputed World Title, and who will get to face Kai Hanson for the WWA North American title on March 7th.
As for tonight we will have two tremendous matches. First of all Sam Holiday will defend his title against Al Hardamann. Also, Diamond Dallas Page will defend against Steve Riley.

<<< cue "Oh Canada" >>>
The fans cheer at the sudden playing of the national anthem, but inside the ring Bret Hart looks a tad bit confused. From the back suddenly appears Eric Scott!!!
He has a title belt around his waist.
Scott has a mic and introduces himself to the crowd as the FORGOTTEN but officially recognized WWA Canadian champion. That's not just of the RCW or mid-west, but of the entire World Wrestling Alliance. He says he was never beat for the title, and RCW has no right under WWA's official rules to issue a "Canadian Champion".
Hart looks a little confused about all this, and he openly admits to Scott that he forgot about that title. However, he also calls it an "inactive" title since no one is running shows in Canada except for RCW and the occasional PWA house show. He offers Scott a shot to be in the BattleDraw, but he must first win a preliminary match. At first Scott balks at this stipulation, but Hart goads him on by suggesting if he is such a damn hot wrestler he should have no problems. So, Scott agrees.

<<< cue "Oh Canada" >>>
Now the crowd is really confused, until a familiar face to RCW fans walks out from the back and stands beside Eric Scott. Scott and Hart both look surprised. This man is also wearing a gold belt around his waist. He is wearing a Ric Flair type sequined robe with "Playboy" embroidered on the back, and has sunglasses on. He re-introduces himself as Playboy Vincent Regliatti from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He says he is the official Canadian Heavyweight Champion of Ron Hutchinson's Apocalypse Wrestling Federation out of Toronto. He is also a former RCW Heavyweight champion, and of course the better half of the Great Canadians tag team with Eric Scott. Bret Hart says he's heard of that "low level indy fed", but so what? Regliatti asks Hart if he knows who owned that fed, which Hart does not. Regliatti says that it was founded as All-Pro Wrestling by Frank Larkin, who was Jack Larkin's father.
Jack owned it but sold it shortly before buying River City Wrestling. Again Hart asks him what the point is. Regliatti says that as long as he is around with this gold, then whomever RCW anoints as the Canadian champion will not be the UNDISPUTED Canadian champion.
Hart finally gets it and offers Regliatti the same deal he offered Scott. However, he says that both men must agree that in return for their shot at the gold, they must give up their current belts and their claims to those belts.
They both agree. Hart gets that "sh!t-eating" look on his face.


RCW Heavyweight Championship Title Match
Sam Holiday (c) v Al Hardamann
This was an excellent match between two old friends. Holiday controlled the first 10 minutes but just couldn't put Hardamann away. 

[commercial break]

We return from commercial and are told that we have skipped around 10 minutes of footage. Hardamann has taken over control of this match and Holiday is limping badly from his injured ankle. Holiday spent most of the match defending specifically his ankle. This allowed Hardamann easy access to other parts and had been systematically wearing down Holiday's back and ribs.
Raymond Bingham comes down to ringside and tries to distract Sam Holiday. Hardamann could have attacked Holiday from behind, but instead elects to stand side-by-side with Holiday and they jaw with Bingham until security removes him.
The match resumes and before long, Hardamann has Holiday in an excruciatingly painful Canadian backbreaker. Holiday refuses to submit. However, Hardamann then fakes putting the move back on and instead dips down with a single-leg takedown into an ankle lock submission. He catches Holiday off guard in the middle of the ring, and Holiday's injured ankle just can't take anymore. after about 15 seconds Holiday taps out!!!
An amazing era has come to an end in River City Wrestling history.
[Al Hardamann wins by submission when Sam Holiday submitted to the anklelock submission at 23:12 (13:33 televised)]
[Al Hardamann wins the RCW Heavyweight Championship]

Post-Match
Hardamann helped Holiday to his feet and they embrace. Holiday lifted Hardamann's arm into the air and helped referee Wayne Hart present Hardamann with the title. This will be Al Hardamann's first RCW Heavyweight title run, and ends Sam Holiday's historic first run which began way back on July 29, 2000 when he defeated Vampiro. An 18 month run, even with some breaks in RCW promoting, is an amazing streak in today's day and age.

[commercial break]


In ring promo:
Diamond Dallas Page cuts a promo before his title defense against Steve Riley.
He tells Bret Hart that's it bullsh!t that the American title is being defended in Canada. Although DDP is a "face" this remark earns him a loud round of boos from the crowd. Then he tells Kimberley that her interference as of late is not needed. He doesn't want any more accidents so he tells her to stay out of the action.

RCW American Title Match
Diamond Dallas Page (c) (/w Kimberly) v Steve Riley
The two go at it tooth and nail and spend the first 5 minutes in and out of the action.. Despite numerous chances to interfere Kimberly stays out of the fray. DDP goes for the Diamond Cutter but Riley pushes him off into the turnbuckle. He catches the rebounding champ with a belly-to-back suplex. DDP gets up only to be whipped into the corner and then speared. Next Riley sets up DDP in the corner and then takes him out of the corner with an awesome FRANKENSTEINER. In the middle of the ring Riley applies the tombstone piledriver and its elementary now. Riley worked a tremendous match. Wow, after a long period of stability in titles we have had a Heavyweight title change, now an American Title change, and it looks like we will have a tag team title change soon as well. DDP of course won this belt when it was still called the TV title from Al Hardamann on November 3. This ends his first title reign at about 3 months, and begins Steve Riley's first.
[Steve Riley wins by pinfall at 7:36 after a tombstone piledriver]
[Steve Riley wins the RCW American title]

Post-Match: Steve Riley's entourage fills the ring and helps him celebrate. Riley hoists and waves an American flag drawing more jeers from the crowd.

[commercial break]


The house lights dim and the fans face the entrance way waiting for the next RCW star to appear.

"Oh where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods?"

The music from Bonnie Tyler's cheesy 80's hit "Holding Out For a Hero" plays, but the vocals and new lyrics are being supplied from someone else.

Nick Mercury appears singing on the ramp to a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowd. He is wearing his "Bad Attitude International" shirt.

"Where's old Hercules Hernandez, to fight the rising OZ"

Mercury slowly walks to the ring while singing.

"Where are all the white kinghts upon a firery steed,
you toss and you turn and you dream of what you need"

Mercury stands on the ring apron now, his back resting upon the ring ropes.

"You need your HERO"

Mercury throws his arms up in the air and pyro goes off from the rampway.

Mercury says that as a special treat tonight to all the rabid fans of Canada, he will take on a true legend of wrestling,
He says his opponent tonight will be none other than Jake the Snake!!!

The fans go nuts.

Until Jake "the Snake" Milliman walks onto the ramp. The fans boo but Milliman runs to the ring and lays right into Mercury. Referee Buddy Lane follows in a few seconds later.

Nick Mercury v Jake Milliman
Milliman catches Mercury by surprise but can't hold the advantage for long. Mercury nails two snap suplexes, follows up with a "Herosault" and then puts Milliman in the "Hero's Welcome" submission finisher (elevated Boston crab). Milliman taps out in only a few seconds.
[Nick Mercury wins by submission in 2:05 when Milliman submits to the Hero's Welcome]

Justice Steel, Madusa, Sean O'Haire, and Raymond Bingham come into the ring to join their leader Mercury and to congratulate him on his great victory. Mercury calls it the greatest victory tonight!
Mercury then welcomes Bad Attitude International RCW chapter's newest member, TOTAL DESTRUCTION STEVE RILEY!!!
The fans boo as the new American Champion makes his way to the ring. Mercury welcomes him to the group and they all congratulate him on his great victory tonight over DDP.
Riley has a mic and says that he joined BAI because he believes they will rule RCW, and then cross over to the bigger and better PWA. He says Mercury is headed back soon to the PWA and he intends to go with him. Riley then sends a message out to Kimberly that he thinks she is HOT. He invites her to come and join BAI, and show them all her bad side.
Madusa seems to take exception to this. She grabs a mic and tells Riley that there is only room for one biatch in BAI and that is her.
Mercury steps between Riley and Madusa and tells Madusa to look around her and notice how many guys there are here - guys with needs. He says that the least the American champion deserves is his own diva.
Mercury says it is too bad that they will have to wait until March to win the tag belts, but that's okay as long as they win them before the end of March when he has to return to the PWA with all the gold, and present them to Brandon Myers.

<<< cue "The Hitman's Theme" by Moist>>>
Bret Hart comes out to the ramp and then enters the ring. Steel tries to get into his face, but Hart just pushes him out of the way. O'Haire holds Steel back.
Hart takes the mic out of Mercury's hands. He says Mercury may think he has this all figured out, but it ain't that easy. BAI doesn't even have a qualified tag team yet. Hart says 4 teams will vie for the tag belts. The Freebirds are in, the Malenkos are in, and the winner of a match between Collins/Blum and the Young Guns will also be in. That leaves only one open spot left.
Mercury says that O'Haire and Steele will take on anyone to fill that spot, even those two "clowns" walking around. Mercury then winks and hands Hart a cheque.
Hart looks at it and then says it is a blank cheque signed by Brandon Myers and drawn on Bad Attitude International's U.S. account. Hart seems pretty pissed off and looks like he is going to deck someone. Mercury dares Hart to deck him, saying that will be the end of him as Canadian commissioner, as he will get the Jim Brunzell treatment.
Hart settles down, looks at the cheque and then smiles.
BAI clears a path and lets Hart pass out of the ring untouched.
He has that sh!teating smile on his face as he walks up the ramp.

FADE TO BLACK


Dark Matches Before RAGE
Justice Steel & Sean O'Haire defeated IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy by pinfall when Steel pinned Shaggy after a double underhook powerbomb
Madusa defeated Desiree Petersen by pinfall after a superkick
April Hunter defeated K.C. Houston by pinfall after a full nelson slam
Raymond Bingham defeated J.J. Extreme by pinfall after a Frankensteiner
Playboy Vincent Regliatti defeated Devon Storm by submission to the figure-four
Eric Scott defeated Sammy Jo Simon by pinfall after a cradle piledriver



Breaking Kayfabe
This show had a real WCW 1999-2000 feel to it, for better or worse. The worse is the final match of the night was a squash match as there was no good match to put as the dark match main event after the TV show ended. The Bad Attitude International was piggy backing on an angle being run in the WWA/PWA fed where Brandon Myers, a premiere singles heel, had a high flying faction. Sending Mercury (a minor player in their world) to RCW to start an international faction had a bit of a NWO Japan feel to it. It was a fun time to be part of the WWA/PWA/NWA world but unfortunately it would not last.

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #917
February 16, 2002
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Today's show opens with a match just starting.

Grudge Match:
Jesse Hennig and Steve Corino are banned from ringside.:
Curt Hennig v Al Snow
Instead of turning into a typical brawl of most grudge matches, this was a hellaciously paced match. It may have lasted only about 4 minutes but it was non-stop and brought the crowd to their feet.
A double bump (both wrestlers went for cross body blocks and collided) brought both men down mid-ring. They got to their feet hanging onto each other. Hennig set Snow up for the Hennig-plex, but it was blocked by Snow who then tried for the Snowplow. However, this was in turn blocked by Hennig, who rolled up Snow and grabbed a handful of trunks for the tainted victory.
[Curt Hennig wins by pinfall thanks to a handful of trunks at 4:25]

Post-Match:
Hennig celebrated a bit too long, and Snow got up and nailed him with a superkick which sent him to the floor. 

[commercial break]


<<< cue "Star Spangled Banner" by Jimi Hendrix>>>
The Patriot gets a mixed reaction from the partisan Canadian crowd.
Patriot gets on the mic and says that he had been promised a return to TV this week by Jim Brunzell. He complained that now with Bret Hart as Commissioner he was being buried just because Hart can't stand an openly patriotic American.

<<<cue "Hitman's Theme" by Moist >>>
The Canadian Commissioner Bret Hart comes out to the ring and gets a standing ovation.
He tells the Patriot it's not patriotism he can't stand, its just him personally. Hart says that the Patriot gimmick was first thought up by Jerry Lawler as a cartoon in the late 60's. Hart reminds us of Lawler's checkered past as far as his allegiances to the United States are concerned. He tells the Patriot that he is wearing a gimmick thought up by a traitor.
Finally Hart says that the Patriot wants a match so bad, he can have a match. In fact he can wrestle in a 3-way dance with Playboy Vincent Regliatti (the Apocalypse Wrestling Canadian champion), and Eric Scott (the WWA Canadian Champion). Whomever of the 3 gets pinned or submits first will be out of the running for the new united Canadian Heavyweight championship. However, the remaining two wrestlers will both get spots in tonight's "BattleDraw" to determine the new Canadian champion.

<<< cue "Oh Canada" >>>
The fans cheer as Eric Scott and Playboy Vincent Regliatti come down to the ring.

3-Way Dance
The Patriot v Vincent Regliatti v Eric Scott
Two survivors enter "BattleDraw" later tonight
Regliatti is a mat based wrestler, and while he looks skilled it doesn't really hold up well in a 3-way dance. Scott is a brawler, and although he isn't all that big, he's a very dirty wrestler.
After about 5 minutes of back and forth action, Regliatti and Scott begin to double team the Patriot. It doesn't take them long to figure out that if they stick together they will both enter "BattleDraw". Regliatti pops the crowd when he puts the Patriot in the sharpshooter.
This brings Bret Hart back to the ring and he jumps up on the apron, not happy with Regs using his trademark move. Regliatti breaks the hold and comes over to jaw with Hart, which distracts referee Buddy Lane. Back inside Eric Scott brings in a chair and nails the Patriot with 3 consecutive chair shots. Hart leaps off the apron, and Lane applies the 3-count.
These actions brought a mixed reaction from the crowd.
[Eric Scott wins by pinfall over Vincent Regliatti and the Patriot, when Scott pins the Patriot after 3 illegal chair shots at 7:41]
[Eric Scott and Vincent Regliatti advance to BattleDraw]

[commercial break]


16-man BattleDraw for the RCW Canadian Heavyweight Championship

A new wrestler added every 60 seconds

Drawn #1 Eric Scott
Drawn #2 Stan Baker

-Scott looks downright afraid as Baker's name is drawn. However, he stands his ground with a couple well placed eye gouges and keeps the big man off balance.

Drawn #3 Paul Diamond

-Diamond joins Scott in double teaming Baker.

Drawn #4 "Mean" Mike Enos

-Enos begins by helping Diamond and Scott making it 3 on 1. But before Baker could be eliminated Scott takes a shot at Enos. Suddenly Diamond is on his own trying to subdue the big man.

Drawn #5 Steve Corino

-Corino evens the odds somewhat. This allows Baker to throw out Paul Diamond.

x Paul Diamond eliminated by Stan Baker

Drawn #6 Sean O'Haire

-O'Haire makes the mistake of coming to the ring with a BAI shirt on. He is immediately besieged by most of the wrestlers in the ring and eliminated.

x Sean O'Haire eliminated by (Scott, Enos, and Baker)

Baker then turns around and catches Eric Scott by surprise heaving him over the top rope.

x Eric Scott eliminated by Stan Baker

That leaves us with 3 men in the ring; Corino, Enos, and Baker.

Draw #7: Jesse Hennig

Hennig comes out and Corino goes right after him, leaving Enos to battle Baker.

The fight between Hennig and Corino is taken to the stands. Unlike the Royal Rumble, in the BattleDraw a 20-count is applied to wrestlers outside the ring.

Draw #8: Greg Pawluk

x Jesse Hennig & Steve Corino eliminated by double countout.

Pawluk seems to reach an uneasy alliance with Enos. Baker is just managing to hang on, he's getting tired and beaten down.

Draw #9 Vincent Regliatti

-Regliatti joins Pawluk and Enos in punishing Baker. Then Pawluk and Enos end up taking a poke at each other which leaves Regliatti unready to face Baker one on one. Baker heaves Regliatti over the top.

x Vincent Regliatti eliminated by Stan Baker

Draw #10 Menele

-The wind really comes out of the fans' sails and that of Baker when this psycho enters the ring. Almost immediately he goes right after Baker, and with some help they finally eliminate him.

x Stan Baker eliminated by (Menele, Enos, Pawluk)

-That leaves Menele, Mike Enos, Greg Pawluk left in the ring.

Draw #11 Samoa Joe

Joe is drawn next and rolling into the ring is like rolling into a nest of vipers. But the Samoan is strong with punches and kicks and is fresh, so me manages to hold them off.

Draw #12 Balls Mahoney

-The crowd goes nuts for Balls. Balls goes right after Menele as the two renew old acquaintances. Enos takes a breather and this allows Joe to get the upper hand and toss Pawluk.

x Greg Pawluk eliminated by Samoa Joe

Draw #13 Johnny Devine

Devine passes his tag partner Pawluk on the way to the ring. He ties it up with Joe right away. In the meantime, Mahoney has grabbed the advantage over Menele. Mahoney manages to finally toss Menele over the ropes, but he's surprised by a dropkick from behind from Enos and is eliminated as well.

x Menele eliminated by Balls Mahoney

x Balls Mahoney eliminated by Mike Enos

Draw #14 Max Pain

-Pain gets into the scuffle with Balls and Menele outside the ring and never makes it into the ring. He is counted out.

x Max Pain eliminated by countout.

Meanwhile inside the ring Joe delivers the side slam to Johnny Devine and then tosses him over the top rope.

x Johnny Devine eliminated by Samoa Joe

Joe and Mike Enos both decide to take a breather rather than attack each other. They are alone in the ring and get about 10 seconds rest before the next wrestler is called.

Draw #15 Marcus Schultz

Schultz is next. He enters the ring and we basically get a 3-way dance for 60 seconds, with no allegiances made. Enos has been in there a while now and appears to be the weakest link, but manages to survive the minute.

Draw #16 Raymond Bingham

The fans boo as Bingham comes down to the ring wearing a BAI t-shirt, and being accompanied by Nick Mercury who holds the twisted remains of the PWI Rookie of the Year trophy.

The refs send Mercury to the back.

So we are down to the final 4. Mike Enos, Samoa Joe, Marcus Schultz, and Raymond Bingham.

Enos and Joe square off, leaving Schultz and Bingham also squared off. With Bingham on the verge of eliminating Schultz, Joe grabs the advantage against Enos. Joe gets a chance to help Bingham eliminate Schultz and disappoints the fans by doing so.

x Marcus Schultz eliminated by (Bingham, Joe)

Enos now attacks Joe from behind. Bingham assumes that he and Enos are going to double team Joe, but Enos rocks Bingham by surprise with a spinebuster slam. But then Enos himself falls victim to a flurry of punches from Joe and then a tornado DDT. Joe tosses Enos out.

Enos was by far the man who lasted the longest in the BattleDraw tonight.

x Mike Enos eliminted by Samoa Joe

Bingham attacks Joe and presses the advantage. He fails to leverage Joe out of the ring, and then eats an elbow. Joe then grabs Bingham by the tights and sends him face first into the turnbuckle. Joe then catches Bingham with a hotshot, and then tosses him over the top rope.

x Raymond Bingham eliminated by Samoa Joe

[Samoa Joe wins the BattleDraw at 18:05]
[Samoa Joe wins the RCW Canadian Heavyweight Title]

<<< cue "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J >>>
Samoa Joe's music plays as he celebrates his victory.

<<< cue "Hitman's Theme" by Moist >>>
Bret Hart comes to the ring and presents Samoa Joe with the WWA-RCW Canadian Heavyweight Championship belt formerly worn by Eric Scott.

Hart says that he has been in contact with the President of the WWA, John Fredrickson, and that he has been given the green light to award, and for RCW to book the WWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship.

As such Samoa Joe takes the belt and directly enters that titles lineage, last held by Eric Scott.

The Jumbotron fires up and we get a shot of a red 2002 Ford Thunderbird. Hart takes out a set of keys and hands them to Samoa Joe. Hart says that as an added bonus he also wins this free car!!!

Hart snickers and then thanks Nick Mercury and Bad Attitude International for the blank cheque.

FADE TO BLACK


Dark Matches Before RAGE
Triangle Match: Stan Baker defeated Menele and Balls Mahoney by pinfall when he pinned Menele after a heartpunch
Steve Corino pinned Jesse Hennig by pinfall after a cradle piledriver
Greg Pawluk & Johnny Devine defeated Paul Diamond & Mike Enos by pinfall when Devine pinned Diamond after a hotshot
Samoa Joe & Marcus Schultz defeated Sean O'Haire & Raymond Bingham by disqualification for use of a foreign object (by O'Haire)

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #918
February 23, 2002
St. Paul, MN


Opening Match:
Steve Corino v Jesse Hennig (Brass Knux Match)
Our show opens with a match. This feud has been going on since December, and Corino wants to put an end to it. He has accepted Hennig's call for a brass knuckles match. No pole is used in this match. The brass knuckles are put in the centre of the ring. They are the only legal foreign object allowed. Head referee Wayne Hart accepts the duties of this match to personally make sure all goes down fairly.

After a couple of initial lockups that ended in punch fests, Hennig is too eager to go for the knux. Corino catches him with a knee to the back of the head, driving Hennig's head down onto the knux. Corino takes control of the match and busts Hennig's head open outside the ring on the guardrail. Back inside the ring Corino has the knux and the blood is now flowing freely from the head of Hennig.

Curt Hennig comes out to the ring, but before he can interefere Al Snow comes out and suplexes Hennig on the floor. However this little distraction is enough for Jesse Hennig to catch Corino with a double chop to the throat. Hennig tosses Corino out of the ring. Jesse follows Corino to the floor and then pulls a set of brass knuckles out of his trunks (unseen by Wayne Hart). The two stand toe to toe and exchange punches with the two sets of brass knuckles, and both are knocked down. Wayne Hart applies a 10 count before calling for the bell.

[Jesse Hennig and Steve Corino battle to a double countout in a brass knuckles match at 6:23]

[commercial break]


Al Hardamann in-ring interview:
Jim Davies interviews new RCW Heavyweight Champion Al Hardamann. Al thanks Sam Holiday for being such a great champ and for giving him this opportunity. He gets no further into the interview when he is interrupted.

<<< cue "We Will Rock You" by Queen >>>

"Total Destruction" Steve Riley and Raymond Bingham come out onto the ramp. Riley is wearing his new RCW American Title. Riley tells Hardamann that the reason Holiday threw his match with Hardamann was so he wouldn't have to face "total destruction". Well, now Hardamann is in the way. He offers Hardamann the rest of the night to announce his retirement.

Hardamann has a mic and is about to respond when Nick Mercury, Sean O'Haire, and Madusa run in from the back as well. The 5 of them charge the ring simultaneously and catch Hardamann off-guard. They are like a wild pack of wolves as they lay the boots to Hardamann.

From the back comes Diamond Dallas Page and Stan Baker to help out Hardamann. They turn the tide and look to have it under control when Justice Steele comes into the ring from behind and tackles Baker to the ground. Now control returns to BAI and security swarm the ring to try and gain back some control.

[commercial break]

4 Way Match - Winner gets WWA North American Heavyweight Championship Match against Kai Hanson on March 7th at Barry Windham's Farewell Tour stop in Chicago.
Marcus Schultz v Raymond Bingham v Menele v Samoa Joe
[Raymond Bingham wins by pinfall when he pins Samoa Joe after a Northern Lights Suplex into a pin (No-Way-Out) at 23:15 (12:45 televised)]

[commercial break]


In-Ring Announcement:
Bret Hart comes to the ring for a major announcement. He is greeted with a mixed round of applause and jeers from the Minnesota crowd.

He says it's his pleasure to introduce the new commissioner for RCW's United States operations, someone he has known all his life, his brother Bruce Hart!!

The fans give Bruce a mixed reaction as well. However, Bruce takes the mic and promises the crowd that even though he is a Canadian, he will act in only the interests of the American crowd. He also warns Bret that they may become friendly adversaries because what is good for Canadian fans may not be good for American fans. Furthermore, he tells his brother he is not allowed to book American title matches from now on. Finally, Bruce announces a non-title match to be held in Chicago on the 7th between American Champion Steve Riley and Canadian Champion Samoa Joe; if Joe is willing to accept!

The fans cheer Bruce as he leaves the ring, while Bret looks a little surprised.

[commercial break]


Al Hardamann comes out to the ring with Diamond Dallas Page (with Kimberly) and Stan Baker. They call out Bad Attitude International who they challenge to a six-man tag match. Nick Mercury, Sean O'Haire, and Justice Steel accept the challenge and come out accompanied by Madusa.

<<< cue "One Big Rush" by Joe Satriani >>>

A very sexy April Hunter comes to the ring wearing a white tank top, silver trunks, and silver boots. She grabs the mic from Hardamann. She says she is sick and tired of Madusa running around here like a jezebel just because she is the only female physical force here in RCW. Hunter says that she knows she is not allowed to be both in the front office and a wrestler but given the choice, she can't stand it any longer, so she quits her front office job. She wants to make this a 4 on 4 tonight.

Madusa takes the mic and berates Hunter as a psycho-bitch, and asks her if Larkin ever reciprocated or if he just sat at his desk while she *bleep, bleep, bleep*. Hunter rocks Madusa with a right hand and then holds her by the hair and gives her an X-factor, and we're off.

8 person intergender tag match
Bad Attitude International: Nick Mercury, Sean O'Haire, Justice Steel, and Madusa
v
Al Hardamann, Diamond Dallas Page (with Kimberly), Stan Baker, and April Hunter

Hunter starts the match off strong punishing Madusa, but the wiley veteran backs Hunter into her team's corner and makes the tag. Hunter is no match for the overwhelming power of Justice Steel who toys with her for a couple of minutes without going for a pinfall. Hunter finally uses a lowblow and an eye gouge to get some space and make a tag out to Stan Baker. Baker is all over Steel in a slugfest. Baker takes total control of Steel until he is hit with a double axhandle from behind from Sean O'Haire. Steel powerbombs Baker, and then tags in O'Haire who goes for the Seanton Bomb, but Baker rolls out of the way. DDP is tagged in and he laces right into O'Haire. But when DDP goes for the diamond cutter he is attacked by Nick Mercury. The match then degenerates into an 8-man brawl.
Steve Riley comes out from the back and begins to talk to Kimberly. At first she seems a bit taken back, but he begins to show off his American title and she seems interested! This distracts DDP who comes over but is given 10lbs of gold to the head as a reward. Riley leaves the ringside area calling after Kimberly to follow him. She looks hesitant and finally takes care of her husband instead who has been busted wide open. Other battles outside the ring see Madusa in full control of April Hunter (thanks to a nicely timed spear from Justice Steel). Baker then takes Steel for a tour of the arena seating as he bashes him from one section to the next.
Back inside the ring Hardamann is trying to fend off the attack of Nick Mercury and his best buddy a steel chair. Finally Hardamann wrestles the chair away from Mercury, and is about to bash it over his head when O'Haire grabs him by the ankles from outside the ring and trips him face first into the mat (smashing his face into the chair as he fell). Mercury then delivered a legdrop onto the back of Hardaman's neck, followed by a Hereosault (again smashing Hardamann's face into the chair). The referee Marty Stevens let's all of this go because it was an impromptu match so he let both teams do whatever they wanted. Now he counts the pinfall.
[Winners by pinfall Bad Attitude International when Nick Mercury pinned Al Hardamann after a Herosault onto a chair at 10:10]

Post-Match
BAI celebrates in the ring, as they are joined by Steve Riley and Raymond Bingham. Again Riley calls out to Kimberly to join them, and before she can make up her mind Hardamann comes over and helps her aid DDP to his feet.

FADE TO BLACK

Dark Matches Before RAGE
Non-Title Match: Steve Riley defeated Ace Darling by pinfall after a brainbuster
Raymond Bingham defeated J.J. Extreme by pinfall after a Northern lights suplex
Curt Hennig defeated Al Snow by pinfall after a Perfect Plex
Mike Enos defeated J.W. Ousley by pinfall after a spinning crucifix toss
Al Collins & Joe Blum defeated IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy by disqualification for use of a foreign object