January 1994

[managermike99]

January 1994
Roster

Faces
Harley Tragger
Jim Brunzell (NEW)
Brad Rheingans
Ken Patera
Ben Bassarab
Mike Lozansky 
Jerry Lynn

The Trooper (NEW)

Alonzo Highsmith (NEW)

Jerry Fury

Heels
Stan Lane

Road Warrior Hawk (NEW)
Derrick Dukes
Sebastien Rikard
Lenny Tompson
Jon Paul Demans
U.S. Male
Randy Rudd
Johnny Saddlebags (NEW)

Ladies
Sherri Martel
Susan Sexton

[managermike99]

Breaking Kayfabe - 1994 Preview

1994 was still part of the wrestling doldrums for me. For every good like Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Undertaker, and Bam Bam Bigelow, there was also a bad like Doink, Sparky Plugg, Tatanka. While I was following WCW I don't think it was really available on my TV yet, and I was still about a year away from being a regular user of the internet. There were still some smaller feds on again off again on TV for me like Stampede, Montreal (Grand Prix?), local (WFWA). Overall though I was more into other pop culture then wrestling. It would be 1995 with becoming a regular on the internet and the introduction of Nitro which also kick started Raw to another level, and access to some ECW, that my interest would return in a big way to wrestling.

My records mostly consist of rosters, champions, a couple big cards and lines drawn from the good guys to the bad guys on rosters to indicate who was feuding with whom. There was not as much turnover as in some years, but I won't be producing any more cards either. It will still be run as every second week live show, no TV. Still a few years away from discovering TNM7 so the action was still pen and paper. These sheets I found stuffed in the middle of some old wrestling mags. 1992/93 was a bit of a strange couple of years because there was some overlap between different paper and pen feds I wrote, and so when I tried to put them all into one history it created some rapid turnover of titles, and some guys appearing in RCW when they had already started in WWF (Papa Shango, Adam Bomb, 1-2-3 Kid). I tried to avoid this as much as possible but still some happened. In my wrestling universe WWF was still the #1 fed by a mile but not quite as prominent as in the real world. The reason for this was that Verne Gagne's plan to have Hulk Hogan's leg broken in the ring came to fruition (in my world) and this delayed the WWF's plans by more than a year. So under that I can justify to myself that some of these indy workers took a bit longer to catch on with the boys from New York.

1994 will not start with a January 1st warm climate card, there was no budget for it, a sign of the times. The first card in January will still uphold the tradition of giving out the year end awards (1993), March will be the Hall of Fame voting and the St. Patrick's Week card, September will hold the annual battle royale, and December will be the big show of the year - the 15th Anniversary Show. The titles will not flip flop as much as the past couple of years and the rosters will be more stable. Real world wrestlers like Vampiro and Greg Valentine will come in and have a big impact, while others like Jesse Hennig will begin their fantasy career that will exceed their real world one, and created wrestlers like Stan Baker will make their first appearance.

1994 was also the year of the steroid scandal, with Hulk Hogan testifying in July. The fallout from the scandal would include the pushing of so called "clean" athletes like Shawn Michaels & Bret Hart, but the body image loving days of WWF was far from over. Yokozuna, Bret Hart, Bob Backlund and Diesel would all wear the big strap in 1994 WWF, while Razon Ramon and Diesel would wear the Intercontinental title. Over in WCW Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan wore the world title. Terry Funk and Shane Douglas were the men to wear the ECW Heavyweight Championship in 1994.

Forrest Gump, Lion King, and True Lies were the top box office money makers that year. Pulp Fiction (#10), The Crow (#24), Natural Born Killers (#25) were some movies that helped transform pulp culture. The top ranked TV shows of 1994-95 season were Seinfeld, Home Improvement, Grace Under Fire, Monday Night Football, 60 Minutes, NYPD Blue, Friends, Murder She Wrote, and Roseanne. It's interesting to see how sit-com's still ruled, a lack of reality TV, NFL doing well but not killing it like they are now, the representation of older skewing shows like 60 Minutes & Murder She Wrote as well as younger shows like Friends & Seinfeld. Must See TV was still alive and well on NBC (Mad About You, Friends, Seinfeld, and ER).

June 1994 of course was also the live broadcast of OJ Simpson's chase in his white Ford Bronco. Specialty cable networks being to proliferate including the start of FX, Home & Garden, and the Game Show Network. Just after the conclusion of 1994 (in January 1995) two new "Netlets" the WB and UPN would be launched, expanding the TV world even more but without adding much new content (or quality content).

On Billboard the top songs of the year were "The Sign" Ace of Base, "I Swear" All-4-One, "I'll Make Love To You" Boyz to Men. Sheeryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Bryan Adams, John Mellencamp, and Bruce Springsteen put some actual music in the Top 100 as well. For myself the lack of good rock that was coming out had me listening to some country acts like Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, and Alan Jackson.

Out in the real world Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa, NATO was failing to keep the peace in Bosnia, there was carnage in Rwanda, the Sony PlayStation as released, the Cowboys beat the Bills in the SuperBowl, the New York Rangers beat the Vancouver Canucks to end their 54 year championship drought (guaranteed win by Mark Messier), and there was no World Series held due to a player strike. The Winter Olympics were held in Lillehammer Norway. This was only 2 years after the Albertville France Olympics, because prior to 1994 the Winter and Summer Olympics were held the same year. The 1994 Winter Olympics were held to break that pattern and alternate winter and summer. Sweden beat Canada in a shootout to win the Hockey gold medal; NHL had not yet begun to participate with their players. And of course the whole Tonya Harding - Nancy Kerrigan story came out of these Olympics.

So, that should put 1994 in perspective and RCW's little place in that universe. I look forward to producing the cards from River City Wrestling 1994.

[managermike99]

1993 Annual Award Edition
Wrestler of the Year: Manny Silva
Tag Team of the Year: Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001
Manager/Valet of the Year: Nick Bockwinkel
Feud of the Year: Bockwinkel v Raschke
Match of the Year: Stan Lane defeated Harley Tragger; RCW #535 December 4, 1993; 14th Anniversary Show


River City Wrestling #536
January 15, 1994
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Jim Brunzell gave an impassioned speech to begin the festivities. In the end he announced that he was tired of sitting in the back, pretending to be impartial and having to watch the shenanigans unfold. Brunzell announced he was resigning as Commissioner of River City Wrestling and coming back full time. It was then announced that his replacement was going to be Baron von Raschke, who himself was previously the commish but also gave it up to return to the ring. 

Feud of the Year: Nick Bockwinkel vs Baron von Rashcke
**Brunzell presented Raschke with a plaque honouring the selection. This feud took on several forms last year from managing to tag teams to one on one action. The animosity between Raschke and Bockwinkel carried over from their AWA days was prevalent throughout the year, not just one stretch of feud. It was announced that Bockwinkel was not with River City Wrestling now to start off 1994 but he may return.

Tag Team of the Year: Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001
**A tough decision this year as 3 teams all distinguished themselves with title runs, but the Destroyers ended up getting the nod because they also spent more time as top notch challengers throughout the year then the other 2 teams. Bockwinkel had been their manager. None of the three were on hand in RCW.

Manager/Valet of the Year: Nick Bockwinkel
**Bockwinkel and his Nick Bockwinkel Talent Agency's influence in RCW continued to be felt tonight with the 3rd straight award that he had an influence on. This was also Bock's 4th straight time winning the award.


Opening Bout
Kathy Weathers defeated Tiffany Brannigan after an inside cradle at 8:54
-a blast from the past with two competitors last seen a couple years ago.

Bout #2
"work out match"
Ben Bassarab defeated Alonzo Highsmith by pinfall after a German suplex at 5:28
-strange match. It was introduced as a "work out match" because it was Alonzo Highsmith's first match. The former NFL football running back (6'1" 240 lbs) (Oilers, Cowboys, Bucs) was trying out a career in both wrestling and boxing. The rules of this match were no infractions (chokes, bites, etc), clean breaks, and no climbing or coming off the 2nd or third buckle. The match was slow paced, mat moves, Bassarab, the new RCW Heritage champion, the tutor. Highsmith managed to apply a few rudimentary moves, used his sight size advantage for leverage, but Bassarab was able to counter and reverse these moves. In the end Bassarab finished him off fairly easily. The match started and ended with handshakes.

Bout #3
The Trooper defeated Randy Rudd by pinfall after a bridging full nelson suplex at 5:17
-Rudd had a few moments but was overwhelmed by The Trooper, who was making his return to RCW.

Bout #4
#1 Contenders Match for Heritage Title
U.S. Male defeated Mike Lozansky by submission after a running forearm smash at 9:45
- a slight upset and Lozansky did control the majority of the match. However, U.S. Male's total disregard for the rules was the great equalizer. 

Bout #5
Jerry Lynn defeated Road Warrior Hawk by disqualification for use of a foreign object at 10:39
-rematch from the Anniversary show where we saw a double turn executed, with Hawk going from good to bad, and Lynn from bad to good. This match was more of the same with Hawk controlling most of the match but unable to finish off Lynn. Finally Hawk lost his temper outside the ring and used a steel chair to bust Lynn open and get disqualified.


Match of the Year: Stan Lane defeated Harley Tragger; RCW #535 December 4, 1993; 14th Anniversary Show
**Before the two men hooked up in the Handi-Cap Match the award was given out. Both men accepted their plaques although Lane tried to get the officials to take Tragger's away and give it to Lane as well since Lane had beaten Tragger in the bout, and losers should not get awards.

Bout #6
Handi-Cap Match
Harley Tragger & Jim Brunzell defeated Stan Lane, Derrick Dukes, & Jon Paul Demans by pinfall when Tragger pinned Dukes after a powerslam at 13:11
-After Tragger and Brunzell got off to a solid start they lost the momentum thanks to a 3 on 2 brawl that saw new Heavyweight champion Stan Lane nail Brunzell with a superkick. After that the bad guys controlled with Brunzell playing Ricky Morton. Eventually the hot tag was made and Tragger cleaned house. Lane refused to tag in which caught his teammates off guard, and Brunzell drop kicked Lane in the chin knocking him off the apron, and then tackled Demans as Tragger nailed a thundering powerslam to pick up the win.
 
Wrestler of the Year: Manny Silva
**Before the main event cage match Baron von Raschke came out to announce the recipient of the top wrestler from last year. He was a bit sheepish about it, and Brunzell came out to protest as well. It was voted on by the RCW Fan Club and the Hall of Fame committee. Brunzell was adamant that the behaviour of Silva that ended up seeing him suspended from RCW should have outweighed any accomplishments he had during the year. Silva was not on hand of course to accept the award.

Main Event
CAGE MATCH
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson defeated Ken Patera & Brad Rheingans by pinfall when Rikard pinned Patera after a victory roll at 15:20
[Rikard & Thompson retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
-As the champions entered the cage they were immediately attacked by the challengers much to the delight of the Winnipeg crowd. They beat the champs from pillar to post and the first 4 minutes of this bout was basically done under Texas Tornado rules with all 4 men brawling. Finally order was restored and Patera worked over a bloodied Rikard. Thompson tagged in and the usually physically dominant Thompson was manhandled by the fired up Brad Rheingans. The champs had a short stint with the momentum but for the most part were on the receiving end and both men were bloodied. They tried to escape the cage by climbing but were fought back down by the champs. However, on landing Patera seemed to roll an ankle and the champs went right after the injured appendage. Finally Rikard was able to bounce Patera head first off of the cage wall and roll him up for the victory.

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #537
January 29, 1994
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
U.S. Male defeated The Trooper by pinfall after a running forearm smash at 9:01
-Second card in a row where the U.S. Male was outclassed but he pushed the boundaries far enough to risk disqualification but not cross the line. As a result he was able to nail a chop to the throat stunning the Trooper and then nailed the running forearm smash to pick up the win.

Bout #2
Mike Lozansky & Alonzo Highsmith defeated Randy Rudd & Johnny Saddlebags by pinfall when Highsmith pinned Rudd after a football tackle at 10:40
-Highsmith's first competitive pro-match. The former NFL star struggled at times, and was double teamed by their overmatched employees. Lozansky though was able to turn the tables, and then set the table for Highsmith to come in nail a pair of bodyslams, a kneedrop, and then the finisher.

Bout #3
Ken Patera defeated Lenny Thompson by pinfall after a swinging neckbreaker at 6:53
-While Patera was unable to win back the tag titles with Rheingans against Rikard & Thompson he was able to gain a measure of revenge by winning the one on one match.

Bout #4
Derrick Dukes & Jon Paul Demans and Jim Brunzell & Brad Rheingans battled to a double countout at 12:57
-for four guys who are all pretty well trained grapplers this bout was a no holds barred, pier 6 brawl. The action and violence just continued to escalate throughout, as the ref decided to let it go. Dukes, Demans, and Rheingans were all busted open and wearing the proverbial crimson mask before things got really out of hand outside the ring. The match spilled into the crowd and thats when the ref, in the interest of public safety, decided to finally count out all four men.

Bout #5
No Countout/No Disqualification
Road Warrior Hawk defeated Jerry Lynn by pinfall after a diving clothesline at 10:04
-Hawk started strong going after Lynn before the bell and beat him from pillar to post. Finally Lynn countered a powerbomb attempt with flying headscissors and then went on the attack. After throwing Hawk out of the ring he nailed him with a plancha. Back inside a step over toehold started a flurry of attacks. Hawk fought back with blatant chokeholds, but Lynn fought fire with fire with a kick in the crotch. The action spilled outside and Lynn nailed Hawk with a chair shot, but when he tried to get back into the ring Hawk nailed him from behind, then nailed him with the chair. Hawk tossed Lynn into the ring and put the chair across his face. Hawk then climbed to the top rope but Lynn recovered and stood up with the chair. It wasn't quick enough though because Hawk came off the top rope with a diving clothesline nailing the chair into Lynn's head and picking up the win.

Bout #6
North American Women's Title Match
Sherri Martel defeated Susan Sexton by submission to the sleeperhold at 7:55
[Sherri Martel retained the North American Women's Title]
-Martel was getting her butt handed to her and a change of title back to Sexton seemed inevitable. However, after a collision Martel was able to bulldog Sexton from the 2nd buckle, then put on a sleeperhold. After Sexton broke the hold once, Martel reapplied it and was able to slip it into a chokehold on and off again when the ref was not aware. So basically the champ just choked her out.

Bout #7
RCW Heritage Title Match
Ben Bassarab defeated Sebastien Rikard by countout at 9:07
[Ben Bassarab retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-Bassarab's first title defence since winning the belt from Hercules Ayala at the 14th Anniversary show. His opponent Rikard, one half of the tag team champions, looked overmatched throughout the match, as if he missed having someone to tag out to. In the end after receiving a pair of German suplexes, and seeing Bassarab climb to the top buckle, Rikard took a powder and elected not to continue the match, feigning a sore back.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Stan Lane defeated Harley Tragger by disqualification for outside interference (Jim Brunzell) at 15:29
[Stan Lane retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-Tragger controlled the first 5 minutes or so of the match, beating the champ from pillar to post, in and out of the ring. Lane though took back the advantage with a headbutt to the "lower abdomen" followed by a double underhook takedown. Lane worked a slower more methodical ground game, keeping the bigger man on the mat for the next 5 minutes or so. Then Tragger finally made a spirited comeback, only to have the two collide in the middle of the ring. With the ref distracted Jon Paul Demans slipped down to the ring and passed Lane a pair of brass knux which the champ hid in his trunks. Tragger was then distracted by Demans, and Lane kneed him in the back. Before he could go any further though, with the knux still tucked away Jim Brunzell hit the ring. He complained to the ref telling him about the knux but was ordered to leave the ring. While Tragger and Brunzell were distracted with the ref, Lane put the knux on. But when Brunzell refused to leave the ring the ref called for the bell. Lane nailed Tragger in the back of the head with the knux anyway knocking him out. He then tucked them away and Demans hit the ring tackling Brunzell from behind. The two on one beatdown was on until Rheingans hit the ring to break it up.