August 1995

[managermike99]

Roster

Faces
Jim Brunzell (5'10" 235 lbs. White Bear Lake, MN) ("Born to Run" Bruce Springsteen") [Flying dropkick, figure-four, Indian death lock, flying knee smash]
Robbie Royce (5'8" 220 lbs. Winnipeg, MB) ("Danger on the Tracks" Europe) [flying headscissors driver, hurrancanrana, flying dropkick, plancha]
Ben Bassarab (5'10" 215 lbs. Calgary, AB) ("You've Got Another Thing Comin'" Judas Priest) [diving crossbody block, German suplex, snap suplex, superplex, front facelock]
Chi Chi Cruz (6'1" 235 lbs. Winnipeg, MB) ("Get The Funk Out" Extreme) [running powerslam, Boston crab, cloverleaf, reverse neckbreaker]
Nick Mercury (6'2 233 lbs. San Diego, CA) ("Man in Motion" John Parr) [swinging neckbreaker, flying forearm, standing earringer, hotshot]
Lance Storm (5'11" 230 lbs. Calgary, AB) ("Sad But True" Metallica)[Northern Lights Suplex, single leg Boston crab, dropkick, jawbreaker, lariat, spinning heel kick]
Chris Jericho
Turbo Eric Freedom
Sgt. Keywon Grant


Heels
Stan Lane (6'1" 224 lbs. Greensboro, NC) ("Everybody Wants You" Billy Squier)
Jesse Hennig (5'10" 220 lbs. Minneapolis, MN) ("Rodeo" Garth Brooks)
Sean Cassidy (5'11" 220 lbs., Los Angeles, CA) ("Talk Dirty to Me" Poison)
Peter Strongbow (6'0" 225 lbs., Broken Arrow, OK) ("Indian Outlaw" Tim McGraw)
Vance Nevada
Giant Warrior (NEW) (7'0" 350 lbs.
Manny Silva
Sabu


Ladies
Pamela Principal (5'6" 135 lbs., Santa Monica, CA) ("She Rides Like a Hurricane" Heydey)
April Cummings (5'4" 140 lbs., Los Angeles, CA) ("Talk Dirty To Me" Poison)
Cory Everson

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #580
August 5, 1995
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout

Jim Brunzell defeated Vance Nevada by pinfall after a flying dropkick at 6:15

**a bit surprising to see the former champion Brunzell opening the show. However, its been a few months since he competed, so he spent the first couple minutes shaking off the ring rust before getting into the groove.

Bout #2

Sabu defeated Eric Freedom by pinfall after a twisting moonsault at 7:33

**Sabu makes his return to RCW. Freedom put up a good fight but was overwhelmed by the raw talent and drive of Sabu. The referee came close to reversing the decision after the bout though when Sabu locked in a camel clutch and refused to break until officials came in to drag him off.

Bout #3

Best 2 out of 3 Falls

Ben Bassarab and Jesse Hennig battled to a draw 0-0

**This feud has gone from heating up to over heating in a hurry. The first fall started like a normal match for about the first 6 minutes. Yes it was rough but both men have skills and were keeping it within the boundaries of common decency. Then it just got out of hand. The ref tried to restore order, tried to let them decide it, but they just refused to get back into the ring and so they were both counted out. Security and other wrestlers came out to restore order and get the two back into the ring, and it started again. The second fall though took over from where the first fall ended. It looked like this was a no-countout match as the ref stopped trying to get them back inside, and they spent as much time outside as inside. Finally they had a sustained series inside of brawling and chain wrestling. If anything it looked like Bassarab was the better of the two and was getting the upper hand. But then the match went outside again and both men got busted open. When they started to fight by throwing chairs at each other the ref finally called a double DQ. Again security and wrestlers tried to break it up and get them back inside but both men wearing crimson masks just started to fight everyone else as well. Finally commissioner Baron von Raschke gave the signal to the ref and he called it a no-contest.

[Double countout at 9:10]

[Double disqualification at 14:52]

[No Contest at 14:52]

 

Bout #4

North American Women's Title Match

Pamela Principal defeated Cory Everson by pinfall after a schoolgirl pin at 7:01

[Pamela Principal retained the North American Women's Title]

**Everson is a physical specimen to be sure but in the end she was overly aggressive and didn't exhibit enough patience to put away the champ. She made a mistake charging into the champ who bounced her off the mat with a spinning toe hold and then rolled her up for the win. She quickly rolled out of the ring, grabbed her belt and ran up the aisle, giving high fives to the fans as she went, as Everson smashed her arms off the top rope in frustration.

Bout #5

RCW Heritage Title Match

Nick Mercury defeated Giant Warrior by disqualification for outside interference at 6:32

[Nick Mercury retained the RCW Heritage Title]

**Cory Everson did not come out to be in the corner of the huge Warrior. Despite that Warrior controlled most of the bout but Mercury did a good job of counter punching. Suddenly Everson ran in from the back, slid into the ring and attacked Mercury from behind. She was frustrated and out of control. After security broke it up, Baron von Raschke (who is having a busy evening) announced that Everson was suspended for the night and would not be in the corner of the Destruction Crew.

Bout #6

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom defeated Thrillseekers: Chris Jericho & Lance Storm by pinfall when Enos pinned Jericho after a stuffed piledriver at 10:13

[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

**solid match for the champs against a real good young team. In the end the difference in power, double teams, and cheating made all the difference in the world.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Stan Lane defeated Sgt Keywon Grant by pinfall after a superkick at 12:47

[Stan Lane retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

**many detractors thought it was too early for Grant to get a title bout but he acquitted himself very well. Grant surprised Lane and the crowd by matching the champ, as the action went back and forth, with neither man holding any distinct advantage. In fact for a couple minutes Lane channeled his inner Larry Zbyszko and ducked in and out of the ring, played to the crowd, complained to the ref, and refused to lock up. Grant surprisingly held his temper and did not fall into the trap of changing his patient game plan. However, in the end the champ only needs one small window and he got it after a ref bump. Lane and Grant battled outside the ring where Lane managed to get the better of Grant and hit him with a steel chair. At this point he rolled Grant back in the ring, the ref woke up, and he covered for 1, 2, Kickout! Lane though followed up with his superkick finisher and this time got the win.

Post-Match: Jim Brunzell came down to the ring to complain the ref and ended up getting into a pushing match with Lane. Of course a challenge was made with Brunzell and Grant challenging Lane to a tag bout next card. Brunzell telling him to get whoever he wants as a partner...Giant Warrior, Nick Bockwinkel, Killer Kowalski, Steve Keirn, Bobby Eaton..whoever. Commissioner Baron von Raschke came down to the ring to commission the match and handed over a nice Nokia flip phone to Lane and told him to make a call. Lane thought about it for a bit, and played up to the crowd. Then he made a call..at first he seemed nervous? then laughing and jovial. He hung up and handed the phone back to Raschke. Lane said we have a match, and remember they said whoever. Well his partner will be, coming off his indefinite suspension, none other then former RCW Heavyweight champion...Manny Silva!!

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #581
August 19, 1995
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout

Atomic Punk defeated Caveman Broda by pinfall after a moonsault at 4:45

**not a very good match

Bout #2

Peter Strongbow defeated Robbie Royce by pinfall after a jumping double tomahawk at 5:56

**not much better

Bout #3

Lance Storm and Sabu battled to a double countout at 9:29

**now that's better. These two wrestled a strong style that wowed the crowd. The ref gave them a lot of leniency, not usually seen in RCW. They used chairs and tables, but only outside the ring. When Sabu tried to bring a chair into the ring the ref blocked him, removing it after he had set it up for his finisher. This probably cost Sabu the win as Storm recovered, the two battled to the outside, and when it became obvious they had no intention of brining it back in it was thrown out.

Bout #4
Chain Match
Jesse Hennig defeated Ben Bassarab after touching all 4 corners at 12:38
**This feud escalated even further with a rare and bloody chain match for today's day and age. It was a throw back to the 70's NWA style. Not much of a recap, just two guys beating the hell out of each other with a chain. However, by its very nature a chain match is a no-Dq, and thats why Hennig won. Bassarab had gained control and was beating on Hennig pretty good. Suddenly from the back came Larry "the Axe" Hennig, Jesse's father. He pushed Bassarab away trying to stop the fight. But Bassarab kept trying to get at Jesse, so Larry unleashed on hit, totally losing it. He punched and kicked away at Bassarab, then choked him with the chain. The fans were shocked at the beloved Hennig's actions but they were seeing a father protecting a son. Finally Larry let up but it was only because Jesse had recovered enough to drag Bassrab around the ring (with Larry's help) and touch all 4 buckles. Baron von Raschke came down to try and stop it right near the end but Hennig just hip checked him off the ring apron.

Bout #5
Six Man Mixed Tag Match
Wayne Bloom, Giant Warrior, & Cory Everson defeated Chi Chi Cruz, Eric Freedom, & Chris Jericho by pinfall when Everson pinned Cruz after a piledriver at 11:46
**an actually pretty solid six man tag match with lots of odd man opportunities for both teams. Freedom played Ricky Morton early on, and Bloom and Everson also each had a short stretch doing the same. The fan favourites did their best to keep Giant Warrior out of the fray, even knocking him off the ring apron at one point to stop him from getting a tag in. The end occurred after a Wayne Bloom/Giant Warrior stuffed piledriver, letting Everson nail her own piledriver for show.

Bout #6
RCW Heritage Title Match
Nick Mercury defeated Mike Enos by pinfall after a swinging neckbreaker at 10:21
[Nick Mercury retained the RCW Heritage Title]
**No particular reason why Enos got a title shot but it seemed like the company was punishing Giant Warrior for Everson's actions last card by not giving him another title shot. Enos is a good, veteran performer and controlled big segments of this match, grinding the champ down. But when the action picked up to a faster pace Mercury got rock 'n rollin and got to the pay window.
Post-Match: Under the encouragement of Cory Everson, The Giant Warrior came to the ring and attacked Mercury, leaving him laid out flat with the Heritage title across his face.

Main Event
Special Tag Team Match - Special Guest Referee: Baron von Raschke

Stan Lane & Manny Silva defeated Jim Brunzell & Sgt. Keywon Grant by pinfall when Silva pinned Brunzell after a piledriver at 15:55
**solid match with four great competitors. Grant may have been the weak link, at least his opponents thought so going to great lengths to isolate him. Brunzell was a house of fire whenever he got into the action. Baron von Raschke had appointed himself as the special guest referee and warned Silva not to cross the line. Raschke also warned Lane that he can't trust Silva, that all that animal can see is red for blood, and gold for the title around Lane's waist. The end occurred when Raschke was seeing to Grant after Silva had tried to choke him out with his patented move of wrapping the top two strands around his opponents throat. This allowed Lane and Silva to double team Brunzell. Silva held Brunzell, and despite everyone in the building expecting Brunzell to move out of the way, he did not, and Lane nailed him with the superkick. Silva then added a piledriver for good measure which seemed to miff Lane, and picked up the pin.
Post-Match: As Lane retrieved his title belt, surprise, surprise, Silva attacked him from behind, smashing him into the table, then picking up the belt and smashing him twice with it. 

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #582
August 20, 1995
Brandon, Manitoba

Main Event - RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Stan Lane (c) defeated Sgt. Keywon Grant by pinfall after a superkick at 14:32

RCW Heritage Title Match
Nick Mercury (c) defeated Giant Warrior (/w Cory Everson) by countout at 8:44

RCW Tag Team Title Match
Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (/w Cory Everson) (c) defeated Thrillseekers: Chris Jericho & Lance Storm by pinfall when Bloom pinned Storm after a doomsday device at 12:05

Cory Everson defeated April Cummings by pinfall after a piledriver at 6:24

Ben Bassarab defeated Jesse Hennig by disqualification for use of a foreign object at 9:07

Sabu defeated Eric Freedom by pinfall after a moonsault at 5:56

Manny Silva defeated Chi Chi Cruz & Caveman Broda in a handi-cap match when he pinned Broda after a piledriver at 4:43