Post by managermike99 on Aug 3, 2018 8:12:10 GMT -5
River City Wrestling #593
December 9, 1995
Winnipeg Convention Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba
16th Anniversary Spectacular
Opening Bout
Robbie Royce & Mike Wildside (combined wt. 550 lbs.) ("Wildside" Motley Crue) vs A.C. Crual & The Actuary (combined wt. 502 lbs.) (/w Emma Bezzlerr) ("Alien Nation" Scorpions)
**a rematch for some reason of the Germans November premiere. After Bezzlerr was done arguing with the referee Kenny Jay the Germans attacked their opponents before throwing them out of the ring. Bezzlerr stomped at both of them for good measure. By the time she rolled Wildside back into the ring he was already easy pickings. The Germans worked him over for a couple minutes, but made the mistake of letting up. Wildside managed to push Crual out of the ring, and roll over to make the tag out to Royce. The good guys had a short burst which ended when Bezzlerr managed to trip up Royce. This time the Germans wasted no time in putting Royce away.
[A.C. Crual & The Actuary defeated Robbie Royce & Mike Wildside by pinfall when Crual pinned Royce after a double underhook piledriver at 7:04]
Bout #2
Man Mountain Rock (6'6" 350 lbs., Hell's Kitchen, New York) ("Right Now" Van Halen) vs Rick Martel (6'0" 230 lbs., Quebec City, Quebec) ("I'm Too Sexy" Right Said Fred)
**match was delayed starting because Martel had greased himself up too much for referee Buddy Lane's liking and was forced to be towelled off. Martel then played hard to get, refusing to lock up, treating Rock like he was diseased. Finally Rock caught him outside the ring and tossed him around. Back inside MMR making his RCW debut struck with elbows, back elbows, bodyslam, and a hanging vertical suplex. He followed up with two avalanche's in the corner but could only get a 2 count. Martel took a powder outside the ring and when he was chased he rolled back inside and caught MMR with a knee as he followed. Martel went to work with a side headlock, then changed tactics and went after the legs with a series of kicks from behind. MMR fell like a tree and Martel worked over the legs, and then put him into a Boston crab, that Rock was able to power out of. Kneedrops, dropkicks, and a spinning spinebuster only got a 2 count. A whip to the ropes was reversed by MMR who went to work with a couple clotheslines and then a thundering back bodydrop. He followed that up with a splash for a 2 count. But the big man made a mistake by telegraphing a splash in the corner. Martel moved out of the way, MMR crashed, and Martel rolled him up (used a handful of tights) and got the tainted win.
[Rick Martel defeated Man Mountain Rock by pinfall after a roll up (and a handful of tights) at 8:34]
Bout #3
Thrillseekers: Lance Storm & Chris Jericho (combined wt. 458 lbs.) ("Live Wire" Motley Crue) vs African Bulldogs: Pariah & Temple (combined wt. 495 lbs.) ("Keep Their Heads Ringin'" Dr. Dre)
**ostensibly this was RCW vs SAWF (South Africa) but the Thrillseekers were pretty much gone from RCW by this time. The African Bulldogs are currently the #1 contenders for the SAWF tag titles held by Dennis Cale & Hank Armstrong. They are like a black version of the ECW's Pitbulls. Pariah is 5'9 235 lbs, built like a fire hydrant, while Pariah is 6'2 260 lbs, so taller and leaner but still very strong. There was a long period of feeling out as each man took on each man, so those 4 combinations took us through the first 5 minutes without much action and with no advantage. The Bulldogs quickly showed they were not adherent to rules though as they went to the throat of Storm and then used Jericho's complaints to the ref as a chance to double team Storm. The Bulldogs double teamed Storm in a variety of stand up moves where they would eventually back him into the corner for a quick double team before making the tag. Twice more Jericho tried to get in there but was physically held back by Kenny Jay. Finally Storm took matters into his own hands the next time Jericho distracted the ref by headbutting Pariah right in the groin. And when Temple came into the ring he received the same treatment. Storm rolled over to make the tag, Temple tried to stop him but was blocked by Kenny Jay since he was not the legal man in the ring, and Jay saw the tag happen. Jericho in with the hot tag went straight to work on both men with atomic drops, then clotheslines, then he tossed Pariah out of the ring. Jericho nailed Temple with a lionsault and covered...but Temple was not the legal man. Pariah in the meantime had climbed to the top rope and came off with a diving clothesline, taking Jericho down. He went to work on Jericho with a hanging vertical suplex, a pair of running clotheslines, a powerslam, for a 2 count. He went for another running clothesline but this time Lance Storm lowered the top rope sending Pariah to the ground. Storm then nailed him with a leaping bodypress, laid in some punches and then rolled him back inside. In the meantime Temple had come around and now clocked Storm from behind. Jericho put Pariah in place for a piledriver, but Temple came into the ring. Kenny Jay stopped Temple but Jericho paused just long enough to allow Pariah to counter with a back body drop. Pariah made the tag out to Temple who bodyslammed Jericho then put him into a hangman. He set him up for a Razor's Edge but Storm reached in and grabbed Jericho's feet and hung on for dear life. We then had our first 4 man brawl which went from inside the ring, to outside and then back inside, with Kenny Jay unable to restore order but allowing the match to continue. Next it was Temple's turn to play Ricky Morton getting isolated for a couple minutes before interference by Pariah turned the tide. This was followed by our second 4 man brawl, and this time referee Kenny Jay got caught in the crossfire and knocked out. The Bulldogs managed to get the advantage, and brought in a folding table. Temple held Jericho down on the table while Pariah climbed to the top. But Jericho managed to clock Temple, then put him in headscissors from his back. Pariah was paused on the top, and Storm came running and clocked him. He then climbed pushed Pariah off the top buckle, and Jericho moved out of the way by rolling off the table, still holding the headscissors, and Pariah crashed through the table. Kenny Jay miraculously awoke, while Jericho pinned Pariah and got the victory. Great Match!!
[Thrillseekers defeated African Bulldogs by pinfall when Jericho pinned Pariah after he was put through a table at 24:15]
Bout #4
Ultimo Dragon (5'8" 185 lbs., Mexico City, Mexico) ("Angry Chair" Alice in Chains) vs Sabu (5'11 235 lbs., Saudia Arabia) ("Kashmir" Led Zeppelin)
**two great foreign competitors lock up, and the fans are solidly behind Dragon because of Sabu's history as a heel in RCW. Despite being great wrestlers they seemed to lack a bit of chemistry to start with some aborted sequences where Sabu seemed to want to go fast and Dragon wanted a ground game, chain wrestling. Sabu settled on shooting but Dragon managed to reverse most of it. The two resorted to some face slapping. and then spilled out of the ring. The next five minutes were all Ultimo Dragon as he worked over Sabu with a series of armbars, ground moves, etc. Unable to put away Sabu the tied turned and now Sabu punished Ultimo Dragon with every type of springboard move you could imagine. Sabu though tried for a diving legdrop but Dragon moved out of the way. A couple moves later Dragon went for a springboard moonsault but Sabu moved, nailed a lionsault pin for the victory.
[Sabu defeated Ultimo Dragon by pinfall after a lionsault pin at 12:36]
Bout #5
Phillip Navarre (6'2" 245 lbs., Anger, France) ("Four Seasons" Vivaldi) vs Linley Tolbert (6'0 239 lbs., Cape Town, South Africa) ("The Crossings" Johnny Clegg)
**Tolbert went to the Larry Zbyszko school of stalling wrestling. He seemed very reluctant to lock up with Navarre and went for constant delays. But when he did hook up he used an effective but bland attack of headlocks and facelocks which sought to wear down Navarre, test his patience, and slip into the occasional chokehold until detected by the ref. Navarre fired away with forearms, slams, back bodydrop, and a second rope kneedrop. Tolbert though showed why he was the former SAWF champion and went after the legs of Navarre, and then twice put him into a figure-four. Tolbert then tried to finish the bout with a piledriver but Navarre countered with flying headscissors, roll up for a 2 count, flying clothesline, then scooped him up, ran him into the buckle and then turned it into a powerslam for the win.
[Phillip Navarre defeated Linley Tolbert by pinfall after the coup de grace at 10:47]
Bout #6
April Cummings (5'4" 140 lbs., Los Angeles, CA) ("Talk Dirty To Me" Poison) vs Emma Bezzlerr (5'3" 150 lbs., Leipzig, Germany)("Ride of the Valkyries" Wagner)
**Bezzlerr entered the ring and went right after Cummings, hammering her down with forearm shots. She then grabbed her by the back of the head and started to knee her in the face. When she let go Cummings fell to the mat and turned on her stomach to shield her face. This let Bezzlerr land a few shots to the back, and then put on a cobra clutch. Cummings managed to get close to the ropes and the German released the hold. She grabbed her by the legs, pulled her to the mat, and with Cummings face down applied a leg spreader. Finally she gave up on that and bounced Cummings with a release German suplex that sent the LA native bouncing out of the ring. Bezzlerr left the ring to toss Cummings back in. The former Ladies' champion mounted a short comeback with a couple kicks to the gut, some forearms, and a vertical suplex. But when she tried to come off the top rope with a splash, Bezzlerr caught her in mid-air, gave her three backbreakers as she continued to hold her, and then tossed her backward over her head, showing off her power. Bezzlerr then hit a gorilla press slam, and covered with one foot for the 3 count! Impressive indeed.
[Emma Bezzlerr defeated April Cummings by pinfall after a Gorilla Press Slam at 7:27]
Bout #7
SAWF (South Africa Wrestling Federation) Heavyweight Championship Match
(champion) Lone Wolf Harley Tragger (6'2 255 lbs., Manhattan, Kansas) ("Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi) vs Giant Warrior (7'0" 350 lbs. Amarillo, Texas) ("Super Charger Heaven" White Zombie)
**Tragger was here a year ago in the main event, where he lost the RCW Heavyweight title to Stan Lane. The fans were solidly behind him again tonight as he defends his new title against Giant Warrior. This started with a couple tests of strength which as the good guy Tragger was obliged to accept. Despite his uncanny strength though Tragger could not match up against a fresh Warrior and lost the advantage. Warrior wore down Tragger with a double wristlock, then a front facelock, and then choking him over the middle strand before leaping on him. Warrior then delivered a couple of double stomps, a bodyslam, a legdrop, and then a "mile-high" spinebuster for 1, 2, KICKOUT. Warrior hesitated just long enough that when he tried to throw Tragger into the buckle it was reversed, and then a couple kidney shots and a reverse Russian legsweep, for a cover..kickout with authority from the big man before there could even be a one count. Tragger and Warrior then went at it in the middle of the ring with a long sequence of exchanging punches, kicks, slaps, elbows, forearms. Warrior seemed to be getting the better of it, slowly moving Tragger back, until the champ came out of the corner with three rope assisted double kicks, then exploded out with a running clothesline to knock Warrior down. Tragger showed some ring savvy by keeping Warrior grounded and worked him over on the mat. Eventually though while in body scissors Warrior used the ropes to stand himself up, but instead of releasing the hold he pulled Tragger up and then powerbombed him to the mat, for a 2 count. Warrior worked over Tragger by alternating power moves with rest holds (it was obvious he was gassed). He then went back to back with Tragger to lock on the "Warrior's Wings" submission finisher, but Tragger managed to twist out of it, turn Warrior around, slap him, turn him back to facing away, and nailed an atomic drop. Tragger followed up by showing some nice aerial skills with a pair of flying dropkicks for 1, 2, Kickout. This was followed by another punching and kicking sequence, followed by some criss crossing, and finally Tragger backflipped his opponent over the top rope. Both men were gassed, but Tragger was inside the ring, Warrior outside, so when Kenny Jay applied the count, both men were sucking air, but it was Tragger who got the win.
[Harley Tragger defeated Giant Warrior by countout at 16:13]
[Harley Tragger retained the SAWF Heavyweight Title]
Bout #8
Eight Man Tag Team Elimination Match
Ben Bassarab, Chi Chi Cruz, Eric Freedom, & Bruce Hart (combined wt. 890 lbs.) ("You've Got Another Thing Comin'" Judas Priest)
vs
Jesse Hennig, Larry "the Axe" Hennig, Stan Baker, & Ox Baker (combined wt. 1120 lbs.) ("Rodeo" Garth Brooks)
**it's easy to forget just how big Ox Baker and Larry Hennig are, both around 6'4-6'5 and 320-340 lbs, until you see them in the ring against smaller opponents. They used all that power and experience early in the bout to dominate. In fact what happened was Larry and Ox began to just tag out between the two of them and ignore the younger generation. One time Jesse got tagged in but lost the advantage and was isolated for a couple minutes. Finally he managed to tag out to Stan who didn't fare much better. Then Ox and Larry used some double teams to throw their weight around and we got the first fall of the bout.
[Eric Freedom was eliminated by pinfall by Ox Baker after a heart punch at 8:26]
**more of the same as the match continued with the same result
[Chi Chi Cruz was eliminated by pinfall by Larry Hennig after the Axe at 11:09]
**a little bit pompous and also a bit gassed the older generation then began to let the youngsters take over the match. However when this didn't go so well and a 4 man brawl broke out Ox and Larry both lost their temper and hit the referee Buddy Lane, knocking him right out. A brawl ensued with Bassarab and Hart fighting 2 against 4 without any success, until Freedom and Cruz returned to help. Baron von Raschke then came out with officials to break it up. Buddy Lane was taken to the back and Kenny Jay put in as the referee. Jay's first order of business was to disqualify both Ox and Larry for their actions!
[Ox Baker eliminated by disqualification for abuse of official at 15:33]
[Larry Hennig eliminated by disqualification for abuse of official at 15:33]
**for what it's worth The Axe seemed to have remorse for his actions, accepted his DQ, apologized to the Baron and left quietly. When the match resumed it was now 2 on 2 with RCW legend Bassarab and Stampede legend Bruce Hart facing the former RCW tag champs Jesse Hennig & Stan Baker. All four men now seemed quite rested so we went through several combinations of each man against each man without a big advantage. Bruce Hart made the first big mistake coming off the top rope with a knee drop, but Hennig moved out of the way, then slapped on the figure four and got the submission.
[Bruce Hart eliminated by submission to Jesse Hennig by the figure-four at 22:04]
**two on one and the former champs showed their team work, with lots of double teams, wearing down Bassarab. Anytime Ben would get an advantage they would find a way to distract the ref, or reach in over the top rope, or otherwise cheat to get back the advantage. However, they could not put Bassarab away but then again they were showing a lot of patience. Hennig looked to have it won after a running neck snap but Bassarab managed to get a foot over the bottom rope to get the break. Stan Baker tried his luck with a spinning spinebuster, then a heart punch, but somehow Bassarab got a shoulder up. Bassarab made a short comeback, even against both men when they both entered the ring, but when he went to the top rope and tried to do a diving bodyblock on both men, all 3 tumbled over and collided with Kenny Jay, knocking him out (of course). Hennig and Bassarab were punching it out while Baker left the ring and came back with a chair. He was set to nail Bassarab but Larry Hennig returned to the ring, and grabbed the chair from Baker. Baker attacked Larry, Jesse then went to help his Dad out only to have Bassarab dropkick him from behind, then he dropkicked Baker, then Larry. Bassarab nailed Jesse with a pair of German suplexes and Jay woke up and made the cover.
[Jesse Hennig was eliminated by pinfall by Ben Bassarab after a German suplex at 29:50]
**one on one, it was a short slobberknocker until Bassrab nailed Baker with an atomic drop, flying headscissors, standing moonsault, and then his finisher to pick up a big win. Ox Baker tried to come down to interfere but Larry Hennig stopped him, and the two got into a pushing match but Ox relented after seeing his nephew pinned.
[Stan Baker was eliminated by pinfall by Ben Bassarab after a diving cross bodyblock at 33:14]
[Ben Bassarab, Chi Chi Cruz, Eric Freedom, & Bruce Hart defeated Jesse Hennig, Larry Hennig, Stan Baker, & Ox Baker in an Eight Man Elimination Match at 33:14]
[Ben Bassarab was the only survivor]
Bout #9
North American Women's Title Match
(champion) Pamela Principal (5'6" 135 lbs., Santa Monica, CA) ("She Rides Like a Hurricane" Heydey) vs Madusa Micelli (5'10" 150lbs., Milan, Italy) ("Hail Caesar" AC/DC)
**to put this timing in perspective, Madusa had just been released by the WWF (Alundra Blayze) and signed by the WCW, but had yet to appear on TV there. Having taken this booking she decided to live up to her word and wrestle. Of course the internet boards were just starting to explode at this time so the back drop was known to some but not all fans, however, most fans knew her from either her former days in RCW and elsewhere in the mid-west (AWA) or from her recent run in WWF as Blayze; and they didn't much care for her. Micelli though asserted her dominance right from the start and used her 4 inch height advantage as a reach advantage. She attacked with a semi-karate style, kicks, and chops, and accented that with a few different variations of suplexes, and a slingshot suplex for a 2 count. She then locked on a sleeper which Principal was able to escape by kicking off the middle buckle, and this turned the tide of the match. Principal now attacked with some impressive chain wrestling, really showing her skill progression this year, and came up with three near falls in pinning combinations before Micelli took the low road of escape out of the ring. She then frustrated the champ by delaying before finally dragging the champ out, chopping her in the throat then doing a flying bulldog that saw Micelli basically leap over the guardrail while driving the champ head first into it. Back inside the ring and Micelli locked the champ into a hangman, before turning it into a backslide for a 2 count. A double leg takedown and Micelli tried to turn it into a Boston crab but the champ rolled through and came up with a leglock. This was followed by a toe to toe slobberknocker sequence, followed by an interesting sequence that saw them fight on all four sides of the ring, on the apron. Micelli took back control with a hot shot. Now the challenger was able to put on the Boston crab, once, twice, and even a third time. Unable to put the champ away she went for a superplex but Principal knocked her to the mat, then leaped off the top with a cross body block for a pin, but Micelli flipped her over and got 1, hooked the tights, 2, 3!! New champ with a tainted victory.
[Madusa Micelli defeated Pamela Principal by pinfall after rolling through a cross body block at 14:09]
[Madusa Micelli won the North American Women's Title]
Bout #10
RCW Heritage Title Match
Street Fight
(champion) Mad Dog Manny Silva (5'11" 245 lbs., Hawaii) ("Mad Dog" Deep Purple) vs Sgt. Keywon Grant (5'11 235 lbs., Columbia, South Carolina) ("The Invincible Eagle" U.S Military Bands)
**despite only a 10 pound difference, Silva is so fierce and nasty looking that you would have sworn he was 25 lbs heavier then his opponent. Street fights are not easy or useful to describe, but for the most part both men had long stretches in control. Silva was busted open early and bled a ton while Grant was pretty much spared the crimson until the final couple minutes. In a very unlike RCW turn the two fought into the crowd and then over and through the beer line at the back of the hall. The two then fought behind the bar with Grant smashing a whiskey bottle over Silva's head but then being run head first into a metal beer keg. The two then fought back to the ring to give the paying fans a proper vantage point. Grant used some of his military training to counteract Silva's bar room training, including an airplane spin that saw both men collapse. The match went back outside where they battled on top of the announce table. Eventually Silva bodyslammed Grant on the table and the two spilled sideways into the crowd. Back inside the brawl continued and Silva tried to pick up Grant for a suplex but it was countered by Grant with a DDT, and a pin, 1, 2, Silva lifted a shoulder, 3!! Referee Kenny Jay missed an obvious shoulder lift by the champ and it cost him the belt. After the bout we would expect Silva to be furious, but instead he just seemed resigned, shaking his head.
[Sgt. Keywon Grant defeated Manny Silva by pinfall after a DDT at 15:02]
[Sgt. Keywon Grant Won the RCW Heritage Title]
Bout #11
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Texas Tornado Match
(champions) Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (combined wt. 521 lbs.) ("Hell To Pay" Jeff Healey Band) vs Fabulous Ones: Stan Lane & Steve Keirn (combined wt. 442 lbs.) ("Sharp Dressed Man" ZZ Top)
**Another RCW staple match, the Texas Tornado Match. All 4 men are legal, and its pretty much no countout, no DQ, although that is not specifically spelled out. The challengers were introduced first, and when the champs began to come down the aisle the challengers left the ring and met them half way to start the proceedings. Pretty hard to describe the mayhem and brawling that goes on in one of these matches. However, referee Kenny Jay could not keep up, and seemed to just focus on staying somewhat near the ring and counting falls close by. For example at one point Mike Enos had Steve Keirn locked in a Boston crab outside the ring, and Keirn was slapping wildly on the mat, but Jay stayed inside the ring where Bloom and Lane were brawling. In the end Steve Keirn had been knocked out of the ring, Bloom held up Lane for Enos to come off the top for a doomsday device. But Keirn reached in and tripped up Bloom. Enos saw what happened and launched himself from the top buckle onto Keirn. He landed on top and clearly had him pinned. But Jay was focused with inside the ring where Bloom swung at Lane who ducked and countered with an atomic drop, then nailed his superkick finisher to pick up the win, and the belts.
[Fabulous Ones defeated Destruction Crew by pinfall when Lane pinned Bloom after a superkick at 10:22]
[Fabulous Ones Won the RCW Tag Team Titles]
Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
(champion) Jim Brunzell (5'10" 235 lbs., White Bear Lake, Minnesota) ("Born To Run" Bruce Springsteen)
vs
Greg "the Hammer" Valentine (6'0" 243 lbs., Seattle, Washington) ("When The Hammer Falls" Helix)
**Two veterans, marking Valentine's return to RCW. The match started tentative with some collar elbow hookups, backed to ropes, nobody taking advantage on the ropes. Valentine got the first advantage and applied a side headlock, that dragged out for a bit. Brunzell then applied an armbar for longer then needed. Valentine took over with a punch to the gut, an elbow, and then a double axhandle off the second buckle. A series of elbow drops and then a headbutt to the "lower abdomen". The Hammer went to work on the legs, specifically the knees next with stomps etc, setting up for the figure-four. But when he went for the finisher Brunzell managed to kick his way out. Brunzell held onto the top rope while exchanging chops with Valentine but then the challenger kicked him in the knee and dropped him like a stone. Valentine then went outside the ring and banged the champ's knee off the apron a couple times then the ring post a couple times. Back inside Valentine backed Brunzell into the corner and laid in chops, elbows, and punches, risking DQ by ignoring the instructions of referee Buddy Lane (who has now returned from his injury earlier in the night). Valentine then whipped Brunzell straight over the top rope to the floor below. While it did damage, it turned out to be a mistake as it allowed the champ to recover, and when Valentine tried to get at him as he got back into the ring Brunzell fought him off with punches, then launched himself over the top rope back into the ring planting both feet into the chest of the challenger. We are about 9 minutes into the match.
Brunzell worked a series of headlocks, with switch behinds, to keep Valentine off guard unable to counter. Finally Valentine countered with a back body drop but Brunzell was able to avoid the damage by pushing off and landing on his feet. Brunzell then nailed Valentine with a belly to back suplex. Valentine raked the champ's eyes, took him to the ropes and laid in a couple punches. He whipped Brunzell to the ropes but the champ reversed it and bieled Valentine to the mat. A couple of hip tosses and then a flying knee. The champ had the Hammer set up for a dropkick but Valentine bailed out of the ring. Valentine went back to the eyes of the champ, a couple punches, but telegraphed a back body drop, that saw the champ try and counter with a sunset flip but Valentine countered by dropping down on Brunzell's chest. Valentine nailed a bodyslam, boot choke, scooped the champ up and dropped him across the top rope, then laid in a blatant choke on the mat. The match spilled outside the ring where the two men fought tooth and nail. Brunzell ended up reversing a whip to the ringpost and sent the challenger in to the ringsteps where he banged his knee. The champ aided Valentine back into the ring, and then returned an earlier favour by banging Valentine's knee off the ringpost twice before rolling back inside the ring himself. We are about 14 minutes into the title bout.
Brunzell worked over the knee of Valentine with elbows and leglocks, and then put on the figure-four. Valentine managed to get to the ropes but the champ reapplied the move seconds later, and this time Valentine finally managed to turn it over to reverse the pressure and get out of the hold. This was followed by a series of fisticuffs, and Valentine nailed a hard back elbow, a kick to the chest, then climbed to the top rope. His knee though was still pretty wobbly, and it delayed him, and allowed Brunzell to bring him back inside the ring with an overhead press slam. Valentine went back to the eyes though, but after a couple shots, Brunzell reversed a whip to the ropes, and tried to nail Valentine with a flying dropkick, but the challenger grabbed onto the ropes and Brunzell hit nothing but air. Valentine quickly put on the figure-four, and the champ had to survive almost a minute in the hold before reaching the bottom rope. Valentine though refused to break the hold and risked DQ. Finally he broke it, dragged Brunzell into the middle of the ring and reapplied it, but the ref made him break it because there had been no break at the ropes. Again the challenger risked DQ, this time by getting into the face of Lane, even pushing him. Brunzell used the distraction though to roll him up from behind and get a 2 count. Back on their feet though Valentine got off first with a clothesline, then went for a figure four which Brunzell countered again with a cradle for a 2 count, back on their feet, and again Valentine knocked the champ down with a clothesline, this time following up with a kneedrop again to the "lower abdomen". Valentine picked up the pace of attack of low tech punches, clubbing elbows, and knees to the back. Brunzell tried to fight back but came up short, and Valentine nailed a gut buster, and then with the champ dropping his hands to his stomach dropped a knee to the head of Brunzell...covered for a 2 count. We are about 21 minutes into the bout.
More punches and kicks and then he wore the champ down with a reverse chinlock. He worked his weight on the champ for a couple minutes and Brunzell seemed really gassed trying to struggle out of it unsuccessfully. Valentine nailed a reverse piledriver, an atomic drop, for a 2 count..then we went back to work on the legs of the champ. He tried to put the figure four on but Brunzell immediately rolled through it to reverse it and get to the ropes. Brunzell got backed to the corner, nailed the challeger with an elbow between the eyes, climbed to the bottom buckle for another elbow, the challenger stumbled, climbed to the second buckle for another elbow, the challenger stumbled, climbed to the top buckle, came off with an elbow that this time knocked the challenger down..for a 2 count. Short fisticuffs segment, and then the challenger put Brunzell into a clawhold. The champ managed to elbow his way out of it and toss the challenger out of the ring. Getting back into the ring Valentine looked groggy...Brunzell sent him to the ropes but Valentine nailed a back elbow strike. Again to the ropes, this time Brunzell leaped over the charging Valentine and then on the rebound nailed him with his flying dropkick finisher for 1, 2, 3!! Brunzell retains.
[Jim Brunzell defeated Greg Valentine by pinfall after a flying dropkick at 27:16]
[Jim Brunzell retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
Post-Match:
After one of the greatest cards in RCW history, despite an earlier 6pm bell start it is now well after 11pm but Baron von Raschke still came down to the ring to keep the fans in their seats. He called down Ben Bassarab as well to the ring and had Jim Brunzell stay.
It is time apparently for the promised big announcements.
Ben Bassarab first joined RCW in late 1983, and has been a mainstay ever since. With his many TV/Heritage title and tag title reigns, and annual awards, he is the most decorated RCW wrestler ever. All good things must come to an end though, and Ben Bassarab announces his retirement to the crowd. He is returning to Alberta where he will take a normal job and raise his family.
Jim Brunzell then hands Baron von Raschke the title after kissing it held high. Brunzell also announces that due to injuries and strain on his body he is going to be stepping down from wrestling and is relinquishing his title belt.
The Baron though hands back the belt to Brunzell, and announces that he is also leaving RCW to own and operate his own souvenir business in Ontario. While he is stepping down as Commissioner he will be leaving RCW in good hands as his good friend Jim Brunzell will be taking over the reigns once again and coming back next year as Commissioner; so this title belt is his to determine who will wear it next.
The fans seem mentally exhausted and are hushed, as Brunzell is also exhausted and has to stand with his back to the buckle to finish his announcements. It must have come as a relief to many fans to know he was returning as the loss of Bassarab, Brunzell, and Raschke would have been the heart and soul of RCW gone.
Brunzell though has great news now for the fans. One more big announcement. RCW has managed to secure a return to weekly television next year. RCW has signed on with Global Television, with CKND out of Winnipeg being the originating station, for a full two hour weekly television program. That program will start in April of 1996.
So RCW and its wrestlers will have another busy year in 1996.
In January the crew will be heading over to South Africa for a January 1st annual getaway card, but will then follow up with a card for the first time in Barbados. Also in January will be a tournament held to determine a new heavyweight champion.
In February RCW will have their annual awards show and card, and will also have their first All Women's show of the year.
In March the Hall of Fame committee will have their announcement as to whether there will be an inductee this year or not, the traditional St. Patrick's Week Shenanigans card will be held as well.
In April, as mentioned we will be returning to television, and will have the Hall of Fame induction ceremony if someone is elected to enter the hall.
May will see our second All Women card of the year.
Fast forward though the summer to September and we again have our annual Battle Royale with a shot at the heavyweight title on the line. That shot will be taken in October, a month that will also see our third All Women's Card of the year happen.
And of course the year will end with what will be our 17th Anniversary Spectacular Show!
With that Brunzell, Raschke, and Bassarab thanked the fans for their support in 1995 and hoped to see them again in 1996!!