Post by managermike99 on Nov 8, 2018 16:37:07 GMT -5
River City Wrestling #646
17th Anniversary Spectacular
Winnipeg Convention Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba
December 14, 1996
Opening Bout
David Jericho (5'9" 202 lbs., Johnson City, Tennessee) vs Vance Nevada (5'11" 213 lbs., Souris, Manitoba)
Nevada continues to spiral into crazytown. He attacked Jericho before the opening bell, attacked using nail rakes, eye gouges, wedgies, and a disgusting armpit smother. His best defensive measure was trying to keep the ref between him and Jericho. In the end Jericho imposed his will on Nevada then busted out a new finishing move to wow the crowd.
[David Jericho defeated Vance Nevada by pinfall after a double jump moonsault at 6:24]
Bout #2
Four-Way Match - All Competitors Are Legal - Falls Count Anywhere
Jeanne Basone (5'7" 125 lbs., Hollywood, California) vs Emma Bezzlerr (5'3" 150 lbs., Leipzig, Germany) vs Mistress Gloom (5'10" 190 lbs. parts unkonw) vs Kelly Gallant (5'9" 155 lbs., New York, New York)
Mass chaos, a different style match for RCW, with two referees on hand, one stationed inside the ring, and one outside. The first few minutes of the bout was everyone fighting with everyone, inside and outside the ring. Then it shook out that everyone teamed up on Gloom since she was the biggest. However, the others soon realized that since the bout was a single fall affair that none of them was willing to let the others pin Gloom, so the alliance broke down. Basone and Gallant took their brawl outside the ring while Bezzlerr and Gloom battled inside. Bezzlerr got 3 near falls on Gloom inside while Basone had Gallant in a Boston crab, and then a sleeperhold outside. Finally, frustrated, Bezzlerr tried to throw Gloom over the top rope but the bigger woman put on the breaks and reversed it, sending Bezzlerr over the top rope. At the same time Basone abandoned her fight outside and was preparing to attack Bezzlerr from behind. Now Basone found herself in the crosshairs of Gloom who gave her an avalanche in the corner and then went to work. In the meantime outside the ring both Bezzler and Gallant slowly struggled to their feet. Inside the ring Gloom chokeslammed Basone to the mat, covered for a 2 count. Outside the ring Bezzlerr caught Gallant with a kick to the gut and then a powerbomb, covered, for a 2 count. Inside the ring Gloom nailed a running powerslam, for a 2 count. Outside the ring Bezzlerr put Gallant into a Boston crab. Back inside Gloom nailed a piledriver, for a 2 count. Gloom slipped outside the ring and nailed Bezzlerr from behind. She then tossed first Bezzlerr, then Gallant into the guard rail. She slipped back inside but Basone caught her with a knee to the head, an inside cradle, 1, 2, kickout. Both women on their feet. Basone went for a kick to the gut, Gloom blocked it and nailed Basone with a clothesline. She followed up with a powerbomb, and as Bezzlerr crawled over to cover Gallant, Gloom covered Basone first and got the 1, 2, 3!
[Mistress Gloom defeated Jeanne Basone, Emma Bezzlerr, and Kelly Gallant in a 4-Way match when Gloom pinned Basone after a powerbomb at 10:05]
Post-Match: Unknowingly the outside ref finished counting Bezzlerr's cover and there was some confusion over who had won the bout. It resulted in some more 4 way brawl outside the ring where Gloom managed to grab a chair and ~waffle~ all three women, leaving them all laid out.
Bout #3
Man Mountain Mike (6'4" 320 lbs., Detroit, Michigan) vs Untermenschen (6'3" 340 lbs., Dresden, Germany)
Two big men, and the fans were hoping to see the German get a taste of his own medicine. The two men collided in the middle of the ring and tried to exert their physical dominance. Their size was comparable but the German was in better shape and withstood the challenge. MMM though snuck under a punch and bull drove the German into the corner. He laid in a few shoulder blocks, tossed him out of the corner, nailed a clothesline, then put on a series of armbars. He managed to keep the German off balance and on the mat for a bit, but the "subhuman" soon grabbed onto MMM's hold with both hands and lifted him into the air, and took him down with a slam that shook and shocked the arena. The German then laid in some boots, and a series of dropping headbutts where he worked his way around the entire body of MMM, finishing with a head on head drop. Because of the collision though he was slow to cover and only got a 2 count before MMM press slammed him off. The two then exchanged punches and UM clotheslined MMM over the top rope, but knocked himself over in the process. The two brawled outside the ring but UM grabbed the advantage and nailed a spinning spinebuster slam onto a steel chair which lay on the ground. Back inside MMM tried another short comeback but the German hit an atomic drop, an impressive overhead suplex, and then a release powerbomb for 1, 2, KICKOUT. The angry German hit another release powerbomb, for 1, 2, 3!!
[Untermenschen defeated Man Mountain Mike by pinfall after a release powerbomb at 9:21]
Post-Match: Unhappy with the way that MMM had managed to kick out of his finisher the German decided to hit him with it two more times. He was setting up for a 3rd time when he finally relented due to security and the threat of losing his purse for the evening.
Bout #4
Stan Baker & Jesse Hennig (combined wt. 490 lbs.) vs Massive Damage: Steve Rivers & Sean Dunster (combined wt. 480 lbs.)
This is Massive Damage's second appearance in RCW, and it's their second loss. They did all right giving credible competition but in the end both Baker and Hennig were given their chance to shine and show off their skills, including cheating and double teaming.
[Stan Baker & Jesse Hennig defeated Massive Damage by pinfall when Baker pinned Dunster after a heartpunch at 7:13]
Bout #5
Rock 'n Roll Express: Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton (combined wt. 451 lbs.) vs Bad Company: Paul Diamond & Pat Tanaka (combined wt. 455 lbs.)
The first RCW appearance for the R'nR express, and while not everyone in the North knows them, this is a match that probably sold quite a few extra tickets as big wrestling fans were probably excited to see these two legends appear. Bad Company on the other hand are well known to RCW fans including their run as tag champs for two months in 1988. While both teams are a bit slower then in the 80's they worked the crowd and put forth some solid psychology. Right from the start of this bout the crowd perked up, kind of like a delineation point between the front of the card and the back. Of course as a parody of himself, Ricky Morton spent a while at the start playing Ricky Morton. Tanaka brought out a Dragon screw, a couple German suplexes, a roundhouse kick, a savate kick, covered for a 2 count. Then it was Paul Diamond's turn with a scoop slam, sidewalk slam, and a diving reverse crossbody (some smart fans pulled out a chant of "Mooooonnnn" referring to his using the move from when he was Max Moon). He covered but only got a 2 count. Unable to watch anymore Gibson tried to make the save but was cut off by the ref. This allowed a double team slingshot DDT, with Diamond hitting a slingshot catapult and Tanaka catching Morton and nailing a jumping DDT. Diamond covered for 1, 2, KICKOUT!! Now Tanaka came into the ring for another double team but this time it was him put out by the ref. As Diamond approached Ricky, Morton got on all fours just as Gibson ran up, springboard off Morton's back and took Diamond out with a hurrincanrana. After a slow recovery Morton got over and made the hot tag to Gibson. Now it was the R'nR turn to hit some signature moves with Gibson hitting some flying dropkicks, arm drag takedowns, hanging vertical suplex, slingshot suplex, and Ricky Morton tagged in to hit his own dropkicks, flying crossbody block, and a DDT. Tanaka tried to interfere but the R'nR hit him with a double dropkick. Back inside Ricky Morton locked in the figure-four on Diamond. But Tanaka from the floor, unseen by the ref, nailed Diamond who had returned to his corner, in the back with a steel chair. Tanaka then ran into the ring and kicked Morton in the head with a vicious snap kick. The ref put Tanaka out of the ring but the damage was done. Diamond caught Morton with a kick to the gut, a powerbomb, and then tagged out to Tanaka. The Asian sensation nailed a running kneesmash, then a rolling wheel kick. Covered, for 1, Gibson had recovered but was too late getting into the ring, 2, 3. Tainted victory.
[Bad Company defeated Rock 'n Roll Express by pinfall when Tanaka pinned Morton after a rolling wheel kick at 9:12]
Bout #6
Jim Brunzell (5'10" 235 lbs., White Bear Lake, Minnesota) vs Manny Silva (5'11" 245 lbs., Hawaii)
This match was a long time coming as the RCW commissioner Jim Brunzell returns to the ring to take on Silva whose life he had made miserable by putting him in the curtain jerker match each week. Silva's pent up frustrations came out when he attacked Brunzell before the opening bell. He pounded away, nailed a couple suplexes, forearm uppers, isolated him in the corner with kicks, forearms, and shoulderblocks, and then climbed to the second buckle for leverage. Brunzell managed to comeback briefly by taking Silva down with an atomic drop, but he was still hurting and Silva took back control of the match. The Hawaiian went to the ground with a series of armbars, neck vice, and headlocks (some slipping down to a choke). He nailed a piledriver for a 1 count, another for a 2 count, looked to set up his wheelbarrow suplex finisher but Brunzell slipped out of the ring. Silva gave chase and tossed the commish into the guardrail. But when he tried to follow up with a running clothesline Brunzell took him face first into the guardrail with a droptoe hold. Back inside the ring it was Brunzell's turn to attack with some high knees, hip tosses, standing earringer, float over suplex for a 2 count. Then it was his turn to work it on the ground with a rear chinlock, then a kneeling surfboard, and finally an abdominal stretch. The match spilled out of the ring and the two brawled outside the ring, then inside, then outside again, then back inside, then outside again, and finally inside. The two went through a criss cross segment which concluded with Brunzell trying a flying crossbody block but Silva used his power to back into the ropes, then lift Brunzell up, and release him backward over the top rope to the floor below. Silva looked content to try and win this bout by countout but Brunzell managed to get back in at a count of 9. The two went at it again, but when Brunzell went for his flying dropkick finisher Silva managed to hold onto the ropes and Brunzell crashed to the mat. Silva nailed a running kneesmash, then his wheelbarrow suplex and got a huge victory over the legendary Brunzell.
[Manny Silva defeated Jim Brunzell by pinfall after a wheelbarrow suplex at 12:58]
Bout #7
North American Women's Title Match
(champion) Madusa Micelli (5'10" 150 lbs., Milan, Italy) vs Kat LeRoux (5'2" 125 lbs., New Orleans, Louisiana)
There was no clear fan favourite as both women wrestled with an edge, and both have a history in RCW of breaking the rules. LeRoux had her stretches and moments in this bout that went back and forth, but Madusa used her size advantage and martial arts skills to basically bully her way to the win. Madusa worked a sleeperhold, a hangman, hit a swinging neckbreaker, for a 2 count. LeRoux made a short comeback but charged hard into the corner and ate an elbow from the champ, who then came off the second buckle from behind the challenger and bulldogged her to the mat, for another 2 count. Madusa then nailed a bridging German suplex and got the win.
[Madusa Micelli defeated Kat LeRoux by pinfall after a bridging German suplex at 7:22]
[Madusa Micelli retained the North American Women's Title]
Bout #8
RCW Tag Team Title Match
(champions) Robbie Royce & Todd Bullett (combined wt. 430 lbs.) vs African Bulldogs: Pariah & Temple (495 lbs.)
The Bulldogs are of course the reigning South African Wrestling Federation champions, but only the RCW titles were on the line for this bout. The challengers used cheating, double teams, and their size advantage to control most of the first 8 minutes of the bout, and it really looked like an uphill battle for the good guys. They slowly inched their way back however and soon got the smaller Pariah into trouble, and cut the ring in half. However a ref bump allowed Temple to enter the ring and lay out both Royce and Bullet. The South Africans had Royce set up for a doomsday device, but the local ref was stumbling to his feet and stumbled into the corner where Pariah was perching. This knocked Pariah down, crotching himself off the top. Bullett hit Temple from behind with a legwhip, and while Royce bulldogged Temple into the mat, covered, and got the 3 count.
[Robbie Royce & Todd Bullett defeated the African Bulldogs by pinfall when Royce pinned Temple after a bulldog at 11:31]
[Robbie Royce & Todd Bullett retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
Bout #9
RCW Television Title Match
(champion) Ludvig Borga (6'3" 300 lbs., Helsinki, Finland) vs Lewis O'Day (5'9 230 lbs, Derry, Northern Ireland)
First thing to note, this bout seems to solidify that O'Day has made a shift into the fan favourite category of your program. The former champ tried to fight it out, fist for fist with Borga, and while he did really good considering his size disadvantage, eventually it became obvious that this was not going to be the way he would win the title. So O'Day started to use the ring to his advantage, wrapping the leg of the champ around the ringpost, smashing it off the apron, and using the ropes for leverage when the ref wasn't looking. O'Day then grounded Borga and worked first an armbar and then a nerve hold on the same side. While he didn't get the submission it made the champ's dominant arm almost useless for the next few minutes. O'Day tried to put the champ away, and got 2 counts after a pilederiver, and after a front layout suplex. But the champ kept exerting his power, and when the feeling in his arm came back he went after the challenger with renewed vigour. Inside and outside the ring he began to toss the Irish challenger around. He then worked over the back, and then applied a couple bearhugs but didn't get the submission. The champ tried to show off with a gorilla press slam but O'Day countered by dropping behind the champ and then running him into the buckle. O'Day went to work with a series of kneedrops and then elbowdrops but could not get the win. He went for his running kneesmash finisher but the champ moved out of the way. Borga went to work on the challenger again, but once again he made a mistake, this time going to the top rope and taking too long. O'Day brought him crashing down to earth. Once again the challenger worked the champ but was unable to get the win. This time when he went for his running kneesmash finisher, the champ exploded into a spear, crushing the challenger. He covered and got the 3 count.
[Ludvig Borga defeated Lewis O'Day by pinfall after a spear at 16:38]
[Ludvig Borga retained the RCW Television Title]
Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
(champion) Stan Lane (6'1 225 lbs.,Greensboro, North Carolina) vs Greg Valentine (6'0 255 lbs., Seattle, Washington)
No titles have yet to change hands tonight, which by the law of averages is making the arena a buzz with anticipation for a heavyweight title change. The two men started the match with a tentative hand shake. They may have been getting along lately but they are still both professionals with a history of back stabbing and being stabbed in the back. The match started tentatively but Lane got the first advantage with some standing armbars. He took it to the ground but Valentine stood him back up and into the corner. Lane didn't think he backed off fast enough so he pushed Valentine off but the Hammer pushed back. Things cooled down and then Valentine put on a couple armbars but Lane grabbed back the advantage. Lane worked a double wristlock and then a hammerlock. Valentine battled back with a hip toss, scoop slam, and a vertical suplex. Valentine went for a figure-four but it was way too early and Lane reversed with a cradle. Back on their feet things got heated again as both men exchanged chops, and then Valentine tossed Lane out of the ring. We were about 5 minutes into the bout at this point.
Lane entered the ring but Valentine was right on him. The champ cried foul not getting enough time to get back into the ring and punches were thrown. Valentine grabbed the advantage and began to work over the legs of the champ. He set him up for the figure-four and locked it in. Lane managed to get to the ropes for a break but the challenger applied the move again. This time Lane managed to roll over and reverse it to get a break. The champ tried to get a recovery break outside the ring but Valentine was right no him, sensing victory. Back inside the ring though Lane took over with a series of chops, an atomic drop, and a spinebuster slam. Lane had been trained by the great Ric Flair so he also knew the figure-four and weakened the legs of Valentine and then slapped it on. Valentine reached the ropes, then managed to toss Lane out of the ring. We were about 10 minutes into the match at this point.
This time when Lane was entering the ring he stopped on the ring apron, and exchanged punches with Valentine who was inside. Lane tried to smash Valentine's head off the top buckle but the Hammer slammed on the breaks. Valentine then tried to smash Lane's head off the ringpost itself but Lane blocked it, and then snapped Valentine's neck off the top rope. Back inside the two had a short brawl and then Valentine locked on a bear hug. Lane blasted his way out of it and then took the challenger down with a series of 3 German suplexes. Lane came flying off the ropes with a cross bodyblock for a 2 count. A criss cross segment followed and resulted in a bump between Valentine and the ref who were both knocked out. Lane covered but there was no one to count. When the champ went to revive the ref he was attacked from behind by Manny Silva. The mad Hawaiian managed to lace in a few punches and kicks before Lewis O'Day hit the ring and took out Silva from behind. Silva and O'Day brawled to outside the ring and security managed to intervene and get both men to the back. In the meantime Valentine and recovered and hit a piledriver, for a 2 count. He then revived the ref but Lane took him down with an inside cradle, 1, 2 Kickout!! We were about 14 minutes into the bout now.
Lane nailed a belly to belly crossed arms suplex for a 2 count. The champ followed this up a pair of elbow smashes catching Valentine coming off the ropes. He went for his superkick finisher but Valentine anticipated it, ducked under, and took the champ down with a double leg takedown, and turned it into a cloverleaf. Slowly Lane managed to make his way to the ropes. The champ tried to escape by crawling out of the ring but Valentine was relentless, laying in boots to the back of the champ, not making a clean break. The ref tried to push Valentine off and Lane delivered a back heel kick to Valentine's groin. Lane then nailed a DDT and covered for a 2 count. Lane nailed a pair of over the shoulder arm drags, and then a pair of legdrops, covered for a 2 count. Valentine fought back with some forearm shivers, then a scoop slam. The challenger came off the second buckle for an elbowdrop but the champ rolled out of the way. Valentine got back to his feet but Lane was set first, hit the superkick, and covered for the 1, 2, 3!!
[Stan Lane defeated Greg Valentine by pinfall after a superkick at 18:17]
[Stan Lane retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
That's it for another Anniversary Spectacular, and another, the 17th year of River City Wrestling.
See ya in 1997!!
17th Anniversary Spectacular
Winnipeg Convention Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba
December 14, 1996
Opening Bout
David Jericho (5'9" 202 lbs., Johnson City, Tennessee) vs Vance Nevada (5'11" 213 lbs., Souris, Manitoba)
Nevada continues to spiral into crazytown. He attacked Jericho before the opening bell, attacked using nail rakes, eye gouges, wedgies, and a disgusting armpit smother. His best defensive measure was trying to keep the ref between him and Jericho. In the end Jericho imposed his will on Nevada then busted out a new finishing move to wow the crowd.
[David Jericho defeated Vance Nevada by pinfall after a double jump moonsault at 6:24]
Bout #2
Four-Way Match - All Competitors Are Legal - Falls Count Anywhere
Jeanne Basone (5'7" 125 lbs., Hollywood, California) vs Emma Bezzlerr (5'3" 150 lbs., Leipzig, Germany) vs Mistress Gloom (5'10" 190 lbs. parts unkonw) vs Kelly Gallant (5'9" 155 lbs., New York, New York)
Mass chaos, a different style match for RCW, with two referees on hand, one stationed inside the ring, and one outside. The first few minutes of the bout was everyone fighting with everyone, inside and outside the ring. Then it shook out that everyone teamed up on Gloom since she was the biggest. However, the others soon realized that since the bout was a single fall affair that none of them was willing to let the others pin Gloom, so the alliance broke down. Basone and Gallant took their brawl outside the ring while Bezzlerr and Gloom battled inside. Bezzlerr got 3 near falls on Gloom inside while Basone had Gallant in a Boston crab, and then a sleeperhold outside. Finally, frustrated, Bezzlerr tried to throw Gloom over the top rope but the bigger woman put on the breaks and reversed it, sending Bezzlerr over the top rope. At the same time Basone abandoned her fight outside and was preparing to attack Bezzlerr from behind. Now Basone found herself in the crosshairs of Gloom who gave her an avalanche in the corner and then went to work. In the meantime outside the ring both Bezzler and Gallant slowly struggled to their feet. Inside the ring Gloom chokeslammed Basone to the mat, covered for a 2 count. Outside the ring Bezzlerr caught Gallant with a kick to the gut and then a powerbomb, covered, for a 2 count. Inside the ring Gloom nailed a running powerslam, for a 2 count. Outside the ring Bezzlerr put Gallant into a Boston crab. Back inside Gloom nailed a piledriver, for a 2 count. Gloom slipped outside the ring and nailed Bezzlerr from behind. She then tossed first Bezzlerr, then Gallant into the guard rail. She slipped back inside but Basone caught her with a knee to the head, an inside cradle, 1, 2, kickout. Both women on their feet. Basone went for a kick to the gut, Gloom blocked it and nailed Basone with a clothesline. She followed up with a powerbomb, and as Bezzlerr crawled over to cover Gallant, Gloom covered Basone first and got the 1, 2, 3!
[Mistress Gloom defeated Jeanne Basone, Emma Bezzlerr, and Kelly Gallant in a 4-Way match when Gloom pinned Basone after a powerbomb at 10:05]
Post-Match: Unknowingly the outside ref finished counting Bezzlerr's cover and there was some confusion over who had won the bout. It resulted in some more 4 way brawl outside the ring where Gloom managed to grab a chair and ~waffle~ all three women, leaving them all laid out.
Bout #3
Man Mountain Mike (6'4" 320 lbs., Detroit, Michigan) vs Untermenschen (6'3" 340 lbs., Dresden, Germany)
Two big men, and the fans were hoping to see the German get a taste of his own medicine. The two men collided in the middle of the ring and tried to exert their physical dominance. Their size was comparable but the German was in better shape and withstood the challenge. MMM though snuck under a punch and bull drove the German into the corner. He laid in a few shoulder blocks, tossed him out of the corner, nailed a clothesline, then put on a series of armbars. He managed to keep the German off balance and on the mat for a bit, but the "subhuman" soon grabbed onto MMM's hold with both hands and lifted him into the air, and took him down with a slam that shook and shocked the arena. The German then laid in some boots, and a series of dropping headbutts where he worked his way around the entire body of MMM, finishing with a head on head drop. Because of the collision though he was slow to cover and only got a 2 count before MMM press slammed him off. The two then exchanged punches and UM clotheslined MMM over the top rope, but knocked himself over in the process. The two brawled outside the ring but UM grabbed the advantage and nailed a spinning spinebuster slam onto a steel chair which lay on the ground. Back inside MMM tried another short comeback but the German hit an atomic drop, an impressive overhead suplex, and then a release powerbomb for 1, 2, KICKOUT. The angry German hit another release powerbomb, for 1, 2, 3!!
[Untermenschen defeated Man Mountain Mike by pinfall after a release powerbomb at 9:21]
Post-Match: Unhappy with the way that MMM had managed to kick out of his finisher the German decided to hit him with it two more times. He was setting up for a 3rd time when he finally relented due to security and the threat of losing his purse for the evening.
Bout #4
Stan Baker & Jesse Hennig (combined wt. 490 lbs.) vs Massive Damage: Steve Rivers & Sean Dunster (combined wt. 480 lbs.)
This is Massive Damage's second appearance in RCW, and it's their second loss. They did all right giving credible competition but in the end both Baker and Hennig were given their chance to shine and show off their skills, including cheating and double teaming.
[Stan Baker & Jesse Hennig defeated Massive Damage by pinfall when Baker pinned Dunster after a heartpunch at 7:13]
Bout #5
Rock 'n Roll Express: Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton (combined wt. 451 lbs.) vs Bad Company: Paul Diamond & Pat Tanaka (combined wt. 455 lbs.)
The first RCW appearance for the R'nR express, and while not everyone in the North knows them, this is a match that probably sold quite a few extra tickets as big wrestling fans were probably excited to see these two legends appear. Bad Company on the other hand are well known to RCW fans including their run as tag champs for two months in 1988. While both teams are a bit slower then in the 80's they worked the crowd and put forth some solid psychology. Right from the start of this bout the crowd perked up, kind of like a delineation point between the front of the card and the back. Of course as a parody of himself, Ricky Morton spent a while at the start playing Ricky Morton. Tanaka brought out a Dragon screw, a couple German suplexes, a roundhouse kick, a savate kick, covered for a 2 count. Then it was Paul Diamond's turn with a scoop slam, sidewalk slam, and a diving reverse crossbody (some smart fans pulled out a chant of "Mooooonnnn" referring to his using the move from when he was Max Moon). He covered but only got a 2 count. Unable to watch anymore Gibson tried to make the save but was cut off by the ref. This allowed a double team slingshot DDT, with Diamond hitting a slingshot catapult and Tanaka catching Morton and nailing a jumping DDT. Diamond covered for 1, 2, KICKOUT!! Now Tanaka came into the ring for another double team but this time it was him put out by the ref. As Diamond approached Ricky, Morton got on all fours just as Gibson ran up, springboard off Morton's back and took Diamond out with a hurrincanrana. After a slow recovery Morton got over and made the hot tag to Gibson. Now it was the R'nR turn to hit some signature moves with Gibson hitting some flying dropkicks, arm drag takedowns, hanging vertical suplex, slingshot suplex, and Ricky Morton tagged in to hit his own dropkicks, flying crossbody block, and a DDT. Tanaka tried to interfere but the R'nR hit him with a double dropkick. Back inside Ricky Morton locked in the figure-four on Diamond. But Tanaka from the floor, unseen by the ref, nailed Diamond who had returned to his corner, in the back with a steel chair. Tanaka then ran into the ring and kicked Morton in the head with a vicious snap kick. The ref put Tanaka out of the ring but the damage was done. Diamond caught Morton with a kick to the gut, a powerbomb, and then tagged out to Tanaka. The Asian sensation nailed a running kneesmash, then a rolling wheel kick. Covered, for 1, Gibson had recovered but was too late getting into the ring, 2, 3. Tainted victory.
[Bad Company defeated Rock 'n Roll Express by pinfall when Tanaka pinned Morton after a rolling wheel kick at 9:12]
Bout #6
Jim Brunzell (5'10" 235 lbs., White Bear Lake, Minnesota) vs Manny Silva (5'11" 245 lbs., Hawaii)
This match was a long time coming as the RCW commissioner Jim Brunzell returns to the ring to take on Silva whose life he had made miserable by putting him in the curtain jerker match each week. Silva's pent up frustrations came out when he attacked Brunzell before the opening bell. He pounded away, nailed a couple suplexes, forearm uppers, isolated him in the corner with kicks, forearms, and shoulderblocks, and then climbed to the second buckle for leverage. Brunzell managed to comeback briefly by taking Silva down with an atomic drop, but he was still hurting and Silva took back control of the match. The Hawaiian went to the ground with a series of armbars, neck vice, and headlocks (some slipping down to a choke). He nailed a piledriver for a 1 count, another for a 2 count, looked to set up his wheelbarrow suplex finisher but Brunzell slipped out of the ring. Silva gave chase and tossed the commish into the guardrail. But when he tried to follow up with a running clothesline Brunzell took him face first into the guardrail with a droptoe hold. Back inside the ring it was Brunzell's turn to attack with some high knees, hip tosses, standing earringer, float over suplex for a 2 count. Then it was his turn to work it on the ground with a rear chinlock, then a kneeling surfboard, and finally an abdominal stretch. The match spilled out of the ring and the two brawled outside the ring, then inside, then outside again, then back inside, then outside again, and finally inside. The two went through a criss cross segment which concluded with Brunzell trying a flying crossbody block but Silva used his power to back into the ropes, then lift Brunzell up, and release him backward over the top rope to the floor below. Silva looked content to try and win this bout by countout but Brunzell managed to get back in at a count of 9. The two went at it again, but when Brunzell went for his flying dropkick finisher Silva managed to hold onto the ropes and Brunzell crashed to the mat. Silva nailed a running kneesmash, then his wheelbarrow suplex and got a huge victory over the legendary Brunzell.
[Manny Silva defeated Jim Brunzell by pinfall after a wheelbarrow suplex at 12:58]
Bout #7
North American Women's Title Match
(champion) Madusa Micelli (5'10" 150 lbs., Milan, Italy) vs Kat LeRoux (5'2" 125 lbs., New Orleans, Louisiana)
There was no clear fan favourite as both women wrestled with an edge, and both have a history in RCW of breaking the rules. LeRoux had her stretches and moments in this bout that went back and forth, but Madusa used her size advantage and martial arts skills to basically bully her way to the win. Madusa worked a sleeperhold, a hangman, hit a swinging neckbreaker, for a 2 count. LeRoux made a short comeback but charged hard into the corner and ate an elbow from the champ, who then came off the second buckle from behind the challenger and bulldogged her to the mat, for another 2 count. Madusa then nailed a bridging German suplex and got the win.
[Madusa Micelli defeated Kat LeRoux by pinfall after a bridging German suplex at 7:22]
[Madusa Micelli retained the North American Women's Title]
Bout #8
RCW Tag Team Title Match
(champions) Robbie Royce & Todd Bullett (combined wt. 430 lbs.) vs African Bulldogs: Pariah & Temple (495 lbs.)
The Bulldogs are of course the reigning South African Wrestling Federation champions, but only the RCW titles were on the line for this bout. The challengers used cheating, double teams, and their size advantage to control most of the first 8 minutes of the bout, and it really looked like an uphill battle for the good guys. They slowly inched their way back however and soon got the smaller Pariah into trouble, and cut the ring in half. However a ref bump allowed Temple to enter the ring and lay out both Royce and Bullet. The South Africans had Royce set up for a doomsday device, but the local ref was stumbling to his feet and stumbled into the corner where Pariah was perching. This knocked Pariah down, crotching himself off the top. Bullett hit Temple from behind with a legwhip, and while Royce bulldogged Temple into the mat, covered, and got the 3 count.
[Robbie Royce & Todd Bullett defeated the African Bulldogs by pinfall when Royce pinned Temple after a bulldog at 11:31]
[Robbie Royce & Todd Bullett retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
Bout #9
RCW Television Title Match
(champion) Ludvig Borga (6'3" 300 lbs., Helsinki, Finland) vs Lewis O'Day (5'9 230 lbs, Derry, Northern Ireland)
First thing to note, this bout seems to solidify that O'Day has made a shift into the fan favourite category of your program. The former champ tried to fight it out, fist for fist with Borga, and while he did really good considering his size disadvantage, eventually it became obvious that this was not going to be the way he would win the title. So O'Day started to use the ring to his advantage, wrapping the leg of the champ around the ringpost, smashing it off the apron, and using the ropes for leverage when the ref wasn't looking. O'Day then grounded Borga and worked first an armbar and then a nerve hold on the same side. While he didn't get the submission it made the champ's dominant arm almost useless for the next few minutes. O'Day tried to put the champ away, and got 2 counts after a pilederiver, and after a front layout suplex. But the champ kept exerting his power, and when the feeling in his arm came back he went after the challenger with renewed vigour. Inside and outside the ring he began to toss the Irish challenger around. He then worked over the back, and then applied a couple bearhugs but didn't get the submission. The champ tried to show off with a gorilla press slam but O'Day countered by dropping behind the champ and then running him into the buckle. O'Day went to work with a series of kneedrops and then elbowdrops but could not get the win. He went for his running kneesmash finisher but the champ moved out of the way. Borga went to work on the challenger again, but once again he made a mistake, this time going to the top rope and taking too long. O'Day brought him crashing down to earth. Once again the challenger worked the champ but was unable to get the win. This time when he went for his running kneesmash finisher, the champ exploded into a spear, crushing the challenger. He covered and got the 3 count.
[Ludvig Borga defeated Lewis O'Day by pinfall after a spear at 16:38]
[Ludvig Borga retained the RCW Television Title]
Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
(champion) Stan Lane (6'1 225 lbs.,Greensboro, North Carolina) vs Greg Valentine (6'0 255 lbs., Seattle, Washington)
No titles have yet to change hands tonight, which by the law of averages is making the arena a buzz with anticipation for a heavyweight title change. The two men started the match with a tentative hand shake. They may have been getting along lately but they are still both professionals with a history of back stabbing and being stabbed in the back. The match started tentatively but Lane got the first advantage with some standing armbars. He took it to the ground but Valentine stood him back up and into the corner. Lane didn't think he backed off fast enough so he pushed Valentine off but the Hammer pushed back. Things cooled down and then Valentine put on a couple armbars but Lane grabbed back the advantage. Lane worked a double wristlock and then a hammerlock. Valentine battled back with a hip toss, scoop slam, and a vertical suplex. Valentine went for a figure-four but it was way too early and Lane reversed with a cradle. Back on their feet things got heated again as both men exchanged chops, and then Valentine tossed Lane out of the ring. We were about 5 minutes into the bout at this point.
Lane entered the ring but Valentine was right on him. The champ cried foul not getting enough time to get back into the ring and punches were thrown. Valentine grabbed the advantage and began to work over the legs of the champ. He set him up for the figure-four and locked it in. Lane managed to get to the ropes for a break but the challenger applied the move again. This time Lane managed to roll over and reverse it to get a break. The champ tried to get a recovery break outside the ring but Valentine was right no him, sensing victory. Back inside the ring though Lane took over with a series of chops, an atomic drop, and a spinebuster slam. Lane had been trained by the great Ric Flair so he also knew the figure-four and weakened the legs of Valentine and then slapped it on. Valentine reached the ropes, then managed to toss Lane out of the ring. We were about 10 minutes into the match at this point.
This time when Lane was entering the ring he stopped on the ring apron, and exchanged punches with Valentine who was inside. Lane tried to smash Valentine's head off the top buckle but the Hammer slammed on the breaks. Valentine then tried to smash Lane's head off the ringpost itself but Lane blocked it, and then snapped Valentine's neck off the top rope. Back inside the two had a short brawl and then Valentine locked on a bear hug. Lane blasted his way out of it and then took the challenger down with a series of 3 German suplexes. Lane came flying off the ropes with a cross bodyblock for a 2 count. A criss cross segment followed and resulted in a bump between Valentine and the ref who were both knocked out. Lane covered but there was no one to count. When the champ went to revive the ref he was attacked from behind by Manny Silva. The mad Hawaiian managed to lace in a few punches and kicks before Lewis O'Day hit the ring and took out Silva from behind. Silva and O'Day brawled to outside the ring and security managed to intervene and get both men to the back. In the meantime Valentine and recovered and hit a piledriver, for a 2 count. He then revived the ref but Lane took him down with an inside cradle, 1, 2 Kickout!! We were about 14 minutes into the bout now.
Lane nailed a belly to belly crossed arms suplex for a 2 count. The champ followed this up a pair of elbow smashes catching Valentine coming off the ropes. He went for his superkick finisher but Valentine anticipated it, ducked under, and took the champ down with a double leg takedown, and turned it into a cloverleaf. Slowly Lane managed to make his way to the ropes. The champ tried to escape by crawling out of the ring but Valentine was relentless, laying in boots to the back of the champ, not making a clean break. The ref tried to push Valentine off and Lane delivered a back heel kick to Valentine's groin. Lane then nailed a DDT and covered for a 2 count. Lane nailed a pair of over the shoulder arm drags, and then a pair of legdrops, covered for a 2 count. Valentine fought back with some forearm shivers, then a scoop slam. The challenger came off the second buckle for an elbowdrop but the champ rolled out of the way. Valentine got back to his feet but Lane was set first, hit the superkick, and covered for the 1, 2, 3!!
[Stan Lane defeated Greg Valentine by pinfall after a superkick at 18:17]
[Stan Lane retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
That's it for another Anniversary Spectacular, and another, the 17th year of River City Wrestling.
See ya in 1997!!