April 1998

[managermike99]

Roster

Faces
Vendetta
Hysteria
Christian Cage
Sexton Hardcastle
Mark Schrader
Doc McMartin 
Steve Rivers (NEW)
Alex Rain (NEW)

Heels
Masa Chono
Manny Silva
Joe E. Legend (/ Mercedes)
Eric Freedom (NEW)
Nikolai Kishka
The Pharaoh
Adam Knight
Pierre Oulette
Slapshot (NEW)

Ladies
Barbie Wired
Nikki Kixxx
Becky Hennig
Runaway Jane
Daisy Rhodes
Heather Kennedy
Starla Saxton

Officials
Commissioner - Nick Bockwinkel
Referee - Buddy Lane
Referee -
Referee - Jennifer Greaves

Injured/Off
Ben Bassarab

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #722
April 4, 1998
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Hour #1

Opening Bout
The Pharaoh defeated Mark Schrader by pinfall after a moonsault at 5:07
**glorified squash match

Bout #2
Pierre Oulette defeated Doc Martin by pinfall after a Senton bomb at 7:12
**Oulette attacked Martin before the opening bell and controlled the first 4 minutes or so. But then Martin made a nice comeback and looked to be on the verge of winning, but he tried for a running splash only to have Oulette move out of the way and have Martin drop himself throat first on the top rope. Oulette immediately came off the ropes while Martin was holding his throat and nailed the Senton bomb for the win.

Bout #3
Becky Hennig & Daisy Rhodes defeated Starla Saxton & Heather Kennedy by pinfall when Hennig pinned Kennedy after a running neck snap at 6:31
**Saxton may have actually been the most talented wrestler in this bout, but Kennedy was the least, and that stopped their team from being able to capitalize on their advantages. 

Bout #4
Joe E. Legend (/w Mercedes) & Eric Freedom defeated Steve Rivers & Slapshot by pinfall when Legend pinned Rivers after a Legend cutter at 5:14
**Rivers makes his return to RCW (formerly one half of Massive Damage) and Slapshot makes his debut with a hockey player gimmick. In the end Slapshot was breaking all the rules, and dre the ire of his partner. Finally they got into a pushing contest, Slapshot gave a Gordie Howe elbow to Rivers who stumbled right into the cutter.


Hour #2

Hall of Fame Induction
Jim Brunzell and Nick Bockwinkel are on hand to say some words about this year's entrant into the Hall of Fame, Baron von Raschke. The Baron then gave a thank you speech, and of course ended it telling everyone that is all the people need to know.

Bout #5
RCW Television Title Match
Hysteria defeated Adam Knight by pinfall after a top rope frankensteiner at 7:43
[Hysteria retained the RCW Television Title]
**Knight is capable, but this one never really felt in doubt.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Vendetta defeated Masa Chono by pinfall after a top rope DDT at 14:40
[Vendetta won the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**really good match between these two. Vendetta came out like a house on fire for the first minute until Chono fed him a knee. Then it was all Chono for the next 4-5 minutes as he worked a side headlock, front chancery, and an Octopus stretch. Vendetta battled back though with chops, and when Chono hit him in the throat, he retaliated with kicks as he was backed into a corner. Exploding out of the corner the Haitian grabbed Chono by the head and slammed him to the mat. Sending him to the ropes Vendetta then nailed an elevated, delayed spinebuster slam and got a 1 count. Vendetta followed up with a sidewalk slam, then a legdrop, sent the champ to the buckle and caught him coming out with a big back body drop. But when the challenger went to the top he took too long and the champ brought him back to earth with a slam. Chono locked in an STF which Vendetta was lucky to survive. The champ kicked the challenger out of the ring and then followed him. The brawl outside was short but intense, and Vendetta took control of the bout. Back inside we had a criss cross sequence that ended with Chono missing a kick and Vendetta nailing him with a spinning wheel kick. The champ then nailed the challenger with three consecutive reverse Russian legsweeps, covered and got a 2 count. Vendetta nailed his jumping DDT and covered for the 1, 2, Chono got a foot on the ropes! The challenger picked up Chono who tried to punch his way out of it only to be fed two elbows between the eyes. Vendetta set Chono up on the top buckle, and then brought him down with a spectacular falling DDT from the top, covered, 1, 2, 3!! New Champion!! Vendetta begins his 4th title reign, tying Jim Brunzell for most in RCW history, and the 45th Heavyweight Title reign overall.


That's it for another edition of River City Wrestling. See ya next week!!

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #723
April 11, 1998
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Hour #1

Opening Bout
The Pharaoh defeated Doc McMartin by submission to the Camel Clutch at 5:28
**competitive bout, new finisher for Pharaoh instead of his regular moonsault.

Bout #2
Starla Saxton defeated Daisy Rhodes by pinfall after a Frankensteiner at 3:39
**Saxton has looked really good in her RCW appearances, while Rhodes continues to be the weaker link in the Daisy Dukes' tag team.

Bout #3
Slapshot defeated Steve Rivers by pinfall after the Gordie Howe elbows at 5:05
**When the match spilled outside Slapshot used a hockey stick that he had left at ringside. His finisher was to throw his opponent into the corner and then nail him with an elbow, except he did this in all 4 corners consecutively. Slapshot reminds many of the Good from WWF, but is not the same guy, just a similar gimmick.

Bout #4
Becky Hennig defeated Heather Kennedy by pinfall after a northern lights suplex at 2:47
**fast match for the other half of the Daisy Dukes'.


Hour #2

Bout #5
Adam Knight & Pierre Oulette defeated Mark Schrader & Alex Rain by pinfall when Knight pinned Rain after a powerbomb at 5:54
**Knight and Oulette look to be taking one more try as a tag team. This was Rain's premiere in RCW, he didn't look very good.

Bout #6
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Sexton Hardcastle & Christian Cage defeated Joe E. Legend (/w Mercedes) & Eric Freedom by pinfall when Cage pinned Legend after a double team slingshot suplex at 9:04
[Sexton Hardcastle & Christian Cage retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**This was the former Thug Life leader Legend against his former teammates. Mercedes cost the challengers the match when she tried to trip up Cage, but he had reversed it, so she tripped up Legend instead.

Main Event
RCW Television Title
Nikolai Kishka defeated Hysteria by pinfall after a jumping spinning leg lariat at 8:13
[Nikolai Kishka wins the RCW Television Title]
**Kishka returns from injury and comes up with a big upset. The young Russian was clicking on all cylinders as he and the lucha champion had counters to each other's counters. The end came when Hysteria went for a side suplex but Kishka countered with flying headscissors, nailed a standing sidekick and then his finisher. Kishka now begins the 41st title reign of the RCW Television/Heritage Title, ending Hysteria's reign which began when he beat Joe E. Legend at the Anniversary Show on Dec 13/1997.


That's it for another edition of River City Wrestling. See ya next week!!

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #724
April 18, 1998
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Tonight we have a special episode of River City Wrestling. It was announced that Madusa Micelli had suffered an injury and would not be able to defend her title. So tonight we have an unscheduled all ladies episode of RCW. We will have an 8 person tournament tonight for the title. 

Hour #1

Quarter-Finals

Starla Saxton defeated Becky Hennig by pinfall after a Frankensteiner at 4:50
**a bit of an upset to start the proceedings.

Nikki Kixxx defeated Heather Kennedy by pinfall after a spinning heel kick at 2:45
**quick win which is important for tonight's tournament format.

Jeanne Basone defeated Barbie Wired by pinfall after a DDT at 5:31
**Basone came in for this tournament and got a big win in this match-up of two former champions.

Runaway Jane defeated Daisy Rhodes by pinfall after a springboard bulldog at 9:08
**good win for Jane, but it was the longest match by far, and at the end of the round, leaving her tired and worn out.


Hour #2

Semi-Finals

Nikki Kixxx defeated Starla Saxton by countout at 3:55
**another quick win for Kixxx. This match saw Saxton make an attempt for a flying cross body block and Kixxx managed to power her over the top rope instead where she landed hard and was counted out.

Runaway Jane defeated Jeanne Basone by pinfall after a piledriver at 6:36
**solid win for Jane but she looks worn out. To make matters worse Basone was a sore loser and attacked Jane after the bout and laid in a bit more of a beating until security managed to break it up.

Main Event
Tournament Final for the Vacant North American Women's Title
Nikki Kixxx defeated Runaway Jane by pinfall after a cradle (and a hold on the ropes) at 7:05
[Nikki Kixxx won the North American Women's Title]
**Kixxx started strong and drew the ire of the fans as Jane was the big underdog. Jane though fought back and looked like she had Kixxx set up for her piledriver finisher. However, Kixxx backflipped her, and Jane tried to roll her up, but Kixxx dropped down onto Jane's arms pinning her. While the ref counted she was able to grab the middle rope for extra leverage.


That's it for another edition of River City Wrestling. See ya next week!!

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #725
April 25, 1998
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Night of Champions

Since we have had 3 of the 4 recognized RCW titles change hands lately, one in each of the last three weeks, RCW has decided to celebrate with a Night of Champions, where every match is a title bout. 

Hour #1

Opening Bout
RCW Television Title Match
Nikolai Kishka defeated Hysteria by pinfall after a top rope flying clotheline at 8:42
[Nikolai Kishka retained the RCW Television Title]
**Kishka's first defence of the belt against the former champion and he came out on top. Hysteria looked uninspired during the bout.

Bout #2
Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship Match
Bruce Hart defeated Ben Bassarab by countout at 9:12
[Bruce Hart retained the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship]
**the belt name is quite a handful. These two fought an old style Stampede match that started off as a respectful, scientific affair, but degenerated the last couple minutes to a more fierce (but not dirty) battle. In the end Hart tossed Bassrab over the top rope where he landed hard and was counted out.

Bout #3
Central States Heavyweight Title Match
Blizzard defeated Buddy Landell by pinfall after a frog splash at 6:55
[Blizzard retained the Central States Heavyweight Title]
**this marked the first time that someone from Central States (a member organization in WWA) defended their title in RCW. Solid match pitting a young up and comer against a wily old veteran.


Hour #2

Bout #4
North American Women's Title Match
Runaway Jane defeated Nikki Kixxx by pinfall for use of a foreign object at 7:34
[Nikki Kixxx retained the North American Women's Title]
**Kixxx' first title defence, and its against the woman she beat in the tournament final. The champ started strong going right after Jane, pulling her by the hair, smashing her head off the top buckle, and doing a couple hairplane spins. She then took it to the mat for a couple body scissors. Finally Jane fought back with fury, laying in forearms, a pair of monkey flips, and a couple drokicks. The last one sent the champ out of the ring and when the challenger chased her Kixxx grabbed the ring bell and ~waffled~ Jane getting herself disqualified.

Bout #5
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Sexton Hardcastle & Christian Cage defeated Adam Knight & Pierre Oulette by pinfall when Cage pinned Knight after a superplex at 9:19
[Sexton Hardcastle & Christian Cage retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**the challengers gave it a good try but the champs are just on another level. 

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Vendetta defeated Manny Silva by pinfall after a jumping DDT at 11:27
[Vendetta retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**Masa Chono has gone back to Asia, and did not stick around for his guaranteed rematch after dropping the belt to Vendetta. Silva stepped in as the #1 challenger and gave Vendetta everything he could handle. The match went back and forth, and with all the animosity that familiarity can bring this bout was heated and spent almost as much time out of the ring as inside. The match did not end without controversy. Silva actually nailed his wheelbarrow suplex and covered the champ..but referee Buddy Lane had been caught in the crossfire of the suplex and was knocked out. Silva went over to revive Lane but by then Vendetta had recovered. Silva landed a couple punches but a third was blocked and Vendetta unleashed a series and punches and kicks. The champ sent Silva into the buckle, and then hit him with a running clothesline as he bounced out. Vendetta then came from behind Silva and nailed a dropkick, sending him face first into the mat. He then hit his finisher and got the 1, 2, 3. Silva was livid but today was one of those days where his demeanour seemed to say "the fix is in" instead of completely losing his temper on all those around him.


That's it for another edition of River City Wrestling. See ya next week!!