October 1999

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #813
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
October 2, 1999

RCW Rage opens with

The Prophecy's eerie green lights fill the arena as Vendetta II, Kurrgan, Barbie Wired, Menele and Pvt Pain make their way to the ring.
Inside VII starts making demands, specifically that Nick Mercury give Menele a European rematch tonight, and that Bobby Duncum give Kurrgan a Heavyweight Title Defence. Nick Bockwinkel comes to ringside, accompanied again by Gary Goodridge. He says VII must have himself confused with someone with stroke. First off he tells Kurrgan that it has been over 30 days since he has defended the Toughman Title. Therefore, tonight he will get his match against Bobby Duncum, but it won't be for the Heavyweight title, instead it will be Duncum's return match for the toughman title. Pointing to above the ring he smiles at the cage that hovers over the ring and nods.
As for Menele he may get his chance at Mercury tonight, or he might not. Tonight there will be a 10-man Battle Draw style battle royal, where pinfalls and submissions will also count. The winner will get entrance into the Cage Match Gauntlet at Nothing Else Matters for the TV title belt. The entrants for tonight's 10-man battle draw are; the Tag Champs The Extremists, Nick Mercury, Menele, Ben Bassarab, Steve Corino, Jesse Hennig, Kutlu Warrior, The Sandman, and Boss Strickland.
Before Nick Bockwinkel can depart the TV feed fires up with the image of Derek Graves flanked by Lord Zoltan and Sharon Montgomery. Basically Graves says that Bockwinkel will pay for stripping him of the TV title. While Bock may have suspended Graves for 90 days without pay, Graves says that it won't stop him from doing some "pro-bono" work for the RCW.

Announcer Joe Aiello tells us that tonight's first match will be a triangle match and the winner will also get a place in the Cage Match Gauntlet at Nothing Else Matters.

Opening Bout 
Toughman Rules - No DQ - No Countout - Triangle Elimination
Winner Qualifies for the Cage Gauntlet Match at Nothing Else Matters for the vacant TV Title
Kamala (/w Lord Zoltan) v Scarlett Birmingham (/w Lady Victoria) v Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom)
**Birmingham starts off against Legend. Birmingham counters Legend's attack and then throws him out of the ring where he takes control, whipping him into the guardrail. Back inside Birmingham goes for the piledriver but Legend counters with a backdrop.
Chi Chi Cruz comes to ringside.
Legend goes to work on Birmingham with a back suplex, side suplex, and a sleeperhold. Birmingham comes right back with a cobra clutch. Legend escapes the clutch and comes right back with another sleeperhold.  Birmingham manages to reach the ropes but then Legend just nails the Legend cutter. Kamala has not even been in the ring yet.
[Scarlett Birmingham has been eliminated by pinfall by Legend after a Legend cutter at 4:02]
**Kamala attacks a gassed Legend, and nails a piledriver. Legend is trying to fight Kamala's way with punches and kicks, but the big man just keeps coming at Legend.  Legend whips Kamala into the ropes, and Chi Chi Cruz spreads the ropes sending Kamala crashing to the floor. Legend goes to the floor now and whips Kamala into the ringsteps, throws him back in the ring and Kamala has to block a cutter attempt to stay in this match. Legend whips Kamala into the ropes, misses with a clothesline. Kamala kicks Legend in the gut, and then nails a headbutt. Behind the ref's back Cruz tosses Legend a blackjack which he uses to nail Kamala in the head.
[Kamala has been eliminated by pinfall by Legend after using a black jack at 7:24]
[Joe E. Legend wins the Triangle Match and qualifies for the Cage Match Gauntlet]


The Extremists are in the ring, they want a piece of Sandman and Kutlu Warrior, when the electronic feed interrupts with the images of Tatanka & Vicious Vic Grimes from the Indy league. However, when the camera shot widens we also see Vic Gate handcuffed to a wheel chair. The feed follows the Indy workers as they make their way backstage here at Rage, gathering a crowd of security which is only held at bay by threat of harm to Gate.
The parade makes its way to ringside where security finally blocks their path. Tatanka & Grimes demand a title shot in return for returning Gate unharmed. At first Commish Nick Bockwinkel says no way, but then the Indy workers produce a contract signed by Gate for the title match. Bockwinkel relents.

Bout #2
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Tatanka & Vic Grimes defeated The Extremists: Ace Darling & Devon Storm by pinfall when Tatanka pins Darling after the End of the Trail at 10:37
[Tatanka & Vic Grimes win the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**Grimes starts against Darling. Grimes has no luck against Darling so he and Tatanka resort to double team tactics. Tatanka and Storm tag in, and Tatanka shows his veteran skills in countering many of Storm's moves.  Storm goes for a shooting star press only to have Tatanka move out of the way. Storm comes right back though on the offence and hits an Asai moonsault to get a two count. The Indy pair again resort to double teaming to stay in the match. All four men get involved in the ring, and Storm gets a victory roll on Tatanka and almost pulls out a quick pin. Grimes is the legal man in now, and Storm goes for a jumping side kick off a chair, but Grimes moves out of the way. Grimes follows up with an inverted power bomb. Storm battles back trading punches and kick, and then again misses a high risk move, a 450 splash. Grimes almost gets the pin. Grimes follows up with a football tackle, a legsweep, and a short lariat to again get a near fall.  Storm finally blocks a suplex attempt and gets the tag to Darling. Ace breaks up a double team attempt, and nails Grimes with a DDT. Darling charges a corner only to have Grimes move out of the way. Grimes gives Darling a dropkick to the knees, and a back heel kick, only to have Darling come right back with another Asai moonsault.
A strange "cloaked" figure comes down to ringside and stands in Tatanka's corner. Grimes and Darling exchange near falls, and then Darling throws Grimes out of the ring. The cloaked figure helps Vic Grimes back onto his feet. Darling tries to come off the ropes but the mysterious figure nails him in the back with a chair. Incredibly the ref just warns the figure and does not call for the DQ! Grimes places Darling on the top turnbuckle and executes a belly-to-belly superplex. Grimes then gives the signal for, and executes the Grime Time on Darling, and Storm has to make the save to keep the titles. Darling goes for a DDT but Grimes counters with a backdrop. Tatanka tags in. The indy team double teams Darling, and then Tatanka hits the tomahawk. Tatanka executes the End of the Trail on Matt to win the titles.
Thus ends the short 4th title reign for The Extremists (less than a month), and begins the first for Tatanka/Grimes and the 73rd in title lineage. It is also the second time this year that the Extremists have lost their title belts in Iowa; a place they may want to avoid in the future. 

After the match Darling is jumping up and down about the ref's fast count and not having called for the DQ earlier. Only the sportsmanship of the Extremists allows the ref to leave the ring without being assaulted.


Nick Bockwinkel is in the ring and begins to rant about Vendetta II, Derek Graves and now Grimes and Tatanka thinking they can call the shots here in the RCW. No more, says Bock, and he calls out another hotshot, Keywon Grant, CFO. Bock tells Grant that he has no right to fire or let go RCW talent or other employees, as he is not the C.F.O. of the RCW, or for that matter even a legit signed talent as far as Bockwinkel has ever seen. None the less there are two guys in the locker room right now that would love a piece of Grant tonight and Bock calls Johnny Devine & Stan Baker out both of whom Grant had fired last week.
This looks like it could be a handicapped match until Grant grabs the mic and calls out Chi Chi Cruz to be his partner.

Bout #3
Keywon Grant & Chi Chi Cruz defeated Johnny Devine & Stan Baker by pinfall when Cruz pinned Baker after a cradle piledriver at 12:06
**Cruz starts off against Devine and gains the advantage before tagging in Grant. Grant nails a big spinebuster slam, gets a 2 count, and then intimidates the ref over a perceived slow count.  Grant continues to work over Devine, and then he and Cruz nail Devine with a double DDT. Cruz continues to devastate Devine before tagging out to Grant. Baker can't take it any longer and comes in to get a few shots in before being escorted out by the ref. Devine reverses a whip into the ropes, nails Grant with a shoulderblock, and then gets the tag to the big man. Baker nails a backdrop driver, followed by a flying bodypress to get a near fall. Grant battles back and then tags in Cruz. Cruz and Baker exchange advantages, and then all 4 men get into a brawl. Baker hits a spinning mule kick to set up a cobra clutch on Cruz. Baker goes for a lariat but Cruz counters with a belly-to-belly suplex.  Baker battles back, nails a doctor bomb, and Grant has to save his partner from the loss. Cruz tags in Grant who softens up Baker, and then tags out to Cruz again. They double team Baker with a couple of double fists to the midsection, and then a double vertical suplex. Cruz executes the cradle piledriver to set up the pin.

Grant and Cruz embrace after the match like two best friends.

We see that Joe Aiello has caught up with Tatanka, Grimes, and the unknown cloaked figure in their dressing room where they have some open beers in front of them. When Joe tries to get an interview the cloaked figure kicks him in the gut and delivers a cutter!


The announce team reminds us that Gary Goodridge, Manny Silva, and Joe E. Legend are already entered for the Cage Match Gauntlet , and the winner of this next match will be added as well.

Tatanka and Grimes come out and remind Bockwinkel that when he listed the combatants for this next event, he said the RCW Tag Team Champions (that's now us - Grimes points to himself and Tatanka), not the Extremists.

Bout #4
10-Man Battle Draw - Pinfalls, Submissions, and over the top eliminations all count 
1) Steve Corino (/w Becky Hennig) v 2) Jesse Hennig
Corino misses a big charge into the corner to give Hennig the advantage. Corino blocks a bodyslam attempt, but then Hennig reverses a whip into the ropes and hits Corino with a big elbow. Hennig tosses Corino over the top rope for a sudden and surprising elimination.
*Steve Corino has been eliminated (by Hennig - over the top)
While Corino goes ballistic outside the ring...
Hennig waits for his next opponent who is....

3) Kutlu Warrior (2:00)
Kutlu blocks a few of Hennig's moves and then tosses him over the top rope. The fans boo the quick eliminations.
*Jesse Hennig has been eliminated (by Kutlu - over the top)
Kutlu waits for his next opponent

4) Vicious Vic Grimes (4:00)
The two are pretty even in a brawl, until Grimes nails a frankensteiner, goes for the pin but only gets a 2 count, as the next wrestler enters...

5) Tatanka (6:00)
Tatanka surprises the crowd and goes right after his tag champion partner Grimes. Kutlu gets back up and we have basically a 3 way dance, until our next wrestler enters the ring..

6) Ben Bassarab (8:00)
Bassarab goes right after Tatanka, leaving Grimes to battle Kutlu. Tatanka nails Bassarab with a flying cross body press but only gets a one count. Bassarab takes over and nails a german suplex, as the next wrestler enters the ring..

7) The Sandman (10:00 5 wrestlers currently in the ring)
The Sandman goes right after Bassarab, which allows Tatanka/Grimes to work over Kutlu. Tatanka hits Kutlu with a powerslam and gets a 2 count.
Bassarab comes over to take Grimes on with a belly-to back suplex. Kutlu follows up with an elbowdrop from the second rope onto Grimes, pulls the tights and gets the 3 count.
*Vic Grimes has been eliminated (by Kutlu - pinfall)
Tatanka and Sandman double team Kutlu. Tatanka nails Kutlu with a powerslam. Bassarab tries to break up the pin attempt for some reason but is not in time.
*Kutlu has been eliminated (by Tatanka - pinfall)
Tatanka goes to work on Bassarab next. He is on a roll and nails Bassarab with a flying cross body press to get the pin.
*Ben Bassarab has been eliminated (by Tatanka - pinfall)
Tatanka then goes right after the Sandman...as our next wrestler hits the ring.

8) Menele (12:00 - there are currently 3 wrestlers in the ring)
Menele catches Tatanka by surprise and nails a front face DDT, but Tatanka kicks out at 2 1/2! The Sandman is recovering as Tatanka and Menele really batter each other good. Tatanka is in control of the ring as our next wrestler enters....

9) Boss Strickland (14:00) (4 wrestlers)
Menele has a handful of tights but still only gets the 2 count on Tatanka. The Sandman is up now and battles Tatanka nailing a DDT. After a whip into the ropes though, Tatanka hits Sandman with a clothesline that sends him over the top rope.
*The Sandman has been eliminated (by Tatanka - over the top)
Tatanka is a machine nailing Menele with a shoulderblock, a DDT, and a flying tomahawk. End of the trail finisher as Strickland watches on.
*Menele has been eliminated (by Tatanka - pinfall)
Tatanka gains the advantage over Strickland with a DDT and a double-axhandle chop, as our final wrestler hits the ring...

10) Nick Mercury (16:00) (3 wrestlers)
Mercury goes right after Strickland. Strickland and Mercury block a few moves near the turnbuckle, and then suddenly Mercury flips Strickland over the top rope.
*Boss Strickland has been eliminated (by Nick Mercury) - over the top)

(Tatanka & Nick Mercury remain)
Tatanka kicks and punches Mercury to set up a back suplex and a powerslam, to get a two count. Tatanka goes for a flying tomahawk but Mercury counters with a fist to the midsection. Mercury goes for a dropkick but Tatanka side-steps and Mercury only hits air. Tatanka goes for the pin.
*Nick Mercury has been eliminated (by Tatanka - pinfall)

Winner is Tatanka 17:42
[Tatanka qualifies for the Cage Match Gauntlet at Nothing Else Matters]



We get montages from both dressing rooms; Goodridge and Christmas don't trust each other, and Vendetta II and Silva don't trust each other.

Nick Bockwinkel and Jack Larkin are in the back and both are livid that the Indy Fed has added the Tag Titles to the bogus Lightweight title that they possess, along with the suspended Women's title, and now have qualified for the TV Gauntlet match. Larkin schemes a little and then tells Bockwinkel to make sure that the King of hardcore Cage matches is given a slot in the Gauntlet match; Balls Mahoney. Oh, and while they are scheming they decide to put one over on Keywon Grant too and automatically enter him in the Gauntlet match. Larkin tells Bockwinkel to make sure that Grant and Tatanka pick numbers one and two, and Balls number three.

Bout #5
Vendetta II & Manny Silva (/w Barbie Wired & Lord Zoltan) defeated Gary Goodridge & Jody Christmas by pinfall when Silva pinned Christmas after the wheelbarrow suplex at 13:06
**Christmas starts the match by grabbing VII and throwing him out of the ring. Outside he knocks VII into the ringsteps, and nails a moonsault bodyblock.
Back inside he nails a piledriver and another moonsault bodyblock. VII is in trouble but kicks out of the pin attempt.
Vendetta manages to tag in Silva and then they try to double team Christmas, but this brings in Goodridge.  Goods is evicted but Christmas still manages to foil the double team attempt by hitting a double clothesline on both of his opponents.
Christmas tries to trade punches with Silva before he tags out to Goodridge. Silva takes Goodridge outside of the ring for a little brawling.  Goods counters a suplex with a rake to the eyes and uses a legsweep to bring Silva down. Goodridge tags out to Christmas who is then double teamed.  Silva follows up with a series of swinging punches and a headbutt. Christmas counters a belly-to-belly suplex, and takes the big man down with a dropkick. Goodridge in now and goes for a grapevine, but Silva just kicks him off. Silva now with control hits a couple of swinging punches, an armbar submission, and a sleeperhold to soften Goodridge.
Christmas and Silva and are now the legal men when Derek Graves (suspended?) comes down to ringside.
Silva is in control and hits a belly-to-belly suplex and then a choke slam on Christmas.  Silva inflicts more punishment with a superplex, and instead of going for the pin he goes for a power bomb, but Christmas blocks it.
Christmas hits a couple of dropkicks, and then throws Silva out of the ring.  Christmas goes for a flying cross body press outside the ring but Silva moves out of the way. Silva hits a powerslam, and then throws Christmas into the ringsteps, and then the guardrail, before connecting with a swinging punch.
Christmas counters a kick attempt with a legsweep as they brawl in the ringside area.  Christmas hits a couple of flying clotheslines, and Goodridge comes over for the double team but Silva counters his DDT with a backdrop. Silva busts Christmas wide open by knocking him into the ringsteps and then the guardrail.
Silva then throws Christmas into the ringpost before throwing him back into the ring. Silva delivers the wheelbarrow suplex and gets the win.

Derek Graves nailed Goodridge from behind with a steel chair laying him out, and telling him to stay away from his TV title.

Once Goodridge and Christmas finally do get up they have a heated discussion after the match, but do not come to blows.


MAIN EVENT
CAGE MATCH
RCW TOUGHMAN TITLE MATCH
Bobby Duncum Jr defeated Kurrgan by pinfall after a stomp at 10:21
[Bobby Duncum Jr wins the RCW Toughman Title]
**The match starts kind of slow until Kurrgan grinds Duncum's face across the cage and then executes a flying lariat. Duncum comes right back though and rakes Kurrgan's face across the cage. Kurrgan weakens Duncum with a choke lift, then nails a few big punches, and a choke slam to put Duncum in peril. Duncum blocks a tombstone attempt. Both men go down after a double clothesline. A few missed and counterd moves follow until Kurrgan hits a flying clothesline on the big Texan. Kurrgan gets a 2 count.
Duncum up quick with a kick to the gut, and a bulldog attempt which the Kurrgan blocks. Duncum batters the Acadian with punches, a low blow, and then down with a lariat. Kurrgan though gets right to his feet.
Vendetta II comes to ringside with an iron bar.
Duncum punishes Kurrgan with a backbreaker. Lots of reversals and counters as each man seems to have the other well scouted. Duncum punishes Kurrgan with several punches and kicks, and then nails the running bulldog! Kurrgan kicks out just before the 3 count. Duncum hits a vertical suplex, but Kurrgan blocks a piledriver attempt. Kurrgan is all over Duncum with lariats and punches. Duncum is fighting a surprisingly defensive battle but then nails three running lariats, and two consecutive piledrivers!  Duncum gives the Kurrgan a stomp for good measure and gets the pinfall.

After the match is over Vendetta II enters the cage with the iron rod and takes a swing at Duncum. Duncum ducks the swing and takes on VII with punches and kicks, backing him into a corner.  Kurrgan is back up and catches Duncum from behind with a knee to the back. VII and Kurrgan go to work on Duncum, until suddenly Jody Christmas appears and takes on Kurrgan. However VII continues to beat on Duncum until Tatanka, Vic Grimes, and Erin O'Grady show up with baseball bats and rescue Duncum, as we

FADE TO BLACK


RCW Toughman Title History

1. Kurrgan
defeated Jim Neidhart by pinfall
**tournament final for new title
#777 - March 20, 1999 - Winnipeg, Manitoba

2. Kutlu Warrior (Johnny Stewart)
defeated Kurrgan by 10 count
#787 - May 15, 1999 - LaCrosse, Wisconsin

3. Bobby Duncum Jr
defeated Kutlu Warrior by pinfall
#796 - June 26, 1999 - LaCrosse, Wisconsin

4. Kurrgan (2)
defeated Bobby Duncum Jr by pinfall
#807 - August 28, 1999 - Akron, Ohio

5. Bobby Duncum Jr (2)
defeated Kurrgan by pinfall in a cage match
#813 - October 2, 1999 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa


Breaking Kayfabe; These were my original notes from when I ran this around 2000-2001
Wow, what a weird night. This Indy fed angle is getting way out of hand. It was designed to be a way of putting more zing into the mid and lower card matches. I did not book the finish to either the tag team title win by Tatanka & Grimes, or the Tatanka win in the 10 man Rumble. In fact Tatanka's push was quite low compared to others in both those matches. I sure hope this doesn't turn into yet another invasion angle!

I enjoyed the ring action a lot more this week as the matches were a bit longer, and seemed to be more interesting to me than the TNM ratings indicated. The tag title match was actually really fun to run.

I always try and come up with a show that I could realistically fit into a two hour plus overrun program. I do not get overly concerned with match ratings on Rage as long as they are not DUD's or negative stars. However, this week was less story development and more in ring action which I enjoyed.

Next week is the final Rage before Nothing Else Matters who's lineup stands as;

-Cage Match: Kurrgan vs Jody Christmas
-Heavyweight Title Match: Bobby Duncum Jr (C) vs Vendetta II
-Table Match: Steve Corino vs Jesse Hennig
-Cage Gauntlet Match for the vacant TV Title: Gary Goodridge, Manny Silva, Balls Mahoney, Keywon Grant, Tatanka, and Joe E. Legend. One more will be added. Basically they will fight with a "random" draw; winner keeps the ring, loser goes home. 1 v 2, winner v 3, winner v 4, winner v 5, winner v 6, and finally winner v 7. (6 matches in all).

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #814
St. Paul, MN
October 9, 1999

RCW RAGE opens with

The pRopheCy in the ring (Vendetta II, Kurrgan, Menele, Barbie Wired). VII says as much as he and Kurrgan would like to kick around their enemies, it seems that their enemies would like to kick each other around even more. So, tonight Kurrgan says that if Duncum, Christmas, and Corino want a piece of the pRopheCy then get in the ring together. He proposes a big six man tag match.

We see Stan Baker & Johnny Devine in the back having a discussion. Baker proposes that they should continue as a tag team. Devine says that Kutlu Warrior & Sandman have an open contract. Baker says lets do it.

Opening Bout
No DQ - No Countout Tag Match
Stan Baker & Johnny Devine defeated Kutlu Warrior & Sandman by pinfall when Devine pinned Sandman after a Northern lights suplex at 3:36
**Baker has the advantage on Sandman until Sandman busts a wooden chair over his head. Both teams make quick tags and the match is pretty even. Devine executes an armdrag takedown on the Sandman, and follows up with a DDT.
Devine whips the Sandman into the ropes, the Sandman reverses it, but Devine nails a spear as he comes off the ropes. Devine followed up with the Northern lights suplex and a pretty quick count from the ref finishes a big upset win.

After the match The Sandman and Kutlu absolutely verbally assault and menace the ref. The Extremists come out to save the ref, despite their troubles with his fast counting last week in their title loss.
The Extremists have a stare down with Baker and Devine after they clear the ring asking them why they hadn't done anything to stop it.


Steve Corino comes into the ring and accepts the challenge of the pRopheCy, but says their is no way he's tagging with that dirtball Texan or that sissy Christmas. He says he'll find his own partners. This brings out Duncum & Christmas to the ringside. They tell Corino that they are already on board, and that the two of them don't need his Canadian ass. From the crowd comes Jesse Hennig who enters the ring with a chair and nails Steve Corino. He then takes Corino outside the ring, sets up a table and elbowdrops Corino through the table with a leap off the top turnbuckle (while Duncum and Christmas just look on).

The next match pits two of the combatants that have qualified for the TV Cage Gauntlet match at Nothing Else Matters. Commish Nick Bockwinkel also announces that another match will be held later tonight for the final slot in the Gauntlet match. It will be a 4 corners elimination match featuring Ben Bassarab, Nick Mercury, Ace Darling, and Devon Storm. 

Bout #2
Gary Goodridge defeated Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) by pinfall after a small package at 9:15
**Goodridge surprises the crowd by attacking Legend before the bell but Legend blocks his Yakuza kick attempt.  Legend tries several attacks but Goodridge shrugs off the effects. Legend hits a clothesline, flying axhandle, vertical suplex, and a double underhook suplex, but still can not get the pin. Goodridge goes for a DDT but Legend counters with a backdrop. Goodridge makes a sudden comeback with a yakuza kick, an Indian deathlock, and an armlock hammerlock submission.
The two combatants trade punches and kicks in and out of the ring. Goodridge though just seems indestructible.  Legend nails an atomic drop, but Goodridge shrugs it off and comes back with a forearm smash. Legend continues his assault on Goods until Goodridge nails a DDT.  Goodridge is on his feet first and grabs the ankle lock submission.  Legend gets to the ropes and makes another strong assault on Goodridge culminating with a superplex. Legend takes the action outside the ring but Goodridge gets the better of him with a whip into the guardrail. Back inside Goodridge goes for a takeover suplex but Legend counters with belly-to-belly suplex.  Legend tries to follow up with a vertical suplex, but Goodridge counters with a small package to pick up the pin.

Manny Silva hits the ring after the match and lays waste to Goodridge and Legend. Then Balls Mahoney runs out with a chair and clears the ring of Silva and Legend, busting Silva wide open in the process. Then Balls surprises Goodridge by nailing him with a chair and then putting the testicular claw on him. Looks like it will be everyone man for himself at Nothing Else Matters.


Steve Corino is in the ring and calls out the pRopheCy. Out comes Vendetta II, Kurrgan, and Menele. As they surround him and walk around him, tapping his legs with baseball bats, he says he will still be in their challenge match tonight, but he wants Jesse Hennig to replace Menele. Instead of giving him an answer Menele takes a swing at Corino with a baseball bat. Corino ducks, and Menele takes out the Kurrgan by mistake. Corino comes up with mace and sprays the eyes of VII, and then lays waste to Menele. He viciously attacks Menele's knee with a baseball bat (possibly putting him out of commission for tonight, making the substitution of Hennig a requirement).

Kamala comes to the ring for the next bout, but we never do find out who his opponent was to be because the feed is once again interrupted by the Indy Fed. The mysterious voice says that since the RCW superstars were having their little warmup matches for the Gauntlet competition, the Indy's representative will now have his warm up match. It will be in a cage right here in the Armoury.

Bout #3
Cage Match
Tatanka defeated Reckless Youth by cage escape at 3:26
**Youth gets in the first big shot with an elbow smash from just below the top of the cage. Then he does it for a second time. Tatanka though makes a comeback including a powerslam and a cobra clutch. Tatanka returns the earlier treatment by Youth by climbing the cage and coming down with an elbowdrop. He follows up with his End of the trail (Samoan drop) finisher, but when he goes for a small package to follow up, Youth reverses the move.
As the two continue to battle Vic Grimes comes out and breaks open the cage door to enter the ring. Grimes tries to ambush Youth, but Youth nails Grimes instead. Youth and Tatanka trade a couple of high risk moves that miss before Youth smashes the face of Tatanka into the cage. Other wrestlers have come out to escort Grimes to the back.
Tatanka in control now with a powerslam, and a DDT. Tatanka once again climbs the cage and comes down punishing Reckless Youth with an elbowdrop. Youth though manages to get to his feet, chops Tatanka, goes for a vertical suplex but Tatanka goes for the reverse. Instead Youth shifts and hurtles Tatanka right through the side of the cage! The ref then declares that Tatanka has escaped the cage first and declares him the victor.

Tatanka grabs a mic and vows that the Indy Fed will add the TV belt to the Lightweight, Women's and Tag Team belts before the end of Nothing Else Matters. In fact, the mysterious voice comes on and says that he guarantees that the Indy Fed will capture the TV belt at Nothing Else Matters or he will give back all the other belts.


Ben Bassarab gives an intense interview stating how bad he wants to be the TV champion again, a belt he has held a record six times. 

Nick Mercury gives a similar interview, he wants to add the TV title to the European belt he recently won.

Chi Chi Cruz is in the ring. He is pissed off that he is not in the Gauntlet match at Nothing Else Matters. He challenges any of the contestants to come out and put their spot on the line against him.
Balls Mahoney answers the challenge, calling his opponent Chai Chai Rod-rigous (a WKRP shout out).

Bout #4
Balls Mahoney defeated Chi Chi Cruz by pinfall after a gutwrench suplex at 7:46
**Cruz out wrestles Balls early, but then the match turns into a brawl and Mahoney takes over. Mahoney hits a gutwrench suplex to get a two count.
Mahoney takes Cruz down with a back suplex, and then executes a flying kneedrop. Cruz begs off, but Mahoney is on fire and nails 3 straight clotheslines before throwing Cruz out of the ring. Balls whips Chi Chi around outside the ring including a shot into the guardrail. Back inside Cruz blocks a vertical suplex attempt and goes for an abdominal stretch but Mahoney counters with a hiptoss. Cruz misses a kneelift, and Mahoney comes right back with an eye gouge, and a gutwrench suplex. Cruz complains about a fast count but Mahoney is the winner and holds onto his spot in the Gauntlet Cage Match.



Vendetta II and Kurrgan are shown in the back busting into Jesse Hennig's dressing room. They grab his arms and pull him out, telling him they need to have a little talk with him regarding tonight's main event.

Ace Darling and Devon Storm are shown preparing for their match in the dressing room. They look nervous, and are avoiding looking at each other. Wordlessly, almost in complete silence, they get up and follow each other out to the ring.

Bout #5
4 Corners Match - Winner gets final slot in the Cage Match Gauntlet
Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) v Ben Bassarab v Deon Storm v Ace Darling
**Bassarab starts against Mercury. Bassarab gets an early advantage and presses it with a tombstone piledriver and a flying headbutt to get a 2 count. Northern lights suplex then brings a one count. Inverted DDT and another flying headbutt brings a two count. Bassarab is on fire with a Northern lights suplex and another near fall.
Kutlu Warrior comes to ringside.
Mercury blocks a german suplex attempt, but when Mercury tries to follow up with a clothesline, Bassarab instead counters with a crucifix, and another near fall.
Mercury blocks a back suplex attempt and comes off the ropes with an Asai moonsault and a two and a half count. Mercury then returns an earlier favour by nailing Bassarab with a tombstone piledriver, and a near pin fall.
The action spills outside where Bassarab again gains the advantage. Finally, at the 3:30 mark Mercury tags out to Devon Storm.
Storm nails Bassarab with a dropkick and a springboard splash to get a two count stopped only by Bassarab draping a foot over the bottom rope. Bassarab though comes right back with his succession of 3 German suplexes.  Storm blocks a 4th attempt with an elbow to the head. Storm tags out to Darling.
Darling nails Bassarab with a moonsault and gets a two count. Bassarab has been isolated in the ring now for 5 minutes and has faced all 3 of his opponents.
Darling and Bassarab exchange punches. Darling blocks an inverted DDT attempt and after a couple of punches whips Bassarab into the ropes. Bassarab goes for a lariat which Darling blocks and then delivers a bodyslam.  Darling goes for a somersault splash but Ben rolls out of the way.
Bassarab whips Darling into the ropes but Darling comes back with a rana and a near 3 count. The action continues at a torrid pace and then Bassarab tags in Storm, and the Extremists face each other.
Storm throws Darling out of the ring and takes Darling down with a single leg takedown. Kutlu attacks Storm from behind. Darling is the first Extremist up and whips Storm into the guardrail. They are back in the ring and Darling has a chair which he uses to spring off and nail Storm with a spinning headscissors. The two continue to battle tooth and nail.
Menele comes down to ringside and begins to jaw with Kutlu. Inside the ring Darling goes for a rana but Storm counters with a powerbomb and gets a 2 count. We are now 10 minutes into this great matchup.
The action again spills to the outside where Darling jumps onto Storm with a moonsault plancha. Darling follows up with a German suplex on the floor before rolling back into the ring.  Storm follows his partner back into the ring and receives an asai moonsault for a welcoming present, and a 2 count. Darling nails a somersault splash and gets the pinfall (and a standing ovation) over his partner Storm.
[Devon Storm has been eliminated by Ace Darling by pinfall after a somersault splash at 12:17]
Bassarab and Mercury are back in the ring and Mercury grabs the advantage with a split legged moonsault, flying dropkick and a two count.  Mercury nails a double underhook piledriver, but when he tries to come off the ropes Menele lowers the ropes and sends him to the floor. Bassarab goes for a head tope but Mercury moves out of the way and Bassarab wrecks himself on the floor.  Mercury keeps up the pressure by whipping him into the guardrail and then nailing a german suplex. Back inside the ring Bassarab battles back with a northern lights suplex, diving headbutt, and the crossface but Mercury is too close to the ropes.
Mercury tags out to Ace Darling.
Bassarab and Darling take it to the floor where Bassarab punishes him with the crossface. Darling follows Bassarab back into the ring. Darling goes for an atomic drop, but Bassarab counters with a bulldog. Bassarab goes for an abdominal stretch but Darling reverses it. Bassarab reaches the ropes to get the break but Darling takes him down with a spinning leg lariat. Darling hits the somersault splash and gets the pin.
[Ben Bassarab has been eliminated by Ace Darling by pinfall after a somersault splash at 16:46]
Darling immediately gets Mercury into an armbar submission. Mercury fights out after 30 seconds, and comes right back with a power bomb, to get a 2 count.
Darling misses a rush into the corner, and Mercury follows up with a clothesline, and a 2 count.
Now, the Sandman comes down to ringside to join Kutlu, and keep an eye on Menele.
Mercury throws Darling out of the ring, and Sandman and Kutlu distract Darling which allows Mercury to throw him into the guardrail.  Mercury follows up with a spinning leg lariat, and another whip into the guardrail. Back inside the ring Darling wears down Mercury with a front face lock.
While Kutlu distracts the ref, the Sandman tosses Mercury a chair, but Darling intercepts it first. Darling nails Mercury with the chair and would have got the pin but Big Albert (bet you forgot about him) draped Mercury's foot over the bottom rope. Darling nails Mercury with a clothesline to send him out of the ring, and the fans begin to sniff a screwjob ending to a great match.
On the floor, Darling goes for a frankensteiner but Mercury counters with a powerbomb. Mercury whips Darling into the guardrail and follows up with a bodyslam.
Back inside the ring Mercury nails a big superplex, but when he goes for a standing moonsault, Darling moves out of the way. Darling nails the somersault splash and Big Albert again drapes Mercury's foot over the bottom rope to make the save.
Mercury begs off but when Darling goes for a springboard back elbow Mercury side-steps the move. Mercury locks on the Boston crab but is too close to the ropes.
The two exchange a few more high risk moves and then Darling nails a back suplex. Ace follows up with a snap suplex and then a german suplex.  Darling goes for the pin, but again Big Albert drapes Mercury's foot over the bottom rope. This time the ref sees it and has had enough, and calls for the DQ.
[Nick Mercury has been eliminated by Ace Darling by disqualification for outside interference at 23:27]
[Ace Darling wins the 4 Corners Match and Qualifies for the Gauntlet Cage Match at Nothing Else Matters]

Derek Graves appears and enters the ring with a crowbar. Graves whacks Darling over the back of the head. He tells him to keep his hands off his TV title.


After the commercial break Derek Graves is shown with the crowbar walking around the dressing room area of the arena. When he sees the camera he attacks the cameraman with the crowbar.

MAIN EVENT 
SIX MAN TAG MATCH - CAGE MATCH
Bobby Duncum Jr, Jody Christmas (/w Mistress Gloom) & Steve Corino (/w Becky Hennig) defeated Vendetta II (/w Barbie Wired), Kurrgan & Jesse Hennig by pinfall when Corino pinned Vendetta II after a flying elbowdrop at 20:04
**Duncum and the Kurrgan start things off with some punches. Kurrgan tags out to Hennig which brings Corino into the ring but he is escorted out by the ref. Duncum though quickly makes the tag to Corino.
Duncum and the Kurrgan battle alongside the legal men Corino and Hennig. Duncum sends Kurrgan into the steel cage, knocking him out.  Duncum executes the bulldog and the ref counts (it now seems that Kurrgan and Duncum are deemed the legal men), but the Kurrgan gets his foot in the ropes to survive. Duncum tags out to Christmas.
Christmas goes for a clothesline but Kurrgan counters it with a gorilla press. Kurrgan though is hurting bad. Christmas hits a pair of inverted atomic drops and then tags in Corino.
Kurrgan though goes for a chokeslam, but Corino counters with an elbowsmash and a russian legsweep. Elbowdrop from the second rope gets a 2 count. Corino keeps up the pressure with a flying bulldog and a fisherman suplex, but only gets 2.  Kurrgan gains the advantage with a short clothesline and tags out to Vendetta II.
VII and Kurrgan doubleteam Corino. The action is even, but then they double team Corino again which brings Duncum into the ring to even out the odds.
Becky and Wired get into a catfight outside the ring.
VII uses the distraction to nail Corino with a low blow. He follows up with a superplex and then Kurrgan comes in to make it a doubleteam effort again.
Christmas enters the ring to even the odds and he and Corino actually co-operate enough to deliver a double vertical suplex on VII.  Corino hits an inverted atomic drop and tags in Christmas. Again the two deliver a double vertical suplex on VII, and then a double clothesline. Christmas takes down VII with a flying bodypress and gets a 2 count. (Is Jesse Hennig even in this bout???)
Christmas and Corino team up again to deliver a double atomic drop, which brings Kurrgan in but he is cut off by the ref. Corino hits VII with a dropkick, and then Christmas goes for a german suplex but VII counters with an elbowsmash.
VII hits a powerslam on Christmas to get a 2 count.
Vendetta II continues to punish Christmas but he turns things around with a kick, bodyslam, and flying elbowdrop. He goes for a superkick but VII blocks it. Christmas though maintains control with a headlock, and an abdominal stretch.  VII reaches the ropes but Christmas comes right back with a surprise superkick to the chin. Vendetta II manages to kick out at 2 1/2!
Christmas continues to beat on VII and nails a moonsault bodyblock. VII though grabs a lead pipe passed through the cage wall by Barbie Wired and levels Christmas. Christmas manages to kick out at 2 1/2.
VII tags out to Hennig!
Hennig hits Christmas with a diving headbutt. Then he delivered a Frankensteiner on Christmas, but only gets a 2 count. Piledriver, gutwrench suplex, garners another 2 count. VII comes in and he and Hennig double team Christmas. Christmas battles back against Hennig, goes for a clothesline but Hennig counters with a crucifix. He gets a 2 count with Christmas getting a foot in the ropes.
Christmas battles back, nails a piledriver, and Duncum gets in the ring and helps double team Hennig. They continue to battle and then Hennig ducks away from a superkick attempt. Christmas tags out to Corino.
Corino is all over Hennig with a bodyslam, back suplex, and a piledriver. He gets the figure-four on but is too close to the ropes. Corino continues to punish Hennig but VII comes into the ring and double teams Corino.
Hennig hits Corino with an enziguiri out of the blue and tags out to Vendetta II. The ref holds back Christmas and Duncum while VII and Hennig double team Corino. VII executes an inverted DDT but Corino kicks out of the pin attempt.
More double teaming by VII and Hennig, then VII nails a gutwrench suplex and gets a 2 count. Corino rolls out of the way of a slingshot elbowdrop, and comes back with a vertical suplex.  VII though gains the advantage back and nails Corino into the cage with a clothesline.
Hennig enters the ring again and he and VII double team Corino again with a double backdrop. VII delivers a hiptoss and gets a 2 count.
VII and Corino exchange kicks and punches and then Corino nails a russian legsweep. Corino follows up with a flying elbowdrop from the top buckle. Hennig and Kurrgan are intercepted by Duncum and Christmas, and Corino rolls up VII for the victory.

All six men continue to brawl as we

FADE TO BLACK

Breaking kayfabe;
I was a bit worried when two of the first 3 matches were shorter than 4 minutes but it worked out beautifully as the last two matches were both long and entertaining matches. Three stars for a 4-corners match is a really good rating, and it was a great match to run, full of suspense. Then the six man tag match got 3 1/2 stars, another great rating for a low scoring type of match. The matches did a good job of setting up Nothing Else Matters as the stories had pretty much run their course last week.
Derek Graves is up to something, as is the Indy Fed. This adds even more spice to the gauntlet match.

The Internet rumors are true surrounding current RCW Champion Bobby Duncum. His contract is up at the end of Nothing Else Matters and he has not re-signed yet. Could this have an effect on his match at NEM??

Nothing Else Matters is also Jesse Hennig's big chance to become a legitimate main event status wrestler if he can beat Steve Corino. Of course this just adds fuel to the rumours that Becky will turn on Steve Corino and rejoin her estranged cousin in a big setup.

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling #815
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS - PPV
Chicago, IL
October 10, 1999

N.E.M. opens with "The Family" Lord Zoltan, Derek Graves, Sharon Montgomery and Manny Silva stalking around backstage. Graves promises that no one in the Gauntlet Cage Match will win the TV title tonight. This seems to piss off Silva who is one of the competitors, but the mad Hawaiian remains quiet (for a change).

Bobby Duncum Jr arrives at the arena and talks with Joe Aiello about the importance of the RCW Heavyweight title that he is defending tonight. Duncum calls it the Holy Grail of wrestling that actually matters. Aiello asks Duncum if it is true that his contract is up after tonight's show. Duncum looks pissed off but says that it is true, but that tomorrow on RAGE everyone should tune in to see him sign a new contract!

Steve Corino is seen asking security if Becky Hennig has arrived at the arena yet. They tell him "no" which seems to upset him.

(Note: while this is advertised/written up as a cage match, it is a wider cage complete with top, equivalent to the Hell in a Cell cage. I used an FCA Cubed Hell in A Cell match.)


Opening Bout
Gauntlet Cage Match
Keywon Grant defeated Tatanka by pinfall after a running powerbomb at 2:51
**Grant controls the action early in the match. He throws Tatanka into the cage door, which bursts open and sends Tatanka sprawling out of the cage. The match is nothing more than a brawl, with little skill shown thus far as they brawl in and out of the cage. Tatanka is in control now but every time he goes for a high impact move Grant comes up with a counter move. Grant counters a DDT attempt with a backdrop. Tatanka goes for a powerslam but Keywon counters with a lariat. Grant grabs control and sends Tatanka flying into the guardrail. Grant brings the action back into the ring and ends up hitting the running powerbomb for the pin.


No sooner is the first match finished than Balls Mahoney hits the ring.

Bout #2 
Gauntlet Cage Match
Keywon Grant and Balls Mahoney battled to a 20-minute draw
**Keywon is the early aggressor in this match until Balls reverses a whip into the guardrail, and then catches Keywon on the rebound with a DDT. Mahoney continues to control the match until Grant whips him whips into the cage door and it bursts open, sending Mahoney to the ringside area. Keywon goes for a DDT on the floor but Mahoney counters with a low blow. Mahoney punishes Keywon and then goes for a double arm DDT but now it is Grant's turn for a nice counter move with a backdrop. Grant controls Mahoney and sends him over the guardrail and into the crowd. He delivers a powerslam and then throws Mahoney back over the guardrail. They brawl around the announcers table. Grant tries to finish off Mahoney with a spinebuster slam but Mahoney counters with a swinging neckbreaker. The action returns to the floor outside the cage. Mahoney throws Grant into the crowd and follows up with a gutwrench suplex attempt which Grant counters with a backdrop.  Grant is choking Mahoney up against a wall when all of a sudden, Derek Graves appears and helps Grant by executing a side suplex on Mahoney on the concrete floor. Grant takes too long though to follow up with a kneedrop and Balls rolls out of the way. The action makes its way back inside the cage, and then back into the crowd. The match continues to change location in a wild brawl, and in the aisle Mahoney goes for the testicular claw but Grant counters with an eye gouge. Grant tosses Balls around like a rag doll, and then sends him crashing through the cage door and into the ringside area.  Grant delivers a vertical suplex in the crowd. Mahoney eventually reverses things and throws Grant back into the cage. The next big spot in the match occurs when Grant begins to crawl up the arena wall (a wall ladder) to get away from Mahoney. Balls gives pursuit, catches Grant, and throws him down 12 feet to the concrete floor! Grant though manages to survive and the action continues. They are brawling outside the cage when Derek Graves appears again and nails Mahoney with another side suplex. Grant tries to follow up with a jumping DDT but Mahoney counters with a backdrop. The action continues, and finally Mahoney locks on the testicular claw. Within seconds the bell rings and Mahoney is assumed victorious. However, the official decision is that the match is a 20 minute time limit draw!

Bout #3
Gauntlet Cage Match
Joe E. Legend wins by default (since the previous match was a draw)
**Mahoney is furious and attacks Legend but RCW officials intervene to separate the two wrestlers.

Steve Corino storms into Jesse Hennig's dressing room looking for Becky. The two brawl until officials break it up. Jesse screams at Corino that he is through with Becky and has no idea where she has gone. He tells Corino that maybe now he will begin to understand why Becky is more trouble than she is worth. Jesse says that this is his time to shine; that a victory over Corino tonight in their table match will catapult him to Main Event status.


Bout #4
Gauntlet Cage Match
Ace Darling defeated Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) by pinfall after a frog splash at 11:28
**Ace Darling gets the crowd going in this one by taking the action into the stands where he nails Legend with a standing moonsault. Back in the ringside area he hits a rana on Legend. Darling is all over Legend and fends off Gloom as well. Darling executes an inverted atomic drop, bodyslam, missile dropkick, and a frankensteiner. Gloom tries to sneak up on Ace from behind with a chair but Darling catches her and they struggle, with the chair being heaved behind her. Legend picks up the chair but Ace nails the chair into Legend's face. Back inside Ace gets a two count after a spinning leg lariat and a frankensteiner.  Legend battles back but when he goes for a superplex, Darling counters with a front-layout superplex. The action continues and Ace nails another missile dropkick but Legend manages to get a shoulder up. Ace climbs to the top rope and executes a springboard legdrop and follows up with a superplex. Eventually Ace goes for a frog splash but Legend gets his knees up. Legend tries to whip Ace into the guardrail but Darling reverses it and then throws Legend into the cage wall. through the cage door and then rolls him back into the ring. Ace executes the frog splash and this time is the charm.


Bout #5
Gauntlet Cage Match
Ace Darling and Manny Silva (/w Lord Zoltan) battled to a 20-minute draw
**Silva goes for a clothesline that Ace ducks, and then sends Silva outside the ring where he jumps on him with a standing moonsault. Silva though blocks a spinning headscissors attempt. Back inside the ring Ace goes for a rana but Silva counters with a powerbomb and then a splash, but only gets a one count! Ace again takes the action outside where he nails Silva with a running somersault plancha, and follows up with the frog splash. Silva though battles back and the action goes to outside the ring where Silva nails Ace with a choke slam, swinging punch, and a powerslam.  Silva goes for a running elbowdrop but Ace rolls out of the way. Silva though blocks a frog splash attempt by getting his knees up and the action goes back into the ring. Lord Zoltan jumps up on the apron. Ace grabs Zoltan which sends his cane into the ring.  Silva picks up the cane but Ace delivers a kick which drives the cane into Silva's head. The action in this match continues right up until the 20:00 minute time limit draw.


There seems to be some confusion amongst the announcers on whether there will be a final match or if Gary Goodridge will receive a default win and gain the TV Title without even wrestling a match.

Backstage there also seems to be some confusion as the RCW officials try and sort out who not only should wear the TV title but who actually has it; it seems to be missing.

Gary Goodridge's music plays and the dangerous MMA star takes to the Cage. The Cage begins to raise which causes the fans to boo, but Goodridge seems to take it he is the champ. When nothing else is happening Goodridge looks confused and heads over to the announce table. He says that he doesn't like to win like this but he has also won a lot of things in the RCW, like the last man standing, and not received anything either. He calls Commish Nick Bockwinkel out. Instead we hear Manny Silva's music and the mad man comes out to take issue with Goodridge's free pass. The two go at it for a minute until a flood of RCW officials come from the back to break it up.
Goodridge yells at Bockwinkel to just give him his belt. Bockwinkel looks confused and embarrased when he tells Goods that they can't find the TV strap. He assures Goodridge that although he wishes Gary would have won the belt in the ring, he is the TV champion (and he even raises Goodridge's hand). But they can't find the belt. Goodridge is mad!

Bout #6 
Gauntlet Cage Match - Final - For the vacant RCW Television Title
Gary Goodridge wins via default
[Gary Goodridge wins the RCW Television Title]


Bout #7
Hardcore Table Match
Steve Corino defeated Jesse Hennig in a Table Match at 14:02
**Hennig nails Corino before the bell with a dropkick to the back.
The previously unaccounted for Becky Hennig comes down to ringside.
Corino and Hennig spar a little, and exchange counters until Hennig nails a nice enziguiri and follows up with a gutwrench suplex. Corino though blocks a German suplex attempt and then nails a fisherman suplex and a bulldog.  Jesse attempts to whip Corino into the ropes, but Corino reverses it, and Becky pulls down the top rope sending Jesse to the floor. Corino is not sure whether that was intended for Jesse or for him (because of the reversal). Corino nails Jesse with a plancha, sets up the table, nails Jesse with an enziguiri, and sets up Jesse on the table. Corino tries to drive Hennig through the table with a legdrop but Hennig moves out of the way and the table just crashes to the floor with Corino. Jesse sets Corino up on the table for a piledriver but Corino blocks the attempt and monkey flips Jesse off the table and into the guardrail! Corino re-enters the ring, and then Jesse follows with the table. Hennig goes to whip Corino into the ropes but Corino reverses it and again Becky pulls down the top rope and sends Jesse to the floor. Corino is still unsure if that was intended for him or her cousin Jesse. The two grapplers both attempt moves to put each other through the table without success and both take turns whipping the other around ringside. Back inside the ring Hennig nails Corino with a hotshot. A dropkick and a roundhouse right set up Corino on the table for a legdrop, but the table just doesn't break. Jesse is getting good heat from the crowd.
Corino almost counters a swinging neckbreaker attempt with a side suplex but Jesse then counters it with spinning headscissors. Corino comes off the ropes though and nails Hennig with a flying bulldog. Corino and Jesse begin to brawl inside the ring, with Corino going for a dragon screw only to have Jesse counter with an enziguiri. The crowd is really into this match now. Jesse nails a hotshot, but Corino battles back and nails a German suplex.  Jesse throws Corino out of the ring and tries for a tope but Corino moves out of the way. Jesse staggers up and Corino takes him back down with an enziguiri. Both men are beaten and exhausted now. Corino whips Hennig into the guardrail and then tries to deliver a flying bulldog through the table, but Jesse pushes off and Corino crashes across the table, which stays intact. Back inside the ring the two exchange punches and then Jesse ends up executing the top rope hurrancanrana on Corino. He follows up with a German suplex, but when he tries for a gutwrench suplex out on the floor Corino manages to reverse it.  Jesse though is still the first up and sets up Corino on the table and goes for a flying headbutt but Corino moves out of the way and Jesse headbutts the table instead. The action is almost exclusively on the floor now and its any man's match. Jesse hits a German suplex and a Hotshot. Corino though battles back and takes the action inside the ring where he nails Jesse with a russian legsweep, followed up with a nice elbowdrop from the second turnbuckle. Corino sets up Hennig on the table and executes a legdrop on Jesse putting him through the table which breaks in half.

After the match Becky enters the ring with a steel chair...pauses....and nails Jesse in the head. She leaves with Steve Corino but the King of Old School still seems quite uneasy with her presence.

The electronic feed is interrupted before the next match can begin, and the Indy Fed has pirated the RCW signal for the second straight PPV. The mysterious voice says that although Tatanka failed in the Gauntlet all is not lost. The camera switches to a view of the ring inside the jam packed armoury, and in the middle is the masked referee Mr. X holding up the missing RCW Television Title belt.


Bout #8
Hardcore Flaming Table Match - for the stolen RCW Television Title 
Reckless Youth defeated Erin O'Grady (/w Strawberry Fields) in a Flaming Table Match at 8:11
**A Flaming Table is prepared outside the ring area.
O'Grady has the early advantage and nails Youth with a spin kick, underhook backbreaker, northern lights suplex, and a flying bulldog, before locking Youth in a double chickenwing submission. Youth gets to the rope but O'Grady's onslaught continues with another northern lights suplex, and a flying spinning leg lariat. O'Grady goes for a legsweep faceslam, but Youth reverses it with a faceslam.
Youth tries for a comeback but he has just taken too much damage, and O'Grady resumes control with a football tackle and an Irishcanrana. Somehow, Youth finds the strength for another comeback outside the ring and then whips O'Grady around the guardrails, and nails a hotshot. Still outside the ring Youth nails a flying clothesline. Reckless Youth drags O'Grady up onto the apron, signals the table to be lit, and then tackles him down and through the burning table.

Nick Bockwinkel and Jack Larkin are shown in the back with security searching for Derek Graves. They can't find him but they do find The Family dressing room. As security holds back Manny Silva and Sharon Montgomery, Bockinkel and Larkin actually start to beat the heck out of Lord Zoltan with his own cane. Gary Goodridge shows up to give security a hand with Silva. Zoltan claims he does not know where Graves went.  Larkin tells Zoltan that Derek Graves is suspended for life from the RCW, will be charged with theft, and will have his ass sued off in civil court. He lands a couple more punches on Zoltan.


Bout #9
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Special Guest Referee: Nick Bockwinkel
Bobby Duncum Jr defeated Vendetta II (/w Barbie Wired) by pinfall after a running bulldog at 15:23
[Bobby Duncum Jr retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**All fired up and wanting to keep a close eye on the crown jewel, Bockwinkel names himself special guest referee for this bout. Duncum is all over VII from the start of this match countering all the pRopheCy leader's offense, including countering a clothesline with a belly-to-belly suplex.  Duncum continues to dominate with a piledriver, vertical suplex, and an airplane spin. The action spills outside and Wired distracts Duncum long enough to allow VII to whip the champ into the guardrail. Vendetta followed up with a low blow and a standing wristlock. The action goes back in the ring, but soon spills out again where VII nails Duncum with an inverted DDT on the concrete floor. VII continues his onslaught on the floor with a gorilla press, a gutwrench suplex, and another low blow before rolling Duncum back into the ring. Back inside both men go down with a double clothesline. Duncum misses two straight clotheslines before VII tossed him over the top rope and out of the ring again. VII nails the champ with a dropkick, a shot into the ringsteps, guardrail, and then goes for a bulldog but Duncum counters with a low blow. Duncum nails VII with a piledriver before re-entering the ring. VII incredibly manages to survive a running bulldog finisher and a piledriver. When Duncum goes for another piledriver VII counters with a slingshot into the turnbuckle. VII blocks a bulldog attempt and then risks DQ by trying to choke out Duncum. VII follows up with an inverted atomic drop, but when he goes for a corner avalanche Duncum moves out of the corner. Duncum nails a piledriver. VII battles right back and nails Duncum with a flying bodypress, he hooks the tights, and gets the one, two, but Bockwinkel sees the illegal move and threatens VII with a DQ. The challenger is arguing with Bockwinkel as Duncum gets to his feet.  VII goes for a faceslam but Duncum blocks it, and then takes VII over with a snap suplex. Punch, punch, legsweep, running bulldog, 1, 2, 3! 


MAIN EVENT
CAGE MATCH
Jody Christmas defeated Kurrgan by pinfall after a flying cross body block at 26:45
**The early stages of this match are held more out of the ring then inside the ring, with Kurrgan holding a slight advantage because of his superior strength.The action spills over to the annouce tables and The Kurrgan rams the announce table into Christmas. Christmas though gains the advantage and throws Kurrgan around, and then through the announce table. Back inside the ring Christmas misses a flying bodypress to give the giant Acadian the upper hand again.The two take turns whipping each other around ringside with a lot of guardrail shots. Then inside the ring the Kurrgan applies a choke lift to Christmas. Outside the ring again Kurrgan nails Christmas with a fire extinguisher busting Christmas open in the 4th minute of the match.
Christmas is bleeding profusely which could make this a short match. Christmas though still has a lot of fight left in him and he manages to fend off most of Kurrgan's attacks. Then Kurrgan brings out a pair of handcuffs but Christmas nails him before he can use them. Christmas throws Kurrgan out of the ring and then lands on him with a plancha. Christmas throws Kurrgan into the guardrail and then through the cage door. Christmas is using the handcuffs to punch with as they brawl in the aisle and around the cage. Then he chokes Kurrgan with the cuffs. Christmas is all over Kurrgan despite bleeding, and pulls Kurrgan down when he tries to climb the cage. Christmas takes a swing at the Kurrgan with a chair, but the big man ducks and Christmas lays out the timekeeper. The match is quite even again and finds its way back into the ring. Christmas climbs to the top rope but Kurrgan throws him off and then nails him with an elbowsmash. The two continue to brawl inside the ring and on the floor inside the cage.  Christmas picks up a chain and hangs Kurrgan with the chain for exactly 14 seconds. Christmas with the advantage throws Kurrgan into the cage door and the guardrail before choking him with the chain. Christmas gets the first 2 count of the match.
Kurrgan reverses a whip into the guardrail and hits Christmas with the chain. A bodyslam then sets up a choke lift, but Christmas counters with a kick to the midsection.  Christmas tosses Kurrgan outside the ring and follows him picking up a wooden chair and nailing the monster. Kurrgan though regains the advantage back inside the ring, and sets up Christmas for a tombstone onto a wooden chair but Christmas counters with his own tombstone, driving Kurrgan's head into the wood chair. The two climb up the top turnbuckle, but it is Kurrgan who brings down Christmas with a superplex. Christmas though battles back and nails the Kurrgan with a steel chair.  Kurrgan goes for another superplex but Christmas throws him off. Kurrgan though manages to give his opponent a nasty chokeslam onto a steel chair. The Acadian then tries to finish off Christmas with the tombstone on the steel chair, but Christmas manages to drape his foot over the bottom rope to break the count. Kurrgan throws Christmas out of the ring where he goes for another tombstone but Christmas blocks it. Christmas gets only a one count after nailing Kurrgan with a steel chair. Back inside the ring Kurrgan grabs control, hits a chokeslam, a tombstone, but Christmas again gets his foot over the bottom rope to break up the pin attempt. The brawling again goes outside the cage and up the aisle.  Back inside the ring Kurrgan nails a bodyslam, but can only get a one count. From under the ring Kurrgan finds a crutch and uses it to choke Christmas. Kurrgan whips him into the guardrail and then finds a bullrope and cowbell under the ring. Kurrgan nails Christmas with the bell and then throws him through the cage door and they brawl up the aisle again. Christmas manages to wrestle away the bull rope from Kurrgan and uses it to choke him.
Vendetta II is in the stands and throws Kurrgan a baseball bat to use. The bat bounces away though and Christmas is first to grab it and nails Kurrgan in the head. Kurrgan almost tumbles down the arena steps but catches himself on the way down.  He gains the advantage on Christmas who must come down the steps, and bodyslams him onto the baseball bat. The Kurrgan rams Christmas into the guardrail.  Christmas ducks out of the way of a kick and tries to nail a high cross body but Kurrgan catches him and delivers a nasty backbreaker.  Inside the ring Kurrgan hits him with a roadsign and then delivers a choke slam onto the sign. He sets up for the tombstone onto the roadsign but Christmas blocks it and then nails an inverted atomic drop. Christmas goes for a superkick but Kurrgan ducks and takes Christmas down with a clothesline.  Kurrgan comes off the ropes but Christmas ducks a flying clothesline attempt and then nails Kurrgan with a flying cross body block, grabs a leg, to get the pin.

As we Fade to Black.....

The feed fires up again and we see several wrestlers standing in the middle of the ring of an empty and semi-dark armoury. We hear the disguised voice speak as we see in the ring Vicious Vic Grimes wearing both of the RCW Tag Team Titles, Reckless Youth wearing the RCW TV Title, and Donovan Morgan wearing the bogus RCW Lightweight Championship. The voice laughs at Jack Larkin saying that Jack has only two champions left, and the most important of the two Bobby Duncum Jr holds both the crown jewel Heavyweight Title and the Toughman title, and isn't even under contract to River City as of right now....

WE ARE BLACK


Breaking Kayfabe; these are my notes from back then when I ran the circuit

Well to be truthful when I had finished this card I thought "boy that sucked". I was pretty much bored stiff with this card.
Looking back at it though I see that it actually had some decent match ratings, with no huge hits and no huge misses. Seems all my cards have fallen into this "safe" range as of late.
I had booked myself into a corner with the Cell Gauntlet match before I had fully explored the FCA Cubed Hell in a Cell program and its options. As a result I was already dreading the Hell in a Cell overkill before running this card. The version I used, although I had tested it several times beforehand, pretty much sucked too. I had added a few actions, etc, but not enough to really make a big difference.
I even booked things for the first time ever in this circuit. I did not book who won or lost but just the time (to keep the gauntlet matches short).
Then to top it off I get two 20 minute time limit draws (probably because I had booked interference and forced it to apply, and it just didn't happen). Goodridge wins the belt without having to even wrestle one match in what is billed as a Gauntlet match.
Maybe I am just growing bored of this circuit and need to shake it up a bit.

Also, the Indy Fed angle is becoming the biggest angle in the fed; despite the fact that I hate invasion angles. I think that I will be speeding things along with this angle now. It is totally screwing up my rough plans for the next 2 PPV's.

On the other hand, TNM generated a couple of nice gems for me. My favourite is that Duncum did not re-sign after his contract legitimately expired after this card. Now those who have read my rules regarding this fed know that with main event type wrestlers I allow myself one forced re-sign in e-fed mode per wrestler, because I run so many cards I don't find 52 cards a sufficient contract time. So, will Duncum re-sign on Rage as he promised? Or will he hold-out or leave, and take the Heavyweight Title and Toughman Title with him? Or will I scratch my circuit but segue into a new circuit with Duncum showing up at the armoury with both belts? Humm......the possibilities!


Breaking, Breaking Kayfabe; my notes from now

So it looks like I ran one more card but never did a write up of it, so I'm just going to ignore it as never having happened. This is the end of this card sequence. I have transitional lists of rosters, title changes, feuds, etc but will have to do the actual cards from this point in October 1999 until September 2001 when I have the next fully formed series of cards. So I will have to make sure these next two years dovetail into those results. It's not that I am making the entire thing up, I have the bones and just need to add the meat. From a story point of view there will be a big change from this being Jack Larkin's foray into "sports entertainment" trying to create an exciting WWF style of every man for himself back to a more traditional wrestler booked circuit. In other words it should calm down a bit. I will try my best to tie up some loose ends like the indy fed, and Duncum's contract, but other ones like Balls Mahoney's secret stipulation will never be revealed. The freaky thing is that Bobby Duncum Jr will be dead on January 24, 2000. He will not die while under contract to RCW. 

[managermike99]

River City Wrestling - News Updates

Solie's Vintage Wrestling - Ernie Roth Jr

The following is a summary of news stories regarding River City Wrestling between their Nothing Else Matters PPV October 10, 1999 and their next show the 20th Anniversary Show PPV December 4th 1999. 

October 11, 1999
-Multiple reports that RCW wrestlers were told via phone that Rage has been cancelled for the foreseeable future. The company which has been around since 1980 is not planning on folding, but are just regrouping after having stretched themselves too thin.

October 12, 1999
-RCW wrestler Devon Storm told Dave Meltzer in an interview that he was told by Nick Bockwinkel that the 2 hour syndicated television show has imploded. As advertising fell over recent months the amount of guaranteed advertising dollars the company had to pay to the syndicate affiliates kept rising. The pay per views were also reported as money losing. 
-Dave Meltzer also reported an anonymous contact on the business side saying that Jack Larkin has lost almost a million dollars on the company this year and is trying to regroup.

October 14, 1999
-River City Wrestling (RCW) officially announces it has ended its syndicated weekly program RAGE. While no indication was given as to the next steps, they emphasized that the company was not folding.

October 18, 1999
-Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported that Bobby Duncum's angle of his contract expiring while the RCW champion was based on truth, but that he had worked out a new working agreement. Duncum was in the process of looking for additional bookings which would allow him to continue as a full time wrestler when RAGE was cancelled. With no pending bookings with RCW Duncum apparently signed an agreement for a month tour of Japan. No exact dates were announced or which company (but bets were the month of November in All Japan Wrestling).

October 18, 1999
-Mike Samuda (Misawa) published an online interview with RCW stalwart Jody Christmas. Not much new here although Christmas did indicate that there was growing tension between the old school bookers Jim Brunzell and Nick Bockwinkel and the owner Jack Larkin's ideas of entertainment. Christmas seemed to indicate that the workers grew frustrated with the half-pregnant attitude. Christmas also mentioned specific names of Kamala and Stan Baker being upset with bookings and dollars going to the "new style" wrestlers represented by the Indy armoury angle. For himself of course he indicated he got along with everyone, but did seem to let it slip that many of the guys felt Chi Chi Cruz had developed a huge ego from his overseas success.

October 19, 1999
-valet Sharon Montgomery gave an interview with Wade Keller. It sounds like there was real life bad blood between Jack Larkin and Montgomery's real life boyfriend Derek Graves, and it was obvious that Larkin had expressed affections for the statuesque lady. Keller also reported these feelings were confirmed to him anonymously by two other sources within the company.

October 25, 1999
-River City Wrestling announced today that they will be holding their next show, a pay per view, December 4th in their former home base Winnipeg, Canada. This show will be known as the "20th Anniversary Spectacular" and represents the continued and uninterrupted yearly anniversary show. It was announced that in addition to appearances by legends Jim Brunzell and Nick Bockwinkel, that the main event will be RCW Heavyweight Champion Bobby Duncum Jr in a title vs title match against South African Wrestling Federation (SAWF) champion Linley Tolbert. A second bout signed will be SAWF Tag Champions Dennis Cale & Ken Van Beselaere coming all the way to Canada to take on former RCW Tag Champions The Spinebusters: Jerry Orth & Bryan Caruthers.

October 28, 1999
-Another interview held by Mike Samuda (Misawa), this time with "bimbo" valet Barbie Wired. Seems like Sharon Montgomery was not the only female talent that was approached by owner Jack Larkin with an indecent proposal. She also told Samuda that Larkin was afraid of Kurrgan (7 foot Robert Maillet) and didn't seem to realize what a sweetheart Robert actually was. She indicated that Maillet cemented being a backstage favourite by playing an "epic" rib on Jack Larkin but wouldn't reveal any details. She also indicated that yes some wrestlers had heat with Chi Chi Cruz who thought he was all that and a bag of chips, and that specifically Maillet had heat with Cruz.

October 30, 1999
-Wrestling Observer (Dave Meltzer) had a piece on Jack Larkin's business interests. Based out of Toronto, Larkin's investment company Larkin VenCap has done amazingly well investing in the Dot Com craze. River City Wrestling is one of a couple vanity projects of his. While a million dollar a year loss is absorbable by Larkin, no one likes to lose that sum of money. More importantly as of late it did not seem to be as much fun for the millionaire as there was a great deal of tension backstage with the wrestlers and the office staff. The wrestling culture of course is no stranger to Jack as his Grandfather Lazarus Larkin began to promote wrestling in Toronto and elsewhere as early as 1947. 

October 31, 1999
-On his weekly Winnipeg wrestling radio program on 92.1 Citi-FM Joe Aiello, known as the play by play voice of River City Wrestling, along with his No Holds Barred radio co-host finally opened up a little about his RCW days. Previously out of respect for his employer (former?) he had refused to talk about anything not generally known by the public. Aiello insisted that RCW was coming back, and that the Annivesary show is a way to just keep the fires burning. Aiello predicted a scaled back RCW would emerge early in 2000 and that Winnipeg would be a big part of the circuit. Don Callis (better known as WWF's Jackyl or ECW's Cyrus the Virus) had good things to say about RCW, and that he would love to work with them one day. Callis made a point of standing up for his buddy Chi Chi Cruz, and Aiello didn't have very nice things to say about "the Indy" angle. Aiello says that Larkin has amazing business acumen but he needs to treat the company like a business and not a toy if he wants to make money. Aiello indicated that he has signed on for the 20th Anniversary show as the play by play man for the PPV. 

November 3, 1999
-River City Wrestling officially announced that the 20th Anniversary Show would take place at the Winnipeg Convention Centre (in the past the seating capacity has been around 3,000). A 3rd match was announced and it was a big one. RCW Tag Team Champions Tatanka & Vic Grimes will defend their title against The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal. One has to wonder if the angle here is bringing in the bad ass Road Warriors as punishment to the Indy upstarts.

November 7, 1999
-On his radio show "No Holds Barred" Joe Aiello announced that tickets had gone on sale yesterday for the 20th Anniversary show and that ticket sales were "brisk". His co-host Don Callis was not in studio as he was at ECW's November to Remember PPV. Then Aiello had a phone call from a man who claimed to be the mysterious cloaked figure from the RCW - Indy angle. Aiello sold it as legit, so maybe they were using the radio show to continue the angle? Anyway the man said he would be at the 20th Anniversary show, and would be bringing in two of his toughest guys. Aiello laughed at him and asked if they weighed more than 120 pounds each. The mystery man just told Aiello to send an invitation to Jim Brunzell and Nick Bockwinkel to get in the ring with them. One has to wonder if Don Callis is perhaps the mysterious leader of the Indy fed.

November 9, 1999
-River City Wrestling has announced some additional matches for the 20th Anniversary Show.
The North American Women's title will make a return and champion Strawberry Fields will defend against former champion Nikki Kixxx.
A Fatal Five Way Match will be held for the TV title. Gary Goodridge will defend the title that he basically walked into by default at the Gauntlet Cage Match. To make up for that he will have to beat 4 challengers. Reckless Youth, Donovan Morgan, and Derek Graves, with one more to be named. Reckless Youth of course "won" the stolen TV title belt at Nothing Else Matters, and as a condition of getting a legitimate shot at the belt he has agreed to bring the belt to the show. Donovan Morgan likewise will be required to bring in his bogus RCW Lightweight title so it can be retired in exchange for this shot at an actual title. And owner Jack Larkin has decided to lift his life time suspension of Derek Graves and allow him a shot at the title he had to relinquish because of injury. However, since it would seem that Graves had been in at least partial cahoots with the Indy fed since it seems like he may have facilitated the stealing of the TV belt, right now it looks like Goodridge is facing off against 3 men who may be allied together. Makes you wonder who the 5th man could be.

November 12, 1999
-Wade Keller reports that Vendetta II has confirmed with him that he has no current interest in working with RCW. He is accepting bookings back in South Africa as well as New Zealand for December and January.

November 14, 1999
-Joe Aiello reported on his "No Holds Barred" radio show that Chi Chi Cruz was not offered a spot back on RCW shows as there seems to be some bad blood. On that same show Jimn Brunzell called in for an interview. He told Aiello that Bockwinkel was basically too old to step back into the ring but not to worry, he had himself two partners; fellow RCW Hall of Famer Baron von Raschke, and RCW head trainer (and former wrestler) Vic Gate. Gate of course wants revenge for being taken hostage by the Indy fed. In addition while not wrestling, 5 Time RCW Manager of the year, Nick Bockwinkel will be in their corner.
Aiello broke down the 20th Anniversary Card so far;
Champion vs Champion: RCW vs SAWF: Bobby Duncum Jr vs Linley Tolbert
RCW Tag Champion Match: Tatanka & Vic Grimes (C) vs Road Warriors
Women's Title Match: Strawberry Fields (C) vs Nikki Kixxx
Fatal Five Way TV Title Match: Gary Goodridge (C) vs Reckless Youth vs Donovan Morgan vs Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) vs (TBA)
SAWF Tag Team Title Match: Dennis Cale & Ken Van Beselaere vs Spinebusters: Jerry Orth & Bryan Caruthers
Six Man Tag Match: Jim Brunzell, Baron von Raschke, & Vic Gate (/w Nick Bockwinkel) vs (TBA - Indy Armoury Crew)

November 15, 1999
-Wrestling Observer (Dave Meltzer) wrote that part of the reason that Joe Aiello was retained for the PPV was that he was willing to use his radio show to promote the PPV to hopefully help sell tickets. Aiello is not only a wrestling announcer, but has a full time lucrative gig as the morning show co-host on Winnipeg's #1 FM station, as well as owning his own wrestling memorabilia store "Jabroni's" and his No Holds Barred radio show.

November 21, 1999
-On "No Holds Barred" Joe Aiello and Don Callis help reveal the rest of the card which will happen in just under 2 weeks time.
Gary Goodridge did a phone interview where he acknowledged that he was in trouble having to face 3 hostiles. However, he was able to handpick the 5th match member for the Fatal Five Way, and he has selected a fellow MMA star who has appeared in RCW before; Bas Rutten! An MMA legend!
Jim Brunzell gives an interview where he announces that RCW has signed an agreement to bring in some stars from CSW - Central States Wrestling based out of Kansas City. CSW Heavyweight Champion Derrick Darkstorm will defend his belt against his CSW rival Sam Holiday.
RCW's own Stan Baker, who has also spent considerable time in CSW, will face off against another competitor from Central States; Al Hardamann.
The final match added will be a special attraction tag match. Straight from ECW will be the Impact Players: Lance Storm & Justin Credible (/w Dawn Marie) who will take on RCW's own 4 time tag champions The Extremists: Ace Darling & Devon Storm.

November 28, 1999
-On "No Holds Barred" Joe Aiello and Don Callis had a call from the "mystery" leader of the Indy Armoury Crew. He refused to reveal his identity ahead of his appearance on December 4th but did name his two partners; Kurrgan and Manny Silva. This was a big shock as most had expected the wrestlers to be some of the Indy wrestlers like Erin O'Grady.

November 29, 1999
-Wade Keller is saying multiple sources confirming that RCW is close to having another TV deal in place. The new arrangement would be very similar to their last deal except one hour instead of 2, less affiliates to start, and a return to more wrestling and less "sports entertainment".

November 29, 1999
-Mike Samuda (Misawa) reporting that Barbie Wired who's biker chick gimmick was already based on real life, has left the wrestling industry and is now an "old lady" for a high ranking officer in the Rock Machine (an outlaw Motorcycle gang out of Montreal, Quebec). Given the allegations made by her against owner Jack Larkin one has to wonder if he is at all worried about his personal safety.

December 2, 1999
- Wrestling Observer (Dave Meltzer) had a breakdown of the upcoming RCW 20th Anniversary Show. But he also had a story about other wrestlers that are not appearing, and why they are absent from the card. The reasons are summarized below.
-Jody Christmas - relations between RCW and this up and coming star seem quite strong. Christmas may be back with RCW if they start promoting regularly again but for now is trying to ply his trade in some Indy feds in California and Mexico.
-Joe E. Legend - rumoured to be a favourite of Larkin's but the rest of the office thought he was so-so. He is on an extended tour of Europe and sounds like he might want to return home to the Indy's of Ontario. There is also a slim possibility that either Christmas or Alliance team member Legend is the "mystery" leader of the Indy fed.
-Mistress Gloom - word is that if RCW brings back the women's division she may have a spot going forward.
-Kamala - as previously reported there may have been some heat between Kamala, Larkin, and the Indy fed.
-Lord Zoltan - ream name Ken Jugan. Was very well liked by the boys in the back, including Vid Gate and Nick Bockwinkel. Has been taking bookings down in the Southern states. Outside chance he could be the mystery man.
-Scarlett Birmingham (and Lady Victoria) - sounds like he went back to Europe to compete in the IPW
-Keywon Grant - Seems to have dropped off the face of the earth, no reported sightings since the last show. Could he be the mystery man?
-Chi Chi Cruz - as previously reported it sounds like Cruz had heat with various other wrestlers and members of the office. Cruz is currently on a tour of Europe.
-Vendetta II - as previously reported he is booking with South Africa and New Zealand. Sounds like he may be done with RCW.
-Johnny Devine - is taking various Indy bookings, mostly in Western Canada but also into the U.S.
-Steve Corino - this one is a bit surprising. Maybe they just didn't have a spot for him and wanted to shake it up with some new talents from ECW bringing in the Impact Players instead? Seemed to be on good terms with everyone. Outside chance he is the "mystery" man.
-Balls Mahoney - not as much of a mainstay in RCW as Corino, but also working with ECW and other indys. Seems to be on good terms with RCW and may be used again.
-The Sandman - had a horrible run with RCW. Looks like he is back to ECW and the Indys. He does not speak very fondly of RCW.
-Ben Bassarab - the aging veteran seems like he needs a lot of time off between cards but has not announced retirement.
-Jesse Hennig - another guy that got along great with everyone, and is kind of local, so maybe they just didn't have a spot for him. Seems like he is content wrestling in smaller mid-West promotions especially those in Minnesota.
-Becky Hennig - despite the gimmick originally comes from West Virginia not Minnesota. Last we saw she had hitched her wagon to Steve Corino and had turned on Jesse Hennig. Maybe she will appear in RCW in the future. She has not worked any shows that we know of since October.
-Menele - seems to be spending time both with Central States as well as ECW.
-Boss Strickland - seems to still be part of RCW's future plans and is well liked by Brunzell and Bockwinkel. Maybe just didn't have a spot for him on the show. Is wrestling in mid-west Indy feds a couple times a week and is rumoured to be working part-time as a waiter in a high end Minneapolis steak house.
-Nick Mercury - another surprise omission. Maybe there was just no spot for him? Mercury is currently working in Winnipeg as a waiter/actor at a dinner show.
-Barbie Wired - as previously mentioned had some heat with Larkin, accusing him of some inappropriate conduct. Montgomery had also complained but she is back for the show and has done some recent back peddling on her accusations. On the other hand Wired seems to be willing to burn bridges. To make matters worse it seems she is now connected with the dangerous Rock Machine motorcycle club in Quebec. Her days in pro wrestling may very well be over.
-Kutlu Warrior - aka Johnnie Stewart has gone back to SouthEast Asia where he made his reputation learning the hardcore wrestling, shoot style, and even pit fighting.
-Erin O'Grady - has signed with the WWF where he will be known as Crash Holly
-Pvt. Pain - aka Michael Modest. Sounds like he had heat with Jack Larkin, as it was Larkin who had forced him to to adopt the Pvt Pain persona against his wishes. He may have burned that bridge. Is currently working California indies like APW and XPW.