|
|
Post by managermike99 on Dec 10, 2020 13:53:27 GMT -5
River City Wrestling #860
December 9, 2000
21st Anniversary Spectacular
Winnipeg Convention Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Announcers: Joe Aiello (Play-by-Play), Linley Tolbert (Colour Commentary)
Opening Bout
15-minute Time Limit - Referee Buddy Lane
"Mecca" Shane Madison (6'0 224 lbs. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) vs "Class Act" Chris Parys (5'11 202 lbs. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
**Two local boys face off to start the biggest show of the year. These two have had quite a feud. Parys started as the face taking on the Players Club of which Madison was a member. Madison grew frustrated with the PC's short cuts costing him opportunities and he turned his back on the PC to help out Parys. However, jealousy and ambition took only a couple weeks to rear its ugly head and Parys, unable to make an impact on his own, turned on Madison and joined Will Damon and Donnie DiCaprio in the PC (effectively taking Madison's spot). It was announced that no one was to interfere in this match or they would be fined and suspended, so we should have a good one on one bout here.
The two met in the middle of the ring before the bell could sound and exchanged fisticuffs. The match spilled outside the ring where Parys grabbed control after slamming Madison back first into the announce table and then bodyslamming him on top of the table. Parys then powerbombed Madison banging his back onto the ring apron. Parys entered the ring and then nailed Madison a couple times not allowing him back in. Finally Madison was able to grab Parys and pull him through the ropes. Madison then leapt from the apron with a twisting moonsault onto Parys. Back inside Madison returned the favour going after Parys' back, with a belly to back suplex, and then a second one banging his back off the top buckle. Madison kept on the back with stomps, corner shoulder blocks into the back, and then a camel clutch that Parys finally stopped with a rope break. Madison went ballistic on the back of Parys, and had to be pulled off by Lane. This distraction allowed Parys to nail a mule kick to turn the tide. A quick Tornado DDT got a 2 count. A whip to the buckle was reversed by Madison who charged into the corner only to have Parys vault over top. Parys went for a belly to back, but ate an elbow, and then we had a series of switches and counters, that ended with Parys kneeing Madison in the "lower" abdomen. With Madison understandably lowering his hands to his midsection, it allowed Parys to go back to working over the back with stomps, then a standing surfboard. He went for a Boston crab but was kicked off by Madison who then clotheslined Parys over the top rope, and then came off the far ropes running with a springboard plancha.
Not interfering with the match did not seem to preclude having Will Damon and Donnie DiCaprio come into the crowd and apparently start to assault a random fan. This of course distracted Madison and allowed Parys to assault him from behind banging his head off the steel barrier, busting him open. Parys then crotch dropped Madison on the barrier, then nailed him with a superkick. Parys dragged Madison into the ring, went to the top rope and came off with the Parysault...but Madison put his knees up. The two got up, did a back to back switch sequence. Madison did a backslide for a 2 count, ducked under a clothesline, came off the far ropes with a flying fist, for a 2 count. Madison set up Parys in the standing head scissors, but when he tried to pull him up Parys countered with a back body, only to have Madison counter with an inverted DDT, pin 1, 2, 3!!
[Shane Madison defeated Chris Parys by pinfall after an inverted DDT at 10:51]
Post-Match: The Players Club hit the ring, but Madison had already slid out of the ring, and then returned with a chair. He nailed Will Damon over the head and all three members of the PC decided to take off.
Bout #2
20 Minute Time Limit - Referee Shiela Bloom
Balls Mahoney (6'2 350 lbs., Nutley, New Jersey) vs "Total Destruction" Steve Riley (6'5 270 lbs., Goldsmith, Texas)
**This is the RCW premiere of highly touted prospect Steve Riley who has been trained in Texas at Lonestar Championship Wrestling, with this being his first foray outside of his home territory. He is a former football player (NCAA and NFL practice squads), NCAA wrestler, trained in Judo, and has spent some time with the Army reserves. He is a no nonsense guy but also does comes off as arrogant and has no use for the fans or the rules.
The two start the bout rather hesitantly with some hook ups that Riley wins despite giving away 80 pounds. Mahoney though has a surprising grasp of the ground game and uses a single leg takedown and then works a leglock. Eventually Riley is able to get out of it by pulling on Balls' hair, then he squats up with Mahoney over his shoulder and takes him down with a Samoan drop. Riley nails a pair of football tackles but Mahoney rolls out of the way of a knee drop from the second buckle. Mahoney goes for the leg again but this time Riley is ready and counters with a dragon legwhip. Riley now shows his ground game as he ground and pounds on his opponent. At times this match has a UFC type feel, or much more traditional than Mahoney's usual brawls. Mahoney catches Riley with a knee, followed by a facebuster, a diving legdrop, and then went to the top probably for his frog splash. Riley though was up on his feet and gorilla press slammed Mahoney off the top. Double leg takedown, headbutt to the gut, kip up, legdrop to the gut, then from his back smashed his heel repeatedly into the midsection of Mahoney. Balls turned over in a puke position, only to have Riley do a side roll, for 1, 2, kickout. Riley then nailed Mahoney with a fisherman suplex, drop toe hold driving Mahoney face first into the lowest buckle, whip to the ropes to set up a big boot, side slam. Mahoney is completely out on his feet. Referee Bloom counts him down on the mat, and Mahoney is only able to get to his feet at the count of 9. Riley then clips his leg out from under him, scoops him up, Emerald Flowsion, 1, 2, 3!! Impressive win for Riley.
[Steve Riley defeated Balls Mahoney by pinfall after an Emerald Flowsion at 7:56]
Bout #3
20 Minute Time Limit - Referee Jennifer Greaves
El Dandy & Silver King (combined wt. 410 lbs.) vs Team Extreme: Kit Carson & Khris Germany (combined wt. 491 lbs.)
**Team Extreme come in as former NWA World Tag Champions, with Germany coming in at 264 lbs, making him the biggest of the four men by far. Dandy and Silver King of course are luchadores from Mexico and have made quite the impression on the fans the past few weeks in their RCW appearances. Extreme decided to try and make this an unofficial Texas Tornado match but were surprised by the luchas ability to work as a team and give as good as they take, including double suicida planchas. Extreme rethought their approach and turned it into a more traditional North American style match, with simple strong moves coupled with cheating. Dandy played Ricky Morton for a couple minutes. Silver King though got the hot tag and took care of both men with matching airplane spins, and then after recovering from his own stumbles (which Tolbert referred to as the Mexican siesta spins) he nailed matching Tiger suplexes. The smaller Carson was the legal man and it was his turn to take a couple minutes of damage from each member of the lucha team, including a double team electric chair drop. That would have won the bout but Germany came in to break it up. The match spilled outside and it was a four man brawl.
The luchas tossed their opponents steel chairs and then nailed them with a superkick by Dandy and a dropkick by Silver King. They then went to do the same thing again, but this time Extreme tossed the chairs back to the Luchas, who tossed them back, and then Extreme tossed them back again, and the Mexicans threw them at the feet of their opponents. When both members of Extreme went to pick up the chairs the luchas stomped their fingers, then nailed them with facebusters onto the chairs. The luchas went back into the ring and then flew back out with suicide dives. They tried for a second set but this time Extreme both moved out of the way. Back inside the ring Team Extreme dominated Silver King using quick tags. Carson nailed a death valley driver, pin 1, 2, broken up by Dandy. Germany then set up King on the top rope, stood on the bottom buckle and brought him down with a neckbreaker, cover, 1, 2, Dandy came in to break it up but Germany moved out of the way and Dandy stomped King in the head. Surprised by what he had done Dandy was an easy target for a double team clothesline sending him over the top rope to the ground below. But Dandy recovered fast and was already on the top rope when Extreme went for a version of the Doomsday device. Dandy was able to fly from the top rope clipping the leg out from under Germany sending all 3 men to the mat. Carson came off the top rope anyway, nailing Dandy with a flying elbowdrop, he covered, 1, 2, Greaves stopped, realizing Dandy was not the legal man. We then had another four man brawl in and out of the ring. Team Extreme was winning the fisticuffs, until the luchas hit them with duelling standing dropkicks. We are about 13 minutes into the bout.
Silver King nailed Carson with a running shoulderblock, but when he came off the ropes again he was kicked in the back by Germany. Carson then went for a running legdrop but King was able to roll out of the way and tag out to Dandy, and Carson tagged out to Germany. Dandy nailed a single arm bulldog, pinned, 1, 2, Carson vaulted over the ropes to splash Dandy, but he moved out of the way and Carson landed on his own parter...Dandy got down on the mat and counted, 1, 2, kickout by Germany. Carson was confused and asked Dandy if that was a 3 count, but Dandy held up 2 fingers. Finally Carson clued in that wasn't the ref, and the two exchanged punches from their knees, and then Dandy nailed him with a mini-jawbreaker from the knees. But Germany was the legal man and he Greco Roman kicked Dandy in the guts, then laid in some uppercut forearms. A whip to the ropes and Silver King tagged in off his back. Germany nailed Dandy with a tllt-a-whirl slam only to have Silver King nail him with a drop kick to the face. A four man brawl erupted, that saw Silver King throw Germany over the top rope, then back drop Carson over the top rope, and then back drop his own partner Dandy over the top rope with Dandy landing on both opponents. It was a train wreck with only Silver King left standing who then did the moon walk. Dandy rolled Germany back into the ring, and Silver King nailed him with a sitout crucifix powerbomb, cover 1, 2, kickout. Germany made a short comeback with some clotheslines, and then his own sitout crucifix powerbomb, cover was broken up by Dandy. Tag was made to Carson who walked over and slapped Dandy. While Greaves was busy keeping Dandy out of the ring Team Extreme double teamed King in just a series of beatdown moves. King tried to stumble over for a tag only to be taken down by Carson with a flying bulldog. But Carson landed too close to the buckle and Dandy jumped off the apron, grabbed Carson's feet and pulled him, crotching him into the ringpost. Germany decided he had seen enough and brought a steel chair into the proceedings. However, King took him down with a drop toe hold smashing his face off the chair, and then Dandy vaulted over the top rope landing with a legdrop driving Germany's face again into the chair. It was all luchas now with a double leapfrog followed by a doubleteam drop toe hold on Carson, then a double snap kick to his head. Announcement of two minutes remaining in the bout.
Greaves waited for Dandy to leave the ring, which is why when King went for the pin it was able to be broken up by Germany. Silver King whipped Carson into the corner and nailed a springboard legwhip, he tagged out to Dandy, but Carson was also able to tag out to Germany. Germany tried to punch Dandy who grabbed his hand and bent his middle finger back, then followed up with a pair of flying armdrags, and then a snap kick to the head. One minute remaining. Tolbert wondered out loud if the Mexicans could understand the announcement.
Tag out to Silver King who nailed a slingshot suplex, and a single arm DDT for a 2 count. Both men tagged out again and we had Dandy and Germany. Germany ran at Dandy who somersaulted away. Silver King nailed Germany with a back elbow as he was leaving the ring while Dandy got to his feet and nailed Carson with a forearm knocking him off the ring apron. Dandy then rolled up Germany with La Dandina roll up for the 1, 2, 3!! Barely beat the time limit! Excellent Match!!!
[El Dandy & Silver King defeated Khris Germany & Kit Carson by pinfall when Dandy pinned Germany after La Dandina rollup at 19:40]
Bout #4
20 Minute Time Limit - Referee Buddy Lane
Kurrgan (6'10 330 lbs., Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, New Brunswick) vs Chrome (6'9 340 lbs., The Future)
**Most of the momentum garnered from the previous match was lost in this battle of the big men. Interesting on paper perhaps but underwhelming in the ring. Hard to understand how Chrome could be billed as 10 lbs heavier than Kurrgan when he gives away an inch and has pretty much the same build. Maybe the extra weight was in all his leather, chaps, and biker boots. Typical big man bout with the veteran Kurrgan controlling more of the match. They punched, they chopped, they kicked, and they slammed. They went outside the ring once but it was slow going and after that stint stayed inside. Kurrgan used a nerve hold to keep his opponent down, and almost got the arm to drop 3 times. He went for a clawhold to follow up but it was countered with a rake of the eyes. The crowd of course was solidly behind the face Kurrgan (plus he was a fellow Canadian, and no one from the audience could probably claim to be from The Future). Kurrgan reversed a whip to the ropes and then a big boot gave Kurrgan a 2 count. When the Acadian tried to follow up with a tombstone, Chrome countered with a back bodydrop. Chrome laid in some boots, used the bottom rope to aid a boot choke, and then the top rope for a choke and then a rake across the head. The big biker guy then nailed a hotshot for a 2 count, followed by a hangman's neckbreaker for another 2 count. He went to the top rope, but it was too soon and Kurrgan tossed him off the top rope. However, Kurrgan tried to follow up with a running legdrop and Chrome moved out of the way. The one wearing chaps than nailed a shoulderbreaker and then surprised with an STF. Kurrgan must have been feeling banged up because he tapped out shortly after.
[Chrome defeated Kurrgan by submission to the STF at 7:23]
Bout #5
30 Minute Time Limit - Referee Jennifer Greaves
The Extremists: Ace Darling & Devon Storm (combined wt. 470 lbs.). vs. Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (combined wt. 518 lbs.)
**The DC were the winners of the RCW tag team of the decade for the 90's but the Extremists had to have been a close second, and are looking to prove they are the best (although the DC have both been recently retired while Darling and Storm are still active). Surprisingly the match started with reluctant handshakes for respect. Soon though the match got rough and the sportsmanship broke down. The first few minutes were hesitant and all four men had a chance to give and receive in the holiday spirit.
The DC grabbed the first sustained advantage and punctuated it by nailing the Shaker Heights; Enos flapjacked Darling into the air, and Bloom caught him with a kneeling head spike. This was their finisher when they competed in the WWF as the Beverly Brothers. Storm though broke up the pinfall with a springboard splash. The Extremists then pushed their advantage until they hit Bloom with a double team superplex. Enos came in to make the save, but Darling tried to stop him, only for Enos to bull rush Darling and tackle him right on the other two to force the break. A four man brawl ensued and not only did the DC take control but they nailed the spiked piledriver on Storm, covered 1, 2, Darling reached in and pulled Bloom out of the ring by his feet. Bloom threw Darling into the crowd but was then hit with a tope by Storm. Enos then came off the ring apron with a running clothesline taking down Storm. We were about 10 minutes into the bout.
Back inside the Extremists took control and punished Enos with a double dropkick and a double slingshot suplex. Wayne Bloom tried to interfere but Greaves kept him out, which allowed Darling to nail Enos with a release German suplex, and when he got up Storm nailed him with another release German suplex back towards Darling who nailed him with a running neck snap, and when he stumbled to his feet Storm nailed him with a superkick, covered, 1, 2, broken up by Bloom.
Another four man brawl ensued, and the DC took back control. Bloom punished Darling with a spinebuster slam, powerbomb, and then a double underhook suplex, cover, 1, 2 kickout. Tag out to Enos, and after some double team chops, Enos nailed Darling with a short arm clothesline and a overhead belly to belly suplex but again only got a 2 count. Enos then nailed Darling with the Snake Eyes throwing him head first into the top ringpost. Enos then knocked Storm off the apron and when Storm tried to get back into the ring it distracted Greaves and allowed the DC to set up for the Doomsday device. Storm though was able to come over and knock Enos to the mat off the top. All four men brawled now from inside the ring to outside. They got chairs and tables involved and finally Greaves threw the bout out.
[Ace Darling & Devon Storm and Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom battled to a double countout at 15:03]
Post-Match: Team Extreme: Kit Carson & Khris Germany came out to join the DC in attacking the Extremists (nobody ever calls themselves the Medians do they?). The DC though didn't appreciate it and attacked the Extremists. The fray was joined by Silver King and El Dandy and we had a five minute explosion of the four tag teams nailing each other with chair shots and aerial attacks. In the end everyone was knocked down like a train wreck outside the ring, and officials came out to guide the teams away from ringside.
Bout #6
30 Minute Time Limit - Referee Buddy Lane
Losers Leave RCW
Spike Dudley & Greg Pawluk (combined wt. 355 lbs.). vs Scotty Anton & Vincent Regliatti (combined wt. 467 lbs.)
**Spike starts off against Anton and after some stick and move attacks he tags out to Pawluk. Anton gets the drop on Pawluk with a kick to the thigh, follows up with some forearms, then some shoulderblocks in the corner until Pawluk leaps out of the way causing Anton to smash his shoulder into the ring post. Pawluk tries to roll him up but Anton holds onto the ropes, comes down with his knees but Spike had run in and pulled Pawluk out of the way. Both teams tagged.
Regliatti nailed Dudley with four straight flying armdrags that tossed the little man around. On the fourth one Spike rolled out of the ring, ran around outside and then rolled back in. Regs tried to drop a knee but Spike rolled out of the way and then nailed a flying clothesline. The two exchanged punches and then Regs lit him up with stiff chops in the corner. He dragged Spike to the corner and tagged out to Anton who went to work on the ribs. He tagged out to Regs and they took full advantage of the 5 count, Regs nailed some knees to the ribs, then a modified back breaker to the ribs, and then tagged out to Anton again as they used the 5 count to cheat.
Pawluk tried to get involved but of course that just got Lane's attention and allowed more double teams where Anton held onto the arm of Spike exposing the ribs for several kicks from Regs. Anton slowed things down with a armbar on the mat but placing his foot firmly into the ribs of Spike. Anton sent Spike to the ropes and went for a scoop slam only to have Spike counter with a hurrancanrana and then slowly got to the corner to tag out to Pawluk. We were about 6 minutes into the bout.
Pawluk backed Anton up with a series of forearm uppercuts, then whipped Anton across hard to the far buckle, and caught him on the rebound with a hurrancanrana that he turned into a roll through where he was on top and peppered Anton with punches to the head. Referee Lane made Pawluk break because of the illegal punches.
Pawluk nailed a flying crossbody block, covered, 1, 2, broken up by Regliatti. Then when Lane was putting Regs out of the ring Spike snuck into the ring and caught Anton by surprise with the Acid drop. Both men were down though, and by the time Pawluk made the cover Anton was able to kick out. Both men tag out and we have Spike against Regliatti as we are about 8 minutes into the bout.
Dudley ducked away from a clotheslines sliding between Regs legs, then nailed him with a standing drop kick, followed by a series of running stomps. He then nailed a pair of somersault splashes, but when he got up from the second one Anton reached in and grabbed him by the belt, and pulled him out of the ring to the floor below. Anton then dropped a knee on Spike off the apron before rolling him back inside. Regs went to work on Spike with a double leg takedown, a series of leg twists, a leg spreader made more effective given the short stature of Spike's legs, and then put on the figure-four. Spike though was able to get to the ropes for the break. Regs tagged out to Anton who then ignored the damage done to Spike's legs and instead nailed an inverted atomic drop and then a fisherman's suplex but only got a 2 count. Tag was made to Regs, they sent Spike to the ropes for a double clothesline but Spike ducked under, put on the breaks, went to take them both down with a double DDT, but they resisted and threw Spike half way across the ring. But Spike was able to roll over and make the tag to Pawluk who went right after Regs.
More forearms by Pawluk, and then a whip to the ropes was reversed by Regs who nailed a tllt-a-whirl backbreaker. Regs stomped away at the back of Pawluk, went for his version of the sharpshooter; but this of course drew the ire of his partner Anton who doesn't like anyone else using the hold. Regs seemed surprised that Anton was yelling at him, but decided to drop the hold and tag out. Anton then went to put on his version (the Clap), but stopped first to taunt the crowd by clapping. By the time he went to put the hold back on Pawluk was able to reach up and pull Anton into a cradle for a 2 count. Anton though took back control and backed Pawluk into their corner. While Lane tried to make him break he just held Pawluk there while his partner Regliatti laid in punches to the back from the ring apron. After the break Anton laid in a couple bodyslams then put on a bearhug. Finally Pawluk countered the bearhug with a belly to belly suplex. Both men managed to tag out and we had Spike again against Regliatti at about the 15 minute mark.
Regs reversed a whip to the buckle and sent Spike into the corner, but then ate Spike's boot when he charged in too fast. Spike rolled him up for only a 1 count, then Regs nailed a clothesline, sent Spike to the ropes and followed through with a powerslam for a 2 count. Regs nailed a series of stomps and then elbow drops. He went for the figure four but Spike kicked him off. Anton tagged in and went for the Clap but Spike again kicked him off. This time he was able to tag out to Pawluk. Scotty caught Pawluk with a kick, laid in some more and than hit a flying hip attack. Anton stomped away at the legs of Pawluk and then smashed his leg across the ring apron, and then the ring post. Anton came back inside and put on the figure-four. This though drew the ire of Reglaitti who said that was his hold. When Anton wouldn't break it up Regs actually distracted the ref which allowed Spike to come in and break it up.
Anton argued with Regs and then tagged him in while Spike was also tagged in. Seeing Spike come in though Anton decided to tag himself back in off the back of his partner. Anton nailed some kicks, then a snap mare on Dudley followed by a couple kicks to the back. Anton went for a dragon suplex but Spike countered by slipping out of it and rolling Anton up for a 1 count. They did some standing switches and Anton held on too long as Spike ran to the ropes and then put on the brakes and sent Anton flying between the ropes to the floor below. Spike went for a baseball slide but Anton moved out of the way. The two brawled and Spike slammed Anton to the mat, before coming off the ring apron with a big double stomp onto Anton. Back inside Spike nailed a battering ram, and then went for the Acid Drop but Anton countered by throwing Spike into the buckle. Anton was able to tag out to Regs who went straight back to work on Spike's legs, and then again Spike was able to counter a figure four attempt with a kick off. Regs then attacked the back of Spike, and then instead of a sharpshooter he only put on a single leg Boston. Spike was able to make it to the corner for the break and tagged out to Pawluk. We were about 22 minutes into the bout.
Regs caught Pawluk with a chop to the throat and then got down on the mat for some old fashioned double handed chokes. Regs then did the same thing over the top rope before using it like a slingshot to send Pawluk tumbling to the middle of the ring. Fistdrop, got a 2 count. Northern lights suplex with a bridge for a 2 count. Bodyslam, followed by a splash from the second rope, another 2 count. Anton was calling for a tag but Regs ignored him. Some punches, a whip to the ropes, and both men went for a cross bodyblock smashing into each other. Pawluk tagged out first and Spike came in and dragged Regs by the legs to the middle of the ring. Double foot stomp by Spike, followed by a Tiger Bomb, 1, 2, broken up by Anton. This brought Pawluk into the ring, but Lane was putting him out allowing Anton to kick Spike in the back of the head and Regs was able to tag out to Anton. Scotty went to work on Spike with kicks to the back and a camel clutch. Somehow Spike survived the clutch and got a rope break. Spike tried to get over for a tag only to be cut off by Anton who walked Spike back to their corner. Regs used the tag rope to choke Spike while Anton kept pounding on the midsection. This brought Pawluk in and once Regs had let go of the tag rope referee Lane was distracted putting Pawluk out of the ring. Regs dropped off the apron grabbed a steel chair and as Anton moved Spike away from the buckle along the ropes, Regs nailed Spike in the back with the steel chair. Anton then locked on The Clap, and as Spike tapped out Regliatti just threw up his hands with his teammate and left alone for the back. Great Match.
[Scotty Anton & Vincent Regliatti defeated Spike Dudley & Greg Pawluk by submission when Anton submitted Dudley to the Clap at 27:05]
[Spike Dudley & Greg Pawluk have to leave RCW]
Bout #7
30 Minute Time Limit - Referee Shiela Bloom
North American Women's Title Match
Guitar on a Pole Match
Stacey Lynn (champion) (5'6 139 lbs. Chicago, Illinois) (/w Chris Lydon) vs Jessica Judd (5'4 140 lbs. Clearview, West Virginia)
**Lydon came out to second Lynn, and this was the first manager of the night, typical for RCW where managers traditionally have not played a big part. The women's division has been in flux for the past year with Lynn, Judd, and Becky all having heat with each other and with the former champion TrummerFrauen. Lynn won the belt just over a month ago against Judd using her own guitar against her, after Judd had done the almost impossible with a highly orchestrated victory over the dominant TrummerFrauen to take the belt away. So tonight Judd's guitar is suspended from a pole. Once retrieved it becomes a legal weapon but getting it or using it alone is not enough for victory on its own. Pinfalls, submissions, disqualifications, and countouts are still in effect.
Even though both women would probably be classified as tweeners the fans were pretty solidly behind Judd. The country girl started strong going right after the champ and gave her a tour of the turnbuckles before a big back bodydrop, and then a somersault splash. She covered and got a 1 count. Judd continued the punishment with 3 consecutive atomic drops followed by a springboard forearm smash, but Lynn used the momentum to toss Judd out of the ring. Of course Lydon was right there, but Judd backed her off, which Lydon was fine with as she was just creating a distraction while Lynn went for the guitar. Judd was able to kick Lydon in the head from the ring apron, then come in and suplex Lynn off the second buckle, the guitar remaining in place. Judd then went for the guitar but it was too soon and Lynn caught her and brought her down and got her first advantage of the bout. Lynn followed up with a Giant swing, and then a slingshot into the corner, rolled up Judd 1, 2, grabbed a handful of tights, but it was seen by Bloom who called for the break. While Lynn distracted Bloom by arguing Lydon was able to reach into the ring and choke Judd. Lynn then nailed some stomps, and a pair of snap suplexes. Lynn went for the guitar but Judd pulled her down, causing Lynn to fall throat first across the top rope. Judd went to work with a series of clubbing forearms to the back, a front layout suplex and a running legdrop, cover for a 2 count.
Judd went as if for the guitar but when Lynn hurried to get her, Judd leapt backward for a cross body, but Lynn turned it into a powerslam. Lynn then just punched away in a mounted position, until Judd used her legs to capture Lynn's arms and roll her up for a 2 count. Back on their feet and Judd ducked a clotheslines, applied a backslide for another 2 count. This time Lynn went with a boot to the gut, and followed up with a jumping DDT. Lynn slingshot Judd into the corner again, and then ran up her, climbing the pole to the guitar. She was able to unhook the guitar but Judd then brought her down to the mat with a slam, sending the guitar bouncing across the ring. Lydon reached into the ring and took the guitar.
Judd was looking around for the guitar and then realizing that Lydon must have it started to jaw with her. Judd hesitated leaving the ring as Lydon feigned a guitar shot, so Lynn struck from behind with a forearm knocking Judd out of the ring. Lydon was going to hit Judd with the guitar but Bloom got in the way refusing to allow the manager to swing. So Lynn took Judd back into the ring, and had Lydon then toss her the guitar. Lynn swung the guitar but Judd rolled out of the way, then hit Lynn with a spinning heel kick. Lynn dropped the guitar and Judd came off the ropes with a flying clothesline. Judd picked up the guitar and ~waffled~ Lynn over the head. Lydon tried to enter the ring so Judd hit her with the remnants of the guitar. Judd pinned the champ, 1, 2, 3!!! New women's champion! Jessica Judd begins her second title reign, ending the short reign of Lynn, and starting the 70th reign in the title lineage. Judd also becomes the first repeat champion since Madusa won her 4th title back in 1997.
[Jessica Judd defeated Stacey Lynn by pinfall after hitting her with a guitar at 8:15]
[Jessica Judd wins the North American Women's Title]
Bout #8
60 Minute Time Limit - Referee Buddy Lane
RCW Television Title Match
Stan Baker (champion) (6'3 275 lbs. St. Louis, Missouri) vs Al Hardamann (5'11 235 lbs. Tampa, Florida)
**Interestingly enough these two tangled in the opening bout at last year's Anniversary show, which was Hardamann's first appearance in RCW, but it was won by Baker with the heart punch. These two have continued to feud off and on throughout the year with Baker having a long run with the TV belt. Hardamann is also returning from injury when Baker put him out with a concussion in mid-October using the ring bell.
Baker tried to attack Hardamann before the bell, but the man sometimes referred to as "Wild Thing" (perhaps ironically) or "Hard Work" (not ironically) was ready and laid in some stiff jabs and then smashed Baker's head off the buckle. Hardamann put Baker in a standing headlock and laid in some punches to the head at the same time. Baker pushed him off but Hardamann reapplied the hold and this time used a brainbuster (atomic noogie) to draw screams from the champ. After a break Hardamann teased the champ by screaming like a little girl. It worked and Baker charged the challenger who back flipped him out of the ring. The momentum though also took Hardamann over. Baker got off first with a punch, then some kicks. Baker battered Hardamann around ringside, as referee Lane used the idle threat of a countout. Baker held Hardamann's head down on the announce table right beside the ring bell and screamed at him "do you remember that? or did I scramble your brains too much?". Hardamann grabbed Baker by the head and managed to smash him face first into the ringbell.
Back inside Hardamann went to work with some twisting armbars, an armbreaker coming off the second buckle and then put him in a cross armbreaker submission. Baker though was able to power his way to the ropes and then rake the eyes of Hardamann. He then rabbit punched the challenger and then took him over with a belly to back suplex for a 1 count. They met with duelling clotheslines, but Baker was first to his feet. Standing head scissors, Hardamann was able to break free but when he popped his head up Baker went for a clothesline...Hardamann countered with an armbar into a rolling cradle for a 2 count. Back on their feet Baker laid in a boot to the gut, and then a quick powerbomb. The big man had to back away though and held onto the ropes as he got his breath back. We were about 5 minutes into the bout.
Baker went for a running boot but Hardamann moved out of the way and the champ wrecked himself in the corner. Hardamann launched himself off the middle buckle with a flying fist taking Baker down. Instead of going for a pin though Hardamann took Baker's head in one hand while straddling him and laid in a series of punches. Back on his feet Hardamann laid in a series of boots, and then a boot choke while arguing with referee Lane. Hardamann nailed a falling neckbreaker for a 2 count, a DDT for another 2 count. He was setting Baker up for another DDT type move but Baker got leverage and vaulted the challenger over the top rope to the floor below. The champ decided to catch his breath and recover while seeing if Hardamann would be able to get back inside.
Hardamann finally managed to roll back inside at the count of 9 but was immediately set upon by the champ with a series of knee drops, and then some punches to the kidney area. Baker applied a lifted bearhug until Hardamann was able to punch his way out of it. Hardamann came off the ropes for a cross body but Baker caught him and turned it into a powerslam, cover, 1, 2, foot on the ropes. We are about 10 minutes into this title bout.
A series of fisticuffs and brawling ensued, and it stayed inside the ring until Hardamann took advantage of the apron to deliver a hot shot to Baker. He then dragged Baker out of the ring and slammed him back first into the ring apron a couple of times. Hardamann was going to throw the champ back into the ring but Baker lashed out with a knee to the gut and then a two handed earringer, followed by a spinebuster slam on the floor.
Back inside Baker attacked the back with stomps, bearhugs, and then a Boston crab. Hardamann was in trouble but managed to fight back. Hardamann then changed his approach going after the left hand (fingers) of the champ. Linley Tolbert pointed out to the fans that Baker's finisher Heart Punch is partly so deadly because he is a southpaw, so he has more wind up room delivering the punch across the body than if he was a right handed puncher. Hardmann did this for a couple minutes, even drawing blood from the hand. At one point Baker tried to stick his bloody hand into Hardmann's mouth, maybe for a mandible claw but Hardamann bit him instead. We are about 15 minutes into the bout.
The champ took back control, nailed a spinning spinebuster, a Thesz press, and a kneed drop from the second buckle (twice) but Hardamann kept kicking out. Finally Baker, lifted the hand of Hardamann as if in victory and came across with the heart punch. It landed, but you could tell that because of the pain in his hand he did not get as much power as usual. Hardamann kicked out at the count of 1. Baker wasted time complaining to referee Lane which allowed the challenger to attack. Punches, whip to the buckle, more punches, a monkey flip out of the corner, a flying clothesline, all to set up the Vertebreaker. But when Hardamann tried to heft Baker the big man shifted his weight enough down and to the side to break free and counter by taking Hardamann up into a fireman's carry into a flapjack, cover, 1, 2, kickout! Flustered Baker regrouped with some lack lustre punches. He then put him in a standing headlock for a powerbomb perhaps but Hardamann slipped out, took an armbar, sprung off the second buckle with a nice looking cutter, covered, 1, 2, 3!!! Great win for Hardamann! We have a new Television champion! This will be Hardamann's first title in River City Wrestling, and he becomes the 49th RCW TV/Heritage champion in the lineage of that belt. It also ends Stan Baker's impressive first run with the title which begun on February 19th when he defeated Marcus Schultz in a tournament final for the vacant belt. Effectively Baker had held that belt the entire year.
[Al Hardamann defeated Stan Baker by pinfall after a springboard cutter at 17:37]
[Al Hardamann wins the RCW Television Title]
Bout #9
60 Minute Time Limit - Referee Jennifer Greaves
RCW Tag Team Title Match
The Spinebusters: Jerry Orth & Bryan Caruthers (champions) (combined wt. 478 lbs) vs The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal (/w Paul Ellering) (combined wt. 580 lbs.)
**Much like the last match, this was another episode of a great feud although the Roadies have not been in RCW for many months since shortly after they dropped the belts to the 'Busters back on March 25th. The 'busters did drop the belts to Giant Balls since then but regained their titles for their 3rd reign on October 14th.
Ellering distracted the champs waving a Wall Street Journal in their face and the Roadies attacked. They tossed Orth out of the ring and went for the Doomsday device. They nailed it and may have won the titles in less than 30 seconds except Orth was able to reach in and pull Caruthers out of the ring. It looked like the champs were leaving as they grabbed their belts and started to head up the aisle. The Roadies went right after them and after punches in the head dragged them back into the ring. Duel flying clotheslines, duel gorilla press slams and once again the champs took a powder. The challengers went right after them but this time the busters rolled back into the ring and then caught the Roadies as they tried to get back into the ring. Referee Greaves sorted it out and we had Caruthers pounding on Hawk as the legal men. Caruthers went to work with a series of knee drops, a neckbreaker, and a German suplex, he covered but only got a 1 count. Tag out to Orth and they cut the ring in half and continued to punish Hawk and made frequent tags. On Orth's third time in the ring he put on an Indian deathlock, while Animal encouraged his partner he did not look worried. Hawk got to the ropes for the break. We are about 5 minutes into the bout.
Orth tried to whip Hawk into the corner where Caruthers was waiting with an extended knee, but it was reversed and Orth got the brunt of his partners' knee and then Hawk took him over with a belly to belly. He covered, but no count, as the knee was considered a tag, and Caruthers took advantage with a knee to the back of the neck of Hawk. He sent Hawk to the ropes for a spinebuster slam, but Hawk elbowed his way out of it. Hawk nailed a clothesline and then a jumping fist drop. He tossed Caruthers into their own corner and tagged in Animal. No it was the Roadies turn to work over one of the Busters making quick tags, cutting the ring in half, and when Orth tried to interfere he ate a big boot from Hawk, and then Animal tossed him over the top rope. Animal nailed Caruthers with a powerslam, covered but only got a 2 count. Tag in to Hawk who came off the top rope with the diving clothesline. Instead of covering they decided to go for the doomsday device again...
But for some reason Vincent Regliatti came down to ringside, and he was accompanied by his former Great Canadian tag partner Eric Scott. The two of them menaced Paul Ellering, who is no wallflower. Ellering began to exchange punches with the Great Canadians, which caused the Roadies to abandon the ring and come to his defence. The Spinebusters soon joined and it was 4 on 3, so it was a pretty even fight. The action did go back inside the ring and RCW officials came out to force the Canadians to the back. However, the damage to the flow of the match was done, and we had two four man brawls inside the ring that spread outside. The tempers could not be contained and the Roadies began to use chairs outside the ring. The Road Warriors got the better of the champs and decimated them, but they would not win the titles as Greaves threw the bout out disqualifying the Warriors for using the chairs. Not a popular decision with the fans. The first real poor finish tonight.
[The Spinebusters defeated The Road Warriors by disqualification for use of a foreign object at 10:31]
[The Spinebusters retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
Main Event
60 Minute Time Limit - Referee Buddy Lane
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Sam Holiday (champion) (6'9 285 lbs. Odessa, Texas) vs Manny Silva (/w Lord Zoltan) (5'11 245 lbs. Hawaii)
**"Mad Dog" or the "Mad Hawaiian" Manny Silva is an RCW legend, although a despised one. Having been a dastardly heel his entire time in RCW, he has managed to rack up two stints with the Heavyweight title and is looking to make it a third tonight. He has also spent much of the past years inured (he last held the title in 1997), suspended, or on a self-imposed sabbatical. Tonight though he looked focused and the match surprisingly started off tentatively with some collar elbow hookups, tests of strength, ring breaks etc. Holiday has some words for Zoltan who is yapping at him, which opens up the first big break for the challenger who attacks the leg of the champ. Silva takes it to the mat where he continues to work the leg, and after a rope break while Silva distracts Lane, Zoltan bashes the leg off the ring post. Silva drags the champ to the middle of the ring where he continues to work the leg, but when he finally gets around to putting on the figure-four, he is too slow and the champ uses his reach to pull Silva by the hair and bring him down into a front chancery on the mat. Lane forces a break because of the hair, and when Holiday tries to get up he needs the ring ropes for support, so Silva kicks his leg out from under him. Silva then lays in some knees and goes for the figure four again. This time he is way too close to the ropes and Holiday is able to get the break. The champ uses the buckles for support and kicks out at Silva catching him in the chest, and tries to follow up with an elbow, but his legs buckle. He still catches Silva in the ribs as he falls but its not very hard. We are about 5 minutes into the bout.
Silva pounded on the back of the champ, then applied a rear chinlock. Holiday absorbed it for a bit and then got to his feet with Silva on his back. Holiday though couldn't hold the weight so he lurched forward and sent Silva tumbling through the ropes. Lord Zoltan helped his man but by the time the challenger got into the ring Holiday was ready. Still using the ring ropes for support he laid in some jabs, and then clotheslined the challenger to the mat. On the ground the champ worked a front chancery and tried to wear Silva down all the while trying to work the kinks out of his leg. The fans started to get restless and chant for something to happen, and Silva worked it to their feet.
Silva laid in some elbows to the mid-section, sent Holiday to the ropes, went for a shoulderblock but the bigger Holiday knocked him down. Silva went for a leg whip, but the champ jumped into the air to avoid the leg, and then came down with an elbowdrop. Holiday began to exert control as we are about 9 minutes into the bout.
The fans may not have any love for Silva but perhaps their respect for him over the next few minutes grew. Holiday was all over Silva with a fairly basic attack of punches, kicks, clotheslines, chops, and suplexes. He nailed a big German suplex and got a 2 count. Zoltan was reaching into the ropes to grab the leg of his man (but Silva kicked out on his own anyway). However, this caused Holiday to leave the ring and chase Zoltan, which of course ended with Silva blindsiding the champ. Silva tossed the big Texan head first into the steel guard rail and then took him back inside. Silva's advantage though only lasted a few seconds before Holiday took back control again with some chops. He went back to his same solid attack and just laid in the punishment. Several near falls, and at some point Silva got busted open hard way. Holiday set Silva up on the top buckle and brought him down with a superplex, covered, 1, 2, shoulder up! We are about 15 minutes into the bout now, Silva is a bloody mess and Holiday is getting a little bit frustrated.
Holiday tossed Silva to the buckle and charged in with a big elbow. After some shoulderblocks, he stood on the second buckle and began to rain down fists to the bloody head of the challenger. With what little he had left in the tank, Silva bear hugged the champ and bull rushed out of the corner hitting a hellacious spinebuster. But both men were down and slowly got to their feet at the count of 8. Holiday got off first with some punches, but Silva lashed out with a rake of the eyes, and then a thumb to the throat. He put Holiday in a side headlock and then drove a thumb into the throat again. Silva then went to the attack that made him famous and often suspended with a series of chokeholds, boot chokes, and chokes across the top rope. He changed tactics momentarily, but not for the better, setting Holiday up in the tree of whoa and laid in some kicks to the ribs and sternum and then a knee to the throat before Lane was able to unceremoniously dump the champ free. Silva continued the attack and then again set Holiday up on the top rope, crotching him on top, then put one leg to each side of the buckle. Lane warned Silva that a shot to the family jewels and he would throw out the match, so Silva laid in shots instead to the gut and then took the champ down with his own superplex.
The challenger then went to the move that got him suspended in the past, choking Holiday by wrapping the second and top ropes around his throat, then suspending him and pulling on his feet from the floor while Lane counted. Finally Silva let go and returned to the ring but Holiday was still dangling. Referees Greaves and Bloom as well as trainer Vic Gate came out to help Lane free the champ as well as to hold back Silva. Lane looked on the verge of calling for a DQ but Holiday sputtered at him to let the match continue.
Silva was looking like a complete mad man, his face a crimson mask, and his opponent a tinge of purple. In fact it was Lord Zoltan of all people that restrained his man, holding him back, to stop him from attacking the champ or the officials while they were getting Holiday free and checking on him.
Silva then worked a sleeperhold which he would slip down to a choke when Lane didn't have a clear view. Finally Lane caught the cheat and called for the break. Silva then went for his finisher the wheelbarrow suplex, and it may have been enough to get the win, but Silva could not contain himself. Instead of just hitting the suplex he first decided to bounce the champ throat first off the top cable. However, the champ grabbed onto the top rope instead of being bounced. He then wrapped his big boots around the head of Silva and began to squeeze, as he walked his hands along the ropes bringing Silva with him to the corner. The champ then let go of his feet momentarily from squeezing Silva's head, reared one back a bit and kicked Silva in the head. Silva dropped like a bag of rocks. The champ climbed to the top rope and came off with his finisher the top rope leg drop, covered, and got the 1, 2, 3!!! Gutsy win for the champ!
[Sam Holiday defeated Manny Silva by pinfall after a top rope leg drop at 22:44]
[Sam Holiday retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
In my humble opinion River City's Anniversary show never fails to deliver with great in ring action. This year's show was not on PPV, but will be divided over several weeks' episodes. Without time constraints and with an early start 3pm, it allowed a show that with two intermissions was about 4 1/2 hours long.
That's it for another year of River City Wrestling that began with a big change of ownership to Jack Larkin, a new commissioner Greg Gagne and high hopes. The original plan did not go as planned and Larkin was forced to take a step back and RCW went back to its roots.
See ya next year!
|
|
