Post by gabe72 on Mar 20, 2015 13:35:31 GMT -5
GCCW #23
Auburn Arena; Auburn, AL; 20 Mar 2015
Auburn Arena; Auburn, AL; 20 Mar 2015
....Neither the men's or women's basketball teams at Auburn are tournament bound but there's a tournament level atmosphere inside the arena tonight as Nick Bockwinkel defends the GCCW title against the ever-present thorn in his side, Red Bastien. Bastien, who was brought in to the territory by promoter, 'Cowboy' Bob Kelly, with limited success, is looking to take away what Bock covets most....the title. Let's get the action started....
--Match #1: George 'The Animal' Steele def. Billy 'Red' Lyons by submission.
George Steele has been very impressive in singles action over the last three months while Billy Lyons has been a part-timer in the territory. George was very impressive in his brief feud with Hacksaw Jim Duggan and in the process has put the FLYING HAMMERLOCK over as a very dangerous hold.
Billy uses his decisive agility advantage in the early going before missing a turnbuckle charge. This allowed George to go to to work on Lyons' shoulder and arm. George does further damage to Billy's shoulder after throwing him over the turnbuckles and into the ringpost. George follows with a running knee smash to that injured shoulder before applying the FLYING HAMMERLOCK for the finish. This win moves George's singles record to 4-0 and the Board of Directors are looking at George for a possible GCCW US title shot.
--Match #2: Tony Atlas/Koko B. Ware def. Angelo Poffo/JJ Dillon by pinfall.
Koko B. Ware's infatuation with his bird, Frankie, is starting to rub his tag team partner, Tony Atlas the wrong way. The tension between the two is so much that they don't travel together to the shows. A win by either team puts them in the tag title hunt further down the road as Angelo Poffo/JJ Dillon look to exploit the rift that is opening between Atlas and Koko.
The match was all Tony Atlas as he brought the pain to Angelo Poffo and JJ Dillon. Tony would beat up one opponent and then throw him into the corner so he could tag his partner. Tony cornered Poffo and hit the PRESS SLAM & SPLASH but Koko tagged himself in during the move. Koko hauls the already beaten Poffo up and drops him with the GHOSTBUSTER for the pinfall. Again, Koko credited Frankie with being his inspiration for his big win as Tony fumed at ringside.
--Match #3: Butcher Vachon w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink def. Bob Armstrong by pinfall.
The Vachons have just been nasty since they entered the territory and have hurt people along the way. Last week, they beat up Bob's son, Brad during their tag team match and an angry Bob Armstrong called out Butcher for this week.
Sir Oliver Humperdink was instrumental in this match for Butcher as he kept the referee and 'Bullet' Bob distracted. Finally, Bob had enough and pulled Humperdink onto the ring apron by his lapels. As the ref was trying to separate Bob and Humperdink, Butcher was able to hit the HANGMAN for the finish.
--Match #4: Ox Baker def. The Crusher by pinfall.
The Crusher continues his march to Nick Bockwinkel and Ox Baker continues to try and prevent that from happening. The importance of this match was evident for the Heenan Family as both Bobby Heenan and Ray Stevens were at ringside for this one.
A brawl throughout with neither man getting a significant advantage until Crusher levels Ox with the CRUSHER BOLO. Ray Stevens jumps on the ring apron to break the count but gets sent to the back. However, this distraction allowed Ox to hit Crusher with the HEART PUNCH for the finish.
--Match #5: Rick Rude/Chris Candido w/ Tammy Lynn Sytch def. Magnum TA/Mike Graham by pinfall.
This feud has been one of the more interesting feuds in the territory over the last month. Magnum lost a heart breaker last week in his first shot at Rick Rude and the GCCW US title but gets another shot in two weeks. Tammy Lynn Sytch has become the ultimate equalizer in this feud and Magnum/Graham have not had an answer for her.
Sytch is again a significant factor in this match but Magnum/Graham seemingly overcome her advantage when Magnum drops Rude with the BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX. However, Candido flies off the turnbuckles and catches Magnum with a huge missile dropkick to break up the pinfall. Rude recovers to hit the RUDE AWAKENING on Magnum and Sytch holds Magnum's feet as her team steals a win.
--Match #6: Blackjack Mulligan def. Mr Saito by pinfall.
Blackjack Mulligan takes this match against GCCW tag team champion, Mr Saito knowing that he gets Bruiser Brody in the ring next week. Saito has a tough match next week as he and Mr Fuji defend the titles against the Bushwackers for the second time in six weeks.
The question of whether or not Saito would actually compete in this match with the title defense looming next week was quickly answered when he hit Mulligan with the SAITO SUPLEX three moves into the match. This was a hard-hitting slug fest between to great brawlers. Saito kept hitting a Oriental Leg Sweep and his painful Prison Deathlock to soften Mulligan up for the SCORPION LEGLOCK. However, Mulligan would fire back with his own painful finisher in the CLAWHOLD over and over again. Finally, Mulligan is able to secure the win with a huge lariat for the finish.
--Match #7: Johnny Valentine/Dan Spivey def. Steve Williams/Terry Gordy by pinfall.
The feud between Johnny Valentine and Steve Williams lit up arenas for the first couple of months and that Dan Spivey and Terry Gordy have been added to the mix, the feud intensity has went up a notch. After last week, Valentine and 'Dangerous' Dan are chomping at the bit to redeem themselves against the Miracle Violence Connection.
Dr Death caught Spivey early with the OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE but Valentine was able to make the save. The story of the match was that Spivey took a serious beating but Valentine kept saving him from pinfall attempts by Doc and Gordy. Valentine got into the match with a blind tag and immediately hit Williams with back-to-back ATOMIC SKULLCRUSHERS to get the pinfall as Gordy wasn't quick enough to prevent the fall.
--Match #8: Power-10 Series: Antonio Inoki def. Mad Dog Vachon by pinfall.
Antonio Inoki knows how important this match is if he wants to challenge Nick Bockwinkel for the GCCW title and he knows just how dangerous Mad Dog Vachon is. Mad Dog has shown just how violent he can be after helping put both 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell on the shelf for the time being. Inoki hasn't lost since February 20th and is looking to continue that streak.
Even match through the first 10-minutes but soon Mad Dog started to lose his cool and his violent nature starts to show. Mad Dog goes for his chains, only to be admonished by Speedy Hatfield. Coming out of that distraction, Inoki hits Mad dog with the ENZUIGIRI for the finish. Inoki moves on to face a gaijin legend in The Destroyer next week for the 10th and final match of his Power-10 Series. Inoki stands at 6-2-1 overall.
--Match #9: GCCW title: Nick Bockwinkel def. Red Bastien by pinfall for his 4th defense.
Nick Bockwinkel comes into this match almost untouchable as he's suffered defeat in singles action only once since the end of December in the Champion's Carnival. In that time, Bock is 10-1 in that stretch with his only loss to Lou Thesz in the 1st round of the CC. On the other hand, Red Bastien was brought in to humble Bock as Bock was not cooperating with GCCW's promoter. However, Bastien sports a losing record against the Heenan Family but still has caused them some heartache with last week being a case in point.
Red Bastien came out red-hot (pun intended) and had Nick Bockwinkel on his heels. Red kept trying for his ATOMIC DROP finisher but Bock was able to fight him off. Red scores a nearfall about 10-minutes in with a series of flying dropkicks. Red kept the attack up and gets a couple of nearfalls again with his flying dropkick triple and a flying body press. The second nearfall causes Bock to roll to the outside to re-assess the situation.
Red rolls outside with Bock but Bobby Heenan gets in the way allowing Bock to take advantage. Bock clips Red's knee before posting his challenger and busting Red open. Back in the ring, Bock starts to take control and starts working his FIGURE-FOUR LEGLOCK finisher. Red is limping badly from being locked in the move for long stretches of time but Bock misses an uncharacteristic turnbuckle charge allowing Red to get a second wind.
Red takes advantage of the reprieve and hits the ATOMIC DROP for the 3-count....or was it. Red thought he had won....the fans thought he had won and exploded as Speedy Hatfield's hand hit the mat for the third time....even your humble reporter thought Red had won the match and the title. However, as the place exploded with cheers, Heenan pointed out Bock's leg was laying underneath the ring ropes and thus the pinfall was invalid. During th commotion, Bock grabbed Red from behind and rolled Red up and got pinfall with help from a handful of tights in the process.
The fans, who were enthralled with cheers, now exploded with jeers as Bock's hand was raised as the winner. Heenan grabbed the belt and both hustled to the back before the crowd really knew what happened.
--The heels were a dominant force tonight as another GCCW card comes to a close. The controversy in the main event will be surely talked about for a long time. However, Nick Bockwinkel should feel lucky that he came out of that match with a win.
**Next week, we ride into the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, LA where the GCCW tag titles take center stage as Mr Fuji/Mr Saito face The Bushwackers for a second time in three weeks for a title defense. Last time, the Bushwackers dominated that match and Fuji/Saito took an easy DQ loss to retain their titles. Can The Bushwackers complete their quest and win the tag titles?
**Antonio Inoki finishes up his Power-10 Series against a familiar foe in the gaijin, Destroyer. Inoki needs this win to earn a shot at Nick Bockwinkel and the GCCW title. Inoki has had an impressive run during the Series so far but has stated he will be disappointed if he does not secure that title shot.
**Back on February 13th, Sir Oliver Humperdink and Bruiser Brody made an open challenge that was answered by Blackjack Mulligan. Since then Humperdink has tried to have that bout stopped by any means necessary. Humperdink has run out of challenges and the Mulligan/Brody match will happen next week.
**Johnny Valentine/Dan Spivey beat Steve Williams/Terry Gordy tonight. The feud continues next week as Valentine will face Gordy and Spivey will battle Dr Death.
**After tonight's controversy in the main event, Red Bastien was anxious to get Nick Bockwinkel back in the ring. Next week, Bastien teams with the Crusher to face Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens.
....All This & More....See Ya Next Week In Shreveport....