August 4, 2019 – Card #44 – Port Elgin Arena, Port Elgin, Ontario
Wild Bill White dominated Red Bastien. White was able to neutralize the speed and agility of Red Bastien who was making his in ring debut in the territory. White punished Bastien in and out of the ring but despite multiple attempts he could not pick up the three count even after hitting his finisher, the running power slam. Bastien had the fans behind him and came back including a pair of flying head scissors. White managed to counter and at one point slammed Bastien from the top of the corner to the mat and later countered a deathjump cross body into to a roll up with a hook of the tights that nearly ended it. The finish came when White connected with a knee lift and then crushed Bastien with a Russian Leg Sweep to get the three count.
Mad Dog Vachon pinned Sam Houston. Houston had the fans solidly behind him and was looking to keep his momentum strong heading into Showdown at the Ex later this month. Houston dominated the action early on with his speed. Dropkick after dropkick downed Vachon. A running lariat nearly ended it before Houston struck with his finishing bulldog move. Vachon was done but Butcher Vachon arrived to save his brother attacking Houston. Morgan Dollar issued Butcher Vachon to the back but Mad Dog Vachon was given a second life and he did not waste the opportunity. Vachon controlled the balance of the action with only the occasional offensive counter from Houston. Houston proved difficult to put away however as he survived a pair of Mad Dog Pounces and a piledriver. He was nearly counted out after an assault on the floor before Vachon connected with a second piledriver to claim the victory.
Diamond Dallas Page over David Taylor by disqualification. These two battled in Hamilton just a few weeks ago and David Taylor was looking for a different result tonight. He left frustrated again. Page controlled early and a Russian Leg Sweep forced Taylor outside. Both men brawled around ringside and back under the ropes. They went back to the floor and brawled up onto the ring apron where Taylor backdropped Page. Page wisely used the ropes to change his momentum falling back into the ring just as the referee reached the count of ten. Taylor was counted out. Both men tangled after the bell but Page hit a Diamond Cuter leaving Taylor in a heap much to the delight of the fans.
Brad Armstrong defeated Shawn Daivari. Some solid back and forth action between these two competitors who know each other well. Daivari took control blocking a charge into the corner with a knee to the chest and then followed up with a standing dropkick. Knee drives to the body scored a near fall. Daivari went to the top to finish off his opponent but Armstrong was able to slam him to the mat. It was the opportunity Armstrong needed. A two handed bulldog nearly ended it before Armstrong used his finisher, the Russian Leg Sweep, to pick the three count from Morgan Dollar.
Lou Albano overcame Chaz Taylor. Taylor was giving up some weight for sure in this one but uses his speed to control the early action. Air Chaz connected with great applause as did a cartwheel and superkick. Albano turned the momentum with some underhanded tactics including a rake of the eyes. Taylor was able to kick out of a Sicilian Slam. Albano went to the top of the corner to finish Taylor but his double sledge was countered with a superkick that nearly knocked Albano’s head off. It was not enough for the three count however. Taylor immediately connected with a Chaztizer but again Albano had enough to just kick out. Taylor was fired up but Albano was able to drag Taylor outside and run him shoulder first into the ring post. Albano then crushed Taylor with a second Sicilian Slam to claim victory.
Magnum T. A. bested Butcher Vachon. Morgan Dollar has strict instructions for both competitors before the bell. Despite the warnings of the official this was a wild one. Fist flew from the opening bell as the opening exchange fired up ringside who gave it to Vachon when he used an illegal choke to gain the initial upper hand. The action between the two went back and forth. Allen was able to connect with a pair of running forearms to gain control and the fans cheered his every move. He landed a belly to belly suplex and appeared to have the match won when Mad Dog Vachon hit the ring and attacked Allen. Dollar incredibly let it go as Allen dumped his attacker to the floor and security escorted Mad Dog to the back. It was enough of a distraction to change the momentum of the contest as Butcher Vachon beat Allen in and of the ring. At one point he landed back to back to back double stomps. Allen was clearly in trouble kicking out of several pin attempts and then surviving a hangman submission. Vachon trapped Allen in a second hangman but Allen managed to hook the ropes with his leg breaking the hold. Vachon mounted the corner gloating to the fans. He leapt down towards a motionless Allen for a big splash but Allen rolled clear at the last possible second. Allen rolled his arm onto Vachon and Morgan Dollar counted the pin.
Bob Armstrong survived Pampero Firpo. The fans were behind Armstrong from the outset but Firpo set on his opponent from the opening bell with a vicious assault. Firpo quickly went for the win with El Garfio but Armstrong made the ropes to survive the hold. Firpo connected with a backbreaker followed by a knee lift that busted open Armstrong’s lip. Firpo then sent Armstrong flying into the buckles but The Bullet avoided Firpo’s charge sending his opponent crashing chest first into the corner. Armstrong quickly rolled up Firpo and took the pin out of nowhere.
Tina Moretti over Jazz by disqualification. Morgan Dollar had strict instructions for the competitors before the bell but this was full of chaos before it was all said and done. Things began to unravel when Dollar was taken out by a deathjump (seven moves) and while the official was down, Jazz unleashed an vicious assault with a chair on the floor drawing huge heat. She even applied her B****c Clamp while Dollar was still out of it. Dollar finally recovered but despite the beating she delivered, Jazz could not put Moretti way. The match went back to the floor and this time it was Moretti who made use of the chair. However, the referee was actually on his feet for this attack and called for the disqualification. Both ladies brawled to the back after the bell with the fans eating it up.
Greg Valentine & Canadian Heavyweight Champion Johnny Valentine bested Island Flyers in a Texas Tornado Match. The fans expected mayhem and that was exactually what they received. It was next to impossible to follow the action as all four brawled in and out of the ring. Snuka crushed Greg Valentine with a Superfly Leap but could not get the three count. Greg Valentine had Bruznell trapped in a figure four leglock while Snuka brawled with Johnny Valentine on the floor but Brunzell made the ropes to keep his team alive. Later, Brunzell squared up on the Canadian Champion with a high flying dropkick for a big near fall. All four men began to run out of energy but it was Johnny Valentine who found the next gear and was able to connect with back to back atomic skullcrushers on the Superfly to get the three count.
Canadian Open Tag Team Champions Valiant Brothers defeated Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. The champions had a game plan and it worked to perfection. The Valiant’s cut off Ricky Morton early and worked him over with double teaming. Morton kicked out after a Super Elbow and again after a Double Clothesline from the Champions. With the fans frantic, Robert Gibson tagged back into the action and went to work. Things appeared evened out and Morton even caught Johnny Valiant with a cross body block to nearly capture the titles. The Valiants were able to get Morton in trouble again and crushed him with a second Super Elbow. Morgan Dollar made the unpopular three count while Robert Gibson’s pin save was cut off.
News and Views: Canadian Open Tag Team Champions Valiant Brothers shocked many with their dominating dismissal of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express . . . Another wild battle between the Island Flyers and Valentines as the battles between these two sides remain intense . . . Sam Houston found out that when you take on one Vachon Brother you taken on both Vachon Brothers . . . Brad Armstrong looks to be preparing to make moves up the rankings in the Northern Lights division . . . Wild Bill White picked a monster win tonight derailing the debut of Red Bastien in dominating fashion . . . Another frustrating outing for David Taylor as he comes up short against a very game Diamond Dallas Page . . . Bullet Bob Armstrong proved tonight there is no substitute for experience . . . Chaz Taylor steps up in weight class tonight but comes away with the loser’s purse against Lou Albano . . . Magnum T.A.’s intense battle with Butcher Vachon might have stolen the show tonight . . . Clearly some unresolved issues between Jazz and Tina Moretti that will have to be resolved at their next meeting down the road . . . At the conclusion of the show there was a special announcement from the competition committee concerning the main event at Showdown at the Ex. There was much discussion and debate but in the end the committee stated that the original idea for the main event of the show was to have the reigning Commonwealth Champion challenge for the Canadian Heavyweight Championship and that is what the main event will be. Johnny Valentine will defend the Canadian Heavyweight title against the winner of next week’s Commonwealth Title bout between current champion The Destroyer and former champion Buddy Rogers. In addition, the loser of that contest will face Lou Thesz at Showdown at the Ex in a contenders match. The winner of that match will receive the next shot at the Canadian Heavyweight Title and the loser will face the Commonwealth Champion . . .
Up next, Maple Leaf Wrestling will travel to Port Hope for a show at the Port Hope Sports Complex featuring the following matches:
• Pampero Firpo was anything but pleased after his loss to Bob Armstrong tonight and has demanded an immediate rematch. “The Bullet” is not one to back down from a challenge and the match has been signed for Port Hope.
• Lou Albano will step into the ring with the always popular Diamond Dallas Page. Both competitors are coming off wins tonight and are looking to continue their momentum up the tag team rankings
• Davide Taylor continues to struggle in his brief time in the territory but he continues to step up each week and he will take on “Jumping” Jim Brunell in Port Hope
• The Vachon Brothers will be back in tag team action and will once again face the team of Sam Houston and Magnum T.A.
• Wild Bill White had a huge win tonight and will be looking to build on that success when he meets Brad Armstrong in singles action
• In a highly anticipated Trillium Encounter, Trish Stratus will battle Sherri Martel
• Rock ‘n’ Roll Express were outclassed tonight by a very game Valiant Brothers but they will have to quickly regroup as they continue their classic feud with the Midnight Express
• It what should be another wild chapter in the intense feud between Jimmy Snuka and Greg Valentine, the two will meet in a Texas Death Match
• The battle over the Commonwealth Title will continue as current champion The Destroyer will defend his title for the first time against former Champion in a return match, best two out of three falls
Maple Leaf Wrestling – Showdown at the Ex
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Doors at 6:30 pm
Bell Time: 8:00 pm
Exhibition Stadium, Toronto, ON
Canadian Heavyweight Title Match
Johnny Valentine (ch) v. Buddy Rogers or The Destroyer
Trillium Tag Team Action
Glamour Girls v. Rockin’ Robin & Nora Greenwald
Northern Lights Title Tournament Final
Sam Houston v. Joe Blanchard
Dog Collar Match
Greg Valentine v. Jimmy Snuka
Contenders Match
Lou Thesz v. Buddy Rogers or The Destroyer
Number One Contenders Ladder Match
Rock n Roll Express v. Midnight Express
Grudge Match
Magnum T. A. v. Mad Dog Vachon