Bithlo Championship Wrestling

[The Creek Rises]

Welcome, everyone, to Bithlo Championship Wrestling.

For those who would like a primer of the first three years of the federation, along with my playing/booking style, you can go here:

cotg.proboards.com/thread/6384/bithlo-championship-wrestling

For now, here's a quick update:

My world heavyweight champion is Jimmy Snuka, who won the belt late in Year Three from fellow face Bobo Brazil, who had ended the long reign of the diabolical Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase. It's the second time Snuka has held the belt, although it's the first time as a face.

My tag-team champions are Giant Baba and Rikidozan, who won the belts about midway through Year Three, taking them from the Midnight Express. Actually, it was Baba and Antonio Inoki who won the titles, but Inoki later got hurt and Rikidozan took his place.

My final belt is the U.S. championship, captured by Don Leo Jonathan of Justice For Us at the end of Year Three. He beat Don Muraco of the Heenan family.

Hope you enjoy reading BCW. Feedback always is welcomed. Thanks also to the Filsinger gang for a most enjoyable game.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FOUR, CARD 1

Bithloplex

Commissioner Richcreek came out to announce some changes in the new year. The number of cards will go up from 28 to 32. Since as owner of the growing promotion he had more work to do behind the scenes, he announced a new commissioner, his good friend Chad. Commissioner Chad came out and said he was glad to become a part of BCW. He said he planned to run a fair and just promotion, plus put in some new wrinkles over time that fans would like.

Killer Kowalski then came to ringside and told the new commissioner that he wanted a shot at Jimmy Snuka’s heavyweight title. That brought out Curt Hennig and Bobo Brazil with the same request. Commissioner Chad said he would have a plan in place at the next card for deciding who would face Snuka at Bithlo Bash, the first big PPV of the year.

Koko B. Ware made a triumphant return to BCW, d. Larry Sharpe after connecting with a flying headbutt.

S.D. Jones d. George South (w/ Larry Sharpe) using his HEADBUTT. The match took a long time, due to South’s resilience and the fact Sharpe kept trying to interfere. Finally, Jones knocked Sharpe off the ring apron and took care of business.

Diamond Dallas Page, returning from an injury, d. Dennis Condrey (w/ Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane) via his DIAMOND CUTTER. Cornette interfered throughout the match, and even Lane and Eaton tried to get involved, but Page gave them a noggin’-knocker and then delivered the cutter to win the match.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan came to the ring and introduced his new tag partner – fellow lumber-wielder Timber, the Insane Lumberjack, who was making his debut in BCW. Duggan said they were ready to take on whoever wanted to face them. Bobby Heenan came out with a clean-shaven Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant. Heenan said Valiant was now a part of his family. Plus, Heenan was searching for a tag partner for Valiant and had finally found one – Johnny Valiant! The Valiants, former BCW tag-team champions, were reunited!

In a wild brawl, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Timber d. the Valiants (w/ Bobby Heenan) by countout when Duggan and Timber threatened to use their weapons on the Valiants, who refused to get back into the ring. The whole mess started when Johnny Valiant tried to attack Hacksaw before the bell and got an Old Glory kneedrop as a result. The match pretty much broke down from there.

Bill Apter’s “Hot Seat” featured BCW world heavyweight champion Jimmy Snuka. Snuka said he was honored to be representing BCW “the right way” this time around. Commissioner Chad came to the interview, shook hands with Snuka and said it would be an “interesting year” for the champion, considering all the challengers. Snuka said, “Bring ’em on!”

Greg Valentine d. Virgil (w/ S.D. Jones) using his FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK. Valentine then slapped Virgil in the head after he tapped out. Apparently, there was still animosity on Valentine’s part after he was beaten by Virgil for the U.S. title back in Year One. Jones then ran Valentine out of the ring.

Danny Hodge came out and slapped hands with a departing Valentine on his way to the ring. Once in the ring, Hodge grabbed the microphone and announced that he didn’t think there was anyone in BCW who, pound for pound, “can match me in the ring.” Rikidozan came out and announced the newest member of the Tokyo Three – Jushin Liger! Liger headed to the ring.

Jushin Liger had a victorious debut in BCW, catching Danny Hodge with his BRAINBUSTER and getting the pin. Hodge didn’t know quite how to handle Liger and got very little offense in as a result. Liger and Rikidozan celebrated together afterward.

Iron Sheik d. Savage-T (w/ KJ Hill) using his CAMEL CLUTCH, which the ref had to get him to release because Savage-T passed out. Iron Sheik was like a madman – all over Savage-T from the opening bell. Although Savage-T got some offense in, it was quickly engulfed by Iron Sheik.

BCW tag-team champions Giant Baba and Rikidozan d. the Killer Bees in a great match when Rikidozan nailed Jim Brunzell with THUNDEROUS CHOPS. The Killer Bees did a great job of tagging a lot of times and keeping the champions off-balance. All four wrestlers escaped at least one pin attempt during the match. An interesting side story came at ringside, where a hooded gentleman appeared to be taking notes on the match. After Brunzell was pinned, the gentleman stood up, pointed at the champs and then left.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FOUR, CARD No. 2

Eddie Graham Sports Stadium

Commissioner Chad came to ringside and announced an eight-man battle for the right to face BCW heavyweight champion Jimmy Snuka at Bithlo Bash. The eight wrestlers will be divided via a Lethal Lottery into four tag-teams. The winners of each of the two tag-team matches will then have to face their partners in a singles match on another card, followed by the two singles winners meeting at Card No. 5 to decide the No. 1 contender. The commissioner then read off the names: Kowalski, Curt Hennig, Zbyszko, Page, Brazil, Hackenschmidt, Yukon Eric and one surprise wrestler set to be revealed later on the card.

Playboy Buddy Rose came out and said he had better be the surprise No. 8 wrestler. Commissioner Chad just shook his head “no,” which prompted Rose to get in the commissioner’s face and threaten him. Commissioner Chad said he had good news for Rose – he would be in a tag match against the Killer Bees! Rose asked who his partner would be, and Commissioner Chad said no one – that’s what Rose got for getting into the face of the commissioner. “Oh, and your match is next,” he added. As the commissioner walked away, Rose looked stunned. Meanwhile, the Killer Bees headed to the ring.

The Killer Bees d. Playboy Buddy Rose in a handicap match when Jim Brunzell connected with a KILLER DROPKICK. Rose put up a good fight, but was eventually worn down by the more-agile Bees.

Rick Rude (w/ Ida Mae) d. George South with the RUDE AWAKENING in Rude’s return from injury. It took a while for Rude to put South away, but he did, and then he took the mike and announced, “I might not be in the tournament, but Snuka, you can’t duck me forever. And neither can you, Heenan.”

Cousin Luke and Savage-T (w/ KJ Hill) stunned the Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette) when Stan Lane could not make the 10-count to return to the ring. Cousin Luke threw Lane outside the ring, and while Cornette and Bobby Eaton were yakking at the ref, someone from the crowd hit Lane from behind with a foreign object, knocking him out. Seen leaving ringside shortly thereafter was the same hooded man who was taking notes of tag teams at the last card. Cornette had a fit afterward, demanding to know who popped Lane.

Danny Hodge came out and said Jushin Liger’s win against him at the last card was a fluke. He called for a rematch. Liger came out and nodded “yes.”

Danny Hodge d. Jushin Liger by DQ when the ref warned Liger not to jump from the top rope onto Hodge, who was outside the ring at the time, but Liger did anyway. Fans booed the end to an interesting matchup.

The man who had been scouting tag teams suddenly came to the ring and threw back his hood. He introduced himself as “Wild” Red Berry, then introduced his new-to-BCW tag team, the Fabulous Kangaroos. He then called for an opponent to challenge them.

The Fabulous Kangaroos (w/ Red Berry) and the Ebony Express wrestled to a double DQ when Al Costello and Virgil got into a brawl outside the ring. For the most part, the Kangaroos controlled the match, with S.D. Jones making a couple of run-ins to prevent Virgil from being pinned.

The first two pairings in the Lethal Lottery battle for the No. 1. contender’s spot were announced: Killer Kowalski … and Yukon Eric! Their opponents were named next: Curt Hennig … and George Hackenschmidt!

Curt Hennig and George Hackenschmidt d. Killer Kowalski and Yukon Eric when Hennig caught Kowalski with a surprise running knee lift. Hennig went for the pin while an apparently disgruntled Yukon Eric walked away from ringside because Kowalski wouldn’t tag him into the match. Hennig will next face Hackenschmidt, who tried to congratulate Hennig only to be pushed away, in a singles semifinal match.

World heavyweight champion Jimmy Snuka d. Dennis Condrey (w/ Jim Cornette) in a nontitle match when Snuka nailed Condrey with a flying headbutt after Cornette had interrupted a pin attempt by Snuka following a SUPERFLY LEAP.

Gary Michael Cappetta announced the pairings for the final Lethal Lottery match: Larry Zbyszko … and Diamond Dallas Page. Then he announced Bobo Brazil …. and Ivan Koloff! The Russian Bear has joined BCW!

Larry Zbyszko and Diamond Dallas Page d. Bobo Brazil and Ivan Koloff when Zbyszko hit a leap off the top turnbuckle to pin Koloff. Koloff was impressive in his debut, but the match changed when he had Zbyszko in a Russian bear hug and DDP went to break it up. Brazil got into the ring as well, and during the resulting scuffle among the four wrestlers, DDP nailed Koloff with a DIAMOND CUTTER out of nowhere. Then, after DDP and Brazil ended up outside the ring, Koloff was easy pickings for Zbyszko. After the match, Zbyszko punched future opponent Page, and officials had to separate the two.

[The Creek Rises]

CARD No. 3 – Lakeland Civic Center

Bobby Heenan came out and demanded that Don Muraco get a rematch for the U.S. title, adding that current champ Don Leo Jonathan was “ducking him.” Commissioner Chad came out and agreed with Heenan, saying the match would be held on this card. Heenan then complained about interference from Justice for All, and Commissioner Chad agreed again, banning them from ringside – it will be an automatic loss for Jonathan if they show up. Heenan was happy until Commissioner Chad said the Heenan family would also be banned from ringside, and Muraco would forfeit any chance at the title if they showed up! Heenan threw a fit.

Koko B. Ware d. Savage-T (w/ KJ Hill) using his GHOSTBUSTER. Right before the finishing maneuver, the Iron Sheik appeared at ringside and stood near Hill, which froze Savage-T long enough for Ware to finish him off. The Iron Sheik then left without doing or saying anything.

The Fabulous Kangaroos (w/ Red Berry) and Ebony Express battled to a double DQ again when S.D. Jones run into the turnbuckle while charging Al Costello, and Virgil jumped into the ring to defend his partner, starting an all-out brawl in which security had to intervene.

The Terrible Turk used his STRANGLEHOLD to subdue George South.

The Valiants (w/ Bobby Heenan) d. Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Timber the Insane Lumberjack when Jimmy Valiant caught Duggan with a fistdrop and got the pin. Afterward, while a distracted Timber chased Heenan, the Valiants double-teamed Duggan, seriously injuring him. Timber was distraught when he got back to the ring.

Danny Hodge d. Jushin Liger after catching him with his OKLAHOMA SIDE ROLL. The key moment in the match was when Liger was outside the ring and climbing back in, only to be distracted by Greg Valentine, who had come to ringside. That allowed Hodge to take advantage and get the win.

BCW tag-team champions Rikidozan and Giant Baba (w/ Jushin Liger) d. the Vachons (w/ Larry Hennig, Capt. Lou Albano) when Rikidozan caught Butcher Vachon with a surprise dropkick and got the pin.

Curt Hennig (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) d. George Hackenschmidt using the HENNIG PLEX to advance to the finals of the No. 1 contender’s match for the world heavyweight championship. Hennig controlled the offense for most of the bout, while Albano’s presence seemed to keep Hackenschmidt distracted.

U.S. heavyweight champion Don Leo Jonathan d. former champ Don Muraco using a swinging full nelson. Jonathan controlled most of the match, but Muraco fended off a number of pin attempts before finally succumbing. Although there was no interference during the match, afterward both sides came to ringside, but security kept order.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FOUR, CARD NO. 4

Universal Studios, Orlando

“Dr. Death” Steve Williams made his debut in BCW by d. Savage-T (w/ KJ Hill) using his lariat. No sign of the Iron Sheik during this match. Afterward, Bobby Heenan came to ringside and was talking to Williams, who seemed interested in what Heenan had to say.

Bobo Brazil d. Larry Sharpe (w/ George South) using his COCO BUTT.

The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette, Stan Lane) d. the Ebony Express when S.D. Jones was taken down with the VEG-O-MATIC. The great bout was a wild one, featuring lots of interference and pin attempts for both sides. However, the key moment came when the Fabulous Kangaroos distracted Virgil , which kept him from aiding the soon-to-be-pinned Jones.

Timber came out and said he was fortunate to have had a mentor like Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and he wanted to pay the Valiants back for what they did to Duggan but had no partner to take them on in a tag match. Out came Rick Rude with Ida Mae. Rude said he couldn't care less about Timber or Duggan, but he had no love for the Heenan family, so he’d team with Timber against the Valiants later on in the card. The crowd murmured its uneasiness with the idea, but Timber accepted the offer.

Don Muraco (w/ Bobby Heenan) d. Greg Valentine by countout when Muraco viciously piledrove Valentine outside the ring, seriously injuring him. Heenan family members the Valiants came out to further punish Valentine, but they were run off by U.S. champ Don Leo Jonathan and Danny Hodge of JFU. Before the ending, Muraco looked sharp, and as he was leaving ringside, he pointed at Jonathan, the man who took the U.S. belt from Muraco.

Commissioner Chad called out Playboy Buddy Rose. He praised Rose for his efforts against the Killer Bees at Card No. 2 and said he wanted to make it up to Rose. The commissioner said Rose would have a match against the Fabulous Kangaroos, but the good news was that he had picked out a tag partner for Rose – the Iron Sheik! Rose looked unhappy and a little terrified at the prospect.

Playboy Buddy Rose and the Iron Sheik d. the Fabulous Kangaroos (w/ "Wild" Red Berry) when Rose got Al Costello in a sleeper hold and Berry and Roy Heffernan were distracted by the appearance of the Ebony Express at ringside. The Iron Sheik wouldn’t tag in early when Rose needed help, so he had to go it alone. After the match, when the ref raised their hands, Rose went to shake the hand of the Iron Sheik, only to be suplexed by him!

U.S. champ Don Leo Jonathan d. George South in a nontitle match using the MORMON SWING. Afterward, Jonathan called out the Heenan family, saying, “Justice will be served!”

The Valiants (w/ Bobby Heenan, Don Muraco) d. Timber and Rick Rude (w/ Ida Mae Martinez) when Jimmy Valiant pinned Timber after Johnny Valiant choked him with the tag rope. The ref didn’t see the Valiant choke because Rude and Muraco were scuffling outside the ring. Rude got back in and chased off the Valiants before they could further attack Timber, then Rude left the ring.

Larry Zbyszko (w/ Bobby Heenan, Valiant brothers, Don Muraco) d. Diamond Dallas Page to snare a spot in the No. 1 contender’s match. Page looked outnumbered when the Heenan family showed up at ringside, but shortly after the match began, Timber and Rick Rude came down to even up the odds. However, Page was still distracted by Heenan at a key moment, allowing Zbyszko to nail Page with a spinning back kick. It will be Zbyszko vs. Curt Henning for a shot at BCW world champion Snuka.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FOUR, CARD NO. 5

Sanford Barn

Commissioner Chad came out and announced that he had a huge card planned. At the end of it, eight teams would compete under Texas Tornado rules to decide who will contend for the tag belts at Bithlo Bash. But first, he wanted to “throw a bone” to favorite whipping boy Playboy Buddy Rose. He selected four wrestlers who did not have tag partners for a four-corners elimination match. The winner would get to be Rose’s partner for the Texas Tornado match.

Koko B. Ware won the four-corners elimination match to become Playboy Buddy Rose’s tag-team partner. The Terrible Turk was first out, DQ’d for slamming Steve Corino onto the floor outside the ring. Buff Bagwell later eliminated Corino via a dropkick, only to be eliminated himself via a Ware sunset flip.

George Hackenschmidt d. Dennis Condrey (w/ Jim Cornette) by DQ when the other members of the Midnight Express came out to attack Hackenschmidt, who had battled interference from Cornette throughout the match. Bobby Eaton was heard to say, before security broke up the attack, that “we took out your partner Gotch, and we’ll take you out, too!”

BCW world heavyweight champion Jimmy Snuka d. Larry Sharpe (w/ George South) by DQ in a nontitle match. Snuka missed a SUPERFLY LEAP due to South’s interference, and Sharpe was DQ’d when he and South tried to jump Snuka outside the ring. Snuka eventually laid out both of them.

In a battle of former titleholders, Don Muraco (w/ Bobby Heenan, Dr. Death Steve Williams) d. Bobo Brazil using his HAWAIIAN HAMMER (and some distraction from Heenan). Brazil dominated the first half of the match, then Muraco gained control – he seemed to be wrestling better now that he lost the U.S. title. Williams did not interfere while at ringside.

Commissioner Chad called out Giant Baba and Rikidozan. The commissioner said he thought the pair might be bored as tag champions and need a new challenge, so he said they would be facing the K Klub next!

BCW world tag-team champions Rikidozan and Giant Baba d. the K Klub when Rikidozan pinned Killer Kowalski after some THUNDEROUS CHOPS. Kowalski and Ivan Koloff provided some challenge for the tag champs, but they continued on their roll.

U.S. champion Don Leo Jonathan d. Jushin Liger when Danny Hodge sneaked to ringside and tripped up Liger coming off the ropes, allowing Jonathan to roll him up for the pin. Liger slapped the mat in frustration afterward as Hodge laughed it up with Jonathan.

In a No. 1 contender’s match, Larry Zbyszko (w/ Bobby Heenan) d. Curt Hennig (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) via an abdominal stretch aided by Heenan holding Zbyszko’s hand for leverage, unseen by the ref despite Albano’s protest. Zbyszko caught Hennig with his PILEDRIVER earlier, and a woozy Hennig kicked out, but fell victim to the stretch due to Heenan’s assistance. Zbyszko will face Snuka for the heavyweight title at Bithlo Bash.

Commissioner Chad came to ringside to clarify the rules for the eight-team No. 1 contender’s match for the BCW world tag-team title. It will be Texas Tornado rules, and when a member of a team gets pinned, that team is eliminated. When there is a single team left, that team will be the No. 1 contender.

First eliminated were Savage-T and Cousin Luke, who were ousted by the Midnight Express after interference by Jim Cornette at ringside led to Cousin Luke getting pinned by Bobby Eaton.

The Ebony Express was eliminated by the Vachons when Mad Dog Vachon caught Virgil with a PILEDRIVER.

In quite a physical battle, the new team of Playboy Buddy Rose and Koko B. Ware was eliminated by the Midnight Express when Playboy Buddy Rose was DQ’d for attacking Jim Cornette outside the ring after Cornette interfered with his trusty tennis racket while the two sides were battling. Before that, the Ware-Rose team worked pretty well together.

The Fabulous Kangaroos were eliminated by the Valiants when Johnny Valiant caught Al Costello with a SPINNING NECKBREAKER. It continued a disappointing start for the Kangaroos.

The Vachons were eliminated by the Midnight Express when Bobby Eaton caught Mad Dog Vachon with a spinning neckbreaker and got the pin.

The Killer Bees, who had mostly stayed out of the way during the match, were eliminated by the Valiants when Jimmy Valiant hit a SUPER ELBOW on Jim Brunzell and got the pin.

An exhausted Midnight Express won the Texas Tornado match when the Valiants were DQ’d for attacking the Midnight Express outside the ring. Both managers and allies were at ringside during the match to root on their respective sides and get involved. Eventually, Jimmy Valiant and Stan Lane ended up outside the ring. Bobby Heenan told Dr. Death Steve Williams to throw Lane back into the ring, but instead he threw him into the guardrail! As the ref DQ’d the Valiants, Heenan looked on in shock. Then Dennis Condrey hit Williams from behind with a chair, which only enraged Dr. Death. The Midnight Express fled the scene, and when Don Muraco pressed Williams for an explanation, he shoved Muraco and walked away.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FOUR, CARD NO. 6

UCF Arena

Jim Cornette came out with the Midnight Express to start the card and issued a challenge to George Hackenschmidt for a match at the end of the card. “Find a partner – if you can – because we are coming after you,” Cornette said.

Cousin Luke and Savage-T (w/ KJ Hill) d. the Killer Bees when Jim Brunzell succumbed to Cousin Luke’s bear hug. A key factor in the upset was that the Iron Sheik came to the ring to harass Savage-T again, but this time he also drew the attention of B. Brian Blair, who told the Iron Sheik to “get lost.” While they exchanged insults, Luke got the win.

The K Klub d. the new team of Buff Bagwell and Steve Corino when Killer Kowalski caught Bagwell with the CLAW HOLD. Bagwell and Corino worked well together, but they had a hard time matching the power of Kowalski and Ivan Koloff.

U.S. champion Don Leo Jonathan d. Larry Sharpe in a nontitle match using a giant swing. Jonathan took his time with Sharpe and looked to be working on a few things ahead of any possible title defense at Bithlo Bash, although none had been announced as of yet.

George Hackenschmidt came to ringside and announced that he would accept Jim Cornette’s challenge, and that he would have a tag partner by the end of the card – he hoped.

The Fabulous Kangaroos (w/ Wild Red Berry) d. the Ebony Express when S.D. Jones succumbed to Roy Heffernan’s STEP OVER TOEHOLD. The Kangaroos finally got revenge on the Express in their rivalry.

BCW world tag-team champs Giant Baba and Rikidozan d. the Valiants (w/ Bobby Heenan, Larry Zbyszko) in a nontitle match when Giant Baba pinned Johnny Valiant after a boot to the face. The pin happened so quickly, Heenan and Zbyszko couldn’t react in time to interfere.

Danny Hodge came to ringside carrying a title belt in his hands. He called it the “Hodge Championship Belt,” for those lighter-weight wrestlers who thought they were the best. He said it obviously belonged to him because “there was no one else in BCW worthy of competing for it.” Jushin Liger came out and pointed at the belt. Hodge then waved him into the ring.

Danny Hodge d. Jushin Liger using his OKLAHOMA SIDE ROLL. A great back-and-forth match, but Hodge remained triumphant. Afterward, Liger again hit the match in frustration, only to be nailed from behind by a belt-wielding Hodge.

World heavyweight champion Jimmy Snuka d. Koko B. Ware in a nontitle match. Ware was a surprisingly feisty opponent, more so because Larry Zbyszko was at ringside to distract Snuka. But the BCW champion eventually connected on a SUPERFLY LEAP to get the pin.

The Midnight Express came to the ring, and it appeared Bobby Eaton was getting a rare night off due to his tough go of it in the Texas Tornado match the previous card. Stan Lane and Dennis Condrey waited in the ring as their opponents were announced: George Hackenschmidt …. and Dr. Death Steve Williams. Jim Cornette threw a tantrum as Hackenschmidt’s choice was revealed.

The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton) d. George Hackenschmidt and Dr. Death Steve Williams by DQ when Hackenschmidt rammed Dennis Condrey into the metal steps and then dropped the steps on top of him, seriously injuring him. Williams had an early pin on Condrey following the OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE, only to have Cornette interfere with the ref. Eaton also was interfering throughout the match, but Condrey ended up paying the price when Hackenschmidt had had enough. Cornette was screaming at Hackenschmidt after the attack, while security kept the two sides separated.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FOUR, CARD NO. 7

Cocoa Expo Stadium

In the last card before Bithlo Bash, Commissioner Chad came out and said that with all the stuff going on, he had forgotten to decide on a contender for the U.S. title. The current titleholder, Don Leo Jonathan, came to ringside and said he didn’t want to defend the belt at Bithlo Bash; he wanted a shot at the world title via the Battle Bowl. Commissioner Chad pondered the thought for a moment, then agreed. He said Jonathan would have a nontitle match on this card, and at Battle Bowl, if Jonathan did not win it, then whoever eliminated him from the ring would get a shot at the U.S. title on the first card after Bithlo Bash. Jonathan agreed, then vowed to win the Battle Bowl.

The Armstrongs made a somewhat successful debut in BCW, defeating the Hennigs (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) by DQ when Larry Hennig nailed Brad Armstrong outside the ring even though Curt was the legal Hennig in the match. The ref called for the DQ as Bob Armstrong stood over Brad in protection.

Virgil d. Savage-T (w/ KJ Hill) after catching him with a piledriver. No sign of the Iron Sheik during the match.

Jim Cornette came out with the Midnight Express for the next match, but he was angry and called out Commissioner Chad. Cornette said George Hackenschmidt should be suspended for the attack that took Dennis Condrey out of BCW. The commissioner mulled what Cornette said, then agreed with him. But, he added, since Cornette baited Hackenschmidt into the match and subsequent attack, Cornette should also be suspended. Therefore, Commissioner Chad said, would Cornette like to start the suspension now, and have him and Hackenschmidt both miss Bithlo Bash, or have it start after Bithlo Bash, allowing Hackenschmidt to compete for a world title shot and Cornette to be in the corner of the Midnight Express for their title shot? Cornette reluctantly agreed to afterward, and Commissioner Chad says both will be suspended for three cards and put on probation after that.

S+S d. the Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette) by DQ when Cornette whacked George South in the head with his tennis racket outside the ring. While the Midnight Express and Cornette were still seething about Commissioner Chad’s ruling before the match, South jumped Bobby Eaton before the bell and caught him with a suplex. The surprised Eaton survived a pin attempt, then rolled out of the ring. When South followed, he caught Cornette’s wrath in racket form.

U.S. champion Don Leo Jonathan d. Jimmy Valiant (w/ Johnny Valiant, Bobby Heenan) by DQ in a nontitle match when Johnny Valiant hit Jonathan from behind while the champion and Jimmy Valiant were outside the ring. They then started putting the boots to Jonathan, only to vacate the scene when Timber the Insane Lumberjack showed up with his barbed wire ax handle. There was no sign of Jonathan’s supposed Justice for Us teammate, Danny Hodge.

Commissioner Chad came out and announced that Danny Hodge and Jushin Liger would square off at Bithlo Bash in a ladder match for the “Hodge Championship Belt.” The commissioner seemed amused by the unofficial belt. He also announced that there would be one “special” wrestler coming to BCW to take part in the Bithlo Bash. Finally, he said that BCW world heavyweight champ Jimmy Snuka and challenger Larry Zbyszko would have this card off to prepare for their best-of-three-falls title match at Bithlo Bash. At that, the Iron Sheik came to ringside and announced that if Snuka were any sort of champion, he would face the Iron Sheik in the ring at the end of the current card. He also called himself “the best BCW wrestler to never have held the BCW world title.” Snuka came out and said he wasn’t afraid of the Iron Sheik and would take the challenge.

The Terrible Turk d. Koko B. Ware (w/ Playboy Buddy Rose) by DQ when Rose clotheslined the Terrible Turk while the two wrestlers in the match were outside the ring. Rose appeared to be more than willing to defend his new partner, who took a beating from the Terrible Turk before getting out of the ring. The Terrible Turk looked to be prime for another strong Battle Bowl performance.

BCW world tag-team champions Giant Baba and Rikidozan d. Steve Corino and Buff Bagwell in a nontitle match when Baba, unhappy that Corino had slapped him in the face, tossed Corino out of the ring, and Corino landed hard enough that he was not able to answer the 10-count to get back into the ring.

Bobo Brazil d. S.D. Jones using his COCO BUTT. The turning point in the match came when Jones missed a jump off the turnbuckle, allowing Brazil to take control.

BCW world heavyweight champion Jimmy Snuka and the Iron Sheik wrestled to a double DQ due to a huge brawl outside the ring. The Iron Sheik whacked Snuka during the introductions, and it quickly became apparent that he was trying to hurt the world champ. Snuka fought back fiercely and nearly got the pin. Finally, both ended up outside the ring, using anything at their disposal to attack one another. Heenan Family members Larry Zbyszko and the Valiants raced to the ring to attack Snuka after the DQ, while Heenan was seen shaking the Iron Sheik’s hand. Finally, Timber and the Killer Bees came to ringside to run off the Heenan family. Snuka, however, appeared to be pretty battered ahead of his PPV match with Zbyszko.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FOUR, CARD NO. 8

YEAR FOUR, CARD NO. 8

Bithlo Bash PPV – Bithloplex

Commissioner Chad came out at the beginning of the card and said that since there would be 36 participants in what he called the over-the-top BBB (“Bithlo Battle Bowl”), he had decided there would be three rounds of 12 wrestlers each, with the top two in each round going to a final Battle Bowl. The three groups would be decided by a random draw. The fans were abuzz, knowing that certain alliances stood a good chance of being broken up under the new format, making it much more so a case of every man for himself.

First Battle Bowl (eliminated/by whom):

Al Costello (Iron Sheik) / Cousin Luke (Johnny Valiant) / Bobo Brazil (by Larry Sharpe, who snuck up on Brazil while he was trying to throw out George South. Brazil was furious afterward.) / Larry Sharpe, George South (Johnny Valiant) (S+S worked on Valiant for a long time, but when Sharpe tried to save South, they both went over the top.) / Bob Armstrong (Johnny Valiant) / Playboy Buddy Rose (Iron Sheik) (Rose missed Sheik and went over the top of the turnbuckle.) / Johnny Valiant (Curt Hennig) / Iron Sheik (Rick Rude) / Curt Hennig (Terrible Turk) /
Rick Rude and the Terrible Turk advanced to the finals.

Jushin Liger captured the HCB strap in a fantastic ladder match with Danny Hodge. Liger did a Shooting Star Press off the ladder onto Hodge to finish him before climbing the ladder to retrieve the belt. Both men were close to grabbing the belt earlier in the match, and both sustained much punishment before Liger finally knocked Hodge off the ladder and unleashed his finisher. Liger celebrated with Rikidozan and Giant Baba afterward.

Second Battle Bowl (eliminated/by whom):

Jim Brunzell (Diamond Dallas Page) / Koko B. Ware (Buff Bagwell) / Diamond Dallas Page (Killer Kowalski) / Savage-T (George Hackenschmidt) / Virgil (Roy Heffernan) / Jimmy Valiant ( Mad
Dog Vachon, following a long battle between the two) / Ivan Koloff (Buff Bagwell) (Koloff’s tag partner, Kowalski, missed Bagwell with his attack and knocked Koloff out of the ring) / Killer Kowalski (Buff Bagwell) / Mad Dog Vachon (George Hackenschmidt) (Vachon mistimed a leap and went over the turnbuckle) / Buff Bagwell (Roy Heffernan) (Hackenschmidt saved Bagwell the first time in a surprise move, but didn’t try the second time) /
George Hackenschmidt and Roy Heffernan advanced to the finals.

BCW world tag-team champions Giant Baba and Rikidozan (w/ Jushin Liger) ended up in a double DQ with the Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette) when Stan Lane and Rikidozan started a huge brawl outside the ring that got the rest of the parties involved. Officials had no choice but to end the match due to the hostilities between the two sides.

Third Battle Bowl (eliminated/by whom):
Harley Race turns out to be the surprise 36th entry.

Brad Armstrong (Steve Corino) (Armstrong misjudged a leap and ended up outside the ring) / Larry Hennig (Yukon Eric) (Butcher Vachon could not get there in time to save his teammate) / Butcher Vachon (Yukon Eric) / Timber (Don Leo Jonathan) (Timber’s recent aid to Jonathan goes by the wayside as the U.S. champ staves off the first contender for his U.S. title) / B. Brian Blair (Harley Race) / Steve Corino (Yukon Eric) / Don Leo Jonathan (Don Muraco) (Jonathan had rival Muraco on the ropes when Race intervened. Jonathan eventually got the advantage on Race, but before he could eliminate him, Muraco snuck up and tossed over Jonathan, who was furious upon hitting the floor. Muraco secured another title shot against the man who took the belt from him.) / Harley Race (Yukon Eric) (Muraco does not return the favor by helping Race) / Don Muraco (Dr. Death Steve Williams) / S.D. Jones (Yukon Eric) (Jones put up a great fight before going over the top.)
Yukon Eric and Dr. Death Steve Williams advanced to the finals.

Jimmy Snuka retained his BCW world heavyweight title when he defeated Larry Zbyszko (w/ Bobby Heenan, Don Muraco) via countout in a best-of-three-falls match. In the first fall, Zbyszko dominated early, with Snuka especially on the defensive once Zbyszko (with Heenan’s help) got the cover off the turnbuckle. Zbyszko bloodied Snuka pretty well, and Muraco took a free shot or two when Snuka ended up outside the ring. Timber came to ringside to even the odds, but he ended up causing a DQ on the first fall when he hit Zbyszko from behind when the “Living Legend” was about to bloody Snuka some more outside the ring.

Snuka was in trouble as the second fall began. The ref sent Muraco and Timber to the back, with them fighting up the runway before they departed. Zbyszko slammed Snuka’s head into the turnbuckle some more, then set him up in the corner, but as he rushed the champion, Snuka ducked out, and Zbyszko went over the top and landed hard on the floor. Snuka went out and with this last bit of strength, gave Zbyszko a piledriver on the floor, much to Heenan’s horror. An injured Zbyszko was counted out after Snuka barely made the count to get back into the ring. Fans were shocked by the bloodfest and the abrupt end to the match.

Final Battle Bowl (eliminated/by whom):
Final contestants: Rick Rude, Terrible Turk, George Hackenschmidt, Roy Heffernan, Yukon Eric, Dr. Death Steve Williams

Dr. Death (Roy Heffernan after a Kangaroo Kick) / Yukon Eric (Rick Rude after Rude hit his RUDE AWAKENING) / Terrible Turk (Roy Heffernan – snuck up and eliminated him as the Terrible Turk was trying to throw out a battered George Hackenschmidt) / George Hackenschmidt (Roy Heffernan)

Down to Rude and Heffernan

Rick Rude won the Bithlo Battle Bowl when he caught Roy Heffernan, who had dominated their clash, with a slingshot off the turnbuckle, followed by a RUDE AWAKENING, then tossed Heffernan over the top. Rude was congratulated by Ida Mae Martinez as he shouted “How do you like me now, Heenan?”

[Spider Kid]

Cool you have Don Leo Jonathan as your U.S champ. I like that as well as your whole card.