Bithlo Championship Wrestling

[hotfuzz1980]

Awesome show! I like seeing Johnny Valentine as champion. He's a guy I've tried to get behind before, and push him towards a world title, but hasn't quite gotten there yet for me. But I looking forward to see what RVD can do against him with the title on the line! Good stuff with Harley Race too.

[Crimson Cross]

Dec 29, 2011 16:18:27 GMT -5 hotfuzz1980 said:

Awesome show! I like seeing Johnny Valentine as champion. He's a guy I've tried to get behind before, and push him towards a world title, but hasn't quite gotten there yet for me. But I looking forward to see what RVD can do against him with the title on the line! Good stuff with Harley Race too.

I agree with Hotfuzz on seeing Johnny Valentine as your Champion and his upcoming bout with RVD with the Belt on the line should be intense. I liked your Wargames and the AWA winning it all makes it interesting for BCW and will we see more AWA vs. BCW future fed wars? The Danny Hodge story-arc from Card #23 dealing with Stevens & Bagwell to Card #25 where he snaps on Delirious and not winning the Gold was really cool stuff. Brad Armstrong winning over Mike Quackenbush to remain with BCW is really good stuff, Great Action my friend...

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FIVE, CARD NO. 26 (Part One)

Tampa Armory (Tampa Tournament)

Commissioner Chad came out to give an outline of the 32-man Tampa Tournament. He said there were two wrestlers each from the AWA and FSW taking part, plus one “outsider” (Bryan Danielson). The seedings had been set in each of the four brackets, so the tournament was ready to begin. He also noted that the Rob Van Dam/Johnny Valentine BCW world heavyweight title match would take place before the final match of the tournament.

BRACKET A FIRST ROUND (bracket seed in parentheses):

(1) BCW U.S. heavyweight champion George Hackenschmidt (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. (8) Geeto Mongol (w/ Nikita Breznikov) with a pin following his wristlock suplex. Geeto attacked Hackenschmidt before the bell rang, putting more doubt into any future Mongol-Albano alliance, but the U.S. champ eventually rallied to advance.

(4) Pepper Gomez d. (5) King Kong Bundy after a long bout when he connected on a modified MEXICAN CRADLE to get the pin.

(3) Yukon Eric d. (6) Timber (from the AWA) when the former member of BCW submitted to the KODIAK KRUNCH.

(2) Curt Hennig d. (7) Mad Dog Vachon when he caught Vachon with a cross-body block off the turnbuckle at the end of a long, brutal match between two longtime rivals.

BRACKET B FIRST ROUND (bracket seeds in parentheses):

(1) Delirious (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. (8) Danny Hodge using his CHEMICAL IMBALANCE # 2. The two rivals went at it ferociously, with Hodge having momentum until he landed outside the ring hard after going over the top of the turnbuckle. That swung the match in the favor of Delirious. Hodge pounded the mat in frustration afterward.

(5) Kip James d. (4) Bryan Danielson (independent wrestler) using his STANDING LEG DROP. Danielson had the match under control, but an ill-advised move to throw James outside the ring backfired when James, still dealing with the effects of the attack by the Biggest Show on Earth at the last card, used the break to catch his breath, attack Danielson and gain the momentum needed to win.

(3) Ray Stevens d. (6) Chuck Taylor (from FSW) using his BOMBS AWAY knee drop. Stevens was frustrated, as the agile Taylor kept him off-balance for most of the match.

(2) Giant Baba and (7) Bruiser Brody wrestled to a double DQ when both men ended up battling outside the ring after a long match with only one pin attempt but a lot of physicality. As a result of the DQ, Ray Stevens advanced to the bracket final.

BRACKET C FIRST ROUND (bracket seeds in parentheses):

(1) Jimmy Snuka d. (8) “Bloody” Harker Dirge (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink), pinning him after a flying headbutt.

(5) Bobo Brazil d. (4) Rick Rude in a long, great matchup when Rude was felled by the COCO BUTT. Rude’s recent injury-fueled slump continued, although he performed well during the match.

(3) Ivan Koloff (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. Ted DiBiase (from the AWA) when DiBiase succumbed to the RUSSIAN BEARHUG. DiBiase put up a good fight despite being on defense much of the time.

(2) Buddy Rogers d. (7) B.G. James by DQ when James slammed Rogers to the concrete floor outside the ring. James still seemed bothered by the splash he took from King Kong Bundy at the last card.

BRACKET D FIRST ROUND (bracket seeds in parentheses):

(1) Harley Race d. (8) Brad Armstrong using his PILEDRIVER. The angry Race was ruthlessly efficient in dispatching Armstrong.

In a wild match, (5) Diamond Dallas Page d. (4) Necro Butcher (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink) by countout when he gave Butcher a DIAMOND CUTTER on the floor outside the ring. Page had a hard time disposing of Butcher, but his break came with Butcher outside the ring and Humperdink distracting the ref, apparently figuring the brawling Butcher would get the advantage. Instead, it was Page who issued the “bang!”

(3) Buff Bagwell d. (6) Tyler Black (of FSW) when he pinned Black after a scoop slam.

(2) Mil Mascaras (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. (7) Bepo Mongol (w/ Nikita Breznikov) when he connected on a CROSSBODY ATTACK. The match was a long one, and although Breznikov interfered on behalf of Bepo Mongol, Albano looked mostly disinterested and did not aid “his” wrestler.


OK, sports fans, it's interactive time! You can make your picks for the semifinal round of the brackets. I'll post the results in a couple of days. The matches are:

(1) Hackenschmidt vs. (4) Gomez
(2) Hennig vs. (3) Yukon Eric

(1) Delirious vs. (5) Kip James

(1) Snuka vs. (5) Brazil
(2) Rogers vs. (3) Koloff

(1) Race vs. (5) Page
(2) Mascaras vs. (3) Bagwell

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FIVE, CARD NO. 26 (Part Two)

BRACKET A SEMIFINALS

(1) U.S. champion George Hackenschmidt (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. Pepper Gomez via his RUSSIAN BEAR HUG in a great match that saw Albano’s interference be the only thing keeping Hackenschmidt from getting pinned in five different attempts. Hackenschmidt was finally able to get the advantage on Gomez after Albano tripped Gomez coming off the ropes.

(2) Curt Hennig d. (3) Yukon Eric using the axe. Hennig started slow but got the job done to get a rematch with the U.S. heavyweight champion, who won their matchup on Card No. 16.

BRACKET B SEMIFINALS

(1) Delirious (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Kip James (w/ B.G. James) via his panic attack. James attacked Delirious before the bell and tried to get B.G. James involved where he could, but Delirious ended up continuing his winning ways.

(3) Ray Stevens advanced via a bye.

BRACKET C SEMIFINALS

In a battle of two of the original members of BCW, (5) Bobo Brazil d. (1) Jimmy Snuka by DQ when the two were fighting outside the ring and Snuka accidentally ran Brazil into a steel post, in part because Brazil slipped on the mats. Afterward, Snuka helped Brazil up and the two shook hands.

(3) Ivan Koloff (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. (2) Buddy Rogers when Rogers submitted to the RUSSIAN BEAR HUG. Koloff was a house afire early, and combined with a helpful trip of Rogers by Albano, recorded a quick finish. Rogers glared at Albano afterward.

BRACKET D SEMIFINALS

(1) Harley Race d. (5) Diamond Dallas Page when Page submitted to the Indian deathlock. Race look determined to finish matters as soon as he could – and he did.

(2) Mil Mascaras (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. Buff Bagwell using his FLYING BODY PRESS. Once again, Albano did nothing to help, but Mascaras kept Bagwell on defense through most of the match. Albano has three of the final eight wrestlers remaining in the tournament.

BRACKET FINALS:

(1) Hackenschmidt vs. (2) Hennig

(1) Delirious vs. (3) Stevens

(5) Brazil vs. (3) Koloff

(1) Race vs. (2) Mascaras

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FIVE, CARD NO. 26 (Final part)

BRACKET A FINAL

(2) Curt Hennig d. U.S. heavyweight champion George Hackenschmidt (w/ Commander Lou Albano) in a nontitle tournament match when he chucked Albano off the ring apron, then pinned Hackenschmidt. The match was long and brutal, but Hennig ended up beating his second Albano-led wrestler of the tournament. Afterward, he made the sign of a title belt to Hackenschmidt, who shook his head in a negative manner.

BRACKET B FINAL

(3) Ray Stevens (w/ Buff Bagwell d. (1) Delirious (w/ Sir Oliver Humperink) using a double underhook suplex at the end of a long, long match that severely tested both men. The momentum swung back and forth, with six pin attempts before the finish. The saving grace for Stevens may have been the fact he did not have to wrestle in the previous round.

BRACKET C FINAL

(3) Ivan Koloff d. (5) Bobo Brazil by DQ when Commander Lou Albano got in a cheap shot outside the ring on Brazil, unseen by the referee, and Brazil retaliated, most definitely seen by the referee. Albano appeared desperate to get at least one of his wrestlers into the Final Four, prompting the move. However, he paid the price when Brazil, who was mostly in control of the match, decked him outside the ring with a big hammer punch.

BRACKET D FINAL

(2) Mil Mascaras (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. (1) Harley Race by DQ when Race attacked Mascaras outside the ring with a chair. The most bizarre part came when Albano tried to distract the ref – to the benefit of Race! Despite the lack of a true manager, Mascaras managed to move on, meaning two of Albano’s wrestlers will face off in the semifinals. Race was furious afterward at the loss of a title shot, in part because he apparently thought that he and Albano had an understanding, and had to be restrained by officials from attacking the referee and/or Albano. Albano appealed to the commissioner after the match to alter the brackets so his wrestlers wouldn’t have to face each other in the next round, but Commissioner Chad just seemed amused by Mascaras being one of Albano’s wrestlers.

SEMIFINALS

Curt Hennig d. Ray Stevens (w/ Buff Bagwell) via his HENNIG PLEX to reach the finals of the Tampa Tournament. Hennig had momentum early, but was attacked by Bagwell and nearly pinned. He later rallied, and after Stevens missed a jump off the top of the turnbuckle and looked hurt, Hennig used his finisher to get the victory.

Mil Mascaras d. Ivan Koloff (w/ Commander Lou Albano) in a long, brutal match during which Albano interfered repeatedly for Koloff despite “managing” both men. Mascaras persevered and reached the finals despite a number of times of Koloff leaving the ring to break momentum or bait Mascaras to fight outside.

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH

Rob Van Dam d. BCW world heavyweight champion Johnny Valentine by DQ, so Valentine retained the belt. In fact, the belt played a key role, as Valentine used it to smack into Van Dam’s head when he dove off the turnbuckle. Valentine apparently needed the help, as he barely managed to kick out of two pin attempts and had a hard time keeping up with the speedier Van Dam, possibly due to his knee injury at Card No. 25. The crowd booed Valentine afterward for his “escape.”

TOURNAMENT FINAL

Mil Mascaras (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. Curt Hennig in a long, solid match to secure a shot at the BCW world heavyweight title in two cards. The two men exchanged a number of holds and techniques, and each one had at least one pin attempt on the other, but Mascaras slowly took control and got the pin after his CROSSBODY ATTACK. During the match, Albano appeared conflicted as to whether he should interfere or not. After the match, Mascaras shook Hennig’s hand, then pushed Albano away and headed to the back.

[Crimson Cross]

The BCW continues to have Dynamic & Fun action and I liked how Hackenschmidt won over Geeto Mongol in his first match of the Bracket Tournament. Wow! Delirious over Danny Hodge is a Huge victory and it's always fun seeing Delirious win. Mil Mascaras over Curt Hennig in the Finals is really Cool and I loved how RVD won the match, but Valentine escapes with belt now to face Mil, Great Stuff...

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FIVE, CARD NO. 27

Bithoplex

The Oilmen d. Mad Dog Vachon and Ivan Koloff (w/ Commander Lou Albano) by DQ when Koloff attacked Hodge outside the ring with his chain even though Koloff was not the legal man. The Oilmen had Koloff and Vachon on their heels throughout, and Koloff’s actions showed frustration at a time when tag teams are competing with one another for a title shot at Wrestlethon, especially with the Road Warriors out of the picture as long as the Fabulous Kangaroos hold the belts.

Curt Hennig came out and said that he had a tough match with Mil Mascaras in the finals of the Tampa Tournament, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a top-flight contender, and that meant he should have another round with George Hackenschmidt for the U.S. title. Out came sometime-tag-partner Rick Rude, who said he also had on his mind a rematch with Hackenschmidt – on the next card. That brought out Commissioner Chad, who said there was no reason both men couldn’t be accommodated – Hennig vs. Hackenschmidt for this card, and the winner versus Rude for Card No. 28. Hackenschmidt’s manager, Commander Lou Albano, came out and threw a fit, to no avail. After all, the commissioner pointed out with a smile, he knew “Hack is a fighting champion!”

Buddy Rogers d. Pepper Gomez in a great match that featured eight pin attempts before Gomez finally succumbed to the FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE. On his way to the ring, Rogers looked at departing Commissioner Chad and made the sign of a title belt, indicating that the five-time former champion should be part of any conversation related to the U.S. belt. When Gomez came out, he made a similar motion, which made Rogers angry. Their resulting clash ended up being an epic one.

“Wild” Red Berry came out and said he didn't risk his world champion superstars at the Tampa Tournament, but they were chomping at the bit for some challenging ring action with the tag belts on the line, so they were going to get it – right now! Out came S+S, and the crowd groaned.

The BCW world tag-team champion Fabulous Kangaroos (w/ “Wild” Red Berry) d. S+S when Al Costello pinned Larry Sharpe following a trip by Berry to salvage a dangerous match. Things got wild when the Road Warriors came to ringside to watch and interfered at a key moment, allowing Sharpe to get a pin attempt on Costello. The rest of the match, the Kangaroos fought to regain control while keeping a wary eye on the Road Warriors. Afterward, Berry kept taunting the Legion of Doom, saying, “You’ll never get the belts back. Never!”

Harley Race came out and took the microphone. He said that he and a fellow BCW original, Jimmy Snuka, two former BCW world heavyweight champions, should be disgusted with themselves that they did not get the title shot at the Tampa Tournament. Race said he was even more disgusted that he got distracted at Card No. 25 at the Eddie Graham Sports Stadium and lost a match to Snuka. So, he wanted to get that disgusting taste out of his mouth by facing Snuka, right now. Snuka came out from the back and nodded his head “yes.”

Harley Race d. Jimmy Snuka by DQ when Snuka bashed Race with a chair outside the ring. The two ex-champions had a long, fierce match that included interference from King Kong Bundy and Bruiser Brody when they came to ringside in support of Race. The end saw Snuka hit Race with a chair, only to be ganged up on by Bundy and Brody, who ended up injuring Snuka.

The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering) d. Ray Stevens and Buff Bagwell when Stevens’ attempt at interference backfired. He tried to nail Animal with a clothesline from behind, but instead Animal ducked and Stevens hit Bagwell. Animal then tossed Stevens out of the ring and the Road Warriors finished off Bagwell with a DOOMSDAY DEVICE. Afterward, when Bagwell came to, he was glaring at Stevens.

U.S. heavyweight champion George Hackenschmidt (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. Curt Hennig to retain his title when Hennig submitted to the RUSSIAN BEAR HUG. Albano’s interference broke up an earlier attempt by Hennig to win using the HENNIG PLEX, then he distracted the ref while Hackenschmidt ran Hennig into a pole outside the ring, making Hennig a sitting duck for Hackenschmidt’s finisher back inside the ring. Afterward, Albano took the microphone to announce that “As usual, ‘Mr. Perfect’ can’t win the big one!”

As Hennig finally headed to the back, he was passed by his sometime-tag partner, Rick Rude. The two did not acknowledge each other. Instead, Rude got into the ring and grabbed a mike, then announced, “Well, since I have Hackenschmidt on the next card, I’m gonna need a warm-up march. Seems the world champ, Johnny Valentine, is in the same boat, so how about it, champ? A nontitle hookup?” Valentine came out from the back and shook his head “no,” but was overruled by Commissioner Chad, who said it would make a great end to the card, following the upcoming “grudge match.”

The Biggest Show on Earth d. the New Age Outlaws by DQ when B.G. James, to save his tag partner Kip from a King Kong Bundy AVALANCHE, nailed Bundy in the back with a chair. He then drove the chair into Bundy’s knee twice, injuring him, while Kip James recovered enough to duke it out with Bruiser Brody before the New Age Outlaws fled from ringside.

Rick Rude (w/ Ida Mae Martinez) d. BCW world heavyweight champion Johnny Valentine by DQ in a nontitle match when Rude was attacked outside the ring by U.S. heavyweight champion George Hackenschmidt at the end of a competitive bout that saw a total of six pin attempts between the two men. Valentine ignored the attacking Hackenschmidt and simply left the ring, passing by officials running to separate Rude and Hackenschmidt.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FIVE, CARD NO. 28

Bayfront Center – St. Petersburg

Don Leo Jonathan, in his return from injury, d. Larry Sharpe using a giant swing. Afterward, Commissioner Chad came out and challenged Jonathan. He said he had noticed that Jonathan had some trouble in dispatching Sharpe, and that he had been “punked” by Buff Bagwell and Ray Stevens. All this from a former BCW world heavyweight champion? he asked. Where had the “real” Don Leo Jonathan gone? Or had the real Don Leo Jonathan already gone? The wrestler hung his head as Commissioner Chad left the ring.

The New Age Outlaws d. Ray Stevens and Buff Bagwell by DQ when Bruiser Brody came flying to the ring to extract revenge upon the NAO for injuring King Kong Bundy. The Outlaws fled the scene before the chain-wielding Brody could get to them. During the match, mostly controlled by the NAO, Stevens never tagged in Bagwell, continuing to cast doubt on their future as a tag team.

Curt Hennig d. Johnny Rodz using his HENNIG PLEX. Afterward, Hennig retrieved the towel he wore around his neck coming to ringside and threw it at Rodz, then commenced to kicking him while yelling that he was “still a contender.”

U.S. heavyweight champion George Hackenschmidt (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. Rick Rude (w/ Ida Mae) by DQ when Don Leo Jonathan bolted to the ring and ran the champ into a post at ringside while he was outside the ring. As an angry Rude watched his title shot go up in smoke, Jonathan yelled at a woozy Hackenschmidt, “That belt will be coming back to me.”

Sir Oliver Humperdink came out and said that Bobo Brazil had fared pretty well against Harker Dirge, but he had a new challenge for BCW’s icon: and that challenge was Necro Butcher! Down to ringside, to the fans’ cheers, came the icon, Bobo Brazil.

Bobo Brazil d. Necro Butcher (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink) by countout when Brazil gave Butcher a Bobo body slam outside the ring on the concrete floor. Brazil’s actions came after Butcher gouged him with a sharp object earlier in the match when they were both outside the ring. The match was a violent, bloody one, and it got worse afterward, when Humperdink hit Brazil with some sort of shock stick, and Butcher’s teammates, Delirious and Harker Dirge, came to ringside to help attack Brazil, injuring him before officials could restore order.

The Fabulous Kangaroos (w/ “Wild” Red Berry) retained their BCW tag-team titles by defeating Delirious and “Bloody” Harker Dirge (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink) via countout when Dirge was taken out by a boomerang wielded by Al Costello outside the ring. The move smacked of desperation by the Kangaroos, as Delirious already had one pin attempt on Roy Heffernan earlier in the match, and Humperdink’s charges seemed to be controlling the action until Dirge got outside the ring and paid the price.

Giant Baba, Yukon Eric and Danny Hodge came out. Eric got the microphone and challenged Commander Lou Albano’s Foreign Legion to an eight-man tag match to settle their differences. Albano came out, flanked by Ivan Koloff and Mad Dog Vachon, and said there could be no eight-man tag this card as George Hackenschmidt and Mil Mascaras were otherwise occupied. Then Nikita Breznikov came out with the Mongols and said they’d be happy to team with the Foreign Legion, much to Albano’s surprise/dismay. But Albano recovered enough to say, “We still can’t, because you are one guy short.” “Oh,” countered Yukon Eric, “speaking of short guys, I almost forgot to mention the return of Jushin Liger.” The crowd went wild, and the match was on.

The team of Giant Baba, Jushin Liger, Yukon Eric and Danny Hodge d. the team of Ivan Koloff, Mad Dog Vachon and the Mongols (w/ Commander Lou Albano, Nikita Breznikov) when Giant Baba unleashed a NECKBREAKER DROP on Koloff to get the pin. Part of the problem for the losing team was the managers, who spent as much time bickering with each other as they did guiding their wrestlers. Apparently, there were too many cooks in that wrestling kitchen.

Mil Mascaras (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. BCW world heavyweight champion Johnny Valentine by countout in a title match, meaning Valentine retained the belt. The match saw each wrestler get a pin attempt on the other, with Valentine dominating the first part of the match until it moved into a back-and-forth contest. The end came when Valentine slipped to the outside of the ring and, while the referee was distracted by a yelling Albano, he took a big kick in the head from Rob Van Dam, knocking him out. Even Albano appeared to not know what had happened. Meanwhile, Valentine once again lost but kept the belt.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FIVE, CARD NO. 29

Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium

Commissioner Chad came out and said it would be an eventful card, with two tag-team matches to help decide the No. 1 contender to face the champion Fabulous Kangaroos at Wrestlethon – and the tag matches would feature some “new blood”! Also, he said Don Leo Jonathan and Rick Rude would have warm-up partners this card before their No. 1 contender’s match for the U.S. title at the next card. He then said “Let the show begin” without touching on any possible world title match for Wrestlethon.

Rick Rude came to ringside with Ida Mae. He said he had personally picked his opponent for this match, one who most exemplified the skills Don Leo Jonathan possessed. Then out came George South, and the crowd booed Rude’s obvious attempt for an easy victory.

Rick Rude (w/ Ida Mae) won by countout vs. George South when, unseen by the referee due to Ida Mae’s interference, Don Leo Jonathan came out and clubbed South while he was outside the ring. The crowd could hear Jonathan saying, “No offense, South, but Rude is messing with the wrong man.” It ended an unexpectedly difficult match for Rude, as South gave better than he got and had Rude on the defensive most of the time.

The Mongols (w/ Nikita Breznikov) d. the New Age Outlaws by DQ when both teams ended up outside the ring and Kip James grabbed the Mongols’ chains and belted Geeto Mongol. The match had all sorts of chaos, as Commander Lou Albano sought to “help” Breznikov, who didn’t seem to appreciate it, and the two spent most of the latter part of the match arguing. Afterward, once the ref called for the DQ, Bruiser Brody ran to ringside and the New Age Outlaws fled the scene.

Bruiser Brody d. Curt Hennig via DQ when the New Age Outlaws snuck back to ringside and attacked Brody while he and Hennig were outside the ring. When Brody started to fight back and went for chains he had at ringside, the New Age Outlaws fled again, and Hennig simply left on his own. The match between Brody and Hennig had been a good one before the interference.

The Oilmen d. the Road Warriors (w/ Paul Ellering) by DQ when “Wild” Red Berry made an appearance outside the ring and Animal when to attack him, only to see the taunting Berry duck out of the way at the last minute and Animal plow over Danny Hodge instead. The match had been a surprisingly good one to that point, with Hodge giving Animal all sorts of fits while using amateur moves. The manager of the Fabulous Kangaroos escaped through the crowd before Hawk and Ellering could catch him. Animal helped a wobbly Hodge back to his feet afterward.

Bill Apter’s “Hot Seat” featured him interviewing Buff Bagwell and Ray Stevens, with Apter sitting between them. Apter asked why they were feuding, and Bagwell said it was because he was tired of “carrying Stevens all the time.” Stevens exploded at that, and the two men went face to face as Apter tried to gently separate them. Bagwell apologized, then grabbed his chair and whacked Stevens across the head. As Stevens lay across the floor, out cold and bloody, Bagwell laughed at him, then said, “Thanks, Bill. Great interview!”

In a tag-team qualifying match for the No. 1 contender’s spot, the new combo of Page and Pepper d. “Bloody” Harker Dirge and Delirious (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink) when Dirge fell victim to Diamond Dallas Page’s DIAMOND CUTTER. Dirge found frustration early when his abdominal stretch and sweep move was thwarted by the iron stomach of Pepper Gomez, then later he fell victim to the “Bang!” DDP and Gomez moved to the final round of qualifying.

U.S. heavyweight champion George Hackenschmidt (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. Brad Armstrong in a nontitle match when he pinned him after a single-leg pickup and slam. Outside the ring had about as much action, as Nikita Breznikov came down with the Mongols to “assist” Albano, who had little stomach for Breznikov’s “advice.” Meanwhile, in the ring, Armstrong had an early advantage, but eventually was worn down by the U.S. champ.

Jushin Liger and Giant Baba d. Ivan Koloff and Mad Dog Vachon (w/ Commander Lou Albano) in a tag-team qualifying match when Baba connected on his NECKBREAKER DROP against Koloff. The two teams went at it hard, and Koloff nearly pinned Liger earlier in the match. But Liger’s eventual tag to Baba not only saved the match, but ultimately swung the momentum back to Liger and Baba. They will face Page and Pepper at the next card for a shot at the world tag-team champion Fabulous Kangaroos at Wrestlethon.

BCW world heavyweight champion Johnny Valentine d. Don Leo Jonathan in a nontitle match using the ATOMIC SKULLCRUSHER. Jonathan survived three earlier pin attempts by Valentine, who looked to be back in top form. However, when Rick Rude made an appearance at ringside, it provided just enough of a distraction for Valentine to use his finisher on Jonathan.

[The Creek Rises]

YEAR FIVE, CARD NO. 30

Orange County Convention Center

Curt Hennig d. Mad Dog Vachon (w/ Commander Lou Albano) using the HENNIG PLEX. Hennig showed a new ferocity in getting the victory against his longtime rival, kicking Albano off the apron after an earlier attempt at interference, then dropping elbows on Vachon after the pin, injuring him. He fled the ring before any other members of the Foreign Legion could arrive to attack him.

The Road Warriors (w/ Paul Ellering) d. the Mongols (w/ Nikita Breznikov) by DQ when Commander Lou Albano came out of nowhere and interfered long enough to bash Hawk with a chair outside the ring while he was chasing Geeto Mongol. Albano yelled, “This is how you deal with things, Nikita!” before fleeing the ring as the Warriors scrummed with the Mongols in an effort to attack him. It took officials a while to restore order, and Hawk and Animal were pointing at the Mongols and Breznikov.

Harley Race came to ringside and said he heard rumors of a triple threat match for the BCW world heavyweight championship at Wrestlethon – and he wanted to make sure he’d be a part of it, because he should be. That brought out Commissioner Chad, who shook his head “no,” then said: “Mr. Race, your bad behavior this year, interfering in matches after you lost the title, well, I warned you it would cost you, and it has. No title shot for you this year at Wrestlethon.” As Race fumed, the commissioner continued: “The triple-threat match will involve Johnny Valentine, Mil Mascaras and RVD. Besides, you already have a number of opponents who owe you something, and that includes Jimmy Snuka, your opponent at Wrestlethon. But that’s if you make it there. Because the list of those who want revenge also includes a former teammate of yours – and Buddy Rogers wants a piece of you tonight!”

Buddy Rogers d. Harley Race by DQ when Race piledrove Rogers outside on the concrete floor with the help of Bruiser Brody. The match was a great one – back and forth, with only one pin attempt – until the two wrestlers ended up outside the ring. Race leveled Rogers with a nasty swinging neckbreaker, then, while Brody helped hold him up, gave him a devastating piledriver, seriously injuring Rogers. Afterward, Race was heard to say, “Take that, commissioner!”

U.S. heavyweight champion George Hackenschmidt (w/ Commander Lou Albano) d. Delirious (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink) by DQ in a nontitle match when a hooded figure jumped out of the ringside seats to attack Hackenschmidt. The match started with Albano sending Nikita Breznikov to the back, saying he “didn’t need his ‘help.’” Instead, Breznikov waited near the entrance with the Mongols watching his back (due to the earlier run-in with the Road Warriors). When the attack on Hackenschmidt occurred (at the end of what had been a pretty even match), Albano waved to the back for help, but Breznikov and the Mongols just stood there, declining the invitation as Albano fumed. The attacker ran off with Delirious to another back entrance.

Hackenschmidt, although woozy, remained at ringside for the No. 1 contender’s match for the U.S. title.

Rick Rude (w/ Ida Mae) d. Don Leo Jonathan by DQ when Hackenschmidt interfered in the match to deck Rude. Jonathan and Rude had gone back and forth in a highly competitive match, but all bets were off when they got outside the ring. That’s when Hackenschmidt, apparently viewing Jonathan as the bigger threat to his belt, took action. Afterward, Jonathan chased Hackenschmidt away from ringside.

The Oilmen d. BCW world tag-team champion Fabulous Kangaroos (w/ “Wild” Red Berry) in a nontitle match when Al Costello clocked Yukon Eric in the head with a boomerang. Costello made the move because Yukon Eric was getting the best of Roy Heffernan in the ring and had a pin attempt against him.

Giant Baba and Jushin Liger became the No. 1 tag-team contenders by d. Pepper and Page in a great match when Baba pinned Diamond Dallas Page after a cross-body block off the turnbuckle. Page and Pepper Gomez controlled the first part of the match by keeping Liger in the ring and beating on him, but he was finally able to make the tag to Baba, who eventually got the pin on Page. They will face the Fabulous Kangaroos at Wrestlethon. All four men shook hands afterward in a display of sportsmanship between the two teams.

BCW world heavyweight champion Johnny Valentine d. Buff Bagwell by DQ in a nontitle match when Valentine was clubbed by a frustrated Harley Race outside the ring. The move might have saved Valentine, because Bagwell dominated much of the match against the seemingly distracted world champion. Officials quickly got Race out of the area, with Commissioner Chad yelling, “Your time is coming, Harley … and so is Snuka!”