Showdown: Legends of Wrestling

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This fed is inspired by the old Showdown: Legends of Wrestling game by Acclaim, which I spent considerable time playing and trying to love before putting it on the shelf to collect dust.  I still come across it in a box on occasion and enjoy looking at it and thinking of the possibilities.  The Legends card game gives me that same sense of nostalgia without the limitations and junky gameplay. 

Hacksaw Duggan fought Nikolai Volkoff to a time limit DRAW in a match that started on a high note with Duggan interrupting Volkoff’s singing of the Russian national anthem to a huge ovation from the capacity crowd, beginning a grueling match between the two brawlers that climaxed with an ill-fated interference from the Iron Sheik that saw Duggan clearing the ring of both foreign subversives. The match continued with the momentum swinging back and forth until time expired. Even after the match, officials struggled to separate Duggan and Volkoff.

Road Warriors beat The Valiant Brothers when Hawk pinned Jimmy after a DOOMSDAY DEVICE. Hawk and Animal demonstrated their physical superiority over the Valiants early on, appearing indestructible and forcing the Valiants to get crafty to get the upper hand. Finally, with Animal in their corner, the Valiants employed double team tactics to subjegate the bigger man, but the strength of Animal proved too much. Animal plowed through Jimmy and tagged to Hawk, who nearly decapitated Jimmy with their dreaded finisher.

In a backstage interview, Hacksaw Jim Duggan vowed that he was planting the flag of the United States of America on Showdown, and that if Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik thought they were going to wave foreign flags and sing commie anthems because they had superior numbers, that he would build an army of his own. With that, Duggan challenged Volkoff and Sheik to a tag match at the next Showdown and promised to find a partner who bled red, white and blue!

Harley Race pinned Johnny Mantell after a PILEDRIVER in a surprisingly tough match where the iconic Race learned the error of taking Mantell lightly. Mantell showed himself a scrappy challenger who kept Race on the ropes, even if in the end his efforts came up short. After the match, Race decided to continue punishing Mantell, dropping a headbutt on the prone Texan from the second rope, but then Hacksaw Jim Duggan hit the ring and cleared it with his 2x4, helping the beaten Texan to his feet. It seemed that Duggan had found his partner!

Lou Thesz fought Buddy Rogers to NO CONTEST in the main event when a scientific match was interrupted by the spontaneous appearance of Bruiser Brody, who entered the ring and laid out both men at the behest of “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase. When Brody began to focus on Rogers, Thesz came to his rescue and the two men joined forces to clear the Bruiser from the ring! A wild night of action at the first Showdown saw a pair of old rivals standing side by side against a malicious pair of villains!

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SHOWDOWN 2: Here There Be Monsters

Hacksaw Duggan and Johnny Mantell beat Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik by count-out when Duggan’s brawling prowess got the better of the Sheik and he was not able to get back in the ring in time for the count. The match took several minutes to get warmed up to its wild climax, as Johnny Mantell struggled against both Volkoff and the Sheik, who sought to embarrass the young Texan who Duggan had selected to be his partner. Mantell would have the last laugh, standing with Duggan and getting his arm raised, though no doubt a bit of a hollow victory.

Bobo Brazil pinned George South after a Coco Butt in a squash match, after which he was interviewed at ringside by Gordon Solie. Brazil claimed he was just warming up for the toughest competition in the world… and no sooner did the words come out of his mouth than the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff arrived to angry jeers from the crowd, basically pushing Bobo right out of the way and yelling angry obscenities at Hacksaw Duggan! Solie interrupted to insist that he was trying to talk to Bobo, at which time the Shiek cracked his flagpole over Bobo’s back! Volkoff then began stomping away as Sheik spit and flexed, declaring Iran and Russia to be #1!

Backstage, Gene Okerlund announced that he’d spoken with Harley Race earlier in the week and that fans were about to see his intensely personal conversation with the 8-time World Heavyweight champion. Before the video aired, Gorgeous George and Cherie Dupre interrupted. George asked why anyone would want to look at a hairy, pot bellied old bear like Harley Race, who was supposedly “handsome” when they could behold Gorgeous George and Cherie Dupre. George looked right at the camera and claimed that tinseltown had come to Showdown, and that the stage was too small to share with bit players like Harley Race.  

Bruiser Brody w/ Ted DiBiase pinned Buddy Rogers in a hard fought contest between the classic wrestler and the wild brawler. Rogers kept Brody off balance with his grace and superior grappling skills early on, panicking DiBiase to the point of intervening in the match. Rogers inexplicably got the fans behind him by getting the better of both men and tossing DiBiase out of the ring. Yet, Brody’s ruggedness and overall intensity proved sufficient to get the better of Rogers, finishing him with two KING KONG KNEE DROPS.

Gordon Solie derided Ted DiBiase after the match for stuffing a $50 bill in Rogers’ mouth! DiBiase only laughed and said that Rogers was going to need it to buy himself a new pair of dentures, and that the time for musty old legends like the Nature Boy was past, because Showdown would be a stage for monsters, and Bruiser Brody was the winning bet to bring him all the gold!

[Swarm]

That was awesome.

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Thank you kindly.

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SHOWDOWN 3: The Cold War Heats Up

Road Warriors beat The Valiant Brothers when Animal pinned Johnny after the DOOMSDAY DEVICE. The Valiants did better in this outing against the Road Warriors than they did the first time, controlling the momentum of the match for the first several minutes before Hawk and Animal unleashed. During the match, Ted DiBiase came out into the aisle to get a closer look at both teams. He remained as Hawk and Animal headed toward the backstage area, stopping them to talk. Though the conversation was inaudible, DiBiase was waving a handful of cash at them. Without a word, Hawk and Animal pushed past DiBiase and walked backstage, but the Million Dollar Man appeared confident as he followed behind.

Backstage, Harley Race remarked on the comments of Gorgeous George in an interview with Gene Okerlund. Race said that he was not some rookie that was going to be psychologically disturbed by the mind games of a man like Gorgeous George, who may be called the greatest of his day, but is eight World Heavyweight championships behind himself. Race invited Gorgeous George to put his money where his big mouth is and step into the ring with the most decorated wrestler that has ever lived, not decorated with bobby pins and flashy robes, but with World championships.  

Bruiser Brody w/ Ted DiBiase pinned Jake Milliman with a KING KONG KNEE DROP. A pre-recorded interview was aired with Lou Thesz, where the legend expressed his disappointment that his match with Buddy Rogers on the first Showdown was ruined by Ted DiBiase and Bruiser Brody, then condemned DiBiase for his treatment of Rogers at the last Showdown, who despite being a rival called “an absolute legend in the sport”. Thesz challenged DiBiase to come out from behind his monster and earn some respect. Ted DiBiase was noticeably absent from Brody’s side until a bit later in the match, leaving one to suspicion if he’d been talking to the Road Warriors backstage that whole time.  

Bobo Brazil pinned The Iron Sheik after a COCO BUTT in under four minutes. Though it seemed that the odds were going to be stacked against Bobo with Nikolai Volkoff in his corner, Hacksaw Jim Duggan accompanied Bobo to the ring and stood in his corner to keep an eye on Volkoff. Sheik and Volkoff protested, but what could they do since Volkoff insisted on staying at ringside himself? After the match, Duggan celebrated with Bobo Brazil, but was attacked from behind by Nikolai Volkoff with his flag! Duggan went down and Bobo took a kick in the gut from Sheik’s loaded boot! The fans protested as Sheik and Volkoff viciously beat down Bobo and Duggan.

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SHOWDOWN 4: Nations At War

Lou Thesz pinned George South after a GRECO-ROMAN BACKDROP. Gordon Solie attempted to interview Thesz after the match, but jeers heralded the appearance of Ted DiBiase, who decided to confront Thesz over his remarks from the last Showdown. DiBiase claimed that he was giving Thesz his wish and meeting him face to face, one on one, but then without warning, Brody stepped out of the crowd and attacked Thesz from behind! DiBiase laughed as Brody beat down the former World Champion. Then, in an unexpected turn, Buddy Rogers rushed out and jumped Brody! DiBiase joined the fight, making it 2 on 1 against Rogers, until Thesz was able to get back into the fight! The crowd was alive with chants of “Rogers! Rogers!” as the Nature Boy and Lou Thesz fought off DiBiase and Brody!

Gorgeous George w/ Cherie Dupre beat Johnny Mantell with a SPINNING TOE HOLD in his debut. The scrappy Texan got in some pretty good blows, but George took it in stride and rebounded with relative ease to put the finishing touches on Mantell. After the match, George spoke with Gordon Solie to respond to Harley Race’s pointed comments on the last Showdown. George challenged Harley Race to step into the ring with him at the next Showdown, claiming that his eight championships were no more than stage props until he proved himself against the world’s most famous professional athlete.

Hacksaw Duggan & Bobo Brazil beat Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff with only seconds to spare when Bobo pinned Volkoff after a big hammer punch. This match was otherwise as even as it could get, with the momentum shifting back and forth and all four men having an opportunity to take out their aggressions on the other team. As Brazil’s hand was raised in victory, Duggan waved the American flag from the ring, infuriating Sheik and Volkoff, who were helpless to do anything but threaten retaliation from the floor.

Backstage, Gene Okerlund was standing at the dressing room door of Harley Race where he claimed he’d been summoned for a very important announcement. The door finally opened and Race stepped out wearing street clothes. Okerlund asked him for a response to the challenge of Gorgeous George from earlier, to which Race replied that he accepted the challenge without hesitation. In addition, Race said that he was not under any delusions and knew that Gorgeous George was baiting him because he thinks he’s too good to work his way to the top, but that he was happy to step forward and be the one to make sure that George Wagner stayed at the bottom.

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SHOWDOWN 5: The Toast of the Coast

Lou Thesz beat Ted DiBiase with a stepover toehold facelock, forcing a quick submission from the Million Dollar Man. The match was signed by the board of directors immediately following the last Showdown, where Bruiser Brody attacked Thesz from behind after challenging DiBiase to meet him face to face. Brody was in DiBiase’s corner this week as expected, but what was unexpected was Buddy Rogers standing in Thesz’ corner to keep the Bruiser at bay. After the match, Gordon Solie spoke with Rogers and Thesz, with Rogers stating that “Wrestling Classics” like himself and Lou Thesz would not be intimidated by fat cats who wear gaudy suits and hide behind wild animals.

Marty Jannetty pinned Jake Milliman in less than a minute following a DDT, dazzling the audience and the unprepared “Milkman” with a flurry of offense and then putting him away in short order. Gordon Solie asked Jannetty for his plans since arriving to compete at Showdown, to which Jannetty replied that as a tag team specialist, he was looking for the perfect partner for livin’ after midnight and rockin’ till the down!

Gene Okerlund was standing by backstage with Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Bobo Brazil, who were still feeling good about beating the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff on the last Showdown. Okerlund asked if there were any long term plans for the duo or if the two men planned to go their separate ways. Bobo said that Duggan could always count on him, no matter what. Duggan remarked that if tag team champions are ever crowned, there’s no tag team that could stand in their way, at which time a voice growled “Is that right?” and Hawk and Animal of the Road Warriors entered the scene and stood toe to toe with Duggan and Brazil, igniting an argument between the two teams.

Gorgeous George beat Harley Race by submission with a SPINNING TOE HOLD after softening race up with a vicious chair shot outside the ring, which George got away with thanks to Cherie Dupre’ distracting the referee. But it was clear that George was about much more than beating Harley Race, as he refused to release the hold even after the bell rang, not until officials filled the ring and physically pulled the Human Orchid away from Race. As Race cradled his damaged leg, Gordon Solie announced that the match had been signed for the next Showdown, pairing Lou Thesz and Buddy Rogers against Bruiser Brody and Ted DiBiase!

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SHOWDOWN 6: The Wrestling Classics

Road Warriors beat Hacksaw Duggan & Bobo Brazil in a crushing knock-down drag-out affair with a vicious POWERSLAM. While Duggan and Bobo didn’t come behind in power and determination, they lacked the cohesion of Hawk and Animal, who still had to pour out everything they had to take the two scrappers down. Bobo Brazil defied belief by kicking out of the DOOMSDAY DEVICE after a terrific beating, which appeared nothing less than supernatural. Though he and Duggan were not able to rally to victory, they won the respect of the Road Warriors and the wrestling fans.

Gorgeous George beat Marty Jannetty by submission to the SPINNING TOE HOLD, no doubt rubbing salt in the wounds of Harley Race, who watched from home after suffering an injury from the same move on the last Showdown. Gorgeous George mugged for the cameras as a pre-recorded interview aired with Harley Race admonishing Gorgeous George for not telling him from the beginning that he wanted to get ugly. Race promised that he could get very ugly if that’s what George wanted, and that George would soon discover what he meant.

Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka made his showdown debut and defeated George South with a SUPERFLY LEAP. The camera cut away during the match to Ted DiBiase knocking on the dressing room of the Road Warriors! Speculation continued to flow from multiple sightings of DiBiase approaching Hawk and Animal, though as yet no confirmation on what matters were being discussed.

The Wrestling Classics beat Ted DiBiase & Bruiser Brody when Brody was unable to escape from a double wristlock from Thesz, forcing the refere to stop the match and award it to Rogers and Thesz! The two rivals-turned-allies were wearing t-shirts printed with “The Wrestling Classics”, a name coined by Buddy Rogers at the last Showdown. Angry that his henchman was unable to contend with the superior grappling skills of the Classics, DiBiase walked out on Brody, abandoning the big man who’d been utterly dominant up to that point. As Brody stared crazy-eyed at DiBiase walking out on him, Gordon Solie announced a huge steel cage main event for the next showdown between Harley Race and Gorgeous George!

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SHOWDOWN 7: Orchid In a Cage

Ted DiBiase pinned Jake Milliman with a backbreaker, following a match that went on far too long with DiBiase using Milliman to take out his frustrations after the last Showdown’s main event debacle. Gordon Solie approached DiBiase for an interview after the match, at which time DiBiase asked Bruiser Brody to come out. Brody walked out, looking none too happy with DiBiase for abandoning him the week before, and DiBiase took out a wad of cash to bribe himself back into Brody’s graces. Brody accepted the cash, but just as DiBiase started laughing and said, “See Gordon Solie? Everybody’s got a price for the Million Dollar Man!”, Brody levelled DiBiase with a hard right hand! The crowd came alive as Brody tossed DiBiase into the ring and proceeded to dismantle him and leave him for dead, but still kept his money!

The Valiant Brothers beat The Wrestling Classics by pinfall when Jimmy Valiant got a surprising fall on Thesz after a knee lift. Rogers insisted to the referee that Thesz had a shoulder up, but the referee fired back that he had a better vantage point than Rogers. An instant replay showed that, indeed, Thesz appeared to have a shoulder up. The Valiant Brothers were ecstatic about their victory in a post-match interview with Gordon Solie, insisting that they’d beaten the best of the best and should be wearing a tag team gold. Solie reminded the fans that the Valiants lost two consecutive to the Road Warriors as they headed to the dressing room to continue their victory lap.

Jimmy Snuka beat The Iron Sheik by DQ following a vicious brawl outside the ring, as Sheik became impatient with his efforts to hurt Snuka and took a chair into the ring with him to finish the job. Whether Sheik really thought this would be his saving grace or just wanted to end the match is anyone’s guess, but Snuka’s hand was raised and Sheik yelled and spit and flexed his way out of there.

Gordon Solie announced a big rematch next week to settle the controversy between the Valiants and the Classics, then cut backstage where Gene Okerlund was attempting to speak to Ted DiBiase as he hurried out of the Legends Arena, limping and nearly out of breath. DiBiase muttered something about how the age of monsters was just beginning, and that Brody was going to find out that there’s always a bigger monster.

Harley Race pinned Gorgeous George in a STEEL CAGE match following a PILEDRIVER. George earned respect for getting into the cage despite his image as a gentile man-about-town, but his error was in thinking he was up to the task of beating a man who had not only wrestled in countless cage matches, but who wanted his head on a platter. Race got revenge, plus a little more on the Toast of the Coast, leaving him a bloody mess as Cherie Dupre’ shrieked and called for the match to stop from outside, until Race stopped it with a convincing victory.

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SHOWDOWN 8: Monsters Have a Ball 

Gordon Solie opened the program by welcoming Curt Hennig to the Legends Arena. Hennig got a nice ovation as he came out to express how happy he was to be at Showdown. Then, Marty Jannetty came out to welcome Hennig personally and said he’s been looking for a partner for some after-midnight rockin’ and had to pick his jaw up off the floor when Hennig walked out and everything just clicked! Hennig said he was flattered, and “I might even consider your offer, if you weren’t such a loser!” Hennig then slapped Jannetty and Jannetty tried to go after Hennig, but officials stormed out to hold them apart! Jannetty managed to get close enough to Solie’s mic to say “Anytime, anyplace, TONIGHT Hennig!”

Bruiser Brody pinned Johnny Mantell after a KING KONG KNEE DROP, ending the spirited offense of the young Texan in fairly short order. As Brody was poised to leave the ring, Ted DiBiase started walking down the aisle with the Road Warriors behind him! What many suspected was true. The Road Warriors sold out to Ted DiBiase, and were on his payroll to take out Brody! But when they got to the ring, Hawk and Animal grabbed DiBiase and tossed him into the ring with Brody! DiBiase looked absolutely betrayed, as Brody tore into him on the second straight Showdown, tearing him right out of his suit and leaving him for dead in the middle of the ring to the delight of the fans!

Gene Okerlund attempted to speak to the Road Warriors backstage about their association with DiBiase. Hawk said that he felt like the nature of their association was clear, and that so long as Ted DiBiase felt like throwing his money away, there would be scum like himself and Animal who were happy to take it from him. With that, Mean Gene made a HUGE announcement about Showdown X, Showdown for the Gold! A three hour special from the Legends Arena, featuring a tournament to crown the first ever Legends World Heavyweight Champion!

Curt Hennig pinned Marty Jannetty with a cross body press from the top turnbuckle, thwarting the rocker’s attempt to avenge the disrespect Hennig showed him earlier. Hennig had his hand raised, then slapped his gum in Jannetty’s direction before leaving the ring with a confident smirk on his face.

The Wrestling Classics beat The Valiant Brothers when Thesz pinned Johnny after a released powerbomb, evening up the odds after the controversial finish of their matchup at the last Showdown. The Valiants were quick to point out that Johnny had his foot on the rope, but an instant replay showed that Johnny’s foot was nowhere near the rope and this time the finish was legitimate, cementing the Wrestling Classics as perhaps the premiere team to contend with.