Tape Trading through Time & Space (An LOW Story)

[leicscity]

*Opens a box labeled World Wrestling Alliance - Beginnings 8 DVD Set*

After putting in the DVD marked "1" we get the following - An arena screen that identifies a promotion called "International Wrestling Federation." Apparently, it is run out of Alberta. We move quickly to the first match:

Butch Miller vs Rod Fenton

They brawl for a bit, Fenton seemingly holding the advantage until the action spills out of the ring. Fenton drives Miller's head into the ringpost, follows up with a backdrop suplex and jumps back into the ring just in time for the countout win. Interesting start...

Winner: Rod Fenton by countout
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Butcher Vachon vs Fritz Von Goring

This was a relatively one-sided squash match, Von Goring winning it quickly with the reverse full nelson.

Winner: Fritz Von Goring by submission
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Billy Red Lyons vs Adrian Adonis

This was another brawl, though somewhat more athletic than the opener. Lyons frustrated Adonis most of the way, until Adonis finally snapped and blatantly hit Lyons with a chair and get himself disqualified.

Winner: Billy Red Lyons by DQ
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Trans-Oceanic Title Match: Koko B. Ware vs Jimmy Valiant

This is apparently a title match for some sort of title. Didn't have the introductions, so unclear who has title going in or if title is vacant. Anyway, this was a bit disappointing as it ended very quickly, Valiant hitting the Boogie Woogie Elbow and (apparently) winning the title. This doesn't appear to be the promotion's major title, and I'm still not completely sure what "Trans-Oceanic" even means in this context. But it is what it is!

Winner and new(?) Trans-Oceanic Champion: Jimmy Valiant by pinfall
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Davey Boy Smith vs Eddie Gilbert

Another surprisingly one-sided match. Davey's power was just way too much for "Hot Stuff", and he put Gilbert away with a running powerslam in relatively quick time.

Winner: Davey Boy Smith by pinfall
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Marty Jannetty vs Yusef Ismael

WHAT EVEN IS THIS MATCH?!?! This appears to be a rather lengthy event, what's with these squash matches in between? Anyway, Ismael, as you'd expect, pretty quickly overpowers Jannetty locks him in a submission that looks a bit questionable (and the announcers make a point of mentioning that, guess that's part of Ismael's deal here) and Jannetty passes out for what's called a ref stoppage win.

Winner: Yusef Ismael by referee stoppage
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International Tag Team Championship: Terry Gordy & Alexis Smirnoff (c) vs The American Patriots (James J. Dillon & Marcus Alexander Bagwell)

Dillon & Bagwell are absolutely HATED here. To their credit, they play it up well, egging the crowd on until Gordy and Smirnoff charge the ring. Crowd is HOT~! Clearly, this was something in the works for a while as the crowd stayed hot the entire time despite (or perhaps because of?) the fact that this was a one-sided drubbing. Gordy finally put Dillon down with the Bamm Bamm Slam and the champs retain. Dillon & Bagwell are clearly the best thing on the card so far. They made the champs look like absolute MONSTERS! Makes me want to see what's happened to lead up to all this...

Winners and Still International Tag Team Champions: Terry Gordy & Alexis Smirnoff
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OK, so next appears to be a part of some tournament for something called the WWA World Title. I guess the WWA is the "World Wrestling Alliance" referred to on the package? They make some reference to Manny Fernandez being from "The Southeast" and give him a different logo than the rest of the wrestlers. Perhaps some kind of Interpromotional thing? Guess we'll find out as we watch more.

WWA World Title Tournament 1st Round: The Iron Sheik vs Manny Fernandez

It is mentioned that this is a "First Round" match. Not sure how many rounds are in this thing. But I guess it makes sense as this was called the "Beginnings". Crowd was kinda dead. Perhaps they were burned out from the previous match. Perhaps they just didn't care about either of these guys. They went for a bit of time, Fernandez getting a little bit of an upper hand, until the Sheik comes in with the Iranian flag and hits Fernandez with it. The bell rings, and Fernandez's hand gets raised, but the crowd doesn't care at all. I guess Fernandez advances(?)

Winner: Manny Fernandez by DQ
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The next match had a similar treatment in terms of presentation, but both guys got the same logo as the rest of the wrestlers. I guess they are both part of this promotion? It is still called a WWA World Title Tournament match though...

WWA World Title Tournament 1st Round: The Destroyer vs Gorgeous George

Crowd seemed a little more into this one. The Destroyer and George played off of each other well, with George's antics looking like they were getting under the skin of The Destroyer who just wanted to get on with it. George used all matter of cunning tricks to keep Destroyer at bay, but went a little too far and eventually was disqualified. Not sure what's going on with this tournament, but that's 2 DQs in 2 matches. I can believe the promotion is trying to focus on their own stuff primarily, as these were not even the main event, it turned out!

Winner: The Destroyer by DQ
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The Main Event was next and it was for the International Heavyweight Title. Not sure what the difference between a World Title and an International Title is, but that's wrestling for you! The champion is Shane Douglas and he appeared to be aligned with Dillon & Bagwell (at least they came, or rather limped, to the ring with them). Crowd clearly hates these 3. The challenger is...Konnan? He gets a decent pop, but really this appears to be far more about Douglas and his group than the challenger.

Main Event - International Heavyweight Title Match: Shane Douglas (c) vs Konnan

Konnan fired early and had the better of the first exchanges, wearing down Douglas with his speed and submission moveset. Match turned when the action spilled to the outside as Dillon distracted the ref while Bagwell cheapshot him. Konnan didn't seem to recover full from that, and Douglas hit a Belly-to-Belly suplex to score the win, retain the title, and have a good 30K people scream obscenities to him and his group.

Winner and still International Champion: Shane Douglas by pinfall
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Immediately after the match, the DVD jumpcut to what looked like an entirely different place...

[leicscity]

The jumpcut led to another, much smaller, arena. Where as the International Wrestling Federation looked, and felt, really big, this feels like a more regional promotion. The banner on the screen is "Southwestern Wrestling Conference", and it appears to be a from Texas. The announcers talk about how there will be a new "North American" champion crowned tonight and a defense of the North American Tag Team championships.

Bob Roop vs D'Lo Brown

This looks like an interesting contrast in styles, Roop took the match quickly to the mat. D'Lo tried to keep up, but was clearly outclassed in mat wrestling. Roop opened up his offense later, but that was his mistake. After driving D'Lo into the corner, Roop tried a shoulder charge, D'Lo ducked out of the way, quickly rolled up Roop and got the 3 count!

Winner: D'Lo Brown by pinfall
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Al Snow & Dick Hutton vs Chaz Taylor & Brian Christopher

This played as the old-vets-vs-young-punks type match, with Taylor & Christopher cheating most of the way. Snow finally had enough, grabbed the Head he had with him and nailed Taylor with it right in front of the ref for the DQ. Snow & Hutton didn't seem to mind much, looking more mildly annoyed than anything else.

Winners: Chaz Taylor & Brian Christopher by DQ
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Don Muraco vs Jerry Lynn

Another fun clash of styles, Lynn's high-energy pace was grounded by the deliberate power of Muraco. The Hawaiian finally overpowered Lynn with a series of suplexs, finished by a gut-wrench for a 3 count.

Winner: Don Muraco by pinfall
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There were interviews before the next match, with the team of Barry Windham & Blackjack Mulligan running down Magnum TA & Stan Hansen. Appears as though the North American Title is vacant, and Magnum will face Mulligan for it. Windham and Hansen face each other in the next match.

Barry Windham vs Stan Hansen

Windham and Hansen brawled around the ring, Hansen was about to set up Windham for a lariat when Windham low-blowed Hansen to force a DQ. Windham went to attack Hansen after the bell, as Mulligan came down to help. Magnum came down to even the odds, but the other wrestlers got in between the 4 men before the brawl could get too out of hand.

Winner: Stan Hansen by DQ
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North American Tag Team Championship: Joe & Tully Blanchard (c) vs Robert Gibson & Bob Armstrong

WOW! This was an amazing match as the Blanchards were pushed to the limit by Gibson & Armstrong. An absolute classic with many near falls, a great pace, and great heat from the smallish, but highly energized crowd. Finish came when The Blanchards set up Gibson for a double slingshot suplex, but Armstrong dropkicked Tully out of the ring, Gibson rolled up Joe and got the 3 count to win the titles!

Winners and New North American Tag Team champions: Robert Gibson & Bob Armstrong
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Main Event - North American Title Match: Blackjack Mulligan vs Magnum T.A.

Great heat from the earlier match, as both Windham and Hansen were both at ringside. Early on, Windham tried to interfere, but was easily thwarted by Hansen. It led to a decent brawl between the 2, and Magnum T.A. nearly got a 3 count on Mulligan with a Belly-to-Belly suplex but Mulligan got a shoulder up. Magnum went for another Belly-to-Belly and Windham distracted him from the ring apron. Hansen tried to tackle him, but both fell into the ring. Finally, all 4 wrestlers brawled and the ref had no choice but to throw the match out.

No Contest - North American Title still Vacant

Someone got on the microphone after the match (apparently, they are one of the owners of the promotion), and said that Magnum and Mulligan would have a Steel Cage Match to a finish to determine the North American Champion in the near future.
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There was another jumpcut to another arena...

[LAWraith]

Really love the premise, I do something similar in my fed where it’s kind of a found footage thing and someone is watching it kind of like espn classic. But really like the tape trading idea, fun matches too.

[leicscity]

For the next set of matches, we go to something called "HoA Wrestling" (Heart of America?). Apparently, this card emanates from Cleveland.

Oh, hey, there is Barry Windham listed as being on the event again! No mention of Blackjack. He's taking on Jack Brisco in the WWA World Title tournament. Now that I mention it, there weren't any WWA Title Tournament matches on the last card. Is this not chronological order?

Virgil vs Dan Severn

We open with a squash match as Severn does his usual pro wrestling/MMA hybrid approach and quickly submits Virgil with a Choke Sleeper. Nothing more really to say. A good showcase for The Beast.

Winner: Dan Severn by submission
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Midwestern Title: Hugh Morrus (c) vs Val Venis

I guess this match is for something called the "Midwestern Title". Kind of an ugly belt, to be honest, predominantly brown with a plate that looks more copper than anything else. None of that matters though, in terms of the action in the ring. This was a surprisingly fun match (I tended to not like either of these guys too much), with a series of near falls for both Morrus and Venis. End came after Morrus reverse Val, dropped him on his back, quickly went up and hit his moonsault for the win!

Winner and still Midwestern Champion: Hugh Morrus by pinfall
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Ted DiBiase vs Larry Hennig

Oooo...this looks fun! DiBiase looks like his younger version, clean shaven with that damn black glove. He wrestled more as a fan favorite here, and after some good action, he hit a backbreaker on Hennig and was able to hold him down for a 3 count!

Winner: Ted DiBiase by pinfall
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The Long Riders (Bill & Scott Irwin) vs Evan Lewis & Steve Richards

Richards is doing a very plain wrestler persona here, guess he's trying to fit in with the classic wrestler Lewis? Sadly, that's the most interesting thing about this match and this thing just droned on and on and on. Crowd seemed as bored as I was, and the loudest cheer came when the bell suddenly rang to signal that the time limit had expired

Time Limit Draw
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"The Outlaw" Billy Gunn vs Red Bastien

This is an oddly booked card, some the pretty decent action earlier on the show is being overshadowed by some lonnnnng matches here in the middle. This one was a little more entertaining than the previous tag match, but seemed to go on too long and again the bell for the time limit expiring felt more like a relief than suspense for a rematch.

Time Limit Draw
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Steve Corino vs Bobo Brazil

This one got the crowd back for a little while at least, Corino being Corino and Bobo having none of it. Corino was battered all over the ring, Bobo trying to keep him down with headbutts but Corino not staying down for 3. Corino turned the tied with some rulebreaking tactics on the outside, but that only served to get Bobo riled up. Unfortunately, the ref only saw Brazil's retaliation and called for a cheap DQ win, which definitely got the crowd's attention, if nothing else.

Winner: Steve Corino by DQ
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Americas Tag Team Title: Road Warriors (c) vs Bob Orton Jr. & Jim Brunzell

Having no context as to how this came to be, this felt like it was going to be one-sided. However, Orton and Brunzell worked well together and actually went toe-to-toe with the Roadies for a large portion of the match. Eventually, the Road Warriors set up Brunzell for the Doomsday Device, but Orton came in to break it up. This lead to a sequence where Orton and Brunzell hit what looked like their finisher, where Orton held up Animal and Brunzell came off the ropes with his dropkick (think Hart Attack, but with a dropkick rather than a clothesline). This led to a...3 count?! And new tag champs! I must say that I was surprised by this result. I guess there was more story to this, as the fans didn't seem to react as this was as nearly the shock that I thought it was. The champs celebrate with the titles to the cheers of the crowd.

Winners and new Americas Tag Team Champions: Bob Orton Jr. & Jim Brunzell
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WWA World Title Tournament: Jack Brisco vs Barry Windham

No Blackjack here, so I guess Barry was imported only for the match? Anyway, this was what you'd expect it to be. A good, clean, wrestling match between 2 of the smoothest wrestlers you'll see anywhere in time and space. Holds, counterholds, submission attempts, superplexes, a great classic match...sadly ruined a bit by the ending. As Brisco was on the outside on the ring apron, Windham came off the ropes and clotheslined him to the floor. Which lead to a...countout?! This is now the 3rd match of this tournament, and the 3rd match that ended with a non-pinfall or submission finish. Guess this "Alliance" wasn't quite as strong as hoped? Not sure the ending did Brisco any favors though, regardless.

Winner: Barry Windham by countout
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Main Event - Americas Title: Lou Thesz (c) vs Killer Kowalski

Holy heck, Mr. Thesz is OVER with this crowd. Thesz quickly dispatched of Kowalski in a matter of mere minutes, Kowalski barely gets any offense in, and the crowd eats it up! Thesz puts an end to things with his Greco-Roman Backdrop and the crowd goes home happy!

Winner and still Americas Champion: Lou Thesz
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And with that, DVD "1" abruptly ends. 7 more to go in this set. Not sure how the rest of these are, and certainly there have been some "interesting" decisions, but the action has been far more good than bad and I'm looking forward to what else is here!

[leicscity]

May 2, 2021 18:10:54 GMT -5 LAWraith said:

Really love the premise, I do something similar in my fed where it’s kind of a found footage thing and someone is watching it kind of like espn classic. But really like the tape trading idea, fun matches too.

Appreciate the words! Been wanting to post...something for a while now. I was last active around these parts a bunch of years ago now. Recently decided to get back into the game. Didn't want it to just be a set of results (not that there is anything wrong with that, just wanted to see if I could frame it somewhat differently). I got into wrestling from the old Colosseum Video Series of WWF stuff in the mid-80s, so I thought it would be interesting from the perspective of someone coming in who knows most of the guys in action, but has no context (at least at first) as to the stories going on. Some of these that I've already alluded to I didn't really think about until I was writing out these results (primary example are the American Patriot Heels in the International fed)!

Do you have a link to what you are doing (if you post)? I don't want to step on your toes or anything like that so I can try to frame presentation subtly differently if needed!

[LAWraith]

Not yet so to speak, running an alternate timeline a lot of work lol ... but I run my champions fed as part of a larger timeline and I'm trying to catch back up. I prolly should stop buying so much new stuff lol

[Gunslinger]

This is pretty cool. I've thought of doing Best Of DVDs but never actually did it.

[TTX]

Just enjoying the idea of Smirnoff and Gordy teaming and face Dillon. Only time I ever saw Dillon as a face was in a tag match with Arnold Skaaland against Chris Colt and his partner I believe doing the Hells Angels gimmick.

[leicscity]

Puts in Disc 2 of "WWA Beginnings"

This event looks to be put on by a group known as "Pacific Coast Grappling". Can only guess that they are based on west somewhere. No location was mentioned.

The Spoiler vs Warlord

Rough brawl to start the event, decent and even action most of the way. The Warlord was eventually disqualified for repeated cheating, the final straw being pushing the referee aside after numerous warnings.

Winner: The Spoiler by DQ
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California State Heavyweight Title: Jerry Brisco (c) vs Jacques Rougeau

The entrance was longer than the match! Rougeau was riling up the crowd with typical cheat heat antics, Brisco charged the ring, quickly took the French-Canadian down, locked on the Figure 4 and got the win to retain!

Winner and Still California State Heavyweight Champion: Jerry Brisco by submission
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Ivan Koloff vs Ox Baker

Another brawl, like the first match. At least this one had a decisive winner as Koloff finished off Baker with a kneedrop and pin! Reasonably quick match, Baker did what he could.

Winner: Ivan Koloff by pinfall
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Henry Irslinger & Tommy Rogers vs Mike DiBiase & Kenny Jay

This is some seemingly random tag team action, match flow was really about who was in the ring. When DiBiase was in the ring, he controlled, when Jay was in the ring Irslinger & Rogers controlled. Eventually, Irslinger trapped Jay in the ring, while Rogers distracted DiBiase on the outside, Irslinger hit the Airplane Spin and got the win.

Winners: Henry Irslinger & Tommy Rogers by pinfall
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Before the next match, the Pacific Tag Team Champions, Greg & Johnny Valentine gave an interview. Apparently, Johnny is challenging Great Gama for the Pacific Heavyeight title in the Main Event, trying to become a double champion. Greg also has a match upcoming.

Tom Prichard vs Pacific Tag Team Champion Greg Valentine (w/Pacific Tag Team Champion Johnny Valentine)

Greg made short work of Prichard. Prichard did have some moments of offense, but Johnny tripped him up from the outside, seemingly twisting Prichard's knee in the process, leading to Valentine putting the Figure 4 on Prichard leading to the submission. It was picked up on that the California State champion Jerry Brisco also used a figure 4 in his title win earlier...

Winner: Greg Valentine by submission
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WWA World Title Tournament 1st Round: Jimmy Snuka vs IWF International Champion Shane Douglas

I guess these are in some sort of sequential order as Douglas prominently displayed the IWF International title belt (but not with his American Patriot partners James Dillon and Marcus Bagwell). Most of these "World Title" tournament matches have ended with some screwy decision, this one was an exception! In a very fun match, Snuka eventually kicked out of the Belly-to-Belly, came back with a series of moves and hit the Superfly Leap to score the clean 3 count win!

Winner: Jimmy Snuka by pinfall
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WWA World Title Tournament 1st Round: Steve Williams vs Curt Hennig

And back to the inconclusive finishes we go: this time a plodding match between Williams and Hennig. Disappointing really, as this looked like a really fun match on paper. Instead we got a lot of stalling, mixed in with Williams throwing Hennig around the ring a bit. Hennig pulled a pair of brass knuckles out of his tights, and walloped Williams with it, but it was done obviously in front of the ref and he called for the DQ as Hennig got a "visual pin" on Williams. Very disappointing, I must say.

Winner: Steve Williams by DQ
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Pacific Heavyweight Title Match: Great Gama (c) vs Pacific Tag Team Champion Johnny Valentine (w/ Pacific Tag Team Champion Greg Valentine)

Before the match, Jerry Brisco & 2 Cold Scorpio(!!) came out and "escorted" Greg from the ringside area leaving the title match to be purely 1-on-1. Johnny seemed put off by this, and fell victim pretty quickly to the Gama Throw and the champ retained!

Winner and still Pacific Heavyweight Champion: Great Gama by pinfall

[leicscity]

The jump cut takes us to a promotion called "Tri-State Championship Wrestling", with a graphic showing an event coming from Newark, NJ. The announcers hype up 3 title matches and a WWA World Title Tournament match, "featuring" The Crusher. Guess he's the promotion's wrestler in the match. No word on the opponent yet. Guess we'll find out.

Doug Gilbert vs Wild Bill White

Decent enough match for a crowd warm-up. Gilbert gets the win with a piledriver, in an otherwise solid, if unspectacular match. Worse would be coming.

Winner: Doug Gilbert by pinfall
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Northeastern Title Match: Blue Meanie (c) vs George Steele

Wait, what? Why is THIS a title match?! This is exactly what you'd expect it to be. Wild, but seemingly non-sensical, action. Some goofy spots, though one or two were admittedly cute, such as Steele chewing a turnbuckle only to find that the stuffing had been dyed blue and let Meanie take advantage. Unfortunately, that was probably the highlight. Eventually, they conspired to have a finish with Steele locking in the Flying Hammerlock as the Meanie cried his submission. So I guess George Steele is the Northeastern champion. Hooray.

Winner and new Northeastern Champion: George Steele by submission
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Pampero Firpo vs Wild Bull Curry

Well, this one was definitely wild! Perhaps a better, more intense version of what we just saw. Neither man felt the need to stick to the rules, and it seemed like it was a rush to see who would be disqualified first. Curry "won" that race, but lost the match, walloping Firpo with a chair shot. Firpo didn't seem to mind and the two brawled to the back. OK.

Winner: Pampero Firpo by DQ
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Mr. Hughes & Johnny Valiant vs Angelo Poffo & Scott Taylor

After the last couple of matches this felt like a technical masterpiece! Poffo and Taylor worked quite well together, and they were able to double team their opponents in turn. End came when Poffo set Valiant up for a neckbreaker and hit it to score the win.

Winners: Angelo Poffo & Scott Taylor by pinfall
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Justin Credible vs Masked Superstar

This appeared to be another rulebreaker vs rulebreaker match, but one that was much better than what we saw earlier. This was a grinding mat-based match most of the way, with Superstar not quite able to put Credible away. Superstar got frustrated and tried to KO Credible with brass knuckles, but the ref caught him doing it and disqualified him.

Winner: Justin Credible by DQ
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Frank Gotch vs Johnny Saint

WHAT THE HECK EVEN IS THIS PROMOTION?! WE GET A BUNCH OF BRAWLS OF VARYING QUALITY, THE WORST OF WHICH WAS A TITLE MATCH, AND THEN THIS SHOWS UP?!!?! Sorry, had to vent there. Anyway, this was a certified wrestling classic, as you'd expect. First, they traded counters. Then they traded the advantage on wear down holds, finally, they traded submissions. Eventually, Gotch won out with the Reverse Nelson. Some may call it very basic, and perhaps boring, but it was a refreshing change of pace from what came before. Perhaps these folks do know what they are doing?

Winner: Frank Gotch by submission
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Intercontinental Tag Title Match: Luke Williams & Scott Casey (c) vs The Ruffians (Larry Zbyszko & Tugboat Taylor)

Well, I've learned 2 things during the introductions: 1 - the main titles here are the "Intercontinental" title. Again, not sure how that is different than a "World" title, or even an "International" title, but WRESTLING! 2 - Zbyszko and Taylor are known as "The Ruffians" and look like they are right out off a old New York gang film. I guess that makes Williams & Casey the fan favorites, as the crowd does seem to be cheering them on. Anyway, the Ruffians were...rough. They brutalized Casey most of the way until he made the tag to Williams. Quite a sight to see Luke Williams, of all people, fighting off both Ruffians like he was Robert Gibson, but there you go. Casey recovered enough for the Champs to hit a Double Gutbuster and score the win to retain the titles!

Winners and Still Intercontinental Tag Team Champions: Luke Williams & Scott Casey
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WWA World Title Tournament 1st Round: The Crusher vs Steve Corino

Corino got barely an introduction before the Crusher was all over him. Somewhat surprising to see Corino in this spot, but I guess he was just here to get squashed as Crusher hit his Bolo punch and scored the win. So that was a thing. At least it was clean finish(?)

Winner: The Crusher by pinfall
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Main Event - Intercontinental Title Match: Buddy Rogers (c) vs Diamond Dallas Page

This is a strange event. This was also basically a squash match, DDP did have a brief hope spot where he nearly hit a Diamond Cutter, but really Rogers controlled this the whole way. He finally finished Page off with the Figure 4.

Winner and Still Intercontinental Champion: Buddy Rogers by submission
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So...that was...eclectic? One wonders what the bookers of Tri-State Championship Wrestling like to do away from their promotion...