One Week in Ontario

[cruefan68]

The last two shows were great, especially the Savage-Volkoff, DiPaolo-Taylor and Lyons/Stevens-Rogers/Dibiase matches. I was pulling for Ray to win the title in Niagara Falls but Rogers retained.

I'm loving the News and Views as it adds some nice background to what is going on. Looks like the "Nature Boy" could leave the territory possibly while still champion! I also like the intrigue surrounding Vampiro also having dates to make in Mexico. Good stuff my friend.

[bookerbill]

Card 25 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON – January 15, 2023

Heavenly Bodies (Stan Lane & Tom Prichard) w/Jim Cornette v. Billy Red Lyons & Chaz Taylor
Referee: Morgan Dollar
The story in this one was Lane and Prichard being able to cut off Taylor from his corner after Prichard countered a backdrop with a piledriver. The Bodies combined for a FLAPJACK and that was enough for the three count (Snake Eyes) after four minutes. Winners: Bodies *

Tully Blanchard (inj) w/ J.J. Dillon v. Ilio DiPaolo
Referee: Joey Marella
DiPaolo had the fans in his corner but it looked like Blanchard would not be too restricted by his injury controlling the action. DiPaolo came back and an AIRPLANE SPIN should have ended it but Dillon was able to distract Marella to keep the action going. It only prolonged the beating Blanchard took as a cross arm sleeper did damage before a big right hand dropped Blanchard for the three count about eight minutes of action. Winner: DiPaolo * ½

David Taylor v. “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith
Referee: Morgan Dollar
The battle of the Brits was up next. Taylor was able to grab a couple of holds before the power of Smith took over the match starting with a superplex. Taylor had not response from that point. Smith rocked the fans with a gorilla press slam for a near fall and then scored another two count after a delayed vertical suplex. A RUNNING POWER SLAM ended after six minutes. Winner: Smith *

Ray Stevens v. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Piper came out with an entire band and had the fans roaring. At the bell, it was all Piper with eye pokes, bites and a bulldog. Stevens had his own tricks however and a face bite of his own caused Piper to pause. Stevens gradually began to build momentum leading to a BOMBS AWAY. Piper was not finished yet but he did not mount any more offense. Stevens dominated the finally moves of the match and put Piper away with a double underhook suplex after about seven minutes. Winner: Stevens. **

NWA Women’s Tag Team Champions Fabulous Moolah & Toni Rose v. Susan Green & Joyce Grable
Referee: Dick Woehrle, Dr. Mike Lano at ringside
This was a rematch from the intense encounter between these two teams back in November in Oshawa. The challengers were able to win the crowd over early and cut off Rose from her partner. An airplane spine disoriented Rose enough for a two and half count. Green tagged in but Rose was able to slip away and tag in Moolah who took over the match imposing her will on an overmatched Green. Green just managed to kick out after a JACKKKNIFE CRADLE. Rose was back in and Grable was able to get the tag back into the action. Any advantage was quickly ended when Moolah tagged back in and went to work on Grable who faired only slightly better then her partner. Grable kicked out after the first JACKKNIFE CRADLE but could not after the second one after sixteen minutes. Winners: Moolah & Rose * ½

Sinn Bodhi v. Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Bodhi was intense from the moment he entered the ring and was all over Dollar and the official appeared shaken up. Duggan lightened the mood with his entrance but things quickly turned serious again when Bodhi posted Duggan and busted the popular competitor open. Bodhi dominated the match from that point including three TALLULAH BELLE finishers but Duggan refused to go down as the excitement built at ringside. Duggan had the has roaring with a slam off the top of the corner but the blood loss had clearly weakened him as he could not capitalize before Bodhi slammed Duggan off the top. Bodhi continued to control until Duggan was able to catch Bodhi in a bear hug. It weakened Bodhi just enough for Duggan to land a FLYING SPEAR and claim victory out of the jaws of defeat after 14 minutes. Winner: Duggan *** ½

“Lightning” Rod Fenton v. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Dollar had strict instructions for both competitors which Fenton clearly ignored as evidenced by his use of a chair to smash across Savage’s back during an early brawl on the floor. In fact there was little clean about Fenton’s tactics tonight as he pulled hair, scratched and clawed his away into control of the action. A bloodied Savage was choked out with a chain that had the fans irate and lead to back to back near falls for Fenton. The action went back to the floor and this time Savage reversed a whip and Fenton when shoulder first into the post. A flying axe-handle to the floor had the fans on their feet and so did the finish after 11 minutes when Savage landed his FLYIG ELBOW DROP for the three count. Winner: Savage ****

Koko B. Ware v. Nikolai Volkoff
Referee: James Beard
Many fans thought Ware was nuts for wanting to back into the ring after the beating he took in Niagara Falls but the Birdman was ready to battle and used his speed to control the action including a pair of headbutts. However, Volkoff’s power soon was overwhelming and a Russian Bear Hug slowed things down. A double thrust sent Ware back to the floor. The Birdman showed courage trading blows with the Big Russian on the floor but a throat drop across the guardrails was too much even for the lax Beard who made the disqualification call. Volkoff then hit the move again and left Ware in a heap before heading to the back to a chorus of boos after ten minutes of action. Winner: Ware by disqualification. * ½

Canadian Open Tag Team Champions The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan) w/Wild Red Berry v. Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal) w/ Paul Ellering
Referee: James Beard, Dr. Mike Lano at ringside
The champions decided to take a page out of their challenger’s playbook and attacked before Gary Michael Cappetta finished his introductions. It was a mistake and Heffernan ended up eating the ring post and the Warriors had the initial upper hand. Costello was able to get into the match but took a beating from Animal’s power attack. Hawk tagged in and the Kangaroos were finally able to get some momentum including an AUSTRALIAN BACKDROP for a one and half count on Hawk. The momentum turned and Costello barely kicked out after a POWER SLAM from Hawk. Heffernan was able to get back into the match but the Warriors would not be denied. A DOOMSDAY DEVICE crushed Heffernan. The pin save was blocked but Heffernan raised his shoulder before the three count. The Warriors followed with a second DOOMSDAY DEVICE to win the gold after 17 minutes. Winners and new Canadian Open Tag Team Champions Road Warriors ***

NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers v. The Crusher
Referee: Joey Marella; Dr. Mike Lano at ringside
The fans were wild to see Crusher destroy Nature Boy and roared as Crusher gained the upper hand and locked in an early CRUSHER NELSON. Rogers got his bike and fled to the floor but Crusher followed. Rogers was ready and shoved Lano into Crusher using the photographer as a human foreign object. Back in the ring Rogers twice applied his FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE but Crusher has able to make the ropes both times to force the break. Crusher looked to be in serious trouble but a backdrop was countered in a piledriver and the champion was spiked into the canvas. CRUSHER NELSON slowed it down and allowed Crusher to regain his strength. Rogers was begging off but Crusher locked in his submission once again and this time Rogers had not answer after 12 minutes. Winner and New NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion: The Crusher. *** ½

[gnw2022]

Bravo!,Bravo....epic stuff way to go Crusher!!!

[Pariah]

Big wins for Da' Crusher and the Roadies, claiming gold in their respective matches... I see that Hacksaw has taken it upon himself to eliminate all (Canadian) forces of darkness... First, by defeating Vampiro on the previous show and now, with a resounding victory over Sinn Bodhi... Another fun event, my friend... Nice work!

[TTX]

Go Macho Man. Big win by the Crusher and Ilio with the nice upset.

[cruefan68]

The Crusher and the Road Warriors winning gold was great, especially over opponents like Buddy Rogers and the Fabulous Kangaroos. That was a fun night at MLG.

I'm liking the turnaround in your fed with new talent coming in and others leaving. It makes for fresh and exciting lineups on the shows.

[bookerbill]

Card 26 Garden City Arena, St. Catharines, Ontario - Maple Leaf Wrestling Taping – January 16, 2023

“The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith v. Mike Jackson
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Jackson came to fight and took the battle to Smith early on but he could not get The Bulldog into a pinning position. Smith used his power to slowly come back and then punished Jackson with superplexes. Smith continued to toss around Jackson until he hit a gorilla press slam for the win after 14 minutes. Winner: Smith *

Buddy Rogers & Tully Blanchard (inj) w/J.J. Dillon v. Frogman Leblanc & Keith Steinborn
Referee: James Beard
Blanchard and Rogers have great heat and Blanchard goes to work on Steinborn getting a near fall after a double sledge. Rogers keeps the pressure on and gets the submission with a FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE after four minutes. Winner: Rogers & Blanchard DUD

NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion The Crusher is interviewed by Gordon Solie and Sinn Bodhi comes out to exchange words with the champion. Buddy Rogers comes out to attack Crusher but he mistakenly decks Bodhi. Crusher smashes Rogers and drags Bodhi towards the ring.

NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion The Crusher v. Sinn Bodhi
Referee: James Beard
Crusher had the upper hand as Beard called for the bell. A CRUSHER NELSON almost ended it. Bodhi took a huge beating and the fans loved it. Bodhi was able to reverse a whip on the floor and sent Crusher into the post and Crusher was busted open. Suddenly we had a match. Bodhi went to work and twice used a TALLULAH BELLE but could not get the win. Crusher battled back when he sent Bodhi into the post and both men were bloodied. CRUSHER BOLO connected and the fans thought it was over but Bodhi was able to kick out. Bodhi was able to catch Crusher going to the top and slammed him to the mat. Bodhi landed a standing leg drop and covered Crusher for the shocking non-title upset win after 18 minutes. Winner: Bodhi ****

Larry Hennig v. George South
Referee: Morgan Dollar
South was able to get the advantage early on and put an impressive performance. South used a neckbreaker drop three times but could only manage a single pin attempt. Hennig used his size to get back into the match and slams, chops and tackles kept South bouncing to the mat before THE AXE pinned South after about ten minutes. Winner: Hennig ** ½

Billy Red Lyons v. Nacho Barrera
Referee: James Beard
This was yet another contest with the underdog had moments to shine. Barrera took control early and had Lyons on the defensive. Lyons was rebounded into the ropes and managed to counter a backdrop attempt with a piledriver. Lyons then grabbed a leg and applied a FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK to get the win after four minutes. Winner: Lyons DUD

Canadian Open Tag Team Champions Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal) w/ Paul Ellering v. “Sodbuster Kenny Jay & Jake “The Milkman” Milliman
Referee: Morgan Dollar:
Ellering and the Champions have words with the official before the bell. The official was not pleased but the Warriors could care less. Hawk and Animal cut off Milliman for the entire match and beat the stuffing out of him before Animal planted Milliman with a POWER SLAM for the win after five minutes. Winner: Warriors DUD

Paul Ellering & Road Warriors stop in with Gordon Solie to share their thoughts on the lack of competition in the territory. Suddenly, Jim Cornette leads the Heavenly Bodies out to attack the champions from behind. Cornette’s tennis racket is a key weapon as Lane uses it to deck both Ellering and Animal while Prichard uses a chair to clobber Hawk. The champions are slow to get back to their feet (2 cards each).

Virgil v. Johnny Rodz
Referee: Joey Marella
This was a very competitive encounter that saw both competitors have offensive runs leading to their finishers. Rodz gained the upper hand first but a SHOULDER BREAKER did not get the job done. Virgil was able to come back with dropkicks and clotheslines. Boxing flurry set up a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP for the win after 9 minutes. Winner: Virgil **

Heavenly Bodies (Stan Lane & Tom Prichard) w/Jim Cornette v. Bill Mulkey & Randy Mulkey
Referee: James Beard
The Bodies went to work on Bill Mulkey. A drop toehold & elbow did some damage and a double suplex kept the double teaming going. The Bodies then executed a FLAPJACK and score the pin after five minutes. Winners: Bodies DUD

“Macho Man” Randy Savage holds a “Press Conference” with Bill Apter but is attacked from behind by “Lightning” Rod Fenton. The two brawl which bringing out Frank Tunney who makes an impromptu match between Savage & Fenton right now.

“Lightning” Rod Fenton v. Macho Man” Randy Savage
Referee: Joey Marella
The brawl carried on into the ring and Marella arrived to call for the ball. Savage took over with jabs and then several knees to the back and knee drop. A FLYING ELBOW SMASH was on target and the fans thought it was over but Fenton raised the shoulder and the fans exploded. Fenton was smashed by a flying axe handle to the floor. Fenton managed to catch Savage after being rebounded off the ropes with a tackle and it was the opening he needed. Fenton with an overhead body slam followed by a SERIES OF DROPKICKS nearly ended it. Fenton then began choke Savage on the ropes and then grabbed a chair which caused Marella to call for the disqualification after 11 minutes of action. Fenton managed to land two blows with the chair before the locker room arrived to break things up. Winner: Savage by disqualification. **

Fritz Von Goering v. Ron Hutchison
Referee: James Beard
If Von Goering was looking for a night off he did not leave St. Catharines happy as Hutchison showed all his experience and skill pushing the tough German to the limit. It was back and forth early before Von Goering overpowered Hutchison but he was not able to get the win after a BACKBREAKER finisher. Hutchison battled back and frustrated Von Goering with several versions of a roll up mixed in with suplexs and snap mares. Despite controlling the action, Hutchison was not able to get his opponent in a position to go for the win before Von Goering came back with a clothesline and a pair of knees to the throat. A second BACKBREAKER finished it after 16 minutes. Winner: Von Goering ** ½

Glamour Girls (Judy Martin & Leilani Kai) v. Princess Victoria & Ida Mae Martinez
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Kai and Martin showed their experience as a team and cut off Martinez early and went to work including a double team gut buster. They were not able to get Martinez in a pinning position before Victoria tagged in the action for the first time and took over. Victoria used a series of slams to get a near fall on Kai. Martin jumped in for the pins save after Victoria came off the top with a CROSS BODY BLOCK. Martinez tagged back into the match and before long used a flying head scissors to down Kai for a near fall where Martin’s save was blocked. Martinez then connected with a DROPKICK for the upset victory after 14 minutes. Winners: Victoria & Martinez ** ½

Hacksaw Jim Duggan v. Nikolai Volkoff
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Volkoff had the fans on edge with is national anthem rendition and Duggan stormed to the ringside area bring the fans to their feet. Volkoff struck before the bell and ran Duggan into the post busting him open. Volkoff keep attacking as the bell sounded but Duggan backdropped the big Russian to the floor and then rammed him to the post. Both men were quickly a bloody mess as the fans were roaring. Duggan scored with a spinning body slam for a near fall. Volkoff stormed back and soon it was a back and forth slugfest. They traded bear hugs before Duggan took over with a Tough Guy clothesline. Duggan went to the top for a deathjump cross body but Volkoff reversed it into a slam for a huge near fall. Vokoff then mounted the corner but was slammed to the mat in a crowd pleasing moment. Duggan took the fight back to the floor and Volkoff made him pay ramming Duggan back first into the ring post. Back in the ring, Volkoff executed a throat drop on the ropes and cover Duggan for the pin after 16 minutes. Winner: Volkoff ***

Buddy Rogers is the guest of Roddy Piper on the Piper’s Pit and the interview is interrupted by “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith who challenges the Nature Boy who makes an excuse not to wrestle the Bulldog much to the displeasure of the fans.

Dark Match: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper v. Ray Stevens
Referee: Dick Woehrle
The action was out to the floor almost immediately and neither competitor was interested in listening to the official who called for the double disqualification less than a minute after the bell sounded. Both men brawled until the officials and locker room came out to break things up. Winner: Double Disqualification DUD.

News and Views: Two time Canadian Open Tag Team Champions Fabulous Kangaroos have departed the territory and setting the record for longest reign of any champion to date at 46 days. They were the final competitors left from the original 24 man roster . . .

The Loop:
January 17th – Kitchener Memorial Auditorium: NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion The Crusher v. Buddy Rogers; Texas Death Match Randy Savage v. Rod Fenton; Davey Boy Smith v. Tully Blanchard; Return of Mikey Whipwreck; Debut of Jerry Lynn & Brian Blair
January 18th – London Gardens – Triple Main Event!; NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion The Crusher v. Sinn Bodhi; Canadian Open Tag Team Champions Road Warriors v. Heavenly Bodies; Dog Collar Match Randy Savage v. Rod Fenton
January 19th – Oshawa Civic Auditorium – NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title Match
January 21st – Niagara Falls Memorial Arena – Canadian Open Tag Team Title Match; AWA Women’s Champion Sherri Martel v. Ida Mae Martinez

[bookerbill]

Dec 8, 2022 7:01:21 GMT -5 cruefan68 said:

The Crusher and the Road Warriors winning gold was great, especially over opponents like Buddy Rogers and the Fabulous Kangaroos. That was a fun night at MLG.

I'm liking the turnaround in your fed with new talent coming in and others leaving. It makes for fresh and exciting lineups on the shows.

Thanks for the comments my friend. That last show at the Gardens was a blast. I glad you are enjoying the revolving roster. I wanted to challenge myself by keeping the roster in flux much like a real territory and see what I could come up with. So far, it has been a lot of fun.

[TTX]

The turnover is complete. The bookers had some interesting ideas for this show.

[bookerbill]

Dec 6, 2022 4:46:00 GMT -5 Pariah said:

Big wins for Da' Crusher and the Roadies, claiming gold in their respective matches... I see that Hacksaw has taken it upon himself to eliminate all (Canadian) forces of darkness... First, by defeating Vampiro on the previous show and now, with a resounding victory over Sinn Bodhi... Another fun event, my friend... Nice work!

Duggan did surprisingly well for me on his recent run. He will be moving on after the latest Maple Leaf Wrestling taping. Bodhi is going to get a title match shortly thanks to his upset of The Crusher which could prolong his time in the territory. Thanks again for following along.