One Week in Ontario

[bookerbill]

Nov 13, 2022 10:16:08 GMT -5 cruefan68 said:

I hate to see Randy Savage go but he went out putting over Doctor X in two huge matches.

Frank Gotch really rolled through Adrian Adonis, which was unfortunate, but Terry Gordy gave him a stronger challenge. I'm looking at both Gordy and Juventud Guerrera as ones to watch based on recent performances.

Thanks for checking out the action. Unfortunately, Gordy was just stopping in for a cup of coffee before departing overseas to defend the International Title so he is gone from my roster after just two appearance. Hopefully he will be able to come back at some point.

[bookerbill]

Card 17 Civic Auditorium, Oshawa, ON- November 24, 2022

Buddy Rogers v. The Trooper
Referee: James Beard
Trooper used his size to control the action from the bell with Rogers begging off to the corner much to the pleasure of the Oshawa fans. Trooper executed a solid looking Alabama Slam for a two count which popped the crowd before heading to the top of the corner a short time later. Nature Boy was ready and superplexed Trooper to the middle of the ring. Rogers then grabbed a leg and took the opener via submission after seven minutes with a FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK. Winner: Rogers * ½

Ray Stevens v. David Taylor
Referee: James Beard
Stevens traded moves and counters early with Taylor and then took over the match with a double underhook suplex that lead to a near fall after a CRIPPLING PILEDRIVER. Another CRIPPLING PILEDRIVER followed but Taylor kicked out at the last second. The fans could not believe when Taylor survived a BOMBS AWAY but Stevens maintained focus and put Taylor away with a deathjump after five minutes. Winner: Stevens. * ½

Ric McCord & Koko B. Ware v. Doug Gilbert & “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert
Referee: Dick Woehrle
The fans welcomed back The Birdman with a thunderous ovation and dancing. Both Gilberts did their best to spoil the party and almost succeed particularly with Doug Gilbert used a foreign object to bloody McCord. The Gilberts were able to get some heat against McCord but a tag to Ware turned the match and popped the crowd. A key pin save from “Hot Stuff” kept the action going but he could not save his brother after McCord used a FLYING BODY PRESS for the three count after about 16 minutes. Winners: Ware & McCord. ** ½

Billy Red Lyons v. Sputnik Monroe
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Monroe has words with the referee who appears intimidated as the action gets underway. It is back and forth and soon Monroe needs to take a break on the floor but Lyons comes out after him. Monroe is ready and rams Lyons into the ringside table smashing him face first into the ring bell! Dollar calls for the disqualification after just four minutes as Monroe leaves to great heat and Lyons is left busted open in his territory debut. Winner: Lyons by disqualification. *

Ted DiBiase v. Vampiro
Referee: Joey Marella
Vampiro looked very impressive in this encounter imposing his pace and will on the match from the opening bell. DiBiase survived an early NAIL IN THE COFFIN and was simply unable to put together a run of offensive manoeuvres. Vampiro used an assortment of kicks, bulldogs and several urnanges to frustrate DiBiase before connecting with his finisher for a second time after 14 minutes of action for the impressive victory. Winner: Vampiro. **

Juventud Guerrera v. “Mr. Electricity” Steve Regal
Referee: James Beard
Regal looked to be out to prove something and dominated most of this encounter focusing his attack on the face and eyes of his opponent at times and other times using suplexes and slams. Guerrera made the ropes to escape a FT. LAUDERDAIL LEGLOCK but Regal continued to use his size advantage to maintain the upper hand. The action finally switched and Guerrera broke free with a huracanrana for a near fall. The pace picked up as Air Juvi connected and then Guerrera followed up with a 450 SPLASH for the comback victory after 11 minutes. Winner: Guerrera ***

NWA Women’s Tag Team Champions Fabulous Moolah & Toni Rose v. Joyce Grable & Susan Green
Referee: James Beard; Dr. Mike Lano at ringside
All four competitors saw action early on with neither side able to gain the upper hand. Moolah almost stole the win with a SMALL PACKAGE on Susan Green. Rose and Moolah kept Green in for a stretch of time with Rose picking up a near fall of her own after a knee lift. Grable was able to get the tag in and the momentum turned. It was back and forth again for that point. Grable was able to reverse a whip on the floor late sending Moolah shoulder first into the post. The fans were roaring as Green tagged in fresh and mounted the corner for a cross body block deathjump on a dazed Moolah but Moolah was able to roll through and with a handful of tights picked up the three count to retain the titles after 19 minutes of intense action. Winners: Moolah & Rose ****

NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion Frank Gotch v. Doctor X
Referee: Morgan Dollar; Dr. Mike Lano at ringside, Vintage Charts
This was a masterclass in wrestling from start to finish. Both men worked counters early on until Gotch was knocked to the floor striking his skull on the floor. Gotch could barely regain the ring and Destroyer went to work earning heat from the Auditorium fans. Gotch survived a FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK and then began to come back gaining his first near fall after an Iowa backdrop. The two battled with Gotch using a reverse nelson and several crossface bar the arms to keep X in knots. It looked as if Gotch may actually retain when disaster struck. Gotch was tossed to the floor and twisted his knee on impact. X then tossed the champion to the opposite side doing more damage to the leg. X went after Gotch with another FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK but Gotch made the ropes. X then struck with what appeared to be a foreign object and the fans were furious. It was obvious that Dollar wanted a conclusive outcome. Despite the blood pouring down his face, Gotch battled back with an Iowa backdrop, head butts and cross faces. The blood loss was perhaps too much however as X once again went after the lower body trapping the champion in another FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK. Gotch struggled and passed out just short of the ropes after 35 minutes of action. Winner and New NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion: Dr. X *****

That main event was one of the best matches I have played all year. What a blast to roll out. I have already booked Buddy Rogers as the challenger for my upcoming Maple Leaf Gardens show and I am not sure what will happen after that. The dice are keeping me on my toes and that is everything you can hope for in this game. I have high hopes for Lyons v. Monroe as being a featured feud for the next couple of cards.

[Pariah]

Doctor X getting a megapush... Using that momentum that he gathered during his memorable program with the Macho Man to catapult himself into the top spot in the territory... Beating Gotch for the strap is no small feat... And being one half of that five-star classic helps to solidify his place in this fed's history.

Also pleased to see my Vampire brother in action, scoring an impressive win over DiBiase... Awesome stuff!

[TTX]

Ware and McCord get a nice win and Doctor X is just running wild.

[cruefan68]

Congrats to Doctor X on his huge title win over Frank Gotch. What a run the masked man is on and what a match. I love when fellow promoters note when a match was great to roll out. All of us have had duds but nothing beats when you get an epic bout like that one.

Even if Terry Gordy isn't sticking around, he at least made an impact during his stopover. As for Juventud Guerrera his winning ways continue with a nice win over Steve Regal.

[bookerbill]

Card 18 Niagara Falls Memorial Arena, Niagara Falls, ON- November 26, 2022
Vampiro v. Paul Ellering
Referee: Dick Woehrle
Ellering used his power to frustrate Vampiro early on including overhead body slams and neckbreaker clotheslines. Vampiro kicked out after a NECKBREAKER and made a brief comeback including a urange and top rope spin kick. The action spilled to the floor and Vampiro bounced Ellering’s head off the ringside table and that was enough to earn a disqualification after six minutes. Winner: Paul Ellering by disqualification * ½

Beverly Shade v. Malia Hosaka
Referee: James Beard
The story in this match was Hosaka dominating the action much to the delight of the ringside fans but never getting the three count even after hitting her FRANKENSTEINER finisher midway through the match. Hosaka ever took it to Shade during brawls on the floor but in the end Shade was able to bounce Hosaka’s face off the ringside table and then finisher Hosaka with THE HAMMER to complete the shocking comeback out of nowhere after nine minutes. Winner: Shade **

Ric McCord & Koko B. Ware v Moondogs (Moondog Rex & Moondog Spot) w/Captain Lou Albano
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Dollar caused a commotion before the bell when he sent Albano to the back and the fans loved it. Unfortunately, there was not much to cheer about from that point on as Spot controlled against The Birdman picking up a pair of near falls after a running knee smash before Rex crushed Ware with a SHOULDER BREAKER for the three count after just five minutes. Winners: Moondogs *

Ray Stevens v. Ted DiBiase
Referee: Morgan Dollar 33
Old school fans were psyched for this match up and ringside settled in for a classic. Things ended after only seven minutes however despite the reputation of the competitors. DiBiase took over the action and forced things outside where the two exchanged blows. Dollar let the action go and they fought back into the ring where DiBiase landed a LOADED GLOVE to claim the controversial decision. Winner: DiBiase *

Billy Red Lyons v. Sputnik Monroe
Referee: Morgan Dollar
There was real intensity between these two right from the opening bell. Monroe earned heat with his brawling tactics but he was successful in his attack. Lyons used the fans support to come back with rapid fire dropkicks. A FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK has Monroe reeling but he made the ropes to keep the action going. Monroe battle back with chokes and stomps earning more heat from the fans. He used a chair to crack Lyons across the back and ringside was up and arms again. Lyons set things right however with an electric comeback and rebounding off the ropes with a beautiful cross body block for the victory after 14 minutes. Winner: Lyons ** ½

ECW World Television Champion Rob Van Dam w/Bill Alfonso v. Frank Gotch
Referee: James Beard 10
Gotch gets on the mic before the bell and runs down Van Dam and tells him he had any guts he would put his title on the line tonight. Alfonso responds on behalf of the champion and accepts so we have an ECW World Title Match. With Beard in charge, the fans new this one could get crazy and it did. Van Dam took advantage of Beard’s leniency and blooded Gotch early with a Van Daminator. He would use the move two more times before the end of the match. Gotch showed he was not afraid to mix it himself using a chair to clobber Van Dam and later running Van Dam into the post busting him open. Alfonso’s timely distraction allowed Van Dam to escape a GOTCH TOE HOLD. With both men a bloody mess, Gotch proceeded to grind Van Dam into the mat with reverse nelsons and cross faces. Van Dam would come back again and again with kicks and moonsaults. Late in the match, Gotch rammed Van Dam into the post for a second time and then used an Iowa backdrop after 23 minutes to finish Van Dam and win the title! Winner and new ECW World Television Champion Frank Gotch *****

Non-Title Match – NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion Doctor X v. Juventud Guerrera
Referee: Dick Woehrle 23
X took the immediate control of the match and worked over the upper and lower body of his opponent. Forearm smashes stunned Guerrera for a two count but Guerrera was able to make the ropes to break a FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK. Guerrera just could get nothing going and X claimed the win after 7 minutes with a standing surfboard. Winner: X *

Canadian Open Tag Team Champions Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Hefferman) w/ “Wild” Red Berry v. The Crusher & Ilio DiPaolo
Referee: Dick Woehrle; Dr. Mike Lano at ringside
The fans were all over the champions as they came to the ring tossing out paper boomerangs At the bell, Heffernan immediately struggled against DiPaolo and found himself on the mat after big right hands but kicked out after two. Crusher tagged in to a great pop and attempted a submission with a CRUSHER NELSON and then struck with a CRUSHER BOLO. Berry could not distract Woehrle who made the three count after five minutes. Winners and new Canadian Open Tag Team Champions The Crusher & Ilio DiPaolo. DUD

The Loop:
December 11, 2022 – Maple Leaf Gardens: NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion Doctor X v. Buddy Rogers; Canadian Open Tag Team Champions The Crusher & Ilio DiPaolo v. Fabulous Kangaroos; ECW World Television Champion Frank Gotch v. Rob Van Dam; Lumberjack Match – Billy Red Lyons v. Sputnik Monroe; Ted DiBiase v. Ray Stevens… Plus Moondogs, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, David Taylor in action!

[TTX]

Gotch rebounded nicely. Shame to see the Kangaroos lose but nice to see Crusher and DiPaolo claim gold.

[cruefan68]

Some wild action in Niagara Falls. I love seeing The Moondogs in the territory and they picked up a nice win even after Lou Albano was ejected. Juventud Guerrera finally ran into a roadblock by the name of Doctor X. Hopefully, Juvi can rebuild the momentum in his next outing.

Rob Van Dam vs. Frank Gotch is the match I never knew I needed to see. What an epic bout and Gotch takes the ECW World Television title to boot! On top of that, The Crusher & Ilio Dipaolo win tag gold from the Fabulous Kangaroos in almost squash fashion.

Two things I would not have expected to see are Gotch with an ECW title and the Kangaroos being soundly defeated. That is just another beautiful thing about the game as you can book matches like Gotch versus RVD, having it turn into a classic, and have results like Crusher & DiPaolo barreling through one of the greatest teams of all-time. You just never know what the dice will do.

[bookerbill]

Card 019 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON – December 11, 2022

Doug Gilbert v. Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Referee: Dick Woehrle
There was not a whole lot of counters or holds in this one except for the occasional headlock as both these men preferred to use their fists. Duggan had the fans cheering as he took the fight to Gilbert picking up near falls after a Tough Guy Clothesline and a spinning body slam. Later, a bear hug nearly finished Gilbert before Duggan made the critical error of climbing the corner and Gilbert was able to slam Duggan to the mat. Gilbert went to work in and out of the ring before setting up Duggan for his finishing PILEDRIVER. Duggan kicked out and Gilbert followed with a smash from the top of the corner to the back of the neck and then two more PILEDRIVERS for the upset comeback victory after 16 minutes. Winner: Gilbert. ** ½

“Mr. Electricity” Steve Regal v. Koko B. Ware
Referee: James Beard
There was quick pace to the outset of this one once the fans were down dancing with The Birdman. Ware dominated with his dropkicks and a head butt. Regal was finally able to ground Ware with a chin lock and hammerlock. A series of suplexes sent Ware to the mat several times before Ware countered a hammerlock with a body slam and then picked up the pace with arm drags and then a standing dropkick the caught Regal on the chin and gave Ware the three count after six minutes. Winner: Ware. * ½

Sinn Bodhi v. Ric McCord
Referee: Dick Woehrle
The fans were not exactly sure what to make of Bodhi at the bell but he quickly earned heat in his vicious assault on the popular McCord. Despite dominating most of the action, Bodhi was never able to get McCord in a position for the victory. Both men risked disqualification during a prolonged brawl on the floor before McCord countered a charge into the corner with a lariat that stopped Bodhi’s momentum for the rest of the match. McCord took the pin after 11 minutes follownig a side saddle suplex. Winner: McCord * ½

David Taylor v. The Trooper
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Taylor came to the ring and taught Trooper a very painful lesson in the mat game as he had a counter for everything that his opponent had and punished the Trooper with a series of hold grinding him into the mat. Trooper was able to execute a single suplex and that was it before a floatover fallaway slam ended it after five minutes. Winner: Taylor DUD

Moondogs (Moondog Rex & Moondog Spot) w/Captain Lou Albano v. Juventud Guerrera & Vampiro
Referee: James Beard
Spot started off against Guerrera with a series of bites and punches drawing great heat as Albano watched on with approval but Guerrera used his agility to turn things around with a springboard dropkick that flattened Spot for a two count. Vampiro tagged in and planted Spot with a power bomb for the three count after three minutes! Winners: Vampiro & Guerrera DUD

Ray Stevens v. Ted DiBiase
Referee: Morgan Dollar
Both competitors wasted little time to pressing the attack but it was DiBiase who was able to get the first near fall after a neckbreaker drop. A backbreaker followed for another two count and this seem to wake up Stevens who stormed back with a neckbreaker of his own and then a CRIPPLING PILEDRIVER. DiBiase kicked out and then BOMBS AWAY was on target. DiBiase again raised the shoulder at the last second. CRIPPLING PILEDRIVER crumbled DiBiase but a foot on the rope had the fans out of their seats as Dollar stopped his count. The action then spilled outside where a frustrated DiBiase used a chair to smash Stevens. Dollar called for the disqualification after 13 minutes despite his desire for a clean finish. Winner: Stevens by disqualification ** ½

Lumberjack Match - Billy Red Lyons (w/Trooper, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Ric McCord & Koko B. Ware) v. Sputnik Monroe (w/ David Taylor, Moondogs & Doug Gilbert)
Referee: Dick Woehrle
Monroe stormed the ring before Gary Michael Cappetta finished his introductions and it was mayhem as Monroe rammed Lyons into the ring post busting him open as the lumberjacks brawled at ringside. Monroe tossed Lyons back inside and demanded that the match be started. He hit his finisher NECKBREAKER and that was it after just seconds! Winner: Monroe. DUD

ECW World Television Champion Frank Gotch v. Rob Van Dam w/Bill Alfonso
Referee: Morgan Dollar; Dr. Mike Lano at ringside
Gotch was quickly become one of the most despised competitors in the territory and he did not win over any fans with his thumb to eye to stop the early offensive attack of the former champion. Gotch went to work with a series of punishing holds and slams. Van Dam was able to use his speed to counter a whip into the ropes and gained the upper hand. Back to back split-legged moonsaults gave Van Dam a two count. Gotch was able to catch Van Dam with a head butt and then took back control of the match. Gotch locked in a GOTCH TOE HOLD but Alfonso caused a distraction to keep the action going. The match went outside and Van Dam caught Gotch in a fireman’s carry and slammed him through the ringside table. The fans loved it but the referee did not and Van Dam was disqualified after 12 minutes. Winner: Gotch by disqualification **

Canadian Open Tag Team Champions The Crusher & Ilio DiPaolo v. The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan) w/ “Wild” Red Berry
Referee: Joey Marella; Dr. Mike Lano at ringside
This match could not have been more different then the previous encounter between these two teams where Crusher & DiPaolo captured the titles. DiPaolo gave the fans something to cheer about against Heffernan and the gave way to Crusher but a defensive tag by the Kangaroos turned the momentum. A Kangaroos Kick scored a two count and the following BOOMERANG put the titles back around the waists of the Australian duo. Winners and new Canadian Open Tag Team Champions Fabulous Kangaroos DUD.

NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion Doctor X v. Buddy Rogers
Referee: James Beard; Dr. Mike Lano at ringside
The fans had no love for either competitor but knew this had a potential to be a classic. Rogers was a machine early working the leg of the champion. X was able to make the ropes to escape an early FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE. Rogers then earned serious heat with an attack at ringside first with a chair to the knee of the champion and later ramming Doctor X’s knee off the ring post. X could barely move for the reminder of the match. The fans suddenly got behind the champion and X was able to reverse a cross body block for a near fall hooking the tights for good measure. Rogers then attacked the leg again and any momentum X had was lost. Rogers punished the leg with elbows, jumping knee smash and a deathjump elbow smash before applying another FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE to capture the title after 18 minutes. Winner and New Canadian Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers. ***

[TTX]

Titles jumping like hot potatos.