Smathis' LWF: Booking... One Die at a Time

[Crimson Cross]

First,

Excellent LWF, like the style for your write-up's...

Second,

Like to see Don Muraco the World Champ!

Third,

Warvivor is a very cool and interesting name, excellent stuff...

[smathis]

Thanks, CC. I'm hoping that things around the house mellow out after Christmas. That will finally give me the chance to run LWF204. I'll give Muraco even odds on the match. Rikidozan been really hot with the dice lately and seems impossible to pin.

For the record, Don Muraco already almost had a run with the world title. A few years ago towards the end of Nick Bockwinkel's title reign, Bock was in a pretty heated feud with Harley Race. Muraco served as a special referee in a Ladder match between Race and Bock. When neither man could climb up the ladder after 45 minutes of action, Muraco climbed up and took the belt.

This resulted in a feud between Race, Bockwinkel and Muraco. Jimmy Snuka snuck into the matter on the tail end of the feud and wound up being the one to finally get the belt off of Bock.

This time around the Magnificent One's been hot and cold. He's the best the Heenan Family's got. And he came back from almost losing his spot on the roster to a title shot. So who knows?

[Crimson Cross]

Nice history there Smathis, it will be interesting to see what happens for sure...

[smathis]

Just finished this huge PPV last night. Formatting it now. Will post soon.

[du5tin]

Jan 21, 2010 12:09:13 GMT -5 smathis said:

Just finished this huge PPV last night. Formatting it now. Will post soon.

I can't wait to read it, bro!

[smathis]

Thanks, Dustin! I hope it was worth the wait.

LWF Warvivor Series at the Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC - LWF204

• The Destroyer def. Lanny Poffo & Ray Stevens in a Non-Title Gauntlet Match
  1. The Destroyer def. Lanny Poffo. The Destroyer picked Poffo apart, hardly giving Lanny any room for offense. The Destroyer pinned Poffo after a bombs away kneedrop. (5:00)
  2. The Destroyer def. Ray Stevens with the Figure Four Leglock. After these two brawled outside the ring, The Destroyer locked in the Figure Four. Prior to the match, the referee sent Stevens' manager Bobby Heenan back to the locker room, much to Stevens' surprise and disappointment. Heenan came back out after the match accompanied by Don Muraco and smashed the Destroyer on the back with a steel chair. Stevens joined in as well. The three of them beat up on The Destroyer and attempted to remove his mask until Rikidozan and Red Bastien could make the save. (11:00) **
  
  
• The Red Menace: Zhukov & Volkoff def. The Heartbreak Express (w/Johnny Fairplay) (c) in an LWF World Tag Title Match via Count-Out
  Brezhnikov debuted a third member of the Red Menace prior to the match -- Boris Zhukov. According to Brezhnikov, the Red Menace can compete with any two of the three men on the team. The Heartbreak Express had a difficult time with the Red Menace. They spent most of the match desperately trying to tag each other in. Volkoff threw Sean Davis out of the ring and Davis appeared to knock over some ringside lighting. The Heartbreak Express' manager called the match, saying that Sean was injured and could not continue. The referee awarded the Red Menace the win by Count-Out, although the Heartbreak Express remained champions. (5:30) *
  
  
• After the match Nikita Brezhnikov remained in the ring with the Red Menace (Kruscher Kruschev, Boris Zhukov and Nikolai Volkoff) and demanded that The Heartbreak Express defend their titles tonight or that the Board of Commissioners award his team the belts. He said that the Red Menace would not leave the ring until the tag champs returned and gave them their title shot.
  
  Then Chairman Filsinger came out. Filsinger has been absent from the LWF since the LWF Board of Commissioners removed him from his position for conspiring with the Million Dollar Man to strip then champion Jimmy Snuka of the World Title belt.
  
  Filsinger entered the ring and told Brezhnikov that he'll get his rematch tonight after the Women's Title Match on the stipulation that the Heartbreak Express will get to choose which two of the four of them they'll be up against. Brezhnikov threw a fit and Volkoff got in the Chairman's face. But Filsinger told them to back down or pack their bags. Don't cross the boss!
  
  
• Warvivor Series (Round 1)
  Team International (George Hackenschmidt, The British Bulldogs & Tiger Mask) def. Team Victory (Bryan Danielson, Eddie Kingston, Ricky Landell, Trent Acid)
  Team International (George Hackenschmidt, The British Bulldogs & Tiger Mask) def. Team Victory (Bryan Danielson, Eddie Kingston, Ricky Landell, Trent Acid)
  A drawn out one-sided affair. It shocking when Danielson took out Tiger Mask. Other than that, Team International powered their way to a foregone conclusion.
  1. Ricky Landell eliminated by Tiger Mask with a sunset flip off the ropes. (1:00)
  2. Trent Acid submits to George Hackenschmidt's Heel Hook (25:00)
  3. Tiger Mask eliminated by Count-Out after a suicide dive by Bryan Danielson (32:30)
  4. Eddie Kingston eliminated by Dynamite Kid after a Reverse Cradle Piledriver (34:30)
  5. Bryan Danielson submits to George Hackenschmidt's Russian Bear Hug (40:00) **
  Team International will go to the final round!
  
  
• Trinity DeNucci def. Sherri Martel (c) in a LWF Women's Title Lumberjill Rematch
  The rest of the LWF Women's division circled the ring for this LWF Women's Championship match between reigning champion Sherri Martel and Trinity DeNucci. The PPV signal was lost at the onset of the match but Martel was squarely in control when coverage resumed. Martel nearly pinned Trinity after a Top Rope Splash but DeNucci's ally, Ida Mae Martinez, came off the top rope with a missile dropkick. This turned the tide in Denucci's favor and the battle was more evenly matched. Martel resorted to heelish tactics and April Hunter even tried a run-in on her behalf. But Trinity would not give up. Martel, likewise, was unwilling to part with her title, kicking out of three pin attempts following successive New Jersey Jams. Just when it appeared neither woman would ever stay down for the three count, Trinity DeNucci hit a crucifix sunset flip for the pin, ending the longest single title reign in LWF history. WE HAVE A NEW LWF WOMEN'S CHAMPION! (20:00) ****
  
  
• The Heartbreak Express (w/Johnny Fairplay) (c) def. The Red Menace: Brezhnikov & Zhukov by Count-Out in an LWF World Tag Title Rematch
  A wild and wooly match. Far superior to the match earlier in the evening. After the referee sent Red Menace teammates Nikolai Volkoff and Krusher Kruschev packing, Phil Davis and Boris Zhukov started off with some serious mat wrestling. Zhukov got the early advantage and the team of Zhukov and Brezhnikov proved formidable in the ring, wearing down Phil Davis. Eventually, Superstar Sean was tagged in and the LWF United States and World Tag Champions went to work on Zhukov. After a series of double-teams, the Heartbreak Express went for the pin but Zhukov would not stay down. Zhukov made the tag after a clothesline on Phil Davis. Brezhnikov then entered the ring and successfully battled the Heartbreak Express. Brezhnikov looked to have things in control when Phil Davis hopped out of the ring for a breather. Brezhnikov pursued but then Kruscher Kruschev came out of nowhere with a set of brass knuckles. Phil Davis ducked. Kruschev hit Brezhnikov. Nikita went down cold. The Heartbreak Express won by Count-Out. A wild brawl erupted after the match with Phil and Sean Davis fighting to get back to the locker room while Zhukov, Volkoff and Kruschev alternately brawling amongst themselves and the tag champs. (18:30) ***
  
  
• Warvivor Series (Round 1)
  Team Memphis (Bill Dundee, Bob Roop, Brad Armstrong & Tojo Yamamoto) def. Team LWF (Gene Kiniski, Iron Sheik, Skull Murphy & Killer Kowalski)
  The polar opposite of the earlier Warvivor Match. This one was a true David and Goliath tag elimination match for the record books. Team LWF weighed over twice as much as Team Memphis on the scales. But Team Memphis made up the gap with guts, heart and a whole lotta luck. The real stars in this match were Bob Roop and Brad Armstrong, who held strong against much tougher opponents.
  1. Skull Murphy eliminated by disqualification for choking Brad Armstrong on the ropes and refusing to release it (37:30)
  2. Tojo Yamamoto submitted to the Iron Sheik's Camel Clutch (47:00)
  3. Bill Dundee submitted to the Iron Sheik's Camel Clutch (48:00)
  4. Gene Kiniski eliminated by disqualification for unnecessary roughness outside the ring (50:00)
  5. Killer Kowalski eliminated by Bob Roop after a spinning neckbreaker (51:00)
  6. Iron Sheik eliminated by Bob Roop after a suplex (57:00)*****
  
  Team Memphis won a spot in the Warvivor Series final!
  
  
• After the match, Skull Murphy and Gene Kiniski charged the ring and beat down Roop and Armstrong. Murphy, Kiniski and the Iron Sheik bloodied Roop and Armstrong before the other Warvivor teams could run in to make the save. Both Roop and Armstrong were injured in the beatdown.
  
  Once control was restored, Chairman Filsinger came back out on the ramp. He was furious. Team LWF has NEVER lost in the first round of the Warvivor Series. He held Gene Kiniski responsible for not accepting the team the Board of Commissioners chose. He said Kiniski embarrassed the LWF tonight in a way he hadn't thought possible. Filsinger fired Gene Kiniski and barred him from the LWF for life!
  
  
• Lou Thesz def. Hulk Hogan (w/L.Sweeney) in their first match in the LWF - Special Guest Referee: Bobo Brazil
  Prior to the match, Special Referee Bobo Brazil threatened Hogan's manager, Larry Sweeney, with a knuckle sandwich if he interfered. The crowd cheered when Brazil waved his fist at Sweeney. Sweeney responded by calling someone on his cellphone. Thesz held out his hand, expecting Hogan to shake it, but Hogan turned his back on him. The match started out with Thesz taking Hogan to the mat. But then Hogan took over with brawling tactics. Hogan took Thesz out of the ring slammed him into the ringpost and Larry Sweeney gave Hogan a chair. A couple of chair shots later, Thesz and Hogan were back in the ring. Hogan dominated the match for a while, until he began arguing with special referee Bobo Brazil and gave Thesz an opening to hit Hogan with a low blow. Thesz took over, punishing Hogan for a while and wearing him down. Hogan took the match to the floor again, slamming Thesz against the guardrail. When Hogan got back into the ring, he exchanged words with Bobo Brazil for a second time. The conversation turned heated and Hogan pushed Brazil. Brazil went wild and hit Hogan with a Coco Butt! Sweeney jumped onto the ring apron but Bobo met him with a Coco Butt too. Thesz covered Hogan with a Thesz Press as Brazil counted the 1-2-3! Overall a fun match with a fast pace compared to the previous bouts. (14:30) ***1/2
  
  
• Rikidozan (c) def. Don Muraco (w/B.Heenan) in a 2/3 Falls LWF World Title Match
  A good championship match, Muraco and Rikidozan appeared evenly matched at first. But the LWF World Champion just outlasted the Magnificent One.
  1. Don Muraco pinned Rikidozan following a Hawaiian Hammer (13:00)
  2. Rikidozan pinned Don Muraco after a series of Thunderous Chops (18:00)
  3. Rikidozan pinned Don Muraco after a Hiplock (19:00)***
  
  
• Prior to the Warvivor Finals, Team Memphis captain "Superstar" Bill Dundee came out to apologize to the fans and announce that Team Memphis would have to forfeit because Bob Roop and Brad Armstrong were unable to perform in the final match. The Board of Commissioners prepared to award Team International the trophy but team captain George Hackenschmidt stopped them and said that if Team Memphis could get ANY two other wrestlers to join their team then the match would go on.
  
  Bryan Danielson came out to say he would wrestle in the final match.
  
  Then Frank Gotch came out to join Team Memphis. This marks the first time in four years that Gotch has entered an LWF arena. Four years ago, Frank Gotch quit the LWF when it was revealed that Chairman Filsinger rigged a #1 Contender match between him and his longtime rival, George Hackenschmidt. When Gotch entered the ring, he told Hack that tonight it was all on the line and that tonight the world will see the Shooter take on the Russian Lion! Hack told Gotch that he had nothing to do with Filsinger's games. Gotch slapped Hackenschmidt in the face! The referees were able to restore order so the match could get underway.
  
  It's on!
  
  
• Warvivor Finals: The Elimination Chamber
  Team Memphis (Bill Dundee, Bryan Danielson, Frank Gotch & Tojo Yamamoto) def. Team International (George Hackenschmidt, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, Tiger Mask)
  Highlights: Tojo Yamamoto was pretty effective against opponents in the cage. Gotch and Hackenschmidt were brutal against each other. At one point, it seemed like they just wanted to kill each other. Bryan Danielson was the ace in the hole. He stayed out of the mix, relatively unharmed and came in fresh towards the end.
  
  00:00 - Tiger Mask and Bill Dundee released into the cage!
  1:30 - Frank Gotch and Dynamite Kid released into the cage. A DOUBLE RELEASE!
  3:00 - Davey Boy Smith released into the cage
  5:00 - Tojo Yamamoto released into the cage
  7:00 - Bryan Danielson released into the cage
  7:30 - Davey Boy Smith bloodied on the cage by Tojo Yamamoto
  9:00 - George Hackenschmidt released into the cage
  18:30 - George Hackenschmidt forced Tojo Yamamoto to submit to the keylock armbar
  22:30 - George Hackenschmidt bloodied on the cage by Frank Gotch
  24:30 - Bill Dundee eliminated Davey Boy Smith after a Bombs Away
  28:30 - Frank Gotch bloodied on the cage by George Hackenschmidt
  29:30 - Frank Gotch forced Tiger Mask to submit to the Gotch Toehold
  31:00 - Dynamite Kid eliminated Bill Dundee with a Diving Headbutt
  33:00 - Dynamite Kid bloodied on the cage by Bryan Danielson
  33:30 - Dynamite Kid eliminated after missing a deathjump. Bryan Danielson took the pin.
  34:30 - Frank Gotch gave George Hackenschmidt a full crimson mask!
  35:00 - Frank Gotch and Bryan Danielson forced George Hackenschmidt to submit with a combo Gotch Toehold and Cattle Mutilation!
  
  TEAM MEMPHIS HAS WON THE WARVIVOR SERIES! *****
  
  This was hands down one of the best matches I've ever done in LOW. It ranks right up there with the Race-Bockwinkel ladder match and the Kiniski-Rikidozan I Quit match on LWF201 as just the best.
  
  I'll post some highlights and notes soon. I need to update the title histories and such. Sorry this took so long.
  

[du5tin]

I highly enjoyed that.

Feel free to keep posting your fed, bro... because it's awesome!

[smathis]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Dustin! I hope I can keep the momentum going.

Highlights from LWF204

• It looks like the LWF has just said goodbye to Kruscher Kruschev and Gene Kiniski
  
  
• Bobo Brazil cost Hulk Hogan a possible bid for the LWF World Title in what turned out to be a really rough PPV for the Sensational Sweet & Sour Corporation.
  
  
• The real standouts in the Warvivor Series were: Bryan Danielson, Frank Gotch, Dynamite Kid and George Hackenschmidt
  
  
• Team Memphis had never won a Warvivor Series match. Ever. The perennial #4 on the food chain just won the whole shebang.
  
  
• By contrast, Team LWF had never LOST a Warvivor Series match. Ever. They've always brought the trophy home.
  
  
• Traditionally, the competitor who took the final pin or submission in the Warvivor Series has gotten a title shot. It will be interesting to see how that plays out now that the winner is not technically a member of the LWF active roster and the final elimination was shared by two wrestlers -- Bryan Danielson and Frank Gotch
  

Notes on LWF204

• This PPV was just way too much. Too big. Next year I'll have to cut down on the number of matches. I miscalculated how long it would take to play out 8-man tag elimination matches as well as the finals. All in all, it took me over a month to finish up this PPV. Now, I had Christmas, the usual responsibilities of a parent/spouse/etc. and the stomach flu to contend with. But still...
  
  
• Four years ago, Gotch was a super-over face in the LWF. Then he quit. Hackenschmidt was sort of a tweener. The way the dice played out in the finals, Gotch looked like a vicious heel. Cross between the Sheik and Kurt Angle. And Hack? Hack was a never-say-die face. As I like to say, roll with it.
  
  
• I had no plans to bring back Commissioner Filsinger (or Frank Gotch for that matter) this PPV. But after the disappointing tag match, I felt I needed to shake things up. And that Commissioner Filsinger card does that in spades. As for Gotch, well, I didn't want the Warvivor Series to end in a forfeit. I'd rolled doubles at the end of the Memphis/LWF match. Feud table. Injury. Now what was I going to do? Hack and Gotch never got to play out their feud four years ago. Now they will.
  

Next up...

• LWF205! The Legends Cup. This is a 16-man singles tournament. Rules are if a participant is DQ'd the match becomes a 2/3 falls match. A second DQ will eliminate the wrestler that is DQ'd. The final match in the tournament is a 60-minute Iron Man match. The participant with the most pinfalls or submissions at the end of 60 minutes wins the Legends Cup.
  
  
• Last year's winner was the current LWF World Champion Rikidozan. He defeated Mil Mascaras in the final match. It was among the top 5 or so matches I've ever done. I highly recommend pairing these two.
  
  
• The Legends Cup also hosts the PWI Top Five announcement, where the Top Five competitors of the year in a number of categories will be announced. Also to be announced will be the Top Five of the Decade!
  
  
• As a Legends Cup special bonus match, Bruiser Brody will meet Abdullah the Butcher in a Falls Count Anywhere match. These two have brawled around the world and this will be their first meeting in an officially sanctioned LWF event. As well as the first "hardcore" match at the Legends Cup.
  
  
• The current lineup for the First Round of the Legends Cup Invitational is:
  
  • Mil Mascaras vs. Buddy Rogers
    
  • Eddie Kingston vs. Gorgeous George
    
  • Andre the Giant vs. Big John Studd
    
  • Frank Gotch vs. Les Thatcher
    
  • Steve Williams vs. Magnum TA
    
  • Bryan Danielson vs. Rob Van Dam
    
  • Jim Londos vs. John Pesek
    
  • Bret Hart vs. Nigel McGuinness
    
  
  
  EDIT: Austin Idol will not be able to participate this year
  
  
• See you there!
  

[smathis]

PWI Top Five Nominees

Rules

• List out seven nominees for both categories
  
  
• Give one a weight of 6. Two a weight of 4. Three a weight of 2 and one a weight of zero.
  
  
• Roll a six-sided die for each nominee, add the result to the weight and sort them by order of highest total
  

Singles Nominees

• Rikidozan
  • Former Legends Japan champion and Legends Cup winner
    
  • Won the LWF World Title
    
  • Has had impressive matches all season
    
  • Had a feud-of-the-year candidate with Gene Kiniski
    
  • Proving to be the most exciting world champion we've had since Nick Bockwinkel
    
  • Weight: 6
  
  
  
• Jimmy Snuka
  • Held the LWF title longer than anyone before ending his title reign early in 2009
    
  • Has successfully transitioned into the tag division
    
  • Weight: 0
  
  
  
• Hulk Hogan
  • Went undefeated in singles competition for 13 cards
    
  • Defeated current LWF champion in singles competition prior to Rikidozan winning the title
    
  • Has built an entertaining feud with Bobo Brazil
    
  • Weight: 2
  
  
  
• Lou Thesz
  • Won LWF World Championship by defeating longest reigning LWF World Champion, Jimmy Snuka.
  • Lost shortly thereafter to Rikidozan
    
  • Also defeated Hulk Hogan, who was undefeated in singles competition prior to their match
    
  • Weight: 2
  
  
  
• Trinity DeNucci
  • Upset the longest reigning title-holder in LWF history -- LWF Women's Champion Sherri Martel
    
  • Weight: 4
  
  
  
• George Hackenschmidt
  • Reigning Legends European champion
    
  • Had an impressive showing at the Warvivor Series
    
  • Weight: 2
  
  
  
• "Superstar" Bill Dundee
  • Won and lost the Legends Southern title this year
    
  • Led Team Memphis to not only their first Warvivor Series win but also headed up the first non-LWF team to carry the Warvivor Trophy home
    
  • Had impressive feuds with Crazy Luke Graham and a recently-turned-heel Jackie Fargo
    
  • Weight: 4

Tag-Team Nominees

• The Valiants
  • Only team to win the LWF World Tag Titles twice
    
  • Weight: 4
    
  
  
  
• The Heartbreak Express
  • First team to hold both the US and LWF World Tag Titles at the same time
    
  • Weight: 6
  
  
  
• The Fantastics
  • Had impressive feuds against The Valiants and The Heartbreak Express
    
  • Won (and lost) LWF World Tag Championships this year
    
  • Weight: 2
  
  
  
• The Funks
  • Won the World Tag Grand Prix
    
  • Weight: 2
  
  
  
• Antonio Inoki & Giant Baba
  • Reigning Legends Japan tag champions
    
  • Runners up in the World Tag Grand Prix
    
  • Weight: 2
  
  
  
• The British Bulldogs
  • Former LWF World Tag Champions
    
  • Reigning Legends Eurotag Champions
    
  • Had an impressive showing at Warvivor Series
    
  • Weight: 4
  
  
  
• Bob Roop & Brad Armstrong
  • Reigning LWF Southern tag champions
    
  • Had a successful face vs. face feud against Rufus Jones & Koko B. Ware
    
  • Had an impressive showing at Warvivor Series
    
  • Weight: 0

In Other News

• Due to scheduling conflicts, Austin Idol will not be competing in this year's Legends Cup. "Dr. Death" Steve Williams will be taking his place. The first round lineup will be altered to reflect this.
  

[smathis]

Just kicked off the Legends Cup tournament last night. Some good matches there. I'll post the first round when I finish it and then move on to the Quarterfinals and Finals after that.

I'm experimenting with a new format for the match write-ups. I think they're easier to read. More play-by-play. They're somewhere between graymar's match write-ups and the write-up for the Warvivor series final match. After I post, please let me know if they're good, bad and/or ugly.

I'm kind of stuck for the first night of Legends Cup. I'd like to do a surprise tag-team match following the final match of the first round.

Any suggestions of two teams you'd like to see square off against one another?