LOW - Legends of Wrestling

[bookerbill]

Enjoyed the last two cards. The Kingston Sweeney angle was well done setting up their cage match. That should be great. I just saw Kingston talk about a chain match they had back in the day on Ethan Page's Youtube page. Steen over Styles looked rock solid and I like the edge you have given AJ with refusing to shake hands. I hope the Styles and Fallen Angel cards work well together so the magic of their encounters can be recreated

[cruefan68]

Thanks for the comments Crimson, AJ, and Bookerbill. Your feedback is something I always look forward to. Also Bookerbill the next tour for Kings Road United is coming up (Card #762-764), I hope to get the results up soon. Now get your DVR ready for the next edition of LOW All-Star Wrestling...

LOW All-Star Wrestling (Episode 35) - WMC-TV5 Studios - Memphis, TN (Card #761)

●The broadcast opened with announcers Lance Russell and Dave Brown discussing the big news that reigning LOW International Heavyweight champion The Sheik, a record four-time holder of the belt, will face Frank Gotch for the LOW World Heavyweight title on the next NWC card at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY (Card #767). Russell noted that it is a huge opportunity for The Sheik and then he threw it to a pre-taped interview with manager Abdullah Farouk. Standing in front of a luxurious hotel in Tokyo, Farouk said that The Sheik will take full advantage of his opportunity and win the world heavyweight title. He said that he and The Sheik, along with Ox Baker, are on a tour for Kings Road United and that the final show in Sapporo, Japan (Card #764) will feature The Sheik defending the International title against Harley Race, a two-time LOW World Heavyweight champion, and that they will “make an example” out of Race in order to send a message to Gotch.

●Lance Russell conducted a pre-taped interview with SWA stars Lou Thesz & Tommy Rich who are set to face the Midnight Express (“ Loverboy” Dennis Condrey & “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton) in a big match in Lexington, KY (Card #765). The stipulation for the match will allow Thesz to face manager Jim Cornette in a 5:00 match should he and Rich win. Thesz was pleased to know that it will be a possibility to get the “mama’s boy” Cornette in the ring and teach him a lesson for all that he has done to others in the past. Rich agreed and said that the Midnight Express are three-time LOW World tag team champions and are a tough team to beat but that they are prepared to achieve victory and give the interfering Cornette a taste of his own medicine. Russell said that everyone wants to see that and the thought of Thesz going against Cornette is an added bonus to what should be a great card that will also feature Tiger Mask defending the LOW Junior Heavyweight title against “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert, a member of the House of Humperdink.

●Dave Brown conducted a ringside interview with AWE manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan who was joined by his new tag team of the Valiant Brothers, Jimmy “Boogie Woogie Man” Valiant & Luscious Johnny Valiant. Heenan took over the segment talking about how he was “banished” from LOW after trying to stand up to the Axis of Violence and that for the whole time he was out no one cared about him. He vowed to bring back the Heenan Family full force and that he was building it from the ground up adding a great veteran star like Angelo Poffo and now the best tag team in LOW in the Valiant Brothers. He claimed that the two had been kept down by the powers that be and should have had multiple reigns as LOW World tag team champions by now. He said that his “brain power” combined with the tag team excellence of the Valiant Brothers will bring them those titles when they face the Fabulous Kangaroos for the championship in Dayton, OH (Card #766).

1) SHIMMER tag team titles: Glamour Girls© vs. Mildred Burke & Jazz was a Draw:
A tremendous opening contest saw the Glamour Girls (Leilani Kai & Judy Martin) defend the SHIMMER tag team titles against the potent challenge of Mildred Burke & Jazz. The champions were on fire early and Kai nearly pinned Jazz after executing a counter sunset flip off of the ropes. Kai would later take a great beating from the challengers with Martin twice saving her from defeat as Burke used the Alligator Clutch and Jazz used the Bitch Clamp. Martin looked great during her time in going toe to toe with both opponents in and out of the ring. Unfortunately time was against the challengers in this one as the television time limit ran out allowing the Glamour Girls to retain the titles in their version four defense of the championship.

2) Don Muraco defeated Mr. X:
The “Magnificent” Don Muraco out of Sunset Beach, HI, is not used to being cheered but his recent altercation with Kevin Sullivan and Sir Oliver Humperdink in the SWA has seemed to change all of that. Muraco was very impressive in taking apart the winless Mr. X in this one including nailing him with the Asiatic Spike. He also used the over the shoulder backbreaker before dropping Mr. X with a Neckbreaker to score a snake eyes pin.

3) Chris Candido defeated George South:
A highly competitive match between George South and former AWE star the “Suicide Blonde” Chris Candido concluded with a most interesting turn of events. South had the crowd on his side as he looked to score an upset win over Candido who is no longer accompanied by the beautiful Sunny. He had Candido on the defensive for a while but was unable to put him away. Candido turned things around hitting a diving headbutt before delivering the devastating Blonde Bomb, a top rope power bomb, to score the pin. As Candido was making his way out of the ring he was met by two men…

●SWA manager “Elegant” Eddie Fyne and the “King of Wrestling” Bobby Shane met Chris Candido at ringside following his match. Lance Russell made his way over but Shane shielded him as Fyne discussed things with Candido. The two men wound up shaking hands and Fyne then said the “deal is finalized” and turned to the camera saying that the world would soon be introduced to a great new tag team in the Blonde Bombers – Chris Candido & Bobby Shane! Russell said that was huge news and Fyne agreed stating that the team will have an open contract for their debut match which will be on the next SWA card in Lexington, KY (Card #765).

4) Ted Dibiase & Kurrgan defeated Heartbreak Express:
A special tag team attraction saw the cult favorite Heartbreak Express (Fabulous Phil Davis & Superstar Sean Davis) take on the GWA duo of the “Million $ Man” Ted Dibiase & Kurrgan, his seven-foot tall bodyguard from Cape Town, South Africa. Dibiase, a former two-time LOW World Heavyweight champion, looked great during his time in including nearly putting Phil away with the Million Dollar Sleeper. The Express showed great fire and nearly scored a huge win when they combined to hit The Heartbreaker on Kurrgan. The big man managed to escape defeat and set up the victory after laying Sean out with a sidewalk slam. Dibiase took advantage of the situation and caught Sean with a Backward Elbow off of the Ropes to score the pin.

5) Tony Atlas defeated Dupae Rupa:
“Mr. USA” Tony Atlas, a popular star out of the NWC took on “The Belgian Brawler” Dupae Rupa in an exciting bout. Atlas survived an early delivery of the Belgian Waffle and bounced back nailing Rupa with the jumping headbutt. He had Rupa reeling by the end and scored the pin with the Press Slam and Splash combo.

6) Fritz Von Goering & Lanny Poffo defeated P.N. News & Koko B. Ware:
The final match on the broadcast featured the popular combination “The Rapmaster” P.N. News & “The Birdman” Koko B. Ware taking on Fritz Von Goering & “The Genius” Lanny Poffo. The brewing rivalry between News and Von Goering in PCW, which included Von Goering assisting Poffo in a win over News, led to this tag team challenge. News picked Ware, who like Poffo also competes in ASW, as his mystery partner for the match. Ware nearly won it when he hit the Ghostbuster on Von Goering but the German star got his foot on the bottom rope to break up the count. The tense battle ended when Von Goering thwarted a pin save attempt by Ware and caught News with a Knee Drop to the Throat to score the pin. It was another tough loss for News at the hands of Von Goering who boasted over his victory.

[Crimson Cross]

I was wanting Dupae Rupa to win over Tony Atlas, but seeing Fritz Von Goering & Lanny Poffo win is pretty cool stuff. I'm a Frank Gotch fan, but I'm pulling for The Sheik to win the World Title...

[EpicDave]

Kurrgan as bodyguard for DiBiase is a great pairing. I love Lance Russell! He doesn't get his due as a broadcaster despite many years of greatness toiling in the imposing shadow of the Dean, Gordon Solie.

[cruefan68]

Thanks for the comments Crimson and Daytondave. Dupae Rupa doesn't win often in my fed but he is always in the match. I agree on Lance Russell who is, hands down, my all-time favorite announcer. That's why I use him and Dave Brown as the commentary team for ASW. Anyway, up next is the start of a three-show tour of Japan for Kings Road United...

LOW Kings Road United - Tsukisamu Green Dome - Tsukisamu, Japan (Card #762)

1) 20-Man Battle Royal: Nick Bockwinkel eliminated Antonio Inoki to win:
This opening match Battle Royal was held to determine the five singles matches on the card, a tag team match, and a six-man tag team match by process of the order of elimination making for some potential interesting bouts. The special stipulation involving the six-man tag team match was that the winner and the last man eliminated would be the captains for their respective sides and would get to choose their partners from among the final six to make up the teams in the match. It came down to a great battle between Antonio Inoki and former two-time LOW World Heavyweight champion Nick Bockwinkel. Inoki, fired up from earlier eliminating friendly rival Shohei “Giant” Baba, was looking to get the big win but was upended by Bockwinkel in the end. Bockwinkel, currently a free agent in LOW, scored an impressive five eliminations in the match, including both of The Mongols, and earned the right to pick first for his team in the big six-man tag team main event opposite Inoki.

Order of Elimination:

● Ox Baker (by Boris Zhukov)
● Johnny Saint (by Mr. Saito)
● Bruiser Brody (by Rikidozan)
● The Destroyer (by Jim Brunzell)
● Doug Gilbert (by S.D. Jones)
● Geeto Mongol (by Nick Bockwinkel)
● Bepo Mongol (by Nick Bockwinkel)
● Genghis Khan (by Masked Superstar)
● Jushin Liger (by Antonio Inoki)
● Mr. Saito (by C.W. Anderson)
● C.W. Anderson (by Mr. Fuji)
● Boris Zhukov (by Rikidozan)
● Rikidozan (by Giant Baba)
● S.D. Jones (by Jim Brunzell)
● Mr. Fuji (by Nick Bockwinkel)
● Jim Brunzell (by Masked Superstar)
● Giant Baba (by Antonio Inoki)
● Masked Superstar (by Nick Bockwinkel)
● Antonio Inoki (by Nick Bockwinkel)
W) Nick Bockwinkel

2) Ox Baker defeated Johnny Saint:
Former LOW Junior Heavyweight champion Johnny Saint, one of the most gifted technical wrestlers in LOW, had a tough task in facing the sadistic Ox Baker, the “Master of the Heart Punch”. Baker was still reeling from being eliminated first in the Battle Royal and he took it out on Saint here scoring a slew of near falls with the shoulder breaker and neckbreaker. The finish saw Baker with a forearm shot off the second rope followed up by the Heart Punch for the pin.

3) Bruiser Brody defeated The Destroyer by DQ:
A battle between two hardened veterans saw freelance star Bruiser Brody take on the “Intelligent, Sensational” Destroyer. Both men are incredibly popular in Japan but the crowd backed The Destroyer here due to his being a full-time member of the KRU roster. Brody entered to “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin wildly swinging his chain and scattering the fans at ringside. He dominated the early action scoring a two count with a twisting vertical suplex and delivering a devastating piledriver. He then went for a Tombstone Piledriver (ch) but The Destroyer fought out of it and hit the sensational suplex. Brody bailed out of the ring and The Destroyer followed as the two began trading heavy blows. The Destroyer lost his cool and blasted Brody with a chair shot resulting in the disqualification decision.

4) Geeto Mongol defeated Doug Gilbert:
A rare singles match for Geeto Mongol saw him take on Doug Gilbert out of Pacific Coast Wrestling. Gilbert, the young brother of SWA star “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert, looked good early taking the fight to his larger opponent. He made the mistake of taking it out to the floor and Geeto took over with a punishing attack. A short time later it was Geeto nailing Gilbert with the devastating Top Rope Knee Drop to score the pin.

5) Jushin Liger & Mr. Saito defeated Bepo Mongol & Genghis Khan by DQ:
A unique tag team match set up by the order of elimination saw the uneasy alliance of Jushin “Thunder” Liger & Mr. Saito take on Bepo Mongol & Genghis Khan. This one was all action from the opening bell with Liger looking impressive despite giving up great size to the opposition. Bepo used his chains to assault Liger at one point and that set up Khan hitting a deadly throat chop for a near fall. Saito turned things around for his team scoring with an Oriental Leg Sweep on Khan. Liger then nailed Khan with the Liger Bomb for a big near fall. This one ultimately wound up on the outside where it was Bepo drawing the disqualification for his team as he assaulted Saito with the chains. Liger wound up saving Saito with a dive to the outside taking out Bepo and ending a wild tag team bout.

6) Boris Zhukov defeated C.W. Anderson:
Free agent Boris Zhukov out of Siberia, Russia, defeated C.W. Anderson in a fairly quick bout. Anderson has been hoping to make an impact as a member of the KRU roster but thus far has had trouble adapting. Zhukov has been impressive in previous outings for KRU including holding a victory over Jushin Liger. He returned with a vengeance as he roughed up Anderson with multiple headbutts and a second rope stomp. That set up the Diving Headbutt by Zhukov resulting in the pinfall victory.

7) Rikidozan defeated S.D. Jones:
The popular S.D. Jones of LOW All-Star Wrestling had a tall order here going against KRU founder Rikidozan. Jones had a solid performance in the Battle Royal and was hoping to pull off the upset in this one. Though Jones never really had Rikidozan in trouble he did impress showing great resiliency including kicking out after he was nailed with the Hiplock. Rikidozan had to dig down deep and finally put Jones away after a barrage of Scoop Slams applying a press for the pin. The crowd gave Jones a nice ovation afterward and Rikidozan thanked him for a good match as the two shook hands.

8) Nick Bockwinkel, Giant Baba, & Mr. Fuji defeated Antonio Inoki, Masked Superstar, & Jim Brunzell by DQ:
The last six men standing in the opening match Battle Royal assembled in the ring for the main event and as the winner of the match it was Nick Bockwinkel receiving the opportunity to pick first for his team and he selected Shohei “Giant” Baba. Antonio Inoki, perhaps upset over losing out on Baba, selected the Masked Superstar for his team. Mr. Fuji was then selected by Bockwinkel leaving Jim Brunzell to join the team captained by Inoki. Early action saw Bockwinkel in control and he caught Inoki in the Bockwinkel Sleeper for a submission chance. The Superstar tagged in and looked in prime form as he took over assaulting both Bockwinkel and Baba using key moves like the Superstar Clothesline. Fuji looked good on the other side catching the Superstar with a Kamikaze clothesline and nearly beat the masked man by count out moments later. The finish saw Bockwinkel going for the submission on the Superstar with an abdominal stretch but Brunzell broke it up with a double axe handle off of the top rope. The referee spotted the infraction, as it is illegal to make a top rope save in tag team matches under LOW rules, and called for the bell giving Bockwinkel, Baba, and Fuji a disqualification victory.

[Vegas]

I enjoyed the first night of King's Road United!

great to see one of my personal LOW favorites Nick Bockwinkel win the battle royal

Destroyer vs Brody is indeed a great matchup especially in Japan. Cruefan68, have you read The Destroyer's book? I read it last year and, although I knew The Destroyer was really popular in Japan, I didn't know to exactly what extent until I read that book.

[bookerbill]

Enjoyed the first night of action. Booking the bouts via the battle royal was an interesting twist and made for some fresh matches. Brody Destroyer looked great. Might be a little too gimmicky for japan but fun to play out I bet

[Crimson Cross]

Solid night one and seeing Ox Baker over Johnny Saint is pretty huge and I also liked Nick Bockwinkel winning the Battle Royal...

[cruefan68]

Thanks as always for the comments Vegas, Bookerbill, and Crimson. I really have fun setting up the KRU tours.

@vegas: I haven't had a chance to read The Destroyer's book yet but I do want to. He really had an amazing career and his status in Japan is the reason why I made him a part of the KRU roster.

bookerbill: The Battle Royal setting up the matches is a concept I have used in the past but I agree it might be too much of a gimmick for Japan, but then again they do have gimmick groups like DDT. Anyway it was really fun to do specially since I had no idea what matches would be set up coming out of it and I liked using it for the tour opening show.

@crimson Cross: Yeah Nick Bockwinkel winning was pretty cool. He has been on my free agent list for a while now and I figured I would book him on the KRU tour. I'm hoping to have him signed to one of my territories soon. Ox Baker over Johnny Saint came as a surprise to me and it was pretty one sided as well. The dice really favovered the Ox in that match.

[cruefan68]

Next up is night two of the KRU tour, I hope you enjoy the action...

LOW Kings Road United - Chiba Port Arena - Chiba, Japan (Card #763)

1) S.D. Jones defeated Genghis Khan:
A big upset in the opener saw the popular S.D. Jones score a victory over the dangerous Genghis Khan. Jones took the fight to Khan at the opening bell and came away with a quick pinfall win after delivering a backdrop and a Headbutt. Khan was stunned after taking the three count and he went after the referee who quickly jumped out of the ring to safety. The big victory by Jones will most likely not please manager Sir Oliver Humperdink who has Khan under contract in the SWA.

2) C.W. Anderson defeated Johnny Saint:
Another one that could be termed an upset saw C.W. Anderson score his first victory under the KRU banner as he defeated former LOW Junior Heavyweight champion Johnny Saint. It was all Saint early as he used his great technical skill to set the pace including trapping Anderson in the Three In One for a submission chance. He also used on the elevated surfboard and The Russ Abbot to tie up the Raleigh, NC, native. Anderson bounced back going to work on the arm before hitting his trademark Spinebuster for a big near fall. He had Saint in trouble going into the home stretch and connected with the Anderson Left Hand to score a snake eyes pin.

3) Boris Zhukov defeated Doug Gilbert:
A tense battle saw PCW star Doug Gilbert out of Lexington, TN, take on free agent Boris Zhukov out of Siberia, Russia. After being selected by Nick Bockwinkel to team with him on the final night of the tour, Zhukov was looking to impress and he overpowered Gilbert early. Gilbert, however, battled back hard and scored a near fall after executing a neckbreaker. He kept control until a dive off the top rope took out both Zhukov and the referee. Zhukov recovered first and assaulted Gilbert with multiple headbutts and the Soviet Slam. After the referee recovered he would toll the three count as Zhukov connected with a Diving Headbutt on Gilbert for the pin.

4) Mr. Fuji defeated Jushin Liger:
This was a very controversial bout as Jushin Liger, a record seven-time LOW Junior Heavyweight champion, took on Mr. Fuji. Also known as the “devious one”, the rulebreaking Fuji jumped Liger before the bell and quickly trapped him in the Fuji Nerve Grip. The punishing hold took its toll on Liger and a short time later it was Fuji delivering the Banzai Drop to score the pin.

5) Nick Bockwinkel defeated Jim Brunzell by DQ:
The popular Jim Brunzell, now competing in the AWE, took on free agent star Nick Bockwinkel, a two-time LOW World Heavyweight champion, in a match with a surprise result. Early action saw Brunzell attempt to outwrestle Bockwinkel but that backfired when the Beverly Hills, CA, native countered out of a hip toss with a back suplex. Another back suplex followed before he trapped Brunzell in the Bockwinkel Sleeper which was broken up in the ropes. From there it was Bockwinkel in control including laying Brunzell out with a piledriver. Brunzell bailed out of the ring and Bockwinkel followed leading to a battle on the floor. Brunzell lost his cool and sent a charging Bockwinkel crashing into the announce table prompting a disqualification call by the referee. It was a rare DQ loss for Brunzell who argued with the referee after the match protesting the decision.

6) Antonio Inoki defeated Mr. Saito:
A feature match saw the popular Antonio Inoki square off against Mr. Saito, a powerful and deadly wrestler nicknamed “Mr. Torture”. These two are no strangers to each other and this was an intense battle. Inoki controlled early scoring a near fall with a top rope kneedrop and then nearly winning it by count out after delivering a big suplex on the floor. Saito got a near fall of his own which came in controversial fashion after Inoki hit the Enzuigiri. Mr. Fuji, Saito’s tag team partner, ran down to ringside and tossed salt in the eyes of Inoki allowing Saito to roll him up for the pin attempt. Inoki was able to escape and battled back trapping Saito in the devastating Cobra Twist resulting in a snake eyes submission victory. He barely had time to celebrate his win, though, as Fuji jumped him from behind and was joined by Saito for a two-on-one attack. The beatdown continued until Rikidozan, scheduled for the next match, ran down to save Inoki driving both Fuji and Saito out of the ring.

7) Rikidozan, Giant Baba, & The Destroyer defeated Bruiser Brody & The Mongols:
Big six-man tag team action saw Rikidozan, Giant Baba, & The Destroyer taking on the equally formidable trio of Bruiser Brody & The Mongols (Bepo & Geeto). It was a physical war from the opening bell with both teams looking to secure the victory. Brody was the star for his team taking the fight to Rikidozan with the two ring warriors trading stiff blows. Baba rallied his team back into it scoring with a Baba Chop on Bepo. That set up The Destroyer who applied the Figure Four Leglock but Bepo was able to grab the ropes for a break. Later action saw Bepo the victim again as Baba caught him with the Jumping Neckbreaker Drop but Geeto was able to break up the pin. The tremendous battle ended when The Destroyer trapped Bepo in the Single Leg Boston Crab and cinched it on scoring the submission victory both Rikidozan and Baba prevented Brody and Geeto from making the save.

8) The Sheik & Ox Baker defeated Harley Race & Masked Superstar:
The main event saw Harley Race & Masked Superstar do battle with The Sheik & Ox Baker who were accompanied by manager Abdullah Farouk. This was also a preview of the final night of the tour in Sapporo where Race challenges The Sheik for the LOW International Heavyweight title. Race and The Sheik had some great exchanges in this match including Race delivering a barrage of headbutts. Baker helped turned things around for his team scoring a near fall on the Superstar after he hit a counter clothesline out of the corner. Later action saw the masked man nearly counted out after Baker nailed him with the Heart Punch on the floor. A last second save by Race prevented that from happening as he rolled the Superstar back into the ring. Baker and The Sheik took advantage of the situation, however, as they prevented the Superstar from tagging out. Farouk barked out orders from ringside as The Sheik trapped the Superstar in the Sadistic Hammerlock riding it to a submission victory as Baker prevented Race from making the save. The post-match saw Race get into an intense stare down with The Sheik before Farouk and Baker convinced the “Madman from Syria” to leave the ring.