LOW - Legends of Wrestling

[cruefan68]

CHIKARA YOUNG LIONS CUP

14) Frightmare defeated Lince Dorado*
(Young Lions Cup VIII in Reading, PA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 10)

15) The Betrayer
(Card #539 in Reading, PA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 7)

16) Kodama
(Card #679 in Manhattan, NY)
(Successful Title Defenses: 0)

17) Frightmare (2)
(Card #719 in Taylor, MI)
(Successful Title Defenses: 3)

18) Tyler Black
(Card #819 in Revere, MA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 0)

19) Frightmare (3)
(Card #839 in Cleveland, OH)
(Successful Title Defenses: 1)

*Title lineage continued from actual CHIKARA title history*

[cruefan68]

CHIKARA CAMPEONATOS DE PAREJAS

8) Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw defeated Claudio Castagnoli & Ares*
(Reality is Relative in Reading, PA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 7)

9) Sly Drury & Paralyze
(Card #559 in Philadelphia, PA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 1)

10) Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw (2)
(Card #599 in Los Angeles, CA)
(Succesful Title Defenses: 0)

11) Sly Drury & Paralyze (2)
(Card #629 in Hamden, CT)
(Successful Title Defenses: 1)

12) The Roughnecks
(Card #659 in Union City, NJ)
(Successful Title Defenses: 6)

13) The Colony
(Card #799 in Atlanta, GA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 1)

14) Osirian Portal
(Card #839 in Cleveland, OH)
(Successful Title Defenses: 0)

15) F.I.S.T. (Icarus, Chuck Taylor, & Johnny Gargano)
(Card #859 in Easton, PA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 0)

16) The Batiri
(Card #879 in Revere, MA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 0)

17) Osirian Portal (2)
(Card #889 in Easton, PA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 0)

*Title lineage continued from actual CHIKARA title history*

[cruefan68]

CHIKARA KING OF TRIOS WINNERS

6) Chris Hero, Dr. Cube, & Gran Akuma
(Defeated El Generico & The Throwbacks in TF in Philadelphia, PA - Card #510)

7) CM Punk, Colt Cabana, & Bryan Danielson
(Defeated Valiant Brothers & Penny Banner in TF in Philadelphia, PA - Card #610)

8) Osirian Portal & Gran Akuma
(Defeted CM Punk, Colt Cabana, & Bryan Danielson in TF in Philadelphia, PA - Card #710)

9) Jigsaw, Hallowicked, & Frightmare
(Defeated Mike Quackenbush, Colt Cabana, & Brutus Beefcake in TF in Philadelphia, PA - Card #810)

*Tournament lineage continued from actual CHIKARA history*

IWA KING OF TRIOS WINNERS

10) Delirious, Rhino, & Matt Taven
(Defeated AJ Styles, Matt Jackson, & Nick Jackson in TF in Philadelphia, PA - Card #910)

11) Jon Moxley, Tyler Black & Drew Galloway
(Defeated Jay Lethal, Austin Aries & Moose in TF in Philadelphia, PA - Card #1010)

12) AJ Styles, Eddie Edwards & Trent Barreta
(Defeated Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli & Princess Kimberlee in TF in Philadelphia, PA - Card #1110)

13) The Mack, Moose & Dante Fox
(Defeated Mil Mascaras, The Destroyer & Tiger Mask in TF in Philadelphia, PA - Card #1210)

[cruefan68]

RING OF HONOR HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

1) Davey Richards defeated El Generico (TF)
(Card #607 in Baltimore, MD)
(Successful Title Defenses: 7)

2) Kevin Steen
(Card #740 in Framingham, MA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 2)

3) Adam Cole
(Card #780 in Santa Ana, CA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 1)

4) AJ Styles
(Card #799 in Atlanta, GA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 1)

5) Michael Elgin
(Card #830 in Nashville, TN - Triple Threat Match also involving Adam Cole)
(Successful Title Defenses: 1)

6) Adam Cole (2)
(Card #860 in Rahway, NJ)
(Successful Title Defenses: 0)

7) Michael Elgin (2)
(CArd #880 in Manhattan, NY)
(Successful Title Defenses: 1)

[cruefan68]

RING OF HONOR TAG TEAM TITLES

1) Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas defeated Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs (TF)
(Card #620 in Chicago Ridge, IL)
(Successful Title Defenses: 4)

2) Mark & Jay Briscoe
(Card #680 in Manhattan, NY)
(Successful Title Defenses: 2)

3) Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (2)
(Card #740 in Framingham, MA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 2)

4) Kevin Steen & Jimmy Jacobs
(Card #800 in Atlanta, GA)
(Successful Title Defenses: 2)

5) Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (3)
(Card #840 in Chicago Ridge, IL)
(Successful Title Defenses: 3)

[cruefan68]

I am starting this section as a way to preserve the WrestleCade results, I will add to it when I have time:

LOW WrestleCade I - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY (Card #100)

1) Johnny Valiant defeated S.D. Jones (pinfall - Top Rope Elbow)
2) Antonino Rocca defeated Iron Mike Sharpe (submission - Argentine Backbreaker)
3) Larry Zbyszko defeated The Sandman (pinfall - Piledriver)
4) Diamond Dallas Page & Roddy Piper defeated Cowboy Bob Orton & Don Muraco (Page pinned Orton - Discuss Clothesline)
5) Sgt. Slaughter defeated Superstar Billy Graham by DQ (interference by Ivan Koloff)
6) Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Lex Luger, & Scott Norton defeated Andre the Giant, Giant Baba, & Bruno Sammartino (Hogan pinned Sammartino - Legdrop)
7) LOW International Heavyweight title: Johnny Valentine© defeated Buddy Rogers (pinfall - Atomic Skullcrusher) to retain the title
8) LOW World tag team titles: Road Warriors© defeated Nikolai Volkoff & Killer Kowalski (Animal pinned Volkoff - Flying Shoulder Tackle) to retain the titles
9) Texas Death Match: King Kong Bundy defeated Wolf (pinfall - Avalanche)
10) LOW World Heavyweight title: Jimmy Snuka defeated Mil Mascaras© by count out - Mascaras retained the title

(Note: This was the first supercard for LOW, WrestleCade I, which is a combination of WrestleMania and Starrcade. I even patterned the show after the early major shows and had some preliminary bouts to open things up. The nWo made a huge statement on the show with Hogan pinning Sammartino to win the six-man tag. It was overall a real fun show but I was disappointed with the main event finish being a count out though it was a good match. This show also marked the debuts of Ivan Koloff, S.D. Jones, and the bootleg Roddy Piper.)

[cruefan68]

LOW WrestleCade II - Tokyo Dome - Tokyo, Japan (Card #200)

1) Angelo Mosca defeated D-Lo Brown (pinfall - Running Clothesline)
2) Bryan Danielson defeated Bob Roop (submission - Cattle Mutilation)
3) Tiger Mask & Jushin Liger defeated Pepper Gomez & Danny Hodge (Liger pinned Gomez - Shoda)
4) LOW Junior Heavyweight title: Sabu defeated Billy Red Lyons (pinfall - Arabian Facebuster) to win the title
5) Fabulous Ones defeated Midnight Express by DQ (interference by Jim Cornette)
6) 22-Man Battle Royal for $50,000: The French Angel eliminated One Man Gang to win
(Participants: Greg Valentine, One Man Gang, Ricky Steamboat, Rick Rude, Antonino Rocca, Diamond Dallas Page, Jimmy Snuka, Don Muraco, The Crusher, Jim Londos, Nick Bockwinkel, Masked Superstar, The Sheik, Abdullah the Butcher, Roddy Piper, The French Angel, Frank Gotch, Exotic Adrian Street, Larry Zbyszko, Iron Sheik, Jerry Lawler, and Superstar Billy Graham)
7) Harley Race defeated Johnny Valentine (pinfall - Piledriver)
8) Andre the Giant & Bruno Sammartino vs. King Kong Bundy & Ivan Koloff was a Draw
9) LOW International Heavyweight title: Rob Van Dam defeated Killer Kowalski (pinfall - Five Star Frog Splash) to win the title
10) LOW World tag team titles: Road Warriors defeated Ted Dibiase & Steve Williams (Animal pinned Williams - Doomsday Device) to win the titles
11) LOW World Heavyweight title: Mil Mascaras defeated Bobo Brazil (pinfall - Flying Crossbody Attack) to win the title
12) War Games - LOW International vs. nWo - Losing Team Leaves LOW
Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki, Rikidozan, Bruiser Brody, & The Destroyer defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Giant Machine, Lex Luger, Scott Norton, & Buff Bagwell
Result: Luger surrendered after Brody hung him with a chain strung through the top of the cage and as a result the nWo have to leave LOW

(Note: A huge show to say the least and the main event capped off the end of the nWo in LOW as Bruiser Brody led the LOW International team to a violent victory over Hollywood Hulk Hogan and company in War Games. It should be noted that no nWo member has returned to LOW since this defeat. Amazingly all four title matches saw a changing of the guard with Mil Mascaras, Road Warriors, Rob Van Dam, and Sabu all leaving the event wearing championship gold. The win by Mascaras made him the first-ever three-time LOW World Heavyweight champion while Hawk & Animal became the first four-time world tag team champions beating their rivals Dibiase & Williams.)

[cruefan68]

LOW WrestleCade III - Kiel Auditorium - St. Louis, MO (Card #300)

1) Decision Match for a LOW World Heavyweight Title Shot: Mil Mascaras defeated Rob Van Dam by DQ (RVD was caught by the referee when hitting the Van Daminator). A solid opener with an unfortunate finish. RVD hit a nice flip dive over the ropes onto Mascaras on the floor. He got overzealous, though, and brought a chair back in and hit the Van Daminator right in front of the referee prompting the DQ call. Both men shook hands afterward but RVD was visibly upset over basically costing himself a world title opportunity. I look forward to a rematch between these two.

2) Top Contenders Tag Team Challenge: Giant Baba & Bobo Brazil defeated Buddy Rogers & Jimmy Snuka (Brazil pinned Rogers - Big Hammer Punch). Lots of star power here but it was surprisingly one-sided as Rogers and Snuka couldn't seem to get on track. Big win for Baba and Brazil on the biggest stage in LOW.

3) LOW Women's title: Jaguar Yokota defeated Sherri Martel© (pinfall - Underhook Power Bomb) to win the title. Martel had been ducking Yokota for a few weeks before agreeing to the match. She should have kept ducking. A real good match, though, with Martel coming close to retaining but Jaguar won it in the end becoming the first woman other than Martel, Ida Mae Martinez, and Penny Banner to win the championship in LOW.

4) Falls Count Anywhere Match: Abdullah the Butcher & Greg Valentine defeated Jimmy Valiant & Bob Armstrong (Abdullah pinned Armstrong - Jumping Elbowdrop). A big win for Sir Oliver Humperdink and the House of Humperdink over their chief rivals in the LOW South promotion. Brad Armstrong made a surprise return from injury attacking the Butcher when he tried to pin "Bullet" Bob in the bathroom of all places. All except Valentine were busted open and in the end Butcher hit his finisher on Bob for the win.

5) LOW Junior Heavyweight title: Jushin Liger defeated Tiger Mask (pinfall - La Magistral) to win the title. Wow what a match. Liger made LOW history by becoming the first man to win the belt three times. A great moment in the match saw Tiger hit his patented Space Flying Tiger Drop. The finish saw Tiger miss with a diving bodypress off the top rope allowing Liger to execute La Magistral for the pin.

6) PWI Invitational Cup Tournament Final: Nick Bockwinkel defeated Ricky Steamboat (pinfall - Flying Cross Bodypress) to win the tournament. Bockwinkel's manager Bobby Heenan had more than a few heart scares in this one. A great bout from start to finish. Steamboat kept Bockwinkel off balance with his patented deep armdrags and double chops before using a sleeper hold and his Double Chickenwing Suplex for a possible win. Late in the match he hit his patented Flying Bodypress only to have Bockwinkel kick out just before the three count. The finish saw both men exhausted when Bockwinkel came off the ropes with a flying cross bodypress from which Steamboat couldn't kick out of and the three count was tolled. PWI Editor Bill Apter was on hand to present Bockwinkel with a beautiful trophy for his efforts. The two men shook hands afterward to the surprise of the crowd and Heenan.

7) War of the Gargantuans: Andre the Giant defeated King Kong Bundy by DQ (outside ring attack). This much anticipated battle had a disappointing finish. Bundy tried to overpower Andre early but it didn't work. Andre squashed him in the corner and followed him out of the ring. The two began trading heavy blows and neither had an interest in getting back inside the ring. The ref called for the bell after Andre was busted open following a run into the ringpost. This could have been ruled a double count out or no-contest but the referee disqualified Bundy instead. Manager Bobby Heenan was irate at a post-show press conference and demanded a rematch for Bundy.

8) Dog Collar Match: Fritz Von Goering defeated Roddy Piper (submission - Reverse Full Nelson using the chain). Wow this result surprised me but a huge win for Von Goering. possibly the biggest win he has scored in LOW. It was a brutal and bloody battle ending when Piper seemingly passed out while locked in the hold and the referee called for the bell. Von Georing boasted afterward over his win while Piper was unavailable for comment, though he was receiving medical attention.

9) Loser Leaves LOW: Bruno Sammartino defeated Ivan Koloff (submission - Italian Backbreaker). After many bloody battles between these two, some of which saw Koloff get the better of his rival, Sammartino finally gained a measure of revenge. The feud had become so heated that LOW Commissioner Massif had no choice but to sign off in this match. Koloff put in a solid performance but in the end the "Living Legend" prevailed with his patented finisher and that marked the end for the "Russian Bear" in LOW for the foreseeable future.

10) LOW International Heavyweight title: Antonio Inoki defeated The Sheik© by DQ (Sheik hit the referee with his Spike) - Sheik retained the title. A very controversial finish here as The Sheik, desperate after an Inoki offensive outburst, used his trusty Spike on both Inoki and the referee to draw the DQ. Sheik retained the belt but left plenty of room open for a rematch down the line. A good match while it lasted, though.

11) LOW World tag team titles: Road Warriors© defeated Ted Dibiase & Steve Williams (Hawk pinned Dibiase - Doomsday Device) to retain the titles. The Legion of Doom avenged their manager Paul Ellering, who was at ringside, by turning back the challenge of former champions Dibiase & Williams. It was another great battle between the two teams who have pretty much dominated the tag title scene in LOW over the past calendar year. The finish saw Williams neutralized on the outside allowing the LOD to hit their Doomsday Device on Dibiase, perhaps not one hundred percent recovered from his neck injury, for the pin.

12) LOW World Heavyweight title: Mil Mascaras defeated Harley Race (submission - Indian Deathlock) to win the title. Having lost the world title to Race in his home country of Mexico, Mascaras was presented with the opportunity to return the favor and beat Race in his home base of Missouri. A tremendous match from start to finish with both scoring big near falls (Mascaras had six tokens and Race had seven). After surviving a diving headbutt, Mascaras was able to lock on the Indian Deathlock in mid-ring and Race was unable to escape forcing the submission finish. The win made Mascaras the first-ever five-time world heavyweight champion in LOW.

(Notes: A fantastic show and a real fun one to play out. Three title changes and some surprise results will help WrestleCade III go down in history for LOW. The next show will be Card #301 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, under the LOW banner which should be real interesting. I am planning some reshuffling of talent among my four promotions, with some possible additions from the free agent list, upcoming so expect some more excitement in LOW.)

[cruefan68]

LOW WrestleCade IV - The Superdome - New Orleans, LA (Card #400)

1) Tag Team Gauntlet Match for a shot at the LOW World tag team titles:
The teams entered randomly and it started out with Paul London & Brian Kendrick of the AWE facing the SWA duo of Bob Roop & The Zodiac. The action was fast and furious with Kendrick catching Roop with a Tornado DDT and Sliced Bread #2 for a big near fall in the early going. The Zodiac saved Roop and pounded away on Kendrick in and out of the ring. He used a neckbreaker and then a double-team clothesline before Roop pinned Kendrick with his Shoulder Breaker...Axis of Violence members Steve "Dr. Death" Williams and Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy hit the ring next and had a wild brawl with Roop and The Zodiac. Things spilled out to the floor and The Zodiac wound up getting disqualified when he hit Gordy with a chair shot...The Fabulous Kangaroos, Al Costello & Roy Heffernan along with manager Wild Red Berry, were the fourth team in. They jumped Williams and Gordy immediately but that backfired as Gordy hit Costello with the Oriental Spike for a near fall. The turning point came when Williams, after a press slam, went up to the top rope but Costello picked him off with a bodyslam. After a few exchanges, Berry got involved tripping up Williams leading to the Kangaroos hitting the Boomerang on him with Costello scoring the pin...Jim Cornette's Midnight Express duo of "Loverboy" Dennis Condrey & "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton were the fifth team in and they went straight at it with the Kangaroos. It was a wild battle featuring interference from both Cornette and Berry. The finish saw Costello eliminate Eaton via pinfall after combining with Heffernan on a double team pummel...Former LOW World tag team champions Frank Gotch & Johnny Valentine entered next and had an incredible battle with the Kangaroos. There were tons of near falls and key pin saves throughout but somehow the fatigued Costello and Heffernan came away with the win. The finish saw the Kangaroos assaulting Valentine in the corner while their manager, Berry, hit Gotch with the boomerang. That allowed the Kangaroos to hit their own Boomerang on Gotch with Heffernan covering him for the pin...The New Age Outlaws, B.G. James & Kip James, were in next and gave the Kangaroos no time to rest. B.G. assaulted Heffernan with the James Gang Pounce and combined with Kip on a spike piledriver. Somehow the Kangaroos fought back and got the heat on B.G. for a stretch. The finish saw Heffernan run B.G. into the ring post before combining with Costello on the Boomerang for the pin...and, last in were Billy Red Lyons & Dewey Robertson and just as they hit the ring Berry tripped up Robertson and held his leg as the Kangaroos pounced on Lyons. They hit the Boomerang on him and Heffernan made the cover but Robertson made the save at the last second. The two teams went on to have a solid back-and-forth exchange before Heffernan caught Lyons in the Step Over Toehold. Robertson made the save but then, as the ref backed him out, the Kangaroos hit another Boomerang on Lyons with Heffernan scoring the pin. The amazing victory by the Kangaroos sent them on to a match with LOW World tag team champions the Road Warriors, Hawk & Animal, later on the card.

Order of Elimination:

1) Paul London & Brian Kendrick
2) Bob Roop & The Zodiac
3) Steve Williams & Terry Gordy
4) Midnight Express
5) Frank Gotch & Johnny Valentine
6) New Age Outlaws
7) Billy Red Lyons & Dewey Robertson
W) Fabulous Kangaroos

2) LOW Women's title: Devil Masami defeated Jaguar Yokota to win the title:
It was a changing of the guard in the LOW Women's division as Devil Masami captured the title from long reigning champion Jaguar Yokota. The entire LOW women's division, including former champions Sherri Martel and Penny Banner, were seated at ringside to witness an epic rematch. Masami, who lost a TKO decision to Yokota in their previous match at Madison Square Garden, came out guns blazing using a backbreaker rack and power bomb for a near fall. Masami used her size advantage to punish Yokota before she countered a press slam and executed a double underhook suplex. Yokota fought back hitting a fisherman buster and her trademark Underhook Power Bomb for a near fall before missing with a dive out of the ring. Masami took over on offense and hit her Fire Valley move followed by a gutwrench suplex for another near fall. Yokota, thinking back to their prior match, struck back going after Masami's knees by applying the figure four leglock. Masami was able to get to the ropes, though, and rebounded with a running avalanche before catching Yokota with a devastating Power Bomb to score the pin. Masami taunted the defeated Yokota with the championship afterward adding more fuel to an already heated rivalry.

3) LOW Junior Heavyweight title: Tiger Mask defeated Jushin Liger to win the title:
A second straight title change saw the roles reversed from WrestleCade III as Jushin Liger came in defending the title but this time it was Tiger Mask who left with the gold. An absolutely epic match with too much action to describe. Tiger scored early with a jumping spin kick and a bridging back suplex for a near fall. He then went for a dive out of the ring but missed and was nearly counted out as Liger followed with a diving bodypress off the top rope to the floor. Back inside, Liger caught Tiger with a boot out of the corner and a Tombstone Piledriver for a near fall. From there the two exchanged a barrage of high flying moves and counter holds highlighted by Liger avoiding a flying bodypress and locking on a hanging surfboard for a submission chance. He used that hold several times, even branching into a dragon sleeper, but Tiger was able to fight out of it. Tiger scored a few more near falls, one off of a tombstone piledriver and another off a twisting moonsault, before Liger decked him with the shoda. A rolling koppo kick sent Tiger to the floor where Liger followed with a suicide dive through the ropes. The finish came a short time later when, after more out of the ring action, Tiger countered a shot by Liger from the middle rope and hoisted him up with a wicked Tiger Suplex to score the pin. The crowd erupted in cheers after the match and saw a show of respect as they shook hands and Liger handed the belt over to Tiger. The win made Tiger Mask a three-time LOW Junior Heavyweight champion.

4) Bobo Brazil, Diamond Dallas Page, & Sabu defeated The Sheik, Ox Baker, & The Missing Link by DQ:
This big six-man tag team match was presented courtesy of the NWC featuring six rivals going at it tooth-and-nail. The popular Brazil, DDP, and Sabu clashed with The Sheik, Baker, and the Link who were accompanied by their manager, Abdullah Farouk. Brazil countered early offense by The Sheik and delivered a Bobo Bodyslam for a near fall before locking on a grinding hammerlock for a submission chance. DDP tagged in but made the mistake of taking things to the floor where The Sheik mauled him. Sheik and Baker then took turns getting heat on DDP until he was able to tag Sabu. From there it was Sabu and The Missing Link battling it out and Sabu, after absorbing a charging headbutt into the corner, executed the controversial Arabian Facebuster. He went for the cover but The Sheik jumped in brutally attacking his nephew. It broke down from there and The Sheik's team wound up getting disqualified for excessive double-teaming as they tied Brazil in the ropes, with Baker blasting him with a Heart Punch, while Link drove DDP out to the floor with a headbutt. Sheik, meanwhile, butchered Sabu with a foreign object busting him open. After LOW officials were able to clear the ring, an angry Baker grabbed the mic and once again called out LOW Commissioner Massif saying he had a Heart Punch ready for him. There was no immediate response from Massif but this time Baker called him out on the biggest stage in LOW.

5) David vs. Goliath: Giant Baba defeated Bryan Danielson:
Bryan Danielson, accompanied by his mentor The Destroyer, took on Japan's Shohei "Giant" Baba in a match of biblical proportions, or David vs. Goliath. Danielson went for a running knee strike early but Baba shook off the blow. The near seven-foot Baba then sent Danielson into the corner but the "American Dragon" bounced out and both men were shook up from a double clothesline. Baba managed to recover first and took Danielson down with a piledriver followed by the 16-Mon Kick, or boot to the face. Danielson bailed out of the ring seeking advice from The Destroyer who, in past years, teamed with Baba in LOW. the advice did little to help Danielson, however, and the thirteen-inch height and one-hundred plus pound weight advantage enjoyed by Baba led to a victory for the Japanese star. After a a second Russian Legsweep, Baba connected with another 16-Mon Kick followed by a devastating Baba Chop to score the pin. The Destroyer confronted Baba post-match but Danielson stepped in between, bowing to his victorious opponent in a show of respect. Baba returned that respect by shaking hands with both Danielson and The Destroyer.

6) PWI Invitational Cup Tournament - Final Round: Iron Sheik defeated Hillbilly Jim to win the tournament:
The final round of the prestigious three-day tournament featured two very contrasting styles as Hillbilly Jim opposed the Iron Sheik. It was interesting to note that the Sheik, perhaps due to the warning issued by LOW Commissioner Massif regarding interference in the latter stages of the tournament, arrived without his employer Exotic Adrian Street or valet Miss Linda. Jim started out strong on offense connecting with a big boot to the face and a legdrop. Sheik countered with a blistering vertical suplex on the big Hillbilly and then was able to apply the Camel Clutch but not securely enough to score the submission. He then followed with a controversial kick with his loaded boot and applied a Boston Crab. Jim fought his way to the ropes for an escape but he was clearly hurting. He was able to mount another offensive, including another boot to the face, but then went for a chokeslam which Sheik countered out of. The resulting counter led to the Sheik locking on another Boston Crab and this time Jim was unable to fight out of it resulting in a submission. PWI Editor Bill Apter, along with LOW Commissioner Massif, entered the ring and presented the Iron Sheik with a beautiful trophy indicating that he was the winner of the second annual PWI Invitational Cup Tournament.

7) 20-Man Open Invitational Battle Royal - Winner faces Lou Thesz at MSG, First Man Eliminated has to leave LOW:
An amazing Battle Royal with a unique prize at stake and a bad reward for the first man eliminated from the match. When the dust settled it was two-time LOW World Heavyweight champion Harley Race who emerged as the winner meaning that he will face Lou Thesz in Thesz' official debut match in LOW at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY (Card #401). Race outlasted an incredible field of competitors and managed to oust the near 500-pound King Kong Bundy to get the win. The final five left in were Race, Bundy, Dick Hutton, Ilio DiPaolo, and the heavily favored Andre the Giant. It was Hutton who went toe-to-toe with Andre as the others licked their wounds before they decided to join in. It took a combined effort of four men to get Andre over the top rope to the floor. After that, Hutton squared off with his good friend DiPaolo as Race and Bundy fought on the other side of the ring. Hutton managed to eliminated DiPaolo after a Cowboy Backbreaker but then was jumped by Bundy who had knocked Race down. Bundy overpowered Hutton and had him near elimination when Race snuck up from behind. Bundy somehow avoided Race and it was Hutton who wound up sailing over the top rope to the floor. Race and Bundy then engaged in a furious battle that saw Race connect with a swinging neckbreaker followed by a dropkick that sent Bundy over the top rope. A jubilant Race dropped to his knees afterward having won a hard fought battle. Unfortunately for MCW star Eddie Kingston he was the first man eliminated from the match, courtesy of Bundy, and due to the stipulation he will be unable to compete in any LOW territory until after Card #450.

Order of Elimination:

01) Eddie Kingston (by King Kong Bundy)
02) Bruiser Brody (by Andre the Giant)
03) Playboy Buddy Rose (by Exotic Adrian Street)
04) Masked Superstar II (by Roderick Strong)
05) Roderick Strong (by Larry Zbyszko)
06) Larry Zbyszko (by Hacksaw Jim Duggan)
07) The Destroyer (by Rick Rude)
08) Rick Rude (by Stan Lane)
09) Captain Lou Albano (by Harley Race)
10) Nikolai Volkoff (by Ilio DiPaolo)
11) Mad Dog Vachon (by Greg Valentine)
12) Greg Valentine (by Andre the Giant)
13) Stan Lane (by Exotic Adrian Street)
14) Exotic Adrian Street (by Andre the Giant)
15) Hacksaw Jim Duggan (by Andre the Giant)
16) Andre the Giant (by Dick Hutton)*
17) Ilio DiPaolo (by Dick Hutton)
18) Dick Hutton (by Harley Race)
19) King Kong Bundy (by Harley Race)
-W) Harley Race

8) LOW International Heavyweight title: Buddy Rogers defeated Magnum T.A. to win the title:
Buddy Rogers, the original "Nature Boy", accompanied by manager Sir Oliver Humperdink, joined Johnny Valentine as the only triple crown winners in LOW history as he beat Magnum T.A. to win the International title. The match got off to a wild start as Rogers countered a corner whip by Magnum with a boot to the face and followed with a pole ram and a pin using the ropes for near falls. He took the match out to the floor but Magnum took over on offense and back inside he wound up hitting his trademark Belly to Belly Suplex but Humperdink distracted the referee. A frustrated Magnum poured it on after that hitting a series of dropkicks, a running forearm, and an atomic drop. He had Rogers reeling until another missed corner charge did him in as the "Nature Boy" executed a Roll-Up for the title winning pin.

9) LOW World tag team titles: Road Warriors© defeated Fabulous Kangaroos to retain the titles:
The Road Warriors, Hawk & Animal, accompanied by manager Paul Ellering, are six-time LOW World tag team champions and they showed why here by turning back the Fabulous Kangaroos, Al Costello & Roy Heffernan, accompanied by Wild Red Berry. Coming off an exhaustive win in the tag team gauntlet opening the card, the Kangaroos didn't need any distractions but they got one as they entered the ring and were ambushed by a newly signed LOW tag team, The Sheepherders, Butch Miller & Luke Williams. The wild men from New Zealand attacked their Australian rivals with reckless abandon before LOW officials were able to remove them from the ring. Hawk and Animal then charged down and went right to work on the Kangaroos who, to their credit, were able to stay in the match. They even managed to set up Hawk for a few near falls early with Costello's Aussie Suplex and a double-team pummel. Animal tagged in and began turning the tide as he dished out punishment to both Kangaroos and had Costello pinned with a Powerslam but Berry distracted the referee. Costello also found himself the victim of a submission hold as Hawk hoisted him up for an over the shoulder backbreaker. The finish of a hard fought battle saw the Warriors win out in a battle on the floor before nailing Costello with the Doomsday Device with Hawk applying the cover for the pin. It was a bitter defeat for the Australian team who have yet to win the LOW World tag team titles and now may have to deal with The Sheepherders in the near future.

10) 10-Man Elimination Tag Team Match: Axis of Violence (Ted Dibiase, Iron Mike Dibiase, Curt Hennig, Ivan Koloff, & Fritz Von Goering) defeated Team LOW (Red Bastien, Mil Mascaras, Angelo Mosca, Brian Blair, & Jim Brunzell):
This was everything it was advertised to be - a complete war of attrition coming right down to one man remaining on each side and it was the "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff, representing the Axis of Violence, beating Team LOW captain Red Bastien to emerge as the sole survivor. It was a huge psychological win for the AOV and Koloff, in particular, as he survived a brutal battle with rival Angelo "King Kong" Mosca and also scored a surprise pinfall elimination over five-time LOW World Heavyweight champion Mil Mascaras during the course of the battle. The final moments of the match saw Koloff left in a two-on-one situation facing Mosca and Bastien. Mosca's temper got the better of him, though, and he used Koloff's own chain on him drawing a disqualification. Koloff then hit Bastien with a chain shot behind the ref's back and covered Bastien but the "Flying Redhead" amazingly kicked out, much as he did earlier after taking a Loaded Glove shot from AOV leader Ted Dbiase. Koloff and Bastien had a great final battle before the "Russian Bear" connected with a brutal Top Rope Knee Drop and scored the pin. The AOV members returned to join Koloff post-match for a victory celebration and if this match was any indication it will be difficult for any opposition to put up a strong front against an organization that now has footholds in both the GWA and AWE.

Order of Elimination:

A) Iron Mike Dibiase was disqualified for hitting Angelo Mosca with a Chair Shot while Mosca had Ivan Koloff locked in the Sleeper Hold)
B) Curt Hennig pinned Jim Brunzell with the Hennig Plex following a Top Rope Knee Drop by Koloff
C) Ted Dibiase pinned Brian Blair after a shot with the Loaded Glove
D) Mil Mascaras pinned Ted Dibiase with a Flying Crossbody Attack eliminating the AOV leader
E) Mil Mascaras pinned Fritz Von Goering with a Flying Bodypress
F) Ivan Koloff pinned Mil Mascaras with a Falling Face Slam
G) Angelo Mosca over Curt Hennig by submission with the Sleeper Hold
H) Angelo Mosca was disqualified for choking out Ivan Koloff with his own chain
I) Ivan Koloff pinned Red Bastien with a Top Rope Knee Drop.

11) LOW World Heavyweight title: Nick Bockwinkel© defeated Rob Van Dam to retain the title:
The numbers game got to challenger Rob Van Dam here as he faced LOW World Heavyweight champion Nick Bockwinkel who was accompanied by his manager, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. It's no secret that Heenan craves the gold and will do anything to keep it making Bockwinkel an even more formidable champion. RVD controlled the early action with his high energy offense hitting a split legged moonsault for a near fall. Bockwinkel countered a backdrop attempt with a kick to the chest and then went on the offense connecting with a knee smash to the back and executing a piledriver. When the action went to the floor it was RVD taking over and after firing Bockwinkel back inside he leapt to the top rope and hit his patented Five Star Frog Splash. It looked like a sure pin but Heenan jumped on the apron distracting the referee. He also dropped a chair in and Bockwinkel grabbed it but was blasted with a Van Daminator by RVD. Another offensive by RVD saw him gain near falls with a bodyscissors cradle and the split legged moonsault. Bockwinkel countered with an abdominal stretch before RVD escaped sending both men over the top rope. RVD recovered first and returned to the ring only to dive out with a corkscrew pescado. Back inside, Bockwinkel hit another knee smash to the back sending RVD out to the floor. Heenan took advantage of Bockwinkel distracting the referee by running RVD head first into the ring post. That action busted RVD open and moments later the champion was able to lock on his patented Bockwinkel Sleeper. RVD tried to fight out of it but ultimately faded away along Bockwinkel to retain the title via submission. Heenan jumped for joy at ringside as his assistance helped Bockwinkel remain on top of LOW as the world heavyweight champion.

12) Double Retirement Match - Lou Thesz as the Special Referee: Bruno Sammartino defeated Ricky Steamboat:
This was it, the match everyone had been waiting for. The double retirement match pitting the "Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino against Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat with the added attraction of Lou Thesz, who recently signed a contract with LOW, as the special guest referee. Both men entered the ring to thunderous ovations earning the respect of a capacity crowd on an emotional night. Both men had quite storied careers in LOW as Sammartino, based out of the NWC in the northeast, held both the LOW World Heavyweight and tag team titles along with partner Antonino Rocca. Steamboat surprisingly never won a major championship but enjoyed a brilliant run as the most popular wrestler in the southern based SWA and made it to the finals of the PWI Invitational Cup Tournament at WrestleCade III losing a narrow decision to Nick Bockwinkel. Steamboat's incredible rivalries with Bruiser Brody and "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, among others, helped establish his legacy in LOW. Early action saw "The Dragon" in complete control using his speed advantage executing flying headscissors, dropkicks, and his patented deep arm drags. Sammartino, holding a decided power advantage, came back strong with a big haymaker before locking on a Bearhug for a submission chance. Thesz closely monitored the action as the two men traded punches and chops at various points taking the scientific element out of it. Steamboat, after a battle on the floor, hit his patented Flying Bodypress off the top rope but somehow Sammartino got his shoulder up before the three count. After another exchange on the outside, Sammartino caught Steamboat on the apron and lifted him back in over the top rope with his Italian Backbreaker. It looked to be over but somehow Steamboat slipped out of the hold and then came off the top rope with a chop for a near fall. The crowd was going crazy with emotion at this point as both men left it all out on the table. After another back and forth exchange it was Sammartino connecting with a series of clubbing forearm shots and then falling on top of Steamboat as Thesz dropped to the mat and made the decisive three count. The victory went to Sammartino but both men were the true winners in an epic confrontation. Everyone had to hold back tears post-match as Sammartino and Steamboat shook hands and embraced each other before Thesz raised both of their arms in triumph. LOW Commissioner Massif then entered the ring and presented both men with beautiful commemorative plaques honoring their respective contributions to LOW. It was truly the end of an era but both men can hang their heads high retiring with a classic match on the biggest stage in LOW at WrestleCade IV.

(Notes: The Double Retirement Match between Bruno Sammartino and Ricky Steamboat more than lived up to it's advance billing and sent both men out as winners regardless of the outcome. Lou Thesz, who will shortly be making his in-ring debut for LOW, did a tremendous job as the special referee letting the action go on with very little interruption. It was a fitting end to the careers of both men in LOW and both will certainly be missed particularly by the fans in the NWC and SWA...Nick Bockwinkel. thanks to an assist by manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, was able to leave WrestleCade IV as the LOW World Heavyweight champion surviving a tough challenge from Rob Van Dam. It was another disappointing world title loss for RVD but he will certainly be in line for another title opportunity in the near future...The Fabulous Kangaroos, Al Costello & Roy Heffernan, had an amazing night winning the Tag Team Gauntlet match in epic fashion and then losing a close decision to the Road Warriors, Hawk & Animal, in challenging for the LOW World tag team titles. The surprise appearance of The Sheepherders, Butch Miller & Luke Williams, certainly affected the challengers and it looks like a war between New Zealand and Australia is on the horizon in LOW. Kangaroos manager Wild Red Berry was livid over the entire situation and vows that his men will both take out The Sheepherders and claim their rightful place as LOW World tag team champions. Speaking of livid managers, Jim Cornette is claiming bias by LOW officials in putting the Midnight Express, Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton, in an early slot in the gauntlet match and then allowing the Kangaroos to illegally eliminate them from the match. Cornette has filed a protest with LOW Commissioner Massif and has issued a challenge to the Road Warriors to put their belts on the line against his men...Massif himself was indirectly involved in a confrontation on the show as the notorious Ox Baker used LOW's biggest stage to again state that he has a Heart Punch ready just for him. Baker is still livid over Massif suspending him for several months after delivering a post-match Heart Punch to a referee in the NWC. Massif refused comment on the situation when approached by PWI Editor Bill Apter following WrestleCade IV...Congratulations are in order to three new champions crowned at WrestleCade IV as "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers defeated Magnum T.A. for the LOW International Heavyweight title, Tiger Mask defeated Jushin Liger for the LOW Junior Heavyweight title, and Devil Masami defeated Jaguar Yokota for the LOW Women's title...Congratulations are also in order for the Iron Sheik who defeated Hillbilly Jim in the finals of the second annual PWI Invitational Cup Tournament. The win puts Sheik in a position to challenge for the LOW World Heavyweight title, something that will not please reigning champion Nick Bockwinkel or his manager Bobby Heenan. It has already been announced that Bockwinkel will defend the belt against the Sheik on the next SWA card at the Louisville Gardens in Louisville, KY (Card #403), a match that will also pit the two reigning PWI Invitational Cup Tournament winners against each other...Harley Race survived a tough field to win the 20-Man Open Invitational Battle Royal and the right to face Lou Thesz in Thesz' in-ring debut for LOW on the the NWC card at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY (Card #401). That will be an exciting match for sure. Not included in the match notes was an incredible battle Race had with Andre the Giant where he was saved from elimination by King Kong Bundy, the man he ultimately eliminated to win the match. Andre was a beast in the Battle Royal earning four eliminations but ultimately it was the foursome of Race, Bundy, Dick Hutton, and Ilio DiPaolo who eliminated the heavy favorite from the match. Unfortunately for MCW star Eddie Kingston he will have to leave LOW until at least Card #450 due to being the first man eliminated in the match. The second man out, Bruiser Brody, was livid backstage and had to be restrained by LOW officials from going after the man who eliminated him, Andre the Giant. Both men are under freelance contracts with LOW, meaning they can appear in any territory, and LOW promoters are scrambling to sign the two to a match...and, it was the Axis of Violence beating Team LOW in an epic 10-Man Elimination Tag Team Match coming down to Ivan Koloff winning it for the AOV over LOW team leader Red Bastien. The bad blood in that match mad it intense from the opening bell and the match description doesn't really do it justice as the action from bell to bell was unreal. AOV leader Ted Dibiase, along with his father Iron Mike Dibiase, the AOV faction leader in the AWE, were in a celebratory mood following WrestleCade IV and vow that all of LOW will be in for some more pain and agony in the new calendar year. Those are haunting words for sure and quite a way to end the coverage of this major event.)

[cruefan68]

LOW WrestleCade V - Pontiac Silverdome - Pontiac, MI (Card #500)

1) LOW World tag team title - Top Contenders Final: Sabu & Rob Van Dam defeated Larry Zbyszko & John Pesek by DQ:
The home crowd was solidly behind the Sabu & Rob Van Dam as they took on Axis of Violence members Larry Zbyszko & John Pesek in a match to determine who would get an LOW World tag team title shot later on the card. Manager Bill Alfonso was in the corner for Sabu & RVD having made a surprise appearance with them days earlier at Cobo Hall. Early action saw Zbyszko lock the Larryland Sleeper on Sabu for a submission chance but then miss with a dive off the turnbuckle. That allowed Sabu to execute a la magistral on Zbyszko for a near fall. Battle Creek native RVD tagged in to a huge pop from the crowd and rattled Zbyszko with a rolling fireman's carry and body scissors cradle hold. That set up Sabu delivering his controversial Arabian Facebuster on Zbyszko before he was able to tag out to Pesek. The "intimidator" of the AOV fared no better as Sabu quickly took him down and hit the Triple Jump Moonsault for what looked to be a sure pin. Zbyszko, however, grabbed the chair that Sabu sprang off of and smashed it across his back resulting in the disqualification. Zbyszko vehemently argued with the referee about Sabu using the chair first but the decision stood allowing the popular duo to secure a championship match with the Midnight Express.

2) CHIKARA Offer Match: F.I.S.T. defeated The Colony:
The largest crowd ever to witness a CHIKARA match were treated to a classic rivalry as The Colony (Fire Ant, Soldier Ant, & Green Ant) took on the "Friends in Similar Tights" F.I.S.T. trio of Icarus, Chuck Taylor, & Johnny Gargano. CHIKARA founder Mike Quackenbush served as the special guest ring announcer for what also served as a preview of the upcoming King of Trios tournament in Philadelphia. Both teams looked exceptional here showing off some of their trademark moves including Ants Go Marching by The Colony and the stiff F.I.S.T. Kicks assault. Taylor entertained the crowd with his Invisible Grenade Elbow Drop before screaming at a terrified young fan in the front row. He paid for that, though, as Green Ant locked him in the Chikara Special for a submission chance. The finishing sequence saw all six-men battling in and out of the ring before Icarus countered a backdrop by Fire Ant with an inside Cradle Hold to score the pin. F.I.S.T. celebrated their victory by taunting The Colony and indicating that they would be the first KOT winners in LOW.

3) LOW Women's title: MsChif© defeated Jazz to retain the title:
It was a hard path for New Orleans native Jazz to this championship opportunity and she fell just short in challenging defending champion MsChif on the grandest stage of them all. MsChif, also referred to as the "Goth-banshee", took a heck of a beating throughout the early going which included Jazz hitting a sitout powerslam for a near fall. Jazz was also able to lock on the B* Clamp but MsChif fought out of it and a short time later sprayed her with the controversial green mist. MsChif took advantage of the blinded Jazz and executed both the Gates of Hell II and Gateway to Annihilation attempting to secure the victory. Jazz fought back hard but made a critical mistake allowing MsChif to execute A Standing Moonsault to score the pin. MsChif celebrated her win by spraying the green mist on the title belt while Jazz glared angrily in her direction.

4) Lou Thesz defeated Bob Roop by Count Out:
A grudge match here courtesy of the SWA as Lou Thesz took on House of Humperdink member Bob Roop who was accompanied by manager Sir Oliver Humperdink. Thesz has had a frustrating year battling injuries but welcomed the opportunity to face Roop in a feature match at WrestleCade V. Early action saw Roop's fellow House of Humperdink members Don Muraco and Bob Orton, Sr., formerly the masked Zodiac, show up at ringside but they were quickly countered by Thesz' allies Ed "Strangler" Lewis and "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. The battle on the inside continued while LOW officials showed up forcing everyone but Humperdink to return to the back. Thesz and Roop engaged in a great technical battle but it was ultimately frustration that decided this one. Thesz countered a fireman's carry with a barrage of dropkicks causing Roop to bail out of the ring. Roop, a former high school wrestling champion in Michigan, decided he had enough and was joined by Humperdink in simply walking out on the match. It was a disappointing end but the crowd was happy to see Thesz have his arm raised in victory.

5) Steve Williams & Terry Gordy defeated Road Warriors:
They say revenge is a dish best served cold and that is what the Road Warriors, Hawk & Animal, were hoping to deliver in this grudge match against Axis of Violence members Steve "Dr. Death" Williams & Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy. It was the AOV who put Hawk out of action for several months with an injury and in this, their return match, the Road Warriors may have shown some ring rust or perhaps were too focused on gaining revenge. Hawk exploded early flooring Williams with a barrage of clotheslines. That was followed up by the Road Warriors delivering a double clothesline for good measure. Williams bounced back and after running Animal into the ring post he delivered the Oklahoma Stampede for a big near fall. Gordy tagged in and roughed up Animal for a stretch gaining another near fall off a Bamm Bamm Slam. After the Road Warriors turned things around they set up "Dr. Death" for a perfect execution of the Doomsday Device. Animal made the cover as Hawk fended off Gordy but somehow Williams kicked out before the three count! It was an amazing turn of events and after another flurry of action it was Gordy catching Animal with a Power Bomb to score the pin. "Doc" and Gordy got away with one here but there is no question that Hawk and Animal, the record six-time LOW World tag team champions, will be back for another shot at the AOV members.

6) 3rd Annual PWI Invitational Cup Tournament - Final Round: Antonino Rocca defeated George Hackenschmidt:
The final round of the prestigious third edition of the tournament saw the popular Antonino Rocca, representing the NWC, squaring off against the "Russian Lion" George Hackenschmidt representing the AWE. It was a nice contrast of styles with the agile Rocca against the powerful technician in Hackenschmidt. Rocca scored early using his speed as he caught Hackenschmidt with a victory roll and a flying headscissors setting up a near fall. Hackenschmidt bounced back strong with the wristlock suplex and locked on the Russian Bearhug attempting to score a submission. Rocca absorbed the punishment, though, and managed to fight out of the hold to a big pop from the crowd. Hackenschmidt continued his offensive locking on a keylock armbar and went back to the Russian Bearhug only this time it was broken up in the ropes. Rocca was in great pain but he managed to stage a comeback coming off the top rope with a missile dropkick and executing another victory roll for a near fall. The finishing sequence saw Hackenschmidt go for a backdrop off the ropes but Rocca caught him with a knee to the head. Rocca then wrapped up the stunned Hackenschmidt in a Crushing Body Scissors and rolled him over into a pinning position getting the three count. It was a spectacular win for Rocca who was awarded the trophy post-match by PWI Editor Bill Apter and said that he will use this victory to springboard toward a shot at the LOW World Heavyweight title.

7) Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match: Ox Baker defeated Massif:
After a brief intermission to set up the intimidating Barbed Wire Steel Cage it was time for the huge grudge match pitting LOW Commissioner Massif against the fearsome Ox Baker who was accompanied by his manager Abdullah Farouk. This was the first time that such a match was sanctioned in LOW and it was fitting for it to be Massiff against Baker to hopefully end what has been an epic rivalry. Early action saw the two men trade submission holds using the bearhug before Massif drilled Baker with some vicious headbutt's. Baker was the first to taste the sharp wire as Massif grated his bald head against it. Massif poured it on with more headbutt's and then hit the Volcanic Drop, a flying elbow smash, but Baker kicked out of the pin. Baker was a bloody mess by this point but he fought back and busted Massif open with a run into the wire. He then connected with a devastating Heart Punch and went for the pin but Massif kicked out! Baker and Farouk were beside themselves as the crowd cheered a bloody Massif to get back to his feet. Massif and Baker trade blows back and forth before Baker connected with a big clothesline and followed up with a second Heart Punch to score the pin. Both men were laid out post-match before a bloody Baker got up flashing an evil smile along with Farouk. Massif, meanwhile, had to be removed from the ring on a stretcher with undisclosed injuries pending a medical evaluation.

8) LOW Junior Heavyweight title: Jushin Liger defeated Tiger Mask to win the title:
For the third consecutive year the LOW Junior Heavyweight championship match at WrestleCade pitted Jushin "Thunder" Liger against Tiger Mask. Liger won the belt at WrestleCade III (Card #300 in St. Louis, MO) while Tiger bounced back to win it at WrestleCade IV (Card #400 in New Orleans, LA) so this was a rubber match in their epic rivalry. Both men also entered the match tied as record five-time champions and defending champion Tiger Mask was hoping to keep it that way. An interesting situation took place during the introductions as NWC star Jerry Lynn, who holds a count out decision over Tiger Mask, challenged the winner to face him at the start of year six for LOW at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York. All three men shook hands indicating that the challenge was indeed accepted. Early action saw Tiger in complete control using his high leg sweep takedown and jumping spin kick before connecting with a beautiful dive to the floor. Back on the inside it was Liger striking back with a Tombstone Piledriver and a rolling koppo kick. Tiger bailed out of the ring and Liger followed with a breathtaking Air Juvie dive to the floor. After Tiger regained control hitting the rolling senton splashes and a twisting moonsault it was Liger striking out of nowhere with a Fisherman's Buster to score the pin. The crowd erupted in cheers as Liger was crowned a record six-time LOW Junior Heavyweight champion ending another great battle between the two talented masked men.

9) LOW World tag team titles: Midnight Express© defeated Sabu & Rob Van Dam by Count Out to retain the titles:
A hugely disappointing result for the hometown crowd as the Bill Alfonso-led team of Sabu & Rob Van Dam dropped a technical decision to reigning LOW World tag team champions the Midnight Express ("Loverboy" Dennis Condrey & "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton) who had manager Jim Cornette in their corner. The idea of the whistle blowing Alfonso and the loudmouth Cornette in opposite corners made for a most interesting and irritating combination. The Express dominated early by isolating Sabu with Eaton using the Divorce Court, an armbreaker variation, to great effect while Cornette added in some chokes while the referee was distracted. Alfonso got some revenge by distracting the referee allowing Sabu to hit his controversial Arabian Facebuster using a steel chair slid in by RVD. The challengers began mounting a comeback with RVD hitting the split legged moonsault and catching Eaton with a counter sunset flip for a near fall. The Express picked up a near fall of their own when Condrey caught Sabu with the Face First Leg Sweep. A tumultuous battle ended when Eaton and RVD, the legal men, were battling on the floor while Sabu battered Condrey on the inside. Eaton managed to backdrop a charging RVD and rolled back inside as the referee issued his ten count. RVD struggled to make it back in but was hit in the leg with a tennis racquet shot by Cornette out of view of the referee resulting in the count out decision. A victorious Cornette and the Express left with the title belts and are now just one defense away from tying the record of fifteen successful title defenses set by the Road Warriors.

10) LOW International Heavyweight title: Bruiser Brody defeated The Sheik© by DQ:
A second straight technical decision marred a championship match as this time it was The Sheik, accompanied by his manager Abdullah Farouk, retaining the LOW International Heavyweight title via a disqualification loss to dangerous challenger Bruiser Brody. The "Madman from Albuquerque, New Mexico" was bound and determined to avenge the fireball burning he received at the hands of The Sheik and hoped to take his championship away in the process. Brody laid in an early assault going for pins after a twisting vertical suplex and a running legdrop. He also connected with a piledriver and had The Sheik reeling. Farouk, coming off a big win with his other charge Ox Baker, shouted instructions from ringside trying to rally The Sheik. It wasn't long before the match went to the floor and that is where things got out of control. The Sheik jabbed what appeared to be a lead pipe into the throat of Brody and then used a sharp object, appearing to be a pencil, to carve away at his forehead. The referee tried to regain control but The Sheik continued his assault drawing a snake eyes disqualification. Brody was furious post-match fighting off The Sheik and then chasing after him wildly swinging his chain as LOW officials tried to restore order.

11) 10-Man Elimination Match: Ted Dibiase, Iron Mike Dibiase, Curt Hennig, Killer Kowalski, & Kurrgan defeated Andre the Giant, Harley Race, Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens, & George Steele
An unbelievable turn of events here as the combined GWA-AWE Axis of Violence forces of Ted Dibiase, Iron Mike Dibiase, Curt Hennig, Killer Kowalski, & Kurrgan defeated the allied forces team of Andre the Giant, Harley Race, Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens, and Detroit's own George "The Animal" Steele. IT marked the second straight WrestleCade event where the AOV came out on top in a 10-Man Elimination Match. The 10-Man Elimination Match got off to an explosive start with the 7'5" and 450-pound Andre going toe-to-toe with the 7'0" and 350-pound Kurrgan. The South African giant fared very poorly as Andre quickly downed him and hit the Big Splash only to have the AOV make a last second save. Kurrgan was out of it, though, and Stevens tagged in delivering the Bombs Away to score the pin as Andre stood guard. The AOV went down 2-0 shortly after as AWE faction leader Iron Mike Dibiase was pinned by Steele after taking a Running Knee smash to the head. That meant that the AOV would have to do some serious teamwork to get back into it and they did just that by isolating Stevens in their end of the ring. Stevens was subsequently eliminated via submission with a Figure Four Leglock by GWA faction leader Ted Dibiase. The "fortunate son" showed his leadership and tenacity as he began rallying his team and, after a Loaded Glove shot, he scored a submission on Bockwinkel using a Sleeper Hold. Hennig stepped up next for the AOV as, after surviving a beating from Andre, he scored a pinfall on Race, a former LOW World Heavyweight champion, after connecting with a Standing Dropkick. With the AOV now up by a 3-2 advantage it left Andre and Steele in a bad position. Andre was nearly pinned at one point after the powerful Kowalski delivered a vicious backbreaker across the knee. Steele did his best to rough up the opposition but was ultimately put away when Dibiase used the Sleeper Hold to score a submission victory. That meant that Andre would have to go at alone against some top shelf talent in a three-on-one handicap match. Andre showed what he was made of, though, by running an interfering Hennig and Kowalski into each other before flattening Dibiase with a Big Splash to score the pin. Things were actually looking bleak for the AOV until a pivotal moment as Hennig caught Andre with The Axe sending him backward into the top rope which was held down by Kowalski. Andre fell over the top rope and crashed hard onto the concrete floor below with Kowalski following with a diving knee drop off the ring apron. That blow took the wind out of the giant as Hennig remained inside scoring a controversial count out decision. Hennig and Kowalski managed to survive and pick up a huge victory for the combined forces of the AOV.

Order of Elimination:

a) Kurrgan (by Ray Stevens)
b) Iron Mike Dibiase (by George Steele)
c) Ray Stevens (by Ted Dibiase)
d) Nick Bockwinkel (by Ted Dibiase)
e) Harley Race (by Curt Hennig)
f) George Steele (by Ted Dibiase)
g) Ted Dibiase (by Andre the Giant)
h) Andre the Giant (by Curt Hennig & Killer Kowalski)

12) LOW World Heavyweight title: Giant Baba© defeated Frank Gotch to retain the title:
This was one for the ages and a match truly worthy of headlining WrestleCade as Shohei "Giant" Baba retained the LOW World Heavyweight title beating Frank Gotch in dramatic fashion. Gotch, the inaugural LOW World Heavyweight champion, earned this shot by winning the 12-Man Gold Star Battle Royal at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY (Card #485), and was hoping to wear the gold for the first time since LOW opened its doors. With LOW Commissioner Massif unable to attend the pre-match ceremony, MCW Commissioner Charlie Cox stepped in to accept the title belt and display it to the crowd as Baba and Gotch listened to the instructions of the referee. The two men then shook hands to a thunderous ovation from the crowd and the match was on. Early action saw some great exchanges of holds and counter holds with Baba using his power advantage while Gotch countered with his edge in speed. An early turning point saw Baba counter a turnbuckle whip and follow up with his finisher, the Jumping Neckbreaker Drop, for a big near fall. Gotch struck back hitting the Iowa Backdrop and locked on the Gotch Toehold but Baba was able to get to the ropes for a break. Gotch followed with a Rolling Kneebar wrenching Baba's leg and transitioned into a crossface and armbar for another submission chance. Baba mounted a strong comeback utilizing the devastating Baba Chop, Russian Legsweep, and a piledriver for a near fall. A great sequence saw Gotch counter a falling armbreaker into a crossface and armbar for another submission chance. Frustration began to set in for Gotch and he locked on a vicious guillotine choke but Baba refused to tap out. The finish came shortly after when Baba struck with another Baba Chop and hit the 16-Mon Kick, or boot to the face, to score the pin. The crowd erupted in cheers as Baba retained the championship but they also reserved applause for Gotch who put up a heck of a challenge. Though upset with his loss the Iowa native showed great sportsmanship by raising Baba's arm in victory and placing the title belt around his waist.

(Notes: The major news coming out of this epic event is that following a quick meeting of the LOW Board of Directors it was announced that MCW Commissioner Charlie Cox has been promoted to the role of interim LOW Commissioner. That is due to the fact that reigning LOW Commissioner Massif suffered internal and external injuries at the hands of Ox Baker in their Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match in which the vicious Baker emerged victorious. It is not known how long Massif will be sidelined but the day-to-day operations of LOW had to be addressed so Cox will be leaving MCW to take over that role on an interim basis. Baker's manager, Abdullah Farouk, was ecstatic over the success of Baker in putting Massif out of action and said in a post-show interview with PWI Editor Bill Apter that it was just the beginning of a reign of terror he will bring his opponents. Farouk was also happy that his man, The Sheik, retained the LOW International Heavyweight title taking a disqualification loss against Bruiser Brody. Apter noted that he spoke with Cox and that discussions of a rematch are underway...The main event of WrestleCade V saw Shohei "Giant" Baba retain the LOW World Heavyweight title beating Frank Gotch in what many are calling the match of the night. Gotch took Baba to the limit and nearly dethroned him but in the end the Japanese giant was able to retain the gold. It will be most interesting to see who steps up next to challenge Baba but one man that certainly has the right to is the high flying Antonino Rocca. That is because Rocca was the winner of the 3rd Annual PWI Invitational Cup Tournament by defeating the "Russian Lion" George Hackenschmidt in a great battle. Many favored Hackenschmidt going in but Rocca was more than up to the challenge. Interim LOW Commissioner Charlie Cox will be discussing things with Rocca in regards to a championship opportunity and a possible world title match with Baba.

How do you slay a giant? Ask the Axis of Violence as the combined GWA-AWE faction led by Ted Dibiase overcame a team led by Andre the Giant in winning a 10-Man Elimination Match. It was a war from bell-to-bell and came down to AOV members Curt Hennig (AWE) and Killer Kowalski (GWA) in a two-on-one situation against Andre. Although he is used to handicap situations the 7'5" and 450-pound Andre had a target on his back and Hennig and Kowalski combined to eliminate him via count out giving the AOV a huge win. It also marked the second consecutive WrestleCade event that the dangerous AOV faction came out on top in a 10-Man Elimination Match so it's safe to say that the group is becoming even more powerful...Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express were fortunate to leave WrestleCade as the LOW World tag team champions as they scored a technical win over hometown favorites Sabu & Rob Van Dam who had their new manager Bill Alfonso at ringside. The Express are now just one title defense shy of tying the Road Warriors record of fifteen successful world tag team title defenses in LOW. Speaking of Hawk & Animal, the in-ring return of Hawk from injury was highly anticipated but they came out on the losing end to the Axis of Violence duo of Steve "Dr. Death" Williams & Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy. It's safe to say, though, that this is a war far from over and as LOW enters into it's sixth year of operation fans are salivating at the thought of more confrontations between the two teams...Congratulations are in order for Jushin "Thunder" Liger who became a record six-time LOW Junior Heavyweight champion by winning the belt from his rival Tiger Mask in their third consecutive WrestleCade showdown. Liger will have no time to rest on his laurels, however, as he will defend the belt against a determined Jerry Lynn when the NWC opens up year six with a big card at New York's Madison Square Garden (Card #501)...LOW Did You Know?: An overflowing crowd of 93,174 fans packed the Pontiac Silverdome for WrestleCade V setting a new all-time indoor attendance record.)