Royal City Wrestling Classics on Demand

[Sinclair Promotions]

Be sure to check out this brand new and exciting television channel as host Johhny Pelf takes you through the history of the original Royal City Wrestling. Each week host Johnny Pelf will bring you the cards that put Guelph Ontario on the wrestling map from the late early 1960's to the WWE's takeover of the territory in 1989.

This new and exciting edition to the Royal City Wrestling family of television programming will sure to be a hit with both older and younger fans alike

[Sinclair Promotions]

JP: Welcome fans to the first edition of Royal City Wrestling’s Classics on Demand. First allow me to briefly give you the back story of Royal City Wrestling.

JP: Royal City Wrestling was founded Ted Tarrington, the great grandfather of current RCW co-owner “Pure Original” Chris Sinclair. Ted Tarrington applied for a promoter’s licence on December 2nd, 1959. He was approved two weeks later and booked his first card for January 22nd, 1960 at the Guelph Memorial Gardens. Ted ran shows there once a month from that day forward until 1989 when he closed the doors on the promotion.

JP: The first show featured an eight man tournament to crown the first ever RCW Champion. Ted Tarrington never once called his champion a “World” champion, due to the fact that he never once traveled outside of the city of Guelph. The first match in RCW history featured Nick Bockwinkel taking on the ever controversial Gorgeous George.

Royal City Wrestling Live
January 22nd. 1960
Guelph Memorial Gardens
Guelph Ontario

Nick Bockwinkel d Gorgeous George via submission at the 1:06 mark of the match after catching Gorgeous George in the Bockwinkel Sleeper. This completely shocked the crowd in attendance.

Bobo Brazil d Ox Baker via disqualification at the 1:54 mark of the match when Ox Baker was disqualified during a brawl on the outside of the ring. Up until that point of the match Bobo Brazil had been dominating Ox Baker.

The Destroyer d Killer Kowalski via disqualification at the 8:30 mark of the match when Killer Kowalski was disqualified for attempting to come off the top rope. The back and forth match saw both men manage to get brief extended periods of offence.

Harley Race d “Exotic” Adrian Street via disqualification at the 1:57 mark of the match when Adrian Street got disqualified for ramming Harley Race’s head into the steel barricade at ringside. The fast paced match saw both men kick out of the others finisher. In the end Adrian Street seemed frustrated which probably lead to the disqualification.

JP: And that folks was the first round of the RCW Championship tournament. Three disqualifications and only one clean victory had some of the fans a little disappointed, but the action did get way better as the card progressed. Up next we have a special attraction match as two of Japan’s all time greatest wrestlers locked horns as Rikidozan took on Giant Baba.

Rikidozan d Giant Baba via pinfall at the 25:04 after hitting Giant Baba with his Thunderous Chops finisher. The two men put on a wrestling clinic that had the fans in attendance on their feet throughout the entire contest.

JP: As you just saw those two men were absolutely amazing in their day. Their match gave the final four men in the RCW Championship tournament plenty of time to rest up and prepare for their second round match ups. The matches were as follows. Bobo Brazil versus Nick Bockwinkel and The Destroyer was set to do battle with Harley Race. Those two matches are up next.

Bobo Brazil d Nick Bockwinkel via disqualification at the 3:44 mark of the match to advance to the finals of the RCW Championship Tournament. Nick Bockwinkel was one of the odds on favourites to win this small tournament, but his temper got the better of him as he was disqualified for ramming Bobo Brazil’s head of the barricade surrounding the ring side area.

The Destroyer d Harley Race via submission after locking on the intelligent sleeper hold to advance to the finals of the RCW Championship tournament. The match was back and forth, but in the end the Destroyer pulled off what many considered an upset as he beat Harley Race to advance to face Bobo Brazil in the finals.

JP: No one in attendance that fateful day in 1960 could have guessed that Bobo Brazil & The Destroyer would have been the two men to face off in finals of the Championship tournament. Which was turned into a no disqualification match guarantying the fans would see a winner one way or another. Before the finals though, the Kangaroos were in action as they took on the team of “Wild” Red Berry & Captain Lou Albano

The Kangaroos d Red Berry & Lou Albano via pinfall at the 4:08 mark of the match when Al Costello pinned Lou Albano. The short match was completely dominated by the Kangaroo’s as they made short work of the two men teaming for the first time.

JP: The Kangaroos were not impressed that Ted Tarrington couldn’t sign a decent team to face them and weren’t seen in Royal City Wrestling for a couple of months. Ted was then faced to focus for next few months on promoting mostly singles matches, but that is a story for another episode. Up next we present the first ever Royal City Wrestling Main Event as Bobo Brazil & The Destroyer face off to crown the first ever Royal City Wrestling Champion

Bobo Brazil d The Destroyer via pinfall at the 1:15 mark after knocking the Destroyer with four straight Coco Butt’s, the win cemented Bobo Brazil’s place in Royal City Wresting history by becoming the first ever Royal City Wrestling Champion. While the match may have been short the three near falls leading up to the fourth Coco Butt had the capacity crowd on their feet.

JP: Well there you have it folks the first ever Royal City Wrestling show way back in 1960. Join us next time as Bobo Brazil makes his first title defence.