The wrestling fans in Dothan, AL were treated to a great live TV event in their market three days before the house show at the Houston County Farm Center. The match most fans were interested in was Tojo Yamamoto vs Fritz Von Erich. Both men claim to be the master of the Stomach Claw, a devastating hold that, when applied, can render a man paralyzed for live. Fritz was up in the first match as he took on Farmer Watson from Mudlick, KY. After a proper roughing up, Fritz applied the Stomach Claw to Watson, who gave up quickly to avoid injury.
In the next match, Tojo took on the masked man called Zoltar the Great. It took little time for Tojo to get his opponent in his version of the Stomach Claw, which made Zoltar give up as well. However, Tojo kept his hold on until several wrestlers had to come out and pull him off. Zoltar wound up being stretchered out of the studio.
The night before the Dothan show, the PWA was in Opelika, AL and put on a rather good event. Fritz Von Erich finished his match against Billy Robinson, when Tojo came out and challenged Fritz right there. Fritz didn't back down and quickly applied his Stomach Claw on Tojo. Tojo, in turn, applied his Stomach Claw on Fritz at that same time. As both men went down to their knees, wrestlers had to come into the ring to separate them and lead them to the dressing room.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PWA Dothan, AL 1/29/1960
Killer Kowalski made Danny Hodge submit to a chinlock deathlock submission in 0:12:50.
Rating: *** 1/4Danny Hodge locks Killer Kowalski in a standing wristlock. Killer Kowalski manages to grab the ropes after being trapped for 5 seconds. Danny Hodge hits an armbar takedown on Killer Kowalski. Danny Hodge executes the Oklahoma Roll on Killer Kowalski. Andrew Thomas counts: One, shoulder up.
Danny Hodge whips Killer Kowalski into the ropes. Killer Kowalski hits Danny Hodge with a shoulderblock. Killer Kowalski locks Danny Hodge in a chinlock deathlock submission. Danny Hodge summons one last burst of energy. Danny Hodge submits after 15 seconds.The decibel level in the building is unbelievable.
The winner is Killer Kowalski. Time of match: 0:12:50
Haystacks Calhoun pinned The Sheik after a powerslam in 0:03:56.
Rating: -** 1/2Haystacks Calhoun nails The Sheik with a hiptoss. Haystacks Calhoun is going for the pin. Rudy Charles counts: One, two, kickout. Haystacks Calhoun gets a bearhug on The Sheik. The Sheik reaches the ropes after being trapped for 5 seconds.
Haystacks Calhoun whips The Sheik into the ropes. Haystacks Calhoun executes a powerslam on The Sheik. Rudy Charles counts: One, two, three. The crowd is giving Haystacks Calhoun a standing ovation.
The winner is Haystacks Calhoun. Time of match: 0:03:56
Billy Robinson pinned Lou Albano with the DOUBLE ARM SUPLEX in 0:14:30.
Rating: ** 1/2Billy Robinson whips Lou Albano into the turnbuckle. Billy Robinson runs shoulder-first into the corner. Billy Robinson puts Lou Albano in a full nelson. Lou Albano is struggling to reach the ropes. Billy Robinson lets go after 25 seconds. Billy Robinson executes the DOUBLE ARM SUPLEX on Lou Albano. Billy Robinson goes for the pin. Brian Hebner counts: One, two, three. The crowd erupts.
The winner is Billy Robinson. Time of match: 0:14:30
El Santo made The Destroyer submit to the Camel Clutch in 0:25:08.
Rating: *****El Santo runs into the ropes. El Santo hits The Destroyer with a kick. El Santo hits The Destroyer with spinning headscissors. El Santo hits The Destroyer with a chop. El Santo uses a Russian legsweep on The Destroyer. El Santo hits an elbowdrop on The Destroyer. El Santo executes the Camel Clutch on The Destroyer.
The Destroyer is inching his way towards the ropes. The Destroyer is writhing in pain. Mike Sparks tells The Destroyer to respond or he'll stop the fight. The Destroyer nods. The Destroyer tries to fight the pain. The Destroyer submits after 35 seconds.
The crowd is giving El Santo a standing ovation.
The winner is El Santo. Time of match: 0:25:08
Crusher & Bruiser (The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser) defeated
Butcher Vachon and Maddog Vachon when Bruiser defeated M. Vachon by disqualification in 0:42:05.
Rating: *
[Edouard Carpentier interfered against Dick the Bruiser.]The Crusher enters the ring, but gets cut off. Butcher Vachon uses a backbreaker on Dick the Bruiser. Maddog Vachon executes a flying cross body press on Dick the Bruiser. Mike Chioda counts: One, two, kickout. Maddog Vachon and Butcher Vachon whip Dick the Bruiser into the ropes. They hit Dick the Bruiser with a double kick to the midsection.
Butcher Vachon leaves the ring. Maddog Vachon whips Dick the Bruiser into the ropes. Edouard Carpentier trips Dick the Bruiser. Mike Chioda disqualifies Butcher Vachon and Maddog Vachon. The decibel level in the building is unbelievable.
The winners are Crusher & Bruiser. Time of match: 0:42:05
[Special Challenge Match 1]:
Verne Gagne defeated Pat O'Connor when Pat O'Connor passed out in a half Boston
in 0:13:36.
Rating: *** 1/2The crowd is going into a frenzy.
Verne Gagne is going for the cover. Chad Patton counts: One, two, kickout. Verne Gagne hits Pat O'Connor with a roundhouse right. Verne Gagne catches Pat O'Connor in a half Boston.
Chad Patton checks Pat O'Connor's arm. He lifts it... it falls. He lifts it... it falls. He lifts it... it falls. Chad Patton stops the match after 18 seconds.
The crowd is going into a frenzy.
The winner is Verne Gagne. Time of match: 0:13:36
[Special Grudge Match]:
Tojo Yamamoto defeated Fritz Von Erich by disqualification in 0:14:08.
Rating: *** 1/4Fritz Von Erich executes the Iron Claw on Tojo Yamamoto. Tojo Yamamoto is valiantly trying to break the hold. Tojo Yamamoto breaks the hold after 48 seconds. Tojo Yamamoto whips Fritz Von Erich into the ropes. Fritz Von Erich hits Tojo Yamamoto with a kick. Fritz Von Erich takes Tojo Yamamoto down with a kick to the head. Fritz Von Erich hits Tojo Yamamoto with a flying bodypress.
Jack Doan counts: One, two, thr... shoulder up. Fritz Von Erich catches Tojo Yamamoto in a chokehold. Jack Doan warns Fritz Von Erich to let go. Jack Doan counts: One, two, three, four. Jack Doan counts: One, two, three. Jack Doan counts: One, two, three.
Jack Doan disqualifies Fritz Von Erich.
The cheers for Tojo Yamamoto are drowning out the boos.
The winner is Tojo Yamamoto. Time of match: 0:14:08
Buddy Rogers defeated Edouard Carpentier by disqualification in 0:14:24.
Rating: ** 3/4The chants for Edouard Carpentier are deafening.
Edouard Carpentier kicks Buddy Rogers. The chants for Edouard Carpentier are deafening. Buddy Rogers kicks Edouard Carpentier.
Edouard Carpentier punches Buddy Rogers. Edouard Carpentier runs into the ropes. Buddy Rogers goes for a bodyslam, but Edouard Carpentier counters it with
a small package. Charles Robinson counts: One, two, thr... shoulder up.
Edouard Carpentier throws Charles Robinson into the ringpost. Charles Robinson is out cold. Charles Robinson slowly gets up.
Charles Robinson disqualifies Edouard Carpentier. Buddy Rogers is being booed out of the building.
The winner is Buddy Rogers. Time of match: 0:14:24
Lou Thesz made Harley Race submit to the Spinning Toe Hold in 0:16:24.
Rating: **** 1/4The decibel level in the building is unbelievable.
Harley Race nails Lou Thesz with a punch. Harley Race executes an eye gouge on Lou Thesz. Harley Race goes for a ropeburn, but Lou Thesz blocks it. Lou Thesz whips Harley Race into the ropes.
Lou Thesz goes for a hiptoss, but Harley Race counters it with a lariat. Harley Race hits a backslide on Lou Thesz. Jimmy Korderas counts: One, two, kickout.
Harley Race chops Lou Thesz. Harley Race hits Lou Thesz.
Harley Race whips Lou Thesz into the ropes. Lou Thesz hits Harley Race with a swinging neckbreaker. Lou Thesz executes the Spinning Toe Hold on Harley Race. Harley Race is struggling to reach the ropes. Harley Race tries to fight the pain.
Harley Race submits after 11 seconds. The crowd erupts.
The winner is Lou Thesz. Time of match: 0:16:24
No-Time-Limit-Two-out-of-three-Falls Match:
Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy beat Antonino Rocca and Pepper Gomez 2 falls to 0:Antonino Rocca runs into the ropes. Brute Bernard misses with a clothesline. Antonino Rocca misses with an elbow. Brute Bernard misses with a kick. Brute Bernard hits Antonino Rocca with a shoulderblock. Brute Bernard uses a powerslam on Antonino Rocca. Nick Patrick counts: One, two, Pepper Gomez doesn't make it in time... three. Brute Bernard is eliciting a sizable round of boos.
The winners are Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy. Time of match: 0:25:28
x Bernard beat Rocca via a powerslam in 0:25:28
Skull Murphy nails Pepper Gomez with a headbutt. Skull Murphy hits an elbowsmash on Pepper Gomez. Skull Murphy executes the Heart Punch on Pepper Gomez. The crowd is booing Skull Murphy.
Skull Murphy goes for the pin. Nick Patrick counts: One, two, Antonino Rocca doesn't make it in time... three. The crowd is booing Skull Murphy.
The winners are Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy. Time of match: 0:48:38
x S. Murphy beat Gomez via the Heart Punch in 0:48:38
Rating: ***
(Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy won the PWA World Tag Team Title)
No-Time-Limit-Two-out-of-three-Falls Match:
Bobo Brazil beat Johnny Valentine 2 falls to 0:Johnny Valentine hits Bobo Brazil. Bobo Brazil punches Johnny Valentine. Bobo Brazil executes a headbutt on Johnny Valentine.
Bobo Brazil executes the Coco Butt on Johnny Valentine. The crowd is on its feet cheering for Bobo Brazil. Bobo Brazil goes for the pin. Danny Davis counts: One, two, three.
The crowd is on its feet cheering for Bobo Brazil.
The winner is Bobo Brazil. Time of match: 0:11:59
x Brazil beat J. Valentine via the Coco Butt in 0:11:59
Johnny Valentine gets a standing wristlock on Bobo Brazil. Bobo Brazil is struggling to reach the ropes. Bobo Brazil inches his way towards the ropes after 22 seconds. Johnny Valentine goes for a dropkick, but Bobo Brazil side-steps and Johnny Valentine only hits air. Bobo Brazil hits a headbutt on Johnny Valentine. Bobo Brazil executes the Coco Butt on Johnny Valentine. The crowd is giving Bobo Brazil a standing ovation. Bobo Brazil goes for the pin.
Danny Davis counts: One, two, three. The crowd is on its feet cheering for Bobo Brazil.
The winner is Bobo Brazil. Time of match: 0:18:50
x Brazil beat J. Valentine via the Coco Butt in 0:18:50
Rating: *** 1/4
(Bobo Brazil retained the PWA World Heavyweight Title.)
Card rating: ***
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Backstage:
It was said that since Fritz Von Erich and The Sheik are such close friends, he was offended by what happened between Sheik and Tojo Yamamoto a few days back. So much so that Fritz demanded a match against Tojo. Nick Gulas figured he could give Von Erich his match in Dothan, settle things between all parties, and prevent this from getting out in the press.
Also, the fans are now questioning where Edouard Carpentier's mindset is at. He has gotten involved in a couple of matches lately, and now threw a referee into a ringpost. Carpentier has expressed to be a heel before, but the timing hasn't been right. And now that Gorgeous George is said to be coming back in March, the timing may not be right now.
Hirings:
The PWA wishes to welcome the following:
Jackie Fargo
Billy White Wolf
Gene Kiniski
Tor Kamata