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Post by gentlemanjeff on Jan 14, 2011 18:38:47 GMT -5
WRESTLING FRIDAY—JANUARY 1st Ring In 1960 With The Greatest Card Ever Presented In Miami Beach ________________________________________
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Best of Three Falls ARGENTINA ROCCA & MIGUEL PEREZ Champions VS. DICK THE BRUISER & IRON MIKE DIBIASE Challengers ________________________________________
SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH THE RED MENACE VS. RAY VILLMER Champion Challenger ________________________________________
U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH EDDIE GRAHAM & JOHNNY VALENTINE Champions VS. DON CURTIS & MARK LEWIN Challengers ________________________________________
TEN MAN BATTLE ROYAL Featuring HAYSTACKS CALHOUN, BLACKJACK DILLON, HARRY SMITH, MIGHTY JUMBO & MORE! ________________________________________
HANS SCHMIDT & ANGELO POFFO VS. DON EAGLE & BIG IKE EAKINS ________________________________________
DORY FUNK VS. REY URBANO ________________________________________
TITO CARREON VS. MARCO POLO ________________________________________ Call JE 1-0477 or JE 8-4304 2000 seats @ $1.00 MIAMI BEACH AUDITORIUM Air Conditioned
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Post by gentlemanjeff on Jan 16, 2011 20:31:57 GMT -5
January 1, 1960 – Miami Beach, FL – Miami Beach Auditorium
Tito Carreon pinned Marco Polo after a crucifix in 0:11:14. Rating: -**
CWF opened the year with Puerto Rican import and local favorite Tito Carreon taking on the villainous world traveler, Marco Polo. Polo came to the ring bedecked in Oriental armor but relied mostly on his craftiness and dexterity, running from Carreon for the first five minutes before finally locking up with him in the ring. Polo used his usual array of dirty tactics but Carreon’s fast pace of action proved too much for Polo. Carreon wrapped up Polo with a tight crucifix to end the match and kick off his year with a win.
Dory Funk Sr. pinned Rey Urbano after a powerslam in 0:09:14. Rating: 3/4*
The grizzled veteran of Amarillo was accompanied to the ring by his young son of the same name. Urbano, the Filipino martial arts specialist, landed a number of powerful kicks and vicious judo chops to Dory’s thighs and chest, but Dory’s brute force overpowered the foreigner. Dory slammed Urbano to the mat and covered while referee Johnnie Rebel counted the three.
Hans Schmidt and Angelo Poffo defeated Big Ike Eakins and Don Eagle when H. Schmidt made I. Eakins submit to the Teuton Backbreaker in 0:18:59. Rating: *
The crowd bombarded The Teuton Terror and his Italian counterpart, the unpredictable Angelo Poffo, with trash as they approached the ring. Schmidt and Poffo each won the United States Heavyweight championship while competing in Chicago and Schmidt is infamous for his series of contests with then-World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz. But while no one can question either man’s wrestling abilities, their moral direction is a different thing entirely. For many in the Miami audience their alliance and underhanded tactics recall the Axis Powers of World War Two. Schmidt doesn’t help matters by wearing a spiked German army helmet to the ring during his entrances.
Their opponents were the popular local son, Big Ike Eakins, and the famed Don Eagle of the Mohawk Nation. Eagle and Eakins, underdogs despite their significant accomplishments, kept the dangerous duo of Schmidt and Poffo off-balance with an exciting display of teamwork. The finish saw Eagle deliver a series of resounding tomahawk chops to Schmidt’s chest, knocking him clean out of the ring! Poffo rushed in but received his own set of tomahawks. Eagle climbed to the top rope for his signature top rope tomahawk, but as he did Schmidt, the legal man in the match, climbed onto the apron and shoved Eagle to the mat. Schmidt picked up Eagle for his over-the-shoulder Teuton Backbreaker as Poffo rushed over and decked Eakins. Eagle had little choice but submit to the burly German, giving Poffo and Schmidt an impressive victory—a victory they’re said to be looking to parlay into a shot at Rocca and Perez’s World Tag Team Titles.
10-Man Battle Royal: Haystacks Calhoun won a 10-man Battle Royal: x Joe threw out Judo Jack in 0:00:06 x Joe threw out J. Walker after a forearm smash in 0:01:00 x H. Smith threw out Jumbo in 0:05:01 x Joe threw out H. Smith in 0:05:25 x Calhoun threw out Dillon after a bearhug in 0:07:14 x Joe threw out Tiger Jack after a running shoulderblock in 0:11:19 x Joe threw out B. Austin after a chop in 0:13:56 x Calhoun threw out D. Steinborn in 0:15:21 x Calhoun threw out Joe in 0:15:33 Rating: -***
Haystacks Calhoun continues to be a huge presence in Florida both in terms of popularity and sheer mass. The Arkansas native, a well-traveled master of battle royals all throughout the Southeast, was the early and obvious target, but perhaps the other competitors should have been paying attention to Gypsy Joe. Joe, a colorful Puerto Rican and local favorite despite his lack of success in the ring, came out a house of fire, throwing veteran Judo Jack Terry out of the ring in the opening seconds. Joe followed up by tossing “Rubberman” Johnny Walker, a young newcomer to the region. The muscular technician “Georgia Boy” Harry Smith eliminated the other big man, the Mighty Jumbo, but was caught off-guard by Gypsy and found himself thrown to the concrete floor outside the ring. Blackjack Dillon, the big brutish Southern cowboy with a mean southpaw and a chip on his shoulder, attacked the massive Haystacks throughout the match but found himself on the outside after a big bearhug.
Tiger Jack Vansky was Gypsy Joe’s next victim, soon followed by “Killer” Buddy Austin, one of the least redeemable of Championship Wrestling from Florida’s competitors. Buddy Austin was livid at his elimination and had to be forcibly restrained from returning to the ring. Promising junior heavyweight Dick Steinborn and Joe teamed up to take out Calhoun but the 600-pounder didn’t care to depart the ring quite yet. He threw Steinborn to the outside and then unceremoniously dumped Joe for the win. Legend has it Haystacks is undefeated in battle royal matches.
Don Curtis and Mark Lewin defeated Eddie Graham and Johnny Valentine when M. Lewin defeated J. Valentine by disqualification in 0:12:45. Rating: -3/4* (Eddie Graham and Johnny Valentine retained the NWA United States Tag Team Titles.)
These two teams have been trading the U.S. tag titles all over the Northeast as of late, with Graham & Valentine beating Curtis & Lewin for the belts in a decision match this past November in New York (Eddie Graham and his brother, Dr. Jerry Graham, had been forced to vacate the titles when the latter broke his leg). Don Curtis and Mark Lewin displayed the edge in teamwork and technique but the blond duo of Graham and Valentine made up for it in craftiness and pure muscle. The young Lewin looked like he had the match won when he placed the big 6’4” Valentine in his patented standing arm scissors, wrenching back on Valentine’s elbow, but just as it seemed like “The Villain” had had enough Graham pulled referee Bob Armstrong out under the bottom rope. Lewin and Curtis thought they had won back the belts when the bell was rung only to experience utter disappointment when they realized that Graham had gotten his team disqualified intentionally, saving their titles in the process! Valentine, favoring his elbow, and Graham beat a hasty exit from the ring with their title belts in hand. Word has it the front office has already fined Eddie Graham a sizable amount for daring to put his hands on an official in such an unsportsmanlike manner.
The Red Menace pinned Ray Villmer with the Cuban Backbreaker in 0:10:07. Rating: -* 1/4 (The Red Menace retained the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title.)
The masked man from Havana defeated Ray Villmer, an experienced hand on the Florida circuit, for the Southern title at CWF’s last show in Tampa on December 22nd. Villmer demanded a return contest and received it here in Miami Beach. Villmer looked to have the match well within his grasp, but the cagey veteran gambled and missed a charge into the corner, temporarily stunning him. Villmer stumbled back into the Menace’s big backbreaker, scoring another fall over Villmer. The Red Menace enraged the crowd by waving the flag of the Cuban Revolution while having his arm raised in victory.
Two-out-of-three-Falls Match: Argentina Rocca and Miguel Perez beat Dick the Bruiser and Iron Mike DiBiase 2 falls to 1: x M. Perez beat M. DiBiase via a flying cross body press in 0:19:25 x M. DiBiase beat M. Perez via the Top Rope Kneedrop in 0:21:09 x A. Rocca beat M. DiBiase after the Double Dropkick in 0:24:31 Rating: * 1/4 (Argentina Rocca and Miguel Perez retained the NWA World Tag Team Titles.)
The main event for tonight’s new year’s attraction featured the most popular tag team in the world, the agile “Argentina” Antonino Rocca and Miguel Perez, taking on the wily Iron Mike DiBiase and perhaps the most hated man in professional wrestling today, Dick the Bruiser. Bruiser grabbed the microphone before the match and announced that he would pulverize Rocca and Perez before sending them packing back to South America. Iron Mike started for his team but refused to lockup with Rocca, instead sticking his body in between the ropes repeatedly. If he was attempting to psyche out Rocca, however, it wasn’t working, as Argentina responded with a cartwheel and somersault to the Miami Beach crowd’s approval. DiBiase tagged out to Bruiser without even attempting to wrestle. Bruiser, not much of one for mind games, got the action started and put a pounding on Rocca. Bruiser was a one-man wrecking crew, beating Rocca from pillar to post. Bruiser tagged in DiBiase who continued the onslaught, but Iron Mike missed a fistdrop and gave Rocca the opportunity he needed to tag out to Perez. The spunky Perez flew into action, flooring DiBiase and catching him with a flying bodypress off the top that earned his team the first fall.
The champions didn’t have much time for celebration, however, as Bruiser ambushed Perez from behind with a devastating clothesline. Rocca tried to save his partner but he and Bruiser toppled outside as DiBiase leaped off the top rope with a knee to Perez’s face to quickly even the score. Rocca entered the ring for his team and once again did battle with the Bruiser. All four men were soon back in the ring and for a moment it looked like referee Joe Maxim was going to have to throw out the match and disqualify both teams. Rocca and Perez knocked Bruiser to the outside with their high flying dropkicks, though, leaving them alone with DiBiase. Iron Mike took all four boots to the chest and was put down for the three count as Rocca and Perez escaped the Auditorium with their championship intact. Dick the Bruiser was furious at the loss and responded by tearing apart the timekeeper’s table. Bruiser swore he wouldn’t let this defeat go unavenged.
Circuit information:
We’ll be back at our home base in Tampa next month. On February 9, Championship Wrestling from Florida returns to the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory with the following matches already announced:
U.S. TAG TITLES 2/3 FALLS MATCH – Eddie Graham & Johnny Valentine (c) vs. Don Curtis & Mark Lewin Argentina Rocca vs. Dick the Bruiser SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE – The Red Menace (c) vs. Tito Carreon Hans Schmidt & Angelo Poffo vs. Dory Funk & Ray Villmer Haystacks Calhoun vs. Blackjack Dillon Harry Smith & Dick Steinborn vs. Rey Urbano & Mighty Jumbo Mike DiBiase vs. Johnny Walker Gypsy Joe vs. Buddy Austin
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Post by gentlemanjeff on Jan 16, 2011 20:50:32 GMT -5
I'd like to explain the conceit behind this circuit.
First, I'd like to give credit and thanks to duck and snabbit--the former for the cool flyer idea which I have already ripped off and the latter for creating the very good old school GCW circuit that inspired this one. I also totally dig Ryan's form so I'll be paying homage/stealing that too.
Second, the concept. I wanted to run a genuine historical territory as a sort of replay. Kind of like how a movie based on a comic book has to reinterpret all those decades of continuity and boil it down to its most important and dramatic elements. To that end, I'd like to run CWF such that the overarching themes of the real Championship Wrestling from Florida--Graham vs. Malenko, Briscos vs. Funks, Rhodes vs. Sullivan, etc.--take place, but with my own interpretation and spin on them.
As such, I plan on bringing in the real CWF wrestlers (and the occasional touring guest). After that, however, TNM calls all the shots. Jack Brisco out with a broken back? A very different CWF. Dusty Rhodes quits in the seventies? A very different CWF. We'll see what happens.
Third, I wanted to run a circuit that took place within the actual historical timeline. So, assume that everything that happened in real life is happening in this circuit unless it's in direct opposition to my unfolding of events. For example, Pat O'Connor is NWA World champ in January of 1960. Maybe he'll stop by and defend his title against Gypsy Joe.
Fourth, I really enjoy doing WOZW but I wanted a circuit to channel my efforts into when I'm feeling a bit more serious. WOZW will continue but be my silly outlet.
Fifth, why Florida? I grew up there. I was born too late to ever appreciate CWF on any level, but it seems like an interesting enough promotion to play out this kind of circuit and I'm on intimate terms with places like Miami, West Palm Beach and Orlando, so here we are.
Sixth, why 1960? It's a transitional period. Eddie Graham, who will be the man most closely associated with CWF for the next 25 years, is settling into Florida as a typical Grahamian heel (of course, in my game he might just quit next week). The promotion is picking up in terms of professionalism--in 1961 it'll receive it's first NWA title challenge. In 1963 it'll formally join the Alliance. Over the next 1-3 years several familiar faces will debut--Boris Malenko, Hiro Matsuda, etc. In short, it's a good time to introduce a virgin audience to the faces of CWF.
Finally, big thanks to anyone who comes across this from wrestlingclassics.com or kayfabememories.com or cwfarchives.com or wrestling-titles.com. Those sites have all been a big resource for research.
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Post by gentlemanjeff on Jan 17, 2011 13:53:06 GMT -5
February 9, 1960 – Tampa, FL – Fort Homer Hesterly Armory
Buddy Austin pinned Gypsy Joe after a clothesline in 0:13:42. Rating: 1/4*
“Killer” Buddy Austin is renowned for being a mean, mean son of a gun. He was incensed at Gypsy Joe for having the audacity to eliminate him in last month’s battle royal, leading to this contest tonight in Tampa. Austin attacked the popular Joe like an unleashed Rottweiler, pounding Joe into the ground with lefts and rights. Austin could have pinned him earlier but enjoyed delivering pain too much to end it. Finally, after what seemed more like a mugging than a competitive match, Austin clobbered Joe with a clothesline and mercifully covered for the pin. Still, Austin wasn’t finished! Referee Bob Armstrong had to threaten Austin with reversing the decision before he’d cease his assault.
Iron Mike DiBiase pinned Johnny Walker with the Top Rope Kneedrop in 0:10:14. Rating: * 1/2
DiBiase, fresh off a frustrating loss in last month’s main event, took on the technically-gifted youngster “Rubberman” Johnny Walker. Walker impressed the savvy Tampa audience with an assortment of reversals and holds but Iron Mike is one of the most well-traveled and accomplished veterans competing in the squared circle today. DiBiase wore down the Rubberman and finished him off with a kneedrop from the top. The crowd applauded Walker as he collected his wits and returned to the back.
Georgia Boy Harry Smith and Dick Steinborn defeated Rey Urbano and Mighty Jumbo when D. Steinborn defeated Jumbo by countout in 0:21:07. Rating: -1/2*
The muscular native of Atlanta, Georgia and the son of wrestling legend Milo Steinborn took on the interesting pairing of martial arts expert Rey Urbano and the 400-plus pounder Mighty Jumbo. Jumbo and Urbano displayed almost zero cohesion as a tag team but their mismatched offensive styles were enough to keep the fan favorites Smith and Steinborn off their game. Steinborn sent Jumbo toppling over the top rope with a dropkick. Jumbo, exhausted, was unable to beat the count despite Urbano’s attempts to roll the big man back into the ring.
Haystacks Calhoun pinned Blackjack Dillon with the Big Splash in 0:8:34. Rating: -** 3/4
Nobody thought this match was going to be pretty and it certainly was not. Blackjack threw everything he could think of at the 600-lb Haystacks but couldn’t bring the big man down. Calhoun slammed Dillon to the mat and delivered his thunderous splash to score the pinfall. Dillon clutched his ribs as he rolled out of the ring, still cursing at Haystacks, seemingly unhumbled.
Hans Schmidt and Angelo Poffo defeated Dory Funk Sr. and Ray Villmer when H. Schmidt pinned R. Villmer after hitting him with a foreign object in 0:12:41. Rating: *
Schmidt and Poffo found themselves up against another pair of favorites, tough-as-nails Dory Funk and veteran Ray Villmer. Funk and Villmer, who have had their fair share of battles in the past but always maintained an abiding mutual respect, took the fight to the big Schmidt and cunning Poffo. A brawl erupted between the two teams and all order was lost. Villmer looked to plant Poffo with a piledriver, but as he went for the deadly maneuver Schmidt reentered the ring and struck Villmer across the back of the head with his World War Two-vintage army helmet. Unfortunately, Funk’s attempt at gaining referee Bob Armstrong’s attention merely distracted the official! Schmidt covered for the academic three. Dory was furious and attacked his opponents after the match, driving them to the outside. Funk hurled barbs at both men as they slowly backed up the aisle. Personally, I’d sure hate to get Dory Funk that angry.
The Red Menace defeated Tito Carreon via pinfall in 0:13:51. Rating: DUD (The Red Menace retained the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title.)
The masked Menace had his hands full with popular Puerto Rican Tito Carreon tonight. Carreon, knowing that tonight’s shot at the Southern Heavyweight championship was the biggest match of his career, went all out and looked to have the title in his grasp after a suplex and a near-fall. Tito was fired up and signaled to the crowd that he was going to end it with his signature flying dropkick, but that momentary delay may just have been the time the Red Menace needed to collect his wits. The champion dodged the top-rope dropkick and then quickly followed up with a running knee to Carreon’s face, stunning the challenger long enough for Menace to collect the three count. The crowd might not like his political allegiances but the Red Menace seems like he’s here to stay.
Two-out-of-three-Falls Match: Eddie Graham and Johnny Valentine beat Don Curtis and Mark Lewin 2 falls to 0: x E. Graham beat M. Lewin via the Atomic Kneedrop in 0:18:47 x J. Valentine beat M. Lewin via the Brainbuster Elbow in 0:25:00 Rating: 3/4* (Eddie Graham and Johnny Valentine retained the NWA United States Tag Team Titles.)
The U.S. tag titles remain in the hands of Graham and Valentine after they took two straight falls from the hungry tandem of Curtis and Lewin. That would be impressive had it not been for how they accomplished the feat. As expected, the two well-acquainted teams had their usual back-and-forth affair with Eddie Graham scoring the first fall over young gun Mark Lewin with the flying kneedrop. The crowd rallied behind Curtis and Lewin, though, wanting to see them recover from the one-fall deficit. Encouraged, Curtis and Lewin charged back and took control of the match. Curtis tagged in Lewin, who circled a vulnerable Johnny Valentine looking to lock in his signature sleeperhold. Valentine pulled something out of his trunks and, while Graham attracted the referee’s attention by attempting to enter the ring, spun around and decked Lewin! Valentine tossed a pair of brass knuckles away and quickly nailed Lewin with his measured elbowsmash to the skull. Lewin collapsed in a heap as Graham and Valentine took the second fall and victory. Graham and Valentine mockingly celebrated their win while Curtis attended to Lewin outside the ring.
Argentina Rocca pinned Dick the Bruiser after a sunset flip in 0:16:42. Rating: ** 1/4
This looked like a mismatch on paper and in person with the hulking, six foot, two-hundred and sixty pound Bruiser looking massive in comparison to the five-ten, two-hundred-plus Argentina Rocca. Rocca, however, is an intelligent wrestler and he showed that here by using speed and guile to his advantage. Rocca allowed Bruiser to tire himself out as the big man chased Rocca all about the ring. Rocca laid into Bruiser with variety of agile kicks and maneuvers. Bruiser never really seemed to get on his game in this one—he was finally able to put a lid on Argentina’s antics and acrobatic hijinks with a big clothesline, but when Bruiser lifted Rocca up for a powerslam he promptly found himself on the wrong end of a sunset flip! Bruiser pounded the mat, outraged at the sudden and sneaky defeat. Rocca mocked the Bruiser, never a terribly smart decision, and Bruiser charged—but Rocca was already on the outside! The crowd joined Bruiser in cajoling the furious Bruiser. That’s the second month in a row that the show has ended with Bruiser steaming in the middle of the ring. I’d be wary—I don’t think he’s a man who handles disappointment well.
Circuit information:
Live near Sarasota? Then congratulations, you’ve got a live wrestling show coming to you on March 16! Here’s how the card is shaping up:
TITLES VS. TITLES 2/3 FALLS MATCH – Argentina Rocca & Miguel Perez (c-World) vs. Eddie Graham & Johnny Valentine (c-U.S.) Dory Funk vs. Hans Schmidt Don Curtis & Mark Lewin vs. The Red Menace & Rey Urbano Angelo Poffo vs. Ray Villmer Dick the Bruiser & Blackjack Dillon vs. Haystacks Calhoun & Big Ike Eakins Mike DiBiase vs. Don Eagle Dick Steinborn vs. Mighty Jumbo Buddy Austin vs. Johnny Walker
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Post by LillaThrilla on Jan 17, 2011 19:47:04 GMT -5
A second circuit in the way way back machine? Wow. Fifth, why Florida? I grew up there. I was born too late to ever appreciate CWF on any level, but it seems like an interesting enough promotion to play out this kind of circuit and I'm on intimate terms with places like Miami, West Palm Beach and Orlando, so here we are. I'm still here (and have been since 1988). I'm not sure if that will make me more or less of a fan of this circuit. I recognize names here even less than in GCW (which is saying something) but I'll try to follow.
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duck
Enhancement Talent
Posts: 25
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Post by duck on Jan 27, 2011 22:03:55 GMT -5
thanks for the shout. I like what I see. Will be reading.
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Post by gentlemanjeff on Jan 29, 2011 18:46:08 GMT -5
Well, bad news. My hard drive died about a week ago, meaning I lost both WOZW and CWF. WOZW isn't so bad since it uses the base TNM wrestler exports but the loss of CWF included lots of custom wrestlers plus a Word doc full of research and a half-year worth of simmed and _written_ cards that I was going to roll out slowly. So that's a morale-killer.
Worse yet, I'm on a new machine with Windows 7 (Home Premium) and, despite my best efforts with DosBox, I am unable to get TNM working. It installs but, upon trying to load a circuit (after having created it), it reverts to the DosBox command line with a heading like C:\WORLD>_. I think the problem is solvable but I'll be damned if I can figure it out.
I had WOZW pretty meticulously plotted out for all of "1993" so I'd like to continue that at some point. CWF, we'll see, as that'd take a lot of trudging over the same ground to get going again.
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Crpls
Midcarder
Posts: 140
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Post by Crpls on Jan 30, 2011 6:25:41 GMT -5
Per Oliver's Facebook: He's working on a DOSBox compatible build of TNM7SE.
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Post by LillaThrilla on Jan 30, 2011 20:30:41 GMT -5
Yikes! But good to hear Oliver is doing some kind of TNM update - and possibly the most important kind since it will help keep the program functional.
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Post by LillaThrilla on Jan 30, 2011 20:40:11 GMT -5
Actually, looks like Build 6 with the DOSBox compatibility is out now.
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Crpls
Midcarder
Posts: 140
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Post by Crpls on Jan 31, 2011 9:10:54 GMT -5
Only downside is that you can't use windows based plugins with DOSBox.
Like he says, the other two options are better, but aren't necessarily free.
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