River City Wrestling

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #476
August 3, 1991
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Joe Aiello premiers as the new play by play announcer replacing Ron Strong who is moving on to other opportunities. Strong has been with RCW since the very beginning in 1980 working behind the scenes and then once the promotion got its first TV show he stepped behind the mic and has been there ever since. Joe Aiello is a local radio disc jockey and wrestling aficionado. Tonight's card see's something fairly unique. With Larry Cameron and Wahoo McDaniel having run roughshod through their competition as of late RCW has decided to do something a bit different and reward the tag team champions with single title matches. Mike Enos will get a title shot at Heavyweight champion Larry Cameron, while Wayne Bloom gets a shot at Heritage champion Wahoo McDaniel. 

Opening Bout:
Ben Bassarab defeated Don McCullogh by pinfall after a flying bodypress at 4:32

Bout #2:
Terminator Riggs defeated Timothy Flowers by pinfall after a powerslam at 6:01

Bout #3:
Chris Adams (/w Toni Adams) defeated Dan Denton by submission to a Boston crab at 7:04
**Toni Adams returned to second her man for the first time in a while without incident.

Bout #4:
KC Houston defeated Tiffany Brannigan by pinfall after a running bulldog at 4:27
**Houston still has a return title shot coming her way but the battle of the Adams family has to come first.

Bout #5:
The Natural & Shane Croft defeated EZ Ryder & Chi Chi Cruz by submission when Ryder submitted to Natural in the figure four leglock at 10:39
**Unable to settle their feud one on one this time Cruz and Natural each had a tag team partner. It was a hard fought match and it looked like Croft would be the weak link but then Ryder got into trouble and ended up submitting.

Post-Match: After the match Natural once again offered a handshake to Cruz. Instead of turning him away Cruz began to talk with him. This drew the ire of his recently defeated partner Ryder who tried to step between the two. This drew words from Cruz. Ryder stuck a finger in Cruz's face, then Natural's face, then received a slap from Natural. Croft then pearl harboured Ryder from behind and Croft and Natural laid in the boots. Incredibly they were then joined by Cruz making it 3 on 1. With Ryder destroyed Natural and Cruz finally shook hands. Croft then offered a handshake to Cruz, but was just laughed at. Croft punched Cruz, rocking him, but then had his legs taken out from him by Natural. Cruz and Natural then laid in a 2 on 1 beating on Croft before leaving the ring together.

Bout #6

Bullet Train: Lance Storm & Mike Lozanski defeated Charlie Norris & Johnnie Stewart by pinfall when Lozanski pinned Norris after a Bullet dropkick (top rope) at 8:35

**The very exciting team of Bullet Train pick up their 3rd big win in a row. With the British Bruisers having left the territory it is presumed that with this win Bullet Train will get a title shot at Destruction Crew.

Bout #7

North American Women's Title

Toni Adams (champion) vs Jeannie Adams

Toni actually jumped Jeannie before the match could even start. It was an unruly brawl that looked on the verge of being thrown out. Jeannie though took control of the match and went to work on the lower back of Toni, and then the legs. Jeannie put Toni in a Boston crab two straight time each one for about a minute but Toni would not quit. During the second one Chris Adams came down to the ring and implored Toni to give up. He even threw in a towel. But referee Buddy Lane refused the action and ordered Chris to the back. When he wouldn't leave Jim Brunzell had to come down with Jurgen Hermann and try and walk him to the back. However, before they even got Chris to the back Jeannie nailed a backbreaker followed by a side suplex, covered, 1, 2, grabbed the tights for leverage, 3!!

Jeannie Adams defeated Toni Adams by pinfall after a side suplex and aided by a handful of tights at 6:48

[Jeannie Adams Won the North American Women's Title]

Bout #8
RCW Heritage Title Match
Wahoo McDaniel (champion)  vs  Wayne Bloom
Mike Enos tried to come down to ringside to aid Bloom but was sent to the back as he is not a licensed manager. Bloom tried to match power versus power with McDaniel and at first did fine until Wahoo channeled his inner fury. This was a brawl only interrupted by the occasional resthold or power move. They threw in two stints outside the ring to heighten the brawl. Mike Enos came down to attempt a distraction but then Larry Cameron of all people came down and attacked Enos from behind; probably more from self-interest in getting the jump on the Main Event. However, the distraction actually worked against Bloom and allowed McDaniel a comeback with a backelbow, and then the Tomahawk finisher.
Wahoo McDaniel defeated Wayne Bloom by pinfall after a Tomahawk Chop at 7:24
[Wahoo McDaniel retained the RCW Heritage Title]

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Lethal Larry Cameron (champion) vs Mike Enos
This match started like you would expect with some brawling and power moves, and with both men being hated by the crowd, but solidly behind the underdog Enos. Cameron though took control and pounded away at Enos threatening to send the crowd home early. Then a funny thing happened, Mike Enos took control of the match. He started by grounding Cameron, working an armlock. Back on their feet the challenger nailed a bodyslam, kneedrop, then in an impressive feat of strength a Samoan drop, getting a 2 count. Enos locked on a figure-four next but could not stop Cameron from reaching the ropes. Enos used those ropes and the ring apron to continue to punish the champ's legs. Enos continued the beating with a necksnap followed by a DDT for another 2 count. Cameron gained a momentary advantage, but when he came off the ropes Enos used his momentum to deliver a crushing powerslam. Enos punished the champ in the corner, followed with a short arm clothesline, then a spinebuster slam for another 2 count. This was followed by a second stint in the figure-four. The fans seemed warming up to the possibility of a title change. Enos threw Cameron into the corner but when he followed him in the champ fed him a back elbow. However, when Cameron tried to whip Enos back into the corner it was reversed and Enos sent the champ into the corner, and then got behind him, climbed to the second rope and used his knee to drive Cameron's head down and into the mat. He covered and got a 2 count. Then in his most impressive move yet, he laid the champ across the top buckle, and after delivering some shots, he climbed to the second buckle, hooked under the champ and then took him over with a release suplex...and got a 2 count again. Enos worked a front facelock, Cameron made a short comeback, only to have Enos use a simple singe leg takedown to once again exert control. However when he went for a piledriver the champ blocked it and sent Enos over for a backbody drop...but Enos grabbed onto him and tried to roll him up..but the champ countered by grabbing the ropes and then delivering a double kneesmash to the head. The champ used his legs to pin down the challenger..then grabbed the ropes and got the 1, 2,..no Buddy Lane saw the illegal move and called for the break. Cameron complained to the ref so Enos nailed him with a clothesline from behind. When he whipped Cameron into the corner to follow up he did so with such force that Cameron hit the buckle and bounced up and over, landing on his feet on the apron. Enos followed him in and Cameron nailed him with a hotshot. Cameron then climbed to the top rope and as Enos recovered he nailed him with a flying shoulderblock for the win.
Larry Cameron defeated Mike Enos by pinfall after a flying shoulderblock from the top rope at 13:16
[Larry Cameron retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #477

August 17, 1991

Winnipeg, MB

Commissioner Jim Brunzell announces that the annual battle royale will happen in 4 weeks time here in Winnipeg. It will be a 20-man over the top battle royale for a $5,000 prize and a shot at the Heavyweight title two weeks later (currently being held by Larry Cameron). Besides some of the current stars of RCW they will be bringing in around 6 wrestlers from outside RCW to compete. The first two he announces as Rogue (returning to RCW), and from the Detroit area, the legendary, one and only, the original Sheik!!

Opening Bout

Randy Thatcher defeated French Mad Dog by pinfall after a double underhook suplex at 4:27

Bout #2

Ben Bassarab defeated Johnnie Stewart by disqualification for use of a foreign object at 7:08

-well it finally happened. Stewart loaded up his knee pad and nailed Bassarab for the sure win, except referee Buddy Lane noticed a bulge in the knee pad and extracted a metal bar. He called for the DQ.

Bout #3

Terminator Riggs defeated Charlie Norris by pinfall after a piledriver at 8:31

-same result when these two locked up about a month ago. It's time for RCW to freshen up their talent.

Bout #4

Chris Adams defeated Timothy Flowers by pinfall after a superkick at 4:10

-surprisingly short match, but another that it feels like we have seen before

Bout #5
Natural & Chi Chi Cruz defeated EZ Ryder & Shane Croft by pinfall when Cruz pinned Croft after a Cruz Missile (Diving spinning wheel kick) at 9:03
-Natural and Cruz' first match as a tag team and the two worked extremely well together. The only reason this match lasted as long as it did was because both men wanted to showcase their talents.

Bout #6
North American Women's Title Match
I Quit Match
Jeannie Adams defeated Toni Adams by submission with a figure-four at 10:24
-After the extreme nature of this feud it was decided that the only way it would end would be if someone submitted, someone gave up. The match started though with an all out brawl, no submissions being put on until after 6 minutes. Because of the stipulation it was no-dq so the match went in and out of the ring, and both women used steel chairs. Chris Adams came down to ringside but was sent to the back by referee Buddy Lane. The women then traded submission holds, with Toni using a version of a STF and Jeannie using first a Boston crab and then the figure-four. Toni did not want to give up and looked on the verge of passing out. Chris Adams came down to the ring again and urged Toni to submit. Finally unable to take the pain anymore and after two failed attempts to turn it over, finally Toni yelled Uncle.
[Jeannie Adams Won the North American Women's Title]


Bout #7
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (champions)  vs  Bullet Train: Lance Storm & Mike Lozansky
The champs started strong, literally, but as soon as the challengers were able to get moving they took the match over. The rest of the match saw Mike Enos dominated first, then Wayne Bloom. There was no doubt who was the better team in this bout. Finally to regroup and save their titles the champs took a powder.
Bullet Train defeated Destruction Crew by countout at 8:17
[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Lethal Larry Cameron (champion)  vs  Wahoo McDaniel
One of the better things that RCW does is to recognize their lower level champions by giving them title shots. Last card we had the tag champions getting singles shots, and now this time we have the Heritage champion getting a title shot at the Heavyweight champion. Only the heavyweight title is on the line. Cameron started strong thanks to a Roman-Greco rake of the eyes, then locking on a side headlock followed by some more wear down holds. McDaniel eventually made a comeback but Cameron took a rest outside the ring and referee Buddy Lane made sure that McDaniel stayed in the ring. The bout went back and forth, and then the next time Cameron took a breather McDaniel skirted the ref and left the ring to go after him. The two slugged it out, and eventually got back inside the ring. Cameron took back the advantage and used the tights, hair, ropes, whatever he could do to cheat and hold the advantage. Finally Wahoo lost control and began to choke Cameron. Buddy Lane counted to 5 but Wahoo was in a different zone.
Larry Cameron defeated Wahoo McDaniel by disqualification for not breaking a chokehold at 7:50
[Larry Cameron retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #478
August 31, 1991

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Battle Royale Announcement

Jim Brunzell announces that in addition to Rogue and The Sheik who were entered last week, more names have been finalized for the annual battle royale which will happen in two weeks for a $5,000 prize and a shot at the heavyweight title. The biggest news is that returning from injury will be Mr. Wonderful himself "Paul Orndorff". This brings the champion Larry Cameron to the ring to complain. Not really sure why he would be complaining but he tries to no avail. However, Cameron does ask that as champion he should be able to put forward a challenger of his own and asks that a spot be reserved for a special guest of his own that will make sure that Orndorff does not win the battle royale. Jim Brunzell agrees saying that Orndorff is not afraid of anyone. In addition the following wrestlers will be entered; Wahoo McDaniel, Chris Adams, Ben Bassarab, EZ Ryder, Terminator Riggs, Lance Storm, Mike Lozansky, Charlie Norris, Johnnie Stewart, Wayne Bloom, Mike Enos, The Natural, and Chi Chi Cruz. So that's 17 names in all including Cameron's entry. That leaves 3 spots open. One of those will go to a new entry a man who bills himself as the master of horror, Freddy Krueger! The remaining two spots will be filled by none other then himself Jim Brunzell, and Baron von Raschke!

Opening Bout

Jason Power defeated Charlie Norris by pinfall after a full nelson slam at 5:53

-Power is a newcomer, with muscles but not a lot else going on.

Bout #2

Terminator Riggs and Rogue battled to a double disqualification at 6:56

-the strange cloak wearing man who talks in some Medieval tongue is back, and he and Riggs quickly got their hate on. The two battled after the match until other wrestlers and security intervened to get between the two.

Bout #3

Timothy Flowers & Dan Denton defeated Randy Thatcher & Red Bastien Jr. by pinfall when Denton pinned Bastien after a stuffed piledriver at 6:06

-filler, nut as tasty as the jam in the middle of a donut, no where near as tasty.

Bout #4

Ben Bassarab defeated Johnnie Stewart by pinfall after a flying bodypress at 10:27

-Return bout from last card when Stewart was dq'd for putting a steel bar into his knee pad. Best match of the night so far, as it was hard fought, lots of impact and scientific moves, both men holding advantages. However referee Buddy Lane got caught in the crossfire of a flying dropkick and got knocked out. At this point Stewart took out a metal rod and loaded his knee brace again. But running down to the ring, reaching in and holding onto Stewart's leg was Bassarab's former partner out with an injury Kid Gallahad. By the time Stewart kicked his way out of it he walked right into a superkick, followed by a snap suplex, and then Bassarab went to the top and nailed the flying bodypress to pick up the win.

Post-Match: Kid Gallahad in the ring with Ben Bassarab says he has been cleared to wrestle and wants in to the Battle Royale. Commissioner Jim Brunzell comes down to the ring and says Gallahad deserves respect as half of the former tag champions. He tells Gallahad that the battle royale is full but that he will withdraw himself and give his spot to Gallahad. He also mentions that as former tag champions Bassarab and Gallahad never received their rematch because of Gallahad's injury. So as part of the undercard to the Battle Royale they will get their title shot against whoever the tag champs are after tonight; either the Destruction Crew or Bullet Train.

Bout #5

Natural & Chi Chi Cruz defeated EZ Ryder & Chris Adams by disqualification for use of a chair at 9:59

-Natural and Cruz are on a roll. Using good tag team double teams and cheating where they could they kept their opponents off balance. Finally Chris Adams just snapped and got a chair and hit both his opponents over the head. He also threatened inept referee Jurgen Hermann with a chairshot before calming down and dropping the chair. Toni Adams' match is next so she was not at ringside to help her husband.

Bout #6

North American Women's Title Match

Strap Match

Toni Adams defeated Jeannie Adams by touching all 4 corners in a strap match at 8:16

[Toni Adams won the North American Women's Title]

-another very short reign of a women's title holder, as Jeannie did not successfully defend her belt even once. This was a vicious brawl, with a strap match being set up after the "I Quit" match last time. Toni just seemed to be a bit better and a bit more determined then the champion.

Bout #7

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (champions) vs Bullet Train: Lance Storm & Mike Lozansky

This was a return match after Destruction Crew just walked away from their last title defense. This time Jim Brunzell came down to the ring prior to the bout and told the champs that if they walked away again, or got themselves intentionally disqualified then he would strip them of the titles. The champs seemed cocky and confident when they walked into the room but after the dressing down they received from Brunzell they seemed a bit flustered. The challengers used this to control the first few minutes, with quick tags and double teams on the transitions. But Bloom used his power to turn the tables, driving Lozansky into the corner and then roughing him up. The champs then used their strategy of cutting the ring in half and always having a hold on their opponent. No whips to the ropes, not even a back body drop, they literally had a hold on Lozansky for the next 5 minutes. Eventually though Lozansky managed to slide under Bloom's legs while still in a wristlock and then pulled straight up causing Bloom to crotch himself. The champs complained to ref Jurgen Hermann about the low blow but Hermann pointed out that Bloom technically did it to himself. In the meantime Lozansky got the tag and Storm did the whole house of fire thing taking care of both champions. He then settled into punishing Enos, and when Lozansky was recovered they reverted back to their quick tags. This lasted until Bloom was able to catch Storm coming off the ropes with a rabbit punch to the back of the head, and then hit him with a hotshot as he leapt off the ring apron to the floor below. Then he yanked Storm out of the ring and laid the boots to him while Hermann was busy restraining Lozansky. Bloom rolled Lozansky back into the ring and then tagged in from Enos. The assault was on now and they worked over the knee of Storm which seemed damaged from his fall out of the ring. Storm managed to tag out once but Hermann was distracted by Bloom so missed the tag. Finally Enos put Storm into the figure four and you could hear his screams from the cheap seats. Lozansky came in and laid the boots to Enos to break it up. But Enos just reapplied the figure four and Hermann warned Lozansky if he did it again he would be dq'd. This time Storm had no choice but to submit.

Destruction Crew defeated Bullet Train by submission when Enos submitted Storm with a figure-four at 13:13

[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles] 

Main Event

Title vs Title - Both Titles on The Line
Larry Cameron (Heavyweight Champion) vs Wahoo McDaniel (Heritage Champion)

Last time these two faced off McDaniel was Dq'd for losing his temper and choking Cameron past the 5 count. However, Jim Brunzell recognized that Cameron had been cheating throughout the match. He therefore granted McDaniel a rematch, and it had to be this card, the last one before the Battle Roayle. However, since McDaniel needed to also defend his Heritage title (30 day rule) Brunzell made it a title vs title match.

McDaniel started strong, and referee Buddy Lane kept a closer eye on the shenanigans of the champion. Eventually however Cameron got working on the lower back of McDaniel and pounded that for a while including a Boston crab. The match of course spilled outside where it was a pier 6 brawl. Back inside the fisticuffs continued and then once again spilled outside the ring. Cameron managed to smash McDaniel back first into the steel barricade, and then beat the 10 count back into the ring to get the victory but no title changes.

Larry Cameron defeated Wahoo McDaniel by countout at 8:40

[Larry Cameron retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

[Wahoo McDaniel retained the RCW Heritage Title]

Post-Match: Larry Cameron returned to the ring with a mic. He announced to the crowd that he had already secured his ringer to appear at the Battle Royale and he would give Paul Orndorff fits. His ringer is none other than Cowboy Bob Orton Jr. !!!

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #479
September 14, 1991
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Prior to the matches starting commissioner Jim Brunzell came down to fill the fans in on some recent news. First of all Chris Adams and his wife Toni have left the territory for reasons he won't go into. That means that Chris' spot in Tonight's Battle Royale is open. Also, it means that Toni's North American Women's Title is vacated. In case the fans don't get enough of wrestling's greatest spectacle the Battle Royale tonight, they will get an all women Battle Royale in 2 weeks time to crown a new women's champion. Next, one half of Bullet Train, Lance Storm sustained an injury in his last bout so he is out as well. Those two spots will be taken by newcomer Jason Power, and after having given up his spot for Kid Gallahad last show, Jim Brunzell himself is back in the Battle Royale. This brought out Charlie Norris, saying how convenient it was for Brunzell to spring this on the field, so that no one could prepare for him, plus he has the officials in his back pocket, and while most of the other wrestlers were going to have to wrestle warm-up matches tonight he is not signed, so he will enter fresh. Brunzell tells Norris not to worry because Norris was signed tonight to take on Lance Storm, and since Brunzell is taking his spot in the Battle Royale he'll also take his spot in the match against Norris....right now.

Opening Bout
Jim Brunzell defeated Charlie Norris by pinfall after a flying dropkick at 5:55
- not much ring rust apparent on the former RCW Heavyweight champion as he dominated this bout, even though he had to wrestle in a pair of Zubaz.

Bout #2
EZ Ryder defeated Freddy Krueger by disqualification for use of a steel chair at 4:01
-it must have felt like deja vu for Ryder after his recent troubles with Mr. Pogo, when he drew this mask wearing crazy idiot. It wasn't enough for Krueger to beat his opponent, passing up an obvious win after a piledriver, he had to go out of the ring get a steel chair and deliver a second piledriver on top of the folded steel chair. Security was called to separate the master of horror from his fallen opponent.

Bout #3
Jason Power, Baron von Raschke, & Mike Lozansky defeated Natural, Chi Chi Cruz, and Johnnie Stewart by submission when Raschke submitted Stewart with the clawhold at 9:26
-Natural and Cruz cut the ring in half and made Power play Ricky Morton for a bit. But then Lozansky took the match over, and Raschke continued it, and then even Power had a turn. Johnnie Stewart refused to take a tag in making it obvious he had no interest in this match and was saving himself for the Battle Royale. Finally Natural cold cocked Stewart, forced the tag in, and he and Cruz flipped Stewart into the ring. Raschke applied the clawhold to Stewart and got the submission.

Bout #4

Rogue defeated Terminator Riggs by pinfall after the Nightfall (top rope DDT) at 7:04

-Good match that could have gone either way. Rogue looks about 10 pounds more muscular than his last stint in RCW, still works that slow methodical style however and pounces on any small mistake by his opponents.

Bout #5

The Sheik and Wahoo McDaniel battled to a double countout at 6:36

-pretty much what you would expect from these two, brawling, bloodshed, and no scientific endeavors. Both men were probably weakened ahead of the battle royale. This was the first ever appearance by the original Sheik in RCW.

Bout #6
Paul Orndorff defeated Bob Orton Jr by pinfall after a piledriver at 8:51
-Larry Cameron's ringer Bob Orton was not able to take care of business and either defeat or damage Orndorff. The end came when Orton tried to hit a piledriver but Orndorff stood his ground, nailed a clothesline, running clothesline, then a piledriver.

Post-Match: What he couldn't get done during the match he tried again to get done after the match by attacking Orndorff as he walked up the aisle. Orton managed to get some damage in of the superficial kind before Terminator Riggs, Jim Brunzell, and Wahoo McDaniel came to the rescue.

Bout #7
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Destruction Crew (Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos) defeated Ben Bassarab & Kid Gallahad when Enos pinned Gallahad after a scoop powerslam at 9:05
[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
-Bassarab and Gallahad may have been a challenge to the dominant champs, except Gallahad still had some ring rust after the injury, and Bassarab..well...seemed a tad disinterested at times. Really seemed like Bassarab was more worried about the upcoming battle royale then he did the tag belts. He made no attempt to break up the final pin.

Main Event
20-Man Battle Royale
(Chris Adams, Lance Storm out) (Jim Brunzell, Jason Power in)
$5,000 Prize & Heavyweight Title Shot

In order of elimination and (who eliminated them) time
20.  Chi Chi Cruz   (Jason Power)  2:25
19.  Jason Power    (The Natural)  2:30
18.  Mike Enos     (The Sheik, Baron von Raschke)  3:11
17.  Baron von Raschke    (The Sheik, Wayne Bloom)  3:23
16.  EZ Ryder    (Freddy Krueger)  5:04
15.  Johnnie Stewart    (Jim Brunzell, Bob Orton Jr)  5:58
14.  Mike Lozansky    (Wayne Bloom)  7:12
13. The Sheik     (Wahoo McDaniel, Charlie Norris)  9:26
12.  The Natural    (Jim Brunzell, Paul Orndorff)  9:42
11.  Freddy Krueger    (Wahoo McDaniel)  10:33
10.  Kid Gallahad   (Terminator Riggs, Ben Bassarab)  11:37
9.   Terminator Riggs   (Ben Bassarab)  11:55
8.   Charlie Norris   (Rogue)  13:45
7.  Jim Brunzell     (Rogue)   14:26
6.  Wayne Bloom    (Ben Bassarab, Wahoo McDaniel, Paul Orndorff)  14:41
5.  Wahoo McDaniel  (Bob Orton Jr, Paul Orndorff)  17:48
4.  Bob Orton Jr        (Paul Orndorff)    18:37
3.  Ben Bassarab     (Rogue, Paul Orndorff)  19:04
2.  Rogue                (Paul Orndorff)  22:20

Winner - Paul Orndorff

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #480
September 28, 1991
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout:

Mike Lozansky defeated Shane Croft by pinfall after a missile dropkick at 4:02

-squash match. Lozansky is back to being a singles wrestler since Lance Storm got injured.

Post-Match: Destruction Crew entered the ring and attacked Lozansky from behind following the match. Croft actually tried to help his opponent but was ejected from the ring. The fans popped though when Baron von Raschke came from the back wearing street clothes to take out the trash.

Bout #2

Charlie Norris defeated EZ Ryder by pinfall after a Tomahawk chop at 5:58

-filler

Bout #3

Freddy Krueger defeated Ben Bassarab by pinfall after a piledriver at 8:24

-perhaps a major upset as Bassarab takes a step backward now after failing to win the heavyweight title, tag team titles, then the battle royale, now this loss. He was not too happy with the referee after the match either.

Bout #4

Rogue defeated Kid Gallahad by pinfall after the Nightfall (top rope DDT) at 5:23

-Rogue looks like he is ready to step back into the Heavyweight title scene.

Bout #5

Bob Orton Jr defeated Terminator Riggs after a bulldog (and use of a foreign object) at 7:12

-Riggs held his own against the cagey veteran, but in the end Orton had a roll of coins hidden in his trunks which he used to nail Riggs, then hit a bulldog to make it look less suspicious.

Bout #6

For Vacant North American Women's Title

9 woman battle royale; Desiree Petersen, KC Houston, Kitty Carson, Kristy Kanyon, Keisha, Kathy Weathers, Jeannie Adams, Tiffany Brannigan, Pink Demon

order of elimination (who eliminated them) time

9. Pink Demon (herself by accident) 0:43

8. Kitty Carson (Desiree Petersen) 3:11
7. Kathy Weathers (KC Houston)  3:23

6. Kristy Kanyon (Keisha) 5:47

5. Keisha (Jeannie Adams, KC Houston) 6:10

4. Tiffany Brannigan (KC Houston) 7:45

3. Jeannie Adams (Deisree Petersen) 8:58

2. KC Houston (Desiree Petersen)  11:30

Winner - Desiree Petersen

[Desiree Petersen wins the vacant North American Women's Title]

Bout #7

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Destruction Crew: Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos defeated The Natural & Chi Chi Cruz by pinfall when Bloom pinned Cruz after a double underhook suplex at 8:50

[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

-Natural and Cruz worked well together, but they were no match for the bigger, more experienced champions in this battle between villain teams.

Bout #8

RCW Heritage Title Match

Wahoo McDaniel defeated The Sheik by pinfall after a Tomahawk chop at 5:56

[Wahoo McDaniel retained the RCW Heritage Title]

-short but violent match between two aging veterans. Enough shock value to keep the fans interested for a short match, and to suspend the disbelief that even Jurgen Hermann would allow the match to continue.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Larry Cameron (champion) vs Paul Orndorff
Cameron has held the title for about 6 months now, a lifetime these days in RCW. Orndorff last held the title back in May 1990, but had to vacate it in July 1990 due to a shoulder injury. This was a match between two strong, and proud men. It was fought hard as nails, but for the most part honest. In fact without the crowd noise it might have been impossible to determine who was the "good guy" in this bout. Cameron went to work on the shoulder of Orndorff trying to exploit the previous injury, while Orndorff tried a couple times to set Cameron up for the piledriver to no avail. The two men traded off running clotheslines and running shoulderblocks (apparently Orndorff's is still strong), but when Cameron went for a scoop powerslam Orndorff blocked it, rolled Cameron up for a 2 count. Back on their feet Orndorff hit a swinging neckbreaker, followed by a front facelock then driving Cameron into the mat. Orndorff nailed the piledriver and got 1..Cowboy Bob Orton Jr appeared from the back...2...Orton slid into the ring, unseen by head referee Buddy Lane...3....Orton breaks it up but not in time.

Paul Orndorff defeated Larry Cameron by pinfall after a piledriver at 10:25

[Paul Orndorff Won the RCW Heavyweight Title]

Post-Match: Normally you would expect Cameron and Orton to double team Orndorff after the match, but instead they argued as Cameron was not happy with Orton's timing. Baron von Raschke and Jim Brunzell came down to the ring to present the title to Orndorff and to make sure there was no thought of a post-match attack.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #481
October 12, 1991
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout

Keisha & Tiffany Brannigan defeated Kitty Carson & Kristy Kanyon by pinfall when Keisha pinned Kanyon after a powerbomb at 8:08

-fast paced women's tag team match with the fan favorites getting to the pay window to start things off with a bang

Bout #2

Terminator Riggs defeated Chi Chi Cruz by pinfall after a running powerslam at 1:37

-Wow, Riggs dispatched the very capable Cruz in under two minutes, sending a statement that even after his loss to Rogue and Bob Orton on the last 2 cards he is still in the title hunt.

Bout #3

Bob Orton Jr defeated Mike Lozansky by pinfall after a piledriver at 9:50

-Orton controlled the first 2 minutes of this match but after that it was all the young Lozansky with dropkicks, hip tosses, a flying crucifix, and even a tope on Orton outside the ring when he tried to buy some time. Lozansky though got caught coming off the top rope and Orton then finished it a minute later in short fashion. Orton took a long hard look at Lozansky after the match and then surprised the crowd by offering a hand up and helping Lozansky to his feet. A surprising show of respect.

Bout #4

Freddy Krueger defeated Kid Gallahad by submission to the Asian spike at 7:41

-In a strange booking move, Krueger beat Bassarab last week and Rogue beat Gallahad, and now this week the two former tag partners who lost switch opponents. Gallahad fared no better against the master of horror then he did last card's freak.

Bout #5

Rogue and Ben Bassarab battled to a no-contest at 9:02

-hard fought even contest with the winner likely in line for a title shot at either the Heavyweight or Heritage title. However, the intensity could not be contained to the ring and it spilled outside. Rogue started to take liberties and the match was thrown out. At this point Kid Gallahad joined the fray to attack Rogue. Surprisingly this did not go over well with Bassarab and he and Gallahad had a pushing match as well.

 

Bout #6

KC Houston defeated Jeannie Adams by pinfall after a running bulldog at 5:15

-KC Houston won this match to become the #1 contender for the women's title and will get that shot against Desiree Petersen next card

Bout #7

RCW Heritage Title Match

Wahoo McDaniel defeated The Natural by pinfall after a Tomahawk Chop at 8:17

[Wahoo McDaniel retained the RCW Heritage Title]

-Well I guess Natural had done enough to earn a title shot, but came up short in his effort for gold. McDaniel showed with his power and experience advantage that he could overcome Natural's speed and cheating.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Paul Orndorff (champion)  vs  Larry Cameron

There was a buzz of excitement in the crowd as Orndorff strutted to the ring and applause reigned down on him. Then the challenger made his way to the ring and demurred complaining about everything he could think of. The bell rang and fists flew, the men clobbered and hammered each other, the sound of a lead foot slamming into the mat echoed through the venue with every punch. Head referee Buddy Lane seemed determined to let them get it out of their system and it was the challenger who blinked first complaining to the ref and offering Orndorff a handshake which was not accepted. Collar elbow hook up and Orndorff drove a knee into Cameron's gut, followed up by a pair of forearm uppercuts, a spinebuster slam, and then he locked on a full nelson. A smaller man would have submitted but Cameron is not a smaller man and made his way to the ropes for a break. Lane got between the two men on the break and it was the opportunity the challenger needed to snake in a fist to Orndorff's prestigious chin. He then bull rushed him slamming him to the mat. The two men literally wrestled around the ring like a pair of truckers having a dispute at last call. The men spilled to the mats outside the ring where Cameron managed to mount Orndorff and lay in some solid punches to the champion's melon. Back inside the challenger went to work with elbows to the head, a standing earringer, and then a piledriver! But the champion Orndorff managed to kick out from the pin and refused to lose to his own finishing move. Fisticuffs returned, and the two men exchanged advantages. Orndorff managed a long sequence with the challenger first in an abdominal stretch and then in a surfboard. No one expected a submission, this was simply wear down tactics. Cameron battled back, and dropped Orndorff with a running clothesline, and then a half-Boston. Close to the buckle Cameron argued with Lane and ignored the 5 count as he stood on Orndorff's throat. The challenger and ref exchanged words and threats before Cameron released the champ and menaced Lane to the middle of the ring. Orndorff charged Cameron who stepped partially out of the way, causing a train wreck of all 3 men in the ring. Cameron stumbled to his feet first, grabbed Orndorff by the chin, but the champ nailed Cameron with a punch to the gut. The challenger however fought back with a chop to the throat and then a hotshot off the ropes. Cameron then delivered an impressive powerslam. He covered and got...nothing as Lane was still down. Cameron then left the ring and retrieved a chair. Back inside the ring he wound up, but Orndorff blocked the chair. The two men then struggled over the chair. Cowboy Bob Orton Jr entered the ring. Things didn't look good for Orndorff but as Orton took the chair away, he threw it out of the ring and yelled at both men to fight it out! He then went over and revived Buddy Lane. Cameron was a bit more shocked then Orndorff and it allowed the champion an opportunity to attack. Kick, punch, clothesline, running clothesline, bodyslam, elbowdrop, piledriver...pin..1, 2, KICKOUT...piledriver...pin, scooping the leg this time, 1, 2, 3 !!!

[Paul Orndorff defeated Larry Cameron by pinfall after a piledriver at 10:51]

[Paul Orndorff retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

Post-Match: Cameron and Orton have a stare down as Orndorff celebrates in the ring. Then Cameron attacks Orton but the Cowboy is rescued by Orndorff. The two men shake hands and old friends are back together again.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #482
October 26, 1991
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Halloween Horror

Opening Bout

Chi Chi Cruz defeated Jason Power by pinfall after a Cruz Missile (diving spinning heel kick) at 6:02

-some redemption for Cruz after being easily handled last card by Terminator Riggs in under two minutes.

Bout #2

Keisha defeated Kristy Kanyon by pinfall after a victory roll at 4:13

-very attractive wrestlers who's bolt-on's are more impressive then their skill sets

Bout #3

Mike Lozansky defeated The Natural by pinfall after a top rope missile dropkick at 10:06

-top notch match between two guys who can work. Natural plays a great old school heel getting heat from the crowd while Lozansky has that true "baby" face appeal. In the end Lozansky made a spirited comeback and won a clean and decisive victory.

Bout #4

Triangle Match - All 3 Men Are Legal - No Disqualification - First Fall Wins

Rogue defeated Ben Bassarab and Kid Gallahad in a triangle match when he pinned Gallahad after a DDT at 12:50

-the real story of this match was the continuing disintegration of friendship between former tag team champions Bassarab and Gallahad. In the end it seemed the only thing left was the custody battle of who was going to get the fans. Rogue played possum near the end after being the one to introduce a chair into the ring. Bassarab and Gallahad battled over the chair, and finally Gallahad prevailed nailing Bassarab with a dropkick which drove the chair into his face, and knocked him from the ring. As a winded Gallahad then bent over to retrieve the chair Rogue made his miraculous recovery, and nailed Gallahad with a DDT right on the chair and covered for the win.

Bout #5

North American Women's Title Match

KC Houston defeated Desiree Petersen by pinfall after a running bulldog (and with her feet on the ropes) at 8:54

[KC Houston Wins the North American Women's Title]

-pretty even match with Petersen controlling most of the early action but Houston turning the tables with some underhanded tactics to control the last few minutes. In the end even though Houston nailed her finishing move there was still controversy as she also put her feet on the ropes for extra leverage just to make sure. The women's title continues to change hands on a rapid basis.

Bout #6

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom defeated Jim Brunzell & Brian Blair by pinfall when Bloom pinned Brunzell after a double underhook suplex at 13:17

[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

-a treat for the fans on Halloween week, seeing the Killer Bees reunited. No particular reason for them to get a title shot but there is no other real top tag team right now in RCW so why not? Killer Bees controlled early and kept the champions off their game. However the champs used a double team to gain back momentum around 7 minutes into the match. Blair then played Ricky Morton for a few minutes before making the hot tag out. First Brunzell went to work on Enos, then it was Blair's turn. The turning point came when Bloom managed to give Brunzell a hot shot from his position as the illegal man outside the ring, then tag in off the back of his partner, nail his finisher and get the unpopular win.

Co-Main Event

STEEL CAGE MATCH - PINFALL ONLY

RCW Heritage Title Match

Wahoo McDaniel (champion)  vs  Freddy Krueger

The match began as expected as a brawl. McDaniel clobbered Krueger around the ring as the Master of Horror tried to get away. However, Krueger managed to stick a thumb into the throat of McDaniel and then apply a chokehold. He backed the champ into the corner, still with the choke, and climbed the buckles to get more leverage on the choke. Finally as he was on the 2nd buckle McDaniel exerted his power and slammed the latex mask wearing freak to the mat. McDaniel went to work on the arm of Krueger and then put on a hammerlock submission. Krueger seemed to be almost rubber armed though so finally McDaniel let go after throwing him head first into the steel cage. The champ then disrespected the challenger with a series of open handed slaps across the face, backing him into the cage wall, and then a big elbowsmash between the eyes. McDaniel continued the punishment until Krueger managed to close for a clinch and deliver a Greco-Roman knee to the nuts. Krueger went to work on the leg of McDaniel with stomps, and then a bite! He then put on an Argentine leglock but McDaniel was able to kick off. The champ though couldn't make his way to his feet, trying to use the corner buckle, and Krueger attacked with a series of stomps, and then climbed to the top buckle and used his shin to drive McDaniel's head into the mat. The first cover of the match only got a count of 1 which made the fans settle back for a longer bout. Krueger went back to his repertoire of chokes; a standing choke, a straddle choke slamming the head into the mat, using the top rope to choke, a boot choke, and finally tried for a chokeslam but only got part of the bigger man up. McDaniel fought back with a series of kicks, then punches, then elbows. He then went on the war path, making circles around Krueger before closing with a knifehand chop to the chest and then a big scoopslam, followed by a double bootstand on the chest. McDaniel then slammed the challenger's head into the steel cage on each of the four sides and followed up with a powerslam, to get the 1, 2, KICKOUT. Amazing that the challenger would kick out, but then again he is not from this world, he is from your nightmares. McDaniel tried for a Tomahawk chop but Krueger blocked it, put on an armbar and drove McDaniel head first into the cage wall, then hit with a reverse Russian legsweep to the mat, covered and got 1, 2, KICKOUT. By now there was blood dripping out of the bottom front and side of Krueger's mask, and McDaniel was also wearing the proverbial crimson mask. The two hammered at each other, dropping to a knee, kept hammering, dropping to both knees, kept hammering. McDaniel nailed a headbutt and fell forward onto Krueger, for the 1, 2, shoulderup. From the bottom Krueger wrapped his legs around the arm and neck of McDaniel and twisted away but could not get the submission. Krueger went for a piledriver but McDaniel backflipped him, then drove him again into the cage wall. McDaniel though stumbled backward, looked groggy and was really bleeding hard now. Krueger took him down with a single leg takedown, then nailed him with a slingshot into the sidewall, and when McDaniel was stumbling back Krueger took him down with a legwhip. As both men got up, back to back, Krueger locked Wahoo's arms and brought him down for the pin.

Freddy Krueger defeated Wahoo McDaniel by pinfall with a backslide pin at 13:48

[Freddy Krueger won the RCW Heritage Title]

Co-Main Event
STEEL CAGE MATCH - PINFALL ONLY
Paul Orndorff & Bob Orton Jr.  vs.  Larry Cameron & Terminator Riggs
The addition of Riggs to Cameron's team was a surprise and a heel turn. Riggs is simply chasing the Heavyweight gold, and now that it belongs to Orndorff that is his new target. The match started as a 4 man brawl, and when it shook out Cameron and Riggs had the advantage and Orton was playing Ricky Morton. For a solid 5 minutes the heels punished Orton while the champ Orndorff grew frustrated. Finally the hot tag was made and Cameron couldn't get out of the ring fast enough. This allowed Riggs to sucker punch Orndorff and once again take control of the match. But as soon as Cameron got tagged in Orndorff came alive and went to work on the former champion. This brought Riggs back into the ring but he was headed off at the pass by Orton. Orton whipped Riggs into the corner, but the former tag champion collided with referee Buddy Lane who was looking the other way at the legal men. With the ref down all hell broke lose with the 4 combatants. Cameron nailed Orndorff with a low blow and then he attacked Orton from behind who was being held by Riggs. They then hoisted Orton up in the air and drove him backward into the steel cage. They then went back and did the same to Orndorff. Buddy Lane was back on his feet and Cameron was working over Orndorff as the legal men. He tossed him hard into the buckle, Orndorff's head collided into the steel cage, and then delivered a belly to back suplex for a 2 count. Orndorff and Orton were both bleeding from the head now. Cameron tagged out to Riggs, threw Orndorff off the ropes and Riggs stepped in with a big boot to the face of the RCW Heavyweight champion, then delivered a powerslam but only got a 2 count. They then went for a form of the doomsday move but Orton stepped in and took the legs out from under Riggs. That was all the break Orndorff needed and he won a battle of fisticuffs with Cameron. The champ nailed a backbreaker, high knee, a flying forearm smash for a 2 count, and then even a dropkick. Riggs tried to make the save but Orton took him out, and Orndorff nailed the piledriver and got the win.
Paul Orndorff & Bob Orton Jr defeated Larry Cameron & Terminator Riggs by pinfall when Orndorff pinned Cameron after a piledriver at 16:42

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling
Roster

November, 1991

Officials
Jim Brunzell (Commissioner)
Buddy Lane (Head Referee)
Jurgen Hermann (Referee)

Announce Team
Joe Aiello (Play by Play)
Mike Stone (Color Commentary)

Faces

Paul Orndorff (Heavyweight Champion)

Cowboy Bob Orton Jr
Wahoo McDaniel
Ben Bassarab

Kid Gallahad
Mike Lozansky

Jason Power

EZ Ryder

Baron von Raschke (guest) 

Heels
Lethal Larry Cameron

Rogue

Freddy Krueger (Heritage Champion)
Wayne Bloom (Destruction Crew) (Tag Team Champion)
Mike Enos (Destruction Crew) (Tag Team Champion)

Terminator Riggs
The Natural

Chi Chi Cruz

Females

KC Houston (Heel) (North American Women's Title)

Desiree Petersen (Face)

Keisha (Face)

Tiffany Brannigan (Face)

Pink Demon (Heel)

Available Enhancement Talent
French Mad Dog (Heel)
Red Bastien Jr (Face)
Don McCullogh (Face/Heel)
Shane Croft (Face/Heel)

Additions

Susan Sexton

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #483

November 9, 1991

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout

The Natural & Chi Chi Cruz defeated Jason Power & EZ Ryder by pinfall when Natural pinned Power while in the figure-four leglock at 9:03

-filler match

Bout #2

Susan Sexton defeated Tiffany Brannigan by pinfall after an electric chair drop at 6:35

-Susan Sexton came to the ring and had that immediate Super Star look written all over her, both figuratively and literally (on her ring robe). The blonde though was besieged by Brannigan who worked an armbar and a cross face, until Sexton got a rake in the eyes. The newcomer then went to work with body shots before nailing a slingshot suplex, and a powerslam to get a 2 count. Brannigan made a short comeback with some forearms, then hit a flying crossbody block..but Sexton rolled through got a 2 count before referee Jurgen Hermann saw she had a handful of tights and made her break it. Sexton then applied a chokehold and Hermann's efforts to get Sexton to break the hold were hampered by her flirting with him..and his flirting back instead of asking for a break. Sexton pretty much choked out Brannigan. She covered and got 1, 2, pulled her opponent up. She then pulled Brannigan up onto her shoulders and dropped her backward for the pin.

Bout #3

Baron von Raschke defeated Wayne Bloom by disqualification for using a foreign object at 4:50

-With no clear tag team challengers the tag champ split up for singles action this card. Bloom was not happy about having to face Raschke but managed to sneak attack him before the bell. Bloom knocked him from pillar to post, even slamming him shoulder first into the ringpost, and using his body weight to choke him across the middle strand. Rolling out of the ring Bloom attempted to smack the taste out of the Baron's mouth. But back inside Raschke managed a back elbow, then locked the clawhold on. However, they were too close to the ropes so Bloom managed to fall backward out of the ring. Baron followed him, and nailed him with two running clotheslines. The Baron then locked on the clawhold outside the ring but only managed to hold it for a couple seconds before having to go back into the ring. But on his way into the ring Bloom grabbed a chair and hit the Baron across the legs twice, and then as the Baron fell he nailed him across the head.

Bout #4

Mike Lozansky defeated Mike Enos by pinfall after a missile dropkick at 8:26

-the other half of the tag champions in this bout. Good match that went back and forth. Enos held the advantage with some ground moves, and tried to put Lozansky away with power moves like a spinning spinebuster slam, a hanging vertical suplex, and a powerslam, but could not get the pin. Lozansky on the other hand grabbed several advantages with speed including armdrag takedowns, back body drops, dropkicks, and a flying axhandle. The match went back and forth but when referee Jurgen Hermann got knocked out it created an opportunity for Wayne Bloom to enter the ring and attack Lozansky from behind. He lifted him up and they prepared for a doomsday device, but Cowboy Bob Orton Jr hit the ring and made the save. Orton took out both tag champions and when Hermann got his senses back all he saw was Lozansky fly off the top rope and dropkick Enos as he got to his feet. 

Bout #5
Kid Gallahad and Ben Bassarab battled to a double countout at 14:42
-former friends and tag team champions meet to settle their differences after the 3-way match with Rogue last card blew up with these two battling over a chair. Hard to say who the fans will back, likely Bassarab who has been a RCW mainstay for years but then again he has been showing signs of frustration lately. Maybe they will back the more charismatic Kid Gallahad, but then again he does seem to be battling a case of the green monster known as jealousy. The match started actually with both men being tentative and some aborted hook ups. Finally Gallahad grabbed the advantage with a standing wristlock which Bassarab turned into a test of strength, took Gallahad to the mat, Gallahad attempted to bring his knees up into Bassarab but they were caught and Bassarab sling shot him across the ring. Back on their feet though Gallahad nailed a running clothesline then a dropkick. Bassarab backed into the buckle and referee Buddy Lane called for a break. Gallahad though ignored the ref and pulled Bassarab out of the corner, but his opponent fought back with a punch to the gut and then a forearm uppercut. Bassarab put Gallahad into a reverse chin lock, and then head scissors. Gallahad did a handstand to get the break and put Bassarab into a headlock. Bassarab tried 3 times to push Gallahad off but each time the Scot held on. Hip toss took the match to the mat, and finally Bassarab managed to roll over and get his feet into the ropes. But instead of a clean break Gallahad dragged Bassarab to the middle of the ring still in the headlock. Lane though applied the count and forced Gallahad to make the break. Angry now Bassarab nailed Gallahad with a rabbit punch as his former partner was arguing with Lane. Bassarab sent Gallahad to each of the 4 buckles in turn, and on the last one Gallahad flipped over the top buckle and landed on his feet on the apron. Bassarab nailed Gallahad with a shoulderblock knocking him to the floor below. As Gallahad regained his feet Bassarab flew between the ropes and nailed Gallahad with a tope. On the floor now Bassarab attempted to smash Gallahad's head into the apron but the Scot blocked it and reveresed it. He then tossed Bassarab shoulder first into the ringpost. Gallahad rolled into the ring to break the count, then exited the ring and rolled Bassarab back inside. Gallahad went to work on the shoulder of his former friend, first wrapping it around the top rope and tugging down, then smashing it across the top buckle, then an armbreaker, and then a shoulderbreaker for a 2 count. Back on the mat he locked on a STF but was too close to the ropes and Bassarab made the break. Bassarab used his good hand to punch Gallahad, chop him, and then delivered a series of kicks before clotheslining him to the mat. The match then degenerated into fisticuffs inside and outside the ring. Bassarab nailed a pair of German suplexes for a 2 count, but seconds later Gallahad countered with a Gory neckbreaker for a 2 count as well. Gallahad took Bassarab to the top for a superplex, but as he executed Bassarab managed to punch him and twist, so both men smashed hard into the mat. Both men struggled to get to their feet and in a daze helped each other as they went back to back to get to their feet. Bassarab grabbed the arms of Gallahad and went for a pin but the Scot managed to roll through it. Bassarab then nailed him with a clothesline that sent him over the top rope. Bassarab climbed to the top buckle and tried to hit Gallahad with a double axhandle only to eat a fist to the gut. Gallahad scoop slammed Bassarab, then tried to follow up with a suplex but his foot was blocked by Bassarab who then nailed a snap suplex in retaliation. At this point the bell rang for a double countout. After the match the men continued to punch it out until security and the good guys dressing room cleared to separate the two men.

Bout #6
#1 Contenders Match
Rogue defeated Bob Orton Jr by pinfall after the Nightfall at 7:14
-Orton started strong by grounding Rogue and working over the legs. However, Rogue is on his way up and baffled Orton with a spinning leg lariat, waistlock suplex, springboard Lou Thesz press, and then his finisher top rope DDT. 

Bout #7
North American Women's Title Match
Desiree Petersen defeated KC Houston by pinfall after a Superplex at 10:06
[Desiree Petersen Won the North American Women's Title]
-The hot potato over the women's title continued. This match spent almost as much time outside the ring as inside as this level of brawling and violence is not often seen between women wrestlers. Houston attempted to win the match with a running bulldog but Petersen pushed her off and she collided head first into the ringpost. Petersen took Houston to the top and brought her down with her finisher to win the match and the belt.

Bout #8
Heritage Title Match
Freddy Krueger defeated Wahoo McDaniel after a piledriver at 6:59
[Freddy Krueger retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-Former champion McDaniel controlled most of this match with a combination of wear down moves on the mat, a couple powerslams, and lots of his signature chops. In fact he made the latex mask wearing freak look down right silly throughout most of the match. The only thing he couldn't seem to do was hit the champ hard enough to keep him down. But then Krueger made a quick comeback with punches, then a whip into the corner as he followed McDaniel in with a crushing shoulderblock. He then climbed to the top and came off with a fist drop. Krueger then nailed a piledriver, and after only having the advantage for about a minute of the whole bout he picked up the 3 count, and then quickly left the ring.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Champion
Paul Orndorff (champion) vs Terminator Riggs
Riggs tried to out punch Orndorff but he lost that battle, and then the champ went to work with a standing side headlock, a bearhug, a couple bodyslams, and an elbowdrop for a 2 count. Orndorff worked an armbar on the mat for a bit, but Riggs got to his feet, backed in the corner, and then snuck a punch into the champ's head on the break. Riggs went to work with stomps, kicks, and then a belly to belly suplex for a 2 count. Orndorff took the advantage back for a few seconds but he telegraphed a dropkick and only hit air when Riggs held onto the ropes. The challenger went to work with a pair of running clotheslines, a reverse Russian legsweep, and then nailed a piledriver in the middle of the ring for 1, 2, KICKOUT. A reverse chinlock was applied by Riggs until the champ made a comeback with elbows to the side. A couple biel throws and then the champ returned a receipt to Riggs with a pair of running clotheslines. Then for some reason Rogue came down to the ring, probably to scout as he is the #1 contender. He distracted Orndorff enough to allow Riggs to nail a lowblow from behind, followed by a belly to back suplex, and then a running splash for a 2 count. Riggs was getting ready to hit Orndorff with what looked like a vertical suplex when Rogue jumped onto the ring apron. This caused Riggs pause enough for the champ to reverse things and nail a vertical suplex of his own. He followed this up with a running shoulderblock, then a flying dropkick, and finished things with his piledriver. Rogue left for the back as the count was applied.
Paul Orndorff defeated Terminator Riggs by pinfall after a piledriver at 9:22
[Paul Ondorff retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #484
November 23, 1991
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
The Natural defeated EZ Ryder by submission to the figure-four leglock at 7:16
-filler

Bout #2
Terminator Riggs defeated Jason Power by pinfall after a powerbomb at 4:40
-glorified squash match

Bout #3
Susan Sexton defeated Keisha by pinfall after an electric chair drop at 6:05
-Sexton continues to look very impressive, and no one is more impressed by her then herself

Bout #4
Kid Gallahad defeated Shane Croft by pinfall after a missile dropkick at 5:21
-one sided affair

Bout #5
Cynthia Rothrock defeated Pink Demon & French Mad Dog by pinfall when she pinned French Mad Dog after a spinning heel kick at 4:18
-Cynthia Rothrock is a big addition to the RCW roster. A raw rookie but a world champion in MMA "forms and weapons" and holds numerous black belts. She is also an accomplished actress as the marquee name in several action flicks including China O'Brien and Lady Dragon. Her first ever wrestling match was proceeded by a forms and weapons demonstration. However, when her opponent came out, the Pink Demon, it drew the French Mad Dog to the ring. He made many male chauvinist remarks to Rothrock until she begged Jim Brunzell to come out and allow her to make this a handicap match so she could face the French Mad Dog too. Brunzell agreed but Rothrock showed her lack of experience in the ring by allowing the Demon to get behind her and Pearl Harbor her. It was 2 on 1 when the bell sounded as the Dog joined in on the attack. It sorted out to be Rothrock and the Demon and it only took a minute before Rothrock showed her skills and took over the match. She knocked Demon out cold, but instead of pinning her she dragged her over to get the Dog to tag in. Rothrock took the Dog apart as he tried to close on her and she attacked him with kicks and knifehand chops. She demonstrated a couple wrestling moves including a springboard back elbow, a sunset flip, and a slingshot suplex. However, she went back to her martial arts background to nail the spinning heel kick and pick up the easy win.

Bout #6
Ben Bassarab defeated Chi Chi Cruz by pinfall after a diving headbutt at 5:31
-Chi Chi is a game competitor but Bassarab is a step above at this point

Bout #7
North American Women's Title Match
Desiree Petersen defeated KC Houston by pinfall after a fisherman suplex at 16:53
[Desiree Petersen retained the North American Women's Title]
-longer match, probably to make up for the short nature of the previous 6 matches. It was made longer however by several delays and refusals to lock up by former champion Houston and unfounded complaints to the referee about cheating. There were plenty of rest holds thrown into the mix as well. While Houston certainly had her moments for the most part Petersen was in control. At one point Susan Sexton came down to scout the match which distracted Petersen enough to allow Houston the advantage. This brought out Rothrock who forced Sexton to flee to the back. It was a couple minutes after this that Petersen grabbed the advantage back for good.

Bout #8
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom defeated Baron von Raschke & Mike Lozansky by pinfall when Bloom pinned Raschke after an assisted top rope clothesline at 10:05
[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
-Fairly even match but much to the surprise of everyone it was Raschke and not the young Lozansky who was the weak link in the match. It took a double team though to put the veteran away. After the bout the champs continued to attack their opponents but the save was made by Bob Orton Jr who seems to be taking a shine to the young Lozansky.

Main Event
Six Man Tag Bout

Paul Orndorff, Wahoo McDaniel, & Jim Brunzell  vs  Rogue, Freddy Krueger & Larry Cameron

-This bout was originally scheduled to be the Heavyweight champion Orndorff against the Heritage champion Freddy Krueger. However, Rogue came down to the ring and refused to leave saying he wanted to be in the match. This brought Wahoo McDaniel down to the ring to counter Rogue. After a month absence former champion Larry Cameron then came down to the ring as a surprise and said he wanted in on the action too. Commissioner Jim Brunzell then came down (in cargo pants of course) to sort things out but ended up becoming part of the action as it sorted into a six man tag bout. The match had all the usual spots and set up the upcoming Orndorff vs Rogue match, and some bad blood between Brunzell and Cameron. In the end while Cameron was battling Brunzell outside the ring, and Krueger first took out McDaniel and then aided Rogue in taking down Orndorff. Rogue then hit the Nightfall on Orndorff and got the victory.
Rogue, Krueger & Cameron  defeated Orndorff, McDaniel & Brunzell when Rogue pinned Orndorff after the Nightfall at 9:22

Lineup for the RCW 12th Anniversary show. While there are some special guests the lineup this year is not as impressive as in some years past. There is also the very exploitive "bikini contest" being run in conjunction with the local strip club Teasers Burlesque. The girls of the popular California Bikini Contest and Foxhunt videos come to Winnipeg from California in the middle of the winter to appear at Teasers Friday Night and the RCW card Saturday night. Teijo Khan comes in most recently from the AWA but also from Crockett to take on Wahoo McDaniel. Nobhiko Takada comes in from Japan to take on Freddy Krueger in a Hardcore match that does not have the Heritage title on the line. Cynthia Rothrock will make her 2nd appearance in a wrestling ring taking on former women's champion KC Houston. Brian Blair comes up from Florida for the second time to join his former Killer Bees partner Jim Brunzell in a six man tag match, and facing them on the other side of the match is the return of Bad News Allen. Rockin' Robin also makes a return to the RCW mat wars. Finally, Harley Tragger makes his first appearance in an RCW ring. Tragger is a bit like Stan Hansen and Terry Gordy in that he makes most of his money touring the orient and occasionally Europe. Tragger is also a mainstay in other non-traditional markets like South Africa.

River City Wrestling #485

December 7, 1991

Winnipeg, Manitoba

12th Anniversary Show

RCW Heavyweight Title Match: Paul Orndorff vs Rogue

RCW Tag Team Title Match: Destruction Crew vs Bob Orton & Mike Lozansky

Wahoo McDaniel vs Teijo Khan

Coal Miners Glove Match: Ben Bassarab vs Kid Gallahad

Hardcore Match: Freddy Krueger vs Nobhiko Takada

North American Women's Match: Desiree Petersen vs Susan Sexton

KC Houston vs Cynthia Rothrock

Baron von Raschke, Jim Brunzell, & Brian Blair vs Larry Cameron, Bad News Allen, Terminator Riggs

The Naural vs Harley Tragger

Rockin' Robin vs Keisha vs Tiffany Brannigan

Bikini Contest featuring the ladies of California Bikini and Foxhunt!!

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #485
December 7, 1991
Winnipeg, Manitoba
12th Anniversary Show

Opening Bout

Harley Tragger (255 lbs, Manhattan, Kansas) defeated The Natural (221 lbs, The Bridal Path, Toronto, Ontario) by pinfall after a powerbomb at 7:33

-Tragger's first appearance in RCW. He is better known to wrestling fans who are familiar with his work in Japan, Europe and South Africa. He has an American biker image and wrestlers a strong no nonsense match. The Natural tried some duck and cover, complaints to the ref about hair pulling and then went ahead and pulled on Tragger's tights to gain an advantage. The Natural worked an abdominal stretch and then a body scissors. Tragger blew a gasket though and tossed Natural into the corner and began to drive his shoulder into the midsection a number of times. Tragger then nailed a short clothesline coming out of the corner, then using the top ropes elevated himself up and splashed down on the Natural. He covered for 1, 2, foot on the ropes by The Natural. The former Winnipeg boy who now claims to hail from Toronto then slipped out of the ring to waste time and jaw with the fans. Tragger finally had enough and chased Natural around the ring. The sneaky heel though got into the ring first and then laid down a fist on Tragger who slid into the ring. Several fists and a few head slams into the mat later and Natural tried for a pin, but only got a short 1 count before Tragger tossed him off...Natural slid back on top..didn't even get a 1 count..Tragger tossed him off..onto ref Jurgen Hermann who rolled him back onto Tragger, who then gorilla pressed him off to the other side. Back on their feet Tragger nailed a kick to the gut, a belly to belly suplex, a tilt-a-whirl side slam for a 2 count. Natural had a short lived comeback relying mostly on kicks and punches, and when he went for a leaping DDT he was blocked and hoisted up by Tragger and then slammed to the mat. Grabbing both legs Tragger then dropped a leg on the lower abdomen of the Natural. Tragger whipped Natural to the ropes and connected with a kick to the jaw. He then nailed a big powerbomb and holding onto the legs leaned into the pin to get the duke. 

Bout #2

3-Way Women's Match

Rockin' Robin (Hammond, Louisiana) defeated Keisha (Los Angeles, California) and Tiffany Brannigan (Santa Barbara, California) by pinfall on Brannigan after a bulldog at 4:56

-short match with three fan favourite women going at it. The action was high paced and for the most part clean. Keisha seemed to be a bit behind the pace, partly due to her more "curvy" stature used to more mat and wear down wrestling. Keisha had been flattened on the floor outside the ring when Brannigan sent Robin to the ropes. She would have nailed Robin with a flying dropkick but Keisha grabbed the foot of Robin', which was meant to trip her, but only caused her to stop her momentum, and in turn caused Brannigan to hit nothing but air. Robin' quickly pounced on Brannigan hitting a bulldog and got the 3 count before Keisha could get back into the ring to break it up.

Bout #3

Wahoo McDaniel (255 lbs., Midland, Texas) defeated Teijo Khan (265 lbs., Mongolia) by disqualification for use of a foreign object at 8:12

Khan is a big freaky looking guy, a former member of Paul Jones' army. He started strong thanks to a rake of the eyes, and then dragged McDaniel's head across the top rope for a good old burn. Shots to the gut, single leg takedown into a single leg Boston crab, and it was safe to say that the Mongolian had McDaniel's attention. Khan continued the onslaught with a low tech assault of punches, chops, kicks, a couple bodyslams, clotheslines, so nothing too awe inspiring. Khan controlled the first 5 minutes of the match forcing McDaniel to kick out of 4 pin attempts, and reach the ropes twice to get out of submission holds. Finally McDaniel began to fight back with tomahawk chops, and then punished Khan in the corner. McDaniel nailed a powerslam and got a 2 count before Khan was able to get his foot on the ropes. Wahoo nailed a running shoulderblock, followed by a short lariat. He then set up Khan for the overhead "Tomahawk" chop, and nailed him squarely in the head. However, he hit him so hard that Khan bounced backward and fell between the ring ropes to the floor below. McDaniel decided not to wait on a 10 count and went outside the ring. He threw Khan into the steel barricades, but then Khan fired back with a kick to the groin. If that were not enough he grabbed a steel chair and nailed Wahoo 3 times over the head, busting him open, knocking him out, and getting himself disqualified.

Bout #4

KC Houston (Edmonton, Alberta) defeated Cynthia Rothrock (Wilmington, Delaware) by pinfall after a spinebuster slam (with her feet on the ropes) at 6:26

-the more experienced Houston was also bigger at around 5'9 while Rothrock was a diminutive 5'3, yet because of her showing last card and her martial arts experience Rothrock was deemed the favourite to win. Sensing this dynamic Houston attacked Rothrock as she took off her warm-up robe gaining the early advantage. She tied up Rothrock in her robe and beat on her, and choked her across the top rope. Showing her experience and size difference Houston stayed right on her opponent not giving her a foot of room. Houston nailed a hotshot across the top rope, then hit a moonsault for a 2 count. A front facelock hold was then applied and turned into a reverse neckbreaker, for another 2 count. A series of kneedrops, and another 2 count. Houston then worked a reverse chinlock which she held onto too long and allowed Rothrock back to her feet...and a comeback started with a pair of elbows to the gut...but then Houston pulled on the hair of Rothrock and pulled her to the mat. Referee Buddy Lane though saw the hair pull and applied the count, but while he did so Houston choked away. Houston broke the choke for a half second to break the count and then went right back to the choke. This time though Rothrock was prepared and turned it into an armbar, and then a head scissors. Rothrock then nailed Houston with an impressive front layout suplex, covered and got a 2 count. Back on their feet Rothrock attacked with a series of kicks, foot stomps and chops. One chop caught Houston around the collar bone so the heel grabbed her throat and sold it to Lane who then backed Rothrock away and admonished her. Rothrock then cornered Houston and laid in some chops, ignoring Lane's count until the ref stepped in between the two wrestlers. This allowed Houston a chance to sneak a punch over top and clock Rothrock.  This was followed immediately by a spinebuster slam, and then a pin with Houston draping her feet over the middle strand for extra leverage and a tainted victory. Immediately following the count Houston rolled out of the ring and ran to the back.

Bout #5

Six-Man Tag Match

Baron von Raschke, Jim Brunzell & Brian Blair  defeated  Larry Cameron, Bad News Allen & Terminator Riggs by submission when Raschke submitted Riggs in the clawhold at 14:53

-Bad News Allen started strong and was the star of the early going in this match managing to get the best of first Brunzell, and then thanks to some timely interference from Cameron he got the best of Blair as well. In fact Blair played Ricky Morton for a few minutes and both Raschke and Brunzell took a turn being put out of the ring by Jurgen Hermann which allowed the villains to double team Blair. Finally unable to restrain themselves any longer Raschke and Brunzell both entered the ring and a six man brawl occurred. However with Blair already banged up Cameron and Allen really began to do a number on Jim Brunzell outside the ring. Finally Blair came to his Killer Bees partner's aid, and back inside when things shook out, the tag was made to Raschke...and the fans were on their feet as Raschke goose stepped his way around the ring with the claw held high. The legal man at this point was Cameron but Raschke faked him out and instead applied the clawhold to Allen as he stood on the ring apron. This though gave Cameron and Riggs the chance to go after Raschke who withstood a few punches before falling down in the corner. Cameron went to work with a series of stomps and punches, but made the mistake of giving distance as he whipped Raschke across the ring. The fan favourite took the opportunity to tag out to Jim Brunzell who catapulted himself over the top rope into the ring, and attacked Cameron with a series of forearm smashes and then a standing dropkick. Brunzell tried to monkey flip Cameron out of the corner but the bigger man held on and then powerbombed the commissioner and got a 2 count. Cameron went to work with a bear hug before tagging out to Terminator Riggs who also applied the bear hug. Every time they would get close to the heels corner Allen would distract Hermann and Riggs would lean between the ropes and fire a punch or two into the lower back of Brunzell. Riggs tagged out to Allen who nailed Jumpin' Jimmy with a pair of knifehand chops, a double leg takedown, and then a Boston crab on the already injured back of Brunzell. The commish wold not give up though and eventually made his way over the corner and tagged in Blair. The Florida native went to work on Allen, and when Riggs entered the ring Blair nailed him with a flying dropkick as well, knocking him out of the ring. The villains took a powder outside the ring to get their thoughts together, which drew the fan favourites over as well and we had another six man brawl. Brunzell and Cameron managed to get back inside the ring and Brunzell hit him with a couple of armdrag take downs and a flying dropkick. But when he went for a criss-cross Allen managed to reach in and trip Brunzell up. When he got back to his feet Cameron nailed him with a powerslam and got the 1, 2...Raschke is back in the ring and breaks it up. All six men are now brawling inside the ring. Brunzell nails Riggs with an atomic drop and sends him right into Raschke who locks on the clawhold. Brunzell takes Cameron outside the ring, and Blair does the same to Allen. As those 4 men brawl outside, inside Riggs loses the fight to stay on his feet and cries uncle.

Bout #6
Coal Miner's Glove Match
Ben Bassarab (211 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) defeated Kid Gallahad (229 lbs., Glasgow, Scotland) by pinfall after hitting him with the coal miner's glove at 11:30
Former friends, ex-tag team partners, now take their feud to the next level with an RCW staple match, a Coal Miner's Glove Match. The metal glove suspended about the top buckle, legal to use, but the match must still be won by pinfall or submission. No other foreign objects are allowed and no other discretions are immune from disqualification or countout. 
Bassarab tried one last time to offer a handshake, and after some pauses, Gallahad actually accepted! But once the bell sounded the two exchanged punches and kicks to start the match. 
Bassarab grabbed the advantage first worked his way up to nail two snap suplexes and covered for only a 1 count. Gallahad battled back, nailed a pair of flying dropkicks and then a release German suplex but likewise only got a 1 count. Bassarab grabbed control back and went after the knee of Gallahad, the previously injured knee which resulted in these two men having their titles stripped. Bassarab attacked the knee with a kneetwist then some elbows and knee drops, then tried for a figure four leglock but Gallahad kicked him directly in the crotch. He was warned by referee Buddy Lane but it was determined to let the match continue. Gallahad worked on Bassarab on the ground with headscissors, then an armbar. Back on his feet he went for a vertical suplex but Bassarab managed to to shift his weight enough to get down, then took Gallahad over with a suplex. Bassarab climbed to the top buckle to get the glove but was caught by Gallahad who took him backward with a superplex. He eventually managed to cover but only got a 2 count. The next few minutes were pretty much the same; one man would grab an advantage, try and get a pin, fail, climb to get the coal miner's glove, fail, and the other would take over the momentum. Gallahad however during a brief brawl outside did manage to bust the head of Bassarab open and he was wearing the proverbial crimson mask. Bassrab whipped Gallahad into the buckle, so hard that the Scot flipped over top but landed on his feet on the apron. He tried to climb the buckle from outside but Bassarab drop kicked him right in the knee and he dropped from the second buckle to the floor below. Bassarab though was winded and groggy from blood loss and was slow to capitalize. Finally he managed to start to climb the buckle (which interestingly enough caused Lane to break the 10 count he was applying to Gallahad for being outside the ring). As Bassarab climbed, Gallahad recovered and climbed the buckle from the outside. Soon both men were half leaning on each other, half swinging at the glove. Finally both men fell, Gallahad to the outside, Bassarab to the inside. Bassarab recovered first, left the ring, rolled Gallahad back inside and put on a figure-four. He would have got the submission but he was too close to the ropes and after an agonizing 30 seconds in the hold, Gallahad reached the ropes. Bassarab then climbed the buckle to get the glove, and Gallahad tried to climb after him. Bassarab managed to grab the glove but Gallahad was right below him and prepared to bring him down with a belly to back suplex. As he did so though, Bassarab managed a clubbing motion nailing Gallahad with the steel glove. After a few seconds to recover, Bassarab made the cover, and got a decisive 3 count.

[At this point its been about 80 minutes since the start of the show so we break for 20 minutes to sell t-shirts and get the ring set up for the bikini contest]

First ever (and likely last ever) nothing to do with Wrestling - Bikini Contest [Round 1]

The girls featured in California Bikini Girls and Foxhunt bikini contest videos come to Winnipeg to compete for a $10,000 cheque (or Check, since they are all American).

For the first round each girl is given about a minute to play to the audience and the judges (Mike Stone, Stan Mullen, Marty Gold, Chris Lyon, and Tawney England).

The 22 competitors in no particular order were;

Christy Sandoval, Dana Loury, Tiffany Weston, Julie Fulkerson, Michele Cucionotta, Kimberly Schreyer, Denise Schreyer, Marisa Davi, Bernadette Strom, Sharis Savage, Jacqueline Guerra, Dottie Bittle, Julie Kruis, Avalon Anders, Jamie Ortlieb, Brooke Thompson, Katrina Lake, Heather Kennedy, Christy Carrera, Angel Veil, Alexandra Day, and Staci Yarbrough

From those 22, the judges picked a top 6 who will return later in the show for round 2

Kimberly Schreyer
Denise Schreyer
Dottie Bittle
Julie Kruis
Avalon Anders
Heather Kennedy

Bout #7

No Countout - No Disqualification Match

Non-Title Match

Nobuhiko Takada (212 lbs, Yokohoma, Japan) defeated Freddy Krueger (235 lbs., Your Nightmares) by pinfall after a spinning heel kick at 10:54

The RCW Heritage title was not on the line in this interesting mix of styles between the martial arts based Takada and the master of horror Krueger. Before the bell could ring Krueger left the ring and attacked Takada as he came up the aisle. The bell then rang to start things as Krueger tossed Takada into a cement wall, the bieled him into a steel barrier. After stomping away he grabbed a steel chair and used it to choke Takada. Krueger then put him in an armbar and walked him to the ring. But instead of getting into the ring he smashed him shoulder first into the ringpost, then nailed a knee drop from the ring apron. Krueger went into the crowd seeking a steel chair, and found one, but had taken too long and when he tried to hit Takada the Japanese star kicked him in the gut instead. The chair dropped, and Takada grabbed Krueger by the latex mask covered head and smashed him down onto the chair. Takada covered and got a 1 count. Krueger tried to escape into the ring but Takada followed. The Japanese star unleashed a torrent of wicked sounding kicks, the last of which he vaulted himself upward off the top buckle to hit Krueger hard in the chest and drive him over the top rope. Takada was already busted open and wearing the proverbial crimson mask. He didn't have to leave the ring to get a hold of Krueger though as he reached down from inside the ring and grabbed him by the neck. Krueger was forced up and back onto the apron, and Takada nailed another kick that sent Krueger face first off the ring apron. Takada then stood on the ring steps and jumped off nailing Krueger with a spinning leg lariat. He covered but Krueger kicked out after a 2 count. Back inside Takada slowed things down with a leglock, and a spinning toe hold. Back on his feet he attacked with kicks again, but all of these were targeting the back of Krueger's legs, the hamstrings, and left the master of horrors taking blind swings from his knees, unable to stand. Takada then nailed a kick to the back of Krueger's head and covered for a 1, 2, Kickout! Krueger locked his hands around the throat of Takada. The Japanese star landed several open handed blows to the sides of Krueger's mask to no avail. He then tried to land both knees on Krueger but the master of horrors lifted his knees first and drove them into the gut of Takada. Rolling Takada onto his back Krueger continued to choke him. For some reason Jurgen Hermann applied the count but gave up on it as this is a no-dq match. Finally, Krueger lifted Takada up and nailed a chokeslam, and covered for a 2 count. Krueger came off the far ropes and attempted a running kick to the groin of Takada, but the Japanese star moved out of the way and Krueger collided awkwardly with the ropes. More kicks from Takada to the legs, then a series of go-behinds playing catch me if you can with Krueger left the RCW Heritage champion dazed and confused. A single leg takedown into a figure-four was next, but Kruger was able to roll it over for the break after about 30 seconds. Takada then put on a cross armbreaker finisher not once, Krueger got to the ropes to break, but twice, with Krueger showing amazing pain tolerance to lift himself out of the hold using leverage. Krueger managed to crotch Takada this time with an uppercut from his knees, then laid in a bite onto the face of Takada! Krueger then left the ring and returned with a chair. He swung and missed as Takada ducked under, and then the Japanese star nailed a spinning heel kick right into the chair nailing it into Krueger's head, and covered for the win.

Bout #8

North American Women's Title Match

Desiree Petersen (Calgary, Alberta) defeated Susan Sexton (Los Angeles, California) by pinfall after a fisherman suplex at 7:24

[Desiree Petersen retained the North American Women's Title]

With all the changes lately of the women's belt, coupled with how good Sexton has looked in RCW, the fans I'm sure were expecting a title change tonight. However the fans were solidly behind the champion Petersen. Petersen started strong with an armbar, and then a standing wristlock, then a wristlock from her back. Sexton was able to somersault her way out of the wristlock, duck a clothesline and then take the champ down with a back bodyslide for a 2 count. Back on their feet Sexton nailed a bodyslam, and then a rake of the head with the bottom of her boot. A front facelock followed, and eventually a front layout suplex for a 2 count. Sexton continued to punish the champion with an airplane spin, a Boston crab, and a bulldog...which would have got the 3 count but was too close to the ropes. After an abdominal stretch Sexton nailed a pair of bodyslams to weaken up the champ and then prepared her for the electric chair finisher. The champ though had it well scouted and was able to reverse it with a modified version of flying headscissors. This time when they scrambled to their feet Petersen was able to land her clothesline, then followed up by a running knee to the stomach, and then nailed her fisherman suplex for a clean victory.

Bout #9

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Bob Orton & Mike Lozansky (combined wt. 465 lbs) defeated Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (combined wt. 521 lbs) by pinfall when Lozansky pinned Bloom after a top rope missile dropkick at 11:03

[Bob Orton & Mike Lozansky Won the RCW Tag Team Titles]

Lozansky and Orton started strong, managing to anticipate any bad intentions of the champions and keeping close to their own corner. The challengers controlled about the first four minutes but hadn't really managed to do too much damage to the champions. Orton tried for a piledriver but Bloom was able to counter it with a back bodydrop. Bloom tagged out to Enos and Orton tagged out to Lozansky. It was now the champs' turn to take control of the match. However, it wasn't Lozansky playing Ricky Morton it was actually the veteran Orton who spent a good four minutes being worked over and punished by the Crew. Lozansky made an effort to break up a Bloom advantage but was put out of the ring by referee Jurgen Hermann which allowed the champs a chance to double team Orton. Two more times Lozansky made a motion to enter the ring but both times it was his veteran partner Orton who waved him off so he relented. Finally as Enos bore down on a reverse armbar Lozansky entered the ring. Immediately referee Hermann made a move to put him out of the ring but he double timed it back to his corner, so when Hermann turned around he caught Bloom and Enos double teaming the challengers. So as Hermann put Bloom out of the ring Loznasky sped back into the ring and nailed Enos with a dropkick to the head which sent him out between the ropes to the floor below. This gave Orton the breather he needed, and even though Enos was able to catch him before he could make the tag, Orton was able to out punch Enos and then tag in Lozansky. The youngster came in from the hot tag like a house on fire, first taking out Enos, then taking out Bloom when he entered the ring. Lozansky then nailed Enos with a sitout powerbomb, followed by a running bulldog, then a German suplex for a 2 count. Bloom entered the ring and kicked Lozansky in the head. Both men managed to make tags and Orton and Bloom exchanged knuckles. Orton got Bloom in position for what looked like it would be a piledriver, but instead nailed an earringer. He then tagged out to Lozansky, but before leaving the ring he put Bloom back into the standing headscissors, and Lozansky climbed to the top buckle and came off with a knee to the ribs of Bloom. Enos entered the ring but Orton threw him out, over the top rope. Lozansky in the mean time climbed to the top buckle again and this time came off with his missile dropkick finisher to pick up the win and the belts. New Champions!!

[We are now just short of 3 hours since the opening bell so another break was in hand to sell t-shirts and liquid poison]

Bikini Contest - Finals

Kimberly Schreyer, Denise Schreyer, Dottie Bittle, Julie Kruis, Avalon Anders, Heather Kennedy

The final 6 contestants strutted their stuff in a "showdown" style. The judges elicited the crowd's reactions and in the end it seemed to come down to Bittle, Anders, and Kennedy. The judges conferred and awarded the first prize to Dottie Bittle!!

All went well until Anders got mad and pushed Bittle, and when the Schreyer sisters tried to play peace makers they also drew the wrath of Anders and Kennedy. And it was on! The six woman pushed and slapped at each other (carefully though as they were wearing only bikinis). All 5 judgers Mike Stone, Stan Mullen, Chris Lyon, Tawney England, and Marty Gold got involved trying to pull the women apart as did referee Jurgen Hermann. Order was pretty much restored until The Natural came down to the ring and took up the cause of Anders and Kennedy saying they were the best there and should have won. When things got heated again it brought out Harley Tragger to act as bodyguard for Bittle, but in the meantime Teijo Khan came out and pretty much kidnapped Kruis throwing her over his shoulder and leaving! It was pure chaos again as more people came into the fray including Jim Brunzell, Brian Blair, and Larry Cameron.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Paul Orndorff (6'0 253 lbs. Brandon, Florida) (champion)  vs  Rogue (6'1" 235 lbs., Parts unknown)

Match started fairly carefully with several aborted lockups and hookups. Finally Orndorff grabbed an advantage with a wristlock, and after forcing Rogue to his knees turned it into a cross armbreaker. Rogue managed to get a break and then a stall, but the champ smelled blood and snuck in a knee to the gut, and then a high knee. A pair of dropkicks followed, and then a side headlock on the mat. The champ had the challenger set up for a suplex but Rogue managed to back himself into the ropes for a break..and then snuck in a punch to the head. The challenger took Orndorff down with a single leg, then dropped a knee into the inner thigh, then rode up and applied a side headlock of his own. After almost a minute the champ's senses returned and he realized he could use his strength advantage to power back to his feet and shove Rogue off. The challenger however bounced off the ropes, slid between the legs of Orndorff, then went for a go-behind into a bearhug. Orndorff though separated the hands of Rogue, twisted an arm, and then nailed a short arm clothesline. Rogue hit the mat, rolled, and rolled himself out of the ring to get a breather outside. When the challenger entered the ring again we were five minutes into the match and both men were still fresh.

Tempers flared for the first time in the match as Orndorff backed Rogue into the corner, broke clean, only to have Rogue punch him in the head again. Orndorff replied in kind and we had ourselves a brawl. The fisticuffs ended though when Rogue kneed the champ in the groin, dropping him like a rock. Referee Buddy Lane though saw it and stepped in to protect Orndorff. He waved off Rogue and called for the bell!! Rogue protested but Lane indicated to all it was a low blow, but then Orndorff from the mat, still recovering, waved off Lane and asked him for the match to continue. Lane decided to back Rogue into one corner and then confer with the champ, and the crowd, who all seemed to want the match to continue..so he relented..but gave Rogue another stern warning.

Rogue closed right away with the champ, trying to catch him still wounded but Mr. Wonderful rocked him with a forearm uppercut..Rogue wobbled..on his heels..stayed upright....then Orndorff hit another uppercut..and this time Rogue fell backward. Orndorff scooped him up, nailed a backbreaker, then stomped on the lower back, then applied a bearhug. Rogue spent a minute in the submission hold, in obvious pain, before getting to the ropes. This time on the break he feigned a kick to the crotch and instead nailed the champ with a chop to the throat. Immediately he grabbed Orndorff's head in both his hands and slammed him face first into the mat. Rogue then applied a cross face until the champ was able to get to the ropes. Rogue left the ring, pulled Orndorff by the arm into the corner and slammed him shoulder first into the ringpost, and then slammed it several more times across the ring post for extra effect. Back inside Rogue stomped away at the shoulder and then applied the cross face again. Orndorff refused to submit however, and eventually made his way to the ropes. Rogue tried to attack again on the break but referee Buddy Lane stepped in the way and forced Rogue back.

We are about 11 minutes into the match now.

Rogue made the mistake of trying to weaken the champ more with kicks and punches, and finally Orndorff had enough and fired back, using jabs from his one good side. Lane applied a count for the open fists but no one thought a DQ was coming. Orndorff nailed a dropkick but landed on his bad shoulder and stayed down. Rogue recovered and taunted the champ who lay face down. Finally Rogue tried to pull him up by the hair, but the champ was playing possum because he cradled Rogue and got 1, 2, Kickout...by the challenger. Back on their feet more punches, kicks, and forearms were exchanged. The challenger had enough and wanted a break so he ducked his head between the ropes. Orndorff though closed anyway. Lane though got in the way trying to pull the champ off and Rogue raked the eyes of Mr. Wonderful, then grabbed the injured side of the champ and wrapped the arm around the top strand and applied pressure. Finally Lane made him break but when doing so Rogue leapt to the ground below, trying to take the champ's arm with him. Sliding back inside the ring Rogue tried to set up Orndorff for his inverted DDT to finish the match, but the champ twisted out of it and pushed the challenger off...right into Buddy Lane who went down hard.

With the referee out of commission, Rogue delivered another kick to the groin of Orndorff and then nailed a regular DDT. The champ was out cold..and so was the ref. Rogue left the ring, went over to the timekeeper table, and began to pose with the belt around his waist, much to the ire of the crowd.

Back inside Rogue smashed the title belt into the head of Orndorff and then twice into his shoulder. He then tossed the belt out of the ring. He set up Orndorff for his inverted DDT..pausing for effect...

The crowd went nuts!!

From the audience emerges 6'4 260 lbs, of black obsidian, former RCW champion, Rogue's opponent at the 1988, 9th Anniversary Show, his arch rival...Vendetta!!

The Haitian slid into the ring, came off the far ropes, watched Rogue's arms go slack and eyes wide as Vendetta nailed him with a running clothesline. Vendetta then set him up for his own DDT finisher, nailed him, stood victorious for the crowd, then slid out of the ring, and left the arena to a huge ovation.

Back in the ring Lane was first to his senses and began to apply a slow 10 count.

Both men struggled to their feet, going back to back, virtually the same height. Rogue took Orndorff down with a legsweep, applied a pin, 1, Kickout! Rogue threw the champ injured shoulder first into the buckle, then tried for a belly to back suplex, only to be fed a back elbow to the kisser. Orndorff though tried to scoop up Rogue for a piledriver, and his shoulder gave out. Rogue then nailed a DDT..and got the 1, 2, KICKOUT!! Rogue climbed to the top rope, but the champ was on his feet first, and knocked Rogue down to the mat below. Holding his arm close to his injured side, Orndorff channeled his greatest rival from days past, sending Rogue to the buckle and nailing him with a big boot to the face. Orndorff then came off the ropes and nailed a legdrop..hooked the leg, and got the 1, 2, 3 !! Big win for the champ to close out the show and the year.

Paul Orndorff defeated Rogue by pinfall after a legdrop at 15:49

[Paul Orndorff retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

That's it for another year of River City Wrestling. Paul Orndorff and Desiree Petersen hung on to their titles, and with the defeat of the Destruction Crew by Orton & Lozansky all the belts except for Freddy Krueger's Heritage Title are currently being held by fan favorites. And with the reappearance of Vendetta there seems to be a lot for RCW fans to look forward to in 1992!

[jacklarkin]

Welcome back to 1992 and a look forward to River City Wrestling's 13th year of operations.

So what was going on in 1992? Democrat Bill Clinton won the Presidential race with 43% of the popular vote, leaving little doubt that were it not for the strong showing of independent candidate Ross Perot with 19% of the popular vote, the election would have been won by Republican incumbent George Bush who picked up 37% of the vote. Of course it didn't help that Bush's Vice-Presidential candidate Dan Quayle couldn't spell "Potato" at an elementary school spelling bee. Civil war was ongoing in Somalia and in December Clinton would commit ground troops. The Teflon Don, John Gotti was sentenced to life in prison. Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida. The largest shopping mall in the U.S., Minneapolis' Mall of America was constructed. Los Angeles was gripped with the Rodney King riots. The North American Free Trade Agreement was signed between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. George Bush and Boris Yeltsin formally declared an end to the Cold War. 

In sports the summer Olympics were held in Barcelona Spain, and one of the biggest stories was the new Balkan countries competing after the dissolution of the Soviet empire and the fracture of Yugoslavia, and the unifed German team. 12 of the 15 former Soviet states (including Russia) however competed together as the Unified Team or Organization of Independent States finishing at the top of the medal count. With the admittance of professionals from the NBA the first American "Dream Team" competed featuring Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.
The winter olympics were held in Albertville, France (yes the two Olympics were held in the same year back then). Bonnie Blair and Kristi Yamaguchi starred for the U.S., while in hockey Canada lost to the Unified Team in the Gold Medal game (NHL players did not yet compete; however holdout Eric Lindros did compete for Canada).
The Redskins defeated the Bills in the Superbowl; The Blue Jays defeated the Braves in the World Series; The Penguins featuring Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr defeated the Blackhawks for the Stanley Cup.

Compact discs surpassed cassette sales for recorded music for the first time; Johnny Carson hosted his final episode of the Tonight Show. A text based browser became available for computer users. I bought my first CD player and my first two discs were Extreme - Pornografitti, and Queen - A Kind of Magic (basically the soundtrack from Highlander).

The highest grossing films were Aladdin, The Bodyguard, Home Alone 2, Basic Instinct, Lethal Weapon 3, Batman Returns, A Few Good Men, Sister Act, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Wayne's World. Other movies that I saw in the theatre that year included Final Analysis, Medicine Man, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Article 99, White Men Can't Jump, Straight Talk, Thunderheart, White Sands, Far and Away, Patriot Games, A League of Their Own, Unforgiven, Stay Tuned, Honeymoon in Vegas, Sneakers, The Mighty Ducks, Under Siege, Passenger 57, and Toys. Boy I saw a lot of movies that year! I think A League of Their Own was my favorite movie of the year, with Sneakers and Far and Away also right near the top.

In music, Rap and Grunge were taking over, leaving Pop-Rock out of the mainstream. Some of the bands from the 80's still processed an album or two in the early 90's but with little air time they were not very accessible anymore. As such I began to listen to more Country, with acts like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, and Brooks & Dunn filling the airwaves. And of course Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. The top songs on the pop charts were by acts like Boyz II Men, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Kriss Kross, and TLC. Sure there was the occasional gem like Tears in Heaven by Clapton, Guns 'n Roses, U2, Genesis, Bryan Adams, and Def Leppard, but they were outnumbered by crap.

1991-92 Television season was still pretty much pre-cable (despite CNN getting a huge boost from the Gulf War), and the top shows were accessible for the whole family like #1 60 Minutes, #2 Roseanne, #3 Murphy Brown, #4 Cheers & Home Improvement. Even Murder, She Wrote managed to finish at #8. The NFL had not yet begun to dominate in ratings and ABC's Monday Night Football only finished at #12 while both CBS and NBC were still getting top 25 ratings with their Movie of the Week offerings. 1992-93 would see much of the same except Unsolved Mysteries cracking the top 20 and giving us a preview of reality television to come. Seinfeld and The Simpsons would also crack the top 30. 

Parker Lewis Can't Lose (a Ferris Bueller rip-off) did in fact lose, Herman's Head with Sam Kinison was a hidden gem, Married with Children was still breaking ground, and I loved the concept of Eerie, Indiana but it didn't last. NBC stuck with critically acclaimed but meager rated Law & Order. The Hat Squad and Covington Cross looked good, but really weren't. I was thoroughly engrossed in Knots Landing.

On the literary side of things, the 90's belonged to John Grisham. In '92 he had a hit with The Pelican Brief, while Michael Connolly's iconic LA detective Harry Bosch had "The Black Echo". The English Patient was well received by critics, most of us waited for the movie, but didn't bother to see that either. Robert Jordan released the 4th book of his Wheel of Time series "The Shadow Rising". The second book in the Outlander series was released, but most of us would not discover this series until 20 years later. Besides Grisham I was discovering and reading the Shadowrun (cyberpunk) novels with glee. I also discovered Michael Crichton's new release "Rising Sun" one of my favorite books of all time, and then went backward and read Jurassic Park, Congo, Sphere, and the Andromeda Strain. Michael Crichton became my favorite author of all time.

In the world of pro wrestling in 1992 WWF had some wrestlers I enjoyed watching including Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Jake Roberts, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Curt Hennig, Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, Davey Boy Smith, Repo Man, Big Boss Man, etc. However, the presentation was a bit lame unless you could shell out for the PPV's for the most part you watched squash matches and the build up of angles. Most of the competition had been killed off at that point, AWA, Stampede, and the NWA was only available occasionally on my television. Herb Abram's UWF was available on one of my channels, and I think we might have received some Grand Prix from Quebec with Hercules Ayala, Steve Disalvo, Gilles Poisson, Gino Britto Jr, etc. But overall wrestling was in a bit of a downturn for me, although probably picked up a bit from 1990 and 1991 when the WWF was even more cartoonish.

So turning to River City Wrestling, what to expect in 1992? Well the title changes, cards, rosters, and feuds that I have are enough to have another solid if not spectacular year of output. One of the things you will see is a return to more created wrestlers. Now I say created loosely, as some are truly created, others are based on real people, and others are cross overs into wrestling from other exploits. I am always open to answering questions about who is who. The last couple years the number of created wrestlers in RCW has dwindled to the point where there are usually only 1 or 2 on the main roster, plus a couple women wrestlers, and officials of course. The amount of created wrestlers will start to rise to almost half of the total talent. Looking through the notes with some of the talent I'm not even sure if they are real or created, so I will have to google them to sort it out.

With no TV contract RCW will once again have minimal shows, probably one show every two weeks. Because this is fantasy I will ignore the financial implications of bringing in wrestlers to a fairly far away city (Winnipeg) for sporadic shows. We can surmise that the wrestlers would also make appearances with other indy promotions in Minnesota and maybe Ontario. I have also stated that even though the shows are numbered it is not definitive that there were not other "spot" shows run that I don't post results for. That is why I will never make a big deal over a show based on the number (#500 for instance).

One other event to kick off the year will be a card in South Africa. It has been a tradition of sorts for cold climate promoters to hold a card in a warm climate in the middle of winter as a bit of a perk for some of the talent; last year RCW went to Reno, Nevada. RCW will have a long standing relationship with the South African Wrestling Federation (SAWF) which is a fictional promotion as well. I have title histories of the SAWF starting from around 1993, lots of rosters, and the occasional show result starting in 2002. If I ever catch up in RCW (ha-ha) and I feel the need for some retro action, then I will likely go back and do the SAWF.

Other things for 1992 include the question of whether there will be a Hall of Fame induction, what external superstars will be brought in for the 13th Anniversary show, will some of the past favorites come back or will it be new talent, and who will see the most success in RCW, created or real wrestlers?

I look forward to posting the 1992 results, and I hope you will take the time to follow River City Wrestling.

Thanks 

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #486

(in conjunction with the South Africa Wrestling Federation)

January 1, 1992

Sun City, South Africa

Opening Bout

Jerry Love defeated Troy Galveston by pinfall after a German suplex at 6:57

The opening bout featured one of the SAWF crew Jerry Love (a heel) going over on one of the RCW crew Troy Galveston. The cowboy Troy Galveston has been in RCW before and returns to the promotion to start the 1992 year. Love had at least 10 years experience advantage over Galveston and used it. He softened him up with a sleeperhold that he would slip down into a chokehold, and so when he hit the German Suplex, Galveston was already out of it.

Bout #2

Ben Bassarab defeated Greg Bragg by pinfall after a German suplex at 5:47

It was probably no accident that the more polished Bassarab won this bout for RCW over his SAWF opponent with the same move as Love used to beat Galveston in the opening bout.

Bout #3

North American Women's Title

Desiree Petersen defeated KC Houston by pinfall after a fisherman suplex at 8:20

[Desiree Petersen retained the North American Women's Title]

Not much history of women's wrestling in South Africa, so this was a bit of a novelty for the fans. Another hard fought match between these rivals with the champ retaining.

Bout #4

Michel Dubois defeated Mr. India by disqualification for abuse of official at 12:08

Mr. India is a capable SAWF worker, and Michel Dubois (aka Alexis Smirnoff) has wrestled in the SAWF before and was brought back for this card. Dubois outclassed India and in the end the disqualification was deliberate to avoid losing clean.

Bout #5

Gama Singh defeated Steve Wright by submission with the camel clutch at 10:46

Two South African workers. Wright is a legitimate shooter from Germany and controlled most of this bout. However Singh is no slouch either in wrestling skills or in cheating. It was the latter that came in handy with a pair of brass knuckles that set up the finisher.

Bout #6

Jan & Michael Reimer defeated The Natural & Dusty Wolfe by pinfall when Michael pinned Wolfe after a double dropkick at 9:09

The Reimers are a pair of young brothers out of South Africa. In looks they resemble the Hardy Boys (the TV show) or possibly the Von Erichs, with Jan being older, brunette, a bit taller and a bit more filled out then his blonde younger brother. While Jan is the leader its his younger brother Michael that's the heartthrob. The Natural is a game competitor from RCW and Wolfe is experienced, but the heels had no experience tagging together.

Bout #7

Shaun Koen & Harley Tragger defeated Mr. Wrestling & Kid Gallahad by pinfall when Tragger pinned Wrestling after a powerbomb at 12:23

This was a "mixed" tag in the sense that each team had one guy from the SAWF (Koen / Wrestling) and one each from RCW (Tragger / Gallahad), even though Tragger has wrestled in SAWF before and is brand new to the RCW. Mr. Wrestling has nothing to do with the original Mr. Wrestling Tim Woods, but is simply a copycat. However, he lived up to his name with an impressive grappling game which meshed well with Gallahad's combination of impact moves and high flying. But on the other side Koen is a second generation wrestler who knows his way around the ring, and Tragger was the powerhouse of the 4 men. In the end it was the power of Tragger that took over the match. The fans of RCW should be looking forward to Tragger's run this coming year.

Bout #8

Rogue & Teijo Khan defeated Jim Brunzell & Baron von Raschke by pinfall when Rogue pinned Brunzell after an inverted DDT (Nightfall) at 9:02

The experience of Brunzell and Raschke was no match for the strength of Khan and the guile and tenacity of Rogue. Both teams had their moments but the finisher kind of came out of nowhere with a double team slingshot suplex followed by Rogue hitting his finisher. One has to question the wisdom of beating the commissioner in a match however when you are chasing a Heavyweight title shot.

Bout #9
All-Africa Heavyweight Champion
Big Mike Zuma and Linley Tolbert battled to a double countout at 14:02
[Mike Zuma retained the All-Africa Heavyweight Title]
Linley Tolbert is like a young Ray Stevens or Nick Bockwinkel, both the skill and the arrogance. Tolbert also likes to stall for time and play to the crowd like Larry Zbyszko. Eventually his opponent, in this case Zuma, loses his patience and walks into a trap. Tolbert then used chokes, ground moves, and a liberal 5 count break to push his advantage. He managed to get on a sleeperhold, and a figure-four but could not finish off Zuma. Then the big man made his comeback with chops, slams, and a thunderous elbowdrop for a 2 count. Zuma nailed a chokeslam for another 2 count. Tolbert in desperation grabbed the champ by his belt and pulled him out of the ring. Tolbert leapt off the ring apron and nailed Zuma with a double axhandle on the back. He rolled Zuma back inside, then climbed to the top, jumped off with another double clothesline, but Zuma caught him with a punch to the gut. Zuma went to work with a bearhug, then a reverse bearhug, banging his shoulder into the back of Tolbert. Finally the challenger managed to climb the buckle while in the hold and push backward, sending both men to the mat and breaking the hold. Tolbert left the ring, and Zuma followed. The challenger kicked him in the gut, but when he tried to smash Zuma's head off the apron the champ stopped him and smashed Tolbert's head off the apron. When Zuma tried to climb back inside the ring Tolbert pulled him back. The two exchanged more punches before the bell rang when the ref hit a 10 count.

Bout #10
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky defeated Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom by pinfall when Lozansky pinned Bloom after a top rope missile drop kick at 9:18
[Orton & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
This match was pretty much a repeat of their match at the 12th Anniversary show.

Bout #11
SAWF Heavyweight Title Match
Best 2 out of 3 Falls
Danie Voges (champion)  vs  Danie Brits 
The Vader vs Orndorff match is the marquee and main event of the evening, but this bout may be the one that the local fans were most looking forward to. Two South African legends, whose careers have been intertwined, the bigger and slightly older Voges against the smaller Brits. These men have fought against each other, and teamed with each other on various occasions for the past 5 years or so. Voges was in his late 30's, 6'5 275 lbs, while Brits was a few years younger and came in at 6'0 235 lbs. Voges also came in wearing the SAWF Heavyweight title, the one he won from Brits in 1990 but has rarely had to defend since then. What Voges did not wear was the yellow "Hulk" tights he often wore proclaiming him the "Hulk" of South Africa. Instead both men wore old fashioned black tights and began the match with a cautious handshake. 
The first fall began very cautiously with both men feeling each other out and renewing acquaintances. Voges grabbed a standing wristlock and used his height and weight advantage to work Brits down to the mat, and dropped a knee on the arm. Brits fought back with forearms, and a standing dropkick, but when he got back up he walked right into a powerbomb. Voges covered and got 1, 2, shoulder up, 3!! The ref didn't notice the shoulder up because he was checking for a foot on the ropes. Brits was on his feet complaining but to no avail.
[Danie Voges wins the first fall by pinfall after a powerbomb at 3:54]
The second fall began with Brits acting like a hot head. Although both men came in as fan favourites there was more support for Brits then Voges, maybe because he was considered the underdog. However because the ref would have none of the dirty tactics he walked right into attacks of Voges. The big man worked Brits with moves like a running clothesline and a running dropkick. He worked a bearhug trying to get a submission, to no avail. Brits managed to get to the ropes, then took a break outside the ring to compose himself. When he got back inside he had regained his composure and offered a handshake to Voges. There was some hesitation but eventually the men shook hands and circled each other again. This time Brits was able to gain the advantage and worked over Voges, then got a 2 count after a very impressive hanging vertical suplex. Next he worked over the legs. He tried for a reverse powerslam but Voges was able to counter by sliding down Brits, then taking him over with bodyscissors. The match got heated but it was all open hand with slaps, and chops. Voges went for his gorilla press slam for the win, but Brits managed to break it, drop behind him, drive him into the buckle, roll up, and got a 2 count. Brits then nailed a dropkick to the legs of Voges and put on the figure-four. Voges was caught in the figure four for over a minute, tried to turn it over, but couldn't. Finally Voges was able to make his way to the ropes and get a break. Voges was unable to stand and looked like he was in trouble. However his boot lace was broken, and when Brits pulled him to his feet, his ankle twisted under him because of the loose boot. He called for the ref, and the official called Brits off. 
Unbelievably the match was delayed at this point while a new lace was retrieved for the champ and his boot was relaced. Brits was angry but stood in the opposite corner while the 3 minute delay occurred (the official time was delayed). Brits went right after the legs of Voges, but the big man had recovered enough to fight back. The men changed the advantage back and forth a couple times, the pace picking up, the tempers as well. Brits tried for a jumping piledriver but Voges was able to power down and flip Brits backward. Voges nailed a running shoulderblock, a running clothesline, and then a gorilla press slam, and got the 3 count!
[Danie Voges wins the second fall by pinfall after a gorilla press slam at 12:17]
[Danie Voges wins the bout 2 falls to 0 at 12:17]
[Danie Voges retained the SAWF Heavyweight Title]

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Big Van Vader defeated Paul Orndorff by countout at 11:20

[Paul Orndorff retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

Vader at this point had held the IWGP title out of Japan, and the CWA title out of Europe. The story of this match was Vader using his size and exploiting the injured shoulder of the Brandon Bull. Orndorff tried to match power versus power, bull versus bull, but lost that match up. However when he used his speed advantage along with his ability to keep Vader on the mat he faired well. In the end the two had a vicious brawl, and when Vader was able to make it back into the ring ahead of Orndorff who was nursing the injured shoulder, the behemoth took the countout win gratefully instead of trying to break the count and go for the pinfall. Orndorff got a measure of revenge at the end of the show however when Vader tried to attack him outside the ring with the RCW Heavyweight title, but Mr. Wonderful was able to turn the tide and nailed Vader with the belt and sent him walking to the back.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling
Roster
January 1992

Officials
Jim Brunzell (commissioner)
Buddy Lane (Referee)
Jurgen Hermann (Referee)

Broadcast
Joe Aiello (play by play)
Mike Stone (colour commentary)

Faces
Paul Orndorff (6'0, 253 lbs., Brandon, Florida) ("I'm A Fighter" Van Zant)

finisher; piledriver

sig moves; armbar, backbreaker, diving knee drop, dropkick, forearm drop, forearm smash, high knee, sleeperhold, German suplex, vertical suplex, bell to back suplex

Bob Orton Jr (6'1, 255 lbs., Kansas City, Kansas) (Theme From Rawhide)

finisher; bulldog   alternate; piledriver

sig moves; sleeperhold, back body drop, back hand chop, elbow smash, elbow drop, powerslam, running crossbody, snap suplex, vertical suplex

Mike Lozansky (5'10. 205 lbs., Vancouver, British Columbia) ("Jump" Van Halen)

finisher; top rope splash

sig moves; Missile dropkick, armdrag takedowns, back bodydrop, flying axhandle, dropkicks, tope

Ben Bassarab (5'10"  211 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("You've Got Another Thing Comin'" Judas Priest)

finisher; Diving crossbody

sig moves; running powerslam, German suplex, snap suplex, diving headbutt, missile dropkick, flying dropkick, abdominal stretch, clothesline over the top rope

Baron von Raschke (6'3  281 lbs., Republic of Germany) ("Ride of the Valkyries" Wagner)

finisher; clawhold

sig moves; sleeperhold

Harley Tragger (6'2 255 lbs., Manhattan, Kansas)  ("Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi)

finisher; powerbomb

sig moves; shoulder blocks in the corner, short clothesline, splash, belly to belly suplex, tilt a whirl side slam, fist drop, boot to the face

Troy Galveston (6'2" 231 lbs., Flathead County, Montana)   ("Blaze of Glory" Jon Bon Jovi)

finisher; Discus Punch

sig moves; bulldog, somersault clothesline, double underhook suplex, running legdrop

Jerry Lynn (5'11 212 lbs., Minneapolis, Minnesota) ("Wild Side" Motley Crue)
finisher; Gory Special Submission
sig moves; diving crossbody, German Suplex, DDT, springboard dropkick, spinning heelkick, tilt-a-wirl backbreaker


Heels
Rogue  (6'1" 235 lbs., Parts unknown) ("The Unforgiven" Metallica)

finisher; Nightfall (inverted DDT)

sig moves; single leg takedown - knee to the thigh, forearm uppercut, crossface, smashing knee around ringpost - ring apron, legsweep, spinning leg lariat, waistlock suplex, springboard Lou Thesz press, top rope DDT

Freddy Krueger (6'0  235 lbs., Your Nightmares) ("One, Two, Freddy's Coming For You")

finisher; double chokeslam

sig moves; nail rakes, bite, choke, chokeslam, boot choke, running kick, stump puller, whip into corner - followed in with a shoulderblock, thumb to the throat, legwhip, reverse neckbreaker, hangman

Wayne Bloom (6'4 265 lbs, Minneapolis, Minnesota) ("We Will Rock You" Queen)

finisher; Double underhook suplex

sig moves; running choke across middle rope, flapjack, side slam, spinebuster slam, head crusher

tag moves; Wrecking Ball (electric chair / Diving clothesline combo) or The Last Spike (flapjack / kneeling head spike)

Mike Enos (6'4 252 lbs., Minneapolis, Minnesota) ("We Will Rock You" Queen)

finisher; scoop powerslam

sig moves; spinning spinebuster slam, hanging vertical suplex, powerslam

Larry Cameron (6'1" 260 lbs., Chicago, Illinois) ("Renegade" Styx)

finisher; Powerslam

sig moves; jumping clothesline, running clotheslines, running shoulderblock, belly to belly suplex, football tackle, bear hug, half-Boston crab

Kid Gallahad (5'11 229 lbs., Glasgow Scotland) ("Anarchy in the UK" Sex Pistols)

finisher; Top rope missile dropkick

sig moves; superplex, headbutt, flying dropkick, release German suplex, figure four leglock

The Natural (6'2 221 lbs, The Bridal Path, Toronto, Ontario) ("In the Hall of the Mountain King")

finisher; figure-four leglock or diving knee drop

sig moves; sleeperhold, abdominal stretch, superkick,

Teijo Khan (6'3 265 lbs., Mongolia) ("Kongurey")
finisher; flying clothesline or Asiatic Spike
sig moves; rope burn, rope choke, bodyslam, clothesline, chops, bite, flying back elbow, kneebreaker, double solar plex punches, Asian chop, headbutt

Females
Desiree Petersen (face) (5'9" 165 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("Tom Sawyer" Rush)

finisher; fisherman suplex or superplex

sig moves; armbar, standing wristlock, clothesline, running knee to the stomach, gutwrench suplex, powerbomb, legspreader

Cynthia Rothrock (face) (5'3 105 lbs, Wilmington, Delaware) ("Distant Storm" Tess Makes Good/Tori Amos)

finisher; spinning heel kick

sig moves; savate kick, side kicks, slingshot suplex, armbar, headscissors, flying headscissors, front layout suplex, knifehand chops, springboard back elbow

KC Houston (heel) (5'9" 140 lbs, Edmonton, Alberta) ("Born Hell Raiser" Johnny Paycheck)

finisher; running bulldog

sig moves; spinebuster slam, hotshot, moonsault, front facelock, reverse neckbreaker, reverse chinlock, series of kneedrops

Fantasy (heel) (5'4 126 lbs. parts unknown) ("Only Women Bleed" Alice Cooper)

finisher; top rope splash

sig moves; front facelock, front facedriver, camel clutch, headscissors

Keisha (face) (5'5 145 lbs., Los Angeles, California) ("Paradise City" Guns 'n Roses)

finisher; sitout powerbomb

sig moves; victory roll, schoolgirl pin

Pink Demon (heel) (5'7 150 lbs., parts unknown)


Enhancement Talent
Joe Vasallo (face) (6'2 245 lbs, New York City, New York)

Roland Sutella (Heel) (5'10  299 lbs, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)

Jake Milliman (face) (5'9 227 lbs., Nashville, Tennessee)

Barre Hall (Heel)  (6'0", 225 lbs, Etobicoke, Ontario)

Chip Fletcher (Heel) (6'1, 218 lbs., Winnipeg, Manitoba)

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #487
January 18, 1992

Winnipeg, Manitoba

**year end awards**

Opening Bout

Jerry Lynn (5'11 212 lbs., Minneapolis, Minnesota) ("Wild Side" Motley Crue)   vs   Chip Fletcher (6'1, 218 lbs., Winnipeg, Manitoba)
This bout marks the start of the RCW year here in North America, and it also marks the return of Jerry Lynn to RCW, the premiere of a local young African-American protégé named Chip Fletcher, and the start of RCW using theme music with regularity. Fletcher did not demure just because he is a rookie, going right after Lynn in the corner. Forearm smashes, shoulderblocks, then a biel out of the corner. He put Lynn in a side headlock, resisted one push off attempt, but the second one sent him off the ropes, but he laid Lynn out with a shoulderblock. Fletcher then came off the ropes again but this time Lynn struck with a spinning toehold takedown. Lynn took over the match punishing Fletcher, and then nailed a German suplex, followed by a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Lynn then put Fletcher into a Gory Special submission and made him cry uncle.

[Jerry Lynn defeated Chip Fletcher by submission to the Gory Sepcial submission at 4:25]

Manager/Valet of the Year Award for 1991: Nick Bockwinkel.

The Bock was not on  hand but Jim Brunzell read some self-congratulatory remarks sent in by Bockwinkel who won read them out loud as if chewing on a lemon. After reading some of them, he stopped, glanced at the rest of the pages, crumpled them up and threw them away. This was Bockwinkel's second straight year winning the award and showed a real lack of competition in this category in 1991 as the only other managers/valets really were Toni Adams and Kelly St. Croix.

Feud of the Year Award for 1991: Toni Adams vs Jeannie Adams

There were other feuds that were good; Orndorff - Cameron, Bassrab/Gallahad - Destruction Crew, McDaniel - Norris, but in the end this one transcended wrestling into the personal lives to such a degree that the feud took on an obviously extra dimension, unlike anything seen before in RCW. Unfortunately neither woman is still in RCW so this award as well is presented in their absence.

Bout #2

Keisha  (5'5 145 lbs., Los Angeles, California) ("Paradise City" Guns 'n Roses)  vs  Fantasy  (5'4 126 lbs. parts unknown) ("Only Women Bleed" Alice Cooper)

This was Fantasy's first match in RCW and she made one heck of an impression. She came to the ring in high leather boots, a leather teddy like outfit, chains, and face paint. The ref made Fantasy remove the chains before the bout which delayed things a bit, but the guys in the front few rows didn't seem to mind much. When the match started although Keisha looked a bit perplexed she quickly grabbed the advantage and pressed using her extra 20 lbs. After working a few ground moves including a front facelock and bodyscissors she took Fantasy down with a flying clothesline for a 2 count. She tried to come off the middle buckle with a knee drop but Fantasy rolled away. The heel then nailed a chop to the throat, a couple chokes, a half way decent chokeslam, then covered for a 2 count. The women then went at it, exchanging kicks and punches in and out of the ring. Back inside Keisha took her down with a single leg, but Fantasy delivered a kick to the kneecap of Keisha which buckled her. Fantasy then cinched down a front facelock, while applying the hold she seductively grinded into the mat for extra leverage. Pulling Keisha to her feet she then took her down with a front facedriver, and got the 3 count.

[Fantasy defeated Keisha by pinfall after a front facedriver at 5:26]


Match of the Year for 1991; Paul Orndorff vs Don Muraco, April 6, 1991

Paul Orndorff came out to accept the award on behalf of himself and Muraco. Orndorff of course is the current RCW Heavyweight champion and will be facing off against Rogue in tonight's main event, a rematch from the 12th Anniversary Show. Orndorff recounts his 24 minute match with Muraco, a best 2 out of 3 falls which fittingly enough was on the show right before Mike Valiant was inducted into the RCW Hall of Fame. It was a good match to do tribute to the best of RCW. Muraco won the first fall with his inverted piledriver, underscoring that this was also a battle between two masters of the piledriver. The second fall ended in a double countout which meant that the best Orndorff could hope for was a draw in the bout. The brawl also brought out commissioner Jim Brunzell to the ring to restore order with threats of fines and suspensions. Orndorff then gutted his way through the third fall winning it with his own piledriver, rendering the match a draw. But that was no way to end a bout, so Orndorff and Brunzell managed to talk Muraco into a 4th fall to decide the bout. After a slugfest, Orndorff came off the top rope with a flying clothesline to gain the fall and the bout. It was not exactly a scientific affair, but it had what the fans love about professional wrestling, drama, characters, and the unexpected.

Bout #3

Harley Tragger (6'2 255 lbs., Manhattan, Kansas) ("Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi)  vs  Barre Hall  (6'0", 225 lbs, Etobicoke, Ontario)
This was Tragger's second match in RCW, third if you include the New Year's day South African event. It was also Hall's first match, and although he was only in his late 20's he was already going prematurely grey, earning him the nickname the Silver Fox from the commentators. Hall was no match for Tragger, and when he couldn't get any traction wrestling clean he resorted to dirty tactics. Even those only held back Tragger for moments. Once Tragger got his momentum going he caught Hall coming off the ropes with a back elbow, nailed a legdrop, then a double underhook suplex, and finished off the Silver Fox with his powerbomb finisher. Squash.

[Harley Tragger defeated Barre Hall by pinfall after a powerbomb at 4:52]

Tag Team of the Year for 1991: Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom

No pro wrestling fan would actually have expected the Crew to be happy about getting the award since they lost their tag titles at the year end show to the new team of Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky. However, the Crew did come out to accept their plaques and to promise that tonight they would not only get back their tag team titles in the rematch, but that they would cripple their opponents (who in disparage to their ages referred to them as a Father and Illegitimate Son team).

Bout #4
Troy Galveston (6'2" 231 lbs., Flathead County, Montana) ("Blaze of Glory" Jon Bon Jovi)  vs  The Natural (6'2 221 lbs, The Bridal Path, Toronto, Ontario) ("In the Hall of the Mountain King")
Galveston has returned to RCW, this time as a fan favourite. The Natural employed the usual delay, stall, anger, frustrate, and then cheat. It worked pretty well as Galveston would punch Natural only to be backed up by the ref for the closed fist, allowing Natural to recover and regain the advantage. The Natural worked an abdominal stretch, a move he liked because he could do it and still jaw with his opponent, the fans, and the ref. In fact he broke the hold when he heard remarks from a fan that he did not appreciate and left the ring to confront him. This brought Galveston to the rescue, but it was a setup for a mule kick, and then a back elbow to the kisser. Natural tossed Galveston off the ringsteps before entering the ring again. It looked like he could have won by countout but decided instead to leave the ring, break the count, and roll Galveston back inside. Natural nailed a series of knee drops, then went to the top and came down with a knee...hitting nothing but air, as his opponent moved out of the way. Galveston nailed a reverse neckbreaker, sent Natural to the ropes and nailed a somersault clothesline, but when he lined Natural up for a discus punch...the big talker rolled out of the ring and left the premises.

[Troy Galveston defeated The Natural by countout at 8:12]

Wrestler of the Year for 1991: Larry Cameron

Quite a few fans cheered for Cameron even though he was a heel, in recognition of his great year. Some would have expected the award to go to Paul Orndorff, but Cameron ruled the company as champion for around 6 months while Orndorff's reign was 3 months and counting at the end of the year. Cameron mentioned it himself in his acceptance speech that he was shocked that Orndorff wasn't just given the award like he was given everything else, just because he at one time had the good sense to beat on Chump Hogan. Finally Cameron noted that tonight Rogue was getting his rematch but Cameron wanted it known that he considered the RCW Heavyweight title to be his belt now and that he would be coming for it, sooner rather then later.
Orndorff takes exception to the remarks made by Cameron and comes out to confront him. First of all he says Cameron is a disgrace, his title reign was full of cheating, and that he should not have won this award. He tells Cameron that he has a match with Rogue tonight but after that, next week, he will take care of Cameron. Lethal Larry just laughs at Orndorff, and asks how his shoulder is feeling.

Bout #5

Ben Bassarab & Kid Gallahad (combined wt 440 lbs)  vs   Freddy Krueger & Teijo Khan (combined wt of 500 lbs)

Strange match. Gallahad said he wanted to bury the hatchet after their bout at the 12th Anniversary show and to admit that right now Bassarab was the better singles wrestler. Bassarab came out and said that was fine, time to move on, they could still be friends, but he was not interested in being a tag team with him or with anyone else for that matter; but he agreed to one more match tonight. Gallahad said great, and welcomed anyone to come out and wrestle them; and got the crazy team of Krueger (the Heritage champion) and Khan. Of course Bassarab played Ricky Morton for a while and then Gallahad decided he didn't want to be his friend anymore. In fact he didn't just leave him, he actually entered the ring and helped Krueger and Khan take him apart. Which lasted until Harley Tragger, and then Troy Galveston came out to make the save. The madness didn't end there however, as outside the ring Krueger and Khan laid a beating on Gallahad, and then the two turned on each other.

[Ben Bassarab & Kid Gallahad and Freddy Krueger & Teijo Khan battled to a no-contest at 6:28]

Bout #6

Baron von Raschke (6'3 281 lbs., Republic of Germany) ("Ride of the Valkyries" Wagner)  vs  Larry Cameron (6'1" 260 lbs., Chicago, Illinois) ("Renegade" Styx)
Cameron started strong but Raschke soon took over the match. However, his antics seemed a bit more cartoonish, with the goose steps, etc, while Cameron just seemed like an angry, angry man. In fact Cameron turned the tables and turned the dial up on the viciousness, repeatedly playing with disqualification. Raschke battled back, in fact he even managed to put the claw hold on. However, at the same time he locked the clawhold on Cameron was scooping him up, and the motion broke the hold, and he delivered a mat shattering powerslam to pick up a decisive victory.

[Larry Cameron defeated Baron von Raschke by pinfall after a powerslam at 5:04]

Bout #7

North American Women's Title

Desiree Petersen  (5'9" 165 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("Tom Sawyer" Rush) (champion)  vs  KC Houston (5'9" 140 lbs, Edmonton, Alberta) ("Born Hell Raiser" Johnny Paycheck)

Match went back and forth with each woman holding an advantage for a minute or two. They are equally matched with Petersen having a power advantage but Houston having the advantage of not caring about the rules. They are also well acquainted with each other from matches last year, so stood toe to toe exchanging fisticuffs as well as maneuvers. Petersen took Houston down with a gutwrench suplex, then made her suffer through a legspreader. Houston though fought back with a single leg takedown, cross armbar, and then armscissors. Petersen once again grabbed the advantage, but this time she tried to finish off Houston by coming off the top rope, but when she landed she twisted her ankle and went down. Houston was all over the leg with stomp and an anklelock. She then applied a spinning toehold and Petersen screamed uncle.

[K.C. Houston defeated Desiree Petersen by submission to a spinning toehold at 8:53]

[K.C. Houston Won the North American Women's Title]

Bout #8
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky (combined wt. 460 lbs) (champions) ("Theme From Rawhide")
v
The Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (combined wt. 517 lbs) ("We Will Rock You" Queen)
For being the challengers and chasing the titles, the Crew seemed in no hurry to engage with their opponents. Orton recognized the tactics involved but his younger partner Lozansky took the bait and ended up on the wrong side of a double team. After that the Crew cut the ring in half and never took their hands off Lozansky. However their efforts to gain a pinfall were in vain, even after Bloom hitting a powerslam, and after Enos nailing a spinebuster slam. Bloom hoisted Lozansky up and Enos climbed to the top to come off with a clothesline (the Wrecking Ball), but Orton came in and knocked Enos off the buckle. This led ref Jurgen Hermann to take his time putting Orton out, and allowed a double team by the crew. But Lozansky had seen enough, and nailed Bloom with a back mule kick to the crotch, then chopped Enos in the throat. He slid under Enos's legs and tagged out to Orton. The veteran went to work on both men and ended up throwing both out of the ring. They re-entered the ring at the same time to go after Orton, but Lozansky joined his partner and it was a 4 man brawl. While Lozansky and Enos battled outside the ring inside Orton nailed Bloom with a bulldog and got the 1, 2, Enos pulled his leg off, and pulled Orton out of the ring. Bloom followed and the four men brawled outside the ring. Only Bloom had the presence of mind to slip back into the ring and beat the 10 count.
[Destruction Crew defeated Orton & Lozansky by countout at 9:23]
[Orton & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]


Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Paul Orndorff (6'0, 253 lbs., Brandon, Florida) (champion) ("I'm A Fighter" Van Zant) vs Rogue (6'1" 235 lbs., Parts unknown) ("The Unforgiven" Metallica)
Part of the reason for Rogue getting the first title match of the year was because of the interference by Vendetta at the main event at the 12th Anniversary show. So because that match was not deemed as a clean finish, Commissioner Jim Brunzell decided to give Rogue a rematch.
As Orndorff stepped through the ropes the challenger was on him, whipping him into the corner, delivering some knees, then climbing the second buckle and reigning down punches on the champion's crown. Orndorff though retaliated with a huge spinebuster slam, robe flying everywhere. The two wrestled along the mat, tangled in the robe, before Rogue was pushed out of the ring. Orndorff unrobed and went right after him. The pause however allowed Rogue the advantage with a kick to the gut, then a whip into the guardrail, and a clothesline sending the champs into the ringside seats. Rogue climbed after him and the two brawled in the crowd, with Rogue throwing a full beer into Orndorff's face. 
Back inside the ring Rogue now went after the sore shoulder of Orndorff with an armbar, and a cross armbreaker. The fans got into it with a clapping routine that got Orndorff's foot tapping, and before you know it he was on his feet, the challenger was shaking his head no, trying to will the fans to quiet, and then he was seeing the mat twirling around as the champ scooped him up into a fireman's carry, spinning around and slamming him to the mat. Covered for a 1 count.
Orndorff nailed a pair of backbreakers, holding Rogue across his knee. Then the champ used a standing surfboard, then a bearhug, and soon Rogue was moving around the ring like a hundred year old man. Rogue tried to call for a time out but instead was fed a forearm uppercut, a biel throw to the middle, a knee to the back, and then a reverse chinlock. Orndorff controlled the match for a couple more minutes with two near falls. 
Finally Rogue turned the match around with a chop to the throat, then a sleeperhold which he floated down to a choke. He whipped Orndorff into the corner, then flew in with a flying clothesline, using his own momentum to fly over the top rope, land on the apron, then deliver a running elbow to the champ's head. The Champ fell face first into the mat as the challenger got back onto the apron, climbed to the top buckle and came down on the champ with a splash, covered and got 1, 2, Kickout! The challenger wasn't done with the offensive onsault though and nailed a waistlock suplex, a springboard Lou Thesz press, climbed the top rope...and Orndorff caught him wasting time..gorilla press slamming him to the mat from the top.
Orndorff dropped a series of 6 consecutive knees to the head, covered for a 2 count. This was followed by a German suplex. Out of desperation Rogue lashed out and gave the champ a version of a spinebuster slam, but dropping him hard on his sore shoulder instead. He then went to work with stomps. Rogue had him set up in position for an inverted DDT..when Larry Cameron hit the ring...clotheslining Rogue!
Larry Cameron then went to work stomping away on Orndorff's shoulder, tossing him into the corner - shoulder first, then slamming him to the mat on the shoulder. Cameron then scooped up Orndorff, presumably for his powerslam finisher, but Rogue caught him from behind with a dropkick, then dropped him with an inverted DDT.
Jim Brunzell and Baron von Raschke hit the ring to help the champ get out of the ring without further damage as the fans registered their displeasure.
[Paul Orndorff and Rogue battled to a no-contest at 12:21]
[Paul Orndorff retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

[jacklarkin]

Annual Awards


Wrestler of the Year:

1980: The Destroyer

1981: The Destroyer

1982: The Destroyer

1983: Chris Lyon

1984: Chris Lyon

1985: Jim Brunzell

1986: Bob Backlund

1987: Steve Disalvo

1988: Vendetta

1989: Davey Boy Smith

1990: Steve Disalvo

1991: Larry Cameron

 

Tag Team of the Year:

1980: Vegas Brothers: Kenny Deeler & A.J. Dice

1981: Roughnecks: Stan Rodgers & Russel Riggs

1982: Mike Valiant & Chris Lyon

1983: Angelo Mosca & Bobby Duncum

1984: Keith & Bret Hart

1985: Masked Superstar & Super Destroyer

1986: The Longriders: Wild Bill & Scott Irwin

1987: The Longriders: Wild Bill & Scott Irwin

1988: Top Guns: Ricky Rice & Derrick Dukes

1989: The Bruise Brothers: Larry Picone & Dave Koorajian

1990: Ben Bassarab & Biff Wellington

1991: Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom
 

Manager/Valet of the Year:

1981: Shiek Fal-Had

1982: Shiek Fal-Had

1983: Tawney England

1984: Miss Hartel

1985: Miss Hartel

1986: Lisa Caress

1987: Madusa Micelli

1988: Bob Orton Jr

1989: Bob Orton Jr

1990: Nick Bockwinkel

1991: Nick Bockwinkel
 

Rookie of the Year:

1980: Chris Lyon

1981: Jeannie Rahib

1982: Tawney England

1983: Rob Flett & Neil Sutherland

1984: Robbie Royce

*1985: n/a

1986: Shawn Cummings

1987: Mike Lozansky

1988: Troy Galveston


*1985 saw Tod Hestrerey originally declared the Rookie of the Year. However after subsequent events it became known he was the Destroyer and not a rookie so he was stripped of that honor. With no obvious second place finisher the award was not handed out.



Feud of the Year

1980: Destroyer versus Dean Jarrett & Moose Morowski

1981: Destroyer versus Chris Lyon

1982: Destroyer versus Clarke Roenick

1983: Chris Lyon versus Mike Valiant

1984: Angelo Mosca versus Bobby Duncum

1985: Jim Brunzell versus David Schultz

1986: Bob Backlund versus David Schultz

1987: Vendetta versus Steve Disalvo

1988: Rogue versus Nick Mercury

1989: Ben Bassarab versus Ricky Rice

1990: Ben Bassarab & Biff Wellington versus Texas Hangmen: Psycho & Killer

1991: Toni Adams versus Jeannie Adams

Match of the Year

1980: Jan 5th RCW #1

Finals for the New River City Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.

The Destroyer defeated Mike Valiant when he countered a piledriver with a sunset flip then arched back and made the pinfall holding Valiants legs. 28:27

[The Destroyer wins the RCW Heavyweight Championship]



1981: March 28th: RCW #29

CAGE MATCH RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Chris Lyons (ch) v The Mummy (/w Shiek Fal-Had)

-Lyons was a house on fire for most of this match, until Fal-Had passed the Mummy a nail file that he stuck into his bandages, and then used on Lyons whenever the opportunity presented itself. The biggest opportunity came when the Destroyer came down to ringside to complain to the referee, and then when Shiek Fal-Had got into his face he dropped the manager with a right hand. All of this action however distracted the ref and allowed The Mummy to savage Lyons with the nail file as well as bites. Lyons' face was a bloodied mess. The Mummy put on the Arabian Spike nervehold and Lyons' was out in seconds. The Mummy wins via submission at 16:16.

[The Mummy won the RCW Heavyweight Championship]



1982: Oct 24th: RCW #80

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Chris Lyon defeated The Destroyer by pinfall with a bridging pin at 32:46

[Chris Lyon wins the RCW Heavyweight Title]

**This was the official title shot won by Lyon in the October battle royal. These two men have always put on a good match over the past 3 years in RCW and this was perhaps their best outing. Lyon did his best to cheat but the match remained one on one throughout. Lyon ended up getting the champ in the Boston crab on successive occasions, with the Destroyer spending long, damaging amounts of time in the move. Finally with the champ almost passed out, Lyon turned him over, bridged himself backward and pinned the champ.



1983: August 27th : RCW # 113

#1 Contenders Match - No time Limit
Ray Stevens defeated Dyanmite Kid by stoppage due to excessive blood loss at 48:24

1984: July 25th: RCW #154 (Wrestling Summit 2)
Former World Champions Collide
Harley Race defeated Bob Backlund by countout at 31:22

1985: Dec 19th: RCW #220 (6th Anniversary Show)
Fabulous Ones: Stan Lane & Steve Keirn defeated Masked Superstar & Super Destroyer by pinfall to win the RCW tag team titles at 33:53

1986: Jul 26th: RCW #246 (Wrestling Summit 3)
Former World Champions Collide
Bob Backlund defeated Bruno Sammartino by pinfall at 23:50

1987: Dec 17th: RCW #313 (8th Anniversary Show)
Cage Match for the RCW Heavyweight Title
Vendetta defeated Steve Disalvo to retain his title at 31:18

1988: Dec 16th: RCW #358 (9th Anniversary Show)
NWA Tag Team Title Match - 2 out of 3 falls
British Bulldogs defeated Road Warriors 2 falls to 1, but Road Warriors retain the world titles at 22:29

1989: Dec 14th: RCW #406 (10th Anniversary Show)
Ricky Steamboat defeated Don Muraco by pinfall at 28:03

1990: Feb 24th: RCW #413
#1 Contenders Match
Davey Boy Smith defeated Ricky Steamboat by pinfall after a running powerslam at 17:40 (thanks to outside interference by Pat Brady).

1991: April 6: RCW #463

Best 2 out of 3 Falls

Paul Orndorff defeated Don Muraco in an extra fall 2-1-1 at 23:55

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #488
February 1, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Brett Como & Lenny St. Claire (combined wt. 439 lbs) defeated Joe Vasallo & Jake Milliman (combined wt. 472 lbs) by pinfall when St. Claire pinned Milliman after a powerbomb legdrop double team at 5:04
-Newcomers from Calgary Alberta, Como and St. Claire worked well together wrestling that Stampede style combination of chain wrestling and impact moves. Vasallo and Milliman were outmatched and took turns getting a beating. The end came when Como & St. Claire playing the heels, nailed a double team with St. Claire delivering a powerbomb on Vasallo while Como nailed him with a running legdrop at the same time.

Bout #2
Johnny Canuck (6'0 330 lbs., Prince George, British Columbia) defeated Chip Fletcher (6'1, 218 lbs., Winnipeg, Manitoba) by pinfall after a reverse second rope splash (Vaderbomb) at 3:34
-Another newcomer Johnny Canuck is a big lumberjack looking guy and had no problem with the smaller fellow rookie Fletcher.

Bout #3
Fantasy (5'4 126 lbs. parts unknown) ("Only Women Bleed" Alice Cooper) defeated Cynthia Rothrock (5'3 105 lbs, Wilmington, Delaware) ("Distant Storm" Tess Makes Good/Tori Amos) after a top rope splash at 6:18
-This one goes down as a major upset as Rothrock seemed like she was on her way to the top. Fantasy used a foreign object hid in her bosom to knock Rothrock out and then hit her finisher for an exclamation point.

Bout #4
Jerry Lynn (5'11 212 lbs., Minneapolis, Minnesota) ("Wild Side" Motley Crue) defeated The Natural (6'2 221 lbs, The Bridal Path, Toronto, Ontario) ("In the Hall of the Mountain King") by pinfall after a diving crossbody block at 9:28
-excellent fast paced match, but when Natural couldn't quite push the same pace as Lynn he took the action outside the ring, or relied on an eye rake. In the end though it was apparent that Lynn was the better man tonight.

Bout #5
Kid Gallahad & Teijo Khan (combined wt of 494 lbs.) ("Anarchy in the UK" Sex Pistols) defeated Troy Galveston & Harley Tragger (combined wt. of 486 lbs) ("Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi) by pinfall when Gallahad pinned Galveston after a top rope missile dropkick at 12:09
-Gallahad was so impressed by Khan last card that he brought him out as his new partner, saying he is a much better partner then Bassarab ever was because his strengths are complimentary to Gallahad's own, not competing for the same glory. Galveston and Tragger actually had a lot of chemistry together as well. In fact the announcers gave the team the nickname Harley Davidson & The Marlboro Man due to their obvious biker and cowboy gimmicks. Mike Stone suggested they were 2/5 of the Village People and wondered where Wahoo McDaniel was. The match went back and forth but after a 4 man brawl that saw Khan slam Tragger backward into the ringpost, the heels double teamed Galveston to pick up the win.

Bout #6

Baron von Raschke (6'3 281 lbs., Republic of Germany) ("Ride of the Valkyries" Wagner) defeated Rogue (6'1" 235 lbs., Parts unknown) ("The Unforgiven" Metallica) by countout at 6:04

-Bit of a strange match. Even though Raschke is bigger, more experienced, and intimidating, Rogue is the one on his way up, in the title scene, but he wrestled a defensive style throughout the match. It looked like he just wanted to survive to get his next title shot. In the end Rogue was clotheslined over the top rope, and certainly looked like he could have made it back into the ring. However, after grabbing the bottom strand and feigning pulling himself into the ring he let go and was counted out.

Bout #7

North American Women's Title Match

KC Houston (5'9" 140 lbs, Edmonton, Alberta) ("Born Hell Raiser" Johnny Paycheck) defeated Desiree Petersen (5'9" 165 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("Tom Sawyer" Rush) by pinfall after a top rope bulldog at 9:57

[KC Houston retained the North American Women's Title]

-Another hard fought, tooth and nail match between these two rivals, that spilled outside the ring 4 times during the bout. At one point the very sexy (in a "for guys who like shaving with a rusty razor kind of way") Fantasy came out to watch the match, and even though she didn't interfere her presence was a distraction for Petersen before she was forced to leave. The end came when Petersen thought she had Houston weakened enough for a superplex but her cagey opponent blocked it, and countered by taking her down from the top with a bulldog.

Bout #8

RCW Heritage Title Match

Freddy Krueger (6'0 235 lbs., Your Nightmares) ("One, Two, Freddy's Coming For You") (champion) defeated Ben Bassarab (5'10" 211 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("You've Got Another Thing Comin'" Judas Priest) by pinfall after a double chokeslam at 11:53

[Freddy Krueger retained the RCW Heritage Title]

-Bassarab started strong out of the gate showing off his wrestling abilities. However, Krueger would control the middle of the match using a variety of chokeholds. Referee Buddy Lane probably would have disqualified the champ except that would have meant no possibility of a title change so instead he was lenient. Bassarab's big break to turn the match around actually came when Krueger was mad at Lane for stepping in the way and was menacing him. Lane was backed into a corner, Krueger reached out, and Lane retaliated with a knee to the groin. Bassarab capitalized and we began to wonder what kind of controversy would ensue if the title changed hands based on the referee's actions. However, Krueger moved out of the way of a baseball slide and watched Bassarab wreck himself on the arena floor. The champ nailed him with a running kick, then tossed him head first into the ringsteps. Back inside he wrapped both of his hands around the neck of Bassarab, then nailed his double chokeslam finisher. After the match Krueger began to choke Bassarab, and when Lane tried to pull him off he was pushed to the mat. This brought out Baron von Raschke who pulled the champ off using the clawhold. Krueger stamped his feet in pain, kicked Raschke in the groin and then quickly vacated the premises.

Bout #9

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky (combined wt. 460 lbs) (champions) ("Theme From Rawhide") defeated The Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (combined wt. 517 lbs) ("We Will Rock You" Queen) by countout at 10:05

[Orton & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

Same result as last card a countout but for the other team, and in much different circumstances. In this case it became obvious that the former champions, the RCW Tag Team of the year for 1991 were not having a good night. So after a short huddle they decided to take the countout loss and left the arena.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Paul Orndorff (6'0, 253 lbs., Brandon, Florida) ("I'm A Fighter" Van Zant) (champion) defeated Larry Cameron (6'1" 260 lbs., Chicago, Illinois) ("Renegade" Styx) by pinfall after outside interference by Rogue at 11:53
[Paul Orndorff retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-So this match was set up from last card's main event where Orndorff's title defense against Rogue was interrupted by Cameron. Jim Brunzell made it clear that Rogue was still owed a title shot but since he had an axe to grind against Cameron as well now, that Rogue would wait until next card in two weeks to get his title match, against whoever is the champ after tonight. 
Orndorff started the match strong using his experience to ground and pound Cameron. However, soon enough Cameron turned things around and immediately went to work on Orndorff's injured shoulder. He put on a modified bearhug where the pressure was put on the shoulder. He also nailed a pair of shoulder breakers, and then worked an armbar to try and get a submission. Orndorff though managed to make a comeback, basically one armed, relying on forearm smashes, knee drops, and similar low risk moves. The match moved outside the ring where once again Cameron took over the match including smashing Orndorff shoulder first into the ringpost. Back inside we had more of the same with Cameron trying to finish off Orndorff exploiting his shoulder, and Orndorff ending up using kicks and punches to make his comeback. Cameron though nailed Orndorff with a knee to the gut, and then whipped him to the corner, but Orndorff reversed it and sent Cameron to the corner...but head referee Buddy Lane was in the way got run over by Cameron. With the ref bumped the inevitable happened with Cameron delivering a low blow then retrieving a chair. He smashed Orndorff once on the shoulder, and then had the champ set up for a powerslam to be delivered on the chair...when Rogue hit the ring and dropkicked Cameron from behind, spilling both men. He then grabbed Cameron and delivered his Nightfall (inverted DDT) onto the steel chair. He then rolled Orndorff on top of Cameron, and delivered an extra chair shot on both men, one on Cameron's head, and one on Orndorff's shoulder. Buddy Lane woke up a few seconds later, and counted the 1, 2, 3!!

[jacklarkin]

Women's Title History

1. Tawney England
Oct 30/82: won an 8 lady Battle Royal at RCW #81
Chalmers Community Club, Winnipeg MB

2. Jeannie Rahib
Dec 11/82: defeated Tawney England by submission at RCW #87
Winnipeg Arena, Winnipeg MB

3. Tawney England (2)
Jan ??/83 defeated Jeannie Rahib at a house show in Teulon, MB
**rumored to be a phantom title switch.

4. Jeannie Rahib (2)
June 4/83 defeated Tawney England by pinfall at RCW #101
Winnipeg Convention Center, Winnipeg MB

5. Judy Martin
July 2/83 defeated Jeannie Rahib by pinfall at RCW #105
Winnipeg Convention Center, Winnipeg, MB

[re-name] Canadian Women's Title

5. Judy Martin
[Martin defeats Leilani Kai holder of Maple Leaf Title to merge the two titles into the Canadian Women's Title. RCW #128, Dec 15/1983, Winnipeg Arena, Winnipeg MB]


6. Natasha
November 3/84 defeated Judy Martin by pinfall at RCW #168
Silver Dollar, Calgary, AB

7. Corrie England
December 13/84 defeated Natasha by pinfall at RCW #174
Winnipeg Convention Center, Winnipeg MB

8.. Tawney England (3)
March 23/85 defeated Corrie England and Natasha by pinfall in a Triple Threat match at RCW #184
Silver Dollar, Calgary, AB

9. Corrie England (2)
June 2/85 defeated Tawney England by pinfall at RCW #192
Lethbridge, AB

10. Tawney England (4)
Dec 19/85 defeated Corrie England by pinfall at RCW #220
Winnipeg, MB

11. Misty Blue Simmes
Feb 15/86 defeated Tawney England by pinfall at RCW #225
Billings, MT

[Re-name North American Women's title]

12. Hollywood [Jeanne Basone]
Jul 26/86 defeated Misty Blue Simmes by pinfall at RCW #246 (Wrestling Summit 3)
Edmonton, Alberta

13. Misty Blue Simmes (2)
Aug 16/86 defeated Hollywood by pinfall at RCW #249
Duluth, Minnesota

14. Orca
Dec 18/86 defeated Misty Blue Simmes by pinfall at RCW #265
Winnipeg, Manitoba

15. Madusa Micelli
Sep 12/87 at RCW #300 Winnipeg, Manitoba. Madusa showed up on TV having claimed to have won the title from Orca. The day and location were never specified. This was a phantom title switch.

16. Hollywood [Jeanne Basone] (2)
Dec 17/87 defeated Madusa Micelli pinfall at the 8th Anniversary Spectacular RCW #313, Winnipeg, Manitoba

17. Mad Maxine
June 4/88 defeated Hollywood by pinfall at RCW #332, Regina, Saskatchewan

18. Wendy Richter
Dec 16/88 defeated Mad Maxine by pinfall at RCW #358, 9th Anniversary Spectacular, Winnipeg, Manitoba

19. The Terrorist
Sep 30/89 defeated Wendy Richter by pinfall at RCW #395, Winnipeg, Manitoba

20. Magnificent Mimi
Dec 14/89 defeated The Terrorist by pinfall at RCW #406, 10th Anniversary Spectacular, Winnipeg, Manitoba

21. Candi Divine
Feb 17/90 defeated Magnificent Mimi by pinfall at RCW #412, Winnipeg, Manitoba

22. Rockin' Robin
Mar 3/90 defeated Candi Divine by pinfall at RCW #414, Regina, Saskatchewan

23. Wendy Richter (2)
Apr 14/90 defeated Rockin' Robin by pinfall at RCW #419, Winnipeg, Manitoba

24. Bad Girl
Sep 22/90 defeated Wendy Richter by pinball at RCW #439, Winnipeg, Manitoba

25. Donna Spangler
Oct 20/90 defeated Bad Girl 2 out of 3 falls at RCW #442, Thunder Bay, Ontario

26. Bad Girl (2)
Nov 1/90 in Springfield, Illinois (phantom switch?)

27. Desiree Petersen

Mar 14/91 defeated Bad Girl at RCW #459, Winnipeg, Manitoba

28. K.C. Houston

Jun 8/91 defeated Kelly St. Croix by pinfall in a tournament final at RCW #472, Winnipeg, Manitoba

**Petersen vacated the title due to injury

29. Toni Adams

Jul 6/91 defeated K.C. Houston by pinfall at RCW #474, Winnipeg, Manitoba

30. Jeannie Adams

Aug 3/91 defeated Toni Adams by pinfall at RCW #476, Winnipeg, Manitoba

31. Toni Adams (2)

Aug 31/91 defeated Jeannie Adams by pinfall at RCW #478, Winnipeg, Manitoba

32. Desiree Petersen (2)

Sep 28/91 won a 9 woman battle royale to win the vacant title at RCW #480, Winnipeg, Manitoba

**Toni Adams vacated the title when she left the territory

33. K.C. Houston (2)

Oct 26/91 defeated Desiree Petersen by pinfall at RCW #482, Winnipeg, Manitoba

34. Desiree Petersen (3)

Nov 9/91 defeated K.C. Houston by pinfall at RCW #483, Winnipeg, Manitoba

35. K.C. Houston (3)

Jan 18/92 defeated Desiree Petersen by submission at RCW #487, Winnipeg, Manitoba

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #489
February 15, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout

The Natural (6'2 221 lbs, The Bridal Path, Toronto, Ontario) ("In the Hall of the Mountain King") defeated Jake Milliman (5'9 227 lbs., Nashville, Tennessee) by submission to the figure-four leglock at 3:37

-squash match

Bout #2

April Cummings (5'7 142 lbs., Cloverdale, British Columbia) ("Rico Suave" Gerardo) defeated Keisha (5'5 145 lbs., Los Angeles, California) ("Paradise City" Guns 'n Roses) with a facebuster at 5:44

-Cummings is a newcomer, a comely built but all natural looking girl with big bouncy hair. Her attitude though was rotten to the core, and her image a bit of a white rapper girl didn't play well to the crowd. In the ring she showed that she had a fairly aggressive side and managed to beat Keisha who herself has had some impressive victories in RCW.

Bout #3

Larry Cameron (6'1" 260 lbs., Chicago, Illinois) ("Renegade" Styx) defeated Johnny Canuck (6'0 330 lbs., Prince George, British Columbia) by pinfall after a powerslam at 7:59

-Well Canuck's win streak ends at 1, but he did fair well against one of RCW's best, former champion Larry Cameron. In fact Canuck controlled a good half of this bout and really punished Cameron. In the end though Cameron showed his strength by being able to powerslam a 330 pound man.

Bout #4

Brett Como & Lenny St. Claire (combined wt. 439 lbs) defeated Jerry Lynn & Ben Bassarab (combined wt. 423 lbs) by pinfall when St. Claire pinned Bassarab after a powerbomb legdrop double team at 8:18

-probably considered an upset, except that Lynn and Bassarab do not have any tag experience together, just sort of thrown together for this bout. Como/St. Claire hit their impresseive double team with St. Claire delivering a powerbomb on Bassarab while Como nailed him with a running legdrop at the same time. So far we have had 4 matches, and all have been won by the heels...

Bout #5
Troy Galveston & Harley Tragger (combined wt. of 486 lbs) ("Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi) defeated The Galaxians (combined wt. 420 lbs) (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by pinfall when Tragger pinned one of the Galaxians after a powerbomb at 6:17
-When Nick Bockwinkel, the two time reigning Manager of the year brought out his newest tag team the fans were expecting a lot, but they didn't get it. The Galaxians seemed quite capable but had no special abilities and not a lot of help from Bockwinkel. The fans were very delightfully surprised when Galveston and Tragger got a much needed win.

Bout #6
North American Women's Title Match
Fantasy (5'4 126 lbs. parts unknown) ("Only Women Bleed" Alice Cooper) defeated KC Houston (champion) (5'9" 140 lbs, Edmonton, Alberta) ("Born Hell Raiser" Johnny Paycheck) by pinfall after a top rope splash at 10:24
[Fantasy won the North American Women's Title]
-Houston had experience, 5 inches and 15 pounds on the challenger, plus neither girl cared about the rules to that was a saw-off. So what made the difference in this bout was Fantasy's ability to take and withstand pain. Houston controlled the majority of this bout but Fantasy took the pain and seemed to like it; and when she fired back she had a level of viciousness that Houston could not counter. The women's title continues to hot potato around.

Bout #7
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky (combined wt. 460 lbs) (champions) ("Theme From Rawhide") defeated Kid Gallahad & Teijo Khan (combined wt of 494 lbs.) ("Anarchy in the UK" Sex Pistols) by disqualification for double teaming at 12:04
[Orton Jr & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
-Well it was predictable that this feud would not end with a one and done since there are no other established tag teams ready yet to challenge the champs. Khan showed a lot of impressive strength during the match, and would then tag out to Gallahad who not only could attack with a fast and furious style but also then distract the ref to allow Khan to choke their opponent. The challengers did try to win the match a few times but seemed much more interested in hurting them instead. In the end they ignored the instructions from referee Buddy Lane and kept working over Orton inside the ring while Lozansky was knocked outside the ring. After the DQ the attack continued until some friendly help from the dressing room came to make the save.

Bout #8
RCW Heritage Title Match
Freddy Krueger (6'0 235 lbs., Your Nightmares) ("One, Two, Freddy's Coming For You") and Baron von Raschke (6'3 281 lbs., Republic of Germany) ("Ride of the Valkyries" Wagner) battled to a no-contest at 5:57
[Freddy Krueger retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-This bout didn't really even get started. The two battled in and out of the ring paying no heed to referee Jurgen Hermann's instructions, and finally was thrown out. The two continued to battle after the bout and even fought against the wrestlers who poured out of the dressing rooms to get the two apart.

Main Event
CAGE MATCH
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Rogue (6'1" 235 lbs., Parts unknown) ("The Unforgiven" Metallica) defeated Paul Orndorff (6'0, 253 lbs., Brandon, Florida) ("I'm A Fighter" Van Zant) by pinfall while in the cross armbreaker at 17:50
[Rogue Won the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-This bout was put in a steel cage because the past 3 title matches have been marred by outside interference; by Vendetta, Larry Cameron, and Rogue. Rogue played this perfectly getting his title shot before Cameron's and getting it in a cage to stop the cycle of interference. However, Orndorff was not about to just roll over and give up his title, and was still the favourite to retain his title. However, Orndorff also came in with a badly injured shoulder. For the first 10 minutes of this match Rogue stayed away from attacking the shoulder, the two of them trading the advantage back and forth in typical cage match fashion. Both men took turns smashing into the cage, raking faces across the cage, both men getting their heads busted open. Rogue flew from the side of the cage and almost got the pin; Orndorff nailed his piledriver but was too close to the ropes and Rogue got his foot across the bottom rope. Finally Rogue got his clean chance at the injured shoulder of the champ and never looked back. Five minutes later and Orndorff was fighting one armed. Larry Cameron came out to try and distract things, even climbing the side of the cage, but was pulled off by officials and sent to the back. Rogue nailed his finisher, the inverted DDT, and covered for the 1, 2, KICKOUT by the champ. But Rogue then put on a cross armbreaker on the injured side. Orndorff was in so much pain that even though he refused to submit eventually he passed out from the pain and his shoulders were counted down by referee Buddy Lane. New Champion!

Breaking Kayfabe;
So Rogue finally wins the big title, following in the footsteps of his arch rival Vendetta. These two created wrestlers are intertwined in RCW history with Vendetta always being the superior but Rogue close on his heels. They even have opposite finishers; Vendetta the DDT, Rogue the Inverted DDT. Can Vendetta be far from returning to RCW and where does Larry Cameron stand now? 
Freddy Krueger was an actual "wrestler". Jerry Lawler's USWA had a thing for brining in these monsters, and having only read about them in mags and not getting any of them on TV back then they fascinated me. I saw Jason the Terrible in Stampede but that was about all. Freddy Krueger was actually Doug Gilbert a very good wrestler.
Fantasy was a "created" wrestler but actually based on one very sexy pic I saw in an Apter mag of Fallen Angel. I would many years later realize that it was actually Nancy Green (Benoit), but the "Fantasy" was only based on this picture, everything else was made up.
The Galaxians was probably the same ones that appeared in WCW as jobbers and were actually the Nightmares (Danny Davis & Ken Wayne) two very fine workers. However, at the time i thought they were just glorified jobbers and used them as such.
April Cummings was a created wrestler based on a girl I knew, a friend's sister.
Keisha was based on the adult film star Keisha Dominguez (in build and looks, but obviously that was all).

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #490
February 29, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
The Natural (6'2 221 lbs, The Bridal Path, Toronto, Ontario) ("In the Hall of the Mountain King") defeated Johnny Canuck (6'0 330 lbs., Prince George, British Columbia) by pinfall after a superkick (and with feet on the ropes) at 6:43
-Canuck had the size going for himself but not much else. Natural tried to put him away with a figure four to no avail, and after hitting a superkick decided just to be sure to put his feet on the ropes for extra leverage.

Bout #2
Cynthia Rothrock (5'3 105 lbs, Wilmington, Delaware) ("Distant Storm" Tess Makes Good/Tori Amos) defeated Keisha (5'5 145 lbs., Los Angeles, California) ("Paradise City" Guns 'n Roses) by pinfall after a spinning heel kick at 5:05
-Rothrock controlled most of this bout between two fan favourites, although Keisha did push a bit toward the end and resorted to some rough tactics that the fans did not appreciate.

Bout #3

Triangle Elimination Style Match

The Galaxians (combined wt. 420 lbs) (/w Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Troy Galveston & Harley Tragger (combined wt. of 486 lbs) ("Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi) and Brett Como & Lenny St. Claire (combined wt. 439 lbs) ("Burning in Love" Honeymoon Suite) in a Triangle Elimination Match at 10:18

-Only 2 men could be in the ring at the same time, although this did create some confusion at one point when Galaxian #2 tagged in by Como found himself facing Galaxian #1 and no one would tag in from the outside. Finally Bockwinkel, pulling his hair out, ordered the two of them to leave the ring and attack, creating a 6 man brawl outside the ring. Order was restored and the match went on. Galveston and Tragger found themselves going at it with Como and St. Claire with the Galaxians able to mostly rest. Galveston nailed Como with a discus punch and when he covered for the pin both the Galaxians aided by holding down one leg each of Como.

Galveston & Tragger eliminated Como & St. Claire by pinfall when Galveston pinned Como after a discus punch at 6:04

-Tragger and Gavleston already beat the Galaxians last week and looked the better team today. However, the Galaxians used Nick Bockwinkel and the old switcheroo of masked men...although they were slightly confused at Bockwinkel's instructions at one point and began to take off their masks to switch with each other...until Bock put them straight. Finally with a 4 man brawl broken out, Tragger backed into the ropes and Bock lowered the top rope and sent the big biker to the ground below. The Galaxians then nailed Galveston with a double clothesline and a double elbowdrop. They then both left the ring and stood on the apron..until Bock yelled at them to get back into the ring. Galaxian #1 went back into the ring and applied the pin.

The Galaxians defeated Tragger and Galveston by pinfall when Galaxian #1 pinned Troy Galveston after a double elbowdrop at 10:18

Bout #4

Jerry Lynn (5'11 212 lbs., Minneapolis, Minnesota) ("Wild Side" Motley Crue) and Ben Bassarab (5'10" 211 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("You've Got Another Thing Comin'" Judas Priest) battled to a time limit draw 25:00

-possible candidate for match of the year, but probably won't win because the end was not settled. These two are similar in many respects although Bassarab is a few years older and comes from the Stampede school while Lynn comes from the mid-west. While it was not officially announced, many pundits would see this match as a stepping stone for the winner to get back in line for a title shot at either the Heritage or Heavyweight Title. The match saw periods of wear down holds punctuated with chain wrestling, and each man hit a plancha as well, which was something new for RCW. The end was marred when Bassarab's head hit into the ringpost and was busted open. The Calgarian spent the final 5 minutes of the match playing defense because of the crimson mask he was wearing. Lynn came off the top rope with a bodyblock, but Bassarab rolled through it and ended up on top, but was too close to the ropes. Bassarab went for a suplex, but Lynn blocked it and then countered with a brainbuster, but only got a 2 count. Lynn then nailed a spinning heel kick, for another 2 count. He locked the Gory Special submission on Bassarab but a few seconds later time ran out. After catching their breath the men shook hands before leaving the ring.

Bout #5

North American Women's Title Match

Triangle Match - Elimination Style - All 3 Women legal

Fantasy (champion) (5'4 126 lbs. parts unknown) ("Only Women Bleed" Alice Cooper) defeated KC Houston (5'9" 140 lbs, Edmonton, Alberta) ("Born Hell Raiser" Johnny Paycheck) and Desiree Petersen (5'9" 165 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("Tom Sawyer" Rush) in a Triangle Match at 11:33

[Fantasy retained the North American Women's Title]

-Play by play letch Mike Stone made as many 3some jokes and references as he could fit in during the match, however, the pace of the match when it was all 3 women was very high tempo. This was a way that both former champions Houston and Petersen could get a rematch and was a tough challenge for the champion. Of the 3 women Fantasy was the least experienced and smallest, but the most devious as well; including playing up to referee Jurgen Hermann. Petersen was going after Fantasy but the champion hid behind Hermann and stuck a leg outside the ring post. As Hermann tried to restrain Petersen, Fantasy snuck in a punch, and then Houston nailed Petersen with a German suplex, and Fantasy just watched as the pin occurred (because it was an elimination match).

KC Houston eliminated Desiree Petersen by pinfall after a German suplex at 7:29

Of course Fantasy then attacked Houston. She got the drop on Houston but after a couple minutes of punishment could not get the pin. Houston fought back and it looked like she would recapture her title. But when she went for her running bulldog finisher Fantasy managed to throw her off. Houston collided with the buckle, Fantasy rolled her up with a victory roll (and held onto the trunks to make sure).

Fantasy defeated KC Houston by pinfall after a victory roll at 11:33

Bout #6

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Texas Tornado Style

Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky (combined wt. 460 lbs) (champions) ("Theme From Rawhide") defeated Kid Gallahad & Teijo Khan (combined wt of 494 lbs.) ("Anarchy in the UK" Sex Pistols) by pinfall when Orton pinned Khan after Lozansky hit him with a missile dropkick at 9:51

[Orton & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

-An old RCW standby for a blowoff is a Texas Tornado match where all 4 men are legal. In this case it was called for because the challengers were disqualified last card for double teaming. The champs figured if that was how they wanted to fight then it might as well be legal for both teams. Lozansky ran into trouble during the bout and was thrown over the top rope by both opponents, landing awkwardly on his knee. After that the challengers kept Lozansky outside the ring as much as possible and double teamed the double tough Orton as much as they could. However, finally Lozansky found he could impact the match as much from the ring apron as he could inside the ring. The match ended when Orton tossed Gallahad out of the ring, Lozansky hit Khan with Gallahad's finisher the top rope missile dropkick, and Orton covered for the pin while Lozansky cut off Gallahad from making the save.

Bout #7

RCW Heritage Title Match - Loser Leaves Town

Baron von Raschke (6'3 281 lbs., Republic of Germany) ("Ride of the Valkyries" Wagner) defeated Freddy Krueger (6'0 235 lbs., Your Nightmares) ("One, Two, Freddy's Coming For You") by submission to the Clawhold at 7:04

[Baron von Raschke Won the Heritage Title]

-The old loser leaves town match to blowoff the mini-feud. Baron started a house on fire, but that only lasted a minute until Krueger got in a lowblow kick undetected by Jurgen Hermann (apparently the heir apparent to Mr. Magoo). Krueger went to work with an astonishing variety of chokeholds using his hands, the ropes, his boot, his forearm, and even Raschke's own forearm (which he refused to break, arguing with Hermann on the legality of it since technically it was Raschke's arm doing the choking). Raschke was turning blue, and sputtering even more then normal. However, he got his momentum going and did his version of Hulking up by goose stepping in the ring (which really is not appropriate anymore). A couple kicks, punches, bodyslam, boot rake, chokehold, and then the clawhold and that was all she wrote for the master of horror in River City Wrestling. The fans serenaded him with "na-na-na-na, hey-hey-hey goodbye" on his way back to Elm Street, or under young children's beds.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Larry Cameron (6'1" 260 lbs., Chicago, Illinois) ("Renegade" Styx) defeated Rogue (6'1" 235 lbs., Parts unknown) ("The Unforgiven" Metallica) by disqualification for use of a foreign object at 10:41

[Rogue retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

-Rogue's first defense of the title was not against Paul Orndorff who he won it from last week because Mr. Wonderful is out with a shoulder injury. However, he got to defend it against a formidable foe in former champion Larry Cameron. While both men were heels the fans got solidly behind Cameron who seemed to be taking the high road in the encounter. The match went back and forth but Cameron's pure power was hard for Rogue to beat. Two of his signature moves back fired when a springboard Lou Thesz press was turned into a spinebuster slam by Cameron, and an attempt at a top rope DDT was countered when Lethal Larry just tossed him off to the floor below. Cameron went to work on Rogue with a running clothesline, running shoulderblock...got a 2 count..football tackle that shook the ring. He signaled for his powerslam finisher, but Rogue snaked out an elbow and caught referee Buddy Lane in the head..obviously on purpose. Lane went down, Rogue raked the eyes of Cameron then delivered a lowblow. Rogue then nailed his inverted DDT finisher...shook Lane awake...but Lane began to argue with Rogue and threatened to DQ him...so by the time Rogue covered Cameron the challenger was able to kick out after a 2 count. Rogue nailed him with a kick to the gut, but when he tried it a second time Cameron caught the leg, twirled the champ around, and then clotheslined him to the mat. Rogue rolled with it and rolled right out of the ring. Cameron went after him but the champ grabbed a steel chair and nailed Cameron over the head..twice..to get disqualified..grabbed his title belt and headed for the hills.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #491

March 14, 1992

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Surprise Appearances by Missy Hyatt and Vendetta

Hall of Fame Announcement

Former commissioner of RCW and member of the Hall of Fame, Marty Goldstein, acting as the current head of the Hall of Fame Committee came out to make an announcement. He was joined by current commissioner Jim Brunzell, and Hall of Fame committee member and RCW Fan Club President Stan Mullen. The other Hall of Fame members not in attendance are Matt Brock, Jack McAdam, Bob Brown, and George Gadasky.

Goldstein said that there were some contenders to be entered into the Hall of Fame this year, but no slam dunk candidates. In fact, not unprecedented, there was thought to not electing anyone at all. However, one wrestler really stood out as deserving as a pioneer and the more they talked about it the more the Hall of Fame committee decided that this competitor deserved to be inducted, and since SHE was retired, it could be now or never. So, it gives the committee and RCW management great pleasure to announce that in April, Corrie England will join her sister Tawney in the RCW Hall of Fame. The fans gave a nice ovation for the announcement.

Opening Bout
The Natural (6'2 221 lbs, The Bridal Path, Toronto, Ontario) ("In the Hall of the Mountain King") defeated Silver Shadow (6'2" 235 lbs., Portland, Oregon) by submission to the figure-four leglock at 3:34
-squash match. Natural railed against the lack of competition in that match so asks for another competitor. He gets one.

Bout #2
The Natural (6'2 221 lbs, The Bridal Path, Toronto, Ontario) ("In the Hall of the Mountain King") defeated Robbie Sampson by submission to the figure-four leglock at 2:29
-another squash match. This time Natural risked disqualification by holding onto the move after the match. Finally he let go but said that he wasn't done, send someone else down. Well he got someone but it wasn't who he was expecting. The very sultry Missy Hyatt made a surprise entrance to the ring. She gave Natural a kiss on the cheek, took him by the hand, and he followed her speechless to the back.

Bout #3
April Cummings (5'7 142 lbs., Cloverdale, British Columbia) ("Rico Suave" Gerardo) defeated Desiree Petersen (face) (5'9" 165 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("Tom Sawyer" Rush) by pinfall after a facebuster at 8:46
-The more experienced Petersen, the former women's champion, controlled most of this match and the fans probably thought it was a glorified squash match. However, Cummings countered a suplex attempt by Petersen with a foot stomp followed by a jawbreaker, monkeyflip, and then hit the facebuster finisher to stun her opponent and the crowd.

Bout #4
Kid Gallahad (5'11 229 lbs., Glasgow Scotland) ("Anarchy in the UK" Sex Pistols) defeated Johnny Canuck (6'0 330 lbs., Prince George, British Columbia) ("Teenage Overdose" Loverboy) by pinfall after a top rope missile dropkick at 7:59
-Canuck had his moments but Gallahad cheats too well and is just further advanced in his development.

Bout #5
Troy Galveston & Harley Tragger (combined wt. of 486 lbs) ("Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi) defeated Brett Como & Lenny St. Claire (combined wt. 439 lbs) ("Burning in Love" Honeymoon Suite) by pinfall when Tragger pinned St. Claire after a powerbomb at 10:04
-the ups and downs of the tag team division continues with Galveston and Tragger coming up with a big victory to push them back toward the top of the tag title scene.

Bout #6
Ben Bassarab (5'10" 211 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("You've Got Another Thing Comin'" Judas Priest) defeated Jerry Lynn (5'11 212 lbs., Minneapolis, Minnesota) ("Wild Side" Motley Crue) by pinfall after a German suplex at 12:57
-Following their 25 minute time limit draw last card the fans expected the two men to light it up again, and they did. In and out of the ring, several sequences fighting on the apron, on the floor, and on the announcer table..things got nasty between the two fan favourites. Lynn though was on the verge of winning the match when Missy Hyatt came down to distract Lynn. She didn't actually interfere but did just enough to let Bassarab nail Lynn from behind, and then hit him with a German suplex for the win.

Bout #7
North American Women's Title Match
Cynthia Rothrock (face) (5'3 105 lbs, Wilmington, Delaware) ("Distant Storm" Tess Makes Good/Tori Amos) defeated Fantasy (heel) (5'4 126 lbs. parts unknown) ("Only Women Bleed" Alice Cooper) by pinfall after an inside cradle at 9:32
[Cynthia Rothrock Won the North American Women's Title]
-The women's title changes yet again. Rothrock controlled early with her taking the middle of the ring and attacking outward with her martial arts background. Fantasy, the over achieving champion, managed to gain the advantage for a short while by using the referee as a screen to get in a chop to the throat, and then grounding the champion. After a couple failed submissions the champ went to the top rope and tried to hit her top rope splash finisher. Rothrock though rolled out of the way, cradled the champ and got the win and the belt.

Bout #8
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky (combined wt. 460 lbs) (champions) ("Theme From Rawhide") defeated The Galaxians (combined wt. 420 lbs) (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by pinfall when Lozansky pinned Galaxian #2 with a top rope splash at 7:18
[Orton & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
-with the exception of one illegal substitution thanks to the masks, and one piece of interference by Bockwinkel, the masked Galaxians didn't really show much in this bout. But maybe it was a good thing it ended when it did as Bockwinkel was turning red and yelling, if it had gone on much longer he may have had a stroke.

Bout #9

RCW Heritage Title Match

Baron von Raschke (6'3 281 lbs., Republic of Germany) ("Ride of the Valkyries" Wagner) and Teijo Khan (6'3 265 lbs., Mongolia) ("Kongurey") battled to a double countout at 4:50

[Baron von Raschke retained the RCW Heritage Title]

-just a brawl that got out of hand, so that this feud can continue next card as well

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Rogue (6'1" 235 lbs., Parts unknown) ("The Unforgiven" Metallica) and Larry Cameron (6'1" 260 lbs., Chicago, Illinois) ("Renegade" Styx) battled to a no-contest at 12:03

[Rogue retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

-two final matches of the card end with mayhem, not the best booking effort. However, the fans were sent home happy by the appearance of Vendetta!

Cameron had Rogue beaten from pillar to post early on. In fact the former champion controlled the first 8 minutes of the match, beating Rogue inside and outside the ring. In fact he was so concentrated on the beating that he only attempted one pin during that entire time. Finally Rogue made a brief comeback outside the ring. But once the match returned to inside Cameron took control back. Cameron went to whip Rogue into the corner, but the champ reversed it, but Cameron reversed that, and sent Rogue right into referee Buddy Lane who was doing his best Fred Astaire impression to get out of the way. Rogue then went downstairs with a boot to the groin, and nailed the inverted DDT finisher. He then mocked both Lane and Cameron as they lay out flat. He set up Cameron for another inverted DDT, and in a deja vu from the Anniversary show, Vendetta came out of the crowd and nailed Rogue from behind. He then nailed the champ with the DDT finisher. Buddy Lane woke up and called for the bell, and threw the match out.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #492
March 28, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout

Johnny Canuck (6'0 330 lbs., Prince George, British Columbia) ("Teenage Overdose" Loverboy) defeated Lenny St. Claire (6'1 250 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("Burning in Love" Honeymoon Suite) by pinfall after a reverse second rope splash at 6:02

-a bit if an upset and much needed victory for Canuck

Bout #2

Brett Como (5'8 189 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("Burning in Love" Honeymoon Suite) defeated Joe Vasallo (6'2 245 lbs, New York City, New York) by pinfall after a superplex at 4:44

-Como faired better than his tag partner St. Claire but also had arguably the easier opponent in curtain jerker Vasallo.

Bout #3

April Cummings (5'7 142 lbs., Cloverdale, British Columbia) ("Rico Suave" Gerardo) defeated Tiffany Brannigan (Santa Barbara, California) by pinfall after a facebuster at 4:46

-hadn't seen Brannigan in a while, but she did not fair well against Cummings who is on a bit of a roll now after having already beaten Desiree Petersen. Perhaps the #1 contender?

Bout #4

Ben Bassarab & The Natural (combined wt. 432 lbs) (w/ Missy Hyatt) defeated Silver Shadow & Robbie Sampson by submission when Natural submitted Sampson in the figure-four at 7:04

-So both these guys followed Hyatt out last card, and it appears as if she has signed both of them. Bassarab though did not seem thrilled about being in a tag team, and not at all about the Natural, but seemed pretty far gone when it came to Hyatt batting her eyes. In fact Bassarab hit his diving crossbody on Sampson and could have got a 3 count but Hyatt yelled at him to pull up on the pin and tag out to Natural, who then put on the figure four and made his opponent submit.

Bout #5

Baron von Raschke & Jerry Lynn (combined wt. 493 lbs.) defeated Teijo Khan & Kid Gallahad (combined wt. 494 lbs.) by pinfall when Lynn pinned Gallahad after a springboard dropkick at 8:50

-Thrown together team of Heritage title holder Raschke and a top contender Lynn managed to win over a team that has competed together before Khan & Gallahad in an impressive outing for Lynn.

Bout #6

Soultaker & Nick Bockwinkel (560 lbs.) defeated The Galaxians (combined wt. 420 lbs.) by submission when Bockwinkel put the sleeperhold on Galaxian #2 at 7:58

-Bockwinkel came down to the ring with his tag team the Galaxians who failed to win the tag belts last week. Bockwinkel got on the mic and said that they would have to win tonight's match or he would be dropping them as a tag team. Out came the Soultaker making his return to RCW, the former Television champion. The referee Buddy Lane asked Soultaker who his partner was going to be or if this was going to be a handicap match, and Bockwinkel surprised the arena by pulling off his track suit and revealing his trunks. He said that Soultaker was once again part of the Nick Bockwinkel Agency and that he would be his partner tonight. The Galaxians were way over matched. They got pounded on by Soultaker for a solid 4 minutes before Bock made the tag in to mop up. But the masked men used the old roll out of the ring, mix up with your masked partner, trick. This bought them some time as they managed to give Bock some payback. However, a knee to the gut, punch to the head, tag out to Soultaker, and a minute later and both Galaxians were laid out in the ring by the behemoth Soultaker. The big man hit the piledriver and could have got the pin but his manager demanded the tag in and he then put the sleeperhold on the Galaxian identified as #2, which was unnecessary as he was already out for the count. After the bout Bockwinkel publically fired The Galaxians and announced the return of "The Agency".

Bout #7

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky (combined wt. 460 lbs) (champions) ("Theme From Rawhide") defeated  Troy Galveston & Harley Tragger (combined wt. of 486 lbs) ("Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi) by countout when Galveston was counted out at 11:17

[Orton & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

Hard fought win for the challengers, two very evenly matched teams, both showing some great team work. Both teams took turns cutting the ring in half and used quick tags. Tragger showed off his power again, Orton his veteran presence, Lozansky his speed, and Galveston his overall athleticism. Galveston though made a mistake trying to hit Orton with a flying crossbody block, but when the veteran managed to stay on his feet, stumbling back toward the ropes, Lozansky moved across the apron to push Orton to stay upright and causing Galveston to fall out of the ring, over the top rope. The cowboy could not answer the 10 count and the champs held on to their titles.

Main Event

Special guest referee: Vendetta

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Rogue (6'1" 235 lbs., Parts unknown) ("The Unforgiven" Metallica) defeated Larry Cameron (6'1" 260 lbs., Chicago, Illinois) ("Renegade" Styx) by disqualification for abuse of official at 15:39

[Rogue retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-Vendetta called it right down the middle but wasn't afraid to get involved in keeping the peace and trying to keep the match within the rules. Cameron was now being solidly supported by the fans and seemed to be intent on following some of the rules, and maybe turning over a new leaf. However he became frustrated when he couldn't seem to put Rogue away either by submission to the half-Boston or after hitting his finisher the powerslam. Cameron got into the face of Vendetta accusing him of a slow count. As the match progressed Cameron became more and more distracted by his anger toward Vendetta. The champ took over the match but couldn't quite get the win even after nailing a springboard Lou Thesz press and then his finisher the inverted DDT (Nightfall), as Cameron managed to get a foot on the ropes. The match spilled outside the ring, then Vendetta made the men get back inside. Cameron pounded Rogue in the corner and ignored Vendetta's 5 count. Finally the former RCW Heavyweight champion Vendetta got between the current champion and the former champion Cameron, actually imposing his body to move Cameron back. Rogue used this opportunity to slip out of the ring and looked like he was going to take his title and leave. Vendetta was applying the 10 count when Cameron tried to leave the ring to go get the champ, but the referee held him back, which was the final straw for the volatile Cameron. Lethal Larry slugged the referee, clotheslined him, football tackle, and then powerslam...

Rogue had slipped back into the ring and nailed Cameron in the back of the head with the title belt, knocking him out. The champ then nailed first Cameron, then Vendetta with his inverted DDT.

Officials came down to the ring and sent Rogue scurrying, and when Vendetta got back up he called for the DQ on Cameron.

Breaking kayfabe;

Rogue and Vendetta are both created wrestlers. Cameron was a star in Stampede and elsewhere but would end up dying in the ring during a match late 1993 in Germany.

Galveston and Tragger are also both created wrestlers.

Soultaker is the Godfather (Charles Wright/Papa Shango).

Kid Gallahad is created.

Silver Shadow and Robbie Sampson were both real life jobbers.

April Cummings, Tiffany Brannigan, Joe Vasallo are all created.

Johnny Canuck, Brett Como, Lenny St, Claire, Ben Bassarab, Natural are all real wrestlers.

Brett Como was better known later as Black Dragon and Ultimate Dragon (not Ultimo Dragon).

Lenny St, Claire was better known later as Dr. Luther.

Natural was better known as the Jackyl or Don Callis

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #493
April 11, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Corrie England (two time Women's Champion) is inducted into the Hall of Fame, led to the ring by Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker". Her sister and fellow HoF'er Tawney England was on hand, along with Chris Lyon, Mike Valiant, and Marty Goldstein (all HoF'ers as well). Missy Hyatt came to the ring and complained that these old timer's were using up all the ring time. She suggested that those that could not wrestle anymore should buy a ticket and watch. The England sisters shot back that Hyatt isn't even a wrestler and that if she didn't leave they would kick her ass. Of course what came out of this was a spur of the moment match for later tonight.

Opening Bout
Harley Tragger defeated Sonny Trout by pinfall after a tlit-a-whirl side slam at 5:00
-premiere of Sonny Trout; squash match

Bout #2
Lenny St. Claire defeated Sandy Beach by pinfall after a superplex at 4:04
-premiere of Sandy Beach; glorified squash match.

Bout #3
Brett Como defeated Johnny Canuck by submission to a crossface chickenwing at 7:15
-Canuck had his moments but Como did what his partner St. Claire could not do last card, beat the big Canuck.

Bout #4
Ben Bassarab & The Natural (/w Missy Hyatt) defeated The Galaxians by pinfall when Bassarab pinned Galaxian #1 after a diving crossbody at 9:36
-Missy Hyatt was especially flirtatious tonight, and she allowed Bassarab to make the pin this week, seemingly playing Bassarab off against Natural.

Bout #5
The Soultaker (/w Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Mike Lozansky by pinfall after a spinning heel kick at 7:34
-great showing for Soultaker beating one half of the tag team champions Lozansky. Bockwinkel didn't even have to interfere in the match it was a clean victory.

Bout #6
Tawney & Corrie England defeated Missy Hyatt & Pink Demon when Corrie pinned Demon after a belly-to-back suplex at 6:49
-Hyatt wanted nothing to do with the sisters and left Demon pretty much at their mercy. Bassarab and Natural tried to interfere but they were cut off by Valiant, Lyon, and Goldstein.

Bout #7
Jerry Lynn and Kid Gallahad battled to a double disqualification at 9:49
-it didn't take too long for this one to get nasty and ended when both men were smashing each other around the outside of the ring.

Bout #8
North American Women's Title Match
Cynthia Rothrock defeated KC Houston by pinfall after a slingshot suplex at 6:22
[Cynthia Rothrock retained the North American Women's Title]
-Houston is an accomplished and good wrestler but Rothrock's martial arts skills and athleticism put her in a different league right now.

Bout #9
Non-Title Match
Rogue defeated Bob Orton Jr by pinfall after an inverted DDT at 7:46
-The Heavyweight champion Rogue acquitted himself quite well against veteran and half of the tag team champions, Bob Orton Jr.

Co-Main Event
Cage Match
RCW Heritage Title Match
Baron von Raschke defeated Teijo Khan by pinfall after a fallaway slam into the cage wall at 8:08
[Raschke retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-hard fought match for the aging Baron

Co-Main Event
Cage Match
Vendetta defeated Larry Cameron by pinfall after a DDT at 14:19
-one of the more brutal matches in recent RCW history with both men juicing early and lots. Rogue came down to watch for awhile standing on the announcers table. Even though Vendetta won it looked like he may have sustained an injury to his hand during the match. 




River City Wrestling #494
April 25, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Dirty White Boy defeated Jake Milliman by pinfall after a chokeslam at 3:22
-squash match. DWB makes his return to RCW, this time alone, with no Dirty White Girl.

Bout #2
Keisha defeated Pink Demon by pinfall after a sitout powerbomb at 5:56
-squash match

Bout #3
Sebastien Rikard defeated Johnny Canuck by pinfall after a swinging neckbreaker at 7:50
-Premiere of Rikard. The bigger Canuck held the advantage for the first 4 minutes of this match and it looked like we might have a 3rd straight squash match. However, the heelish Rikard took over the advantage thanks to a rake of the eyes, a kick to the shins and a high knee lift. He controlled the rest of the match and nailed his finisher with some pizazz swinging back and forth several times before completing it. Rikard has an "English arrogance" to him.

Bout #4
April Cummings defeated Corrie England by pinfall after a facebuster at 5:29
-Any thoughts of making a comeback for HoF'er England probably ended tonight as the next generation of wrestler took over.

Bout #5
Harley Tragger defeated Soultaker (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by disqualification for outside interference at 9:06
-hard fought and even match between two real sluggers. Soultaker had the size advantage but Tragger is big as well, strong for his size, and "stubborn as hell". Bockwinkel though refused to let things settle squarely. He interfered once and didn't get caught, but the second time he tripped up Tragger he got caught and his man was dq'd. Tragger went after Bockwinkel outside the ring, but was attacked from behind by Soultaker. Bockwinkel and Soultaker laid the boots to Tragger until Troy Galveston (returning from injury) came out and tried to make the save (but got booted too).

Bout #6
Kid Gallahad defeated Jerry Lynn by pinfall after using a foreign object at 10:29
-The rematch was as good as the first one, but more controlled and inside the ring. Two guys who can use chain wrestling, impact moves, and high flying. In the end though Gallahad used the easy way out, bringing out a roll of coins and nailing Lynn when he was hoisted up in a suplex position.

Bout #7
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Bob Orton Jr  & Mike Lozansky defeated Ben Bassarab & The Natural (/w Missy Hyatt) by pinfall when Orton Jr pinned The Natural after a piledriver at 11:30
[Orton & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
-good match for the challengers but they came up a bit short with Orton's experience really coming to the front in this match as at one point he just flicked a switch and took it over. After the match Bassarab wasn't happy with the Natural and Missy had to talk him down by stroking his face and kissing his cheek.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Rogue defeated Paul Orndorff by countout at 12:43
[Rogue retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-Paul Orndorff returned from the injury he aggravated in his Feb 15th loss of the title to Rogue. Orndorff started strong basically punching Rogue in the face, then beating him from pillar to post. Orndorff worked him over for a good 5 minutes before Rogue countered a piledriver attempt with a headbutt to the nuts. Double legtakedown and Rogue worked Orndorff over on the mat while trying to also recover. Rogue brought out a new trick walking the top rope while holding onto the arm of Orndorff then nailing him with a headbutt to the shoulder. The champ went after the injured shoulder without mercy, using the ring apron and the ring post. The champ tried to use the announce table but Orndorff reversed it by smashing the champs skull off the table. The two then battled on top of the announce table. Orndorff went for a piledriver but Rogue backed him off the table, then dropped a legdrop from the table down to Orndorff. The two men both crawled slowly to the ring but only the champ managed to slide into the ring to beat the 10 count.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #495
May 9, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Sandy Beach defeated Sonny Trout by submission to the surfboard at 8:14
-the battle of the curtain jerkers goes to Beach, or as Bobby Heenan would say, "even losers get angry"

Bout #2
Keisha defeated Tiffany Brannigan by pinfall after a sitout powerbomb at 6:43
-second straight win for Keisha in as many cards, but basically just filler

Bout #3
Brett Como & Lenny St. Claire defeated Randy Mullett & Donny Brook by pinfall when Como pinned Mullett after a droptoe hold (Como) and top rope legdrop (St. Claire) double team combo at 5:56
-premiere for Mullett and Brook a couple of good hands

Bout #4
Dirty White Boy defeated Joe Vasallo by pinfall after a chokeslam at 2:27
-second straight squash match for DWB

Bout #5
Jerry Lynn defeated Sebastien Rikard by pinfall after a springboard dropkick at 8:48
-very good match, some great pace. Rikard seems to cheat because he enjoys taking the short cut and aggravating the ref and fans more than because of any lack of ability or fear of losing. Lynn on the other hand rebounds nicely after a loss to Kid Gallahad last card and has been demonstrating an ability to win matches with a variety of finishers.

Bout #6
Harley Tragger & Troy Galveston defeated Nick Bockwinkel & Soultaker by disqualification for outside interference at 7:51
-This was a revenge match for the good guys, but vengeance was denied when Ben Bassarab & The Natural hit the ring and attacked Tragger and Galveston causing the DQ. Soultaker controlled most of the match but Bockwinkel really didn't want to get his hands dirty so eventually Soultaker wore down. Then Bassarab and Natural attacked (with no Missy Hyatt in sight).
After the bout, after Tragger and Galveston were rescued by RCW officials Nick Bockwinkel introduced Bassarab & Natural as the newest members of the Nick Bockwinkel Talent Agency. He claims that he bought their contracts from Missy Hyatt and will be their agent going forward. He then brings out title belts, a collection of his AWA heavyweight title and tag title belts, and uses them as illustration to show what true champions are. He says Bassarab & Natural will be the next tag team champions, Soultaker will be the next RCW Heavyweight champion, and heck he may just decide to round things out and get the RCW Heritage Title for himself.

Bout #7

North American Women's Title Match

April Cummings defeated Cynthia Rothrock by pinfall after a superplex at 8:10

[April Cummings Won the North American Women's Title]

-The women's title changes hands once again. Cummings did well and seemed to understand her best chance of winning the bout was at close quarters with mat wrestling. However, Rothrock still looked like the superior athlete. But Rothrock made the mistake of trying to expand her repertoire going to the top buckle, but when Cummings got the upper hand she brought the champ down hard with a superplex and got the win.

Bout #8

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky defeated Ben Bassarab & The Natural (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by disqualification for outside interference at 12:14

[Orton & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

-Even though they lost last card I guess getting signed by super agent Nick Bockwinkel paid immediate dividends with another title shot this card for Bassarab & Natural. However again the champs proved too cohesive and too good for the challengers. Unable to take it anymore Bockwinkel jumped on the apron to distract the ref while Soultaker entered the ring and took out Orton. Thankfully for the tag champs referee Jurgen Hermann had a rare case of competence and turned around to see the interference and called for the bell. After the bout it was a 4 on 2 beatdown until Harley Tragger and Troy Galveston joined the champs to even the odds, and to even the score from earlier tonight.

Main Event

RCW Heritage Title Match

Baron von Raschke defeated Kid Gallahad by submission to the clawhold at 7:19

[Baron von Raschke retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-Raschke had surprisingly little problem handling a very stiff challenge from Gallahad.




River City Wrestling #496

May 23, 1992

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Interesting card with some different variations of matches for River City Wrestling.

Opening Bout

Sonny Trout defeated Randy Mullett by pinfall after a fisherman suplex at 5:31

-filler. Would say it was a big win for Trout after losing to Beach last week, but given the opponent that would not be a genuine statement.

Bout #2

Donny Brook defeated Barre Hall by pinfall after a fistdrop at 3:58

-see comments from opening bout

Bout #3

Brett Como defeated Sandy Beach by pinfall after outside interference (Sonny Trout) at 6:06

-looked like this was going to be 3 straight filler matches when suddenly a ref bump made the fans attention perk up. From the back came Sonny Trout who was defeated last card by Sandy Beach. Trout Pearl Harbored Beach from behind, nailed him with a fisherman suplex, and this allowed Como to make the pin.

Bout #4

Special Attraction: Midgets

Little John defeated Farmer Pete by pinfall after an axhandle chop from the top rope at 5:55

-typical little guy hijinx, and the end came when Little John stood on the back of referee Buddy Lane so he could get to the top buckle and then come off with a big axhandle chop on his overall wearing opponent.

Bout #5
North American Women's Title Match
Cynthia Rothrock defeated April Cummings after a spinning heel kick at 4:01
[Cynthia Rothrock Won the North American Women's Title]
-In their rematch the ex champion went back to her original style, and stayed away from going to the top buckle or flying through the air. By doing this she had surprisingly little difficulty in getting her title back.

Bout #6
4 Way Elimination Match - #1 Contender Match for the Heritage Title
Dirty White Boy defeated Jerry Lynn, Sebastien Rikard, and Kid Gallahad in a 4 way elimination match at 13:40
-Kid Gallahad was eliminated by Dirty White Boy following a chokeslam (all 3 men were involved in eliminating Gallahad) at 5:18
-Sebastien Rikard was eliminated by Jerry Lynn following a stuffed piledriver from Lynn and DWB at 9:02
-Jerry Lynn was eliminated by Dirty White Boy following a top rope kneedriver (countering a superplex) at 13:40

Bout #7

Eight Man Elimination Tag Match

Soultaker, Nick Bockwinkel, Ben Bassarab & The Natural defeated Bob Orton Jr, Mike Lozansky, Harley Tragger, and Brian Bosworth when Ben Bassarab survived at 21:10

-Troy Galveston was injured last card (again) but his advertised replacement was none other then The Boz, Brian Bosworth (former Seattle Seahawk wrecking ball, and now movie star "Stone Cold")

-The Natural was eliminated by Harley Tragger after a powerbomb at 5:43 (Bockwinkel looked really unimpressed by the showing of The Natural)

-Nick Bockwinkel was eliminated by Brian Bosworth after a football tackle at 7:04 (the Bock did not last much longer)

-Mike Lozansky was eliminated by Ben Bassarab after a diving crossbody at 10:34 (although Bassarab made the elimination, it was Soultaker starting to take over the match)

-Bob Orton Jr eliminated by Soultaker after a slingshot suplex at 13:05 (and now we are down to 2 on 2)

-Brian Bosworth eliminated by Soultaker by pinfall after an inverted shoulderbreaker at 15:56 (decent showing for a football player but outmatched)

-Soultaker eliminated by Harley Tragger by pinfall after a top rope fistdrop at 18:22 (a bit of a surprise to see Tragger beat Soultaker)

-Harley Tragger eliminated by Ben Bassarab by pinfall after a diving crossbody at 21:10 (a pretty clean ending and big win for Bassarab)

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Vendetta defeated Rogue by countout at 17:32

[Rogue retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

-Another match between these two arch rivals and the first for Vendetta since his minor injury. There was no feeling out process in this one, just a slobberknocker in and out of the ring. Referee Buddy Lane knowing the history gave both men extreme latitude. The men exchanged the advantage back and forth and you couldn't say one man dominated the other. In fact there was never more then a 1 count made on a pin. Both men attempted their finisher twice each but each time it was blocked. In the end as they brawled outside the ring they looked to both slide into the ring to break the count, but the champ decided against it, feigning entrance, then just staying outside, grabbing his belt, and leaving the ring area. 

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #497

June 6, 1992

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Bret Como defeated Donny Brook by pinfall after a moonsault at 5:23
-glorified squash match

Bout #2
Sebastien Rikard defeated Stan Saxon by pinfall after a swinging neckbreaker at 7:25
-premiere of Stan Saxon a 6'1 250 lb indy wrestler from the Canadian prairie scene. Saxon put up a good fight but when you lose your opening bout clean its not a good omen for your future.

Bout #3
Beverlee Hills defeated Keisha by submission after a smothering press at 5:29
-premiere of Beverlee Hills, this was basically a match between two "enhanced" adult star wannabes. Lots of face slaps, hair pulls, and nail rakes. Hill's finisher was basically to lie down on her opponent, use her weight and height advantage to pin down the legs and arms, and use her airbags to smother her opponent until the ref hear's a gurgled "i give".

Bout #4
J.W. Storm defeated Lenny St. Claire by pinfall after a neckbreaker drop at 9:34
-yet another premiere, the 3rd straight match with a newbie and the second straight win. Storm is a big guy at 6'5 290 lbs, from Los Angeles, and has wrestled in both WCW and WWF. St. Claire cheated his way to an early advantage but soon found himself overmatched and overpowered.

Bout #5
No Disqualification - No Countout
Sandy Beach defeated Sonny Trout by pinfall after hitting him with an old ladies purse at 10:39
-blowoff to a feud between the two curtain jerkers, which ended when they were battling through the crowd and Beach was passed a purse by an old lady and he used it to nail Trout and pick up the win.

Bout #6
Brian Bosworth defeated The Natural (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by pinfall after a football tackle at 3:14
-Bosworth made quick work of his opponent, which angered Bockwinkel who tore a strip from his client. The two ended up in a pushing match and Bockwinkel said next week he would teach the Natural some respect as the two will lock up in a singles match.

Bout #7
Ben Bassarab (/w Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Harley Tragger by pinfall after a diving crossbody at 10:20
-good match, and even though Bassarab is considered a heel he pretty much sticks to the rules with only the occasional minor transgression. Tonight though, not wanting to see his men lose two straight, Bockwinkel was a factor distracting Tragger.

Bout #8
North American Women's Title
Best 2 out of 3 Falls
Cynthia Rothrock defeated April Cummings 2 falls to 1 at 13:33
[Cynthia Rothrock retained the North American Women's Title]
-This was the rubber match after trading the title back and forth. As such they started off with a bit more caution and a bit more respect. 
-Cynthia Rothrock defeated April Cummings by pinfall after a spinning heel kick at 5:56
-April Cummings defeated Cynthia Rothrock by pinfall after a facebuster at 9:04
-Cynthia Rothrock defeated April Cummings by pinfall after a superplex at 13:33
-Rothrock got a measure of absolution when she managed to win the final fall using a superplex, the last time she had attempted that move it backfired and she lost the title to Cummings.

Bout #9
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Bob Orton Jr & Mike Lozansky defeated Nick Bockwinkel & The Soultaker by pinfall when Orton pinned Bockwinkel after a piledriver at 11:01
[Orton Jr & Lozansky retained the RCW Tag Titles]
-The story of the first half of this bout was Soultaker's ability to take over the bout with his power and size. However as the match progressed and the challengers, and Lozansky in particular, proved more resilient and would not be pinned. The match then turned to be focused more on a 1 on 1 battle between two very proud veterans Orton and Bockwinkel. A sleeperhold that slipped down into a choke was used by Bock to gain the advantage, and then he set up Orton for a piledriver. But as Orton's feet went into the air, he struggled and brought them back down. Orton then backdropped the former AWA champion, then dropped a knee to the head, then hit his own piledriver. Soultaker tried to break up the pin but was cut off by Mike Lozansky. This was an excellent match that brought the crowd to their feet and cheering the ending.

Bout #10
RCW Heritage Title Match
Baron von Raschke defeated Dirty White Boy by submission to the clawhold at 6:55
[Baron von Raschke retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-DWB actually controlled much of this bout thanks to cheating. But when he tried to finish him off during a ref bump he was stopped by Sandy Beach of all people. This allowed the Baron to make the comeback and regain his title. If not for the actions of Beach it seems likely the title would have changed hands.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title
Vendetta defeated Rogue by disqualification for use of an illegal object when Rogue hit Vendetta over the head with a steel chair at 14:41
[Rogue retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-This was the rematch after Rogue held on to his title last card by taking a count out. This time around it was another in and out of the ring slobberknocker, with the only thing new under the sun being Vendetta being able to kick out of a pin attempt after the champ hit him with his inverted DDT finisher. With a title change looking imminent Rogue managed to retrieve a steel chair and ~waffle~ the champ and get himself disqualified. Referee Buddy Lane backed Rogue off initially and looked like he was going to let the match continue but Rogue jumped on Vendetta again and at this point the ref had no choice but to throw the bout out. After the match Rogue continued to attack until officials came out to break it up. One of those officials was commissioner Jim Brunzell who declared that this crap, two cards in a row, had to stop. Next card these two would lock up again for the title but this time it would be a 2 out of 3 falls match so the better man would win, no flukes, and if Rogue took the easy way out yet again that he would be stripped of the title.

River City Wrestling #498

June 20, 1992

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Jerry Lynn defeated Stan Saxon by submission to a Gory Special at 7:29
-fairly easy win for Lynn

Bout #2
Sebastien Rikard defeated Mike Lozansky by countout at 9:08
-good match that saw Rikard go over on one half of the tag team champions with a narrow countout win

Bout #3
Beverlee Hills defeated Tiffany Brannigan by pinfall while in the smother at 6:41
-second straight win for Hills and both times with the controversy smother. This time Brannigan was counted with her shoulders down on the mat. Commissioner Jim Brunzell came out after the bout to confer with referee Jurgen Hermann. On the mic Brunzell explained to Hills that her move caused a lack of air which is the same as a chokehold, and is illegal. Hills claimed she was just trying for a pin and its not her fault that God gave her large breasts (which of course caused everyone to laugh since she is obviously not natural). Brunzell said he would check with the board of directors and come up with a ruling next card. That is the bad news for Hills, the good news is that based on this victory she is now the #1 contender for the North American title and will get her shot next card against Cynthia Rothrock.

Bout #4
Sandy Beach defeated Dirty White Boy by reverse decision at 5:08
-DWB got his revenge on Beach for the interference against him in his title bout last card against Raschke. He beat Beach with his chokeslam finish. In fact he hit it once, got a 2 count and lifted Beach up. He hit it twice and did the same thing. Finally after a third chokelsam referee Buddy Lane warned DWB one more time and he would be disqualified so this time he made the pin. However, after the match he continued to beat on Beach and hit 2 more chokeslams. Having seen enough Lane called for the bell and gave the match to DWB.

Bout #5
J.W. Storm defeated Kid Gallahad by disqualification for a chokehold at 9:11
-The big Storm surprised many by getting the better of Gallahad much to the fans delight. However, Gallahad fought back tooth and nail, and when given the opportunity when he slipped a reverse chinlock into a choke he refused to break it and was disqualified.

Bout #6
Soultaker (/w Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Bob Orton Jr by countout at 7:45
-Soultaker had the better of the match, but in the end Orton's dislike of Bockwinkel led him to mix it up with the manager outside the ring and get counted out.

Bout #7
Nick Bockwinkel defeated The Natural by submission to the sleeperhold at 10:31
-Well it took longer then he wanted but Bockwinkel ended up teaching a lesson to The Natural by putting him to sleep.

Bout #8

#1 Contenders Match

Harley Tragger & Troy Galveston defeated Brett Como & Lenny St. Claire by pinfall when Galveston pinned St. Claire after a discus punch at 8:47

-on the surface the better team won, but Como and St. Claire had the advantages that cheating brings. Both these teams have been kicking around RCW for a few months, so this might mean the ascension of one team and the dissolution of another.

Bout #9

RCW Heritage Title Match

Baron Von Raschke defeated Ben Bassarab (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by disqualification for outside interference at 5:51

[Baron von Raschke retained the RCW Heritage Title]

-Bassarab controlled early but Raschke did his version of Hulking up, including the goose stepping, and the clawhold. Unable to watch his man go down without a fight Bockwinkel reached into the ring, grabbed the ankles of Raschke and pulled him down to the mat, and then out. The 2 on 1 beat down was on until The Natural joined the fight to make it 2 on 2, turning on Bockwinkel.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Best 2 out of 3 Falls

Vendetta defeated Rogue 2 falls to 0 at 13:04

[Vendetta Won the RCW Heavyweight Title]

-Rogue had been threatened that if he took the easy way out in this match, for the 3rd consecutive time, that he would be stripped of the title. RCW are sticklers for rules and processes, so a title can not change hands on a DQ or countout. For that reason the title can only be stripped and not change hands for the DQ/CO. -Vendetta actually attacked Rogue just as the bell rung and got his pent up energy out early. The two brawled in and out of the ring. Vendetta worked several sequences where he sent Rogue to the buckle and then worked him over in the corner. On the 3rd sequence he climbed to the top rope and drove Rogue's head into the mat, and covered him for a quick fall. 2:54

-The second fall took longer with Rogue cheating to gain an advantage and then working several chokeholds into his onslaught. Unable to finish Vendetta off after the challenger squirmed out of the finisher inverted DDT, the champ took the match to the floor. He smashed the challengers head repeatedly into the ring apron, and then threw him head first into the ringsteps. Back inside a hanging vertical suplex, and top rope elbowdrop yielded only a 2 count. Vendetta backdropped his way out of a piledriver attempt and then took the match over. He punished the champ, and after a series of 4 running shoulderblocks, nailed his DDT finisher. The pin however was too close to the ropes and the champ managed to drape a foot over the bottom strand. Vendetta however thought he had won and the delay allowed the champ to play possum, he rolled up Vendetta, grabbed the tights and got 1, 2, no...referee Buddy Lane saw the hand of tights, called for the break, and warned Rogue of a DQ, which would also mean the stripping of his title. The two men now went toe to toe in the middle of the ring. Despite the danger Rogue snuck in a knee to the groin which allowed him to work over Vendetta. Eventually he threw the challenger out of the ring, nailed him with a baseball slide, then bodyslammed him on the concrete floor after pulling away a mat. Back inside he locked on an STF but after almost a minute in the hold Vendetta was able to roll into the ropes. The challenger fired back with a kick to the gut, forearm upper, running kneelift, monkey flip into the corner..enzuigiri...cover 1, 2, KICKOUT. Vendetta went to the top rope but Rogue caught him and bodyslammed him off the top. The champ went to work again on the challenger, but after a couple minutes he went for his inverted DDT finisher again, but Vendetta managed to block it, squirm out of it, drive Rogue into the corner, hit a pair of dropkicks, and then nail the DDT finisher in the middle of the ring, for 1, 2, 3 !!! 13:04

-New Champion!!