River City Wrestling

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #523
June 19, 1993
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Tasmaniac defeated Eddie Watts by submission to the Tazmission at 4:38
-return of the Tasmaniac to RCW, this time he comes without his manager Tony Rumble. Squash match.

Bout #2
Billy Two Eagles defeated The Psycho by submission to the Indian Death lock at 5:05
-second straight glorified squash match, and second straight submission. After his first win in RCW the Psycho has lost 2 straight, a fact that must drive him nuts.

Bout #3
Jerry Lynn and El Diablo battled to a no-contest at 7:11
-7-11 was the time of the match not where the battle took place, although this match did degenerate from a chain wrestling technical display in the ring to what could have been a after bar brawl over the last Hoagie at 7-11. After watching both men smash each other with chairs the bout was thrown out. This did not stop the two from battling into the crowd for a couple minutes until security managed to break them apart.

Bout #4
Ben Bassarab defeated Mike Lozansky by pinfall after a flying crossbody block at 14:10
-fantastic match between two fan favourites. Lozansky started strong and got Bassarab on his back, and kept him there with a series of leg locks. He then applied a single leg Boston crab but Bassarab managed to get to the ropes for the break. Bassarab battled back with kicks to the midsection coming out of the corner, and then a clothesline from the second buckle. Bassarab then went to work with a pair of snap suplexes, a pedulum backbreaker, which got a 2 count. Bassarab then locked on a three quarter facelock. Lozansky manged to break the hold and counter with a go-behind into a pair of belly to back suplexes for a 2 count of his own. Tempers flared briefly as fisticuffs were resorted to, but then both men settled down, and after a brief pause shook hands before continuing the match. Lozansky caught his opponent with a European uppercut, and followed with a scoop slam for a 1 count. A drop toe hold and a side facelock followed. Lozansky tried to move it into an STF but Bassarab rolled him up for a 2 count. Back on their feet both men went for a clothesline and took each other down. Bassarab was first up at the count of 8 and nailed two dropkicks, got a 2 count, nailed 2 more dropkicks, got a 2 count, went for another dropkick but Lozansky moved out of the way. Lozansky then put on a Boston crab and forced Bassarab to survive a minute in the hold before reaching the ropes. Lozansky then nailed a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for another 2 count. He then paused just long enough to allow Bassarab to get in a knee to the midsection, a go-behind, and a release German suplex. Bassarab then climbed to the top rope, Lozansky headed him off, but Bassarab then tried for flying headscissors only to have Lozansky hold on, take them both to the ropes, and both men spilled dangerously to the ground below. A very slow 10 count was started and Lozansky had to roll Bassarab into the ring at a count of 8 and then follow to keep the match alive. Lozansky tried for a press pin but Bassarab got a foot on the bottom rope. Lozansky pulled the foot off and tried again..the foot went back on. Lozansky tried to hook the leg but Bassarab put him in a front face lock and then turned him over, only to have Lozansky break the hold, and turn him back for a pin and a 1 count. Bassarab applied the front facelock again from his back, and Lozansky tried to launch himself up and come down on Bassarab with double knees, but his opponent brought his own knees up and the two smashed knees, causing both men to break. Neither man could get up at first and used the ropes to steady themselves. They came together at the ropes and exchanged punches with one hand while still holding onto the ropes. Bassarab tried to charge Lozansky but his opponent back flipped him over the top rope, only to have Bassarab land on the ring apron and then apply an octopus hold from the apron. The ref's count caused Bassarab to break the hold, and he slid back into the ring. Lozansky was on him though with a back body drop. Bassarab though caught his opponent from his back with an armbreaker and brought him back to the mat. A couple heel kicks followed to the face, and then Bassarab sent Lozansky to the buckle, followed him in, and vaulted off the 2nd buckle and nailed Lozansky with a DDT. He then whipped Lozansky to the ropes and nailed his flying crossbody block finisher for the pin. One of the best matches of the year.

Bout #5
Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001 (/w Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson by pinfall when Destroyer 2001 pinned Rikard after a double running clothesline at 8:40
-match between two heel tag teams, but the size of the Destroyers and Bockwinkel made all the difference. Their finisher was both men coming off of opposite ropes and clotheslining Rikard; one in the front and one in back, while Bock held onto Thompson's legs on the apron.

Bout #6
North American Women's Title Match
Jacquelyn defeated Jennifer Castles by pinfall after a DDT at 6:17
[Jacquelyn retained the North American Women's Title]
-pretty much a squash match for the champion.

Bout #7
RCW Heritage Title Match
Baron von Raschke defeated Soultaker (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by disqualification for outside interference at 7:43
[Baron von Raschke retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-the title seemed to be in jeopardy but Bockwinkel may have made a huge strategic mistake when his man got into trouble for the first time he tried to help him by nailing the Baron when his head was between the ropes (he had already been warned once for a trip earlier in the bout). After the match Soultaker and Bockwinkel pounded away at Raschke until Tasmaniac (of all people) came to his rescue first.

Main Event
Texas Tornado - No Disqualification Match
Kevin Sullivan & The Nightstalker defeated Manny Silva & Nick Bockwinkel when Sullivan pinned Bockwinkel after a double stomp from the 2nd buckle at 13:49 
-Commissioner Jim Brunzell put together this match as payback for all 4 men, all villains. He also threw in the stipulation that if anyone interfered they would be suspended. And the final stroke was to make it Texas Tornado (all 4 men are legal) and no disqualification. Yes, it was an all out brawl, and it included chair shots and uncovered ring posts. In fact all 4 ring posts were uncovered after 5 minutes and by then all but Nightstalker were busted open. To add to the weirdness Bockwinkel grabbed the house mic, and stopped the action by pleading with the other 3 men that this is what Brunzell wants, and to screw him, they should now just follow the rules and have the best team win. It took a minute to sink in but eventually all 4 men agreed. In fact they even went to normal tag team rules not Texas Tornado. That lasted for about 5 minutes until Silva had Sullivan on the verge of being beaten and this brought Nightstalker in, which brought Bockwinkel in and we were back to the all out brawl. Bockwinkel and Silva managed to toss Nightstalker over the top rope and while he recovered they set up Sullivan for a stuffed piledriver. But instead of coming off the top rope and driving Sullivan's feet down he came off the top rope and elbowed Bock right in the skull. He then tossed Bockwinkel out of the ring. Silva then nailed a wheelbarrow suplex on Sullivan but before he could make the pin Nightstalker rolled back in the ring. Silva decided to just leave the ring and start walking to the back. He was headed off though by Blair and Brunzell who fought him back to the ring. Blair and Brunzell proceeded to roll both Silva and Bock back into the ring. Sullivan came off the second buckle with a double stomp on Bockwinkel's chest, while Nightstalker nailed Silva with a powerbomb. They both covered their opponents for 1, 2...Silva kicked out..but Bockwinkel did not....3..

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #524
July 3, 1993
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout

Mike Lozansky defeated The Psycho by pinfall after a Northern Lights Suplex at 4:24

-tough times for the psycho

Bout #2

Tasmaniac defeated Sebastien Rikard by countout at 6:22

-Rikard tried everything he could to turn the tide but was thwarted at every turn by the stocky Tasmaniac and eventually just decided to take the countout rather then continue. Tasmaniac picked up some fans in addition to the win.

Bout #3

Ben Bassarab defeated Lenny Thompson by pinfall after a flying crossbody block at 8:09

-most competitive match of the night so far. Thompson used his gangly power to control much of the early going, but Bassarab fought back with his combination of speed and impact moves. He nailed an impressive German suplex considering that Thompson is about 6'6. This was followed by his finishing move. Thompson and Rikard are a better tag team then singles competitors.

Bout #4
Jerry Lynn defeated El Diablo by pinfall after a cradle piledriver at 11:01
-solid match to follow up their fiery no-contest last card. There was no feeling out process and both men went toe to toe, including Diablo nailing a standing dropkick that caught Lynn by surprise. After controlling the first few minutes Diablo wrecked himself going for a plancha but Lynn moved out of the way. Back inside Lynn took over but he too ended up making a mistake, trying to come off the top rope with a flying elbowdrop only to find nobody home. This was followed by a fast paced chain wrestling series and several near falls. The action then went outside again and both men went at it hard but kept within the rules of common decency so that the match would not get thrown out again. At one point El Diablo charged Lynn only to get JL to backbody drop him, bouncing him crazily off the outside of the ropes causing both men to end up in a heap. Back inside there was a criss cross series, but Lynn ended up following Diablo to the ropes, and when the Mexican slingshot himself off the second rope Lynn turned it into a powerslam. He followed up with a pair of running legdrops, then hit his cradle piledriver, got 1, 2..Lynn lifted the head of Diablo up! He then nailed him with a second cradle piledriver and this time got the 1, 2, 3.

Bout #5
North American Women's Title Match
Velvet McIntyre defeated Jacquelyn by pinfall after a diving splash at 9:13
[Velvet McIntyre Won the North American Women's Title]
-this belt continues to hot potato from girl to girl. The veteran McIntyre just out waited the champ, and when she made a mistake pounced for the victory.

Bout #6

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Kevin Sullivan & Nightstaker defeated Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001 (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by disqualification at 7:48

[Sullivan & Nightstalker retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

-The challengers started strong, as all 3 final matches tonight will feature members of the Nick Bockwinkel Talent Agency. They used their power and managed to isolate Sullivan for a while. However, once the champs got going they showed one-on-one that the experience and cunning of Sullivan coupled with the raw power of Nightstalker was more ammunition then the challengers could handle, even with their size, and with Bockwinkel in their corner. In the end they just kept refusing to follow referee's instructions and kept double teaming, and they were finally disqualified as a result. The post match brawl though went in favor of the Super Destroyers who left the champs laid out flat in the ring.

Bout #7

RCW Heritage Title Match

Soultaker (/w Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Baron von Raschke by pinfall after a slingshot suplex at 9:44

[Soultaker Won the RCW Heritage Title]

-the second belt to change hands tonight, and a big win for the Talent Agency. Raschke has been a dominant champ holding the belt since February 1992, almost 1 1/2 years which is amazing in RCW. The match was pretty even with both men getting in their share of kicks and punches and rest holds. The typical Baron match sees him take a lot of punishment only to make a short comeback and finish it with the clawhold. Bockwinkel interfered at just the right moment to halt a Baron comeback by grabbing an ankle and tripping him, not noticed by the ref. The challenger seized on that to drop a series of knees and elbows to the back and legs of the champ. He then nailed a spinebuster slam, then his finisher to pick up the win. After the match the Baron had to be supported by the ref to get to the back, looks like he might have a leg injury of some sort.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title

Manny Silva defeated Nick Bockwinkel by disqualification at 7:56

[Manny Silva retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

-this match was actually asked for by Bockwinkel after last card where Silva turned on him in their tag match. Bockwinkel surprisingly showed no fear of the sadistic champ and commissioner Jim Brunzell was only too happy to put these two villains in the same ring once again and eagerly awaited the carnage. Bockwinkel didn't even let Silva get to the ring, meeting him outside the ring with a running clothesline. He stomped away at the champ before rolling him back into the ring. A couple kneedrops, a pair of drop toe holds, and Bock had the fans actually cheering for him. Silva though fought back with a kick to the thigh and then a double chop to the throat, and a spinebuster slam. The champ followed up with a short clothesline, a rear facelock with a couple knees to the back thrown in for good measure, and then a northern lights suplex, for a 2 count. Bock though fought fire with fire with a double chop to the throat, a spinebuster slam, and then turned it into a Boston crab. Silva got to his feet and the two men slammed into each other, tumbling out of the ring. Silva tried to whip Bock to the guardrail but the former AWA champion reversed it, then dropkicked Silva, sending him over the rail and into the crowd. The two men then fought with punches on opposite sides of the rail. The match went back into the ring and Silva took charge with a back body drop, front layout suplex, a series of kicks in the corner, a running necksnap and a 2 count. The champ went for a wheelbarrow suplex but Bock caught him with a lowblow. The champ then reached into his trunks, pulled out a pair of brass knux, not hiding them from the ref or the crowd, and proceeded to nail the mad Hawaiian in the skull...not once..not twice...but thrice...and while the ref called for the DQ Bockwinkel added a piledriver for his troubles. Bock wagged a finger at the champ who was laid out, before leaving the ring with his moral victory.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #525

July 17, 1993

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout

El Diablo defeated Eddie Watts by pinfall after a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker at 3:42

-glorified squash mask goes the way of the masked Mexican.

Bout #2

Jerry Lynn defeated Billy Two Eagles by pinfall after a cradle piledriver at 7:30

-hard fought contest, seemed like it could go either way, but Lynn was just too much for his veteran opponent.

Bout #3

Harley Tragger defeated Super Destroyer 2001 (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by pinfall after a powerslam at 6:54

-Tragger returns after a brief stint overseas and defeats his bigger opponent, showing off his strength by being able to deliver a powerslam to finish things off.

Bout #4

Tasmaniac defeated Super Destroyer 2000 (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by disqualification for outside interference at 5:25

-perhaps the specter of two straight loses in singles matches for his Destroyers was to much, so when a loss looked eminent Bock called down SD 2001 who joined the attack and caused the DQ. The Super Destroyers nailed a double running clothesline on Tasmaniac, but then fled the ring when Harley Tragger made the save.

Bout #5

#1 Contenders Tag Team Match

Brad Rheingans & Mike Lozansky defeated Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson by pinfall when Lozansky pinned Thompson after a missile dropkick at 8:49

-fairly even contest but the experience of Rheingans and Lozansky made up for the fact this was the first time these two teamed together.   

Bout #6
North American Women's Title Match
Jacquelyn defeated Velvet McIntyre by pinfall after a powerslam at 9:01
[Jacquelyn Won the North American Women's Title]
-well Jackie Moore managed to win back her title in the rematch. McIntyre did all right but made a big mistake coming off the top rope for a splash too early, and Jacquelyn turned it into a powerslam and got the win.

Bout #7
RCW Heritage Title Match
Soultaker (/w Nick Bockwinkel) and Nightstalker (/w Kevin Sullivan) battled to a no-contest at 7:51
[Soultaker retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-Baron von Raschke was indeed injured while losing the title last card to the Soultaker so he was not able to take a rematch. Commissioner Jim Brunzell decided to throw another hand grenade into things by putting these two monsters against each other, complete with their managers at ringside. Soultaker started strong, Nightstalker made a comeback, Soultaker took over again....and by then Sullivan and Bockwinkel were battling out of control around ringside. Bockwinkel ended up throwing Sullivan into the ring and followed him in. A four man brawl erupted with Bockwinkel and Soultaker banishing the challengers once the Super Destroyers showed up.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Manny Silva defeated Ben Bassarab by submission to the figure-four leglock at 18:04
[Manny Silva retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-after some impressive matches lately against the likes of Lenny Thompson, Mike Lozansky, and Jerry Lynn, a new #1 contender was declared in Ben Bassarab. The Albertan has to be the longest serving member of the RCW crew, and has held the other titles (tag and TV/Heritage) each on multiple occasions. Only the legacy of the Heavyweight Title has eluded him and continues to keep him as a mid-carder. Silva started strong in this match with a kick to the gut, punch to the face, then a whip to the buckle, several shoulderblocks, a front facelock, and then a powerslam...for a 2 count. Bassarab managed to make a comeback when Silva telegraphed a charge to the corner and the challenger moved out of the way. Now Bassarab was on the attack with kicks to the legs, leglocks, and then a pair of snap suplexes for a 2 count. Silva took a powder out of the ring and caught his breath. The momentum switched hands a couple more times, then Bassarab really seemed to take control of the bout. It started with a dragon screw legwhip, then a couple knees to the thigh, a reverse Russian legsweep, slingshot suplex for a 2 count. Bassarab then put the champ into an STF for over a minute before he could reach the ropes for a break. Bassarab continued his onsault with a backbody drop, spinebuster slam, a trio of dropkicks, and Silva fell out of the ring. Not willing to let his victory go he followed the champ outside, slugged him a couple times, then rolled him back inside. He went right after Silva's legs but was kicked off to the ropes, but then nailed the champ with a dropkick to the knee. He locked on a Gory special but again the champ got to the ropes for a break. Once again Silva left the ring, and once again Bassarab gave chase, slugged him and rolled him back inside. A release German suplex only got a 2 count. Then Bassarab came off the ropes for his flying crossbody block finisher, but Silva moved out of the way and Bassarab landed on his right knee. When he tried to get up his knee buckled. The champ pounced right on him with a series of kicks to the knee, then a kneebreaker, and finally locked in the Figure four and Bassarab tapped after about 30 excruciating seconds in the hold. Of course the champ refused to break the hold and kept it on until security and then the dressing room emptied to come to the resuce.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #526
July 31, 1993
Winnipeg, Manitoba

**Heartbreakers Edition**

Special event tonight. 20 competitors taking part in undercard matches tonight; 6 singles matches and 2 tag team matches. Then there will be a grudge match for the North American Women's Title between Jacquelyn and Velvet McIntyre, and this one will be a best 2 out of 3 falls match. Then the 20 undercard participants will return for an over the top battle royal with all the winners of the matches getting a 5 minute bye. The others will start the battle royal and the winners will join at the 5 minute mark. Then the winner of the battle royale will get a 10 minute break and then get a title shot at whomever now holds the Women's title.

Opening Bout
Desiree Petersen defeated Sindy Paradise by pinfall after a flying bulldog at 4:05
-Petersen was simply a more experienced and bigger wrestler, and that duo was too much for the spunky blonde Paradise

Bout #2
Jennifer Castles defeated Alphie Newman by pinfall after a jumping DDT at 3:36
-wrestling premiere for fitness competitor Alphie Newman who had the power advantage but made a couple timing mistakes that allowed Castles to pick up a big win for her.

Bout #3
Julie "Blaze" Fulkerson defeated Molly McShane by pinfall after an inside cradle at 3:01
-McShane controlled the entire match until Fulkerson, who was also making her premiere in a wrestling ring after a fitness and bikini career, suddenly pulled out an inside cradle and used her power and leverage to pick up an upset win. After the bout while she was celebrating McShane attacked her from behind.

Bout #4
Marla Duncan and Julie Ann Gerhard battled to a draw (double pin) at 6:50
-these two former fitness stars renewed acquaintances and showed that they have continued to progress these past few months. In the end after a match that included a lot of bitch slapping action Gerhard nailed Duncan with a belly to back suplex and made the pin. The ref counted to 3 and Gerhard thought she had won but the official pronouncement was that both girls had their shoulders down on the mat so it was a draw (double pin).

Bout #5
K.C. Houston defeated Keisha by pinfall after a slingshot suplex at 5:29
-solid match but Houston is a higher class competitor then Keisha who has wrestled primarily part time in RCW as well as some "adult" wrestling videos from Vegas.

Bout #6
Ashley Nicole defeated Christy Sandoval by disqualification for abuse of official at 4:18
-Sandoval was yet another former fitness competitor making her wrestling debut tonight, and while she showed some power she was overmatched even by another "part-timer" Ashley Nicole. Unable to admit defeat and tired of being told not to used closed fists and chokeholds finally Sandoval snapped and tossed the ref from the ring causing her disqualification.

Bout #7
Judy Martin & Debi Lee defeated Susan Sexton & Dottie Bittle by submission when Lee submitted Bittle with a swinging full nelson at 8:42
-Martin and Sexton were the veterans who controlled most of the match while Bittle has a couple matches under her belt and this was the premiere for another former fitness star Debi Lee. But of all the newcomers Lee showed the most power and composure and was instrumental in the victory shaking Bittle like a rag doll.

Bout #8
Beverlee Hills & Cheryl Rusa and Luna Vachon & Stacy Jackson battled to a double countout at 8:57
-good match with 4 pretty good workers, with Jackson being the least experienced. Rusa showed a lot of spunk for her size but Vachon was an absolute monster. In the end the ring could not contain the tempers and as all 4 girls battled outside the ring the match was counted out. After the match  Vachon and Jackson got the better of their opponents, leaving then laying, only to then have Vachon turn on Jackson throwing her head first into the announce table, then applying a chokehold.

1st Main Event

North American Women's Title

Jacquelyn defeated Velvet McIntyre 2 falls to 1 at 11:52

[Jacquelyn retained the North American Women's Title]

-First fall; the barefoot athlete Velvet McIntyre hit into first gear right from the opening belt with a high octane offense. However, she made a mistake with a spinning heel kick that Jacquelyn blocked, then countered with a bridging back suplex to get the first fall at 4:07

-Second fall; Jacquelyn continued her attack but the challenger took over, and this time was a bit more conservative working more submission holds. This time it was Jacquelyn who got sloppy going to the top too early, and McIntyre brought her down to earth with a superplex to get the second fall at 9:30

-Third fall; this short fall spent more time outside the ring then inside. In the end they did a criss cross where Jacquelyn ducked under a clothesline attempt, and then when the wrestlers faced each other nailed a kick to the gut, and a DDT for a 2 count. McIntryre survived but was hit a few seconds later by the spinning heel kick and the champ got the 3rd fall at 11:52

20 Woman Battle Royal

Stage 1: Sindy Paradise, Alphie Newman, Molly McShane, Marla Duncan, Julie Ann Gerhard, Keisha, Christy Sandoval, Susan Sexton, Dottie Bittle, Beverlee Hills, Cheryl Rusa, Luna Vachon, & Stacy Jackson

in order of elimination (who eliminated them) and time

20. Sindy Paradise (Duncan, Newman) 1:33

19. Luna Vachon (Hills, Rusa, Jackson) 3:10

18. Keisha (McShane, Sexton) 4:27

17. Julie Ann Gerhard (Duncan) 4:56

Stage 2: these wrestlers joined at the 5 minute mark; Desiree Petersen, Jennifer Castles, Julie Fulkerson, K.C. Houston, Ashley Nicole, Judy Martin, Debi Lee

16. Dottie Bittle (Martin, Lee) 6:22

15. Alphie Newman (Duncan) 7:35

14. Desiree Petersen (Houston) 7:37

13. K.C. Houston (Fulkerson, Sandoval) 9:28

12. Stacy Jackson (Castles) 10:35

11. Ashley Nicole (Martin) 10:51

10. Christy Sandoval (Fulkerson, Lee, Martin) 11:34

9. Cheryl Rusa (Hills) 12:47

8. Molly McShane (Sexton) 13:01

7. Jennifer Castles (Hills, Sexton) 15:54

6. Marla Duncan (Martin, Lee) 17:56

5. Beverlee Hills (Martin) 18:22

4 & 3. Julie Fulkerson and Debi Lee (each other) 20:18

2. Judy Martin (Sexton) 23:49

Winner: Susan Sexton at 23:49

 

2nd Main Event

North American Women's Title

Jacquelyn defeated Susan Sexton by pinfall after an inside cradle (and a handful of tights) at 11:47

[Jacquelyn retained the North American Women's Title]

It's hard to believe that with the way this title has changed hands that Sexton is not a former champion, and even harder to believe that a champion was able to defend it twice in one night successfully. Jacquelyn is really taking over the women's division, and even if the fans don't like her she is earning their respect. This match was a back and forth affair with Sexton getting near victories after a bulldog, and by applying a Boston crab. On the other hand Jacquelyn would have won after hitting her spinning heel kick finisher but was too close to the ropes and did not hook the leg. Sexton looked fresh at first with a 15 minute break after the battle royale, but as the match went along she seemed to lose steam, and the champ kept getting stronger. The end came when Sexton went for her electric chair finisher but Jacquelyn countered with flying headscissors, then an inside cradle to get 1, grabbed a handful of tights to make sure, 2, 3.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #527
August 14, 1993
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Jerry Fury defeated Dave Pinsky by pinfall after a flying clothesline at 4:17
-enhancement match

Bout #2
Derrick Dukes defeated Eddie Watts by pinfall after a top rope punch at 6:06
-former RCW tag team champion Dukes (one half of Top Gun with Ricky Race) made a triumphant return to RCW.

Bout #3
U.S. Male defeated Billy Two Eagles by submission to the full nelson at 5:40
-premiere for the buff, muscular U.S. Male who looks like a Chippendale Dancer reject. His arrogance did not sit well with the lunch pail attitude of the wrestling crowd.

Bout #4
Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson defeated Harley Tragger & El Diablo by pinfall when Thompson pinned Diablo by pinfall after a big boot to the face at 9:02
-fairly even match but Rikard & Thompson have some chemistry together while their opponents had never teamed before. In the end Tragger was double teamed which then allowed Thompson to finish off Diablo. Looks like the tag team of Rikard & Thompson are still a going concern.

Bout #5
#1 Contenders Match for Heritage Title
Tasmaniac defeated Jerry Lynn by countout at 10:41
-solid match between these two young stars. Lynn preferred an up tempo match and some occasional cheating while Tasmaniac seemed interested in driving Lynn through the mat or the arena floor with every impact move he made. Tasmaniac also put Lynn in an STF, as well as a cross armbar. Outside the ring both men took liberal advantage of the steel barricade including Lynn dropping Tasmaniac on the barricade (crotching him) and then dropkicking him into the crowd. However, inside Tasmaniac regained the advantage when Lynn telegraphed his cradle piledriver finisher and Tasmaniac countered with a backbody drop. The match spilled outside the ring again and Tasmaniac nailed a running boot to Lynn's chest knocking him over the barrier. Tasmaniac then beat Lynn back into the ring to beat the count and pick up the win. 

Pre-Match: Commissioner Jim Brunzell came out to announce that tonight the tag champions Kevin Sullivan & Nightstalker were supposed to defend their titles against Brad Rheingans & Mike Lozansky. However, they did not show up and in fact made no effort to show up. It seems their talents can be used elsewhere, so be it. Brunzell says that the titles have been stripped from them. In place of that match tonight Brad Rheingans & Mike Lozansky will face the Super Destroyers. There will be a 7 team tournament next card for the vacant titles. The winner of tonight's match will be the "7th team" and will advance straight to the semi-finals. The other six teams will need to compete in the Quarter-Final round. The losing team from tonight will still get to compete in the tournament but will not get the bye that the winner does to the semi-finals.

Bout #6
Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001 (/w Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Brad Rheingans & Mike Lozansky by pinfall when Super Destroyer 2001 pinned Lozansky after a double clothesline at 12:27
-Lozansky had a spell early in the match playing Ricky Morton until the hot tag was made out to Rheingans. The good guys held the advantage until Bockwinkel came up with a timely distraction which allowed SD 2000 to pounce on Rheingans from behind bouncing his throat off the middle strand. The SD's were once again stymied and frustrated though when they couldn't finish the match off but a brawl outside the ring saw Rheingans tangled up with Bockwinkel which distracted the referee and allowed the masked team to deliver their double team finisher to Lozansky. 

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title
Brian Blair defeated Manny Silva by disqualification for choking at 12:16
[Manny Silva retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-This was Blair's rematch after winning by reverse decision back in June when Silva tried to choke the life out of Blair. The former Killer Bee went right after Silva before the bell but the champ was ready for him and referee Buddy Lane wisely just stood back and let the two slug it out. Unfortunately for Blair the champion is a bit bigger and stronger and won the first punch up, but then Blair reversed things in the corner and started to kick a hole through Silva. Blair then monkeyflipped Silva out of the corner, slid between his legs and delivered a low blow, and then cradled Silva for a 2 count. Blair went to work with a series of dropkicks, then headscissors. Silva fought back and stomped away, tried to toss Blair over the top rope but Blair landed on the apron, threw a shoulder into Silva, then splashed on him by leaping over the top rope for another 2 count. The two then traded the advantage back and forth including several suplex variations each. Blair nailed a pair of backbreakers and then put a Boston crab on twice to no avail. Worried about losing his belt Silva resorted to what he always does, vicious cheating. He chopped Blair in the throat, then just started to choke him, and ignored the count, until Lane finally had enough, calling for the bell, and then taking matters into his own hands choking Silva from behind! Silva managed to break the chokehold and nailed Lane with a spinebuster slam and then began to choke him out, with Blair still gasping for air. Commissioner Jim Brunzell hit the ring, grabbing a steel chair on his way...but Silva took off before Brunzell could use the chair.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #528
August 28, 1993
Winnipeg, Manitoba

**includes a 7 team tournament for the vacant RCW Tag Team Titles**

Opening Bout
Quarter-Final Match
Harley Tragger & El Diablo defeated Jon Paul Demans & Lightning Kid by disqualification at 8:33
-the return of Lightning Kid to RCW, and he brought with him a new attitude, one the fans and his opponents did not appreciate. This was a very even match with Kid and Diablo really lighting it up with chain lightning when the two were matched up. However in the end Kid couldn't stand the thought he might lose and grabbed a steel chair and ~waffled~ Diablo, and then Tragger.


Bout #2
Quarter-Final Match
Jerry Lynn & U.S. Male defeated Ben Bassarab & Billy Two Eagles by submission when U.S. Male submitted Billy Two Eagles to the full nelson at 10:05
-Eagles was the weak link in this match. Bassarab seemed indifferent to losing. Lynn and U.S. Male actually made a very coherent team and look like they could be a threat to win this tournament despite being first time partners.

Bout #3
Quarter-Final Match
Brad Rheingans & Derrick Dukes defeated Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson by pinfall when Rheingans pinned Rikard after an Olympic suplex at 7:14
-when will Thompson smarten up and realize that Rikard is holding him back? Rheingans and Dukes showed great chemistry for their first outing as a tag team. Technically this spot was supposed to be for Rheingans & Mike Lozansky but Lozansky was hurt in the qualifying bout last card so was replaced by Dukes.

**Bye into the Semi-Finals: Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001**

Bout #4
Semi-Final Match
Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001 (/w Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Harley Tragger & El Diablo by pinfall when SD 2000 pinned Diablo after a stuffed piledriver at 8:49
-Tragger may have been the best wrestler in this bout and Diablo held his own, but as luck would have it Tragger was surprised by a SD 2001 attack, and then the SD's managed to deliver a double team piledriver to Diablo while the referee was busy trying to get Bockwinkel to leave Tragger alone outside the ring.

Bout #5
Semi-Final Match
Brad Rheingans & Derrick Dukes defeated Jerry Lynn & U.S. Male by pinfall when Dukes pinned Male after a top rope punch at 10:44
-Dukes played Ricky Morton to start the match, then it was Lynn's turn to be dominated for a while. The teams traded the advantage back and forth and it looked like this bout could go either way. The turning point occurred when the arrogant U.S. Male telegraphed the application of his full nelson submission and Dukes was able to counter with a jawbreaker, then climb the top rope and come off with his own finisher. Rheingans had to head Lynn off at the pass to stop him from breaking up the pin.

Bout #6
RCW Heritage Title Match
Tasmaniac defeated Soultaker (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by pinfall after a T-bone suplex at 10:05
[Tasmaniac Won the RCW Heritage Title]
An all out brawl to start, the first 5 minutes in and out of the ring. Tasmaniac took a couple opportunities to get shots in on Bockwinkel as well. Soultaker controlled the next few minutes but Tasmaniac made comeback after comeback. Finally Soultaker was sending Tasmaniac into the ropes, but it was reversed, but Bock didn't notice and tripped up Soultaker. Bock and Soultaker then began to argue, and Tas ran the champion from behind, causing Bock and Soultaker to smack heads. Tas then showed off his strength with a T-Bone Suplex and pinned the champ who was knocked out cold.

Main Event
Tag Team Tournament Final for the Vacant RCW Tag Team Titles
Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001 (/w Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Brad Rheingans & Derrick Dukes by pinfall when SD 2000 pinned Dukes after a powerbomb at 14:12
[Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001 Won the RCW Tag Team Titles]
The match started with both teams being cautious and a lot of cat and mouse. Rheingans and Duke held the first advantage working over 2001 by cutting the ring in half. SD 2001 though used a pair of headbutts and then a couple closed fists to turn it around. After some more back and forth it was Rheingans turn to play Ricky Morton and take a beating. The young Derrick Dukes was an easy target to draw into the fray, distracting the ref, and allowing double and even triple teaming with Bockwinkel. They worked the ol' abdominal stretch, with the partner holding on for extra leverage when the ref wasn't looking. They also worked a sleeperhold that would be slipped down to a chokehold. Finally Rheingans showed great strength by picking up SD 2000 in a fireman's carry and staggered over..but fell short, the weight collapsing. However a minute later SD 2001 telegraphed a backbody drop and Rheingans leapfrogged him, somersaulted into the corner and tagged in Dukes. Both SD's jumped on Dukes but he was fists of fire and knocked them both senseless. But he made the mistake a minute later of getting into an argument with Bockwinkel after the manager had reached in to try and trip him. This allowed SD 2000 to clothesline him from behind, then nail a powerbomb, cover for 1, 2, Bockwinkel reached in and held down the feet as Dukes tried to kick out on 3.

[jacklarkin]

September 1993
Roster

Faces
Tasmaniac
Harley Tragger
Brian Blair
Brad Rheingans
Derrick Dukes
Ben Bassarab
Mike Lozansky
El Diablo
Jerry Fury
Billy Two Eagles
Ken Patera (NEW)

Baron von Raschke (injured)

Heels
Jerry Lynn
Super Destroyer 2000
Super Destroyer 2001
U.S. Male 
Jon Paul Demans
Lightning Kid
Sebastien Rikard
Lenny Thompson
Eddie Watts
Dave Pinsky
Sabu (NEW)

Ladies
Jacquelyn
Susan Sexton

River City Wrestling #529
September 11, 1993
Brandon, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Eddie Watts defeated Jerry Fury by pinfall after a springboard back elbow at 7:36
-Enhancement match

Bout #2
Sabu defeated El Diablo by pinfall after a split-legged moonsault at 12:10
-first time the Saudi Arabian madman Sabu stepped into a Winnipeg ring and despite the fact he was the villain the fans were awed by his performance. El Diablo was able to keep up with Sabu step for step but it was Sabu who seemed in charge of the match. The ref let things go as this seemed to be the style that both men wanted to wrestle. At one point Sabu put El Diablo on a table outside the ring and then launched himself over the top rope...but Diablo rolled away and Sabu wrecked himself on the table, breaking it in half. Back inside Diablo punished Sabu including whipping him into the corner, hanging him on the tree of whoa, then delivering a great dropkick to the face of Sabu. He then smashed Sabu's head into the ringpost and the mad man was busted wide open. The blood just seemed to bring him to life though and he went to work on Diablo with a springboard leg lariat, inverted DDT, camel clutch, tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, and eventually hit the split legged moonsault to get the win.

Bout #3
Jon Paul Demans defeated Ben Bassarab by pinfall after a running powerlsam (and some outside interference) at 7:56
-Demans had his moments but Bassarab controlled most of the match. However, Lightning Kid snuck down to the ring and tripped up Bassarab at just the right moment to allow Demans to hit a running kneelift, a sidewalk slam, and then the running powerslam for the upset win.

Bout #4
Lightning Kid defeated Mike Lozansky by pinfall after a running leg drop (and a handful of tights) at 5:50
-former tag team champions faced each other, and when Lozansky obviously questioned Kid about his new attitude he was thanked for his question with a slap in the face. They then exchanged more slaps, then punches, then kicks, and we were off. We have about 5 minutes of fast paced chain wrestling, in and out of the ring, and two ref bumps. The end though came suddenly when Lozansky tried for an elbow drop off the 2nd buckle but Kid moved out of the way, then came off the ropes for speed and nailed a running leg drop, and grabbed some trunks to make sure he got the 3 count.

Bout #5
Harley Tragger defeated U.S. Male by disqualification for use of a foreign object (steel chair) at 12:06
-Tragger dominated most of this match including about a 5 minute stretch to start things, and the last 3 or 4 minutes. So it was no big surprise when the ego of U.S. Male interfered from the match ending cleanly. He decided to go for the intentional DQ rather then take a clean loss. He busted Tragger wide open with two more chair shots after the bell.

Bout #6

Six-Man Tag Match

Brad Rheingans, Ken Patera & Derrick Dukes defeated Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001 & Nick Bockwinkel by pinfall when Patera pinned Bockwinkel after a swinging neckbreaker at 11:17

-RCW premiere for Ken Patera. Dukes was the weak link for the good guys and had a long stretch playing Ricky Morton, and for the bad guys Bockwinkel did all he could to avoid in ring action. Rheingans and Patera showed some excellent chemistry together and the SD's seemed a bit put out by their manager's unwillingness to pull his own weight. In the end after the 2 SD's fought toe to toe with all 3 of their opponents in the middle of the ring, and got beaten back to their corner, SD 2000 tagged in Bock who was nailed with a kick to the gut by Rheingans, then his Olympic suplex. He then tagged in Patera who nailed two backbreakers and then a swinging neckbreaker. The tag champions tried to break it up but Dukes and Rheingans took care of them.

Main Event

RCW Heritage Title Match

Tasmaniac defeated Jerry Lynn by disqualification for use of a foreign object (steel chair) at 8:53

[Tasmaniac retained the RCW Heritage Title]

-very good match between these two with lots of back and forth and lots of high impact moves followed by 2 counts. In the end Tas had Lynn beat after a running clothesline, a running boot to the face, and then had him set up for a suplex, but Lynn squirmed away and left the ring. Tas gave chase and Lynn grabbed a steel chair and ~waffled~ the champ, then nailed him two more times for good measure and to draw blood.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #530

September 25, 1993

Winnipeg, Manitoba

The RCW title was stripped from Manny Silva due to his actions with his disqualification against Brian Blair being the final straw. Commissioner Jim Brunzell has come under fire by some people in interviews, including Nick Bockwinkel, saying that he has let the power go to his head and this action was only because his friend Brian Blair was on the receiving end of the beating. 

**16-man tournament for vacant RCW Heavyweight Title**

Opening Round
Tasmaniac defeated Lenny Thompson by pinfall after a T-Bone suplex at 5:09

Jerry Lynn defeated Ben Bassarab by pinfall after a cradle piledriver at 11:40

Ken Patera defeated Blackjack Mulligan by disqualification for abuse of official at 7:16
**Mulligan was a guest brought in for the tournament. He looked pretty out of shape and took the easy way out when losing and slammed the referee to take a DQ. After the bout he continued to brawl with Patera until Rheingans came out to save Patera but he too received some damage from Mulligan. Then Dirty White Boy made his return to RCW and started to pound away at his opponent Rheingans for the next match weakening him greatly.

Dirty White Boy defeated Brad Rheingans by pinfall after a chokeslam at 5:21
**DWB was the first of 3 former RCW champions brought back for the tournament (along with Don Muraco and Steve Disalvo).

Don Muraco defeated U.S. Male by pinfall after a piledriver at 4:17
**the 2nd former RCW champion, "the Rock" looked in good shape

Steve Disalvo defeated Brian Blair by countout at 8:08
**Blair gave as well as he got from Disalvo, despite the size difference. In the end as the two brawled outside the ring Disalvo managed to run Blair into the ringpost and then roll back into the ring to beat the 10 count.

Harley Tragger defeated Lightning Kid by pinfall after a powerslam at 2:58
**Kid was a waterbug, but finally Tragger caught him with a big clotheslines, followed up with a running leg drop, then a powerslam for the win.

Sabu defeated Wahoo McDaniel by disqualification for use of a foreign object at 5:45
**Sabu frustrated McDaniel, the ref, and the fans, and made his opponent look old and slow. In the end after a ref bump Sabu brought in a steel chair. McDaniel managed to wrestle away the chair but when he used it on Sabu he was seen by the ref who called for the DQ.

Quarter-Final Round

Tasmaniac defeated Jerry Lynn by submission to the STF at 15:45
-excellent match that saw both men bleed, In the end although he won the RCW Heritage champion will not have much left in the tank for the next round.

Dirty White Boy defeated Ken Patera by countout at 8:43
-DWB is taking the easy route through the tournament, having weakened his 1st round opponent Brad Rheingans before their match and now getting not only a beat up Ken Patera, but also help from Mulligan. The Blackjack came down to the ringside area and unseen by the ref managed to hold onto the leg of Patera as he tried to get back into the ring.

Don Muraco and Steve Disalvo battled to a double countout at 10:08
-talk about the easy way to the finals, whomever wins the Tragger-Sabu match will coast to the final after this bout between two big men, both former champions, ended with a double countout as they brawled outside the ring.

Harley Tragger defeated Sabu by pinfall after a powerbomb at 6:17
-Sabu controlled much of this match but Tragger used his power to catch Sabu coming off the top rope and tried to drive him through the mat with a powerbomb.


Semi-Final Round
Dirty White Boy defeated Tasmaniac by pinfall after a superplex at 11:02
-Tasmaniac controlled most of the match but couldn't put away DWB who used every dirty tactic in the book. Tas would have won the match after hitting a T-bone suplex but the ref had been knocked out so there was no count. When Tas tried to revive the ref he was attacked by DWB. The former's champs offence didn't last too long though and Tas fired right back. However, Tas made a mistake going to the top rope too fast and was brought back to earth by DWB who made the pin to advance.

**Harley Tragger receives a bye into the final**

Semi-Main Event
North American Women's Title Match
Susan Sexton defeated Jacquelyn by countout at 8:30
[Jacquelyn retained the North American Women's Title]
Susan Sexton was on fire to start the match going right after the champ with her leverage from height and longer reach. She did an airplane spin into a slam, and when that didn't finish the champ she came back with a hanging vertical suplex, flying clothesline and then a "hairplane" spin. Moore finally turned the tables with a punch to the gut and then a fireman's carry from a kneeling position to show her power, into a front slam. She then climbed to the second buckle and came off with a DDT for a 2 count. Sexton ducked away from a spinning heel kick and then nailed a running clothesline. Sexton nailed a bulldog for a 2 count, then put on a Boston crab. Moore reached the ropes, and then grabbed Sexton and rolled her out of the ring. Moore leapt off the ring apron with an elbowsmash. When Moore tried to get back in the ring though she was nailed from behind by Sexton who then threw Jackie into the ringpost. Sexton crawled back into the ring and then tried to grab Moore to bring her back in but the champ fell backward instead and was counted out. Tough break for Sexton.

Main Event
Final Round of RCW Heavyweight Title Tournament
Harley Tragger defeated Dirty White Boy by pinfall after a powerslam at 12:51
[Harley Tragger Wins the RCW Heavyweight Title]
DWB continued trying to win everything with shenanigans. Tragger was announced first, but as he was making his way to the ring he was attacked from behind by DWB. The former champion knocked Tragger into the metal guardrail, then again headfirst. He continued to punish him outside the ring until officials broke it up. They got both men back inside and separated just long enough to call for the bell. DWB laid in kicks and punches but Tragger quickly tossed him into the corner and laid in haymakers and then knees in the corner. The match slowed down with Tragger working a front facelock, then a bearhug, side headlock etc. DWB took over thanks to a rake of the eyes, then worked his own series of restholds. The match spilled outside where both men stretched the boundary of good taste. Back inside Tragger tried to put DWB away with serveral power moves and only got 2 counts. DWB then had one last push with a DDT, fisherman suplex, but then hit nothing but air when he came off the 2nd buckle with a kneedrop. Tragger picked up DWB and nailed a kneebreaker, then a second one. He applied the seldom used Indian deathlock but DWB squirmed out of it. The former champion then went to the eyes again, but when he went for a DDT Tragger managed to hold his ground, lift DWB up in the air and bring him down with a front layout suplex. He then nailed a powerslam and made the pin, 1, 2, 3!!

[jacklarkin]

October 1993
Roster

Faces
Harley Tragger
Tasmaniac
Brian Blair
Brad Rheingans
Ken Patera
Derrick Dukes
Ben Bassarab
Mike Lozansky
El Diablo
Jerry Fury
Billy Two Eagles

Baron von Raschke (injured)

Heels
Jerry Lynn
Super Destroyer 2000
Super Destroyer 2001
U.S. Male
Jon Paul Demans
Sebastien Rikard
Lenny Thompson
Eddie Watts
Dave Pinsky
Randy Rudd (NEW)
Hercules Ayala (NEW)
Stan Lane (NEW)

Ladies
Jacquelyn
Susan Sexton
Sherri Martel


River City Wrestling #531
October 9, 1993
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Tonight's card features a 24 man over the top battle royale, the annual RCW fall tradition, with the winner getting a title shot next card at newly crowned RCW champion Harley Tragger.

Another wrinkle added for this year's card is that all 24 men will participate in tag matches before the battle royale, where the teams will be randomly drawn.

In addition to that the North American Women's title and the Tag Team Titles will also be on the line.

Bout #1
Don Muraco & Billy Two Eagles defeated Dave Pinsky & Stan Saxon by pinfall when Muraco pinned Saxon after a piledriver at 6:55
**two fan favs were picked to team together out of the hat, and they did not disappoint, dominating their opponents. Saxon is a local competitor, big guy, but overmatched in this one, and Pinsky is pretty hapless.

Bout #2
Bobby Jay & Shane Kody defeated Ben Bassarab & Jerry Lynn by pinfall when Kody pinned Bassarab after a bulldog at 5:12
**Bassarab & Lynn really outclassed their opponents but to no avail. Beautiful Bobby Jay is a self proclaimed "local legend" and Kody is a cowboy who has spent a few years wrestling in California. Jay was taken apart by his opponents, but in the end Lynn took an opportunity to come off the top buckle and take out Bassarab from behind. He then left the ringside area while Bobby Jay nailed Bassarab with a vertical suplex. Before he could go for a pin though Kody tagged himself in. When Jay complained Kody kicked him in the gut, powerbombed him, and rolled him out of the ring. Kody then powerbombed Bassarab and then nailed the bulldog to get the win, and was the last one left standing in the ring.

Bout #3
Tasmaniac & U.S. Male defeated Hercules Ayala & Mike Lozansky by disqualification at 8:15
**another dysfunctional match with wrestlers from opposite dressing rooms teamed up. Hercules Ayala is new to RCW, he's a bull of a man at a sturdy 6'1 265lbs, hailing form Puerto Rico. Ayala seemed happy to let Lozansky do the heavy lifting at first as Lozansky and U.S. Male went at it. Lozansky got the better of him but when the Chippendale reject tagged out to Tas, the RCW Heritage champion caught Lozansky with a spinebuster slam and then went to work. A couple minutes later Ayala seized his opportunity taking out Tasmaniac from behind. He then tagged in and went to work on Tas legally. The next few minutes were Ayala working over Tas and ignoring Lozansky's pleas to tag in. Finally when Tas battled Ayala back to the corner Lozansky tagged himself in and took the advantage back on Tas. He worked him over with dropkicks, kneedrops, a DDT, and got a 2 count. U.S. Male interfered to break up the count booting Lozansky in the head. Ayala waited until the damage was done then went in and dragged Lozansky to the corner and tagged himself in. Ayala then went to work on Tas again but when the compact American took back the advantage Ayala tossed him over the top rope. Ayala then went to work on Tas outside the ring including running him into the ringsteps, and bodyslamming him on the table. When U.S. Male came over to help out his tag partner Ayala clotheslined him into the crowd. When Lozansky came over trying to break up the attack Ayala did the same to his own tag partner. By now Tas had recovered and was fighting back. The match went briefly back inside the ring, then back outside. This time Ayala took a steel chair and ~waffled~ Tas getting his team disqualified. When Lozansky came over to complain Ayala ~waffled~ him with the chair as well. Oh the fun of random tag matches.

Bout #4
Wahoo McDaniel & Lenny Thompson (/w Sebastien Rikard) defeated El Diablo & Eddie Watts by pinfall when Thompson pinned Watts after a big boot to the face at 9:43
**a lack of chemistry seemed to hold back McDaniel & Thompson despite their size and experience advantage. The turning point in the match though seemed to come when McDaniel finally had enough of Rikard's counter productive criticims and coaching from ringside. McDaniel confronted him and sent him scurrying to the back, and surprisingly Thompson went along with it! With that out of the way McDaniel & Thompson took over the match and took it cleanly.

Bout #5
Stan Lane & Derrick Dukes defeated Brian Blair & Steve Disalvo when Lane pinned Blair after a superkick at 10:40
**yet another match that magically teamed wrestlers from opposite dressing rooms. The difference was Lane despite coming back as a cheater in his return to RCW after his days as a fan favourite Fabulous One treated Dukes with respect. In the meantime the animosity between Disalvo and Blair was prevalent throughout the match with Disalvo picking his spots as to when he was willing to be tagged in. 
[/p]

Bout #6

Jon Paul Demans & Sebastien Rikard defeated Jerry Fury & Randy Rudd by pinfall when Demans pinned Rudd after a top rope kneedrop at 6:39

**the team of Demans & Rikard seemed to have instant chemistry, even though both seemed to compete for who could be the more pompous. This was Rudd's first match in RCW and he really didn't bring too much to the table.

Bout #7

North American Women's Title Match

Susan Sexton defeated Jacquelyn by pinfall after the electric chair drop at 8:41

[Susan Sexton Won the North American Women's Title]

**Sexton would not be denied tonight, even though Jacquelyn pulled out all the stops and risked being disqualified on several occasions. A bulldog got a 2 count but then her finisher was next and that one got her the belt.

Bout #8

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Brad Rheingans & Ken Patera defeated Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001 (/w Nick Bockwinkel) by pinfall when Patera pinned SD 2001 after a full nelson slam at 10:33

[Rheingans & Patera Won the RCW Tag Team Titles]

-Rheingans played Ricky Morton early but then Rheingans and Patera started to take over the bout. The SD's lucked out when the ref missed a "swap" of tag partners but that only provided the champs a short period of relief. The next save came thanks to Nick Bockwinkel jumping on the apron causing Patera to relinquish a full nelson. After a short brawl outside the ring with all 5 men the challengers once again took over the bout. Rheingans punished SD 2001 with a pair of German suplex, and then Patera finished him off with a full nelson slam. After the bout Bockwinkel just left the ring area without waiting for his tag team.

Main Event

24-Man Battle Royale For #1 Contender Spot for Heavyweight Title

order of elimination (who eliminated them) and time of elimination

24. Dave Pinsky (Saxon) 0:10

23. Jerry Fury (Muraco) 0:34

22. U.S. Male (Tasmaniac, Blair) 2:17

21. Eddie Watts (Lane, Dukes) 3:55

20. Randy Rudd (Thompson, Rikard) 4:12

19. Sebastien Rikard (McDaniel) 4:36

18. Billy Two Eagles (Disalvo) 6:19

17. Jon Paul Demans (Thompson) 6:33

16. Stan Saxon (Jay, Disalvo) 7:09

15. Ben Bassarab (Lynn, Kody) 8:45

14. El Diablo (Ayala, Disalvo) 8:48

13. Brian Blair (Stan Lane) 10:02

12. Shane Kody (Lynn, Muraco, McDaniel) 10:30

11. Wahoo McDaniel (Thompson, Ayala, Tasmaniac) 11:47

10. Lenny Thompson (Tasmaniac, Ayala) 11:59

9 & 8. Don Muraco & Steve Disalvo (each other; help from Ayala, Tasmaniac) 12:30

7.  Bobby Jay (Lynn) 12:46

6. Jerry Lynn (Tasmaniac, Ayala) 13:51

5. Mike Lozansky (Lane, Dukes) 13:58

4. Tasmaniac (Ayala, Dukes, Lane) 15:20

3. Hercules Ayala (Dukes, Lane) 19:09

2. Stan Lane (himself) 19:31

Winner: Derrick Dukes  19:31

**strange move for the villain Stan Lane eliminate himself and hand over the win to his new friend Derrick Dukes, but it certainly seems to cement Dukes' turn to the dark side, along with his actions during the battle royale. Tasmaniac seemed to have forged an alliance with Hercules Ayala only to see the Puerto Rican turn on him. Bobby Jay managed to hide his way to a fantastic 7th place finish. Jerry Lynn and Ben Bassarab continued their earlier hostilities. The dynamic between Jon Paul Demans, Lenny Thompson, and Sebastien Rikard continues to develop.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #532
October 23, 1993
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Randy Rudd defeated Jerry Fury by pinfall after a flying bulldog at 6:12

Bout #2
Jon Paul Demans defeated Billy Two Eagles by pinfall after a piledriver at 5:04
-a bit of an upset in this enhancement match

Bout #3
U.S. Male defeated Mike Lozansky by countout at 8:48
-the fans are getting restless as this is the 3rd straight match won by the bad guy. In this case U.S. Male looked like he was all but done, but when Lozansky went for a flying crossbody block he was flipped over the top rope. Lozansky landed awkwardly and couldn't beat the 10 count back into the ring.

Bout #4
Ben Bassarab and Jerry Lynn battled to a double countout at 10:33
-after a tremendous wrestling match that resembled a chess match and then later a pier 6 brawl, it got totally out of hand and was counted out. The two continued to battle and brawl well into the crowd as security attempted to break them up.

Bout #5
Stan Lane defeated Brian Blair by pinfall after a superkick at 11:19
-Lane started strong but Blair then took over the bout. He beat Lane from pillar to post in and out of the ring but could not put him away. Lane reversed the momentum once with an eye gouge, another time by catching Blair coming back into the ring, and a third time with a chop to the throat. The first two times though Blair fought through, but the third time was the charm and Lane took over the bout. Some elbows, kicks, and then a pair of belly to back suplexes set up his superkick finisher.

Bout #6
North American Women's Title Match
Sherri Martel defeated Susan Sexton by pinfall after a diving splash at 7:28
[Sherri Martel Won the North American Women's Title]
-Susan Sexton's reign was all of two weeks and no successful defences in RCW. Martel cheated, using nail rakes, hair pulls, a sleeperhold that she worked down to a chokehold, then a scoop slam, before hitting her finisher. No fan favourite has won a bout yet tonight!

Bout #7
RCW Heritage Title Match
Hercules Ayala defeated Tasmaniac by pinfall after a belly to belly suplex at 12:05
[Hercules Ayala Won the RCW Heritage Title]
-What is going on tonight? Yet another bad guy wins, and another title changes hand. The match started as a brawl but then the champ went after Ayala grounding him, and then wearing him down with mat holds. Ayala then fired back with the same sort of attack, working over specifically the back of the champ. After a couple backbreakers, stomps on the back, a single leg Boston crab, he locked on a bearhug. Tasmaniac kept getting a break but Ayala would just put the bearhug on again. Finally although he couldn't get the submission, Tasmaniac closed his eyes to deal with the pain and was caught off guard when Ayala turned it into a belly to belly suplex, got a 2 count. Ayala then reapplied the bearhug, and then nailed another belly to belly, and this time he got the 3 count.

Bout #8
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson defeated Ken Patera & Brad Rheingans by pinfall when Rikard pinned Patera after a DDT (on a steel chair) at 9:36
[Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson Won the RCW Tag Team Titles]
-Third straight title change, and still no wins for the good guys tonight. Patera and Rheingans controlled most of the match and looked comfortable throughout. Rikard really looked like the weak link, like a guy who would rather be a manager then a wrestler. However, timely interference by Jon Paul Demans who slid a chair into the ring when Rikard DDT'd Patera on it, then pulled it out after the move, was the tainted ending. This all happened while Rheingans was complaining to the ref about Demans coming out to ringside.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Harley Tragger defeated Derrick Dukes by pinfall after a powerbomb at 11:15
[Harley Tragger retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-Finally a fan favourite picks up a win, and a champion retains. Dukes was a pretty big underdog in this bout, after winning the battle royale last card when Stan Lane (his new buddy) eliminated himself to give Dukes the win. Dukes has firmly now crossed over to the dark side. Lane came out with Dukes but does not have a manager's license so was sent to the back. Dukes had his moments of control throughout the match, showing off his athleticism, but the raw power of the champion came through in the end. After the bout Stan Lane returned to help Dukes to the back and do some mutual finger pointing at the champion.


Some details have been announced for the year ending 14th Anniversary Show.
The card will be held on December 4th, in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.
Some special guests announced that will be brought in for this card include;
-The Great Muta
-Stan Hansen
-Abdullah the Butcher
-Sabu

[jacklarkin]

November 1993
Roster

Faces
Harley Tragger
Tasmaniac
Brian Blair
Brad Rheingans
Ken Patera
Ben Bassarab
Mike Lozansky
Jerry Fury
Billy Two Eagles
Bobby Blaze (NEW)

Heels
Hercules Ayala
Stan Lane
Derrick Dukes
Jerry Lynn
Sebastien Rikard
Lenny Tompson
Jon Paul Demans
U.S. Male
Randy Rudd
Dusty Wolfe (NEW)

Ladies
Jacquelyn
Susan Sexton
Sherri Martel



River City Wrestling #533
November 6, 1993
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Jon Paul Demans defeated Bobby Blaze by pinfall after a piledriver at 4:53
-not a great premiere for Bobby Blaze

Bout #2
Jerry Fury & Billy Two Eagles defeated Dusty Wolfe & Randy Rudd by pinfall when Eagles pinned Rudd after a tomahawk chop from the top rope at 6:19
-this one could have been subtitled "when enhancement talents team up"

Bout #3
Mike Lozansky defeated U.S. Male by pinfall after a top rope missile dropkick at 5:40
-Lozansky gets revenge for his unfortunate countout loss last card to U.S. Male

Bout #4
#1 Contenders Match - Winner gets title shot at 14th Anniversary Show
Susan Sexton defeated Jacquelyn by pinfall after an electric chair drop at 11:36
-these two women teamed up for the best match of the night so far. They went at it tooth and nail, took turns complaining to the ref, and flirting with the ref. Outside the ring Jacquelyn managed to tie Sexton's hair around the ringpost and then tried to get the ref to count her out. Sexton survived a piledriver, and then countered a second one with a backflip but Jacquelyn countered that with a roll up, and put her feet on the ropes for leverage. It looked like she got the 3 count but the ref waved it off having seen the infraction. They then went at it tooth and nail, Sexton went for a DDT but Jacquelyn pushed her off, she collided with the ref, Jacquelyn went for a DDT, Sexton countered with a swinging neckbreaker but there was no ref to count. Jacquelyn nailed her from behind as she checked on the official, then nailed a German suplex, went to the top rope for a splash...but Sexton rolled out of the way. Sexton then nailed Jacquelyn with a DDT...got a 2 count...set her up on the top rope, and nailed her electric chair drop finisher for the win.

Bout #5
Ben Bassarab defeated Jerry Lynn by pinfall after a flying cross bodyblock at 12:16
-another spectacular match put on by these two which started with a series of chain wrestling that was both men standing, and countering armbars, bearhugs etc. Bassarab took Lynn down and worked a leglock for a bit. He then worked over the leg with stomps and twists before putting on a figure-four which Lynn managed to survive. The fisticuffs then began, starting inside the ring but spilling outside. The two then used the ring apron, the inside of the ring adjacent to the apron, and the top of the turnbuckle for a series of moves and countermoves. Lynn nailed Bassarab with a bodypress from the top buckle, and Bassarab nailed him later with a hot shot from the apron. Bassarab got a near fall after a bridging Dragon suplex, only for Lynn to hit the same move for a 2 count, and then follow up with a superplex for another near fall. Bassarab though was not to be out done and took back the advantage, nailed a pair of snap suplexes, another hotshot, an elbowdrop from the second buckle...2 count...elbowdrop from the top...Lynn rolled out of the way. Lynn went to work whipping Bassarab to the buckle, following in with a reverse lariat, then a springboard back elbow for a 2 count. Lynn set up Bassarab for his cradle piledriver finisher, but Bassarab turned it into a fireman's carry. He tried to drop Lynn over the top rope but Lynn countered with an Octopus hold until the ref made him break. When Lynn tried to get back into the ring Bassarab nailed him with a baseball slide, then followed him outside the ring. Bassarab nailed an atomic drop, followed by a running clothesline that sent Lynn into the crowd. As Bassarab caught his breath, hands on knees, Lynn vaulted off a chair and nailed Bassarab with a bulldog onto the floor. The match went back inside where Lynn whipped Bassarab to the corner but was fed an Albertan boot on his way in. Bassarab then nailed a gutwrench suplex, followed by a superkick for a 2 count....reverse piledriver for another 2 count..then his finisher for the win.

Bout #6
Harley Tragger & Brian Blair defeated Stan Lane & Derrick Dukes by disqualification for use of a foreign object (steel chair) at 10:57
-the Heavyweight champion and Brian Blair teamed up to take on mutual enemies Lane & Dukes who have formed a friendship. Lane let Dukes take most of the in ring action, and he had trouble at times, but Lane would cheat to bail him out and then make a tag in. At one point Tragger really lost his temper and beat Lane from pillar to post risking disqualification. He got into the ref's face when he was lectured and this let Lane superkick him from behind. Tragger now played Ricky Morton while Blair stomped his feet on the apron imploring the tag which you knew would eventually come. Blair was a house on fire and took care of both his opponents. He would have got the pinfall but while covering Dukes he was legdropped from behind by Lane. This brought Tragger in who tossed Lane over the top rope. Blair nailed a flying dropkick to the chin of Dukes who was out cold. He covered for 1, 2, Lane was back in the ring with a steel chair that he used to ~waffle~ first Blair making the pin, and then Tragger making the save. Lane pulled Dukes out of the ring and the two made for the hills.

Bout #7
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson defeated Brad Rheingans & Ken Patera by disqualification for outside interference (Baron von Raschke) at 8:34
[Rikard & Thompson retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
-rematch for Rheingans and Patera after losing the titles. Jon Paul Demans came down to interfere, making a successful and timely trip not seen by the ref. Suddenly the Baron who has been injured for months made an appearance coming down and clotheslining Demans. Demans then rolled through a corner of the ring unseen by the ref, but when the Baron did the same he was intercepted by Thompson. The ref saw this and called for the DQ as Baron was trapped in the ring. A six man brawl erupted after the call.

Main Event
RCW Heritage Title Match
Hercules Ayala defeated Tasmaniac by pinfall after an overhead suplex at 8:50
[Hercules Ayala retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-another title rematch. Absolute slobberknocker that at times slowed down to a crawl as the two stood toe to toe and slugged it out with kicks, punches, and suplexes. The match spilled outside and the two were allowed to brawl around the ring announce table and even into the crowd. The ref stopped a DQ from happening though when he snagged a chair away from Tasmaniac and let him off with a warning. The end came when Tasmaniac went for a fireman's carry into a drop of some sort but Ayala managed to grab his tights and send the two to the mat. Ayala then nailed a brutal knee to the throat, a side Russian legsweep, a front layout suplex, and then an overhead suplex for the win. But it was the knee to the throat that did the most damage and had Tas holding his throat after the bout. 


Some details have been announced for the year ending 14th Anniversary Show.
The card will be held on December 4th, in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

RCW Heavyweight Title Match; Harley Tragger vs Stan Lane
RCW Tag Team Title Match: Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson (/w Jon Paul Demans) vs Brad Rheingans & Ken Patera (/w Baron von Raschke)
North American Women's Title Match: Sherri Martel vs Susan Sexton
RCW Heritage Title Match: Hercules Ayala vs Ben Bassarab
Abdullah the Butcher vs Stan Hansen
Sabu vs Tasmaniac
Derrick Dukes vs Ricky Rice
Great Muta vs Mike Lozansky
Jerry Lynn vs ?
Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell vs ?

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #534
November 20, 1993
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Dusty Wolfe defeated Bobby Blaze by pinfall after a spinning neckbreaker at 4:12
-not a good career statement when you lose to Dusty Wolfe.

Bout #2
Brad Rheingans defeated Sebastien Rikard by countout at 6:32
-first of two bouts splitting up the tag teams that will battle for the belts at the Anniversary show. The champ Rikard got his butt handed to him through most of the match. Jon Paul Demans tried to come out and interfere but he was cut off by Baron von Raschke who beat him to the back. When that didn't work Rikard took the opportunity when thrown from the ring to come up lame, and get counted out. Rheingans wanted to go after him but was warned off by the ref, who then finished counting out Rikard. As soon as the match was finalized and Rheingans left the ring, suddenly Rikard's ankle was healed enough to allow him to sprint to the dressing room.

Bout #3
Lenny Thompson defeated Ken Patera by disqualification for abuse of official at 7:56
-Thompson may be big and awkward but he is also totally unoriginal. When his bout did not go as planned he did what Rikard did and feigned an ankle injury after throwing himself from the ring. As the ref applied the count Patera tried to go after him, but was held back by the ref, but as he reached through the ropes Thompson took the opportunity to punch him in the head. This set off Patera who tossed the ref across the ring and then gave chase to Thompson. Patera caught him on the way to the dressing room and punched him back to the ring. This started a brawl that would end with Thompson, Rikard, and Demans fighting and getting beaten by Patera, Rheingans, and Raschke.

Bout #4
Ben Bassarab defeated Derrick Dukes by pinfall after a flying crossbody block at 9:04
-warmup match for Bassarab as he prepares to fight the bigger Hercules Ayala for the Heritage title at the Anniversary show. Dukes is talented and athletic but was soundly beaten by Bassarab. 

Bout #5

Tasmaniac and Jerry Lynn battled to a double disqualification at 8:28

-another match between these two that started with some nice chain wrestling inside the ring which favored Lynn, but then Tas nailed a couple power moves to take over. However, the match soon degenerated to a brawl outside the ring where a table was produced and used by both men until the match was thrown out. Tas has a date with Sabu at the Anniversary show while Lynn's opponent has not yet been named. However, after the match it was formally announced much to the displeasure of Lynn that his opponent at the Anniversary Show would be none other then Road Warrior Hawk!

Bout #6

Jon Paul Demans & U.S. Male defeated Jim Brunzell & Brian Blair by pinfall when Demans pinned Brunzell after a flying crossbody block at 10:05

-this was supposed to be a warm up match for the former Killer Bees reunited once again, because their opponent for the Anniversary show had not yet been named. The first half of this bout was all Brunzell and Blair as they thwarted every cheating attempt of their opponents and took them down with drop toe holds, nailed dropkicks, double team backbody drop and a double team vertical suplex that would have got the pin but Demans came in to break it up. A short 4 man brawl ensued and when it sorted out U.S. Male had Blair in trouble. The bad guys pressed for the next few minutes with Blair narrowly beating pin attempts and Brunzell narrowly missing tag ins. Finally Blair ducked under a clothesline attempt and tagged in Brunzell who went to work on U.S. Male. The tag was made to Demans but Brunzell was a house of fire and went right to work on Demans. However, when Brunzell came off the ropes with a crossbody block, so did Demans and the two collided hard in the middle of the ring. The ref counted to 8 as both men laid out, but then Demans managed to drape an arm over Brunzell who was on his back, and got the 1, 2, 3 count for the big upset. After the bout the commissioner and Blair were so livid with the strutting and celebrating being done by Demans and U.S. Male that the Bees demanded a rematch at the Anniversary show...which of course Brunzell approved himself.

Bout #7

RCW Heritage Title Match

Hercules Ayala defeated Mike Lozansky by pinfall after an overhead suplex at 8:57

[Hercules Ayala retained the RCW Heritage Title]

-a good warm up match for Ayala before he takes on Ben Bassarab at the Anniversary show because of style similarities between Bassarab and Lozansky, and Lozansky will have his hands full at the year end card with the guest appearance of Great Muta. The match went back and forth with Ayala mostly leaning on Lozansky to ground him and to wear him down with size and leverage. Lozansky kept trying to open things up but Ayala found ways to slow it down. Finally Lozansky made the mistake of coming off the top buckle with a missile dropkick too early, and Ayala moved out of the way. The champ then nailed Lozansky with an elbowdrop, a powerbomb, and then the overhead suplex to pick up the win.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Harley Tragger defeated Stan Lane by countout at 15:14

[Harley Tragger retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

-preview of the main event for the Anniversary show, the only question is who will go in to that match as champion. Lane started strong after a rake of the eyes he worked a standing side headlock with some chokes worked in. Several hip tosses, rear facelock, kneedrops, bodyslam...low impact low risk attack. Tragger made his comeback with a big lariat, a series of stomps, a whip to the ropes and a thundering powerslam for a 2 count. Lane took a powder outside the ring and jawed with the crowd. When Tragger went to fetch him Lane rolled back into the ring, then back out. Tragger was held at bay by the ref, and finally Lane was on the apron and nailed the champ with a hotshot across the top strand. He then pulled the champ to the corner and crotched him on the ringpost, then slammed his knee three times into the ringpost. Back inside Lane went to work by stomping away at the knee, then coming off the second buckle with a kneedrop to the knee. Lane then applied the figure four and it took Tragger over a minute to get to the ropes. Lane applied it a second time but this time Tragger got to the ropes quicker. Lane then tried for the ringpost smash again but this time the champ kicked him in the face. The two tangled inside the ring with kicks and punches, but then losing that battle Lane just kicked the champ in that knee and dropped him. Except Tragger now fought back from his knees with punches to the gut, then a single leg takedown. Tragger worked over the challenger on the mat. Eventually he got to his feet but he telegraphed a backbody drop and Lane kicked him in the knee again. Lane hit some elbowdrops to Tragger's head, then a hanging vertical suplex, followed by two kneebreakers. Lane went for the pin and got 1, 2, 3....Lane is celebrating but wait...the ref noticed as he counted the 3 that Tragger had grabbed the ropes. The ref tries to tell Lane but the challenger is already on the apron calling for the belt. Tragger takes a run at him driving his shoulder into the back of Lane vaulting him off the apron. Lane wrecks himself on the floor and inside the champ is having a hard time standing. Tragger is on his feet at 6, Lane is on his feet outside the ring at 7...but instead of reengaging he is so upset at the non-win that he just takes the 10 count and waits for a new day.




Final Line-Up for the 14th Anniversary Show
The card will be held on December 4th, in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

RCW Heavyweight Title Match; Harley Tragger (c) vs Stan Lane
RCW Tag Team Title Match: Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson (c) (/w Jon Paul Demans) vs Brad Rheingans & Ken Patera (/w Baron von Raschke)
North American Women's Title Match: Sherri Martel (c) vs Susan Sexton
RCW Heritage Title Match: Hercules Ayala (c) vs Ben Bassarab
Abdullah the Butcher vs Stan Hansen
Sabu vs Tasmaniac
Derrick Dukes vs Ricky Rice
Great Muta vs Mike Lozansky
Jerry Lynn vs Road Warrior Hawk
Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell vs Jon Paul Demans & U.S. Male

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #535
December 4th, 1993
14th Anniversary Spectacular
Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Opening Bout
20 Minute Time Limit
Ricky Rice (6'2 235lbs, Edina, MN) ("Danger Zone" Kenny Loggins)  vs  Derrick Dukes (6'2 235lbs, Barberton, OH) ("Top Gun Anthem" Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens)
ref: Jurgen Hermann
-Former partners in the "Top Guns" tag team face each other. Apparently Rice did not like Dukes' new attitude and his association with Stan Lane so came back to RCW to slap his partner right. Dukes tried to offer Rice a handshake before the bout but Rice refused the disingenuous peace offering. The bout began with a couple tests of strength won by Rice, one kick to the gut by Dukes, and then Dukes decided to delay the proceedings and took a break outside. Dukes continued to complain to the ref, take breaks outside, and generally refuse to wrestle. Finally Rice had enough and attacked with forearm blasts, a whip to the buckle - back body drop, then a standing drop kick. Dukes tried to scramble out of the ring but Rice grabbed his legs and pulled him back in. He worked over the legs, and then dropped a knee to the "inner thigh". A pair of armbreakers and then Rice nailed a single leg shoulder throw that surprised the crowd. Dukes finally fought back with a head butt to the "lower abdomen", then a double leg takedown. Dukes nailed a series of punches and kicks and then hit a slingshot catapult sending Rice headfirst into the turnbuckle. Dukes jawed with the crowd, then booted Rice in the head, then worked a side headlock with some occasional punches to the head and even a brainbuster (knuckles to the head). Rice got to the ropes and then backed himself in the corner and came up with both legs kicking Dukes in the chest. When Dukes came at him again Rice did the same thing except he locked standing headscissors on Dukes while moving hand over hand along the top rope, until ending the move turning it into flying headscissors. Rice took Dukes to the top buckle for a superplex...but it was too soon..and Dukes drove Rice down to the mat with his knee to the chest. Dukes covered a winded Rice and got a solid 2 count for the first pin attempt of the bout. We were about 8 minutes into the match at this point.
Dukes then showed off his boxing skills, circling Rice and peppering him with jabs until Hermann gave him a stern talking to about closed fists. Dukes then nailed a swinging neckbreaker, followed by a pair of neckbreakers and then a shoulder-arm bar. An abdominal stretch followed and Dukes finally had to break after getting caught using the top rope for leverage. A piledriver attempt was countered by Rice with a backbody drop. Rice then came off the ropes and nailed a flying forearm smash. He followed up with a pair of snap suplexes, and then a front layout suplex for a 2 count. Rice climbed to the top rope, but Dukes got to him first, but Rice was still able to attack with a kneedriver. Dukes struck though after a 2 count with a legsweep, then a rake of the eyes, followed by a German suplex for a 1 count. Dukes then went for a superplex but Rice fought him off and both men ended up just spilling to the mat. Rice was up first and tried to finish the match with a superkick (Stan Lane's finisher, maybe making this too personal?), and Dukes ducked away from it, and then nailed his former partner with a jawbreaker that stunned him, out cold, for the 1, 2, 3.
[Derrick Dukes defeated Ricky Rice by pinfall after a jawbreaker at 11:58]


Bout #2
20 Minute Time Limit
Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell (combined wt. 470 lbs) ("Born to Run" Bruce Springsteen)  vs  Jon Paul Demans & U.S. Male (combined wt. 469 lbs.) ("Informer" Snow)
ref: Buddy Lane
-Everything about the presentation of the heels was meant to rub the fans the wrong way, including the use of Snow for their entrance music. They also made a big deal about the Bees being 1 pound heavier then them, calling them fat old slobs. Finally unable to take anymore the Bees looked at each other, nodded, and then attacked. They ended up nailing dueling dropkicks that sent the arrogant ones spilling out of the ring.
Blair started against the U.S. Male (chippendale's reject) as the fans peppered him with mocking catcalls. Blair beat on him for a minute, tagged in Brunzell, and the first few minutes of the match were all Bees as they used very quick tags in and out, supplemented by double teams after the tags. Demans grew very frustrated with referee Buddy Lane but his complaints fell on deaf ears...just as the Bees landed a thundering double vertical suplex. The good guys then slowed the match down as RCW commish Brunzell worked a rear chinlock. Blair then was tagged in and he tried to finish things off with a sleeperhold to no avail. Finally after another tag in U.S. Male caught Brunzell with a chop to the throat and tagged in Demans. Demans worked from behind Brunzell, landing kicks to the back of his legs, then his back, then a bulldog. After a 2 count Demans then locked in a full nelson. Brunzell was finally able to break the hold by pushing with his feet off the buckle. Both men tagged out and we had Blair and U.S. Male exchange a series of armdrag takedowns, back body drops, and then Blair took his opponent down with a drop toe hold to slow it down again. We were about 8 minutes into the match.
Eventually U.S. Male made it over to tag in Demans who took advantage of Blair still being tangled up with his partner and went to work on the leg of Blair. This continued for a minute until he put on the figure-four but Blair was able to reverse it, and this brought U.S. Male in, which brought Brunzell in and we had a four man brawl. After the short brawl both men tagged out and Brunzell went to work on U.S. Male with some chops, a monkeyflip, vertical suplex, and then his spectacular dropkick finisher for 1, 2, foot on the ropes. Demans managed to tag in and get the drop on Brunzell, and took him down with a swinging neckbreaker. He then applied a full nelson and ragged Brunzell around the ring until he once again broke the move by pushing off the turnbuckles. Brunzell now went to work with a series of elbowsmashes and then a scoop slam..cover for a 1 count. Brunzell went for a flying crossbody block, but like in last card so did Demans and the two collided. This time Brunzell was first up and tagged in Blair who went to work on Demans. Stomps and a belly to back suplex for a 2 count. Demans tagged in U.S. Male who caught Blair with a running clothesline, then a second one, then a third one, covered for a 2 count. U.S. Male tagged in Demans but the tag was missed by Lane who then proceeded to argue with Demans and put him out onto the apron. In the meantime the Bees double teamed U.S. Male with a double clothesline, then a double leaping hip attack (their old finisher from their WWF Killer Bees days). Blair covered and got the 1, 2, 3!!
[Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell defeated Jon Paul Demans & U.S. Male by pinfall when Blair pinned U.S. Male after a double leaping hip attack at 14:42]


Bout #3
20 Minute Time Limit
Mike Lozansky (5'10 201 lbs., Cloverdale, B.C.) ("Armageddon" Prism) vs The Great Muta (6'2" 243 lbs., Land of the Rising Sun) ("The Final Countdown" Europe)
ref: Jurgen Hermann
-Lozansky had his moments and was able to come close to matching the foot speed of the international star Muta, but not his ring savvy, hand speed, or his read and reacts. Looked at times like Lozansky was wrestling in quick sand. Muta got a nearfall after a dragon suplex, then wowed the crowd with a Frankensteiner. Muta then nailed a moonsault and picked up a good sized paycheque for a relatively easy night. After the bout Muta decided to spray mist into the face of Lozansky and then hit a sitout powerbomb just for fun.
[Great Muta defeated Mike Lozansky by pinfall after a moonsault at 8:25]


Bout #4
20 Minute Time Limit
Road Warrior Hawk (6'3" 270 lbs., Chicago, IL) ("Iron Man" Black Sabbath)  vs  Jerry Lynn (5'11" 220 lbs., Minneapolis, MN) ("Wild Side" Motley Crue)
ref: Buddy Lane
-Road Warrior Hawk got a huge pop from the crowd, by far the biggest so far tonight. To his credit Lynn stood toe to toe with the human wrecking ball, not shying away. Hawk pounded Lynn to start with clubbing forearms, knocking him to a knee, he would get up, club with the forearm knock him to his knee, get back up. Hawk then tried to whip Lynn to the ropes but Lynn stopped it, tried to reverse it, but Hawk just stopped in his tracks and then clotheslined Lynn half the way back to Minnesota. Hawk took too long though celebrating with the crowd and when he tried for a running boot Lynn blocked it, spun Hawk, went for a DDT...Hawk just stood stiff...then he took Lynn over with a hanging vertical suplex. Lynn backed himself into the corner and when Hawk charged he fed him both feet, climbed to the second buckle and laid in an elbowsmash from the second buckle. Lynn hit a pair of spinning heel kicks, and then nailed an inverted DDT..he covered and got..nothing..Hawk pressed him off before the first slap of Lane's hand on the mat. Back on their feet Lynn kicked Hawk in the gut, but Hawk fired back with a clothesline, Lynn got up, clothesline back down. Hawk went for an elbowdrop but Lynn rolled out of the way and then applied an armbar. Lynn worked the armbar for a bit, with Hawk trying to press down so that Lynn's shoulders were on the mat for a couple 2 counts. Eventually though Hawk had enough and got to the ropes. He then nailed a mule kick right to the groin of Lynn..surprising Lynn and the crowd..but unseen by Lane. Hawk worked over Lynn with a standing bearhug, a swinging neckbreaker, standing dropkick..2 count...spear...2 count...fist drop...2 count. Hawk delayed, complaining to Buddy Lane about a slow count. Lynn caught him from behind with a kick to the back of the leg, dropping him, then a spin kick to the back of the head..cover..1 count. Hawk tried for a clothesline but Lynn ducked under, rolled up Hawk..1, grabbed the trunks..2.. kick out!! Hawk was going ballistic on Lane now about missing the tight pull. Lynn nailed him from behind, then hit an impressive German suplex for a 1 count. Hawk stumbled around the ring as Lynn went to the top buckle and then nailed a top rope bulldog on Hawk..cover for a 2 count! Lynn sent Hawk to the ropes and then tried for a Frankensteiner, but Hawk was too strong and caught him, countering by slamming him to the mat. Both men needed a few seconds to recover and Hawk was jawing with Lane again. Lynn closed on Hawk who fed him a back elbow, then another back elbow, this time springing from the 2nd buckle. Hawk then put Lynn across the top rope and choked him...the fans were starting to turn against him. Lynn took a powder outside the ring but Hawk followed him and tossed him into the guardrail then nailed a running boot sending him over into the crowd. Hawk then began to jaw with some fans, knocking a couple sodas into laps. Back inside Hawk sent Lynn to the ropes and nailed a big boot, covered for a 2 count! Again he jawed with Lane about the slow count, this time while he was standing with one boot across the throat of Lynn. Hawk then nailed his signature gorilla press slam, covered for a 2 count. Hawk then went to the top buckle and nailed Lynn with his diving clothesline finisher. That would have been all she wrote but he hit Lynn so hard that he knocked him out of the ring. By the time Hawk brought him back in and covered Lynn was able to get a foot on the ropes at the count of 2! Hawk went for another gorilla press slam but this time Lynn dropped behind Hawk and took him over with an impressive belly to back suplex. Back on their feet and hawk raked Lynn's eyes, kicked him in the gut, and set him up for a piledriver or powerbomb attempt but Lynn pushed him off. Hawk tried for a clothesline but instead of hitting Lynn he nailed Buddy Lane, trying to make it look like a mistake but it obviously wasn't. With the ref out Hawk stomped away at Lynn, then nailed a piledriver, then climbed to the top tope and delivered a kneedrop. He covered for at least a 10 count before the ref woke up and called for the bell and the disqualification.
[Jerry Lynn defeated Road Warrior Hawk by disqualification for abuse of official at 14:32]

Post-Match: As the fans jeered Hawk he jawed with Buddy Lane, then put his hand around the ref's throat. Lynn had left the ring but now returned with a steel chair and nailed Hawk across the back. Hawk was shook up but not totally out of it so Lynn slid out of the ring and left, as Lane did the same, leaving Hawk fuming in the middle of the ring as the jeers poured down.


Bout #5
20 Minute Time Limit
Tasmaniac (5'9" 241 lbs., Red Hook Section of Brooklyn) ("Breed" Nirvana)  vs  Sabu (5'11" 235 lbs., Saudi Arabia) ("Little Crazy" Fight)
ref: Jurgen Hermann
-two up and comers of the wrestling wars locked up in this one. Neither man took a long sustained advantage, they just went back and forth hurting each other with some moves not seen yet by RCW fans. Sabu hit the first big move of the bout with a diving legdrop from the top, got a 2 count went to the top again, and was brought down to the mat by Tas. Tas then nailed a pair of Tiger suplexes then a reverse powerbomb sending Sabu over backward. Tas followed up with some punches but Sabu blocked a running boot and nailed a knee drop to the chest. Sabu then nailed a slingshot clothesline followed by a diving sidekick, but only got a 1 count. He then went to the top again for a twisting splash but Tas raised his knees up and caught Sabu. The Brooklyn native went to work with some clubbing fists, then locked on a cross armbreaker but Sabu fought his way to the ropes. The match spilled outside the ring and Hermann gave both men a lot of leniency as they battled. Sabu nailed another jumping sidekick this time coming off the announce table. But seconds later Tas nailed Sabu with a Samoan drop onto the announce table. Back inside Tas tried to work over the back of Sabu only to have his eyes gouged, and then taken down with a facebuster. Sabu nailed a series of belly to back suplexes and then locked in a camel clutch which was not enough to put away Tas. Tas battled back and nailed an overhead pumphandle suplex, followed by a wheelbarrow suplex and got a 2 count. Sabu managed to grab the trunks of Tas and send him out of the ring, and then nailed a plancha to keep him out there. As Tas scrambled to the ring apron Sabu flew off the top buckle with an elbow, but Tas swatted him out of the way, partially, and both men spilled out of the ring. Back inside and Sabu came off the second buckle with a moonsault, but when he went to the top next Tas caught him and brought him down to the mat with a belly to back suplex. Both men staggered to their feet at the count of 9. Sabu charged Tas who backflipped him onto the top buckle, and Sabu then came off the top with a springboard calf kick. Tas kicked out of the pin attempt and when Sabu came off the ropes Tas caught him with a boot. Tas nailed a series of elbowdrops, a pumphandle drop, a dragon suplex, and then a T-Bone suplex for the 3 count.
[Tasmaniac defeated Sabu by pinfall after a T-Bone Suplex at 10:29]


Bout #6
25 Minute Time Limit
Abdullah the Butcher (6'0" 360 lbs., Sudan) ("One of These Days" Pink Floyd)  vs  Stan Hansen (6'4" 321 lbs., Borger, Texas) ("Sunrise" Spectrum)
ref: Buddy Lane
-the fans were expecting a blood bath and this one did not disappoint. However it started slow with Hansen grabbing the advantage and working a front facelock and standing headscissors that he turned into an earringer and then reapplied. Finally the Butcher (who was the fan favourite in this matchup) back dropped Hansen (best known to Winnipeg fans from his AWA stints as a villain). Butcher worked a low speed attack of standing on Hansen's throat, stomping him, and dropping down on him with a pair of sitdown splashes. After two straight corner avalanches when he went for a third Hansen moved out of the way. Punches and kicks were then supplemented by a pair of running knee drops from the Texan. But when Hansen tried to scoop up the Butcher his legs went out from under him and the Sudanese madman was on top. Now Abdullah went straight to biting the forehead of Hansen. Back on their feet the Butcher threw Hansen between the ropes. Outside the ring Abdullah used a fork from his trunks to rake open first the forehead of Hansen, then of himself. The two stumbled around the ring with Abdullah using a headbutt on Hansen on each of the 4 sides. Lane gave both men leniency outside the ring. Back inside the Butcher worked a chokehold, a bodyslam, a pair of kneedrops, and then went for a bottom rope splash but Hansen rolled out of the way. The two then exchanged punches and kicks ignoring Lane's instructions. Hansen nailed his Western lariat finisher but incredibly Abdullah kicked out of the pin. The Butcher followed up with a jumping headbutt for a 2 count. The match then spilled outside and this time Hansen grabbed a steel chair and ~waffled~ the Butcher, once, twice, three times, and the Butcher fell down. Hansen then decided to leave the premises before the Butcher could get up. Lane called for the bell.
[Abdullah the Butcher defeated Stan Hansen by disqualification for use of a foreign object (steel chair) at 8:45]


Bout #7
30 Minute Time Limit
North American Women's Title Match
Sherri Martel (champion) (5'7" 130 lbs., New Orleans, LA) ("Fire Woman" The Cult) vs  Susan Sexton (5'6" 130 lbs., Los Angeles, CA) ("Bad Reputation" Joan Jett)
ref: Jurgen Hermann
-Susan Sexton started strong going right after Martel, and smashing her head into each of the four turnbuckles before planting her with a bulldog in the middle of the ring and got an early 2 count. She stayed on the mat working a crossface, and then a cobra clutch. When those did not get the submission the challenger tried a catapult, then a vertical suplex, then a reverse Russian legsweep for a 2 count. Martel though fought back by taking Sexton down with a hairpull, then an armbar while she shook off the cobwebs. A scoop slam, boot rake, irish whip, clothesline, back body drop, then a splash from the top rope...but Sexton rolled out of the way. Martel though recovered first and put Sexton in a sleeperhold, wearing Sexton down, but eventually the challenger managed to get to the ropes for the break. Martel then tossed Sexton out of the ring. Three times the challenger tried to get back in the ring and each time Martel knocked her down. The fourth time though Sexton drove her shoulder into Martel's gut, then vaulted using the top rope and splashed on Martel for a 2 count. Martel tried for a clothesline but Sexton ducked under, went into a back slide for a 2 count. Back on their feet Martel tried for a kick to the gut, Sexton caught the foot, twirled her around, tried for an atomic drop, but Martel dropped behind Sexton, drove her to the ropes...Sexton held on...Martel dropped down to the mat. Sexton turned around and caught a charging Martel with an elbow to the face. Sexton whipped Martel into the buckle, when she came off Sexton attempted a clothesline but Martel caught her with a sleeperhold. Sexton tried to fight, and finally made it to the ropes. Martel telegraphed a backbody drop and Sexton nailed her with a powerbomb, covered for a 2 count. The challenger smelled blood and hit an airplane spin, and then went for her electric chair drop finisher. However, as she tried to stand up into the hold Martel was able to grab the top rope and then take Sexton down with flying headscissors. She then used an inside cradle, for 1..grabbed a handful of tights, 2, 3 !!
[Sherri Martel defeated Susan Sexton by pinfall with an inside cradle (and a handful of tights) at 11:04]
[Sherri Martel retained the North American Women's Title]

Bout #8
30 Minute Time Limit
RCW Heritage Title Match
Hercules Ayala (champion) (6'1" 265 lbs., Bayamon, Puerto Rico) ("Achilles Last Stand" Led Zeppelin) vs Ben Bassarab (5'10 211 lbs., Calgary, Alberta) ("You've Got Another Thing Comin'" Judas Priest)
ref: Buddy Lane
-Ayala surprised Bassarab by going right after him like a bat out of hell. He caught him with a running knee, then nailed some axhandle smashes, followed by standing on the back of his thigh and smashing his knee repeatedly into the mat. Ayala tossed Bassarab to the ropes and nailed a running double axhandle. Bodyslam, legdrop, 2 count for the champ. Front facelock, followed by a full nelson. On a rope break Ayala sent Bassrab over the top rope and out of the ring. The champ followed and threw him head first into the steel barricade, then into the ringpost. It was not a good sign for the challenger when only 3 minutes into this bout he was already wearing the proverbial crimson mask.
Back inside Ayala used the ropes to rake across the open wound of Bassarab, then more forearm chops, hip toss, and a rear chinlock. It seemed that Ayala was using the rest hold to sap the strength out of Bassarab and watched the blood trickle down his face. Ayala set-up for a piledriver but Bassarab blocked it, so Ayala drove him to the mat, set up again, Bassarab blocked it, so Ayala drove him to the mat again, set him up and the third time was the charm nailing a piledriver, and covering for a 2 count. Ayala continued to punish the challenger Bassarab (who is one of the most decorated RCW athletes ever, holding multiple TV/Heritage and Tag titles, and is the longest serving member of the roster). Finally Bassarab attempted a comeback with a headbutt to the midsection and another, but when he tried for a double leg takedown Ayala fed him a knee. The champ went back to work with a series of kneedrops and straight up closed fist punches. Bassarab finally rolled out of the way of a second rope kneedrop and attempted his second comeback. However after a few punches and a dropkick when he went for a suplex Ayala blocked it and nailed his own suplex. Ayala now went after the back of the challenger working it over with a series of knees and punches and bearhugs. Bassarab's face was a bloody mess, and he had to survive 3 near falls. Finally Ayala went for a figure four and Bassarab kicked him in the mid-section, and then monkey flipped him over. Bassarab then nailed a pair of snap suplexes, but paused to catch his breath and clear his vision long enough to receive a running clothesline from the champ. Ayala pulled Bassarab to his feet by the blood soaked hair, only for the challenger to nail him with a standing dropkick. Ayala bounced off the ropes and Bassarab rolled him into a Boston crab. The champ managed to make it to the ropes but he made the mistake of charging Bassarab who moved out of the way and took Ayala down with a drop toehold. The champ finally made it to the ropes for a break but Bassarab was all over him with stomps, then a diving kneesmash from the bottom strand for a 2 count...then a diving kneesmash from the second strand for a 2 count..then a diving cross bodyblock from the top rope, for..Ayala rolled through it and ended up on top..but Bassarab then pushed through it again, hooked a leg, and got 1, 2, 3!! New Champion!
[Ben Bassarab defeated Hercules Ayala by pinfall after a diving crossbody block at 13:25]
[Ben Bassarab Won the RCW Heritage Title]


Bout #9
30-Minute Time Limit
RCW Tag Team Title Match
ref: Jurgen Hermann
Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson (champions) (combined wt. 490 lbs.) ("Creep" Radiohead) vs Ken Patera & Brad Rheingans (combined wt. 508 lbs.) ("Chariots of Fire" Vangelis)
-the match began with stall tactics from Rikard and Thompson including tagging out every few seconds. Finally one tag was ruled illegal by Jurgen Hermann because it was made to Thompson before Rikard had even touched his opponents (old school rule). While Rikard complained Rheingans took him over with a belly to back suplex. Rheingans and Patera punished Rikard for a couple minutes with suplexes, bearhug (Patera), and Boston crab (Rheingans). However, Thompson managed to get a tag in while Rikard was tangled up with Patera and nailed him with a boot to the head. Now Thompson and Rikard punished Patera for a couple minutes with armbars, armbreakers, and a piledriver, but could not put him away. Patera backed Thompson into the corner and made a tag out to Rheingans. Thompson didn't see the tag so it allowed Rheingans to nail a dropkick from behind. First Rheingans went to work on Thompson then tagged in Patera who nailed a swinging neckbreaker for a 2 count, then put a full nelson on the champion. Rikard though managed to find a chance to get in the ring and nail Patera from behind to break the hold. A short 4 man brawl erupted, and when it ended it was Rheingans now in trouble. The champs almost ended the match after an assisted hotshot off the top cable, and after a double suplex. Rheingans though got the hot tag in to Patera and it started another 4 man brawl. While Rheingans was tied up with Thompson and the ref, Jon Paul Demans came down to ringside and slid a chair into the ring for Rikard, just as he hit Patera with a DDT. Demans pulled the chair out of the ring and headed for the back. The damage was done and after Rikard assisted Thompson in throwing Rheingans out of the ring he went back and pinned Patera.
[Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson defeated Ken Patera & Brad Rheingans by pinfall when Rikard pinned Patera after a DDT (on a steel chair) at 9:51]
[Rikard & Thompson retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]


Main Event

60 Minute Time Limit

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

ref: Buddy Lane

Harley Tragger (champion) (6'2 255 lbs., Manhattan, Kansas) ("Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi)  vs   Stan Lane (6'1 224 lbs., Greensboro, NC) ("Everybody Wants You" Billy Squier) 

-Buddy Lane patted both men down, checked their boots, gave them the rules and then we were off. The two men locked up collar and elbow and Tragger backed Lane to the ropes and broke clean. There were 3 more lockups each time with Tragger getting an advantage due to his strength and size. But finally on the fourth lockup Lane lashed out with a kick to the gut, then put on an armbar. Lane worked the arm of Tragger at a slow pace until the biker fed him a forearm and went to work with some elbows and knees, and then a double underhook suplex for a 2 count. Lane got to the ropes and used them for a break, walking the apron and telling Lane to keep the champ off of him. As Buddy Lane (no relation to Stan Lane) kept Tragger at bay, his namesake climbed the outside turnbuckle, but Tragger closed in so Lane stepped off to the apron, then snuck in a shoulder to the midsection as Tragger was tangled with Buddy. Lane nailed a series of kicks and then placing his leg over the back of Tragger's neck drove him to the mat..covered, for a 1 count. Tragger sidestepped Lane, then took him down with a sidewalk slam. The champ went to work now with an armbar from the mat, using his heel to slam into Lane every few seconds. Lane though got to his feet and rolled through to get to the ropes and the break. Lane chopped Tragger (like Flair), then nailed a pair of belly to belly suplexes for a 2 count. A sleeperhold followed but Tragger smashed him backward into the buckle to get a break. Tragger then ducked under, raising Lane onto his shoulders, spun and released him backward (electric chair drop). But when he tried to drop a backelbow, Lane rolled out of the way, and rolled out of the ring for a break. Tragger though followed him out of the ring, slammed his head into the apron, then rolled him back in. Tragger went to work with a series of kicks then a standing surfboard. Unable to get the submission he tried for a powerbomb but Lane got to the shoulders and laid in a few punches to the head, then took the champ down with flying headscissors. When Tragger got up Lane hit him with a dropkick, but when Lane got up Tragger was already on his feet and nailed Lane with a running clotheslines, then when he got back up from that the champ took him down again with a running clothesline from behind. The champ rested with a bearhug, and then a belly to belly suplex for a 1 count. A crisscross series followed until Lane telegraphed it by laying down too early and Tragger nailed him with a legdrop to the back of the head..covered for a 2 count. Tragger hauled Lane to his feet by the hair, Lane swung at the champ but was too far away, so the champ nailed him with a headbutt. Lane locked on a double chokehold, but Tragger broke that with a scoop slam.

Stan Lane then took a chance to roll out of the ring. Once again Tragger ignored the ref and went after Lane outside. However, Derrick Dukes came down to confront Tragger trying to get between Lane and Tragger. The champ though clotheslined Dukes, but it gave Lane the opportunity to nail Tragger with a superkick (his finisher). That would have probably won the match if it had happened inside the ring. Instead by the time Lane rolled him back inside, he covered, and only got a 2 count. Lane followed up with a belly to back suplex, then a slingshot suplex for a 2 count! Frustrated Lane stomped away at Tragger then climbed to the top rope and came off with a flying elbowdrop...but nobody was home as Tragger rolled out of the way. Buddy Lane began to count to 10, and Derrick Dukes came back to the ring apron now, smacking it, encouraging Stan Lane to get up. Tragger and Lane both used the ropes to assist them to their feet at the count of 8. Now commissioner Jim Brunzell was out to ringside and sent Dukes to the back..then stayed to keep an eye on things. We were now 12 minutes into the bout.

Lane tried for a quick win with an inside cradle but Tragger rolled through after a 2 count, rolled up Lane for a 2 count. On the break Lane managed a backslide and got another 2 count. Tragger then scooped up Lane, gave him the old airplane spin, throwing him to the mat. He tried to follow up with a dropkick but was too dizzy himself and just openly missed Lane and ended up on his back. Lane then tapped into his martial arts knowledge with a series of side kicks followed by some knifehand chops, and then a spinning heelkick..covered for a 2 count. The challenger continued with a pumphandle slam, followed by some stomps to the arm, wrapping the arm around the top rope, then smashing it off the top buckle. Tragger retaliated with a series of shoulderblocks, then a no-hands backbody drop. Tragger then set up Lane and nailed a Powerbomb...instead of going for the pin he immediately brought him back up, and nailed a second powerbomb. That was all she wrote..he covered for 1, 2, FOOT  ON THE ROPES!! Lane's experience came through as semi-conscious his muscle memory must have kicked in. Tragger threw Lane to the buckle, and instead of bouncing off he just hit the buckle and fell down. Tragger picked him up and threw him into another buckle, and this time as Lane teetered he was clotheslined by the champ. With the crowd roaring their approval Tragger whipped Lane to a 3rd buckle, and this time the challenger hit it and flipped up and over to the apron, and Tragger clotheslined him to the floor. We are now about 17 minutes into the bout.

Tragger followed Lane outside the ring and tried to drag him back into the ring. But Lane managed to push the champ off and send him shoulder first into the ringpost. Lane managed to roll into the ring to break the count and then roll back outside. Lane nailed Tragger back first twice into the ring apron, then bodyslammed him onto the mats. He uncovered the concrete floor but by then the ref and Jim Brunzell had seen enough and stepped between the two, ordering the action back into the ring.

Back inside Lane went to work with kicks and punches. Lane then took his time before nailing the champ with an impressive looking reverse full nelson slam..covered for 1, 2...shoulder up. The challenger continued the onslaught with a pair of belly to back suplexes, getting another 2 count. A flying double axhandle then followed, and some more sidekicks. But when Lane went for the superkick finisher the champ felt it coming and rolled out of the ring. Lane followed him out and tackled him into the guardrail. The two exchanged punches but Tragger was hurting and succumbed to Lane's barrage. The challenger then lifted Tragger up and crotched him across the top of the steel barrier. Lane took the action back inside and after another pair of 2 counts decided to take the action back outside. This time though it was Tragger who reversed a whip and sent Lane back first into the guardrail. Tragger then nailed Lane with a running bulldog, slamming Lane's head into the guardrail while vaulting over it himself, landing in the crowd. Brunzell and Buddy Lane had again seen enough and stepped between the two men, ordering them back into the ring. But as the participants were guided to the ring Stan Lane broke free from Brunzell's hold on his arm and nailed the unsuspecting champ in the side of the head with a superkick. Lane then rolled Tragger back into the ring..covered, for 1, 2, KICKOUT!!  Lane then dragged Tragger over a few feet, hit a pair of spinning elbowdrops, climbed to the top buckle and came off with a diving elbowdrop, covered, 1, 2, 3!! New Champion!!

[Stan Lane defeated Harley Tragger by pinfall after a diving elbowdrop at 25:20]

[Stan Lane Won the RCW Heavyweight Title]

Fantastic card to end the 14th year of River City Wrestling. We will see you in about 6 weeks for the start of the 1994 River City Wrestling season!!

[jacklarkin]

Breaking Kayfabe - 1994 Preview

1994 was still part of the wrestling doldrums for me. For every good like Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Undertaker, and Bam Bam Bigelow, there was also a bad like Doink, Sparky Plugg, Tatanka. While I was following WCW I don't think it was really available on my TV yet, and I was still about a year away from being a regular user of the internet. There were still some smaller feds on again off again on TV for me like Stampede, Montreal (Grand Prix?), local (WFWA). Overall though I was more into other pop culture then wrestling. It would be 1995 with becoming a regular on the internet and the introduction of Nitro which also kick started Raw to another level, and access to some ECW, that my interest would return in a big way to wrestling.

My records mostly consist of rosters, champions, a couple big cards and lines drawn from the good guys to the bad guys on rosters to indicate who was feuding with whom. There was not as much turnover as in some years, but I won't be producing any more cards either. It will still be run as every second week live show, no TV. Still a few years away from discovering TNM7 so the action was still pen and paper. These sheets I found stuffed in the middle of some old wrestling mags. 1992/93 was a bit of a strange couple of years because there was some overlap between different paper and pen feds I wrote, and so when I tried to put them all into one history it created some rapid turnover of titles, and some guys appearing in RCW when they had already started in WWF (Papa Shango, Adam Bomb, 1-2-3 Kid). I tried to avoid this as much as possible but still some happened. In my wrestling universe WWF was still the #1 fed by a mile but not quite as prominent as in the real world. The reason for this was that Verne Gagne's plan to have Hulk Hogan's leg broken in the ring came to fruition (in my world) and this delayed the WWF's plans by more than a year. So under that I can justify to myself that some of these indy workers took a bit longer to catch on with the boys from New York.

1994 will not start with a January 1st warm climate card, there was no budget for it, a sign of the times. The first card in January will still uphold the tradition of giving out the year end awards (1993), March will be the Hall of Fame voting and the St. Patrick's Week card, September will hold the annual battle royale, and December will be the big show of the year - the 15th Anniversary Show. The titles will not flip flop as much as the past couple of years and the rosters will be more stable. Real world wrestlers like Vampiro and Greg Valentine will come in and have a big impact, while others like Jesse Hennig will begin their fantasy career that will exceed their real world one, and created wrestlers like Stan Baker will make their first appearance.

1994 was also the year of the steroid scandal, with Hulk Hogan testifying in July. The fallout from the scandal would include the pushing of so called "clean" athletes like Shawn Michaels & Bret Hart, but the body image loving days of WWF was far from over. Yokozuna, Bret Hart, Bob Backlund and Diesel would all wear the big strap in 1994 WWF, while Razon Ramon and Diesel would wear the Intercontinental title. Over in WCW Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan wore the world title. Terry Funk and Shane Douglas were the men to wear the ECW Heavyweight Championship in 1994.

Forrest Gump, Lion King, and True Lies were the top box office money makers that year. Pulp Fiction (#10), The Crow (#24), Natural Born Killers (#25) were some movies that helped transform pulp culture. The top ranked TV shows of 1994-95 season were Seinfeld, Home Improvement, Grace Under Fire, Monday Night Football, 60 Minutes, NYPD Blue, Friends, Murder She Wrote, and Roseanne. It's interesting to see how sit-com's still ruled, a lack of reality TV, NFL doing well but not killing it like they are now, the representation of older skewing shows like 60 Minutes & Murder She Wrote as well as younger shows like Friends & Seinfeld. Must See TV was still alive and well on NBC (Mad About You, Friends, Seinfeld, and ER).

June 1994 of course was also the live broadcast of OJ Simpson's chase in his white Ford Bronco. Specialty cable networks began to proliferate including the start of FX, Home & Garden, and the Game Show Network. Just after the conclusion of 1994 (in January 1995) two new "Netlets" the WB and UPN would be launched, expanding the TV world even more but without adding much new content (or quality content). "TV is a called a medium, because it is neither rare nor well-done".

On Billboard the top songs of the year were "The Sign" Ace of Base, "I Swear" All-4-One, "I'll Make Love To You" Boyz to Men. Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Bryan Adams, John Mellencamp, and Bruce Springsteen put some actual music in the Top 100 as well. For myself the lack of good rock that was coming out had me listening to some country acts like Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, and Alan Jackson.

Out in the real world Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa, NATO was failing to keep the peace in Bosnia, there was carnage in Rwanda, the Sony PlayStation as released, the Cowboys beat the Bills in the SuperBowl, the New York Rangers beat the Vancouver Canucks to end their 54 year championship drought (guaranteed win by Mark Messier), and there was no World Series held due to a player strike. The Winter Olympics were held in Lillehammer Norway. This was only 2 years after the Albertville France Olympics, because prior to 1994 the Winter and Summer Olympics were held the same year. The 1994 Winter Olympics were held to break that pattern and alternate winter and summer. Sweden beat Canada in a shootout to win the Hockey gold medal; NHL had not yet begun to participate with their players. And of course the whole Tonya Harding - Nancy Kerrigan story came out of these Olympics.

So, that should put 1994 in perspective and RCW's little place in that universe. I look forward to producing the cards from River City Wrestling 1994.

January 1994
Roster

Faces
Harley Tragger
Jim Brunzell (NEW)
Brad Rheingans
Ken Patera
Ben Bassarab
Mike Lozansky
Jerry Lynn

The Trooper (NEW)

Alonzo Highsmith (NEW)

Jerry Fury

Heels
Stan Lane

Road Warrior Hawk (NEW)
Derrick Dukes
Sebastien Rikard
Lenny Tompson
Jon Paul Demans
U.S. Male
Randy Rudd
Johnny Saddlebags (NEW)

Ladies
Sherri Martel
Susan Sexton

[jacklarkin]

1993 Annual Award Edition
Wrestler of the Year: Manny Silva
Tag Team of the Year: Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001
Manager/Valet of the Year: Nick Bockwinkel
Feud of the Year: Bockwinkel v Raschke
Match of the Year: Stan Lane defeated Harley Tragger; RCW #535 December 4, 1993; 14th Anniversary Show


River City Wrestling #536
January 15, 1994
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Jim Brunzell gave an impassioned speech to begin the festivities. In the end he announced that he was tired of sitting in the back, pretending to be impartial and having to watch the shenanigans unfold. Brunzell announced he was resigning as Commissioner of River City Wrestling and coming back full time. It was then announced that his replacement was going to be Baron von Raschke, who himself was previously the commish but also gave it up to return to the ring. 

Feud of the Year: Nick Bockwinkel vs Baron von Rashcke
**Brunzell presented Raschke with a plaque honouring the selection. This feud took on several forms last year from managing to tag teams to one on one action. The animosity between Raschke and Bockwinkel carried over from their AWA days was prevalent throughout the year, not just one stretch of feud. It was announced that Bockwinkel was not with River City Wrestling now to start off 1994 but he may return.

Tag Team of the Year: Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001
**A tough decision this year as 3 teams all distinguished themselves with title runs, but the Destroyers ended up getting the nod because they also spent more time as top notch challengers throughout the year then the other 2 teams. Bockwinkel had been their manager. None of the three were on hand in RCW.

Manager/Valet of the Year: Nick Bockwinkel
**Bockwinkel and his Nick Bockwinkel Talent Agency's influence in RCW continued to be felt tonight with the 3rd straight award that he had an influence on. This was also Bock's 4th straight time winning the award.


Opening Bout
Kathy Weathers defeated Tiffany Brannigan after an inside cradle at 8:54
-a blast from the past with two competitors last seen a couple years ago.

Bout #2
"work out match"
Ben Bassarab defeated Alonzo Highsmith by pinfall after a German suplex at 5:28
-strange match. It was introduced as a "work out match" because it was Alonzo Highsmith's first match. The former NFL football running back (6'1" 240 lbs) (Oilers, Cowboys, Bucs) was trying out a career in both wrestling and boxing. The rules of this match were no infractions (chokes, bites, etc), clean breaks, and no climbing or coming off the 2nd or third buckle. The match was slow paced, mat moves, Bassarab, the new RCW Heritage champion, the tutor. Highsmith managed to apply a few rudimentary moves, used his sight size advantage for leverage, but Bassarab was able to counter and reverse these moves. In the end Bassarab finished him off fairly easily. The match started and ended with handshakes.

Bout #3
The Trooper defeated Randy Rudd by pinfall after a bridging full nelson suplex at 5:17
-Rudd had a few moments but was overwhelmed by The Trooper, who was making his return to RCW.

Bout #4
#1 Contenders Match for Heritage Title
U.S. Male defeated Mike Lozansky by submission after a running forearm smash at 9:45
- a slight upset and Lozansky did control the majority of the match. However, U.S. Male's total disregard for the rules was the great equalizer. 

Bout #5
Jerry Lynn defeated Road Warrior Hawk by disqualification for use of a foreign object at 10:39
-rematch from the Anniversary show where we saw a double turn executed, with Hawk going from good to bad, and Lynn from bad to good. This match was more of the same with Hawk controlling most of the match but unable to finish off Lynn. Finally Hawk lost his temper outside the ring and used a steel chair to bust Lynn open and get disqualified.


Match of the Year: Stan Lane defeated Harley Tragger; RCW #535 December 4, 1993; 14th Anniversary Show
**Before the two men hooked up in the Handi-Cap Match the award was given out. Both men accepted their plaques although Lane tried to get the officials to take Tragger's away and give it to Lane as well since Lane had beaten Tragger in the bout, and losers should not get awards.

Bout #6
Handi-Cap Match
Harley Tragger & Jim Brunzell defeated Stan Lane, Derrick Dukes, & Jon Paul Demans by pinfall when Tragger pinned Dukes after a powerslam at 13:11
-After Tragger and Brunzell got off to a solid start they lost the momentum thanks to a 3 on 2 brawl that saw new Heavyweight champion Stan Lane nail Brunzell with a superkick. After that the bad guys controlled with Brunzell playing Ricky Morton. Eventually the hot tag was made and Tragger cleaned house. Lane refused to tag in which caught his teammates off guard, and Brunzell drop kicked Lane in the chin knocking him off the apron, and then tackled Demans as Tragger nailed a thundering powerslam to pick up the win.
 
Wrestler of the Year: Manny Silva
**Before the main event cage match Baron von Raschke came out to announce the recipient of the top wrestler from last year. He was a bit sheepish about it, and Brunzell came out to protest as well. It was voted on by the RCW Fan Club and the Hall of Fame committee. Brunzell was adamant that the behaviour of Silva that ended up seeing him suspended from RCW should have outweighed any accomplishments he had during the year. Silva was not on hand of course to accept the award.

Main Event
CAGE MATCH
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson defeated Ken Patera & Brad Rheingans by pinfall when Rikard pinned Patera after a victory roll at 15:20
[Rikard & Thompson retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
-As the champions entered the cage they were immediately attacked by the challengers much to the delight of the Winnipeg crowd. They beat the champs from pillar to post and the first 4 minutes of this bout was basically done under Texas Tornado rules with all 4 men brawling. Finally order was restored and Patera worked over a bloodied Rikard. Thompson tagged in and the usually physically dominant Thompson was manhandled by the fired up Brad Rheingans. The champs had a short stint with the momentum but for the most part were on the receiving end and both men were bloodied. They tried to escape the cage by climbing but were fought back down by the champs. However, on landing Patera seemed to roll an ankle and the champs went right after the injured appendage. Finally Rikard was able to bounce Patera head first off of the cage wall and roll him up for the victory.




**
I actually have 1994 and 1995 completely done and am working on 1996. I stopped posting to the board though as I felt like I was kind of just spamming the board. But the board seems to have slowed down so I am going to try and post again and catch up, maybe one card a day whenever I can. Thanks

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #537
January 29, 1994
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
U.S. Male defeated The Trooper by pinfall after a running forearm smash at 9:01
-Second card in a row where the U.S. Male was outclassed but he pushed the boundaries far enough to risk disqualification but not cross the line. As a result he was able to nail a chop to the throat stunning the Trooper and then nailed the running forearm smash to pick up the win.

Bout #2
Mike Lozansky & Alonzo Highsmith defeated Randy Rudd & Johnny Saddlebags by pinfall when Highsmith pinned Rudd after a football tackle at 10:40
-Highsmith's first competitive pro-match. The former NFL star struggled at times, and was double teamed by their overmatched employees. Lozansky though was able to turn the tables, and then set the table for Highsmith to come in nail a pair of bodyslams, a kneedrop, and then the finisher.

Bout #3
Ken Patera defeated Lenny Thompson by pinfall after a swinging neckbreaker at 6:53
-While Patera was unable to win back the tag titles with Rheingans against Rikard & Thompson he was able to gain a measure of revenge by winning the one on one match.

Bout #4
Derrick Dukes & Jon Paul Demans and Jim Brunzell & Brad Rheingans battled to a double countout at 12:57
-for four guys who are all pretty well trained grapplers this bout was a no holds barred, pier 6 brawl. The action and violence just continued to escalate throughout, as the ref decided to let it go. Dukes, Demans, and Rheingans were all busted open and wearing the proverbial crimson mask before things got really out of hand outside the ring. The match spilled into the crowd and thats when the ref, in the interest of public safety, decided to finally count out all four men.

Bout #5
No Countout/No Disqualification
Road Warrior Hawk defeated Jerry Lynn by pinfall after a diving clothesline at 10:04
-Hawk started strong going after Lynn before the bell and beat him from pillar to post. Finally Lynn countered a powerbomb attempt with flying headscissors and then went on the attack. After throwing Hawk out of the ring he nailed him with a plancha. Back inside a step over toehold started a flurry of attacks. Hawk fought back with blatant chokeholds, but Lynn fought fire with fire with a kick in the crotch. The action spilled outside and Lynn nailed Hawk with a chair shot, but when he tried to get back into the ring Hawk nailed him from behind, then nailed him with the chair. Hawk tossed Lynn into the ring and put the chair across his face. Hawk then climbed to the top rope but Lynn recovered and stood up with the chair. It wasn't quick enough though because Hawk came off the top rope with a diving clothesline nailing the chair into Lynn's head and picking up the win.

Bout #6
North American Women's Title Match
Sherri Martel defeated Susan Sexton by submission to the sleeperhold at 7:55
[Sherri Martel retained the North American Women's Title]
-Martel was getting her butt handed to her and a change of title back to Sexton seemed inevitable. However, after a collision Martel was able to bulldog Sexton from the 2nd buckle, then put on a sleeperhold. After Sexton broke the hold once, Martel reapplied it and was able to slip it into a chokehold on and off again when the ref was not aware. So basically the champ just choked her out.

Bout #7
RCW Heritage Title Match
Ben Bassarab defeated Sebastien Rikard by countout at 9:07
[Ben Bassarab retained the RCW Heritage Title]
-Bassarab's first title defence since winning the belt from Hercules Ayala at the 14th Anniversary show. His opponent Rikard, one half of the tag team champions, looked overmatched throughout the match, as if he missed having someone to tag out to. In the end after receiving a pair of German suplexes, and seeing Bassarab climb to the top buckle, Rikard took a powder and elected not to continue the match, feigning a sore back.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Stan Lane defeated Harley Tragger by disqualification for outside interference (Jim Brunzell) at 15:29
[Stan Lane retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
-Tragger controlled the first 5 minutes or so of the match, beating the champ from pillar to post, in and out of the ring. Lane though took back the advantage with a headbutt to the "lower abdomen" followed by a double underhook takedown. Lane worked a slower more methodical ground game, keeping the bigger man on the mat for the next 5 minutes or so. Then Tragger finally made a spirited comeback, only to have the two collide in the middle of the ring. With the ref distracted Jon Paul Demans slipped down to the ring and passed Lane a pair of brass knux which the champ hid in his trunks. Tragger was then distracted by Demans, and Lane kneed him in the back. Before he could go any further though, with the knux still tucked away Jim Brunzell hit the ring. He complained to the ref telling him about the knux but was ordered to leave the ring. While Tragger and Brunzell were distracted with the ref, Lane put the knux on. But when Brunzell refused to leave the ring the ref called for the bell. Lane nailed Tragger in the back of the head with the knux anyway knocking him out. He then tucked them away and Demans hit the ring tackling Brunzell from behind. The two on one beatdown was on until Rheingans hit the ring to break it up.

[jacklarkin]

February 1994
Roster

Faces
Harley Tragger
Jim Brunzell 
Brad Rheingans
Ben Bassarab
Mike Lozansky
Jerry Lynn
The Trooper 
Alonzo Highsmith 
Jerry Fury
Tommy Jammer (NEW)

Heels
Stan Lane
Road Warrior Hawk 
Derrick Dukes
Sebastien Rikard
Lenny Tompson
Jon Paul Demans
U.S. Male
Randy Rudd
Johnny Saddlebags
Vampiro Canadienese (NEW)

Ladies
Sherri Martel
Susan Sexton
Jennifer Brazil



River City Wrestling #538
February 12, 1994
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening bout
Alonzo Highsmith defeated Johnny Saddlebags by pinfall after a football tackle at 5:40
**Highsmith won his first ever single's match. Although physically superior to his opponent Highsmith struggled at the start until Saddlebags made the mistake of turning it into a brawl.

Bout #2
Vampiro Canadiense and Jerry Lynn battled to a double countout at 8:33
**Premiere for Vampiro mostly known in Mexico and Japan for his freakish look. His attack was mostly kicks, punches, and headbutts but the crowd was totally into the outright brawl between these two men. Finally both men were counted outside the ring as they brawled, and Vampiro busted open Lynn. The brawl continued after the bell until security broke it up.

Bout #3
Tommy Jammer defeated Road Warrior Hawk by pinfall after the Jammer Slam at 9:09
**Jammer made his return to RCW, and Hawk seemed a bit surprised at his combination of energy, skill, and determination. Hawk even tried to let himself be counted out but Jammer caught him from behind outside the ring, then finished him off back inside. 
Post-Match: Hawk attacked Jammer and continued to beat on him until The Trooper came out to make the save.

Bout #4
Jim Brunzell & Brad Rheingans defeated Derrick Dukes & Jon Paul Demans by pinfall when Brunzell pinned Dukes after a flying dropkick at 13:02
**After a couple minutes of feeling each other out, Demans was controlled by the good guys for about 4 minutes before tagging out to Dukes. Soon enough Demans caught Rheingans from behind while still standing on the ring apron. He then tagged in and it was Rheingans' turn to play Ricky Morton. A series of 4 man brawls ensued and a no-contest seemed inevitable. However Demans made a mistake when he and Dukes tried to whip their opponents into each other, but it was reversed, and Demans clotheslined Dukes. Less than a minute later Brunzell nailed Dukes with his signature finisher and picked up the win.

Bout #5
North American Women's Title
Sherri Martel defeated Susan Sexton by pinfall after a victory roll at 11:39
[Sherri Martel retained the North American Women's Title]
-Martel controlled early, Sexton though took over the bout. It looked like Sexton might take her title back when she picked up Martel for her electric chair drop but Martel grabbed on to a handful of hair to pause the move and then countered with a victory roll for the win.

Bout #6
RCW Heritage Title Match
U.S. Male defeated Ben Bassarab by countout at 7:20
[Ben Bassarab retained the RCW Heritage Title]
**fairly even match, showing that U.S. Male has made great strides over the past 6 months. The title though didn't really look in doubt but when the match spilled outside the ring, Bassarab took his opponent down with a double leg takedown. However as the champ tried to scramble back into the ring he was kneed from behind. U.S. Male rolled back into the ring to beat the count while the champ was still recovering. While U.S. Male may not have won the belt he remains undefeated in 1994.

Bout #7
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson defeated Mike Lozansky & The Trooper by referee decision at 11:24
[Rikard & Thompson retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**The challengers started strong, and as usual Rikard played Ricky Morton for an extended period of time. The champs then took control and worked over first Trooper, and then Lozansky. Just when it looked like the good guys were going to rally, Lozansky came off the top buckle, Rikard moved out of the way, and Lozansky landed hard on his knee. Rikard tried to put Lozansky in a figure four but he used his other leg to kick out. However when he tried to stand up his legs crumpled from under him and Trooper came in to protect him. It was obvious his knee was "blown" and the ref called for the bell.
Post-Match: The champs laid the boots to Trooper and then went after the knee of Lozansky. However, Tommy Jammer hit the ring with a steel chair to clean house.


Main Event
Lumberjack Match
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Stan Lane defeated Harley Tragger by pinfall after outside interference (Vampiro Canadienese) at 15:40
[Stan Lane retained the RCW Heavyweight Title] 
**possible the blow off match for this feud as the ring was surrounded by "most" of the RCW roster. There was the usual spots early on where Tragger was thrown out of the ring and assaulted by the bad guys, and then when Lane was sent out the good guys returned the favor (even though Jim Brunzell actually tried to stop them from doing so). Tragger slowed things down and worked a reverse chinlock for a while, then an abdominal stretch. At this point several of the villain lumberjacks rested on the apron, lying down and pretending to snore to mock Tragger. That ended of course when Tragger began to kick them off. This created a delay though that allowed Lane to nail Tragger with a low blow, followed by several turnbuckle smashes, a pair of bodyslams, an elbowdrop from the second buckle, and a slingshot suplex, for a 2 count. Lane tried for his finisher superkick but the good guys actually reached in to stop his momentum from coming off the ropes. Lane tacked Tragger and both men tumbled out of the ring which of course created a huge brawl. The combatants ended up back in the ring while the ref suffered a bump from the villains outside the ring. Several tried to get into the ring but the good guys held them back. However, newcomer Vampiro Canadiense ran in from the crowd, slid into the ring, and nailed Tragger with an inverted DDT. Lane looked pleased until Vampiro kicked him in the gut and nailed him with the exact same move before leaving the ring. Lane bounced off the mat a little, just enough to drape an arm over Tragger. About 10 seconds later the ref managed to make it back in the ring and count a very slow, 1, 2, 3, to give the champ the win.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #539
February 26, 1994
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Opening Bout
Alonzo Highsmith defeated Randy Rudd by pinfall after a football tackle at 4:10
**Highsmith is getting better each time out but is still very green, and very awkward looking. However since he is only wrestling curtain jerkers, so far he is winning. 
Post-Match: Highsmith asked for a mic and told the matchmakers that he was ready for some better competition now. He probably didn't mean right now though, and was caught off guard when a chorus of jeers led Road Warrior Hawk to the ring. Hawk shook Highsmith's hand, told him how much he admired him from playing in the NFL, boxing, and now wrestling, and...then clotheslined him to the mat. Hawk stomped away at Highsmith then climbed to the top rope and came off with a flying clothesline, leaving Highsmith laid out before Ben Bassarab and Jim Brunzell could make the save.

Bout #2
Jennifer Brazil defeated Desiree Petersen by pinfall after a reverse doubleleg takedown at 5:55
**premiere for Brazil who came out as a fan favourite. Her finisher was to go behind the veteran Petersen and pull her legs out from under her, causing her to crash head first into the mat.

Bout #3
Jim Brunzell & Jerry Fury defeated Derrick Dukes & Jon Paul Demans by countout at 8:26
**Fury was the weak link in the match and played Ricky Morton for a good chunk of it. However, once the tables got turned on Dukes and Demans they began to argue back and forth, and finally Demans tagged in by slapping the back of his partner's head, but then Dukes nailed him with a dropkick that sent him over the top rope to the floor below. The two partners then brawled outside the ring as they were counted out. There was no sign of RCW Heavyweight champion Stan Lane who originally brought these two together.

Bout #4
Vampiro Canadienese & Road Warrior Hawk defeated Jerry Lynn & Harley Tragger by pinfall when Hawk pinned Lynn after a top rope flying clothesline at 12:50
**fairly even match with four strong competitors. The difference early on seemed to be Vampiro and Hawk not getting along, and it looked like we might have a repeat of the previous match. But the villains put their differences behind them long enough to cheat their way to some 2 on 1's and then Hawk nailed his finisher to win the bout. After the bout Vampiro and Hawk exchanged words, and Hawk went after Vampiro but he slid out of the ring and hightailed it to the dressing room.

Bout #5
RCW Heritage Title Match
Ben Bassarab defeated U.S. Male by pinfall after a German suplex at 10:33
[Ben Bassarab retained the RCW Heritage Title]
**U.S. Male's winning streak came to a sudden halt after a pretty good match. This one went back and forth and it was anyone's bout, but U.S. Male made a mistake showboating too long for a piledriver attempt, and Bassarab countered with a backflip. Five quick successive moves later and Bassarab had retained and U.S. Male had blown his golden opportunity.

Bout #6
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson and The Trooper & Tommy Jammer battled to a no-contest at 2:26
[Rikard & Thompson retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**while the official match time was under three minutes, this match went on for a full five minutes after the bell as the two teams brawled throughout the arena. Security tried to intervene and got tossed around as did several wrestlers from each dressing room. Finally when pretty much the entire dressing room had emptied they were able to separate the two teams. Rikard and Jammer were both busted open, with Rikard really bad off wearing a complete crimson mask.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Stan Lane defeated Brad Rheingans by submission to a figure-four at 16:54
[Stan Lane retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**solid main event. Lane controlled early although much of it was moves like a standing side headlock, abdominal stretch, and bodyscissors which were just wear down moves. Rheingans though fought back working over the back of Lane and then applied a series of bearhugs. The match got heated when Lane went to a rake of the eyes and then some blatant chokeholds. A chokeslam got a 2 count, as did a belly to back suplex. Lane though made a mistake going to the top rope and Rheingans brought him down with a slam. The former Olympian then worked the champ over with some slams, kneedrops, and a hanging vertical suplex. A kimura armbar nearly got a submission but the champ got to the ropes. Rheingans then got a 2 count after a front facelock cutter. Frustrated by not getting the win the challenger went to the top rope but Lane brought him down with a kneebreaker. Lane immediately locked on the figure-four and after about a minute in the hold, and several near escapes, Rheingans finally had to cry uncle.
Post-Match: Lane went after the knee once again with stomps and a kneebbreaker. He then locked on a figure-four until Jim Brunzell came in to break it up.

[jacklarkin]

March 1994
Roster

Faces
Harley Tragger
Jim Brunzell
Brad Rheingans
Ben Bassarab
Jerry Lynn
The Trooper
Alonzo Highsmith
Tommy Jammer 
Caveman Broda (NEW)
Vance Nevada (NEW)

Heels
Stan Lane
Road Warrior Hawk
Derrick Dukes
Sebastien Rikard
Lenny Tompson
Jon Paul Demans
Johnny Saddlebags
Vampiro Canadienese 
Texas Hangman Psycho (NEW)
Texas Hangman Killer (NEW)
Mike Enos (NEW)
Wayne Bloom (NEW)

Ladies
Sherri Martel
Jennifer Brazil
Bull Nakano (NEW)

Injured
Mike Lozansky

River City Wrestling #540
March 12, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

St. Patrick's Week Shenanigans

Opening Bout
Caveman Broda defeated Johnny Saddlebags by pinfall after an overhead suplex at 4:35
**battle of the jobbers

Bout #2
Vance Nevada defeated Alonzo Highsmith by disqualification at 6:27
**Fairly even match but Highsmith seemed to just run out of patience with his lot in life, and when he couldn't win clean he began to attack Nevada with chokes, punches, etc, ignoring the referee's instructions until he was disqualified. The one man carnage didn't end there however as Highsmith threw the ref out of the ring and then continued to attack Nevada. Ben Bassarab came out to try and calm Highsmith down, but received a football tackle for his trouble.

Bout #3
Vampiro Canadienese defeated Jerry Lynn by pinfall after a chokeslam at 10:30
**last time these two locked up nothing was decided. This time they fought it out, tooth and nail. Vampiro climbed to the top and came off but Lynn moved out of the way. Lynn then tried to return the favour but suffered the same fate. This time instead of going to the top Vampiro just nailed a chokeslam and picked up the win.

Bout #4
Derrick Dukes defeated Jon Paul Demans by pinfall after a discus punch at 8:24
**The relationship between these two started as both were tags ons to Stan Lane, but there was always tension between the two. One on one Dukes was superior to Demans, whose only advantages came from cheating. Dukes nailed a flying dropkick then a discus punch finisher.

Bout #5
North American Women's Title Match
Sherri Martel defeated Jennifer Brazil by pinfall after a diving splash at 6:51
[Sherri Martel retained the North American Women's Title]
**the veteran Martel was just way too much for the rookie Brazil, even though Brazil had a much more athletic figure.

Bout #6
Non-Title Match
Texas Tornado Match
The Trooper & Tommy Jammer defeated Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson by countout at 11:12
**Texas Tornado match is when all 4 men are legal. Other then that the rules should be the same, including count outs, disqualifications, and pinfalls. Jammer got hurt early and Trooper then fell prey to an extended 2 on 1 beating with Jammer trying to help but kept getting kicked down. However the good guys battled back and when the action spilled to the floor they took over the match. Inside things evened out and we had Rikard putting Jammer in a figure-four at the same time that the Trooper had the double neck pinch on Thompson. The ref had to keep checking on both men. Finally Thompson managed to grab on to the legs of Jammer to break his own hold but it also broke the figure-four. The good guys were on a roll now though and they beat the champs from pillar to post. After Rikard was thrown over the top rope, Thompson followed him and the two left the premises. 

Bout #7
RCW Heritage Title Match
Ben Bassarab defeated Road Warrior Hawk by pinfall after outside interference (Vampiro Canadienese) at 9:39
[Ben Bassarab retained the RCW Heritage Title]
**Bassarab was already favouring his back after the attack by Alonzo Highsmith earlier in the night. The veteran Hawk wasted no time going after the back, working it with punches, kicks, bearhugs, and backbreakers. Twice he locked on a Boston crab but the smaller champ managed to survive both. Bassarab made a comeback after an inside cradle, and tried his best to keep Hawk on the mat, negating his size advantage. This lasted a couple minutes until Hawk managed to get to his feet and nailed the champ with a back suplex. Hawk looked close to the win, much to the displeasure of the crowd, but after a reverse whip, Hawk collided with the ref knocking him out. Bassarab nailed a kick to the gut, then a DDT..but there was no ref to count. Vampiro rolled into the ring and clotheslined Bassarab from behind. He then nailed him with a Michinoku driver!! The champ was out cold. Vampiro rolled out of the ring and came back with a steel chair. By now Hawk was back on his feet. Vampiro pointed to the downed Bassarab and tossed the chair to Hawk. Before Hawk could use it though Vampiro nailed him with a spinning heel kick, driving the chair straight into his face. Vampiro left the ring, the ref woke up, counted both men down, got to the count of 6, Bassarab threw an arm across Hawk...counted 1, 2, 3!!

Hall of Fame Announcement
In what is normally an exciting announcement, this year it was much more somber. Commissioner Baron von Raschke came into the ring to announce that the Hall of Fame committee had decided on this year's entry into the Hall of Fame. Unlike in previous years when a short list of candidates was announced this year there will be only one. 
Former RCW Heavyweight Champion, Lethal Larry Cameron, may have been one of the most hated men to the fans but he always gave them every penny's worth of the admission price. He was one of the toughest competitors to ever step into an RCW ring. Cameron won the 1991 Wrestler of the Year Award. He held the Heavyweight title from March 4, 1991 to September 28, 1991. Tragically though Cameron passed away December 13th 1993 at the age of 41 after suffering a heart attack during a match in Germany. He will be further honoured in April when he is inducted as the 7th member of the River City Wrestling Hall of Fame.


Main Event
Six-Man Elimination Match
Stan Lane & Texas Hangmen  vs  Jim Brunzell, Brad Rheingans, & Harley Tragger
**Lane needed a couple hired hands so he brought in former tag champions and tag team of the year Psycho & Killer the Hangmen. The mayhem seemed to favour the masked killers but once it was sorted out the scientific skill of Brunzell and Rheingans took the match over. It was then Tragger who eliminated Psycho after an impressive powerbomb.
[Texas Hangman Psycho eliminated by Harley Tragger by pinfall after a powerbomb at 4:26]
The bad guys took the match over once again thanks to some cheating and Rheingans had to take a long stretch off after hurting his back. Finally Brunzell and Tragger took the match back and Brunzell nailed a beautiful dropkick to the chin on Killer. He tried to get the pin but Killer kicked out. Brunzell though did a couple spinning toe holds and then locked on a figure-four. Lane tried to interfere but was headed off by Tragger. Killer tapped out after only about 20 seconds in the hold.
[Texas Hangman Killer eliminated by Jim Brunzell by submission in a figure-four leglock at 8:09]
Things didn't look good for Lane but Tragger telegraphed a backbody drop just seconds into the next fall, and Lane took him down with a legdrop across the back of the neck, driving him into the mat. Tragger got up, only to eat a superkick and get pinned.
[Harley Tragger eliminated by Stan Lane by pinfall after a superkick at 9:05]
Lane tried to get a time out, then played in and out of the ring, avoiding contact. He then tried to goad Rheingans into the ring as he was still trying to stretch out his back. Finally after a couple rakes of Brunzell's eyes Rheingans tagged in off of Brunzell. Rheingans went after Lane and grounded him with a double leg takedown. He then worked a side headlock, and then a body scissors. Finally after a front facelock Lane managed to get to his feet, send Rheingans to the buckle and knee him in the back. Lane worked over the back and when Brunzell stepped into the ring Lane caught him with another rake of the eyes, and then threw him over the top rope. Rheingans tried to clotheslines Lane but the RCW champion ducked under, then took him down with a belly to back suplex and got the pin.
[Brad Rheingans eliminated by Stan Lane by pinfall after a belly to back suplex at 11:56]
One on one Lane and Brunzell went at it, tooth and nail, fist to fist, in and out of the ring. Brunzell worked a couple attempts at a sleeperhold, both times it ended up being countered by Lane who put on his own sleeperhold. Brunzell then went after the legs with an Indian deathlock, and then a figure-four, but Lane managed to get to the ropes to break both holds. Lane left the ring and after a couple false entries pulled Brunzell by the legs out of the ring, and threw him shoulder first into the ringpost. Back inside the ring Lane went right after the shoulder with an armbreaker, and then a series of knees, followed by a shoulderbreaker for a 2 count. Now it was Brunzell's turn to take a break outside the ring and work his arm out. Back inside Lane went for the shoulder and Brunzell caught him with a forearm shiver. He then whipped him one armed into the corner, and then back dropped him. He then went for another whip, but Lane reversed it and then dropkicked him in the shoulder. Lane nailed a pair of belly to back suplex to get a 2 count. Brunzell went for one more sleeperhold but Lane countered with a jawbreaker, and when Brunzell staggered up he ducked away from a superkick, rolled up the champ and got a surprise win.
[Stan Lane eliminated by Jim Brunzell after a victory roll at 18:45]
[Jim Brunzell was the sole survivor in the Six Man Tag Match]

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #541
March 26, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Opening Bout
Alonzo Highsmith defeated Vance Nevada by pinfall after a football tackle at 6:31
**Highsmith showed off his new "bad" attitude and although this time Nevada saw it coming he could still not stop it.

Bout #2
Jerry Lynn defeated Jon Paul Demans by countout at 8:20
**Demans was overmatched in this one. Cheating prolonged the inevitable. Instead of taking a clean loss however Demans suspiciously came up lame after landing outside the ring and took the countout loss.

Bout #3
Vampiro Canadiense and Derrick Dukes battled to a no-contest at 8:08
**If Vampiro thought that Dukes was just going to take a beating laying down he was surprised. Dukes fired back at Vampiro matching all the dirty tactics. When the action spilled outside the ring Dukes was willing to break the rules and risk DQ to fight fire with fire. Finally when both men brought steel chairs into the ring and started to smack them together the ref called for the bell.
Post-Match: Vampiro managed to step on Dukes' chair lowering him to the mat, then laid his chair on the back of Duke's head and deliver a legdrop simultaneously, knocking him out.

Bout #4
Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom defeated Brad Rheingans & Harley Tragger by pinfall when Bloom pinned Tragger after the wrecking ball (diving clothesline/electric chair) at 12:09
**This match was originally advertised as the Texas Hangmen, following up from the Six Man tag last card. However, The Destruction Crew came in to sub for the Hangmen instead. It was a pretty even match, all four men were quite capable, but the Destruction Crew have many years as a tag team, including RCW Tag Titles, and relied on their chemistry to cheat to victory. 

Bout #5
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Tommy Jammer & The Trooper defeated Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson by disqualification for abuse of official at 17:45
[Rikard & Thompson retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**Long drawn out match, with lots of rest holds, double teams, and cutting the ring in half. Both teams had their fair share of advantages. However, in the end after Jammer nailed Rikard with the Jammer Slam, then tagged in Trooper who locked Rikard in the Big Pinch (two handed neck claw). The writing was on the wall and Rikard yelled for Thompson who entered the ring and clotheslined the ref from behind. Mayhem ensued and it looked like Jammer was set to pin Rikard, but when the ref revived he called for the DQ.

Bout #6
RCW Heritage Title Match
Special Enforcers at Ringside Baron von Raschke & Larry Hennig
Ben Bassarab defeated Road Warrior Hawk by disqualification for use of a foreign object (steel chair) at 9:42
[Ben Bassarab retained the RCW Heritage Title]
**Larry "the axe" Hennig was brought in, and received a great ovation from the crowd, to serve along with the commissioner as special guest enforcers. A stern warning was given to all wrestlers, especially Vampiro, Paul Demans, and Derrick Dukes to stay out of the title matches tonight. Bassarab started strong with a hit and move attack. He kept Hawk off balance but never really hurt him. Then around 4 minutes in Hawk nailed him with a clothesline and took over the match. He picked up the champ by the throat, applied an elevated choke, and then a double chokeslam to the mat. A series of elbowsmashes, knee drops, a fist drop, reverse chinlock, and some bodyslams followed. He couldnt finish him off so he took the match outside the ring. Hennig and Raschke were not happy with the tactics but didn't interfere. Back inside Hawk continued to punish Bassarab. Finally the champ made a short comeback until Hawk nailed a knee to the gut and then threw the champ over the top rope. Back outside this time Hennig had words with Hawk, and frustrated by not getting the pinfall he took his frustrations out on Hennig, and then Raschke. He then grabbed a steel chair and ~waffled~ the champ to earn his disqualification. 

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Stan Lane defeated Jim Brunzell after a slingshot suplex (and outside interference) at 10:20
[Stan Lane retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**Brunzell started strong, showing off his scientific repertoire, using leverage to keep Lane off his feet or fighting against the weight of Brunzell. Lane tried several times to gain space but Brunzell kept close. Finally Lane risked DQ by nailing a knee to the groin of Brunzell, unseen by the ref, and gained his space. Lane picked up the pace of the match and after wearing down Brunzell he put on a figure-four which Brunzell had to inch his way to the ropes to get the break. Lane went right to work on the legs of Brunzell, and then put another figure-four on. Brunzell made a comeback and had Lane reeling when Jon Paul Demans came down to the ring area. He was accosted there by Derrick Dukes who chased him away, but it was enough to distract Brunzell and give the advantage back to Lane. A minute later there was a series of whips to the ropes and reverses, that resulted in a ref bump. Vampiro Canadienese then made his appearance sliding into the ring. Both Lane and Brunzell turned on Vampiro taking turns hitting him. Brunzell then held Vampiro and Lane nailed a superkick...but Vampiro moved out of the way and Lane nailed Brunzell. Vampiro then tried to set Lane up for a DDT but Lane took him over with a snap suplex instead. Lane grabbed Brunzell and nailed a slingshot suplex while he was waiting for the ref to wake up. When that happened he covered and got the pin.

[jacklarkin]

Roster

Faces
Harley Tragger
Jim Brunzell
Brad Rheingans
Ben Bassarab
Jerry Lynn
The Trooper
Tommy Jammer
Caveman Broda
Vance Nevada 
Robbie Royce (NEW)

Heels
Stan Lane
Sebastien Rikard
Lenny Tompson
Alonzo Highsmith
Johnny Saddlebags
Mike Enos 
Wayne Bloom
Greg Valentine (NEW)
Damien Demento (NEW)

Ladies
Sherri Martel
Bull Nakano 

Injured
Mike Lozansky

Suspended
Derrick Dukes
Jon Paul Demans
Vampiro Canadiense
Road Warrior Hawk

River City Wrestling #542
April 9, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Suspension announcements

Commissioner Baron von Raschke kicked off the show by announcing some suspensions for interference in last card's matches. Derrick Dukes was suspended for 2 weeks, Jon Paul Demans and Vampiro Canadiense for 4 weeks because they are repeat offenders. Also Road Warrior Hawk has been suspended for 4 weeks for his actions last card in abusing the referee.

Hall of Fame Induction: Lethal Larry Cameron

Hall of Fame members The Destroyer, Marty Goldstein, Chris Lyon, Tawney England, Corrie England, and Mike Valiant were all present for the ceremony. As were committee members Jack McAdam and Stan Mullen. Commissioner Baron von Raschke was also present and acted as the master of ceremony. Of course unfortunately Larry Cameron was being inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously having died last year while competing.  


Opening Bout

Robbie Royce defeated Johnny Saddlebags by pinfall after a jumping DDT at 5:44

**Royce returns to RCW and picks up a win over the curtain jerker Saddlebags

Bout #2

Greg Valentine defeated Vance Nevada by submission to the figure-four leglock at 6:20

**the veteran Valentine made a big splash coming in and dismantling Nevada. He risked DQ after the bout by continuing to hold on the figure-four.

Bout #3

Bull Nakano defeated K.C. Houston by pinfall after a diving leg drop at 8:54

**Nakano made an impressive debut. She will be a great challenger for Sherri Martel.

Bout #4

The Trooper defeated Sebastien Rikard by submission to the Big Pinch (double hand nerve hold) at 6:59

**The Trooper does his part by dispatching one half of the tag team champions.

Bout #5

Tommy Jammer and Lenny Thompson battled to a double countout at 9:34

**solid match between two good competitors, and arguably the better half of each tag team. Looked like Jammer was going to pull off the victory but Thompson pulled the match outside, seemed to have no desire to get it back on track, and Jammer went along for the ride.

Post-Match: They were joined by their tag team partners Trooper and Rikard in a 4 man brawl that went on for several minutes until enough officials were able to break up the festivities.

Bout #6
Boxing Match
Alonzo Highsmith defeated Ben Bassarab by knockout 0:38 in Round 2
**This was supposed to be a wrestling match but Highsmith wanted to return the favour he said of Bassarab embarrassing him in their "work out match" in January. So he brought out a boxing referee and gloves and dared Bassarab. Round 1 Highsmith was all over Bassarab, but after missing a few punches and being countered he clinched and started some dirty boxing. He also feigned a low blow at one point to gain a break. Round 2 though he landed a couple quick punches and then a big knockout punch ending the match. However, after the bout Highsmith wouldn't let up, just kept kicking away at Bassarab until officials could break it up.

Bout #7
Destruction Crew: Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos defeated Harley Tragger & Brad Rheingans by pinfall when Bloom pinned Rheingans after the wrecking ball at 10:28
**a rematch, that turned out pretty much exactly like the first. The Crew showed they are an experienced and tough team and waiting for a tag title match.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Cage Match
Jim Brunzell defeated Stan Lane by submission to the sleeperhold at 19:39
[Jim Brunzell Wins the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**The men went right after each other, even before the bell rang. They went at it tooth and nail, not a lot of scientific moves here, just lots of punches, kicks, whips into the chain walls, and rakes of the head. First big mistake in the match happened when the champion Lane went for a superkick, Brunzell ducked, and Lane connected with the steel cage instead. The move seemed to hyperextend the leg or something as Lane had trouble standing for the next few minutes. Brunzell ignored the cage and went after the leg for awhile, working it over, and then locking in a figure four. Lane managed to break the hold with a vicious kick to the chin, and then from his side kept kicking away at Brunzell. Both men then dragged themselves on their backs to lay side by side and punched at each other from their backs. Lane locked on a front facelock and worked him for a bit. Finally the two managed to get to their feet, each having to hold onto the ropes as they tried to punch and kick each other. Lane nailed Brunzell with a back to back jawbreaker. After stomping away he locked on a Texas cloverleaf but Brunzell managed to get to the ropes. The challenger grabbed Lane by the tights and pulled him head first into the cage wall, then followed through and landed his knee to the head of Lane. Brunzell followed up with two spinebuster slams, and then came off the second buckle with an elbow drop, covered, for a 2 count. Lane then raked the eyes of Brunzell, chopped him twice across the chest, then walked along the top rope holding a wrist lock and then came off with a knee to the chin of Brunzell, covered for a 2 count. Lane worked an armbar until Brunzell punched his way out of it. For the first time we had some colour in the match as Brunzell pounded away at the head of Lane opening up a cut. Brunzell then climbed to the top and came off for a splash on Lane, but the champ brought his knees up. Lane then nailed a pair of backbreakers and then a surfboard. Wearing the proverbial crimson mask he delayed too long, trying to wipe the blood off of on the shirt of a retreating referee. Brunzell nailed him from behind, raked his eyes across the cage wall, slammed him to the mat, covered for a 1 count. The challenger nailed a belly to back suplex, then a side suplex for a 2 count. A series of forearm uppercuts then an atomic drop, and another 2 count. Lane fired back at Brunzell after using the ref as a shield, then nailed two side kicks, and a clothesline knocking Brunzell to the mat. After a few stomps Lane nailed a vertical suplex, and then locked on a rear chancery. Lane then followed up with a reverse neckbreaker and then a stomp from the top rope, and a cover for a 2 count. Lane then went for the superkick finisher again but Brunzell managed to duck away, take Lane down with a single leg, and when the champ got to his feet Brunzell nailed a flying dropkick for another 2 count. Lane charged at Brunzell who leapt over top of him, pushing him enough on the back as he went over to cause Lane to stumble awkwardly, smashing his head into the ringpost. Brunzell then locked on the sleeperhold and try as he might to escape Lane was too weak from blood loss and succumbed to the sleeperhold. New Champion!! Brunzell captures his 3rd RCW Heavyweight Title, and his first since 1985.     




River City Wrestling #543
April 23, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Tag Team Turmoil

Opening Bout
Vance Nevada & Robbie Royce defeated Johnny Saddlebags & Stan Saxon by pinfall when Royce pinned Saxon after a doubleteam DDT at 6:31
**battle of the curtain jerkers

Bout #2
Bull Nakano & K.C. Houston defeated Sherri Martel & Desiree Petersen by disqualification when Martel was disqualified at 9:02
**Champion Martel let Petersen do most of the work but managed to cheat enough to gain some advantages, primarily over Bull Nakano who seems to be gunning for her title. In the end though Martel had no desire to see this match end fair and square and broke up a pin attempt by attacking Nakano from behind. She kept attacking Nakano despite the ref's instructions and was disqualified.

Bout #3
Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom defeated Derrick Dukes & Jerry Lynn by pinfall when Bloom pinned Dukes after a spiked piledriver on a steel cheer at 10:53
**toughest challenge for the Crew so far since they returned to RCW. Lynn and Dukes actually used the Crew's own tactics against them, making fake tags then getting the ref to stop the Crew from entering the ring to protest, then using the distractions for double teams. Eventually after a ref bump as all 4 men went at it, Jon Paul Demans showed up and nailed Dukes from behind with the steel chair. Enos then climbed to the top and pushed down on the feet as Bloom delivered a piledriver right on the steel chair.
Post-Match: Dukes was not moving so the medical team had to come down to the ring. After a long delay with the house lights raised Dukes was taken off on a stretcher to a hushed crowd.

Bout #4
Harley Tragger & Brad Rheingans defeated Greg Valentine & Damien Demento by pinfall when Rheingans pinned Valentine after an Olympic suplex at 12:09
**really good match, with Rheingans and then Demento both taking a turn being isolated for long stretches. Valentine looked very strong in his return to the RCW, conserving his energy but cheating just enough to get by. Demento was known to the crowd from his stint in the WWF. In the end it was dissension in the ranks between Valentine and Demento, with Demento ending up clobbering Valentine right into the waiting arms of Rheingans who hit his finisher while Demento left the premises.

Bout #5
RCW Heritage Title Match
Ben Bassarab defeated Alonzo Highsmith by pinfall after a victory roll at 8:26
[Ben Bassarab retained the RCW Heritage Title]
**the only singles match at Tag Team Turmoil, so that Bassarab could fulfill the 30 day defence stipulation. Highsmith was actually impressive early using his power to control Bassarab for the first few minutes. But he seemed to run out of gas, or out of moves, and had to spend too long planning his next move. This allowed Bassarab to attack back with the Stampede style of attack with kicks to the gut, headbutts, chops, a back body drop, and a pair of snap suplexes. Highsmith made a spirited comeback but made the mistake of charging in at Bassarab who moved out of the way, Highsmith crashed into the buckle, and the champ rolled him up for the win.

Bout #6
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Tommy Jammer & The Trooper defeated Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson by submission when Trooper submitted Rikard to the Big Pinch at 11:41
[Jammer & Trooper Won the RCW Tag Team Title]
**another fairly even match between these two teams, but as the match wore on Rikard was more and more exposed as the weak link. The fact that he ended up submitting the titles after only about 10 seconds in the hold did not show much intestinal fortitude.

Main Event
Best 2 out of 3 Falls

Midnight Express: Stan Lane & Dennis Condrey vs Killer Bees: Jim Brunzell & Brian Blair
**there was a lot of anticipation for this match as it featured two tag teams from similar eras, different feds, and although Lane & Condrey were both members of the Midnight Express they were from different formations so didn't actually team together. It also showed the importance and prestige of this matchup that RCW made it the main event even though it was not a title match (very uncommon for RCW). The match started slow and tentative, lots of lockups, lots of getting to the ropes. Flashes of closed fists, which brought all 4 men into the ring but only as reinforcements not actually brawls. Finally Condrey worked over Blair for a while then tagged out to Lane who did the same. Brunzell though got the hot tag in, worked over Lane, then Condrey, then it was time for Condrey to be isolated. The match spilled out of the ring, the four men went at it, then back inside the Bees were going for their double hip attack but Lane tripped up Brunzell from outside the ring, this distracted Blair. Condrey then clotheslined Blair from behind, hit the DDT and picked up the first fall.

[Dennis Condrey pins Brian Blair after a DDT: Midnight Express lead 1-0 falls at 6:56]

**second fall began with Blair already in trouble. Condrey and Lane took turns working him over but were unable to finish him. Condrey went for a belly to belly suplex but Blair managed to reverse it and hit his own belly to belly. Both men down, Lane got the tag in first and managed to pull Blair away from the tag. Lane went to work on Blair while the RCW champion stomped his foot imploring for a tag. Lane went for a superkick but Blair managed to duck out of the way, roll, and get the tag out. Brunzell was a house of fire, ejecting both opponents from the ring. Brunzell and Lane then went through a very long sequence together with neither man looking to tag out. Finally on a criss cross Brunzell made a tag to Blair, unseen by Lane, and Blair nailed him with a reverse Russian legsweep and covered for a surprising pin.

[Brian Blair pins Stan Lane after a reverse Russian legsweep: Tied 1-1 falls at 12:00]

**the third fall quickly fell into a series of 4 man brawls that really tested the ref's patience. Lane went to work on Blair with a leg wheel, leg drop, armbar sequence. Blair fired back with a Mexican hiptoss, back body drop, running knee for a 2 count. He got too close to the ropes though and Condrey reached in and clocked him. Lane made the tag and Condrey went to work with good old fashioned stomps and punches. Brunzell got the tag in and beat Condrey from one end of the ring to the other with some European uppercuts. He had him lined up for a flying dropkick finisher but Lane came into the ring and tackled his own partner to get him away. This started yet another 4 man brawl. When it shook out Brunzell had Lane locked in an Indian death lock. Lane managed to escape and tag in Condrey who also got worked over by Brunzell. Blair and Brunzell then did a series of quick tags, each one designed to allow them to double team on the tag in sequence. Lane tried to enter the ring and the ref was busy putting him out when Condrey nailed Brunzell with a lowblow. Blair tried to enter the ring but Condrey fed him a knee to the head, dropping him to the floor below. Condrey bieled Brunzell to their end of the ring and tagged in Lane. The Express nailed a double vertical suplex, then as Brunzell got up, looking for Condrey, Lane nailed him with a superkick to the side of the head and made the cover.

[Stan Lane pins Jim Brunzell after a superkick at 19:57]

[Midnight Express win 2 falls to 1 at 19:57]

[jacklarkin]

May 1994 Roster

Faces

Jim Brunzell

Ben Bassarab

The Trooper

Tommy Jammer

Harley Tragger
Brad Rheingans
Jerry Lynn

Damien Demento
Caveman Broda
Vance Nevada
Robbie Royce

Heels
Stan Lane
Sebastien Rikard
Lenny Thompson

Mike Enos
Wayne Bloom
Greg Valentine

Vampiro Canadiense

Chi Chi Cruz (NEW)

Diamond Timothy Flowers (NEW)
Johnny Saddlebags
Dave Levinsky (NEW)

Ladies
Sherri Martel
Bull Nakano

Injured
Mike Lozansky

Derrick Dukes

Manager
Jon Paul Demans

River City Wrestling #544
May 7, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Opening Bout

Dave Levinsky defeated Caveman Broda after a superplex at 5:40

**the new curtain jerker beats the old curtain jerker

Bout #2

Chi Chi Cruz defeated Jerry Lynn by pinfall after a Northern Lights Suplex at 7:08

**a big upset. Cruz was last seen in RCW as a fan favorite, and while the match started clean it didn't take long for Chi Chi to start cheating, surprising both Lynn and the fans. Lynn though came back and had the match in hand until Diamond Timothy Flowers came down and tripped up Cruz. This allowed Cruz to hit his new finisher and pick up a huge upset win.

Bout #3
Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom defeated Vance Nevada & Robbie Royce by pinfall when Enos pinned Royce after a Wrecking Ball at 9:46
**the fact this match took almost 10 minutes flattered the team of Nevada and Royce, as they were controlled for 95% of the match. The Crew obviously are the #1 contenders for the tag titles and await the winner of tonight's tag title match.

Bout #4
Vampiro Canadienese defeated Brad Rheingans by pinfall after a spinning leg lariat at 8:10
**Vampiro returns after his suspension, and after being beaten from pillar to post for the first 6 minutes by Rheingans, and getting busted open, Vamp made a sudden comeback, nailed an overhead belly to belly suplex, a diving legdrop, and then the finisher. Big win for the freak.

Bout #5
Greg Valentine defeated Damien Demento by submission to the figure four leglock at 9:35
**Valentine started strong, Demento made a comeback, Valentine took back the match, Demento took over after a brawl outside. Demento though, looking for revenge after last card's tag match with Valentine made a big mistake, coming off the top rope with a kneedrop. Valentine rolled out of the way, then locked on the figure four on the banged up knee of Demento.

Bout #6

RCW Heritage Title Match

Ben Bassarab defeated Harley Tragger by countout at 11:18

[Ben Bassarab retains the RCW Heritage Title]

**interesting matchup with two fan favorites going at it. The former Heavyweight champion Tragger actually controlled more of the match then the champion, using his size and power to his advantage. Bassarab got his back hurt early while setting up on the second buckle when Tragger drove his shoulder into the champ's back. Tragger then spent most of his time working over the back including two long sequences of bearhug submissions. In the end the match spilled outside, Tragger missed a clothesline that sent him over the barricade into the crowd, which allowed the champ to beat the 10 count and pick up the win.

Post-Match: Vampiro made another unwarranted attack on Bassarab, entering the ring and attacking the champ while his hand was being raised in the air. He delivered a beat down until Tragger came back to the ring to make the save.

 

Bout #7

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Tommy Jammer & The Trooper defeated Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson by pinfall when Jammer pinned Thompson after the Jammer Slam at 10:45

[Jammer & Trooper retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

**Basically just the mandatory rematch for the former champions who looked outclassed.

Post-Match: Rikard got mad at Thompson, and the big man tried to shrug him off. But Rikard insisted and spun him around in anger. Thompson finally snapped, kicking, punching, and then choke slamming Rikard to the mat.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Jim Brunzell defeated Stan Lane by pinfall after a flying dropkick at 18:29

[Jim Brunzell retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

**another mandatory title rematch. Interesting bout because while it was contested with some vigor for the most part the first 12 minutes were pretty clean. Lane is an accomplished wrestler and concentrating on wrestling instead of shenanigans was able to match Brunzell move for move. However, at around the 12 minute mark during a scuffle outside the ring, Lane was able to throw Brunzell head first into the ring post, splitting him open. From that point forward Lane focused on bloodletting and the head of Brunzell. This seemed to work well but the champ made a short spirited comeback at the end that culminated in him hitting his finisher and holding on to the title.

River City Wrestling #545
May 21, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Opening Bout

Vance Nevada defeated Dave Levinsky after a top rope legdrop at 7:47

**a small victory for Nevada. Levinsky is good at working the crowd during an opening bout with a heel routine.

Bout #2

Damien Demento defeated Johnny Saddlebags by pinfall after a jumping knee drop at 5:29

**squash match

Bout #3

Chi Chi Cruz & Timothy Flowers defeated Jerry Lynn & Caveman Broda by pinfall when Flowers pinned Broda after a piledriver at 8:53

**Broda was the weak link in this bout. Lynn was the strongest of the 4 competitors but kept falling to double teams, and Broda wasn't much help.

Bout #4

Lenny Thompson defeated Sebastien Rikard by pinfall after a big boot at 7:05

**Rikard started strong but was over matched by his former partner who apparently is now a fan favorite. Once Thompson took over the match he didn't relent and beat Rikard from pillar to post.

Bout #5

Harley Tragger defeated Stan Lane by pinfall after a powerbomb at 10:28

**surprising and solid win for Tragger in the battle of the former RCW Heavyweight champions.

Bout #6

RCW Heritage Title Match

Ben Bassarab and Vampiro Canadienese battled to a no-contest at 0:00

[Ben Bassarab retained the RCW Heritage Title]

**officially this match never happened, although the two men brawled for almost 10 minutes. The fight started as Vampiro did not wait for the champ to get to the ring, and attacked him in the aisleway. The two brawled and security and officials tried to break it up. They managed to break it up and get the men into the ring, but before the bell could ring they were at it again outside the ring. They brawled a second time. Officials almost had it broken up, but instead of entering the ring Vampiro stood on the ring apron and gave Bassarab a hotshot off the top strand, then dragged him by the feet out of the ring. This third brawl entered the crowd and at this point RCW officials decided to call it a no-contest and break it up and send each man to the locker rooms. By this time Bassarab had been busted wide open.

Bout #7

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Tommy Jammer & The Trooper defeated Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (/w Jon Paul Demans) by pinfall when Jammer pinned Enos after a Slammer Jammer at 12:36

[Jammer & Trooper retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

**a bit of an upset that the champs won this one. The Crew is a dominant, experienced team, former RCW Tag champions, and they added the cheating prowess of Demans in their corner.

Post-Match: Demans entered the ring with his walking stick and smashed it over the back of Jammer. While he beat on Jammer the Crew double teamed Trooper, including an assisted piledriver. Trooper had to be taken out of the ring on a stretcher, with his neck immobilized.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Jim Brunzell defeated Greg Valentine by disqualification for abuse of official at 15:20

[Jim Brunzell retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

**solid outing for both men. There was very little feeling out process between these two veterans. They traded the advantage back and forth, with each man seemingly having about a two minute advantage before the momentum swung the other way. Valentine twice left the ring to get a break, and both times Brunzell followed referee instructions and remained in the ring. In the end Valentine had a Figure-four on Brunzell, but the champ managed to turn it over and Valentine had to get to the ropes for a break. About a minute later Valentine again got the figure-four on Brunzell who was now pretty worn down. This time after almost a full minute in the ring the champ managed to inch his way to the ropes to get the break. At least there should have been a break. But instead Valentine kept the figure-four locked on ignoring the count of the referee. The ref then tried to reach in and break the hold with his hands, only for Valentine to deliver a forearm lowblow to the ref. Eventually the ref would be able to free up one hand from his fetal position and call for the bell. But that didn't break the hold, and finally Brunzell had to pull himself up using the ropes, and use them as leverage to turn the hold over. Now he had Valentine screaming in pain. This lasted for about 30 seconds until commissioner Baron Von Raschke led the charge to the ring of officials who broke the hold. Both Valentine and Brunzell wanted to go after each other again but neither could stand, and it was easy for officials to separate the two combatants.

  

[jacklarkin]

Roster

Faces

Jim Brunzell

Ben Bassarab

The Trooper

Tommy Jammer

Harley Tragger

Lenny Thompson

Derrick Dukes

Damien Demento
Caveman Broda
Robbie Royce

Judge Dread (NEW) 

Heels
Sebastien Rikard

Mike Enos
Wayne Bloom
Greg Valentine

Vampiro Canadiense

Chi Chi Cruz

Diamond Timothy Flowers

Mike Samples (NEW)

Horse Hogan (NEW)

Bob Dellaserra (NEW)

Rocky Dellaserra (NEW) 

Ladies
Sherri Martel
Bull Nakano

Injured
Mike Lozansky

Manager
Jon Paul Demans

River City Wrestling #546
June 4, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Opening Bout:
Mike Samples defeated Robbie Royce by pinfall after a fistdrop (aided by his feet on the ropes) at 7:55
**good competitive bout for an opener, with two good workers. Royce controlled much of the match, taking the high road, while Samples took shortcuts. A thumb to the throat set up a thundering bodyslam followed by a fistdrop. Samples put his feet on the middle rope, undetected by the ref, for extra leverage to further taint the victory.

Bout #2
Damien Demento defeated Horse Hogan by pinfall after a jumping knee drop at 5:36
**strange match. As if Demento isn't a strange enough character, who the fans absolutely love, he was matched up against Horse Hogan, a big fat guy who was a parody of Hulk Hogan (the Horse bit being a reference to steroids). HH would stomp and scrape his foot and bray. Thankfully the match was not overly long.

Bout #3
Timothy Flowers defeated Derrick Dukes by pinfall after a superplex at 9:11
**another very even match, with Flowers winning having to be seen as a bit of an upset. Dukes seems to be gaining no momentum since becoming a good guy.

Bout #4
Chi Chi Cruz defeated Lenny Thompson by pinfall after a side suplex at 7:42
**Thompson got the better of Cruz, but Flowers came down to the ring and clocked Thompson in the head while Cruz distracted the ref. Cruz then hit the suplex and picked up the win.

Bout #5

Harley Tragger defeated Sebastien Rikard by pinfall after a powerbomb at 8:24

**Somehow this bout went 8 minutes, thanks to stalling tactics by Rikard, as he was totally outclassed by Tragger.

Bout #6

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (/w Jon Paul DeMans) defeated The Trooper & Tommy Jammer by pinfall when Bloom pinned Trooper after an aided piledriver at 12:18

[Destruction Crew Win the RCW Tag Team Titles]

**despite winning clean last week the champs decided to put their titles on the line one more time against the Crew so they could get their hands on them after the post match beat down they received after the last bout. They started strong but the challengers kept making progress. In the end though Trooper had the Big Pinch locked on Bloom, but the ref got tied up with Enos and Jammer battling. This allowed DeMans to enter the ring and break his walking cane over the back of the Trooper. Enos threw Jammer into the ringsteps, then climbed to the top rope. The referee counted but allowed it as Enos pushed down on the feet as Bloom delivered a piledriver and then applied the pin. The Crew are once again the RCW Tag Champions!!

Bout #7

RCW Heritage Title Match
Leather Strap Match
Ben Bassarab defeated Vampiro Canadiense by touching all 4 buckles in a Leather Strap Match at 14:50
[Ben Bassarab retained the RCW Heritage Title]
**the men were attached at the wrist by a leather strap. During the match the strap was used to whip the opponent, choke the opponent, blindfold the opponent and rake his eyes, cover the fist for punches, and as a giant swing. Both men were busted open with Bassarab worse off. The ref got caught in the middle and ended up getting clotheslined by the strap and knocked out. At this point Vampiro brought out brass knux and pounded on the champ. Then Vamp began to choke out the champ. This brought Harley Tragger into the ring with a running boot to the face of Vampiro. He then nailed a pair of powerbombs and left the ring. Bassarab staggered to his feet first and the fans cheered as he got the pin.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Greg Valentine defeated Jim Brunzell by referee's decision from the figure-four leglock at 19:28
[Greg Valentine Won the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**Fairly short title run for Brunzell, but then again Valentine is a veteran world class competitor. The story of this match was after a short feeling out process Brunzell went after it with high impact moves and flying attacks. The second half of the match was about Valentine going after the leg/knee of Brunzell wearing him down. Brunzell managed to escape twice from the figure four but the third time he couldn't get out of it, but also refused to submit. He ended up passing out from the pain, so the ref called for the bell.

River City Wrestling #547
June 18, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Opening Bout
Mike Samples defeated Caveman Broda by pinfall after a fist drop at 6:35
**Broda was not much of a challenge for Samples

Bout #2
Judge Dread defeated Horse Hogan by pinfall after a running powerslam at 5:15
**two big men, not a lot of skill on display here. Dread has a biker image, makes his premiere in RCW a successful one.

Bout #3
Rocky & Bob Dellaserra defeated Robbie Royce & Damien Demento by pinfall when Bob pinned Royce after a Samoan drop at 8:43
**the dastardly Dellaserra brothers make their rugged return to an RCW ring. Demento had them a bit flustered and confused but Royce proved to be the weak link in this bout. With fellow rulebreakers the Destruction Crew holding the tag team titles its difficult to see how the brothers fit into the tag team scene.

Bout #4
Chi Chi Cruz & Diamond Timothy Flowers defeated Lenny Thompson & Derrick Dukes by pinfall when Cruz pinned dukes after a flying clothesline at 10:20
**solid match with no real weak link. Flowers was isolated for a bit and Dukes was isolated for a bit, but overall the match just saw the two teams exchange momentum quite often. In the end Cruz managed to make a blind tag from Flowers, climb to the top rope and while Dukes was distracted with Flowers, Cruz waited for him to turn around, and then clotheslined him leaping from the top rope to get the win. Again another rulebreaker team, so hard to see how the tag scene is going to shape up here in RCW.

Bout #5
Harley Tragger defeated Vampiro Canadienese by disqualification for use of a foreign object (brass knuckles) at 9:49
**another very solid match. Tragger was angry and Vampiro used that to his advantage early on to get Tragger distracted, tied up with the ref, and then pounce on him. There was also a sequence where Tragger kept trying to get back into the ring only to be knocked out by Vampiro. Finally of course Tragger dragged Vamp out of the ring and tossed him around, taking control of the bout. Inside he punished Vampiro and nearly got the win after a powerbomb, but Vampiro's foot found the bottom rope. Vampiro then took back control by attacking Tragger while he argued with the ref. However, unable to finish the match, the next time that Tragger took control Vampiro took his usual easy way out. Producing brass knuckles he laid out Tragger, not even trying to hide it from the ref. He busted Tragger wide open, took the loss, and left the premises.

Bout #6

North American Women's Title Match

Bull Nakano defeated Sherri Martel by pinfall after a diving guillotine leg drop at 11:02

[Bull Nakano Wins the North American Women's Title]

**not much going on in the women's division these days. Decent match but kind of out of sight out of mind for most fans.

Bout #7

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (/w Jon Paul Demans) defeated Tommy Jammer & The Trooper by pinfall when Enos pinned Jammer after a scoop powerslam at 8:39

[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

**the return match for the former champs. Pretty much just an exclamation mark that the Crew are the better team, won as clean as you would expect rulebreakers could win.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Jim Brunzell defeated Greg Valentine by disqualification for abuse of official at 15:41

[Greg Valentine retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

**another return match. Valentine started strong thanks to some reliance on chokeholds. But Brunzell fired back and controlled most of the match. Valentine did manage to get a figure-four on Brunzell but hadn't put in enough of the groundwork so Brunzell was able to force the break. Brunzell tried for a figure-four but failed to get the submission. He then nailed his flying dropkick but Valentine managed to get a foot on the ropes. Jumpin' Jimmy then locked on an Indian deathlock, It looked like Brunzell would take the title back but Valentine grabbed the ref when he was checking for a submission and pulled the ref down onto Jimmy. Valentine was disqualified for his actions but retained his belt.

[jacklarkin]

Roster

Faces
Jim Brunzell
Ben Bassarab
The Trooper
Harley Tragger
Lenny Thompson
Derrick Dukes
Damien Demento
Caveman Broda
Robbie Royce
Judge Dread
Dan Kroffat (NEW)

Heels
Sebastien Rikard
Mike Enos
Wayne Bloom
Greg Valentine
Vampiro Canadiense
Chi Chi Cruz
Diamond Timothy Flowers
Mike Samples
Horse Hogan
Bob Dellaserra
Rocky Dellaserra
Richard Charland (NEW)

Ladies
Sherri Martel
Bull Nakano

Injured
Mike Lozansky

Manager
Jon Paul Demans

Midgets
Frenchy Lamonte
Pee Wee Hanson

River City Wrestling #548
July 2, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Opening Bout
Dan Kroffat defeated Sebastien Rikard by pinfall after a superkick at 6:01
**Return to RCW of Dan Kroffat (aka Phillip LaFon) with a fairly easy win over former tag champion Sebastien Rikard who has been having a tough time coming up with a win as a singles wrestler

Bout #2
Rocky & Bob Dellaserra defeated Damien Demento & Judge Dread by submission when Bob Dellaserra made Dread submit to the brainbuster (atomic noogie) at 7:36
**Demento and Dread each fared well individually but the brothers worked better as a team and wore their opponents down

Bout #3
Harley Tragger defeated Mike Samples by pinfall after a powerbomb at 4:44
**Fairly easy win for the former RCW champion looking to get back in the title picture

Bout #4
North American Women's Title Match
Bull Nakano defeated Desiree Petersen by pinfall after a diving guillotine legdrop at 7:59
[Bull Nakano retained the North American Women's Title]
**Petersen gave Nakano some problems early in the match but once the champion got rolling she had little problems against her accomplished opponent.

Bout #5
Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom & Jon Paul Demans defeated Trooper, Lenny Thompson, & Derrick Dukes by pinfall when Demans pinned Dukes after a top rope kneedrop at 11:41
**The champs were dominant, and they let their manager finish off Dukes

Bout #6
RCW Heritage Title Match
Ladder Match
Vampiro Canadienese defeated Ben Bassarab in a ladder match at 16:33
[Vampiro Canadienese Wins the RCW Heritage Title]
**pretty much a last stand for Vampiro, no more last chances, his back was against the wall in this one. Bassarab had an experience advantage overall but perhaps not in ladder matches. There were many huge moves, followed by periods of recuperation. Bassarab looked poised to win the bout, climbing the ladder but Vampiro managed to knock it over. He then used the ladder as a battering ram to hit Bassarab, then laid it on him and nailed a moonsault. Both men were down, but Vampiro got up first, set up the ladder, climbed, and retrieved the belt as Bassarab finally got to the bottom rung and unsuccessfully attempted to shake him off.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Special guest referee: Commissioner Baron von Raschke
Greg Valentine defeated Jim Brunzell by pinfall after a back elbow smash (and his feet on the ropes) at 12:09
[Greg Valentine retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**after recent shenanigans by Valentine and abusing of officials, Raschke stepped up to be the special guest referee in this bout. So most of the bout centered around that storyline with Valentine trying to cheat and complain but Raschke having nothing of it. But despite that, Raschke's constant bickering with Valentine also provided him with rests which began to frustrate Brunzell who just wanted Raschke to get out of the way and let them fight it out. In the end when Brunzell missed his flying dropkick, Valentine held onto the ropes, then nailed a back elbow smash off the second buckle, it was Raschke's inexperience that cost Brunzell the match as Valentine had his feet on the ropes for leverage, but it was totally missed.




River City Wrestling #549
July 16, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Ironmen rules; Each matchup is a 30 minute iron man match

Each pinfall/submission fall won is 2 points

Each countout/DQ fall won is 1 point.

Each countout/DQ fall lost is -1 point.

Each pinfall/submission fall lost is 0 points.

Each 30 man ironman matchup has a bonus of 5 points available. Scoring for this is just most falls won (regardless of methods). If its a tie each participant gets 2 points; if one person wins he gets 5 points.

The arena scoreboard was used to keep fans abreast of the score.

Night of the Ironmen

Round 1

Jim Brunzell vs Ben Bassarab

[30 Minute draw]

**this match went back and forth, but after 30 minutes of grueling wrestling there were no falls scored.

Points: Brunzell 2; Bassarab 2

Greg Valentine vs Vampiro Canadienese

**Vampiro got frustrated by not being able to dominate the cagey veteran Valentine. Eventually when Vampiro was put into a figure-four he grabbed the ref and pulled him down to get himself DQ'd

[Valentine wins fall by DQ at 11:39] Valentine +1; Vampiro -1

**Vampiro struck right back though catching Valentine being too cocky, nailed him with a superkick, then a reverse DDT and picked up the pin

[Vampiro wins fall by pinfall at 13:20] Vampiro +2

**as the fall wore down both men battled outside the ring, but Valentine managed to nail his 1970's version of an elbowsmash, that staggered Vampiro, and he beat his opponent back into the ring

[Valentine wins fall by countout at 27:12] Valentine +1; Vampiro -1

[Valentine wins 2 falls to 1] Valentine +5

Points: Valentine 7; Vampiro 0

Standings After Round 1: Greg Valentine 7; Jim Brunzell 2; Ben Bassarab 2; Vampiro Canadienese 0

Special Attraction Match: Midgets

Pee Wee Hanson defeated Frenchy Lamonte 2 falls to 1 at 8:40

**Lamonte wins the first fall after an inside cradle (and a handful of tights) at 3:34

**Hanson wins the second fall by DQ when Lamonte delivered a headbutt to the groin of the referee at 5:01

**Hanson wins the third fall by pinfall after a second rope splash at 8:40

Round 2

Jim Brunzell vs Vampiro Canadienese

**Vampiro tried to gain an edge using a pair of brass knuckles, but got caught by the ref and DQ'd

[Brunzell wins fall by disqualification at 10:58] Brunzell +1; Vampiro -1

**unfortunately the brass knux did a lot of damage and Vampiro controlled the majority of the next portion of the match before nailing a moonsault and getting a pin

[Vampiro wins fall by pinfall at 22:25] Vampiro +2

**it looked like Vampiro might just win this segment, and he even began to stall for time and wrestle defensively. However, Brunzell managed an inside cradle, got a 2 count, then nailed a kneebreaker, kicked Vamp's leg out, and put on the figure-four. It really looked like he would outlast the hold and get to the end as the ring announcer counted down. However, he just couldn't stand it anymore and tapped out with 10 seconds left.

[Brunzell wins fall by submission at 29:50] Brunzell +2

[Brunzell wins 2 falls to 1]

Points; Brunzell 8; Vampiro 1

Greg Valentine vs Ben Bassarab

**very even match. Valentine controlled the first 15 minutes but couldn't get a pinfall. Finally however he capitalized after a Bassarab mistake. The Alberta native tried for a splash from the top rope but Valentine turned with him in mid-air, turning it into a powerlsam and got the pin.

[Valentine wins fall by pinfall at 20:30] Valentine +2

**Bassarab saw it was do or die, and pulled out every stop. Finally he telegraphed a backbody drop, and when Valentine went for a kneelift, Bassarab got out of the way sending Valentine onto his back. Bassarab then gave Valentine a slingshot into the corner, where his head collided with the ringpost, and rolled him up for the fall.

[Bassarab wins fall by pinfall at 27:56] Bassarab +2

**Valentine almost got another fall as he had Bassarab in the figure four for about the last 70 seconds of the match but could not get him to submit. He refused to break the hold however, which brought out Jim Brunzell to break it up, which brought out Vampiro. This turned into a 3 man brawl between Brunzell, Valentine, and Vampiro as Bassarab lay in pain, holding his knee.

[Draw 1 fall each] Valentine +2, Bassarab +2

Points; Valentine 4; Bassarab 4

Standings After Round 2; Greg Valentine 11; Jim Brunzell 10; Ben Bassarab 6; Vampiro Canadienese 1

Special Attraction Match

RCW Tag Team Title Match

Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom and Rocky & Bob Dellaserra battled to a no-contest at 10:56

[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]

**manager Jon Paul Demans was not on hand (said to be in Vegas getting some R&R). Two villain teams that seemed determined to beat the hell out of each other, and for quite awhile the ref let them have at it. Finally though as all 4 men brawled outside and began to use chairs the match was thrown out.

Round 3

Ben Bassarab vs Vampiro Canadienese
**at first this looked like this could be a throw away, as these two rivals locked up. It was an intense brawl with neither man seeming to care at first about pinfalls or disqualifications. The bad blood between the two has spilled forward from their Heritage title matches. Finally though Vampiro went for a moonsault, but Bassarab raised his knees, then nailed two consecutive German suplexes and got the pin.
[Bassarab wins by pinfall at 12:13] Bassarab +2
**After a few minutes it became obvious to Vampiro that a fair fight was not going to win him the night, so he began to cheat more and more. Finally, he went as far as to grab a steel chair, bring it in the ring and hit Bassarab twice over the head busting him wide open.
[Bassarab wins by disqualification at 18:10] Bassarab +1, Vampiro -1
**there is supposed to be a 30 second time out before the next fall starts but Vampiro would not let it go and continued to beat on Bassarab. The ref was joined by security in breaking it up. Finally the ref grew so frustrated that he disqualified Vampiro again. It finally took Baron von Raschke coming down the ring with Vampiro's Heritage title and threatening to strip it from him if he didn't calm down and let the match continue.
[Bassarab wins by disqualification again at 18:10] Bassarab +1, Vampiro -1
**the rest of the bout was vicious, with Bassarab bleeding like a sieve, but there were no more falls counted
[Bassarab wins 3 falls to 0]
Points; Bassarab +9, Vampiro -2

Standings going into final match; Ben Bassarab 15; Greg Valentine 11; Jim Brunzell 10; Vampiro Canadienese -1

Greg Valentine vs Jim Brunzell

**many possibilities running down the final match. It's a 3 way battle for the crown with Bassarab having to sit back and wait and watch. This match started off fairly tentative, both men showing signs of fatigue and their age. Lots of bad blood between these two but neither were in the mood to complain to the ref, they just wrestled it straight up and tough, with Valentine of course breaking all the rules he could. Quite a few wear down holds were used as well to stretch things out. As the match got to the 15 minute mark with no falls being scored the crowd began to wonder if Bassarab would be crowned the Ironman tonight. Realizing that their time was running up the veterans picked the match up a notch. Several criss cross segments, and suddenly Brunzell took Valentine down with a flying crucifix into a pin.

[Brunzell wins by pinfall at 19:10] Brunzell +2

**if there were no more falls scored then Brunzell would walk away with 7 points and the Ironman title. This made Valentine step things up a notch, but in doing so he made several uncharacteristic mistakes that Brunzell pounced on. Valentine had to survive an Indian deathlock, and finally after Brunzell missed a flying dropkick, Valentine managed to smash the knee repeatedly against the ringpost, and then slap on the figure-four. Brunzell lasted as long as he could in the hold but ended up having to submit.

[Valentine wins by submission at 27:46] Valentine +2

**with two minutes left this segment is a draw which means that if the match ended now Bassarab and Valentine would be tied, with Brunzell one point below. Brunzell needs a fall to win the whole thing. Valentine can also win the whole thing by winning another fall regardless if by pinfall or DQ/Countout. And he tried to do that by throwing Brunzell out of the ring. He attacked Brunzell's leg, left him outside the ring, and slid back in. The crowd anxiously awaited as the ref applied the 10 count. But Brunzell made it back in at the count of 9, unable to stand on the leg. Valentine delivered a kneebreaker and tossed him back out of the ring. Again the count was applied (a very slow count) but the ref was only at 6 when the time limit bell rang.

[Draw 1 Fall Each] Valentine +2, Brunzell +2

Points; Valentine +4, Brunzell +4

Standings; Ben Bassarab 15, Greg Valentine 15; Jim Brunzell 14; Vampiro Canadienese -1

There was much confusion and commissioner Baron von Raschke came down to the ring. Normally a tiebreaker would be how the two men faired against each other, but in their segment they also wrestled to a draw. The only solutions were to declare it a draw, or to have them face off one on one again, next fall wins. Greg Valentine, winded from just wrestling 30 minutes, wanted nothing to do with that possibility, but the fans, Bassarab, and Raschke all wanted it badly. They gave Greg Valentine a five minute break before resuming the match.

Sudden Death Final Fall

Ben Bassarab defeated Greg Valentine by pinfall after a diving crossbody at 5:05

**with no title on the line neither man held back. It was a five minute brawl. Valentine went for a figure-four too early and Bassarab was able to kick him off, followed up with a hip toss, two knee drops, slingshot suplex, German suplex, then nailed his finisher in convincing style.

[Ben Bassarab wins the Ironman Tournament]

River City Wrestling #550
July 30, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

**All Women Heartbreakers Edition**

Opening Bout

Tiffany Brannigan defeated Dottie Bittle by pinfall after a swinging neckbreaker at 6:49

**the RCW trained Brannigan defeated the California Bikini girl Bittle

Bout #2

Stacy Jackson defeated Christie Mitchell by pinfall after a piledriver at 4:35

**another former California Bikini girl Mitchell in her pro wrestling debut came up short against Jackson

Bout #3

Julie "Blaze" Fulkerson and Avalon Anders battled to a no-contest at 7:02

**Fulkerson is best known for her bikini contests while Anders has been eye candy in many TV shows and movies, including Red Shoe Diaries and Silk Stockings. This was a catfight that ended up outside the ring and was thrown out.

Bout #4

Dawn Whitham defeated Jennifer Brazil by submission to the full nelson at 4:19

**Whitham is a muscular, impressive piece of work making her wrestling debut. She is also a natural heel.

Bout #5

Tawney England & Corrie England defeated Pink Demon & Purple Demon by pinfall when Corrie pinned Pink after a double swing at 6:36

**the Hall of Fame England sisters came out of retirement to face the curtain jerkers. They pretty much just went through the greatest hits of their top moves to the adoration of the fans.

Bout #6

Bunkhouse Brawl (Come as you Are)

K.C. Houston defeated Desiree Petersen by pinfall after a top rope fistdrop at 8:24

**pier 6 brawl between these two longtime rivals out of Alberta, with both sporting cowgirl attire. 

Bout #7
Unscheduled Six Woman Tag Match
Dottie Bittle, Avalon Anders, & Dawn Whitham defeated Christie Mitchell, Julie Blaze Fulkerson, & Jennifer Brazil by pinfall when Whitham pinned Mitchell after a full nelson slam at 9:30
**yes, this was actually an unadvertised extra match thrown together for the fans. It was probably because of the short nature of most of the matches, due to the inexperience of most of the grapplers. Unfortunately for the fans the rulebreakers pretty much overwhelmed their opponents. After the bout when the rulebreakers continued the punishment the save had to be made by the chair swinging England sisters.

Main Event
North American Women's Title
Strap Match
Bull Nakano defeated Sherri Martel by pinfall after a strap assisted spinning bulldog from the second buckle at 12:48
[Bull Nakano retained the North American Women's Title]
**the challenger controlled most of the bout using the strap to choke and to whip her opponent. The strap also made it difficult for the Japanese champion to mount any of her high flying arsenal. However she made the big comeback using the strap to enhance her moves and to bring the fans to their feet.

[jacklarkin]

Roster

Faces
Jim Brunzell
Ben Bassarab
The Trooper
Harley Tragger
Derrick Dukes
Damien Demento
Caveman Broda
Robbie Royce
Judge Dread
Dan Kroffat (NEW)

Heels
Mike Enos
Wayne Bloom
Greg Valentine
Vampiro Canadiense
Chi Chi Cruz
Diamond Timothy Flowers
Bob Dellaserra
Rocky Dellaserra
Richard Charland (NEW)
Jesse Hennig (NEW)
Makhan Singh (NEW)
Dark Patriot (NEW)

Ladies
Sherri Martel
Bull Nakano

Injured
Mike Lozansky

Manager
Jon Paul Demans

River City Wrestling #551
August 13, 1994
Brandon, MB

RCW leaves the city limits once again a couple hours west to Brandon, Manitoba

Opening Bout

Jim Brunzell defeated Green Demon by pinfall after a flying dropkick at 5:30

**apparently another member of the Demon family, everyone's favorite denizens of parts unknown.

Bout #2

Makhan Singh defeated Caveman Broda by pinfall after a splash at 2:53

**Singh makes an unpopular return to RCW

Bout #3

Jesse Hennig defeated Judge Dread by pinfall after a running somersault neckbreaker at 7:18

**The younger brother of Curt Hennig, son of Larry the Axe, started the match by controlling and grounding his bigger opponent working some wristlocks and front facelock. Dread though made a comeback using his size. That ended when he ran into a back elbow. Hennig then delivered a springboard forearm smash, followed by a German suplex then his finisher. Hennig has a Country look to him but is very brash and arrogant like his brother.

Bout #4

Robbie Royce & Dan Kroffat defeated Chi Chi Cruz & Timothy Flowers by pinfall when Kroffat pinned Flowers after a superkick at 11:40

**hard fought even match. Great teamwork from Royce & Kroffat although it was their first time teaming together. This likely makes them the new #1 contenders for a tag title shot.

Bout #5

Six-Man Tag Match

Rocky & Bob Dellaserra & Richard Charland defeated Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom & Jon Paul Demans by disqualification for abuse of official at 12:46

**two rulebreaker teams, pretty even between the Brothers and the Crew. The difference in the match though was Richard Charland may have been the best in the ring while Demans was clearly the worst. In the end Demans clotheslined the ref from behind to stop his team from losing clean. The Quebec crew though proceeded to beat the Crew and Demans around the ring, and chase them to the back.

Bout #6

RCW Heritage Title Match

Vampiro Canadienese and Harley Tragger battled to a no-contest at 14:21

[Vampiro Canadienese retained the RCW Heritage Title]

**this bout could have gone either way, although Vampiro controlled more of the match by cheating including chokeholds and a length of tape he used to choke Tragger. In the end the ring could not contain these two men and the match was thrown out.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Greg Valentine defeated Ben Bassarab by pinfall after an elbowsmash at 12:32
[Greg Valentine retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**Valentine caught Bassarab with a kick to the lower midsection as the bell rang. He then tied him up in the corner, punishing him, choking him while arguing with the ref, and laying in many chops and forearms. But when he tried to whip the challenger out of the corner Bassarab dug in his heels, twice, then exploded out with a clothesline. Bassarab laid in the boots to the champ, then slinshot him into the corner. The challenger then took the champ to the ground and worked an armbar and then a crossface. The champ though fought back with knife edge chops, a series of elbow drops, a belly to back suplex, and then a piledriver for a 2 count. The match went back and forth in this matter, each pressing, each getting 2 counts. On Bassarab's 4th rally he made a big mistake though, coming off the top for a crossbody. Valentine saw it coming and caught Bassarab between the eyes with an elbow, knocking him out cold and getting the pin.

River City Wrestling #552
August 27, 1994
Winnipeg, MB

Opening Bout
Chi Chi Cruz defeated Caveman Broda by pinfall after a running powerbomb at 5:53
**curtain jerkers

Bout #2
Judge Dread defeated Timothy Flowers after a running powerslam at 7:03
**Flowers controlled most of the bout but couldn't do enough damage, and spent too much time showboating, opening the door for Dread to make a successful comeback.

Bout #3
Richard Charland defeated Derrick Dukes after a somersault clothesline at 9:39
**solid match between two good workers. "Mr. Perpetual Motion" was just a bit more intense and his willingness to break the rules helped him prevail.

Bout #4
Ben Bassarab defeated Makhan Singh by disqualification at 8:10
**After being on the receiving end of some early punishment, Bassarab controlled most of the match, and refusing to lose clean Singh flipped out and began an unabated beat down of Bassarab, that ended up getting him disqualified.

Bout #5
Robbie Royce & Dan Kroffat defeated Jesse Hennig & Dark Patriot by pinfall when Royce pinned Hennig after a flying forearm smash at 12:04
**Hennig and Dark Patriot were probably the better wrestlers, but Royce and Kroffat for the second time showed great teamwork.

Bout #6
RCW Heritage Title Match
Vampiro Canadienese defeated Harley Tragger by pinfall after a superkick at 10:55
[Vampiro Canadienese retained the RCW Heritage Title]
**kind of match that looked like it could go either way. Tragger made a mistake and was fed a turnbuckle, then staggered into the superkick finisher.

Bout #7
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom (/w Jon Paul Demans) defeated Rocky & Bob Dellaserra by pinfall when Enos pinned Bob after a wrecking ball at 14:15
[Destruction Crew retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**another hard fought contest, very even that could have gone either way. This time it was Demans who was the deciding factor, distracting Rocky and the ref which allowed his team to double team Bob and pick up the win.

Main Event

RCW Heavyweight Title Match

Jim Brunzell defeated Greg Valentine by disqualification for use of a foreign object at 15:51

[Greg Valentine retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]

**another good outing between these two veterans. Brunzell seemed to key on Valentine's back throughout the match, and used it to set up a couple Boston crabs later. Valentine on the other hand was working over the legs of Brunzell going for his figure-four. Eventually when it looked like the title was likely to change hands Valentine grabbed a steel chair from outside the ring and ~waffled~ Brunzell to earn the intentional DQ but held onto his title.