River City Wrestling

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #773
February 20, 1999
RCW Rage
Minneapolis, MN

SCARLETT BIRMINGHAM NEW EUROPEAN CHAMPION!!
MAHONEY DEFEATS BASSARAB!!
MORE MATCHES SET FOR RIVERWARS!!

RCW Rage begins with commissioner Nick Bockwinkel announcing that Vendetta II is in the building and will do an interview tonight.

Opening Bout
Rage Toughman Quarter-Final
Kurrgan defeated Menele by pinfall after a tombstone piledriver at 12:30
**the winner of this bout goes on to meet Gary Goodridge in the semi-finals. Kurrgan ha control early and nailed a piledriver outside the ring, and apperas ready to get the pin when he is distracted by the Kutlu Warrior Johnny Stewart coming down to ringside for no apparent reason, carrying his singapore cane of course. Menele makes a comeback, and then Vendetta II came down to ringside carrying his Louisville slugger and sporting red, white and blue face paint. VII stands in a different corner from Stewart. Old time fans of RCW can't understand why this is allowed to be happening, but welcome to the new RCW. Toughman contests are no DQ so Stewart passes his cane to Menele who nails Kurrgan with it. But Kurrgan kicks out form the subsequent pin attempt. Kurrgan grabs the cane and nails Menele, but Stewart distracts the ref giving Menele time to recover. The ending is a bit anti-climatic as Kurrgan basically beats down Menele and clobbers Stewart from the ring apron before delivering the finisher.

Joe Aiello comes in to announce two more matches have been added to RiverWars.
Bobby Duncum Jr vs Ben Bassarab
Spyder vs Menele

Aiello then interviews Ben Bassarab who says that his RW mach against Duncum will be a TV title match after he beats Balls Mahoney for the title tonight.

Bout #2
Bobby Duncum Jr defeated Darren Dalton by pinfall after a running clothesline at 8:58
**Much to the amusement of the crowd, Dalton came out dressed exactly like Duncum with the same black boots, cowboy hat, leather vest, and chaps. This little ploy backfired though as Duncum jumped on him right away. Dalton though gave a good account of himself early, giving as good as he received. Duncum nailed a running clothesline of the floor though that damn near killed Dalton, then repeated it inside to get the pin.

A video taped interview with Becky Hennig is shown where she brags about all her ex-boyfriends in the business. She even alludes to having polished the belt buckle of Steve Corino.

Bout #3
Six-Man Tag Match
Steve Corino, Jim Neidhart & Vic Gate defeated Nick Mercury, Jesse Hennig & Mr. Modest (/w Big Albert & Becky Hennig) by pinfall when Neidhart made Modest submit to the Anvilizer at 10:46
**This match didn't have much good in-ring action, although Mercury took it to Corino from the opening bell. Neidhart and Modest actually saw the most actio, with Modest making a good RCW debut. Hennig never got into the action as the big mysterious masked man came down to ringside again and stalked Becky who fled to the back. This caused Jesse to leave his partners and go after Becky, and not return. Prior to the masked man's arrival it was funny to watch Big Albert try to act suave for Becky...oh and by the way...Neidhart finished off Modest to win the bout.


Vendetta II comes out to the ring alone with a mic to being the second hour.
He talks about his early days wrestling in South Africa as a hero, and how he idolized RCW's original Vendetta. But the company turned their back on him, and he never regained the status he deserved. Now he wants to rebuild his career one step at a time, starting with his first match next week against Tajiri. Then he talked about how he always admired the stalwarts of RCW, Vendetta, Manny Silva, Ben Bassarab, Jim Brunzell. Some of his remarks though seemed somewhat sarcastic, and the fairly subdued crowd gave him a mix of cheers and boos.

Bout #4
European Championship
Scarlett Birminghan (/w Lady Victoria) defeated Lewis O'Day by pinfall after a victory roll at 10:18
[Scarlett Birmingham won the RCW European Championship]
**a bit of a surprise victory in that the title was just created and won by O'Day. The win was in no small part due to the help of Birmingham's new, tall, leather clad valet Lady Victoria.

An interview with Nick Mercury and Big Albert where Mercury talks again about how the RCW screwed him. First they changed the rules of his match last week with Goodridge, then this week they stuck him with a jobber and a chicken in a six man tag match. He says he wants both those Jabronis in a match on next week's Rage.

Bout #5
Jody Christmas & Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) defeated Vincent Regliatti & Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) by submission when Legend submitted Regliatti with a scorpion deathlock at 14:11
**Graves had Legend in the figure-four ready to submit but there was no ref as he was distracted by Gloom and Montgomery's dispute outside the ring. Gloom and Montgomery got quite involved in this bout (again welcome to the new RCW), and Legend turned a sharpshooter attempt from the Canadian Regliatti into a scorpion deathlock, getting the submission.

A video tour of the streets of Belfast...courtesy of Lewis O'Day.

Main Event
RCW Television Title Match
Balls Mahoney defeated Ben Bassarab by pinfall after a collision at 9:07 
[Balls Mahoney retained the RCW Television Title]
**A see-saw match with a weird ending. Mahoney was set to go for a sleeperhold, but Bassarab twisted out of it to go for a jawbreaker. But instead the two heads collided on the way to the mat. Mahoney ended up on top, although both men were out of it, and the ref counted the 1, 2, 3.

Mahoney and Bassarab both lay motionless in the ring as we

FADE TO BLACK

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #774
February 27, 1999
RCW Rage
Madison, Wisconsin

VENDETTA II LOSES IN DEBUT AGAINST TAJIRI !!
RISING SON/SPYDER NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPS !!
LEWIS, MODEST, NEIDHART ALL TURN IN UPSET WINS !!

Wow, what a screwy night it was indeed...

RCW Rage opened with Steve Corino, Jim Neidhart, and Vic Gate in the ring. Corino said he would face the winner of tonight's Jody Christmas - Vic Gate match at RiverWars, and that he hoped Gate would indeed win the Heavyweight title tonight. Corino also extended an olive branch to fellow Canadian Vincent Regliatti, asking him to join this group in the fight against the Christmas/Legend team. Regliatti came to the ring but refused the invitation, calling Corino an egomaniac. This upset Gate the most who challenged Regliatti to a match next week.

Opening Bout
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Rising Son & Spyder defeated Stan Baker & Boss Strickland by pinfall when Son pinned Strickland after a flying senton at 5:23
[Rising Son & Spyder win the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**this was a big upset and seemed to come out of the blue. Just when it looked like the challengers would get out muscled, Rising Son pulled out a swinging DDT followed by a flying senton to get the win and the titles.

After the bout there was a big argument between Baker & Strickland but it did not get physical.

Second instalment of a video of the streets of Belfast seen through the eyes of Lewis O'Day.

Bout #2
Toughman Quarter-Final Match
Lewis O'Day defeated Ben Bassarab by submission to the figure-four at 5:42
**bit of an upset for O'Day as he out brawled Bassarab who is more of a high flyer and technician. O'Day applied the figure-four and Bassarab refused to submit but ended up passing out.

Interview with Jody Christmas, Joe E. Legend, and Mistress Gloom who promise that Vic Gate will be hurt before the night is over. They then call out Vincent Regliatti to the ring as if they are recruiting him, only to turn around and punk him. Corino finally came out to Regliatti's rescue sending the others back to the dressing room by swinging a chair. Corino and Regliatti proceeded to get into a pushing match. No word on where Regliatti's partner Derek Graves is.

Bout #3
Triangle Match
Mike Modest defeated Jesse Hennig (/w Becky Hennig) and Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) when he pinned Hennig after a powerbomb at 18:31
**once again Albert hams it up for Becky, who spends most of the bout trying to avoid him. This turned out to be the best match of the night. Modest powerbombed Hennig on a chair and looked to be in charge. The masked man came down to ringside, speaking for the first time, identifying himself to the crowd as "Darkstar", and then tossed Modest a road sign to use. Hennig intercepted the sign however and smashed it over the head of Modest. Mercury was in trouble next but kicked out after a running necksnap by Hennig. A minute later and it was Modest forced to kick out after a running necksnap from Hennig. Jim Neidhart came down to ringside (for some reason?) and pulled down the top rope on Mike Modest, and then powerslammed him on the floor. Darkstar threw Modest back into the ring to avoid the 10 count. Modest made a comeback and had Hennig pinned but Neidhart distracted the ref. Then Hennig had Modest pinned only to have Darkstar distract the ref from making the pin count. Mercury grew frustrated that neither man was tagging him in, so he just left. Hennig set up Modest for a top rope frankensteiner but Modest countered with a powerbomb to pick up the win.

An interview followed with an ecstatic Mike Modest.

Bout #4
Toughman Quarter-Final
Jim Neidhart defeated Kutlu Warrior Johnny Stewart by submission to the anvilizer at 11:06
**Menele came out and helped Stewart by tripping up Neidhart. Later Menele would throw Stewart a frying pan which he used to ~waffle~ Neidhart. Stewart had to fight his way out of an anvilizer early in the bout. Neidhart took over control of the bout using his power. Kurrgan came down to ringside and held down the top rope sending Stewart to the floor. Stewart was busted wide open. Back inside the ring Neidhart put the anvilizer on Stewart and this time got the submission victory. For a highly touted signing it's been a tough ride so far for Stewart.

Nick Bockwinkel came down to ringside to officially sign and welcome Vendetta II to RCW. VII was wearing green, yellow, and black tights (the colour scheme of the independent South Africa) and matching face paint. VII called out Steve Corino and wanted to shake hands with the "best wrestler" in RCW. Reluctantly Corino came out to do so, but then abruptly left instead. However, VII just continued to gush out his feelings for the fans for a couple more minutes in a display that seemed to lack sincerity.

Bout #5
Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Vendetta II by pinfall after a Buzzsaw kick at 7:59
**what a huge upset for the premiere of Tajiri. Using his high flying moves Tajiri seemed to leave VII gassed, and then nailed his finisher basically knocking his opponent out.

Bobby Duncum Jr came out to the ring demanding a better opponent for RiverWars then "Bassett" (purposely butchering the last name of Ben Bassarab), who he says has been on a losing streak and is over the hill. Bassarab was not here to defend himself, but Gary Goodridge came to the ring instead and offered to fight Duncum. They wanted it right now but Nick Bockwinkel came out to delay the festivities until next week.

While he was in the ring Nick Bockwinkel said that there has been a lot of confusion over the allegiances of certain RCW wrestlers, such as Menele, Stewart, Kurrgan, Darkstar, etc..He has a solution; let them fight it out next week.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Jody Christmas (/w Mistress Gloom) defeated Vic Gate by pinfall after a superkick at 6:32
[Jody Christmas retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**this was a good match and saw Christmas juice. Gloom threw Christmas a chair that he used on Gate to set up the superkick finisher. Even with that double combo Christmas still felt in necessary to grab a handful of tight to ensure the three count.

After the bout Christmas and Gloom were joined in the ring by Joe E. Legend, and the trio continued to beat down on Gate. Corino and Neidhart were running out to make the save but Neidhart got jumped from behind by Mike Modest. In the ring the trio managed to beat down Corino who entered the ring on his own, until Vincent Regliatti also stormed the ring with a steel chair. The trio fled. Regliatti though then proceeded to ~waffle~ Corino over the head with the steel chair...as we

FADE TO BLACK


**Breaking kayfabe. The total anarchy, and lack of structure is what new owner Jack Larkin was going for. It emulated the every man for himself era of WWF with DX, Stone Cold, Bret Hart, Vader, etc, instead of the WCW faction heavy delineation of NWO vs WCW. The other issue was that I was running the cards unbooked which led to some major problems. At some point soon I began to make the conversion to booked cards as it was just too random and chaotic. 
 

Jesse Hennig

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #775
March 6, 1999
RCW Rage
Youngstown, Ohio

DEREK GRAVES WINS THE TV CHAMPIONSHIP!!
VENDETTA II ELIMINATES CORINO TO WIN BATTLE ROYAL!!
MORE MATCHES ADDED FOR RIVERWARS!!

RAGE opens right into the start of our first match with word that Nick Bockwinkel's solution that he alluded to last week to sort out allegiances was going to be a battle royal tonight.

Opening Bout
Toughman Semi-Final
Lewis O'Day defeated Jim Neidhart by submission to the figure-four at 5:54
**Neidhart is double tough but O'Day is a natural brawler and more of a singles wrestler. O'Day dominated most of this match in surprising fashion and got Neidhart to quit.

Vendetta II is shown introducing himself in the "face" dressing room, but getting the cold shoulder from most of the wrestlers.

Tajiri is interviewed about his victory over Vendetta II and his chances in the Battle Royal tonight. Of course he pretty much says nothing except for a few words in Japanese.


Bout #2
RCW Television Title Match
Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) defeated Balls Mahoney after a hip toss at 10:21
[Derek Graves wins the RCW Television Title]
**Graves won the bout after a simple hip toss maneuver. The replay showed Mahoney jamming his neck on the mat. Graves and Montgomery were joined by Regliatti, but they looked worried about Mahoney, and the celebration was quite muted. On the positive side Graves looks like an absolute specimen of a wrestler and would appear to have a very bright future indeed.

Post-Match, the trainer trying to attend to Balls Mahoney backstage is assaulted from behind, but the feed is lost before we can see who the assailant was.


Bout #3
Vic Gate and Vincent Regliatti battled to a double countout at 4:29
**this match was instigated by Gate being mad at Regs for the way he disrespected Steve Corino last week. The match quickly degenerated into a brawl outside the confines of the ring and was tossed out.

Joe Aiello announces that Derek Graves will defend his TV title at RiverWars in a rematch against Balls Mahoney, if the former champ is cleared to wrestle by then.
Aiello interviews Joe E. Legend. But the announcer steers the conversation to how great the ladder match will be at RiverWars between Jody Christmas and Steve Corino. Legend gets pissy and says that he wants a ladder match at RiverWars too, and that he will steal the show. Aiello suggest a great opponent would be Nick Mercury, and when Mercury comes to the ring to accept the match is set.


Bout #4
RCW European Title Match
Scarlett Birmingham (/w Lady Victoria) defeated Darren Dalton by submission to the Scarlett Stretch at 10:15
[Scarlett Birmingham retained the RCW European Title]
**no one really understands this need to have a European title in the mid-west but Dalton made it comical again by coming out in a similar Union Jack ring robe as Birmingham. Except instead of an expensive glamorous robe he had a bedazzled bath robe, and instead of a valet brought out a leather clad sex doll. Dalton's best moments unfortunately were before the bell was rung.

Joe Aiello brings Darkstar to the ring. The masked man says he is a spurned lover of Becky Hennig's. He challenges her "kissing" cousin Jesse Hennig to a match next week on RAGE. The Hennig cousins come out to accept. Jesse's stipulation is that if he wins Darkstar must unmask. Darkstar agrees adding the stipulation that if he wins, Becky will manage him as well as Jesse.


Bout #5
Bobby Duncum Jr defeated Gary Goodridge by pinfall after a running clothesline at 10:09
**wild brawl with Goodridge busted wide open early on.


Main Event
20-Man Over The Top Battle Royal 
Vendetta II won a 20 man Battle Royal 32:49
*Corino threw out Rising Son 0:31
*Christmas threw out Menele 1:45
*Christmas threw out Michael Modest 2:00
*Wiked Klown threw out Kutlu Warrior Johnny Stewart 4:23
*Wiked Klown threw out Ben Bassarab 7:57
*Wiked Klown threw out Devon Storm 9:10
*Corino threw out Wiked Klown 10:06
*Spyder threw out Darkstar 10:53
*Spyder threw out Joe E. Legend 13:18
*Vendetta II threw out Kurrgan 15:12
*Hennig threw out Boss Strickland 20:10
*Tajiri threw out Jesse Hennig 20:34
*Christmas threw out Spyder 21:55
*Christmas threw out Shaggy 23:02
*Christmas threw out Stan Baker 26:26
*Vendetta II threw out Nick Mercury 28:05
*Vendetta II threw out Jody Christmas 28:17
*Vendetta II threw out Tajiri 31:54
*Vendetta II threw out Steve Corino 32:49

Perhaps a bit unusual for the Heavyweight champion to take part in a battle royal. The fans seemed to smell a Tajiri upset that never materialized. Strange how wrestlers got onto a roll and eliminated several straight opponents. The loudest pop of the night was when VII and Corino went nose to nose.
The show ended with VII celebrating mid-ring, inviting Corino and Christmas back in to shake hands. Corino just walked away shaking his head, as we

FADE TO BLACK 


Breaking kayfab; overall a weak Rage. The battle royal probably would have saved it but by this time the crowd was pretty subdued. Very strange TNM generated battle royal results with guys going on a tear. Again, looks like I was mostly running unbooked. Probably booked VII to win but didn't specify any eliminations.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #776
March 13, 1999
RCW Rage
Grand Forks, North Dakota

MERCURY PINS LEGEND IN BIG TAG MATCH !!
BECKY LEAVES JESSE !!
KURRGAN TO MEET KUTLU WARRIOR IN A HARDCORE MATCH AT RIVERWARS !!

Opens with an interview from "The Alliance" (Jody Christmas, Joe E. Legend, Mistress Gloom). The Alliance promises at least one new member soon. They say it could be someone from within RCW or a new recruit, but it certainly won't be anyone from Steve Corino's "Others". The Alliance tells Corino to get himself a partner for a tag match tonight against Christmas & Legend.

Opening Bout
Toughman Semi-Final
Kurrgan defeated Gary Goodridge by pinfall after hitting him with a baseball bat at 6:53
**Goodridge attacked Kurrgan before the bell. The Kutlu Warrior and Menele came down to ringside. Kurrgan took an early advantage and nailed Goodridge with a piledriver. Vendetta II came down to ringside which distracted Kurrgan. The Kutlu Warrior then tripped up Kurrgan. Despite that Kurrgan kept control and forced Goodridge to kick out after a tombstone piledriver. Goodridge made a comeback but it ended when VII hit him in the back with a steel chair. Kurrgan nailed a chokeslam, 1, 2, kickout! VII passed Kurrgan his Louisville Slugger which he used to bust Goodridge over the head, and get the pin. Not sure anyone knows what is going on with the allegiances and actions of anyone in RCW anymore. It seems to be complete chaos. The inmates are running the asylum!

Ben Bassarab was interviewed from his home saying he was resting up to take on Bobby Duncum Jr, and that Jr's taunts mean nothing to him.

Bobby Duncum Jr then took to the ring to lay out further insults to Bassarab, and to call him out when he already knew that Bassarab was not in the building. Duncum Jr also insulted Canadians in general and took some shots at Corino, Neidhart, and Regliatti.


Bout #2
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Rising Son & Spyder defeated Tajiri & Devon Storm by pinfall when Spyder pinned Storm after a frog splash at 1:23
[Rising Son & Spyder retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**the champs made very short work of their opponents

Rising Son & Spyder stayed in the ring for an interview. Spyder said that he was ready for Menele and his friend Kutlu Wrrior, and that Rising Son has his back at RiverWars. Suddenly the IBZ (Wiked Klown & Shaggy) hit the ring with chairs and laid out the champs.

Steve Corino is seen in the back reluctantly accepting Nick Mercury's offer to be his partner tonight against the Alliance.


Bout #3
Ex-Tag Partners Grudge Match
Stan Baker defeated Boss Strickland by pinfall after a heartpunch at 7:19
**Vincent Regliatti came down to ringside to do guest commentary. Strickland was winning handily, and Regliatti kept talkng about how Strickland was from Canada and not the U.S. as he claims(?). Regliatti went to the ring and pulled down the top rope sending Strickland to the floor where both Regs and Baker beat on Strickland. Back inside it was all Baker who nailed his finisher and won the tainted victory.

Joe Aiello interviewed Steve Corino next. Corino said he didn't trust Nick Mercury much but would have to trust him since Vic Gate and Jim Neidhart weren't around tonight. 


Bout #4
Toughman Rules
Kutlu Warrior defeated Wiked Klown by submission to a chokehold at 8:11
**Two heels going at it. Warrior dominated giving Klown an early inverted DDT, but was too close to the ropes to get the pin. Warrior ended up hitting Klown with a frying pan and a pair of brass knuckles, busting him wide open, and eventually just choked him out.

Another clip of Becky Hennig, this time talking about how growing up watching wrestling she fantasized about both Ben Bassarab and Jim Neidhart, but of course this was before they got old.

 
Bout #5
Mask vs Manager
Darkstar and Jesse Hennig (/w Becky Hennig) battled to a 20:00 time limit draw
**Hennig took it to Darkstar early, and then it turned into an even back and forth battle. Becky tripped up Darkstar to get Hennig the advantage back. Jesse went for a northern lights suplex but Darkstar blocked it, turning it into a backdrop. Both men were exhausted by the 10-minute mark but battled on. Darkstar twice hit Hennig with a death valley driver only to have Hennig kick out of both pin attempts. Michael Modest came down to ringside in the 16th minute and began to talk to Becky which seemed to distract both men inside the ring. Eventually Becky left the ringside and went to the back! Modest stayed and pulled down the ropes and he and Darkstar double teamed Jesse, but time ran out. Strange.


Promo for RiverWars PPV...from Minneapolis, MN
Friday, March 26th 1999

RCW Heavyweight Title Match - Ladder Match
Jody Christmas (/w Mistress Gloom) (c)  v  Steve Corino

Hardcore Tables Match
Kurrgan  v  Kutlu Warrior

TV Title Match (pending Balls Mahoney's injury)
Derek Graves (c) (/w Sharon Montgomery)  v  Balls Mahoney
**Gary Goodridge slated to replace Mahoney if still injured

Bobby Duncum Jr  v  Ben Bassarab

Ladder Match (with nothing to retrieve?)
Joe E. Legend  v  Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert)

Spyder  v  Menele

Vic Gate & Jim Neidhart  v  IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy

 

Main Event
Special Tag Match
Steve Corino & Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) defeated Jody Christmas & Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) when Mercury submitted Legend to the Cloverleaf at 13:56
**Great Match, probably the best match so far this year. Big Albert hit on Gloom throughout the match and managed to get himself decked a couple of times by the leather clad behemoth. Christmas opened up against Mercury, upon Mercury's insistence. Legend then came in and hit Mercury with a superplex. The Alliance double teamed Mercury while Corino watched from the corner waiting for the tag. Mercury grabbed an advantage but refused to tag at first! Then he finally tagged, setting up Legend versus Corino. Corino applied the figure-four around the ringpost at one point on Legend, taunting him. Corino applied a sharpshooter on Legend for about 45 seconds before Legend reached the ropes. Legend was really out of it but battled back and got Corino into a Boston crab. Then the Alliance double teamed Corino. Legend hit Corino with his Legend cutter finisher, but Corino kicked out of the pin attempt! Mercury tagged in and took it to Legend. Gloom entered the ring while Christmas distracted the ref and Corino. Gloom hit Mercury with a chair but Mercury managed to kick out of the subsequent pin attempt. The Alliance double teamed Mercury but Corino came in and threw Christmas out of the ring. Corino and Christmas brawled outside the ring while Big Albert grabbed ahold of Gloom's legs for dear life to prevent her entering the ring. Mercury hit Legend with a DDT, then put him in a cleverleaf to get the submission.

Post-Match: Vincent Regliatti hit the ring and laid out Mercury with a chair shot. Legend recovered and gave the Legend cutter to Regliatti. The Alliance fled to the back while Corino entered the ring just as Mercury was about to hit Regliatti with a chair. Corino wrestled the chair from Mercury. Regliatti though then attacked Corino from behind, and was going to piledrive Corino on top of the chair but was clotheslined by Mercury instead. Regliatti rolled out of the ring leaving Corino and Mercury facing off in the middle of the ring. 

as we

FADE TO BLACK


breaking kayfabe; a much better show tonight then some past ones, but still the storylines seem to be all over the place.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #777
March 20, 1999
RCW Rage
Winnipeg, Manitoba

GARY GOODRIDGE NEW RCW TV CHAMPION !!
BOSS STRICKLAND HELPS DUNCUM JR OVERCOME REGLIATTI !!
KURRGAN IS RCW'S FIRST TOUGHMAN CHAMPION !!

RCW Rage opens with an interview with Bobby Duncum Jr., who tore into his "unworthy" RiverWars opponent "Ben Bennett". He also tore into Vendetta II for mentioning a bunch of RCW stalwarts but leaving his name off his little "crush" list. Finally he tore into Steve Corino and said that since Corino was saving himself for RiverWars, he would take his fury out on his countryman Vincent Regliatti in tonight's main event.

Opening Bout
Vendetta II defeated Menele by pinfall after an inverted DDT at 7:37
**hard fought match by Menele but he's having trouble getting to the pay window often. Interesting that instead of copying the original Vendetta's finisher the DDT (and jumping DDT) he used Vendetta's arch rival's (Rogue) finisher instead. 

An interview with Becky Hennig who explained that she would not be able to manage Jesse anymore, as it would be a case of conflict of interest. She wouldn't elaborate when asked whether the conflict was personal, family, or business in nature, or if it pertained to either Darkstar or Michael Modest.


Bout #2
Four Corners Match - Non-Title Match
Vic Gate defeated Lewis O'Day, Darren Dalton, and Scarlett Birmingham (/w Lady Victoria) by pinfall when he pinned Dalton after a briding back suplex at 14:46
**The European title of Birmingham's was not on the line in this one for some reason. Also having three opponents Dalton couldn't choose just one to mimic so instead he came out dressed in latex (to mimic Victoria) getting a good pop from the crowd. O'Day took it to Birmingham early, and then Birmingham stayed out of the match after that. Gate picked up a huge win, even if was just pinning Dalton.

Home video footage from Boss Strickland showing where he grew up in Chicago.
This was followed by a rebuttal from Vincent Regliatti in the dressing room, reiterating that Boss is a Canadian, and a traitor.

Steve Corino rants at "The Aliiance" for their recent attacks on him and Regliatti. He tells Christmas that it will not be gang warfare at RiverWars, just the two of us one on one. Corino says they should change the main event from being a ladder match to being a Cage Match instead.


Bout #3
RCW Toughman Tournament Final
Kurrgan defeated Jim Neidhart by pinfall after hitting him with the ring bell at 11:14
[Kurrgan wins the RCW Toughman Title]
**Kurrgan was busted open in the first minute of action. The match went back and forth, and then outside the ring. The Kutlu Warrior ambushed Kurrgan from behind to give Neidhart the advantage. Neidhart then hit Kurrgan with a road sign provided by Kutlu. The brawl went up the aisle, then to the the back of the arena. Neidhart had Kurrgan pinned but the ref had stumbled down a set of stairs and was delayed. While he left the ring to check on the ref Neidhart was hit from behind by Kurrgan with the ringbell (Kutlu had long left the area), and that resulted in the win.


The second hour of the show begins with RCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel who recaps the lineup for RiverWars.
He adds a Darkstar v Jesse Hennig match with Hardcore rules, and it will again be Mask vs Manager, with the winner getting the managerial contract of Becky Hennig, which seems contradictory to what she said earlier.
Bockwinkel also promises a unique announcement at RiverWars which will set up the next PPV in April, as well as do homage to one of wrestling's pioneers.

Bout #4
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Rising Son & Spyder and IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy battled to a double countout at 6:35
[Rising Son & Spyder retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**top spot was when Son moved out of the way of an Asai moonsault by Klown who then bounced off the guardrail and into the stands. Matched ended in a double countout with Son and Klown battling out on the floor.

Gary Goodridge storms to the ring and says that he isn't going to wait for RiverWars, that he wants his TV title shot now. Derek Graves shocks the crowd by coming out and accepting the challenge.


Bout #5
RCW Television Title Match
Gary Goodridge defeated Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) by submission to the ankle lock at 13:48
[Gary Goddridge wins the RCW Television Title]
**the match is give and take, before Goodridge begins to dominate. Goodridge gets the ankle lock on Graves, but Graves battles close enough to the ropes that Montgomery can reach in and pull him the rest of the way. He comes up lame and tries to fend off Goodridge.
Former TV champion, Balls Mahoney appears and ends up pulling down the top rope (seemingly the new favourite move in RCW) and sends Graves to the floor. We can't tell because it was on a reverse, if it was meant for Goodridge or Graves, or he didn't care which. 
Montgomery enters the ring from behind while the ref is distracted to hit Goodridge from behind with a chair, but he catches on and ejects her from the ring instead. Graves gets back into the ring, goes for the chair but Goodridge stomps on his fingers, takes him down with a legwhip, kicks the chair out of the ring, and puts the ankle lock back on...this time with success.

Nick Mercury comes to the ring to talk again about how the new RCW is screwing him (he actually gets some applause and agreement from some of the old school crowd), but then he announces he will not be showing up for his ladder match (he calls it the Stairway to nowhere) against Joe E. Legend at RiverWars.


Main Event
Bobby Duncum Jr. defeated Vincent Regliatti by pinfall after outside interference at 10:56
**Regliatti took the early advantage, a double clothesline put both men down. Regs recovers first and applies the figure-four to Duncum. 
Boss Strickland comes down to ringside.
Duncum is hurting bad, and both men tumble to the floor.
Steve Corino comes down to ringside and he gets in a pushing match with Duncum.
Back in the ring Duncum survives a sharpshooter from Regliatti. Strickland throws Duncum a cowbell, but Regs blocks Duncum's swing, blocking it into Duncum's face. Regs goes for the pin but Strickland jumps on the ring apron to distract the ref. Duncum goes out of the ring, and then moves out of the way of a baseball slide from Regs and crashes to the floor. Duncum, Strickland, and Corino go at it on the floor while Regs is recovering. The brawl goes into the ring where Strickland hits Regliatti with an Olympic suplex. Duncum goes for the pin but Sharon Montgomery has also come down to the ring and drapes Regs' foot over the bottom rope. Duncum nails a running clothesline on Montgomery levelling her. Corino is now arguing with the ref to prevent Duncum's pin on Regliatti from being counted. Duncum turns his back on Regs to argue with Corino, and so Regs is able to nail Duncum from behind with the cowbell. Strickland though attacks Regs from behind, and then rolls Duncum on top of Regs. He then separates the ref from Corino by going after Corino. The ref turns around and counts the 1, 2, 3. No, this is not your Father's RCW...he had taste.

After the bout The Alliance (Jody Christmas, Joe E. Legend, Mistress Gloom) comes out to join Strickland in punking Corino and Regliatti. Ben Bassarab shows up but is cut off by Duncum and the two of them go at it, and then Nick Mercury shows up to taunt Joe E. Legend...we see Corino v Christmas, Duncum v Bassarab, Mercury v Legend, Gloom v Montgomery, and Regliatti v Strickland, fighting it out, as we

FADE TO BLACK



 

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #778
RiverWars
March 26, 1999
RCW PPV
Minneapolis, MN

Opening Bout
Spyder defeated Menele by pinfall after a vertical facebuster at 5:46
**Menele grabbed an early advantage, but Spyder turned the match around with an amazing shooting star press on Menele outside the ring. Menele got busted open, and Spyder hit him with both an inverted DDT and then a vertical facebuster to get the pin.

Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel came out ot the ring to talk about Nick Mercury. Seems Mercury was confused and thought he didn't have to wrestle Joe E. Legend tonight. Bockwinkel told him to wrestle or leave the RCW.
Then Bockwinkel dropped the news that RCW will be hosting a tag team tournament. 16 teams will compete on RAGE over the next 4 weeks in the round of 16. The final 8 teams would go on to compete for the trophy at the next RCW PPV in April.
Bockwinkel then brought out a tag team legend, former Horseman Tully Blanchard!
As one of the best tag team wrestlers ever, Bockwinkel has brought Tully in for this tournament and promised he could tag with anyone in the RCW he wanted. Tully said he couldn't decide between two guys, but since they were wrestling against each other tonight he would choose to team with the winner of Bobby Duncum Jr and Ben Bassarab. Bockwinkel then announced that Blanchard would be the special guest referee for that match tonight.
Bockwinkel then called out Vendetta II to the ring. Bock says he has been given the power to make the teams for the tournament, and that he would make pairings that are interesting to fans. In that manner, Bockwinkel announces that VII's partner for the round of 16 would be none other than the Kutlu Warrior!!

Bout #2
RCW Television Title Match
Gary Goodridge defeated Balls Mahoney by submission to a mounted armbar at 28:14
[Gary Goodridge retained the RCW Television Title]
**Great match! Goodridge took the early advantage and the fight went outside the ring early. Goodridge no sells a Mahoney piledriver. Vendetta II came down to ringside and proceeded to hit Goodridge in the back with a chair. This evened things out which then went back and forth. Mahoney threw Goodridge out of the ring and then distracted the ref as VII hit Goodridge with scorpion death drop outside the ring. Goodridge battled back and nailed Mahoney with a DDT. Both participants were exhausted. Mahoney escaped an ankle lock submission while Goodgidge fought to the ropes to break an STF seconds later. Goodridge hit the former TV champ Mahoney with a DDT outside the ring which him up to apply his finisher inside the ring and get the win.

The next bout was scheduled to include Vic Gate. Gate though came out in street clothes and told his partner Jim Neidhart and the fans that he was injured and would require back surgery that would keep him out of action for 6 months to a year. Neidhart apparently had no idea, and didn't look impressed. However, Vincent Regliatti came out from the back and offered to team with Neidhart tonight.


Bout #3
Jim Neidhart & Vincent Regliatti and The IBZ (Wiked Klown & Shaggy) battled to a time limit draw at 20:00
**Both teams executed really quick tags. At one point the ref counted to 10 with all 4 men brawling outside the ring, but then just let them go at it. Shaggy was busted wide open but he had Regliatti in trouble. The IBZ used double teams on Regliatti, until Neidhart finally tagged in and applied the anvilizer just as the bell rang for time.


Bout #4
Mask vs Manager
Darkstar defeated Jesse Hennig by pinfall after hitting him with a road sign at 18:31
**Becky Hennig was at ringside to watch this match but was not in either corner. Back and forth action with Hennig grabbing the first advantage. Darkstar though busted Hennig open outside the ring. Darkstar then hit a death valley driver on Hennig who kicked out at a 2 1/2 count. Darkstar just couldn't put Hennig away. Michael Modest came down to ringside and tossed Darkstar the road sign and then distracted the ref to allow him to use it and get the win.

After the match Darkstar and Michael Modest continued to lay the boots to Hennig. Becky entered the ring and tried to shield Jesse with her body, but Darkstar dragged his new manager away and took her to the back.


Bout #5
RCW Toughman Title Match - Hardcore Table Match
Kurrgan defeated Kutlu Warrior by putting him through a table at 17:40
[Kurrgan retained the RCW Toughman Title]
**To win the bout you must drive your opponent through a table. Kutlu is giving away over 60 pounds in this matchup. Kurrgan went for a tombstone early on only to have Kutlu reverse it into a tombstone of his own. Kurrgan set up Kutlu on a table on the floor and came off the ring apron with a legdrop, but the table did not break, everyone just tumbled to the ground. 
Kutlu turned things around by hitting Kurrgan with the ringbell. The two brawled outside the ring and when Kurrgan went for another tombstone, again, Kutlu reversed it into a tombstone piledriver of his own. 
Menele came down to ringside!
Kutlu hit Kurrgan with a jumping DDT, but Menele tried to pass Kutlu his singapore cane, only to have it intercepted by Kurrgan who nailed the challenger with several shots over the head. However, Menele hit Kurrgan over the back with a steel chair. Kutlu then nailed Kurrgan over the head with the cane several times. Before he could even go for a pin though Kurrgan just sat up! Both men were pretty exhausted by now, and both men were bleeding, especially Kurrgan. Kurrgan went for a tombstone outside the ring, and the third time was the charm as he nailed it. The brawl continued without Menele at ringside and with neither man going for a table. Finally Kurrgan set up Kutlu on the table and then dove off the ring apron to put him through the table and pick up the win.

After the match, Vendetta II came part way down the rampway, had a long distance staredown with Kurrgan, before turning around and retreating.


Bout #6
Special Guest Referee - Tully Blanchard
Bobby Duncum Jr defeated Ben Bassarab by pinfall after a running bulldog at 16:42
**Bassarab grabbed the early advantage and actually dominated most of this bout. Duncum pulled out a running clothesline but could not recover fast enough to get the pin. The match then went back and forth until Bassarab reclaimed his advantage. Dunucm Jr had to get a rope break after being in an STF for over a minute. Bassarab got caught with a chop to the throat, but a minute later was able to counter a running bulldog attempt by pushing Duncum Jr off. The brawl went outside where Duncum hit Bassarab with a piledriver. Back inside the ring Duncum poured it on, went for another running bulldog (aided by a handful of Bassarab's hair) and this time nailed it for the win. Tully Blanchard was totally neutral throughout the bout.


Bout #7 
Ladder Match - Suspended at the top of the ladder is a contract for an RCW Heavyweight title shot
Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) defeated Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) by retrieving the contract at 24:38
**Big Albert came out wearing a tuxedo with his regular t-shirt on underneath. Mercury and Legend brawled outside the ring. Mercury brought the ladder into the ring. The match went back and froth with Mercury coming close a couple times to retrieving the contract. Mercury broke off a Boston crab to climb the ladder but missed the contract. Mercury later superplexed Legend off the ladder. Legend took control of he match and nailed the Legend cutter. But both men were exhausted and moving very slow. After the cutter Legend slowly climbed the ladder ahead of Mercury and grabbed the contract. Albert tried to get involved but was taken out by Gloom.


Main Event - CAGE MATCH
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Steve Corino defeated Jody Christmas (/w Mistress Gloom) by submission to the cloverleaf at 22:46
[Steve Corino Wins the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**This was a traditional cage match with pinfalls and submissions, not cage escapes.
Corino grabbed the first real advantage of the bout with a superplex. Christmas almost stole the bout with a pin when he grabbed onto Corino's tights. It was all Corino though as he applied a series of moves, a Russian legsweep and spinning elbowdrops. Corino got a single leg Boston crab but Christmas reached the ropes after a full minute in the hold, and has a very sore back. Christmas made a spirited comeback. The champ back dropped Corino against the cage. Corino recovered but both men were feeling the pain now. Christmas smashes Corino's head off the cage, and covers for 2. Corino battles back with a swinging neckbreaker, 2nd buckle elbowdrop, and a cloverleaf which Christmas survives after almost a minute in the hold. Corino climbs to the top buckle, then keeps going a couple more feet up, and then comes flying off for a clothesline, but Christmas moves out of the way! Both men are slow to their feet but Christmas nails a superkick out of the blue! Both men are exhausted, the pin cover is slow so Corino kicks out. The challenger battles back, a double underhook takedown, slingshot into the cage wall, and then applied the cloverleaf once again. This time the pain was just too much for Christmas who cried uncle.

Steve Corino celebrates in the ring as Jim Neidhart and Vic Gate come out to celebrate with him as we,

FADE TO BLACK
 


breaking kayfabe; this running unbooked was just killing me, and TNM was generating way too much outside interference. The match times were also too long, and realistically would have needed a 4 hour PPV block. Crazy.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling Heavyweight Champion History

1. The Destroyer
Jan 5/80: defeated Mike Valiant at RCW #1 in a tournament final.

2. Chris Lyon
Jan 24/81: defeated The Mummy in tournament final at RCW #26.
The Destroyer was stripped of his title after not being able to
defend the title for 30 days due to injury.

3. The Mummy
Mar 28/81: defeated Chris Lyons in a cage match at RCW #29.

4. The Destroyer (2)
Aug 1/81: defeated the Mummy at RCW #36.

5. Chris Lyon (2)
Oct 24/82: defeated the Destroyer at RCW #80

6. The Destroyer (3)
Apr 30/83: defeated Chris Lyon at RCW #97.
Best 2 out of 3 falls

7. Chris Lyon (3)
July 9/83: defeated The Destroyer at RCW #106

8. Jim Brunzell
Sep 22/84: defeated Chris Lyon at RCW #162

9. David Schultz
Mar 23/85: defeated Jim Brunzell at RCW #184

10. Jim Brunzell (2)
Apr 20/85: defeated David Schultz at RCW #187
3 falls to 2, 30-minute Ironman Cage Match

11. Jerry Blackwell
June 30/85: defeated Jim Brunzell at RCW #196

12. Bob Backlund
Oct 5/85: defeated Jerry Blackwell at RCW #209

13. David Schultz (2)
Dec 19/85: defeated Bob Backlund at RCW #220

14. Bob Backlund (2)
Feb 15/86: defeated David Schultz at RCW #225

15. Steve Disalvo
Aug 23/86: defeated Bob Backlund at RCW #250

16. Vendetta
Oct 10/87: defeated Steve Disalvo at RCW #304

17. Don Muraco
Mar 18/89: defeated Vendetta at RCW #367

18. Dynamite Kid
Apr 15/89: defeated Don Muraco at RCW #371

19. Don Muraco (2)
May 27/89: defeated Dynamite Kid at RCW #377

20. Davey Boy Smith
Sep 2/89: defeated Don Muraco at RCW #391

21. Dynamite Kid (2)
Dec 14/89: defeated Davey Boy Smith by pinfall in a Coal Miners Glove match at RCW #406 (10th Anniversary Spectacular)

22. Paul Orndorff
May 26/90: defeated Dynamite Kid by pinfall at RCW #425
**vacated July 7th due to injury

23. Steve Disalvo (2)
Aug 4/90: defeated Don Muraco in tournament final at RCW #435

24. Ricky Steamboat
Dec 15/90: defeated Steve Disalvo at RCW #449 at (11th Anniversary Spectacular)

25. Larry Cameron
Mar 14/91: defeated Jerry Lynn at RCW #459 in tournament final
**Vacated by Steamboat due to injury

26. Paul Orndorff (2)
Sep 28/91: defeated Cameron by pinfall at RCW #480

27. Rogue
Feb 15/92: defeated Orndorff in a cage match at RCW #489

28. Vendetta (2)

Jun 20/92: defeated Rogue 2 falls to 0 in a best of 3 falls match at RCW #498

29. Dirty White Boy
Aug 15/92: defeated Vendetta by pinfall at RCW #502

30. Jerry Lynn
Dec 5/92: defeated Dirty White Boy 2 falls to 1 in a best of 3 falls match at RCW #510 (13th Anniversary Spectacular)

31. Manny Silva

Mar 27/93: defeated Jerry Lynn by pinfall at RCW #517

32. Harley Tragger
Sep 25/93: defeated Dirty White Boy in tournament final at RCW #530
**Manny Silva was stripped of the title and suspended for his actions

33. Stan Lane
Dec 4/93: defeated Harley Tragger by pinfall at RCW #535 (14th Anniversary Spectacular)

34. Jim Brunzell (3)
Apr 9/94: defeated Stan Lane by submission at RCW #542 in a steel cage match

35. Greg Valentine
Jun 4/94: defeated Jim Brunzell by referee's decision at RCW #546 

36. Harley Tragger (2)

Sep 24/94: defeated Greg Valentine by pinfall at RCW #554

37. Stan Lane (2)
Dec 3/94: defeated Harley Tragger by pinfall at RCW #559 (15th Anniversary Spectacular)

38. Jim Brunzell (4)
Oct 21/95: defeated Stan Lane by pinfall at RCW # 587
**Vacated title for retirement after Dec 9/95 title defence.

39. Greg Valentine (2)
Jan 20/96: defeated Waylon Mercy by pinfall at RCW #596
**tournament final for vacant title

40. Waylon Mercy
Jul 6/96: defeated Greg Valentine by pinfall at RCW #619

41. Stan Lane (3)
Sep 14/96: defeated Waylon Mercy by pinfall at RCW #634

42. Manny Silva (2)
Jul 19/97: defeated Stan Lane by pinfall at RCW #680

43. Vendetta (3)
Dec 13/97: defeated Manny Silva by pinfall at RCW #708 (18th Anniversary Spectacular)

44. Masa Chono
Feb 21/98: defeated Vendetta by pinfall at RCW #716

45. Vendetta (4)
Apr 4/98: defeated Masa Chono by pinfall at RCW #722
**Vendetta forfeited the title after his defence at the 19th Anniversary show, on Dec 5/98

46. Jody Christmas
Feb 11/99: defeated Steve Corino by pinfall at RCW #771
**4 man tournament for the vacant title

47. Steve Corino
Mar 26/99: defeated Jody Christmas by submission in a cage match at RCW #778 (RiverWars PPV)

[jacklarkin]

Breaking Kayfabe (some of the roster)

Steve Corino - I'm betting everyone knows who this is. But did you know he was born in Winnipeg?

Jody Christmas - my created character. pretty sure the name was generated by Adam Ryland's simulator, but i just took the name. Has the size and style of Shawn Michaels or Edge, but more the looks of Chris Hamrick (so an indy version of a main eventer).

Joe E. Legend - pretty sure you all know him? 

Nick Mercury - created. kind of like a Chris Jericho but an extra 10-15 lbs of puffy on him, has never left the 80's behind. Personality is part Jericho buffoon, and part Val Kilmer in Top Secret!

Mistress Gloom - created. think Awesome Kong but dresses like Chyna, kind of a BDSM domme personality

Big Albert - created. not Albert from WWE fame. probably closer to Ralphus but not so extreme.

Bobby Duncum Jr - hope you all know who this is

Ben Bassarab - wrestled Stampede, in the style of Dynamite Kid/Chris Benoit, married into the Hart family, did not get picked up by WWF after the buyout of Stu Hart, retired, became a truck driver, but in my world he became a hall of famer

Kurrgan - i think everyone knows who this is from WWE oddities

Kutlu Warrior - Johny Stewart was a flamboyant type wrestler. In the Carl Todd/John Fredrickson WWA/PWA/NeWA world they turned him into a hardcore legend.

Darkstar - very good technician Doug Gilbert went under the mask in the mid-90's as Dark Patriot. This is basically him but is technically a created wrestler.

Jesse Hennig - Curt's brother, never made it big in the real wrestling world but in the Carl Todd/John Fredrickson WWA/PWA/NeWA  they turned him into a mainstay.

Michael Modest - I think everyone knows who this is. sometimes i seem to refer to him as Mr. Modest. He was an internet darling and one of those who everyone thought should get picked up by the big two but only had a cup of coffee. His role in the Exposed Pro Wrestling's Greatest Secrets seemed to black ball him for a while.

Jim Neidhart - you all know

Vincent Regliatti - created. inspired by Ross Rebagliati the Canadian snowboarder disqualified for marijuana after winning an olympic gold medal. That attitude, but some of the move set of Bret Hart and Owen Hart.

IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy - the Carl Todd/John Fredrickson WWA/PWA/NeWA knockoffs of the ICP.

Becky Hennig - created. claims to be a cousin of Jesse but thats just kayfabe. redneck, trailer trash. 

Gary Goodridge - there was a lot of cross over happening from UFC and MMA at the time. I really liked Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn. Others were competing mostly overseas like Don Frye and Frank Shamrock. I decided to use Goodridge, partly because he was Canadian and my RCW was based out of Winnipeg.

Balls Mahoney - one of my favorite ECW wrestlers

Spyder - a local indy guy, decent look, good moves, not much size

Menele - created. based on a pic I found, black and white probably from the 50's or 60's. Bald, menacing, doesn't talk, out of control vicious. Hard to figure if he is Russian, American, or what since he doesn't talk. Rumor is that his voice is actually high and squeaky so he doesnt talk so it doesnt break his image.

Derek Graves - created based on someone i knew. Classic, very athletic, fairly big, straight ahead guy. good worker. not a ton of personality. 

Sharon Montgomery - created. tall, picturesque and classy. based on someone i knew. 

Rising Son - created. masked. gives the impression of being Oriental but is probably caucasian under cover.

Vic Gate - created. throwback. classic mat grappler. more inclined to be a trainer, which he will be eventually for RCW. not a big guy. The kind of guy who looked old even when he was 30.

Lewis O'Day - created. knock off of Fit Finlay, maybe a bit of Roddy Piper in him, but an indy version. I wanted Fit Finlay but since we was wrestling in WCW I wouldn't/couldn't sign him, so i did the knock off thing.

Darren Dalton - local indy wrestler. i worked with him briefly. has wrestled for many years, decent sized guy. good charisma too. 

Scarlett Birmingham - the Carl Todd/John Fredrickson WWA/PWA/NeWA creation. Tall, slim, cocky, arrogant, typical British heel.

Vendetta II - created. began to wrestle in my South African spin off fed as a tribute to the original. Not as talented as the original which drives him crazy. like a cross between Booker T, crow Sting.

Boss Strickland - created. fairly new to pro wrestling but a bit older because he had an extensive amateur/collegiate wrestling career first. Has all the flare of Bob Backlund (basically none), but is arrogant because of his amateur skills, looking down at the pro style.

Stan Baker - once again created by the Carl Todd/John Fredrickson WWA/PWA/NeWA world. A kayfabe nephew of Ox Baker. Big barrel chested guy, but not quite as big as his Uncle.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #779
March 27, 1999
RCW Rage
Rochester, Minnesota

Rage opens with an interview with new RCW Heavyweight Champion, Steve Corino. Joe Aiello ran down with him some of the top contenders for the strap, including former champ Jody Christmas, the winner of the RiverWars ladder match Joe E. Legend, TV champion Gary Goodridge, Bobby Duncum Jr. Vendetta II, and toughman champion Kurrgan. Quite the list. Vincent Regliatti came out to join Corino and announce his reconciliation with his fellow Canadian. Vic Gate will be out of action for six months or more with back surgery so Regliatti says he has Corino's back. Boss Strickland came out to challenge Regliatti to a match, calling him a flake, and a snow flake at that.

Opening Bout
Boss Strickland defeated Vincent Regliatti by pinfall after an Olympic suplex at 7:07
Strickland reversed a sharpshooter attempt by Regs with a sharpshooter of his own. Soon after he hit Regs with the overhead suplex and got the pin.

Jack Larkin comes out to the ring. As owner of RCW he wants to pay umbrage to father Frank Larkin and his Grandpa Lazarus Larkin who of course were both wrestling promoters. So he is going to name this tag tournament thrown together by his commissioner Nick Bockwinkel, the Larkin Cup. He just wanted to make sure the fans knew it was named after his predecessors and not himself. 
Nick Bockwinkel came out, not looking overly happy about it but willing to play ball. Bockwinkel then announced the tag team tournament brackets. The round of 16 would be competed for on Rage, with the 8 winners advancing to the PPV. Bockwinkel also announced that at a later date the tag PARTNERS of the winning team would face each other; with the winner getting a Heavyweight title shot.

A Side
Tully Blanchard & Bobby Duncum Jr   v   Jesse Hennig & Darkstar
Spyder & Menele  v  Balls Mahoney & Rising Son

B Side
Steve Corino & Nick Mercury  v  Joe E. Legend & Jody Christmas
Boss Strickland & Stan Baker  v  Vincent Regliatti & Jim Neidhart

C Side
Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal  v  Scarlett Birmingham & Lewis O'Day
Tarzan Goto & Yoshi Kwan  v  Derek Graves & Gary Goodridge

D Side
Kurrgan & Ben Bassarab  v  Vendetta II & Kutlu Warrior
Ace Darling & Devon Storm  v  IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy

The bracket announcements of course also unveiled the RCW signing of the Road Warriors (/w Paul Ellering), and former RCW tag champs Storm & Darling. Goto & Kwan were labeled as guests.

The arena went dark and Kurrgan walked to the ring. He told Nick Bockwinkel that he was going into battle against Vendetta II, but would bring his own partner; not Bassarab. When Bockwinkel objected Kurrgan threatened to chokeslam him until he relented. Kurrgan refused to name his partner.


Bout #2
Ben Bassarab defeated Stan Baker by pinfall after a Northern lights suplex at 9:20
**Baker attacked before the opening bell. At one point Bassarab missed a suicide tope and landed hard on the outside floor. However, he would eventually recover in spectacular fashion, hit the suplex and pick up the win.

Becky Hennig came to the ring with Darkstar, her new charge, and Michael Modest. She then called out Jesse Hennig who Bockwinkel named as Darkstar's partner for the tag tournament. A bargain was struck between Jesse and Darkstar, where they would form a new stable with Michael Modest and Becky. Jesse was not too happy about it after being on the end of a 2 on 1 beatdown, but it appeared his choices were to gain access (partial) to Becky again, or get another beatdown. So Jesse agreed. Becky's celebration hug with her cousin Jesse was a bit too long for Darkstar's liking so he pulled Becky off by the hair.


Bout #3
Round of 16 - Larkin Cup
Darkstar & Jesse Hennig (/w Becky Hennig) defeated Tully Blanchard & Bobby Duncum Jr by pinfall when Darkstar pinned Duncum after a death valley driver at 11:12
**Duncum took it to Hennig early, but Darkstar and Hennig showed better teamwork than their opponents and managed to isolate Blanchard for much of the match. In the end though it was Duncum who took the loss, while Blanchard was too slow (partially impeded by Becky) to make the save.

After the bout Bobby Duncum Jr was so upset that he attacked Tully Blanchard who was finally saved by a chair swinging Ben Bassarab.


The second hour kicked off with an interview with TV champion Gary Goodridge who retained the belt last night. Goodridge said he is sick of Vendetta II's interference with his and everyone else's business and challenged him to a match tonight. Derek Graves though came out and said he is still owed a return title shot, not VII. So a triple threat match was made for tonight's main event for the TV title.

Bout #4
Road Warrior Hawk (/w Paul Ellering) defeated Ace Darling by pinfall after a flying clothesline at 7:17
**This match went back and forth, matching power against speed and finesee. Hawk wore down Darling and then hit the big clothesline for the clean win.

Some hardcore footage and interviews with Japanese stars Goto and Kwan are shown.


Bout #5
Round of 16: Larkin Cup Match
Spyder & Menele defeated Balls Mahoney & Rising Son by pinfall when Menele pinned Mahoney after a spinebuster slam at 7:50
**The RCW tag champs Spyder & Rising Son kept it clean between themselves when they were in the ring. However, Mahoney and Menele turned it into a real brawl with Spyder and Son pretty much staying out of it. Menele hit a series of moves on Mahoney; clothesline, powerbomb, DDT, and then the spinebuster slam to pick up the win. Rising Son did not try and make the save.

The Alliance (Jody Christmas, Joe E. Legend, & Mistress Gloom) came out next. Christmas and Legend seemed to argue a bit about who should get the next shot at Corino's title. Then they cooled it and talked about the Alliance looking for new members and being on a recruitment drive. They said they have a few friends from down south interested, but that they were also impressed with a few guys from up here.


Main Event
RCW Television Title Match - Triangle Match
Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) defeated Gary Goodridge (champion) and Vendetta II by pinfall when he pinned Goodridge after a chair shot at 14:04
[Derek Graves wins the RCW Television Title]
**Goodridge and VII got the heat going in this one. Goodridge went for a frankensteiner only to have VII turn it into a powerbomb. Goodridge got an anklelock submission on Graves but was too close to the ropes. Near the conclusion of this bout VII abruptly left the ringside area but not before grabbing a steel chair and insisting that Montgomery have a seat to watch. 
VII's departure then distracted Goodridge and the ref who began a count. Montgomery passed Graves her chair and he used it to smash Goodridge from behind. Graves got the ref to stop the count on VII and count his pin on the champ to win a very tainted victory. Graves got the win over the man who will be his partner in the Larkin Cup. 

As the show ended, Balls Mahoney, Menele, and Kutlu Warrior stormed the ring to punk Graves and the still recovering Goodridge, while Vendetta II watched the carnage from on top of the ramp, as we

FADE TO BLACK

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #780
April 3, 1999
RCW Rage
Duluth, Minnesota

RCW Rage opened with Vendetta II introducing his new stable "The Prophecy", consisting of himself, Balls Mahoney, Menele, and Kutlu Warrior. VII says that the stars of RCW would pay for the disrespect they have shown each member of the Prophecy, including yet another member, former North American Women's champion Barbie Wired. Wired comes out in her Saturday night best latex catsuit!

Opening Bout
RCW European Title Match
Scarlett Birmingham defeated Lewis O'Day by submission to the sleeperhold at 7:22
[Scarlett Birmingham retained the RCW European Title]
**these two rivals will also be tag partners in the Larkin Cup. Birmingham controlled most of the bout and won with what may have been an illegal choke.

Kurrgan comes to the ring to respond to Vendetta's Prophecy. However, Ben Bassarab then comes ut and challenges Kurrgan for his Toughman belt tonight, because he is pissed about Kurrgan not wanting him as his tag partner for the Larkin Cup. Then Balls Mahoney of the Prophecy came out and suggested making it a 3 way dance. Challenge accepted.


Bout #2
The IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy defeated Tarzan Goto & Devon Storm by pinfall when Shaggy pinned Goto after a top rope  legdrop at 7:10
**not much of a match. After the bout Goto punked his own tag partner Storm.

Split interviews with Nick Mercury and Steve Corino comparing notes on their training with King Kahula. The recollections of course are quite different. Tonight's main event will be a tag match pitting Corino & Mercury against The Alliance.


Bout #3
Round of 16 - Larkin Cup
Vincent Regliatti & Jim Neidhart defeated Boss Strickland & Stan Baker by submission when Regliatti submitted Baker to the sharpshooter at 15:22
**Neidhart barely escaped the loss but kicked out after a Baker superplex. That kickout changed the momentum, and Regliatti worked well with Neidhart; reminiscent of the old Hart Foundation.  

Balls Mahoney takes us on a tour of the streets of Duluth, Minnesota.


Kutlu Warrior came out spouting off about how he was hardcore and challenged anybody from the back to come wrestle him in a Table match. 
After a commercial break he got his challenger.

Bout #4
Table Match
Kutlu Warrior defeated Darren Dalton by putting him through a table at 2:52
**The fans popped when they got Darren Dalton dressed as the alter ego of Kutlu, Johnny Stewart, complete with pink wrestling gear and feather boa. But it seemed to really incense Kutlu. Dalton got in some early shots but Kutlu turned it around in a hurry and put Dalton through a table for the victory.

The Second hour begins with an interview from Becky Hennig's trailer home where she reveals to an angry Jesse Hennig that Darkstar is in fact an ex-boyfriend of hers from their days in Barb Wire City.


Bout #5
RCW Toughman Title - Triangle Elimination Match
Kurrgan defeated Ben Bassarab and Balls Mahoney (/w Barbie Wired) in a triangle elimination match at 37:54
[Kurrgan retained the RCW Toughman Title]
**As good of a match as you will see on free TV. Mahoney hit Bassarab early with brass knuckles. Mahoney and Kurrgan had a lengthy brawl. 
Vendetta II came down to ringside, standing at a distance.
Bassarab busted open Kurrgan with a frying pan. Barbie Wired came into the ring to nail Kurrgan with a chair but he moved and it hit Mahoney instead. Kurrgan then chokeslammed Mahoney who kicked out of the pin attempt. Kurrgan then tossed Mahoney out of the ring where he nailed him with a tombstone piledriver. Kurrgan and Mahoney continued to brawl while Bassarab regained his strength. However, it would soon be Bassarab that was eliminated first when he submitted to the Asiatic spike.
Ben Bassarab was eliminated by submission to the Asiatic Spike at 31:53 by Balls Mahoney.
Mahoney brawled with Kurrgan but was over powered.
Balls Mahoney was eliminated by pinfall after a chokeslam at 37:54 by Kurrgan

After the bout Vendetta II attacked Kurrgan from behind, leaving him beaten.


The Alliance came out for a recruitment update. They say they were very impressed last week with Boss Strickland, but not so much this week. Nick Mercury then came out to try and suck up to the Alliance, who called him a worm. Steve Corino came out to confront Mercury who was supposed to be his tag partner tonight against this same Alliance. The Alliance pounced on and punked Corino while Mercury just watched. The ref and officials sorted things out and after a commercial break we had the main event.


Main Event
Round of 16 - Larkin Cup
Steve Corino & Nick Mercury defeated Jody Christmas & Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) by pinfall when Mercury pinned Legend after a crucifix at 10:12
**Corino really took it to Christmas in their longest in ring encounter of the bout. Legend went for a clothesline, only to have Mercury counter it with a crucifix for the victory.

The show ends with Mercury and Corino in a pushing match, and then slugging it out in the ring, while the Alliance looked on from outside the ring having a good laugh, as we

FADE TO BLACK


Notes;
Excellent second hour of rage. Barbie Wired actually got a loud cheer and Vendetta II received a very mixed reaction.
Yoshi Kwan no-showed and his status (albeit as a guest) with the company is now in limbo.
Darren Dalton continues to get good crowd pops with his gimmick of all gimmicks.
The Alliance recruitment drive is starting to heat up.
The non-Larkin Cup tournament main event for the next PPV will be announced next week.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #781
April 10, 1999
RCW Rage
Grand Rapids, Michigan

RCW RAGE opened with...ohhhhhh, what a russshhhhh.....

Opening Bout
Larkin Cup - Round of 16
Lewis O'Day & Scarlett Birmingham (/w Lady Victoria) defeated The Road Warriors (/w Paul Ellering) by disqualification for outside interference (Ellering) at 18:20
**O'Day and Animal generated quite a bit of heat early on in this bout. Animal was in trouble and was worked over by both his opponents. Then it was Hawk in trouble as Lewis had him in the figure-four. Paul Ellering came into the ring with a chair and nailed Lewis to get the intentional DQ.

After the bout as Lewis lay knocked out from the chair shot, at the insistence of Lady Victoria, Birmingham laid the boots to Lewis before leaving the ring.


The Alliance came to the ring (Christmas, Legend, Gloom), talking more about new member possibilities. Nick Mercury came to the ring saying he wanted to prove himself to the Alliance. So Christmas suggested that since Boss Strickland had beat Vincent Regliatti then Mercury should also try and beat Regliatti to keep pace. Christmas called Regs out to the ring who agreed to the match, even with Christmas as a special guest referee.

Bout #2
Special Guest Referee: Jody Christmas
Vincent Regliatti defeated Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) by submission to the sharpshooter at 8:18
**Mercury had the early advantage including a piledriver and a Northern lights suplex. Regs though made the comeback and got Mercury to submit to his finisher. Christmas was a non-factor other then to let them go at it and not interfere.

After the bout Mercury was pissed at Christmas and grabbed the mic saying he never submitted. Christmas took off instead of answering the charges, and Regliatti and Mercury began to argue about the submission.


Bobby Duncum Jr was shown in the back being held back by officials as he tried to get into the dressing room of The Prophecy. He demanded a match tonight against those S.O.B.'s, and Kutlu Warrior agreed to a Hardcore match.

RCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel took to the ring to announce that tonight's main event would be Joe E. Legend's chance at Steve Corino's Heavyweight title that he won in the ladder match at RiverWars.


Bout #3
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Spyder & Rising Son defeated The Prophecy: Menele & Balls Mahoney (/w Barbie Wired) by pinfall when Spyder pinned Mahoney after a frog splash at 5:04
[Spyder & Rising Son retained the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**the champs were giving away a lot of size and strength in this battle. The champs worked over Mahoney pretty good in this one. Surprisingly fairly easy and clean win.

After the bout Mahoney lay motionless for a while, until a stretcher came out to take him away. There was some concern over Mahoney's previous head injury.
Vendetta II suddenly showed up sending the medics scurrying. VII tossed Mahoney over his shoulders and carried his fellow Prophecy member, fireman's carry to the back.


The 2nd hour begins with a tribute on tape to Michigan wrestling greats including The Sheik, Bobo Brazil, Mighty Igor, and The Steiner Brothers.

Bout #4
Hardcore Rules
Kutlu Warrior (/w Barbie Wired) defeated Bobby Duncum Jr by pinfall after an inverted DDT at 7:52
**Tully Blanchard and Ben Bassarab came down to ringside to watch this bout. Kutlu back suplexed Duncum onto a table twice to get an early advantage. Outside the ring, Gary Goodridge suddenly appeared and ambushed Kutlu Warrior. While the ref was distracted however, Bassarab attacked Duncum Jr. The brawl made its way up the ramp. Kutlu was juicing badly. Duncum hit the running bulldog but Kutlu managed to kick out after a slow cover by Duncum. Blanchard ended up hitting Duncum in the back with a chair to knock him out. Kutlu then hit an inverted DDT as a formality and made the pin (still holding onto a handful of tights just to make sure).


Bout #5
Larkin Cup - Round of 16
Derek Graves & Gary Goodridge (/w Sharon Montgomery) defeated Tarzan Goto & Yoshi Kwan by pinfall when Goodridge pinned Kwan after a victory roll at 9:37
**Graves and Goodridge showed some surprisingly good teamwork in this bout. Goodridge caught Kwan charging into the corner with a knee to the head, and then rolled him up for the win.

Lewis O'Day and Scarlett Birmingham are caught backstage having a brawl. Officials break it up and announce that these two will have a chance to settle their differences in the ring next week.


Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel took to the ring again and called out The Alliance. He announced that at the Larkin Cup PPV, Joe E. Legend would wrestle against Jody Christmas. Of course depending on the outcome of tonight's main event it may be a title shot. Legend and Christmas were obviously displeased at Bock for forcing them into this match.

Main Event
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Steve Corino defeated Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) by disqualification for outside interference (Gloom) at 9:34
[Steve Corino retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**Corino took control early with a piledriver, bulldog, and a figure-four. Gloom threw Legend a steel chair but Corino blocked the swing and nailed the challenger instead. A cloverleaf might have ended the bout but Corino put it on too close to the ropes and Legend was able to get the break. It was pretty much all Steve Corino. Finally, Legend showed some offence with a short comeback. But Corino ended up nailing the challenger with an enzuigiri, and had Legend ready to be pinned. Gloom entered the ring and nailed Corino from behind with a steel chair, laying him out cold.

With Corino out cold, Jody Christmas came out and along with Legend and Gloom laid the boots to Corino. Vincent Regliatti came out to help with the save but was thwarted from behind by Boss Strickland, who suddenly appeared to join the Alliance. Jim Neidhart came out in street clothes and swinging a chair to make the rescue. 

The show ended with The Alliance celebrating back in the ring, and perhaps Boss Strickland is the newest member? as we

FADE TO BLACK


notes;
Nick Mercury injured approximately 8 weeks
Lots of strange interference happening from the TNM simulator.

 

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #782
April 17, 1999
Youngstown, OH

Eight days until the inaugural Larkin Cup PPV...there will be no Rage next week

RCW Rage opens with "The Alliance" hitting the ring (Jody Christmas, Joe E. Legend, Mistress Gloom, and Boss Strickland).
Christmas tells Strickland that he's not sure about his entry into the Alliance being official yet. He tells Strickland to prove himself by taking it to Legend tonight!

Opening Bout
Jody Christmas (/w Mistress Gloom) defeated Jim Neidhart by pinfall after a superkick at 7:32
**DUD of a match, even Christmas couldn't spice this one up. Gloom pulled down the top rope to gain the advantage for Christmas, rolled The Anvil back inside the ring, superkick, end of bout.

Interview with Lewis O'Day about growing up in Northern Ireland and his hatred toward the English, and Scarlett Birmingham in particular. We find out that their match tonight will be for the European title, but will also be a strap match!

Joe Aiello corners Kurrgan backstage and asks him who his partner will be for tonight's Larkin Cup qualifier agains the Prophecy. Kurrgan refuses to tell Aiello, but says it is someone who is dying to wrap his hands around Vendetta II's or Kutlu Warrior's neck.

Bout #2
Larkin Cup - Round of 16
Ace Darling & Devon Storm defeated IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy by pinfall when Darling pinned Shaggy after an Asai moonsault at 5:59
**the announcers noted that the Extremists were the only one of the three newly signed tag teams to win their first round match in the Larkin Cup. Klown had Darling in trouble early on but the Extremists made a nice comeback. 

Interview with Steve Corino who is without a tag partner since the injury to Nick Mercury. Steve calls out Ben Bassarab and asks if he would step up and be his tag partner in the tourney. However, Vincent Regliatti comes out and says that since Neidhart just got injured tonight that he is also without a tag partner for the tourney, and asks Bassarab to join him instead. Bassarab seems kind of leery of the situation, and just walks out of the ring shaking his head. Corino and Regs then begin to argue a little and seem to settle on the idea of fighting one on one in the tourney (they are scheduled to face each other) instead of getting partners.

Bout#3
Gary Goodridge defeated Jesse Hennig (/w Becky Hennig) by submission to the ankle lock at 11:27
This was a good match. Hennig attacked Goodridge before the opening bell and Goodridge fought an uphill battle after that. Goodridge got busted open outside the ring. Hennig countered a frankensteiner attempt with a tiger driver to gain an advantage late in the bout. Goodridge had Hennig in the guillotine choke but was bleeding pretty badly by now. Goodridge shrugged off a swinging neckbreaker, and Hennig just couldn't seem to finish off Goodridge, even after a top rope frankensteiner. Goodridge battled back and locked on his finisher to pick up a hard win.

Post-Match: Goodridge ws punked by Darkstar and Michael Modest, the other members of Hennig's Posse. Derek Graves of all people came out to make the save.

An Interview with Vendetta II and Barbie Wired from some secluded woods, where they talk about VII's mission to bring humility to the RCW Superstars.


Hour #2

Bout #4
If Strickland wins he is in the Alliance
Joe E. Legend defeated Boss Strickland by pinfall after the Legend Cutter at 10:44
**Mistress Gloom was at ringside but remained a neutral observer throughout the bout. Strickland had the upper hand for most of the bout, but Legend grabbed an advantage and hit his finisher out of the blue to pick up the win.

Post-Match: Christmas came out to join Legend and Gloom in laying the boots to Strickland and left him laying in the ring.

Interview with Scarlett Birmingham who talks about growing up in England and why he dislikes the Irish and in particular Lewis O'Day so much.

Bout #5
European Title Match - Strap Match
Lewis O'Day defeated Scarlett Birmingham in a strap match by touching all 4 buckles at 1:42
[Lewis O'Day won the RCW European Title]
**very, very short match as O'Day came in with an intensity that Birmingham could not match.

Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel comes out and announces that both Corino and Regliatti will have to come up with suitable tag partners for the PPV or be disqualified.
Then Bock calls out The Alliance and interviews the combatants for the only non-tournament match at the PPV; Jody Christmas vs Joe E. Legend.
The two Alliance members end up getting into a pushing match, and then the arena lights go out and turn into a green hue, which means The Prophecy hits the ring. Vendetta II and Kutlu Warrior send the Alliance scurrying from the ring. They are here for the main event, their Larkin Cup bout against Kurrgan and his mystery partner. Then the arena goes black once again and Kurrgan walks out. But before he can make it to the ring we hear cowbells and Bobby Duncum Jr. reveals himself as Kurrgan's mystery partner.

VII protests pointing out that Duncum was already eliminated from the tourney with Tully Blanchard as his partner. But Bock allows the match to start anyway.

Main Event
Larkin Cup - Round of 16
Kurrgan & Bobby Duncum Jr. defeated The Prophecy: Vendetta II & Kutlu Warrior by pinfall when Kurrgan defeated Warrior by pinfall after a chokeslam at 13:19
**Kurrgan and VII start it off and VII wins the early exchanges before tagging out to Warrior. Duncum and Warrior go at it until Warrior tags out. VII takes it to Duncum before Duncum makes a strong comeback. Both teams trade opportunities for double teams. VII and Kurrgan go at it again until Warrior tags in. Kurrgan manages to hit the Warrior with a piledriver and a chokeslam but only gets a 2 count. Kurrgan counters a DDT attempt with a suplex. The bout breaks down to a four man brawl. While the ref is distracted Warrior brings in his Kendo stick but Kurrgan kicks him in the gut, takes away the stick, whacks him over the head, and then chokeslams him for the win. 

Kurrgan and Bobby Duncum Jr stand tall in the ring as we

FADE TO BLACK

notes;
Jim Neidhart suffered an arm injury and will be out 6 weeks
Not a bad Rage but some of the matches were too short to allow development. 
A decision as the RCW futures of Road Warriors, Kwan, Goto, and Tully Blanchard needs to be made soon.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #783
April 25, 1999
Larkin Cup I on PPV
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Opening Bout
Larkin Cup Quarterfinal
Jesse Hennig & Darkstar (/w Becky Hennig) vs Spyder & Menele (/w Barbie Wired)
Spyder and Menele had Darkstar in trouble early. Hennig and Darkstar fought an uphill battle the whole match despite the interference of Becky. Jesse missed a tope on the outside, giving a big advantage to his opponents. Menele though couldn't put Hennig away, so Becky entered the ring and laid out Menele with a chair shot. Jesse Hennig managed to survive, and then Gary Goodridge came down to ringside. Spyder worked over Darkstar but couldn't close the deal even after a frog splash, and then Darkstar couldn't put Spyder away even after a death valley driver. There was some good heat between Spyder and Darkstar. Darkstar hit Spyder with a pair of brass knuckles handed to him by Becky, but Goodridge tripped up Jesse Hennig after he insisted on the tag in from Darkstar. Goodridge pulled Hennig out of the ring, nailed him with a suplex, rolled him back in the ring and Spyder nailed a frog splash, this time getting the victory.
[Spyder & Menele defeated Jesse Hennig & Darkstar by pinfall when Spyder pinned Hennig after a frog splash at 32:17]
**after the bout Menele and Barbie Wired were quite unhappy with Spyder for not tagging out to Menele at the end of the match.

Steve Corino and Vincent Regliatti come to the ring, and try to announce again that they will wrestle each other with the winner advancing in the tourney as a handicap entry. 
Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel though comes to the ring and says no, and announces their new tag partners. Regliatti gets Ben Bassarab and Steve Corino gets Darren Dalton.


Bout #2
Larkin Cup Quarterfinal
Steve Corino & Darren Dalton vs Vincent Regliatti & Ben Bassarab
Corino and Bassarab opened it up with Corino gaining the advantage. Bobby Duncum Jr. came down to ringside to do commentary, noting that he had run-ins with all 4 of these guys, and hated them all. Regs has Dalton in trouble, but then Corino gets tagged in and has Regs in trouble. Regs though hits Corino with an enzuigiri outside the ring, with Corino falling on the ring steps and busting his head wide open (the only wrestler to juice on the card). Dalton amazed the crowd by fighting his way out of a Regliatti sharpshooter. Bassarab came in fresh, a house on fire, but Duncum left his position at the announce table to trip up Bassarab. Shortly after that Corino ended the gruelling affair by getting Bassarab to submit to the figure-four.
[Steve Corino & Darren Dalton defeated Vincent Regliatti & Ben Bassarab by submission when Corino submitted Bassarab to the figure-four at 35:27]


Bout #3
Larkin Cup Quarterfinal
Scarlett Birmingham & Lewis O'Day (/w Lady Victoria) vs Gary Goodridge & Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery)
This match pitted one team whose rivalry has heated up because of the tournament against a team which seems to have actually found common ground (Goodridge/Graves). Birmingham is in trouble early. Goodridge and Graves operate as a solid team. Birmingham submits to Goodridge's knee lock.
[Gary Goodridge & Derek Graves defeated Scarlett Birmingham & Lewis O'Day by submission when Goodridge submitted Birmingham to the knee lock at 7:02]


Bout #4
Larkin Cup Quarterfinal
Kurrgan & Bobby Duncum Jr.  vs  The Extremists: Ace Darling & Devon Storm
Duncum gets Storm in trouble early, and Kurrgan continues to dismantle Storm. Darling gets tagged in and has a lot more success. He is quite game, bringing a chair into the ring to launch off. Kurrgan has to break up a pin attempt on Duncum to stay alive. Duncum drags Darling out of the ring where he regains the advantage. Darling enters the ring right behind Duncum, but eats a back elbow and a flying bulldog to end the bout.
[Kurrgan & Bobby Duncum Jr. defeated Ace Darling & Devon Storm by pinfall when Duncum pinned Darling after a flying bulldog at 11:40]


Bout #5
Larkin Cup Semifinal
Spyder & Menele (/w Barbie Wired) vs Steve Corino & Darren Dalton
Spyder works well in the ring with Corino. Dalton actually has Spyder in trouble and applies his armbar finisher to get the submission.
[Steve Corino & Darren Dalton defeated Spyder & Menele by submission when Dalton submitted Spyder with an armbar at 13:36]
**After the bout, at the insistence of Wired, Menele punked his teammate Spyder, until Corino returned to make the save.


Bout #6
Larkin Cup Semifinal
Gary Goodridge & Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) vs Kurrgan & Bobby Duncum Jr.
Graves attacked Kurrgan before the bell had even sounded. Goodridge got Duncum in trouble early, but Duncum pulled a reverse elbow and bulldog out of nowhere, but couldn't recover quick enough to get the pin. A fresh Graves gets in against a tired Duncum to try and finish the bout. On Graves' second figure four attempt, Duncum passes out, and Kurrgan did not try and make the save.
[Gary Goodridge & Derek Graves defeated Kurrgan & Bobby Duncum Jr by submission when Graves submitted Duncum to the figure-four at 7:02]


Bout #7
Larkin Cup Final
Gary Goodridge & Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery  vs  Steve Corino & Darren Dalton
The Jody Christmas v Joe E. Legend match was supposed to be next, but before Goodridge and Graves could leave the ring Darren Dalton rushed the ring attacking Graves, and when Corino scrambled to the ring from the dressing room the bout was started.
Graves was in trouble early and Corino turned up the heat. Goodridge kept interfering against Corino to try and help out Graves. Graves eventually tags in Goodridge who cleans house agains Dalton, locking on the knee lock and getting the submission.
[Gary Goodridge & Derek Graves defeated Steve Corino & Darren Dalton by submission when Goodridge submitted Dalton to the kneelock at 10:50]
[Gary Goodridge & Derek Graves win the Larkin Cup I]

 
Main Event 
Jody Christmas  v  Joe E. Legend 
Mistress Gloom came down to do commentary instead of picking sides in this bout between Alliance teammates. Legend shocked the crowd by attacking Christmas before the opening bell could even sound. But Christmas gained the early advantage anyway. Legend finally turned things around with a superplex, followed by a sleeperhold. Christmas though rallied and nailed Legend with a flying cross-body block to get the pin.
[Jody Christmas defeated Joe E. Legend by pinfall after a flying cross-body block at 10:35]

Legend grabbed a mic and called Christmas' win a fluke and challenged him to another match. At first Christmas just tried to get Legend to calm down, but then Gloom told him it would be a good idea to extend the match so both men could get this out of their systems. So we have another fall.

Criss cross, Christmas missed a dropkick and landed on his knee pretty heavy. Legend seized the advantage nailing his Legend cutter and getting a real quick pin.
[Joe E. Legend defeated Jody Christmas by pinfall after a Legend cutter at 11:53]

Now it was Christmas' turn to insist on another fall, making this an impromptu best 2 out of 3 falls. But Christmas was hobbling immediately obviously favouring his injured left leg. Legend dominated the short fall and finished Christmas off with a rather anti-climatic high knee lift.
[Joe E. Legend defeated Jody Christmas by pinfall after a high knee lift at 14:11]
[Joe E. Legend wins the bout 2 falls to 1]

Things are tense and not good between the Alliance members, Jody Christmas, Joe E. Legend and Mistress Gloom as the show went off the air.


Breaking kayfabe;
Well to be honest it was a below average PPV offering. It was all
right if you like tournaments, but didn't really build to a nice
climatic finish. In fact the longest matches were the opening
2 bouts. The TNM booker was not a good friend tonight with so many weak 
finishers, submission finishers, and blah matches.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #785
May 1, 1999
St. Paul, MN

Special Two and a Half Hour Edition Tonight

Rage is opened with Yoshi Kwan and Vincent Regliatti already in the ring.

Opening Bout
Yoshi Kwan defeated Vincent Regliatti by submission to the Wakigatame armbar at 7:54
**Kwan was the agressor in this one and gained an early advantage, and never gave up. Vendetta II came down to ringside (for no apparent reason) and pulled down the top rope sending Regs to the floor outside. Kwan execute the armbar for the win.

A nice tribute video to two wrestling legends recently passed away; Rick Rude and Brian Pillman.

Derek Graves, Gary Goodridge, and Sharon Montgomery joined Joe Aiello in the ring. Aiello announces that at the upcoming PPV - Return of the Vendetta, Graves will face Goodridge for the Television title. The tension rises between these two who just days ago managed to put aside their differences to win the Larkin Cup. When it is announced that the match will be a ladder match the tempers rise more and Sharon has to step between them.

Vendetta II sends Balls Mahoney into Kurrgan's locker room to rough him up. The two battle until RCW officials come in to break it up while VII just kind of slinks away.


Bout #2
Hardcore Match
Scarlett Birmingham (/w Lady Victoria) defeated Kutlu Warrior (/w Barbie Wired) by pinfall after hitting him with a singapore cane at 6:01
**Warrior had the early advantage taking it to Birmingham who seemed a little out of place in a hardcore match. But Warrior was having trouble putting Birmingham away. So, Menele came down and tried to pass Warrior his Singapore cane, but it was intercepted by Birmingham, who nailed Warrior with it and picked up the win.

After the bout Birmingham cleaned house with the cane using it on both Kutlu Warrior and Menele.

Steve Corino is seen in the back talking to Spyder. We hear that Corino has agreed to give Spyder a title shot tonight!


The Alliance (Joe E. Legend, Jody Christmas, Boss Strickland, and Mistress Gloom) come to the ring. Legend was still not happy with Strickland being there and with the attention that Gloom was paying to him. Legend took the mic and challenged Vendetta II to a match next week to prove that like Strickland, Legend could beat VII as well. Interesting that Christmas took a back seat in the segment, almost ceding control of the Alliance to Legend after losing to him at the Larkin Cup.

Bout #3
Ace Darling & Devon Storm defeated Jody Christmas & Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) by disqualification at 20:42
**This was the first of 4 great matches in a row. Gloom tripped up Darling early to gain an advantage for the Alliance. Storm hit a frankensteiner and a springboard moonsault on Christmas. Nick Mercury came down to ringside (from the injury list?). Christmas goes for a pin but the ref sees a handful of tights. Legend has Darling in big trouble but Darling makes a slow comeback. Boss Strickland comes down to ringside and argues with Mercury. Inside the ring all 4 men are brawling, outside Strickland and Mercury are also punching it out. Gloom tripped up Darling, and then Legend hit him with a low blow.
Strickland pulled down the top rope sending Darling to the unfriendly floor. Darling recovered, and ended up getting Legend in trouble. Legend gets thrown into the guardrail and is busted wide open. Strickland hits Darling from behind. Back inside Storm hits a shooting star press on Christmas, 1, 2, kickout. The time limit expires but the ref orders the match to continue!, despite the protests from the Alliance. Christmas is in trouble and Storm hits an asai moonsault, goes back to the top, but Nick Mercury throws him off the top buckle to get the Alliance DQ'd.

After the match, with Christmas down, Strickland and Gloom put the boots to Mercury. At first Legend just sits back and watches, but then he intervened and gets into a pushing contest with Strickland.
Jim Neidhart (also on the injury list?) came down to the ring and pulled Mercury out of harm's way while Christmas recovered and kept the peace between Legend and Strickland.

A taped interview with Ben Bassarab as he is preparing to board a plane to Japan. He says he is frustrated with his recent RCW losing skid, and is going back to Japan to regroup and re-train. When asked about his attack on Steve Corino he loses his temper with Joe Aiello and punks him, and chases the cameraman away.

Kurrgan comes to the ring and rants on the Prophecy. He challenges Balls Mahoney to a Toughman Match tonight and will put his Toughman title on the line in that bout.


Bout #4
Jesse Hennig (/w Becky Hennig) defeated Rising Son by disqualification for outside interference at 27:39
**Rising Son started strong until Hennig turned a Rana into a powerbomb. Lots of good countermoves and then a series of suplexes by each man. Rising Son hits a flying senton and a rana. Hennig battled back with a big powerslam. A series of near falls and some high impact moves followed. Gary Goodridge came down to ringside (again for no apparent reason). Becky tripped up Rising Son to turn the advantage, but the match continued with more near falls and control changes. Finally, Goodridge tripped up Hennig causing the DQ.

After the bout Rising Son got into Goodridge's face about losing him the bout and received a series of suplexes as a reward. Spyder came in with a chair to save his tag partner.


Nick Mercury has an interview show... Mercury's Orbit, which sees him come out with a bandage around his ribs and another around his head. Mercury says that while he was going to interview Boss Strickland but under the circumstances that isn't going to happen. Instead he brings out Yoshi Kwan. He puts Kwan over for beating Regliatti. Yoshi can't understand him so an interpreter is brought out. Mercury is of course very insulting to Kwan but from the smiles on Kwan's face the interpreter must be changing the meaning to something nice. Then Boss Strickland comes out and goes straight for Mercury. Kwan grabs a chair and nails Strickland from behind, laying him out. Mercury applauds Kwan, who in turn bows to Mercury.


Bout #5
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Steve Corino defeated Spyder by submission to the sharpshooter at 9:21
[Steve Corino retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**Not often that Corino has a weight advantage like in this bout. Corino is a machine in this match. Every move that Spyder tries, Corino has a counter for and then attacks with two of his own moves. Spyder makes a modest comeback, and Corino is having trouble putting Spyder away. Corino resorts to a figure four around the ringpost from outside the ring which brings a chorus of jeers from the crowd. Back inside the ring a fisherman suplex sets up the sharpshooter finisher.

After the bout Corino made a gesture of offering his hand to Spyder, but Spyder was still lying face down on the mat recovering, so Corino just walked away.


Main Event
RCW Toughman Title Match
Kurrgan defeated Balls Mahoney (/w Barbie Wired) by pinfall after a tombstone piledriver at 18:09
[Kurrgan retained the RCW Toughman Title]
**Kurrgan has the early advantage. Mahoney makes a comeback but Wired accidently pulls down the top rope on him instead of Kurrgan sending both men tumbling to the floor. where the brawl continues. Kurrgan snatches away a pair of brass knuckles from Mahoney and then uses them on him. Brawling down the aisle Mahoney gets a chokehold on Kurrgan on the concrete floor. Kurrgan finally breaks free of the hold, but both men are pretty beaten down by now. The brawl then goes into the crowd. Kurrgan nailed Mahoney with a flying lariat, but Mahoney kicked out of the pin attempt. Chokeslam, followed by a piledriver but amazingly Mahoney kicked out of the pin attempt. Back inside the ring Mahoney grabs the advantage with a flurry of double axhandles and kicks and beats down the champ. Kurrgan though catches the boot of Mahoney from his back and stands up, knocking Mahoney to the mat. Stomp to the groin, scoop slam, chokeslam, tombstone piledriver, and the 1, 2, 3!! This was a great match actually, and both men showed a high willingness to sacrifice their bodies. A potential match of the year candidate.

After the bout, Menele and Kutlu Warrior hit the ring to join their Prophecy teammate Mahoney, but Kurrgan managed to grab a chair and used it to clean house. Then Kurrgan stopped and stood in the middle of the ring daring Vendetta II the Prophecy leader to come down. The camera showed the rear entrance of the building with Joe E. Legend leaving in a huff, only to have Vendetta II attack him with a crow bar from behind, as we

FADE TO BLACK


Breaking kayfabe;
A great night of RAGE, had to expand the show an extra 30 minutes due to the length of the matches. As mentioned the match between Kurrgan and Mahoney was way better then the sum of the parts. The big distraction is still TNM's random interference being too random, and the uneven pacing of the match lengths.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #786
May 8, 1999
Springfield, Illinois

RCW Rage opens with

Cowbells!! mark the entrance of Bobby Duncum Jr. Duncum went on a tear about Ben Bassarab being yellow, and having sent him back to Japan where the little boys play. Then he said his next order of business is to send the Prophecy packing. Tonight he challenged any two members of that stable to face him in a handicap match. He didn't have to wait long for a response.

Opening Bout
Hardcore Handicap Match
Bobby Duncum Jr. defeated Balls Mahoney & Kutlu Warrior (/w Barbie Wired) by pinfall when he pinned Warrior after a running bulldog at 14:19
**this was the best match of the night. The Prophecy were tagging off well and staying fresh, but still doing lots of double teaming. Duncum turned things around with a back elbow and a bulldog on Mahoney outside the ring, but Warrior broke up the subsequent pin attempt. Mahoney recovered and applied a testicular clawhold on Duncum, who reached the ropes to get a break. A fresh Warrior came in and things were looking bleak for Duncum. Warrior busted Duncum open with a fire extinguisher, then he suplexed Duncum through a table. Duncum though fought back, ducked under another swing of the fire extinguisher, grabbed it from Warrior, and nailed him with it. This was followed by a running bulldog for the win.

Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel was joined in the ring by the IBZ: Shaggy & Wiked Klown along with The Extremists: Ace Darling & Devon Storm. Bock announced new matches for the next PPV (Return of the Vendetta). He added a European title defence between Lewis O'Day and Kutlu Warrior, to be fought under hardcore rules as requested by Warrior, and agreed upon by Lewis. Bock also announced that these two teams in the ring would meet at the PPV. At this point the IBZ attacked The Extremists, and threw them outside the ring. They then set up two tables and suplexed Darling/Storm through the tables.

The announcers remind us that our main event tonight is Joe E. Legend facing off with Vendetta II.


Bout #2
Goto & Yoshi Kwan (/w Big Albert) defeated The IBZ: Shaggy & Wiked Klown by disqualification for outside interference at 14:05
**Nick Mercury sent Big Albert out to watch the back of his new friend Kwan. 
Vincent Regliatti came out unsolicited to do commentary, and to bad mouth Mercury, Albert, and Kwan.
Kwan took it to Shaggy early in the bout. Regliatti soon left the broadcast booth, tossed Klown a frying pan from under the ring which he used to hit Kwan. Kwan managed to get his feet in the ropes to break the pin. Albert interfered when the ref was distracted. Kwan then got Klown in the Wakigatame armbar submission hold, so Regliatti rushed the ring and attacked Kwan.

Steve Corino and Jim Neidhart came to the ring and invited Regliatti to stay. They ranted about Mercury and Kwan. Neidhart did a lot of nodding, and stroking of his beard.


Bout #3
European Title Match
Menele defeated Lewis O'Day by pinfall after a front face DDT at 8:28
[Menele wins the RCW European Title]
**O'Day took the early advantage in this PPV warm-up match. The two then fought tooth and nail. 
Scarlett Birmingham came down to ringside.
Birmingham threw O'Day a chair which he used to nail Menele. But instead of going for the pin O'Day hesitated and instead began a heated argument with his rival Birmingham. When he turned around Menele hit him with a jumping DDT, followed by a front face DDT and the pin.


Mercury's Orbit, hosted by Nick Mercury and his sidekick Big Albert. Tonight's guests Derek Graves, Gary Goodridge, and Sharon Montgomery.
Nick managed to get Graves and Goodridge at each other's throats, while Albert was busy disgusting Montgomery.


Bout #4
RCW Television Title Match
Boss Strickland (/w Mistress Gloom) defeated Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) by disqualification for outside interference at 2:54
[Derek Graves retained the RCW Television Title]
**Yoshi Kwan came down with his interpreter to the announce table. The interpreter seemed to turn everything that a quite agitated sounding Kwan said about Strickland and The Alliance into something mundane regarding housework. 
Graves controlled Strickland early. A frustrated Strickland upon hearing his name confronted Kwan outside the ring. Graves threw Strickland into the ring post, then nailed Mistress Gloom who had tried to attack him from behind. Kwan then nailed Strickland from behind and caused the end of the short bout.

The Alliance (Jody Christmas & Joe E. Legend) came to the ring after the match. Legend taunted Strickland for not winning the title. Christmas had to get in the middle of it. Legend told Christmas to butt out because he wasn't the leader of The Alliance. Christmas finally suggested the 3 of them should settle this like men; for money. At the next PPV they agreed to a triple threat match with the winner gaining hold of the Alliance leadership.


Bout #5
Spyder defeated Michael Modest (/w Becky Hennig) by pinfall after an inverted DDT
**Modest began by constantly choking Spyder, and grabbed an early advantage. Modest turned a Frankensteiner attempt into a tiger driver. He then applied a figure-four sleeper. Spyder made a comeback that he finished off with an inverted DDT.

After the bout Becky Hennig came in and tried to attack Spyder. When Spyder caught and confronted her, she turned all sultry, distracting Spyder. Jesse Hennig ran into the ring and nailed Spyder with a nasty chairshot that left him laid out.


The Prophecy swarms the ring. Menele is the new European champion and gets into an argument with Kutlu Warrior over whether the two must now face each other in a hardcore match at "Return of the Vendetta". Meanwhile, Balls Mahoney is arguing with Vendetta II over the latter's pathetic losing streak. Finally all members of the Prophecy leave VII and Barbie Wired alone in the ring.

Main Event
Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) defeated Vendetta II (/w Barbie Wired) by pinfall after a Legend cutter at 12:42
** Legend is obviously still pissed off at VII for attacking him when he was leaving the building last week. Legend gets the first big move in with a superplex. The match then goes back and forth. Legend hits a series of elbow and knee shots. He hits a legend cutter, but incredibly (thanks in part to a cocky, sloppy pin) VII kicks out. VII finally recovers and hits a top rope Death Valley Driver! But he is too exhausted to go for a quick enough pin attempt. VII executes a Scorpion death drop outside on the concrete floor. Legend though catches VII following him back into the ring, hitting him with a clothesline, then another Legend cutter, this time hooking the leg, for the win.

After the match the rest of the Prophecy hit the ring. Kutlu Warrior, Balls Mahoney, and Menele ignore Legend and instead begin a beat down on Vendetta II.
They beat on VII for a good 2 minutes before hoisting him up and carrying him out of the ring, as we

FADE TO BLACK


PPV Line-Up Update for "Return of the Vendetta"
Toughman Title Match: Kurrgan vs Vendetta II 
Heavyweight Title Match: Steve Corino (c) defends against winner of Derek Graves vs Gary Goodridge
Joe E. Legend vs Jody Christmas vs Boss Strickland (winner gets leadership of The Alliance)
European Title Match (Hardcore rules): Menele vs Kutlu Warrior
Jesse Hennig vs Spyder
Table Match: Ace Darling/Devon Storm vs IBZ
TV Title Match: Derek Graves vs Gary Goodridge (winner gets title shot tonight against Steve Corino)

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #787
May 15, 1999
LaCrosse, Wisconsin

RCW Rage opens with,

An interview by Vendetta II at the graveyard of supposedly Kurrgan's parents. VII talks about how his leadership of the Prophecy was attacked and questioned from within, but withstood the test. His task was now to destroy Kurrgan. Tonight though its his protege, Kutlu Warrior's turn to weaken Kurrgan and take away his beloved Toughman title. Then at Return of the Vendetta, VII says he will take Kurrgan's soul.

Opening Bout
10 Man Battle Royal - Winner Gets a TV Title Shot next week
Wiked Klown defeated Shaggy, Michael Modest, Spyder, Menele, Goto, Boss Strickland, Tajiri, Yoshi Kwan, and Lewis O'Day at 34:13
**The IBZ, Wiked Klown and Shaggy eliminated everyone except Tajiri who was eliminated by Menele. The IBZ went after each other twice during the match, the second time saw Klown eliminate Shaggy. At one point Big Albert entered the ring and hit Shaggy with a chair. Shaggy retaliated by throwing Big Albert over the top rope. Lewis O'Day had Shaggy in a figure-four for a full minute while Klown just looked on and recovered his strength. Then Klown broke it up, eliminated Shaggy, and then nailed O'Day with the chair that Albert had used, and threw O'Day out to win the title shot.

The IBZ were interviewed and seemed to have already put those events behind them, concentrating on their PPV table match.


Bout #2
Vincent Regliatti & Jim Neidhart defeated Ace Darling & Devon Storm by pinfall when Regliatti pinned Darling after a double team rocket launcher at 4:41
**Devon Storm tried to make the save but was not in time.

Taped interview from Ben Bassarab in Japan who says he will be returning to RCW shortly, and bringing with him a big surprise for Bobby Duncum Jr and Kurrgan.


Bout #3
Non-Title Match
Stan Baker defeated Steve Corino by pinfall after a powerslam at 6:30
**Baker started strong with a dragon suplex, belly to belly suplex, and a cobra clutch. The two men traded submission attempts. Baker hit more suplexes, but Corino kicked out of all pin attempts. Baker ducked a flying clothesline attempt and hit a powerslam and got a huge upset win.


After the commercial break Steve Corino was still in the ring. He said he wanted a chance to prove to Baker it was a fluke, so he was putting his title on the line against Baker at Return of the Vendetta, and the winner of that bout would go on to defend against the winner of Graves vs Goodridge.

Bout #4
Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) and Scarlett Birmingham (/w Lady Victoria) battled to a 20-minute draw
The best match of the night.
Mercury grabbed the early advantage. Birmingham's comeback was stopped by Albert pulling down the top rope. They brawled outside the ring.
Yoshi Kwan came down to ringside.
Mercury hit Birmingham with a tombstone piledriver, and Birmingham was in big trouble. Birmingham fought his way out of a cloverleaf submission.
Lady Victoria entered the ring and hit Mercury with a chair. The brawl then spilled back outside the ring. Kwan threw Mercury a chair which he used to nail Birmingham, and then tombstoned him again. Mercury was now toying with Birmingham instead of pinning him. As Birmingham made a comeback, Lewis O'Day came down to ringside.
Outside the ring O'Day attacked Mercury, while inside the ring Kwan attacked Birmingham. The match was sorted out and allowed to continue.
Lady Victoria would once again try to hit Mercury with a chair, but he moved out of the way and she clocked Birmingham instead. Mercury put Birmingham in the cloverleaf, and had it on him for a full minute, but the Brit would not submit, earning the crowd's approval.
Time ran out with Birmingham still in the cloverleaf.


The Alliance was interviewed with all 4 members (Jody Christmas, Joe E. Legend, Boss Strickland, Mistress Gloom) declaring that they would respect the outcome of the triangle match at the PPV for the leadership of the group. Legend didn't like the smugness of Christmas though and left the ring before the interview was complete.

Bout #5
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Jesse Hennig & Darkstar (/w Becky Hennig) defeated Spyder & Rising Son by pinfall when Darkstar pinned Spyder after a Death Valley Driver at 12:46
[Jesse Hennig & Darkstar win the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**Becky Hennig used interference to have a big effect on this bout. Darkstar looked dominant throughout.

Interview with Kurrgan who promises to beat Vendetta II with whatever isn't nailed down, and banish the Prophecy forever.


Main Event
Toughman Title Match - Singapore Cane Match
Winner Must knock his opponent out for a 10 count
Kutlu Warrior (/w Barbie Wired) defeated Kurrgan by 10 count in a Toughman Match at 19:35
[Kutlu Warrior wins the Toughman Title]
**Kurrgan choked Warrior with the cane and took it to him early. Warrior hit Kurrgan into the announcer's table repeatedly. Warrior hit a jumping DDT, but Kurrgan actually got to his feet before even Warrior. Kurrgan turned a chokehold into a powerbomb, followed up with a flying clothesline, chokeslam, and a tombstone piledriver. 
Warrior got to his count after a 5 count.
Barbie Wired hit Kurrgan from behind with a chair. 
Menele came down to ringside.
Kurrgan battled back and hit Warrior with the cane, but Warrior back suplexed Kurrgan through a table, and followed up with a jumping DDT.
Kurrgan was back on his feet after an 8 count, with the crowd going nuts.
Kurrgan chokelslammed and powerbombed Warrior, who got back to his feet after a count of 6.
Menele tripped up Kurrgan, threw Warrior a roll of coins that were intercepted by Kurrgan. He tried to hit Kutlu with them but it was blocked, kick to the groin, Kutlu picks up the coins and nails Kurrgan with them.
Kurrgan is back on his feet after a count of 1.
Warrior hit Kurrgan with the singapore cane. Warrior set up Kurrgan on a table but the champ moved out of the way and Warrior put himself through the table. Warrior though still had the upper hand in the bout, battle back, hit a jumping DDT on a steel chair and a powerslam.
This time Kurrgan was out cold and could not beat the 10 count.

Members of the Prophecy, Menele, Barbie Wired, and Kutlu Warrior celebrate in the ring as we

FADE TO BLACK

Note:
Darren Dalton no-showed the battle royal, and we had to sub in one half of the tag champions Spyder.

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #788
May 16, 1999
PPV - Return of the Vendetta
Milwaukee, WI

The PPV opens with The Prophecy carrying in Kurrgan's parents' broken tombstones in a pair of wheelbarrows.

Opening Bout
Ladder Match 
RCW Television Title Match (& winner gets shot at Heavyweight Title later tonight)
Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) (champion)  v  Gary Goodridge
Gary Goodridge gained an early advantage with a DDT.
Steve Corino and Darren Dalton came down to ringside together.
The battle goes outside where Graves gains a slight advantage. Graves comes close to grabbing the belt above the ladder but Goodridge knocks the ladder over with a spin kick. The bout goes back and forth with Goodridge fighting an uphill battle. Goodridge made a comeback but Graves managed to get him into a figure-four. 
Dalton tripped up Graves when he goes for the ladder, and then Goodridge nails Graves with a frankensteiner. Goodridge locks on the kneebar submission. After he releases the hold Goodridge goes for the ladder, but Graves saves himself by crawling over and nailing the challenger with a low blow. Graves climbs the ladder but has to dive for the belt, and narrowly misses. 
Both men are beaten and exhausted by now. Graves tries to choke out Goodridge but can't finish him off. The two go toe to toe in the middle of the ring. Goodridge gets close to the belt but Graves knocks the ladder over. A series of near misses by each man follows.
Steve Corino hits Graves in the back with a chair. A stunned Goodridge is slow to respond and just stares at Corino. Graves  manages to climb up the opposite side of Goodridge on the ladder, and outclaws him to the top to grab the belt.
[Derek Graves defeated Gary Goodridge in a ladder match at 35:53]
[Derek Graves retained the RCW Television Title]


Bout #2
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Steve Corino (champion)  v  Stan Baker
At the conclusion of the first match, Baker stormed ringside from the crowd and caught Corino off guard. We start the title match immediately. Baker is all over Corino right from the start, using his superior strength and size advantage. Corino though comes back capping it with a superplex. Corino uses a russian legsweep, and then climbs to the top buckle. Baker catches Corino with a punch to the gut, then climbs to the second buckle and brings Corino down with a superplex of his own, and gets the big upset victory.
[Stan Baker defeated Steve Corino by pinfall after a superplex at 6:25]
[Stan Baker wins the RCW Heavyweight Title]


Bout $3
Table Match - Must put your opponent through a table to win
Ace Darling & Devon Storm  v  IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy
Ace Darling takes it to Klown early. Klown makes a comeback but continues in the ring rather than tagging out to Shaggy. Devon Storm gets Klown in trouble again. Shaggy tries to come in and help but the ref intercepts him and the distraction allows the Extremists to double team Klown.
Finally Shaggy gets tagged in. Darling goes for an Asai moonsault attempt on Shaggy who catches Darling and turns it into a tombstone. 
Storm has set up a table outside the ring. All 4 men are battling as the ref has lost control of the bout. Darling throws Shaggy out of the ring, hits him with a moonsault, puts Shaggy on the table and hits him with a flying legdrop off the ring apron right through the table. Very good match but the crowd didn't seem into it.
[Ace Darling & Devon Storm defeated the IBZ in a tables match when Darling put Shaggy through a table at 25:32]


Bout #4
Jesse Hennig (/w Becky Hennig)  v  Spyder
Hennig goes on the offensive early, until Spyder clotheslines him out of his boots. Outside the ring Hennig throws Spyder into the ringsteps and the guardrail. This matchup is pretty even. Spyder counters a piledriver attempt by slingshoting Hennig into the turnbuckle. Spyder hits a spinebuster slam, a flying shoulderblock, and then a frankensteiner to pick up the win.
[Spyder defeated Jesse Hennig by pinfall after a frankensteiner at 7:16]
**After the bout Darkstar and Michael Modest hit the ring and the 3 members of Becky's Boys laid a beating on Spyder until Rising Son and other RCW officials came in to break it up.


Bout #5
RCW European Title Defense
Brass Knux on a Pole - Hardcore Match
Menele (champion)  v  Kutlu Warrior
**These two are stable mates in the Prophecy, and while Barbie Wired came out to watch she stayed out of the action, and remained impartial.
Warrior with the early advantage, and nails a powerbomb. Menele gets busted wide open early. It is all Menele can manage to prevent Warrior from reaching the brass knux.
Menle made a comeback and got the fans behind him. Outside of the ring one of the fans hands Menele a frying pan which he uses to clock Warrior. Menele then busts Warrior wide open with a jumping DDT on the exposed concrete floor. Then each competitor grabs a table. Warrior hits Menele with a table, then Menele hits Warrior with his table. Menele hits Warrior with the table again, executes a front face DDT and gets the pin. (With no one retrieving the brass knux).
[Menele defeated Kutlu Warrior by pinfall after a front face DDT at 7:33]
[Menele retained the RCW European Title]



Bout #6
Triangle Match - Winner Gets the Leadership of The Alliance
Special Guest Referee; Mistress Gloom
Jody Christmas  v  Joe E. Legend  v  Boss Strickland
Legend attacked Christmas before the opening bell (again). The matchup is even and then we get Strickland v Legend, then Christmas v Strickland. Christmas pulls his knees up to catch Strickland going for a top rope splash. Strickland and Christmas seem to be working together more often then not, making quick tags to each other and isolating Legend. This is a triangle match, not a 3 way, so only two men are legal at a time.
Outside the ring Strickland whips Legend into the ringpost and the ringsteps. Legend and Christmas then go at it toe to toe in the ring. Christmas is in trouble and has to reach the ropes to avoid submitting to a Boston crab by Legend. 
Special guest referee Gloom is calling it right down the middle (or right down the thirds), even preventing Strickland from interfering to break up the Boston crab. Legend climbs to the top buckle but Christmas throws him off. Strickland tags himself in off the back of Christmas, and hits Legend with a top rope splash while Gloom argues with Christmas over the tag. Gloom turns around and makes the 3 count (a pretty quick count before Christmas could get in and break it up).
[Boss Strickland defeated Jody Christmas and Joe E. Legend in a Triangle match by pinfall over Legend after a top rope splash at 9:40]
**After the bout, all 4 members of the Alliance walked back up the ramp, each leaving by themselves. Have we seen a new leader born, or a stable imploded?


Bout #7
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Stan Baker (champion)  v  Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery)
This match is champion v champion, but only the Heavyweight title, not the TV title is on the line.
The bout is tooth and nail, featuring wrestling skills against pure power. Graves hits a series of clotheslines and dropkicks, and then a swinging neckbreaker to grab a big advantage. Graves has complete control but stops to complain to the ref about a slow count. Baker hits Graves with a running clothesline from behind, then a powerbomb to get the pin.
[Stan Baker defeated Derek Graves by pinfall after a powerbomb at 7:01]
[Stan Baker retained the RCW Heavyweight Title]


Main Event
Hardcore Singapore Cane Match - Last Man Standing 10 Count to Win
Vendetta II  v  Kurrgan
Kutlu Warrior comes down to ringside early.
VII attacks the legs of Kurrgan, and Kurrgan retaliates by trying to choke VII with the cane. VII with the slight advantage, but Kurrgan gets the first big shot in with the cane. Outside the ring Kurrgan throws VII into the ringsteps and then the guardrail, hits him with a chokeslam, and then throws him again into the ringpost and guardrail. Inside the ring, VII comes back with a flying back elbow, and a powerbomb. 
Kurrgan is up at a count of 2.
Kutlu Warrior tosses VII a roll of coins which he hits Kurrgan with,
Kurrgan is up at a count of 2.
VII is in control with some high knees, a powerslam, and a cloverleaf. Kurrgan gains control of the cane and hits VII with it. VII takes it to Kurrgan but the big man just keeps getting up. Kurrgan comes back with a clothesline and a legsweep faceslam. VII though battles back with an inverted DDT, and then hits Kurrgan with the cane again. VII then dropkicks Kurrgan in the knee as he works over the legs. Kurrgan comes brawling back and hits VII with the cane. Kurrgan moves out of the way of a running splash. Kurrgan hits him with the cane, a tombstone piledriver, but
Vendetta II gets up at a count of 3.
VII hits Kurrgan with the cane, and then follows up with a suplex from the middle buckle, and another inverted DDT, but
Kurrgan gets up at a count of 3.
Toe to toe and Kurrgan is winning the battle. Chokeslam and tombstone.
VII gets up at a count of 3.
VII nails two flagrant lowblows on Kurrgan, then nails a nasty looking cobra clutch slam. VII throws Kurrgan out of the ring but badly misses a baseball slide. Kurrgan throws VII into the ringsteps twice, pulls him into the ring and nails a chokeslam.
VII gets up at a count of 4.
VII makes a comeback with a flurry. Then VII hits Kurrgan with an inverted DDT, this time time dropping him right on a chair that was slid in the ring by Kutlu Warrior.
Kurrgan can't beat the 10 count.
Great match!
[Vendetta II defeated Kurrgan by 10 count in a Hardcore Rules - Singapore Cane Match at 19:49]

After the bout The Prophecy in its entirety celebrated in the ring as we

FADE TO BLACK

[jacklarkin]

RCW Heavyweight Title Lineage

1. The Destroyer
Jan 5/80: defeated Mike Valiant at RCW #1 in a tournament final.

2. Chris Lyon
Jan 24/81: defeated The Mummy in tournament final at RCW #26.
The Destroyer was stripped of his title after not being able to
defend the title for 30 days due to injury.

3. The Mummy
Mar 28/81: defeated Chris Lyons in a cage match at RCW #29.

4. The Destroyer (2)
Aug 1/81: defeated the Mummy at RCW #36.

5. Chris Lyon (2)
Oct 24/82: defeated the Destroyer at RCW #80

6. The Destroyer (3)
Apr 30/83: defeated Chris Lyon at RCW #97.
Best 2 out of 3 falls

7. Chris Lyon (3)
July 9/83: defeated The Destroyer at RCW #106

8. Jim Brunzell
Sep 22/84: defeated Chris Lyon at RCW #162

9. David Schultz
Mar 23/85: defeated Jim Brunzell at RCW #184

10. Jim Brunzell (2)
Apr 20/85: defeated David Schultz at RCW #187
3 falls to 2, 30-minute Ironman Cage Match

11. Jerry Blackwell
June 30/85: defeated Jim Brunzell at RCW #196

12. Bob Backlund
Oct 5/85: defeated Jerry Blackwell at RCW #209

13. David Schultz (2)
Dec 19/85: defeated Bob Backlund at RCW #220

14. Bob Backlund (2)
Feb 15/86: defeated David Schultz at RCW #225

15. Steve Disalvo
Aug 23/86: defeated Bob Backlund at RCW #250

16. Vendetta
Oct 10/87: defeated Steve Disalvo at RCW #304

17. Don Muraco
Mar 18/89: defeated Vendetta at RCW #367

18. Dynamite Kid
Apr 15/89: defeated Don Muraco at RCW #371

19. Don Muraco (2)
May 27/89: defeated Dynamite Kid at RCW #377

20. Davey Boy Smith
Sep 2/89: defeated Don Muraco at RCW #391

21. Dynamite Kid (2)
Dec 14/89: defeated Davey Boy Smith by pinfall in a Coal Miners Glove match at RCW #406 (10th Anniversary Spectacular)

22. Paul Orndorff
May 26/90: defeated Dynamite Kid by pinfall at RCW #425
**vacated July 7th due to injury

23. Steve Disalvo (2)
Aug 4/90: defeated Don Muraco in tournament final at RCW #435

24. Ricky Steamboat
Dec 15/90: defeated Steve Disalvo at RCW #449 at (11th Anniversary Spectacular)

25. Larry Cameron
Mar 14/91: defeated Jerry Lynn at RCW #459 in tournament final
**Vacated by Steamboat due to injury

26. Paul Orndorff (2)
Sep 28/91: defeated Cameron by pinfall at RCW #480

27. Rogue
Feb 15/92: defeated Orndorff in a cage match at RCW #489

28. Vendetta (2)

Jun 20/92: defeated Rogue 2 falls to 0 in a best of 3 falls match at RCW #498

29. Dirty White Boy
Aug 15/92: defeated Vendetta by pinfall at RCW #502

30. Jerry Lynn
Dec 5/92: defeated Dirty White Boy 2 falls to 1 in a best of 3 falls match at RCW #510 (13th Anniversary Spectacular)

31. Manny Silva

Mar 27/93: defeated Jerry Lynn by pinfall at RCW #517

32. Harley Tragger
Sep 25/93: defeated Dirty White Boy in tournament final at RCW #530
**Manny Silva was stripped of the title and suspended for his actions

33. Stan Lane
Dec 4/93: defeated Harley Tragger by pinfall at RCW #535 (14th Anniversary Spectacular)

34. Jim Brunzell (3)
Apr 9/94: defeated Stan Lane by submission at RCW #542 in a steel cage match

35. Greg Valentine
Jun 4/94: defeated Jim Brunzell by referee's decision at RCW #546 

36. Harley Tragger (2)

Sep 24/94: defeated Greg Valentine by pinfall at RCW #554

37. Stan Lane (2)
Dec 3/94: defeated Harley Tragger by pinfall at RCW #559 (15th Anniversary Spectacular)

38. Jim Brunzell (4)
Oct 21/95: defeated Stan Lane by pinfall at RCW # 587
**Vacated title for retirement after Dec 9/95 title defence.

39. Greg Valentine (2)
Jan 20/96: defeated Waylon Mercy by pinfall at RCW #596
**tournament final for vacant title

40. Waylon Mercy
Jul 6/96: defeated Greg Valentine by pinfall at RCW #619

41. Stan Lane (3)
Sep 14/96: defeated Waylon Mercy by pinfall at RCW #634

42. Manny Silva (2)
Jul 19/97: defeated Stan Lane by pinfall at RCW #680

43. Vendetta (3)
Dec 13/97: defeated Manny Silva by pinfall at RCW #708 (18th Anniversary Spectacular)

44. Masa Chono
Feb 21/98: defeated Vendetta by pinfall at RCW #716

45. Vendetta (4)
Apr 4/98: defeated Masa Chono by pinfall at RCW #722
**Vendetta forfeited the title after his defence at the 19th Anniversary show, on Dec 5/98

46. Jody Christmas
Feb 11/99: defeated Steve Corino by pinfall at RCW #771
**4 man tournament for the vacant title

47. Steve Corino
Mar 26/99: defeated Jody Christmas by submission in a cage match at RCW #778 (RiverWars PPV)

48. Stan Baker
May 16/99: defeated Steve Corino by pinfall at RCW #788 (Return of the Vendetta PPV)

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #789
May 22, 1999
Rockford, IL

RCW Rage opens with,

A taped scene from the cemetery where the Prophecy reaffirms Vendetta II as their leader after his vanquishing of Kurrgan. Balls Mahoney is absent from the ceremony, and VII talks about having a surprise for Kurrgan tonight.

Joe Aiello announces the opening of the Last Man Standing Tournament. Tonight we will have matches from the preliminary round, the round of 16. The final will be at June's Last Man Standing PPV.


Opening Bout
Last Man Standing - Round of 16
Devon Storm defeated Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) by pinfall after a springboard splash at 1:21
**Storm pulled out a surprise powerbomb, followed quickly by a springboard splash. The ref delivered a pretty quick 3 count for a very quick upset.
Post-Match: Legend and Gloom attack the ref.

Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel is in the ring and he vows that Legend and Gloom will pay for their attack on an RCW official.
The Alliance hits the ring and tries to intimidate Bock. After Bock leaves though Boss Strickland, the new leader of the Alliance after his PPV victory, begins to taunt Legend about his loss to Storm. Then Jody Christmas takes issue with Strickland, and Strickland's pinning Legend at the PPV when it was him (Christmas) that had done all the work wearing Legend down. Strickland just proclaims himself to be the leader of the Alliance, and then he and Christmas decide to attack Legend and Gloom.


Bout #2
Lewis O'Day & Scarlett Birmingham (/w Lady Victoria) defeated Nick Mercury & Yoshi Kwan (/w Big Albert) by countout at 12:57
**O'Day and Birmingham have gone from sworn enemies to tag partners. Mercury had O'Day in trouble early. Mercury and Kwan work well together with quick tags and lots of double team moves. Birmingham makes a comeback against Kwan, and he and O'Day double team Kwan. Birmingham hits Kwan with a back suplex, followed by an abdominal stretch. Mercury has to save Kwan from a pin attempt. Mercury then gains the advantage and tombstones O'Day outside of the ring. Birmingham fights back against Mercury with a football tackle, and a snap mare. Mercury rolls out of the ring and leaves the match.

Kurrgan enters the dressing room of the Prophecy with a chair and lays out Menele to get to Kutlu Warrior. As he chokes Warrior he demands a rematch for the Toughman title tonight - a last man standing Singapore Cane match. Kutlu Warrior of course just nods his agreement to stay alive. Kurrgan chokeslams him through a buffet table before leaving. That will be our main event tonight.

Vincent Regliatti is in the ring alone. He says that he is not sure where his friend and fellow Canadian, Steve Corino is, and hasn't heard from him since last week when he lost the Heavyweight title to Stan Baker at Return of the Vendetta. 
Regliatti challenged Baker to a match tonight.


Bout #3
RCW Television Title Match
Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) defeated Wiked Klown by disqualification for outside interference at 16:18
[Derek Graves retained the RCW Television Title]
**This was the title shot Klown earned with his battle royal win in Rage. Klown attacked Graves before the opening bell. Montgomery distracted Klown long enough to turn the tide for Graves. The champ tried to choke out the challenger. Lots of action outside the ring in this brawl of a match, and Graves grabs a firm control of the bout. Graves has Klown in a sleeper which Klown finally breaks by reaching the ropes. However, Shaggy had come down to ringside and hits Graves in the back with a chair and gets his tag partner disqualified.
Post-Match: Shaggy began to punk Graves, but Klown was pissed with Shaggy for causing the DQ so he just left. Montgomery interposed herself to stop Shaggy from further hurting Graves.


The second hour of the program begins with a tribute to Illinois (Chicagoland) wrestling.

Bout #4
Last Man Standing - Round of 16
Gary Goodridge defeated Spyder by submission to the kneebar at 4:49
**Goodridge was all over Spyder from the opening bell, leaving Spyder no room to move. Goodridge immobilized Spyder by working over his legs. Spyder ended up passing out from the pain of the kneelock.


Mercury's Orbit with your host Nick Mercury.
The guest this week is Bobby Duncum Jr who tells Mercury this whole show of his is silly. Mercury asks Duncum why he is no longer in the Heavyweight title contention, which Duncum answers with a backelbow and a running bulldog. Duncum then does the same to Yoshi Kwan, and then to Big Albert. Duncum sits on the ruined show set ringing his cowbell, and using Mercury as a foot rest.


Bout #5
RCW Heavyweight Title Match
Vincent Regliatti defeated Stan Baker by submission to the sharpshooter at 11:46
[Vincent Regliatti wins the RCW Heavyweight Title]
**Regs gets the sharpshooter on really early but is too close to the ropes. Baker battles back with a string of power moves to take the advantage. Regs is in trouble but pulls out a big enzuigiri. Regs then counters several big power move attempts by the champ to stay alive in the match. Regs delivers a Russian legsweep, goes for the sharpshooter but Baker counters with a scorpion deathlock. The two stand in the middle of the ring going to to toe. Regs gets the advantage, kick to the gut, piledriver, Russian legsweep, and then the sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Big upset, and we have a new champion!!

An interview with Kurrgan who calls Vendetta II's victory at Return of the Vendetta a fluke, and says they are not done yet.


Main Event
RCW Toughman Title Match
Hardcore Rules - Singapore Cane Match
Last Man Standing 10 Count to Win
Kutlu Warrior defeated Kurrgan by 10 Count after a jumping DDT at 18:49
**The action goes outside to the floor almost immediately. Kutlu misses a swing with a fire extinguisher which Kurrgan then grabs away and nails him with it. It's all Kurrgan as he has his way with Warrior and is punishing him for being born.
BEN BASSARAB AND MANNY SILVA COME DOWN TO RINGSIDE TOGETHER!!
Kurrgan nails Warrior with a chokeslam but is too distracted by Bassarab and Silva to press his advantage. Silva throws Warrior a roll of coins which he uses to hit Kurrgan, but Kurrgan gets to his feet before the 10 count.
Bassarab tries to throw Warrior a blackjack but Kurrgan intercepts it and nails Warrior. Kurrgan though just can't seem to hurt Warrior enough to keep him down for a 10 count. Warrior is the first to use the Singapore Cane, rolls Kurrgan back inside the ring, hits him with a cookie sheet, then gives him a DDT through a table. Both men are slow to get to their feet.
Kurrgan coms back and nails Warrior with the cane, and then whips him into the guardrail. Kurrgan would have won but Silva pulled Warrior to his feet at the count of 9!
Brawling outside Kurrgan fights off Silva and Bassarab while Warrior hits him from behind with the fire extinguisher. Kurrgan again makes a comeback and lays Warrior out with a flying clothesline. Warrior is down but the ref was also knocked out in the tussle and can't make the count.
Bassarab comes into the ring and nails Kurrgan from behind, and then a flying elbowdrop from the top, and then puts Warrior on top of Kurrgan, not realizing the 10 count stipulation? The ref though is still knocked out and while Bassarab and Silva try to revive him Kurrgan is first to his feet and grabs the cane. Warrior starts to get to his feet so Kurrgan goes back to back with him as if getting to his feet as well. Kurrgan then moves out of the way, causing Warrior to tumble. The big man swings down with the Cane but Warrior rolls away from the attack, toward Kurrgan, and then strikes upward with a low blow. Back on his feet Warrior nails Kurrgan several times with the cane,
Kurrgan is up at a count of 9.
Warrior then nails a jumping DDT,
Kurrgan is down for the 10 count.

Post-Match: Ben Bassarab and Manny Silva entered the ring and continued to pound on Kurrgan while Kutlu Warrior left the ring.
Cowbells! Bobby Duncum Jr electrified the crowd by coming in for the save, but he too was overwhelmed by the new duo of Bassarab and Silva.

Duncum Jr. and Kurrgan lay face up in the ring, as we

FADE TO BLACK

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #790
May 26, 1999
Manchester, England

RCW goes overseas for the first time to England for a big event.

Opening Bout
Balls Mahoney defeated Spyder by pinfall after the Balls Breaker at 8:27
**Spyder controlled early. It's all Spyder until Balls hits him with a hotshot after Spyder missed a spinning leg lariat. Balls hit his finisher and picked up a big win.

Bout #2
Hardcore Rules Match - Non-Title
Lewis O'Day defeated Kutlu Warrior (/w Barbie Wired) by pinfall after hitting him with a road sign at 1:36
**Right away Menele came down to ringside. He tried to pass Warrior the road sign to use but O'Day intercepted it, nailed Warrior and picked up a real quick win.
Post-Match: Kutlu Warrior and Menele double teamed O'Day until Scarlett Birmingham came out to make the save.

Lewis O'Day and Scarlett Birmingham stayed in the ring after to cut a promo for their home UK crowd, pushing their new British Allegiance together.

Bout #3
Six-Man Tag Match
Darkstar, Jesse Hennig, & Michael Modest (/w Becky Hennig) defeated Ace Darling, Devon Storm, & Jim Neidhart by pinfall when Hennig pinned Storm after a gutwrench suplex at 14:13
**Becky's Boys were in trouble early, with Darkstar in trouble until he managed to tag in Modest. Hennig had Storm in trouble but Storm powerbombed Hennig on a chair to turn it around. But Hennig was able to pull out a gutwrench suplex at the right time and got the pin.

An impromptu Battle of Bikini's breaks out between Becky Hennig and Barbie Wired. While no official decision was rendered it sure sounded like Wired won by popular vote.

Bout #4
RCW European Title Match
Ladder Match
Menele (/w Barbie Wired) defeated Scarlet Birmingham (/w Lady Victoria) in a ladder match at 11:41
[Menele retained the RCW European Title]
Kutlu Warrior came down to ringside, both he and Victoria got involved in the action. The match was very even for the first 10 minutes. Then Menele hit a jumping DDT on Birmingham. Warrior tossed Menele a roll of coins which he used to nail Birmingham, and followed up with a front face DDT. Menele is at the very top of the ladder when Birmingham knocked him off. The two battle again, and this time Menele is successful in retrieving the belt.

Nick Mercury, Yoshi Kwan, and Big Albert are in the ring cutting a promo. Mercury rants on the Alliance for choosing Strickland over him, and promises to show them the error of their ways tonight.


Bout #5
Stan Baker defeated Spyder by pinfall after a heartpunch at 2:54
**this was advertised to be a rematch for the RCW title with Vincent Regliatti against Baker. No word on why Regliatti was not able to perform initially, and then it was leaked that he had some problems with customs and immigration trying to enter England.


Bout #6
2 out of 3 Falls
Nick Mercury & Yoshi Kwan (/w Big Albert) defeated Jody Christmas & Boss Strickland (/Mistress Gloom) 2 falls to 0 in 22:46
**Mercury sends Kwan in to start the match against Strickland. Strickland has Kwan in trouble, but Kwan rolls away from a top rope splash. Christmas and Mercury have a great 5 minute exchange in the ring just the two of them. Kwan hits Christmas with a superplex and 2 enzuigiris. Kwan puts the Wakigatame armbar submission on Christmas who passes out from the pain.
[Mercury & Kwan won the first fall by submission when Kwan submitted Christmas with the Wakigatame armbar at 17:01]
**Mercury gets a cloverleaf on Christmas but its too close to the ropes. Mercury nails Christmas with a piledriver. Kwan hits Christmas with an elbowdrop from the second buckle, and uses the ropes for leverage to get the pin. Strickland never got into the second fall.
[Mercury & Kwan won the second fall by pinfall when Kwan pinned Christmas after a second rope elbowdrop (with his feet on the ropes) at 22:46]
Post-Match: Strickland and Christmas seemed to argue a little about the loss.


Main Event
30 Minute Iron Man Match
Bobby Duncum Jr  v  Steve Corino
Duncum dominates early with an airplane spin, and a piledriver. Duncum hits a running bulldog but somehow Corino kicks out of the finisher! 
Ben Bassarab comes down to ringside.
Duncum hits another bulldog, Corino kicks out again! It's still all Duncum but Corino is making a slow comeback. Corino goes to whip Duncum into the ropes but the Texan reverses it, and Bassarab is pulling down the ropes already so Corino spills to the floor.
Bassarab returns to the dressing room.
Corino makes a comeback with a superplex but when he goes for a cross bodyblock Duncum catches him, slams him to the mat, nails a quick bulldog and picks up the fall.
[Bobby Duncum Jr pinned Steve Corino after a bulldog at 18:22] [Duncum 1-0 Corino]
Duncum goes for his finisher again but Corino blocks it. Brawling outside the ring Corino gets busted wide open. Duncum throws him into the guardrail, and the ring steps before hitting a bulldog on the floor. Back inside though Corino makes another comeback, culminating in a figure-four around the ringpost, and then a Boston crab.
[Steve Corino submits Bobby Duncum Jr to the Boston crab at 24:14] [1-1 each]
After some more brawling Duncum hits a piledriver, kick to the stomach, running bulldog.
[Bobby Duncum pinned Steve Corino after a running bulldog at 29:27] [Duncum 2-1 Corino]
[Bobby Duncum wins 2 falls to 1 in 30:00]

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #791
May 29, 1999
Duluth, Minnesota

Special 30 minute warm up show broadcast in some markets.

Bout #1
Darren Dalton & Michael Modest (/w Becky Hennig) defeated IBZ: Wiked Klown & Shaggy by pinfall when Modest pinned Wiked Klown after a top rope cradle suplex at 5:35
**Modest and Dalton controlled most of this bout. Modest grabbed the tights illegally to help assure the 3 count.

Bout #2
Last Man Standing - Round of 16
Jim Neidhart defeated Scarlett Birmingham (/w Lady Victoria) by submission to the Anvilizer at 11:08
**Birmingham suffered a shoulder injury and will be out approximately 6 weeks.


RCW Rage opens with

RCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel comes to the ring. He announces that new RCW Heavyweight champion Vincent Regliatti was scheduled for his first title defence earlier this week in England, but was not able to make it due to some custom issues. However, RCW has discovered that these custom issues will be ongoing as they result from a minor conviction that Regliatti has on his record for Marijuana possession. While RCW does not condone the use of illegal drugs, we also realize that this was several years in the past. However, now that he has been flagged, his travel from Canada to the U.S. specifically will become problematic. So, RCW has no other choice then to part ways with Regliatti and to strip him of the RCW title as he will not be able to defend it within his 30 day window. The title will be filled with a Fatal 4 way match at Last Man Standing. More information in regards to that match will come later in the show.

Menele calls out Kutlu Warrior, saying that since he gave Warrior a shot at the European title, that Warrior should give him a shot at the Hardcore title tonight. Warrior tries to dismiss Menele, but in the end the two agreed to the match tonight despite both being members of the Prophecy.

Opening Bout
Last Man Standing - Round of 16
Balls Mahoney (/w Barbie Wired) defeated Ace Darling after a sidewalk slam at 7:59
**Jesse Hennig came to ringside, waiting for his match which was scheduled next.
Mahoney held the early advantage. Darling hit a running faceslam to turn the tide. Darling followed this up with a swinging DDT onto a chair. 
Hennig decided to hit Darling in the back with a chair. Mahoney made quick work of Darling after the chair shot.


Interview with Becky's Boys (Becky Hennig, Jesse Hennig, Darkstar, and Michael Modest) where both Jesse and Darkstar seem to want credit for being the leader of the team, and vying for Becky's attention. 
Darren Dalton comes out and wants to join Becky's Boys, but Becky wants nothing to do with him, so Jesse and Darkstar appear ready to punk Dalton, but Modest calms things down and takes Dalton away from harm's way.

Bout #2
RCW Tag Team Title Match
Derek Graves & Gary Goodridge (/w Sharon Montgomery) defeated Jesse Hennig & Darkstar (/w Becky Hennig) by submission when Graves submitted Hennig in the figure-four at 7:55
[Derek Graves & Gary Goodridge win the RCW Tag Team Titles]
**Hennig is isolated early in this bout and has to fight out of a kneelock by Goodridge. Hennig fights back with a sleeper and a top rope DDT but can't get the tag, going for an ill advised pin instead. Graves turns it around, gets the figure-four on and the titles change hands after a very short run.

Bout #3
No Disqualification - Hardcore Rules
Manny Silva defeated Bobby Duncum Jr by pinfall after hitting him with a baseball bat at 17:41
**Best match of the night.
Kurrgan came down to the ring to threaten Silva.
Kurrgan hit Silva in the back with a chair before being sent to the locker rooms by the ref. The battle is outside the ring where Silva throws Duncum into the ring steps, busting Duncum wide open. Duncum hits a low blow and then a bulldog on Silva, but the veteran's foot is on the ropes to avoid the pin. Another bulldog attempt is blocked and Duncum is now bleeding profusely. Silva manages to get a chair shot in on Duncum to change the complexion of the bout. Silva follows up with a superplex and a powerbomb, but Duncum kicks out at 2 1/2. 
Ben Bassarab comes down to ringside.
Bassarab tries to toss Silva a chair, but Duncum snatches it away, and nails Silva with it. They brawl outside the ring. Bassarab tosses Silva a baseball bat which he uses to nail Duncum and get the tainted victory.
Post-Match: Bassarab joins Silva in beating down Duncum until Kurrgan storms the ring from the back to make the save.


The second hour of Rage begins with Kurrgan and Duncum in the ring demanding to see commissioner Nick Bockwinkel. When Bock comes to the ring he tells them to get to the point. They want Silva and Bassarab in a cage match at Last Man Standing. Bock agrees but says that they will then forfeit their chance of being in the fatal 4 way to crown a new Heavyweight champion. They agree, and the match is signed.
While Bockwinkel is in the ring he has some news for Joe E. Legend & Mistress Gloom who attacked a referee last week. They will be in the ring as a tag team at Last Man Standing, against Jody Christmas & Boss Strickland! He is apparently trying to split the Alliance in half.
The participants for the fatal 4 way to crown a new RCW Heavyweight champion will be announced next week. Bockwinkel says that if Steve Corino expect to be part of it then he will have to show up next week; or he's out. 

Six matches have been announced for Last Man Standing;
-Last Man Standing Semi-Finals and Finals.
-Legend/Gloom v Christmas/Strickland
-Kurrgan/Duncum v Silva/Bassarab (Cage Match)
-Fatal 4 way for the RCW Heavyweight Title


Bout #4
Lewis O'Day defeated Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) by countout at 12:48
**the first 5 minutes of this match are even, back and forth action. Mercury had to fight out of a figure-four. Outside the ring Mercury throws O'Day into the guardrail to regain the advantage. O'Day has to then fight out of a cloverleaf. They stand toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring. Then Mercury getting out punched, flees.

Bout #5
Last Man Standing - Round of 16
Ben Bassarab defeated Boss Strickland by countout at 9:12
**Strickland takes the early advantage and Bassarab fights an uphill battle throughout the match. Strickland tries to counter a suplex with a DDT, but Bassarab blocks it and delivers a big Northern lights suplex. Bassarab nails a clothesline knocking Strickland over the top rope. Strickland appears to come up lame and is counted out.

Jody Christmas joins Boss Strickland and the paramedics outside the ring where they examine the leg of Strickland. Strickland though appears healthy and is laughing it off, saying that at least with the loss he can still have his shot to wrestle against Legend and Gloom. This brought out Legend and Gloom from the back and tempers flared, and a brawl broke out. Gloom held her own, with help from a chain, against Strickland one on one.


Main Event
RCW Toughman Title Defence
Strap Match - Winner can be by pinfall/submission or touching all 4 buckles
Kutlu Warrior defeated Menele by pinfall after a jumping DDT at 6:36
[Kutlu Warrior retained the RCW Toughman Title]
**Barbie Wired was not at ringside for either man again. 
Warrior was all over Menele from the start like a pitbull. Menele battled back and hit Warrior with an inverted DDT. Warrior though got in some nasty shots with the whip. Warrior hit a backbreaker to set up touching the first 2 turnbuckles. Menele was able to stop it and stay alive, but Warrior would not be denied, hitting a swinging neckbreaker, and then a Jumping DDT with the strap wrapped around Menele's throat.
Post-Match: Warrior continued to hit Menele with the strap despite being members of the same stable, the Prophecy. Balls Mahoney ran in to drag Warrior off Menele and ended up exchanging blows with the Warrior who seemed to have lost it. Vendetta II though came to the ring to restore order, just as Kurrgan and Bobby Duncum Jr hit the ring from the crowd to attack the Prophecy. Manny Silva and Ben Bassarab then stormed the ring with chairs from the dressing room to join the brawl, as we

FADE TO BLACK

[jacklarkin]

RCW Tag Team Title History

1. Jan 19/1980: Vegas Brothers (Kenny Deeler & A.J. Dice)
- tournament final over Chris Lyons & J.P. Moran, Winnipeg, Canada

 
2. Aug 16/1980: KISS Army (Demon Gene & Superstar Paul)
-by pinfall over the Vegas Brothers, Winnipeg, Canada

 
3. Mar 7/1981: Roughnecks: (Stan Rodgers & Russel Riggs)
- by pinfall over the KISS Army, Winnipeg, Canada

 
4. Aug 1/1981: Royal Kiwis: (Kelly Hobin & Keith McIvor)
-by pinfall, 2 out of 3 falls, over the Roughnecks, Winnipeg, Canada

 
5. Mar 20/1982: Mike Valiant & Chris Lyon
- by pinfall over the Royal Kiwis, Winnipeg, Canada
-Chris Lyon forfeited the titles on Oct 30/82 due to his also holding the RCW Heavyweight Title.

 
6. Dec 11/82: Roughnecks: (Stan Rodgers & Russel Riggs) (2)
-Tournament final for vacant titles
-by pinfall over the Cuban Assassin & Iranian Assassin, Winnipeg, Canada

 
7. Aug 4/83: Angelo Mosca & Bobby Duncum
-by pinfall over Roughnecks, Wrestling Summit, Winnipeg, Canada

 
8. Feb 25/84: Phil Lafleur & Ben Bassarab
-by pinfall over Mosca & Duncum, at RCW #134, Winnipeg, Canada

9. Mar 10/84:Angelo Mosca & Bobby Duncum(2)
-by pinfall over Lafleur & Bassarab at RCW #136, Winnipeg, Canada

10. Jul 28/84: Keith & Bret Hart
-by pinfall over Mosca & Duncum at RCW #155, Winnipeg Canada

11. Dec 13/84: King Tonga & Abdullah the Butcher
-by pinfall over the Hart Brothers at RCW #174, Winnipeg, Canada
5th Anniversary Spectacular
-titles stripped on Feb 16/85 when Abdullah and Tonga split as a tag team


12. Mar 23/85: Chris Lyon & Bobby Duncum
-by pinfall over Masked Superstar & Super Destroyer at RCW #184, Calgary, Canada
-tournament final. Lyon & Duncum had won the RCW bracket. MS & SD had won the North American bracket (said to be a fictional tournament).

 13. May 25/85: Masked Superstar & Super Destroyer
-by pinfall over Chris Lyon & Bobby Duncum at RCW #191, Edmonton, Canada
-Texas Tornado style match

 14. Dec 19/85: Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn & Stan Lane)
-by pinfall over Masked Superstar & Super Destroyer at RCW #220, Winnipeg, Canada
-6th Anniversary Spectacular

 15. Feb 22/86: The Longriders (Wild Bill Irwin & Scott Hogg Irwin)
-by pinfall over Fabulous Ones at RCW #226, Fargo, North Dakota

16. Jul 11/87: The Terminators: Riggs & Wolff
-by pinfall over The Hart Brothers: Bruce & Owen at RCW #291, Winnipeg, Canada
-tournament final, the Longriders forced to forfeit titles after injury to Scott Hogg

 17. Dec 17/87: Buck Zumhoffe & Baron von Raschke
-by pinfall over The Terminators: Riggs & Wolff at the 8th Anniversary Spectacular RCW #313, Winnipeg, Canada

18. Jan 16/88: The Terminators: Riggs & Wolff (2)
-by pinfall over Buck Zumhoffe & Baron von Raschke at RCW #314, Winnipeg Canada

19. Feb 27/88: Top Guns: Derrick Dukes & Ricky Rice
-by pinfall over the Terminators at RCW #320, Regina, Canada

20. June 11/88: Bryan St. John & Terry Orndorff
-by pinfall over the Top Guns at RCW #333, Grand Forks, North Dakota

21. July 23/1988: Owen Hart & Chris Benoit
-by pinfall over St. John & Orndorff at RCW #339, Minot, North Dakota

22. Aug 7/1988: The Sheepherders Butch & Luke
-by pinfall over Owen Hart & Chris Benoit at RCW #341, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

23. Aug 14/1988: Owen Hart & Chris Benoit (2)
-by pinfall over the Sheepherders at RCW #342, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

24. Sep 11/1988: Bad Company: Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond
-by pinfall over Owen Hart & Chris Benoit at RCW #345, Brandon, Manitoba

25. Nov 13/1988: Top Guns: Derrick Dukes & Ricky Rice (2)
-by pinfall over Bad Company at RCW #353, Winnipeg, Manitoba

26. Mar 18/1989: Bolsheviks: Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov
-by pinfall over Top Guns at RCW #367, Regina, Saskatchewan

27. May 13/1989: High Flyers: Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell
-by submission over the Bolsheviks at RCW #375, Winnipeg, Manitoba

28. Jun 10/1989: Destruction Crew: Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom
-by pinfall over the High Flyers at RCW #379, Regina, Saskatchewan

29. Sep 2/1989: Jack Steele & Ricky Rice
-by pinfall over the Destruction Crew at RCW #391, Winnipeg, Manitoba

30. Oct 14/1989: The Bruise Brothers: Larry Picone & Dave Koorajian
-by pinfall over Steele & Rice at RCW #397, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

31. Feb 3/1990: Ben Bassarab & Biff Wellington
-by pinfall over The Bruise Brothers at RCW #410, Regina, Saskatchewan

32. Mar 3/1990: The Blackhearts (Matt & Brett Derringer)
-by pinfall over Ben Bassarab & Biff Wellington at RCW #414, Regina, Saskatchewan

33. Apr 14/1990: Ben Bassarab & Biff Wellington (2)
-by pinfall over the Blackhearts at RCW #419, Winnipeg, Manitoba

34. June 30/1990: The Texas Hangmen Psycho & Killer
-by pinfall over Bassarab & Wellington at RCW # 430, Winnipeg, Manitoba

35. July 21/1990: Ben Bassarab & Biff Wellington (3)
-by pinball over Texas Hangmen in a Steel Cage match at RCW #433, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

36. Dec 15/1990: Texas Hangmen Psycho & Killer (2)
-by pinfall over Bassarab & Wellington at RCW # 449; 11th Anniversary Show. Winnipeg, Manitoba

37. Feb 23/1991: Ben Bassarab & Kid Gallahad

-in a Texas Tornado Bullrope match at RCW #457, Winnipeg, Manitoba

38. May 25/1991: Destruction Crew: Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos (2)

-by pinfall over Bassarab & Gallahad at RCW #471, Winnipeg, Manitoba

39. Dec 7/1991: Bob Orton Jr. & Mike Lozansky

-by pinfall over Destruction Crew at RCW #485, 12th Anniversary Show, Winnipeg, Manitoba

40. Sep 12/1992: Sebastien Rikard & Archangel

-by pinfall over Orton & Lozansky at RCW #504, Winnipeg, Manitoba

41. Dec 5/1992: Mike Lozansky & Lightning Kid

-by pinfall over Rikard & Angel at RCW #510; 13th Anniversary Show, Winnipeg, Manitoba

42. Jan 30/1993: Dirty White Boy & Barry Horowitz

-by pinfall over Lozansky & Lightning Kid at RCW #513; Winnipeg, Manitoba

43. Mar 13/1993: Baron von Raschke & Brad Rheingans

-by pinfall over Dirty White Boy & Barry Horowitz at RCW #516; Winnipeg, Manitoba

44. May 8/1993: Kevin Sullivan & Nightstalker
-by pinfall over Raschke & Rheingans at RCW #520; Winnipeg, Manitoba

45. Aug 28/1993: Super Destroyers 2000 & 2001
-by pinfall over Brad Rheingans & Derrick Dukes by pinfall in a tournament final at RCW #528; Winnipeg, Manitoba
**Sullivan & Nightstalker had been stripped of the titles

46. Oct 9/1993: Brad Rheinghans & Ken Patera 
-by pinfall over the Super Destroyers at RCW #531; Winnipeg, Manitoba

47. Oct 23/1993: Sebastien Rikard & Lenny Thompson
-by pinfall over Rheinghans & Patera at RCW #532; Winnipeg, Manitoba

48. Apr 23/1994: Tommy Jammer & The Trooper

-by submission over Rikard & Thompson at RCW #543; Winnipeg, Manitoba

49. Jun 4/1994: Destruction Crew: Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos (3)
-by pinfall over Jammer & Trooper at RCW #546; Winnipeg, Manitoba

50. Sep 10/1994: Robbie Royce & Dan Kroffat
-by pinfall over Destruction Crew at RCW #553; Winnipeg, Manitoba

51. Feb 4/1995: Stan Baker & Jesse Hennig

-by pinfall over Royce & Kroffat at RCW #562; Winnipeg, Manitoba

52. Jul 8/1995: Destruction Crew: Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos (4)
-by pinfall over Chi Chi Cruz & Eric Freedom in a tournament final at RCW #577; Winnipeg, Manitoba
**Baker and Hennig were stripped of their titles after Baker suffered an injury

53. Dec 9/1995: Fabulous Ones:Steve Keirn & Stan Lane (2)
-by pinfall over Destruction Crew in a Texas Tornado Match at RCW #593; Winnipeg, Manitoba

54. Feb 17/1996: Man Mountain Rock & Hakushi
-by pinfall over Greg Valentine & Stan Lane in a tournament final at RCW #599; Winnipeg, Manitoba
**Fabulous Ones forfeited the title when Lane turned on Keirn

55. Jun 1/1996: Wolfgang Haessler & Untermenschen
-by pinfall over Man Mountain Rock & Hakushi at RCW #611; Winnipeg, Manitoba

56. Oct 19/1996: Todd Bullett & Robbie Royce
-by pinfall over Wolfgang Haessler & Untermenschen at RCW #639; Winnipeg, Manitoba 

57. Apr 19/1997: Thug Life: Joe E. Legend & Steele
-by pinfall over Todd Bullett & Robbie Royce at RCW #662; Winnipeg, Manitoba

58. Jun 21/1997: The Extremists: Ace Darling & Devon Storm
-by pinfall over Joe E. Legend & Steele at RCW #672; Winnipeg, Manitoba

59. Nov 15/1997: African Bulldogs: Pariah & Temple
-by pinfall over the Extremists at RCW #704; Winnipeg, Manitoba

60. Jan 24/1998: Sexton Hardcastle & Christian Cage
-by pinfall over the African Bulldogs at RCW #712; Winnipeg, Manitoba

61. Jun 6/1998: Joe E. Legend & Eric Freedom
-by pinfall over Sexton Hardcastle & Christian Cage at RCW #731; Winnipeg, Manitoba

62. Nov 7/1998: The Extremists: Ace Darling & Devon Storm (2)
-by pinfall over Joe E. Legend & Eric Freedom at RCW #766; Winnipeg, Manitoba

63. Dec 5/1998: Spinebusters: Bryan Caruthers & Jerry Orth
-by pinfall over Ace Darling & Devon Storm at RCW #770; Winnipeg, Manitoba
**Spinebusters stripped of the titles after they do not sign with the new RCW for 1999

64. Feb 11/1999: Jim Neidhart & Stan Baker
-by pinfall in a triangle match over Rising Son & Pitbull Kid and Vincent Regliatti & Derek Graves at RCW #771; Winnipeg, Manitoba
**Neidhart & Baker vacate the titles due to irreconcilable differences. Baker had been a reluctant fill in for a no-show Vic Gate. 

65. Feb 13/1999: Stan Baker & Boss Strickland
-by pinfall over Jim Neidhart & Vic Gate for held up tag titles at RCW #772; Fargo, North Dakota

66. Feb 27/1999: Rising Son & Spyder
-by pinfall over Stan Baker & Boss Strickland at RCW #774; Madison, Wisconsin

67. May 15/1999: Jesse Hennig & Darkstar
-by pinfall over Rising Son & Spyder at RCW #787; LaCrosse, Wisconsin

68. May 29/1999: Derek Graves & Gary Goodridge
-by submission over Hennig & Darkstar at RCW #791; Duluth, Minnesota

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #792
June 5, 1999
Chicago, Illinois

Special 30 minute warm-up broadcast on some affiliates

Bout #1
Ace Darling defeated Jesse Hennig (/w Becky Hennig) by pinfall after a flying elbowsmash at 5:58
**Darling surprisingly got the better of Hennig through most of this bout.

Bout #2
"Wild Child" Kevin Quinn defeated Mistress Gloom by pinfall after a powerbomb at 5:56
**Gloom made her return to in-ring action, against a male, and despie having her moments Quinn beat her handily. The fans were bored stiff with this bout.

Bout #3
Last Man Standing - Round of 16
Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) defeated Menele (/w Barbie Wired) by submission to the cloverleaf at 8:19
**The first five minutes were even. Finally Mercury countered a powerslam attempt with a swinging neckbreaker to set up the cloverleaf.


RCW Rage opens with...

The Prophecy congregating at a graveyard. Vendetta II talks about the price to be paid for disloyalty being worse than death. Barbie Wired appears quite frightened throughout the speech, as does Menele. 

Joe Aiello and Nick Bockwinkel are setting up the night when Manny Silva came to the ring to interrupt. Silva says that since Duncum is tied up with a match tonight against Kutlu Warrior, and Kurrgan is not in the building, he hates everyone else on the roster equally. He throws an open challenge to any wrestler from the back to a hardcore match.
The crowd erupts when Balls Mahoney (accompanied by a still frightened looking Barbie Wired) answer the call.

Opening Bout
Hardcore Rules
Balls Mahoney defeated Manny Silva by submission to the testicular claw at 14:16
**They go tooth and nail from the opening bell. Mahoney nails a double arm DDT. Silva executes a running splash on the concrete floor outside the ring. Mahoney tires to nail Silva with a frying pan but misses. Silva grabs the pan and nails Mahoney. Silva follows up with a powerbomb, grabs a baseball bat and hits Mahoney 3 times, and throws him into the guardrail. Mahoney is busted wide open.
Mahoney gets the bat and cracks Silva over the head with it, busting Silva wide open. Mahoney sets up a table and then puts Silva through it with a pilederiver. Then he sets up another table and puts Silva through it with an elbowdrop. Silva uses a bullrope and some swinging punches to battle back. Finally, Mahoney slips in the testicular claw and brings the mad Hawaiian down.

After the match Vendetta II and Kutlu Warrior stand at the top of the ramp, with baseball bats looking angry. Mahoney leaves through the audience instead of walking up the ramp where his Prophecy stable mates stand.

Jody Christmas and Boss Strickland come out and make some typical tasteless remarks regarding their Last Man Standing opponents, apparently ex-Alliance members Joe E. Legend and Mistress Gloom. However Legend and Gloom come up the ramp and call Christmas a whiner and a quitter. Legend challenges Christmas to an "I Quit" match tonight, which is accepted.

Nick Mercury wearing a gui is seen worshipping and training with Yoshi Kwan. He says that his pupil Kwan is ready to take the big step and get the TV title tonight from Derek Graves. He presents Kwan with a gift - a samurai sword.

Derek Graves is seen getting a rubdown from his beautiful manager/valet; Sharon Montgomery.


Bout #2
RCW Television Title Match
Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) defeated Yoshi Kwan (/w Big Albert) by disqualification for outside interference (Nick Mercury) at 13:34
[Derek Graves retained the RCW Television Title]
**Kwan tries a couple of early pin attempts using the tights as leverage but the ref catches him. Graves hits a swinging neckbreaker, a DDT and a sleeper to gain a big advantage. Kwan reaches the ropes to break a figure-four. Big Albert interferes by shoving Graves off the top buckle, but it's all Graves now.
Nick Mercury comes down to ringside still wearing a gui and brandishing a sword.
Mercury ends up passing Kwan the sword which he uses to whack Graves, and uses the ropes for leverage, but Graves still kicks out.
Kwan has to fight out of another figure-four. Montgomery prevents Big Albert from interfering which distracts the ref allowing Graves to hit a low blow and then blast Kwan with a steel chair. Mercury hits Graves in the back with the sword (in scabbard) but the ref turns around at the last second to see it and calls for the DQ.

Post-Match: Mercury and Kwan continue to beat down Graves until Gary Goodridge comes from the back to make the save.

A vignette showing Becky's Boys relaxing around the pool. Jesse is swimming, Becky is tanning, Darkstar is reading The Wrestling Observer on the lounger (his face is hidden behind the paper), Michael Modest is trying to convince Becky of the worthiness of his friend Darren Dalton to be in the Boys.
A red pick up truck pulls upfront of the house. The driver gets out its Darren Dalton. But Dalton is chased away by a wet Jesse Hennig and Darkstar (who is wearing his mask).


Bout #3
Last Man Standing Qualifying Match - Round of 16
Lewis O'Day defeated Darkstar (/w Becky Hennig) by disqualification for outside interference at 2:03
**O'Day is all over Darkstar from the start. Becky pulls down the top rope and sends O'Day sprawling to the floor drawing the DQ.
Darkstar did not seem pleased with Becky getting him disqualified.


The IBZ are shown in one dressing room with Wiked Klown saying that he hopes the best man wins the 4 way dance tonight. Shaggy seems skeptical and isn't saying much to his partner.

Darren Dalton is shown coming into the dressing room of Becky's Boys. Becky has to cover up as she is just getting out of the shower. This brings out the troops. Michael Modest saves Dalton from a punking by getting him out of there. Dalton asks Modest if he is in the Boys yet; Modest replies that he needs to win the 4 way tonight, and then maybe.

Bout #4
4-Way Dance
Darren Dalton v Shaggy v Wiked Klown v Michael Modest (/w Becky Hennig)
**Dalton and Modest lock up early in the match with Modest getting the better of Dalton.
Jesse Hennig comes to ringside to join Becky.
Modest hits Shaggy with a double underhook piledriver on a chair. Wiked Klown saves Shaggy by grabbing a tag. Klown is all over Modest. Modest tags out to Shaggy and we have the two members of the IBZ going at it. Shaggy whips Klown into the ropes, but Jesse pulls down the top rope sending Klown to the floor. Shaggy tags out to Dalton. Jesse rolls Klown back into the ring where Dalton puts the armbar submission on.
[Wiked Klown is eliminated by Dalton by submission to the armbar at 13:38]
**Klown is further punked by Jesse after his elimination, while Shaggy just watches the match. Dalton is all over Modest who turns it around with a facerake and a Western lariat.
[Darren Dalton is eliminated by Modest by pinfall after a Western lariat at 16:21]
**It's down to Shaggy against Modest. The fans are not giving this bout much reaction. Becky trips up Shaggy at one point, but then Jesse pulls her away to conspire. Now they seem more like scouts than managers. Shaggy executes the top rope legdrop on Modest and goes for the pin. Becky though drapes Modest's foot over the bottom rope to get the break.
The bell rings and the match ends in a 20-minute time limit draw.
[Shaggy and Michael Modest survive in a 20:00 time limit draw]


Mercury's Orbit...Nick, Yoshi and Albert bring in their guests, Manny Silva and Ben Bassarab.
Mercury basically calls Silva a has been ex-minor league wrestling champ, and Bassarab a Hart wannabe and lapdog. They appear ready to tear Mercury apart when Bobby Duncum Jr runs in and takes the fight to Silva and Bassarab. But with 2 against 1 odds Silva soon subdues Duncum and holds him while Bassarab retrieves a chair. As Bassarab is about to chair shot Duncum, Steve Corino runs in from backstage with a chair and whacks Bassarab in the head, "that's for Cincinnati you ingrate" Corino spouts as he spits on the fallen Bassarab. In the meantime Duncum squirmed out of Silva's arms, kick to the gut, running bulldog! Duncum stomps around the ring. The cast of Mercury's orbit just watch the whole thing in amusement.


Bout #5
Non-Title Hardcore Match
Kutlu Warrior (/w Barbie Wired) defeated Bobby Duncum Jr by pinfall after a jumping DDT at 19:10
**Duncum with the early advantage. 
Menele comes to ringside.
Airplane spin sets up a bulldog, but Warrior gets his feet in the ropes to break the pin. Duncum is in control but can't put Warrior away. Warrior fights back and hits a DDT but can't move fast enough to make a cover. Duncum hits another bulldog but Warrior is able to kick out after a slow cover, and both men are exhausted. Menele hits Duncum in the back with a chair. Warrior follows this up with a jumping DDT, but Duncum gets his foot on the bottom rope, but Menele knocks Duncum's foot off the rope before the ref could notice.
Best match of the night. Warrior and Menele head through the crowd to avoid a pissed off Duncum.


Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel comes to the ring to announce the combatants for the final 4-way for Last Man Standing, to determine a new RCW Heavyweight Champion.
Bock first calls out the name of Stan Baker, who was the last champion before Vincent Regliatti. Baker is in the fatal 4. Bock then calls out the name of Steve Corino, who re-emerges from the back. Since Corino showed up tonight and promises to be at Last Man Standing, Corino is in.
Bock says as a result of his big win over Kurrgan at Return of the Vendetta, Vendetta II deserves a shot. VII comes to the ring to join Corino and Baker.
Finally, the last choice was a tough one says the commish since certain main eventers were going to be tied up with other matches; specifically Bobby Duncum Jr, Kurrgan, and Jody Christmas. So the 4th spot goes to a man with impressive victories recently over Duncum and Kurrgan; Kutlu Warrior! He comes into the ring, looks hesitantly at VII, who reassures him with an arm over the shoulder. The 2 then turn on and attack Corino trying to take out a knee. Baker grabs Warrior off Corino but is soon thrown from the ring. It's 2 on 1 again until Bobby Duncum Jr hits the ring and and dukes out Kutlu. Corino manages to fend off VII while Duncum makes short work of Warrior. 


Main Event
I Quit - Hardcore Match
Jody Christmas (/w Boss Strickland) defeated Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) by submission to the figure-four at 9:27
**Christmas is all over Legend from the start. Strickland passed Christmas the ring hammer which he used on Legend. Christmas can't seem to put Legend away though. Strickland tries passing the hammer to Christmas again but this time it's intercepted by Legend who nails Christmas.
Outside the ring Christmas throws Legend into the guardrail and ringsteps. Strickland attacks Legend as well. Christmas hits a moonsault bodyblock on Legend and throws Gloom into the ringsteps. Legend fights back with a spinning DDT and a piledriver. Christmas hits a superkick but Legend battles back and hits his Legend cutter. He covers Christmas but the ref doesn't count because this is an I quit match. Christmas gets up and regains the advantage, nailing an enzuigiri and then slapping on a figure-four.

Post-Match: Strickland and Christmas menace Gloom as we,

FADE TO BLACK

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #793
June 12, 1999
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Special 30 minute warm-up broadcast on some affiliates

Bout #1
Joe E. Legend (/w Mistress Gloom) defeated "Wild Child" Kevin Quinn by pinfall after a Legend cutter at 12:23
**A return bout of sorts after Quinn defeated Gloom last week. This week Quinn gave Legend all he could handle, but in the end the Legend cutter was the difference.

Bout #2
Last Man Standing QuarterFinal Match
Jim Neidhart defeated Balls Mahoney by submission to the anvilizer at 8:50
**Barbie Wired did not appear with Mahoney, who seemed quite distracted throughout this bout, often looking around into the stands instead of following up on holds. That was all the advantage that the veteran Neidhart needed as he overpowered Mahoney.

RCW Rage opens with...

A taped graveyard segment where Kurrgan is replacing the tombstones of his parents. He promises retribution on Rage and challenges Vendetta II to a Buried Alive Match tonight!

Jesse Hennig comes to the ring with Becky for his Last Man Standing match against Kutlu Warrior. From the back the Kutlu Warrior taunts Hennig as being a reject from the Hennig family...and offers to make tonight's match "anything goes". Hennig accepts.

Opening Bout
Last Man Standing - Round of 16 
Hardcore Rules - Falls Count Anywhere
Jesse Hennig (/w Becky Hennig) defeated Kutlu Warrior by pinfall after hitting him with a roll of coins at 7:23
**Hennig is busted open in the first minute by Kutlu. Hennig nails Kutlu with a table after Kutlu had nailed him with a fire extinguisher. Hennig is soon bleeding profusely, as the action is mostly outside the ring. Kutlu almost chokes out Hennig. Kutlu gets a roll of coins from Barbie Wired but Hennig blocks his punch, out punches him and then nails him with the coins. This was perhaps the best match of the night.

After the break Becky Hennig is still in the ring to dismiss the rumours about dissension in the ranks of Becky's Boys. She assures everyone that she is the only person calling the shots and there is a long line-up of boys ready to join her group. She calls out Michael Modest and assures him that Darren Dalton will not be an addition to the group. However, she says that she wants to see more of the IBZ and calls out Shaggy to wrestle against Modest.

In the back Shaggy is declining the challenge, much to the surprise of Wiked Klown. So Klown heads to the ring to meet the challenge instead.

Bout #2
Wiked Klown defeated Michael Modest (/w Becky Hennig) by disqualification for outside interference at 4:49
**There is a lot of good countermove wrestling early in this match. Becky gets involved early by tripping Klown. Klown though gets on a roll which culminates in a spinebuster slam and a 2 count. Klown is coming off the ropes when Becky trips him again, this time she gets caught and disqualified.

Post-Match: Wiked Klown calls out Shaggy after the match but Shaggy doesn't come down to the ring.

A rundown of the Last Man Standing PPV as it stands;
Last Man Standing Semi-Finals (Jim Neidhart has qualified)
Last Man Standing Final
Joe E. Legend & Mistress Gloom  v  Boss Strickland & Jody Christmas
Fatal 4 Way for the RCW Heavyweight Title; Steve Corino/Stan Baker/Vendetta II/Kutlu Warrior
Cage Match: Kurrgan & Bobby Duncum Jr  v  Manny Silva & Ben Bassarab

Vendetta II appears from the back of a limousine. Says he can't be there tonight but that Menele would be happy to take his place and compete in the Buried Alive Match against Kurrgan.


Bout #3
Last Man Standing Quarter-Final
Gary Goodridge (/w Sharon Montgomery) defeated Devon Storm by submission to the knee lock at 9:08
**Good exchange early of power versus agility. Outside the ring Storm hits a springboard moonsault followed by a rana. Montgomery distracts Storm with her cleavage, and Goodridge nails him from behind into the guardrail. Goodridge follows up with a frankensteiner on Storm as he staggers away from the guardrail.
Inside the ring Goodridge gets his knee lock submission on which Storm manages to survive, and comes back with a spinning head scissors and a springboard moonsault. Goodridge just shrugs off an asai leg lariat, and comes back with a DDT. Goodridge then slaps on his knee lock submission again, and this time gets the duke.


The second hour kicks off with Steve Corino in the ring saying he's been hearing all these challenges thrown out the last few weeks and has one of his own. Rubbing the back of his head he tears into Bassarab for hitting him from behind in Cincinnati. He challenges Bassarab to a special First Blood match tonight.

Lewis O'Day comes down for his Last Man Standing match against Mercury and spouts off on Mercury for being a chicken for walking out on his last two matches, against himself and Scarlett Birmingham. O'Day says that Mercury lacks the testicular fortitude. Mercury charges to the ring from the back in anger and right into the waiting arms of O'Day.

Bout #4
Last Man Standing Quarter-Final
Lewis O'Day defeated Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) by pinfall after a release powerbomb at 2:55
**Mercury tries to brawl with O'Day, and is brought down with a pair of piledrivers and the finisher.

Post-Match: Big Albert finally made it down to ringside just before the pinfall, entered the ring but not in time. O'Day hit Albert with a lowblow and a release powerbomb as well. Then Yoshi Kwan came in from behind and laid out O'Day using the side of his sword scabbard.

An interview with Ben Bassarab and Manny Silva regarding their upcoming PPV cage match with Bobby Duncum Jr & Kurrgan.


Bout #5
First Blood Match
Ben Bassarab defeated Steve Corino by drawing first blood at 2:58
**Manny Silva came out but the ref sent him to the back.
Corino controls the early going by countering every Bassarab move, and then hits a superplex and a flying clothesline. Bassarab tumbles out of the ring. He catches Corino coming after him and throws Corino into the guardrail. Corino flies head first into the rail and splits his head wide open.

Post-Match: Ben Bassarab flees the arena while still being pursued by a bloody Steve Corino.

We see there will be no Mercury's Orbit tonight as Lewis O'Day lays waste backstage to the unattended Mercury's Orbit set.


Main Event
Buried Alive Match
Menele  v  Kurrgan
**They lock up and Kurrgan pounds away. Menele has to block a tombstone piledriver attempt and then gives Kurrgan a tombstone of his own. They are going at each other when Vendetta II appears from the back to make it 2 on 1. Then the sound of cowbells erupt and Bobby Duncum Jr runs in to a huge pop from the crowd to make it 2 on 2.

Kurrgan & Bobby Duncum Jr defeated Vendetta II & Menele in a Buried Alive match at 32:26
**The refs allow the extras to stay but insist that it be a tag team match. Menele tags out to VII, and Duncum is being double teamed. VII tags back out and Menele is all over Duncum with a jumping DDT, a front face DDT, and a belly to back suplex. Duncum is in big trouble. VII comes in to double team again. Outside now all 4 men brawl with VII knocking Kurrgan around. Duncum comes back and throws Menele into the ringsteps. Inside the ring Duncum tags out to Kurrgan, but Menele tags in a fresher VII who comes in to face a tired Kurrgan. Kurrgan manages to tag in Duncum but he too is weary, and easy pickings for VII. Vendetta II hits the inverted DDT on Duncum, but Duncum battles back.
Manny Silva comes down to ringside.
Duncum battles VII outside the ring, but Silva nails Duncum from behind. The referee tries to send Silva to the dressing room but he refuses to budge. The 4 combatants battle outside the ring, with Duncum blocking another inverted DDT attempt. VII is throwing Duncum around like a rag doll into the ringsteps, the ringpost, and the guardrail. Kurrgan can't battle past a pesky Menele.
VII follows Duncum to the burial plot and Duncum tries to put VII into the plot but fails. They battle beside the plot. All 4 men now battle around the graveyard plot, and VII hits Kurrgan with a shovel. 
Manny Silva joins the fray and nails Kurrgan essentially making this a 3 on 2 bout. Finally as Duncum battles off both Silva and VII, Kurrgan gives Menele two tombstone piledrivers (dedicating one to his mother, and one to his father), and puts Menele into the burial plot and throws a shovel of dirt on him to win the bout.

Post-Match: Kutlu Warrior shows up with a couple of singapore canes to make it 3 on 2 again (Menele is out cold in the burial plot). Kurrgan and Duncum are beaten down, as we see Ben Bassarab come in from the back to join the fray. Suddenly, Steve Corino appears right in front of Bassarab and Bassarab walks right into a chair shot, laying him out cold. At the grave site Balls Mahoney of the Prophecy suddenly appears with a couple of baseball bats, but he surprises VII when he tosses them to Kurrgan and Duncum, as we

FADE TO BLACK

[jacklarkin]

River City Wrestling #794
June 19, 1999
Fargo, North Dakota

Special 30 minute warm-up broadcast on some affiliates

Becky Hennig called out the IBZ for a match against her Boys, but Shaggy was nowhere to be found, so Wiked Klown ended up in a handicap match.

Bout #1
Handicap Match
Darkstar & Michael Modest (/w Becky Hennig) defeated Wiked Klown by pinfall when Michael Modest pinned Wiked Klown after a flying bodypress at 3:01
**Becky's Boys made short work of Klown, taking him apart.

Bout #2
Last Man Standing Quarterfinal Match
Ben Bassarab defeated Jesse Hennig (/w Becky Hennig) by pinfall after hitting him with the ringbell at 3:13
**Steve Corino came down early to jaw with Bassarab, and seemed to keep Bassarab distracted most of the bout. Bassarab was fighting an uphill battle against super offence by Jesse Hennig. However, Corino tried to throw Hennig the ringbell, but it was intercepted by Bassarab while Becky was tied up with the ref, and he nailed Hennig to pick up the win.


RCW Rage opens with...

The Alliance (Boss Strickland & Jody Christmas) hit the ring. They rant a little on Legend & Gloom, and how each had trouble with a jobber like Kevin Quinn, who they call a loser.
Legend & Gloom come out at the top of the ramp and talk about how good Quinn really is, and that Christmas should shut up and wrestle the youngster. Christmas accepts. He asks if there is anyone that Legend thinks Strickland should wrestle while he's at it. Legend responds that Gloom would be happy to kick Strickland's ass. Strickland accepts the match but wants a special stipulation; to test the "testicular fortitude" of their respective partners the match will be a "towel match" with Christmas and Legend in the corners.

Opening Bout
Jody Christmas defeated "Wild Child" Kevin Quinn by pinfall after a superkick (and a handful of tights) at 8:50
**Christmas started by attacking Quinn before the bell sounded. Quinn fought back to gain the advantage, and took Christmas outside the ring where he threw him several times into the guardrail. Quinn gave Christmas everything he could handle with a high power offence. Christmas though used an out of the blue superkick and a handful of tights to get the tainted victory.

Recap of Last Man Standing qualifying matches including the Bassarab - Hennig match earlier tonight.

Bobby Duncum Jr is looking for Manny Silva in the back. He tells us that he has a Hardcore match signed against the little goof for tonight's main event.

Bout #2
RCW Television Title Match
Derek Graves (/w Sharon Montgomery) defeated Nick Mercury (/w Big Albert) by countout at 5:42
[Derek Graves retained the RCW Television Title]
**Albert tripped up Graves early, and then menaces Montgomery which distracts the ref. 
Yoshi Kwan throws the ringbell hammer to Mercury but its intercepted by Graves who nails Mercury. The ref is too slow to come back to the action so Graves only gets a 2 count.
Mercury claws back, hits a superplex and an asai moonsault. Graves responds with a swinging neckbreaker and a vertical suplex. In trouble Mercury walks out of the match (again!).
However, he is met up the ramp by Lewis O'Day who takes it to him, only to be ambushed by Yoshi Kwan. Scarlett Birmingham emerges from the back to help out O'Day and even the odds.

Preview of the Last Man Standing PPV.


Bout #3
Tag Team Match involving the 4 Last Man Standing Finalists
Lewis O'Day & Ben Bassarab defeated Gary Goodridge & Jim Neidhart (/w Sharon Montgomery) by pinfall when Bassarab pins Neidhart after hitting him with brass knuckles at 15:23
**Dud of a match. O'Day takes it to Goodridge from the opening bell. Neidhart reverses things and takes it to Bassarab. Bassarab though nails Neidhart with a low blow to gain back the advantage. Goodridge no sells a Bassarab piledriver. Bassarab and Goodridge go at it and Montgomery lowers the top rope sending Bassarab crashing to the floor outside the ring. Goodridge and Neidhart double team Bassarab outside the ring. Neidhart has Bassarab in big trouble inside the ring, but the ref is distracted trying to put Goodridge out. Bassarab pulls out brass knux from his trunks and nails Neidhart to get the pin.

Mercury's Orbit hosts Ben Bassarab. 
Bassarab began to rant about his exile to Japan by RCW. Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel came out and told Bassarab that he just watched his tag match from the back, and his warm-up match against Hennig. Bock calls Bassarab a cheat, saying it wouldn't surprise him if he had been in cahoots with Steve Corino who threw him the ring bell. So while Bock can't reverse a ref's decision under RCW by-laws, he can take away Bassarab's Lat Man Standing spot and give it to Jesse Hennig!
Bock then turned his attention to Nick Mercury, and told him he was walking out of too many matches, and is in violation of his contract. The next time he walks out on a match it will result in his being released from his RCW contract. Lastly, Bock took the opportunity to announce a 7th match for the Last Man Standing PPV. Balls Mahoney asked for and has been granted a match against his fellow Prophecy member, Menele.
Bassarab was furious and said that the RCW was embarrassed by their own booking, and just wanted to protect their investment in the Kurrgan/Duncum vs Silva/Bassarab Main Event.
Bassarab nailed Bockwinkel and put him in a crossface chickenwing! Even Nick Mercury seemed a little put off, trying to get Bassarab to release the hold. Finally, Steve Corino came out with a chair and nailed Bassarab to free the commissioner. But then Corino spat on Bock (for his earlier remarks about being in cahoots) and left the ring.


Bout #4
Towel Match
Mistress Gloom (/w Joe E. Legend) defeated Boss Strickland (/w Jody Christmas) in a towel match at 18:47
**Gloom attacked Strickland before the opening bell. It was all Gloom until she missed a high knee lift. Gloom managed to block a lot of Strickland's offence. She hit a top rope DDT to swing the match in her favour. Brawling outside the ring Strickland was swinging punches without holding anything back for the first time against Gloom. Strickland had the advantage, so Legend threw Gloom a baseball bat but Strickland grabbed it away and nailed Gloom. Gloom had to scream NO to Legend at this point to stop him from throwing in the towel.
Gloom battles back and she trades a double underhook suplex against a top rope splash (both go for pins, forgetting the stipulations for a second). Legend throws Gloom the baseball bat again which this time she uses on Strickland. Strickland though battles back and nails another top rope splash. Gloom is prone but Legend does not throw in the towel. Gloom misses a baseball slide knocking herself out cold. Strickland throws her around ringside but can't get Legend to throw in the towel. Gloom battles back hitting 2 double underhook suplexes and whips Strickland into the guardrail. Back inside the ring Gloom boot chokes Strickland who is slumped in the corner. He is out cold.
Christmas throws in the towel, and walks away in disgust.

Post-Match: Joe E. Legend enters the ring and nails the prone Strickland with a Legend cutter.

After the commercial break we see Strickland and Christmas arguing in the dressing room. Christmas is disgusted with Strickland' failure and Strickland is mad at Christmas for not helping him during the bout like Legend helped Gloom, claiming it was 2 on 1 out there. Christmas calms him down saying that they would take it out on Legend and Gloom at the Last Man Standing PPV.


Bout #5
Tag Team Bout Featuring the Fatal 4 Way Competitors
Steve Corino & Stan Baker defeated Vendetta II & Kutlu Warrior (/w Barbie Wired) by pinfall when Baker pinned Kutlu Warrior after a flying bodypress at 12:17
**the Prophecy double team Corino at the start of the bout. All 4 men are brawling before long. Corino and VII have a good 4 or 5 minute exchange. Corino works over the back and leg of VII, with some submission leglocks and a Boston crab. Corino then slaps on the sharpshooter but VII battles to the ropes to break the hold after 30 seconds.
Corino continues his assault on VII with an enzuigiri and a superplex. The crowd is on their feet for Corino. VII comes back with a bulldog and manages to tag out to Kutlu. Corino and Kutlu have a short exchange before Baker is tagged in.  With VII still slumped down in the corner, Corino and Baker double team Warrior, with a double fist to the midsection. Corino nails a Russian legsweep, and then as Kutlu staggers to his feet he is nailed by the freight train that is Baker with a devastating flying bodypress.
After the bout Corino and Baker shake hands, this was the best match of the night.

Exclusive footage of Ben Bassarab and Manny Silva being trained in Japan by Onita.


Main Event
Hardcore Rules Match
Bobby Duncum Jr. defeated Manny Silva by pinfall after a lariat at 23:21
**The action spills out of the ring early. Silva busts Duncum wide open hardway with a discus punch. Duncum is bleeding like hell as they stand toe to toe and duke it out in the ring. Silva hits a wheelbarrow suplex but Duncum survives by landing a low blow. They battle outside of the ring where Duncum takes it to Silva until he is distracted by Ben Bassarab, which allows Silva to come back with a big powerbomb on the floor.
Kurrgan comes down to ringside.
Steve Corino comes down to ringside.
Duncum bleeding like hell nails Bassarab before following Silva back into the ring.
Vendetta II comes down to ringside.
With the ref distracted by VII, Ben Bassarab enters the ring and nails Duncum in the head with a steel chair. Silva whips Duncum into the ropes but Duncum reverses it, and Corino pulls down the top rope sending Silva crashing to the floor. They battle outside the ring as all 6  men get into the brawl.
Back inside Duncum hits a running bulldog, but can only get a 2 count by the time the ref gets back into the action. Bassarab nails Duncum in the head with a chair again as he was choking Silva on the ropes, knocking him out. With the ref outside the ring Bassarab hands Silva a fire extinguisher, which he uses to nail Duncum. Duncum somehow battles back, and busts Silva wide open with the extinguisher.
Silva resorts to more weapons hitting Duncum with a hammer, and a blackjack. He tries to hit Duncum with a road sign but Duncum snatches it away and nails Silva. Silva brings the road sign with him back into the ring though and nails Duncum, then hits him with another wheelbarrow suplex. By the time the ref can get past all the outside interference to count though, Silva only gets a 2 count.
Silva and Duncum stand toe to toe in the middle of the ring, as the crowd is on their feet. Silva whips Duncum into the ropes, VII pulls Silva out of the ring. All 6 men fight outside the ring again, as Silva delivers a powerbomb on Duncum outside the ring. Duncum though gets back into the ring and catches Silva with a kick to the gut as Silva follows him back into the ring. Duncum hits the running bulldog but again only gets a 2 count as VII put's Silva's foot across the bottom rope. Duncum then catches Silva with a lariat in the middle of the ring, knocking him out of his boots, as Kurrgan and Corino tie up Bassarab and VII outside the ring, Duncum rolls up Silva to get the pin.

Post-Match: Former Prophecy member Balls Mahoney appears from the crowd with a steel chair and whacks Vendetta II over the back as we...

FADE TO BLACK