Crpls
Midcarder
Posts: 140
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Post by Crpls on Apr 19, 2011 23:03:57 GMT -5
It's a bit weird to go back and watch older wrestling when you're heavy on the last 15-20 years (moreso the last 10), but I imagine if we were alive at the time and knew nothing of the future, it'd all seem normal.
Tapping out has been so common for nearly 15 years now, I totally forget and don't even notice them not doing it if I watch things pre-97.
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Post by JoshiQ on Apr 25, 2011 17:58:27 GMT -5
I still prefer the verbal submit, but I guess it does add a little bit of suspense when the hand goes up to tap out but hesitates a second or two.
Great stuff, Ryan, but man, you have been beaten up by people quitting. I just caught up and everybody is gone that was there when I stopped reading a month or two back. Argh!
It really sucked losing Harley Race, but you've handled it pretty well with Jumbo. It is kind of nice to have a champ like Jumbo after a dominant one like Race. It feels like any challenger could dethrone Jumbo.
The worst part of your releases had to be Luke Graham for me. He's been my favorite since way back near the beginning. It's getting to that point where I doubt you bring him back, and that definitely makes me a sad panda.
I liked the use of the illegal immigrant for Koloff. I thought maybe I had missed the reveal of that angle while reading through all of the cards, glad to see that wasn't the case. You kept that angle hidden for quite some time. Pretty impressed by that.
Did you reveal who smashed the cage door in Snuka's face? I don't think I read it, but maybe I just missed it.
I love Bruiser Brody running wild. I can see him easily becoming my new "Luke Graham" in GCW.
I'm back to reading so you should see some more replies from me.
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Post by snabbit888 on Apr 25, 2011 23:00:59 GMT -5
Thanks Josh.
Yeah, TNM put the screws to me on guys not re-signing. Snuka was supposed to be IC champ now, Luke Graham/Inoki were going to be tag champs, and Race would still be World champ. Totally different landscape.
And no, never revealed who smashed the cage in Snuka's face. If Snuka returns to GCW at some point, I may revisit it then, but I figure since Snuka's not around for revenge anyway and is not coming back soon, it's not important right now.
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Post by snabbit888 on May 1, 2011 2:53:07 GMT -5
August 26, 1977 - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
Bob Backlund pinned Rene Goulet with the Atomic Drop in 0:05:07. Rating: ** 1/2
The Madison Square Garden crowd was treated to Bob Backlund in our opening match, a man they are solidly getting behind. He has yet to be defeated since coming to GCW, and the next man to try was Rene Goulet, a man who hasn't won since he's come to GCW. Goulet is looking desperate for a win, and Backlund used that desperation to lure Goulet into many mistakes before hitting the Atomic Drop to kick off our evening.
Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo defeated Tim Woods and Mr. Wrestling II when Bravo pinned Wrestling II with the Side Suplex in 0:22:25. Rating: *** 1/4 (Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)
Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci have surprised a lot of people with how successful they've been as a relatively new team, already ascending to the World Tag Team Titles. What we are noticing is that teams are still underestimating them, even though they're the champs. Tim Woods & Mr. Wrestling II were the next team to challenge, and they had a confident swagger to them that made you think they thought this one was in the bag. They tried to single out Bravo, feeling he was the weak link, but Bravo held his own and weathered the storm to hit the Side Suplex and a successful title defense.
Bobby Duncum pinned Johnny Rodz with the Full Nelson Slam in 0:03:17. Rating: ** 3/4
Poor Johnny Rodz. This was not a good night for him. He didn't even get a chance to do anything unpredictable as his opponent, Bobby Duncum, never gave him the chance. Rodz didn't get in any offense against Duncum and ate the Full Nelson Slam and another loss. Duncum's in ring dominance continues as he keeps making it harder for the Championship Committee to not grant him a title shot.
Stan Hansen pinned Mike Graham with the Lariat in 0:08:39. Rating: *** 1/4
Mike Graham's mentor and partner, Gorilla Monsoon, was injured last month by Stan Hansen and his deadly Lariat. Mike Graham, possibly against his better judgment, went into the Garden to defend Monsoon's honor. A brave move, but Graham is a bit outmatched Hansen, who steamrolled Graham with the Lariat for the 1-2-3. Graham is lucky to escape injury, but he was definitely sore after this match.
Ivan Koloff defeated Nikolai Volkoff by disqualification in 0:11:03. Rating: DUD [Lou Albano interfered against Ivan Koloff.]
Ivan Koloff is now on his own as Captain Lou Albano has severed ties with him and revealed his secret, that he is in the country illegally. As of right now, Koloff's case is pending, so he is allowed to wrestle in the States. Since he doesn't know how long he is going to be allowed to remain in the country, he is looking to get his revenge on Albano and Nikolai Volkoff while he can. The fire in the Russian Bear's eyes as he burned a hole through Albano is a moment I won't soon forget. The match itself was horribly ugly, but Koloff wasn't looking to just win the match. He was looking to take Volkoff out. Koloff was too aggressive at points, and it led to Volkoff dishing out quite a beating. Koloff wasn't going to lose this match though - not a chance in hell. He didn't get the definitive pin he wanted because Albano jumped in the ring and attacked Koloff. The move had little to no effect on Koloff, but it did cause Volkoff to get disqualified. Both Volkoff & Albano hightailed it out of there. Koloff's quest for revenge might have ended tonight. He is scheduled for another immigration court date before our next show on September 17 in Landover, MD.
Chief Jay Strongbow made Hiro Matsuda submit to the Indian Deathlock in 0:12:03. Rating: ****
Chief Jay Strongbow had a rough return to action in Atlantic City, losing to Don Muraco. He had better luck in the Garden against Hiro Matsuda. Strongbow took the brunt of Matsuda's martial arts offense, but the wily veteran fought past that to get a submission win with the Indian Deathlock. Word has it that Strongbow is interested rejoining the tag team ranks, but no word yet on who his partner might be.
Pat Patterson pinned Terry Funk after a back suplex in 0:34:53. Rating: ** (Pat Patterson won the GCW Intercontinental Title.)
It took him three tries, but Pat Patterson is the new Intercontinental champion, ending the over one year reign of Terry Funk! The match was grueling, but Patterson finally bested Funk for the championship. Funk tried to take cheap ways out to retain his title on more than one occasion, but referee Willie Webber didn't let him get away with it, letting the match continue. Patterson took advantage of this and after a big back suplex dropped Funk on the back of his head, took the 1-2-3 and his first championship in GCW! Patterson says he will be a fighting champion, and he's already showing that as his first title defense will be on September 17 against Stan Hansen.
The Blackjacks (Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan) defeated The Brisco Brothers (Jerry Brisco and Jack Brisco) when Lanza pinned Jack Brisco after a lariat in 0:12:33. Rating: **** [Bobby Heenan interfered against Jerry Brisco.]
The Blackjacks are hungry to get another shot at the World Tag Team Titles they recently lost to Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci, but they're going to have a tough road to do so because they were matched up with the Brisco Brothers, another team looking to secure the #1 contenders spot. It's hard to ask for a better tag match than this because there might not be two crisper teams in the world right now than the Briscos & the Blackjacks. They are very evenly matched, and up until the final bell, it was impossible to predict which team would come out on top. Bobby Heenan helped his team pick up a controversial victory when he tripped up Jack Brisco, letting Lanza hit a jaw-jarring lariat to get the 3 count.
Because of the evenness of this match, GCW officials have announced that the teams will meet again on September 17 in a 2 out of 3 falls match to determine the new #1 contenders for the World Tag Team Titles!
Dory Funk Jr. pinned Don Muraco after a small package in 0:14:15. Rating: *** 1/2
An interesting match here as Dory Funk Jr. & Don Muraco are quite familiar with each other, seeing how Muraco was Funk's lackey for a length of time early in his career. Muraco is desperate to break free of the stigma of only being a lackey, and he made a great stride here by taking Dory Funk to the limit. Muraco even had Funk in position for the Tombstone, but Funk countered with a small package and got a quick 1-2-3. Muraco ate the loss, but he showed that he is on his way up in GCW.
Cage Match: Dusty Rhodes defeated Bruiser Brody by escaping the cage in 0:15:08. Rating: ** 1/2
Many people were questioning "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes' decision to fight Bruiser Brody in a steel cage match, but the son of a plumber proved all his doubters wrong when all was said and done. These two brawlers almost couldn't be contained by the cage as the two brutalized each other with malicious intent. Let's face it, Brody is a sick, twisted individual, and to survive in a cage with him, you're going to need to get a little sick and twisted yourself. Rhodes went crazy in this match, especially after he was busted open by Brody throwing him into the cage. The sight of his own blood caused him to snap, and that was bad news for Brody, who then got busted open himself. Rhodes tied Brody up in the ropes and pounded away with right hands and elbows before walking out the door to win a bloody battle.
Jumbo Tsuruta pinned Billy Graham after a backslide in 0:15:23. Rating: *** 1/4 (Jumbo Tsuruta retained the GCW World Title.)
Despite being the World champion and a hell of a competitor, some people feel that Jumbo Tsuruta is holding the gold on borrowed time. One of the biggest proponents of that is "Superstar" Billy Graham, who feels he is the rightful heir apparent to the championship. Jumbo is dead set on proving to everyone that his title reign isn't a fluke and that he is the most credible champion we've ever had. This reputation of being a soft champion still surprises me, considering it was Tsuruta who defeated perhaps our most dominant champion in history, Harley Race. Regardless, Jumbo had his hands full with the Superstar, who has done just about everything in GCW except hold the World Title. Graham's strategy was simple - use his power to wear Jumbo down, injure his back, and go for the Bearhug. Jumbo is crafty though and has a high tolerance for pain. Superstar thought he had Jumbo perfectly set up, but when he went for the Bearhug, Jumbo caught him by surprise with a backslide and got the 1-2-3, successfully retaining the gold! As Jumbo celebrated, a furious Graham grabbed the ring bell from the timekeeper's table and clocked Jumbo in the back with it! Before Billy Graham could dish out more punishment, DORY FUNK JR. ran out and made the save, getting the ring bell from the Superstar and sending him sprawling from the ring. When Jumbo came to, he saw Dory Funk holding the ring bell and became enraged, thinking it was Funk who hit him with the bell! Before Funk could explain himself, Jumbo nailed him with the Jumbo Knee! A huge miscommunication, but it is clear that Jumbo is on edge these days as he tries to keep his grasp on the World Title.
Card rating: ***
Match observations:
On September 17, we make our return to Landover, MD with these matches already signed to take place!
WORLD TITLE - Jumbo Tsuruta (c) vs. Dory Funk Jr. INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE - Pat Patterson (c) vs. Stan Hansen #1 CONTENDERS 2/3 FALLS MATCH - The Brisco Brothers vs. The Blackjacks Ivan Koloff vs. Nikolai Volkoff (If Koloff is still in the country)
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Post by snabbit888 on May 1, 2011 2:55:19 GMT -5
September 17, 1977 - Capital Centre - Landover, MD
Number-One-Contenders-Two-out-of-three-Falls Match: The Brisco Brothers (Jerry Brisco and Jack Brisco) beat The Blackjacks (Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan) 2 falls to 1: x Jack Brisco beat Lanza via disqualification in 0:06:28 x Lanza beat Jerry Brisco via the Blackjack Claw in 0:17:10 x Jerry Brisco beat Mulligan via the Figure-Four Leglock in 0:22:20 Rating: *** 1/2 [Bobby Heenan interfered against Jack Brisco.] [Bobby Heenan interfered against Jerry Brisco.]
After our first match here in Landover, we were going to have new #1 contenders for the World Tag Team Titles with the Briscos meeting the Blackjacks in a 2/3 falls match. If you want to truly see who the better team is, a 2/3 falls is the way to do it. There's no flukes that way. Heenan had a unique strategy in place for this match, and it involved more or less throwing away the first fall. Sure, the Briscos won the fall, but it hindered them greatly in the match as Lanza blasted Jack Brisco with a chair for the disqualification. From that point on, Jack Brisco's contributions were limited and Jerry Brisco had to shoulder a lot of the workload. Jerry did his best, probably better than he deserved to, but he would fall in the second fall to the Blackjack Claw of Lanza. This brought us to the ever important third fall, and at this point, Bobby Heenan got something unexpected - a revival from Jack Brisco. Brisco mustered up the strength to help mount a comeback, taking Lanza out of the match to allow Jerry to put Mulligan in the Figure-Four Leglock to officially make the Briscos the #1 contenders.
Don Muraco pinned Mike Graham after a powerslam in 0:03:27. Rating: ***
Don Muraco continued his recent ascent tonight by picking up another victory, this time over a game Mike Graham. Muraco is one of the more powerful wrestlers in GCW, and Mike Graham had no answer for it. Muraco hit a picture perfect powerslam for the pinfall.
Dusty Rhodes pinned Hiro Matsuda with the Bionic Elbowdrop in 0:04:30. Rating: ** 3/4
Our next match we learned would be the last match for Hiro Matsuda in GCW as he plans on heading back to Japan after this show. He would have liked to have a better showing, but he was wrestling Dusty Rhodes, who is a tough match for anybody. Rhodes sent Matsuda out of the country on a losing note, hitting him with the Bionic Elbowdrop to take the duke.
Bob Backlund pinned Johnny Rodz with the Atomic Drop in 0:06:02. Rating: *** 1/4
With each passing show, we are getting the feeling that we are seeing something special in Bob Backlund. In singles action, he has yet to be defeated, and that wasn't going to change tonight as he took on "The Unpredictable" Johnny Rodz. The unpredictable act of Rodz this month was to wrestle barefoot, which didn't do him much good as the first thing Backlund did was stomp on his foot. Poor guy. Backlund hit the Atomic Drop and chalked up another win.
Terry Funk and Pat Patterson battled to a draw in 0:10:04. Rating: **** 1/4 (Stan Hansen no-showed.)
This match was supposed to be Pat Patterson's first Intercontinental Title defense, putting the gold against the dangerous Stan "The Lariat" Hansen. However, when Hansen was introduced for the match, he was nowhere to be found. Patterson looked confused, but when TERRY FUNK came out to take Hansen's place, it made a little more sense. Patterson didn't mind as it's not like the bad blood for Funk has went away. Once the bell rang, it became clear that we weren't going to see a clean end to this match. The fight spilled to the floor and all chaos broke loose, causing new referee John Stanley to throw this match out (what a way to start a new job). There's apparently a lot to be settled between these two, but it'll have to wait as Hansen will get his title match on October 19 at MSG.
Bobby Duncum pinned Rene Goulet with the Full Nelson Slam in 0:09:05. Rating: ** 3/4
How good is Bobby Duncum? Ask Rene Goulet after tonight. Goulet attacked Duncum before the bell in an attempt to keep him from getting out of the blocks, and for awhile, it looked like it was going to be a winning strategy. Duncum showed how tough he is though by weathering the storm and waiting for his chance to hit the Full Nelson Slam out of nowhere to take a trip to the winner's circle.
Ivan Koloff defeated Nikolai Volkoff by disqualification in 0:09:01. Rating: 1/2*
Ivan Koloff & Nikolai Volkoff tore into each other again here in Landover. It's always intense watching former partners wrestle, because they know each other so well. Last month, Captain Lou Albano attacked Koloff to cause a DQ. Koloff's immigration status is still up in the air as he got another stay on his trial, and thus, another opportunity for revenge. The match had a very similar ending to last month, as Albano caused the DQ by tossing his cane to Volkoff who nailed the Russian Bear in the throat with it. Volkoff was destroying Koloff before Koloff receiving an unlikely assist from DUSTY RHODES! The battles between Rhodes & Koloff are that of legend, so Rhodes coming out to Bionic Elbow Volkoff out of the ring surprised no one as much as it surprised Koloff. When Koloff regained his bearings, he got in the fighting position ready to go at it with Rhodes. THe crowd thought we were going to see it too, but they popped huge when the American Dream extended his hand and Koloff accepted it. The respect these two have developed for each other has gained Koloff an important ally against Volkoff & Albano.
Terry Funk defeated Chief Jay Strongbow by disqualification in 0:01:22. Rating: 1/2* [Pat Patterson interfered against Terry Funk.]
Terry Funk had a long night, because after taking Stan Hansen's place earlier against Pat Patterson, he still had his scheduled match against Chief Jay Strongbow. Patterson didn't give Funk the chance to wrestle two full matches because he jumped in the ring and attacked Funk and again, the brawl was on! Two pull apart brawls in one night shows that this is certainly not over, not by a long shot.
Bruiser Brody pinned Peter Maivia with the Bombs Away in 0:08:01. Rating: *** 1/4
Bruiser Brody is clearly not happy about losing the cage match last month, and he took that out on "High Chief" Peter Maivia. Maivia is a tough man and a veteran in the ring, but frankly, a pissed off Brody is enough to overwhelm anybody. Maivia gave him all he could handle, but it looked like Brody wasn't feeling any pain whatsoever. He fought through Maivia's offense en route to hitting the Bombs Away and getting the 1-2-3.
Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo defeated Tim Woods and Mr. Wrestling II when Bravo pinned Wrestling II with the Side Suplex in 0:21:28. Rating: *** 1/2 (Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)
If anyone is still taking Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci lightly as World Tag Team champions, don't. They proved again against Tim Woods & Mr. Wrestling II that they're for real. Bravo & DeNucci are never going to dominate any teams - it's not how they wrestle. But they are very technically sound and there might not be anyone who knows tag team wrestling better than Dominic DeNucci. Woods & Mr. Wrestling II have held the tag titles themselves in the past, but they couldn't get past the current champs tonight. Bravo & DeNucci, still the GCW World Tag Team champions.
Jumbo Tsuruta pinned Dory Funk Jr. with the Jumbo Knee in 0:17:22. Rating: **** (Jumbo Tsuruta retained the GCW World Title.)
Our main event was for the World Title with champion Jumbo Tsuruta defending against Dory Funk Jr. Since Jumbo won the title back in March, Dory Funk, Billy Graham and he have been engaged in a 3-way feud over the biggest prize in all of wrestling. Funk & Graham each don't want to see the other be the one to take the title from Jumbo and thus have been interfering in each other's title matches. This has pissed Tsuruta off who feels the interference has undermined his first title reign. Jumbo got a win over Graham last month, but was attacked with the ring bell by the Superstar post-match. Dory Funk made the save and got a hold of the ring bell, making Jumbo think Dory had attacked him. Jumbo has since found out it was Graham that attacked him, but he sticks by the Jumbo Knee he nailed Funk with to end the last MSG show. The match was a great main event and the crowd was torn on who to root for. Jumbo was in trouble for a lot of this match as Funk worked over his knee, trying to soften him up for the Texas Cloverleaf. Jumbo showed a ton of heart though, fighting through the pain and getting enough offense in to keep Funk off balance. Jumbo showed a great about of fortitude when he sacrificed that injured knee to jack Funk with the Jumbo Knee, getting a huge win in this successful title defense. He didn't get to revel in his win for long though as the show ended with BILLY GRAHAM jumping Tsuruta from behind and throwing him into the ring post, leaving him out cold.
With the issues between these three top tier athletes, GCW has made a big announcement. On October 19 in Madison Square Garden, there will be not one, but TWO World Title matches! First off, Jumbo Tsuruta will defend against Dory Funk Jr. The winner of that match will defend against "Superstar" Billy Graham later in the evening. To make things even, Graham will have to compete in another match as well. The GCW Championship Committee has decided Graham will face the undefeated BOB BACKLUND!
Card rating: ** 3/4
Match observations:
Here's the card for Madison Square Garden on October 19!
WORLD TITLE MATCH #1 - Jumbo Tsuruta (c) vs. Dory Funk Jr. Bob Backlund vs. Billy Graham WORLD TITLE MATCH #2 - Winner of Title Match #1 vs. Billy Graham INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE - Pat Patterson (c) vs. Stan Hansen WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES - Dino Bravo/Dominic DeNucci (c) vs. The Brisco Brothers Ivan Koloff/Dusty Rhodes vs. Nikolai Volkoff/Bruiser Brody
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Post by snabbit888 on May 1, 2011 2:55:50 GMT -5
October 19, 1977 - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
Bob Backlund pinned Billy Graham after a side step in 0:13:07. Rating: *** 1/4 [Bobby Heenan interfered against Bob Backlund.]
This was going to be a historic night in GCW as we were going to see two World championship matches. Both Dory Funk Jr. & Billy Graham would get title shots. Funk would get the first title shot, but Billy Graham had to wrestle a second match as well which was our opener. Graham took on the undefeated Bob Backlund which turned out to be a highly interesting matchup. Graham asserted his will early on, pounding Backlund down with a series of power moves. But Backlund is a bad matchup for Graham because Backlund has such a strong amateur background - he knows how to frustrate a much stronger opponent and keep him on the mat. This match went longer than the Superstar wanted it to, and it didn't have the result he wanted either. Graham went for a big kneelift, but Backlund sidestepped it causing Graham to take a bad fall to the mat. Backlund cradled Graham up and got the 3 count, the biggest win of his GCW career. Billy Graham will still get a World Title shot later, but one has to wonder how this will affect his confidence.
Mike Graham pinned Blackjack Lanza after a small package in 0:06:36. Rating: ***
Bobby Heenan put both of the Blackjacks into singles matches this month in order to get them some confidence back. Well someone should have told Mike Graham about that, because he went ahead and got an upset win over Blackjack Lanza. Lanza missed a big lariat and got caught in a small package for the 1-2-3. Heenan gave Lanza quite the tongue lashing after the match, but fact remains, Mike Graham got a huge win.
The Brisco Brothers (Jerry Brisco and Jack Brisco) and Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo battled to a draw in 0:20:00. Rating: *** 3/4 (Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)
It is surprising that to this date, Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco have never held the World Tag Team Titles. They've come close before, but could never get over the hump. They earned this title shot against Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci, and they wanted to make the best of it. We don't get to see many fan favorite matches, but this one did not disappoint. No cheating, no cutting corners, no underhanded tactics. It was two teams wrestling as hard as they could to see which was the better unit. The two teams fought hard and the fans loved it, but it turns out they needed more time to settle this one. After 20 minutes, a winner couldn't be decided and the match was declared a draw. The fans (and the participants for that matter) wanted 5 more minutes, but the referee stood his ground and the match was a draw. All four men shook hands post-match, and I for one look forward to the rematch on November 12 in Providence.
Terry Funk pinned Peter Maivia after a DDT in 0:07:32. Rating: *** 1/4
Terry Funk looked a little unhinged, I'm not going to lie about it. He lost the Intercontinental Title back in August, and since then, he has been impossible to deal with. Peter Maivia tried to keep Funk in check, but he was bombarded by the onslaught of the Funker. Funk drilled the High Chief's head into the mat to get the victory.
Jumbo Tsuruta pinned Dory Funk Jr. with the Jumbo Knee in 0:19:07. Rating: **** 3/4 (Jumbo Tsuruta retained the GCW World Title.)
Our first of the two World Title matches came up next with Jumbo Tsuruta defending the gold against Dory Funk Jr. This match could potentially be the match of the year as not only are are these two amongst the best technical wrestlers in GCW, but the rivalry that has developed is becoming one of the hottest we've seen in quite a long time. Funk, likes the Briscos in the tag division, has come painfully close to capturing the World Title, but has never gotten to the promise land. You could tell Funk trained hard for this one as he was geared up, but on the same token, so was Tsuruta. This was his chance to beat his two biggest rivals in the same night, and he didn't want to lose in the first title defense. This match was how wrestling should be. Funk went after Jumbo's back with ruthless intent, while Jumbo went after Funk's knee to keep him at bay. In the end, Funk thought he had Jumbo wore down enough to lock on the Texas Cloverleaf, but Jumbo kicked off and sent Funk into the turnbuckle. When Funk bounced back out, Jumbo crushed him with the Jumbo Knee to get the 1-2-3. The crowd gave the two a standing ovation for their efforts. After the match, the two engaged in a staredown and it looked like we were going to see round two. But Funk extended his hand and Jumbo shook it. Jumbo was favoring his back a lot, which did not bode well as he still had one more title defense against Billy Graham.
Don Muraco pinned Chief Jay Strongbow after a powerslam in 0:09:16. Rating: ***
For the second time since his return, Chief Jay Strongbow lost a match to Don Muraco. Strongbow used his veteran savvy to keep Muraco on his toes, but one powerful powerslam drove the oxygen out of Strongbow's lungs long enough for him to get the 1-2-3. After the match, Strongbow offered his hand to Muraco, but Muraco scoffed at him and just walked to the back.
Stan Hansen pinned Pat Patterson with the Lariat in 0:14:13. Rating: *** (Stan Hansen won the GCW Intercontinental Title.) [Terry Funk interfered against Pat Patterson.]
Stan Hansen finally got his shot at the IC Title after his no-showing his title shot in Landover last month. Before the match, Hansen revealed that someone locked him in his locker room last month, and he suspected that it was Terry Funk who did it, considering Funk ended up wrestling Pat Patterson instead last show. Either way, Hansen was confident he would be walking out of New York the new Intercontinental champion. Most wrestlers have been tentative about wrestling Hansen, but Patterson isn't scared to fight anyone, and he wants to prove he is a fighting champion. As you would expect from this match, it was a pier six brawl. As much as Hansen dished out, he took right back from Patterson giving us a highly entertaining fight. Who was going to win this match seemed up in the air until TERRY FUNK came out of nowhere and nailed Patterson in the throat with his branding iron! Patterson clutched his throat as he stumbled right into the Lariat. Three seconds later, we had a brand new Intercontinental champion - Stan "The Lariat" Hansen. After the match, Funk jumped in the ring looking to keep attacking Patterson, but before he could, Hansen took his head off with the Lariat! What a statement from the new champion!
Bobby Duncum pinned Blackjack Mulligan with the Full Nelson Slam in 0:07:29. Rating: ** 1/2 [Bobby Heenan interfered against Bobby Duncum.]
This wasn't a good night for the Blackjacks. Blackjack Lanza had already lost a match earlier in the night to Mike Graham, but Blackjack Mulligan was looking to change that around against a former Heenan Family member, Bobby Duncum. You could tell Mulligan was wrestling desperate, not wanting to drop a match. If you wrestle desperate with Duncum, he will drop you in a heartbeat and that's precisely what happened here. Full Nelson Slam, and that was the end of the road for Mulligan.
Dusty Rhodes and Ivan Koloff defeated Bruiser Brody and Nikolai Volkoff when I. Koloff pinned Brody with the Russian Sickle in 0:20:06. Rating: * 3/4
It was a bit surreal to see our next match as Dusty Rhodes & Ivan Koloff teamed up. The feud between Rhodes & Koloff was legendary, but they developed such a respect that Rhodes has come to Koloff's aid against Captain Lou Albano. Not only that, but we've learned that Rhodes has personally helped Koloff establish his citizenship so that there is no worries of him being deported! Koloff seemed re-energized that he wasn't under the control of Albano, and he seemed truly grateful to have Rhodes on his side. That said, wrestling Bruiser Brody & Nikolai Volkoff is never a fun experience, and the fight was on from the opening bell. Not a technical masterpiece by any means, but a match with a lot of passion behind it. Albano did NOT want to see his men lose to Rhodes & Koloff at any cost, and he interfered at every turn to make sure that didn't happen. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the fire of Rhodes & Koloff, who pick up the duke. The fight went on after the match, so clearly, this one isn't over yet.
Billy Graham made Jumbo Tsuruta submit to the Bearhug in 0:11:21. Rating: **** 1/4 (Billy Graham won the GCW World Title.) [Bobby Heenan interfered against Jumbo Tsuruta.]
Only one match to go, and it was our second World Title match of the night. Jumbo Tsuruta already had a successful title defense under his belt, beating Dory Funk Jr. in a classic match. "Superstar" Billy Graham had wrestled a match too, wrestling in a losing effort against Bob Backlund. The main difference though was that even though Graham had lost, he had managed to escape injury. Tsuruta, however, had his back thoroughly worked over by Funk Jr. during the match, and his back didn't have ample time to recover. If there's one body part you don't want injured going into a match with Billy Graham, it's your back. Jumbo fought valiantly, but with his back in the shape it was and the Superstar going at it ruthlessly, he couldn't muster enough offense to keep Graham at bay. When it was all said and done, Graham got his 23-inch biceps wrapped around Jumbo, squeezed as hard as he could with the Bearhug, and Jumbo had to submit or face permanent injury. For the first time in his career, "Superstar" Billy Graham is the World Heavyweight champion.
Card rating: *** 1/4
Match observations:
What a monumental night here in the Garden with two huge title changes! We hope to keep the momentum going on November 12 in Providence!
WORLD TITLE - Billy Graham (c) vs. Jumbo Tsuruta INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE - Stan Hansen (c) vs. Mike Graham WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES - Dino Bravo/Dominic DeNucci (c) vs. The Brisco Brothers Pat Patterson vs. Terry Funk Dusty Rhodes vs. Nikolai Volkoff
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Post by rey619 on May 1, 2011 4:11:52 GMT -5
Heh, when I saw Backlund beating Graham, I just knew Graham would win the big one. I guess Backlund will demand his title shot pretty soon. Question is, will Graham simply be a transitional champ, always and forever living in the shadow of his brother Luke? Or will Billy make sure that the Graham name becomes even more legendary in GCW - to the point where it could be renamed Graham Championship Wrestling?
Terrific stuff, especially the world title picture. I actually liked it more now with Jumbo, Dory, Graham and Backlund than when Race was unbeatable.
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Post by snabbit888 on May 1, 2011 12:58:57 GMT -5
I would rename it Graham Championship Wrestling, if it weren't for the fact that after Billy, the only Graham left is Mike, and though he's a solid enough hand, can you really see "World champion Mike Graham" as drawing anything? I enjoy the World Title picture too. I liked the Race stuff, but this is a nice change of pace. There isn't a clear top guy right now, which leads to the thought that there could be a title change any time.
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Post by jacklarkin on May 2, 2011 8:00:33 GMT -5
Fantastic cards and line-ups, really loved reading this card. Will have to go back and read more when I get a chance.
I'm wondering if you wrote your own Blackjack Lanza export? I was using one that I can't remember if I wrote myself or got from the net but I was always getting really bad match ratings from him. Like big negative stars. Went back and watched some of his matches on youtube..and well...I had fond memories of him as a kid, but the negative stars was probably well earned. Funniest part was watching him play with his comb over hair.
Stan Hansen - Terry Funk should be a terrific feud, and would like to see Graham-Backlund for the strap too.
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Post by allpowerfulgarth on May 2, 2011 12:29:45 GMT -5
I second that notion about Terry Funk-Stan Hansen being an interesting feud. This circuit being set in the 1970s at the moment, legit tough guys were certainly not in short supply at the time, but this pair's reputations as legit tough guys are still legendary to this day.
I'm also curious to see where Superstar Billy Graham goes from here. Obviously, Graham has the star power to be an enduring champion, but he's also got a ready-made challenger in Bob Backlund, and we already know from history that Backlund would also get a chance to be a megastar.
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Post by JoshiQ on May 2, 2011 13:34:00 GMT -5
It doesn't happen very often where both major singles titles change hands on the same night. I love Hansen as the IC Champ. His feud with T. Funk should be epic. Billy Graham is a nice decision to take the title from Jumbo. Plus now he already has the feud setup with Bob Backlund. I don't know if Backlund is quite ready for the title. I'm hoping for Graham to hold onto the title for at least a half of a year. Volkoff and Rhodes seems like quite the odd pairing. When you post three cards at a time it's hard to respond to everything. But good work. And we are getting really close to the '80s!!! I can't wait!
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Post by snabbit888 on May 2, 2011 22:57:45 GMT -5
Fantastic cards and line-ups, really loved reading this card. Will have to go back and read more when I get a chance. I'm wondering if you wrote your own Blackjack Lanza export? I was using one that I can't remember if I wrote myself or got from the net but I was always getting really bad match ratings from him. Like big negative stars. Went back and watched some of his matches on youtube..and well...I had fond memories of him as a kid, but the negative stars was probably well earned. Funniest part was watching him play with his comb over hair. Stan Hansen - Terry Funk should be a terrific feud, and would like to see Graham-Backlund for the strap too. I think I made the export. The workrate is probably too high on mine, but eh, what can you do? Thanks for the comments, bud. I'm excited that I'm steadily getting closer to the era where I'm a lot more familiar with the characters.
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Post by snabbit888 on May 10, 2011 16:57:54 GMT -5
November 22, 1977 - Providence Civic Center - Providence, RI
Chief Jay Strongbow made Johnny Rodz submit to the Indian Deathlock in 0:07:26. Rating: *** 1/2
Our night here in Providence kicked off with Chief Jay Strongbow picking up a win over "The Unpredictable" Johnny Rodz, whose "unpredictable" act this month was to come out in full Native American garb. It would have been offensive had it not looked so ridiculous on him. Either way, not a lot of trouble for Strongbow in this opener.
Interview: Chief Jay Strongbow asks Don Muraco to be his tag team partner.
After the match, Chief Jay Strongbow got on the mic and said what we all had heard, that he wanted to get back into the tag team division. He said he had a partner in mind and asked DON MURACO to become his new tag team partner. Strongbow is an all-time great and it might be in Muraco's best interests to accept this offer, but as of now, he has not given an answer.
Bobby Duncum defeated Tim Woods by disqualification in 0:01:36. Rating: ** 1/4 [Mr. Wrestling II interfered against Bobby Duncum.]
Tim Woods didn't want to become the next victim of Bobby Duncum, and he didn't feel like taking a beating either. Woods tried to get Duncum on the mat early in the match, but Duncum made it clear that wasn't going to be happening any time soon. This prompted MR. WRESTLING II to run in the ring and attack Duncum, causing a disqualification. Duncum tried to fight back, but the collective strength of the former World Tag Team champions was too much as they beat Duncum down before officials broke it up. A match has been signed between Duncum & Wrestling II for December 8 in Boston.
Terry Funk defeated Pat Patterson by disqualification in 0:14:21. Rating: * 3/4
Guess who didn't like being cost the Intercontinental Title? If you answered Pat Patterson, you'd be correct. Patterson and the man who cost him the title, Terry Funk, were booked in a match, and once the match started, maybe the match makers were reconsidering their decision. Any semblance of a wrestling match was thrown out the window from the word go - this was a fight, plain and simple. Patterson is generally an easy guy to get along with, but if you piss him off, look out. And Terry Funk has pissed him off. After a hard-hitting back and forth contest, Patterson eventually lost his cool and nailed Funk with the ring bell, an obvious disqualification. Funk was knocked out and bloody as Patterson stood over him holding the ring bell with a sadistic look on his face - an eerie image if there ever was one. This feud will come to a head at the Boston Garden as the two have been signed to wrestle a cage match! This will end one way or another on December 8.
The Blackjacks (Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan) defeated Bob Backlund and Peter Maivia when Mulligan made Maivia submit to the Blackjack Claw in 0:08:46. Rating: *** 1/2
There are rumblings that Bob Backlund wants a shot at the World Title, a shot that he deserves quite frankly after he pinned Billy Graham in Madison Square Garden a mere two hours before Graham became the World champion. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is trying to nip this one in the bud as he sent the Blackjacks after Backlund and his good friend Peter Maivia. Heenan wanted Lanza & Mulligan to humiliate Backlund so he would never dream of asking for a World Title shot. The Blackjacks did win the match - as a more experienced team they should have - but it was Backlund & Maivia who would stand tall after the match, sending the Blackjacks sprawling from the ring with stereo dropkicks. If Heenan wants to get rid of Backlund, he's going to have to try harder than that.
Stan Hansen pinned Mike Graham with the Lariat in 0:02:40. Rating: *** (Stan Hansen retained the GCW Intercontinental Title.)
Stan Hansen is the new Intercontinental champion, and with his deadly Lariat, he could be the champion for a long time to come. The scrappy Mike Graham was the first man to take a crack at him, and though he showed great heart, he was overmatched by the burly Texan. It didn't take Hansen long to hit the Lariat and make his first title defense a successful one. Hansen wasn't done as he dropped Graham with a bodyslam and was going for another Lariat, but he was stopped by GORILLA MONSOON, who returned from a neck injury caused by Hansen! Hansen was floored by Monsoon, getting smashed with an avalanche in the corner and the Airplane Spin before bailing to the floor. Monsoon is back and he has Hansen in his sights!
Dory Funk Jr. made Rene Goulet submit to a sleeperhold in 0:00:47. Rating: *
Dory Funk Jr. is highly disappointed he didn't walk out of New York the World champion, and he used that disappointment to feul him in this match against Rene Goulet. Goulet never got a chance to get out of the box as Funk finished him off with a sleeperhold in a mere 47 seconds! If that's not a statement win, I don't know what it is. It was such an impressive showing that Dory Funk Jr. was granted a World Title shot in Boston regardless of who the champion may be.
Dusty Rhodes pinned Nikolai Volkoff with the Bionic Elbowdrop in 0:16:32. Rating: 1/4*
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes has pledged to Ivan Koloff that he will help him in his battle against Lou Albano and his men, and thus far, he has followed through every step of the way - even helping Koloff become a US citizen so as not to be deported! Tonight, Rhodes got in the ring with Nikolai Volkoff. There were a lot of combustible elements around ringside as Volkoff had Albano & Bruiser Brody in his corner, while Rhodes had Koloff in his. We knew it wasn't a matter of IF these elements would collide, but WHEN. I did not envy referee Tommy Young who had the distinction of trying to keep this one under control. He did his best, but eventually Brody & Koloff got into it on the floor. While Young tried to break that up, Albano slid his cane into Volkoff. However, Rhodes saw it and grabbed it first, clocking Volkoff upside the head with it! The Bionic Elbowdrop followed, and we had ourselves a winner. Next month in Boston, it'll be Koloff & Brody locking horns.
Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo defeated The Brisco Brothers (Jerry Brisco and Jack Brisco) when Bravo pinned Jerry Brisco after a small package in 0:13:12. Rating: *** (Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)
Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci showed how resourceful they can be in this title defense against the Brisco Brothers. The match went to a time limit draw back in New York, but the time limit wouldn't be an issue in this one. The match was a technical display, but the finish was extremely exciting. DeNucci was in the ring with Jerry Brisco, and it looked like Brisco had DeNucci primed for the defeat when he took him into the ropes for a rolling reverse cradle. What he didn't see was DeNucci make a blind tag to Bravo. Jerry Brisco rolled DeNucci up for the pin, but DeNucci wasn't the legal man anymore. Bravo quickly creeped in and got Brisco with a small package. Brisco couldn't kick out nd the match was over - Bravo & DeNucci are still the World Tag Team champions. The Briscos were upset, but they knew they were beaten fair and square. They've asked the champs for just one more shot at the titles, a request the champs have willingly granted to take place on December 8.
Billy Graham made Jumbo Tsuruta submit to the Bearhug in 0:16:00. Rating: *** 1/2 (Billy Graham retained the GCW World Title.)
Jumbo Tsuruta was hoping to make "Superstar" Billy Graham's World Title reign a short one, getting his rematch for the title in our main event. Unfortunately for Jumbo, he was not coming into this match at 100%. He had suffered a back injury the night he lost the title, and in his training for the rematch this month, he may have tweaked the injury. Still, Jumbo knows how important a World Title match is, and he wasn't going to make any excuses. Tsuruta looked great early on as he bounced Graham around the ring, but the new champ cut him off by pushing him into the turnbuckles. From there, Jumbo couldn't seem to get over his injury and as a result, Graham's Bearhug was once again too much for the young Japanese star to handle. Billy Graham ends his first title defense still the champion.
Card rating: ** 1/4
Match observations:
1977 is almost in the books, but we still have two more huge nights of action to go, starting with December 8 in Boston at the Boston Garden!
WORLD TITLE - Billy Graham (c) vs. Dory Funk Jr. INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE - Stan Hansen (c) vs. Gorilla Monsoon WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES - Dino Bravo/Dominic DeNucci (c) vs. The Brisco Brothers CAGE MATCH - Pat Patterson vs. Terry Funk Ivan Koloff vs. Bruiser Brody Bobby Duncum vs. Mr. Wrestling II
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Post by snabbit888 on May 10, 2011 16:58:39 GMT -5
December 8, 1977 - Boston Garden - Boston, MA
Jumbo Tsuruta pinned Rene Goulet with the Jumbo Knee in 0:11:46. Rating: ***
Jumbo Tsuruta was disappointed not to regain the World Title in Providence, and he took that feeling and turned it into a positive against Rene Goulet here in Boston. The result was an impressive win for the former champ, who is looking to position himself for another shot at the gold.
Stan Hansen pinned Gorilla Monsoon with the Lariat in 0:07:40. Rating: ** 1/2 (Stan Hansen retained the GCW Intercontinental Title.)
Gorilla Monsoon was back to get revenge on Stan Hansen for breaking his neck several months ago. As an added bonus, Monsoon got the chance to become the Intercontinental champion too. It's amazing to think that Monsoon has never held a singles title in the nearly 15 years he's been with GCW, but this was his shot. Monsoon came out aggressive and didn't let Hansen get going early, but once Hansen got a hard shot on that neck, the complexion changed dramatically. Monsoon's neck may not be all the way healed, and with Hansen pounding on it, Monsoon's will was there but not his body. Hansen would get a successful title defense tonight with the Lariat. Monsoon is fortunate he didn't have his neck broken again.
Interview: Terry Funk wants a shot at Stan Hansen and the Intercontinental Title.
After the match concluded, Hansen was confronted by a very pissed off TERRY FUNK. Funk didn't appreciate being nailed with the Lariat back in October, and he wanted a shot at Hansen and the Intercontinental Title. Funk reminded "The Lariat" that he wouldn't even be IC champ if it wasn't for him, and he was sure as hell going to be the man to take the title from him. Hansen told Funk if he wanted a fight, why not do it right now? Funk took him up on it, and we had an impromptu brawl!
Chief Jay Strongbow made Johnny Rodz submit to the Indian Deathlock in 0:12:41. Rating: ****
Chief Jay Strongbow got more of a challenge than he wanted to from Johnny Rodz as apparently the unpredictable act of Rodz tonight was to wrestle well. Either way, Strongbow managed to pull out the victory in a highly competitive affair.
Bobby Duncum pinned Mr. Wrestling II with the Full Nelson Slam in 0:14:27. Rating: *** 1/2 [Tim Woods interfered against Bobby Duncum.]
Bobby Duncum was on his second leg of wrestling singles matches against the Woods/Wrestling II team, taking on Mr. Wrestling II. As we expected, Tim Woods was interfering left and right during the match, making this quite the struggle for Duncum. It looked like Duncum wasn't going to walk out of the Boston Garden a winner, but he hit a desperation Full Nelson Slam to get a flash pin. No time to celebrate though as Woods jumped in the ring and the beatdown was on. Duncum got pounded on by the former World Tag Team champions before officials broke it up. Duncum knows he is going to need a partner to stand a chance, and thus he has challenged Woods & Wrestling II to a tag match on December 28th, with a partner to be announced!
Don Muraco pinned Mike Graham with the Tombstone in 0:12:43. Rating: ***
Don Muraco had his hands full with Mike Graham who is continually improving every match he wrestles in. Unfortunately, right now, the improvement has not translated into many wins, and that trend continued in Boston. Graham thought he had the win wrapped up when he flew off the top for a flying crossbody, but the powerful Muraco caught him, re-positioned him, and dropped him on his head with the Tombstone. 1-2-3. After the event was over, we learned that Muraco has finally answered Strongbow about his offer to become his tag team partner. Muraco has stated that if Strongbow can beat him on December 28 at the big year-end MSG show, he will become Strongbow's partner.
The Brisco Brothers (Jerry Brisco and Jack Brisco) defeated Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo when Jack Brisco made DeNucci submit to an abdominal stretch in 0:31:00. Rating: **** (The Brisco Brothers won the GCW World Tag Team Titles.) [Larry Zbyszko interfered against Dino Bravo.]
We have brand spanking new World Tag Team champions, but it's not without controversy. The Briscos felt they had a good shot at beating Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci for the gold, but I doubt they wanted it to go down the way it did. Bravo & DeNucci have proven they can beat the Briscos, but an unexpected monkey wrench was thrown into the works tonight. Late in this hotly contested match, Jack Brisco had DeNucci locked up in a painful abdominal stretch. DeNucci couldn't break Brisco's grip, but what he was doing was inching closer and closer to his corner to tag in Bravo. DeNucci was nearly there when someone suddenly pulled Bravo off the apron and tossed him head first into the ring post! A closer look revealed that it was LARRY ZBYSZKO, Bravo's former partner! Everyone was shocked to see Zbyszko back, let alone see him turn on his former friend in such a manner! With Bravo out of the picture, DeNucci had no choice but to submit and with that, the Briscos are the tag champs for the first time. After the match when the Briscos realized what happened, they helped Bravo to the back and have said that they will give Bravo & DeNucci a rematch at the year-end show. However, Bravo has declined that for now, saying he wants his hands on Zbyszko.
Cage Match: Terry Funk pinned Pat Patterson after a small package in 0:17:57. Rating: ** 3/4
There is no more dangerous match in all of wrestling than the steel cage match, which is why it is used to settle feuds that can't otherwise be settled. Pat Patterson vs. Terry Funk is one of those feuds. It has gotten so personal that only 15 feet of steel was going to put this one in the books once and for all. Patterson would still be Intercontinental champion right now if it weren't for Funk, and every time Patterson punched Funk, you could see him taking out that anger. Funk equally blames Patterson for his not being the IC champ, and he was dishing it right back. What resulted was two men laying it all on the line, bleeding profusely, battling like two warriors. With a match like this, it's no surprise that a fluke small package would be what finished it. Patterson had full control and looked to be going for the throat, but Funk locked him up in the pinning combination out of nowhere to get the 1-2-3. Patterson couldn't believe that he fell in this match, but he would get in the final blow as he tossed Funk face first into the cage, leaving him lying on the mat a bloody mess.
Bruiser Brody pinned Ivan Koloff with the Bombs Away in 0:16:11. Rating: *** [Lou Albano interfered against Ivan Koloff.]
Much like last month, we saw a singles match between one of Lou Albano's charges and one of his arch enemies, but the opposite members as Bruiser Brody wrestled Ivan Koloff. Again, their partners were in their corners (Nikolai Volkoff & Dusty Rhodes respectively) and again, you knew they were merely going to be innocent bystanders. Albano knew that he could goad the Russian Bear into going after him, and that's exactly what he did when he saw Koloff going for the Russian Sickle. Koloff took his eye off the ball and lunged at Albano (who had jumped up on the apron). This temporary distraction let Brody club Koloff from behind and hit a back suplex. The Bombs Away followed and Brody was declared the victor. Dusty Rhodes chased Brody out of the ring right after the bell, but Brody had won. This will all hopefully be settled at the year-end show when these four meet in a tag team match.
Bob Backlund and Peter Maivia defeated The Blackjacks (Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan) when Backlund pinned Lanza with the Atomic Drop in 0:23:19. Rating: **** 1/4 [Bobby Heenan interfered against Bob Backlund.] [Bobby Heenan interfered against Peter Maivia.]
Bob Backlund is still petitioning to get a World Title shot against Billy Graham, and again, Bobby Heenan is trying to throw whatever obstacles he can in front of Backlund. He sent the Blackjacks after Backlund again, who had Peter Maivia on his side. Backlund & Maivia had far better chemistry than they did last match, and I don't think the Blackjacks saw that coming. This plan didn't end anywhere near the way Heenan had hoped, as Backlund hit Lanza with the Atomic Drop. A successful match for Backlund & Maivia, and with this win, Backlund has got his wish. He will be wrestling for the World Title on December 28th!
Billy Graham pinned Dory Funk Jr. after a cross-body block in 0:30:43. Rating: ***** (Billy Graham retained the GCW World Title.)
What an absolutely amazing main event we were all honored to see to close out this trip to Boston! There was magic in the air tonight, and that magic was the World Title match between challenger Dory Funk Jr. & champion "Superstar" Billy Graham. Graham has barely had a chance to enjoy holding the title before the challengers started coming. He successfully turned back the challenge of Jumbo Tsuruta in Providence, and he was able to do the same against Dory Funk Jr. here in Boston, but it was not easy to say the least. The story with Funk in his GCW career has been that he has had a lot of success - a former IC, US, and tag team champion - but when it comes to winning the Big One, it's close but no cigar. That again happened here, and it has to be eating away at him. Funk wrestled a perfect match. He knows Billy Graham so well by this point that he really felt that this would be his night to get the monkey off his back and hold the GCW World Heavyweight Title. He weathered the powerful offense of the Superstar and set himself up perfectly to win the match when he had Graham up on th top turnbuckle. Funk was looking to hit a belly-to-back superplex which surely would have put Graham out, but BOBBY HEENAN intervened and grabbed a hold of Funk's foot to buy Graham some time. By the time Funk kicked the Brain away and went for the superplex, Graham had recovered enough to reverse it into a cross-body block! The force of the impact drove the oxygen out of Funk's lungs and 3 seconds later, his dreams of being World champion were dashed once again. After the match, Funk really took this loss hard. How much longer can he deal with disappointments like this?
Graham escaped by the skin of his teeth here, but in 20 days, his luck may run out as he has to put up the title against the man who pinned him 2 months ago, the undefeated Bob Backlund!
Card rating: *** 3/4
Match observations:
You know what time it is - it's the end of the year! And that means it's time for the biggest show of the GCW calendar, the year-end show from Madison Square Garden, this year taking place on December 28!
WORLD TITLE - Billy Graham (c) vs. Bob Backlund INTERCONTIENTAL TITLE - Stan Hansen (c) vs. Terry Funk WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES - The Brisco Brothers (c) vs. The Blackjacks Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Dory Funk Jr. Dusty Rhodes/Ivan Koloff vs. Bruiser Brody/Nikolai Volkoff Dino Bravo vs. Larry Zbyszko Bobby Duncum/Mystery Partner vs. Tim Woods/Mr. Wrestling II Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Don Muraco
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Post by snabbit888 on May 10, 2011 16:59:10 GMT -5
December 28, 1977 - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
Interview: A new president of GCW is introduced, and an old face returns.
The year-end show kicked off with a huge announcement, that Global Championship Wrestling has a reigning president! The man who will lead GCW and make important decisions when necessary is HISASHI SHINMA. Shinma came out and said that he hopes to lead GCW to new heights in 1978 and beyond. Shinma's speech got interrupted when "CLASSY" FREDDIE BLASSIE made his return to GCW! Blassie announced that he is retired, but he is back to be the best manager that wrestling has ever seen. Blassie added that it's only a matter of time before he is running GCW, and to show he is serious, he introduced his first client, THE GREAT KABUKI!
Great Kabuki pinned Mike Graham after a power bomb in 0:04:39. Rating: ** 1/4
If this is what "Classy" Freddie Blassie has in mind for his return to GCW, he may not be too crazy. He unexpectedly returned to the promotion tonight as a manager, and he unveiled his first protege', Great Kabuki from Japan. We know little about him, but we did learn that the mysterious man from the Orient is not a man to mess with, defeating Mike Graham in highly impressive fashion with a power bomb. Blassie looked like a proud father as the first step of his managerial journey was a successful one. 1978 is going to be an interesting year.
Larry Zbyszko defeated Dino Bravo by disqualification in 0:06:01. Rating: * 3/4
We still don't know why Larry Zbyszko returned to GCW to cost Dominic DeNucci and his former best friend Dino Bravo the World Tag Team Titles, but fact is that he did, and Bravo is pissed off about it! Bravo could hardly hold himself back when he saw his former friend standing across the ring from him, and once the bell rang, it wasn't if he would get disqualified, but when. Zbyszko is a cerebral wrestler, but he didn't get a chance to use those smarts because Bravo pounded on him before getting DQ'ed when he wouldn't release a choke. Zbyszko finally got some distance between himself and Bravo, but the look on Bravo's face showed that this one is far from over.
Gorilla Monsoon made Johnny Rodz submit to a side headlock in 0:04:45. Rating: **
A new level of embarrassment for Johnny Rodz. He had the unenviable task of wrestling Gorilla Monsoon, and his unpredictable act this time was to wear a fat suit. Not a good idea to mock Monsoon, Johnny. Monsoon saw this fat suit and then saw red, beating Rodz from pillar to post before making Rodz submit to a side headlock. That's right; Monsoon beat Rodz so badly that Rodz had to submit to a headlock! Well, maybe 1978 will be better?
Dusty Rhodes and Ivan Koloff defeated Bruiser Brody and Nikolai Volkoff when Dusty Rhodes pinned Volkoff with the Bionic Elbowdrop in 0:14:23. Rating: * 3/4 [Lou Albano interfered against Dusty Rhodes.]
Ivan Koloff can now breathe a sigh of relief. Definitively, his issue with Captain Lou Albano is a thing of the past, and he can thank Dusty Rhodes for helping him get to this moment. In the match to settle this once and for all, Koloff & Rhodes defeated Bruiser Brody & Nikolai Volkoff. It was a vicious battle, but in the end, the pure emotion of Koloff & Rhodes was too much for Albano's men to overcome with Rhodes pinning Volkoff with the Bionic Elbowdrop. Emotion also overcome Albano, who jumped in the ring and hit Koloff from behind - a big mistake if there ever was one. The shot didn't even phase Koloff, who turned around and nearly took Albano's head off with the Russian Sickle! Albano had to be stretchered out of the ring. I don't think we are going to see Lou Albano in GCW for a long, long time.
Jumbo Tsuruta pinned Dory Funk Jr. after an inside cradle in 0:13:07. Rating: **** 1/4
The stress of being unable to win the big one has finally gotten to Dory Funk Jr. He took on Jumbo Tsuruta, a man he is quite familiar with, in a match which the winner could be in line for a World Title shot while the loser would have to climb back up the ladder. You could tell Funk was wrestling desperate. He didn't want to win this match, he HAD to win this match. If there's one thing you don't want to do in a GCW ring, it's wrestle desperate because the wrestlers here are just too good - they will take advantage every time. Funk got ahead of himself and Tsuruta caught him in an inside cradle for a flash pin. Once again, Dory Funk Jr. had to watch as another man had his hand raised. After the match, Jumbo offered Funk a handshake - after all, with the battles they've had, Jumbo has grown to respect Funk. Funk took the handshake, but he did so begrudgingly. When Jumbo turned to leave, Funk nailed Jumbo from behind with a shot to the groin! The fans in New York mercilessly booed Funk as he left Jumbo lying in the ring. What a poor loser. Dory Funk has finally snapped.
Bobby Duncum and Pat Patterson defeated Tim Woods and Mr. Wrestling II when Duncum pinned Wrestling II with the Full Nelson Slam in 0:07:42. Rating: *** 1/4
Bobby Duncum needed a partner in his corner against Tim Woods & Mr. Wrestling II, and he picked a great one in Pat Patterson. Without having the unfair 2-on-1 advantage, Woods & Wrestling II had no answer for Duncum. Patterson's contributions to the team were more than enough to offset that and allow Duncum to drill Wrestling II with the Full Nelson Slam for the victory. If you ask me, 1978 is going to be a huge year for Bobby Duncum. If I had to put money on it, I'd say he'll be holding championship gold.
The Brisco Brothers (Jerry Brisco and Jack Brisco) defeated The Blackjacks (Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan) when Jack Brisco made Lanza submit to the Figure-Four Leglock in 0:25:22. Rating: **** (The Brisco Brothers retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.) [Bobby Heenan interfered against Jack Brisco.]
Many people were surprised to see the Blackjacks get the first World Tag Team Title shot against the Brisco Brothers, but Lanza & Mulligan are former two-time tag champs and have taken the Briscos to the limit much of 1977. Bobby Heenan had the Blackjacks ready for this match because with the World Title already being in the Heenan Family, adding the tag titles would mean even more money. The Blackjacks did everything right but win because Jack & Jerry Brisco are on top of their games right now. They fought very hard to climb the mountain and they weren't going to be thrown from the top this soon. Stereo Figure-Four Leglocks put this one in the books as the Briscos go into 1978 with the gold around their waists.
Peter Maivia pinned Rene Goulet after a small package in 0:08:36. Rating: *** 3/4
"High Chief" Peter Maivia ended 1977 on a high note with a great December. Not only did he team with Bob Backlund to beat the Blackjacks in Boston, but tonight he got a win in singles competition against Rene Goulet. If Maivia can keep this up, he might have his career back on track after what a lot of experts have called a lackluster 1977.
Don Muraco pinned Chief Jay Strongbow with the Tombstone in 0:10:14. Rating: * 3/4
This match was interesting in that Don Muraco agreed to be Chief Jay Strongbow's new tag team partner if the Chief could defeat him tonight. Strongbow is a legend in this sport and a great veteran, but Muraco has really come into his own since finally branching out alone. Strongbow has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, but in the end he couldn't avoid the Tombstone and a loss. That wasn't enough for Muraco, who grabbed the mic and declared, "I would NEVER be partners with a loser like you!" Muraco hoisted Strongbow up for another Tombstone before BILLY WHITE WOLF ran out and chased him out of the ring! Strongbow & Wolf teamed in GCW years ago, and it looks like their back! Muraco assured White Wolf that he will pay for sticking his nose in his business.
Stan Hansen and Terry Funk battled to a no contest in 0:10:49. Rating: ** 3/4 (Stan Hansen retained the GCW Intercontinental Title.)
Though Stan Hansen & Terry Funk are nowhere near considered fan favorites, the fans were looking forward to seeing these two crazy brawlers tear each other apart in this Intercontinental Title match. And for about 5 minutes, that's exactly what the fans saw. Hansen & Funk clobbered the trash out of each other, but shockingly they were stopped by DORY FUNK JR. Dory grabbed the mic and got Hansen & Terry to stop fighting, saying this is exactly what the fans wanted. "I'm tired of doing this for the fans!" Dory said that it's because of the fans that his relationship with his brother so violently deteriorated. Dory said that stops here as he is proposing an alliance - Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, and Stan Hansen, three men who he called "original gunslingers." Dory's speech worked as his brother hugged him and Hansen shook his hand. With these three now together, that could mean very bad news for the rest of Global Championship Wrestling.
Billy Graham and Bob Backlund battled to a draw in 0:45:00. Rating: **** (Billy Graham retained the GCW World Title.) [Arnold Skaaland interfered against Billy Graham.] [Bobby Heenan interfered against Bob Backlund.]
With that, we had a chance to see history as the World Heavyweight Title was on the line. Champion "Superstar" Billy Graham defended the gold against the undefeated Bob Backlund. Backlund brought a world of confidence with him to New York as he knows he can beat Graham having pinned him in this very building back in October. That, and his manager Arnold Skaaland trained him extra hard for this big opportunity. Backlund wasn't the only one ready as Graham trained heavy on the cardio knowing full well that he was going to have to be ready to go for the long haul against Backlund who may be in the best shape in all of wrestling. Backlund's strategy of keeping Graham grounded and not letting the Superstar lock him up in power holds worked like a charm. Backlund controlled the pace, but Graham is so strong that the moves he did get in hit with such impact that it kept this an even encounter. Still, Backlund's ground based offense really took a toll on the champ and it looked like Backlund had victory in his grasp. The only problem was he took too long to make his move and the match ended in a tightly contested time limit draw. Not the way Backlund wanted this to end. He wrestled a perfect match except for one mistake - not going for the kill quicker. If these two meet up again, I wouldn't be shocked to see Backlund come out victorious.
Card rating: ***
Match observations:
What a fantastic way to end 1977! A lot of big happenings tonight in the Garden. New factions, old alliances broken, feuds heating up, and a new president! What is 1978 going to bring? Join us on January 7 at the Nassau Coliseum to find out!
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Post by snabbit888 on May 10, 2011 17:00:09 GMT -5
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Jumbo Tsuruta TAG TEAM OF THE YEAR: The Brisco Brothers MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Bobby Heenan MATCH OF THE YEAR: World Title Match - Billy Graham (c) vs. Dory Funk Jr., Boston, MA - 12/8/77 FEUD OF THE YEAR: Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Billy Graham vs. Dory Funk Jr. MOST POPULAR: Dusty Rhodes MOST HATED: Billy Graham NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Bob Backlund
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Post by snabbit888 on May 10, 2011 17:05:00 GMT -5
I wanted to do an informal survey as 1977 in GCW years comes to a close, to get a gauge of where I am, what you guys like, don't like, etc. This is the first time I've finished a year and going into the next, didn't really have a lot of plans in place. So I figured this would be as good a time as any to hear from some of you who read to maybe get my head thinking in a different direction and spice things up a bit. So if you guys get a little time, here's a few questions. 1) What do you like about GCW? 2) What don't you like about GCW? 3) What wrestlers would you like to see me bring in (keeping in mind this is 1978 )? 4) Who on my current roster would you like to see pushed more? 5) Who on my current roster would you like to see pushed less? 6) What is something you'd like to see me do in GCW? 7) Any other general comments? Nobody feel obligated to do this by any means. Just feel I could do with a little shaking up of things, and since I have a few years before I get into my tv area, I wanted to get some advice in bridging the gap between now and then.
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Post by LillaThrilla on May 10, 2011 20:11:47 GMT -5
You hired some Japanese guy I've never heard of to be your president? *checks Wikipedia* ...why the hell did real life (W)WWF hire essentially a random Japanese guy to their president? It just seems such a weird choice to me. Survey time... 1) Solid booking. 2) I don't know who half these guys are. 3) The Boulder Brothers - Terry & Ed. Hulk Hogan and Ed Leslie. Wikipedia tells me Hogan called Billy Graham in '78 for help finding a job and I'm sure the reigning World Champion has a little stroke with GCW. I also look forward to the day Jimmy Snuka and Sgt Slaughter come back. 4) Peter Maivia 5) Tim Woods & Mr. Wrestling II 6) Nothing comes to mind at the moment. 7) Keep up the good work. Never would've guessed someone could make a circuit set this far back work, but you have.
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Post by JoshiQ on May 11, 2011 8:22:35 GMT -5
11/22/77:
- Poor Strongbow. He's like the crazy girl that can't take rejection from a guy.
- Hmm...a feud between Duncum and Wrestling II/Woods is interesting. I wonder who he will get to help him out? Maybe Maivia?
- Kind of surprised that Backlund and Maivia took the loss going into Backlund's program with Graham. I always thought that a regular tag team should beat two good singles wrestlers, however, so I'm happy with the result.
- Has Monsoon ever won a title in GCW? I don't think so. It would be a nice way to send him into retirement if he could take the IC Title for a short run.
- Looks like Jumbo's amazing run has finally come to an end. I'm looking forward to seeing where the title goes from here. After Rhodes gets done with his feud with Brody and Volkoff maybe he's next in line?
12/8/77:
- Jumbo is still here? I kind of figured he'd be saying his farewells on this show.
- Aww, I was hoping Monsoon would finally win some gold. I do like Hansen as champion, however, so this doesn't bother me too much. Eventually you have to give Gorilla a title though.
- Hansen vs. T. Funk is something I've going to be following very closely. I love this feud. I'm assuming this means Terry goes over Patterson later tonight.
- Poor Strongbow having to wrestle Rodz two months in a row.
- Zbyszko is back! Yes! I can't wait to see him collide with Bravo. And you have to feel sorry for DeNucci. He may have wanted a rematch for the tag titles, but Bravo just immediately declines it and says he wants a singles match with Zbyszko.
- Backlund is getting his World Title match at the end of the year show....you almost have to think Backlund goes over.
- Hmm...I wonder if D. Funk's loss is a way to send him out of the GCW?
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Post by JoshiQ on May 11, 2011 8:36:23 GMT -5
12/28/77:
- Hisashi who?
- FREDDIE BLASSIE! AND THE GREAT KABUKI! Maybe in this alternate history things will be different and this time Kabuki will eliminate Luger at the 1994 Rumble and get his paycheck!
- Glad to see Bravo-Zbyszko wasn't a one and done, but I'm wondering where this leaves DeNucci? Probably jobbing.
- Poor Rodz.
- Wow! What a way to write out Alabano! I like it! Koloff finally getting his revenge was a long time coming. It was also a nice way to get rid of a heel manager with Blassie coming in.
- I prefer Dory Funk Jr. as a heel so turning on Jumbo was okay with me.
- Seems like a lot of feuds are coming to an end. You're going to have some work in front of you to replace them all.
- Good for White Wolf. But Strongbow has come across as extremely weak so far.
- Whoa! I am a tad bit sad we don't have a Hansen-T. Funk feud, but I love, love, love the idea of the 'Original Gunslingers.' It almost seems like you'll be running out of faces to feud with the Heenan Family, Gunslingers, and Blassie's group...
- Looks like we are in it for the long haul with Backlund vs. Graham. Maybe it will lead to the first Iron Man match?
- Never really pictured Jumbo as wrestler of the year, but I guess it makes sense since he defeated Race and did hold the title for a few months.
Great stuff again, Ryan. It looks like a new chapter is about to begin. A lot of feuds have been finished with some new ones starting up. I really want to see where you take the Gunslingers.
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Post by JoshiQ on May 11, 2011 8:49:13 GMT -5
1) Pretty accurate on timelines for wrestlers. The fact that I have learned a ton about the '60s and '70s from a wrestling viewpoint. And it goes without saying that I like your style of writing. Ever since GLW and Gran Hamada was facing Big Titan I've enjoyed your circuits, but this one definitely has become my favorite. I'm really surprised you've been able to keep it up this long. 2) There isn't a lot to dislike. I do miss a weekly TV show to build up certain matches for a headline monthly or bi-monthly show. I know it is in the future plans so I'm not too worried about it. But I have a feeling it will help flesh out certain characters. 3) Ric Flair, of course. Jerry Lawler would be fun to bring back. Ted DiBiase would be fun too since he debuted in 1975. He'd be a fun, fiery mid-card face at this point. 4) Zbyszko and a nice farewell tour for Monsoon maybe. Oh, and definitely Don Muraco. 5) I have to agree with Liller. Woods and Mr. Wrestling II don't do a whole lot for me. 6) Besides the TV show there isn't much. 7) You've done a great job. You don't really need to shake anything up. I'm sure things will get even more interesting for me as we get closer to the '80s. Keep up the amazing work.
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Post by snabbit888 on May 11, 2011 8:58:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback, guys! Monsoon has had two short tag team title reigns in the past (one with Killer Kowalski really early and one with Haystacks Calhoun). I've went back and forth with giving him a singles title reign, even if just a short one. I plan on doing with him what WWF did and have him be an announcer and such, so he'll be taken care of. Just not sure. I agree with both of you on Woods/Wrestling II. I really liked the team when Woods was masked, but there's just no fire to them with Woods unmasked. Their time is limited unless I catch lightning somewhere. The first few months of 1978 should be interesting. I feel you guys will either really dig it or hate it, but I think with the time and GCW history, it makes a lot of sense. But we will see.
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Post by allpowerfulgarth on May 11, 2011 11:17:14 GMT -5
1) The narrative does a good job of keeping me engaged, which is impressive because I know practically nothing about 1970s pro wrestling except for title histories. GCW-OS keeps the actual in-ring narrative to a minimum while still keeping the stories going, which is a nice touch as old-school wrestling matches wouldn't translate well into text.
2) Well, for someone like me, there are going to be unavoidable barriers in that the in-ring action has to be limited and I'm not especially familiar with most of the wrestlers, but GCW-OS gets around those problems about as well as can be expected. As far as avoidable things go, one minor quibble is the way the league deals with departures -- it seems like 99 percent of the time, the person leaving gets thumped by a rival, and it's followed by a line indicating that "we won't be seeing Wrestler X for a long time." I get that you're trying to subtly hint in a pre-Internet way that Wrestler X quit or something, but it just gets repetitive; I'm not sure it's really necessary to so clearly state that Wrestler X is being written out.
3) This is a bad question for knows-nothing-about-1970s-wrestling me, and I'm not going to be much help with it, but one person who I know was active at the time and who I haven't seen in GCW-OS is Andre the Giant. I realize, of course, that Andre is a character who has to be handled with care in order to preserve his dominance, but I'm sure you can do it.
4) I dig Don Muraco; he's already getting a push, but I wouldn't hate a bigger push. And for no good reason, I'm a fan of Nikolai Volkoff. I've long thought he could have been pushed harder as a menacing Russian villain in the vein of Ivan and Nikita Koloff, but was never given the chance. I'd like to see him develop into an upper-level player.
5) I like Dory Funk Jr., but as a sustained main eventer? Eh, I dunno -- especially with great alternatives like Superstar Billy Graham and Bob Backlund. I have a tough time getting behind Peter Maivia as well, but I'm guessing his time is limited as it is.
6) I realize it's likely a few years out, but like the other respondents, I'm interested to see how GCW-OS handles TV. That applies to in-ring style as well as to promos and character development.
7) This doesn't exactly fit in the "who should be pushed more" category, because the subject isn't an active wrestler, so I'll put it here. You may already be planning this, but I'd love to see "Classy" Freddie Blassie develop into a major player as a manager, whether it's with the Great Kabuki or someone else.
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Post by rebelins313 on May 11, 2011 13:02:54 GMT -5
1) What do you like about GCW? The roster and writeups are fantastic. It really was a golden age for wrestling.
2) What don't you like about GCW? Nothing particular, I hate that Race quit. He was awesome. :/
3) What wrestlers would you like to see me bring in (keeping in mind this is 1978 )? Sgt. Slaughter will hopefully come back, he can reek havoc in lots of ways and kick major ass. Jerry Lawler should be brought back also, he can play face or an excellent chickenshit heel for you towards the upper part of the card.
4) Who on my current roster would you like to see pushed more? Dusty and Terry Funk should be in the world title hunt with each of them deserving a chance to carry the strap IMO.
5) Who on my current roster would you like to see pushed less? Strongbow, he was always awful but he's producing quality results so can't deny how you're using him.
6) What is something you'd like to see me do in GCW? I love the big match feels and the infrequent shows to help with the history so I'm fine with how you're running things.
7) Any other general comments? Keep up the great work. *thumbup*
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Post by snabbit888 on May 11, 2011 14:47:33 GMT -5
Garth: one of the things I've noticed in my research of the 1960s and 70s is that really, a lot of it was repetitive. Without internet, it took far far longer for angles and ideas to get watered down. I'm trying to stay in the context of reality as best as I can (without boring myself stupid in the process). We'll see if I can find other ways to write people out. I see it being repetitive, but in the grand scheme, I figure it's an unimportant detail, and found it to be a better alternative than just that person being gone.
Andre is someone I want to use, but you're right - figuring out how to use him is a monster of its own. At the time, he's such a novelty and such a dominant player, that keeping him away from the top title while keeping him an interesting character (in TNM terms, anyway) is tricky, and thus, I've avoided it. He'll appear eventually, but I don't know if it'll be before he was more or less broken down.
rebel:
Strongbow is a weird character for me. I had some moderate success using him early on in GCW, but really this time around, I think the return has flopped. I think the times have passed him by here.
Dusty is set to be a main event player relatively soon. He's one of those guys that I've tried to slow build into a top dog, and think I've done an okay, if not too slow, a job. I think he's one or tw major angles away from challenging seriously for the World Title.
Thanks for the feedback, bud.
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