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Post by JoshiQ on May 23, 2013 15:39:18 GMT -5
We don't know yet who quit, Murphy. Find out next time only on the National Wrestling Federation channel!
Uh-huh. Snabbit gets Bret, Vertigo gets Owen, and I get...Bruce? Nope. Unfair, I say.
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Post by vertigo on May 23, 2013 15:39:51 GMT -5
7/28 Worldwide
It's great how you cover for the tapings on the days of big house shows.
It's nice that Sal Bellomo gets a win in the ring but he still leaves the arena feeling like a loser.
Another laugh out loud moment for me when Ventura said Fritz made the trophies in his basement! There's a lot of Texans in this Universe who would like to get that award.
That Executioner is going to give Graham a serious run for his money.
Lawler and the Beefer is a pretty good match for tv. Would have liked to see a more decisive finish but Borne needed get some heat on himself. Also, the visual of the entire Dream Team is awesome. I'm thinking they will get the gold in Charleston.
I don't think Valentine has anything to worry about as far as tonight's match goes. He just needs to make sure it's not one of his partners taking the fall.
Hayes seems to be desperatly trying to fill Gordy's shoes lately. Gordy could handle himself and proved he didn't need The Freebirds before getting injured and Hayes is trying to do that same thing... with no luck.
Charleston isn't the most stacked card you've had lately but between the Loser Leaves Match and The Mega Powers match it will be a historic night.
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Post by hammerfist on May 24, 2013 15:13:13 GMT -5
7-6-85 Great American Bash
It’s the first ever Great American Bash!
Kerry goes out by himself and actually gets the job done without incidence during the match. Well, the handshake’s unexpected and it sets up possibilities for the Freebirds. This feud appears to be done.
Nikita!! Wow, Johnny V is not messing around at all. He’s already had a much better career as a manager in this universe.
Zbyszko showing that it’s tough to really shake off that mentor relationship when there’s still respect.
Solid US title match. Savage retains and it looks like Lawler and Borne are going to get paired up.
Bellomo!! Awesome!! And Blackwell substitutes for Kernodle. Wither RBA, enter the Crushers? The tag battle royale must have been something to write. I whiffed on the final two teams, although it looks like the Warriors and the MX are going to feud. The Dream team and SOTO are two great choices to face off for the vacant belts. Fun tag battle royale.
Orndoff steals the win and gets out of there. Zbyszko understandably is livid. I’m guessing Orndorff’s going to try to duck Zbyszko next.
You know, I thought that the Dirty Cowboys were going to turn on Piper. But Valentine joining Flair and Ole is all kinds of awesome. Piper’s not going to let this go by without retribution.
Hogan retains and Savage adds fuel for a feud with Reed. Yup, Jesse lost it. Wonder what he’s going to do?
7-7-85 Worldwide
Ventura is really taking Hogan’s win and Savage’s involvement personally.
Hall’s gone. Just as well, truthfully he was still pretty green around this time and not yet the guy we saw in the 90’s. Hennig’s got a real tough test against Nikita. Points for willingness to avenge his friend, but Nikita’s the Russian Nightmare for a reason.
Jesse’s coming out of retirement! He really doesn’t like Hogan.
Zbyszko can get really sadistic so Orndorff and Graham better be on the lookout.
Great TV debut for the MX and Kernodle’s done.
Rich is a guy that needs a direction.
Race is not done with Hercules by a longshot.
Yup, Piper is declaring war.
Good win for Kerry , maybe now he can get some momentum going his way. And Borne’s done very well for himself having feuds with Savage and now Lawler.
That tag match will be great. Could Reed and Ventura actually pull it off?
7-14-85 Worldwide
The training video segment was great. Ow, Orndoff really decked him. Sounds like you’re setting the stage for Graham’s exit. But who could this arch-rival be? Sure Jesse, you popped right back up.
Yikes, a pissed off Zbyszko is not someone you want after you.
It looks like Rich has a direction. He would make a pretty good fourth member to round out a potential Horsemen like group. The situation between Flair and Piper is really escalating and Rich just happens to suggest a loser leaves town stipulation. Hmm, that seems a little suspicious.
The Roadies are out for the MX’s hides.
The Mega Powers! Forever and ever and on and on!
Good win for the Flair group. Piper’s probably going to respond next week.
7-21-85
Great move by the SOTO to neutralize Johnny V. This swings the odds in their favor.
The Harts get the win. Great, let’s see if they can develop momentum.
Valentine’s interview explains very well why he’s aligning with Flair.
The Executioner !?! Man, Graham has brass balls if he’s willing to face this Cadillac of men in the ring one more time.
Ole’s all business, but he’s a prime candidate to drop the fall.
Nice detail with the varied finishing moves the MX have.
Surprising and effective interview from Rich. I’m still suspicious that this is not all it appears to be.
Great win for Reed to show he’s primed for the tag match.
That Lawler vs. Borne match has the potential to be the sleeper match of the night.
As expected, Piper’s group wrestles and gets a win over an interesting mix of faces. I wonder if you’ll follow through with a more permanent Blackwell/Darsow pairing.
7-28-85 Worldwide
Nice touch with Ventura having his gear with him and ready to go to SC.
Don’t worry Bellomo, it’ll get better for you. Maybe. Someday. In the next year or two. Or ten.
Jesse’s killing it on commentary. Kayfabe wise it’s ridiculous to accuse Fritz of making the trophies, but knowing how he was behind the scenes in real life, I’m actually laughing thinking that it sounds exactly like something real life Fritz would do. The award sounds like a set-up for an angle.
Orndorff is privileged to be at ringside for this epic clash of two elemental forces in the ring. I mean, The Executioner just defeated air with a dropkick! This is the man Chuck Norris has nightmares about! All kidding aside, I suspect the Executioner will be mysteriously more bulked up come match time to Graham’s surprise.
Borne adds more heat to his match with Lawler. And Johnny V does the smart thing and counters Race’s presence with Nikita. You know, I’m thinking this just might set up Race and Hennig forming an alliance. That would actually be pretty cool considering the history between Race and Larry Hennig (and it’s plausible to think that history also exists in this universe’s version of the 60’s AWA).
Valentine with a good showcase and I think he’s safe from losing the fall. I’m starting to think it might be Piper that loses the fall.
I’m sure Zbyszko will be at tonight’s card in some shape or form. And I wonder what’s next for Hayes and the Freebirds. I’m guessing we won’t know until Gordy’s back. How far away is he?
You know, I might be crazy, but I think it’s even odds Reed and Ventura get the win. Who knows, we might get Jesse and Hogan one on one eventually.
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Post by rey619 on May 26, 2013 15:12:41 GMT -5
NWF I'm hopelessly behind on feedback.. June 2 Ole Anderson attacking Piper and helping Flair is a clear sign that the Horsemen are coming. The Slaghter angle is really hot, too bad he quit on you. Can't wait to read the controversy. Zbyszko joining the Road Warriors was great, and the right team won of course. I thought you would put Reed in a feud with Savage right away, but his feud with Hogan needs a conclusion. Hercules betrayal as anticipated. Might not have come at the time I thought it would, but that is even better. June 9 Turnover is the word. Hart brothers and Cornette coming in, Big Bubba Rogers as well? Interesting. The whole Ole-Flair thing is still puzzling me. June 16 Finally Ventura mans up to insult Hogan to his face, and it might not have been a good choice? Ventura vs Hogan next? Blackwell is more or less a big jobber at this point. Zbyszko has started well so far. I still want you to have Orndorrf challenge for Hogan's title soon, so Larry might need to lose this feud. I must admit, the most intriguing right now, is without doubt the Horsemen teasers. June 23 Midnight Express is in the Battle Royal, not surprisingly. Borne wants another title shot looks like. I think Race needs a partner. June 30 Evasive Ole. No idea who Race's partner will be. Savage with some retribution! It's too easy to say that Hall will align himself with Johnny V, because that's exatly the same story that happened with Race/Hercules. Maybe Hennig will join after all? Great American Bash Big win for Kerry, uncharacteristic actions from Hayes. Wonder if anything's up. Bummer for Hall, not getting in the ring for his PPV debut! But I like the angle better than if he (or Hennig) had joined Johnny V. Borne wrestled a good match against Savage, and is Instafeuded with Lawler. Good call. The Tag Team Battle Royal probably looked like a clusterfuck. Dunno if I used the right word, but there was a lot of wrestlers in the ring, and a lot of managers/bodyguards on the outside. Had to have been somewhat confsing. SOTO and The Dream Team will make for a great match I think. I wouldn't have objected to the Midnight Express, but there was no Internet in 1985, so I guess they weren't that famous outside of their old territory. Having them feud with the Road Warriors is probably a good idea though. You don't finish a feud with a cradle, so this one's not over, I think. Valentine third member, huh? Had to have waited a long time to get into action. This is the most fascinating storyline you have now, and one of the most exciting ones I have read in a while. Looking forward to more. That's the birth of the Mega-Powers, alright! July 7 Ventura is such an awesome heel announcer. Coming out of retirement? Huge. This would also be the first match for the Mega-Powers. Flu-like symptoms? Weak, Kernoodle. One of the wrestlers in Norway once wrestled a title match with pneumonia. Probably didn't do him any good though. Reed doesn't look like he's too happy with Ventura as a partner though. July 14 Wonder who Graham will bring in. As an opponent to himself? I thought for a moment that Rich was joining the "horsemen". I like heel Flair a lot better than face Flair, so I am all in for this incarnation. You have the "horsemen" and the Mega-Powers? It's almost not fair to Ryan. July 21 Bringing in Race as the insurance policy was clever on SOTOs part. The Freebirds are in limbo for the time being anyway, so no problem giving the Hart brothers a needed win. Executioner? Both Buddy Rose and Terry Gordy have been the Executioner, but this is none of those.. strange. I'm not sure if Rich is turning or what, but I find him intriguing. Both six-man teams win their warm-up matches. I'm betting Piper quit on you or something. I don't know.. I just want a Flair vs Hogan program down the line. You don't really need the Cowboys either. OK, I am getting closer
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Post by JoshiQ on May 26, 2013 21:37:56 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the feedback, guys. Awesome.
And I think there was a question somewhere in there about when Terry Gordy will return. Gordy is due back in the ring sometime in October or November. Give or take a month depending on how he returns.
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Post by rey619 on May 27, 2013 12:58:12 GMT -5
I love the footage from the undisclosed gym, almost as much as I love how you write Ventura.
I'm stoked to see who wins the loser-leaves-town match. Hope it isn't Flair.
OK, I'm up-to-date on one out of three. Not bad!
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Post by JoshiQ on May 29, 2013 11:20:05 GMT -5
Results of NWF - Charleston, SC - 7/28/85:
MATCH #1 “Wildfire” Tommy Rich vs. Salvatore Bellomo
The crowd was still filing in as the first match of the show began. They didn't miss much as Salvatore Bellomo was showing off with some cartwheels before the bell rung. Tommy Rich hasn't been in a good mood since he felt he was embarrassed on Worldwide by Ric Flair. He took that out on Bellomo by attacking him before the bell mid-cartwheel. Bellomo tried to fight back, but Rich raked him in the eyes to put an end to that. Rich threw it into high gear, spiking him with the Piledriver a minute or so later to pick up the win.
Tommy Rich pinned Salvatore Bellomo with the Piledriver in 0:04:43. Rating: ** ¾
MATCH #2: “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff (w/ “Luscious” Johnny V) vs. Curt Hennig
It is hard to believe that Nikita Koloff has been undefeated for nearly nine months. And now that he has aligned himself with Johnny V, who knows how far he can go? Before he could focus on his future, however, he needed to worry about his present. Curt Hennig was looking for revenge against Nikita and Johnny after what happened at the Great American Bash. Hennig had rejected Johnny V's offer to be his manager, and Johnny decided to take it out on Hennig's former partner, Scott Hall. Hall is still on the shelf with a bad neck from Koloff's attack. It appeared that Hennig would be joining Hall with the way Nikita manhandled him from the beginning of the match. Nikita must have been in a foul mood as Hennig was flying around the ring from every offensive maneuver by the Russian Nightmare. Things were going to get worse for Hennig as Johnny V untied the turnbuckle pad to expose the steel while Nikita was being chastised by referee Randy Anderson. Koloff, possibly unaware of what his manager had done, tried to blast Hennig with the Russian Sickle, but Hennig ducked and shoved Koloff past him. Koloff smacked his head directly on the exposed steel. He was stunned as he stepped backwards right into a roll up by Hennig! It has to be considered one of the bigger upsets this year, but Curt Hennig had defeated Nikita Koloff! Hennig left the ring quickly as Johnny V threw a fit in the ring.
Curt Hennig pinned Nikita Koloff after a roll up in 0:08:32. Rating: *** 1/4
MATCH #3: The Road Warriors (w/ Paul Ellering) vs. The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers)
The first tag team match of the night could be considered a grudge match. That is surprising since the Midnight Express are pretty new to the scene. They were responsible for eliminating the Road Warriors in the tag team battle royal at the Great American Bash thanks to the tennis racket that Jim Cornette carries to the ring. Without it, there are a lot of fans that think the Road Warriors would be contending for the Tag Team Titles later on tonight. Cornette's game plan for the Express was simple enough. Avoid any of the hard hitting offense from Hawk and Animal at all costs. It worked for the better part of the match, but it could only last for so long. When Hawk and Animal were able to dish out their powerful blows you could tell Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton were going to have some bruises the next day. It wasn't like Condrey and Eaton were being manhandled the entire match though. They are innovative at coming up with ways to double team their opponents. Double dropkicks, double clotheslines, and even a double suplex were used to try and take over control of the match. We knew they were in trouble, however, when Eaton dropped Hawk with a piledriver. Most times that will end a match right there, but Hawk immediately got back to his feet and roared in Eaton's face while sticking his tongue out. The fear in Eaton's eyes was priceless. As Cornette saw the bout slipping away from his team, he became more involved in the match. Several times he hopped onto the ring apron to try and argue with referee Dave Hebner. Ellering had seen enough on the third time Cornette argued with Hebner over a call as he ran over and tore Cornette back down to the floor. Ellering popped Cornette in the jaw, and the crowd exploded into cheers. Hebner tried to separate the two managers as he left the ring. You would think Cornette's bodyguard would be there to help Cornette, but instead he slipped into the ring during the chaos. Animal was coming off the ropes as Condrey fell to the mat. Animal couldn't stop his momentum as he jumped over Condrey and right into the waiting arms of Big Bubba. Bubba delivered a move he calls the Big Bubba Slam, and you could tell how devastating a move it is by the fact Animal stayed on the mat motionless. Bubba rolled back out as Condrey covered him. Eaton got Hebner's attention so he could reenter the ring and deliver the three count. Hawk was still unaware of what was going on due to his attempts to pull Ellering back into his corner.
The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey) defeated The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) when Condrey defeated Animal via pinfall in 0:14:58. Rating: * ½
Hawk couldn't believe it as he reentered the ring. Condrey and Eaton bailed quickly as Hawk tried to grab a hold of one or both of them. Cornette giggled like a schoolgirl as he left with his victorious team. The Express might have won the match, but you have to give a big assist to Cornette and his bodyguard. The Road Warriors were in a state of shock inside the ring as Ellering tried to argue with Hebner about what had occurred.
MATCH #4: The Fabulous Freebirds (w/ Michael “P.S.” Hayes) vs The Hart Brothers
It is not often these days that you see a rivalry come about simply due to two teams being evenly matched. That is what we saw here as the Freebirds and the Hart Brothers had split their first two matches against one another on Worldwide. A match was signed at the last moment to have them compete against one another in Charleston to split the series. Michael Hayes has seemingly led the Freebirds down a new path since their feud with Kerry Von Erich ended as seen by the way Hayes did not involve himself in this match. Instead he cheered his team on while they traded offense with Keith and Bruce Hart. The match could have gone either way, but in the end it was Keith making a mistake when he telegraphed a move that allowed Roberts to plant him with the DDT out of nowhere. Roberts was able to secure the three count while Parsons held off Bruce.
The Fabulous Freebirds (Buddy Roberts and Iceman King Parsons) defeated The Hart Brothers (Bruce Hart and Keith Hart) when Roberts pinned Keith Hart with the DDT in 0:08:07. Rating: **
Keith was not happy with himself when he came to, but Bruce was there to give him a pat on the back. Meanwhile, the Freebirds threw on their leather jackets and played up to the crowd. Surprisingly enough, they received a few cheers.
THE EXECUTIONER MUST HAVE HIT THE GYM:
Our next match was one heavily anticipated by, well, not the audience but by “Superstar” Billy Graham and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. Graham grabbed the microphone so he could personally introduce his infamous opponent, The Executioner. Graham said it had taken thousands of dollars to make this match happen, but he knew The Executioner was the man to give him his gravest challenge. Orndorff could hardly hold back the laughter as we awaited The Executioner's appearance. There was a slight delay, but he finally came through the ring curtain. He didn't exactly look like the same guy we saw at the undisclosed gym during those Worldwide segments. Sure, he still had the mask on, but his wrestling tights were different and it looked like he had gained about a hundred pounds of pure muscle. Graham had stopped smiling and Orndorff was arguing vehemently with the referee, but Gil Roman signaled for the bell to ring.
MATCH #5 “Superstar” Billy Graham (w/ “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff) vs. The Executioner
Billy Graham cautiously approached The Executioner, but when the masked man made no move towards Graham there was relief on Superstar's face. He put his finger in The Executioner's face and started to read him the riot act. Orndorff look concerned on the outside. He had every right to be because The Executioner snapped Graham's finger out of his face and leveled him with a lariat. For the next few minutes Graham was begging away from The Executioner. It did him no good as The Executioner apparently had some sort of grudge against Graham. Most of the fans started chanting “Larry!”, apparently able to guess the real identity of the masked man, as the match wore on. It was confirmed when The Executioner planted Graham in the center of the ring with Crunch Time.
The Executioner pinned Billy Graham with the Crunch Time in 0:05:46. Rating: * ¼
When the bell rang, a man we've seen before on Worldwide, Steve King, emerged from the curtain. He was on his hands and knees and crawling towards the ring with a slight cut on his forehead. It looks like we know who the man was under the mask during those promos from Graham. Orndorff looked at him coming up the aisle, and with that final piece of evidence, he decided to storm the ring. The Executioner caught him coming through the ropes with a swift boot to the midsection. A whip into the ropes led to a Crunch Time for Orndorff. The Executioner ripped his mask off to reveal Larry Zbyszko to a huge ovation. Orndorff and Graham were rolling around the ring in pain as Zbyszko headed back up the aisle. He looked down disgustedly at Steve King on his way. It wasn't long before Graham and Orndorff were back on their feet in the ring, and they were absolutely furious. King joined them in the ring, but he probably would have been better off just leaving. He motioned that he was ready for his payday, but all he got for his troubles was a piledriver from Orndorff.
MATCH #6: World Tag Team Title Match The Dream Team (w/ “Luscious” Johnny V and “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff) vs. Sons of the Orient (w/ Harley Race)
This was one of the more anticipated matches of the evening, and it wasn't just because we would see new champions crowned. There was also the storyline of Harley Race being at ringside with Johnny V countering with Nikita Koloff. Nikita was in a foul mood after his loss to Hennig earlier in the night as he scowled at several fans who tried to instigate him. The two teams involved in the match don't have a lot of history with one another, but after several cheap shots by Brutus Beefcake and Hercules Hernandez, we saw some anger from Riki Chosyu and Tatsumi Fujinami. They are normally good at keeping their emotions in check, but they were not going to let the titles slip from their fingers due to underhanded tactics. The big guns came out early as Chosyu worked over the neck of Hercules to try and soften him up for the Riki Lariato. Fujinami, meanwhile, was in the ring with Beefcake several times, and Beefcake's chest was a nasty shade of red due to the chops by Tatsumi. But it would be Race's temper, not SOTO's, that played a factor in the end of the match. Hercules was brawling on the outside with Chosyu, but took the time to give Harley a slap across the face. Hercules and Chosyu quickly reentered the ring, but Race was following right behind. It took referee Randy Anderson to stop him. That was all the distraction needed for Beefcake to sneak into the ring and deliver a low blow to Chosyu behind the ref's back. Hercules hoisted Chosyu up for a side suplex as Beefcake drilled Fujinami on the ring apron with a high knee. Three seconds later and we had new champions!
The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake and Hercules Hernandez) defeated Sons of the Orient (Riki Chosyu and Tatsumi Fujinami) when Hercules pinned Chosyu after a side suplex in 0:13:01. Rating: ** ¾ (The Dream Team won the NWF World Tag Team Titles.)
Within seconds Race was in the ring pounding away at Hercules. Nikita put a stop to that by entering the ring and blasting Race with a right hand. Soon Race and Nikita were firing away as Johnny V collected Beefcake and Hercules on the outside with the titles. At the behest of Johnny V, Nikita stopped duking it out with Race and joined up with the Dream Team on the outside. Hercules and Beefcake were ecstatic as they lifted the titles over their heads while Johnny V beamed with pride. Fujinami and Chosyu were questioning what went wrong as Race tried to restrain himself from going after the new champions.
MATCH #7: Loser of the Fall Leaves NWF “Rowdy” Roddy Piper/The Dirty Cowboys vs. “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair/Ole Anderson/Greg “The Hammer” Valentine (w/ Woman)
This match had to be considered the most important of the night. The person who took the pinfall wouldn't have just lost the match for his team, he would be thrown right out of the NWF. So, while titles and pride were on the line in other matches, this was about careers. The fans didn't know how to react as they've spent the past few years jeering Roddy Piper, and Ric Flair has been a fan favorite since entering the NWF in January. After all, he was the man responsible for ridding the NWF of the fake Nature Boy, Buddy Landell. The landscape has changed since then, however, and now it was clear the majority of fans backed Piper and his Dirty Cowboys. The match went back and forth for the first ten minutes or so with neither team getting the advantage. Piper was able to dominate when he was in there, but Valentine and Ole feasted on Bob Orton Jr. and his arm that is still in a cast. Woman tried to play a part in deciding the match as she tripped Piper as he bounced off the ropes. Piper hit his face on the mat, and Flair quickly capitalized by driving several knees into his midsection. This ended the momentum Piper had, but someone in the back wasn't going to let this slide. TOMMY RICH ran down the aisle and told referee Dave Hebner what he had seen. Rich was not happy with Flair dismissing him so lightly on Worldwide, and he was out to get his revenge. Hebner listened to Rich before signaling that he was ejecting Woman from ringside! The crowd roared their approval as Woman stormed off. Interestingly enough, Rich decided to stay at ringside in Piper's corner.
With Woman gone, Flair's team lost some of its focus. This led to Valentine being in the ring for an extended period of time where Piper, Orton, and Slater took turns working him over. Orton especially took great joy in in rubbing Valentine's face in the mat. He used his cast several times to try and rub Valentine's face raw. Valentine would finally be able to make the hot tag to Flair, but Orton tagged in Piper as well. So, Flair came in all fired up, but walked right into an eye poke by Piper! Piper dropped Flair with an inverted atomic drop, another eye poke, and then locked him in the Sleeper! The crowd exploded while Anderson and Valentine, who was slightly disoriented from his extended sequence, entered the ring. Orton and Slater were able to cut them off from breaking the hold. In the chaos, Anderson tossed Slater into referee Hebner. Hebner hit the mat hard as Slater and Anderson fell through the ropes. Valentine leveled Orton with a clothesline that sent both men over the top. All of this happened while Piper still had Flair in the Sleeper! Flair was fading quickly, but apparently not fast enough for one man at ringside. “Wildfire” Tommy Rich grabbed a chair from ringside and entered the ring. We all assumed he was going to help Piper put Flair down, but instead he WALLOPED PIPER IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD! Piper fell as if he had been shot. Rich tossed Flair on top of Piper and left the ring to a loud chorus of boos. Hebner slowly crawled over to make the count while Orton desperately tried to get back into the ring. He'd only get halfway before Valentine grabbed him by the boot. Anderson had Slater up against the guardrail. There was no one to save Piper! And Piper is now gone from the NWF! And it is all thanks to Tommy Rich turning his back on Roddy Piper.
Ric Flair, Ole Anderson and Greg Valentine defeated Dirty Cowboys (Bob Orton Jr. and Dick Slater) and Roddy Piper when R. Flair pinned Piper via pinfall in 0:22:46. Rating: ***
If you would have told me last year that the crowd would boo Roddy Piper being forced out of the NWF, I'd say you were crazy. But that is exactly what was happening here. Rich was cackling like a madman as he hugged Flair. Slater grabbed another chair from ringside and reentered the ring which sent Flair and Rich scurrying out of the ring. Flair, Anderson, Valentine, and Rich were joined by Woman in the aisle, and they were all smiles as they high-fived one another. Flair held up four fingers to represent something and the other three men followed suit. All four men and Woman left the aisle with their hands raised in that symbol while Slater and Orton stood over their fallen leader. Piper slowly came to and realized what had happened. He gave a short wave to the crowd before heading to the back himself followed morosely by the Cowboys. What a terrible night in the career of Roddy Piper.
There was a hangover effect from the crowd as they had trouble getting over what they had just seen. Piper had been a cornerstone of the NWF for several years, a former World Champion, and was the reigning PWI Wrestler of the Year. And he's gone all thanks to Ric Flair, Greg Valentine, Tommy Rich, and Ole Anderson. He wasn't the most liked person, but he had earned respect from the fans over the past few months.
MATCH #8: Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. “Maniac” Matt Borne
While the crowd was still getting over the the stunning development that Piper was gone from the NWF, we had to continue on with the show. Jerry Lawler has been itching to get his hands on Matt Borne since the Great American Bash where he prevented Borne from assaulting Gary Michael Cappetta. Borne got the upper hand in that situation, but Lawler countered by driving Borne from the ring on Worldwide back on July 7th. Borne is relatively new to the NWF, only having been around for a few months, and this would be a stiff challenge for him as he was going up against a former two-time World Champ and a former US Champion. Both men are capable technical wrestlers, but we didn't see much of that tonight. If you like slugfests, this would be the match for you. The match spilled to the outside and back into the ring several times before Borne had enough and kneed Lawler directly in the groin in front of referee Gil Roman. Lawler hunched over in pain as the disqualification was called for. Borne was laughing hysterically as Lawler rolled around the ring in pain. Borne even dropped to the mat and pretended to be in pain as well. That was until he got a serious look on his face and hopped back to his feet. He pointed to his temple like he had outsmarted Lawler once again. What a weird guy.
Jerry Lawler defeated Matt Borne by disqualification in 0:10:56. Rating: ** ½
MATCH #9: The Mega Powers (w/ Miss Elizabeth) vs. “Hacksaw” Butch Reed and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
With as big of a show as we've already had, we still had a main event to watch! And this was no regular main event as it involved the World Champion and US Champion on one side and Jesse Ventura coming out of retirement on the other. Not to mention the meanest man on the planet, Butch Reed. It was clear Reed was going to do most of the heavy lifting in this match, but it was surprising to see just how active Ventura was. He did not avoid tagging in, and sure, he was mostly overpowered by the tandem of Savage and Hogan, but he was a terrific tag wrestler back in the day. He utilized those skills to keep this match far more even than you would have expected. Still, if Ventura had any other partner than Reed, the Body would have been in for a long night. But with Reed, they were able to cut the ring in half on the Macho Man and work him over thoroughly. There was a moment when the match looked to be over when Reed blasted Savage with the Flying Shoulderblock, but Ventura pleaded and begged to be tagged in. Reed reluctantly obliged and Ventura ran into the ring to lock Savage in his Inverted Body Vice. He had it cinched on tight, but Savage refused to give up and was able to fight his way out of it. Savage dove into his corner and made the hot tag to Hulk Hogan.
Ventura begged away from Hogan, but he wasn't going to be able to escape the Hulkster's grasp. Hogan leveled Ventura with several big right hands. Reed entered the ring and ambushed Hogan from behind. He drove him into the mat with a running powerslam. Meanwhile, Miss Elizabeth stepped up onto the ring apron! She was checking on her fallen boyfriend, Randy Savage, who was having trouble getting back to his feet. As she checked on him, Reed saw her and apparently thought she was trying to interfere. Reed went towards her and she quickly walked down the ring steps to avoid Hacksaw. That wasn't good enough for Hacksaw, however, as he left the ring and started to walk after her! Savage saw this and somehow found the energy to get back to his feet and drill Reed in the back with a double axhandle! Savage grabbed Reed by the shoulders and tossed him into the guardrail. Savage and Reed continued to brawl and made it all the way up the ring aisle as Miss Elizabeth followed them looking concerned.
This left Hogan and Ventura alone in the ring. Ventura got to his feet first, but Hogan was right behind him. Ventura knew he was in trouble as he tried to punch and kick at Hogan, but Hulk started shaking his head. Hogan was powering up! Hogan stuck his finger right in Ventura's face and started waving it at him. Ventura tried to leave the ring, but Hogan was able to grab a hold of him by the tights and pull him back into the ring. He whipped him into the ropes and nailed him with the Big Boot. Before he could go for the Big Leg Drop, however, out came PAUL ORNDORFF and BILLY GRAHAM. We knew they had been involved in training Ventura, but why were they out here now? Hogan took his eyes off of Ventura to threaten Graham and Orndorff. Ventura used that opening to reach deep into his tights and pull out a pair of brass knuckles. When Hogan turned around Ventura connected with Hogan's jaw! Hogan crumpled to the mat as Ventura hopped onto him to earn the biggest upset of the year.
Butch Reed and Jesse Ventura defeated The Mega Powers (Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan) when Ventura pinned Hogan after hitting him with brass knuckles in 0:15:44. Rating: *** ¼
Ventura didn't waste time in the ring as he joined up with Paul Orndorff and Billy Graham in the aisle. Ventura hugged both in celebration as Hogan slowly came to inside the ring. He was still trying to shake the cobwebs loose. We will never hear the end of this.
Match Observations:
Coming out of Charleston, several huge announcements were made. Due to the short turnaround, matches were being signed as wrestlers were leaving the arena. The biggest of them all has to be that Hulk Hogan has practically demanded that he defend his World Title in Little Rock, Arkansas against the man that defeated him here tonight, Jesse Ventura! What a main event! Savage and Reed's brawl had to be broken up by security and so another match has been signed between the two. Be sure to tune into Worldwide where we will see some of the fallout from this crazy night in Charleston.
August 11, 1985 – Little Rock, AR: WORLD TITLE – Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Jesse Ventura US TITLE – Randy Savage (c) vs. Butch Reed NO DQ – Jerry Lawler vs. Matt Borne Dream Team/Nikita Koloff vs. Sons of the Orient/Harley Race Dirty Cowboys vs. Tommy Rich/Ole Anderson
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Post by murphy42782 on May 29, 2013 12:22:10 GMT -5
Love flair, ole,, valentine, and rich as the original horsemen. Sucks u lose piper tho. Cant wait to see him in gcw or wwa tho.
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Post by snabbit888 on May 29, 2013 12:25:50 GMT -5
Well, at least Bellomo got his cartwheels in. A revitalized Rich looks good in the opener.
You clearly have big plans for Hennig, as that was a big upset. It'll be the best for Nikita long term to get the albatross of being undefeated from around his neck. I don't see Nikita just taking this loss and moving on.
That is why Jim Cornette is such an effective manager. When you're willing to get your ass beat to help your charges win, you might be hated by the fans but you're going to make a lot of money. But let's be honest - I think the Road Warriors have a lot more ass kickings to dish out to Cornette and the Midnight Express.
Good showing for the Harts in this mini-feud, but they're not quite on the Freebirds' level yet. Still not sure what they're up to though. This playing nice seems way too good to be true...
This Executioner angle is very old school. It would come off as corny in 2013, but for 1985, it's fun. Zbyszko gets a small measure of revenge, but he's not going to be satisfied until he gets Orndorff in the ring.
Race has a notorious short temper, and it ended up costing the SOTO tonight. Either way, this was the right booking call. You have a lot more places you can go with Beefcake/Hercules as the champs. It's a new interpretation of the Dream Team, but I feel it can be even more successful.
Piper being gone is HUGE. And you better believe I will try to sign him. And there we go with the official formation of our Universe's Horsemen - Flair, Ole, Valentine, & Rich. I like it. I wonder how relevant the Dirty Cowboys are going to stay in this feud though.
Borne is so odd. If he's nor careful, he's going to bring back the intense Lawler. It gets said every time, but you've struck gold with Borne. Keep this up and he'll be a real contender.
Great main event with a ton of heat, and perhaps the biggest upset we will see in wrestling in 1985. Who cares if it was dirty - Ventura pinned Hogan! And he gets a World Title shot to boot! It's fun that we get to see this match here when we never really got it in real life. That, and I can see Reed winning the US Title. He's earned it at this point.
Great show.
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Post by rey619 on May 29, 2013 16:07:50 GMT -5
Charleston Bellomo had more success with the carthweels than the match, that's for sure. Hoho, the old turnbuckle trick that backfired. It's big for Hennig that he's the first one to defeat Koloff. Midnight Express going over was the right thing. I love it that Big Bubba is the bodyguard. We have the Hart Brothers in NWF and the Hart Foundation in GCW? There's gonna be some competition here I think! Haha, the Executioner double-switch was great. Dream Team new champs! Think it was the best choice. Race should find himself a new partner now and go after them himself. Oh, it's just the one taking the fall. That's a relief Rich gets Woman ejected. I'm just waiting for Rich to turn. And there it is! Piper's gone from NWF - hopefully to return soon in a ring near you. Borne is crazy, but at least this gives Lawler an interesting feud. This is a huge upset! And I guess we'll never hear the end of this now from Ventura on TV. BUT! It puts Orndorrf straight into the title feud, which I have requested for a long time. And that's great!
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Post by mdale2k on May 30, 2013 7:47:19 GMT -5
I gotta saw, I am glad with the Main Event Result. IMO Hulk going over would have been the wrong move. Reed / Savage will be good. Hogan will fight Jesse/Orndoroff for awhile until Savage makes his move against Hogan.
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Post by vertigo on May 30, 2013 10:29:06 GMT -5
Rich attacking Bellomo mid cartwheel is a hilarious visual! Also means Rich is still up to his no-good tactics.
Honestly surprised Henning won here. You put over Nikita being undefeated at the beginning sO I figured we were in for a buildup to his first loss, but even after 9 months Henning getting the win is impressive.
That's a HUGE win for The Midnights. The fact that Big Bubba laid out Animal with a move has to be seen to be believed. That doesn't happen to the Road Warriors. Revenge is going to be sweet though.
This little series of matches was great for the Harts. It kept them relevant and it was really a test for them to see how they got over with the fans.
Soooo good! Larry Z as the Executioner is phenomenal! I think this is the first time I've actually been a fan of Larry. Plus, a bloody Steve King taking a piledriver for no good reason is the best! If Steve King becomes a lacky for Graham and Orndorff I will not be mad about it at all.
SOTO's decision to bring Race to ringside backfired big time. I really like this Dream Team. I'm hoping they can avoid the Road Warriors and have a lengthy title reign.
Piper is gone?! And Tommy Rich is the 4th!? There's a ton of stories coming out of this match. Where do the Cowboys go from here? And without Arn, who dubs this foursome the Four Horsemen? Really looking forward to the next few weeks of television.
How f'ing cool is it that in this Universe Hulkamania and the Four Horsemen are in the same in company?
Borne IS a weird guy. Looks like this feud with Lawler will continue but I'm not sure where it goes from here.
I cannot believe Ventura pinned Hulk! He is going to be talking about this victory for the next decade. Looks like this could also get Orndorff involved in the World Title picture. Reed and Savage should be feuding for a long time.
You have so much talent to work with that I don't envy you at all. I honestly think it's going to be tough for Hulkamania to stay on top like it did in WWF for so long.
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Post by JoshiQ on May 31, 2013 7:56:22 GMT -5
Sometimes I think it would be easier to have less big names. At the same time, it does provide a distinct advantage if you can find the right things for the guys to do and keep building up unexpected talent (Reed, Kerry, Rich, Borne)...
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Post by JoshiQ on May 31, 2013 7:57:58 GMT -5
NWF WORLDWIDE Atlanta, GA | August 4, 1985 (Taped July 20, 1985)
Commentators: Gordon Solie and Jesse Ventura
In an odd sequence, we started the show with Gordon Solie behind the desk. He was shuffling some papers as he apologized for what was about to happen. A brand new theme song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOkLhf6m8aE), “The Body Rules”, came over the speakers in the studio as Jesse Ventura emerged from a side door. He was in a glamorous robe and had a feather boa wrapped around his throat. He motioned for Sean Mooney, who was standing on the interview stage, to get on with it. Mooney cleared his throat before announcing to the viewers at home the entrance of Jesse Ventura, the man who pinned Hulk Hogan in Charleston and who will challenge Hogan for the World Title in just one week. Ventura removed his robe, almost slapping Solie in the face with it as he whipped it off his shoulders, and sat on his commentator's chair. Solie had his head in his hands as we went to our first match.
The Hart Brothers (Bruce Hart and Keith Hart) defeated Kevin Collins and Jack Kruger when K. Hart pinned Kruger with the Hart to Hart 0:02:15. Rating: DUD
The Hart Brothers are slowly becoming household names here in the NWF. Each and every time they are seen on television they look better and more confident in their skill set. They notched another victory today when Bruce whipped Kruger into a Thesz Press by Keith, a move they call Hart to Hart. While they are still a ways away from being considered top contenders to the World Tag Team Titles, they have earned the respect of the fans who are cheering them pretty loudly as of late.
THE ANIMAL IS LOOSE:
As the Hart Brothers made their way to the back, they crossed paths with a bald man wearing wrestling tights and so much body hair that it resembled a sweater. It took Gordon Solie a second, but he was soon exclaiming that it was GEORGE “THE ANIMAL” STEELE! Steele came into the ring and immediately ran over to a set of turnbuckles. He started tearing at the middle buckle until he exposed the padding. Before anyone could stop him, he was stuffing it into his mouth like he hadn't had a good meal in weeks. Security was finally able to convince him to leave, but he let a few fans rub his bald head on the way out.
AT THE DESK:
Jesse Ventura was horrified that George Steele had found his way into the NWF. Gordon Solie thought Steele was mostly good at heart, but Ventura's opinion of Steele was that he was a complete buffoon and a neanderthal. He wasn't going to let Steele ruin this show which should be celebrating Jesse Ventura's greatness. Solie had enough as he told Ventura that he blatantly cheated in the match and would never have been able to defeat Hogan had it not been for the brass knuckles, Paul Orndorff, and Billy Graham. Ventura told Solie to wait until next week in Little Rock. He would show he was better than Hulk Hogan when he took the World Title!
INTERVIEW STAGE W/BUTCH REED:
Butch Reed stepped onto the interview stage to discuss his upcoming match with Randy Savage. Sean Mooney congratulated Reed on his victory in Charleston over the Mega Powers. Reed didn't want the praise since the result was never in doubt. The only thing he regretted was that he wasn't the one to put Hogan on the mat, but he had to give props to Ventura for standing up like a man. On the other hand, someone who he lost a lot of respect for was Randy Savage. He always heard how the Macho Man was one of the toughest and bravest men in the sport. So, imagine his surprise when he realized Savage needed a skirt to fight his battles for him. Reed claimed he would have been the one to pin Hogan had he not needed to chase the hussy away from ringside. Savage hitting him from behind made it even worse. He was going to make Savage pay in Little Rock and take his precious US Title in the process.
Nikita Koloff pinned Buddy Roberts with the Russian Sickle in 0:08:47. Rating: **
“The Russian Nightmare” was in a foul mood after losing his undefeated streak in Charleston to Curt Hennig. “Luscious” Johnny V has been reminding Koloff about his defeat every chance he gets to try and increase his intensity. If there is one thing we know about Nikita, he doesn't lack for intensity, and so piling it on like that is only going to make it worse for whoever his next opponent would be. That happened to be a member of the Freebirds, Buddy Roberts. Koloff was a monster in this match shrugging off every attempt at offense Roberts threw at him. It wasn't that Roberts didn't control any of the match, but every time he tried something to try and finish off Nikita, Koloff would stick his tongue out and roar at Roberts. Roberts is a seasoned professional so he kept trying to wear down the stronger man, but he could only take so much punishment before he was wide open for the Russian Sickle.
Tommy Rich pinned Lee Ramsey with the Piledriver in 0:02:11. Rating: 1/2*
“Wildfire” Tommy Rich has always been known as a guy that will do whatever it takes to come out ahead. He would lie, cheat, and steal from his own grandmother if it would help him in some way. So, he should fit right in with Ric Flair's new group consisting of Flair, Ole Anderson, and Greg Valentine. We can see what these men are all about with the way they cheated Roddy Piper out of his career here in the NWF. Rich would win his match on Worldwide easily enough with the Piledriver, but this wasn't the last we'd see of him today.
IT ISN'T A PARTY WITHOUT THE NATURE BOY:
After some commercials, we returned to the ring where Kerry Von Erich was standing alongside Senator of Texas Lloyd Bentsen. Bensten was proud to announce that due to his efforts inside and outside the wrestling ring, Kerry Von Erich was bestowed with the honor of being named “Best Athlete in Texas.” The fans here in Atlanta weren't exactly thrilled with another state getting such recognition, but they still applauded one of their favorites as he was handed a rather tall trophy. Kerry went into a speech about how proud he was to carry on in the footsteps of his father, Fritz, and also his late brother, David. Before he could get much further, he was rudely interrupted by Ric Flair, Ole Anderson, Greg Valentine, Tommy Rich, and Woman entering the ring. It was quite the scene to see such talent all together.
Senator Bensten quickly left the ring as Flair took the microphone from Kerry. Flair wanted to personally congratulate Kerry Von Erich on his trophy, but he was out here to talk about real trophies and real gold. Not something everyone would forget in a year. Von Erich took offense as he stepped towards Flair, but he was immediately halted by Ole Anderson stepping in front of Flair. Flair reminded Von Erich that these men aren't some make-believe rock band. They break bones. They aren't the Freebirds. They are men, and if he wants to leave this arena in possession of all of his limbs he better not step up to him again. Valentine took the microphone and warned Von Erich that the last time men this deadly had formed into one group you had to go all the way back to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Unless he wanted to be part of the destruction, he would never try to put his hands on Ric Flair ever again. Von Erich has been through wars where he was outnumbered before, and that is why there was no surprise that he had a slight grin on his face. Flair started to talk about a future World Title shot, but Von Erich interrupted him. Tommy Rich questioned the intellect of Kerry to interrupt the Nature Boy. Von Erich told them all that they could talk as much as they wanted, but they had accomplished nothing so far except to run off a guy that wears a skirt. If they wanted to prove themselves, if Ric Flair wanted to show how great he truly is, he challenged Flair to meet him in the ring in Little Rock! Flair was appalled that he had been challenged, but he told Kerry if he wanted the Dirtiest Player in the Game, he was going to get him.
The Mountaineers (Barry Darsow and Crusher Blackwell) defeated Dale Williams and Carry Clarke when Blackwell pinned Clarke with the Avalanche in 0:03:06. Rating: 1/4*
It's official. Barry Darsow and Crusher Blackwell have formed their own team and are going by the name The Mountaineers. Darsow has ditched his red, white, and blue tights that he wore while part of the Red Blooded Americans. Now Blackwell and Darsow wear boots with furry collars, blue tights, and ponchos that look like they were made out of deer skin. It goes without saying that both men are pretty big, and this look makes them a little scary. However, they were still pretty jovial guys as they clapped hands with the fans on the way to the ring. Their opponents had no answer for the size of either man. Blackwell and Darsow have come up with a finishing move to take advantage of their size as Darsow mightily whipped Blackwell into the corner where Carry Clarke was standing. Blackwell flattened Clarke like a pancake with the Avalanche. Clarke wasn't getting up from that. A successful debut for the Mountaineers!
HULKAMANIA IS FOREVER:
We were shown what happened after the show in Charleston just a few days ago. Sean Mooney caught up with Hulk Hogan before he could leave the arena. Mooney wanted Hogan's reaction to what had happened in his match with Butch Reed and Jesse Ventura. Hogan was furious that Paul Orndorff and Billy Graham decided to get involved, but he had no one to blame but himself. He knew that Ventura was a weasely, stinky, no-good piece of scum that he should have scraped off the bottom of his boot. He took too much time and allowed Ventura to cheat his way to victory. The reason Hogan wanted to defend his title against Ventura was because he knew he would never let his shoulders be pinned to the mat again by a disgrace like Jesse Ventura. If Ventura thought he had ended Hulkamania with one punch, he had another thing coming. Hulkamania is immortal! And whatcha gonna do when Hulk Hogan, the 24 inch pythons, and all the Hulkamania fans run wild all over you?
Riki Chosyu pinned Dick Slater with the Riki Lariato in 0:10:02. Rating: *** ¼
The main event was scheduled to be the Sons of the Orient against the Dirty Cowboys, but due to a minor injury suffered by Bob Orton Jr. during the six-man tag, it was shifted to a singles match between Riki Chosyu and Dick Slater. Not to say that it didn't almost feel like a tag team match since Orton and Tatsumi Fujinami accompanied their partners to the ring. SOTO are coming off a hugely disappointing loss to the Dream Team where they had the opportunity to become two-time tag team champions. Instead, they will have to settle for competing against the Dream Team and Nikita Koloff in six man action alongside their ally, Harley Race. As for this match, Slater was a bit discombobulated knowing that his leader and employer, Roddy Piper, was out of the NWF. He kept looking to Orton, but Orton was almost as despondent. One thing is clear, they are going to need to get with it before their match with Tommy Rich and Ole Anderson in a week. If not, the result will be much like it was today where Chosyu nailed Slater with the Riki Lariato for the win.
AT THE DESK:
Jesse Ventura wanted to address Hulk Hogan's interview from earlier. Ventura told the fans that Hulkamania's heart stopped beating for three seconds in Charleston. It will completely flatline in Little Rock. It was most definitely not immortal. Solie broke in to make a big announcement about another match signed for Little Rock. Due to the recent rivalry between Paul Orndorff and Larry Zbyszko, and how successful both men have been recently, a number one contender's match for the World Title had been signed! They will not only get the chance to face each other in Little Rock, but the winner will challenge for the World Title, held by either Hogan or Ventura, on September 1, here in Atlanta, Georgia! Ventura thought it would be a great first title defense to go up against Mr. Wonderful. Solie closed the show by verbally stating he thought Ventura had a lot of work to do if he thought he could dethrone the Hulkster.
August 11, 1985 – Little Rock, AR: WORLD TITLE – Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Jesse Ventura US TITLE – Randy Savage (c) vs. Butch Reed #1 CONTENDERSHIP – Larry Zbyszko vs. Paul Orndorff NO DQ – Jerry Lawler vs. Matt Borne Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich Dream Team/Nikita Koloff vs. Sons of the Orient/Harley Race Dirty Cowboys vs. Tommy Rich/Ole Anderson
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Post by vertigo on May 31, 2013 11:43:31 GMT -5
Hilarious intro for Ventura (although the Atlanta fans received a bit of a spoiler).
I thought the Harts might fade away after their Freebirds match but they're immediately featured in the opening match.
George "The Animal" has arrived and he brought his appetite for turnbuckles with him!
The Reed/Savage feud is going to be excellent. Reed cuts a great promo here and I'm confident he'll take the US title from Savage.
Nikita is a monster! Roberts was definitely out of his comfort zone in this match.
I've always been indifferent about Tommy Rich but now that he's with Flair's stable I'm almost looking at him entirely different. Taking him more serious, that's for sure.
I figured the trophy segment would turn out much different than it did. I'm not complaining though. I've been pushing for Kerry to step up on the card for a long time and this might be his chance. Valentine drops the "Four Horseman" line and you're officially rewriting Horsemen history now!
Darsow continues to bounce around in the tag team division. I like this pairing with Blackwell, though. He could probably ride this to Demolition.
Great Hogan promo. Good to see he'll keep Orndorff and Graham in the back of his mind for awhile.
Slater & Orton lost a lot of steam with Piper getting the boot from NWF. I don't think they'll have much luck against Ole & Rich in Little Rock either.
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Post by JoshiQ on May 31, 2013 11:48:47 GMT -5
Hilarious intro for Ventura (although the Atlanta fans received a bit of a spoiler). In my mind most of AT THE DESK is actually recorded at a different time and inside of a TV studio apart from the arena where the matches are.
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Post by snabbit888 on May 31, 2013 12:25:00 GMT -5
Ha. The Body Rules! Not enough to win the World Title, but yes, he does rule.
The Harts have established a nice little place for themselves in NWF. Probably not going to ever win any titles, but they can work and guys that can make others look good are always important.
Haha. Forgot you had signed Steele. What a strange debut, but immediately lets us know exactly what he's going to be about in NWF.
Reed/Savage should be an intense rivalry if it goes on for awhile. I could see them trading the US Title back and forth here. I think Reed has earned at least a short US Title reign. He's been awesome, and we all know where Mach is heading eventually.
I felt bad for whoever the next man to face Nikita was, and Buddy Roberts was the unfortunate victim. I still contest that the loss to Hennig was the best thing for Nikita long term though, and it will sure do wonders for Hennig.
This spot is going to revitalize Rich's career. I love him with this group. This isn't Flair/Ole/Arn/Tully, but given the circumstances of the Universe, Flair/Valentine/Ole/Rich is a fine replacement.
And there's Valentine dropping the Four Horsemen name. It is officially on, and Von Erich is the PERFECT foil for them. The Horsemen already feel like a big deal, so this feud could be exactly what Von Erich needs to take that next big step he has needed.
I like Darsow and Blackwell sticking around as a team for a bit. It won't be permanent as Darsow has bigger fish to fry and Blackwell doesn't have a ton of career left, but they'll make for an entertaining mid-low card act.
The Ventura thing has been fun, but Hulk means business. Hulk dispatches of Ventura, but I think Little Rock really gets us going on Hogan/Orndorff, which I'm really looking forward to.
I think the Dirty Cowboys are going to be a bit out of it for awhile with Piper being gone. Though Orton & Slater aligning with Von Erich to fight the Horsemen could be fun. I don't know how much in terms of longterm plans you have for the Cowboys though. Chosyu with a good win here.
The quick turn-around on these house shows aside, your card for Little Rock is stacked. Good job building to some good matches with not a lot of time. Orndorff/Zbyszko should be a war.
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Post by rey619 on Jun 3, 2013 15:12:09 GMT -5
Is the Animal a known commodity at this point in time? And can't it become a little confusing since you already have an Animal?
And there's the Horsemen! Kerry is a brave soul, but he'll fall to Flair at Little Rock.
Mountaineers and George Steele brings us into the campy 80's. I wonder how many incarnations Darsow will have in this universe.
I don't know if the Cowboys are faces all of a sudden, but it looked like a good contest with Chosyu at least.
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Post by snabbit888 on Jun 3, 2013 15:27:33 GMT -5
I had Steele for a brief time back in the late 60s, I think.
Also, Darsow is up to what, 3 gimmicks already? Krusher Kruschev, Red-White-And-Blue Darsow, Mountain Man Darsow? I bet we can get him up to 10, easily.
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Post by mattharms on Jun 3, 2013 16:17:33 GMT -5
Feedbackery.
Well Ventura knows how to arrive in style.
The Harts get the win, really nothing more to say about that.
The Animal, business is about to pick up now!
A pretty good promo for Reed.
Koloff has an impressive win in a fairly good match, and an angry Russian is not a good Russian.
Fairly effective squash win by the Wildfire.
Flair is gold as always and the match with Von Erich should be pretty awesome.
Darsow and Blackwell there's a nasty duo and they look good in their debut.
Standard Hogan promo but damned if I'm not hyped.
Main event time and it was a good one. Yep Piper's exit would effect them greatly.
Good wrap up to a good show.
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Post by cardsflyinhigh on Jun 4, 2013 22:24:43 GMT -5
As long as "Hole in 1" Darsow doesnt' make an appearance, I'm good with what he's doing.
Love the official formation of the Horsemen. I kinda sensed Rich would be the fourth back during their first in-ring confrontation on Pipers Pit. A feud with Von Erich should be good. Von Erich though is gonna need some backup. Hmmm... The newly christened Horsemen did drop the Freebirds name in a derogatory way. And they're kinda treading water right now. And they are seemingly making a face turn ...
It will be nice to see Hogan get to knock around Ventura in an actual match for all the crap he's talked. Though his next big feud against Orndorff should be intense. And can't wait to see Savage and Reed have some wars.
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Post by rey619 on Jun 5, 2013 3:38:08 GMT -5
I had Steele for a brief time back in the late 60s, I think. I forgot Steele was that old.
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Post by JoshiQ on Jun 5, 2013 7:31:29 GMT -5
I had Steele for a brief time back in the late 60s, I think. Also, Darsow is up to what, 3 gimmicks already? Krusher Kruschev, Red-White-And-Blue Darsow, Mountain Man Darsow? I bet we can get him up to 10, easily. Yep, you had Steele briefly. I think he was a heel in that run. Darsow might become a mainstay in the NWF just to see how many times I can repackage him.
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Post by JoshiQ on Jun 5, 2013 8:43:59 GMT -5
NWF WORLDWIDE Atlanta, GA | August 11, 1985 (Taped August 10, 1985)
Commentators: Gordon Solie
We normally begin the show with Gordon Solie and Jesse Ventura behind the desk, but Ventura was nowhere to be seen. Solie revealed that Ventura was already in Little Rock and preparing for the match of his life against Hulk Hogan that will take place later on tonight. Solie hated to admit it, but Ventura was taking this match seriously and you can never discount The Body when he sets his mind to something.
MATCH #1: Big Bubba Rogers (w/ Jim Cornette) vs. Salvatore Bellomo
This would be Big Bubba Rogers' first match in a NWF ring. It was petitioned for by Jim Cornette because if people saw how big and tough his bodyguard was less people would be willing to put their hands on the Prince of Polyester. We already saw how devastating he can be when he laid out Animal of the Road Warriors two weeks ago in Charleston. Salvatore Bellomo got on Cornette's bad side before the match even began as he came to the ring with several tennis balls. He started tossing them at Cornette's head. Several bounced off of his noggin before Cornette started swinging his tennis racket wildly at the objects soaring towards his head. Cornette connected with a couple that went flying into the crowd. The fans were laughing at Cornette's expense, but it didn't last long as Big Bubba had enough of his boss being tormented by the Italian. Rogers almost knocked a few teeth out with an uppercut. There wasn't much offense after that from Bellomo as he had no defense for the size and strength of Big Bubba. The Big Bubba Slam finished the match almost before it really could begin.
Big Bubba Rogers pinned Salvatore Bellomo with the Big Bubba Slam in 0:03:32. Rating: ** ¼
While Jim Cornette's focus is squarely on the Midnight Express and taking them to the titles, he appears to be sitting on a gold mine in Big Bubba Rogers. One man that was not afraid to get in the faces of Cornette and Rogers was Paul Ellering. He joined them in the ring after the match to issue a challenge. Surprisingly, it wasn't to the Midnight Express but to Big Bubba. He was out there speaking for Animal. Animal had told him that he had been knocked out like a chump by Big Bubba. He wanted to know if Bubba had the guts to try and do it again. Cornette tried to back down from the challenge since he had “obligations” later tonight, Mama Cornette was planning on him being there for dinner tonight, but Big Bubba cut in saying he looked forward to finishing Animal off later tonight in Little Rock. Ellering said Animal would be happy to hear Bubba had some guts after all.
AT THE DESK:
Solie was pretty surprised a match of that magnitude had been signed so late in the day. He figured Cornette and his men would have to catch a flight quickly to get to Little Rock in time for tonight's show. A match between Animal and Big Bubba Rogers was sure to be like two bulls colliding. It wouldn't be pretty, but neither man was going to leave the ring without some bruises and broken bones.
That led into two other men would be having to catch flights after Worldwide as a match was signed for the main event of today's show. Greg Valentine would square off against Tatsumi Fujinami in what promised to be an epic clash between two of the best wrestlers in the world today. Fujinami has not been happy with the recent actions by Valentine, but Solie had to question both men's decision making since they agreed to this big of a match on short notice. The match would air at the end of the hour.
MATCH #2: “The Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez vs. Dale Williams
A man who has made his name down in the southern circuits, especially in Florida, would make his debut next. “The Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez is one tough hombre and he was out to prove it by completely destroying his first opponent, Dale Williams. Fernandez apparently has a little bit of a temper on him as when Williams was able to bring him to the mat with a headlock takedown, Fernandez burst to his feet and nearly slapped the taste out of Dale's mouth. The Flying Burrito (flying forearm smash) won this match easily enough for him in under four minutes. It was a successful debut for the man, but the fans aren't quite sure how to take this new man from Texas.
Manny Fernandez pinned Dale Williams with the Flying Burrito in 0:03:30. Rating: * 1/4
MATCH #3: “Maniac” Matt Borne vs. Jack Kruger
Matt Borne is coming off a loss in Charleston to Jerry Lawler, but you wouldn't know it since he was the man that left the ring standing. Lawler had to be helped to the back due to a blatant low blow. Borne was disqualified which is why we are headed towards a rematch later tonight in Little Rock. This time there will be no disqualifications. This is the type of match that normally favors Lawler, known for his bloodlust at times, but we've never seen Borne in a setting like that. If he performs tonight like he did in this match on Worldwide, Lawler is going to have his hands full.
Matt Borne pinned Jack Kruger with the Northern Lights Suplex in 0:03:08. Rating: 1/4*
MACHO MADNESS IS READY:
A recorded promo from Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth aired next. They were already in Little Rock preparing for Savage's title defense, but Savage had some words in response to “Hacksaw” Butch Reed's interview last week. Savage told Reed he had heard correctly when people proclaimed Savage as one of the toughest and bravest men in the sport. He backed down from no man. He knew that Reed was mowing men down like a “Hacksaw” this past year, taking Hogan to the limit several times, but he wasn't a pushover. And he doesn't hide behind a skirt like Reed claimed. If he thought he was going to have an easier time wrestling the US Title from Savage's hands than he did with Hogan and the World Title, he had better rethink his strategy. It had taken him years to win this US Title, and he wasn't about to let some muscle head take it from him. Later on tonight he was going to feel the madness of the Macho Man!
MATCH #4: Michael “P.S.” Hayes vs. Carry Clarke
The consensus around the sport is that the Fabulous Freebirds are wandering. They still look as good as ever, but they have had some problems since Terry Gordy went down with an injury several months ago. As a sign of camaraderie, Buddy Roberts and Iceman King Parsons accompanied their leader, Michael Hayes, to the ring for this match. Gordy is back in the gym rehabilitating his knee, but has given word that he fully supports the Freebirds and where they stand right now. If anything positive has come out of the past few months for the Freebirds, the fans have started to respect them once again. After Hayes feuded with Hogan and Kerry Von Erich for most of the year, it is a surprise that the fans have so quickly forgiven the Freebirds, but they have always been charismatic. This match was all Hayes from the minute the bell rang and the DDT won it in short order. They will be in attendance in Little Rock, no word on Gordy, but it is unclear on if they will be competing.
Michael Hayes pinned Carry Clarke with the DDT in 0:03:18. Rating: 1/4*
INTERVIEW STAGE W/ THE DIRTY COWBOYS:
“Dirty” Dick Slater and “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr. joined up with Sean Mooney on the interview stage inside the studio. Mooney expressed his condolences for the loss of their leader, Roddy Piper, but he wanted to know what their plans for the future were. Slater ripped the microphone out of Mooney's hands and told him to shut his mouth. Orton took off his cowboy hat and propped it on top of Mooney's head making him look like the poshest cowboy this side of the Mississippi. Slater said Piper had left one last paycheck in their locker. The message was clear, end the Horsemen no matter what the cost. Orton chimed in that he had stood by Piper for years now, and he owed the Horsemen a whooping for running off his weekly payday. Mooney tried to interject a question, but Slater grabbed him by the suit, tearing his lapel in the process, and shouted that he had told him to shut his trap. Orton told Mooney he better keep his mouth shut and that Slater was taking Piper's exit especially hard.
MATCH #5: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine vs. Tatsumi Fujinami
The main event of the show saw Greg “The Hammer” Valentine do battle with Tatsumi Fujinami. Fujinami has expressed his disappointment backstage in Valentine for aligning himself with Ric Flair and the Horsemen. Valentine has never been one to care much about other people's opinions, however. Still, you could tell Valentine didn't take too kindly to Fujinami being vocal about his recent choices. This was a great match between two of the hardest hitting men in the sport. Neither man clearly dominated as the match went back and forth for the most part. For two men that are known for their technical prowess, this match revolved around them beating the hell out of each other with chops, clubbing blows, and elbows. Valentine somehow sneaked away with the win after a double underhook suplex knocked the wind out of Fujinami long enough for Valentine to get the three count. Both men knew they had been in a war by the time this one was over.
Greg Valentine pinned Tatsumi Fujinami after a double underhook suplex in 0:13:23. Rating: **** ¼
AT THE DESK:
Solie brought up that we might have just seen one of the best matches we will see all year. And Fujinami is going to have to turn around and do it all over again in just a few hours in a big six-man tag in Little Rock. He hoped that Fujinami would be able to regroup before then. Solie reluctantly sent it to a recorded interview with Billy Graham and Paul Orndorff.
MR. WONDERFUL IS READY:
“Superstar” Billy Graham thought Larry Zbyszko had completely disrespected him in Charleston. He ruined what was supposed to be one of his last matches because he wanted to play some fun and games. Graham wanted to see how much fun Zbyszko was going to have later tonight when his neck was snapped in half at the hands of Paul Orndorff. Orndorff took over the promo by saying what he did to the teacher he will do to the pupil. He only hoped he could put Larry Zbyszko in the same hospital bed Bruno Sammartino laid in night after night. Now that a shot at the World Title was up for grabs, there was no way Mr. Wonderful wasn't going to put the Cruncher down for good. Graham even chimed in that he had an insurance policy since Zbyszko has proven he is willing to do whatever it takes to win. There was absolutely no way Orndorff was not going to be the number one contender coming out of Little Rock. And he looked forward to a classic battle between Orndorff and new World Champion Jesse Ventura.
AT THE DESK:
Solie thought tonight's show would go down in history as one of the best. It should not be missed, and while tickets are sparse, there are still a few available. He ran down the card once again that will be headlined with Hulk Hogan defending the World Title against Jesse “The Body” Ventura. Solie thanked the fans for tuning in and wanted them to tune in next week for the fallout from Little Rock!
August 11, 1985 – Little Rock, AR: WORLD TITLE – Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Jesse Ventura US TITLE – Randy Savage (c) vs. Butch Reed #1 CONTENDERSHIP – Larry Zbyszko vs. Paul Orndorff NO DQ – Jerry Lawler vs. Matt Borne Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich Dream Team/Nikita Koloff vs. Sons of the Orient/Harley Race Dirty Cowboys vs. Tommy Rich/Ole Anderson Big Bubba Rogers vs. Animal
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Post by vertigo on Jun 5, 2013 11:28:05 GMT -5
Ventura has the biggest match of his career coming up so of course he's taking the day off of commentary.
I like that Big Bubba took up Ellering's challenge on his own. Bubba is green and it looked like Cornette realized it wasn't a wise move but we'll see how it goes.
The Raging Bull is in NWF! I've always felt Fernandez was a good hand to have. As long as he sticks around you'll find something good for him to do as you always do with newcomers.
Borne is a weird dude so I would expect the unexpected out of him tonight against Lawler. Wins and losses don't seem to be all that important to him right now so Lawler could be in for a very long night.
If I were a betting man I'd bet Savage and Reed were going to steal the show tonight. I have my fingers crossed this is a lengthy feud and if so, it could be a feud for the ages.
The Freebirds are sketchy. Easily likeable and easily dislikeable. Part of me wants Hayes to join Kerry against the Horsemen, but I don't know if that's the best thing for them to do. We'll see how they shake out.
The Dirty Cowboys are still dirty and that's exactly why the fans should be cheering for them nowadays. The Horseman are crafty and dangerous but it's guys like Orton & Slater who can match up with them perfectly.
Valentine picking up a clean win over Fujinami on TV makes him look so good. Hell of a match! Valentine as a Horseman is awesome and I hope he's in it for the long haul.
Orndorff and Larry Z has the potential to get out of hand quickly. My money is on Orndorff, though. He's been primed and ready for a long time now to challenge for the World Title.
The Little Rock show is looking great. It's not stacked like your last few shows have been but it's been setup nicely. It seems easy to predict as well but that's when TNM decides to put the screws to you. Fingers crossed that Ventura doesn't injure Hogan.
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