JackKnifed72 Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 Flash Forward: Things to Come in the World of Pro Wrestling... Preview #1 ...April 12th 1985...11:05 pm...Rochester, MN... After an AWA house show, Greg Gagne is on his way out of the arena when he ducks into a small office near the parking garage...Gagne expects to find his father in the small office, instead he sees Paul Orndorff talking on the phone to an unknown man on the other end of the line...Gagne listens in on Orndorff's conversation... " Orndorff: "...look I got it good here, really good man....well no, I know that but....I am a champion....what do you mean, real World champion? ...uh huh...first night, really...look, you got run out of your own gig, why should I trust you? Right, you wanted out...ok, ok...sure chief, I'll think about it, all right?..." ...Greg Gagne slips out of the room before Orndorff notices him, heading off to find his father, AWA promoter Verne Gagne. Paul Orndorff sits back and thinks over his conversation with "the chief"...and yes, in 1985 everyone dressed like that ********************************************************** Preview #2 ...November 10th, 1987...9:17 am...Oklahoma City, Ok... A visibly annoyed "Cowboy" Bill Watts sits at his large oaken desk looking at the strange young man that has just made an intriguing offer to the longtime Mid-South wrestling promoter. The barrel chested Watts tips his 10-gallon hat a bit to try and hide the agitated look on his face and thinks to himself, "Am I really considering going into business with this crackpot?!?" Watts looks on as the animated young man lays out his proposal... stranger: "...you see, Bill...can I call you Bill? You see Bill times are a changing out there...the Verne Gagnes and Jim Crocketts are gone...the future is now man!" Watts: "Got it, what are you proposing then?" stranger: "You know it's like Mid-South is the past dude, no one wants to see these sweaty ol' timers and their 40 minute scientific matches...." Watts: "I said I got it...what do you propose I...we...do..." The mysterious stranger tucks his arms in close to his chest and begins stomping around Bill Watts' office mimicking a T-Rex... stranger: "...you know it's like this place is some kind of dinosaur park Bill, no one is interested in that anymore...you kno----" Watts slams his fist on the desk... Watts: "I said get to the ****ing point!" stranger: "Alright man, you just had to ask...you see I came into some money recently...and I want back in to the business..." Watts takes a few minutes to scan over the legal documents the stranger has set on his desk... Watts: "You're trying to buy me out!" stranger: "We'd be partners Bill....90/10 partners...what have you got to lose? The banks will be foreclosing on you soon anyway....unless you sell out to Vince like all the others..." Watts: "Fine...what do you want me to do?" JD Greene: "Just sign the paperwork....and give me the book!" Can co-owner and new booker JD Greene save Mid-South? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackKnifed72 Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 <p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">April 1985</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> News and Notes:</p><p> </p><p> WCCW manager Precious, who serves as valet to her real life husband Jimmy Garvin, takes an extended leave of absence from wrestling; credible sources say she and Jimmy Garvin are expecting a child in September...ring veteran Bull Ramos retires...Terry Funk ends his run in the AWA...Leon "Vader" White signs with SWCW, making his debut as a heel in a loss to The Tonga Kid at a live event in Oklahoma City...Ricky Steamboat begins a stint in CWF...Steamboat would go on to feud with Scott Hall, Rick Rude and a now heel Dusty Rhodes over the next several months...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="pt9OMsL.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pt9OMsL.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Ricky Steamboat locks "Ravishing" Rick Rude in a Boston Crab during a match in Tampa, Florida...along with entertaining the fans, Steamboat's series of matches with Rude and Scott Hall help the young potential stars develop their in ring skills</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...although talent losses and a decline in prestige for the NWA are the real causes, PNW head booker Dutch Savage takes the blame for declining ratings and dwindling crowds...Savage is replaced as booker by George "Crybaby" Cannon...Paul Orndorff wrestles a series of AWA World title defenses against sub-par opponents including Greg Gagne, Johnny (not Tommy) Rich and an aging Pedro Morales...with Jerry Lawler splitting time between Memphis and the AWA, Jay Youngblood and Jim Duggan take over as the top babyfaces in the promotion...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="gbGQ5xg.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/gbGQ5xg.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">A bloodied Jim Duggan celebrates after he and tag team partner Barry Windham defeat Arn Anderson and Bill Irwin at the Mid-South Coliseum in a wild No-DQ Texas Tornado match...just another Monday night Memphis!</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...although Ernie Ladd still holds the Heavyweight title in Mid-South Wrestling, even his biggest supporters have to admit his match quality is on the decline...Jimmy Snuka begins a feud in WCCW with Stan Hansen, leading to a pair of stellar matches (90) in April</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="hjKdP2b.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/hjKdP2b.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> After months of sliding down the cards, Andre the Giant returns to the main event scene...Andre defeats Blackjack Mulligan by DQ and Larry Zbyszko in a MOTY candidate (99) on TV, but loses to Roddy Piper (again) on PPV...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="yvyd3rl.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/yvyd3rl.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Larry Zbyszko (seen here with former WWF champion Bob Backlund) challenges Andre the Giant on national TV...Zbyszko would fall to the Giant, but it would be one of the best matches of 1985 in the WWF</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> ..."Superstar" Billy Graham repeatedly attempts to form an alliance with WWF champion Roddy Piper, even distracting Andre the Giant during their PPV match to help Piper retain the WWF World title...Piper is understandably skeptical of Graham's motives</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="oyqtuWt.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/oyqtuWt.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="y0bQHYk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/y0bQHYk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">"Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Superstar" Billy Graham are two of the most charismatic showmen in wrestling history...but are they destined to become an unstoppable tag team...or intense rivals?</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="HWXkIRD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/HWXkIRD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> "Mean" Mark Miller heads to NJPW and a rematch with Seiji Sakaguchi...Miller manages to win the match and make his first defense of the NWA World title</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <strong><em>April Spotlight:</em></strong></p><p> </p><p> Scott Hall...</p><p> </p><p> Born in 1958, Scott Hall spent his childhood moving from Army base to Army base with his parents...Hall took up weightlifting in high school, and by the time he debuted in 1984, the 6'8" rookie weighed in at 280 pounds of muscle...Hall has made an impact since joining Championship Wrestling from Florida in October 1984, challenging reigning heavyweight champion Ron Fuller for the belt in his first match! Hall would then go on to form a tag team with none other than "The American Nightmare" Dusty Rhodes after Rhodes' shockingly turned on the fans in Florida...Hall has also toured Japan with AJPW and as of April 1985, he and Rhodes hold the Florida Tag Team titles in CWF</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="Fc0JM07.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Fc0JM07.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><strong><span style="font-size:8px;">Not only does Scott Hall have one of the most intimidating physiques in all of wrestling (not to mention the sweet 80's moustache) but he's learning from veterans like Dusty Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat...is it only a matter of time before he makes a splash in the WWF?</span></strong></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p></div><p></p><p></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackKnifed72 Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 <p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">May 1985</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> News and Notes:</p><p> </p><p> Kevin Von Erich tears his ACL in a tag team match during a tour show with AJPW, he'd be out of action until November...former WWC announcer Ricky Sanchez passes away due to natural causes at the age of 53...despite being hardly known outside of Puerto Rico, Sanchez was well liked and respected within the wrestling community...having suffered a life-threatening spinal injury in May of 1984 in All-Japan Women's Pro Wrestling, Dump Matsumoto announces she will never wrestle again, although she would become a fulltime manager in AJPW...the nephew of the Original Sheik begins training in Detroit...billed as Sabu the Wildman, he'd work a string independent shows until August of 1985 when he would debut with SWCW...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="E26vV8W.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/E26vV8W.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Sabu the Wildman, seen here with his infamous uncle, would debut in the spring of 1985...he may well prove to be more hardcore than the Sheik himself! </span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...just two months after losing the NWA National Tag Team titles (with Ken Patera) in GCW, belts they had held for 21 months, veteran Bobby Duncum signs an exclusive deal with CMLL to wrestle in Mexico as an "evil foreigner"...CMLL rises to National size and signs several other high profile stars like Gran Apache, El Halcon and Tiger Mask...Curt Hennig returns from injury in the AWA and begins an intense feud with Paul Orndorff, although in February they would only meet in tag team matches...Dave Finlay loses the AWA Television title to former World champ S.D. Jones...Special Delivery is now one step away from becoming a "triple crown" title winner in the AWA...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="KZrfrzB.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KZrfrzB.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Still desperate to create stars on par with Tommy Rich, Kerry Von Erich or Roddy Piper, Verne Gagne begins marketing action figures for AWA Television title holder S.D. Jones</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...Mark "Rollerball" Rocco from the UK joins Finlay as former British Heavyweight champions currently wrestling in Minnesota...former JCP midcarder Crusher Bloomfield takes the name One Man Gang in Memphis...Rick Rude defeats Ricky Steamboat in CWF in a MOTY candidate (98)...the two top tag teams in Georgia face off on PPV as The East-West Connection (Adonis and Ventura) defeat Stan Hansen and Terry Gordy...Curt Hennig makes an appearance at the PNW Anniversary Show in Portland...the show also features NWA Pacific Northwest champion Billy Jack Haynes defeating Jules Strongbow and Mike Miller successfully defending both the NWA World and PNW Television titles over Jim Neidhart...despite the star studded event, it draws only 17,000 viewers when shown on TV throughout the Northwest...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="jUHd9TM.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jUHd9TM.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart prepares to challenge for the NWA World title at the largely ignored PNW Anniversary Show</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...Jimmy Garvin and Ernie Ladd pull off the rare "double turn" in Mid-South when fellow Freebird Michael Hayes attacks Garvin during a match for Ladd's Mid-South Heavyweight title...Hayes and Ladd team up to beat down Garvin, turning him babyface in the process...the angle goes over well until fans realize Garvin is still a heel member of the Freebirds on WCCW television which is shown nationally via-syndication</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="hjKdP2b.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/hjKdP2b.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> The Wild Samoan, Afa, hits the 10 month mark holding the WWF Intercontinental title, defeating "Jumping" Jim Brunzell on PPV...Tully Blanchard pins Andre the Giant...Roddy Piper wrestles a fantastic match against Buzz Sawyer to retain his title as Piper continues to walk the line between babyface and heel in the WWF...on back to back weeks in early May, Andre the Giant wrestles MOTY caliber matches on television, beating Hulk Hogan by DQ (98), then wrestling to a draw with Buzz Sawyer (99)</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="5OZ2F5P.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5OZ2F5P.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Whether it's been Tommy Rich, Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka, Ricky Steamboat or Andre the Giant, Buzz Sawyer has put on epic matches against the top stars in wrestling over the past few years</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="HWXkIRD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/HWXkIRD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Along with defeating Jim Neidhart in Portland, "Mean" Mark Miller defeats Mitsuharu Misawa in AJPW to retain the NWA World title</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <strong><em>May Spotlight:</em></strong></p><p> </p><p> Gino Hernandez...</p><p> </p><p> Born in 1957 in Highland Park Texas, Gino Hernandez made his debut in 1973...Hernandez had success in the early 1980's in Joe Blanchard's SWCW, briefly holding the SWCW Heavyweight title in early 1983 and winning tag team gold 4 times alongside Tully Blanchard...in May of 1983 Gino followed Tully Blanchard to New York, signing a long-term exclusive contract with the WWF, something almost unheard of at the time in US wrestling...unfortunately, while Tully has slowly risen to the top of the cards and become a national star, Hernandez has stagnated in the mid-card, rarely working high profile television or PPV matches, and almost always jobbing to bigger stars when he does...rumors of a selfish attitude and more seriously, struggles with substance abuse have surrounded Hernandez and have led to the WWF halting his push and using him as an over-paid JTTS...it remains to be seen if Hernandez can still become a big star, or if he is destined to remain an after thought in pro wrestling</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="Xdoww15.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Xdoww15.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Once a can't miss prospect in wrestling, drug use and a bad attitude have turned Gino Hernandez into damaged goods in the eyes of Vince McMahon and the fans...is there time left for the 27 year old to turn his career around?</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p></div><p></p><p></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackKnifed72 Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 <p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">June 1985</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> News and Notes:</p><p> </p><p> Recently retired Joshi legend Dump Matsumoto is honored as the newest member of the Hall of Immortals...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="wfzo3aw.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/wfzo3aw.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Matsumoto in action, 1983</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...one of the most abrasive and promising young managers in wrestling, Jim Cornette, leaves Mid-South wrestling to focus exclusively on the Memphis territory...while still having a virtual monopoly on wrestling south of the border, Mexico's CMLL falls to cult size...the AWA World title changes hands yet again as Curt Hennig scores a clean pinfall over Paul Orndorff at a tour show in Wisconsin to win the belt...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="KfVWpMw.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/KfVWpMw.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Second generation star Curt Hennig makes it to the top of the mountain in the AWA by winning the world title...but will he eventually be a star in the big leagues?</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...curiously, Orndorff never gets a rematch with Hennig, instead feuding with aging veterans like Pedro Morales and Baron Von Raschke before disappearing from TV late in the month...one week after defeating Orndorff, Henning cements himself as "the man" in the AWA, cleanly defeating Nick Bockwinkel at the annual Battle by the Bay event...another title changes hands as "Wild" Bill Irwin defeats Jay Youngblood in Memphis to win the Southern Heavyweight title for the third time in his career...at the monthly GCW PPV, Bob Orton Jr. and Bob Roop team up to win the National Tag Team titles, Ken Patera retains the National Heavyweight title by defeating Adrian Adonis and Wahoo McDaniel defeats Stan Hansen in the main event...one more title change to mention as Jimmy Garvin defeats Ernie Ladd in Oklahoma to win the Mid-South Heavyweight title..."The Belfast Bruiser" Dave Finlay turns babyface and feuds with the Fabulous Freebirds in WCCW...in an off the record interview, a TBS executive tells TV Guide magazine that pro wrestling will be returning to TBS very soon, but does not elaborate...in perhaps related news, a business group known only as "Nitro Entertainment" reportedly rents the John H. Lewis gymnasium for a "sports and entertainment" event to be held on Sunday July 28th</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="2m6I5y6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/2m6I5y6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Having been with the WWF since July of '84, Ricky Morton had finally started gaining momentum over the past few months, even working several main event matches as an underdog babyface...that momentum was halted when he was injured in an undercard match against journeyman Jonathan Boyd, rupturing his spleen and being put out of action until October...Road Warrior Hawk, rarely used in the WWF, defeats Jack Brisco in a fantastic match shown on national TV (96)...Roddy Piper wrestles to a no-contest with the Masked Superstar after Billy Graham interferes in the match, angering Piper...the WWF Champion does not headline the WWF's monthly PPV, instead the show is main evented by the Enforcers (Tully Blanchard and Masked Superstar) defeating the Brisco Brothers...predictably, the show does not hit the same buy rate as recent PPVs with Piper in the main event had</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="hg3jgez.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/hg3jgez.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Tully Blanchard prepares to face the Brisco Brothers on PPV...the match is fantastic, but Blanchard is still nowhere near the draw Roddy Piper is</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="HWXkIRD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/HWXkIRD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Mike Miller proves to be more than a fluke NWA champion, shocking the world and defeating Antonio Inoki in NJPW to retain his title</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <strong><em>June Spotlight:</em></strong></p><p> </p><p> "Ravishing" Rick Rude...</p><p> </p><p> Born in Minnesota in December 1958, Rick Rude made a few appearances as a jobber in Jim Crockett Promotions in late 1982 while still in training...he began moving up the cards as an arrogant heel in JCP in the summer of 1983, wrestling against top stars like Kevin Von Erich, Jack Brisco and Jay Youngblood, although always being defeated fairly easily...Rude began splitting time between Crockett and AJPW in early 1984, having far more success in Japan than he had in the US...Rude had a memorable feud with fellow "young lion" Brett Hart in AJPW, and picked up wins over Hart, Manny Fernandez, Road Warrior Animal and David Von Erich among others while on tour with AJPW...after leaving AJPW, Rude jumped from Crockett to Championship Wrestling from Florida which immediately began pushing the up and coming Rude...Rude has since become one of the top stars in Florida, defeating Charlie Cook in September 1984 for the Florida Heavyweight title and holding it ever since...with Rude's physique, in ring skills, natural charisma and fantastic heel promos, it's surely only a matter of time before he jumps to the bigtime</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="pPD5jje.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/pPD5jje.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Rick Rude demands interview time from Gordon Solie on an episode of Florida TV, late 1984</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p></div><p></p><p></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackKnifed72 Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 Interlude....July 1985... The rumors had been swirling for months, and they began to intensify in late June and early July. Anonymous sources inside TBS talked about "championship" wrestling returning to the airwaves on Saturday nights, an arena in Atlanta had been rented for a "sport & entertainment" show for late July, Closed Circuit USA and Shaw PPV companies began hyping pro wrestling coming soon. Pop icon Cyndi Lauper, a well known wrestling fan, invited several pro wrestlers to a wild backstage party on a tour stop in Athens, Ga. in late June including members of the Fabulous Freebirds, former AWA World champion Paul Orndorff and popular babyface Tito Santana. Pop star Cyndi Lauper gets an awkward hug from Michael "Bad Touch" Hayes backstage after a concert in June 1985 As a side note, Lauper had been scheduled to appear earlier in the year on WWF television on an episode of "Piper's Pit" but the singer came down with a severe flu while on the road and was forced to cancel, seemingly ending the WWF's interest in a cross over segment with the pop icon. Finally, on Monday July 8th, at the Marriott Hotel in Atlanta all the pieces came into place...TBS executives held a press conference to announce the launch of a weekly wrestling program to debut in August. While most expected TBS to announce the return of Georgia Championship Wrestling to the airwaves, the assembled reporters there to cover the event were stunned when the guest of honor walked on the stage to make his big announcement...none other than Ted Turner! Ted Turner at the podium announcing the launch of World Championship Wrestling, July 1985 Turner: "...when I left TBS some months ago it was to pursue some of my other interests, including my love of pro wrestling. While I am forever grateful to all the hard work from Jim Barnett and everyone at GCW, I am not content to simply broadcast someone else's wrestling...so today I proudly announce the formation of World Championship Wrestling. WCW will feature world class wrestlers, world class action, world class television...and make no mistake...I plan on making WCW the #1 wrestling company in the world!" WCW debuts in July 1985 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackKnifed72 Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 <p><em><span style="font-size:8px;">ooc note: It was at this point, after the death of RCW and some months just simming the game, that I decided to jump back in with Ted Turner as my avatar...using the editor, I added WCW as a cult level promotion with "huge financial muscle" thanks to Ted Turner's billions...I'll return to the monthly recaps in my next post, but I felt WCW's first event warranted atleast a semi-write up so here are the highlights of...</span></em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>World Championship Wrestling presents...</strong></p><p><strong> WCW Bash at the Beach 85</strong></p><p><strong> Sunday July 28</strong></p><p><strong> Live on PPV in the US & Canada</strong></p><p> </p><p> The live PPV kicks off with a pyro display in the arena and hype reel shown to the fans watching at home...the entrance stage is made up in a beach theme as we cut to a raised podium across the arena for the show's opening...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="ycoVZil.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ycoVZil.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">WCW enters the wrestling wars as Bash at the Beach goes live on PPV</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> ...at the podium we are greeted by the WCW announce team, "The Dean of Wrestling" Gordon Solie and former Mid-South play-by-play man Jim "J.R." Ross. They welcome us to the historic debut of World Championship Wrestling before welcoming a trio of special guests...wrestling legend (and backstage road agent) Bruno Sammartino, WCW owner Ted Turner and pop singing sensation Ms. Cyndi Lauper!</p><p> </p><p> The group banters back and forth for a bit before announcing that tonight there will be a four man tournament to crown the first ever WCW World Champion! Before we can head to the ring, the group is interrupted by a disheveled homeless looking man rushing out of the crowd onto the stage. The man identifies himself only as "Mick" and presents a bouquet of freshly picked dandelions to Ms. Lauper...he is quickly led away by security.</p><p> </p><p> A few moment later, just as Turner is about to announce the four men taking part in the championship tournament, the group is again interrupted. This time it's "Ravishing" Rick Rude who saunters onto the stage. After telling all the "inner city sweathogs" in the crowd to shut up, he removes his robe, poses and invites Lauper back to his dressing room...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="CJn5D3C.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/CJn5D3C.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">The Ravishing One poses for Cyndi Lauper at Bash at the Beach '85</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...Lauper seems to be considering Rude's offer when Ted Turner interrupts...</p><p> </p><p> <em>Turner: "You better save this nonsense for later Rude...you've been entered into the WCW title tournament, and your match is up right now!"</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> ...Rude smirks, winks at Cyndi Lauper and makes his way to the ring to wait for his opponent...none other than former NWA World Champion Terry Funk!</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="bd4PsMn.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/bd4PsMn.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">All the way from the double cross ranch in Texas, Terry Funk enters the ring to face Rick Rude in the first ever match in WCW history</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...in a hard hitting match, Terry Funk defeats Rick Rude by submission with his patented spinning toe hold in the opening match and advancing to tonight's main event...</p><p> </p><p> ...the second match features former AWA World Champion Paul Orndorff facing off against a virtual unknown, the man named Sting!</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="LeA7mWO.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/LeA7mWO.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">No longer a blade runner, the now brightly face painted Sting stares down Paul Orndorff at Bash at the Beach '85</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...despite putting up a great fight, Sting is no match for the crafty veteran Orndorff who puts Sting away with a piledriver to win the match...</p><p> </p><p> ...the rest of the show progresses as we build to the main event, Paul Orndorff vs Terry Funk, for the WCW World title...highlights include:</p><p> </p><p> ...well known heel manager J.J. Dillon introduces his newest client during a backstage interview, Sid Vicious!</p><p> </p><p> ..."Beautiful" Bobby Eaton (after winning a squash match) grabs the mic and begins insulting the fans until he is interrupted by popular fan favorite Tito Santana, leading to a massive brawl between the two...</p><p> </p><p> ...during a six man tag match, we get the debut of the intimidating "Mean" Mark Callous...Callous teams with Joe Malenko and Hercules Hernandez to defeat the team of Dean Malenko, Owen Hart and the Cobra...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="OA1Ri0b.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/OA1Ri0b.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Potential superstar or just another big tough mid-carder? Mark Callous debuts at Bash at the Beach '85</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...the main event is a stiff, physical battle between two of the toughest men in the sport as Paul Orndorff battles Terry Funk...after nearly 20 minutes of action, it looks like Funk has the match won as he locks an exhausted Orndorff into the spinning toe hold in the center of the ring...but then Rick Rude charges down the ramp and tries to enter the ring, distracting the referee...Funk breaks the hold on Orndorff to chase off Rude, but that gives Orndorff a chance to recover and hit Funk with a lariat and a pair of piledrivers to secure the tainted win and win the first ever WCW championship...WCW Bash at the Beach '85 ends with Orndorff and Rude celebrating in the ring as Gordon Solie tells us to tune in to <strong><em>WCW Saturday Night </em></strong>debuting next week at 6:05pm on Superstation TBS!</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="xwWttYI.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/xwWttYI.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Paul Orndorff celebrates in the ring after becoming the first ever WCW World Champion</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p></div><p></p><p></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackKnifed72 Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 <p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">July 1985</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> News and Notes:</p><p> </p><p> Despite their recent struggles, the AWA secures a PPV deal with Subscription USA agreeing to carry their events...after drifting around the independent scene with an occasional undercard match in WCCW for the past two years, the Missing Link retires from active competition...starting in early June into July, a mass exodus of talent begins, primarily from the AWA and GCW, as wrestlers such as Rick Rude, Paul Orndorff, Jimmy Snuka, Bobby Eaton, announcer Gordon Solie and many others leave their respective promotions...as we come to find out, they are on their way to join Ted Turner's debuting WCW...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="24TnogN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/24TnogN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">It's not just wrestlers heading south...AWA announcer and backstage interviewer "Mean" Gene Okerlund heads to WCW</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...while still working as primarily a jobber, Big Van Vader signs on with Mid-South wrestling while still appearing in SWCW...Georgia Championship Wrestling, the hardest hit by the talent loss, tries to recoup some of it's lost star power by signing Ricky Steamboat to a short term deal, while Brutus Beefcake comes aboard as a mid-carder and longtime Memphis announcer Lance Russell takes Gordon Solie's place at the podium...with one half of the NWA National Tag Team champions Bob Orton Jr. leaving GCW for WCW, the titles are vacated and won by Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura (defeating Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik) at GCW's monthly PPV...it would be one of three major title changes at the show, as Ole Anderson defeats Ken Patera to win the NWA National Heavyweight title and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat defeats "Mean" Mike Miller to capture the NWA World Heavyweight title...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="5pK6mIX.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5pK6mIX.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Ricky Steamboat poses backstage after winning the NWA title on PPV</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...Dave Finlay and Adrian Street defeat Jerry "The King" Lawler and Pedro Morales at the AWA's first ever PPV, while Curt Hennig picks up a second win over Nick Bockwinkel at the show to retain the AWA World title...Arn Anderson picks up the biggest win of his career in Memphis, scoring a pinfall victory over Jerry Lawler..."The Belfast Bruiser" Dave Finlay picks up another big tag team victory, this time in WCCW when he teams with the Iron Sheik to defeat Jerry Oates and Ricky Steamboat...Jimmy Garvin continues to feud with the Freebirds in Mid South while being a member of the team in WCCW</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="2m6I5y6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/2m6I5y6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Not wanting to be left out as Ted Turner raids everyone for talent, the WWF sign two big name wrestlers, Sgt. Slaughter and Jimmy Snuka...both debut in July, with Slaughter reforming his tag team with Don Kernoodle and Snuka entering into feuds with Buzz Sawyer and "Superstar" Billy Graham...the WWF holds the second annual King of the Ring PPV, with Slaughter and Kernoodle loosing to the Brisco Brothers in the main event...also at KOTR, Roddy Piper defeats Terry Taylor to retain the WWF World title...the following week on national TV, Jimmy Snuka defeats Billy Graham thanks to "accidental" interference by Roddy Piper who claimed he was trying to help "Superstar" Graham...the incident only increases tension between the two</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="wsK2Osp.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/wsK2Osp.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Listen up Maggots! Sgt. Slaughter returns to the WWF as a hated heel </span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="SKqaKWG.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/SKqaKWG.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Ted Turner launches World Championship Wrestling with a bang with Bash at the Beach '85 on PPV (see above post for details)...WCW will begin airing <strong><em>WCW Saturday Night</em></strong> on WTBS in August</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="HWXkIRD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/HWXkIRD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Mike Miller's brief run with the NWA World title comes to an end when he loses cleanly to Ricky Steamboat on PPV in Georgia Championship Wrestling... Miller held the belt for four months and made 6 title defenses</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p></div><p></p><p></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackKnifed72 Posted February 10, 2018 Author Share Posted February 10, 2018 <p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">August 1985</span></strong></p><p> </p><p> News and Notes:</p><p> </p><p> While not quite in a "death spiral", the AWA continues it's slow decay as their weekly nationally syndicated <strong><em>All-Star Wrestling</em></strong> gets bumped from primetime back to a late night time-slot due to sagging ratings...Scott Hall loses a loser leaves town match against Ron Fuller in Florida, fueling speculation he is following Rick Rude to WCW...wrestlers working main events for the AWA in August include: Pat Rose, Dave Finlay, Mark "Rollerball" Rocco and Jimmy Golden...Rocco, a star in the UK but still virtually unknown in the US, actually gets a televised non-title win over AWA World champion Curt Henning...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="cAZfjVS.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/cAZfjVS.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Still an unknown in the US, "Rollerball" cleanly pins world champ Curt Hennig on national TV...the curious booking continues in the AWA</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...Jerry Lawler defeats Bill Irwin in Memphis to begin his 29th reign as Southern Heavyweight champion...one week later he'd successfully defend the belt against "Dr. Death" Steve Williams in Washington DC. in one of the best matches in Memphis history (94)...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="WlgvWXj.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/WlgvWXj.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">The Return of the King...Jerry Lawler wins back "his" Southern Heavyweight title</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...Jesse "The Body" Ventura defeats Terry Gordy in Atlanta to win the prestigious one-night Cadillac Cup tournament on PPV...Despite his declining in-ring skills, Ernie Ladd is back in the main event in Mid-South, forming a short lived but exciting tag team with Michael Hayes and feuding with the Von Erichs...while Kevin and Kerry are in Mid-South battling Ladd and Hayes, David Von Erich headlines WCCW's monthly Star Wars event by defeating the Iron Sheik</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="2m6I5y6.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/2m6I5y6.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Months of tensions erupt as "Superstar" Billy Graham finally turns on WWF champion Roddy Piper...after Piper emphatically tells Graham he doesn't want him to interfere in his matches, Graham snaps, running in during Piper's televised title defense against Buzz Sawyer and attacking the "Hotrod"...Sawyer and Graham beat Piper into a bloody mess and Graham then challenges Piper to a title match on PPV later in the month...Piper would bravely accept but injuries sustained in the beat down (and interference from Sawyer) would prove to be too much to overcome and Piper would be forced to submit to Graham's patented bearhug, ending his 16 month title run...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="y0bQHYk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/y0bQHYk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">8 years after losing the belt to Bob Backlund, "Superstar" Billy Graham wins back the WWF World Heavyweight title</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...also in August, The Brisco Brothers defeat the Wild Samoans to win the WWF Tag Team titles...Jimmy Snuka enters a feud with Sgt. Slaughter and Pvt. Don Kernoodle...Ken Patera debuts, jumping from Georgia to the WWF, and defeats Andre the Giant in a fantastic match (98)</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="SKqaKWG.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/SKqaKWG.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> WCW debuts <strong><em>WCW Saturday Night</em></strong> in GCW's old timeslot of 6:05pm on Saturdays on WTBS...on the very first episode, face painted rookie Sting wins a battle royal to be crowned the first ever WCW Television champion...veteran Paul Orndorff reportedly gets into a legit backstage fight with rookie Nikita Koloff at a television taping...also on the very first <strong><em>WCW Saturday Night</em></strong>, Terry Funk announces his retirement only to be challenged by Rick Rude to one last match on PPV...Funk accepts and the two would wrestle a steel cage match later in the month at the Wargames PPV...WCW debuts two more promising rookies as Bam Bam Bigelow and Shane Douglas form an exciting heel tag team...Dusty Rhodes debuts as a main event babyface and begins splitting time between CWF and WCW...</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="vjxiI9O.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/vjxiI9O.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> <strong><em><span style="font-size:8px;">Longtime star in Florida, the NWA and even the WWF before the national cable era; Dusty Rhodes gets his shot in WCW...but at nearly 40 years old, is it too late for "The Dream"?</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> ...at the Wargames PPV, Rick Rude sends Terry Funk into retirement with a loss, Paul Orndorff defeats youngster Owen Hart to retain the WCW World title and the team of Tito Santana and Tim Horner defeat Bigelow and Douglass to win the WCW Tag Team titles</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="HWXkIRD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/HWXkIRD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Ricky Steamboat defends the NWA World title at a CMLL show in Mexico City, defeating Gran Markus Jr.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p></div><p></p><p></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackKnifed72 Posted February 14, 2018 Author Share Posted February 14, 2018 September 1985 News and Notes: Precious, the real life wife of Jimmy Garvin, gives birth to a healthy baby girl...Ron Fuller suffers a major concussion during a match in Florida and would miss the next 14 months...former NWA and WWF champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, who until September had been acting as a road agent and occasional on-screen personality for the WWF, retires for good at the age of 64... While it's been years since he laced up the boots in a wrestling ring, one of the all-time greats walks away from the wrestling business for good in September '85 ...rookie Lex Luger makes his debut as an enforcer for Jimmy Garvin in Mid-South Wrestling while also appearing as "enhancement talent" Rex Reed on the un-televised undercard of WCW shows... While still green and learning the ropes..."Rex Reed" looks like he may have a great future in pro wrestling ...also making his debut in September is the former weightlifting partner of WCW rookie Sting, now known as the Dingo Warrior...Warrior starts his career in SWCW as a babyface, losing matches early in his career to the likes of Brady Boone, Sabu the Wildman, Kelly Kiniski and Big Van Vader...a relatively quiet month for the AWA as Curt Hennig beats Nick Bockwinkel (again) at Superclash and also briefly tags up with Jerry Lawler to feud with the team of Dave Finlay and Phil Hickerson...Arn Anderson gets a main event push in Memphis, culminating with a match against Jerry Lawler for the Southern Heavyweight title...Double A fails to win the title, but the match quality impresses fans and insiders alike (88)...falling further behind the WWF and WCW, Georgia Championship Wrestling begins to struggle...their monthly PPV is mediocre (67), with Ole Anderson plodding through a boring match with Terry Gordy and another match between Adonis and Ventura against Volkoff and the Iron Sheik main eventing... Now clearly past his prime, Ole Anderson tries to keep GCW relevant after the birth of cross town rival WCW ...Jimmy Garvin defeats Ernie Ladd in a great match in Mid-South (90)...Road Warrior Animal debuts in WCCW, mainly feuding with David Von Erich Former WWF champion Roddy Piper attacks new champion "Superstar" Billy Graham during an episode of Piper's Pit, nailing him with a steel chair and leaving Graham (kayfabe) knocked out cold...as punishment, the WWF bans Piper from World title matches for a "to be determined" length of time...Piper wouldn't get his title rematch, or any match at all, with Graham until December..."Superstar" would instead make his first title defense against Jimmy Snuka at Summerslam...Graham would win and retain his title in a MOTY candidate (99)...Jake "The Snake" Roberts would work his first WWF main event, taking part in a six-man tag match on an episode of All-Star Wrestling Manager J.J. Dillon forms the Foreign Legion heel stable, recruiting Hercules Hernandez, Sid Vicious (formerly Sid Steele in RCW), Nikita Koloff and the debuting Keiji Mutoh...the Legion would feud with various mid-card fan favorites, most notably Sting... Could it be a sign of things to come? Keiji Mutoh faces off with Sting at a WCW house show in September 1985 ...Mick Foley forms a tag team with Mark Callous, although the relatively unknown duo doesn't have much success...for now...Paul Orndorff feuds with Dusty Rhodes...Orndorff teams with Bob Orton Jr. to wrestle Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat to a double count-out in the main event of Clash of the Champions V in late September Ricky Steamboat spends the month in WCW and doesn't defend the NWA World title even once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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