A Story That Has Never Been Told [A CVerse 1977 Diary]

Historian · August 12, 2018

A Story Never Told

Prologue

He was eighty five years old and life had been good to him. He sat on the front porch of his home on Kauai. He was Samoan by birth. He was proud of his Samoan Heritage. He was the first great Samoan wrestler, after all. The one who paved the way for the others. That was a lifetime ago. Two knee and a hip replacement ago. Back when he was the High Chief and not just Solofa. Solofa Malietoa. He had been feared in California and Florida. The top heel in Hawaii. Now, he was a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather. The patriarch of his own family legacy. Outside of the islands and some wrestling historians, his career was largely forgotten. It was a footnote in the history books, not that he cared. The good Lord had saw fit to give him eighty five years on this planet so far. Eighty five years to love and to live, to lose and to mourn. Eighty five years to make something of himself.

He took a drink from his lemonade and leaned back against his rocking chair. Two of his grandsons were wrestlers now. One also went by Malietoa, though this one was a King. The other called himself Charger. They would make him proud. He knew they would. Maybe his name would get referenced on television a few more times, but he would be happy here. With his ocean view from his front porch. His wife had went to be with the Lord the previous summer. He had mourned. He had cried. He had pounded his chest and pulled at what was left of his hair. He laid across her coffin and swore he would not be okay without her. But he was a man. A Samoan man. A Chief at that. So now, he laughs. He drinks lemonade on his front porch and watches the sun rise and he watches the sun set. He does the exercises the doctor’s tell him are import. He takes his Metformin and Glipizide to keep his Diabetes in check.

Recently, he’s been talking though. Telling stories again. Stories he used to tell around bonfires when he and Kai would get all of their families together, the Malietoa and Kuhaulua families. They’d gather around bonfires and the two patriarchs would swap stories. Last week, a kid named Chris Vann came to see him. Apparently he’s in the wrestling business too. Works with Charger in Rhode Island, but is also of the Islands. Has the spirit in him. Said his working name was ‘Smooth C’ and Charger had told him that the High Chief, that Solofa had the stories. Chris wanted to know those stories. Wanted to chronicle them. Wanted to world to know the stories of the Islands and wanted to know if Solofa would tell them.

Solofa agreed. Not for money. Not for fame. He agreed because these were the stories he loved. They were his stories. But they were the stories of his brothers. Of his cousins. Of his blood. Of his people’s blood. It was a story that had never been told… Until now.

Welcome to the Islands.

Historian · August 12, 2018

I'm doing this diary in addition to my '<a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=541726" rel="external nofollow">05 Mid Atlantic Wrestling diary</a>. I'll be bouncing back between them, but this diary will give me the chance to explore the '77 CVerse in narrative format, as well as write in a different way than the MAW diary. Those of you familiar with the MAW Diary know that I try to write decent show write ups - and sometimes try to deliver beyond decent so that the shows really pop, especially the big shows. With this diary, it will be written like it is a story being told from my user character to Smooth C. It will not be focused as much on detailed show reports - but rather quick snap shots of his memories of the show.

It will take place both in the past and in the present, starting from when the High Chief took over the book for Welcome to the Islands Wrestling.

I love the CVerse. I love the history of the CVerse. I love the way the history - even when inventing your own -- helps enrich the current database.

I have created nobody in the database. All characters appear in the 77 database with no alterations. I don't know if it was intended for Charger and King Malietoa to be related to High Chief -- but in my cannon they are.

A special thanks to both Jon the GOAT whose current <a href="http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=541769" rel="external nofollow">Burning Hammer diary</a> has motivated me to try some different things with this writing than I have in my MAW diary and DarK_RaideR's multiple diaries that show me you can successfully keep multiple compelling diaries [not that I'm claiming mine are compelling] going at once.

Another special thanks to the people who originally designed the 77 CVerse, as well as DerekB for his 97 CVerse - because I always copy in all of the media providers that he created for his.

I hope this diary proves to be an interesting read. Thanks for playing along.

Historian · August 12, 2018

Company Information

Welcome to the Islands Wrestling is a tiny promotion found in the isolated Hawaiian Islands of the United States. Their style is almost a perfect hybrid of the American Traditional style of wrestling and the Japanese Puroresu style, but in recent years has grown to favor Super Juniors and even luchadors as well.

Though they've been open since 1966, they're still nonexistant in terms of recognition in the U.S. (save for their home base); however, they have been known as a training ground for BHOTWG, who will often send them younger talent that needs polisihing up.

WIW's other major source of talent is the extended Samoan and Hawaiian wrestling families, who typically comprise the majority of the roster.

They are owned by Kai Kuhaulua who founded the company in 1966 and severed as its main star up until his retirement in 1972. In the six years he was owner and active wrestler, he held the Hawaiian Championship on four occasions. He's easily the most recognizable Hawaiian wrestler and in the islands his name is synonymous with professional wrestling.

In January of 1977, Kai Kuhaulua named his best friend and long time rival High Chief Malietoa as head booker of the company in an attempt to help bring the company back to the glory it had just a few years prior. The rise of Golden Canvas Grappling as well as Burning Hammer of the Wrestling Gods made the keeping of talent very difficult for the small company nestled in the Pacific Ocean.

WIW is known for its hard hitting action, a blend between traditional American professional wrestling and the puro resu of Japan. Its stars are a mixture of Islanders, of Japanese, and of Americans -- but we will meet them soon enough.

Our guide on this journey, the Virgil to my Dante, is the man who was booking the matches as well as providing color analysis for the company. Two of his grandsons have followed in his footsteps to become professional wrestlers. I am of course referring to High Chief Solofa Malietoa.

Chief, as he was known to the boys in the backs, Solofa as he's known to his peers in day to day life, or Tama Matua as he's known to his family now, was one of the top stars of WIW. A two-time champion, he engaged in a bloody feud with Kai, as well as a vicious feud with Kai's oldest son, Nakana. He retired from active wrestling in 1970 after a final tour of California Pro Wrestling.

He made a short return from 73-75 for AICW, American Independent Championship Wrestling, where he held the Tag Team Championship with Jimmy Power. He told me he couldn't get wrestling out of his blood, but after he and Jimmy lost the belts, he rode back into the sunset and wasn't seen for two years before he returned to the company that gave him his start.

With the two guys who put WIW on the map back in the same place, both calling shots, '77 would prove to be a turning point for the company. How? You'll just have to wait and see.

I'm Smooth C and this isn't my story. But I want you all to experience it like I experienced it from the stories my father told me -- and from the stories the Chief told me sitting on his front porch.

You don't want to miss a single episode of A Story Never Told. Make sure you subscribe so you get each episode, each chapter, as they come out.

Mahalo.

----------

As of January 1977

WIW Hawaiian Championship

Current Champion: Ioei Kahaulua

Reign Began: Week 3, December, 1976

WIW Hawaiian Tag Team Championship

Current Champions: Double Disaster

Reign Began: Week 2, November, 1976

Historian · August 12, 2018

The Major Players

and

Smooth C, “Before we delve into your time as booker, I think it is important to establish who the major players were of Welcome to the Islands Wrestling when you took over the book. What guys were in play then?”

Malietoa, ‘Well. Let me think….”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Major Players

“"Young Gun" Ioei Kuhaulua was the youngest of the three brothers in Hawaii's well-known wrestling family and the top babyface in January of 77. He, like both of his older brothers, started out working the undercard and hade to earn his way to the main event. He’s the smallest of the brothers and had a more all-around game, but still kept to the family tradition of being a technical, hold-for-hold kind of wrestler. He was the reigning Hawaiian Champion in January, having won the title in December of 76 from his brother Makaio. Not great on the microphone, he made up for it by being a handsome bastard that the girls loved, and being a very solid in ring wrestler.

Our number two babyface was Nakana Kuhaulua. Nakana was the oldest of the three brothers and a ten year pro by 77. I had squared off with him many times in the past -- he won his first Hawaiian Championship by defeating me. By the beginning of 77, he was a four time champion. A technical wizard, he had done two tours for Burning Hammer in addition to his duties in the company. He was thirty-one and not looking to leave the Islands at this point. He was settling in to the family business where his impressive in-ring abilities made up for the fact that he didn’t have a star look nor the mic skills to take him far outside of the Islands. He worked in the office with his dad and I.

Alasi Tua was the lead heel for the company at the start of ‘77. He was a three time champion. A monster of a man who was as feared in Japan as he was in Hawaii. He had been feuded with the Kuhaulua family since the inception of the company and his matches with Kai and Nakana were legendary in the islands. At three hundred and ten pounds, he and his headbutt were a scary prospect.

Our number two heel was "The Black Sheep" Makaio Kuhaulua. He was the middle child in the Kuhaulua family and had held the number two heel spot, sometimes number one spot, since 1969 when he turned on his family in an infamous eight-man tag team contest at the third ever Island Classic. He was a very solid technical wrestler who could also cut a really good promo and had his eyes on the mainland for his future. He was a three time champion whose third reign was almost two years long and had just ended at the hand of his baby brother.

Our top tag team was Double Disaster, Eruption and Tsunami. I was rather partial to Tsunami -- he is my nephew after-all, but they were a great heel team. Two big sons of guns who could go. They were also the Hawaiian Tag Team Champions, and had been since the inception of the championship in ‘76, ‘cause Hawaii hadn’t been a big tag territory before that -- but it was something I wanted to change. Eruption and Tsunami were best friends and real life, had gone to school together and all of that.

Our top face tag team was the Polynesian Express. Mano Keanu and my son Unutola Tomalu. They were good looking kids. I know, you’re asking how was Tomalu my kid. Last name is different. My actual name is Solofa Tomalu, but Malietoa is an honorific, a title, so when people call me Solofa Malietoa, they are using an honorific after my name. Like Genghis Khan -- that’s not a name but a title. Anyway. Mano and Unutola were a good team. Great bumpers and sellers. Mano was Hawaiian and the kid could go. He could get sympathy like no-one’s business. Handsome bastard, he would need security on his way to the ring just to keep the girls off him. Unutola wasn’t bad lookin’ himself, but he didn’t get the reaction from the girls his partner did.

We had some other guys on the roster, but those were our eight biggest guys. Our two top teams, our top four singles. That’s who I was looking at when I took the book in ‘77. It wouldn’t be long before I added some names to the territory. Some guys who I thought would bolster the roster A couple of good heels to give the Kuhaulua’s new blood to work with. A couple of new tag teams to freshen a stagnant division up -but I knew my creed. Build up the talent we had. Use the boys. They could all work. They were the top family in wrestling before Stone had kids, before DeColt had kids or Montero had kids. The Kuhaulua boys were great, their dad was great. I was gonna use them, use Tua, use the Express and the Disasters to make Hawaiian wrestling something the world fell in love with.”

-----------------------------------------------

Smooth C, “It sounds like you guys had quite the roster when you got the book.”

Malietoa, “We did, but it was a roster of guys who hit hard. Who could work. Not a bad hand on the crew. I just knew we needed some new blood to add to the mix.”

Smooth C, “And I’m sure we can find out all about the new blood on the next episode. Thank you all for joining us. Mahalo.”

LlamaSquad · August 12, 2018

I'm looking forward to this. The CV77 is massively under-represented. Good luck!

DarK_RaideR · August 12, 2018

This looks intriguing and I appreciate the shout out. Much like you, I have come to love the CVerse lore, though I've never gone further back in time than 97 so this feels new. Good luck!

Historian · August 14, 2018

<img alt="GN0wXCF.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/GN0wXCF.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> and <img alt="l5uIeqY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/l5uIeqY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> The video footage to accompany the audio shows Smooth C sitting across from a small, square, dining table from High Chief Malietoa. Chris Vann, the man professional known as Smooth C has a big smile on his face Malietoa is stoic. Smooth C, "So you get the book in January of '77?" Malietoa nods, "Yeah. Well, technically the very end of December '76, but January of '77." Smooth C, "We went over the top guys Hawaii had at the top, but what was your first order of business as the new booker?" Malietoa, "Well first there were the rules. Promoters always had rules. Kai was giving me two years with the book as a trial. Figured it would take that long to see if I could really improve business. He wanted to see me raise the company profile in the global wrestling scene, the magazines had us rated at #22 and we could not fall any lower than that. We couldn't lose popularity in the United States. I couldn't hire any psychopaths, any shoot fighters, or anybody who had trouble with the law. Other than that, I had free reign." Smooth C, "So with those rules, what did you do?" Malietoa, "I set about contacting some guys I thought we could use after our first big show. I knew we needed some fresh faces on the roster. A couple of guys for the top of the card and a couple of teams to freshen our product up. We couldn't keep running off the Kahualua family forever. Sure, they were our backbone, but we needed something sustainable. Something to grow us. Needed new stars, but also needed fresh programs so we could get back on TV." Smooth C, "That's right, you guys didn't have a TV deal at the time, did you?" Malietoa, "Nope. We had lost our spot on WHAW, Channel 13 and were trying to get a spot on WISL, Channel 7. But we had to prove that we could handle that spot. Draw the ratings. To do that, we needed to get more people out, which meant we needed some fresh faces." Smooth C, "So who did you bring in?" Malietoa, "No one. Not right away. I had a show first. Our big show. Island Classic. Our seminal show. It's where we first did the big family feud. So I had that in front of me before I could actually bring in any names." Smooth, "Why don't you run down that card for us and then we can talk a little bit about the show?" Malietoa, "Alright. Let me find my notes." Malietoa ruffles through some papers. He mumbles to himself. Squinting, then blinking several times. Finally he settles on one. "Here it is. Island Classic 1977." <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="45732" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Main Event Tag Team Match Sixty Minute Time Limit Ioei and Nakana Kuhualua versus Kikuma Honma and Tatsunori Ine Description: The Kuhualua brothers are teaming up, something they do not do very often, to go toe to toe with two Burning Hammer imports who arrived at the end of 76 with a force. Both Honma and Ine would like to lay claim to being a contender to Ioei's Hawaiian Championship and a win here in a tag match would put both in a prime position to do so. Semi Main Event Singles Match Thirty Minute Time Limit Naotaka Fujino versus Alasi Tua Description: Tua has been a dominant force in Welcome to the Islands Wrestling since its inception. Fujino is another BHOTWG's import, a young lion trying to establish himself and rid himself of the silly reputation he has as a 'funky monkey' for an accident that occurred with a puddle of water. A win over the stalwart Tua would go a long way in aiding him. Singles Match Thirty Minute Time Limit Bud Miller versus Makaio Kuhualua Description: Makaio is making his first appearance since losing the Hawaiian Championship to his younger brother. He's looking to get back on his winning ways and Bud Miller is looking for the shocking upset to jump start his WIW career. Hawaiian Tag Team Championship Tag Team Match Forty-Five Minute Time Limit Polynesian Express versus Double Disaster © Description: The two top teams in the territory are going to battle it out for the fans. Double Disaster has laid waste to team after team in Hawaiian wrestling since the establishment of the tag division as a full-time thing. The only tag team champions in history, they look to continue on the warpath against The Polynesian Express. A young, fast paced, smooth team that is looking to prove that technique can overcome raw power any day of the week. Opening Contest Singles Match Twenty Minute Time Limit Tito Bumfole versus Z Man Description: Bumfole is a crowd favorite, a ladies man with smooth looks and a fluid in-ring style. Z Man is a masked man known for his dastardly ways in the ring. Both men could use a victory here, with both trying to establish themselves as forces in the Islands.</div></div></blockquote> Smooth C, "So tell us about the show. How did it go down? OOC: The card is open for predictions.

LlamaSquad · August 15, 2018

Tito Bumfhole vs Z-Man

The Bumfholes are big names now, I expect Tito is more over.

The Polynesian Express vs Double Disaster ©

The Express are young enough to bounce back, and Mano Keanu is hinted at as a big future star. In this promotion, the tag belt seems inferior to the Hawaiian, so he can't be 'stuck' in a tag reign.

Bud Miller vs Makaio Kuhaulua

The Von Erichs of the C-Verse.

Naotaka Fujino vs Alasi Tua

I can see an upset here, as Fujino's comedy gimmick is conducive to that kind of thing, but Alasi Tua is the top native heel in the company.

The Kuhaulua Brothers vs Kikuma Honma and Tatsunori Ine

This is a tough one to call. You do need new heels, but it's unlikely that you'll upset the standard this early.

Jaded · August 15, 2018

Tito Bumfhole vs Z-Man

Bud Miller vs Makaio Kuhaulua

Naotaka Fujino vs Alasi Tua

The Kuhaulua Brothers vs Kikuma Honma and Tatsunori Ine

Historian · August 17, 2018

Will hopefully have the show up soon. I was given a couple of writing projects yesterday that have a deadline that's quicker than I thought, so most of my writing time has been going to that.

Neighborhood Editor · August 18, 2018

I didn't even know there was ever a project for a Cverse 77' but this looks sweet so far.

Tito Bumfhole vs Z-Man

Only picking Z-man to be different, cause why not...

I like the concept of the Express chasing the belts, a story as old and sweet as time itself

Bud Miller vs Makaio Kuhaulua

Need to have Makaio look strong for the many more clashes with his brothers

Naotaka Fujino vs Alasi Tua

The Kuhaulua Brothers vs Kikuma Honma and Tatsunori Ine

Its not the Island Classic if the babyfaces don't make the crowd go home happy!

Historian · September 5, 2018

This will be coming soon! I'm sorry for the delay. I didn't disappear or give up. Some life things came up that pulled me away from the computer and side-projects. Just wanted to update people that the diary isn't dead!

Historian · October 22, 2018

An apology

If it was not apparent, this diary ended up dying a painful death. It was always my intention to carry it on for as long as I could, but unfortunately I had some serious health issues come up as a direct result of the accident I had been in previously [not for sympathy or anything, just so people know I wasn't flaking out on it]. The issues left me pretty unable to maintain any sort of writing schedule or writing stamina (once I was able to consistently be back with a computer).

Maybe one day I'll be able to get a diary going again with some sort of longevity. My plan now is to just be a diary reader and commentator as well as active on the main forum while I get myself back into shape enough to write with any sort of quality.

Thank you to those that read and played along. I do appreciate it!

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A Story That Has Never Been Told [A CVerse 1977 Diary]

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