Road Warrior Hawk: Into the World Cup?

[TEWFan]

[B]Our story so far:[/B] Many people believed that the NWA and is allied promotions would loose steam, that promotions would break away from the territorial system and try to expand over all the others. But this never happened. Pay per View was the new boy in the block. The NWA wanted to take advantage of it, believing that the system would change the way we look at wrestling and the way business was done. In early 1983, the NWA board, with the surprise apperance of Vince McMahon Jr, who had recently returned under the NWA banner held the most important meeting in their history. The result of the meeting was that the NWA bought sports PPV. That's right, they reached an universal agreement with PPV providers to be the only sports entity to grace PPV. This allowed companies to have regional PPV's in their territories, with the NWA running 5 big nationwide events a year. During the summer, things changed. All around the world, they demanded PPV wrestling. Promotions from Europe, Mexico, Japan and the UK allied themselves with the NWA, even All Japan and New Japan put their differences aside, and suddenly, the NWA was the global force in pro wrestling. It was on August of 1983 that Jimmy Crockett, while watching some old footage of the soccer world cups came up with the concept of a wrestling world cup. But only the best wrestlers in the world would qualify. To ensure that only the best made it, he came up with the concept of national leagues. Wrestlers would be split on 4 divisions, competing in matches and accumulating points to be crowned the division champion. Champions would then collide for a National Title and then would go on to the World Cup. Two weeks later, the concept was widely approved and the beggining of the World Cup was scheduled to start in October, with National Leagues running worldwide. Here is where Road Warrior Hawk came in. He was one of the chosen wrestlers to compete in the North American National League. He was assigned to the last division, Division 4, which really pissed him off. Normally Division I would have all the top talent and it will go downwards from there, until Division 4, which was filled with washed up old men, solid midcarders, bright future superstars or people on the decline. Even his tag team partner, Animal, was considered superior to him, being assigned to Division 3. This really pissed off Hawk. But he decided to compete and win. Win to prove he belongs on the better divisions. Win to be the World Champion. Just thinking about it, made Hawk feel the Rush!!!!!

[TEWFan]

Road Warrior Hawk's stats: Brawling: B+ Power: A Strong Style: F Hardcore: C+ MMA: F Mat Wrestling: D Chain Wrestling: F Submissions: F Aerial: C+ Flashiness: C- Microphone:C Charisma: A* Acting: C- Looks: A Star Quality: A Basics: D Psycology: C- Safety: D Consistency: C+ Selling: E Athleticism: A Toughness: A Stamina: C- Business: E Booking: E Respect: E Intensity: A Stiffness: A Resilliance: A Menace: A* Refereeing: F Spirit: B+

[D. Boons Ghost]

Good luck! Would be very cool if Hawk and Animal happened to meet along the way. Who would Precious Paul manage then? :)

[TEWFan]

[B]The North American National Cup Division I[/B] W L D TP Bobo Brazil Bruiser Brody Bruno Sammartino Buddy Rose David Von Erich Dick the Bruiser Dusty Rhodes Harley Race Hulk Hogan Jimmy Snuka Junkyard Dog Kevin Sullivan Mr. Wrestling II Pedro Morales Ray Stevens Ric Flair Ricky Steamboat Superstar Billy Graham Terry Funk The Sheik [B]Division II[/B] W L D TP Baron Von Raschke Billy Jack Haynes Blackjack Mulligan Bob Backlund Butch Reed Buzz Sawyer Dick Slater Don Muraco Dory Funk Jr Dutch Savage Jack Briscoe Jerry Blackwell Kerry Von Erich Nick Bockwinkel Ole Anderson Sgt. Slaughter Terry Gordy The Crusher Tommy Rich Wahoo McDaniel [B] Division III[/b] W L D TP Austin Idol Big John Studd Bob Armstrong Dick Murdoch Greg Valentine Jay Youngblood Jerry Briscoe Jerry Lawler Jesse Ventura Jimmy Valiant Kamala the Ugandan Giant Ken Patera Larry Henning Mark Lewin Michael Hayes Rip Oliver Road Warrior Animal Stan Hansen Ted DiBiase The Masked Superstar [B]Division IV[/b] W L D TP Bob Roop Bull Ramos Ernie Ladd George Steele Gino Hernandez Greg Gagne Jake Roberts Jim Brunzell Jim Duggan Kevin Von Erich Larry Zbysko Manny Fernandez Matt Borne Ox Baker Paul Orndorff [B]Road Warrior Hawk[/b] Sika The Mighty Igor The Sensational Destroyer Tony Atlas NOTE: This same post will be edited to reflect point changes. Also this will be the only full bracket page. The Mexican, European, Japaneese and Canadian league results wont be shown in this format, but trough small articles on who are the leaders and such.

[TEWFan]

Hawk's first match was scheduled to take place at the Mid South Coliseum. His opponent: Another big, bad brute just like him. This will prove interesting! [IMG]http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/roadwarriorhawk/02.jpg[/IMG] VS [IMG]http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/g/georgesteele/22.jpg[/IMG] [B]Road Warrior Hawk vs George "The Animal" Steele Rules of Engagement: Time Limit: 60 minutes DQ's and Count Outs: ON Falls and submissions count only in the ring The referee can stop the match due to blood loss.[/B] The first five minutes see Steele completely dominate using only arm wringers, headlocks and basic punches. He misses a kneedrop and Hawk assumes control. His momentum is short lived and Steele goes back to absolute domination,using mostly pounding stikes and literally grounding Hawk. Both men trade basic offense and Hawk seems to regain momentum around the 13 minute mark. Hawk decimated Steele, but got overconfident and was trapped in a big bear hug 20 minutes in and he almost passes out. Steele controls the flow of the match and gets a near fall 27 minutes in after a devastating running knee to the head. They trade momentum for a while and Steele gets another running knee for another near fall near the 30 minute mark. He tries a third one, but gets his head taken off with a clothesline! Hawk works him over and gets a near fall out of a fist drop. Hawk continues to dominate, but Steele tosses him over the top and out! Hawk dominates and returns to the ring. Steele gets a near fall out of a running headbutt, but Hawk recovers and gets TWO near falls out of the Turnbuckle Backbreaker Smash! Another near fall out of a Twisting Powerslam 45 minutes in! But George Steele makes one of the most amazing comebacks I have ever seen and manages to make Hawk tap out to the Rolling Hammerlock at 57:45!! [B] Winner: George "The Animal" Steele[/b]

[TEWFan]

Hawk sat down in the locker room thinking about the match. It was a true dissapointment, but hey, he had to face the biggest man in the division his first match in. True that Hawk's best moves where unable to truly hurt the big man and if the division title came to this two again, Hawk would have a lot to do. But he could not let this loss take his mind away from his goal. He needed to prepare better for the next match and keep his quest in front of him. Other results in Division IV: Manny Fernandez b Gino Hernandez Bob Roop b Bull Ramos Greg Gagne b Ernie Ladd Ox Baker b Jim Brunzell Matt Borne b Jim Duggan Mighty Igor b Jake Roberts Kevin Von Erich b Paul Orndorff Tony Atlas b Sika Sensational Destroyer b Larry Zbysko The only thing that made Hawk feel better was the A* rating his match got from experts. But next time, he had to add a little W to that.

[TEWFan]

[B]Pro Wrestling Ilustrated Exclusive United States National Cup News![/B] The spectacular National Cup kicked off during the weekend. Here are some of the most interesting news! In Division I, Harley Race defeated Bobo Brazil in what was billed as a great contest. In the next match, Bruiser Brody went over Kevin Sullivan in a brawler's dream come true of a contest where two of the most violent and crazy men in wrestling went head to head. Bruno Sammartino went over Dick the Bruiser after he passed out in a bear hug. Can this legendary figure win the Cup and add to his list of accolades? In another dream match, Dusty Rhodes went over the Junkyard Dog after a Flying Crossbody. This was the main event of the Mid South Coliseum show, a pity that the local favorite failed to win. In the biggest upset of the evening, Mr. Wrestling II went over Hulk Hogan. This really screams trouble for the All Japan IWGP Champion, who fails to score in his first match. Buddy Rose went over David Von Erich in another exciting contest that headlined the show that WCCW put on. Too bad the Von Erich kid failed to win. Ricky Steamboat used his quickness to beat Superstar Billy Graham, while Ric Flair survived a brutal encounter with Terry Funk in the two headlining matches in the Mid Atlantic card. The two local boys went on top and this makes their eventual match all the more exciting. Pedro Morales defeated The Sheik of Araby in Madison Square Garden to score points in his first contest at the WWF card, where Jimmy Snuka went over Ray Stevens in the runner up. In Division II action, Sgt Slaughter went over Jerry Blackwell in the AWA card. Back to Madison Square Garden, Bob Backlund went over Dirty Dick Slater. Back to the AWA where Blackjack Mulligan went over Don Muraco and Wahoo McDaniel defeated The Crusher. Kerry Von Erich went over Dory Funk Jr at WCCW and Buzz Sawyer went over Tommy Rich in Atlanta, another match in their legendary rivalry, this time with cup points at stake. In that same card, Ole Anderson went over Terry Gordy and Billy Jack Haynes went over Nick Bockwinkel. Finally, Butch Reed went over Baron Von Rascke in the AWA show, and Dutch Savage went over Jack Briscoe. In Division III, Kamala the Ugandan Giant went over Rip Oliver. Austin Idol surprised Greg Valentine, Ken Patera went over Road Warrior Animal, which sat well with the AWA crowd, Bob Armstrong beat Jerry Briscoe, Dick Murdoch beat Michael Hayes, Jerry Lawler went over Larry Henning, Mark Lewin defeated Stan Hansen, Jesse Ventura went over Jimmy Valiant, Masked Superstar defeated Big John Studd and Jay Youngblood went over Ted DiBiase.

[jonlawson]

Boo!! Von Erich over Orndorff!! Boo!! :)

[D. Boons Ghost]

Rats! George the Animal didn't try to eat the turnbuckle pad? :) Tough loss - but by your write-up, it sounded darn exciting. And Billy Jack Haynes beat Nick Bockwinkel? Boo-Hiss!

[TEWFan]

As luck has it, Hawk has to face yet another big man in his second match. One who managed to defeat Larry Zbysko, a technical master, in the first night of action. This is not going to be easy...but Hawk had to prove himself. He had to prove that he can win and recover his confidence. As he makes his way to the ring, he begins to feel the rush!! [IMG]http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/roadwarriorhawk/02.jpg[/IMG]VS[IMG]http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/d/dickbeyer/16.jpg[/IMG] [B]Road Warrior Hawk vs The Sensational Destroyer! Rules of Engagement: Time Limit: 60 minutes DQ's and Count Outs: ON Falls and submissions count only in the ring The referee can stop the match due to blood loss.[/B] The first five minutes go by with basic offense from both men, but Hawk takes the worse of it.He made a short comeback and managed to ground Destroyer, but it was short lived. They stiff each other and Destroyer tries a running forearm blow, but Hawk takes his head off with a clothesline! He drops a big elbow and proceeds to work a front facelock and side headlock on Destroyer, trying to take his momentum. He then adds his signature Stomp Flurry and Hawk seems to be back in control at the 8:00 mark. This is short lived and Destroyer manages to ground him and work him over. Hawk finds himself locked on the Figure Four 15 minutes in, but breaks it. That was close! This seems to fire up Hawk who makes a comeback, slowly and smartly working over Destroyer until he is in full control by the 23 minute mark. Destroyer attemtps a comeback, gets a near fall out of the Thesz Press and goes for the Figure Four again, but Hawk breaks. Hawk bodyslams Destroyer and pounds on him with wreckless abandon, nailing several elbow drops, stomps, a fist drop and a grounded mafia kick! That gets two at the 26 minute mark. Hawk picks him up and locks him on a Big Bear Hug! Destroyer passes out at 26:20! [B]Winner by submission with the Big Bear Hug: Road Warrior Hawk(26:20)[/B] Hawk learns that his match was rated as C+. Hey, but he won and that is all that matters! Other Division IV results: Bob Roop b Manny Fernandez Gino Hernandez b Greg Gagne Bull Ramos b Ox Baker Matt Borne b Ernie Ladd Jim Brunzell b Jake Roberts Jim Duggan b Kevin Von Erich Sika b Mighty Igor Paul Orndorff b George Steele Larry Zbysko b Tony Atlas *Note*: Standings will be updated every three fights

[TEWFan]

[B]Pro Wrestling Ilustrated's Coverage of the National Cup[/B] We return with more results from night 2 of the National Cup. In Division I, Bruiser Brody defeats Bobo Brazil to remain undefeated. Harley Race beats Hulk Hogan and he two is undefeated. Hogan, the legendary "Ichiban", is now 0-2!! Bruno Sammartino made Mr. Wrestling II pass out to the Bear Hug and is now 2-0, tied at the top. Kevin Sullivan got his first win, over Junkyard Dog at the Mid South Coliseum and Dog is now 0-2. Dick the Bruiser got his first win, over Buddy Rose. Dusty Rhodes moves up to the top with a win over Ricky Steamboat in Florida. He is 2-0. Pedro Morales went over David Von Erich and he too is 2-0 as part of that MSG card, where Jimmy Snuka went over Superstar Billy Graham and he too moves on to 2-0. The Sheik got his first win in a bloody encounter over Ric Flair in Detroit. Finally, Ray Stevens got his first win, over Terry Funk who falls down to 0-2. In Division II, Bob Backlund made Dutch Savage tap out to the Chiken Wing at MSG to move up to 2-0. Buzz Sawyer moves on to 2-0 over Dick Slater. Jack Briscoe defeats Sgt. Slaughter to get his first win. Don Muraco went over Tommy Rich and Jerry Blackwell over Kerry Von Erich, getting their first wins. So did Dory Funk Jr, over Butch Reed, Baron Von Raschke over Nick Bockwinkel and Terry Gordy over Blackjack Mulligan. The Crusher went over Ole Anderson and Wahoo McDaniel moved up to 2-0 over Billy Jack Haynes. In Division III, Austin Idol is 2-0 after beating Road Warrior Animal. Ken Patera is also 2-0 after beating Jerry "The King" Lawler. Other people who are still undefeated are Jay Youngblood, over Big John Studd, Bob Armstrong, over Michael Hayes, Dick Murdoch over Jimmy Valiant, Masked Superstar over Mark Lewin and Jesse Ventura over Ted DiBiase. People who won their first matches where Stan Hansen over Larry "The Ax" Henning, Rip Oliver over Jerry Briscoe and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine over Kamala the Ugandan Giant in a great upset!

[TEWFan]

Hawk was 1-1 and was getting ready to face one of the top dogs in the division and a man who many feel would be the eventual winner. Time to prove them wrong! [IMG]http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/r/roadwarriorhawk/02.jpg[/IMG]VS [IMG]http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/p/paulorndorff/01.jpg[/IMG] [B]Road Warrior Hawk vs "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff Rules of Engagement: Time Limit: 60 minutes DQ's and Count Outs: ON Falls and submissions count only in the ring The referee can stop the match due to blood loss[/B] Hawk began with basic offense, but was grounded by Orndorff, who basically mauled him for 10 minutes. Hawk made a comeback and hit his signature stomps, but that was not enough. A punch flurry and a measured elbowdrop got 2 for Paul. Finally, he gets a bridging back suplex and pins Hawk in 21 minutes. [B]Winner by pinfall: Paul Orndorff[/B]

[D. Boons Ghost]

Ouch! Another tough loss to Orndorff. Still, that Sensational Destroyer v. Hawk match was a great write-up. While it pains me to say it (and I loved the Roadies when they came out), Hawk's sheer power won out over Destroyer's technical mastery. Then again, perhaps if Beyer wasn't 160 years old... ;) Seriously, this has been a very entertaining read. Thanks a lot for it.