1983 - The Tournament

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[U]Terry Funk vs Jacques Rougeau[/U] The tough Texan rulebreaker collides with the native of Quebec in what should be another excellent match. The pair brawl to start things off, but there's no way Rougeau can hold his own with Terry, who shrugs off the best efforts of the Canadian and carries on attacking. Taking him down with vicious right hands, Funk drops the knee before knocking Jacques out of the ring with some crawling headbutts, then climbs up top and leaps to the outside with a double axe handle! Back in the ring, Rougeau blocks a roundhouse to lock on an armbar, then gets a dropkick, but Funk won't be kept down. The Texan hits a knee face driver and a roundhouse, then drives Jacques into the corner and goes for a clothesline. Rougeau counters with a drop toe-hold, though, and gets a knee drop, but as he goes for a handstand knee, Funk rolls out of the way. The crawling headbutts take Jacques outside again, and Terry locks on a spinning toehold! No submission on the outside, obviously, but back in the ring, Funk puts on a sleeperhold, only for Jacques to escape. As the Canadian struggles to his feet, though, Funk, unseen by the referee, reaches into his tights and pulls out a pair of brass knuckles! One punch later, the three count is a formality. 22 minute match. (Match rating [B]C[/B].)

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[U]Animal Hamaguchi vs Johnny Saint[/U] The 14 year veteran face from Japan takes on UK national hero Johnny Saint in a match of two guys who never really reached the heights of fame they deserved in the US. This is one for the technical fans, as the first quarter of an hour or so sees almost exclusively holds used, with a wide mixture of armbars, leglocks, and facelocks; virtually no strikes or throws at all. Eventually, Animal scores a few kicks to the thigh, then hits a sweeping hip throw to take Saint down. Judo toss and knee drop come soon after, but Saint slips out of a head and straight arm lock to get a hammerlock takedown. Slipping out of a leg grapevine, Animal blasts Johnny with a knee to the stomach, then a forearm flurry, but Saint again slips out of an armlock. He gets a spinning toe hold for a near submission, then a double knee back breaker, and the job is done in 23 minutes! (Match rating [B]C[/B].) (Apologies that I suck at recapping matches with few big spots, by the way.) [U]Masa Saito vs Rick Martel[/U] The former Olympic star Saito takes on Canadian Martel in another eagerly anticipated bout. Martel dominates the early sessions, brawling and taking Saito down quickly, then keeping him down with lots of wear down holds. Saito manages a brief comeback, breaking out of the Quebec Crab, but as he goes for a judo chop Martel kicks him in the gut then hits a high cross body. Kick out, only for Martel to get a crucifix cradle... for two and a half. Cradle is repeated, though, and this time gets the win in 21 minutes. (Match rating[B] C[/B].)

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[U]Jim Breaks vs Ric Flair[/U] With two of the greatest heels around, the fans are struggling to know who to boo in this one! Breaks starts off with a variety of headlocks, before taking Flair to the ground with an arm drag and following up with a knee drive, then an armbar. Mixture of headlocks and armlocks for the next few minutes, but Ric slips out of a front facelock attempt and goes for a few armbars himself before taking Breaks down with a suplex. Breaks in turn slips out of a facelock, though, and hits a forearm then grounds his opponent again for a while. Flair breaks a hammerlock, punching and kicking the Gentleman, but Breaks retaliates with punches. Flair comes back with a series of forearms, taking Breaks down then working the arm again. Breaks regains control, in turn going for the forearms. A few more back and forth exchanges end with Flair getting a hammerlock on and taking Breaks to the corner, then letting loose with a series of chops, a turnbuckle smash, and ten punches. A mixture of arm bars and an elbow drop, and Flair is in control here, or at least he is until he misses an elbow drop. Breaks works the arm again, stalling Flair's momentum, going for lots of holds and then an arm breaker. Flair gets a thumb to the eye, though, as Breaks goes for a crotch grab, then hits a piledriver for the win. 24 minutes altogether, the Nature Boy never looking seriously threatened. (Match rating [B]C[/B].) [I]Okay, seem to have hit a slow spot for decent matches here - fingers crossed they get back to the high standards soon - Bravo/Hogan's my tip for a B+ or so.[/I]

[D. Boons Ghost]

I was pulling for Crybaby Breaks against Flair, but The Nature Boy is top tier. Too bad Flair didn't break out his patented 'Woooooo!' :)

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Next round, maybe :) He did go for a Flair flop which got countered, but I couldn't get it to read right in the recap so left it out. More matches coming soon - getting close to the end of the first round now :)

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[U]Kerry Von Erich vs Antonio Inoki[/U] After a battle of two great heels, the crowd rise to applaud two hugely popular stars, as Kerry Von Erich hopes to go further than brother David, but will have to be on top of his game to beat the Japanese legend. Inoki works the arm to take the match to Von Erich, but Kerry manages to fight his way back into things and regain the momentum with a series of strikes which stop his opponent in his tracks. Dropkicking his opponent into the corner, he follows by steaming in with a massive clothesline, then gets an atomic drop. Sending him into the corner again, it's a second charging clothesline, then a third to leave Inoki struggling for breath. Inoki comes back with a series of kicks, knocking Von Erich into the corner, but Kerry gets a drop toe hold to stop a knee charge. Von Erich can't get a punch to land, though, Antonio blasting away with kicks then getting a body scissors on. Inoki eventually gets a grounded crucifix arm bar on, and that's it for Kerry, who taps out quickly to end a boring match at dead on 23 minutes. (Match rating [B]D[/B].)

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[U]El Solitario vs Marty Jones[/U] El Solitario has to be the huge favourite here, as good as Jones is, but neither man starts particularly well. They exchange headlocks and armbars for the opening 10 minutes or so, neither of them building up any real momentum, although Solitario gets two nice ranas to take Jones down - he just can't capitalise. Jones actually starts to look better, working the arm and then hitting a charging forearm which shakes the Mexican, even bringing in some real old school stuff with a double arm takedown as Solitario dives in with a forearm attempt. Solitario gets a spinning tijeras to regain some control, and takes Jones back down to the mat, but Jones hits a stiff forearm to block an attempt at a fisherman's suplex then gets a further half nelson takedown. Out of nowhere, Solitario gets a forward Russian legsweep for two, but Jones fights out of an explosion suplex attempt to get a small package. Kickout, high cross body from El S, and another match goes home at 27 minutes or so. (Match rating [B]D[/B].)

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[U]Dino Bravo vs Hulk Hogan[/U] With the success the brawls have been having, looks like it's up to the World's Strongest Man and the Hulkster to give us our first decent bout for some time... The two fight hard to start off, Bravo getting the best of things with a massive bodyslam and a huge elbow drop then attacking Hulk's arms with arm whips and arm wringers. Running clothesline, clubbing blow, butt drop, and Dino's got a chance of pulling off what would have to count as an upset! Hogan ducks another clothesline attempt to hit one of his own, though, but Bravo chokes him out the gets a short-arm shoulder tackle. Another butt drop from Dino, and a second clothesline, then he slams Hogan's head hard into the mat! Bravo goes for a seated hammer, but Hogan ducks away, wagging his finger at Dino to the delight of the crowd! A flurry of punches, a bear squeeze, and a clothesline! Hogan with another bear squeeze, then an atomic drop! Off the ropes, and are we gonna see a big legdrop...? NO! Bravo moves! Bravo rolls Hogan up, only for Hulk to kick out. Bravo goes for a giant choke, but Hulk gets a side headlock then an abdominal stretch. It's locked in for a minute or so, then Dino slumps to the floor - and this time Hogan DOES get the Big Legdrop, and this one's over in 28 minutes. (Match rating [B]B[/B].)

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1st round will be completed within the next 24 hours. 2nd round, trying to decide whether to leave it as standard matches or change things around a bit. Options a) Leave things as they are, standard 1 vs 1 matches, no ref bumps. b) Leave it as standard 1 vs 1 matches but switch ref bumps on. c) Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal - randomly selected match types from the five available (normal, hardcore, 2/3 falls, 1st blood, cage) for each bout. Any thoughts, anyone reading?

[DownNDirty]

I'm reading and enjoying - I like the Spin the Wheel make the deal idea myself. Good read so far!

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[U]Jumbo Tsurata vs Mal Sanders[/U] A big one here, as the popular Japanese former Olympian takes on the hated British heel, with a bout against Hulk Hogan at stake in the second round. Much to the displeasure of the fans, it's Sanders who takes control early on in the match, with some great technical stuff, but Jumbo comes back to work the arm hard, with a mixture of armbars, hammerlocks, and kicks to the arm. Slipping out of a hammerlock takedown, though, Sanders hip tosses his opponent and twists the ankle, then gets a nice figure four cross, an arm lock and wrist bend, and a further half nelson takedown. They're feeling each other out still, and it's a real struggle for either guy to get any real momentum going, although Sanders is definitely having the better of this one, with a series of brutal uppercuts staggering Jumbo. As we get to the 20 minute mark, Jumbo is stuck on the mat, with Sanders working the leg with grapevines and figure four variants. Jumbo slips out of a hip toss, though, judo throwing the Brit, then dropping a big knee, but a second knee misses. Sanders slows things down with a straddled arm bar, but a forearm flurry from Jumbo takes the ex-Olympian back in charge. Judo toss, wrist lock, step over face lock from Tsurata... and that's all she wrote for Sanders, at the 26 minute mark. (Match rating [B]C-[/B].) [U] Great Kabuki vs Leo Burke[/U] Potential for a real classic here, as the mysterious 20 year veteran from Singapore, the Melting Pot of Sin, takes on Cormier family member Leo Burke. It's the Canadian who dominates the early stages, with a mixture of brawling and headlocks, as he stops Kabuki from getting anything going. Big suplex takes the Oriental guy down, and Kabuki has no chance until he breaks a head scissors. A few knife edge chops stagger Burke, but Leo breaks an arm wringer and gets a hammerlock takedown, then an inside toe hold. Handstand knee drive to the leg comes next, and Leo has total control, switching between the inside toe hold and straddled arm bars. He goes for a grounded ankle twist, but Kabuki has enough left to kick out violently, catching Burke's thigh and stopping him for a few seconds, then get up. Kabuki chops away at Burke, but Burke barely notices it! Arm scissors from Leo, then back to the straddled arm bar, and again switching between that and the inside toe hold. Belly to back cradle suplex from Burke, and there's the 3, Kabuki barely getting any offense in in the entire 16 minutes of the match. (Match rating [B]F[/B].)

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[U]Jackie Pallo vs Buddy Rose[/U] One of the all-time great heels in the UK, Mr TV is nearly ready to retire - but you know the ****y Pallo would love to go out on a high, proving himself against the best in the world. His opponent 'Playboy' Buddy Rose is early on in his career, by comparison, but already proving to be an excellent worker. Real catch as catch can stuff for the first part of the match, as the two competitors try each other out without getting too far. Pallo has a slight edge, getting a few good runs as he pounds away at Rose with punches, forearms, and European uppercuts. Rose gets a cheap low blow to take control, but quickly misses an elbow drop, and Pallo takes it to Rose with more brawling, then works over the arm. Another low blow gets Rose back in charge though, and this time an elbow finds its mark, as does a flurry of punches. Pallo gets a side headlock to counter another punch flurry, then gets an abdominal stretch, and comes close to making Rose quit. Rose breaks it and goes for Mr TV, but the Brit begs off, then gets a sucker punch in! Bridging double armbar from Mr TV, but Rose gets out and holds onto the tights as he hooks in a small package for 2! Pallo back to the bridging armbar, and that's it for tonight, as he gets the win from it in just shy of half an hour! (Match rating [B]B-[/B].) [U]Mr Wrestling II vs Killer Khan[/U] Veteran vs rookie once more, as Mr Wrestling II, an established star, goes up against the feared Mongolian Killer Khan. Against the odds, it's Khan who dominates things for the first 15 minutes or so, the wild Far Eastern star attacking like crazy, tearing away at Mr Wrestling's face and hitting some brutal chops and kicks, plus some crafty illegal chokes. Wrestling pulls things back with a snap mare and some headlocks, but Khan rakes his eyes as he goes for a backbreaker to get back in charge. 2 more chops, and Khan rears back - spitting red mist at Mr Wrestling! But Walker ducks, getting in a fireman's carry, then takes Khan to the mat. He's got nothing left, though, and Khan easily powers out of a headlock, then hits a piledriver, busting open his opponent and getting two and three quarters! Another piledriver, two and nine tenths this time! And a third, still not quite enough for the win, but Wrestling is bleeding heavily now! He comes back with a couple of headlocks, but gets a thumb jab to the throat to wind him, and Khan locks on the Face Claw! Somehow, Wrestling breaks it, then blocks the Asiatic Spike! Wrestling charges in with a forearm, but is stopped in his tracks by a hard throat thrust! Khan is warned by the referee, and it distracts him enough for Wrestling to hit a few uppercuts, then lock on a Boston Crab, but he can't hold it on - he's looking dizzy through blood loss here! Andre and Abby must be praying he pulls this one off, because he could well be easy pickings in the second round if he does! Mr Wrestling staggers around, and Khan is ready to pounce... and does! Back drop Driver!! Khan takes it, and what a match this was! 30 minutes of pure, classic, brutality, and Killer Khan is ready for the Giant or the Butcher next round! (Match rating [B]A*[/B].) [U]Andre the Giant vs Abdullah the Butcher (wild card)[/U] Abdullah looks confident here, but goodness only knows why... even the Madman from the Sudan isn't used to taking on guys like Andre. The Giant pounds him, tossing him into the corner as if he was a feather, then blasting away at his chest and ramming his shoulder into Abby's midsection. Abby gets up, and unloads on the Giant, but Andre barely seems to feel the blows! Straight back to the corner for Abby, another chop, and a kick to the gut. Back in, more chops, back out, more kicks - simple but effective. Several hard forearms, and Andre is in complete control. Hugo Savinovitch looks desperate, and leaps onto the apron, but a huge right fells him! Abby takes advantage of his manager's distraction to get a hammerlock, then rake Andre's eyes against the ropes, but Andre can't be stopped! The Giant hits an axhandle, then casually walks over the Butcher's chest! Picking him up, he whips him to the corner, then calmly walks backwards into him, crushing him against the turnbuckle. Huge elbow drop to the knee comes next, and a bundle of axe handles. Abdullah periodically tries to come back, but there's just no stopping the Giant! Bear squeeze, seated hammer, axe handle, chest walk, another seated hammer... if he's watching this, Khan may be on the first flight back to Mongolia!! Big Butt Drop by Andre, and 20 minutes is all this one lasts - never a moment of doubt about the outcome. (Match rating [B]E[/B].)

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2nd round matches... (likely to be spin the wheel, make the deal from now on) The Sheik of Araby vs Seiji Sakaguchi Ricky Steamboat vs The Original Kendo Nagasaki Bruiser Brody vs Riki Chosyu Giant Haystacks vs Osamu Kido Otto Wanz vs Dusty Rhodes Dos Caras vs Big Daddy Mark Rocco vs Tatsumi Fujinami Dr Wagner vs Giant Baba Blue Demon vs Mick McManus Jos Leduc vs Tiger Mask Terry Funk vs Johnny Saint Rick Martel vs Ric Flair Antonio Inoki vs El Solitario Hulk Hogan vs Jumbo Tsurata Leo Burke vs Jackie Pallo Killer Khan vs Andre The Giant Anyone wanna predict? Can't look past Andre, who looked hugely dominant against Abby... will go for him over the Sheik in the final, with Dusty and either Funk or Flair joining them in the semis. Dusty/Ric would be a killer final, though. And personally, I'd mark the hell out for a Joint final 4 of Haystacks, Daddy, McManus, Pallo, but can't see them making it.

[jbergey_2005]

[B]The Sheik of Araby[/B] vs Seiji Sakaguchi [B]Ricky Steamboat[/B] vs The Original Kendo Nagasaki [B]Bruiser Brody[/B] vs Riki Chosyu [B]Giant Haystacks[/B] vs Osamu Kido Otto Wanz vs [B]Dusty Rhodes[/B] [B]Dos Caras [/B]vs Big Daddy Mark Rocco vs [B]Tatsumi Fujinami[/B] Dr Wagner vs [B]Giant Baba[/B] Blue Demon vs [B]Mick McManus[/B] Jos Leduc vs [B]Tiger Mask[/B] [B]Terry Funk[/B] vs Johnny Saint Rick Martel vs [B]Ric Flair[/B] [B]Antonio Inoki[/B] vs El Solitario [B]Hulk Hogan[/B] vs Jumbo Tsurata [B]Leo Burke[/B] vs Jackie Pallo Killer Khan vs [B]Andre The Giant[/B] Great Read, Very nice work!

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Thanks J! 2nd round will start to be posted later on today, Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal with a random dice roll picking the match each time - 50% chance of gimmick, 50% chance of normal. As we go through the tourney I'll increase the % of gimmick matches, but didn't want to end up with 14 1st blood bouts or anything like that in round 2.

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[U]The Sheik of Araby vs Seiji Sakaguchi - Hardcore[/U] After the way the Sheik destroyed Robbie Brookside last time, it would be a brave guy who bet on the Japanese star here. The Sheik punches away at his opponent until Seiji slips out of a facelock to get a hammerlock, then takes the madman down to the ground, and keeps him there. A mixture of facelocks, armbars, and kneebars get rid of all of the Sheik's momentum, and Sakaguchi is obviously trying to keep this one from spilling outside, where he'd be at a massive disadvantage. The Sheik manages to pull out his patented pencil, though, and plunge it into the back of Seiji's knee, and while Seiji keeps control for a few minutes, it can't last, with him eventually missing a knee jab. Eye rake from the Sheik, kick to the gut, throat thrust, then a repeat of that sequence. Gutwrench suplex, and back to the pencil, but Seiji recovers, and gets a few kicks to the thigh. Driving body scissors broken though, a third pencil jab, and then the Sheik drives Seiji into the corner, and stops for a minute, seemingly receiving messages from above! Sheik leaves it too long though, and Seiji charges out with kicks to the thigh, then a judo toss to ground his opponent, before locking on an arm bar. Series of armbars and knee jabs keep him down, until an enziguri misses, and the Sheik goes right back to the pencil, before stopping to recieve more messages. Another hammerlock on, and the Sheik tries to drive Seiji into the corner, but Seiji swings his opponent around and into the turnbuckles himself, then charges in with a running knee to the head. Kickout at just gone two, and as Seiji chops away at the Sheik, the Sheik no-sells, then bodyslams his opponent. He tears away at his face, then bites his opponent, drawing blood! Poor Seiji, in THIS kinda bout with the Sheik! Gouging away at Sakaguchi's eye, the Sheik pulls a pencil out - and digs that into his eye socket! As the Sheik goes for a hammerlock, Seiji is nearly blinded, but somehow slips out to lock on an abdominal stretch - but not for long enough to get the win. Seiji tries for some forearm strikes, but a throat thrust stops him! The Sheik pulls off a turnbuckle cover, then whips Seiji into it hard, the momentum sending Sakaguchi to the outside! Somehow, Sakaguchi fights back, punching away at the Sheik's legs as the man from Araby tries to pick him up, then rolling him back in, where he gets another running knee. Kickout, and as Seiji tries to pick the Sheik up, he gets a vicious low blow and a cradle for a near fall! Seiji staggers to his feet, just in time to dive out of the way of a fireball, and the ref is hanging around on the outside here, just diving in to count falls - and who can blame him? In fact, as soon as he gets in the ring, an Irish whip reversal by the Sheik knocks him down - and as Seiji checks on the official, the Sheik prepares to unleash another fireball! This time, it finds its mark - but there's no one to count! The Sheik shakes the official, screaming at him to wake up, but no can do - and a German suplex from Seiji could have won it if the ref WAS awake. The ref recovers in time to see Seiji hit another running knee, but only for 2. Enziguri has the Sheik in trouble, but Eddie Creachman jumps on the apron to distract the Japanese star. The Sheik takes advantage of the distraction, though, jabbing a pencil into Seiji's shoulder, then going for an Irish whip - and the ref is down AGAIN! 2nd fireball, but no one to make the count once more! The Sheik is crazy here, digging a pencil into Seiji's eye, then slamming his face hard into the mat! Seiji is a complete mess here, bleeding all over the ring, and the Sheik has a rolling hammerlock locked on! Seiji looks ready to give, but he can't until the ref gets up! Somehow, he gets away, and from instinct, lands an enziguri! Ankle lock by Seiji, who can barely see... HE DOES IT! The ref comes around just in time to see the Sheik tap out! Holy cow, Sakaguchi, despite being nearly blinded by a mixture of blood and lead, pulls off the huge upset here in the Sheik's own type of match!! What a bout it was, going 40 minutes with the fans loving every brutal second of it! (Match rating [B]A*[/B].)

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[U]Ricky Steamboat vs The Original Kendo Nagasaki - Normal[/U] Steamboat had the best match of the first round, but is nowhere near peak condition after Rusher Kimura beat the hell out of him. Nagasaki is still the underdog here, but must like his chances of getting to round 3. Nagasaki's in total control for the first 10 minutes or so, until Ricky slips out of an attempt at a short arm knee to the stomach. Steamboat gets an arm drag, and keeps Kendo down for a few minutes, but as they get back up, Kendo shrugs off a kick to the gut. Hammerlock kick by Nagasaki, and an impressive standing double arm lever, then he gets a low blow and cradle, but the ref doesn't like it and refuses to count. Steamboat fights back as Kendo tries to pick him up, and gets a kick to the gut, then a European uppercut, but Kendo reaches into his tights and tosses salt into Ricky's eyes! Spinning toehold by Nagasaki, and Steamboat only just breaks! Kamikaze Crash by Kendo, and this is looking bad for Steamboat! Suspended double arm lever is weakening him, then the Gokuraku-gatame... and Steamboat gives! Nagasaki pulls off our second shock of the second round, and will go against Sakaguchi in the last 16!! 16 minutes in total. (Match rating [B]B-[/B].)

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[U]Bruiser Brody vs Riki Chosyu - 2/3 falls[/U] Brody was in another first round classic, whereas Chosyu's win over Billy Robinson wasn't too well received by the fans. Okay, this is far closer to Chosyu/Robinson than Brody/Vachon... boooooring! 20 minutes in and virtually nothing of interest happening, but Chosyu is dominating completely. Brody comes back, choking Riki then hitting some hard chops and kicks, before slamming his head into the mat. Hip throw counters a trademark Bruiser big boot, though, but a series of axe handles bring Brody right back in charge, and split Chosyu's forehead. Bear squeeze from Bruiser, then a big boot, and a running knee! 3 count for Brody, and he's 1-0 up. Brody tries for the Press Slam of Death, but Riki falls on top for 2. As soon as they get up, though, Riki misses an enziguri, and Bruiser gets a second running knee to take this one home 2-0 in 30 minutes. (Match rating[B] B[/B].)

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[U]Giant Haystacks vs Osamu Kido - Normal[/U] The big Brit got absolutely demolished by Ray Stevens first match, getting the DQ win when Stevens suffered a moment of madness and busted Haystacks open with a roll of quarters. Kido pulled off something of a surprise, going over Mexican legend Mil Mascaras. Kido is hugely popular, and the fans will be hoping he can kill off the Giant here. Not the greatest of starts - Haystacks wants to brawl, Kido wants to wrestle, and neither of them can get anything going here. The Giant eventually starts to take control, huge clothesline then walking over Kido's chest twice. Choking away at Kido, the Giant draws the ire of the fans, but nearly loses the match when he misses a Giant elbow! Kido gets 2, then locks on the Gotch Toehold... and this one's over in 24 minutes. (Match rating [B]C+[/B].)

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[U]Otto Wanz vs Dusty Rhodes - Normal [/U] Two big crowd favourites here, Wanz disposed of the Mongolian Stomper 1st round last time and Rhodes getting rid of Kintaro Oki. Can the American Dream go over the German powerhouse? Otto has Rhodes down early and keeps him there, attacking the leg with knee drives and the arm with armbars, then getting a double axe handle. Butt drop misses, though, and winds Wanz, allowing Rhodes to get a few headlocks of his own on to give him a chance to come back. A few punches are followed by an impressive suplex, then a bionic elbow! Roundhouse punch is countered by a side headlock takedown, but Wanz misses a butt drop after setting Dusty up on the second rope, and crotches himself! Rhodes with a falling fistdrop, then a flurry of punches, and the two brawl for a few minutes, both men hitting hard! This time the butt drop finds its mark for Otto, as do a seated hammer and a spread-eagled stomp! Wanz Roll and Splash attempt doesn't though, and Rhodes goes to the ropes, hitting a rope assisted knee drop and following it with a falling fistdrop. Dipsy Doo Flurry draws cheers from the crowd, and Dusty is loving this! Bionic elbow flurry, then a wrenching hammerlock! Figure four follows from Dusty... and that's it, as he uses old rival Ric Flair's move to take the duke here! A show of respect post-match, as Wanz shakes hands with the Dream, and the fans applaud both guys. 23 minutes. (Match rating C-.) [U]Dos Caras vs Big Daddy - Normal[/U] Dos Caras got past David Von Erich in a snoozer of a first rounder, while the Brit had a great bout against Strong Kobayashi. Another scrappy start, with Daddy having a few good minutes after tossing Caras to the corner, slamming his head into the turnbuckle, then hitting a couple of hard kicks as Dos C slumped to the ground. Caras later made a comeback with a nice pescado and a long figure four cross leglock, but he misses a second pescado to allow Daddy to take control. Axe handle from Crabtree, then a seated hammer, and a hard spread-eagled stomp! As Daddy goes for the belly bump, though, Caras stops him in his tracks with a dropkick, then goes to the leg locks and an arm lock and wrist bend. Forearm flurry by Caras, and a high cross body gets 2! Rapid fire dropkicks are staggering the big Brit, who manages to escape from a Boston crab. High cross body from Caras misses, but so does the Big Daddy Splash, and Caras nearly grabs the win after draping an arm across Shirley. Daddy goes for the double elbow drop, but misses that too, and only just kicks out of the resulting cover! Pescado by Caras, springboard body press follows up, only for two! Series of rapid fire dropkicks is attempted by Caras, but Daddy sidesteps the third, only to miss that splash AGAIN! Two and a half for Caras, then a springboard body press for two, and another! Dropkicks hit this time, Caras leaps up top and poses, then comes off with a flying splash... nobody home!! Daddy stumbles to his feet, off the ropes... BIG DADDY SPLASH! Daddy joins fellow Joint star Nagasaki in round 3, and it's bound to be a slobberknocker as he goes against Dusty Rhodes! Awesome, awesome, half hour match. (Match rating A*.)

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[U]Marc Rocco vs Tatsumi Fujinami - 2/3[/U] Rocco knocked out a bona fide legend in Bruno Sammartino in a great first round match, while Fujinami beat Gino Brito in an average bout. Rocco plays the Black Tiger for this one, and gets solidly booed right from the start. Doesn't seem to bother him, though, as he beats up Tatsumi pretty badly right from the start, with lots of strikes. Fujinami gets a couple of brief comebacks, but the Brit never lets him get on top for any prolonged period of time, and does some damage with the repeated use of the measured knee drop. Out of nowhere, though, Tatsumi gets an octopus hold on to go 1-0 up! Diving knee drop nearly seals this for Tatsumi, but Rocco fights back. As he goes for an airplane spin, though, Fujinami blasts him with a few kicks to the thigh, then gets the overhead flip slam for the 3. 2-0 to the Japanese star, who advances, and Rocco is not happy with his performance. (Match rating C+.) [U]Dr Wagner vs Giant Baba - Normal[/U] Two guys in decent matches first time around, as Wagner beat the Dynamite Kid, while Giant Baba beat wild card entry Jerry Lawler. Incredibly, Wagner decides to brawl with the giant, hitting him with forearm blows and punches before taking him down, and keeping him there with arm bars and chinlocks. It's resthold central for the Dr, but Baba can't seem to counter it at all, until he slips out of a headlock, takes Wagner down with a few hard hits, then gets a couple of vicious kicks to the shoulder. Mixture of chops and forearms stagger Wagner, and a giant chest walk and a big headbutt have him struggling. Big stomp, bear squeeze, but a falling headbutt misses and an arm lock from Wagner then a hard kick take Baba down. Wagner goes for the crawling headbutts, but Baba avoids them, and gets a giant headbutt, then a big boot and a chest stomp. Abdominal claw from Baba, and Wagner only just manages to break! Giant Samoan drop attempt, but Baba can't hit it, and Wagner hits a forearm flurry. Wagner goes for a flurry of punches; Baba throws him to the corner, but misses a sit down splash. Wagner with a couple of figure four variants, then a pescado, and a high cross body for two! Whip from Wagner, but Baba reverses, and puts the Mexican down with a big boot! Knife edge chop from the Giant, and a massive slam! Only two, though. Wagner gets a cross body - nearly three! Running dropkick from Dr Wagner, but he can't get the media cangrejo! He does get the high cross body again, though, and immediately goes for an arm scissors/arm bar combination... and Baba quits!! Awesome match, certainly towards the end. (A*.)

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Sorry for the delay here, been away on holiday. [U]Blue Demon vs Mick McManus - 2/3[/U] Demon won his first round bout with a very quick win over the rookie Great Muta, while McManus took a horrendous beating from the JYD, just scraping through a brilliant fight. Blue Demon with headlocks and hip locks to start things off, until McManus brawls his way out. Demon right back to the holds, but a pescado misses, and McManus goes to armbars to take Demon down. The two trade blows and holds for another 6 or 7 minutes, until Demon hits El Pulpo! 1-2-3, and 1-0 Blue Demon. High cross body for 2, another El Pulpo attempt is blocked, but the Tirabuzon's on. McManus escapes, only to walk into a fisherman's suplex... two and three-quarters! High cross body misses, and McManus works Demon's leg. He goes for a charging forearm, though, and gets hip tossed, then Blue Demon locks on the cangrejo. McManus fights out, but gets hit by an explosion suplex. Kickout! Sunset flip, and another kickout! Another explosion suplex, and yet another kickout! McManus with a hammerlock takedown, works the leg more, and gets a spinning toehold. Demon won't quit, but McManus gets a British Piledriver and evens things up at 1-1! They spill to the outside, and McManus hits another British Piledriver onto the floor! Back inside, German suplex, two and a half for McManus. Big kangaroo dropkick, a third British Piledriver - and SOMEHOW, McManus can't get it as Demon finds the strength to kick out! Cross knee back breaker from Mick, then a stepover leglock, but Demon just won't quit! Sleeperhold by Blue Demon, and McManus only just stays in this thing. Tirabuzon by Demon, who surely must take it? No! Another sleeper, but McManus elbows his way out! Casita cradle... Only two! Another casita, but just two again! McManus sent to the corner, but McManus sidesteps a knee charge, and Blue Demon staggers out - straight into another British Piledriver! That's it, McManus with the big comeback to win 2-1 in a superb match! McManus took another huge beating, though, and will surely struggle next round. ([B]A*[/B].) [U]Jos Leduc vs Tiger Mask - Hardcore[/U] Leduc got here by beating the living daylights out of Norman Frederick Charles III in a brutal bout, the referee eventually stopping the match through fear for Charles' welfare, while Tiger Mask won a highly anticipated, if actually slightly disappointing, bout against Jimmy Snuka. Leduc took a real beating in his match though, and doesn't look like he's fully recovered. Tiger Mask starts well with some judo stuff, including a host of stiff kicks, but Leduc manages to slam his shoulder into the ringpost as Mask charges at him, then nail him hard, sliding to the outside and ramming his leg into the post. Leduc is WILD, biting Tiger's leg then stomping him in the groin! Another bite, then Jos uses the ropes to help him drop a knee and choke Tiger Mask out with his boot. Face tear, second stomp, another rope assisted knee drop, and Leduc rolls to the outside, smashing a chair up before digging a splinter into Tiger Mask's forehead and busting him open. Tiger Mask somehow slips out of a bear hug, hitting a dropkick and an arm whip then slowing things down with an inverse figure four cross. Leduc breaks the hold though, and hits a few vicious headbutts to send his opponent reeling, then pulls out the chair splinter again and digging it into Tiger Mask's eye! The Japanese star quits quickly, and the fans boo a poor match. ([B]D[/B].)

[Jaded]

[U]Terry Funk vs Johnny Saint - Normal[/U] A real cross-Atlantic battle here, as Funk, fresh from conquering Jacques Rougeau, takes on the much-loved Brit Johnny Saint, who beat Animal Hamaguchi in a mat-based bout. Funk is all over Johnny to start things off, and eventually takes Funk to the outside with some crawling headbutts, then rolls out and smashes him over the back with a steel chair! Back in the ring, gutwrench backbreaker does some serious damage to Johnny, and Funk then gets his patented bob and weave combo before hitting an atomic drop. Knee arm driver comes next, and then a small package (assisted by the ropes), for two. Funk slams down Saint, then goes up top, but misses a moonsault! Saint has Funk trapped on the mat and is keeping him there with hammerlocks and armbar variations, only for Terry to slip out of a leg grapevine, hit an atomic drop, then go up top again and this time score with a flying knee drop. Another bodyslam, and Funk goes for the moonsault again - but again, nobody home! And Saint drapes an arm over him for an agonisingly close two and three quarters! Funk gets staggered by a series of European uppercuts, then Saint goes for the spinning toe hold and has it locked in for a good minute or two. Funk breaks the hold, but as they get up, Saint scores the Johnny Saint Special roll-up type move - and that's it!! Saint pulls it off in 25 minutes, a great bout! ([B]A*[/B]*.) [U]Rick Martel vs Ric Flair - Hardcore[/U] Two guys who won fairly easily in their first round matches, Martel coming past Masa Saito while Flair took on 'Crybaby' Johnny Breaks. The two trade blows for a while, but no one gets the advantage until Ric drops measured elbows and knees on Martel. Martel slips out of a hammerlock, though, hitting an atomic drop then getting a head scissors. Martel keeps Flair on the ground for a few minutes, but the Nature Boy breaks a grapevine attempt and floors the Canadian with a posing roundhouse punch. Seated Bionic elbow follows, only for Ric to miss an elbow drop. Head scissors attempt is broken, and Flair drives Martel into the corner, then smashes him into the ringpost, before chopping away at Rick's chest. Martel comes back with uppercuts and forearms, though, but can't get a Quebec Crab locked in. Out of nowhere, he gets a crucifix cradle... And Ric Flair is OUT! The fans are in shock, as the Dirtiest Player in the Game falls at the second hurdle! Match sucked, but how's about that for an upset?! ([B]E[/B].)

[Jaded]

Ric Flair crashing out sent your friendly neighbourhood recapper into floods of tears which lasted nearly two years. However, he's recovered (and has his license sorted out, thanks Scott!) so let's get this shindig back of the road! [U]Hardcore match: Antonio Inoki vs El Solitario [/U] 2 of the very top guys from their respective countries here, as Japan’s Inoki takes on Mexico’s Solitario. Crowd are firmly behind the legendary Antonio here, booing the rudo El S loudly. Both men won their first round matches in a little under half an hour without ever looking in real danger. Inoki takes control fairly easily, with a mixture of restholds and throws, but El S slips out of an attempted knee drive to the arm. The pair have a five minute sequence where neither manages to do much damage, although El S is favouring his right knee despite Inoki not seeming to have done too much damage to it. Inoki gets our first really big move, whipping the rudo to the corner and hitting an explosive high knee, but Solitario breaks an attempt at the driving head scissors and locks on an inverted candado. Inoki slips out of the move and sends Solitario to the corner, only to miss with a repeat attempt at the high knee. El S slows things down with a number of rest holds on the mat, but eventually falls victim to the Mani-Gatame and taps out on 21 minutes. F rating for a terrible, terrible match. [U]Hardcore match: Hulk Hogan vs Jumbo Tsurata[/U] Two of the world’s most popular here, as American Hogan clashes with Japan’s Tsurata. Hogan starts off by shrugging off a punch by Jumbo and downing Tsurata with a few punches and headbutts, then blasting away on him while he’s down. Jumbo comes back, though, breaking an arm bar to take Hulk down with a series of his own armlocks and headlocks. Brutal side kick and knee drop from Tsurata have Hulk in pain, but he breaks the grounded arm bar. Double ax handle follows as the Hulkster then slams Jumbo’s face into the mat, but as Hogan goes for three elbow drops, Tsurata avoids the third. Tsurata appears to be going for a comeback, but Hulk shakes him off, waving his finger at the Japanese star, then hitting a massive standing ax handle and then getting the three elbow drops. Another ax handle follows, and Hogan then cuts Tsurata as he slams his face into the mat. A sweeping hip toss gets a desperation eye rake from Jumbo to buy some time, and as a part-blinded Hulkster charges in with more punches, Jumbo hits an airplane spin. Judo high toss follows, but as Jumbo goes for a knife edge chops, Hogan Hulks up, waving his finger again. Jumbo gets a dropkick and a high knee but quickly falls victim to another Hulking up, and Hogan locks on a bear squeeze, but can’t get an atomic drop, Jumbo wildly kicking out and catching Hulk right in the crotch! Three kicks to the thigh, but Hulk gets an eye rake of his own now, and gets an elbow drop then bounces off the ropes with a big legdrop… which misses! Jumbo covers… and it’s 2 and nine tenths! Tsurata didn’t quite get it that time, but locks on a front face lock, and thousands of Hulkamaniacs scream in disbelief as Hogan is forced to tap out. A rating. Upcoming to finish round 2 ... Leo Burke vs Jackie Pallo Killer Khan vs Andre the Giant Brackets for round 3: Seiji Sakaguchi vs The Original Kendo Nagasaki Bruiser Brody vs Osamu Kido Dusty Rhodes vs Big Daddy Tatsumi Fujinami vs Dr Wagner Mick McManus vs Jos Leduc Johnny Saint vs Rick Martel Antonio Inoki vs Jumbo Tsurata Winners of the final two round two matches. So, anyone remember this? If so, wanna throw up predictions for who'll win now that Flair and Hulk are BOTH out?

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[U]Normal match: Leo Burke vs Jackie Pallo [/U] Canadian Leo Burke, who squashed the Great Kabuki in a dire first round match, takes on ‘Mr TV’ Jackie Pallo, whose experience was too much for up-and-coming youngster ‘Playboy’ Buddy Rose. The first eight minutes or so are very open, as neither man manages to retain the upper hand for long. Eventually, however, Pallo staggers his opponent with a few hard punches and uppercuts, and keeps him on the ground with a mixture of headlocks and facelocks. A missed knee drop allows Burke a little respite, though, and the Canadian comes out punching, taking Pallo down and then methodically working over Jackie’s left leg. Single leg grapevine has TV in trouble, and Burke hits a nasty looking handstand knee drive to the leg before going straight back to the grapevine. Pallo blocks a submission attempt, though, and regains control, blasting Leo with two vicious knee jabs to the face, then taking him down with a hammerlock. He goes for a wrenching head scissors, but Leo breaks it, then hits the Thesz Press! Kick out on two! Leo goes for a Boston Crab but Jackie escapes it, bouncing off the ropes with a charging forearm, only for Leo to duck and hip toss him. Burke applies the spinning toehold, and for a minute it looks like he has the Brit, but Pallo manages to escape, only for Leo to trap him in his patented sleeper – and this time there’s no way out for Mr TV. C rating. [U]First Blood match: Killer Khan vs Andre the Giant [/U] First round saw the relative newcomer Khan win an incredibly brutal classic against Mr Wrestling II, while Andre tore apart Abdullah the Butcher. With Flair and Hulk gone, Andre is most people’s favourite to win the tourney. Khan starts off with a few headlocks on the Giant, but Andre breaks an arm wringer and hurls Killer into the corner, then hits a massive chop. Choke hold, stomp, facelock, and another throw to the corner, but Andre misses with a charging shoulder. Khan stupidly headbutts the Giant and is left reeling by the hardness of Andre’s skull, and the big man gets a forearm blow, but misses with a fist drop. Throat thrust and fist drop from Killer then a kick to the gut, and he hits a brutal running chop to the head. Chop flurry from Khan now, and another running chop. Rope assisted knee drop misses, and Andre hits a massive elbow drop, but misses with an axe handle. Double throat thrust from Killer leaves the Giant staggered, then a head vice to take him down and a massive soccer kick to the back of that huge head. Seated chop flurry from Khan, and we can clearly see red… that’s it! Andre is cut open, and this one’s over! F rating. Official third round line-up Seiji Sakaguchi vs The Original Kendo Nagasaki Bruiser Brody vs Osamu Kido Dusty Rhodes vs Big Daddy Tatsumi Fujinami vs Dr Wagner Mick McManus vs Jos Leduc Johnny Saint vs Rick Martel Antonio Inoki vs Jumbo Tsurata Leo Burke vs Killer Khan