Wrestling Superstars: :Legendary Journey Narrative

[Mark 138]

This is something a little different than the usual ongoing results thread, even though it starts out looking that way. I'm going to attempt to use the game to tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Some people may be able to see part of the theme just by looking at the name and the roster. Other elements will begin to take shape as I go. Some parts will come out of left field and (hopefully) be something never presented in this form. After some parts of the write-ups I'm going to put a number in brackets. That will relates to the last post where I'll give notes with expanded information after the story wraps up.

And with that said, the roster:


Superfly Jimmy Snuka
Andre The Giant [1]
Iron Sheik
Nikolai Volkoff
Hillbilly Jim
Brutus Beefcake
Greg Valentine
Cowboy Bob Orton
Magnificent Muraco
King Kong Bundy
George "The Animal" Steele
Captain Lou Albano
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Luscious Johnny V
SD Jones
Jumpin Jim Brunzell
B Brian Blair
Koko B. Ware
King Harley Race
Hacksaw Jim Duggan
One Man Gang
Ravishing Rick Rude
Ted DiBiase

[Mark 138]

WRESTLING SUPERSTARS

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Championship Tournament

opening round[/font]


Superfly Jimmy Snuka defeated Nikolai Volkoff.[/b]
[/center]Volkoff hammered the popular superstar from Fiji, but Snuka mounted a comeback and put away the Russian with the SUPERFLY LEAP.

Greg Valentine beat SD Jones.

Jones put forth little in the way of offense as Valentine cruised to a win following a pair of shoulder breakers.

Iron Sheik defeated George Steele (w/Lou Albano).

This was a wild, hard fought match. Sheik delivered a beating to Steele, who weathered the storm and turned it around after tearing into the top turnbuckle and rubbing the stuffing in Sheik's face. George quickly got distracted though, and Lou Albano tried desperately to get George's head back into the match. This distraction allowed Sheik enough time to load the infamous boot. As George came in to continue his attack to took the boot to the midsection and fell hard. Sheik covered and got the win.

Magnificent Muraco won by countout over Hillbilly Jim.

The powerful Hillbilly and Muraco matched strength at the beginning of the match, but when Muraco turned to underhanded tactics it was soon too much for Jim to handle. The action spilled to the outside where Muraco ran Jim's head into the steel post and made it back into the ring to beat the ref's ten-count and be declared victorious.

Ted DiBiase beat Jim Brunzell.

Brunzell gave DiBiase all he could handle and nearly scored the upset. DiBiase got one opening and made the most of it, taking Brunzell down after a miscue and quickly slapping on the MILLION DOLLAR DREAM for the win.

King Kong Bundy (w/Bobby Heenan) pinned Koko B. Ware.

Koko used hit and run tactics to try to wear down Bundy, but once he was caught it was all over. Bundy put him down with the AVALANCHE and finished it by insisting on the dreaded "5" count.

King Harley Race (w/Heenan) beat Brian Blair.

This was a solid, technical match. After several attemtps to put the King away Blair threw him into the corner and rushed in to strike. Race moved out of the way at the last instant and fell on top of Blair for the pin (with his feet on the middle rope for leverage, just for good measure).

Hacksaw Jim Duggan beat One Man Gang.

IN contrast to the previous match, there was not a technical wrestling move to be seen in this bout. Gang and Hacksaw hit each other again and again with neither man giving an inch. Gang finally took Hacksaw down and went to drop a big elbow, but Hacksaw moved. Gang got up wobbly and Duggan used a thunderous body slam to take him out for the pin.

Round two

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Superfly Snuka beat Greg Valentine.[/b][/center]
Snuka took the pin with a piledriver after sustaining a great amount of punishment for the second match in a row.

Iron Sheik beat Don Muraco by submission.

This battle of the bad guys saw both men pull out every dirty tactic in their playbooks to try to advance in the tournament. In the end Sheik had one more move than Muraco and locked in the CAMEL CLUTCH.

Ted DiBiase won by forfeit over King Kong Bundy (w/Bobby Heenan).

DiBiase called for the mic before the match and pulled out a wad of cash. He offered Bundy a "substantial payoff" to walk away. Bundy at first refused and told the ref to start the match, but Bobby Heenan talked him down and walked over to DiBiase. After a short private meeting in the corner Heenan walked over and whispered to Bundy. Bundy seemed impressed by whatever was said, shook DiBiase's hand, and stepped over the top rope and left the ring. The ref had no choice but to administer the ten count and award the bout to DiBiase.

Between bouts, ANDRE THE GIANT was introduced and went to the ringside table for guest commentary.

Hacksaw Duggan and Harley Race wrestled to a time limit draw.

Race came out alone for this one (Bobby must've been busy counting cash). At one point in the match he turned to insult Andre and got the Giant's attention in a major way. Later in the bout Harley moved when Hacksaw charged the corner and Race went for the cover with his feet on the ropes to mirror the way he defeated Blair in the first round. Andre got up and knocked Race's feet off the ropes and Hacksaw was able to kick out. That got Duggan back into the match, but Race had just enough willpower to hold him off until the time limit expired, thereby forcing a draw.

semi-finals

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Superfly Snuka pinned Iron Sheik.[/center]
Snuka was battered and weary coming into this match, but fought valiantly and put away Sheik with the SUPERFLY LEAP to advance to the title match.

Ted DiBiase received a bye.

Due to the draw between Jim Duggan and Harley Race, DiBiase got to walk into the finals having only wrestled one previous match.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

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Ted DiBiase defeated Superfly Jimmy Snuka to win the Wrestling Superstars Championship.[/center]
Snuka was sweating, bruised, and tired going into this bout, and DiBiase was as fresh as he was before the first round. That didn't stop Snuka from giving it everything he had and he nearly pulled off the huge win. Predictably, it was not to be, as DiBiase took advantage of Snuka's fatigue and scored the pin.

Winner and first Wrestling Superstars Champion-

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Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase[/size][/color][/center]

[Mark 138]

BRING HOME ALL THE ACTION!

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Wrestling Superstars House show results

One Man Gang easily defeated SD Jones.[/color][/center]Gang didn’t even bother to take off his vest before tearing into Jones. [3] He pounded away for a minute before ending it with the 747 SPLASH.

Greg The Hammer Valentine beat B Brian Blair.

[/color][/center]Blair, usually seen in tag team competition, looked good in the singles ranks for the second time in a row. However, Valentine was too much for him and picked up the win with the FIGURE FOUR.

Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff beat George Steele and Koko B. Ware.

[/color][/center]The teamwork of the evil foreign duo was too much for the talented Koko and his mismatched partner Steele. Iron Sheik ended up pinning Ware after a sidewinder suplex.

Brutus Beefcake (w/Johnny V) defeated Hillbilly Jim.

[/color][/center]Jim was distracted by Luscious Johnny and Brutus was relentless in his attack. That combination spelled defeat for the man from Mudlick, as Brutus scored the win with his FLYING KNEE.

Andre The Giant and Hacksaw Duggan defeated King Kong Bundy and King Harley Race (w/Bobby Heenan).

[/color][/center]The Heenan Family sought revenge on Andre for his interference in the championship tournament match between Duggan and Race, and issued the challenge for this special attraction type match. Duggan started out with Race and looked good until a cheap shot and a tag out to Bundy. Bundy and Race worked well as a team, tagging in and out and working Duggan over. Duggan made a few short comebacks, but kept getting taken back down. Finally he managed to make the desperation tag to Andre, who came in and cleaned house of both Heenan Family members AND Bobby The Brain when he attempted to jump up on the apron and interfere. Andre pinned Bundy after an impressive BIG SPLASH to take home the win for his team and thwart Heenan’s plan for revenge.

[Mark 138]

Saturday Night's
MAIN
EVENT

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King Harley Race (w/Bobby Heenan) defeated Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

[/color][/center]Duggan seemed to have the match won as he was setting up for his FLYING SPEAR when Bobby Heenan reached under the rope and grabbed his leg. Hacksaw tried to pull Bobby into the ring, but Race attacked from behind and used his finisher to get the pin.

In a backstage promo Andre The Giant commented on the tainted win. He said he'd be paying very close attention to the rest of the night and he expected everyone from the Heenan Family on down to World Champ Ted DiBiase "to be on their best behavior" or they would face a very angry Giant.

Ted DiBiase defeated Superfly Snuka to defend the World Heavyweight Championship.

[/color]Snuka put forth a tremendous effort and looked like he was going to win the championship late in the match when he climbed the top rope as DiBiase was getting to his feet. Snuka launched himself for an attempted top rope bodypress, but DiBiase moved. As Snuka got to his feet DiBiase slapped on the MILLION DOLLAR DREAM and got the win.

After the match Ted DiBiase grabbed a stack of hundred dollar bills from where he had left them on the ringside commentary table and got back into the ring. He stood over the unconscious Superfly and was ready to stuff a hundred dollar bill in Snuka's mouth when ANDRE THE GIANT showed up and prevented it. Andre grabbed DiBiase's arm and snatched the money from his hand. DiBiase protested as Andre began tossing the money out to the crowd. Ted grabbed the World title belt and went to hit Andre from behind, but the Giant turned and Ted froze in his tracks, fell to his butt, and rolled out of the ring. Ted left in anger and frustration, vowing revenge as Andre checked on Snuka.

Koko B. Ware upset Nikolai Volkoff via pinfall.

[/color]Nikolai came to the ring without his trademark hat [4] and seemed furious and off his gameplan, accusing everyone from the commentators to the ring announcer to Koko of stealing it from him. Once the match got underway he pummeled Koko for a while before the Birdman fought back. In the end B.Ware surprised Volkoff with a top rope dropkick and got the pin.

The Killer Bees defeated Bob Orton and Don Muraco.

[/color][/center]This was a fantastic tag team match, but the Bees teamwork made the difference in the end. Brunzell made the hot tag out to Blair who got rid of Orton from the ring apron and went to work on Muraco. A double team move consisting of an atomic drop by Blair into and ear clap on Muraco was followed by a school boy rollup on Muraco for the pin.

Following the win the Bees were attacked by the duo of the MASKED SUPERSTARS [5]. The big men beat down the Bees mercilessly with stomps and axe handle smashes until a group of referees was finally able to convince them to stop.

Backstage, a fuming mad TED DIBIASE ranted about Andre The Giant and how money can cut any man down to size. He did his usual spiel about everybody having a price for the Million Dollar Man and said he thinks he may have just figured out a way to bring the Giant to his knees.

Back to the ring, where RAVISHING RICK RUDE had the microphone. As Heenan stood in the background, Rude complained that he did not want a hairy animal like George Steele touching his "ravishing body". He said Steele could wrestle the ring announcer or tear up the turnbuckle or whatever he'd like to do because Rick Rude has been insulted by being booked into this match and he was leaving. Rude began to leave as the fans booed but he was met midway down the aisle by GEORGE STEELE. Steele pounded away at Rude and then tossed him back into the ring to start the match.

Ravishing Rick Rude pinned George The Animal Steele.

[/color]Steele used a double eye gouge and a back rake to punish Rude in the opeing seconds of the bout, then turned his attention to the turnbuckle. Steele started to dig in but Rude recovered and sent him down with a clothesline from behind. A top rope sledehammer blow was followed by the knee to the midsection and the RUDE AWAKENING to give Rude the win in this short but action packed bout.

[WTIC]

Some good action here! Too bad Snuka couldn't win the Belt though. Rude had a pretty easy match I'm sure! Good to see your talent base is solid!

[Mark 138]

(The talent base is very specific. That's why the roster is so small!)

Interlude

"Hey, have you seen Magnificent Muraco anywhere?"

"He's the guy with his name written on the front of his shirt, right? Lotta wrestlers seem to do that. Must be so they don't forget."

"Stop it! Seriously, have you seen him?"

"Last time I saw him he was in the----whatta ya call it?----the box..."

"Locker room!"

"Sure, 'Mr. Promoter man', the locker room."

"Well, he's not there now."

"Sorry. Oh, hey: I found that Russian guy's hat when I was sweeping the hallway the other day."

"Thanks, I'll make sure he gets it back."

"heh heh, sure. Now, if you don't mind, I've got some mopping to get done here."

[6]

[Mark 138]

BRING HOME ALL THE ACTION!

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Wrestling Superstars House show results[/center]

Iron Sheik defeated George The Animal Steele.

[/color][/center]Steele took it to Sheik in the beginning and tore open the turnbuckle to the crowd's delight. Sheik got turnbuckle stuffing rubbed in his eyes and appeared to be in trouble until he took his opening to load the dreaded boot. One well placed kick to the sizable gut of Steele later and Sheik was victorious.

Koko B. Ware upset One Man Gang.

[/color][/center]Gang beat up Koko for most of the match and set up for the 747 SPLASH. Koko moved at the last instant and headed to the top rope. Gang got to his feet slowly, but was felled by a top rope dropkick that knocked the wind out of him long enough for Ware to get the pin. The crowd was shocked but pleased that the Birdman scored the upset win and cheered wildly as Koko celebrated in the ring after the bout.

Greg The Hammer Valentine (substituting for Don Muraco) beat Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

[/color][/center]Valentine stepped in to replace the missing Magnificent Muraco and ended up picking up the win. The hard-fought match ended when Valentine managed to slap on the FIGURE FOUR. Duggan struggled to reach the ropes, but could not do so. He wouldn't give up, but finally he collapsed and his shoulders stayed on the mat for the ref's count of three.

The Masked Superstars crushed SD Jones and Hillbilly Jim.

[/color][/center]The Superstars looked very impressive and allowed no offense from the opposition. Superstar II locked Jim in the BACKBREAKER as Superstar put Jones in the COBRA HOLD for the decisive win.

Andre The Giant defeated King Harley Race (w/Bobby Heenan).

[/color][/center] Andre was firmly in control and went for the pin when Bobby Heenan jumped on the apron. Andre went after Heenan but Race recovered and drove a knee into the Giant's back. Andre was in trouble as Race poured on the offense and went for the pin, but Andre powered out and made his comeback. He grabbed The King in a bear Hug and drove him into the corner. A giant turnbuckle squash collapsed Race into a heap and Andre sat down on the fallen King to score the decisive pin.

Following the match TED DIBIASE (followed by a Wrestling Superstars camera crew) came out to confront Andre. DiBiase said that if Andre wants to take his money and his title, he'll have to play The Million Dollar Man's game. Andre told Ted he doesn't like games but he likes that world title belt and thinks he'll be taking it very soon. DiBiase laughed and said it's easier said than done because the road to the world title will have to go through THESE MEN (pointing down the aisle to the entrance); the best henchmen money can buy, THE MASKED SUPERSTARS.

The Superstars came down the aisle and stepped into the ring. Superstar II went nearly eye-to-eye with the Giant as Ted laughed maniacally. Finally Ted gave his lackeys the signal to leave and the three made their exit as Andre watched from the ring.

[Mark 138]

Superstars Of Wrestling

The show began with footage of Ted DiBiase's introduction of the Masked Superstars as his new enforcers and his challenge to Andre made at the most recent live event. It was announced that Andre had accepted the challenge and would face Masked Superstar II in the main event.

King Kong Bundy (w//Heenen) defeated SD Jones.

[/color]SD put forth a strong effort, but never quite managed to take the huge man off his feet. Bundy recovered and tossed Jones out of the ring. When SD stumbled back in he was crushed by the AVALANCHE and the pin was elementary from there.

Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake (w/Johnny V) beat Hillbilly Jim and Hacksaw Duggan.

Duggan and Hillbilly worked well as a team, but Valentine and Beefcake were too much to handle. Duggan made the desperation tag out to Hillbilly, and Jim came in and scored a near fall on The Hammer. Hammer recovered quickly though and took Jim down to finish him with the FIGURE FOUR.

Superfly Snuka pinned Cowboy Bob Orton (subbing for Don Muraco).

[/color][/center]Orton complained that he was not ready for the match and wondered out loud what had happened to his tag team partner. Snuka took advantage of the confusion and pretty easily handled the Cowboy. Orton tried to leave the ring to regroup, but Snuka performed a dive over the ropes and to the floor that all but wiped out the opposition. Snuka tossed him back into the ring and finished it with a flying head butt.

Ravishing Rick Rude (w/Heenan) pinned Koko B. Ware.

[/color][/center]Ware has been on a roll as of late, but Rick Rude came in with something to prove and, as he explained in a pre-taped interview, the desire to see his name added to the short list of championship contenders. A nice, competitive bout ensued until Koko actually managed to hit the GHOSTBUSTER. He went for the cover, but Rude managed to get his foot on the bottom rope to break the pin. As Rude got to his feet Koko dropkicked him and sent him flying out of the ring. Rude tried to recover, but Koko went to pull him back into the ring by his hair. Instead Rude grabbed Koko by the back of the head and dropped him throat first on the top rope. Koko stumbled back and Rude got into the ring to finish it with a swinging neckbreaker.

Andre The Giant pinned Masked Superstar II (w/Masked Superstar).

[/color][/center]World Champion TED DIBIASE came down to ringside and watched from the commentator's table as Andre went to war with Superstar II. The massive combatants traded thunderous punches and forearms smashes in the outset. Andre took control and looked to be ready to put it away, but Superstar II fought back into the match and had Andre in trouble. Andre mounted one last ditch comeback and slammed the masked man before finishing him with a sitdown splash.

After the bell the Masked Superstar jumped into the ring and attacked Andre as DiBiase shouted instructions from ringside. Superstar II recovered and jumped into the fight. Andre appeared to be in big trouble until SUPERFLY JIMMY SNUKA raced down the aisle to even the sides. The two sides fought with neither giving an inch until referees, officials, and wrestler Duggan, Jones, and Hillbilly Jim came down to break it up.

DiBiase rallied his troops in the aisle as Andre grabbed the mic and challenged them to face him and Snuka on the next show.DiBiase ordered his men to leave without giving an answer.

[Mark 138]

Interlude 2

"Hey kid, I think I just found Muraco."

"Aw, what's he doing out back here? Come on, Rock; the action's INSIDE the building!"

"Not for him, it doesn't look like."

"Shut it! Aw man Muraco, what happened to your hand ? ! ? It looks awful! Well, you've got a match tonight so let's get inside and see about getting it taped up."

"Heh heh. What, no time off for an injury? Glad to see boxing didn't get all of the heartless promoters!"

[7]

[Mark 138]

BRING HOME ALL THE ACTION!

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Madison Square Garden
Television taping[/center]

George The Animal Steele (w/Captain Lou) won by disqualification over One Man Gang.

[/color][/center]A standard brawl of a match got out of control at the end when Gang tossed Steele out of the ring. The ref tried to keep Gang in the ring, but was tossed aside and Gang went outside to continue the assault. The ref called for the bell and awarded the match to Steele as the combatants brawled all the way back down the aisle.

Nikolai Volkoff pinned Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

[/color][/center]Hacksaw started strong, but pressed the attack too hard and made a mistake. Volkoff dropped him throat first on the top rope and followed up with a 2nd rope knee drop for the pin.

The Killer Bees defeated Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine (w/Johnny V).

[/color][/center]The Bees were involved in yet another great tag team match, pulling a big come from behind win over the "Dream Team". The end came when Blair pinned Brutus after the BEE STING.

Magnificent Muraco made his way to the ring for the next bout. His hand was heavily taped and he seemed more sedate on his way down the aisle, simply ignoring fans instead of hurling the usual abuse and insults.

His opponent, King Harley Race and manager Bobby Heenan came out next. Heenan took the mic before the bout and said they'd fought on the same side for a long time and have been associates in the past and he hopes they can have a "nice, clean wrestling match" tonight. Muraco agreed and he and Race shook hands in a display of "honor amongst thieves".

Magnificent Muraco pinned King Harley Race.

[/color][/center]The action started clean, but when Muraco started to take over Race did not hesitate to take a cheap shot on a rope break to put things to his advantage. Muraco fired up after kicking out of a pin attempt after a back suplex and mounted a comeback. He went for his Reverse Piledriver, but Bobby Heenan jumped up on the apron to distract him. Race drove a knee to the back of Muraco and went to the top rope to try to finish him, but The Magnificent One recovered, slammed him off the top, and used the "Hawaiian Hammer" piledriver to take the win as the fans cheered in approval.

Superfly Snuka and Andre The Giant beat The Masked Superstars.

[/color][/center]Snuka started out strong but was eventually caught and overpowered by big Superstar II. He was double teamed mercilessly and in serious trouble before he finally managed to make the tag to Andre. Andre took things under control, only giving a little offense to Superstar II before he finally managed to dispatch him and then put away Masked Superstar with the BIG SPLASH.

After the match Andre took the microphone and declared, "That's two down and one to go. DiBiase, soon I show you money can't buy everything."

[Mark 138]

Superstars Of Wrestling

Ted DiBiase came to the ring to begin the show. His opponent, SD Jones, was already waiting. Ted took the mic before the match and said Andre talks tough, but Ted DiBiase is not a man to be messed with. DiBiase announced that Andre will get his title match at Superstar Mania but he may wish he didn't. He vowed to give Andre a demonstration of what he had to look forward to and ordered the ref to ring the bell.

World Champion Ted DiBiase defeated SD Jones in a non-title match.

[/color]Jones never had a chance. Ted rushed in, took him down with a headlock takeover, and immediately grabbed the leg and used a figure four leglock for the submission.

Cowboy Bob Orton beat Hillbilly Jim.

Don Muraco came to the ring with Orton, but they exchanged words before the bout and Muraco left. The match went on and Hillbilly put up a good fight. At one point it looked like Jim would score the upset when he locked in the BEAR HUG, but Orton fought out of it and ended up winning with a middle rope splash.

George The Animal Steele (w/Lou Albano) beat One Man Gang.

[/color][/center]Steele rushed the ring and attacked Gang in the corner. Gang tried to reverse and ram Steele's head into the buckle, but George blocked and retaliated. He then tore open the buckle, rubbed the stuffing in Gang's face, and ran Gang's head into the exposed steel corner* to get the pin.

Bobby Heenan came to the ring and demanded Magnificent Muraco come out to explain himself. He said Muraco had injured King Harley Race with that piledriver of his that should be banned and he owed both Race and Heenan an apology. Muraco appeared and said he intended to have a clean match with Race, but Race took the first cheap shot and then Heenan got on the apron to try to interfere, so as far as he's concerned Race got what he deserved. Heenan was livid and said maybe Muraco would like to tell that to Ravishing Rick Rude at Superstar Mania; perhaps in a one-on-one match. Muraco tersely replied that he'd be glad to and walked away.

King Kong Bundy won by disqualification over Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

[/color][/center]Bundy took the fight to the floor repeatedly and wouldn't let up on Duggan. Hacksaw finally grabbed his trusty 2x4 board and used it to clear some space with a well placed shot to Bundy's skull. That drew the disqualification but made the fans happy anyway, as they cheered and roared "Hoooooo!" right along with Duggan.

Superfly Jimmy Snuka won by disqualification over Masked Superstar (w/Superstar II)

[/color][/center]The hotly contested bout ended in controversy when Snuka went to the top for the Superfly Splash, but Superstar II reached up from ringside and pushed him off the top rope.

After the bell The Superstars went on the attack until Andre The Giant came to the ring to save Snuka. Andre was in charge of Superstar when TED DIBIASE rushed out and used the world title belt to clip Andre's knee from behind. Andre went down hard and DiBiase led his men away from the ring as referees and paramedics rushed out to check on the fallen Giant.



*finish was actually "FLYING HAMMERLOCK" but I subbed "head into exposed buckle" because there's no way Steele would be hoisting Gang up for that move.

[WTIC]

I think DiBiase had the easiest match on the card, LOL!

Snuka's doing well here just like he's doing in AWE! Yay!

[Mark 138]

SUPERSTAR MANIA

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Hacksaw Jim Duggan beat King Kong Bundy.[/center]Bundy attacked before the bell and had Hacksaw in big trouble. Duggan fought him off, but Bundy got right back on offense. Finally Bundy set Duggan up in the corner and rushed in for a big corner splash. Duggan moved at the last instant, Bundy crashed to the mat, and Hacksaw scored the pin.

Larry Zbyszko pinned Curt Hennig.

The first of three matches featuring wrestlers from All Star Wrestling was full of action. Lbyszko survived the potent offense of Hennig and picked up the win with a piledriver.

The Road Warriors beat Buddy Rose and Boris Zuchov.

[/color][/center]The result was probably no surprise but Rose and Zuchov made a match of it up until the end. Finally Hawk cleared Zuchov off of the apron and the Warriors used the double clothesline on Rose for the win.

Don Muraco and Rick Rude wrestled to a double countout.

[/color][/center]Rude was on a mission with orders from Bobby Heenan to injure Muraco as he claimed Muraco did to Harley Race. Rude took the action to the floor every chance he got, but Muraco was tougher than Rude anticipated and fought back hard each time. Finally a brawl broke out on the floor that could not be controlled and the referee was forced to count both men out and rule the bout a double countout.

Superfly Jimmy Snuka beat Masked Superstar in a no disqualification match.

[/color][/center][/b]Snuka had his chance for revenge and took advantage. Because of the match stipulation Masked Superstar II could not appear at ringside so the match was sure to have a clear winner. That winner was The Superfly as he used the SUPERFLY SPLASH to take the victory.

Nick Bockwinkel defeated Terry Gordy to defend the All Star Wrestling championship.

[/color][/center]Gordy came in tough as the challenger and took it to the cagey vet. Bockwinkel proved that he still had a few tricks left up his sleeve and seemed to allow the challenger to wear himself out before putting him away with the BOCKWINKEL SLEEPER.

MAIN EVENT
WORLD TITLE MATCH

..............................

"Andrew, play time's over. It's time to start heading for grandma's house."

"MOM! It's time for the main event!"

"Sorry bub, you knew we were leaving at noon. I hope you're all packed."

"Yeah, but.....can't I take my figures with me?"

"There's no room in the car. Besides, you know grandma's old fashioned and she thinks boys playing with 'dolls' is inappropriate. HEY, maybe you could take that card and dice game with the space wrestlers that you like so much."

"But there's no Ted DiBiase and Andre The Giant card for Champions Of The Galaxy! How'm I supposed to have the main event?"

"I guess it's 'on pause' until we get back. Maybe one day that company will make cards for all of these guys and you can just keep playing."

"YEAH RIGHT! This is just some little company run from a guy's house. The guys I've got figures of are huge stars!"

"Maybe one day, son. Maybe one day."


End chapter one.
coming next: epilogue and annotations.

[Mark 138]

BE SURE TO READ THE ENTIRE POST ABOVE FIRST![/size]



epilogue[/i]



A nightstand light comes on and a hulking, aging figure lurches to a sitting position. Joints weary from years of battle crack and creak as he reaches over to grab his telephone and make a call.

"Hey, yeah it's me. I know it's early but I just had the damndest dream. You've got to hear this."

"........."

"I know, I'm sorry. Listen, it'll only take a minute. I had this dream that about twenty of us were working for this real small company and it was a shoot. We were really going for it; Ted was throwing his money around, Big Nikolai really hated the USA, the works. For some reason Ax and Studd were in their Masked Superstar gimmick, but that's beside the point. Anyway, I took a bad bump and got lost. I'm wandering around and some guy gives me a ride home. Then the car door gets stuck on my arm. Only it's not a car door all of the sudden, it's a giant dog and he's got his jaws around my hand. Then I'm not me anymore......remember those dolls they made of us?"


"........."

"Action figure. Whatever."

"........."

"No, not the newer ones that came out a few years ago, those heavy rubber ones from the 80s. Well, I was one of those! We all were and the promoter was really this kid playing with those doll---action figures."

"........."

"Not a thing. Sober as could be. But now it gets really strange because the kid sort of faded away and we weren't people or dolls being played with by some kid, we were cards and this guy rolling dice was deciding everything we did! Then he was typing it all up and putting it on the internet for everyone to see. It felt like I was on display. Do you suppose that's what the universe is really like? Just some game being controlled by a kid playing with toys or a guy rolling dice? What if it's just layers upon layers like that and there is no real answer to what's 'true' and what's not?"

"(click)"

"Hello? Hello?"



next up: annotations

[WTIC]

It's the Matrix all over again, LOL! Fun stuff! I think I still have my Ted Arcidi "doll" somewhere...

[Mark 138]

Interestingly, I've never seen any of the Matrix movies. I understand they did borrow heavily from the mid-to-late 90s comic book series "The Invisibles" by writer Grant Morrison and that was an influence. So I suppose one of these days I should finally get around to watching The Matrix.

annotations

Legendary Journey Narrative= LJN, the company that produced the WWF Wrestling Superstars action figure line from 1984 to 1989.

[1] (intro post): There were three versions of Andre The Giant released in the line: The long haired Andre in '84, the short hair version after Studd cut his hair, and finally a "heel" Andre with the black outfit. The one Andrew has is the long haired original version, coinciding with the longer haired Andre portrayed in the Legends OF Wrestling limited edition card.

[2] (second show): "Bring Home All The Action" was the theme of the third LJN action figure television commercial released in 1987.


[3] (second show): One Man Gang didn't take off his vest because the figure depicted Gang wearing his blue jean vest, as does the drawing for his Legends Of Wrestling card.

[4] (third show): Nikolai's hat is missing because the kid lost it! Kids always seemed lose the accessories for these figures! Also, the first printing of the Legends Of Wrestling intro box set features card art of Nikolai without a hat (the second print, of course, has Volkoff in his trademark hat and shirt).

[5] (third show): Obviously, there were no figures produced for The Masked Superstars. However, there were figures made of Demolition Ax and Big John Studd. In a mind-boggling move, the line was canceled before Demolition Smash could be made to go with Ax. Fortunately for Andrew, he was an avid reader of "kayfabe breaking" wrestling magazines like Wrestling World and the infamous Wrestling Eye that revealed to him that Ax used to be Superstar and Studd once donned the mask of Superstar II. Some of moms fabric and a few paint markers later and the Masked Superstars came to "Wrestling Superstars".

[6] (interlude 1): On one level this is a promoter talking to the building's janitor about a missing wrestler. On another it is Andrew talking to his mom, who is busy with house cleaning, as he tries to find the missing Muraco figure. The comment about the shirt is because the figure in question depicted Muraco in a black shirt with "Magnificent Muraco" written in white letters on the front. Andrew calls the box where he keeps his figures the locker room, and his mom is sort of teasing him.


[7] (interlude 2): On level one it's a Wrestling Superstars employee talking to the promoter behind the arena as he's discovered Muraco stumbling around out back with a busted hand. On level two it's Andrew's dad who has found the Muraco figure in the backyard where the family dog has taken it to have his slobbering, dog-jawed way with the hand.

[8] (Superstar Mania): "All Star Wrestling" was the name of the AWA wrestling action figure line produced by Remco in the 80s as competition to the LJN WWF line. All Star Wrestling fared far better in action figure land than the AWA did against the real WWF, as they offered a cheaper alternative, offering two-packs of figures for about the same price as one WWF action figure. Playboy Buddy Rose and Boris Zuchov were part of the only series sold individually, the very rare "Mat Mania" line. These figures are incredibly tough to find, especially Zuchov which can now sell in the neighborhood of $1,000+ in original condition!

[WTIC]

Yeah, kids tend to lose all the little pieces. My nephew lost the shoes & socks from my 6-million dollar guy (from the TV show). Never did find them.

The dog & Muraco, LOL!

I had a bunch of the AWA guys! Never saw the Zhukov one, except on TV. I had Abdullah & Hansen, plus a bunch of the regular guys!

I also had a bunch of the NWA guys. There seemed to be two Arn Andersons made, I recall. One had a bald spot on top of Arn's head, and one didn't. I had the one that didn't have the bald spot, while my friend's had the bald spot, LOL!

I only wish they had the fully posable ones like the 8" Mego superheroes, THOSE I would have gotten!

[Mark 138]

Yeah, not many people found AWA figures of Zuchov, Adnan, Nord The Barbarian, Midnight Rockers, Rose and Sommers. That's why they're worth BIG bucks now. I too had the NWA/WCW figures when I was a kid. I had the bald spot Arn. I think the one without the bald spot came in the tag team set with Flair.

Good times. It just struck me looking through the cards one day that I used to have action figures of so many of them when I was a kid (and hey, later in life too, as a collector) that I had to do this. I counted it up though, and the toy line with the most crossover to Legends Of Wrestling is the Jakks Pacific "Classic Superstars" line from 2003-2009; I think there were something like 56 wrestlers in that line that also have LOW cards (they even made a figure of Johnny Rodz!).

[WTIC]

Johnny Rodz? They should've made a figure for Frankie Williams! THAT would have been a MUST-HAVE, LOL!