Major League Wrestling

[stephenvegas]

While I play COTG as often as possible, I really want to return to LOW which I"ve only been playing sporadically recently. So here is my restart- Major League Wrestling! Major League Baseball is about to get underway (in the Summer here in Las Vegas it is not too hard on a weekend or on a travel day to find me in a sports book gambling-parlay cards- on baseball and drinking booze all day) and this gave me the incentive finally to redo my fed!

First card for my World Championship is a tournament set to begin on Friday March 31 at the Thomas and Mack (UNLV campus)! Here is my starting roster:

Faces: Valiants, Flying Redheads, Killer Bees, Danny Hodge, S.D. Jones, Frank Gotch, Antonino Rocca, Regulators (Bob Orton, Richard Hutton), Buddy Rose, Jimmy Snuka, Bobo Brazil, Giant Baba, Mil Mascaras, and Yukon Eric.

Heels: Midnight Express, Road Warriors, Ox Baker, Valentines, Gorgeous George, Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik, Brutus Beefcake, Sandman, Harley Race, Buddy Rogers, Nick Bockwinkle, and Killer Kowalski.

Oh yeah, Splatter says, "Major League Wrestling. Don't you DARE miss it!"

[stephenvegas]

I meant to add Paul Ellering and Virgil to my starting roster of faces- I'm not going to use Ellering and Virgil as mangers (or whatever Virgil was with Ted Dibiase) just yet.

I also forgot to include the managers with my starting roster.
Managers: Nikita Breznikov, Jim Cornette, Bobby Heenan, Captain Lou Albano, and Killer Kowalski (the LE card).

Breznikov manages the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff.
Cornette manages the Midnight Express.
Heenan manages Nick Bockwinkle and Harley Race.
Albano manages the Valiants and the Flying Redheads.
Kowalski manages the Road Warriors.

Finally, Bruno Samartino is my owner/General Manager and Sammartino is the ONLY bootleg I am using. The rest of my bootlegs are in my bootleg fed.

[stephenvegas]

Here is the list of matches for Friday's Preliminary and First Rounds in the tournaments for Major League Wrestling's first World Champion and Tag team Champions:

World Championship Tournament:

Preliminary Round (dark matches):
S.D. Jones vs Sandman
Buddy Rose vs Brutus Beefcake

First Round:
Harley Race vs Jones/Sandman winner
Buddy Rogers vs Rose/Beefcake winner
Danny Hodge vs Nick Bockwinkle
Frank Gotch vs Ox Baker
Yukon Eric vs Bobo Brazil
Mil Mascaras vs Killer Kowalski
Giant Baba vs Antonino Rocca
Jimmy Snuka vs Gorgeous George

World Tag Team Championship:
Regulators (Orton Jr, Hutton) vs Road Warriors
Flying Redheads vs Midnight Express
Valiants vs Valentines
Killer Bees vs Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff

Second Round, Semi Finals, and Final Rounds will all be held on Saturday April 1 to determine Major League Wrestling's first World Champion and World Tag Team Champion!

[gwffantrav]

Hey Stephen, if you saw that thread about the Iron Sheik interview, the Killer Bees and Sheik/Volkoff match should be interesting!!!

Don't let Blair get caught in the Camel Clutch!!!

[canadianpittbull]

No doubt! Or else Sheik will "make him humble". I tell ya though I cannot look at his card or Blair's card without laughing for several minutes. My Brother and I just sit and laugh uncontrollably while running the cards. Classic!

I think now when I read your feud between these two I will be both interested and very entertained. Cannot wait to see what you come up with. And remember Duggan can run in to save him!

[stephenvegas]

GWFfanTrav and canadianpittbull,

I haven't actually seen the Iron Sheik's interveiw thread yet about Blair. I guess I will need to check it out before Friday.

Duggan is not on my roster yet but, perhaps if the Killer Bees feud with the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, reenacting the Wrestlemania 3 moment could be a great way to bring him in. I have a plan on how later to expand my roster while keeping it really manageable and Duggan will probably be one of the first new additions.

[stephenvegas]

Major League Wrestling
3/31/06 Thomas and Mack @ Las Vegas, NV
Opening Round Matches in the World Championship and World Tag team Championship Tournaments

World Championship Tournament- Preliminary Round (Dark Matches)

Sandman pinned S. D.Jones.
Jones had control of the match early and nearly pinned the Sandman. But Sandman managed to hit Jones with his SINGAPORE CANE without getting caught by the referee to score the pinfall over Jones.

Buddy Rose pinned Brutus Beefcake via a chokeslam (using choice situations chart)

World Tag Team Championship- First Round

Midnight Express d Flying Redheads when Eaton finally pinned Lyons in an exciting and long first round opening match.

The Valiants d the Valentines by dq when Johnny Valentine was disqualified for viciously slamming Johnny Valentine into the ringside post outside of the ring and then shoving the referee.

The Killer Bees d the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff when Brunzell pinned the Iron Sheik after successfully completing a mask switch with Blair. Before the match began, the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff were introduced first. Gary Michael Cappetta, the ring announcer, then surprised everybody by saying that Volkoff was going to sing the Soviet national anthem. As Volkoff proceeded to sing, the boos of the crowd became so loud that Cappetta decided to interrupt Volkoff's singing by announcing his and the Iron Sheik's opponents- the Killer Bees. The Iron Sheik then grabbed Cappetta and threatened to hit him when Blair jumped to Cappetta's defense by attacking the Iron Sheik from behind to officially start the match with Blair having the early advantage. Blair nearly made the Iron Sheik defeat after two quick moves with his sleeper but Volkoff interfered. Blair then almost pinned the Iron Sheik after he and Brunzell executed the BEE STING but Brevnikov interfered. Later in the match, Volkoff got a two count on Brunzell. The Iron Sheik then signaled viciously that he wanted back into the match to finish off a seemingly exhausted Brunzell. While Volkoff went to tag in the Iron Sheik, Brunzell managed to tag in Blair. Blair again started to dominate the match against the Iron Sheik who finally countered with a Boston Crab. While Blair was in the Boston Crab with his back to the Iron Sheik, he and Brunzell performed their mask switch. Brunzell performed his FLYING DROPKICK against a surprised Iron Sheik who was then pinned. As the Killer Bees left the ring in victory, the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff shook the ring ropes furiously in protest and shouted at the Killer Bees. The Iron Sheik particularly shouted loudly at Blair and the play by play announcer mentions that he doesn't think this is matter has been resolved yet between these two teams.

The Road Warriors (managed by Killer Kowalski) d the Regulators (Cowboy Bob Orton and Richard Hutton).
Animal pinned Hutton via their DOOMSDAY DEVICE in a match that ended so quickly that Bob Orton never even got a chance to tag in.

World Championship Tournament, First Round

Buddy Rogers pinned Buddy Rose via a jumping knee smash. Buddy Rose had some success early in th match but Rogers, after kicking out of one pinfall attempt by Rose, regained and never lost control to finish off Rose.

Killer Kowalski (LE) upset Mil Mascaras by defeating him by countout after viciously knocking Mascaras through the ropes. Mascaras was not able to return to the ring before the ten count.

Nick Bockwinkle (managed by Heenan) exerted little effort to dispose of Danny Hodge by making Hodge tap out after just a few moves to his FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK.

Frank Gotch easily defeated Ox Baker by making a shocked Ox Baker quickly submit to his GOTCH TOEHOLD.

Jimmy Snuka pinned Gorgeous George via an impressive (+5) SUPERFLY LEAP. After the match, Snuka turned his back on George to climb the turnbuckle and give the crowd the victory sign. George snuck up behind Snuka and sprayed him in the eyes with some sort of mist. Snuka, partially blinded, fought back valiantly against George. Snuka and George traded many blows against one another as they spilled up the ring, up the ramp, and into the backstage where they were finally separated by the combined efforts of a group of referees and fed officials.

Yukon Eric used his KODIAK KRUNCH to score an upset over Bobo Brazil. Before and after the match Yukon Eric and Bobo Brazil both shook hands with each other.

Antonino Rocca scored a victory over fellow fan favorite Giant Baba via a victory roll.

Harley Race (the odds on favorite at local Vegas sports books to win this tournament with 2-1 odds) easily defeated Sandman via an Indian deathlock.

[stephenvegas]

4/1/06
Today's Second Round Matchups at the Thomas and Mack in Las Vegas, Nevada.

World Championship Tournament, Second Round:

Jimmy Snuka vs Harley Race
Antonino Rocca vs Buddy Rogers
Yukon Eric vs Nick Bockwinkle
Frank Gotch vs Killer Kowalski

World Tag Team Championship Tournament, Second Round:

Killer Bees vs Road Warriors
Valiants vs Midnight Express

Note: In addition to the Second Rounds, all subsequent rounds will also be done tonight! Major League Wrestling will thus determine its first World Champion and World Tag Team Champions before the day is over!

[stephenvegas]

Major League Wrestling
4/1/06, Thomas @ Mack(UNLV campus), Las Vegas, Nevada
Second Round, SemiFinals, and Final Round tournament matches for the World Championship and World Tag Team Championships.

World Championship Tournament- Second Round

Nick Bockwinkel (managed by Bobby Heenan) d Killer Kowalski via BOCKWINKEL SLEEPER. This started off as an incredibly wild match in which the referee lost control. The action spilled outside of the ring and Bockwinkel then regained control by throwing Kowalski back into the ring and then kneeing Kowalski in the back, piledriving Kowalski, and then putting Kowalski away with the patented BOCKWINKEL SLEEPER.

Frank Gotch d Yukon Eric. Yukon Eric started off the match completely in control and managed an early pin attempt following a woodsman chop. But Gotch regained command and proceeded to make Yukon Eric tap out to the GOTCH TOEHOLD.

Harley Race (managed by Bobby Heenan) pinned Jimmy Snuka due to interference from Gorgeous George whom Snuka traded continuous blows with outside of the ring after their first round matchup the previous night. After Snuka was pinned, he chased George up the ramp and back to the dressing room area.

Antonino Rocca continued his impressive run in this tournament by defeating Buddy Rogers in an indisputably classic match. After multiple pin attempts by both men in the longest match so far in this tournament, Rocca finally and suddenly won via a flying head scissors.

World Tag Team Championship Tournament- Semifinals

The Road Warriors (managed by Killer Kowalski) d the Killer Bees. The Road Warriors victory was partially assisted by the interference of the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff. The Iron Sheik and Volkoff suddenly showed up when Blair seemingly had control of the match which allowed the Road Warriors to regain the advantage. Later in the match, Animal kept throwing Brunzell out of the ring where he was savagely beaten by the Iron Sheik and Volkoff who then threw him back into the ring for a waiting Animal. The Road Warriors then won the match after one of these beat downs by giving the DOOMSDAY DEVICE to Brunzell followed by two straight POWERSLAMS by Animal. The Iron Sheik, Volkoff, and Breznivok then grabbed Blair to prevent him from from making a pin save for his partner Brunzell.

The Midnight Express d the Valiants. Jimmy Valiant seemed to have the match won by giving Eaton the SUPER ELBOW. But the ref became distracted by Johhny Valiant and Lou Albano who were only complaining and trying to point out that Cornette had just jumped onto the ring apron.. While the ref was distracted with Albano and Johhny Valiant. Cornette handed his tennis racket to Lane who then hit Jimmy Valiant over the head and then draped a semi unconscious Eaton over Jimmy. Valiant for the pinfall as the ref finally turned around.

World Championship Tournament - Semifinals

Harley Race (managed by Bobby Heenan) defeated Frank Gotch via a piledriver with surprisingly very little trouble.

Nick Bockwinkel (managed by Bobby Heenan)p Antonino Rocca. Rocca seemingly had Bockwinkel in serious trouble when Heenan suddenly jumped onto the ring apron. Rocca then shook the ropes vigorously enough to force Heenan to somersault into the ring. Heenan then backed into the corner with Rocca advancing upon him. But while Rocca's back was turned, Bockwinkel sneaked up behind him and manged to attack and then pin Rocca.

World Tag Team Championship tournament final round

The Midnight Express d the Road Warriors but it took interference by Cornette, 1 VEGOMATIC, 1 SUPERKICK, and 2 ROCKET LAUNCHERs before Lane finally pinned Animal to make the Midnight Express Major League Wrestling's first World Tag Team Champions.

World Championship tournament Final Round]

In a match between the only two wrestlers currently managed by Bobby Heenan, Nick Bockwinkel managed to defeat Harley Race to become Major League Wrestling's first World Champion. Throughout the match, Heenan appeared to take a neutral stance. After the match, Harley Race stayed in the ring but looked unhappy as an exhilarated Heenan raised Bockwinkel's arm in victory.

Next Week: Major League Wrestling's first actual TV show takes place form the Thomas and Mack (UNLV campus) in Las Vegas, NV before hitting the roads to various arenas throughout the Southwest territory!

[theace4ever]

great tournament...Bockwinkel should make a great champion..he has always come close for me, but never winning it..Race though in my fed's history is almost a god when it comes to World Title Reigns

[stephenvegas]

Thanks theace4ever,

In my two previous LOW feds, Harley Race won the tournament both times. The Road Warriors also won the tag team tournament both times and this led me to believe that the Final Round results this time would have been the exact opposite with Race defeating Bockwinkle and the Road Warriors defeating the Midnight Express. In the past, the Midnight Express were US Tag Team Champions for me but never won the World Tag Team Championship. Also, Bockwinkle in the past had a great run as Intercontinental Champion but he never previously held the World Championship.

I had some dqs and rolls of doubles in the tournament which set up some feuds I am really excited about. Snuka and George had a great feud in the past for me and now it appears that they are feuding again!

[theace4ever]

cant wait to see that, DQs can be good, especially for building up a feud..the only thing I hate is when I have a card that 90% of the matches end in dqs...drives me nuts...Race was a beast when holding the belt..He has won the title 4 times, each time was a long reign, the 4th beginning the shortest...Race has since left LPWA and is now competing in a tag team with Larry Hennig in IWA...The Road Warriors are also 4 time tag champs, they too left LPWA for IWA just prior to the start of year 3...The Roadies most recent match was a classic, they defeated Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba

[stephenvegas]

Major League Wrestling Preview for Friday April 7.
Las Vegas, Nevada

This week on Major League Wrestling, Commissioner Bruno Samartino will conduct in-ring ceremonies to award the World Championship and World Tag Team Championship belts to last week's tournament winners- Nick Bockwinkle and the Midnight Express. Will any other members of the roster- specifically those whom Bockwinkle and the Midnight Express both defeated in last weekend's tournaments through questionable means- have anything to say?

Also, rumors are flying that there might be an announcement by Sammartino about an introduction of a secondary singles championship with plans to determine how the holder of that title will be determined.

In addition, look for further developments in the animosity that emerged between the Killer Bees and the duo of Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff in last week's World Tag Team Championship Tournament. Gorgeous George also intends to explain why he sprayed Jimmy Snuka in the eyes with some sort of perfumed mist after losing to Snuka in the opening round of last weekend's World Championship Tournament.

Finally, what is the meaning behind rumors of an upcoming major card called Backlash?

Tune in Friday to find out.

Splatter says: "Major League Wrestling. Don't you DARE miss it!"

[stephenvegas]

As I get ready to play (while I watch Smackdown) and later post the results of my first real televised card tonight, I just wanted to identify the COTG jobbers I use as under card wrestlers in my LOW fed. After this week's card, these wrestlers will mostly show up on on my B show. Similar to godzillajoe2k4 with his ILWF, I tend to use the COTG jobber's card and just slightly alter the name. Here is my undercard roster:

Omega (2087)= War Chief Omega
Black Hole Bart= Dirty Black Bart
Astro Turk= Austin Turk
Tauran= Simon Tauran
Death Knight= Dark Knight (minus the robotic aspects)
Scimitar= Scimitar
Ursa Major = Major Ursa
Karah, The Jungle Lad= Karah, The Jungle Lord

[stephenvegas]

Friday 4/7/06
Major League Wrestling: Showtime
Thomas and Mack (UNLV) @ Las Vegas, Nevada.

Start of show: Major League Wrestling's owner and General Manager Bruno Sammartino is in the ring holding a microphone with an impressive looking belt wrapped around his shoulder. Also in the ring are Nick Bockwinkel (who won last week's tournament), Bockwinkel's manager Bobby Heenan, and fellow Heenan Family member Harley Race.

Sammartino welcomes everyone to the first ever show of Major League Wrestling: Showtime and introduces himself as a multiple time World Heavyweight Champion for another wrestling organization in the Northeast territory and explains that he now wants to use his fortune to create Major League Wrestling here in the Southwest. Sammartino states that his aim is to make Major League Wrestling the premier wrestling organization in the world and that he's going to start this by putting all of his chips on the table by putting on Major League Wrestling's first PPV- Backlash- on Sunday May 6 here in Las Vegas.

Sammartino then says that before he awards the World Heavyweight Championship to Bockwinkel for winning last week's tournament, that he plans to also introduce a secondary singles title- the United States Championship- through an 8 man tournament that will begin next week here on Major League Wrestling: Showtime and that the final two men left in the tournament will face each other at Backlash to decide Major League Wrestling's first United States Champion. The following wrestler's will be involved in the tournament: Harley Race, Buddy Rogers, Frank Gotch, Antonino Rocca, Bobo Brazil, Giant Baba, Mil Mascaras, and an eighth "wild card" wrestler who wins a battle royal tonight. The actual seeding for this tournament will be determined later by Sammartino's office.

Sammartino then awards the World Championship to Bockwinkel. Heenan then grabs a microphone and says he wants to point out that the last two men in last week's tournament were Bockwinkel and Race are both Heenan Family members and as a result Heenan claims he's received many requests by wrestlers, who he won't embarrass by naming, to become members in the Heenan Family. Heenan then says that Harley Race should automatically receive the #1 seed in nest week's tournament for the United States Championship because he was the last wrestler to be eliminated in last week's World Championship tournament and that after Backlash all of the singles belts will be in the Heenan Family.

Suddenly Antonino Rocca comes to the ring. Heenan tells him that "I just said the Heenan Family is not taking applications pal." Rocca demands a match against Bockwinkel and says the only reason he lost to Bockwinkel in last week's semifinals is due to interference by Heenan and he then calls for the tape to be played to reshow how Heenan's interference led Bockwinkel to sneak up from behind and pin Rocca. The crowd then chants "Kick his a@# Rocca, kick his a@#." Heenan refuses Bockwinkel' rematch demand and says that if anyone deserves a shot at the belt it is Race who advanced to the finals of last week's tournament.

Sammartino then interrupts by saying he is going to name tonight's main event: Antonino Rocca vs Harley Race. If Rocca wins he faces Bockwinkel for the World Championship at Backlash and that if Race wins he receives the #1 seed in next week's tournament- otherwise he'll award the #1 seed to Rogers.

Match #1- S. D. Jones d Dirty Black Bart in Major League Wrestling: Showtime's first ever match. Twice in the match while outside of the ring, ,Bart appeared to have had enough by waving his hands in disgust as he attempted to walk away and take the countout defeat. But Jones both times grabbed Bart and threw him back into the ring and finally won via a HEADBUTT.

Backstage: Frank Gotch runs into Heenan, Bockwinkel, and Race.
Gotch steps in front of the three men and says the only reason Race easily defeated him in last week's Semifinals is because he suddenly became sick from eating a sandwich in between his Second Round victory and his Semifinal match with Race and that his doctor found traces of poison in his system and asked Heenan (whom he called "weasel") if he knew anything about it? Gotch then tells Race that Race will lose if they face each other again at some point in the tournament for the United States Championship and that he hopes Rocca defeats him tonight. Gotch then warns Heenan he will have his eye on him during tonight's main event and that if there is any more interference he will personally show up at ringside.

Match #2- Scimitar surprisingly upset Danny Hodge via Machete Jabs.

Match #3- Buddy Rogers (accompanied by Maxine Babe) defeats Austin Turk. Rogers introduces Maxine Babe as his valet and says it doesn't matter if he gets the #1 seed or not in next week's tournament for the United States Championship because nobody, whatever their seed, can keep up with the Nature Boy because, as Maxine Babe knows, he can go "all night long."

In ring ceremony: Sammartino awards the World Tag Team Championship to the Midnight Express and their manager Jim Cornette. The Valiants led by Albano suddenly appear and point out that the only reason they lost in last week's Semifinals to the Midnight Express is because Lane nailed Jimmy Valiant in the head with Cornette's tennis racket and they demand a rematch. Sammartino responds that later tonight the Valiants will face the Road Warriors, who lost in the finals of last week's tournament, and the winner will face the Midnight Express for the World Tag Team Championship at Backlash.

Match #4- Ox Baker easily d Major Ursa via his HEART PUNCH.. Ox Baker pinned Major Ursa after just a few moves and Ursa Major had to be helped back to the lockerroom.

Bill Apter's Hot Seat: The guest is Gorgeous George.Apter has the ending of last week's first round tournament match between George and Snuka in which Snuka won via an impressive SUPERFLY LEAP. The tape also shows how George responded by spraying Snuka in the eyes with a mist like substance and the two brawled all the way to the back where they were finally separated.

Apter: "Gorgeous George, why did you spray Jimmy Snuka in the eyes with your mist?"

George: "I sprayed Snuka in the eyes because I wanted him to literally SEE how much of a savage he is compared to me and my beauty products. The only reason Snuka defeated me in last week's tournament is because his stench was so overpowering with its impact after his SUPERFLY LEAP that I was too nauseated to kick out. I demand that General Manager Sammartino force Snuka to take a shower before he wrestles me again!"

George: "Furthermore, tonight I will prove how pathetic Snuka is by personally eliminating him from tonight's battle royal which I will then go on to win and grab the final spot in next week's United States Championship tournament."

The crowd is loudly booing George.

Apter: "It seems like wherever I interview you in whatever territory you are in, you get the same reaction from the crowd. Why do you think that is?"

George becomes enraged and threatens to hit Apter when suddenly Snuka show up and chases George away to the back.

Match #5- 20 Man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal to determine what wrestler wins the final wild card spot in next week's United States Championship tournament. The Killer Bees start things off by arriving first in the ring and announcing to the crowd that, if necessary, they will sacrifice their bodies to prevent any members of Nikita Breznikov's Army (Breznikov, Iron Sheik, and Volkoff) from winning the battle royal and getting into the tournament to become Major League Wrestling's first United States Champion. Snuka is the last man to arrive in the ring and immediately attacks Gorgeous George.

Order of elimination: Gorgeous George (immediately by Snuka via a leap frog and chop), Billy Red Lyons, Playboy Buddy Rose, Cowboy Bob Orton, Captain Lou Albano, Iron Sheik (by the Killer Bees together), Volkoff (seconds later by Richard Hutton after the Iron Sheik is eliminated as he became distracted watching the Iron Sheik go over the top rope), Yukon Eric, Johnny Valentine, Nikita Breznikov, Paul Ellering (by the Killer Bees working in tandem), Sandman, Richard Hutton, Red Bastien, Virgil, Brutus Beefcake, Jim Brunzell, B. Brian Blair, and Greg Valentine. The winner: Jimmy Snuka. Snuka earns the final spot (the wild card) in next week's tournament for the United States Championship and he will face the #1 seed -either Race or Rogers.

Match #6- The Road Warriors (managed by Killer Kowalski-the LE) defeated the Valiants (managed by Albano) to win the right to face the Midnight Express at Backlash for the World Tag Team Championship. In a great match, Hawk finally pinned Jimmy Valiant via an over the shoulder backbreaker. Animal somehow managed to kick out of 7 pin attempts by the Valiants who seemingly had the match won several times.

Backstage: As Rocca walks to the ring, he is greeted in succession by Giant Baba, Mil Mascaras, and Bobo Brazil who all shake his hand and wish him well tonight against Race.

Main Event- Match #7- Antonino Rocca pinned Harley Race (managed by Heenan) to win the right to wrestle against Nick Bockwinkel at Backlash for the World Championship. In another great match that saw both men score multiple pin attempts against each other, Heenan interfered by setting up a table outside of the ring and instructing Race to drape Rocca across it. Race then tried a falling head butt against Rocca who suddenly moved away and this caused Race to go head first through the table. Gotch, who earlier in the night warned Heenan he would appear if Heenan tried to get involved in the match, appeared at ringside and later tackled Heenan when Heenan tried to break up the three count as Rocca pinned Race via a flying head scissors to win a spot in the main event at Backlash against the World Champion Nick Bockwinkel. Heenan then grabs the microphone and says " I was just manhandled by Frank Gotch who had no business being at ringside and next week I will show you that this will never happen to me ever again." Also, as a result of Rocca's victory over Race, Buddy Rogers becomes the #1 seed in the tournament for the United States Championship and will face tonight's "wild card" battle royal winer Jimmy Snuka in the First Round on next week's card.

Next Week: On Friday April 14, Major League Wrestling is on the road at Phoenix where the tournament to decide the first United States Champion will begin!

[stephenvegas]

Major League Wrestling's Rankings (as of 4/10/06)

World Champion: Nick Bockwinkel
1. Antonino Rocca
2. Buddy Rogers
3. Frank Gotch
4. Harley Race
5. Mil Mascaras
6. Bobo Brazil
7. Giant Baba
8. Jimmy Snuka
9. Gorgeous George
10. Yukon Eric

World Tag Team Champions: Midnight Express
1. Road Warriors
2. Valiants
3. Killer Bees
4. Valentines
5. Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff

[gwffantrav]

Poor ol' Snuka, if it isn't a coconut to remind him that he's a savage, it's the ol' purfume to the eyes!!!

[stephenvegas]

Yeah, Gorgeous George along with Bobby Heenan are probably the most despised members of Major League Wrestling. Snuka can't stand George which is why he went after and eliminated George immediately at the start of last week's battle royal. This week Snuka is scheduled to wrestle Buddy Rogers in the First Round of the tournament to decide my first United States Championship. But Snuka will soon have a chance to exact more revenge against George in the coming weeks!

[stephenvegas]

Major League Wrestling: Showtime
Preview for Friday April 14 @ US Airways Center In Phoenix, AZ

This week, Major League Wrestling (MLW) hits the road to Phoenix !


The office of MLW owner and general manager Bruno Sammartino has announced this week's First Round matchups for the United States Championship tournament:

Buddy Rogers (the #1 seed due to Harley Race's loss last week to Antonino Rocca) vs Jimmy Snuka (the wild card entry into this tournament thanks to his winning a battle royal last week on Showtime).

Frank Gotch vs Giant Baba

Harley Race vs Mil Mascaras

Bobo Brazil vs unknown (GM Sammartino replaced Rocca, who has already won a spot in Backlash's main event to wrestle for the World Championship) with a mystery wrestler set to make his MLW debut this Friday on Showtime. The only thing Sammartino's office revealed about this wrestler is that his accomplishments outside of wrestling are well-known and that his presence will "shake-up" MLW.

Also, both competitors (World Champion Nick Bockwinkel and his opponent Antonino Rocca) in Backlash's main event will be in singles action as will both MLW's World Tag Team Champions the Midnight Express and, their challengers at Backlash, the Road Warriors!

In addition, Bobby Heenan promised last week to show how he will never be "manhandled" at ringside ever again by the likes of Frank Gotch. Speculation around MLW is that Heenan has indeed signed a third wrestler to join Bockwinkel and Race in the Heenan Family mainly as Heenan's "problem solver." Find out on Friday the identity of the third member of the Heenan Family!

Finally, other matches signed for Showtime on Friday include the Killer Bees taking on their rivals the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff and Yukon Eric opposes the Road Warriors's manager Killer Kowalski! Ox Baker will also be in action.

Splatter says: "Major League Wrestling. Don't you DARE miss it!"

[stephenvegas]

Friday 4/14/06
Major League Wrestling: Showtime
US Airways Center in Phoenix, AZ

Tonight is the First Round of the tournament to decide Major League Wrestling's (MLW's) first United States Champion! Also, World Champion Nick Bockwinkel and his challenger at Backlash on May 7, Antonino Rocca, will be in singles competition in separate matches as will the World Tag Team Champions the Midnight Express and, their challengers at Backlash, the Road Warriors!

Start of show: The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, and Nikita Breznikov are in the ring for their opening match against their rivals the Killer Bees. Breznikov whispers something to ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta who then addresses the crowd with the following message: "Ladies and gentlemen, Nikita Breznikov requests that you do not boo or chant USA, USA, USA, as Nikolai Volkoff attempts to enlighten you with his rendition of the Soviet national anthem." A chorus of loud boos and chants of "USA, USA, USA" immediately come from the crowd and they prevent Volkoff from singing the anthem. The Iron Sheik angrily says something to Cappetta who then tells the crowd "Ladies and gentlemen, the Iron Sheik says that if you do not immediately cease chanting USA repeatedly then all the members of Breznikov's Army will leave the ring area and never return to Phoenix, Arizona ever again." Crowd chants of "USA, USA, USA" increase in volume and pitch and the Iron Sheik and Volkoff (to the cheers of the crowd) wave their arms in disgust and start heading back to the dressing room. Suddenly the Killer Bees show up and engage the Iron Sheik and Volkoff in a brawl that pushes all four competitors back toward the ring and the opening match is on!

Match 1: The Killer Bees defeat the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff by dq. Early in the match, the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff worked together via quick tags to prevent Brunzell from tagging in to Blair. But after the Iron Sheik hit Brunzell with a loaded boot, the ref got suspicious and started questioning the Iron Sheik. As the ref ans all the members of Breznikov's Army were preoccupied in arguing with each other, the Killer Bees successfully performed their MASKED CONFUSION routine and a masked Blair came in strong against a stunned Iron Sheik. Blair and the Iron Sheik spilled outside of the ring where the Iron Sheik rammed Blair's head into the ringside post and then shoved the ref, with whom he was just arguing, to the ground to earn the instant dq. But the Iron Sheik was not done as he piledrived Blair onto the floor and then placed Blair into the CAMEL CLUTCH as Brunzell and Volkoff brawled nearby. The Iron Sheik finally released the hold and, as Breznikov's Army retreated to the locker room amid a hail of jeers, thrown beers, and an assortment of trash, Brunzell had to support Blair to his feet.

Match 2: OX Baker defeated Karah the Jungle Lord. AS Baker was preoccupied arguing with the crowd, Karah got in some early offense. But Baker soon regained control and soon won via the HEART PUNCH. Suddenly Bobby Heenan shows up and tells the crowd: "Frank Gotch is a thug who should be behind bars" for "manhandling" him in last week's main event between Rocca and Bockwinkel. Heenan then announces to prevent this from happening again, he has hired Ox Baker here as his "problem solver" and warns Gotch that if tries to interfere in either Race or Bockwinkel's matches tonight, he'll end up like this jungle lord on the mat. Heenan then kicks Karah the Jungle Lord in the head twice before leaving with Baker.

Match # 3 World Tag Team Champions Midnight Express (with Jim Cornette) defeated the Valiants (with Lou Albano) by dq in a non-title match. In an awesome ans incredibly long match that included 14 unsuccessful pin attempts, Jimmy Valiant finally appeared to have the match won after giving Eaton his SUPER ELBOW. But Cornette slid his tennis racket into the ring toward Lane. Johnny Valiant managed to intercept the racket and hit Lane over the head with it. The ref then disqualified the Valiants even though the Valiants should have won the match as demonstrated by Albano who proceeded to give a five count on Jimmy Valiants pin attempt over Eaton.

Match #4: United States Championship Tournament (First Round). Mil Mascaras pinned Harley Race (accompanied by Heenan and the Heenan Family's new "problem solver" Ox Baker).
Race was in control of the match when Mascaras suddenly countered a move by Race with his FLYING BODYPRESS to defeat Race before either Heenan or Baker could do anything about it. Mascaras goes to the Second Round!

Match #5: United States Championship Tournament (First Round). Buddy Rogers (with Maxine Babe) defeat Jimmy Snuka via the FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE. Rogers goes to the Second Round! After the match with Maxine Babe applauding her approval, Rogers tells the crowd: "It doesn't matter who I face in the Second Round because they're going down. Whooooo!" Gorgeous George then sneaks up on Snuka who is still down on th mat and tries to strike him with a Georgie pin. But Snuka sees George in time and the two enemies brawl all the way to the back where they are finally separated. MLW Owner and General Manager Bruno Sammartino then tells Snuka and George this is the second time they have brawled their way to the back and next week in Albuquerque on MLW: Showtime there will be no attempt to stop them as it will be Snuka vs George in a falls count anywhere match!

Match #6: World Champion Nick Bockwinkel (accompanied by Heenan and Baker) defeats Virgil in a non-title match. Virgil appeared about to score the monumental upset with his COBRA CLUTCH but had to release the hold to confront Baker who ran into the ring to save Bockwinkel. After drop kicking Baker out of the ring, Virgil threw Bockwinkel into the turnbuckle but Bockwinkel moved at the last second. As Virgil then fell to the floor after hitting the turnbuckle, Bockwinkel quickly rolled Virgil up to escape with the win.

Match #7 The Road Warriors (with manager Killer Kowalski- the LE) defeated the Regulators (Bob Orton and Richard Hutton) via the DOOMSDAY DEVICE. After the match, Kowalski grabbed the microphone and said he saw the Midnight Express's earlier match tonight against the Valiants and that Cornette would need more than a tennis racket to stop the Road Warriors from taking the World tag Team Championship at Backlash. Kowalski then said he would demonstrate tonight in his match against Yukon Eric what could happen if Cornette attempts to interfere at Backlash.

Match #8: Antonino Rocca defeated the Sandman easily via ARGENTINIAN BACKBREAKER. After the match, Bockwinkel and Heenan appeared and started arguing with Rocca. While Rocca had his back turned, Baker snuck up and delivered a neck breaker to Rocca as the Heenan Family appeared determined to take out Rocca before he faces Bockwinkel at Backlash. As Baker was getting ready to deliver his HEART PUNCH, Gotch suddenly appeared and chased off the Heenan Family with a bat.

Match #9. United States Championship Tournament (First Round). Bobo Brazil vs Sammartino's surprise newcomer. Sammartino introduced Brazil's opponent and newcomer to MLW- former MMA champion Dan Severn! Severn is cheered by the crowd but loses to fellow fan favorite Brazil who places Severn in a bear hug and then delivers a COCO BUTT for the win. Brazil goes on to the Second Round next week!
Sammartino then informs Severn that, although his loss prevents him from participating at Backlash in the tournament finals to decide the US Champion, that Severn is being named special referee for Backlash's main event match between Rocca and Bockwinkel because, as we saw at the last match where the Heenan Family tried to ambush Rocca, someone imposing will be needed to keep order in Backlash's main event.

Match #10: Killer Kowalski defeated Yukon Eric via the KOWALSKI CLAW.
After the match, apparently in reference to his earlier warning to Cornette about possible interference at Backlash, Kowalski proceeds to bite off part of Yukon Eric's ear before leaving the ring!

Match #11- the Main Event. United states Championship Tournament (First Round). Frank Gotch defeated fellow fan favorite Giant Baba via the GOTCH TOEHOLD. After the match, as Gotch had his hand raised in victory and while Giant Baba was still lying on the mat, Heenan, Baker, and Race snuck up and attacked Gotch. Under Heenan's direction, Baker gave Gotch a HEART PUNCH and, while Gotch is staggering backward, Race then executes a PILEDRIVER upon Gotch. Under Heenan's continued directions, Race then placed a chair under Gotch's head and then delivers a falling headbutt off of the top turnbuckle on to Gotch's face. As Heenan is shouting in triumph, Giant Baba recovers and tries to come to Gotch's rescue as he suddenly grabs Heenan from behind with a handful of Heenan's hair. But Baker comes to Heenan's rescue with a powerful and calculated HEART PUNCH to Giant Baba who instantly crumples to the floor and it is immediately obvious that Giant Baba is in serious trouble as the emergency staff run to the ring with a stretcher. Heenan then grabs a microphone and says to an incapacitated Gotch "problem solved!" Heenan then says to Giant Baba" "Giant Nada, that's what you get for sticking your hands in something that doesn't concern you!" Heenan, Race, and Baker, then raise their arms in triumph as they head back tot the locker room amid a cascade of boos and thrown trash.