Cory's USWA Fed

[Cory Olson]

I'll hopefully post the NYK II results tomorrow. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

New Year’s Knockout (Card #37)
Memphis: Mid-South Coliseum December 31, 2004

1) Red Bastien made Buddy Rose submit to an abdominal stretch. ½*

2) The Road Warriors defeated Ox Baker and the Sandman by DQ when Sandman got caught hitting Hawk with the Singapore Cane. DUD

3) Killer Kowalski pinned Jimmy Snuka with a Bombs Away, after Snuka had missed a Superfly Leap. *

4) Ted DiBiase and Dick Hutton beat the Valiants when Hutton made “Handsome” Jimmy submit to the abdominal stretch. Each team had put up $10,000 for this match. **1/4

5) Buddy Rogers made Harley Race tap out to the figure-four grapevine to become the #1 contender to the USWA World title and receive the first title shot in 2005. ***1/4

6) The Destroyer beat Gorgeous George by submission with a single leg Boston Crab in a Mask vs. Hair Match. George had his shaved afterwards. (Cherie Dupré was also barred from ringside for this match.) *1/4

7) Giant Baba pinned Bobo Brazil after a boot to the face to retain the USWA Southern Heavyweight championship. ***

8) Johnny and Greg Valentine defeated The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff to win the USWA World Tag Team titles when Greg made a bloody Volkoff submit to the figure-four leglock. Afterwards, Greg locked Sheik and Volkoff’s manager Nikita Breznikov in the figure-four, while Johnny delivered several atomic skullcrushers. Breznikov was stretchered out of the arena and never seen in the USWA again. *****

9) Nick Bockwinkel retained the USWA World Heavyweight title, defeating Frank Gotch two falls to one in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match. The champ won the first fall with the Bockwinkel Sleeper after he had slammed Gotch’s head into the ringpost outside the ring. Gotch took the second fall with his toehold. Bock won the deciding fall with another sleeper. **1/2

NOTES: Ironically after losing the opener, Buddy Rose would go on to have a great 2005, winning the World title twice and becoming perhaps the most hated wrestler in the USWA! When Hutton debuted in the USWA in July of that year, he formed an alliance with DiBiase, who offered $10,000 to any wrestler who could pin Hutton or make him submit. Shockingly, Johnny Valiant won the money after only a few matches for Hutton. This was the first of many upset singles wins for Johnny V. during his USWA tenure, and also started a good feud between the Valiants and Hutton/DiBiase. When Rogers and Bock faced off in January ’05, Bock retained in a good ***1/2 match. The match was more known for starting what turned out to be the main feud the next year, as Bob Orton, Jr. debuted and helped Bock and Race injure Rogers. Rogers’ team of him, Gorgeous George, and Buddy Rose would battle Bock’s group in a war of two rulebreaking teams. George had put out Destroyer for several months during the tournament to crown the inaugural Southern champion, when he, Rogers, and Rose attacked the masked man and George sprayed Destroyer in the eyes with his atomizer. The Valentines were undefeated in 2004, going 8-0 at the end. Their tag title reign turned out to be short-lived and their winning streak wasn’t as strong in ’05. The main event for this turned out to be shorter than most expected, especially with the 2/3 Falls stipulation.

[Cory Olson]

New Year’s Knockout II (Card #75)
Texas Stadium: Irving, Tx December 31, 2005

1) Ted DiBiase defeated Mil Mascaras by submission in a double-bloody match. DiBiase hit Mascaras with brass knuckles that Virgil had thrown to him, then applied the Million Dollar Dream for the win. ****1/2

2) Don Leo Jonathan pinned Killer Kowalski after a Mormon Swing. *

3) Jimmy Valiant upset Jimmy Snuka pinning him with his feet on the ropes after Snuka had missed a turnbuckle charge. ***

4) Frank Gotch defeated Dick Hutton in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match in two straight falls. Gotch won the first fall by submission with the Gotch Toehold, and won the second by pinfall with a ¾ nelson and leg grapevine. Afterwards, Ted DiBiase slapped Hutton for losing, but Gotch ran him off. *3/4

5) Bobo Brazil pinned Bob Orton, Jr. after a big splash off the second turnbuckle. ¼*

6) In a special attraction from World Class Championship Wrestling, Kevin, Kerry, and David Von Erich beat the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, and Buddy Roberts) to retain the WCCW World Six-Man Tag Team titles. Kevin scored the victory for the brothers, pinning “P.S.” Hayes after three consecutive flying body presses. ***

7) Nikolai Volkoff won a 10-Man Battle Royal to become the first USWA Texas champion. The order of elimination was: Buff Bagwell, Jim Brunzell, Greg Valentine, Koko B. Ware, Red Bastien, Brutus Beefcake, Virgil, Johnny Valiant, and B. Brian Blair. ***

8) The Iron Sheik and Sabu defeated “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and the Sandman in a steel cage match. Sabu raked Sandman’s face into the wire mesh, then locked him in the camel clutch to make him submit. **3/4

9) Harley Race defeated Southern Heavyweight champion Gorgeous George by countout after delivering a piledriver outside the ring. George retained the championship. *

10) The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) won their second USWA World Tag Team championship defeating Giant Baba and the Destroyer when Lane pinned Baba after a Double Goozle. (Had the champs retained, Baba would have gotten five minutes one-on-one with Jim Cornette.) Afterwards, the Road Warriors made their USWA return, bringing with them manager Paul Ellering. ***1/2

11) Nick Bockwinkel returned from a near career-ending concussion to win his second USWA World Heavyweight championship by beating “Playboy” Buddy Rose in an Alley Fight. In an Alley Fight Match, there were no disqualifications; no countouts; after each successful pinfall or submission, the losing wrestler has a 10-count to make it to his feet or lose the match. For this match, Rose’s allies Buddy Rogers and Gorgeous George (along with valet Cherie Dupré) were banned from ringside. Bockwinkel introduced his “secret weapon” for the match as Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Rose tried to protest Heenan’s presence at ringside, but the contract stated specificially that Rose, George, and Dupré were the only ones not allowed. There were eight falls scored, with Bockwinkel winning all but one, and primarily by working on Rose’s leg. He won the final fall by ramming the champ’s leg into the ringpost, and then crawling back into the ring and covering Rose, while Heenan held his legs down from the outside. Rose suffered severe knee damage and was unable to answer the 10-count. ****1/4

NOTES: The opener was an awesome match and started DiBiase’s “push” for 2006. This was Gary Michael Cappetta’s first card announcing for the USWA. (Prior to the Snuka-Valiant, I rolled on Cappetta’s card for this first time. This gave Valiant an early advantage leading to his victory.) The Von Erichs-Freebirds match was the first time I had used “bootleg” Legends in my fed. David would wrestle a second time in 2006 on a Texas card, defending the WCCW World Heavyweight title against “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin. Buff Bagwell had been hyped up for weeks as a new star coming into the USWA. He was given the last entrance into the Battle Royal, complete with pyrotechnics and his “Buff Daddy” theme song. Yet he was the first eliminated and returned to Georgia Championship Wrestling (where he had been wrestling previously). No word if he plans to appear in the USWA ever again! This was the first and so far only cage match I’ve done in the USWA. The Duggan-Sandman alliance started because each man needed help against respective enemies Iron Sheik & Volkoff and Sabu & Ox Baker. Sheik later double-crossed Volkoff and joined up with Sabu and Baker, while Volkoff would later return to help Duggan and Sandman. They had some wild matches, but the cage match was slightly disappointing. The Midnights and Baba & Destroyer had great matches as well in ’05. As much as I wanted to see Baba and Cornette battle one-on-one (they met once in a tag match earlier in the year), I was happy that the Express won, as it worked out with the Warriors’ return with Ellering. Rose left the USWA after the title loss and got major reconstructive surgery on his knee. After recuperating he traveled to the AWA and reportedly had success there, capturing the International TV championship.

[Cory Olson]

New Year’s Knockout III
Louisville Gardens: Louisville, KY December 31, 2006

1) Koko B. Ware defeated a returning Danny Doring in the opener. Despite Doring’s supposed speedy recovery due to “herbal therapies”, the “Dastardly One” wouldn’t get his revenge on “The Birdman” tonight. Ware scored the pinfall after a flying body press off the top rope in a decent opening match. **

2) Richard Hutton scored a quick submission win on Brutus Beefcake. Hutton received a great ovation from the Louisville fans, in honor of his ending the Sheik’s unholy winning streak. Hutton showed his skills tonight, as he picked up Beefcake in his Cowboy backbreaker (the same move that injured the Sheik). Rather than going for a submission, he dropped Beefcake down and locked on his specialty, the abdominal stretch. Beefcake quickly surrendered, as the fans cheered Hutton on. DUD

3) Greg Valentine quickly pinned Sabu. This match didn’t last as long as many fans expected. Sabu went for a running splash into the corner, by springboarding off a chair placed in the center of the ring. “The Hammer” caught him coming in and nailed with a hard forearm smash to the face. He covered Sabu and just to rub it in, put his feet on the ropes to score a pinfall in less than two minutes. In a somewhat ironic sight, Abdullah Farouk protested the leverage use, but the decision stood. DUD

4) Jimmy Snuka and Bruiser Brody showed that they could be a team to contend with, giving the Vachon Brothers their first pinfall loss in the USWA. Coming off his big upset win over Brody on the last card, Butcher tried to pull off another big win, picking the “Superfly” up into his hangman two times, but being unable to make Snuka give. This was a back-and-forth tag battle, but Brody got some revenge, pinning Butcher after a jumping knee drop. ***

5) Red Bastien scored a non-title victory over Texas champion Justin Credible. Red started off quickly against the champ, but soon the tables turned. It looked like Credible would score the win, after cracking Bastien with his Singapore Cane, while Jim Cornette distracted referee Frank Morrell. Credible nailed Bastien three times with That’s Incredible, but couldn’t keep him down. Red took and used his aerial skills to wear the champ down. He locked Justin in a Boston Crab. Credible fought hard for the ropes, but ultimately had to tap out. (And as normally the case when the USWA holds cards in Louisville, Louisville's own Jim Cornette was booed mercilessly by his own hometown!) ***

6) Buddy Rogers defeated Chris Candido by submission. Candido had mentioned a “secret weapon” he had in mind in the week leading up to the match. After a couple minutes of action, a masked man appeared out of nowhere and attacked the “Nature Boy” on the arena floor, while referee Tommy Marlin was momentarily distracted. He rolled Rogers back into the ring, where Candido took him to the top turnbuckle and executed the Blonde Bomb. Candido went for a cover, but Rogers managed to kick out. The “Nature Boy” would not stay down and made a comeback, locking Candido in the figure-four grapevine in the middle of the ring. Candido was left with little choice but to tap out. Before Rogers could get a chance to celebrate his victory, the masked man jumped into the ring and attacked him from behind. He started to stomp away on Rogers. Candido managed to make it to his feet and, still feeling the effects of the grapevine, limped over to punch Rogers, while the masked man held him. Jimmy Snuka hit the ring and nailed Candido with a chop. The masked man tried to escape, but Snuka grabbed him and chopped away at him as well. He held the man down and pulled off his mask, revealing none other than two-time USWA World Heavyweight champion…”PLAYBOY” BUDDY ROSE!! Rose bailed out of the ring, and he, Candido, and Tammy Sytch made a retreat to the locker room. **1/2

7) Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba scored a hard fought win over Bobby Heenan’s team of the Masked Superstar and “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Jr. The Japanese team worked over the “Cowboy” for several minutes in the beginning of the contest, keeping him from tagging out to the Superstar. Finally the masked man tagged in, and the bout was back-and-forth, with both teams making frequent tags. Orton became busted open at one point. Inoki slammed him down and came off the top turnbuckle with a knee drop. He covered Orton and scored the three-count. After the bell, Superstar was seen conferring with “The Brain” in their corner. It appeared that Heenan slipped an object into his starred mask. Superstar jumped in the ring and nailed both Baba and Inoki with loaded head butts. Orton recovered by this point and went after Inoki. He nailed Inoki with several knee drops to the back, while Superstar and Heenan held him down. Orton then placed Inoki on the top turnbuckle and executed his superplex on the Japanese star. The trio celebrated the damage they had done. Inoki suffered a minor back injury, as a result of Orton’s attack. ***1/4

8) In a special attraction, Andre the Giant defeated Cousin Luke and Virgil in a handicap match. The Louisville fans gave the Grenoble, France native a big ovation in his first USWA appearance, amazed at the Giant’s size. As many expected, Virgil made Luke start the match and it turned out, Luke would be in the whole match! Try as he might, the hillbilly stood little chance with “The 8th Wonder of the World.” Andre picked up Luke high and brought him down with a huge atomic drop. Virgil came into the ring to attempt to save his partner, but the Giant scooped him up with a big body slam and dropped him on top of Luke! Andre sat a top both men and scored the pinfall in a matter of minutes, as is custom in some of his matches! DUD

9) Frank Gotch ended his war with “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, retaining the Southern Heavyweight gold, and adding more “gold” by winning DiBiase’s fortune. DiBiase brought with to ringside a briefcase, containing thousands of dollars in cash, as well as a copy of the contract for the match, giving Gotch legal rights to his fortune, should the champ win. DiBiase looked destined to keep his wealth, as he applied the Million Dollar Dream minutes into the match. After a struggle, Gotch made the ropes. The champ came back and applied his Gotch Toehold to the challenger, but somehow DiBiase made the ropes as well. DiBiase suffered a cut at one point in the match. Gotch applied a guillotine choke in the middle of the ring, cutting off the oxygen to the bloody challenger. DiBiase seemed poised not to tap out, but eventually seemed to fall limp from the choke. Referee Kevin Christian checked DiBiase’s arm, and it dropped three times. Christian called for the bell, awarding the match, title, and money to Gotch! Richard Hutton came down to ringside to celebrate with his tag partner. Suddenly, “The Russian Lion” George Hackenschmidt made his return to the USWA after a month-and-a-half absence. He awoke the fallen challenger. DiBiase got to his feet and realized that Hackenschmidt was there. After a moment of hesitation, he wound up to slap Hack in the face, as he had promised he would, if the two crossed paths again. Hackenschmidt blocked the slap and locked his former business partner in his Russian Bear Hug! He squeezed DiBiase, until he passed out again. Hackenschmidt dropped him to the mat, then turned towards Gotch and Hutton. “The Russian Lion” offered his hand to the two and they shook. The three men returned to the locker room together! **3/4

10) The Midnight Express defeated USWA World Tag Team champions the Road Warriors by DQ, leaving the Warriors with the titles. Many fans expected a good, long match here, but it turned out to only last a few minutes. After being hit by the Express with a Double Goozle, Animal rolled out of the ring to try and recuperate. While Jim Cornette distracted referee Paul Morton, “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey attempted to attack Animal’s previously-injured back with a steel chair. Animal saw him coming and cut him off with a big boot to the stomach, causing Condrey to drop the chair. Animal capitalized and picked up the chair, smashing Condrey hard across the back of the neck with the chair! Unfortunately for Hawk and Animal, referee Morton turned around in time to see this and called for the bell. The match was over, but the battle was not! Hawk took out both “Beautiful” Bobby and Texas champ and bodyguard Justin Credible, who was also at ringside. “Precious” Paul Ellering locked Jim Cornette in a full nelson, then made him watch the carnage. The champs brought Condrey into the ring and executed a Doomsday Device on him, dropping him hard on the neck. The Warriors and Ellering left the ring with their belts still in hand and gaining some revenge for the Express’ attacks on Animal. Condrey suffered some neck damage as well and will be out of action for at least the first two months of 2007. ½*

I'll post the results of the huge main event in a few minutes!

[Cory Olson]

11) The main event was the big 60-Minute Iron Man Match for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Champion Nick Bockwinkel was putting the title on the line against challenger and his former teammate Harley Race. A former World champion and Louisville resident, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, would keep control of the match. After about three minutes of action, Bockwinkel started stomping away on Race, who was trying to crawl back into the ring after taking a breather and not get counted out. Lewis warned the champ about these actions. Bockwinkel shoved Lewis in frustration and Lewis responded by disqualifying the champ, giving Race a one fall lead. Bockwinkel would tie it up at the 7:18 mark, putting Race out with his version of the sleeper. The champ would then take the lead two minutes later, scoring a submission with an abdominal stretch. Race would begin an attack on the champ’s neck, scoring his first pinfall of the match after a swinging neckbreaker at 11:16, then going 3-2 with a pin after his piledriver. Race dropped Bockwinkel with a big shoulder breaker in the next fall. The Louisville crowd popped big at seeing this, knowing that Race had pinned the champ with this very move in the eight-man elimination tag team match in Memphis at the beginning of this month. The move proved to be effective as Race scored yet another pinfall at 14:37. Another swinging neckbreaker would take out the champ at the 17:00 mark, as well as two more piledrivers within the next four minutes, taking Race to an astounding 7-2 lead over Bockwinkel. Bockwinkel got back in the race (no pun intended) scoring a pinfall with a back suplex at 23:18, then putting Race out again with the sleeper at 25:10, and lastly making the challenger tap out to his figure-four leglock at 27:26. In the next fall, Race went up to the second turnbuckle. Bobby Heenan, sensing his man would lose another fall, jumped up on the ring apron and started entering the ring. As Lewis had warned prior to the match, he wasn’t going to let this go. He locked Heenan in a full nelson, as the Louisville Gardens erupted! He threw Heenan out of the ring and ordered him back to the locker room for the remainder of the match, which was a little over the halfway point by now! While this was going on, Race came off the second turnbuckle with a diving head butt and scored another pinfall on the champ. Race took three more falls a row, first with a vertical suplex (34:00), then another swinging neckbreaker (36:16), and finally with a cradle or fisherman’s suplex (39:04). With less than 20 minutes to go and being behind, the champ wouldn’t give up yet. He managed to apply another sleeper and put Race out again, then showed his suplex skills, pinning Race with a gut wrench at 43:20, then with another back suplex at 46:30. The champ took the lead, scoring two figure-four submissions at 47:30 and 49:24, then another sleeper win at 50:42. The match was tied at 11 falls each by this point and both combatants were busted open. Race went ahead again, winning with another swinging neckbreaker at 54:12. But Bockwinkel would bounce right back and win with another sleeper with four minutes left. The champ took over again, after choking Race on the ropes. A bloody and exhausted Race would get pinned after this illegal maneuever, when the champ merely covered him and hooked the leg. It looked like that was it for Race, when with only two minutes to go, he staged a comeback. He executed another big vertical suplex and floated over into a cover on the champ to score another pinfall with only 32 seconds left in the match! The Gardens erupted at the drama that was unfolding! Both men were slow to recover after the last fall, due to both loss and plain exhaustion from such a grueling match. They got to their feet and slugged it out, but neither was able to score another fall as the bell rang to signify the time had elapsed! At this point, both men were tied up with 13 falls each. Referee Lewis informed Gary Michael Cappetta, that per the stipulations in the contract for the match, in case of a tie, there would be a sudden death overtime, where the first wrestler to score any kind of fall would win the match! Lewis called for the bell to start the overtime and the two grapplers had at it! They tussled back-and-forth trying to gain an advantage. The champ sent the challenger into the ropes and when he came back, caught him in an abdominal stretch, which had gained him a fall in the first half of the match. The bloody challenger reached for the ropes to get a break, but before he could, Bockwinkel rolled him backwards into a lateral guillotine and pinning combination. Lewis got done to make the count. It looked over, but Race somehow kicked out at 27/8!
Bockwinkel looked stunned, not knowing how to put away Race! He immediately stomped away on Race’s legs and applied the figure-four again. Race fought hard, but eventually had to tap out, giving Bockwinkel the victory and keeping him as champ! The overtime fall occurred about two-and-a-half minutes into the sudden death period. *****

Bobby Heenan returned to the ring, along with Bob Orton, Jr. and the Masked Superstar to celebrate the champ’s victory! Bill Apter entered the ring to interview the champ. Bockwinkel stated that his second reign has now hit the one-year mark. He showed his superiority over Race, just as he has every other man who dared to challenge him for the belt. He said in 2007, he will continue to reign atop the USWA! “Strangler” Lewis suddenly asked for the microphone. He congratulated Bockwinkel on such a hard fought victory. He said that although previously he had stated that he didn’t think he would wrestle in the USWA, after being part of such a memorable match, he would like to compete here. He challenged Bockwinkel to a title match! Heenan grabbed the microphone and told Lewis you don’t just walk in here and challenge the champ to a match; you have to earn it. He said that Bockwinkel has beaten far greater challengers than Lewis did when he held the NWA World crown. He said from what he’s seen, Lewis is a “one-move wonder” and wouldn’t last five minutes, let alone sixty with Bockwinkel. He said the USWA is the premiere wrestling promotion and Lewis should just retire and live the good life in Louisville. Lewis responded by again locking Heenan in a full nelson! Orton and Superstar went after Lewis. “Strangler” let “The Brain” go and was able to cut both men off with amazing takedowns! Bockwinkel proceeded to charge Lewis with the championship belt, but Lewis sidestepped him and took him down into his patented Strangler’s Headlock! The Gardens erupted at the site of this! He held Bockwinkel down as officials and security entered the ring to try and end this melee! Lewis kept the headlock on until Bockwinkel noticeably tapped out to the hold! Lewis released his grip, as the Louisville crowd erupted!

[Chad Olson]

No "Special thanks to the timekeeper Chad Olson".... ungrateful bum!

[Tournament Master]

Just caught up on the USWA. I have to keep track of this fed more often. Awsome main event Cory. That must have been incredible to see play out. I look forward to see what Lewis can do if he gets a title shot.

[Cory Olson]

Fine, special thanks to my brother for timing the match! (Until he left with 10 minutes left to watch America's Funniest Home Videos!)

Glad you enjoyed it, Todd. Hopefully I'll post a recap of the post-NYK III events, as well as a preview for the first show of 2007 sometime next week.

[Chad Olson]

Dude, it was AFV! It's all about sledding accidents and footballs to the groin.

[blueraider2]

and we know how funny that is.

[Cory Olson]

Alright, I guess I can accept that! I just figured you'd want to run the stopwatch the whole time, since it was a match involving Nick Bockwinkel...Bockwinkel!!

[Cory Olson]

Here's a recap of the post-New Year's Knockout events in the USWA.

*Capt. Lou Albano has signed a singles wrestler to his stable: Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. Valentine wants to focus on singles action and capturing singles gold in 2007. His Dream Team partner Brutus Beefcake has left the USWA for the time being, as many expected. The team split on good terms and have not ruled out reuniting in the future. The Captain has an impressive group with "The Hammer" and the Vachon Brothers.
*Abdullah Farouk is furious that his charge the Sheik was not only defeated, but injured right before NYK III! Sheik was scheduled to receive another shot at Frank Gotch's Southern Heavyweight championship in January, but will obviously miss that opportunity (more on that later). Farouk has said that Sabu will continue in the USWA and attempt to get revenge on Gotch and Dick Hutton, until the Sheik returns, which is scheduled for April.
*Speaking of the Sheik and Sabu, another enemy Red Bastien plans to continue in the USWA as well. After his non-title victory at NYK III, the high flyer hopes to earn another shot at Texas champion Justin Credible in '07. No word on when or if his partner Bobo Brazil will return to the USWA after rib injuries suffered by Sabu and the Sheik.
*The "Playboy" is back! Buddy Rose has returned to the USWA. Rose gave an interview with Bill Apter on WMC-TV, explaining what he's been through in the past year. He stated that after suffering a knee injury in losing the World title to Nick Bockwinkel at NYK II, he had major reconstructive surgery under Dr. Mike Lano at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. His knee is better, but he must wear a knee brace to prevent further damage. He competed in the AWA this past year, where he met "Sensational" Sherri Martel, who held their version of the World Women's title. Martel has joined him in the USWA as his valet. Rose stated that he and Gorgeous George have reunited, along with Chris Candido, to take on their former teammate "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers! Rogers will be aided by his "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka and Bruiser Brody. Rumor has it that Snuka will split time, teaming with both Rogers and Brody. Both duos have proven to be successful so far in the USWA. The "Playboy" also said that he wants another shot at the World Heavyweight title in '07, since he never received a rematch.
*Frank Gotch not only holds the USWA Southern Heavyweight title, but now own a big chunk of money! Gotch stated that he will use Ted DiBiase's fortune to establish a wrestling facility. Gotch emphasized the word "wrestling." He announced that he and Dick Hutton have formed a partnership with George Hackenschmidt! The champ stated that the three represent true wrestling. They may still face each other from time-to-time, but will focus on training with each other and protecting each other. Hutton stated that it was said when Gotch defended against Bruiser Brody in November, a man Hutton labeled as a "wild barbarian" and many fans in Johnson City cheered him. He said that he hopes the fan will support their group and their ideals of true wrestling, but if they choose to support "wild brawlers," that's their loss. Gotch said they will compete against any wrestlers: "good" or "bad." They are also hoping to use some of DiBiase's cash to bring other true wrestlers into the USWA. Gotch also announced that he spoke with the USWA Committee and that they agreed to give Hutton the shot at the Southern title that was originally scheduled for the Sheik at the month of January. Hutton said that he and Gotch will have a true wrestling match for a prestigious wrestling title.
*As for the former "Million Dollar Man", DiBiase left the USWA following his loss at NYK III. No word on what his plans are. His former bodyguard Virgil plans to compete more often in '07 in the USWA and has temporarily alligned himself with Danny Doring and Cousin Luke.
*The tag team feud between World Tag Team champions the Road Warriors and the Midnight Express got even more intense! Jim Cornette reported that "Loverboy" Dennis Condrey should return to action in March and that the Midnights deserve another title shot since they did not lose to the Legion of Doom.
*Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba plan to continue their battles with the Heenan Family in '07. They have enlisted a temporary ally in another international superstar--Mil Mascaras! The luchador will compete on more USWA shows in the New Year. It will be a three-on-four feud, once Bob Orton, Sr. returns from injury. Rumor has it that "The Brain" has been scouting wrestlers in other territories to add to his Family.
*After his loss to World champion Nick Bockwinkel in an awesome ***** match at NYK III, Harley Race has decided to leave the USWA. He plans to compete in his native state of Missouri for the CSW (Central States Wrestling). He too hasn't ruled a return to the USWA in the future.
*After the surprising post-match confrontation between Ed "Strangler" Lewis and World champion Nick Bockwinkel, the USWA Committee has been working feverishly to sign a match between these two! Reportedly Lewis wants an instant shot at Bockwinkel, given his status as a former NWA World Heavyweight champion. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan has stated that Lewis should earn his shot, by beating other USWA wrestlers. At this point, there is nothing officially signed. So stay tuned!

The USWA kicks off the new year on January 12, as they return to the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville!
*With the injury to Dennis Condrey, the tag team picture is an upheaval! Thus, two teams will meet to determine the #1 contenders and challenger for January 19 in Evansville. Southern Heavyweight champion Frank Gotch and Dick Hutton will take on the Vachon Brothers! The scientfic team of Gotch and Hutton are undefeated in tag team action. The Vachons gave the Road Warriors a tough challenge in December, before losing via DQ. Who will earn the right for a World Tag Team title match?
*Speaking of the World Tag Team titles, the champions the Road Warriors will do battle with enemies "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton and Texas champ Justin Credible. Eaton and Credible scored a non-title win over the Legion of Doom in November, when Condrey debuted and interfered. Who will win this heated tag team war?
*Bruiser Brody will battle Sabu in what will certainly be a wild, crazy brawl!
*The international team of Giant Baba and Mil Mascaras will take on Bobby Heenan's team of "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Jr. and the Masked Superstar. Orton and Mascaras had two awesome singles matches in December. Plus we've got two masked men squaring off in Mascaras and Superstar. Who will win this huge tag team encounter?
*The main event will be a rematch for the USWA World Heavyweight championship. Nick Bockwinkel straight off his epic defense in the Iron Man Match against Harley Race, will put up the crown against Antonio Inoki. Despite his back injury from Bob Orton, Jr. at NYK III, the Japanese superstar doesn't want to wait for his return title shot. Some sources think that Inoki knows that Bockwinkel too may not be in the best fighting condition, coming off his 60-Minute match. Bockwinkel is the only man so far to hold a pin or submission victory over Inoki in the USWA. Who will walk out of Knoxville the champ?
All this plus the return of two USWA superstars, "The Russian Lion" George Hackenschmidt and "Playboy" Buddy Rose. Don't miss it!

[Cory Olson]

January 12, 2007
Card #117: Civic Coliseum in Knoxville


1) Red Bastien pinned Chris Candido in the opener. This was a fast-paced way to start the show. Candido scored a nearfall in the opening minutes with a sunset flip. Red came back to win with his spinning atomic drop. **1/4

2) Greg “The Hammer” Valentine scored a submission win over Koko B. Ware. Valentine looked aggressive here, as his new manager Capt. Lou Albano stood ringside. “The Hammer” made “The Birdman” tap out to his figure-four leglock. ½*

3) George Hackenschmidt made short work of his former bodyguard Virgil. Hackenschmidt received quite a few cheers from the crowd. The match lasted about 20 seconds, as Virgil took a swing at the “Russian Lion”, but Hack ducked, caught Virgil in a waistlock and took him back into a suplex. He then locked on the Russian Bear Hug, squeezing Virgil into submission. DUD

4) Two teams reunited, after having a partner out with injury, as Jimmy Snuka and Buddy Rogers beat Danny Doring and Cousin Luke. Luke started off the match for his team, as is normal. After taking a beating from both the “Superfly” and the “Nature Boy”, the hillbilly was able to tag out to the “Dastardly One.” Doring was worked over by both Snuka and Rogers. Rogers applied his figure-four grapevine, but Luke came in to keep Doring from submitting. Snuka came in as well and nailed Luke with a big head butt. As Doring limped up to his feet, still feeling the effects of the figure-four, Rogers rolled-up Doring from behind with a school boy and scored the three-count. *1/4

5) Bruiser Brody pinned Sabu in a wild brawl. These two naturally tore the ring up (not literally of course!) After about a minute, Sabu brought a chair into the ring and executed an Arabian facebuster on Brody, while Abdullah Farouk distracted referee Frank Morrell. Brody made a comeback. He hit Sabu with his jumping knee drop, but the Bombay madman kicked out. A piledriver from Brody would bust Sabu open, but couldn’t keep him pinned. Brody would fly through the air again and smash Sabu with another jumping knee drop to score the pin and start the New Year off on a high note. ***3/4

6) Southern Heavyweight champion Frank Gotch and Richard Hutton earned themselves a shot at the USWA World Tag Team championships next week by defeating the Vachon Brothers. Mad Dog and Butcher worked over Gotch in the opening minutes of the match. The champ came back and tagged into Hutton. Hutton applied his abdominal stretch on Butcher. The Knoxville crowd erupted big, knowing that this move (turned into a lateral guillotine) was the first move to pin the Sheik. In somewhat of a surprise, since it was only a few minutes into the match, Butcher surrendered, giving the “true wrestlers” (in their words) the victory and the title shot against the Road Warriors! George Hackenschmidt came down to ringside afterwards to congratulate his new teammates. ½*

7) Speaking of the World Tag Team titles, the champions the Road Warriors scored an impressive and memorable victory over “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and Texas champion Justin Credible in a non-title match. Jim Cornette’s team was hoping to “one-up” the champs in this feud and gain revenge for Dennis Condrey’s injury from New Year’s Knockout. But the champs proved why they have the belts. The Legion of Doom ended up nailing Credible FOUR TIMES with the Doomsday Device! A save from Eaton and a distraction from Cornette kept him “alive”, but the cane swinger went down to the fourth. Animal pushed down on Credible’s chest, while Hawk kept Eaton from interfering again. Credible was counted down for three. The Texas champ had to be helped to the back by Eaton and Cornette, but miraculously did not suffer any injuries! ¼*

8) A former USWA World champion made his return, as “Playboy” Buddy Rose scored a quick victory over “Special Delivery” Jones. As mentioned in the last update, Rose is sporting a knee brace, as part of his recovery period, following reconstructive surgery. The two-time champ took advantage of this brace, as he came off the top rope with his Bombs Away onto S.D. Rose’s new valet, “Sensational” Sherri Martel distracted referee Paul Morton while Rose dropped the knee, so as to hide a possible illegal act. Rose covered Jones and Morton turned around to count an easy three. Jones appeared to be knocked out by the knee drop. DUD

9) In a big tag team match, Giant Baba and Mil Mascaras defeated “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Jr. and the Masked Superstar by DQ. These two teams gave the Knoxville fans a great match, going back-and-forth. The crowd erupted when the luchador and the “Cowboy” got in against each other near the end of the match, having known about their two awesome matches against each other in December. Mascaras tossed Orton out of the ring and slingshoted himself over the top rope into a plancha on Orton. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan had a plan. He hit the “Man of 1,000 Masks” with a chair, as soon as he got to his feet. Referee Kevin Christian saw this, despite attempts from the Superstar to distract him and immediately called for the bell. Mascaras recovered and chased after Heenan. Baba came out after “The Brain” as well, but Heenan’s men grabbed him and retreated to the back. ****

10) The main event saw Nick Bockwinkel retain the USWA World Heavyweight title against Antonio Inoki in a match that was shorter than many fans had expected. The two wrestlers showed some great mat skills in the first few minutes of the match and the Knoxville fans were appreciative. Inoki, with his ribs bandaged up from the superplex he took from Bob Orton, Jr. at NYK III, hit a small package out of nowhere for a near fall. The Japanese superstar executed two knee drops off the top rope and went for covers each time, but couldn’t keep Bock down. The champ came back and applied his figure-four leglock, but Inoki made the ropes. Bockwinkel applied his sleeper. Inoki fought valiantly, but perhaps fatigue from his injury wore him out quickly. Referee Jerry Calhoun raised the challenger’s arm three times and it dropped three times, giving Bockwinkel the victory. ***

The Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Evansville will host USWA action on January 19!

*In one of three rematches from New Year’s Knockout III, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine will take on the homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death-defying Sabu! Valentine scored a quick pinfall with his feet on the ropes. Can he defeat the Bombay madman again? And will Capt. Lou Albano and Abdullah Farouk let their men fight it out or will the managers get involved?
*”Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers takes on Chris Candido. Rogers was 8-0 in 2006 in singles competition and hopes to keep that streak up in ’07, as he wants a shot at the World or Southern Heavyweight title. Can he keep up his winning ways against a hated rival in Candido?
*In tag team action, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and Bruiser Brody will collide again with the Vachons! Butcher Vachon scored a shocking submission victory over Brody in December, but the duo of Snuka and Brody gave the Algerian brothers their first pinfall loss at NYK III. The Vachons are looking to get back on track, after losing their #1 Contenders Match and hope to earn a tag title shot soon. Can they score a win over the popular team of the “Superfly” and the New Mexican madman?
*After their great tag team match on the last card, two singles matches have been signed. In a battle of masked wrestlers, Mil Mascaras takes on the Masked Superstar, while Giant Baba will lock-up with “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Jr. Which masked grappler will come out on top? Baba and Orton have had great battles in the past. Who will score the victory this time?
*The main event will be for the USWA World Tag Team championship, as the “Legion of Doom” the Road Warriors will defend against Southern Heavyweight champion Frank Gotch and Richard Hutton. Gotch continued his recent bashing of other wrestlers on WMC-TV, stating that the champs are “cowards” having to hide their face behind paint. Hutton stated the L.O.D. may have the muscle, but they can’t outwrestle him and Gotch. Who will the Evansville fans side for? Can Gotch and Hutton prove their wrestling knowledge and make Gotch a double champion or will sheer brawn prevail in the Warriors?
All this plus, Red Bastien, “Playboy” Buddy Rose, the “Russian Lion” George Hackenschmidt and more in action!

[Tournament Master]

Wow, Gotch is really on a roll. Although I see Hutton as the weak link that will lose the match to the LOD.

When are we gonna see the Strangler back in action? I think he needs to dismantle a couple of chumps to send a message to Bock and the Brain.

[Cory Olson]

tournamentmaster said:

When are we gonna see the Strangler back in action? I think he needs to dismantle a couple of chumps to send a message to Bock and the Brain.

Thanks for the reminder, Todd. I meant to do a seperate "USWA News" part. Strangler is still in negotiations for a title shot at Bockwinkel. Bobby Heenan still wants Lewis to battle other USWA wrestlers before he faces the World champion. No new developments at the moment, but stay tuned!

[jester]

GREAT FED !

Long time Mr. Olsen

You gonna make Galactin in 07?

Keep up the outstanding work

[jester]

Galacticon

[Cory Olson]

Thanks, Kevin! No, I doubt I will be able to make G-Con this year. Too much going on. How about you?

I played Card #118 this weekend. The tag title match turned out to be very interesting. I hope to post results this weekend. (I'm such a teaser!)

[Tournament Master]

coryolson said:

No, I doubt I will be able to make G-Con this year. Too much going on.

That sucks. I hope you can make it again one year down the line. I'm not sure you ever got a chance to defend your Trivia and Galacticon Cup titles.

[Cory Olson]

tournamentmaster said:

That sucks. I hope you can make it again one year down the line. I'm not sure you ever got a chance to defend your Trivia and Galacticon Cup titles.

I did in '02, when the Trivia Challenge finals came down to Pete and I, and Pete regained the title. I think you gave me an "automatic" place in the Galacticon Cup, based on my win in '01 with original Alpha Force. My last G-Con was '03, I believe.

Hopefully I will make a return at some point!

[Cory Olson]

January 19, 2007
Card #118 Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Evansville, IN

1) George Hackenschmidt defeated S.D. Jones quickly by countout. Special Delivery was able to make the ropes, when locked in the “Russian Lion’s” Russian Bear Hug, but tumbled to the arena floor. Hackenschmidt followed him out there and executed a side salto on the floor. He climbed back into the ring and referee Frank Morrell counted to ten, giving Hackenschmidt the win. DUD

2) “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton scored a big win over Red Bastien. This was quick paced back-and-forth match. Bastien scored some early nearfalls with his airplane spin-into-an atomic drop, but couldn’t keep the Midnight Express member down. Jim Cornette got involved, distracting referee Kevin Christian and allowing Eaton a chance to recuperate. Eaton came off the top rope twice with an Alabama Jam, but Bastien managed to kick out. Eaton busted Red open with some of his stinging right hands. He put Red down with another right and scored the pinfall. ****

3) Virgil scored an upset win, defeating Texas champion Justin Credible in a non-title bout. Credible was able to use his Singapore Cane early on, while Jim Cornette distracted referee Tommy Marlin, but the former bodyguard managed to kick out. Virgil applied the (former) Million Dollar Dream on the champ, but Credible grabbed the ropes. Virgil landed a big knee drop on Credible and covered him to score a surprising three-count! **1/4

4) Sabu avenged his fast loss at New Year’s Knockout, making Greg “The Hammer” Valentine submit. Valentine scored some nearfalls early on, but Sabu rallied back and busted Valentine open. He locked in the camel clutch and a bloody Valentine was forced to submit. **1/2

5) “Playboy” Buddy Rose pinned Koko B. Ware after just a few minutes. Once again, “Sensational” Sherri Martel distracted referee Paul Morton, while Rose came off the top rope with his Bombs Away, making use of his knee brace. Rose covered “The Birdman” who appeared to be knocked out to score an easy three. DUD

6) Buddy Rogers scored a submission win over Chris Candido. Candido looked impressive early, executing his Blonde Bomb on the “Nature Boy”, but took much time in making the cover and only got a two-count. This was a back-and-forth match, but it would be the figure-four grapevine from Rogers that would cause Candido to tap out. Rogers still has yet to be pinned or to submit in the USWA since becoming a fan favorite in March 2006, when he returned from a four-month absence after having his nose broken by the Valiant Brothers. ***3/4

7) In a match-up of masked men Mil Mascaras defeated the Masked Superstar. Superstar dominated early and applied his cobra hold, but the luchador made the ropes. Mascaras used his aerial skills to wear down the Superstar. He came off the top with one of his beautiful flying body presses, but couldn’t keep Superstar down. Mascaras bounced off the ropes and knocked down Superstar with a cross body attack to score the pinfall and the victory. ***

8) Jimmy Snuka and Bruiser Brody made short work of Mad Dog and Butcher Vachon…well, actually just Butcher! The “Superfly” and Brody were able to cut the ring in half for the larger Vachon brother, keeping him in the ring the entire time. Brody scored the pinfall on Butcher after a jumping knee drop. This combination of Brody and Snuka could be a dominant duo, should they choose to challenge for the World Tag Team titles. DUD

9) Bob Orton, Jr. scored a big win for the Heenan Family by pinning Giant Baba. The Japanese giant hit his neckbreaker drop midway through the match, but a distraction from Bobby “The Brain” gave the “Cowboy” a chance to recover. Baba busted Orton open after one his famous boots to the face, but Orton came back. Orton showed great strength in hoisting Baba up to the top rope and executing a superplex. He floated over into a cover, but Baba kicked out. The “Cowboy” somehow executed a second superplex and was able to keep Baba down for a somewhat surprising three-count. ****

10) The results of the main event turned out to be a surprise to many of the fans in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Southern Heavyweight champion Frank Gotch became the first double champion in USWA history, as he and Richard Hutton defeated the Road Warriors to win the World Tag Team titles! Many fans sided with the Legion of Doom at first, as they did not take too well to Gotch and Hutton’s confident, almost cocky attitudes. The champs started off looking dominant, as they often do, working over the Southern champ. They hit the Doomsday Device on Gotch within the opening minutes, but Gotch managed to kick out. Gotch recovered and tagged in to Hutton. Hutton locked the big Animal in his abdominal stretch, which has become one of the most feared moves in the USWA since it put down the devious Sheik. The Evansville crowd popped big at seeing this move. Animal looked weary, but Hawk saved his partner from submission. Animal’s face paint was mixed with blood, as Gotch and Hutton busted him open and worked over him for several minutes. Hawk tagged in, but Gotch was able to outwrestle and outmaneuver him as well. Gotch applied his toehold, but Hawk managed to make the ropes. Gotch took Hawk down to the mat and applied a crossface and proceeded to bar Hawk’s arm as well. Animal came in, but Hutton intercepted him and shot him down with a double leg takedown. Hawk struggled to break free or reach the ropes, but ultimately had to tap out with his free arm. The Evansville fans were shocked at not only the Warriors’ loss, but the way in which the challengers wrestled the titles away from them. George Hackenschmidt came down to the ring and celebrated the victory with the new champs, who ended the Warriors nearly eight-month reign. In an interesting piece of USWA trivia, it was in this same arena, where Hawk and Animal became the first USWA Tag Team champions on January 24, 2004 defeating the Valiants in a tournament final. ***1/2

In some news items reported the day after this card on WMC-TV, Antonio Inoki is resting up his back injury after his unsuccessful challenge for the USWA World title on the last card, but should return to action in a few weeks. Rumor has it he wants a one-on-one match with Bob Orton, Jr. who injured him with the superplex at New Year’s Knockout!

And in big news, Ed “Strangler” Lewis has said he’ll do what it takes to get a shot at the USWA World title. Lewis has agreed to wrestle against other USWA challengers, per Bobby Heenan’s wishes. The former NWA kingpin wants to train and get back into ring shape before competing in the USWA. He is scheduled to debut in his hometown of Louisville on March 16. Lewis said if he has to “prove” himself to Bockwinkel and the Heenan Family he will. Most fans feel that his reigns as NWA champion, a title which is defended in more territories than the USWA strap, is proof enough and that the Heenan Family is scared after the way Lewis took down Bockwinkel in his headlock at New Year’s Knockout.

The USWA will return to Tupelo, MS and the Sports Arena on January 26 for Card #119!
*Red Bastien will take on Virgil with the winner to get the first shot of 2007 at Justin Credible’s USWA Texas title! Both men hold recent non-title victories over the champ. Do not underestimate Virgil, as he defeated Bastien twice in 2004!
*In huge tag team action, the Road Warriors will lock-up with the Vachons! The Legion of Doom are hot after losing the World Tag Team titles, but the Vachons need a win, as they are on a losing streak. Who will win this wild tag team war?
*Giant Baba will face the homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death-defying Sabu! These two have had interesting matches in the past. On July 30 of last year, at the USWA’s 100th card, the two went to a double disqualification. A rematch in September saw Sabu win by DQ (yes, Baba got disqualified!) Both men are looking for a decisive win to move on towards bigger things. Who will come out the victor?
*In a first-time meeting between two powerhouses, Bruiser Brody will face “The Russian Lion” George Hackenschmidt. Brody was one of the fan favorites that Frank Gotch referenced a few weeks back in an interview as a “barbarian” and someone he couldn’t believe that fans would cheer for. Hackenschmidt has only two losses in his brief USWA tenure. Can Brody tame this lion?
*Two rival teams will do battle, as “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka and “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers will take on “Playboy” Buddy Rose and Chris Candido. This will be the first meeting of former allies Rogers and Rose. Can Rogers’ success continue or will Rose’s medically required knee brace pull of a victory?
*The main event will be for the Southern Heavyweight title. Originally this was slated to be champion Frank Gotch defending against the evil Sheik. But due to Sheik’s injury, Gotch will now defend against his own partner and the man who defeated and injured the Sheik—Dick Hutton! In addition to becoming the first double title holder, Gotch will make history again this month, as this will be the first time the USWA World Tag Team champions face each other! The new champs were interviewed by Bill Apter on WMC-TV. Both men promised the Tupelo fans a great wrestling match and promised that whoever comes out on top, there will be no hard feelings. Gotch and Hutton met a few times in 2005, when Hutton was allied with Ted DiBiase. Who will be the better man and walk out the Southern champ?
All this plus Mil Mascaras, “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, and the team of “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Jr. and the Masked Superstar in action!