Jim Brunzell pinned Baron Mikel Scicluna after a rolling reverse cradle in 0:04:10.
Rating: ***
The show opened with two primary tag team wrestlers going at it in a singles match with "Jumping" Jim Brunzell of the High Flyers taking on Captain Lou Albano's Baron Mikel Scicluna. Scicluna has thrived as a tag team wrestler, but didn't seem to be on top of his game in this singles event. Brunzell dazzles the crowd with his high-flying offense, and he surprised the royal from Malta with a rolling reverse cradle to open our Toronto show with a win.
Mr. Fuji and Toru Tanaka defeated Chief Jay Strongbow and Don Muraco when Fuji pinned Muraco with the Thrust Kick in 0:18:06.
Don Muraco suffered an elbow injury. He will be out for approximately 2 months.
Rating: ***
Chief Jay Strongbow wanted Don Muraco and himself to get a rematch against Mr. Fuji & Professor Toru Tanaka as Strongbow says he wants to mold Muraco by having him wrestle the best. The work that Strongbow has been doing with Muraco is obvious as the rookie more than held his own against the former tag team champions. However, Muraco made a rookie mistake when he didn't go for a pin right away after a bulldog, which let Tanaka escape and tag in Fuji. Fuji crept up on Muraco, spun him around, and drilled him with the Thrust Kick for the 1-2-3. A great effort with a bad ending for Don Muraco. To make matters worse, Muraco suffered an elbow injury and will be out for a couple of months while he recovers.
Pedro Morales defeated Jerry Lawler by countout in 0:12:49.
Rating: ** 1/4
Pedro Morales has been bragging for the past month about how he beat Johnny Valentine so badly that he caused him to have a heart attack. Valentine's apprentice, Jerry "The King" Lawler immediately sought to get a matter of revenge on Morales and challenged him to a match here in Toronto. Unfortunately for Lawler, he was wrestling with too much emotion and despite taking his licks, Morales suckered Lawler in and gave him a severe beating. The massacre was topped off by Morales hitting a piledriver on Lawler on the floor to get the win by countout.
Interview:
Pedro Morales takes credit for ending Johnny Valentine's career.
After the match while Jerry Lawler was being helped by doctors to the back, Pedro Morales grabbed the microphone and continued to bury Johnny Valentine, saying that Valentine used to be great, but Morales is so good that he beat him to the point of having a heart attack. Morales took much glee in Valentine's misfortunes, running him down until World champion BRUNO SAMMARTINO came out. Sammartino took the mic and told Morales to shut up. Bruno said that he's never liked Valentine and has had many battles with him in the past, but he does respect Valentine and thinks he's one of the toughest men to ever step in the ring. Bruno then said he doesn't respect Morales at all though, telling him that he's a coward. This caused Morales to attack, but Sammartino blocked the punch and returned the assault before sending Morales sprawling from the ring.
[IF RASCHKE WINS, GETS CAGE MATCH WITH BOBBY HEENAN]:
Baron Von Raschke defeated Jimmy Snuka when Jimmy Snuka passed out in the Claw in 0:09:25.
Rating: ** 1/2
[Bobby Heenan interfered against Baron Von Raschke.]
Bobby Heenan was scared out of his mind for our next match which pitted his charge, "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka taking on Baron Von Raschke, a man who wants nothing more than to get his hands on the Brain. Raschke would get that opportunity if he could defeat Snuka. Heenan was sweating bullets from the opening bell, and his overzealous nature would backfire in a big way. In the closing moments of the match, Heenan reached into the ring to trip Baron Von Raschke, but unbeknownst to him, Raschke had reversed the Irish whip and Heenan instead tripped Snuka! This mistake completely changed the complexion of the contest as Raschke locked Snuka in the Claw. Heenan pleaded with Snuka to hold on, but Snuka would pass out to give Raschke the win. It's now official! On May 2 in Montreal, Baron Von Raschke gets his match with Bobby Heenan - in a steel cage!
After the match, Heenan was livid at Snuka, berating him for losing the match. Snuka took the verbal abuse, but Heenan took it one step too far when he slapped Snuka across the face. Snuka is only a man and doesn't like to be disrespected, and he showed that by walloping Heenan with a huge headbutt and leaving him out cold in the middle of the ring! I think it's safe to say Jimmy Snuka is no longer in the Heenan Family!
Billy Robinson pinned Spiros Arion with the Double-Arm Suplex in 0:12:27.
Rating: ** 3/4
Billy Robinson failed in his attempt to regain the United States Title from Billy Graham, but he has stated he will work his way back up the ladder to earn another shot at the championship. The first rung on that ladder was Spiros Arion. With The Grand Wizard pulling the strings, the Golden Greek is always a dangerous foe, but the wrestling acumen of Billy Robinson was more than enough to overcome Arion.
Blackjack Lanza pinned Dominic DeNucci after a gutwrench suplex in 0:12:14.
Rating: ***
Even with Bobby Heenan completely focused on other issues, Blackjack Lanza would not be phased as he took on veteran Dominic DeNucci. DeNucci is a wily veteran who knows a lot of tricks in that ring, and he used those to give Lanza the toughest test to date. However, the result would be the same as Lanza hit a bone-rattling gutwrench suplex to get the win and remain Heenan's undefeated ace in the hole.
Ernie Ladd pinned Carlos Colon with the Thumb to the Throat in 0:19:31.
Rating: ***
[The Grand Wizard interfered against Carlos Colon.]
Ernie Ladd suffered what he called an "upset loss" to Carlos Colon at MSG, but Ladd promised that history wouldn't repeat itself in Toronto. Ladd also continued his mockery of Luke Graham, wearing his "I RETIRED LUKE GRAHAM" shirt once again. After a highly competitive match, Ladd's mockery reached a new level as he would get the pin on Colon after hitting him with the Thumb to the Throat - Luke Graham's finisher. What a complete sign of arrogance from Ernie Ladd. All I can say is that Ladd better hope that Graham really is retired, because if he's not, there's going to be hell to pay.
Wahoo McDaniel made Greg Gagne submit to the Indian Deathlock in 0:05:04.
Rating: ** 3/4
Wahoo McDaniel came up short in his bid to win the World Title, but he got back on the winning track in this match against Greg Gagne, making him submit to the Indian Deathlock.
Gorilla Monsoon defeated Billy Graham by disqualification in 0:09:36.
Rating: 1/2*
(Billy Graham retained the GCW United States Title.)
Billy Graham got past the challenge of Billy Robinson, but the next man to get a crack at the US Title was Gorilla Monsoon tonight. Monsoon is a former 2-time World Tag Team champion, but has never tasted singles gold and wanted to do so in this match. Monsoon would get the victory in the match, but he would not take the title as it was on a disqualification. Monsoon looked to have Graham pinned after hitting a splash, but the Grand Wizard made the save by jumping on Monsoon's back. It did no damage to Monsoon, but it did cause referee Jack Davis to call the DQ. The Grand Wizard got out of Dodge in a flash rather than suffer the wrath of an angry Gorilla. Superstar Billy wasn't as fortunate though, as Monsoon hit him with one more big splash for good measure.
Crusher & Bruiser (The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser) defeated The Cripplers (Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens) when Bruiser defeated Bockwinkel by disqualification in 0:05:41.
Rating: * 3/4
(The Cripplers retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)
[Blackjack Lanza interfered against Dick the Bruiser.]
Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher had their issues, but they are not a united front and they had a chance to win the World Tag Team Titles for a 7th time in our main event as they challenged The Cripplers. Not only were Bruiser & Crusher back together, but they were firing on all cylinders and Bobby Heenan was watching his meal ticket fade away. Heenan already had the plan in place as BLACKJACK LANZA ran in to break it up, resulting in the match being thrown out by senior referee Dick Kroll. The fans were disappointed to see the match end how it did, but the bigger concern was the 3-on-2 beatdown Bruiser & Crusher were receiving from Ray Stevens, Nick Bockwinkel, & Blackjack Lanza. The tide was turned though when BARON VON RASCHKE ran down to help Bruiser & Crusher clear the ring, not so much because he likes them but because he hates Bobby Heenan. Heenan ran away with his tail tucked between his legs instantly, but he was cut off by JIMMY SNUKA and forced back into the ring. Bruiser, Crusher, Raschke, & Snuka then cleared the ring of the Heenan Family to send the fans home happy.
Card rating: ** 1/4
Match observations:
On May 2nd, for the first time in nearly a year and a half, GCW returns to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and let me tell you, the lineup is STACKED!
WORLD TITLE - Bruno Sammartino (c) vs. Pedro Morales
UNITED STATES TITLE - Billy Graham (c) vs. Gorilla Monsoon
WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES (If Lanza interferes, Bruiser/Crusher win the titles) - The Cripplers (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser/The Crusher
CAGE MATCH - Baron Von Raschke vs. Bobby Heenan
Jimmy Snuka vs. Blackjack Lanza
