April 19, 1969 - National Arena - Washington, DC

Gorilla Monsoon pinned Tony Altimore after a splash in 0:06:45.
Rating: DUD

In our opener, Tony Altimore continues to get squashed in GCW - this time, literally - as Gorilla Monsoon gets the win after a splash.

Thunderbolt Patterson pinned Boris Malenko with the Thunderbolt Right in 0:15:21.
Rating: ** 3/4

Thunderbolt Patterson has been asking for some competition since he came to GCW, and he finally got some in the form of Boris Malenko. Malenko gave Thunderbolt his biggest challenge to date by far, even almost getting the victory when he hit the Russian Sickle but Patterson was too close to the ropes. Patterson fought back to hit the Thunderbolt Right and stay undefeated.

Nick Bockwinkel defeated The Sheik by disqualification in 0:14:16.
Rating: *
(The Sheik retained the GCW United States Title.)

Nick Bockwinkel could live to regret angering the insane US champion The Sheik in his selfish bid to get the title from him. The Princess commanded The Sheik to show no mercy to Bockwinkel, and that's exactly what Bockwinkel received. Bockwinkel's strategy was to wrestle The Sheik, but the insanity from Bombay is not easily wrestled. The Sheik brutalized Bockwinkel to the point of making him bleed and getting himself disqualified. Bockwinkel was so beaten down that he had to be stretchered out of the ring. Bockwinkel was set to get a rematch on May 17th in Pittsburgh, but because of his condition, has been forced to pull out of the match. The Sheik will now defend the United States Title against a mystery opponent.

Pedro Morales pinned Jerry Brisco after a hiptoss in 0:23:21.
Rating: ** 3/4

The Brisco Brothers continue to have troubles in singles matches, as tonight Jerry fell to Pedro Morales in a great technical wrestling match. Morales seemed to be frustrated that he had as much trouble as he did defeating primarily a tag team wrestler who hasn't been in wrestling very long, but I think that's more a testament to Jerry's natural skills than anything. Either way, a good victory for Morales.

Crusher & Bruiser (The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser) defeated Chief Jay Strongbow and Wahoo McDaniel when Bruiser defeated Strongbow when Strongbow passed out in the Stomach Claw in 0:25:03.
Rating: ** 3/4

Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher have been trying to get back in contention for the World Tag Team Titles for awhile now, and have already received a promise from Dominic DeNucci & Victor Rivera that if they win the gold later tonight, Bruiser & Crusher get the first shot. That wouldn't mean anything though if they couldn't beat Chief Jay Strongbow & Wahoo McDaniel here tonight. Bruiser & Crusher couldn't throw the Native Americans around like they can many of their opponents, but cheating generally works against anyone. After a tough match, Dick the Bruiser got the Stomach Claw on Chief Jay Strongbow, but Strongbow refused to give up and managed to work his way back to his feet. Strongbow was almost at the ropes when The Crusher waffled him with a hard right hand that knocked Strongbow completely out cold. Closer examination revealed that The Crusher had a foreign object in his hand. Needless to say, Strongbow wasn't going to get out of the painful submission hold now and referee Terry Taranova called the match.

Gene Kiniski pinned Baron Mikel Scicluna after a flying kneedrop in 0:13:00.
Rating: **

Gene Kiniski took a trip to the winner's circle tonight with a win over Baron Mikel Scicluna, whose losing streak is reaching quite impressive numbers.

Dominic DeNucci and Victor Rivera defeated The Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson) when DeNucci pinned G. Anderson with the Airplane Spin in 0:17:39.
Rating: ***
(Dominic DeNucci and Victor Rivera won the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)

In what has to be considered a huge upset, Dominic DeNucci & Victor Rivera are the new World Tag Team champions. They were able to become the champions thanks to a combination of Gene & Ole Anderson underestimating the challengers and PAT PATTERSON interfering and chasing Ole away from ringside with a chair, allowing DeNucci to hit the Airplane Spin on Gene for the upset duke. This is their first as champions, DeNucci's second. As they promised, the first title shot will go to Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher next month in Pittsburgh.

If that wasn't, LOU ALBANO approached the new tag team champions and grabbed the microphone. Albano said he was impressed with DeNucci & Rivera and wanted to offer his managerial services to them. Fortunately, the new champs saw right through his lies and turned him down.

Ernie Ladd defeated Peter Maivia by disqualification in 0:11:12.
Rating: **

Ernie Ladd's tactics earned him a victory tonight against "High Chief" Peter Maivia, but it also earned him a chair wrapped around his head. The Big Cat thought it would be a terrific idea to mock Maivia's Samoan heritage. It did earn him a win by disqualification, but only because the High Chief couldn't take the taunting after a bit and grabbed a chair from ringside, paintbrushing Ladd right between the eyes with it. Maivia is so upset over Ladd's actions that he has demanded a cage match with Ladd next month in Pittsburgh.

Pat Patterson and Terry Funk battled to a double disqualification in 0:08:41.
Rating: *** 1/2
[Dory Funk Jr. interfered against Pat Patterson.]
[Ray Stevens interfered against Terry Funk.]

Terry Funk took exception to Pat Patterson more or less costing him and his brother the tag titles last month, so Funk wanted a one-on-one match with Patterson tonight. Well, calling this a "match" was being generous as the contest was two guys beating the hell out of each other. We were all shocked to see RAY STEVENS make his return from injury tonight and assault Terry before Stevens himself was attacked by DORY FUNK JR. and we had a huge tag team brawl! The match was thrown out but that wasn't important to the four men involved as they tore each other apart all over the arena. Officials finally got the two tandems separated. Clearly these two teams want at each other, and that will happen on May 17th in Pittsburgh. And as an added incentive, the winners of the match will be the #1 contenders for the World Tag Team Titles!

Luke Graham pinned Johnny Valentine with the Thumb to the Throat in 0:17:45.
Rating: ** 1/2
(Luke Graham retained the GCW World Title.)
[Lou Albano interfered against Johnny Valentine.]

Johnny Valentine wanted nothing more than to be the man to dethrone Luke Graham, win the World Title, and shove it in the face of his former manager Lou Albano. That is a much easier thing said than done. As much as everyone hates Luke Graham, there is no question that he is the most dominant man in wrestling. Valentine fought valiantly and held on as long as he could, but it was just a matter of time before he was hit with the Thumb to the Throat. Another successful title defense for Graham. Crazy Luke could be the champion for a long, long time.

Card rating: ** 1/2

Match observations:

In a press release issued after tonight's show, GCW officials have announced that on June 28th, a very special event will take place from Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. After the success of the Comiskey Park show back in 1967, it was only natural that we returned to Major League Baseball to give them the best wrestling action in the world. No matches have been formally announced yet, but when we know, we will let you know!

But first, on May 17th we return to Pittsburgh, PA for our next huge show!

UNITED STATES TITLE - The Sheik (c) vs. A mystery opponent
WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES - Dominic DeNucci/Victor Rivera (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser/The Crusher
CAGE MATCH - Peter Maivia vs. Ernie Ladd
#1 CONTENDERS MATCH - The Blond Bombers vs. The Funk Brothers

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