April 4, 1974 - Capital Centre - Landover, MD

Dominic DeNucci defeated Billy Graham by disqualification in 0:01:14.
Rating: * 1/4

The first match to ever take place at the Capital Centre didn't last long, but it was memorable as "Superstar" Billy Graham took on Dominic DeNucci. Billy Graham is still fuming that he has yet to figure out a way to beat his brother Luke, and he took it out on DeNucci. DeNucci got the win, but it was because the Superstar got disqualified for beating the ever-living nonsense out of him. It looks like Billy's desire to step out of his brother's shadow may run deeper than we originally thought.

Interview:
The Grand Wizard wants Ernie Ladd back under contract.

After that match, The Grand Wizard stuck around the ring and he wanted Ernie Ladd to come out. The Grand Wizard said that he had let it slide to this point, but Ladd left him high and dry without warning and without compensation. He reminded Ladd that they had a written contract for him to be his manager, and that Ladd broke that contract. Ladd came out to deal with this, telling The Grand Wizard that he wanted no part of him anymore. The Grand Wizard retorted that that was perfectly fine, as long as he paid him $10,000 to terminate the contract or face a breach of contract lawsuit. That made Ladd lose it, grabbing Wizard by the shirt and yelling at him. Ladd forgot that Billy Graham was still lurking around and got attacked from behind, being put in the Bearhug before officials broke it up. Ladd was not going to be at 100% for tonight's main event after this cowardly attack.

Mr. Wrestling II pinned Johnny Rodz with the Million Dollar Kneelift in 0:08:40.
Rating: *** 1/2

The World Tag Team champions were in singles action tonight to stay sharp for their title defense against The Cripplers on April 19 in Philadelphia, starting with Mr. Wrestling II taking on Johnny Rodz. This was a wrestling clinic from II, not having a lot of trouble in putting Rodz away with the Million Dollar Kneelift.

Jerry Lawler defeated Pedro Morales by disqualification in 0:07:44.
Rating: * 1/2

Pedro Morales was unable to regain the World Title from Ivan Koloff, and he took that out tonight on an old enemy of his, Jerry "The King" Lawler. Just like Billy Graham in the opener, Morales lost his cool and cost himself the match. Morales originally had won the match with the Boston Crab, but refused to let go of the hold, leading to referee Terry Taranova reversing the decision.

The Texas Outlaws (Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch) defeated Billy Robinson and Don Muraco when Dusty Rhodes pinned Muraco with the Bionic Elbowdrop in 0:08:44.
Rating: ***

This match was a rubber match of sorts as these two teams have exchanged wins the past 2 months. Billy Robinson may be the best wrestler of the four, but Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch have more experience working together as a team, traveling together and basically being inseparable for the past several years. They used this to pick up the win. GCW officials have to be considering giving The Texas Outlaws a title shot soon.

Luke Graham pinned Spiros Arion with the Thumb to the Throat in 0:04:35.
Rating: ** 1/4

This wasn't much more than a workout match for United States champion Luke Graham, facing the hapless singles competitor Spiros Arion in a non-title match. Not a whole lot of offense from the Golden Greek before Graham put him away with the Thumb to the Throat.

Harley Race pinned Carlos Colon with the Piledriver in 0:18:56.
Rating: *** 1/4

A great wrestling match as Carlos Colon looked to be the first man to shut Harley Race up. Race is proving himself to be highly dangerous in the ring, as the veteran has a methodical style. He is not content simply winning a match - he wants to torture his opponent. Colon fired away on Race for a lot of this match, but Race certainly controlled the pace. In the end, Race outlasted Colon to put him away with the Piledriver.

Crusher & Bruiser (The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser) defeated Billy Graham and Toru Tanaka when Crusher pinned Tanaka with the Bolo Punch in 0:08:35.
Rating: ** 1/2
[The Grand Wizard interfered against Dick the Bruiser.]
(Mr. Fuji no-showed.)

Mr. Fuji had some travel issues after he made a trip back to his homeland of Japan, so Professor Toru Tanaka was left without a partner to take on Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher. "Superstar" Billy Graham answered the call as he was still in a foul mood. Graham didn't wrestle much in the ring, but what he did was impactful. When he got tagged in, he came in and laid out The Bruiser, but after that, immediately tagged Tanaka back in and then just went to the back. While Tanaka was trying to figure out why Graham was leaving, Bruiser crawled over and tagged in The Crusher, who came in and flattened Tanaka with the Bolo Punch for the 1-2-3. Strange actions from the Superstar.

Baron Mikel Scicluna pinned Mr. Wrestling I with the Fistdrop in 0:09:39.
Rating: *** 3/4
[Spiros Arion and The Grand Wizard interfered against Mr. Wrestling I.]

Mr. Wrestling II didn't have a lot of trouble earlier with Johnny Rodz, but Mr. Wrestling I found difficulty against Baron Mikel Scicluna thanks to outside interference from both The Grand Wizard and Spiros Arion. After a good competitive match, Wrestling I had Scicluna locked in the Sleeperhold when Arion jumped up on the apron. This brought out Mr. Wrestling II, who pulled him down and fought with him on the floor. During the commotion, The Grand Wizard tossed a roll of coins into Scicluna, who barely managed to grab them while in the Sleeper, and then reached back to clock Wrestling I in the face. He followed with a coin-aided Fistdrop and got the 3 count. With this win, this could skyrocket Scicluna & Arion up to get a title shot. If they can somehow find a way to get past Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher in Philly, they very well might get that shot sooner rather than later.

Ivan Koloff pinned Bobby Duncum with the Russian Sickle in 0:21:58.
Rating: ****
(Ivan Koloff retained the GCW World Title.)

Ivan Koloff had to reach deep down to turn back the challenges of Pedro Morales, but he is finding that when you're the World champion, it doesn't get any easier. He had a tough challenge in Bobby Duncum, and even with the big 6-man tag main event to focus on, you knew Bobby Heenan was going to pull out every dirty trick he could to try to get the World Title. It almost looked at one point like he did when Duncum hit a running bulldog on Koloff and went for the cover. Koloff got his foot up on the ropes before the 3 count, but referee Dick Kroll originally missed it and counted the 3. The fans were irate as Duncum & Heenan celebrated with the championship before referee Terry Taranova ran down and explained what happened. The match restarted, and not long after, Koloff hit a flustered Duncum with the Russian Sickle for the 1-2-3. Heenan has been a pain since this event took place, complaining to the GCW Championship Committee that Duncum should be the World champion right now. The Championship Committee believes he may have a point, and as a result, has granted Duncum a rematch on April 19 in a 2/3 falls match!

The Heenan Family (Blackjack Lanza, Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens) defeated Baron Von Raschke, Ernie Ladd and Jimmy Snuka when Bockwinkel pinned Raschke with the Piledriver in 0:13:22.
Rating: *** 3/4

The main event was a big 6-man tag team match with a lot of emotion involved as the strange team of Baron Von Raschke, Jimmy Snuka, & Ernie Ladd joined forces to fight the common enemy of Ray Stevens, Nick Bockwinkel, & Blackjack Lanza of the Heenan Family. The fans in the Capital Center were solidly behind the fan favorite team, especially after all of the vile things that the Heenan Family has done over the months. Ladd was not at his best after the attack from Billy Graham earlier in the evening, but he was running on pure emotion. They would add another vile action to that ever-growing list as during this great match, Lanza would nail Raschke in the ribs with a pair of brass knuckles from the apron during a lot of commotion. Raschke was in intense pain, which allowed Bockwinkel to his the Piledriver and get a cheap pin. Raschke will get one last opportunity for retribution on April 19, as for the first time ever, Raschke & Lanza will meet in a Brass Knuckles of a Pole match!

Card rating: *** 1/4

Match observations:

The card for April 19 in Philadelphia is stacked, with the following matches already signed, sealed, and ready to deliver:

WORLD TITLE 2/3 FALLS - Ivan Koloff (c) vs. Bobby Duncum
WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES - Mr. Wrestling I/Mr. Wrestling II (c) vs. The Cripplers
BRASS KNUCKLES ON A POLE MATCH - Baron Von Raschke vs. Blackjack Lanza
Ernie Ladd vs. Billy Graham
Dick the Bruiser/The Crusher vs. Baron Mikel Scicluna/Spiros Arion

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