Peter Maivia defeated Toru Tanaka after a kick to the head in 0:07:14.
Rating: ** 3/4
"High Chief" Peter Maivia remained undefeated since coming back to GCW with a win in our opener over Professor Toru Tanaka. Despite being primarily a tag team wrestler, Tanaka is still a tough out for anyone and Maivia definitely had to work for his win. But Maivia showed some aggression and put Tanaka down and out with a vicious kick to the head.
Ernie Ladd pinned Mr. Fuji with the Boot to the Face in 0:06:09.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Johnny Rodz no-showed.)
The unpredictable act of Johnny Rodz this show? Not showing up at all. That's right - Rodz no-showed the event on purpose to "get in Ladd's head." Sigh. The Big Cat was still looking for action though, and he got it in the form of Mr. Fuji, who was hoping to have better luck than his partner did in the previous match. Well you know what they say - hope in one hand,… Fuji put up a fight, but this match was never in much doubt as Ladd hit the Boot to the Face to get the win.
Larry Zbyszko and Dino Bravo defeated The Heenan Family (Hiro Matsuda and Ox Baker) when Bravo pinned O. Baker with the Side Suplex in 0:11:27.
Rating: *** 1/4
[Bobby Heenan interfered against Larry Zbyszko.]
Ox Baker was pinned in a shocking upset by rookie Larry Zbyszko last month in MSG, an embarrassing setback for the Heenan Family. Bobby Heenan wanted another crack at Zbyszko and thus challenged he & partner Dino Bravo to a tag match against Baker & Hiro Matsuda. Though Zbyszko & Bravo are very inexperienced, sometimes the benefit of youth is you don't know when you're outmatched. On paper, this was a match Baker & Matsuda should have won, but someone forgot to tell Zbyszko & Bravo. They showed incredible heart and were rewarded for it when Bravo, in an amazing feat of strength, lifted Baker up in the Side Suplex and drove him to the mat to get the 1-2-3. The Memorial Auditorium went NUTS as Bravo & Zbyszko celebrated their improbable victory, and this clearly cements Bravo as one of the strongest men in all of wrestling. What an impressive feat of strength! One man not impressed was Bobby Heenan, who ripped into Baker about losing for the second time in a row, saying it was unacceptable. Heenan became more animated and eventually SLAPPED Baker right in the face! This upset the Ox, who snapped and grabbed Heenan by the shirt, looking to hit his Heart Punch, but was cut off by Matsuda spitting a green mist in Baker's eyes, and then blasting him over the head with a chair, knocking the big man out cold. To rub more salt in the wounds, Heenan grabbed the microphone and publicly fired Ox Baker.
Gorilla Monsoon defeated Killer Kowalski by countout in 0:09:17.
Rating: 3/4*
[Bobby Heenan interfered against Gorilla Monsoon.]
Gorilla Monsoon & Killer Kowalski went at it one more time, and this match was as hard-hitting as all the others have been. The history between these two men goes all the way back to 1963, so if there were ever two people familiar with each other, it was these two. A lot of power offense here as you would expect, but after Monsoon hit a big avalanche in the corner, Kowalski had had enough and got out of the ring, getting himself counted out on purpose. This merely served as a distraction as THE BLACKJACKS hit the ring and beat the 2-on-1 beatdown. Monsoon tried to fight them off but couldn't, succumbing to Lanza & Mulligan before ERNIE LADD came in to help even the odds. However Kowalski was back in the ring and with the odds once again uneven, the Heenan Family was winning that battle. When it looked most grim, a man jumped over the guardrail and was in the ring hitting Mulligan with punches - it was MUHAMMAD ALI! No one even knew he was in the building, but apparently he bought a ticket to watch the show. With Ali's help, Monsoon & Ladd cleared the ring and stood tall. If this unexpected turn of events was enough, we now know a 6-man tag has been signed for the year end show at MSG - The Blackjacks & Killer Kowalski vs. Gorilla Monsoon, Ernie Ladd, & Muhammad Ali!
The Graham Brothers (Billy Graham and Luke Graham) defeated Jimmy Snuka and Tony Garea when B. Graham defeated Garea when Garea passed out in the Bearhug in 0:17:57.
Rating: ***
(The Graham Brothers retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)
Another show, another successful title defense for the Graham Brothers. The opponents tonight in Lowell were Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka & Tony Garea, who have come so close to winning the titles in the past but haven't been able to get over the hump. Snuka & Garea wrestled their hearts out, but as has been their history, fell just a bit short. After the match, Snuka told Garea the team simply wasn't working out and he wanted to try his hand at singles wrestling. Garea gave him his blessing, the two shook hands and parted amicably. Snuka will enter the singles division while word has it that Garea is scouting another tag team partner.
Dick Murdoch pinned Kintaro Ohki with the Gourdbuster in 0:10:54.
Rating: ***
This was Kintaro Ohki's last match in GCW, and he received a wonderful ovation because of it. One man not cheering was his opponent, "Dirty" Dick Murdoch. Murdoch received equal the amount of jeers that Ohki had received cheers - they simply hate this guy! Murdoch almost seems to feed off that hate, using it to motivate him in the ring. Murdoch was able to do something only one other man this year was able to do, and that's pin Ohki in the middle of the ring. Murdoch hit the Gourdbuster and racked up a big win. This wouldn't be the last time we would see Murdoch tonight.
Ohki, on the other hand, waved a final goodbye to the America fans, grabbing the mic and saying in broken English, "Thank you, friends!" Ohki is a legend and we wish him well in the future.
Interview:
Captain Lou Albano gets a new client.
Captain Lou Albano came out to the ring for our next segment with the powerhouse Nikolai Volkoff in tow. Volkoff & Albano were all smiles. Albano recapped his recent quest to manage Ivan Koloff. Albano mentioned that a lot of people have forgotten, including Koloff, that if it wasn't for the Captain, the Russian Bear wouldn't even be in GCW in the first place. "I pulled you from obscurity and brought you to the big time!" Albano told Koloff to come to the ring and tell him that he accepted the proposal to join the ranks. Ivan Koloff did come out, but he didn't look in much of a mood to accept any offer. Koloff ran down Albano, calling him the scum of the earth. Before he could outright refuse, Albano cut him off, reminding Koloff that he knows some sensitive information that surely the Russian Bear wouldn't want released, adding, "You know EXACTLY what I'm talking about." Koloff thought about it long and hard, clearly wrestling with a tough decision before finally saying, "Okay, I'll join with you." A big smile crept onto Albano's face as it appears he is now officially managing Ivan Koloff again. What information about Koloff could Albano possibly know that would cause the Russian Bear to turn on his fans like this?
Dusty Rhodes pinned Pedro Morales with the Bionic Elbowdrop in 0:10:10.
Rating: **
Though Pedro Morales has helped Dusty Rhodes in his battles with Dick Murdoch, there is still a lot of unfinished business between the two remaining, business they looked take care of once and for all in this match. The story of the match was that Morales didn't trust Rhodes, but Rhodes kept surprising him with clean breaks and simply wrestling an aggressive, but clean match. Rhodes even showed tremendous courage when he got trapped in the Boston Crab, by not giving up and getting himself to the ropes. This threw Morales off his game, making him uncharacteristically make a big mistake by going up to the top. Rhodes caught him through and crotched him on the turnbuckle, bringing him down with a huge superplex. The Bionic Elbowdrop soon followed and Rhodes picked up the biggest win of his career by pinning the former World champion. After the match, the two engaged in a long staredown before Morales extended his hand, which Rhodes accepted. Rhodes had earned Morales' respect. The moment didn't last long though as DICK MURDOCH and a mystery assailant attacked them, beating the ever-living stuffing out of them. Rhodes & Morales were both bleeding profusely by the time officials broke up this massacre. We learned that Murdoch's bellowing braggish partner is Stan Hansen, a man Murdoch says he "can finally trust." We'll see about that, as the duo will have to wrestle Rhodes & Morales on December 27!
Bobby Duncum and Billy Robinson defeated Don Muraco and Dory Funk Jr. when Duncum pinned D. Funk Jr. after a jawbreaker in 0:26:28.
Rating: *** 1/2
Intercontinental champion Dory Funk Jr. has no choice but to give Bobby Duncum a title shot now! Funk teamed up with his lackey Don Muraco to take on Duncum and Billy Robinson, and Duncum was fired up to say the least. Duncum & Funk had a few exchanges, and for the most part, Duncum had the advantage every time. Duncum has something to prove, and when that is the case, good luck slowing him down. With Robinson fully neutralizing Muraco, Duncum got the pinfall on Funk after drilling him with a stiff jawbreaker (Duncum was after heard saying he'll knock Funk out if he has to). With this pinfall victory, Duncum has earned himself a shot at the IC Title which will take place at the year end MSG show!
Harley Race defeated Jack Brisco by countout in 0:36:27.
Rating: ****
(Harley Race retained the GCW World Title.)
World champion Harley Race did everything in his power for months to avoid this match, but sooner or later, it was going to have to take place. Tonight was that night, as he put the title on the line against Jack Brisco. There was no question in anyone's mind who the fans wanted to see win tonight as the sold out Memorial Auditorium loudly voiced their want to see a new champion crowned. In the early stages of the contest, it looked like we were well on our way to that. Brisco was a step ahead of Race at every turn, frustrated the champion with his wrestling acumen. Race hasn't held the title for over a year by sheer fluke though, as he is a master of luring an opponent in before making his move. Watching these two ring generals play human chess was something to see. Something that is perhaps going to let Race keep the title for a lengthy amount of time is how he doesn't care how he keeps the title, as long as he keeps it. His method would be countout here, luring Brisco to the outside. Brisco rushed Race for a clothesline, but Race moved and Brisco smacked hard into the ring post, taking him out of commission for the ten count so Race could keep his title. Because of the questionable method of title retention, Race will again have to defend the title against Brisco on December 27, but with a new twist - there will be a special referee, and that man is LOU THESZ! Thesz is not going to put up with any nonsense and we will be sure to see a certain winner.
Card rating: ***
Match observations:
We're at the end of the year, so you know what that means - back to Madison Square Garden for the huge year-end show!
WORLD TITLE - SPECIAL REFEREE Lou Thesz - Harley Race (c) vs. Jack Brisco
INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE - Dory Funk Jr. (c) vs. Bobby Duncum
Dusty Rhodes/Pedro Morales vs. Dick Murdoch/Stan Hansen
Gorilla Monsoon/Ernie Ladd/Muhammad Ali vs. The Blackjacks/Killer Kowalski
Peter Maivia vs. Mr. Fuji
