December 26, 1970 - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY

Ernie Ladd pinned Billy Graham with the Boot to the Face in 0:07:16.
Rating: * 1/2

Our show kicked off with Ernie Ladd introducing the world to his new manager, The Grand Wizard of Wrestling. Ladd said that the only thing that has eluded him in his GCW career is the World Title, and that the Grand Wizard is going to lead him to it. Ladd's opponent was Billy Graham, who was advised by his brother Luke not to take this match due to the massive difference in experience. Billy Graham doesn't seem to be keen on taking advice though as he took the match anyway. Graham had some flashes of brilliance early, but the experience of Ladd was too much to overcome as the Grand Wizard leads the King to his first win in their new partnership.

Crusher & Bruiser (The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser) defeated Bobo Brazil and Peter Maivia when Crusher pinned Brazil with the Bolo Punch in 0:24:20.
Rating: ** 1/4
[Lou Albano interfered against Peter Maivia.]

Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher cost Bobo Brazil & Peter Maivia the World Tag Team Titles last month, and Brazil & Maivia are not the type to take that lightly as the intense nature of this match showed. We were surprised to see Lou Albano at ringside with Bruiser & Crusher considering his match against Arnold Skaaland was next, but he stayed loyal to his troops and did everything he could to ensure Bruiser & Crusher ended 1970 with a win. That's exactly how the match would go down as Crusher hit the Bolo Punch on Brazil to show why they just may be the best tag team in the world.

Arnold Skaaland defeated Lou Albano via pinfall in 0:05:34.
Rating: 1/2*

After working hard to help his tag team secure a win, Albano then had to lace them up against Bruno Sammartino's new "shoot first, ask questions later" manager Arnold Skaaland. Albano has wrestled in the past, but he didn't look confident at all going into this match. Albano spent more time running than he did wrestling. When Skaaland got ahold of Albano, he punched him and punched him a lot. Albano ran away which frustrated Skaaland into making what we thought would be a huge mistake. Skaaland missed an avalanche into the corner. Albano climbed the turnbuckles (well, all the way to the first turnbuckle) and jumped off with a splash. He, of course, missed, allowing Skaaland to cradle him and get the 1-2-3.

The Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson) defeated Pedro Morales and Rocky Johnson when G. Anderson pinned R. Johnson with the Piledriver in 0:12:31.
Rating: ** 3/4

The Minnesota Wrecking Crew have been on a bit of a slide in 1970 and wanted to end the year on a high note. That wouldn't be easy against the makeshift team of Pedro Morales & Rocky Johnson. Individually, it's hard to argue with the talents of Morales & Johnson. As a team? An entire different story. Morales & Johnson couldn't get it together at all and it didn't take long before the team completely fell apart. Johnson went for a huge right hand on Ole Anderson, but Ole ducked and Rocky's hard punch connected with Morales. Morales' Latin temper got the better of him and he shoved Johnson before walking away to the back. Johnson yelled for Morales to come back, which left him wide open to Gene Anderson attacking from behind and hitting the Piledriver to get into the winner's circle. Rocky Johnson looked for Morales in the locker room, but reports indicate that Pedro left the building immediately.

The Cripplers (Ray Stevens and Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Chief Jay Strongbow and Wahoo McDaniel when R. Stevens pinned Wahoo with the Bombs Away Kneedrop in 0:17:19.
Rating: *** 1/4
(The Cripplers retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)

The fans in New York were torn on who to cheer for in this World Tag Team Title match as neither the champions Ray Stevens & Nick Bockwinkel or the challengers Chief Jay Strongbow & Wahoo McDaniel are particularly popular, but we did get one heck of a match regardless. Strongbow & Wahoo spent much of 1970 as the champs and wanted to start 1971 as 2-time champions. Both teams pulled out all of the stops in a match that could have went either way, but it went the way of the champs who retain the gold. We have since learned that Strongbow & McDaniel have decided to go separate ways and disband their team going into the future.

Karl Gotch and Gorilla Monsoon defeated Bill Watts and Johnny Valentine when Gotch pinned J. Valentine with the German Suplex in 0:14:00.
Rating: *** 1/4

Karl Gotch & Gorilla Monsoon have formed a fast friendship after Gotch saved Monsoon from a 2-on-1 attack last month against their opponents, US champion Johnny Valentine & Bill Watts. Gotch is undefeated in GCW in singles action, and Monsoon couldn't have asked for a better partner. Their fast friendship also helped them stay move-for-move with the former 3-time tag champs. Valentine & Watts couldn't decide who to try to isolate - the wrestling expert Gotch or the brutal monster Monsoon. This indecision cost them as they never got a good strategy, allowing Gotch to pin Valentine with the German Suplex while Monsoon took the Cowboy out with an avalanche in the corner. News got worse for Valentine, as he learned he will have to defend the United States Title on January 14 in the nation's capital against the undefeated Gotch.

Texas Death Match:
Dory Funk Jr. made Terry Funk submit to the Texas Cloverleaf in 0:24:53.
Rating: *** 1/4

After the months of turbulence and fighting between brothers Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk, we knew the feud had to come to a violent head, but we never expected to see what we saw in this Texas Death Match. Dory vowed he was going to hurt his brother after Terry's cowardly assault on their father, Dory Sr., and he did just that. There were many falls in this match, but as given by the rules, if you get pinned or submit and can reach your feet before a 10-count, the match continues. Dory & Terry were both bloody messes in this match and their hatred for each other fueled them to keep getting to their feet when most normal men would have stayed down. The match took a sickening turn when Terry introduced BARBED WIRE into the match! Terry gouged his brother with the barbed wire, opening up a sickening gash on Dory's forehead. Dory refused to stay down, however, and eventually wrestled the barbed wire away from Terry. Dory wrapped the barbed wire around Terry and put him in the Texas Cloverleaf. Terry held out but the pain and blood loss caused him to pass out. Referee Jack Davis called for the bell and levied the 10 count. Terry was unable to reach his feet ending this match and this violent family feud once and for all. Both men had to be carried out on stretchers after this brutality.

Bruno Sammartino pinned Baron Mikel Scicluna after a powerslam in 0:14:18.
Rating: ** 1/2
(Bruno Sammartino retained the GCW World Title.)
[Lou Albano interfered against Bruno Sammartino.]
[Arnold Skaaland interfered against Baron Mikel Scicluna.]

After the carnage of match between the Funks, the crowd was still in disbelief during our main event, the World Title match between champion Bruno Sammartino & challenger Baron Mikel Scicluna. Lou Albano still managed to accompany Scicluna to the ring, but he looked a little worse for wear thanks to Arnold Skaaland earlier, who was also at ringside. The previous matches between these two never ended in a clean finish, but that changed tonight as Bruno finally thwarted Scicluna and got a decisive victory to end 1970.

Card rating: ** 3/4

Match observations:

Going into 1971, our first show takes place from the National Arena in Washington, DC with the following matches scheduled to take place:

UNITED STATES TITLE - Johnny Valentine (c) vs. Karl Gotch
Gorilla Monsoon vs. Bill Watts
Billy Graham vs. Wahoo McDaniel

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