December 30, 1967 - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY

Pedro Morales and Dominic DeNucci defeated The Half-Ton Team (Gorilla Monsoon and Haystacks Calhoun) when Morales pinned Calhoun after a roll away in 0:08:26.
Rating: * 1/2
(Pedro Morales and Dominic DeNucci retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)

Our final show of 1967 kicked off with a bang as Pedro Morales & Dominic DeNucci defended the World Tag Team Titles against Gorilla Monsoon & Haystacks Calhoun. The Half-Ton Team has been impressive since they joined forces a few months back, but no team has been more impressive that Morales & DeNucci. The reigning champs have held the gold since March and they show no signs of slowing down, picking up a huge victory tonight. Calhoun went for a 600-pound senton on Morales, but he rolled out of the way and capitalized with a pinfall.

Luke Graham pinned Giant Baba after hitting him with a foreign object in 0:16:12.
Rating: ** 1/2
(Luke Graham retained the GCW United States Title.)
[Lou Albano interfered against Giant Baba.]

Luke Graham tried to injure Giant Baba's throat a few months back, so this was Baba's attempt to get revenge. The Giant From the East controlled this match until Lou Albano slipped his charge a pair of brass knuckles. Graham's use of the knux made the difference and is probably the only reason he escaped with the US Title in tow.

Killer Kowalski and Nick Bockwinkel defeated The Firecrackers (Antonino Rocca and Miguel Perez) when Kowalski pinned Rocca after a flying kneedrop in 0:12:16.
Rating: ** 1/2

Nick Bockwinkel might finally have a leg to stand on when it comes to his claims of being the best wrestler in the world. He at least picked up a victory as he recruited Killer Kowalski to be his tag team partner against Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez. Kowalski was at a different level than he has been in years past, showing the fire many said he had been missing. Thanks to an illegal attack by Bockwinkel when he wasn't the legal man on Rocca, Kowalski hit a flying kneedrop to get the 3 for his team. If they decide to continue teaming, this could vault them up the tag team ranks in a hurry.

Cage Match:
Gene Kiniski pinned The Sheik with the Backbreaker in 0:16:22.
Rating: ** 3/4

Gene Kiniski has turned a new leaf since sending Abdullah Farouk from GCW permanently, but one man who didn't take that well was The Sheik. The Sheik has been an out-of-control animal since Farouk left, attacking Kiniski several times. So Kiniski figured the best way to control an animal is to throw him in a cage. This match was a bloodbath, pure and simple. The Sheik dished out quite the beating and it was shocking that Kiniski remained conscious, let alone kept fighting back. Both men were dripping blood by the end of this. Kiniski showed great strength by powering out of the Camel Clutch to hit the Backbreaker for the 1-2-3 and put a bloody exclamation point on this feud.

Antonio Inoki made Hiro Matsuda submit to the Octopus Hold in 0:16:57.
Rating: ****

These two wrestled in perhaps what was the Match of the Year, so we were excited to see another match between Antonio Inoki & Hiro Matsuda. Another great match between these two, perhaps a notch below their last encounter. But either way, the crowd was very much into as they are always wanting to see one of Lou Albano's men get what is coming to him. Just like the last match, Inoki gets the duke here with the Octopus Hold.

Indian Strap Match:
Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Ernie Ladd in 0:12:33.
Rating: * 1/4

We haven't seen a match this emotionally charged in quite some time as Chief Jay Strongbow returned to extract months of pent up anger on Ernie Ladd. Ladd thought he was in the clear and that Strongbow would never return again after he destroyed the sacred headdress, but Strongbow has come back and is pissed off to boot! Ladd got some offense in this match, but it was almost all in defense. Strongbow blitzed Ladd from the opening bell of this Indian Strap Match, leaving huge welts on the Big Cat's back with that leather strap. Strongbow essentially tortured Ladd before touching all 4 turnbuckles to get the win. Ladd is complaining that the match was unfair since it is Strongbow's specialty and has requested a regular singles match next month at our debut in Pittsburgh.

Crusher & Bruiser (The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser) defeated Pat Patterson and Peter Maivia when Crusher pinned Maivia with the Bolo Punch in 0:16:59.
Rating: ***

Pat Patterson promised to have a tag team partner for this match against Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher, and he didn't at all disappoint as he unveiled "High Chief" Peter Maivia from Samoa! We saw Maivia at the Cow Palace Battle Royal almost become a one-half of the tag team champions, and certainly Patterson saw this. Patterson & Maivia have obviously worked together and had a great advantage over the former 3-time champs as Bruiser & Crusher didn't know what to expect. But despite their new found bad attitude, there's a reason Bruiser & Crusher are widely considered to be the best tag team in the world. Crusher hit the Bolo Punch out of nowhere on Maivia to get the win for his team. I don't think this one is over just yet.

Two-out-of-three-Falls Match:
Dory Funk Jr. beat Terry Funk 2 falls to 1:
x D. Funk Jr. beat T. Funk via disqualification in 0:07:53
x T. Funk beat D. Funk Jr. via disqualification in 0:25:18
x D. Funk Jr. beat T. Funk via the Texas Cloverleaf in 0:32:11
Rating: *** 1/2

After vowing never to wrestle his brother, Dory Funk Jr. finally got into the ring with Terry Funk after Terry's despicable actions last month. Dory knows that if he is ever going to settle this issue with his brother, it's going to have to be in the ring. The first fall of this match went to Terry, whose strategy was to blast his brother with a branding iron for the blatant disqualification. Terry lost the first fall, but Dory was bleeding and was knocked loopy. Terry quickly went on the attack to defeat his brother, but he chose to punish him instead of going for the pin. This would come back to bite him as Dory would later return the favor to Terry, blasting him with a steel chair to get DQ'ed, but evening the falls 1-1. Both men were gushing blood now, but it would be Terry who wasn't able to recover. Dory locked on the Texas Cloverleaf which caused his brother to pass out, giving him the win.

Bobo Brazil pinned Jack Brisco with the Coco Butt in 0:13:05.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Bobo Brazil retained the GCW World Title.)

Our main event and final match of 1967 pitted World champion Bobo Brazil defending his title against Jack Brisco. This was Brisco first shot at the World Title and he wanted to make it count. Brisco was smart in that he knew he couldn't stand toe-to-toe with Brazil, but he definitely could outdo him on the mat. Brisco had a great game plan and kept Brazil off his feet as best as he could, trying to get a submission. Brazil had the crowd firmly in his corner though which pushed him to come back and take the W with the Coco Butt.

Card rating: ***

Match observations:

After a fantastic 1967 with tons of twists and turns, GCW is exciting to kick off 1968 on January 27 with our debut in Pittsburgh! The following matches have been signed:

FAREWELL MATCH - Antonio Inoki/Giant Baba vs. Luke Graham/Lou Albano
Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Ernie Ladd
Pat Patterson/Peter Maivia vs. Dick the Bruiser/The Crusher

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