March 13, 1972 - Civic Auditorium - Pittsburgh, PA

The Cripplers (Ray Stevens and Nick Bockwinkel) defeated Dominic DeNucci and Johnny Weaver when Bockwinkel pinned DeNucci with the Piledriver in 0:16:24.
Rating: *** 1/4

Another match under the tutelage of Bobby Heenan, another win for The Cripplers. Heenan has these two firing on all cylinders right now as they again picked up a victory, this month over Dominic DeNucci & Johnny Weaver. The money spent on Bobby Heenan is looking like money well spent for Ray Stevens & Nick Bockwinkel.

Billy Graham and Stan Stasiak defeated Tony Garea and Jerry Lawler when B. Graham defeated Garea when Garea passed out in the Bearhug in 0:14:50.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Ernie Ladd no-showed.)

We found out the details of deal that Lou Albano brokered with The Grand Wizard last month. Albano gave the rights to "Superstar" Billy Graham over to The Grand Wizard, making his stable that much stronger. He also used Graham as a curveball as the Superstar took Ernie Ladd's place in this tag team match, teaming with Stan Stasiak against Jerry Lawler & Tony Garea. Lawler & Garea were not prepared for this new development, and they had no answer for Graham & Stasiak as a team. Graham caught Garea when he went for the High Cross Body and locked him in the Bearhug. Graham squeezed the life out of Garea to get his first win under the guidance of The Grand Wizard. If GCW's not careful, The Grand Wizard just might be in a position to dominate.

Mr. Fuji and Toru Tanaka defeated Crusher & Bruiser (The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser) when Tanaka pinned Crusher after throwing salt in his eyes in 0:21:44.
Rating: ** 1/2
(Mr. Fuji and Toru Tanaka retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)
[Lou Albano interfered against Mr. Fuji.]

After getting their work visa issues sorted out, the brand new World Tag Team champions made their first title defense since coming over from Japan. Mr. Fuji & "Professor" Toru Tanaka took on the former tag team champions and very surly Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher. Lou Albano has not exactly been pleased with the performances of Bruiser & Crusher recently, and as a result seemed to be trying way too hard to assist his men in becoming 7-time World Tag Team champions. Instead, Bruiser & Crusher just stopped listening to Albano's directions and made sure he knew they did. While Albano was arguing with his men, Tanaka grabbed a handful of the ceremonial salt and threw it in The Crusher's eyes. The Crusher was blinded and easy pickings for a pinfall.

Lou Albano was livid about the result, and verbally laid into Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher after the match. Captain Lou got so upset that he lost his cool and slapped both Bruiser & Crusher, which was a HUGE mistake. Bruiser & Crusher grabbed Albano and were about to put a hurting on him when BARON MIKEL SCICLUNA & BARON VON RASCHKE intervened to save their manager, leaving Bruiser & Crusher sprawled out on the canvas. It looks like Lou Albano is down two more charges, but Bruiser & Crusher are not two guys you want against you. This could be the beginning of a long battle.

[WINNER RECEIVES UNITED STATES TITLE SHOT ON 4/8/72]: 14-Man Battle Royal:
Chief Jay Strongbow won a 14-man Battle Royal:
x Monsoon threw out J. Valentine after a chop in 0:01:38
x Strongbow threw out G. Anderson in 0:03:58
x B. Graham threw out L. Graham in 0:05:02
x Strongbow threw out O. Anderson after a kick to the head in 0:06:22
x Strongbow threw out Watts in 0:07:52
x J. Snuka threw out Baron after a savate kick in 0:10:40
x Strongbow threw out Scicluna in 0:12:55
x Monsoon threw out B. Graham after a punch in 0:14:07
x G. Gagne threw out J. Snuka in 0:15:24
x G. Gagne threw out Monsoon after a flying dropkick in 0:16:11
x White Wolf threw out G. Gagne after a double-axhandle chop in
0:19:03
x Brunzell threw out White Wolf in 0:20:01
x Strongbow threw out Brunzell in 0:22:04
Rating: **** 1/4

We have a new #1 contender for the United States Title, and it's a former champion in Chief Jay Strongbow. Strongbow won the 14-man battle royal to earn the title shot against his former tag team partner Wahoo McDaniel. There were a lot of great stories in this battle royal. Billy Graham continues to be a thorn in the side of his brother Luke as he threw him out of the battle royal. The other big story was the performance of the High Flyers. Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell have no one on their side but each other, so they chose to work together to try to survive. They did so as they made it to the end, along with Strongbow & his partner, Billy White Wolf. We had ourselves a miniature tag team match at the end, and the veteran work of Strongbow & Wolf seemed to have the advantage when Gagne was thrown out. But Brunzell kept fighting and managed to eliminate Billy White Wolf before ultimately falling to Strongbow. After the match, Strongbow & Wolf exchanged handshakes with Gagne & Brunzell, a rare show of sportsmanship.

Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino battled to a double pin in 0:35:12.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Bruno Sammartino retained the GCW World Title.)
[Arnold Skaaland interfered against Pedro Morales.]

Another in-ring clash between Bruno Sammartino & Pedro Morales headlined this show, and to say that the World champion had the homefield advantage would be a huge understatement. Sammartino makes his home in Pittsburgh now and the packed house was solidly behind the World champ. Morales looked like a deer in headlights when he realized just how loud the fans were supporting Bruno, but he turned this into fire for his Latin temper and took it to Bruno. Back and forth these two titans went at it, trading the advantage and nearfall after nearfall. Morales used a poke to the eye to get the upperhand and it looked like he had finally dethroned Sammartino and became the World champion when he hit a bridging back suplex. Morales did get the 3 count, but he also failed to get his own shoulder up off the canvas. The result was a double pin and thus, a draw! Morales couldn't believe it as he swore he had become the new champion. The GCW Championship Committee has declared that one more match between these two will take place to settle this question of who is the better man once and for all. On April 8 at Madison Square Garden, it will be Sammartino vs. Morales IV, and it will be 2 out of 3 falls!

Card rating: *** 1/4

Match observations:

We go back home to Madison Square Garden on April 8, and this lineup is HUGE! Let's take a look at the card so far:

WORLD TITLE 2/3 FALLS MATCH - Bruno Sammartino (c) vs. Pedro Morales
UNITED STATES TITLE - Wahoo McDaniel (c) vs. Chief Jay Strongbow
WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES - Mr. Fuji/Toru Tanaka (c) vs. Dominic DeNucci/Johnny weaver
STEEL CAGE MATCH - Luke Graham vs. Billy Graham
Dick the Bruiser/The Crusher vs. Baron Mikel Scicluna/Baron Von Raschke
FOR THE TITLE OF "KING" - Jerry Lawler vs. Ernie Ladd
Tony Garea vs. Stan Stasiak

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