May 16, 1974 - Civic Center - Baltimore, MD

Don Muraco pinned Johnny Rodz after a lariat in 0:01:51.
Rating: ***

Johnny Rodz is still in need of that first win, but he is going to have to keep searching as he fell in our opening contest in under two minutes to Don Muraco. Muraco countered a Rodz clothesline with a huge lariat that rattled his cage. Rodz was originally thought to have a concussion after the match, but further tests were run and showed that he will be okay.

Mr. Fuji and Toru Tanaka defeated Crusher & Bruiser (The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser) when Fuji pinned Crusher with the Thrust Kick in 0:21:38.
Rating: ** 3/4

It was a very competitive contest, but once again, Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher came out on the losing end of a match. Their opponents in Baltimore were Mr. Fuji & Professor Toru Tanaka, two men they are very familiar with. There is no shame in losing to a team the caliber of Fuji & Tanaka, but this is now a series of losses for Bruiser & Crusher. A lot of people are starting to wonder out loud if Bruiser & Crusher have lost their edge. I wouldn't let them hear you say that though - they'll still knock your teeth out if given the chance.

Pedro Morales and Billy Robinson battled to a draw in 0:20:00.
Rating: ** 1/2

Billy Robinson came to the aid of his protégé' and tag team partner Don Muraco last month when Pedro Morales insisted on continuing the assault, prompting this match between two of the best of the world to be signed here for Baltimore. This match could be a main event in any arena in the world, and the way these two wrestled again each other proved that they thought the same thing. Normally Robinson can keep his opposition grounded with his superior wrestling technique, but the fiery temper of Morales, though dangerous and not very popular, helps to keep himself out of precarious situations in the ring. Robinson & Muraco jockeyed for position throughout the match, neither man getting the advantage for very long. As a result, nothing was settled as a winner could not be determined within the 20 minute time limit, resulting in a draw. The two tremendous athletes will go at it once again on June 9 at MSG, this time with a 30 minute time limit. We'll see if that is enough to determine who the better man is.

Interview:
Bobby Heenan & The Cripplers want a rematch for the World Tag Team Titles.

Bobby Heenan was in a foul mood as he came out with Ray Stevens & Nick Bockwinkel - The Cripplers. Heenan had his big book of excuses and he read from chapter one, complaining about all of the illegal tactics that Mr. Wrestling I & II allegedly used in the World Tag Team Title match last month. The list ranged from pulling the tights and hair to how wrestlers in masks shouldn't be allowed to compete because, "Hey, what are they trying to hide anyway!?" The tirade was seemingly never going to end until Heenan was unexpectedly interrupted by THE TEXAS OUTLAWS - Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch! Rhodes & Murdoch told Heenan to "quit yer belly achin'" and take your loss like a man. This didn't sit well with Stevens & Bockwinkel, who got in the Outlaws' faces and challenged them to a match on the spot!

The Texas Outlaws (Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch) defeated The Cripplers (Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens) when Murdoch defeated Bockwinkel by countout in 0:09:08.
Rating: ***
[Bobby Heenan interfered against Dusty Rhodes.]

We had an impromptu tag team match between two of the more unpopular teams in all of wrestling, The Cripplers & The Texas Outlaws. Rhodes & Murdoch don't care who is in the ring with them - they are always just looking for a fight, and they were more than willing to take it to Stevens & Bockwinkel, known as two of the toughest men in GCW. Stevens & Bockwinkel asked for the fight, but after taking their lumps, they decided that discretion was the greater part of valor as Heenan walked them to the back for a countout. Heenan is not counting the loss though, saying they weren't prepared so it shouldn't count. They'll have time to prepare now though, as a rematch has been signed for MSG, and as an added stipulation, the winners will become the #1 contenders for the World Tag Team Titles.

Harley Race pinned Luke Graham after outside interference in 0:14:59.
Rating: ***
(Harley Race won the GCW United States Title.)
[Billy Graham interfered against Luke Graham.]

If you thought the fight between Luke Graham & Harley Race was intense last month, take these two, give them a month to prepare, and put the United States Title on the line. Now there's an intense fight. Two tough guys trying to prove who is the tougher man will always be fun to watch, and this one was no exception. Referee Terry Taranova had all kinds of trouble keeping order, and as a result, he got knocked out when he was trapped in the corner trying to separate the two men. Race used this to bodyslam Graham to the canvas, go to the timekeeper's table, and grab the US Title. Race swung wildly at Graham, but Graham ducked and hit a clothesline. Luke Graham grabbed the US Title and waffled Race, knocking him out cold. Problem was, Taranova was still out as well. While Luke had the cover, BILLY GRAHAM ran out from the back, grabbed the US Title, and smashed his brother in the back of the head with it! Billy put Race on top of Luke, stirred the referee, and in a huge miscarriage of justice, we have a new US champion! Billy's obsession with defeating his brother Luke has reached a new low, costing his own flesh and blood the US Title.

Bobby Duncum pinned Jimmy Snuka with the Full Nelson Slam in 0:08:37.
Rating: *** 1/4

Bobby Duncum may come to regret making an enemy out of Baron Von Raschke. Raschke has a way of making you regret messing with him, and Duncum is finding out in a hurry that when you play with fire, you're going to get burned. After Duncum got the better of Jimmy Snuka with the Full Nelson Slam, Raschke came out to the ring with a look of pure rage and insanity etched on his face. Luckily for Bobby Duncum & Bobby Heenan, they saw him coming and ran away through the crowd, but is is crystal clear that Raschke has his sights on making Duncum pay for his cowardly attack with his spur in Philly.

Mr. Wrestling I and Mr. Wrestling II defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna and Spiros Arion when Wrestling II pinned Arion with the Million Dollar Kneelift in 0:15:22.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Mr. Wrestling I and Mr. Wrestling II retained the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)

Baron Mikel Scicluna & Spiros Arion did a lot of great work in the last couple of months to earn a chance at the World Tag Team Titles, but against Mr. Wrestling I & II, they were going to have to put up or shut up. Scicluna showed in Philly that a couple lucky breaks and some well-timed cheating and anyone can win a match, so this title defense being a successful one for I & II was no guarantee. Scicluna & Arion made them work for it, but I & II were just a little better tonight and are still the tag team champions.

Billy Graham defeated Ernie Ladd by disqualification in 0:00:42.
Rating: *
[Luke Graham interfered against Billy Graham.]

Luke Graham is not want to sit back and pick his spot, as he chose this match to get his hands on his younger brother Billy for costing him the United States Title earlier in the night! Superstar Billy was set to wrestle Ernie Ladd, but it was barely 30 seconds into the match when LUKE was down in the ring and laying into Billy with hard right hands. Billy tried to get away but Luke was all over him like white on rice. Luke picked Billy up and sent him into the ropes, looking to hit the Thumb to the Throat on the rebound, but Billy hooked the ropes and took a powder to the floor. Luke wants to end this one way or another, and that is going to happen on June 9 in MSG. Luke vs. Billy in a Lights Out Bunkhouse Match! No rules, come dressed as you are, unsanctioned fight to the finish. One way or another, this sibling rivalry comes to an end on June 9!

Ivan Koloff defeated Blackjack Lanza by disqualification in 0:18:16.
Rating: ** 1/2
(Ivan Koloff retained the GCW World Title.)

Our main event was a tough test for the undefeated World champion as Ivan Koloff put the gold on the line against Blackjack Lanza. The longer Koloff holds the title, the tougher his title defenses seem to get. The legend of the Russian Bear is growing, and being the man to end his winning streak is becoming almost as important as the World Title itself. Lanza brought everything he had to the table, trying to bust Koloff open to make him more vulnerable to the Blackjack Claw. While this is a good strategy on paper, trying to bust open the thick head of Koloff while not getting mauled by the Russian Bear is much easier said than done. Lanza's attempts to bust Koloff open became so extreme that he deliberately got himself disqualified by breaking a wooden spike off of a chair and jabbing Koloff in the head with it. The blood only served to make the Russian Bear angry, who snapped and chased Lanza off. Koloff will have a chance to get a hold of Lanza again at our next show in the recently signed tag team main event.

Card rating: ** 1/2

Match observations:

Summer will be heating up with our return to Madison Square Garden, with a monumental card set to take place!

MAIN EVENT - Ivan Koloff (World champ)/Baron Von Raschke vs. Blackjack Lanza/Bobby Duncum
UNITED STATES TITLE - Harley Race (c) vs. Ernie Ladd
WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES - Mr. Wrestling I/Mr. Wrestling II (c) vs. Mr. Fuju/Toru Tanaka
LIGHTS OUT BUNKHOUSE MATCH - Luke Graham vs. Billy Graham
30-MINUTE TIME LIMIT - Billy Robinson vs. Pedro Morales
#1 CONTENDERS MATCH - The Cripplers vs. The Texas Outlaws

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