Pedro Morales pinned Ray Stevens after a crucifix in 0:19:37.
Rating: ** 3/4
A hot opening match to kick off this show at MSG with Pedro Morales getting the better of Ray Stevens. Stevens dominated a lot of this match and was systematically tearing Morales apart, but he angered Morales to the point where that fiery Latin temper that the Blond Bomber couldn't escape, getting himself caught in a crucifix and a loss.
Edouard Carpentier defeated Freddie Blassie by disqualification in 0:08:14.
Rating: * 1/4
We haven't seen "Classy" Freddie Blassie for a bit, and he looked rusty against Edouard Carpentier. Carpentier was a step ahead to the point where Blassie got himself disqualified.
Antonino Rocca and Miguel Perez defeated The Golden Grahams (Eddie Graham and Dr. Jerry Graham) when Perez defeated Dr. J. Graham by countout in 0:03:59.
Rating: **
Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez got back on the winning track with a dominating victory over the Golden Grahams. Dr. Jerry Graham took a nasty spill to the floor which was coupled by Miguel Perez dropkicking Dr. Jerry into the ringpost, knocking him loopy and causing the countout.
Ernie Ladd pinned Danny Hodge with the Boot to the Face in 0:12:58.
Rating: ****
(Ernie Ladd won the GCW United States Title.)
What a miscarriage of justice! We don't know what vendetta new referee Jack Davis has against Danny Hodge, but he sure does. Ernie Ladd was cashing in on his rematch clause against the United States champion, and during the course of the match, the original referee Petey Santangelo was caught in the corner when Hodge was whipped by the Big Cat. Hodge got on the advantage as Jack Davis ran out to take Santangelo's place, and immediately threatened Hodge with disqualification! Hodge couldn't believe it as he argued with Davis. This gave Ladd a chance to recover and blast Hodge out of nowhere with the Boot to the Head and after a fast count from Davis, Ernie Ladd is the new US champion. After the match, Ladd and Davis shook hands. Sickening.
Haystacks Calhoun pinned Mark Lewin with the Big Splash in 0:03:50.
Rating: ** 3/4
Haystacks Calhoun put his issues with "Maniac" Mark Lewin to rest with a convincing win. Lewin couldn't compete with Calhoun's overwhelming size and was squashed with the Big Splash.
Bobo Brazil defeated Gene Kiniski by disqualification in 0:09:09.
Rating: **
[Boris Malenko interfered against Bobo Brazil.]
Bobo Brazil debuted a new manager to watch his back against Abdullah Farouk and this bounty placed on his head. The manager's name is James Dudley, and he showed he has a lot of energy, getting the crowd pumped up by running around the ring and waving a towel. Dudley's presence helped neutralize Farouk who was unable to interfere effectively as Dudley would warn Brazil before he could strike. Dudley wasn't able to warn Brazil though when a mystery assailant ran out from the back and nailed Brazil in the back with a chain! This attacker laid in the shots with the chain, bloodying Bobo Brazil up and leaving him for dead. It was revealed later that this mystery attacker's name is Boris Malenko and he came in to collect the bounty, and by the looks of things, he is going to be $10,000 richer.
Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Kowalski defeated Crusher & Bruiser (The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser) when Monsoon defeated Bruiser when Bruiser passed out in the Airplane Spin in 0:28:10.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Kowalski won the GCW World Tag Team Titles.)
After the tag team titles didn't change hands for nearly a year and a half, now no one can seem to hold onto them for more than a couple of months. Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher are now FORMER World Tag Team champions thanks to Gorilla Monsoon & Killer Kowalski, who are the new champs. What makes it worse is that there were no underhanded tactics or tomfoolery involved - Monsoon & Kowalski just won a good old-fashioned fight. This can't sit well with Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez, the former champions, who have already thrown their names in the ring for a shot at the new champs. They'll have to wait in line though as The Bruiser & The Crusher get their rematch first.
No-DQ-Match:
The Sheik pinned Abdullah the Butcher after a short lariat in 0:13:19.
Rating: 1/2*
[Abdullah Farouk interfered against Abdullah the Butcher.]
This was easily the most barbaric match we have seen in GCW's short history. These former partners had a falling out last month and like the two insane individuals they are, decided to settle it in a no holds barred environment. I have never seen so many weapons used so liberally in all my life. Both men were bloody messes by the end of the match, and even more disturbing was that both men seemed to love it. Abdullah the Butcher looked like he was going to take a victory in this war when he finished carving The Sheik up with a fork, but Abdullah Farouk intervened by spraying the Butcher's eyes with a can of hairspray! The Butcher was temporarily blinded and leveled with a short lariat, letting The Sheik win this bloody gruesome match.
Bill Watts and Johnny Valentine defeated Lou Thesz and Bruno Sammartino when Watts pinned Thesz with the Oklahoma Stampede in 0:39:22.
Rating: *****
What a main event this was! This match is exactly why Global Championship Wrestling is THE place for the best wrestling action on the globe. For the first time in well over a year, World champion Lou Thesz was pinned right in the center of the ring. Bill Watts & Johnny Valentine were extremely cocky and promised that they would beat Thesz & Bruno Sammartino, but realistically, no one gave them much of a chance as Thesz & Sammartino are widely considered two of the best in the world. The story of the match was that Thesz & Sammartino both tried to be the leader of the team, and though these two have the ultimate respect for one another, they have not forgotten the rivalry they engaged in over the World Title in 1963. The chemistry as a team was just completely missing, whereas Bill Watts & Johnny Valentine are former World Tag Team champions and wrestled like it. When Thesz & Sammartino had a miscommunication and Thesz refused to tag Bruno into the match, Watts capitalized and hit the Oklahoma Stampede and pinned the World champion 1-2-3! If this was a singles match, we'd have a new champion and Lou Thesz would be retiring. That may be the case next month as Bill Watts has been named the #1 contender whereas Bruno Sammartino will meet Johnny Valentine next month.
Card rating: ** 3/4
Match observations:
We make our debut in Atlantic City on October 10th for GCW live action!
2/3 FALLS FOR THE WORLD TITLE - Lou Thesz (c) vs. Bill Watts
WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES - Gorilla Monsoon/Killer Kowalski (c) vs. Dick the Bruiser/The Crusher
UNITED STATES TITLE - Ernie Ladd (c) vs. Danny Hodge
CHAIN MATCH - Bobo Brazil vs. Boris Malenko
Bruno Sammartino vs. Johnny Valentine
