JerryvonKramer

The Sheik vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (7/6/79) This isn't even listed as a TV match, so mind boggling how we have it. It must have been on TV because we have full commentary. Sheik immediately bails and goes into the sea of chairs. He's bleeding already, just from the opening exchanges. Jumbo bails because Sheik clearly has a weapon of some sort. It's not the pencil, but a chunkier object. Jumbo wants the weapon gone. As the ref grabs the weapon off him and throws it, he reveals the pencil and stabs Jumbo repeatedly in the head. Sheik is so sneaky! He's the ultimate cheating bastard. Slams Jumbo into a table. Chokes him out on a chair outside. Sheik seems to fixate on someone in the crowd. He's demented and must have been scary for marks to see. Jumbo goes after him and even stands on a table. He has the weapon from before and is nailing Sheik with it. Goes for a butterfly. Sheik resists, it's not happening. Stabbing with the pencil now. Sheik goes outside and just randomly starts beating the crap out of a young boy. He has ... A hammer! A hammer for fuck's sake! It's a wooden mallet. He nails this young boy with it and that draws the wrath of Baba who comes out to save the young boy, who is a bloody mess. Sheik runs away giving a dazed Jumbo the win. I really enjoyed this. Sheik is the ultimate smoke and mirrors wrestler and as long as he has a good opponent like either of the Funks, Steamer or in this case Jumbo, the results are usually really fun. After the match he stalks about the crowd chasing fans who run away from him. I love this antics, they are hilarious to me. I don't get why others aren't into this style of BS is a bit more, but there we are. There's a big difference between this and the five minute fireball abortion crap from Detroit I was reviewing earlier in this thread. ***1/2

The Sheik vs. Ricky Steamboat (6/11/81) I was one of the few people who really dug the 1980 match that was on the All Japan set, well let's see what this 81 rematch was like. This uploader from YouTube seems to be upping matches exclusively that I don't have. Pretty amazing. This isn't on my Sheik set either. Sheik takes forever to actually get in the ring. Huge amount of stalling and chicken dance antics. Eventually we get a headlock takeover. Steamboat was one sexy man in 1981. He cranks the headlock like Martel. Surprisingly clean match so far. But as I say that, Sheik gets out his pencil and starts stabbing Steamer in the back. Steamboat's OTT selling does a great job of getting this over as a real threat. Steamboat shows great fire and let's out a roar, true young lion. Ref tries to get pencil off him as Sheik rams him I tot he post. He gets an actual broom and starts beating him with it. Ha ha ha. "Think you're a broomstick worker Steamer?! Eat this!" Blood everywhere now. It's splattered in a cool way. But it is Sheik who is bleeding. Steamboat chokes him with the broom. Oh shit. Sheik nails the ref with a broken bottle! Steamboat comes back. Grabs a chair and roars and starts decking Sheik with it. The bell goes. But it doesn't matter, all out brawl as a possessed Steamboat chokes the Sheik. Great selling by Sheik here. Bell is ringing and ringing. All control lost. Not quite as epic in its BS awesomeness as the 1980 match, but still a ton of fun. Steamboat was a great opponent for Sheik, young, good looking, clean cut, against this cheating prick old man. It's a great dynamic. I loved this. ***3/4

Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk vs. Stan Hansen and Jimmy Snuka (4/16/82) I knew about Funks vs Brody / Snuka, but not Hansen / Snuka! This looks mostly complete. Lou Thesz is the ref. Rope running to start, Dory nails Hansen with his elbow smash. Snuka in. He has the big afro here. Hansen in with an elbow on Dory. Uppercuts by him. Gut shot by Hansen. Proceeds to put pressure on his midsection now. Snuka in. Snapmare. Comes of second rope. Snuka looks cool here. Knee drop. Hansen in. Dory has been FIP for some time now. Hansen still going after the gut. Strange body part to target. Snuka in with knees to the gut. This is a sustained sequence targeted the stomach. Gut buster by Snuka (like a backbreaker landing stomach on knee). But now Terry tags in and gets in the Texas jabs. Goes after Hansen outside. Brawling and chair shots soon ensue. Terry suplexes Snuka back in. Hansen vs. Terry now. Hip toss. Collision and both men down. Dory in. Snuka in. Dory hits a back suplex on Snuka. The big butterfly suplex. Backdrop over the top rope. Hansen in. Lariato!! Terry charges the ring. Ummmm, WHAT THE FUCK, Snuka pins Dory. Holy shit. I haven't seen Dory eat a pin, like ever ever. And this means that the results, which have Funks winning this match are wrong! Thesz clearly raises Snuka and Hansen's arms. Wow, Dory eats a pin, I've seen everything now. This was really well worked and very good action. ***3/4

Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk vs. Harley Race and Larry Hennig (12/9/81) I've been looking for this match for ages. Race and Hennig were a legendary team in the 60s of course, and no footage exists of them outside of this 81 run in the RWTL. I knew this was out there but wasn't able to find it. Hennig has a big beard. Harley has his classic mustache and looks totally bad ass. Dory was in good form for most of 81, so some hopes for this one. I believe we are missing a bit as time on video is shorter than recorded length in results. Even though we get all the intros and flowers here, there a clip right in the middle of the match. It's weird that the Japanese editors think we need to see long ass intros but not body of the match. Ha ha. Anyway we pick up action with Race working a heat sequence on Terry. Hennig in. To be fair to Jesse, he does have a big neck. Harley vs. Dory now and these guys are working stiff tonight. Great strike exchanges. After three attempts, Dory hits the big butterfly but Race dumps him. Race and Hennig work dirty outside. Funks regain control after Terry reverses a piledriver into a backdrop. I love Harley's exchanges with the Funks, he's a great opponent for them. Hits a back suplex on Terry. Hennig in. Misses an elbow and Terry goes for spinning toehold. Race breaks. Dory in. Terry dives in from outside for a three count on Hennig out of nowhere! I'm not sure about that finish. I can't rate this because too much of match missing, but what we saw was really good. I like Race vs. both Funks as a match up.

Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk vs. Abdullah the Butcher and Tor Kamata (12/5/80) Fans of Titans of Wrestling, will know that Kamata is a legend on that show. I had a few of the Funks' other matches from the 1980 RWTL, but not this one. Abby and Sheik had been split up here, with Sheik tagging with Great Mephisto and Abby getting Tor. Kinda makes sense as Mephisto is like a poor man's Sheik and Tor is like a poor man's Abby. Any time it's Funks vs. either Abby or Sheik, it's cause for me to get excited. VQ is great as always from AJPW, Baba kept his tapes in pristine condition didn't he. We're getting the whole thing here by the looks of things, introductions and all. Dory and Kamata start out. Terry in. Kamata is fat but not Abby fat, seeing them together you can see that Abby is the bigger man. Funks work a headlock on Tor to start keeping Abby stretching for a tag. This goes on for a very long time. Too much headlock. Eventually things get moving and Terry gives Kamata a piledriver, which I'm surprised he can take! Ring is completely cut off and they've had Kamata isolated for a long time now. Dory gives Kamata an effortless backdrop. Kamata is pretty agile for a guy his size. Have to give it to him. Finally Abby tags in. Terry's selling is pretty phenomenal during this little offensive stretch by Abby. Inexplicably, Abby tags Kamata back in which gives Terry time to hurt him and tag out. Why would Abby tag his exhausted partner back in? Spinning toehold! But Abby has his fork, and suckers the Funks. Stabs Terry in the eyes and he's blinded! Dory knocked out of the ring. Enormous back suplex by Abby. Dory is bleeding outside. Elbow drop from the second rope by Abby. Another elbow. His elbow drops are cool, even if that's all he can do. Dory has a chair and Rams it into Abby. Suplex by Dory on Kamata. Dory is kicking some ass here. Abby and Dory brawl to the back for a double count out. Abby slams Dory's head into the back wall. Brawl all over the crowd now. Fans and chairs everywhere. Young boys everywhere. This was a well worked match around the limitations of the opponents. Kamata was basically there to soak up offense as the weak link. The headlock sequence went on for far too long but once Abby got involved the match picked up. Post match was fun as always. ***

Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk vs. Genichiro Tenryu and Rocky Hata (2/12/77) So often, we Get the RWTL final and don't get to see the early rounds. I believe this is the full match. It looks like this was shown on G+ at some point but I couldn't find it before now. I love the way the commentator just says "Da Funks!" every once in a while. They are over here in 1977. I'm interested to see them against midcarders. I love the purity of 70s AJPW. Pure! Tenryu has his usual unimpressed expression, even as young as he is here. Starts out with Dory. A lot of amateur style stuff early. Natives work over Terry with a headlock, Terry struggles a lot, punching to the side and things like that. Hata keeps it applied despite various escape attempts. Too much headlock for my tastes. Eventually Terry hits a huge back suplex on Tenryu and tags out. Dory dominant with slams. Works the arm. Armdrag take over. Terry back in. Stays on arm. Tags in and out now. Neat side Russian leg sweep by Dory after a full arm drag and twist and a reverse knife edge. Hata vs Terry now and it's a slug fest, and an awkward struggly suplex. Dory in and another suplex and an elbow drop. Action is ramping up now. Forearm smash. Indian deathlock. Double Indian deathlock! Funks are cool as fuck. Terry stays in it now, drops back. Almost a Texas Cloverleaf. You know suicidal dragon guy on YouTube? He reckons he couldn't find Dory doing that move, I've seen him do it. He didn't look hard enough. Dory in now, piledriver. Abdominal stretch. Terry in. Huge atomic drop on Hata. Airplane spin by Dory! I'm not sure I've seen him do the airplane spin that often. Drop kick by Hata buys him enough time to tag out. Side salto by Tenryu. Terry in with a gut wrench suplex. Great elbow smash. Terry in, swinging neck breaker. Dory in, butterfly suplex. Terry in, spinning toehold! That's all she wrote. Loving it, loving it, loving it. This was a great competitive match that built perfectly from early technical work through strikes and a progressive escalation of violence to a cascade of bombs at the end. Great exhibit for why Funks were such a brilliant team. ****

The significance of that channel should not be underrated and we need to ensure as a community that it does not get lost. Treasure trove of stuff that has not been in circulation.

Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk vs. Jack Brisco and Killer Tim Brooks (4/23/81) This is one of several Brisco matches to show up in this footage that are not on my comp, so this stuff has not been in wide circulation to my knowledge. This is clipped down from 22 minutes to ten, so I think we lose first half. As we join, Brooks tags out and Brisco applies figure four to Terry. Crowd is hot. Dory in with spinning toe hold. Jack is so great at selling. Brisco with figure four on Dory now. Abby shows up! He attacks Terry, who gushes. Oh he's cut open deep. Going Nutella breaks a leg off a chair. Brisco and Brooks celebrate in the ring, but Dory is having none of it and attacks. Slam by Jack, knee into Dory's face. Suplex by Brooks. Butterfly suplex by Jack! A second butterfly suplex by Jack! Dory kicks out at two. Knee drop. Dory the stoical hero is hanging in there, but this is two on one. Spinning toehold! Jack breaks it. Brooks bites Dory. Terry comes back from the locker room with his arm bandaged up. Bloodied. Brooks ambushes him. He's a house of fire. Dumps Jack. The ten punch. Brooks is bust open now. Texas jabs. Spinning toehold. Brooks taps. This was awesome stuff with two of the Funks all-time nemeses, Jack Brisco and Abdullah the Butcher, forming an unholy alliance. Jack was in full on heel mode here, and Brooks was a sufficiently scuzz bucket partner. Told a fantastic story, Dory going two on one, as Terry was cut open, but he rides back as the sallying Calvary for the heroic win. Simple stuff, but really effective. Lots of blood. If we had the whole thing, I reckon this would be a high rating. As it is, I can't rate a match we only have half of.

Dory Funk Jr. And Terry Funk vs. Harley Race and Genichiro Tenryu (4/28/83) Harley has a massive beard here. Funks are very over as babyfaces. They've gone for red and blue jackets, Terry in red, Dory in blue: fire and ice. Wow! Massive shoulderbreaker by Tenryu on Terry to start. That was a spot and a half. Terry is like the perfect Harley Race opponent to take his bombs. Dory in, he's more at the races today. Race really hits his knee drops here. Tenryu looks really good here too. Dory is our FIP. The work is crisp here, every elbow drop looks meaty, every suplex well executed. Terry comes in and Tenryu unloads in him, flurry of strikes. Suplex on the concrete by Race in Terry. Piledriver by Tenryu. Neckbreaker by Race. Yes! Yes! Yes! Terry is on easy street now, but jabs and weaves. Dory in. Slam. Uppercut. Spinning toe hold! But then he eats a suplex by Tenryu, who misses a Randy Savage elbow! Terry in, suplex by Race. And we get a double count out. This shit is awesome, massive sprint bomb and spot fest from 1983 featuring all my fave legends. Mana. From. Heaven. ****

Tonight, I'm going to be reviewing matches till I pass out as our buddy Matt D has stumbled onto a goldmine of footage I didn't even know existed. Strap in, it's going to be a long night. Dory Funk Jr. And Terry Funk vs. Nick Bockwinkel and Harley Race (12/12/84) Talk about a DREAM match. Race and Bock are a ridiculously kick ass team. This is a pure southern tag, with Terry as FIP. Race and Bock unload offense targeting his neck, including a piledriver and swinging neck breaker. Then Dory comes in, but eventually loses advantage too so they work double heat. Terry does an insane Airplane spin on Bock. This is a 30 min time limit draw and I think it is JIP, missing first ten mins. Absolutely awesome to see this. Dory looked a bit off the pace here, and was doddery, but I loved seeing these four guys in the same match. Race and Bock could not be cooler as a team. About ***3/4 based on what we saw.

WWF at Philadelphia Spectrum August 9th, 1983 Dick Graham and Kal Rudman introduce the show. Rudman has his neck in a brace after last month’s previous attack. He thanks the fans for all of their cards and well wishes and assures them he is well on the way to recovery. He speaks of how much he wants Bob Backlund to get a chance to beat Nick Bockwinkel who he now really hates. Graham agrees saying that in over 30 years of broadcasting it is one of the worst things he’s ever seen. He also notes that the following week, they tried to break Gorilla Monsoon’s leg in Boston. Rudman is solemn. “They have to be stopped Dick”. Gary Michael Cappetta introduces the first match. SD Jones vs. Randy Barber Match: Jones defeats Barber after a Thesz press in 9:27. Jones was dominant throughout most of the match. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Kal) “This Jones, I’m tellin’ ya Dick, he’s really coming of age now. His time is coming I think.” (Dick) “Hell of a nice guy too.” (Dick) “Too bad what happened in his title match up with that terrible Nick Bockwinkel last month”. (Kal) “You don’t need to remind me Dick” Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat © vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage for the WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: Steamboat retains the belt in 24:00 after a double count out after both men brawled to the back. The match started out with Steamboat gunning for revenge after the attack on WWF Challenge, he dominated with fast-paced arm drags. Savage was able to take over. The pace of the match was very quick and saw Savage come off the top rope several times. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Kal) “This Randy Savage, Dick, he’s like a cat, he’s so fast! Look at him, Dick, he’s moving round that ring like … he’s so agile Dick!” (Dick) “I heard that he can get a little testy if anyone talks to his girlfriend” (Kal) “He’s a strange one” (Dick) “The action in this match is unbelievable.” (Kal) “I feel like every time I see Ricky Steamboat it’s the best match I’ve ever seen!” Jack and Jerry Brisco © vs. Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen for the WWF Tag Team Championship Match: The Briscos defeated Brody and Hansen by DQ in 10:20 after Brody laid out both Briscos using chairs and left them bloodied in the middle of the ring. Brody and Hansen were dominant for the early part of the match, but Jack Brisco was able to hook Hansen into a Boston Crab and the tag champions worked systematically on his back until Brody lost patience and grabbed the chairs. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Kal) “Look at these two massive men Dick, I fear for Jack and Jerry Brisco in this match” (Dick) “Bruiser Brody! Stan Hansen! These two men have had a lot of success in a lot of places.” (Kal) “Oh no! Not the chairs! There was no need to do that!” Bob Backlund vs. Dick Murdoch Murdoch was accompanied to the ring by Bobby Heenan and Blackjack Lanza. Match: Dick Murdoch defeated Bob Backlund by forfeit in 16:04 after the referee stopped the match for blood loss. During the match Murdoch was wearing a black glove on his right hand – similar to Blackjack Lanza’s and Ted DiBiase’s – which he “loaded” at different moments to pound on Backlund’s face. Backlund fought back gallantly, but after about 13 minutes he started bleeding a lot and eventually the referee stopped the match. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Kal): “This is another one of that snake Bobby Heenan’s plans. He should be banned from wrestling Dick!” (Dick) “You won’t get any arguments from me after last month. This Dick Murdoch is from Texas, but he’s been flown in especially from Japan for this.” (Kal) “GO ON BOB! GET HIM BOB!” Everytime Backlund gets hit Kal registers an “oooh” or an “ahhh”. He excitedly cheers on every single move he does on offense. (Kal) “GET THAT GLOVE OFF HIM REF!!” Nick Bockwinkel © vs. Antonio Inoki for the WWF Heavyweight Championship Bockwinkel was accompanied to the ring by Bobby Heenan and Blackjack Lanza. Match: Bockwinkel drew with Inoki in 30:00. The match was a mat-based technical affair with a lot of struggle and attrition. Inoki at one point applied an abdominal stretch that went on for 7 minutes. Towards the end of the match Inoki seemed to be in the ascendency, but Heenan and Lanza would do little things such as tripping him from the outside or distracting the ref to break the momentum. Heenan was very animated at ringside and kept the crowd into the match through their hatred of him. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Dick) “Inoki is a great man Dick. Did you know he wrestled Muhammed Ali once?” (Dick) “How could we forget Kal Rudman? And he gave Ali a real run for his money too” (Kal) “I really respect the people of the orient Dick. They’ve got real discipline and respect for their craft you know. Inoki is an artist.” During the match Dick and Kal seem to be getting really bored and so start making small talk until Heenan ramps up his shenanigans and Kal stands up irate. (Kal) “YOU GET BACK FROM THERE HEENAN!” Lanza looks menacingly at Kal who sits back down. (Kal) “Dick! I’m not going to take it Dick! That Lanza’s a bully! And even though I’ve got my neck in a brace, I’m not going to sit back and watch Bockwinkel and Heenan make a joke out of this sport!” (Dick) “Kal, calm yourself. We don’t want a repeat of what happened before. Just bite your tongue …” (Kal) “Ohhh they’ve got my blood hot Dick. And the people of Philadelphia want blood!”

WWF @ Harrisburg, PA - Zembo Temple Mosque - 8/4/83 NWA Women's World Tag Team Champions Princess Victoria and Velvet McIntyre defeated Leilani Kai and Judy Martin as Victoria pinned Martin in 12:00 to retain the belts. NWA Women's World Champion The Fabulous Moolah defeated Wendi Richter by DQ in a lumberjack match in 15:00 after Joyce Grable got into the ring and threw Richter out to the other lumberjacks. The lumbers were all of the other women on the tour. The Duke of Dorchester Pete Doherty defeated Steve King in 7:33 after landing on top of King who was going for a bodyslam. The Andersons defeated Ricky Steamboat, SD Jones, Jack and Jerry Brisco when Lars pinned Jones in 24:00. The match ended with all eight men brawling in the ring. WWF @ Detroit, MI - Cobo Arena - 8/5/83 Chief Thundercloud defeated The Goon in 1:50 with a chop. Mil Mascaras defeated The Destroyer in 18:04 with a flying body press. Abdullah the Butcher and The Sheik defeated Victor Rivera and Jose Luis Rivera in 7:33 after the Sheik pinned Jose Luis Rivera. During the match, both Riveras were cut open and bled by Abdullah and The Sheik. This was The Sheiks first match in Detroit since 1980, the crowd cheered him and he was presented as a local legend. NWA Champion Harley Race drew with Bob Backlund in 60:00. This match was a dramatic affair, starting slowly but building excitingly. Backlund almost pinned Race, but the time expired.

This has truly sucked. LOL. I hate the women. I can't book five straight battle royals either, so have been forced to book a lumberjack match.

Less than 2 weeks on this now. Any support appreciated.

I remember loving it back in the day and on CHV rewatches in the early 00s. You've got to remember that back then ANY good matches on a CHV at all were something to get excited about "for a WWF fan". I wasn't eating sushi with Meltzer in the 90s, y'know. In the vast backlog of wrestling history, it probably isn't much, but in the context of my own fandom it stood out a mile from everything around it. You've got to remember though, that typically, I wouldn't have gotten to see MSG or Philly matches unless they made a CHV. And didn't really have NWA / WCW as a comparison point. So in that context, I think it's a great match.

vs Toshiaki Kawada (02/28/93) is Hansen's masterpiece imo. If ever he had a GOAT-case performance, it's that one.

Here is one that is animated. lol

Not animated, but this pic makes me laugh.

Sure

Before Crazy James went crazy, he had a series of pics of Super 8 "filming" various scenes. He was phenomenal at photoshop. Now sadly all lost.

To be fair, Run DMC was a neat call back to Wrestlemania 5.

WWF at Agricultural Hall in Allentown, PA (TV Taping for WWF Challenge) Aug 3rd, 1983 Your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Superstar Graham. Joe McHugh: Promoted by Phil Zacko. Supervised by the State Athletic Commission, the honourable JJ Benz Chairman. And Francis Walker is the Executive Secretary. And the officials assigned: Deputy Commission Peter Lash. The doctor in attendance at ringside, Dr George Zahorian. The timekeeper at the bell: Mike Griffin. The referees for this hour of wrestling: Billy Capouto, Alberto Roman, Dick Woehrle. And my name is …. Jooeeeeeeeeee McHugh! Dr. Death Steve Williams vs. Fred Curry Match: Steve Williams after a scoop powerslam in 4:34. Williams totally destroyed Curry, whose only offense was an attempted dropkick. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Gorilla) “Dr. Death has been living up to his name these past few weeks on WWF Challenge!” (Graham) “Gorilla Monsoon, brother, this young man Williams has a bright future ahead of him!” Dominic Denucci vs. El Grim Apollo [Jose Luis Rivera under a hood] Match: Denucci with an airplane spin in 3:45. El Grim came to the ring with his tights on back-to-front. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Gorilla) “Ha ha, El Grim Apollo! Someone forgot to tell him which way to put those tights on!” (Graham) “Dominic Denucci reeling in the years here, I fought him many times in my career” Video package recap of events at MSG including highlights of all four title matches (Briscos vs. Sheik and Abdullah, Steamboat vs. Zbyszko, Race vs. Backlund, and Bockwinkel vs. Morales. Runs about 20:00. Man Mountain Link and Swede Hanson vs. Jerry Monti and Tony Russo Match: Hanson pins Monti in 8:40 after a kneedrop. During the match, Link and Hanson demonstrated their obvious size advantage, and picked up Monti’s head from being pinned several times, despite the fact he was obviously beat. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Gorilla) “Well there’s no need for that, Hanson and Link have made their point, and now they are just being bullies!” Ricky Steamboat © vs. Bobby Eaton for the WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: Steamboat pins Eaton after a superplex in 14:55. Eaton did very well in this match gaining control after a couple of arm drags by Steamboat and unloading some high artillery offense on the IC champion. Steamboat showed good fire in coming back for the win though. After the match, as Steamboat was celebrating Macho Man Randy Savage sneaked into the ring behind him with a double ax-handle from the top rope. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Gorilla): “We’ve seen Eaton’s sometime tag partner, Dr. Death earlier this evening, let’s see how this young man does against the intercontinental champion!” (Graham) “Ricky Steamboat is one of the best wrestlers, I’ve ever seen Monsoon. Taking nothing away from Bobby Eaton, he gave as good as it got, but Steamboat is a different class, brothers.” (Gorilla) “WHAT IS THIS NOW … R … Randy Savage?! The Macho Man Randy Savage?! What is he doing here?” (Graham) “Oh I’ve heard all about this guy, Gorilla, he’s one screw short of a full toolbox, alright!” (Gorilla) “Oh what is this? This is a terrible attack by Savage on Steamboat!” Superstar Graham stands up and motions towards Savage who has been continuing his attack on Steamboat. Once Savage spots Graham, he bails out of the ring and runs back down the aisle. The show ends with Graham checking on a laid out Steamboat. WWF at Agricultural Hall in Fieldhouse in Hamburg, PA (TV Taping for WWF Superstars) Aug 3rd, 1983 Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura Vince: Hello everybody and welcome to WWF Superstars, and joining me today for the first time … I have the …. Dubious honour of welcoming … Jesse “the Body” Ventura! Jesse: Well how’s that for a welcome McMahon? “Dubious”? The only thing that is DUBIOUS around here is YOU. Ha ha! Vince: Well you were with me Tuesday night at the illustrious Madison Square Garden, where we saw Nick Bockwinkel retain the WWF title with assistance from that weasel Bobby Heenan and his stooge Blackjack Lanza. Jesse: Now just you watch out who you are calling a weasel and a stooge. Bobby Heenan has connections in this business, McMahon. And … well, my connections as a broadcast journalist have told me that Bobby Heenan has … well, let’s say he has something special planned for tonight’s show. Vince: One can only imagine. Jesse: And the scoop is all MINE, McMahon. Ha ha. Vince: Without further ado, let’s get to the first match-up ladies and gentlemen. Andre the Giant vs. The Goon, Tony Colon, Randy Barber and “The Duke of Dorchester” Pete Doherty Match: Andre pinned The Goon in 12:33. During the match the bad guys were able to quadruple team Andre for a time and keep him in their corner. But Andre’s strength was too much in the end and he swatted them off like flies in order to get the pinfall. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Vince) “Look at the AWESOME strength of Andre the Giant, the 8th wonder of the world!” (Jesse) “But it doesn’t matter how big and tough you are McMahon, if you are out-numbered; I have to make Colon, Barber, Doherty and The Goon favourites here.” (Vince) “Andre the Giant!! UNBELIEVABLE. He overcame FOUR MEN. UN-BEL-IEVABLE!!” (Jesse) “You have to hand it to The Giant, he took on the odds and came out on top” Video package recap of events at MSG including highlights of all four title matches (Briscos vs. Sheik and Abdullah, Steamboat vs. Zbyszko, Race vs. Backlund, and Bockwinkel vs. Morales. Runs about 20:00. The Fink: Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time to introduce Jesse “The Body” Ventura … Jesse gets in the ring wearing his “journalist” Anthony Eden hat with a “press” sign in it, and a green mackintosh. Jesse: As the most stellar broadcast journalist in the WWF, I have secured a SCOOP that you are not going to believe. Allow me to welcome the premier manager here in the World Wrestling Federation, he is the manager of the WWF Heavyweight Champion, Nick Bockwinkel: Bobby “the Brain” Heenan!! Bobby Heenan comes into the ring. Jesse: It’s good to see an old friend! Heenan and Jesse embrace. Heenan: Jesse Ventura! I’ve got … something to show you and all of these peons out here. Blackjack!! Wheel em in! Blackjack Lanza and several wrestlers wearing masks wheel in two GIANT screens, one either side of the ring. Lanza is acting as a sort of foreman directing the masked guys where to put the screens. Jesse: Wh … Whoa!! What is this Heenan? Heenan (looking extremely pleased with himself): This, my good man, this is a state of the art satellite link up!! One of these screens is linked up to Houston, Texas. The other is linked to … Tokyo, Japan!! Jesse: Japan? Heenan: You see Jesse, my lawyers have been in talks with President Shinma all week. Shinma has yapping his mouth about how Bob Backlund needs a rematch, about how Nick Bockwinkel cannot deny the number one challenger a shot. Well my lawyers have been through all the small print, and … Mr. Shinma is right, Bob Backlund must be granted a rematch. (crowd cheers) BUT, BUT, before all you ignoramuses start yelling and squealing, they been through all the terms and conditions, dotted all the ‘I’s and crossed ever ‘T’ … It doesn’t have to be till SIXTY days as long as Bockwinkel accepts the challengers that Mr. Shinma has lined up for him. Jesse: So you can note the date? October 4th, Madison Square Garden? Bockwinkel vs. Backlund?! Heenan: Well, of course, assuming that Mr. Bockwinkel, my esteemed associate and client, not to mention good friend, is still WWF Champion. AND assuming that … Mr. Backlund can … make that date. Jesse: Intriguing … so are you going to tell us what we are all dying to know? What are these screens Bobby Heenan? Heenan: Well … Let me just say as every good manager would, I’ve taken out an insurance policy on my investment. One of the screens flickers on. It’s … Dick Murdoch. The satellite feed is a bit glitchy, but he’s coming though. Murdoch: Bobby? Bobby my boy? This is Dick Murdoch comin’ through from Japan. Can ya hear ma? Heenan: Loud and clear, Dick. Murdoch: Well I gotta message for tha’ ol’ Howdy Doody goofball Bobby Backlund over there. There’s a bounty on ya head BOY and I’m makin’ a special trip half way round to world to come and collect it. There’s a price on ya head and I’m a gonna come over there an’ damn near take that head off, you understan’ me?! Heenan laughs as the other screen flickers on across the way. Murdoch’s huge face on the screen is now looking at the other screen, and on it appears Ted DiBiase, who is wearing a black glove on one hand. DiBiase: Backlund! If you can see this, you know already that you are in trouble! My good friend and business associate Bobby Heenan has … PUT THE CALL OUT. Do you understand what that means? Do you understand what a HIT is, Bob Backlund? I’m coming BACK to New York, and this time you people will be seeing a different Ted DiBiase! I’m not that young punk kid you saw in 1979! I’m a champion! And most of all I respect the game. The game that both me and Bobby Heenan and Dick Murdoch and Nick Bockwinkel are all a part of you. The game that YOU, Bob Backlund never learned how to play. Murdoch: We’re coming for you Backlund! DiBiase: It’s only a matter of time! Murdoch: Ya don’t sleep easy at night now boy. DiBiase: Oh he’ll be sleeping all right! Right out cold in the middle of that ring! Heenan, Murdoch, DiBiase, Lanza and Ventura all laugh together. Bob Backlund appears down the aisle and puffs up his face and looks angrily in their direction. He shakes his fist and scrunches up his face. And we go to a commercial break. Arn and Ole Anderson vs. Bret Hart and Tommy Rogers Match: Ole Anderson pinned Tommy Rogers in 9:00 after Gene Anderson tripped his leg and held his ring. Lars Anderson also interfered in the match and beat up Bret Hart with Arn Anderson as Ole was pinning Rogers. The majority of the match involved the Andersons working over Rogers and cutting off Hart who was on the apron. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Jesse) “I’ve heard a lot about this Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart, but he can’t do anything if he’s standing outside of the ring. The Andersons are showing masterful tactics here, cutting off the ring and making sure that Tommy Rogers can’t tag out” (Vince) “After failing to win the belts from the Briscos, the Andersons have been quietly notching up wins recently.” (Jesse) “I notice that it is usually Arn and Ole who are tagging now, McMahon, and Gene and Lars are there as backup support” (Vince) “Well if you ask me they shouldn’t be allowed at ringside at all” (Jesse) “Don’t you have a family McMahon? Are you jealous?” (Vince) “I am happily married and love my family, you know that Jesse!” (Jesse) “You’re sour grapes McMahon, you never had any brother, oh boo hoo, so you have to take it out on the Andersons …” (Vince) “That’s enough about my family Jesse!” (Jesse) “Why don’t you do your job and call the action? You’re slacking McMahon. Do your job, be a professional!” (Vince) “Will you stop it Jesse!” Jack and Jerry Brisco © vs. Mr. Fuji and The Destroyer for the WWF Tag Team Titles Match: Jerry Brisco pins Mr. Fuji after a missile dropkick in 10:07. During the match The Destroyer kept on trying to goad Jack Brisco on apron. Eventually the two of them got into a scuffle outside the ring, and this allowed Jerry enough time to get the pin on Fuji. Quotation(s) from announcers: (Jesse) “Did you know The Destroyer has spent a lot of time in Japan and can speak Japanese? I think that gives he and the devious Mr. Fuji a distinct advantage in this match” (Vince) “But the tag team champions are brothers, and surely that is the truest advantage” (Jesse) “STILL going on about brothers McMahon? You’re really sore ain’t ya?” (Vince) “Enough now Jesse!” (Jesse) “There you go again, why don’t you call the action?” (Vince) “I can get you escorted out of this building!” (Jesse) “After my journalistic scoop earlier? Please, the Pulitzer is already in the mail” (Vince) “And there it is, The Briscos RETAIN! UNBELIEVABLE! Jerry Brisco with such agility pinning Mr. Fuji!”

The real pipeline was LA wasn't it?

What he said. Jumbo as AWA champion is in the realms of possibility, El Canek not really. Although there might be a case for adding Dos Caras to the freelancers as a tag partner for Mil, because Caras worked in the US sometimes and on Japan tours. (if he's not in the game already, I didn't check)

I did actually. That was right when I stopped watching and the cause of it.