SirEdger

All changed!

Lutte Internationale News -The 2nd Annual Johnny Rougeau Memorial Cup is officially in the books and for a second year in a row, Rick Martel fell short of winning it, this year, losing in the finals to Austin Idol. Many insiders were seemingly surprised to see Idol winning the tournament but Continental's top heel generated a lot of buzz among the fans during the tournament thus, securing creative's decision to have him go over in the tournament. As for Rick Martel losing in the finals again, it's said to be a key factor to come into play in a future program for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and Ric Flair later this year. -Speaking of the NWA & Ric Flair, there's a lot of excitement surrounding the Great American Bash tour later in July, in which Lutte will take part along with Smokey Mountain Wrestling. Jarry Park was booked for July 7 while CNE Stadium in Toronto will close out the tour on July 31st. Rumor has it that Rick Martel will get the title shot on July 7 vs Ric Flair, effectively kicking off his program with Ric Flair that should last through the remainder of 1985. As for the July 31 show in Toronto, no word yet on who will challenge the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, whoever he may be but everyone in the NWA is working hard for this to be a major match in Toronto. -As for the current NWA Canadian International Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk, there are no plans yet on who'll be the one to take the title away from him as officials are very satisfied with his run so far. However, given his current program in Mid-Atlantic with Magnum TA, Funk will focus a bit more of his time to build that rivalry, which should be a staple of the Great American Bash tour in July. Lutte also wants Terry Funk to defend the NWA Canadian International Heavyweight Championship in Japan for the Festival of Champions in June so they're currently negotiating with Jim Crockett & Funk himself to build an appropriate schedule. In the meantime, Lutte officials feel confident enough that with Rick Martel & The Rougeau Brothers headlining events throughout Eastern Canada, they won't suffer from Funk not defending the title in the territory as often as he previously did. -We recently spoke about the plans of Lutte to expand in Western Canada. Frank Valois visited several venues in the past few weeks and has already seen interest from Medicine Hat, Calgary & Vancouver to hold events but right now, logistics issues are making it a bit difficult for Lutte to hold their first events in Western Canada. There might be an opening for a Calgary date in early June and that's where they hope to hold weekend loops in Western Canada. In the meantime, Lutte will return to the Maritimes for the first time in awhile as Halifax will host their first Lutte show there on May 18. -Frank Valois is still working on doing some major moves to retool his roster for the summer as he wants it to be a memorable one for fans in the territory and throughout the NWA in its whole. One of those major moves will include the individual being put in the "NWA Special Enforcer" role in the territory. His identity should be revealed at the end of the month. -Lutte recently worked their last event at Maple Leaf Gardens and will now move permanently to CNE Coliseum, due to WWF's agreement with Maple Leaf Gardens management. With the summer coming up, Lutte is expected to use Jarry Park for their big Montreal cards during the summer and resume holding events at the Forum during fall. Valois is keeping an eye on Jack Tunney's actions, in hope that he doesn't steal the Forum from them to make it WWF exclusive. -Finally, devastating injury news as Bob Sweetan suffered a Displaced Olecrannon Fracture that will require major surgery and will take him out almost a full year. No word yet on how this will affect the state of The Sensationals but some might argue that with Bob Sweetan's reputation backstage, not a lot of people will miss him until 1986...

May 10th, 1985 Forum de Montréal Mini-event -Alexis Smirnoff beat "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal in 15:01 -Butch Miller beat Baron Von Raschke in 9:57

Looking forward to see that Rusev/Shane O Mac angle for next week. I'm assuming that Rusev is about to be cleared soon?

Stronger Machine, eh?

Oh, of course, he could. I just try now to be more careful with match times in the main event of my house shows and I'm trying my best to not book marathon matches two nights in a row. And besides, you and I both know that down the line, there'll be other confrontations between Flair & Martel. Don't wanna give everything away at first!

Holy crap, lots of bodies around the ring for this 8-team tag elimination match!

You're all good to go!

That's the plan. With Stampede Wrestling being now inactive, I'm planning to run a few cards in the Prairies & Western Canada starting during the summer.

May 5th, 1985 North Bay, ON -Super Strong Machine beat Terry Taylor (w/Sherri Martel) in 12:21 -Alexis Smirnoff beat NWA Canadian International Tag Team Champion Rick Martel in 14:21 after using a chain on Martel -Spoiler Machine beat Dory Funk Jr in 9:19 -Larry Zbyszko & Rocky Johnson beat The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette) in 14:22 -The Strong Machines (#2 & #3) beat Gilles "The Fish" Poisson & Richard "Le Magnifique" Charland (w/Frenchy Martin) in 12:35 -The Bolshevik Revolution beat The Zambuie Express (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) in 5:29 -The Sheepherders beat 24 Karat (Bob Orton & Ray Stevens) in 20:20 NWA Canadian International Heavyweight Championship: Terry Funk beat Nord the Barbarian (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) in 24:28 to retain

Holy crap, a Torneo Cibernetico well ahead of its time! Loved it!

Kinda intrigued with the John Tatum/Madusa pairing. I think it's gonna be beneficial for both individuals.

I'm really, really, really digging the Idol/Blassie pairing. Instantly boosts Idol even more as your top guy in Continental. Great addition!

May 4th, 1985 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON Under the new agreement between WWF & MLG management, this is Lutte's final event at the venue. Going forward, they'll use the CNE Coliseum instead. 20-Men Battle Royal, winner faces Gino Brito for the NWA Canadian International TV Championship later tonight: Don Kernodle wins the battle royal, with Gilles "The Fish" Poisson being the runner-up -Dory Funk Jr beat Rod Price in 8:37 -"The Ace" Bob Orton beat Sheik Ali (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) in 10:32 -Mad Dog Lefebvre (w/Frenchy Martin) beat Sika in 5:32 Smokey Mountain Heavyweight Championship: The Great Gama Singh (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) beat Ron Garvin in 11:07 to retain NWA Canadian International TV Championship: NWA Canadian International Tag Team Champion Gino Brito beat Don Kernodle in 7:17 to retain NWA World Tag Team Championship: The Rougeau Brothers beat The Sheepherders in 10:37 to retain NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair beat NWA Canadian International Tag Team Champion Rick Martel in 15:40 to retain after using his feet in the ropes for leverage in the corner.

NWA Lutte Internationale TV Taped at CHLT-TV Studios, Sherbrooke, QC Broadcasted May 4th, 1985 (After the opening credits, we go to the broadcast booth where awaits Guy Hauray & Édouard Carpentier to start the show.) Guy Hauray: Hello, everyone, and welcome to this week’s edition of NWA Lutte Internationale TV. The 2nd annual Jacques Rougeau Memorial Cup is in the books and for the second year in a row, Rick Martel fell short of his goal to win the tournament as he lost in the finals to Continental Championship Wrestling’s Austin Idol. Édouard Carpentier: I think that despite losing in the finals again this year, it was quite a tournament for Rick Martel and he can keep his head high. I’m sure that he’ll be motivated enough to fall back right on his feet. Guy Hauray: In this week’s program, we were scheduled to see the Bolshevik Revolution take on the NWA World Tag Team Champions the Rougeau Brothers in our main event but Raymond is a little banged up from his match against the Road Warriors a couple of days ago and won’t be able to work this week’s main event. However, his brother Jacques has assured us that Raymond will be ready to go tonight at Maple Leaf Gardens against the Sheepherders for the NWA World Tag Team Championships. Also... (That’s the moment where Guy Hauray is interrupted by none other than RON GARVIN!) Guy Hauray: What the--- Ron Garvin? What are you doing here? Ron Garvin: I’m here to call a spade a spade, Frenchie. I’m not buying this Ray Rougeau being banged up crap. For someone who claims to be as tough as they come, he should be as fresh as a daisy, coming off a match against the Road Warriors. Guy Hauray: Come on, Ron, you watched the tournament like everyone else, you saw the gruelling matches the Rougeaus had during that span. Ron Garvin: Like I said, I’m not buying that for a second. That’s the problem here; everyone glorifies the Rougeaus as winners when they’re WHINERS instead. I got no idea what’s really going on but I can assure you that this wouldn’t happen with me. I’m gonna expose the Rougeaus for what they are, buddy. (At the same moment, here comes the Rougeaus – Jacques and his other brother Armand) Guy Hauray: Now, hold on, Jacques... Jacques Rougeau: You listen to me, Garvin, and you listen to me real good. No one is gonna question my brother Raymond’s toughness and will. NOBODY. Trust me, if Ray was 100%, he’d be here this week. However, tonight in Toronto is too important for him to risk to being injured further and that we lose the NWA World Tag Team Championships. So I’m gonna go in the back and find myself a tag team partner to face Smirnoff & Zhukov! Ron Garvin: C’mon, Jimmy, you and I both know you ain’t gonna find anyone to face the Bolsheviks. Why don’t you step into the ring with me, so I can whoop your snot-nosed ass all around the studio. (Armand Rougeau seems a bit jumpy and Jacques has to restrain him) Ron Garvin: Or, better yet, why don’t I beat the tarp out of the spare tire you carry around in your family, Jimmy? Little Armand seems to be eager to fight, as opposed to you! (Jacques is trying to reason with Armand, but Armand doesn’t want none of it) Armand Rougeau: I don’t care who you are, I may not have the recognition my brothers have but I’m gonna stand up for myself if I have to. You wanna try to beat me up? Fine. I’ll play your game. Let’s do this Falls Count Anywhere! Ron Garvin (turning to Guy Hauray): Well....I think I’m gonna like that territory, very much. (Ron Garvin walks away as Jacques Rougeau tries to calm down his brother Armand as they return to the back as well) Guy Hauray: Armand Rougeau decided to stand up for his family name and will take on Ron Garvin in Garvin’s first TV match in NWA Lutte Internationale! Édouard Carpentier: This will be quite a test for Armand but regardless of the result, the Rougeaus will have to be proud of him. This is an opportunity that he has been waiting for a long time. Put up or shut up! Guy Hauray: This will take place later on in the show but we’re ready to kick off this week’s action! Match #1 Dory Funk Jr vs “Mr. Electricity” Steve Regal This is Steve Regal’s first TV appearance in the territory and he has drawn quite the task by taking on Dory Funk Jr in his first TV match. Regal doesn’t seem to be too much intimidated though as he dishes out everything he’s got on Dory. After a few minutes, the exchange gets more heated and referee Luigi Macera has to step in between both men to separate them. However, Macera gets shoved repeatedly by both Dory Funk and Mr. Electricity and he calls for the bell. Despite the match being thrown out, Funk & Regal continue beating each other senseless but then, Dirty Dutch Mantell runs in with a bullrope and attacks Regal! Dory Jr & Dutch Mantell are beating up on Regal and Mantell even uses the bullrope to bust Regal open! Finally, officials & referees step out of the backstage area to stop the carnage. As they get out of the ring, Dutch Mantell goes to the broadcast booth and mentions that the friend he was talking bout was Dory Funk Jr. He now refers to themselves as the Lone Star Outlaws before retreating backstage as Steve Regal is tended to. Winner: Double DQ *****COMMERCIAL BREAK******** Match #2 Richard “Le Magnifique” Charland (w/Frenchy Martin) vs Baron Von Raschke Looks like the fans are definitely behind Richard Charland in this match, which is surprising, considering his past but against a Russian sympathizer, anyone would be cheered for! The Baron uses a rugged style to take the momentum in this match and it definitely works in his favour. As the match is drawing to a close, Frenchy Martin wants to change the momentum and steps on the ring apron. In the meantime, Alexis Smirnoff runs in with the Soviet flag trying to interfere in the ring but Mad Dog Lefebvre interjects himself and strikes Smirnoff! Lefebvre hands over the flag to Charland and he hits Von Raschke with it! Lefebvre gets rid of the flag as Charland covers Von Raschke and referee André Roy makes the 3 count as Frenchy steps down on the ring apron. Huge win for Richard Charland! And perhaps new enemies for the Bolshevik Revolution? Winner: Richard “Le Magnifique” Charland ******COMMERCIAL BREAK****** Match #3 Falls Count Anywhere Match Ron Garvin vs Armand Rougeau Before the match starts, highlights of the confrontation between Ron Garvin and the Rougeaus is shown and the broadcast team questions if Armand Rougeau didn’t bit off more than he could chew against the rugged veteran. And indeed, that’s what it looks like early as Garvin tortures Armand in the early goings. The action transports itself outside and Garvin continues to dish out the punishment on Armand. Armand fights off valiantly and he gets a few shots on Garvin but the rugged veteran regains momentum. Garvin chases the ring announcer from his seat and grabs the chair and smacks it on Armand’s back! Armand is struggling to get back up and Garvin is ready for the killshot as he swings the chair but Armand dodges and the chair hits the post. Garvin drops the chair, feeling the aftereffects in his hands and that allows Armand to grab Garvin in a small package and score the upset! Armand has no time to celebrate as Garvin grabs the chair and smacks it repeatedly on Armand’s back! Finally feeling avenged by his loss, Garvin drops the chair ebesides Armand’s body and leaves the ringside area. Winner: Armand Rougeau *****COMMERCIAL BREAK********* Before the main event, the broadcast team receives a memo from Eddy “The Brain” Creatchman saying that he was able to secure an NWA Canadian International TV Championship match for Fatu on next week’s show and that we’ll see a “new and improved” Fatu. Guy Hauray & Édouard Carpentier wonder what could this all mean.... The Bolshevik Revolution makes their way to the ring, still a bit frustrated about what happened earlier tonight when Richard Charland defeated Baron Von Raschke. NWA World Tag Team Champion Jacques Rougeau makes his way to the ring and he looks like he’s alone without a partner and would be facing Alexis Smirnoff & Boris Zhukov in a handicap match. But....wait a minute....out comes Mad Dog Lefebvre & Frenchy Martin! Mad Dog Lefebvre stands side-by-side with Jacques Rougeau and it looks like Lefebvre will be Jacques’ tag team partner! MAIN EVENT Match #4 The Bolshevik Revolution (w/Baron Von Raschke) vs Mad Dog Lefebvre (w/Frenchy Martin) & NWA World Tag Team Champion Jacques Rougeau Smirnoff & Zhukov seem a bit stunned by this turn of events but the broadcast team mentions that with the ending of the earlier match between Richard Charland & Baron Von Raschke, we shouldn’t be surprised about Mad Dog Lefebvre being Jacques’ tag team partner. Despite their tedious past, Lefebvre & Rougeau look to be working very well together in the early stages but a cheap shot outside from Baron Von Raschke turns the tide for the Bolshevik Revolution. Zhukov & Smirnoff double team Jacques and it looks like the Soviets are on their way to a victory but however, a badly timed forearm of Zhukov to Smirnoff changes Jacques’ fortunes and he’s able to make the tag to Mad Dog Lefebvre! Mad Dog cleans house and it totally breaks apart in the final moments of the match. Just like earlier, Frenchy Martin tries to interject himself but this time, Von Raschke gets involved and knocks Frenchy down the apron. Referee Adrien Desbois gets distracted by what happens outside and as Smirnoff knocks out Lefebvre with the Soviet Flag, Richard Charland sneaks in the ring with a Quebec flag and delivers the same medicine to Zhukov! Charland drapes Rougeau over Zhukov as he throws Smirnoff on the outside afterwards. Referee Desbois turns around and sees Jacques covering Zhukov and he makes the 3 count! The crowd goes nuts as Mad Dog Lefebvre, Jacques Rougeau & Richard Charland celebrates together. Could finally Mad Dog & Charland put their hatred for the Rougeaus aside to defend the honor of their home province? The show ends as everyone celebrates with Richard Charland waving the Quebec flag in the studio. Winners: Mad Dog Lefebvre & Jacques Rougeau À LA SEMAINE PROCHAINE SI DIEU LE VEUT!

Montreal fans right now:

May 3rd, 1985 Tillsonburg, ON -Richard "Le Magnifique" Charland (w/Frenchy Martin) beat Rip Oliver (w/Sherri Martel) in 7:54 -Armand Rougeau & "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal beat Bob Backlund & Luke Williams by DQ in 7:12 when Luke Williams got intentionally DQed by hitting referee Adrien Desbois. Backlund & Luke exchanged words afterwards.... -Gilles "The Fish" Poisson beat Fatu (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) in 9:20 -Billy Robinson (w/Sherri Martel) beat Baron Von Raschke in 15:27 -Dory Funk Jr beat NWA Canadian International Tag Team Champion Rick Martel in 7:41 NWA Canadian International Heavyweight Championship: Terry Funk beat Spoiler Machine (w/Super Strong Machine) in 14:04 to retain NWA Canadian International TV Championship: NWA Canadian International Tag Team Champion Gino Brito beat Ron Garvin in 34:57 to retain NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair beat Sika in 67:16 to retain

This segment cracked me up big time. I hope we get Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions Breezango to feud with The New Day when they finally return. That'd be awesome.

Interesting ending to the Oxford main event. Hercules seems to be on a roll!

Great card. David Von Erich would've been proud of that one.

Lutte Internationale releases Carlos Colon, Chicky Starr & Hercules Ayala.

Well, I think that this is where alliances come in handy. For instance, with the NWA, we can pretty much exchange talents for one-offs and such. Same for you, Gene, and Kevin with the UWF. If well coordinated with dates and such, you can get away with a smaller roster.

I'd be fine with doing away with the jobber packs eventually and going with fake names and such, especially if some other territories feel like they could do something with the guys we use in the jobber packs. Whatever happens, I'm absolutely good with it.

Like I said in a previous comment, the best way to improve your roster is really via trades with other territories. I get that if you want to stick to a certain feel for your territory, it can be complex but I look at what Gene did with Continental and he's done fantastic with it. It's all about patience. In your case, Boon, now that you've joined the NWA with me & fenton, that's gonna allow you many possibilities to add up to the quality of your shows via talent trades & one-offs. I know it did for me at first with WWF and now the NWA.

I get what you're saying, Boon. Free agency is mostly just to beef up a roster with lower midcard and enhancement talent at this point. The heavy lifting is made with the trades and such. Besides, some of us prefer to keep a smaller roster, others want to take full advantage of it and that's absolutely cool.