SirEdger

NWA Lutte Internationale News -Preparations are going around smoothly as we're inching closer to the date of the 2nd Annual Johnny Rougeau Memorial Cup from April 28 to April 30 at the Montreal Forum. The brackets are now set and fans should be in for some exciting first round matches. As for the predicted winner of the tournament, a few names have been tossed around but the general feeling is that the winner of the tournament could prove to be a huge surprise to the wrestling world when it's all said and done. -As seen in the brackets, the only invited promotion that declined to take part in the tournament was CMLL in Mexico. CMLL had expressed its desire to separate themselves from the NWA earlier this year and this decision most certainly reflects that direction. While some officials within Lutte are questioning if WWF didn't get in the ear of CMLL (as a reminder, The Dynamic Duo are both WWF & Mexican National Tag Team Champions), no one wants to stir the pot any further and make the situation as more tense than it already is between both promotions. -Speaking of which, one thing that didn't help the situation between both promotions was Jack Tunney securing the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto to show Wrestlemania in closed circuit when Lutte Internationale was scheduled to run a show in that venue on the same day. With Tunney ousting Lutte out of the building, this left Frank Valois and other officials scrambling to find another venue in the area. Luckily for them, management from the CNE Coliseum easily accomodated Lutte and the event was moved in that venue. It's now impossible to say how long will Lutte be able to hold events at the Maple Leaf Gardens with Jack Tunney securing the promoting rights to WWF in Toronto but CNE Coliseum management made it clear that they could make their venue the permanent home for Lutte in Toronto should things come to that. Frank Valois is said to be "willing to fight tooth and nail" to ensure that WWF doesn't steal the Montreal Forum and oust them from the territory's biggest venue. -Lutte is also looking to expand in Canada and hold shows west of Ontario in the near future, namely in the Prairies. It's said that with the partnership with Mid-Atlantic, and the Hart Brothers on their roster, Lutte could draw some interesting crowds there, knowing that the Hart Brothers could eventually show up at one of the shows. Lutte is already looking to hold a few shows occasionally in the Western part of Canada but the main reason could also be that with the numerous amounts of events that took place at the Centre Paul-Sauvé in Montreal recently, attendance numbers have seen a drop and many have expressed their concern to Frank Valois about saturation in the area, thus why they'd like to tour other parts of Canada more often. The one thing that won't change will be that every TV taping will still take place at the CHLT-TV studios in Sherbrooke, QC. -Frank Valois has been monitoring Sting's excursion in Japan since March and he is said to be in constant communication with JWA officials. Valois is apparently very pleased with how things have been going for Sting and he has received some very high praises from JWA, thus why Valois accepted the request of JWA to extend Sting's trip in Japan until the end of June. Frank Valois is on the belief that the more travelling Sting does in the early stages, the more seasoned he'll be to take a big role on the roster when the time will come. And with Smokey Mountain Wrestling officially joining the National Wrestling Alliance, Sting will more than likely be headed to that territory to gain even more experience. -Speaking of Smokey Mountain, Frank Valois hopes to be able to return the favor to Les Thatcher by giving some exposure to his top stars during the summer, namely Don Kernodle & the Karachi Puraas. He's expected to book one or two slots for Smokey Mountain on the August 16th & November 30th supercards with Mid-Atlantic. -Finally, Samu is recovering very nicely from his sports hernia and will be back in action in early May. Officials are very happy with how he & The Great Kabuki have gelled together in the Creatchman Family. Expect Kabuki & Samu to be heavily featured as the crown jewels of the Creatchman Family in the future.

Hmmm....looks like the Rougeaus will now have to keep an eye on the Karachi Puraas, now that Smokey Mountain is part of the NWA!

The backstory & backstage politics between Jerry Jarrett and Fritz Von Erich is really awesome.

I'll keep that in mind while booking the tournament

Aw yes, the formal pairing of Curt Hennig & Scott Hall!

Oh yeah, those shows in Portland & San Francisco will be really interesting. Crowd will go wild for Buddy there.

Great card again. Can't imagine how much experience Sting just picked up in that one 8-men tag with all the big names involved in it!

Solid tour cards I'm seeing there. Continental will prove to be a great pickup for the UWF.

Of course, agreed 100%. But in our current situation, I think that for small territories like yours and mine, alliances with bigger territories are key to help its growth. That's why first Lutte struck a deal with WWF and now has joined the National Wrestling Alliance. This alliance allows me to do so much more as a satellite promotion for Mid-Atlantic and as I look at Smokey Mountain, the very same can be accomplished. Even moreso for you, who runs an area close to Mid-Atlantic; it's gonna be even more easy for you to build up your guys by having them work with Mid-Atlantic for instance (and even Continental if you choose to).

You're good to go!

All set.

Done.

Wow! Honestly, didn't see coming Bob Orton joining 24 Karat but I do believe he's gonna be a great fit in there. You got now a veteran group ready to do as much damage as the Horsemen did back then! (And this now allows me to do some really fun stuff when I ask for Bob Orton on my shows lol)

I always let the other bookers choose who they were sending for the tournament. And I know that some of your best talents are currently in Japan and you have Negro Casas in the injury list. I think it'd be unfair for you to not have representatives that you picked yourself for the tournament so I'd rather use your slots as byes, if that doesn't offend you. However, if you really want to have CMLL represented in the tournament, I can have 2 of your guys facing the Rougeaus for the NWA World Tag Team Championship on Night 2 rather than Anderson & Eaton (Kevin already has the Road Warriors facing them on Night 3) so if I could have a different promotion to have a chance at the titles, I'd rather use CMLL. Anyway, if you have questions, hit me with a DM, so we can discuss about that.

With Grimmas' CMLL out for a while, his slots has been allotted as bye (thus why you'll see CMLL 1, 2, 3 & 4 on the brackets but we'll take it as if CMLL has forfeited their slots) so the brackets have been generated. Jerry Lawler, Dusty Rhodes, Masa Chono & Larry Zbyszko receive byes. Chono & Larry Z is the only offically known 2nd round match. And we have MAMMOTH first round matches. I'm gonna have a headache booking this LOL http://challonge.com/v8s5e3pz

In that case, I'll use CMLL's slots as byes in the tournament. Take care of your stuff and come back whenever you can.

I see and duly noted. I could've gone with a straight-up 5-way but I thought the Gauntlet is better suited for this timeframe (even though I did some 3-way & 4-way matches from time to time). Will keep that in mind for the future!

If JBL's eventually responsible for Mauro leaving WWE, I'm gonna be pissed. I don't understand why nowadays, someone like JBL needs to act like it's the 80's again and pick on others. This was Mauro's dream to work with WWE and it might be very possible that JBL took that away from him because he likes to act like a prick and Vince won't do anything about it because he loves that kind of antics.

April 7th, 1985 Brattleboro, VT Final of 3 shows taking place in the United States to promote the Johnny Rougeau Memorial Cup -Strong Machine #2 (subbing for injured Samu) beat Randy Rose (w/Jim Cornette) in 11:22 after an illegal switch with Strong Machine #3 -The Sensationals (Billy Robinson & Terry Taylor, w/Sherri Martel) beat The Bolshevik Revolution (Baron Von Raschke & Alexis Smirnoff) in 12:35 -Larry Zbyszko beat Nikolai Volkoff in 15:17 -The Missing Link beat Mr. Saito in 15:25 -Tom Brandi beat The Great Kabuki (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) by DQ in 5:56 after Kabuki spit Green Mist in Brandi's face! -NWA World Tag Team Champion Jacques Rougeau beat Mad Dog Lefebvre (w/Frenchy Martin) in 5:48 -Afa beat Boris Zhukov in 8:18 NWA World Heavyweight Championship Gauntlet Match: Ric Flair beat Sika, NWA International Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk, Rip Oliver & Super Strong Machine #1 in 88:16 to retain. Entry order: -Sika (eliminated by Oliver) -Rip Oliver (eliminated by Flair) -Ric Flair -Terry Funk (eliminated by Flair) -Super Strong Machine #1 (eliminated by Flair)

Really fun to see some undercard matches from Wrestlemania being highlighted on Wrestling Challenge this week. Gives them the proper attention they couldn't get because of the gigantic main event you had!

Yeah, will probably have to phase out Afa slowly until the end of the year so trying to establish Sika in singles early, while I still can do this with him. On the other side, it's in part why I signed the Strong Machines at the same time I loaned Super Strong Machine from gordi. Even though it's only a 3-month loan, it still gives me time to establish the other Machines in the tag team division, to eventually take the Samoans spot in the division. There are some fun things I wanna try to do for the summer and it looks like I'm gonna be able to pull it off in some fashion!

April 6th, 1985 Orlando, FL 2nd of 3 shows in the United States to promote the Johnny Rougeau Memorial Cup starting April 28. Regular starting time of 8 PM -Rip Oliver (w/Sherri Martel) beat Butch Miller in 9:41 -Richard "Le Magnifique" Charland (w/Frenchy Martin) beat Billy Robinson (w/Sherri Martel) in 12:33 Guest Referee Lethal Lottery Match - Édouard Carpentier: Mad Dog Lefebvre & Luke Williams beat Gilles "The Fish" Poisson & Baron Von Raschke in 7:35 -The Wild Samoans beat NWA International Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk & Mr. Saito in 13:21 NWA International TV Champion: NWA International Tag Team Champion Gino Brito beat Steve Strong in 10:56 to retain -Nick Bockwinkel beat Bob Backlund in 13:43 NWA World Tag Team Championship: The Rougeau Brothers beat The Missing Link & Terry Taylor in 37:21 to retain NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair beat Super Strong Machine #1 in 31:14 to retain

NWA Lutte Internationale TV Taped at CHLT-TV Studios, Sherbrooke, QC Broadcasted April 6th, 1985 (After the opening credits, we go to the broadcast booth where Guy Hauray & Édouard Carpentier are waiting to start this week’s show.) Guy Hauray: Hello, wrestling fans, and welcome to this week’s episode of NWA Lutte Internationale TV. It’s a big weekend for all of us here as fans in the United States will have the opportunity to see us live in action tonight in Orlando, Florida and Brattleboro, Vermont tomorrow night. But for right now, it’s a monumental episode awaiting us because for the first time in years, Andre the Giant will be in action in the territory, in our main event! Édouard Carpentier: You can feel all of the excitement in the studio, among the fans, and even in all of our crew since Andre is such a significant name, not only here in the territory but throughout the wrestling business. It will truly be a memorable match. And I know that Dory Funk Jr will be ready for this match. Guy Hauray: He sure will, Eddie, but that’s not the only anticipated match for this week because after a few weeks of mind games & questionable tactics, we’ll see the appearance of the Super Strong Machines. Or at least, one of them. We don’t know which one yet but a Strong Machine will square off with Bob Sweetan, following the backstage sneak attack he was a victim of last week. Édouard Carpentier: And if we’re holding Sherri to her words last week, it could be a very long first night for the Strong Machines in Lutte. Looking forward to see what will happen! Guy Hauray: And later on in the show, speaking of the Sensationals, we’ll speak to Bob Backlund, following what happened last week in the main event. But for now, we’re ready for our first match so let’s get to it! Match #1 Armand Rougeau vs Sika The broadcast team mentions that this marks the first TV match for Armand Rougeau since he left the promotion last year to nurse some injuries. Rougeau seems to be in great shape and it shows early against the veteran Samoan. But ring rust seems to be getting to Armand as well because Sika eventually regains the momentum to never lose it again. Sika ends the match with a Samoan Drop to secure a singles victory this week. Winner: Sika *********COMMERCIAL BREAK********** Match #2 Super Strong Machine #1 (w/Strong Machines #2 & #3) vs Bob Sweetan (w/Sherri Martel) We see quite the elaborate entrance from the Japanese invaders as the 3 of them make their way to the ring to face Bob Sweetan. It’s not until the bell rings that Sweetan will discover that Super Strong Machine #1 will be his opponent for the match. Despite being usually a tag team specialist, Machine #1 displays a very rough style that proves to be too dominant for the brutal Sweetan. While Sweetan is able to show a bit of offense in the match, the constant outside interferences & quick switches from the Machines prove to be too much. In the end, Machine #1 scores the victory with his Machine DDT. Winner: Super Strong Machine #1 *******COMMERCIAL BREAK******* (Back from the commercial break, Guy Hauray is standing in front of the broadcast booth with Bob Backlund, ready to do an interview) Guy Hauray: Welcome back to the show and before our mega main event, we’re pleased to welcome Bob Backlund to the set. Bob, we all saw what happened last week as you subbed in for Bob Sweetan to team with Terry Taylor against the Bolshevik Revolution but a couple of miscues proved to be your downfall. What’s your frame of mind coming out of this? Bob Backlund: You know, sir, it’s hard for me to hide my frustration and my anger following what happened last week. I was intending on doing the honourable thing; the right thing by replacing Bob Sweetan in that tag team match. Even if in my mind, something was telling me that things wouldn’t end up well, I still did it because it was the right thing to do. And that’s how I’m getting repaid? By being left hung to dry by my partner? This isn’t something that I take lightly, Mr. Hauray. Not at all. Guy Hauray: I’m assuming that you now want a piece of Terry Taylor next week on this program? Bob Backlund: To be honest, Mr. Hauray, it isn’t important to me who I’ll face next week. Because, you see, the true responsible for last week was Sherri Martel. Ever since Nick Bockwinkel turned her down to join the Sensationals, she has gone into a downward spiral and is willing to blame everyone and anyone for everything and anything. She is the one pulling the string. She’s the problem in this whole situation. She ordered Terry Taylor to walk away from me, not the other way around. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see next week that Terry Taylor won’t be here to face me so I will not bother to be picky. I’ll take whoever Sherri Martel wants me to face next week on this program. And once it’s all said and done, any of the Sensationals will regret having spit in my face when I was trying to do the honourable thing. And while I’m a man of integrity, I can fight with the best of them. Just try me! (Bob Backlund walks away and returns to the locker room. Édouard Carpentier is back at the broadcast booth) Guy Hauray: Well, looks like we have a match for next week as Bob Backlund will wrestle a member of the Sensationals to be determined. Édouard Carpentier: You can definitely feel the frustration in his voice, Guy. Bob Backlund was being a good guy and he has nothing to show for it now. We can only hope that things will be settled next week. Guy Hauray: Hopefully they will but after the break, our much anticipated main event is coming up! ************COMMERCIAL BREAK*************** MAIN EVENT SPECIAL ATTRACTION Dory Funk Jr vs Andre the Giant The giant from the French Alps receives a rousing ovation as he makes his way to the ring to face the elder Funk. Dory Funk Jr shows no intimidation by striking first but Andre countered quickly with a headbutt, sending Funk down. As the match progresses, we see NWA International Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk making his way to the broadcast booth, and watching the match unfold. The broadcast team mention that both Andre the Giant (Freelancer) and Terry Funk (Mid-Atlantic) will be taking part in the Johnny Rougeau Memorial Cup in 3 weeks. The champion doesn’t budge and just stares at the ring with all the action going on. With all of his might, Dory Funk Jr tries to take down Andre on multiple occasions but to no avail. Instead, Andre picks Dory with a double underhook suplex, slamming him to the ground. Andre sits on Dory to secure the pinfall victory. As the show draws to an end, Terry Funk gets closer to the ring and takes verbal jabs at Andre while Andre invites him to get in the ring! But the Funker stays on the floor doing nothing. However, one of the last images of the show is Super Strong Machine #1 is lurking in the background! Will Terry Funk & Andre the Giant meet in the Johnny Rougeau Memorial Cup? And is Super Strong Machine #1 targeting the NWA International Heavyweight Championship? Winner: Andre the Giant À LA SEMAINE PROCHAINE SI DIEU LE VEUT!

Absolutely! Everything coming along nicely under the UWF umbrella! Rock solid co-main & main event!

Holy shit, how do I get a tape of this? I'm sure the Lutte office would be more than happy to send Grimmas a tape of the LA show very soon!