NWA Lutte Internationale TV
Taped at CHLT-TV Studios, Sherbrooke, QC
Broadcasted February 16th, 1985
(After the opening credits, we go to the broadcast booth as Guy Hauray & Édouard Carpentier are waiting to start the show.)
Guy Hauray: Hello, everyone, and welcome to NWA Lutte Internationale TV. As we begin this week’s show, history was made last night in Hamilton, Ontario as Gino Brito regained the NWA International TV Championship from Mad Dog Lefebvre in a gruelling affair. This makes now Gino Brito the only 2-time champion in the territory since its return. And it also means that right now, Rick Martel & Gino Brito hold all the gold in NWA Lutte Internationale.
Édouard Carpentier: This truly is stating how dominant and efficient have Rick Martel & Gino Brito have been in NWA Lutte Internationale, in singles and in tag team competition. However, this can pose a certain challenge for both men as one off night can mean losing either their singles or tag team championship. And if they’re both off in a tag team match, this can spell huge trouble for them. Nevertheless, the target only grew on their back tenfold with Gino’s title win last night.
Guy Hauray: Congratulations again to Gino Brito for his title win but this week, some exciting action in store for you as in our main event, Bob Backlund will square off against the unpredictable Missing Link. We should also have some words about the whole Sensationals/Nick Bockwinkel situation as both parties are here this week, in action. With that said, let’s get to the ring for our first match!
Match #1
The Sensationals (Bob Sweetan & Rip Oliver, w/Sherri Martel) vs Tito Senza & Serge Jodoin
The new main team of the Sensationals is doing pretty well together as they’re showing some dominance early against Tito Senza & Serge Jodoin. Sweetan & Oliver frequently tag in & out and don’t let many opportunities to the enhancement talent duo. Sweetan ends things early with the piledriver on Tito Senza to get the victory.
Winners: Bob Sweetan & Rip Oliver
After the match, The Sensationals are going to the broadcast booth to join Édouard Carpentier for an interview.
Édouard Carpentier: Sherri, congratulations on leading your team to another victory this week. Especially after a huge win last night over the Midnight Express in Hamilton, a team that many consider the top threat to the Rougeau Brothers’ NWA World Tag Team titles.
Sherri Martel: That’s right, old man, you’re seeing right here the best tag team in NWA Lutte Internationale at the moment. It didn’t take long for them to be assert themselves as a dominant force in the division as they proved it in the past 2 days. And soon enough, The Sensationals will get all of the gold. Because when Bob Sweetan & Rip Oliver will win the NWA World Tag Team Championship, when Terry Taylor will become the NWA International TV Championship and when Billy Robinson will beat Rick Martel tomorrow night in Acton Vale for the NWA International Heavyweight Championship, we will be the absolute best entity in the sport. And now, there will be no reason for Nick Bockwinkel to deny me of what I want. If this is what it takes for Nick Bockwinkel to join us, this is what we’ll do.
Édouard Carpentier: So, this is about Nick Bockwinkel again, isn’t it? You’re not without knowing that tonight in Parry Sound, Ontario, Nick Bockwinkel is facing Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship? And what appeal do you have for him if he successfully beats Ric Flair and become the new World Heavyweight Champion?
Sherri Martel: You won’t need to worry about this because this won’t happen anytime soon. Sooner or later, Bockwinkel will realize that he NEEDS me to be a World Heavyweight Champion again. Nick Bockwinkel is a great wrestler but I am the X-factor that will make sure of it. And like a petulant child that needs to be taught a lesson, this is what I’ll do. I can play the waiting game with Bockwinkel as long as I wish. Trust me, Mr. Bockwinkel will come around...And tomorrow night, mark my words, Billy Robinson will become the NWA International Heavyweight Champion. Rick Martel, your days as dual champion are numbered!
(The Sensationals leave the broadcast booth and retreat backstage)
Guy Hauray: Eddie, I think you might’ve struck a chord with Sherri Martel when you mentioned that big match for Nick Bockwinkel tonight against Ric Flair in Parry Sound.
Édouard Carpentier: She tried to hide it as much as she could but it’s clearly still bothering it. I don’t know if all of she said will turn out to be true but what matters is that Sherri Martel will have much less leverage on Bockwinkel if he beats Ric Flair tonight for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Guy Hauray: And we will ask Nick Bockwinkel about this because not only he’ll be in action after the break but we’ll also speak to him as well!
******COMMERCIAL BREAK******
Match #2
Gilles Poisson vs Nick Bockwinkel
Once again, the broadcast team hypes tonight’s match between Bockwinkel and Ric Flair in Brampton, Ontario. Bockwinkel is still focused though on the task at hand as he puts on a clinic against a crafty veteran in Gilles “The Fish” Poisson. Despite a valiant effort on the part of Poisson, Nick Bockwinkel puts him away with the sleeper hold in about 5 minutes to score the victory.
Winner: Nick Bockwinkel
Like his predecessors before the commercial break, Nick Bockwinkel heads to the broadcast booth to join Édouard Carpentier for an interview.
Édouard Carpentier: Nick Bockwinkel, congratulations for your victory this week as for the second week in a row, you’re successful inside the ring. We will speak about last week among other things in just a few moments but tonight is a huge night for you in Brampton, Ontario as it will be your first chance at becoming a World Heavyweight Champion one more time when you square off against the best wrestler in the world at the moment, NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
Nick Bockwinkel: Thank you for those kind words, Mr. Carpentier. As a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion yourself, you know how much this title means in this business and there’s nothing I would like more than to add to my already eloquent résumé the most prestigious title there is in the world of professional wrestling. Not only, this is for the heavyweight championship of the world but it’s also a dream match for many, many wrestling fans around the world. People have been arguing for many years now; which one between Ric Flair and Nick Bockwinkel is the best wrestler in the world. Tonight, there will be a definite answer to this question and I fully intend to make sure that I, Nick Bockwinkel, am the correct answer to that question. I don’t need to tell Ric Flair that I’ll be ready for him because he already knows that. What I’m hopeful for is that Ric Flair doesn’t look past me and look beyond me the next night in Acton Vale versus Dory Funk on Sunday night. Fans, be ready.
Édouard Carpentier: We spoke to Sherri Martel earlier in the show and she claims that you can’t beat Ric Flair tonight without her help. Do you have a response for her?
Nick Bockwinkel: I sure do but I’ll refrain myself from making it an elaborate one because you still have some great wrestling coming up in a few moments. But all I’ll say is this: when I was the AWA World Heavyweight Champion or the AWA World Tag Team Champion with Ric Flair’s fellow 24-Karat member Ray Stevens, I had Bobby Heenan as my manager but Bobby himself wasn’t foolish to think that I couldn’t win anything without him. He was a fantastic advisor and I have the utmost respect in the world for him. But right now, Miss Martel is getting ahead of herself if she truly believes that she holds my destiny in her hands. Make no mistake about it, Sherri; Nick Bockwinkel never needed anybody to be a world champion and this will not change any time soon. I don’t know if she’s trying to convince herself or something but I must assure you that she’s dead wrong. And she’ll find that out tonight.
Édouard Carpentier: Should you beat Ric Flair tonight, are you still targeting Rick Martel’s NWA International Heavyweight Championship? And what about Alexis Smirnoff? He could be gunning for your two titles if you win them both.
Nick Bockwinkel: Well, it’s no secret that I also respect Rick Martel and as you saw last week, we’re getting along very well but we’re also two great competitors at heart and if Rick Martel is a dual champion, I can’t see why I couldn’t be a dual champion myself. Only I would be holding the two most prestigious titles in the National Wrestling Alliance at the same time. But that’s besides the point. And as for Alexis Smirnoff, I’m not worried about him in the slightest. Actually, I expect him to focus on me, regardless of the result. But make no mistake about it, Mr. Carpentier, I won’t let Smirnoff take that chance away from me. For both titles. Tonight is just the beginning, sir...
(Nick Bockwinkel retreats to the back as Guy Hauray welcomes Édouard Carpentier back to the booth)
Guy Hauray: Sounds like Nick Bockwinkel is confident in becoming the new NWA World Heavyweight Champion tonight!
Édouard Carpentier: Well, to be honest, I’ve never seen Bockwinkel not being confident so it’s no surprise to me that he feels confident enough to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship tonight in Parry Sound. But nevertheless, this will be a classic encounter tonight and fans will be in for a treat.
Guy Hauray: That’s for sure! When we come back, our main event!
****COMMERCIAL BREAK****
MAIN EVENT
Match #3
Bob Backlund vs The Missing Link
Quite the contrast in style as classic wrestling meets total unpredictability. Both commentators hype how Bob Backlund seems to be back 100% after the gruelling match he had with Ric Flair at Starrcade and all of the fallout that ensued. While the Link is showing some respect towards Backlund, he still doesn’t hold back on him and dishes out everything he can. Then, midway through the match, Alexis Smirnoff comes out and stations himself near the broadcast booth. Guy & Édouard mention that Smirnoff is facing Backlund tomorrow night in Acton Vale, Quebec and this could have an incidence on who’d be next in line for the NWA International Heavyweight Championship. Oddly enough, it seems like Link is more distracted and Smirnoff clearly indicates to the Link that he’s not here for him. As for Backlund, he barely notices the presence of Smirnoff as the match progresses. Eventually, Smirnoff proves to be costly without him doing anything as Link went for the Final Solution but Backlund dodged and rolled up Link for the flash victory! Smirnoff doesn’t waste any time and charges the ring to attack Backlund, even shoving Link to the side! Smirnoff pummels Backlund as the referee tries to stop him, to no avail! A completely disoriented Backlund is now prone to more aggression from Smirnoff and the communist traitor has now his chain wrapped around the throat of Backlund! Just like a few weeks ago, like the fate that suffered Jacques Rougeau and Nick Bockwinkel, Alexis Smirnoff has choked out Bob Backlund and draped him with the Soviet flag! The crowd heavily boos as the show nears to an end, with the broadcast team wondering how can Bob Backlund be able to wrestle Alexis Smirnoff tomorrow night!
Winner: Bob Backlund
À LA SEMAINE PROCHAINE SI DIEU LE VEUT!
