SirEdger

Loved the unveiling of Larry Zbyszko as the Masked Marauder. Also, I think it's the first time I've ever seen or heard about a Best 3 out of 5 Falls 10-Men Tag Match. Great read!

First off, really nice touch with the coin flip to determine which Fantastic would challenge Ric Flair for the title. And second, LOVE the return of the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship with Adrian Street. I think you can run a lot of mileage with that angle!

Wow. Really great dual time stuff!

January 20th, 1985 Ottawa, ON -NWA World Tag Team Champion Raymond Rougeau beat Baron Von Raschke in 11:48 -AWA's Pat Tanaka beat Thunderbolt Patterson in 9:34 -Billy Robinson (w/Sherri Martel) beat Afa in 18:12 -Alexis Smirnoff beat Carlos Colon in 11:42 -Richard "Le Magnifique" Charland (w/Frenchy Martin) beat The Missing Link in 13:20 -Chicky Starr beat NWA International Tag Team Champion Gino Brito in 16:28 -Nord the Barbarian (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) beat Sting in 14:07 -NWA World Tag Team Champion Jacques Rougeau & NWA US Tag Team Champion Kendall Windham beat The Sheepherders in 16:29

Must've been so cool to work with Mauro Ranallo (even though he was still quite young back then). Great to see that wrestling has always been an important part of your life and you're still getting involved!

Like I said....everything isn't always as advertised in the world of pro wrestling. You'll see for yourself.

Well....you know the old saying: "Card subject to change."

January 19th, 1985 Centre Paul-Sauvé, Montréal -Rip Oliver (w/Sherri Martel) beat Baron Von Raschke in 7:55 -Chicky Starr beat The Missing Link in 9:21 -Nord the Barbarian (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) beat The Spoiler in 16:57 -Fatu (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) beat Hercules Ayala in 7:32 after Fatu used The Brain's cane on Ayala -Sika beat Butch Miller in 17:19 -Sheik Ali (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) beat Thunderbolt Patterson in 10:46 NWA World Tag Team Championship: The Rougeau Brothers beat Alexis Smirnoff & Luke Williams in 24:41 to retain after Alexis Smirnoff left his partner alone towards the end of the match to fight the Rougeaus. -Richard Charland (w/Frenchy Martin) beat Dino Bravo in 15:36 after a hold of tights. Bravo blew a gasket after the match and attacked everyone in sight, including referee Luigi Macera.

NWA Lutte Internationale TV Taped at CHLT-TV Studios, Sherbrooke, QC January 19th, 1985 (After the opening credits, we join Guy Hauray & Édouard Carpentier at the broadcast booth to open this week’s show) Guy Hauray: Hello, wrestling fans, and welcome to NWA Lutte Internationale TV. Some high intensity last week as our main event ended with quite the staredown between Rick Martel and Alexis Smirnoff, but also Nick Bockwinkel, who gave the NWA International Heavyweight Champion an unexpected assist in the match, helping him to win the match. As we went off the air, we were left wondering what were Nick Bockwinkel’s motivations. Édouard Carpentier: And unfortunately, one week later, we still don’t know what were those motivations and it doesn’t look like we’ll learn more this week since none of those men are here with us today. Guy Hauray: No, they’re not but in our main event, Dino Bravo is back in action for the first time since he won $50,000 in the battle royal at Starrcade, splitting the purse with his friend Andre the Giant as he’ll go one-on-one with Carlos Colon in what should be a scientific showdown between two very gifted athletes. Édouard Carpentier : Yes but how about our opening contest this week? We’ll see the TV debut of an exciting newcomer called Sting right here on NWA Lutte Internationale! Guy Hauray: Indeed, Eddie, one of the hottest young stars in pro wrestling today will be in action momentarily and he has already scored a win early in his career against one half of the NWA International Heavyweight Champions Gino Brito just recently! Can he roll on with the momentum? That’s what we’ll find out in our opening bout! Match #1 Sting vs Dennis Condrey (w/Jim Cornette) The crowd is obviously already enamored with the youngster as Sting makes an immediate connection with the studio audience from the start. The broadcast booth mentions that his victory over Gino Brito impressed a lot of people in the NWA Board of Directors recently and as a result, they granted Sting an NWA US Championship Match against Magnum TA at Maple Leaf Gardens one week from today. However, the jitters seem to be apparent for Sting as he made a couple of mistakes, allowing Dennis Condrey to capitalize and taking control. Of course, Jim Cornette isn’t too far behind to give Sting a couple of cheapshots behind the referee’s back. Sting is however able to regain some momentum after a missed leg drop by Condrey. Sting is about to win the match with the Stinger Splash but Condrey ducks and Sting hits the turnbuckle hard. He staggers in front of Condrey and Condrey hits his Full Nelson Facebuster to secure the win. The broadcast booth questions how much this will affect Sting’s chances in his US title match vs Magnum TA next week in Toronto. Winner: Dennis Condrey ********COMMERCIAL BREAK + PROMO AD FOR MAPLE LEAF GARDENS JANUARY 26TH EVENT**** JANUARY 26TH CARD: DOUBLE MAIN EVENT NWA INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Rick Martel © vs Carlos Colon NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH Magnum TA © vs Sting Samu (w/Eddy “The Brain” Creatchman) vs Dory Funk Jr The Spoiler vs Butcher Vachon (w/Frenchy Martin) Baron Von Raschke vs Chicky Starr Luke Williams vs Sika Randy Rose (w/Jim Cornette) vs NWA International Tag Team Champion Gino Brito ************** Match #2 The Missing Link vs Bob Dellaserra (w/Gino Dellaserra) This is the first appearance for the Dellaserras on NWA Lutte Internationale TV and unfortunately for Bob, he didn’t draw the best number. The Missing Link is merciless towards his opponent, still fuming about the recent events at Starrcade and not long ago vs The Great Kokina. Bob’s brother, Gino, tries to interfere but Link brings Gino in the ring and this turns into an impromptu Handicap Match. Link hits both Dellaserras with the Final Solution, pinning both men at the same time. Winner: The Missing Link *****COMMERCIAL BREAK + PROMO AD FOR JANUARY 27TH CARD AT CENTRE PAUL-SAUVÉ**** JANUARY 27TH CARD: TRIPLE MAIN EVENT NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Magnum TA © vs NWA World Tag Team Champion Raymond Rougeau NWA INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Rick Martel © vs Gilles Poisson NWA INTERNATIONAL TV CHAMPIONSHIP Mad Dog Lefebvre © (w/Frenchy Martin) vs Prof. Toru Tanaka (w/Mr. Fuji) GRUDGE MATCH GUEST REFEREE – Maurice Richard Randy Rose vs NWA World Tag Team Champion Jacques Rougeau Jim Cornette will be handcuffed to Montreal Canadiens player Chris Nilan Butcher Vachon (w/Frenchy Martin) vs Billy Robinson (w/Sherri Martel) Dory Funk Jr vs Sheik Ali (w/Eddy “The Brain” Creatchman) + Nord the Barbarian, Samu, Alexis Smirnoff and more! ***** Match #3 Billy Robinson (w/Sherri Martel) vs The Spoiler The broadcast team discusses the recent shakeup within The Sensationals as Eddie Gilbert & Doug Somers left NWA Lutte Internationale while Terry Taylor, Rip Oliver & Bob Sweetan joined the group. Robinson doesn’t seem too affected by all the chaos surrounding The Sensationals in the last few weeks as he controls the opening moments of the match. But The Spoiler is a crafty veteran and is able to reverse the situation and gains some control himself during the match. In fact, The Spoiler is cruising towards a victory with his dreaded Iron Claw. Sherri Martel senses she needs to act and climbs on the ring apron to distract referee Adrien Desbois. That then allows Terry Taylor to sneak in the ring, chair in hand, and whack The Spoiler in the back! The Spoiler goes down and Taylor drapes Robinson’s arm on the Spoiler’s prone chest. Sherri did her dirty work and steps down the apron as referee Adrien Desbois counts the pinfall and awards the match to Billy Robinson. Winner: Billy Robinson (As the match ends, the Sensational trio of Sherri Martel, Billy Robinson & Terry Taylor go to the broadcast booth.) Édouard Carpentier: Sherri Martel, not the most honourable way to win a match and quite frankly, I don’t even know why I’m asking that question! Sherri Martel: Well, if you don’t know why you’re asking the question, why did you do it anyway? The fact and the matter is this; a win is a win at any cost and if you thought that The Sensationals were already derailed, you were dead wrong. This match proved it right here: Billy Robinson is still at the top of his game and it’s a matter of time before we get back what’s rightfully ours and that’s the NWA International Tag Team Championships! Édouard Carpentier: Sherri, I can’t help but ask you about the actions of Nick Bockwinkel last week, as he assisted Rick Martel in the main event to make him win the match. Do you still want Bockwinkel to be a part of your Sensationals? Sherri Martel: Listen, old man, Nick Bockwinkel knows a good business deal when he sees it. He’s the smartest man in this industry and even if I don’t understand why he did what he did last week, I know that in the end, he’ll be joining me and The Sensationals. But enough about Nick Bockwinkel, let’s talk about Magnum TA! Édouard Carpentier: Magnum TA? Terry Taylor: Yeah, sir, Magnum TA. See, there’s some big hoopla about Magnum TA coming out here and defending his US Heavyweight Championship against Sting in Toronto and the following night against Raymond Rougeau in Montreal. Well, guess what...I looked at the schedule and it dawned on me that both Magnum TA & I have a free night on January 25. And ironically enough, the show is in Brampton, Ontario and I know for a fact that Mr. Frank Valois is looking to boost that mini-show of his with a suitable main event. Mr. Valois, look no more, I got your main event right here. I want a piece of Magnum TA! And I’m gonna give you the main event of a lifetime in Brampton. If Magnum TA is the champion he says he is, then he’ll accept my challenge and show up in Brampton to put his title on the line. And I’m not gonna apologize for screwing up your plans, Mr. Valois because I’m gonna walk out of Brampton the new NWA US Heavyweight Champion. But you should be happy because you’re gonna gain a....sensational new champion! (The Sensationals walk out of the broadcast booth, visibly confident about what’s coming next for them) *******COMMERCIAL BREAK****** Guy Hauray: Before our main event, we just received some breaking news during the commercial break. Frank Valois was able to get in touch with NWA US Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA and he accepted Terry Taylor’s challenge for January 25 in Brampton, Ontario. So on that night, Magnum TA will be defending the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship against Terry Taylor. This match will be preceded by a confrontation between Alexis Smirnoff and Butcher Vachon. Don’t miss this! But now, we’re ready for our main event so let’s get to ringside. MAIN EVENT Match #4 Carlos Colon vs Dino Bravo The broadcast team reminds us again that this is Dino Bravo’s first TV match since Starrcade and him splitting the purse for the Interpromotional Battle Royal that night. Bravo seems to have a chip on his shoulder and doesn’t waste time showing it to Carlos Colon. The broadcast team also plugs the Caribbean Connection being headed to Japan for the IWGP Tag Festival in February. As mentioned, Bravo is showing an aggressive side but Carlos Colon isn’t impressed and matches Bravo move for move, strike for strike. The match nears the 10-minute mark towards the end of the show and Carlos Colon is able to gain control and hits a piledriver on Dino Bravo. Colon then drags Bravo in the middle of the ring and is about to end the match with the Figure Four Leglock but Dino sticks his thumb in Colon’s eyes! Colon is momentarily blinded and Bravo rolls up Carlos Colon...and holds his tights! Referee Luigi Macera is out of position and don’t see Bravo’s cheap tactics, allowing him to secure the victory! Dino Bravo refuses to get his hand raised by the referee and he immediately goes to the broadcast booth. The mics are now turned off but as the show is about to go off the air, we understand that the fiery Italian isn’t necessarily happy with how things are now going in NWA Lutte Internationale... Winner: Dino Bravo À LA SEMAINE PROCHAINE SI DIEU LE VEUT!

Oh man, this really has got me intrigued. Adams & Gino tearing the house down in Mexico as rudos can be so much fun.

I see. Point taken!

Well, I want my territory to be unpredictable and keep readers on their toes. And I think I've been pretty successful so far!

January 18th, 1985 Centre Paul-Sauvé, Montréal -Sika beat Nick Bockwinkel in 8:11 after a Sherri Martel interference attempt backfired on Bockwinkel. -Bob Sweetan (w/Sherri Martel) beat Hercules Ayala in 20:57 -NWA US Tag Team Champion Kendall Windham beat Jerry Brisco in 6:48 -Samu (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) beat Chicky Starr in 10:59 -The Zambuie Express (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) beat Gilles Poisson & Thunderbolt Patterson in 11:12 Falls Count Anywhere Match: NWA World Tag Team Champion Jacques Rougeau beat Butch Miller in 1:21 -Dory Funk beat Richard "Le Magnifique" Charland (w/Frenchy Martin) in 14:27 NWA International TV Championship: Mad Dog Lefebvre (w/Frenchy Martin) beat Dennis Condrey (w/Jim Cornette) in 27:46 to retain

Interesting. Love the Varsity Club vibe you're giving to Lex Luger & Rick Steiner!

Well, technically, Rick Martel is from Quebec City but I get your point.

Interesting pairing of Eddie Gilbert & Tommy Rich. You might have something really good there.

Ooooh, Aguayo vs Satanico should be a really good match!

Over the top rope DQs are such great ways out to use to build up feuds & angles. Great use of this again!

12-Men tags were such a rarity back then. Always fun to see those though!

Nice seeing the Dream Team coming along well under Jimmy Hart's guidance. And that second Piper's Pit was great!

January 13th, 1985 Centre Paul-Sauvé, Montréal -Baron Von Raschke beat Richard "Le Magnifique" Charland in 14:27 6-Men Elimination Tag Team Match: The Sheepherders & Dory Funk Jr beat The Midnight Express & Jim Cornette in 10:41 6-Men Elimination Tag Team Match: The Wild Samoans & Carlos Colon beat The Sensationals (Rip Oliver & Bob Sweetan, w/Sherri Martel) & Nord the Barbarian (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) in 19:24 -Steve Strong beat Chicky Starr in 8:31 -Gilles Poisson beat The Missing Link in 21:14 -The Spoiler beat Terry Taylor (w/Sherri Martel) in 14:39 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship: Magnum TA beat Nick Bockwinkel in 30:27 to retain NWA International Tag Team Championship: Rick Martel & Gino Brito beat NWA US Tag Team Champions The Windhams in 39:50 to retain

I read the same thing. Speaking of which, I stumbled upon a list of talents that are currently in the "Terry Taylor Class", meaning they're about to get called up. Shinsuke Nakamura is on that list, along with Hideo Itami & Tye Dillinger. Neither Joe, Bobby Roode, Eric Young & Austin Aries are listed but that's because their contracts doesn't require them to train at the WWE PC. So, it's not crazy to assume that Joe's callup is imminent. Especially since other than that dark match in which Chris Hero appeared, he didn't work any matches in the tapings.

I'd be really shocked if they went ahead and inducted CM Punk at any period of time.

YES! King of the Ring!!! Predicting that Randy Savage wins the inaugural edition!

January 12th, 1985 Forum de Montréal -Sting & 2 Cold Scorpio upsets The Sensationals (Billy Robinson & Rip Oliver, w/Sherri Martel) in 15:26 -Samu (w/Eddy "The Brain" Creatchman) beat Hercules Ayala in 14:57 -Steve Strong & NWA World Tag Team Champion Jacques Rougeau beat Dino Bravo & The Missing Link in 23:52 -Baron Von Raschke beat Sika in 10:50 -Afa beat Bob Sweetan (w/Sherri Martel) in 12:18 3-Way Dance: Terry Taylor & Nick Bockwinkel (w/Sherri Martel) beat The Sheepherders & The Caribbean Connection in 16:55 Title vs Title, NWA International Tag Team & US Tag Team Championships: NWA International Tag Team Champions Rick Martel & Gino Brito fight NWA US Tag Team Champions The Windhams to a 90-minute time limit draw; both teams retain their titles