NWA Lutte Internationale TV
Taped at CHLT-TV Studios, Sherbrooke, QC
December 1st, 1984
(After the new opening credits debuted last week with the NWA logo, we go to the broadcast booth to kick off this week’s show)
Guy Hauray: Hello, wrestling fans and we welcome you to this week’s NWA Lutte Internationale TV. As we know, we’re now on the road to Starrcade in Greensboro, NC on Christmas Night and it’s with great pride that Lutte Internationale will take part of it. But this week should prove to be very interesting
Édouard Carpentier: Indeed as we’re scheduled to have yet another Falls Count Anywhere match, which has become George “The Animal” Steele’s speciality, as he’ll take on Carlos Colon in this one. And we also have the NWA International Heavyweight Champion action and ---wait a minute, what the...
(Carpentier is stopped in mid-track as Greg Valentine makes his way to the broadcast booth)
Greg Valentine: I apologize to interrupt you, Mr. Carpentier, but there is something that I need to tell the wrestling world right now. Now that Lutte Internationale is a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, I feel more than ever that it is an opportunity of a lifetime for anyone to be now known as the NWA International Heavyweight Champion. I wish I could say that this is my championship but unfortunately, it is no longer the case. But I do believe that I still can represent this territory and carry myself as a righteous champion. In fact, I’m still owed my rematch for the title and before 1984 ends, I want it. All I need is one more match with Rick Martel.
(While Valentine is finishing his sentence, Rick Martel walks to the broadcast booth with his wrestling gear and his ring jacket on, with the NWA International Heavyweight title belt around his waist)
Greg Valentine: Here you are, champ. So, are you giving me what I want or not?
Rick Martel (turning to Édouard Carpentier): Tu m’excuseras pour cette portion de l’entrevue, je vais la faire en anglais. (Translation : Sorry for this part of the promo but I’m gonna do this in English) Look, Greg, I don’t know what you’re planning here but it’s not gonna work. You sound desperate, man.
Greg Valentine: You damn right, I’m desperate! This, around your waist, this is my whole life! I worked my ass off during my entire career to be the heavyweight champion and I hate to see that you’re entering this new NWA era here in Quebec as the NWA International Heavyweight Champion! I hate it more than anything! I won’t rest until I get it back and you and I both know it!
(Rick Martel looks a bit more intense and a bit restless, like he’s expecting something uncharacteristic to Valentine’s nature)
Greg Valentine: Ok, man....if you don’t want to give me my title match today, how about a 6-men tag, Rick? I know that Dino Bravo & Jacques Rougeau are available and I’m fully aware you’ll pick them. I’ll find myself 2 other guys and let’s do this.
Rick Martel: Greg, let’s not kid ourselves. You’ve alienated yourself the entire Lutte locker room. Not even Frenchy’s Legion wants to do anything with you anymore. Not since Frenchy thinks that you failed him when you lost to Hulk Hogan in Toronto a few months ago.
Greg Valentine: Trust me, it’ll be a 6-men tag, I’ll find myself two partners!
Rick Martel (a bit incredulous): Alright, fine, you got a match!
(Both men walk away as Carpentier joins Guy Hauray back to the booth)
Édouard Carpentier: Well, Guy, this is something that really intrigues me here. Greg Valentine is ready to do anything to get just one more match with Rick Martel for the NWA International Heavyweight Championship.
Guy Hauray: Rick Martel wasn’t lying when he said that Valentine alienated himself the whole locker room, including Frenchy’s Legion. Valentine will have a hard time finding himself partners this week and I hope that it’s gonna be worth it for him. But before we get to that, we have lots of action so let’s get to it right now!
Match #1
Raymond Rougeau vs Pete Doherty
The broadcast team hype up the Rougeaus opportunity tomorrow night in Chicoutimi to qualify for an NWA World Tag Team Championship match at Starrcade. Poor Doherty is absolutely no match to a motivated Rougeau as Rougeau finishes him off with a Savate Kick to get the victory.
Winner: Raymond Rougeau
(As the match concludes, Raymond Rougeau goes to the broadcast booth to be interviewed by Édouard Carpentier)
Édouard Carpentier: Congratulations Raymond for this victory as a more important challenge awaits you tomorrow night at the Centre Georges-Vézina in Chicoutimi tomorrow night because you’ll face the winner of a 4-team match with an NWA World Tag Team Championship match at Starrcade on Christmas night in Greensboro, NC. What is your frame of mind going into tomorrow?
Raymond Rougeau: Je te mentirai pas, y a beaucoup d’excitation pour Jacques pis moi. Ça fait longtemps qu’on attend une opportunité comme celle-là pis on est juste à une victoire d’y parvenir. Quand on a su que Lutte Internationale devenait membre de la NWA, on savait que c’était notre but ultime de devenir champions du monde. On s’est promis que rien allait nous arrêter pis demain soir à Chicoutimi, au Centre Georges-Vézina, on a pas l’intention que ça ne se produise pas! (Translation : I won’t lie to you, there’s a lot of excitement for Jacques and I. We’ve been waiting a long time for an opportunity like this and we’re one victory away to make it happen. When we learned that Lutte Internationale would become an NWA affiliate, we knew that this was becoming our ultimate goal to become world tag team champions. We promised ourselves that nothing would stop us and tomorrow night in Chicoutimi, at the Centre Georges-Vézina, we’ll make sure that this won’t happen!
Édouard Carpentier: Obviously, we need to address the elephant in the room, Raymond. Do you wish that the Midnight Express win the 4-way match so you can beat them to advance to that showdown against the Fantastics?
Raymond Rougeau: Écoute, ce serait très satisfaisant pour Jacques et moi si c’était en battant les Midnight Express qu’on se qualifierait pour le combat contre les Fantastics à Starrcade mais quand tu regardes ça, on parle de 4 solides équipes : les Midnight Express de Jim Cornette, les Wild Samoans qu’on a failli battre pour les championnats par équipe, le Zambuie Express pis faut surtout pas sous-estimer Gilles Poisson pis Mil Mascaras. J’ai aucune idée de laquelle qui va nous affronter mais on sait qu’on peut tous les battre pis je vous garantis que les Rougeau s’en vont à Starrcade pis on devient les champions du monde! (Translation : Listen, it would be very satisfying for Jacques and I if we did beat the Midnight Express to qualify for the match vs the Fantastics at Starrcade but when you look at it, we’re talking about 4 solid teams : Jim Cornette’s Midnight Express, the Wild Samoans who we almost beat for the International Tag Team titles, the Zambuie Express and we can’t underestimate Gilles Poisson & Mil Mascaras. I have no idea who will face us but we know we can beat them all and I guarantee you that the Rougeaus are going to Starrcade and we become world tag team champions!)
(Raymond Rougeau returns backstage to a great response and Carpentier joins Guy Hauray at the booth)
Guy Hauray: Well, Eddie, looks like Raymond –and Jacques – are ready to possibly wrestle The Fantastics at Starrcade! The Rougeaus are always highly motivated but this is something huge for them.
Édouard Carpentier: Raymond is always motivated but there’s something in his eyes right now that I just can’t describe. The Rougeaus are now on a mission and they want to be the best tag team in the entire wrestling business. They can do it, no doubt in my mind.
Guy Hauray: We’ll keep you posted on the developments in the tag team division but when we come back, one half of Hot Stuff Inc – and NWA International Tag Team Champion – Doug Somers is in action!
******COMMERCIAL BREAK + PROMO FOR STARRCADE******
Match #2
Nord the Barbarian (w/Eddy “The Brain” Creatchman) vs Doug Somers (w/Sensational Sherri)
During the match, the broadcast team hype the possibility of having Hot Stuff Inc defend their titles against the Sheepherders at Starrcade. They also announce that tomorrow night in Chicoutimi, Robinson & Somers will be defending the NWA International Tag Team Championship vs Frenchy’s Legion members Richard Charland & NWA International TV Champion Mad Dog Lefebvre. Both men use their respective allies in the match to their advantage to distract the other but in the end, Nord the Barbarian hits Somers with the Big Boot, followed by his falling powerslam to get the upset win over Somers. The broadcast team talks now of Nord as a potential challenger to Mad Dog Lefebvre’s title soon.
Winner: Nord the Barbarian
*******COMMERCIAL BREAK********
Match #3
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Carlos Colon vs George “The Animal” Steele
Frenchy Martin is conspicuous by his absence yet again but this time, it’s because he’ll be involved in a 6-Men Tag Team Match later on today. Once again, this goes all over the place in the studio and the fact that Frenchy Martin isn’t there to direct traffic for The Animal makes him even more unpredictable as not even the referee can stop him to do whatever he wants. The finish comes when George Steele rams Carlos Colon’s arm in a hammerlock position twice on the ring post and then hits his Hammerlock Slam on the floor outside to secure the victory.
Winner: George “The Animal” Steele
******COMMERCIAL BREAK + PROMO FOR STARRCADE******
Guy Hauray: Welcome back to NWA Lutte Internationale TV. Before we move along to our next match, we will like to show you what went down during the Thanksgiving episode of World Championship Wrestling when the team of Mr. Wrestling II & NWA US Tag Team Champions Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens took on the team of Superstar Billy Graham and Barry & Kendall Windham. Some very despicable actions that will, I’m sure, have an impact on what will go down at Starrcade.
Édouard Carpentier: Indeed, Guy, the champs & Mr. Wrestling II showed no respect for their opponents on that night and what they did to the Windhams & Superstar Billy Graham was uncalled for.
Guy Hauray: We’re warning you as there is some graphic footage so viewer discretion is advised. Let’s go to the footage.
*****EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE******
November 22, 1984
Thanksgiving Night
World Championship Wrestling TV Taping
Roanoke, VA
Civic Center
Six-Man Tag Team Match
Mr. Wrestling II, NWA United States Tag Team Champions Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens (w/ JJ Dillon) vs “Superstar” Billy Graham & Barry & Kendall Windham.
This was originally scheduled with Tully Blanchard as the third member of the team, but the board of directors decided to put a TV title match on the card, and thus the addition of Mr. Wrestling II here. This is a hot action, big time match. Both teams go back and forth. We head to commercial break.
COMMERCIAL BREAK 3
As we return. 24-Karat has cornered Kendall in their side of the ring and begin to work him over. Mr. Wrestling II gets tagged in and shows his cockiness as he works over the younger wrestler. II taunts Barry and Billy as he drops Kendall with a beautiful vertical suplex. But he only gets a two. Kendall is able to use the cockiness against him and drop him with a dropkick as he misses with a shoulder block. Kendall tags in Graham and now the powerful athlete starts to toss around his opponent's. This quickly turns into a pier-six brawl. All six men begin to brawl inside the ring. Superstar and II are alone in the ring. Superstar picks him up above his head with a military press. Patterson sneaks back into the ring, as JJ distracts the referee. He clips Graham from behind, and II falls onto him. Tommy Young turns around to count the three. Stevens sends Kendall to the ringpost and climbs into the ring. They attack Graham’s now injured knee. II slides out of the ring and kicks Barry as they champion's work over Graham. They are trying to break his leg. Stevens leaps off the ring ropes as Patterson holds him and lands a vicious knee across his leg. Barry is able to battle II off of him and grab a chair and rushes the ring. The champion’s bail, proud of their actions. They grab their belts and hold them high in the air as they leave ringside. Before we go to commercial, we see Kendall on the floor, bloodied and hurt. Graham is in the ring in a lot of pain, holding his knee.
Time: 17:52
Winners: Mr. Wrestling II, Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens
*********COMMERCIAL BREAK************
Match #4
Frenchy’s Legion (Frenchy Martin, Mad Dog Lefebvre & Richard Charland) vs Chicky Starr & The Wild Samoans
As expected, Frenchy Martin doesn’t do much in the match, as he avoids to get in the ring whenever Chicky Starr & the Samoans have the advantage. Quite the physical match between both teams. Eventually, Frenchy Martin gets too cocky for his own being and he gets in trouble with the opposite team, who take their turn into pummelling the leader of Frenchy’s Legion. Eventually, all hell breaks loose as all 6-men are in the ring and referee Luigi Macera loses control. Mad Dog Lefebvre ends up being alone in the ring with Chicky Starr and Lefebvre gets the victory for his team with a backbreaker.
Winners: Frenchy’s Legion
*******COMMERCIAL BREAK*******
(Before the main event, Guy Hauray & Édouard Carpentier hype a huge week of events for NWA Lutte Internationale as they’ll go in a streak of 5 consecutive days of events from December 5 to December 9, capping off with 2 joint shows with WWF on December 8-9 featuring a huge tag team tournament. But before that, Lutte will feature 2 events at the Montreal Forum & Maple Leaf Gardens on December 5 and 6. Hauray & Carpentier run the cards for both non-joint events)
December 5th event at the Montreal Forum
MAIN EVENT
NWA INTERNATIONAL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Hot Stuff Inc (Billy Robinson & Doug Somers, w/Sherri Martel) vs Gino Brito & NWA International Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel
SEMI-MAIN EVENT
The Zambuie Express (w/Eddy “The Brain” Creatchman) vs The Rougeau Brothers
George “The Animal” Steele (w/Frenchy Martin) vs Baron Von Raschke
The Spoiler vs Dennis Condrey (w/Jim Cornette)
Luke Williams vs Justice Dubois
+ The Caribbean Connection, Dino Bravo, Hercules Ayala , Rick Rude & more!
December 6th at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto
Matches so far:
THE RETURN OF BOB BACKLUND IN PREPARATION FOR HIS NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH AT STARRCADE VS RIC FLAIR
Bob Backlund vs UFO
Leo Burke & Baron Von Raschke vs The Missing Link & Doug Somers (w/Sherri Martel)
Gino Brito vs Gilles Poisson
Justice Dubois vs Raymond Rougeau
Luke Williams vs George “The Animal” Steele (w/Frenchy Martin)
+ Chicky Starr, Nord the Barbarian, Rick Rude & more!
MAIN EVENT
Match #5
Greg Valentine, Tito Senza & Serge Jodoin vs Rick Martel, Dino Bravo & Jacques Rougeau
The broadcast team hypes the fact that Valentine having 2 enhancement talents as his partners demonstrates how much people in the locker room hate Greg Valentine. In fact, Valentine won’t even get the opportunity to step in the ring during the match as Martel, Bravo & Rougeau take their turn pulverizing Senza & Jodoin. Eventually, Martel puts Tito Senza in a Boston Crab to make Senza tap out.
Winners: Rick Martel, Dino Bravo & Jacques Rougeau
(As Martel, Bravo & Rougeau celebrate together, Greg Valentine grabs the microphone on the broadcast table)
Greg Valentine: Rick! I told you that I wouldn’t let this go until you gave me one last chance at your NWA International Heavyweight Championship. This is too important for me to forget about this. If you’re a man of honor, like I know you are, Rick, you’re gonna give me this opportunity!
Rick Martel (grabbing the ring announcer’s microphone): You’re right, Greg. I am a man of honor. I am a fighting champion. This (pointing at the title belt) is the most prestigious title belt in this territory and I’ll defend it against any and every challenger. But knowing all of your dirty tricks from our days in Detroit, I’m doubting that you’ll let this go!
Greg Valentine: Oh, so, you want an incentive, now? Listen to me, Martel, you wanna know how bad I want this one shot? You wanna know how? Here it is: in 2 weeks, right here, in this studio, I’m asking for one last shot. The final chapter of our story, Rick. If I can’t beat you, then I don’t deserve to stay in this territory. I beat you, I’m entering the new year as the NWA International Heavyweight Champion. You beat me, I’m leaving for good! How does that sound like?
(Everyone seems to be surprised but both Bravo & Rougeau can’t seem to hide their pleasure at the possibility of Valentine leaving the promotion)
Rick Martel: You know what, Greg? We got a deal. You and me, in 2 weeks, on this show. You win, you’re the champ. I win, you’re gone. May the best man win.
(Martel puts the mic back on the broadcast table and leaves with Bravo & Rougeau while the show ends as Greg Valentine seems relieved that Rick Martel has accepted his challenge.)
À LA SEMAINE PROCHAINE SI DIEU LE VEUT!