Grimmas

Yes, it was a spot fest, but it was a spot fest in a different manner. There was time for selling and there was breath between the spots. Every promotion goes into a spot fest mode from time to time, but very few promotions let it take over for too long. At least this type of spot fest was very different and unique.

Doesn't mean there shouldn't be an attempt to fix it.

Maple Leaf Wrestling September 9, 1983 at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vermont 1. Haiti Kid pinned Tiny Tom @ 6:06 2. Ben Bassarab made Paul Christy submit @ 12:32 3. Joel Deaton pinned Bill White @ 4:20 4. NWA Canadian Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff & Greg "The Hammer" Valentine def. Buzz Tyler & Tiger Conway Jr. @ 13:21 5. Alexis Smirnoff pinned Bob Marcus @ 5:01 6. Evil Machine pinned Tony Garea @ 9:42 7. Leo Burke & Stephen Petipas def. Chicky Starr & Cuban Assassin @ 13:40 8. NWA Candian Champion Rick Martel made Masa Fuchi submit @ 20:55

Best march built around crazy spots I have seen in maybe forever. Top 5 match of the year for me.

I have no doubt that there are some people who take a glance at the ballot, mark a few names, send it back with very little thought, and don't think about it again until the next year. A lot of people probably don't even bother reading the rules or guidelines. I recall a brief conversation I had with Missy Hyatt on twitter where she was totally clueless on the procedure. Most wrestlers & former wrestlers probably fit into this category. There are probably voters who are relatively well informed who simply know exactly who they are voting for because they vote for the same people every year. So for them, they just need to decide on the new candidates, and if they see all of them as no brainers in either direction, I can see returning the ballot quickly. I'd guess that a pretty small percentage of people go through hardcore research/debate, and most of those people are likely the ones posting in places like this. There are major issues with the HOF then.

I think Anarchy Rulz was the time. Lynn was wrestling injured in the opener. RVD had no opponent since Johnny Smith couldn't be there, so Balls filled in. If they ran another Lynn-RVD match there with Lynn winning, it would had been huge.

Reigns coming in first would make everybody think he was going to win.

Why are people handling in ballots after one day?

Maple Leaf Wrestling presents Premium Action September 8, 1983 The opening video package of Premium Action opens the show featuring clips of: Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Wahoo McDaniel, Stephen Petipas & Rocky Johnson, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, NWA Canadian Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff & Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Leo Burke and ends with a clip of Rick Martel being awarded the NWA Canadian Title. Billy Red Lyons and Jesse Ventura are in the studio. They welcome us to the show and Ventura says that tonight is all about Riki Choshu the next NWA Canadian Champion. Tonight he will show us some footage that shows why Choshu is the champion come September 27. These matches all come from the huge elimination match between Canada and Japan. Starting first with Choshu entering the contest to take on Martel. Lyons points out that Martel had already defeated 3 men at this point. Ventura doesn't care and says this match will show the future, right after this commercial break. Commercial #1 1. Riki Choshu vs Rick Martel (August 15, 2015 from Halifax Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia) Martel is hurting from his previous 3 matches and Choshu starts off with a bang and goes right to Martel's back. A vicious beat down ensues as we head to a commercial break #2. When we come back Choshu has Martel down and his stomping his back. Martel does a few hope spots before making a big comeback. He even gets the Boston Crab, but Choshu powers out due to Martel's hurt back. As Martel goes for the slingshot splash Choshu sits up and nails him with a lariat for the win. Winner - Riki Choshu @ 15:30 Commercial #3 Jesse brags about Choshu's performance here. He then talks about how great of an athlete Phil LaFon is from Montreal. 2. Riki Choshu vs Phil LaFon (August 15, 2015 from Halifax Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia) LaFon has some big dropkicks and is a house of fire, but Choshu nails him with a lariat for the win. Winner - Riki Choshu @ 3:20 Commercial #4 Lyons welcomes us back and asks what Ventura has for us next. Ventura says this is the last match we will see as "Big" Stephen Petipas tries it against the awesome Choshu. 3. Riki Chsohu vs Stephen Petipas (August 15, 2015 from Halifax Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia) This is a back and forth sprint which sees Petipas miss a giant splash off the top and Choshu puts on the scorpion deathlock for the win. Winner - Riki Chsohu @ 5:32 Back in the studio and Ventura puts over Choshu huge. Choshu will be back in Maple Leaf Wrestling from September 23 to the Maple Leaf Gardens show on the 27th where he will win the NWA Canadian Title.

3 - Nick Bockwinkle vs. Tito Santana / 11-20-81 4 - Nick Bockwinkle vs. Tommy Rich / 3-26-82 7 - Nick Bockwinkle vs. Ricky Morton / 7-02-82 12- Bonus Match: Nick Bockwinkle / Ray Stevens vs. Red Bastien / Ken Patera 6-08-74 These all need to go up as soon as they can!

Drago and Pentagon Jr are coming to Smash in November!

How was the wwe run? The Ogawa match was great.

Starr is Puerto Rican...

Maple Leaf Wrestling September 2, 1983 at Yardmen Arena in Belleville, Ontario 1. Haiti Kid pinned Sky Low Low @ 6:28 2. Joel Deaton pinned Joe Marcus @ 3:52 3. Cuban Assassin pinned Bill White @ 7:04 4. NWA Canadian Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff & Greg Valentine w/ Don Carson def. Stephen Petipas & Leo Burke when Valentine pinned Petipas @ 18:50 5. Ben Basssarab made Alexis Smirnoff 10:21 6. Chicky Starr pinned Angelo Mosca Jr. @ 3:21 7. Buzz Tyler pinned Bobby Bass @ 8:21 8. Rick Martel & Tony Garea def. Jesse "The Body" Ventura & Evil Machine when Martel made Ventura submit @ 14:25 Maple Leaf Wrestling September 4, 1983 at Memorial Centre in Brockville, Ontario A young 2-year old Steven Graham was in attendance. 1. Haiti Kid & Cowboy Lang def. Little Tokyo & Lord Littlebrook 2. Gary Royal & Paul Christy def. Bob & Joe Marcus @ 5:31 3. Al Tomko pinned Angelo Mosca Jr. @ 1:07 4. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine w/ Don Carson pinned Ben Bassarab @ 16:32 5. Leo Burke pinned Bobby Bass @ 6:15 6. Evil Machine w/ Jesse Ventura made Tiger Conway Jr. submit @ 8:21 7. Cuban Assassin & Chicky Star def. Stephen Petipas & Tony Garea @ 12:20 8. NWA Canadian Champion Rick Martel fought Ivan Koloff w/ Don Carson to a draw @ 30:00 Maple Leaf Wrestling September 5, 1983 at Ed Lumley Arena in Cornwall, Ontario 1. Haiti Kid won a battle royal featuring: Cowboy Lang, Little Beaver, Tiger Jackson, Chilli Bowl, Little Tokyo, Lord Littlebrook, Sky Low Low, Tiny Tom & Butch Cassidy @ 12:02 2. Jerry Brisco & Ben Bassarab def. Killer Karl Krupp & Al Tomko @ 5:02 3. Joel Deaton knocked out Bob Marcus @ 3:21 4. Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff w/ Don Carson def. Buzz Tyler & Tiger Conway Jr. @ 10:22 5. Evil Machine made Bill White submit @ 5:36 6. Stephen Petipas & Leo Burke def. Chicky Starr & Cuban Assassin w/ Bobby Bass via DQ @ 14:21 7. NWA Canadian Champion Rick Martel fought Greg "The Hammer" Valentine w/ Don Carson to a draw @ 30:00 Maple Leaf Wrestling September 6, 1983 at Civic Centre in Ottawa, Ontario 1. Haiti Kid pinned Sky Low Low @ 6:38 2. Evil Machine made Joe Marcus submit @ 6:21 3. Gary Royal pinned Angelo Mosca Jr. @ 2:55 4. Stephen Petipas & Tiger Conway Jr. def. Chicky Starr & Bobby Bass by DQ @ 7:23 5. NWA World LP Champion Little Tokyo pinned Cowboy Lang @ 10:29 6. Buzz Tyler pinned Alexis Smirnoff @ 7:50 7. Leo Burke pinned Cuban Assassin @ 12:57 8. NWA Canadian Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff & Greg Valentine w/ Don Carson def. Rick Martel & Tony Garea when Valentine pinned Garea @ 20:21

Maple Leaf Wrestling presents Wrestling Night in Canada September 4, 1983 at Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario The opening video package of Wrestling Night in Canada opens the show featuring clips of: Greg Valentine, Wahoo McDaniel, Stephen Petipas, Jesse Ventura, Ivan Koloff, Leo Burke, Rocky Johnson and ends with a clip of Rick Martel being awarded the NWA Canadian Title. Billy Red Lyons and Jesse "The Body" Ventura welcome us to the show and they have to start with the sad news that Wahoo McDaniel was badly injured at Maple Leaf Gardens at the hand of the Russians. Later in the show we will show you the footage and the reveal of who the Super Russian was. On other news, Lyons is proud to announce that Rick Martel retained the NWA Canadian Title against Mr. Saito. Ventura says that Martel is vulnerable and on September 27th Riki Choshu will do what Mr. Saito could not and win the NWA Canadian Title. Ventura says he sent Saito back to Japan for his shortcomings. They then hype the main event of Cuban Assassin vs Stephen Petipas. Petipas will look for revenge on the Cubans after them throwing a fireball in his partner Rocky Johnson's face. Also on The Body Shop this week will be, Ventura interrupts Lyons to make the announcement that Jack Tunney will be on his show. Lyons is excited as we head to commercial. Commercial #1 1. "Outlaw" Joel Deaton vs Bill White White takes some big bumps for Deaton, but ultimately gets knocked out by the big boot. Winner - Joel Deaton @ 4:52 Commercial #2 2. Little Tokyo, Lord Littlebrook & Sky Low Low vs Cowboy Lang, Tiger Jackson & Little Beaver A fun high tempo contest that sees Tokyo gaining a pinfall over Little Beaver. Winners - Little Tokyo, Lord Littlebrook & Sky Low Low @ 8:26 Commercial #3 Lyons and Ventura warn us about this upcoming video and kids and the squemish should look away. We are then shown a video of Rocky Johnson backstage getting his face wrapped up by a doctor. You can see where it was burnt by the fireball. Rocky is in a lot of pain, but is directing his anger at the Cubans. Petipas is by his side and promises to put an end to these Cubans once and for all. We are then given a video of The Cubans backstage who are celebrating with a traditional Cuban dance to mariachi music. Bass signs a song about Rocky on fire! Commercial #4 3. Ben Bassarab & Jerry Brisco vs Gary Royal & Paul Christy Bassarab makes Royal submit after some good technical wrestling and a hot tag from Brisco. Winners - Ben Bassarab & Jerry Brisco @ 4:32 Commercial #5 We get footage from Maple Leaf Gardens NWA Canadian Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff & Super Russian w/ Don Carson vs Wahoo McDaniel & Buzz Tyler in a Steel Cage (from August 30, 1983 in Maple Leaf Gardens) As Buzz Tyler makes his way to the ring he his ambushed by Ivan Koloff & Super Russian. They destroy him with a chain to the legs and then wrap it around the ringpost and follow it up with a figure-four leglock. Wahoo McDaniel & Alexis Smirnoff come to ringside, but it is too late. Tyler can not wrestle and is helped to the back by the medics. Jack Tunney comes to ringside to discuss the situation with Wahoo and then Koloff, Super Russian and Carson. The ring announcer makes the announcement that the match will happen, but Alexis Smrinoff will take Buzz Tyler's place. The match starts with Koloff and Wahoo and they go right at it. Wahoo with some vicious chops, but the Super Russian hits Wahoo from behind and the Russians gain the advantage through some double teams. They attack Wahoo's leg, just like they did to Tyler. Using a chain and the cage to beat him down. Wahoo can barely stand, but keeps fighting back. After Koloff was going for a lariat, Wahoo ducks and Koloff nails the cage. This finally gives Wahoo the chance to make the tag to Smirnoff. Koloff and Super Russian back off as Smirnoff gets ready to get all of his revenge. However, instead Smirnoff attacks Wahoo. Koloff jumps Wahoo as well and at this moment Super Russian removes his mask and it's GREG "THE HAMMER" VALENTINE. They beat down Wahoo and the medics are really slow to get out here, because they were helping out Buzz Tyler. Security also comes out eventually get the cage open and save Wahoo. Wahoo leaves on a stretcher while Ivan Koloff, Greg Valentine, Alexis Smirnoff and Don Carson celebrate with the NWA Canadian Tag Team Titles. No Contest @ 8:04 Commercial #6 Jesse Ventura is in The Body Shop with his new body guard Evil Machine. There is now a big picture of Riki Choshu pinning Rick Martel on the wall. Ventura talks about the explosive footage we just saw from Maple Leaf Gardens and he is bringing out Maple Leaf Wreslting President Jack Tunney to talk about it. Ventura first asks about Rocky Johnson. Tunney is fining The Cubans again and he hopes for a more respectful payment this time than last time. No leaving money in an envelope on a desk, he requests respect. Rocky will be out due to this injury, but promises to make a complete return. Which leads to Ventura asking about Wahoo. Tunney says he is still in the hospital, but things do not look good.He is waiting for more details. Ventura than asks about the Super Russian and how Greg "The Hammer" Valentine could get one over on Tunney all along. Tunney took Don Carson at his word that The Super Russian was a Russian amateur star and did not expect this. At this time Ivan Koloff and Greg Valentine are still the NWA Canadian Tag Team Champions, but they are on thin ice. They have been fined very heavily and are under close watch. Which leads Tunney to announce next week's TV main event of Buzz Tyler vs Greg Valentine with Don Carson, Ivan Koloff and Alexis Smirnoff banned from the arena. Commercial #7 4. Cuban Assassin w/ Bobby Bass & Chicky Starr vs "Big" Stephen Petipas They brawl intensely for a few minutes, before Bass and Starr enter the ring and nail Petipas with the maraca. Bass tries to pull out a fireball again, but security jumps into the ring to stop it. Bass accidentally nails a security guard with the fireball as hell all breaks lose and the show abruptly goes off the air. Winner - Stephen Petipas via DQ @ 5:02 Dark Matches: Rick Martel pinned Killer Karl Krupp @ 11:21 Leo Burke fought Greg Valentine to a draw @ 30:00

My error. Thanks for fixing it Brad.

Have fun.

Yeah of course as long as Tokyo retains. It's a classic feud with those two.

It's backwards thinking. You only have someone debut against John Cena and beat him if you are going to go all in on him. Kevin Owens should had been in the main event of SummerSlam or at least WrestleMania, if not why have him debut so high?

I really hate the WWE model of bringing someone in hot putting them in a huge role and then having to drop them down again or even if they don't drop them down you get a Randy Orton situation where he isn't super old but feels like he's been here forever. They really should start people in opening spots on ppvs or tag teams and build them up. There are very few exceptions of guys (Goldberg, for example) where someone would be hurt from moving up the card over time. Guys like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels did it. In more recent years you have Edge who didn't sniff the world title for 6 years upon debuting.

I run a store and my head office encourages me to go in all the stores near me and see what is going on at least once every few weeks.

I've fallen 2 days behind, but I am going to do a big update today. I've been slow, because I had originally planned two separate tours at the same time, but I am not sure if I am a fan of that. May have to rejiggle somethings. Don't worry follow up on the Super Russian reveal is coming!

Rank them? I love tournaments so if those other two are good I may check them out.

Pete is SCI the best tournament of the year?

ROH is above jobbers attitude really stinks.