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Pacific Coast Wrestling New Years Day Special 1989 from the Northlands Colisseum, Edmonton, January 1st The Dreamboats (Tommy Dreamer & Glamour Boy Shane) vs. BB Andersen & Dirk Been Pacific Coast Wrestling had an action packed 1988 and has come back to kick off 1989 in style. The first match up of their big New Years Day Special would feature the debut of a brand new tag team looking to make their mark on the West Coast. Coming out to the sound of "Peg" by Steely Dan, Dreamer and Shane were two handsome and well built men, both wearing suspenders and tights, and had ready smiles while they shook hands with the fans as they made their way to the ring. Their manager, Trisa Hayes, had more of a cool confidence as she accompanied them, but her considerable beauty certainly drew a lot of looks. Once the match started, the Dreamboats proved her confidence in them was well founded, easily dominating their opposition before Shane polished off Anderson with the Glamour Profession (top rope flying elbow smash). They may face an uphill climb in the always competitive PCW Tag Team Division, but the Dreamboats are certainly off to a good start. Chris Candido vs. Louie Spicolli vs. Dragon Azul vs. Silver King 1988 saw a host of younger wrestlers start to come into their own, and this match would feature several of them square off in a Four Way Elimination Match. Curiously, Jerry Lynn showed up for this match, standing at the back of the arena and carefully observing the goings on. Although Candido is the youngest wrestler in the match, he has the most experience in PCW, having won the Light Heavyweight Title for a notable reign. He closed off 1989 having renewed his friendship with his former partner Spicolli, but that didn't stop them from going all out against each other. Louie Spicolli had developed something of a fan following as a beloved underground, and his victory over Bob Backlund established himself as someone to watch. After an enthusiastic battle, he attempted to get Candido up for a Samoan Drop, only for Candido to breakout with a slide down and a rollup that just barely held his shoulders down for the three count. In spite of being eliminated from the match, Spicolli shook Candido's hand good naturedly before leaving the ring. As he departed, Jerry Lynn beckoned him over, having a brief word in his ear before the two watched the rest of the match together. The three remaining competitors stepped up the pace, having a breathtaking dual before Candido was taken out by Dragon with a takeover suplex. Another handshake and Candido joined Lynn and Spicolli at the back of the arena. The match now came down to Dragon Azul and Silver King. The two wrestlers were very familiar with each other, with both men having scored victories over the other in several well regarded matches in 1989. The two men got down to brass tacks and the anticipation rose in the fans as to who would come out on top. It seemed like it might be Dragon who would prevail when he attempted a DDT, but Silver King powered out with a backdrop. He then followed up with the Silver Crash (rolling Fireman's Carry Slam), and that was enough to make Silver King the ultimate winner. After the match, Lynn, Spicolli and Candido joined the other two in the ring, and after a quick discussion, all five men left the ring together. Whatever is going on, something tells me this will turn out to be big for Pacific Coast Wrestling. Mike Awesome vs. Joel Klug The next debut was an imposing man going by the name of Mike Awesome. If his height and powerful physique were not intimidating enough, he was accompanied by Buddy Rose, Scotty The Body, Mark Starr and Tina Ferrari, indicating that Mr. Awesome was the newest recruit to the Playboy Club. It turns out, Awesome didn't need the backup, immediately taking Klug off his feet with a running kick before following up with a running knee drop. He then proceeded to dismantle Klug with a series of power moves before full on knocking him out with a huge Power Bomb. Awesome didn't even bother to cover him, simply putting a foot on Klug's chest and giving a double flex pose while the ref made the three count. It didn't take long for Mike Awesome to prove that his name was no exaggeration. The Southern Boys vs. The Oregon Wrecking Crew (Gary Albright & David Young) This match would be the first appearance for the new team of the Oregon Wrecking Crew. Albright was by now a familiar face to the PCW fans, but Young was a newcomer, a ruggedly build man with close cropped hair and a beard. With Albright and Young hailing from Montana and Georgia, respectively, their team name was a bit of an oddity, but they certainly were setting the bar high for their first match, taking on the former Pacific Tag Team champs. Albright and Young were certainly tough customers, landing some jarring slams and suplexes on the Southern Boys. Smothers and Armstrong were taken aback by this show of aggression from the new team, but rallied with their own double team moves and got themselves back in the game. The match took a turn when a commotion arose at ringside. It was Billy Jack Haynes , who had not been seen since coming up short in his Pacific Heavyweight Title match at San Diego Battleground. Before that, he had several altercations with Gary Albright, and he proceeded to stare down Albright. This proved a sufficient distraction for Smothers to sneak into the ring and roll up Albright for a two count. Albright was able to kick out and the ref escorted Smothers out of the ring. While the ref was thus distracted, Billy Jack entered the ring … and levelled Armstrong with a huge clothesline! He dove out of the ring while Albright grabbed Armstrong and whipped him into Young, who planted him with a crushing Spinebuster Slam. Albright knocked Smothers off the ring apron with a running elbow smash while the ref made the count, giving the first victory to the Wrecking Crew. It seemed they had not had enough fun, as Billy Jack returned to the ring and locked the helpless Armstong in a Full Nelson, only releasing it under orders from the ref. The crowd was agog at this shocking betrayal, but Billy Jack paid the fans no mind as he led Albright and Young from the ring. Johnny Ace vs. Kel Gleason The debuts continued with "The Illustrious" Johnny Ace, a tall blonde haired wrestler who came out in a tropical shirt and colourful trunks. He seemed well pleased with himself to the point of smug, and the fans took an instant dislike to the confident man. To his credit, he certainly had the athletic skill to back up his braggadocio . He dominated young Gleason, tossing him from pillar to post before putting him down for good with the Ace Dropper. A convincing win, but Ace will need to do a lot to make a dent in the always competitive PCW rankings. Interview : Don Coss stands in the ring Coss : Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest is one of the top contenders in Pacific Coast Wrestling … Bret "The Hitman" Hart! The crowd cheers the much beloved star as he makes his entrance. "The Hitman" is looking serious even for him as he heads out to the ring. Coss : Bret, I can imagine that you came out of 1988 with mixed feelings. You got a big victory over Bam Bam Bigelow at San Diego Battleground, but you lost two of your closest allies in Jim Neidhart and your brother Owen. Hart : You're not wrong, Don. While it was great to finally get that win over Bigelow, it hurt like hell to lose Jim and Owen. Don't get me wrong, they will both be just fine and be stars in their new promotions. But it isn't going to be easy to face the Diamond Exchange without my family by my side. Speaking of family, I want to talk about something else for a bit. As you know, my dad, Stu Hart, is not just a legendary wrestler, he is also one of the greatest trainers in all of wrestling. Last year, he got a visit from a young man from Texas. This man wanted to become a wrestler and wanted to learn from the best. Unfortunately, my dad has just closed down Stampede wrestling. But he saw something in this guy, so he agreed to train him the best he could. You know my dad. He put this kid through hell, gave him the most strenuous and intense training in all of wrestling. Most young prospects who have headed for the hills at this point. But this kid just kept coming back for more. He wasn't going to be held back from making his dream come true. My dad did everything he could, but there comes a point when you've got to leave the Dungeon and start wrestling day in and day out in a regular promotion. Like I said, Stampede had closed down, so dad called me and asked me for a favor. He said this kid was something special, and asked if I could find him a spot in PCW, keep an eye out for him. I'd do anything for my father, and am always glad to help out a young wrestler who is willing to work hard, so I agreed. I want to introduce a young star in the making who I think has what it takes to go all the way in wrestling …. "Stunning" Steve Austin! The crowd warmly greets young Austin as he heads out to join Bret in the ring. Austin is a good looking man with long blond hair and a muscular physique, and he is all smiles as he greets his new mentor. Coss : Well, Mr. Austin, an introduction like that must feel hard to live up to. Austin : Gosh, Mr. Coss, you can call me Steve. Bret is being too kind with his words, I am just another wrestler trying to make the most of his chance. Bret has been incredibly generous with his time and attention, and I am going to make sure he doesn't regret it. And he doesn't have to worry anymore about the Diamond Exchange! With me by his side, they are going to regret that they messed with the Hitman! Bret : Whoah! Hold it there, Steve, I'm not bringing you here to fight my wars. I'll figure out a way to take care of the Diamond Exchange, you aren't ready for them … not yet. You have incredible potential, but you are still learning to walk before you can run. You'll get there soon enough. Just promise you will focus on that and becoming the best wrestler you can, and the world won't be able to deny you. Austin : I promise I won't let you down, Bret. I will make you proud! The Soultaker vs. Mitchell Olson The next new face to PCW was one of the scariest to appear tonight. The towering Soultaker was a huge man with a powerful build and mohawk haircut, along with several tattoos on his chest and arms. If that wasn't intimidating enough, he was accompanied at ringside by Cactus Jack and Art Barr, showing that he was the latest recruit to the Wild Ones. Once the bell rang, the newcomer quickly displayed that he terrifying look wasn't all show. He tore into Olson like a stewed chicken, using his considerable power to batter him before polishing him off with the Exorcism (Spine Snapper back breaker). Things took an even stranger turn after the match. As Cactus and Barr were congratulating their new crony in the ring, the lights in the arena went out. When they came back on, a spotlight was shining at the back of the arena on the mysterious masked man who had been ambushing the opponents of the Wild Things. He was laughing madly and waving to them. Soultaker looked annoyed, Cactus concerned, but Barr soon started laughing along with him. Hmmmmm ….. Toshiaki Kawada & Kensuke Sasaki vs. Fit Finlay & Erin O'Grady The next match featured two teams combining both old and new. Kawada's Footloose partner Ricky Fuyuki had returned to Japan, but he had found a new partner in Kensuke Sasaki, another promising young Japanese star. Meanwhile, Finlay was doing something rather unexpected with his partner. The Belfast Bruiser has hardly seemed like the most nurturing of individuals, but has taken a young pupil under his wing in the form of "The Leprechaun" Erin O'Grady. The diminutive grappler seemed eerily familiar to the PCW fans, showing a fair amount of his mentor's pugnacious attitude, but with a fast paced style all his own. He was always willing to throw down with the Japanese team, which wound up costing him when he was taken down by Sasaki with a single armed throw. Sasaki immediately trapped him in the Stranglehold Gamma, and while O'Grady held out as long as he could, it was only a matter of time before he tapped out. Despite the loss, Finlay helped his young pupil to his feet and was very encouraging as they returned to the back together. It seems like Finlay does have a bit of a soft spot for someone. Who knew? The Juice Crew (Art Barr & Big Juice) vs. Jeff Varner & Carl Bilancione "Beetlejuice" Art Barr made his second appearance of the evening, this time as part of a new tag team. He had an incredible reign as Golden State Tag Team champ in 1988 with Eddie Guerrero, but has wasted no time in finding a new partner with the appropriately named Big Juice. Juice was an imposing, muscular man who loomed over both the opposition and his partner. Cactus Jack and Soultaker joined their comrades at ringside and were constantly looking out for the mysterious masked man, but the Juice Crew simply got on with the business of destroying Varner and Billancione. The pair simply annihilated the rookies, easily pinning Varner after the Juice Loosener (Bearhug by Big Juice into a slingshot lariat by Beetlejuice) and just like that, there was a new team making an impact on the West Coast. Billy Gunn vs. Bob Johnson The final debut of the evening came in the charismatic form of a long , lanky Texan in a Stetson, duster coat and cowboy boots. With a drop handlebar mustache and a winning smile, Gunn easily caught admiring glances from the ladies in the audience. That said, he quickly proved his worth to everyone in the audience, showing considerable athletic ability as he easily dominated Johnson. Johnson didn't stand a chance as Gunn sent him flying all over the ring before dispatching him with the Gunnslinger (swinging side slam). Once the match ended, Gunn was joined in the ring by Scott Hall, Dustin Rhodes and Brian Lee. After a brief discussion, Gunn's smile got even wider as he left the ring with them. It didn't take long for Gunn to earn himself a spot in the Brigade. Maxx Payne vs. Genichiro Tenryu Genichiro Tenryu arrived in PCW last year and since then, the Blood Syndicate leader has cut his way through the roster like a cleaver. Competitor after competitor has taken on Tenryu, only to end up destroyed by the Japanese star. He had his young pupil, Masahiro Chono, at ringside to observe what he was certain to be his next easy victory. His opponent tonight, Maxx Payne, didn't seem unnerved by this. After having been unceremoniously abandoned by the Neighborhood Of Evil early last year, he has found a new home in the Citadel and has worked hard to earn a reputation as a tough and determined contender. He certainly seemed to give Tenryu more of a battle than he expected. Payne was able to dodge the Enzuiriri a couple of times, resist attempts to hit the Power Bomb, and fought like a tiger to escape several submission attempts. He was even able to hit some jarring suplexes of his own, coming close to cinching in the Payne Killer. He really got the fans behind him, but got in too close and Tenryu was able to hit a massive Belly To Belly suplex. Tenryu followed up with a gutwrench suplex before a backdrop suplex that dropped Payne on his head to finish him off. Even after the pinfall, Tenryu was not done, demanding Chono put Payne in the STF to make an example of him. Payne glared balefully at Tenryu and said nothing, but it was clear he was in excruciating pain. It was then that someone charged in and dropkicked Tenryu out of the ring. He then hit a spin kick to Chono's head, forcing him to release the hold. It was Steve Blackman! The Lethal Weapon had not been seen on the Pacific Coast since early last year, but had come back to help out his old Citadel comrade. Tenryu pulled Chono out of the ring and the two headed to the back, no doubt planning some retaliation further down the line. Blackman helped Payne to his feet and assisted his friend back to the locker room. Payne may have gotten back his friend tonight, but the two are going to have to keep an eye out for two powerful enemies. Pacific Tag Team Title Match : The Destruction Crew © vs. Stormfront (Al Snow & Alex Porteau) The Destruction Crew had an up and down year in 1988, but it ended in triumph for them. The rookie team found new direction under the guidance of Diamond Dallas Page and ended the year as Pacific Tag Team Champions. Their first challengers of 1989 would be a team that worked hard to get their shot. After a low key start, Stormfront have made considerable progress over the past year to establish themselves as a team on the rise. The Crew didn't seem to be taking Snow and Porteau particularly seriously, but soon learned how big a mistake that was. Bloom, a former standout Greco-Roman wrestler, actually had an exciting technical duel with Porteau, but "The Pug" was eventually able to come out on top with some hard hitting suplexes. DDP tried to tip the balance by sliding the sledgehammer into the ring, but Snow immediately stopped it with the heel of his boot. Instead of picking it up and trying to use it against the Crew, as other teams usually did, Snow simply used the side of his foot to just slide the hammer out the other side of the ring. The Crew seemed unable to figure out what to do with Stormfront, as none of their usual tactics seemed to work against the pugnacious challengers. The two teams were still duking it out when the bell rang, signalling a 15 minute time limit draw, but there can be no doubt that Stormfront have earned another shot at the belts somewhere down the line. Bret Hart vs. Steven Regal The crowd buzz reached a fever pitch with this, the first match of the double main event of the evening. The Canadian fans were certainly psyched to see the Hitman, who was coming off a tumultuous 1988. No longer backed by his partner Jim Neidhart or his brother Owen, Bret had his new pupil Steve Austin in his corner to observe the match. Regal himself was going it alone, after successful runs in British Steel and the Knights Templar. Whether as a tag wrestler or singles, Regal has a well earned reputation for being hard as ten bears, and he and the Hitman had a match that mixed technical brilliance and bruising blows. Partway through the match, there was the unwelcome appearance of DDP, Chris Adams and Bam Bam Bigelow, who took an immediate interest in young Steve Austin. The trio proceeded to mock and taunt Austin until they goaded him into taking a swing at them, then laughed as PCW security swarmed in between them. Bret Hart came out and calmed down Austin, and the Diamond Exchange left without further incident. After that distraction, Bret and Regal got back down to business. Regal was able to fight his way out of attempts to get him in the Sharpshooter, but Bret was able to catch him in a rollup out of the corner and keep his shoulders to the mat for the One Two Three. A big victory for the Hitman, but it looks like he is going to have his hands full, not just with the Diamond Exchange but with keeping his young ward out of trouble. Pacific Heavyweight Title Match : Barry Windham © vs. Scott Hall A long and exciting evening of wrestling comes to a close with a Heavyweight Title match. Barry Windham's second title reign saw him face a host of tough contenders, but the tall Texan saw the end of the year with the title belt still wrapped around his waist. He was definitely not taking it easy to start off the new year, defending it against his former Brigade colleague , big Scott Hall. Hall had an epic year after his return to the West coast, having a brutal feud that culminated with him defeating the seemingly undefeatable Undertaker at San Diego Battleground. The stage was set for a clash of titans, and they certainly delivered. The two big heavyweights went at it in a way that caused the ring to shake and shudder. Hall was able to keep Windham from getting him up on the top turnbuckle for the Superplex, but was still unable to hit the Gator Breaker (Fallaway slam) on the champ. He was going for a big clothesline to take Windham down, but Windham ducked and caught Hall on the rebound with a huge dropkick. He then went up top and levelled Hall with a Flying Lariat and that was that. 1989 starts of with the same question as 1988 finished : just who can stop the Widowmaker?

Been noticing a bit of confusion among multiple promoters going both ways. This thread is for declaring people on your roster available for trade. The roster thread is for changes in roster, such as trades , cutting people from your roster or picking up people from free agency.

Amazing show! Was obvs focused on Backlund vs. Takada but there were great matchups up and down the card, especially Maeda vs. Han. Both Backlund and Han are definitely in line for rematches.

Although the PCW roster are enjoying their December break in Hawaii, considerable buzz has arisen over a young prospect fresh out of Stu Hart's legendary Dungeon who is heading to the West Coast. While this unnamed wrestler is under contract to another promotion, Don Owen has reached a special developmental arrangement with this promotion with regards to the new wrestler getting his first experience in the fast paced learning environment of Pacific Coast Wrestling. Not much is known of this young man, but Bret Hart is said to be especially enthusiastic on working with this student of his father. Looks like big things are headed to PCW in 1989!

The scene is set in an Irish Pub. "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" by the Pogues plays on the jukebox, but there is little other sound. Nearly every table in the place is broken, and the floor is littered with the battered, unconscious bodies of burly men. The one person standing is a small but pugnacious man, breathing heavily and glaring. The camera shifts to show the one other conscious person present. Sitting at the bar is Fit Finlay with a glass of Guinness, giving a proud smile to the other man. He raises his glass in a salute to the other man. The text comes up. In 1989, PCW will experience a strange magic thanks to ... the Leprechaun!

The scene is set on a ranch. From the distance, a dust cloud approaches. It turns out to be a rider on horseback, who pulls up to the camera. It is a handsome young cowboy in full cowboy gear, including a duster coat and white stetson. He grins, tips his stetson and winks to the camera. The text comes up on the screen. Riding the dusty trail in 1989, all the way to PCW, comes .... Billy Gunn!

Bull Pain/Payne and Rick Gantner are both listed on the Free Agent list. They are both the same person.

The scene is set in a graveyard late at night. The camera work is jittery and agitated as it tries to track two men in face paint, snickering and scampering among the gravestones . One is the familiar figure of "Beetlejuice" Art Barr, the other a tall muscular man in a sleeveless shirt that shows off his impressive physique. The two men stop when they run into a huge imposing man with a Mohawk and several tattoos. The facepainted men stare at the newcomer wide eyed, then all three start laughing. The laughter is high pitched from the men in paint, deep and booming from the man with the Mohawk. The text comes up on the screen. PCW is going to get a whole lot weirder in 1989 , with .... the Soultaker and the Juice Crew!

PCW drops Mark Starr and picks up JW Storm.

The scene is set in a gym. There seems to be a bit of a commotion, as the regulars are surrounding some sort of occurance. The cameraman pushes their way through the the crowd to see what all the fuss is about. A very muscular man is bench pressing a terrifying amount of weight. The crowd is agog as he does his reps like it is no effort at all. Once he is done, he stands up and gives a double arm flex, towering over everyone present. The text comes up on the screen. In 1989, PCW is about to get even more awesome thanks to .... Mike Awesome!

The scene is set in a forest in Oregon. One can hear a rhythmic thudding of something being rended. The camera finds two men on either side of a tree, alternating chopping opposing sides of it with axes. A broad shouldered man with a short beard is familiar to Pacific Coast fans. The other is a newcomer, a ruggedly built man with close cropped hair and goatee. It doesn't take long for the tree to come down. Once it is felled, the two men give the camera a stern look. The text comes up on the screen : Clearing a path to PCW in 1989, its ..... the Oregon Wrecking Crew!

Karelin is a huge get, can't wait to see what he does in UWF.

The scene opens up outside a packed Hollywood club at night. The paparazzi are out in full force, taking pictures of every star or would be star who comes to the entrance. Their heads turn as a limo pulls up and three people step out. The two men are handsome and athletic, wearing suspenders on their slacks and open shirts that show off their physiques. The women present definitely are excited by their arrival. But the photographers pay most of their attention to the beautiful young woman who is with them. The men are all smiles but the woman is more enigmatic as she links her arms with theirs, leading them into the club. The text comes up on the screen. Cruising into PCW in 1989, make way for ..... the Dreamboats!

The scene is set on Zuma Beach near Malibu. A tall, blonde man strides down the beach like he owns the place. On his arms are two, attractive, bikini clad women. The man is tanned and bare chested, wearing swim trunks, and he is powerfully built. He then stops, spotting a skinny man sitting on his own on the beach, then walks over to him and kicks sand in his face, smirking as he does so. The women laugh, and the skinny man looks like he is about to respond, but then thinks better of it when he sees how big the blonde man is. The camera gets close to the blonde man, but he rudely shoves the cameraman aside. The text comes up on the screen. Catch a wave and you'll be sitting on top of PCW! Hanging ten on the West Coast in 1989, it's .... "The Illustrious" Johnny Ace!

Making a change and rolling the dice, dropping Vampire Warrior for Johnny Ace.

The shot comes up on an LA rooftop at night. It is backlit, but police helicopters overhead bring flashes of occasional additional light. At first, there is no one there, but suddenly , a man appears at the edge. He is all in green, a bizarre green mask on his head. He says nothing but a ghastly , gutteral cackle. Then, just as suddenly, he is gone, leaving nothing behind but echoing laughter. The text comes up on the screen. Coming to PCW in 1989 Just who is ....... the Jackal?

I noticed that Black Tiger is listed as a Free Agent but he is now on the UWF Newborn roster under his real name of Mark Rocco.

Pacific Coast Wrestling is taking it's traditional December break while the roster goes on vacation in Hawaii, and while the boys and girls of PCW enjoy the sunshine on Ikiki Beach, we will keep things interesting with a few promos here and there for upcoming new stars. Meanwhile, as a teaser, there is an advance announcement for the new year. On January 1st, the PCW New Years Day show will be its own special, coming from the Northlands Colisseum in Edmonton, Alberta. There will be many debuts taking place at that show, but we can already announce the main event for the show : Pacific Heavyweight Title Match : Barry Windham (c) vs. Scott Hall

Rollerball!

I have posted my last shows of the year. I am now completing my roster changes for the year to allow for draft picks. Jim Neidhart will go to WCW. Leo Burke and Tony St. Clair will go to the AWA. Bob Backlund and Joe Malenko will go to UWF Newborn. This will be effective January 1st, although if they have room on their roster right now, they can be used immediately. The following will be released to Free Agency. Cheetah Kid Ricky Fuyuki Jimmie Lee Robbie Brookside Black Tiger I will be picking up from Free Agency Steve Blackman, Crash Holly and Don Callis. This , along with my draft picks, will put my roster up to date for 1989.

Gah, clearly I have been reading too much Spider-Man. Thanks, have corrected that.

Pacific Coast Wrestling show from the Kelowna Memorial Arena, Kelowna, November 26th Steve Armstrong vs. Steven Regal Two tough young competitors had a hard hitting match that went to the Englishman with the Regal Plex Shinya Hashimoto vs. Cactus Jack Once again, the man in the green mask made his presence felt , ambushing Hashimoto from behind outside the ring then scurrying off into the night. This led to a confused Cactus Jack getting the win by countout. Leo Burke vs. Masahiro Chono The Young Wolf Chono forced Burke to tap out to the STF Pacific Tag Team Title Match : The Destruction Crew © vs. The Force Of July (The Patriot & The Eagle) The Destruction Crew's first defense as Tag Team champs was a wild one. This was a crazy match between DDP's men and the popular masked duo that ended in a No Contest with both teams swinging sledge hammers at each other in the ring. Silver King & The Rainbow Warriors (Vic Steamboat & Brian Adams) vs. Brian Christopher & The Midnight Express As could be imagined , much of the action centred on Steamboat and Adams doing battle with the Midnights. But the finish came, perhaps a bit surprisingly, when Silver King hit the Silver Crash (rolling Fireman's Carry Slam) on Christopher and got the pinfall. This has to put Silver King in line for a shot at Christopher's Light Heavyweight Title in the New Year. Pacific Television Title Match : Brian Pillman © vs. Fit Finlay Brian Pillman has truly come into his own in 1988, winning the TV title and defending it against a host of top challengers. For his final defense of 1988, he couldn't have picked a tougher contender than the notorious Belfast Bruiser, Fit Finlay. Finlay certainly lived up to his sobriquet, battering Pillman with hard shots and jarring moves. But Pillman was made of pretty stern stuff himself, battling back and more than holding his own against the Fighting Irishman. The two had an epic battle that finally went to the champion when he levelled Finlay with the Air Pillman and got the one two three. And with that, Pacific Coast Wrestling closes out 1988. We will be back in 1989 with lots of new faces and great matches!

Pacific Coast Wrestling show from the Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver on Pacific Super Cards on ESPN / TSN , November 25th Stormfront (Al Snow & Alex Porteau) vs. Joe & Dean Malenko The last Vancouver show of 1988 kicked off with an action packed tag team match that went to Stormfront when they hit the Storm Warning (modified double Flapjack that drives the opponent down onto his head) on Joe. Scott Hall vs. Curt Hennig Both men were coming off big matches at San Diego Battleground, and while Hall was still showing signs of damage from his victory over the Undertaker, he still went to a 20 minute time limit draw with Mr. Perfect. The two seemed willing to still go after the match ended, so it seems like the two former friends are likely to cross paths again. The Footloose vs. The Can-Am Express Another furious tag team battle that ended when Furnas pinned Fuyuki with a German Suplex. Tracy Smothers vs. Buddy Rose Rose had a taught battle with the double tough Smothers but pulled out the victory with the Inside Out Backbreaker California Title Match : Dustin Rhodes © vs. The Vampire Warrior The Fanged One proved himself a very dangerous competitor in this match, busting open Rhodes early on and mauling him throughout the match. Nonetheless, the resilient Texan champion outlasted this assault and came back to pin him following a Running Bulldog Headlock. Pacific Heavyweight Title Match : Barry Windham © vs. Brian Lee Both men were coming off big victories at San Diego Battleground, and while they had both taken considerable damage in those matches, they were set on going all out in this Heavyweight Title Match. The young Bulldozer seemed to surprise Windham with how close he came on several occasions to scoring a decisive pinfall, the champion was able to take him down with a top rope flying lariat to successfully defend his title.

Pacific Wrestling Showcase from the Victoria Memorial Arena, Victoria, on ESPN / TSN, November 24th Jim Neidhart vs. Jimmie Lee There was a buzz among the crowd for this match, as it was known that it would be the Anvil's last match in the territory before moving on. Neidhart had strong ties to Canada, both for his history in Stampede and his connections with the Hart Family, so many fans were there to wish him well. He certainly rose to the occasion, battering the Grave Digger and escaping attempts to hit the Spinal Grinder. He was able to wear down Lee and lock him in the Anvilizer (modified Cobra Clutch) to get the win by Submission. Neidhart got on the ringside microphone and thanked the fans for their support, assuring them he would never forget them. Dragon Azul vs. Black Tiger Dragon Azul has established himself as one of the fastest rising stars in the Light Heavyweight division, and he certainly proved that at San Diego Battleground with a big victory over Robbie Brookside. Tonight, he would be facing another Light Heavyweight champ in Black Tiger, and the two masked men had a taught and highly competitive matchup. Dragon fought of attempts at both the kneeling piledriver and the Black Tiger Bomb before hitting his own piledriver on Black Tiger. He followed up with the Asai Moonsault and got the one two three. Dragon Azul is certainly set up for a big year in 1989. Eddie Guerrero vs. Art Barr At San Diego Battleground, Guerrero finally had enough of Art Barr's bizarre "Beetlejuice" persona, making his departure from both his partner and from the Wild Things. No surprise that this match was quickly signed, and while the two had many infamous battles before they teamed up, for this one Barr would have Cactus Jack in his corner. Guerrero seemed a bit wary about locking up with his former partner, but Barr showed no such reluctance, and it wasn't long before the two were scrapping with their old familiar fury. The turning point of the match came when Cactus Jack jumped on the ringside apron to interfere, but the ref caught him and ordered him to go back to the floor. Then, out of nowhere, a man in a green bodysuit and strange green mask rushed into the ring and clobbered Guerrero from behind with a running forearm smash to the back of the head. He then dove out of the ring and disappeared through the back of the arena, cackling all the way. Barr seemed as surprised as anyone else, but that didn't stop him from going up to the top rope and, when the ref finally turned back to the action in the ring, Barr came off the top rope for the Frog Splash and got the win. After the match, Cactus seemed unusually concerned over this strange man who interfered, but Barr seemed more bemused. That said, the question remains : who is this mysterious stranger? Interview : Don Coss stands in the ring Coss : Ladies and gentlemen, my next guests have requested this time to make a special announcement … Sunshine and the Southern Boys! The crowd cheers as Sunshine, Tracy Smothers and Steve Armstrong head out to the ring. Smothers and Armstrong stay close by their manager, and while Sunshine is smiling, there is still a bit of a sad look on her face. Coss : It is always good to see you, Sunshine, but I can't help noticing that Billy Jack Haynes is conspicuous by his absence. Sunshine : Ummmmm, yeah, I actually haven't seen Billy Jack since San Diego. That's too bad, because I really would have loved to have him here for what I have to say. But I've got my boys here and I guess I'll just have to do the best I can. Don, I've really enjoyed being on the West Coast. I feel I have accomplished a lot in my time in the wrestling business. I was especially proud to see Steve and Tracy win the Pacific Tag Team Titles. I am satisfied with my career, but I feel that it is time to bring it to a close and do something else. This is incredibly hard to say, but I have decided to retire from the wrestling business. (The crowd gasps, but Steve and Tracy sadly nod) I have had a great time in wrestling, especially in PCW, and feel this is the point to wrap things up. Smothers : Sunshine, we just want to say that we have been incredibly lucky to have you as a manager. Armstrong : That's right, and we are going to win back the Tag Team titles and dedicate them to you. We swear that we are going to make you proud of us, boss. Sunshine : You already have and always do, boys. The crowd cheers as the three hug in the ring, giving a fond farewell to Sunshine. Louie Spicolli vs. Bob Backlund In his first run in PCW, Louie Spicolli was part of Bob Backlund's Knights Templar, forming a tag team with Chris Candido called the Suicide Blondes. Since his return, though, he has gotten nothing but a cold shoulder from the Knights and has been forced to go it alone. It has been a rough road for Spicolli, but one he has travelled with good humour and determination, earning him the affection of the fans as a lovable underdog. Backlund himself has had rather a tough time of it lately, and brought Candido to the ring with him, set on making an example of Spicolli in front of him. It seemed like Backlund brought to much of his own frustrations to the match, making more and more mistakes and getting progressively angrier as the match wore on. He was trying to put Spicolli in the dreaded Cross Face Chicken Wing, with Spicolli tenaciously doing everything to get out of it. Then, miraculously, Spicolli was able to hoist Backlund up on his shoulders then drive him down with the Samoan Drop. One … Two … THREE!!!!! The crowd exploded it as Spicolli pulled off this incredible upset. Backlund was livid , demanding that the ref reverse the decision. When the ref stood firm, Backlund took a swing at Spicolli, only for the younger man to shove him back. Backlund nearly had a conniption fit, then demanded Candido go after Spicolli. Candido gave a helpless look to his former partner and friend, then back to Backlund, then back to Spicolli … and then Candido and Backlund double dropkicked Backlund out of the ring! Backlund turned beet red then stalked back to the locker room. Candido and Spicolli high fived and left the ring together, their friendship apparently restored. Bret Hart vs. Chris Adams San Diego Battleground was bittersweet for Bret Hart . The Hitman managed to get back his win from Bam Bam Bigelow, but his brother Owen lost a Loser Leaves Town match to Chris Adams and was now gone from PCW. Determined to avenge his brother, Bret tore into Adams in this match, and both men were battered and bruised from the damage they inflicted on each other. Bret had gotten Adams in the corner and was firing punches at him when he was attacked from behind. It was Bam Bam Bigelow, who knocked him down to the mat. As the ref called for the DQ, Bigelow and Adams put the boots to Hart, and it looked like the Hitman was going to end up getting very badly hurt. It was at this point that Jim Neidhart charged into the ring to the rescue, swinging a metal chair and scattering the Diamond Exchange. He then helped up Bret and the two embraced, all while the fans cheered on the Hart Foundation in the ring together for possibly the last time. Bret may be standing tall now, but he certainly has a hard row to hoe in 1989, with Neidhart leaving PCW and his brother already gone. Here's hoping that Bret makes some new friends very soon.

Up until 89 he was a referee, in 1989 he moved over from Referee to Manager.