French catch

[David Mantell]

Strictly they were Eurostars/IWSF titles as there was no more New Catch after 1992 (Lacroix's title and medal were definitely New Catch and a big feature of that 1991) season.).  Gordon and Bordes as European tag champions were earlier, circa 1983.  I think Hisaru Tenabe has that one on his site.

Zéfy did a title loss/regain in the early 00s, I forget who to, I've got an uneasy feeling we've already said who on here in the past. 

Kato Bruce Lee had the European title off Gordon which he regained and We've had the video on here (or possibly the German thread.)

We may as well mention Bernard Van Damme's European Heavyweight title (we've covered him regaining it.)  

[Phil Lions]

29 minutes ago, David Mantell said:

Strictly they were Eurostars/IWSF titles as there was no more New Catch after 1992

Flesh was still using the New Catch name way past 1992. The latest use I've seen is from February 2002.

 An example:

On 5/8/2025 at 10:53 PM, Phil Lions said:

The part in the article about FEC going on hiatus in 1996 is definitely not true either. Flesh continued to have an active schedule after that too and was using the FEC name as late as October 1998.

Here's a fun fact. IWSF and WS were actually created as associations (i.e non-profit organizations) on the exact same day... in June 2002. One in Othis, the other in Paris. And later WS was also created as a company (i.e. business entity for profit) in 2008, and terminated in 2013. This is all traceable in the archives dealing with French associations and companies.

[David Mantell]

47 minutes ago, Phil Lions said:

Flesh was still using the New Catch name way past 1992.

The TV show on TF1 /Eurosport was finished after '92 though.   The TV show that later popped up on small private networks was Eurostars  and was BVD's babyface.

Anyway that poster says EWF/FEC, not New Catch.

[David Mantell]

Once again with a 1988 season one episode of New Catch, the appealing bout for the old time fans is match 2 so we'll fast forward tho the 11'minute mark. Jacky Richard Vs Michel Falempin with Charley Bollet refereeing .  Actually I was a bit worried I'd already covered this match but no, I was thinking of another one this season with Tony LaMotta.  (I found a bunch of casual refs to zRocas Falempin on New Catch also but that was it, so I'll sigh with relief and proceed.

Falempin we've previously seen teaming with Walter Bordes before he ran off with a younger Fleshier partner in 1983  and. since we've been talking titles, is announced as champion of France in the 88kg category.  @Phil Lions I see from your listings he and Marcel Roger passed the Championnat de France des Poids legères back and forth in the 70s.  I'm not too sure of the relation of metric bodyweight to size so I don't know if 88kg would be a lightweight.

Richard is doing the Marquis gimmick he took over in 1985 from beard sneery Eduardo. He has butler Paul Butin Fluchard with him and this time wears his old Black and Red heelish colours (this became purple and red for the LaMotta match.) He comes out in a long blond wig 7 years ahead of Lord Steven Regal (at this point in the Golden Boys with Robbie Brookside) Bollet L'Arbitre is just the same old guy he'd been for the last 20 years.Richard grabs the hair and forces Rocas into the ropes a couple of times.  Rocas gets as high side chancery. Richard backdrops him with quite a bump and moves in to follow up but is caught with a ground position dropkick.  Rocas gets a couple of armdrags, a dropkick and throws Richard out of the ring.  The crowd cheers as Jacky sells being dazed, Paul BF tends to him and Charley lays on the KO  count. Richard stalls for a long time before getting a top wristlock down into guard armlock. Rocas kips up but the butler pushes him down.  The second time Paul actually gets in the ring to domit and earns his master Un Avertisement. Rocas instead shifts to a Scisseaux de tête, cranking it up.while balancing on his hands. Paul runs across the ring and kicks Clause in the back.  The two wrestlers have a full finger interlock.  Paul trips Rocas so Richard now has almost a double arm press Charley L'Arbitre tells the butler off.  Still Paul persists, pulling Rocas flat and getting the Raynaud Brothers on commentary calling for un Deuxième et Derniére Avertisement. When Rocas gets a bridge Paul clips an ankle out from under him.  Rocas does get a pretty decent one legged h Planchette Japonaise on the Marquis and  corners him.m Bollet warns him off but Paul actually pulls him off.  Richard gets a snapmare into chinlock into elbowsmash over the cranium.  He Manchettes Claude down and riles up la publique,  soaking up the heat before interrupting Bollet's KO count with a kick to the downed Claude.  They lock up and Paul holds Rocas on the ropes so Richard can thump him.  When Claude gets up, Richard gets another snapmare into chinlock.  Rocas eventually makes his Bon Comeback with Manchettes and a snapmare of his own, a Scisseaux Volees and a other throw to ringside.  He aeroplane spins the butler down and Manchettes a returning Richard to join him.  He flying shoulderblocks the butler and crotch holds and lifts  Richard for a bodyslam but Paul pushes his master down on top of Rocas for the pin.

Potential ivy league match overshadowed by Paul Butin's tribute act to Bobby Duranton's manservant Firmin.

[David Mantell]

But wait!  There's another quick bout for the last 5 mins of the episode.  Speak of the devil, here is Tony LaMotta, facing Eric Lacroix, future young heel French Welterweight Champion (how does that fit onto the lineage Phil?) and student/tag partner of Theo "Popov Le Gitane" Pouzade on both FR3's on 1991 bout and New Catch Season 2 later that year, but back in 1988 just a promising TBW.  Once again old time heel Pierre Lagache is refereeing.  

They take turns shoving each other down from a collar and elbow start.  Tony gets an armdrag but Eric takes it well. So Tony gets a dropkick then a side headlock I to back hammer into rear takedown folding press - shades of Saxon Brookes on the the British thread. Lagache is late getting to the count but credit to Lacroix, he comes up with a fantastic escape, getting headscissors and going up into a handstand and throwing LaMotta with his legs - unfortunately into th3 ropes, causing Lagache to call for a break.  They got from collar and elbow to top wristlock. The younger Eric wins the test of strength and has Tony down in a guard armlock.  LaMotta eventually kips up and when LaCroix armdrags him down, he slaps on the Scisseaux a la tête. Lacroix turns the hold upright and tries to handstand out but LaMotta destabilises him and turns the hold back sideways.  Lacroix turns upright and uses a handstand to uncork his head.  LaMotta gets a but more brawly with a shovedown and two Manchettes. Lacroix reverses a posting but LaMotta backwards leapfrogs him and rear waistlocks him into a forward folding press for the pin.

Some good promise from Eric Lacroix here especially the handstand out of a folding press. The older LaMotta won this time but Eric would have his day as a Popov-mentored heel champion in Series 2.

 

 

[David Mantell]

Marc Mercier has died, reportedly.

[David Mantell]

On 12/25/2024 at 4:28 PM, David Mantell said:

 

Quote

On 10/1/2015 at 10:51 PM, pantherwagner said:

I was watching some Euro catch and those of you on youtube already know how this works: you watch a match then click on another link then on another one and you end up watching the weirdest stuff. I clicked on Flesh Gordon vs Dick Murdoch from FEC/EWF in the early 90s. Flesh Gordon looked ridiculous and wrestles like shit so I was curious to see what could Dick Murdoch do with him. Well, it was a fake Dick Murdoch so not much. Then Gordon comes out with two chicks and they have their tits out and are happily dancing around. WTF France.

I think that's all pretty unfair.

Murdoch, we already know, is Dick Harrison aka Ron Clarke of UK opposition promotion tag team  the Lincolnshire Poachers. Flesh's look, we now know, basically comes from his Lucha Libre background.  This is him in an intermediate stage, no longer the high flying missile dropkicking tag partner of Walter Bordes but not yet the tubby bald aging moustachioed figure of the early C21st.  It's the early Maxi Cuisine mat so presumably originally screened on TF1 In 1988. English language commentary is by British MC John Harris who also refereed the Johnny South Vs Johnny Palance  bout I just posted to the British thread.  Referee here is Charley Bollet (brother of Andre Bollet, Roger Delaporte's old tag partn

Flesh gets a side headlock on but Murdoch resists cross buttock attempts.  He gets a single leg coming off the ropes but Murdoch pounds him down, getting some stomps in., getting a 2 count on a pin attempt .Flesh fights back with two well executed flying cross buttocks and a dropkick.  A snapmares gets Murdoch down for a 2 count.  Flesh dumps Murdoch to ringside, gets in three elbowsm throws him back in, gets another over the shoulder snapmare, then a third flying cross buttock gets the win.

Short but sweet and undeserving of the hatchet job @pantherwagner gave it.

 

This was what I originally had planned for today -the first match on that New Catch episode, before Richard/Rocas and LaMotta/ Lacroix, but as you can see we've already covered it long ago.  Yes I know Murdoch was Alain Lésage not Dick Harrisson so I have struck through that bit.

I have noticed the topless ring girls thing was not exclusive to Flesh or even Les Bons - see Snake woman here or Judd Harris's "Wife" who thought she was a Rottweiler or Rocco's "Sensational Second".  Clearly someone in production at TF1 had a mindset that equated glamour with hiring in rejects from the Folies Bergères.

Oh well, I've got a plan B.  Just have to check if that's been covered ...

[David Mantell]

On 9/29/2024 at 11:00 AM, David Mantell said:

Been pottering around on the FFCP YouTube channel and found all sorts of stuff.

This is an older grey haired Marc having a comeback fight in 2004 against a masked man called "Der Hunker" - no relation to Oscar "Der Hunker" Versus. Marc is older, he had a career ending injury in 1989.  He can still take bumps including one hefty backdrop but can't somersault  on flip much.  Hunker lives up to his name by wearing sexy rockstar leather trousers (with a dodgy looking belt buckle) but lacks the countering skills, he does absolutely nothing about a wrist lever applied. Public including little kiddies are happy to see Marc win.

Not sure what promotion this is.  FFCP did not come back until 2006.  Could be IWSF- at some point Mercier fell out with Flesh and Jacky and went to the Americanised ICWA for a couple of years, so it could be them too. Bout is timed in rounds with a round card girl who spends her time between rounds sat at the timekeeper's table looking bored.

Oh well, that was Plan B.  Would have been a nice tribute to him (we've done pretty much all his other matches on video) but already done.  Plan C then ...  

[David Mantell]

On 5/5/2020 at 1:18 AM, ohtani's jacket said:

Henri Le Mao vs. Thadee Kojielski (aired 4/17/66)

Henri Le Mao is a joy to watch. With his moustache and receding hairline, he almost reminds me of a French Fujiwara. As with a lot of these new finds, we don't have enough footage of him, since surprisingly there is more complete footage from '57-59 than the 60s. But we get this gem. Kojielski was a young Polish wrestler, as best as I can tell. He was a nice dance partner, but this was the Le Mao show

 

OK, plan C is on, a grand return to the safe waters of Les Trentes Glorieuses.  One of OJs faves too.  It's striking that the older bald man is Le Bon and the handsome younger man is the Méchant but there you go. Zadi (I'll use Matt's spelling as it's simpler.) gets dirty from the off.

(Talking of dirty, what's with the dark murky film print?  Was the negative allowed to fade and pale resulting in a positive print that looks like it was filmed down a coalmine? But I digress.

Early on a concealed illegal punch by young Zadi gets a hefty bit of heat from la publique.  LeMao does his best to keep it technical. He gets armdrags and a step over finger interlock into spin in the mat, taking Zadi down into a guard armlock.  Zadi gets a rope break. He tries a double legdive but Mao spins his off.    They battle for top wristlock and LeMao gets a snapmare down and more good throws.  LeMao gets a drop toehold into Gotch toehold . Zadi gets  a guard top wristlock and keeps hold until LeMao kips up, somersaults over behind and again gets drop toehold into Gotch toehold  L'Arbitre refuses a rope break. Eventually LeMao gets a surfboard (I don't recall the French name but we've covered it in a past post.)  When he loses his balance, Le Mao still lands ready for a backslide.  He barely gets a 1 and converts to legscissor. Zadi gets rough with Manchettes and kicks and throws lLe Mao out of the ring.  Henri gets back but into a guard armlock and kips up . He gets a victory roll a falls back from an interlock into crossed headscissors and toupie.He runs out of mat on the last move as Zadi's legs hit the ropes and,annoyed, twists a foot on the Pole's face.  LeMao gets more brawl some, breaking out he Manchettes. It's a lot more slug and punch, Zadi is briefly kicked out the ring and has fan trouble.  Back in he chokes and slingshots LeMao on the ropes and kicks him around until warned by L'Arbitre, Jean Journal.  LeMao corners and posts him (the late 80s WWF watching teenager in me expects the crowd to start counting, in French.  Zadi tries to pay him back in kind but gets pitched to ringside the long way- high over a corner post.  He comes back, takes an arm  and forces a somersault whip and bump before slapping an armhank on the limb. LeMao looks to be gong for a roll up toupie but instead kips up in the hold only for Zadi to drag him back down. LeMao tries again but managed to get his own feet in against Zadi's side to push him off., (If Zadi had kept his grip, this could have been a nasty arm-stretching for LeMao.) Zadie gets a standing rear chinlock - and a bunch of illegal punches which he claims are open handed slaps.  La Publique don't buy that.  To coneal it from Journal (and get a bigger heat response from the other side of the room.). LeMao rear-escapes the chinlock and makes a standing back hammerlock of it so Zadi forces a rope break, falling forward on the cords.  LeMao powers out of a Zadi full nelson, hits the ropes and lands a shoulder block but Zadie no sells it so LeMao leapfrogs, dropkicks and Manchettes him.  They brawl with Zadie taking a couple of counts until he gets a single legdive and after weakening it, upgrades to a grapevine leglock. LeMao gets the leverage advantage so Zadi gets a rope break and gets called a coward by the crowd .  They exchange manchettes until LeMao goes down and Zadi stomps him. He shoulderblocks Henri in the corner but LeMao gets his legs on top and gets a sunset flip into double leg nelson.they both Bascule back and forth an Zadi gets a front folding press but LeMao spins him off. Zadi complains that he should have had a count for the folding press.  LeMao backrolls on a double Interlock and gets the leverage advantage.  He whips and boots Zadi who gets up at 9 for Manchettes.  Zadi has LeMao cornered but Henri slips through his legs and gets some dropkicks. He backrolls off and ingle interlock to reel Zadi down into a guard armlock into some other guard hold (hard to see what as his body is in the way but it may be a grovit of some sort.)  Zadi upturns it and has a grovit too or maybe just an illegal arm across the windpipe.  Journal okays it but the crowd are unhappy but LeMao gets a knee to Zadi's head to perk them up, then ties him up in the ropes. Journal frees Zadi who likewise ties LeMao up and beats him up - and beats Journal up but the big Arbitre doesn't dish out any Avertisement until Zadie kicks his man to ringside.  Fans help Henri back as the Pole waits to pounce.  But LeMao gets a rear waistlock and atomic doo. He tries to flee but LeMao flips him back in then throws him out after working him over.  He tries up and twice dropkicks him, pounding him in the ropes.  Journal frees the Pole so LeMao drop toeholds him making it an ankle scissors but Zadi does something to what remains of LeMao' hair to regain the advantage, ending up as a rear chinlock with a few fouls slipped in.  LeMao powers out and gets a hammerlock into double rear legdive into legspread (so not  another surfboard then.) rolling to Zadi's head to get a sitting chinlock sat on his shoulders which becomes a straight legscissors.   It hits the ropes so Journal separates them so LeMao gets and over the knee backbreaker. They exchange manchettes and leMao knees Zadi in the leg. They brawl and Zadi throws LeMao out Henri reappears on a different side - did he crawl underneath?  Zadi won't let him back, he absorbs a Manchette from the apron then dodges a bodypress over the top rope and applies a double kneepress but LeMao throws him off and gets a forward folding press for the win. The cameras cut away from an incipient afterbirth in which a shoving match leads to LeMao throwing Zadi as the clip ends.

Scientific Bon Vs Roughhouse Méchant - the old style clash.  A lot of "good wrestling match" and "good fight" alternating - LeMao being responsible for most of the former. Zadi however is a much better heel than OJ gives him credit.  His problem is that much of the fouls he does like the illegal punches, interference with breathing and attacks on a fallen opponent - are not really things that register with American Wrestling fans as fouls as they did with a French or British audience back in the day. But he is a good heel, young handsome and arrogant like Mark Lee in after his 60s heel turn.

[David Mantell]

Quote

 

Hier à Paris, nous étions nombreux à nous réunir pour dire un dernier au revoir à Marc Mercier et lui rendre l’hommage qu’il méritait.

Sa disparition laisse un vide considérable. Pour la FFCP, comme pour toutes celles et ceux qui ont partagé une partie de son parcours, Marc restera une personnalité marquante : un homme de passion, de caractère et de conviction, profondément attaché au catch et à tout ce qu’il représentait pour lui.

Nous tenons aussi à remercier chaleureusement toutes les personnes qui ont été présentes pour l’accompagner dans ce dernier voyage. 

La ceinture de champion du monde de la FFCP, présente lors de ses obsèques, avait une portée toute particulière. Elle rappelait une part de son histoire, de son engagement et de tout ce qu’il a contribué à faire vivre au fil des années.

La peine est toujours là, mais la FFCP poursuit son chemin et demeure pleinement engagée dans ses projets. La direction reste mobilisée et notre volonté de proposer de nouveaux shows, de rassembler le public et de continuer à faire vivre le catch professionnel reste intacte.

Poursuivre cette aventure, c’est aussi faire vivre une part de l’héritage que Marc nous laisse. Nous le ferons avec respect, détermination et avec cette même passion du catch qui l’a animé pendant tant d’années.

Et dans chacun de nos futurs événements, il y aura forcément un peu de Marc.

Merci pour tout, Marc.
Nous ne t’oublierons pas.

Jérémy Grand
Président FFCP

 

Yesterday in Paris, many of us gathered to say a final goodbye to Marc Mercier and pay him the tribute he deserved.

His passing leaves a considerable void. For the FFCP, as for all those who shared a part of his journey, Marc will remain a striking personality: a man of passion, character, and conviction, deeply attached to wrestling and everything it represented to him.

We would also like to warmly thank everyone who was present to accompany him on this final journey.

The FFCP World Championship belt, present at his funeral, held a very special significance. It recalled a part of his history, his commitment, and everything he contributed to bringing to life over the years.

The grief is still there, but the FFCP continues on its path and remains fully committed to its projects. The management remains mobilized, and our desire to offer new shows, bring the public together, and continue to keep professional wrestling alive remains intact.

Continuing this adventure also means keeping alive a part of the legacy that Marc leaves us. We will do so with respect, determination, and with that same passion for wrestling that drove him for so many years.

And in each of our future events, there will inevitably be a little bit of Marc.

Thank you for everything, Marc.We will not forget you.

Jérémy Grand,  President of the FFCP

[David Mantell]

Just now, David Mantell said:

the FFCP continues on its path and remains fully committed to its projects. The management remains mobilized, and our desire to offer new shows, bring the public together, and continue to keep professional wrestling alive remains intact.

Continuing this adventure also means keeping alive a part of the legacy that Marc leaves us. We will do so with respect, determination, and with that same passion for wrestling that drove him for so many years.

And in each of our future events, there will inevitably be a little bit of Marc.

Good news👍

Competition is healthy for any wrestling scene (although we can do without the accusations of pouring raw sewage by the bucketful over one anothers' heads!). and it's good for the future of Traditional French Catch that FFCP will continue to be a competitor to Wrestling Stars in the future.

[David Mantell]

On 4/26/2020 at 12:56 PM, ohtani's jacket said:

Franz van Buyten vs. Karl Schneider (aired 8/7/77)

This was a  clip of one of those rubbish swimming pool matches. I think these matches come from Aulnay-sous-Bois, which is in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris. This had commentary from the famous French broadcaster, Georges de Caunes. That was the only notable thing about it.

Can't believe I haven't reviewed this one before although I'd obviously watched it it previously.  For once I'll do the two bouts in order on the clip.

George du Caunes, one of the heavyweights of French broadcasting did some wrestling commentary in his time.  In Britain we better know his son Antoine, host of Eurotrash on Channel 4 in the 1990s. We get a brief shot of a studio with a big pic of Schneider behind the presenter (replacing some football.)

Yup, it's a swimming pool card with floating ring.  Schneider is big tall, moustached and probably very grateful that Big Daddy never came to France .  We JIP as he is slamming FYB all over the floating ring.  FYB gets 2 with a flying tackle.  They had a good stuff Manchette exchange such as OJ would like if it wasn't Catch Á L'Eau.  Franz gets a slam and stomp p of his own before Karl takes him down with a side Headlock.  FRANZ soon gets free and it continues slug & punch like Rambo Vs Sasake in the German thread. They brawl on. Karl wraps Franz's arm around a rope (illegal).  Karl gets his headlock, Franz snatches free. They brawl on, Franz slingshots Karl into the water then fireman's carries L'Arbitre out over the ropes too.  For this, he is DQ'd so FYB pitches both Karl and the ref into the water again.

Another short slug and punch like Rambo and Sasake on the German thread.

[ohtani's jacket]

One of the biggest disappointments for me from the French footage was Rene Ben Chemoul. He was a guy who I expected to be an amazing wrestler and instead he turned out to be more of a showman and performer. 

So, I thought I'd take a look at some of the clips we have of him from his younger years to see whether they change my opinion of him.

1950.1.20or1950.11.10 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Andre Chauveau
1950.3.24 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Johnny Peters
1950.4.28 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Andre Gasnier
1950.5.12 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Henri Moreau
1950.5.19 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Andre Coquard
1950.11.20 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Guy Robin

These clips show a young Rene Ben Chemoul with a full head of hair against a variety of opponents. They generally focus on highlights so there are a lot of dropkicks, monkey flips, splashes and swinging punches, as well as Rene's hurricanrana spot. Some of the clips focus on holds. We can tell that Rene liked to work the shoulder and was fairly decent at working his way out of a headscissors. At times he reminds me of Rocca, but against a more skilled opponent he appears to have a somewhat decent mat game. Amusingly, there are a number of clips that look like modern indy standoffs.

The thing that stands out the most is versatility. Rene may not be a great wrestler, but he appeared to tailor his matches to suit his opponent. Peters was famous for his dropkick, so you get a battle of the dropkicks. Against the heels, he works a big, theatrical style. Gasnier, IIRC, takes an approach after my own heart and simply punches him. He kicks Rene after pinning him which sets off a kerfuffle. Probably the most interesting clip is the match against Robin. Robin looks like the kind of utility player that us diehards love. 

Rene didn't win me over with these clips, though there was certainly a lot of skill on display. I can understand why he was popular since he was flashy, but I wonder how good he truly was at grappling.  

 

[ohtani's jacket]

1951.1.5 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Guy Laroche
951.3.9 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Harry Fields
1951.3.25air Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Harris (?)
1951.5.18 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Harry Fields
1951.9.21 Rene Ben Chemoul vs. Jack Cunningham

This is a much better collection of clips. I absolutely love Harry Fields. He doesn't wrestle like a typical British worker, but I love the way he sells, his approach to the lock-up, and the way he keeps dumping Rene on the mat with hard back bumps ala lucha. He even does a type of released power bomb. His matches with Rene are gritty and hard fought just the way I like my wrestling.

The match against the mysterious Harris is probably the best Rene has looked in these clips. A lot of hard fought submission wrestling. The Cunningham match is fun as he's a South African worker who looks like he's a teacher but is actually a skilled athlete.

In the Laroche match, Rene takes a huge bump off the apron into the crowd. I don't know if it was sped up because of film transfer issues, but Rene went absolutely flying into the dark. 

I really loved the stuff I saw from Rene in the Fields and Harris clips. Against the right opponent, it seems like Rene could deliver some wars. I'm not sure if it's the close-up work at ringside, but the post-war British workers were amazing at selling. Not something I'd expect from British wrestlers, to be honest. 

[David Mantell]

The other half of that Catch Á L'Eau TV taping from 1977.

Jean Corne , Jackie Richard and L'Arbitre Roger Delaporte all share a boat out to the ring without incident.  In a few months time, Corner will turn up at the 1978 FA Cup taping in Croydon wearing a European Welterweight Championship which hecwill promptly lose to Dynamite Kid (FFWD to 1995- again at an FA Cup  final this time Jorge Chenok will job that same title to  Danny Collins.)

Richard, not yet a Monsieur nor a Marquis nor yet a Travesti Man.gets the early advantage, getting a mild bump on a throw and getting a slam from a rear double legs into Flying Bodypress.  Jean takes some more throws better, rolling up and bumping Richard. Jacky uses an illegal hairpull to make a top wristlock into a guard armlock.  Jean kips up but Jack armdrags him back down twice and uses another hairpull the third time.  Corner gets a back roll, bumping whip and dropkick. The go for Interlock and again Richard switches to top wristlock to illegal hairpull to guard arm lock.  He uses another hairpull to stymie another bridge up by Corne. L' Arbitre et Le Méchante argue over the hairpulls.   And so it continues until Corne breaks it up with a one legged flip.  Richard taunts the crowd. A double Interlock test of strength is won by Richard but Corne bridges up, throws him off and gets a rear waistlock on him.  Richard tries to leave but Corne saves him a swim and flips him back in.Corne gets an armbar, Richard rolls out but  Corne gets an armhank. Richard tries and twice fails to stand up in the hold and grab the ropes.  When he does succeed, Delaporte refuses the rope break - does he think Richard will toupie out?  Perhaps he has a point - Richard on his next get up legdrops Corne in the hold. This not only makes Corne release but leaves a free arm for Richard to himself armhank. Corne kicks him off butRichard takes the arm, forces a sudden somersault whip and reapplies the armhank. This repeats a few times until Richard makes a clean break before reapplying. This time he has more control. Corne looks like he might try the toupie but instead rolls up his banked arm til he is at Richard's head an can apply a side headlock on the mat. He stands up, switches to a hammerlock from the side and stamps Jacky's foot. They clean break.there is a long pause then lock up and Richard chops Corne down in the side. Corne releases a barrage of Manchettes and Richard ends up cowering next to Delaporte.  This becomes a comedy spot where Delaporte pats Richard on the head, warning Corne off, before eventually shoving Jacky away.  Richard snapmares Corne and they run the ropes. Corne cross buttock throws Richard but only gets a 2. Quite a lot of stalling and working La Publique by the man who would outlaw all that in 2007. Impatiently, Corne floors him with a kick to the back of the knee.  A full interlock sees Corne considering a straight arm lift but going for a somersault whip into armscisors.  He gets several 1 pin counts before dismounting to focus on a possible arm submission.  Jacky stands up and makes it a rather neat side folding press, gets some 1s and 2s (possibly rope assisted) before Crane pulls him back down again.  Richard uses an illegal hairpull to force the break - Corne lets go and sells as Richard bashed him on the head before sauntering off. Delaporte buttonholes him and warns him so Richard manchettes Corne down a couple of times with Jean back up at 5. The second time, Richard slams Corne .They exchange manchettes until Richard ends up tied in the ropes.  Cornecwants to divebomb Richard, Delaporte disapproves until Richard kicks him. Annoyed, Delaporte gives Corne carte blanche to attack the tied up Richard and even gets a shot or two himself as Corne  watches patiently sat atop his corner post. Richard wins another full interlock test of strength but Corne stomps his hands and chops him. Richard complains to Delaporte who will hear none of it and instead himself stomps le Méchant in the corner before handing back to Corne.  Le bon gets a Manchette, Richard gets a snapmare and two bodychecks and another snapmare. They run the ropes. Corne does Vic Faulkner's "Cease" trick then jabs him in the trunk. Richard is up at 8.  Corne leaps up for a flying bodyscissors but gets it around the hips with Jacky seemingly more in charge, holding Corne's feet in a sort of inverted drop toehold.  It's Corne trying to do a sit up escape and Richard preventing him, holding the feet behind himself with his  own feet. He even stops to smooth his hair like Adrian Street while Corne tries the "Look up there" trick to no effect. He goes for waistlocks and is thrown off.  He actually escaped using a version of Mister Referee but without touching Delaporte. Corne gets an armbar and somehow throws Jacky backwards. tries for a pin but gets only 2.  He gets a side hammerlock into kneelift and crosspress for 1. A snapmare I to double kneepress only gets 1 too.  Richard stalls for time, antagonising the crowd- Delaporte orders him to get on with the bout.  Richard twice charges and misses Corne in the corner. He is floored by the third of  three Manchettes.  They slug it out until Richard goes to his corner and collapses, up only just in time at 9 to avoid a KO, or is it another old Vic Faulkner trick to get some times out?  More stalling. Corne gets a single legdivé into spinning leglock. Delaporte calls for a break and Corne complies after one last leg weakener. He gets another legdive and weakener.  They exchange manchettes. Corne goes down. Richard kicks him. Delaporte halts the count to tell Richard off.  Richard corners and chops Corne. Angry, Corne is making closed fists so Richard tells Delaporte to tell Richard not to. So Corne gets a rear snapmare instead but after that all bets are off - charging headbutts, charging shoves, Manchettes, until Richard is floored. Jacky is barely up in time before Corner gets a front chancery to set up a Manchette.  They exchange blows, Corne goes down and Jacky stomps him.  Under protest from Delaporte, Richard lets Corne up between Manchettes and a big bodyslam.  This continues in the same vein until Corne gets a flooring Manchette back.  Richard places Corne on the  ring apron for perhaps a suplex but instead shoved him in the water.  Delaporte and Richard argue until Richard manchettes L'Arbitre and tries to throw the larger Delaporte in the water also.  Corne has crawled back but is knocked back in the water by Richard.  Ref and heel are now having their own fight and the ref seems to be getting the better of it, flooring and stomping Richard.  Finally he throws Richard in, just as Corne is climbing back.  Delaporte declares Corne winner by DQ. Disgusted, Richard boards the boat to set sail for poolside.

Despite the odd bits of brawling or comedy, this mostly stays a good scientific match until near the end with the final brawl and DQ finish.  The stalling is a bit of a pity and a good argument for rounds but that aside there are some intelligent and gracefully executed ideas. Best scientific match of the past couple of weeks.