Oakland Alameda Coliseum
Oakland, CA
7/14/77
Opening Match, one fall, 30 minutes
Alexis Smirnoff and Pak Chu vs. Bill Francis and Superfly Tui The Russian and North Korean take on two newcomers. The young Superfly Tui is very impressive. He takes the fight to Chu and the Korean tags in Smirnoff. The man from Stalingrad takes over. Francis, a second generation wrestler from Hawaii, tags in. He has some moments, but the end comes when Smirnoff lands the Russian neckbreaker on Tui.
Winners-Alexis Smirnoff and Pak Chu (17:21)
Second Match, one fall, 45 minutes
Pepper Gomez and Sam Steamboat vs. Gladiator and Texas Red The masked Texas Red has been very impressive and now he teams with another masked man. Gomez and Steamboat will need to be sharp. Red and Gomez go at it first. The match is very even and Red becomes frustrated. He tags in the Gladiator. Gomez still looks good and he tags in the Hawaiian. The masked men trap Steamboat in the corner and work him over. The remainder of the match is close, but Red lands the flying bodypress on Steamboat for the fall.
Winners-Gladiator and Texas Red (15:23)
Third Match, one fall, 60 minutes
Ray Stevens and Dominic DeNucci vs. Von Steiger Brothers These two teams didn’t really get started on TV. DeNucci is out for revenge and the Bay Area legend will help him. The match begins with De Nucci and Karl Von Steiger in the ring. The Germans take over. They tag in and out and DeNucci is in trouble. Dominic escapes and tags in Stevens. The Blond Bomber cleans house. The Germans take to the floor and regroup. The match continues and goes back and forth. Both teams score nearfalls. All four men end up in ring. In the confusion, Stevens rolls up Karl Von Steiger and the referee counts the fall.
Winners-Ray Stevens and Dominic DeNucci (17:02)
Fourth Match, one fall, 60 minutes
Colosso Colosetti and Ripper Collins vs. Kevin Sullivan and Mike Graham Sullivan has called in his friend from Florida. Mike Graham is one of the finest Jr. heavyweights in the world. Colosetti and Collins have the size advantage, but will it be enough. Colosetti and Graham open the match. They exchange holds and counter holds. Graham tags in Sullivan and the man from Boston takes over. He gets several nearfalls and Colosetti escapes and tags in Collins. The larger Collins tries to rough up Sullivan. Graham tags in and he goes to work on the “King”. The action continues to be fast paced. Sullivan catches Colosetti with a sunset flip. Graham cuts off Collins and the referee counts three.
Winners-Kevin Sullivan and Mike Graham (21:46)
Main Event, no time limit
Eight Man Elimination Tag Team Match
Royal Kangaroos, Ben Justice and Bruiser Brody vs. Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant, Tony Garea and Dean Ho This an Eight Man Elimination Tag Team Match. The loser of a fall must return to the locker room. The referee will have an impossible job. The match begins with Norman Frederick Charles III and Tony Garea in the ring. They trade holds and Charles tags in Bruiser Brody. The big man from New Mexico goes to work on Garea. Tony is in trouble until he is able to tag in Andre the Giant. These two met at Kezar Stadium and Andre got the better of it. The two giants battle it out. The match continues until Ben Justice is able to roll up Dean Ho, with a handful of tights and win the fall. Ho is eliminated.
First Elimination-Dean Ho (10:24) The action continues and it’s wild and woolly. Bruno tags in and cleans house. The Oakland crowd goes crazy. Both Kangaroos try their hand against the Italian strongman, but to no avail. Bruno slams Charles and covers him for the fall. Charles is eliminated.
Second Elimination-Norman Frederick Charles III (9:53) This part of the match belongs to Andre and Brody. The two behemoths battle it out. Both men get in good shots and they both end up on the arena floor. The referee’s count reaches 20 as both men battle their way to the back. Both men are eliminated.
Third and Fourth Eliminations-Andre the Giant and Bruiser Brody (8:50) Double Count Out It’s now Justice and Boyd vs. Sammartino and Garea. Boyd and Garea match holds. It’s New Zealand vs. Australia. Garea looks very sharp. He controls the action and rolls Boyd up. Jonathan kicks out at two. Tony moves in, but Boyd rakes the eyes. He rolls up Garea and puts his feet on the ropes. The official does not see this and counts the fall. Now the Pacific Coast Champion is on his own.
Fifth Elimination-Tony Garea (13:26) Bruno has his back to the wall, and is his custom, he comes out fighting. He pounds away at both men and they take to the floor to confer with Dykes. They return and Boyd enters the ring. He tries to lure Bruno into the corner. Sammartino is too smart and he works over Boyd. He slams him and covers him for the fall. Now it’s Bruno vs. Justice.
Sixth Elimination-Jonathan Boyd (9:43) Now it’s Bruno vs. Justice. Ben cost Sammartino a shot at the World Title and they will meet on July 23. Bruno wants a piece of Justice now. He goes to work and Justice is in trouble. Bruno holds nothing back and things look bad for Justice. Dykes climbs up on the ring apron. This distracts the official. Justice reaches into his tights and pulls out an object. He slams it into Bruno’s head. Sammartino goes down like a ton of bricks. He is busted open. Justice covers him and the referee turns to count the fall. Justice and Dykes celebrate. Medical personnel check on Sammartino. This will not sit well with the Champion.
Seventh Elimination-Bruno Sammartino (10:21)
Winners-Ben Justice, Bruiser Brody and the Royal Kangaroos