Brought to you by Queensbury Athletic Club
Sanctioned by the American Wrestling Association
Saturday, September 1st, 1977
Airing across Canada on CHCH Channel 11 from 1pm to 2pm
Hosted by Lord Athol Layton
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The opening plays, accompanied by Herb Alpert’s
A Bandita. We see short clips of some of the stars that have appeared on Maple Leaf Wrestling over the years, like Whipper Billy Watson, Gene Kiniski, Bruno Sammartino, Johnny Valentine, The Sheik, Jack Brisco and many more.
We then join Lord Athol Layton standing behind a podium with the Maple Leaf Wrestling logo on it, behind him, the Maple Leaf Wrestling logo and a big red and green Maple Leaf.
Layton: "Cheery-O everyone. Welcome to Maple Leaf Wrestling. I'm Lord Athol Layton. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for inviting us into your homes once again. We have a great show in store for you today. A new tag team will be in action today, Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell, they call themselves the High Flyers, and we'll get our first look at them right here today. We'll also see Tiger Jeet Singh in action, as well, International Tag Team Champions The Love Brothers will be in tag team action. Former World's Champion Verne Gagne will be in action, and our in our big feature bout, the Crusaders will face Chris and John, the Tolos Brothers!"
The camera pans out, and Canadian Champion The Crusader is standing with Layton on the set.
Layton: "This past Thursday night at Maple Leaf Gardens, we saw a match that I'm sure fans will be talking about for years to come, and that was between this man, the Crusader and the current World Heavyweight Champion, Nick Bockwinkel! Let's take a look at the final moments of that match."
VTR - Bockwinkel vs Crusader, Thursday night at Maple Leaf Gardens
Late in the match, The Crusader is knocked to the floor. He climbs back up on the ring apron, Bockwinkel goes to hit him, but the Crusader blocks it, and nails Bockwinkel with a series of lefts and rights of his own! The two men continue to battle back and forth, with the Crusader on the ring apron. Bockwinkel brings his arm back to throw a big punch...and clocks Referee Tiger Tasker in the head!!! Tasker falls to the mat, Bockwinkel doesn't even pay any attention to that, he immediately goes back to brawling with the Crusader, who's still on the ring apron. Bockwinkel takes a shortcut, raking the eyes of the Crusader, then grabs him by the mask and runs the Crusader, head-first, into the steel ringpost! The Crusader falls off the apron and to the floor! Bockwinkel goes and pulls the referee up, Tasker shakes his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. What Bockwinkel did would have normally been a Disqualification, but because Tasker didn't see it, the match continues.
The Crusader is out cold on the floor, his white mask starts turning crimson. He's been busted open! Referee Tasker sees the masked man on the floor, Bockwinkel yells at him to start counting. Tasker starts his count...
1......2......3......4......5......6......7......8......9......10!
The Crusader has been counted out, Nick Bockwinkel once again retains his World Heavyweight Championship! Layton: "Once again, Nick Bockwinkel escaped with his title, without pinning you, or forcing you to submit."
The Crusader starts to say something...when he's interrupted by World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel!
Bockwinkel: "Layton, you and this masked goof are out here, week after week, running off at the mouth about how I haven't pinned the Crusader or made him submit. Well, I've got news for both of you...I don't have to! I'M the Champion, that means he has to beat ME, not the other way around. Now, this is getting out of hand, Crusader, I've given you more title shots than you deserve, and as far as I'm concerned, that match on Thursday night was your LAST shot at this title! I've got wrestlers lining up all across the AWA, looking for a shot at my title, I don't have time to waste on you anymore!"
Crusader: "You know what, Nick? You're right. You're the Champion, and it's up to me to beat you. BUT, I'll tell you one thing, Nick, if I were you, this whole thing would be eating me up inside! Can you really call yourself the World Champion, and call yourself the best wrestler in the World, knowing that you couldn't beat me? Can you look at yourself in the mirror, knowing that you can't beat the top challengers? I wouldn't be able to do it...but that's just me."
Bockwinkel smirks and gets right in the Crusader's face.
Bockwinkel: "Let me tell you something, I don't need to prove anything to you, these people, or anybody else! I know that I'm the better man, and that's all that's important. I don't give a damn what you or these people think!"
Crusader: "I'll tell you what, Nick. If you grant me a rematch for the title, I will have a stipulation written into the contract that if I can't win the title from you, I will NEVER ask for another title shot, as long as you're Champion!"
Bockwinkel thinks about it for a moment, then smiles.
Bockwinkel: "You're on! On September 20, at Maple Leaf Gardens, you can have your rematch. But, when you fail, once again, to win this title...there'll be no more title matches!"
Bockwinkel walks off the set.
Layton: "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Crusader: "Lord, I'm not worried, I know I can beat Bockwinkel."
Layton: "Best of luck to you on September 20. Ladies and gentlemen, Jim Brunzell and Greg Gage, who call themselves the High Flyers, are on their way to the ring."
MATCH #1 - 1 fall, 10 minute time limit:
Jim Brunzell & Greg Gagne defeat Gary McLaughlin & Golden Boy Apollo after a double dropkick on Apollo, then Brunzell pins him. .
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COMMERCIAL BREAK
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Layton: "We're back and ready for our next match. Tiger Jeet Singh has returned to Toronto, and he's in action against Edouard Carpentier. Let's go to that match!"
MATCH #2 - 1 fall, 20 minute time limit:
Tiger Jeet Singh defeats Edouard Carpentier, from August 30 at Maple Leaf Gardens, after locking Carpentier in the Cobra hold for the submission. After the decision is announced, Tiger continues to pummel his opponent. The referee threatens to reverse the decision and disqualify Tiger! Singh finally lets up and leaves the ring while referee Fred Atkins calls for medical personnel to check on Carpentier.
Layton: "An impressive win for Tiger Jeet Singh over the former World's Champion Edouard Carpentier. When we come back, we'll see the International Tag Team Champions The Love Brothers in tag team action."
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COMMERCIAL BREAK
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MATCH #3 - 1 fall, 10 minute time limit:
The Love Brothers defeat Nick DeCarlo & Brian Mackney after Reginald holds DeCarlo’s legs, and Hartford comes off the 2nd rope with an elbowdrop, right to DeCarlo’s throat, then pins him. Layton: "On September 20, the stars of the AWA return to Maple Leaf Gardens. As we heard earlier on this program, the Crusader will get one final shot at Nick Bockwinkel's World Heavyweight Title, but if he fails to win the title, he'll never get another shot at the title! I've just been given word that another big match has been signed for that card...the Love Brothers will put the International Tag Team Titles on the line against the High Flyers, Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell. When we come back, we'll talk with Dino Bravo and Rufus R. Jones, and we'll see Verne Gagne in action."
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COMMERCIAL BREAK
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Dino Bravo and Rufus R. Jones are with Layton on the set.
Layton: "Gentlemen, it's been an eventful week for you both. Let's take a look at some of the events that have transpired this past Thursday night at Maple Leaf Gardens."
VTR - Bravo vs Masked Canadian, Thursday night at Maple Leaf Gardens
Canadian can't seem to get any offence in, but the tide turns when the masked man rakes the eyes of Bravo. From this point on, the momentum shifts, back and forth. In the end, the two men make their way out onto the ramp and continue the brawl there. Neither man pays any attention to the referee's count. Referee Pat Flanagan reaches the count of 10, with both men still out on the ramp, brawling, and calls for the bell. The match is declared a double count-out. Layton: "Mr. Bravo, nothing was solved in that match, as it ended in a double count-out. That wasn't the last time we saw the Masked Canadian on that night, though. Let's take a look at the final moments of the Lumberjack Match between Greg Valentine and Rufus R. Jones."
VTR - Valentine vs Jones, Thursday night at Maple Leaf Gardens
Throughout this contest, both men are thrown to the floor, only to be thrown back into the ring. Late in the match, Rufus has the advantage, but one of the Lumberjacks trips Rufus from the floor...it's the Masked Canadian! The Canadian then slides something into the ring...it looks like brass knux! Valentine quickly grabs the knux, and puts them on. Out of the view of the referee, Valentine pulls Rufus up to his feet and NAILS him with a big right hand! Rufus hits the mat, he's out like a light! Valentine, with a quick, sweeping motion, throws the knux from the ring and covers Rufus! Referee Pat Flanagan moves in for the count, 1....2.....3! Greg Valentine has won this Lumberjack Match, thanks to the Masked Canadian! Rufus: "Masked Canadian, you stuck your nose in my business, brother. I had that Lumberjack match won, until you got involved! But I got a surprise for you, me and my buddy Dino here, we went to Frank Tunney's office first thing Friday mornin', and you know what we did? We got a tag team match signed for September 20! That's right, me and Dino against Greg Valentine and the Masked Canadian!"
Bravo: "But not just any tag team match, Lord, we asked for a special stipulation. We asked that in this match, whoever gets pinned has to LEAVE Toronto!"
Rufus: "That's right baby! After that show, one of those two jerks is gonna have to leave Toronto...for good!"
Layton: "Oh my! That certainly is big news! Fans, this is really shaping up to be a great show on Thursday night, September the 20th at Maple Leaf Gardens! We'll be right back with more Maple Leaf Wrestling right after this."
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COMMERCIAL BREAK
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MATCH #4 - 1 fall, 10 minute time limit:
Verne Gagne defeats Bob Marcus after locking Marcus in a Sleeperhold for the win. Layton: "An impressive win for Verne Gagne. Verne will also be in action on September 20 at Maple Leaf Gardens, he'll face the evil German, Baron Von Raschke on that card. We've got to take our last commercial break, but when we come back, we'll have our feature match, as the Crusaders square off with the Tolos Brothers."
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COMMERCIAL BREAK
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Curfew Match - Most falls to the Curfew:
The Crusaders DRAW John & Chris Tolos. Neither team can get a fall before the time limit expires. After the match, Eddie Creatchman leads the Sheik out onto the set.
Layton starts to say something, but Creatchman interrupts him.
Creatchman: "You shut yer yap, Layton! I got something to say. Ever since the Sheik DESTROYED Bobo Brazil and Killer Kowalski, there haven't been any more challengers. It's become obvious to me that the wrestlers here in Toronto, as well as every other area in the AWA, are terrified of this man, because no one wants to get in the ring with him!"
Layton: "I don't think that's the reason at all."
Creatchman: "Well Layton, it doesn't really matter what you think, now does it? I just hope that the AWA will get this man some competition soon. Otherwise, maybe we should just retire this U.S. Title, it's obvious that there isn't a man in the AWA that can take it from The Sheik in the ring!"
Layton: "I'm sure there will be challengers lining up for a shot at that title."
Creatchman doesn't respond, he just leads The Sheik off the set.
Layton: "Well that does it for another week of Maple Leaf Wrestling. Next week, we'll have another action-packed hour of AWA wrestling for you. We'll see The Sheik in action, as well as the team of Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell. All that and much, much more, right here next week on AWA Maple Leaf Wrestling. Until then, I'm Lord Athol Layton, saying so long and we'll see you at ringside."
ROLL CREDITS/CLOSING THEME
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AWA "Maple Leaf Wrestling" TV 9-1-77 (Read 230 times)