WWWF -  World Wide Wrestling Federation
The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
Ring Announcer: Gary Michael Capetta
Referees: Dick Whorle & Dick Kroll
August 20th, 1977
 
 
1-'Irish' Pat Barrett pinned Pete Doherty when he turned Doherty's body slam attempt into an inside cradle.  (7:45)
 
 
 
 
2-'High Chief' Peter Miavia pinned Dr. X after the big chop.  (6:12)
 
 
 
 
3-Nikola Volkoff (w/Freddie Blassie) pinned Tony Marino in impressive fashion following an over-the-head press into an over-the-knee back breaker.  (5:15)
 
*Volkoff dominated Marino, who got in very little offense against the massive Russian.  Volkoff looked nearly unstoppable here and Blassie appeared to be very proud of that fact...
 
 
 
 
4-Pat Patterson (w/The Grand Wizard) defeated one half of the WWWF Tag Team Champions Carlos Colon with a sleeper hold in what was a competitive match.  (11:38)
 
*Patterson had some struggles against the tough Colon, but ultimately was able to put away his opponent with the dreaded sleeper hold as he has, undoubtedly, been preparing for what awaits him in the form of an angry WWWF Heavyweight Champion Superstar Graham.  The Superstar still hasn't recieved his new championship belt after Patterson destroyed the old one on television recently.  
 
 
 
 
5-In a match where there 'MUST BE A WINNER', Jerry Valiant finally was able to pin Victor Rivera but not without the help of his brother, Johnny, who made a surprise apperance during the match.  (20:11)
 
*Both men battled back and forth as they had in previous encounters, but each man seemed to give it a little something extra as they knew that there must be a winner in this match, as the time limit, count outs and disqualifications had been waved in order to find out who truly was the better man, once and for all.  The match continued with Rivera often pulling into the advantage with his scientific abilty, but Valiant always seemed to even things out by bending the rules.  Things continued to end up in a stale mate until both men ended up in a criss cross as they ran the ropes, at which point, Valiant and Rivera bumped heads, knocking each man senseless.  Rivera hit the canvas like a ton of bricks, while Valiant fell backwards and slumped up against the ropes.  It was at that point that, 'Handsome' Johnny Valiant came from out of the crowd and shoved 'Gentleman' Jerry on the back, causing him to fall on top of Rivera and get the fall.  Following the contest, Johnny raised Jerry's arm in victory, even though it was clear that Jerry had no idea where he was.  Johnny then helped Jerry to the back amidst a chorus of boos.
 
 
INTERMISSION
 
 
6-Gorilla Monsoon defeated Capt. Louis Albano by countout when Albano fled the ring after taking several chops to the head from Monsoon. (0:43)
 
*This turned out to be more of a sham than a match as the good Captain took off running after taking a barrage of chops to the head.  Gorilla waited until Albano was counted out and then took off after him, chasing him to the back...
 
 
 
 
7-WWWF Heavyweight Champion Superstar Graham pinned King Curtis Iaukea following a high knee lift to retain the title.  (12:33)
 
*Both men kicked, clawed and scratched just as they had the month before and much to the same results.  Iaukea was, once again, busted open in this match and fell victim to a high knee lift shortly after that.  Following the contest, Baron Mikel Scicluna ran in and he and Iaukea both started beating on the WWWF Champion until Peter Miavia ran in to make the save!  Graham and Miavia then battled back and cleared the ring of the former WWWF Tag Team Champions...
 
 
 
 
8-NWA World Tag Team Champions Jesse Ventura & Ken Patera (w/Capt. Louis Albano) defeated S.D. Jones & Tony Atlas (w/Gorilla Monsoon) when Ventura pinned Jones with his feet on the ropes to retain the titles.  (16:43)
 
*Captain Lou cautiously made his way back out to second his NWA Tag Team Champions, but appeared content to hide behind the massive muscles of Patera & Ventura as he scanned the ringside area for any signs of Gorilla Monsoon.  Seeing the big Gorilla was no where to be seen, Albano seemed to ease back into his normal loud mouth self as he began to show boat for the crowd, that is until the opposition to his team made their entrance,  WITH GORILLA MONSOON IN TOW!  The Captain was beside himself as he hopped up and down and demanded the referee do something about this!  The referee instructed Albano that as long as he was at ringside that Jones & Atlas would be allowed to have a second as well.  After much protest, a frustrated Albano finally accepted the terms.  The match began with the reigning champions gaining the early advantage on Jones and keeping him in their half of the ring.  Eventually, Jones began to fight back but it was at this point that Albano grabbed S.D.'s foot and allowed the champions to take back over.  This was all The Gorilla needed to see as he took off after Albano and chased him out of the ringside area for a second time during the night!   Ventura and Patera continued to plow forward, but a few chinks in their armor started to show without their manager at ringside.  Jones eventually made the hot tag to Atlas, who was a one man wrecking crew, a he tore into both Ventura & Patera!  Atlas then went for the full nelson on Patera, but Ventura was able to jump Mr. USA from behind and that led to the tag champs gaining the advantage again.  Ventura and Patera took turns beating on Patera until a miscue allowed Atlas to tag back out to Jones.  Jones hit the ring a house of fire and pretty soon both he and Atlas were battering the NWA Tag Team Champions around the ring!  Jones and Atlas tossed Ventura and Patera into one another and the move caused Patera to get knocked out to the floor.  Atlas followed Patera to the floor and they continued doing battle, while Jones took it to Ventura on the inside.  S.D. backed Jesse up into the corner and then mounted the second rope and begain reigning down punches.  ONE...TWO....THREE.....FOUR......FIVE.......uh oh.......Ventura had enough left to yank the back of S.D.'s tights and Jones fell backwards and hit the back of his head!  Ventura's on top of him with S.D's legs cradled....hey wait a minute, Ventura's feet are on the ropes!  ONE.....TWO.........S.D.'s trying to kick out, but can't.....THREE!!!!  Jesse Ventura and Ken Patera have retained the titles here tonight, but not without a fight.  Atlas comes over to check on Jones and complain to the referee about the feet being on the ropes, while the champs grab their belts and high tail it from the ringside area.
 
 
 
9-Ivan Putski pinned Spiros Arion (w/Freddie Blassie) following a Polish Hammer/sit down splash combination.  (8:17)

*Putski stepped it up in competition, but the result was the same.  He continues to look impressive in his return to the area...

the NWA tag and the WWWF title bouts wee best, but patterson vs colon has my interest peaked.
lot of good bouts here.