“Portland Special”
Sports Arena
Portland, OR
11/20/82
 
Don Owen is in the ring.
 

 
Owen, “These ‘Portland Specials’ are always exciting and this one can be the most exciting one we’ve had in a long time. We all want to see Buddy Rose get embarrassed and with Dutch Savage as the referee, you know things will be fair. I know all of you are worried about Dusty Rhodes. He got hurt on Saturday, thanks to Rose, and we don’t know how his knee is. I’m going to bring him out here and talk about it.”
 
Dusty Rhodes comes to the ring, limping noticeably.
 

 
Owen, “Dusty, how is your knee?”
 
Rhodes, “It hurts, Don Owen, it hurts. Buddy Rose and Rip Oliver did a number on it. Luckily Billy Jack and Andre helped me out.”
 
Owen, “Can you wrestle tonight?”
 
Rhodes, “The doctor told me not to, but…there is no way I’m disappointing the fans here in Portland. If I have to crawl to the ring tonight, I’m wrestling Oliver, and I’m beating him!”
 
Owen, “I hope this is a good idea. We love having the World Champion in Portland, but we don’t want to see your career end.”
 
Rhodes, “Don Owen, don’t worry about the ‘Dream’, worry about Rip Oliver and Buddy Rose!”
 
Owen, “O.K. We have a World Title match tonight.”
 
Match #1
Doug Somers vs. Rocky Della Serra
 
These two have traded wins back and forth for several weeks. This match is just as even. They trade holds and counter holds with Somers getting in several cheap shots. The Sports Arena crowd gets behind Della Serra and he wins with the rolling reverse.
Winner-Rocky Della Serra
 
Match #2
Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka vs. “Kangaroo” Bob Heffernan
 
Rose is not accompanying Heffernan to the ring tonight. He is, most likely, planning strategy for tonight’s tag team match. Snuka knows he gets a match with Oliver on next Saturday’s TV program, so you know he wants to win tonight. The early moments are all Snuka. The man from the Fiji Islands is sharp and the Aussie is on his heels. Hefffernan goes to kicks and punches and it slows Snuka a bit. The Sports Arena crowd loves Snuka and they rally him. He lands rights and lefts and Heffernan is in trouble. Snuka slams him to the mat and goes to the top rope. He lands the Superfly Splash for the win.
Winner-Jimmy Snuka
 
Match #3
The Davison Brothers vs. Stan Stasiak and Billy Jack
 
The California bikers are a tough matchup for anyone. Stasiak and Billy Jack are waiting for the winners of tonight’s tag title match. They better not overlook the Davidson Brothers. Crusher Stasiak begins against Rick Davidson. They exchange heavy blows and neither man takes a step back. Rick works Stasiak into the corner and the brothers begin to double team. Every time Billy Jack tries to help referee Sandy Barr stops him and this allows the Davidsons to inflict more punishment. Finally Stasiak escapes and tags in Billy Jack the young man from Portland goes to work. The end comes when he traps John in the Full Nelson. Stasiak takes care of Rick and the match is over.
Winners-Stan Stasiak and Billy Jack
 
Don Owen and Dutch Savage are in the ring.
 

 
Owen, “With me is Dutch Savage. Later tonight, Dutch will referee the tag team title match. Dutch, everyone wants you make sure Rose and Wiskoski don’t cheat and win tonight. Can you stop them and can Borne and Pardee win?”
 
Savage, “Don, you know me. You know how seriously I take wrestling. I want every match to be fair. We all know Rose and Wiskoski like to cheat. I’ll stop that, but I’m not going to help Borne and Pardee win. That’s up to them, but the match will be fair.”
 
Owen, “People want that, but they want to see Rose lose.”
 
Savage, “Like I said, the best team will win.”
 
Match #4
Andre the Giant vs. Christopher Colt
 
The veteran from San Francisco waits in the ring. The crowd begins to stir and Andre the Giant comes to the ring. He is massive. Referee Sandy Barr goes through the instructions and Andre towers over Colt. The bell rings and Andre takes over. Colt is in early trouble. Colt is desperate and rakes the eyes of the Giant. This slows Andre. Colt takes the fight to Andre and things look bad for the Giant. Andre is able to rally and now Colt is retreating. The man from the French Alps scoops up Colt and slams him to the mat. He hits the big splash and Andre scores a very popular victory.
Winner-Andre the Giant
 

 
Match #5
Northwest Tag Team Championship
Special Referee-Dutch Savage
“Playboy” Buddy Rose and Ed Wisoski (Champions) vs. Matt Borne and Steve Pardee
 
Savage waits in the ring wearing a referee’s shirt. Pardee and Borne come to the ring and the crowd cheers loudly. The cheers turn to boos as Rose and Wiskoski make their way to the ring. The bell rings and its Pardee and Wiskoski to open the match. Pardee is very sharp and his speed confuses Wiskoki. Ed takes to the floor and confers with the “Playboy”. Savage keeps a close rein on the action and this frustrates Rose and Wiskoski. He returns and takes the fight to Pardee. Things begin to swing towards the Champions. They trap Pardee in the corner and begin to work him over. Soon blood is pouring from the cut he suffered when these teams last met. Borne tries to help, but Dutch Savage stops him. Finally a bloody Pardee escapes and tags in Borne. Matt goes to work and clears the ring. This is short lived as things swing back for the Champions. Pardee tags back in and fights for all his wroth, but Rose uses the sit out Billy Robinson backbreaker for the win. Don Owen announces the decision and Rose takes the mike from him.  
 
Rose, “Savage, we beat you! We outsmarted you, not that it’s hard! You and Owen think you run this place, now way, I rule the Northwest!”
 
Savage asks for the mike. Rose tosses it to him.
 
Savage, “I told you I’d call this fairly, and I did! You won, great, but now you have to deal with Billy Jack and Stasiak, and I’m going to love it when they beat you!”
Winners-Buddy Rose and Ed Wiskoski
 
Main Event
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Dusty Rhodes (Champion) vs. Rip Oliver w/”Playboy” Buddy Rose
 
Rose and Oliver stand in the ring. Rhodes comes to the ring amid the cheers of the Portland crowd. He is limping badly. Rhodes asks Owen for the mike.
 
Rhodes, “Rip Oliver, Buddy Rose, you think you got all the tricks.  Last Saturday you tried to inure me, but you didn’t get it done. I’m here and I’m going to whip you, you can bet on that!”
 
Rhodes tosses the mike to the mat and goes after Oliver. The brawl is on. Rhodes looks good early, but that changes as Oliver goes to work on Dusty’s injured knee. Things look bad for the Champion. Oliver goes for the cover. We are going to have a new World Champion. Referee Sandy Barr counts 1…2..No! Rhodes kicks out. Oliver goes back to work. Things still look bad for the Champion. Oliver gets another two count, but Dusty kicks out again. Finally Rhodes digs deep within himself. He goes to the bionic elbow and stuns Oliver. Rose is livid at ringside. Dusty lands another elbow and Oliver falls to the mat. Rhodes goes for the cover. Barr counts 1…2…3! Dusty Rhodes retains the title. Rose pulls Oliver out of the ring as Andre the Giant, Billy Jack, Stan Stasiak and Jimmy Snuka come to the ring to celebrate with the Champion. Snuka takes the mike from Don Owen.
 

 
Snuka, “Oliver, next Saturday bruddah, I’m taking your title!”
Winner-Dusty Rhodes

Tom,
 
Big cards like this being set up by well paced lead-ins are waht puts you among the best fantasy promoters. Great undercard matches. Snuka and Stasiak/Haynes are ready to step up. Great conclusion to the Rhodes appearance. Wonder how much more Savage is going to be involved.
 
Great show.