NWA Maple Leaf Wrestling TV
"Superstars of Wrestling"
Saturday December 1sth 1982
Brassy fanfare over a set of clips of mat action!
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xntnt0_thriller-dsb-film_music Graphic announces
Maple Leaf Wrestling presents
"SUPERSTARS OF WRESTLING" All matches sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance - Vincent McMahon, President
Taped at the CHCH-TV (ch. 11) studios in Hamilton ON, Friday November 30th. Syndicated broadcast on regional channels.
We open the show at ringside, where Dick Beddoes is with Commissioner "Whipper" Billy Watson.
DB: "Before we discuss the upcoming show at Maple Leaf Gardens, "Whip", I want to congratulate you on how the Maple Leaf TV championship was settled! As a prairie boy myself, I am thrilled Ron Ritchie from Winnipeg has the belt, and..."
Lord Athol Layton graces the scene, he dirests a stagehand carrying a podium draped with a cloth.
DB: "Fans, the official National Wrestling Alliance representative, Lord Athol Layton".
LAL: "Thank you for a suitable introduction, Mr. Beddoes. I would also like to commend Maple Leaf Wrestling on organizing an interesting tourney".
WBW: "I'm gratified you approve..."
LAL: "I said I "would LIKE to commend" you. There was a FLAW in the planning!"
DB: "Oh, what was that?"
LAL: "The fact that the tournament commenced without the wrestlers knowing what the reward was. Mr. Beddoes, as a man hailing from Rabbit Tracks, Alberta, I am sure you've driven a MULE CART. Wrestlers are like MULES, they perform best when there is a CARROT ON A STICK. So, Mr. Ritchie's title is now recognized by the NWA and when I was advising them of the matter, I made a SUGGESTION for an INCENTIVE".
WBW: "Oh? And what are you cooking up with Head Office?"
LAL: "Let me preface the explanation with a comment. I am often told "Your Lordship, your aura of SUPERIORITY can cause resentment with the commoners". Well, I can't apologize for my superiority, but I DO understand the common rabble, YOUR fans!"
Bit of grumbling from the cheap seats.
LAL: "Every week thousands of the working-class DREAM of bettering their lot by taking a plunge in the lotteries. NOW, the wrestlers here can better their standing, with a bit of a game of chance added to the TV title. Let me demonstrate".
He removes the cloth to reveal a rotating barrel with a pyramid-shaped easel behind it.
LAL: "The TV title holder will be participating in what I call the "Golden Ladder". Each week, a challenger's name is drawn from the barrel. Every wrestler here is eligible. Once a wrestler acquires the TV title, he is then on the Golden Ladder".
He places a card with Ritchie's name on the base of the pyramid. There are 5 slots above it.
LAL: "If a TV champion defends the title successfully FIVE TIMES, they move UP the ladder. If they lose the belt, the new man starts on the bottom of the ladder".
DB: "And what is the reward for reaching the top rung? Cash? A trip, a car?"
LAL: "OPPORTUNITY! The carrot on the stick is to have the opportunity for any match of the lottery winner's choosing!"
WBW: "So the TV champ could get a Canadian Heavyweight title shot..."
LAL: "MUCH more than that! Any match, singles, tags, a battle royale. Any stipulation - a lumberjack match, a loser leaves town match, a handicap or even a no-disqualification stipulation. ANY opponent! Any NWA Champion, ANY wrestler in the WHOLE NWA. Head office has approved this and will make the arrangements".
WBW: "I suspected it was a done deal...but, Layton, it sounds like a good idea and very exciting".
LAL: "Of course! The reward should create a great deal of interest and competition. A few minor details, TV title matches will be WEEKLY, set for ten minutes in duration and the belt only changes hands on a clean, decisive result - a pin or submission. To accomodate the scheduling, the challenger will be drawn the week previous. The barrel contains the names of every man under contract here. So, without further adieu, I'll ask Mr. Watson to draw the name of the man who will face Ron Ritchie NEXT WEEK on the path up the GOLDEN LADDER!"
Watson considers...nods in a agreement, reaches in & passes a card to Beddoes.
DB: "The very first challenger ,,,is DAVID NOVAK! Congratulations, David! And if he is unsuccessful in his first try, there is a chance his name might even be drawn the following week, I suppose..."
Layton looks blank.
LAL: "Errrr, ahhhh...."
WBW: "NO, the name will be removed! This will give every man a chance. If there is a NEW champion or if a man makes it to the top rung, then the barrel is re-stocked".
LAL: "PRECISELY, that is indeed, the procedure. Good luck to Mr. Ritchie and ALL the wrestlers. Good day gentlemen!"
DB: "Sorry to be a bother, Lord, but I see Ron Ritchie is scheduled for a TV title match THIS week..."
LAL: "Errr, wasn't that PRECISELY what I stated? David Novak and Ron Ritchie...TODAY!"
As he departs, he bumps the table. Watson & Beddoes jump to save the pyramid from tipping & the barrel from rolling away. We head to the announce desk. And interrupt a game of solitaire. Milt Avruskin hurriedly sweeps up Sam Menacker's cards.
Slamming Sammy is a bit ticked: "Has the long, drawn-out debate FINALLY ended?"
MA: "Sam, this is EXCITING! I can see the Maple Leaf Canadian TV Title being the most attractive title in wrestling - at this VERY MOMENT, Ron Ritchie is five steps away from facing anybody in the NWA, including the WORLD champ, in ANY sort of match!"
SM: "Well, I caught a BIT of the droning - Ritchie gets a favorable draw to start as David Novak is mainly a tag specialist. We have a break, fans! Can I have the deck, Miltton?"
COMMERCIAL 1 - This week's episode of "Superstarsd of Wrestling" sponsored in part by Lotto 6/49
Norm Kimber introduces our first match.
Match 1 Mike Allen 219 Homasassa FL vs. Don Arakawa 220 Izumi Japan
One fall 10 minutes SM: "Oh, the Light-Heavyweight fellows put on an exciting show, they'll make up for all that blathering at the start!!"
MA: "And as has been speculated, more wrestlers in that weight class are expressing an interest in Maple Leaf...even in Japan! Our newcomer Don Arakawa is well-seasoned and well-travelled. He has toured outside Japan, speaks English well and has held the Puerto Rico tag title".
Add it all up, and he is outclassing young Allen. Not a lot of acrobatics but the clean match ends with a note-worthy fisherman's suplex.
SM: "Some impressive moves from the man from the land of the rising sun. A nice match, no devious tricks at all..."
Milt has to keep an eye on Sammy's political correctness.
MA: "A good debut, and Norm is standing by with another new face!"
At ringside, Norm is joined by that very new face
NK: "A new member of Maple Leaf who has not yet appeared on TV has been gaining popularity AND success at some of our live events...a young man from Florida known as Ed Boulder...welcome, Ed".
EB: "Good to be here, are we on TV?"
NK: "Yes, the red light on the camera is your hint..."
EB: "Great! And I'm having a GREAT time up here...the fans been cheerin' me an' I think I got a NEW nickname!"
NK: "What is that, Ed?"
EB: "During my matches, they been cheering ROCKY! ROCKY! ROCKY! So, I guess I'm "Rocky" Ed Boulder! I've wrestled with a bunch of handles already...Dizzy, Brutus, The Brute, Booty Man (???!!!), I LIKE this "Rocky" Ed".
NK: "When I heard you were headed this way I got some publicity photos, but you usually have longer hair..."
Young Boulder runs his hand over his military-style, flat-top, buzz-cut.
EB: "A mix-up at the BARBER SHOP, but I kinda like it! Anyways, I wanna sign up for the TV belt, where do I buy my tickets?"
We cut to the desk.
SM: "Gollll-ly, he looks a bit like Gomer Pyle but it is nice to see a young man with shorter hair these days. A muscular physique as well. Hang on, what's the commotion?"
Stagehand bringing in a table with the pyramid & barrel (more securely set up, barely a wobble). The card with Ron Ritchie's name is on the bottom slot - slid in next to a card with David Novak's name.
MA: "Someone WILL explain the deal on the TV title to Mr. Ed. But our very first "Golden Ladder" match is coming up NEXT! At the conclusion of the match, we'll reveal the NEXT competitor..."
SM: "Do you or I spin the barrel, Milton? HELLLOOOooo, young lady! Here is Jillian, Tuesday's SUNshine Girl this week! All the way from Barbados as I recall..."
A bubbly big-eyed dark-skinned girl curtsies to Sammy! Hot pants and a bright yellow "SUN" tank-top that may have shrunk in the wash.
MA: "Errr, you're a bit early, hon...we'll have more "Superstars of Wrestling" after this messag".
COMMERCIAL 2 - Ad for Arctic Cat snowmobiles
We go to our premiere "Golden Ladder" TV Title match!
Match 2 - Ron Ritchie © vs. David Novak
One fall 10 minutes Referee Wayne Cashman is reminding big brother Jerry Novak he must leave ringside. We get a blast of our opening theme & Ron Ritchie arrives & we display the belt. Off to the races! And Ron continues to roll! He has more speed and moves than David, it seems. He shows good defense against the brawling style. Novak has no answer for the array of dropkicks and a flying headscissors takedown wows the crowd. Ritchie gets David pretzelled on the mat with the shoulders down for a successful defense.
We go to the announce desk where Sammy lends Jillian a hand.
SM: "Move Ron UP to the next slot my dear...now I'll take the Novak card, we don't need THAT, any more, do we, heh-heh. Now is your big moment, give the barrel a BIG spin...that should do it. NOWWWW, pull out a card, any card, heh-heh...EXCELLENT!"
Close up of smiling Jillian holding a card up that says "RODATAM LE". Huh?
Sam: "Huh, Tamale?"
Diplomatic Milt takes the card and sighs.
"EL MATADOR" - he'll challenge Ron next week! Thank you, Jillian, slide that card on the bottom - WHOOPS, RIGHT way up!"
On to the set bursts El Matador! He hugs Jillian, shakes hands with Milt & Sam and races around the floor shouting "OLE! OLE!"
COMMERCIAL 3 - Irwin Toy Ltd., for Christmas gift-giving, Pound Puppies & Trouble!
Norm is mid-ring, heads up for live events headed to Newmarket, Brampton & Kitchener. And, next week, Ron Ritchie takes on El Matador!
NK: "I'll be speaking a bit later with Johnny Powers, who has..."
Interruption provided by Killer Kowalski entering the ring with Killer Joe Nova.
KK: "The great Johnny Powers, a real favorite in the area...well, let me take the bull by the horns! IF Powers is NOT heading out on yet another junket to the third world, I'd like to welcome him back...you see, Killer Joe Nova has NOT been getting NEARLY enough matches....He needs more work to tune up for KINISKI!"
NK: "I suggest that you could make a request to the matchmakers, sir. Baron Mikel not with you today?"
KK: "Not that it's ANY of your business, nosey Norm, it just so happens the Royal Court of Malta has convened, as the Baron is a ranking member, he may be tied up for some time. Just remember, when you're fawning over Powers, let him know there is a challenge on the table!"
THEY leave and in comes Steven Little Bear with another man in native-motif wrestling garb.
NK "Good to see you Steven, and we're delighted you've got your partner with you!"
SLB: "Yes, I know you'll be doing the formal introduction, Mr. Kimber, but this is Johnny War Eagle! He's got a great deal of experience all over the continent, and we hope once we hear more about the Light-Heavyweight title, that he can be a contender!"
Polite applause turns to JEERING!
The HOLLYWOOD BOMBSHELLS trio is now into the ring...they brush the native pair aside and are holding court. Rip Hawk has a tidbit for the fans.
RH: "We ARE NOT very happy! Wipe that SMIRK off your face, Kimber! I want that barrel inspected, I have TWO men who were CHEATED in the TV tournament...don't ARGUE, Vic hit with a loaded mask, Jerry by a roll of coins. Their names BETTER be in that barrel, get Menacker to check that instead of ogling the models! El Matador, David Novak, what a joke! Ritchie knows we can't stand him & he gets to HIDE behind the rules!"
NK: "Is the Tag Team situation NOW on your agenda, Mr. Hawk?"
RH: "Kimber, you should know that is why we're here in the ring! Hopefully, we'll get some sort of work out of these two bush leaguers".
Match 3 Hollywood Bombshells vs. Steven Little Bear & Johnny War Eagle
One fall 15 minutes MA: "Well, ANOTHER tag team in the mix it seems, Sam. Just weeks ago the Bombshells were hoping some teams might get knocked out of the tag picture, but that really hasn't happened".
SM: "Well, I had no idea who Chief Little Bear might be bringing in, but this new fellow might be better suited to facing the other Light-Heavyweghts...Rossitani is just pummelling War Canoe".
MA: "It's Johnny War EAGLE! Fans, this match WILL continue after our final break!"
COMMERCIAL 4
We return and both Indians are on the floor.
MA: "Fans, Johnny War Eagle was able to tag Steven Little Bear, but the Bombshells hit him with a LOT of double-teaming! We then had a free for all, and the Bombshells were absolutely vicious!"
SM: "I guess Little Bear was holding a gradge against Hawk's team but it sure didn't work out! He was hit...OH, another one!"
A second spike piledriver on the floor! Vic with the hoist, Brown off the apron...
The camera stays on the blonde-o team celebrating in the ring rather than on the carnage on the concrete. Referee Bonello does a very brisk countout as the losers need attention.
Norm steps to ringside and Johnny Powers is out.
NK: "Welcome back, Johnny!"
Powers gives a glance at the mess being tidied up behind them.
JP: "I THINK I'm glad to be back..."
NK: "Things are pretty hot around here! Before I forget, I've been asked by Killer Kowalski..."
JP: "Yes, I heard him. First off, I was not touring any third-world territories, in fact, I find that term pretty insulting and shows Kowalski's lack of class! I don't mind a good Canadian winter, but the weather during my tour of Mexico was fine. And I didn't come here to talk about the weather, I'm here to wrestle, so if there is a spot on next week's show, I'll be happy to face big Joe Nova!"
Crowd cheers, we head to the desk.
MA: "That could be a great Main Event on next week's "Superstars of Wrestling"...as far as this show, goes, we're a bit short on time, here's our final match!"
Match 4 Chris Markoff vs. Jerry Novak
Falls to TV time limit John Bonello is our official assigned but Cashman is out to get Kortsia Korchenko & David Novak to leave - we quickly get a bell.
SM: "Very wise to dispense with the seconds, these men have been around the block and don't need baby-sitting. Say, what did I hear about our third referee?"
MA: "Terry Yorkston asked for leave - he was getting sick of the shenanigans from Beautiful Bruce Productions, especially THE Hangman! And I agree, Sam - Kortsia and David would not add much more to this match, other than interfering and the like!"
SM: "And Markoff is looking very sharp!"
Yes, he is! Jerry has been taking a lot of big boots, now a whip to the buckles. Comrade Chris lowers his head and flies into him with a shoulder-tackle. A bodyslam and a quick pin!
MA: "Markoff takes the first fall! Fans, speaking of Beautiful Bruce, next week his team of Armand Hussein & THE Hangman will face a team of "Rocky" Ed Boulder with a partner to be named...Markoff just threw Jerry Novak over the ropes and there is some confusion..."
Norm Kimber has announced the first fall and is checking with Bronco Alcock, the timekeeper. But Markoff has dropped down to the floor & wants the mic!
SM: "I think Markoff doesn't realize it is falls to TV time and wants to be declared the winner! Norm is explaining.
Markoff clues in. But does not care for the stip. He grabs Novak & hotshots him on a guardrail. HARD. He returns to the ring...after grabbing the mic.
CM: "Make COUNT OUT, he not come back! Best two of three, I am winner! WASTE time with STUPID lottery talk..."
Norm is in and gets his mic.
NK: "It;s NOT 2 of 3, Comrade...oh, the ref has signalled that Jerry Novak can NOT continue. Do you care if I don't bother raising your arm? You are the winner. And I don't know why you are complaining about the lottery, it gives you and Korchenko an equal shot at the title..."
CM: "STUPID LOTTERY, capitalist scam to oppress working-class, wage-slaves...WAIT, WE are in lottery? Never mind, very GOOD idea! And I have IDEA! Great Canadian hero Kiniski! Proud Polish heritage, go look up Russia versus Poland in history book! You beat Kurt Von Steiger and Jerry Valiant, very impressiv - not fight HISTORY and Soviet Russian. Men like Kowalski's man Nova, crazy Masked Strangler...you can wait to challenge Kiniski later - HISTORY determined I am next challenger!"
MA: "There is yet another challenge being made for the NWA Canadian Heavyweight champion! We'll see you next week, everybody...enjoy the Grey Cup weekend and if you're attending in person, take an umbrella!"
RESULTS
- Don Arakawa pinned Mike Allen
- Ron Ritchie pinned David Novak to retain TV title
- Hollywood Bombshells def. Johnny War Eagle & Steven Little Bear via CO
- Chris Markoff def. Jerry Novak 2-0 in TV time limit match
Pages: 1
NWA Maple Leaf TV #12 12/1/82 (Read 227 times)