NWA Maple Leaf Wrestling TV
"Superstars of Wrestling"
Saturday December 22nd 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 December 21st. Syndicated broadcast on regional channels.
We open the show in the interview area. Our occasional interviewer, popular Toronto sports scribe Dick Beddoes is with "Big Thunder" Gene Kiniski. The champ has the NWA Canadian belt over a shoulder and he calls for quiet from an especially raucous studio crowd.
GK: "Dick, it is SO loud here, I missed what you asked!"
DB: "Well, it is pretty redundant now, champ! I WAS going to ask if you expected the fan support in your EIGHT MAN tag match today!"
Which prompts MORE reaction, heck I think the Polish National Anthem is being sung! Gene leans in tight to the mic.
GK: "It just so happens a lot of the tickets today were snapped up by the Hamilton White Eagle Lodge..."
The Polish cultural club members now cheer THEMSELVES!
GK: "And the Russians and Germans won't get ANY cheers from my friends! Now, Dick, I understand you have come into possession of a video-tape".
DB: "Yes, Gene - direct from THE SHEIK, let's see what the Arabian madman has to say..."
VTR
The Sheik AND Sheik Ali by his side!
Sheik: "The stars are pointing me in the direction of Toronto on December 29 - Maple Leaf Gardens, where for SO LONG, so MANY have bowed down in humilation and defeat to ME! No matter how loud I hear the fans BOO, and WAIL and CRY - I have left a trail of blood and broken bones ahahahahhhhh!"
And WHAT do I find there NOW? A man named Kiniski and he is holding a championship belt...FOR ME to take. My CLOSE associate, my confidant, my blood-brother, the GREAT Sheik Ali, tells that Kiniski, COWARD DOG that he is, has assembled a gang of GOONS to help him! Kiniski, your friends will be useful - as your PALL-BEARERS for when I CRUSH you!"
Ali has been silent, until NOW joining the Grand Poobah of Arab wrestlers in a final maniacal...
"AH-HAHAHAHA! HOO HO, AH-HAHAHAHAHHHH!!!" END VTR
And cut to the desk for Milt Avruskin and Sam Menacker.
MA: "Welcome again to "Superstars of Wrestling" and after that message, I can't say more emphatically, HAPPY HOLIDAYS to ALL...despite what The Sheik and Ali have on their minds".
SM: "I don't like recalling this, Milton, but the VERY LAST time I was in a wrestling ring, it was against The Sheik AND his nefarious manager Eddie Creatchman. The Sheik is the most sadistic monster I've ever come across".
MA: "Thanks for sharing that, Sam...as you may have noticed, we have the GOLDEN LADDER set up behind us already. Given the full slate today, we will start with our TV title match!"
SM: "And thinking of what a lunatic The Sheik is, Ron Ritchie's opponent today seems to be cut from the same cloth".
Match 1 Ron Ritchie © vs. The Masked Strangler
One fall 10 minutes
MAPLE LEAF CANADIAN TELEVISION TITLE Awkward pause after Norm Kimber does the introductions in the vacant ring. Properly, we SHOULD have the challenger handy, but we get a blast of our fanfare theme to herald Ron's appearance...and NOW racing out behind him...
MA: "Good heavens, The Masked Strangler is showing us how seriously he is taking this opportunity! Our back-up referees are pulling him off the champ!"
SM: "A sneaky ambush planned & plotted by the psycho!"
Ritchie staggers on to the apron, senior ref Wayne Cashman struggles to make the patdowns as Masked Strangler is in full-throttle mode - Wayne makes sure the belt is taken FAR away. Just in case.
SM: "A good backdrop on the charging masked man, Ritchie has his wits about him!"
And Ron gamely battles back, but the Strangler has a counter every time, and not all textbook wrestling. Ritchie's head is gathering welts & scrapes from turnbuckle shots, flesh is raised from a back-rake...Strangler ducks a desperation back-elbow & turns it into an atomic drop. Now a scoopslam and a powerbomb.
MA: "I thought he'd try a cover after that hard shot, Sam!"
Handful of hair & Ritchie is flung through the ropes, and the masked maniac is on the floor now. A backbreaker - a bodyslam on the floor...
SM: "The fans are getting really worked up here, Milton"
Ron is whipped to the apron - referee leans out to remind the pair he is WELL into a 20-count. The Strangler growls in response & has a solution! Good luck on a countout when you CAN'T call for the bell! Which is lifted off the timekeeper's desk and smashed on top of Ritchie's head.
SM: "Bell or no bell, Milt - this IS a double-countout! But The Masked Strangler has Ritchie...is he going for a PILEDRIVER?"
Who knows? ROCKY ED BOULDER is out for the save! He drops an elbow on the back of the mask...out is Black Diamond! He pulls Ritchie from harm's way. Masked Strangler & Rocky have fingers in each others' faces, when MS sees BD approaching as well, he waves his arms in disgust and makes tracks.
Norm clarifies.
"As a result of the DOUBLE-COUNTOUT, there is NO WINNER & Ron Ritchie REMAINS the TV champion!"
That, and recognition of Black Diamond & Rocky Ed helping Ron out, takes us to break with a LOUD cheer.
COMMERCIAL 1 - In theaters now - Trail of the Pink Panther
We should draw the name of Ron Ritchie's next opponent.
MA: "An unusual result, but who knows how the mind of The Masked Strangler works? The main thing is that Ron Ritchie is now ONE match away from climbing to the TOP of the GOLDEN LADDER and being able to have any type of match against ANY opponent! And this week, our SUNshine Girl who will make that VERY important draw, comes from a faraway land, but is now finding success here as an...entertainer, please welcome Svetlana!"
What better or more chic for holiday entertaining than a satiny black cocktail gown, backless & spaghetti straps...
SM: "Oh, Svetlana is having great success, I have caught her act at "Chez Paree:, va-va-va-voom!"
The statuesque "entertainer" has long lashes and high cheekbones. How does she address Sammy's drooling adulation? She flicks a length of her LONG, straight dark hair. With a bored, cool expression. Cool expression? It would frost you beer mug. She spins the barrel, and flirting with gravity's powers, leans over & inserts a hand with dagger-like nails! Might make it harder to get a grip as the hand rustles in the barrel. Ah!
She got one out & passes it to Milt, whose eyes pop at the blood-red talons offering the card.
MA: "What LOVELY nails...ha-ha, seems to have put a CREASE in the card".
Milt flattens the bent corner & announces next week's ultimate challenger is...
.
.
.
.
VIC ROSSITANI!
Sam raises an eyebrow as he slides the card next to Ritchie's on rung 5 of the display.
SM: "Hang on, Svetlana..."
MA: "Hang on fans, HERE COMES RON RITCHIE!"
None to sprightly, looks a bit puzzled.
RR: "Hang on, WHO did you say, Rossitani? Well, that's fine...Rip Snort & his bottle-blondes have been a thorn in my side...WHY is that card rigged - it has a BENT corner..."
Sultry, seductive Svetlana bats her eyelashes at Ron's inference...cripes, the iceberg is staring Ron down! In the background...
.
.
.
JERRY BROWN & RIP HAWK! Jerry done found the TV belt!
And lays Ritchie out across the announce desk with a mighty good wallop! This was a hit & run operation, the loathesome pair mirthfully go to the "run", BUT...
.
.
.
.
FREAKING ED BOULDER...AGAIN! U-turn from the Bombshell boys, a circuit around the howling studio...oh The Caribbean Sunshine Boys now in the chase. Hawk & Brown find a secret emergency exit. As apparently, Svetlana also had reason to slink off. Ritchie is on his knees holding his head.
RR: "Let me guess...Rip Snort?"
SM: "Well, it was BROWN swinging the belt..."
RR: "I'd like to run all them jerks out of town..."
MA: "You concentrate on being 100% ready for next week, champ! Fans, when we return, we'll have a semi-final match for the NWA Canadian Light-Heavyweight title!"
COMMERCIAL 2 - Today's show is sponsored in part by A & W...Follow the Great Root Bear
Norm Kimber is mid-ring. He offers a Merry Christmas and suggests a family outing over the holidays for LIVE Maple Leaf action! Wednesday the 26th features a Boxing Day Battle Royale in Cayuga, Thursday in Waterloo, the BIG HOLIDAY SPECIAL at Maple Leaf Gardens on the 29th and a special afternoon card in Hamilton at the Forum on New Year's Day!
At the desk...
SM: "Boy, this Rocky Ed Boulder is turning into our resident Dudley Do-Gooder! He's mingling with the fans, wearing MY Santa's hat!"
MA: "A darn good thing as Rocky saved Ron Ritchie from a real beating...TWICE, already! Oh, he's headed this way as we are set for the first Light-Heavyweight semi-final".
Match 2 - "Downtown" Denny Brown vs. Robbie Stewart
One fall 10 minutes Boulder sits in.
REB: "Hey, Santa Rock HAS to wish Merry Christmas an' a ho-ho-ho Hanukkah for you guys, too! Say, I heard the White Eagle Lodge was comin' - I thought they was gonna be INDIANS, but Johnny War Eagle straightened me out!"
In the ring, a brisk pace. Duelling hip-tosses, dropkicks & armdrags.
REB: "After what we saw so far, THIS is a nice change - both these guys are clean, technical types but they're really goin' at 'er!"
Stewart has hit some headlock takeovers, Brown has headscissors counters.
MA: "Ed, you had some hot words with Jerry Valiant last week and issues today with The Masked Strangler..."
REB: "Two real TURKEYS I don't want for Christmas dinner! I wonder if I can get a TAG match 'gainst the TWO of 'em on the HOLIDAY SPECIAL! Hey, I'm going to ask Whipper Billy RIGHT NOW!"
Denny Brown shows some strength as he gets Stewart on the second rope for a belly-to-back...a messy landing, Robbie tries rolling out. Brown clamps a leg into a spinning toe-hold, now an Indian Death Lock! Robbie flails his arms in agony, NOW in submission!
SM: "Denny Brown has shown great patience, waiting through months and a revolving door of challengers. NOW he has a ticket punched for the 29th. We'll find out later, will he face Arakawa-san or the ear-splitting Zumhofe".
MA: "Before THAT we have a special MASK VERSUS MASK challenge, Black Diamond & THE Hangman..."
We have a highlight clip of the interaction thus far - Hangman & Hussein walking out of a match with Boulder & Black Diamond and Black Diamond's debut when Beautiful Bruce HAD a crew & The Masked Strangler was abusing the Great Malumba.
COMMERCIAL 3
We return to Norm Kimber in mid-ring. Beautiful Bruce showing some loyalty! He gives THE Hangman a backpat, then settles in as cornerman with water bottle & towel. Black Diamond enters & we get the bell.
Match 3 Black Diamond vs. THE Hangman
One fall 10 minutes
LOSER'S MASK WILL BE REMOVED! A cautious BD asks ref John Bonello to double-check whether THE Hangman has his mask loaded up. Looks OK.
MA: "THE Hangman had used a foreign object over a month ago, it really has been chaotic since then".
SM: "Particularly chaotic for Beautiful Bruce - he has aligned himself with Sheik Ali, and I thought Ali had fired BOTH Armand Hussein AND the masked Hangman. I wonder if Brucie has Ali's permission to be here. Which referee WAS it, Milton, that sniffed out the loaded mask?"
A hook-up is inconclusive, Hangman suggests a test of strength, they lace the fingers. Oh, Hangman with a kneelift but BD hangs in & gets a better results by stomping both of HM's feet, now a headlock takeover & scrabbling at the mask's laces.
SM: "Black Diamond has the laces loosened a bit. Oh, The Hangman is choking him now!"
Brucie is arguing vehemently, wants the Hangman to pop out for a chat. Black Diamond snags an arm, pulls him back from the ropes & drops some elbows to the skull & a spot-on lariat.
MA: "THE Hangman is down & Diamond is after the hood again! Oh, Sheik Ali is now watching from the wings and looks MIGHTILY chaffed at Bruce..."
And the mask is looser. Bruce is oblivious to Ali watching on, he's more worried about THE Hangman's wardrobe! The mask is now SO loose, Black Diamond has the nose-hole with a Hangman EAR poking out! Blindman's bluff? Not really, those are chops to the chest, now a snapmare, a scoopslam...was that an elbow or a knee to my chest? Oh, well the lights in the rafters aren't shining in his eyes...we have a three-count! A very quick armraise & Black Diamond now in a tug-of-war! Bruce on the apron (no wimp is Swayze), yanking an arm, BD grabs the head! Bruce gives a MIGHTY yank that pulls Hangman right out of the hood! But the TOWEL was ready - NO identification as Bruce leads the former masked man away. Doesn't even notice Sheik Ali in a foul frame of mind.
MA: "Gosh, the man gets out of the studio with that towel hiding his face! But look in the ring, Sam!"
Norm wanted a word with the winner, but HANG ON, Black Diamond is removing HIS mask...almost.
BD: "Norm, I'll be shocked if I fooled you! On this side of the border I rarely ever used a disguise, but in the States, I was often the mysterious masked Black Diamond..."
One last yank!
.
.
.
.
.
To reveal TERRY YORKSTON!
TY: "Guys were getting out of hand here, ESPECIALLY THE Hangman so I took a break from reffing to get one last shot in the ring to teach a...HEY you big APE!"
Sheik Ali is in & grabs the mic. He pushes Yorkston aside.
Ali: "Very good trick! I do like it...now go jump in a lake, THIS is for BRUCE! You waste my time with Hangman, who can't beat pudgy old referees? I GAVE YOU A JOB! Find me a partner or YOU will need a mask, TOO!"
Norm is feeling frisky.
NK: "Sheik Ali, you'll be interested in that I get a LOT of questions about YOU! Folks ARE curious...ARE you ever going to wrestle or are you just TALKING up a storm?"
Now, Yorkston has to step in between these two!
COMMERCIAL 4
We return to the desk.
SM: "We should let the fans know Norm Kimber IS safe and sound after putting a pretty good dig in on Ali...who had NO answer!"
MA: "If I ever get in a pickle with the likes of Ali, I can count on you, right Sam? Sam? At the Gardens on the 29th, we have our first opportunity in quite a while to see an NWA WORLD title match. Currently, the TAG champs are Gino Hernandez & Jim Garvin, and heeeeeere they are..."
VTR
Jimmy the talker, Gino looking pretty intense.
JG: "Gino, we're clear with the Border Patrol, NO reason we can't head up to the frozen north on the 29th. LUCKY US!"
GH: "I don't have any sled dogs, do YOU, Jimmy?"
JG: "Nope but I hear the women in Toronto will do in a pinch! ARFF! Now, the two mutts we face are..."
GH: "The Von Something Brothers. Very original".
JG: "Von Schteiger I think, buddy. A couple of brawling Bavarians, get this, they're COMMIE cabbage-heads!"
Gino yawns.
GH: "I'll bring some mustard for them...DOES Toronto have an airport, we got BETTER things to do on the 31st, you know...with REAL challengers".
JG: "If we get snowed in, Gino, we'll hitch some husky Toronto beauties up to a sled and MUSH all the way to Chattanooga!"
High-fiving belly laughs. END VTR
SM: "A couple of pampered prima donnas it seems, AND looking ahead to another match...You know I don't care for the Von Steigers, but that MIGHT work in their favor. Hmmm, "cabbage-heads", I think I'll borrow that!"
Norm has intro's! Not a scratch on him!
Match 4 "Rock & Roll" Buck Zumhofe vs. Don Arakawa
One fall 10 minutes Arakawa in the ring. Buck gets the pop, entering in elf hat, Santa jacket & on the boombox...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6xNuUEnh2g Sam cuts him some slack!
SM: "Well, the music IS seasonal, not his usual ACID ROCK or whatever the kids call it..."
We speedily move to the bell. Milt also in a Christmas spirit, passes up on ribbing the old fuddy-duddy.
MA: "The winner here faces "Downtown" Denny Brown to crown the Canadian Light-Heavyweight champ in a TWO out of THREE FALLS match on the 29th".
Arakawa with a fast start, surprising Zumhofe, who is on his knees with a nerve hold in place.
SM: "Now, I am no expert at the Oriental style, but I believe it is better to wear a man down more before trying...YES, as I was about to say the crazy HIPPIE was able to snap Arakawa over! I was talking to our visitor from Nippon and was surprised to find out he is NOT related to the great Mitsu Arakawa..."
Don perseveres, knocking Buck for a loop with a spinning heel kick, now an armwringer.
MA: "Possibly the name is as common in Japan as Menacker or Avruskin is over here, Sam".
Don steps over Zum's arm & turns the hold into a bar that drops the Zummer to his knees in excruciation.
SM: "That is a good point, Milton".
Someone sniff the eggnog in Sammy's mug, willya?
Buck tries forearm smashes, but with each blow, Arakawa gives another painful yank. He now rolls - to the middle of the ring, still with the arm trapped but now has the bare feet wedged on Bucky's head & armpit!
MA: "Gosh, we are seeing some creative moves here!"
BZH has an out, he leans forward & referee notes that pins Don's shoulders...a couple of one-counts before Don switches the attack. Lengthy exchange of chops, but Buck has only one wing working well & Arakawa corners him in the buckles - hammerlock on the gimpy strut & hair-assisted buckle shots. Bonello gets the break but Arakawa is a step ahead - a Northern Lights suplex and Buck does not have the strength to escape!
MA: "A bit of an upset but in a clean match - Don Arakawa moves on to face Denny Brown!"
Buck is leaning on the ropes, angrily shaking his head. Arakawa takes the armraise, taps Buck and BOWS to him...Buck now offers a handshake.
Knowing what is next, we get to our final break with the White Eagle Glee Club with an impromptu a capella carol in Polish!
COMMERCIAL 5
We return with a riot in progress!
Match 5 - Kurt & Karl Von Steiger, Chris Markoff & Kortsia Korchenko vs. Gene Kiniski, Mighty Igor, The Great Wojo & Moose Morowski
Eight man tag team match One fall 10 minutes MA: "Once again, fans, you could shoot off a cannon in here and it wouldn't be heard! We have had 6 minutes of wildness and no decision as yet!"
SM: "And none in sight, Milt, referee Cashman is letting them GO!"
Kiniski & Igor play mix & match, whipping a Von Steiger into a Russki! Oh, Kortsia is legal and Mighty Igor clamps the hug on! He steers double-K over so we get a look at the GREAT WOJO! Oh my, he can throw an uppercut forearm with some power behind it AND has the kneelift / headslam timing down good.
MA: "A youthful mistake, he whipped Korchenko to a neutral corner, but Markoff was there to pull his Comrade over to the Von Steigers - Kurt tags in and...BOY! Moose Morowski has a set of lungs! He tells Wojo to tag out!"
SM: "The alliance makes no sense to me, these Soviets may very well miss the boat on staying contenders, if they keep sticking with the Von Steigers. I sure can see an all-Polish team making a bid for the belts!"
After going toe-to-toe, Moose & Kurt topple over the ropes & carry on things on the floor...but they are not alone for long!
MA: "Wayne Cashman watches on, hoping the legal men will return...oh, Kiniski & Igor heave Kurt back as if he were a snowball! Moose should be OK, he just noggin-knockered The Soviets!"
We get a stretch that resembles a match! One on one with legal tags. Wojo & Karl...the muscular youngster hits a spinebuster. Panic-stricken Karl butt-scoots home & tags the first arm he can find.
Well, hellllooo, Korchenko! Walk right into MY bear-hug, why dontcha?
The roof is lifting off the studio...
SM: "This is something, wrestling fans! Without the leverage advantage, you have to be ONE STRONG MAN for a simple bearhug to be a submission. Easy for rangy guys like Kiniski or Morowski, but Wojo is a power-lifter type and the grip is being tightened!"
And any move by Kortsia to escape gets a further cinching in reply and Korchenko cries NYET! NYET!
MA: "IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL NEXT WEEK EVERYONE! HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND PLEASE, DON'T DRINK & DRIVE!"
RESULTS
- Ron Ritchie vs. Masked Strangler ends as DCO
Ritchie retains belt & moves to 5th rung of THE GOLDEN LADDER!
- Denny Brown pins Robbie Stewart
- Black Diamond pins THE Hangman
- Don Arakawa pins Buck Zumhofe
ARAKAWA & BROWN to meet in LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
- Great Wojo submits Kortsia Korchenko to win eight-man tag match
Pages: 1
NWA Maple Leaf TV #15 12/22/82 (Read 93 times)