Armory
Salem, OR
2/14/83
 
Don Owen and Dutch Savage are in the ring.
 
Owen, “We're here in Salem for our 'Salem Tournament'. We've had this for a long time. Dutch won it and so did Lonnie Mayne, Bull Ramos and a lot of others. Dutch, this is always an exciting night.”
 
Savage, “It is. I remember beating Jesse Ventura in the finals one year. It was one of the best matches I had in my career.”
 
Owen, “Tonight is going to be one of the best ones we've ever had. Here's how it works. We start with a battle royal and when eight guys are left we stop and draw for the tournament.”
 
Savage, “Don's right his is going to be a great night. We also have one non-tournament match. The New Zealand Sheepherders take on Joe Lightfoot and Billy White Cloud.”
 
Owen, “Let's get the battle royal started.”
 
Battle Royal
Entrants-The Assassin, Moondog Moretti. Matt Borne, Pat McGinnis, Sheik Ali Hasan, Kevin Kelly, Tiny Anderson, “Playboy" Buddy Rose, Buck Zumhofe, Verne Seibert, Buck Ramstead, and Ed Wiskoski
 
Order of Elimination
1. Tiny Anderson (by All participants)
2. Pat McGinnis (by Rose and Wiskoski)
3. Moondog Moretti (by Borne and Kelly)
4. Verne Seibert (by Rose)
 
Owen and Savage are in the ring. They have a box with them.
 
Owen, “Dutch is going to draw out the eight names for the tournament.  
 
Savage, “The first match up is Kevin Kelly vs. Sheik Ali Hasan, second is Matt Borne and the Assassin, third is Buck Zumhofe vs. Ed Wiskoski and finally, Buddy Rose vs. Buck Ramstead.”
 
Owen, “Let's start the tournament.
 
Quarter Final
Kevin Kelly vs. Sheik Ali Hasan
 
Hasan is all business, no magic tricks tonight. He attacks Kelly before the bell. He works over the big Californian and things look good for him. Kelly rallies ans uses his size and strength, but Hasan takes down and uses the ropes for leverage and gets the pin.
Winner-Sheik Ali Hasan
 
Quarter Final
Matt Borne vs. The Assassin w/”Playboy” Buddy Rose
 
Borne is outnumbered in this one. Rose does not get involved, physically, but he tries his best to distract Borne. The Assassin goes for a cradle, but Borne rolls through and referee Sandy Barr counts the fall. Borne beats the Assassin! Rose is livid!
Winner-Matt Borne
 
Quarter Final
Buck Zumhofe vs. Ed Wiskoski w/”Playboy” Buddy Rose
 
Wiskoski controls the early moments of the match. Zumhofe is in trouble. The Salem crowd gets behind Buck and he rallies. Wiskoski goes for a backdrop, but Zumhofe uses a Sunset Flip for the win. What an upset!
Winner-Buck Zumhofe
 
Quarter Final
“Playboy” Buddy Rose vs. Buck Ramstead
 
This match is all Rose. He manhandles Ramstead and wins with a Piledriver.
Winner-Buddy Rose
 
Semi-Final
Matt Borne vs. Sheik Ali Hasan
 
Borne has been on an incredible hot streak, but the man from Saudi Arabia will be a big test. The Sheik jumps Borne before the bell. He works over Matt and things don't look for for the man from Milwaukie. Hasan chokes Borne in the corner. Referee Sandy Barr counts, but Hasan breaks at four each time. Borne is in trouble, but manages to escape. He then takes the fight to Hasan and we have a brawl. Borne catches the Arab in an inside cradle for the win. Matt Borne is in the final!
Winner-Matt Borne
 
Semi-Final
Buck Zumhofe vs. “Playboy” Buddy Rose
 
Rose looks very confident, but you can't take Zumhofe lightly. Zumhofe starts the match with two quick dropkicks and Rose is stunned. He rolls out of the ring and regroups. He takes time to argue with the ringsiders. He returns and pulls out all the usual tricks. He is able to catch Buck with the Piledriver and get the pin. It's Rose vs. Borne in the Final.
Winner-Buddy Rose
 
Special Tag Team Match
Joe Lightfoot and Billy White Cloud vs. The New Zealand Sheepherders
 
This is the one non-tournament match on the card tonight. The bell rings and it's Butch Miller vs. Joe Lightfoot. The Algonquin Indian, from Canada, is sharp and Miller is on the retreat. He tags in Luke Williams he attacks Lightfoot. He traps in the Kiwi corner and both Sheepherders go to work. Lightfoot is able to escape and tag in White Cloud. Billy has his moments, but the Sheepherders are too much. They use the Double Gutbuster on White Cloud for the win.
Winners-New Zealand Sheepherders
 
Final
Matt Borne vs. “Playboy” Buddy Rose w/Rip Oliver
 
Borne is waiting in the ring when Rose and Oliver come to the ring. Borne leaves the ring and goes to the back. Rose grabs the mike from Don Owen.
 
Rose, “I knew it! Borne's chicken! He doesn't want any part of me!”
 
Borne comes back to the ring with...”Superfly” Jimmy Snuka with him.
 
Rose, “No way! Get him out of here! He doesn't belong out here!”
 
Owen takes the mike from Rose.
 
Owen, “If Oliver is out here, Jimmy can stay.”
 
Rose argues, but both men will stay. The bell rings and the match begins. Both men are at their best. The fans hate Rose, but he is very talented. Both men have their chances. Every time Oliver looks to interfere, Snuka moves towards him and Rip retreats. Borne traps Rose in the sleeper. Olver starts to enter the ring, but Snuka grabs him, spins him around and decks him. Meanwhile in the ring, Rose is out! Matt Borne is the Salem Tournament Champion! Dutch Savage and Don Owen present the trophy to Borne. Snuka, Buck Zumhofe, Kevin Kelly, Billy White Cloud and Joe Lightfoot come to the ring to celebrate with Borne.
Winner-Matt Borne (Salem Tournament Champion)

Having been a Matt Borne fan for quite some time, I really marked out for this. Great showing from Hassan. The Clan really had some holes in it tonight. Always like seeing a Sheepherders victory. Heads up, Tom. I will be stealing this idea for here, and on all the alternate Earths.
 
Great stuff.

Thanks for the feedback guys. The Salem Tournament was an annual event for Don Owen. I don't know if they used the Battle Royal elimination all the time, but I know they used it on a few occasions. It really was a good way to elevate certain wrestlers and further storylines. With Owen only having 14-15 guys at a time, the entire roster could be in the battle royal. I've got 24, so I kept some of the bigger names, Billy Jack, Stasiak, Snuka, etc out of it. I thought the tag match would be a nice change of pace and give the two finalists a rest period before their match.

Thanks for adding the background on this tournament, Tom.  A fun twist that you worked very well.  A good example of the bonus details we get here.
 
Things are looking very good.  I have a feeling that you have some young stars in the making here that will develop well.  I REALLY like the shine you have given your Sheik, a guy that could be taken for granted might be in the best spot for him.