"Portland Special"
Sports Arena
Portland, OR
2/26/83
 
Don Owen opens the show.
 
Owen, “We love to bring you people these special cards. Usually we wait five, or six, weeks between shows, but you fans have supported as so well, I decided to do this one a little bit early.”
 
“Playboy” Buddy Rose, Rip Oliver and the Assassin come to the ring. Rose takes the mike from Owen.
 
Rose, “Listen to me. You fat, ugly, drunken people in here tonight, you're in for a treat. You showed up for the last matches of two of your heroes. Jimmy Snuka and Matt Borne are leaving wrestling after tonight. Rip is going to send Snuka back to Fiji and I'm going to embarrass Borne so bad, he'll move to Canada and never show his face around here again!”
 
Rose hands the mike back to Owen,
 
Owen, “Rose. You've got a big mouth and I think Matt is going to shut it tonight.”
 
The crowd roars.
 
Match #1
Buck Zumhofe vs. Sheik Ali Hasan
 
The mysterious Sheik meets the popular Rock and Roller. Zumhofe starts like a house afire. He hits the Sheik with two dropkicks and the man from Saudi Arabia rolls out of the ring. Zumhofe stands in the ring and the crowd goes crazy. Hasan returns to the ring and the match continues. It is very close. Both men end up close to the ropes. Hasan covers Buck and uses the ropes for leverage. Referee Sandy Barr doesn't see this and counts the fall.
Winner-Sheik Ali Hasan
 
Match #2
Kevin Kelly vs. Gary Royal
 
These two had a great match on television a couple of weeks ago. They would like to settle things tonight. Royal pulls out every illegal move he can and the” California Hercules” is in trouble. The Portland crowd has taken to Kelly and their cheers rally him. He uses his seize and strength to take over. He clamps on the Full Nelson and Royal submits.
Winner-Kevin Kelly
 
Jimmy Snuka is with Don Owen in the ring.
 
Owen, “With me is Jimmy Snuka. Jimmy, everyone came out tonight to see you beat Rip Oliver. You've come close, but Rose, or the Assassin have stuck their noses into things. We all hope that doesn't happen tonight.”
 
Snuka, “It doesn't matter! I came to win the title and that's what I'm going to do! Let Rose get involved, I'll take care of him too!”
 
Owen, “That's what we want to see.”
 
Match #3
“Playboy” Buddy Rose vs. Matt Borne
 
Rose take the mike from Owen.
 
Rose, “Borne, I warned you! I told you not to show up tonight. You are going to pay and I'm going to make sure that you never wrestle again!”
 
The bell rings and the match is on. Borne is on a great roll and he takes the fight to the “Playboy”. Rose is on his heels and he takes to the floor. Borne follows him and they brawl outside the ring. They both work their way back to the ring. Borne whips Rose into the ropes and clamps on the sleeper. This could be it! Rose makes it to the ropes and referee Sandy Barr calls for the break. Things continue to go Borne's way. He gets several near falls, but Rose kicks out each time. Rose is in the corner, but Borne hesitates. Rose drives a kick to the lower midsection. This turns the tide. Rose goes to work and Borne is busted open. Buddy stays on the cut and Borne is a bloody mess. Rose goes for the cover, but pulls Matt up at two. Barr admonishes the “Playboy', but that doesn't stop Rose. He continues to tear away at Borne's forehead. Matt is a bloody mess. He continues to pull Borne up at two. Finally Barr calls for the bell and awards the match to the “Playboy”, Borne is left in a pool of his own blood.
Winner-Buddy Rose
 
Main Event #1
Northwest Tag Team Championship
Billy Jack and Stan Stasiak (Champions) vs. The New Zealand Sheepherders
 
This will be the stiffest test yet for the Champions. The Sheepherders are on a hot streak and are ready to take the titles. The popular Champions will not give up without a fight. The bell rings and it's Stasiak and Miller. They slug it out and the fans love the action. Stasiak whips Butch into the ropes and back drops him to the math. Stasiak goes for thew cover, but Williams breaks up the count. Stasiak tags in Billy Jack and the powerful youngster locks up with Miller. Billy uses his impressive strength to control the action. Williams tags in and fares not better. Billy clamps the Full Nelson on Williams, but Luke gets to the ropes. The Champions look very good. Stasiak tags in and picks up where Billy left off. The Sheepherders appear desperate. The action spills out to the floor. Stasiak and Miller, the two legal men, battle on the floor. Referee Sandy Barr is busy with Billy and Williams. There is a commotion in the aisle. Sheik Ali Hasan comes to ringside. Suddenly he produces a fireball and it hits Stasiak in the face. He goes down in agony. Miller gets back to the ring and Barr begins to count. Billy rushes to help Stasiak, but Stan is in no condition to get up. Barr's count reaches 20. The New Zealand Sheepherders win by count, but why did the Sheik do this, and what condition is Stasiak in?
Winners-The New Zealand Sheepherders (Count Out)
 
Main Event #2
Northwest Championship
Rip Oliver (Champion)  w/”Playboy” Buddy Rose vs. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka
 
The crowd is hushed. Stasiak was taken to the back with a towel covering his face. Jimmy Snuka comes to the ring and the mood of the crowd changes. They are ready for the “Superfly” to take the title. Oliver and and Rose enter next. It's been a good night, so far, for them. Rose destroyed Matt Borne and he is riding high. Referee Sandy Barr gives instructions. Oliver tries to jump jimmy before the bell, but the “Superfly” is ready. He lands rights and lefts and Oliver is stunned. Snuka whips Oliver into the corner and follows in with an elbow to the jaw. He tries to whip Rip out of the corner, but the Champion reverses it. Snuka hits the opposite corner. He staggers out and Oliver goes for the shoulderbreaker. Jimmy blocks it and bodyslams Oliver. He goes for the cover, but Rip kicks out at two and nine tenths! Snuka was this close to taking the title! Oliver drives his controversial thumb into Zjimmy's throat. This slows the “Superfly”.  Oliver keeps up the attack on the throat. Oliver backs Jimmy into the corner. Jimmy fights his way out. The crowd gets behind him. Jimmy slams Rip to the mat. Rose climbs up on the ring apron. Snuka dropkicks him to the floor. He then climbs to the top rope. Snuka hits the Superfly Spalsh! Barr counts 1...2...3! Jimmy Snuka is the Northwest Champion! He stands in the ring, holding the title over his head as the crowd goes wild!
Winner-Jimmy Snuka (New Northwest Champion)

Haven't gotten to comment on your shows lately, but don't think I haven't been reading!
 
This was another great card.  Snuka put a nice exclamation point on his months long chase of Oliver.  Good to see him get the belt.
 
Interested to see what happens to the tag team champions now that Stasiak is most likely hurt.
 
"Easy" Ed is noticeably absent recently.  I hope Rose gives some sort of explanation for it soon.
 
Great work as always Tom.  Still my favorite read on the board every week.