International Wrestling TV 11/19/87: TOURNEY + GARVIN SHOCK!

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INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING TV
11/19/1987


Airing on: CTV affiliates CFCT in Montreal, CFTO in Toronto, CJCH in Halifax, CKCO in Kitchener, CKCW in Moncton, CJOH in Ottawa, CKLT in St John and CICI in Sudbury.


Montreal, Quebec, Canada
The Forum
Host: Milt Avruskin
Referees: Paul LeDuc, Billy Red Lyons and Sandy Scott.



Milt Avruskin: ‘Hello and welcome to the Montreal Forum - the site of the International Heavyweight Title tournament. We’ll bring you the first round round right here live on International Wrestling TV tonight - and then the action will continue to unfold for these fans in attendance. Let’s take a look at the opening bracket.”

INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT 11/26/87
Jacques Rougeau vs. Leo Burke
Rick Martel vs. Ronnie Garvin
The Great Samu vs. Dino Bravo
Terry Gordy vs. Dan Kroffat

Milt Avruskin: ‘Let’s not waste anymore time - it’s time for the first tournament match!’


INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT:
QUARTER-FINALS
JACQUES ROUGEAU V/S LEO BURKE



This is a collision between two of the great wrestling families in Eastern Canadian professional wrestling. Milt Avruskin reveals that Leo’s two brothers Bobby and Rudy Kay will be in action later in the night against Eddie Creatchman’s terrifying twosome of Kamala and the One Man Gang. This match starts off very scientific, with with Leo and Jacques shaking hands and then matching technical holds for quite a few minutes.


However, tempers flare with an errant elbow from Leo catches Jacques in the eye. The two really bring the fight to one other another from that point, with Leo almost scoring the win with a brutal backbreaker. However, Burke misses a running knee drop and is then caught flush on the chin with a forearm from Rougeau. Jacques goes up for the flying elbow smash and stays on top for the three count. There’s a tense standoff after the match - until Leo Burke shakes Jacques Rougeau’s hand and raises his arm in victory.


WINNER: JACQUES ROUGEAU


Milt Avruskin: ‘An exciting start to the tournament! We’ll be right back as the grudge match gets under way - Ricky Martel against Ronnie Garvin!’




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COMMERCIAL


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[VTR]
International Wrestling 11/12/87
-- Joined in progress --


Rick Martel shoots Gordy off the ropes and connects with a cross-body block for a close two count. Rick Martel heads over to his corner and makes the tag to Ronnie Garvin, who enters the match for the first time here.


Ronnie Garvin steps into the ropes, looks over at Gordy and then swings around and drills his own Rick Martel with one of his patented hands of stone! Down goes Rick Martel and then Ronnie starts pounding away with the Garvin Stomp!


Dino Bravo is up now and he charges into the ring and shoves Garvin, who stares at him blankly, hops out to the floor and takes off to the dressing room! What the heck was that about?


[End VTR]


Milt Avruskin: ‘Ricky Martel and Ronnie Garvin demanded to face each other in the first round of International Heavyweight Title tournament. Promoter George Cannon made it happen - and here we go!'


INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
QUARTER-FINALS
RONNIE GARVIN V/S RICK MARTEL


The man with the Hands of Stone is heavily booed as he saunters down the aisle here at the Montreal Forum - even though this is technically a hometown crowd for him. However, the fans are on their feet as Rick Martel jumps Garvin on his way down the aisle and these two start brawling all over the ringside area. Martel whips Garvin into the guard rail and then charges, only for Ronnie to move out of the way. Martel collides into the steel and is then tossed into the ring by Ronnie Garvin.


The Rugged One immediately goes for the Garvin Stomp, but when he gets to the mid-section Martel grabs his foot and shoves him down. Martel is struggling to the feet as Garvin continues to pummel him with kicks to the midsection, until Rick whirls around and decks Garvin right across the face! A stunned Garvin stumbles back, as Martel propels himself off the ropes on sheer willpower with a flying forearm smash.


Rick Martel is now in control as he suplexes Garvin to the canvas for a two count. Rick Martel perches and catches a groggy Garvin with cross-body block for another two. Now Martel goes to whip Garvin off the ropes, but Ronnie reverses course and sends Martel crashing right into referee Billy Red Lyons!


Garvin tries to pounce, but Martel catches him with a dropkick that sends Ronnie falling to the canvas. Now Rick Martel is trying to help a dazed Billy Red Lyons back up, only to get a knee from behind by Garvin. Martel falls out to the floor and as he’s pulling himself, a granny in front row starts screaming at him! This old lady is screaming bloody murder at Ricky Martel, who turns around to see just who’s hollering at him. The woman immediately sprays him in the eyes with something from an aerosol can!


Hold on a second, now, the man sitting next to her whips off his hat and jacket! The woman takes off her own granny wig and spectacles to reveal:




‘GORGEOUS’ JIMMY GARVIN AND PRECIOUS!!!


Jimmy Garvin jumps the rail and starts pounding on a blinded Ricky Martel! Gorgeous Jimmy hurls Martel into the post and then tosses him back into the ring for his brother Ronnie. Only now is referee Billy Red Lyons coming to as Ronnie Garvin drills a blinded Martel with the knockout punch. Ronnie with the cover and it’s an academic three count! What a scam by the reunited Garvin brothers! Jimmy, Ronnie and Precious celebrate on their way back to the dressing room as Billy Red Lyons tends to the fallen Rick Martel.


WINNER: RONNIE GARVIN


Milt Avruskin: ‘This is absolutely disgusting! Ronnie and Jimmy Garvin are back together, and that’s bad news from everyone in International Wrestling.’

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COMMERCIAL BREAK


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Clary Fleming: ‘Fans, I join you from the backstage area where I’ve caught up with ‘Gorgeous’ Jimmy Garvin, Ronnie Garvin and Precious. You three just stole a tournament win!’


Jimmy Garvin: ‘What on earth are you talkin’ about? The way I see it, it’s Rick Martel’s fault. It’s not my fault! It’s not my fault, man! It’s not my fault that Rick Martel smelled so bad that Squeeze just couldn’t take it! Let me just say to you Squeeze, thank you for doing the heroic thing! If I’d had about two seconds more of that, I’d have puked!’


Precious: 'You're welcome, Gorgeous!’


Clary Fleming: ‘Nobody is buying that, Jimmy! Now, you’re going to have to watch behind every corner because Rick Martel is going for you!’


Jimmy Garvin: ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah! You think we’re scared of Lil' Stinky Martel? Take a shower and then come find us, man! The Garvins aren’t hard to find.”


Ronnie Garvin: ‘You see that, Jacques Rougeau?! You’re next!’


Clary Fleming: ‘A disgusting display by the Garvins.’


Jimmy Garvin: ‘Watch it, four-eyes!’


INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
QUARTER-FINALS
DINO BRAVO V/S THE GREAT SAMU (w/ Eddie Creatchman)



We have another unexpected visitor before the match as a familiar face returns to International Wrestling! Once The Great Samu and Eddie ‘The Brain’ Creatchman are in the ring, they’re surprised by the Polynesian Prince Alofa! Alofa seems distressed as he tries to talk to Samu - pointing to Eddie Creatchman and shaking his head. Now Alofa and Creatchman are arguing, until Samu gets in Alofa’s face! Alofa won’t back down and it’s no more talking now. These two are face-to-face!




However, Canadian Heavyweight Champion Dino Bravo is in the ring now and he pulls the Polynesian Prince away from Samu and Creatchman. Alofa shakes hands with Bravo and backs out of the ring, never taking his eyes of Samu. Alofa stands at ringside as Bravo and Samu lock up for a match that sold out the Paul Sauve Arena many times over the last few years. Bravo and Samu have victories over one another, and tonight a win will mean advancement in the International Heavyweight Title tournament.

It’s a hard-hitting bout as Samu and Bravo are both powerful men who aren’t afraid to leave their feet. Samu almost scores the win with a flying headbutt off the second rope. When Eddie Creatchman tries to thump Bravo with his cane behind referee Paul LeDuc’s back, it’s the Polynesian Prince who charges over to scare off Creatchman. In the ring, Samu goes to scoop slam Bravo, but the Canadian Champion rolls his opponent into a small package for a three count!

After the match, Alofa raises Dino Bravo’s hand in victory as Eddie Creatchman and Samu stew inside the ring.


WINNER: CANADIAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DINO BRAVO


Milt Avruskin: ‘We have one more tournament match for you - we’ll have that when we return!’


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COMMERCIAL BREAK


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[VTR]
International Wrestling 11/19/87
-- Joined in progress --


All three Rougeau brothers are brawling with all three Long Riders! Hold on, it’s the Fabulous Freebirds! Michael P.S. Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts rush the ring and now this is a mugging, fans. The Long Riders and the Freebirds have the numbers advantage here as they work over the three Rougeau brothers. Not for long because here come the Lionhearts! Dan Kroffat, Chris Benoit and Owen Hart all scale turnbuckles and leap off with missile dropkicks simultaneously drilling Buddy Roberts, Ron Bass and Bull Johnson!


What an incredible sight that was! Those three fall out to the floor and now the Rougeaus double-clothesline Michael P.S. Hayes out as well. Wild Bill Irwin faces a big right hand from Jacques Rougeau that sends him sprawling now too. Look at this - it’s Terry Gordy all alone in the ring against six other men, and he’s motioning for them to bring it on! Gordy is fighting off all six of these men simultaneously, what a beast! A double dropkick from Hart and Benoit staggers him. Now it's big flying forearm from Kroffat, and another dropkick from Jacques Rougeau.


Finally, down goes Gordy! Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts pull their brother out to the floor, and now Gordy is trying to get back in. Terry Gordy is furious and he wants more! Hayes and Roberts pull him away as the Long Riders cuss and rant on the other side of the ring!


[End VTR]



Clary Fleming: ‘Joining me now is the leader of the Fabulous Freebirds, Michael Hayes. Michael, it’s a big night for the Freebirds. Terry Gordy is moments away from his tournament match against Dan Kroffat. Then later tonight, it will be a 10-man tag team match as yourself, your Freebird brother Buddy Roberts and all three Long Riders face International Tag Team Champions Armand and Raymond Rougeau, the Lionhearts duo Owen Hart and Chris Benoit as well as a mystery partner!’


Michael P.S. Hayes: ‘First of all man, my big brother is gonna stomp that little spud Kroffat and then he’ll stomp two other jerks on his way to becoming International Champion. As far as the big tag match, the Freebirds don’t usually have friends! But these Long Riders, they hate these Canucks as much as we do. We’re gonna slap the Rougeaus around, we’ll slap the Lionhearts around and we’ll slap around whichever moron they got to show up as their partner. Freebird Fantasia is sweeping the Great White North, and it can’t be stopped baby!’

Clary Fleming: ‘There you have it, fans! Let’s get back to the ring.’


INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT
QUARTER-FINALS
DAN KROFFAT V/S TERRY ‘BAMM BAMM’ GORDY


Obviously there is a size mismatch here. However, it’s never the size of the dog but the size of the fight in the dog. Terry Gordy controls early on with his power, but knocks the wind out of himself when he misses a big clothesline into the corner. Kroffat does a really good job hitting and running with dropkicks, savate kicks and a vicious enziguri kick to the back of Gordy's head.

However, Kroffat takes a bit too long springing to the top rope. When he dives off with a cross-body splash, Gordy slides out of the way. Kroffat hits the canvas with a nasty thud. Now, he’s then easy pickings for Bamm Bamm. Gordy shoots Kroffat off the ropes and drills him into the canvas with a power-slam. Terry Gordy now hits the ropes again and connects with a big leg drop across the chest. Bamm Bamm with the cover and Kroffat kicks out… but just after three! Terry Gordy advances into the semi-finals after an admirable performance from Dan Kroffat here.


WINNER: TERRY ‘BAMM BAMM’ GORDY



Milt Avruskin: ‘Fans, we’re all out of time for this edition of International Wrestling! The action continues in the International Heavyweight Title tournament here at the Montreal Forum - we’ll bring you an the results next week! For tonight, I’m Milt Avruskin and thank you for tuning in.'


© 1987 INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING


(The rest of the tournament results will be posted a bit later)