NAWF in Albuquerque 2-23-85 North American champ crowned!
Feb 26, 2019 0:32:08 GMT
Post by Chitohausen on Feb 26, 2019 0:32:08 GMT
NORTH AMERICAN WRESTLING FEDERATION
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1985
TINGLEY COLISEUM in ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
JERRY STUBBS battles TOM ZENK to a 20-minute time limit DRAW.
HARLEY RACE defeats BRAD ARMSTRONG. The former World champion may have underestimated Armstrong coming in, and Armstrong uses that to his advantage, as he controls the early going in the match. Race, the rugged veteran, eventually turns the tables after clipping Armstrong’s knee. Race then spends the next few minutes softening up Armstrong’s knee, and as we near the 20-minute limit, Race slaps on the Indian Deathlock! Armstrong tries valiantly to break the hold, or at least hold on until the time expires, but it’s no use, the pain is too great, and he eventually gives up.
HECTOR & CHAVO GUERRERO beat THE MASKED DEMONS. The Guerreros get the win when Chavo forces one of the Demons to submit to the Gory Special.
BARRY WINDHAM beats “DIRTY” DUTCH MANTELL. Mantell relies on plenty of underhanded tricks to give himself the advantage during the match, but in the end, Windham gets the win by pinfall following a Bulldog.
DYNAMITE KID beats MARK YOUNGBLOOD. In a rematch from earlier in the day on television, the result is the same, DK gets the win after connecting with a diving headbutt from the top rope for the 1, 2, 3.
ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER & THE MASKED SUPERSTAR (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeat “SOULMAN” ROCKY JOHNSON & MIL MASCARAS. It’s time for the first of the three big main event matches. There’s no love lost here, as Rocky Johnson has had some wild, bloody battles with both Abby and the Superstar, and Mascaras has an ongoing rivalry with the Superstar as well. Referee Danny Davis has his hands full here, as both teams seem more interesting in brawling all over the place than tagging in and out. Rocky and Mil haven’t had the opportunity to team together very often, but despite that, they hold their own here, and work well together.
Late in the match, while Abby is pummeling Mascaras in the ring, Rocky and the Superstar brawl on the arena floor. Bobby Heenan gets involved, distracting Rocky, and allowing the Superstar to attack from behind, and send the Soulman head-first into the ringpost! That opens up a cut on Rocky’s head, but he keeps fighting back, eventually getting the upper hand on the Superstar and whipping him into the ringpost as well!
Moments later, Mascaras tags Rocky in, but the Butcher breaks out his trusty fork and, out of the view of the referee, he repeatedly jabs it into Rocky’s forehead, opening the cut up more and more. It’s not long before Rocky’s a bloody mess, and finally Danny Davis makes a judgment call, and ends the match, awarding it to Heenan’s team due to Rocky’s heavy bleeding from his forehead.
NORTH AMERICAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:
THE FANTASTICS: TOMMY ROGERS & BOBBY FULTON (challengers) beat THE FABULOUS FREEBIRDS: MICHAEL HAYES & TERRY GORDY (champs) via DQ. We’re treated to an action-packed back and forth match here! The Fantastics use their speed early on to gain the upper hand, as they work over Michael Hayes, keeping him in their corner and cut off from Gordy. When Hayes does manage to make the tag, after raking Fulton’s eyes, the Fantastics try to use the same quick, stick-and-move attack on Gordy. It works momentarily, but when Gordy side-steps a dropkick from Rogers, he then whips Rogers into the ‘Birds corner, and the champions go to work on him.
Gordy and Hayes keep Rogers in their corner, and double-team him every chance they get. After several minutes of that, Rogers manages to make it back over to his corner and make the tag to Fulton . . . but Hayes had distracted the referee and he didn’t see the tag! That left Rogers still in the ring, to take even more punishment at the hands of the ‘Birds!
Finally, Rogers makes the tag, and this time the ref sees it! Fulton comes in and cleans house, putting Hayes on the mat, then when Gordy comes in, Fulton sends him to the floor with a dropkick. Fulton then turns his attention back to Hayes, and unloads on him, but when Fulton goes for a crossbody off the ropes, Hayes pulls the referee in between him and Fulton!
This distracts Fulton for a moment, as he turns to check on the referee, and that allows Hayes to attack him from behind. Gordy comes back in, and the Freebirds double-team Fulton, until Rogers comes in to help his partner fight them off.
With all four men brawling in the ring, the referee slowly gets back to his feet, and calls for the bell, awarding the match, by DQ, to the Fantastics!
Rogers and Fulton have again beaten the Freebirds, but once again they do not win the titles.
FOR THE VACANT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP:
“MR. WONDERFUL” PAUL ORNDORFF (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeats “THE UNIVERSAL HEARTHROB” AUSTIN IDOL. Idol and Orndorff put on a clinic here, as they go hold for hold, and move for move for more than 30 minutes. Though Orndorff will take shortcuts whenever he can, there’s no denying that he’s a gifted technical wrestler, and those technical skills are on full display here.
However, in the end, it’s Orndorff’s willingness to break the rules that makes all the difference. Late in the match, Idol has the upper hand, and is working over the knee of Orndorff, looking to soften him up for the Las Vegas Leglock. Idol slaps on the hold, but Orndorff is close enough to reach the ropes, forcing a break. After Idol releases the hold, Orndorff pulls himself towards the ropes, where Bobby Heenan is waiting. Heenan quickly passes an object to Orndorff, and as he gets to his feet, Idol grabs him, but before he can do anything, Orndorff, with the object in his fist, punches Idol, knocking him backwards to the mat!
Idol is out cold, flat on his back on the mat, and Orndorff quickly covers him for the 1, 2, 3!
As he gets up, Orndorff tosses the object back to Heenan outside the ring. The referee doesn’t see this, and awards the match to Orndorff, crowning him the first NAWF North American champion!!!
Working on it now.