UCW TV 5-12-85 Debut show!
May 12, 2019 22:57:29 GMT
Post by Chitohausen on May 12, 2019 22:57:29 GMT
Broadcast on Sunday, May 12, 1985 on:
Taped on Wednesday, May 8 at the Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, DC
Announcers: Gordon Solie and Bobby Heenan
Backstage interviews: Ken Resnick
Ring Announcer: Larry Nelson
Referees: Tommy Young, Jack Lotz and “Dangerous” Danny Davis
GORDON SOLIE and BOBBY “THE BRAIN” HEENAN are seated at a table, with the UCW logo behind them.
Solie and Heenan open the show and welcome us to the nation’s capital for the very first episode of “Universal Championship Wrestling”!
On today’s program, we’ll see Washington’s very own “Soulman” Rocky Johnson in action!
Heenan says that Johnson is over-rated, but there’s two men on the show today who aren’t, if anything they’re UNDER-rated, two men that he has managed in the past and happen to be two of his favourite people, “Handsome” Harley Race and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff!
Barry Windham, a young man from Texas, will be here. Solie says that Windham is considered by many to be one of the top wrestlers in the sport today, and a future champion.
We’ll see a rookie who goes by the name of Sting in action! He’s from Venice Beach, California, and already has the makings of a future superstar!
And, we’ll hear from UCW Commissioner Johnny Powers regarding the title situation here in Universal Championship Wrestling!
STING beat GEORGE SOUTH. Sting, his face painted in red, white and blue, rushes down the aisle and slides into the ring. As soon as the bell sounds, he tears into South and gets a quick win, wearing South down with power moves, and locking on what Solie calls the “sasori-gatame”, or “Scorpion lock”.
HECTOR & CHAVO GUERRERO beat NICK DECARLO & BOB MARCUS. Hector and Chavo come out in over-sized sombreros, and once in the ring, unfurl a large Mexican flag, while taunting the Washington fans, yelling out insults in Spanish. Once the bell rings, though, the Guerreros are all business. They get the win when Chavo connects with a moonsault press on DeCarlo for the pinfall.
“SOULMAN” ROCKY JOHNSON beats MAD DOG VACHON. The crowd goes crazy for Rocky, announced as hailing from Washington! Vachon immediately turns this into a brawl, which suits Rocky just fine, as he goes toe to toe with the rugged veteran. In the end, Rocky stuns Mad Dog with a series of punches, then runs the ropes and connects with a Sunset Flip for the pinfall victory!
Solie and Heenan are joined by UCW Commissioner Johnny Powers. Solie says that UCW has already kicked off in a big way, and he understands Powers has some exciting news for us.
Powers says that the point of any sport is winning championships, and pro wrestling is no different. All of these wrestlers, no matter their background, or their wrestling style, have one thing in common . . . they’re goal is to become champion.
Powers then opens a case, inside is the Universal championship belt!
Powers says that, for the past two months, a huge tournament has been taking place all over the world. Tournament matches have been held in the US, Canada, Mexico, India, Russia, Australia, England, Germany and Japan! The idea behind this tournament was to make the title a truly Universal title, and to ensure that the very best wrestlers, no matter what part of the world they’re from, have the opportunity to compete for this belt!
The semi-finals and finals of the tournament will take place on July 4, at the big Independence Day show at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PA! Powers says that, in the coming weeks, we’ll know who the final four wrestlers will be that will compete on July 4 in Philadelphia for the Universal title!
BARRY WINDHAM beats CONQUISTADOR #1. Windham has hands full with the masked man from Puerto Rico. Conquistador uses some underhanded tactics to gain an early advantage, but in the end, it’s Barry Windham who gets his hand raised after connecting with a diving clothesline from the top rope for the pinfall.
Ken Resnick is standing by with “Soulman” Rocky Johnson. Resnick welcomes Rocky to Universal Championship Wrestling!
Rocky says it feels great to be back home in Washington, DC! He says that while he was born in Canada, he moved to Washington in his early years, and has called this great city home ever since! He says that the fan support has been amazing since he’s been home, and he hopes all these great fans will continue to come out and support him, and UCW!
Resnick talks about the massive, world-wide tournament that has been going on for the Universal title, and says that Rocky was the first wrestler to advance to the semi-finals! That means, Rocky will be in Philadelphia on July 4, along with the other three semi-finalists, and they’ll compete for the opportunity to be the very first Universal champion!
Rocky says that the very best wrestlers from all over the world have taken part in this tournament, and he’s honoured to be one of the final four participants! He says that on July 4, he’s going to give 110% at Veterans Stadium, and with these great fans behind him, he feels there’s no way he can lose!
HARLEY RACE beats PEDRO MORALES. On commentary, Solie talks about the fact that we’ve got two former World’s champions facing off here, Harley Race is a multiple time NWA champion, while Morales was a one-time WWWF champ! He says that while both of them may be moving out of the prime of their careers, they’re still among the most talented wrestlers in the sport! Heenan says that he managed Race for many years, and takes most of the credit for the success that Harley has had!
Morales gives Race all he can handle, but the momentum turns when the fight moves to the floor. Race runs Pedro’s head into the ringpost, then delivers a suplex on the floor! Morales is able to get back into the ring to beat the count, but it’s obvious the damage has been done. Race drops him with another suplex inside the ring, then jumps off the second turnbuckle with a diving headbutt for the 1, 2, 3!
“MR. WONDERFUL” PAUL ORNDORFF beats WAHOO MCDANIEL. Orndorff goes toe to toe with the popular Native American star. Things start off slowly, with a feeling-out process, both wrestlers looking for weaknesses in the other. Orndorff stalls early, whenever Wahoo goes to lock up, Mr. Wonderful ducks his head through the ropes. This happens several times, until Wahoo has had enough, shoves the referee aside, and drags Orndorff back into the ring, where he drops him with some knife-edged chops to the chest. Orndorff, with welts already starting to appear on his chest, has a shocked look on his face, which quickly turns to anger, as he yells at the referee that Wahoo used a closed fist! Tommy Young is well aware that’s not the case, and ignores Paul.
Orndorff proposes a test of strength, but before they can lock hands, he drives a knee into Wahoo’s midsection, then drives him back into the corner, where he unleashes several right hands to the head of the big Chief. Wahoo is stunned, but quickly shakes it off, and drops Orndorff with more chops!
On commentary, Heenan whines about the fact that Orndorff is trying to wrestle a good, clean scientific match, while Wahoo insists on cheating! Solie wonders if he and Heenan are watching two different matches!
Orndorff takes a breather on the floor, and as he climbs back in, Wahoo grabs him, but Orndorff jabs a thumb in Wahoo’s eyes, stopping the Chief dead in his tracks! Orndorff then unloads a flurry of rights and lefts, stunning Wahoo, then he tosses McDaniel through the ropes and to the floor. Wahoo is quick to roll back into the ring, where he tears into Orndorff and the two trade punches and chops in the middle of the ring!
Wahoo gets the better of the exchange, and then whips Orndorff into the corner. Wahoo charges, but Mr. Wonderful moves aside, and Wahoo crashes into the turnbuckles! With Wahoo stunned, Orndorff quickly rolls him up, and puts both feet on the middle rope for leverage!
With the added leverage of Orndorff’s feet on the ropes, Wahoo can’t kick out, and Mr. Wonderful gets the pinfall victory!
Solie and Heenan wrap things up. Heenan sings Orndorff’s praises, while Solie hypes next week’s show, which will feature a 14-man Battle Royal, with the winner becoming the UCW American champion!
Credits Roll
© 1985, Universal Championship Wrestling
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