USWA PRESENTS FALL BRAWL '86 FEATURING THE STEEL GAUNTLET!!!
Jan 9, 2021 2:33:14 GMT
Post by grigs on Jan 9, 2021 2:33:14 GMT
The United States Wrestling Association presents
FALL BRAWL '86
Live on pay per view from the Kiel Arena in St. Louis, MO
11/27/1986
Joe Pedicino is standing in front of a USWA backdrop.
PEDICINO: Welcome to FALL BRAWL! Thank you for joining us on pay per view. Tonight, we have five championship matches as well as the first ever Steel Gauntlet match where the winner recieves a World Championship match against either Harley Race or Tommy Rich, depending on the outcome of tonight's championship match! Right now, Boni Blackstone is standing by with “Wildfire” Tommy Rich...
BONI: I'm here with Tommy Rich. Tommy, it's your big night! You have a shot at the World Championship in just a few hours...
RICH: Somebody say somethin 'bout tonight's the night! I'm as farred up as I've ever been in my whole life! Harley Race, you're callin yourself a king these days! Well, brother, I've beat you for a belt before and I'm ready to do it again tonight!
BONI: Let's go to the ring and Mike McGuirk. The Southern Tag Team Title is on the line!
SOUTHERN TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: THE NASTY BOYS (JERRY SAGS & BRIAN KNOBBS) © (w/PERCY PRINGLE) VS. THE NEW BREED (CHRIS CHAMPION & SEAN ROYAL) : For most of the match, the New Breed's speed, athleticism, and teamwork gives the Nasty Boys fits. The Nastys do gain an advantage by isolating Champion on their side of the ring for a few minutes. Finally, he makes a hot tag to Royal. The New Breed looks like they are well on their way to winning the belts when Pringle nails Royal with his cane. The interference leads to Knobbs pinning Royal at the 11:37 mark. The Nasty Boys retain the Southern belts.
Boni Blackstone is standing by...
BONI: Here he is, the “King of Wrestling”, your USWA World Champion Harley Race! King, Tommy “Wildfire” Rich is fired up and ready to go!
RACE: Oh, so Tommy is fired up, is he? That means nothing! Rich, you are looking at your World's Heavyweight Champion! The King of Wrestling! The greatest wrestler on God's green earth! And we're in St. Louis! Check the record books, Rich! I'm practically unbeatable in this town, this building! I also want to say to all of the wrestlers in that Steel Gauntlet that it doesn't matter who survives that match, I'll be waiting for you and I'll still be champion when I'm done with you!
BONI: Now, this..
VTR: We see:
We hear:
The words COMING SOON!!! appear on the screen.
We return to the ring where Paul Jones leads three of his men into the squared circle. Then, we hear...
“BOOGIE WOOGIE MAN” HANDSOME JIMMY VALIANT, MIDNIGHT RIDER, & MISSING LINK VS. ELI THE ELIMINATOR, NIKOLAI VOLKOFF, & JIM “THE ANVIL” NEIDHART (W/ “#1” PAUL JONES): Wild and wooly action! Referee Rick Hazzard has a terrible time keeping order in this one! The heels keep sneaking Jones' riding crop into the ring and using it for a weapon. Valiant and his buddies fight fire with fire and show they can break just as many rules as the Jones gang! With the ref down after a collision, Valiant and the Rider use the masked man's haning rope to double clothesline Eli! That sets up a diving headbutt by the Link for a pinfall at the 11:33 mark!
LES: Before our next match, we need to introduce a special guest commentator, Lance. You've know him since he was a baby!
LANCE: Yowza! I've known this man all of his life and I couldn't be prouder of him! Jeff Jarrett, it's great to see you!
JARRETT: Lance and Les, it's great to be with the two of you. This next match is for a title I held for a long time and I want it back. Regardless of who wins, I'm challenging the champion!
USWA WORLD JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: “MR. ELECTRICITY” STEVE REGAL © (W/PERCY PRINGLE) vs. DYNAMITE KID: For most of the match, we have a scientific and closely fought contest. On commentary, Jarrett has a lot of compliments for both men. When Dynamite starts to control the action, Pringle keeps trying to interject himself. Jeff gets up from the broadcast table and chases PP3 away from the ring! Without his manager, Regal seems lost and Dynamite takes over. At the 13:44 mark, Dynamite hits a superplex and scores the pin! We have a new champion! Jarrett returns to the ring. Jarrett and the Kid shake hands and embrace. Jeff points at the belt as if to say that he wants a title shot!
SOUTHERN TITLE MATCH: BRAD ARMSTRONG © VS. BAD NEWS BROWN (W/SLICK): Brad uses a hit and run offense to keep Bad News off balance for much of the match. Brad makes a fatal mistake when he dropkicks Bad News out of the ring and goes after him. Brown grabs a chair and wears Brad out with it while Slick is on the apron, distracting the referee! Bad News posts Brad and then rolls him back into the ring! Moments later, Brown nails the Ghetto Blaster and scores the 1-2-3! BAD NEWS BROWN IS YOUR NEW SOUTHERN CHAMPION!!!
We go to Boni in the dressing room area...
BONI: We're seeing history made here in St. Louis! Dynamite Kid, congratulations on winning the World Junior Heavyweight Title!
KID: Thank you! Steve Regal is a great wrestler, regardless of whether I like him personally or not. I'm proud to be the champion and now comes the hard part! Many top contenders all over the world will be making challenges. Jeff Jarrett, and he's one of my mates, asked for a shot as soon as I won it! All you blokes can line up because I won't duck anybody! You can count on that!
BONI: Thank you, Dynamite Kid. Now, we will speak to a former champion. Brad Armstrong, thank you for talking to us at a difficult time.
Brad comes into the picture, rubbing the back of his head. He looks a bit groggy...
BRAD: Boni, I screwed up. The one thing I knew going in was that Bad News Brown is a street fighter. The one thing you can't do is let him get you into a street fight. That's just what I did tonight and it cost me my title. Dang, I just want to tell all my fans that I'm sorry I let them down, but I will be back.
BAD NEWS BROWN (off camera): Get outta the way, chump! Time for the champ to speak!
Brown and the Slickster stroll into the scene...
BRAD: OK, brother, you can have your time! But don't think you've seen the last of BA! I'll be back!
SLICK: Of course you will, just like a bad penny! Feast your eyes on a real man and a real champion, Miss Boni! The street fightin man from Harlem and your new champion! Bad News Brown!
BAD NEWS: I hope I haven't seen the last of Brad Armstrong! There's nothin I enjoy more than kickin some hillbilly butt! I want all of the challengers in the USWA to come after this belt! Especially all of the so called tough guys! I'm talkin about Reed! Idol! Furnas! Lawler! Valiant! Bring it on! It's a good day for Bad News!
SLICK: And it's a bad day for everybody else! Testify, my brother! Hahahaha!
Slick and Brown exit...
BONI: Now, this...
VTR:
As the music plays, we see a large man riding a Harley through the desert...
A graphic reads: AMERICAN STARSHIP...COMING TO THE USWA IN 1987!!!
“MAD DOG” BUZZ SAWYER VS. “DR.D” DAVID SHULTS: Buzz wants revenge on his former partner. They tear into each other and brawl all over the Kiel! Finally, after 3:39 of furious and bloody brawling, referee Nick Patrick has no choice but to DQ both men! It takes several referees and wrestlers to seperate these two wildmen! We haven't seen the last of this, I'm sure!
Back to the dressing room area and Boni...
BONI: I'm here with Jerry Lawler. The STEEL GAUNTLET MATCH is later tonight. You aren't wearing a neck brace...are you ready?
LAWLER: Boni, I can't wait to get back in that ring! Harley Race, you have something that belongs to me and that's my USWA World Title belt! After I win the Steel Gauntlet, I'm coming after my title!
BONI: Hey, we don't want any trouble!
Jos LeDuc and Paul Jones are here!
LEDUC: Lawler, don't forget that I have put you in the hospital before! It will be me that wins tonight and gets the match with Race!
LAWLER: Not tonight, LeDuc! This is my night!
Austin Idol and Baby Doll are here!
BABY DOLL: Not so fast, boys! My man is going to be the next champion!
IDOL: Lawler, old pal, you'd better step aside! LeDuc, you big gorilla, you're looking at your worst nightmare!
Jim Cornette & Big Bubba Rogers walk into the picture!
CORNETTE: Boys, we'd love to stay and shoot the bull, but my Midnight Express are about to beat up Bob Armstrong's kids. Then, you guys can beat up Bob! I hear he's dragging his decrepit corpse into that cage!
LEDUC: Big Bubba, I hope it comes down to me and you, mon ami. You look like you might be competition!
BUBBA: I'll send you back to Canada with a busted head!
It looks like we're about to have a fight!
BONI: Let me throw this back to Lance & Les at ringside!
Bullet Bob Armstrong leads his sons, Scott & Steve to ringside. Bob is carrying his “Tennessee toothpick”, a baseball bat!
Jim Cornette finally makes it to ringside with Big Bubba in tow.
CORNETTE: You've already seen one Armstrong get his tail kicked! Now, it's time for two more! Old man, if you try to interfere, we'll make it three! Ladies and gentlemen, twin sons of different mothers, poetry in motion, and the greatest tag team ever: Beautiful Bobby & Loverboy Dennis....THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS!!!
USWA WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS(W/ JIM CORNETTE & BIG BUBBA ROGERS) © VS. SCOTT & STEVE ARMSTRONG : Both teams use a lot of quick tags and double team manuvers. Cornette distracts and interfers as much as he can get away with. Finally, Bob has seen enough and goes after the manager! Bubba cuts the Bullet off and gets a bat to the abdomen for his trouble! Cornette sees Bob coming at him and is terrified! Cornette throws a fireball and hits Bob on his chest! Bobby Eaton is distracted by what is happening at ringside and gets a Scott Armstrong superkick to the jaw! Scott makes the cover and gets the three count! SCOTT & STEVE ARMSTRONG ARE THE NEW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!!
Cornette is throwing a hissy fit in the ring! Bubba is glaring at his employer! Bubba and Cornette have a heated conversation until Condrey gets between them and the heels retreat to the dressing room! Bob is holding his burnt chest and is in pain, but is obviously happy for his sons. Brad enters the ring and raises the hands of Scott & Steve!
VTR:
We see a living room decorated for Christmas. A fire burns in the fireplace, it's a cozy scene.
ANNOUNCER: (v/o) Christmas...a time for peace...joy...love..and PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING???
Jimmy Valiant bursts into the scene, dressed like Santa Claus!
VALIANT: Mercy, mercy! Sho got that right! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good fight!
We see various scenes of in ring action.
ANNOUNCER: Don't miss the USWA's Christmas gift to our fans...live from Market Square Arena, Christmas night on the Nashville Network at 8 p.m.
VALIANT: (singing) I'll have a blue Christmas without you!
Tommy “Wildfire” Rich enters the ring enters the ring. Most fans stand and cheer, but there is a smattering of boos.
“The King” Harley Race enters Kiel Arena. He also gets a mixed reaction. He's obviously playing the heel, but there are still plenty of Race supporters in the state of Missouri!
USWA WORLD TITLE MATCH: “KING OF WRESTLING” HARLEY RACE © VS. TOMMY “WILDFIRE” RICH: Tommy is on top of his game and dominates the first 15 minutes of the match. Race turns the tide by hitting a suplex and really works Rich over for several minutes before Tommy gets “farred up” and makes a big comeback. Tommy locks in the sleeper and it looks bad for the King until he makes it to the ropes. Tommy really gets going after that and beats Race from pillar to post! Harley is bloody and battered as Tommy whips him to the ropes and hits the Thesz press. Unfortunately for Tommy he tries the move to close to the ropes and Race holds on and drops Rich throat first onto the top rope. Harley covers Tommy for the 1-2-3 and retains the title in a time of 32:13.
wrestlingmuseum.com/images/halloffame/raceblood.jpg
While the cage is being set up for the Steel Gauntlet, Joe Pedicino goes over the rules:
STEEL GAUNTLET
1.MATCH CONTESTED IN A STEEL CAGE. NO DQ OR TIME LIMIT!
2.8 TOP WRESTLERS INVOLVED.
3.TWO NAMES DRAWN AT RANDOM START THE MATCH. THEY WRESTLE UNTIL ONE MAN ACHIEVES A PIN OR SUBMISSION.
4.AFTER A PIN OR SUBMISSION ACHIEVED, ANOTHER NAME DRWN AT RANDOM.
5.THE THIRD WRESTLER DRAWN WILL TAKE ON THE WINNER OF THE FIRST MATCH.
6.PROCESS CONTINUES UNTIL ALL THE NAMES HAVE BEEN DRAWN AND ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE WRESTLED. LAST MAN STANDING WINS AND RECEIVES A TITLE MATCH AT A FUTURE DATE!
STEEL GAUNTLET MATCH-WINNER RECEIVES WORLD TITLE MATCH ON 12/25/86!
The cage is set up. USWA President Sandy Scott is at ringside with a large hopper that he will draw names of competitors out of at random. Scott pulls out a name and hands it to ring announcer Mike McGuirk...
JOS LEDUC!!! LeDuc enters the arena with Paul Jones at his side. LeDuc enters the cage, pulls at the cage walls and bounces off the ropes.
The next name...BOB ARMSTRONG!!!
Bob has a bandage over the burn on his chest. Brad, Scott, & Steve are with their dad and seem to be trying to persuade him not get into the ring! Bob shakes his head and orders his boys back to the dressing room! The great veteran enters the ring and the bell rings!
Bob goes on the offensive and really takes it to the Canadian Freight Train! Before long, LeDuc is a bloody mess. LeDuc does manage to fight back and procure his infamous bear hug. Armstrong slugs his way out of the hold and takes back over. Finally, at the 8:45 mark, LeDuc gets Armstrong up in a bodyslam position and runs the Bullet facefirst into the cage before powerslamming Armstrong. It's all over and Bob is eliminated. Who's next for LeDuc???
MCGUIRK: Ladies and gentlemen, PLAYBOY BUDDY ROSE!!!
Percy Pringle leads the TV Champion into the arena. The Playboy batters LeDuc with Pringle's cane until LeDuc gets ahold of the stick and tosses it over the top of the cage! Big Jos batters the Playboy from pillar to post for a few minutes before locking him in the bearhug! There's no escaping this time and the Playboy submits at the 16:43 mark! Who's next for the lumberjack?
MCGUIRK: Our next participant is BIG BUBBA ROGERS!!!
Surprisingly, Bubba comes out by himself. Rogers and LeDuc basically take turns beating each other up! This is a real hossfight here! Finally, Bubba hits a sidewalk slam for the 1-2-3. Time of the fall is 26:22 and Bubba waits for the next man out...
MCGUIRK: JIM “THE ANVIL” NEIDHART!!!
Jones leads LeDuc back to the dressing room, then leads the Anvil into the arena! As Jones watches helplessly, Bubba preoceeds to take Neidhart apart! Big Bubba scores the pin at the 30:09 mark after a piledriver! Rogers looks unstoppable right now!
MCGUIRK: Our next competitor...BUTCH REED!!!
The feud between these two is well documented and they tear into each other immediately! Butch eventually takes over, driving Bubba facefirst into all four sides of the cage! Rogers goes down and Reed goes to the top rope and waits for the big man to get to his feet. When Bubba gets up, Butch goes for a shoulder block....Rogers sidesteps and Reed lands flat on his face! Bubba hits a big splash and gets the pin at 39:57 to eliminate the Hacksaw!
Who's next???
MCGUIRK: Ladies and gentlemen, “the Universal Hearthrob” AUSTIN IDOL!!!
Baby Doll leads Idol to the ring! Idol hits the ring and tears into his bigger opponent! After about five minutes of back and forth brawling, Jim Cornette finally comes to ringside, yelling instructions to his bodyguard! Bubba reaches into one of his pockets, pulls out a roll of quarters and decks Idol! Rogers pins Idol in 49:02! There's only one competitor left in the Steel Gauntlet!
MIKE MCGUIRK: The final competitor in the Steel Gauntlet...JERRY LAWLER!!!
The former World Champ walks slowly and purposefully to the ring. Once he enters, it's a typical Lawler match. Jerry gets off to a slow start and Bubba deals out a bunch of punishment. Jerry pulls down the strap and starts his comeback! Lawler slugs away with rights and lefts! Bubba comes back with a side slam and gets a two and a half count before Jerry gets a leg on the bottom rope. Bubba drags Lawler to the center of the ring and goes for a splash off the top rope! Lawler rolls out of the way and Bubba crashes to the mat! When both men get to their feet, Lawler starts throwing fists and Rogers is in trouble! Cornette is screeching instructions to his man, but he doesn't seem to respond! World Champion Harley Race, his head bandaged with the title belt under his arm, is at ringside, watching intently. Lawler has Bubba reeling! Cornette throws his tennis racket over the top of the cage! Lawler catches the racket and uses it to flatten Bubba! Rogers goes down and Lawler hits a fist drop! Lawler covers Big Bubba for the 1-2-3! Time of the fall: 1:02:49.
JERRY LAWLER WINS THE STEEL GAUNTLET! LAWLER WILL WRESTLE RACE FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT IN INDIANAPOLIS!!!
PEDICINO: Folks, join us tomorrow night on the Nashville Network at 9:30 for USWA Saturday Night Wrestling!
FALL BRAWL '86
Live on pay per view from the Kiel Arena in St. Louis, MO
11/27/1986
Joe Pedicino is standing in front of a USWA backdrop.
PEDICINO: Welcome to FALL BRAWL! Thank you for joining us on pay per view. Tonight, we have five championship matches as well as the first ever Steel Gauntlet match where the winner recieves a World Championship match against either Harley Race or Tommy Rich, depending on the outcome of tonight's championship match! Right now, Boni Blackstone is standing by with “Wildfire” Tommy Rich...
BONI: I'm here with Tommy Rich. Tommy, it's your big night! You have a shot at the World Championship in just a few hours...
RICH: Somebody say somethin 'bout tonight's the night! I'm as farred up as I've ever been in my whole life! Harley Race, you're callin yourself a king these days! Well, brother, I've beat you for a belt before and I'm ready to do it again tonight!
BONI: Let's go to the ring and Mike McGuirk. The Southern Tag Team Title is on the line!
SOUTHERN TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: THE NASTY BOYS (JERRY SAGS & BRIAN KNOBBS) © (w/PERCY PRINGLE) VS. THE NEW BREED (CHRIS CHAMPION & SEAN ROYAL) : For most of the match, the New Breed's speed, athleticism, and teamwork gives the Nasty Boys fits. The Nastys do gain an advantage by isolating Champion on their side of the ring for a few minutes. Finally, he makes a hot tag to Royal. The New Breed looks like they are well on their way to winning the belts when Pringle nails Royal with his cane. The interference leads to Knobbs pinning Royal at the 11:37 mark. The Nasty Boys retain the Southern belts.
Boni Blackstone is standing by...
BONI: Here he is, the “King of Wrestling”, your USWA World Champion Harley Race! King, Tommy “Wildfire” Rich is fired up and ready to go!
RACE: Oh, so Tommy is fired up, is he? That means nothing! Rich, you are looking at your World's Heavyweight Champion! The King of Wrestling! The greatest wrestler on God's green earth! And we're in St. Louis! Check the record books, Rich! I'm practically unbeatable in this town, this building! I also want to say to all of the wrestlers in that Steel Gauntlet that it doesn't matter who survives that match, I'll be waiting for you and I'll still be champion when I'm done with you!
BONI: Now, this..
VTR: We see:
We hear:
The words COMING SOON!!! appear on the screen.
We return to the ring where Paul Jones leads three of his men into the squared circle. Then, we hear...
“BOOGIE WOOGIE MAN” HANDSOME JIMMY VALIANT, MIDNIGHT RIDER, & MISSING LINK VS. ELI THE ELIMINATOR, NIKOLAI VOLKOFF, & JIM “THE ANVIL” NEIDHART (W/ “#1” PAUL JONES): Wild and wooly action! Referee Rick Hazzard has a terrible time keeping order in this one! The heels keep sneaking Jones' riding crop into the ring and using it for a weapon. Valiant and his buddies fight fire with fire and show they can break just as many rules as the Jones gang! With the ref down after a collision, Valiant and the Rider use the masked man's haning rope to double clothesline Eli! That sets up a diving headbutt by the Link for a pinfall at the 11:33 mark!
LES: Before our next match, we need to introduce a special guest commentator, Lance. You've know him since he was a baby!
LANCE: Yowza! I've known this man all of his life and I couldn't be prouder of him! Jeff Jarrett, it's great to see you!
JARRETT: Lance and Les, it's great to be with the two of you. This next match is for a title I held for a long time and I want it back. Regardless of who wins, I'm challenging the champion!
USWA WORLD JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: “MR. ELECTRICITY” STEVE REGAL © (W/PERCY PRINGLE) vs. DYNAMITE KID: For most of the match, we have a scientific and closely fought contest. On commentary, Jarrett has a lot of compliments for both men. When Dynamite starts to control the action, Pringle keeps trying to interject himself. Jeff gets up from the broadcast table and chases PP3 away from the ring! Without his manager, Regal seems lost and Dynamite takes over. At the 13:44 mark, Dynamite hits a superplex and scores the pin! We have a new champion! Jarrett returns to the ring. Jarrett and the Kid shake hands and embrace. Jeff points at the belt as if to say that he wants a title shot!
SOUTHERN TITLE MATCH: BRAD ARMSTRONG © VS. BAD NEWS BROWN (W/SLICK): Brad uses a hit and run offense to keep Bad News off balance for much of the match. Brad makes a fatal mistake when he dropkicks Bad News out of the ring and goes after him. Brown grabs a chair and wears Brad out with it while Slick is on the apron, distracting the referee! Bad News posts Brad and then rolls him back into the ring! Moments later, Brown nails the Ghetto Blaster and scores the 1-2-3! BAD NEWS BROWN IS YOUR NEW SOUTHERN CHAMPION!!!
We go to Boni in the dressing room area...
BONI: We're seeing history made here in St. Louis! Dynamite Kid, congratulations on winning the World Junior Heavyweight Title!
KID: Thank you! Steve Regal is a great wrestler, regardless of whether I like him personally or not. I'm proud to be the champion and now comes the hard part! Many top contenders all over the world will be making challenges. Jeff Jarrett, and he's one of my mates, asked for a shot as soon as I won it! All you blokes can line up because I won't duck anybody! You can count on that!
BONI: Thank you, Dynamite Kid. Now, we will speak to a former champion. Brad Armstrong, thank you for talking to us at a difficult time.
Brad comes into the picture, rubbing the back of his head. He looks a bit groggy...
BRAD: Boni, I screwed up. The one thing I knew going in was that Bad News Brown is a street fighter. The one thing you can't do is let him get you into a street fight. That's just what I did tonight and it cost me my title. Dang, I just want to tell all my fans that I'm sorry I let them down, but I will be back.
BAD NEWS BROWN (off camera): Get outta the way, chump! Time for the champ to speak!
Brown and the Slickster stroll into the scene...
BRAD: OK, brother, you can have your time! But don't think you've seen the last of BA! I'll be back!
SLICK: Of course you will, just like a bad penny! Feast your eyes on a real man and a real champion, Miss Boni! The street fightin man from Harlem and your new champion! Bad News Brown!
BAD NEWS: I hope I haven't seen the last of Brad Armstrong! There's nothin I enjoy more than kickin some hillbilly butt! I want all of the challengers in the USWA to come after this belt! Especially all of the so called tough guys! I'm talkin about Reed! Idol! Furnas! Lawler! Valiant! Bring it on! It's a good day for Bad News!
SLICK: And it's a bad day for everybody else! Testify, my brother! Hahahaha!
Slick and Brown exit...
BONI: Now, this...
VTR:
As the music plays, we see a large man riding a Harley through the desert...
A graphic reads: AMERICAN STARSHIP...COMING TO THE USWA IN 1987!!!
“MAD DOG” BUZZ SAWYER VS. “DR.D” DAVID SHULTS: Buzz wants revenge on his former partner. They tear into each other and brawl all over the Kiel! Finally, after 3:39 of furious and bloody brawling, referee Nick Patrick has no choice but to DQ both men! It takes several referees and wrestlers to seperate these two wildmen! We haven't seen the last of this, I'm sure!
Back to the dressing room area and Boni...
BONI: I'm here with Jerry Lawler. The STEEL GAUNTLET MATCH is later tonight. You aren't wearing a neck brace...are you ready?
LAWLER: Boni, I can't wait to get back in that ring! Harley Race, you have something that belongs to me and that's my USWA World Title belt! After I win the Steel Gauntlet, I'm coming after my title!
BONI: Hey, we don't want any trouble!
Jos LeDuc and Paul Jones are here!
LEDUC: Lawler, don't forget that I have put you in the hospital before! It will be me that wins tonight and gets the match with Race!
LAWLER: Not tonight, LeDuc! This is my night!
Austin Idol and Baby Doll are here!
BABY DOLL: Not so fast, boys! My man is going to be the next champion!
IDOL: Lawler, old pal, you'd better step aside! LeDuc, you big gorilla, you're looking at your worst nightmare!
Jim Cornette & Big Bubba Rogers walk into the picture!
CORNETTE: Boys, we'd love to stay and shoot the bull, but my Midnight Express are about to beat up Bob Armstrong's kids. Then, you guys can beat up Bob! I hear he's dragging his decrepit corpse into that cage!
LEDUC: Big Bubba, I hope it comes down to me and you, mon ami. You look like you might be competition!
BUBBA: I'll send you back to Canada with a busted head!
It looks like we're about to have a fight!
BONI: Let me throw this back to Lance & Les at ringside!
Bullet Bob Armstrong leads his sons, Scott & Steve to ringside. Bob is carrying his “Tennessee toothpick”, a baseball bat!
Jim Cornette finally makes it to ringside with Big Bubba in tow.
CORNETTE: You've already seen one Armstrong get his tail kicked! Now, it's time for two more! Old man, if you try to interfere, we'll make it three! Ladies and gentlemen, twin sons of different mothers, poetry in motion, and the greatest tag team ever: Beautiful Bobby & Loverboy Dennis....THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS!!!
USWA WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS(W/ JIM CORNETTE & BIG BUBBA ROGERS) © VS. SCOTT & STEVE ARMSTRONG : Both teams use a lot of quick tags and double team manuvers. Cornette distracts and interfers as much as he can get away with. Finally, Bob has seen enough and goes after the manager! Bubba cuts the Bullet off and gets a bat to the abdomen for his trouble! Cornette sees Bob coming at him and is terrified! Cornette throws a fireball and hits Bob on his chest! Bobby Eaton is distracted by what is happening at ringside and gets a Scott Armstrong superkick to the jaw! Scott makes the cover and gets the three count! SCOTT & STEVE ARMSTRONG ARE THE NEW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!!
Cornette is throwing a hissy fit in the ring! Bubba is glaring at his employer! Bubba and Cornette have a heated conversation until Condrey gets between them and the heels retreat to the dressing room! Bob is holding his burnt chest and is in pain, but is obviously happy for his sons. Brad enters the ring and raises the hands of Scott & Steve!
VTR:
We see a living room decorated for Christmas. A fire burns in the fireplace, it's a cozy scene.
ANNOUNCER: (v/o) Christmas...a time for peace...joy...love..and PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING???
Jimmy Valiant bursts into the scene, dressed like Santa Claus!
VALIANT: Mercy, mercy! Sho got that right! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good fight!
We see various scenes of in ring action.
ANNOUNCER: Don't miss the USWA's Christmas gift to our fans...live from Market Square Arena, Christmas night on the Nashville Network at 8 p.m.
VALIANT: (singing) I'll have a blue Christmas without you!
Tommy “Wildfire” Rich enters the ring enters the ring. Most fans stand and cheer, but there is a smattering of boos.
“The King” Harley Race enters Kiel Arena. He also gets a mixed reaction. He's obviously playing the heel, but there are still plenty of Race supporters in the state of Missouri!
USWA WORLD TITLE MATCH: “KING OF WRESTLING” HARLEY RACE © VS. TOMMY “WILDFIRE” RICH: Tommy is on top of his game and dominates the first 15 minutes of the match. Race turns the tide by hitting a suplex and really works Rich over for several minutes before Tommy gets “farred up” and makes a big comeback. Tommy locks in the sleeper and it looks bad for the King until he makes it to the ropes. Tommy really gets going after that and beats Race from pillar to post! Harley is bloody and battered as Tommy whips him to the ropes and hits the Thesz press. Unfortunately for Tommy he tries the move to close to the ropes and Race holds on and drops Rich throat first onto the top rope. Harley covers Tommy for the 1-2-3 and retains the title in a time of 32:13.
wrestlingmuseum.com/images/halloffame/raceblood.jpg
While the cage is being set up for the Steel Gauntlet, Joe Pedicino goes over the rules:
STEEL GAUNTLET
1.MATCH CONTESTED IN A STEEL CAGE. NO DQ OR TIME LIMIT!
2.8 TOP WRESTLERS INVOLVED.
3.TWO NAMES DRAWN AT RANDOM START THE MATCH. THEY WRESTLE UNTIL ONE MAN ACHIEVES A PIN OR SUBMISSION.
4.AFTER A PIN OR SUBMISSION ACHIEVED, ANOTHER NAME DRWN AT RANDOM.
5.THE THIRD WRESTLER DRAWN WILL TAKE ON THE WINNER OF THE FIRST MATCH.
6.PROCESS CONTINUES UNTIL ALL THE NAMES HAVE BEEN DRAWN AND ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE WRESTLED. LAST MAN STANDING WINS AND RECEIVES A TITLE MATCH AT A FUTURE DATE!
STEEL GAUNTLET MATCH-WINNER RECEIVES WORLD TITLE MATCH ON 12/25/86!
The cage is set up. USWA President Sandy Scott is at ringside with a large hopper that he will draw names of competitors out of at random. Scott pulls out a name and hands it to ring announcer Mike McGuirk...
JOS LEDUC!!! LeDuc enters the arena with Paul Jones at his side. LeDuc enters the cage, pulls at the cage walls and bounces off the ropes.
The next name...BOB ARMSTRONG!!!
Bob has a bandage over the burn on his chest. Brad, Scott, & Steve are with their dad and seem to be trying to persuade him not get into the ring! Bob shakes his head and orders his boys back to the dressing room! The great veteran enters the ring and the bell rings!
Bob goes on the offensive and really takes it to the Canadian Freight Train! Before long, LeDuc is a bloody mess. LeDuc does manage to fight back and procure his infamous bear hug. Armstrong slugs his way out of the hold and takes back over. Finally, at the 8:45 mark, LeDuc gets Armstrong up in a bodyslam position and runs the Bullet facefirst into the cage before powerslamming Armstrong. It's all over and Bob is eliminated. Who's next for LeDuc???
MCGUIRK: Ladies and gentlemen, PLAYBOY BUDDY ROSE!!!
Percy Pringle leads the TV Champion into the arena. The Playboy batters LeDuc with Pringle's cane until LeDuc gets ahold of the stick and tosses it over the top of the cage! Big Jos batters the Playboy from pillar to post for a few minutes before locking him in the bearhug! There's no escaping this time and the Playboy submits at the 16:43 mark! Who's next for the lumberjack?
MCGUIRK: Our next participant is BIG BUBBA ROGERS!!!
Surprisingly, Bubba comes out by himself. Rogers and LeDuc basically take turns beating each other up! This is a real hossfight here! Finally, Bubba hits a sidewalk slam for the 1-2-3. Time of the fall is 26:22 and Bubba waits for the next man out...
MCGUIRK: JIM “THE ANVIL” NEIDHART!!!
Jones leads LeDuc back to the dressing room, then leads the Anvil into the arena! As Jones watches helplessly, Bubba preoceeds to take Neidhart apart! Big Bubba scores the pin at the 30:09 mark after a piledriver! Rogers looks unstoppable right now!
MCGUIRK: Our next competitor...BUTCH REED!!!
The feud between these two is well documented and they tear into each other immediately! Butch eventually takes over, driving Bubba facefirst into all four sides of the cage! Rogers goes down and Reed goes to the top rope and waits for the big man to get to his feet. When Bubba gets up, Butch goes for a shoulder block....Rogers sidesteps and Reed lands flat on his face! Bubba hits a big splash and gets the pin at 39:57 to eliminate the Hacksaw!
Who's next???
MCGUIRK: Ladies and gentlemen, “the Universal Hearthrob” AUSTIN IDOL!!!
Baby Doll leads Idol to the ring! Idol hits the ring and tears into his bigger opponent! After about five minutes of back and forth brawling, Jim Cornette finally comes to ringside, yelling instructions to his bodyguard! Bubba reaches into one of his pockets, pulls out a roll of quarters and decks Idol! Rogers pins Idol in 49:02! There's only one competitor left in the Steel Gauntlet!
MIKE MCGUIRK: The final competitor in the Steel Gauntlet...JERRY LAWLER!!!
The former World Champ walks slowly and purposefully to the ring. Once he enters, it's a typical Lawler match. Jerry gets off to a slow start and Bubba deals out a bunch of punishment. Jerry pulls down the strap and starts his comeback! Lawler slugs away with rights and lefts! Bubba comes back with a side slam and gets a two and a half count before Jerry gets a leg on the bottom rope. Bubba drags Lawler to the center of the ring and goes for a splash off the top rope! Lawler rolls out of the way and Bubba crashes to the mat! When both men get to their feet, Lawler starts throwing fists and Rogers is in trouble! Cornette is screeching instructions to his man, but he doesn't seem to respond! World Champion Harley Race, his head bandaged with the title belt under his arm, is at ringside, watching intently. Lawler has Bubba reeling! Cornette throws his tennis racket over the top of the cage! Lawler catches the racket and uses it to flatten Bubba! Rogers goes down and Lawler hits a fist drop! Lawler covers Big Bubba for the 1-2-3! Time of the fall: 1:02:49.
JERRY LAWLER WINS THE STEEL GAUNTLET! LAWLER WILL WRESTLE RACE FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT IN INDIANAPOLIS!!!
PEDICINO: Folks, join us tomorrow night on the Nashville Network at 9:30 for USWA Saturday Night Wrestling!