UWE World Title Tournament - Why, Lex, Why?
Jan 13, 2021 22:23:17 GMT
Post by badstreetfields on Jan 13, 2021 22:23:17 GMT
UNIVERSAL WRESTLING ENTERPRISE
LA Sports Arena
Los Angeles, California
Sunday, January 11, 1987
Interviewer: Gene Okerlund
Referee: Joey Marella
Ring Announcer: Joe Blanchard
Gene Okerlund walks to the ring and welcomes the crowd to the world heavyweight title tournament. He reminds fans of the bracket for the first round:
Lex Luger v. Vader
Kerry Von Erich v. Kamala
Nikita Koloff v. Jimmy Snuka
Bret Hart v. Tito Santana
He goes over the rules for the tournament, announcing that first and second round matches are a 30-minute time limit, while the championship match will go on until there is a winner. He then brings out the guest time keeper for the evening, former NFL player and star of the blockbuster movie series Police Academy, Bubba Smith.
As Okerlund asks the crowd to stand for the national anthem he introduces a local high student who won a contest to sing the anthem at the show. Before she can start, an unknown person in what looks to be a KGB uniform walks to ringside, grabs the house mic and demands that the Soviet national anthem be played. The man himself starts singing the anthem. This doesn’t sit well with Bubba, who walks into the ring….and lays out the intruder! Bubba then hands the mic to the singer at ringside while the crowd gives him a standing ovation. The young student then performs a passionate rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
Bubba Smith rings the bell to start the matches for the evening.
UWE World Title Tournament Match
Lex Luger v. Big Van Vader
In this battle of the big men, Vader gave the Total Package all he could handle. In the end though, Luger took advantage of Vader’s lack of discipline, as the monster was jawing with the crowd, which gave Luger time to recover. He landed a series of hard forearms that dropped BVD, then dropped an elbow and covered for the pin. Winner: Lex Luger (10:02)
UWE World Title Tournament Match
Kerry Von Erich v. Kamala w/ Robert Fuller
Despite orders from Robert Fuller, Kamala just seemed intent on trying to administer as much damage as possible to Von Erich. Kamala was right on top of Von Erich with kicks and stomps. Kamala smelled blood and continued to pound away on Kerry's back over and over again until it looked as though Von Erich may not be able to continue. Kamala attempted a big smash but KVE moved at the last second. Kerry got in some offense before administering a discuss punch that dropped the Giant. KVE covered for the pin before Fuller could make the save. Winner: Kerry Von Erich (7:21 )
UWE World Title Tournament Match
Jimmy Snuka v. Nikita Koloff
The Russian was without his Uncle who has been banned from ringside. There was no way a wrestler as tough as the Superfly wasn’t going to give it all he had. Snuka took control of the match but a well-timed low blow by Koloff turned the tide. Despite the fans cheering on Snuka, the big Russian was too much as he landed a sickle and covered for the pin. Winner: Nikita Koloff (11:44)
UWE World Title Tournament Match
Bret Hart v. Paul Orndorff
The surprise pairing of the tournament turned into quite a match. Tag-team specialist Hart and newcomer Orndorff had a back and forth encounter that saw numerous near pins. Ultimately, neither was able to secure a victory as the bell rang at the thirty-minute mark. Both men begged for the match to continue but Lord James Blears announced that UWE by-laws prevented an extension of time. Both wrestlers showed well but are out of the tournament. Winner: TIME LIMIT DRAW
Gene Okerlund came back to ringside to announce to the crowd that since Orndorff and Hart was a draw, Nikita Koloff moves to the final. The winner of Lex Luger and Kerry Von Erich will face the Russian for the championship.
Non-Tournament Match
Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. w/ Jimmy Jack Funk v. Rick and Scott Steiner
The Funks defeated the Steiner Brothers via pinfall with assistance from interference by the younger Funk. Winner: Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. (10:40)
---------------Intermission---------------
UWE World Title Tournament Match – Semifinal
Lex Luger v. Kerry Von Erich
The crowd doesn’t quite know what to do here as both are huge fan favorites. The match starts out evenly, with Luger taking a little longer to break holds upon the ref’s instructions but nothing of concern. As both men appear exhausted, Ivan Koloff appears at the end of the walkway staring at the ring. Kerry Von Erich goes to the ring ropes and yells at Koloff to leave the area. He looks to his right expecting Luger to join him in sending off the Russian. However, as KVE was distracted by Ivan, who was at the very end of the walkway, not ringside, Luger slipped to the floor apron, grabbed a chair, returned to the ring…AND STRUCK VON ERICH ON THE BACK! He did so again. And again. The referee called for the bell. Luger continued his assault until security was able to remove him. The fans were irate and trying to jump the ringside barriers to get at Luger. Lex taunted them as he walked back and then, to add insult to injury, hugged Ivan Koloff at the end of the walkway! The two exited as medical personnel took Kerry to the back. Winner: Kerry Von Erich (13:45)
Non-Tournament Match:
Tracy Smothers v. Iron Sheik
Before the match, Tracy Smothers welcomes back the UWE Tommy "Wildfire" Rich who comes out to the adulation of the crowd. He waves to the crowd and stays at ringside as the match begins. Sheik uses illegal tactics to control a good portion of the contest. Rich as finally seen enough. With the ref checking on Smothers, Rich climbs to the ring apron and decks the Iranian. Sheik falls to the ground as Smothers covers for the pin. Winner: Tracy Smothers (9:54)
----Second Intermission----
Gene Okerlund came back to ringside and announced to the crowd that Kerry Von Erich was injured following that brutal attack by Lugar. However, the UWE Board of Directors held an emergency meeting in the back and has determined that a champion must be crowned tonight. Lex Luger will be punished at a later time, but for now, if Kerry cannot compete, Koloff will win the world title.
UWE World Title Tournament Match – Final
Nikita Koloff v. Kerry Von Erich
The Russian came to the ring first much to the ire of the fans. He seemed to be thriving off it. He stood in the ring and smirked as he waited, quite certain Von Erich would not make it to their match. As Lord James Blears was about to declare the match a forfeit an award the title to Koloff, the crowd erupted as Kerry Von Erich started to walk down the aisle. It was obvious he was in pain and quite injured, but he made it to ringside, grabbed the house mic, and proclaimed there was no way he was letting a Russian take the title without a fight. He entered the ring and the match commenced. Unfortunately, Kerry’s dedication and heart could not overcome his back injury. When he looked to gain the upper hand his momentum was stifled when his back simply gave out. To beat Nikita Koloff you have to be at 100%. Kerry was not. Despite a valiant effort, he succumbed to a Russian sickle and pinfall. Nikita Koloff wins the UWE World Heavyweight Championship. Winner: Nikita Koloff (12:04)
As Nikita Koloff walked off with the world title, Kerry promised the crowd he would do everything he could to win the title and that Koloff’s reign would be a short one.
---Shows ends---
LA Sports Arena
Los Angeles, California
Sunday, January 11, 1987
Interviewer: Gene Okerlund
Referee: Joey Marella
Ring Announcer: Joe Blanchard
Gene Okerlund walks to the ring and welcomes the crowd to the world heavyweight title tournament. He reminds fans of the bracket for the first round:
Lex Luger v. Vader
Kerry Von Erich v. Kamala
Nikita Koloff v. Jimmy Snuka
Bret Hart v. Tito Santana
He goes over the rules for the tournament, announcing that first and second round matches are a 30-minute time limit, while the championship match will go on until there is a winner. He then brings out the guest time keeper for the evening, former NFL player and star of the blockbuster movie series Police Academy, Bubba Smith.
As Okerlund asks the crowd to stand for the national anthem he introduces a local high student who won a contest to sing the anthem at the show. Before she can start, an unknown person in what looks to be a KGB uniform walks to ringside, grabs the house mic and demands that the Soviet national anthem be played. The man himself starts singing the anthem. This doesn’t sit well with Bubba, who walks into the ring….and lays out the intruder! Bubba then hands the mic to the singer at ringside while the crowd gives him a standing ovation. The young student then performs a passionate rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
Bubba Smith rings the bell to start the matches for the evening.
UWE World Title Tournament Match
Lex Luger v. Big Van Vader
In this battle of the big men, Vader gave the Total Package all he could handle. In the end though, Luger took advantage of Vader’s lack of discipline, as the monster was jawing with the crowd, which gave Luger time to recover. He landed a series of hard forearms that dropped BVD, then dropped an elbow and covered for the pin. Winner: Lex Luger (10:02)
UWE World Title Tournament Match
Kerry Von Erich v. Kamala w/ Robert Fuller
Despite orders from Robert Fuller, Kamala just seemed intent on trying to administer as much damage as possible to Von Erich. Kamala was right on top of Von Erich with kicks and stomps. Kamala smelled blood and continued to pound away on Kerry's back over and over again until it looked as though Von Erich may not be able to continue. Kamala attempted a big smash but KVE moved at the last second. Kerry got in some offense before administering a discuss punch that dropped the Giant. KVE covered for the pin before Fuller could make the save. Winner: Kerry Von Erich (7:21 )
UWE World Title Tournament Match
Jimmy Snuka v. Nikita Koloff
The Russian was without his Uncle who has been banned from ringside. There was no way a wrestler as tough as the Superfly wasn’t going to give it all he had. Snuka took control of the match but a well-timed low blow by Koloff turned the tide. Despite the fans cheering on Snuka, the big Russian was too much as he landed a sickle and covered for the pin. Winner: Nikita Koloff (11:44)
UWE World Title Tournament Match
Bret Hart v. Paul Orndorff
The surprise pairing of the tournament turned into quite a match. Tag-team specialist Hart and newcomer Orndorff had a back and forth encounter that saw numerous near pins. Ultimately, neither was able to secure a victory as the bell rang at the thirty-minute mark. Both men begged for the match to continue but Lord James Blears announced that UWE by-laws prevented an extension of time. Both wrestlers showed well but are out of the tournament. Winner: TIME LIMIT DRAW
Gene Okerlund came back to ringside to announce to the crowd that since Orndorff and Hart was a draw, Nikita Koloff moves to the final. The winner of Lex Luger and Kerry Von Erich will face the Russian for the championship.
Non-Tournament Match
Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. w/ Jimmy Jack Funk v. Rick and Scott Steiner
The Funks defeated the Steiner Brothers via pinfall with assistance from interference by the younger Funk. Winner: Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. (10:40)
---------------Intermission---------------
UWE World Title Tournament Match – Semifinal
Lex Luger v. Kerry Von Erich
The crowd doesn’t quite know what to do here as both are huge fan favorites. The match starts out evenly, with Luger taking a little longer to break holds upon the ref’s instructions but nothing of concern. As both men appear exhausted, Ivan Koloff appears at the end of the walkway staring at the ring. Kerry Von Erich goes to the ring ropes and yells at Koloff to leave the area. He looks to his right expecting Luger to join him in sending off the Russian. However, as KVE was distracted by Ivan, who was at the very end of the walkway, not ringside, Luger slipped to the floor apron, grabbed a chair, returned to the ring…AND STRUCK VON ERICH ON THE BACK! He did so again. And again. The referee called for the bell. Luger continued his assault until security was able to remove him. The fans were irate and trying to jump the ringside barriers to get at Luger. Lex taunted them as he walked back and then, to add insult to injury, hugged Ivan Koloff at the end of the walkway! The two exited as medical personnel took Kerry to the back. Winner: Kerry Von Erich (13:45)
Non-Tournament Match:
Tracy Smothers v. Iron Sheik
Before the match, Tracy Smothers welcomes back the UWE Tommy "Wildfire" Rich who comes out to the adulation of the crowd. He waves to the crowd and stays at ringside as the match begins. Sheik uses illegal tactics to control a good portion of the contest. Rich as finally seen enough. With the ref checking on Smothers, Rich climbs to the ring apron and decks the Iranian. Sheik falls to the ground as Smothers covers for the pin. Winner: Tracy Smothers (9:54)
----Second Intermission----
Gene Okerlund came back to ringside and announced to the crowd that Kerry Von Erich was injured following that brutal attack by Lugar. However, the UWE Board of Directors held an emergency meeting in the back and has determined that a champion must be crowned tonight. Lex Luger will be punished at a later time, but for now, if Kerry cannot compete, Koloff will win the world title.
UWE World Title Tournament Match – Final
Nikita Koloff v. Kerry Von Erich
The Russian came to the ring first much to the ire of the fans. He seemed to be thriving off it. He stood in the ring and smirked as he waited, quite certain Von Erich would not make it to their match. As Lord James Blears was about to declare the match a forfeit an award the title to Koloff, the crowd erupted as Kerry Von Erich started to walk down the aisle. It was obvious he was in pain and quite injured, but he made it to ringside, grabbed the house mic, and proclaimed there was no way he was letting a Russian take the title without a fight. He entered the ring and the match commenced. Unfortunately, Kerry’s dedication and heart could not overcome his back injury. When he looked to gain the upper hand his momentum was stifled when his back simply gave out. To beat Nikita Koloff you have to be at 100%. Kerry was not. Despite a valiant effort, he succumbed to a Russian sickle and pinfall. Nikita Koloff wins the UWE World Heavyweight Championship. Winner: Nikita Koloff (12:04)
As Nikita Koloff walked off with the world title, Kerry promised the crowd he would do everything he could to win the title and that Koloff’s reign would be a short one.
---Shows ends---