GWA “Friday Night Fights” 3/18/88
Mar 16, 2022 22:38:29 GMT
Post by tlyne on Mar 16, 2022 22:38:29 GMT
“Friday Night Fights”
Civic Center
Glens Falls, NY
Taped- 3/15/88
Airs- 3/18/88 on the USA Network
Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura open the program.
Ross, “Welcome ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for ‘Friday Night Fights’! Jess, tomorrow night, the ‘Spring Spectacular” will be on the air, what a show it will be.”
Ventura, “Ross, are you going to ever stop talking?”
Ross, “I’m just excited! We have a great 60 minutes of action. We are going to see Hacksaw Jim Duggan in action, as well as a fantastic feature match, ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair takes on Tito Santana.”
Ventura, “That’s ‘Chico’, not Tito.”
Ross, “Alright, let’s get started with a tag team match.”
Match #1
“Playboy” Buddy Rose and Rip “The Crippler” Oliver vs. The New Breed
Two skilled tag teams open the show. One team is young and fast, and the other are wily veterans. Rose starts for the veterans, as does Todd Champion. The action is fast paced, and even. Rose goes for a piledriver, but Champion blocks it. Royal tags in, and he goes right after Buddy. The action goes back and forth. Royal and Oliver are the legal men. Royal hits a flying body press for the win.
Winners-The New Breed
Match #2
Larry Zbyszko vs. Greg Gagne
This should be a good one. Zbyszko has returned with a bang. Larry puts the bad mouth on Gagne. The bell rings and we are underway. Zbyszko is very skilled, and he works on Gagne. Larry goes for a sleeper, but Gagne reaches the ropes. The match goes back and forth. Zbyszko is able to set up the neckbreaker, and get the win.
Winner-Larry Zbyszko
We see the “Piper ‘s Pit” set.
Roddy Piper walks out.
Piper, “Hello everybody, RP here! Tonight, I’m going to talk to one of the best wrestlers in the world, but he’s got his hands full tomorrow night. Let’s bring out ‘Macho Man', Randy Savage, and Miss Elizabeth!”
Savage and Elizabeth walk out.
Piper, “Let’s get right to the point. I think you might be the best wrestlers in the world, but the Iron Sheik is out for blood. He don’t care who he hurts, and he likes to hurt Americans!”
Savage, “Yes he does, he is vicious! I don’t care! When I won this title I promised to wrestle anyone, yes I did! I’ve done that, and Iron Sheik, you’re next on my list…ohhhhh yeaaaa!”
Piper, “It’s going to be a war!”
Match #3
Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. “Mean” Mike Miller
Hacksaw is in action in his hometown. The crowd loves him, and they are behind him from the start. Miller gives up size, but he is as tough as they come. The match is a brawl. Duggan can wrestle, but he can brawl with the best of them. Miller gets in a few cheap shots that stun the big man. Duggan has had enough. He lands big rights, and lefts, and finishes things with the spear. The big man is ready!
Winner-Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Milt Avruskin is with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
Avruskin, “With me are Bobby Heenan, and Ric Flair. Mr. Heenan, tonight Ric Flair meets Tito Santana, and then tomorrow, he and Butch Reed take on Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and the Global Champion, Barry Windham. That’s quite a schedule.”
Heenan, “For a ham and egger like you maybe, but this is Ric Flair, the ‘Nature Boy’!”
Avruskin, “Well, along those same lines, and I don’t mean any disrespect by this, but there is talk that Ric Flair may be slowing down a bit, Mr. Flair, your time may be passing.”
Flair, “Avruskin, I don’t know who you’ve been talking to, or what they’ve been saying, but look at me! I’m ‘Slick Ric’, I’m ‘Space Mountain’! You don’t see Windham jumping on me one on one, do you! After tomorrow, I’m getting back in the ring with him, and I’m taking back what is rightfully mine, the Global Champion, and you need to show me some respect!”
Heenan, “I think he told you Avruskin!”
Avruskin, “Our main event is next.
Match #4
“Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. Tito Santana
Santana waits in the ring and we hear, “Also Sprach Zarathustra” and the “Nature Boy” comes to the ring. This will be a good test to see if the former champ is “over the hill”. Flair climbs into the ring, and puts the badmouth on Santana. His confidence hasn’t waned. Earl Hebner is your referee. He calls for the bell, and we are underway. It is easy to forget just how good of a wrestler Tito is. He matches Flair move for move. The match is very fast paced. Tito keeps pace, and the crowd loves the action. Flair takes him down, and lets out, “Now we go to school!” He clamps on the figure four. Sanatana fights, the crowd roars! Tito is valiant, but he must submit! Flair refuses to relinquish the hold.Suddenly, Barry Windham hits the ring. He and Flair brawl. Ric rolls out of the ring. He grabs the mic,
Flair, “Not now, tomorrow night!”
Flair and Heenan leave the ring area.
Winner-Ric Flair
Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura close the show.
Ross, “Jess, it’s almost time!”
Ventura, “Tomorrow night Ross!”
Ross, “If you haven’t called your Pay per View provider, do it now!”
Civic Center
Glens Falls, NY
Taped- 3/15/88
Airs- 3/18/88 on the USA Network
Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura open the program.
Ross, “Welcome ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for ‘Friday Night Fights’! Jess, tomorrow night, the ‘Spring Spectacular” will be on the air, what a show it will be.”
Ventura, “Ross, are you going to ever stop talking?”
Ross, “I’m just excited! We have a great 60 minutes of action. We are going to see Hacksaw Jim Duggan in action, as well as a fantastic feature match, ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair takes on Tito Santana.”
Ventura, “That’s ‘Chico’, not Tito.”
Ross, “Alright, let’s get started with a tag team match.”
Match #1
“Playboy” Buddy Rose and Rip “The Crippler” Oliver vs. The New Breed
Two skilled tag teams open the show. One team is young and fast, and the other are wily veterans. Rose starts for the veterans, as does Todd Champion. The action is fast paced, and even. Rose goes for a piledriver, but Champion blocks it. Royal tags in, and he goes right after Buddy. The action goes back and forth. Royal and Oliver are the legal men. Royal hits a flying body press for the win.
Winners-The New Breed
Match #2
Larry Zbyszko vs. Greg Gagne
This should be a good one. Zbyszko has returned with a bang. Larry puts the bad mouth on Gagne. The bell rings and we are underway. Zbyszko is very skilled, and he works on Gagne. Larry goes for a sleeper, but Gagne reaches the ropes. The match goes back and forth. Zbyszko is able to set up the neckbreaker, and get the win.
Winner-Larry Zbyszko
We see the “Piper ‘s Pit” set.
Roddy Piper walks out.
Piper, “Hello everybody, RP here! Tonight, I’m going to talk to one of the best wrestlers in the world, but he’s got his hands full tomorrow night. Let’s bring out ‘Macho Man', Randy Savage, and Miss Elizabeth!”
Savage and Elizabeth walk out.
Piper, “Let’s get right to the point. I think you might be the best wrestlers in the world, but the Iron Sheik is out for blood. He don’t care who he hurts, and he likes to hurt Americans!”
Savage, “Yes he does, he is vicious! I don’t care! When I won this title I promised to wrestle anyone, yes I did! I’ve done that, and Iron Sheik, you’re next on my list…ohhhhh yeaaaa!”
Piper, “It’s going to be a war!”
Match #3
Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. “Mean” Mike Miller
Hacksaw is in action in his hometown. The crowd loves him, and they are behind him from the start. Miller gives up size, but he is as tough as they come. The match is a brawl. Duggan can wrestle, but he can brawl with the best of them. Miller gets in a few cheap shots that stun the big man. Duggan has had enough. He lands big rights, and lefts, and finishes things with the spear. The big man is ready!
Winner-Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Milt Avruskin is with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
Avruskin, “With me are Bobby Heenan, and Ric Flair. Mr. Heenan, tonight Ric Flair meets Tito Santana, and then tomorrow, he and Butch Reed take on Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and the Global Champion, Barry Windham. That’s quite a schedule.”
Heenan, “For a ham and egger like you maybe, but this is Ric Flair, the ‘Nature Boy’!”
Avruskin, “Well, along those same lines, and I don’t mean any disrespect by this, but there is talk that Ric Flair may be slowing down a bit, Mr. Flair, your time may be passing.”
Flair, “Avruskin, I don’t know who you’ve been talking to, or what they’ve been saying, but look at me! I’m ‘Slick Ric’, I’m ‘Space Mountain’! You don’t see Windham jumping on me one on one, do you! After tomorrow, I’m getting back in the ring with him, and I’m taking back what is rightfully mine, the Global Champion, and you need to show me some respect!”
Heenan, “I think he told you Avruskin!”
Avruskin, “Our main event is next.
Match #4
“Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. Tito Santana
Santana waits in the ring and we hear, “Also Sprach Zarathustra” and the “Nature Boy” comes to the ring. This will be a good test to see if the former champ is “over the hill”. Flair climbs into the ring, and puts the badmouth on Santana. His confidence hasn’t waned. Earl Hebner is your referee. He calls for the bell, and we are underway. It is easy to forget just how good of a wrestler Tito is. He matches Flair move for move. The match is very fast paced. Tito keeps pace, and the crowd loves the action. Flair takes him down, and lets out, “Now we go to school!” He clamps on the figure four. Sanatana fights, the crowd roars! Tito is valiant, but he must submit! Flair refuses to relinquish the hold.Suddenly, Barry Windham hits the ring. He and Flair brawl. Ric rolls out of the ring. He grabs the mic,
Flair, “Not now, tomorrow night!”
Flair and Heenan leave the ring area.
Winner-Ric Flair
Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura close the show.
Ross, “Jess, it’s almost time!”
Ventura, “Tomorrow night Ross!”
Ross, “If you haven’t called your Pay per View provider, do it now!”
Working on it now.