GWA “Thunder Countdown” 11/23/88 USA Network
Nov 22, 2022 22:47:47 GMT
Post by tlyne on Nov 22, 2022 22:47:47 GMT
“Thunder Countdown”
Worcester Centrum
Worcester, MA
Taped: 11/19/88
Airs: 11/23/88 on the USA Network
Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura open the show.
McMahon, “Welcome to ‘Thunder Countdown’, Jesse, it’s going to be a fast paced hour!”
Ventura, “Yes it is McMahon! It’s good to have Monsoon out of here, but how did you get this job?”
McMahon, “Don’t worry about that Jesse, let’s go to the ring!”
Match #1
Iceman King Parsons vs. Black Bart
The popular Iceman takes on the big cowboy. Bart jumps Parsons before the bell. He hammers away and Iceman is in trouble. The crowd is worried, and Parsons rallies. He takes the fight to Bart. The crowd gets behind Iceman, and he wins with the butt bump.
Winner- Iceman King Parsons
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is with Jerry “The King” Lawler.
Okerlund, “With me is the North American Champion Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. Mr. Lawler, you are coming off a serious neck injury at the hands of Bill Dundee. At ‘Thanksgiving Thunder’ you take on Dundee, are you prepared?”
Lawler, “Bill Dundee and I go back a long time. We’ve been friends and we’ve been enemies. A month ago, he tried to end my career, and almost did. I said ‘Almost’. Dundee, you didn’t do it, and now I want revenge! I’m going to Boston, and I’m going to take my pound of flesh! Get ready because a career may end on Thanksgiving, and it ain’t going to be mine!”
Okerlund, “‘The King’ is ready for Dundee, and he will be in our next match!”
Match #2
Non Title Match
Jerry “The King” Lawler (North American Champion) vs. Cowboy Bob Orton
Two talented veterans meet in this one. All eyes are on “The King”. Is his neck healed? Orton shows why he is considered one of the best mat wrestlers in the sport. Lawler fires back with rights and lefts. We have a brawl. Lawler takes over and wins with the piledriver. Lawler looks ready for Dundee.
Winner- Jerry Lawler
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is with Billy Jack Haynes.
Okerlund, “With me is Billy Jack Haynes, the Number One Contender for the Global Championship. Mr. Haynes, you meet Ric Flair tomorrow night. Are you ready?”
Haynes, “Mr. Okerlund, I’ve never been more ready. Ric Flair is very good, but I know I am too. It won’t be easy and I know that Heenan will stick his nose into things. I’m ready for that. I’m going to win this for my dad and for the fans. Ric Flair, shine up that title, I’m coming to take it!”
Okerlund, “Billy Jack Haynes is ready!”
Match #3
Billy Jack Haynes vs. Bob Bradley
Bradley is very athletic and will be a good test for Haynes. “The Cat” uses his athleticism to get off to a good start. Billy is able to slow the pace. He takes over with his power and strength. He clamps on the full Nelson. Bradley fights it, but he must submit. Billy is ready.
Winner- Billy Jack Haynes
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is standing in front of a “Thanksgiving Thunder” banner.
Okerlund, “Fans, tomorrow night, Thanksgiving night, the GWA presents ‘Thanksgiving Thunder’! The Boston Garden is sold out, but you can see the action on Pay per View. Here is what you will see.
Kerry Von Erich vs. Wild Bill Irwin
Iceman King Parsons vs. Cowboy Bob Orton
The Bolsheviks vs. Rick Martel and Eric Embry
Brutus Beefcake vs. Black Bart
Lex Luger vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan
We have a four team tournament for the Global Tag Team tournament. The first round pairings have been announced.
The Rougeau Brothers vs. The British Bulldogs
The Hart Foundation vs. The Islanders
For the North American Title
Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler defends against ‘Superstar’ Bill Dundee
In the main event, for the Global Championship
Ric Flair defends against Billy Jack Haynes
Let’s hear from the Champion.”
We see Ric Flair in an interview area.
Flair, “‘The Nature Boy’, the Global Champion! Billy Jack Haynes, you think you can run with the big dogs, give it a try! I eat punks like you for lunch! You have all those muscles, but no brains! That’s the difference! Whether you like it, or you don’t, learn to love it because I’m the best thing going! Whooooooooo!”
Match #4
Eight Man Tag team Match
The Rougeau Brothers and the British Bulldogs vs. The Islanders and The Hart Foundation w/Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Al DeRuhsa will try to referee this, good luck. Jacques Rougeau starts with Tama. They go back and forth and the match is off to a fast start. Jacques tags in his brother, and they double team Tama. The Islander tags in Neidhart. “The Anvil” uses his power to work over Rougeau. Jacques tags in the Dynamite Kid. He takes to the air, and now Dynamite has the edge. Neidhart tags in Haku. The big man dishes out punishment. Davey Boy tags in, and he and Haku go toe to toe. Neidhart tags in Bret Hart. Hart and Smith exchange holds and counter holds. Eventually, all eight men end up brawling in the ring. DeRusha has no choice but to disqualify both teams. What a match!
Result- Double Disqualification
Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura close the show.
McMahon, “Jess, we are ready for ‘Thanksgiving Thunder’!”
Ventura, “It’s going to be wild!”
McMahon, “Join us, tomorrow, on Pay per View!”
Worcester Centrum
Worcester, MA
Taped: 11/19/88
Airs: 11/23/88 on the USA Network
Vince McMahon and Jesse “The Body” Ventura open the show.
McMahon, “Welcome to ‘Thunder Countdown’, Jesse, it’s going to be a fast paced hour!”
Ventura, “Yes it is McMahon! It’s good to have Monsoon out of here, but how did you get this job?”
McMahon, “Don’t worry about that Jesse, let’s go to the ring!”
Match #1
Iceman King Parsons vs. Black Bart
The popular Iceman takes on the big cowboy. Bart jumps Parsons before the bell. He hammers away and Iceman is in trouble. The crowd is worried, and Parsons rallies. He takes the fight to Bart. The crowd gets behind Iceman, and he wins with the butt bump.
Winner- Iceman King Parsons
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is with Jerry “The King” Lawler.
Okerlund, “With me is the North American Champion Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. Mr. Lawler, you are coming off a serious neck injury at the hands of Bill Dundee. At ‘Thanksgiving Thunder’ you take on Dundee, are you prepared?”
Lawler, “Bill Dundee and I go back a long time. We’ve been friends and we’ve been enemies. A month ago, he tried to end my career, and almost did. I said ‘Almost’. Dundee, you didn’t do it, and now I want revenge! I’m going to Boston, and I’m going to take my pound of flesh! Get ready because a career may end on Thanksgiving, and it ain’t going to be mine!”
Okerlund, “‘The King’ is ready for Dundee, and he will be in our next match!”
Match #2
Non Title Match
Jerry “The King” Lawler (North American Champion) vs. Cowboy Bob Orton
Two talented veterans meet in this one. All eyes are on “The King”. Is his neck healed? Orton shows why he is considered one of the best mat wrestlers in the sport. Lawler fires back with rights and lefts. We have a brawl. Lawler takes over and wins with the piledriver. Lawler looks ready for Dundee.
Winner- Jerry Lawler
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is with Billy Jack Haynes.
Okerlund, “With me is Billy Jack Haynes, the Number One Contender for the Global Championship. Mr. Haynes, you meet Ric Flair tomorrow night. Are you ready?”
Haynes, “Mr. Okerlund, I’ve never been more ready. Ric Flair is very good, but I know I am too. It won’t be easy and I know that Heenan will stick his nose into things. I’m ready for that. I’m going to win this for my dad and for the fans. Ric Flair, shine up that title, I’m coming to take it!”
Okerlund, “Billy Jack Haynes is ready!”
Match #3
Billy Jack Haynes vs. Bob Bradley
Bradley is very athletic and will be a good test for Haynes. “The Cat” uses his athleticism to get off to a good start. Billy is able to slow the pace. He takes over with his power and strength. He clamps on the full Nelson. Bradley fights it, but he must submit. Billy is ready.
Winner- Billy Jack Haynes
“Mean” Gene Okerlund is standing in front of a “Thanksgiving Thunder” banner.
Okerlund, “Fans, tomorrow night, Thanksgiving night, the GWA presents ‘Thanksgiving Thunder’! The Boston Garden is sold out, but you can see the action on Pay per View. Here is what you will see.
Kerry Von Erich vs. Wild Bill Irwin
Iceman King Parsons vs. Cowboy Bob Orton
The Bolsheviks vs. Rick Martel and Eric Embry
Brutus Beefcake vs. Black Bart
Lex Luger vs. Hacksaw Jim Duggan
We have a four team tournament for the Global Tag Team tournament. The first round pairings have been announced.
The Rougeau Brothers vs. The British Bulldogs
The Hart Foundation vs. The Islanders
For the North American Title
Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler defends against ‘Superstar’ Bill Dundee
In the main event, for the Global Championship
Ric Flair defends against Billy Jack Haynes
Let’s hear from the Champion.”
We see Ric Flair in an interview area.
Flair, “‘The Nature Boy’, the Global Champion! Billy Jack Haynes, you think you can run with the big dogs, give it a try! I eat punks like you for lunch! You have all those muscles, but no brains! That’s the difference! Whether you like it, or you don’t, learn to love it because I’m the best thing going! Whooooooooo!”
Match #4
Eight Man Tag team Match
The Rougeau Brothers and the British Bulldogs vs. The Islanders and The Hart Foundation w/Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Al DeRuhsa will try to referee this, good luck. Jacques Rougeau starts with Tama. They go back and forth and the match is off to a fast start. Jacques tags in his brother, and they double team Tama. The Islander tags in Neidhart. “The Anvil” uses his power to work over Rougeau. Jacques tags in the Dynamite Kid. He takes to the air, and now Dynamite has the edge. Neidhart tags in Haku. The big man dishes out punishment. Davey Boy tags in, and he and Haku go toe to toe. Neidhart tags in Bret Hart. Hart and Smith exchange holds and counter holds. Eventually, all eight men end up brawling in the ring. DeRusha has no choice but to disqualify both teams. What a match!
Result- Double Disqualification
Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura close the show.
McMahon, “Jess, we are ready for ‘Thanksgiving Thunder’!”
Ventura, “It’s going to be wild!”
McMahon, “Join us, tomorrow, on Pay per View!”
Working on it now.