World of Wrestling Returns! Sunshine State Showdown 12/31/88
Jan 3, 2023 18:52:18 GMT
Post by badstreetfields on Jan 3, 2023 18:52:18 GMT
World Organization of Wrestling presents
Sunshine State Showdown
Taped: Thursday, December 29, 1988 at WTOG Studios
Airing: Saturday, December 31, 1988 at 10AM on WTOG Florida’s Super Station and syndicated across the Southeast
Interviewer: Lord Alfred Hayes
Announcers: Rod Trongard and Lord Alfred Hayes.
Referees: Jerry Calhoun, Mark Curtis and Ron West
Rod Trongard: Welcome wrestling fans to another great World of Wrestling show! We’ve taken a small break but we’re back and ready to bring you some of the top wrestling superstars in the world. It’s a new year, we have a new home here at the WTOG studios, we have lots of new talent you’ll see tonight and over the next few weeks. You are among the best wrestling fans in the world and we promise to bring you the best this sport has to offer. Wherever you’re tuning in, thank you for joining us today, and please know, we’re back and we’re here to stay.
When we last left before taking a brief hiatus, there were so many things going on in WOW, with most of them centering around our world heavyweight champion, Dick Slater. Let’s send it to Lord Alfred Hayes who is with the world heavyweight champion, Dick Slater.
Lord Alfred Hayes: After a brief respite, wrestling is back and there are numerous foes looking to challenge you for this belt.
Dick Slater: Shut up, Hayes. I don’t care how many people they bring in, I’lll send them all out of these arenas on a stretcher. I heard the reason the program shut down was because they couldn’t find anyone man enough to step into the ring with me. I’ve beaten Mike Graham, I’ve humiliated his family year after year. And he ain't gonna do a thing about it. Here’s what I’m going to do. I let the WOW board of directors know that tonight, I’ll be out here for the main event. To prove that there are nothing but cowards here, I am going to issue an open challenge to any wrestler to come face me. You do, you come to that ring, it’s the dumbest damn decision you’ll ever make.
Lord Alfred Hayes: The world champion has issued an open challenge to anyone willing to meet him in the ring tonight. Let’s see who takes him up on that offer! Let’s go the ring for our first match.
Match #1
Maniac Matt Bourne defeated Doug Furnas via pinfall
—Commercial Break—
Rod Trongard: Fans, this Sunday night in Tampa at the Spartan Sports Arena, on New Year’s Day, we are going to crown new World Tag-Team Champions. WOW will host a one-night tournament where the winners will walk out with two of the most prestigious title belts in all of wrestling. We have so many great teams you’ve seen fight over the years, and some newcomers who are going to knock you out of your seats. Lord Alfred Hayes is joined by a pair of wrestlers who are surely among the favorites on Sunday.
Lord Alfred Hayes: This man needs no introduction to wrestling fans, the one and only Dynamite Kid. And he’s joined by an incredibly talented youngster, Chris Benoit.
Dynamite Kid: Thank you Lord Alfred and thank you to all the amazing fans here in the studio and those watching out there on TV. I’ve won titles all over the world. I’ve wrestled in front of packed stadiums against the best the sport has to offer. What do I have left to prove? Well part of what’s left is helping usher in the next generation of superstars. This man here, Chris Benoit, he’s one of the most talented wrestlers I have ever seen. And I couldn’t pass up the chance to team with him here in the Sunshine State. This Sunday night, with the help of this rising star, I am going to add another belt to my collection, and this win, I dedicate to all the fans who have stuck by me through thick and thin.
Chris Benoit: Thank you Dynamite. I’ve been putting in the hours, the sweat, training for this opportunity. I have worked as hard as I can and I will not waste this chance. I won’t let you down Dynamite Kid, and I won’t let the fans down. We are walking out of the arena in Tampa as world tag-team champions.
Lord Alfred Hayes: Dynamite Kid and Chris Benoit have been training for months and are ready for all that hard work to pay off. If they are going to win the world titles, they will have to beat tough opponents like those in our next match.
Match #2
Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose defeated Rex King and Steve Doll via pinfall when Condrey distracted the referee, allowing Rose to a foreign object on King, leaving him prey for a pinfall.
—Commercial Break—-
Rod Trongard: We’ve already seen a number of wrestlers who will be competing in the tag-team tournament this Sunday in Tampa. But we’re not done yet. I have a feeling fans will be cheering on our next guests in their quest to become tag champs. Joining Lord Alfred Hayes is the legendary Bob Armstrong, along with Steve Armstrong and Tim Horner.
Lord Alfred Hayes: Bob Armstrong, one of the greatest wrestlers to ever lace up the boots. Welcome to the program and let us know about your new tag-team.
Bob Armstrong: Thank you to all the great wrestling fans out there tuning in. These two men next to me, my son Steve Armstrong, and the lightning fast Tim Horner, these two have been training under my supervision for months now. We’ve gone through every drill, every scenario, everything to get them ready for this world tag team title tournament. And I am pleased to announce that I’ve been granted a manager’s license and will be at ringside to help this team win title gold in Tampa. They’ve both trained so hard, you can mark my words about that.
Lord Alfred Hayes: Steve Armstrong and Tim Horner will have quite the advantage on Sunday evening with one the most accomplished wrestlers in history in their corner. Our next competitors hope to put a dent in the Armstrong’s plans this Sunday night.
Match #3
Art Barr and Eddie Guerrero defeated Sam Houston and Tom Brandi when Barr landed a frog-splash on Houston. Barr and Guerrero continued to taunt the crowd as the program went to commercial.
—Commercial Break—
Rod Trongard: Fans, next week, we will start a tournament to crown a new Television Champion. All matches, including the final, will be broadcast on this very program! Before we get to our main event, the open challenge from world champion Dick Slater, Lord Alfred Hayes is joined by another Lord, Steven Regal, and Shane Douglas.
Lord Alfred Hayes: It is great to be among fellow aristocracy…
Lord Steven Regal: Silence. I find your lack of etiquette to be utterly disgusting. When you see a true Lord like myself, you show proper respect by kneeling in obedience. You’d know that if you got further than grade school in London. I find your announcing skills to be complete rubbish, and the entire fan base in this filthy arena is full of peasants. The same way I feel about Dynamite Kid. You have been a disgrace to our homeland for far too long. You think you’re the only one who can pluck an up and coming superstar. I have one as well, and let me tell you, my find is far superior to yours.
Shane Douglas: Lord Regal opened my eyes to the ways of the world. He reminded me that you garbage fans don’t matter. You’ve never been to Buckingham Palace. You’ve never seen Big Ben. You think going to Burger King makes you royalty. With this man’s experience, and his guidance, we are going to walk out of Tampa as the world tag-team champions, and there is not a thing Dynamite Kid and Chris Benoit can do about it.
Lord Alfred Hayes: Lord Steven Regal is not going to let Dynamite Kid have all the fun this Sunday in Tampa. Let’s go to the ring for our main event where the world heavyweight champion, Dick Slater, is waiting. Because of the anonymity of his potential challenger, the WOW Board of Directors has deemed this to be a non-title match.
Main Event:
Dick Slater open challenge
As Slater stands in the ring, taunting the fans, letting them know that none of their heroes are going to come forward because they are all too scared, Mike Graham starts to walk to the ring.
Dick Slater: Graham, I’ve beat you over and over and over. You don’t stand a chance against me.
Mike Graham: If I wasn’t hurt, I’d be in that ring teaching you a lesson. But since I can’t do it, I called in a favor. To take down Dick Slater, you need one of the toughest, meanest, nastiest men in the business. And I found him. And he’s here. It’s not me challenging you tonight, Slater. It’s this man: Manny Fernandez!
Manny Fernandez rushes to the ring and attacks Slater. The two fight as the ring keeper taps the bell. The ropes can’t control this one, as the fight heads all over the studio before the referee calls for double DQ. Security finally separates the two men.
Rod Trongard: I have a feeling this is just the start of the battle between world champion Dick Slater and Raging Bull Manny Fernandez. Tune in next week as we’ll hear from Manny Fernandez, who has not always had the fans behind him. We'll learn more about what brought him to Florida to take on Dick Slater. And start our tournament to crown a new Television Champion, as well as hear from the new world tag-team champions that will be crowned in Tampa this Sunday. Till next week wrestling fans!
---Show ends---
Sunshine State Showdown
Taped: Thursday, December 29, 1988 at WTOG Studios
Airing: Saturday, December 31, 1988 at 10AM on WTOG Florida’s Super Station and syndicated across the Southeast
Interviewer: Lord Alfred Hayes
Announcers: Rod Trongard and Lord Alfred Hayes.
Referees: Jerry Calhoun, Mark Curtis and Ron West
Rod Trongard: Welcome wrestling fans to another great World of Wrestling show! We’ve taken a small break but we’re back and ready to bring you some of the top wrestling superstars in the world. It’s a new year, we have a new home here at the WTOG studios, we have lots of new talent you’ll see tonight and over the next few weeks. You are among the best wrestling fans in the world and we promise to bring you the best this sport has to offer. Wherever you’re tuning in, thank you for joining us today, and please know, we’re back and we’re here to stay.
When we last left before taking a brief hiatus, there were so many things going on in WOW, with most of them centering around our world heavyweight champion, Dick Slater. Let’s send it to Lord Alfred Hayes who is with the world heavyweight champion, Dick Slater.
Lord Alfred Hayes: After a brief respite, wrestling is back and there are numerous foes looking to challenge you for this belt.
Dick Slater: Shut up, Hayes. I don’t care how many people they bring in, I’lll send them all out of these arenas on a stretcher. I heard the reason the program shut down was because they couldn’t find anyone man enough to step into the ring with me. I’ve beaten Mike Graham, I’ve humiliated his family year after year. And he ain't gonna do a thing about it. Here’s what I’m going to do. I let the WOW board of directors know that tonight, I’ll be out here for the main event. To prove that there are nothing but cowards here, I am going to issue an open challenge to any wrestler to come face me. You do, you come to that ring, it’s the dumbest damn decision you’ll ever make.
Lord Alfred Hayes: The world champion has issued an open challenge to anyone willing to meet him in the ring tonight. Let’s see who takes him up on that offer! Let’s go the ring for our first match.
Match #1
Maniac Matt Bourne defeated Doug Furnas via pinfall
—Commercial Break—
Rod Trongard: Fans, this Sunday night in Tampa at the Spartan Sports Arena, on New Year’s Day, we are going to crown new World Tag-Team Champions. WOW will host a one-night tournament where the winners will walk out with two of the most prestigious title belts in all of wrestling. We have so many great teams you’ve seen fight over the years, and some newcomers who are going to knock you out of your seats. Lord Alfred Hayes is joined by a pair of wrestlers who are surely among the favorites on Sunday.
Lord Alfred Hayes: This man needs no introduction to wrestling fans, the one and only Dynamite Kid. And he’s joined by an incredibly talented youngster, Chris Benoit.
Dynamite Kid: Thank you Lord Alfred and thank you to all the amazing fans here in the studio and those watching out there on TV. I’ve won titles all over the world. I’ve wrestled in front of packed stadiums against the best the sport has to offer. What do I have left to prove? Well part of what’s left is helping usher in the next generation of superstars. This man here, Chris Benoit, he’s one of the most talented wrestlers I have ever seen. And I couldn’t pass up the chance to team with him here in the Sunshine State. This Sunday night, with the help of this rising star, I am going to add another belt to my collection, and this win, I dedicate to all the fans who have stuck by me through thick and thin.
Chris Benoit: Thank you Dynamite. I’ve been putting in the hours, the sweat, training for this opportunity. I have worked as hard as I can and I will not waste this chance. I won’t let you down Dynamite Kid, and I won’t let the fans down. We are walking out of the arena in Tampa as world tag-team champions.
Lord Alfred Hayes: Dynamite Kid and Chris Benoit have been training for months and are ready for all that hard work to pay off. If they are going to win the world titles, they will have to beat tough opponents like those in our next match.
Match #2
Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose defeated Rex King and Steve Doll via pinfall when Condrey distracted the referee, allowing Rose to a foreign object on King, leaving him prey for a pinfall.
—Commercial Break—-
Rod Trongard: We’ve already seen a number of wrestlers who will be competing in the tag-team tournament this Sunday in Tampa. But we’re not done yet. I have a feeling fans will be cheering on our next guests in their quest to become tag champs. Joining Lord Alfred Hayes is the legendary Bob Armstrong, along with Steve Armstrong and Tim Horner.
Lord Alfred Hayes: Bob Armstrong, one of the greatest wrestlers to ever lace up the boots. Welcome to the program and let us know about your new tag-team.
Bob Armstrong: Thank you to all the great wrestling fans out there tuning in. These two men next to me, my son Steve Armstrong, and the lightning fast Tim Horner, these two have been training under my supervision for months now. We’ve gone through every drill, every scenario, everything to get them ready for this world tag team title tournament. And I am pleased to announce that I’ve been granted a manager’s license and will be at ringside to help this team win title gold in Tampa. They’ve both trained so hard, you can mark my words about that.
Lord Alfred Hayes: Steve Armstrong and Tim Horner will have quite the advantage on Sunday evening with one the most accomplished wrestlers in history in their corner. Our next competitors hope to put a dent in the Armstrong’s plans this Sunday night.
Match #3
Art Barr and Eddie Guerrero defeated Sam Houston and Tom Brandi when Barr landed a frog-splash on Houston. Barr and Guerrero continued to taunt the crowd as the program went to commercial.
—Commercial Break—
Rod Trongard: Fans, next week, we will start a tournament to crown a new Television Champion. All matches, including the final, will be broadcast on this very program! Before we get to our main event, the open challenge from world champion Dick Slater, Lord Alfred Hayes is joined by another Lord, Steven Regal, and Shane Douglas.
Lord Alfred Hayes: It is great to be among fellow aristocracy…
Lord Steven Regal: Silence. I find your lack of etiquette to be utterly disgusting. When you see a true Lord like myself, you show proper respect by kneeling in obedience. You’d know that if you got further than grade school in London. I find your announcing skills to be complete rubbish, and the entire fan base in this filthy arena is full of peasants. The same way I feel about Dynamite Kid. You have been a disgrace to our homeland for far too long. You think you’re the only one who can pluck an up and coming superstar. I have one as well, and let me tell you, my find is far superior to yours.
Shane Douglas: Lord Regal opened my eyes to the ways of the world. He reminded me that you garbage fans don’t matter. You’ve never been to Buckingham Palace. You’ve never seen Big Ben. You think going to Burger King makes you royalty. With this man’s experience, and his guidance, we are going to walk out of Tampa as the world tag-team champions, and there is not a thing Dynamite Kid and Chris Benoit can do about it.
Lord Alfred Hayes: Lord Steven Regal is not going to let Dynamite Kid have all the fun this Sunday in Tampa. Let’s go to the ring for our main event where the world heavyweight champion, Dick Slater, is waiting. Because of the anonymity of his potential challenger, the WOW Board of Directors has deemed this to be a non-title match.
Main Event:
Dick Slater open challenge
As Slater stands in the ring, taunting the fans, letting them know that none of their heroes are going to come forward because they are all too scared, Mike Graham starts to walk to the ring.
Dick Slater: Graham, I’ve beat you over and over and over. You don’t stand a chance against me.
Mike Graham: If I wasn’t hurt, I’d be in that ring teaching you a lesson. But since I can’t do it, I called in a favor. To take down Dick Slater, you need one of the toughest, meanest, nastiest men in the business. And I found him. And he’s here. It’s not me challenging you tonight, Slater. It’s this man: Manny Fernandez!
Manny Fernandez rushes to the ring and attacks Slater. The two fight as the ring keeper taps the bell. The ropes can’t control this one, as the fight heads all over the studio before the referee calls for double DQ. Security finally separates the two men.
Rod Trongard: I have a feeling this is just the start of the battle between world champion Dick Slater and Raging Bull Manny Fernandez. Tune in next week as we’ll hear from Manny Fernandez, who has not always had the fans behind him. We'll learn more about what brought him to Florida to take on Dick Slater. And start our tournament to crown a new Television Champion, as well as hear from the new world tag-team champions that will be crowned in Tampa this Sunday. Till next week wrestling fans!
---Show ends---
Working on it now.