ROUND ONE CONTINUES
Catching up? Here is the background info:Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings
BRACKETS
Updated brackets going into tonight's matches.
[Links to previous matches at the bottom of this post.]
THIS WEEK'S MATCHES: #11 & #12
Roddy Piper and Bob Orton Jr. vs. Thunderbolt Patterson and Manny Fernandez
Rock-n-Roll RPMs vs. Mark and Jay Youngblood
The 1985 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament is underway. Wait, did you just say 1985? It’s time to take a look at one of wrestling’s biggest events from the mid-80s and see what it might have been like with a few historical alterations. What if Jim Crockett Promotions hosted its tag team tournament the Crockett Cup in 1985 and included teams from promotions outside the National Wrestling Alliance (“NWA”) including the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), All Japan Pro Wrestling, and more? In this case, you’d have 48 of the greatest tag teams in the world battling in a winner take all tournament for $1,000,000 and the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Trophy.
First Round Rules: Here are the rules for the first-round matches. A pool of referees from the NWA, AWA, and WWF have been appointed for the tournament and randomly selected for each match. The first-round matches have a thirty-minute time limit and are sanctioned under NWA rules (throwing an opponent over the top rope is an automatic disqualification). The matches are one fall with a win obtained by a pinfall, submission, count-out, or disqualification.
The first-round matches are being held over two nights. The first eight matches took place at the Baltimore Civic Center on Thursday April 11. Bob Caudle and David Crockett are calling the matches tonight. The remaining eight matches in round one take place at the Norfolk Scope on Friday April 12. In match nine, Ted DiBiase and Steve “Doctor Death” Williams defeated Mike Graham and B. Brian Blair. Match ten saw Jerry “The King” Lawler and “Superstar” Bill Dundee score a tainted win over “Boogie Woogie Man” Jimmy Valiant and Bugsy McGraw. As we head into the last six matches of round one, keep in mind that these titanic teams are battling for more than just bragging rights—they’re competing for the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Trophy and a cool one million dollars.
LET'S GET THINGS UNDERWAY....
Earlier today, David Crockett spoke with “Raging” Bull Manny Fernandez and Thunderbolt Patterson about their upcoming match. Patterson tells Crockett Fernandez is the perfect partner and they’re looking forward to splitting the million dollars. “The Raging Bull” says Piper likes to talk trash but we’ll see how much he’s talking when he gets his teeth kicked in. David Crockett brings up “Cowboy” Bob Orton’s cast and notes it’s caused some controversy in the WWF and some of the competitors in the tournament are questioning whether he really needs it. Patterson looks at Crockett and says he’s heard a lot of jive but nothing like this. David informs T-Bolt that WWF officials claim Orton has a doctor’s note for the cast to which ‘Bolt replies, “A doctor? Only doctor that would do that is a veterinarian or Dr. Pepper.” T-Bolt says Orton will have a cast on both arms when he and the Raging Bull get done with him.
Tony Schiavone is backstage with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr. Orton has a cast on his left forearm. Tony welcome Piper and Orton back to the Mid-Atlantic area and Piper gives Schiavone a dirty look. “Welcome back? Welcome back brother?” Piper replies. “I’m big time now brother, I’m here for one reason—one million dollars. My bodyguard here, Ace and I are going to slap some sense into these clowns and ride out with the trophy and the check.”
“What happened to your tag team partner’s arm? Can he compete?”
“Can he compete?” Piper replies. “’Cowboy’ Bob could wrestle with one arm and still beat these geeks. Say Tony, you ever have a broken arm?” Tony shakes his head no as he suddenly finds “Ace” Orton standing behind him, smacking his right hand on the cast. “Well don’t ask no more stupid questions or you won’t have to find out what it’s like”
MATCH 11
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr. vs. Thunderbolt Patterson and Manny “Raging Bull” Fernandez
AWA referee Marty Miller is officiating this match and he takes a good long look at “Cowboy” Bob’s cast. Piper goes to lock up with ‘Bolt but backs up and tags in Orton, sneering at Patterson. No problem for Thunderbolt as he slugs Orton as soon as he comes towards him. Irish whip and T-bolt hits a double thrust on Orton, knocking him down. Patterson snapmares Orton into the babyface corner and tags in Manny. Fernandez rams Orton’s head into the turnbuckle and then chops him down to the mat. Bob Caudle talks up “The Raging Bull’s” martial arts prowess. David Crockett says Orton doesn’t know if he’s coming or going. Fernandez drops a forearm smash on Orton then tags in Patterson. Side headlock on Orton and Patterson punches him in the face, getting a warning from referee Marty Miller. Patterson whips Orton into the babyface corner where Fernandez greets him with an extended boot. The fans are loving every minute of this and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper is furious. Patterson peppers Orton with punches and “Cowboy” falls to the mat. T-bolt stomps Orton then tags in “Raging Bull.” Both babyfaces whip Orton into the ropes and catch “Cowboy” Bob with an elbow to the chest. Cover on Orton by Fernandez but Piper comes in and stomps Fernandez in the head. Piper goes over and spits at Patterson, who naturally, enters the ring. Marty Miller tells T-bolt to get back to his corner while Piper takes his opening and throws Fernandez through the ropes. Piper goes back to his corner as Orton staggers over and tags in “The Rowdy Scot.”
Piper goes out after Fernandez and rams his head into the mat apron. Fernandez goes after Piper, but Piper counters with his patented “Piper Poke to the Eyes” and Fernandez is swinging wildly. Piper slams Fernandez to the concrete then throws him into the ring. Piper lifts Fernandez up and delivers a beautiful vertical suplex. Cover on Manny, but he kicks out at two. Piper stomps him in the head. Piper picks Manny up and whips him into the ropes, locking the sleeperhold on Fernandez. Piper has the hold in the center of the ring as Bob Caudle points out he's seen Piper put many opponents away with this hold before. David Crockett adds that “The Raging Bull” is already on one knee. The fans chant for Fernandez, but he’s slowly dropping towards the mat as Piper maintains a solid grip on the hold. The referee checks on Fernandez and lifts his arm only for it to drop. Fernandez’s arm drops a second time as Marty Miller raises it a third time. This time Fernandez raises his arm, and rises to one foot. David Crockett notes the look of worry on Roddy Piper’s face. Manny is fighting back and gets to both feet as the fans’ cheers grow louder, with Thunderbolt encouraging them by stomping on the mat apron. Fernandez elbows Piper and almost breaks loose. A second elbow and “The Raging Bull” is close to breaking out. Piper grabs Fernandez by the air and yanks him down to the mat. Marty Miller admonishes him about the hair pull. Fernandez is groggy as Piper picks him up and whips him into the corner. Piper charges in, but Manny lifts both his feet, catching Piper square in the face. Piper staggers backwards and tags in “Cowboy” Bob. Orton punches Manny then whips him into the ropes, but Manny ducks under him and bounces off the other ropes, surprising “Ace” Orton with “The Flying Burrito” (flying forearm smash). Cover on Orton for 1, 2…oh no, Piper has broken it up. Thunderbolt isn’t having it and comes in, slugging away at Piper. Marty Miller tells them to get back to their respective corners as they both ignore him. Meanwhile, Orton and Fernandez are battling it out in a neutral corner as Manny gets his second wind. The referee gives up on Piper and Patterson and turns his attention to the legal men in the ring. Fernandez whips Orton into the corner and charges in, but Orton gets out of the way. Fernandez drops to the mat as Orton covers him, putting his legs on the ropes for added leverage as the referee misses the underhanded tactics.
Winners: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr.
After the match Orton rolls out and pulls Piper out of the ring as they head to the dressing room, the fans booing them.
MATCH 12
The Rock-n-Roll RPMs (Mike Davis and Tommy Lane) vs. Mark and Jay Youngblood
It’s a battle of two babyface teams with Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling’s RPMs taking on Championship Wrestling from Florida’s Mark and Jay Youngblood. Jay Youngblood was a popular wrestler in the Mid-Atlantic region for many years so it should prove interesting to see who the fans cheer. Referee Dick Kroll conducts the customary pre-match inspection on all four wrestlers then motions for the match to start. It’s Mike Davis against Jay Youngblood as the fans get behind Jay, with some modest applause for Davis. Davis and Youngblood shake hands before a collar and elbow tie-up. Side headlock on Jay but he slips out and applies a hammerlock on Davis. Bob Caudle points out that Davis could go for an elbow to the face to break out, but instead, the Rock-n-Roller backs Jay into the ropes, forcing a break. David Crockett points out that Jay Youngblood seems adept at tag team wrestling. Bob reminds his broadcast colleague that Jay held the NWA World Tag Team Championship five times with Ricky Steamboat, jogging David’s memory. Jay and Mike lock up again, this time with Mike inviting Jay to a test of strength. Mike lifts his right hand up, but Jay grabs his opponent’s arm and locks in an armbar. Jay applies pressure but again, Mike makes it to the ropes, getting a break. Bob Caudle points out both teams are keeping things fair but David Crockett wonders if the one-million-dollar prize will tempt anyone to cut corners as we’ve seen in previous matches. Side headlock on Davis as Davis slips out, whipping Jay into the ropes. Jay comes off with a shoulderblock, knocking Davis down. Jay whips Davis into the ropes but Davis counters, hitting a crisp dropkick on Youngblood. A second dropkick by Davis send Jay down to the mat as Davis tags in Tommy Lane. The RPMs whip Jay into the ropes and hit a double elbow on him, dropping him to the ground. Tommy drops an elbow on Jay then picks him up for a suplex. Cover for just about a two-count.
Tommy clocks Youngblood with a forearm, but Jay seems to shrug it off. He starts shaking as Lane punches him, with little effect. Jay starts dancing as David Crockett says, “We’ve seen this before. Lane has Jay’s dander up.” Jay chops Lane then whips him into the ropes, hitting another chop, this one flooring Lane. Bodyslam by Jay on Tommy Lane and a tag to Mark. Jay tugs on the top ropes, giving Mark some momentum as he dives over the top rope and he splashes Tommy Lane. Mike runs in for the save, but Jay chops him backwards as referee Dick Kroll makes the three-count.
Winners: Mark and Jay Youngblood
After the match the RPMs shake hands with Mark and Jay, and David Crockett says it’s good to see some teams showing good sportsmanship.
NEXT TIME:
Join us next time as World Class Championship Wrestling’s “Dynamic Duo” (Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez) take on Central States Wrestling’s American Starship (Starship Eagle and Starship Coyote) and brothers Bret and Buzz Sawyer lock horns with the WWF’s Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.
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PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS FANTASY SERIES
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings Announced
First Round: Matches 1 & 2
Hennig/Blackwell vs. Mulligan/McDaniel
Tyler/Whatley vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki
First Round: Matches 3 & 4
Windham/Rotunda vs. Bockwinkel/Saito
Rougeaus vs. Inoki/Sakaguchi
First Round: Matches 5 &6
Barbarian/Graham vs. Hart Foundation (Hart/Neidhart)
High Flyers (Brunzell/Gagne) vs. Savage/Poffo
First Round: Matches 7 & 8:
The Von Erich vs. Blanchard/Abdullah the Butcher
Tenryu/Tsuruta vs. The British Bulldogs
First Round: Matches 9 & 10:
Graham/Blair vs. DiBiase/Williams
Valiant/McGraw vs. Lawler/Dundee
First Round: Matches 11 & 12:
Piper/Orton vs. Patterson/Fernandez
Rock & Roll RPMs vs. Youngblood Brothers
