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: #13 & #14
Dynamic Duo (Heernandez/Adams) vs. American Starship
Buzz & Brett Sawyer vs. Jimmy Snuka/Ricky Steamboat
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 eleven, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr. defeated “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez and Thunderbolt Patterson. Match twelve was a hard-fought battle between the babyface teams of the Rock-n-Roll RPMs (Mike Davis and Tommy Lane) and Mark and Jay Youngblood, with the Youngbloods emerging victorious. As we head into the last four 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.
Announcers Bob Caudle and David Crockett tell fans they have a special video message from NWA President Jim Crockett Jr. about the tournament.
Jim Crockett Jr. is shown sitting in his office and he informs the fans that an emergency board meeting is being convened by the National Wrestling Alliance regarding a request by both the Freebirds and the Russians concerning the Crockett Cup. However, due to it being an ongoing matter, he cannot provide any details. An announcement will be made during round two of the tournament.
This edition features World Class Championship Wrestling’s “Dynamic Duo” (Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez) taking on Central States Wrestling’s American Starship (Starship Eagle and Starship Coyote) while brothers Bret and Buzz Sawyer lock horns with the WWF’s Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.
Tony Schiavone is backstage with “Gorgeous” Gino Hernandez and Chris Adams (aka the Dynamic Duo) as well as Adams’s manager Gary Hart. Both men are dressed to the nines in what look like custom-made suits while Hart looks like a well-dressed hoodlum. Tony Schiavone tells them they could give NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair a run for his money when it comes to styling and profiling. Both wrestlers scoff and Hernandez tells Schiavone Ric Flair is doing okay for himself, but he’s no “Gorgeous” Gino. Gino pulls out a photo album and shows pictures of beautiful women including one of Farrah Fawcett. Hernandez tells Schiavone that the women in the Carolinas will never be the same now after seeing him and his tag team partner. Guys like Ric Flair, Magnum T.A., and the Rock-n-Roll Express just can’t hold a candle to them and the women will be begging “The Dynamic Duo” to stay in the Carolinas. Chris Adams takes the microphone and laughs, telling Tony they like the women here, but once they collect their million dollars, they’ll be headed back to Texas and Ric Flair and company can have their leftovers. Tony asks “The Dynamic Duo” about their opponents, American Starship and they say they’re an afterthought. They’re going down and then “The Dynamic Duo” are ready to hit the town. Gary Hart stands in the back and nods, apparently very happy with the promo.
MATCH 13
The Dynamic Duo (“Gorgeous” Gino Hernandez and Chris Adams)
with Gary Hart
vs.
American Starship (Starship Eagle and Starship Coyote)
Starship Eagle and Coyote are facing the fans, soaking in the cheers. Unfortunately, they’ve made the mistake of turning their backs to the Dynamic Duo. Hernandez and Adams blindside the babyfaces as referee Stu Schwartz hasn’t even signaled for the bell to ring. Hernandez throws Eagle through the ropes as Adams catapults Coyote towards Hernandez who clotheslines him. Schwartz orders one of the Dynamic Duo to go back to their corner as “The Handsome Half-Breed” goes to the heel corner while Adams hits a superkick on Coyote, nearly decapitating him. Adams covers Coyote as Schwartz counts to three. David Crockett says the American Starship crashed on takeoff. Gary Hart congratulates Adams and Hernandez as the two heels throw Coyote out towards his partner.
Winners: Gino Hernandez and Chris Adams.
Tony Schiavone is at ringside preparing for an interview when the Dynamic Duo and Gary Hart show up. Hart tells Schiavone the fans have just witnessed a sample of the destruction his client Chris Adams can do along with Adams’s partner. Tony’s interview guests Ricky Steamboat and Jimmy Snuka show up as the Dynamic Duo and Hart leave. At first, it looks like the two teams might get into a scrap, but the heels put some pep into their step and take off.
Tony Schiavone talks with Ricky Steamboat and Jimmy Snuka at ringside as the fans are going nuts. Tony welcomes both men back to the Mid-Atlantic area and Steamboat says it’s great to be back. The Carolinas will always hold a special spot in his heart and it was good running into his former tag team partner Jay Youngblood backstage. Steamboat tells Tony the Youngbloods are one of many tag teams that could win the Crockett Cup, and he’d love to meet up with them in a later round. Jimmy Snuka nods his head and says it’s good to be back. He was a different man when the fans saw him last and he’s seen the light, bruddah. No more taking shortcuts or siding with people like the Andersons. He’s got a solid tag team partner and they’re ready to show the world just what they can do. Snuka tells the fans he loves them before he and Steamboat enter the ring.
MATCH 14
Brett and Buzz Sawyer
vs.
Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat:
Brett Sawyer shakes hands with Ricky Steamboat before Central States Wrestling referee Sonny Meyers signals for the bell to start the match. The two appear to be going for a collar and elbow tie-up, but Brett slides by and gets a drop-hold leg-takedown on Steamboat surprising him. Brett grabs Steamboat’s arm and locks him into an armbar as he drags him to his corner. Tag to Brett. The brothers Sawyer whip Steamboat into the ropes and Buzz hits a forearm, knocking Steamboat down and making it easy for him to continue the armbar. Steamboat is looking to escape, but Buzz has it locked in tight and brings Steamboat back to his corner, tagging in Brett. Bob Caudle notes the excellent teamwork by the brothers. David says we haven’t seen any of Buzz’s “Mad Dog” tendencies. Bob tells David both Sawyer brothers have excellent amateur skills, as they’re showing right now. Brett dives off the top rope with an elbow to the arm Buzz has the armbar on. Brett picks up Steamboat and bodyslams him. Another tag as Buzz comes in and both brothers whip Steamer into the ropes, catching him with a double elbow to the chest. Brett throws Steamboat into the corner where Buzz is waiting. Another tag as Buzz slams Steamboat with his arm behind him, continuing to target his arm. David Crockett is amazed at the innovative maneuver until Bob Caudle reminds him it’s a trademark of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, something David has seen numerous times before. Whatever the case, it’s working Crockett adds as Steamboat winces in pain as Buzz applies an armbar. Steamboat reaches for the ropes but Sawyer pulls him back.
Brett then whips Steamboat into the ropes and goes for a dropkick but Steamboat somehow manages to grab onto the rope. Steamboat clutches his sore arm as Brett moves in. Ricky chops him with his good arm, knocking Brett back. Brett moves in again and gets another chop, knocking him back further. Steamboat dives into his corner and tags “The Superfly.” Brett moves in towards Snuka only to get a headbutt for his trouble. Snuka drops a knee on Brett’s head then whips him into the ropes, catching him with a chop. Bodyslam by Snuka. Bob Caudle says Snuka has completely changed the momentum of the match. Brett hits a forearm on Snuka, but “The Superfly” shrugs it off, hitting a chop. So far, every chop in the match has been legal Bob Caudle notes.
Snuka delivers a brutal backbreaker on Brett as Steamboat is getting the feeling back into his arm. Irish whip sends Brett towards Steamboat. Tag to Ricky who joins Jimmy in whipping Brett into the ropes. Steamboat hits a big back body-drop on Brett then tags Snuka back in. Buzz Sawyer claps his hands as he tries to rally the fans behind Brett but the crowd is cheering both babyface teams. Snuka chops Brett as Sawyer goes down. Things are looking bad. Another backbreaker to Brett only adds to his problems as Snuka tags in Steamboat. Steamboat goes to the second rope and hits a big chop on Brett, covering him. Buzz comes in and breaks up the pin. Snuka comes in and begins slugging it out with “Mad Dog.” Snuka whips Buzz into the ropes but Buzz reverses it and surprises Snuka with a powerslam, covering him. At the same time, Brett is up on his feet but staggering. Ricky Steamboat rolls him up as the referee counts, 1-2-3.
Buzz Sawyer jumps to his feet and raises his hand after covering Snuka for what he thought was the win. However, the referee puts Buzz’s arm down and raises Snuka and Steamboat’s arms. Referee Sonny Meyers tells Buzz that Brett and Ricky were the legal men in the ring. Buzz isn’t happy about it, and he kicks at the turnbuckles.
Winners: Ricky Steamboat and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka
NEXT TIME:
Join us next time as the talented Central States Wrestling duo the Batten Twins lock up with the AWA’s Fabulous Ones and Mid-Atlantic legend Johnny Weaver teams up with Sam Houston to battle the Sheepherders. Which teams will advance to the second round and which will go home empty-handed? Stay tuned wrestling fans!
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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
First Round: Matches 13 and 14:
Dynamic Duo (Gino & Chris) vs. American Starship
Sawyer Bros. vs. Steamboat/Snuka
