The show starts off with the ring announcer Buddy Wagman letting us know who the referees and judges are, he says the doctor at ringside and time keeper. He also says that the New York Athletic commission has sanctioned this event.
Fabulous Frank Monti vs. Pete Sanchez
From what I can tell Frank is the baddie, he has blonde long hair, and a mustache. His color scheme is yellow and red and he has lightning bolts on his legs. Pete Sanchez is in a purple jacket and his basic red trunks.
The bell rings and Monti goes right after Sanchez, he is relentless in this ass kicking, the ref can’t control it. Sanchez is finally able to get his jacket off and the crowd livens up. Pete tries and choke Fabulous Frank with his jacket and takes over for complete control. Monti is backing away and begging off Sanchez, who walks Frank down and starts some shoulder work. Monti puts his hand out to shake hands!! He crosses his heart and taps his shoulder, Sanchez is having nothing of it, collar and elbows and works on Franks ribs, it seems Fabulous is selling his ribs and left shoulder, he runs against the ropes and hits a shoulder block, tries for a second and Sanchez dropkicks him and puts him in a headlock. The crowd is not too awake for this but I am really digging this match. The second Frank gets the upper hand he either shows off or backs off, Sanchez is just non stop attack, hits a flying head scissors and immediately back to a headlock. Fabulous is the heel, but he is the one keeping the pace quick. Sanchez has these little flurries but then slows down the pace again. It feels to me that Pete Sanchez hasn’t quite understood how to keep momentum going at this stage in his carrier.
Frank Monti has decided to slow the match down himself, lots of chokes and boots and heel like mannerisms. A cool little spot happens where Fabulous tries to pin Sanchez but Sanchez kicks out, while kicking out he rolls on top of Frank and gets a 2 count for himself. Sanchez is starting to get fed up with this and begins a comeback, four moves into the comeback he rushes at Fabulous into the corner, Monti throws the boot up, catches Sanchez in the face and 1-2-3, match over.
And I’m Like… With no story going into this, I had to base my opinion on just the ring action. I was impressed with how they kept the pace quick in the beginning, the slower parts in the middle had me care less and less, but damn what a surprise finish. That’s something I like about the older wrestling, a finish then can be any transition move today.
Fred Blassie is announced first, that skeleton in the crowd is supposed to represent him.
Louie Cyr vs. Francisco Flores
I’ve heard how much heat Blassie used to get, I imagine Louie is the heel here. Blassie doesn’t have his iconic cane either, but this is 9 years before Wrestlemania 1 so he must have developed that part of his gimmick later.
Both of these men are barrel chested but do not look athletic. They start with a test of strength, which is where you lace both hands together with your opponents and try to over power the other. It’s definitely old school, the pace is slow as hell and Flores caught Cyr in a single leg takedown, followed that up with a spinning toe hold. Louie was trying to get out by tapping on the mat, which makes me wonder, when did WWE accept tap outs as a finish? I remember Bret Hart having the Sharpshooter in and his opponents would just nod yes.
Back to the match, Vince McMahon is still on commentary and says that Francisco is impressing the crowd because he is holding his own. Flores is balding heavily so its funny that on commentary he is coming across as a newbie. Flores comes back with a nice comeback, he would hold Cyr with his left hand WWHHHIIINNNNEEEDD up his right fist and the crowd got a nice pop. He did that twice and thats the loudest I’ve heard The Garden tonight. Flores kicks out of a two count and hits 3 headbutts and a splash but can only get a 2 count. Vince points out twice how the referee is counting slow, the referee is black and in an all grey outfit too, just a weird thing to see. Louis Cyr had Flores on the ground and did a running senton flip but missed!!! He dodged Franciscos attack and hit a giant boot. He hid a Shoulderbreaker, Vince said it was a Neckbreaker. He pins Flores and the ref does a slow three count, which Vince is sure to point out.
And I’m Like…. For not knowing either of these guys or their motivations, I was still into this match. The athleticism that I saw surprised the hell out of me. This Kevin Sullivan match coming up has me excited, he is in a gold vest and black and gold trunks, still small as hell though.
That picture is of Spiros Arion. Vince said Spiros was not supposed to wrestle tonight but Sullivan laid out a challenge. Vince points out how Spiros was a number 1 contender for many years. He points out how Arion usually lets go of the holds he has on his opponents. To me that is a senseless strategy, McMahon never explains why either. This match has been all headlocks so far.
As a fan of wrestling for over 20 years I understand that headlocks are meant to take breath away from your opponent, makes it harder for them to think and wrestle because they get less oxygen to their heads. Thank Jesse Ventura for hammering that into my head. Vince McMahon never seems to point out why Sullivan just continually applies headlocks. As fans we know Arion was a contender to Bruno last year and could not get the job done. Vince does point out how Spiros changed his wrestling style to more of a brawl.
Kevin Sullivan worked his ass off, going for Monkey Flips, putting Spiros in a headlock and then doing double axehandles, every time he landed a blow the crowd would go “UGH UGH UGH”. Arion came back with one flurry and hit Sullivan with an Atomic Drop and that was the match.
And I’m Like… When does Kevin Sullivan get all demonic, I believe its in Championship Wrestling From Florida. The match was fun though since I was more familiar with the wrestlers. I have never seen the Big Cat wrestle either so I’m jumping to the next match. These are entertaining matches but just not much to write about outside what happened in the ring.
King Ernie Ladd Vs. Dominick DeNucci
Firstly, Ernie Ladd has such charisma you can see it oozing through the screen just as he is introduced. Big Cat is wrestling like a chickenshit heel, DeNucci tries to attack but Ladd hides in between the ropes. Ernie Ladd said he was adjusting his tights but Vince pointed out he was hiding something in his trunks, the camera zoomed in too. Foreshadowing maybe?
Ernie Ladd looks GINORMOUS, he goes for a collar and elbow but Dominick just rocks him in the face, Ernie sells it like murder. He plays to the crowd so well, not much has happened but this is the loudest consistent noise I’ve heard tonight. Ernie chokes DeNucci and the ref can’t see it cause he is looking for the pin attempt lol! These refs are not too good, maybe they are for the time period though, I’m not too sure. King Ladd throws Dominick into the corner and unloads blows like Biker Undertaker used to do. DeNucci of course turns it around and does a few turnbuckle smashes to Ernie Ladd’s head. Ernie asks for timeout, he then throws up double peace signs!!! He puts his hand out for a handshake but DeNucci is too smart for that. He decides to work over Ladds arms, and HOLY SHIT! Big Catt gots some Big Arms, they are just lanky as hell. They got muscle too so everything Dominick tries to do is futile. Big Catt comes back with tons of punches and stiff ass kicks to DeNucci’s chest. I’m looking for a story they are trying to tell, it’s mainly, Ernie is big and charasmatic. DeNucci is there to get beat up a bit, Ladd gots DeNucci in a choke and keeps his back to the ref at all times so the ref can’t see that there is a choke.
About 10 minutes into this match I’ve decided I’m an Ernie Ladd fan and not a Dominick DeNucci fan. They brawl quick and DeNucci shows some spirit in a comeback but Big Catt reverses a move, hits a pin with his feet resting on the top rope out of the refs few. WHICH IS AMAZINGLY SMART, and he gets the pin for the win.
And I’m Like… Feeling underwhelmed, I feel like this match could have been more, or maybe Ernie needed a better opponent. That’s my opinion based on one viewing.
Ivan Koloff vs. Ivan Putski
Koloff is in the ring with Captain Lou Albano, Putski comes out and the crowd is STOKED!! This match is called “The Battle Of The Ivans”. Captian Lou gets boo’d, I need to do more research on his pre-Wrestlemania stuff. Anyhoo, Polish Power the Super Pole Ivan Putski is announced, he is doing a Brock Lesnar bounce while the ref is preparing to ring the bell. Putski looks ready to fight, beer belly and all. I am genuinely excited for this match. Koloff is “The Russian Bear” he looks at Putski square in the eye, Putski looks at the crowd and they erupt. Putski puts his fists out to box, Koloff backs down and Putski does a hip swivel and the crowd goes wild. Dude has crowd in the palm of his hands and all he wears is black trunks and green boots. It seems Koloff is afraid to legit go one on one with the Polish Power, they collar and elbow though. Putski overpowers Koloff and we have another stare down.
Lots of test of strength stuff, the second Putski starts winning the test, Koloff kicks him in the stomach. Putski does not let go though!! He shows immense heart while putting his head under Koloffs shoulder and deadlifts him to the top rope!!! That is a show of strength. Back to the staredown, I sense that Putski knows he is stronger than Koloff but, Koloff thinks he is stronger than Putski. The Russian Bear keeps trying these Test’s of Strength and power moves, every step of the way Putski is there to fire back. He throws 4 punches to Koloff and motions to the crowd who yell for him to hit Koloff once more. Putski takes a deep breath and you see a six pack under that beer belly. It’s time for some Chinlock City by Putski to Koloff.
That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense other than resting. Why does the energetic face slow the pace with a chinlock. We are not gonna clap for the bad guy to get out of the hold. Koloff was done F’ing around and put Putski in a Bearhug. He has it cinched in for over a minute and Putski just can’t Polishly power himself out. This turns out to be the longest Bearhug in recent memory. Putski is slllloooowwwlllyyy slipping his arms under Koloff’s arms, he starts digging his fingers into Koloffs back, Koloff loses his grip and PUTSKI REVERSES! He applies the Bearhug but then Koloff just rakes his eyes. This fight is taken out to the apron, Koloff takes Putski’s head and rams it into the exposed turnbuckle post. The bell rings and both wrestlers look absolutely fine. Commotion in the ring as the fans chant “Polish – Polish” which I originally heard as “Bull-Shit” the match is ruled a draw though. They brawl a bit and thats about the end of that match.
And I’m Like… Bullshit Bullshit.. Let’s just remember this is almost 40 years ago, we just got a 15 minute back and forth match the crowd enjoyed, that ended in a bullshit finish to keep both wrestlers strong. HAHA
Little Louie and Billy The Kid vs. Bobo Johnson and Little Johnny
The Ref has to take one knee to explain the rules to the little gentlemen. One of the guys kicked the ref in the butt. I’m not sure who is who, Vince doesn’t know what to say. Amazing that this will be 2 out of 3 falls, Vince says it will be Bruno Sammartino vs .Superstar Billy Graham next.
The guys run around the ring and get the ref involved, they roll on top of him and the crowd cheers. Bobo Johnson is the black one, he tries to come in and help Little Johnny, the ref manhandles him into the corner so Billy and Louie do a double team move. This is very fast paced, lots of back body drops, dropkicks, bodyslams, running, tagging. Vince keeps calling Bobo Johnson, Koko Kid. “Koko Kid has some teeth don’t he? If he goes to biting there will be a heap of trouble. The Ref has lost all control, the tag partners keep running in the ring, try and fight. The ref had to show each member of each team how the rope at the turnbuckle works. For those unfamiliar, two turbuckles, kiddie corner from each other, have a rope attached so the wrestlers have a set amount of distance they can travel. So if your on the outside you gotta hold the rope. Billy the Kid tries to taunt but Koko Kid puts him in a full nelson, Louie runs in and decks Billy, Koko goes and rests on the apron, everytime the faces get the upperhand. The heel runs in and just clobbers everyone, he hits his partner and the first fall is scored I believe, I don’t know. This little person match is hella ridiculous, no one knows what team they are on, the tag partners are just hitting each other. The only one keeping track is Vince, he isn’t really discussing the story in this chaos. Is there a method to the madness I don’t know. Koko kid does this crazy looking pin, and everyone just stands around looking confused. This match was really fun to watch, I had no idea what was happening and it seemed that no other person in the match did either. Apparently that was the first fall.
Koko and Louie-1 vs. Billy and Johnny -0
The second fall has Koko kicking ass again, Billy the Kid called Little Johnny a big dummy, so it seems there is dissension in those ranks. Little Louis was complaining that his hands were sweaty so he rubbed them off on the referee. Billy the Kid, being stupid, poses again, so Koko puts him in the Full Nelson again. Billy runs while in the submission to the ropes and hops both feet up there, smart move! Billy is biting Koko but the ref can’t see, so Koko just bites Billy in the ass !!!! Louie comes in and goes right for Billys ass too with bites!!!!! That was all kinds of crazy. Koko don’t sell any moves though. He just smiles and dances, Louie hits Billy in a huge slingshot, some miscommunication by the heels again, Louie gets the pin and the match is over.
And I’m Like… Not too fluent in Little People Matches, this was faced paced for the era, It confused me at parts, I believe I would watch it again.
So this match starts with Billy Graham having Sammartino in a submission. I can’t tell how far into the match we are, all I know is Billy Graham had a submission on Sammartino and when Bruno reversed the crowd came unglued. Superstar tried to go outside but Bruno just came at him like a house of fire, the crowd is absolutely nuts. Graham gets a foot up to Bruno’s face, he works over the left leg. Quick question, when was it universally decided that in American Pro Wrestling you need to work over the left side? I understand that it’s because most wrestlers are right handed and its easier to perform moves when your left arm is “injured”. I just wonder how that came about.
Superstar is still all over Bruno’s leg, he wrapped it around the ring post even. Which confuses me cause thats what Putski and Koloff got a draw for, using the turnbuckle. Bruno is firing back now and gets Superstar all tangled in the ropes. He grabs Billy Grahams leg and reciprocates the turnbuckle leg smash. Bruno is so ferocious in his attacks, Graham puts a bearhug on Bruno who just powers out of it. He gives me such a Daniel Bryan feel, all Bruno’s moves have urgency and realness applied. Bruno powers out of a Full Nelson that he accidentally gets caught in. This battle lasts around 3 minutes… Long time.
There is not much psychology to old wrestling I’m starting to gather. Since the realism has to be kept alive, it resembles a real fight, but it doesn’t. I haven’t seen much where I go, ugh that is fake looking. At the same time, watching a Full Nelson, reverse into a Full Nelson, reverse back, doesn’t create much drama. The ref doesn’t even check his arms to see if he could give up.
WE ARE BACK TO COLLAR AND ELBOWING!! For real, from what I’ve heard, these two were like King Shit’s at drawing crowds and having compelling matches. Superstar went off the top and middle rope in this match and missed both, then just lying around and HOLY SHIT!! Bruno threw Superstar into the post and it cut him open, we are Crimson Masking it, the ref did not call for the bell even though Bruno hit the same move that got the Ivans a draw. Bruno is like a Shark!! He gets Billy busted wide wide open, and just ATTTACKS, punch after punch after punch into turnbuckle smashes. The ref finally calls for the bell do to blood loss and Superstar IS PISSSED!! Bruno jumps to celebrate as the crowd goes wild.
And I’m Like… Just as I was getting way way bored, they end in a very hot and controversial finish. Bruno’s name is announced as winner as I hear a smattering of boo’s. Superstar Billy Graham grabs the mic and says he is ready to fight now. Throws punches at Bruno who fights back and Superstar runs to the back. That was some cool cool shit.
Big Baron vs. Irish Pat Barrett
No idea who these jokers are, its gotta be a cool down match after that barncooker.
The Baron just went to town on Irish Pat, he just stomps relentlessly, the ref needed to stop the match but wouldn’t, he pushes Big Baron away but Baron returns seconds later and lays the boots to Pat again. THIS HAPPENS THREE TIMES!!! As Vince says “This match is Lopsided”. Straight two minutes of stomps…… What is this??? Were there agents that planned the match? Was this a time where the wrestlers just planned the match. If so Irish Pat is the new guy and Big Baron is not giving him any shine at all. Makes he think Baron is a dick.
Irish Bobby landed 2 punches and 2 knee lifts and I guess we are all even now? Barrett hit about 5 lifting knee strikes.. This MATCH IS THE SHIIIIITTTZZ. All these dudes are like under 6 feet. The Baron throws Pat into the turnbuckle and THAT IS THE FINISH!
And I’m Like.. I Feel like that was the biggest waste of time I’ve spent on the WWE network so far.
on the left is Crusher Blackwell and Bugsy McGraw on the right Bobo Brazil and Tony Parisi
before we get started with The Main Event, the announcer says what next months show will be and it will be the Debut of Minneapolis Minnesotas own Ric Flair!!! Too bad Network don’t have it.
Crusher Blackwell and Bugsy McGraw vs. Bobo Brazil and Tony Parisi
Another 2 out of 3 falls match. I never realized how big Bobo was. Crusher Blackwell is just fat as shit, but Bobo is tall and scary. It starts off with Crusher getting beatin up by Bobo. Bugsy comes in to start a double team but Bobo gets a headlock on Crusher and does a flying head scissors on McGraw which shcoked me. As I’m getting used to, lots and lots of rest holds. Blackwell tries to get away from Brazil but Bobo just grabs Blackwells hipster beard and gets him back into a headlock. The big bads gots Bobo in the corner, Crusher does a running splash and Bugsy is tagged in. He has alot of energy, landing big punches and running punches. It seems to me that all McGraw can do is Irish Whip and punch, not too exciting. we are up to 15 Irish Whips at the moment. Blackwell gets tagged back in.
Puts Bobo in a bearhug, and here we are resting again. I would fast forward through alot of this, except if anyone has The Network can relate to this, the Fast Forward feature is drizzling shits. Bobo gets a tag into Toniy Parisi but the ref was dealing with Bugsy so he did not see the tag. Crusher and McGraw do more double teams.
The doorbell at my apartment rang just as someone got disqualified. It was my employee, she and her brother were stopping by, Tony Parisi and Bobo were in the middle of a double back drop, on Crusher Blackwell, Parisi jumps off the top rope. Just as Tony is about to connect from the top rope, they cut to Bobo doing something to McGraw. A 1-2-3 and Bobo and Parisi win!
And I’m Like… I Liked that better than the last episode of Old School, it still left me wanting to know more about everything leading up to this event. I became fans of Ernie Ladd and the chaos of Little People Wrestling. I didn’t get much of Spiros and Kevin Sullivan which I would have liked to see more of. Putski and Koloff felt like it should have been better than it was, thats only because of how over Putski was the last time I saw him.
If you made it this far, thanks for the clicks, would appreciate some likes, really need the comments so I know what I’m doing right and wrong, and what could be done better or is needed to make it more enjoyable. Thank you
-Jake (Anokas Flawless)