Mash-Up Wrestling & BCCW presents...
BEDLAM in BOSTON 3!!** The PPV Supercard of the Century!! **LIVE FROM HISTORIC BOSTON GARDEN!!"When Tex Rickard built the Boston Garden in 1928, it was in the image of New York's Madison Square Garden, of which he was president. The link forged between the two cities played out vividly in pro wrestling, as The Hub would become a leading stop for Vince McMahon Sr.'s World Wide Wrestling Federation (later WWF, then WWE). Save for a few lamps above the ring and a spotlight, it was pitch black in the Boston Garden on wrestling nights. No air conditioning. Scents from cigars, concession-stand pizza, and popcorn tickled the nose. When the house light went down spectators could see the haze of smoke in the spotlight. Fans had to strain to hear the announcer over shoddy speakers. The good guys defeated the bad guys.."
** Boston Globe, 2004 **** This is BCCW!! **Ringside Commentary Team We finally did it. Conquered a dozen hangovers, toasted to life & death again, celebrated freedom, embraced our intoxication, begged for more & wished it would end. Now - it finally does. Everything ends. The end of a revolution. The end of a World title chase spanning entire countries. The end of warrior legends. The end of any remotely stray thought that Mash-Up Wrestling isn't here to stay. Because we are. It has only just begun.TONIGHT!
BCCW & Mash-Up Wrestling present "BEDLAM in BOSTON 3!!"
Originally a weekly Bowser production taped in the WBZ-TV studios on Soldiers Field Road (and aired on WISH Channel 38)... Also known as "Killer Kowalski's All-Stars" (the BCCW HW champion had a TV show on Ch. 25 out of Boston called "Bedlam from Boston")... the name of a 2006 rap album by the Bawston Strangla... the name of an ROH event from 2008... now - BiB - BEDLAM in BOSTON means FIGHT-FICTION GREATNESS. The grandest stage, the biggest names & most competitive title picture in the sport! Tonight will be a true Mash-Up Wrestling classic - a historic troupe through a legendary sports town featuring quotes & excerpts from the Boston Globe, "Ringside" & MSD's own demented mind! Welcome to the show!!
** CUT TO RING **
__________________________________________________________________________Boston Bloodlust"In the Athens of America, it stands to reason that wrestling would attract some devotees. But over the last century, Boston's wrestling fans have seemed at times less Greco and more Roman, demanding blood from their gladiators. "Boston was a city the wrestlers tried to get out of as quickly as possible," said Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in Campbell, Calif. "Whether true or not, it had a reputation for fan violence..."** Boston Globe (2004) **T.O.X.I.C.
vs
ALBERTO DEL RIO/ KEVIN VON ERICH/ TEAM 4:20
(No-Rules Boston Streetfight) w/
versus
w/
Bully Ray T.O.X.I.C. promo ("DO U KNO WHO WE R??") followed by Dean Ambrose (MW champion) putting the flag down for Tribe of Xtreme Iz Created. This match is a continuation of the raucous affair that started at "Return to the Scene of the Crime", only with the added star-power of the Top 3 MW contenders thrown into the mix. Team 4:20 was decimated at the hands of T.O.X.I.C. and this is their chance for revenge. Match eschews regular restrictions and spills into 6 different directions at once. Even Brooke Hogan gets her sundress ripped off by Wendi Richter at ringside! Subtle friction between ADR (is he turning heel again?) and Kevin Von Erich plays out during the match. Bully Ray continues to shine as a potential main-event-level heel. Team 4:20 excite with their electrifying & creative high-flying arsenals. Even Knuxx does his job of being a big body to crash into. In the end, we finish with a whole chain of moves (starting with a 3D on ADR & finishing with a Kevin Von Erich discus punch to Dean Ambrose)! KO! But for some reason, a disgruntled (maybe still slightly discombobulated) ADR disallows his partner from going for the pin! The slight miscommunication results in ADR getting pitched to the Aces & Eights at ringside, and Kevin Von Erich eating a huge Bubba Cutter from Bully Ray! BAM! Kevin Von Erich goes down! Dean Ambrose crawls over for the pin! (Sabu & Paul London have already put themselves through tables) There's nobody left! 1!.. 2!.. 3!! T.O.X.I.C. does it again!
Winners: TRIBE of XTREME Iz CREATED __________________________________________________________________________** BCCW 6-Man Tag Team Titles **HEADHUNTERZ © vs WILD SAMOANS vs USO's
(3-Way War) w/
versus
w/
versus
These 3 teams have been battling for the coveted 6-man straps since Fallout Festival. It only gets more savage, more violent & far far bloodier. Now, prized super-agent to the stars "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers has taken the reigns of the Wild Samoans and channeled their fury more clearly. He is the Lou Albano/Armando Estrada to their untamed fury. The Wild Samoans vicious streak (and Fight Night (Happy 4th of July attack) were the catalysts in the Uso's adopting a new look tonight - to closer mimic their ancestral roots.
The Uso's wear war paintHeadhunterz of course are part of the T.O.X.I.C. army and have held the 6-man straps with an iron grip. Mike Awesome has always been their standout star though, and he gets more of that shine tonight while squaring off against Rikishi. These are tag-rules elimination bouts, in contrast to the wild free-for-all we saw in the opener. 1st team eliminated is the Uso's (who nonetheless looked good in their new war-paint makeover) after an Umaga Samoan Spike to Jey Uso (as he dove off the top rope).
Wild Samoans & Headhunterz continue their fracas (both teams are technically "heels" so the crowd winds up cheering for the action itself). Hard-hitting and stiff (including a series of concussive chair shots that are NO-SOLD by the Samoans)! By the end of the match, the crowd is solidly behind the Samoans (perhaps *because* of Buddy Rogers' ringside gallivanting) and even cheer the OG Nature Boy when he feigns ripping off his designer suit coat to get a piece of Tamina at ringside (forcing her to recoil)! One of the bloodied Headhunterz falls victim to a double-headbutt from the Samoans, followed by a HUGE Superfly splash off the top rope by Umaga! 1!.. 2!.. 3!! WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!!
Winners (and NEW 6-Man Tag Team champions): WILD SAMOANS!! (Post match script)"NATURE BOY" BUDDY ROGERS (as penned by MSD) If I told you before, I told you million times! Diamond's are forever, and so is the Original Nature Boy. Who do you think taught you to style like this? Wear the finest threads, diamonds in every watch, smoke the most expensive cigars? ME! I'm a first-ballot Hall of Famer, I'm the guy that *MADE* wrestling in the Northeast! Nobody has a better mind for this business, and I've proved it again tonight by guiding these untamed savages to the BCCW 6-Man championship! Make no mistake about it, it's all because of me! I've taken a team of raw savages & transformed them into champions! And I want everybody to know out there, that to a nicer guy it couldn't happen!!
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers (with one of his newly-acquired BCCW 6-Man championship straps) stands next to the VINCE MCMAHON SENIOR CUP gifted to him by the WWE ("congratulations on your continued championship success, truly yours: VKM Jr")Wild Samoans = Best 6-Man Tag Team IN THE GAME!!
__________________________________________________________________________DUSTY RHODES (1985) versus STRANGLER LEWIS (1935)
** Xtreme Grudge Match ** versus
In a historic context, Dusty Rhodes had some huge MSG sellouts to his credit (during his Superstar Graham feud) that arguably put him on the top as a major draw. Strangler Lewis too has big matches & title bouts in Boston & surrounding Northeast areas around his ample waist. So they're not total strangers to the area - and this match has been nationally promoted as a co-main event. Yet with everything that's happened in the Sammartino/Henry feud this match switches place on the card as a literally game-day decision. I just couldn't see Bruno's potential swan song getting anything less than Shea Stadium treatment (especially with the white-hot streak Mark Henry 2013 has been on in his run towards WWE MitB IRL). That's why the Bruno/Henry match took the added weight of a retirement stipulation (because it's relevant) but also why that match bumped Rhodes/Lewis from the co-main event spot at the last minute. It's a location thing. Boston loves Bruno. But that doesn't stop Dusty Rhodes from getting one of the biggest pops of the night upon his screen debut.
Both Rhodes & Strangler got brief backstage promos to set the scene. Dusty's entrance is lively and upbeat - Strangler is dark & brooding. But the intensity level when the two finally meet in-ring is palpable. Rhodes goes immediately on the attack with strikes (something the always-grapple-minded Strangler has struggled with in his last few outings). Strangler is trapped in the corner absorbing a barrae of blows, followed by chops, elbows and finally a big body slam. Strangler Lewis rolls out the ring but Dusty follows. They brawl around ringside, and Lewis takes advantage with a mule-kick lowblow. Hurling Dusty Rhodes face-first into the steel ringpost, Lewis grins sadistically when Dusty comes up bleeding.
Strangler tosses Dusty into the guardrail and hit a nasty side-Russian legsweep on the floor. Strangler folds a nearby steel chair and gives Dusty a few whacks with it. Driving Dusty back in the ring, Lewis tries grinding him out (including memorably rubbing his bloody face into the mat) with his sideheadlock. But no quit in Dusty. Rhodes finally fights back with a back body drop and soaks up the cheers of the fans (and blood on his face). Now the brawl spills up the entrance ramp as well, with Dusty doing everything from sharing a fans beer to using on of their crutches over Stranglers head (big pop!!) Dusty even hits a DDT on the entrance ramp (but it's only Xtreme Rulez - not "falls count anywhere" - so he still needs to get Strangler in the ring to win). Back near the ring, Dusty wounds up getting backdropped on the cement floor - negating his entire offensive run. Now Strangler Lewis (slightly bloodied hardway around the nose) slowly begins to seize control. He batters Dusty in the ring with trashcan lid shots but only gets a 2-count. Strangler even tries his world-famous (and feared) Dragon sleeper but Dusty fights out with that same trash can lid to free himself. In the end, Strangler Lewis tries everything he can to wrestle - then brawl - and ultimately cheat to win. Only the American Dream is one step ahead, and literally fighting for his fantasy wrestling redemption. Dusty grabs a nearby beer bottle while Strangler Lewis was fastening his brass knucks - ducks the Strangler's punch attempt - and BREAKS the beer bottle over Strangler's head! One Bionic elbow drop later and c ya later! 1! 2! 3! Dream wins! Dream wins! Dusty Rhodes has earned redemption in BCCW! Meanwhile, Strangler Lewis had to be taken to a medical facility for stitches & a concussion! He will be unable to second Lou Thesz into his match tonight! May the best man win between Thesz & Cena, cuz Dusty Rhodes got the WORLD TITLE in his sights!!
Winner: DUSTY RHODES __________________________________________________________________________** BCCW Flyweight championship **LOW-KI (2004) © vs GUS SONNENBERG (1930) versus
GSon is the former FW champion who suffered a vicious attack in the streets of LA that left him beaten & exposed. When it was revealed Low-Ki was the one that set him up, it jump-started a chain of events that led to GSon defying doctors orders and defending his belt against him @ Return to the Scene of the Crime. GSon suffered a terrible beating that night (& lost his belt), but returned on the last Fight Night episode (Happy 4th of July) to enact his rematch clause. Low-Ki is at his "no honor/no respect" worst, and his team strides into Boston Garden like they own the place (big booooooos!!!) GSon meanwhile, is like Rocky Balboa fighting against insurmountable odds.
Rotten Wildaz crew (including Julius Smokes, LAX (Homicide & Hernandez) & Philly's Most Wanted (BLKJeez & Joker) dredge up decades old racial hostility in Boston. The Source is owned by a white man! But they wind up getting ejected from ringside (AGAIN) for their off-color, gang antics.
Former BCCW FW champion Gus Sonnenberg is a hugely popular mega-star. He is the lilly-white Boston Celtics about to take the game back from a generation of selfish, me-first Black players. He fights back through pain & adversity to earn numerous near falls.
But proving once and for all he doesn't *need* a wolfpack of followers to succeed, Low-Ki unleashes his new millennium MMA-offense on an already-broken-down GSon (see Return to the Scene of the Crime). This was supposed to be Boston's triumphant last run at glory (see: Boston Celtics 2013)... but they wound up getting trumped by a meaner, deeper NY team (Rotten Wildaz = NY Knicks 2013 Playoffs). Fans of the 2008 & 2012 Patriots / 2013 Bruins / Any Red Sox team pre-2004 immediately know the feeling of crushing and overpowering loss. That was GSon getting pinned by Low-Ki after the Warriorz Way...
Winner (and STILL FW champion): LOW-KI __________________________________________________________________________** BCCW Television title **GOLDBERG (1998) © vs ULTIMATE WARRIOR (1991)
vs RYBACK (2015)
(Triple Threat Heavyweight DREAM MATCH) versus
versus
Huge. Even if you're not a fan of each man individually - together they exude a tremendous intensity. Ryback enters 1st - followed by Goldberg - finished by Ultimate Warrior (charging like a rocket ship to the ring where he shakes the ropes violently & pumps his arms). After the big-time MMA intro, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. Ryback and Goldberg stare each other down, like two big animals about to buck horns, but then simultaneously turn towards Warrior and attack him! Ultimate Warrior tosses Ryback from the ring, and grapples with Goldberg to a stalemate. Their power is almost matched. But after criss crossing shoulder blocks, Goldberg finally hits the deck with an Ultimate Warrior clothesline! Big prepubescent cheer goes up from the crowd! Warrior hypes up and attacks Ryback as he attempts to enter the ring, finally clothes lining him back over the top - and allowing Warrior & Goldberg to continue their battle.
After another exchange, Goldberg *ends* the match with a titanic SPEAR out of nowhere on the Warrior! They're unleashing all the big moves fast & early. BIG POP for that! 1!.. 2!.. KICKOUT! Big cheer! Finally Ryback re-enters the ring, this time with 2 left-over trash can from the Xtreme Rules bout. Goldberg & Ryback wound up ping-ponging Ultimate Warriors head in between repeated whacks from the trash can lids! But neither man went for the pin - each instead focusing their aggression on each other. Finally it was time for the two timeline doppelgangers to duel without interference (the trash can lid spot explaining Warrior's momentary absence). The two Goliaths, Goldberg & Ryback, tear into each other with reckless abandon. The brawl stiffly spills ringside, into the barricade and into the 1st row of fans! Loud pockets of "FEED ME MORE!" chants begin to arise, but there is a steady monotone droning of "GOOOOOOLDBERG!" drowning them out in the background! Back in the ring, Goldberg gets a near-fall on Ryback with a vicious savat kick (same move that ended Bret Harts career)!
Ultimate Warrior is now slowly starting to shake the ropes and regain momentum... he no-sells Goldberg's clubbing blows! Warrior hulks up! Clothesline takes down Goldberg! Another clothesline for Goldberg! Now Warrior streaks off the ropes for the trilogy of clotheslines... only to eat a wicked (unforeseen) *STEEL CHAIR SHOT TO THE FACE* from Ryback! OOOOOOO! BLAM! BLAM BLAM BLAM! Another set of steel chair-shots from Ryback, now to Goldberg as well! Ryback pounds his chest in satisfaction! Crowd boos! Ryback only gets a 1 count on Warrior, so he slips outside & begins disassembling the Spanish announcers table. In the end Ryback gets put through the table by the combined might of Goldberg & Ultimate Warrior (big pop!) Match itself isn't super-long, but it does maintain a high level of intensity throughout. After a tense finishing sequence from Warrior/Goldberg (akin to the end of WM6), Goldberg winds up with the final reversal and climatically SPEARS Ultimate Warrior THROUGH a ringside table (propped up in the turnbuckles earlier)!! Big Pop! But before Goldberg can drag Warrior into position for a jackhammer - RYBACK finally reappears to blindside him and SHELL SHOCK the TV champion directly on a steel chair! 1!.. 2!.. KICKOUT! But Barely! Crowd cheers Goldberg's resolve, but Ryback is enraged. He tries to pull Ultimate Warrior in for a shellshock, but Warrior fights back! The crowd is firmly behind him! Shoulder tackle! Shouldertackle! Clothesline over the top rope! Ultimate Warrior is alone in the ring, pounding his chest! Behind him - Goldberg drags himself to his feet... only to have Ultimate Warrior *LIFT GOLDBERG INTO A GORILLA PRESS SLAM!!* Oh my, an AMAZING feat of strength by the Ultimate Warrior! He lets Goldberg's body crash to the mat! Warrior off the ropes! Big splash to Goldberg! But before he can roll him over, get the pin & earn the TV title... Ultimate Warrior is bumrushed from the rear by Ryback! Pitching Warrior outside the ring, Ryback steals the pinfall! 1!.. 2!.. 3!! NEW TV champion! One undefeated streak continues - 2 die by the wayside!! Ultimate Warrior is MIGHTILY upset and storms backstage, ignoring the fans hand claps - while Ryback looms over the body of his doppelganger Goldberg, hoists the TV title high - and chants "FEED ME MORE!!"
Winner (and NEW BCCW Television champion): RYBACK (2014)__________________________________________________________________________The Man Behind the Magic: Paul BowserBCCW VP Sheldon Goldberg presiding"Paul Frank Bowser, who Sheldon Goldberg said had many local sportswriters on payroll, dominated Boston's sports headlines in the 1930s. He was tagged "Papa Paul, the greatest showman since Barnum." "If it weren't for the lively news and feature concoctions which are emerging from the publicity mill of Paul Bowser, there'd be nothing on the sports pages except a lot of agate box scores and race charts," wrote Victor O. Jones in the July 27, 1935, Boston Daily Globe. Bowser was a farm boy from Pennsylvania turned iconic matchmaker who booked cards at Boston Garden, Boston Arena -- now Northeastern University's Matthews Arena -- and Fenway Park. Bowser sold tickets by promoting wrestlers like pro football player Gus Sonnenburg, "Crusher" Steve Casey, who Goldberg said owned the "Crusher Casey's" bar in South Boston, and a 20-year-old Irish solider named Danno O'Mahoney, who newspaper accounts said appealed mainly to South Boston's Irish. Records indicate that 40,000 to 45,000 fans packed Fenway Park July 30, 1935, to see O'Mahoney defend the title against Olympian Ed Don George with boxing legend James Braddock as the referee. No larger crowd would gather to see a wrestling match in North America until 1986".
** BOSTON GLOBE (2004) **The Top 50 Moments in Fantasy Wrestling History:
#1 Revealed..."Boston Bad Boy" Tony Rumble is in the BCCW video-control center for his BiB3 cameo & paycheck (besides, you can't have a fantasy wrestling PPV from Boston *WITHOUT* Tony!) 1EVENT HORIZONThe big bang. The origin point. The beginning & the end. Event Horizon is the greatest moment in Fantasy Wrestling history because it signified the beginning of unparalleled creative freedom. It gave birth to the greatest team of fight-fiction authors (Mash-Up Posse), reinvigorated the game & took fantasy wrestling to untold new plateaus. Special thanks to everybody that made this moment possible - from slade, rexxxx, wwefan, dangerrick & karl hugo to the honorary homeboys tazz13, chachins, perfectlystraightedge & randomone. May we always stand united in support of one great sport. In other words "MR GORBACHEV, TEAR THIS WALL DOWN!!!"
peace and much much love,
MSD
** CUT **
__________________________________________________________________________** BCCW HW championship **KILLER KOWALSKI (1972) © versus SHEAMUS (2012) w/
versus
"The Irish, however, deserve the most credit for establishing American professional wrestling. The Irish were renowned (and frequently belittled) for their love of rough play and sports, and most of the prominent early American pugilists were of Irish descent. But it was wrestling, not boxing, that had been the most popular sport in Ireland since the Middle Ages, and Irish immigrants brought the sport to America with them."
** "Ringside" (by Scott M. Beekman) **Sheamus even gets away with picking a fight with Big John Studd at ringside (an action the heel-sympathizing Matt Striker did not condone - "Big John Studd was just innocently standing there!") The ref didn't even notice Kowalski's foot being a fraction of an inch under the bottom rope during the final pinfall either... but it was certainly a loophole that did not go unnoticed...
"Winner" (and NEW BCCW HW Champion): SHEAMUS"Luck of the Irish" for sure. But one group knows a conspiracy when they see one (and knows how to argue a legal loophole)...THE FIRM (Wild Red Berry/Damien Sandow/David Otunga) "The methods used by Muldoon's group reflected the universally decried practice of "hippodroming" (supposedly authentic athletic contests engaged in solely as a means of making money by drawing a large gate). Hippodroming was a significant problem for nineteenth-century sports in general. The practice reflected what many social critics viewed as the general dishonesty of professional sports. Baseball & boxing underwent periodic scandals throughout the century... Wrestling, although viewed as somewhat more respectable than pugilism, was also criticized for staging matches under the pretexts of legitimacy. Muldoon himself engaged in some highly questionable matches that undoubtedly contributed to these criticisms..."
** "Ringside" (by Scott M. Beekman)The FIRM finally reveals their Illuminati affiliation (it was Camp Killer Kowalski all along!) - and decries the blatant Irish favoritism. The match is forcefully restarted under controversial circumstances (with a tone of underlying racism) and Kowalski gets the jump on Sheamus from behind. This time, Big John Studd softens up Sheamus' injured midsection enough for Kowalski to sink in his deadly stomach claw. That finishing move (combined with an unseen *RINGBELL SHOT TO THE HEAD* of Sheamus by Damien Sandow) turns off the Celtic Warriors lights for good! 1!... 2!.. 3!!
Winner (and STILL BCCW HW champion): KILLER KOWALSKI"Questions about the legitimacy of some of his matches did not, however, affect the public's opinion of Muldoon. He later carried both his reputation and his health ideals into a successful post-wrestling career. He opened the Olympia Hygienic Institute of Purchase NY
[and Brockton MA, in BCCW-cannon) as a clinic for imparting information on fitness to the well-heeled. The former wrestling champion was described as a "tiger in collar & boots" and continued his lifelong association with boxing. He became a respected member of the NY Athletic Commission, and became chairman - a position he maintained, along with the operation of his institute".
** "Ringside" (by Scott M. Beekman)BCCW Commissioner William Muldoon - unmarred by the public accusations levied against him - has nonetheless suffered a crippling blow to his administration tonight. Muldoon remains unbowed, and stands solidly on the side of law & honor - but like Elliot Ness his group of Untouchables faces an uphill, outnumbered battle...** CUT **
__________________________________________________________________________MILDRED BURKE & MARIA MENOUNOS
vs EVE TORRES GRACIE & SABLE
(Special Attraction Tag-Team Bout) versus
Maria Menonous adds another touch of mainstream starpower to the BiB3 production.
Eve Torres Gracie (the power-hungry, bitter & jealous BCCW Woman's Div President) reprises her WM battle with Maria and looks to take out her anger on the one woman who won't kowtow to her orders - Woman's champion Mildred Burke.
Sable 1999 is the bitchy, catty counterpart to Maria & MBurke and adds another level of narcissism & athleticism.
But in the end, MBurke shows who's boss by tapping out her tormentor Eve Torres Gracie with a picture-perfect arm triangle choke (completely overcoming Eve's jiu-jitsu training in the process)! MBurke & MMenounos are triumphant, as the flashbulbs of a billion paparazzi flash around them!
Winners: MILDRED BURKE & MARIA MENOUNOS__________________________________________________________________________BRUNO SAMMARTINO (1975) vs MARK HENRY (2013)
(Battle of the Strongmen)
** Heavyweight Bout ** versus
Intense stare down punctuated by Mark Henry pounding his chest like a beast. Test of strength to start, and Mark Henry is just *bigger*. They test each other with a few shoulder blocks (Mark Henry = “immovable object”) - until Sammartino slips a lariat in there somewhere and puts the World’s Strongest Man on his back! Furious! Mark Henry SLAPS Sammartino across the face and comes off the ropes, but Sammartino takes him down with a hip toss and elbow drop! Flying Sammartino stomps! But Henry forces himself to his feet and responds with a thunderous shoulder block - only to roll outside and try to regroup.
Mark Henry stalls - Bruno eggs him on - together they lather the crowd into a cheering frenzy. World’s Most Pissed off Strong man responds by tossing nearby weapons into the ring. The distraction is enough for him to return to the ring and blindside Sammartino with a trash can lid! Bruno goes down like he’s been shot, but Mark Henry completely intimidates the referee from calling for the bell. You thought for sure Mark would literally *kill* the guy if he did. So now Mark takes over with the slowdown strongman offense (including Sammartino’s own move - the bear hug!!) Sammartino begins a brief rally to keep the fans engaged, but winds up getting shoved shoulder-first into the steel post. Mark Henry tosses Sammartino outside, and initiates a ringside pummeling (giving every front row fan an up-close view). But back in the ring, Mark Henry can only get a 2-count. So he kicks it into high-gear. The last sequence of moves results in Mark Henry going for the big splash - only to have Sammartino roll to safety at the last moment. Stunned on the mat, Mark Henry gives Bruno precious moments to recuperate.
Commentators are driving home the *potential* retirement ramifications of the match (a play on Mark Henry’s brilliant “retirement ploy” leading into WWE MitB 2013 - and Sammartino’s final WWF run). With the crowd urging him on, Sammartino fires up the 1970’s offense and socks it to Mark Henry! Sammartino is the undersized heavyweight slugger going up against the goliath, and his body shots and kicks fold the big man in half! With everything surging against him, Mark Henry tries to accept a count-out loss and makes his way back up the ramp... only to have hometown hero (and former Hall of Pain victim) CRUSHER CASEY reappear! He kindly reminds Mark Henry there is no escaping his fate, and herds the big man back into the ring for his slaughter! After an explosive flurry of offense, da Brune *BODYSLAMS* Mark Henry and gets the pinfall with everybody counting along! 1!.. 2!.. 3!! BRUNO DOES IT AGAIN! The legend will never die! Bruno & Crusher Casey (technically still on the injured list, but in the house for his BiB3 cameo none the less) soak in the fan adulation!
Winner: BRUNO SAMMARTINO"Wrestling would later hit it big with Boston's Italians. When Bowser died in 1960, proteges Abe Ford and Tony Santos promoted bouts in smaller venues between stars from Vince McMahon Sr.'s New York-based World Wide Wrestling Federation, including Italian weightlifter Bruno Sammartino. McMahon Sr. crowned Sammartino his champion and made Boston Garden one of his leading tour stops. Tickets were hard to come by. After the bout Sammartino attracted so many Italians to the Garden that some North End restaurants were kept open late so Sammartino could dine after a match. "I really did love Boston," Sammartino said in a radio interview transcribed in the book "WrestleRadio U.S.A." by West Roxbury's Ed Symkus and Vinnie Carolan. "After the matches, I would go to the North End. . . . The [restaurant] owner came from Europe, too. He'd keep the place open and it was just great."** BOSTON GLOBE (2004) **__________________________________________________________________________ ** WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP **LOU THESZ (1955) © versus JOHN CENA (2013)
(The Final Showdown: IRON MAN MATCH)** Special Guest Enforcer: Rocky Marciano!! ** versus
w/ special enforcer
Ok we've made it this far together. Weathered the storms, felt the same thrills & disappointment, suffered through self-indulgent walls of text & obscure wrestling references. So I won't bore you with semantics: John Cena beats Lou Thesz 3 to 2 in the Iron Man match to win the world title!!
Winner (and NEW WORLD CHAMPION): JOHN CENAIf you've ever seen footage of Golden Age Lou Thesz, or bore witness to the classic Cena/HBK Iron Man match - then you will know this was a main event thriller. Match was also a case study in fan psychology and appreciation. The dueling crowd chants were just as important to this match as the chains of moves. This was an epic match, with Rocky Marciano's involvement being the Lawrence Taylor/Mike Tyson ticket punched to even more mainstream glory & recognition. Seeing MA's favorite sons Cena & Marciano together was a sight made in fight-fiction heaven.
The rabid crowd seemed at least 75% in favor of Cena, but in the wake of some Thesz stall tactics and the earlier slate of non-Boston favored decisions, all fans were hungry for an ultimate celebration. So when Cena finally pulled the trigger tonight and became world champion - there was tremendous exultation. Finally! This was Red Sox 04 territory. Celtics fans after a 20 year championship drought. The 1st time the Patriots won the Superbowl, or the Stanley Cup. Then came the string of amazing victories that transformed this downtrodden community into a championship dynasty.
So with the champagne still fresh, Mash-Up Wrestling toasts to a new dawn. The concept of the shared world champion this universe was founded on will finally blossom. Starting right now, John Cena is our shared undisputed WORLD champion. He will fight any contender, anytime in any geographical location. There are no Territory borders to hold us back. We are one. Here in this city we call it Boston Strong. In french they say "l'unité". To the Mash-Up Wrestling universe it means one thing: THE CHAMP IS HERE.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...."
** Declaration of Independence ** (July 4th 1776)__________________________________________________________________________CREDITS:"Ringside" a historical supplement written by Scott M Beekman.
Boston Globe article "In City's Wrestling Prime, No Holds Were Barred" (by Jack Encarnacao (September 26th 2004)