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Old School Wrestling Week 4
By Jared "JHawk" Hawkins
May 8, 2006, 13:26

My apologies for this being late, as circumstances beyond my control led me to not being near a computer this weekend.  Hopefully we're back on schedule next week.


OSW Superstar Challenge (May 13, 2006)
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Phoenix, AZ

10:00pm:  Gordon Solie shows us the highlights of both the Jim Duggan-Ted DiBiase and Dino Bravo-Don Muraco matches from last week, then shows us the updated World Title tournament brackets:

Jamie Noble
Hulk Hogan----------Hulk Hogan

Andre the Giant-----Andre the Giant
Billy Kidman

Ted DiBiase---------Ted DiBiase
Jim Duggan

Dino Bravo
Don Muraco---------Don Muraco

Greg Valentine
Paul London

Butch Reed
Randy Savage

Sakoda
Bam Bam Bigelow

Rick Rude
Jake Roberts

10:02pm:  OSW World Heavyweight Title tournament first round match (one fall with a 15-minute time limit):  Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Paul London

Although London is clearly the underdog against the much more experienced Valentine, he is able to use a series of high flying and quick moves to gain a series of quick near falls over his opponent.  Hart hops onto the ring apron to distract London, and Valentine attacks, driving the shoulder into the left knee of London.  Valentine works over the leg for at least four or five minutes, then goes for the Figure-Four Leglock, only for London to kick him forward and send him face-first into the top turnbuckle.  London favors his knee but manages to get a series of near falls.  He climbs to the top turnbuckle, but his knee buckles as he attempts the shooting star press, enabling Valentine to get the knees into London's chest.  With the wind knocked out of him, London is easy prey for Valentine's cover.

Winner:  Valentine via pinfall in 9:34.

10:14pm:  Valentine and Hart immediately head to the interview area and put over London's heart, but say that in the end heart never triumphs over ability and intelligence.  Valentine doesn't care who his quarterfinal opponent is since that man has no chance of winning anyway.

10:17pm:  One fall with a 10:00 time limit:  Marty Jannetty vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude (w/Bobby "The Brain" Heenan)

Jannetty's debut starts with him getting attacked as he turns around from addressing the fans.  Rude maintains the advantage in the early going by constantly going for Jannetty's neck.  Jannetty gains the advantage by clotheslining Rude after an irish whip, then using a series of high-flying moves to back Rude against the ropes. He charges, and Rude backdrops Jannetty over the top rope, causing referee Tommy Young to immediately call for the bell.

Winner: Jannetty via intentional throw over the top rope disqualification in 5:03.

10:24pm:  Gordon Solie interviews Jake Roberts concerning next week's tournament match with Rude, who makes his way to the interview area.  They argue briefly, then get into a full-out brawl that has to be broken up by security.

10:27pm:  OSW World Heavyweight Title tournament first round match (one fall with a 15-minute time limit):  "Hacksaw" Butch Reed vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage

A terrific back-and-forth bout, with Savage using his speed advantage to keep Reed off-guard early.  Reed, however, drives a knee into Savage's gut to slow him down before using his power advantage to wear his opponent down.  Reed finally ascends to the top rope and hits a beautiful flying tackle, then goes for the cover.  Savage gets his foot over the bottom rope, but Reed celebrates, thinking he's won.  As referee Red Shoes Dugan and Reed begin to argue, Savage drives a knee into Reed's back, then rolls him up for a quick pin.

Winner:  Savage via pinfall at 9:04.

After the match, Reed continues to argue with referee Dugan, then knocks him down with a right hand punch.  A livid Paul Heyman makes his way to the ring and tells Reed he's forfeiting his purse for the evening, which leads to Reed arguing with Heyman until both men disappear behind the curtain.

10:41pm: Gordon Solie shows us the updated brackets:

Jamie Noble
Hulk Hogan----------Hulk Hogan

Andre the Giant-----Andre the Giant
Billy Kidman

Ted DiBiase---------Ted DiBiase
Jim Duggan

Dino Bravo
Don Muraco---------Don Muraco

Greg Valentine------Greg Valentine
Paul London

Butch Reed
Randy Savage------Randy Savage

Sakoda
Bam Bam Bigelow

Rick Rude
Jake Roberts

10:44pm:  One fall with TV time remaining:  The Yakuza {Akio/Sakoda/Tajiri} (w/"Classy" Freddie Blassie) vs. Ultimo Dragon and The Hart Brothers

A completely formulaic six man tag team match, with Dragon being caught in the ring as face-in-peril.  Dragon finally makes the hot tag to Owen Hart, and simply put, all six men begin brawling in the ring at the same time until Ultimo is alone in the ring with Akio and Tajiri.  Tajiri goes to blow green mist into Ultimo's eyes, but Ultimo ducks, and Tajiri blinds Akio instead.  Ultimo tackles Tajiri, and Owen reenters the ring and cradles Akio for the pin.

Winners:  The Hart Brothers and Ultimo Dragon (Owen Hart pinned Akio with a cradle at 8:42.

10:56pm:  Solie interviews Bam Bam Bigelow, who claims Sakoda had better bring the rest of the Yakuza with him if he intends to beat him in the tournament next week.

10:59pm:  Gordon reminds us that the rest of the first round will take place next week as we fade out.


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