Sunday, December 26, 2021

The Iron Sheik's WWF World Title Defenses

On Monday, December 20, 2021 on the horrible Peacock network WWE posted 6 Madison Square Garden shows in their old school section.  All six shows were from 1983, including the historic match where The Iron Sheik captured the WWF World Championship from Bob Backlund.


I don't recall ever watching this match in it's entirety only the finish of the match.  On the episode of All Star Wrestling that aired on Christmas Eve 1983, taped December 7th, the Iron Sheik challenged anyone to perform with his Persian clubs, no one had been successful before.  This is schtick that the Sheik had been doing for years and I saw him do it at an Indie who in Maine in 1998, I tried it, it's VERY hard to do.


On his third attempt Bob Backlund was successful and he was attacked by the Iron Sheik who struck Backlund with in the back of the neck several time injuring him.  Thirty-nine years ago today, On December 26, 1983 Backlund stepped in the ring at Madison Square Garden against The Iron Sheik who dominated the match wearing Backlund down and applying his dreaded Camel Clutch wrenching back on the champion until his Manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel ending Backlund's 2,135 day championship reign.

The narrative had always been that Bob Backlund never got his rematch with the Iron Sheik, but as you'll read below he did get a few return matches, including one Boston, which was a big market.  Sheik wrestled all around the then WWF territory as champion wrestling almost everyday of his 28 day reign.  

December 27, 1983 Lancaster, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow with his feet on the ropes

December 28, 1983 Hazleton, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Bob Bradley

December 29, 1983 Landover, Maryland
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo

December 30, 1983 Salisbury, Maryland
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Pat Patterson by disqualification

January 2, 1984 Scranton, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo

January 3, 1984 Allentown, Pennsylvania
Championship Wrestling television 

Aired January 7, 1984
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik submitted John Callahan

Aired January 21, 1984
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik  submitted Mike Dorsett

January 4, 1984 Hamburg, Pennsylvania
All Star Wrestling Television Taping

Aired January 7, 1984
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik submitted Denny Hill

Aired January 14, 1984
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik submitted Ken Jugan

January 5, 1984 Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Israel Matia

January 6, 1984 La Plata, Maryland
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow

January 7, 1984 Erie, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo

January 8, 1984 Cincinnati, Ohio
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Pat Patterson by disqualification

January 9, 1984 Akron, Ohio
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Pat Patterson by disqualification

January 11, 1984 Jericho, New York
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow


January 12, 1984 Marlboro, Massachusetts 
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo

January 13, 1984 Bangor, Maine
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow

January 14, 1984 Boston, Massachusetts
Bob Backlund defeated WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik by disqualification

January 15, 1984 Pittsfield, Massachusetts
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Ivan Putski

January 16, 1984 Oil City, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik defeated Salvatore Bellomo

January 18, 1984 Warren, Ohio 
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik fought Bob Backlund to a no contest

January 19, 1984 Monongahela, Pennsylvania
Bob Backlund defeated WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik by disqualification

January 20, 1984 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow

January 21, 1984 Landover, Maryland (matinee show)
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik competed in an 18 man battle royal that was won by Andre the Giant 

January 21, 1984 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik fought Tito Santana to a double disqualification

January 22, 1984 Williamsport, Pennsylvania
WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik pinned Chief Jay Strongbow

Ivan Putski defeated WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik by disqualification

January 23, 1984 Madison Square Garden
Hulk Hogan pinned WWF World Champion: The Iron Sheik to win the championship


Sheik wrestled four matches on the syndicated shows in his 28 day reign as champion, by comparison in a 6 year period Hogan only wrestled 12 matches as champion on the syndicated shows.  You can read about it here:  Hulk Hogan's Rare TV Matches

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my new book Limitless Wrestling: The First Five Years, or any of my other books as well.  

Until next time!

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Stan Stasiak's WWWF Championship Matches

Stan “The Man” Stasiak was a journeymen wrestler competing for 26 years from 1958 to 1984.  He held numerous regional championships in the United States and his native Canada, however he only held a recognized world championship a single time for nine days in 1973.  A transition champion he defeated the great Pedro Morales in and lost the title to the legendary Bruno Sammartino.  

To my knowledge he only held defended the championship one time before dropping the strap to Bruno.  The only footage I’m aware of Stasiak as champion is his title loss to Bruno which you can find on YouTube.

December 1, 1973 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stan Stasiak pinned WWWF World Champion: Pedro Morales to win the title at 17:42 when all four men's shoulders were down following a back suplex from the champion; after the bout, Stasiak was not announced as the new champion for fear of a riot - rather the ring announcer simply said "Let's hear it for a great champion, Pedro Morales"; the title change was announced the following Saturday on television; Barney Solomon was the referee for the bout

December 4, 1973 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Championship Wrestling television taping
Aired December 8, 1973
Stan Stasiak was announced as champion for the first hour of tapings

December 5, 1973 Hamburg, Pennsylvania
All Star Wrestling television taping
Aired December 8, 1973
Stan Stasiak was announced as champion for the first hour of tapings

Photo from Shawn Stasiak's Twitter

December 6, 1973 Worcester, Massachusetts

Pedro Morales & Chief Jay Strongbow defeated WWWF World Champion: Stan Stasiak & Blackjack Lanza

December 7, 1973 North Attleboro, Massachusetts
WWWF World Champion: Stan Stasiak fought Chief Jay Strongbow to a no contest

December 10, 1973 Madison Square Garden
Bruno Sammartino with Arnold Skaaland pinned WWWF World Champion: Stan Stasiak with The Grand Wizard at 12:35 to win the title after three consecutive bodyslams

Although his title run is little more than a footnote between Morales and Sammartino, he was champion at a time when all fans knew it meant something to be champion.  It gave him immediate credibility for all of this matches in the future.  He was the fifth man to hold the title, and was trusted by Vince McMahon Sr. to be that transition champion.

A special thank you to The History of WWE for the results in this post.

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my new book Limitless Wrestling: The First Five Years, or any of my other books as well.  

Until next time!


Thursday, November 25, 2021

Vacationland Pro Wrestling 11/20/2021 featuring Ricky Morton!


Vacationland Pro Wrestling returned on November 20th in Brewer for their one year anniversary show.  Jonathan Gresham was originally slated to appear, however pulled off the card, he was replaced by Mike Bennett.

Canaan and I headed up early meeting Randy and Roy and Mad Kats for some grub before the show.  We had little bit of time to kill and checked out Bull Moose where I get a few VHS tapes.

Doors opened at 5:30 for non-VIP and the show was slated for a 6pm bell time, however the show didn't start until 6:20pm mostly due to a severe car crash near by that shut the road down.  We followed Roy over the backway and unknowingly avoided the crash.


This was a very big crowd tonight, I'd say double from the last time I was here for the barbed-wire death match. I credit it all to Ricky Morton!  Before the show we chatted with Ricky Morton for close to half an hour and he couldn't have been nicer!  I got some cards signed and photo with both Morton's, Ricky put his WWE Hall of Fame ring on me. 

For A Spot in the Main Event Ladder Match
Bobby Ocean defeated Rhett Titus

The was a great opening match and was an old school wrestling match.  The crowd was behind Bobby wanting to see him get the win, and he did, however his feet were tangled in the ropes.  I don't think it was intentional, but the referee didn't see it and record book with show he got the pin with his feet on the ropes. Rhett's got a legit complaint for a rematch.



Post Match:
Abraham Kahn ran in attacking Ocean leading to Titus making the save.

Number One Contender for the Intercontinental Championship
Johnny Primer with Doc Ozone vs. Dylan Nix with Willie Miles III


Crowd was pumped for Primer, I didn't expect the reaction that he got.  Doc Ozone tattled on Willie Miles who was trying to cheat and referee Eric Greenleaf ejected Miles from ringside.  Primer hit a cutter to get the pin and become the number one contender for the VPW Intercontinental Championship

Cousin Larry & Jason Maverick vs. Jacob Hess & Jacob Drifter with Beavis & NBK

Fun tag team match, Larry was super over and chopped the hell out of Hess and Drifter.  Hess was the bad guy but he seemed so damn happy to be in the ring you couldn't erase the smile off his face.  Finish came when Larry checked Hess's oil into Maverick's Boss Man Slam, and a whoopie cushion from Larry on Hess.  Drifter looked good in the match, if he keeps his training up he'll keep getting better.



In Ring:
Ricky Williams came out, cut a much too long promo about his complete knee replacement surgery and being told he'd never wrestle again.  He called out JP O'Reilly.  Honestly I couldn't understand most of what was said, it seems like Williams wanted to bury the hatchet and support his friend in the main event.  

Abraham Kahn ran down and attacking JP O'Reilly before their ladder match. 

Pimp Daddy Apple Cinnamon vs. Dajae Simone


Decent match, my first time seeing Simone and she looked good.  Cinnamon got the pin with an inside cradle.  Post match Jesse Nolan came out confronting Simone.

The Mortons: Ricky & Kerry vs. The Competition: Champ Mathews & Mark Moment with Conner Murphy & Willie Miles III

Moment substituted for Murphy who was out of commission with a knee injury.  I loved every moment of this match.  Ricky Morton was old school, Kerry showed he is going to be a big star in wrestling.  Moment was Moment and Mathews was the champ.









Before the show I told Ricky that we were discussing before the show if he was going to do a Canadian Destroyer, he did, but all I wanted to see was a Ricky Morton do a dropkick.  He hit Moment with a dropkick and I marked out BIG TIME!  Morton then pointed me out in the crowd and said that, that was for me.  So Ricky Morton personally dedicated a dropkick to me, so that's awesome!







The finish came when Moment pinned Ricky with his feet on the ropes.  Ricky teased them coming back, I'd be down for that. 



In Ring: Teddy,the owner of VPW, came out to cut a promo, I have no idea what he said the sound system was terrible.  He got jumped by a bunch of guys, Lee Miller attempted to make the save and was beat up.  John Bryar, who was watching the show, made the save.  I guess Teddy & Bryar were buddies, then feuded and made up after this brawl.

Intercontinental Champion: Nuke The Great vs. Blade Bandit

This was a decent match, Nuka was the babyface but that was odd because a couple months ago he turned heel when he misted his tag team partner Malik Logan coasting them the match. 
Blade hit a blue thunder bomb for the pin and won the championship.
  

Post match Primer came out stating his claim as the number one contender, then Jessie Nolan turned on Blade attacking him and stating that she wanted the championship.  The ring announcer then stated at the next show it would be a triple threat match for the IC Championship.

Mike Bennett vs. Vinny Pacifico




This was a very good match!  Bennett looks great, he came out with the ROH World Tag Team Championship.  Bennett got the pin with a piledriver.

Dr. Reginald Heresy vs. Lee Miller

It's great seeing Heresy back in the ring in person, I haven't seen him in over 10 years since March 2011 at and IWE show.  Heresy was a regular in the EWA back in the late 1990's here in Maine holding their Heavyweight and Tag Team Championships on two occasions. 


Lee Miller got the win tonight on the veteran Heresy.  I think this is Miller's best match that I've seen to date.  The only thing that bugs me about him is that he brings that kendo stick to the ring and I've never seen him use it in a match.  

Ladder Match for the VPW Heavyweight Championship
Ace Romero vs. Abraham Kahn vs. Mike Montero vs. Bobby Ocean vs. JP' O'Reilly with Chad Epik

Only one of the ladders looked safe enough to climb in this match.  Ace was a surprise entrant and Ricky Williams was watching the match from the entrance way.

The crowd was solidly behind Bobby Ocean and wanted him to win the match, which he did.  Montero took the biggest bumps and evidently suffered and eye injury, which last I heard was healing but there is potential for permanent damage.  There were a few moments that looked dangerous, but overall it was good match.  Everyone worked real hard. 
 













When Ocean pulled down the title the crowd popped for him, but he was granted zero celebration time so instead they could run an angle where Williams turned on O'Reilly.  I was told they were supposed to do the spot in the match but someone forgot, the crowd was pissed and didn't care about the angle, they wanted to be there for Bobby.  

I had an awesome night because of Ricky Morton.  I guy I grew up watching and still love the Rock n' Roll Express, one of the greatest tag teams of all time.  Kerry is a genuine nice guy as well and it was cool to meet him and see him wrestle in person.  

Vacationland returns on January 15, 2022 in Brewer.  

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my new book Limitless Wrestling: The First Five Years, or any of my other books as well.  

Until next time!! 

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Limitless Wrestling Prized Possession November 13, 2021


Limitless Wrestling returned to Yarmouth on November 13, 2021 for Prized Possession.  It had only been three weeks since the last Limitless show, which is perfectly fine with because a night at professional wrestling is a great night indeed.  

JT Dunn pinned Anthony Henry

Outstanding opening match!  Very hard hitting with them exchanging shots, they did and old school crisscross, one of the best I've seen in a long time.  The finishing sequence was excellent involving a diamond dust, cutter, some cool reversals, ending with DBE.  Excellent match, go out of your way to watch it. 


Since the return from the pandemic Dunn has been having some of his best matches of all time in Limitless.  

Waves & Curls: Jaylen Brandyn & Traevon Jordan defeated Sidney Bakabella’s Slaughter: Max Smashmaster & Mortar




There was a ton of pre-match shenanigans before the bell rang including Bakabella dancing with Jordan and dropping his pants, I'm guessing as a distraction.  The crowd was solidly behind Waves and Curls, they got the pin on Mortar with an assisted chokeslam

Charles Mason pinned Big Beef

The build for this match was that Mason stole the photo of Beef's dead dog and burned it.  During this match Mason pulled out a dog collar and antagonized Beef with it.  They also fought out side the ring a lot before finally getting in the ring.  Another very stiff match with both guys laying them in.  Mason got the pin with and O'Connor roll holding the trunks.



This war is far from over and I feel like when we seem them again it'll be a dog collar match!  Mikey does as well. 

Jake Something pinned Kevin Blackwood

Great match!  I was happy to see both guys back and they put on a hell of a contest!  Great back and forth action, Something was way over and the fans loved to hate on Blackwood.  Something got the pin with a blackhole slam variation. 


MSP: Aiden Aggro & Danger Kid and "Iron" Rip Byson defeated ARTE: Ava Everett, Ricky Smokes, & "Dime Piece" Aaron Rourke

Fun match!  Rip fit in nicely with MSP and their style. Ava is stupendous in everyway right now.  With Smokes and Rourke they are a great trio.  DK did three airplane spins in a row, one on each member of ARTE, I popped big time for it.  
Finish came when Rip took the DK spot in the Drip Drop for the pin on Smokes.






Post match: MSP challenged the Workhorsemen to a 2 out of 3 falls match in December at the final show of the year.

Austin lasted 31 seconds with Brad Cashew

Brad Cashew had an open challenge that a member of the "audience" Austin accepted, he lasted the 31 seconds to "win" the match.  Cashew then smashed Austin in the face with his text book.

Brad Cashew pinned Becca




Cashew rebounded though and picked up a big win over Becca.  There were a ton of pin fall attempts in this match.  Brad attempted to cheat and Davienne came down to stop him, but she ended up distracting Becca who ate a spink kick from Cashew and was pinned.


Post match Becca was justifiably angry at Davienne, however Davienne challenged Becca to a match in December.

Channing Thomas pinned Jigsaw



Fun match, it was great seeing Jigsaw in person for the first time in a decade.  He looked great in the ring and was getting the better of Thomas the majority of the match.  Mac Daniels & BRG were ringside and aided with the distraction that allowed Thomas to piledrive Jigsaw for the win.  I have a feeling Jigsaw will be back with a couple friends to take out all of Prestigious.

"The Prize" Alec Price pinned Limitless World Champion: "Alternative" Anthony Greene to win the championship

I was so torn in this match.  I have been a fan of AG since his MainEvent Wrestling days, he's genuine and I love seeing him as champ.  I've enjoyed Price since seeing him in Let's Wrestle watching him get better and rise up the ranks to Limitless and finally getting his one on one shot for the Limitless World Championship.  I was going to be happy no matter who won, but Price's story was powerful.








Love the match, they legit tore it up and put on a show for the crowd.  They wrestled in the ring, outside the ring, traded command back and forth.  Price got the pin after hitting his second Prize Kick to capture the title.  GO WATCH THIS ON IWTV! 

Post match, AG said he was wrong about Price and that he was the future.  As AG was strapping the title on Price, JT Dunn attacked from behind taking out both with a death by elbow.  Dunn was setting up a chair to take out the new champ when Ace ran in for the save.  However Ace turned on Price hitting him with a package piledriver joining up with Dunn. 




Limitless Wrestling returns on Friday December 10, 2021 in Yarmouth for the final match of the season.  Announced on the show was the return of "American Wolf" Davey Richards, the debut of Jacob Fatu, however since then both have pulled off the show, however we are getting Chris Bey, Shane Mercer, Matt Taven and others.  Don't miss out on the last Limitless show of 2021.  

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my new book Limitless Wrestling: The First Five Years, or any of my other books as well.  

Until next time!!