TCW I: Zero, Night Two Recap

TCW World Championship Tournament - Quarterfinals

"The Wild Bull of the Pampas" Pampero Firpo vs. Barry Windham
Pampero Firpo defeated Barry Windham via submission (EL GARFIO) at 7:34. **1/2

Firpo came out very aggressively, locking in EL GARFIO after just a couple of minutes. Windham had it scouted, though, and was able to get the ropes easily. After some more back and forth action, Windham hit the LARIAT and looked to have the match won except for Lord Ewan getting up on the apron and distracting the ref. With Windham's back turned, Firpo hit Windham from behind and then went up top for a big axe handle that knocked him loopy. He locked in EL GARFIO again, this time in the middle of the ring, and got the submission victory.

Pre-Match: Randy Savage came to the ring to his usual Pomp and Circumstance, ready for the match. Bruiser Brody was introduced next, with James Snuka in a suit at his side as he strode down to the ring. Before the bell rang, though, The Destroyer sprinted down to ringside, standing in Savage's corner and keeping a sharp eye on Snuka on the far side of the ring.

Bruiser Brody vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage
Bruiser Brody defeated Randy Savage via pinfall (JUMPING KNEE DROP) at 2:15. *

Macho Man hit a couple of big clotheslines early, which sent Brody to the outside. Savage was ready to slingshot to the outside, but Brody grabbed his leg and dragged him out. As they started brawling, Snuka and The Destroyer started throwing hands, as well. In the echaos, Brody whipped Savage into the ringpost, knocking him out, and rolled him back into the ring for his finisher and the pin.

Post-Match: The Destroyer and ringside medical staff checked on Randy Savage, who laid in the ring for a couple of tense minutes before being helped to the back by two trainers.

"The Whole F'N Show" Rob Van Dam vs. The Destroyer
Rob Van Dam defeated The Destroyer via pinfall (FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH) at 12:07. ****

The Destroyer stayed in the ring after the last match, ready to meet RVD. In the best match of the tournament so far the two men had a spectacular contest. It looked like The Destroyer might have the win about halfway through after dominating early, but Chelsea Green distracted the ref from the apron to save him from the pin. Eventually, RVD did win the match, but had to hit a Van Terminator, a missile dropkick to the outside, and finally a FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH to keep his opponent down.

"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig vs. Bobo Brazil
Curt Hennig defeated Bobo Brazil via pinfall (HENNIG PLEX) at 9:53. *3/4

It was a methodical match, with the two men feeling one another out from the start. Neither got the upper hand until Hennig caught Bobo with a DDT on the outside of the ring, then rolled him back into the ring to soften him up before the finish via HENNIG PLEX.

TCW US CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT - ROUND TWO

"The King" Harley Race vs. Barry Windham
Barry Windham defeated Harley Race via pinfall (suplex) at 11:41. ***3/4

In another fantastic, even match, these two heavyweights threw everything they had at one another. Each man kicked out of both of his opponent's finishers - Windham surviving a VERTICAL SUPLEX followed immediately by a PILEDRIVER, and Race kicking out of both the SWEETWATER SUPERPLEX and a big lariat - among other big moves. With both men exhausted, Windham whiffed on a dropkick, but was able to roll away from a follow-up elbow drop and hit a suplex of his own to keep Race down for good.

James Snuka vs. Randy Savage
James Snuka defeated Randy Savage via pinfall (SUPERFLY LEAP) at 3:52. *1/4

Savage was clearly still reeling from the header into the ringpost early on, and never really got going. Snuka controlled the match from the start, and was able to regain the advantage quickly whenever Savage got a shot in. After a big flying chop, Snuka ended the match with an emphatic SUPERFLY LEAP. Savage was slow leaving the ring, but did get to the back under his own power.

The Iron Sheik vs. The Destroyer
The Destroyer defeated The Iron Sheik via pinfall (power slam) at 5:56. **

The Iron Sheik was comfortably on top in this match, with The Destroyer still feeling the effects of his match against RVD. Sheik was unable to get the tap out with a Boston Crab, and in his visible frustration, he climbed to the top. As The Destroyer got to his feet, Sheik came off with a big crossbody, but to the arena's collective shock and awe, The Destroyer caught him and turned it into a massive power slam that got the shocking victory.

Post-Match: The Iron Sheik was a bit slow getting to his feet, clutching his back. The medical team came to check on him, but he shook them off repeatedly before hitting one with a big clothesline and leaving the ring, limping back to the back alone.

Pre-Match: As Buddy Rogers came down to the ring, the crowd let out a gasp as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams sprinted down behind him and ran him over with a big shoulder tackle. Before security could get to the pair, he had scooped Rogers up and hit a BACK DROP DRIVER on the entrance ramp, planting him and leaving him writing in pain.

"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers vs. Bobo Brazil
Buddy Rogers defeated Bobo Brazil via submission (FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE) at 5:45. *1/2

Rogers favored his neck throughout the match, looking like he might have a stinger, but it was an even matchup, regardless, thanks to Bobo's earlier exertion. Rogers took over for good after hitting a low blow kick outside of the ring and outside of the referee's vision, then he rolled Bobo back in to lock in the FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE to get the submission win.