TCW IX: Welcome to the Jungle

Earlier Today: In footage from the parking lot before the show, we see Tully Blanchard walking in, bag in hand, as a black car zips past him. Blanchard's quick reflexes get him out of the way, but only just barely. This can't have been an accident ...

Points In Play Tournament - Opening Round

"Dr. Death" Steve Williams vs. Curt Hennig
Steve Williams defeated Curt Hennig via pinfall (OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE) at 6:31. **

Hennig came out early, nearly ending the match in the first minute with a HENNIG PLEX, but Doc's power was ultimately won the day.

Points In Play Tournament - Opening Round

Lenny Lane vs. Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam defeated Lenny Lane via pinfall (FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH) at 1:43. *

This one went as the pundits expected, with RVD taking the match in dominating fashion.

Points In Play Tournament - Opening Round

"The Raging Bull of the Pampas" Pampero Firpo vs. Tully Blanchard
Pampero Firpo defeated Tully Blanchard via submission (EL GARFIO) at 4:02. **

Tully Blanchard uncharacteristically allowed his opponent to dictate the terms of the match, leading to a short, violent match that saw Firpo come out on top.

Points In Play Tournament - Opening Round

"The King" Harley Race vs. "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Buddy Rogers defeated Harley Race via submission (FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE) at 3:39. *1/2

Ivan Koloff was at ringside to watch Harley's back, but it was a clean match. Harley got a brief flurry of offense and a nearfall to start the match, then Rogers took over en route to locking in the FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE in the middle of the ring. With nowhere to go and no way to break the hold, Race was forced to tap.

The Blackjacks vs. Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff
Nikolai Volkoff defeated Blackjack Mulligan via pinfall (BACKBREAKER DROP) at 8:09. **

The Valiants kept an eye out for trouble to cover for the Blackjacks, but just got to witness a relatively clean, hard-hitting match, except for one questionable boot shot from the Iron Sheik that left Mulligan loopy. Finished it off with the BACKBREAKER DROP for the upset win.

Ron Hutchison vs. Sam Houston
Sam Houston defeated Ron Hutchison via pinfall (cross body black) at 2:41. *

In a quick match, Houston dominated en route to a big running cross body for the win.

TCW US Tag Team Championship Match

Vanity (C) vs. The Machines (#2)
Greg Valentine defeated Exotic Adrian Street via pinfall (shoulder breaker) at 5:42. *1/4
The Machines won the TCW US Tag Team Championship.
Macho Machines scored two points.

The Machines came out and used their power to overwhelm Vanity from the opening bell, isolating Street and getting a quick pinfall victory.

TCW US Heavyweight Championship Match

Bruiser Brody (C) vs. The Destroyer (#3)
The Destroyer defeated Bruiser Brody via submission (FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK) at 1:14. *
The Destroyer won the TCW US Heavyweight Championship.
Macho Machines scored two points.

The Destroyer started with a big stomp to Brody's hamstring, and something seemed to pop. From there, it was academic, with a bow and arrow submission transitioning into the FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK.

Post-Match: Brody called for the medical staff immediately, and they tended to his leg as The Destroyer celebrated his win. He eventually had to be helped to the back, unable to put any pressure on his leg as he exited.

No Disqualification Match

Boris Zhukov vs. Magnum T.A.
Magnum T.A. defeated Boris Zhukov via pinfall (BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX) at 25:47. ***3/4

The two teammates went at one another just as their new managers expected, hammering one another with big blows for nearly half an hour before Magnum T.A. caught his patented suplex for the finish.

Backstage: The backstage cameras find the Taylors, each with what appeared to be a mannequin leg in hand, swinging them down on the prone forms of the Road Warriors. Bryant and Rizzo ran towards them with bats, ending the assault, but as the Road Warriors rose bloodied and bruised, it was clear they'd be hurt for their title defense.

Points In Play Tournament - Semifinals

"Dr. Death" Steve Williams vs. Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam defeated Steve Williams via pinfall (Rolling Thunder) at 5:00. *1/2

RVD fought like a man with something to prove, and hit a big FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH a couple of minutes in, but Doc kicked out at one! RVD was undeterred and kept up the pressure, though, hitting his finisher again two minutes later and following up immediately with Rolling Thunder to finally keep the big man down.

Points In Play Tournament - Semifinals

"The Raging Bull of the Pampas" Pampero Firpo vs. "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Buddy Rogers defeated Pampero Firpo via submission (FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE) at 3:19. *1/2

Unlike Blanchard, Rogers refused to play to Firpo's strengths. After catching Firpo with a knee as he charged at him in the corner, Rogers followed up with a knee drop and locked in his finisher for the submission win.

TCW World Tag Team Championship Match

The Road Warriors (C) vs. Diamond Dallas Page and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan (#7)
Animal defeated "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan via pinfall (DOOMSDAY DEVICE) at 9:43. *1/2
Chicago Winners scored two points.

Despite the earlier beating, the Road Warriors did what they do, continuing to assert their dominance over TCW by powering through their opponents. Duggan did get his hand to the ropes after a DOOMSDAY DEVICE, but only took another one for his trouble and the loss.

TCW World Heavyweight Championship Match

Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy (C) vs. Angelo Poffo (NR)
Terry Gordy defeated Angelo Poffo via disqualification (piledriver through table) at 11:23. **1/2
The Million Dollar Team scored two points.

"Did Angelo Poffo eat his Wheaties this morning?" asked Lance Catamaran, as he dominated the world champ for more than eleven minutes, having his way in everything except keeping Gordy down. His frustration got the better of him eventually, and in a brawl outside of the ring, he dropped the champ with a low blow and set him up on the announce table. Despite the referee's warning, he brought Gordy crashing through the table with a piledriver, causing the disqualification.

Post-Match: Gordy twitched in the rubble of the table, as Poffo looked down at him with rage on his face. Security pulled him away before he did any more damage, but the stretcher that Gordy left on told the story of the day. The champion was hurt, and it seemed bad.

Points In Play Tournament - Finals

Rob Van Dam vs. "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Buddy Rogers defeated Rob Van Dam via submission (FIGURE FOUR GRAPEVINE) at 3:42. *1/2
Natural Selection scored three points.

Rogers completed his domination of the tournament by beating a third straight man with his submission finisher. RVD fought the hold longer than anyone else, almost reaching the ropes, but Rogers didn't allow for it, repositioning the hold and getting the tap.

SURVIVE ANDRE

Andre the Giant vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage
Andre the Giant defeated Randy Savage via pinfall (body slam) at 27:59. *****
Macho Machines scored three points.

Randy Savage took off his his robe and was absolutely dripping with baby oil to start the match, which gave the big man fits. Savage used his speed to his advantage, with big dropkicks and axehandles, and eventually got Andre on his back. He went up for the FLYING ELBOW DROP and hit it, but the oil slid him off of Andre and nearly out of the ring, so he couldn't get the pin. As the match wore on, the baby oil wore off, and the giant was finally able to get his hands on Savage, finally winning with a big body slam.