Once again this will be done off the Network and XWT. All-Star is missing a ton of episodes, but we've got enough of that and everything to have the most complete year yet. Also, I'm making sure i don't fuck up any dates this time, which will help when we get to the famed Intercontinental Championship orgy tournament later in the year.
WWWWF WORLD CHAMPION: BOB BACKLUND- Since 20/2/78
WWWWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Larry Zybszko & Tony Garea-Since 21/11/78
WWWF All-Star Wrestling
January 20th, 1979
Hamburg, Pennsylvania.
Match#1 Steve Travis vs Baron Mikel Scicluna
Vince and Bruno treat Travis like a big deal, but I've never heard of the dude so press X for doubt. He looks like he walked off a porn set, or the like. Either way, he's not too shabby. Moves pretty well and looks like he could have some bangers if needed. They have a pretty fun fight with lots of control shifts and the like. Travis get a backslide to win
**1/4
Match#2 The Valiant Brothers (Jim & John) w/Capt Lou Albano vs Victor & Mascara
BOOGIE WOOGIE MAN IS HERE. Not a good wrestler at all, but a massive ball of good vibes you must love. Johnny is fat and old and is the worst member, which is a damning statement. This isn't good at all. Lots of bad strikes and shitty clubbing. Johnny hits an elbow off the top to the back of the head and then one to the chest to win
1/2*
They beat up the jobbers after the match.
Match#3 Ivan Putski vs Tony Russo
Goddamnit, this is not the way we should be starting a new year. Ivan still sucks a ton, and Russo isn't a good jobber, so fuck this.
1/2*
At ringside, Vince is with the Valiant clan. Insane Jimmy promo that i can't make sense of happens, and everyone should watch his promos and do lots of pills. LARRY ZYBSZKO IS SHORT AND JIMMY HATES SHORT PEOPLE. I love him so much. Also, they want the titles or something, but all that matters is Jimmy is our hero.
Match#4 Dick "Bulldog" Brower w/Capt Lou Albano vs Charlie Brown
Bulldog is the vet that Jericho cut a promo on for his first match and called him old, so Bulldog reminded him that he was getting his ass kicked tonight and he should never bury another wrestler. Jericho has always been a dick is what I'm saying. Bulldog is a fat old dude that beats the shit out of the jobber for a few minutes and it's awesome. HE PICKS UP THE WOODEN STEPS AND SMACKS THEM OFF THE JOBBERS HEAD. HOLY SHIT. Big knee drop does it
**1/4
Match#5 Greg "The Hammer" Valentine w/The Grand Wizard vs Luis Tolinichi
HAMMER THEM DEAD! Love this man so, so so much. He has a rep of being boring for a lot of his career, and that's true post 88, but sure as hell not before. He batters the shit out of the jobber with the gross elbows and big knees to the body. Just a prick of a wrestler beating a poor kid up, and we love it. Two gross elbows to the chest ends it
**1/4
Match#6 Larry Zybszko & Tony Garea vs Paul Molino & Johnny Rodz
The champs have matching robes and they look sweet. This fucking rules . Rodz is awesome so he adds a lot to it, and forces the champs to fight harder to shut him down. Larry/Rodz is wonderful, and i need a longer match this year. Same for him vs Tony, which also rules. Rodz gets to isolate Tony and beat him up for a while, and it's so much fun. Rodz takes a HUGE bump over the top rope and eats shit on the floor! Larry's hot tag is awesome as always, and Rodz dies for him. THE CHAMPS USE THE WGTT FINISH ON RODZ, AND IT'S AWESOME AS SHIT. They keep fighting him and he survives it, but his shitty partner can't do the same. They get him alone and Tony beats him with the Abdominal Stretch.
***
That was out of nowhere fantastic, and i love the fact they made it look like it was going to be a standard showcase only to shock us all by giving Rodz the world. That's the pro wrestling i fucking love. 79 might be the best year yet.
WWWWF WORLD CHAMPION: BOB BACKLUND- Since 20/2/78
WWWWF WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Larry Zybszko & Tony Garea-Since 21/11/78
WWWF All-Star Wrestling
January 20th, 1979
Hamburg, Pennsylvania.
Match#1 Steve Travis vs Baron Mikel Scicluna
Vince and Bruno treat Travis like a big deal, but I've never heard of the dude so press X for doubt. He looks like he walked off a porn set, or the like. Either way, he's not too shabby. Moves pretty well and looks like he could have some bangers if needed. They have a pretty fun fight with lots of control shifts and the like. Travis get a backslide to win
**1/4
Match#2 The Valiant Brothers (Jim & John) w/Capt Lou Albano vs Victor & Mascara
BOOGIE WOOGIE MAN IS HERE. Not a good wrestler at all, but a massive ball of good vibes you must love. Johnny is fat and old and is the worst member, which is a damning statement. This isn't good at all. Lots of bad strikes and shitty clubbing. Johnny hits an elbow off the top to the back of the head and then one to the chest to win
1/2*
They beat up the jobbers after the match.
Match#3 Ivan Putski vs Tony Russo
Goddamnit, this is not the way we should be starting a new year. Ivan still sucks a ton, and Russo isn't a good jobber, so fuck this.
1/2*
At ringside, Vince is with the Valiant clan. Insane Jimmy promo that i can't make sense of happens, and everyone should watch his promos and do lots of pills. LARRY ZYBSZKO IS SHORT AND JIMMY HATES SHORT PEOPLE. I love him so much. Also, they want the titles or something, but all that matters is Jimmy is our hero.
Match#4 Dick "Bulldog" Brower w/Capt Lou Albano vs Charlie Brown
Bulldog is the vet that Jericho cut a promo on for his first match and called him old, so Bulldog reminded him that he was getting his ass kicked tonight and he should never bury another wrestler. Jericho has always been a dick is what I'm saying. Bulldog is a fat old dude that beats the shit out of the jobber for a few minutes and it's awesome. HE PICKS UP THE WOODEN STEPS AND SMACKS THEM OFF THE JOBBERS HEAD. HOLY SHIT. Big knee drop does it
**1/4
Match#5 Greg "The Hammer" Valentine w/The Grand Wizard vs Luis Tolinichi
HAMMER THEM DEAD! Love this man so, so so much. He has a rep of being boring for a lot of his career, and that's true post 88, but sure as hell not before. He batters the shit out of the jobber with the gross elbows and big knees to the body. Just a prick of a wrestler beating a poor kid up, and we love it. Two gross elbows to the chest ends it
**1/4
Match#6 Larry Zybszko & Tony Garea vs Paul Molino & Johnny Rodz
The champs have matching robes and they look sweet. This fucking rules . Rodz is awesome so he adds a lot to it, and forces the champs to fight harder to shut him down. Larry/Rodz is wonderful, and i need a longer match this year. Same for him vs Tony, which also rules. Rodz gets to isolate Tony and beat him up for a while, and it's so much fun. Rodz takes a HUGE bump over the top rope and eats shit on the floor! Larry's hot tag is awesome as always, and Rodz dies for him. THE CHAMPS USE THE WGTT FINISH ON RODZ, AND IT'S AWESOME AS SHIT. They keep fighting him and he survives it, but his shitty partner can't do the same. They get him alone and Tony beats him with the Abdominal Stretch.
***
That was out of nowhere fantastic, and i love the fact they made it look like it was going to be a standard showcase only to shock us all by giving Rodz the world. That's the pro wrestling i fucking love. 79 might be the best year yet.