WWWF at Sunnyside Garden Arena (2/9/63)

Sunnyside Garden Arena

Queens, NY

February 9, 1963

After Vince McMahon held joint promotion events in Chicago and Toronto with other NWA promoters, the next event would be held in Queens. Tonight, Magnificent Maurice and "Handsome" Johnny Barend take on Bobo Brazil and Miguel Perez Sr. "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Dory Dixon and youngster Pedro Morales takes on Karl Steif. Let's get to the action.

Match 1

Cowboy Reed vs Tommy O'Toole

Isn't this a treat. Cowboy Reed is none other than Buddy Colt, the future NWA North American Champion, survivor of the 1975 plane crash that killed Bobby Shane and future commentator/part owner of Championship Wrestling From Florida. The 27 year old defeated Tommy in this match.

Winner: Reed

Match 2

"Wild" Red Berry vs Frank Valois

Another treat with the legendary "Wild" Red Berry. To compare him to today, he was essentially that generation's Bobby Heenan. A small, chickenshit heel that relied on bombastic behavior to draw heat. By 1963 he was 57 years old and primarily managing tag teams like The Fabulous Kangaroos and a young 26 year old Gorilla Monsoon. Berry still defeated Valois with some old school tactics.

Winner: Berry

Match 3

Skull Murphy and Karl Von Hess vs "Golden Boy" Arnold Skaaland and Gene Kiniski

For those that don't know, Karl Von Hess was an evil German sympathizer gimmick but portrayed by legitimate US Navy Seal Frank Faketty. Faketty was trained by Joe Dusek and was inspired in 1955 to take an evil nazi gimmick, which was perfect for New York and Capitol Wrestling. Kiniski and Skaaland win this one.

Winners: Skaaland and Kiniski

Match 4

Karl Steif vs Pedro Morales

Karl Steif was born Clyde Steeves and wrestled primarily in the 1950's and 60's as The Preacher although he had a ton of gimmicks. The young Morales won this one.

Winner: Pedro Morales

Match 5

Bobo Brazil and Miguel Perez Jr vs Magnificent Maurice and "Handsome" Johnny Barend

This stems from the recent TV taping where Maurice and Barend jumped Bobo Brazil during his match against Buddy Rogers and Rogers had recently defeated Perez. The faces get their revenge and beat Rogers' crew.

Winners: Brazil and Perez

Match 6

Dory Dixon vs "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers for the World Heavyweight Championship

Dixon gets the title shot on this spot show against the Nature Boy. Rogers came out on top to retain the title.

Winner: Rogers (Still world heavyweight champion)

WWWF at Pittsburgh Civic Arena (2/4/63)

Pittsburgh Civic Arena

Pittsburgh, PA

February 4, 1963

After Heavyweight champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers defeated Bobo Brazil in a Texas Death Match, former NWA Champion Eduoard Carpentier delivered a message from Toots Mondt that Rogers will face Bruno Sammartino in Bruno's hometown of Pittsburgh. Tonight's the night as Bruno faces Buddy in a 2 out of 3 falls match. Let's get to our first match.....but wait. All of a sudden Buddy himself comes to the ring with a special announcement. He says he's going to make an example out of Bruno later tonight but first he's got a warm up match for the crowd as a sneak preview.

Match 1

Frank Pickens vs "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers

Rogers brings out local jobber Frank Pickens for a tune-up match to begin the night. Rogers beats him in record time and Pickens has to be stretchered out. Rogers grabs the mic and says that's what's going to happen to Bruno later tonight.

Winner: Rogers

Match 2

TNT Napolitan vs Johnny DeFazio

 Johnny DeFazio was a local star in Pittsburgh mostly known for Studio Wrestling in Pennsylvania. He gets the win over TNT here with a dropkick.

Time of match: 9:51

Winner: DeFazio by pinfall

Match 3

Gene Kiniski vs Buddy Austin

If you think Vince McMahon Jr was notorious for taking other promotions' champions and jobbing them out, he learned it from his father. For whatever reason Vince Sr was booking former world champion Kiniski as a jobber. Austin won this one.

Time of match: 9:49

Winner: Austin

Match 4

Jim Grabmire vs Ace Freeman

Jim Grabmire was a veteran working for Jim Crockett Sr at the time but was on loan to face Ace on this card. Freeman takes it with an inside cradle.

Time of match: 11:34

Winner: Freeman by pinfall

Match 5

Chico Santana and Pee Wee Lopez vs Marcel Sinard and Tiny Bell in a 2 out of 3 falls match

Oh boy, midget tag team wrestling. Tiny Bell was mostly know for AWA and WWA matches while Marcel was another from the French Canadian midget camp. Pee Wee was a Detroit/AWA mainstay and remember when Jesse Ventura used to call Tito Santana "Chico"? He was referencing midget wrestler Chico Santana all those years. Santana and Lopez got the duke.

Winners: Santana and Lopez

Match 6

Bobo Brazil vs Killer Kowalski

After failing to win the heavyweight title, Brazil took on the Killer just four days later. In the storyline, Brazil was weak because of the grueling Texas Death Match and Kowalski rendered him unconcious, causing the ref to stop the match.

Winner: Kowalski by stoppage

Match 7

Skull Murphy vs "Sailor" Art Thomas

Skull Murphy was Canadian born John Joseph Murphy who was one half of a heel tag team with Brute Bernard in the 1960's. Thomas made him submit to the bearhug.

Time of match: 12:33

Winner: Thomas by submission

Match 8

Bruno Sammartino vs "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers for the World Heavyweight Championship in a 2 out of 3 falls match

Under the orders of Toots Mondt, Bruno gets his long awaited title shot against the champion. Buddy got the advantage 11:39 into the match when he landed a running knee to the head and got the three count to take the first fall. Then 6:59 into the second fall, Bruno made Buddy submit to the bearhug. For some inane reason, Bruno thought he had won the title and started celebrating on the apron. Buddy ran up and knocked him into the steel barricade where Bruno was counted out to end the match. Fans were LIVID but Buddy was still the champion.

Time of match: 18:58

Winner: Rogers 2 falls to 1 (still World Heavyweight Champion)

After surviving a Texas Death Match just four days earlier, Buddy just beat Bruno Sammartino in his home town 2 falls to 1. Who's gonna stop Buddy now, Edouard Carpentier? Logically Gene Kiniski should get a title shot but he's being jobbed out for some inane reason. Its going to be interesting tomorrow on television what happens next. I'll see you in Bridgeport, CT for the next TV taping.