WWF
CHAMPIONSHIP
WRESTLING
JANUARY 19, 1980
ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
AGRICULTURAL HALL
From WWENetwork.com: Season 6 Episode 2, 47 minutes, TVPG-V, Ken Patera faces Angelo Gomez; The Wild Samoans take on Dominic DeNucci & Johnny Rivera.
The opening video for WWF Championship Wrestling airs.
Inside the Agricultural Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Vince McMahon and “The Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino welcome us to this week’s episode of WWF Championship Wrestling. McMahon informs us that this week we’ll see “The Incredible” Hulk Hogan, Rene Goulet, WWF Intercontinental Champion: Pat Patterson, The Wild Samoans and a match from 1979 between WWWF Champion: Bob Backlund against Mr. X! Our opening match will begin after this commercial break.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
After we return from the commercial break, we go up to the squared circle where the ring announcer has some announcements to make before our first match can officially begin. Today’s show is promoted by Phil Zatko under the control and supervision of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. The officials at ringside are Dr. George Zahorian and the timekeeper Mike Mittman. The referees for today’s episode of Championship Wrestling are John Stanley, Dick Kroll and Gilberto Roman. The ring announcer then tells us that his name is Joe McHugh.
MATCH #1: NON-TITLE MATCH – PAT PATTERSON (WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION) v/s JOJO ANDREWS
It’s now time for our first match of the evening. The following match is a Non-Title Match and is scheduled for one fall with a 10-minute time limit. Introducing first, from Indianapolis, Indiana and weighing in at 275 pounds – JOJO ANDREWS! And his opponent hails from San Francisco, California and weighs in at 248 pounds – WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: PAT PATTERSON! The bell rings to officially begin this Non-Title Match. This match ends when Patterson successfully nails Andrews with a flying knee-drop from the top rope before pinning him.
THE WINNER: WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: PAT PATTERSON via pinfall in 3:02
After the match, Vince McMahon interviews the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion: Pat Patterson. Vince states that the separation of Patterson and his former manager, Captain Lou Albano, has been a positive for his career due to the fan reaction Patterson has received lately. Patterson says he’s a new man due to the change in his life. He states that nothing is going to stop him and he’s ready for anyone. The interview ends with the WWF IC Champion stating that he cannot wait to get in the ring with his future opponents.
McMahon then asks for “The Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino to join him at ringside. Vince reminds us that last week Larry Zbyszko challenged Sammartino to a match. He then asks Sammartino for his comments. Sammartino says this is the toughest interview he’s ever had. He never imagined he’d have an interview where he would be talking about a challenge made by Zbyszko. He’s still in a state of shock and says that his protege has been a fine athlete. He feels Larry deserves all of the credit for where he’s at because of his God given talent. He feels hurt that Larry told a national television audience how he felt instead of coming to him directly. His feelings for Larry will always be strong. He feels towards Larry the same way he does with his brother and three sons. He continues and says that with his connections with different promoters, he helped Larry get bookings in Japan, Australia and South America. They asked him to come back because of his ability, Bruno never has thought they asked Larry to return because he’s Bruno’s protege. He doesn’t know why Larry feels like he isn’t where he should be. He’s only been wrestling for about five years. Vince thanks Bruno for speaking about his feelings for Larry but states that a challenge has indeed been issued by Zbyszko for Bruno and asks if Bruno will accept it. Sammartino says that he has never refused a challenge but this would be like trying to hurt his kid brother. He ends the interview by saying that he hopes the fans understand why he cannot step into the ring with a man he cares so much about.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
MATCH #2: BEN ORTIZ v/s RENE GOULET
We’re back with more action on WWF Championship Wrestling! The following match is scheduled for one fall with a 10-minute time limit. Introducing first, he hails from Puerto Rico and weighs in at 225 pounds – BEN ORTIZ! And his opponent, he hails from France and weighs in at 242 pounds – RENE GOULET! The bell rings to officially begin this one-on-one match. This match ends when Goulet hits Ortiz with a suplex before pinning him.
THE WINNER: RENE GOULET via pinfall in 2:38
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
MATCH #3: JOE MASCARA v/s “THE INCREDIBLE” HULK HOGAN [with: “THE FASHION PLATE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING” FRED BLASSIE]
Our next match is scheduled for one fall with a 10-minute time limit. Introducing first, he hails from Concordville, Pennsylvania and weighs in at 228 pounds – JOE MASCARA! His opponent is accompanied to the ring by his manager – “THE FASHION PLATE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING” FRED BLASSIE! He hails from Venice Beach, California and weighs in at 320 pounds – “THE INCREDIBLE” HULK HOGAN! The bell rings to officially begin this singles match. The match ends when Hogan forces Mascara to submit to the bearhug.
THE WINNER: “THE INCREDIBLE” HULK HOGAN via submission in 2:44
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
MATCH #4: NON-TITLE MATCH – BOB BACKLUND (WWWF CHAMPION) v/s MR. X
We’re back with more action on WWF Championship Wrestling! This is a special classic match from the March 31, 1979 episode of WWWF All Star Wrestling. It took place at the Hamburg Fieldhouse in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. The commentators were Vince McMahon and “The Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino. The following contest is a Non-Title Match and it’s scheduled for one fall with a 10-minute time limit. Introducing first, from Parts Unknown and weighing in at 236 pounds – MR. X! His opponent is making his way to the squared circle. He hails from Princeton, Minnesota and weighs in at 231 pounds – WORLD WIDE WRESTLING FEDERATION CHAMPION: BOB BACKLUND! The bell rings to officially begin this Non-Title Match between WWWF Champion: Bob Backlund against Mr. X! This match ends when Backlund pins Mr. X with a German Suplex.
THE WINNER: WWWF CHAMPION: BOB BACKLUND via pinfall in 9:54
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
MATCH #5: DOMINIC DENUCCI & JOHNNY RIVERA v/s THE WILD SAMOANS (AFA & SIKA) [with: CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO]
It’s now time for some tag team action this week on WWF Championship Wrestling! The following match is a Tag Team Match and it’s scheduled for one fall with a 10-minute time limit. Introducing first, they are accompanied by their manager – CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO! They hail from The Isle of Samoa and weigh in at a total combined weight of 614 pounds – AFA & SIKA – THE WILD SAMOANS! Introducing their opponents, at a total combined weight of 476 pounds – DOMINIC DENUCCI & JOHNNY RIVERA! The bell rings to officially begin this Tag Team Match. It will be Dominic DeNucci and Afa starting the match for their respective tag teams. During the match, Rivera is injured when he lands on his head after a sunset flip is botched. The match continues and for several minutes The Wild Samoans continue to physically attack Rivera despite him being obviously injured. The match ends when The Wild Samoans nail Rivera with a double headbutt and Rivera is pinned by Afa.
THE WINNERS: THE WILD SAMOANS via pinfall in 5:37
After the match, two WWF Referees enter the ring and place Johnny Rivera on a stretcher and carry him to the locker room area. Vince McMahon walks over to the ringside area to interview The Wild Samoans and Captain Lou Albano. McMahon asks Albano if he’s proud of what happened to Rivera and the fact that he has to be stretchered to the back. Albano says he’s happy. He’s proud of them when they destroy, humiliate and hurt their opponents. He says this is what he hopes and looks for. McMahon says he’s sure Albano knows The Wild Samoans will be challenged by better caliber tag teams. Albano says The Wild Samoans will not turn down a challenge from any tag team. The Wild Samoans is the best combination he has ever seen. They’re rough and tough. They’ll hurt and maim. The interview ends with Albano stating that he feels they have it.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
MATCH #6: ANGELO GOMEZ v/s KEN PATERA [with: THE GRAND WIZARD]
When we return to WWF Championship Wrestling, our final match of the week is about to begin. It’s scheduled for one fall or to curfew. Introducing first, he hails from Puerto Rico and weighs in at 220 pounds – ANGELO GOMEZ! His opponent is accompanied to the ring by his manager – THE GRAND WIZARD! He hails from Portland, Oregon and weighs in at 260 pounds – KEN PATERA! The bell rings to officially begin this singles match. The match ends when Patera forces Gomez to submit to the Swinging Full Nelson.
THE WINNER: KEN PATERA via submission in 3:04
After the match, Vince McMahon tells us that the latest information on Johnny Rivera is that he’s been taken to the hospital.
NEXT WEEK: WWF World Tag Team Champions: “The Polish Power” Ivan Putski & Tito Santana in a Non-Title Match!
NEXT WEEK: An Update On Johnny Rivera!
This week’s episode of WWF Championship Wrestling ends with the theme song and end credits playing while highlights of the Angelo Gomez v/s Ken Patera match plays.
About The Author
