WWF
CHAMPIONSHIP
WRESTLING
February 2, 1980
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Agricultural Hall
From WWENetwork.com: Season 6 Episode 3, 47 minutes, TV14-V, Bruno Sammartino faces Larry Zbyszko; Intercontinental Champion Pat Patterson battles Jose Estrada
The opening video for WWF Championship Wrestling airs.
Inside the Agricultural Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Vince McMahon is alone at the broadcast booth. He informs us that this week we’ll see “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas, “The Fabulous” Hulk Hogan, Big Bob Duncum and “The Olympic Strongman” Ken Patera all in singles matches. Plus, our main event this week will be a singles match between “The Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino versus Larry Zbyszko!
This week’s opening match will begin right 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 Deputy Commissioner in Charge – John Santoro, the ringside doctor is Dr. George Zahorian and the timekeeper is Mike Mittman. The referees for today’s episode of Championship Wrestling are Dick Kroll, Gilberto Roman and Tony Altimore. The ring announcer proceeds to inform us that his name is Joe McHugh.
MATCH #1: FREDDY MARZINO v/s “THE OLYMPIC STRONGMAN” KEN PATERA [with: THE GRAND WIZARD]
This opening singles match is scheduled for one fall with a 10-minute time limit. Introducing first, he hails from Portland, Oregon and weighs in at 260 pounds – “THE OLYMPIC STRONGMAN” KEN PATERA! He is accompanied to the ring by his manager – THE GRAND WIZARD! Introducing his opponent. He hails from Sterling, Massachusetts and weighs in at 235 pounds – FREDDY MARZINO! The bell rings to officially begin this one-on-one match between Freddy Marzino versus “The Olympic Strongman” Ken Patera, with The Grand Wizard in his corner. This match ends when Patera forces Marzino to submit to the Swinging Full Nelson.
THE WINNER: “THE OLYMPIC STRONGMAN” KEN PATERA via submission in 2:07
Despite winning the match, Patera would not release the full nelson even though the referee is ordering him to do so. The Grand Wizard enters the ring and attempts to distract the referee but fails to do so. Patera finally lets go of the hold before placing his foot on his fallen opponent’s chest. He then poses for the audience. The referee signals that medical assistance is needed for Marzino. Two more WWF Referees come to the ring to assist the assigned referee in placing Marzino on a stretcher before carrying him to the backstage area.
We’ll have more WWF action after this commercial break!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
WWF Championship Wrestling is back and has more action for your enjoyment!
MATCH #2: NON-TITLE MATCH – PAT PATTERSON (WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION) v/s JOSE ESTRADA
Our next singles match is ready to begin and is a non-title match scheduled for one fall with a 10-minute time limit. The competitor already in the squared circle is from Brooklyn, New York and weighs in at 220 pounds – JOSE ESTRADA! His opponent is now making his way to the ring. He hails from San Francisco, California and weighs in at 248 pounds – WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: PAT PATTERSON! The bell to officially begin this non-title match between World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Champion: Pat Patterson versus Jose Estrada never actually sounds as Estrada attacks the WWF IC Champion before Patterson could remove his jacket. The match ends when Patterson pins Estrada with a Sunset Flip.
THE WINNER: WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: PAT PATTERSON via pinfall in 7:03
More action heads your way after our commercial break!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
WWF Championship Wrestling returns and it’s time for more professional wrestling!
MATCH #3: ANGELO GOMEZ v/s “THE INCREDIBLE” HULK HOGAN [with: “THE FASHION PLATE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING” FRED BLASSIE]
This next one-on-one match is scheduled for one fall with a 10-minute time limit. Introducing first, he is from Puerto Rico and weighs 220 pounds – ANGELO GOMEZ! Introducing his opponent, he hails from Venice Beach, California and weighs in at 320 pounds – “THE INCREDIBLE” HULK HOGAN! Hogan is accompanied to the ring by his manager – “THE FASHION PLATE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING” FRED BLASSIE! The bell rings to officially begin this singles match between Angelo Gomez versus “The Incredible” Hulk Hogan, with “The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling” Fred Blassie in his corner. Hogan wins this singles match when he forces Gomez to submit to the backbreaker.
THE WINNER: “THE INCREDIBLE” HULK HOGAN via submission in 2:15
Just like in the earlier match with Ken Patera, Hogan does not release the backbreaker even though he’s been declared the victor. The referee continuously tells Hulk to let go of the submission hold but instead of doing so, Hogan begins to walk around the ring with Gomez still in the backbreaker while posing with his left arm. Blassie enters the ring and while he distracts the referee, at one point he orders Hogan to continue to punish his opponent. Hogan finally releases the hold while Vince McMahon mentions on commentary that “The Incredible” one is still undefeated in the World Wrestling Federation.
More World Wrestling Federation action continues after this commercial break!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
When World Wrestling Federation Championship Wrestling returns, it’s time for our main event and it’s a battle between mentor and protege!
MAIN EVENT: “THE LIVING LEGEND” BRUNO SAMMARTINO v/s LARRY ZBYSZKO
Our main event is scheduled for one fall with a 15-minute time limit. Introducing first, the competitor is already in the ring and hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and weighs in at 240 pounds – LARRY ZBYSZKO! Introducing his opponent who is making his way to the ring, he weighs in at 248 pounds – “THE LIVING LEGEND” BRUNO SAMMARTINO! Oddly, the ring announcer Joe McHugh does not announce where Sammartino hails from but we all know that the former World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) Champion also hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The bell rings to officially begin our main event between “The Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino versus Larry Zbyszko. The match ends after Zbyszko throws the referee out of the ring and his Sammartino with a chair three times before slamming the chair down and leaving the ring.
THE WINNER: “THE LIVING LEGEND” BRUNO SAMMARTINO via disqualification in ???
After the match, the camera shows Sammartino laying in a pool of his own blood. The referees bring a stretcher to the ring and place the former mentor of Zbyszko’s on it before carrying him to the backstage area.
We’ll be back with more WWF Championship Wrestling after this commercial break!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
When WWF Championship Wrestling returns, the referee for the next match is shown wiping up Bruno Sammartino’s blood which is still on the ring canvas. On commentary, Vince McMahon informs us that “The Living Legend” is currently in the locker room and receiving medical attention.
MATCH #5: “MR. USA” TONY ATLAS v/s “THE UNPREDICTABLE” JOHNNY RODZ
It’s now time for our next match and it is scheduled for one fall with a 10-minute time limit. Introducing first, he hails from New York City, New York and weighs in at 239 pounds – “THE UNPREDICTABLE” JOHNNY RODZ! His opponent hails from Warner, Virginia and weighs in at 250 pounds – “MR. USA” TONY ATLAS! The bell rings to officially begin this one-on-one match between “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas versus “The Unpredictable” Johnny Rodz. McMahon tells us that he hopes to get an update on the condition of Bruno Sammartino before we go off the air this week. This singles match ends when Atlas nails Rodz with a headbutt from the middle rope before pinning him to win.
THE WINNER: “MR. USA” TONY ATLAS via pinfall in 4:37
After Tony Atlas leaves the ring, the camera shows Johnny Rodz talking to the referee and pointing to his head. The referee is signaling that he was pinned for a three count but Rodz continues to point to his head. While this is happening, McMahon talks about how the fans in attendance are down after the actions of Larry Zbyszko on his former mentor. McMahon feels that it will take weeks, if not months, for the fans to “recover” from what they saw: Sammartino being attacked by his former protege with a chair.
WWF Championship Wrestling‘s final match of the week will take place after this next commercial break. Stay tuned!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
We’re back with our final match of this week’s episode on WWF Championship Wrestling.
MATCH #6: STEVE KING v/s BIG BOB DUNCUM [with: CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO]
The following singles match is scheduled for one fall or to curfew. Introducing already in the ring, he hails from Panama City and weighs in this week at 220 pounds – STEVE KING! His opponent is making his way to the squared circle and is being accompanied by his manager – CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO! He hails from Austin, Texas and weighs in at 275 pounds – BIG BOB DUNCUM! The bell rings to officially begin this one-on-one match between Steve King and Big Bob Duncum, with Captain Lou Albano in his corner. During this match, McMahon states that he’s still waiting for an update on Bruno Sammartino. This match concludes when Duncum nails King with a bulldog and obtains the three count.
THE WINNER: BIG BOB DUNCUM via pinfall in 2:35
NEXT WEEK: WWF Intercontinental Champion: Pat Patterson will compete in a non-title match!
NEXT WEEK: WWF World Tag Team Champions: “The Polish Power” Ivan Putski & Tito Santana in a non-title match!
NEXT WEEK: The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) in tag team action!
On camera, a visibly shaken Vince McMahon tells us that he still doesn’t have an update on the condition of “The Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino. He does tell us that next week he will have an update and suggests that it’s even possible for Bruno to appear on next week’s episode as well.
This week’s episode of WWF Championship Wrestling ends with McMahon stating that today is a dark day in professional wrestling. He adds that today is a day that the WWF fans and Bruno Sammartino will never forget.
WWF Championship Wrestling‘s theme song and credits play while highlights of the Steve King v/s Big bob Duncum, with Captain Lou Albano in his corner, plays.
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