Unlike the top half of the bracket, the bottom half saw mostly chalk, with the higher-seeded wrestler prevailing in seven of the eight matches. The exception was #18 Big Boss Man defeating #15 Iron Sheik by disqualifcation. Both Sheik and his tag team partner Nikolai Volkoff were DQd after using illegal objects in this round.
Winners’ Bracket First Round Matches:
(2) Andre the Giant vs. (31) Bret Hart: This was a total squash, as Hart only got a few punches and kicks in, while Andre landed power move after power move. Hart was able to kick out of pin attempts three times, but after a leg drop, he didn’t get up the fourth time. Andre def. Hart by pinfall at 8:00.
(15) Iron Sheik vs. (18) Big Boss Man: Big Boss Man survived a couple of early pin attempts, then took control of the match. The referee missed his use of a foreign object, and that led to a flurry of attacks that put the Sheik at a big disadvantage. In a desperation move, the Sheik also tried to sneak in a foreign object, but he got caught and was disqualified. Big Boss Man def. Iron Sheik by disqualification at 16:00.
(7) Big John Studd vs. (26) Jimmy Snuka: Studd and Snuka had a slugfest, but neither could hit a big move for the majority of the match. But, the much bigger Studd held the advantage and was quicker to wear down Snuka. Finally, Studd slapped a series of bear hugs onto Snuka. Snuka escaped once, escaped twice, but finally had to give up after the third bear hug. Studd def. Snuka by submission at 35:00.
(10) Jake Roberts vs. (23) Hillbilly Jim: Hillbilly Jim bloodied and beat down Roberts and appeared to be on his way to an upset. But late in the match, Roberts pulled his DDT finisher out of nowhere, and got the three count. Roberts def. Hillbilly Jim by pinfall at 26:00.
(3) Ultimate Warrior vs. (30) George Steele: Warrior and Steele traded blows for a while, but Steele wore down quickly and Warrior hit him with the press slam and big splash to end it. Ultimate Warrior def. Steele by pinfall at 12:00.
(14) Rick Rude vs. (19) Jim Duggan: Rude methodically worked Duggan down to the point of exhaustion. He hit the Rude Awakening twice, but Duggan kicked out both times. Duggan was able to land his finisher, the football tackle clotheline, but Rude still had a lot left. Rude’s third Rude Awakening ended it. Rude def. Duggan by pinfall at 27:00.
(6) Roddy Piper vs. (27) Billy Jack Haynes: A long, brutal match saw both wrestlers come close to ending the match multiple times. Haynes put the full nelson on Piper five times, but each time, Piper was able to eventually escape. Piper hit a number of piledrivers, but Haynes kicked out from those three times. After Piper got out of the full nelson the final time, he put Haynes down for good with a bulldog. Piper def. Haynes by pinfall at 38:00.
(11) Tito Santana vs. (22) Nikolai Volkoff: In a short match, both combatants had multiple chances to end it early. Santana hit a couple of crossbodies and put Volkoff in the figure four. Volkoff tried a couple of roll ups and put Santana into a backbreaker. Both wrestlers had plenty of energy left to kick out or escape. With the referee momentarily distracted, Classy Freddie Blassie handed his cane to Volkoff, who struck Santana. But the referee turned around in time to see the illegal maneuver. Santana def. Volkoff by disqualification at 12:00.
ROGER SPORTS & GAMES 