Post by John Damiter on Nov 10, 2007 8:41:35 GMT -5
www.wrestlinggonewrong.com/video/original_screwjob.html
In 1983, Cyndi Lauper was fixing to become a huge star in America for her video, Girl's Just Want to Have Fun. The video would feature WWF manager Capt. Lou Albano who, in WWE storylines, started taking credit for Lauper's success. The two began a verbal argument that started from several weeks of Piper's Pit vignettes, and eventually decided they would each manage a female wrestler to decide who was better.
Cyndi Lauper would manage Wendi Richter, and Capt. Lou Albano would use his client, the Fabulous Moolah for their July 23, 1984 match. Due to Cyndi Lauper's involvement, the match was a huge success for WWF, even being broadcasted on the new and popular network MTV. That night, Richter won the WWF Women's title from the Fabulous Moolah and Lauper's team was successful.
Richter would hold the title for many months but eventually lost it on February 18, 1985 to Lelani Kai when her manager, Lauper, was attacked outside the ring by the Fabulous Moolah. Richter tried to come to Lauper's aid but was distracted long enough for her shoulder's to be pinned. However, a month later, Wendi would win her title back with the help of Lauper by her side.
On May 11, 1985, Wendi Richter & Fabulous Moolah's year-long feud would climax at WWF's first ever Saturday Night Main Event. Richter, with Cyndi Lauper banned from ring side, would defend the women's championship against Fabulous Moolah. Richter was successful and after the match, Lauper came down the ring to celebrate with her friend. This was the last time Lauper made an appearance on WWF programming.
With Richter still women's champion, and now being featured as a regular character on WWF's cartoon Hulk Hogan's Rock-n-Wrestling, she was expected to sign a new contract since her old contract was fixing to expire. On November 25, 1985, just before her match at Madison Square Garden, Richter was presented with a new contract. For whatever reason, Richter did not sign the contract prior to her match. What match?
Richter was told she would be taking on a masked female wrestler by the name of The Spider Lady. Richter was not told who was under the mask, or how the match would end, but she was told she would be the winner. Shockingly, at one point during the match, The Spider Lady rolled her up for a pin. The referee made the 3-count, despite the fact that Richter clearly kicked out only after a 1-count.
The referee did point for the time keeper to ring the bell but just awkwardly walked around the ring afterwards, not holding up either of the wrestler's hands to declare the winner. Even the announcers seemed confused as to what was going on in the ring. Richter wasn't sure what had happened and began attacking Moolah again, even when the ring announcer came inside the ring. The ripped off Moolah's mask, and then executed a very poor back breaker with Moolah acting like dead-weight. She went for the pin, but the referee obviously didn't make the count.
Wendi finally realized what was going on and was furious, so much so that when the referee handed Moolah the belt, she ran over and tried to stop it. Finally, Howard Finkel announced the winner and the show went to commercial. Wendi never made an appearance in the WWF again.
In 1983, Cyndi Lauper was fixing to become a huge star in America for her video, Girl's Just Want to Have Fun. The video would feature WWF manager Capt. Lou Albano who, in WWE storylines, started taking credit for Lauper's success. The two began a verbal argument that started from several weeks of Piper's Pit vignettes, and eventually decided they would each manage a female wrestler to decide who was better.
Cyndi Lauper would manage Wendi Richter, and Capt. Lou Albano would use his client, the Fabulous Moolah for their July 23, 1984 match. Due to Cyndi Lauper's involvement, the match was a huge success for WWF, even being broadcasted on the new and popular network MTV. That night, Richter won the WWF Women's title from the Fabulous Moolah and Lauper's team was successful.
Richter would hold the title for many months but eventually lost it on February 18, 1985 to Lelani Kai when her manager, Lauper, was attacked outside the ring by the Fabulous Moolah. Richter tried to come to Lauper's aid but was distracted long enough for her shoulder's to be pinned. However, a month later, Wendi would win her title back with the help of Lauper by her side.
On May 11, 1985, Wendi Richter & Fabulous Moolah's year-long feud would climax at WWF's first ever Saturday Night Main Event. Richter, with Cyndi Lauper banned from ring side, would defend the women's championship against Fabulous Moolah. Richter was successful and after the match, Lauper came down the ring to celebrate with her friend. This was the last time Lauper made an appearance on WWF programming.
With Richter still women's champion, and now being featured as a regular character on WWF's cartoon Hulk Hogan's Rock-n-Wrestling, she was expected to sign a new contract since her old contract was fixing to expire. On November 25, 1985, just before her match at Madison Square Garden, Richter was presented with a new contract. For whatever reason, Richter did not sign the contract prior to her match. What match?
Richter was told she would be taking on a masked female wrestler by the name of The Spider Lady. Richter was not told who was under the mask, or how the match would end, but she was told she would be the winner. Shockingly, at one point during the match, The Spider Lady rolled her up for a pin. The referee made the 3-count, despite the fact that Richter clearly kicked out only after a 1-count.
The referee did point for the time keeper to ring the bell but just awkwardly walked around the ring afterwards, not holding up either of the wrestler's hands to declare the winner. Even the announcers seemed confused as to what was going on in the ring. Richter wasn't sure what had happened and began attacking Moolah again, even when the ring announcer came inside the ring. The ripped off Moolah's mask, and then executed a very poor back breaker with Moolah acting like dead-weight. She went for the pin, but the referee obviously didn't make the count.
Wendi finally realized what was going on and was furious, so much so that when the referee handed Moolah the belt, she ran over and tried to stop it. Finally, Howard Finkel announced the winner and the show went to commercial. Wendi never made an appearance in the WWF again.