Post by fifthhorseman on Mar 12, 2022 16:18:32 GMT -5
AWA WINTERSLAM
A camera crew waited outside for the UWA Universal champion, Nick Aldis, and right on time, he parked his car, retrieved his bag from the trunk, and walked into the arena.
The camera panned over to another arrival, and Ilya Dragunov stepped out of his vehicle. But as he ducked into his back seat to grab his equipment, he was jumped by two men in matching grey tracksuits. The hoods obscured their features – one of them were a bit bigger than the other, but it was otherwise impossible to figure out why they were. The two invaders used the car as a weapon, and left the Russian writhing in pain in the parking lot.
Pyro from Minneapolis, Minnesota, then Joey Styles and Jesse Ventura walked out to the broadcast table. No dark matches, video packages, or lengthy promos to start this show – they were going to start this show with a train wreck!
BRASS RING LADDER MATCH
ALEXANDER HAMMERSTONE vs. SHANE HELMS vs. ADAM PAGE vs. DUSTIN RHODES vs. RICKY STARKS vs. REX STEINER:
vs. vs.
vs.
vs. vs.
ALEXANDER HAMMERSTONE vs. SHANE HELMS vs. ADAM PAGE vs. DUSTIN RHODES vs. RICKY STARKS vs. REX STEINER:
vs. vs.
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vs. vs.
The adrenaline and nerves were high for this one. Mix six extremely athletic, impulsive wrestlers that were eager to impress the world together, and the moves got wilder and wilder. Every single one of them got a chance to shine, whether it was with power moves (Hammerstone and Steiner), aerial insanity (Starks and Helms), or innovative mat work (Page and Rhodes). 17 crazy spots later, one man climbed the ladder for the right to call his shot at the next big AWA show... and that man was Rex Steiner.
After the match, a promo package highlighted the brief but intense rivalry that developed between the men in the next contest.
BUDDY MURPHY vs. AUSTIN THEORY:
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vs.
This was an intense sprint of a match from two of the best pound-for-pound competitors in the entire UWA. They squeezed as much action as they could into ten minutes, and the momentum shifted several times. But when both men went to the floor and started brawling, they could not be coerced back into the ring, and they continued to fight after the official signaled for the bell. Theory and Murphy finally broke away from each other, and it was obvious that this feud was far from over.
When the dust settled, Commissioner Hart came out to the ring and asked for a microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, it's my duty to inform you that the Ultimate Warrior is not here tonight. Therefore, we will be replacing him tonight in the UWA Universal Men's championship match against Nick Aldis with a former multi-time AWA World Heavyweight champion... Mad Dog Vachon!”
The crowd was justifiably shocked; even Styles and Ventura were stunned into silence. Hart concluded with another bombshell. “As for the American Wrestling Association Heavyweight title, the executive board will make that decision after tonight's show. In the meantime, if anyone wants a refund, you have until the beginning of the Miro – Jacob Fatu match to get to the box office. Thank you.”
Gagne ran out, ostensibly to complain, but Hart shooed him away and the two men argued as they exited stage right.
KEN KENNEDY vs. ?
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Kennedy used the microphone, lowered from the ceiling, to introduce himself. After the lights came back on, there was several seconds of suspense, and then a very familiar voice and guitar riff blared over the loudspeakers. The crowd exploded, knowing exactly who it was.
Diamond Dallas Page strolled through the audience to get to the ring, but Kennedy pounced on him as he slid under the bottom rope. The former TNA champion was relentless, but he could not keep the “People's Champion” down for long. They traded the advantage back and forth for a few more minutes, but it ended as most big DDP matches do – Diamond Cutter, three-count, ring the bell.
DDP soaked up the applause, going to each corner to salute the crowd, but before he could leave the lights went out. Leave it up to AWA management to pull off a second shocker – a single spotlight lit up a small area of the stage, where Scarlett Bordeaux stood, and she sang her man "Killer” Kevin Kross into view. The two men stared each other down before the heels slowly departed, and only then did Page leave as well.
Another promo package, spotlighting the dual rise of the AWA tag champs and the UWA tag champs, with match predictions mixed in from other AWA teams.
UWA UNIVERSAL TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The NORTH (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. STRIKE FORCE (c):
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The NORTH (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. STRIKE FORCE (c):
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It was easy to cheer for any of the North's opponents, but especially when they were popular AWA alumni like Santana and Martel. The referee warned Hart at the beginning of the bout to mind his manners; after Sawyer's interference earlier on, the officials pledged to crack down on the outside shenanigans.
To their credit, Alexander and Page were up to the task. The two teams had up-tempo, old-school chemistry and they worked the classic “face in peril” match with Martel absorbing much of the punishment. They worked hard for just over 20 minutes, but Santana hit the finishing shot on “All Ego” with his patented flying forearm.
Dragonuv was in a trainer's room, with Hart checking in on him. The “Moscow Torpedo” had no idea who got him, and he wasn't going to think about it until after he regained his AWA Southern Heavyweight title back. Hart asked him if he wanted to postpone the match, but Dragunov just waved him away.
A recap of the Miro – Fatu feud aired next, and Styles and Ventura contrasted this rivalry to the recent Last Man Standing match that Brodie Lee and Don Leo Jonathan had. Ventura: “There's a lotta bad dudes right here in the AWA, even excluding me, Styles, so I guess this is where the big boys play!”
The ring crew was done setting up the cage. It was go time.
STEEL CAGE MATCH
JACOB FATU vs. MIRO:
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JACOB FATU vs. MIRO:
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Ventura exclaimed, “I'm not sure the cage can contain those two men!”, and Styles agreed. This was the classic blue steel bar cage, and Miro and Fatu used the thicker bars and sturdier metal work to draw blood and batter each other. This wasn't a plodding big man match; the Bulgarian and the Samoan were dynamic athletes, and they rarely rested.
Eventually, Fatu wore down “the Redeemer” enough to climb to the top of the cage. However, rather than climbing down the outside, he paused – he knew what the crowd wanted to see, and he know what he wanted to do. The 280-pound “Samoan Werewolf” flew from the skies with an incredible moonsault... but missed! Miro rolled out of the way, and cinched in the Accolade. After the jarring impact of the missed moonsault, Fatu was already racked with pain; with Miro wrenching him backwards, he had no choice but to submit.
The trainers ran out to check on Fatu, and the ring crew ran out to take down the cage.
INTERMISSION
As the 15-minute intermission wound down, the Briscoe Brothers made an appearance on the stage. They weren't on the Winterslam card, but they wanted to make sure that they were on the next episode of AWA All-Star Wrestling – and they wanted the “two funny-talkin', stick up their ass-havin', no-good pricks,” the Grizzled Young Veterans.
A tale of the tape graphic went up for the next highly anticipated match.
TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS MATCH
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. DESMOND WOLFE:
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NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. DESMOND WOLFE:
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Although this wasn't for a championship belt, this certainly had a big-match feel about it. They worked a very methodical match to start, feeling each other out. Wolfe and Bockwinkel were two very different wrestlers, but their attitude and psychology were similar, and neither man seemed to be in any hurry.
15 minutes in, Wolfe scored the first pin after surprising the AWA icon with a rebound lariat that nearly turned the Californian inside-out. Bockwinkel was slow to recover, and when the referee restarted the match, Wolfe was all over him with elbows and knees. However, Bockwinkel weathered the storm and eventually turned things around, and at the 25-minute mark, scored the tying fall with a Thesz press.
Wolfe was furious, and sprung back to his feet. The referee told them to mix it back up, and they traded moves and holds and counter-holds in a flurry, until the Englishman nailed Bockwinkel with a vicious headbutt. It split his nose open, staggering and partially blinding the veteran, but it also angered him. He raised his fists, ready to charge, and then... the bell rang. 30 minutes had elapsed, the time limit Hart set to ensure that he got all of his matches in on the pay-per-view. The crowd wasn't happy at the decision, but that was that. It was declared a draw.
Hart was backstage with Aldis, who was alternately stretching and giving the commissioner a piece of his mind. He was angry at what we perceived as a bait-and-switch tactic from an inferior promotion, looking to gain some notoriety and clout at his expense.
Another cameraman was in front of Steiner, who called his victory the biggest match of the year. “For now, anyways. That brass ring gives me the right to call my shot, and I'm gonna take a couple of weeks to think about what I want to do. But rest assured, you'll all know soon!”
TYLER BATE vs. CHAD GABLE (w/Buzz Sawyer):
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Verne Gagne gave Gable a pep talk before sending him through the curtain with “the Bulldog”. Bate was ready for him – for both of them – and the two combatants put on a clinic. Gable had the rare size advantage, but that was negated by Bate's freaky strength. Schmozzy ending, as Sawyer jumped up on the ring apron to distract the ref, but Bate reversed an Irish whip and fired the Olympian into Sawyer, knocking him to the floor. The “Big Strong Boy” quickly hit the Tyler Driver '97 on Gable for the win.
After he celebrated and left, Gagne had to jog down to separate his two proteges, who argued all the way up the ramp.
Mad Dog Vachon was taping his wrists in his locker room. He scowled at the cameraman, who backed out quickly; the Canadian had his game face on, and he didn't want to let this unexpected shot at the UWA Universal trophy go to waste.
TOP CONTENDERS MATCH
The HOUNDS OF JUSTICE vs. the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS:
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The HOUNDS OF JUSTICE vs. the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS:
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Stan Lane was the odd man out, and the original version of the Midnights were in. Moxley and Hero didn't care who they fought – they just wanted to fight, and in the opening few minutes, the HOJ held the advantage. It soon settled into a true back-and-forth struggle, with Eaton and Condrey utilizing their peerless teamwork to isolate Hero. Long face in peril spot, hot tag to Mox, and a pier-six brawl. But after Moxley accidentally nailed Hero with a rolling elbow strike, “Beautiful Bobby” tackled him out of the ring and Condrey hit the “Knockout Artist” with a brainbuster to get the win for his team.
After the match, Moxley bravely faced off against all three men, standing between the Express and the recovering Hero. The villainous trio laughed at him and left, already thinking about their inevitable match against the North. When Hero got to his feet, he shook his head, as if disappointed with the outcome.... and then he hit Moxley with his own discus elbow smash! The former WWE champion went down hard, and Hero turned around and left , leaving him lying on the mat.
A video package aired showing MJF's debut in the AWA, where he won the Southern title – albeit illegally, with Wardlow's help. That was all the set-up this match needed.
AWA SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. MJF (c, w/Wardlow):
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ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. MJF (c, w/Wardlow):
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Friedman had no problem getting heat, even in Minnesota in March. The challenger limped back and forth in the corner, still selling the effects of the parking lot beatdown. MJF just laughed at him – until the bell rang.
The Russian was all business, despite his injuries, but the champ stalled and used Wardlow as a shield whenever he could. The slower pace favored MJF, and he was gradually able to ground him and wear him down, southern heel style. This went on for a while, but Dragunov battled back. He hit MJF with bruising chops and strikes, and the crowd was firmly on his side. He backed Friedman into the corner and went to the middle turnbuckle to fire some fists at him, when Wardlow tossed the gaudy diamond ring high into the air in MJF's direction. The arc of the throw took it well past both wrestlers, and when the ref turned around to pocket the ring, MJF hit Dragunov with a low blow.
While Wardlow confronted the official about the ring (Ventura: “Is that crooked ref stealing it?!”), MJF had time to unwrap some of his wrist tape and he used it to choke his opponent, disguised with a sleeper. The crowd howled in frustration, but Dragunov faded quickly, and his hand dropped three times. The ruse worked, and MJF stole the win.
He demanded that the referee hand back his ring, and he put it on his pinkie finger. Then, he raised three more digits to the camera, as did Wardlow – and then they both sneered and walked away.
A video package highlighting the lineage of the MUW/UWA championship was played on the big screens, from Lou Thesz to Nick Aldis. After it aired, Hart came back out to the ring, feeling an obligation to be there for the main event. When both men were in the ring, he shook both their hands, and sat down at the timekeeper's table.
UWA UNIVERSAL MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
NICK ALDIS vs. MAD DOG VACHON:
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NICK ALDIS vs. MAD DOG VACHON:
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Big-match intros, and the normally unflappable “Universal Treasure” was still furious. He prepared – well, as best as one does – to fight the Ultimate Warrior. He did not prepare for Vachon.
Nonetheless, they put on a hell of a match. Mad Dog was unlike any foe Aldis ever faced; he was gritty and hard-hitting, and whenever Aldis seemed to take control, Vachon would switch things up and use amateur-based holds and throws, completely disorienting the champion. At one point, the British muscleman threatened to simply leave and take the countout, but pride wouldn't let him do so.
Aldis took over, and as the minutes ticked by, he seemed to get stronger and stronger. But Vachon didn't know how to quit, and they went over 25 minutes because neither man refused to yield. However, once Aldis focused on Vachon's still-sore upper back and neck, the Canadian lost some of his steam. There was one final flurry of offense from Mad Dog, but the UWA kingpin shut it down, and crushed his smaller foe with the Treasure Chest. Three seconds later – 26:09 in all – and the self-proclaimed million year galactic reign of Nick Aldis continued.
He took his championship belt and left, pausing only to pose on the stage before leaving for good. Vachon finally got to his feet, and the crowd also rose, applauding the effort their hometown hero put in. But before he got out of the ring, a voice blared over the loudspeakers, stopping him in his tracks.
“Hey! Hey! Looks like old man Hart picked the wrong former AWA champion to take on Nick Aldis tonight! Now, if he had just given me a call, you all would be looking at the new UWA Universal champion right now!”
The stage curtain slowly parted, and Jerry “the King” Lawler strutted out – holding a different version of the AWA title.
“And by the way, I never lost this, either! You're looking at the real AWA champion, and you're gonna tell the whole world it's true next week!” The show ended with a tight camera shot on Lawler, whose smirk said it all.