Post by fifthhorseman on Jun 13, 2022 19:57:39 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 22
EPISODE 22
Pyro from Cheyenne, Wyoming, then a 60-second sizzle reel of classic AWA action interspersed with close-ups of and highlights from members of the current AWA roster.
NON-TITLE MATCH
ADRIAN ADONIS (w/the Grand Wizard) vs. DON LEO JONATHAN (c):
vs.
ADRIAN ADONIS (w/the Grand Wizard) vs. DON LEO JONATHAN (c):
vs.
Jonathan wanted a tune-up match before Awesomesauce, while the Grand Wizard would never let the opportunity to put one of his men in a match with the reigning World champion go to waste. The “Mormon Giant” dominated from the opening bell, and after just a couple of minutes, he signaled to the crowd that it was time to end it. But before he could lock on the Boston crab, Jesse Ventura ran in from the announce table to break it up. The East-West Connection put the boots to Jonathan, but not for long, as Drew McIntyre ran in to even the odds. The heels bailed, and scurried up the ramp, but they were met by Commissioner Stu Hart.
He told Ventura to get his wrestling gear on, because tonight's main event was going to be a tag-team match – the East-West Connection versus Jonathan and McIntyre! The two stars in the ring warily looked at each other, and then they left to get ready for later action.
The scene shifted to backstage where Jon Moxley was finishing a telephone call. He noticed the cameraman, and said, “Aw, you just missed it. I just got a very, very interesting phone call from an old friend of mine. Seems like we've been challenged, and it's the chance to once and for all prove who the greatest team that ever laced their boots really is. And when I say team, I don't just mean the two of us.”
Back to the broadcast table, and Joey Styles ran through the scheduled matches for the night, which were slightly askew thanks to the hurried no-contest which had just occurred.
TOMMY DREAMER vs. JERRY LAWLER (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
vs.
This match didn't get past the two-minute mark. A lot of right hands and a piledriver later, “the King's” hand was raised in victory, but he was in a foul mood. He demanded the microphone from Marshall, and he angrily shouted, “I went from wrestling for the AWA World Heavyweight title – a title I brought with me because I never lost it – to not even being on the next pay-per-view? Give me a break! Stu, you better show me some respect!”
COMMERCIAL
Styles introduced the reigning AWA World Tag-Team champs, the Midnight Express, who walked through the curtain with their manager, Jim Cornette, and Barry Windham. The five men were as cocky and arrogant as ever, and Cornette – as usual – did most of the talking. He knew that the “filthy Briscoe Brothers were no match for Bobby and Stan, and the only reason we gave Dennis the night off was because he loves watching us win, too! Even though I was trapped in that shark cage, I was able to rally the troops – they saw how brave I was and it motivated them to great heights – literally! Next up – the UWA Universal tag straps held by Strike Force, and next week, we'll own them, too!”
Windham stepped up to the microphone and said, “And while we're on the topic of belt collecting, let me tell you all something. I'm gonna be watching the AWA World championship match between Drew McIntyre and Don Leo Jonathan very, very closely. And when I get my shot at that belt, and I win it, then we'll have them all.”
But before they could leave, the curtain parted again. The crowd gasped when Tito Santana and Rick Martel made a rare AWA appearance, and Santana had a mike in his hand. He made it clear that the Midnight Express were a bunch of thugs that, while a good team, weren't better than Strike Force. Cornette's camp closed the distance between them, and the UWA champs didn't back down, but before they could mix it up, an army of AWA officials, referees, and young wrestlers ran out to separate them.
AWA STAMPEDE MID-HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL MATCH
CHAD GABLE (w/Verne Gagne) vs. PRINCE PUMA:
vs.
CHAD GABLE (w/Verne Gagne) vs. PRINCE PUMA:
vs.
As Gable and Gagne made their way to the ring, a split-screen promo aired. It was the Motor City Machine Guns, who accepted Gagne's Awesomesauce challenge. It was a six-man match, so to fill out the sides, another man joined Sabin and Shelley at the end of the promo... Darby Allin.
Needless to say, this was a tremendous match. Puma soared above the mat, but was willing to take it to the ground when he had to. Gable kept it on the mat when he could, but he was also willing to take aerial risks. They went 15 minutes, and after a series of near-falls and two-counts, Gable hit Puma with a top-rope belly-to-belly suplex with such impact, he won it clean.
COMMERCIAL
Another Matt Cardona vignette, but this one finally revealed his debut date – the next episode of AWA All-Star Wrestling, after Awesomesauce.
NICK ALDIS and KEVIN KROSS (w/Kamille, Nicholas Nemeth, Martin Jannetty, Marcus Bagwell, and Scarlett Bordeaux) vs. BSS:
vs.
vs.
Aldis proclaimed that he wanted to get his “AWA feet” underneath him before his PPV match against Diamond Dallas Page. Thus, he and his entire entourage – Kamille and the York Foundation – all accompanied him to the ring, in addition to Kross's valet. In the other corner, Bate and Seven felt severely outnumbered, and when the referee told the “Universal Treasure” to send his crew to the back, Aldis shook his head, gestured to the UWA Universal championship belt around his waist, and said, “You know who I am, right?”
The York Foundation stayed, the bell rang, and the match was over in less than five minutes. It was a display of dominance from Kross and Aldis, although BSS got just enough tandem offense in to keep from being a total squash. Nonetheless, “Killer” Kross hit a Doomsday Saito suplex on Seven, and he landed at Aldis's feet. As if that wasn't enough, Aldis crushed him with the Treasure Chest.
After the bell, Nemeth, Bagwell, and Jannetty jumped in and delivered a series of gratuitous cheap shots before launching both Brits over the top rope. Lee Marshall entered the ring to interview the winners, and after Kross delivered a sinister speech to his AWA peers, the UWA Universal Heavyweight champion told DDP that he simply wasn't in his league. “In fact, you're barely on my radar. Since winning this title, I've been successfully defending it against every other champion and top contender in the entire Alliance. And who are you? You're just a man who found himself in possession of a winning lottery ticket. And the worst part is, you haven't won anything at all. In fact, our match is going to be the most painful and humiliating loss of your career.”
COMMERCIAL
The Pinnacle sent a VTR in; apparently, they felt like a week off would be the best thing for them. MJF was his usual bombastic self. “Steiner, buddy, I gotta admit, I don't know what I'm going to do about you next week. I could finish you off, lickity-split, not even breaking a sweat, ensuing that you stay where you deserve. After this, you won't get a sniff at any big match, let alone a championship title match. OR, I could give you a few minutes to shine. I could take my time with you, make you an instant star, then drop the hammer on you. Either way, there is no way in hell you're getting my Southern heavyweight title.”
Arn Anderson stepped up and said, “Well, someone must have made a mistake, because Tully and I aren't even on the damn card! Maybe the letter got lost in the mail, maybe it went to our junk folder. So here's an open challenge. There's some good teams here, and I know they're not doing anything next week either. Hennig and Race? New Age Outlaws? It don't matter. Step up, or step back.”
JOSH ALEXANDER vs. ?
vs.
vs.
The former AWA tag star was solo now, and he was eager to get his heavy hands on whoever Jimmy Hart managed now, whoever it was.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
JOSH ALEXANDER vs. TED DiBIASE (w/Jimmy Hart and Irwin R. Schyster):
vs.
vs.
The “Million Dollar Man” let loose with his trademark laugh before locking up with Alexander, who was not prepared for the former WWF tag champion. Nonetheless, he was willing to fight anybody, and he got a fair bit of offense in. However, his opponent was just too strong on this night, and after Schyster tripped up the “Walking Weapon”, DiBiase hit a powerslam to set up the Million Dollar Dream for the victory.
COMMERCIAL
AWA STAMPEDE MID-HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL MATCH
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. BUDDY MURPHY:
vs.
vs.
Dragunov extended his hand first, in a show of sportsmanship and as if to apologize for losing his temper the week before. Murphy accepted it, and that was about the last bit of friendly physical contact for the next 20 minutes. The Russian was lightning-quick, and hit Murphy with every part of his body from every angle imaginable. But he couldn't deliver the knockout blow, and the “Best Kept Secret” was able to eventually use his superior size and strength to wear Dragunov down until he could finish him with Murphy's Law.
After the match, the Australian consoled Dragunov, and gave him his kudos for such a tough match... and then Dragunov nailed him with a headbutt! He dropped onto Murphy and pelted him with rights and lefts, maneuvering him into a corner, and then he hit him with Torpedo Moscow. He showed no remorse as he left, and the crowd showered him with jeers as the show went to
COMMERCIAL
Before getting to the main event, Styles went through the AWA Awesomesauce card, and announced a last-minute addition to the show. Anderson's challenge had been met – by the Killer Bees – and they would be squared off against the Pinnacle's tag-team specialists next week.
The EAST-WEST CONNECTION (w/the Grand Wizard) vs. DON LEO JONATHAN and DREW McINTYRE:
vs.
vs.
This was the typical “enemies must join forces” type of match, and Jonathan and McIntyre weren't nearly as cohesive a unit as Adonis and Ventura. The EWC took advantage of their opponents' lack of teamwork, and made frequent tags to keep the Scotsman on their side of the ring. He finally made the hot tag to Jonathan, who cleared house with his sheer power. All four men wound up brawling, and after McIntyre sent Adonis flying through the ropes with a Claymore, Jonathan made “the Body” submit to the Boston crab. After the match, Jonathan and McIntyre went nose-to-nose, but eventually shook hands in a show of respect before their match at Awesomesauce.