Post by fifthhorseman on Sept 13, 2022 23:34:45 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 26
EPISODE 26
Pyro from Lincoln, Nebraska, then a 60-second sizzle reel of classic AWA action interspersed with close-ups of and highlights from members of the current AWA roster.
Joey Styles ran through the night's card, six matches strong, and wasted no time sending it down to ring announcer Lee Marshall.
BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE
AMERICAN ALPHA (w/Verne Gagne) vs. MARK and JAY BRISCOE:
vs.
AMERICAN ALPHA (w/Verne Gagne) vs. MARK and JAY BRISCOE:
vs.
This was a highlight reel of a contest, and a literal dream match, as the two had never crossed paths until tonight. As it progressed, Gagne managed as if he wanted to showcase Jordan, and the true heavyweight was in the ring more frequently than his partner. However, on commentary, Styles wondered if he was trying to protect Gable, his champion. Regardless, it ended when Jay hit Jordan with the Jay Driller at 19:48.
COMMERCIAL
An ominous vignette aired for the returning Jacob Fatu, who was not coming back to the AWA alone – the “Samoan Werewolf” was going to test his skills in the tag-team division alongside Bronson Reed.
Jim Cornette made the long walk to the ring solo, to a chorus of jeers. Undaunted, the “Louisville Slugger” made sure that he insulted the entire population of Nebraska before getting down to business. He told everybody that it didn't matter what team eventually got in the ring with the Midnight Express, they'd lose... just like Drew McIntyre was destined to do next week in a steel cage against Barry Windham. “And after that, 'the Widowmaker' just needs a time and a place, a ring, and a ref to count to three when he gets the match he deserves against that dopey, overachieving, so-called giant, Don Leo Jonathan!”
“KILLER” KEVIN KROSS (w/Scarlett Bordeaux) vs. NORMAN SMILEY:
vs.
“Black Magic” Norman Smiley was an elite grappler and submission specialist – exactly the type of wrestler that Kross wanted to test himself against. Smiley started out strong, but Kross gradually overpowered him and wore him down, ending things with a Doomsday Saito suplex. As he celebrated with his valet, Christian Cage walked out onto the stage with the hourglass Scarlett gave him the week before. He pointed at Kross, then turned the hourglass over and placed it on the stage. Before he left, the Canadian said, “Right back at you. Tick tock.”
COMMERCIAL
The AWA World Heavyweight champion, Don Leo Jonathan, was introduced by Lee Marshall. He addressed the crowd from the ring, well aware of the comments Cornette made a few minutes earlier. DLJ made it clear that he feared no man, and whether it was McIntyre or Windham, he would show them that the champion was on top of his game. “In fact, I'm issuing an open challenge for next week to any man back in the locker room for next week. I'm not going to sit around idle while my challengers sharpen their skills. If anyone wants a piece of the 'Mormon Giant', I'm not a hard man to find.”
CHRIS HERO vs. MAD DOG VACHON:
vs.
vs.
For the short time it lasted, it was a crowd-pleasing, stiff wrestling match. Despite their differences, both men were excellent on the mat, but they only got a couple of minutes in before Jerry Lawler interfered. He waited until Vachon's back was turned, and smashed him across the neck with Jimmy Hart's megaphone. “The King” threw him outside, ran him into the steel steps, and shouted, “You want to stick up for Bockwinkel? You're going to join him in retirement!” As the Quebecer slowly got to his feet, Lawler made sure that the incoming group of referees got between him and Vachon so he could later claim that the officials saved Vachon.
COMMERCIAL
The Blond Bombers, alongside their manager the Grand Wizard, were interviewed by Styles on the stage. To them, it didn't matter that they just arrived in the AWA; if any team deserved a shot at the Midnight Express, it was them. “And they're not even in this farcical clock challenge?” the Wizard snarled. “The level of disrespect shown to my men is unconscionable!”
BO ROTUNDA (w/Money Inc.) vs. REX STEINER:
vs.
vs.
Before the match started, Ted DiBiase offered Steiner a handful of cash, but the second-generation star merely scowled and stared him off. The bell rang, and the younger Rotunda put up a good fight. They went about ten minutes, but when Steiner took charge and looked ready to finish his foe off, Mike Rotunda nailed him from behind with his briefcase with the assistance of a DiBiase distraction. Dallas fell on top of his stunned opponent to steal the tainted decision, and after a short but brutal three-on-one beatdown, the “Million Dollar Man” stuck a $100 bill in Steiner's mouth.
COMMERCIAL
A live, Zoom-type call featured Matt Cardona, Johnny Nitro, Joey Mercury, and Melina. They were “back home” in California, where they belonged – not Lincoln, Nebraska. They were keeping a close eye on the tag team matches tonight, and Cardona suggested that he should also be rewarded for helping MNM get past the Motor City Machine Guns the week before... and if Don Leo Jonathan was handing out title shots, he wanted to grab the brass ring and earn another belt for his collection.
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE vs. the WHITE NINJA:
vs.
vs.
The “People's Champion” was all business, eager to start a new winning streak, and this one didn't take long. The Ninja showed promise, but DDP was bigger and stronger, definitely more determined, and he quickly won with the Diamond Cutter. After the match, he hijacked Lee Marshall's microphone, and told MJF that he wasn't done with him yet. “Sooner or later it's just gonna be you and me, one on one – and when that happens, you're going to feel! The! Bang!”
COMMERCIAL
BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE
TULLY BLANCHARD and ARN ANDERSON (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. LARRY HENNIG and HARLEY RACE:
vs.
TULLY BLANCHARD and ARN ANDERSON (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. LARRY HENNIG and HARLEY RACE:
vs.
Old school as old school got, these two teams put on a rugged, mat-based battle. At the same time, they all fought at a deliberate pace, despite the “beat the clock” stipulation; they'd rather win in a long match than lose because they changed their usual game plan. Still, it did end in sudden fashion, when Anderson nailed “the Ax” with a vicious spinebuster. Blanchard kept Race from making the save, and Hennig kicked out a fraction of a second too late. Time of the win: 12:18.
As they celebrated their win with Blassie on the floor, Commissioner Hart waked onto the stage with a microphone. He congratulated them on their (relatively) clean win, and said, “Since you two have the best time of the three teams that participated in this challenge – better than MNM and the Briscoe brothers – you'll get the advantage. Next week, we'll have a three-team gauntlet match to determine the top contender for the AWA World Tag-Team titles. Mark and Jay Briscoe will start off against MNM, and the winner of that contest, whoever it is, will immediately face Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard.”
He paused, and added, “And both matches will be decided... under Texas Tornado rules!”