Post by fifthhorseman on Oct 10, 2022 15:42:40 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 30
EPISODE 30
Pyro from Madison, Wisconsin, then a 60-second sizzle reel of classic AWA action interspersed with close-ups of and highlights from members of the current AWA roster.
Cold open with Stu Hart in the ring, and he told the audience that the AWA World Heavyweight champion, Don Leo Jonathan, and the top contender for his title, Barry Windham, would both be in action tonight. Earlier in the week, they picked each other's opponents: Windham would face the powerful prodigy, Flex Kavana, because Jonathan wanted to give one of the young lions “a chance at greatness”. Conversely, Camp Cornette decided to go with one of their own – Stan Lane. No doubt it would be part scouting mission, part softening up mission.
As Hart left, Cornette emerged with “the Widowmaker” and the Midnight Express. He cut a bombastic promo, claiming that in just a few nights, he'd be managing all of the AWA World champions... and after that, he'd be sure to launch a petition with the UWA Board of Directors to get the next shot at Nick Aldis.
Joey Styles and Don West, on commentary.
FLEX KAVANA vs. BARRY WINDHAM (w/Jim Cornette):
vs.
The young Kavana had lots of fire, and took the match to his more experienced foe early on. But Windham rode the storm out, and smoothly took charge in a few minutes. The big Texan nailed Kavana with a lariat, and locked on the iron claw, knocking his opponent out.
COMMERCIAL
Joey Styles interviewed Don Leo Jonathan on the stage, and the popular hero praised Kavana for his strong showing before discussing his title match at Autumn Bomb with Windham. “I've worked long and hard to get where I am today, and I'm not ready to hand over this belt just yet. Barry, you can bring your best to Minneapolis, I know you will... but you're going to lose.”
CHAD GABLE (c) and VERNE GAGNE vs. the MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS:
vs.
As the Dynamite kid looked on, this was a variation of last week's Gable/Sabin Mid-Heavyweight title match. However, it was obvious that Sabin was not at 100 per cent, and he couldn't hide the leg injury he sustained the week before. His foes pounced on it, and eventually he submitted to a Gagne figure-four leglock. After the match, Gable and the Kid did a long-distance staredown before the show went to
COMMERCIAL
A recap of last week's brawl between the Blond Bombers and the Briscoes was shown on screen, after which Styles and West announced that the two teams would get back in the ring in two weeks, and it would be a no-disqualification match.
MUSTAFA ALI vs. REX STEINER:
vs.
vs.
The two young stars shook hands when the bell rang, and it was a battle of Ali's quickness versus Steiner's raw power. It became increasingly less sportsmanlike as they went along, but they were both very competitive as well. Steiner won after about ten minutes with his press/powerslam.
After the match, Lee Marshall asked Steiner if he was going to accept Money Inc's challenge at Autumn Bomb and if so, who was his partner? He confidently replied that he was, and in fact, his partner not only knew DiBiase and Rotunda very well, but was in the arena right now. “In fact, why don't you come on down and introduce yourself?”
A few tense seconds later, the stage curtain parted and “Dr. Death”, Steve Williams came out with his arms raised over his head. He walked to the ring, shook Steiner's hand, and the two men left together to a huge wave of applause.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-taped Pinnacle promo was shown. Blanchard and Anderson was more than ready to take on both the Midnight Express and FTR at Autumn Bomb, because either way, they were leaving with tag gold; whether they were avenging their loss to the Express from their NWA days, or beating a pair of Horsemen wanna-bes, they were the champions in waiting.
MJF followed that up with a scathing, insult-laden monologue aimed at Diamond Dallas Page. The AWA Southern champion wasn't impressed with DDP's match stipulation – a Coal Miner's Glove match – and he warned Page that it was the worst decision he ever could have made in his pathetic life.
MNM vs. the PITBULLS:
vs.
vs.
Noble and Kash looked very strong in their AWA debut, and the four dynamic athletes had an intense match that pitted MNM's aerial game against the Pitbulls' preferred method of ground and pound. Unfortunately, the numbers caught up to the newcomers – as both Melina and Matt Cardona were ringside as well – and a couple of well-timed distractions enabled MNM to nail Kash with the Snapshot.
COMMERCIAL
UWA Universal Heavyweight champion Nick Aldis chose not to attend the go-home episode of AWA programming, submitting a video promo instead. He said that he wasn't that fond of the AWA, calling back to his title defense against Mad Dog Vachon at AWA Winterslam, but no one possessed the combination of integrity and potential brutality that he did. The “Universal Treasure” would ensure that the right team won, and wished each of the three teams his best.
Backstage, by sheer coincidence, Vachon held a steel chain in his hands. He was practically frothing at the mouth, describing the pain he was going to inflict on Jerry Lawler – and then Jimmy Hart walked into the frame. It was just a distraction, and “the King” jumped Mad Dog from behind, and choked him with the chain until a bevy of officials broke it up.
DARBY ALLIN vs. RICKY STARKS:
vs.
vs.
In terms of personalities, they were extremely different – but they were very evenly-matched in the ring. This was arguably the most competitive match of the night, and they went close to 15 minutes in a battle that didn't stay in the ring. After trading near-falls late, Allin finally connected with the Coffin Drop to win.
After the match, Allin asked Marshall to hand him a microphone. “I know that you're looking for someone to wrestle at Autumn Bomb, Matt Cardona. As fate has it, I don't have anything to do that night, either. And I think we'd have a hell of a fight, so Mr. Hart, if you have room for just one more match a week from now, put us on the card.”
COMMERCIAL
Styles and West ran through the Autumn Bomb card one final time, with the “breaking news” that Allin-Cardona was going to happen there as well.
NON-TITLE MATCH
DON LEO JONATHAN (c) vs. STAN LANE (w/Jim Cornette):
vs.
DON LEO JONATHAN (c) vs. STAN LANE (w/Jim Cornette):
vs.
Jonathan had no doubt in his mind that Lane was going to do anything he could to soften him up before his match with Barry Windham, so the “Mormon Giant” wanted to end it quickly. However, “Sweet Stan” was a very skilled singles wrestler as well as a tag expert, and he worked on DLJ's legs. But once the AWA World champ used his reach to keep Lane at a distance, he turned the tide, and forced his opponent into a Boston crab for the submission win.
When it ended, Windham ran down to ringside but stopped in his tracks when Jonathan leaped over the top rope, landing right in front of him. The two big men stood nose-to-nose to close the show.