Post by fifthhorseman on Jan 19, 2023 0:49:05 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 38
EPISODE 38
Pyro from Fort Wayne, Indiana, then a 60-second sizzle reel of classic AWA action interspersed with close-ups of and highlights from members of the current AWA roster. Announcing the action, Joey Styles and Don West.
The AWA Southern Heavyweight champion, MJF, cut an in-ring promo about his match for the UWA Universal title against Chris Jericho. His manager, Freddie Blassie, nodded in agreement at every arrogant, hyperbolic statement Friedman made. “You have one week left, bub. See you in Chicago. Don't forget to bring my belt with you, either.”
PAT O'CONNOR MEMORIAL CUP QUARTER-FINAL MATCH
MANNY FERNANDEZ (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE:
vs.
MANNY FERNANDEZ (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE:
vs.
DDP defeated the “Raging Bull” by reversing a second-rope cross-bodyblock. It was a ten-minute, old-fashioned slugfest, and Fernandez didn't take the loss easily. After the match, helped by Blassie's distracting tactics, Fernandez chopblocked Page's left knee. He hit it several more times with his manager's cane and locked him in a figure-four until the referee finally got him to leave. DDP was helped to the back by AWA officials.
COMMERCIAL
Money Inc. sent in a VTR, and they announced that the Family Business was dissolved. “Sometimes in life, you have to have tough decisions,” said Ted DiBiase, “but you can't let sentiment affect the bottom line! And that's why Mike and I are streamlining the organization, and focusing all of our attention on Money Inc!”
PAT O'CONNOR MEMORIAL CUP QUARTER-FINAL MATCH
CHAD GABLE (w/Steve Williams) vs. BRON STEINER:
vs.
CHAD GABLE (w/Steve Williams) vs. BRON STEINER:
vs.
Gable won via submission when he forced Steiner to tap out to an ankle-lock. Steiner was easily distracted by the big Oklahoman, remembering how he was betrayed at AWA Autumn Bomb. Throughout the match, “Dr. Death” was a constant threat on the outside. As Gable applied his finisher near the ropes, Williams pulled the bottom strand from Steiner's reach; he couldn't escape, and angrily submitted.
COMMERCIAL
Jim Cornette led his crew – Big Bubba Rogers, the Midnight Express, and the AWA World Heavyweight champion, Barry Windham – to the ring. The “Louisville Slugger” was his usual charming self, and declared that not only would Windham retain his championship at The Big Chill, not only would the Midnight Express regain their AWA World tag titles, but they would win those bouts by forfeit... “because when we're done with Don Leo Jonathan, Verne Gagne, and Steve Williams tonight, they're gonna beg to get outta those matches!”
MATT CARDONA (w/Melina) vs. LANCE STORM:
vs.
vs.
Both men wanted this rematch, given the unsatisfying result from a few weeks before. This time, Storm won a very competitive battle with a superkick after about 10 minutes. But he had no time to enjoy his victory, when Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury ran out and attacked him. Luckily for Storm, the three-on-one odds were evened by his ECW alumni, the Eliminators. Saturn and Kronus cleared the ring and lifted Storm to his feet.
COMMERCIAL
A video recap of the First Family/Nick Bockwinkel/Mad Dog Vachon rivalry was shown, and then the scene shifted to backstage, where Don West stood with Jimmy Hart, Jerry Lawler, Austin Theory, and Andy Kaufman. The heels were still laughing over the damage they inflicted, but West interrupted them with breaking news. “Guys, I was told during the break that Mr. Graham has signed the three of you to a tag-team, come as you are, handicap match against Vachon and Bockwinkel at The Big Chill. And Andy, I'm also told that if you don't participate in this match, you'll be suspended for a year – not just for the AWA, but the UWA.”
Bombastic outrage ensued, and it was time to go back to the ring.
PAT O'CONNOR MEMORIAL CUP QUARTER-FINAL MATCH
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. ILYA DRAGUNOV:
vs.
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. ILYA DRAGUNOV:
vs.
Cage defeated with a roll-up after the Russian missed his patented running headbutt. It was a fierce technical battle between two very evenly matched competitors, and the Canadian made fewer mistakes, earning his spot at The Big Chill.
Backstage, the normally subdued Storm – still alongside the Eliminators – challenged the Agency to a six-man tag match for The Big Chill.
COMMERCIAL
The Dynamite Kid appeared on the stage, annoyed that he wasn't defending the Stampede Mid-Heavyweight title next week at The Big Chill. However, he was happy that there was a fatal four-way top contenders match on the card, and that he'd soon know who his next challenger was. As if on cue, the four competitors – Art Barr, Prince Puma, Ricky Starks, and Will Ospreay – walked out, one by one, each claiming that he would be that challenger. The Kid coolly regarded all of them, and when they all eventually left, Ospreay turned around and said, “You know it's going to be me again.”
PAT O'CONNOR MEMORIAL CUP QUARTER-FINAL MATCH
TULLY BLANCHARD (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. DREW McINTYRE:
vs.
TULLY BLANCHARD (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. DREW McINTYRE:
vs.
Before the match started, Wardlow attacked McIntyre on the stage, and powerbombed him through the announce table. A swarm of officials and referees came out to force “Mr. Mayhem” away, and check on the Scotsman. After a couple of minutes. McIntyre got to his feet and insisted on going through with the match. However, it was obvious that he was less than 100%, and the shrewd Texan ground him down. After one final flurry by McIntyre, Blanchard hit him with a slingshot suplex and with an extra handful of trunks, won the match.
COMMERCIAL
Jonathan was a reluctant partner alongside the Minnesota Wrestling Club, but he vowed to help them just long enough to get through their main event match. Gagne and Williams did the same, but “Dr. Death” warned DLJ not to do anything stupid.
Styles and West excitedly ran down the final, updated card for The Big Chill.
DON LEO JONATHAN and the MINNESOTA WRESTLING CLUB (c) vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c) and the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (w/Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers):
vs.
vs.
Big-match intros for a huge main event, and neither team held anything back, even with their respective matches at The Big Chill just days away. If anything, they all tried to make sure that their opponent(s) never made it to the show. However, after 15 minutes the six men paired off on the floor and the ramp, ignoring the referee's count. The double-countout was far from a satisfying conclusion, and as Cornette's crew backed up the ramp, shouting and cursing at their foes, the show faded to black.