Post by fifthhorseman on Feb 4, 2023 21:42:00 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 39
EPISODE 39
Pyro from Milwaukee, 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. Announcing the action, Joey Styles and Don West.
The Pinnacle were already standing in the ring. Tully Blanchard had the Pat O'Connor Memorial Cup with him, and bragged that it proved that he was the best overall wrestler – singles and tag – in the entire UWA. Then it was MJF's turn to speak, and he was furious. He blamed Diamond Dallas Page for stealing the UWA Universal Championship from him, a slightly skewed account of the events that transpired at AWA The Big Chill. “A couple of things are very obvious. You don't like any of us, and we definitely hate you. So let's cut to the chase. Let's settle this once and for all, where you can't sneak up on any of us.”
He paused for just a second. “War Games. Let's do this. If you got the guts, and can find a couple of mids from the back that want to put on their big boy pants, we'll meet you in a double cage. Any time, any place – but we're done screwing around. Eddie Graham, make it happen.”
A few seconds later, the Commissioner appeared and said that that would take some time to organize, but it sounded like a great idea. “And just in case you forgot, I make the matches around here. So you're going to defend your AWA Southern title right now... you know, just to show the world that you're not all talk. And your challenger is ready to go, too.”
Enter Mad Dog Vachon. Blanchard, Fernandez, and Wardlow all left the ring, and Lee Marshall jumped in to make the official announcements.
AWA SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
MJF (c, w/Freddie Blassie) vs. MAD DOG VACHON:
vs.
MJF (c, w/Freddie Blassie) vs. MAD DOG VACHON:
vs.
It was a wild brawl of a match that Vachon eventually won by disqualification after Friedman blatantly hit “Mad Dog” with a low blow. The Canadian challenger infuriated MJF, and he refused to stay down after the Southern champ hit him with almost everything in his arsenal. MJF angrily grabbed his title belt from the timekeeper's table and went back in the ring to use it as a weapon, but suddenly Arn Anderson ran down with a chair in his hand, clearing the heels away.
“The Enforcer” told Marshall to give him a microphone. “I heard what you all said about War Games. Well, I don't care if DDP asks me or not – I'm in! And one of the things that's most important about War Games is the numbers advantage. We used to do it with a coin flip, but I have a better idea. I'll wrestle any member of the Pinnacle to determine who gets the advantage, but I'm calling you out, Manny Fernandez! You can't replace me, you aren't me, you ain't better than me!”
COMMERCIAL
MONEY INC. vs. JACOB FATU and BRONSON REED:
vs.
vs.
After several minutes of back and forth, scientific versus power wrestling, Money Inc. won after Rotunda hit Reed in the head with his ever-present steel briefcase when the referee was distracted. DiBiase, the legal man, rolled the big man up immediately to steal the win. They gloated as they walked away, not expecting the Samoans to follow them up to the stage – but they did. However, Batista walked through the curtain and got between them and Money Inc., and it was obvious that he was with Rotunda and DiBiase. Officials rushed out to separate them, but not before Fatu challenged “the Animal” to a match.
COMMERCIAL
A Minnesota Wrestling Club vignette – featuring Chad Gable and the AWA World Tag-Team titleholders, Steve Williams and Verne Gagne – came on. Standard heel promo where Gagne declared that American amateur wrestling bred champions, and they would dominate the AWA for a long time to come.
MATT CARDONA vs. BRON STEINER:
vs.
vs.
After 12 minutes, both men went through the middle ropes and continued their battle on the floor, where they were both counted out. Until then, it was a see-saw battle that either man could have won and desperately wanted to win, but neither could seal the deal. Most notably, Jimmy Hart watched the final couple of minutes from the stage, seemingly scouting both men for the First Family, but he left as soon as Lee Marshall announced the decision.
Eric Bischoff interviewed Mark and Jay Briscoe backstage, where they said that it was time for the Midnight Express to step aside and let a new team challenge for the AWA tag straps. The Grand Wizard walked into frame and agreed with the sentiment, although he thought that it should be the Blond Bombers. Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens came out as well, and the four grapplers stared each other as the show went to
COMMERCIAL
Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers escorted the AWA World Heavyweight champion, Barry Windham, to the ring. The “Louisville Slugger” dismissed Don Leo Jonathan as a contender – the theme of the night, it seemed – before passing off to Windham. He said that he had nothing left to prove, and the next time the UWA champ – whether it was Chris Jericho or anybody else – came into “his town”, he was the one who would be getting that match.
But before he could say anything else, Nick Bockwinkel interrupted them from the stage. “I know a thing or two about being the AWA World Heavyweight champion, too. And I take exception to your claim that you have nothing left to prove. The first time I wore that belt, I kept it for nearly five years. You're just getting started... and if you have the intestinal fortitude, you'll defend that title against me.”
Cornette said that Bockwinkel would have to prove himself first. The AWA legend laughed in response and left, and the ring eventually cleared.
BAD INFLUENCE vs. 2point0:
vs.
vs.
Daniels pinned Menard after a quick few minutes with the BME. This was a simple “get-over” match, and it established Bad Influence as an immediate contender with the AWA tag-team division.
COMMERCIAL
Another vignette: a "Coming Soon" highlight reel for Amazing Red.
Before the main event started, Styles announced that Jacob Fatu would take on Batista, and that Commissioner Graham would make a statement pertaining to War Games.
AWA STAMPEDE MID-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS
The DYNAMITE KID (c) vs. WILL OSPREAY:
vs.
TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS
The DYNAMITE KID (c) vs. WILL OSPREAY:
vs.
It was no surprise that this match went all three falls, given the talent and competitiveness of the two men involved. The champion got the first pin with a diving top-rope headbutt, but he also injured his right shoulder on impact. When the second fall began, Ospreay targeted the weakened body part, and wore him down enough to squash him with a 630 splash – and for the first time in the AWA, the Kid was pinned.
The third fall went several more minutes, and after a series of two-count reversals, “the Bulldog” finally ended the match with a tombstone piledriver. Ospreay skulked away, and the champion raised his good arm with the belt held to the sky – but his celebration was short-lived. Lou Thesz walked down the ramp and sincerely applauded as he got closer to the ring. He then pointed to the belt, and the show ended with the two legends staring each other down.