Post by fifthhorseman on Feb 15, 2023 1:21:59 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 40
EPISODE 40
Pyro from Iowa City, Iowa, 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.
Commissioner Eddie Graham stood in the ring with Lee Marshall and declared that the AWA would host its first-ever War Games match at a premium live event in just a few weeks. “Call me a traditionalist, but I prefer to see two teams of five going at it, so that's what it's going to be. And in tonight's main event, Arn Anderson will take on Manny Fernandez to determine what team gets the War Games handicap advantage... in a no-disqualification match. And one more thing... if anyone interferes or even shows their face at ringside during that match – even you, Mr. Blassie – your man will lose the match. Let the best man win. By himself.”
As Graham left, Styles and West ran through the rest of the night's six-match card.
TRIPLE THREAT RULES
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. CHAD GABLE vs. JERRY LYNN:
vs. vs.
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. CHAD GABLE vs. JERRY LYNN:
vs. vs.
Ten minutes of supreme mid-heavyweight technical excellence, but there was plenty of high-flying as well. Gable picked up the well-needed victory to get him back on the winning path; after Lynn hit Dragunov with a cradle piledriver, the Olympian broke up the count with a moonsault on both opponents. He picked up Lynn and threw him over the top rope before pinning the Russian.
Before going to a break, Jim Cornette was with Barry Windham as he prepared for his upcoming title defense against a formidable and former World champion – Prince Puma. The bombastic manager shouted, “I don't care how good that masked maniac won in a warehouse just outside Tijuana or wherever the heck it was! But I'll give the devil his due – there might not be a faster, quicker man in the sport than Prince Puma. But he's in the major leagues now, and he's about to get in the squared circle with a second-generation stud that stands six foot six and moves like a man 50 pounds lighter. All your acrobatics ain't gonna save you now, son!”
COMMERCIAL
A Flex Kavana video package was shown. He was on his way back from his extensive overseas tour, and the young grappler looked a bit stronger, and more self-confident, than he had before he left.
West provided a couple of AWA roster updates: Bobby Eaton was injury-free, and would be in solo action next week; also, Bronson Reed and Jacob Fatu were fired for no-showing live events over the weekend, so Batista would not be facing the “Samoan Werewolf” tonight (or any other night). His opponent instead would be the rugged Perry Saturn.
BATISTA (w/Money Inc.) vs. PERRY SATURN (w/John Kronus):
vs.
vs.
DiBiase and Rotunda's “investment” paid off, as Batista took care of Saturn in only about seven minutes of bruising action. The former ECW tag champ got short bursts of offense in, but “the Animal” was just too big and strong, and he eliminated the Eliminator with a violent Batista Bomb.
COMMERCIAL
A video package ran for the mighty team of Doom, Butch Reed and Ron Simmons. The former WCW World tag champions were on their way to the AWA.
Eric Bischoff was backstage with the Pinnacle. MJF, Freddie Blassie, and finally Manny Fernandez all cut promos about the no-DQ match later in the night, as well as the War Games match itself. Fernandez finished it off by saying, “Anderson, mark my words – not only am I gonna whip your ass tonight, but I'm gonna beat you so bad you're not even gonna make it to War Games in one piece!”
AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
PRINCE PUMA vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c, w/Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers):
vs.
PRINCE PUMA vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c, w/Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers):
vs.
It was a David vs. Goliath battle that the champion eventually won with a bone-jarring top rope superplex after ten minutes of fast-paced action. Puma looked good despite the defeat, using his otherworldly speed and agility to keep the lanky Texan off-balance throughout the first half of the battle. Once Windham found his stride, though, he gradually wore the challenger down until it was time to finish things off.
COMMERCIAL
Another Amazing Red vignette – the innovative high-flyer would make his AWA debut next week.
Anderson was in his locker room, and he had a few words to say about the Pinnacle. “This is the beginning of the end for all of you. Step one – make Manny Fernandez wish he was never born. And if I get a free shot at any of you between now and War Games – backstage, in a parking lot, wherever it might be – I'll damn sure try to do the same to any of the rest of you. And then, at War Games, you're going to find out why 'the Enforcer' was always the first man in the ring for his team. I get results, I get the job done. I don't care who you find to fill out the rest of your team! You're all going down.”
TOP CONTENDERS MATCH
The BLOND BOMBERS (w/the Grand Wizard) vs. MARK and JAY BRISCOE:
vs.
Jay Briscoe pinned Patterson after almost 20 minutes of action with – of all things - a reversed small package. The match was a contrast of styles, with the Bombers content to keep things on the mat and the Briscoes constantly trying to hit high-elevation and high-impact strikes. Stevens bumped like a fiend, as did Mark; after the hard-fought victory, the AWA World Tag-Team champions, Verne Gagne and Steve Williams, walked out onto the stage to show off their belts.
COMMERCIAL
Eric Bischoff welcomed Lou Thesz onto the stage, and he received a very warm welcome from the crowd. He said that he was ready to take on the best wrestlers in the world, especially those in the mid-heavyweight class. The Missourian wanted a shot at the Dynamite Kid's AWA Stampede Mid-Heavyweight belt, but he would take on any man Commissioner Graham put in his path until he got that title shot.
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. AUSTIN THEORY (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
Despite the “Mouth of the South's” efforts, Bockwinkel put Theory away with a sleeper to win a see-saw, 13-minute battle. The cocky youngster gave Bockwinkel all he could handle, but at times he seemed to waste time following up on covers and taunting his opponent and the crowd. The AWA icon, though, was all business, and after he won he pointed to the nearest cameraman and said, “Barry Windham – I want a shot at your title. Or should I say, my title.”
COMMERCIAL
Styles had breaking news. “I've just been informed that the Minnesota Wrestling Club will defend their AWA World Tag-Team titles against Mark and Jay Briscoe on next week's show, but that's not all! Whoever walks out of that match with the championships will face FTR for the UWA Universal Tag-Team titles at our premium event, titled AWA Super Sunday 2!”
WAR GAMES ADVANTAGE MATCH
NO DISQUALIFICATION
ARN ANDERSON vs. MANNY FERNANDEZ:
vs.
NO DISQUALIFICATION
ARN ANDERSON vs. MANNY FERNANDEZ:
vs.
This was an intense brawl that was fought on the floor almost as much as it was fought in the ring. As per Graham's orders, it was just the two wrestlers – not even Blassie was allowed at ringside. And after both men were busted open, “Double A” nailed Fernandez with a spinebuster on a stack of steel chairs in the center of the ring, earning the win and the advantage at Super Sunday 2's War Games match.
Anderson didn't have long to celebrate. The rest of the Pinnacle charged down the ramp and surrounded the ring. But before they could swarm him, Diamond Dallas Page and Mad Dog Vachon ran down and slid into the ring, negating the advantage with the chairs they all picked up off the canvas. The “Raging Bull” painfully slid outside, and the heels angrily retreated. As the show ended, MJF warned his opponents that he had a big surprise to reveal next week to fill out their team.