Post by fifthhorseman on May 7, 2023 23:39:53 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 46
EPISODE 46
Pyro from Oakland, California, 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 World Heavyweight champion, Barry Windham, stepped through the curtain flanked by Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers. The manager had a microphone in his hand, and when they all got the ring, he started a lengthy diatribe about Christian Cage, insulting almost everything about the man before holding the mike for Windham. The big Texan continued the verbal rundown, and said that Cage didn't have the guts to meet him face-to-face.
A few seconds later, Cage walked out onto the stage, and borrowed a microphone from the broadcast table. He replied that smashing him in the back with Cornette's own tennis racket felt good, but he'd be more than happy to slap him in the face, too. “In fact, I know that Eddie Graham would like to see it. I'm pretty sure that all of these people want to see it. How about you put that belt on the line right now?”
Cornette pitched a fit, and Rogers slowly got out of the ring. But before he could get any further, Eddie Graham also appeared and made the match for Spring Slam: Barry Windham versus Christian Cage for the AWA World Heavyweight title. As the involved parties eventually cleared the scene, West and Styles ran through the night's card. This would be the final All-Star Wrestling episode before AWA Spring Slam.
DARBY ALLIN vs. MIKE AWESOME:
vs.
vs.
As talented as Allin was, he was facing a man 100 pounds heavier and arguably just as agile. Awesome dominated the five-minute match. Still, Allin got a few shots in, and went to the top rope for the Coffin Drop. but the former ECW champ beat him to the punch and slammed him hard to the canvas with an avalanche Awesome Bomb for the win. Afterwards, Awesome loudly repeated his claim that he was the best big man in the AWA.
COMMERCIAL
Commissioner Graham was back in his office. Lou Thesz sat across from him, as did the Stampede Mid-Heavyweight champion, the Dynamite Kid. Graham commended them both for their 20- and 30-minute draws, and told them that he really wanted to see a winner. Thus, at Spring Slam, he was giving them 45 minutes in another championship match.
ART BARR vs. PRINCE PUMA:
vs.
vs.
Standard high-flying, action-packed match, and both men were eager to impress and get into the Stampede Mid-Heavyweight championship conversation as well. They went about nine flashy minutes, and after Puma missed a 630 splash, the “American Love Machine” connected with his frog splash for the victory.
When it was over, the scene shifted backstage, where MJF stood beside his manager, “Classy” Freddie Blassie. He said that the no-contact rule was almost set to expire between him and Diamond Dallas Page, and at Spring Slam, he would take back his Southern Heavyweight championship. “But in the meantime, Arn Anderson thinks that he can slow me down? Not a chance, chump – I'll see you out there on the flip side.”
COMMERCIAL
ARN ANDERSON vs. MJF (w/Freddie Blassie):
vs.
Friedman sneered at the Oakland crowd as he entered the ring. He arrogantly leaned back on the ropes waiting for “the Enforcer”, and when Anderson parted the curtain the crowd rose to his feet. However, he wasn't the only man that appeared on the stage...
Bobby Roode nailed Anderson from behind, spun him around, and hit him with a devastating spinebuster on the stage! “Double A” landed hard, and AWA officials and medical staff ran out to check on him. Back in the ring, MJF seized a microphone from Lee Marshall and said, “You thought I was going to get my hands dirty on that mid Arn Anderson before my rematch for the AWA Southern Heavyweight title? Did you really think I'd risk the slightest injury before Spring Slam? You're all morons! So I'll say it very slowly... meet the newest member of the Pinnacle, the 'Canadian Enforcer', Bobby Roode!”
Anderson was placed on a back board and carried away, and the referee declared the match a no-contest. Blassie and MJF left to a chorus of boos, seemingly ready for DDP in just a couple of weeks.
COMMERCIAL
A VTR was shown featuring the AWA World Tag-Team champions, the Minnesota Wrestling Club. Verne Gagne did most of the talking about their upcoming match with FTR for the UWA straps, while Steve Williams still wore the frightening hockey mask that covered the injury he sustained in their first match with Wheeler and Harwood. The AWA legend promised that they would bring the UWA Universal Tag-Team titles back to Minnesota.
CHRISTOPHER DANIELS (w/Frankie Kazarian) vs. BOBBY EATON (w/Stan Lane and Jim Cornette) vs. ALEX SHELLEY (w/Chris Sabin):
vs. vs.
vs. vs.
Styles reminded the audience that these three teams would be battling in a fatal four-way at Spring Slam – and the last team would be announced right before that match. Predictably, the contest was exciting while it lasted, but it didn't last long. After a chaotic sequence of pins and reversals, the three grapplers all wound up brawling on the floor. Soon enough, Cornette and Lane stuck their noses into it, and they were confronted by Kazarian and Sabin. The three outside wrestlers started fighting as well, and the “Louisville Slugger” used the distraction to nail Daniels with his tennis racket. “Beautiful Bobby” rolled him in and pinned him while Cornette held Shelley's ankle, unseen by the official. Eventually all three teams fought back to the back, and the show went to
COMMERCIAL
A Demolition vignette; Ax and Smash were wondering why they weren't getting any title shots. They wondered why they weren't getting any matches lately. They wondered why they weren't beating people up. And they weren't going to wait around and do nothing about it anymore.
Jerry Lawler sauntered to the ring with his manager, Jimmy Hart. Lee Marshall got in the ring as well and asked “the King” why he was there. Lawler stated that he and Nick Bockwinkel had history with each other, and they were both former AWA World champions. “But that's where the similarities end! I want to show everybody that I'm a better man than you, beyond the shadow of a doubt, and that means beating you more than once. I can beat you anytime, any place, and in any style of match. So I'm challenging you to a best-of-five, spin the wheel and make the deal style! If you got any guts, you'll say yes – but I sincerely doubt it!”
The two heels left, and Styles told the audience was Anderson was on my way to the local hospital.
RON SIMMONS (w/Jimmy Hart and Butch Reed) vs. BRON STEINER (w/Rocky Maivia):
vs.
The theme of the night seemed to be outside interference, and this match was no exception. There were plenty of shoving matches and distractions from both corners, and the two strongmen inside the ring dazzled with big power moves. After about ten minutes, Steiner pulled off the upset when Hart threw his megaphone a little too far, and the second-generation star nailed Simmons with it while the referee was distracted by Maivia and Reed. The young stars celebrated on the ramp while Doom seethed in the ring.
COMMERCIAL
An “earlier in the week” VTR was shown. Jay and Mark Briscoe were at the farm in Delaware, and they were sick and tired of Money Incorporated and their big goon Batista. “All we want is a fair fight!” Jay yelled. “We don't care if it's two on two or three on three, but if it was up to us, it's just me and my brother against you two smug, rich punks. We're bringin' our wrestling gear to Spring Slam – and we dare you to do the same!”
Eric Bischoff was backstage, where he introduced Amazing Red for an interview. Bischoff congratulated on his winning record, and Red responded with typical babyface verbiage, complimenting the stiff competition in the mid-heavyweight division. He was interrupted by Chad Gable, who called him a flash in the pan, and challenged him to a match at Spring Slam. Needless to say, Red accepted.
Before the main event, West was even more excited as usual, as he got to present two more matches for AWA Spring Slam. A graphic flashed behind him as he announced that Tully Blanchard would be squaring off against Lance Storm in what was sure to be a technical affair. The second graphic drew a huge roar from the California crowd: Money Inc. versus the Briscoes in a “personal lumberjack” match. Each team would have a third man in their corner – in this case, Batista and Don Leo Jonathan, respectively. If anyone wound up on the floor beside them, on their designated half of the ring, they were fair game. (Imagine the ring and ringside area cut down the middle diagonally.)
AWA SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE (c):
vs.
MJF might not have wanted to wrestle any stiff competition going into Spring Slam, but Page welcomed the challenge. So did Dragunov; he was the first Southern titleholder in the revitalized AWA, and he sorely wanted to be the first two-time champion. DDP was no match for his opponent's speed, so he tried to ground him – also, that allowed him to keep an eye on the Pinnacle should any of them try something. Dragunov took advantage of this, and it was a very close battle. In fact, he set up Page for the Torpedo Moscow, but as he ran in DDP hit him with a Diamond Cutter out of nowhere for the win.
He barely had a chance to celebrate, as the Pinnacle – Flair, MJF, Tully Blanchard, and Bobby Roode – sauntered through the curtain. With evil intent, they slowly walked down to the ring, surrounding him. Technically, MJF still couldn't touch him, as Graham would cancel their Spring Slam bout... but the other three men could. But before they could do anything, Maivia, Steiner, and Lance Storm ran down as well and slid into the ring. It was a stalemate, and DDP and MJF jawed at each other as the show ended.