Post by fifthhorseman on Jun 2, 2023 15:06:04 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 47
EPISODE 47
Pyro from Eugene, Oregon, 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.
Cold open with Jim Cornette, Big Bubba Rogers, and the AWA World Heavyweight champion Barry Windham in the ring. Cornette had the microphone, and he bragged about his champ beating Christian Cage at AWA Spring Slam. That prompted Eddie Graham to appear, and he wasn't happy about the nefarious means by which Windham retained the title, so he ordered a rematch for tonight – and he pointed up at the object suspended unnoticed above the ring. “Jim Cornette, you will be in that shark cage, 20 feet above the ring so you can't interfere!”
The heels were furious – especially the “Louisville Slugger” - and they charged up the ramp and followed Graham through the curtain. With that business out of the way...
DARBY ALLIN vs. WILL OSPREAY vs. RICKY STARKS:
vs. vs.
vs. vs.
The usual car crash of a three-way match to start the show. They went about eight high-speed minutes, and it ended when Ospreay hit Allin with the Hidden Blade elbow-strike. After the match, Ospreay continued the ground and pound assault on the skateboarder, but Starks rolled back in the ring and hit a Shining Wizard on the Englishman to break it up. Ospreay half-slid, half-fell under the bottom rope, and surprisingly, Starks helped Allin up.
COMMERCIAL
Abrams excitedly reminded them – and the audience – that tonight's match would be the first in a three-out-of-five series, and they would wrestle tonight as per the stipulation of whatever came up on the wheel now. He gave it a mighty whirl, and a few seconds later, it landed on Falls Count Anywhere.
A series of still shots from the Briscoes/Money Inc. tag-team match at Spring Slam was shown after that, ending with Mike Awesome's attack on Don Leo Jonathan. When it ended, Styles told the audience, that the “Mormon Giant” had a broken right leg, and would be out of action for months.
DEMOLITION vs. DOOM (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
vs.
It was a normal tag-team match... for about two minutes. Then all four men went nose-to-nose in the ring and started throwing hands. When the referee tried to get between them, he was shoved to the side by Reed and Ax, and the teams kept brawling. Hart couldn't stop them either, and the two teams fought all the way to the back as the ref signaled for the double-disqualification.
COMMERCIAL
The Pinnacle walked to the ring, and the crowd let MJF have it. He commandeered a microphone from Lee Marshall, and insulted the audience as only he could until Ric Flair took over. The “Nature Boy” insisted that they were the premier faction in the UWA, and that he was the premier wrestler as well. “It's time for me to remind you all why I've worn championship gold wherever I've been. So -”
Suddenly the lights were out, and stayed out for several seconds. A spotlight slowly lit the five men in the ring back up, and then the giant video screen came to life. There was a man dressed in western garb, and he wore a mask and a bandana that fully covered his face. He was about Flair's size – it definitely wasn't WCW's Dusty Rhodes – and he spoke directly to the “Nature Boy” through a voice scrambler. “Ric Flair, if you're looking for a fight, then the Midnight Rider is here to oblige. I'll see you soon.”
The screen went dark again, and the Pinnacle left, still very angry and confused – and West and Styles were at a loss for words.
BRADY BOONE vs. DAMIAN PRIEST:
vs.
vs.
Styles and West explained that this was the stand-by match, something that Graham made official after the shockingly short Doom/Demolition non-event. Boone was the hometown favorite, and got a few shots in early on, but this was a Priest highlight reel. The squash only lasted a few minutes, with Priest using his version of the Razor's Edge to end the match.
But it wasn't over quite yet. Priest threw Boone over his shoulder and carried him up the ramp, and set him up for a second Razor's Edge. He was interrupted by Mad Dog Vachon, who defiantly stepped in front of him. Priest let Boone drop to the floor, and stared down at Vachon, who was almost a foot shorter. Neither man said a word for several seconds, and then the “Archer of Infamy” just walked away through the curtain.
COMMERCIAL
Eric Bischoff introduced Diamond Dallas Page on the stage. The AWA Intercontinental champion strode through the curtain to a standing ovation, but he was not in a good mood. “I Put MJF in my rear view mirror, and even before I can figure out who my next challenger is gonna be, it sure seems like Rocky Maivia wants a shot at the champ! That was really brave, laying me out in the middle of the ring with a Rock Bottom. Wait, did I say brave? I mean, that was a sucker move from a coward! I know you're not here this week, but we're gonna cross paths again real soon. And when we do, I'm gonna knock you on your ass.”
SPIN THE WHEEL STIPULATION MATCH – FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE
THREE OUT OF FIVE SERIES
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. JERRY LAWLER (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
THREE OUT OF FIVE SERIES
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. JERRY LAWLER (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
It wasn't the Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl, but the two wily veterans put on quite the show. The first few minutes, they battled in the squared circle – but then they went outside and kept going. The referee and the “Mouth of the South” followed Lawler and Bockwinkel halfway up the stands, back down to the broadcast table, through the curtain, and into the backstage area. It was wild and chaotic, and it only took the slightest distraction for “the King” to extract a pair of brass knuckles from his tights and nail Bockwinkel between the eyes. Lawler pinned the AWA icon... on Eddie Graham's desk.
COMMERCIAL
Marshall stood in the ring and introduced the new World Mid-Heavyweight champion, Lou Thesz. He received a hero's welcome, and he was quick to put over the former titleholder, the Dynamite Kid. “He is one of the toughest, most determined wrestlers I've ever faced. I hear what they're saying backstage, and I know what you all want, too – a rematch. Well, if Eddie Graham makes it, I'll take it. And until then, I'll wrestle anybody... in fact, I'm making an open challenge for next week. The first man to sign on the dotted line can get a shot at this.” He held up the belt to another cheer and left.
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED vs. BAD INFLUENCE:
vs.
vs.
Textbook tag-team wrestling on display throughout this match. Daniels and Kazarian wanted to avenge their loss at Spring Slam, and they took it to AMW early on with flawless double-team maneuvers. However, the younger team battled back, using timely distractions to frustrate and take over on Bad Influence. They nailed Kaz with a double-clothesline, sending him over the top rope; a few seconds later, they hit Daniels with the Death Sentence legdrop to earn the win.
COMMERCIAL
A “coming soon” video vignette aired, showcasing the work of the Street Profits, Tommaso Ciampa, JD McDonagh... and Bryan Danielson.
Before the main event began, Styles had breaking news – next week, Thesz would defend the AWA World Mid-Heavyweight strap against Will Ospreay!
AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
JIM CORNETTE SUSPENDED ABOVE THE RING
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. BARRY WINDHAM:
vs.
JIM CORNETTE SUSPENDED ABOVE THE RING
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. BARRY WINDHAM:
vs.
Cornette argued for as long as he could, but Kozlov finally “convinced” him to get in the shark cage, and up he went. Once the bell rang, it was another intense battle between two men who were quickly becoming rivals. They were both very good technical wrestlers, and put those skills on display, but when Windham tried to get rough Cage was more than up to the task.
They cruised to the 15-minute mark; both men were conditioned to go as long as necessary, but the TV time limit was quickly approaching, so Christian picked up the pace. He took charge, and Cornette jammed his tennis racket through the bars of the cage. It fell to the mat, and Windham grabbed it. But the ref seized it out of his hands, and took it over to the timekeeper.
He shouldn't have turned his back. Big Bubba Rogers rolled out from under the ring and nailed Cage with a brutal side slam. The 330-pound bodyguard lost his hat on impact, but by the time he rolled back out and the referee re-entered the ring, Windham put the hat between his body and Cage's as he made the pin. Cornette was quickly lowered and released from the cage, and he raised his champion's hand as Rogers reemerged and threw the Canadian out to the floor.