Post by fifthhorseman on Jun 17, 2023 0:17:38 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 49
EPISODE 49
Pyro from Calgary, Alberta, 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.
Eric Bischoff stood on the stage and called out the AWA World Heavyweight champion, Barry Windham. He was led out by Jim Cornette, who did most of the talking. He said that Windham was ecstatic about getting Christian Cage in a cage, and he would put an end to things once and for all. But he wasn't happy about the other stipulation newly-appointed AWA President Jack Tunney added to the match – than he and Big Bubba Rogers would be handcuffed together at ringside!
AMAZING RED vs. ART BARR vs. the DYNAMITE KID vs. CHAD GABLE:
vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.
As usual, the competitors in the mid-heavyweight division put on a sprint of a match. The crowd was unanimously behind the Stampede alumnus, the Dynamite Kid, and after about ten minutes he nailed Barr with a top-rope headbutt to earn the win. When he left, the Kid pointed to his waist to signal that he wasn't done with Lou Thesz.
A vignette featuring Superstar Billy Graham aired; he would be in the AWA very soon.
COMMERCIAL
MJF sent in a VTR package, and he said that he was taking a couple of weeks off. “My back is just a little sore from carrying this promotion for the last year and a half, but mark my words. The devil always gets his due.”
Jay and Mark Briscoe were backstage with Bischoff, and they told him that their wish was granted – next week, they were going to take on the Minnesota Wrestling Club for the AWA World Tag-Team titles.
TORNADO TAG-TEAM MATCH
DEMOLITION vs. DOOM (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
DEMOLITION vs. DOOM (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
The four brawlers went at it again, and despite the tornado rules, at least there was a sense of structure. They all stayed in or at least around the ring, and they beat the hell out of each other. There wasn't a lot of double-teaming, but when there was, it was vicious. After about only eight minutes, Doom hit a double sit-down chokeslam on Smash, and Reed made the pin. Ax tangled with Simmons as the ref counted; in the confusion, Smash got his foot over the bottom rope but the official missed it, making the three-count and giving Doom the tainted victory.
And THEN they brawled all the way to the back, just like the week before.
COMMERCIAL
America's Most Wanted was backstage, and they told the trailing cameraman that their scheduled opponents, Larry Hennig and Harley Race, were stuck at customs at the Calgary airport. They complained about not having any competition, but Lance Storm walked into the stage, accompanied by longtime Stampede grappler Leo Burke in street clothes, and they offered to take on AMW instead.
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
TULLY BLANCHARD (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE (c):
vs.
TULLY BLANCHARD (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE (c):
vs.
The “People's Champion” had his head on a swivel; not only was Blassie a potential threat, but you never knew if MJF, other members of the Pinnacle, or Maivia would suddenly show up. That gave Blanchard plenty of opportunities to show why he was arguably the AWA's most underrated star. It was a tightly-contested 15-minute battle, and sure enough, there was interference – but it worked out in DDP's favor. As Page was getting ready to finish things off, Bobby Roode ran down the ramp, engaging the champ and the referee. Suddenly, Arn Anderson jumped over the rail in street clothes, hit a spinebuster on his former partner, and hid under the ring. Page turned around, pulling the official with him, and made the pin for the win.
COMMERCIAL
The Midnight Rider appeared on the video screen, and laughed about gaining access to the Pinnacle's dressing room the week before. With a scrambled voice, he said that he was disappointed that none of them caught him, so he'd had to take it to another level. “Bobby Roode – you're the newest member of the Pinnacle, and you're supposedly the enforcer. Do you think you can protect Ric Flair from me? Why don't you meet me in the ring next week?”
Another backstage segment: Bischoff was with AWA newcomers Paul London and Brian Kendrick. They weren't satisfied with their countout win over Money Inc., and they wanted a rematch. As if on cue, DiBiase, Rotunda, and Batista entered the scene, and said that they'd be happy to oblige. The “Million Dollar Man” warned them that they were making a huge mistake, and when Bischoff asked him why they bailed on their earlier match, DiBiase got fluttered and told his crew to follow him out.
SPIN THE WHEEL STIPULATION MATCH – CONTRACT ON A POLE MATCH
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.
This stipulation didn't play to either man's strengths, but you can blame it on the wheel. For the most part, the two men fought a traditional match, and didn't even attempt to climb to the top turnbuckle to retrieve the contract for next week's match. It was a very close battle, and when Bockwinkel finally took over and start the slow climb, “the King” distracted the referee. That gave Hart an opening to smash the AWA icon across the kneecap with his megaphone, and Bockwinkel tumbled down to the floor. Lawler methodically climbed up and seized the contract from the pole, taking the win and earning the right to name the stipulation for the next match.
COMMERCIAL
Lee Marshall was in the ring, and he introduced Bryan Danielson. The “American Dragon” received a huge ovation, and told the audience that he was eager to wrestle the best competition in the AWA. He didn't get too far, though, because Austin Theory walked down and interrupted him. With the “Mouth of the South” behind him, Theory challenged Danielson to a match next week – needless to say, the former WWE champion accepted.
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED vs. LEO BURKE and LANCE STORM:
vs.
AMW didn't get the night off as they hoped, far from it. Lance and Burke had an enthusiastic crowd behind them, and their technical expertise had Storm and Harris on the ropes early on. But the young heels turned the tide, and eventually nailed Burke with the Death Sentence to win. They continued their beatdown on the veteran until Lance scared them off with a steel chair.
A Street Profits vignette aired, which took them to
COMMERCIAL
CAGE MATCH
AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c, w/Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers):
vs.
AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. BARRY WINDHAM (c, w/Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers):
vs.
The big blue cage dropped down over the ring, with Windham's manager and his bodyguard on the outside in, handcuffed together. The rules were pinfall, submission, or escape, and both competitors were willing to do whatever it took to capture the title. Back and forth they went, for a long time, until the champion crotched himself on the top rope and was down. “Captain Charisma”, already on the top turnbuckle, decided to climb for it, and slowly made his way to the top of the cage...
...Where he was met by Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane. While Cage made his ascent, the Midnight Express ran down and climbed the cage from the outside, intercepting the former TNA World champion at the top. Christian couldn't get around or past them, and that gave “the Widowmaker” time enough to climb up behind his foe, and hit him with a devastating belly-to-back suplex. Both men lay prone for several seconds, until Windham threw his arm over Cage's chest for the pin. After the match, the bloodied champion put the iron claw on Cage, drawing blood from him as well. The show ended with Windham, the Express – with Condrey as well – Cornette, and Rogers all standing in the ring with their hands raised.