Post by fifthhorseman on Jul 6, 2023 0:21:53 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 51
EPISODE 51
Pyro from Minneapolis, Minnesota, 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 introduced the new AWA World Tag-Team champions, Mark and Jay Briscoe, onto the stage. They proudly held the belts high as they walked out, and declared that they were fighting champions. Naturally, they were interrupted by the Minnesota Wrestling Club, and Verne Gagne demanded a rematch. Jay accepted on behalf of both brothers, but as the night's card was completely full, they would battle next week.
BADD COMPANY vs. the STREET PROFITS:
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Both teams were making their debut in the relaunched AWA, and it was fast-paced and filled with dynamic double-team moves. The Profits looked to have the match in hand, and Ford climbed the top turnbuckle to hit his splash From the Heavens on Tanaka. However, Diamond tackled Dawkins before he could leave the ring, and they both slammed back into the corner, knocking Ford to the floor. Badd Company quickly recovered, and hit Dawkins with a superkick/German suplex combination to win it.
After the match, Ford slid back in to console his teammate – just long enough to dropkick him in the face! The crowd was in stunned disbelief, and gasped when the former Marine went airborne again, connecting with From the Heavens on Dawkins. He then went outside, grabbed a steel chair, and hit Dawkins three times before, unexpectedly, Badd Company ran back down and made the save. Ford angrily avoided them, and as medical staff jogged past him, he shouted back at the booing fans.
COMMERCIAL
Bischoff caught up to Ford outside, who was just about to get in an Uber. “For weeks, we got the vignettes, we got the hype, the Street Profits were gonna be the next big thing in the AWA tag-team division! And damned if my former partner doesn't choke on opening night and lose to a pair of scrubs that just got here, too! You only get one chance to make a first impression, and I wasn't about to let a loss be that impression! So here's what you're all gonna remember – Montez Ford, on his own, without Angelo Dawkins holding him back!”
Herb Abrams stood on the stage with the gimmick wheel to decide the final match in the best-of-five series between Jerry Lawler and Nick Bockwinkel. The two legends were introduced, and they (and Jimmy Hart) walked out from opposite sides of the stage. After trading verbal jabs with each other, Abrams gave the wheel its last spin, and after several suspenseful seconds, it finally stopped... on a piledriver match. Both wrestlers seemed pleased with the result.
WILL OSPREAY vs. RICKY STARKS:
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Styles reminded the audience that Starks asked for this match, and early on, it looked like “Absolute” would regret it. Ospreay dominated the bout but could not put Starks away, and the longer the match went the more frustrated he became. They went about 15 minutes; Ospreay hoisted Starks up for the Stormbreaker, but the native of New Orleans slipped off his opponent's back and reversed it into a Roshambo. Three seconds later, Starks was celebrating his biggest win in the AWA to date.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-taped segment aired, where Money Inc. and Batista was “secretly” caught on video in an arena luxury suite. They were discussing their recent out-of-the-ring financial difficulties, and Rotunda said, “Ted, things are bad. Really bad. Between the crypto and the real estate and the stocks, you're taking a beating.”
DiBiase was not impressed. “What the hell do you mean? What's going on?”
“The Taxman” frowned. “You've lost... you've lost about 80% of the value of your portfolio... and I just don't know if you can get it back. We'll have to be more aggressive, but that's up to you.”
Batista slowly stood up and crossed his arms. “This sounds like a you problem. I'll give you until midnight to settle up with me. After that, no matter what, I'm my own man.” He paused at the doorway. “Midnight.”
Money Inc. looked at each other and then back at the laptop computer on the table in frustration.
The ADDICTION vs. TULLY BLANCHARD and RIC FLAIR (w/Freddie Blassie):
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Although Daniels and Kazarian were the true tag-team in this match, Flair and Blanchard had tagged together dozens of times over their careers, so chemistry was no issue here. Blassie was hard at work as well, helping his men and barking constantly at the referee. A solid ten-minute TV match, with the “Nature Boy” earning the win for his team with a figure-four leglock on Daniels.
The Pinnacle's celebration was short-lived, though, as once again, the Midnight Rider was in their locker room. Bobby Roode was tied up on a chair, unable to do anything, and the masked man styled and profiled for a few more seconds on the giant video screen before he strutted out of the room.
COMMERCIAL
Backstage, Ospreay sullenly walked through the corridor when someone in the shadows, off-screen, told him to stop. “That was a hell of a match, but tell me this, mate... have you ever considered the tag-team division?'
Back to the broadcast table. To start the second half of the show, Styles and West said that the new AWA President, Jack Tunney, had an announcement to make about the AWA World Heavyweight title. The big screen came to life, and Tunney sat in his office. “After several weeks of interference and unsportsmanlike conduct, I declare that the AWA World Heavyweight championship, currently held by Barry Windham, will be defended at AWA WrestleRock next month... against Christian Cage... in a Hell in a Cell match. And I will tolerate no interference.”
“In addition, the Midnight Express's actions last week must be dealt with. Next week, on AWA All-Star Wrestling, Dennis Condrey, Bobby Eaton, and Stan Lane will compete in a six-man tag-team match against three opponents chosen by Christian Cage. If the Midnight Express wins, they will be declared the number one contenders for the AWA World Tag-Team championship. But if they lose, the man who gets pinned or submits will be released from his AWA contract that same night.”
That was it, and the screen went dark, replaced immediately by a graphic for AWA WrestleRock. A few seconds later, Jim Cornette stormed out onto the stage, followed by Windham, the Express, and Big Bubba Rogers. The “Louisville Slugger” was irate, and vowed that none of his men were leaving the AWA, no matter who Christian picked. “And as for that Hell in a Cell match, Cage, if you asked for it... boy, are you gonna regret it. You're gonna be trapped inside the most brutal wrestling structure on the planet with a man who can get as brutal as anybody, 'the Widowmaker' himself, big Barry Windham. And mark my words, when we win these matches – and we will – then we'll be the ones making all the rules!”
ARN ANDERSON vs. EVAN KARAGIAS:
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“Double A” made quick work of his inexperienced foe, hitting all of his signature spots and ending it with the spinebuster. After the match, Tully Blanchard walked out onto the stage with a microphone to confront his old partner. Not only did he insult Anderson, but he distracted him as well; Bobby Roode ran in from the blind side and hit a spinebuster of his own. The former TNA World champion still felt embarrassed over what happened earlier in the night, and he savagely shouted down at the former Horseman, “You'll have to go through me first!”
COMMERCIAL
Lee Marshall introduced “Superstar” Billy Graham, and the former WWWF World champion received a mixed response from the crowd, although most of them were on his side. In his inimitable way, he told everyone that he was a complicated man with a colorful past... just like his shirts. “But now I'm here, back in the AWA, daddy, and the reasons why are simple to explain! I want all the money, I want all the gold, and I want to show the world that only superstars hang out in the American Wrestling Association!”
The DYNAMITE KID and LOU THESZ vs. JD McDONAGH and X-PAC:
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The newest additions to the mid-heavyweight division showed that they were contenders to be reckoned with, and they dazzled the audience with their speed. However, even though they weren't always on the same page, Thesz and Dynamite were stronger and better on this night. While the champion Thesz stretched X-Pac in one corner, the Kid nailed the Irishman with a top-rope flying headbutt to get the pin. After the match, as Thesz accepted his title belt from the referee, Dynamite grabbed it as well and refused to hand it over. He jawed with Thesz for several seconds, and eventually let it go.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-recorded promo aired with Mike Awesome and the Grand Wizard. The iconic manager said that the former ECW champion was just like him – big, mean, and strong – and that together, they would rise all the way to the top of the AWA.
Styles announced four matches for next week: the Briscoes versus Williams and Gagne, Lawler versus Bockwinkel in a piledriver match, the Midnight Express versus three mystery opponents, and Angelo Dawkins versus Montez Ford!
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE (c) vs. BRON STEINER:
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DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE (c) vs. BRON STEINER:
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West opined that DDP took the match against Steiner because he didn't want to be betrayed by another friend, but Styles retorted that the second-generation star deserved it. The two shook hands at the beginning, and fought a mostly clean fight, but it got more rugged the longer it went. Eventually Page won it with a Diamond Cutter. When it was over, Steiner raised the champion's hand in a show of respect, and DDP saluted him as he left the ring with the belt over his shoulder. Just as the show was about to end, Rocky Maivia burst through the curtain and nailed Page in the back with a steel chair. As the champ writhed on the floor, the Rock snatched up the belt and held it over his head.