Post by fifthhorseman on Jul 15, 2023 23:59:34 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 52
EPISODE 52
Pyro from Duluth, 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.
AWA WORLD TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
JAY and MARK BRISCOE (c) vs. the MINNESOTA WRESTLING CLUB (w/Chad Gable):
vs.
JAY and MARK BRISCOE (c) vs. the MINNESOTA WRESTLING CLUB (w/Chad Gable):
vs.
Cold open with the four competitors standing across from each other in the ring, lit up by a single spotlight. When the bell rang, the action was just as fierce and competitive as in their previous match, and Williams and Jay were both busted open during the fray. It was a rugged 20-minute battle that Jay won for his team with a simple roll-up on Gagne from behind.
After the match, Gagne got in “Dr. Death's” face, blaming him for the loss, and Gable tried to keep the peace. Finally, Williams snapped and shoved Gagne hard to the canvas. The crowd gasped and cheered, and the All-American from Oklahoma threw his hands up in disgust and walked away, followed by a disappointed Gable, leaving the AWA icon all by himself.
COMMERCIAL
A VTR aired; it was Diamond Dallas Page, who was justifiably angry at Rocky Maivia. “If I wasn't contractually obligated to be at this convention here in New Jersey, I'd be in Minnesota right now, looking to kick your ass! We're gonna eventually cross paths, big boy, and when we do – bang!”
Demolition stood backstage, arms crossed, and Christian Cage – just out of range of the camera – said, “No sense beating around the bush. Jack Tunney said that I could pick any three men to face the Midnight Express tonight, so I chose two of the biggest, meanest, toughest men in the entire UWA. As for the third man -” and then Cage walked into the shot, wearing red-and-black face paint of his own - “well, if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself. Eaton, Condrey, Lane – we'll see you soon!”
MIKE AWESOME (w/the Grand Wizard) vs. JERRY LYNN:
vs.
vs.
Surprisingly, the two former ECW World champions had only faced off a handful of times in the past. Lynn was, as always, a tough opponent, but Awesome was just too big and strong. It took him about seven minutes to finish Lynn off with an Awesome Bomb. Before the official could even raise his hand, Awesome hit Lynn with a second one, and that prompted Lance Storm to come out for the save. But he was not alone; a few moments later, “Superstar” Billy Graham also walked out, marched into the ring, and went nose-to-nose with the Wizard's client. “You might be awesome, but I'm a superstar!”
COMMERCIAL
BADD COMPANY vs. MONEY INC.:
vs.
Tanaka and Diamond were in an unusual spot – they were cheered. The former AWA World tag champs sold for the bigger, stronger technicians, who kept looking back at the open briefcase in their corner. It contained a laptop, and whoever stood in the corner – DiBiase or Rotunda – constantly looked at it. It was a distraction, and it cost them; the “Million Dollar Man” was not paying attention to Rotunda's outstretched hand. Diamond connected with a perfect dropkick, propelling “the Taxman” face-first into the turnbuckle, and the Canadian pinned Rotunda with a tight cover for the shocking win. It After Badd Company left, Money Inc packed up the laptop and spoke in angry tones all the way up the ramp and through the curtain.
After they were gone, Lee Marshall introduced the Pinnacle. Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Bobby Roode, and Freddie Blassie entered the ring as if on a mission. Flair tool the lead: “We've beaten up a lot of people lately, but there are still some guys in the back that want to try us out. What, did you all forget who won the first-ever AWA War Games? Listen up! There's a big show coming up next month, and when you want to make a big show even bigger, you call the Pinnacle. So if any tough guys in the back want a match, you know where to find us!”
A few seconds later, the video screens came to life - it was the Midnight Rider. He was somewhere backstage, and with his audio-scrambled voice, he challenged Tully Blanchard to a match – next week.
COMMERCIAL
A Damian Priest VTR aired. He was back in New York City at a nightclub, and he said, “AWA WrestleRock is just around the corner, and mark my words, I will be on that card. All I need is an opponent. So I'm issuing an open challenge – just sign your name on a contract.”
PILEDRIVER MATCH
THREE OUT OF FIVE SERIES (MATCH FIVE)
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. JERRY LAWLER (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
Styles reminded the audience that to win, either man had to hit a piledriver immediately before going for a pin or submission... and both men were amongst the best in the entire UWA at delivering one. They both focused on each other's necks and shoulders, and as it was a stipulation match with only one way to win, the ref had to let a lot go. Ten minutes in, Hart threw his megaphone to “the King”, and he nailed Bockwinkel with it. Then, the piledriver, and the pin... for two! The crowd erupted for the AWA legend, and the battle continued. A few minutes later, Bockwinkel hit Lawler with his – on the ring apron – and rolled the Memphis native back in the ring. It felt like the longest three-count in AWA history, but it was finally over, with Bockwinkel's hand raised in victory.
COMMERCIAL
Rocky Maivia walked through the curtain and commandeered a microphone from the broadcast table. “Diamond Dallas Page talks a big game when he's not around, doesn't he? Well, the Rock wasn't afraid to show up this week, because the Rock knows what the fans want – and that's to bask in the presence of the most electrifying man in professional wrestling! Whether you're here, whether you're not here, it doesn't matter to the Rock – as long as you shine that AWA Intercontinental belt up real good for when you finally step in the ring with greatness!”
ANGELO DAWKINS vs. MONTEZ FORD:
vs.
vs.
Dawkins tacked Ford before the bell rang. This was a fight, not a wrestling match, and the referee was very lenient. Violent but short, it ended with Ford hitting two From the Heavens splashes. He kicked Dawkins out of the ring to add insult to injury.
Money Inc. was in their locker room, and Bischoff entered the scene to find out what was going on. The two wrestlers were both staring at the laptop, and Bischoff asked them – to no avail – what was going on. They ignored him, or acted like they didn't hear him, and DiBiase finally said, “It's all gone. It's all gone."
COMMERCIAL
A video vignette aired for the “Phenomenal One”, AJ Styles.
Marshall was with the AWA World Mid-Heavyweight champion, Lou Thesz, in a pre-taped segment. Thesz said that he respected the man he tagged with the previous week, the former titleholder, the Dynamite Kid. “But as long as anyone doubts that I'm the true champion, even for a second, then I may as well give this belt back to the office. We've wrestled a bunch of matches already, and the last time we fought, we went nearly 45 minutes. So I'm challenging you. Kid. WrestleRock. A 60-minute IronMan match. Will you accept?”
IF MIDNIGHT EXPRESS WINS: TOP CONTENDERS FOR AWA WORLD TAG-TEAM TITLES
IF DEMOLITION AND CAGE WINS: LOSER LEAVES TOWN
CHRISTIAN CAGE and DEMOLITION vs. the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (w/Jim Cornette):
vs.
IF DEMOLITION AND CAGE WINS: LOSER LEAVES TOWN
CHRISTIAN CAGE and DEMOLITION vs. the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (w/Jim Cornette):
vs.
Conspicuous by his absence: Big Bubba Rogers. West tried to ask Cornette about it as he led his team to the ring, but the feisty manager shouted, "None of your damn business!" Ax, Smash, and Cage were second through the curtain, and received a collective hero's welcome.
This was power versus speed, and Cage was the face in peril on his side. All three members of the Express did everything short of getting disqualified to injure him, as Cornette wanted to take him out before WrestleRock. But Cage eventually tagged out, and Demolition took over. A couple of minutes later, Ax smashed Condrey with a second-rope elbow, and it was over. Demolition and Christian celebrated on the ramp, and Lane, Eaton, and Cornette hugged the suddenly unemployed Condrey in a mixture of anger, frustration, and sadness to close the show.