Post by fifthhorseman on Jul 22, 2023 18:50:11 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 53
EPISODE 53
Pyro from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 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.
Diamond Dallas Page cut a promo to start the show. The AWA Intercontinental champion said that there were a lot of challengers for his belt, including Damian Priest. “Well, since you wanted a match against anybody on the roster, here I am. You want a shot tonight? Let's see what you got. And when I win that match, I'll set my sights on whoever wins the battle royale in a few minutes. I don't care who it is, I'm a fighting champion. And one more thing – Rocky Maivia, I haven't forgotten about you, punk. I know that you're not in that battle royale. Why not – scared to face me man-to-man? Whatever. You, Damian Priest, I don't care – you're all gonna feel! The! Bang!”
BATTLE ROYALE
WINNER RECEIVES AWA INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH AT WRESTLEROCK:
WINNER RECEIVES AWA INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH AT WRESTLEROCK:
Roll call: Bron Steiner, Bobby Roode, Mad Dog Vachon, Austin Theory, Jerry Lynn, Batista, Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, X-Pac, Chris Harris, James Storm, and the debuting Sheamus. The Irishman received a loud and positive welcome, and he made a favorable impression throwing out three of his opponents. It came down to him, Roode, and Batista at the end; the heels worked together to try to toss Sheamus out, and when he Brogue Kicked Roode out of the ring, Batista immediately threw him out from behind.
COMMERCIAL
Backstage, Sheamus cut a fiery promo. “Not the way I wanted to debut here in the AWA! On one hand, I did beat ten other guys. On the other hand, one guy beat me. I'll tip my cap to you, Batista, but one day we'll cross paths again. And until that happens, I'll keep kicking lads in the face and drinking pints afterwards. And if anyone wants to prevent me from either, I'm big, loud, and easy to find.”
Montez Ford “appeared” via a VTR package. He declared that with “the anchor” Angelo Dawkins gone, he could finally show the world how good he really was. “If you thought being a Street Profit was gonna be the highlight of my career, you were dead wrong. My career is just getting started in the AWA, and I'll be wearing a big shiny belt before too long. That's a guarantee.”
DOOM (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. BRIAN KENDRICK and PAUL LONDON:
vs.
vs.
Typical power vs. speed match between two experienced teams; for every power spot Simmons and Reed hit, London and Kendrick matched it with an innovative double-team. They went ten competitive minutes, but Doom was just too strong, and Reed nailed Kendrick with a running powerslam for the win. After the match, Hart grabbed the microphone and challenged Demolition for another match at AWA WrestleRock.
COMMERCIAL
SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM vs. PERRY SATURN (w/John Kronus):
vs.
Graham wanted a test for his first AWA match, and the Eliminator certainly gave him one. Kronus was a factor at ringside as well, but the former WWWF champ overcame the odds and pinned Saturn after a full nelson slam. He got out of the ring before Kronus could do anything, but as Graham walked up the ramp, Mike Awesome strode through the curtain onto the stage. The two powerhouses stared at each other for several seconds; Awesome just smirked and left the scene.
When everyone was gone, Lee Marshall introduced Money Inc., and the former WWF tag champs entered the ring in a sad, despondent mood. DiBiase did the talking, and he vowed that they would not only rebound from a financial perspective, but this temporary run of bad luck made them even stronger; in fact, before long, Money Inc. would be wearing AWA tag-team gold.
Suddenly, Virgil walked through the curtain and entered the ring, stoically, carrying an attache case of his own. Rotunda got in between them and warned the former bodyguard that he better not be out there to mock their predicament. “If you're here to gloat, if you're here to cause trouble, you better understand this. You might think we're down and out, but we're not.” He paused, looked at his partner, and slowly smirked. “The only person in any kind of trouble is you.”
DiBiase was confused, and demanded to know what he meant – so Rotunda told him. “This has always been a one-sided partnership, so I decided to change that. After all of the work I've done for you over the years, never once did you thank me or show me even a little respect! You gave me access to everything, Ted, so I decided to take care of 'business' myself. It's all mine – lock, stock, and barrel.”
Rotunda let loose with a mighty laugh. DiBiase charged forward, but before he got his hands on his former partner, Virgil smashed him in the head with the steel case. DiBiase went down, and blood dripped from his face as the burly bodyguard slowly opened the case. He pulled out the Million Dollar Championship, cinched it around Rotunda's waist, and the two men left, bypassed by medical personnel who went to check on the dazed and bloodied DiBiase.
COMMERCIAL
Another vignette aired for AJ Styles – the “Phenomenal One” was on his way to the AWA.
Styles and West were still in shock over the dissolution of Money Inc., and told the audience that DiBiase was on his way to a hospital to be checked for a concussion.
NON-TITLE MATCH
LANCE STORM vs. BARRY WINDHAM (w/Jim Cornette):
LANCE STORM vs. BARRY WINDHAM (w/Jim Cornette):
vs.
Cornette joined Styles and West on commentary, and told them that his champion wanted to train for his WrestleRock championship defense by wrestling “a mediocre Canadian – this kid Lance Storm is alright, he has some technical skills, and this will be a good tune-up bout for 'the Widowmaker'. Just something to make big Barry break a sweat.”
The ECW mainstay did more than make Windham sweat – Storm was a formidable opponent, and after the first five minutes, an irritated Cornette left the table and went to ringside. Windham took control of the match, and aided by a tennis racket shot to Storm's kidneys from the outside, the champion won with a vicious flying lariat.
After the match, Windham decided to send a message to Christian Cage by hitting Storm repeatedly with Cornette's racket. Jerry Lynn ran out for the save with a steel chair, returning the favor Storm did the week before.
COMMERCIAL
Storm and Lynn were in one of the locker rooms. After thanking Lynn again for the save, Storm suggested that the two form a permanent alliance. The two ECW stalwarts sealed the deal with a handshake, and Lynn said, “As long as we're not called the New Can-Am Connection.”
TULLY BLANCHARD (w/Ric Flair) vs. the MIDNIGHT RIDER (w/Arn Anderson):
vs.
vs.
Once the match got underway, Styles told the crowd that earlier in the day, President Jack Tunney signed another WrestleRock match – Blanchard vs. Anderson in a leather strap match. Thus, as if it wasn't tense enough during this match, Flair and Anderson constantly shouted at each other and the grapplers in the ring, and a pair of additional referees came down during the match to keep the former Horsemen from fighting at ringside. Meanwhile, the action inside the ring was well-fought, and after about 12 minutes, the Rider rolled up Blanchard from behind for the sudden win. He rolled out quickly and left with “Double A”, but stopped on the stage when Flair grabbed the microphone.
“Hey! Hey, I'm taking to you, punk! I'm putting an end to this! I'm challenging you to a match at WrestleRock! If I lose, I'll call you the better man in front of the entire world. But when I win, you have to take that stupid mask off and show everybody who you are! What do you say?”
Back on the stage, the Rider pointed back at Flair, and nodded in agreement.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-recorded interview was shown, with Bischoff at Verne Gagne's house. The AWA icon was angry, and in typical heel fashion, blamed Steve Williams for losing to the Briscoes twice and declared that he chose to disband the Minnesota Wrestling Club. “I should have known from the beginning that Steve and Chad weren't up to my level. They just weren't trained as well or are as tough as me. What's in store for Verne Gagne? You'll find out soon enough.”
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE (c) vs. DAMIAN PRIEST:
vs.
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE (c) vs. DAMIAN PRIEST:
vs.
This was Priest's highest-profile match in the AWA thus far, and it was also his best. He took it to the champion early, using his martial arts striking skills on DDP, who had a tough time defending the punches and kicks. He targeted the champion's ribs and chest, driving the wind from his body. Eventually, though, the “People's Champion” rallied back with his blue-collar offense and scored several two-counts before the challenger picked DDP up for a Razor's Edge. But Page wriggled free, spun the challenger around, and caught him with a Diamond Cutter for the hard-fought win. When it ended, Batista strolled through the curtain to mock-applaud Page's victory, and the two stared each other down to end the show.