Post by fifthhorseman on Aug 25, 2023 20:25:24 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 57
EPISODE 57
Pyro from Fort Wayne, Indiana, then a 60-second sizzle reel of action from AWA WrestleRock. Announcing the action, Joey Styles and Don West.
Lee Marshall introduced the new AWA World Heavyweight champion, Christian Cage. He wore the battle wounds from WrestleRock, and he entered the ring to a huge ovation. The “Instant Classic” gave due credit to the former champ, Barry Windham, and said that he'd defend the title against him again – and everyone else Jack Tunney deemed a worthy contender. Cage ended with a throwback line: “For the benefit of those of you with flash photography... take a look at your new AWA World champion.” He held the belt up, and left; Styles and West ran through the night's card.
JD McDONAGH vs. AJ STYLES:
vs.
Styles defeated the Irishman with the Styles Clash. Both men looked great in this high-flying, 10-minute battle that had the crowd on its feet. But as the former TNA World champ celebrated his win, he was attacked from behind by Montez Ford, who shouted, “You stole my win! I'm better than you, and you know it!” However, Ford fled when Styles battled back.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-taped interview was shown. Bischoff was in a luxurious hotel suite with the still wheelchair-restricted Mr. Jones and the “Billion Dollar Man,” Mike Rotunda, who wore the gold and diamond-encrusted belt usually associated with his former partner, Ted DiBiase. Rotunda explained that his business deal with Samoa Joe was over, and the 300-pounder was very well-compensated for his work. “I have other plans, other goals now, and one of those goals, naturally, is the AWA World Heavyweight title. And if Ted DiBiase, or Steve Williams, or anyone else tries to stand in my way, they will be dealt with – swiftly and severely.”
TRES GRINGOS LOCOS (ART BARR, TOMMASO CIAMPA, and DOMINIK MYSTERIO) vs. the COLE TWINS and MIKE GRAHAM:
vs.
vs.
The rudos defeated Graham and the twins in an extended squash, with Barr hitting a frog splash on Kent Cole in only about seven minutes. After the match, Marshall interviewed the trio in the ring, and Barr said, “It was time to put a new spin on a legendary faction. I am the tie that binds, the original, the one and only American Love Machine! Tommaso is the muscle – there's always a place for a Sicilian psychopath with us locos! And Dominik is the future, the man that's gonna own the AWA Mid-Heavyweight division for a long, long time to come.”
COMMERCIAL
“Sexy Boy” blared over the arena speakers, and the crowd excitedly rose to its feet – but after about 20 seconds, the giant video screen showed Shawn Michaels backstage surrounded by security guards. About 15 feet away, Ric Flair was (perhaps surprisingly) being held back by Tully Blanchard, Bobby Roode, and Freddie Blassie, along with more security personnel. The “Nature Boy” screamed at Michaels, “You didn't beat me! You think you can embarrass me? You think you're better than me? There's only one Ric Flair, and you can't lace my boots on your best day, punk!”
Michaels was just as determined to get at Flair, and he shouted back, “I had you and your pals chasing ghosts for months, and even when you had me in the ring when I was wearing that Midnight Rider mask, you couldn't beat me then, either! Just say when, Flair, and we'll finally settle who's better!”
More wrestlers and officials ran in to tame the scene, and we went to our next match.
BADD COMPANY vs. the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (w/Jim Cornette):
vs.
vs.
The two teams fought to a double-countout after nearly 15 minutes of non-stop action. They had crossed paths frequently over the last few weeks, and judging by the ferocity of this match, they weren't finished with each other yet. During the match, a split-screen promo aired with America's Most Wanted, who bragged about their elimination match win at WrestleRock and declared themselves the top contenders to Mark and Jay Briscoe's AWA World Tag-Team titles.
COMMERCIAL
A promo by Arn Anderson, recorded sometime shortly after his strap match with Tully Blanchard at WrestleRock. He proudly displayed the welts and bruises that covered his body, and said, “Tully, as far as I'm concerned, you're in my rear view mirror. Don't be a fool by trying to get my attention again. In the meantime, I have a lot of options. Take down the rest of the Pinnacle, for one thing. Or maybe I set my sights on some championship gold. But right now? Tonight? I'm celebrating like we used to do in the Crockett days!”
BOBBY ROODE (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. SHEAMUS:
vs.
vs.
Sheamus defeated Roode by pinfall with the Brogue Kick. This was a technically rugged battle, and both men really laid the punches and kicks in for over 12 minutes.
COMMERCIAL
AMAZING RED vs. AUSTIN THEORY (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
vs.
Theory defeated Red by pinfall with the A-Town Down after about 10 evenly-contested minutes. When Theory and Hart got to the stage, West asked the manager about the situation with Doom. Hart chirped, “Those two ingrates think that they can do better without me? Well, that's their loss. But don't you worry, Jimmy Hart has his eye on some new talent, and everyone knows that I get my men all the way to the top, baby!”
When the wrestlers had all departed, Eric Bischoff introduced onto the stage the reigning AWA World Mid-Heavyweight champion, Lou Thesz. He admitted that he was sore and aching after his IronMan match at WrestleRock with the Dynamite Kid, but Thesz wanted a new challenge. “Look at the sensational matches we've had tonight – the AWA has the best wrestlers in the mid-heavyweight division in the world. The next man up for me could very well be any one of them.”
Suddenly, another man in street clothes walked onto the stage, and it wasn't any of those competitors – nor was it a familiar AWA face. It was Danny Hodge, and the acclaimed amateur simply walked over to Thesz and extended his hand. “If you're looking for fresh opponents, well, I'd be happy to oblige.”
The two men shook hands, cordially, but they never took their eyes off each other.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-taped promo by the Rock. He gloated over the fact that he cost Diamond Dallas Page the AWA Intercontinental title: “If the Rock can't have it, then neither can you, Page. And you're damn lucky that the Rock remembered that he had to take a call from Disney just a few minutes into that street fight – otherwise, they'd still be peeling you off the floor at Lucas Oil Stadium! Don't make threats your ass can't cash – because if there's anything the Rock knows, it's how to lay the beatdown on broken-down candy-asses like you.”
Backstage, Ricky Starks was talking directly into a camera. “Gringos! I have a score to settle with you – and I'm challenging any one of you to get in the ring with me next week!”
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
BATISTA (c) vs. PAUL LONDON (w/Brian Kendrick):
vs.
BATISTA (c) vs. PAUL LONDON (w/Brian Kendrick):
vs.
Main event time. Styles explained that this match (London versus whoever the I-C champ would be) was signed before WrestleRock; unfortunately for London, the new champion was eager to show what he could do. “The Animal” defeated the challenger in about five minutes with the Batista Bomb – and for good measure, he hit Kendrick with it after the match as well. It was a dominating victory to end the show.