Post by fifthhorseman on Nov 25, 2023 23:05:37 GMT -5
AWA AUTUMN BOMB
A highlight package hyped the show, featuring the participants of all of the matches on the night's card. Pyro and lasers, a crowd shot from the sold-out CHI Health Center in Omaha, Joey Styles and Don West at the commentary table, and here we go!
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
BADD COMPANY vs. the MONARCHY:
vs.
BADD COMPANY vs. the MONARCHY:
vs.
AWA Director of Marketing Herb Abrams was introduced, and he set the new belts on the timekeeper's table. Styles recapped how each team advanced through the tag-team tournament to get to this point, and off they went. This match seemed to be a battle of individual talent – for McGuinness and Ospreay had both won multiple singles titles in their careers – versus tag-team chemistry, that Diamond and Tanaka definitely had.
Badd Company started hot, but the Monarchy took charge late. Tanaka kicked out of several near-falls, and when Ospreay hit him with the Hidden Blade, he fell all the way to the floor; but the time McGuinness rolled him back in, Tanaka was able to kick out at 2.9. He eventually tagged out to Diamond, and the Canadian fired right hands at both foes. All four men wound up in the ring, and after the usual chaos, Badd Company nailed McGuinness with their superkick/German suplex finisher for the win. The crowd celebrated with the new champs as they punched the air with the championship belts they earned.
A video package was shown, revealing the newest members of the AWA roster: Ricky Steamboat, Terry Funk, Brad Armstrong, and the East-West Connection. Another package was shown afterwards, hyping the months-long rivalry between the next two competitors.
ROCK NATION BARRED FROM RINGSIDE
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE vs. the ROCK:
vs.
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE vs. the ROCK:
vs.
The “Brahma Bull” wasn't happy about going to the ring by himself, and he paced back and forth as Page's theme played. DDP made his customary entrance from the second deck to the arena floor through the audience – but the Rock intercepted him at the railing, and the two men brawled outside the ring. In fact, they fought for about three minutes, as the referee wanted to get this match in.
The bell rang when they finally both rolled in the ring. There weren't a lot of headlocks or armdrags after that, just a bunch of punches and kicks. They brawled for a few minutes more, but when DDP went for the Diamond Cutter, Rock hooked his arm and pulled them both through the ropes to the floor once more. The two men continued to fight, and as urgently – and slowly – as the official counted this time, he couldn't get them back in the ring. With visible frustration, he called for the bell; it was a double countout.
DDP finally acknowledged the bell... and in that split-second, the “Great One” nailed him with a Rock Bottom on the floor. He then pretended to wipe his feet on the former WCW World champ, raised his fist, and stormed off. By the time Page stubbornly got to his feet, helped by ringside officials, the Rock was long gone.
Bischoff was backstage with the AWA World Heavyweight champion, Christian Cage. He had been waiting a long time to wrestle for the UWA belt, and just because it was Rick Rude now, and not Chris Jericho, didn't mean he wasn't ready.
LOS GRINGOS LOCOS vs. RICKY STARKS and ? and ?:
vs.
The Gringos waited confidently in the ring, and when Starks emerged from the curtain alone, they laughed at him... until his partners came out a few seconds later.
Davey Boy Smith and the Dynamite Kid, the British Bulldogs.
Barr's crew was very good, but unprepared for foes of this caliber. It took just a few minutes for Smith to finish the match with a ring-rattling powerslam on Mysterio. “Absolute” raised the Bulldogs' hands in celebration as LGL angrily stomped up the ramp.
Rock Nation was backstage, and their leader was gloating over the “smackdown” he laid on DDP. He was interrupted by Bischoff, who told him that, as per Jack Tunney's order, and to avoid any shenanigans from intruders or out on the floor, there would be an immediate rematch on next week's AWA All-Star Wrestling – in a steel cage!
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. MJF (w/Freddie Blassie):
vs.
vs.
The two verbose wrestlers jawed at each during the ring introductions, both looking and feeling very confident about their chances. Bockwinkel's experience showed in this math, and the usually unflappable Friedman consulted with Blassie often early on. But once they felt each other out, it was a good mix of technical skill and brawling between two closely-matched competitors. 16 minutes in, MJF went for his Heatseeker piledriver, but the AWA legend squirmed out of it and nailed his foe with a quick jab that he sold like an eyepoke. Blassie sprang up on the apron to complain, and with the ref distracted, MJF poked Bockwinkel in both eyes before hitting with a flash hammerlock DDT. Adding insult to injury, he put his feet on the middle rope while pinning Bockwinkel, a move the official didn't catch, giving Friedman the tainted win.
A highlight package from UWA Fallout was shown, specifically from the Batista/Arn Anderson AWA Intercontinental championship match. Afterwards, a live shot of “the Animal” revealed that he was in attendance in one of the suites, and he arrogantly applauded his own efforts from that night.
TAPED FIST LADDER MATCH FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR CHAMPIONSHIP
TED DiBIASE vs. MIKE ROTUNDA (c, w/Mr. Jones):
vs.
TED DiBIASE vs. MIKE ROTUNDA (c, w/Mr. Jones):
vs.
This wasn't a high-flying, crash and burn battle typical of many recent ladder matches; the two men involved were more interested in the other stipulation. They kept it on the mat, and used their brawling and technical skills in an effort to wear the other man down to the point of exhaustion. Eventually, Rotunda and DiBiase were both busted open big-time, thanks to their taped fists and the use of the ladder as a weapon.
15 minutes into the bout, Jones interfered one too many times, and it caused Steve Williams to run down to the ring to intimidate and stop him. Rotunda went for the Stock Market Crash on his former partner, but DiBiase slipped off his back and trapped his opponent in the Million Dollar Dream. After several seconds, Rotunda's knees buckled, and DiBiase dropped him to the mat. He set up the ladder, slowly climbed the rungs as the hometown crowd cheered him on, and pulled the belt down for the win. By the time Rotunda finally got to his feet, DiBiase was saluting the audience from the stage, with “Dr. Death” at his side.
Bischoff was backstage with the inaugural AWA I-C tag champs, Badd Company, who were celebrating with Diamond Dallas Page and others. Typical face interview, wherein they vowed to take on any and all challengers.
A video package was next, highlighting some of the greatest career moments of the next two competitors.
RIC FLAIR (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. SHAWN MICHAELS:
vs.
vs.
Exactly what you'd expect – two of the best in the world that needed to prove that one was better than the other. Flair and Michaels wrestled at a crisp pace, blending scientific wrestling with chops, and in Michaels' case, aerial offense. It was the most evenly-fought battle on the card, and as the 20-minute mark approached, the “Nature Boy” started to take over. He hammered away at Michaels' left knee, and after a vicious chop block, he applied the figure-four leglock. Michaels writhed in agony for over 30 seconds, and then the bell rang. He hadn't given up, though – the time limit expired.
Flair kept it on for a few more seconds before demanding that Marshall hand him the microphone. “You're just lucky, punk! I had you dead to rights... and if you have the guts, you'll get back up and wrestle me for just five more minutes! That's all I need to finish you off!”
Michaels gingerly got to his feet and raised his fists defiantly; Marshall held his hand to his earpiece and waved the ref over before announcing that AWA President Jack Tunney was indeed giving them five more minutes. The match restarted, and Flair went back on offense. But Michaels refused to quit, and he slowly turned the tide on his opponent. He gave Flair ten punches in the corner, and his foe took a few steps and flopped in the middle of the mat. The NWA icon got up – and Michaels knocked him back down with Sweet Chin Music. One, two... and the bell rang again.
This time it was “the Showstopper” that demanded more time. Blassie helped Flair to his feet, and again Marshall and the referee convened. But right before the announcer could say anything, or the bell was rung, Flair walked over to Michaels and kicked him with a vicious low blow. Michaels writhed in agony on the mat, and Flair and Blassie walked off. The crowd was furious, and showered the heels with jeers and the occasional piece of garbage as Marshall explained that because the match was technically over before the official could restart it, it was declared a time-limit draw.
Bischoff was backstage with Bobby Heenan and Rick Rude, who bragged about easily defeating Chris Jericho for the UWA Universal title. “As far as I'm concerned, they're one and the same, interchangeable, and easy to beat. And the worst part about all this is that I made plans to be somewhere else tonight – but now, I'm wasting my time here in Omaha!”
UWA UNIVERSAL TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED (w/Gail Kim) vs. the NEW FOUNDATION (c):
vs.
AMERICA'S MOST WANTED (w/Gail Kim) vs. the NEW FOUNDATION (c):
vs.
Before the match, West noted that this match had changed not once, but twice over the last month; when it was first put together, it was going to be Mark and Jay Briscoe versus the champions, FTR, for the titles.
Hart and Neidhart constantly frustrated AMW for the first few minutes, who hasn't scouted the Foundation as extensively as they had FTR. Storm and Harris gradually turned things in their favor, with Kim's occasional help on the outside. It went back and forth for close to 20 minutes, but when “the Cowboy” accidentally hit his partner with a superkick, that gave the Foundation enough time and space to hit the Rocket Launcher on Harris for the win.
The Pinnacle were backstage celebrating their undefeated (with an asterick) night, but they were interrupted by Michaels and a crowd of security guards who were barely holding him back. He shouted, “You still think you're better than me? The so-called dirtiest player in the game? You know the truth, Flair – we're not done yet!”
BRYAN DANIELSON vs. SAMOA JOE:
vs.
vs.
Danielson went for the pre-match handshake, but Joe waved it off. The next 12 minutes were exactly what you'd imagine from a match with these two professionals – hard-hitting, lots of strikes, and little wasted movement or energy. The endgame arrived when the “American Dragon” went for a running dropkick, but Joe tackled him in mid-air. As they both laid on the mat, Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch. Danielson fought like a wild man, and just when it looked like he was out, he rolled backwards. All of his weight was on Joe's shoulders, and the referee counted three right before the big Samoan could break free.
The crowd stood as one, and after a long pause, Joe extended his hand to Danielson.
But Bryan suddenly charged ahead and hit Samoa Joe with a flying knee! Without missing a beat, Danielson applied the LeBell Lock and refused to let it go until other referees ran down to help the primary official pull the former WWE champion off his opponent. The audience turned on Danielson at once, and he shouted back at them as he left.
The New Foundation were talking with Mark and Jay Briscoe backstage. The former AWA champs congratulated them on their win, and told them that the next time Hart and Neidhart were back, they'd be facing the Briscoe clan – not AMW.
Bischoff was with DiBiase and Williams in their locker room, and they were in a very happy mood. DiBiase said that he had learned the hard way that money was the root of all evil, so he was retiring the Million Dollar belt. “And I have just one last thing to do – Rotunda, I've taken your blood, your pride, and that title from you! Do you have the guts to put your fortune – my fortune – on the line next time?”
A video package to promote the main event was shown, ending in a tale of the tape graphic.
UWA UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. RICK RUDE (c, w/Bobby Heenan):
vs.
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. RICK RUDE (c, w/Bobby Heenan):
vs.
Styles and West hyped the fact that this was Rude's first UWA title defense, and it couldn't be more fitting for the Minnesota native than to be doing it in the AWA. Heenan insisted that Rude enter the ring first, from where the “Ravishing One” delivered his usual derogatory speech to the booing fans.
When he was done, the AWA World champion was introduced. Cage walked through the curtain, but he was not alone. He wanted backup to counter anything “the Brain” might try, so he called an old friend... the man he was scheduled to challenge until just a few days ago... the former UWA Universal champion, Chris Jericho!
After the main event introductions were made, the two men methodically got down to business. Rude was much stronger than Christian, so the “Instant Classic” tried to stick and move against the UWA champion. It worked for a while, but eventually Rude caught him and went to work on his back, with slams, throws, and a variety of backbreakers. Cage refused to stay down, and after a long stretch of time, clotheslined Rude over the top rope and followed him out.
As the two competitors fought on the outside, Heenan ripped one of the turnbuckle pads away. Jericho noticed this, and took a run at the manager, and chased him all the way backstage. As Cage and Rude re-entered the ring, “Ravishing Rick” kicked the middle rope, crotching Christian. He then picked the AWA champion up and nailed him with a bucklebomb in the exposed corner, and to seal the deal, hit Christian with the Rude Awakening for the hard-fought – and dubious – win at 26:13.