Post by fifthhorseman on Dec 10, 2023 1:17:35 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 66
EPISODE 66
A montage of photos from AWA Autumn Bomb, followed by short “Saturday Night's Main Event”-styled promos from Rock Nation, Diamond Dallas Page, Batista, Arn Anderson, and Demolition. Pyro from Wichita, Kansas – calling the action, Joey Styles and Don West.
Cold open with over a dozen wrestlers on the stage, separated by heel/face alignments. Freddie Blassie and Tully Blanchard walked out on the stage afterwards, and the Texan carried the Pat O'Connor Memorial Cup. He said, “I showed everybody last year that I'm one of the best wrestlers in the world. I beat every single wrestler that stood between me and this trophy... and I'm gonna do it again, and not one of you is gonna stop me! You see, this time around, I'm gonna go through everybody in the mid-heavyweight division! And then I'm taking the AWA World Mid-Heavyweight championship belt from Lou Thesz! The Pat O'Connor tournament starts tonight, and because I still have the Cup, I get a first-round bye. So what are you waiting for? Let's go!”
QUALIFYING MATCH
JERRY LYNN vs. DOMINIK MYSTERIO vs. ETHAN PAGE vs. MIKE SANTANA:
vs.
vs.
vs.
JERRY LYNN vs. DOMINIK MYSTERIO vs. ETHAN PAGE vs. MIKE SANTANA:
vs.
vs.
vs.
As the four men battled for the final spot in the tournament, West and Styles told the audience that it was a 15-man, single-elimination affair. Brackets would be revealed later in the show, and every match had a 15-minute time limit. Furthermore, the field for the Cup would rotate every three years: after this one, it would be a tag-team tournament in 2024/25, then a heavyweight tournament in 2025/26. It took just eight minutes for this one to end; Lynn pinned Mysterio to earn the final spot.
COMMERCIAL
In-ring promo from the AWA World Heavyweight champion, Christian Cage. It was short and to the point – he felt like he let the AWA fans down by not winning the UWA Universal champion, Rick Rude, at Fallout, but the “Instant Classic” was going to keep successfully defending his own title until he got a rematch – and then he would bring that UWA strap back home. Lee Marshall asked Cage about his neck, as the champion seemed to be favoring it, but Cage shrugged it off.
The BRITISH BULLDOGS vs. the GUNN CLUB (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
vs.
The brash, arrogant brothers gave the debuting Englishmen a tougher battle than they probably expected, but the former WWF champs were never in any real danger. The Bulldogs hit a lot of their signature moves, and Dynamite pinned Austin after a top-rope headbutt.
COMMERCIAL
Bischoff introduced the new AWA Intercontinental Tag-Team champions, Badd Company, and they waved to the cheering crowd from the stage. Tanaka and Diamond said that they were proud to be the first I-C tag champs, but before they could say much more, they were interrupted by the Monarchy. McGuinness told them that they were lucky to win those belts, and even the “stupid, inbred farmers and hicks here in Kansas” knew that was true. Ospreay chimed in, “And deep down you know it's true. We dare you to give us one more shot at those titles.”
Tanaka was quick to respond, and he accepted the challenge – for next week.
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
ARN ANDERSON vs. BATISTA (c):
vs.
ARN ANDERSON vs. BATISTA (c):
vs.
Before the ring introductions, West observed that this would be the last IC Heavyweight title match; after tonight, it'd be rechristened the AWA Intercontinental championship, open to anyone, serving as a “catchweight” championship title.
This rematch from UWA Fallout was just as good as that first impromptu battle, and “the Enforcer” nearly pinned Batista after a spinebuster than shook the entire ring. However, the champion kicked out at 2.9, and eventually regained his senses long enough to hit Anderson with a Batista Bomb to retain his title.
COMMERCIAL
\Pre-taped interview with Shawn Michaels. The “Heartbreak Kid” told Eric Bischoff that he and Ric Flair was far from done. “I hope he doesn't think that a kick to the junk is the end of all this. All that did was show the world that he was the second-best wrestler standing in the ring – and you're looking at number one. Spoiler alert – we're absolutely gonna wrestle again. And I'm taking my idea for a rematch to President Tunney. And Ric, you better pray he doesn't like my idea.”
The bracketing for the Pat O'Connor Memorial Cup was shown on the videotron:
Styles: “And it all starts next week, right here on a special edition of AWA All-Star Wrestling! You will see all seven first-round matches in their entirety!”
TEXAS TORNADO TAG-TEAM MATCH
DEMOLITION vs. DOOM:
vs.
DEMOLITION vs. DOOM:
vs.
Styles said that Jack Tunney was sick and tired of all of the interference and dangerous brawling the two titanic teams. Thus, they were just going to get it all out, so to speak... and they were going to shake hands at the end of the match.
Needless to say, it was a hell of a fight, and they fought with such ferocity, it went less than ten minutes, ending with all four men in the ring. Ax pinned Reed and Simmons pinned Smash at the same time, and the referee made a double count – however, Smash lifted his shoulder between two and three, but Reed did not. After they recuperated in their corners, the official asked them to shake hands, as ordered by Tunney... and to the surprise of many, they did.
COMMERCIAL
Marshall introduced Bryan Danielson to the ring, where he was met with considerably more boos than cheers. He was asked about his post-match assault on Samoa Joe at Autumn Bomb. The “American Dragon” snarled that he was tired of being ignored, and by punching the proverbial bully in the mouth, he was finally being talked about. “If Joe has a problem with what I did, he knows where I'll be every week. But he better stay out of my business until I win the Pat O'Connor Memorial Cup.”
BRON STEINER (w/Freddie Blassie) vs. STEVE WILLIAMS:
vs.
Behind the scenes, Verne Gagne and Gabe Sapolsky wanted to test the fast-improving Steiner against veteran heavyweight talent... and “Dr. Death” was one of the best. It was a rugged battle, and the second-generation powerhouse impressed, but Williams took him out in about 12 minutes with the Oklahoma Stampede.
After the match ended, Williams was attacked in the ring by the Grand Wizard's stable of Mike Awesome and Damian Priest. The All-American put up a good fight, but he was already worn down about the Steiner match, and they put the boots to him for almost a minute before Ted DiBiase ran out to make the save. As he helped Williams up, Mike Rotunda walked through the curtain and taunted, “You might have my Million Dollar championship, but I still have my fortune. Enough to pay bounties left and right, so that little beatdown is just an example of what I can do. Ted, you and your friend have big targets on your backs now – just remember that.”
COMMERCIAL
A video vignette was shown, showcasing the physical and verbal skills of Terry Funk. The former NWA World champion was on his way to the AWA.
STEEL CAGE MATCH
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE vs. the ROCK:
vs.
DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE vs. the ROCK:
vs.
The big blue cage was lowered during the commercial break, and both competitors determinedly inspected it as they made their entrances. The announcers put it over as the finale to their long-standing feud, and they told the audience that escape was not an option in this contest; it was pinfall or submission only. The two rivals fought very cautiously at first, but soon enough, the cage came into play, and at the 15-minute mark, both men were bleeding from the head.
The rest of Rock Nation had seen enough, and slowly made their way down the ramp. But before they could reach the ring, they were attacked from behind by a man who hadn't been seen in the AWA for nearly seven months... Don Leo Jonathan! The former AWA World champ was armed with a steel chair, and despite the odds, the “Mormon Giant” ran all three men off before being himself escorted away by security.
The battle continued in the ring, and DDP took charge. The Rock was literally on the ropes, and Page scored with a Diamond Cutter. One, two... and the “Great One” got his foot on the ropes. They kept going, and after a series of punches and reversals, Page went for his finisher again. This time, the third-generation grappler fired the former WCW champ into the cage face-first, spun him around, and hit him with a Rock Bottom. After nearly 20 minutes of pain and spilled blood, that was enough to end the match. The Rock climbed all the way to the top of the cage to celebrate his win to a chorus of boos as the show ended.