Post by fifthhorseman on Dec 22, 2023 18:46:47 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 67
EPISODE 67
Short “Saturday Night's Main Event”-styled promos from Bryan Danielson, Montez Ford, AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Ricky Starks, and Art Barr. Pyro from Nashville, Tennessee – calling the action, Joey Styles, Don West... and the current possessor of the Pat O'Connor Memorial Cup, Tully Blanchard.
A “breaking news” video aired, with footage from the Rick Rude/Christian Cage championship match at Autumn Bomb. After that action ended, AWA President Jack Tunney appeared on-screen and announced, “the reigning UWA Universal champion, 'Ravishing' Rick Rude', is officially signed to the American Wrestling Association, and will be defending the UWA championship as an active member of its roster. And next week, Mr. Rude will be here, in person, to address our fans and wrestlers.”
West: "Wow! That is huge! And now, let's start the Pat O'Connor Memorial Cup tournament!"
BRAD ARMSTRONG vs. BUDDY MATTHEWS:
vs.
This was a strong start to the tournament, featuring the debuting Armstrong against the returning Matthews. Crisp action from both men, and Blanchard noted that these two – as well as himself – trained hard to get down to the 225 pound mid-heavyweight limit. Ten minutes later, Matthews won with a bicycle knee strike.
COMMERCIAL
ART BARR (w/Dominik Mysterio and Sean O'Haire) vs. AJ STYLES:
vs.
The ref warned Los Gringos Locos that if he saw or suspected anything from them, he'd immediately disqualify Barr. Thus, it was a straight-up, high-flying sprint of a battle, and the “Phenomenal One” took it with the Styles Clash. Afterwards, Barr's teammates attacked Styles, but he escaped with minimal damage.
Eric Bischoff introduced the AWA Intercontinental champion, Batista, onto the stage. The strongman looked like the proverbial million bucks, and he arrogantly declared that he was going to hold the title until he decided that he was ready for a different challenge... but at the moment, “the Animal” was very happy beating people up for a living, so he would probably keep the IC belt “forever”.
DANNY HODGE vs. AUSTIN THEORY (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
vs.
Both competitors kept the action on the mat, and Theory quickly discovered that despite his superior physique, Hodge was as tough as any man in the AWA. The Olympic silver medalist made short work of his foe, pinning Theory with an Oklahoma Roll in just over six minutes.
COMMERCIAL
The British Bulldogs walked through the curtain, where Bischoff asked them how they felt about their victory over the Gunn Club in Davey Boy Smith's AWA debut. He cut a typical face promo for about 30 seconds, but the Englishmen were interrupted by the Midnight Express and Jim Cornette. The “Louisville Slugger” told the Bulldogs that they were a great team, one of the best of all-time, “But you've never faced 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton and 'Sweet' Stan Lane now, have you? And seeing how we're finally in the same place at the same time, we're long past due to change that!”
DARBY ALLIN vs. MONTEZ FORD:
vs.
vs.
This one felt like a Rocky vs. Apollo boxing match; Ford used his reach, height, and weight advantages to pound away at Allin, and even broke up his own pins to inflict more damage on the daredevil. But the longer the contest went, the harder Allin fought, and after rolling away from Ford's From the Heavens splash, he connected with the Coffin Drop. But before the official could finish the count, the bell rang – the 15 minute time limit elapsed, eliminating both men from the tournament.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-recorded promo package aired next. The Rock gloated about his win over Diamond Dallas Page the week before. “The Rock showed the world that beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Rock is the real 'People's Champion', and not you, you jabroni piece of trash. You're yesterday's news, Page, and the Rock is onto the next frontier... and that is AWA championship gold.”
RICKY STARKS vs. X-PAC:
vs.
vs.
There was a slight contrast in styles, but that just made it more interesting and competitive. X-Pac was uncannily quick, so Starks tried to ground and outmuscle him. With about a minute to go in the match, X-Pac went for the bronco buster, but Starks sprang from the corner and nailed him with a spear. He followed that up with the Roshambo, and made the pin at 14:40.
COMMERCIAL
AMAZING RED vs. VERNE GAGNE:
vs.
Before the match started, Gagne grabbed the microphone from Marshall and insulted his opponent while he taunted the crowd. He arrogantly turned his back to Red, so he didn't see the high-flyer go to the top turnbuckle. The bell rang, and when Gagne turned around, Red hit him with a flying body-press. One, two... but the Minnesotan reversed it at 2.9 and folded Red up with a fistful of trunks as well. It was over in shocking fashion in about ten seconds, and Gagne celebrated like he won the Super Bowl and the Powerball lottery at the same time.
A vignette for the incoming Ricky Steamboat was shown, and Styles and West both noted that the competition in the AWA – with the arrival of yet another former World champion – was just getting better and better.
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
BADD COMPANY (c) vs. the MONARCHY:
vs.
The crowd eagerly anticipated the rematch from AWA Autumn Bomb between the two teams. McGuinness and Ospreay dominated the action early on, but the champs battled from underneath to isolate Ospreay. However, the “Aerial Assassin” eventually got Tanaka one-on-one, and he placed him on a top turnbuckle, facing the fans. Ospreay then ran from the opposite corner, leaped, and hit Tanaka with the Hidden Blade.
Both men flew to the floor, but only one of them beat the count – and that was Ospreay. The Monarchy celebrated and grabbed the tag titles from the timekeeper's table, but the ref reminded them that the belts didn't change on a countout. McGuinness was furious, and before leaving, he smashed Diamond over the head with it, busting him open. Medical personnel ran down to check on both men and the show went to
COMMERCIAL
Lee Marshall welcomed Don Leo Jonathan into the ring. The popular “Mormon Giant” was very glad to be back after seven months on the shelf. “Mike Awesome, you broke my leg, and every day I spent getting back into shape, you should know that you kept me going. And when I found out what you did last week, attacking Steve Williams after I met with Jack Tunney to get medically reinstated onto the AWA roster, I wasn't surprised. So I talked to Mr. Tunney again tonight... and next week, it'll be you and Damian Priest against “Dr. Death”... and me!”
BRYAN DANIELSON vs. JERRY LYNN (w/Lance Storm):
vs.
Lynn extended his hand when the bell rang, but the “American Dragon” literally turned his back on him. The two eventually locked up, and the master technicians put on a clinic. As the match went on, Danielson angrily employed more and more strikes, but Lynn was up to the task. The veteran retaliated with kicks of his own, and set Danielson up for his cradle piledriver, but the former WWE champion backdropped Lynn over the top rope with about two minutes to go.
Storm checked on his partner, but Danielson went outside and shoved him away. The referee jumped outside to keep Storm away – and in doing so, he didn't see Danielson hit Lynn with a stungun across the ring apron. Lynn was out on his feet, and his foe rolled him back to the middle of the ring and cinched in the LeBell Lock. The ECW stalwart writhed in agony and refused to quit; however, with just seconds left in the match, he passed out from the pain, and the ref called for the bell at 14:55. The show ended with Danielson standing over Lynn, and the updated tournament graphic on the videotron.