Post by fifthhorseman on Jan 28, 2024 17:45:31 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 71
EPISODE 71
Short “Saturday Night's Main Event”-styled promos from Rick Rude, Lance Storm, Danny Hodge, Bryan Danielson, the Monarchy, and Mark and Jay Briscoe. Pyro from Chicago, Illinois – calling the action, Joey Styles and Don West.
Cold open – the scene, AWA President Jack Tunney's office. “Next week, on AWA All-Star Wrestling, Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels will compete in the first-ever Trilogy of Hell match. Not only will this definitively decide who the better man is, but it will determine the number one contender for the AWA World Heavyweight championship currently held by Christian Cage... and the winner of the Trilogy of Hell will face Mr. Cage for that title at AWA Winterslam II.”
“The rules of the match are as follows. Each of the three stages will last 30 minutes, and the match will go the full 90 minutes unless one man can no longer continue. The winner will be the man who takes the most overall falls during the 90-minute period. To be clear: you don't have to win two or all of the stages to win... it is an Iron Man match, and will be decided by overall falls.”
“Over the last week, we conducted fan voting on our website, and I thank all of our fans for their participation. The three stages that will occur during the Trilogy of Hell are as follows. The first 30 minutes will be fought under standard AWA rules. The next 30 minutes, falls count anywhere. The final 30 minutes... Hell in a Cell. Whoever has the most falls after those 90 minutes will win. May the best wrestler win, and enjoy tonight's show.”
STRETCHER MATCH
MIKE AWESOME (w/the Grand Wizard) vs. DON LEO JONATHAN:
vs.
MIKE AWESOME (w/the Grand Wizard) vs. DON LEO JONATHAN:
vs.
The “Mormon Giant” won an intense brawl, getting his revenge on the man who broke his leg and put him out of action for most of 2023. Despite the Wizard's best efforts, Jonathan beat Awesome down, loaded him on a heavy-duty stretcher, and pushed him across the “finish line”.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-recorded segment with the AWA World Heavyweight champion, Christian Cage. Joey Styles was the interviewer, and he asked a seemingly dejected Cage about his health and his state of mind. Christian admitted that his neck was not 100%, but refused to make any excuses. “And the loss to Bryan Danielson was a real wake-up call. I got complacent – if my belt was on the line, I'm sure I would have beaten him, but I wasn't hungry enough. Not anymore. I'm a fighting champion, and I will defend my World championship anytime, anyplace – so Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, whoever it is, I'll see you at Winterslam.”
A quick video recap of the vacated IC tag-team title situation was shown before the next match.
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
MARK and JAY BRISCOE vs. the MONARCHY:
vs.
MARK and JAY BRISCOE vs. the MONARCHY:
vs.
The Monarchy defeated the Briscoe brothers to win the vacant IC tag-team titles when McGuinness pinned Mark after the Tower of London (hanging cutter). It felt like an old-school ROH match, with plenty of hard hits and two-counts before the Englishmen earned the hard-fought victory.
COMMERCIAL
Eric Bischoff was backstage with Ted DiBiase, who was flanked by the Miracle Violence Connection. He carried the Million Dollar title belt over his shoulder, but noted that what he had to say next had nothing to do with money. “Mike Rotunda, rumor has it you've squandered my fortune. That there's nothing left. And if that's the case, then there's only one last thing remaining that I can take from you – your career here in the AWA. So I'm challenging you to a match at Winterslam. A very special match. A Loser Leaves Town, Tuxedo Coal Miner's Glove on a Pole, Steel Cage Match. Me or you, Mike, let's do it.”
TERRY FUNK vs. ?
vs.
vs.
Funk waited in the ring for his open challenge to be met by any former World champion. A few dramatic moments later, Arn Anderson walked to the ring. As he did, the Texan grabbed the microphone from Lee Marshall and said, “You ain't in my league, mister! Now get to the back and don't waste my time!”
“The Enforcer” snatched the microphone away and replied, “Hold on a second now. I'm a former World Television champion, and a former World Tag-Team champion. You can check the record books, I ain't lying.”
The Texan scoffed. “You know damn well what I meant, Anderson. I meant a World Heavyweight champion, the best of the best, and you aren't and never were. So unless you want me to kick your ass right here-”
Anderson belted with a left hand that shut Funk up and knocked him loopy, and then the former NWA champ recovered, tackling “Double A” through the ropes. The men brawled outside for so long that the ref called for the bell, and Marshall announced that it was officially a no-contest. Several other referees and wrestlers ran down to separate the two warriors as the show went to
COMMERCIAL
The Midnight Express, Barry Windham, and Jim Cornette were interviewed on the stage by Eric Bischoff. The “Louisville Slugger” said that he was thrilled that Windham was back, and would make quick work of Davey Boy Smith in a couple of weeks. “And not only that, Jack Tunney just told me tonight that my men are taking on the British Bulldogs and whatever sucker they con into teaming with them at Winterslam! But hear this, Bulldogs – it don't matter who you find, there is no way that you're beating us!”
DEMOLITION vs. the GUNN CLUB (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
vs.
Ax and Smash made quick work of the young team with their patented elbow-drop finisher, but the Gunns continued to show improvement and charisma in the ring. But before they could celebrate, they were attacked by America's Most Wanted, who wielded steel pipes and beat them into the canvas. AMW's manager, Gail Kim, handcuffed Ax to the bottom rope, and the World tag champs hit Smash with the Death Sentence before departing.
COMMERCIAL
Lee Marshall introduced MJF to the ring, who was joined by his manager, Freddie Blassie. The former AWA Intercontinental champion was all smiles, as he said he heard what Nick Bockwinkel said about him on the previous episode of All-Star Wrestling. “Nick, buddy, do you think you can reverse psychology me into a rematch? You think you can somehow shame me into another match, even though the whole world saw me beat you? What's the point, old-timer? You're in my rear view mirror, and pinning you again won't earn me any more points with the AWA championship committee, so... nah. Put a few wins together against some of the poors, and maybe then we'll talk.”
NON-TITLE MATCH
RICK RUDE (c) vs. LANCE STORM (w/Jerry Lynn):
vs.
RICK RUDE (c) vs. LANCE STORM (w/Jerry Lynn):
vs.
The UWA Universal Champion took Storm far too lightly at the beginning, and the Canadian took it to Rude early on. As the match went on, the AWA managerial roster made their way to ringside, one by one. When he eventually finished Storm off with the Rude Awakening, the champion was surrounded by the managers as he left, neutral to their promises and boasts.
COMMERCIAL
Rock Nation cut a promo in their dressing room. The Rock noted that none of them were scheduled to compete at Winterslam yet – in fact, none of them had wrestled at all on television in a while. “Your stupid tournament is almost over, it's about time you featured some ratings juice on the airwaves again! It's real simple – the Rock and Rock Nation are done waiting. Do you smell what the Rock is cooking?”
PAT O'CONNOR MEMORIAL CUP FINALS MATCH
BRYAN DANIELSON vs. DANNY HODGE:
vs.
BRYAN DANIELSON vs. DANNY HODGE:
vs.
Styles and West informed the audience that as it was the final Cup match, it would go for as long as it took to decide a winner. The AWA World Mid-Heavyweight titleholder, Lou Thesz, joined Styles and West at the commentary table, to put over both finalists and to announce that he would be facing the winner at Winterslam II for his championship.
That man turned out to be Danielson, who won a technical war in just over 28 minutes when he pinned Hodge. The “American Dragon” got increasingly more violent and broke more rules as the match went on, but the former Golden Gloves boxer knew how to defend himself and then some. It ended after an intricate double-reversal of the LeBell Lock, into an Oklahoma roll, into a crucifix.
The crowd was surprised by the sudden pin, and when the former WWE champ boisterously celebrated over the popular Hodge he was loudly booed. But that didn't matter to Danielson one bit; as the Cup went from the timekeeper to the referee to Bryan himself, the winner repeatedly pointed to the trophy and himself, back and forth, until he spotted Thesz. Once he did, Danielson put the Cup on the mat and gestured at Thesz, then his own waist, to tell him he was after even more hardware.