Post by fifthhorseman on Mar 3, 2024 17:46:02 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 75
EPISODE 75
Short “Saturday Night's Main Event”-styled promos from the Monarchy, Jay and Mark Briscoe, the Rock, Ricky Starks, Arn Anderson, and Terry Funk. Pyro from Colorado Springs – calling the action, Joey Styles and Don West.
Lee Marshall introduced Bryan Danielson to the ring, and as the “American Dragon” walked down the ramp, the announcers recapped how he essentially disqualified himself at Winterslam II in his match against AWA World Mid-Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz. Thus, Marshall kept it simple, and merely asked, “Why?”
Danielson chuckled. “I didn't expect you to understand, just like I didn't expect any of these people to understand. These goldfish have no perspective, no attention span, all they know is what's happening right now. So let me remind you of what I've done in 2024. This year alone, I beat four men to win the Pat O'Connor Memorial Cup. One of those men was the AWA World Heavyweight champion, Christian Cage, remember that? And just a few weeks ago, I defeated the AWA World Mid-Heavyweight champion, Lou Thesz. I did everything I needed to do.”
Marshall interrupted. “That is an incredible list of accomplishments, but respectfully, you don't currently hold any championship title right now.”
Danielson frowned. “You don't get it. Of course you don't! I'll say it again. I won the biggest tournament in the AWA and I beat both singles AWA World champions within a span of two months. But I don't want those titles. I just wanted to prove that that makes me the best wrestler in the world today... ergo, that must mean that I'm the number one contender to the UWA Universal Heavyweight championship. That's right... Rick Rude, I'm calling you out. I want your title. And it's only a matter of time until I take it from you!”
The former WWE champion left the ring to a mixed responses of cheers and boos, and a stunned Styles and West quickly ran through the night's card.
BRAD ARMSTRONG vs. AUSTIN THEORY (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
vs.
The “Battle of Georgia” (as Hart called it) featured two men who, apart from their muscular physiques, were polar opposites. Armstrong used his speed and technique to escape his arrogant foe's raw power, and he frustrated Theory so much that the “Mouth of the South” tried to call several timeouts. After a crisp nine minutes, Armstrong hit Theory with a side Russian leg-sweep to earn the victory.
COMMERCIAL
West excitedly said, “We have the UWA Universal champ, 'Ravishing' Rick Rude, on the phone right now!” On cue, the videotron lit up and it showed Percy Pringle III holding a cellphone, and he turned it so that Rude's face filled the screen. “Obviously, the 'Ravishing One' isn't going to waste his time in a hick town like Colorado Springs. But I am watching the show, like I always do, and I have something to say to that short, ugly, Washington worm, Bryan Danielson. Do you honestly think that you can defeat me? You are, by every measure of a man, hopelessly and completely outweighed, outgunned, and outmatched. You better give yourself a slap and wake up out of that dream, because you're gonna receive a Rude Awakening.”
The BRITISH BULLDOGS vs. the GUNN CLUB (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
vs.
The young Gunns landed some shots early on, but they found out quickly why the Englishmen were one of the best teams in the entire UWA. Smith and Dynamite took over and ended things in about seven minutes after Davey Boy nearly powerslammed Colten through the mat. When it was over, the Bulldogs spoke directly into the camera, and told the Midnight Express that they weren't done with them yet, and they would be watching the upcoming Steamboat/Eaton match very closely.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-taped interview with Eric Bischoff and Verne Gagne was shown, and the AWA legend was still angry about having his lie about his nephews being outed. He kept it short and to the point, blaming AJ Styles for the embarrassment and admonishment he received from AWA President Jack Tunney. “Styles, I'm going to make you pay for this, and I'm challenging you to a match next week!”
BOBBY EATON (w/Jim Cornette) vs. RICKY STEAMBOAT:
vs.
vs.
As you'd expect, this was a brilliant technical match. Both men brought their A-game, and showed why they were amongst the best scientific wrestlers in the AWA. After several minutes of fast-paced action, Eaton went for the Alabama Jam, but “the Dragon” rolled out of the way. It was Steamboat's time to go airborne, and as soon as “Beautiful Bobby” got to his feet, the former NWA champion pinned him with a cross-bodyblock from the top rope.
But that wasn't the end of it. Cornette hit Steamboat from behind with his racket, dropping the winner to one knee. This gave Eaton just enough time to recover – and for his partner, Stan Lane, to run down the ramp and hit Steamboat from behind. A camera shot from backstage showed that the Bulldogs' dressing room door was chained shut, and they couldn't get out.
Back to the ring, and after several more seconds of a 2.5-on-1 attack, Barry Windham ran to the ring to even the odds. The crowd shouted their approval as Windham and Steamboat punched away at Eaton and Lane in opposite corners of the ring. Suddenly, another man joined the fray, and he rolled out from under the ring wearing a long leather coat. It was Konosuke Takeshita, and he hit both Steamboat and Windham with German suplexes. “The Alpha” stomped away at both men until AWA officials finally ran to break it up, and the show went to
COMMERCIAL
Bischoff welcomed Lou Thesz onto the stage, and the champion was asked to comment on what Danielson said earlier. The Missourian admitted that at Winterslam, he underestimated Danielson's ferocity, and it nearly cost him the title – but he'd gladly step back into the ring with him again. Buddy Matthews walked through the curtain, and said, “Sounds like he's done with you, mate, but if you want to put the Mid-Heavyweight title up against someone who deserves a shot at it, well, I'm right here.” Thesz feared no man, and told Matthews to get the contract signed.
ARN ANDERSON vs. TERRY FUNK:
vs.
vs.
Styles reminded everyone that the last time they met in the ring, Funk claimed that Anderson wasn't in his league, and the two men brawled to a no-contest. This time, at least, they wrestled, and it was a see-saw battle for lasted nearly 20 minutes. Funk got increasingly desperate as the match went on, and when “the Enforcer” squared him up for a spinebuster, the Texan flailed his arms out, striking the referee across the jaw. Anderson made the pin, but the ref was too stunned to make the count. The former NWA World champ got to his feet, kicked Anderson between the legs, and nailed him with a stump piledriver just as the official regained his senses. Funk stole the win, and spat down at “Double A” before leaving.
COMMERCIAL
THE ROCK vs. RICKY STARKS:
vs.
vs.
West told the audience that Starks demanded this match after being attacked by the “Brahma Bull” after his bout with his Rock Nation teammate Montez Ford. Predictably, the third-generation wrestler tried to humiliate Starks early on, and exerted his nearly 80-pound weight advantage to toss “Absolute” from corner to corner. But Starks refused to give in, and fought back with the crowd firmly behind him. He even muscled the “Great One” up for the Roshambo, but his opponent slipped off Starks' back and hit the Louisianan with the Rock Bottom.
Both men eventually left, and Styles and West recapped what happened last week in the Batista/Samoa Joe match, and its shocking end.
On cue, the Pinnacle came to the ring – all six of them. Batista was the first man to speak. “This is what respect looks like. When I worked with Money Inc., I quickly realized that they thought I was just young, dumb, muscle, so I left... and this Intercontinental title on my shoulder proves that I made the right choice. And when Freddie Blassie, Ric Flair, and the rest of these great men asked me to join their elite group, I could see that there was mutual respect. Common goals. The desire to be the very best. And that's why I'm here.”
Flair grinned and took the microphone. “Look at him! Dave Batista knows the score! And that's why he's standing in the ring with us, right here in Colorado Springs! So that's why I'm gonna say it right here, right now in front of God and everyone else, woooooo!”
He turned to MJF. “Max and I discussed this all week, and it's time to make it official. Maxwell Jacob Friedman... do you want to be... a Horseman?” The brash “Generational Talent” nodded, and hugged Flair.
The AWA World champ turned to Tully Blanchard. “Tully, old friend, I know you're in!” Blanchard just smirked.
Flair turned back toward Batista. “Big Dave! Wooooo! Say it out loud, partner – say that you're with us!”
“The Animal” let out his best “Woooooo!”, and the group all laughed.
Finally, Flair put his hand on Bron Steiner's big right shoulder. “And last but not least! The second-generation superstud himself! Here's the thing, though... I'm partial to the number... four.”
Batista nailed Steiner with a clothesline from behind. The crowd gasped as MJF hit the young grappler with a hammerlock DDT, picked Steiner up, and threw him back to the Intercontinental champion, who crushed their now-former teammate with a Batista Bomb. The five men posed and held up four fingers, and as they left the ring, they were passed on the ramp by AWA officials and medical staff.
COMMERCIAL
A video vignette for Diamond Dallas Page aired. When it ended, Styles told the audience that after dealing with some personal matters back home, DDP would be back in an AWA ring very soon.
A cameraman was backstage in the now-open Bulldogs' locker room, who angrily stood alongside Steamboat and Windham. The tall Texan shouted, “Takeshita, you made a lot of mistakes tonight! Signing with Jim Cornette? You're gonna regret that someday, mark my words, and I ought to know – but the biggest mistake you made was attacking me from behind! And son, you're gonna regret that real soon!”
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
MARK and JAY BRISCOE vs. the MONARCHY (c):
vs.
MARK and JAY BRISCOE vs. the MONARCHY (c):
vs.
The champions didn't even wait for the bell to start the match, but the Briscoes were a team that you didn't want to brawl with. All four men fought on the outside, and the ref gave them ample time to fight before starting his count. Once they settled down in the ring, it was a back-and-forth battle that gave each man a chance to shine, and the challengers scored several two-counts – but not a three. After about 15 minutes, the Monarchy retained after Ospreay removed the top turnbuckle pad and slammed Mark headfirst into the steel; McGuinness made the pin and illegally pulled on Briscoe's shorts just to be sure.