Post by fifthhorseman on Mar 30, 2024 22:18:09 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 77
EPISODE 77
Short “Saturday Night's Main Event”-styled promos from Ric Flair and Freddy Blassie, Bron Steiner, Darby Allin, Bryan Danielson, Ted DiBiase, and Don Leo Jonathan. Pyro from Salt Lake City, Utah – calling the action, Joey Styles and Don West.
The show started with AWA President Jack Tunney on the videotron. “Due to the reprehensible actions taken by the Four Horsemen during and after their match last week, I have ordered that the following two matches take place. One week from now, Nick Bockwinkel will face Maxwell Jacob Friedman... in a steel cage match. And tonight, in the main event, I am ordering the AWA World Heavyweight champion, Ric Flair, to defend his title against Bron Steiner – and no outside interference will be tolerated; all other managers and wrestlers are barred from ringside.”
DARBY ALLIN vs. BRYAN DANIELSON:
vs.
vs.
Danielson was loudly jeered when he walked onto the stage, and he paused as if he enjoyed it. However, that wasn't the only reason he waited – a few seconds later, the curtain parted and his wife, Brie Bella, walked through it and escorted the “American Dragon” to the ring.
Allin used his superior speed and quickness when he could, and this was the rare time that Danielson was able to use his size to his advantage. The former WWE champ slowed the pace and grounded his high-flying opponent, working on his shoulders and back. He stretched him relentlessly, but Allin refused to quit, and eventually took over on offense. He bodyslammed Danielson and went to the top rope, but as he positioned himself for the Coffin Drop, Bryan grabbed the referee's shirt. Bella used the distraction to push Allin off the top turnbuckle, and her husband quickly cinched in the LeBell Lock, earning the dubious win.
After the match, Danielson slowly gyrated his hips over Allin, mocking both his foe and the UWA Universal champion, Rick Rude; it was an obvious message that Danielson wanted a shot at the “Ravishing One.”
COMMERCIAL
Lee Marshall introduced Rock Nation, and the arrogant quartet walked to the ring to a chorus of boos. The Rock did all the talking, and after extolling the skills of his teammates Ford, Reed, and Simmons, he said that a particular AWA newcomer caught his attention. “Ricky Steamboat, it seems to The Rock that you're trying to make a big impression. Like you're trying to walk right into main event matches and worst of all, your biggest mistake is trying to steal The Rock's spotlight. So here's the deal. How about you meet the human highlight reel himself, Montez Ford, in this ring next week. Let's see if you're up to Rock Nation standards.”
DON LEO JONATHAN vs. JAKE SOMETHING:
vs.
vs.
The “Mormon Giant” received a huge ovation from the hometown crowd. The big man from Michigan impressed DLJ with his speed and power, but the former AWA World Heavyweight champion finished Something off in a few minutes with the Boston Crab.
COMMERCIAL
A Diamond Dallas Page vignette aired on the videotron; after several weeks away, he would appear on next week's episode of AWA All-Star Wrestling.
JOSH ALEXANDER vs. TED DiBIASE:
vs.
vs.
As DiBiase made his way to the ring, West told the audience that the former “Million Dollar Man” donated his gaudy championship belt to charity; thus, DiBiase was "back" to his old blue-collar self. The match itself was a technical showcase, and the “Walking Weapon” was a formidable striker and grappler that made DiBiase work for every inch he gain. They went just over 13 minutes, and it ended with DiBiase pinning Alexander after a scoop powerslam.
Backstage, Ric Flair cut a fiery promo that in the span of about 90 seconds: put over Bron Steiner, insulted Bron Steiner, yelled at Tunney for forcing him into a match, and put over his own greatness. “Wooooo!”
COMMERCIAL
A video package that featured Arn Anderson was played on the videotron, highlighting his countless championship wins and defenses. “Double A” provided the voice-over, and said, “Terry Funk, you think I'm not at your level? I've heard talk like that all my life, and whenever someone says that in my direction, I prove them wrong. One lousy win doesn't make you the better man, not yet, not in my books. We're gonna meet again, and next time, the result will be different.”
WINNER RECEIVES AWA INTERCONTINENTAL TAG-TEAM TITLE MATCH
MARK and JAY BRISCOE vs. the EAST-WEST CONNECTION (w/the Grand Wizard):
vs.
MARK and JAY BRISCOE vs. the EAST-WEST CONNECTION (w/the Grand Wizard):
vs.
As the teams entered the ring, Styles stated that after the Briscoe clan made their challenge to the Monarchy the week before, the Grand Wizard pleaded his case to the AWA championship committee as well, using his team's resume as former World Tag-Team champions. Ventura flexed his muscles early on, and the underrated Adonis was an aggressive fighter, but the ROH icons were too much for them. Mark kept “the Body” at bay long enough for his brother to pin Adonis in about ten minutes after a Jay Driller.
After the match, Eric Bischoff interviewed the brothers on the stage, who were eager to get their hands on the Monarchy. As if on cue, McGuiness and Ospreay burst through the curtain and hit them from behind, and they were joined by the Australian Buddy Matthews. The three heels laid them out, and the show went to
COMMERCIAL
AJ Styles was backstage with Bischoff, who asked him about his recent time-limit draw with Verne Gagne. The Georgia native said that he wasn't very impressed with Gagne's character, but he had to respect his ability, and he had already asked Tunney for a rematch with the amateur great. Suddenly, Gagne burst into the scene, trailed by several AWA officials. He told Styles that he was lucky to last five minutes with him, let alone 15, and the two men shouted at each other as the officials stepped in to separate them.
DANNY HODGE vs. RON KILLINGS:
vs.
The two men were polar opposites in terms of style and technique. Killings was a former NWA-TNA World champ, and looked good early on with his explosive offense. However, once Hodge took him to the mat he made sure that “the Truth” didn't get back up, and he pinned him with the Oklahoma Roll.
A cameraman was in Bron Steiner's locker room, looking on as the powerful prodigy finished off his last few stretches. He stared into the camera and shouted, “Flair! It's almost time! If you thought my dad and my uncle were big and bad, you ain't seen nothing yet!”
COMMERCIAL
Backstage, Eric Bischoff interviewed the British Bulldogs. The Englishmen said that enough time had elapsed – it was time for another tag-team match with the Midnight Express. Smith said, “Everyone wants to know who the better team is. Let's settle it, once and for all, next week.”
AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
RIC FLAIR (c) vs. BRON STEINER:
vs.
RIC FLAIR (c) vs. BRON STEINER:
vs.
Despite his angry outburst earlier, the “Nature Boy” oozed confidence as he listened to Marshall's ring introductions. But when the bout started, Steiner's explosive power game overwhelmed Flair, and the champion took a couple of walks on the floor to slow things down. When the action resumed, the pace slowed a bit, and as usual, Flair attacked his foe's legs.
The AWA World champion kept the advantage for several minutes and eventually locked in the figure-four. But Steiner broke free, and fought on one leg, firing off punches and clotheslines. He speared Flair, albeit at less than full speed, and only got a two-count. He couldn't capitalize on it, though, and the “Nature Boy” took him down and reapplied the figure-four again, and this time, Steiner gave up. The champ was exhausted, but celebrated his victory with his usual braggadocio, as the show went off the air.