Post by fifthhorseman on Mar 21, 2014 20:00:22 GMT -5
Joey Styles: It’s a great time to be in front of your television set – my name is Joey Styles, and for the next two hours, I will be calling the action for the greatest wrestling promotion, the American Wrestling Association… this is AWA Wednesday Night Warriors! We are live from the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the crowd is electric! Tonight’s card is a good one, and tonight’s main event would headline any card anywhere in the world – AWA Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan defends his title against the leader of the HoRsemen, and perennial contender, Edge!
But that is far from all! The other HoRsemen ride as well in six-man action - Tully Blanchard and Beer Money – that’d be James Storm and Robert Roode – square off against Rick Martel, Paul Orndorff, and Michael Elgin! And here to run down the rest of the card, the only man “Tough Enough” to do color by my side, Josh Mathews!
Josh Mathews: Hello Joey, hello wrestling fans worldwide! You will also see Verne Gagne take on AWA newcomer, “the Pope” D’Angelo Dinero! Adam Cole battles Petey Williams! William Regal meets Barry Windham! And in tag-team competition, a rematch of sorts from last week, featuring Harlem Heat versus the World’s Greatest Tag-Team, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin!
Joey Styles: The action in the American Wrestling Association has never been better, and let me remind that everybody is ramping up their game just in time for our next big pay-per-view, the Team Challenge Series, coming up next month! But now it’s time to go to the ring, where the gorgeous Christy Hemme is standing by to announce tonight’s first match!
VS.
D’Angelo Dinero vs. Verne Gagne: “The Pope” hit the ring first, his entrance one of gaudy pageantry. The understated Gagne entered afterwards, and it was a short but intense match. Dinero used his knees and elbows to try to bludgeon the All-American in submission. Gagne fought back, unafraid to fight fire with fire, and he bloodied Dinero’s mouth with a hard right cross. It was a true boxer vs. wrestler match, and in the end, the wrestler won with a ground-based crucifix pinning combination.
After the match, Gagne borrowed the microphone and challenged his opponent from last week: “William Regal. Last week, we had a great match. To your credit, you matched me hold for hold – but the fact of the matter is, I’m a better wrestler than you, and if anybody challenges Daniel Bryan for the AWA Heavyweight championship, I want to be the man to do it. So, Regal, if you really think you’re next in line for that shot? I hate to inform you, the line starts here.”
VS.
Adam Cole vs. Petey Williams: Fast and faster. The pace was quick for this one, and Cole controlled it early on with a variety of kicks and suplexes, but Williams kept fighting him off. The tide turned when the Canadian reversed Cole’s figure-four leglock and held it for several seconds, and the former ROH champ writhed in agony. Williams then focussed his attention on Cole’s left leg, kicking it and shooting on it, but he would not give up either. Eventually Cole regained his footing and mounted a comeback, but found himself getting set up for the “Canadian Destroyer” piledriver. In one last burst of energy, he broke the hold, hit Williams with his “Corona Crash” reverse DDT, and scored the victory.
[After the commercial break, there was a quick video package on Scott Hall, highlighting his debut (where he crashed the Brody/Blanchard ladder match), his matches and confrontations with the HoRsemen and Brody, and the general fact that he was very much a wild card – a lone wolf – whose only motivations seemed to be fighting whoever stood across from him, and the AWA Intercontinental belt.]
VS.
Tully Blanchard and Beer Money (w/JJ Dillon) vs. Michael Elgin, Rick Martel, and Paul Orndorff: This match was booked when, on AWA Throwdown the week before, the HoRsemen made an open challenge to any three men – and their call was answered. Blanchard and Martel started it off, and put on a display on crisp chain-wrestling that infuriated the Texan. They tagged out to Roode and Orndorff, respectively, and they mixed it up with stiff yet technical work; later on, Storm and Elgin threw haymakers. The action was close, and it was a “Southern-style” tag match, lasting over 15 minutes, with Orndorff absorbing the most punishment. But he made the hot tag, and it quickly escalated into a six-man brawl. It ended when Storm rolled up Martel from behind for the three-count.
After the match, and after the HoRsemen slunk backstage, Orndorff and Elgin stood toe-to-toe as Martel tried to dissuade them from throwing down. He was not successful – he left the ring, and as Elgin tried to leave between the ropes, Orndorff kicked the middle rope, crotching Elgin. Then, he delivered his patented piledriver, leaving “Unbreakable” in the ring in a heap. When Martel rolled back in to check on his partner, Orndorff left.
[60-second recap of AWA Throwdown, with highlights from every match; most notably, the Great Muta successfully defending his Television title against Mike Rotunda, Kazuchika Okada fending off Art Barr in an aerial battle, and Magnum T.A besting the massive Alexander Rusev.]
VS.
William Regal (w/Layla) vs. Barry Windham: Before the match started, Regal grabbed the microphone and said simply, “Gagne. Watch this.” This was a see-saw battle, with Windham’s (slight) weight and leverage advantage on full display against Regal’s ground-based submission wrestling. Throughout the match, whether he had the advantage or not, Regal constantly asked Layla how much time was left in the contest. As it passed the 14-minute mark, closing on a draw, the Englishman was on the defensive. Windham propped him up on the top rope, and Regal shoved him down, but the lanky Texan did not fall. Looking at Layla, the weary Regal shrugged, reached into his tights, and in full view of the referee, clocked Windham with a pair of brass knuckles. Though he lost the match, Regal made sure that Gagne knew that he was on his radar.
VS.
Harlem Heat vs. the World’s Greatest Tag-Team: This bout was another contrast in styles; the former WCW champs brought the power game, and the former WWE champs were all science. Neither team was able to sustain any type of significant advantage, proving how closely matched these top contenders were. Unfortunately for the fans, it ended early when the Young Bucks jumped into the ring from the crowd and attacked Harlem Heat, angry that they were “stealing their spotlight”. The WGTT, never shy about leaving an impression, joined in the attack as well…
…Until the Midnight Express ran down to the ring and made it a four-on-four brawl! Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane tore into the Bucks, while Booker T and Stevie Ray resumed their battle with Benjamin and Haas. A swarm of referees and AWA officials eventually restored order, but not before some heavy punches were exchanged.
VS.
Daniel Bryan [C] vs. Edge (w/JJ Dillon and Missy Hyatt): Big-fight ring introductions by Christy Hemme, and both men looked loose and confident. The pace was quick, but deliberate (if that makes sense), as both were eager to hit big moves but reluctant to take a lot of early risks. Bryan’s target was Edge’s left arm and shoulder – his “spear” side – while the “Rated-R Superstar” targeted the champion’s hands and wrists. The action spilled outside the ring a couple of times, but the referee was quick to get the wrestlers back inside. Edge slowly took over, using his size advantage to grind away at the champ, but he was unable to keep Bryan down. Dillon and Hyatt cheered their man on, but to no avail, as Bryan fought back, and pushed the pace. Bounding off the ropes, Bryan was too fast for Edge, hitting him with clotheslines and knees. But the former 11-time WWE/World champ kicked out of every pin attempt, and hit an out-of-nowhere DDT that neutralized the momentum. From then on, it was a series of reversals – from the Edgecutioner to the LeBell Lock to the Sharpshooter to the STF – that left both men on the brink of exhaustion. Throwing punches was the last resort of both champion and challenger. The match finally ended when Bryan ducked a wild swinging right hand, and dragon-suplexed Edge for the three-count. Bryan mounted the middle rope with the belt in his grasp, as the lights went down on the show.
But that is far from all! The other HoRsemen ride as well in six-man action - Tully Blanchard and Beer Money – that’d be James Storm and Robert Roode – square off against Rick Martel, Paul Orndorff, and Michael Elgin! And here to run down the rest of the card, the only man “Tough Enough” to do color by my side, Josh Mathews!
Josh Mathews: Hello Joey, hello wrestling fans worldwide! You will also see Verne Gagne take on AWA newcomer, “the Pope” D’Angelo Dinero! Adam Cole battles Petey Williams! William Regal meets Barry Windham! And in tag-team competition, a rematch of sorts from last week, featuring Harlem Heat versus the World’s Greatest Tag-Team, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin!
Joey Styles: The action in the American Wrestling Association has never been better, and let me remind that everybody is ramping up their game just in time for our next big pay-per-view, the Team Challenge Series, coming up next month! But now it’s time to go to the ring, where the gorgeous Christy Hemme is standing by to announce tonight’s first match!
VS.
D’Angelo Dinero vs. Verne Gagne: “The Pope” hit the ring first, his entrance one of gaudy pageantry. The understated Gagne entered afterwards, and it was a short but intense match. Dinero used his knees and elbows to try to bludgeon the All-American in submission. Gagne fought back, unafraid to fight fire with fire, and he bloodied Dinero’s mouth with a hard right cross. It was a true boxer vs. wrestler match, and in the end, the wrestler won with a ground-based crucifix pinning combination.
After the match, Gagne borrowed the microphone and challenged his opponent from last week: “William Regal. Last week, we had a great match. To your credit, you matched me hold for hold – but the fact of the matter is, I’m a better wrestler than you, and if anybody challenges Daniel Bryan for the AWA Heavyweight championship, I want to be the man to do it. So, Regal, if you really think you’re next in line for that shot? I hate to inform you, the line starts here.”
VS.
Adam Cole vs. Petey Williams: Fast and faster. The pace was quick for this one, and Cole controlled it early on with a variety of kicks and suplexes, but Williams kept fighting him off. The tide turned when the Canadian reversed Cole’s figure-four leglock and held it for several seconds, and the former ROH champ writhed in agony. Williams then focussed his attention on Cole’s left leg, kicking it and shooting on it, but he would not give up either. Eventually Cole regained his footing and mounted a comeback, but found himself getting set up for the “Canadian Destroyer” piledriver. In one last burst of energy, he broke the hold, hit Williams with his “Corona Crash” reverse DDT, and scored the victory.
[After the commercial break, there was a quick video package on Scott Hall, highlighting his debut (where he crashed the Brody/Blanchard ladder match), his matches and confrontations with the HoRsemen and Brody, and the general fact that he was very much a wild card – a lone wolf – whose only motivations seemed to be fighting whoever stood across from him, and the AWA Intercontinental belt.]
VS.
Tully Blanchard and Beer Money (w/JJ Dillon) vs. Michael Elgin, Rick Martel, and Paul Orndorff: This match was booked when, on AWA Throwdown the week before, the HoRsemen made an open challenge to any three men – and their call was answered. Blanchard and Martel started it off, and put on a display on crisp chain-wrestling that infuriated the Texan. They tagged out to Roode and Orndorff, respectively, and they mixed it up with stiff yet technical work; later on, Storm and Elgin threw haymakers. The action was close, and it was a “Southern-style” tag match, lasting over 15 minutes, with Orndorff absorbing the most punishment. But he made the hot tag, and it quickly escalated into a six-man brawl. It ended when Storm rolled up Martel from behind for the three-count.
After the match, and after the HoRsemen slunk backstage, Orndorff and Elgin stood toe-to-toe as Martel tried to dissuade them from throwing down. He was not successful – he left the ring, and as Elgin tried to leave between the ropes, Orndorff kicked the middle rope, crotching Elgin. Then, he delivered his patented piledriver, leaving “Unbreakable” in the ring in a heap. When Martel rolled back in to check on his partner, Orndorff left.
[60-second recap of AWA Throwdown, with highlights from every match; most notably, the Great Muta successfully defending his Television title against Mike Rotunda, Kazuchika Okada fending off Art Barr in an aerial battle, and Magnum T.A besting the massive Alexander Rusev.]
VS.
William Regal (w/Layla) vs. Barry Windham: Before the match started, Regal grabbed the microphone and said simply, “Gagne. Watch this.” This was a see-saw battle, with Windham’s (slight) weight and leverage advantage on full display against Regal’s ground-based submission wrestling. Throughout the match, whether he had the advantage or not, Regal constantly asked Layla how much time was left in the contest. As it passed the 14-minute mark, closing on a draw, the Englishman was on the defensive. Windham propped him up on the top rope, and Regal shoved him down, but the lanky Texan did not fall. Looking at Layla, the weary Regal shrugged, reached into his tights, and in full view of the referee, clocked Windham with a pair of brass knuckles. Though he lost the match, Regal made sure that Gagne knew that he was on his radar.
VS.
Harlem Heat vs. the World’s Greatest Tag-Team: This bout was another contrast in styles; the former WCW champs brought the power game, and the former WWE champs were all science. Neither team was able to sustain any type of significant advantage, proving how closely matched these top contenders were. Unfortunately for the fans, it ended early when the Young Bucks jumped into the ring from the crowd and attacked Harlem Heat, angry that they were “stealing their spotlight”. The WGTT, never shy about leaving an impression, joined in the attack as well…
…Until the Midnight Express ran down to the ring and made it a four-on-four brawl! Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane tore into the Bucks, while Booker T and Stevie Ray resumed their battle with Benjamin and Haas. A swarm of referees and AWA officials eventually restored order, but not before some heavy punches were exchanged.
VS.
Daniel Bryan [C] vs. Edge (w/JJ Dillon and Missy Hyatt): Big-fight ring introductions by Christy Hemme, and both men looked loose and confident. The pace was quick, but deliberate (if that makes sense), as both were eager to hit big moves but reluctant to take a lot of early risks. Bryan’s target was Edge’s left arm and shoulder – his “spear” side – while the “Rated-R Superstar” targeted the champion’s hands and wrists. The action spilled outside the ring a couple of times, but the referee was quick to get the wrestlers back inside. Edge slowly took over, using his size advantage to grind away at the champ, but he was unable to keep Bryan down. Dillon and Hyatt cheered their man on, but to no avail, as Bryan fought back, and pushed the pace. Bounding off the ropes, Bryan was too fast for Edge, hitting him with clotheslines and knees. But the former 11-time WWE/World champ kicked out of every pin attempt, and hit an out-of-nowhere DDT that neutralized the momentum. From then on, it was a series of reversals – from the Edgecutioner to the LeBell Lock to the Sharpshooter to the STF – that left both men on the brink of exhaustion. Throwing punches was the last resort of both champion and challenger. The match finally ended when Bryan ducked a wild swinging right hand, and dragon-suplexed Edge for the three-count. Bryan mounted the middle rope with the belt in his grasp, as the lights went down on the show.