Post by fifthhorseman on Jul 17, 2014 11:42:28 GMT -5
Joey Styles: Hello wrestling fans around the world – we are about 100 hours away from WrestleRock 2014! But trust me, we’re taking you there in style! My name is Joey Styles, and we are live from the Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minnesota – THIS is AWA Wednesday Night Warriors! Tonight’s main event is a battle pitting the AWA Heavyweight champion against the number one contender for that title – but they’re in tag-team action! Daniel Bryan and Bam Bam Bigelow meet two members of the Gaijin Invasion, Big Van Vader and Mike Awesome! And that’s not all – tell ‘em, partner!
Josh Mathews: Absolutely! Hi fans, I’m Josh Mathews, and thank you for tuning in tonight! The number one contender for the AWA Television title, the “Money in the Bank” briefcase holder, A.J. Styles, takes on Adam Rose! One half of the AWA Tag-Team champion Miracle Violence Connection, Terry Gordy, squares off against Robert Roode! “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff battles Adrian Neville! The Varsity Club versus the Young Bucks in tag-team action! And last but not least, Mistico goes one-on-one with Kazuchika Okada in what’s sure to be a high-flying classic!
Joey Styles: And guess who’s starting this show off? Let’s get down to the ring, where the lovely Christy Hemme is standing by!
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Mistico vs. Kazuchika Okada:
This was indeed a high-flying, fast-paced match between two of the AWA Television division’s most dynamic stars. Early on, Styles noted that Gary Hart petitioned the championship committee for an exemption to give the Great Muta a night off after surviving Ultimate-X the week before, and it was granted.
The two men put on a clinic that combined the best of the lucha libre, Japanese, and American styles. They fought in, above, and outside the ring at a breakneck pace, and the referee gave them plenty of leeway in front of an appreciative crowd. The pin attempts came fast and furious, and neither man was able to keep the other man down for very long. Okada finally was able to hit his brutal “Rainmaker” lariat on Mistico, but as he dropped down for the pin, the bell rang, indicating the 15-minute time limit had expired.
A promotional package was shown depicting the rivalry between Tully Blanchard and Magnum T.A. Interspersed with the brutal video was a voiceover indicating how they got to their upcoming WrestleRock match: Magnum picked the “Hell in a Cell” stipulation to keep the HoRsemen out, Blanchard chose the “I Quit” stipulation to avenge his loss back in the NWA… and they both decided that the “loser leave town” stipulation was the only way they’d get in the ring again at all.
COMMERCIAL
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The Varsity Club vs. the Young Bucks (w/Brodus Clay):
The Jackson brothers entered the ring first, in their own inimitable style; they were followed by the more subdued, but equally confident, college standouts. The match seemed to be split up like a hockey game: in the “first period”, Swagger and Rotunda dominated the action, utilizing their superior size (especially Swagger) and amateur skills. But the Bucks fought back, employing the lightning-fast double-team moves that no one in the AWA could match. Finally, the Club rallied and turned the bout into a pier-four brawl that the referee could barely control. In the ensuing chaos, the Bucks hit a series of combination superkicks in Rotunda, and Matt Jackson got the three-count as Nick clung to dear life onto Swagger’s ankle.
After both teams left the ring, the Monarchy made an impromptu entrance, and stood at the top of the ramp. William Regal had a microphone and said, “It seems that all you have to do these days, to get on the most important show of the summer, is to come out, just like this, and ask for a match. Well, my associates and I rarely ask for anything…. It’s just not in in our nature. So instead, I am telling the AWA championship committee to clear some time for myself, Nigel McGuinness, and Wade Barrett at WrestleRock. Ten minutes, that’s all the time we need. The three of us against any three men that dare step foot in the ring with us. Long live the Monarchy.”
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Terry Gordy (w/Steve Williams) vs. Robert Roode (w/JJ Dillon and James Storm):
The HoRsemen were anxious to capture a win to gain some momentum heading their match at WrestleRock; last week on AWA/WNW, “Dr. Death” pinned “the “Cowboy”. Roode didn’t even wait for the bell to ring, jumping “Bamm Bamm” as Williams exited the ring. He dominated early on, using his trademark blend of brawling and wrestling, not giving Gordy a chance to strike. Nonetheless, he couldn’t keep him down, and with Williams bellowing his support, Gordy returned fire with punches to the gut. Regaining his breath, the former Freebird used lariats and chops, backdrops and backbreakers, while Dillon and Storm shouted on the outside. Roode begged off in the corner, but Gordy fired him across the ring and followed him in with a big boot. Barely kicking out of the pin, the “It Factor” fell into a corner, so Gordy did it again – except this time, he missed the boot and straddled the top turnbuckle. Roode rolled him into a schoolboy pin and with the help of a fistful of tights, stole the victory.
COMMERCIAL
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Adam Rose vs. A.J. Styles:
Rose came down to the ring with his massive and unique entourage; Styles trailed behind, his “Money in the Bank” briefcase held high overhead. The two men, roughly the same size and weight, shook hands before the match began. As quick as Rose was, the former TNA stalwart was even quicker, and he took control with a dazzling array of aerial moves. Dropkicks and springboard forearm smashes knocked Rose down, but he continued to bounce back up. He caught a bit of a break when Styles ducked his head too soon on an attempted back-bodydrop, and laid in some fists and kicks – but the “Phenomenal One” recovered quickly and, after landing a discus clothesline and a Pele kick, finished off Rose with the Styles Clash.
After a couple of moments, Rose recovered and raised Styles’ hand. The mood immediately changed, and the entourage returned and surrounded the ring, and Rose fell into it. He invited Styles to do the same, but he politely declined. As he stared into the sea of weird humanity, a green mist emanated from the center of the pack – the Great Muta infiltrated the menagerie! Styles fell back to the mat in pain, and Muta leaped nimbly to the turnbuckle, hitting his AWA Television title challenger with a heavy moonsault. He backed slowly up the ramp, giving the throat-slashing sign to the dazed Styles.
Another video package, this time highlighting the other action in the MUW Network – from BCCW’s Bedlam in Boston, to WCW Nitro, to the buildup to AGPW’s Takeover in Toronto, and finally the WWE’s incredible house show circuit.
COMMERCIAL
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Adrian Neville vs. Paul Orndorff:
Orndorff was confounded by Neville’s speed early on, and the man that gravity forgot used a series of dropkicks and armdrags to infuriate his foe. Whenever “Mr. Wonderful” tried to lock up with Neville, he found himself grasping at air. However, a vicious eye-rake turned the tide for Orndorff, and he attacked his opponent with kicks, chops, and forearms that quickly took their toll. He cinched in a full-nelson that caused Neville’s face to turn blue, but he made the ropes to break the hold. Rallying, Neville punched his way back to his feet, and bounded off the ropes to hit a sunset flip on Orndorff. But the shrewd veteran rolled right through it and without missing a beat, closed the distance on Neville and nailed him with a piledriver. Three seconds later, and Orndorff earned the winner’s purse.
After a series of poses, and a loud argument with the referee, “Mr. Wonderful” hoisted Neville up again. Setting him in position for another piledriver, he smiled – but before he could hit it, Diamond Dallas Page charged into the ring. Orndorff rolled out the reverse side, and yelled at Page as he backed up the ramp.
One final video package was shown, listing off the various matches scheduled for WrestleRock 2014. Three AWA championships on the line, as well as five other important struggles with major championship implications… all done to the musical accompaniment of the acts booked for Target Field that night – AC/DC, Metallica, Johnny Cash, and Freddie Mercury!
COMMERCIAL
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Mike Awesome and Big Van Vader (w/Gary Hart) vs. Bam Bam Bigelow and Daniel Bryan [C]:
Hemme made the big-fight introductions, as both teams stared each other down. There was no wasting time getting to what the fans wanted to see. Bryan and Vader started the bout for their respective sides, with the champion playing a hit-and-run game against a man who outweighed him by 200 pounds. He launched kicks to Vader’s knees and legs, staying to the outside of the mastodon’s reach. When Vader finally did get Bryan into a corner, the champ ducked through the ropes and jumped to the floor before he could sustain any damage. The challenger followed, and Bryan crawled back inside, sprang off the ropes, and hit him with a suicide dive.
However, it only knocked Vader back, not down. The two returned to the ring and tagged in their partners, and Bigelow and Awesome picked up the intensity ECW-style. They swung haymakers at each other, along with flying shouldertackles, clotheslines, and even flew off the top rope when the opportunity presented itself. Eventually, Awesome took advantage of a missed top-rope splash and got Vader back in. The former WCW champ pummeled his one-time partner, dropping big headbutts and elbows on him mercilessly, then picking him up and smashing him with left and right hooks to the head and body. He tagged in Awesome, and he continued the assault until he missed a flying clothesline, and Bryan got in.
The “American Dragon” flew around the ring, hitting Awesome with knees, clotheslines, and dropkicks. He got his opponent on the mat and went for the LeBell Lock, but Awesome squirmed out of it, and with the referee distracted by his manager, hit a low blow on Bryan. Bigelow stormed the ring and levelled Awesome; but with the champ groaning on one knee, Vader lumbered in and powerbombed Bryan! He placed his foot on top of Bryan and flexed, and the confused ref counted to three. Hart led a gloating Vader and Awesome away, as the camera stayed on the AWA Heavyweight champ, who sat up in obvious pain, holding his head.