Post by fifthhorseman on Nov 9, 2021 17:04:53 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 3
EPISODE 3
Pyro from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, then the TV credits ran, a 60-second of classic AWA action interspersed with close-ups of several members of the new AWA roster.
Joey Styles welcomed everybody to the show, and ran down the six-match card. Every single match had huge stakes, and it was time to start with a hard-hitting contest right off the bat – after all, the winner would go to SuperClash 2021 and fight for the AWA Heavyweight crown!
AWA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL
MAD DOG VACHON vs. MIRO:
vs.
MAD DOG VACHON vs. MIRO:
vs.
Styles recapped how each man got through to the semis, but before he could finish (and before Lee Marshall could even finish the ring introductions), Miro attacked Vachon before the bell rang. “The Redeemer” was much taller and heavier than the Canadian, but the former AWA champ was used to that. He survived the initial onslaught and came back with punches and kicks of his own. That settled things down, and it certainly angered Miro.
It was a rugged match that oftentimes resembled a shoot fight, and their bodies were displaying the effects of the strikes in real time. Nor did they want the audience to forget that they were very skilled in other combat arts either, so they literally threw each other across the canvas as well. It ended when the Bulgarian went to apply the Accolade, but “Mad Dog” backed out before Miro could grab him, kicked him in the gut, and hit him with a short piledriver. Vachon was one step closer to “regaining” the prestigious title, and the crowd cheered him as he left.
COMMERCIAL
Backstage, a cameraman caught up to a limping, exhausted Vachon, who was met in one of the hallways by Verne Gagne, who congratulated him for his hard-fought win. The Frenchman nodded, and simply said, “Maybe I'll see you in the finals.” He turned to head for his locker room, not more than a few feet away, and he was met by another man: Buzz Sawyer. He was much less friendly, and snarled, “So, you think you're the only 'Mad Dog' in AWA?” Without another word of warning, he swung a steel chair at Vachon, and hit him several times on the floor before AWA officials could break it up.
The scene changed, back to the broadcast table, and Styles went over the “beat the clock” rules – specifically, that the two men who recorded the fastest victories over the next four tournament matches – would go to SuperClash to vie for the AWA Southern championship.
AWA SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE
BAD NEWS BROWN vs. JACOB FATU:
vs.
BAD NEWS BROWN vs. JACOB FATU:
vs.
Same height, same weight, same mean disposition – they were two bad men. Again, the crowd was on Fatu's side in this fight, and this was definitely a fight. The two brawlers were relentless, and hit each other with big punches and vicious kicks. Unfortunately for them, after the combatants fell through the ropes to the floor outside, they continued their battle until the referee counted both of them out... and even as the bell rang, Brown and Fatu fought up the ramp and out of sight. Thus, they were both eliminated from the challenge.
As the two warriors left ringside, the scene changed – Nick Bockwinkel was in his dressing room, getting treatment by the AWA trainers in preparation for his main event showdown.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-taped interview aired. The North were calm, cool, and collected, walking down an unnamed street. Ethan Page did most of the talking, and by talking, one means insulting the team that he and Josh Alexander were going to face at SuperClash for the AWA Tag-Team titles – the New Age Outlaws.
Back to live action, and Styles hoped that the rest of the qualifying matches had winners – especially the next one, otherwise, why even have a clock?
AWA SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE
TYLER BATE vs. JEFF COBB:
vs.
TYLER BATE vs. JEFF COBB:
vs.
Cobb was a wrecking ball early on, and he threw the Englishman around the ring with various amateur and pro-style suplexes. Bate was resilient and fought back, working Cobb's left knee to slow him down. But he couldn't keep him down long enough to pin Cobb, and “Mr. Athletic” eventually got back up and imposed his will. He went for his Tour of the Islands slam, but incredibly, Bate escaped it by sliding over Cobb's back. Even more incredibly, the “Big Strong Boy” set Cobb up for the Tyler Driver '97 – and nailed it. Time of the pin: 10:13.
As Bate tapped on his wrist, then his waist, confident that his time would hold up, the scene switched back to Gagne's dressing room, where he was shaking his head as trainers grimly looked on.
COMMERCIAL
Another pre-taped piece; Lee Marshall conducted a short, sit-down interview with Kanyon. He explained that he always wanted to come to the AWA and be a singles competitor, but when his now-former friend Wrath asked to participate in the tag-team tournament instead, he felt like he owed him a favor. “But shame on me for making that mistake. All that did was cost me a shot at the singles titles here, and once the dust settles and SuperClash is in the books, then I'll know who to go after. I will be a champion, it's only a matter of when. Who betta than Kanyon?”
Styles was shown at the table, and he said, "Fans, as you just saw, Verne Gagne was being checked out by trainers. This might be related to the locker room brawl we saw last week, but right now, we just don't have all of the facts. Here's hoping that he can compete later tonight."
AWA SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE
DON LEO JONATHAN vs. the SPOILER:
vs.
DON LEO JONATHAN vs. the SPOILER:
vs.
This big man battle featured two of the most underrated titans on the AWA roster, or indeed, anywhere in the world. The Spoiler wasn't usually the smaller man in a match, but he was here, and Jonathan's gameplan was to keep him away from the ropes and grounded near the middle. Despite the stakes, they fought at a deliberate pace, trying to make sure that every move and hold mattered. Ultimately, the Spoiler did get to the corner post and went for a flying double ax-handle – but Jonathan cartwheeled out of the way and hit his for with a powerslam. Time of the pin: 12:55.
Another “coming soon” vignette aired for “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Sweet” Stan Lane... collectively known as the Midnight Express.
COMMERCIAL
A 60-second video package was shown, highlighting the technical skills of the last two men in the Southern championship qualifier. From a pound-for-pound perspective, they were two of the best on the planet.
...but before the match could begin, Vachon stormed out to the broadcast table. Styles stood up and put a microphone in front of the still-sore (and furious) wrestler, who challenged Buzz Sawyer to a fight next week on All-Star Wrestling. “If you want to see who the maddest, baddest, real Mad Dog is, you meet me in that ring next week!” Then he stormed back through the curtain, accompanied by a bevy of nervous officials.
AWA SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. ZACK SABRE Jr:
vs.
ZSJ was eager to prove to the world that he was the most gifted wrestler in the AWA, especially the man who stood across from him. It was hard-hitting and full of vicious submission holds, as the two were strong proponents of what could only be described as European Strong Style. Dragunov was electric, and seemingly impervious to pain, so Sabre decided that he would have to pin the German to beat him. They wrestled at a blistering pace, and after a lengthy series of reversals, Dragunov scored the victory with a crucifix pin at 11:58.
It was just a few seconds quicker than the Jonathan victory, so the finals for the AWA Southern championship match were set – Ilya Dragunov versus Tyler Bate.
A split-screen shot aired before the commercial break, Bockwinkel on one side and Gagne – in an arm sling – in the other.
COMMERCIAL
A vignette aired for the young superstar Austin Theory, ending with a “Next Week” tease.
A “tale of the tape” graphic was shown for the final match of the night, and after it came down, Styles reminded the audience that between the two men, they held the original AWA World title an astonishing 14 times, for an accumulated time length of 21 years. “These men ARE the American Wrestling Association.”
AWA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. VERNE GAGNE:
vs.
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. VERNE GAGNE:
vs.
Despite a sore neck incurred the week before, Bockwinkel looked confident. Gagne entered the ring with his left arm in a sling, with he seemingly sustained in the same locker room incident. However, the cocky grin left Bockwinkel's face when Gagne removed the sling and swung his arm in a circle several times. He looked good as new.
It was a typical contest between the two very familiar foes, therefore it was excellent. They went about 25 minutes, and as the match went on, Gagne focused on Bockwinkel's neck. He was increasingly aggressive, and Bockwinkel constantly wrestled from underneath, frustrating his longtime enemy. (Imagine the Hart-Austin match at Wrestlemania 13.) They even wound up fighting outside the ring, a rare occasion for them, and the NCAA champ grabbed Bockwinkel by each wrist, and pulled him face-first into the ringpost.
Gagne rolled back in the ring and raised his hands in anticipated victory, but a bloody Bockwinkel rolled back in at the nine-count. As the referee checked on him, Gagne pounced, locking on a dragon sleeper. Bockwinkel fought as long as he could, and he never did submit... but his hand fell three times. Gagne went to the middle ropes and saluted the crowd, smiling from ear to ear, oblivious to the strangely silent audience as the show ended.