Post by fifthhorseman on Jan 1, 2022 22:43:31 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 6
EPISODE 6
Pyro from Grand Rapids, Michigan, then the TV credits ran, a 60-second of classic AWA action interspersed with close-ups of several members of the reborn AWA roster.
Cold open in the ring with the Midnight Express and Lee Marshall. All three of them were there – Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane, and Dennis Condrey – and they told the audience that they were going to be the most dominant force in the AWA. It didn't matter what two of them teamed up, and if they ever wrestled in trios action, no one could touch them. The Killer Bees interrupted them from the stage and challenged to a return match, but Lane said, “Hey, we're off this week. But if you want the Express next week, you're on – but you're gonna have to wait till then to see which two of us it's going to be.”
The scene cleared, and Styles recited the night's card, which was going to start, fittingly enough, with a tag match.
JEFF COBB and BUZZ SAWYER (w/Verne Gagne) vs. JOE and LARRY HENNIG:
vs.
Gagne proudly accompanied his men to the ring to a chorus of boos. It was a fairly even contest; as even as a match can be with constant interference from the outside. Cobb and Sawyer took advantage of their mentor's work, and after isolating Joe at the end, Cobb hit the Tour of the Islands to score the pin.
COMMERCIAL
Backstage, Miro was (apparently still) looking for a tag-team partner. He challenged Tyler Bate and Jacob Fatu the week before, but as he wasn't the friendliest fellow on the planet, “the Redeemer” was rejected left and right. Finally, the big Bulgarian stormed into the smallest locker room in the arena, looked around, and pointed at Alexander Hammerstone. “You! Come with me!”
KANYON vs. BRODIE LEE:
vs.
vs.
In a pre-taped interview, Kanyon said that he would give Lee a much tougher test than the rookies Shane Helms and Jungle Boy did the week before. Well, it was slightly more competitive, as the “Innovator of Offense” threw several unique moves at Lee, but Lee shrugged them all off. He was on a roll, and the “Big Rig” finished Kanyon off with a discus clothesline in a short match.
After the match, a cameraman caught up to the Gagne trio, and Verne said that he was demanding a match against Mad Dog Vachon. “It's not fair that he has an automatic title match against that maniac Ultimate Warrior! If Vachon was an honorable wrestler, like me, he'd put that title shot up against me as soon as he's healthy!”
As inf on cue, Commissioner Stu Hart walked into frame, followed by Vachon – who was off crutches, out of the air boot, and seemingly back to full strength. Hart responded, “I don't think Mad Dog has any issues with fighting anyone in the UWA, let alone you or your men. So here's what we're gonna do. Next week, he'll fight all three of you...”
Gagne's face lit up, but for only a moment as Hart completed his sentence. “In a three-on-two handicap match, and his partner is going to be the AWA Heavyweight champion himself, the Ultimate Warrior.”
COMMERCIAL
Another vignette aired for the Hounds of Justice, Chris Hero and Jox Moxley.
This was followed by an interview with Nick Bockwinkel on the stage. The eloquent AWA legend said that the title scene was as dynamic as he could remember, and as soon as the Warrior/Gagne/Vachon situation crystallized, he'd make his move. “And hopefully,” he added, “I'll face a man that has piqued my interest like few professional wrestlers ever have... Desmond Wolfe. Mr. Wolfe, I'm sure you're watching this. Because you know that if you want to climb that mountain and contend for our most prestigious prize, you'll have to fight me for it.”
The NASTY BOYS vs. DUSTIN RHODES and REX STEINER:
vs.
vs.
Sags and Knobbs were eager to get back in the win column after their triple-threat victory at SuperClash; as they walked to the ring, an in-screen promo was shown, and the two villains shouted that they deserved more respect. The second-generation wrestlers across the ring from them were up to the challenge, but against an angry, motivated, experienced team like the Nasty Boys, they were in for a long night. It was a match that should have ended earlier than it did, courtesy of a Sags top-rope elbowdrop on Steiner.
But they weren't done. They threw the ref between the ropes and continued to pound on Steiner and Rhodes until a pair of men suddenly jumped over the guardrail and launched themselves at the Nasty Boys. Jon Moxley and Chris Hero expelled the heels from the ring, and it was obvious that the Hounds of Justice were early to the AWA party.
COMMERCIAL
Styles set up a clip from the Don Leo Jonathan/Spoiler match at SuperClash, and then a VTR aired, which was a Spoiler monologue. He insisted that by defeating the allegedly biggest man in the American Wrestling Association, he proved that he was the true giant of the AWA, and deserved to be the most feared.
TYLER BATE and JACOB FATU vs. ALEXANDER HAMMERSTONE and MIRO:
vs.
Miro led the match for his side, and shouted at Hammerstone even when he was on offense. Despite being unfamiliar partners, Fatu and Bate were able to work in tandem, and the Brit was the MVP of the match despite being outweighed by each of his foes. It was a 15-minute sprint, and even the youngster Hammerstone looked good... but he couldn't kick out of a massive moonsault from the “Samoan Werewolf”, and that's how it ended.
Officially, that is. After the faces departed, Miro angrily stomped Hammerstone back to the mat, and locked in the Accolade for several seconds before flinging him back down.
COMMERCIAL
Before the main event started, Styles was unexpectedly joined at the broadcast table by Desmond Wolfe. The Englishman was seemingly respectful of Bockwinkel and what he said, but he also said several condescending things along the way. Wolfe did concede one thing – that he and Bockwinkel would inevitably cross paths. Wolfe left, and Styles went through the "tale of the tape" video package.
AWA SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. KEN KENNEDY:
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. KEN KENNEDY:
vs.
Styles explained that the loudest complainer in the AWA locker room convinced Commissioner Stu Hart that he deserved the first shot at the Southern title, and the former TNA World champ Kennedy was eager to try to put another belt in his collection. The Russian didn't care who it was, though, and he was the aggressor early on. Kennedy used his superior size to fight back (and fight unfairly), but he could not put Dragunov away, and the new champion connected with the Torpedo Moscow for the win.
Shaking his head, Dragunov acknowledged the crowd's applause as he walked up the ramp. He raised his fist in triumph – and was suddenly attacked from behind by the Spoiler. He towered over the tired Russian, and he delivered a vicious headbutt to the back of the champion's skull. Then the Spoiler threw him off the base of the stage through a table, and the show ended with him staring down at the barely conscious Dragunov.