Post by fifthhorseman on Jan 21, 2022 22:42:18 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 7
EPISODE 7
Pyro from Fort Wayne, Indiana, then the TV credits ran, a 60-second of classic AWA action interspersed with close-ups of several members of the reborn AWA roster.
Lee Marshall was in the ring, and he introduced Mad Dog Vachon and the AWA Heavyweight champion, the Ultimate Warrior. The two men ran down to the ring together, and Vachon spoke first. “I've been out of action far too long! I've had to sit and wait, and wait, and watch, and watch – well, I'm done watching! Tonight, I'm gonna get my hands on you, Verne Gagne – you, and your stooges! And then, I'll get the title shot I deserve – against this man right here!”
Then the Warrior stepped in and snarled. “WFFJEOIGJEGOHOJGF WEKJWEKJK JPPPP RFEOEOEWTJOTJOWJTO QEWRRQREWEKNKVN OIWEJFOIEWRJWOIEQQQQ QKWEORJWEIOJO MNADNAFEFE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The two men left, and Marshall turned it over to Joey Styles, who quickly announced the six matches on the show, before sending it back down to the ring announcer.
The KILLER BEES vs. the MIDNIGHT EXPRESS:
vs.
vs.
It was the old-school version of the Express, as Eaton and Condrey were dressed for battle with “Sweet Stan” serving as their cornerman. The Bees didn't care who it was, and they were more aggressive than usual in their efforts to settle the score. The double-teams on both sides were flawless, and it was a see-saw battle that could have went either way. But at the end, it just took a little bit of interference from Lane on the outside, and a distracted Brunzell was laid out by the Express's Veg-O-Matic; Eaton made the pin.
COMMERCIAL
Backstage, the Midnight Express were still celebrating, and Condrey shouted into the camera that the Bees weren't in their league. The scene switched to the stage, and Styles introduced another team, the latest team to enter the AWA – the Hounds of Justice, Chris Hero and Jon Moxley. But before they could put two sentences together, they were interrupted by the Nasty Boys. A shouting match soon started, but the two teams were separated by a bevy of AWA officials before it got physical, and order was eventually restored.
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. ZACK GIBSON (w/James Drake):
vs.
Bockwinkel was the true veteran in this match, and he dictated the pace at every turn. However, Gibson was no slouch, and with his partner's support at ringside, the Brit made it interesting. He was vicious on offense, but he also got cocky, and that was his downfall. Bockwinkel turned the tables and after he wore Gibson's neck down, he beat him with a good old-fashioned sleeper. Before Drake could do anything about it, the former AWA champ rolled out of the ring and strode up the ramp. He looked into the camera and said, “Your move, Mr. Wolfe.”
COMMERCIAL
Before the first of back-to-back championship matches got underway, a video was shown, “starring” Jacob Fatu. He was angry and intense, and he made it clear that he wanted to face Miro – and soon.
AWA TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The NEW AGE OUTLAWS vs. the NORTH (c):
vs.
The NEW AGE OUTLAWS vs. the NORTH (c):
vs.
The challengers opened the proverbial curtain to a huge ovation, and the crowd was ecstatic to see them back in televised action for the first time since SuperClash. Page and Alexander were not as warmly received, but they held the AWA tag belts above their heads proudly.
As openers go, this was excellent. The heels tried to ground and isolate Gunn, but the “Bad Ass” was just too powerful to stay down for long. Conversely, the NAO delighted in double-teaming Page, and his pained expressions were lapped up by the crowd. But he didn't give up, and tagged out to his partner, who took over.
It see-sawed back and forth for over 15 minutes, and the four men all wound up on the floor. The referee started his count as they traded punches and kicks at ringside, and at seven, James and Gunn rolled inside. However, after giving each other a look, the North did not, and to the Outlaws' disbelief, the champions were counted out. They backed up the ramp to a cacophony of boos, and needless to say, they were the only two happy people in the arena as the show went to
COMMERCIAL
A Brodie Lee highlight reel aired, showcasing the violence he was known for.
AWA SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. the SPOILER:
vs.
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. the SPOILER:
vs.
Styles narrated over a clip from last week, when the Spoiler threw Dragunov from the stage through a table to end the show. The big Canadian entered the ring first, followed by the champion, who was selling a rib injury – as if the 100-pound weight disadvantage wasn't enough.
Regardless, the Russian dynamo was the aggressor early on. It was a classic big man/little man battle, with Dragunov going for hit-and-run strikes and the Spoiler trying to maul his foe to the mat. The masked man wore him down, but couldn't put him away, and after 12 grueling minutes (and a convenient ref bump), the Spoiler retrieved a small steel plate from his boot, intent on loading up his mask. But as he went to insert it, Dragunov flew across the ring, driving the plate into the Spoiler's face with a shining wizard. The masked man was out cold, and the referee recovered to make the count.
COMMERCIAL
Another video aired, of the “Earlier in the week” variety; Austin Theory shot the video himself on his phone, and he challenged any of the young rookies to take him on. “I'm just as young, but it's real obvious that I'm twice as good as any of you.”
SHANE HELMS vs. AUSTIN THEORY:
vs.
As it turned out, “Sugar” Shane Helms answered the call. They were close in age, close in height, but Theory was the superior athlete. Heavier and stronger, he used both to his advantage to hammer “Sugar Shane” down. Helms got a few punches in, but this was just a showcase for the Georgia native, who won with the ATL. After the match, he told the audience that he was the future of the AWA.
Scene change, and a cameraman was Gagne's locker room. He, Jeff Cobb, and Buzz Sawyer each took turns describing how their amateur acumen was no match for their foes later on tonight, and they would prove that both of their opponents were bona fide maniacs whose presence was no longer needed in the American WRESTLING Association.
COMMERCIAL
The North walked to their car, bragging about their win. Page declared that they were taking next week off, as champions deserved to do.
A Don Leo Jonathan vignette aired, and the “Mormon Giant” declared that he was far from finished in the AWA.
HANDICAP TAG-TEAM MATCH
The ULTIMATE WARRIOR and MAD DOG VACHON vs. VERNE GAGNE, JEFF COBB and BUZZ SAWYER:
vs.
The ULTIMATE WARRIOR and MAD DOG VACHON vs. VERNE GAGNE, JEFF COBB and BUZZ SAWYER:
vs.
Team Gagne was confident with the numbers advantage; Vachon received a hero's welcome when he walked down the ramp and waited on the floor for his partner. As usual, the AWA champion ran down and around the ring, and then he and his partner slid in.
The match followed traditional tag-team rules, and Gagne's crew used their numerical advantage, especially when Vachon was in. “Mad Dog” also seemed to have a little ring rust due to his injury, and he was just off his game. He was in the ring for the majority of the match, and Cobb and Sawyer were eager to make him suffer.
But the Frenchman kicked out of everything they had, and after a very long time, made the hot tag to the Ultimate Warrior. He was a wrecking ball, charging in and hitting everybody with clotheslines and shoulder-tackles. It was chaos, but a high knee in the back from Gagne expelled the Warrior to the outside, and eventually, all five men were brawling on the floor.
Incredibly, the Warrior press-slammed Cobb over his head and dropped him – on the floor. He picked up the big man's dead weight and rolled him back inside. As Vachon engaged the other two men in fisticuffs, the champion bounced off the ropes and hit Cobb with a big splash. Three seconds later, it was over, just before Gagne could break the pinfall. Vachon and Warrior went back into their corner and celebrated, as Sawyer stared them down, and an extremely angry Gagne checked on Cobb to end the show.
This show aired before Jeff Cobb's release.