Post by fifthhorseman on Oct 7, 2023 22:36:02 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 61
EPISODE 61
Short “Saturday Night's Main Event”-styled promos from Christian Cage, the Grand Wizard, Lou Thesz, Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkel, and MJF. Pyro from Winnipeg, Manitoba - announcing the action, Joey Styles and Don West, who started the unofficial countdown to the AWA's next big event, Autumn Bomb II, next month.
AWA WORLD MID-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
VERNE GAGNE vs. LOU THESZ (c):
vs.
VERNE GAGNE vs. LOU THESZ (c):
vs.
This wasn't the fast-paced opener AWA audiences were used to seeing, but it was a technical bout everyone was eager to see. Gagne was the aggressor, and he took several shortcuts throughout the match to gain every advantage. However, Thesz was no stranger to that either, and the match got progressively rougher it went on. The champion retained with the Thesz press, and after he left with the belt, Gagne angrily sat on the mat as the show went to
COMMERCIAL
Another vignette featured the same two young collegiate-styled wrestlers as the week before. They were flinging their training partners all over the mat, but again, neither man was identified.
A pre-recorded interview aired from one of Mike Rotunda's various new homes, this one in Palm Springs. Eric Bischoff was there to conduct it, as was Mr. Jones with his tricked-out walker. The “Billion Dollar Man” was still seething over his loss to Ted DiBiase. “We were supposed to be wrestling under amateur rules, and that low-class scumbag hit me with a closed fist! I refuse to let that be the final image people have of Mike Rotunda, so here's the deal – DiBiase, I'm challenging you to a taped-fist match! Let's see how you do then!”
DOOM vs. the MACHINE:
vs.
vs.
Styles brought up Doom's surprise attack on the Machine the week before, leading to tonight's match. Storm and Lynn were no pushovers, and they neutralized their opponents' power with ground-based grappling. But the former WCW World champs were just too strong, and they eventually hit Lynn with a double-spinebuster to take the victory.
COMMERCIAL
Los Gringos Loco cut a backstage promo, with their leader, Art Barr, doing most of the talking. He was tired of Ricky Starks, and said, “You might have gotten lucky lately, but you haven't had the guts to meet me in the ring one-on-one! So if you're feeling froggy, just try to jump on me. Anytime, any place... but if you're smart, Ricky, you'll quit while you're ahead.”
ARN ANDERSON vs. BRON STEINER (w/Freddie Blassie):
vs.
vs.
Steiner jumped “the Enforcer” as he got in the ring. He was meaner and more aggressive than ever before, and hit Anderson with slams, suplexes, and big right hands. But the second-generation brawler couldn't keep his opponent down, and “Double A” rallied back, eventually going after Steiner's left arm, an Anderson trademark. A clothesline spot took them both to the floor, and they fought there too long for the ref's liking, and he called for the double-countout.
With Blassie serving as a distraction, Steiner grabbed a steel chair and smashed Anderson across the back. But before he could inflict further damage, Shawn Michael ran out with a chair of his own, and the two heels scattered. HBK grabbed a nearby microphone and said that he wasn't surprised that the Pinnacle – any of them – would resort to weaponry. But he continued, “Ric Flair, don't forget that I want you. I came back to the AWA to settle, once and for all, who the best of all-time really is, and it's about time we got down to business. So I'm calling my shot, and giving you plenty of time to prepare for it. Me and you at Autumn Bomb II. The 'Nature Boy' versus 'the Showstopper'. Let's do it!”
COMMERCIAL
Lee Marshall introduced Diamond Dallas Page, and he entered the ring to a huge ovation. He made it clear that he was tired of the Rock constantly ducking and dodging him. But before he could get a real rant going, Page was interrupted by a unlikely source – the self-proclaimed “Profit”, Montez Ford, who told DDP to give other stars (like him) a chance in the ring and on the microphone. “We're all tired of your bitching and moaning! You lost the Intercontinental title two months ago – just shut up already!”
The “People's Champion” shook his head and replied, “Why don't you try to shut it, big boy? I don't recall anyone asking you to come out here while I was talking to all these fans. But I'll tell you what, let's get a contract signed for next week, me and you – and we'll see who the bigger, better man really is.”
Ford just pointed back at him, dropped the microphone, and left; Page did the same to another round of cheers.
PAUL LONDON and BRIAN KENDRICK vs. the MONARCHY:
vs.
vs.
The former WWE tag champions hit several double-team aerial moves early, but McGuinness and Ospreay were just too tough to overcome. The Monarchy demonstrated easy chemistry that played to their strengths, and it took about eight minutes for Ospreay to pin London with the Hidden Blade.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-taped promo from America's Most Wanted. They claimed that they were the uncrowned AWA World Tag-Team champions, and everyone - including Mark and Jay Briscoe - knew it. James Storm shouted, "You're damn lucky that the titles don't change hands on countouts, boys! But next time, I guarantee you this - and there will be a next time, real soon - we're taking those tag-team straps!"
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. MJF (w/Freddie Blassie):
vs.
Before the match started, West observed that other than the years of experience Bockwinkel brought with him, the two competitors were very similar: well-conditioned and strong, cerebral, articulate, excellent wrestling ability, and willing to get dirty. As such, it was a very snug, back-and-forth battle that went about 15 minutes. Bockwinkel won by disqualification, much to the crowd's dissatisfaction, when MJF nailed the popular AWA legend with a low blow in clear view of the referee. Friedman and Blassie claimed the moral victory, but after they left, it was clear that Bockwinkel wanted a rematch.
COMMERCIAL
Another vignette for Bob Backlund, and the closing chyron noted that he would be in action – next week!
Styles and West hyped up November's Autumn Bomb II, and said that AWA President Jack Tunney would be making a major announcement on next week's show.
Split-screen tale of the tape graphic for the competitors, and it was main event time.
AWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
MIKE AWESOME (w/the Grand Wizard) vs. CHRISTIAN CAGE (c):
vs.
MIKE AWESOME (w/the Grand Wizard) vs. CHRISTIAN CAGE (c):
vs.
Christian hadn't faced too many foes that were considerably stronger and just as quick as he was, but Awesome was both of those things. The former ECW icon moved Cage at will throughout the match, and Cage retaliated by working on Awesome's left knee to slow him down. They went about 20 minutes, and it ended when Christian dodged a top-rope shoulder-block, and hit Awesome with the Unprettier.
He didn't have much time to celebrate, though, as the Grand Wizard got in the ring and shouted at him. The champion was exhausted and wanted to leave, but he refused to back down. However, that gave Awesome time to recover, and he nailed Cage from behind, and hit him with two Awesome Bombs before a swarm of AWA officials forced him and the Wizard out of the ring,
Enter a smirking Jim Cornette with Barry Windham on the stage. “Boy, look at you! You just lie down and relax and get checked out by those medical staff, and listen to what I have to say. Barry Windham doesn't want to wait until Autumn Bomb II for his rematch. You see, he wants to be the AWA World Heavyweight champion right now. So I've invoked his rematch clause, and next week, you're gonna be looking up at those lights again... because 'the Widowmaker' is gonna lay you out one, two, three! We'll see you next week, Cage - shine that belt up for the real World champion, Barry Windham!” The show ended with Cage staggering to his feet, grimly anticipating the rematch next week.