Post by fifthhorseman on Apr 20, 2024 17:56:10 GMT -5
AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING
EPISODE 78
EPISODE 78
(Sorry this one took a while - wasn't feeling like writing for a couple of weeks.)
Short “Saturday Night's Main Event”-styled promos from Nick Bockwinkel, MJF and Freddie Blassie, the Monarchy, Mark and Jay Briscoe, Ricky Steamboat, and Montez Ford. Pyro from Las Vegas, Nevada – calling the action, Joey Styles and Don West.
AWA INTERCONTINENTAL TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
MARK and JAY BRISCOE vs. the MONARCHY (c):
vs.
MARK and JAY BRISCOE vs. the MONARCHY (c):
vs.
Hot opener to start the show, and just like their previous battles, this one was hard-hitting and back and forth. After surviving the champions' offense for several minutes, Jay made the hot tag to Mark, and he took command for his team. The older Briscoe nailed McGuinness with the Jay Driller, but Ospreay broke the pin up at 2.9. The close call prompted the Monarch's other member, Buddy Matthews, to head to the ring... be he was caught from behind by the newest addition to the AWA roster – PAC! The two muscular mid-heavyweights fought to the back, and Jay rolled up a distracted McGuinness for the win and the thrilling title change.
COMMERCIAL
Samoa Joe was backstage with Eric Bischoff, and he cut an short, intense promo on Batista. The “Samoan Submission Machine” wanted another shot at the AWA Intercontinental title, and with AWA Spring Slam coming up in a few weeks, that would be the perfect time to claim that championship.
Lee Marshall introduced the UWA Universal Heavyweight championship, Rick Rude, to the ring and he sauntered out accompanied by Percy Pringle III. Typical Rude behaviour directed at the “Nevada no-necks”, and then he spoke directly to Bryan Danielson. “You think you can play minds with the 'Ravishing One', bringing your old lady to the AWA? You just made the biggest mistake of your life, punk. After I get through with you, I'm gonna show little Nikki a real good time, and the games we're gonna play will be very, very fun. And next week, I'm going to show you what a real champion looks like.”
ILYA DRAGUNOV vs. COLTEN GUNN (w/Jimmy Hart):
vs.
vs.
This was just a showcase win for the returning Dragonuv, who made quick work of the young Gunn in a few minutes with the Torpedo Moscow. After the bout, he cut a fierce promo in the ring and said he was after the AWA Mid-Heavyweight championship.
COMMERCIAL
A Chris Candido vignette was shown on the videotron, highlighting his many championship reigns in other territories, including his brief stint as NWA World champion.
Jim Cornette strode out on the stage with Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane. “Bulldogs, listen up! Just because you want another match against the Midnight Express don't mean you get one! You don't just call your shots here, especially not against the former and soon to be AWA World Tag-Team champions! No, no, no! You wanna fight us, you do it on our schedule – and our schedule says, not tonight, and certainly not in this dump of a town!” Needless to say, the crowd was not happy as the three men left.
MONTEZ FORD (w/Butch Reed) vs. RICKY STEAMBOAT:
vs.
vs.
“The Prophet” was joined by Rock Nation associate Butch Reed, who made his hulking presence felt during the match. But Steamboat was savvy enough to stay out of his reach and despite a very strong showing by Ford, “the Dragon” finished him off with a flying bodypress. However, he was caught by Reed when the ref raised his hand; “Hacksaw” knocked him down with a vicious clothesline, and then he and Ford angrily left the ring.
COMMERCIAL
Bischoff introduced Lou Thesz to the audience, and the Mid-Heavyweight kingpin looked as confident as ever. He said that there were several challengers for his title, and the AWA roster was just getting more and more competitive. As he recited a few names, Dragunov walked out and interrupted, saying, “And don't forget about me. Maybe someday soon President Tunney will put our names on a contract, and we we'll see who the better man is.” The Russian respectfully extended his hand, and the two men cautiously shook before leaving the scene separately.
WINNER PICKS STIPULATION FOR AWA WORLD TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
TERRY GORDY (w/Steve Williams) vs. JAMES STORM (w/Chris Harris and Gail Kim):
vs.
TERRY GORDY (w/Steve Williams) vs. JAMES STORM (w/Chris Harris and Gail Kim):
vs.
Before the contest match, West announced that the two teams would finally face off at AWA Spring Slam in May; this was the first official match to be announced for that PPV.
Despite the size disadvantage, Storm battled like the champion he was, focusing on Gordy's legs to slow the big man down. The slow pace favored “the Cowboy” but he could not keep “Bamm Bamm” down long enough for a pin or submission, and the former Freebird battled back. He got to his feet and nailed Storm with a series of fists and kicks. However, when Harris and Williams started shoving each other on the floor, Kim took advantage of the distraction to slip Storm a pair of heavy handcuffs, and he clocked Gordy between the eyes. By the time the official turned around, Storm was covering his barely conscious opponent, and a few seconds later, AMW were celebrating.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-recorded interview with Barry Windham was shown. He told Lee Marshall that he regretted his association with Jim Cornette, and he had two men in his sights: Konosuke Takeshita, the man who “replaced” him in Cornette's stable, and Ric Flair, the AWA World Heavyweight champion.
BUDDY LANDEL vs. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE:
vs.
vs.
The crowd pop for the returning DDP was even louder in Las Vegas, a town that the former WCW World champion was well acquainted with. He walked through the audience to get to the ring where Landel impatiently waited for him. They only went about seven minutes, long enough for Landel to get some offense and his character over, but short enough for Page to get the convincing win with the Diamond Cutter.
COMMERCIAL
As the ring crew finished setting up the cage, Styles and West announced four of the scheduled matches for next week: Rick Rude versus an opponent to be determined in non-title action; Verne Gagne and Terry Funk would team up to take on mutual foes Arn Anderson and AJ Styles; a fatal four-way match to determine who would challenge the AWA Intercontinental champ Batista at Spring Slam between Buddy Matthews, Damian Priest, Samoe Joe, and PAC; and last but not least, for real, the British Bulldogs versus the Midnight Express.
STEEL CAGE MATCH
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. MJF (w/Freddie Blassie):
vs.
NICK BOCKWINKEL vs. MJF (w/Freddie Blassie):
vs.
Bockwinkel received a huge ovation within the traditional AWA stronghold of Vegas, and not because they despised his smarmy foe. Friedman and Blassie were booed just as loudly as Bockwinkel was cheered.
It was a technical battle for several minutes until MJF struck first blood – literally – by ramming Bockwinkel head-first into the cage. It was a slow trickle at first that the AWA icon almost refused to acknowledge, and he aggressively battled back. However, as the minutes ticked by the wound bled more heavily, and when he finally locked MJF in a Boston crab in the middle of the squared circle he was bleeding profusely. But the battered MJF – who was also cut open, although not nearly as badly – refused to quit. After several long seconds, during which neither proud man refused to yield, Bockwinkel toppled over; the strain of applying the hold, coupled with the blood loss, seemingly rendered him unconscious. Friedman slowly rolled over and draped an arm over his rival for the stunning win.
The crowd was stunned, and after MJF was declared the victor, he and Blassie put the boots to the barely responsive Bockwinkel. Suddenly, Shawn Michaels ran out and climbed the cage from the outside, and dove onto both heels to break it up. MJF and his manager bolted through the cage door as HBK checked on Bockwinkel, and the show ended with Michaels and HBK jawing at each other.