August 19^th aired a 1990 episode of Verne Gagne`s AWA All-Star Wrestling.  

The recap aired the final minutes of a six man match of Sgt. Slaughter, "Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff & The Trooper (WWE Patriot) versus AWA world champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko, ½ AWA world tag team champion "Mean" Mike Enos & The Russian Brute.

Sarge struck Brute on the ropes, then whipped him for a back elbow. Sarge delivered a bionic elbow, and received a 2 on his pin cover. A tagged Trooper assisted with a whip and double elbow on Brute. Trooper back dropped Brute, then landed a left fist.

After an off the ropes shoulder tackle, Zbyszko kicked Trooper off his pin at 2. Trooper held Brute for a Sluaghter kick to the stomach, then Sarge whipped Brute for tagged Nikita clothesline. A tagged Trooper whipped Brute for his neck pinch finisher, and was attacked in the corner by Enos.

Nikita and Zbyszko fought on the floor, as Enos was whipped out of the corner, and back body dropped Brute, who was whipped out of the corner by Sarge. Enos is hit with the Slaughter Cannon clothesline, as Trooper hooks the leg and pinned Brute for referee Gary DeRousha`s 3 count.  

 W.T. Jones & John "Pistol" Pistulka versus Yukon John Nord & "Flapjack" Scott Norton of The Lumberjacks

Nord charged back and forth in the ropes, and collided with Norton. They exchanged chest chops to continue psyching each other up. The camera showed Ox Baker at ringside giving the thumbs up, as he scouted The Lumberjacks.

Nord hit WT with a high boot, knocking WT to the floor. Commentator Lee Marshall mentioned that Nroton`s head was bandaged up from a recent altercation, where Col.

DeBeers ran Norton`s head into the steel post.

Back in the ring, WT is held for a Norton forearm club, then Norton lifted WT up vertically and dropped him flat on the mat. Norton headbutted WT, then turn buckle smashed a tagged Pistulka. A tagged Nord gut wrenched suplexed Pistulka, then ran back and forth in the ropes three times, leaping for a guillotine leg drop.

Nord pressed Pistulka down, howled, and the referee counted 3. This match was under three minutes. Norton was on the ring apron, as Ox Baker handed him a business card. Norton ripped up the card, and said "we don`t need you!"

At AWA studio, Eric Bischoff interviewed The Lumberjacks. Nord said that Njorton would soon be going back to the Yukon to defend his flapjack eating championship, beating the world record by eating 298. Nord said that in the Iron Man Survival Battle Royal, he and Norton will stand back to back as the winner. He mentioned easily clearing off 30-40 men at the lumberjack camp.

Nord flexed his bicep, then said that Norton has a twenty five megaton arm. Nord said that the fur will be flying, as AWA world champion Larry Zbyszko pays the price. Nord - "We don`t care!" Norton - "and we ain`t scared!"

Bischoff presented a video clip of Russian Brute following Ox Baker around ringside, begging for Ox`s managerial services again. Bischoff said that Ox wanted to manage Baron Von Raschke`s group in the Team Challneg Series. 

 George Anderson versus The Russian Brute

Brute walked to the finger pointing up and holding the Soviet flag. Brute kissed the flag, and when the match started, Anderson kicked him. Brute spun Anderson to the mat with a dragon leg whip. Brute picked Anderson up by the throat, and tossed him into the ropes.

Brute charged the ropes and charged down on Anderson, who was hanging on the middle rope. Brute put his fist to his hand, signalling the heart punch that Ox Baker taught him. Anderson was driven to the mat when he turned around and got clocked by the heart punch.

Brute dropped an elbow, and referee Gary DeRousha counted the 3 for a Brute victory. This match was under two minutes.  

Back at AWA studio, Bischoff said that fans had called in to complain about the Texas hangmen`s attack on Baron Von Raschke.

Enter Baron Von Rasche, who revealed that he has fully recover, he then introduced "a split personality" to face Psycko and Killer, as "Rock N Roll" Buck Zumhofe entered the interview area. Baron said that there would be no more two on one, and that the masked clowns` reign of terror will be coming to an end.

Zumhofe said that he would be coming after that "crum" Jonnie Stewart, as they both make a run for the AWA world light heavyweight championship. Baron holds up his claw hand, as Buck moves to the music of his boom box, as we go into commercial.

In the Team Challenge Series report, video highlights of Colonel DeBeers against "Flapjack" Scott Norton aired. They participated in a knockdown match, where a wrestler must knock down the other three times before claiming victory.

The video showed that DeBeers couldn`t get Norton up for a body slam, but Norton pressed the nearlt 300 lb Colonel over head in a gorilla press slam. This marked the third knocked down for Norton, gaining him the victory and two points for Baron Von Raschke`s Blitzers.

A narrating Lee Marshall said that sending Norton in, was another ploy by the Americans to try and get rid of the Colonel. DeBeers attacked Norton at ringside, ramming him head into the steel ring post.

A bloody Norton confronted DeBeers in the ring, and an enraged Norton ran DeBeers from the ring. The standing in The Series has Baron`s Blitzers at 38 points, Sgt. Slaughetr`s Snipers at 31 points and Larry Zbyszko`s Legends at 29 points.

 Tommy Jammer versus Tom "Rocky" Stone

Jammer rushed to the ring to The Beach Boys`s song "Surfin¢ USA". Stone clubbed Jammer before the bell, and turnbuckle smashed him. As the match got underway, Jammer reversed a corner whip, and back body dropped Stone.

Jammer blocked Stone`s right fist, and whipped Stone to the ropes for a gut punch. Jammer then sprung off the ropes, to drop Stone with a knee lift. Ox Baker was shown at ringside, putting a business card in his mouth.

Jammer whipped Stone for a dropkick, then Stone was knocked down again by a standing dropkick.Jammer hooked the hook on his pin, and gained the 3 in under two minutes. Jammer was on the ring apron when Ox handed him a card, and Jammer tore it in half in front of him.

At AWA studio, Eric Bischoff interviewed AWA founder and former AWA world champion Verne Gagne. Bischoff named some wrestlers, to get Verne`s take. On Curtis "The Cat" Hughes, Verne mentioned that the former All American in wrestling and football, has gone from a great prospect to a wrestler who has arrived. Verne said that that highly accomplished Hughes was tough to beat.

On Yukon John & Flapjack Norton of the Lumberjacks, Verne said that this huge team has great agility, and are coming along in acquiring more wrestling ability. Verne said that The Lumberjacks were unbeatable in power.

On AWA world tag team champions Wayne "The Train" Bloom & "Mean" Mike Enos of The Destruction Crew, Verne said they were an unpredictable team, but that Enos` shoulder injury could lead to their downfall.

On AWA world heavyweight champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko, Verne mentioned that Zbyszko had been defending the title in Guam and South America. He said these were places that the American champions never went before. Verne said that the global expansion was exciting in wrestling today.

Eric Bischoff thanked Tim Klifer from Poughkeepsie, New York for a drawing he made of "Illutrious" Jonnie Stewart as a rat. Bischoff then mentioned that the official word on ½ AWA world champion Wayne "The Train" Bloom`s absence is an injury. Bischoff then said that the rumor was that Bloom was in Florida, watching the Miami Dolphins` training camp, to prepare for a Team Challenge Series football match.

 Steve Berg & Mike Braham versus "Illustrious" Jonnie Stewart & ½ World tag team champions "Mean" Mike Enos of The Destruction Crew

Enos and Stewart came out from behind the curtain laughing, as they walked to the ring, with Queen`s "We Will Rock You" song playing. Stewart pushed off the larger Berg`s headlock, and Stewart was charged down. On the ropes, Stewart was punched in the stomach, then whipped for a back breaker. Berg made the tag, and Stewart rushed the smaller Braham with a kick, into a snap suplex.

Braham was whipped to the ropes for a flying back elbow. Commentator Lee Marshall mentioned that Stewart had held the light heavyweight champion before, by defeating Mike Graham for the title in Florida.

Stewart stepped on Braham`s neck, then whipped him for a powerslam. A tagged Enos powerslammed Braham into the corner, and left him hanging upside down from the ring rope. Enos tagged Stewart, then whipped Braham for Stewart`s flying knee press. Stewart covered, and gained the 3 count, ending this match in under three minutes.

Eric Bischoff mentioned the tough bouts that AWA world champion Larry Zbyszko was having. Bischoff mentioned that Zbyszko lost the belt in Tokyo Japan to Mr. Saito, then regained it from Saito a month later. In between that time, Nikita Koloff beat him in a 2 out of three falls bout. After Zbyszko won back title, he wrestler The Trooper to a draw. Bischoff said that on a tour of Guam and South America, Zbyszko defeated "Modern Day Warrior" Kerry Von Erich and Sgt. Slaughter.

D.J. Petrson gave comments backstage on his upcoming main event bout for the AWA world championship. DJ said that Zbyzko had been busy counting his money in Larryland. DJ said that in all that time, he had been in the gym, and wanted Zbyszko to think about that.

In his rebuttal, AWA world champion Larry Zbyszko said that DJ was tough, but a dreamer. Zbyszko said that DJ would find out that night what Bruno Sammartino learned before Zbyszko retired him, and how Zbyszko out slicked Nick Bockwinkel. Zbyszko saluted and said "you`ll have to go through me. I`ll see you in Larryland..jerk!"

 D.J. Peterson representing Baron`s Blitzer versus undisputed AWA world heavyweight champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko in a a Team Challnege Series main event

DJ rushed to the ring to AC/DC`s song "TNT", and Zbyszko walked to the ring to Tina Turner`s song "Simply The Best" Many fans chant "Larry sucks!" as both men looking for an opening after the bell.

Zbyszko kneed DJ in the stomach, then forearm clubbed him down. DJ is body slammed, then Zbyszko hopped up and raked the sides of DJ`s face on the way down. Zbyszko executed a vertical suplex and earned referee Gary DeRousha`s pin count of 2.

Zbyszko snap mared DJ, then planted a knee in the back, gaining another count of 2 on his pin cover. Zbyszko stomped DJ`s left hand, then whipped him to the ropes. DJ turned Zbyszko`s back body drop attempt into a sunset flip, but Zbyszko`s right punch kept DJ from completing the roll-up.

DJ body slmmed Zbyszko twice, and clotheslined him down. DJ held the feet of a downed Zbyszko, threatening to stomp. Zbyszko yelled and covered his groin. DJ struck down, but with a headbutt to the abdomen.

Zbyszko exited the ring, and DJ followed him out, and atomic dropped him down to the cold concrete. Commentator Lee Marshall thought this was stupid to do, as DJ risked winning by count-out, thus not gaining the title on that ruling.

When Zbyszko gets to the ring apron, DJ suplexed him back into the ring. DJ hooked the leg and got a count of 2 on the pin cover. DJ whipped Zbyszko for a back body drop, but Zbyszko halted his momentum, and brought DJ down to the mat with a front face chancery.

Zbyszko went for a spinning neckbreaker, but DJ stopped this, and slowly brought Zbyszko down with a back slide. Zbyszko got his right shoulder up before the pin could reach 3. There was an "ah" that could be heard in the crowd.

A corner whipped Zbyszko knocked down a charging DJ, when he brought the knee up. Zbyszko back suplexed DJ, turned him over and got a pin count of 2. Zbyszko would get another 2 count after a body slam.

Zbyszko wrapped DJ up in a chinlock, then yelled "Shut up!" to those in the crowd chanting for DJ. Zbyszko yelled "Ring the bell!" as he had DJ trapped down on the mat. DJ slowly got to his feet, stomping to rally for fan support.

DJ elbows strikes to an escape, and both men exchange punches. ON an Irish whip, Zbyszko held the rope, and DJ crashed to the mat on his dropkick attempt. Zbyszko covered for a 2 count. DJ blocked a suplex, and snap suplexed Zbyszko.

DJ blocked Zbyszko`s strikes and struck back, then dropped him with an inverted atomic drop. DJ whipped Zbyszko for a powerslam, then a gut wrench suplex. DJ drove a flying corkscrew elbow from the middle rope, but Zbyszko managed to kick out at 2.

DJ applied a headlock, and DJ knocked down referee Gary DeRosuah, when Zbyszko pushed off the hold. DJ rolled up Zbyszko for an inside cradle, but DeRousha was trying to recover. He did so fairly quickly but when he went to count, DJ only got a 1.

DJ threw Zbyszko into the corner and punched him. After landing a knee, referee

DeRousha forced DJ back. On DJ`s approach, Zbyszko swept DJ`s legs for a roll up. Zbyszko had his leg foot on the bottom rope. DeRousha counted the 3 for a Zbyszko victory, closing the match in under nine minutes.

Broadcasters Lee Marshall and Ralph Strangis went over the video replay, and counted seven while DJ had the inside cradle. The AWA world title was in the middle of the ring, and DJ took it and left the arena.

Eric Bischoff interviewed AWA world champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko right after the match in the studio. Zbyszko said that DJ is a moron running around with a belt, that the AWA commission will just get back and punish DJ with a fine.

When Bischoff brought up Zbyszko`s loss to Nikita Koloff, Zbyszko said that referee Bob Lurtsema attacked him from behind in that match. Zbyszko said that other NFL players, such as Tony Mandrich and Lyle Alzado now think they can be wrestlers.

Zbyszko said that it will be just as gratifying to defeat "white meat" DJ, as when he beat the snot out of snot out of Rob Lowe, for trying to take out his daughter. Zbyszko wrapped by saying "There is one man, one champion", he saluted and said "see you jerks in Larryland"

Catch the legend of AWA Monday to Friday at 12am est on ESPN Classic.

David

http://www.myspace.com/unrulyghouly