CLASSIC AWA REPORT FOR AUGUST 13TH
- 08/13/2008 (7:30:37 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
…
August 13th aired a May 1990 episode of Verne Gagne`s AWA All-Star Wrestling.
Spike Jones versus Yukon John Nord
Warren Zevon`s song "Werewolves of London" played as Nord walked to the ring, accompanied by his tag partner "Flapjack" Scott Norton. Nord slapped fans` hands at ringside and howled. Commentator Ralph Strangis said that Nord referred to his young fans as "Little Lumberjacks"
Nord charged off the ropes into Norton, and they engaged in an exchange of chest chops to psyche up Nord. When Nord turned away in the corner, Spike attacked from behind before the starting bell, with a double ax handle to Nord`s back.
After taking stomach punches in the corner, Nord clubbed the 300 lb Spike down to the mat, and whipped him to the ropes for a high boot. Spike was thrown through the ropes, and Nord howled before body slamming Spike on the concrete floor.
Spike was thrown back in the ring, stomped and whipped to the ropes. Nord sprung off the ropes for extra force on his flying tackle, Nord ran back and forth off the ropes three times, and leap for guillotine leg drop on the downed Spike.
Jobber wrestler Todd Becker was officiating this match, and counted 3 as Nord covered Spike with a hook of the leg. This match was under three minutes. Norton went to the ring apron and exchanged back clubs with Nord in celebration.
In a post match ringside interview, Nord repeated his story to Eric Bischoff about discovering that Scott Norton ate 298 pancakes in twenty minutes, beating the world record by five. Nord said that is why Norton was nicknamed "Flapjack" and that Norton was one of the tougest men alive. Norton said that he and Nord comprized the biggest, strongest and meanest tag team going in wrestling today. Nord and Norton said together to the Texas Hangmen`s challenge "We don`t care,..and we ain`t scared!" Both men slap chests, and Nord howled.
"Illustrious" Jonnie Stewart versus Jim Evans
"Pump Up The Jam" by Technotronic.played as Stewart walked to the ring in his blue sequined robe with yellow feathered trim. Stewart removed his robe, and had "Spoiled Rotten" written on the back of his trunks.
Stewart wristlocked Evans, and landed an elbow to Evans` locked arm. Stewart then grapevined Evans` arm and rolled him to the mat for an armbar. Evans was whipped to the ropes for a flying back elbow, body slammed, then Stewart landed an off ropes corkscrew elbow drop on the downed Evans. Stewart covered, and referee Todd Becker counted 2 on the pin count before Evans kicked out.
Evans retaliated with gut punches, back clubs, and a knife edge chop in the ropes. Evans slapped Stewart`s chest in the corner, but Evans crashed to the buckles, when a corner whipped Stewart moved away from his charge. Ringside broadcasters Lee Marshall and Ralph Strangis commented that Stewart looked to be adjusting something in his knee pad.
Evans was Irish whipped to the ropes, and nailed by Stewart`s right knee in a cross body press. Stewart covered for referee Becker`s 3 count, closing the match in under three minutes. Stewart bended to one knee and gave a double arm flex.
At ringside, Eric Bischoff asked Stewart what he had been spending his money on, and Stewart said on good looking female flight attendants. Stewart said that number one on his list of priorities was becoming AWA world light heavyweight champion, and assured the viewers that he would win the title. Stewart wrapped up with "When you walk down the street and see me, don`t call me Jonnie, don`t call me spoiled..call me Champ!"
In the Team Challenge Series Update, Lee Marshall spoke about "Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff as the wild card on Sgt. Slaughter`s Snipers team. Mike George said that he would defeat Nikita in four minutes, and highlights of the match showed George body slamming and giving Nikita a backbreaker. The clips then showed Nikita drilling George to the canvas with the Russian Sickle, and silencing George`s ego by pinning him for the 3.
The standings have Baron Von Raschke`s Blitzer back in the lead with 33 points, Sarge`s Sniper at 29 points, and Larry Zbyszko`s Legneds at 28 points. Marshall said that The Legends have not had a win in five weeks.
The Tokyo Bullets versus Ric McCord & D.J. Peterson
DJ & Ric came to the ring to AC/DC`s song "TNT" Lee Marshall mentioned that Ric and DJ held the Central States tag team championship, but this was their debut as a tag team in the AWA. Bullet #1 punched Ric in the corner. Ric reversed a corner whip and back body dropped the Bullet.
Ric arm dragged The Bullet and leg dropped the arm. Ric hip tossed Bullet, and covered him for a pin count of 2. Ric held the Bullet for a tagged DJ stomach kick. DJ gut wrench suplexed Bullet, and hooked the leg for a pin count fo 2.
After a DJ back suplex, a tagged Ric assisted DJ in whipping Bullet #1 into a double back body drop. The camera showed a man in a black mask sitting at ringside who was probably just a fan, by commentators Marshall and Strangis were talking like it might be someone of significance.
After being dropkicked and hit with a European uppercut, Bullet #1 was whipped to the ropes and held by Bullet #2 on the ring apron. This caused Ric to crash to the mat on a dropkick attempt. The Bullets drop Ric with a double flying tackle.
Bullet #1 chopped Ric, and held him for a tagged #2's gut punch. Ric is snapmared down but moved away from Bullet #2`s off the ropes elbow drop. Ric does a forward roll and makes the tag to DJ. The Bullet is clubbed, and when whipped to the rope, grabbed DJ`s boot on a kick attempt. DJ then leaped up and nailed The Bullet with an inzuigiri.
DJ whipped The Bullet for a powerslam, then when Bullet #2 stood up, atagged in Ric flew off the top ropes for a flying cross body press. DJ dropped an incoming Tokyo Bullet #1 with a running clothesline, and Ric pinned him 1..2..3. This match was under three minutes.
Commentator Ralph Strangis explained that since The Bullet was standing when Ric came off the top ropes, that would constitute a legal off the top ropes maneuver accoridng to the new AWA rules.
In the post match ringside interview, Eric Bischoff thanked DJ for brushing the shoulders of his suit jacket. DJ mentioned that Ric had been wrestling for ten years, and said that they would have a surprised for AWA world tag team champions The Destruction Crew.
DJ said that even after the three months of underhanded tactics by The Destruction Crew, couldn`t take away his happiness at the moment. Ric warned The Destruction Crew "you better be ready for the battle of your life"
Backstage, Eric Bischoff stated that he felt AWA world champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko only retained the title by the time limit, in his match against The Trooper (WWE Patriot). The ending of the match replayed at the point where Zbyszko kicked out of a pin, and held onto the rope on a whip, causing Trooper to crash to the canvas from a missed dropkick.
Zbyszko denied to referee Gary DeRousha over holding the rope while having the abdominal stretch on Trooper. DeRousha caught the grab and kicked Zbyszko`s arm off, causing Trooper to take him to the mat with a hip toss.
Trooper caught Zbyszko with a sunset flip and got a pin count of 2., then another 2 after Zbyszko was rolled up for an inside cradle. Both men collide to the mat, and Trooper has Zbyszko`s chest smash to the buckles on a corner whip reversal.
Zbyszko is whipped to the ropes for a stomach punch and then for a back body drop. Trooper applied his shoulder pinch finisher, but only ten seconds remained in the match. Zbyszko went down as the bell rang, and the crowd thoght Trooper won the world title when referee DeRousha raised his arm.
It turned out that both men`s hands would be raised, as the match had reached it`s ten minute time limit. Trooper tried to pull the belt away form the referee, but DeRousha explained the situation to The Trooper.
At ringside, Trooper told Eric Bischoff about his disappointment, but said that Zbyszko found out about Trooper`s ability, as he was brought down with the big pinch finisher. Trooper said Zbyszko was in dreamland instead of Larryland, and Trooper planned on pursuing Zbyszko until the world title was around his waist.
Brad Rheingans versus AWA world heavyweight champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko in the ESPN Main Event
Rheingans came to the ring to Bachman Turner Overdrive`s song "Taking Care of Business", and Zbyszko came to the ring to Tina Turner`s song "Simply The Best" Lee Marshall mentioned that both men come into this contest at 245 lbs.
Zbyszko yelled to the crowd to knock off the "Larry sucks!" chants. Zbyszko complained on the ring apron, and referee Gary DeRousha said he couldn`t do anything about the chants. As Rheingans looked to lock-up, Zbyszko slapped at his hands, and waited for an opening.
Lee`s co-commentator Ralph Strangis mentioned that Zbyszko had regained the AWA world title from Mr. Saito on April 10th at Minnesota`s St. Paul Civic Center. The chants made Zbyszko leave the ring, to speak into a microphone, telling the people that they sucked.
Back in the ring, Rheingans backed Zbyszko to the ropes on a lock-up, and referee DeRousha got between them to break the lock from the ropes. Zbyszko shot in and executed a fireman`s carry take over, but former Olympian Rheingans quickly countered with a head scissors.
Zbszyko escaped this hold by locking his legs on the bottom rope. Zbyszko then made a false complaint to referee DeRousha about Rheingans pulling the hair. There were boos emanating from the crowd
Lee Marshall mentioned that Zbyszko`s match against Bruno Sammartino in New York`s Shea Stadium was the most viewed wrestling match (before Wrestlemania III) , and mentioned that the undercard saw Andre The Giant defeat Hulk Hogan.
Zbyszko is backed to the ropes, pushed Rheingans off, and Rheingans pushed back. Zbyszko pushed off the headlock and was charged down. When Rheingans charged off the ropes again, Zbyszko flipped im with a hip toss. Rheingans mule kicked up, knocking Zbyszko down, and rolling him for a pin count of 2 with a headlock.
Zbyszko rolled Rheingans to his back, with a yank of the trunks, and received a pin count of 2 each time. Referee Gary DeRousha caught the trunks pull on Zbyszko`s third roll and pushed Rheingans back to a seated position.
As the "Larry sucks!" chant continues, Zbyszko pushed Rheingans into the ropes, ducked down, then went for a back body drop. Rheingans halted his off ropes momentum and rolled up Zbyszko for a pin count of 2.
Zbyszko escaped, Rheingans took him to the mat with a headlock, and Zbyszko imemediately rolled him for a near 3 count. Rheingans had twice got Zbyszko to his back in the headlock, gaining a pin count of 2 each time.
Lee Marshall had mentioned that former AWA world champion Nick Bockwinkel had told him that, if someone had tap his bed mattress while he was sound asleep, Bockwinkel would instinctively raise his shoulder off the mat. Ralph Strangis said that Greg Gagne had told him the same.
Zbyszko escaped the hold, is charged down, but side stepped Rheingans second charged. As Rheingans was going towards the ropes, Zbyszko threw him to the floor. On the ring apron, Rheingans jammed his shoulder into Zbyszko, who was in the ring.
Rheingans then sunset flipped into the ring, and over Zbyszko for a roll-up pin count of 2.
Zbyszko kicked out, then pushed off a headlock, and both men go down in a collision. Zbyszko delivers a spinning heel kick to an approaching Rheingans, punched him and choked him on the top rope. Rheingans is then kicked, back suplexed and covered for a pin of 2.
Zbyszko complained to referee DeRousha about a slow count, and Strangis mentioned that was Zbyszko`s complaint in Tokyo Japan, on the night Saito took the AWA world title. Zbyszko choked Rheingans on the middle rope, then landed a knee to his back.
Rheingans came back with stomach punches, then took Zbyszko to the mat with a wasitlock suplex. Rheingans received a 2 count on his pin, but Zbyszko returned with a vertical suplex on Rheingans. Zbyszko covered and received a 2 count on his pin.
Rheingans was on the mat as Zbyszko applied a chinlock. Lee Marshall made a comment about AWA wrestling fans appreciating the aspect of actual wrestling over the steroids, painted faces and geek talk from other leagues.
Rheingans looked to be powering out of the chinlock, but Zbyszko brought Rheingans back down in the hold with a hair pull. Zbyszko yells "ring the bell!" feeling that Rheingans is just about a goner. Chants of "Larry sucks!" happen again.
Rheingans elbowed out of the hold, but Zbyszko punched him down. Zbyszko wrapped up Rheingans in an abdominal stretch, but Rheingans released his arm, and reversed the hold. Zbyszko then maneuvered to hip toss Rheingans for an escape.
Zbyszko covered Rheingans and gained a 2 count, then re-applied the chinlock. Zbyszko pushed his boot against the bottom rope for extra pressure on the hold. Zbyszko yelled to the chanting crowd "Shut up! You suck!"
Zbyszko yelled again to ring the bell, and Lee Marshall mentioned seeing Rheingans carried from the building with a torn up leg, but he had never heard Rheingans say I quit. Rheingans raked Zbyszko`s eyes, then smashed his head into the turnbuckle.
Rheingans Irish whipped Zbyszko for a clothesline and a back body drop, then twisted the sole of his boot to the face of a downed Zbyszko. Rheingans gut wrench suplexed Zbyszko, hooked the leg, but Zbyszko got his left shoulder up just before the pin count
could reach 3.
Rheingans whipped Zbyszko to the corner, but crashed to the buckles, when Zbyszko moved away. Zbyszko pressed Rheingans` legs back for a roll-up pin, and Zbyszko laid his right leg on the middle rope. Referee Gary DeRousha was out of position to see this, and counted the 1..2..3 for a Zbyszko victory. This match was just under fifteen minutes.
In a post match interview at ringside, Eric Bischoff mentioned that he noticed Rheingans was favoring his knee. Rheingans said that nothing was settled, and said that the only place Larryland exists is between Zbyszko`s ears. Rheingans reiterated that their feud was not over yet.
Catch the legends of AWA Monday to Friday at 12am est on ESPN Classic.
David
http://www.myspace.com/unrulyghouly
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