August 12^th aired a 1990 episode of Verne Gagne`s AWA All-Star Wrestling.

 

 Jim Evans versus "Illustrious" Jonnie Stewart

 

Stewart faked out Evans with a false handshake attempt. Stewart executed some chain wrestling with a headlock, hammerlock, leg takedown into a front face snap suplex. Evans` left arm was was wristlocked and elbowed, before being taking over with a fireman`s carry.

 

Stewart received a pin of 1 from referee Gary DeRousha, and Evans was brought to the corner and punched. Evans was whipped, with Stewart following him in with an elbow in the corner. After a body slam, Stewart climbed to the top rope, and leaped onto Evans with a flying elbow drop. Referee DeRousha signaled for the bell, as Stewart was surprised to find that he broke the new rule in off the top rope maneuvers.

 

This match was under two minutes. Stewart pushed DeRousha back, as Evans rolled out of the ring. Stewart followed Evans, and slammed his head into the timekeeper`s table. Stewart punched Evans, and threw him into the steel ring post. Stewart threw a folding chair into the ring, then walked back to the dressing rooms.

 

 

Sgt. Slaughter gave comments backstage, where he referred to Jonnie Stewart being like Bart Simpson. Sarge gave Stewart a new nickname in Bart Wimpson. Sarge mentioned that he assited Stewart`s father in trying to instill discipline in him, by taking away his Porsche, money, diamonds and Rolex watches.

 

Sarge said it was tough that Stewart didn`t like Camp Slaughter. He said that after pinning Stewart, and getting his marbles back after being slammed into a table, chair and ring post, Stewart hightailed it back to the locker rooms.

 

Sarge said that he was fighting for his life against an ambush during the Viet Nam war on Christmas Eve, when Stewart was just a kid. Sarge wanted to give Stewart a taste of this, and declared war on him. Sarge said "when it`s all over, you won`t know what hit you!" adding "you¢re gonna be dismissed and permanently!"

 

 

 Jamie Magnum versus "Russian Nightmare " Nikita Koloff

 

Commentator Lee Marshall mentioned that no matter who Nikita gets in the ring with, he just sees AWA world champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko as his opponent. Nikita clubbed Magnum in the corner, then chucked him from across the ring with a high hip toss. Nikita struck Magnum in his mid-section with a knee, but Magnum came back with an eye rake and punches.

 

The equally big Magnum corner whipped Nikita, body slammed him, but crashed to the canvas when Nikita avoided an elbow drop. Magnum was whipped to the ropes and struck down with a flying tackle. Magnum was Irish whipped again, this time getting driolled to the mat with Nikita`s dreaded Russian Sickle clothesline. Nikita covered for the 3 count victory then gave a double most muscular flex with his tongue sticking out.

 

 

Eric Bischoff interviewed Jonnie Stewart backstage, who was wearing a Bart Simpson t-shirt. Stewart said that he would take the role of Bart Simpson any day. He mentioned that even though Sgt. Slaughter took away his money away, Sarge forgot that Stewart is now making over $100,000 in his contract with the AWA.

 

Stewart yelled that week after week for a year, he had killed and destroyed everyone he faced. Stewart proclaimed himself the new American way, and his spoiled behavior is what a kid of the 90`s is all about. Stewart said that next time Sarge would be facing worse than a table, as Stewart would squeesh him, and show him what Stewart was all about.

 

 

On the Team Challenge Series Report, Lee Marshall narrated a tag team battle royal, where team captains would pair up with jobbers. Sgt. Slaughter teamed with Tom "Rocky" Stone for Sarge`s Snipers, AWA world champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko teamed with Jake "Milkman" Milliman for Larry`s Legends, Baron Von Raschke teamed with Todd Becker for Baron`s Blitzers.

 

During the match Stone tried to eliminate his own leader, when he felt Sarge`s tactics were not working. Sarge came back from Stone`s attack, and tossed Stone from the ring, resulting in the team`s elimination from the match.

 

Baron ducked Zbyszko`s clothesline, and Milliman accidently pulled down the top rope when trying to re-enter, causing his leader to fall over the top rope. Baron`s Blitzers won the match to tie with Sarge`s Snipers at 27 points. Larry`s Legends were still in the lead with 28 points.

 

 

 Kent Carlson versus Col. DeBeers

 

DeBeers twisted the end of his handlebar mustache, as he walked to the ring to Guns ¡N¢ Roses "Welcome to the Jungle". DeBeers took Carlson to the mat with a headlock roll-over, then punished him with snap mares, stomps, punches and knees. DeBeers threw Carlson into the corner, then DeBeers charged out of the corner to drop a splash on the shoulders of a seated Carlson.

 

DeBeers covered, but pulled Carlson off the pin when referee Gary DeRousha reached 2. DeBeers placed Carlson`s neck underneath the bottom rope, and yanked him up into it with a slingshot. DeBeers jumped off the ring apron and landed an elbow onto the chest of Carlson. DeBeers lifted Carlson upside down, and crashed Carlson forward with a front drop piledriver, and covered him for the 3 count. This match was under two minutes.

 

 

The Trooper gave comments backstage about his upcoming main event match against AWA world champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko. Trooper said that the goal in any sport was to shoot for the mountain top. He shouted that there was no place to run and no place for Zbyszko to hide anymore, as he was now in The Trooper`s jurisdiction.

 

Trooper said that Zbyszko will pay the price, as law and order will be served. He said that he has come too far and fought too hard to let this opportunity at the world championship slip away. Trooper added that the long arm of the law will apply Trooper`s big pinch finsher, queezing to lft out of Zbyszko, and having The Trooper walk out the new world heavyweight champion.

 

 

In a rebuttal, AWA world champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko was interviewed by Eric Bischoff, with a cartoon graphic of Larryland amusement park as the background. Zbyszko denied that Trooper gained a clean pin on him in a six man match, and said that Trooper was riding on a reputation of winning the lottery.

 

Zbyszko said that he had a dream where he woke up in a cold sweat in Larryland, and found 100,000 million mutant ninja spudheads lead by The Trooper after him. Zbyszko said that the law and order he found was humpty dumpty Trooper falling off a wall, with all the spudheads dying from yolk suffication.

 

Bischoff asked what that dream meant. Zbyszko mentioned his ended former WWE world champion Bruno Sammartino`s career and the career of former AWA world champion Nick Bockwinkel. He added that at the hands of Zbyszko, The Trooper will end up with egg on his face. Zbyszko "Trooper won`t live happily ever after"

 

 

 Tom Bennett & Todd Becker versus Killer & Psycho of the Texas Hangmen

 

Lee Marshall mentioned that someone backstage joked about The Hangmen`s hometown as being from Whacko Texas, and they beat him up. After the referee kept the riled up Hangmen back from a pre-bell attack, Hangman #1 clubbed Becker down, and rubbed his face in the canvas.

 

Hangman placed Becker over the top turnbuckle, and headbutted at Becker`s stomach. Hangman then rubbed Becker`s face along the top rope, and whipped him to the ropes. Hangman ducked down for a back body drop attempt, but Becker flipped over him, and tried to take him over with a sunset flip. Bennett ran in and helped Becker take The Hangman down with a clothesline, but Becker couldn`t hold him for a count.

 

Becker whipped Hangman to the ropes, but crashed to canvas on a dropkick attempt, when Hangman hung onto the rope. Becker was body slammed before making the tag, and Bennett tried counter Hangman`s punch with an eye rake. Hangmen #1 held Bennett`s arm for #2's rib punch.

 

Both Hangman chopped Bennett in the corner, and Hangman #1 choked Bennett with the bullrope, as #2 distracted the referee. Hangman #2 snap mared Bennett for a bionic elbow, then rolled over Bennett with a neck snap. Hangman #2 kicked Bennett in the gut, as Hangman #2 plowed Bennett in the mat with a bulldog.

 

Hangman #2 suplexed and knee dropped Bennett before tagging in Hangman #1, who would take Bennett over with a butterfly suplex. Hangman #1 would hold Bennett for Hangman #2`s kick, then Bennett was planted by a Hangman DDT. Hangman #2 then punched Becker on the ring apron, to get him mad enough to enter and distract the ref.

 

Hangman #2 held Bennett under his arm, and dropped him for a side slam as Hangman #1 leaped of fthe middle rope with a flying forearm drive. Seeing that they did not use enough force to put away Bennett the first time, the Hangmen put away Bennett on the second try, as Hangman #1 hooked the leg for the 3 count victory. This match was under five minutes.

 

 

With a graphic of a demolished building as the background, Eric Bischoff interviewed AWA world tag team champion Wayne "The Train" Bloom & "Mean" Mike Enos of The Destruction Crew. Bischoff asked when The Texas Hangmen would be given a shot at the world tag team titles.

 

An excited Eno began to shout, asking "why would they?" and Bloom told Enos to "Hang on Mike, I¢ll handle this one" Bloom said that The Texas Hangmen have made a challenge for sometime, but have done nothing to prove worthy of a title match.

 

Bischoff disputed this by mentioning that The Hangmen have been undefeated for a long time. Eno began to speak, but Bloom cut him off again, saying he would handle the question.

 

Bloom brought up the new team of John Nord and Scott Norton, but would not say the team¢s name correctly. Bischoff said their team name was The Lumberjacks, and that they were the biggest team in wrestling.

 

Enos began to speak, and Bloom told him again that he would handle it. Bloom referred to "Flapjack" Norton as butter and syrup slapping slob. Bloom went on to say that The Destruction Crew have the reputation of being the tag team of the 90`s, and that no one could really step in the ring with them.

 

Bloom said that The Destruction Crew are what every kid wanted to be when they grow up. Bloom wrapped up by saying "down the road of Destruction will be a very bad ending for somebody!"

 

 

 The Trooper versus AWA world heavyweight champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko

 

As Donna Gagne gave the announcements, The Trooper reached out to the fans at ringside. After neither man budging in a collar and elbow tiue-up, many in the crowd chanted "Larry sucks!" Trooper arm dragged out of Zbyszko`s wristlock, but Zbyszko would muscle up Trooper for a body slam and gain a pin count of 1.

 

Trooper got up and body slammed Zbyszko three times, before Zbyszko exited the ring to nurse his back. Zbyszko returned to the ring, headlocking Trooper, yelled "watch the hair!" to try and make referee Gary DeRousha check for a hair pull. Trooper pushed Zbyszko in the ropes, and didn`t budge when charged.

 

Zbyszko went for a hip toss, but The Trooper held himself back, then drop toe held Zbyszko to an arm bar. Trooper had Zbyszko crash to the mat three times, as he lifted him off the mat whil maintaining the hold. Zbyszko yelled, and arm dragged Trooper, but Trooper rolled to keep the hold applied.

 

Zbyszko whipped Trooper to the ropes, and met a Trooper charge down. Zbyszko side stepped away from Trooper`s next charge, and threw Trooper to the floor. Zbyszko followed Trooper out and slammed Trooper`s head into the timekeeper`s table.

 

Zbyszko returned to the ring, then knocked Trooper off the ring apron with a knee. Referee Gary DeRousha pushed Zbyszko back, after Trooper was met with hard looking knee and stomp. Zbyszko went to the floor and slammed Trooper into the table again, then front face locked The Trooper in the ropes.

 

Zbyszko whipped the Trooper to the ropes, ducked down for a back body drop attempt, but was met by Trooper`s knee. A psyched Trooper struck at an approaching Zbyszko, then turn buckle smashed him from one turnbuckle to one in the opposite corner.

 

Trooper punched Zbyszko down, and covered for the pin, but Zbyszko was in the ropes. Trooper hooked the leg and received a 2 count after he whipped Zbyszko for a back body drop. Trooper muscled up Zbyszko for a vertical suplex, hooked the leg, and received another pin count of 2.

 

Trooper whipped Zbyszko to ropes, but crashed to the canvas, when Zbyszko held onto the ropes. Zbyszko clubbed at Trooper`s back, and applied the abdominal stretch to him. Zbyszko grabbed the top rope for extra leverage, and denied it when referee DeRousha checked. After two more yanks at the rope, DeRousha caught the grab and kicked Zbyszko`s arm.

 

This gave Trooper enough of an opening to hip toss Zbyszko to the mat. DeRousha slid out of the ring to count a pin of 2, when a whipped Trooper rolled up Zbyszko for a sunset flip. Zbyszko went for a body slam, but Trooper inside cradled him for another pin count of 2. Trooper whipped Zbyszko to the ropes, and they both get knocked down in a collision.

 

Donna announced that there was one minute remaining in the contest. Trooper reversed a corner whip, and Zbyszko was slammed chest first into the buckles. Zbyszko is whipped for a stomach punch, then whipped for a back drop.

 

Trooper had his arms raised to signal that he was going in with his Big Pinch finisher. After locking his fingers into Zbyszko`s shoulder, Donna announced that ten seconds remained in the bout. Zbyszko dropped down and the bell rang, as there was a wild roar from the crowd.

 

Trooper celebrated as fans cheered. Referee Gary DeRousha tapped his wrist to signal that time had expired. Trooper tagged at the AWA world title with DeRousha, but the referee explained that Zbyszko had not submitted. This match had reached it`s ten minute conclusion.

 

 

The Trooper told Eric Bischoff at ringside, that this was not over. Trooper said that Zbyszko never doubted his ability, and said that he had Zbyszko down with the big pinch. Trooper said that instead of Larryland, Zbyszko was going to dreamland, but was saved by the bell. Trooper said "We¢re not finished until the belt is around my waist, once and for all!"

 

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

 

David

http://www.myspace.com/unrulyghouly