July 29^th aired a 1987 episode of Verne Gagne`s AWA All-Star Wrestling from the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.

At the AWA studio, Larry Nelson hoped that everyone had a nice Christmas, then showed a letter from a red envelope from Karen K Iaella from Des Moines, Iowa as AWA¢s Fan of the Week.

 Kevin Collins versus Soldat Ustinov

Soldat shoves down the equally big Collins twice, yelling each time afterwards. Soldat escapes Collins top wristlock, by bringing him down to the mat with a hair pull. Soldat attacks with knee and forearm strikes, then knocks Collins down with a chop. Soldat runs Collins` head across the ring to the corner buckle, then Irish whips Collins for a hip toss powerslam combination (note: this is Mitch Snow`s finisher called the Jam Slam).

Soldat covers for the pin but pulls Collins up when referee Gary DeRousha slaps the mat at 2. Soldat works over Collins` neck with a chinlock and head twist, then brings the seated Collins flat on the mat for a stomp. Soldat presses Collins` neck into the top rope, then yanks the rope to fling his opponent backwards to the canvas.

Collins is dropped with a chop, then whipped for a high boot shot. Soldat pushes the ref aside, then delivers a cross wrist throat shot. Collins is hoisted over Soldat`s shoulder for a body vice. Referee DeRousha signals for the bell, when Collins submitted, closing the match in under four minutes. Soldat throws Collins down, stomps him, stalks around Collins and stomps him again. Soldat gives the screw off sign his arm gesture to the fans before leaving the ring.

AWA posted Birthday Wishes for Leah Heimdahl * Elaine Holcomb * Dave Telshaw * Suzette Tolfson * Warren Allen * Jeff Hewitt

 Mike Tolas versus Greg Gagne

Tolas goes to the ropes when Gagne gets the better of an exchange of waistlocks. Gagne arm drags out of Tolas` top wristlock. Gagne raised arms help him slip out from Tolas` full nelson, to drop the mat and knock Tolas backwards with a double footed mule kick Greg`s sister Donna was providing commentary with Rod Trongard, and said that she is wrose than her father Verne in trying to containing emotion over her family in matches.

Tolas is brought to the mat with a leg take down, that Gagne converts from step over toe hold into an Indian Deathlock. Tolas gets free with an eye rake, then smashes Gagne to the turnbuckle. A cornered Gagne punches back and body slams him. Gagne takes down Tolas and cranks back with a seated ankle lock. Tolas uses the eye rake again to escape and applies a headlock. Gagne pushes free, but is charged down when Tolas bounces from the ropes.

When Tolas bounces off the ropes again, he is brought down by Gagne`s drop toe hold. Donna joked that she taught Greg that, and about helping Greg with his in-ring strategies. Tolas delivers an elbow, but crashes to the corner, when Gagne moves away from Tolas` charging elbow. Gagne takes Tolas all the way to the other corner with a turnbuckle smash, then Irish whips Tolas for a back body drop. Tolas is then taken down twice by dropkicks, then Greg clamps on the Gagne sleeper hold.

Referee Robert Warren raises the arm, and signals the bell when he noticed that Tolas went out. Gagne wins by submission in this over four minute match. Gagne then massages Tolas` neck and shakes him a bit to get him back to consciousness. Donna said that their father Verne used to get them to sleep like that, just by telling them to go to sleep.

AWA then posted on screen their top tag team contenders for the world tag team champions held by "Loverboy" Dennis Condrey & "Ravishing" Randy Rose of the Original Midnight Express

(1) Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels of the Midnight Rockers

(2) D.J. Peterson & J.T. Southern

(3) "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly & "Slick" Nick Kiniski

(4) Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags of the Nasty Boys

At the studio, the recently re-instated Sheik Adnan El Kassey joined his protege Soldat Ustinov for Larry Nelson`s interview. Nelson brought up that Sheik Adnan`s former protege Nord the Barbarian (WWF/WWE Berserker) wanted Adnan`s suspension lifted so that he could rip him apart. Adnan said that wherever he goes, Nord isn`t there, and said that is because Nord is afroaid of his comrade Soldat.

Adnan said no one can match-up to the Russians, and Adnan called Nord a coward. Soldat said that he and Adnan "will rule the wrestling world" then warned AWA world champion "Hennig, watch out for Sheik and I..we will destroy you!"

 "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly versus D.J. Peterson in the AWA international television title tournament

Kelly was accompanied by his tag partner "Slick" Nick Kiniski, while their manager Madusa Miceli wore red pajamas and a shower cap while she accompanied DJ. A stipulation in their match, had DJ`s victory gain him the services of Madusa for one month.

Madusa tries to go back to the locker room, but DJ moves her towards the ring. DJ goes at Kelly with a lock-up, but is backed against the ropes for Kelly`s knee to the mid-section. On the floor, Madusa had taken off her shower cap to remove her curlers.

An angered Kelly turnbuckle smashed DJ, then had him drop to the mat from the impact of his corner whip. Kelly picked up DJ and tossed him across the ring, then forearmed the chest of a cornered DJ. Kelly whips for a back body drop, but is punted. Kelly quickly comes back to smash down DJ with forearms, then ram him backwards to the corner, after a bear hug.

Kelly whips DJ for a back elbow, then hooks the leg and gets a pin count of. DJ takes both of Kelly`s legs out from under him, then DJ lands a leg drops between his legs. DJ then clubs at Kelly, then gets a pin count of 2 after a hip toss on a charging Kelly. DJ`s hammerlock is broken when Kelly goes to the ropes, then DJ would get Kelly on a second arm drag from a reverse whip after DJ was clubbed in the corner.

DJ works over Kelly`s left arm with an arm bar to knee drops. Kelly then uses his knee to break from the hold, then whips DJ for a swift clothesline. Kelly looked to be going for a back body drop from his Irish whip, but his delay turned into a headbutt to DJ`s stomach. Kelly was dazed by the collision too.

Kelly body slams DJ, but misses with an elbow drop. Kelly approaches slowly with armed raised for a double ax handle attempt, but DJ punches his stomach and rolls up Kelly for 2 with an inside cradle. DJ gets another 2 on a pin after a back body drop, then plants Kelly with the TNT (middle rope tackle finisher) after a snap suplex. Instead of covering Kelly, DJ goes to the floor to retrieve Madusa who tried to sneak back to the locker room.

Madusa enters the ring, and DJ corners her. Kelly pulls a foreign out of his trunks as referee Gary DeRousha`s attention is on trying to separate DJ and Madusa. Kelly strikes DJ in the back of the head, then hooks the leg, gaining a 3 count on his pin. This match was over seven minutes.

Kiniski trades punches on a cornered DJ, then DJ is kneed in the stomach and piledriven while Kiniski was still wearing his black ring robe. Kelly stomps at a downed DJ, but he absconds with Kiniski and Madusa, when JT Southern and Pat Tanaka rush to DJ`s aide. In the championship scoring, Kelly earns 5 points for the win, while DJ has 5 points deducted for the loss.

AWA then posted onscreen it¢s most popular rankings

(1) Greg Gagne

(2) Tommy "Wildfire" Rich

(3) Chief Wahoo McDaniel

(4) DJ Peterson & JT Southern

(5) Alan West

At the studio, "Mr. Magnificent signaled with his finger for Larry Nelson to wrap up his Merry Christmas greetings. Kelly said that he goes by the rules and nothing else and stated that he beat DJ Peterson 1..2..3. Nelson said that he didn¢t know what rules Kelly was talking about, wanted to get on to the topic of what is next for "Mr. Magnificent". Kelly said the mirror shows him the reflection of perfection with a million dollar body.

Kelly then explained "one thing`s for sure, Mr. Hennig better be looking over his shoulder, because I¢m coming your way" Kelly said that he would make sure to have something magnificent under his manager Madusa Miceli`s Christmas tree. Kelly "I was born to drink campaign and walk the victiory lane. Kings and queens step aside and every woman I meet stays satisfied"

AWA world champion then joined Larry Nelson at the studio. Hennig said that when you¢re as good as he is, you can do exactly what you want. Hennig said that before he was world champion, the National Enquirer had AWA All-Star Wrestling at number 12 out of the top 20 syndicated tv shows. Hennig said that his salary was 60K a year, but has gone up immensely since becoming champion.

Hennig said that AWA`s rating improved to #2 and will soon go to number 1. Hennig then called out to "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly, Sheik Adnan`s Army, Greg Gagne and Chief Wahoo McDaniel that Hennig as champion "will remain this way for a long time, whether you like it of not!"

 Chief Wahoo McDaniel versus "Cool" Curt Hennig in an Indian strap match

The rules of an Indian strap match are to drag your opponent to all four corners of the ring for the victory. Commentator Rod Trongard mentioned that Boris Zhukov`s career in AWA ended after facing Wahoo in a Russian chain match, and he felt that Hennig had that on his mind.

Announcer and co-commentator Mick Karch said that Zhukov took the most ferocious pounding he had ever seen in wrestling, adding that to his knowledge, Wahoo has never lost a strap match. Trongard didn¢t know what amount of money Hennig felt it was worth jeopardizing his career by signing for this match.

Hennig backs to the corner and pleads with Wahoo to back up. Wahoo, tired of Hennig`s stalling, lashes his head with the strap. Hennig goes to the ring Apron, and find himself being draged from the ropes to down on the mat. Hennig`s legs shakes as Wahoo tightens the strap around his neck. Hennig eyes rakes to freedom, then is chases by a lashing Wahoo.

Hennig kicks, eye rakes and rubs the strap over Wahoo`s eyes. A cornered Wahoo then chopped Hennig down, but Hennig snap mares Wahoo for a stomp. Hennig chokes Wahoo with the strap then yells to the crowd "That`s what I think of Indians!" Wahoo`s forehead is bleeding, and he is punched down by Hennig`s strap wrapped fist.

Hennig stomps and yells out "That`s why I`m the champ!" Hennig wraps up Wahoo`s wrist and drags him to one corner. Wahoo stops Hennig with a double mule kick, but Hennig comes back by using the strap to snap mare him. Hennig then stretches out the strap to clothesline downwards on Wahoo. Hennig chokes with the strap, drags Wahoo to two corners, but is stopped by a double kick. Hennig is knocked onto to top rope from Wahoo`s corner chops.

Wahoo presses the strap into Hennig`s head, punches him with a strap wrapped fist, then hurls Hennig across the ring with a strap mare. Wahoo goes to suplex back falls to his side. Hennig strikes down, but Wahoo comes back with lashings on Hennig`s throat and back.

Wahoo Irish whips Hennig for a clothesline with the strap. Wahoo drags Hennig with one arm to the forst corner, then with two arms, pulls Hennig to the second corner. Hennig tries to lock his own legs to the rope to halt the momentum, but Wahoo makes it to the third corner.

Hennig delivers a groin kick, Wahoo is able to lash Hennig down, but Hennig unleashes right and left punches in the corner. Hennig snap suplex, but when he goes for the second corner, Wahoo mule kicked him down. Wahoo delivers a thunderous slap to Hennig chest in their strike exchange that leads to Hennig being dropped. Hennig goes to the top rope, but Wahoo yanks the strap, causing Hennig to crash to the canvas.

A seated Hennig is punched down, and as Wahoo is en route to the fourth corner for the win, "Adorable" Adrian Adonis rushes to ringside to cut the strap with a butcher knife. Hennig punches Wahoo down, and referee Gary DeRousha disqualified Hennig for Adonis` interference. This match was over twelve minutes

Greg Gagne punches Hennig away from his stomps on a cornered Wahoo. Then Gagne rams Hennig`s head into the opposite corner. Hennig is punched down, but rolls out of the ring to avoid what looked to be Gagne gearing up for a dropkick An attending physician at ringside escorts Hennig to the locker room, as Gagne tends to Wahoo.

AWA then posted the most hated rankings.

(1) "Cool" Curt Hennig

(2) Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman)

(3) "Adorable" Adrian Adonis

(4) "Loverboy" Dennis Condrey & "Ravishing" Randy Rose of the Original Midnight Express

(5) "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly & "Slick" Nick Kiniski

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

David  http://www.myspace.com/unrulyghouly