July 16^th aired a 1987 episode of Verne Gagne`s AWA All-Star Wrestling from the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.  

At AWA studio, Larry nelson announced that Jerry "The King" Lawler and "Superstar" Bill Dundee are the new AWA world tag team champions, having defeated Soldat Ustinov and "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers for the titles. Somers substituted for Boris Zhukov, who left the AWA for the WWF (WWE). Nelson said that Chief Wahoo McDaniel had run Zhukov out of the AWA after their chain match. Nelson then presented a match before Ustinov and Somers lost the titles.

DJ Peterson & JT Southern versus AWA world tag team champions Soldat Ustinov & "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers

DJ & JT ran to the ring, chasing Ustinov and Somers out. Somers whips DJ to the ropes for a criss cross, and DJ stops to hip toss Somers. A reversed corner whip has Somers crash backwards to exit the ring. DJ fails to muscle out of Ustinov`s headlock, pushes him to the ropes but DJ is charged down. DJ head scissors Ustinov down, when unable to hip toss the big Russian.

Somers is unable to lure DJ into Ustinov`s corner with an attempt at a knucklelock. After an exchange of strikes with Soldat, DJ is snap mared into a chinlock. ON the apron, JT tries to rally the fans for DJ. Ustinov is taken to the mat with a back suplex, then whipped to the ropes for a back drop by the tagged JT.

Ustinov backs JT in the corner, then distracts referee Robert Warren, as Somers chokes JT. A tagged Somers then steps down with a choke on JT, then takes him down with a vertical suplex. A tagged Ustinov nearly gets a 1 count for a pin, after whipping JT for a high boot. DJ hops in, nearly tripping over the top rope. Ustinov holds JT for Somers` chop, then JT is whipped to the ropes and caught in a bear hug when Ustinov is tagged back in.

JT punches out of the hold, but is prevented from tagging, as Ustinov pulls him back from his trunks. A tagged Somers gets a 2 count on his pin after a knee drop, is JT whips Somers to the ropes for a clothesline. A tagged DJ gets a 1 on his pin, after a snap mare and elbow drop. JT holds Somers in the corner for DJ`s charging knee drive. DJ gets a 1 after a suplex. Somers crossses his forearms over his groin, as DJ threatens to stomp the downed Somers.

DJ stomps the back of Somers` left leg, then rolls forward, yanking on that leg. JT gets a 1 count after DJ helps him stomp Somers` leg. After a hip toss and knee drop, JT works over Somers` left leg with elbow drops to the thigh, gaining him a 2 count on a pin. JT propels Somers with a slingshot into DJ¢s right fist. A tagged DJ then rolls up Somers`, but the count is stopped because Somers was in the ropes. Somers grips the top rope, and DJ yanks him up in the air to the mat.

Ustinov forearms DJ`s back, breaking DJ`s grapevine ankle lock on Somers. Referee Warren doesn¢t allow DJ¢s tag, as JT was half way in the ring to make the tag. As the referee is dealing with JT, he doesn¢t notice that the incoming Ustinov is not the legal man. After an appropriate tag, JT catches the hell of his boot to Ustinov¢s head in a dropkick. JT then charges into Ustinov with a back elbow. Ustinov rakes JT`s eyes and thorws him to the floor.

Somers stomps JT from apron, JT is knocked to the floor again from the apron from a Ustinov chest smash. Chants of "USA!" can be heard from the crowd, as JT returns to gets beaten down with a forearm, then snap mared to a chinlock. A cornered JT punches back the tagged Somers until Somers is knocked down. A tagged DJ corner whips Somers for a monkey flip, and gets a 1 count on his cover.

DJ gets another 1 count after whipping Somers to the ropes for a dropkick, but Ustinov kicks DJ off the cover. Somers is body slammed, then drilled into the mat from DJ`s finisher The TNT (shoulder tackle from the middle rope). Ustinov kicks DJ off the pin at 1, then JT comes in to strike Ustinov. All four men now battle in the ring, with Somers and DJ in one corner, with Ustinov and JT in the opposite corner.

JT whips Ustinov to the center of the ring, but Somers reverses DJ`s whip. Ustinov and DJ collide. Somers goes for a body slam, but DJ maneuvers over Somers, then rolls him up for a pin. Ustinov throws DJ over the top rope, and referee Warren sees this, while trying to get JT to his corner. Warren signals the bell, disqualifying Ustinov and Somers. DJ Peterson and JT Southern win by DQ, in this match the lasted over fifteen minutes.

Back at AWA studio, Larry Nelson presented a video of Mid-South announcer Lance Russell interviewing new AWA world tag team champions Jerry "The King" Lawler and "Superstar" Bill Dundee. Dundee said that he wasn¢t going to sell top tag team contender The Original Midnight Express short.

Lawler said that it¢s always the case with any title, that it¢s tougher to hold on to than win. Lawler confirmed that The Express was top on the list of contenders. Lawler said that he and Dundee plan on "keeping the belt, and dishing out a beating to Paul E. Dangerously" for orchestrating Lawler getting his head shaved.

Van Van Horn & Brian Costello verus "Loverboy" Dennis Condrey & "Ravishing" Randy Rose of the Original Midnight Express

The Express` manager Paul E. Dangerously took the microphone to say that The Express "are the only tag team that can rock and roll past 12am" Condrey worked Van Horn from a leg take down to a front face lock. Von Horn is body slammed then has his head slammed into Rose`s knee. Rose delivers a running elbow, a body slam, then gets a 2 count from an off the rope knee drop.

A tagged Condrey then guides Van Horn`s hand to tag in Costello. Condrey knees Costello on the ropes, snap suplexes, then steps on Costello to tag in Rose. Costello punches at Rose`s stomach, but is clotheslined down. A tagged Condrey knocks down Van Horn on the apron, then holds Costello for a tagged Rose`s kick. Rose whips Costello for a back drop. The Express double team with a leg take down by Rose, with a follow up knee drop by Condrey.

Condrey rubs Costello`s face in the mat, then rolls Costello backwards for a 2. Both men tag off their partners, with an exchange of fists between Van Horn and a cornered Rose. Van Horn is dropped by an inverted atomic drop, then Rose stands on the middle rope to drop a boot on Van Horn. A tagged Condrey kicks and knees him down.

Rose whips Van Horn to the corner, then whips Condrey to charge Van Horn in the corner with a back elbow. Rose trips Van Horn as Condrey connects with a clothesline. Condrey for the 3, ending the match four minutes. The Express do a high five sneak before leaving the ring. On screen posts the top teams as Original Midnight Express, DJ Peterson & JT Southern, Kevin Kelly & Nick Kiniski, Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee, Wahoo McDaniel & Tommy Rich.

Kevin Collins versus "Adorable" Adrian Adonis

Adonis` manager Dangerously took the microphone to announce that Adonis was idolized by actor Rock Hudson in the last three years of his life.

Referee Gary DeRousha gets between Adonis and Collins on the ropes, then again in the corner. Adonis slaps Collins, then backs off to the ropes. Collins approaches with a fist, but referee DeRousha blocks it, and Adonis strikes Collins at that moment. Collins is knees back for a corner kick and chop.

Adonis rakes Collins back, then rubs him against the top rope. Collins is chopped down, then knee dropped. Adonis throws Collins to the floor, distracts the ref as Dangerously hits Collins with the cordless phone. Commentator Rod Trongard spoke of Dangerously taking offense to Verne Gagne comparing him to Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

Adonis gives a rolling neckbreaker, then puts out Collins with Goodnite Irene (Adonis sleephold). The bell rings after two minutes, but Adonis won¢t break right away. Referee DeRousha tries to break the hold by pulling Adonis` hair, and Dangerously are unable to physically restrain Adonis.

When wrestlers ML Williams and Van Van Horn enter the ring, Dangerously flees, and Adonis releases the hold. Dangeroulsy raises a drooling Adonis` hand on the outside, but referee DeRousha has reversed the decision, awarding the win to Kevin Collins on a disqualification. Verene Gagne enters the ring to massage Collins` neck and slaps him to revive Collins to consciousness.

In an interview with Larry Nelson at AWA studio, Paul E. Dangerously wore a white fedora and what looked like a Christmas sweater. He spoke about an October 30th match in White Water Wisconsin where his Midnight Express face the AWA world tag team champions Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee.

Dangerously mentioned concocting Lawler`s head being shaved in Nashville coliseum by the Dangerous Alliance. Dangerously credited Lawler and Dundee with greatness, but said that they won`t get past his Midnight Express. Dangerously got flustered, causing Nelson to question if he was scared. Dangerously said "I¢m not scared! Lawler and Dundee, you¢re going down in White Water!"

Back at the studio, Larry Nelson announced that legend Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon was recently in a accident where he was hit by an automobile while jogging. Nelson mentioned Vachon had to undergo a partial amputation. AWA owner and former world champion Verne Gagne joined Nelson, to say that he knew Vachon since they met in Canada in 1948. Gagne mentioned that Vachon was born in Algeria, that he had scars from battles with Vachon, who Gagne called an intense competitor. Gagne then spoke of teaming with Vachon, saying that you couldn¢t have a better partner.

Larry Nelson then aired the match from Memphis Tennessee where Lawler and Dundee won the AWA wolrd tag team titles.

Jerry "The King" Lawler & "Superstar" Bill Dundee versus AWA world tag team champions Soldat Ustinov & "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers. This match was joined in progress.

Ustinov bear hugs Dundee, who uses his thumb to escape the hold. A tagged Somers strikes down Dundree and lands an elbow drop. Referee Frank Morell counts 2 on Somers` cover. Somers suplexes Dundee, then holds him for a tagged Ustinov`s stomp to his right arm. Dundee is Irish whipped for a bear hug. Dundee punches at Ustinov, and Lawler helps break the hold by kicking Ustinov in the groin.

Ustinov knocks Dundee down with a turnbuckle smash, then gut wrench suplexes him down. Dundee is whipped for a high knockdown boot. Dundee is picked up and walked around the ring on Ustinov`s shoulder before being body slammed. Referee Morell counts to 1 on Ustinov`s cover, then Ustinov throws Dundee into Somers` knee.

Dundee is whipped to the ropes, misses the tag to Lawler and gets scooped up for another bear hug. Lawler runs into the ring to dropkick Dundee`s back, causing Ustinov to get knocked into the ropes. A tagged Somers slaps a cornered Dundee, then strikes him in another corner. Dundee is whipped for a back drop, Somers covers, but Lawler pulls Somers off his pin at a near 2.

Dundee rolls up Somers for an inside cradle, gaining a 2 count. After choking Dundee, Somers holds him for Ustinov`s stomp. Dundee is whipped to the ropes, rolls up Ustinov in a sunset flip, but count is broken after 1 as Ustinov is on the rope. Ustinov forearm clubs down Dundee, then whips him for another bear hug.

Dundee grinds at Ustinov`s face. Ustinov tosses Dundee back, then Somers pulls up Dundee to choke on the middle rope. Lawler pulls off Somers by the hair and stuns him with a right fist. Ustinov clubs Dundee, then Somers headlocks Dundee tro a punch. Somer suplexes, but Dundee moves away as Somers crashes to mat after missing a top rope headbutt dive.

Lawler knocks Somers to the corner, then rams Ustinov`s head into a cornered Somers. Lawler Irish whips Somers for a knockdown right fist. Somers tries to grab a tagged Dundee and throw him over the top rope. Dundee hops to middle rope in the corner, and turns to for a flying cross body. As Lawler chokes down Ustinov, Dundee gets the 3 and his team are the new world tag team champions. Commentator Lance Russell says the match duration was 17:33, as the crowd explodes  

Larry Nelson wrapped up the show, stating that Lawler and Dundee are champions we can be proud of, and said "long may The King and The Superstar reign" Nelson announced that 12 year old Shane Brazington from Montgomery, Alabama would be receiving the Ninja Star Wars game, because his letter made him AWA¢s Fan of the Week. 

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

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