June 10^th aired a 1987 episode of Verne Gagne¢s AWA All-Star Wrestling from the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas Nevada. Larry nelson announced that Dustin Harden from Scottburg Indiana is the AWA Fan of the Week and would be receiving the Ninja Star Wars game for his letter.

Jammin` Mitch Snow versus Tony Leone,

Leone strikes a corned Snow in the back before the starting bell. A commentating Larry Zbyszko said that shows Snow inexperience by turning his back on his opponent. Zbyszko said that Snow had good moves but needed a killer instinct. Leone pursues Snow to another corner, where Snow climbs to the top rope and performs a back flip over Leone.

Leone is take down with arm drags and a hip toss. Leone exits the ring after being body slammed and dropkicked.

Leone is hiptosses from the ring apron back into the ring. Leone is taken to the mat with a headlock, and rolls Snow to his shoulders, gaining referee Robert Warren`s count of 1. Leone escapes to be charged down, then taken over with a headlock again after trying to back suplex out. Leone eye rakes for an escape, then forearm clubs Snow. Leone is whipped to the ropes, back body dropped and covered for a 1 count.

Snow then whips Leone for his hip toss powerslam finbsher he calls the Jam Slam. Instead of pinning Leone, Snow tries out a new move by lifting him up and dropping him with a powerbomb. Snow covers, ref Warren counts to 3 for Snow¢s victory, and the match comes to a close in under three minutes. Zbyszko said that the match inspired him to go in the ring and teach Snow a lesson. AWA posted favorite finishers being Greg Gagne`s sleeperhold, Jerry Blackwell¢s power body slam, Mitch Snow¢s jam slam and Kevin Kelly¢s Magnificent clothesline

Larry Nelson interviewed Larry Zbyszko at AWA studio. Zbyszko goofed about Nelson announcement of the AWA in Lake Obachobie, saying that it sounded like a lake surrounded by spudheads. Zbyszko brought up that The Pope spoke about human dignity, and Zbyszko said that because he had this quality is why the fans didn¢t like him.

Zbyszko said it is what made him a legend that sold out Shea stadium against Bruno Sammartino, and rubbed Ivan Putski`s face in the mat. Zbyszko said that AWA world champion also has dignity for wanting to give Zbyszko a title shot, but AWA president Stanley Blackburn lacks it for not making the match happen, and having Zbyszko compete in battle royal for the opportunity. Zbyszko yelled out to Blackburn "I want the heavyweight championship of the world!"

Donna`s Report was the next segment. Donna Gagne said that the AWA presented more wrestling, less hype, and nobody does it better than the AWA. AWA champion Curt Hennig said that wrestlers were leaving the NWA and WWF (WWE) to come to the AWA because the sign outside says wrestling. Larry nelson then explained to those wanting to come to the AWA that "you got to wrestle, or got to get out"

Then aired video highlights to the love scene music from the movie Risky Business, with action from Curt Hennig, Mitch Snow, DJ Peterson, JT Southern, Dennis Condrey, Nick Kiniski, Steve Olsonoski, Kevin Kelly, Tommy Rich, Larry Zbyszko, Nick Bockwinkel, Dennis Stamp, Wahoo McDaniel, Boris Zhukov, Soldat Ustinov and Brian Costello. It ended with the onscreen of AWA, the original wrestling league

Nacho Bererra versus Steve Olsonoski

Nacho attacks Steve O in the corner, whips him to the opposite corner, but crashes when Steve O moves away from Nacho¢s charge. Steve O eye rakes Nacho, smashing him to the turnbuckle, then chokes him on the rope. Announcer Mick Karch added commentary, saying that Steve O was told that he couldn`t wrestle again by the doctors, when Steve O¢s hand was shattered in several places. Steve O arm dragged down Nacho, then rolled him over in a wristlock. Nacho extends for a hand shake, Steve O hesitates, but is eye rakes when he go through with the handshake.

Nacho kicks out at 2 after being kicked in the corner, body slammed and hit with an elbow drop. Steve O pushes off headlock, criss crosses the ropes with Nacho, then Nacho stops to hip toss Steve O. Nacho is double kicked by the downed Steve O, then referee Gary DeRousha counts to 2, when Steve O brings Nacho down with a drop toe hold. Nacho is body slammed and elbow dropped. Then whipped to the ropes for a dropkick. Steve O climbs to the middle ropes in the corner to drop an elbow. Steve O covers for the 3 count win, ending the match in under four minutes.

Rick Gatner versus Tommy "Wildfire" Rich

Gatner goes to the rope to break Rich;s hammerlock. Zbyszko rejoins the commentary to say that Rich has a very aggressive style, can back up the defense, but as a product of the south is slow. Gatner grabs the rope to break Rich`s top wristlock, is arm dragged, then elbowed to the head by Rich. Gatner is corner whipped to a snap mare and covered for 2. After being in a chinlock, Gatner jams his shoulder into Rich¢s mid-scetion. Gatner strikes Rich, rubs his face against the top rope, but Rich ducks a clothesline attempt to get a 1 count after hitting a flying cross body.

Trongard addressed Zbyszko`s status as contender, saying that he felt Zbyszko was a "logical and worthy contender" Gatner escapes another chinlock to drop Rich with a side slam. Gatner goes to the top rope, but is caught by Rich, who body slams Gatner off the top ropes. Gatner is hit with a knee lift, then Irish whipped to the ropes for a Lou Thesz press. Referee Robert Warren counts the 3 for a rich victory in under four minutes. AWA then posted the top contenders for Hennig¢s world title as Greg Gagne, Adrian Adonis, Wahoo McDaniel, Nick Bockwinkel, Tommy Rich.

At AWA studio, Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman) held up a sign that states "Paul E. Rookie of the Year" Paul then chases off interviewer Larry Nelson, by beating the sign in half with his cordless phone, and yelling that he didn¢t need Nelson there. Paul said that he wanted Rich to stop calling Dangerously his manager.

Paul then questioned if Rich`s tearing a dress off a woman (referring to the Sherri Martel incident), and having "goof ball" Nelson high five him for it, make him a man. Paul said that Rich won`t do anything to him, and that "Adorable" Adrian Adonis promised Paul that Rich was first on his hit list. Paul pronounced 1987 as the year of living Dangerously, adding that Rich has stepped on Paul`s toes once too often. Paul proclaimed "You`re going down, and the Dangerous Alliance will continue to rise in the AWA!"

Mike Tolos versus "Adorable" Adrian Adonis

Zbyszko offered his theory on Adonis` technique, by saying Adonis` weight gain and early aggression work towards success with shorter matches. After two clean rope breaks, Adonis forearm clubs Tolos against the rope and smashes him to the turnbuckle. Tolos is chopped in the corner, then ropes whipped for a shoulder tackle and chopped down.

Adonis rubs his knee pad against Tolos` face, then throws him to the floor. Tolos` return has him punched down, his throat stepped on, and body slammed. Adonis` arms crash against Tolos¢ head in a thunder clap, Adonis then pulls off his pin on 2, after a neckbreaker. Trongard asked Zbyszko how he would wrestle Adonis, and Zbyszko said that maneuver around for five to ten minutes to throw Adonis off his game. Adonis elbows Tolos to the rope, clotheslines him down, and rakes the back before applying his Goodnight Irene sleeperhold.

Trongard asked if Zbyszko liked using the sleeperhold, but Zbyszko said that having short thick arms made it difficult against larger opponents. Zbyszko mentioned that Adonis¢ excess weight helped him put more pressure on the hold. Tolos goes out, referee Robert Warren then signals the bell for a submission victory for Adonis, in under four minutes. Adonis¢ manager Paul E. Dangerously then distracts the ref as Adonis splashes the downed Tolos. Adsonis then slaps Tolos` neck to wake him.

At AWA studio, Larry Nelson discussed Curt Hennig`s rise to the world title. Nelson mentioned that early in his career Hennig needed to clear up his self doubts. Hennig traveled to Portland Oregon, becoming the champion in that territory. Hennig returned to a short lived world tag team reign with Big Scott Hall (NWO, Razor Ramon), and came close to winning the world title on New Years eve of 1986 against then champion Nick Bockwinkel. The clips showed a bloodied Bockwinkel caught in Hennig¢s figure four, but the match was stopped on a time limit draw.

Nelson said that Hennig traveled to Japan for a six week tour, beating everyone he faced. Nelson explained that not only did Hennig return with new moves, but also a new attitude and more aggressive approach. Nelson mentioned that Hennig clashed with old friend, and there was a clip of Hennig throwing Greg Gagne into the steel ring post from the ring apron. The last moments of Hennig¢s world title win at San Franciso¢s Cow Palace of May 1987 aired.

It showed Larry Zbyszko in a tuxedo handing Hennig a roll of coins. Hennig knocked out Bockwinkel with one punch, covered him for the pin victory and gaining the world title. Bockwinkel¢s long time friend and former tag team champion partner Ray "The Crippler" Stevens come to the ring, yanked Zbyszko¢s hand, causing coins to hit the mat. Nelson mentions Hennig¢s contenders, saying Greg Gagne knows all the moves and a championship legacy. DJ Peterson has youth, size and dexterity, Chief Wahoo McDaniel has the burning desire and experience and Jerry "Crusher" Blackwell has the size.

Chief Wahoo McDaniel versus AWA world champion Curt Hennig

Zbyszko said he should be up there in this championship match, adding that it was another example of injustice. Hennig away from McDaniel to the corner, then McDaniel pushes Hennig to the corner. McDaniel then pushes Hennig to another corner, arm drags him before Hennig exits under the bottom rope.

Hennig returns to be headlocked to the mat. Hennig is charged down and chopped down. Hennig stands on the apron as McDaniel slaps his back. Hennig hops over the top rope to threaten with clenched fists. McDaniel elbows out of Hennig`s waistlock, then is whipped to the mat when McDaniel yanks the ropes. Hennig punches McDaniel in the corner, but McDaniel chops him back. A cornered McDaniel is chopped, but then chops his way out of the corner.

McDaniel wristlocks out of Hennig¢s headlock, Hennig grabs McDaniel¢s hair, but McDaniel brings Hennig back to the mat with a hair pull of his own. Hennig runs to the corner after McDaniel waistlocks him down. Hennig exits the ring after McDaniel pushes off the headlock to judo chop him down. Hennig returns to take down McDaniel from the left leg, then Hennig does a rolling hamstring pull on McDaniel, then hennig goes for two step over toe holds. Fans chants "WAHOO!" and Zbyszko complains about the fans favoring McDaniel`s brawling over Hennig¢s wrestling.

Hennig sits back with pressure on McDaniel`s ankle, McDaniel goes for a chinlock, and Hennig bites McDaniel¢s right hand. Zbyszko said that though Hennig is a great wrestler, that he wans¢t as good as him because Zbyszko has years on him. Hennig knees and kicks at McDaniel¢s left leg. Zbyszko said that he would bet money that McDaniel is afraid of Hennig. McDaniel eye rakes Hennig in the corner.

Hennig chops out of the corner, engages in an exchange of strike that ends up with Hennig being tomahawk chopped. Hennig grabs the rope to break up McDaniel¢s pin on him at 1, after being whipped for a chop. McDaniel connects with an overhead strike as Hennig is on the apron. On the floor, Hennig reaches in his trunks and as Mcdaniel reaches for Hennig through the ropes, Hennig knocks McDaniel back to the mat.

Hennig gets on top of McDaniel and rains down with fists on the bloodied McDaniel. Referee Gary DeRousha counts the 3, for Hennig`s victory, ending the match after ten minutes. Hennig stomps McDaniel after the bell. Zbyszko says that a wrestler will beat the rulebreaker everytime. Tommy Rich and Mitch Snow come to the ring to help McDaniel.

Rich wraps McDaniel`s head in a towel, as Snow comes back with Steve Olsonoski, DJ Peterson, JT Southern, another wrestler and a stretcher.

Zbyszko says that he doesn`t enjoy seeing wrestlers put on stretchers, but he felt it was justice in this case. Trongard didn¢t agress with Zbyszko`s assertion that McDaniel was afraid of Hennig. On the instant replay, it showed Hennig reaching in his trunks and when his fist connected on McDaniel,coins went flying.

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

David

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