CLASSIC AWA 3/4/08 TV REPORT
- 03/04/2008 (5:15:58 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
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March 4th 2008 offers a September 23rd 1986 episode of AWA championship wrestling from the Sports Pavilion at the Showboat Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada.
In the first match, Robert Burroughs faces the ninja Mr. Go, accompanied by "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko. Rod Trongard and wrestling legend Lord James Blears provide the commentary. Mr. Go usually serves as a distraction for Zbyszko’s matches. This time, Living Legend would return the favor, by distracting referee Marty Miller, while Mr. Go chopped Burroughs in the throat. Even though a dirty tactic was used, Mr. Go was already demonstrating the advantage with arm drags and a rough looking back breaker to the side of Burroughs. Mr. Go would position himself onto the middle rope from the corner, then launch from mid way down the rope with an elbow. This would score the pin for Mr. Go after 4 minutes.
In the ring with an interview with announcer Larry Nelson, Larry Zbyszko startled Nelson when he carelessly whipped part of his nunchaku, (a Japanese created weapon of two wooden sticks attached by chain, or rope in this case) towards the announcer. Nelson shook his hand in pain, and asked "Why did you do that?". Another mishap (perhaps Karma) occurred when Mr. Go crouched down into a fighting stance for the camera. When he rose up, his shoulder hit the bottom of Nelson’s microphone, causing the mic to accidently hit Zbyszko’s face. The Living Legend said that he and Mr. Go would run through Greg Gagne, Scott LeDux, the recent AWA entrant Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka (who Zbyszko called a cannibal) and anyone in AWA if need be. He demanded AWA president Stanley Blackburn to draw up a contract for him to face AWA champion Nick Bockwinkel, or prepare for a major lawsuit. Zbyszko pointed at the booing audience, telling them to shut their face, and that they are fat gutted, toothless slobs. Nelson unsuccessfully tried to get a word from Mr. Go, Zbyszko told Nelson that Mr. Go doesn’t speak English, but the message is clear that he (Zbyszko) wants his destiny.
The next match saw Thomas Pitman against Big Scott Hall. When Scott was announced as he moved quickly to the ring, the crowd went wild. Donna Gagne joined Trongard and Lord Blears on commentary. She spoke of Hall’s fame, particularly with the women, and how Hall was eager to get revenge on Col. DeBeers. Big Scott was eager to get on with the match, as he delivered a back suplex with authority. Pitman being at least 6 foot and over 240lbs, was still easily manhandled by Hall, but Hall was also careful not to injure his opponent. Hall delivered a big bulldog (headlock into a face plant), then sat on Pitman with his arms folded, as referee Scott LeDux counted the pin for a win within 2 minutes. After the replay of the finsher, AWA Notebook posted on the screen that Hall was voted by the fans as the most popular wrestler and eligible bachelor in wrestling.
After the commercial, Curt Hennig joined Scott Hall in the ring for an interview with Nelson. Scott said he was glad to be back after his injury. He said he felt stronger than ever, and was looking for tougher competition, like Col. DeBeers (said while Hall mimicked DeBeers signature twisting of the mustache). Scott quoted his mom, saying "Everything you do in life comes back around to you". This was in reference to DeBeers, who Hall called soldier boy, and who was being held responsible for Hall being out of action for a few months. Buddy Rose and Doug Sommers were involved, and Hall said that he has total confidence in Hennig watching his back against them. Curt said that even though his luck and Hall’s haven't been good as of late, that would soon change due to their intensity and having the people routing for them everywhere they go. Hennig said that he was looking forward to watching what Scott Hall was going to do to Col. DeBeers in the ring.
The next match show Sheik Adnan Alkaissie’s Army of Boris Zhukov and Ali Khan rush to the ring to beat up Butch Cooper and Pat Myers before the bell, and out of the ring. Zhukov and Khan totally dominated their opponents, with Myers getting the worst of it. Khan gave Myers a reverse bear hug and turned it into an atomic drop. Then Zhukov would go on to slam Myers onto the mat less concrete floor. Rod Trongard had mentioned that Khan was originally being trained by Verne Gagne until Sheik Adnan’s money offer lured Kahn away from that camp. Both of Sheik Adnan’s men would sadistically work on Myers back. Then Myers would beg for mercy, earning Khan the submission win with an over the shoulder body vice at the 5 minute mark. When Cooper went to help Myers, Zhukov and Khan beat him up and threw him and Myers out of the ring.
In the ring, Sheik Adnan campaigned to Larry Nelson that his men were ready and looking for the tag team champions. Nelson mentioned that there are others in line for the tag titles, such as Greg Gagne with Jimmy "Superfly’ Snuka, and the Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels). Sheik Adnan said they are ready for them, and for Nick Bockwinkel’s single title, for which Adnan and his army still claimed to have been robbed of in their last encounter. Zhukov chimed in with what sounded like mumbled Russian and then asking a clearly confused Nelson, "Do you understand?!" Boris said that all other Americans will submit like Myers did, and threw out another challenge to Bockwinkel to have their wrists connected for a Russian chain match. Nelson said that "Nick Bockwinkel, no matter what they say, the heavyweight champion of the world.", just before the commercials.
Paul Garner awaited his soon to arrive opponent in AWA world champion, Nick Bockwinkel. Garner had the height and weight advantage, but the advantage in class and caliber clearly went to the champion. Bockwinkel soon had enough of the punches, hair pulling and choking, and responded with his own punches that floored Garner. A few minutes into the bout, Nick worked on the left leg of Garner. Then Bockwinkel would go on to work this from a step over toe hold into a Indian death lock (a variation of the figure four leg lock, demonstrated by Shawn Michaels in this week’s Raw tag match with Ric Flair). Garner quickly submitted and referee Scott LeDux called for the bell at the 5 minute point. Before going to commercial, AWA notebook posted that Bockwinkel won his first world title on November 18th 1975.
When AWA came back from commercial, Col. DeBeers was authoritatively walking along the ropes while twirling his handlebar mustache. It appeared that Christmas would come soon for Hall, as he got exactly what he wanted, and in lightning quick fashion. Big Scott ran to the ring, DeBeers tried to cut off the momentum while taking shots on Hall, who made it onto the apron. Hall would back off onto the floor then make another attempt to the ring apron. This time Hall anticipating DeBeers’ attack, blocked it and knocked the Colonel back with some big time shots of his own. A fan’s sign of "Fry The Colonel displayed, as Hall now took his onslaught on DeBeers in the ring.
Scott battled the South African scourge from post to post and back again. After a missed elbow drop, DeBeers tried to turn that small mistake into his big advantage, by working on Scott’s arm. DeBeers would then focus on Hall’s left hand by biting, even jamming and continuing to press it into the steel turn buckle. Hall landed some major shots on DeBeers, causing the Colonel to let go and take a walk on the apron. DeBeers then fell to the floor, because as we all know racist, South Africans don’t believe in gravity. Lord James Blears brought up seeing an interview where DeBeers made a claim that Hall is a "steroid baby". As Col. DeBeers kept clamping on Hall’s hand, Scott scooped up the Colonel into a slam. Though DeBeers, absorbed the impact and held on, pulling Scott down to the mat.
The tenacity of DeBeers ensured his main event status in AWA, though the tide would turn when attempting a slam on Hall. DeBeers was no small man, as he was only 15 lbs and 3 inches shy of Hall’s weight and height, Hall has the leverage and with the greatest of ease picked up DeBeers and deposited him on the mat. Again, living up to his tenacious nature, DeBeers would immediately catch Hall with two boots to jaw. DeBeers, thinking it is time to go in for the kill, climbed to the top of ropes. As soon as he gets there, Hall rises to his feet and stuns DeBeers with a shot to the mid section. He grabs DeBeers in a slam position and instead of just tossing him in typical manner (where it looks like the caught wrestler is just doing a flip) he takes a moment to actually sustain DeBeers in the gorilla press before launching the Colonel.
Hall would keep the drive going, downing DeBeers and planting a big elbow drop. Scott then works a weary DeBeers in the corner, and plows him into the mat with his patented bulldog finisher. Experience along with tenacity is another part of DeBeers’ success, as he had the presence of mind to drape his right leg over the close by bottom rope. Referee Marty Miller catches this as it happened after the two count. Hall picks up DeBeers, slugs him and then attempts a second bulldog, but DeBeers shoves Hall into a corner bound Miller, which amused many people in the audience.
As Hall tried to help the ref up, by pulling from the shirt, DeBeers rushes in with a flying knee to Hall’s back, forcing him to crush Marty Miller once again in the corner, as audience amusement continues. Hall would go after DeBeers, whip him into the corner turnbuckles, and flip him over with a black body drop. Then Hall would get a hold of DeBeers in the corner again, and deliver a third bulldog. Miller gets to his feet and signals the bell. At first I thought, the ref was swift enough (as did Hall) to realize that DeBeers was to blame. Then I was quickly reminded that this was the 1980's, a time that along with infinite squash matches, also included paranoid and easily distracted referees made of balsa wood.
Hall and DeBeers would engage in a stare down in the center of the ring. DeBeers continuing the stare, moved backwards, and fell through the ropes after flinching to Hall’s motion of pulling back his right fist. DeBeers would return to the ring apron, raising his hand, twirling his mustache then dropping off, as Hall sat on the middle rope and lifted the top rope as a gesture to welcome him back in. A slow motion replay of the bulldog, was then followed by AWA Notebook that gave the top 5 contenders for the AWA title: (1) The Barbarian aka The Berzerker (2) Colonel DeBeers (3) Big Scott Hall (4) Larry Zbyszko (5) "Superfly" Snuka.
After the commercial, Nelson interviewed Scott Hall. Scott's slowed tempo and affect in his tone, made him sound like Razor Ramon, and his NWO self while addressing the injustice. He quoted his mom again about Karma, and agreed with Nelson’s point that until he settles his feud with soldier boy DeBeers, he may not be 100% for his team with Hennig. Hall said that DeBeers for the past few months has been on his mind like a ghost haunting him. Nelson was antsy about the interview time, and came off a bit snooty in apologizing for needing to wrap up the interview.
David
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