CLASSIC AWA 5/29/08 TV REPORT
- 05/29/2008 (11:30:22 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
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May 29th airs a 1988 epsiode of Verne Gagne’s AWA All Star Wrestling from the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas Nevada.
Biff Anderson versus Soldat Ustinov (accompanied by Teijo Khan)
Anderson escaped Ustinov’s headlock, but his stomach punches had no effect, and he was rammed into the corner by a Ustinov shoulder tackle. Anderson was choked on the mat, forearm clubbed in the corner, and pushed against the ropes with Ustinov’s hadns around his throat. Anderson was Irish whipped into the ropes, and clobbered with a big Ustinov clothesline earn referee Gary DeRousha’s three count before the three minute mark. Teijo Khan threw Anderson out of the ring, then threw him into a chair and unloaded knife edge chops.
Lee Marshall spoke with AWA ladies’ champion Madusa Miceli and contender Debbie Combs about newcomer Brandi May. Madusa didn’t care about Brandi’s claims of wrestling worldwide, as she hadn’t Madusa nor Debbie Combs, who Madusa called the number one contender. Combs repeated calling herself a professional who will wrestle a long match with Brandi before taking care of her.
Lance Russell then interviewed new AWA champion Jerry "The King" Lawler about the contenders to the championship. Lawler said that it is a long list and he prefers to leave it up to the championship committee and AWA president Stanley Blackburn to choose the challengers. Lawler said that the man he beat for the belt, Curt Hennig has been crying and begging across the country about how Lawler cheated to get the belt.
Lawler felt that Hennig should wait for a title shot, just like Hennig made deserving contenders wait. Lawler felt tv champion Greg Gagne, Chief Wahoo McDaniel, World Class champion Kerry Von Erich, CWA champion Maxx Payne were all ahead in line for the title, and Lawler intended to bring this to the committee’s attention.
Dennis Stamp versus international television champion Greg Gagne
Gagne and Stamp traded off waist locks until Gagne applied a hammerlock. Stamp reversed this to a top wristlock down to the mat, and Gagne escaped to re-apply the hammerlock, with his left leg locking Stamp’s right arm back. AWA champion Jerry Lawler joined Rod Trongard to say that Greg Gagne is worthy contender, and Lawler looked to be an honorable champion like Greg’s father Verne.
Stamp was charged down after pushing off the headlock, but then flipped Gagne off the ropes with a knee to the stomach. Stamp battered Gagne in the corner, then jammed Gagne’s shoulder into the top turnbuckle with a corner whip. Stamp would gain a 2 count from a body slam, and Gagne would catch Stamp with an inside cradle for 2. Stamp yanked Gagne back with a choke on the top rope, and Gagne chopped Stamp, then took him down with a dropkick.
Gagne was kicked and charged down after pushing off Stamp’s headlock. As Stamp charged from the ropes, Gagne caught him in a sleeperhold. Stamp’s left arm was raised by referee Marty Miller three times, dropping each time. Miller sounded the bell, with Gagne winning by submission, closing the match before reaching five minutes. Gagne massaged Stamp’s neck, moved his head and slapped his back to wake him.
Standing alongside Teijo Khan, Soldat Ustinov called Baron Von Raschke a "crazy man" for carrying a baseball around, and said that though AWA champion Lawler hid behind him, that they will be destroyed by him and his partner.
Krusher Krugnoff versus Rocky Mountain Thunder
Along with a bag over his shoulder, Rocky brought an ax with the USA flag tied to it. Krugnoff knicked at the bag, and then was flipped backwards by Rocky’s clothesline. Krugnoff knocked back Rocky with a dropkick, then applied a front face lock. Krugnoff kicked at Rocky in the corner, but whipped Krugnoff and landed a high knee to his chest in the corner. Krugnoff was whipped to the ropes and picked up in a bear hug. When Rocky threw Krugnoff’s back to the mat, he rolled out and refused to re-eneter the ring. Referee Gary DeRousha counted to 10, and awarded the match to Rocky Mountain Thunder on a count out victory, in this under three minute match.
Lee Marshall welcomed newcomer Brandi May again, and found it a little amusing that a newcomer was challenging the champion. Brandi said that she had the worldly experience and was ready. Marshall believed AWA champion Madusa was listening and ready.
Larry Nelson prsented a recent match in Memphis where "Superstar" Bill Dundee faced AWA champion Jerry "The King" Lawler. The match was joined sixteen minutes into the match, according to announcer Lance Russell. Lawler knocked Dundee down with a right, then a left. Dundee ducked a punch to roll up Lawler from a shove to the ropes. Lawler pushed off Dundee into the referee. Lawler gave a piledriver and covered Dundee, the referee recovered, and Dundee escaped at 2. Dundee would catch a charging Lawler in the corner with a left boot, then punched Lawler in the opposite corner. After hip tossing Lawler from one corner to another, Lawler reached into his singlet and clocked Dundee down for the pin victory, in a match that was almost a half hour in duration.
Larry Nelson spoke about how the AWA world title was goal of Curt Hennig, and was a something his family wanted for decades. A sunglasses wearing Hennig sounded like Dusty Rhodes when he said that he "was living on the end of a lightning bolt", and said that he doubts Lawler is man enough to leave that "hole" of a backyard in Memphis, and meet Hennig’s match stipulations. Hennig said sooner or later he would find Lawler, and defeat him.
Wahoo McDaniel said that it doesn’t make a difference who the champiuon is because he is number one on the ladder. McDaniel said "Raging Bull" Manny Fernandez is nudging in for a title shot as is Greg Gagne. McDaniel said that he may be a lucky man and face Lawler for the championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.
AWA tag champions Badd Comapny (Paul Diamond & Pat Tanaka) and the Diamond Doll were with Diamond Dallas Page, as he found it humor in those vying for the titles. Page said Badd Company would kick Rock N’ Roll Express up and down, finding out the his team was called Badd Company.
Greg Gagne presented a 1970's match of Pepper Gomez & Wilbur Snyder versus AWA tag champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray "The Crippler" Stevens. This match was a two out of three falls match, and the second fall was shown with commentary by Stevens and Greg Gagne. Gagne said that match at this point was past a half hour, as Bockwinkel and Stevens would try wearing down Snyder with headlocks. Stevens said that he and Bockwinkel knew how to use bigger opponent’s weight against them, which spoke for their longevity in success.
Snyder arm dragged an escape on Bockwinkel, but was tackled down. A tagged Gomez punched down Bockwinkel, and Stevens kicked off the pin, and then again after Gomez used the airplane spin on Bockwinkel. Snyder threw Stevens out of the ring, as Bockwinkel received a sit down splash from Gomez. Stevens delivered a flying knee drop on Gomez as he has Bockwinkel rolled up from a sunset flip. Gagne said that would have been a disqualification if the referee saw, but Stevens said it wasn’t off the top rope. Gagne responded that the knee hit the throat, and Stevens said that didn’t really matter, to laughs. Stevens covered Gomez for the pin victory. Their manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan entered the ring and raised Stevens’ hand.
Baron Von Raschke versus "Cool" Curt Hennig
Hennig’s manager, AWA ladies’ champion Madusa Miceli, was not present to accompany him. Hennig yelled out for the AWA to give him some competition as he punished Von Raschke. Hennig tried putting away Baron, only to receive near falls, until he got caught in The Baron’s infamous Claw hold. Hennig punched referee Gary DeRousha, knocking him from the ring. DeRousha recovered to signal the bell, disqualifying Hennig for striking him, thus ending the match after thirteen minutes. Hennig stood on the second ropes in the corner to taunt the fans, lost his balance and straddled himself onto the top rope.
Check out the legends of AWA Monday to Friday at 1am est on ESPN Classic.
David
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