CLASSIC AWA 5/6/08 TV REPORT
- 05/07/2008 (12:48:10 am)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
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May 6th presents a 1988 episode of Verne Ganne’s AWA All Star Wrestling from Minot North Dakota.
Ricky Rice versus "Ace" Bob Orton Jr
Rice is backed the corner to a clean, break then hip tossed down. Orton would drop Rice with a charge off the ropes, and lay down a stomp to the mid section. A commentating Donna Gagne said that Orton had an impressive background, starting amateur wrestling at twelve years old, four state titles before turning pro, and being an All American in football for Missouri State.
Rice plants his foot on the middle turnbuckle pad, blocking the attempted head smash. Orton’s head is then smashed to the top turnbuckle pad, then Rice sends Orton over the buckles to land his shoulder on the steel connector.
Orton favors his left shoulder, begging Rice to mercy as Rice cranks in an arm bar. Orton then appears perfectly alright as hip tosses Rice out of the corner. Orton then launches a dropkick on Rice, but Rice gets up right away to nail Orton with a dropkick, then a second that took Orton over the top rope.
Orton returns to propel Rice to the floor with a trunks pull. Orton ascends the turnbucks, and an lands a flying forearm down on Rice. Referee Gary DeRousha signals the bell, disqualifying Orton for the leap. Orton body slams Rice on the floor, and brings him back in for a superplex. Orton covers for the pin, but DeRousha informs him of the dq. Rice takes the dq win in this match that was under four minutes.
Orton knee dropped and stomped. DeRousha got shoved down, then a second referee, Marty Miller was knocked from the ring with an elbow. Orton threw DeRousha from the ring, then piledrove Rice into the mat. Wrestlers Tom Johnson and Daryl Olsen entered, and Orton looked to back off until striked Johnson and exiting as Olsen approached.
At AWA studio, Nelson said that wrestlers have told him that Orton beats up his opponents to create an intimidating reputation. Nelson presented the "Adorable" Adrian versus Greg Gagne match that aired on Friday night. Gagne was disqualified due to referee DeRousha’s spotting him shoving off Adonis to the steel post. Orton stole the belt, and Nelson explained that the title was returned to Gagne by the promoters.
Mike Smith & Mark Wagner versus AWA tag team champions The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels)
Jannetty corner whipped Wagner to a Michaels clothsline. Jannetty and Michaels double arm twist forward and backward to a double chop on Wagner. The 6'7 Smith is tagged in, and whips Jannetty into the ropes. Jannetty slides between Smith’s legs, and Smith turns around to be dropped with a flying Michaels clothesline from the middle rope.
Smith body slams out of Michael’s wristlock, and lands a leg drop. Smith leaps off for a flying leg drop from the middle rope, but Michaels moves out of the way. Jannetty and Michaels each take one of Smith’s legs to deliver a double rolling hamstring yank. Then both Rockers forward roll from that move into a double punch that knocks Wagner off the ring apron.
This match closes past three minutes, when referee Marty Miller counts the 3, after Wagner is double whipped into a duel Rocker kick and double DDT. When leaving the ring, Jannetty then turns around, remembering that their title belts were at ringside.
At AWA studio, Larry Nelson interviewed Shawn Michaels, who was holding his AWA tag title. Michaels said that The Midnight Rockers are back, having proved to be a good team, by being two time AWA tag champions. Michaels added that his team has only lost once in two years, mentioning the "jaw jacking" Nasty Boys and the partner looking Soldat Ustinov gunning for the champs.
Nelson brought up the Rockers’ travels, with Michaels mentioning a tour to Memphis Tennessee to face Jerry "The King" Lawler & "Superstar" Bill Dundee. Soldat Ustinov stormed in after Michaels’ interview to announce that he does have a partner. Soldat announced that his manager Sheik Adnan El Kassey as his partner, and proclaimed Adnan as one of the greatest wrestlers ever.
Darryl Olsen versus Soldat Ustinov (accompanied by Sheik Adnan El Kassey)
Ustinov clubs and stomps Olsen down. Ustinov steps on Olsens back twice, then rams Olsen’s back into the corner. After a hip toss and a body slam, Ustinov misses an elbow drop. Olsen punches at Ustinov with no effect, and is picked up in a bear hug. Olsen double forearm smashes out, but is back rammed into the corner. Referee Gary DeRousha calls for the bell, as Olsen submits while in Ustinov’s over the shoulder body vice, in a match that ended under three minutes. Ustinov stomps on Olsen after the match.
Jim Thomas versus Chief Wahoo McDaniel
Thomas pushed Wahoo off the lockup for a double arm flex twice. Wahoo pushes Thomas into the corner, and Thomas exits after being tomahawk chopped down. Donna Gagne mentions that McDaniel’s credentials reads like a book, citing that McDaniel was twice an All State full back for the Oklahoma Sooners. Thomas and extends his hand for a shake, Wahoo hesitates but smiles and shakes Thomas’ hand. Thomas slaps Wahoo then quickly back away to the floor. Thomas returns to the ring to be backed to the ropes and subject of multiple knife edge chops. Wahoo Irish whips Thomas in for a big tomahawk chop and pins Thomas, as referee Marty Miller counts the 3 in a match that was under four minutes.
At AWA studio, Larry Nelson interviewed Kevin Kelly and Madusa Miceli. Madusa told Nelson that she had no doubts that Kelly would defeat Hennig. Kelly said "I’ve been beating people up for over a year in the AWA, and now Mr. Hennig, you will have nowhere to hide!" Kelly said that his win will have him take over Hennig’s planned title defenses from Texas to Tokyo. Kelly wanted to keep talking, but Nelson had to wrap up for the commercial.
"Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly (accompanied by AWA ladies’ champion Madusa Miceli)
Walking to the ring, Madusa followed Kelly to the tune of George Thorogood’s "Bad to The Bone". Rod Trongard said that Kelly had won the tough man competition more than once, is 6' 6 with 21" biceps and can prench press over 540 lbs. Hennig looked focused, and Madusa taunted him by slapping her behind. Though Kelly displayed sportsmanship when accepting Hennig’s handshake.
Kelly shoved Hennig into the corner, then flexed his right bicep. Trongard said that Hennig won the 1981 rookie of the year, and was awarded the west coast wrestler of the year in 1983. Hennig goes for a waistlock from behind and is elbowed to the face. Kelly corner whips Hennig, but Hennig reverses it into an arm drag. Kelly ducks the clothesline and drops Hennig with a hard clothesline.
Hennig slides out of the ring, and trips Kelly. Hennig return to the ring would have him back Kelly in the corner for a chop, but this did not phase Kelly. Hennig kicked at Kelly’s left leg, but Kelly returned with kicks to Hennig left leg, one with so much force that it almost caused Hennig to back flip.
Hennig went right back with kicks on Kelly’s leg, then yanked Kelly’s hanmstring with a forward roll. Hennig would turn a step over toe hold into an Indian deathlock (variation figure four leglock). Hennig would yank the ropes at times for additional pressure.
Kelly escaped to land a back elbow as Hennig sprung from the ropes. Hennig kicked out at referee DeRousha’s 2 count. Kelly then planted Hennig from the corner with a running powerslam, that Hennig also escaped at 2. Kelly picked up Hennig for a body slam, but Hennig held onto to the top ropes with both hands. DeRousha kicked the arms loose, and Kelly fell backwards with Hennig on top. Hennig went in to hook Kelly’s left leg, but grabbed the trunks and gained the 3 count, in this just over ten minute match.
Kelly clubbed Hennig down, and then tossed him over the top rope. Kelly followed to the floor to throw Hennig back in, and retrived the AWA title to toss on Hennig. Trongard commented that Hennig’s slow exit from the ring, made him look like a beaten warrior in this contest, as Kelly flexed his muscles in the ring.
At AWA studio, Larry Nelson announced 75 year old Myra A. Peabody from Rhode Island as "Fan of the Week" Myra said in her letter that she was asked on a date by a wrestler, but her mom wouldn’t let her go, because Myra was only 16 at the time.
Check out the legends of AWA Monday to Friday at 1am est on ESPN Classic.
David
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