CLASSIC AWA 5/7/08 TV REPORT
- 05/08/2008 (9:10:24 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
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May 7th airs a 1988 episode of Verne Gagne’s AWA All Star Wrestling from Minot, North Dakota.
At AWA studio, Larry Nelson presented the closing minutes in a replay from last nights bout where AWA champion Curt Hennig (WWE’s Mr. Perfect) defeated Kevin Kelly (WWF’s Nailz)
Mike Smith & Darryl Olsen versus "Slick" Nick Kiniski & "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly (accompanied by AWA ladies’ champion Madusa Miceli)
Kiniski kneed Olsen in the corner, but Olsen reversed the corner whip, to arm drag Kiniski into an arm bar. Kiniski picked up and body slammed Olsen, but Olsen held on to maintain the arm bar. Kiniski hip tossed out of the move, then the 6'6 Kelly caught the 6'7 Smith in an arm lock, before tossing Smith from the ring.
Rod Trongard was joined by ½ of the AWA tag champions Shawn Micahels for some commentary. Trongard asked Michaels what he looked for in scouting Kiniski and Kelly. Michaels said that tonight what he was looking at was Madusa, who was wearing a tight flesh color outfit. Michaels said that The Midnight Rockers would uses their speed and agility against the big men.
Back in the ring, Kiniski back elbowed down Smith, then slammed Smith’s head into Kelly’s knee. Kelly battered Smith the corner, then Kiniski yanked Smith’s throat on the top rope. Kelly pushed Smith to the corner to tag in Olsen. Kelly hurled Olsen across the ring with a gorilla press slam. Referee Marty Milled counted the 3, after Kiniski then put away Olsen with a piledriver, ending the match just after four minutes.
At AWA studio, Wahoo McDaniel was in full Native American headdress, telling Larry Nelson that wrestlers must compete in the AWA in order to be considered the best. Greg Gagne then entered holding his tv title, agressing with McDaniel and mentioning young competitors such as Ricky Rice, Tom Zenk and the soon to arrive Rock ‘n Roll Express. Gagne also mentioned that "Ace" Orton and Adrian Adonis were looking for shots for the tv title.
Mark Wagner versus International TV chanpion Greg Gagne
Gagne kicked off Wagner’s leg trip, then waist lock to a lifting drop, into a body scissors. Warner bridged his body to avoid the pin as Gagne held him down by the wrists. Gagne went from an arm twist, then tripped Wagner to apply a step over toe hold. Gagne cranked on the left leg, and Wagner eyed for an escape. After taking a turnbuckle smash, Gagne kicked and knife edge chopped Wagner down. Wagner was whipped to a back body drop, then a dropkick. Referee Gary DeRousha signaled for the bell, closing this match after three minutes, when Wagner fell unconscious while in Gagne’s sleeper hold. Gagne massaged Wagner’s neck, then gave him a slap to wake him.
Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs) joined Larry Nelson at AWA studio. Knobbs said that the people who spoke of the Nasty Boys being crazy were right. Saggs said that not only do the Nasty Boys have body odor and bad breath, they are the nastiest tag team in the AWA. Knobbs said that no longer will The Midnight Rockers duck them, as the AWA tag titles will soon belong to The Nasty Boys.
The Nomad versus Tom Zenk
Nomad backed Zenk against the ropes, shoved him, but Zenk shoved Nomad down. Zenk twisted Nomad’s left arm, then back dropped Nomad, while maintaining the hold. Nomad attacked Zenk in the corner, but fell backwards after Zenk ducked the back elbow. Nomad would nail Zenk on the second attempt, then snap suplex Zenk for a 2 count. Referee DeRousha counted the 3, closing the match after three minutes, when Zenk finished Nomad with the dropkick.
Tom Zenk joined Nelson at AWA studio. Zenk said that the big trick was trying to get AWA champion Curt Hennig to sign a match with him. Zebk brought out his new partner, rookie Ricky Rice. Nelson said this was his first meeting with Rice, and was told Rice played hockey and was an amateur wrestling, when he inquired about Rice’s background. Nelson asked Zenk if Hennig was on the back burner, and Zenk said that hennig remains the primary focus, but now he has Rice in his corner.
Adorable Adrian Adonis & "Ace" Bob Orton Jr. Versus AWA tag champions The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels)
Orton stops himself from being whipped into the corner, but turns around to find Jannetty’s dropkick knocking Orton’s head into the top turnbuckle pad. Orton leap frogs over Michaels, but Michaels immediately turns around to atomic drop Orton into Jannetty’s fist. From Michaels’ headlock, Orton is caught in Jannetty’s headlock. Jannetty lifts up his legs and scissor rolls over Adonis and headlock take downs Orton at the same time.
Adonis held Jannetty arms, but when Orton charged off the ropes, Jannetty’s move caused Orton to crash a high knee into Adonis. After enduring headlocks from Jannetty and Michaels, Orton scoops up Michaels into a backbreaker. While hung over Orton’s knee, Michaels is hit with an Adonis ax handle. Adonis bulldogs Michaels from the corner, then delivers a brutal back elbow, when Michaels charges in on a reverse whip to the corner.
Adonis held Michaels for an Orton knee, then Orton held Michaels upside for over 10 seconds before completing the vertical suplex. Orton smiles with his arms extended in celebration. Michaels kicks out at 2, after experiencing Orton’s butterfly suplex. The crowd chants "Rock n Roll" as Adonis works over with knee drops. Orton chokes Michaels with the tag ropes as Adonis holds the legs, and referee Marty Miller does not see, as he tries to get Jannetty back to the corner. Michaels punches out of the corner, but it stopped with an Orton short arm clothesline. Orton then slingshots Michaels into an Adonis clothesline.
Adonis bounced off the ropes for a splash, but crashes into Michaels’ raised knees. Orton holds Michaels upright, as he drives the knee down from the middle rope. Jannetty pulls Adonis trunks back to break the count at 2, after a running powerslam. Adonis and Orton throw Michaels over the top rope. This would have been a disqualification, but the ref was keeping back Jannetty. Orton would sneak a flying forearm club from the apron, then throw Michaels into the steel post. Orton would apply a headlock with punches, before Michaels returned to the ring.
Whipped to the corner, Michaels moved out of the way, causing Adonis to crash into the turnbuckles. Michaels picked up Adonis for a body slam, then sprung off the ropes for a flying body drop, but Adonis moved away. From an Adonis back suplex, Orton gave a Rick Rude style neckbreaker then a fist drop. After a 2 count, Orton had a bit of a tantrum at Michaels’ resiliency.
Michaels reverses the whip to the corner, causing Orton to get draped over the ropes. Michaels runs in and kicks Orton in the stomach. Orton is forced back, and finds himself crotched on the rope. A tagged Jannetty flips Adonis into the corner, then whips Adonis to the corner where Orton is. Adonis is snapped mared into a pin, but Orton dragged Jannetty to the outside. Now all four men are battling outside the ring.
Adonis and Orton try to whip the Rockers into a collision, but The Rockers lock arms and turn themselves around to land punches back at their foes. Back in the ring, Jannetty whips Orton in for a back elbow, then both Rockers whip Orton in for a double superkick. Referee Marty Miller signals for the bell, stopping this match after fifteen minutes, with a no contest ruling.
Catch the legends of AWA Monday to Friday at 1am est on ESPN Classic.
David
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