On June 12^th, ESPN Classic aired a 1979 NCAA finals game that saw Michigan State beat Indiana State 75-64 as a tribute to Larry Byrd and Magic Johnson. This airing delayed Verne Gagne¢s AWA All-Star Wrestling an hour. All matches took place at the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tony Leoni & Brian Costello versus Ricky Rice & Jon Paul DeMans of the Top Guns

Paul kipped up twice after being pulled to the mat in Leoni¢s top wrist lock. Paul grapevined Leoni¢s arm and rolled him to the mat for a leg drop on the arm. From the middle rope, Rice laned an elbow on Leoni¢s arm that was extended by Paul. Rice was backed to Leoni¢s corner, where Costello landed forearms, then was tagged in to rub Rice¢s face on the rope.

A reverse whip had Costello take Rice¢s knee in the corner, but on a whip the opposite corner, Costello brught his knee. The incoming Rice got hit in the groin and almost hit the steel post. A tagged Leoni body slammed Rice to a knee drop, and Rice punched him away for the tag. Leoni rolled on the ropes from Paul¢s punch, took a flying Paul back elbow, then both Top Guns nailed Leoni with a double flying back elbow.

Leoni punched Rice off the wristlock, as Paul clasped with the crowd to rally Rice for an escape from Leoni¢s front face lock (chanceory). Commentator Rod Trongard commented on Costello¢s bloody nose, as Leoni looked to have applied a throat choke as he gained a two count from referee Gary DeRousha.

Leoni applied a helf nelson with a chinlock, before choking Rice on the top rope. Rice was whipped to the ropes, ducked the clothesline, and caught Leoni with a flying cross body press for a count of 2. Leoni kicked out at two from a tagged Paul¢s knockdown punch, and Paul got a two count when Leoni put his foot on the rope after back body dropping Leoni.

Leoni eye raked out of Paul¢s wristlock, but a stomach kick put him right back in the hold. Paul powerslammed Leoni, and a tagged Rice planted a flying leg drop from the top rope (Alabama Jam). Leoni amazingly kicked out at 2, but was double whipped into the ropes for a high Rice dropkick, putting him away for the 3 in this just over seven minute match. Rice though was not the legal man.

At ringside Larry Nelson introduced Barry Zevan as the host of a new segment called Celebrity Corner. Zevan mentioned thathe was a child actor on Broadway, film critic and president of the Ski Writers of America. Zevan said that today¢s episode would be have Jerry Lewis, and in the weeks to come Charo and Michael Caine.

AWA owner and former world champion Verne Gagne presented the an Olympics update A black and white photo appeared of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team from Russia. Verne spoke with Greco-Roman Olympic qualifiers Duane and Dennis Koslowski. The twin brothers, who I think look like former WCW champion Lex Luger, wore their amateur singlets for the interview. Verne asked Dennis if he worried about the Russians learning from him while training in their land, and Verne liked Dennis¢ answer in saying that the Russians wouldn¢t know that they will be beat by him.

After Verne said that he was with "two of the best wrestlers in the world today", Duane told Verne that from his training in Minnesota, that there will be high altitude training for two and a half weeks as final preparation from the 1988 games in Seoul Korea. Verne asked Duane about his chanes, and Duane said that he was going to get them. Dennis would go on to get the bronze medal in 1988, and then a silver in the 1992 games in Barcelona, Spain.

What looked like the shower area, Ricky Rice and John Paul of the tag team Top Guns gave comments. Rice told AWA tag team champion Badd Company to "Beware!" because his team was coming for them. Paul said that Top Guns have been training hard everyday and that they are "coming after" Badd Company for the greatest title in the professional league of wrestling.

Mike Somani & Vernon Deaton versus Mando & Chavo (Sr) Guerrero

Mando wristlock¢s Somani, and Chavo bounced off the ropes to leap frog over Mando, onto the arm. Chavo would roll Somani on the may while maintaining the wristlock, then Mando took over th hold and laid three leg slices down on Somani¢s head. Mando would back roll off of a tagged Deaton¢s back drop attempt, and arm drag Deaton down. A tagged Chavo used his leg to pretzel lock and roll Deaton twice on the mat.

Mando locked knuckles with Deaton, then dropped his body back to the canvas, rubbing is boot in Deaton¢s face. Mando then locked his ankles around Deaton¢s neck, and gave him a head scissor twist to the mat. A tagged Chavo Irish whipped Somani for a flying butt butt, then a tagged Mando jumped on Somani¢s back, and turne himself upside down to roll up Somani for referee Marty Miller¢s 2 count. Somani eye raked and punched at Mando, but from the middle rope in the corner, Mando fired back, and rolled Somani up for 2 with a super sunset flip.

A tagged Chavo hammers Somani to a seated position in the corner with a European (forearm) uppercut. Somani kicked out at 1 from Chavo¢s butterfly suplex, and knocks Chavo back to the opposite corner. On the ring apron, Deaton bit Chavo. A tagged Deaton would get chopped down by Chavo and gut wrench suplex. A tagged Mando German suplexed Deaton with a standing frog splash for 2. Mando then held Deaton as a tagged Chavo executed a top rope moonsault (back flip), and Mando knocked Somani to the corner, as the count reached 3. This match was over six minutes.

Backstage in the showers, AWA would tag team champions Badd Company¢s Paul Diamond and Seansai Pat Tanaka gave comments. Diamond said that of the long list of contenders, the team of Greg Greg and the returning Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka was the first in his thoughts. Diamond pointed the microphone to Tanaka who said "Snuka" and then something in what sounded like Japanese.

The first installment of Barry Zevan¢s Celebrity Corner welcomed comedy legend Jerry Lewis. Zevan thought Lewis was kidding when Lewis said that he had been conducting the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) labor day telethon for 39 years. Lewis said that 23 of those years have been on a national airings.

Lewis mentioned that there was a conclave in Los Angeles a couple of years before of two thousand of the best doctors working towards a cure. Zevan asked Lewis to forecast the progress, but Lewis said that Zevan would have to talk to the top doctors in the field, as it would be terrible to raise the hopes without certainty for those stricken and their families.

Zevan asked Lewis about going back to his At War with the Army phase. Lewis answered that at sixty three, and a grandfather five times over, he can¢t get the voice high enough again as he could at age nineteen. Lewis said his act is becoming more like that of another legend in George Burns than something wacky.

As Zevan was wrapping up the interview, Lewis said that he was happy to see Zevan had taken off some height, and that he was looking better. Zevan laughed and in his nervousness amusing kept missing a handshake with Lewis.

Chris Curtis versus AWA world champion Jerry "The King" Lawler

Lawler arm dragged off Curtis¢ waistlock. Curtis whipped Lawler to the ropes, and received Lawler¢s knockdown uppercut, when Curtis ducked down too soon for a back drop attempt. After a Lawler fist drop, Curtis landed forearms to Lawler against the ropes. Curtis whipped Lawler to the ropes, and Lawler grabbed Curtis¢ foot in a kick attempt. Lawler leg tripped Curtis back, and followed it with another fist drop.

Lawler Irish whipped Curtis to the ropes, and this time Curtis grabbed Lawler¢s foot in a kick attempt. Lawler jumped up and nailed an enzuigiri (flying head kick) that rolled Curtis to the canvas. Curtis was ropes whipped to a back body drop, then a knee drop. Lawler body slammed Curtis, then Lawler leaped off the middle ropes in the corner with a flying fist drop. Referee Marty Miller counted 1..2..3, giving Lawler the pin victory in match that ended before the four minute mark.

Backstage, AWA ladies world champion Madusa Miceli said that along with her busy travel schedule, he had been invited to a Wayne Gretzky press conference by his wife Janet Jones. Madusa announced to the promoters that she calls the shots as to when former Wendi Richter (former WWE/WWF ladies world champion) and Magnificent Mimi will get title shots.

Kevin Collins vs ½ AWA world tag team champion Paul Diamond (accompanied by Diamond Dallas Page & Tonya the Diamond Doll)

Page took the microphone to say that he couldn¢t believe his ears when some people referred to him as obnoxious, arrogant and conceited. DDP said "I¢m not wasn¢t conceited, I¢m convinced!" Collins and Diamond started with a shoving match. Diamond¢s push tripped Collins back to the rope, and Collins came back to shove Diamond to the mat.

Diamond hammered Collins into the corner, Collins reversed the corner whip, and hip tossed Diamond. Backed against the ropes, Collins blocked Diamond¢s right fist and took him down with an overhead right of his own. Diamond went to the floor to rethink his approach, then on his return, was taken to the mat by Collins¢ headlock. Diamond rolled collins over for referee Marty Miller¢s 2 count, then push Collins to the ropes, where both dropped in a collision.

Diamond rose first to stomp Collins, but had his Irish whipped reverse. Diamond sprung off the rope with a kick to Collins¢ mid-section, then picked up Collins upside down in mid suplex position, dropping Collins face first to the mat. Diamond covered Collins for the pin win, ending the match after three minutes. Diamond then landed a leg drop on Collins before leaving the ring with his party.

Backstage, Teijo Khan and Soldat Ustinov gave a moment of silence for former Soviet leader Lennon. Ustinov said that Baron VonRaschke will finally be at the very end when Teijo destroys him.

Teijo Khan (accompanied by Soldat Ustinov) versus Baron Von Raschke

While Baron is still in his robe, he strikes Soldat, and then Teijo attacks the Baron. Teijo chokes Baron with the collars of his robe, then Teijo rolls Baron to the mat. Teijo chokes Baron on the top rope, then lands chops and a headbutt. Baron reverses the Irish whip, and Teijo quickly exits the ring when Baron raises his right arm to signal The Claw.

On Teijo¢s return, Baron pulls on Teijo¢s braided pony tail, that commentator Lee Marshall called a Que. Baron then pulled on Teijo¢s face, and then flipped him with a back body drop. After applying a chinlock, Baron went back to stretching Teijo¢s face and landing forearm shot. Baron ducked his head too low while attempting another back body drop, and Teijo punted him down. Teijo dropped Baron with judo strikes, and Ustinov would choke Baron, when referee Marty Miller was forcing Teijo off the choke.

After choking Baron with his boot, Teijo headbutted Baron down near the corner, and

received a 2 count. Baron elbowed out of Teijo¢s chinlock, then poked Teijo in the eyes. Baron whipped Teijo to the ropes for a hip toss, then Baron did his goose step, before clamping on his dreaded Claw submission. Teijo soon dropped to one knee and Soldat rushed in and knocked Baron off the hold with a double axhandle attack. Referee Marty Miller signaled for the bell, disqualifying Teijo Khan for Soldat Ustinov¢s interference in this match that lasted over seven minutes.

Soldat and Teijo were stomping away at a downed Baron when Chief Jay Strongbow Jr ran to the ring to the wild cheers of the fans. Strongbow chopped Soldat out of the ring, and Baron had a hard time setting it up, but did Irish whip Teijo into a knockdown tomahawk of Strongbow¢s. Baron slapped The Claw on Teijo, pinning him to the mat, until Soldat pulled Teijo to the floor. Strongbow raised The Baron¢s hand, and they hugged.

Backstage, AWA world tag team champions Paul Diamond and Pat tanaka gave comments. Diamond said he and Tanaka are charter members of the most powerful organization in wrestling, the Diamond Exchange. Diamond wanted Mando, Chavo & Hector Guerrero to face Badd Company with the mercenary Colonel DeBeers. Tanaka said that the unit of Badd Company are the baddest team in AWA, and all teams can look forward to going down for the count in total destruction.

Catch the legends of AWA Monday to Friday at 1am est (usually) on ESPN Classic.

David    www.myspace.com/unrulyghouly