June 5^th airs a 1988 episode of Verne Gagne¢s AWA All Star Wrestling from the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 Greg Robertson vs Soldat Ustinov (accompanied by Teijo Khan)

 Robertson slapped away Ustinov’s hand, until ustinov got a handshake. Ustinov pushed Robertson down to the mat, then Robertson punched ustinov after being clubbed in the corner. Robertson was charged down after pushing off Ustinov¢s headlock, then Robertson got a hip toss as Ustinov charged off the ropes. Robertson was eye rakes, turnbuckle smashed, choked on the middle ropes, but kicked out at referee Marty Miller¢s two after taking a big boot.

 After being suplexed, Robertson kicked out at two. After taking a head twist, Robertson struck at Ustinov¢s mid section. Robertson¢s corner whip was revered and he was clobbered by Ustinov¢s forward fall clothesline. Ustinov gained the pin victory in this match before the four minute mark.

 In Larry Nelson’s interview segment, Verne Gagne said that there would be a big blockbuster announcement for the next episode of AWA. Verne then announced that the Round-Up Riders of the Rockies 40^th annual trail ride of 160 riders through the southern Colorado mountains. Verne said that he couldn¢t make it that year, but planned on doing it the year after.

 Lee Marshall interviewed Brandi May at ringside. Brandi said that she has been training hard and feels that she is ready to face AWA womens¢ champion Madusa Miceli. Marshall asked Brandi if she had to do any special training against Madusa¢ bending of the rules. Brandi said that Madusa is tricky and slick, but Brandi feels her training will help prepare her for that.

 Backstage, AWA champion Madusa Miceli said that she was going to show that country bumpkin Brandi May what a professional is all about, and that everyone is going to know that the title is staying with Madusa.

Dennis Stamp & Hunter Thompson versus Top Guns (Ricky Rice & Jon Paul)

 Top Guns greeted fans at ringside to their theme song of Def Leppard¢s "Pour Some Sugar on Me" Thompson laid forearm clubs on Rice as Stamp forearmed Paul. Top Guns reversed the Irish whips to drop down, leap frog and hip toss their opponents at the same time. Top Guns¢ opponents fled the ring, until Stamp returned for a wrist lock with guillotine leg drops by Rice.

 A tagged Paul helped Rice with a double back elbow that dropped Stamp. After performing an arm twist roll and guillotine leg drop on Stamps arm. A tagged Rice sprung off the rope, leapfrogging over Paul¢s wristlock onto Stamps¢ arm.

 From a headlock on Rice, Stamp nailed throat chops and choked Rice on the top rope. Stamp held up Rice’s arm for a tagged Thompson¢s strike, then Rice fired back after taking a knee against the head. Rice took down Thompson in a collision and a tagged Paul rolled up Thompson for referee Gary DeRousha’s two count.

A tagged Rice powerslammed Thompson, then a tagged Paul dropped Thompson with a top rope shoulder tackle. After Rice was tagged, the Top Guns double whipped Thompson to the ropes. Rice looked to be going for a dropkick but nailed the rapidly approaching Thompson with aback elbow. This earned the 3 count, closing the match before five minutes.

 Top Guns gave backstage comments about the tag team climate in AWA. Rice said that there are a lot of teams trying to intimate them, but his team won¢t be easily scared away from shooting for the AWA tag titles. Paul agreed by saying that nothing is going to drive him and Rice away from something they have dreamed of and worked for since they were kids. Paul said that they have something Soldat Ustinov, Teijo Khan and AWA champions Badd Company don¢t have, and that¢s the fans.

 Randy "TNT" Greenway versus ½ AWA tag champion Sensai Pat Tanaka (accompanied by manager Diamond Dallas Page & Diamond Doll Tonya)

 Page took the microphone and spoke of how people ask him about the money and the Dimaond Dolls of Page¢s Diamond Exchange, and then after boos, told the audience "shut up, you ignorant people" before getting on with introducing his protege Tanaka. Greenway arm dragged Tanaka down, then Tanaka broke a wristlock on him by going to the ropes.

 Tanaka then used to hair pull to take Greenway off the top wristlock, and commenattor Lee Marshall was baffled as to why one of the greatest amateur wrestlers resorted to such tactics. Marshall¢s broadcast colleague Rod Trongard said that it was likely due to Page¢s influence, and then Trongard said that Tanaka was a four time national AAU champion in freestyle and Greco- Roman wrestling.

 Trongard also mentioned that Tanaka is a fifth degree black belt in karate. Greenway was head smashed to the turnbuckle, but reversed corner whipped Tanaka from an arm drag to an arm bar. Tanaka whipped Greenway to the ropes, and then stumbled when Greenway ducked a low clothesline.

 Tanaka chopped down Green way, then stomped him after head butting him down. Greenway reversed the ropes whip, but as he ducked down for a back body drop attempt, he was caught in a front face lock and DDT’ed by Tanaka. This earned referee Marty Miller¢s 3 count, in this under five minute bout.

 In a ringside interview conducted by Lee Marshall, AWA world champion Jerry "The King" Lawler held his championship belt, mentioning that there are many wrestlers who think they are champions. Lawler said that former AWA champion Curt Hennig, tv champion Greg Gagne and World Class champion Kerry Von Erich seem to think they are champions . Lawler said that he doesn¢t see anyone on the horizon who can beat him for the title, and until that happens, he should be recognized as the only world champion.

 Kevin Collins versus Baron Von Raschke

 Baron arm dragged Collins down, then took him over with a fireman¢s carry to a lock on Collin¢s right arm. The camera went to Magnificent Mimi in the audience. Commnetator Lee Marshall said that he wasn¢t discrediting the other female contenders, but he felt that there wasn¢t any doubt in his mind that Mimi is the number one contender for Madusa Miceli¢s AWA world title.

Baron rolled Collins back with a waitlock to gain referee Gary DeRousha¢s two count. Collins forearm clubbed Baron on the ropes, but Baron kicked Collins, who tried for a back body drop. Baron clubbed and snap mared over Collins to tear at Collins¢ face. Referee DeRousha Baron off his attack, and Collins was turnbuckle smashed, then flipped off the ropes with a knee to the gut.

 A front face locked Collins backed Baron to the corner, landed forearm clubs, then body slammed the Baron for a one count. Baron kicked and clubbed Collins, whipping him to the ropes for a hip toss. Baron then showed his Claw hand and did his goose step. When Collins rose, Baron clamped on The Claw, taken Collins down to the mat. Referee DeRousha counted Collins¢ shoulders to the mat for 1..2..3, ending this match before the four minutes point.

 Backstage, Soldat Ustinov gave comments next to histag partner Teijo Khan. Ustinov said that it would take one more time for he and Khan to destroy him. Ustinov pointed the microphone to Khan, asking him what he thought of Baron, but Teijo said nothing. Ustinov said that his team was looking to face AWA tag champions Badd Company. Ustinov called them midgets, while he and Khan are big men who will destroy them to gain the AWA world tag team title.

 In Big K’s segment, he said that no one had the guts to tell him be quiet when at the Verne Gagne Roast, he confronted Verne. K said that Verne¢s son Greg will get it worse by going into early retirement against Curt Hennig and AWA champion Jerry Lawler. K said he was pleased with Lawler facing one of the world¢s best in WCCW champion Kerry Von Erich, but felt that Lawler was denying the former champion a re-match because K was giving Hennig advice.

 K spoke about the return of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, saying that he brought Snuka into wrestling, but Snuka fell into obscurity when they lost contact. K then questioned who Larry Nelson and Lee Marshall ever beat, to say that Hennig isn’t behaving like a man. K said Hennig has beaten the world¢s best, and will continue, but wanted the announcers to actually tell it how it is.

 Former AWA champion "Cool" Curt Hennig said that he didn¢t blame current champion Jerry "The King "Lawler from hiding him under a rock in Memphis, because Hennig said he was the greatest wrestler in the world. Hennig referred to Greg Gagne, Chief Wahoo McDaniel or Baron Von Raschke as trash that he would sweep under the carpet in victory.

 Brandi May versus AWA women¢s champion Madusa Miceli (accompanied by her manager "Cool" Curt Hennig)

 Brandi, in daisy duke short shorts and tank top, did not like that Hennig had joined Madusa for the match. Brandi went back to the locker rooms to get Rocky Mountain Thunder to watch her back. Referee Gary DeRousha sent Rocky back to the dressing room, because Rocky did not have a manager¢s license, as Hennig did.

 Brandi was leg tripped back by Madusa in a Zebra striped one piece. Then Brandi pushed off the headlock to have her hip tossed reversed. After a Madusa body slam, Brandi got the leg trip and reverse hip toss on Madusa. From an arm drag, Brandi caught Madusa in a wristlock that Madusa head scissored for an escape. Referee DeRousha counted off the choking hold off, then Brandi arm dragged Madusa to a double legged arm stretcher.

 Brandi was eye raked, kicked in the back of the leg, then taken over by a fisherman¢s suplex (Hennig¢s finisher). Madusa didn¢t hook the leg but got a two count from it. Madusa spanked Brandi¢s butt, then Madusa was brought back with a leg take down. Brandi body slammed Madusa, and covered for a one count.

 Madusa forearm smashed across Brandi¢s chest, as Brandi was up against the ropes. Madusa picked up Brandi in a fireman¢s carry, and spun her around in an airplane spin. Madusa knee lifted Brandi, and laid forearm strikes to her back. Brandi punched off Madusa¢s wristlock, then whipped her to the ropes for a clothesline.

Brandi whipped Madusa to the ropes again, taking her over with back body drop. Brandi body slammed Madusa near the ropes. As referee DeRousha left the ring for a better vantage point of Madusa’s shoulders, Hennig pushed off Brandi¢s left leg to break the count.

As Brandi was complaining to the ref about Hennig, Madusa then shoved Brandi chest first into the ropes, rolling her up. Brandi landed on her hands and knees, instead of her shoulders. Madusa rolled Brandi to her back, pressing her down from the hand and chest, gaining DeRousha’s 3 count. This match closed in under six minutes.

 Rocky Mountain Thunder returned to the ring to back-up Brandi¢s protests of Hennig¢s interference. Hennig struck Rocky from behind, and didn¢t budge him when they collided. Hennig then sprung off the ropes again to take Rocky down with a clothesline, before he and Madusa left for the ring. Hennig and Madusa didn’t see Larry Nelson hold the title up to show them before heading to the locker rooms.

 Nelson eneter the ring to interview, and Brandi said that the people knew Hennig shouldn’t have been present for the match, and he proved how low he could go. Rocky then said that Hennig will pay for his actions, and that he will meet Hennig anytime, anywhere.

 Catch the legends of AWA Monday to Friday at 1am est on ESPN Classic

 David     www.myspace.com/unrulyghouly