WrestlingFigs > Wrestling News Posts > CLASSIC AWA AUGUST 1st TV REPORT
CLASSIC AWA AUGUST 1st TV REPORT
  • 08/01/2008 (9:36:59 pm)
  • Georgiann Makropoulos

….

August 1st aired a January 8th 1990 episode of Verne Gagne`s AWA All-Star Wrestling. All matches are apart of the Team Challenge Series. This is a creation of Eric Bischoff, where wrestlers are split up into either Larry Zbyszko, Sgt. Slaughter or Baron Von Raschke`s camp, and earn points for their team.
 
Eric Bischoff interviews Wayne "The Train" Bloom (Blake of WWF`s Beverly Brothers) with a graphic of a demolished building behind them. Bloom worn his AWA world tag team belt that he won with "Mean" Mike Enos (Beau Beverly) of the Destruction Crew. An irritated Bloom said he wasn¢t going to be thrown into a Greco-Roman match without doing his homework against someone of the Baron`s amateur wrestling credentials.
 
Bischoff was slightly amused that Bloom felt a couple of weeks was enough preparation, and Bloom said "When I¢m done suplexing Baron to the right, suplexing him to the left, and suplexing him over my head, he¢ll wish he was never picked for this match" Bischoff questioned if Bloom`s strength would be enough to combat Baron`s extraordinary background as a national collegiate wrestler.
 
Bloom felt ready for Baron, and any other opponent. Bloom went on to say that strength will carry him to victory. Bloom "I told everyone that the Destruction Crew is the tag team of the 90`s..and now we are!"
 
 
 Wayne "The Train" Bloom versus Baron Raschke in the Greco-Roman match for the Team Challenge Series
 
Team captain, AWA world champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko accompanied Bloom to the ring with Enos, to the chants of "Larry Sucks!" Lee Marshall announces the stipulations, stating unlike freestyle and catch-as-catch can, the Greco-Roman style is where wrestling can only occur from the waist on up. There would be three rounds that last for two minutes, with a thirty second rest period in between. Points are awarded for near falls, take downs and escapes, with only a count of 1 is needed for a successful pin.
 
Referee Gary DeRousha gets between Bloom and Baron. Commentator Ralph Strangis explained that the Baron was a Big A conference champion, two time AAU freestyle champion, bronze medalist in the World Games, and apart of the 1964 Olympic team (would be the US team, since Baron was actually not from Germany).
 
Both men then try to lock up each others` arms, but Bloom gets hip rolled over, when he is unable to hip roll Baron. Two points are awarded are awarded to Baron for the takedown. Baron gets two points for the takedown. Bloom backs off to the corner, then gets arm dragged to arm bar. Baron cross faces Bloom with the forearm, and Bloom gets a release with a foot on the bottom rope. Baron gets on a headlock but the bell sounds for the end of round one.
 
Baron is angered because Bloom was pulling on his trunks, then when round two starts, Bloom illegally takes Baron to the mat with a leg takedown. Bloom then kicks the downed Baron, and referee Gary DeRousha signals a caution penalty against Bloom for his tactics. Bloom then headlocks Baron and sneaks in a punch. Then Bloom takes Baron down with a waistlock suplex.
 
On screen the scores are posted, Baron has a one point lead in points at 3. Baron locks Bloom`s arm and rolls him to the mat. As Baron locks the arms and has Bloom`s shoulders nearly to the canvas, the ending bell of round two signals. Bloom`s tag partner Mike Enos enters the ring to give him advise.
 
When round three begins, Bloom eye rakes and executes a suplex roll. Bloom grabs at the legs but the commentators Lee Marshall and Ralph Strangis don¢t mention that. Bloom knees Baron, and referee DeRousha holds back Baron who threatens to use his claw submission. A bear hugged Baron takes Bloom to the mat with a hip roll, and nearly presses him to the mat for the pin. Eno charges in with stomps and an elbow drop on Baron. Eno then flies off the middle rope with tackle on Baron. Baron wins by disqualification, after six minutes of match.
 
Bloom throws the ref out of the ring, then Enos holds up Baron in a bear hug and Bloom nails the Baron with a flying clothesline from the tope rope. Tommy Jammers chases the Destruction Crew out of the ring, as Paul Diamond checks on Baron`s condition.
 
 
In a post match interview at ringside, Eric Bischoff told the Baron that he looked to have control throught the match. Baron said that Greco-Roman style wrestling is his specialty, and that he was about to beat Bloom fairly. Baron issued a warning to the Destruction Crew that they would pay for their actions.
 
 
After the commerical, Eric Bischoff interviews The Trooper (Del Wilkes, unmasked WWE Patroit) with special enforcer referee and former NFL defensive end "Benchwarmer" Bob Lurtsema. Bischoff asked if Trooper had done any special training in preparation for this bout.
 
Trooper said his football background, made it liking riding a bicycle, where you don`t lose that knowledge. Lurtsema admitted to not liking Enos but said that he would make adjustments to the rules to accommodate Enos` tendency to cheat, but hoped Enos would opt to stay within the rules.
 
 
 The Trooper versus "Mean" Mike Enos of the Destruction Crew in a football challenge match officiated by Bob Lurtsema for the Team Challenge Series
 
Commentator Lee Marshall mentioned that the Minnesota Vikings allowed the use of their jerseys and helmets for the match. Trooper represented Sgt. Slaughter`s team, and wore purple home team colors. Enos represented Larry Zbyszko`s team, and wore the white visiting team colors.
 
Referee Lurtsema explained the rules where the wrestler with football possession has forty five seconds to move past tape strip in front of the net in the opposing side`s corner in order to score. The wrestlers were not allowed to throw it in, and the first wrestler to reach five points is declared the victor.
 
Referee Lurtsema said that he considered this to be jungle rules, where he would allow just about anything in the match. Lurtsema said that he was on The Trooper`s side for having played two years in the NFL, and being All-American at South Carolina. Zbyszko told Lurtsema that he shouldn`t be on anyone`s side, then said that Lurtsema`s career in football was about not playing.
 
Commentator Ralph Strangis mentioned that Lurtsema`s crowning moment was burying Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw at Super Bowl VII (though it actually occurred at Super Bowl IX) .
 
Lurtsema pushes Enos down in his net. Trooper than tackles Enos away and scores in thirteen seconds. Enos now has possession, is tackled down and the football is loose. Trooper catches Enos` boot on a kick attempt, spins him around and atomic drops him. Enos gets the football, but Enos shoves him back, preventing him from scoring within forty five seconds.
 
Trooper with possession back body drops Enos, and moves in to score, making the score 2-0. Enos goes outside the ring and signals for a time-out. Lurtsema yelled at Enos to get back in the ring. Enos with possession, returns to try to fake past Trooper, but fumbles when Trooper knocks him down. Trooper grabs the lose football and scores for 3-0.
 
Enos complains of his head hurting, then is pushed by Trooper to get back in the match. Enos pushes referee Lurtsema, and Lurtsema retaliated with a clothesline, and Enos exits the ring. Trooper gestures for Zbyszko and Enos to dare get in the ring. Enos returns take down Trooper for an ankle lock, then spring off the ropes with a helmet ram to Trooper`s leg. Enos then scores with eleven seconds to spare.
 
Lee Marshall says that was an encroachment penalty, but referee Lurtsema abides by what he said earlier about keeping to jungle rules. Enos prevents Trooper from scoring when he knee drops on Trooper`s hamstring. Enos gets the ball and break the plain to gain a point, making the score 3-2, with Trooper in the lead.
 
Fans chant "Trooper!" as Trooper shows pain in his leg. Enos gets another leg take down, and knees at the leg again. Enos lays Trooper`s leg on the bottom rope, jumps and sits on it. Enos scores again, and they are now tied.
 
Trooper charges, but is thrown from the ring, and Enos kicks at Trooper to keep him out. Enos then scores and leads by 4. Enos goes to the floor and gets coaching from Zbyszko. Enos enters to offer a handshake, and Trooper headbutts back Enos. Trooper is front face locked, but Trooper pushes forward to score for the tie.
 
Trooper turns his attentions away to yell at Zbyszko, causing an opening for Eno to knee
to leg and strip away the football. Enos gloats as he feels it is an easy score, but referee Lurtsema clotheslines down Enos. Trooper grabs the football and jumps it to the net for the win.
 
 
Eric Bischoff interviews AWA world champion "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko with a Larryland amusement park cartoon graphic as the background. Zbyszko says he is going to tell the spudheads out there the truth. He called referee Bob Lurtsema a benchwarmer idiot hitman for Sgt. Slaughter.
 
Zbyszko complained that Baron Von Raschke cheated by using his Claw hold in the Greco-Roman bout. Zbyszko said that Mr. Saito thinks it is World War II. Zbyszko then called Sgt. Slaughter, Mr. Saito and Nikita Koloff the three stooges of conspiracy. Zbyszko said that they would not outsmart the world champion, and that the Destruction Crew will help put an end to outsiders against Larryland.
 
 
 Six Man Tag Team Battle Royal
 
This was actually a regular battle royal, as opposed to a tag team battle royal, where one man`s elimination would mean both members of a tag team are eliminated. There would be two participants from each of the three teams. Tommy Jammer and Johnny Stewart represented Baron Von Raschke`s team. Psycho & Killer of the Texas Hangmen (whose are identical except for Killer`s elbow pad over the left bicep, looking like to cover a tattoo like WWE`s Smash of Demolition) represented Larry Zbyszko`s team. "Hard Rock" Paul Diamond and The Unknown Soldier represented Sgt. Slaughter`s team.
 
Diamond punches Stewart in the corner, as the Texas Hangmen double smash on Jammer in the ropes. Jammer rams the Hangemen`s head together, as they try to lift him over the top rope. Jammer tackles Killer of the Hangmen with a flying tackle from the middle rope. Psycho of the Hangman strikes Diamond and the Unknown Soldier.
 
Stewart holds Killer for Jammer`s strike. Diamond rams Stewart`s head to the corner buckle. Jammer throws Killer to the ring apron, and Psycho eye rakes off Jammer`s lift in the corner, then chokes Diamond. Jammer strikes a cornered Stewart and Diamond kicks his way out of the corner against Psycho.
 
Stewart climbs to the top rope, but Jammer shakes the ropes, causing Stewart to fall and get crotched on the turnbuckle connector. Unknown Soldier goes for a flying body press but Jammer ducks, causing Unknown Soldier to fly over the top rope and got eliminated.
 
Jammers tries to slam Hangman Killer out of the ring, but Johnny Stewart double ax handled his back. On the ring apron, Killer pulls Jammer as Stewart pushes, and Jammer goes over the top rope to the concrete floor, for the elimination.
 
Though on opposite teams, Stewart begged on his knees for Diamond to work a deal where they try to throw Zbyszko`s Hangmen out first. A clubbed Stewart reversed Killer`s whip to drop him with a knee to the gut.
 
Stewart gets a whip on Psycho and nails him with a flying knee, then double ax handles Diamond to the back, as Diamond tries to get Psycho over the top from the corner. Stewart throws Diamond over the top, but Diamond hangs on to the top rope and flips himself back in.
 
Diamond dropkicks Stewart and throws him over the top to the floor for an elimination.
Against the ropes, Diamond kicks at Psycho and punches both Hangmen. The Hangmen whip Diamond to the ropes, he ducks their clothesline and takes them both down when he comes off the ropes with a flying cross body press.
 
The Hangmen club Diamond in the corner, and Killer rubs Diamond`s face across the top rope. Diamond is double whipped, but shoots out of the corner to take down the Hangmen with a double clothesline. Psycho eye rakes and full nelsons Diamond for Killer`s clothesline. Diamond escapes, and Killer accidently sends Psycho out of the ring.
 
Diamond and Killer trade punches. Diamond whips Killer to the corner, but gets straddled on middle rope, when avoids the charge. Killer steps down with a choke on the downed Diamond. Stewart is still at ringside, distracting referee DeRousha from Psycho`s middle rope choke on Diamond.
 
Killer whips Diamond for a back body drop, but Killer is kneelifted down. Diamond kicks Killer in the corner and Irish whips him for a back body drop. Diamond whips Killer and charges backwards to spring forth with an attack. Stewart lowers the top rope, causing Diamond to spill to the floor. Killer wins the battle royal for Larry`s Legends, in this over eight minute match
 
Stewart headlocks Diamond on the floor, and tries to ram his head into the ring post. Diamond shoves him off, causing Stewart to hit the post. Diamond then slams Stewart`s head on the timekeeper`s table, and drops Stewart with a superkick.
 
 
Eric Bischoff interviews Killer who says that his Texas Hangmen team have finally proved to the AWA that they are the greatest tag team in wrestling. Bischoff mentioned that Killer`s win has earned two points for Team Zbyszko. Psycho then says that his team are looking down the road for the Destruction Crew to step into their war zone. Psycho - "Be ready for pain, agony..and a lot of defeat!"
 
Catch the legends of the AWA Monday to Friday at 12am est on ESPN Classic.
 

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