July 25^th aired a 1987 episode of Verne Gagne`s AWA All-Star Wrestling, with matches from the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas Nevada. AWA studio was decorated with a Christmas tree and wreaths. Larry Nelson replayed the end of the "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly versus D.J. Peterson match.

The clip showed DJ holding onto the top rope as Kelly tried to body slam him. Kelly`s manager Madusa Miceli went to the ring apron and knocked DJ`s hand off the rope, and Kelly fell backwards with DJ on top. Referee Gary DeRousha counted the 3. The match stipulated that if DJ won, he would acquire the services of Madusa.

 Tony Leone versus DJ Peterson

This was the first match that Madusa Miceli served as Peterson`s manager. DJ had Madusa dressed in red pajamas and glasses. Leone wristlocks DJ down to one knee, then from a hammerlock on Leone, DJ rolls up Leone for a pin of 2. Madusa sits on the ring steps facing away from the match. DJ arm drags out of Leone`s three quarter nelson, then kicks out of Leon`s head scissors to get a pin of 1 with a headlock.

Referee Gary DeRousha warns Leone about the choke, while he front face locks DJ. Leone is picked up and given an inverted atomic drop. DJ body slam Leone, then reverses a hip toss to lock Leone in an arm bar. DJ leg drops the arm, but Leone escape after punches and elbow smashes.

Leone rubs DJ`s face against the ropes, but DJ retaliates with a heel kick and strikes.Leone is back dropped for a pin count of 1, then suplexed before DJ puts him away with the TNT (flying tackle from the middle rope). Referee DeRousha counts 3, and DJ wins in this under four minute bout. DJ pulls Madusa by her sleeve and she yanks her arm away. DJ then grabs her by the seat of her pajamas and leads her back to the locker room.

At AWA studio, Soldat Ustinov grabs Larry Nelson by the arms and called for AWA to lift the suspension of his manager Sheik Adnan El Kassey. Soldat displayed a framed picture of former Soviet leader Lennon, saying that Soldat, comrade Lennon and Sheik Adnan "will run the AWA!"

"Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly then entered for Nelson`s interview. He wore a black leather jacket and sunglasses, as he told Nelson that DJ Peterson is embarrassing Madusa Miceli, not him. Kelly said that he beat Peterson from pillar to post for 12-15 minutes. Kelly threatened that when he gets a hold of Peterson again "I¢m gonna beat you like you¢ve never been beaten before. When you crawl out of the ring, you¢re going to wonder why you ever got in the ring with Mr. Magnificent!"

 Dennis Stamp & Mike Tolas versus Jammin` Mitch Snow & Pat Tanaka

This match was Tanaka debut in the AWA. Tanaka and Tolas trade waistlocks, then Tanaka chops out of Tolas` reversal on the wristlock. Tolas headlocks a tagged Snow to the mat, but Snow gets a pin count of 2 when he rolls Tolas to his back.

A commentating Verne Gagne said that he would be leaving the broadcast table when AWA world champion Curt Hennig faces Kevin Collins, because Hennig had recently assaulted Verne at ringside. Tanaka waits for a ropes whipped Tolas to hop over a dropped down Snow twice, before leaping on Snow`s back for a flying cross tackle.

Tanaka chops out of Stamp`s reverse wristlock. Tanaka pushes off Stamp`s headlock, then is knocked down when Stamp charges off the ropes. Tanaka chops down Stamp and gets a 2 count on his pin cover. Verne mentioned that he was impressed by Tanaka`s quickness and moves.

Both men tag, and Tanaka whips Tolas for Snow`s clothesline. Snow whips Tolas to the ropes for a dropkick, then tags in Tanaka. Tolas is Irish whipped for a stomach punch, then planted to the canvas by Tanaka`s DDT. Referee Gary DeRousha counts 3, in another match that goes under four minutes.

AWA posted onscreen birthday wishes for Gary Winchek * Debbie Barnett * L. Whistler (Dave note: Larry Zbyszko) * Jeff Marxen * Steven Wille

At the studio, Larry Nelson spoke of AWA world champion Curt Hennig being called on for many speaking engagements. Hennig said that he is the man to handle it, and thanked American League umpire Ken Kaiser for inviting him to the American Baseball convention in Rochester, New York. Hennig mentioned that major league players Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, George Brett, Jesse Barfield, Don Mattingly and Paul Moliter were there.

Nelson asked if his favorite ballplayer Kent Kerbeck of the Minnesota Twins was there, and Hennig said he was, but Hennig overshadowed him as "Minnesota`s greatest athlete" Hennig said he will remain on top in 1988, and had the professional baseball players following him from bar to restaurant to autograph session. Hennig explained that they wanted to be like him, ruling an exciting sport. Hennig "Well that¢s too stinkin¢ bad, because I¢m going to remain the number 1 man in everything I do!"

 Jammin` Mitch Snow & Art Washington versus AWA world tag team champions "Loverboy" Dennis Condrey & "Ravishing" Randy Rose of the Original Midnight Express

The Expresses` manager Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman) took the microphone from announcer Mick Karch, asking if he was done. Dangerously "...and now the tag team with more secret maneuvers than Oliver North, Loverboy Dennis and Ravishing Randy..THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS!"

Condrey and Rose went to the ring to the theme song from 1978 Midnight Express movie. Commentator Rod Trongard questioned why Condrey was pointing at Verne Gagne. Snow tries to wristlock out of Rose`s headlock, but Rose trips Snow back with his leg. Washington stomps the mat, rallying fans to clap for Snow.

Snow pushes off Rose`s headlock, and Rose takes him down with an off the ropes charge. Snow tries to hip toss Rose twice, but Rose pulls back. On the floor Dangerously shows extreme frustration when Snow back flips to an escape and gets the hip toss on Rose.

Rose backs himself to the corner, then a cornered Snow fights back Rose and a tagged Condrey. Snow takes Condrey to the mat with a headlock, and Condrey rolls Snow to his back for a pin count of 2. Condrey wristlocks out and knees Snow in the stomach. Condrey executes a backbreaker, then throws Snow`s head into Rose` knee.

Condrey holds Snow for a tagged Rose`s gut kick. Rose rolls Snow to the mat for a pin count of 2, then forearms a tagged Washington. Rose holds Washington for a tagged Condrey stomach punch. Condrey throws Washington to the floor, and a charging Dangerously takes his cordless phone and smashes over Washington`s back. Rose then leaps off the middle ropes with a double ax handle on Washington`s back.

Back in the ring, Washington strikes at Condrey`s mid-section, but Condrey whips him for an back elbow strike, then body slams him. Condrey whips Washington to the ropes, then whips a tagged Rose for a clothesline on Washington. Rose holds Washington for a tagged Condrey kick, then Condrey powerslams him. Rose is tagged, then Condrey press slams Rose off the top rope for a flying splash. Referee Gary DeRousha count the # for an Express victory, in this match in this under five minute match.

Snow backs Condrey away from the downed Washington, but Condrey would go over and step on Art. AWA Notebook posted "With the reuniting of the Original Midnight Express and the acquisition of "Adorable" Adrian Adonis, Paul E. Dangerously feels he is assured to be AWA Manager of the Year"

At AWA studio, Larry Nelson presented the second installment of AWA`s four part 1987 Year in Review segment. Nelson mentioned the debut of a wrestler named Avalanche, and one who charged through a wall at Nelson, named Master Blaster. Nelson said that legend Otto Wanz had comes from Europe to wrestle in the AWA. Then mentioned that Col. DeBeers fled soon after his return from suspension, when he heard that Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka was coming back too.

Nelson then aired a clip from Minneapolis, Minnesota where Greg Gagne & Curt Hennig were challenging Boris Zhukov and Soldat Ustinov of Sheik Adnan El Kassey`s Army. The footage showed that instead of taking Gagne`s tag in, Hennig struck down Gagne. Zhukov covered and got the 3 on Gagne. When Gagne confronted Hennig after the bell, Hennig shoved him and Gagne punched Hennig from the ring. Referee Gary DeRousha held back Gagne, and Hennig double ax handled Gagne to the ring apron, then slammed Gagne`s head into the steel ring post.

Nelson explained that Hennig was frustrated at not winning the world title yet, and said that AWA champion Nick Bockwinkel had been frustrating opponents for thirty years. Nelson then presented the end of Hennig`s match with champion Bockwinkel from their May 2, 1987 encounter at SuperClash II at the Cow Palace in San Francisco California.

Bockwinkel back suplexed Hennig, pushed off his suplex but Hennig knocked him down with an off the ropes charge. "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko came to ringside wearing a tuxedo, and looked to have handed Hennig something. Hennig gets up as Bockwinkel does, then knocks Bockwinkel out with a right fist. Hennig covers and referee Gary DeRousha counts 3, and Hennig is the new AWA world champion.

Nelson said that he would go to his grave believing that Zbyszko gave Hennig a roll of coins to use with that knockout punch. Nelson mentioned that the most disliked team of Boris Zhukov and Soldat Ustinov defeated the most popular team in AWA history Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels of the Midnight Rockers for the AWA world tag team championships. This concluded second part in the 1987 Year in Review.

 Kevin Collins versus AWA world champion Curt Hennig

Hennig takes Collins down with a waistlock, get 1 on his pin cover. Hennig yells to the crowd "watch me show this kid a wrestling lesson!" Collins elbows out of Hennig`s waistlock, then shoves him to the corner. Collins challenges Hennig for a Greco-Roman knuckle lock test of strength. Hennig locks up, then knees Collins in the stomach. Hennig hammerlocks, then chops and punches Collins.

After an exchange of gut punches, Hennig attacks with chops, knees and punches. After being chopped in the corner, Collins reverses a corner whip, then body slams Hennig. Collins then gets a back body drop and hip toss on Hennig. Collins is struck with af ist to the mid-section, then kneed in the head, but manages to reverse Hennig`s whip to the corner.

Collins charges, but the champion brings up both feet, kick Collins down. Hennig then executes a fisherman`s suplex (Perfectplex) with a bridge, and referee Robert Warren counts the 3 for the AWA world champion in this under four minute match.

AWA posted world according to Curt: "The Gagne sleeper is a choke hold. It was a choke hold when Verne used it on my dad (Larry The Ax) and it is still a choke hold when Greg uses it on me"

 Tommy "Wildfire" Rich versus "Adorable Adrian Adonis in the AWA international television title tournament match

Adonis clotheslines Rich from behind and throws him out of the ring. Referee Gary DeRousha doesn¢t signal for the starting bell but officiate the match after taking the microphone cord out of the ring. Rich immediately returns to the ring to strike and body slam. Adonis is still in his black with gold sequin trim ring robe, as he is on his knees pleading for Rich to back off.

Rich strikes and drives Adonis` head into the mat. Adonis almost does a 360 degress back flipped after Rich whipped him for a back elbow strike. Dangerously slaps mat to rallyu Adonis, as Rich strikes down on Adonis with feet and fist.

Rich`s corner whip has Adonis flip from the ring. Rich then goes to the floor, ramming Adonis and Dangerously`s heads together. Rich slams Adonis to the steel ring post, and Verne Gagne said that because Adonis covered his head before hitting, is probably why Rich wasn¢t disqualified.

Rich throws Adonis back in and whips in for a back body drop. Rich gets a pin count of 2 after landing a middle rope fist drop. Then gets another pin count of 2 from a Rick Rude style neckbreaker. A knee lift knocks Adonis to the corner, and Rich then whips him into an abdominal stretch. Rich presses his elbow into Adonis` kidney while maintaining the hold. Adonis escapes by hip tossing Rich, but crashes to the canvas when Rich moves away from Adonis` splash.

Rich covers and gets a pin of 2. Adonis reverses a corner whip, and wraps Rich up in Goodnite Irene (Adonis` sleeper finisher). Rich runs to the corner, and Adonis` head hit the turnbuckle. Rich then applies a sleeper hold on Adonis. Referee Gary DeRousha is crushed when Adonis back rams Rich into the corner.

Rich gets powder thrown in his eyes by Dangerously, then is clotheslined down by Adonis. Dangerously goes in the ring to hold Rich`s legs, as Adonis nails Rich with a flying splash from the top rope. Dangerously then moves away, but Adonis goes to the top again. Greg Gagne and Chief Wahoo McDaniel rush to the ring. As Wahoo gets close, Adonis falls and gets crotched on the top rope. In the ring Greg and Wahoo tend to Rich, who looks to have an injured left arm.

No ruling was given, but it looks as if Adonis would be disqualified, meaning that Rich would be awarded 2.5 points, and Adonis would have 2.5 points deducted.

Back at AWA studio with Larry Nelson, Dangerously laughed and imitated Rich`s voice "I¢m gonna get rid of Paul" Dangerously said that he discovered Rich singing Doo Wop on a corner in Brooklyn New York. Dangerously said he took Rich to Tennessee, made him talk with a southern accent and tell people that he used to pump gas. Dangerouly "you¢ll be a star, punk..and you became one!"

Dangerously said that he was going to make Rich pay for ditching the Dangerous Alliance. Paul said that it was the greatest day of his life, when he helped Adonis humiliate Rich when they put make-up and a dress on Rich. Dangerously "if you ever come back, I won¢t be satisfied with just damaging your arm..I¢ll be satisfied when you don¢t breathe anymore!" Nelson then confirmed that Rich`s arm had been broken from his match with Adonis.

Anna Clark from Marianne, Texas was AWA`s Fan of the Week for her letter. She received an issue of AWA Pro Wrestling Report and authographs from the wrestlers. Nelson then said that he would try to find a match requested by a fan named Fred Friedberg for the Mat Classic segment, though it was not explained what match that was.

Catch the legends of AWA Monday to Friday at 12am est on ESPN Classic.

David  http://www.myspace.com/unrulyghouly