June 9^th aired a 1987 episode of Verne Gagne`s AWA All-Star Wrestling from the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas Nevada.

Jim Evans versus Nick Kiniski

Kiniski goes outside the ring to take his ring jacket off and ask for a time out, as "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly with Madusa Miceli join Kiniski. Evans is backed to the corner for a clean break, then top wristlocked and tripped backwards. Evans is body slammed, but maneuvers off of Kiniski`s second slam attempt. Evans tries to roll Kiniski backwards for a pin, but Evans falls back. Evans is lifted up for a backbreaker, then hit in lower back by a Kiniski forearm. Evans fires back with stomach punches, but he is turn buckle smashed and chopped in the corner.

Kiniski throws Evans under the top rope to the floor. Kelly then picks up Evans and throws him back in. Kiniski snap suplexes and covers for a 2, before picking Evans up off the pin. Kiniski lifts Evans up by the neck then tosses him back down. Evans` arms are pulled back, as Kiniski holds the wrists for Madusa to slap Evan. Kiniski delivers a short arm clothesline, then hops off the ring apron to yank Evans¢ throat on the top rope.

Kiniski Irish whips Evans for a back elbow, punts him in the chest, then plants him to the mat with a piledriver. Referee Robert warren counts 3, scoring a victory to Kiniski, and ending the match in under five minutes.

Larry Nelson presented backstage comments by Tommy "Wildfire" Rich about Kevin Kelly, Nick Kiniski, Madusa and AWA world champion Curt Hennig. Rich threatened to rip Madusa¢s dress off, like he had done to "Mr. Magnificent"`s previous manager Sherri Martel. This incident was explained as to why Martel had forfeited the AWA world women¢s championship title (though Martel had left to wrestle for the WWF/WWE).

Rich gave credit to Nick Kiniski for his father`s accomplishments as world champion, which Rich had mentioned of his accomplishment. Rich warned that it will be crazy time, where he would beat everyone, including Madusa to get an opportunity against at the AWA world championship.

As a tribute to the passing of Scott "Hog" Irwin, Larry Nelson presented Hog`s last match with his brother "Wild" Bill Irwin (a.k.a. WWE¢s Goon) as the Long Riders against then AWA world tag team champions Curt Hennig and Big Scott Hall at WrestleRock ¡86 in the Minneapolis Metrodome on April 20^th 1986.

The Long Riders rode into their match on motorbikes. The match then cut away to show Wild Bill`s arm bar on Hall. Hall tags off to Hennig as Wild Bill whips him to the ropes for a clothesline. Hall grabs the ropes to stop himself, and Hennig punches Wild Bill, lands a dropkick and gets a 2 count from referee Buddy Lee.

Hennig knocks down Wild Bill in an exchange of fists, then rolls up Wild Bill and gets 2 before Hog pulls Hennig off the pin. Hennig brings Wild Bill to one knee in a headlock, then a corned Hennig is punched in the stomach and whipped to the opposite corner. Wild Bill crashes to the corner when Hennig moves away from the charge.

Hennig misses an elbow drop, but takes Wild Bill to the mat with a headlock takeover. Wild Bill Rolls Hennig to his shoulders for a 1, but then referee Lee would roll Hennig back to his original headlock position on Wild Bill. A commentating Larry nelson mentioned that he didn¢t understand why the refere wasn¢t reprimanding Wild Bill on the hair pull. Wild Bill pushes Hennig into the ropes, drops to his chest for Hennig to jump over, but Hennig drops to his chest next to Wild Bill. Hennig then backs Wild Bill out of the ring by approaching him on hand and knees.

Wild Bill returns to the ring to claps hands with hennig in a Greco-Roman knucklelock. Wild Bill kick¢s Hennig in the stomach, but Hennig kicks back, then backs Wild Bill to the ropes for a monkey flip. Hennig then rolls backwards with hands still clmaped for a pin of 2. Wild Bill lands a knee to Hennig¢s stomach, then throws Hennig¢s head into Hog¢s boot. Wild Bill tgs off, lands a throat shot before leaving, then Hog scoops up Hennig for a body slam.

Hog taunts Hall, which prompts Hall to enter and shove Hog in the back. Wild Bill is tagged back and causes Hennig to spin in a mid-air from a clothesline. A tagged Hog double chops Hennig in the throat, then Wild Bill enters to distract the referee, as Hog hits Hennig in the throat again. A tagged Wild Bill jumps from the apron to the floor as he yanks Hennig¢s neck on the top rope. Back in the ring, Wild Bill body slams Hennig, but meets canvas when Hennig moves away from a double fisted sledge.

Hall enters to body slam Wild Bill, knee Hog, then knock their heads together. Hennig dropkicks Wild Bill, the with the referee¢s attention away, Wild Bill tosses Hennig over the top rope. Hall body slams Wild Bill, then Hennig returns to leap off the top ropes, drilling Wild Bill with a missile dropkick and covering Wild Bill for the 3 count win. Hog then takes off his steel tip boot to knock Hennig over the top rope, and knock down Hall.

At AWA studio, Larry Nelson mentioned that Scott Irwin was ill for a long time, but fought the disease like every oppoent he had to the bitter end. Nelson said though The Long Riders didn`t win their match, Scott Irwin was a winning person who give it everything he had, every time out.

Larry Nelson presented a video highlight from a 20 man battle royal at the Riveria in Las Vegas. The year wasn¢t specified, but it looks to be 1985. Clips showed Curt Hennig hammering on Road Warrior Animal, Larry "The Ax" Hennig splashing Boris Zhukov in the corner, Fabulous Freebird Michael "P.S." Hayes stomping on Baron Von Raschke, Greg Gagne stepping on a downed Nick Bockwinkel¢s neck, Bockwinkel and "The Crippler" Ray Stevens throwing Brad Rheingans over the top rope, Sgt. Slaughter throwing out Fabuolus Freebirds Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy.

"After all the rest are carried from the ring, you`re gonna see the best man standing there..Mr. Magnificent" said Kevin Kelly before he flexes. "Hey Spudheads, this seems to be the only way I¢m ever going to wind up with a shot at Curt Hennig to win the battle royal, the most dangerous (amtch)..but they don¢t call me the living legend for nothing" said Larry Zbyszko. "I plan on being the last man in there" said Greg Gagne. "Cream always rises to the top, and I can assure you that will reign victorious and my bank account will grow..whoo" says Nick Kiniski as he brushes back his hair.

"Speaking on behalf of the Dangerous Alliance. If I help one of my men win, if I break the phone over somebody¢s head, that¢s okay..because I always have a spare" a laughing Paul E. Dangerously said. "It`s gonna be raining bruises, but when the smoke clears, DJ and JT are gonna be in the middle counting the cash" said JT Southern.

"You talk about excitement things in wrestling, you talk about dangerous thing in sports, you¢re talking about battle royals. All these men beating each other up, breaking each others¢ legs and arms for one reason, the winner of the battle royal gets a match with the heavyweight champion of the world..and that¢s me" Curt Hennig said with a smile.

Larry Nelson replays most of the main event that aired on the last episode, where DJ Peterson faced AWA world champion Curt Hennig. Newlson said that although there has been a change in attitude, that he gives credit to Hennig for constantly defending his title and retaining his title in his matches.

DJ uses a top wristlock to power out of Hennig`s headlock, and put him on the mat. Hennig is charged down, then takes down DJ with a drop toe hold. Hennig pushes off headlock, but misses a second drop toe hold, to be arm dragged into a chinlock.

DJ then lands on Hennig`s shoulders with a seated drop. DJ gets a 1 count after getting Hennig with the inside cradle. DJ is punched in the corner, turnbuckle smashes, and chopped. Hennig then uses his knee pad to scrape across DJ¢s face. Hennig then powers DJ down with a corner whip.

Hennig picks up DJ for a backbreaker, then ties him up in the ropes for knife edge chops. Hennig does a sit down drop on DJ`s back, and applied a chinlock that referee gary DeRousha counts off for being a choke to the throat. DJ is chopped in the corner, but knocks Hennig down when DJ holds the top rope to double kick Hennig down.

DJ is suplexed, struck down on the ring apron, then whipped to the ropes for the Ax clothesline. Hennig takes his time going to the top rope, and DJ recovers to gut punch Hennig, causing Hennig to fall and get crotched on the steel turnbuckle connector. DJ whips Hennig from one corner to the other, then plants Hennig with a belly to back suplex for the count of 2.

DJ gains another 2 after whipping Hennig for a flying back elbow, then another 2 after an inside cradle. DJ crashes to the mat after a whipped Hennig held onto the rope during DJ`s dropkick attempt. Hennig whips DJ to the corner, DJ comes out with a clothesline but hits the referee DeRousha when Hennig ducks the attack.

Hennig leaves the ring to pull a non-folding chair away from a fan. Hennig throws the chair in the ring, and body slams DJ on it. Hennig kicks at DJ, then Wahoo enters the ring to stop Hennig¢s attack on DJ. Wahoo ducks Hennig`s clothesline, then Hennig exits after being drops with Wahoo`s chop. Referee DeRousha recovers to signal the bell, closing the match after eleven minutes. DeRousha disqualified DJ for clotheslining him, even though it was unintentional.

Nelson came back after the re-airing of this match to say that he felt DJ Peterson lost focus by concentrated too much on his back injury.

This episode had an odd edit, as Larry Nelson said that we had just seen a match between Steve Olsonoski and Soldat Ustinov, where Boris Zhukov had interfered on Ustinov`s behalf. This match was not shown. Nelson then brought in AWA world tag team champions Boris Zhukov and Soldat Ustinov. Nelson told Zhukov that he had to be a little bit nervous about the chain match with Wahoo McDaniel. Zhukov denied being nervous, and denied interfering in Soldat`s match against Steve Olsonoski.

Zhukov said he was point out to the referee how Olsonoski was breaking the rules. Zhukov said that the tape shows he was attacked. Zhukov said "Once again you see the Russians conquer over the pollack, and you¢re going to see the Russians conquer over the Americans in the chain match" Zhukov said that unlike a strap match that can cause cuts and bruises, the chain match can break bones and crush the head.

Zhukov said that because McDaniel will likely get a shot against AWA champion Hennig, he is going to take it out on him, and for McDaniel complaining to AWA president Stanley Blackburn about their manager Sheik Adnan El Kassey. Zhukov felt that McDaniel wasn`t too smart for signing for this match, but McDaniel was a great wrestler for being the only American to split open Zhukov`s head with a chop. "Tonight Wahoo, I`m gonna end your career, once and for all. They are going to carry you out..AND THAT`S A PROMISE!"

Boris Zhukov versus Chief Wahoo McDaniel in a Russian chain match

Ring Announcer Mick Karch rushes out of the ring, and the starting bell sounds before referee Gary DeRousha can link both men¢s wrists to the chain. Zhukov exits the ring to signal that McDaniel is crazy, but returns to the ring to have McDaniel hit Zhukov`s leg with the chain. McDaniel hits Zhukov in the corner with the chain, then Zhukov misses chain hitting McDaniel in the corner. Zhukov is chopped in the corner, then choked down to the mat with the chain.

Zhukov wraps his fist up with the chain and strikes McDaniel. Zhukov then whips the bloodied McDaniel with the chain. Zhukov uses the chain to punch McDaniel and choke him in the corner. There is a loud chant of "Wahoo!" by the Showboat audience. McDaniel kicks Zhukov down, then chops him down. McDaniel then knocks Zhukov down again with a chain whip.

McDaniel wraps his fist with the chain and punches Zhukov. With Zhukov on one side of the steel ring post on the outside, McDaniel on the other side, pulls Zhukov into the steel. Like McDaniel, Zhukov is busted open, as McDaniel chain punches and chops Zhukov down.

Zhukov is Irish whipped for a back body drop. McDaniel chain whips Zhukov`s shoulder, then chain chokes him to his knees. There is a "USA!" chant in the crowd, but Zhukov strikes McDaniel in the stomach, and chain punches McDaniel to the floor. McDaniel then pulls the chain from the floor, causing Zhukov to get yanked into the ropes and propelled backwards to the mat.

McDaniel ties up Zhukov`s wrists, reaches two of the top turnbuckles, as Zhukov wraps his legs around the bottom rope to try to stop McDaniel from reaching the third turnbuckle. McDaniel stomps Zhukov and drags him to the third corner, then gets to the fourth corner to victory for Chief McDaniel. This match was over was over eight minutes.

Soldat tries to undo the chain straps, and gets whipped with the chain by McDaniel. Soldat forearm clubs, as Zhukov kicks and elbows McDaniel in the corner. JT Southern and "Wildfire" Tommy Rich rush to the ring to punch away Soldat, as Mitch Snow and Steve Olsonoki punch away Zhukov.

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