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AWA Championship Wrestling

On ESPN Classics

March 15, 2008

Doug Maynard

 

Well, the weekend is finally here and it's time for the Friday night edition of classic AWA mat goodness from the fine folks at ESPN Classics. Or Saturday morning edition depending on how you want to look at it. It's from the Showboat Hotel in Las Vegas and the men who are calling the action and are your stars of the show, Rod Trongard and Lord James Blears. And with Larry Nelson as the Beaver.

 

I'm Doug and I'm ready to fall over and crash out. It's been a long, wild and crazy night. I hear my bed calling to me. So let's get right to the action and get this over with so I can answer the call. I'm so freakin' sleepy right now. I knew I picked the wrong week to switch to caffeine-free drinks.

 

This was all taped on March 11, 1986

 

Shawn was the Central States Rookie of the Year. Did you know that? Well, now you do. Summers starts off strong with a suplex and some punches and forearm shots to take the advantage over Michaels But you can't keep a good man down as Shawn fights back with some knees and a suplex all his own. Shawn goes after the arm of Summers and locks in an arm-bar. Summers tries to fight back, but Shawn keeps control and finally ends it with a big "Shades of Jimmy Snuka" splash from the top rope to get the pin and win.

 

Winner: Shawn Michaels

 

Larry Nelson is there to talk to the future "Heartbreak Kid". Shawn talks about his big splash how no one will ever kick out of it. And then Shawn talks about how he was trained by the great Jose Lothario and keeps talking as he puts over the AWA by saying that they have the best wrestlers and are the #1 wrestling promotion around. Damn. Someone needs to keep Michaels away from the kool-aid. Shawn says that he's ready for a shot at Stan Hansen and the AWA World Championship.

 

It's fast and furious as the match starts with Barbarian throwing fists and chops to anyone who gets too close. Unfortunately, Jannetty gets too close and takes some stiff shots. Zhukov is tagged in and he falls victim to a hip-toss and an arm-bar by Marty. Hennig tags in and so does Barbarian. The Barbarian puts the boots to Hennig before tagging Zhukov back in. Boris works over the arm of Curt, but gets caught by a backdrop and some chops. Zhukov nails Curt with a backbreaker, but Hennig manages to fight back and starts to rally. Boris gets frustrated and slings Hennig over the top rope. The ref calls for the bell since that was an automatic DQ in the AWA.

 

Winners: (By DQ) Curt Hennig & Marty Jannetty

 

It's time! It's time! It's Baby Bull Time. Just doesn't sound right, does it?

 

Larry stalls and complains. So what's new about that. He's mad at the fans, the referee, the announcers and probably the guy at the local 7-11 too. He stalls and stalls and finally gets ready to go to work. Headlock by White and he follows up with a big slam. White decides that it would probably be a good thing to splat Zbyszko like a bug. But Zbyszko doesn't agree and moves out of the way as White crash and burns. Zbyszko puts the boots to the fallen man who will one day be known as Vader. White has had enough and slams Zbyszko hard into the turnbuckles. Football tackle by White to Zbyszko. White moves in after Zbyszko and it's OINGO BOINGO time as both men tumble to the floor outside the ring. We see a little brawling as the referee starts counting. Zbyszko slides back into the ring at the last second to beat the count. White doesn't make it. And the referee calls for the bell.

Winner (By Count-Out) Larry Zbyszko

 

Stan takes control at the start with an arm-bar and a few punches. Hansen warms up the boots and kicks away at Sammartino. Sammartino fights back and scores with a hip-toss, a slam and a head-scissors. Sammartino is really looking good here as locks in another headlock and one more hip-toss. Hansen with the headlock to David. David escapes and rolls up Hansen for a two-count. Sammartino with a big splash and he gets another two-count as Hansen barely rolls the shoulder up. Hansen fights back with some stiff shots and damn, Stan Hansen just did a dropkick. Wow! The lariat by Hansen and he nearly takes Sammartino's head off as he covers him to get the pin and retain his World Championship.

 

Winner: Stan Hansen

 

Larry Nelson talks to the AWA Champion, Stan Hansen who is as wild and crazy as ever. Stan puts over David Sammartino and says that Bruno would be proud of him. But Stan is still better than both of them. Hansen knows that everyone is after him, but he doesn't care. He's going to celebrate. Stan says that he's going back to Texas and is going to buy Josh some shoes. Who the heck is Josh?

 

And the show ends.

 

Not too bad of a show. No jobbers on duty tonight - it's all mid-card and top-level talent working the show. It was a nice change of pace from the usual squash-and-bash shows that I've been watching for the past two weeks.

 

Anyhow, that was the show from last night. Sorry if this recap isn't up to my usual standards, but last night, when I was trying to watch the show and take notes, I was also trying to consume mass quantities of adult beverages and trying to keep two hot-heads from staging a "Bunkhouse Brawl" in my living room. It was not a good night. But I survived and my notes survived and here's the recap for better or for worse.

 

And now, I'm going to bed.

 

Questions and comments can be sent to Doug28352@yahoo.com. Visit me at MySpace at www.myspace.com/salt_palace. .

 

Have a great weekend and always be a fan. Take care.

 

Ubuntu!