Retro: AWA On ESPN Classics: April 25, 2008

AWA Championship Wrestling
On ESPN Classics
April 25, 2008
Doug Maynard

Another night of the AWA on ESPN Classics. This is from (presumably) January of 1989 and features more great (?) action from the AWA's biggest (and only) pay-per-view extravaganza. Yep, I have to be talking about SuperClash III. It's Thursday night / Friday morning and I'm Doug. Are you ready for another trip back in time? Yeah, me too! Let's do it.
We go to Larry Nelson who wishes everyone Happy Holidays. He runs down what we have to look forward to in the next hour. Another look at Slaughter vs. DeBeers in that "Boot Camp" match. Plus Bill Apter has a special presentation for AWA World Champion Jerry "The King" Lawler and we'll see the S.S.T. taking on Michael P.S. Hayes & Steve Cox. And so much more.

And now, we go to SuperClash III. The guys on commentary are Lee Marshall and Verne Gagne.

WCCW Texas Heavyweight Championship Match
"Iceman" King Parsons (c) vs. Brickhouse Brown

Parsons starts off by talking trash and shoving Brickhouse around. Brown responds with a shove of his own and then moves to a headlock and a dropkick. Parson bails to the floor to complain and regroup. Back in the ring and Brown almost immediately scores with a backslide for a quick two-count. Parsons bails to the floor again to argue with some fans at ringside. Back in the ring again and Brown with the headlock. Parsons with a "Shades of Harley Race" high knee to the face. A clothesline and a snap suplex and Parsons gets a two-count.

Brown comes back after a whip into the ropes with a cross-body for two. Parsons with the fists and a two-count. Parsons argues with the referee about his count and then goes for a piledriver. Brown reverses with the backdrop. It's punches and kicks by Brown and he's feeling it as he plays to the crowd and pounds on Parsons in the corner. A "Shades of Tito Santana" flying burrito by Brown and get gets a two-count. Brown argues with the referee about the count and Parsons goes into his tights for a foreign object. Parsons with the taped fist and he bails Brown before putting the taped knucks (or whatever they were) back into his tights. Cover and pin and Parsons retains his title.

Winner: "Iceman" King Parsons

We go back to Larry Nelson who mentions about how he thinks Parsons used a foreign object, but it's a moot point now. He talks about how Parsons and Brown used to be friends and partner and now can't stand each other. It's probably not over with those two.

Then Larry brings in Greg Gagne and congratulates him on his big victory over Ronnie Garvin to regain the AWA International TV Title. Greg puts over Garvin and says that he didn't want to win that way, but he was fortunate. He compares SuperClash III to the playoffs and the Super Bowl and says that everyone is up and psyched for the shows. Garvin made a mistake and it costs him the title. Greg says that he will be defending the title all over the world and mentions Europe and South Africa. He talks then about how the Iron Sheik and Don Muraco have returned to the AWA and says that talent is coming back to the AWA. The AWA is not all caught up in hype and showbiz (wonder who he was talking about then?) and is "the wrestling league". And Gagne closes by saying that 1989 will be a "big year for the AWA".

We go back again to Larry Nelson who talks about the "Boot Camp Match" from SuperClash III. He says that Slaughter was ready to settle things with Col. DeBeers and we go to video of the match. Sarge has the cobra-clutch on DeBeers and the ref is calling for the bell. Sarge wins! Sarge wins! Sarge wins! But Diamond Dallas Page is up on the ring apron and waving to the back. Here comes Sheik Adnan El Kassey to attack Slaughter. Sarge fights off Adnan and Page and puts Adnan into the cobra-clutch. And here comes The Iron Sheik. It's a four-on-one mugging now as Iron Sheik, Col. DeBeers, Sheik Adnan & Dallas Page gang up on and beat down Slaughter. Iron Sheik has a foreign object and Slaughter is busted open and pouring blood. After we watch this, we go back to Nelson and he talks about both of the Sheiks and their hatred for Slaughter.

And it's promo time for Sgt. Slaughter. Everyone knows about Sgt. Slaughter and the Iron Sheik, Col. DeBeers and Sheik Adnan El Kassey. Sarge wants them to sign the dotted line and face him one on one, face to face. He says that the time is drawing near.

And it's back to Nelson again. He puts over Pro Wrestling Illustrated and says that Bill Apter was at SuperClash III to present a very special award to the AWA World Champion, Jerry "The King" Lawler. We go to Nelson with Bill Apter and Jerry Lawler.

Bill gives Jerry the Pro Wrestling Illustrated "Inspirational Wrestler of the Year" plaque. Jerry thanks the fans and says that he deserves it. And he will be "Wrestler of the Year" next year after he wins the match and title.

Back to Nelson in the studio and he says that Lawler did win his match at SuperClash III and unified the Championships. Then Larry abruptly changes subjects and says that he just doesn't like Sheik Adnan El Kassey or the Iron Sheik. We go to an interview that Nelson did with the Sheiks after SuperClash III.

Iron Sheik confirms his resume with Nelson - he's a former WWF Champion and former Olympic medalist from Iran. He tells "Mister Sgt. Slaughter" that the Sheik has come to the roughest and toughest area - the AWA and they have a surprise for Slaughter. Sheik Adnan says that they've joined together with Col. DeBeers. Col. DeBeers comes in and calls the Sheiks "gentlemen" and says that Iron Sheik will be prepared and with the brains of DeBeers and Sheik Adnan, they will destroy "America's hero". The end of Slaughter is near.

And finally, it's back to Larry Nelson again who sends us to SuperClash III for the next match.

WCCW Light Heavyweight Championship Match
Jeff Jarrett (c) vs. "Flambouyant" Eric Embry

We start off with a series of back and forth moves and counters that is just too fast to keep up with as Embry goes to the arm, Jeff reverses, Eric reverses the reversal and so on. Finally, things slow down as Jarrett locks up the arm. Eric with a flip-out and a clothesline. Jeff hits a clothesline and misses a cross-body press, hitting his arm and shoulder on the rope as he rolls to the floor. Eric waits for Jeff to get back into the ring and goes after the arm. Jarrett with a kick and a dropkick, but he lands on his shoulder and looks to be hurting. Jarrett with a series of pinning moves (sunset flip, backslide, small-package) , but can never get more than a two-count. Embry with a reversal of the sunset flip and holds on for a three-count. We have a new champion.

Winner and NEW WCCW Light Heavyweight Champion: "Flambouyant" Eric Embry

Lee Marshall talks to Eric immediately after the match. Eric talks about how the belt is back where it belongs. He's the one who went to South Africa to bring the title home and has held the title longer than anyone. He puts over Jeff Jarrett and says that anytime Jeff wants a rematch, he's right at the top of the list. Eric excuses himself to go check on Jarrett and his injured shoulder.

We go back to Nelson in the studio who is talking now about the "Indian Strap Match" that happened between Manny Fernandez and Chief Wahoo McDaniel. Nelson says that it's the most brutal match he's ever seen and we're going to video by Wahoo, both immediately after the match and later, after he's had a chance to cool down and from the Ragin' Bull as well.

Wahoo is a bloody mess immediately after the match and is approached by Lee Marshall for an interview. Wahoo says that he doesn't think it will ever be settled between him and Fernandez except maybe behind the building or maybe with a gun. Beating Manny is not what Wahoo wants - Wahoo wants him dead!

Manny's promo is next and he wants a Mexican Death Match against Wahoo. He says that the Viet-cong tried to do him in back in 72/73 and he's still here. Wahoo has guts and is tough, but "The Bull" is tougher and harder.

Back to Wahoo who admits that he may have said things he didn't mean. Lawler is on the top of his list, but it's gut-check time with Fernandez. He doesn't know if things will ever be settled between them. Somewhere down the line, they're gonna meet again and somewhere in the U.S., "the smoke is gonna get thick again!"

Back to Larry Nelson again and it's time to go to the main event. This is from SuperClash III and the guys doing the announcing are Lee Marshall & Ray "The Crippler" Stevens.

WCCW World Tag Team Championship Match
The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samu) w/ "Freebird" Buddy Roberts (c) vs. Michael P.S. Hayes & Steve Cox

The SST and Roberts are coming to the ring to the sounds of Bobby McFerrin and "Don't Worry - Be Happy!" Awesome! Hayes and Cox are jamming to the sounds of "Badstreet USA". So does this make Cox an honorary Freebird? Nah, I didn't think so.

Hayes starts off with Samu. They trade punches and Hayes hits a knee before tagging out to Cox. Steve goes after the arm of Samu. Fatu (later to be better known as Rikishi) comes in and has a quick altercation with Hayes that sees Fatu getting crotched. Meanwhile, while all of that is happening, Cox just keeps Samu locked up by the arm. Samu attempts a comeback and misses a cross-body splash. Cox goes back to the arm again.

Samu pushes Cox back to his corner and Fatu grabs Cox from the outside. Samu takes a swing, but Cox ducks and Samu nails Fatu. Samu works over Cox with chops and kicks and they try it again. Fatu holds Cox. Samu swings. Cox moves. Fatu gets nailed. Cox tries to fight back, but Fatu pulls the ropes down as Cox hits them and Cox ends up tumbling to the floor. Hayes comes over to help his partner, but the ref is there to send Hayes back to his corner as Fatu rolls Cox back into the ring.

Samu with chops and a clothesline. Fatu tags in with kicks and a big karate thrust to the throat. A hot-shot by Fatu and Cox drops throat first across the top-rope. Fatu rips at the eyes and clamps on a "Shades of Mr. Fugi" nerve hold on the neck. Cox is up and fights back with some elbow shots. A double-clothesline as Fatu & Cox have the same idea. Both men are down.

Hayes and Samu are both tagged in. Hayes with punches and kicks and a backdrop. A clothesline to Samu and some punches to Fatu for good measure. Everyone is in and it's time for some classic "OINGO BOINGO" action. Cox tosses Fatu to the floor and flies with a suicide dive over the top rope to nail the future "Stinkfacer" on the floor. Hayes has Samu set up and it's time for a trip to Badstreet for Samu as Hayes hits a big "Shades of Jake Roberts" DDT. Hayes has Samu covered, but the referee is over dealing with Cox & Fatu. Buddy Roberts is in the ring and nails Hayes with something and then rolls Samu over on top of Hayes. Roberts flees the ring as the referee turns around and makes the three-count.

Winners and Still Champions: The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samu) with "Freebird" Buddy Roberts

Cox complains to the referee, but the ref can't call what he didn't see and the decision stands. A "new referee" chant is coming from the crowd as Cox helps Hayes to the back. We see a replay and it looks like Roberts hit Hayes with a loaded glove, but it's hard to tell for sure. Anyhow, the SST keep their titles.

Back to Larry Nelson again. He talks about how Roberts and Hayes used to be friends and Freebirds together. And then Larry brings in Derrick Dukes and Ricky Rice, aka "The Original Top Guns". Rice explains how it works. They were the original "Top Guns" together, but then Dukes went to Europe and Rice joined forces with Jon Paul to form a new "Top Guns". When Bad Company put Paul out of action, Rice decided to call Dukes and the original team is back together again. Dukes interjects that "Sad Company" can run all they want to, but the original "Top Guns" will fly again.

Larry Nelson changes the subject and wants to know if either man has any marriage plans? What the..?? Rice says that he doesn't know about marriage or any marriage plans, but he and Dukes do appreciate the pretty ladies. And Dukes agrees as the segment ends.

And there ya go. Another show in the books for the AWA on ESPN Classics. Not a great show, but not really bad either. Wahoo saying that he wants Fernandez dead? Wow! No wonder they brought him back to clarify things. Even in the "anything goes eighties", that was crossing the line with that comment. We got a chance to see two of the three Freebirds, Iceman Parsons, the always exciting Eric Embry, Jeff Jarrett before he became preoccupied with "slapnuts" and "Ain't I Great", a skinny Rikishi, and so much more. Just for the nostalgia factor, these shows are awesome.

I'm getting sick of looking at Larry Nelson every three minutes, but sacrifices have to be made, I guess. Hopefully, tonight will be the last of the SuperClash III matches and we can get back to regular TV tapings. I miss the action from the Showboat and Vegas.

I guess that's it for me today. One more show for this week and it'll be up tomorrow for your reading pleasure. Questions and comments can be sent to Doug28352@yahoo. com . Come visit me on MySpace at www.myspace. com/salt_ palace. Add me as a friend. You know you want to.

And on that, I'm gone. I'm Doug. Have a great day and always be a fan. I'll see you tomorrow with more classic AWA mat goodness. See ya!

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