Retro: AWA On ESPN Classics: May 3, 2008

AWA Championship Wrestling
On ESPN Classics
May 3, 2008
Doug Maynard

Back again and it's Friday night. The end of another great week of exciting (?) AWA wrestling action. I'm Doug and this is the "Major Leagues of Professional Wrestling". Hey, that's what they keep saying every night anyhow. We're in the early part of 1988, probably late January based on the commentary during the show. Are you ready for some rasslin'? Me too. Let's do this.

We start off with the man, the myth, the always entertaining Larry Nelson in the studio and he tells us what to expect for the next hour. We'll see a return match for the AWA International Television Championship with Greg Gagne defending against Adrian Adonis. Larry talks about the Nasty Boys and how they've got it going on for them, but just need experience. Alan West will be taking on Sheik Adnan El Kassey's Russian, Soldat Ustinov in a match as well. And Larry plugs his "Fans of the Week" - the Guesslers from out of Phoenix, AZ.

And now, to the matches. The first one comes from somewhere in North Dakota with Rod Trongard & Ray Stevens at the announce position.

Jerry Saggs & Brian Knobbs - The Nasty Boys vs. Ricky Rice & Tom Johnson

Knobbs & Saggs come to the ring to the sounds of Janet Jackson and the song "Nasty Boys". Yeah, that'll put some fear in the heart of their opponents. At the bell, Knobbs and Saggs charge across the ring and toss both Rice & Johnson to the floor. Yeah, that was nasty!

After he gets back in the ring, Johnson starts off against Knobbs. Knobbs with clubbing blows, a clothesline and a choke. A big slam, some punches and an elbow. It's all Knobbs. Saggs tags in with a legdrop and some punches. He drops Johnson throat-first across the top rope. Johnson tries to throw a punch, but Saggs tosses him to the floor. Knobbs attacks on the floor with some kicks and he slams Johnson's head into the ring apron.

Johnson makes his way back up to the ring apron and nails some shoulders on Saggs. After a flubbed attempt with the extremely loose ring ropes causing some problems, Johnson with a sunset flip on Saggs for a two-count. Knobbs tags in with punches and a slam before tagging back out again to Saggs. Saggs misses an elbow smash and Johnson makes the hot tag to Ricky Rice.

Rice in with a dropkick for Saggs. One for Knobbs and another for Saggs. Rice tries for a cross-body splash, but Saggs catches him and delivers a back-breaker instead. Knobbs tags in with a knee and some clubbing to the back and a big slam. Saggs in with an elbow-smash and a slam while tagging Knobbs. A whip from the corner for Rice from Saggs and Knobbs catches him with a lariat from the second rope. Cover and pin.

Winners: The Nasty Boys

And now, for the second match of the night, it's back to the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Vegas. Rod Trongard & Lee Marshall are calling the action.

Greg Robertson & Tim Patterson vs. Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond - Badd Company

Tanaka and Patterson start off. Tim with the arm-drag and a headlock. Tanaka is crying "hair". Tanaka with chops and Patterson goes to the floor. Diamond nails Patterson with a cheap shot on the floor and a big kick. Tanaka comes down to the floor to land a few chops before rolling back into the ring to break the count. Patterson climbs back into the ring and Diamond assaults him with some hard punches. A flying forearm and a brainbuster suplex by Diamond. Tanaka tags in with chops, kicks, and a headbutt. Tanaka misses a charge into the corner and Patterson manages to tag out to Robertson.

Robertson in with forearm shots. Diamond tags in with some punches and a rip at the eyes. Diamond misses an elbow, but scores with more fists, a knee and a clothesline. A tag to Tanaka and Diamond sets Robertson up with a slingshot right into the waiting arms of Tanaka with a DDT. Tanaka covers and gets the pin.

Winners: Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond - Badd Company

We take a look at the AWA Tag Team Rankings in a caption before going to commerical. The Midnight Rockers, who are the AWA World Tag Team Champs, have the # 1 spot. They're followed by The Rock & Roll Express, Adrian Adonis & "Ace" Orton, The Nasty Boys, and the team of Wahoo McDaniel & Tommy Rich.

After the commercial, we come back to Larry Nelson in the studio and he's talking to Verne Gagne. Verne wants to talk about the upcoming Olympic games and how tough and great the athletes are. He talks about hockey and how a lot of Minnesota boys are on the team and he hopes they can bring home the gold. Then Verne talks about downhill skiing and his neighbor, who's a figure skater. Verne mentions that Curt Hennig knocks the amateur athletes and says something about taking Curt to the top of a ski slope and shoving him down. And Verne's excited about the great wrestlers in the Olympics too.

And now, it's back to North Dakota for the next match. Rod Trongard is joined by the lovely Donna (Gagne) Zbyszko.

Soldat Ustinov w/ Sheik Adnan El Kassey vs. Alan West

There's a big "USA" chant as the match gets started. Soldat with a shove, but misses a clubbing forearm. He bails to the floor for some advice and Ustinov wants a test of strength. The fans say no, but West does it. He's winning, but Soldat with a kick. Soldat with the advantage, then West stomps on the hands to escape and gives Soldat a hip-toss. Soldat bails again to the floor.

Soldat comes back to the ring and locks in a headlock on West. West with a dropkick and a headlock of his own. Soldat with some forearm shots and Sheik Adnan reaches into the ring to grab and hold West by his tights. Soldat with a slam and a hip-toss for a two-count. Punches, knees and a clothesline by Soldat and he locks West in a chinlock.

West fights free with elbows and takes control with a dropkick, some punches and an elbow for two. Soldat gets the foot on the ropes for the break. Soldat rips at the eyes and tosses West to the floor. Adnan gets in a cheap shot and slams West's head into the ring apron. West rolls back into the ring and Soldat is in control with clubbing blows. West with a cross-body splash for a two-count. West tries again with a small-package for another two. Soldat with punches and a legdrop for a two-count. West with punches and then a double-clothesline. Both men are down. West is the first up and hits a belly-to-belly suplex. The ref is counting, but we hear the bell. The time limit has expired.

No Contest - Time Limit Draw

After the decision is announced, West chases Ustinov and Adnan out of the ring.
We go back to Larry Nelson. He plugs some upcoming shows for the AWA including a return to Vegas, shows in Hawaii, Charlotte, the Mid-West and back to Minnesota and Wisconsin. And then, he brings in Tom Zenk.

Tom says that this is the year of the Olympics and there will be a lot of medals and hopefully, it will be his year. He talks about Curt Hennig and says that Curt is a great champ, but he changed his attitude a bit. But Curt manages to keep the title. He wants Curt to know and remember the name of Tom Zenk.

And here is Baron Von Raschke. He's still spouting the goofy mustache. He respects Tom Zenk and puts over the top talent in the AWA like Curt Hennig, Greg Gagne, Wahoo, etc. There are too many for him to name. But he's looking at Sheik Adnan El Kassey, who is hiding behind his Russian. The Baron is coming for him and "Dat' is all de' people need to know!"

And now we go back to Rod Trongard and Ray "The Crippler" Stevens in Minot, ND for the main event of the evening.

AWA International Television Championship Match
Greg Gagne (c) vs. Adrian Adonis w/ Cowboy Bob "Ace" Orton

Greg starts off strong with two hip-tosses and a slam. Adonis goes to the floor. After climbing back into the ring, Adrian with a knee, but Greg comes back with two more slams. Adrian bails to the floor again to regroup. After a little stalling, Adrian gets back into the ring. Greg goes after the arm. Adrian bails to the outside and pulls Greg out to the floor with him. Adrian tries to whip Gagne into Orton, but Greg reverses the whip and Adonis collides with Orton on the outside instead.

Greg pulls Adrian back into the ring and locks up the arm. Backdrop by Greg and he locks up an abominable stretch on Adonis. Adrian with a punch to break free, but Greg with the drop toehold on Adonis to keep the advantage. Adrian rips at the eyes and hits some elbows and a shoulder-block on Gagne. But Gagne moves too fast and quickly, Adonis is back in the drop toehold again as Greg goes back to the leg.

Adonis slams Greg's face to the mat and slams Greg into the corner. Adonis with the big splash in the corner for a two-count. Gagne makes the ropes. Adonis with punches and two slams to the corner. Gagne fights back and both men are exchanging fists. Adonis to the eyes again and a big splat from the second rope on to Greg. A snap-mare and a big knee by Adonis for two. Adonis tries for a splash, but Greg catches him with a fist to the throat and some punches. A splash by Adonis for another two count.

Adrian with his patented sleeper, "Goodnight Irene!" Greg escape by ramming Adonis's head into the corner. Greg whips Adonis to the far corner and Adrian with a partial "Flair Flip" as he goes upside down and bounces back into the ring. Greg is "Gagne-ing" up. Fists, backdrop and a dropkick by Gagne and he locks in the "Shades of My Daddy" sleeper. Adonis moves and Greg is tossed to the floor. Here is Orton with a series of punches to the face of Gagne. Adonis is out and he's looking to ram Greg into the ringpost. Greg escapes and rams Adonis into the steel pole. The ref sees and calls for the bell. Its an automatic DQ.

Winner by DQ: "Adorable" Adrian Adonis

We have a little confusion as the referee calls for the belt, but he eventually gives it to Gagne since the title doesn't change hands on a DQ. So Adonis wins the match by DQ, but Gagne retains the title. Gagne is disgusted and throws down the title belt. Orton, seeing an opportunity, slides into the ring and steals the title, giving it to Adonis. Orton and Adonis flee to the back with the title belt as Gagne climb down from the ring.

We go back to Larry Nelson in the studio. He talks about the Gagne - Adonis situation and says that now, Orton and Wahoo have gotten involved. Larry would like to see Alan West go against Ustinov again with a longer time limit. Nelson plugs Curt Hennig for being in top form and says that even though he (Nelson) thought that Curt was wearing down, he's not. Nelson puts over the Nasty Boys, who are after the tag team titles. One more plug by Nelson for the Guesslers from Phoenix, AZ, who are his "Fans of the Week". And Nelson closes by telling us that next week, its Curt Hennig taking on the challenge of "Mr. Magnificent" .

And that's the show. Nothing too special, but Baron Von Raschke popped up and that made it work for me anyhow.

I guess that's it for this week, but I'll be back next week with more recaps and more action from the classic good old days of the AWA. Questions and comments can be sent to Doug28352@yahoo. com.

And that's it for me, or as the Baron would say, "Dat' is all de' people need to know!"
Have a great weekend and always be a fan. I'm Doug and I am gone.

Ubuntu!