Post by Bockwinkel on Apr 9, 2024 19:20:50 GMT 1
Week 4, February, 1983
Introduction
Gene Okerlund
Ladies and gentlemen welcome to another edition of All Star Wrestling! Brought to you by the premiere wrestling promotion across these United States, The American Wrestling Association and folks, it's our final television broadcast for you before our AWA Spectacular Showcase this month at the Omaha Civic Auditorium!
Jim Ross
That's right folks and what a show that is coming together for the Auditorium at the end of the mouth! Ladies and gentlemen, the box office is still open but tickets ARE selling fast, we imagine and predict a sell out crowd for the events so get those tickets while they are still available, organize your transport and your hotels if you're coming out of state, because the event WILL NOT be televised! And our show tonight will be the culmination of the rivalries taking place that will finally come to blows in the ring on that night!
Gene Okerlund
That's right Jim! Tonight the High Flyers are in Tag Team action and the former champions are looking to recapture the gold that many would argue was stolen from them, thanks to the interference of Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie! Thanks to the efforts of the High Flyers last week, they've got their rematch on their terms with the Sheik being barred from ringside but one has to wonder how The Sheiks will react to this news? It would be safe to assume they are looking for one final chance to weaken their challengers before the rematch takes place?
Jim Ross
That's right Gene but folks that is not all, we have the ongoing feud between Curt Hennig and Boriz Breznikoff, although one could say the feud is really between Hennig and Breznikoff's manager Jim Cornette, who claims he knows who's been badmouthing Curt in the locker room. Breznikoff however has certainly make it personal also by laying his hands on Curt's father! Well Curt is in action tonight but we have yet to hear from the man he will be facing in Omaha, or his manager, so be prepared folks, because that LOUD MOUTH Jim Cornette isn't afraid to speak his mind at ANY TIME, especially with the Ruthless Russian to protect him!
Mean Gene
There is of course then, the World Heavyweight Championship, Nick Bockwinkel and Wahoo McDaniel will be facing off for the belt in the Main Event at the Auditorium that night in Omaha, and one man who has remained linked to the whole ordeal, Hulk Hogan sees himself in the Main Event this evening. Hogan is guaranteed a shot at the belt in March regardless who wins the encounter this month, but Bockwinkel seems to have begun a campaign against the future challenger before anything is even set in stone!
Jim Ross
But to start things off this evening, we have the AWA Light Heavyweight Champion in action, Mike Graham who will be facing what is easily the greatest challenge his reign has ever seen in Primetime Butch Reed. We'll be going to the ring now folks to see, can Mike Graham solidify a strong position going into Omaha? Stay tuned because if you haven't bought a ticket for Omaha yet?! Tonight might just help you finally make that choice!
Opening Match
Non Title
Mike Boyette VS. Mike Graham
VS.
Maybe it was the fact it was the go home show, maybe it was a surprise finding of chemistry between two unlikely competitors, but Mike Graham and Mike Boyette achieved their mission here, start the go home show on the right foot and get the crowd warmed up. Boyette might be a jobber to the AWA stars, but the big, grizzly, rough man is perfect to present himself as a potential upset for the Light Heavyweight Champion, Mike Graham and he certainly got that shine in the match where it looked like he posed a threat a couple times in the match where he overpowered the champ. Graham though, showcased the fighting spirit that a defending champion needs to have, especially with the challenge he has ahead of him. He would manage to use the size advantage Boyette had to use as momentum that would drive the big man into some staggering dropkicks, a snappy neck breaker, and a suplex that surprised the crowd that Graham managed to pull on Boyette. Graham would win via pinfall in a good, back and forth head to head bout to walk away with the momentum for his championship bout...
Rated: 51
Bathe In That Spotlight While You Can...
As Graham's hand is raised, the moment of celebration ends almost as immediately as it began, as Graham pulls his arm away from the referee and quickly takes a defensive fighting stance as he prepares himself, his steely eyes staring right across the rampway, as the camera cuts, we discover the cause, as the challenger at the February Spectacular, Primetime Butch Reed is on the stage, giving the current AWA Light Heavyweight Champion a sarcastic, slow, golf clap, with an arrogant smirk on his face.
Primetime Butch Reed
Well done Mike...give yourself a pat on the back! Can we get a spotlight on our current AWA World Light Heavyweight Champion please? I want everyone here tonight, and everyone in attendance, to get a good long look at their champion in ALL OF HIS GLORY!
The spotlight had already been lit as was customary for the victory celebrations but when Butch has hit the stage it directed over to him so he could get his word in, however after his request, the spotlight directed back to Mike Grahm, maintaining his defensive stance and motioning for Reed to get into the ring "STOP TALKING AND START FIGHTING!" You can hear him yell through the camera microphone...Reed just smiles, slowly making his way towards the ring...
Primetime Butch Reed
There we go...look at him ladies and gentlemen...YOUR...AWA...WORLD LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION...the standing personification of everything that is currently wrong with professional wrestling, everything wrong with the American Wrestling Association...and everything wrong...WITH THE UNITED...STATES...OF AMERICA!
The boos rain down with impunity after that. Regardless how much truth might be behind Reed's criticisms...and there certainly were some very, ugly, real world truths behind this man's motivations. The attitude in which he brought them, the arrogant, cocky, brash, care free way in which he shamed absolutely everybody here in the company the fans adored, and their country too?! Well, that was just a step too far for these fans here in the Mid West...
Primetime Butch Reed
Here we have a man, who thanks to every privilege he has. The color of his skin, the power that his last name carries, the FATHER who raised him and helped him get EVERY JOB he has ever had! Thanks to all of those privileges, we have never had to see him truly put in a hard day's work in his god d(censored by the network)d life! And NOW?! All of a sudden, only a few mere days before what is bound to be...the greatest challenge he has ever faced for his belt...he shows us what he is truly capable of and you know something? I am still...THOROUGHLY...UNIMPRESSED!
Butch comes to the ringside area, Mike Graham is leaning against the ropes, putting his leg between them and offering for Butch to get in, challenging the new rising star to put his money where his mouth is. But Butch waves him off and walks around the ring for a moment. Mike steps back in and follows his movements just to make sure Butch doesn't strike him from behind. As Butch is walking around, one of the fans tries to reach out at him, was he trying to take a swing? Who knows?! But Butch responds with an aggressive turn and slap straight across the face of the fan, sending him reeling back and almost falling out of his seat! "DON'T STEP UP TO ME IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU, YOU FILTHY REDNECK!" Butch cracks his neck and walks back to the spot he was initally in, continuing as if that moment had not just happened, as the edge of the camera could see security russling in to apprehend the fan in question.
Primetime Butch Reed
Is that the best you have?! Was I supposed to feel threatened after seeing this match? Was I supposed to feel challenged? I feel nothing but contempt for you Mike...you're the worst example of the kind of obstacles that have been put in my way through life. See the "Good old boys" who are just up front and open about why they hate me? Why I can't get that job? Why I had to get cut from the team? At least I can respect their honesty, at least I can respect the fact that they still know what a hard day of work LOOKS LIKE...you don't even know that Mike. All YOU KNOW...is daddy's phone number. And you have been SO QUICK to call it when you need a favor...well let me tell you something Mike. Daddy can't save you this time.
Mike Graham
Why don't you shut your mouth?! We don't have to go to Omaha to solve this, we can do this right here, right now, for the belt! YOU AND ME!
Primetime Butch Reed
Mikey, while I'm honored by this tough guy act you've suddenly found the balls to perform. I'm afraid I had a different set of plans tonight...
As Butch says that the scene quickly unfurls into one of absolute chaos...
IT'S SHERRI! IT'S SENSATIONAL SHERRI! She's coming out from under the ring apron opposite Graham! Mike Graham has no idea she's there, she enters the ring behind him! She's got that Stiletto Heel in hand! And she Spike's Graham on the back of the head with it! Sending the champ stumbling but not knocking him off his feet, Graham tumbles into the ropes and Butch Reed grabs at his feet and yanks him down! And Sherri leaps on top of him, her eyes wild with rage as she uses those long acrylic nails the scratch and gouge at the Champion's face. All Butch can do is laugh as he slooooowwwwlllyy takes his time moving up the steps as Sherri continues her feral, cat like attack, grabbing a hold of the stiletto once more and driving the heel of it down right in to Graham's face. Butch finally gets in and with a tap of the shoulder...Sherri stops, gets to her feet, and smiles, immediately latching on to her man as he leans in and kisses her on the cheek. You can see her almost melting there as she presses into him, her eyes filled with lust and danger. The lights return to the arena as things have gotten serious but Reed raises his hand as he charges around the ring, shouting loud enough so the production crew can hear him!
KEEP THAT SPOTLIGHT ON HIM! MAKE THEM LOOK AT THEIR CHAMPION! LOOK AT WHO THESE UNWASHED HICKS HAVE BEEN RALLYING BEHIND FOR SO LONG!
Not wanting to anger the challenger further out of fear of what he might do, the lighting returns and a spotlight shines on the fallen Mike Graham, a close up of his face shows the scratch marks of Sherri's nails and the gouge mark right on the forehead from that Stiletto heel...a normal heel wouldn't make a gouge like THAT?! What the hell has she done to that shoe?! Reed grabs the mic once more...
Primetime Butch Reed
I want you to bathe in this spotlight Mike...for as long as you can, because at Omaha? I'm gonna do what shoulda been done to you a long time ago, BOY! I'm gonna humble you! I'm gonna show you what happens when you meet a man...who has had to work ten times harder than you...just to get his foot in the door...and when I'm through with you? I'm sending you back home to Florida, hanging your head in shame, returning home to daddy where you belong...and maybe...just maybe if he still has an ounce of love for you?! He can find you another job somewhere...one where Butch Reed isn't there to humiliate you any more!
The scene fades with Reed and Sherri leaving the ring together as we cut to a commercial break...
Rating: 62
The Axis Powers VS. The High Flyers
VS.
The stakes are high for both teams. On one side, there's the Axis Powers, looking to show themselves as the new dominant force in the tag team division and to show they are a true threat to their opponents at the AWA Spectacular, by defeating the former Tag Team Champions. Then on the other, there are The High Flyers, who lost their belts in controversial fashion and have been fighting every step of the way so far towards their rematch. The tension is palpable and the meaning that this match has going into The Omaha show is not lost on them. The match starts with Saito and Gagne as the initial legal men and Saito uses his bulk and hard hitting style to take control of the match early and to restrict Gagne to the Axis side of the ring. The first portion of this match was old school tag team wrestling, with The Iron Axis keeping control and weakening the fan favorites, some key spots being where Masa tagged Baron in, keeping Gagne on all fours he held him in place as Baron drove a hard knee right across the face of the former Champ! Or when Baron wold tag Saito back in and the two would perform a double suplex on Gagne.
The turn around would come however at a key moment as Saito would try to bring Gagne up to his feet and Gagne would firght back! Pushing Saito into the corner, delivering a few blows to the body to weaken him and keep him in place as Gagne struggled to hoist Saito to the top rope...then climbing to the top rope with him and then hitting him with the superplex keeping both men down...
The momentum was changing and the crowd could sense it, clapping their hands, stomping their feet as both men were coming to and crawling to their respective corners...each man closer...closer...until with a final leap Gagne jumps and tags in Brunzell! Here comes The fresh man full of fire and fight but wait a minute!...
IT'S THE SHEIKS! THE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS HERE TO RUIN THE MOMENTUM OF THEIR RIVALS!
Blackwell charges at Brunzell in the ring and knocks him down with a thick, ham hock of a forearm, Patera meanwhile yanks Gagne down from ringside, and hurls him into the ring barricade!
RING THE BELL! THE REF CALLS FOR IT! IT'S A DQ! THE HIGH FLYERS WIN...BUT THE SHEIKS AREN'T HERE TO CARE ABOUT THE RESULT OF THE MATCH! THEY'RE HERE TO WEAKEN THEIR OPPONENTS...
Rated: 48
TRAPPED LIKE RATS!
The assault continues as Blackwell delivers a devastating BIG BODY SPLASH to Jim Brunzell! Potentially crushing the former champions ribs! And Paters grabs Gagne's head at ringside and REPEATEDLY DRIVES his head into the barricade, screaming while he does it! The camera closes in as we see a crimson curtain begin to draw across the temple of Greg Gagne! He's been busted open...
And here comes Sheik Adnan! What is he here for? Coming to ring carrying a cane with him in one hand and a microphone in the other. Is he here to gloat? CONTROL YOUR CLIENTS ADNAN! GET THESE BRUTES OUT OF HERE!
Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie
TAKE A PICTURE EVERYONE! TAKE A PICTURE BECAUSE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE IT?! THIS IS WHAT THINGS WILL LOOK LIKE COME THE OMAHA SPECTACULAR! YOUR HEROES, BEATEN, BLOODY, EMBARASSED BY MY SHEIKS!
Adnan walks around ringside to where Patera is beating down Gagne, seeing that his manager is coming, Patera hoists up the bloody Gagne to his knees. The former champion is clearly in a daze, potentially even unconscious as his head dropps down, but Adnan grabs him by the chin and forces Gagne's face up so it is looking directly at him. Adnan then visibly spits at him, the ultimate sign of disrespect
Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie
YOU SEE GAGNE?! YOU SEE THE REALITY! MY SHEIKS DO NOT NEED ME TO DESTROY YOUR DYNASTY HERE IN AWA! You want me barred from ringside? Fine! You earned it! But you will LIVE to regret making that request!
Adnan punctuates his point by cracking his cane across Gagne's forehead, he pats his client Patera on the chest and signals for him to head back to the locker room, leaving the fallen, bloody Gagne at ringside. Adnan then heads into the ring, where Blackwell has just delivered ANOTHER devastating BIG BODY SPLASH to Brunzell. Adnan can only laugh as he witnesses the destruction his team is displaying. Adnan kneels down by the fallen Brunzell who is writhing in agony, clutching at his ribs.
You want me barred from ringside? Well I feel it necessary to let you know how that will happen. You see...it has just come to my attention that you will get your wish and the way which our AWA President has decided to uphold that decision, is by locking you two in with my Sheiks...IN A STEEL CAGE! FOOLS! YOU STUPID, ARROGANT, AMERICAN FOOLS! YOUR REQUEST WILL BE YOUR OWN DOWNFALL! YOU WILL BE TRAPPED LIKE RATS IN THE VERY CAGE DESIGNED TO KEEP ME OUT...because it will keep you locked inside with my monsters...MY SHEIKS...MY...TAG TEAM...CHAMPIONS!
Rated:50
Curt Hennig VS. Nacho Barrera
VS.
Folks...this was probably the best Nacho Barrera match you've ever seen. Now you might have to thank Curt Hennig for that, who at least gave Nacho SOMETHING, to deviate from the complete standard AWA squashes we are used to witnessing on TV. The moment that came that gave Nacho the chance to look like a threatening force to Curt was when he gouged at Hennig's eyes and Hennig sold it like he had just been blinded, writhing around and clutching on to the ropes for support, which gave Nacho the opportunity to get in a little offence on the young rising star. Curt would, as expected and predicted come back and ultimately get the win with the Hennig Plex, but it wasn't the total squash we expected and was actually, a pretty athletic display even from Barrera.
Rated: 50
A Man of My Word...
Gene Okerlund
Ladies and Gentlemen Gene Okerlund here with the men who have certainly made a name for themselves in the past few weeks, the Ruthless Russian, Boriz Breznikoff and his manager Jim Cornette, now Boris you have had altercations with Curt Hennig since the January Spectacular show but things notched up to a more personal level after you put your hands on Curt's father and AWA legend, Larry Hennig.
Jim Cornette
Mean Gene I don't like your tone. I think you better correct the record because my client, the Ruthless Russian, the undefeated NIGHTMARE that AWA is witnessing in real time did what he had to do in order to PROTECT me from that raving old loon Larry Hennig! Why Mean Gene? I'll be honest with you...I feared for my life sharing that ring with Larry Hennig!
Gene Okerlund
You feared for your life?!
Jim Cornette
That's right Mean gene, you see if it isn't obvious. I am not a man with athletic talents. I am not a man who should have to be expected to defend himself in the ring, when I am not even officially recognized as an in ring talent. I'm a manager Mean Gene. Plain and simple. I'm a man who the athletes with the talent, with the capabilities and with the hunger to succeed COME TO, to get the opportunities that they have had held back from them for far too long and Larry Hennig? He took advantage of my position in this company. He took advantage of the advantages he had over me and he put my life in jeopardy! Larry Hennig should be THANKING Boris Breznikoff because if it weren't for him. I assure you...Larry would have been served papers from my attorney by now at the very least, if not already being paid a visit by his local police department because I would have been charging him with assault if Boris had not saved me!
Gene Okerlund
But YOU were the one who had invited Larry Hennig to come and speak to you, you were the one who made things personal with him! None of this would have happened if you hadn't-
Jim Cornette
MEAN GENE DON'T MAKE ME DO SOMETHING I MIGHT REGRET! Your mouth keeps writing checks that you can't cash and if you aren't careful one day someone's gonna take payment in a way that you aren't gonna' appreciate! So why don't you shut up! Scoot out of our shot and let me speak PROFESSIONALLY on behalf of my client going forward?!
Gene doesn't hesitate. If Jim Cornette needs to avoid in ring action than double can be said for Mean Gene who is here for announcing and interview capabilities only. He dare not push his luck, especially when a behemoth like Boris Breznikoff is standing there breathing heavily and grunting as he stares waiting for Gene to follow Cornette's request...
Jim Cornette
That's better...now Curt...People are already saying many things about me...people here don't seem to like me. They think I'm a momma's boy, they think I'm a loud mouth, they think I'm...not to be trusted. Now, if these were good, upstanding, moral citizens than I might take offence to these statements, but as they are all Mid Western cheese heads who can't separate from the bottle. I take their opinions with a mountain of salt! But there is one thing I wanna' guarantee to you Curt. That I am a man of my word. This all started between you and I Curt, because YOU want to know who has been spreading these rumours about you. YOU want to know who's been saying that your father is the only reason that you are are...and I am the man that can provide you with those answers...
Cornette flashes a confident grin. He knows a secret that Curt doesn't know. Even though Curt might want to throttle him right now. That very fact protects Cornette in a way. He's in some sort of cahoots with this mystery man bad mouthing Curt, his client laid his hands on Curt's father thanks to Cornette and yet...Cornette has information Curt wants so he can uphold both his and his father's honor. So Curt couldn't go as far as he wanted to in delivering justice to Cornette even if given the freedom to do so...
Jim Cornette
Well allow me to provide you with the chance, to truly fight for your father's honor in a way you never have before Curt...prove the naysayers wrong, get your hands on MY RUTHLESS RUSSIAN and serve JUSTICE to your father...and in doing so? I promise you...you will find out EXACTLY who did this Curt! You have my word...and believe it or not Curt? I am a man of my word...but the problem YOU face Curt in order to get there...you need to beat my client...you need to beat the RUTHLESS RUSSIAN...BORIS BREZNIKOFF
In a rare showing, Boris actually steps in and begins to speak, which is really a surprise. Cornette is very much the mouthpiece and if we think about it, we've never actually heard him speak before. Cornette has always been the one to speak on his behalf.
Boris Breznikoff
CURT HENNIG! Папин сынок! (Translation: Daddy's Boy) They say that YOU are the first real challenge to my undefeated streak. They say that YOU are the one who will end my domination! They say that Cornette and I...have made things TOO PERSONAL...that we do not KNOW the fight that I have on my hands! I SAY МУСОР! (Translation: Garbage) YOU are just the first of their many, many heroes that will face the same DESTRUCTION that has already fallen to the weaklings here in the AWA. YOU are the example that ALL OTHERS WILL FEAR THEY BECOME when they face ME! YOU are the name they will whisper when they see me in the locker room and think of all the harm that I have done!
Jim Cornette
He can beat you ANYWHERE Curt...not just in the ring...ANYWHERE...At ringside...in the stands...at the concessions...in the locker room. This man can beat you ANYWHERE...and we're gonna prove it. Because after some heavy petitioning, and a hefty deposit delivered to the doorstep of AWA President Gagne...I have managed to convince him to agree to a FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH CURT! NO DISQUALIFICATIONS! NO COUNT OUTS! NO ESCAPE! NOWHERE TO RUN AND NOWHERE TO HIDE! Boris is going to expose you in front of all those paying fans who came to root for you Curt...and after he is done with you? You'll have to return home in shame and explain to your father why you have to quit this business! Because you have been shown to them all what a FRAUD YOU REALLY ARE! I PROMISE YOU CURT! I GIVE YOU MY WORD...THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN...after all...
Cornette smiles like the cat who just caught the canary and he steps behind his massive client, who is flexing for the camera, letting out a mighty yell to the camera, veins bulging, eyes wide and full of wild frustration, Cornette begins massaging his shoulders as he leans over and grins to make his final point...
Jim Cornette
I'm a man of my word....
Rated: 55
MAIN EVENT
Bobby Duncum (W/Bobby Heenan) VS. Hulk Hogan
VS.
Ladies and gentlemen it is now time for the Main Event of the evening as a member of the Heenan family, Bobby Duncum goes one on one with the Hulkster. It seems appropriate with the tie in that the Hulkster has to the World Championship scene that he faces another member of the Heenan family here tonight and folks? This was a standard Hulk Hogan match. Duncum started off in control and bringing it to the Hulkster, having a confident Bobby Heenan at ringside cheering him on and doing what he needed to do as a manager to keep the momentum on his clients side and it was moments like, when Hulkster managed to get a quick pin on Duncum, and Heenan positions Duncum's foot on the ropes while the ref is looking away to make it look like a rope break, or When Hogan tries to make a comeback by running against the ropes and Heenan trips him, that shows how good of an advocate for his clients, albeit a weaselly one, that Heenan truly is...but the moment of truth seems to be near as when it all looks like the Hulkster might face defeat, he starts to Hulk up.One shot and the Hulkster's body is starting to shake, another shot from Duncum and he raises to his feet, Hogan's entire body almost vibrating as he walks around the ring! The Hulkster is Hulking up and Bobby Heenan is familiar with this! He's seen this before! He knows what is going to happen and he won't stand for it! He grabs a hold of a chair and while The Hulkster is shaking and vibrating around the ring, grabbing one of the ropes Heenan is timing himself for the moment...
Duncum tries to deliver a closed fist to the Hulkster, but Hogan stops it and points back at him...
YOOOOOU....
One...two...threee punches...he hoists Duncum up, launches him to the ropes and...BIG BOOT...Hogan doesn't know that Heenan's got the chair and as he runs to the ropes, turning his back. Heenan hops up and CLOCKS Hogan right across the back with the flat end of the chair, sending the Hulkster down on to all fours as the ref calls for the bell!
Hogan Wins by DQ but Heenan's still got the chair!
Rated: 53
AFTER THE MATCH
Heenan delivers an other chair shot right across the back of Hogan, and Hogan let's out a scream of pain as he struggles to crawl across the ring, before Heenan hands the chair over to Duncum. "END HIM!" Heenan instructs his client, before he kneels down to look as his client continues the assault, delivering a chair shot that this time drives the Hulkster down to the mat and keeps him there as his body falls faint and motionless. Causing Heenan to smile. Duncum moves over to the Hulkster's head, looking to Heenan for approval. "DO IT!" Heenan yells and Duncum raises the chair above his head when all of a sudden...
IT'S WAHOO! WAHOO RUNNING TO THE RING WITH A CHAIR OF HIS OWN!
And Heenan and Duncum make a run for it! Rolling out of the ring and running back towards the locker room before Wahoo can get his hands on them! Wahoo throws the chair over the ropes, pointing and yelling as the Heenan family runs with their tails between their legs, before turning his attention back to Hogan and helping the Hulkster to his feet. As Hulk stands he looks a little dazed and confused, stepping back for a moment, thinking the attack might be continuing, before realizing that it is Wahoo standing in front of him. The two shake hands and Wahoo raises Hogan's hand, before Hogan does his usual celebration cupping his hand to his ear around each side of the ring, showing to the AWA faithful that they are truly friends...
Rated: 81
Final Rating: 60
Writer's Note: Good to be back.