January Supershow, 1983
Attendence: 7,183
Show Theme: Queen- Another One Bites The Dust
Rod Trongard
Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to this very special event here tonight, brought to you by the American Wrestling Association! What you are about to witness is the first AWA Supershow of 1983 and folks? You better order those pizzas. grab yourselves some popcorn if you can and if you were lucky enough to catch us on your station because this a night you are NOT going to want to miss! I'm Rod Trongard joined as always by Jim Ross and "Mean" Gene Okerlund, gentlemen? Tonight we are finally going to decide an official number one contender for Nick Bockwinkel's AWA Heavyweight Championship!
Jim Ross
That's right Rod, these eight men were whittled down originally from a list of sixteen competitors who all fought their way to enter into the elimination style match we have for you for our main event! I for one am truly excited tonight as this is my first ever AWA Supershow I'll have the pleasure of witnessing and announcing tonight which makes it extra special for me, but let's not forget Tag Team Turmoil will be on our ways later tonight, as The High Flyers get a chance to finally put their hands on the masked men who have been attacking them and provoking them over the last month! It's high stakes here tonight ladies and gentlemen, on one side The High Flyers will be looking to defend their championships, on the other? The Masked Men will be looking to defend their very identities!
"Mean" Gene Okerlund
Well I for one am looking forward to seeing what will transpire tonight with our AWA Television Champion, Jerry "The King" Lawler, for those of you only joining us here tonight, Jerry Lawler was crowned our TV Champion the first edition of All Star Wrestling this year and ever since then? Has been hosting what he calls an open challenge? In reality it seems as if it's been nothing more than a self congratulatory opportunity for Lawler to show off! When the King had a legitimate contender show in the form of Curt Hennig? He did everything he could to run away Including bringing in his insurance policy, Matt Borne. Well tonight, Lawler extends his challenge to the audience and we have received word that Curt Hennig has indeed taken Lawler's challenge to buy a ticket to the show, a FRONT ROW ticket no less and I hope that tonight, Lawler finally gives the fans the match they want to see!
Jim Ross
I wouldn't count on it Gene and finally, Jerry Blackwell, the mean monster under Sheik Adnan's management ruined the opportunity that Rick Martel had to take part in the Contendership match. Tonight? Martel has a chance to gain redemption, but Blackwell is looking to do far more than simply defeat Martel here tonight. He's looking to manhandle and potentially even destroy the youngster.
Rod Trongard
It's an action packed evening to say the least and you can only find it here...WITH THE AMERICAN WRESTLING ASSOCIATION!
The crowd would get warmed up to the night ahead of them as Koko and Buck faced off in another light heavyweight style bout that the AWA has slowly been trying to introduce into their roster. Koko had been signed earlier in the month and has slowly started becoming recognised among the fans as a potential favorite of theirs. Koko would pick up the win over Buck Zumhofe after delivering a diving Crossbody off of the top rope and covering him for the pin
Rated D
The fans immediately reacted with reviled hatred as Jerry Lawler sauntered his way down the ramp, adorned in his usual robe, crown and Championship which he proudly wore around his waist, occasionally stopping to polish it and show it towards members of the audience and the cameras which were capturing this for the viewers at home. He had a microphone in his hand ready as he wandered down to the ringside area, not yet entering the ring as tonight...he had a challenger to choose from the audience. He neared his way towards the barricades separating him from the audience and began to address them.
Jerry "The King" Lawler
Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight is going to be a very lucky night for just one of you in attendance here among the audience! As I am sure you are all aware...I have been representing the AWA as it's television champion successfully this month, by laying down an open challenge for all of the AWA roster...and while there may be an...undeserving contender that wishes to have had his opportunity with me...I saw it as my responsibility...my DUTY to instead give that opportunity, that chance to grab the bull by the horns, to men who unfortunately never got to enjoy the glow of the spotlight the way that one Curt Hennig had! Thanks to me...Jake Milliman, Sonny Rogers and Steve O got their chance to shine! Thanks to ME! Those men got to participate in a championship match that they would NEVER have gotten, simply because their name isn't associated with supposed wrestling "royalty". Well despite their lineage and their lack of legacy, thanks to their gracious Television Champion, those men got a chance to wrestle REAL wrestling Royalty when they faced me for my championship and now one of YOU will be fortunate enough to receive that same opportunity here tonight. So without further ado, let's see what we have to choose from you fine specimens of beer swilling, sausage stuffing slobs that are among us here this evening!
Jerry would begin to pace across the barricade, surveying the fans who were all jumping up and down, waving their arms, reaching their arms out to try and grab at King to get their attention and just to get a chance to take a shot at that smug, arrogant, weasel. Lawler purposely kept the microphone to his mouth as he pondered and surveyed the potential contenders from the audience. "Hmmm...nope...too fat...too ugly...A woman? HAHAHAHA no sweetie, don't embarrass yourself" That only served to drive the crowd into a further frenzy as people were chomping at the bit to teach King a lesson. The noise of the fans would finally erupt into a fever pitch as King stopped and saw a familiar face who slowly rose to his feet...
It was Curt Hennig! Dressed in his civilian clothes, he held the ticket that he had bought for the evening up to Lawler's face, staring him down. Lawler stopped, staring back down at Hennig across the barricade, he surveyed the crowd as the support for the young rising star was undeniable
LET HIM FIGHT! LET HIM FIGHT! LET HIM FIGHT!
Lawler's face would scrunch up in disgust, at the fans begging for Hennig to be chosen! This was THEIR opportunity and they were still being insistant on Hennig getting his shot. Lawler hesitated for a moment, looking as if he was genuinely thinking about it, before a smirk slowly formed on his face and he rose the microphone to his mouth
Jerry "The King" Lawler
Curt...it's with great pleasure to tell you that tonight...you will NOT be facing me for the championship!
Lawler bursts out laughing, before delivering a cheap shot to Hennig's face across the barricade, sending him reeling. Security would quickly rush the barricade to stop Hennig from retaliating, as tonight, he was only a member of the audience and unless stated otherwise, he would not be allowed to participate. The fans began throwing garbage at the King already, which had become a tradition of sorts these past few weeks. Lawler continued, ignoring them as he continued surveying potential contenders, he would come to another stop, looking rather curiously at another figure in the audience, he wasn't jumping up and down, wasn't reaching out for attention. He was still sat in his chair, just staring at Lawler.
Jerry "The King" Lawler
You...you know I've seen a lot of faces here tonight that are familiar from the usual crowd of booze hounds and lot lizards that come to All Star Wrestling, but you? I've NEVER seen you before. Stand up...come on stand up kid.
The man stood up, he certainly didn't look local at all, he looked foreign. He also very stoic and serious as he continued to stare coldly at Lawler.
Jerry "The King" Lawler
Why don't you tell all the folks in attendance here tonight your name?
???
Hiro...Takano
Lawler chuckled slightly at the accent of the man as he spoke into the microphone.
Jerry "The King" Lawler
Heeero...Tacono? Sounds like a very exotic name that you have there Hero, and where exactly did you come from to be here tonight?
Hiro Takano
Japan...
Jerry "The King" Lawler
Japan? JAPAN?! DID YOU HEAR THAT FOLKS? He said he came all the way from JAPAN! Well I think that settles it don't you?! How could it possibly be fair of me to give an opportunity to someone to the likes of Curt Hennig, when standing right here in front of me in the flesh...is a man who has the chance to reach out and grab the American Dream! Does that sound like a good idea for you Hero? A championship match with the King? Think you can handle it?
Hiro Takano
I know I can...I am a wrestler...
Lawler immediately burst out laughing once he heard that response. A wrestler? Yeah right. He certainly didn't look like a wrestler. With his thin mustache and curly hair. Wrestler was far from the things he looked like.
Jerry "The King" Lawler
Sure thing kid, why don't you hop on over and join me in the ring and show us all just how good of a wrestler you really are...
RATED C+
* George Takano had debuted on the AWA roster under the Alter Ego of Hiro Takano to fit his "Noble Foreigner" gimmick with the fans, it was received well, initially being rated Above Average
The fans, the announces and yes, even Jerry Lawler would be taken aback in shock at the performance that was put on by Hiro Takano here tonight as Lawler would turn out to face his most legitimate challenge yet, bringing his unique Japanese style of wrestling into the ring. With strong strikes and fast paced athleticisim that you wouldn't have expected having an initial glance at the man. Lawler could no longer showboat and strut around like he had done previously in his open challenges. He actually had to work tonight as it became apparent very quickly that yes, Hiro Takano was indeed a wrestler and he was a good one. In what was definitely the best AWA Television Championship match so far and definitely Lawler's best match with the belt so far, while a surprise upset almost came to fruition, it would end with Lawler using a sneaky low blow and pulling Takano into the piledriver that brought an end to the match.
Rated: B-
Jerry Lawler was frustrated to say the least, to have been shown up like that during his invitational match and almost LOSE to an absolute unknown? That was unacceptable and immediately Jerry would use this as an opportunity to teach Hiro Takano a lesson. Lawler exited the ring and grabbed a chair from the timekeeper's box, before returning into the ring. He laid it flat on the mat and slowly picked Takano back up. He gave Takano a stern slap across the face for his trouble and pulled him into position for the piledriver...thankfully, just as it looked like something horrific was going to happen...
Hennig! Hennig from the crowd! He runs in and clotheslines Lawler before he can deliver the sickening Piledriver to the chair! He helpes Takano up to his feet and shakes the man's hand for his excellent performance. As Lawler rolls out the ring and grabs his championship, he looks around madly to see where his insurance policy is. Unfortunately for Lawler there seems to be no sign of Borne. We're left with the image of Lawler screaming angrily
"WHERE THE HELL IS HE?!"
Rated: C+
Tag Team action for the first time this year in 183 as The High Flyers faced off against The Masked Men. The High Flyers brought the fight not only as the defending champions, but as men seeking retribution for the attacks that they received at the hands of this mystery team. The Masked men however used dubious tactics throughout the match, utilizing the most of the referees five count through multiple points in the match to bring an end to pin attempts and get cheap shots in on Jim and Greg. The end to the match would come, when during a hot tag to Jim Brunzell from Greg Gagne, one of the masked men would use a foreign object pulled from their tights out of sight of the referee to knock Brunzell down unconscious and pick up the pin while the other of the masked men knocked Gagne down off the apron, driving his head into the steel steps.
The Masked Men are your NEW Tag Team Champions
Rated: C
It was a back and forth bout between Blackwell and Martel as the Super Heavyweight tried to use his size and power to dominate over Martel right from the start. Things would look worrisome for the young star as he was taking a beating at the beginning, however Martel would make a come back, using his speed to send the big man reeling and finally to the ground once he hit a running crossbody to Blackwell. Every come back that Martel could muster however would be cut off by a powerful gut shut from Blackwell or a striking headbutt. The match would be brought to an end after Blackwell hit a crushing Body Splash to Martel for the pin.
Rated: B-
With instructions from his manager, Sheik Adnan to "FINISH HIM", Jerry Blackwell would be handed a chair, which he placed over the sternum of Rick Martel. Blackwell would then deliver, not one...not two...but three consecutive Body Splashes onto the chair over the ribs of Martel. Leaving Martel curled up in the fetal position in the ring as a result. As Blackwell was eventually stopped by multiple referees and members of security as emergency staff rushed to analyse the condition of Rick Martel, the monster was praised by his manager as the two slowly made their way to the back. Rick Martel would be attended by medical staff who brought down a stretcher, which he was carried out of the arena on after Blackwell's horrendous assault.
Rated B-
Highlights of the match were as follows
*Jesse Ventura and Ken Patera would initially team up to dominate at the beginning of the Royale, eliminating first Steve Regal and then Mike Graham
*Hulk Hogan would eventually bring an end to the alliance between Ventura and Patera after eliminating Patera from the match
*Billy Robinson looked off in the match, showing signs of his age as he seems to have started declining in terms of his in ring skill
* Wahoo McDaniel although he did not eliminate anybody looked good as he lasted through to the finalists
* Ventura and Hogan would become the final two in the ring, which drew a big response from the fans.
Order of Elimination:
Steve Regal- Eliminated by Ventura and Patera
Mike Graham- Eliminated by Ventura and Patera
Bobby Duncum- Eliminated by Hogan
Ken Patera- Eliminated By Hogan
Billy Robinson- Eliminated by Hogan
Wahoo McDaniel- Eliminated by Ventura
Jesse Ventura- Eliminated by Hogan
Final Four: Hogan, Ventura, McDaniel, Robinson
Winner: Hulk Hogan
Rated: B
Nick Bockwinkel would enter the ring after Hogan had won to cut an end to the celebrations, the two would stare each other down from the opposite ends of the ring, as Bockwinkel stood with the championship over his shoulders. Slowly, step by step the two men would get closer and closer to one another. With each step, the crowd got hotter, and hotter, until they were practically screaming for a fight as Bockwinkel and Hogan ended up face to face, not saying a word to each other, bringing the show to an end with their intense stare down.
Rated: 100 A*
FINAL RATING: B+