My Take On 5.22.06: Forgotten Favorites Vol. 3
Posted by Larry Csonka on 05.22.2006
Tito Santana, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Sir Oliver Humperdink and …“Jumping” Jim Brunzell~!
Introduction:
Here we are again with another installment of "My Take On." As I have said in the past, this particular column is here so I can write about stuff that won't fin in the other columns, or may perhaps deserve their own stage. I have written about Joe vs. Kobashi, the greatness of wrestling as well as the worst of wrestling. I have written about drugs, fixing Raw and I have written obituaries. There are a ton of things to write about, and one of those things that I tend to think of are favorite matches of mine that are sometimes forgotten by other and myself. So as a new part of "My Take On" I will be doing some, "Forgotten Favorite" matches.
This is the third installment of this venture, and this time I shall go to AWF for the match. Remember, these aren't going to be a listing of "the best matches" in my opinion, no, just matches that I really enjoyed and would like to share with you the readers. Some may be great, some just good fun. You'll have to read on to see what I have selected.
The Selection:
We go to the American Wrestling Federation for our latest match and 3rd selection overall. A while back I reviewed the complete run of the promotion, which had some good but a lot of bad points. This match was to crown the first and only champion of the short-lived promotion. We go to our match, which features Tito Santana, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Sir Oliver Humperdink and …"Jumping" Jim Brunzell~!
The Match:
Event: The American Wrestling Federation TV Tapings
Type: TV Show
Location: Unknown
Reason for the match: To crown the first ever AWF Champion in a tournament final.
President Paul Alperstein is here with the title belt. He puts over the match and shows off the belt. They announce the special referee…"Jumpin Jim Brunzell!" Brunzell rules as he does the rules like a boxing announcer with the guys in the center of the ring and has them shake. You kick ass my friend.
AWF Title Finals: Scheduled for 12 Rounds Tito Santana (4-0) vs. "Cowboy" Bob Orton w/Humperdink (6-0)
Round 1: They circle a bit to begin things. Lots of stalling and looking for an opening here. They lock up and then go to the ropes and break. Tony Atlas is watching on. Brunzell has an electronic score card, because he can't add. Top wristlock by Orton takes Tito to a knee. An escape and into a hammerlock. To the ropes and a clean break. Side headlock by Tito and a takedown again. Orton to his feet, and tries to shove Tito off and he holds on. Orton works to escape, but Tito keeps the pressure on. Off the ropes and Tito takes him down. Side headlock takedown and the time runs out of Round 1 as we see the SARGE watching on.
Round 2: Lock up to begin, go behind by Orton and a clean escape and stand off. Arm drag by Orton into a wristlock. Orton pulls at the arm now and into a mounted arm bar. Tito works out of it, to his feet and off the ropes and Orton takes Tito down. Again. Hip toss and arm drags by Tito and finally back into the headlock takedown. Orton battles to his knees, but back down as Tito puts more pressure on. Tito grinds it in and then rams Orton's face into the mat, covers and gets 2. Tito gets a slam right as the round ends.
Round 3: We start Round 3 as Chris Adams and Pedro Morales are also watching on. Orton goes to the floor for some more time, back in and they lock up. Hammerlock by Orton, reversal by Tito into one of his own. More reversals, Orton into a step over toehold, but Tito reverses and gets a side headlock again. Humperdink complains as Tito grinds that headlock on tighter. Orton to his feet, tries to pick up Tito, but Tito pulls it down into another headlock. A sweet series of reversals are next as they go from side headlock to leg scissors and some other mat holds for about 30-seconds which actually pops the crowd for real. Tito has the side headlock again as the round ends.
According to Brunzell's scorecard, Tito is up 14-13. This is a 5-point must system they have said as well.
Round 4: Orton is beautifully selling his ear from the side headlocks, damn he rules. Arm bar takedown by Orton, cover but Tito with a bridge out and he gets a backslide for a VERY close 2! Tito back to the headlock and takedown. He grinds it more as Orton gets to his feet, Tito walks up in the corner and back into the headlock takedown. Tito is really applying the pressure again as Orton tries to find a way to escape. Tito covers and gets 2. Tito locks it back in now, Orton rolls and tries to escape, but Tito rolls back into control as the round ends.
Bob Orton is a genius as he attacks Tito from behind, Brunzell yells at him but he claims that he can't hear because of Tito working that headlock! Genius!
Round 5: Orton attacks right as the round begins. He drags Tito to the apron and drops elbows on Tito's throat. Suave joins the announce team and annoys me. Back in the ring and Orton with elbows to the throat of Tito again. Orton covers and gets a 2 count. Orton chokes out Tito now and then plays off that he can't hear the ref! Glorious! Elbow drop by Orton, covers and gets 2. Tito back with rights, but there was nothing on them as Orton jacks him in the face. Head butt by Orton and a cover for 2. Tito shot off the ropes, and a sleeper by Orton. Tito fades…and the round ends.
According to Brunzell's scorecard, Tito is up 23-22. Orton was penalized a point for that shot after the bell in Round 4.
Round 6: Tito could barely get to his stool but the bell rings and Orton attacks. Orton gets a roll up with the ropes for 2. Sunset flip try by Tito, Brunzell kicks Orton's hands off the ropes and Tito gets a roll up for 2. Sleeper by Orton now. Jawbreaker by Tito and he gets out. Knee drop by Orton and he maintains control. Orton tries an elbow drop and Tito gets a fist up and jacks Orton! Block by Tito and a right to Orton. Left jabs to Orton and Orton flops into the corner. Corner mount punches by Tito and Orton slumps in the corner. Irish whip by Tito, he charges but Orton gets a knee up and Tito is down. Leaping stomp by Orton, then a knee drop to the back of the head of Tito. Cool neck breaker into the knee by Orton, rather ahead of its time and a cover for 2. Tito fires back with rights as the round ends.
Round 7: Boot by Orton starts Round 7. Tito tries to battle back, and whips Orton to the corner and he is hung up. BIG kick by Tito and Orton gets crotched! FLYING BURRITO by Tito gets 2 as Orton was in the ropes. Knee drops by Tito now, and he pulls Orton center ring and works the knee of Orton. Figure four try, but Orton kicks him off and Tito eats turnbuckle. Orton covers for 2. Running bulldog try by Orton, shoved off and a roll up by Tito for 2. Tito goes up top…MISSES a clothesline! Orton rolls him over and covers for 2. Another cover, Orton on the ropes and Brunzell breaks it up. Boot by Orton, then a nice roll up series with good reversals by both men. They brawl on the mat by the ropes and they stand off and throw wild punches as the round ends.
According to Brunzell's scorecard, Orton is up 32-31.
Round 8: Orton with an eye rake and punches in the corner to Tito. Orton sets Tito up top, then climbs up for a superplex…Tito fights him off and Orton falls to the mat! Tito up top…sunset flip off the top gets 2! They duke it out on their knees. Boot now by Orton, he goes for a piledriver…Tito blocks it and gets a backdrop to Orton! He goes for the Burrito, but Orton with a powerslam gets 2! Side backbreaker by Orton gets 2. Orton argues with the ref, small package by Tito gets 2. Tito off the ropes, FLYING BURRITO! 1…2…3!
Winner and the first ever AWF Champion: Tito Santana via pin @ 3:01 of Round 8.
Brunzell raises his hand as President Paul Alperstein puts the title on Tito.
Match Evaluation:
Wow, that match was sweet my friends. If you are an Indy guy that wants to learn a bunch of little thing about how to make a great match with out doing a ton of stuff, watch this. This was just a glorious match with a great build all through out, excellent story telling and CLEAN in ring action all through out. Old school style at it's finest and they really worked the European Round System very well. Something very different than what you get today, which also adds to its charm.
Final Match Rating: ****
My Take On:
I hope you enjoyed my latest installment of "Forgotten Favorites." Maybe by doing this I can turn you on to some new favorite matches. It's all about having fun here, so I hope that I accomplished that.
