AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN Classic 07.17.09

AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN Classic

It’s March 11, 1986 in Las Vegas at the Showboat. The commentary is actually decent today, Rod Tronguard must have been sick, because Ken Resnick and Greg Gagne do it and they’re eons better.

DOUG SOMERS vs. SEAN MICHAELS
No need to chastise me about the spelling, I’m going by the chryon. Michaels is a spry twenty years old here, thus the phrase “sexy boy” to describe him would be accurate, unlike nowadays in which he’s referred to as a “sexy middle-aged man” in the Campbell household (the missus and I actually do a pretty mean duet of his theme song). This won’t be much of a clue as to Shawn’s future greatness, but it’s a fun enough match on his own. Shawn holds his own for a bit and then Somers cheap shots him in the gut and takes control with two vicious slams and a hard chop in the corner. Shawn outsmarts Somers though and avoids a charge in the corner, and then hits a dropkick. Shawn finishes with a big splash off the top rope. Despite Ken Resnik’s claims that Shawn’s flying made him seem more fit for Ringling Bros or Barnum and Bailey, he really didn’t fly that much.

Larry Nelson with Shawn Michaels. Larry congratulates Shawn on his win and asks him where he came up with his finisher, he thought Shawn was going to clear the ring. I guess Larry hadn’t seen much of Jimmy Snuka at this point in time. Shawn says it’s a great move because he can use all of his body weight and bring it down. Shawn’s here in the AWA because it’s got the best competition in wrestling (and I’m sure Verne paid better than Geigel did too) and he’s gunning for Stan Hansen.

CURT HENNIG/MARTY JANNETTY vs. BORIS ZUKHOV/THE BARBARIAN
Wow, give this twenty minutes and half decent finish and this could actually be really neat. The genius of the match is the way that Curt and Marty stay alive, they both take some abuse, but they’re usually able to avoid really big bumps and/or outsmart the heels to keep things going. Nord uses the big boot fairly liberally here, and rocks both babyfaces with a couple of big suplexes, but Curt is able to use his wrestling skills to take him down, and Jannetty uses his speed to keep his distance. The Sheik’s interference winds up making the difference, the first time he trips Curt and it allows the heels to take over. The second time he gets involved, Jannetty goes after him and the ref sees the heels throw Hennig over the top and call the DQ.

LARRY ZYBYSZKO vs. LEON WHITE
Damn, this is almost like a ‘where are they now?’ version of this show. Zybyszko grips about Scott LeDoux being the ref because he’s got a personal beef and it’s a conflict of interest. You know, despite all his grumbling on these shows, he’s always got a valid point. Usual stallfest from Larry, and then Vader makes him into his bitch. He gets a headlock and walks all the way around the ring, he sends him into all four corners, hits a big powerslam, and then a big elbow drop. Larry keeps trying to get away but Vader won’t give him any chance to. Larry gets to the floor and they start to brawl, Larry rakes the eyes and gets in before the ten count, which Vader doesn’t, giving him the count out win. Vader hits a big press slam afterwards to give the fans more of what they wanted.

Larry Nelson with Larry Zybyszko. Nelson wants to know how Larry can say LeDoux is biased after that decision? Larry tap dances by saying that LeDoux is biased and is only in the AWA because he’s a washed up boxer. Then he goes off about how much better he is because he’s got a brain and it’s brains that win matches, like brawn like Leon White. But he stops to yell at the fans and the fans really don’t do anything to make him look wrong. There’s a bunch of them with lit cigarettes in hand, and missing some teeth. Not exactly a high-class looking crowd.

STAN HANSEN © vs. DAVID SAMMARTINO (AWA World Heavyweight Title)
This isn’t bad for showing that Hansen could actually wrestle instead of just brawl, but that’s about it. David tries to keep him grounded and on the mat, sometimes he comes with something nice, but it’s usually long period of them just laying there. Hansen will get to his feet and try to braw, but David will take him down again. They wind up doing a 180 with Hansen keeping him on the mat, first with an armbar and then a full nelson, while David throws fists and knees. Hansen surprises him (and everyone) with a flying dropkick and the Western Lariat~! finishes him off.

Larry Nelson with Stan Hansen. Hansen admits that David was tough and that his dad would be proud but notes “but that’s what I think about your dad!” (the camera didn’t show what exactly he did). Then Larry notes how everyone wants a shot, Hansen says that’s fine with him, they can all get in line. He’s just happy that he won a match so that now he can buy his son John some new shoes. He also thinks that Hennig and Hall should worry about being tag team champions and leave him alone.