wrestling / TV Reports

AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN Classic 07.22.09

July 22, 2009 | Posted by Mike Campbell


AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN Classic

It’s August 5, 1986 according to the graphic and we’re coming to you from Las Vegas, NV at the Showboat Sports Pavilion. And, just to add something new to the recap, here’s a listing of the current champions.

AWA World Champion: Nick Bockwinkel
AWA World Tag Team Champions: Buddy Rose and Doug Somers
AWA Light Heavyweight Champion: Vacant
AWA Ladies Champion: Sherri Martel

DOUG SOMERS vs. KURT GUNTHER
Gunther is from Germany, so he might be an awesome wrestler. I’ve seen three legit wrestlers from Germany, and two of them have been awesome (Horst Hoffman and Stephen Wright). We don’t get much of a chance to find out, because other than a nice takedown, Gunther doesn’t get in any offense. Doug puts the boots to him a bunch and also uses some extended headlocks (actually not the worst idea given the European style favors freaky matwork), and puts him away in short order with a vertical suplex, which Gunther does a great sell job of.

Next it’s OAKLAND, CA and not Oceanside (that’s for you, Tim) on 6/28/86 and Larry and Nelson and Larry Zybyszko stand by for In This Corner with Greg Gagne. Larry accuses Greg of sabotaging his World Title hunt so he can prove something to his father. Gagne says that Zybyszko is hiding behind the legend of Bruno Sammartino, Gagne’s shooting on him! Larry starts to talk about how much better than Bruno when Nelson cuts him off to show a video. It’s basically a highlight video of Greg Gagne, showing clips of matches with Zybyszko, Adonis, Ken Patera, and someone I don’t recognize, but I wanna say is Bobby Duncam. It sends with Zybyzsko and Go attacking Greg and Earthquake Ferris. Larry says that he and Go only did it because he’s tired of being discriminated against by the Championship Committee~! And that’s why he’s always got to deal with Scott LeDoux. Nelson cuts him off again and says we’re out of time.

Still in Oakland and Larry Nelson is now with Donna Gagne, and wants her thoughts on Sherri Martel’s title win over Candi Devine. Donna doesn’t agree with Sherri’s tactics, but the ref has the final say and that’s how it is. Larry asks her about when she’ll bring back ringside rumors. Donna says “next week” but she gives us one now. Sherri Martel’s title win and her duties and manager of Rose and Somers have supposedly gotten her offers in Hollywood to take movie roles.

Another interview from Oakland, this time with Nick Bockwinkel. He’s ready for his match with The Barbarian and he thinks the Championship Committee~! will be keeping a close eye on the match and that the winner of their match will undoubtedly get a shot at Stan Hansen.

I’ve said before that I like when they show clips from the various arenas and such, but there needs to be some sort of point to it. What’s the purpose of showing us three interviews in a row if we’re not going to show the actual matches? The Larry/Greg thing at least included the video of what happened, but nothing for Bockwinkel/Barbarian or Sherri/Candi.

JIMMY SNUKA vs. DON FARGO
Back to Vegas for this, Fargo tries to use his strength and willingness to bend the rules to get by for the most part, but he’s no match for Snuka. Fargo goes to the hair to keep Snuka down with his wristlock, and then goes for a Full Nelson. Funny bit with Fargo saying that Snuka pulled his hair when he broke the hold. Fargo with a knuckle lock and Snuka wins that too. Then we go to a long chinlock , Snuka tries to escape, but Fargo gets it back on and it’s another long one. Snuka fights out, hits a headbutt and a very ugly high cross body press (which they even replay in slow motion to show exactly how bad they goofed it up) for the win.

Larry Nelson with Jimmy Snuka. Jimmy says that he understands that Nick Bockwinkel is the Champion, and Jimmy can’t get a title shot until he beats two members of the Sheik’s army, who’s names he doesn’t know. “Baron?” Larry Nelson jumps in and tells them it’s Boris Zukhov and The Barbarian. Jimmy says they’re just two headaches and he’s going to go as far as he can in the AWA and that’s to the top.

LARRY ZYBYSZKO/Mr. GO vs. SHAWN MICHAELS/MARTY JANNETTY
Larry and Shawn, the big mouth of the ‘80’s and the big mouth of the ‘90’s. This is pretty good once Larry gets his stalling out of the way. There’s a funny part when Shawn feigns punching Larry and then slaps him in the face. Shawn and Go work a nice bit with Shawn holding a wristlock and Go being unable to break it, they even go outside the ring and Shawn keeps the hold applied. Go finally breaks it with a chop and whip Shawn into the ropes, but Shawn comes right back with a dropkick. Marty plays face in peril, with Larry and Go doing a lot of choking and ramming him into the turnbuckle. Hot tag to Shawn who levels them both with superkicks and neither one goes down, they try to whip the heels into each other, but they reverse and the Rockers hit either other. Werid. The match breaks down with Marty trying like mad to get the pin on Larry, but he either kicks out or Go makes the save. The bell rings prematurely and they keep fighting, which confuses the crowd and there’s zero heat for the next few near falls. The bell rings for real with the time limit up. They keep fighting and the Rockers run them off with a double dropkick to Go. That’s all for this week.

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