AWA All-Star Wrestling – December 30th, 1989

AWA All-Star Wrestling – December 30th, 1989

(Date included is from any given source where AWA content is available. To say reliable information isn’t readily available would be an understatement)

Well, we’re back with our second look at the AWA, having survived the November 18th episode of Championship Wrestling. Just think, 1 down and… 40 more episodes to go?!?! If I didn’t inflict this torture on myself, I’d ask what holy being did I upset to deserve such a fate. As someone unfamiliar with the AWA, I’m unsure of the broadcast differences between Championship Wrestling and All-Star Wrestling. I’m guessing All-Star was a syndicated show (though its reach nationally and what markets would carry it is not something I can find) and Championship Wrestling was the ESPN show that got moved around a lot. It’s a 70/30 split leaning in favor of All-Star episodes that are readily available, but since they taped so little TV, it’s all pretty much the same stuff, just packaged slightly differently.

Before we jump into the episode, I wanted to address the Team Challenge Series rosters and how they were put together (that episode has yet to surface, and I doubt anyone will ever bother to dust off more of this crap). The gimmick would feature three different teams, captained by Larry Zbyszko (Larry’s Legends), Baron von Rashke (Baron’s Blitzers) and Sgt. Slaughter (Sarge’s Snipers). Any time the TCS comes up, I must point out that Hanna-Barbera did it better with Scooby Doo’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics. To determine rosters, names would be drawn from a pool of 150 of the best wrestlers in the world, and of course, 90% of those names were already in the AWA (with a few unique names thrown in for whatever-the-f*ck reason). At launch, the teams were as follows…

Larry’s Legends: 1. Ken Patera, 2. Akio Sato, 3-4. Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos, 5. “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr., 6. Ivan Koloff, 7. Jake Milliman, 8. Kokina Maximus

Sarge’s Snipers: 1. Jerry Blackwell, 2-3. The (New) Fantastics (Bobby and Jackie Fulton), 4. “The Illustrious” Jonnie Stewart, 5. Pat Tanaka, 6. Rocky Stone, 7. The Unknown Soldier, 8. Col. DeBeers

Baron’s Blitzers: 1. Mike George, 2. Paul Diamond, 3. Big Van Vader, 4. Todd Becker, 5-6. Derrick Dukes and Tommy Jammer, 7. The Russian Brute, 8. The Trooper

WILD CARDS: 1. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, 2. Big John Studd, 3. Nikita Koloff, 4-5. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, 6. Bam Bam Bigelow, 7-8. The Guerreros, 9. Greg Gagne

I don’t know where to start with this. We established the names were drawn randomly, but it’s funny that Zbyszko and Slaughter both happened to pick two guys as their first picks that wouldn’t make another appearance for the company (and of course, Baron’s first pick was a job guy). In fact, three of Larry’s picks would make a combined ZERO appearances, and another was gone by year’s end. Baron von Rashke drew a team that mostly stuck around with the exception of Vader, who also made zero appearances for the company (at this point of his career). As for the Wild Cards… how does that even work? Is it like a bounty hunter thing where you can pick one for a shot at points, but they aren’t going to be regularly part of your squad? AND LOOK AT THOSE NAMES! Steamboat?! Studd?! BAM BAM?! Man, I want whatever was being passed around in the production meetings or editing room, because this is borderline pathetic to draw at minimum TEN NAMES that wouldn’t appear in the TCS, and that’s me giving the benefit of the doubt that we get to see Bobby and Jackie Fulton. (Correction: Blackwell does appear at one TV taping for the TCS Era. I’m as shocked as anyone. Apparently, they were teasing an angle between Blackwell and Kokina Maximus that went nowhere. An AWA angle that went nowhere? SHOCKED. SHOCKED I SAY).

Anyway, Greg Gagne and Ralph Strangis (who went on to win SEVEN Emmy Awards as an NHL play-by-player broadcaster, covering the Minnesota North Stars and moving with the team when they became the Dallas Stars in 1993. I bet you didn’t expect the random host in front of a green screen to have the most success of anyone featured at this point of the AWA’s existence. Oh, and I guess Eric Bischoff, but people talk enough about him. How many times will I get the opportunity to mention Strangis outside of the garbage era Team Challenge Series of AWA?

Yukon John Nord vs. Jimmy Magnum:

Hey, another appearance for Mr. Magnum from Honolulu, HI. John Nord comes out to Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival. He’s introduced from “The Great Northwoods”, in case you thought only WCW had some truly stupid hometowns. Strangis informs us that Nord made his “re-debut” last week. I’m trying my hardest to find results, but that search is fruitless, as none of these matches on today’s show line up with any available data (cough:CAGEMATCH:cough). Nord comes out with a f*cking AXE and howls a lot. I think I like it better when he just screamed “HUSS” over-and-over.

Greg Gagne says if there were a Paul Bunyon, this man (Nord) would be him. Strangis says Magnum lacks a tan for a man from Honolulu, and suggests he’s been training in a dark room. Lockup, Mangum spins Nord around and goes for a full nelson, but Nord easily breaks the hold. Nord casually breaks a top wrist-lock and HOWLS. Nord with a hip throw out of the corner and now he’s yelling while giving a thumbs up. Whip to the ropes, Magnum ducks a clothesline but is caught on the chin with a dropkick! Nord bounces back and forth on the ropes before hitting a leg drop for three at 2:15. I know John Nord got a lot of Bruiser Brody comparisons (and justifiably) but he’s acting very much like Jim Duggan here too. Eric Bischoff catches up with Nord for some post-match comments. BREAKING NEWS: John Nord and his axe “Bertha” have been named to the Baron’s Blitzers in the Team Challenge Series! “I used to watch the Baron when I was a little boy!” Let’s not call attention to the age of some of the AWA’s remaining talent.

EVEN MORE BREAKING NEWS: The Main Event of this show will be a Team Challenge Series contest between Baron von Rashke and Wayne “The Train” Bloom in a “Greco-Roman Amateur Wrestling Match.” Now THAT sounds more like Verne Gagne than a Great American Turkey Hunt. It also sounds boring as hell.

“The Illustrious” Jonnie Stewart vs. The Menace:
The Menace is a masked man from Parts Unknown, but the chyron says he’s from Chicago, IL. At least Strangis calls attention to it. No idea who is under the mask of the Menace, so we’ll just assume it’s one of their job guys pulling double duty at the taping. Stewart is doing a spoiled pretty boy gimmick, announced from Pacific Palisades, CA, and seemed like someone the AWA was trying to get behind, but he retired pretty quickly and I believe entered politics.

Lockup and Stewart with a chain sequence, switching to a front chancery and taking the Menace over with a suplex. Stewart plants the Menace with a powerslam and plays to the crowd. Snap mare and twisting elbow drop (Buddy Landel style) for a two-count. Stewart spins around the knee pad and uses the knee to punish the Menace. NOT THE LOADED KNEE PAD GIMMICK! Whip to the ropes and Stewart with a dropkick. Menace reverses a whip and takes Stewart over with a BAAAAAACK body-drop. Stewart quickly cuts him off, spins the knee pad around again, and hit a flying high knee for three at 2:34. We spend a lot of time on a young woman in the front row barking at Stewart. I smell a plant. We don’t get a post-match interview? Now I’m sad.

STILL TO COME… The Greco-Roman Amateur Wrestling Match!

“The California Kid” Tommy Jammer vs. The Tokyo Bullet:
Jammer comes out to “Surfin’ USA” by the Beach Boys. I’d call that an outdated song, but the Beach Boys had a bit of a revival in the late 80’s from what I remember. The Tokyo Bullet is introduced from Tokyo, Japan. I’m shocked we didn’t get another production gaffe. The Bullet spits some red mist before the bell, and that might be his only highlight of the match.

The Bullet gets the jump on Jammer, knocking him out of the ring with a knee to the back. He tries bringing the fight to the floor but ends up taking a back body-drop on the concrete, landing mostly on his ass. He sells it for like 2 seconds and then ignores it. YOU TOOK A BUMP ON CONCRETE AND JUST SHRUGGED IT OFF? Bullet counters a suplex with a JAPANESE sleeper hold! Jammer escapes with an atomic drop and bounces off the ropes with a diving clothesline that mostly whiffs. Bullet fights out of a hammer-lock and hits a snap elbow drop for two. Jammer keeps fighting from underneath, but that EVIL Tokyo Bullet won’t sell a thing, not even an enzuigiri. Jammer avoids a flying splash and it’s time to take this dog home. They somehow blow a cross body spot. I think Jammer was meant to catch and turn him over with a powerslam, but the Bullet gets dumped on his head instead. Still enough for three at 5:35, and the Bullet pops right up after the fall. Atrocious selling from the Tokyo Bullet. Jammer had a decent look, but was nothing special in the ring.

Eric Bischoff is standing by with AWA World Heavyweight Champion Larry Zbyszko in front of an obnoxious-looking green screen logo. Bischoff with the hard hitting questions, like why Zbyszko isn’t taking part in today’s Team Challenge Series Match against Baron von Rashke. Larry dances around the question saying he would wind up getting himself Disqualified because of all the rules that don’t play to his strengths, so Wayne The Train will throw Baron around with his upper-body strength. According to Zbyszko, The Legends and Baron’s Blitzers are tied for first, so this match (assuming it doesn’t end in a draw) will (for the moment) give someone sole possession of first place in the standings.

Ralph Strangis constantly bothers Greg Gagne about him returning to the ring, but Gagne won’t answer him, instead listing off all the possible contenders for Larry Zbyszko’s Championship, including Jumbo Tsuruta, Mr. Saito, and Nikita Koloff.

Lee Marshall with a TEAM CHALLENGE SERIES UPDATE! “Who are the Texas Hangmen?” The guys in masks walking around with nooses? “They’ve been part of the Team Challenge Series since the start” (LIES) and have won points in all the matches they have competed in, including a recent 3-Way Tag Team Battle Royal against Tommy Jammer & Paul Diamond (Baron’s Blitzers) and Jonnie Stewart and Doug Somers (Sarge’s Snipers). I’m assuming Somers is another Wild Card? Oh, and the Hangmen represent Larry’s Legends. Yep. Zbyszko has both heel tag teams as part of his squad. Sarge’s Snipers are in last as the team is still trying to figure things out. Next Week: Yukon John vs Kokina Maximus in a Body Slam Match (LIES).

Baron von Rashke standing by with comments for today’s Main Event. The Claw is not around, but his background was growing up with the Greco-Roman style, and promises to show the people what kind of wrestler Bloom is, and embarrass him in front of all his fans.

Call the AWA Wrestling Fan Line! 1-900-896-2100! Only $0.95 per minute!

The Texas Hangmen vs. Todd Becker & Red Tyler:
The Hangmen are Psycho (Rick Gantner a.k.a. Bull Payne) and Killer (a journeyman who worked under such names as Mean Mike, Mike Moran and Mighty Kodiak). Becker and Tyler are enhancement talent, and fans of the WWF at the time have probably seen them used for syndication as well. Becker is/was a member of Baron’s Blitzers, but this isn’t a Team Challenge Series Match, so I guess it doesn’t matter.

Tyler starts with (flips coin) Psycho. Or maybe Killer. Ralph Strangis and Greg Gagne offer no help on this one, which is always a problem when recapping matches with identical masked men or twins. Lockup to the corner, the Hangman unloads with forearms and rakes the back and chest of Tyler. Becker gets the blind tag and assists Tyler with a sunset flip that means nothing since Becker is the legal man and Tyler is the one executing the move. Becker is caught in the Hangmen corner and Killer (or was it Psycho?) chokes him with the rope. Psycho with a swinging neck breaker and powerslam. Killer gets some shots in and Psycho is back in with a DDT. He stretches Becker with a modified surfboard, which leaves Becker wide open for some kicks from Killer. The Hangmen finish with a combo side slam and flying forearm across the throat at 3:00. Gagne cries about it possibly being illegal and wouldn’t be surprised if they were disqualified had the referee seen the move executed. One of the Hangmen looked pretty good, and overall, it was a fine squash match performance from the duo.

Eric Bischoff standing by with Wayne Bloom for last minute comments before today’s Main Event. Bloom says Zbyszko picked him because he’s a proven winner, having set college weight-lifting records, injuring Ken Patera, and capturing the AWA Tag Team Championship. He calls the Baron “The Human Q-Tip” and with the Claw not a legal hold in such a situation, that gives Bloom the advantage.

Amateur Rules Greco-Roman Wrestling Match:
Baron von Rashke vs. Wayne “The Train” Bloom:
Today’s Main Event and a TEAM CHALLENGE SERIES MATCH. The winner receives 2-points and will have sole possession of 1st place in the standings. After ring introductions, Lee Marshall takes over to give us the details on what a Greco-Roman Rules Match is, calling this a “most interesting match”. Whenever I use the term “interesting” to describe something, 95% of the time it’s a negative reaction. First, we get an explanation on what differentiates Greco-Roman from Catch-Style Wrestling. There are 3 rounds scheduled, each lasting 2-minutes, and between rounds a 30-second rest period. You can win the match by holding your opponent’s shoulders down for a one-count, and points will be awarded for near-falls, takedowns, and escapes, with a decision rendered if we go through all three rounds without a pin-fall.

Greg Gagne explains that the Wrecking Crew have recently fired Johnny Valiant for signing them up for this match… but I thought Larry Zbyszko just told us he differed the match to Bloom? Baron with a takedown but Bloom keeps his shoulders off the canvas. Bloom escapes another waist-lock to earn a point. Bloom saves himself from another pin attempt, getting a foot on the bottom rope. Gagne just said Baron leads 4-0 when the referee clearly signaled a point for Bloom. Round 2 starts with Bloom sweeping the leg, which is NOT allowed. Bloom with a side headlock and punch, followed by a gut-wrench takedown. Does Gagne know how to keep score? The score on the screen now reads 3-2. Whatever. This match is a lot better without the commentary. Round 3 starts and suddenly Baron is up 9-2!!!! WHAT THE HELL IS THE SCORING SYSTEM?!?! Bloom rakes the eyes and hits a cradle takedown into a cover. Baron threatens to use THE CLAW but the referee warns him. Baron with a side takedown and the countdown begins. Mike Enos runs in and it’s a cheap Disqualification with only seconds left on the clock. The Crew take turns hitting Baron with elbows and do their best to hit him with their double-team finish. Tommy Jammer and Paul Diamond run down, but the damage is done. The concept of this wasn’t awful, only the commentary and chyron and their inability to accurately score the action.

Final Thoughts: Not the worst hour of AWA television, especially compared to the November 18th episode of Championship Wrestling. The squashes were fine, and the main event was a gimmick match that actually plays to the strengths of one of their stars and was something their local market and fans would actually care about. The January 6th, 1990 episode of All-Star Wrestling is next, so we’ll see how that John Nord vs Kokina match turns out (Spoilers: Nope).