AWA Championship Wrestling Review – 01.01.90

It’s been a while since we tackled some Team Challenge Series era AWA, and I’ve already suffered enough with 3 months worth of ROH TV, so time to change up my method of torture. When we last looked at the AWA, we closed out 1989 with an episode of All-Star Wrestling, featuring a Main Event of Baron von Rashke vs Wayne “The Train” Bloom in an Amateur Rules Greco-Roman Wrestling Match (and yes, it had a bull-finish). You might find it hard to believe, but the scoring system was confusing and inconsistent, too.

Lee Marshall and Ralph Strangis are hanging around ringside to call the action, unless otherwise noted, and Eric Bischoff appears via 3rd-rate green screen for some hype work. Today’s Team Challenge Series MAIN EVENT is a Slam Match featuring Yukon John Nord and the “475 pound” Kokina Maximus. We’ll also see The Texas Hangmen and Masa Saito in action.

“The California Kid” Tommy Jammer vs. Bad Boy Brown:
We might as well get used to seeing Tommy Jammer every week with how thin the roster is at this point. Always worth noting the entrance music choices, with Jammer coming out to the Beach Boys’ “Surfin USA”. Interestingly they use a song about SURFING and the play-by-play talks about his SKATEBOARDING ability. I wonder if his skills rival that of Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas. I wish I had information on Bad Boy Brown, but there’s nothing. Every “Bad Boy Brown” I come across refers to a little-person professional wrestler. Judging by his look and ability displayed in this match, I’m assuming a guy that was learning on the job and walked away from the business immediately. Lockup and they trade waist-locks until Brown goes to the ropes. Another lockup takes them into the ropes, with Jammer giving a clean break. Brown throws some pathetic forearms and Jammer responds with a boot to the chest. He sends Brown to the turnbuckle and connects with a dropkick. Abdominal stretch applied AND BROWN SUBMITS AT 1:32. We’re told that Jammer was taught the hold by VERNE GAGNE HIMSELF.

Eric Bischoff is standing by from his green screen of death to notify us that we will see Yukon John in action TWICE, in our advertised Main Event AND a match from several weeks ago…

“Yukon” John Nord vs. The Menace:
I pine for the days of masked jobbers with intimidating names. Despite being told this is an older match, the commentary is fresh, talking about New Year’s, so who the hell knows what the process was for putting these shows together. Nord’s got his axe named Bertha and comes out to Creedance’s “Bad Moon Rising.” Last week on AWA TV, we were informed that Nord was recruited onto the roster of Baron’s Blitzers. Menace opens by running at Nord and getting knocked on his butt. Nord with a straight boot to the face followed by a WOLF HOWL. Lee Marshall talks about him being as big as a Timberwolf, which leads to a random shoutout to Bill Musselman and the Expansion Basketball Team. Nord holds the Menace up for a delayed powerslam. He bounces off the ropes FOUR TIMES and drops the leg for three at 1:58. Well, that was certainly a match.

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The Texas Hangmen vs. Red Tyler & Jimmy Magnum:
Speaking of people we will see ALL THE TIME, Jimmy Magnum in the house, fresh from the beaches of Honolulu, HI. The Hangmen represent Larry’s Legends, a team that features not one but TWO of the very few established teams on the AWA roster (the other being the Champions, the Destruction Crew). I swear, the Hangmen squash a team of jobbers that features Tyler at least 15 times. I love that the Hangmen have studded hoods over their masks. I guess Demolition ripped THEM off when they did that gimmick later in the year (or probably dozens of other teams over the years, but let me have fun).

Killer starts, shoving Tyler into the corner and throwing up the horns. Killer with a shot to the throat, followed by a snap mare and knee across the face. Tyler takes a tumble to the arena floor, where Psycho greets him with more punishment. Lee Marshall doesn’t even try to bother attempting identification, just “one of the Hangmen.” I can’t blame him. Back inside, Tyler continues taking a beating on the wrong side of the tracks. “That’s Killer in the ring, we’ve been told.” “Killer doesn’t have the arm pad” is their way to make identification. Magnum is lured into the ring and the Hangmen finish with their own version of the Decapitation at 2:43. Wow, these squashes are not messing around, getting them in and out.

Eric Bischoff standing by with Paul “Hard Rock” Diamond. Next week, there’s going to be a Six-Man Tag Team, Team Challenge Series Main Event™, and it will be held under Battle Royal Rules. Wait… Diamond is teaming with Tommy Jammer (representing the Blitzers) and mentions the Texas Hangmen (Larry’s Legends). Oh, there’s also “The Illustrious” Jonnie Stewart and Doug Somers (representing Sarge’s Snipers), so no, it’s NOT a Six-Man Tag, it’s a Three-Tag Team Battle Royal.

We come back from break with more from Eric Bischoff. He announces that on January 8th, Championship Wrestling will dedicate the entire card to Team Challenge Series matches. We segue to the news of Larry Zbyszko signing up for a match against “The Unknown Soldier”, and we’re going to see that match… NOW.

AWA World Championship Match:
Larry Zbyszko (c) vs. The Unknown Solider:
OK, so the best I can come up with is that the Soldier (AWA talent Ricky Rice working under a mask and in military fatigues) is a lower-level guy who is not a threat to the Championship, which explains Zbyszko willingly signing a contract to defend the Championship, BUT SWERVE, the Soldier comes out and doesn’t seem to be anything close to the same body type of the REAL Unknown Soldier. Zbyszko flips out about this, knocking down the ring announcer and telling everyone they suck, but Bischoff jumps on the apron to tell Larry the contract is valid and the match is official.

Despite the bell ringing, Zbyszko hangs out on the apron, not wanting anything to do with this match. I know, Larry Zbyszko stalling, I would have never guessed it myself. We cut ahead in the action, to Larry sending the Soldier into the corner and the Soldier popping out with a clothesline. The mask comes off and IT’S MR. SAITO! NO WAY! I thought it was Baron von Rashke. He unloads on Zbyszko with chops and headbutts, then takes him down with a Fujiwara arm bar. Another cut and Larry is desperately grabbing at the leg of the referee as Saito sets him up for the Scorpion Death Lock. Side-angled suplex for a two-count. “This arena is loving it!” I don’t know, the floor seat fans look bored. Larry with a handful of tights, throwing Saito out of the ring. Larry follows, sending Saito into the post. Back inside, Zbyszko muscles him over with a suplex for two. Saito with the comeback, and this time Larry successfully drags the referee to the floor with him, and that’s the DQ at 4:58 (shown). The fighting continues, with the Hangmen and Tommy Jammer among others trying to break it up. I liked the action, but it will be interesting to see if this means anything going forward (Note: I’m not going to spoil future matches/angles, so play along with me).

Did you like watching Mr. Saito? Well, here we go with a second helping…

Mr. Saito vs. Todd Becker:
The crowd gives Saito an ice cold reception for his introduction. I’m sure all 80 people in attendance are hip to International Pro Wrestling. Friendly reminder that Becker, a job guy, was drafted to Baron’s Blitzers when the Team Challenge Series teams were set. Lockup to the ropes and a clean break. Saito grabs a front face-lock and transitions into a mount and Fujiwara arm bar, sending Becker to the ropes. Saito with a huge hip toss out of the corner, followed by a slam. BREAKING NEWS: Kokina’s involvement in today’s Main Event is in jeopardy, as his transportation has delayed his arrival. WOW, YOU HYPED THE MATCH ALL SHOW AND PULL THAT CARD NOW?! Saito continues the destruction of Becker and finishes with the side-angle suplex at 2:16. Saito’s style of work fits the AWA, but I don’t know if it fits a 2-minute squash match.

Team Challenge Series Update with Lee Marshall! More hype for next week’s episode of Championship Wrestling, with a 4pm start time on ESPN. The entire episode will be dedicated to the Team Challenge Series, featuring THREE blockbuster matches. We’ll see an Amateur Greco Roman Wrestling Contest between Baron von Rashke and Wayne “The Train” Bloom… wait, WE SAW THAT MATCH ON THE DECEMBER 30th EPISODE OF ALL-STAR WRESTLING! In the second match, we’ve got a “Football Classic” between The Trooper and “Mean” Mike Enos, and in our Main Event, it’s a 6-Man Tag Team Over-The-Top Battle Royal featuring Paul Diamond and Tommy Jammer, The Texas Hangmen, and Jonnie Stewart and THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER (didn’t we just see a promo where Paul Diamond mentioned Doug Somers?!). There’s just so much going wrong now. We’re pulling a bait-and-switch with today’s Main Event and this TCS is a mess.

Eric Bischoff is standing by with Sheik Adnan-Al-Kaissie. He says that Kokina Maximus is ready for the match and will destroy anyone who gets in his way… BUT HE’S NOT HERE YET! It’s snowing everywhere in the world, and he’ll send a Jet to pick him up if necessary. Bischoff doesn’t seem impressed and hypes Yukon Nord and “Someone”.

Call the AWA Hotline at 1-900-896-2100! Ask Verne Gagne his prediction on wrestling in the 90’s or tell them if you were the promoter what matches you would want to see!

Team Challenge Series; Body Slam Match:
Yukon John Nord (w/ Baron von Rashke) vs. Sheik Adnan Al-Kassie (w/ Larry Zbyszko):
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Lee Marshall is in the ring to explain the rules of this Team Challenge Series Match; Pinfalls, Submission and Count-Outs do not count, and the slam can take place inside or outside the ring. Also, notice he didn’t mention Disqualifications! AWA legal explains that Al-Kassie signed the contract as Kokina’s second and must fill in for him for not appearing. Wow. I guess that’s a contract stipulation exclusive to the AWA.

The bell rings and Al-Kassie is doing his best Larry Zbyszko impression of hiding on the apron and wanting nothing to do with this match. OH MY GOD… Lee Marshall explains John Nord’s babyface turn by name dropping Bruiser Brody and Adrian Adonis, and saying Nord ran a hard life and wants to make himself a better person. Lockup and Al-Kassie complained that the hair was pulled. Nord unloads on Al-Kassie and hits the taunt button. Al-Kassie grabs a side headlock and you know that isn’t working out well. Larry with the distraction, allowing Al-Kassie to get the jump and briefly hold control with a variety of eye and back rakes. Nord shrugs him off and hits a straight boot to the face, but Al-Kassie blocks the slam attempt. Al-Kassie goes back to raking the eyes and back to slow Nord down, but that only lasts so long before Nord fires himself up. He chases Al-Kassie around the ring and runs over Zbyszko in the process. Baron von Rashke cuts off Al-Kassie and Nord hits the big slam for the victory at 8:37. We get a post-match promo from Nord and Rashke, complete with a big ol’ WOLF HOWL. As good/bad as a 9-minute match you’ll expect with a broken old Adnan Al-Kassie where the goal is to slam your opponent.

Final Thoughts: It’s the Team Challenge Series era of AWA, so you know that we’re not getting through an entire episode with some awful shenanigans, and in this case, not only did we get our usual sloppy post-production mistakes when editing segments, but hyping a Main Event and then more than halfway into the show, playing the “uh-oh, we’re having travel delays” card to explain why we’re getting some bait-and-switch garbage. Also, Lee Marshall using the deaths of Bruiser Brody and Adrian Adonis to explain John Nord’s babyface turn is complete garbage.