Great Lakes All-Star Wrestling #2: 7/14/1984
Video clips play of the big Georgia super show. Clips of Hacksaw Butch Reed vs. Buzz Sawyer for the AWA National Title are playing when suddenly it stops towards the end and we're in the studio. Buzz Sawyer is out and he's got Gordie Solie by the tie.
Sawyer: What is this [censored] you're showing. You're making me look like some kind of goof. Why don't you show the parts where I had a biased referee in there looking out for his buddy. I was screwed over and everyone knows it. This is just propaganda from the AWA to make their golden boy down in Georgia look good. I have half a mind to sock you one Gordie.
Gordie tries to pull away but Buzz keeps a tight grip on the tie and milks like he's going to punch him to huge boos from the studio crowd. Suddenly Hacksaw Jim Duggan stomps out and nails Sawyer with a big right hand. Solie feels as Duggan and Sawyer flip the announce table. Bruiser Brody comes out and picks up the announce table and nails the brawling Duggan and Sawyer with it. Brett Wayne Sawyer running dives onto the camera and tackles Buzz Sawyer. Duggan and Brody start tossing fans out of their seats and throwing the chairs at each other. Fans can be seen fleeing the studio in terror as the camera focuses on Gordie Solie.
Solie: What do you want me to do. Go to commercial and get security in here.
The commercial break is triple the length as it's obvious to anyone watching that something is going on. They come back from break with Solie in the control room.
Solie: We're back and this melee is still going and they've beaten up every security guard in the building. We've even lost a cameraman as I think it was Duggan threw a chair right in his face. The studio is just absolutely destroyed. We're trying to get volunteers to go back in there and film this but as you can imagine we aren't getting any takers.
Verne Gagne walks in looking absolutely pissed. He points to one of the men standing next to Solie.
Gagne: Grab a camera, it's worth $1000 to you. I've had enough of this and I am getting this back under control.
Verne stomps into the studio and it looks like the aftermath of a horrible barroom brawl. Not a single chair is left standing. One of the large hard cameras has been pushed on it's side. Even some of the lighting on the ceiling has been pulled down. Verne surveys the scene in absolute shock and then finds a mic and walks near where the four men are still brawling.
Gagne: Stop, stop this right now. If you don't stop right now you all are going to be fired and I will see to it that you all get blackballed from the AWA.
All four men stop dead in their tracks.
Gagne: Good. You want to beat each other up? Fine with me. Get in that ring right now and go at it. No time limit, no DQs and no count outs. Kill yourselves. I don't care because you've probably done 20 grand worth of damage in here. You know what. I'll even referee this thing.
Verne Gagne gets in the ring and starts yelling at all 4 men to have the match. Brody, Duggan and the Sawyers are standing looking shocked and slowly start getting on the ring apron and talking before they start having a match.
Special Referee: Verne Gagne
Brett Wayne Sawyer and Hacksaw Jim Duggan defeated Bruiser Brody and Buzz Sawyer at 22:45
Both teams kept this surprisingly low key for most of the match. Brody and Buzz worked over Brett with some real roughneck moves for most of the match. Duggan made the hot tag and cleaned house on the heels. Ending came when Duggan grabbed a 2x4 from under the ring and broke it on Brody's back and then hit the Flying Spear for the win.
Great Lakes Heavyweight Champion Harley Race is in the control center with Gordie Solie.
Solie: Due to the graphic nature of the match, we aren't allowed to show highlights. I also want to announce that Tommy Rich was hospitalized due to his injuries sustained in that match. We probably won't be seeing him for the next few weeks.
Race: I just want to say, get well Tommy. I am going to say this for Tommy Rich. There are few men in this sport that I have a true respect for but Tommy Rich is one of them. He might not be the most talented guys out there but he's got more heart and determination than just about anyone. Tommy when you get out of the hospital, that return match will be waiting for you. I may put you back in the hospital but I will gladly defend this belt against you.
Solie: You have become the first ever Great Lakes Heavyweight Champion. How does that feel?
Race: Gordie, you and I have met in promotions all over this great country and you've seen me win more hardware than anyone. I am a 7 time World Champion, I have won titles from almost every state in the union. But let me tell you, this is one handsome belt. I have to give it to the Great Lakes brass. This is a classy championship belt and it is an honor and a privilege to hold it. Now, with the nice things out of the way. I am the man in the sport of pro wrestling and I am here to rule the Great Lakes region with an iron fist. I am taking on all comers. Tommy Rich, that rematch is waiting for you. Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Terry Taylor, Mike George... you boys want a shot then sign on the dotted line. The Harley Race School of Pro Wrestling is open and I am not accepting students.
Masked Superstar defeated Bubba Smith at 3:00
Superstar nailed the Superstar Clothesline and then locked on the Cobra Clutch to pick up a quick victory.
Verne Gagne is in the control center with Gordie Solie.
Solie: We've got a couple of things to discuss here. First of all, we saw at the top of the hour that Ted Dibiase is the new AWA World Heavyweight Champion.
Gagne: Yes, Ted is a great wrestler and I think he will really carry the banner for the AWA. I can't wait for him to come to the Great Lakes region and put the belt on the line against some the top stars here.
Solie: And next up, you have an announcement for us this week.
Gagne: Yes, we have a show coming up in Cleveland, OH on the 28th of July. We wanted to do something special for the people of Cleveland so we're having a 16 man tournament. And the winner of this tournament is going to drive away with a brand new 1984 Chevrolet Camaro.
Shawn Michaels excitedly comes out.
Michaels: This is great. I can't wait to get into this tournament. Wow, a Camaro. That would be great to drive.
Masked Superstar comes out.
Superstar: Whoa, whoa, whoa... can you even drive kid? Maybe you should try winning some matches before you start trying to get in a tournament with the big boys.
Michaels: Hey, I might surprise some people.
Superstar: Tell you what kid. I whooped you in Georgia last week in under 10 minutes. How about, if you can go 10 minutes with me next week I'll vouch for you and get Verne to put you in the tournament. You don't even have to beat me, just go 10 minutes.
Michaels: That sounds good to me. See you next week.
Solie: This seems uncharacteristic of you.
Superstar: What do I care. That punk hasn't lasted 10 minutes with half the roster so far. I'll polish him off in less than 10 minutes no problem. That car is a car for men not little teenie boppers in over their heads. Next week, don't blink because you might miss it.
Brad Rheingans defeated Black Gordman at 4:17
AWA National Tag Team Champions The Fantastics are with Gordie Solie in the control center.
Solie: I am here with the new AWA National Tag Team Champions The Fantastics. They defeated the Long Riders at the Georgia supershow for the belts.
Rogers: That's right Gordie and we are thrilled to bring these belts to the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes region is the place to be for tag team wrestling in the United States. We've got teams lining up to get a shot at these belts.
Fulton: Yeah, there are a lot of great teams here. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the High Flyers and the Poffos in the ring. The competition is absolutely tough as nails here.
Main Event:
Elimination Match:
Lanny Poffo defeated Danny Fargo at 5:03
Iron Sheik defeated Angelo Poffo at 9:30
George Weingeroff defeated Greg Gagne at 11:38
Lanny Poffo defeated George Weingeroff at 15:57
Ivan Koloff defeated Jim Brunzell at 18:18
Lanny Poffo defeated Iron Sheik at 21:58
Ivan Koloff defeated Lanny Poffo at 29:52 to become the sole survivor
Gordie Solie is in the control center.
Solie: Hopefully they'll get the TV studio repaired for the next week's show. In the main event the Masked Superstar will face Shawn Michaels. If Michaels can go 10 minutes with the Superstar he will get into that Cleveland, OH tournament. Also in action will be Scott Hall, Don Carsen and Larry Hamilton and Great Lakes Heavyweight Champion Harley Race. Join us next week for the best wrestling action in the AWA!
I disagree with this. You could change the shows instantly if you had total freedom. You could have Braun murder Shane on air tomorrow and write him off for good and you could instantly depush Corbin and no one would blink. The problem is you are handcuffed by the process and that's going to hamper them. Though I don't know why people are excited for either guy. Bischoff was terrible in TNA and Heyman has had his hands in creative for years and Lesnar's stuff has been pretty hit or miss.