AWA SUNDAY SHOWCASE #3
May 9th, 1983
MECCA Auditorium, Milwaukee, WI
The show starts with a video package of what went down in the 2 first Sunday Showcases, including Tiger Mask capturing the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship from Nelson Royal in the main event of the first Sunday Showcase.
We then go to the interview with Mean Gene Okerlund standing by with the 4 men who took part in the Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Showcase that featured the debut of Johnny Saint in the AWA. "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal said it was a real honor and privilege for him to team with someone as talented as Johnny Saint. Saint returns the favor and also compliments the work of young Troy Martin on the opposing side of the ring that night. "Rock N' Roll" Buck Zumhofe isn't that thrilled about the whole thing. Not because of the loss in itself but more about the fact that he got beat up and bloodied by somebody. Zumhofe says he was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of who it was behind all that blood but he saw blond hair, a suit & sequins so he figured it was a Heenan Family member so Zumhofe went to AWA President Stanley Blackburn and demanded a match with Nick Bockwinkel later in the show, which he obtained. Zumhofe promises revenge on Bockwinkel for what he did to him. Either way, it's also announced that all 4 men will meet in an Encore in the live event scheduled for May 17th. The main event of that card will feature Verne Gagne defending the AWA World Heavyweight Championship vs Tor Kamata
A bit later in the show, Bobby Heenan walks to the ring with Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens as they're about to introduce the newest member of the Heenan Family. Heenan first comments on the accusations levied by Buck Zumhofe and laughs it off but accepted the request anyway just to entertain themselves. Nick Bockwinkel puts in very eloquent terms the fact he'll wipe the floor with Zumhofe but wouldn't stoop to the level of doing what was done to Zumhofe last week anyway but he'll make an example out of him. Bobby Heenan regains the mic and introduces the newest member of his family to the crowd in Milwaukee: Larry Zbyszko! Zbyszko walks confidently to the ring and shakes hands with Heenan and the rest of the Heenan Family. Zbyszko said that at the early stage of his career, he was under the tutelage of Bruno Sammartino and while he learned a lot from him, he had to go through the next to become a Living Legend and that's where Bobby Heenan steps in. Zbyszko wants to be associated with no one but winners and in his book, the Heenan Family are winners. Zbyszko says he won't be as ungrateful as Big Daddy Bundy and won't turn his back on Heenan the first chance he gets. Zbyszko is in for the long haul and will make the team proud. Bockwinkel then steps in the ring for his scheduled match.
But before that match, Stanley Blackburn, AWA President, comes to the ring and makes the following announcement that he has secured the rights for NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race to appear on AWA's Sunday Showcase to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on Sunday, June 27th. The challenger isn't known yet but Blackburn gives himself a couple of months to find the right challenger for Harley Race that night.
Match #1
Nick Bockwinkel (w/The Heenan Family) beat Buck Zumhofe in 14:40
Before the main event, some unseen footage from after the first Sunday Showcase in the locker room is shown with Tiger Mask celebrating with other babyfaces when AWA World Tag Team Champions the East-West Connection, interrupted to taunt the new NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion. Tempers flare but oddly enough, it isn't Tiger Mask who throws the first punch...but Tito Santana to Jesse Ventura! A melee ensues between all 4 men, which took several other wrestlers to separate. Mean Gene Okerlund then announces that AWA President Stanley Blackburn has been looking at the incident and has decided that next Saturday May 15th, The East-West Connection will be defending their AWA World Tag Team Championship against the team of Tito Santana and the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask!
Main Event
Match #2
Tito Santana beat Brad Batten in 11:46
The next Sunday Showcase is scheduled for Sunday June 13th
Satoshi Kojima debuting on Impact next week + Violent by Design beating FinJuice for the Impact Tag titles caught my interest. Imagine VBD using the Freebird rule. This could be fun.