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Wow, that is a pretty blockbuster trade.

AWA welcomes Koko Ware.

AWA house show at the Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, August 11th Gama Singh vs. Chavo Guerrero Guerrero won with the top rope flying senton Rip Oliver, Ed Wiskowski & Rick Rude vs. The Latin Lovers & Jack Armstrong The Playboy Club won when Rude hit the Rude Awakening DDT on Valentino “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell vs. One Man Gang Both men went to a double countout while brawling outside the ring Curt Hennig & Greg Gagne vs. Manny Fernandez & Mike Shaw Hennig & Gagne won with a double dropkick on Fernandez AWA American Title match : Tito Santana © vs. Buddy Rose Santana won with the Mexican Hammer forearm AWA Southern Tag Title match : The Nor-Am Express © vs. Badd Company The Nor-Am Express won when Zenk hit a flying cross body press on Diamond AWA World Tag Title match : The Mothership Connection © vs. The Cuban Commandos The Mothership Connection won when Parsons got Morrow with the top rope Rumper Stumper AWA World Title match : Ken Patera © vs. Ron Garvin The match went to a no contest by blood stoppage on both men

The AWA has traded Jimmy Garvin and Precious for Wahoo McDaniel.

Rude is a bit of a tricky one to write appropriate to the period. At this point, he was still a very raw rookie and not the dominant Rude we remember from the early 90s. And yet, at the same time period in real life, he was feuding with Lawler. I think I am managing to get the diamond in the rough qualities in my writing of him.

AWA show at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, August 10th (as shown on ESPN Super Cards) Rick Rude vs “Wild Man” Jack Armstrong Rude won with the Rude Awakening DDT Cuban Commandos vs The Latin Lovers The Commandos won when Angel Acevedo got an over the shoulder neck breaker on Javier Cruz Tito Santana & Da Crusher vs. Bad New Allen & Don Muraco The Bad News Breakers won when Allen hit the enzuigiri on Crusher Curt Hennig vs. Manny Fernandez Hennig won with the Axe Lariat AWA Southern Tag title match : The Nor-Am Express © vs. Al Perez & Ricky Santana The Express won when Lafon landed a flying back body press on Santana AWA Southern Title match : Ricky Steamboat © vs. Buddy Rose When Steamboat was lining Rose up for a top rope flying cross body press when Rick Rude knocked him off the top rope, leading to a DQ decision for Steamboat AWA World Tag Title match : The Mothership Connection © vs. Mike George & Mr. Olympia Throughout the match, the Sinister Syndicate worked over Parsons’ injured shoulder. It looked like it was all over when Olympia locked Parsons in the Full Nelson, but eventually Iceman was able to make it to the ropes to break up the hold. Olympia attempted to put the Full Nelson back on, but Parsons was able to make the tag out to Master Gee, who came in with a sunset flip on Olympia to get the win. AWA World Title match : Ken Patera © vs. Ron Garvin Garvin won by count out when he knocked Patera off the ringside apron with the Hands Of Stone Punch. Patera maintained the World Title

AWA All-Star Wrestling on ESPN for August 10th Great Gama Singh vs. Chavo Guerrero This was an interesting match up, pitting the popular Guerrero who newly arrived in the AWA against Great Gama, who has been slowly but surely rising in the rankings. In spite of Singh’s history as a cut throat competitor, this was an exciting technical match up that looked like it could go either way throughout the match. Singh managed to get the Cobra Clutch on Chavo, but Guererro was quickly able to grab the ropes to break up the hold. Gama then tried to re-apply the hold, only for Chavo to wrap him up in a small package to get the pin. Gama Singh was clearly livid after the match and demanding a re-match. The Long Riders vs. The Latin Lovers The Latin Lovers have had a lot of difficulty regaining their momentum since the defection of Al Perez, and they never really got out of first gear in this match. The huge Irwin Brothers whipped them from pillar to post, sending both Valentino and Perez flying around the ring before finally polishing off Valentino with a big double lariat. Here’s hoping that the Lovers do find their Mojo again, and soon. Curt Hennig vs. Manny Fernandez While the arrival of up and comer Curt Hennig has made the AWA fans very happy, one person who has been distinctly unhappy about this turn of events has been the Ragin’ Bull Manny Fernandez. He made his feelings very clear in this match as he furiously attacked Hennig throughout this match. Somewhat surprisingly, for someone who has made his name as a technical wrestler, Hennig proved to be just at ease in a knock-down, drag-out brawl. Hennig matched Fernandez shot for shot and was not thrown when a swinging punch from the Ragin’ Bull bloodied his lip, firing back with a series of blows that busted open a gash above Manny’s eye. Fernandez sought to polish him off when he whipped him hard into the corner and came in fast with a forearm, only for Hennig to stagger him by getting his knees up at the last second, before following up with a sunset flip that got the three count. Hennig didn’t have long to celebrate , though, as Fernandez ambushed him from behind and threw him out of the ring. He then got on the mic and challenged Hennig to a loser leaves town match at the August 31st show in Winnipeg, which Hennig eagerly accepted. Paul Orndorff vs. Rip Oliver Orndorff has been gunning for the members of the Sinister Syndicate lately, but this time out would be taking on one tough customer in part of the Playboy Club, Crippler Rip Oliver. Oliver was determined that Mr. Wonderful would not look past him as he brawled with Orndorff. Orndorff would not be denied, however, as he wound up taking Oliver down with a series of impressive power slams before finally planting him with the Piledriver. Orndorff is certainly turning up the heat on the Syndicate and they had best be concerned about his challenge. Iceman Parsons vs. Mr. Olympia Speaking of the Sinister Syndicate, they are currently ramping up their own challenge to the AWA World Tag titles, currently held by the Mothership Connection. In this match, one member of each team would square off in a singles match, and as could be predicted , both men had their partners in their corner to watch their back. Olympia, however, added the additional distraction of his manager, Sheikh Adnan Kaissie. For the most part , Parsons did not let that get to him as he befuddled Olympia with his crowd pleasing moves and antics. He was finally thrown off guard, however, when Kaissie swatted at him from the ringside area. This provoked a response from Master Gee, who tackled the Sheikh to the ground. While the ref was distracted by this, Mike George rushed into the ring and hit Parsons with a huge shoulder breaker before bailing out to ringside. When the ref turned, all he could see was Olympia putting Parsons in the belly to belly piledriver to get the pin. Parsons was clearly hurt very badly as Master Gee helped him from the ring. Buddy Rose & Rick Rude vs. Ricky Steamboat & Tito Santana Rick Rude has certainly plunged into the thick of the action since his arrival in the AWA, going from joining the Playboy Club to a tag match against two of the AWA’s singles champions. This was an especially exciting match, with the momentum of the action swinging back and forth, first with Steamboat and Santana dominant, then the Playboy Club pulling the balance of power back into their favor. Rude in particular was particularly aggressive , which Santana and Steamboat took advantage of as they were able to lure him into various predicaments through his eagerness to be part of the action. He finally snapped and trapped Santana in a corner and started firing wild haymakers at him. The ref tried to separate the two , and for his troubles got a Rude Awakening DDT to the mat. Rose had to pull him off Santana and calm him down as the ref dragged himself to the ropes to call for the DQ on the Playboy Club. For all of his impressive physique and skills, Rude is going to need to get control over his temper if he is going to make it in the AWA.

One small correction on mine, Super Destroyer has been unmasked as Scott Irwin.

Sounds good.

AWA show at the Met Center in Bloomington, August 3rd (as shown on ESPN Super Cards) The Cuban Commandos & Gama Singh vs. The Nor-Am Express The Nor-Am Express won with Chavo Guerrero hit Gerry Morrow with the flying senton Al Perez vs. Master Gee Al Perez won with the German Suplex Rick Rude & Rip Oliver vs. The Latin Lovers The Playboy Club won when Rude got the Rude Awakening DDT on Valentino Curt Hennig, Greg Gagne & “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell vs. Manny Fernandez, Mike Shaw & Buck Robley Hennig’s team won when he nailed Robley with the Axe Lariat The Road Warriors vs. The Long Riders The decision was a double DQ when both teams used the bullropes AWA American Title match : Tito Santana © vs. Bob Sweetan Santana won with the Mexican Hammer Flying Forearm. After the match, Santana was attacked by Don Muraco and Bad New Allen Ron Garvin & Paul Orndorff vs. Ken Patera & One Man Gang Garvin’s team won when he knocked out One Man Gang with the Hands Of Stone Punch

AWA All-Star Wrestling on ESPN for August 3rd Don Muraco vs. “Wild Man” Jack Armstrong This would be the first in-ring appearance for Muraco on All-Star Wrestling since his return to the AWA and he looked like he was out to make a statement with this match. His opponent, “Wild Man” Jack Armstrong, tried to make a dent in Muraco’s armor with big swinging fists and clotheslines, but soon found himself overwhelmed by the Magnificent One’s incredible power and size. Muraco crushed Armstrong with a series of slams and suplexes before finally putting him away with the belly-to-belly piledriver. With this big gun in the arsenal of the Bad News Breakers , Steamboat and Santana have a lot to be concerned about. The Latin Lovers vs. Al Perez & Ricky Santana At last, the Latin Lovers finally had a tag match where they would face off with their former partner, Al Perez, who was teaming with the man who attacked them last week, now revealed as Ricky Santana. The Lovers came on strong at first, with their experienced teamwork and quick tags. Little by little, though, Perez and Santana started to gradually take over the match, one cheap shot and one eye gouge at a time. The Latin Lovers looked like they would take it back when Javier Cruz was setting up Perez for El Volantin, but Santana broke that up with a nasty clip to the back of Cruz’s leg, followed by Perez getting the Ally-Copter for the pin. Da Crusher vs. Bad News Allen The first solo match that Bad News Allen had in the AWA is up against one of the sport’s legendary brawlers and it was as unrefined as one would expect. For much of the match, it was just flying fists with the momentum swinging back and forth, but Allen started to take over the match with a series of powerful judo styled throws and he wound up knocking out Da Crusher with the enzuigiri for the win. Chavo Guerrero vs. Chick Donovan Chavo had recently dominated Badd Company in the recent Six Man match and he just as easily controlled their third man, Chick Donovan, in this singles match. No matter what the Golden One tried, he consistently found himself outclassed and outsmarted at every turn by Guerrero, who took the last of the wind out his sails with a belly to back suplex before nailing a top rope senton for the extremely impressive victory. Interview : Ken Resnick stands in the ring. Resnick introduces his next guest, Ron Garvin. Garvin comes to the ring and says that he has some sad news, due to the injuries he received at the hands of Ken Patera and Mike George, his brother Jimmy Garvin would not be returning to the AWA. He said it broke his heart to see his brother go out like that, but he was going to let that inspire him to carry out his brother’s quest, and that he would get his revenge by beating Ken Patera for the World Title. This prompted the champion himself to come out to the ring. Patera said that Jimmy Garvin was a punk that got what he had coming to him, and that if Ron Garvin didn’t watch his mouth, he would send him out just like he sent out his worthless brother. At this point, Garvin decided to let his fists make his rebuttal, as he blasted Patera in the jaw with the Hands Of Stone Punch. Patera dropped to the mat like a poleaxed steer, and the crowd watched in stunned amazement as Ron Garvin slowly walked from the ring, leaving the dazed Patera behind him. Buddy Rose, Rip Oliver & Rick Rude vs. Ricky Steamboat & The Mothership Connection Well, it looks like the Playboy Club won the bidding war for Ravishing Rick Rude. Rude was all over this match, charging in even when he wasn’t the legal man in the ring, regardless of who was in at the time. While his older partners in the Club focused their attention on Ricky Steamboat, Rude didn’t seem to care who he was facing, angrily attacking any of the opposition with furious punches. At one point, he clotheslined Master Gee out of the ring and then went outside and gave him the Rude Awakening DDT on the ringside mat. This would have been an ideal time to get back in the ring, but Rude kept on putting the boots to Master Gee until they were both counted out, and had to be pulled off him by Rose and Oliver. The Playboy Club may have added a thoroughbred to their stable, but he will need some coaching if he is going to reach his potential.

The AWA is proud to welcome PNW under our banner.

This works for me.

I'd prefer to keep things as they are.

AWA show at the Winnipeg Arena, Winnipeg (as shown on ESPN Super Cards) Rick Rude vs. Vinnie Valentino Rick Rude won with the Rude Awakening DDT Da Crusher vs. Rip Oliver Oliver won with a double leg cradle with his feet on the ropes Al Perez vs. Javier Cruz Perez won with the Ally-Copter. After the match, Perez & the mystery man and the Latin Lovers brawled Curt Hennig vs. Manny Fernandez Hennig won with the Axe lariat AWA World Tag Titles match : The Mothership Connection © vs. Mr. Olympia & Mike George Both teams went to a 30 minute time limit draw Rick Martel, Tito Santana & Ricky Steamboat vs. The Bad News Breakers In a shocking result, The Bad News Breakers won when Muraco hit Santana with the belly to belly piledriver AWA World Title Match : Ken Patera © vs. Ron Garvin In an intense, bloody match, Patera won after powerslamming Garvin into an exposed turnbuckle

AWA All-Star Wrestling on ESPN for July 27th Rick Rude vs. “Wild Man” Jack Armstrong After his successful debut last week, Rude was now taking on the Wild Man, who came out swinging against the Ravishing One. While it looked like Rude might get overwhelmed by the veteran, he fired back with his own intensity and ultimately was able to hit the Rude Awakening DDT on Armstrong to get another victory. Similar to last week’s appearance by the Playboy Club, this time it was Bad News Allen, Don Muraco and Bob Sweetan who were seen at the back of the arena, deep in discussion with each other as they observed the match. Could there be a bidding war between the Bad News Breakers and the Playboy Club for the services of this impressive rookie? Road Warrior Animal vs. “Wild” Bill Irwin The Road Warriors had recently sent Billy Jack Haynes out of the AWA and ended the partnership of the Wild Bills. Bill Irwin was now taking on Animal on his own and seemed a bit off balance throughout the match but still was clearly bent on avenging his fallen partner. He gradually got back in the game with some powerful lariats, only for Animal to crank up his power offense, bowling him over with massive shoulder blocks. Animal then got Irwin in a big bear hug. It was at this point that Wild Bill’s brother, Scott Irwin (recently unmasked as the Super Destroyer) charged the ring and attacked Animal with the cow bell. This prompted Hawk to come in and the two sides brawled until the AWA officials intervened. It looks like Wild Bill has found his new partner to take on the Road Warriors. Al Perez vs. Javier Cruz Having beaten Vinnie Valentino last week, Perez was now facing his other former partner in the Latin Lovers, although that did not stop Valentino from showing up at ringside and jawing with Perez. Perez ignored him for much of the match, but Valentino refused to let it slide, demanding answers from the Latin Heartthrob. He ultimately jumped up on the ringside apron, only to be pulled down and attacked by a mysterious man who had appeared at ringside. While the ref’s attention was on the action outside the ring, Perez took advantage of the distraction by ambushing Cruz with a nasty clip from behind to the leg. He then got Cruz up in the Ally-Copter for the cheap win. Non-Title Match : Badd Company & Chick Donovan vs. The Nor-Am Express The AWA Six Man Tag titles were not on the line in this match, where Badd Company gloated on the mic before that there was no way the Nor-Am Express would find a partner after what they did to Jose Lothario two weeks ago (injuring him and sending him out of the AWA). To their shock and the audience’s delight, Lafon and Zenk brought out the new third member of the Nor-Am Express … Chavo Guerrero! The members of Badd Company didn’t seem to know what to do with Chavo as he effortlessly took them down with a series of suplexes and dropkicks. Chick Donovan tried to take him out by pulling a set of brass knucks out of his trunks, but he was intercepted by Phil Lafon as Tom Zenk dropkicked Pat Tanaka into a German Suplex by Chavo for the victory. Badd Company had best watch out as this new version of the Nor-Am Express are clearly gunning for their Six Man belts. Tito Santana & Rick Martel vs. Bad News Allen & Bob Sweetan Santana brought in his good friend, Canadian champ Rick Martel, for his first match with the newly formed Bad News Breakers and, while they dazzled the crowds with their rapid fire, double team moves, it seemed like they could not keep Allen and Sweetan down for long. No matter what Santana and Martel did, Allen and Sweetan would keep blasting back at them. When the match broke down, Martel and Allen were slugging it out at ringside while Santana levelled Sweetan with a flying clothesline off the top rope. Then, bizarrely, instead of fighting the pin, Sweetan hooked Santana’s head and leg with his arms, keeping him in place as the ref made the three count. While this meant that the match went to Santana and Martel, it also meant that Santana was trapped in place while Don Muraco roared into the ring and gave several huge kicks to Tito’s ribs. It was only when Martel and Ricky Steamboat made it back into ring that Muraco and the rest of the Bad News Breakers left the ring. “The Tank” Mike Shaw & “Ragin’ Bull” Manny Fernandez vs. Greg Gagne & ? Shaw and Fernandez were skeptical as to whom Gagne would bring in to be his partner, but once again the revelation was displeasing to them and pleasing to the crowd, as none other than the second generation superstar Curt Hennig came out to team with Greg. Gagne and Hennig worked together like they had been teaming their whole lives, sending Shaw out of the ring with a double dropkick and proceeding to work over Fernandez. Shaw kept trying to bull his way into the match, but Gagne was able to prevent the tag while Hennig flattened Fernandez with the Axe lariat to get the one two three. With all of the young, fresh talent arriving in the AWA, Hennig has made his mark as possibly the most exciting.

I'm just back from being a) away followed by sick, but will be getting caught back up on both my shows and personal communications.

Just a heads up, I will be away for the weekend but should have my shows up shortly after that when I get back.

Nothing to do with anything, but Bobby Heenan is IMHO the all time greatest wrestling manager.

Jake "Milkman" Milliman? Pretty sure he was till doing jobs in the late 80's (in fact , was in the ill fated AWA Team Challenge Series)

http://www.tnm7.de/cgi-bin/rmcms.cgi?page=main Not so much a game as a booking simulator. I enjoy it but haven't used it as much lately with my energy going to the 1983 fantasy booking.

AWA show at the Mecca in Milwaukee, July 20th (as shown on AWA Super Cards) Mike George vs. ”Wild Man” Jack Armstrong George won with the Shoulder Breaker Al Perez vs. Vinnie Valentino Perez won with a schoolboy roll up assisted by a fistful of tights The Road Warriors vs. The Wild Bills The Road Warriors destroyed their long time rivals, press slamming Billy Jack through the ringside announcer’s table before flattening “Wild” Bill Irwin with a double flying shoulder tackle for the win. Billy Jack Haynes seemed very badly hurt after the match. One Man Gang vs. “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell The match went to a double count out when both men were brawling outside the ring AWA World Tag Title match : The Mothership Connection © vs. Badd Company The Mothership Connection won when Master Gee got Tanaka to give up to the Master Lock AWA American Title match : Tito Santana © vs. Bob Sweetan In perhaps their most intense match yet, Santana looked like he would finally put Sweetan away when he got his big legs in the Figure Four, only for somebody to charge the ring and attack Tito. It was Bad News Allen! Allen, who had never before appeared in the AWA, savagely attacked Santana along with Sweetan. It looked like Santana would be rescued by his new friend Ricky Steamboat, only for him in turn to be waylaid by Don Muraco, making his return to the AWA by joining in on the three on two assault. After the AWA officials separated both sides, Allen got on the mic and declared themselves the Bad News Breakers, and they had just served notice to Steamboat and Santana Paul Orndorff & Ron Garvin vs. Ken Patera & Mr. Olympia After a ferocious brawl, Olympia sent Garvin into the turnbuckle and followed up for a loaded mask assisted headbutt, only for Garvin to counter with a Sunset Flip out of the corner for the win

AWA All-Star Wrestling for July 20th on ESPN Rick Rude vs. Javier Cruz This is the first match for AWA newcomer “Ravishing” Rick Rude, and he certainly seemed intent on making a big impression. Although relatively inexperienced, he was extremely aggressive with Cruz, showing a real anger in his punches and shots. Cruz kept his focus and looked like he had regained control of the match, but when he whipped Rude into the ropes and ducked his head too soon, Rude hit him with a DDT (which we later found Rude calls the Rude Awakening) and got a major upset pin. Of interest, Buddy Rose , Rip Oliver and Ed Wiskowski could be seen at the back, observing the match and nodding in approval. Could the Playboy Club be scouting the young rookie for a spot in their ranks? Stay tuned! Interview : Ken Resnick stands in the ring Resnick introduces his next guest and someone who has generated a lot of confusion and anger in the AWA of late, the Latin Heartthrob Al Perez. Resnick asked Perez why he turned his back on his partner in the Latin Lovers, Vinnie Valentino, at the Independence Day show. Perez replied that he has finally had enough and was sick and tired of Valentino and Cruz riding on his coattails. He said that he had been doing just fine with his winning streak in singles matches, but every time they would drag him into a tag match, they would just pull him down. He continued that the Metrodome show was the last straw, with Valentino making him bail him out of a tag match right after Perez had already had the match of a lifetime with Super Destroyer. The Latin Heartthrob had always been the true talent in the Latin Lovers, and from now on, he was taking care of Numero Uno, and Valentino and Cruz had best not cross his path if they knew what was good for them. Mike George vs. Tom Zenk George was making his in-ring return to the AWA, after his surprising attack on Jimmy Garvin at the Metrodome. The presence of Sheikh Kaissie at ringside indicates that George is back firmly within the fold of the Sinister Syndicate. He was taking on young up-and-comer Tom Zenk, currently one half of the Southern tag champions the Nor-Am Express. While Zenk went all out against the veteran George with fast offense and dropkicks, but George’s experience kept bringing the match back into his hands as he capitalized every time Zenk got too reckless. Zenk thought he was going to finish off George with a top rope cross body press, but George was playing possum and came into the corner with a clothesline that set the young rookie tumbling back into the ring. George then nailed him with the shoulder breaker to get the victory and prove that the Syndicate were now, if anything, even more dangerous. Mr. Olympia vs. Da Crusher This was a rematch from several weeks ago, and Crusher was clearly set on not getting caught in the same trap twice , tearing at Olympia’s mask every chance he got and peppering him with big fists to the face that caused a stream of blood from his nose. Every time Olympia would get Crusher roped into a hold, Crusher would burst out with a flurry of lefts and rights. Crusher whipped Olympia hard into the ropes and charged in for a Bolo Punch, only for Olympia to pull up his legs and send a hard knee into Crusher’s jaw. He then hooked Crusher’s legs and got the pin, the ref being oblivious to the fact that the masked man’s legs were high on the ropes for illegal leverage. Interview : Ken Resnick stands in the ring. Resnick introduces his next guests, Ron Garvin, Paul Orndorff and “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell. The crowd robustly cheers all three men as they head to the ring. Resnick says to Blackwell that he surprised a lot of people by joining the fight against the Sinister Syndicate and asks what his motivation was for leaving their ranks. Blackwell says that, when the Syndicate kicked out Paul Orndorff, what Ken Patera said at the time really got him thinking and opened his eyes. He wasn’t going to be used by somebody else just to protect their title, he was going to gun for the title himself. He now had friends that would support him, not exploit him. Both Garvin and Orndorff added that Patera’s days with the belt were numbered and the only question was which of them would take it from him first. Bob Sweetan vs. Master Gee Sweetan was initially followed to the ring by Buddy Rose, Rip Oliver and Ed Wiskowski, but strangely he ushered them back to the locker room before the start of his match. Sweetan was showing a particularly vicious edge to his offense against one half of the World Tag champ Mothership Connection, hitting several low blows when the ref was not looking and dropping Master Gee hard down throat first on the top rope. It looked like the match was done when Sweetan got Master Gee in the piledriver, but that was not enough for Sweetan, who picked up Gee once more and hit a second piledriver before finally pinning him. He then got on the mic and announced that he had severed all of his ties with the Playboy Club and that he had plans of his own to take care of. Manny Fernandez vs. Greg Gagne Gagne was coming back from being injured at the Canada Day spectacular, and certainly wasn’t easing himself back into the pool, taking on the always unpredictable Ragin’ Bull. Fernandez immediately targeted Gagne’s hurt neck, wrenching it and hitting it with forearms every chance he got, but Gagne used his technical expertise to take back command of the match every time it seemed like Manny had him overwhelmed. He finally was about to finish off Fernandez with the Gagne Sleeper, only for “The Tank” Mike Shaw to make his presence felt, attacking Gagne. Both members of the Army put the boots to Gagne, but he was able to make his way back up to his feet and send them out of the ring with dropkicks. Afterwards, Gagne got on the mic and said that , if both of them wanted a piece of him, they could meet him next week in a tag match and he would have a partner that make them wish they had never stuck their nose in his business.

While the debut of Ricky Steamboat at the AWA's Independence Day show at the Metrodome has generated a lot of excitement, insiders have reported that the circumstances behind his winning the Southern title. Word has it that, in the days leading up to the show, there was some question as to whether then AWA Southern champion "Playboy" Buddy Rose (as well as Rip Oliver and Ed Wiskowski) would renew his contract with the AWA, With this in mind, arrangements were hastily made to move the belt from Rose to Steamboat, in case talks with Rose fell apart. In the end, Rose and his friends did reach an agreement with the AWA and the back office consider this a win-win situation, gaining a high profile debut for Steamboat while still keeping the always controversial "Playboy".

As in the WWF would run shows in St. Louis? I believe I am the promotion nearest to St. Louis and I am fine with this move.