[1983-11-24-AWA-St. Paul, MN] Sheik Blackwell & Sheik Patera vs Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell

[Superstar Sleeze]

AWA World Tag Champions The Sheiks (Patera & Blackwell) vs High Flyers - AWA 11/24/83 Ray Stevens Special Guest Ref

 

This is the co-main event of the AWA Thanksgiving show for 1983 with Bockwinkel defending the World Championship on the top of the card against Mad Dog Vachon. Sheik Adnan Al-Kassie has been moved into a more of a managerial role instead of Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell's partner with a cast gimmick. I believe the Sheik with all his oil money bought the contract of Strongman Ken Patera from Bobby Heenan to form The Sheiks. I am a total mark for white men embracing the Sheik the gimmick. There is something very amusing about a fat man from Georgia pretending to be a Sheik.

 

Man, did Patera let Blackwell down in this match. Patera was the main target of the opening babyface shine turned heel in peril and never really recovered. His weakened state lost the Sheiks the control of the match and caused Sheik Adnan Al-Kaisse to trigger the DQ by blasting Ray Stevens with cast. The story of the match was Blackwell's splash. Missing it proved disastrous for his team, hitting it gives them total control. Early on, Blackwell misses the splash the early and they go for arm wringers. He tags out to Patera who bumps huge for the High Flyers as they work his legs over. Brunzell, who is red hot for this match, tries to apply the figure-4, but off camera Blackwell splash him. Brunzell does a great job selling. Patera tags out and holds Brunzell for a big running splash. There is such a dread that overcomes you watching Brunzell being held for his doom. Pretty good heat segment follows with Brunzell doing a good job alternating between selling and fighting back. Patera is clearly still exhausted and was having trouble maintaining control. When in trouble, Blackwell would quash Brunzell's comeback with a splash (like the one in the corner). Blackwell looks to finish him off with a top rope splash and he misses! Brunzell goes for the cover! 1-2-NO! Patera saves. Blackwell holds Brunzell and Patera crashes down. Gagne saves. Dropkick! Patera is out of it and Brunzell scurries through for the tag! Greg Gagne whips Blackwell into Patera. The dreaded Blackwell splash crushes Patera and the High Flyers using that weapon against them is awesome. Gagne rocks n roll and applies a sleeper on Blackwell. Sheik Adnan realizing the end was imminent blasts Ray Stevens and then eventually Greg for the DQ. The crowd is pissed and so is Brunzell and Gagne that rip the cast off Sheik Adnan nail each of the Sheiks.

 

Loved the story of Blackwell's splash and Patera's long term selling. The DQ finish was pretty lame. Brunzell has been awesome in these matches. Really enjoyed this. ****