[1975-03-15-AWA-Chicago, IL] Verne Gagne vs Nick Bockwinkel

[paul sosnowski]

Ok this is weird. We get a few minutes of slow motion clips of a recent match from Chicago, narrated by NIck and Bobby Heenan. We see Bockwinkel dropping Gagne throat first over the top rope, next it cuts to Bockwinkel giving Gagne a piledriver for a two count. We see Gagne hit a backslide and he appears to get the pin, but Bockwinkel's foot was in the ropes. Heenan immediately jumps in the ring to protest, he kicks Young Greg Gagne at ringside. Verne attacks him and throws him into the post. Young Greg has a full head of hair!!! He gets in the ring, brawling with Nick and Heenan, father and son fight together. Heenan takes some huge bumps. Greg tosses Heenan out, Verne throws Bock over the top rope. "There is question about the outcome of the match".

 

Nothing special about this footage....not really worth seeing....oh well.

**** Ok...the footage says 2/22, but Bockwinkel fought Art Thomas in Chicago on that day.   I am almost 100% certain that this is from 3/13/75****

[Stephen-]

This is pretty awesome. So we get Bockwinkel on commentary for the footage we have and he gives a lot of great insight to his psychology, which is second to none in pro wrestling. From the start, Bockwinkel is targeting the heavily taped fist of Verne, to either eliminate Verne's strikes or weaken them significantly. Verne reverses the tide by doing the same to Bockwinkel. In the midst of this fist work is a lot of great limb work from both men and some great, high level technical wrestling and mat exchanges. Plenty of clean reversals throughout the match because Bockwinkel and Verne know each other so well and thus predict each other's next step. Bockwinkel's offensive wrestling in this match is seriously great. One of the better scientific back and forths I have seen. The ending is really fun. Bockwinkel thinks he has it won and celebrates with Heenan, he in fact did not have it won because Gagne's foot was on the rope, and Verne attacks Bockwinkel sending him into Heenan and Heenan goes flying. Some more back and forths between the two and we get a finish as Bockwinkel sends Verne towards the ropes and Heenan lowers them, forcing Verne to spill over. Bockwinkel is disqualified. Wow. This match is amazing. I highly suggest seeking this one out. ****