[1988-07-16-AWA] Jerry Lawler vs Curt Hennig

[Superstar Sleeze]

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler vs Curt Hennig- AWA 7/19/88 

Lawler had defeated Hennig in Memphis for the championship and this is the TV rematch on ESPN in Las Vegas. Hennig had one foot out the door at this point for WWF.

Wow! What a slugfest! I don't really think of Hennig as a great puncher but goddamn his punches looked and sounded great in this one! I liked he his demeanor in this one. He was more serious and pissed. He has Madusa with him. I liked the shove at the beginning and how each missed punches early were pissed. It was Hennig who landed heavy blows to the chin of The King first but Lawler responded with this classic punches that sent Hennig flying out of the ring. They established the Madusa factor early. Lawler took an absolutely wicked bump! He was on the apron, teetering. Hennig popped him good and Lawler took a fucking Cactus bump on the concrete. Great heat segment follows. Post shot, Suplex in, Madusa's shoe, a piledriver. Classic heel stuff. Hot nearfalls and great Lawler selling. Hennig feels the need to go up top and Lawler catches him with a punch to the gut. Hennig crutches himself. Here comes Lawler! Strap down! Punches! Go baby go! Fist drop but missed!!! Hennig slaps on a sleeper. Lawler threw him over the top rope for DQ and Lawler retains.

Weird booking protecting the heel leaving the territory. This seems built for the new babyface Champion to get the win over the former heel champion on national TV to establish himself on the loop. But it is dying AWA! Match is great besides finish. Economical, everything matters, Lawler's bump is insane and great heat down the stretch, great slugfest. ****1/4

[GSR]

Hennig's final match in the AWA and he'd debut in the WWF less than a fortnight later.

[tcg91]

A decent match, with Lawler's usual effective punches and Hennig selling big time. Despite the good chemistry, at times it felt they were going through the motions and giving a B-show performance, apart from a few generous bumps from Lawler. Hennig was on his last match before the WWE run and looked like a matured performer here, getting heat on Lawler without taking too many risks. Mediocre non-finish, but also a weird decision as Hennig didn't have to be protected here.
***