American Wrestling Association

[Blehschmidt]

20 minutes of the Rock and Roll Express versus The Fantastics, followed by 35 minutes of Rich vs Race, and both were Title Changes.....

When can 1984 Me send my Check, Cash, or Money Order to AWA Home Video to receive a copy of this show in approximately 6 t0 8 weeks!!

 

[Mad Dog]

Great Lakes Championship Wrestling House Show: 8/3/1984

live from Rochester, MN

 

Ricky Gibson and Tommy Gilbert defeated Barry O and Dusty Wolf at 5:17

 

The Bullet defeated Larry Hamilton at 7:54

Note: The Bullet went after the Marvelous Masked Manager during the match. The Manager escaped by wiggling out of his pants and then fled the arena in his boxers.

 

Great Lakes Tag Team Title Match:

Super Destroyers (c) defeated Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels at 11:33

 

Ravishing Rick Rude defeated Blue Demon Jr. at 13:41

 

Brad Rheingans defeated Killer Karl Krupp at 18:03

 

Main Event:

Bunkhouse Brawl:

Buzz Sawyer, Iron Sheik and Ivan Koloff defeated Crusher, Dick the Bruiser and Hacksaw Jim Duggan at 9:57

[SirEdger]

Vintage Marvelous Masked Manager! (Because you know, his identity is a mystery!)

[Mad Dog]

Great Lakes All-Star Wrestling #5: 8/4/1984

live from Chicago, IL

A taped interview with Harley Race plays.

Race: Tommy Rich, let me be the first man to congratulate you. Every wrestler can talk the talk but very few can walk the walk. I said during this entire thing that I respected you and Friday night was why. You dug down deep and found the fortitude to beat me inside of that ring. Enjoy it and savor it. I have business in other parts of the country but I might be back one day to reclaim that Great Lakes Championship belt.

Gordie Solie and Frank Dusek are in the studio.

Solie: Welcome to another episode of All-Star Wrestling. We have an absolutely huge show for you today. Tommy Rich and Thunderbolt Patterson will be taking on Don Carsen and Larry Hamilton in the main event. We also will be seeing Buzz Sawyer, Super Destroyers and the Bullet in action.  We also will be dealing with the fallout of that absolutely huge Minneapolis show. As you heard at the top of the hour "Wildfire" Tommy Rich is the new Great Lakes Heavyweight Champion.

Dusek: That's right. It was an absolute war in that ring. Tommy was covered in blood and while I question the referee's decision to let the match proceed he did win and become the new champion. There are a lot of men in the back looking for a shot at the new champ, me included.

Great Lakes Heavyweight Champion Tommy Rich and Thunderbolt Patterson come out.

Solie: Tommy, how does it feel to now be the champion:

Rich: After that match Friday, I went home and had my first good night's sleep in over a month. All was finally right with the world. 

Rip Rogers walks out.

Rogers: I know, I know. It feels great to be the champ and you're going to use it as a stepping stone to the World Title. Try being original for once Tommy. 

Rich: What do you want?

Rogers: It's easy. I want a shot at that Great Lakes Championship you've got on your shoulder right there. I came here for one reason. I want "Wildfire" Tommy Rich in the ring and I want that brand new shiny belt he just won.

Rich: Name a time and a place and we'll do it.

Rogers: I knew I liked something about you. I hear there's the Super Bowl of Wrestling coming up on September 6th and 7th. Let's do it then. That way I can build a nice little resume of wins to justify the match.

Rich: You got it.

The Bullet defeated Barry O at 4:09

AWA World Lightweight Champion Brad Armstrong is out.

Solie: We have a very special guest this week as the AWA World Lightweight Champion Brad Armstrong is in town. What brings you to Great Lakes:

Armstrong: You know, I'm always looking to defend my belt against the best challengers in the world. I like to scout potential challengers out personally. I am here to check out the best that Great Lakes has to offer.

Shawn Michaels comes out.

Michaels: This is great. I'd like to challenge you for the belt.

Armstrong: I don't know. I wouldn't necessarily consider you a top contender for this belt. 

Michaels: I just won a tournament last weekend. I even have a victory over the Masked Superstar.

Armstrong: How about this. If you can beat me in the ring or take me to the time limit right now, I'll give you a title shot on next week's show.

Michaels: Okay, let's do it!

Brad Armstrong defeated Shawn Michaels at 16:48 by count out

Note: Armstrong hurt his knee on the turnbuckle and managed to toss Michaels out of the ring. The referee was checking on Armstrong when the Masked Superstar attacked Michaels on the outside of the ring. Superstar rammed Michaels face first into the ring post and then slammed him into the ring steps. The referee started the count and Michaels was unable to answer and was counted out.

AWA World Lightweight Champion Brad Armstrong is out with Gordie Solie after the commercial break.

Armstrong: I was told what happened during the match with Shawn Michaels and the Masked Superstar. I feel absolutely terrible about what happened during the match. So I gave a call to the AWA Championship Committee and on this show next week, I will be defending the AWA World Lightweight Title against Shawn Michaels.

Super Destroyers defeated Charlie Fulton and Kelly Kiniski at 2:18

Masked Superstar, Great Lake Tag Team Champions Super Destroyers and Marvelous Masked Manager are out.

Solie: A man that's making no friends in the Great Lake region, the Masked Superstar.

Superstar: Friends are overrated Solie. Friday night, I was robbed of the AWA World Championship by an incompetent referee. I beat Ted Dibiase and that should mean I am the World Champion. I know what you want to say Solie, the title can't change hands on a count out or DQ. Well, that's a stupid rule, especially on count outs. Ted Dibiase was unable to answer the bell and in other sports, that means the title changes hands. As far as I am concerned, I am the uncrowned AWA World Champion. We have a rematch set up for Columbus this upcoming Friday and I plan to make my championship reign official.

Solie: You were also out here earlier and cost Shawn Michaels a shot at the Lightweight Championship.

Superstar: Shawn Michaels is a punk kid that hasn't earned anything in his career yet. Yes, he beat me for that Camaro but I set that right already. I came out to remind him of his place in the world as a loser. Shawn Michaels, you are a loser and you will always be a loser.

Solie: It was also a big night for Jimmy Hart and the Su...

MMM: Marvelous Masked Manager! I told you, I am not that super attractive man Jimmy Hart.

Solie: Anyways, the new Great Lakes Tag Team Champions the Super Destroyers.

MMM: That's right. I am the manager of champions and I have plans to take all of these men to championships. The Super Destroyers are the new Great Lakes Tag Team Champions. Ricky Gibson and Tommy Gilbert have been making noise about wanting a title shot behind the scenes. My men will be more than happy to defend the titles against Gibson and Gilbert. They are going to be in for a very unpleasant surprise.

Buzz Sawyer defeated Gerry Morrow at 5:46

AWA National Tag Team Champions Rock N Roll Express come out but they get blindsided by Mike Miller and Rip Oliver. Both teams start to brawl in the studio. Referees and several wrestlers rush out and pull the teams apart. Ricky Morton and Rip Oliver yell insults at each other as both teams get pulled to the backstage area.

Main Event:

Thunderbolt Patterson and Tommy Rich defeated Don Carsen and Larry Hamilton at 8:41

Note: Rip Rogers sat in on commentary for this match. He spent the entire time running down Tommy Rich and talking about how he was going to win the Great Lakes Championship.

Solie: Another exciting hour of wrestling this week. We have a huge show next week as Brad Armstrong defends the AWA World Lightweight Championship against Shawn Michaels. Because it is a World Title match, we will not be officially announcing any other matches for the show. See you next week!

[Mad Dog]

Great Lakes Championship Wrestling House Show: 8/4/1984

live from Bloomington, MN

Mike Miller and Rip Oliver defeated Charlie Fulton and Kelly Kiniski at 4:41

Angelo and Lanny Poffo defeated Barry O and Dusty Wolf at 6:03

Ricky Gibson and Tommy Gilbert defeated Danny Fargo and George Weingeroff at 9:48

High Flyers defeated Iron Sheik and Ivan Koloff at 14:09

AWA National Tag Team Title Match:

Rock N Roll Express (c) defeated Don Carsen and Larry Hamilton at 11:15

Main Event:

Great Lakes Tag Team Title Match:

Super Destroyers (c) defeated Crusher and Dick the Bruiser at 8:00

 

[SirEdger]

Whenever you get the endorsement of the great Harley Race, you're doing something right. Tommy Rich is definitely a huge deal, alright!

[spaldoni]

I agree with Edger, big show of respect by Harley Race as he endorses the new champ Tommy Rich. 

Already Rich has a challenger in Hustler Rip Rogers. This should be fun. 

Nice surprise as Light heavyweight champ Brad Armstrong shows up. Nice angle here as him and Michaels have an impromptu match. Masked Superstar ruins it but class act Armstrong gives Michaels a shot next week. Very well done. 

The Marvelous Masked Manager and his stable of masked men are becoming one of my favorite factions in the AWA.

YES! An RnR-Miller/Oliver feud has started! 

Great show that set up a lot of good storylines. 

Fun house show in MN that really showcased your stacked tag team roster! 

[kevinmcfl]

I agree with the others... Harley's words will go a long way to legitimize Wildfire and the title.

I like Mike Miller and Rip Oliver as a team and it will be interesting to see how far you let them go.... title?

The MMM is a fun read

Armstrong helping to build Michaels is a good idea.  He is still very young and needs someone with experience to help him build to bigger things.

Wildfire seemed to peaceful in his interview... he wasn't too fiiiiiirrrrreeeeeedd up!  Maybe he is taking Rogers lightly which could be a mistake

[El Dragon]

Joining the parade, really like Race putting over Rich big. Really sets up Tommy as the ace of the promotion.

The MMM angle might be my favorite manager angle running in the game right now. So fun.

Having the RnR is a super big boon for your tag division. Plug in any heel team and you already have money. Miller and Oliver actually sound like a super fun heel team, and are a great first rivalry.

 

 

 

[Blehschmidt]

While I enjoyed the Race moment much like everyone else, big props on the Brad Armstrong segment.

Him coming back out after being notified of what happened, and offering the kid a title shot, seems like exactly the kind of thing Brad would do.

It's the little touches like that, that make this whole project so fun.

[Mad Dog]

Great Lakes Championship Wrestling Weekend House Show Report:

 

8/8/1984

live from Green Bay, WI

10 Man Battle Royal (Winner gets $2,500)

Frank Morrell gets tossed by Scott Hall

Gerry Morrow gets eliminated by Frank Dusek

Larry Hamilton gets eliminated by Tom Jones

Tom Jones gets eliminated by Ray Stevens

Killer Karl Krupp gets tossed by Scott Hall

Blue Demon Jr. gets eliminated by Ray Stevens

Frank Dusek gets eliminated by Scott Hall

Kelly Kiniski gets tossed by Scott Hall

Scott Hall gets eliminated by Ray Stevens

Winner: Ray Stevens

Mike Miller and Rip Oliver defeated Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels at 12:30

Great Lakes Tag Team Title Match:

Ricky Gibson and Tommy Gilbert defeated Super Destroyers (c) at 14:19 by DQ

Buzz Sawyer defeated Hacksaw Jim Duggan at 13:41

Main Event:

Ted Dibiase and The Bullet defeated Don Carsen and Masked Superstar at 18:35

 

8/9/1984

live from Milwaukee, WI

Crusher and Dick the Bruiser defeated Barry O and Dusty Wolf at 3:19

Rip Rogers defeated Marty Jannetty at 8:00

Hacksaw Jim Duggan defeated Iron Sheik at 11:41

The Bullet defeated Don Carsen at 9:53

Note: The Super Destroyers attacked The Bullet after the match. They tried to unmask him but Ricky Gibson and Tommy Gilbert ran in for the save.

High Flyers defeated Danny Fargo and George Weingeroff at 10:49

Great Lakes Heavyweight Title Match:

Tommy Rich (c) defeated Killer Karl Krupp at 10:28

Main Event:

AWA World Heavyweight Title Match:

Ted Dibiase (c) defeated Masked Superstar at 18:45 by DQ

Note: DQ came when the Marvelous Masked Manager threw powder in Dibiase's eyes. Masked Superstar applied the Cobra Clutch until Tommy Rich and Thunderbolt Patterson run in for the save.

 

8/10/1984

live from Middleton, WI

Mike Miller and Rip Oliver defeated Charlie Fulton and Kelly Kiniski at 4:02

Ray Stevens defeated Marty Jannetty at 7:32

The Bullet and Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Don Carsen and Larry Hamilton at 10:19

Great Lakes Tag Team Title Match:

Super Destroyers (c) defeated Crusher and Dick the Bruiser at 8:45 by DQ

AWA National Tag Team Title Match:

Rock N Roll Express (c) defeated Iron Sheik and Ivan Koloff at 15:19

Main Event:

Great Lakes Heavyweight Title Match:

Tommy Rich (c) defeated Killer Karl Krupp at 12:14

 

8/11/1984:

live from Wausau, WI

Ricky Gibson and Tommy Gilbert defeated Barry O and Dusty Wolf at 5:00

Don Carsen and Larry Hamilton defeated Charlie Fulton and Kelly Kiniski at 6:03

Mike Miller and Rip Oliver defeated Angelo and Lanny Poffo at 12:42

Rip Rogers defeated Shawn Michaels at 10:41

Main Event:

Tag Team Elimination Match (Crusher, Dick the Bruiser, High Flyers and Rock N Roll Express vs. Danny Fargo, George Weingeroff, Iron Sheik, Ivan Koloff and Super Destroyers)

Elimination Order:

Crusher gets disqualified at 3:31

Dick the Bruiser and Super Destroyer #2 get counted out at 5:50

Super Destroyer #1 gets counted out at 6:40

Note: Crusher and Dick the Bruiser were double teaming Super Destroyer #2 on the outside and Super Destroyer #1 joined the brawl.

Danny Fargo gets eliminated at 10:59

Jim Brunzell gets eliminated at 14:19

Iron Sheik gets eliminated at 20:01

Greg Gagne gets eliminated at 22:30

George Weingeroff gets eliminated at 25:51

Ivan Koloff gets eliminated at 29:15

Winners: Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson

[SirEdger]

Always loved the concept of tag team battle royals. A great way to build instant contenders right away. Like if the Rock N' Roll Express needed an extra incentive though!

[spaldoni]

Ray Stevens eliminates his current rival Scott Hall to win the battle royal. 

Rich had a good post title win loop, taking down Krupp. 

Looks like the Dibiase/Masked Superstar feud will continue. 

Bullet is becoming a real crowd pleaser.

One of my favorite teams in the game, Miller and Oliver had a great loop, even picking up a win over the future Rockers. 

RnR Express solidify themselves as top contenders by winning the battle royal. 

 

[kevinmcfl]

I think your heels might have some trouble as your babyfaces are on fire.  Wildfire, the RnR Express and the Bullet are going to be tough to beat

[Mad Dog]

Great Lakes All-Star Wrestling #6: 8/11/1984

live from Chicago, IL

Gordie Solie and Frank Dusek are in the studio.

Solie: Welcome to another week of All-Star Wrestling. We have a big show for you today as Brad Armstrong is here and he is defending the AWA World Lightweight Championship against Shawn Michaels. We should be in for one heck of a match.

Dusek: Michaels has shown that he can hold his own against the best the world has to offer. I don't think he's going to win the belt today but I do think he's going to give Brad Armstrong a run for his money.

Solie: Let's take a look at last week's show when Brad Armstrong agreed to this bout.

A video plays of last week's match and how if Shawn won he got a title shot. It shows Masked Superstar cost him the match and Brad Armstrong agree to give him the match because of it.

AWA World Lightweight Champion Brad Armstrong is out.

Armstrong: I am excited today. I am in Great Lakes Championship Wrestling and I get to wrestle on TV. I am going to show the great folks here why I am the World Lightweight Champion. And I have a great challenger this week. He really gave me a run for my money last week until the Masked Superstar got involved. I couldn't let that sort of injustice stand. So let's get this match going.

Shawn Michaels comes out.

Michaels: I am really thrilled to be getting a World Title match this week. I can think of no better form of revenge on the Masked Superstar than coming in here and taking home this World Title belt. I am about to put myself on the map of wrestling.

Main Event:

AWA World Lightweight Title Match:

Brad Armstrong (c) defeated Shawn Michaels at 26:52

Note: Masked Superstar tried to attack Shawn Michaels again but this time The Bullet came out. Superstar and Bullet brawled around ringside while the match continued.

Solie: We have some extra time in this show so we will be showing a few stand-by matches and a few taped interviews.

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Ted Dibiase is in the locker room.

Dibiase: I'm getting mighty tired of the Masked Superstar and his posse of masked men getting involved in all of my matches with him. So I went to Verne Gagne and the AWA Championship Committee and I got a match signed. This coming Friday in Columbus, Ohio, it's going to be me defending this AWA World Heavyweight Championship belt against the Masked Superstar in a steel cage match. Superstar, it's just going to be you and me.Your flunkies can't save you now. I am going to savor humiliating you and denying you the chance to become the World Heavyweight Champion.

Rip Rogers defeated Kelly Kiniski at 4:19

Great Lakes Champion Tommy Rich is backstage.

Rich: You know Rip Rogers, being the champion is a lot of responsibility. Everyone in the sport of wrestling wants what you have and they'll go to great lengths to take it from you. Did you watch the match I had with Harley Race where I won the belt? Do you think you have what it takes to dig down deep and push yourself to levels you never thought possible? It's easy to think so until you're laying there gushing blood with a man trying to do even more harm to you. Rip Rogers, you can name your time and place but I am warning you now. When the championship is on the line, I am not pulling any punches. You better bring your A game because I am not losing this belt.

Ricky Gibson and Tommy Gilbert defeated Barry O and Dusty Wolf at 2:38

Mike Miller and Rip Oliver are out for an interview.

Solie: Two men that have put their names in the hat for a shot at the AWA National Tag Team Titles. Mike Miller and Rip Oliver.

Oliver: The Rock N Roll Express and I have some issues we developed on the west coast. I cam to the midwest because I thought I would be rid of those two teeny bopping morons. But no sooner do I get settled in than here come the Rock N Roll Express. You know what I think they are? A couple of phonies. They come out here pretending to be a couple of rock guys who are for the fans. You know what they sell those bandannas for Gordie Solie?

Solie: I do not...

Oliver: $19.95... I mean who does that? Someone hands you a $20 and you have to hand them a nickle?!?! What do they do, carry rolls of nickles around to all of these shows? Why don't they hire someone with some business sense to make these decisions?

Solie: What does this have to do with the fans?

Oliver: Because if they cared about their fans, they wouldn't make them carry that useless nickle around with them after they bought that bandanna. Anyways, I have made my living being a tag team specialist. It's how I make my money and put food on the table. And teams like the Rock N Roll Express dominating all of these belts, makes it really hard for guys like us to make that extra money from being a champion. I am tired of the Rock N Roll Express and I am tired of them winning all of these belts. My good buddy Mike and I are going to put an end to the Rock N Roll Express in the Great Lakes region. You are looking at the next AWA National Tag Team Champions right here.

Solie: That's it for this week. Join us next week as AWA Lightweight Champion Brad Armstrong will be here and teaming up with the Bullet to take on Masked Superstar and Don Carsen in the main event. Also in action will be Thunderbolt Patterson, Mike Miller and Rip Oliver and Ray Stevens. See you next week.

[kevinmcfl]

Great use of the backstage interviews.  Rip Oliver's was great.  Where do I get my bandanna for. I got 19.95

Very smart thing to do by putting Michaels with the Armstrongs.  They can teach him the ropes and just be their presence him becomes more legitimate.  

[Blehschmidt]

Dibiase and Superstar in the cage will be a sure fire money drawing main event!

Miller/Oliver against the R'n'R Express is a fantastic tag feud, and should lead to some nice brawls.

Brad gets a nice win over the young Michaels, and experience like this will make Michaels quite the star..someday!

Good Show.

[spaldoni]

Classic main event as Michaels gives champ Brad Armstrong a good match. I like this slow build of Michaels. 

Tommy Rich gives a passionate promo for Rogers. A fired up Rich will be hard to beat. 

Oliver and Miller have been on a roll and want RnR's titles.

Dibiase and Superstar in the cage will be epic! 

[GeneJackson95]

Looking forward to Dibiase/Superstar in the cage!

[Mad Dog]

AWA Weekend House Show Report:

8/16/1984

live from Columbus, OH

Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Roger Kirby at 6:32

Angelo and Lanny Poffo defeated Barry O and Dusty Wolf at 4:03

Mike Miller and Rip Oliver defeated Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels at 12:31

Great Lakes Tag Team Title Match:

Super Destroyers (c) defeated Ricky Gibson and Tommy Gilbert at 11:35

Great Lakes Heavyweight Title Match:

Tommy Rich (c) defeated Frank Morrell at 8:51

Main Event:

Steel Cage Match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship:

Ted Dibiase (c) defeated Masked Superstar at 19:47

Note: Super Destroyers tried to get into the cage but The Bullet, Ricky Gibson, Tommy Gilbert and Shawn Michaels chased them away,

 

8/17/1984

live from Dayton, OH

Crusher and Dick the Bruiser defeated Barry O and Dusty Wolf at 4:51

Buzz Sawyer defeated Marty Jannetty at 7:13

Ricky Gibson, Scott Hall and Tommy Gilbert defeated Frank Dusek, Frank Morrell and Ray Stevens at 13:42

Hacksaw Jim Duggan defeated Iron Sheik at 9:14

High Flyers defeated Don Carsen and Larry Hamilton at 8:12

Great Lakes Heavyweight Title Match:

Tommy Rich (c) defeated Tom Jones at 7:49

Main Event:

Title vs. Title Match:

Rock N Roll Express vs. Super Destroyers - 60 Minute Time Limit Draw

 

8/18/1984

live from Cleveland, OH

Ray Stevens defeated Charlie Fulton at 3:19

Rip Rogers defeated Marty Jannetty at 6:00

AWA World Lightweight Title Match:

Brad Armstrong (c) defeated Shawn Michaels at 36:27

AWA National Tag Team Title Match:

Rock N Roll Express (c) defeated Mike Miller and Rip Oliver at 17:56 by DQ

Note: DQ came when Rip Oliver slipped Miller a roll of quarters and he used it to KO Robert Gibson. Miller "pinned" Gibson and Miller and Oliver stole the title belts.

Great Lakes Tag Team Title Match:

Super Destroyers (c) defeated High Flyers at 15:19

Main Event:

The Bullet, Thunderbolt Patterson and Tommy Rich defeated Buzz Sawyer, Masked Superstar and Killer Karl Krupp at 11:31

Note: The Bullet managed to unmask the Marvelous Masked Manager but he managed to escape the ringside area without being seen. 

[kevinmcfl]

Nice set of house shows.  Each night the crowd went home happy as the babyfaces get the big wins

[spaldoni]

Nice loop here.

Dibiase finally finishes off Masked Superstar in the cage! 

Love that RnR/Super Destroyers match! Talk about getting your money's worth.

Oliver and Miller steal the belts from RnR. This feud is going to be epic.

Shawn Michaels continues to impress as he goes over 30 minutes with champ Armstrong. 

LOL, Marvelous Masked Manager gets unmask but manages to escape without his identity being revealed. 

[GeneJackson95]

Fun set of house shows here....big win for Dibiase over Superstar in the cage!

The Rock & Roll Express has some stiff competition here!

[Mad Dog]

My apologies. I've had a bit of writers block. I'll be posting a show later in the week. 

[SirEdger]

No problem. It happens. If you come to have those moments of writers' block, what I usually do is use a summarized recap and emphasize key angles rather than struggling to write full-on shows that might be subpar to my liking. As long as you can convey the key elements that you wanna highlight, the format you use is not necessarily important.