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Wow!  I think you have hit your stride like last year with all your interviews.  Landell was great with Ken Doll Windham and Flapjack Mulligan.

You are first to get my attention with the women's side of the game.  Looking forward to Martel vs Richter.  

Johhny V and PP3 are awesome mouthpieces for you.

I liked the opening with Blackburn.  Left me waiting so much more but when the President says you can't talk about the tag title situation... you can't talk about!  

Oh The Future is Bright!  Either way you go, the Fiesta Garden or Piper's Pit, we WIN!

Hansen over Jumbo in Japan.  I must admit, I was unsure of the outcome here!  Great Match

As for the Detroit show!

I just new HTM had something up his sleeve but I never expected it to be Kabuki

Nice one where the fans get what they want in the big grudge match!

WOW... 8 seconds!  8 seconds!  That is nice work if you can get it because I am sure Wahoo got a nice check for that one.  Nikita is a beast.  Hansen better not have any jet lag!

The chaos of the last one kept everyone looking strong.  Good job!

 

 

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AWA Championship Wrestling

Recorded: April 24, 1985

Airing: Saturday April 25, 1985 nationwide on ESPN

The Tropicana Hotel & Casino

Atlantic City, New Jersey

 

(Opening video plays and we go to Larry Nelson who has some exciting news about next week's show)


Nelson: "Hello and welcome once again to AWA Championship Wrestling, we have a great show in store for you today as we will see for the first time ever here on EPSN….Piper's Pit…and Roddy Piper's guest will be none other than….the AWA World Heavyweight Champion, Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen!  That is going to be intense to say the least!  We will also have an AWA North American Tag Team Title match in our main event as The Rock and Roll Express will defend against the California Connection with their manager 'Luscious' Johnny V……along so much more here tonight….however, some big news to report….Verne Gagne and Stanley Blackburn have been in meetings all day with executives at ESPN and we are happy to announce that right here next week we are going to have an extended AWA Championship Wrestling live special entitled, Gold Rush….in which every AWA championship will be defended right here on television!  We will give you the full card at the conclusion of this broadcast as matchmakers are currently hard at work to give you the best card possible for this television special right here next week."

 

(Mr. Fuji walks in with his new tag team who are both dressed like the Super Strong Machine)

 

Nelson: "Mr. Fuji, I understand you are debuting your new tag team here tonight."


Fuji: "Ah yes boy-san, Mr. Fuji have great new tag team from Japan…they are the Samurai Machines and they will be best tag team in AWA….champions very soon Larry-san!"


Nelson: "Speaking of champions in the AWA, your man Jumbo Tsuruta came very close to winning the World Championship from Stan Hansen over in Tokyo."

 

Fuji: "Tsuruta should be champion today, but they no let Fuji go to Tokyo for title match….it great conspiracy you see, Larry-san…but next week during Gold Rushes, I'm sure it will be Jumbo-san who gets rematch with crazy cowboy champion…..and when he does…BANZAI!! New champion!"

(Fuji and the Samurai Machines (Angel of Death/Butch Moffat under hoods exit)

==============================

Match #1:

Rocky Johnson pinned Norvell Austin with a backslide


In his post match promo with Ken Resnick, Rocky Johnson said that he will seek out the Honky Tonk Man soon enough….but right now his focus is on Mr. Kabuki, he says he refuses to call him the 'Great' Kabuki because there's nothing 'Great' about a man who would "spit in somebodies face" like Kabuki did to him during the Lumberjack Match….he's told Stanley Blackburn that he wants a match with Kabuki and he wants it soon!

==============================

COMMMERCIALS

==============================

Match #2:

The Samurai Machines (#1/#2) w/Fuji defeated Jack Reed/Floyd Johnson when #1 hit Reed with a knee to the chest from the top rope followed by the pin

==============================

Promo: "Big" Scott Hall/Curt Hennig/Larry Hennig join Larry Nelson in the back

 

Nelson: "Guys, I know you have a lot on your mind but AWA President Stanley Blackburn stated we will not be discussing the AWA World Tag Team title situation here on television."


The Axe: "You listen to me, Larry Nelson…..Blackburn may not talk about it….and YOU may not talk about it….but these boys got railroaded and we're fixing to talk about it….and if ONE WORD of this doesn't make air…..I will personally pay a visit to whomever edits it out!"

 

Curt: "Thanks Dad, you know it makes me question if Stanly Blackburn is on the take…..we got the shaft and he doesn't want us to talk about it! Well that's bull….the fact of the matter is this, Madril and Chicky Starr took out the Samoans, having won the four corners match earlier that night WE were the declared the number one contenders and we BEAT the Russian team, we left the arena that night with the belts after being declared the champions and then suddenly Blackburn has a referee come take the belts from us in Cleveland and he hands them back to the Russians."

 

Hall: "If you ask me…..I think it was another case of Paul Jones throwing some money around to get their titles back…plain and simple."

 

The Axe: "What does it look like to you, Larry Nelson?"


Nelson: (nervously) "Ummm, it looks like to me, we're out of time…back to ringside for our next match!"

==============================

Match #3

Tommy "Wildfire" Rich pinned Randy Watson with a 'Thesz Press'


As Rich was about to speak with Ken Resnick, Buzz Sawyer and Dick Slater attacked but before they could do any serious damage, Mr. Olympia came running down with a baseball bat causing Sawyer/Slater to retreat

===============================

COMMERCIALS

===============================

(As the show returns from commercial: Ken Resnick is joined in the ring by Captain Lou Albano and Wendi Richter)


Albano: "Ken Resnick, please tell me why I'm hearing that Sherri Martel is defending her title here next week and my girl Wendi Richter, the rightful number one contender is not getting her shot until May 31st?"


Resnick: "I have no idea why that is, Captain."

(Meanwhile Johnny V, Sherri Martel, and the Honky Tonk Man enter the ring)

 

Valiant: "Because we said so, fatso….that's why!"

 

Albano: "Then what the hell are you doing out here right now?"

 

Valiant: "We're here to call you out for being a liar!"

 

Albano: "Lying about what??"


Valiant: "Well….that could take all day Albano, you lie all the time….but specifically about you saying out here a few weeks ago you were bringing a so called huge superstar to the AWA….well look at you….not only do you not have a huge superstar….you don't even have your goofy Samoans anymore!"

 

Albano: "Oh…I have a huge superstar, in fact he'll be here next week for the big Gold Rush show."

 

HTM: "Albano, you know as well as I do that's not true.  Not to mention the only huge superstar here in the AWA is me…..the Honky Tonk Man…no one else can measure up to my superstardom!"

 

Valiant: "If you really have somebody and this isn't another one of your schemes….then tell us who it is!"

 

Albano: "I'll tell you…..I'll tell you right now….but on one condition."

 

Valiant: "Ok, liar…..just name it."

 

Albano: "That Honky Tonk here agrees to wrestle him right here on television next week."

(Johnny/HTM/Sherri have a side bar)

 

HTM: "Deal, I'll beat any ham and egger jabroni you can scrape up from the retirement home….so, yeah I'll face him…..who is it?"

 

Albano: "Just some ham and egger jabroni…….who goes by the name of……..HULK HOGAN!!"

(The fans roar as HTM and Johnny V look really rattled as Albano and Wendi leave the ring smiling)

===============================

COMMERCIALS

===============================

Match #4:

AWA North American Championship Match

"Nature Boy" Buddy Landel w/PP3 defeated Brickhouse Brown by submission with the figure four leglock after Brown was tripped by Pringle, allowing Landel to hit the 'corkscrew elbow drop' and then lock in the figure four leglock

 

(Ken Resnick approaches Landel/Pringle at ringside)

 

Resnick: "Champ, I wanted to share some news with you and make sure you are one of the first to know."

 

Landel: "First of all, let me just say this….didn't anyone tell you that you could come up with any name you wanted and your going with Ken Resnick? That's stupid."


Resnick: "Ok, BUDDY….we can't all have cool names, I guess…..but I really think you're going to wanna hear the news I have to tell you."


Landel: "Oh you think you're fixing to drop a bombshell on me, Ken Redneck or whatever your dumb name is…..well guess what? I already know what you're going to say….Ric Flair has been cleared to wrestle….so what! Big deal! I already heard."


PP3: "You goofy announcer, you can't get one over on the Pringle Dynasty! We're always two steps ahead of everyone!'


Resnick: "Ok, great….so then you guys already know that Buddy has to defend his North American title here next week at Gold Rush against Ric Flair then?"


Landel: "Of course we do….Wait!! What did you say?"

 

Resnick: "So being two steps ahead….you clearly already know that Austin Idol will be handcuffed at ringside to Blackjack Mulligan?"

 

Landel: "Obviously I do….hold on! What!?!?

 

Resnick: "I assume it's no secret to you then that, Percy Pringle will be handcuffed to Kendall Windham…"

 

PP3: "Have you lost your mind? Who told you these lies?? NONE of this is happening, Ken Resnick!"


Resnick: "I just confirmed all of this with Verne Gagne before I came to ringside!"

 

Landel: "Who the hell does Verne Gagne think he is?? He can't do this!!"

 

Resnick: "He's the owner, BUDDY…..he can do whatever he wants."

 

Landel: "He's the owner? Greg Gagne's dad owns this thing?? You didn't tell me that, Percy….I hate Verne Gagne, Ken Redneck…..his name is dumber than yours……what the hell is happening around here….First, I hear somebody say Hulk Hogan is coming and now this….I just defended my title against Outhouse Brown…..I'm good for another thirty days!"

 

Resnick: "I suggest you start getting ready….good luck, Naitch…"

(Landel shoves Resnick to the ground)

 

Landel: "It's bad enough I'm getting jacked around by the owner but I will not be disrespected by you worthless announcers…..I'm the champion!  Bring it on Flair….I'll have you back on your couch with stitches quicker than you can say…..WOOOO! See ya next week, Flair!"


PP3: "The Dynasty always wins…..you'll learn that soon enough, Ken Resnick."

================================

COMMERCIALS

================================

(As we come back from break we cut to the set of Piper's Pit as Roddy walks out)

 

Piper: "ESPN…..welcome to Piper's Pit, now you really are….the TOTAL SPORTS NETWORK….it's been a while since I been in the pit, of course I'm your host Roddy Piper, but you already know that. So I've got a special guest….he's the World Champion so let's get right to it….here he is…the pride of Borger, Texas…..the AWA World Champeen….Stan Hansen."

(Hansen storms the set with the AWA Championship belt on his shoulder)

 

Piper: "Hi there Mr. Hansen……the names 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper…..my friends call me 'Hot Rod', you can call me, Mr. Piper."

 

Hansen: (smiles) "Is that right? Well, how about I call ya, 'sweetie' seein' as how you wear a skirt and all."


Piper: "It's called a kilt, and I can't say I'm shocked to hear you call me sweetie….since I've always heard there's only two things that come from Texas….steers and…"

(Before Piper can finish that thought…Paul Jones leads Ivan & Nikita Koloff onto the set along with Krusher Kruschev)

 

Jones: "As much as we'd all love to hear you two Mensa members square off…..there's more important business at hand…..my client Nikita Koloff is here to formally call you out for a Championship match right here next week on television!"

 

Piper: "First of all, Mr. Jones….is that your name son, Paul Jones."

 

Jones: "It's number one, Paul Jones."

 

Piper: "That's funny, because you're full of number TWO if you think you are going to come out here and take over Piper's Pit…" (Nikita grabs Piper by the throat)

 

Nikita: "SHUT YOUR  MOUF! (turns Piper loose who clutches his throat and steps back) I'm not here to talk to you, Rowdy Pipurer.  I'm here to talk to the so call champion, Stan Handsome. You claim to be tough cowboy, but you nearly loose to Jumbo Suboota in Toke-e-oh in Japan.  I know you fear Nikita, I no blame you…..but if you have any guts Cowboy….you face Nikita next week in the Rush Gold for title."

 

Hansen: "Listen here, Nicky! I ain't skeered of no Jap, no Russian, or no transvestite in a plaid skirt….I'd fight all three of you for this belt if I could…..but since your english seems to suck worse than your rasslin…how about I put this in a language even YOU can understand!"

 

(Hansen slaps the living shit out of Nikita like Rick James telling a joke to Charlie Murphy…and a wild brawl ensues as Rod Trongard yells. "Go to commercial, please…..this is out of control!!)

================================

QUICK COMMERCIAL FOR TOMORROW'S FOOTBALL LINEUP

================================

(As we return we go quickly to Larry Nelson who is in the back with Roddy Piper)


Nelson: "Roddy, that Piper's Pit didn't go exactly as planned I assume."


Piper: "Gee, ya think so? Listen, someday soon….Nikita Koloff will pay for putting his hands on me….but in the meantime, I hope he gets his title shot next week and I hope those two beat each other to death…..but enough about that….Hey Larry, you want an exclusive?"


Nelson: "Absolutely Hot Rod! Whatcha got?"


Piper: "There's a new guy making his debut in the AWA next week…..he's kind of a big deal."

 

Nelson: "Yes, we heard that Hulk Hogan will be debuting here next week facing the Honky Tonk Man!"

 

Piper: "Nope….not Hogan. There's another guy who will debut next week…and he's going to do it in Piper's Pit."


Nelson: "Oh come on Roddy….you gotta tell us!"

 

Piper: "Ahh….he's just a man…..a MACHO MAN….that's right kids! 'Macho Man' Randy Savage will debut next week in Piper's Pit!  And if you thought this week was wild, Gertrude…..you ain't seen nothin' yet!"

====================================

Match #5

MAIN EVENT

AWA NORTH AMERICAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson) wrestled The California Connection (John Tatum/Eric Embry) w/"Luscious" Johnny V to a 15 minute TV time limit draw

 

Trongard: "Well, Lord James Blears….nothing was settled here that's for sure….these guys are going to need a rematch with more time in the near future."

 

Blears: "No question as even the champions, Morton and Gibson are not happy with this outcome."

 

Trongard: "I’m getting word right now that Larry Nelson is backstage with Verne Gagne and they have the card for next week's GOLD RUSH event right here on ESPN!"

 

AWA Championship Wrestling

Presents

GOLD RUSH '85
A live television special on ESPN

Saturday May 2, 1985

Airing at 7pm cst

 

 

AWA Ladies Championship

Sherri Martel w/"Luscious" Johnny V

Vs.

Candi Devine

 

 

AWA North American Tag Team Championship

30 Minute Time Limit- Rematch

The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson)

Vs.

The California Connection (John Tatum/Eric Embry)

w/"Luscious" Johnny V.

 

 

Piper's Pit w/"Macho Man" Randy Savage

 

 

AWA North American Heavyweight Championship

Austin Idol handcuffed to Blackjack Mulligan at ringside

Percival Pringle III handcuffed to Kendall Windham at ringside

"Nature Boy" Buddy Landel

Vs.

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair

 

 

Special Challenge Match

Hulk Hogan w/"Captain" Lou Albano

Vs.

The Honky Tonk Man w/"Col." Johnny V.

 

 

SEMI-MAIN EVENT

AWA World Tag Team Championship

Ivan Koloff/Krusher Kruschev w/Paul Jones

 vs.

"Big" Scott Hall/Curt Hennig w/Larry Hennig

 

 

MAIN EVENT

AWA World Heavyweight Championship

Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen

Vs.

"The Russian Nightmare"

Nikita Koloff w/Paul Jones & Ivan Koloff

 

 

© 1985 American Wrestling Association

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Well, it took you a single promo to get Mr. Fuji down. I could hear his devious voice perfectly in that one! and I am sure he is pleased as his Samurai Machines get a win in their first outing.

Rocky Johnson/Kabuki should be a fun little feud.

Ooohhhh…..a conspiracy surrounding the Tag Team Titles, and the potential of Stanley Blackburn being a Russian Sympathizer!! I Love It!!  (With geniuses like Scott Hall and the Hennig's on the case, I am sure the mystery will be solved in no time!)

Hey, Tommy Rich finally gets some back up in the form of Mr. Olympia and I can dig that. I sense some bloody tag team outings in the near future.

Great segment with Albano/Valiant/Honky. I can just picture the outrage when Albano throws out Hogan's name and Valiant/HTM lose their shit in the ring.

Another week, another A+ Buddy Landel segment. You have turned Buddy into a such a believable character that him feuding with and potentially beating guys like Flair and Piper is absolutely doable.

Where to even begin with Piper's Pit! It seems like we are headed for some Piper/Hansen fireworks, then we get another amazing Nikita promo. Leave it to you to figure out how to misspell words to make them sound like a fake Russian accent, but you've nailed it. We plants some seeds for Piper to feud with the Russians, we get a Nikita/Hansen fight, and then Piper announces that the Macho Man is coming..... Holy Shit.....what a segment!!!

R'n'R Express and California Connection get to follow that with a 15 minute broadway, and while I like both teams, I bet that was hard!

Good Lord, Gold Rush 85 is stacked!!! I can't wait for Nikita and Hansen!!

 

Awesome Show Man!!

 

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Good grief Gold Rush is going to be epic and it's on free TV!!!!! 

LOL Fuji's promo was right on the money. His new team should cause some damage.

Kabuki better get ready because the Soul Man is coming after him. 

The Axe, Curt and Hall are pretty riled up and even make some strong accusations. They get their big rematch next week with the Russians. I liked that they're fired up. Gives them an edge.

I knew Rich was going to need an ally and looks like he found one with Mr. Olympia. 

WOW! Talk about a bombshell! Albano is bringing in HULK HOGAN! Johnny V and the HTM might be on borrowed time. Hopefully Verne will let HulkaMania run wild in the AWA.

HAHAHA Landel and Percy were so damn good in their segment. Landel goes from being in total shock to saying he's going to put Flair out again. Brilliant stuff. Cant wait for their match next week and you know it's going to get nuts with everybody handcuffed to each other. 

Pipers Pit debuts with none other than the Champ Stan Hansen. I love Hansen's character. He's ready to take on anybody and even gets into it with Piper. Russians enter and things get wild. I cant believe Nikita choked Piper. Then Hansen slaps Nikita! This is what Pipers Pit is all about. 

Another huge bombshell as Piper's guest next week is RANDY SAVAGE!!!!! 

RnR and Ca. Connection end the show with a draw. Looking forward to their extended time limit match next week. 

WOW! Flair, Hogan, Piper, Savage, Hansen, Nikita, Landel all in the same place! We're going to see some cool dream matches. 

Awesome show! Every segment meant something. Gold Rush is going to be off the charts! 

 

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My God, every segment had me on the edge of my seat.

Fugi was awesome!  Loved how he that Jumbo got screwed at it was because he didn't go!

The Axe interview was all business.  Maybe he is right. #1 Paul Jones might have paid off Blackburn

Nice to see Wildfire with some help and he got himself a good partner in Mr. Olympia

Couldn't think of a better way to bring in Hogan and Savage.  Hogan with Albano is perfect!  Savage in Piper's Pit.... Anything cold happen here.  MUST SEE TV!

The Landel interview was great.  Every time he thought he knew what Resnick was going to say but he had no idea.

Hansen vs Nikita..... You have so many options here and with your creativity I am sure you will have one that I have not thought of.  Can't wait for these two monsters to square off.

GOLD RUSH 85!!  Can't wait

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AWA Championship Wrestling

Presents

GOLD RUSH '85
A live television special on ESPN

Sunday May 3, 1985

Airing at 7pm cst

 

(RESULTS IN QUICK RECAP FORM-Except Piper's Pit)

 

Larry Nelson welcomes everyone to AWA's special presentation of AWA Championship Wrestling GOLD RUSH live here on ESPN.  He quickly runs down tonight's card and then sends us to ringside for our opening bout!

====================

Match #1:

AWA Ladies Championship

Sherri Martel w/"Luscious" Johnny V pinned Candi Devine with a small package and a handful of tights

====================

Ric Flair cuts a promo saying Buddy Landel is a goof and tonight he will show him why he's the one and only Nature Boy left in professional wrestling when he takes his title and shuts his big mouth while his buddies helplessly watch on while handcuffed to Blackjack Mulligan and Kendall Windham.

====================

Match #2:

AWA North American Tag Team Championship

30 Minute Time Limit- Rematch

The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson) defeated The California Connection (John Tatum/Eric Embry) w/"Luscious" Johnny V when Morton pinned Embry with a sunset flip off the top rope……after the match, Los Mega Stars (Al Madril/Chicky Starr) w/TNT came to ringside and challenged the Rock & Roll Express to a championship match as the show went to commercial

===================

COMMERCIALS

===================

(The camera cuts to the Piper's Pit set where 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper walks out to a huge ovation)

 

Piper: "Welcome once again to the one and only Piper's Pit!  If you didn't know what Piper's Pit is all about, then last week gave you a crash course as we had Stan Hansen and Nikita Koloff nose to nose out here and in a short while hopefully those two will cripple each other for your entertainment here on ESPN…..for those who wondered why I let that Commie get away with choking me last week…believe me…..when the time is right….ol' Nikita will regret crossing 'Hot Rod'…..but that's for another day and time…..tonight we've got a major guest….one of the fastest rising stars in all of professional wrestling today…..the MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE!!"

(Pomp and Circumstance plays as the Macho Man makes his way onto the set of Piper's Pit)

 

Piper: "Greetings Mr. Savage…..do you prefer Mr. Savage? Macho? Randy? Randall? Angelo Jr.?"


Savage: "Yeah, Mr. Savage will do just fine…UH HUH."

 

Piper: "Alright, Mr. Savage it is then.  So tell me Mr. Savage….what brings a man such as yourself to the AWA?"


Savage: "Well Hot Rod, I would say that's a good question but actually it's not a good question….yeeahh, I'm here in the AWA because this is the Major League of Professional Wrestling…yeaahhh!  Some of the biggest stars in the wrestling business such as yourself….such as Ric Flair….such as Stan Hansen….such as Hulk Hogan…reside here and the list goes on and on yeaahhhh."

 

Piper: "Well Mr. Savage, I guess that's fair to say…..now here's a question for ya….it seems almost everyone here in the AWA has to have some sorta manager….even Hogan has fat Lou Albano with him……do you plan to have a manager?"


Savage: "Freak OUT YEAAAHH! It's crazy you should bring that up because as an EXCLUSIVE for you right here in your Pit, I'm going to introduce my manager yeaahhh!"

 

Piper: "Wait..wait…let me guess.  Who could it be….let's see is that that wimpy blimp, Percy Pringle."

 

Savage: "NOPE…not even close, Hot Rod!!"

 

Piper: "Is it that goofy Johnny V?"

 

Savage: "Come on Roddy, give me some credit here, brother…NOT A CHANCE!"

 

Piper: "Then I suppose it must be that devious snake in the grass, Mr. Fuji!"

 

Savage: "I squint a lot Piper, but not that much…YEEAAHH! Oh and before you ask…NOPE, not Paul Jones either…..So do ya give up??"

 

Piper: "Wait a second?? You mean to tell me that you're with Albano too??"


Savage: (turns around in disgust for a moment) "My manager is a 'guiding light'….but it's not Captain Lou….it's the beautiful……..MISS ELIZABETH!! OHHH YEAAHH!!" (the music plays once again and out walks the lovely Miss Elizabeth)


Piper: "Well, well Mr. Savage I must say your taste in managers is much better than most."

 

Savage: "Easy Piper! Let's not get cross this soon….I just got here, brother."

 

Piper: "You take it easy….I ain't hittin' on her…I'm just saying she's prettier than that list of trolls we just named off…..(suddenly the Missing Link wanders onto the set) Umm, Can I help you, Mr. Green Person?"


Savage: "Look…I'm the guest here, brother…..you need to take off!"

(Link looks at Savage for a moment….then turns his attention to Elizabeth….he reaches for her hand, Savage smacks it away)


Savage: "Listen, brother…..I don't know you and you seem like you may be a bit uh…touched…..but if you don't leave I'm going to touch you with my fists, you got it?"

 

Piper: "What's with everybody just walking out here on my Pit every week…..listen pal, hit the bricks this isn't your interview." (Link turns and glares at Piper….then grabs his tuft of hair and nails Savage with a huge headbutt shattering his glasses and knocking him to the ground…Elizabeth immediately checks on Randy as Link reaches for her…Piper shoves him away)


Piper: "What the hell is your problem, man?! (Link wanders off)  Somebody come check on Savage, he's bleeding." (the show abruptly ends)

===================
A video package airs of everything leading up to Flair vs. Landel

===================

Match #3:

AWA North American Heavyweight Championship

Austin Idol handcuffed to Blackjack Mulligan at ringside

Percival Pringle III handcuffed to Kendall Windham at ringside

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair defeated "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel by DQ when The Long Riders hit the ring and attacked Flair while he had Landel locked into the figure four leglock

===================

COMMERCIALS

===================

Match #4:

Special Challenge Match

Hulk Hogan w/"Captain" Lou Albano pinned The Honky Tonk Man w/"Col." Johnny V. following an "Atomic Leg Drop"…..In the post match- Captain Lou waves the American flag while Hulk Hogan poses with Bruce Springsteen's 'Born in the USA' playing in the background

===================

A highlight video airs of Los Mega Stars wrestling down in the WWC in Puerto Rico during their recent suspension for attacking the Samoan Swat Team.

===================

Match #5:

SEMI-MAIN EVENT

AWA World Tag Team Championship

Ivan Koloff/Krusher Kruschev w/Paul Jones fights "Big" Scott Hall/Curt Hennig w/Larry Hennig to a 'No Contest' as both teams are counted out after the match breaks down into a four way brawl at ringside!

===================

COMMERCIALS

===================

Highlights of Nikita storming the ring after Hansen won the title from Dibiase and from last week's Piper's Pit confrontation

===================

Match #6:

MAIN EVENT

AWA World Heavyweight Championship

Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen

Vs.

"The Russian Nightmare"

Nikita Koloff w/Paul Jones & Ivan Koloff

 

The fans are on the edge of their seats for this one.  As the bell rings Hansen is one corner and Nikita is in another corner……Nikita walks out to the center of the ring…..and gives a big pose….Hansen charges and NAILS NIKITA WITH A LARIAT!! NIKITA IS DOWN….NIKITA IS DOWN!!  Paul Jones jumps up on the ring apron and Hansen charges and blasts him off the ring with a lariat of his own…as Nikita struggling to get up…..Ivan jumps up on the apron on the opposite side….Hansen charges across the ring and blasts Ivan with a lariat knocking him to the floor as well …..as he turns back around…..Nikita floors him with a RUSSIAN SICKLE!! HANSEN IS DOWN!! Nikita takes a few steps back as Hansen rolls around on the mat and tries to get back to his feet and just as he does…..NIKITA BLASTS HIM WITH ANOTHER RUSSIAN SICKLE!!! Nikita covers him and hooks the leg….1---2---3!!!

 

We have a new AWA World Heavyweight Champion!!

"The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff!!!

 

As Hansen tries to make sense out of what just happened, Krusher Kruschev and Ivan Koloff collect Paul Jones off the floor and leave ringside along with the new champion as they come through the curtain and are met by Larry Nelson!

 

Nelson: "Nikita Koloff, you've done it! You are the new AWA World Heavyweight Champion!"

 

Nikita: "OF COURSE I AM!! I tell you one week ago Stan Handsome on Piper Pits…..a Cowboy is no match for a superior Russian athlete! NOW…I beat all challenger…Roddy Pipurer, Rich Flares, Randy Macho, Austin Idols, and Jumbo Sturootuh! I will beat them all RUSSIA #1!"

(Paul Jones struggling to recover and brag)


Jones: "That's right….Nikita Koloff is the REAL World Champion!! We're putting out a challenge to every so called champion in the wrestling world…..anyone who claims to be a World Champion….Bob Backlund, Magnum T.A., Nick Bockwinkel, any of you! Nikita will take you all on at once and beat you to prove he's the true World Champion!"

(Before Jones can say anything else, Stan Hansen storms the set and brawls with Nikita as the show goes off the air!!)

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Holy Shit!! What an ending....but we'll get there!!

Sherri hangs on to the title in the opener, can't say I'm shocked, bring on Wendi Richter!!

Ricky and Robert take down the California Connection, but after the match Madril and Chicky come looking for a shot. That sounds like a fun feud! High impact with a lot of blood, and some fun Fiesta Gardens to boot!

Awesome work on the Pit. You have Piper down, and I could hear Savage's signature growl dripping off of every word. Link makes a great first feud for Macho Man, and I think you are playing off some old history in this game, so well done there.

Flair's feud with Percy's men heats up some more as The Irwin's save Landel from a clean loss. I sense some 8 man tags coming up!

Hulkamania runs wild in the AWA tonight Brother, Jack, Dude!! U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A.

I honestly thought Hall and Hennig would take the belts tonight, but a four way schmoz ends it and we will see this one again I am sure!!

and then we come to the Main Event.....

The Lariat shows us the first chink in the armor of Nikita Koloff, but then has to take the time to clean up the rest of the trash at ringside which gives The Nightmare enough time to recover. Wham, one sickle, Hansen being a tough bastard manages to get back up, and then WHAM, another sickle, and it is all over.....The Russian Nightmare becomes the AWA World Champion....and  I love it!!!

I always wanted to see Nikita on top just destroying everyone, and you have it captured perfectly. Having him call out everyone, and then having Jones start calling names from other companies.... Great Stuff. Long Live the Russian Nightmare!!

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WOW! What a show and I cant believe it was on free TV. Great stuff! 

RnR finally get the decisive win over the Ca. Connection but Los Mega Stars look to be next up. That's what I liked about RnR, they could have great programs with any team. 

Piper's Pit is quickly becoming must see TV. Another wild episode as the Macho Man comes to town and introduces Liz as his manager. OH YEA! Missing Link spoils the debut by headbutting Savage. I like how Link is being used. This will be a good start for Savage.

Nothing is resolved between Flair and Landel which is ok with me because we're going to get more! 

Hogan makes his triumphant debut pinning the HTM. Looks like HulkaMania is going to run wild in the AWA! 

The Russians/Hall and Hennig will fight again. I'm enjoying this feud and it's really elevating the team of Hall and Hennig. 

DAMN! What an ending! Loved the quick brutal demolition type match. Hansen looks like a beast but Nikita prevails and wins the title! Hansen quickly gets his heat back with the backstage brawl. The reign of the Russian Nightmare has begun!

Awesome show Gene!  

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And there you have... the World Title on a Russian in 1985 automatically makes him the most hated man in wrestling!  Will be interesting to see what is next for Hansen.

Piper's Pit was great.  Like that Link might be Savage's first feud.  This is a nice use of Link and I wonder what will happen with Elizabeth.  Link seemed very interested by so did Piper.

Flair vs Landell.  They both might want to slow play this because whoever comes out on top might have to suffer at the hands of Nikita.

The Russians vs Hall and Hennig could sell out arenas for months.   Your roster is in such a good place that you do not even need title matches to sell out in like 4 arenas a night.

Thanks for all the hard work that went into this show!  Awesome

 

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American Wrestling Association

House Show Loop A

Cincinnati/Dayton/Akron/Toledo

May 4th-7th, 1985

Bell time: 7:30pm

 

Brickhouse Brown pinned TNT with a sunset flip

 

 

The Samurai Machines w/Mr. Fuji defeated The High Flyers (Greg Gagne/Jim Brunzell) when SM #1 pinned Gagne a hitting him with Fuji's cane while Fuji had the referee distracted

 

 

Krusher Kruschev w/Paul Jones pinned "Big" Scott Hall w/Curt Hennig with his feet on the ropes

 

 

Blackjack Mulligan/Kendall Windham defeated the Long Riders (Bill/Scott Irwin) when BJM pinned Bill Irwin after a powerslam…..after the match the Long Riders jumped Mulligan/Windham and left them laying

 

 

The Great Kabuki w/Mr. Fuji defeated Rocky Johnson by count out when Johnson jumped out of the ring and chased Fuji down the aisle after the 2nd time Fuji tripped him

 

 

SEMI-MAIN EVENT

The Rock & Roll Express/Hulk Hogan w/Capt. Lou Albano defeated The California Connection/The Honky Tonk Man w/Johnny V when Hogan pinned Embry following a legdrop

 

 

MAIN EVENT

AWA World Heavyweight Championship

"The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff w/Paul Jones defeated Tommy "Wildfire" Rich with a 'Russian Sickle'

 

 

American Wrestling Association

House Show Loop B

Chicago/Moline/Aurora/Rockford

May 4th-7th, 1985May 4th-7th, 1985

Bell time: 7pm

 

Dino Bravo pinned The Executioner following a side suplex

 

 

The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair/Brad Armstrong) defeated The PYT Express (Koko Ware/Norvell Austin) when Blair pinned Ware after Austin walked out and abandoned him 12 minutes into the match

 

 

Mr. Olympia fought "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer to a 15 minute time limit draw

 

 

Jumbo Tsuruta pinned "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel with a bridging German suplex

 

 

Special Challenge Match

"Macho Man" Randy Savage w/Ms. Elizabeth defeated The Missing Link by DQ when Link headbutted the referee

 

 

SEMI-MAIN EVENT

Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen pinned 'the Russian Bear' Ivan Koloff by pinfall after a 'Lariat'

 

 

MAIN EVENT

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair/"Rowdy" Roddy Piper defeated The Pringle Dynasty (Austin Idol/Buddy Landel) w/Percy Pringle when Flair made Idol submit to the 'figure four leglock'

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Like the Mulligans/Long Riders match. This is going to be a rough feud. 

That sneaky Mr. Fuji helps his man Kabuki get a co win over the Soul man. I'm enjoying their matches. 

I cant imagine the pop Hogan and the RnR Express got! Must of been insane. 

Nikita gets his first title defense with a solid win over Wildfire. 

Olympia and Sawyer go the limit. Good match up. 

Tsuruta scores a nice win over Wahoo. 

I think we're just getting warmed up with Savage and Link. That headbutt to the ref shows how unhinged Link is. However, Savage can get a bit crazy also. 

Hansen gets some measure of revenge by taking Uncle Ivan down. 

Good grief what a main event! Flair and Piper win a big battle as Flair makes the Universal Heartthrob submit. Right now Flair has bragging rights on the figure four. 

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(Sorry, another super busy week….another somewhat condensed show)

AWA Championship Wrestling

Recorded: May 8, 1985

Airing: Saturday May 9, 1985 nationwide on ESPN

The Tropicana Hotel & Casino

Atlantic City, New Jersey

 

(Show opens with highlights from last week's 'GOLD RUSH' special ending with Nikita Koloff winning the AWA World Championship)
 

Larry Nelson is joined by AWA Owner Verne Gagne who says that while last week's show was a ratings success there was a lot of things he's not happy about and that needs to be rectified. Verne is disappointed that there was interference in the World title match and North American title match and that the World tag team title match didn't have a clear winner because the ring couldn't contain them.  Verne says he's talk it over with the AWA Championship committee and they've made a decision on how to settle some of these issues once and for all.  On Sunday May 31st in Minneapolis, the AWA will have an event that will air on Closed Circuit television across the country entitled 'RAGE IN THE CAGE'!  This unprecedented event will feature not one…..not two….but THREE STEEL CAGE MATCHES!!  The matches signed for Rage in the Cage so far is…

 

AWA RAGE IN THE CAGE '85

Minneapolis, MN.

Sunday May 31, 1985

BROADCASTING LIVE VIA CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION

Bell Time: 5pm

 

MAIN EVENT

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA World Championship- REMATCH

"The Russian Nightmare"

Nikita Koloff w/Paul Jones

Vs.

Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen

 


SEMI-MAIN EVENT

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA World Tag Team Championship

Ivan Koloff/Krusher Kruschev w/Paul Jones

Vs.

"Big" Scott Hall/Curt Hennig w/Larry Hennig

 

 

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA North American Championship
"Nature Boy" Buddy Landel w/Percival Pringle III

Vs.

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair w/"Rowdy" Roddy Piper

 

 

AWA Ladies Championship Match

Sherri Martel w/Johnny V.

Vs.

Wendi Richter w/Capt. Lou Albano

====================

(Buddy Landel once again joins Rod Trongard and Lord James Blears on commentary- here is some highlights from the commentary of the following match)

 

Landel: "So now I have to defend my title against Flair in a Steel Cage and that tranny Roddy Piper is going to be at ringside?  Piper is a joke, it's bad enough he's ripping off those two poor Mexican fellas with his stupid Piper's Pitiful show."

 

Rod: "What two Mexican fellows?"


Landel: "Do you not watch your own show? The Tortilla Garden with Tito Santana and Manny Fernandez."

 

Rod: "That's not Tito Santana or Manny Fernandez!"


Landel: "Don't get an attitude with me, Ron Lifeguard…..I meant Hector and Chavo Guerrero."

 

Rod: "That's not Hector and Chavo…"


Landel: "Well excuse me, Hector and Mando…"

 

Rod: "It's not the Tortilla Garden and it's not hosted by the Guerreros."

 

Landel: "Well somebody shoot me because I can't sit around the hotel all day and watch Telemundo to learn all these guys names….you know damn well what show I'm talking about….it's called Fiesta Nachos and they have a little bitty painted up bodyguard called 'BVD' or something."

 

Rod: "Buddy, it's the Fiesta Garden with Al Madril, Chicky Starr, and TNT…"


Landel: "Ok, so where was I even going with this?"


Rod: "That Roddy Piper is ripping off their talk show…"

 

Landel: "AH HA! So you do agree with me!"


Blears: "Austin Idol has gotten the win with the figure four leglock."

 

Landel: "Shows what you know Lord Alfred, it's the Las Vegas Leglock…..if you're going to talk to people on television, at least get the names right….it's embarrassing when people don't know what their talking about….anyways, I'm outta here….good luck to you two trying to do this without me."

 

Blears: "Rod, I'm speechless."


Rod: "If only Landel could be…..ever."

 

Match #1:

"Universal Heartthrob" Austin Idol w/Percival Pringle III defeated Frank Reynolds by submission with the 'Las Vegas Leglock'

=====================

COMMERCIALS

=====================

Match #2:

The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair/Brad Armstrong) wrestled The Samurai Machines (#1/#2) w/Mr. Fuji to a 10 minute time limit draw

======================

AWA President Stanley Blackburn says he has a couple of announcements.  Number one is due to the "unfounded accusations directed at him recently" Curt Hennig, Larry Hennig, and Scott Hall are all suspended until their match on May 31st which wouldn't be happening if the owner Verne Gagne didn't insist on it.  Announcement number two is….the AWA and ESPN have collaborated on something exciting for the AWA Championship Wrestling television show.  The AWA ESPN Television championship.  Next week, the names of everyone on the AWA roster will be placed in a box and two names will be drawn out….those two wrestlers will face off to crown the first champion, then each week someone will be drawn out to challenge for the championship in a 15 minute time limit match.  With each successful defense the champion will earn $5,000 cash. If the match goes to a draw, the title will be declared vacant and two new challengers will be drawn the following week.  Again, everyone on the roster will be in the box…..so you could potentially see some very interesting matches right here on television…..you could see Hulk Hogan face Nikita Koloff for the ESPN Television title, you could see Ricky Morton face Robert Gibson for the title….you could Larry Hennig wrestle his son Curt Hennig if they both weren't suspended….but you get the idea.  This will be very exciting and we look forward to bringing these matches to you each and every week here on ESPN!

======================

Match #3:

The Honky Tonk Man w/Col. Johnny V pinned Randy Watson following a swinging neckbreaker

=======================

Paul Jones/Nikita Koloff/Ivan Koloff/Krusher Kruschev join Ken Resnick backstage. 

 

Paul Jones says that Nikita Koloff has no problem facing Stan Hansen in a steel cage match to prove to everyone that he is the greatest World Champion in professional wrestling.  Jones says so far there hasn't been any so called World Champion to step up and answer the challenge laid down last week at Gold Rush and he knows why….because they are all cowards!  Jones goes on to say that Bob Backlund is a crazy old man with dementia, Magnum TA is a punk kid how hasn't earned his title, and that Nick Bockwinkel is "too old and scared" to ever show his face in the AWA again. Jones says that Rage in the Cage will be the end of Stan Hansen and then he can go live in Japan since they seem to believe the "hype" that he's tough over there.  Ivan says if the Hennigs and Scott Hall are smart, they will find somewhere else to wrestle and not return from their suspension by Comrade Blackburn.

=======================

Match #4:

Wendi Richter w/Capt. Lou Albano pinned Leilani Kai following a dropkick from the 2nd rope

=======================

COMMERCIALS

=======================

Match #5:

"Macho Man" Randy Savage w/Ms. Elizabeth pinned Buck Spivey following an elbow drop from the top rope, at one point the Missing Link was shown standing in the aisle gawking at Elizabeth but turned and left when the match ended before Savage noticed he was there.

======================

Fiesta Garden Recap

The Fiesta Garden returned this week with guests Hulk Hogan/Captain Lou Albano.  Before the guests came out, Madril and Starr bantered back and forth and made some thinly veiled threats towards the Rock & Roll Express.  They bring out Hogan and Albano and things are surprisingly cordial…..Hogan talks about his win over the Honky Tonk Man and how he's proud to be here in the AMERICAN Wrestling Association as he's a proud American and always looking to "fight for what's right".  Before he can go any further, Mr. Fuji comes out along Jumbo Tsuruta and the Great Kabuki.  Fuji says that Hogan is a very tough man when he's fighting an Elvis impersonator but he would stand no chance and would embarrass his beloved country if he ever faced an athlete the caliber of Jumbo Tsuruta…..Hogan tells them to name the time and place…..Jumbo manages to get out "May 31st".  Captain Lou says, "We'll be there!"  Hulk says, "You got it, brother!"

=======================

Match #6:
Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen destroyed Roy Munson after beating him all around the ringside area then tossing him back in the ring and giving him a lariat and then pinning him!


(Larry Nelson approaches Hansen at ringside to try and get a word but gets shoved down and trampled as he storms his way back down the aisle)

======================

COMMERCIALS

======================

Match #7

MAIN EVENT

Grudge Tag Team Match

Tommy "Wildfire" Rich/Mr. Olympia

Vs.

"Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer/"Dirty" Dick Slater

 

The bell rang and this one never even resembled a tag match as Rich paired off brawling with Sawyer while Olympia tied up with Slater….eventually the action spilled out of the ring and into the crowd…..the referee finally had to declare it a 'no contest' as the show went off the air with Rich and Sawyer swinging chairs at each other back in about the fourth row….

 

 

© 1985 American Wrestling Association

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Oh Man, Rage in the Cage is gonna be a good one. I expect lots of blood, lots of cheating, and a whole lot of hurt feelings....and that's just during Flair/Landel!!

Speaking of which, your fucking Landel is spot on as always. Week in and week out, you never fail to make me laugh with Buddy.

I like this combination of the Bee's. Hope they get a bigger run sometime.

That Stanley Blackburn might be a Russian Sympathizer!! or maybe it's Gagne!! They both seem shady. Whatever happened to real Americans like Farmer Burns!

Digging the concept for the TV Title. Should make for some interesting match ups and keep the belt fresh.

Good to see the Honky Tonk Man pick up a win. He needs it after getting cheated by Chump Hogan.

Paul Jones had better watch his mouth or he might find himself developing a dislike for Chicken Wings.

Looking forward to Savage going ape shit on the Link eventually. I know it's coming!

Boo! to the Fiesta Garden being cordial. Hogan/Jumbo will make for a nice "Everyone Chant U.S.A." moment in between violent cage matches.

The Lariat seems angry. That is bad for someone, or a lot of someones.

Throw Rich and Sawyer in a cage too!!!

Good stuff! Looking forward to Rage.

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Rage in the Cage is going to be insane! All 3 cage matches are main events. What a great night that will be.

LOL! Landel was on a roll tonight. That was some hilarious stuff. This guy is GOLD! 

Killer Bees and Samurai Warriors put on a solid match.

Love the TV title idea. This is going to be a fun segment to watch every week. So many possible dream matches.

Jones is very confident in Nikita and even takes shots at all the other champs. 

I'm really looking forward to the Sheri/Richter match at Rage. 

The Savage/Link program is becoming very interesting. Literally anything can happen at any given moment between these two. 

Fiesta Garden is back! WOW! Hogan vs. Tsuruta at Rage! 

HAHAHA I remember when Hansen use to plow over Nelson. That always cracked me up. Props to Nelson for taking those bumps. 

Wild ending as Rich/Olympia-Sawyer and Slater have a crazy brawl. Yet another fun feud in the AWA.

Man I cant wait for Rage in the Cage! 

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Really looking forward to rage in the cage.  

I enjoyed the Verne Gagne and Stanley Blackburn segments. Verne pretending to care about anything but the ratings was great.  Blackburn seems a little thin skinned as he suspends Hall and the Hennigs.  It will be interesting to see if he lives to regret that decision.  

Buddy Landel continues to be the one of your best pieces of work every week.  You just have a knack for making him hilarious!  

Rich and Sawyer on regular TV!  Love it.  I do feel Wildfire got a little stale in real life in Georgia as he seemed to get hemmed into the babyface role. I liked him better in Memphis as you never knew what was coming.  

It doesn't matter if its the Fiesta Garden or Piper's Pit... they are always fun to read.  Fuji better be careful.  Hulkster needs to jump over some people here in the AWA to get to where he wants to be and Jumbo might be a leap.

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AWA Championship Wrestling

Recorded: May 15, 1985

Airing: Saturday May 16, 1985 nationwide on ESPN

The Tropicana Hotel & Casino

Atlantic City, New Jersey

 

(The show opens with Larry Nelson informing everyone that after last week's show went off the air, Verne Gagne confronted Nikita Koloff and told him to quit challenging champions from other organizations and concentrate on wrestlers in the AWA…..Paul Jones then told Verne, how about they focus on "his boy Greg".   Nikita then put out a challenge that he would defend his AWA World title here tonight against Greg Gagne, Greg has accepted and that will be our main event this week on AWA Championship Wrestling!  We'll also see the first AWA ESPN Television Champion crowned and a very special FIESTA GARDEN with their guest…….ROWDY RODDY PIPER!)

==================

Match #1:

The Missing Link pinned Randy Watson after a running "battering ram" headbutt

At the conclusion of the match, "Macho Man" Randy Savage came to ringside and grabbed a microphone, "You listen….and listen good, brother or whatever it is you are…..consider this your final warning……if I see you ANYWHERE near Ms. Elizabeth….if I catch you looking at Elizabeth….if I even catch you thinking about Elizabeth…..I will drop you where you stand….DIG IT??? FINAL WARNING…YEAAHHH!" (Savage turns and leaves as Link looks confused)

====================

(Ken Resnick informs us that at the end of tonight's show, we'll get an update on the card for AWA RAGE IN THE CAGE on May 31st)

====================

Match #2:

AWA North American Champion "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel w/Percy Pringle defeated Roy Munson by submission with a figure four leglock
 

(Ken Resnick approaches Buddy Landel and Percy Pringle at ringside)

 

Buddy: "I'm not going to pretend to remember or care what your name is but I just want to start this interview out by saying that you are officially my least favorite announcer in wrestling and that includes Larry Nelson who looks like he's not only the Store Manager of a Goodwill but he's also a customer."

 

Ken: "It's Ken Resnick, and believe me I'm not anymore excited to talk to you than you are to me."

 

PP3: "How dare you Resnick?  You get the opportunity to interview the greatest champion in the AWA, and you want to act like you don't enjoy it?"

 

Ken: "So you're implying that Mr. Landel is a greater champion than Nikita Koloff? I'm sure he'd be interested to hear that…"

 

Buddy: "Why are you trying to cause trouble between me and my comrade Nikita?  I'll have you know that Nikita Koloff and I get along famously and I would never disrespect him or his title.  You're twisting Percy's words around and trying to start something because you're jealous that we're two handsome, successful men about town while you have to share a cab with that Larry Nelson that smells like he works at a bait shop and looks like he rode to the arena with his head stuck out the window like a Labrador retriever!"

 

Ken: "What's your issue with Larry Nelson?"

 

PP3: "What's your issue with Mr. Koloff? I think that you are trying to stir things up because you don't respect people from Russia, and you think he shouldn't be champion…..you're probably rooting for Greg Gagne tonight aren't you?"


Ken: "Of course, I hope Greg wins the title tonight for the fans of the AWA and everyone in America."

 

Buddy: "See Percy…he is discriminating against our good friend Nikita Koloff due to his nationality….this is disgusting and I for one don't care to be apart of this hate filled garbage this man is spewing out here on ESPN for everyone to have to hear…..So, let me just say this and I'll bid you a good day……at Rage in the Cage I'm going to beat that Nature Boy wannabe, Ric Flair within an inch of his life and walk out with this championship belt…..and there's nothing he can do about it, just like there's nothing you can do about the fact you're the worst announcer to ever hold a microphone and as long as you're alive, Larry Nelson can sleep at night knowing he's only the 2nd biggest waste of space to ever announce on ESPN."

 

PP3: "Ken Resnick, good bye….good night….and good riddance!"

====================

COMMERCIALS

====================

Match #3:

Blackjack Mulligan/Kendall Windham defeated Frank Reynolds/Charlie Kelly when Mulligan pinned Reynolds with an 'iron claw'

====================

COMMERCIALS

====================

(When we return from break, Larry Nelson and Stanley Blackburn are at ringside with a box and they pick a random fan from the crowd who draws out the first name for the AWA ESPN Television Championship match….and the first contestant is "Wild" Bill Irwin.  The second contestant is drawn and it's….Mr. Olympia!)

 

Match #4:

Match to crown the first ever AWA ESPN Television Champion

Mr. Olympia pinned "Wild" Bill Irwin w/Percy Pringle with a crucifix to win the championship

=====================

COMMERCIALS

=====================

Match #5:

The California Connection (John Tatum/Eric Embry) w/Johnny V defeated Steve Doll/Brickhouse Brown when Tatum pinned Doll after a spike piledriver

========================

Al Madril welcomes us to the Fiesta Garden. Chicky Starr says it's disgusting that while they were suspended from TV for no good reason that Verne Gagne brought in some guy in a skirt to rip off the Fiesta Garden.  Al agrees but says that the Fiesta Garden is back and better than ever and that tonight they have the misfortune of bringing this pretender out here on their show to show him how a wrestling talk show is supposed to be done.     Piper comes out wearing a t-shirt that reads "Chicky Who?" Starr asks if that's "supposed to be cute?"  Piper responds that he had assumed that Chicky "No habla ingles".  Madril tells Piper to take it easy, he's outnumbered "3 to 1".  Piper smiles and says "I've flushed bigger things than you three after a meal at Panchos."  Chicky tells Piper he's disrespectful. Piper replies, "Oh good, you read my bio."  Piper snatches the mic from Madril, "Listen here boys….I didn't have a problem with you until you called me a ripoff….I'm anything but a damn ripoff, man.  I'm the trailblazer of this industry…..I was doing Piper's Pit when little Chicky was still waiting tables in Puerto Rico…..and as for you Alberto….you know damn well what I'm all about….so we can do this one of two ways….you can live and let live….I'll do my thing and you do your's….or….."  Madril interrupts, "or what, tough guy? I'll remind you one last time….there's three of us and one of you so I suggest you take your ass out of the Fiesta Garden and consider yourself lucky to walk away!"   Piper hangs his head, "I guess I see you've made your choice…..excuse me." Piper turns and leaves.  A smile comes across both Chicky and Al's faces. Chicky says "See, he's smarter than people give him credit for….he knew better than to mess with…"  Before he can finish Piper returns with a baseball bat and starts destroying the set of the Fiesta Garden as Madril and Starr take off at the sight of the bat…..TNT steps to Piper but gets a shot to the ribs with the bat and one to the jaw….dropping him to the floor….Piper takes a couple of more whacks at what's left of the Fiesta Garden set before tossing the bat down….and casually strolling away…

========================

COMMERCIAL

========================

Match #6

MAIN EVENT

AWA World Heavyweight Championship

"The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff w/# 1 Paul Jones pinned Greg Gagne after a "Russian Sickle" in 1:24…..after the match, Nikita wrapped his chain around Gagne's neck and hung him over the top rope…..as Gagne's eyes rolled back in his head……STAN HANSEN hit the ring and attacked Nikita Koloff, but before Hansen could get too many blows in Ivan Koloff and Krusher Kruschev hit the ring and attacked Hansen…..as the Koloffs/Kruschev/Jones all put the boots to Hansen…..from outta nowhere……BRUISER BRODY hits the ring swinging his chain like a madman causing the Russians to flee the ring as the show comes to a close!

 

(We cut to a commercial running the updated card for AWA RAGE IN THE CAGE)

 

AWA RAGE IN THE CAGE '85

Minneapolis, MN.

Sunday May 31, 1985

BROADCASTING LIVE VIA CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION

Bell Time: 5pm

 

MAIN EVENT

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA World Championship

Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen

Vs.

"The Russian Nightmare"

Nikita Koloff w/Paul Jones

 


SEMI-MAIN EVENT

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA World Tag Team Championship

Ivan Koloff/Krusher Kruschev w/Paul Jones

Vs.

"Big" Scott Hall/Curt Hennig w/Larry Hennig

 

 

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA North American Championship
"Nature Boy" Buddy Landel w/Percival Pringle III

Vs.

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair w/"Rowdy" Roddy Piper

 

 

FLAG MATCH- USA vs. JAPAN

Hulk Hogan w/Capt. Lou Albano

Vs.

Jumbo Tsuruta w/Mr. Fuji

 

 

AWA Ladies Championship Match

Sherri Martel w/Johnny V.

Vs.

Wendi Richter w/Capt. Lou Albano

 

 

AWA North American Tag Team Championship

The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson)

Vs.

Los Mega Stars (Al Madril/Chicky Starr) w/TNT

 

 

Six Man Tag Team Grudge Match

Roddy Piper/Blackjack Mulligan/Kendall Windham

Vs.

Austin Idol/The Long Riders (Bill/Scott Irwin)

w/Percival Pringle III

 

 

© 1985 American Wrestling Association

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Fun TV show.  

I liked Verne warning Koloff in the beginning and then Koloff taking ou out on Greg Gagne at the end.  Give credit to Greg for accepting the challenge.  

Piper and the Fiesta Garen was awesome.  Wondering wants next!

The Koloffs now have both Hansen and Brody to worry about!  Makes this a pretty even fight!

Mr. Olympia will make a great TV champ... good pick by the kid in the audience.

Your Buddy Landel promo was awesome as usually.

Looking forward to Rage in the Cage

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I just have this wonderful picture in my head of Savage all intense and threatening the Link as Link looks around trying to figure out where the voices are coming from! Still a great first feud to get Savage over.

Another week, another Landel promo that leaves me rolling. That turn around job on Resnick was a thing of beauty.

Olympia is a fantastic first Television champion. I like the concept for the belt, and I look forward to the twists and turns it will bring.

Oh Shit, Piper tears down the Fiesta Garden. I feel like this could be one of those feuds that is always happening, but doesn't have to be constantly focused on. I can't wait to see Madril attempt something on the Pit.

Oh No....Please Not Greg.....

Hansen certainly knows how to even the odds! Bruiser Brody will certainly gives the Russians something to think about. This feud definitely just got a whole lot bigger and a whole lot meaner.

 

Good show as always dude!

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American Wrestling Association

Canadian House Show Loop A

Toronto/Hamilton/Winnipeg

May 17/18/19, 1985

Bell Time: 7pm

 

Brickhouse Brown pinned TNT with a small package

 

 

Mr. Olympia pinned "Dirty" Dick Slater with a backslide

 

 

AWA North American Tag Team Championship

The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson) defeated Los Mega Stars (Al Madril/Chicky Starr) w/TNT by DQ when the referee caught TNT interfering

 

 

Grudge Match

"Macho Man" Randy Savage w/Ms. Elizabeth fought The Missing Link to a double count out when Link got Savage down and then exited the ring, picked up Elizabeth and tried to carry her off down the aisle…..until Savage ran down and stopped him….they brawled in the aisle and were both counted out

 

 

SEMI-MAIN EVENT

TAG TEAM CHALLENGE MATCH

Rocky Johnson/Hulk Hogan w/Capt. Lou Albano defeated Jumbo Tsuruta/Great Kabuki w/Mr. Fuji when Hogan pinned Kabuki after an 'Atomic Legdrop'

 

 

MAIN EVENT

AWA World Heavyweight Championship

Nikita Koloff w/Paul Jones pinned Dino Bravo following a 'Russian Sickle'

==================================

 

American Wrestling Association

Canadian House Show Loop B

Montreal/Quebec City/Vancouver

May 17/18/19, 1985

Bell Time: 7pm

 

Steve Doll pinned "Flamboyant" Eric Embry with a flying crossbody off the top rope, after the match Embry offered a handshake to Doll…..Doll accepted and Embry shook his hand and then raised it in victory but then clotheslined Doll and gave him two piledrivers

 

 

The Honky Tonk Man w/Col. Johnny V pinned "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel after hitting him with a chain while Johnny V distracted the referee

 

 

Brian Blair/Jim Brunzell (subbing for Brad Armstrong who no showed) wrestled the Samurai Warriors to a 15 minute time limit draw

 

 

DOG COLLAR MATCH

Tommy "Wildfire" Rich defeated "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer in a brutal bloody match that saw Sawyer have to be carried out on a stretcher….and Rich has to be helped back to the dressing room by Wahoo McDaniel

 

 

AWA World Tag Team Championship

Stan "the Lariat' Hansen/Bruiser Brody defeated Ivan Koloff/Krusher Kruschev by count out when both fled about 10 minutes into the match after Hansen hit the lariat on Kruschev and Ivan pulled him out of the ring and took off

 

 

MAIN EVENT

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Ric Flair/Roddy Piper/Blackjack Mulligan/Kendall Windham defeated Austin Idol/Buddy Landel/Bill Irwin/Scott Irwin w/Percy Pringle when Flair made Bill Irwin submit to the figure four leglock

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Another outstanding TV show! 

Really like this feud going between Savage and Link. Savage threatening him and Link acting baffled was good stuff. This is going to get crazy. 

I look forward to Landel every week and once again he's gold. I cant wait for him and Flair in the cage. 

Olympia is the first TV champ. Great choice! I'm looking forward to this concept. 

Fiesta Garden returns with Roddy Piper as the guest! I'm sure this will be nice and cordial LOL. After a battle of words, Piper destroys the set with a bat. Awesome TV! This could be an epic feud. 

Wow! Nikita destroys Gagne and almost kills him. Hansen comes out but the Russians numbers are to much until BRODY hits the ring! Man this was freak'n great! Brody and Hansen together could rule the AWA. 

 

On to the house shows.

Olympia carries his TV title momentum with a big win over Slater.

RnR get the DQ win over Los Mega Stars. The rematch at Rage in the Cage will be a good one. 

Chaos as Savage and Link battle to a double c.o. I'm sure more chaos is on the way.

Hogan and Johnson are one charismatic team as they take down Tsuruta and Kabuki. We'll see how Hogan does against Tsuruta at Rage. 

Nikita continues his dominance getting a strong win over the strongman Bravo. 

 

The poor sport Embry gives Doll a vicious post match beating. This could be a fun undercard feud. 

Big win for HTM over Wahoo. 

I wonder what happened to Brad Armstrong? 

Rich takes Sawyer down in a bloody dog collar match! This defiantly took a toll on both men. I loved this feud IRL and it was just as intense here in the AWA.

Man, Brody and Hansen send the Russians running. 

Mega main event as the faces send the fans home happy. Good job making Flair's figure four a strong finisher. 

Awesome job as always Gene. 

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Nice set of house shows.  Good job dividing up the roster and hitting more venues.  Verne is making the money now.

Nikita vs Bravo... great job thinking about locations here.  I always forget to do that.

I enjoy the Link/Elizabeth thing.  It just makes me laugh that when I was like 10, I always argued that wrestling was real.

Brody/Hansen vs the Russians... need a video copy of that brawl!

As always, enjoyed your work.  Thanks

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Been another crazy week….another somewhat abbreviated show

 

AWA Championship Wrestling

Recorded: May 15, 1985

Airing: Saturday May 23, 1985 nationwide on ESPN

The Tropicana Hotel & Casino

Atlantic City, New Jersey

 

(Highlights are shown of last week's show….Nikita destroying Greg Gagne and the aftermath with Stan Hansen and BRUISER BRODY  showing up……Roddy Piper destroying the Fiesta Garden with a baseball bat…and the countdown to RAGE IN THE GAGE is on! Eight days away!!)

 

Larry Nelson tells us after last week's altercation and the challenge laid down the previous week by Los Mega Stars….tonight's main event will see Al Madril, Chicky Starr, and TNT take on The Rock & Roll Express, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson….and their partner for this evening….."ROWDY" RODDY PIPER!! A HUGE main event to close out the show this week here on ESPN!"

 

Before Brian Blair heads to the ring he stops in the back to talk with Larry Nelson and says that Brad Armstrong has had to "head back down south for some family business" and he no longer has a partner so he's going to have to face the Samurai Machines on his own. Jim Brunzell approaches and says that his partner Greg Gagne is hurt and has no timeframe for a return to the AWA….so he would gladly step in as Blair's partner.  Blair shakes his hand and they head towards the ring.

---------------------------------

Match #1:

B Brian Blair/'Jumpin' Jim Brunzell defeated The Samurai Machines w/Mr. Fuji when Brunzell pinned Machine #2 after a dropkick

=====================

Match #2:

Rocky Johnson pinned The Intern after a powerslam

=====================

COMMERCIALS

=====================

Before they head to the ring, Mr. Fuji tells everyone that Tsuruta-san is very excited to make an example out of Hulk Hogan next week in Minneapolis…..he says once he puts down Hulk Hogan and waves the Japanese flag over his fallen body…..he will be looking for a shot at the winner of Hansen/Nikita!

-----------------------------------

Match #3:

Jumbo Tsuruta w/Mr. Fuji pinned Randy Watson with a bridging German Suplex

As they announce him the winner, Fuji hands Tsuruta the Japanese flag as Jumbo plants one foot on Watson's chest and waves the flag in victory……suddenly 'Eye of the Tiger' plays over the PA throughout the arena and Hulk Hogan along with Capt. Lou Albano charges towards the ring waving an American flag……Hogan enters the ring and gets nose to nose with Tsuruta as the two managers wave their respective flags….Ken Resnick comes in and steps between them as Hogan snatches his mic…"Let me tell you something, JUMBO…..you'll have to kill me to wave that Japanese flag over me, dude! But if that's the way you wanna play it, brother! Then how about we make this match at Rage in the Cage, a flag match!"

======================

(We return backstage to Larry Nelson)

Nelson: "Wow! What a showdown that was….the Hulkster vs. Jumbo Tsuruta will now be a 'Flag Match' at Rage in the Cage. Speaking of Rage in the Cage, I was just informed moments ago that a champion from another organization has heard the challenges made by Nikita Koloff and he says he will be at ringside in Minneapolis for the AWA World Championship match between the champion 'the Russian Nightmare' Nikita Koloff and the former champion and challenger Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen, at this time I'm not allowed to say who this man is, or what organization he's the champion of….but I promise you this is going to make an already interesting match, even more interesting….make sure you go to the nearest closed circuit tv location near you and see Rage in the Cage!!"

========================

Match #4:

Ric Flair defeated Koko Ware by submission with a figure four leglock, afterwards Flair helped Koko back to his feet and the two shook hands before leaving the ring

 

After the match, Ric Flair joins Ken Resnick at ringside and says that if you could defend a championship by trying to be a comedian, Buddy Landel would hold all the titles…..but unfortunately for the wannabe Nature Boy, there's a time when things get serious and that time is when that cage door slams shut and gets locked in Minneapolis and hundreds of thousands of fans across the country tune in on closed circuit television and see Buddy Landel get the beating of his life…and lose his North American championship! Flair says he isn't worried about Pringle because Piper will keep an eye on him at ringside. It will finally be one on one…..and then we'll see who can talk the talk as well as walk the walk……and Budro, NOW WE GO TO SCHOOL…WOOOOOOOO!

======================

Before the next match, Ken Resnick and Stanley Blackburn came down to ringside and once again had a lucky fan in the front row draw a name out of the box to face Mr. Olympia for the AWA ESPN Television Championship…..tonight's challenger…."Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer!

-----------------------------------

Match #5:

TV Title

Mr. Olympia defeated "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer with a backslide to retain the Television title

======================

COMMERCIALS including an ad for Rage in the Cage

======================

Match #6:

MAIN EVENT

SPECIAL CHALLENGE MATCH

The Rock & Roll Express/Roddy Piper defeated Los Mega Stars (Al Madril/Chicky Starr)/TNT when Piper defeated TNT with a sleeper hold….as the referee was raising the hands of the winners….Madril/Starr pulled baseball bats out from under the ring and assaulted Morton/Gibson/Piper…..Piper took a couple of brutal looking shots to the ribs before Flair/Brunzell/Blair/Mr. Olympia all ran in to make the save

 

© 1985 American Wrestling Association

 

AWA RAGE IN THE CAGE '85

Minneapolis, MN.

Sunday May 31, 1985

BROADCASTING LIVE VIA CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION

Bell Time: 5pm

 

MAIN EVENT

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA World Championship

Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen

Vs.

"The Russian Nightmare"

Nikita Koloff w/Paul Jones

 


SEMI-MAIN EVENT

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA World Tag Team Championship

Ivan Koloff/Krusher Kruschev w/Paul Jones

Vs.

"Big" Scott Hall/Curt Hennig w/Larry Hennig

 

 

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA North American Championship
"Nature Boy" Buddy Landel w/Percival Pringle III

Vs.

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair w/"Rowdy" Roddy Piper

 

 

Flag Match- America vs. Japan

Jumbo Tsuruta w/Mr. Fuji

Vs.

Hulk Hogan w/Capt. Lou Albano

 

 

Winner gets Ms. Elizabeth

"Macho Man" Randy Savage w/Ms. Elizabeth

Vs.

The Missing Link

 

 

AWA Ladies Championship Match

Sherri Martel w/Johnny V.

Vs.

Wendi Richter w/Capt. Lou Albano

 

 

AWA North American Tag Team Championship

The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson)

Vs.

Los Mega Stars (Al Madril/Chicky Starr) w/TNT

 

 

Six Man Tag Team Grudge Match

Roddy Piper/Blackjack Mulligan/Kendall Windham

Vs.

The Pringle Dynasty (Austin Idol/The Long Riders (Bill/Scott Irwin)

w/Percival Pringle III

 

Non-Title Special Challenge Match

Mr. Olympia

Vs.

The Honky Tonk Man w/Col. Johnny V.

 

 

The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair/Jim Brunzell)

Vs.

The California Connection  (Eric Embry/John Tatum)

w/ "Luscious" Johnny V.

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Nice show.

I must say that I am more excited by Brunzell and Blair than Brunzell and Gagne.  

Hogan nose to nose with Jumbo makes for a nice patriotic showdown

I am really interested to see where you go with the AWA as the roster is so stacked.  It will be a wild an fin ride.  

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