American Wrestling Association

[spaldoni]

The stage is set for Rage in the cage! 

The Killer Bees are born and kick things off with a win. 

Great job hyping Tsuruta/Hogan. This is the 80s at its best. The flag stipulation really adds some good heat to this match. 

Lot's of intrigue as another champion will be at ringside for the Nikita/Hansen match.

Flair gets the mic this week and has some strong words for Landel. I cant wait for the long awaited Battle of the Nature Boys inside the cage. 

Sawyer gets the lucky draw but Olympia retains. This is becoming one of my favorite segments. 

Wild main event as Piper and RnR get the win but Los Mega Stars get the last word with some baseball bats.

Rage in the Cage is almost here!!! 

 

 

 

[Blehschmidt]

and just like that Greg Gagne no longer haunts me, and the Killer Bee's are born in the AWA!

Hogan/Jumbo in a flag match will certainly get the spirit of 'Merica flowing!

Flair shows Koko how it's done, but the hand shake afterwards and the loss of his partner maybe signals a new direction for Koko?

Flair and Landel is getting quite heated, and it should be quite a fight this time around.

Sawyer gets the nod to challenge for the new belt, but Olympia puts him away! Olympia is really a great choice for the first champion.

Great main event, babyfaces pick up a big win, then the beat down comes, then the big run off to end the show. Perfect way to draw them back next week. Piper is sure to have something to say about it!!

Rage in the Cage looks like a sure fire winner from top to bottom. Looking forward to it man.

Good stuff as always.

[GeneJackson95]

AWA Championship Wrestling

Recorded: May 29, 1985

Airing: Saturday May 30, 1985 nationwide on ESPN

The Tropicana Hotel & Casino

Atlantic City, New Jersey

 

Show opens with Larry Nelson telling us we're less than 24 hours away from Rage in the Cage! Tonight in our main event, Mr. Fuji has a special mystery opponent that he says will take out Hulk Hogan before he can even get to Minneapolis! Tons of action here tonight but first, we go to a taped promo from Stan Hansen and Bruiser Brody!

 

Brody and Hansen yell, rant, and rave about Paul Jones and The Russians….Brody says he will be in Hansen's corner tomorrow night and if the cage can't keep Jones and the Russians out that he damn sure can!!

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

Match 1:

The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson) defeated Frank Reynolds/Charlie Kelley when Morton pinned Reynolds after a double dropkick

 

Post match promo: Ricky Morton says that they haven't gotten the opportunity to talk much so far here in the AWA but that's fine because they do their talking in the ring and that's what they plan to do tomorrow night against Al Madril and Chicky Starr…..because they will do whatever it takes to retain their North American tag team titles…and they will have their eyes on TNT at ringside if he plans to interfere…..they may just have a surprise for him!

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

An ad airs for the new Verne Gagne's AWA Wrestling Board Game featuring Buddy Landel/Austin Idol playing against the Long Riders…with Percy Pringle trying to keep the peace during what the Verne Gagne voice over refers to as "intense family fun for everyone" (you can faintly in the background hear Landel say, "Hey jerk, you sank my battleship" and Idol say, "wrong game Budro"

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

Match #2:

The Long Riders (Bill & Scott Irwin)/Austin Idol w/PP3 defeated Roy Munson/Randy Watson/Henry Moody when Scott Irwin pinned Munson after a super plex

 

Post match promo:

PP3: "Blackjack, you and that beanpole you call a son and the guy in the skirt are going to catch the beating of your lives and then the Long Riders are going for those AWA World Tag Team titles!"

Idol: "Piper, I just hope I get a chance to lock those skinny legs in the "Las Vegas leglock" because you'll need crutches to be in Flair's corner when Buddy beats him to keep the title!"

 

Landel: "Well well well….so Ric Flair comes out here last week and acts like I'm a joke…..says I'm a wannabe comedian…well Flair, tomorrow night the jokes on you!  You continue time and time again to underestimate me because you say I'm a wanna Nature Boy, well 'Slick Ric' need I remind you that makes you the original wannabe Nature Boy because Buddy Rogers was the original and you couldn't carry Buddy Rogers' jock.  So how about we just call it a draw on the 'Nature Boy wannabe' talk, ok?….So here's what I do know Mr. Big Shot, I walked into the AWA and won this North American championship within a week of getting here…..how many titles have you held in the AWA so far?  You wanna act like guys like Austin Idol and myself are somehow beneath you…..but if that's the case, how come YOU are challenging ME for MY title…..and NOT in the main event wrestling Nikita Koloff?  Riddle me that, Naitch!  You find that funny, Flair?  Since I'm such a comedian, I really hope you're back there bustin' a gut laughing at how I'm a champion and you're not!  I hope you are really just yuckin' it up that Percy Pringle is the manager of a champion while Roddy Piper is gonna be in your corner licking his wounds where The Guerreros beat him down with baseball bats last week and on crutches after my good friend Austin Idol snaps those twigs he calls legs!  Just remember Ric Flair, he who laughs last….laughs best….and tomorrow night I'm walking out of Minneapolis still the North American Champion, and that's no joke!"

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

COMMERCIALS

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

Match #3:

Koko Ware pinned Steve Doll with a small package in a scientific match that saw both men shake hands before and after the match…..as Ware was getting ready to leave the ring some unfamiliar music hits….bringing out:

 

 

 

SLICK AND "ICEMAN" KING PARSONS!!

(Slick grabs a mic and hands it to Parsons)

Parsons: "Koko, hold up brutha….before you soft shoe on outta here….we wanna talk to you.  Da Man has sent us here to clean up the AWA and he wants us to start with you.  I mean, what's happened to you? This time last year you was part of the Movement….you were helping to make a difference in this sport for people like us.  Now you're out here shaking hands with this punk you wrestled tonight? Worse than that…..last week you get beat by Ric Flair and you're gonna shake his hand…..like he's better than you or something?"

Ware: "First of all…..I don't know who this skinny little wanna be pimp you've got with you is….that's first of all…..second of all…Ric Flair is better than most of us wrestlers so, yeah…I shook his hand because I've got respect for him, something I don't have for you and this skinny goof you got with ya…..and lastly, since when is the so called Movement taking orders from tha Man?"

 

Parsons: "First off boy, ya better check ya tone before you get yourself jacked up out here…..you better act like ya know….rooty poot.  Secondly, if you were paying attention…I didn't say THA man….I said, DA man…..I expected you to know the difference….but it looks like to me you've been listening to THA man……and forgot…who's DA man." (Slick takes the mic)

 

Slick: "And most importantedly……you better show the Slickster some respect out here before I put this cane against yo grill, boy!"

 

Parsons: "That's right…..you know damn good and well this is Slick and he makes things happen. Now, before you started catching all this attitude out here with us….we were coming to make you an offer to join up with us to finish making tha moves the Movement started last year before you apparently started turnin' soft."

 

Koko: "Oh I'm soft, huh?  Listen here, Iceman!"

 

Parsons: "Just call me King."

 

Koko: (laughs) "Ok, King…..you're right I was part of yalls Movement last year…..and so was my friend Brickhouse Brown and as I remember it….the Movement didn't do nothing for us at all….oh sure we helped put the AWA World Tag Team titles on those 'beat boys' Whatley and Conway….but it didn't do nothin' for me and Brick….but how bout I offer you something instead, King….since I'm so 'soft'…(Slaps Parsons in the face) How bout you fight me tomorrow night at Rage in the Cage and we'll just see who the soft one is….and don't worry I won't be shaking any hands!"

 

Parsons: (holding his face but smiling) "Maybe I was wrong about you after all…..maybe you're not as soft as I thought….but tomorrow night you're going to find out why they call me 'Iceman' King Parsons…..cause I'm cold as ice…and I will RULE you…boy!"

 

Slick: "You had your chance, Koko…..you chose very….very poorly and tomorrow night….you gonna pay for slapping tha King!"

(Parsons and Slick leave as Koko stands in the ring and shakes his head)

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

COMMERCIALS

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

Match #4:

"Macho Man" Randy Savage w/Ms. Elizabeth defeated The Intern by pin fall after a 'flying elbow drop' off the top rope

 

After the match, Savage tells Ken Resnick that he's been trying to contact Stanley Blackburn all week long to find out what's the big idea making a stipulation for tomorrow's match where if the Missing Link wins, he gets Elizabeth?? Gets her for what?? What does that even mean?? Savage says that he hasn't been able to track down Blackburn to get answers but one thing is certain….the Missing Link is in the DANGER ZONE and there's no way in the world that Missing Link will lay a finger on Ms. Elizabeth and that's a promise…..OHHHHH YEAAAHHHH!!

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

Promo announcing beginning next week AWA Championship Wrestling will begin airing on Sunday nights at 8pm cst/9pm est!!

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

A pre-recorded promo from Scott Hall/Curt Hennig/Larry Hennig airs. Larry says that Blackburn's suspension actually turned out to be a favor as he's had these boys in the gym every single day training and preparing to get in the ring with the champs.  Hall says they've also been studying tapes of the Russians and that he's spotted a weakness in Krusher Kruschev that he plans to exploit in the cage! Curt says that with his Dad at ringside to make sure Paul Jones isn't a factor….those World Tag Team titles are coming home with them tomorrow night!!

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

Larry Nelson comes to ringside with the box containing the names of everyone on the AWA roster as potential challengers for the ESPN Television title.  A lucky fan draws a name out and hands it to Larry Nelson……Nelson gasps……then says, "Fans, there's one very interesting aspect of this championship drawing each week as sometimes there's people who are on the roster….but haven't debuted yet or even been announced as joining the roster yet…..Tonight, that is exactly the case as the challenger for the AWA ESPN Television Championship……making his return to the AWA ……RICK MARTEL!!

 

 

 

Match #5:
AWA ESPN Television Championship

15 Minute Time Limit

Rick Martel pins Mr. Olympia with a crucifix in 14:53 to win the TV title!!  Afterwards, Olympia and Martel shake hands and Olympia raises Martel's hand and presents him with the title belt

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

COMMERCIALS

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

As we return from the commercial break, "Luscious" Johnny V is standing in the ring….he says that as it turns out "Hollywood" John Tatum just wasn't a good fit as a tag team partner for "Flamboyant" Eric Embry and in light of that…….Tatum is OUTTA HERE!!!  Introducing his new tag team partner "Gentleman" Ken Timbs….collectively known as…..THE BLOND BOMBERS!!

 

Match #6:

The Blond Bombers (Eric Embry/Ken Timbs) w/Johnny V & Sherri Martel defeated Buck Spivey/Jed Jackson when Embry pinned Jackson after a spike piledriver

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

A pre-recorded promo airs of Paul Jones along with AWA World Champion "Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff and the AWA World Tag Team Champions "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff and Krusher Kruschev.  Jones says that he's filing a protest with the Minnesota Athletic Commission insisting that Bruiser Brody doesn't have a manager's license and has no business being at ringside for the World title match.  Jones says that Ivan and Krusher will destroy those "rookies" Hall and Hennig and if the "Ol' Axeman" gets near him he will knock him out in front of his kid!  Nikita snatches the mic out of Jones' hand, "You listen me now….Stan Handsome….Nikita don't care about you…Nikita don’t' care about this Loser Lody you have in corner….I destroy you Stan Handsome…..the Russian Sickle is superior to your cowboy clothesline and when they lock you in cage with me…..it will be truly….your Russian Nightmare!!"

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

A list of Closed Circuit locations is shown where you can go experience 'RAGE IN THE CAGE'!

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

Match #7:

Main Event

Hulk Hogan w/Capt. Lou Albano defeated "Wild Samoan" Sika w/Mr. Fuji following a big boot/leg drop combo……after the match Hogan is waving the American flag in the ring along with Albano, when from behind comes Jumbo Tsuruta who clobbers Albano from behind with a clothesline to the back of the head……Hogan turns around just in time to get jammed in the throat with the Japanese flag pole, causing Hogan to the drop the American flag and grab his throat in agony….Jumbo grabs the American flag pole and cracks Hogan across the back with it three times until the pole breaks in half…..as Hogan struggles to get to his feet, Tsuruta gives him a belly to back suplex…..he then rolls Albano over on his back and drapes the American flag over him and leaves the ring with Mr. Fuji waving the Japanese flag in what could be a preview of Rage in the Cage!!

 

 

© 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

w/Bruiser Brody

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

 

 

Mr. Olympia

Vs.

The Honky Tonk Man w/Col. Johnny V.

 

 

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

Vs.

The Blond Bombers (Eric Embry/Ken Timbs) w/Luscious Johnny V.

 

 

Special Challenge Match

"Iceman" King Parsons w/Slick

Vs.

Koko Ware w/Brickhouse Brown

[spaldoni]

Good grief Rage in the Cage is stacked!!!! 

Nobody intimidates like Hansen and Brody. Things could get crazy.  

RnR get some mic time and have strong words for Los Mega Stars. This match might steal the show. 

LOL Landel is even funny in commercials. 

Long Riders and Idol look ready for Piper and the Mulligans. This will be a good ol fashion 6 man brawl. 

Hard to argue with what Landel was saying. The man can back up his claims. Will Flair win his first AWA title? I don't know, Landel seems to be on his A game. 

Big surprise as Slick and the King show up in the AWA and target Koko. I liked the banter and history involved. Nice addition to Rage.

Well if Blackburn wanted to get Savage upset he succeeded. Crazy stipulation added and I cant blame Savage for getting weirded out by it. 

The Axe has Hall and Hennig focused and ready for the Russians.

Another big surprise as Rick Martel arrives and wins the TV title! Props to Martel as he quickly rebounds from losing the USWA TV title to win the AWA TV title. I admit, I really popped for this. Awesome! 

Tatum is out and Timbs is in. Nice replacement as Timbs plays the Blond bomber part really well. Good move by Johnny V. 

The Russians are ready. LOL, "Loser Lody" Nikita was pretty good here. Like I said, things are going to get crazy in the cage. 

WOW! What a way to end the show! Tsuruta and Fuji get mega heat as they leave Hogan and Albano laid out. More heat as they walk away waving the Japanese flag. Their match at Rage has been built up well. Classic 80s stuff.

Only one day until Rage in the Cage! I have my ticket.  

 

[GeneJackson95]

 

AWA RAGE IN THE CAGE '85

Minneapolis, MN.

Sunday May 31, 1985

BROADCASTING LIVE VIA CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION

Bell Time: 5pm

 

The show opens with a welcome from Larry Nelson who tells us that due to the attack last night from Jumbo Tsuruta and Mr. Fuji, Captain Lou Albano has been hospitalized and will not be able to be in the corner for Wendi Richter or Hulk Hogan.  He throws it down to ringside with our commentary team for this evening, Rod Trongard and Verne Gagne.

 

Match #1:

Special Challenge Match

"Iceman" King Parsons w/Slick

Vs.

Koko Ware w/Brickhouse Brown

 

Slick and Parsons are livid that Brown is allowed at ringside.  A good back and forth match for a while until Slick manages to trip Ware that puts Parsons in control for several minutes until Parsons goes to execute a falling headbutt but Koko moves causing Parsons to drive his own head straight into the canvas….Koko starts to recover and heads towards the top rope…..Slick gets up on the ring apron but Brickhouse is there to stop him from interfering…..allowing Koko to hit Parsons with a dropkick off the top rope……Koko covers Parsons but the referee is still trying to get Slick and Brickhouse Brown off the apron….when suddenly a fan jumps the rail and pulls Brown off the apron, while the referee is distracted by this…..someone else slides in and cracks Koko across the back with a STEEL CHAIR…..he rolls Parsons over on top of Ware and slides out…..On commentary Rod Trongard comments, "Verne, that guy who just hit Koko with the chair appears to be Shaska Whatley!?!?"  the referee turns around and counts 1-2-3!!   The camera cuts to the outside where Brickhouse is fighting with the "fan" who Gagne recognizes as Tiger Conway Jr.!  Whatley hits Brown from behind with the chair, and then tosses him into the ring next to Ware….Slick is strutting around like a peacock as Parsons/Whatley/Conway put the boots to Ware/Brown….they finally stop long enough to raise their fists defiantly in the air!  Trongard comments "Verne Gagne, it appears the Movement is back together here in the AWA…and that's not good for ANYONE!"

 

 

Match #2:

The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair/Jim Brunzell) defeated The Blond Bombers (Eric Embry/Ken Timbs) w/Luscious Johnny V. when Blair pinned Timbs after a sunset flip off the 2nd rope

 

 

Match #3:

Mr. Olympia wrestled The Honky Tonk Man w/Col. Johnny V. to a 15 minute time limit draw

 

 

Match #4:

Six Man Tag Team Grudge Match

Roddy Piper/Blackjack Mulligan/Kendall Windham defeated The Pringle Dynasty (Austin Idol/The Long Riders (Bill/Scott Irwin) w/Percival Pringle III when Blackjack pinned Bill Irwin with the claw hold!  As Scott Irwin tries to help his brother up after the match, Austin Idol and Percy Pringle abandon them and just leave ringside without them.

 

 

Match #5:

AWA North American Tag Team Championship

Los Mega Stars (Al Madril/Chicky Starr) w/TNT defeated The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson) by DQ when Roddy Piper came in when Los Mega Stars were in control and kicked Robert Gibson while he was down….giving the referee no choice but to call for the disqualification……Piper then flipped off Madril and Starr then took off back down the aisle as Los Mega Stars tried to figure what the hell just happened….Morton was laughing at them over in the corner, when suddenly from out of nowhere, The Sheepherders hit the ring and attack the Rock & Roll Express….Chicky Starr makes a move towards the Sheepherders but Madril grabs him and waves it off and they leave as the Sheepherders (Butch Miller/Luke Williams) along with Carl Fergie waving the New Zealand flag leave Morton and Gibson battered on the mat

 

 

Match #6:

AWA Ladies Championship Match

Wendi Richter pinned Sherri Martel w/Johnny V with a bridging belly to back suplex to win the championship!

 

Match #7:

Winner gets Ms. Elizabeth

"Macho Man" Randy Savage w/Ms. Elizabeth

Vs.

The Missing Link

 

This one was a wild one with Link completely preoccupied with Elizabeth throughout most of the match, he went out of the ring and tried to apprehend Liz a couple of times during the match but was cut off by Savage each time….at one point they were fighting on the floor and Link whipped Savage into the ring post…..Link charged towards Savage to give him a headbutt but Savage moved and Link rammed his own head into the ring post busting his head wide open!  Savage rolled him back in the ring and gave him the diving elbow drop off the top rope and covered him for the 1-2-3!!

 

 

Match #8:

Flag Match- America vs. Japan

Hulk Hogan pinned Jumbo Tsuruta w/Mr. Fuji after a big boot/leg drop combo  After the match Hulk triumphantly waved the American flag however in a great show of sportsmanship, Hulk offered the Japanese flag back to Jumbo who shook Hogan's hand and they waved the flags in the ring together…..this didn't sit well with Fuji who came in and tapped Jumbo in the chest with his cane as he scolded him……as first Tsuruta tried to brush him off but Fuji then took a big swing at Jumbo who caught the caught the cane and then gave Fuji a stiff chop that sent Fuji reeling and he rolled out of the ring and left in disgust.

 

 

Match #9:

STEEL CAGE MATCH

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

Vs.

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

 

A camera cuts to the back where Ric Flair is trying to locate Roddy Piper to head down the aisle for his match, someone yells "Ric, he's in here….it's not good!" Flair walks in to see a bloodied Piper laid out on the floor as a referee tells him that Al Madril, Chicky Starr, and TNT attacked Piper and he's going to need medical attention.  Flair tells the ref to make sure that Piper gets the help he needs, he has to go to the ring, Flair heads down the aisle towards the cage.

 

Flair steps into the cage as Landel's music starts to play.  Momentarily,  Austin Idol is rolling Buddy Landel down the aisle in a wheel chair (his head bandaged, wearing a neck brace, and braces on both his legs) followed by Percy Pringle. Camera cuts to Flair who can be visibly be seen mumbling, "What the hell is this?" They roll Buddy around to the far side of the cage, opposite of the door, Percy then hands Buddy a microphone.

Landel: "As you can see I'm severely injured, I took a tumble getting off the plane this morning and rolled all the way down the stairs and broke both my legs, fractured my neck, and got a double concussion.  It's the closest I've ever come to being killed (crowd boos) I agree, I'm pretty tore up about it myself….but against doctor's orders I insisted on coming here tonight and telling you fans in person exactly what happened." (louder boos)

 

Idol: "How dare you boo him?? Do you have any idea how courageous it is for him to come here in this condition so you fans get your money's worth to at least SEE the greatest wrestler in North America live in your wretched town."

Landel: "Thanks brother….Look I know how disappointed you all are but believe me NO ONE is more disappointed than I am, I was so looking forward to destroying Ric Flair once and for all right here in Green Bay (crowd boos and yells Minneapolis)….Well excuse me, that just goes to show how injured I am, I don't even know where I'm at right now…"

(While Landel is talking, Flair is kicking the cage and yelling "you're full of shit!!"  Suddenly from out of nowhere a huge man enters the cage and attacks Flair from behind! He splashes him in the corner and Flair crumples to the mat…(On commentary, Gagne yells "That's the One Man Gang, what is he doing here??") OMG gives Flair a "747" splash…..he then picks Flair up and slams him…he uses the cage to climb to the top rope and give Flair a SPLASH FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE!! One Man Gang exits the cage and shakes hands with Percy Pringle.

 

Landel: "You know what everybody…..these Tylenols are kicking in and all you people paid your hard earned money here and at home…so against doctor's orders...I'm gonna wrestle!" (Landel unrolls the wrap from his head, reaches down and takes off the leg braces and removes the neck brace and then enters the cage)

 

Flair is rolling around on the mat holding his ribs as Landel struts into the cage…..Austin Idol forces the referee to enter the cage and he locks it behind him. Landel pulls Flair up off the mat and rams his head into the cage busting Flair's head wide open!  Landel drops a knee across Flair's forehead….and then locks in a figure leglock!! Flair is writhing in pain…..but he refuses to submit…and a couple of minutes of trying to reach the ropes….Flair finally passes out the referee calls the match and declares Landel the winner and still AWA North American Champion!!

 

Landel grabs the mic

Landel: "Minneapolis, you're welcome baby!  So finally the talk is done….this feud is officially over…I've beat Flair in his hometown and there's nothing else to prove! Now he can go join his buddy Piper at the hospital. Thank you and goodnight!"

 

 

 

Match #10:

SEMI-MAIN EVENT

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA World Tag Team Championship

"Big" Scott Hall/Curt Hennig w/Larry Hennig defeated Ivan Koloff/Krusher Kruschev w/Paul Jones in a hard hitting match, when Hall pinned Kruschev after a running bulldog to win the AWA World Tag Team Championships

 

 

Ken Resnick welcomes a special guest who will join Rod Trongard and Verne Gagne on commentary, former USWA and AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel.

Resnick: "Welcome to Rage in the Cage, Mr. Bockwinkel. When you first contacted Verne Gagne and told him you wanted to come to the AWA to answer Nikita Koloff's challenge you were still the USWA Champion, I understand that since that time you have lost the USWA heavyweight championship."

Bockwinkel: "That is true, Mr. Resnick. Here's the thing, it's Nikita Koloff's fault I'm no longer the USWA Champion, I was so appalled at the audacity of a champion going on television and calling out other champions that he knew were in no position to answer that challenge that it became an obsession for me.  Rather than focus my training and preparation for my challenger in Texas, Kerry Von Erich, I found myself completely preoccupied with Nikita Koloff and all the crazy things he was saying and doing here on ESPN.  So, with all that being said…..I'm here to officially challenge the winner of the this match and I honestly hope it's Nikita Koloff."

(Hansen approaches)

 

Hansen: "You better hope it's Nikita Koloff cause you sure as hell don't want none of me, Mr. Fancy Pants!"

(Bockwinkel smirks as Hansen enters the cage and Bruiser Brody mean mugs him as he walks past/moments later Paul Jones and Nikita Koloff approach)

 

Jones: "So you're the big champion they've been referring to?? I was really hoping it would be that senile old fool Backlund or that punk kid Magnum TA…..but that's just fine, you sit out here and get an up close look at what's in store for you if you step in the ring with the 'Russian Nightmare'!"

(Nikita steps up into Bockwinkel's face)

 

Koloff: "Pay attention Mr. Bullwinkel….you might learn something from a real World Champion!"

 

 

Match #11

MAIN EVENT

STEEL CAGE MATCH

AWA World Championship

Stan 'the Lariat' Hansen w/Bruiser Brody

Vs.

"The Russian Nightmare"

Nikita Koloff w/Paul Jones

 

This one was a brutal brawl that saw both men busted wide open and bleeding……at one point it looked like Hansen might be about to put away the champ….when Ivan Koloff and Krusher Kruschev came running down the aisle, Krusher was met with a boot to the face by Brody…..when Brody started trading punches with Ivan, Paul Jones sprayed something on a rag and jumped on Brody's back placing it over face….Brody started going down as Ivan hits him in the head with his big Russian chain……this gets Hansen's attention, he starts to head towards the door to see if he can help out his friend/partner when Nikita charges and catches him in the back of the head with the 'Russian Sickle', Hansen is face down…..Nikita covers…..1-2-3!!  Koloff retains the AWA World Championship

 

(On commentary)

 

Trongard: "What a brutal match up we just witnessed, Nick Bockwinkel….how do you feel after watching this successful title defense against the rugged Texan, Stan Hansen?"

Bockwinkel: "Look…I'll admit that Nikita Koloff is a big powerful man…..but Rod Trongard, you have to remember this….I'm no big dumb hick from Texas…..I'm one of the greatest World Champions of this or any generation….Nikita is strong but he's also very inexperienced and he's never swam in water as deep as he'll be in against a man such as myself.  I'll avoid his strengths, exploit his weaknesses and I'll once again be your reigning AWA World Champion!"

 

Gagne: "Fans, thank you for joining for the Rage in the Cage! We'll see you next week on Sunday night for AWA Championship Wrestling!"

 

© 1985 American Wrestling Association

[spaldoni]

Rage in the Cage! Title changes, feuds, twists and turns. 

WOW!!!! The Movement is back and at full strength. What a shocking way to start the show. The AWA is in trouble. 

Killer Bees move up with a solid win over the Blond Bombers.

Olympia and HTM go the limit. Hopefully we get a rematch. These two could work a fun program. 

Piper and the Mulligans get a satisfying win over Long Riders and Idol. It appears Pringle and Idol have cut things off with the Long Riders.

LOL Piper purposely costs Mega Stars their match.  Chaos follows as the Sheepherders attack RnR! Cool seeing Fergie get a job as the flag bearer. Sheepherders and RnR will get bloody. 

I was really looking forward to the Richter/Sherri dream match. Richter wins the title! I don't think Sherri will walk away from this quietly. 

Savage gets the win over Link in a wild match. This moves Savage up a notch. 

Hogan puts Jumbo down with the legdrop! Great display of sportsmanship as Hogan and Jumbo stand side by side waving the flags. Jumbo solidifies his face turn by chopping Fuji down. 

Piper's antics come back to haunt him in a big way.

The Battle of the Nature Boys! LOL Landel is soooooo good. He had me rolling. Things take a turn for the worse as OMG arrives and destroys Flair! That Tylenol works miracles as Landel recovers to get the win over Flair. The epic Nature Boys saga continues and I love it. 

After a great chase, Hall and Hennig capture the gold from the Russians. 

Another big surprise as Bockwinkel shows up and issues a challenge to the winner. Bock's just gotta have a title.

The main event is a wild one as Hansen and Nikita take it to each other. Brody, the Russians and Jones have a wild melee on the outside. Nikita takes advantage and gets the win. Jones and the Russians better be ready because Hansen and Brody will be coming after them. 

No doubt Nikita can fight with the best of them but Bock is a new ballgame. That's going to be an interesting match. 

Rage in the Cage was a tremendous success! Great job Gene. 

 

[kevinmcfl]

First on the TV show... A great job getting us all excited for Rage in the Cage

Now more importantly, any time you want someone on my roster, they are yours.  You got more out of one Slick and King Parsons promo then I did the entire time.  You are great and using these interviews to keep me needing more!

As for Rage in the Cage

Perfect opener- And the Movement is Back!  Let the chaos begin.

Interesting turn when PP3 and Idol leave the Irwins.  Must keep an eye on this one.

Wild one with Starr and Madril vs the RnR Express.  Piper seems to do whatever he wants and I can't wait to see where this goes next.  So glad you picked up the Sheepherders.  They got a lot left in the tank and the RnR are in for a wild ride.  Smart decision by Madril and Starr to keep their distance.

Hogan and Jumbo together!  This is truly the Super Powers!

Landel vs Flar might have been your best work yet!

Great final match.  I now Bockwinkel is MR.AWA but calling out Nikita and then calling Hansen a Dumb hick from Texas might not be the safest way to make your return.

Really well done card!

[Blehschmidt]

Be interesting to see who the R'n'R Express might have as back up.

I hope I get the AWA Board Game for my birthday!!

Great promo's from Percy and the gang as always. Buddy wins promo of the year for sure if we had voting for that.

Awesome debut for Parsons and Slick. Already liking where this is headed, and Koko is the perfect guy to play the other side of it.

The madder Savage gets, the less I like Link's chances. You are doing great work with Randy so far.

A weakness in Kruschev? This could be interesting.

Martel shows up and takes the TV Title from Olympia. Boo.

Embry finds a new partner and a win. That's a pretty good start!!

Loser Lody!! Nikita better be careful. That's a guy he may not be able to run over.

Oh man, Hogan runs over Sika, but then Jumbo lays down the beating. Not only to Hogan, but to Albano too!! Well, if you hurt his friends, and you hurt his pride, he's gotta be a man, he can't let it slide....

[Blehschmidt]

and we hit Rage in the Cage!

Loving the return of The Movement in the opener! Whatley and Conway running the distraction and then all of them reunited beating down Koko and Brickhouse is great stuff and a fantastic way to start the night!

Nice win for the Bee's as Embry and his new partners streak ends at 1!

Oympia and Honky go the distance, and this is a feud I can get behind!

Piper, Mulligan, and Kendall pick up a nice win over the Pringle Dynasty, and just like that the Irwins are kicked to the curb. Percy doesn't tolerate losers!!

Piper with a beautiful bit of interference costs Madril and Chicky the belts. Love that finish! Then The Sheepherders arrive and decimate the R'n'R's! Man, a whole lot of animosity and future match ups coming out of this one. Great stuff!!

Richter picks up the win without the Captain at her side!

Savage defeats the Link, or maybe the Link defeated himself, either way Elizabeth is safe! Be interesting to see if Savage moves on, or if Link keeps coming for Liz.

Hogan picks up the win over Jumbo, and they pay each other the respect Brother! Jumbo dumps Fuji, and a potential new babyface is born.

Oh man....prayers for Buddy, things don't look good. That no class Flair using the swears is just low. Oh!! The One Man Gang!! Well that will teach Flair to badmouth injured people!! Thank goodness for the Tylenol!! Budrow Retains!!  Five Stars!!!!

Apparently Hall and Hennig weren't kidding about a weakness as Hall pins Kruschev and they win the Tag Belts!! This probably won't go over well with Nikita and Paul Jones.

Welllll….Hello Mr. Bockwinkel!! This should make things interesting.

As expected, the main event is a knock down, drag out brawl, and thanks to some timely brawling on the floor, Nikita gets the best of a distracted Hansen. I still don't feel like this one is over.

Nikita has challengers crawling out of the woodwork now. Hansen will want another shot, you know Brody is going to take a crack. Piper had words with him, now Bockwinkel is in the picture. Savage will want in the picture, and you can never forget about the Hulkster! The title scene here in the AWA is poised to explode in a big way.

 

Great Stuff Gene. Awesome show that sets up a ton of future angles and so many possible directions.

[Wahoos Leg]

I think you did a masterful job building to the super card and pulled off the final act beautifully. Feuds come to a close, titles change hands, new rivalries emerge, and some seem set to keep raging on.

Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

[GeneJackson95]

AWA Championship Wrestling

Recorded: June 5, 1985

Airing: Sunday June 7, 1985 nationwide on ESPN

The Tropicana Hotel & Casino

Atlantic City, New Jersey

 

(Show opens with random highlights from Rage in the Cage followed by the opening montage and we then cut to our host Larry Nelson)

 

Larry Nelson recaps some of the results from Rage in the Cage including Wendi Richter defeating Sherri Martel and announces Wendi will be headed out on a World tour to defend the title so we probably won't be seeing her in action here in the states for quite a while.  Nelson then welcomes the man who made his long awaited return to the AWA last Sunday in Minneapolis, the former AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel.  Nick says it's good to be back and that he's offended by all the peers who tell him that he should stay away from Nikita Koloff, he says he's face bigger and better than the so-called 'Russian Nightmare' and that he's more than up to the challenge of facing Nikita which he will do for the AWA World Championship right here on television next week and to prepare for that match….he'll be facing Nikita's Uncle Ivan in today's main event!

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

Match #1:

One Man Gang w/PP3 pinned Randy Watson with a '747' splash

 

(Post Match Promo at ringside with Ken Resnick)

Resnick: "Impressive victory here for the One Man Gang who made a most auspicious debut last Sunday at Rage in the Cage."

 

PP3: "The Pringle Dynasty took care of business at Rage in the Cage.  The Long Riders dropped the ball…so they are outta here! The One Man Gang debuted and he helped shut the big fat mouth of that Nature Boy wannabe, Ric Flair.  Now I understand that Flair has demanded a match with the Gang this Wednesday night in Winnipeg….well that's perfect, the Gang will put Ric Flair out of the AWA once and for all!"

 

Landel: "You know Ben, after all that talk from Ric Flair before this match about me being a comedian and supposedly a joke….I didn't hear ol' Slick Ric laughing too much as I left that steel cage with him laying in a pool of his own blood."

 

Resnick: "Well, to be fair it took you pretending to be injured and One Man Gang attacking him from behind to get the job done…"

 

Landel: "Those are just minor details stupid, you see 100 years from now when people go back and read the results all it will say in the record books is BUDDY LANDEL DEFEATED RIC FLAIR INSIDE OF A STEEL CAGE TO RETAIN THE AWA NORTH AMERICAN TITLE!  It won't be bogged down with meaningless details Ben….we live in a society of END results…and 'Nature Boy' Buddy Landel as the AWA North American Champ is the end result and that's it…over and done with….Ric Flair will not receive another shot at this title."

Resnick: "What?? That's crazy after what you guys pulled?"

 

Landel: "Ben, are you a wrestling fan?"

 

Resnick: "It's Ken, and yes…I have been for many years."

 

Landel: "Well Kent, if you call yourself a wrestling fan and you claim to have watched wrestling for years then you know there's an unspoken rule that the cage match is it…..you win the cage match you win the war…..it's over.  I succeeded and Flair lost…..over and out. He can have fun getting his brains beat in by the One Man Gang for as long as he wants but he and I are done! Now if you'll excuse me Kent, I'm taking a brief vacation to Hawaii, I'll see you in a couple of weeks."

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

COMMERCIALS

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

Match #2:

Cousin Junior pinned Frank Reynolds following a 'mule kick'

 

As Cousin Junior is having a hoe down in the ring, the generic hillbilly music suddenly stops as 'Iceman' King Parsons, Shaska Whatley, and Tiger Conway Jr make their way down to the ring led by Slick.

 

(Slick snatches the mic from the ring announcer and hands it to Parsons as they head into the ring)

Parsons: "What's yo name pahtnah?"

Junior: "They call me Cousin Junior."

Parsons: "I didn't ask what they call you, I said what's yo name?"

Junior: "They call me Cousin Junior, because my name's Junior."

 

Parsons: "Hey don't get smart with me, rooty poot.  Then just say Junior, cause you ain't my damn Cousin!"

 

Junior: "Listen here friend, I'm gonna head out cause I ain't got no business with you people."

 

Whatley: "You people? What do you mean 'you people'?"

 

Junior: "As in…..you, the group of people who just came in here after my match that I don't know and don't have any business with…..now if you'll excuse me….I reckon I'll be headin out."

 

Parsons: "NO, we won't excuse you….NO I don't reckon you're going to head out just yet and also....I ain't you're friend."

(Conway steps between Junior and the ropes….Junior starts to go around him and Whatley shoves him, Junior punches Whatley and they all jump on Junior and start a 3 on 1 beatdown until Koko Ware and Brickhouse Brown hit the ring with chairs causing the Movement to clear the ring, Brick picks up the mic)

 

Brown: "Well, I see you are still the same bunch of cowards you always were….you only wanna fight if you've got the upper hand. Koko and me are here to tell you anytime you want a piece of us….show yo face in the place…..be on time because yo butt is mine next time we see ya."

 

Koko: "Well hell Brick, we're standing right there….there's three of them and two of us since the Hillbilly had to be helped to the back…..so you'd think they would wanna fight right now!"

Slick: "Yall talk tough some steel chairs in your hands…"

(Brick and Koko toss the chairs out of the ring and motion for them to 'bring it on')

 

Parsons: "Nobody tells the Movement when it's time to do anything…..you'll get it soon enough."

(The Movement head back down the aisle towards the locker room)

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

Match #3:

AWA World Tag Team Champions "Big" Scott Hall/Curt Hennig defeated Parker Williams/Lonnie Jameson when Hennig pinned Jameson after a dropkick from the top rope

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

(VTR- Ric Flair is in the locker room alone in Minneapolis following Rage in the Cage, his head is bandaged as well as his ribs)

Flair: "I'll give credit where credit is due…..Buddy Landel and Percy Pringle are far more low down and low class than I ever gave them credit for……I've seen desperate men do desperate things for a long as I've been in the business but tonight is on a whole other level.  You stooped lower than I ever imagined possible.  Clearly, you don't care if everybody knows you're a coward Buddy Landel….just as long as you keep that title and escape to fight another day….well that's just fine boys, now that I know the rules of the game I'm more than willing to play!  You two seem to forget….just because the fans in the AWA seem to support me these days, it doesn't change the fact that I'm still the dirtiest player in the game! That hasn't changed! You got the best of me tonight, I'll certainly give you that…..but you better savor every moment of it…..because now we go to school…and it starts with that big tub of lard the One Man Gang! Gang, pal you have no idea what you've done messing with the Nature Boy, broke ribs or not….I'm going to ride you until your tongue's hanging out and just when you think your fat a** has had enough, I'll slap the figure four on you and snap one of your legs! Then Percy Pringle….oh yeah fat boy! You're going to get some too……I'm going to get you in that ring and you're gonna bleed, sweat, and pay the price for tonight's little stunt……and then that just leaves you Buddy, I'm going to save you for last…and then I'm gonna….I'm not going to say what I'm going to do to you on television because that makes it premeditated but I promise you this…..when I get done with you, you aren't going to want hear the name Nature Boy again….and you damn sure aren't going to wanna steal it anymore…..WOOOOOO!!!"

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

COMMERCIALS

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

When we return from commercial, Larry Nelson is at ringside preparing to let a fan draw the challenger for the Television championship, before they can draw Mr. Olympia comes to ringside and says he wants his rematch for the title as the former champion. Verne Gagne comes out and informs Olympia that's not how this title works, a new challenger is drawn out each week and he would not receive a rematch unless he is drawn out of the box to challenge. Olympia replies, "Well, that’s just stupid!"  Verne tells him to calm down and return to the dressing room.  The fan draws and the challenger will be………………Chicky Starr!

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

Match #4:

AWA ESPN Television Championship

Rick Martel defeated Chicky Starr by DQ when he put Starr in the 'Boston Crab' causing Al Madril and TNT to hit the ring and attack Martel calling for the DQ!  They triple team Martel for a few moments until Roddy Piper hits the ring…although the three on one advantage starts to get the better of Piper until Mr. Olympia hits the ring to help as Martel starts to make a comeback….eventually Madril/Starr/TNT powder out….leaving Martel/Piper/Olympia standing in the ring. Piper grabs the mic, "Hey boys! I'm no mathematician but it looks like there's three of us and three of you…..how bout Wednesday night in Winnipeg, we settle this!"

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

COMMERCIALS

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

Highlights are shown of the post match of Hogan vs. Tsuruta where Jumbo/Hulk waved the flags in the ring together and Jumbo had a falling out with Mr. Fuji.  Larry Nelson then announces that Jumbo Tsuruta has asked Hulk Hogan to be his tag team partner for a big tag team tournament and Hogan has accepted and we will highlights of some of that action in the upcoming weeks here on AWA Championship Wrestling

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

Match #5:

The Sheepherders (Butch Miller/Luke Williams) w/Flagbearer Carl Fergie defeated Big Bubba Monroe/Sammy Hall when Williams pinned Hall after the "battering ram"

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

(Backstage Ken Resnick is joined by "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Ms. Elizabeth)

Resnick: "Macho Man, you scored a huge win over the Missing Link at Rage in the Cage and hopefully that win put a stop to Link's obsession with Ms. Elizabeth. What's next on your agenda?"

Savage: "Well 'Killer' Ken….I certainly hope that the Missing Link will focus his attention elsewhere from Elizabeth or else he'll still be in the 'Danger Zone', YEAH!! BUT!  While the Macho Man does have the most beautiful manager in wrestling as well as the most stylish attire in wrestling…..one thing that's missing is some gold so I'm on a mission to put some gold around this waist, dig it??"

 

Resnick: "I can certain dig that Macho Man…..so, what gold do you have in mind? The television title held by Rick Martel? The North American title held by Buddy Landel?  Find a partner and challenge Scott Hall and Curt Hennig for the tag team titles? Or do you have your eyes on the World title held by Nikita Koloff?" 

 

Savage: "The answer to the question is simple…ALL OF THE ABOVE!! YEAAHH!  I'll be more than happy to challenge for any and all of those titles! Draw me out of the box and I'll wrestle Rick Martel!  If you can get that coward Buddy Landel to get in the ring I'll be more than happy to challenge him….but I would really, really like to get my hands on that World Championship…YEAH!! Nikita Koloff anytime…anyplace….I'll show what a nightmare really is, uh huh! Not to mention if there's anybody in the AWA that's got the guts to team with the Macho Man then I would gladly take the tag team titles from Scott Hall and Curt Hennig!! So basically what I'm saying is……GIVE ME A SHOT!! DIG ITTT!!  OHHH YEAHHHH!!"

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

COMMERCIALS

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

Match #6:

Main Event

Nick Bockwinkel pinned "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff w/Paul Jones with a small package

As the referee was raising Bockwinkel's hand, Nikita Koloff hit the ring and nailed Bock from behind with the 'Russian Sickle' and laid him out in the middle of the ring and stood over his prone body as the show went off the air

 

© 1985 American Wrestling Association

 

 

Commercial for Wednesday night's event in Winnipeg

 

American Wrestling Association

Wednesday June 10, 1985

Winnipeg Arena

Winnipeg Manitoba Canada

Bell Time: 7pm

 

Main Event

Grudge Tag Team Match

"The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff

Krusher Kruschev w/"#1" Paul Jones

Vs.

Stan 'The Lariat' Hansen

Bruiser Brody

 

 

Semi-Main Event

Special Challenge Match

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair

Vs.

One Man Gang w/Percy Pringle

 

 

Six Man Tag Team War

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper/Rick Martel/Mr. Olympia

Vs.

Al Madril/Chicky Starr/TNT

 

 

The Movement (Shaska Whatley/Tiger Conway Jr.)

w/Slick & Iceman King Parsons

Vs.

Brickhouse Brown/Koko Ware

 

 

"Macho Man" Randy Savage w/Ms. Elizabeth

Vs.

"Universal Heartthrob" Austin Idol w/Percy Pringle

 

 

Grudge Tag Team Match

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

Vs.

The Sheepherders (Butch Miller/Luke Williams) w/Carl Fergie

 

 

"Iceman" King Parsons w/Slick

Vs.

Cousin Junior

 

 

Dino Bravo

Vs.

Sika the Wild Samoan

[spaldoni]

Nice follow up from Rage in the Cage as we get new feuds started and new challengers for titles.

Good luck to the new Woman's Champ Wendi Richter on her upcoming tour. 

OMG looks impressive. 

Once again Landel gives a classic promo. I thought him going from Ben to Kent was hilarious. Buddy has earned himself a nice vacation in Hawaii. 

The Movement wastes no time is causing trouble but Koko and Brickhouse might give them a lot of trouble. 

Hall and Hennig are off to a good start.

Flair gives a passionate promo and is ready to take down the OMG! Will he ever get Landel back in the ring???

Olympia wants a rematch and isn't thrilled about how the TV title matches work LOL. 

Chicky gets the shot against Martel. Match ends in chaos which sets up a big 6 man tag. 

Hogan and Jumbo together! Cant wait for those highlights.

Savage wants gold!!!! 

Bock beats Ivan but Nikita leaves Bock laid out. Next week we get Nikita vs. Bock! What a blockbuster main event. 

Great looking card in Winnipeg. I would buy a ticket for that Savage/Idol match alone. 

[Blehschmidt]

Nick Bockwinkel showing back up is certainly going to shake things up in the AWA, and I am looking very forward to him using big words to confuse Nikita if nothing else!

Absolutely loving Landel as usual, and now that he and Percy have the One Man Gang backing them up, he can be even cockier than usual. Nice to see him invoke the cage match rule. I feel that it gets overlooked far too often.

Cousin Junior (you'll be getting a cease and desist from Vince and I's lawyers BTW) has a nice little debut, but then runs afoul of The Movement. This was a great segment. I could almost hear the crowd booing from my computer screen. Loving Koko and Brickhouse as the "were not playing" guys to go against them. I have a feeling The Movement is just getting started here in the AWA, and I am very excited to see what you do with them.

Good little win for the tag champs on TV, and it will be interesting to see who is next for them.

Great Flair promo. I always enjoyed the rare Flair promo where he wasn't all "Nature Boy" and pulled out the serious "I'm gonna fucking kill you" version of Flair. You did it well.

Hmmmm..... Olympia heel turn? That'd be odd....

YES! CHICKY STARR SHOULD BEAT MARTEL!!!

Shit

Piper, Olympia, and Martel against Madril, Chicky, and TNT...... I am down for that!

I look forward to seeing your take on the Sheepherders. I feel like they've really never been used much in this game, and I think in the right atmosphere, they could definitely be worth a damn.

Great Savage promo. Be very interested to see where he ends up in the mix.

Ahhh Yeah, my boy Tricky Nick picks up the win over Uncle Ivan with some good old fashioned wrestling!! Then Nikita takes his head off with the Sickle. Love me some Bockwinkel, but I am not feeling good about his chances.

Looking forward to the show in Winnipeg!

 

[kevinmcfl]

The AWA is on fire after Rage in the Cage.

The interviews here were great.  PP3 and his gang were awesome as always but The Movement stole the show for me.  I am glad they are back as a big part of this game.  Cousin Junior had me cracking up throughout the entire thing.  

Flair might have to wait a bit before he gets to Landel again but it will be worth the wait.

I like the way you are picking the next opponent for the TV title.  I wasn't sure what was going to happen when Mr. Olympia got angry and then he came back.  Nice way to hype up the next card.  Wonder if Mr. Olympia is truly satisfied teaming with Martel instead of facing him. 

Sheepherders causing chaos, Savage looking for gold and Bockwinkle chasing Nikita.... can't wait for the next show.

 

[GeneJackson95]

American Wrestling Association

Wednesday June 10, 1985

Winnipeg Arena

Winnipeg Manitoba Canada

Bell Time: 7pm

 

Dino Bravo pinned Sika the Wild Samoan after a gut wrench suplex

 

"Iceman" King Parsons w/Slick pinned Cousin Junior after Slick tried to trip Junior, causing Junior to turn around and jaw at Slick…..when he turned back around into a 'butt-bump' from Parsons who then covered for the 1-2-3!

 

Grudge Tag Team Match- Non Title

The Sheepherders (Butch Miller/Luke Williams) w/Carl Fergie defeated The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson) when Carl Fergie hit Gibson with the flag pole behind the ref's back allowing Williams to get the pin

 

"Macho Man" Randy Savage w/Ms. Elizabeth pinned "Universal Heartthrob" Austin Idol w/Percy Pringle following a flying elbow from the top rope

 

Brickhouse Brown/Koko Ware defeated The Movement (Shaska Whatley/Tiger Conway Jr.) w/Slick & Iceman King Parsons by DQ when Ware hit Conway with a dropkick off the 2nd rope causing Parsons to hit the ring for the DQ…..The Movement beat on Brown/Ware ….3 on 2 until Rocky Johnson hit the ring to even the odds! 

 

Six Man Tag Team War

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper/Rick Martel/Mr. Olympia defeated Al Madril/Chicky Starr/TNT when Piper put TNT out with a sleeper hold

 

Semi-Main Event

Special Challenge Match

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair

Vs.

One Man Gang w/Percy Pringle

 

Gang enters the ring first……Flair comes storming down the aisle, all business….no robe tonight, he's here to fight! As Flair goes towards the rings steps to enter the ring, Pringle waddles over and starts trash talking him….Flair punches him right in the mouth and Pringle goes down…..from out of nowhere a masked man runs down and rams Flair head first into the ring post immediately opening his head back up and the blood starts to pour from his forehead….the masked man (which a bunch of blond hair protruding from the mask runs back up the aisle)  Flair rolls into the ring, the referee asks can he fight, Flair nods he can…..the bell rings and the Gang shoves Flair into the corner and gives him a big avalanche splash to the already injured ribs of Flair……the blood continues to gush from Flair's head as the Gang works him over relentlessly….but Flair refuses to give up….after a few more minutes of Gang taking advantage of the basically defenseless Flair…..Roddy Piper comes down to ringside and throws in the towel telling the referee to stop the match, Piper slides into the ring with a steel chair and the Gang exits…..the referee stops the match and has declared One Man Gang the winner

 

Main Event

Grudge Tag Team Match

Stan 'The Lariat' Hansen/Bruiser Brody defeated "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff/Krusher Kruschev w/"#1" Paul Jones & Ivan Koloff when Hansen pinned Kruschev after a 'lariat', after the match Brody gave Paul Jones a piledriver and dared Nikita to get in the ring and face him…..Nikita was more than happy to oblige but was stopped by Uncle Ivan before he could into the ring

[kevinmcfl]

Nice show for the people of Winnipeg

I like how quickly you got Iceman involved.  

You have me hooked in with the masked man attacking Flair!  

Hansen and Nikita are looking for more.  Nice!

[spaldoni]

Exciting show for the fans in Winnipeg! 

Dino defiantly got the crowd going.

Thanks to Slick, Parsons takes down Junior. 

I think this is only the beginning in what could be a bloody feud between the Sheepherders and RnR Express. 

The Macho Man defeats The Universal Heartthrob in a match between two charismatic characters. I really like this match up. 

Brown and Koko have a new ally in Rocky Johnson! This feud is going to get really good. 

Chicky, Al and TNT are a cohesive unit but that Piper, Martel, Olympia team is hard to beat

Oh man! Things once again take a turn for the worse as Flair takes another beating. LOL, hey who was that masked man???. Flair is going to have to regroup if he wants to get the best of Landel. 

Brody and Hansen beat the Russians. WOW! Are we going to get Nikita vs. Brody??? Now that's a money making match. 

 

 

[Darknyt]

AWA Championship Wrestling - 8/15/85
Only on ESPN

The show begins with a new opening title sequence and then we go to the ring for our opening bout.

Joe Lightfoot v. “Iceman” King Parson(w/Slick)

Parsons is sporting new, all black ring gear.  Lightfoot comes out swinging at the opening bell, but Parsons is having none of it.  He quickly changes the tone of the match and it doesn’t take long before he has flattened Lightfoot with the Butt Butt.

WINNER:  ICEMAN KING PARSONS

On cue, Tiger Conway Jr and Shaska Whatley hit the ring, also clad in all black, and lay waste to Lightfoot.  Once the damage is done, Slick, wearing a leather jacket and black beret enters the ring and all four men raise their fists in solidarity.

Video footage of Hulk Hogan and Jumbo Tsuruta destroying tag team after tag team in Japan plays and we go to commercial.

When we come back, Ken Resnick is at the interview station.  “Living After Midnight” begins to play.  The Midnight Rockers and Sherri Martel make their way to Resnick.  The Rockers have the AWA North American Tag Team Titles strapped around their waists.

Resnick:  I am joined now by the AWA North American Tag Team champions, the Midnight Rockers and their...advisor...Sherri Martel.

Martel:  What you are looking at Resnick is the most exciting...threesome...in all of professional wrestling.  These young stallions took these titles and ran the Rock and Roll Express out of the AWA.

Resnick:  There was some controversy surrounding the end of that match.

Michaels:  Show us the footage.

Resnick:  I’ve been told that the footage of that match has disappeared.

Jannetty:  Controversy over.  We are the champions and we ain’t got no time for losers like you Resnick.

The trio walk away, leaving Resnick tongue tied.

Video plays from a recent AWA World Title match between Nikita Koloff and Stan Hansen.  Both men charge with their arms outstretched and its lariat v. sickle.  The two men flatten each other.  The ref counts to 7.  Nikita begins to pull himself up with the ropes.  Hansen does as well.  Ivan cheers on his nephew.  As the ref checks on Nikita, Kruschev flattens Hansen with the Russian chain.  Nikita retains by count out.  The footage ends with Hansen being taken out of the ring on a backboard.

Commercial break.

THE KILLER BEES v. THE SHEEPHERDERS(w/Jonathan Boyd)

A main event tag team match anywhere on the globe comes to free television on ESPN.  The Killer Bees try to fly, but the Sheepherders have other ideas.  They ground the Bees and isolate Blair.  A series of quick tags and brutal offense leaves Blair laid out.  Brunzell attempts to make the save, but is tripped up by Boyd.

WINNERS:  THE SHEEPHERDERS

Promo video plays announcing the imminent arrival of the Fabulous Ones.

Commercial.

When we come back, Rick Martel, the ESPN TV champion, is at ringside with Larry Nelson.  The tumbler spins.  Each ball representing the name of a possible opponent for Martel tonight.

Nelson:  Rick, are you ready to find out who your opponent will be tonight?
Martel:  Of course.

Nelson triggers the device and a ball vaults out of the hopper.  Nelson pulls out the ball and reads the name aloud.

Nelson:  The Honky Tonk Man!  You heard that right fans, Rick Martel will defend the ESPN title against the Honky Tonk Man when we return.

Commercial break.

HONKY TONK MAN (w/Col. Johnny V) v. RICK MARTEL (ESPN TITLE - 20 min time limit)

The crowd, especially the young ladies in attendance, are solidly behind Martel.  The bell rings and the men lock up.  Martel simply outwrestles HTM for most of the match, but Johnny V keeps the ref distracted to avoid pinfalls.  Late in the match, and obviously frustrated HTM thumbs Martel in the eyes.  As the ref checks on Martel, Johnny V slides a guitar into the ring.  HTM smashes it over Martel’s head.  The ref quickly calls for the bell.

WINNER:  RICK MARTEL via DQ

HTM exits the ring thanking the audience to a chorus of boos.  A dazed Martel holds the title belt in the air.

Commercial break.

RON SLINKER v. RON GARVIN

Slinker makes a pre-match show of his martial arts prowess.  The bell rings and Slinker advances.  Garvin steps inside a thrust kick and lands a punch squarely to Slinker’s jaw.  Slinker drops like a sack of cement.  Garvin covers for the win.

WINNER:  RON GARVIN

Video highlight package of Scott Hall and Curt Henning defending the AWA World Tag Team Titles against top contenders throughout the Association.

We come back to the interview area where Ken Resnick is standing by.

Resnick:  Ladies and Gentlemen, I am joined now by the AWA North American Heavyweight champion, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

The crowd erupts as Piper steps into the frame with the belts strapped firmly around his waist.

Resnick:  Mr. Piper, welcome.
Piper:  The pleasure is all yours Resnick.
Resnick:  Now that you’ve won the title and run Buddy Landel out of the AWA, what’s next?
Piper:  Oh...that would be telling Kenny.  I don’t normally put too much stock in titles.  They come.  They go.  But this one feels special to me.  You know why Ken?
Resnick:  No.
Piper:  I’ll tell you why.  Landel and his posse of goons ran Ric Flair out of the AWA.  Now, I don’t always see eye-to-eye with Ric, but what they did to him was just unfair.  So, I decided to take a pound of flesh on his behalf.  Lord knows, Pringle’s got enough to spare.

As if on cue, Percival Pringle III and One Man Gang enter the shot.

Piper:  Well...well...well...did I say your name three times?  Is that why you suddenly appeared your lumpiness?
Pringle:  Look here Piper.  I know you’re pretty proud of yourself and what you’ve done to the Pringle Dynasty, but this is far from over.

Piper points like he’s counting.  He repeats the action.

Piper:  Near as I can tell...Percy...your “dynasty” is down to one fat guy with a skull tattoo and you.  Not exactly going down in the annals are you buddy.
Pringle:  I’ll have you know I have brokered a new acquisition and I’ll be more than happy to put them in the ring with you next week...if the price is right.
Piper:  You want a title shot?  Did I guess right?
Pringle:  Yes.
Piper:  Sure why not.  If you manage this guy as well as you did Landel, I’ll be able to beat and he can still get to McDonald’s in time for me to order from him in the drive through on my way home.

Piper walks off leaving a frustrated Pringle standing by Resnick.

Commercial break then back to the ring.

JACK VICTORY v. “MACHO MAN” RANDY SAVAGE(w/ Ms. Elizabeth)

Squash city as Savage just blows through Victory finishing him off with the flying elbow drop.

WINNER:  SAVAGE

Savage climbs the corner buckle to celebrate.

As he does so, a pair of tough looking hombres rush the ring.  It’s Ron Bass and Bobby Jaggers.

They pull Savage down and put the boots to him.  Savage falls to the double teaming.

Jaggers loops his rope around Savage’s throat and Bass flings him over the top.  The two cowboys hold onto the rope and Savage flails and pulls, trying to breath.

They stop the attack with the Killer Bees hit the ring.

Savage falls to the concrete outside.

The outlaws bail as the Bees hold the ring.

The final shot of the night is a hysterical Elizabeth holding Savage in her arms at ringside.

END
 

[kevinmcfl]

Welcome to the game!  Great restart here to the AWA.

I think you did a great job getting all your wrestlers in the pecking order you like.

The Piper/PP3 interview was the highlight for me.  Looking forward to seeing who Piper will be facing.

Like the Martel/HTM match and I bet Martel will want some revenge for that guitar shot.  This could the beginning of a great feud.

To me, it looks like your heel tag division is stacked.... with Bass/Jaggers, the Rockers, the Sheepherders and Conway Jr./Shaska.  It will be fun to see if the babyfaces can match them.

[Den Scorpio]

Ring the bell, we got a live one here.

Odd observation -- really liked the use of video packages to showcase important acts on the roster or key events that happened lately -- even though those folks weren't appearing on the show this week. Very good way to keep key folks top of mind for fans, while other important acts appear on the show this week to hold everyone's attention.

Dug the Piper-Percy segment. Curious to see who the mystery acquisition is.

Great debut! Can't wait to see where you steer this.

[Wahoos Leg]

Can I scout talent or can I scout talent?!?!?

[Den Scorpio]

He's great. 1 for 2 ain't bad.

[Wahoos Leg]

With so many heel teams, turning the Rockers heel and putting them on top is a bold choice. Not bad, just bold. I like them paired with Sherri.

You captured the essence of the Hot Rod, for sure. Well done on that. 

Impressive win by Garvin, and I am intrigued to see what lies ahead for him. 

A fine opening act. These guys don't know what's in store with this madman pulling the strings!

[spaldoni]

The AWA is back baby! 

Show kicks off with a bang as Parsons, Slick, Conway and Whatley make their presence and unity known. 

WOW! The Rockers are heels and have aligned with Sherri! This is what fantasy booking is all about. 

Sheepherders get a big TV win over the Killer Bees. 

I'm glad you're keeping the TV title lottery. We're guaranteed a good match every week. I know Martel isn't going to let HTM get away with that guitar shot.  

LOL! Slinker shows off his martial arts skills then gets knocked out cold by Garvin. This was great. 

The Piper/Percy segment was hilarious. Piper is gold on the mic. I wonder who Percy is bringing in? 

Savage looks better than ever but then takes a vicious beating from Bass and Jaggers! I'm thinking Savage is going to find himself a partner to get some payback.

I like the highlights of the guys who weren't on the show. Like Den mentioned, keeps them fresh in the fans minds. 

Awesome start!  

And yes, Wahoo, you defiantly know how to scout talent.