[1986-07-15-AWA on ESPN] Nick Bockwinkel vs Boris Zhukov

[Superstar Sleeze]

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Boris Zhukov - AWA 7/15/86

Ahhhh pro wrestling from Las Vegas on ESPN but feels a lot different 40 years ago. Bockwinkel is wicked over at the Showboat. I believe this is his first televised defense of his AWA World Title which was awarded to him under a cloud of controversy as Stan Hansen was stripped of the title and it was awarded to Bock. Why not just make this match for the title? With the departure of Hansen and others since WrestleRock, AWA is getting real thin. Blackwell’s health is failing him. You have up and comers like Hennig and the Rockers and a green Scott Hall. The Rockers have great adversaries in Rose & Somers but the singles heels are pretty dire Larry Zbyszko, Boris Zhukov, Nord the Barbarian and Col. DeBeers. Zbyszko is legitimately good but more in a No 2/3 Heel he’s not someone who can carry a company on his back.

Coming off WrestleMania, this is so simple in its execution. The opening headscissors and Full Nelson are but flaccid but the rest of strength is very well-worked as the headlock by Bock. I thought the Arm work by Zhukov is the highlight of the match as was Bock’s selling. Love a hammerlock slam and arm stretcher. Nice heavy blows by Bock as he starts his comeback. He is crowding Zhukov in the corner. The finish is Zhukov has his feet on the ropes but ref sees. Zhukov thinks he won Bock dropkicks Zhukov into Al-Kaisse and wins the match.

Felt like they had another ten minutes in them. Bock after decades of working heel is well-suited for a shine or comeback which you can see him. I enjoyed the Arm work. They have two more television matches I might watch them. ***