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AWA All-Star Wrestling on ESPN for August 17th Bad News Allen vs. “Wild Man” Jack Armstrong The previous week, Armstrong had taken on one member of the Bad News Breakers in Don Muraco, and now he was facing another in Bad News Allen. Allen had the rest of the Bad News Breakers at ringside during this match, and Sweetan and Muraco proceeded to taunt and jeer at Armstrong throughout the contest. This seemed to only fire up the Wild Man, who caught Allen off guard with an explosion of offense including a lot of big swinging haymakers that knocked him for a loop. He managed to keep on top of Allen with shoulder tackles and kicks and the crowd got their hopes up that possibly the beloved Wild Man was on his way to a major upset. This wound up being cut short when Armstrong whipped Allen hard into the corner and came charging in, only to get a face full of Allen’s big boot. Bad News then proceeded to unleash the fury on Armstrong, taking him down with a series of crushing suplexes and judo throws before standing him up and hitting the Bad News Blaster (double leg enzuigiri). This was not enough for Allen, who dragged Armstrong to his feet and hit another Bad News Blaster before finally going for and getting the pin. After the match, Muraco and Sweetan came into the ring and, seeking to inflict even more punishment on Armstrong, Muraco drove him into the mat with the belly to belly piledriver. Allen then brought in a chair from ringside and Sweetan looked set to piledrive Armstrong right onto the chair, which would have crippled the Wild Man. Luckily for Armstrong, Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana rushed the ring and ran off the Bad News Breakers before they could complete their nefarious deed. Armstrong was still very badly hurt, and needed to be take to the back on a stretcher. Mr. Olympia & Mike George vs. The Latin Lovers The Latin Lovers continued to have trouble getting in gear in this match, as it seems like the betrayal by Al Perez has truly gotten inside their heads. The Sinister Syndicate, on the other hand, are in the middle of challenging for the AWA World Tag titles and dominated this match with ease. They bounced the Latin Lovers all over the ring, at some points seeming like they were toying with them, before George finally polished off Valentino with the Shoulder Breaker. If the Mothership Connection weren’t concerned before about the threat that Olympia and George posed to their World Tag Title reign, they certainly should be now. Curt Hennig vs. Pat Tanaka This was a match that pitted two up and coming, second generation wrestlers and, in spite of the reputation of Badd Company, was a fairly clean, technical match. Tanaka kept Hennig on his toes with a rapid fire series of martial arts chops and kicks, as well as some spectacular dropkicks. “Cool” Curt, however, showed he was deserving of the nickname as he calmly weathered out the storm before taking over the match. He kept Tanaka firmly in control before finally pinning him with a cradle suplex. He offered a handshake of respect to Tanaka after the match and, somewhat surprisingly, Tanaka accepted it, albeit begrudgingly. “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell vs. “The Tank” Mike Shaw With this match of two super heavyweights, it got some wondering if the ring would survive the experience, with first one wrestler then the other slammed down hard onto the mat. The whole ring rocked as these two huge men knocked each other about the ring, with the pendulum of momentum of the match first swinging in one man’s favor, then the other. The match took a turn for the strange when Shaw whipped Blackwell into the corner then, not caring that the referee had gotten himself between the two of them, came in with an avalanche, crushing the ref. The two leviathans continued to slug it out for some time before the ref finally was able to drag himself to his feet, at which point he disqualified both competitors. Seems unfair but that was the decision. Al Perez vs. Master Gee Master Gee was a bit outside his element, wrestling without his Mothership Connection partner Iceman Parsons who had been hurt my Mr. Olympia last week. While Parsons was not at ringside, Al Perez had no compunctions about having his partner, Ricky Santana, accompany him. Santana liberally interfered in the match, either swatting at Master Gee to distract him or complaining to the ref to distract *him* . Master Gee rallied with some big tackles to gain the advantage, but when he went up top to go for a flying dropkick, Santana snagged his ankle to send him tumbling to the mat. Perez swiftly took advantage and got him in the Ally-Copter for the win. This won’t do the Mothership Connection’s confidence any good going into their defense against the Sinister Syndicate. Buddy Rose, Rip Oliver & Rick Rude vs. Ricky Steamboat, Tito Santana & Da Crusher Of late, Ricky Steamboat and Tito Santana have been in the uncomfortable position of fighting a war on two fronts, fending off challenges from the Playboy Club on one side and the Bad News Breakers on the other. In this match, they had to face a particularly vicious offense from the Playboy Club, especially from the rookie Rick Rude. They had their good friend Da Crusher on their side, but even the flying fists of the Man Who Made Milwaukee Famous seemed overmatch by the Club. Sure enough, eventually the Bad News Breakers made their way to ringside, but strangely, they didn’t seem particularly interested in Santana and Steamboat. Instead, they looked to be incredibly upset with the Playboy Club. Allen, Muraco and Sweetan stayed close to the ringside area, scowling and hurling abuse at the Club whenever they could get their attention. It eventually got to be too much for Rose, who leaned over the ring ropes and started insulting the Bad News Breakers in response. This distraction came at exactly the wrong time, as when he turned his attention back to the match, he was blindsided with a huge running Bolo Punch by Da Crusher, who then swiftly covered Rose for the pin. When Rose had recovered enough to realize what happened, he rallied Oliver and Rude to rush to ringside to brawl with the Bad News Breakers. The AWA officials rushed to separate both factions while Steamboat, Santana and Crusher stood in the ring, trying to figure out just what was going on.

An excellent idea.

Poor Mae Whitman ... talented actress, lovely young woman, keeps being cast as the girlfriend that people hate (including her boyfriend)

The AWA releases "Wild Man" Jack Armstrong to free agency and picks up the young Darren Matthews AKA William Regal, who will be wrestling under the name of Steve Jones.

For me, in any given "3 Japanese guys in black trunks vs 3 other Japanese guys in black trunks" match, Kengo Kimura was always the guy I could never distinguish from anybody else. He always seemed to be the most CAW guy in the mix, so I ultimately dubbed him The Ann Veal of Japanese Wrestling. Of course, when the Best Of The 80's New Japan set came out and I watched it, I fell in love with him and his matches, so it just shows to go you. But I still give him that nickname for giggles.

I believe Stan Stasiak is pretty much retired at this point.

Will this mean that the Ann Veal of Japanese wrestling will be coming soon to MichiPro? Stay tuned!

Man, do I love this territory. Love the return of Bobby Eaton.

Heck.

He just struck me as someone who worked in several different roles ... light heavy, heavy, babyface, heel. The guy could do it all.

I always felt I was the only person in the world who liked Koshinaka.

Yeah, I was figuring Boon was a special circumstance, all things considered.

Just to confirm, if I wanted to drop someone then add someone from free agency, I would need to do it tomorrow, correct?

Oh, it utterly made sense, still a big impact trade.

Wow, that is a pretty blockbuster trade.

AWA welcomes Koko Ware.

AWA house show at the Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, August 11th Gama Singh vs. Chavo Guerrero Guerrero won with the top rope flying senton Rip Oliver, Ed Wiskowski & Rick Rude vs. The Latin Lovers & Jack Armstrong The Playboy Club won when Rude hit the Rude Awakening DDT on Valentino “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell vs. One Man Gang Both men went to a double countout while brawling outside the ring Curt Hennig & Greg Gagne vs. Manny Fernandez & Mike Shaw Hennig & Gagne won with a double dropkick on Fernandez AWA American Title match : Tito Santana © vs. Buddy Rose Santana won with the Mexican Hammer forearm AWA Southern Tag Title match : The Nor-Am Express © vs. Badd Company The Nor-Am Express won when Zenk hit a flying cross body press on Diamond AWA World Tag Title match : The Mothership Connection © vs. The Cuban Commandos The Mothership Connection won when Parsons got Morrow with the top rope Rumper Stumper AWA World Title match : Ken Patera © vs. Ron Garvin The match went to a no contest by blood stoppage on both men

The AWA has traded Jimmy Garvin and Precious for Wahoo McDaniel.

Rude is a bit of a tricky one to write appropriate to the period. At this point, he was still a very raw rookie and not the dominant Rude we remember from the early 90s. And yet, at the same time period in real life, he was feuding with Lawler. I think I am managing to get the diamond in the rough qualities in my writing of him.

AWA show at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, August 10th (as shown on ESPN Super Cards) Rick Rude vs “Wild Man” Jack Armstrong Rude won with the Rude Awakening DDT Cuban Commandos vs The Latin Lovers The Commandos won when Angel Acevedo got an over the shoulder neck breaker on Javier Cruz Tito Santana & Da Crusher vs. Bad New Allen & Don Muraco The Bad News Breakers won when Allen hit the enzuigiri on Crusher Curt Hennig vs. Manny Fernandez Hennig won with the Axe Lariat AWA Southern Tag title match : The Nor-Am Express © vs. Al Perez & Ricky Santana The Express won when Lafon landed a flying back body press on Santana AWA Southern Title match : Ricky Steamboat © vs. Buddy Rose When Steamboat was lining Rose up for a top rope flying cross body press when Rick Rude knocked him off the top rope, leading to a DQ decision for Steamboat AWA World Tag Title match : The Mothership Connection © vs. Mike George & Mr. Olympia Throughout the match, the Sinister Syndicate worked over Parsons’ injured shoulder. It looked like it was all over when Olympia locked Parsons in the Full Nelson, but eventually Iceman was able to make it to the ropes to break up the hold. Olympia attempted to put the Full Nelson back on, but Parsons was able to make the tag out to Master Gee, who came in with a sunset flip on Olympia to get the win. AWA World Title match : Ken Patera © vs. Ron Garvin Garvin won by count out when he knocked Patera off the ringside apron with the Hands Of Stone Punch. Patera maintained the World Title

AWA All-Star Wrestling on ESPN for August 10th Great Gama Singh vs. Chavo Guerrero This was an interesting match up, pitting the popular Guerrero who newly arrived in the AWA against Great Gama, who has been slowly but surely rising in the rankings. In spite of Singh’s history as a cut throat competitor, this was an exciting technical match up that looked like it could go either way throughout the match. Singh managed to get the Cobra Clutch on Chavo, but Guererro was quickly able to grab the ropes to break up the hold. Gama then tried to re-apply the hold, only for Chavo to wrap him up in a small package to get the pin. Gama Singh was clearly livid after the match and demanding a re-match. The Long Riders vs. The Latin Lovers The Latin Lovers have had a lot of difficulty regaining their momentum since the defection of Al Perez, and they never really got out of first gear in this match. The huge Irwin Brothers whipped them from pillar to post, sending both Valentino and Perez flying around the ring before finally polishing off Valentino with a big double lariat. Here’s hoping that the Lovers do find their Mojo again, and soon. Curt Hennig vs. Manny Fernandez While the arrival of up and comer Curt Hennig has made the AWA fans very happy, one person who has been distinctly unhappy about this turn of events has been the Ragin’ Bull Manny Fernandez. He made his feelings very clear in this match as he furiously attacked Hennig throughout this match. Somewhat surprisingly, for someone who has made his name as a technical wrestler, Hennig proved to be just at ease in a knock-down, drag-out brawl. Hennig matched Fernandez shot for shot and was not thrown when a swinging punch from the Ragin’ Bull bloodied his lip, firing back with a series of blows that busted open a gash above Manny’s eye. Fernandez sought to polish him off when he whipped him hard into the corner and came in fast with a forearm, only for Hennig to stagger him by getting his knees up at the last second, before following up with a sunset flip that got the three count. Hennig didn’t have long to celebrate , though, as Fernandez ambushed him from behind and threw him out of the ring. He then got on the mic and challenged Hennig to a loser leaves town match at the August 31st show in Winnipeg, which Hennig eagerly accepted. Paul Orndorff vs. Rip Oliver Orndorff has been gunning for the members of the Sinister Syndicate lately, but this time out would be taking on one tough customer in part of the Playboy Club, Crippler Rip Oliver. Oliver was determined that Mr. Wonderful would not look past him as he brawled with Orndorff. Orndorff would not be denied, however, as he wound up taking Oliver down with a series of impressive power slams before finally planting him with the Piledriver. Orndorff is certainly turning up the heat on the Syndicate and they had best be concerned about his challenge. Iceman Parsons vs. Mr. Olympia Speaking of the Sinister Syndicate, they are currently ramping up their own challenge to the AWA World Tag titles, currently held by the Mothership Connection. In this match, one member of each team would square off in a singles match, and as could be predicted , both men had their partners in their corner to watch their back. Olympia, however, added the additional distraction of his manager, Sheikh Adnan Kaissie. For the most part , Parsons did not let that get to him as he befuddled Olympia with his crowd pleasing moves and antics. He was finally thrown off guard, however, when Kaissie swatted at him from the ringside area. This provoked a response from Master Gee, who tackled the Sheikh to the ground. While the ref was distracted by this, Mike George rushed into the ring and hit Parsons with a huge shoulder breaker before bailing out to ringside. When the ref turned, all he could see was Olympia putting Parsons in the belly to belly piledriver to get the pin. Parsons was clearly hurt very badly as Master Gee helped him from the ring. Buddy Rose & Rick Rude vs. Ricky Steamboat & Tito Santana Rick Rude has certainly plunged into the thick of the action since his arrival in the AWA, going from joining the Playboy Club to a tag match against two of the AWA’s singles champions. This was an especially exciting match, with the momentum of the action swinging back and forth, first with Steamboat and Santana dominant, then the Playboy Club pulling the balance of power back into their favor. Rude in particular was particularly aggressive , which Santana and Steamboat took advantage of as they were able to lure him into various predicaments through his eagerness to be part of the action. He finally snapped and trapped Santana in a corner and started firing wild haymakers at him. The ref tried to separate the two , and for his troubles got a Rude Awakening DDT to the mat. Rose had to pull him off Santana and calm him down as the ref dragged himself to the ropes to call for the DQ on the Playboy Club. For all of his impressive physique and skills, Rude is going to need to get control over his temper if he is going to make it in the AWA.

One small correction on mine, Super Destroyer has been unmasked as Scott Irwin.

Sounds good.

AWA show at the Met Center in Bloomington, August 3rd (as shown on ESPN Super Cards) The Cuban Commandos & Gama Singh vs. The Nor-Am Express The Nor-Am Express won with Chavo Guerrero hit Gerry Morrow with the flying senton Al Perez vs. Master Gee Al Perez won with the German Suplex Rick Rude & Rip Oliver vs. The Latin Lovers The Playboy Club won when Rude got the Rude Awakening DDT on Valentino Curt Hennig, Greg Gagne & “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell vs. Manny Fernandez, Mike Shaw & Buck Robley Hennig’s team won when he nailed Robley with the Axe Lariat The Road Warriors vs. The Long Riders The decision was a double DQ when both teams used the bullropes AWA American Title match : Tito Santana © vs. Bob Sweetan Santana won with the Mexican Hammer Flying Forearm. After the match, Santana was attacked by Don Muraco and Bad New Allen Ron Garvin & Paul Orndorff vs. Ken Patera & One Man Gang Garvin’s team won when he knocked out One Man Gang with the Hands Of Stone Punch

AWA All-Star Wrestling on ESPN for August 3rd Don Muraco vs. “Wild Man” Jack Armstrong This would be the first in-ring appearance for Muraco on All-Star Wrestling since his return to the AWA and he looked like he was out to make a statement with this match. His opponent, “Wild Man” Jack Armstrong, tried to make a dent in Muraco’s armor with big swinging fists and clotheslines, but soon found himself overwhelmed by the Magnificent One’s incredible power and size. Muraco crushed Armstrong with a series of slams and suplexes before finally putting him away with the belly-to-belly piledriver. With this big gun in the arsenal of the Bad News Breakers , Steamboat and Santana have a lot to be concerned about. The Latin Lovers vs. Al Perez & Ricky Santana At last, the Latin Lovers finally had a tag match where they would face off with their former partner, Al Perez, who was teaming with the man who attacked them last week, now revealed as Ricky Santana. The Lovers came on strong at first, with their experienced teamwork and quick tags. Little by little, though, Perez and Santana started to gradually take over the match, one cheap shot and one eye gouge at a time. The Latin Lovers looked like they would take it back when Javier Cruz was setting up Perez for El Volantin, but Santana broke that up with a nasty clip to the back of Cruz’s leg, followed by Perez getting the Ally-Copter for the pin. Da Crusher vs. Bad News Allen The first solo match that Bad News Allen had in the AWA is up against one of the sport’s legendary brawlers and it was as unrefined as one would expect. For much of the match, it was just flying fists with the momentum swinging back and forth, but Allen started to take over the match with a series of powerful judo styled throws and he wound up knocking out Da Crusher with the enzuigiri for the win. Chavo Guerrero vs. Chick Donovan Chavo had recently dominated Badd Company in the recent Six Man match and he just as easily controlled their third man, Chick Donovan, in this singles match. No matter what the Golden One tried, he consistently found himself outclassed and outsmarted at every turn by Guerrero, who took the last of the wind out his sails with a belly to back suplex before nailing a top rope senton for the extremely impressive victory. Interview : Ken Resnick stands in the ring. Resnick introduces his next guest, Ron Garvin. Garvin comes to the ring and says that he has some sad news, due to the injuries he received at the hands of Ken Patera and Mike George, his brother Jimmy Garvin would not be returning to the AWA. He said it broke his heart to see his brother go out like that, but he was going to let that inspire him to carry out his brother’s quest, and that he would get his revenge by beating Ken Patera for the World Title. This prompted the champion himself to come out to the ring. Patera said that Jimmy Garvin was a punk that got what he had coming to him, and that if Ron Garvin didn’t watch his mouth, he would send him out just like he sent out his worthless brother. At this point, Garvin decided to let his fists make his rebuttal, as he blasted Patera in the jaw with the Hands Of Stone Punch. Patera dropped to the mat like a poleaxed steer, and the crowd watched in stunned amazement as Ron Garvin slowly walked from the ring, leaving the dazed Patera behind him. Buddy Rose, Rip Oliver & Rick Rude vs. Ricky Steamboat & The Mothership Connection Well, it looks like the Playboy Club won the bidding war for Ravishing Rick Rude. Rude was all over this match, charging in even when he wasn’t the legal man in the ring, regardless of who was in at the time. While his older partners in the Club focused their attention on Ricky Steamboat, Rude didn’t seem to care who he was facing, angrily attacking any of the opposition with furious punches. At one point, he clotheslined Master Gee out of the ring and then went outside and gave him the Rude Awakening DDT on the ringside mat. This would have been an ideal time to get back in the ring, but Rude kept on putting the boots to Master Gee until they were both counted out, and had to be pulled off him by Rose and Oliver. The Playboy Club may have added a thoroughbred to their stable, but he will need some coaching if he is going to reach his potential.