JIP. This is from Christmas day 81. Starts with Robinson in control with a headlock. End up coming up from it and Robinson throws some stiff strikes before Bock bails to the floor. Back in the ring and they do an awesome knuckle lock spot, with Robinson bringing the British escape, leg whipping Bock and trying to go back to the headlock before Bock scrambled back to the floor. Another fun Robinson escape before taking Bock back down. Real cool sequence with Robinson going for another escape, Bock kicking off, a cartwheel escape from Robinson, who eats a back body drop and then goes for a hip toss but ends up "throwing his arm out" in the process. Billy bails to the floor and Bock keeps him at bay. Fun spot with Robinson fighting back in the ring, but just collapsing when he tries to throw a combination. You wish Bock was a bit more compelling working the arm, but Robinson sells well enough that it's not a big knock on the match. Cool spot with Robinson in effect arm dragging himself when Bock holds on to a hip toss attempt. There is a really awesome spot with Robinson fighting up to his feet off an armbar and locking in a deeper double chicken wing, but Bock backs him up against the ropes and punches him in the face driving him to the floor. Billy effectively hulks up on the floor and comes in and beats the piss out of Bock with a great neckbreaker, knee drop and the sick body drop to the back of leaning over opponent move that only he and Terry Funk do. He follows that up with his great backbreaker for a nearfall. Robinson ends up going out to the apron, but Bock traps him in a sleeper. Robinson leans off the ropes and drives onto Bock for the ridiculous double pin finish. Really loved this one, but the double pin finish was SOOO over done in the AWA.

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Nick Bockwinkel © vs. Billy Robinson (12/25/81)

 

This is JIP but it looks like we didn't miss much. Robinson was in control for most of the early part of the match using his great wrestling skills to keep Bock grounded and this was a like a showcase for Robinson. Robinson keeps rolling along until he throws out his arm as he tried a hiptoss and that gave Bock the opportunity he needed to go on offense. Bock does a good job of keeping Robinson on the floor and when he returns to the ring he works him over but he doesn't go after the arm viciously although Robinson does a great job of selling the punishment making it look better than what it was. Robinson is really great here fighting back and the spot where he countered an armbar into a standing double chickenwing armlock was awesome. Robinson gets sent to the floor and that pisses him off so he would come back into the ring and unloaded high impact move after high impact move almost pinning Bock numerous times. Bock would lock on a desperation sleeper hold as Robinson was on the apron so he would pull him back in the ring and the momentum forced both men to the mat with the referee counting out the shoulders saying that Bock got his shoulder up while Robinson had his down thus retaining his title. This wasn't a double pinfall, Bock got his shoulder up. Great match and a definite nomination.