Posted February 17, 201114 yr comment_5464740 Martel does a cool rope running spot and dominates Zhukov early. Zhukov is back up to avoid Martel who comes forward with strikes and scores with a cradle for a nearfall. Zhukov gets some licks on and tries to force Martel's face into the steel but Rick manages to fight him off. Martel goes for another rolling cradle but Boris ducks down and Martel hits the steel. Martel takes bump after wild bump into the steel and blades. Zhukov starts biting at the cut and gets a good nearfall of a lariat that Martel bumps well for. Zhukov goes for another lariat but Martel ducks and he hits the steel. Martel back drops out of a piledriver attempt and starts firing up. Martel is pissed and starts punching at the bloody head of Zhukov. Martel hits a piledriver for a nearfall and then picks him up and spikes Boris into the cage on a running charge. Zhukov ends up ramming Martel into the steel almost in desperation. Boris hits a suplex and a standing clothesline for nearfalls. Boris misses a diving knee off the top and Martel wins. Finish did not look all that great and Boris did not have the offense to keep his heat section as dynamic as it should have been but this was still a good cage match and a really strong effort from Martel.
February 17, 201114 yr comment_5464773 Special referee for the match was John Ferguson (former Winnipeg Jets GM). he was terrible IMO and took a lot away from a strong effort on both mens part here. No fucking idea how to get down and count a pinfall.
February 22, 201213 yr comment_5495576 Steel Cage Match for the AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel © vs. Boris Zuhkov (11/14/85) John Ferguson who was a long-time GM in the NHL and at one point for the Winnipeg Jets is the referee here and he isn't every very good in his role thus taking away from the nearfalls and the fans were booing his slowness at getting down. This was totally the Martel show here as he worked circles around Boris making him look like a worthy challenger. Martel bled here so it gave Boris the chance to work the cut for a while along with using the cage as a weapon. Martel makes a fun comeback and has Boris ready to go after a piledriver but Boris comes back on his own before missing a diving kneedrop off the top rope allowing Martel to win. This was fun thanks to Martel and although it could have been better it is still good enough to be a nomination.
February 22, 201213 yr comment_5495583 Also note that Ferguson shook Boris off the ropes when he was ready to dive onto Martel at the end of this one, and that allowed Martel to cover Boris for the pin...Boris didn't fall or miss that dive on his own. This could have been really great with a regular referee, IMO.
