Buck Zumhofe v. Bobby Heenan (Ten Minute Challenge)

 

We have this JIP, but this is basically in full. Funny opening with Heenan getting flustered and then turning around to the crowd with a look of contempt only to get dropkicked into the corner. Buck walks out to the apron to kill time which amused me. Heenan was hilarious pleading with the ref to enforce the spirit of competition. Buck lands on his feet off of a back body drop, dropkicks Heenan to the floor and then slingshots him into the ring. I was not a fan of Buck rattling off a series of nearfalls as it sort of undermined the gimmick, but then a manager having an advantage over a wrestler is kind of silly too. Bobby takes over at the half way mark with standard heeling stuff. Heenan hit a nice senton type splash off the second rope. This was way too my turn, your turn down the stretch but Buck does take an insane bump into the ropes at about the one minute mark that makes the ending run pretty dramatic.

 

Road Warriors v. Fabulous Ones

 

HOLY FUCK CRUSHER IS WEARING FABS SUSPENDERS AND GEAR WITH HIS CIGAR AND IS IN THEIR CORNER. I mean I don't really give a shit about the match one way or the other as it was really just there but Crusher in Fabs gear might be the best thing I've ever seen in wrestling.

 

OH MY GOD! The Fabulous Ones on Sally Jesse Raphael! Fuck Yes. EXTRA 4000 times.

 

Flair is on Sally Jesse next which won't qualify here but was interesting.

 

Mr. Saito v. Mad Dog Vachon

 

JIP. What was shown of this was okay. Ventura allows Saito to get the upperhand which leads to the Baron coming in and throwing salt in Saito's eyes which was pretty awesome.

 

Jimmy Garvin promo. Garvin talking about Quebec separatism was amusing.

 

Rick Martel v. Jimmy Garvin

 

Martel really dominates the opening minutes of this but he is such an energetic wrestler that I don't mind it being this lop sided. You would like Jimmy to take something more dynamic in the way of bumps but realistically I'm not sure that was ever his M.O. Garvin hits a really sweet looking escape into a fireman's carry, but Martel goes back to the headscissors where they work a pretty solid struggle spot or two. Jimmy finally slips out of the headscissors base and locks on his standard leg hold. Man Garvin REALLY grinds this shit to a halt with a LONG and not particularly well worked chinlock/semi-sleeper spot. They finally come up for a nice clothesline nearfall from Garvin and Jimmy goes to the Camel Clutch. They end up doing a lengthy "Martel at bay selling on the floor" sequence and just when you think it is over their is a ref distraction spot and Martel takes a crazy over the top bump back out. Martel ends up getting tossed out a third time and this time comes back with Hector Guerrero style roll around the ring fire up. Man the Martel near fall on the rana here is one of the better near falls I've seen out of the AWA watching so far. Hey look, this is the match with Garvin winning with the cheapshot with the foreign object. I think this is the only version of this that is in full though I could be wrong. I am actually really lukewarm on this match but feel like it probably should go on the docket for others to watch.

 

Nick Bockwinkel v. Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie

 

JIP about 12 minutes in or so. This is a pretty good slugfest type brawl with Bock bleeding but it was chopped up so heavily I don't see how it could be a nomination. In actuality this is basically just the finish.

 

Billy Robinson v. Baron Von Raschke

 

JIP. God damn Robinson was cranky as shit. Forget the neckbreakers which I always love this had Robinson picking up Baron by his ears and punching him as hard as he could in the face, throat and chest over and over. I also loved how Robinson kept using the ref as a vehicle to get in illegal shots, literally laying on top of him and shielding himself form Baron while choking or throwing cheap shots. Baron's comeback spots were cheesy as always, but you really expect that from Baron and it has a certain amount of charm. The claw spot was well built to and I thought this was actually a time limit draw that was well done as they teased that Robinson was playing for the tie early so it didn't seem cheap. Good enough to pass through.

This starts with a Heenan/Zumhofe weaselsuit match that's JIP and very fun thanks to Bobby who always got the best out of Buck. Buck took some wild bumps here.

 

AWA World Tag Titles: The Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk) vs. The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn & Stan Lane) (11/8/84)

 

Fabs coming out to State of Shock by The Jacksons & Mick Jagger is great but nowhere near as great as Crusher in his Fabs gear smoking a cigar. The Roadies were a little too slow and plodding here on offense and Lane did a good enough job as FIP but it wasn't interesting. The finish run involving Crusher & Ellering was fun but that was about it here.

 

Next we get the Fabs on Sally Jesse Raphael which is a definite extra.

 

Then we get clips of a Vachon/Saito match.

 

This is followed up by a Jimmy Garvin promo.

 

AWA World Heavyweight Title: Rick Martel © vs. "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin (12/6/84)

 

Martel is very strong early taking it to Garvin who goes to the floor trying to keep Martel at bay but Martel would stay dominant for a long period of time and at least he kept everything going at a good pace so it wasn't boring. Garvin would take control with a very long chinlock/sleeper section which Martel's selling saved it from being boring. Garvin then throws Martel over the top rope numerous times as Precious has the referee distracted with Martel taking big bumps and after the last one he came in a house of fire going to war on Garvin. Martel's delayed rana was always great and no exception here as he almost had Garvin but he kicked out. Precious would hand knux to Garvin who used it to KO Martel in the back of the head and covered for the win. Wally Karbo would come out of course and reversed the decision giving Martel the win. They used the finish two times in a 2 1/2 month span, that's pretty weak. Pretty fun match though and it moves forward as Martel was so good here.

 

Next we get clips of an Bock/Adnan match.

 

Baron Von Raschke vs. Billy Robinson (1/10/85)

 

This is JIP about 2 minutes in and Robinson is laying the shots in on Baron using various strikes and illegal ones as well even using the referee as a front to sneak them in. Baron then fought back by no-selling then threatened the claw which sent Billy scurrying to the floor to reset the pace. Baron would go on offense whenever Billy would come back in the ring but it wasn't long before he would drop back to the floor. Baron would finally get the claw after some horrible rope running by Robinson but Billy would go the apron to break free. Billy hems and haws a bit but comes back in and starts firing shots before hitting a nice neckbreaker where he would follow by trying to take Baron's ears off with his hands. Billy baring down on referee Eddie Sharkey was a fun spot as he couldn't see him choking Baron. Baron fights back though and this turns into a slugfest before Robinson realizing the time was coming to an end stalls for a bit but comes back in the ring only to take an iron claw which he would be in as time runs out. This was okay for what it was but it had some clunkiness in spots. I'm going no here.