Posted September 29, 200817 yr comment_5434903 Pretty awesome match which is worked almost entirely on the mat, White works a headlock for a while, and then Hansen really stiffly works over over White's hand including some some nasty looking finger manipulation and brutal stomps. Vader is pretty green at this point, but Hansen really does an amazing job carrying him. Really fun stuff AWA Classics on ESPN
October 6, 200816 yr comment_5435035 White was pretty over for a rookie, and they did a decent job of pushing him in the brief time that he was around. Good match, although the edge was a bit off of it for me the first time I saw it since I knew there was no way Leon was getting the title.
February 22, 201114 yr comment_5465862 White cartwheeling over a drop down from Hansen has to be one of the most unlikely things ever to happen in a wrestling match. White working a headlock as a base is interesting and more entertaining than you might think. They come up for some decent spots and Hansen is fairly giving though this is nothing that will blow you away. Hansen comes back with arm work that looks pretty stiff and White sells well. Hansen stomping and chopping White's hand in particular looked nasty. Hansen runs him outside and whips the arm into everything he can find while White fights back with chops and nasty looking punches. They get back in the ring and White runs off a string of offense and nearfalls with Hansen barely breaking the count. White misses an avalanche and takes a quick lariat for the pin. This got better as it went along and the last couple of minutes were really great. Certainly good enough to think about for the set but it's hardly one of the best things I've watched.
April 4, 201114 yr comment_5468996 This was awesome! Vader looks like a big chubby goober, like Baron Harkonnen from Dune. They start with White working a headlock and it's really neat as Hansen is clawing at White's face to get out of it. Hansen works White's hand over a bunch by just stomping it really hard. Hansen bounces White's hand off the turnbuckle and bends it over the ropes and tugs and damn does that look painful. White back with huge meaty chops and some big shoulderblocks, and they even exchange kicks to the face! We roll to the floor and brawl through the crowd, and I assume it will end in a DCO, but White throws him back in and we brawl to Hansen eventually winning. Fun stuff and a NOMINATION!
April 16, 201213 yr comment_5500279 AWA World Heavyweight Title: Stan "The Lariat" Hansen vs. "Bull Power" Leon White (3/13/86) Leon was a rookie here and he was getting a huge push on TV at the time and it was pretty amazing to see how good he was at working a style for his size at this time of his career. His matwork was pretty good here as well with Hansen being a solid opponent as he gave Leon a lot more than he would give other people especially rookies. The match started out slowpaced but the pace would pick up as the match went along and by the end Leon had Hansen reeling but a lariat would end Leon's dreams and the match. Very good TV match between the current legend and future legend and I think this is a nomination.
