AWA '83

[docmanj]

I grew up going to see the AWA matches in Chicago and the Bob Luce cards at the Hammond Civic Center.  My AWA '83 fed is my recreation of that time.  It supposes, what if Hulk Hogan and much of the talent of the AWA didn't go to New York, and stayed on with Verne Gagne and the AWA.


Card #1 (January 9, 1983) – TV Taping



Let’s get into the ring for All Star Action!



Match #1:“Rock and Roll” Buck Zumhofe vs. Jake “the Milkman Milliman”



Zumhofe defeats Milliman by PINFALL with ROCK-AND-ROLL SPLASH at 5:50.



Notes: Zumhofe made quick work of Milliman.



Promo #1: Gene Okerlund explains the Tag Team Championship situation.



Gene Okerlund: "Welcome fans to All Star Wrestling. We have a big card of matches for you this morning, and it is all leading up to the big card at the University of Illinois at the Pavilion in Chicago on Saturday, January 29th. Get your tickets now at TICKETRON or the box. Just before air time I was handed a note from none other than the President of the AWA, Stanley Blackburn. He has been in consultation with promoter Wally Karbo, and we will be treated to several exciting tag team matches in the coming weeks leading up to the big card at the end of the month. Five great tag teams will be in competition in the next few weeks. The winner of these matches will be given a title shot against current AWA World Tag Team Champions, the High Flyers, Greg Gagne and “Jumping” Jim Brunzell, at the big card in Chicago. Today, our headlining match will be none other than the Sheiks, Jerry Blackwell and Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie, to go up against a new up-and-coming exciting team by the name of the Young Lions, comprised of Spike Huber and his partner Steve Regal. It should be a great match, and I am sure you fans will not want to miss it. But for now, lets get back into the ring for more action fans!



Match #2: Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin vs. Nacho Barrera



Garvin disqualified after hitting Nacho Barrera with a piledriver at 5:51



Notes: Jimmy Garvin was finding Nacho a bit too much to handle in the opening minutes of the match. Once he got on the offensive he wasted no time in executing an illegal piledriver onto Nacho and was disqualified. The fans let Garvin know their displeasure.



Promo #2 – The East-West Connection



<Jesse “the Body” Ventura and Adrian Adonis, the East-West Connection come out and complain to Gene Okerlund that they have been left out of Tag Team Championship Contender matches>


Jesse “the Body” Ventura: “I don’t know where Wally Karbo’s brains are jack! If he thinks any of those other teams are better than the East-West Connection.”



Adrian Adonis: “It’s just the High Flyers ducking us once again.”



Jessse “the Body” Ventura: “Well you keep ducking us HIGH CRYERS! We will just keep taking our opponents out and pinning them in the middle of the ring…1-2-3. Before too long you won’t have anywhere to hide!”



Match #3: Jesse “the Body” Ventura vs. Rocky Stone



Ventura defeats Rocky Stone by PINFALL after a vertical suplex at 10:50.



Notes: Ventura punished the hapless Rocky Stone for over ten minutes until he pinned him following a big vertical suplex.



Promo #3 – Hulk Hogan



Gene Okerlund: “Here is a man that needs no introduction. The Incredible Hulk Hogan! Hulk you have been signed to face Black Jack Lanza who has recently come back into town here in Chicago.”



Hulk Hogan: “Oh mean Gene! The Hulkster isn’t worried about big Black Jack Lanza brother. The Hulkster has his eye on the prize. The AWA Heavyweight Championship of the World.”



Gene Okerlund: “Well Hulk, unfortunately for you Nick Bockwinkel is currently in Japan defending his belt overseas.”



Hulk Hogan: “Mean Gene, the Hulkster knows that Bockwinkle has run all the way to Japan to stay away from the Hulkster so he doesn’t have to step into the ring and face me one-on-one. But you can’t stay in Japan forever Bockwinkel. Sooner or later you are going to have to come back. And when you do I’m going to slap the largest arms in the world, the twenty-four inch pythons, on you, and brother, and then you will be wishing you stayed in Japan!”



Match #4: The Sheiks (Jerry Blackwell and Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie) vs. The Young Lions (Spike Huber and Steve Regal) - AWA Tag Team Championship Contender match


The Sheiks lose by disqualification for brawling outside of the ring at 5:31.



Notes: Adnan Al-Kaissie attempts to smash Spike Huber’s face into the announcer’s table. Both Blackwell and Al-Kaissie were breaking the rules throughout the match. Referee Marty Miller finally had enough and disqualified the Sheiks.



Promo #4 – The Sheiks (post-match)



Jerry Blackwell: “What kind of Mickey Mouse officiating do you call that! We had those two young punks right where we wanted them!”



Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie: “Don’t upset yourself your highness! I will go to promoter Wally Karbo. We will get this decision reversed.”



Gene Okerlund: “How are you going to accomplish that if I may ask?”



Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie: “Don’t you worry Mr. Gene Okerlund. That is my business. Trust me, this decision will not stand and by next week promoter Wally Karbo will see things our way.”



Jerry Blackwell: “And let me tell you something. If those two punks stick their nose in our business again, it will be the last thing they ever do. Do you hear that Huber! Do you hear that Regal! Keep out of my face if you know what is good for you!!”



Gene Okerlund: “Well, that is all the time we have this week fans! Be sure to tune in next Sunday for more All Star Wrestling, and get your tickets at TICKETRON or the box office for the big show at the University of Illinois at the Pavillion on Saturday, January 29th! So long everybody!

["Emperor Norton" (Mark T)]

Spike and Regal with the win! As it should be. Great tag team.

[gnw2022]

Watched Regal/Huber when they worked for Dick the Bruiser in Indiana....great to see them in action here...wish I had those two....Blackjack Lanza ain't no pushover Hogan!

[docmanj]

Thanks guys. The Young Lions were a favorite of mine. Saw them many times in Hammond, Indiana at the Hammond Civic Center with Bob Luce promoting.

Here is a pic of me (in the back) and my cousins with Regal and Huber before a card at the Gary Genesis Convention Center in Gary, Indiana, in the early 80's

[TTX]

Would love the Young Lions in the game....just need Spike to be signed.

[docmanj]

Card #2 (January 16, 1983) – TV Taping (All Star Wrestling)


Let’s get into the ring for All Star Action!



Match #1: Brad Rheingans vs. Nacho Barerra



Rheingans defeats Barerra by pinfall with a Cradle Suplex at 2:20.


Notes: Rheingans makes quick work of Barerra in the opening match on this episode



Promo #1: The Sheiks and Wally Karbo



Gene Okerlund: “Hello again Chicago! All Star Wrestling is on the air! We have a great program in store for you today. But first, I want to bring in Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie and Jerry Blackwell. Gentleman, last week you said you would be able to overturn referee Marty Miller’s decision in your loss to the Young Lions.”



Sheik Al-Kaissie: “That is right Mr. Gene Okerlund. I would like to call promoter Wally Karbo to come out now. Come out Wally Karbo! Come Wally Karbo I have a proposition for you!”



<Promoter Wally Karbo tentatively enters into frame>



Wally Karbo: “What is this all about you two?”



Sheik Al-Kaissie: “Promoter Wally Karbo! On behalf of his Highness and myself, we would like to present you with a briefcase with one-hundred thousand dollars.”



<Jerry Blackwell produces a briefcase full of money to Wally Karbo>



Wally Karbo: “Let me get this straight. You two are trying to bribe an AWA official to overturn your loss to the Young Lions?”



Jerry Blackwell: “Just reverse that there bum decision from last week. Here…take it. Take the money” <Blackwell says with a huge grin>



<Wally Karbo takes the briefcase as Gene Okerlund looks on in total shock>



Wally Karbo: “Well, you two. I’m going to tell you what I am going to do.”



<Al-Kaissie and Blackwell are all smiles>



Wally Karbo: “I’m not going to accept your money.”



<The Sheiks look around in shock and total disbelief>



Wally Karbo: “But what I am going to do is teach you jokers a lesson. I am going to stipulate that Blackwell here must have a match with none other than the World’s Most Dangerous Wrestler, Dick the Bruiser, for the upcoming card at the University of Illinois.”



Blackwell: “You can’t do that! I’m not signing a contract to ‘rassle that nutcase!”



Sheik Al-Kaissie: “We will not sign the contract Mr. Wally Karbo!”



Wally Karbo: “If you don’t, then I will take this case of money to President of the AWA Stanley Blackburn, who will no doubt levy a stiff fine on the two of you, and perhaps even suspend you from wrestling here in the AWA for trying to bribe an AWA official. Gentlemen, meet me in my office in fifteen minutes.”



<Wally Karbo walks off camera as Sheik Al-Kaissie brandishes his sword and begins to scream in Arabic>



Blackwell: “Karbo can’t do that to me! I’m not going to get in the ring with the Bruiser!”



Gene Okerlund: “It seems if you don’t Jerry Blackwell, you will be fined and most likely suspended from the AWA.”



Blackwell: “Bruiser is a maniac! He loves to hurt people! This isn’t fair! This isn’t fair!!”



<The screen goes into commercial as the Sheik and Blackwell rant and rave>



Match #2: Curt Hening vs. Masa Saito



Hening pins Saito after a TOP ROPE DROPKICK at 5:43.


Notes: The young newcomer Curt Hening looked very impressive against the veteran Saito.



Promo #2 – Blackjack Lanza



Gene Okerlund: “An exciting match fans! With an exciting new up-and-coming star in the AWA, one Curt Hening. An impressive win against Mr. Saito.”



<Lanza enters into frame from the right>



Lanza: “What do I care if some young punk actually squeaks out a win or not. I’ve got more important things to worry about! You hear?”



Okerlund: “Indeed you do Mr. Lanza. You have been signed to take on the Incredible Hulk Hogan at the big card at the University of Illinois at the Pavilion on January 29th.”



Lanza: “That’s right. They put me up against this blond haired goof. Well Hogan, you better start praying, because when I get you in that ring in Chicago I’m going to expose you as the muscle head goof that you are. So count the days Hogan. Because when I put the brainbuster on your noggin you are going to submit like everybody else!”



Match #3: Wahoo McDaniels vs. Bruiser Brody



Brody pins Wahoo after executing two punishing JUMPING KNEEDROPS on the veteran at 8:12



Notes: An exciting match which started with Wahoo McDaneil offering a sportsman-like handshake to Brody. But Brody came in close and hit him with a big elbow. The action spilled out of the ring not once, but twice. Brody put Wahoo’s head into the ringpost, and later Wahoo dragged Brody out of the ring and smashed his head into the ring apron. It was a miracle that there was no blood to be seen. In the end, Bruiser Brody was in command for most of the match, and pinned Wahoo after two punishing JUMPING KNEEDROPS.

***COMMERCIAL***




Promo – Superstar Billy Graham



Gene Okerlund: “Exciting action fans! A big win for Bruiser Brody against Chief Wahoo McDaniels! I’m sure that we have not heard the last of those two gentlemen squaring up against each other. But now fans, I want to bring out Superstar Billy Graham.”



<Superstar Billy Graham enters camera frame and flashes his biceps to camera>



Okerlund: “You sir have been signed to wrestle Ray “The Crippler” Stevens next week on this program.”



Superstar: “That’s right Gene. And for once I won’t have to worry about that Weasel, Bobby Heenan, being at ringside since he is in Japan with Bockwinkel.”



Okerlund: “But other members of the Bobby Heenan Family will be present next week. Doesn’t that concern you?”



Superstar: “Not in the least baby! I’m concerned with pinning Stevens in the middle of the ring. 1…2…3. And if any of those other stooges of Heenan want to poke their nose into Superstar Billy Graham’s business. I’ll be happy to give them a taste of these baby!”



<Superstar Billy Graham flexes his big biceps again as he walks off camera>



Okerlund: It is going to be a rock-and-sock-‘em match next week fans on this very program! Don’t miss it!



Match #4: Baron von Rasckhe and The Crusher vs. The Black and Blue Express (Bobby Duncum and Ken Patera)



Patera pins the Baron after a SWINGING NECKBREACKER at 18:44



Note: The Baron and the Crusher roughed up Big Bad Bobby Duncum in the early part of the match and kept him from tagging. However, Duncum was able to tag in Patera near the ten minute mark, and Patera came in on fire. He punished the Baron with a devastating bear hug, and followed it up with a crippling SWINGING NECKBREAKER. The Crusher attempted to stop the pin, but was cut off by Big Bad Bobby Duncum.



Promo – The Black and Blue Express (post-match)



Okerlund: “Gentlemen that was an action packed match.”



Duncum: “That’s right Gene. When the Black and Blue Express get into the ring we are all business man!”



<Duncum and Patera high-five each other>



Patera: “The Baron and the Crusher were just a stepping stone for us to inevitably capture the tag team championship. So Young Lions! Huber and Regal! You better get ready, because we are coming for you next week! And once we mop the floor with you two young punks we are coming for the gold High Flyers!”



<Patera and Dumcum leave the frame and the camera zooms in on Gene Okerlund>



Okerlund: “Ladies and gentlemen! Next week is going to be a barn burner on this program. And that is all leading to the big card at the University of Illinois at the Pavilion on Saturday, January 29th! Tickets available at TICKETRON and the box office fans! You won’t want to miss it! Until next week. So long everybody!”