AWA All-Star Wrestling TV #7

Ken Resnick: Welcome everyone to another action packed edition of AWA All-Star Wrestling, I will be joined momentarily by my broadcast partner, Verne Gagne, who is the ring right now waiting on an interview. Last week at AWA Wrestlerock, we saw Andre the Giant hopefully put an end to Abdullah the Butcher’s reign of terror, Rick Rude shocking the AWA world by helping Eddie Gilbert get rid of Jimmy Garvin in a loser leaves town match, Scott Hall earning the world title shot at our next, pay per view event as well as Greg Gagne finally getting the chance to exact some revenge on the Road Warriors and Paul Ellering. But probably the biggest news story coming out of the night was that the “Mystery of the White Cowboy Hat” was finally solved and this man who’s making his way to the ring right now to talk with Verne Gagne made his debut, the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes!


Verne Gagne: Dusty, it’s great to have you here in the AWA, after you made that shocking reveal at AWA Wrestlerock and came to the aid of Jerry Blackwell. But the questions on many people’s minds over the past week, was why? Why did you come out to help Jerry Blackwell against AWA World Heavyweight Champion, Stan Hanson and Terry Funk?


Dusty Rhodes: Verne, let me first start off by sayin…it’s great to be here in the AWA. I have been watchin from afar for the past months and I saw these two men, who call themselves pure Texans, in Mr. Hanson and Mr. Funk on my television screen. And I says to myself, Dusty, that Blackwell and that Scotty Hall, they needs some help if you weel. I know Hanson and Funk from many many moons ago, and I know the tricks that they play. So I says to myself, you’re the man Dream, you’re the man that can help Jerry and Scotty out. I’ve had enough of your game Stanley and Terrence. I have had enough of the tricks you play. You thought back in West Texas, down there around Amarillo way, that you’d never see the Dream again, that it was settled, and he was out of your life. Well, that’s wrong! Wrong! You brought hard times on these two friends of mine, and starting tonight, yes, tonight, I am going to start bringing hard times down on your two boys. Next week, right here on television, main event, Terry, it’s going to be me and you meeting one on one. I’m about to take you both to the rodeo, and I’m about to grab the bull by the horns, if you know what I mean. Now Verne, if you’ll excuse me, I have an aeroplane ride to catch. Before joining the AWA full time, I have a few more bookings to fulfill for Mr. Eddie Graham down in Florida. So I must better be on my way.
Verne Gagne: There you have it folks, Dusty Rhodes is her for vengeance to settle some old scores he once had with Stan Hanson and Terry Funk. This is only the beginning as already here in the first few minutes of our show, we already have the main event for next week’s show, Dusty Rhodes taking on Terry Funk…next week, right here on AWA All-Star Wrestling, you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be right back after these messages from our sponsors.


Verne Gagne: And what do we have going on here? We’ve heard that he would be joining the AWA roster in the near future, but I did not expect the “King” Jerry Lawler to make an entrance quite like this.
Ken Resnick: Looks like the King and his Court are giving him a free ride right up to the ringside apron. This is something else!


Verne Gagne: Well Lawler better stop his showboating because he’s got a real tough test on his hands tonight as he steps in the ring with Kerry Von Erich.
Ken Resnick: Jerry Lawler has been a pro for quite a few years now hailing from Memphis, Tennessee where he quickly was deemed the “King of Wrestling” around those parts. Is he jumping up in competition here to see if he can become the king of the AWA as well?
Verne Gagne: But don’t sleep on Kerry, we know his resume quite well in his limited competition here in the AWA. Kerry and his brother Kevin gave the Road Warriors quite a run for the belts back at AWA Dome of Destruction, so if Lawler isn’t careful, the “King” may be headed home to Memphis with his tail between his legs a lot quicker than he thought!


Ken Resnick: Guess you were right on that “don’t sleep on Kerry line” there Verne! He is starting out a house of fire on Jerry Lawler. Both he and his brother Kevin are very hungry for a win in the AWA. They have been stumbling out of the blocks and they know that a slow start in the AWA means that you may get passed by and may not be booked again.
Verne Gagne: That’s correct Ken, the AWA is like a shark tank, everyone is vying for those few all important spots at the top of the food chain where the fame and the fortune are.


Ken Resnick: But the tide turns quickly. A huge back body drop by the King has Kerry reeling. Fans who may be somewhat familiar with the King know that this is how he sets them up. It’s only a matter of time before he crowns the…no pun intended.


Verne Gagne: And there it is, the famous, or maybe, infamous, Jerry Lawler Piledriver. He has put many a men down with this move and it looks like Kerry Von Erich is the next man to have his fate set with that move.
Ken Resnick: It’s a somewhat controversial move. It has been banned in many territories around the United States, but not here in the AWA where we let these guys wrestle and sometimes, fight it out, determine who is the biggest, the baddest and of course the best.


Verne Gagne: Oh would you look at the cockiness of this pin. Jerry Lawler is showing absolutely zero respect here for Kerry Von Erich as he poses and covers Kerry with just one foot. He must be pretty confident that the Piledriver is the end all, be all for his matches.
Ken Resnick: Marty Miller makes the three count and Jerry Lawler is victorious in his AWA debut. Verne Gagne is going to join Jerry Lawler at ringside to get a few comments from him.


Verne Gagne: Jerry Lawler, a pretty impressive victory here in your debut on AWA All-Star Wrestling TV. What are your thoughts?
Jerry Lawler: First off Verne, I’d like to thank the AWA for giving me the opportunity to come and wrestle in this territory. But also I’d like to apologize to them. I’m sorry that you unleashed me on this roster. There’s a reason I wear this crown on my head. It’s because I am the King, the King of Professional Wrestling. I challenge anyone to come and take this crown off of my head. Any wrestler that defeats me is entitled to the crown. I will defend this crown any day or night of the week. I cannot and will not be defeated. If you think you have what it takes to accept the King’s Crown Challenge, step right up, because at the end of the night, you’ll just be kissing my feet.
Verne Gagne: We will be right back here on AWA All-Star Wrestling after these words from our commercial sponsors.


Verne Gagne: Back here on AWA All-Star Wrestling TV we go from one loud mouth before the commercial break to another loud mouth after the commercial break.
Andy Kaufman: Loud mouth? Loud mouth? Who you calling loud mouth? I am from Hollywood. My job is to speak in front of the camera. That’s what they pay me for. They pay to see my beautiful face on the television screen, not you Verne.
Verne Gagne: Well, as it would appear, you are not a professional wrestler, so what are your intentions in showing up in the AWA?
Andy Kaufman: I surround myself with only the most famous. I surround myself with the biggest and brightest stars. And that is why I am here. I am here to introduce the first in my famous stable of personalities. I am here to introduce to you the very first member of “Andy Kaufman and the Cabaret of Hollywood Stars”!


Andy Kaufman: Here he is, straight from Hollywood and fresh from a movie set, the on and the only, “Superstar” Billy Graham!
Ken Resnick: Kaufman may have scored a major coup with this “talent acquisition”. Graham is a world renowned wrestler who is a former WWWF World Heavyweight Champion. This guy has done nothing but hold gold throughout his career.


Andy Kaufman: Verne, want to meet my new Hollywood pal? Billy is here for one thing, and one thing only, to make his way to the top under my tutelage. Does Billy want a title belt? Well of course he does. But more importantly to us, we want the fame and the fortune!!!
Billy Graham: Under the guidance of Andy Kaufman as my agent, you will see me win gold. You’ll see me in the fold. You’ll see me be beautiful and bold.
Verne Gagne: Oh give me a break, we’ll be back after these commercial messages with a match between Rick Martel and a new debut in Junkyard Dog.


Ken Resnick: And making his AWA debut tonight is the one and the only Junkyard Dog. Dog is quite a standout in the Mid-South area and has decided to bring his many years of ring talents here to the AWA. But standing in his way tonight, is a crafty veteran in Rick Martel.
Verne Gagne: Junkyard Dog comes in with a reputation as having a rather hard head. And no, I’m not saying he’s a stubborn guy. He utilizes many different headbutts from many different angles to incapacitate opponents. On a few occasions he’s even been known to knock his opponent out with one of these ferocious blows.


Ken Resnick: And as soon as Marty Miller calls for the bell, Junkyard Dog is down on all fours doing just like his namesake says, acting like a dog!
Verne Gagne: Rick Martel needs to watch out here. I have seen Junkyard Dog use this as a ploy to lure his opponent down onto the mat and then attack with those absolutely ferocious headbutts that it seems like he can connect with from virtually any angle.


Ken Resnick: And you were right Verne. JYD has lulled Martel into a trap and is attacking with an absolutely vicious looking headbutt right square in the forehead.
Verne Gagne: This one may be over pretty quick, it looked as if Martel’s eyeballs had rolled to the back of his head and he was out on his feet.


Ken Resnick: Just as was eluded to earlier, Junkyard Dog seems to have the acumen to attack from any angle with those headbutts. Here he was Martel perched on the top rope and yet he is still able to attack with those headbutts. This guy is unbelievable. I think he’s got a pretty bright future ahead of him here in the AWA with this unique brand of offense he attacks opponents with.


Verne Gagne: And the Dog is setting up for his finishing maneuver. He calls this the “Every Dog Has His Day”. He stands and lets the entire weight of his body propel himself forward for a falling headbutt on to his downed opponent.
Ken Resnick: And with a sickening thud right to the head, Junkyard Dog has connected with this very maneuver.


Verne Gagne: Marty Miller is down for the three count and this one is over. Junkyard Dog picks up the win with a falling headbutt on Rick Martel. With a win like that, I am sure that Junkyard Dog will catch the attention of the AWA Championship Committee and start to move himself up the ranks.
Ken Resnick: We will be right back after these messages from our wonderful sponsors.


Verne Gagne: And we are back and look who’s in the ring, seeing exactly how it feels to be wearing a neck brace.
Paul Ellering: At AWA Wrestlerock, Greg Gagne decided that the only way he could get even with me was to trick myself and the Road Warriors. He wasn’t man enough to look at us face to face but instead had to hide behind a mask. Although Gagne and Hennig stole the tag team belts from us, we always have a Plan B. And there will be vengeance to pay with this Plan B. The war is not over, and I can tell you the pain and the punishment are far from over as well Greg.


Greg Gagne: Oh, is that so Ellering? You finally got a taste of your own medicine and apparently you are finding it a pretty bitter pill to swallow. Don’t worry though, Curt and I will be fighting champions. We aren’t going to duck and hide challenges like you do with the Road Warriors. If you want your rematch, we’ll gladly give it to you.


Paul Ellering: Greg, you’ve crossed a very fine line which you should never have crossed. This is no longer about championships. This is about getting even with you. About stepping up the level of violence and making you pay for what you have done.


Greg Gagne: Paul, I know that seeing me holding this title belt in my hands eats away at you. You stay awake every night trying to plot and plan your revenge. But trust me Paul, whatever you are thinking, I am already a step ahead of you. Curt Hennig and I are the AWA World Tag Team Champions and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Paul Ellering: There is a plan involved, just one that you’re not aware of and one that you’re lagging behind in. Tell you what, I already have a trick up my sleeve and in two weeks’ time I have already petitioned for and have been granted a match where it will be my mystery enforcer taking on you Greg Gagne. And this is a match you will never ever forget.
Greg Gagne: Bring it on Paul, I will take anything you and the Road Warriors have ready for me head on. No masks, no trickery, just a knockdown, drag out fight.


Verne Gagne: And we are set for tonight’s main event match.
Ken Resnick: Andre the Giant said he was not satisfied with the way he defeated Abdullah the Butcher last week at AWA Wrestlerock inside the steel cage. So he has signed on to face Abdullah once again tonight with a guarantee that this one is to end it once and for all.


Verne Gagne: Oh no! Andre was expecting Abdullah to come in to the ring from our announce position but it appears that Abdullah has snuck in the back door of the AWA Studios and is sneak attacking Andre the Giant with that wrench he loves to carry around!


Ken Resnick: It looks like all those plans that Andre the Giant had of finishing this feud off once and for all have back fired and instead it’s Abdullah the Butcher that want to put the finishing touches on this final conflict.
Verne Gagne: And that solid steel chair comes crashing down on the head of Andre the Giant. Any normal man would be knocked out cold with a shot like that, but at 7 feet, 4 inches tall, Andre is definitely not just any normal man.


Verne Gagne: And Abdullah the Butcher has thrown poor and helpless Marty Miller right over the top rope. Looks like this match is going to end in a no contest since I don’t think Marty Miller was ever able to ring the bell to even get this match officially started.
Ken Resnick: I’m sure AWA President Stanley Blackburn will be reviewing the tape of this, as putting your hands on a AWA Official is not tolerated around here and I’m sure Abdullah will be facing a rather hefty fine.


Verne Gagne: I’m sorry folks, if there’s children around, you may want to have them look away. This is just being a savage at this point. Abdullah the Butcher is driving his wrench into both eyes of Andre the Giant. He’s going to blind the man!


Ken Resnick: Another chair shot right across the head of Andre the Giant. But this time I think it has done the trick for Abdullah the Butcher. Andre the Giant is lying motionless in the ring and he has been knocked out cold.
Verne Gagne: This is bad news for Andre, there’s no one in sight to help defend him and Abdullah can have his way and inflict whatever amount of punishment he would like on him.


Ken Resnick: You’ve got to be kidding me! Abdullah has Andre’s leg wrapped up in a steel chair while he’s about to use another chair to crush the leg of Andre’s leg which is pinned.
Verne Gagne: Oh what a sickening sound. You could hear the bones break in Andre’s leg. This is terrible. Is there anyone in the back that can come out and help Andre?!


Ken Resnick: And coming up from behind with a chain is Bruiser Brody! I can’t believe that Bruiser Brody is bursting onto the scene and has come to fight off Abdullah the Butcher to help save Andre the Giant.
Verne Gagne: He’s got his chain wrapped around the neck of Abdullah and Abdullah is screaming for mercy from Brody!


ken Resnick: What a wild scene we have just witnessed. Bruiser Brody is tending to the very much injured Andre the Giant, referee Marty Miller is laying on the floor motionless and Abdullah the Butcher, much like in the case of encountering Andre the Giant, looks as if he’s seen a ghost again with the sudden appearance of Bruiser Brody busting on the scene. What a wild melee we have just seen. Let’s take a commercial break and we’ll be back with Scott Hall right after this.


Verne Gagne: Everyone, I would like to introduce to you the winner of the first annual Frank Gotch Memorial Tournament, and receiving a AWA World Heavyweight Championship match at our next pay per view event, AWA Wrestle Rumble, Scott Hall!
Scott Hall: Thank you so very much Mr. Gagne. Last week at AWA Wrestlerock, I defeated the Dynamite Kid in the finals of this very prestigious tournament and took home this beautiful gold trophy. The match we had was an absolute classic and I hope that one day we can do it again in a rematch. But before that rematch with Dynamite Kid takes place, I have another match coming up here real soon at AWA Wrestle Rumble. I have been chasing him down for a few weeks now and finally I get my chance at Stan Hanson and the AWA World Title!


Stan Hanson: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What do we have here? Terry, would you look at that big pretty shiny trophy? Ain’t that gorgeous? Why if I had it, I’d probably melt it down and make me a new solid gold tobacco spittoon for my saloon!
Scott Hall: Show some respect for the trophy and its prestige.
Stan Hanson: Show respect? You want respect? Where I come from respect comes from fightin. So you want some respect? You’ll get it at AWA Wrestle Rumble, but why not a little respect right now!


Verne Gagne: Terry Funk snuck up behind Scott Hall and pushed him right into a Lariat clothesline courtesy of Stan Hanson. Hanson doesn’t want to wait until AWA Wrestle Rumble to show Scott Hall respect, he wants to do it right now.


Ken Resnick: Oh please don’t tell me that Hanson and Funk are going to do what I think they want to do.
Verne Gagne: Terry Funk is holding Scott Hall so he can’t move and Stan Hanson has just nailed Scott Hall right over the head with the Frank Gotch Memorial Trophy!
Ken Resnick: Oh what a travesty this is, the trophy has shattered into pieces! This is unbelievable that these two Texas cowboys would do that to the beautiful trophy!


Stan Hanson: Respect? You wanted respect? You got it Hall. AWA Wrestle Rumble, I am upping the stakes. No disqualification match. Me and you. Winner takes all. And you already know who the winner is going to be, me!
Verne Gagne: And look at these two standing over the body of Scott Hall and the shattered pieces of the once magnificent trophy. These two almost seem to be proud of what they have accomplished here tonight.


Verne Gagne: Luckily, Jerry Blackwell has come down to intervene but the damage has already been done.
Ken Resnick: Well AWA fans, that about does it for another edition of AWA All-Star Wrestling. Tune in next week where already signed for that show it will be Dusty Rhodes taking on Terry Funk in our main event. You won’t want to miss it! Good night everybody!