Pro Wrestling Love vol. 27: Best of AWA 1983-1990 (Nick Bockwinkel, Curt Hennig, Shawn Michaels)

Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,

Pro Wrestling Love vol. 27:

The Best of American Wrestling Association 1983-1990

Objective:  Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project (hosted at gwe.freeforums.project.net) into more manageable chunks to help me build my Top 100 List for the project.

Motivation: Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own understanding of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and even hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by the sands of time.

Subject: This twenty-seventh volume of Pro Wrestling Love is the beginning of the Top 12 countdown of the best matches to take place in American Wrestling Association between 1983-1990. The time period is set because this was the peak of the territorial era in regards to footage. Footage before 1983 in regards to American wrestling is a dicey proposition. There are some gaps after 1983, but for the most part from 1983 on we have everything. Originally I was going to end this countdown in 1987 as believe that to be the end of the territorial era (Crockett buys out Watts and World Class & AWA are on their death bed), but I figure I might as well include 1988-1990 because that’s when the AWA closed. You can revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com. You can check out the full version of these reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by going to the forums and finding the folders associated with the date of the match.

Contact Info: @superstarsleeze on Twitter, Instagram & ProWrestlingOnly.com.

Rest In Peace, Bock. Thanks for all the entertainment. 

Honorable Mentions

Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan al-Kaisse vs 

Mad Dog Vachon & Baron Von Raschke Taped Fist Match 3/13/83

Verne Gagne & Mad Dog Vachon vs. Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan – 4/24/83

AWA World Tag Team Champions The Sheiks (Patera & Blackwell) vs High Flyers – 11/24/83

Crusher Blackwell & Sgt. Slaughter vs. Sheik Adnan, Masked Superstar & King Tonga 

Steel Cage 4/21/85

The biggest discovery of the AWA set was Crusher Ayatollah Jerry Blackwell. Call him what you will, but you will call him awesome. He looks like the most unathletic tub of goo you would ever see, but looks can be deceiving. He is one of the most agile big men there ever was and one of the most psychologically sound. His “weeble wobble” but they don’t fall down selling is so good and makes every bump mean something. I love how he uses the splash in all his matches. I don’t want to give it away but pay special attention to his splash psychology. His feud with the AWA old timers such as Mad Dog, Baron, Da Crusher (over who the real Crusher is) and of course the Boss, Verne is one of the best of all time. I highly recommend the taped fist against the Baron & Mad Dog. This serves as a lead-in for two arch-enemies, Verne & Mad Dog, coming together against a common enemy, the Sheiks! There is more to come from the Blackwell vs Mad Dog feud and more to come from the Sheiks as a tag team. There is also some great Blackwell pre-1983 that we will get to when I cover US Wrestling from 1978-1982 in a separate blog. Jerry Blackwell is a marvel and should be discussed more as an all-time great in US wrestling.

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jumbo Tsuruta vs Rick Martel – 5/13/84

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel – 8/16/84

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Mr. Saito – 4/24/85

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Terry Gordy – August 1985

While the rest of the country was debating Hogan vs. Flair, the AWA put their faith in a handsome Quebecois named Rick Martel, who wrestled like a fired up babyface in the vein of a Jack Brisco or a Ricky Steamboat. The results in the ring were awesome. He would have better matches with Jumbo & Bock that will be discussed later, but I definitely recommend seeking out the Saito & Gordy matches. Saito was another gem along the lines of a Blackwell as someone who stood out as a great pro wrestler that does not get much play. Martel brings all the sympathetic selling of a Ricky Steamboat with the offensive firepower of a Tito Santana making him a contender for the greatest pure babyface in the history of US wrestling.

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler vs Curt Hennig – 7/19/88

AWA World Champion Jerry Lawler vs WCWA World Champion Kerry Von Erich 

Superclash III

Jerry Lawler spent roughly fifteen year of trying to win the NWA or AWA World Championships but could never wrest the title from Bockwinkel, Harley, Flair or Martel. Finally in the death throes of AWA, Verne Gagne had to come to Lawler as the last major free agent and give him the World Championship as Hennig was leaving for New York. Lawler & Hennig had two great matches one in Memphis and the other in the AWA. The rest of 1988 was spent around the underrated Lawler vs Von Erich feud over who the real world champion is. It is funny that the Superclash III is one of the most famous AWA matches of all time even though the AWA was basically running on fumes. The match is great even though the finish is a real stinker.

Hulk Hogan & High Flyers vs Jesse Ventura, Ken Patera & Bobby Heenan – 3/13/83

Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito vs High Flyers – 3/7/85

AWA World Tag Team Champions Midnight Rockers vs. Adrian Adonis & Bob Orton – Jan. 1988

The AWA was a great tag team territory and that will be featured throughout the countdown. I just wanted to make sure these matches got shout outs. You have a wicked fun Hulk Hogan popcorn tag team match against the Heenan Family a year before Hogan vs Heenan Family would be the biggest feud of the 80s in the WWF. Bockwinkel & Saito are one of the all-time great heel tag teams and even though they only have a handful of matches together they absolutely rule. The Midnight Rockers are mostly known for their double hot feud with Rose & Somers, the match against Adonis & Orton gives you some idea of how good they could be against others.

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Sgt. Slaughter – 2/23/86

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Sgt. Slaughter – Bunkhouse Match 3/9/86

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Nick Bockwinkel – Wrestlerock 4/20/86

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Curt Hennig – 5/31/86

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig – 12/25/86

The Stan Hansen World Championship is mired in controversy behind the scenes, but in front of the screen it is was a smash hit of great matches. Often I wondered, what did Sgt. Slaughter do after leaving the WWF in 1984 and his return in 1991, the answer is have kickass matches with Stan Hansen in the AWA. The big bully Hansen against the big bumping Sarge was a natural combination. Hansen vs Bockwinkel is a combination you might not expect to work, but by 1986 Bockwinkel had become a fan favorite! He had become Minneapolis’ jerk so to speak. Bock as a walking tall babyface against the bulldozing Hansen was a perfect fit. The last cut match from the list was a superb TV match sprint between the champion Hansen and a young white meat babyface, Curt Hennig. Hennig was definitely on the rise, but could he take down the mean, low down Hansen? Two matches from the esteemed Bockwinkel vs Hennig series make the countdown, but this one from Christmas of 1986 is also essential viewing. You see after pushing the Champion to a draw in November. He had hit beat on Christmas with a series of big moves but special referee called for a disqualification due to Bockwinkel going over the top rope. A bullshit call and thus the stage was set for the rematch in 1987 at Superclash II.

 #12. Sheik Ayatollah Crusher Blackwell vs Mad Dog Vachon - Algerian Death Match 5/22/83

As one would expect, an Algerian Death match is a Texas Death match complete with pinfalls necessary to trigger the ten count. The Mad Dog and Blackwell promos before this match are must see as Mad Dog promises to Blackwell in the pine coffin he is building. Also, it is important to note Mad Dog has been out for 2 years due to Blackwell so the feud culminates here in this Death Match.

Also a cool outcome of the last match in this feud is that Verne fulfilled his promise that the High Flyers would not have to worry about Blackwell & Adnan as contenders because Adnan has been transitioned into a managerial role. What they did not count out on was the Sheik’s oil money snagging the contract of Ken Patera who fill the void as Blackwell’s partner.

Interesting, they go the no shone route and immediately hit the heat. I think you can only do that when both wrestlers and their feud are firmly established. Since this was AWA’s hottest feud and two of their biggest stars this is fine. Mad Dog charge, but gets caught up attacking the other Sheiks, who hold him and Blackwell splashes him in the corner. Blackwell hits the powerslam/splash combo to gain the first fall and again for second fall. I have not seen much of cocky Blackwell, but it was fun to watch him count along. He is shocked Mad Dog has made it up twice. Mad Dog tries to make his comeback and Blackwell unleashes some stiff heabutts to bust him open. Blackwell gets another splash in the corner I expected him to miss and it looks bleak for our hero. Until he starts to rev up, one punch huge bearpaw swing after another has Blackwell rocking and reeling. He gets Fatwell down! He starts to bite. Blackwell tries to escape, but you cant escape the hatred of Mad Dog. There is a great struggle over a post shot. Blackwell takes it fucking hard. He blasts Blackwell with the chair, horse collaring him. Mad Dog swings it at the ref! Wow! Mad Dog sends him back in the post and bites Blackwell in the ring. Blackwell is a bloody mess. Blackwell gets a desperation knee up. Blackwell sensing his own end is imminent looks to pull the trigger on his big bomb the top rope splash. When will he learn as this has been his demise so many times, but it would be certain victory in his defense. Blackwell crashes and burns. Mad Dog is up! The crowd roars! Top rope kneedrop seals the victory.

The Texas Death Match stip both helped and hurt this match. I liked Blackwell getting those early falls as I really thought that built up the drama. The fact it took 40 seconds for Mad Dog to get his win did hurt the heat in my opinion, which is a fait accompli in a Texas Death Match. I loved the work in this match. I thought this was an awesome blowoff brawl. Blackwell kicked some major league ass and Mad Dog was wild in the middle. Could have used some more Blackwell bumps in the middle. Short, sweet and spirited brawl!

#11. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Leon White aka Vader - 3/13/86

The first time I actually watched this match was in my dorm freshman year on ESPN Classic and for some reason, two or three dudes were watching with me. I remember describing Stan Hansen as such a sourpuss and how to watch because he will fucking hit the shit out of Vader (Leon White is Vader before he was Vader, it is just easier for me to type "Vader"). Much like the lone douche screaming "boring" they were not interested until the middle of the match and man did they all get behind Vader by the end of it. It was a pretty cool moment. I do disagree with my friends on one thing is that the whole match was awesome from beginning to end.

The whole bout is dripping with struggle. They lock up with such force. Vader takes most of the beginning with a nice side headlock. They do some fun "in and out" spots from headlock base like Vader cartwheeling over a Hansen drop down back into headlock. Hansen is always struggling in the headlock, nice crossface and dropping some nasty knees. They start laying into each other and Hansen really rears back and hits him hard forearm. Hansen takes him down with an armbar and then he starts manipulating fingers. Vader is hollering. Some really nice selling from Vader. Hansen destroys the hand, stomps on it, snapping fingers and smashing hand against hard objects. The fight on the outside was wicked. Vader punches Hansen in the throat and some great selling. They tease double countout. Vader has a really nice offensive stretch late with tackles and body splashes. He charges into the turnbuckle hard and then Hansen TAKES HIS HEAD OFF WITH A LARIAT!!! AWESOME FINISH!

Great, great veteran champion versus young, upcoming rookie. Perfect layout with strong execution, lots of struggle, brutal and the finish was badass. Great, great TV!

#10. Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito vs. Fabulous Ones 

So I am bitching & moaning in the Rock N Roll Express matches that they are too long, well guess what this was way too short. Wow! This was a humdinger of a tag team match. I was absolutely loving every minute of this and did not want it to end. These four were just being absolute dicks to each other. This felt very Japanese. Yes, it was double face in peril with the Fabs playing FIP, Fabs were double teaming and being pricks right with Bock & Saito. Plus there was constant nonstop run ins from the partners and just a general sense of competition and struggle. I really enjoyed it. Bock jumpstarts the match and sets the tone by dragging Keirn over to their corner and they immediately start double teaming and choking Keirn. It was just nonstop asshole tactics. You can hear Lane shout to the ref to restore some order. He had his hands full with these four. Lane bites his tongue for a bit. Bock & Saito are looking for the win early by applying the sleeper repeatedly. Keirn keeps fighting back, but has really been double teamed hard. He has to fight his way over to Lane. Lane kicks some serious ass. Lots of karate and dropkicks. A hot tag that does not end in 30 seconds!!! Thank The Lord! I think the face shine after a short heat segment is a really great idea. I think that's my major malfunction with the RnR matches is the heat segment right into another heat segment it becomes like 80% heat segment. The Fabs just throw everything back in Bock's face in glorious fashion. There is choking, double teaming, teeing off on him and just steeping on his face. Bock is such a champ at selling all this. When Bock makes the ropes, Lane yanks him by the hair and then he puts on the SLEEPER! They paid him back in every way. Saito chop Lane on the sleeper so Keirn yanks Bock back over to their corner. Saito blasts Lane. Bock is able to crawl to get a cover for 2. He then drives his thumb into the throat so Saito can get tag in. Saito promptly goes for the Scorpion Deathlock so Keirn comes over and blasts him! This is fucking awesome! BACKDROP DRIVER! Saito back for the Scorpion Deathlock and Bock pushes on Saito's head and Keirn is exhorting Lane. Lane powers out. Lane tries to crawl over and Bock is right on it with figure-4. Keirn drops the elbow. That means he is not there for the tag! Saito double judo chop and Bock punches him in the gut. One angry women wonders where the ref who she calls a "fat fucker" got his license after that count. They continue to double team Lane in the corner. Lane ab stretch on Bock. Saito baits Keirn in, goes back and then comes crashing down on Lane with a chop. That was a bitchin sequence! They knock heads and Keirn pulls Lane out for the old switcheroo and small packages Bock for the win.

The story of the match is The Fabs went toe to toe with Bock & Saito at their own game and beat them with those underhanded tactics. Sometimes you just got to fight fire with fire. I seriously believe with 5, maybe 10 more minutes this would be contender for best American straight (no gimmicks) tag match of all time. Incredible. I cant go much higher than ****1/2, but cant praise or recommend this enough.

#9. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig - Superclash II

I did not see any build up other than the matches. I know Larry Z had been feuding with Bockwinkel by basically being the new devious heel on the roster. I don't know if Larry Z was trying to subvert Hennig before the match because otherwise the finish seems out of nowhere. It does make sense from Hennig's growing disillusionment with the system and having been screwed out of the title. Hennig turning heel just seems so fucking stupid. The promotion needed a babyface and the crowd was behind Hennig. Plus the need for Hennig to win by cheating affirms that system is broken and that good cannot triumph. That's not good for the promotion. I think people turning because they have been cheated is a fine storyline but when AWA desperately needed a new face to keep the company afloat that was not one needed. Hennig should have triumphed by right and might with Bockwinkel shaking his hand in respect and passing the torch. Then on top of all this, Hennig did NOT even win the title by hook or by crook. The title was held up. That's just so Death of WCW. No one wins and no one is better for it. The match is damn great, but the booking really leaves a sour taste in your mouth. 

Larry Z in all his epic mullet glory challenges the winner. Unfortunately for him, there would be no winner in this match. Hennig is ready to rock n roll in this match. He throws Bock off on top wristlock. Bock tries the slap again to intimidate Hennig like in past matches. Hennig wins a headlock/headscissors battle with a headlock. They make use of movement to keep it entertaining, but Hennig always gets back on top with the headlock. Hennig rams into the post and Bockwinkel is in his element playing King of the Mountain. Bockwinkel is laying in some absolutely massive shots. Bockwinkel targets the arm with big blows and some tight holds. Hennig uses a slam to get out of the hammerlock, but Bock kicks off and gets back to the arm. I really like Bockwinkel's double wristlock takedown into a short arm scissors. I love Bockwinkel smiling and jawing with the fans. It is nice to see him having fun in there. The fans however did not like it and thought it was boring. Similar to how Hennig pried open the figure-4 on the headlock in the March match, he does it here and it leads to some phenomenal leg work. Bockwinkel sold his leg so well in this match. Hennig kicks Bock's leg out from under him and then spinning toehold into figure-4 shades of the November match. Hennig shows his mean streak and continues attacking the leg in the ropes. Bockwinkel uses hair and punches in the midsection to stop his momentum. Bockwinkel hits one of his great kneelifts, but cat capitalize due to the leg work. They slug it out and Hennig unleashes a bevy of nearfalls. It is punctuated with the AXE~! and piledriver, but Bockwinkel was too close to the ropes. They knock the heads and Larry Z gives Hennig a roll of coins to win the match until the ref sees all the dimes on the floor. Leading to the title being held up.

The match is awesome and great display of dueling limb psychology leading to a hot home stretch, but the finish sucked. 

#8. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Jumbo Tsuruta

AWA Match of the Year, 1985

"ABA - Erm AWA - ABA was something else at some other time" - Rodger Kent? (Maybe Trongard), I lol'd

BOMBS AWAY! Wow! Do these two cut one helluva pace! Neither man backs down and this is a fight from the opening bell to the final three count. This match would not feel out of place in today's wrestling scene in fact I say they blow most matches out of the water. There are a ton of highspots and MOVEZ~! in this match, but everything feels important because it bearing on the next spot. The most critical element is it feels like two guys who are willing to do whatever it takes to win the match not entertain the fans. The fan's enjoyment is a byproduct of their struggle not their direct objective, which separates it from today's scene even if it is highspot-oriented match. The tone of the match is established early Jumbo is pissed and he wants his belt back. He hits these tremendous kneelifts and European Uppercuts and what does Martel do he fights back from his knees twice. You feel how badly these two competitors want to win the world heavyweight championship. It is a total Jumbo full court press early on with the work on the midsection of Martel being the focus (punches there and ab stretch). In one of my favorite spots, Jumbo hoists Martel to hit a piledriver but takes the time revolve so that every section can see what he is about to do. Martel gets a backbreaker to finally break momentum. He just starts ramming his knee into Jumbo's back and does not even give him a ropebreak. Ricky Martel is in a fucking fight and he fucking knows it! He wants it just as bad as Jumbo. Martel applies a Boston Crab, wow, that's a Jumbo spot, ballsy! Jumbo powers out and throws him out to the floor. Martel is PISSED! He nails a dropkick! That's Jim Brunzell level baby! They just starts throwing bombs at each other with each one building on the other. Martel crashes and burns on his slingshot splash. Jumbo abandons bomb throwing for leg work, which may be a smart play with the spinning toe hold and figure-4. Martel sells so well and in what was a bombfest up until this point, this is very refreshing. Having dismantled his knee, Jumbo runs through his offense in the finish stretch, but gets caught with a reverse crossbody for three! Jumbo nails him with a wicked knee post-match. Martel can't catch a break in the post-match. They packed a shit ton of action in this match. I mean there was literally not one dull moment. I did not want to just make this a list of moves so I just highlighted the most critical, but there was a shit ton of high end offense from both wrestlers. This match is highly recommended for those who love action and a ton of bombs in their wrestling. I think both have better classics with other opponents, but as far as a kickass summer blockbuster type wrestling match this is really hard to beat. I will never fault two wrestlers that I truely believe are fighting as hard as they can to win this match.

#7. Midnight Rockers vs Buddy Rose & Doug Somers - Steel Cage 1/17/87

AWA Match of the Year, 1987

LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT!!!!! The Almighty Judas Priest! This cements the Rockers as my favorite tag team of all time.

Rose & Somers are absolutely terrified about the shitkicking they received in the last cage match so they do all they can to avoid it early. They try to prevent them from getting in the cage and then try to climb over the cage. We get some quality Buddy Moonage and he crotches himself. It is another asskicking for Rose & Somers. Poor Buddy & Doug! There are no armdrags and no armbars. Just fists to the head, BABY! Somers tries to tag Buddy and he wants none of it. Cant say I blame him. I did not feel like the energy was at the same level as the previous match. Rose hits a quick low blow and catapult into the cage to turn the tide. Michaels bleeds like a madam. Somers gnawing. Michaels is his usual awesome self at selling. He is peppering in those hope spots while doing staggered selling. Quick low blow. Jannetty tries to saves to the match double noggin knocker. Big punch knocks down Rose and pulls him up. He slams Rose into cage repeatedly and he is bleeding! Big punch and Rose falls back and he pulls him up. Jannetty rakes Rose’s face right in front of the Sherri who sells the horror of watching her charge be brutalized perfectly. Jannetty lets him tag out to Somers. Somers wins the corner battle. Somers and Rose double team Jannetty and gnaw on his forehead and rake it busting him open. Big Marty Chants! Michaels almost like he is sleepwalking comes across and attacks Rose slamming back of head into cage and biting. Jannetty and Somers duke it out tag out to Michaels. He launches an offensive on Somers and tees off on Buddy. Elbow drop on Somers, but pulls up. Shawn is so fucking out of it. Somers tags out. Michaels stops Buddy and tags out. Marty and Buddy fight on top of the cage in dramatic fashion. Buddy falls off and crotches, crazy! Battering ram on Somers looks to be the finish. Michaels pins and Marty dropkicks Buddy. HUGE POP!

Awesome match! I don’t think it was quite at the level of the Brawl in St. Paul, but this was a great cage match. For fans that like heat segments, I can see why they like this one more as Buddy & Doug get some more love in this one. I really liked the Buddy getting his head raked in the cage in front of Sherri spot. Another classic from these four!