AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

Will be posting new AWA show re-caps and other segments beginning in January. Will Greg Valentine sign with the AWA? Who is the former AWA wrestler Verne is thinking of bringing back even though his son objects to it? Will Verne find a buyer for the AWA? Is there anyone out there willing to bankroll the struggling company? Will Verne just close the doors of the promotion? Is the AWA thinking of introducing a new championship to replace the AWA TV Title? The answers to all these and many more questions are coming soon! Happy New Year!
- December 28, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

AWA VIDEO OF THE WEEK! Decided to post this vid a couple of days early because of the Christmas holiday. From Christmas night 1985, Rick Martel defends the AWA World Title against Stan Hansen: https://youtu.be/T1EzTiGrkJo ENJOY! MERRY CHRISTMAS 2019!
- December 21, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

SPRING 1989 AWA HEADQUARTERS - ST. LOUIS PARK, MN Verne Gagne was sitting at his desk in his office at AWA HQ. Across from him were Wally Karbo and Verne's son, Greg. Verne: I've called you guys in here to give you an update on where things stand right now. First, we have another interested buyer in Barry Shenkarow. He owns the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL. I'm due to speak with him on the phone later this week. Greg: Have you heard anything about how much he's willing to pay for the promotion? Verne: Not yet. I don't want to be pushy. So, I'm not forcing the issue of money right now. I've only received a mail communication from one of his employees so far about his interest. We'll see how the phone call goes. Wally: I read in the paper that he's got some ideas on how he wants to run the company. Verne: I read that, too. Again, I don't want to seem pushy in trying to sell. I'll let him explain his ideas for the AWA when we talk. Greg: If you sell to him, dad, just remember it's no longer your business. He can run it how he sees fit. Verne: I know, son. But we've built up the AWA as a traditional wrestling company. I'll listen to what he has to say and then make a decision if he agrees to buy. Wally: Are we bringing in a new wrestler? Verne: Yeah. Sam Houston has agreed to come in and work for us. Hopefully, we'll have him in time for the next set of tapings in Vegas. Greg: Got any ideas on how to use him yet? Verne: He'll keep the cowboy gimmick he's got. But I haven't decided on whether he should be a heel or face. Greg: I'd love to work with him when he gets here. Seems like a pretty solid hand in the ring from what I've seen. Wally: What about Greg Valentine? I know he wanted out of the WWF, too. Verne: With the way our finances are right now, I'm worried he might be too expensive for us. Might be able to book him for a few dates. But after that, who knows. Wally: Are you still seeking a money man? Verne: Not as vigorously as I was. Can't seem to find any interested parties to bankroll us. The ones I've talked to don't seem to want to take the risk. Greg: I've looked at the booking sheet. It looks like we've got three good matches at the top of the card for some of the house shows. Hopefully, they can move some tickets. Verne: Let's see. Sarge defends the World Title against Zbysko; Badd Company vs. Top Guns in a No Disqualification match; and, after Patera's return is officially announced on TV, the Destruction Crew defends the World Tag Team Titles against Brad Rheingans and Ken Patera in a steel cage with manager Dallas Page locked in a cage at ringside with Greg as keeper of the key to Page's cage. Greg: Don't forget, dad, until Patera returns, it's gonna be the Destruction Crew and Manny Fernandez vs. Brad, myself and Wahoo. Verne: Our ad budget's kind of tight. But, we need to use the bulk of it right now to advertise as much as possible in the markets where those three matches are happening on the card. Wally: You'll have to move some ad funds around, Verne. That will hurt advertising in markets where all three of these matches aren't taking place. Verne: I know. I hate to do it. But it's where we're at right now financially. Some of the smaller markets we regularly visit and spot show towns are just gonna have to take a hit in getting the word out except for promos on AWA TV shows airing in those towns. Greg: And some of those towns now carry our program after midnight on the weekends. That hurts us even further as not as many eyeballs are on their TVs at that time. Verne looked over at Greg and nodded in agreement. Verne: There was something else I wanted to bring up with you two. Wally: What is it? Verne: I know I mentioned that Greg Valentine may be too expensive for us to bring in except for a few shots. But there's a former AWA wrestler out there I think we might be able to strike some sort of deal with. Greg: Who is it? Verne: You know who I'm talking about, son. Greg thought about it for a moment and then he got a serious case of the big eyes. Greg: Him???!!! You don't mean... Verne: Yes, I do mean him. Greg: But he's pretty much been black-listed from all the major promotions in this country since his backstage fight with Mr. T in '85 when he was working for the WWF! Verne: There's nothing legally binding that says we can't bring him in. Greg: Well...no... Wally: Bringing him back could spark some renewed interest with some of the fans we've lost over the last few years. It might be worth the gamble. Greg: He could be a legal liability. Verne: I think he wants to work again. And he wants to work in a promotion with some name value and not continue having to work in small regional promotions with very little reach outside their immediate areas. Wally: If you can reach an agreement with him, then I say pull the trigger. We have nothing left to lose. Greg: We could lose everything if he goes off half-cocked like he did with T or, even worse, what he did to news reporter John Stossel. We could be sued into oblivion and he could single-handedly put the AWA out of business. Verne: The Stossel thing we discussed before. I do believe that Vince put him up to that. He won't misbehave like that if there's money to be made; and if he wants to make a comeback in a promotion with national exposure. Wally: The match-ups that are out there if he comes back... Greg: Are those match-ups going to be in the ring or backstage? Wally: In the ring...hopefully. Greg shook his head in disgust. Greg: You need to really think this one through, dad. He could be a real problem in the long run. Verne: Well, then, does anyone have any better ideas? The three men became quiet and an uneasy silence filled the room. TO BE CONTINUED... ########################### AWA VIDEO OF THE WEEK! From WrestleRock '86, it's Col. DeBeers vs. Wahoo McDaniel: ENJOY!
- December 17, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

AWA ON ESPN TAPINGS - SHOWBOAT SPORTS PAVILION - LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 1989 (3rd Taping Re-Cap) Show Intro:https://youtu.be/XV5YFK7k7t0 In-Studio - Larry Nelson welcomed viewers and ran down the program: New World Champion Sgt. Slaughter makes an appearance TV Main Event - Re-Match: The Top Guns vs. Badd Company w/ Mgr. Dallas Page Jerry Blackwell is back and faces his old nemesis Sheik Adnan El-Kaissey Col. DeBeers wrestles. Will the Col. take excessive liberties with his opponent after the match if DeBeers wins? Will Tom Zenk back up his words of recent weeks that he will personally deal with DeBeers if DeBeers takes advantage of another defeated foe? And more! Nelson then sent it to the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas. Akio Sato defeated Tommy Jammer via pinfall with a flying kneedrop to the chest from the top rope - TIME: 6:36 In-Studio Promo: Sheik Adnan El-Kaissey said the feud between he and Jerry Blackwell continues and will never die until he has destroyed Blackwell. Split-Screen Pic aired of El-Kaissey and Blackwell with the caption: THE FEUD IS RE-IGNITED...NEXT! Commercials: Citgo Gas - https://youtu.be/Zjhy5xAx1Rw Back from commercials: 'Crusher' Jerry Blackwell vs. Sheik Adnan El-Kaissey Before the match, Kaissey grabbed the ring mic from Larry Nelson and stated the following: Kaissey: Jerry Blackwell! You made a big mistake coming back to the AWA! Your journey down your road of suffering begins tonight! Blackwell walked over and snatched the mic out of Kaissey's hand. Kaissey reacted in a shocked fashion. Blackwell: Sheik! Let me tell you something, boy! The only suffering there's gonna be tonight is when you feel all 500 pounds of the Mountain from Stone Mountain coming down on you! Crowd cheered as Blackwell turned and tossed the mic. Kaissey attacked Blackwell before the match. Ref called for the bell. Kaissey dominated early, but Blackwell fought his way back into the match. Blackwell took control and whipped Kaissey into the corner and went to hit Kaissey with his running splash finisher but Kaissey moved and Blackwell slammed front-first into the buckles. Kaissey regained the upper hand and used a couple of illegal tactics on Blackwell in an effort to score the victory but Blackwell repelled the potential loss. End of the match saw Blackwell on the offensive. Blackwell dropped Kaissey with a clothesline. An unsteady Kaissey made it to his feet and Blackwell went for his famous standing dropkick but Kaissey fell out of the way and all 500 pounds of Blackwell crashed to the mat. Blackwell down and hurting. As the ref checked on Blackwell, Kaissey crawled over by the ropes and reached into his tights and brandished a foreign object. Blackwell stirred and made it to his feet, Blackwell took a shaky step back and then moved in on Kaissey. Kaissey was now on a knee. Blackwell reached down and grabbed Kaissey and started pulling Kaissey up when Kaissey stunned Blackwell with a loaded right hand to the jaw. The big man crashed back to the mat. As the ref again looked at Blackwell, Kaissey turned facing the crowd and dropped the object back in his tights. Kaissey then quickly turned and dived down on the stunned and confused Blackwell for the pin. 1...2...thr... Blackwell threw Kaissey off. Crowd cheered. Kaissey up and moved in and started stomping away on the downed Blackwell. Blackwell started getting up and Kaissey hit Blackwell with some gut shots and then slammed Blackwell's head into the top buckle. Blackwell appeared out of it. Kaissey then went to whip Blackwell into the opposite buckles but Blackwell reversed and sent Kaissey slamming into the buckles. Kaissey stunned. Blackwell quickly regained his bearings, charged in and pulverized Kaissey with a running big splash. Blackwell pushed the limp Kaissey out of the corner and Kaissey crashed on his back in the ring as the fans cheered. Blackwell covered Kaissey for the pin. 1...2...3! Ref called for the bell to more cheers from the fans. Winner: Blackwell - TIME: 9:37 Pic aired of AWA World Champion Sgt. Slaughter with the caption: THE CHAMPION IS HERE...NEXT! IT'S THE AWA ON TOUR!We'll be at the high school/community center/county fair/used car dealership parking lot/church fellowship hall in (insert town here).THE AWA IS THE MAJOR LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING! Commercials: Big Bill Hell's Car Dealership - Back from commercials: In-ring: Larry Nelson. Nelson: We are back here on AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN. Please welcome my guest at this time. He is the reigning AWA World Champion...Sgt. Slaughter! Marine Corps Hymn played and out came Sarge to a good ovation. Sarge was in his ring attire and camo jacket and DI hat. He had the belt slung over his left shoulder. Sarge handed out little American flags on his way down the face entrance aisle to the ring. Sarge climbed in the ring and saluted the fans and they saluted back. Nelson: These fans love ya, Sarge! And they are happy to see you, instead of Larry Zbysko, as the World Champion! Sarge: It's quite an honor to hold this title, Larry! Many great men have held this championship! And I hope that I can make my mark as big as they did when they were the champion! Fans: USA! USA! USA! Nelson: You hear the chant, Sarge! You are 'America's Hero'! Sarge acknowledged the fans. Sarge: These fans out here are the life blood of this great, great sport of ours! And I aim to be a champion they can be proud of! It seemed like you had to take a shower after Larry Zbysko's reign of error was over because he's such a dirty player! You had to wash off the gunk and grime from that title reign! Nelson: Do you look at this as a new era in wrestling? Sarge: Yes, I do, Larry! We are moving in a new direction! I promise to be a fighting champion and take on all deserving challengers for this, the top World Title in pro wrestling! Nelson: Since Larry Zbysko lost the belt to you, he's obviously gonna get his re-match at some point. What are your thoughts on that? Sarge: I saw the interview you did a couple of weeks ago with Zbysko! He wants this title back so badly! And that makes him a desperate man! And a desperate man is a dangerous man! Zbysko plays to win! And for him, winning is everything! It's his bottom line! Honor is a word that's foreign to him! He doesn't care how he gets it done! As long as he wins it's all that matters in Larry Land! I know I'm gonna have quite the fight on my hands when we meet in the squared circle again! You have to prepare for Zbysko on so many levels! He's very smooth when it comes to breaking the rules... Crowd booed as Zbysko, in his ring attire, made his way down the heel entrance aisle and climbed into the ring. Nelson: Larry Zbysko! What are you doing out here?! Zbysko walked up to Nelson and Sarge. Zbysko: I came out here to tell Sgt. Slaughter and all his moronic followers that they'd better enjoy the ride while they can! Because this ride isn't going to last long! I'm gunning for you, Sarge! And I'm gonna be the AWA World Champion again very soon! Sarge: We'll see about that, Zbysko! You've gotta beat me first! Talk is cheap! Zbysko: It's especially cheap when it's coming out of your mouth, GI Joke! You just make sure to keep that title nice and shiny for when I win it back! I've never been more determined to do anything in my life! I AM going to be the World Champion once again! And you Slaughter-loving goobers can wallow in my greatness! A greatness that none of you will ever attain! Sarge: These fans out here...they make this sport go around! Without them...nothing! You just remember that! Zbysko: You can have these idiots, Sarge! Look at 'em! The IQ points are just draining out of my body being in their midst! And it's guys like me that make this sport go around! You need to remember that, Mr. Rambo wannabe! Sarge: You can run your mouth all you want, Zbysko! I'll let my actions in this ring speak for me! Zbysko: Your actions will speak loudly, Sarge! And your actions will spell one word: L-O-S-E-R! Got that?! Good! Zbysko turned and left the ring and dropped the floor and headed back up the heel aisle. Sarge: He can talk all he wants, Nelson! He wants this belt back?! He needs to put me down for the three count! Then he can gloat all he wants! But he has to win first! And with these fans behind me, that's gonna be a tall order for him! Fans cheered. Nelson: Sgt. Slaughter, everybody! AWA Championship Wrestling logo appeared on the screen with the words: MORE TO COME! Commercials: Chunky Soup - Back from commercials: Col. DeBeers defeated Gino Carabello in a squash match via pinfall with his face-first piledriver finisher. After the match: DeBeers gestured and called for Larry Nelson. Nelson climbed up on the apron with mic in hand. DeBeers: No one tells the good Colonel what to do! This piece of trash here, what's his name?! Nelson: Gino Carabello. Carabello was still down in the ring feeling the effects of DeBeers' finisher. DeBeers: Carabello is a disgrace to this sport and his people! And now I've got to make an example of him! DeBeers went over and grabbed the ref, who was checking on Carabello, and threw the ref through the top and middle rope and the ref crashed to the floor. DeBeers put the boots to the still down Carabello and then left the ring for the floor and went over and grabbed the ring bell off the timekeeper's table. DeBeers climbed back into the ring with the bell as Carabello was getting up. DeBeers smashed Carabello across the back with the ring bell and Carabello crashed back down to the mat. DeBeers then positioned the bell in the middle of the ring. DeBeers went over and quick-stomped Carabello and then DeBeers grabbed his hapless foe. Lee Marshall: Is DeBeers going to face-first piledrive Carabello into the ring bell?! Lord James Blears: If he succeeds in doing this, Lee, he might not only end the man's career, he could possibly end the man's life. DeBeers positioned Carabello for the extremely dangerous move. Crowd popped as Tom Zenk, in his ring gear, charged down the face aisle and hit the ring, came up behind DeBeers and blasted DeBeers with a forearm smash to the back. DeBeers lost his grip on Carabello and Carabello went down helplessly to the mat. Zenk spun DeBeers around and laid into the Colonel with a series of head shots, whipped DeBeers into the ropes and blasted DeBeers coming off with a big clothesline. DeBeers crashed to the mat as most in the crowd popped. A stunned DeBeers made it to his feet and Zenk hit him with a running clothesline. DeBeers back down. Zenk went over and grabbed the ring bell as a shaky DeBeers made it slowly to his feet. DeBeers saw Zenk with the ring bell and the Colonel started to back/beg off as Zenk slowly moved in. DeBeers backed into the corner. Zenk looked to the crowd for approval and got it and Zenk went to hit DeBeers over the head with the ring bell but DeBeers lunged out of the way and the bell slammed into the top turnbuckle. DeBeers bailed from the ring to the floor and ran/stumbled back up the heel aisle. Zenk left the ring, bell still in hand, dropped to the floor and watched DeBeers vanish into the back. Video aired from the last match between the Top Guns and Badd Company brawling into the crowd with the caption: WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF???!!! Commercials: Ralph Williams' Bay Shore Chrysler-Plymouth - Back from commercials: TV MAIN EVENT: The Top Guns (Ricky Rice & Derrick Dukes) vs. Badd Company (Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond) w/ Mgr. Dallas Page Before the match, announcers intro'd video from the two teams previous encounter a few weeks ago which ended in a double DQ as the match disintegrated into a brawl that wound up in the seats. Match was a heated affair with both teams making a strong showing. Once again, the match got out of control and the two teams started brawling with each other. The action spilled out of the ring onto the floor. Ref again called for a double DQ between the two squads. The fighting continued around ringside and Rice and Tanaka took their fight into the face aisle as Dukes and Diamond were slugging it out at ringside. Page took the opportunity to strike Dukes from behind with his cane. Ref called for the bell a second time. DDP grabbed Dukes from behind as Diamond grabbed a seat from ringside. (NOTE: Showboat Sports Pavilion chairs were cushioned high-back chairs with a gold frame that did not fold.) Diamond rammed the head of the chair into Dukes' gut. DDP let go of Dukes and Dukes doubled over holding his gut. Diamond brought the back of the chair crashing down across Dukes' back and Dukes went down on the concrete floor. Rice gained the advantage over Tanaka in their personal skirmish. Dukes was now on his back on the floor and Diamond drove the head of the chair into Dukes' throat. Dukes struggling to breath. Rice saw what was happening, quickly grabbed a chair that a security guard had been sitting in and charged over. Diamond stopped choking Dukes out and he and Page fled the scene and joined up with Tanaka over by the heel aisle. Rice checked on the downed Dukes. Dukes sat up. Two EMT's came to ringside to check on Dukes. Rice gestured for Larry Nelson. Nelson came over and Rice angrily grabbed the mic from Nelson's hand as Badd Co. looked on from the opening to the heel entrance aisle. Rice: Badd Company! This isn't over! We're gonna meet again! And when we do...it's gonna be your funeral! All three of you! Crowd cheered. Shot of Badd Company looking on in typical sinister heel fashion. DECISION: Double DQ - 8:14 END OF PROGRAM: https://youtu.be/cWdeNkqudL0?t=2812
- December 13, 2019
- 154 replies
DOTM Nominations - November 2019

Captain Kremmen replied to Togg's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="DarK_RaideR" data-cite="DarK_RaideR" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="47152" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> Real World 2. AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed, by piperrulz It reads a lot like a book or documentary and its subject is very interesting. The matches, promos and storylines aren't really it's strong point, but the historic and backstage segments are solid gold.</div></blockquote> Thanks for the nom, Dark_Raider.
- December 12, 2019
- 15 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

BREAKING NEWS! FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE! Jets Owner Interested In Buying Gagne's AWA Barry Shenkarow, owner of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets, has expressed interest in possibly buying the American Wrestling Association from Minneapolis-based owner/promoter Verne Gagne. It's been rumored that Gagne is looking to either sell the promotion or bring on a wealthy financial backer in an effort to give the sinking promotion a much needed cash infusion and try to help turn their fortunes around. Shenkarow, a multi-millionaire, is interested in getting involved in the wrestling business and would look to do a 'complete overhaul with a unique spin' on the AWA should he buy it. What, exactly, the 'complete overhaul with a unique spin' is was not explained when we spoke to a Shenkarow spokesman. There are also rumored to be a couple of other unnamed parties who are potentially interested in buying the AWA. The AWA used to do tapings for the Canadian market in Winnipeg for a number of years. ###################################################### AWA VIDEO OF THE WEEK! From 1986, Stan Hansen defends the AWA World Title against David Sammartino: ENJOY!
- December 8, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

AWA ON ESPN TAPINGS - SHOWBOAT SPORTS PAVILION - LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 1989 (2nd Taping Re-Cap) Show Intro: In-Studio: Larry Nelson welcomed viewers and ran down the program: Said an announcement was coming from AWA President Stanley Blackburn about whether the Destruction Crew would be allowed to retain the AWA World Tag Team Titles after what went down last week during their title clash with the champs Greg Gagne, filling in for an injured Ken Patera, and Brad Rheingans. Said the TV main was The Guerrero Bros. vs. Tommy Rich & Jonnie Stewart; The Top Guns see action; Magnificent Mimi wrestles; Brad Rheingans, Greg Gagne and Ken Patera have something to say after last week's controversial title loss; Wahoo McDaniel sees action; and more. Then sent it to the ring at the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas. Don Muraco def. Tony Zane in a squash in less than 2-minutes via pinfall with his inverted piledriver finisher. Post-Match Interview w/ Larry Nelson: Muraco talked about all the great talent the AWA has and said it was truly the major league* of professional wrestling. Said he heard rumors of a new title being introduced in the AWA. Nelson said he'd also heard those rumors but, until he gets a firm answer on them, they're just rumors. Muraco closed the interview by saying he's looking for a partner to make a run at the Destruction Crew and those tag team titles. Nelson wrapped up the interview and said there was more to come from Vegas. Pic aired of Magnificent Mimi with the caption: Magnificent One sees action...NEXT! (* Muraco said it with a straight face.) Commercials: Members Only Jackets - Back from commercials: Magnificent Mimi won a squash over Whitney Hansen. Post-Match interview w/ Larry Nelson: Mimi said it's great that so many gals are gunning for Wendi Richter. Said all those challengers will wear Richter down enough that she will be primed for destruction when Mimi clashes with Richter for the title. In-Studio Promo: Col. DeBeers DeBeers was standing in front of the AWA logo with mic in hand. He was in his ring attire. DeBeers: So, Tom Zenk, the un-natural man, because we know he didn't get that body just through hard work at the gym, has said that if I treat another vanquished opponent the way I treated the likes of Tommy Jammer and Jake Milliman that I was going to have to deal with him. Ha! I'm scheduled to wrestle on this program next week. Zenk...I will rough up the wrestlers I defeat if I feel like it! None of them the deserves the respect of the good Colonel. And if you stick your nose in my business, Zenk, you will pay a stiff price at the hands of this South African mercenary! Pic aired of Wahoo with the caption: The Chief sees action...NEXT! Commercials: Pizza Inn - Back from commercials: Wahoo McDaniel was dominating Terry Gibbs in a squash match. Wahoo had blasted Gibbs with his big chop finisher. Gibbs laid out in the ring. Suddenly, Manny Fernandez, in street clothes, charged down to ringside. Wahoo looked over and saw Fernandez. Fernandez gestured for Wahoo to come down to the floor and fight. Wahoo, enraged, left the ring and dropped to the floor and confronted Fernandez. Gibbs just laying in the ring. Fernandez started trash-talking Wahoo. Wahoo moved on Fernandez and Fernandez backed up and started begging off. Ref counting. Ref's count hit 10 and the ref called for the bell. A stunned Wahoo looked up at the ref. Ref went over and said something to Larry Nelson. Gibbs slowly regaining his senses and got to his knees and the ref went over and raised his hand in victory as the fans booed. Nelson: The referee has counted out Wahoo McDaniel! Your winner of the match...Terry Gibbs! Fernandez started laughing and pointing at Wahoo. Wahoo glared back at Fernandez as his hands balled up into meaty fists. Fernandez picked up on a mic: Fernandez: You lost to Terry Gibbs, Wahoo! Hahahaha! Wahoo was seething. Fernandez: Maybe you should lay off the fire water and quit dreaming about being the cheap smokes salesman of the year! Hahaha... Wahoo tore into Fernandez at ringside with a stiff series of open hand chest chops as the fans popped. Fernandez staggered. Wahoo then moved in on Fernandez and caught Fernandez with a head shot and then Fernandez caught Wahoo with an eye rake. Fernandez laid into Wahoo with punches and sent Wahoo crashing into the ring steps. Wahoo staggered off. Fernandez came up behind Wahoo and grabbed Wahoo by the back of the hair and went to slam Wahoo's head into the ring apron but Wahoo got his hands on the apron and stiffened his arms and twice blocked Fernandez trying to slam his head into the apron. Wahoo caught Fernandez with a trio of elbows to the ribs and freed himself from Fernandez's grasp. Wahoo then slammed Fernandez's head into the apron. Fernandez spun around and Wahoo blasted Fernandez with a couple of more blistering open hand chest chops before Fernandez caught Wahoo with a kick to the gut. Wahoo stumbled back holding his tummy. Fernandez caught Wahoo with a head shot but Wahoo quickly shook it off and caught Fernandez with a shot to the gut. The two men then started exchanging punches and then Fernandez grabbed Wahoo by the throat and Wahoo countered doing the same to Fernandez. The two men were choking the life out of one another when wrestlers from both dressing rooms charged down the aisle to separate the warring factions. Wahoo's face was a mask of rage and Fernandez was shit-talking Wahoo in Spanish. Both sides were being kept apart from one another. Fernandez made the bull sign and shouted: Viva la raza! Wahoo broke free from those holding him back and jumped on Fernandez and the slugfest between the two re-ignited. Fans eating it up. Wrestlers once again stepped in to break things up and keep the two apart from one another. PIc aired of the AWA World Tag Team Titles with the caption: President Blackburn's decision...NEXT! Commercials: American Express - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbtdPSn13xI Back from commercials: In-Studio: Larry Nelson intro'd video from the end of the tag team title match pitting champs Greg Gagne (Gagne was subbing for the injured Ken Patera) and Brad Rheingans against the Destruction Crew. VIDEO: Bloom moved in and caught Greg with a kick to the gut. Greg doubled over and fell back against the ropes. Bloom leaned Greg back across the top rope and popped Greg with a brutal, deliberate series of forearms to the chest. Bloom whipped Greg into the ropes and looked to catch Greg coming off with a backdrop but Greg leapfrogged Bloom, spun around and ran Bloom into the ropes and rolled Bloom up for the pin. 1...2... Bloom kicked out. Bloom up and swung wildly at Greg and missed and Greg caught Bloom from behind in the sleeper. Crowd popping. Bloom trying to escape the hold. Bloom started to fade. Ref raised Bloom's arm twice and it fell harmlessly back to Bloom's side. Enos hit the ring and came up behind Greg and nailed Greg with a forearm smash to the back. Greg lost his grip on the hold. Rheingans hit the ring and started belting Enos with punches that drove Enos into the corner. Ref trying to separate Enos and Rheingans. Greg and Bloom made it to their feet and Greg popped Bloom with another dropkick and Bloom crashed to the mat and rolled out on the apron to regain his bearings. Greg looked over and the ref was now tangled up with Rheingans and Enos in the corner. Greg went and tried to help the ref. While that was going on, Dallas Page charged down to ringside and handed Bloom his cane. Bloom climbed back into the ring and held the cane at the ready. Greg was unable to free the ref from the scrum. Greg turned and walked right into a cane shot to the side of the head from Bloom. Greg crumpled to the mat. Bloom tossed the cane back to DDP and then quickly covered Greg. Ref freed himself from the corner entanglement and dropped to make the count. 1... Rheingans got the upper hand on Enos and went to break up the pin try but Enos grabbed Rheingans by the back of the tights and pulled him back. ...2...3! Ref called for the bell as the crowd booed. Ref took the titles and handed them to Bloom and Enos. The two men hugged and celebrated in the ring. Nelson: In a time of 17 minutes, 34 seconds, your winners, and NEW AWA World Tag Team Champions...The Destruction Crew! In-Studio: Nelson: AWA President Stanley Blackburn has rendered a decision regarding this matter as to whether or not the title change will stand. VIDEO: Video faded in on Prez Stanley Blackburn sitting behind the big desk in his office. Blackburn: Hello. This is AWA President Stanley Blackburn. Last week, with the help of outside interference from Badd Company manager Dallas Page, the Destruction defeated the team of Brad Rheingans and Greg Gagne, who was wrestling in place of the injured Ken Patera, to win the tag team titles. After re-watching the tape of the match, this is not an easy thing to do, I have decided to let the decision stand. The Destruction Crew are the new AWA World Tag Team Champions. The reason for this decision was because the referee, Gary Derusha, was trying to re-store order in the match as things had gotten out of control and did not see the interference that helped the Destruction Crew win the match. I could, based on the video evidence, overturn this decision and return the belts to the previous champions or hold the titles up until further notice. But, I believe it's important to let the human element take precedence in sporting competition. Mistakes will sometimes be made in situations like this. Or things won't be caught by the referee. Just look at the occasional missed or bad calls in other sports. It happens, and we see the error that was made after the fact. Gary Derusha's a fine referee; one of the best in the business. He got caught in a tough situation and the Destruction Crew was able to take advantage of that fact and win the belts. The decision stands. But when Ken Patera can wrestle again, he and Brad Rheingans will be granted immediate re-matches against the Destruction Crew inside a steel cage and Dallas Page will be locked in a cage of his own to make sure he can't interfere and Greg Gagne will be the keeper of the key to Page's cage. Thank you for your time. Nelson then intro'd video from the former champs Ken Patera, Brad Rheingans, and Patera's sub, Greg Gagne. VIDEO: The trio, in street clothes and Patera's left arm still in a sling, stood in-studio in front of the AWA logo. Each had a mic. Rheingans: Let me just start by saying that we don't agree with President Blackburn's decision on this matter. But, we will abide by it. When Ken comes back, the Destruction Crew is gonna have to defend those titles against us inside a steel cage! What are Enos and Bloom gonna do when there's nowhere to run?! What are they gonna do when they can't bank on outside interference?! We're all about to find out real soon! Patera: I'm chomping at the bit to step back inside the squared circle! I can't wait until my arm is out of this sling! Greg Gagne did an excellent job filling in for me and the tag team titles would most likely still be in our possession had it not been for Dallas Page! I think Blackburn's decision is wrong on every level! But I will be back...and soon...and when the four of us are locked inside that steel cage, and Page is in lockdown in a cage of his own, what are the Destruction Crew going to do, huh?! What are they gonna do?! There's no way out! Outside help won't be coming! You have to win on your own merit inside the cage, boys! We're about to find out if you can do it! Greg: I was really down after getting pinned in the title match last week. But Ken and Brad have been great in keeping my spirits up during this time. I have to admit that I was also disappointed in President Blackburn's decision to let the title change stand. The side of my face is still hurting a bit where Bloom struck me with that cane. But we move forward. Page, you won't be able to pull any of your shenanigans when you're locked away inside your own little cell and I'm the keeper of the key! The Destruction Crew is gonna have to fight like mad to retain those titles against these two men here! And I'm gonna make sure Dallas Page doesn't get out of his cage to cause havoc! Pic aired of the Top Guns with the caption...High Flying action...NEXT! IT'S THE AWA ON TOUR! We'll be at the high school/community center/county fair/used car dealership parking lot/church fellowship hall in (insert town here). THE AWA IS THE MAJOR LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING! Commercials: Murph's 76 - Back from commercials: Top Guns (Ricky Rice & Derrick Dukes) won a squash over Jerry Allen & Tom Stone Post-Match Interview w/ Larry Nelson: Guns talked about DDP helping the Destruction Crew win the World Tag team Titles last week. Talked about their recent brawl with DDP's team, Badd Company, which ended in a wild double DQ when the teams fought throughout the arena. Said there's definitely heat between the two teams. Also, talked about challenging the Destruction Crew for the World Tag Team Titles. Nelson said more after the break. Pic aired of Sgt. Slaughter in his ring attire with the AWA World Title slung over his left shoulder with the caption: Next Week! The World Champion is here! Pic flipped and aired the AWA logo with the caption: The Main Event is next! Commercials: Close-Up Tootpaste - Back from commercials: TV MAIN EVENT Tommy Rich & Jonnie Stewart vs. Hector & Mando Guerrero The Guerrero brothers made their way to the ring via the face aisle to a decent ovation from the crowd. Rich and Stewart made their way down the heel aisle to the ring to mainly boos. Once in the ring, Rich gestured for the ring mic and got it. Rich: As you people all know, I am a former World Heavyweight Champion. A few years ago, on a magical night in Augusta, Georgia, I defeated Harley Race to become the youngest NWA World Champion in history. I had a spectacular run that ranked up there with the reigns of all-time greats. Lee Marshall: Not this again! His reign lasted all of five days! Rich: Mando and Hector, because of my status as a former World Champion, I am demanding that you show me the respect I deserve. The brothers looked amused at what was transpiring. Rich: Also, Jonnie Stewart here is the future of wrestling. He is the man who will carry the sport on his shoulders into the '90s. Crowd booed. Mando stepped up to Rich. Mando: Tommy...shut up! Rich: How dare you speak to a man who is a former World Heavyweight Champion and the wrestler of the '90s like that! Mando: Actions speak louder than words. Let's wrestle, you two pandejos! Many in the crowd erupted in laughter and some cheered. Lee Marshall: Whoa! Stop the presses! We'll let you viewers look up what 'pandejo' means on your own time! Stewart: If that's good, then me and Tommy are the best pandejos around! Many of the fans were still laughing as Rich and Stewart looked around and were puzzled by the crowd reaction. The Guerrero brothers were also chuckling. Lord James Blears: It figures that Rich and Stewart think Mando just complimented them, Lee. Match was an exciting see-saw affair with both teams scoring some exciting near falls. Match ended when Stewart's interference on behalf of Rich backfired and Stewart was driven from the ring and the Guerrero brothers nailed Rich with a double dropkick and Mando covered Rich to score the pinfall victory for his team. WINNER: Hector & Mando Guerrero - 11:18 END OF PROGRAM: https://youtu.be/cWdeNkqudL0?t=2812
- December 5, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

AWA VIDEO OF THE WEEK! From 1973, it's Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens vs. Billy Robinson & Red Bastien: GOOD STUFF! ENJOY!
- December 2, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! From: Piperrulz <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />
- November 27, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

AWA ON ESPN TAPINGS - SHOWBOAT SPORTS PAVILION - LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 1989 (1st Taping Re-Cap) (Most commercials posted on these shows will be from the '80s but not necessarily from 1989.) Show Intro - <div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/XV5YFK7k7t0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="AWA on ESPN Intro Circa 1988"></iframe></div></div> Show opened with Larry Nelson standing center ring with mic in hand. Nelson: Welcome to AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN! I'm Larry Nelson. With me in the ring right now are the AWA World Tag Team Champions Ken Patera and Brad Rheingans as well as Greg Gagne and AWA promoter Verne Gagne. Ken, as we can see, your left arm is still in a sling after Larry Zbysko attacked you with the ring bell almost a month ago. You have some news for us? Patera: Yes, I do, Larry. While my arm is healing well and I will be returning to action soon, unfortunately, I won't be able to defend the belts with Brad tonight. Nelson: That's tough to hear, Ken. But Verne, you also have some news for us. Verne: I do. It has been decided that since Ken Patera cannot defend the tag team titles with Brad Rheingans tonight, we have allowed Brad to pick a partner to defend the titles with him against the Destruction Crew. Nelson: Brad, you've made your choice? Rheingans: Ken and I both made this decision. The man standing on my left will be my partner against the Destruction Crew tonight...Greg Gagne! Modest amount of cheers. Nelson: You couldn't pick a better replacement, Brad. As these fans already know, Greg's one of the best tag team wrestlers in the sport. Rheingans: That's why me and Ken picked him. Greg's credentials are rock solid in tag team wrestling. Anybody would be lucky to have him as their partner. Nelson: Greg, your thoughts on all this. Greg: Have to say I was both surprised and honored when Ken and Brad came to me and asked me to step in for Ken tonight in the tag team title match against the Destruction Crew. But I want everyone to know that if Brad and myself are successful in the defense of the titles tonight, Ken will be Brad's partner again when he's healthy and cleared to wrestle. Nelson: It promises to be quite the main event tonight as the team of Brad Rheingans and Greg Gagne team up to defend the tag team belts against the Destruction Crew... Crowd booed as Dallas Page, manager of Badd Company, came power-walking down the heel entrance aisle and stepped into the ring. Nelson: Dallas Page! What are you doing out here?! DDP: I'm out here to say this isn't right, man! Verne Gagne, what's the deal?! Since Patera can't defend his half of the tag titles within the mandatory 30-day defense window, then the belts should revert back to their previous owners...and that's Badd Company! Verne: Dallas, Badd Company are the previous champs and still top challengers for the belts. You want the tag team titles back? DDP: Yup! Hand 'em over! Verne: If you want them back...then you will win them in the ring. Crowd cheered. DDP not happy and shook his cane in Verne's face. DDP: This isn't cool, Verne! We will not take this lying down! Those belts should be handed to us on a silver platter! Verne just glared at DDP. DDP: This will not go without a response! DDP stormed out of the ring and headed back up the heel entrance aisle to boos. Nelson: Verne Gagne! An infuriated Dallas Page thinks his team is owed the belts because they were the previous tag team champions! What do you think of Page's last remark about how not handing his team the belts without the benefit of a match will not go without a response? Verne: I don't know what Page was rambling about there, Larry. Sounds like a case of simple frustration. Page and his men are not owed anything in this sport. They, like everyone else, needs to go out and work hard for what they want. They do that and there's a good chance they'll be the tag team champions again. But they'll not just be handed the titles because Page comes out here and has a tantrum. Nelson: That was Verne Gagne, along with Ken Patera, Brad Rheingans and Patera's substitute Greg Gagne. Rheingans and Gagne will defend the tag team gold against the Destruction Crew in our main event! Down to Lee Marshall and Lord James Blears. Marshall and Blears welcomed viewers and ran down the program: World Tag Team Championship Match: Rheingans & Greg Gagne* (WTTC) vs. The Destruction Crew; an interview with former AWA World Champion Larry Zbysko; Tom Zenk sees action; Heidi Lee Morgan wrestles; and more! (* Match replacement) Commercials: Billy Ball - <a href="https://www.retrojunk.com/commercial/show/4103/billy-ball-billy-martin" rel="external nofollow">https://www.retrojunk.com/commercial/show/4103/billy-ball-billy-martin</a> Back from commercial: Tom Zenk def. Barry O: O gave Zenk a little bit of a battle before Zenk finished him off with a sleeper in just under 4 minutes. Post-Match Interview: Zenk again talked about Col. DeBeers taking liberties with wrestlers he'd just defeated, including bloodying Jake Milliman. Zenk closed out the interview by saying the following: If Col. DeBeers keeps doing this to his opponents after he's defeated them...then he's gonna have to tangle with me! Crowd cheered. Zenk: Colonel! I've got my eyes on you, brother! Watch yourself! Nelson said more was to come. Pic aired with the list of the Top 5 Most Popular AWA Wrestlers. Commercials: Boxing At The Boat - <div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/nXyBKlhqlPc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="ShowBoat Hotel & Casino Boxing"></iframe></div></div> Heidi Lee Morgan won a squash over Judy Martin Post-Match Interview: Morgan discussed challenging Wendi Richter. Said she was going to pursue Richter until she hunted the Women's Champ down and took the belt from her. In-Studio Promo: Manny Fernandez cut a blistering promo on Wahoo McDaniel. Manny said the situation between the two was dire and coming to a head and when the dust cleared the hatred both men had for each other would never subside and it could leave both men broken physically and mentally. Pic aired of Larry Zbysko with the caption: An interview with the FORMER World Champion...NEXT! Commercials: Maxim Hotel Buffet - <div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/bHqyJscTrT4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Maxim Hotel and Casino Las Vegas"></iframe></div></div> IT'S THE AWA ON TOUR! We'll be at the high school/community center/county fair/used car dealership parking lot/church fellowship hall in (insert town here). THE AWA IS THE MAJOR LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING! Back from commercial: VIDEO: In-Studio: Larry Nelson and former AWA World Champion Larry Zbysko were seated on stools. Each man had a mic. Zbysko was wearing sunglasses. Nelson: Welcome back to AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN. I'm Larry Nelson. Seated next to me at this time is the former AWA World Champ... Zbysko interrupted Nelson. Zbysko: And soon to be AWA World Champion again! Nelson: Larry Zbysko. I have to ask you, how have you been these last couple of weeks since losing the title to Sgt. Slaughter. Zbysko: How have I been, huh? Zbysko chuckled in disbelief. Zbysko: Are you kidding me, Nelson?! How have I been?! I've been miserable! Not being the World Champion anymore stinks to high heaven! But I am gunning for Slaughter and will one day...very soon, I might add...be the AWA World Champion for the second time! Enjoy it while it lasts, Sarge! You can't hold off the 'Living Legend' forever! Nelson: Before you look to tangle with Sgt. Slaughter again, you've got another pressing issue you're going to be facing very shortly. Ken Patera will be returning to action in the near future from the injury you caused to his arm with the ring bell. Zbysko: Let me clarify something, Nelson! Patera's arm was already injured! I just made the injury worse! He was the man I was supposed to be defending the title against in Vegas a few weeks ago! I was not supposed to be facing Sgt. Slaughter! What I did to Patera was out of a justifiable sense of frustration! Nelson: Justifiable sense of frustration?! What does that even mean?! Zbysko: That's for me to know and for you to try and figure out, spudhead! Nelson shook his head in disbelief. Zbysko: Patera was who I prepared for that night so Patera was the man I should've faced! He's crying about some injury he sustained on a card a few nights before we arrived in Vegas! For all we know, his injury was to get out of the match! Either way, once Patera was on the shelf then I should not have had to defend the title against Slaughter because he was not who I prepared for! Nelson: Are you ready for Patera when he comes back? Zbysko: The question you need to be asking is if Ken Patera will be ready for me. He brought all this upon himself. And he's gonna suffer for it in spades. Nelson: Before your title match against Slaughter started you said you were wrestling the match under protest. Has anything come of the protest you lodged with President Stanley Blackburn? Zbysko: This is the AWA we're talking about here, Nelson! Nothing gets done quickly! I haven't heard a word about my protest challenging the legitimacy of Slaughter winning the match! Stanley Blackburn moves slower than a box of dead sea turtles! We might get a decision by the '92 Presidential election! Nelson: Do you think there's a conspiracy against you in the AWA? Zbysko: Just look at the evidence. I mean it's obvious to anyone who looks. Verne Gagne and his cronies have it in for me. I'm the best thing that ever happened to the AWA and look at how I'm treated. Nelson: Verne Gagne has it in for you? Zbysko: Yes. You know why? Nelson: Please, enlighten me. Zbysko: It's because he's jealous of me! Verne Gagne envies me! Nelson laughed. Nelson: Verne Gagne! Jealous of you?! The man was the 10-time AWA World Champion! Are you kidding, Larry?! Jealous?! Zbysko: Laugh all you want, idiot boy! Verne Gagne knows that I'm the legend here and he's not! He had to find a way to get the World Title off of me and fast! And let's not forget that he had Wahoo McDaniel act as the special referee for the match! Talk about stacking the deck! Maybe I should sue your hero Verne Gagne for besmirching my good reputation and character! He can't handle the fact that when I'm around he'll always be in my shadow! Nelson: Well, you are a character and you do have a reputation, even though I wouldn't call it a good one. Zbysko took off his sunglasses and glared over at Nelson. Nelson: What? Zbysko: This interview is over. Zbysko put on his sunglasses, stood up and walked out of the interview area as Nelson looked on. Nelson: That was Larry Zbysko. Split-Screen pic aired of Brad Rheingans, Greg Gagne and the Destruction Crew with the caption: STILL TO COME! AWA WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH! Commercials: Miller's Outpost - <div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/u3S_Lu_h9Wk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Miller's Outpost -"></iframe></div></div> Back from commercial: Jonnie Stewart def. SD Jones in a squash Post-Match Interview: Stewart said the people need to get ready because he's rising rapidly to the top and will become the hottest thing in the sport. Said he's the man to carry wrestling into the '90s. In-Studio Promo: The Top Guns (Ricky Rice & Derrick Dukes) talked about the wild match they had last week on AWA Championship Wrestling that got out of control with Badd Company. Told Badd Company that if they wanted more of them to come get it. Pic of the tag team titles aired with the caption: World Tag Team Titles on the line...NEXT! Commercials: KZOK 102.5 FM Seattle - <div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/GvgtyjPe_Dk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="KZOK 102.5 FM Radio 1985 TV commercial"></iframe></div></div> TV MAIN EVENT! For the AWA World Tag Team Championship Greg Gagne* & Brad Rheingans (WTTC) vs. The Destruction Crew In-ring: Larry Nelson. Nelson: It is now time for our main event! Crowd cheered. Nelson: This match is scheduled for one fall with a 60-minute time-limit and is for the AWA World Tag team Championship! Introducing first, the challengers! Already in the ring...weighing in at a combined weight of 518 pounds and both hailing from Minnesota...Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos...the Destruction Crew! Most in the crowd booed as Enos and Bloom, both wearing hard hats and reflective orange vests, raised their sledge hammers in the air to little positive fan feedback. Nelson: And their opponents! Coming down the aisle...they weigh a combined weight of 468 pounds and hail from Minnesota...Brad Rheingans and, filling in for the injured Ken Patera, Greg Gagne! The pair stepped into the ring as fans cheered. Both men were wearing the belts around their waists. Nelson: Your referee is Gary Derusha! Ref went over and took the titles from the champs and held them up for all to see before handing them off to Nelson to take to the timekeeper's table. Ref called both teams out to the middle of the ring. Destruction Crew walked out carrying their sledge hammers. As the ref laid down the ground rules, both Enos and Bloom, in an act of psychological intimidation, held the handles of the hammers in one hand and repeatedly drove the hammer head into the open palms of their other hands. Ref patted each man down and then sent each team back to their respective corners. The Destruction Crew laid the sledges in their corner on the apron. Ref went over by the ropes and gestured for Larry Nelson to come over. Nelson climbed up on the apron with mic in hand. Ref Derusha: Before this match begins, I am ordering that those sledge hammers be removed from ringside! Crowd cheered. The Destruction Crew were not happy and went over and had words off-mic with Derusha as a member of Showboat security made his way to the ring and grabbed the hammers and carried them back up the heel entrance aisle. Destruction Crew went back to their corner. Ref called for the bell. Rheingans and Bloom started the match for their teams. The two men engaged in a collar-and-elbow tie-up and Rheingans got the upper hand and drove Bloom against the ropes. Bloom raised his hands slowly to show that he was breaking cleanly and not breaking bad. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> The two men moved away from the ropes and engaged in another collar-and-elbow tie-up and Bloom managed to gain the upper hand and caught Rheingans in a side headlock. Rheingans quickly countered with a belly-to-back suplex to break the hold. Both men up and Bloom charged at Rheingans and Rheingans caught Bloom with a hip toss. Bloom up and Rheingans moved in and caught Bloom with an arm drag that segued into an arm bar on Bloom. Bloom on his knees as Rheingans had the hold locked in. Bloom to a knee and then to his feet as Rhengans kept the hold firmly locked on. Bloom started moving in the direction of his partner Enos, but just before he could make the tag, Rheingans yanked Bloom away from Enos. Bloom quickly back down to his knees in the hold before getting to his feet again. Bloom then started inching towards the ropes and finally, while still locked in the bar, was able to lunge over and grab the top rope to force a break in the hold. The two men circled one another and Bloom and Rheingans locked hands and engaged in a test of strength. Bloom had the upper hand when Rheingans powered up and gained the upper hand. Bloom appeatred on the verge of failing the test but he caught Rheingans with a kick to the gut. Rheingans lost his grip. Bloom caught Rheingans with a trio of quick forearm strikes to the side of the head, whipped Rheingans into the ropes and caught Rheingans coming off with a with a back elbow to the chest. Rhengans crashed to the mat. Bloom snapped Rheingans up and threw him into the Destruction Crew's corner. Bloom tagged in Enos. As Enos stepped into the ring, Bloom popped Rheingans with a series of quick shoulder blocks to the gut. Bloom out as Enos moved in and caught Rheingans with an elbow to the top of the head. Enos pulled Rheingans out of the corner, whipped Rheingans into the ropes and dropped Rheingans with a monster clothesline. Enos for the cover. 1... Rheingans kicked out. Enos up as Rheingans was getting up. Enos caught Rheingans with a boot to the side of the ribs. Bloom stuck his foot out through the ropes and Enos slammed Rheingans' head into Bloom's boot. Enos tagged in Bloom. Bloom hit the ring and clubbed Rheingans in the back with a couple of deliberate forearms. Rheingans hurting. Bloom grabbed Rheingans and nailed Rheingans with a suplex followed by a leg drop from the standing position. Bloom for the cover. 1...2... Rheingans kicked out. Nelson: 5 minutes gone! 55 minutes remain! Bloom stomped on Rheingans, snapped Rheingans up and went to whip Rheingans into the ropes but Rheingans reversed and caught Bloom coming off with a belly-to-belly suplex. Rheingans for the cover. 1...2... Enos hit the ring and stomped Rheingans in the head to break up the pin try. Rheingans and Bloom down. Ref started the 10-count. Bloom up just before Rheingans and Bloom drove a knee into Rheingans' gut. Bloom hit Rheingans with some punches and went to whip Rheingans into the corner but Rheingans reversed and charged in and blasted Bloom with a shoulder block to the gut. Rheingans caught Bloom with a series of gut shots. Rhgeingans whipped Bloom into the opposite corner. Enos started to step into the ring and Rheingans was briefly distracted. Enos stepped back out and Rheingans moved in on Bloom and Bloom popped Rheingans with a running clothesline out of the corner. Rheingans crashed to the mat. Rheingans rolled over on his front side and Bloom stomped the former Olympian in the back of the head. Bloom snapped Rheingans up and popped Rheingans with a double underhook suplex. Bloom for the cover and hooked the leg. 1...2... Rheingans kicked out. Bloom quickly tagged in Enos as Rheingans recovered in the ring. Enos quick stomped Rheingans and then snapped him up and slammed Rheingans' head into the top buckle. Rheingans spun around in the corner and Enos started choking Rheingans with his boot and broke the illegal move at the ref's count of 4. Enos pulled Rheingans out of the corner, hoisted Rheingans up and nailed Rheingans with the snake eyes. Rheingans crumpled to the mat. Enos for the cover. 1...2...thr... Rheingans got a shoulder up. Crowd cheered and Greg urged his life partner to keep fighting. Enos snapped Rheingans up, whipped Rheingans into the ropes and bent over looking to back drop Rheingans but Rheingans instead caught Enos in a front facelock and nailed Enos with a bridging cradle suplex (Perfect Plex) for the pin. 1...2... Bloom hit the ring and stomped Rheingans in the gut to break up the pin try. Both men down. Ref started the 10-count. Crowd clapping and urging on Rheingans. Count grew as both men made it to their knees. The two engaged in a punch exchange as they got to their feet. Rheingans got the upper hand. Rheingans whipped Enos into the ropes and went to clothesline Enos but Enos ducked the move and came back and the two men clotheslined the crap out of each other. Both men crashed to the mat. Ref started the 10-count. Crowd cheering on Rheingans. Nelson: 10 minutes gone! 50 minutes remain! Both men started to slowly get up. Rheingans to his feet and went to tag Greg in but Enos lunged over and grabbed Rheingans lower leg. After a brief struggle, Rheingans was able to wriggle free of Enos' grasp and tag in Greg. Crowd popped. Enos up and swung at Greg and Greg ducked the punch try and came back with a series of punches of his own. Greg whipped Enos into the ropes and caught Enos coming off with a dropkick. Enos up and Greg hit Enos with another dropkick. Enos back down. Enos up slowly and Greg charged in and caught Greg with a flying headscissors takedown. Greg released the hold. Enos up and moved in and caught Enos with more head shots. Greg whipped the stunned Enos into the corner and went to monkey flip the big man but Enos blocked the flip try and violently shoved Greg off. Greg crashed to the mat. Enos quickly regained his bearings in the corner. Gagne up facing away from Enos and Enos moved in and clubbed Greg with a couple of double sledges across the back. Greg stunned in the ring. Enos hoisted Greg up and walked around the ring with Greg in the air before popping Verne's boy with a suplex. Enos up and dropped an elbow smash across Greg's chest and went for the cover. 1...2... Greg, that muscle-bound beast, kicked out. Enos snapped Greg up, whipped Greg into the ropes and looked to catch Greg coming off with a clothesline but Greg ducked the move and came back with a flying crossbody attempt but Enos caught Greg in the horizontal position, held Greg for what seemed like an eternity and then nailed Greg with a fallaway slam. Enos for the cover. 1...2...thr... Rheingans hit the ring and stomped Enos in the back to break up the pin try. Bloom hit the ring to go after Rheingans but the ref ordered him to step out and Bloom did so. Rheingans back to his corner. Enos looked over at Bloom and Bloom stuck out his hand. Enos with the tag. Greg got on his hands and knees and Bloom caught Greg with a kick to the ribs. Greg fell over next to the ropes. Bloom grabbed the top rope and started mercilessly stomping away on Greg. Bloom broke the illegal move at the ref's count of 4. Bloom had brief words with the ref as he reached down to pull Greg up. Bloom whipped Greg into the ropes and looked to catch Greg coming off with a backdrop but Greg caught Bloom with a kick to the chest. Bloom shot up and stumbled back and Greg nailed Bloom with a dropkick. Bloom fell back against the ropes. Nelson: 15 minutes gone! 45 minutes remain! Greg moved in and caught Bloom with a side kick. Bloom hurting. Greg whipped Bloom into the ropes and looked to catch Bloom coming off with another dropkick but Bloom grabbed the top rope and held on and Greg crashed to the mat. Bloom briefly regained his bearings as Greg made it up to his feet. Bloom moved in and caught Greg with a kick to the gut. Greg doubled over and fell back against the ropes. Bloom leaned Greg back across the top rope and popped Greg with a brutal, deliberate series of forearms to the chest. Bloom whipped Greg into the ropes and looked to catch Greg coming off with a backdrop but Greg leapfrogged Bloom, spun around and ran Bloom into the ropes and rolled Bloom up for the pin. 1...2... Bloom kicked out. Bloom up and swung wildly at Greg and missed and Greg caught Bloom from behind in the sleeper. Crowd popping. Bloom trying to escape the hold. Bloom started to fade. Ref raised Bloom's arm twice and it fell harmlessly back to Bloom's side. Enos hit the ring and came up behind Greg and nailed Greg with a forearm smash to the back. Greg lost his grip on the hold. Rheingans hit the ring and started belting Enos with punches that drove Enos into the corner. Ref trying to separate Enos and Rheingans. Greg and Bloom made it to their feet and Greg popped Bloom with another dropkick and Bloom crashed to the mat and rolled out on the apron to regain his bearings. Greg looked over and the ref was now tangled up with Rheingans and Enos in the corner. Greg went and tried to help the ref. While that was going on, Dallas Page charged down to ringside and handed Bloom his cane. Bloom climbed back into the ring and held the cane at the ready. Greg was unable to free the ref from the scrum. Greg turned and walked right into a cane shot to the side of the head from Bloom. Greg crumpled to the mat. Bloom tossed the cane back to DDP and then quickly covered Greg. Ref freed himself from the corner entanglement and dropped to make the count. 1... Rheingans got the upper hand on Enos and went to break up the pin try but Enos grabbed Rheingans by the back of the tights and pulled him back. ...2...3! Ref called for the bell as the crowd booed. Enos released Rheingans. Bloom up and Enos went over and the two hugged and celebrated. Rheingans checked on the still down Greg, who was laying on the mat and holding the side of his head. Larry Nelson on the apron with mic and titles in hand. Ref went over and talked off-mic with Nelson. Ref took the titles and handed them to Bloom and Enos. The two men hugged and celebrated in the ring. Nelson: In a time of 17 minutes, 34 seconds, your winners, and NEW AWA World Tag Team Champions...The Destruction Crew! Rheingans checked on the downed Greg, who was holding the side of his head. The champs left the ring and dropped to the floor and started to leave with their ill-gotten gain. Larry Nelson called out to them as he walked over. Nelson: Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos! Can I get a word with you! The Destruction Crew was ecstatic. Enos: Make it fast, Nelson! We've got some partying to do on the Strip! Crowd booed as Bloom held his title up with one hand. Nelson: You guys won those belts with outside help from Dallas Page! How do you feel about that?! Enos: What are you talkin' about? Bloom: Nelson, we won these belts because we were the better team in that ring tonight! Nelson: Wayne, you hit Greg Gagne in the head with a cane handed to you by Dallas Page and that allowed you to win the match and the belts! Enos: Huh?! What are you... Bloom (interrupting): We've got nothing else to say! We're the champs and the people better learn to accept it because we're holding these belts for a long time! Enos: Yes! More boos from the crowd as the Destruction Crew taunted them by waving the belts in the air. Shot of Rheingans and the ref still checking on a now sitting up Greg. Nelson: We should have more on this situation next week! WINNER: Destruction Crew - 17:34 - New Tag Team Champions END OF PROGRAM: <a href="https://youtu.be/cWdeNkqudL0?t=2812" rel="external nofollow">https://youtu.be/cWdeNkqudL0?t=2812</a> ########################################### AWA VIDEO OF THE WEEK! Keeping with the tag team title match theme, it's the Original Midnight Express (Randy Rose & Dennis Condrey) defending the AWA Tag Team Titles against The Midnight Rockers from Dec. 1987: <a href="https://youtu.be/6hEPgKJ7J30" rel="external nofollow">https://youtu.be/6hEPgKJ7J30</a> ENJOY! <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />
- November 25, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

We need more people to read this thread. Call everyone you know and tell them about it! Big stuff beginning to happen!
- November 21, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

AWA VIDEO OF THE WEEK! From 1986, it's the Midnight Rockers & Curt Hennig vs. AWA Tag Champs Buddy Rose & Doug Somers and their partner the big Russian Alexis Smirnoff. Fun match! ENJOY!
- November 18, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

(The reason I'm posting these talking segments so quick is because I can type them out quickly and I might as well get them out there as fast as I can. Things will slow down a bit now since I've got to write the next Showboat tapings.) SPRING 1989 AWA HEADQUARTERS - ST. LOUIS PARK, MN The day had arrived. AWA boss Verne Gagne once again nervously sat at his desk and was chugging, not sipping, coffee. His secretary Jessica buzzed in on the office intercom. Jessica: Jeff Smulyan on line two. Verne picked up the phone and pushed the button for line two. Verne: Hello, Jeff. Smulyan: Hello, Verne. Good to talk with you again. Verne: Good talking with you as well. Smulyan: Verne, I'll get right down to it. I've thought about your offer and come up with a counter-offer of my own. Verne: Let me hear it. Smulyan: You want between $2 and $2.5 million for the AWA, right? Verne: That's correct. Smulyan: Well, my counter is $1.75 million. Verne winced when he heard the offer. Silence... Smulyan: Hello. Verne? Verne: I'm still here, Jeff. Smulyan: What do you think? Verne: I was told by some friends in business and finance that I shouldn't take any offer under $2 million. Smulyan: It's only a quarter million dollar difference. Verne: I know. But at the amount of money we're talking about it's a huge difference. $2 million. And we can set the wheels in motion to get this job done right now. Smulyan: I'm sorry, Verne. $1.75 million is gonna be my final offer. The promotion is in such bad shape... Verne: Didn't you pay over $30 million for your share of the Mariners? Smulyan: I did. But the fact is that even if the Mariners become a money pit I can always sell my share of the team and walk away with a decent profit. With a wrestling promotion like the AWA, I could pour millions into it and never come close to recovering my losses. You're sure you won't change your mind? It's still a lot of money. Verne: I just feel I can't right now, Jeff. I feel the investment I've poured into the AWA in time and money means it's worth more than that. Smulyan: As a businessman I've got to be blunt with you, Verne. You're not gonna get too many offers for the promotion. And even fewer offers that will go above what I'm offering you this minute. You can still walk away from this with almost $2 million. Verne paused. Verne: It's tempting...but I'm gonna have to say no. I'm going to see who else out there might be interested in buying the company or investing in it. Smulyan: OK. I respect your decision. But it is a big gamble your taking. Verne: I know that. If I can't find another buyer, then maybe we could talk again about you buying? Smulyan: We'll see. Right now I wish you nothing but the best in your pursuit of a buyer. Verne: Thank you, Jeff. Smulyan: You take care, sir. Verne: Goodbye. With that, Verne hung up the phone, placed his elbows on his desk and buried his head in both hands. Verne Gagne was now worried he'd let his only chance to sell slip through his fingers. But had he??? TO BE CONTINUED...
- November 14, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

SPRING 1989 AWA HEADQUARTERS - ST. LOUIS PARK, MN Verne Gagne was sitting at his desk in his office. He was anxious... Usually a pretty cool, calm and collected customer, Verne uneasily awaited a phone call. It was another call from Jeff Smulyan, the radio magnate who was looking to buy the AWA at the extremely reduced price of $1.5 million after Verne said he was looking to sell it for somehwere in the neighborhood of $5 million. It had been a week since Smulyan sent Verne the special delivery letter outlining his reasons for wanting to buy the promotion for less. Finally, Jessica the secretary paged Verne through the intercom. Jessica: It's Jeff Smulyan on line one. Verne nervously looked down at the phone. He had agonized over a decision about whether or not to sell the promotion to Smulyan at the less-than-desirable price and walking away with at least something for all his years of hard work in building the AWA, even if it was just a fraction of what he thought it was really worth. Verne picked up the phone and pressed the red light marked one. Verne: Hello, Jeff. Smulyan: Good morning, Verne. How are you? Verne: OK, I guess. Yourself? Smulyan: I'm doing well, thank you. Verne: Jeff, I was hoping we could talk about the potential deal to sell the AWA to you. Smulyan: Alright. Verne: I'm not going to pull any punches. I think your offer is too low. Smulyan: Well, Verne, with the information that was brought back to me by my team from Emmis Broadcasting that visited you, this seems a very fair offer. Look, your company is in dire straights financially. Attendance is way down. Your syndicated TV deals are drying up. Your deal with ESPN is up in the air. You have accrued some pretty hefty debt. As I said in the letter I sent you last week, if I paid anywhere close to the $5 million dollars you want for the AWA, there's no telling how many more millions would be lost before turning things around financially...if it can be turned around at all. But I do want to know what you think is a reasonable offer for the company? Verne: I've talked it over with my lawyer and a couple of people I know in high finance. They told me that $2.5-$3 million would be a fair offer. Silence... Smulyan: Verne, I just don't see it. Verne: You don't, huh? Smulyan: Frankly, sir, no. It's just not there. Even that's too high considering the state of the promotion. Verne: Well, how about this. Smulyan: Shoot. Verne: $2 million to $2.25 million. That's the lowest I can go here. Smulyan: $2 to $2.5 million, huh? Verne: Yes. Silence... Smulyan: Tell you what, Verne. Let me mull it over and call you back in a couple of days. How does that sound? Verne: Sounds good to me, Jeff. Smulyan: Great. We'll be talking again in two days. Verne: OK. Smulyan: Goodbye. Verne: Take care, Jeff. Smulyan: You, too. With that the phone call ended. Verne Gagne had another shot at possibly selling the AWA. Then there was a knock on Verne's office door. Verne: Come. The door opened and in walked Verne's son, Greg. Greg: Hi, dad. Verne: Just talked to Smulyan again. Greg: What did he say? Verne: I counter-offered and we're going to talk again in two days. Greg: That's good to hear. Just remember to not be too hasty with a decision to sell. There could still be other possible buyers out there. Verne: Could be. 'Could' being the operative word there. What did you want to see me about? Greg: Got a call from an old friend of ours who works for Vince. Verne: What did he want? Greg: He said there are a couple of guys who aren't happy with their situations in the WWF and they are looking for opportunities elsewhere. Verne: Who are they? Greg: Sam Houston and Greg Valentine. Verne: Do you think they'd consider coming here? Greg: That all depends on the deals offered to them. Verne: They would have to be per show deals. No guarantees. Greg: I'll contact our friend over there and let him know there might be some interest on our part. Verne: You do that, son. TO BE CONTINUED...
- November 13, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

You're welcome.
- November 13, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

AWA VIDEO OF THE WEEK! From 1987, it's Wahoo McDaniel vs.Curt Hennig in an Indian Strap Match: This match makes the cut! ENJOY!
- November 12, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

SPRING 1989 AWA HEADQUARTERS - ST. LOUIS PARK, MN An hour after Verne Gagne read the letter he received from Jeff Smulyan about purchasing the AWA for the reduced price of $1.5 million, Greg Gagne, TV producer Al Derusha and Wally Karbo now sat in Verne's office across the desk from the boss. Verne: Guys, I just received this letter from Jeff Smulyan. Verne held up the letter. Greg: What does he say in it, dad? Verne: He's made an offer to purchase the company. Wally: That's great! Al (less enthusiastic than Wally): How much, Verne? Verne: He thinks that with our dropping attendance, uncertainty of remaining on ESPN or cable, for that matter. and our shrinking syndicated network for All-Star Wrestling, it isn't worth the $5 million dollar asking price. Wally: What did he offer? Verne: $1.5 million. A collective gasp from Greg, Wally and Al echoed through the room. Wally: What? Greg: Smulyan can't be serious? Al: That sounds like a low-ball offer to me. Even with the promotion currently in bad shape it's got to be worth more than just $1.5 million. Greg: Crockett sold his territory to Turner for $9 million just a few months ago. Verne: We're not worth that much right now, son. That promotion may be struggling some. But from what I've heard it's because of over-spending on things like private planes and fancy offices. On the wrestling side of things in terms of house shows and pay-per-views, they're turning a profit. Al: The AWA may not be worth $5 million. But it's certainly worth a bit more than $1.5 million. Wally: Crockett bought the UWF from Watts in '87 as I recall. How much did Watts sell for? Greg: It was supposedly a $4 million dollar deal. But Watts only received a fraction of the money. Al: Crockett bought Watts out because he wanted Watts' syndicated network slots around the country for his product. Turned out to be a waste of money that only added to Crockett's woes. Wally: At that price, Verne, I don't think you should sell it. With taxes and all, the slice of the pie you'll get is gonna look mighty small. Greg: Wally's right. The room fell silent as Verne was carefully thinking about the matter. Al: What are you thinking, Verne? Verne: The next time I talk to Smulyan I'm gonna test the waters. See if I can possibly up the price some. $1.5 million isn't much for all the work poured into this business the last 29 years. Greg: Don't be hasty in making a decision. There might still be other potential buyers out there. Verne: I know. But what if there aren't? What if this is my only chance to cash in, boys? The room grew contemplative and quiet. TO BE CONTINUED...
- November 8, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

Well, Verne does have a couple of Jokers in the deck named Sgt. Slaughter and Larry Zbysko.
- November 8, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

SPRING 1989 AWA HEADQUARTERS - ST. LOUIS PARK, MN It had been 10 days since Verne Gagne was visited by an exec and accountants from Jeff Smulyan's Emmis Broadcasting Corp. based out of Indianapolis. Verne was sitting at his desk and cringing as he read the reports of the limited number of house shows. Even though the World Title change had not aired on TV yet, all the shows were headlined by newly crowned champ Slaughter defending against champ turned challenger Larry Zbysko. Outside of the two TV tapings (for ESPN in Vegas and syndicated All-Star Wrestling in Rochester, MN) only one house show broke 1,000 paid and that was at the Auditorium in Milwaukee, WI. Verne's wealthy friends were skittish about pouring millions of dollars into an enterprise that would most likely continue to be a big money loser for the foreseeable future. Selling or completely shutting down the AWA were clearly becoming the only two options left on the table. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Verne: Come in. It was his trusted secretary Jessica. And in her hand was a letter sent via special delivery. The return address was listed as Emmis Broadcasting in Indianapolis. Jessica handed Verne the letter, he thanked her and she left and closed the door to Verne's office. Verne looked at the envelope for what seemed like an eternity. He then grabbed his letter opener and dragged it across the top of the envelope. Verne reached in and pulled out the letter and unfolded it. Verne briefly stared forward before lowering his eyes and reading the contents. The letter said: Verne, This is Jeff Smulyan. After thoroughly looking over the reports from the accountants and the notes from the executive I sent to visit you, I have made a decision. Before I get to the decision I first want to let you know why it was reached. I realize that pro wrestling is a cyclical business. But this down cycle you're in right now is really bad. Ticket sales are minuscule compared to what they were as recently as 1986. Outside of TV tapings (especially the ones in Vegas), the regular arena shows, with very few exceptions, are drawing in the hundreds, sometimes in the low hundreds. It would be very hard to re-build the fanbase in a reasonable amount of time. It looks like it would be a very slow process. I'm also concerned about the TV deals, especially the one with ESPN. The contract with ESPN is running out in a few months. Would they be interested in keeping the AWA on their network or are they going to cut ties? There's no guarantee another cable outlet would be interested in the AWA at this time with it being in the state of decline it's in. The syndicated show has seen a dramatic decrease in stations willing to carry it since '87. You've brought on very few new stations the last couple of years and others have just dropped the show completely. You mentioned in our phone discussion that it could take years for business to rebound back to a profitable level. The question is: how many years, exactly? You said you were looking to sell the AWA for somewhere in the ballpark of $5 million. If the AWA was still going strong or we knew it was really close to making a turnaround then offering up the $5 million would be easy. But, when you look at the $5 million sales price along with unpaid debts your company has incurred plus the promotion itself being awash in serious red ink in terms of ticket sales and declining TV deals, I feel the investment would be a massive money pit to the tune of millions and millions of dollars. I'm still willing to make you an offer, Verne. But it's no longer for $5 million. The amount I'm now offering for the AWA, and that includes the tape library, TV contracts, company debt, any wrestler contracts, etc., is $1.5 million. I hope you'll consider the offer, Verne. It's still a good deal for you. Hope to hear from you soon on this matter. Warmest Regards, Jeff Smulyan Verne sighed as he placed the letter down on his desk. He placed his elbows on his desk and folded his hands together. He was in deep thought. Verne Gagne just had his first (and last?) offer to buy the AWA outright from him. Will he sell? TO BE CONTINUED...
- November 7, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

SPRING 1989 AWA HEADQUARTERS - ST. LOUIS PARK, MN April had just given way to May... Jeff Smulyan, owner of radio industry giant Emmis Broadcasting Corporation and part-owner of the Seattle Mariners and who was exploring the idea of buying the AWA, had recently sent two members of his accounting team and one executive to Minnesota to meet with Verne Gagne and do their due dilligence. Verne was grilled by the executive about the downturn in the AWA's fortunes the last three years. He wanted to find out what Verne thought caused the collapse of what was the #1 promotion in the country just six short years ago. As for the accountants, they spent three days poring over the business records. They examined attendance at house shows and TV tapings. They saw that crowds had dwindled greatly over the last couple of years. And they followed the money... What the accountants found was, well, not great news for Verne and crew. The company was bleeding money at an alarming rate. The losses were piling up and, as it stood in 1989, the hope of turning red ink to black ink anytime soon was not possible. There were some major unpaid bills. The accountants saw that the AWA syndicated deals had largely dried up and the show was now carried on far fewer stations than during its heyday just a few years ago. The contract with ESPN now seemed like an albatross around the neck of the growing cable sports giant. If the ESPN deal collapsed and no other cable stations wanted to air AWA Championship Wrestling, there was no way Smulyan, or anyone sane, would bother to seriously consider buying the promotion. Shrinking Syndication + No Cable Contract + Unpaid Bills = No Deal... But the ultimate decision was in the hands of Jeff Smulyan. The more Verne Gagne thought about it, the more he warmed up to the idea of selling the AWA. Verne was still sending out feelers to see if some wealthy pals of his might be interested in giving the AWA a multi-million dollar cash infusion with him still in control. But so far he had been rebuffed. The investment wasn't worth it, they said. The accountants and the executive from Emmis Broadcasting finished their work and flew back to Indianapolis. Now, the waiting game began as Verne waited to hear from Jeff Smulyan. TO BE CONTINUED...
- November 6, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

AWA VIDEO OF THE WEEK! From 1984 (some list it as '85 but I believe that's incorrect), it's the AWA World Tag Champs The Road Warriors vs. Baron Von Raschke and Curt Hennig. Features a great angle, the Warriors having to battle just to try to get back to the dressing room and a killer promo by the brothers in paint. Crowd heat: EXTREME! Certainly won't see anything like this in 'sports entertainment' today! <div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QzciBUkM6Ss?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="The Road Warriors vs Baron Von Raschke and Curt Hennig"></iframe></div></div> ENJOY! <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/eek.png.0e09df00fa222c85760b9bc1700b5405.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />
- November 4, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

SPRING 1989 AWA HEADQUARTERS - ST. LOUIS PARK, MN Verne Gagne sat reading the day's Minneapolis Star-Tribune newspaper as he waited for the call. The call was coming from Jeff Smulyan, owner of a mass communications empire and part-owner of baseball's Seattle Mariners. Smulyan is also a potential buyer for the AWA. Verne was reading the paper and sipping his coffee when his secretary buzzed in over the intercom. Verne: What is it, Jessica? Jessica: Call on line two, sir. Verne: Thanks, Jessica. Verne pushed the line two button. Verne: Hello. Smulyan: Is this Verne Gagne? Verne: Yes, it is. Smulyan: This is Jeff Smulyan. Verne: How are you, Jeff? Smulyan: I'm doing OK. How about yourself? Verne: I'm fine. Smulyan: Before we go any further, I just wanted you to now that, being an Indiana boy, I remember you from when I was growing up. Verne: Thank you. Were you a fan? Smulyan: Uh...I enjoyed pro wrestling when I was younger but I haven't really followed it in a number of years. Verne: I see. Well, let me tell you, Jeff, before we go any further that the wrestling business is unlike any other business out there. Smulyan: So I've heard. Verne: Owning a wrestling company is one thing. But you need good wrestling people around you to make the product successful over the long haul. Smulyan: I've heard the business can be very cyclical. Verne: It can be at times. But when you hit on a hot period it's like your slot machine keeps hitting three 7's every time. Smulyan chuckled. Smulyan: Well, Mr. Gagne... Verne: Please, call me Verne. Smulyan: Thank you. Well, Verne, the bottom line is I'm interested in possibly getting into the wrestling business. I know this can be a very lucrative undertaking. I also know it's going to take time and hard work to get this promotion back up to the level it needs to be at. Have you given any thought to a sales price? Verne: Yes, I have. I'm looking in the ballpark of $5 million for the whole promotion. Smulyan: That includes the entire tape collection, the ESPN deal and the deals you have with stations in different cities to carry your syndicated program, correct? Verne: That's right. Everything's included including the TV deals. Smulyan: I was thinking the asking price might be somewhere along those lines. Do things ever turn around quickly business-wise in pro wrestling? Verne: It can. But, now I'm not gonna lie to you, Jeff, it usually takes time for a turnaround to happen if business has been down for a while. You just have to weather the storm. Smulyan: How long, if I can ask? Verne: Could take months. Could take a year or more. Smulyan: I'm guessing when you say a year or more you mean years, correct? Verne: Yes. Smulyan: Well, Mr. Gagn..., Verne, being in business all these years, I consider myself a pretty good judge of the people I'm dealing with. You strike me as an honest man that I can work with. Verne: Thank you. Smulyan: I'll tell you what. I would like to send one of my executives and a couple of my company's accountants to your offices to go over the books and do their due dilligence. Verne: I know what that is. Smulyan: Great. How about I have one of my staff call you and set up a date and time when we can do this. Verne: Sounds good to me, Jeff. Smulyan: You'll be hearing from us soon, Verne. Verne: OK. Take care. Smulyan: Good talking with you. Verne: And you as well. Smulyan: Goodbye. Verne: Bye, Jeff. Verne hung up the phone and turned and looked out his office window. He was wondering if he was gonna pull the trigger and sell the AWA. TO BE CONTINUED...
- November 2, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

AWA ALL-STAR WRESTLING SYNDICATED TAPING RESULTS ROCHESTER, MN - ROCHESTER (MAYO) CIVIC CENTER - APRIL 1989 Since I'm not sure how they handled the taping schedules back then, I'm just going to pretend the syndicated taping run runs a week behind the Showboat tapings. Example: The second week Showboat taping would air the same week the first week syndicated taping would air, etc. Before the tapings started, Larry Nelson announced to the crowd that Sarge had defeated Zbysko to become the new AWA World Champion in Vegas a few nights earlier and the main event that evening would be Sarge defending against Zbysko instead of Zbysko defending against Patera. Also said that Patera was out with an arm injury caused in large part by Larry Zbysko using the bell on Patera's already injured left arm. 1st Taping Tom Zenk def. Tom 'Rocky' Stone Post-Match Interview w/ Zenk Studio Interview: Larry Nelson interviewed Baron Von Raschke The Top Guns (Ricky Rice & Derrick Dukes) def. Dennis Stamp & Jose-Luis Rivera Post-Match Interview w/ Guns Promos for shows in upcoming towns The Destruction Crew def. Buddah Khan & Jerry Allen Studio Interview: Larry Nelson interviewed AWA Legend Nick Bockwinkel. The pair looked at and discussed footage of a couple of Bockwinkel AWA World Title defenses from his career. Manny Fernandez def. Terry Gibbs Post-Match Interview w/ Fernandez. Fernandez cut a blistering promo on Wahoo. Promos for shows in upcoming towns In-studio: Larry Nelson interviewed Mando & Hector Guerrero. Basically a filler interview. TV Main Event: Greg Gagne battled Akio Sato to a double DQ - 9:18 2nd Taping In-studio: Larry Nelson opened the program reporting what happened to Ken Patera at the hands of Larry Zbysko and the fallout from the attack. Said they would be looking at the assault later in the program. Col. DeBeers def. Jake Milliman Post-Match Interview w/ DeBeers Milliman was laid out in the ring still feeling the effects of DeBeers' face-first piledriver. Nelson: Col. DeBeers, you have devastated another opponent with your face-first piledriver finisher... DeBeers: Look at him, Nelson! Look at that pathetic excuse of a white man! Jake Milliman shouldn't even be breathing the same air as me! Look at his gross body! His breath stinks! He has food in his beard! Not a shining example of our folk! He needs... DeBeers stomped away on Milliman and then snapped him up and threw Milliman over the top rope down to the floor. DeBeers followed Milliman to the floor, snapped Milliman up and slammed Milliman's head into the announcer's table. Milliman crumpled to the floor. DeBeers snapped Milliman up once more and repeated the head slam. Milliman back down on the floor. Crowd booing DeBeers. Nelson, on the mic, trying to get DeBeers to stop. DeBeers snapped Milliman up and Milliman was now bleeding. DeBeers held the hurting Milliman by the face and shoved Jake's face into the camera. DeBeers: Look at this disgrace! Look at him! DeBeers then threw the hapless Milliman down on the floor. Nelson: A little help out here! AWA refs and some jobbers came down to ringside as DeBeers backed off. After a brief stand-off, DeBeers headed back up the heel aisle as refs and jobbers checked on Jake. Promo aired for the main event...Baron Von Raschke vs. Jonnie Stewart Tom Zenk def. Steven Dane Post-Match Interview w/ Tom Zenk Zenk: Larry Nelson, everybody knows what a low-life Col. DeBeers is. He's bad news. But what I saw him do to Jake Milliman was beyond the pale. DeBeers, let me tell you something. You keep attacking wrestlers for no reason like you did with Jake, brother, you're gonna have to deal with me! Crowd popped. Baron Von Raschke promo for his main event match. Market-specific promos for shows in upcoming towns. Larry Nelson intro'd footage of the attack by Larry Zbysko on Ken Patera in Las Vegas. To read about the assault: http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=544125&page=3 (Scroll down to the AWA ESPN Taping from the Showboat 1st show re-cap.) Nelson said they'd show highlights from the Battle Royal to decide the new AWA World Title #1 Contender next week as well as interviews with champ Larry Zbysko and challenger Sgt. Slaughter. Badd Company w/ Mgr. DDP def. The Batten Twins Post-Match Interview w/ Badd Co. and DDP: DDP said Tanaka and Diamond may be naked around the waist right now. But that wasn't going to last long and those tag titles were coming home. and homeis around the waist's of Badd Co. Jonnie Stewart promo for his main event match. Market-specific promos for shows in upcoming towns. Don Muraco def. Rico Suave Post-Match Interview w/ Don Muraco Muraco talked about making a run at the World Title or getting a partner and going after the tag gold. Split-screen pic aired of Baron and Stewart with the caption: The Baron vs. Mr. Stewart...NEXT! TV MAIN EVENT: Baron Von Raschke vs. Jonnie Stewart At the end of the match: Baron was on the offensive and went to whip Stewart into the ropes but Stewart reversed and caught Baron coming off with a knee in the gut to score the pinfall victory - TIME: 7:32 3rd Taping In-studio: Larry Nelson hyped the upcoming interviews between World Champion Larry Zbysko and challenger Sgt. Slaughter as they head into their World Title clash. Hyped the TV Main Event: Wendi Richter defends the AWA Women's World Title against Candi Devine Destruction Crew def. Reno Riggins & Bob Holly In-Studio Interview: Larry Nelson interviewed Tommy Rich. Rich said he deserved a certain level of respect not generally accorded to most wrestlers because he was a former World Champion. Said that people who don't show him that respect should have to pay a very steep price for their disrespect. Pic aired with the caption: The Chief sees action...NEXT! Wahoo McDaniel def. Kenny Jay Post-Match Interview w/ Wahoo. Wahoo talked about his intense, on-going feud with Manny Fernandez. Candi Devine promo for her TV main event title challenge against champ Wendi Richter. Market-specific promos for shows in upcoming towns. In-studio: Larry Nelson intro'd the interview with AWA World Champ Zbysko and challenger Slaughter before their big upcoming World Title tilt in Vegas. To read the promos for the World Title match: http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=544125&page=3 Scroll down to the AWA ESPN Taping from the Showboat 2nd show re-cap. In-studio: Nelson talked briefly about the stunning news of Wahoo being named the special ref for the World Title match and Zbysko not being a bit happy about it. Wendi Richter promo for her World Title defense against Candi Divine in the TV main. Pic aired of Brad Rheingans with the caption: The Olympian sees action...NEXT! Market-specific promos for shows in upcoming towns. Brad Rheingans def. Gary Young Post-Match Interview w/ Rheingans. Rheingans talked about Patera's injury and hoped Patera would be back to defend the tag belts with him before the 30-day mandatory defense window closed and they'd have to forfeit the belts. In-Studio: Larry Nelson interviewed AWA promoter Verne Gagne. Gagne talked about all that went down with Zbysko and Patera and ordering a Battle Royal with the winner getting a shot at Zbysko for the gold. Talked about Sarge winning the Battle Royal and making Wahoo the special referee for the match. Said the match between Sarge and Zbysko (WC) would be airing in its entirity next week on ASW, Also, talked about fines and a possible punishment headed Zbysko's way in the weeks to come. Split-screen pic of Devine and Richter with the caption: Wendi vs. Candi for the Title...NEXT! TV MAIN EVENT: AWA Women's World Championship - Wendi Richter (WC) vs. Candi Devine Richter defeated Devine via pinfall when she rolled through a flying bodypress from Devine - TIME: 10:15 Nelson closed out the show by hyping the Slaughter-Zbysko (WC) AWA World Title match on ASW next week! 4th Taping In-studio: Larry Nelson welcomed fans to ASW. Said this was one of the biggest episodes in the history of the program as Larry Zbysko defends the AWA World Title against Sgt. Slaughter in Las Vegas. Nelson explained that Ken Patera was originally supposed to get the title shot against Zbysko in Las Vegas but an injury to his left arm in a match at a few nights earlier kept him from being able to compete and Zbysko attacked Patera and further injured the arm with the ring bell, thus putting Patera out of action even longer than originally expected. Nelson said Verne Gagne came up with an idea to hold a Battle Royal with the winner getting the shot at the championship. Nelson then intro'd highlights of the Battle Royal. To read about the Battle Royal: http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=544125&page=3 (Scroll down to the AWA ESPN taping from the Showboat 1st taping re-cap.) Nelson also discussed Wahoo being made the special ref for the bout and Zbysko not being happy about it. Pic aired of the AWA logo with the caption: World Championship Predictions...NEXT! Market-speciific promos for shows in upcoming towns. Larry Nelson intro'd video of wrestlers making predictions about who they thought would win the World Title clash between Zbysko (WC) and Sgt. Slaughter. VIDEO: Top Guns (Ricky Rice & Derrick Dukes): Sarge Destruction Crew: Zbysko Tom Zenk: Sarge Greg Gagne: Sarge Manny Fernandez: Zbysko Badd Co. & Mgr. DDP: Zbysko Baron Von Raschke: Sarge Tommy Jammer: Sarge Mando & Hector Guerrero: Split (Mando: Sarge/Hector: Zbysko) AWA Women's Champ Wendi Richter: Sarge Magnificent Mimi: Zbysko Tommy Rich: Zbysko Col. DeBeers: Zbysko AWA Legends Nick Bockwinkel, The Crusher & Dick The Bruiser: Sarge END OF VIDEO Nelson said when they came back, the fans would witness one of the most important matches in the history of the AWA: Larry Zbysko (WC) defends the AWA Gold against the Sarge! Market-specific promos for shows in upcoming towns. Larry Nelson intro'd the World Title Match. VIDEO: Main Event: AWA World Title Match - Larry Zbysko (WC) vs. Sgt. Slaughter (Special Ref: Wahoo McDaniel) Wahoo got a good ovation as he made his way down the face aisle to the ring and climbed in. Wahoo was in a black shirt, black pants and black shoes. Wahoo briefly acknowledged the crowd and went and stood in a corner. Marine Corps Hymn played and out came Sgt. Slaughter to a strong ovation. Sarge made his way down the face aisle, was in his ring attire, DI hat and sunglasses. He was carrying little American flags and handing them to fans on the way to the ring. Sarge climbed into the ring and saluted the crowd. After a brief pause... AWA World Champion Larry Zbysko came out in his ring attire and with the coveted belt around his waist. The champion made his way down the heel aisle to the ring and climbed in. Zbysko had a towel around his neck. Zbysko went and stood center ring and he and Wahoo engaged in a brief staredown. Zbysko then went to his corner. Nelson: Ladies and gentlemen, this match is scheduled for one fall with a 60-minute time-limit and is for the AWA Heavyweight Championship of the World! Crowd cheered. Zbysko walked out of his corner and up to Larry Nelson. Zbysko: I wasn't able to get this match stopped using legal means! So, I want President Stanley Blackburn to hear this all the way back in Minnesota! I am wrestling this match under protest! Zbysko stalked back to his corner as the crowd booed. Nelson: Introducing first, the special guest referee for this match...Chief Wahoo McDaniel! Crowd cheered. Wahoo stayed in a corner with arms folded. Nelson: And the challenger, he hails from Parris Island, South Carolina...weighing in at 298 pounds...he is 'America's Hero'...Sgt. Slaughter! Crowd cheered as Sarge stepped out of the corner and briefly saluted the fans. Nelson: And his opponent... Boos started raining down on the champ. Nelson: He is the reigning AWA World Champion! From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...weighing in at 235 pounds...Larry Zbysko! Zbysko took a step out of his corner with hands on hips, head tilted slightly back in an arrogant fashion and a smug look on his face. Zbysko took off the title and Wahoo went over to take the belt. Just before Zbysko handed it over, he was picked up on a mic: Zbysko: You make sure the belt is returned to its rightful owner when the match is over! Got me?! Wahoo briefly glared at Zbysko, took the title and then held the belt up for all to see before handing it off to Larry Nelson, who was now standing on the floor. Wahoo called both men out to the middle of the ring. Sarge and Zbysko locked eyes as Wahoo laid down the ground rules. Wahoo then patted each man down and sent each man back to his corner. Wahoo called for the bell. The two men came out of their corners and circled one another and engaged in a collar-and-elbow tie-up. The two struggled to gain the advantage and Sarge finally got the upper hand and drove Zbysko into the corner and Wahoo ordered a break. The two men cautiously separated from one another and Sarge slowly backed up. Zbysko moved out of the corner. The two men circled each other again and engaged in another collar-and-elbow tie-up and this time Zbysko drove Sarge into the corner. Wahoo again ordered a break. Zbysko backed up slowly and raised his hands in the air signaling a clean break. But this is Zbysko we're talking about here... Zbysko then quickly slapped Sarge across the face. Sarge glared at Zbysko. Crowd buzzing. Zbysko started backing up and begging off as Sarge came out of the corner. Zbysko quickly bolted from the ring to the floor. Crowd booed. Wahoo ordered Sarge to step back as Zbysko paced on the floor. Wahoo started the 10-count. Zbysko continued walking around on the floor as the count grew. At 7,. Zbysko climbed up on the apron. Sarge went to go after Zbysko and Zbysko quickly dropped again to the floor and went back to the infamous 'Zbysko stall'. More boos from the crowd. Wahoo had to step in between Sarge and the ropes and ordered Sarge to step back. Sarge did and he and Wahoo had brief words with one another. Wahoo started the 10-count once more. Once again, the count grew and Zbysko climbed back up on the apron and started to cautiously climb back into the ring as Sarge came over and went to grab Zbysko but the champ quickly dropped back to the floor to the un-delight of the crowd. Once again, Wahoo ordered Sarge to step back and Sarge did as told. Zbysko was standing on the floor next to the ring. As Wahoo counted, Zbysko turned to say something to the heckling fans at ringside. Sarge grew tired, went over and pushed Wahoo aside and reached down over the top rope and grabbed Zbysko by the hair. Crowd popped. Zbysko spun around in Sarge's grasp and was now facing the ring. As Wahoo tried to separate Sarge from Zbysko, Zbysko took the opportunity to reach into the ring and pull Sarge's legs out from under him. Sarge lost his grip on Zbysko's 'do and crashed to the mat. Move stunned Sarge. Zbysko pulled Sarge out of the ring and down to his feet on the floor. Zbysko caught the hurting Sarge with a couple of punches and whipped Sarge towards the ring post. Sarge slammed head-first into the post, stumbled forward and went down on the floor. Wahoo counting. Zbysko rolled in and out of the ring to break the count. Nelson: Elapsed time 5 minutes...55 minutes remain! Sarge had gotten to his hands and knees on the floor and Zbysko went over and kicked Sarge in the side of the ribs, snapped Sarge up by his thinning hair and slammed Sarge's head into the ring apron. Wahoo counting. Sarge down on a knee on the floor next to the ring. Zbysko snapped Sarge up and threw Sarge back in the ring. Zbysko climbed in and stomped on Sarge's head. Sarge hurting and holding his noggin. Zbysko picked up Sarge and bodyslammed the challenger. Zbysko quickly dropped down and covered the challenger. 1... Sarge kicked out. Zbysko up and snapped Sarge up in a front-facelock. Sarge responded by driving Zbysko back-first into the buckles. Zbysko lost his grip on Sarge. Sarge was bent over holding the middle rope. He quickly regained his bearings and popped Zbysko with a trio of deliberate shoulder blocks to the gut. Sarge whipped Zbysko into the opposite corner and charged in and looked to nail Zbysko with a running clothesline but Zbysko moved and Sarge slammed front-first into the buckles. Sarge leaned against the buckles. Zbysko clubbed Sarge in the back with forearm smash, pulled Sarge out of the corner and rolled Sarge up into a small package for the pin. 1...2... Sarge kicked out. Zbysko snapped to his feet and clapped his hands together rapidly three times in Wahoo's face and yelled: I had him down for three! Crowd booed. Wahoo shook his head 'no' and held up two fingers. Sarge had recovered enough, and while Zbysko was busy arguing with Wahoo, Sarge crawled up behind Zbysko and rolled Zbysko up for the pin. 1...2...thr... Zbysko kicked out. Both men up and Zbysko swung wildly at Sarge and missed and Zbysko spun himself around facing away from Sarge and Sarge popped Zbysko with an atomic drop. Zbysko down to his knees holding the jewels. Sage reached down and grabbed Zbysko by the hair and prepared to pull Zbysko to his feet but Zbysko caught Sarge with a couple of gut punches and a quick poke to the eye. Because of Wahoo's positioning he didn't see the eye poke. Sarge turned away grabbing his eye. Zbysko to his feet. Wahoo went over to Zbysko and gestured and said Zbysko poked Sarge in the eye. Zbsyko loudly proclaimed his innocence to the boos of the crowd. Zbysko moved in and caught Sarge with a head shot. Zbysko whipped Sarge into the ropes and caught Sarge coming off with a spin kick to the chest. Sarge crashed to the mat. Zbsyko for the cover. 1...2... Sarge kicked out. Zbysko shot to his feet and started arguing with Wahoo again about the count being too slow. The two had words. Nelson: Elapsed time 10 minutes...50 minutes remain! Sarge started getting up as Zbysko grabbed him by the hair, pulled him to his feet and went to slam Sarge's head into the top buckle but Sarge got his foot on the top buckle and blocked the try, elbowed Zbysko in the ribs and freed himself from Zbysko's grasp and slammed Zbysko's head into his boot. Zbysko stunned and staggered off. Sarge came up behind the champ, spun him around and blasted Zbysko with a head shot. Zbysko fell back against the ropes. Sarge whipped Zbysko into the ropes and caught Zbysko coming off with a back elbow to the chest. Zbysko crashed to the mat. Sarge reached down and snapped Zbysko up and popped Zbysko with a backbreaker across the knee. Sarge for the cover. 1...2... Zbysko kicked out. Sarge reached down and started pulling Zbysko up when Zbysko reached down and pulled Sarge's legs out from under him and Sarge crashed to the mat. Zbysko for the cover. 1... Zbysko placed a foot on the middle rope for leverage. ...2... Sarge got a shoulder up. Zbysko quickly removed his foot off the middle rope just as Wahoo looked over. Zbysko tried for the pin once again. 1... Again, Zbysko placed a foot on the middle rope. Fans yelling at Wahoo to check it out but Wahoo doesn't see it. ...2... Wahoo looked up and saw Zbysko's foot on the rope and ordered a break in the pin try. Zbysko once again had words with the Chief. Zbysko raised his fist like he was going to punch Wahoo but Sarge had gotten to his feet, came up behind Zbysko, grabbed Zbysko's arm, spun Zbysko around and popped Zbysko with an open hand chop to the chest. Zbysko in pain from the blow. Sarge snapped Zbysko up and hit him with a gutbuster across the knee. Zbysko down. Sarge for the cover. 1...2... Zbysko kicked out. Sarge snapped Zbysko up and whipped Zbysko into the ropes. Zbysko caught the top rope and held on and managed to bail through the top and middle rope from the ring to the floor as the crowd booed. Zbysko standing next to the ring with one arm on the apron and holding his gut with the other hand. Sarge went to go after Zbysko but Wahoo intercepted him and told him to stand back. Sarge had brief words with Wahoo but stood back. Wahoo started the 10-count. Zbysko started walking slowly at ringside and was shaking out the affects of the match. Zbysko made his way up on the apron at the count of 8. Zbysko started to climb back into the ring and Sarge went to grab him but Zbysko once again dropped back to the floor to more boos. Again, Wahoo ordered the irked Sarge to stand back. Sarge did and Wahoo started the 10-count. Zbysko standing on the floor holding his gut. Zbysko looked up at Sarge, waved and turned and headed back up the heel aisle. Sarge left the ring and followed Zbysko up the aisle. Sarge came up behind Zbysko, spun him around and nailed Zbysko with another open hand chest chop. Zbysko stunned. Wahoo counting. Sarge hoisted Zbysko over his shoulder and carried Zbysko back to the ring, up the ring steps and dumped Zbysko over the top rope back into the ring to break the count. Nelson: Elapsed time 15 minutes...45 minutes remain! Sarge stepped into the ring as Zbysko scooted on his ass into the corner. Sarge moved in slowly on Zbysko and Zbysko tried to call a timeout but there are no timeouts in wrestling. Sarge moved in to snap Zbysko up but Zbysko leaned out through the middle and bottom rope. Wahoo stepped in and ordered Sarge to step back. Sarge seemed to be irritated and he and Wahoo exchanged some heated words. Zbysko remained seated in the corner. Zbysko no longer had part of his upper body sticking out of the ring. Sarge went over and Zbysko tried the same stalling tactic to no avail. Sarge grabbed Zbysko's ankles and went to pull Zbysko out of the corner but Zbysko grabbed the top rope and held on and a tug-o-war ensued as Sarge tried to pry Zbysko off the rope. After a brief struggle, Sarge won and gave Zbysko a hard yank and Zbysko lost his grip on the top rope and crashed to the mat. Zbysko grabbed the back of his head. Sarge snapped Zbysko up, whipped Zbysko into the ropes and looked to catch Zbysko coming off with a backdrop but Zbysko caught Sarge with a kick to the chest. Sarge shot up and stumbled back and Zbysko popped Sarge with a jumping spin kick to the chest. Sarge crashed to the mat. Zbysko grabbed the top rope and put the boots to the Sarge. Wahoo counting. Zbysko stopped the illegal move at the count of 4. Zbysko snapped Sarge up and grabbed Sarge in a front facelock and nailed Sarge with a swinging neckbreaker. Sarge down on his side holding the back of his neck. Zbysko rolled Sarge over on his back and went for the cover. 1...2... Sarge kicked out. Zbysko up and stomped Sarge. Zbysko then grabbed Sarge and prepared to hoist Sarge up for a piledriver. Blears: Lee, if Zbysko hits this piledriver it's over. The neck has just been injured by the swinging neckbreaker. This would be the point of no return for Slaughter. Zbysko tried to hoist Sarge up for the piledriver but Sarge twice blocked the move and backdropped Zbysko to the mat. Crowd cheered. Nelson: Elapsed time 20 minutes...40 minutes remain! Zbysko up as Sarge got to a knee. Zbysko moved in on Sarge and Sarge stunned Zbysko with an uppercut to the jaw that stunned Zbysko. Zbysko staggered off and Sarge came up behind Zbysko and locked Zbysko in the Cobra Clutch. Crowd popping like zits. Zbysko struggling in the hold and trying to keep from passing out. Zbysko appeared to start weakening in the hold. In an act of desperaration, Zbysko lunged towards the buckles and slammed into Wahoo. Wahoo crashed into the buckles under the weight of both Zbysko and Sarge. Wahoo crashed to the mat and rolled out on the apron. Sarge's grip loosened on Zbysko and Zbysko was able to drive the back of his boot into the Sarge's wedding tackle to free himself from Sarge's grasp. Sarge stumbled and fell over next to the ropes holding his privates. Manny Fernandez came charging down the heel aisle and went over and peeled Wahoo off the apron and down to his feet on the floor. Fernandez slammed Wahoo's head into the ring post and Wahoo stumbled forward and went face down on the floor. Zbysko pounded away on Sarge and Sarge stumbled and fell in the middle of the ring. Zbysko signaled for Fernandez. Fernandez climbed into the ring. Fernandez and Zbysko snapped Sarge up, whipped Sarge into the ropes and caught Sarge coming off with a double clothesline. Sarge crashed to the mat and was laid out helplessly in the ring. Zbysko pointed at the announcer's/timekeeper's table and said something to Fernandez. Fernandez sneered and shook his head in agreement with what Zbysko just said. Fernandez left the ring for the floor as Zbsyko put the boots to the hurting Sarge. Wahoo now on one hand and both knees. The Chief was bleeding. Fernandez grabbed the ring bell off the table and climbed back into the ring as Zbysko pulled Sarge to his feet. Marshall: The ring bell comes into play again for Larry Zbysko. Blears: Lee, it might not be a bad idea to hide the bell when Zbysko is out here from now on. It would be a disgrace to see him retain the title this way. Zbysko held Sarge from behind as Fernandez prepared to hit Sarge with the ring bell. A bloody Wahoo was now on his feet on the floor. Wahoo looked up and saw what was about to happen. Fernandez raised the bell over his head and started to move towards Sarge when Wahoo climbed into the ring and came up behind Fernandez and snatched the bell from his hands. Wahoo tossed the bell aside as Fernandez spun around and Wahoo tore into Fernandez with a brutal a brutal series of rapid-fire chest chops. The chops stunned Fernandez and Wahoo grabbed Fernandez and threw Fernandez over the top rope and crashing down to the floor. Fans going wild. Zbysko threw Sarge down and went over and got in Wahoo's face and started jawing with Wahoo. As the two men were in a heated exchange, Sarge was recovering behind them. Nelson: Elapsed time 25 minutes...35 minutes remain! Zbysko went to hit Wahoo but Wahoo blocked the punch try. Sarge to his feet. Wahoo slammed Zbysko hard across the chest with a vicious chop that stunned Zbysko. Zbysko turned and walked right into a Slaughter Cannon that flatlined the champ. Crowd exploded. Sarge covered Zbysko and hooked the leg. 1...2...3! Crowd grew even louder as Wahoo called for the bell. Larry Nelson handed Wahoo the belt. Sarge to his feet and jubilantly pumped his big fists in the air. Crowd still roaring. Wahoo took the belt, handed it to Sarge and raised Sarge's hand in victory to the delight of the crowd. Nelson: In a time of 25 minutes, 12 seconds, your winner...and NEW AWA World Champion...Sgt. Slaughter! Crowd started chanting: Sarge! Sarge! Sarge! Wahoo helped Sarge put the belt on. Greg Gagne, the Top Guns, the Guerrero Brothers, Tommy Jammer, Baron Von Raschke, Wendi Richter and Tom Zenk all came to the ring to congratulate the new World Champion as the program ended. WINNER: Sarge - Pinfall - Slaughter Cannon - 25:12 Dark Matches No DQ: Wahoo McDaniel def. Manny Fernandez via pinfall after Wahoo snatched a chair from Fernandez's hands that Fernandez was about to use on Wahoo and Wahoo violently pummeled Fernandez with the chair - TIME: 17:43 - Both men bled buckets The Destruction Crew & Badd Company def. Hector & Mando Guerrero & The Top Guns when Pat Tanaka pinned Derrick Dukes after Tanaka clocked Dukes with DDP's cane as the ref got distratced by the other wrestlers brawling with each other - TIME: 12:33 AWA World Title: Sgt. Slaughter (WC) def. Larry Zbysko via submission with the Cobra Clutch - TIME:16:09 ATTENDANCE: 1,471 (Not good)
- November 1, 2019
- 154 replies
AWA 1989: A Financial Savior Is (Badly) Needed

Captain Kremmen replied to Captain Kremmen's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

CORRECTION: I originally posted my previous two posts (Posts #56 & 57) out of order. They are now corrected. Sorry for the error.
- November 1, 2019
- 154 replies
DOTM: September 2019

Captain Kremmen replied to Togg's topic in Total Extreme Wrestling 2016 Dynasties

Would you be opposed to a Gary Busey diary on here?
- October 31, 2019
- 5 replies

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