Category: WWF/WWE (Pro Wrestling)

SUMMARY:                    RUNNING TIME: 16:01 Min.

After losing his AWA World Championship at the Tokyo Dome two months before, self-proclaimed “Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko sought to reclaim the title from Mr. Saito (Masa Saito).  Their title rematch headlined the AWA’s last significant show: SuperClash IV.  The site would be Saint Paul Civic Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on April 8, 1990. 

At ringside are AWA owner/promoter Verne Gagne and (off-camera) his son, Greg Gagne.  Also present, as representatives of Japanese pro wrestling, are Riki Choshu and Tiger Hattori, to support Saito.  Four-time AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel would be this title bout’s special guest referee.  Neither commentary nor on-screen graphics are included, so the unfiltered video footage resembles that of an average house show.    

By year’s end, the AWA essentially became defunct, with only its contractually obligated ESPN programming keeping the promotion alive.  By January 1991, the AWA World Championship had been deactivated.  The AWA’s dissolution, per its bankruptcy, became official as August of 1991.

Note: Verne Gagne’s Minneapolis-based AWA was the American Wrestling Association.

REVIEW:

Some reviewers have judged this Saito/Zbyszko bout harshly, as in a mere ½-star-caliber rating.  Undeniably, the match isn’t good, but it’s not that horrendous, either.  Apart from a single Scorpion Deathlock, Saito and Zbyszko ride a wrestling time warp to the 1950’s.  Evidently, it’s the best that a 48-year-old Saito and 39-year-old Zbyszko could muster. 

To no one’s surprise, this AWA World Title defense is likely 1990’s most methodically mundane.  Zbyszko (the king of stall tactics) and the no-nonsense Saito were both far better in-ring tacticians than the WWF’s then-new World Champion, the Ultimate Warrior.  Unlike the one-dimensional Warrior, their glaring problem is that neither one generates an ounce of fan-friendly charisma.  That’s why this AWA championship bout is a sleep-inducing slog to watch. 

As for why it’s the last noteworthy AWA World Title match, one should beware of the bleak context.  Decimated by the WWF’s mid-to-late 80’s talent raids, Verne Gagne’s thirty-year-old AWA was coasting on fumes by April 1990.  Backstage squabbling had halted cooperative relief from the Von Erichs’ Dallas-based WCCW (World Class Championship Wrestling) and Jerry Lawler’s Memphis-based CWA/USWA (Championship Wrestling Association/United States Wrestling Association). 

Yet, between late 1988 and early 1990, Gagne still had some popular options in anointing a possibly game-changing World Champion. Kerry Von Erich, Nikita Koloff, the acrobatic Tom Zenk (like Koloff, a Minnesota native), or an aging Sgt. Slaughter could have all potentially spearheaded an AWA rebuild.   Besides Zbyszko, prominent heels included Tully Blanchard and Kokina Maximus (aka the WWF’s future Yokozuna) – both of whom appeared on SuperClash IV’s undercard.  Such star power might have sparked AWA’s remaining fanbase a glimmer of hope heading into the 1990’s.   

Gagne’s old school mentality predictably veered towards nepotism in choosing his son-in-law, Zbyszko, as the promotion’s supposed savior.  Per company tradition, this decision made some sense: Zbyszko possessed the necessary technical skills for an AWA World Champion.  His villainous drawing power (a decade after his legendary WWF feud against Bruno Sammartino), however, was dubious at best. 

A title rivalry with a Japanese veteran of Mr. Saito’s caliber wasn’t likely to excite fans stateside to the mediocre AWA product.  Again, this SuperClash IV match-up competed against exciting World Title feuds like the NWA/WCW’s Sting and Lex Luger challenging Ric Flair or the WWF’s Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude (or Hulk Hogan vs. any WWF villain).  Zbyszko’s who-cares? title challenge, in other words, didn’t stand a chance.

Try as they might, Saito and Zbyszko’s no-frills showdown, along with Nick Bockwinkel’s classy presence, will appeal to nostalgic AWA die-hards only.  Ironically, the ring announcer’s post-match confusion is realistic.  More so, having Saito and Zbyszko both question Bockwinkel before he explains the contested three-count to the announcer is a nice touch. 

Unfortunately, this bout’s lackluster action ensures its historical significance would plummet into pro wrestling’s dustbin.     

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     3 Stars

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SUMMARY:                   RUNNING TIME: 2 Hrs., 27 Min.

The AWA and NWA, through their short-lived ‘Pro Wrestling U.S.A.’ co-promotional banner, presented the show on December 29, 1985, at the Meadowlands Arena, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  Evidently, the program was televised on cable by the USA Network that same night. 

The only non-wrestling talent seen on-screen are ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta and, at ringside, Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Bill Apter.  Per the video’s disclaimer, this show isn’t complete, as at least one match introduction is missing, etc.     

Utilizing a single (and occasionally fuzzy) camera, Night (or Nite) of Champions II presents limited visual angles.  More significantly, neither ringside commentary nor interviews are provided.  Hence, TV viewing is like silently catching a house show from an ideal distance.     

Opening the footage are NWA interviewer Tony Schiavone’s pre-taped bluescreen promos with The Road Warriors & “Precious” Paul Ellering; a bandaged Tully Blanchard & his valet, Baby Doll; and The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson). 

The event’s card is as follows:

1. “Cowboy” Ron Bass  vs. J.J. Dillon (Running Time: 5:02)

Quick Take:  By far this show’s weakest entry, as Dillon is no Bobby Heenan when it comes to projecting a villainous manager’s charisma.  Bass finally scores some fan approval near the end.  Rating: 2½/10 Stars.

2. World Midget Champion Little Tokyo vs. “Cowboy” Lang (Running Time: 9:14)

Quick Take: Though midget wrestling, generally, is of dubious taste, both “Cowboy” Lang and Little Tokyo demonstrate remarkable athleticism.  Their match is, suffice to say, better than expected.  Rating: 6½/10 Stars.   

3. AWA Women’s World Champion Sherri Martel vs. Debbie Combs (Running Time: 11:12)

Quick Take: A villainous Martel’s in-ring work is okay, but the veteran Combs helps make up the difference.  Both women contribute solidly tuned performances worthy of the mid-80’s.  Rating: 7/10 Stars.   

4. WWC Universal Champion Carlos Colón vs. The Barbarian (with Paul Jones)  (Running Time: 5:31)

Quick Take: The Barbarian’s potential star power is obvious in spite of a famous Colón’s middling effort.  Their match’s outcome climaxes on an unconvincing reversal, which epitomizes the Barbarian’s career fate as an also-ran.  Rating: 4½/10 Stars.   

5. The Fabulous Freebirds’ Buddy Roberts vs. “Precious” Paul Ellering (Running Time: 4:58) – SPECIAL GRUDGE MATCH

Quick Take: Roberts’ notorious Freebird compatriots (Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Terry Gordy) are absent, as he faces a vengeful Ellering alone.  Wearing a neck brace, Ellering, as he would also demonstrate in 1987-88 War Games bouts, appears remarkably gifted in short spurts.  As cheered by the audience, the Road Warriors Hawk & Animal make a ‘guest appearance’ to seek retaliation on Roberts.  Rating:  5½/10 Stars.  

6. NWA World Tag Team Champions: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) vs. The Long Riders: “Wild” Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin (Running Time: 11:48)

Quick Take: Even if the Irwins aren’t first-rate competition, their work against the nimble Rock ‘N’ Rolls at least serves up a standard-issue tag title defense.  In that sense, this bout is certainly watchable.  Rating: 6/10 Stars.   

7. AWA Americas Champion Sgt. Slaughter vs. Boris Zhukov & Chris Markoff (Running Time: 12:52) – HANDCAP RUSSIAN DEATH MATCH

Quick Take: A still-in-his-prime Slaughter scores the loudest audience pop for AWA talent.  Though this rough-and-tumble brawl overstays its welcome, a bloody Slaughter reminds viewers of his drawing power.  As for Zhukov and Markoff – predictably, not so much.  Rating: 6/10 Stars.     

8. NWA U.S. Champion Magnum T.A. vs. Tully Blanchard (with Baby Doll) (Running Time: 12:27)

Quick Take: In the first of back-to-back Starrcade ’85 rematches, this title bout exudes both welcome substance and star power.  With both veterans shedding blood, Magnum T.A. and Blanchard’s classic in-ring chemistry is impressive.  Unquestionably, this showdown is the night’s gem.  Rating: 8½/10 Stars.   

9. NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes (Running Time: 14:51)

Quick Take: The second Starrcade ’85 rematch is programmed as vintage Flair vs. Rhodes straight through to the cop-out ‘Dusty Finish.’  Still, these legends deliver reliable entertainment, in spite of this dubious industry cliché.  Rating: 7/10 Stars.     

10. The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal (with “Precious” Paul Ellering) vs. The Russian Team: Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khruschev (with Nikita Koloff) (Running Time: 11:14) – AUSTRALIAN TAG TEAM RULES

Quick Take:  Contested under supposed ‘Australian-style’ rules, this brawl’s power-packed choreography is exactly what one would expect.  Even without surprises, it’s some brutally fun nostalgia.  Rating: 6/10 Stars.

11. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs. Stan “The Lariat” Hansen (Running Time: 13:47)

Quick Take:  The night’s final bout is also a rematch, as its combatants previously faced off at SuperClash ’85: The Night of Champions three months before. Unlike their quick double-DQ finish last time, Martel and Hansen make some AWA history.

Consistent with its realistic choreography, this title showdown is all about pitting a low-key Martel’s ground game vs. Hansen’s vicious, cowboy-style bullying. The result, in all fairness, doesn’t make for the most exciting viewing.  Nonetheless, the AWA could be proud of the old-school workmanship that Martel and Hansen supply – pro wrestling doesn’t have to be solely about vivid personalities. 

For that matter, it says plenty that the New Jersey crowd readily prefers a roughhousing Hansen over the cheerful yet comparatively bland Martel.  Rating: 7/10 Stars.      

Notes: To clarify the acronyms: the AWA is Verne Gagne’s Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Association while the NWA is the National Wrestling Alliance.  The NWA’s talent for this show was supplied by the Crockett Family’s Charlotte, NC-based World Championship Wrestling (WCW) promotion.  The WWC is Colón’s co-owned World Wrestling Council out of Puerto Rico. 

Lastly, the individual match times in this review are mostly going by the official post-match announcements. As other accounts will vary, the match times should be deemed more of a best guess.  

REVIEW:

Scoring a moderate success on the established turf of Vince McMahon’s rival WWF (World Wrestling Federation), the AWA and NWA promoters rightfully should have been encouraged.  Despite lacking the magic of Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, etc., their Night (or Nite) of Champions II efficiently conjures up a product that could compete for any serious wrestling fan.  Conversely, given its minimal production values, where this show falls far short is generating mainstream interest, as compared to the cheesy WWF’s assortment of resources.

Overall, comparing its in-ring content to the WWF’s original WrestleMania only nine months earlier, Night (or Nite) of Champions II readily prevails.  That said, nearly forty years later, the AWA/NWA Night (or Nite) of Champions II deserves a chance for re-discovery.       

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   6½ Stars

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SUMMARY:              RUNNING TIME: 22:30 Min.

WrestleMania XX occurred on March 14, 2004, at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.  One of its two main events would pit the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) World Champion Eddie Guerrero defending his title vs. four-time ex-champion Kurt Angle.  The bout’s ringside commentators are Michael Cole and Tazz.

REVIEW:

This title defense is flawlessly executed.  In their mid-thirties, rugged veterans Guerrero and Angle both still appear in virtually peak technical form.  More so, there aren’t any cheap added components: i.e. outside inference or foreign objects to taint their in-ring star power. 

Their ultra-competitive bout instead focuses on choreography (both masterful and brutal), especially as neither Angle nor Guerrero telegraph the match’s outcome.  In the moments leading up to the inspired finish, one does get a hint, but it’s ingeniously played. 

The match ultimately comes down to Guerrero’s ring savviness and high-flying agility vs. Angle’s pit-bull tenacity and mastery of submission holds.  Decades later, this Guerrero-Angle title showdown absolutely merits re-discovery.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        10 Stars

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