SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 11:09 Min.
This CWA match evidently occurs in Nashville, TN, but its approximate date is likely sometime in the early ‘80s between Nick Bockwinkel’s runs as AWA World Champion. Playing the babyface (a rarity – per the commentary, the ex-AWA champ hadn’t been cheered in that region in five years), Bockwinkel challenges for Randy Savage’s AWA Southern Heavyweight title.
As a dangerously agile heel, the fiery Savage is backed by a white-haired manager (whoever it is – it’s evidently not his dad, Angelo Poffo) standing at ringside with a cane.
REVIEW:
This obscure mat classic further enhances the impressive list of future Wrestling Hall-of-Famers that Nick Bockwinkel faced off against during that era (Hogan, Flair, Lawler, Hennig, Backlund, etc.). Unsurprisingly, the less-than-flashy ring veteran demonstrates his own legendary technical skills tangling with the brash and much-younger Savage.
Plausibly delivering and taking punishment from each other, the long-time ex-AWA Champion and the future WWF/WCW World Champion both appear near the top of their prospective games. For fans, it’s a well-played brawl.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
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