AMERICAN HEARTLAND WRESTLING: ALL-STAR WRESTLING February 16, 1983
WGN Studios (Chicago, Illinois)
Airing in: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Manitoba and Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcast Team: Gene Okerlund and Larry Nelson
Ring Announcer: Roger Kent
Referees: Marty Miller, Larry Lisowski, and Jimmy Bunning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Zplci9n9E We go now to WGN Studios in Chicago to our broadcast team Larry Nelson and ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund.
Larry Nelson: “Welcome wrestling fans to the American Heartland Wrestling’s flagship program All-Star Wrestling. We are here in beautiful downtown Chicago for another hour of the best professional wrestling in the world today. I’m Larry Nelson and joining me here tonight is the one, the only, Mean Gene Okerlund!”
Gene Okerlund: ‘Thank you very much Larry, it’s a pleasure to be here to present the major leagues of professional wrestling to all these great fans. We have some major announcements to make as well as some incredible in-ring action to bring to you.”
Larry Nelson: “Right here tonight, we will have an incredible main event. Blackjack Lanza is gearing up to defend his American Television Championship against Baron Von Raschke, but first he will have to put the gold on the line right here today!”
Gene Okerlund: “That’s right, Larry. Blackjack Lanza puts the gold on the line against former Olympian Brad Rheingans. Two wrestlers that the fans really enjoy. Plus, we will have the return of one of the most imposing wrestlers in the world today, the 450 lb. Mountain from Stone Mountain Jerry Blackwell!”
Larry Nelson: “The fans here in the Heartland know just how dangerous Jerry Blackwell can be. Right now, I’d like to welcome American Heartland Wrestling’s representative for the AWA, Lord James Blears, out to make a special announcement!”
Lord James Blears: “It’s so nice to see you both. As you know, I am tasked to run the administration of American Heartland Wrestling. We have been fortunate to have two internationally recognized champions competing here in recent months. Of course, the AWA USA Heavyweight Champion Jim Brunzell has been so popular with all of our fans.
“We have also the Heartland Heavyweight Champion Paul Ellering. He’s quite the devious sort, but there is no doubt that he is a top professional wrestler. I think it’s high time that these two men meet to unify those titles. That’s exactly what will happen on March 12 at the International Amphitheatre right here in Chicago. Our main event will pit the AWA USA Heavyweight Champion Jim Brunzell against Heartland Heavyweight Champion Paul Ellering to unify those belts. The winner will be recognized as the American Heavyweight Champion by the AWA!”
Gene Okerlund: “An unbelievable announcement, your lordship!”
Lord James Blears: “That’s not all, Mr. Okerlund. On that night, the winner of today’s bout between American Television Champion Blackjack Lanza and Brad Rheingans will go against Baron Von Raschke. We will also have the AWA World Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura going against Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens. It will be a night of three main events! Triple the action, triple the excitement – for just normal ticket prices. Don’t miss it fans!”
Larry Nelson: “I’ll be there! Mean Gene, I know YOU will be there. I know Lord Blears that you will be there. Come join us for a night that nobody will ever forget. We’ll be right back!”
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Larry Nelson and Gene Okerlund are joined at ringside by Paul Ellering and his Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal).
Larry Nelson: “This man is the Heartland Heavyweight Champion Precious Paul Ellering. These men to his side are the Legion of Doom. Mr. Ellering, you have a big night coming up on March 12 at the International Amphitheatre.”
Paul Ellering: “Larry Nelson, I see exactly what is going on here. I know the score. You see, The likes of Lord Blears don’t like having a man such as myself as one of the AWA champions because I don’t tow the company line. I come out here and I get what I want by taking it, not just waiting patiently for my turn like Greg Gagne or Blackjack Lanza. They don’t like that. So what do they do?
“The brass here in the AWA decide to try to take away my title by putting me in the ring with the hometown boy, Jim Brunzell. Brunzell, I know all of these people see a lot themselves in you. I know they cheer for you because you remind them of their brothers or husbands or friends. Well, I’m proud to say these people see nothing of themselves in a man like Paul Ellering. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because a man like Paul Ellering wouldn’t have waited six years for a chance at a singles title like you did!
“I came here a few months ago and here I stand as the Heartland Heavyweight Champion, whether anyone here likes it or not! This is the title that means something around here – not your shiny gold belt. It’s real simple. March 12. Chicago. I take the midwest’s hometown boy and I stomp his head into the mat. I break an arm or a leg. I embarrass him. And then, Lord Blears and his cronies will have no choice but to raise my hand as the American Heavyweight Champion!”
Larry Nelson: “I happen to think your claims of bias are unfounded Mr. Ellering, but let me turn the questioning to your Legion of Doom. They are signed to compete at the Chicago Amphitheatre, but so far there contract remains open.”
Paul Ellering: “You’re not an idiot, Mr. Nelson – despite that goofy haircut. You know that no tag team in the world today wants to step into the ring with the Legion of Doom. These men are monsters. I happen to have a tiny modicum of decency in my body – these men don’t even have that. That’s why nobody will face them. Tell ‘em Hawk.”
Hawk: “WELLLLLLLLLL – it’s real simple to me! See, I remember the first time that I ever broke somebody else’s bone. It was 8 years-old in the school when some big fat kid decided to try to bully me. He shoved me to the ground and then laughed at me to all his fat little friends.
“In my mind, there was only one thing to do. I’d had fights before. And even at 8 years old, I’d never lost one. So I stood back up, tapped this fatso on the shoulder and kicked him in his big belly when he turned around. That wasn’t good enough though. I had to send a message. So I took his right arm and stuck in the opening of our little gate. Everyone looked in horror as I just smiled. That’s when I hear another kid laughing.
“I turned around to see little Animal – he wasn’t so little! He was clapping and cheering me on. But why do it alone when two could make the message that much clearer? So my brother Animal here held his arm in place as I slammed that gate into it. Again! And again! And again! Until I heard a snap. Then, I slammed it again just to make myself clear.
“So, it’s probably pretty clear why no team in the AWA wants to face us. Nobody can take us – nobody wants their bones broken. Too bad! We wanna break bones so we’ll do it in organized matches or we’ll do outside the ring. You don’t like it? WE DON’T CARE! Somebody try to stop us! We dare you!”
Larry Nelson: “Strong words from Paul Ellering and his Legion of Doom. Let’s go up to Ron Trongard in the ring!”
Match One:
Jumbo Tsuruta (w/ Fred Blassie) vs. Jake Milliman The Hollywood Fashion Plate leads his newest charge Jumbo Tsuruta down to the ring for his match with the Milkman. Jake tries to shake the hand of Jumbo, only for Tsuruta to back up and drill him with the Lariatoooooo! Tsuruta suplexes Milliman around the ring for most of the match. Milliman is just about beaten when Jumbo finishes the job with a double under-hook suplex.
Winner: Jumbo Tsuruta Fred Blassie raises Jumbo Tsuruta’s hand in the ring after the bell is rung and then they move over to the broadcast booth.
Gene Okerlund: “Mr. Blassie, I have to admit, that was a highly impressive display by your man, Jumbo Tsuruta!”
Fred Blassie: “Of course it was! I don’t manage losers. Get a good look at home viewers because yer lookin’ at the one and only true giant in professional wrestling. This man is not only the best pure wrestler in the sport today, he’s also the biggest! From now on, this man is to be known as the Giant Tsuruta!”
Gene Okerlund: “The Giant Tsuruta?!”
Fred Blassie: “That’s right! And the Giant Tsuruta is going to go straight to the here in American Heartland Wrestling. Put any pencil-necked geek up against him that you want – Tsuruta WILL come out on top!”
Gene Okerlund: “Freddie Blassie and his Giant Tsuruta – I happen to know two men who just might take exception to that new moniker!”
COMMERCIAL BREAK
VTR: We come back with a special look at a new tag team coming to American Heartland Wrestling – from Montreal, Raymond Rougeau and Jacques Rougeau Jr!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs--3SHYBOc Match Two:
Larry ‘The Axe’ Hennig & Harley Race vs. Larry Sharpe & Doug Sommers Sharpe and Sommers have been impressive so far here in American Heartland Wrestling, but they are up against former AWA World Tag Team Champions here. Race and Hennig use their experience advantage to keep Sharpe on their side of the ring and really work Larry over. The finish sees Harley come off the second rope with a diving headbutt on Sharpe to score the win.
Winners: Larry ‘The Axe’ Hennig & Harley Race Harley Race and Larry Hennig move over to the desk where Larry Nelson is standing by.
Larry Nelson: “Gentleman, that was certainly a command performance!”
Larry Hennig: “Those young kids are pretty good – but they have a ways to go before they can beat a team like Harley and myself.”
Harley Race: “Larry, speaking of teams that might be a little head of themselves, I had Paul Ellering and his Legion of Doom out here early. You know, I’ve been around the block a few times. I’ve wrestled the best of the best. I’ve also wrestled a lot of guys who think they’re the best, but find out that’s not the case when the bell rings.
“Hawk and Animal have very impressive physiques. But do they know a wrist lock from a wrist watch? We don’t really know. So boys, I think I can speak for Larry when I say we will sign on the dotted line for March 12. You be ready. Because all those muscles won’t stop you from experience of a world of pain.”
Larry Nelson: “Fans, it looks like a challenge has been accepted. We’ll be right back.”
COMMERCIAL BREAK
‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund is standing by with Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens.
Gene Okerlund: “Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens, you have asked for your shot against Jesse Ventura and Adrian Adonis and you will get it at the International Amphitheatre as part of a triple main event on March 12.”
Nick Bockwinkel: “All that’s left now is time, Mr. Okerlund. The match has been signed. Travel arrangements for Mr. Ventura and Mr. Adonis have been made. They’re going to have to come to grips with that fact that whining and complaining will not change the fact that they most put those coveted gold belts on the line against Mr. Stevens and myself in Chicago.
“It’s quite interesting. I think it’s fair to say that Mr. Stevens and myself would be placed a rouge’s gallery of sorts here in the AWA. I believe Mr. Ventura and Mr. Adonis would occupy a similar position. The difference is, everything they do to win their matches – every rule they break, they learned it from watching myself and Mr. Stevens all these years.
“Mr. Adonis, Mr. Ventura, you two might be cut from the same cloth as Mr. Stevens and I, but there is something you need to know. We know all your tricks of the trade because you nicked them from us. But there are still many things we’ve never shown you. It just might be one of those tricks that is your undoing on March 12 in Chicago. Time, as they say, will tell.”
Gene Okerlund: “Hopefully we will have a response from the champions next week. Right now, let’s go to the ring!”
Match Three:
‘Mountain from Stone Mountain’ Jerry Blackwell vs. ‘The Sidewinder’ George Weingeroff The Sidewinder is a slippery competitor in that right, but he is hugely outsized by the monstrous Mountain from Stone Mountain. Blackwell is vicious as he traps Weingeroff in the corner and really works him over. The closing moments see Blackwell land a devastating series of forearm strikes to Weingeroff’s back and then scoop him up for a ring-shaking power-slam. Blackwell stays on top for the cover to get the academic three count.
Winner: Jerry Blackwell Jerry Blackwell moves over to the broadcast desk to speak with Larry Nelson after his victory.
Larry Nelson: “An incredible show of strength by this man, the Mountain from Stone Mountain Jerry Blackwell!”
Jerry Blackwell: “Git used to it! Because that’s the way things go when a man steps inside the ring with ME!”
Larry Nelson: “Jerry, you will have considerably tougher opposition at the International Amphitheatre on March 12…”
Jerry Blackwell: “Ain’t nobody competition for me! Which poor sucker has to get into the ring with me in Chica-gah?”
Larry Nelson: “It will be none other than the man who fought his way from Milwaukee to Manitoba – The Crusher!”
Jerry Blackwell: “Are you kiddin’ me? That old fool. Cameraman – git yerself a shot of that ring. See that boy who they are having to scrape off the canvas. That boy’s been crushed! I’m the Crusher! Not some dumb, ol’ fool midget who won a couple bar fights! Yer lookin’ at a man who can take the whole damn bar – not just one guy! Crusher, let’s get this real straight. March 12 in Chicago, I show you and all these people who THE REAL CRUSHER is!”
Larry Nelson: “Jerry Blackwell is imposing that’s for sure – we’ll see if he can carry through with his words!”
COMMERCIAL BREAK
‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund is joined at ringside by the challenger for our next match, former Olympia Brad Rheingans.
Gene Okerlund: “Brad Rheingans, you have a big opportunity here on All-Star Wrestling. How have you prepared?”
Brad Rheingans: “You’re right, Mr. Okerlund It is a major opportunity. It’s the kind of opportunity I’ve had since I cut loose that loser partner of mine Steve Williams. Tonight, I face Blackjack Lanza. It’s a wrestler versus a fighter. Lanza is tough – as tough as they come! But the wrestler always beats the fighter. Tonight will be no different!”
Gene Okerlund: “Let’s find out as we go back to Roger Kent.”
Main Event: American Television Championship Match
Blackjack Lanza © vs. Brad Rheingans Both men have a daunting task ahead – the winner faces former AWA World Heavyweight Champion Baron Von Raschke on March 12 in Chicago. They are tentative to start off here, but Rheingans finds success as he takes Lanza to the canvas and ties him up with various holds to weaken his claw arm.
Lanza fights back and almost scores the win with a vertical suplex, but Brad is able to kick out at the last second. The clothesline moments see Rheingans show power by lifting Lanza up into a fireman’s carry, but Lanza slips out the back. Lanza then locks in the claw, but Rheingans rolls it through before it really locks in and has a small package. The bell rings!
Brad Rheingans thinks he has won the title, but Roger Kent announces that the time limit has expired! Brad isn’t happy to have defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. He asks for five more minutes, but before he can responds he is attacked from behind by Baron Von Raschke! Von Raschke boots the tired Lanza and applies his own version of the claw!
The referee and officials are demanding that the Baron break the hold as Lanza begins to fade, while a shocked Rheingans looks on momentarily. He finally charges over, hip-locks the Baron and suplexes him to the canvas! Baron rolls out of the ring and charges off while medics tend to Lanza. A frustrated Rheingans walks off.
Winner: Time Limit Draw (Lanza retains) Baron Von Raschke storms over to the desk.
Gene Okerlund: “Baron Von Raschke, that was totally uncalled for!”
Baron Von Raschke: “Herr Okerlund, I do not answer to you! The Americanishe Television Championship is mine – I take it from Lanza in Chicago! Brad Rheingans – I warn you now: stay out of my way. Or you too will face the power of THE CLAAAAAAAAAW!!!! And that is all da people need to know!”
Gene Okerlund: “Fans, we have to take one more break.”
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Gene Okerlund and Larry Nelson are joined by AWA USA Heavyweight Champion Jim Brunzell for our final moments this week.
Larry Nelson: “Jim Brunzell has joined us as we wrap up. Very good to see you Jim!”
Jim Brunzell: “Thank you Larry. Thank you Gene. Firstly, I want to just say that what Baron Von Raschke just did is disgusting. I think he’ll have a lot to answer for it when Blackjack Lanza gets him in the ring. I know we’re running short on time, but I just want to respond to my opponent for Chicago, Paul Ellering.
“Paul, you talked real big out here earlier. You tried to say that you are better than – better than these great Heartland fans. You’re wrong. I may have had to wait my turn for a singles title shot, but here I am with the gold around my waist. You had to cheat me to get your belt. In Chicago, we’ll just see what kind of man you are. A real wrestler or a lying, cheat who has to bend the rules to win. Because you know and I know that if it comes down to wrestling – which is the name on the marquee – you can’t beat me!”
Gene Okerlund: “Jim Brunzell, thank you very much! For Larry Nelson, Roger Kent, this is Mean Gene Okerlund thanking you for joining us here tonight on All-Star Wrestling. We’ll see you next week!”
© 1983, AWA AMERICAN HEARTLAND WRESTLING
AMERICAN HEARTLAND WRESTLING COMES TO CHICAGO!!!!
March 12, 1983
The International Amphitheatre (Chicago, Illinois)
You Will See 10 Big Matches:
CHAMPIONSHIP UNIFICATION MATCH:
AWA USA Heavyweight Champion Jim Brunzell
Vs.
Heartland Heavyweight Champion ‘Precious’ Paul Ellering
AWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura & Adrian Adonis
Vs.
Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens
AMERICAN TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Blackjack Lanza
Vs.
Baron Von Raschke
TAG TEAM GRUDGE MATCH:
Larry ‘The Axe’ Hennig & Harley Race vs. The Legion of Doom
ARABIAN CHAIN MATCH:
Sheik Adnan El-Kaisse vs. Greg Gagne
SINGLES MATCH:
Jerry Blackwell vs. The Crusher
PLUS:
Brad Rheingans vs. Curt Hennig
Jacques Rougeau Jr. & Raymond Rougeau vs. Larry Sharpe & Doug Sommers
& More
Pages: 1
AMERICAN HEARTLAND WRESTLING TV 2/16/83 [AWA] (Read 67 times)