AWA TV 7-28-88 Orton vs Backlund!
Aug 9, 2017 16:34:32 GMT
Post by Chitohausen on Aug 9, 2017 16:34:32 GMT
AWA “PRO WRESTLING USA”
Airdate: Friday, July 28, 1988
Broadcast nationwide on Superstation WGN
Taped July 19, 1988 at the Fargo Civic Center in Fargo, ND
“From coast to coast, border to border, and continent to continent, this is the AWA, the major leagues of professional wrestling!”
Rod Trongard opens the show, and welcomes his co-host Diamond Dallas Page!
Trongard runs down what we’ll see on tonight’s program, including the main event, where two of the most talented technical wrestlers in the world will square off, as former World champion Bob Backlund meets Bob Orton Jr!
At that point, they’re joined at the announce desk by Bob Orton Jr. Orton says he has something he wants to show the fans.
We see a clip of the final minutes of the match between Orton and Jimmy Snuka from Denver on July 4. Orton wins a hard-fought battle, after hitting Snuka with a foreign object, out of the referee’s view.
Trongard says it was an impressive victory, though tainted by the use of a foreign object on Orton’s part.
Orton tells Trongard to zip it, and says that he beat Snuka, fair and square, as the fans saw. He says that he’s been on a winning streak lately, but nobody is taking him seriously. He says that he’ll face a legend later tonight in Bob Backlund, and when he wins that match, he DEMANDS that the matchmakers and promoters here in the AWA start showing him the respect he deserves! He demands more quality matches, so that he can prove that he belongs in the hunt for the AWA titles.
Trongard says that if Orton wins his matches and climbs the ladder, he has no doubt that the AWA Championship Committee will grant him some title matches.
Orton says that’s bull, he’s been winning matches, he’s been climbing the ladder, and nothing! He says that from here on out, he’s going to do whatever he has to in order to get the attention of the AWA promoters.
NIKITA KOLOFF VS. JOEL DEATON. Koloff gets the win following the Russian Sickle.
Magnum TA is standing by with the Hart Foundation: Paul Orndorff, Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart & Jimmy Hart. Magnum says that Paul Orndorff has been doing a lot of talking lately regarding the #1 contender to his Americas title, Sgt. Slaughter.
Orndorff says that he’s done nothing but tell the truth! He says that, at first it was just speculation, but now he has actual PROOF that Sgt. Slaughter has been lying to all these people for years . . . Sgt. Slaughter was never a Marine!
Magnum asks what proof Orndorff could possibly have to back up this ridiculous claim?
Orndorff replies that he’ll produce the evidence right here next week on Pro Wrestling USA and prove, once and for all, that Sgt. Slaughter is nothing but a liar and a fraud!
Jimmy Hart then talks about Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart beating the British Bulldogs last week, the Bulldogs were lucky that the belts weren’t on the line!
VTR: Bulldogs vs Bret/Neidhart, JIP:
Late in the match, the Bulldogs have the upper hand and Dynamite Kid goes to the top rope, preparing to deliver the diving headbutt on Jim Neidhart. However, Bret distracts the ref, and Jimmy Hart gets up on the ring apron, smacking Dynamite in the back of the head with his megaphone! Dynamite falls off the turnbuckle, and Neidhart has enough presence of mind to drape an arm over Dynamite. The referee turns back to the match, and sees Neidhart covering Dynamite! He makest he count, as Bret charges across the ring and stops Davey Boy from breaking up the count.
Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart have defeated the World Tag Team champions in a non-title match!
END VTR
Bret says that they’ve been telling everyone for weeks that they are the better team, and they proved it last week! Now we’ll see if the Bulldogs have the guts to put the belts on the line!
Trongard and Page are joined at the broadcast desk by a young man that Trongard introduces as “the All-American” Mike Rotunda. Trongard says that Rotunda was an All-American in both wrestling and football, and while he was figured to be an early first round draft pick in the NFL, he decided to wrestle professionally instead. Trongard says that Rotunda is a true “blue-chipper” and many believe him to be a future World champion.
Rotunda, a humble young man, says he doesn’t know about all that, he’s just happy to be here in the AWA, and he’s going to go out there and give these fans 110% each and every time he steps in the ring.
AWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:
THE BRITISH BULLDOGS: DAVEY BOY SMITH & DYNAMITE KID (champs) VS. SUPER MEDICOS I & II. The champions get the win when Dynamite pins one of the masked men after a diving headbutt.
Magnum TA is standing by with Sgt. Slaughter. Magnum talks about Paul Orndorff’s comments earlier, that he can prove Slaughter is lying about every being a Marine. Slaughter says that he’s very proud of his service as a Marine, he’s proud of the fact that he fought for this great country, and if Orndorff keeps running his mouth, Slaughter is going to make him eat his words!
BRET HART & JIM NEIDHART (w/ Jimmy Hart) VS. BRAD RHEINGANS & BILLY ROBINSON. Bret and Neidhart have their hands full here, as they face a former Olympic wrestler in Rheingans, and Robinson, one of the greatest scientific wrestlers to ever step foot in a ring. The early part of the match sees Bret and Robinson go hold for hold for the first few minutes, putting on a wrestling clinic for the fans. Robinson may be getting up there in age, but it’s obvious here that he’s kept himself in great shape. Eventually, Bret gains the upper hand, and tags in Neidhart, the powerhouse of the team, and he goes to work on Robinson. Neidhart drops Robinson with a vicious clothesline, and puts the boots to him. Robinson takes a lot of punishment over the next few minutes, but Neidhart can’t put him away. Robinson is able to make the tag to Rheingans, who comes in and takes control of the match, wearing Neidhart down. Jim battles back, and tags in Bret, who quickly gains the upper hand. In the end, Bret and Neidhart, after double-teaming Robinson, hit Billy with the Hart Attack for the pinfall victory.
Magnum TA is standing by with AWA World champion Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Magnum says that the AWA has signed title matches all across the country, between Williams and #1 contender Stan Hansen. Williams says that these matches are going to be tough, maybe the toughest of his career, but he’s never backed down from a fight, and when the smoke clears, he’s confident that he’ll still be holding the World title!
AWA WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP:
WAHOO MCDANIEL (champ) VS. THE CUBAN ASSASSIN. The Assassin gets some offence in, but in the end, Wahoo gets the win after a series of vicious chops, followed by an overhead Tomahawk chop.
Trongard and Page talk about the main event coming up next. Trongard says that this episode has focused more on sound technical wrestling, and that will continue with the main event, as Bob Backlund, a former collegiate champion and World heavyweight champ as a pro, will face Bob Orton Jr, who is certainly no slouch when it comes to technical wrestling ability.
BOB BACKLUND VS. “COWBOY” BOB ORTON JR. We’re treated to a fast-paced, action packed match here, as Backlund and Orton throw everything they’ve got at each other. Early on, neither man has a clear advantage, as the momentum constantly shifts back and forth. As the match progresses, Backlund starts to gain the upper hand, but a low blow from Orton puts a stop to that.
Late in the match, Jimmy Hart makes his way out to ringside, apparently scouting the match. This distracts Backlund, allowing Orton to attack Backlund from behind. Moments later, Orton sets Backlund up on the turnbuckle, then hits the top-rope Superplex for the pinfall victory.
Jimmy Hart talks with Orton after the match before Rod Trongard calls them over to the announce desk.
Hart tells Orton that he heard Bob’s comments earlier, and says that he agrees with him 100%. Hart says that with Orton’s considerable talent, all he needs is the right persont o guide his career, and he could be unstoppable!
Orton tells Hart they should continue this conversation in the back, where Trongard can’t listen in.
Orton and Hart then leave the announce position together and head to the locker room.
Trongard says that’s an interesting development, as Jimmy Hart’s Hart Foundation already controls the Americas title, and Bret and Neidhart are the top contenders to the AWA World Tag titles. Adding Orton to his group would make the Hart Foundation even more dangerous!
Trongard and Page then wrap things up, and Trongard hypes next week’s show.
Credits Roll
© 1988, AMERICAN WRESTLING ASSOCIATION
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