AWF Monday Night Wrestling 12/26/88: A GIANT STATEMENT
Dec 28, 2022 6:55:16 GMT
Post by topo on Dec 28, 2022 6:55:16 GMT
American Wrestling Federation
MONDAY NIGHT WRESTLING
12/26/88
ESPN 8-9pm Monday night
Taped from Erie, PA 12/12 on ESPN
Slightly repackaged version used for syndication upcoming weekend.
Promoter: Topo
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
President: Baron Von Rashcke
Play by Play: Tony Schiavone, Eric Bischoff and Paul E. Dangerously
Interviews: Ken Resnick
Ring Announcer: Gary Michael Cappetta
Referees: Randy Anderson, Tommy Young, Danny Davis
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Tony: “WELCOME TO THE ORIGINAL MONDAY NIGHT WRESTLING, only RIGHT HERE on ESPN, AS WE ARE WRAPPING UP SUPER CLASH ON TOUR, and with FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES JUST DAYS AWAY, we will see Ron Simmons, the Midnight Rockers, Dino Bravo in the ring as well as Hercules Hernandez has ponied up the Tug of War Challenge to THREE OPPONENTS!
Eric: “We will hear from TV champion Jake Roberts just days before he defends the title against Chef Dino Bravo, and days before their Friday Night at the Matches showdown comments from the Midnight Rockers and Jim Cornette and the Rock n Rill Express!
Paul: “There’s only one Big Ticket in wrestling, and that is 7’4” ANDRE THE GIANT. He will challenge the Russian nightmare Nikita Koloff at Big Ticket January 22 exclusively on pay per view and HE WILL BE MY SPECIAL GUEST on THE DANGER ZONE!
Tony: “It’s a true hour of power fans as we count down the days and hours to FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES, 8-10PM RIGHT HERE ON ESPN! Let’s go to the ring!
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KING KONG BUNDY + ONE MAN GANG w/General Adnan def. RAY LLOYD + JOE SAVOLDI just days before Bundy and Gang challenge THE ROAD WARRIORS FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE HERE ON ESPN!
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SUPER CLASH ON TOUR/FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES CONTROL CENTER w/Ken Resnick
1/1 TORONTO
12/30 FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES ST. LOUIS, MO LIVE ON ESPN!
1/22/89 THE BIG TICKET LIVE ON PPV, INDIANAPOLIS
AWF PRESENTS
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES
12/30/88 8-10PM LIVE ON ESPN
FROM THE KIEL CENTER IN ST. LOUIS, MO
MAIN EVENT
WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROAD WARRIORS w/Paul Ellering V KING KONG BUNDY + ONE MAN GANG w/General Adnan
WORLD TV CHAMPIONSHIP
JAKE “THE SNAKE” ROBERTS V CHEF DINO BRAVO w/Jimmy Hart
ANDRE THE GIANT-NIKITA KOLOFF CONTRACT SIGNING FOR BIG TICKET
MIDNIGHT ROCKERS V MIDNITE EXPRESS w/Jim Cornette
RAVISHING RICK RUDE w/Paul E. Dangerously v THE Z-MAN
JUST ADDED:
BIG BUBBA ROGERS w/Paul E. Dangerously v K O B WARE
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BREAK
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Ken Resnick welcomes AWF WORLD TV CHAMPION Jake “the Snake “ Roberts in the arena! Roberts carries a bag with Alister the Snake!
Ken: “Jake the Snake, the word will be watching this Friday night as you defend that title against CHEF DINO BRAVO!
Jake: “I heard this so called Chef promised that he had recipes, plans for some sort of snake stew for my main man Alister here. Well, Chef Dino Bravo before you put your cart before the horse, let me warn you my man that The Snake has more on HIS menu. I don’t eat snakes. I don’t eat meat. I don’t eat plants.
“No, hahaha, Chef Dino Bravo, I eat dreams of title glory and pick my teeth with SOULS. And Friday night in St. Louis I will take your dreams of title glory and make them into a fast food restaurant. And then . . . Ravishing Rick Rude. You want this title back? I will pick my teeth with your legacy . . . .at BIG TICKET.
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”ALL-AMERICAN” RON SIMMONS DEF. NICK BUSICK
Eric: “Last week Ron Simmons promised he was going to make a big splash this Friday night, what does the All-American have in mind? When we come back, ANDRE THE GIANT IS IN THE . . . . .DANGER ZONE!!!!
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BREAK
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THE DANGER ZONE w/Paul E. Dangerously and Big Bubba Rogers
Big Bubba is behind Paul working a punching bag!
Paul: “I’m Paul E. Dangerously AND YOU’RE NOT! As you can see Big Bubba is furiously working that punching bag, chopping wood and running miles in anticipation of his match this Friday night with that punch drunk bum KO B Ware who might not even get one shot in at Big Bubba before he throws him over the top rope into oblivion!
“Speaking of oblivion, that is what awaits my guest as January 22 at Big Ticket will be his retirement match as he challenges Nikita Koloff for the AWF World Heavyweight title . . . . with manager Captain Lou Albano . . . .THE EIGHT WONDER OF THE WORLD ANDRE THE GIANT!
Andre is here with the Guiding Light!
Andre pats Cap on the shoulder and gets between him and Paul: “Its okay Lou, I have heard it all before. I have a special surprise for this Russian Bear. Andre is in BEST SHAPE IN YEARS. Yes this will be final match, but Andre is here to clinch legacy and fame by winning match, this not just one final cheap payoff for the Giant!
Video plays of Andre IN THE GYM, doing leg lifts, lifting weights, and sparring in the ring as the Captain urges him on!
“I too like Bubba have been working out, training, lifting weights, running, as I do not want to disappoint fans at Big Ticket! Nikita Koloff, you might think you will end Andre Giant, but I have put whatever is left in my physical and mental training into ONE LAST MATCH. If you think you have easy night coming January 22, you will think again as Russian Nightmare, Andre is here to give you a BAD DREAM, SEE YOU FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES FOR THE CONTRACT SIGNING! . . . . . . .. . .SHASKAKAKA!!!!!
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HERCULES HERNANDEZ $10,000 TUG OF WAR CHALLENGE w/Jimmy Hart V DINO CASANOVA, JOHNNY LOVE, AND MIKE SAMSON
The three men get THIIIIIS close to the line in the middle of the ring, but Hercules plants his boots, and slowly pulls them over the line . . . .Casanova, . . . Love then Samson and they all collapse and Hercules kicks them all out of the ring!
After the jobbers are extracted from the ring, Jimmy Hart takes the mike!
“This is a joke man, there is not ANYONE in the AWF man enough to beat my man Hercules Hernandez in a tug of war! So here’s the deal baby. We are going to make ONE last offer, one time only: if ANY ONE MAN can beat Hercules in a Tug of War at FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES: instead of $10,000 they get . . .
Jimmy pulls out a BIG WAD of cashish out of his jacket . . .
“ . . . .TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS BABY, HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
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Hercules: “NO ONE IN AWF IS STRONGER THAN HERCULES! Who has the GUTS to come and take all this MONEY!!!!
Tony: “That’s a lot of cash! Fans we will be right back!
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BREAK
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Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels the Midnight Rockers with these comments:
Marty: “It’s a just a few days Shawn, a few days before our very first network televised match again those no good Midnight Express, and their manger that snake, Jim Cornette. At Friday Night at the Matches Jim Cornette the Rockers are going FULL FORCE!
Shawn: “You know Marty it seems just as when we have the win in our grasp that no good Jim Cornette just finds a way to weasel his men out of it, well there’s one more match, and Cornette if you cost us one more time, trust you me and Marty have been making the phone calls, we are two steps ahead of you, chess not checkers and we will have one more surprise in order for YOU!
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MIDNIGHT ROCKERS DEF. GAMA SINGH + PRESTON STEELE
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Eric: “We heard from those men the Midnight Rockers . . . now lets hear from the Midnite Express and their manager, JIM CORNETTE!
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Jim: “Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels you have the nerve, the guts to say these two men, Sweet Stan and Beautiful Bobby, have never beat you on the square? Well let me tell you clowns the way it is we have been beating you up coast to coast at Super Clash on Tour and the final beatdown comes Friday Night in St. Louis, and as for your little threats you are gonna make phone calls to get back at me if you don’t win? All I must do is make ONE phone call to Mama Cornette in Louisville and she will wire money to anyone you two jerks make a ‘phone call’ to, Midnight Rockers not only am I smarter than you, more well connected than you, but I manage a tag team that is BETTER than you, any day of the week, and Friday---Friday Night at the Matches, that is!
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BREAK
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One last review of FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES!
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AWF PRESENTS
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES
12/30/88 8-10PM LIVE ON ESPN
FROM THE KIEL CENTER IN ST. LOUIS, MO
MAIN EVENT
WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROAD WARRIORS w/Paul Ellering V KING KONG BUNDY + ONE MAN GANG w/General Adnan
WORLD TV CHAMPIONSHIP
JAKE “THE SNAKE” ROBERTS V CHEF DINO BRAVO w/Jimmy Hart
ANDRE THE GIANT-NIKITA KOLOFF CONTRACT SIGNING FOR BIG TICKET
MIDNIGHT ROCKERS V MIDNITE EXPRESS w/Jim Cornette
RAVISHING RICK RUDE w/Paul E. Dangerously v THE Z-MAN
JUST ADDED:
BIG BUBBA ROGERS w/Paul E. Dangerously v K O B WARE
ALSO JUST ANNOUNCED: POWERS OF PAIN w/Sherri Martel will wrestle!
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CHEF DINO BRAVO w/Jimmy Hart DEF. ROCKY KING
Tony: “See you at FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES and MONDAY NIGHT WRESTLING returns January 2! See you then fans!
MONDAY NIGHT WRESTLING
12/26/88
ESPN 8-9pm Monday night
Taped from Erie, PA 12/12 on ESPN
Slightly repackaged version used for syndication upcoming weekend.
Promoter: Topo
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
President: Baron Von Rashcke
Play by Play: Tony Schiavone, Eric Bischoff and Paul E. Dangerously
Interviews: Ken Resnick
Ring Announcer: Gary Michael Cappetta
Referees: Randy Anderson, Tommy Young, Danny Davis
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tony: “WELCOME TO THE ORIGINAL MONDAY NIGHT WRESTLING, only RIGHT HERE on ESPN, AS WE ARE WRAPPING UP SUPER CLASH ON TOUR, and with FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES JUST DAYS AWAY, we will see Ron Simmons, the Midnight Rockers, Dino Bravo in the ring as well as Hercules Hernandez has ponied up the Tug of War Challenge to THREE OPPONENTS!
Eric: “We will hear from TV champion Jake Roberts just days before he defends the title against Chef Dino Bravo, and days before their Friday Night at the Matches showdown comments from the Midnight Rockers and Jim Cornette and the Rock n Rill Express!
Paul: “There’s only one Big Ticket in wrestling, and that is 7’4” ANDRE THE GIANT. He will challenge the Russian nightmare Nikita Koloff at Big Ticket January 22 exclusively on pay per view and HE WILL BE MY SPECIAL GUEST on THE DANGER ZONE!
Tony: “It’s a true hour of power fans as we count down the days and hours to FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES, 8-10PM RIGHT HERE ON ESPN! Let’s go to the ring!
.
.
.
.
.
KING KONG BUNDY + ONE MAN GANG w/General Adnan def. RAY LLOYD + JOE SAVOLDI just days before Bundy and Gang challenge THE ROAD WARRIORS FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE HERE ON ESPN!
.
.
.
.
.
SUPER CLASH ON TOUR/FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES CONTROL CENTER w/Ken Resnick
1/1 TORONTO
12/30 FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES ST. LOUIS, MO LIVE ON ESPN!
1/22/89 THE BIG TICKET LIVE ON PPV, INDIANAPOLIS
AWF PRESENTS
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES
12/30/88 8-10PM LIVE ON ESPN
FROM THE KIEL CENTER IN ST. LOUIS, MO
MAIN EVENT
WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROAD WARRIORS w/Paul Ellering V KING KONG BUNDY + ONE MAN GANG w/General Adnan
WORLD TV CHAMPIONSHIP
JAKE “THE SNAKE” ROBERTS V CHEF DINO BRAVO w/Jimmy Hart
ANDRE THE GIANT-NIKITA KOLOFF CONTRACT SIGNING FOR BIG TICKET
MIDNIGHT ROCKERS V MIDNITE EXPRESS w/Jim Cornette
RAVISHING RICK RUDE w/Paul E. Dangerously v THE Z-MAN
JUST ADDED:
BIG BUBBA ROGERS w/Paul E. Dangerously v K O B WARE
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BREAK
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Ken Resnick welcomes AWF WORLD TV CHAMPION Jake “the Snake “ Roberts in the arena! Roberts carries a bag with Alister the Snake!
Ken: “Jake the Snake, the word will be watching this Friday night as you defend that title against CHEF DINO BRAVO!
Jake: “I heard this so called Chef promised that he had recipes, plans for some sort of snake stew for my main man Alister here. Well, Chef Dino Bravo before you put your cart before the horse, let me warn you my man that The Snake has more on HIS menu. I don’t eat snakes. I don’t eat meat. I don’t eat plants.
“No, hahaha, Chef Dino Bravo, I eat dreams of title glory and pick my teeth with SOULS. And Friday night in St. Louis I will take your dreams of title glory and make them into a fast food restaurant. And then . . . Ravishing Rick Rude. You want this title back? I will pick my teeth with your legacy . . . .at BIG TICKET.
.
.
.
.
.
.
”ALL-AMERICAN” RON SIMMONS DEF. NICK BUSICK
Eric: “Last week Ron Simmons promised he was going to make a big splash this Friday night, what does the All-American have in mind? When we come back, ANDRE THE GIANT IS IN THE . . . . .DANGER ZONE!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
BREAK
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
THE DANGER ZONE w/Paul E. Dangerously and Big Bubba Rogers
Big Bubba is behind Paul working a punching bag!
Paul: “I’m Paul E. Dangerously AND YOU’RE NOT! As you can see Big Bubba is furiously working that punching bag, chopping wood and running miles in anticipation of his match this Friday night with that punch drunk bum KO B Ware who might not even get one shot in at Big Bubba before he throws him over the top rope into oblivion!
“Speaking of oblivion, that is what awaits my guest as January 22 at Big Ticket will be his retirement match as he challenges Nikita Koloff for the AWF World Heavyweight title . . . . with manager Captain Lou Albano . . . .THE EIGHT WONDER OF THE WORLD ANDRE THE GIANT!
Andre is here with the Guiding Light!
Paul: “Andre the Giant not looking for trouble, you sir are 7’4”, I am a mere mortal, but as a broadcast journalist , I must ask the tough questions. You proclaimed at the press conference to announce the #1 contender that Big Ticket will be your last match. World champion Nikita Koloff has said he will insure that is the case, that is how badly he will destroy, crush, and annihilate your legacy that night! Do you have a response!
Giant just smirks and looks down at Paul.
“ANSWER THE QUESTION SIR!"
Captain Lou gets into Paul's face as Big Bubba stops with the punching bag and walks over: “LOOK HERE, you flea bitten mongrel, you must have the brain the size of a dehydrated bee bee to talk to this man like that and as for that Woolworth discount suit wearing goof behind you Andre will handle you too, Jack!
Andre pats Cap on the shoulder and gets between him and Paul: “Its okay Lou, I have heard it all before. I have a special surprise for this Russian Bear. Andre is in BEST SHAPE IN YEARS. Yes this will be final match, but Andre is here to clinch legacy and fame by winning match, this not just one final cheap payoff for the Giant!
Video plays of Andre IN THE GYM, doing leg lifts, lifting weights, and sparring in the ring as the Captain urges him on!
“I too like Bubba have been working out, training, lifting weights, running, as I do not want to disappoint fans at Big Ticket! Nikita Koloff, you might think you will end Andre Giant, but I have put whatever is left in my physical and mental training into ONE LAST MATCH. If you think you have easy night coming January 22, you will think again as Russian Nightmare, Andre is here to give you a BAD DREAM, SEE YOU FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES FOR THE CONTRACT SIGNING! . . . . . . .. . .SHASKAKAKA!!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
HERCULES HERNANDEZ $10,000 TUG OF WAR CHALLENGE w/Jimmy Hart V DINO CASANOVA, JOHNNY LOVE, AND MIKE SAMSON
The three men get THIIIIIS close to the line in the middle of the ring, but Hercules plants his boots, and slowly pulls them over the line . . . .Casanova, . . . Love then Samson and they all collapse and Hercules kicks them all out of the ring!
After the jobbers are extracted from the ring, Jimmy Hart takes the mike!
“This is a joke man, there is not ANYONE in the AWF man enough to beat my man Hercules Hernandez in a tug of war! So here’s the deal baby. We are going to make ONE last offer, one time only: if ANY ONE MAN can beat Hercules in a Tug of War at FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES: instead of $10,000 they get . . .
Jimmy pulls out a BIG WAD of cashish out of his jacket . . .
“ . . . .TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS BABY, HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
.
Hercules: “NO ONE IN AWF IS STRONGER THAN HERCULES! Who has the GUTS to come and take all this MONEY!!!!
Tony: “That’s a lot of cash! Fans we will be right back!
.
.
.
.
.
.
BREAK
.
.
.
.
.
.
Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels the Midnight Rockers with these comments:
Marty: “It’s a just a few days Shawn, a few days before our very first network televised match again those no good Midnight Express, and their manger that snake, Jim Cornette. At Friday Night at the Matches Jim Cornette the Rockers are going FULL FORCE!
Shawn: “You know Marty it seems just as when we have the win in our grasp that no good Jim Cornette just finds a way to weasel his men out of it, well there’s one more match, and Cornette if you cost us one more time, trust you me and Marty have been making the phone calls, we are two steps ahead of you, chess not checkers and we will have one more surprise in order for YOU!
.
.
.
.
.
MIDNIGHT ROCKERS DEF. GAMA SINGH + PRESTON STEELE
.
Eric: “We heard from those men the Midnight Rockers . . . now lets hear from the Midnite Express and their manager, JIM CORNETTE!
.
.
.
Jim: “Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels you have the nerve, the guts to say these two men, Sweet Stan and Beautiful Bobby, have never beat you on the square? Well let me tell you clowns the way it is we have been beating you up coast to coast at Super Clash on Tour and the final beatdown comes Friday Night in St. Louis, and as for your little threats you are gonna make phone calls to get back at me if you don’t win? All I must do is make ONE phone call to Mama Cornette in Louisville and she will wire money to anyone you two jerks make a ‘phone call’ to, Midnight Rockers not only am I smarter than you, more well connected than you, but I manage a tag team that is BETTER than you, any day of the week, and Friday---Friday Night at the Matches, that is!
.
.
.
.
.
.
BREAK
.
.
.
.
.
.
One last review of FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES!
.
.
.
.
AWF PRESENTS
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES
12/30/88 8-10PM LIVE ON ESPN
FROM THE KIEL CENTER IN ST. LOUIS, MO
MAIN EVENT
WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROAD WARRIORS w/Paul Ellering V KING KONG BUNDY + ONE MAN GANG w/General Adnan
WORLD TV CHAMPIONSHIP
JAKE “THE SNAKE” ROBERTS V CHEF DINO BRAVO w/Jimmy Hart
ANDRE THE GIANT-NIKITA KOLOFF CONTRACT SIGNING FOR BIG TICKET
MIDNIGHT ROCKERS V MIDNITE EXPRESS w/Jim Cornette
RAVISHING RICK RUDE w/Paul E. Dangerously v THE Z-MAN
JUST ADDED:
BIG BUBBA ROGERS w/Paul E. Dangerously v K O B WARE
ALSO JUST ANNOUNCED: POWERS OF PAIN w/Sherri Martel will wrestle!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
CHEF DINO BRAVO w/Jimmy Hart DEF. ROCKY KING
Tony: “See you at FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MATCHES and MONDAY NIGHT WRESTLING returns January 2! See you then fans!
Working on it now.