AWA TV1-14-93. Hogan, Piper appear.

[wattsfan]

1-13-83 Friday TV Taping Airs Saturday on WGN.
The premiere episode kicks off from The Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the AWA banner superimposed over a shot of the Showboat. We go to the announcers set with duo of retired 4-time AWA World's Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel & Lee Marshall. Nick & Lee have a long history with the AWA as well as interviewer 'Mean' Gene Okerlund who has returned. Promoter Greg Gagne, son of Verne Gagne, joins the announcers. Gagne promise the wrestling fans to bring in the finest & most exciting wrestlers today. The AWA will be bringing back 4 major World championships - the heavyweight belt, the tag team belts, the light heavyweight belt & the women's belt. Gagne turns the show back over to Bockwinkel & Marshall.

Nick & Lee pause when "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor begins play as 'the Immortal' Hulk Hogan walks out onto the set. They welcome Hogan back to the AWA. Hulk' Hogan says he is back in the AWA to win the one title that has eluded him over his career -- the AWA World's Heavyweight Championship. Hogan says he is not going to be denied this time. Hogan briefly poses before leaving a cheering audience.

Marshall adds feature in action today are Bad News Brown, Eddie Guerrero, Takano Inoue of Japan, Jake 'the Snake' Roberts and the nationally known tag team of Ted Dibiase & Mike Rotounda. We will also have a few surprise interviews during the hour. So stay tuned, you don't want to miss any of the action.

We go to the ring for the first match of today. All TV matches are 1–10-minute time limit. Ring announcer is Mike McGuirk.

1. Singles Match. Bad News Brown beat Bobby Walker with the Ghetto Blaster. (5:02).

Okerlund interview with 'Hot Rod' Roddy Piper who says he is in the AWA for some gold, in other words the AWA Heavyweight Belt. As he smiles, Piper adds he might some unfinished business with one or two gentlemen here.

Commercial break

2. Singles Match. Eddie Guerrero impresses the fans before defeating Austin Steel with a frog splash. (6:41).

Okerlund interview with the Smokin' Guns (Bart & Billy Gunn) on coming to the AWA. They goal is to win the AWA World Tag Team Belts.

Commercial break

3. Ladies Singles Match. Takano Inoue made her America debut & pinned Heidi Lee Morgan with the Takako Night Night (spinning back fist). (7:26). Inoue's sexy outfit is more suited here in America than her homeland Japan.

Okerlund interview with 'Superstar' Sue Sexton about being a former LPWA Women's World's Champion & how she is looking forward to competing for the AWA Women's Belt & beating all the competitors.

Commercial break

4. Single Match. Jake 'the Snake' Roberts stopped 'Hustler' Rip Rogers with the DDT. (6:33).

Okerlund interview with Vader w/mgr. Harley Race. Race says Vader got his start here under his real name & they are back to win the AWA Heavyweight Belt. No one is going to beat Vader. Vader is going to be the AWA World's Heavyweight Champion!!!

Commercial break

5. 4 Man Tag Team Match. Ted Dibiase & Mike Rotonda w/Woman took down the Headbangers Mosh & Thrasher. (7:21). Rotounda with the Penalty (SFT) on Thrasher for the submission.

Okerlund interview with former AWA Heavyweight Champion Ric Martel. Ric says he is back to win the AWA World's Heavyweight Belt. Whether his opponent be Hulk Hogan, Roddy Riper, Vader or Paul Orndorff, he plans on coming out as the champion.

Commercial break

We return to Bockwinkel & Marshall who close out the show telling the fans the first two AWA events will be held in Milwaukee, WI @ MECCA Arena Saturday, Feb. 11 and in Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center Sunday, Feb. 12.. They remind the fans to tune in next week for more AWA Championship Wrestling on WGN.

[jp1985]

An interesting what if scenario on the return of AWA in 1993 going on here, playing off the real world in 1992. I do like that there isn't some angle attached to the promotion itself for 1993 and it is just back in business as it was.

Hulk Hogan returning to the AWA is gigantic, maybe the biggest news in this whole league if this was real. A good sell of Hogan going after a belt he's never held before.

You did a good job getting over the belt specifically by making it the target of so many guys here. Getting Roddy Piper to return to wrestling at the time, as well as luring away Big Van Vader from WCW would also be big moves by the company. AWA is here to compete.

Good to see a women's division in place here. This was by no means a great time for women's wrestling as a whole but there's enough that it adds that little something extra to the promotion as a reason to watch.

There are some names here I look forward to seeing, but Jake Roberts interacting with the rest is at the top. He has always been well utilized by you and all he needs if the DDT to compete.

The tag team division is also starting off big with the former Money Inc. of Ted DiBiase & Mike Rotunda making the jump. They should dominate here at first, but The Smoking Gunns could come on strong.