Great American Wrestling: TV (4/8) and House Show (4/10)
Apr 4, 2024 4:30:27 GMT
Post by badstreetfields on Apr 4, 2024 4:30:27 GMT
Taped: Monday, April 4 at the Grand 'Ole Opry, Nashville, TN
Airing: Friday, April 8 on The Nashville Network
Announcers: Eric Bischoff and Bobby Heenan
Eric Bischoff: Welcome to Great American Wrestling! After a brief hiatus, wrestling is back on The Nashville Network and we’re bigger than ever before. For those who are used to watching wrestling here on TNN, we may have changed our name, we may have added some more superstars to the roster, what you’ll see every Friday night is some of the best wrestling action in the world! That’s what you fans deserve. We have many new and returning stars that you’ll see over the next few weeks. Wherever you are tuning in, thank you for joining us tonight, and please know we’re back and here to stay.
Bobby Heenan: If things were really bigger and better, you wouldn’t be sitting here next to me.
Eric Bischoff: My partners complaints notwithstanding, I can announce tonight that the Great American Wrestling Board of Directors has deemed all titles vacant. Those belts will be filled over the next few weeks, with matches both here on television and in arenas around the region. Tonight, we begin a tournament for the GAW Tag-Team Championship, with four matches right here on television. The winners will advance to the semifinal and final this Sunday evening at the Louisville Convention Center where we will crown new world tag team champions.
In addition, next Sunday night, at the Memphis Mid South Coliseum, we will host an 8-man tournament to crown the new GAW Heavyweight Champion. Our first guest is sure to be a favorite to win that title, in his hometown no less. Please welcome a name known throughout these parts, Jerry the King Lawler!
Jerry Lawler: Thank you to everyone tuning in tonight. Last I checked, Tennessee still had the best wrestling fans in the world. I owe a great deal of thanks to all the people who have supported me, and cheered for me, over the course of my career. And as a reward, I’m going to win the first GAW heavyweight championship for you, for those people who have been in my corner. This promotion is a big deal. It’s a chance to show the wrestling world what we are all about. It’s a chance to prove ourselves again to all those people who think we’re just some backwoods people who aren’t sophisticated enough to have quality wrestling. Let me tell you, jack, these people in the stands, those watching on television, those people are the heart and soul of our country. And I’m going to win the world title to give them a champion they deserve.
Eric Bischoff: Jerry Lawler is confident going into the tournament next weekend in his hometown. Let’s go to the ring for our first tag-team title tournament match as the popular team of Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson, the Rock and Roll Express, take on the California Stud Rod Price and Bobby Eaton.
Bobby Heenan: Count me as one of those who don’t think these imbeciles are sophisticated.
Match #1
Tag-Team Title Tournament
The Rock and Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) defeat Rod Price and Bobby Eaton via pinfall.
—--Commercial Break---
Eric Boschoff: In our last match, the Rock and Roll Express advanced to this weekend’s tag-team title tournament in Louisville. Our next guest is sure to make some noise in the GAW heavyweight championship tournament, please welcome the Dirty White Boy Tony Anthoiny.
Dirty White Boy: We have a bunch of new fans tuning in tonight, some of you all might be expecting to see some of this cartoon ‘rassling that’s going on in other places. I’’ll be damned if that’s going to happen here in Great American Wrestling. For those that don’t me, you are looking at the toughest wrestler to ever walk in the ring. I don’t care if you bust up my nose, break my arm, don’t matter what you do, it ain’t ever going to stop me. You fans know I fight for you, I don’t always do it clean, I don’t always follow their rules, but I come out each and every week and fight for you with all I got. I’m here to win titles, and ain’t no one stepping in my way.
Eric Bischoff: Dirty White Boy is another who will be a favorite next week in the heavyweight title tournament. Let’s go to the ring for our next tag-team title match as Scott and Steve Armstrong take on the Malenkos.
Match #2
Tag-Team Title Tournament
Scott and Steve Armstrong defeated Joe and Dean Malenko via pinfall.
—Commercial Break—
Eric Bischoff: Our next guest is no stranger to these parts, and he’s brought along a team with him. Please welcome Jim Cornette, the Heavenly Bodies, and Tommy Rich.
Bobby Heenan: Finally, some sanity on this program.
Jim Cornette: Listen up, and listen very closely. I’ll talk real slow because I know most of you spent five hours staring at a glass of orange juice because it said ‘concentrate’ on the package. These three men here are the next tag team and world heavyweight champions. The Heavenly Bodies, the most elite tag-team combination in wrestling, are going to do something in Louisville that the Cardinals could never do, win the tournament. And Tommy Rich, a new recruit to my stable, with his experience and my tactical genius, he’ll be sending all those morons in Memphis home crying when he walks out as world champion. I don’t give a damn what you call this promotion, I’m still the best manager in the world and these are the most elite wrestlers the industry has ever seen.
Eric Bischoff: Jim Cornette has set his sights on title gold with the Heavenly Bodies and Tommy Rich. The Heavenly Bodies have a tough match in our next contest against the team of Chris Jericho and Lance Storm.
Match #3
Tag-Team Title Tournament
The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) defeat Chris Jericho and Lance Storm in a tight contest when Jim Cornette strikes Lance Storm with his tennis racket out of view of the ref, leaving the Canadian prey to a pinfall by Del Ray.
—Commercial Break—
Eric Bischoff: In our last match, the team of Storm and Jericho put up a tough fight and would have advanced if not for Cornette.
Bobby Heenan: Maybe Cornette’s tennis racket knocked some sense into Storm.
Eric Bischoff: Our next guest is one of the most recognizable names in all of wrestling. He’s won titles everywhere he’s gone. Curt Henning will be in the heavyweight title tournament next week and he’s here tonight making his debut on Great American Wrestling. Curt, how do you plan to win the heavyweight title, in Jerry Lawler’s hometown no less?
Curt Henning: I would expect nothing less than an idiotic question like that from you. Just give Bobby the mic from now on so we can hear some decent questioning. How am I going to beat Lawler and win the title in Memphis? By doing what I always do: being the best wrestler in the world. Do you think I’m scared of you hicks? I was offered a huge payday to come to this miserable place and give you all some star power. Well, you’re looking at the biggest star in all of wrestling. And just to make sure there’s no backroom good ‘ol boy shenanigans next Sunday in Memphis, I’ve brought in someone to watch my back.
—Superstar Bill Dundee arrives at the interview desk—
Bill Dundee: There’s one thing I know how to do better than anyone, and that’s beat Jerry Lawler. I’ve done it for years, I know how he works, I know that he spends too much time thinking about you idiot fans. My strategy has worked to take down the so-called king, and I’m giving that strategy to this man, Curt Henning. He is one of the most talented, toughest wrestlers to ever step in the ring. And in Memphis, he’s walking out as world heavyweight champion. And just to make sure I can keep a close eye, I’ve officially signed the paperwork, and I will be at ringside as Curt Henning’s manager!
Eric Bischoff: Curt Henning has a new manager, and it’s someone Jerry Lawler knows very well! Let’s go to the ring for our final match of the evening.
Match #4
Tag-Team Title Tournament
The Godwinns defeat Brian Christopher and Eddie Gilbert via pinfall.
Eric Bischoff: The tag-team final four is set as the Rock and Roll Express, Scott and Steve Armstrong, the Godwinns and the Heavenly Bodies will compete for the title this Sunday night at the Louisville Convention Center, along with many more great matches. Tune in next week as we’ll get you ready for the heavyweight title tournament and continue to see the debut of new wrestlers to the promotion. Till next week.
—Show Ends—
House Show
Louisville (KY) Convention Center
April 10, 1994
Match #1
Tracy Smothers defeated Rod Price via pinfall.
Match #2
Tag-Team Title Tournament Semi-Final
Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) w/ Jim Cornette defeated Scott and Steve Armstrong via pinfall.
Match #3
Tag-Team Title Tournament Semi-Final
Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) defeated the Godwinns via pinfall.
Match #4
Dirty White Boy Tony Anthony and Tommy Rich w. Jim Cornette battled to a double DQ.
Match #5
Curt Henning w/ Superstar Bill Dundee defeated Chris Adams via pinfall.
Match #6
Jerry Lawler defeated Bobby Eaton via pinfall.
Match #7:
Tag-Team Title Tournament Final
Rock and Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) defeated the Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) via pinfall to win the GAW Tag-Team Championship.
Working on it now.