AWA ON ESPN - LAS VEGAS, NV - SHOWBOAT SPORTS PAVILION - JANUARY 1990
Announcers: Lee Marshall & Lord James Blears
Ring Announcer/In-ring Interviewer: Larry Nelson
(# - Aired on a previous AWA program.)
In-Studio: Larry Nelson welcomed viewers to the first
AWA on ESPN of the new decade and ran down the program:
From
Brawl In St. Paul 2:
AWA WORLD TITLE MATCH: Sgt. Slaughter (WC) vs. Stan Hansen
COAL MINER'S GLOVE MATCH: Tom Zenk vs. Col. DeBeers
PLUS!
PRO WRESTLING HERITAGE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT QUALIFYING MATCH: Jonnie Stewart vs. Brad Rheingans
Eric Bischoff interviews Ricky Rice about DDP's theft of the $50,000 Rice won in the Battle Royal at
BISP 2
Another Pro Wrestling Heritage Championship Tournament Update with
PWI's Bill Apter
And more!
Nelson then intro'd video of Stan Hansen's vicious attack on Sgt. Slaughter before what was supposed to be the start of their World Title clash at
BISP 2.
VIDEO:
# - From
BISP 2
AWA WORLD TITLE MATCH:Sgt. Slaughter (WC) vs. Stan Hansen
Hansen came to the ring to strong boos but had his fans. Hansen was wearing his ring attire, chaps, and black cowboy hat. He had his bullrope and cowbell with him and thrashed the bullrope around on his way down the heel aisle to the ring. Once in the ring, Hansen continued the bullrope thrashing and started the loud cowbell waving and let out a gutteral yell.
Sgt. Slaughter came out to the Marine Corps Hymn to a solid ovation. He was in his ring attire, DI hat and had the World Title slung over his shoulder. Sarge handed out little American flags on the way to the ring, Sarge climbed into the ring and walked to two different sides of the ring and saluted the fans. When Sarge went to the third side of the ring to salute the fans, Hansen struck.
Hansen came up behind Sarge and struck Sarge in the back of the head with his cowbell. Sarge crashed down to the mat. Hansen grabbed the top rope and stomped away on Sarge. Referee Marty Miller tried to get Hansen to back off but Hansen raised his hand to strike Miller and Miller backed away. Hansen snapped up Sarge and threw Sarge over the top rope and Sarge crashed down to the floor. Ref Miller called for the bell to try and restore order to no avail.
Hansen followed Sarge to the floor. Sarge getting up and Hansen moved in and pounded away on the champ. Hansen then slammed Sarge head-first into the post. Sarge went down. Hansen looked out at the crowd and yelled. A tasty beverage flew in Hansen's direction courtesy of a fan. Hansen then went over and yanked the timekeeper out of his chair at the timekeeper's table and grabbed the steel chair and folded it up. A bloody Sarge made it to his feet as Hansen came over. Sarge turned and Hansen brought the chair down on top of Sarge's head sending Sarge crumpling back to the concrete floor.
Fans cheered as AWA face wrestlers and officials came rushing down the face aisle to defend Sarge. Fans popped as Sam Houston shoved Hansen away from Sarge and the two got into a brief scuffle before wrestlers and officials separated the two. Sarge down as the wrestlers and officials checked on him.
Announcers said they would have more on this situation after the break.
RESULT: No Match
LATER (Back from commercials on BISP 2)...
Video showed a bloody Sarge being helped to the back.
LATER IN THE PROGRAM...
Larry Nelson was in-ring with mic in hand.
Nelson: Ladies and gentlemen. Sgt. Slaughter was examined backstage by medical personnel and they suggested Sgt. Slaughter not wrestle tonight.
Vociferous crowd boos.
Nelson: However, Sgt. Slaughter has demanded to defend the title tonight against Stan Hansen.
Boos turned to loud cheers.
Nelson: The state athletic commission has said they will not stand in the way of Slaughter's request but will not be responsible for any injuries sustained by Slaughter in the match.
AWA officials have also decided to let the match go forward even though they think that Sgt. Slaughter should not wrestle.
But, it will be Slaughter defending the World Title against Stan Hansen in the match following the upcoming World Tag Team Title match.
Marshall: Lord James, do you think Sgt. Slaughter has made a bad decision here tonight?
Blears: Lee, even if the Sarge successfully defends the belt tonight, the further punishment inflicted by Stan Hansen, and he will inflict more punishment, could wind up costing Sgt. Slaughter down the line.
END VIDEO
In-Studio: Nelson said that after the break, they were going to show the entire match between Sgt. Slaughter (WC) and Stan Hansen for the title
Commercials
In-Studio: Nelson intro'd the AWA World Title match from BISP 2.
AWA WORLD TITLE MATCH: Sgt. Slaughter (WC) vs. Stan Hansen
Nelson was standing mid-ring.
Nelson: Ladies and gentlemen! This contest is scheduled for one fall with a 60-minute time-limit and is for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship!
Fans cheered,,,
But the cheers quickly melted to loud boos as Stan Hansen made his way down the heel aisle to the ring, thrashing his bullrope about and carrying his cowbell.
Hansen climbed into the ring and continued the bullrope thrashing. Larry Nelson had to evade some of the thrashing.
Marine Corps Hymn filled the arena and the fans started to buzz.
Crowd popped big as Sarge made his way down the face aisle to the ring.
Sarge had nothing on but his ring gear and the belt slung over his shoulder and had a white bandage wrapped around his head. Blood had soaked through it.
Sarge climbed into the ring but did not acknowledge the crowd as he usually did.
Nelson: Your referee for the match is Gary DeRusha!
Introducing first...the challenger!
Boos started rising again.
Nelson: Weighing in at 321 pounds...from Borger, Texas! He is...Stan 'The Lariat' Hansen!
Hansen stepped out of his corner and let out a gutteral yell and waved his cowbell in the air to even more boos.
Nelson: And his opponent!
Crowd roar started to rise.
Nelson: Weighing in at 305 pounds...from Parris Island, South Carolina! He is the reigning AWA World Heavyweight Champion...Sgt. Slaughter!
Crowd roar reached a crescendo.
Ref took the belt from Sarge and held it up for all to see before handing it off to Larry Nelson.
Ref called both men out to the middle of the ring.
As Sarge and Hansen locked eyes, ref laid down the rules and patted each man down.
Ref sent each man back to their corners.
Ref called for the bell.
The two men came out of their corners and circled one another as the crowd was buzzing.
Hansen took a swipe at Sarge and missed. The two men danced around a little more before Hansen took another swipe at Sarge and Sarge ducked the punch try and came back with a series of gut shots on Hansen. Sarge whipped Hansen into the ropes and caught Hansen coming off with a back elbow to the chest that dropped Hansen. Sarge slow moving in as Hansen was getting up and Sarge caught Hansen with a kick to the side of the ribs and then grabbed Hansen and slammed Hansen's head deliberately and repeatedly into the top buckle multiple times as the crowd counted along. Sarge spun Hansen around in the corner and popped Hansen with a deliberate series of shoulder blocks to the gut. Sarge pulled Hansen out of the corner and hoisted Hansen up for a suplex but Sarge crumpled to the mat with Hansen on top of him for the pin try. 1...2... Sarge kicked out.
Blears: The blood loss Sarge suffered earlier tonight may have affected his ability to complete that suplex there. He has to be in a somewhat weakened state.
Marshall: Agreed, Lord James. Notice how deliberately he's moving around in this match early on.
Hansen up and stomped Sarge in the head. Hansen snapped Sarge up and bodyslammed Sarge and went to drop an elbow across the chest but Sarge rolled out of the way and Hansens crashed to the mat. Both men to their knees and Hansen punched Sarge. Sarge fired back. The two engaged in a deliberate punch exchange as they made it to their feet. Hansen gained the advantage, whipped Sarge into the ropes and went to clothesline Sarge coming off but Sarge ducked the move and came back and Sarge and Hansen clotheslined each other to the mat. Both men down. Ref started the 10-count.
Marshall: You have to wonder if Sarge can even make it up before the count of 10?
Hansen up just as Sarge was getting up just before the count hit 10. Match continued. Sarge slightly bent over. Hansen moved in and caught Sarge with an elbow to the back of the neck.
Blears: The referee does not want to stop this match unless he absolutely has to.
Sarge grabbing the back of his neck, staggered off. Hansen came up behind Sarge and popped Sarge with a series of forearms to the upper back. Hansen then shoved Sarge and Sarge slammed hard, front-first into the buckles. Sarge leaned against the buckles facing the crowd. Hansen came up behind Sarge and ripped the bandage wrap off of Sarge's head and tossed it out of the ring.
Marshall: Now, we're entering a danger zone.
Blears: We most certainly are. Ref's gonna have to keep an eye on Slaughter's blood loss for the remainder of this bout.
Hansen spun Sarge around in the corner and choked Sarge out with his boot. Hansen broke the illegal move at the ref's count of 4. Hansen feigned like he was going to backhand the ref. Hansen caught Sarge in the side of the head with a couple of elbow strikes. Sarge stunned. Hansen then started biting Sarge's forehead. Hansen broke the illegal move at the count of 4. Hansen then repeated the biting party and again stopped it at 4. Sarge staggered out of the corner and went face down on the mat. Hansen had words with the ref. Crowd buzzing. Hansen stomped on Sarge and snapped Sarge up.
Marshall: He's bleeding even worse.
Blears: It's a nightmare in technicolor.
Hansen bodyslammed Sarge and then nailed Sarge with a knee drop to the head. Sarge rolled over on his side. Hansen rolled Sarge over on his back and dropped down on Sarge and nailed him with a deliberate series of shots to the cut. Hansen snapped Sarge up and whipped Sarge hard into the corner. Sarge on wobbly legs. Ref ordered Hansen to back off as the ref moved in and checked on Sarge's cut. Ref briefly talked to Sarge and did the 'how many fingers am I holding up' test to see if Sarge was still strongly coherent. Ref ordered the match to continue. Hansen moved in and started pounding Sarge with punches and kicks and grabbed Sarge by the back of the head and ran Sarge across the ring and threw Sarge wildly towards the corner. The momentum led Sarge to slamming his head into the ring bolt that connects the post to the top rope. Sarge crumpled to the mat. Hansen went to grab Sarge but Sarge's leg was under the apron. Sarge face down. Ref ordered Hansen back so he could start the 10-count. Ref and Hansen briefly argued. Sarge slowly made it to his knees in the ring. Sarge was now even bloodier.
Marshall: He's really wearing the crimson mask now.
Hansen moved in with more punches to the cut on Sarge's forehead. Ref again stepped in and ordered Hansen back. Hansen stood back as the ref checked Sarge's cut. Ref talked with Sarge and then did the 'follow my finger with your eyes' test. Sarge shook his head in the affirmative when the ref talked to him. Sarge to his feet. Ref allowed the match to continue. Hansen moved in on Sarge and Sarge caught Hansen with a punch that briefly stunned Hansen. But Hansen then struck the blood-depleted Sarge with a punch that stunned Sarge. Hansen then pulled Sarge's legs out from under him and then, after a brief struggle, turned Sarge over into the Brazos Valley backbreaker (Boston Crab). Crowd roaring for Sarge not to give in. Sarge in great pain in the hold and the blood loss only made things worse. Sarge shook his head 'no' when the ref asked if he gave up. Sarge started inching towards the ropes still locked in the hold. Hansen cinched up on the hold to stop Sarge dead in his tracks. Sarge pounded the mat with his fist signaling he was in great pain. Fans urging on the champ. Sarge found the strength to continue moving towards the ropes. Sarge appeared to be fading in the hold, but then a desperation lunge allowed him to make it far enough to drape his arm out over the bottom rope to force a break in the hold. Crowd popped. Ref ordered Hansen back as Sarge, with the aid of the ropes, slowly made it to his feet. Hansen moved in and leapt on Sarge and pounded the hell out of him, Hansen went to whip Sarge into the buckles but Sarge sent Stan crashing into them front-first. The impacting sent Hansen bouncing backwards out of the corner and crashing to his back in the ring. Crowd buzzing as Sarge staggered around trying to regain his bearings from the beating and blood loss. Ref tried to move in and check the cut but Sarge brushed him off. Hansen up and Sarge moved in and caught Hansen with some punches, spun his arm around and blasted Hansen with a big roundhouse right to the jaw. Hasnen crumpled to the mat. Fans roaring. Sarge moving around the ring like a guy who was finding his second wind while delirious at the same time. Sarge in position. Hansnen to his feet...
Marshall: SLAUGHTER CANNON!
Crowd popped big-time.
Hansen down on the mat and Sarge laying front-side down by Hansen. Crowd begging Sarge to cover Hansen.
Marshall: Come on, Sarge! Cover him!
Blears: Looks like the blood loss has really taken its toll now.
Sarge slowly moved over and made the cover. Fans on their feet. 1...2...thr... Hansen kicked out.
Very loud groan from the crowd.
Both men still down on the mat. Ref started the 10-count. Both men up just before the count of 10. Hansen moved in and caught Sarge with a kick to the gut, whipped Sarge into the ropes and caught Sarge coming off with his lariat finisher. Sarge crashed to the mat. Hansen covered Sarge. 1...2...thr... Sarge got a shoulder up. Crowd went nuts. Hansen on his knees in disbelief. Hansen covered Sarge again. 1...2...thr... Sarge again got a shoulder up. Fans roared.
Marshall: What fight being shown by Sgt. Slaughter!
Hansen with a quick head shot on Sarge, snapped Sarge up, whipped Sarge into the ropes and blasted Sarge coming off with a second lariat clothesline that dropped Sarge. Hansen covered Sarge and hooked the leg. 1...2...3! Ref called for the bell as the crowd booed.
Ref went over as Nelson climbed up on the apron with the belt. Nelson handed the ref the belt and the ref and Nelson had a few words off-mic.
Hansen to his feet and the ref went over and raised Hansen's hand in victory and handed Hansen the belt. Ref then checked on the still down Sarge as EMT's came to the ring to check on ex-champ.
Nelson: In a time of 12 minutes, 19 seconds, your winner...and NEW AWA World Champion...Stan 'The Lariat' Hansen!
Loud boos and a smattering of cheers from Hansen fans.
Hansen raised the belt in the air with his right hand while giving the 'hook 'em horns' sign with his left to more boos.
Hansen left the ring and dropped to the floor as some garbage flew in his direction. Hansen slung the belt over his shoulder and headed back up the heel entrance aisle.
Some AWA officials and wrestlers came out to check on Sarge as well.
As the announcers talked about the match, Sarge was helped to his feet by a couple of the wrestlers. Sarge was helped out of the the ring to the floor and back up the heel aisle as the fans politely cheered his effort.
WINNER: Hansen - Pinfall - 12:19
In-Studio: Nelson talked about Sarge's valiant fight in a losing effort. Said Hansen is now a 2-time AWA World Champion.
Pic aired of the Pro Wrestling Heritage Championship belt with the caption: NEXT... TOURNEY UPDATE!
Commercials/AWA Tour Update
In-Studio: Nelson intro'd the newest Pro Wrestling Heritage Championship Update with PWI's Bill Apter.
VIDEO:
Apter was in a suit with mic in hand standing front of the PWI logo.
Apter: Hello, wrestling fans.
This is Bill Apter from Pro Wrestling Illustrated with this week's Pro Wrestling Heritage Championship Tournament Update.
The tournament takes place on Saturday, February 17, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.
The tournament will be held over two sessions on that day. The afternoon session will feature the opening round matches of the
tournament and has a bell time of 12:30 pm. The evening session will feature the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of the tournament to crown the first-ever Pro Wrestling Heritage Champion and will have a bell time of 7:30 pm. For tickets to this historic event, contact TicketMaster or the Anaheim Convention Center box office at (714) 555-1212. One ticket will allow you to attend both sessions.
So far, the line-up of participants for the tournament is impressive.
The wrestlers already announced for the tournament are: Ricki Choshu from Japan; Perro Aguayo from Mexico; Carlos Colon from Puerto Rico; Tully Blanchard from the USA and 'Gentleman' Chris Adams from England.
This is truly shaping up to be an international event!
The newest entrant comes to us from one of the legendary wrestling family's in this great sport.
From Canada...it's Bruce Hart.
Let's take a look at Bruce in action.
(Just pretend the first 60+ seconds are what you'd see on the program.
Apter: Bruce Hart was trained by one of the best, his father Stu Hart. And Stu is a guy who really knows how to toughen up men for this business. Whomever faces the pesky Bruce is gonna be in for quite a battle in Anaheim.
Also, starting this week here on AWA Wrestling on ESPN and on All-Star Wrestling, are the Pro Wrestling Heritage Championship Tournament qualifiers. That's eight matches featuring 16 wrestlers currently wrestling for the AWA.
Fans, I know I've said it before, Anaheim is a great place to visit in the winter. There's plenty to do: from hitting the beaches, to playing the outstanding golf courses to visiting the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland. There are several fine restaurants in town and lots of good hotels to choose from for your stay. Anaheim has it all.
So, there's still time to make plans to see wrestling history in the making.
I know I'm gonna be there and I hope to see you there, too.
I'm Bill Apter. Until next week.
END VIDEO
In-Studio: Larry Nelson said the tournament is shaping up to be the wrestling event of 1990. Said fans should make their plans to be in Anaheim on Feb. 17.
Nelson said that after the break:
The complete match line-up of the 8 AWA Pro Wrestling Heritage Championship Tournament qualifiers
PLUS!
An interview that took place at BISP 2 with Ricky Rice, who had the $50 grand he won in the Battle Royal stolen from him by Badd Co. manager DDP.
Pic aired of the AWA logo with the caption: HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE AWA!
Commercials
In-Studio: Larry Nelson announced the eight AWA qualifying match-ups for the Pro Wrestling Heritage Championship Tournament
Tommy Rich vs. Jake Milliman
Manny Fernandez vs. Ken Patera
Jonnie Stewart vs. Brad Rheingans
Cactus Jack vs. Tom Zenk
Larry Zbyszko vs. The Trooper
Akio Sato vs. Wahoo McDaniel
Greg Valentine vs. Greg Gagne
Col. DeBeers vs. Don Muraco
In-Studio: Nelson said the match-up between Stewart and Rheingans was coming up on the program.
Nelson intro'd footage from the end of the $50K Battle Royal at BISP 2.
VIDEO:
(Final eliminations)
13 - Dukes - Eliminator: Badd Co. - 9:37
This left Rice of the Top Guns and Badd Company...
14 - Tanaka - Eliminator: Rice - 10: 48
15 - Diamond - Eliminator: Rice - 12:01
WINNER: Rice - 12:01
DDP was livid about Rice of the Guns winning the match.
Rice was handed the briefcase in the ring during a post-match interview by ring announcer Larry Nelson. As Rice and Nelson faced the camera, DDP snuck back down the aisle into the ring and came up behind Rice and struck Rice in the back with his cane. Rice went down and lost his hold on the briefcase. DDP shoved Larry Nelson out of the way and swiped the briefcase, bolted the ring and beat a hasty retreat back up the heel aisle.
In-Studio: Nelson then intro'd a post-match interview with Rice from BISP 2.
# Announcer/Interviewer Eric Bischoff was standing backstage with Ricky Rice in front of a non-descript wall. Rice was still in his ring attire and visibly upset.
Eric: Ricky, we saw what happened out there earlier tonight with Dallas Page. It's got to be frustrating.
Rice ran his fingers through his hair.
Rice: It's more than a little frustrating, Eric.
I had to go through 15 other men to win that Battle Royal and the $50 grand.
To have that low-life Page sneak up on me and do what he did is not surprising. There is no level low enough that that man will not stoop to.
He will not get away with this. I can tell you that right now.
Eric: This clearly escalates the tensions between the Top Guns and Badd Company.
Rice: It does. How much hotter can the situation between our teams get before things just explode.
Rice pointed an accusatory finger into the camera.
Rice: Dallas Page, I want you to know that Derrick and I are comin' for you and your team.
I won that money when I eliminated both members of Badd Company.
Instead of being a man and accepting what had happened, you had to sneak attack me and take off with the money.
Well, I'm getting that money back, Page! Every last cent of it!
So, you'd better be on high alert, pal! That money is livin' on borrowed time in you hands!
END VIDEO
In-Studio: Nelson said he agreed with Rice that the situtation between Badd Co. and the Top Guns is on the verge of exploding and also wondered how this all ends.
Said the AWA PWHC Tourney Qualifier between Stewart and Rheingans was coming up after the break.
Pic aired of the Pro Wrestling Heritage Championship belt with the caption: NEXT... QUALIFYING TIME!
Commercials
AWA PWHC TOURNAMENT QUALIFYING MATCH: Jonnie Stewart vs. Brad Rheingans
Rheingans came out to a decent ovation.
Stewart came out to mainly boos but had some fans.
Ref called for the bell.
The two men came out of their corners and circled one another and engaged in a collar-and-elbow tie-up. Rheingans got the upper hand and drove Stewart into the ropes to force a clean break. The two men moved back to mid-ring and circled each other again and Stewart went to sweep Rheingan's leg with his hand but Rheingans evaded the move. Stewart moved on Rheingans and was caught by Rheingans with an arm drag. Stewart up and charged at Rheingans and Rheingans caught Stewart with another arm drag. Stewart up and went at Rheingans again and Rheingans caught Stewart with a hip toss. Stewart to his feet and Rheingans caught Stewart in a side headlock. Stewart quickly turned it into a belly-to-back suplex to break the hold. Both men up and Stewart moved in and caught Rheingans with punches. Stewart whipped Rheingans into the ropes and caught Rheingans coming off with a high backdrop. Rheingans slammed to the mat. Rheingans started getting up and Stewart drove a knee into the side of Rheingans' head and threw Rheingans through the top and middle rope down to the floor. Announcers pointed out that if he'd thrown Rheingans over the top rope he'd have been disqualified. Stewart ignored the ref, left the ring and dropped to the floor. Ref started the 10-count. Stewart snapped Rheingans up and drove Brad hard, back-first into the ring apron. Rheingans crumpled to the floor. Stewart climbed into the ring and stood back as the count grew. Rheingans started to get up by the ring apron. Stewart out on the apron and stomped Rheingans in the head. Stewart climbed back into the ring and the ref had to re-start the 10-count.
Stewart caught on a mic.
Stewart: Hurry up with the count!
Count growing.
...7...8...9...te...
Rheingans rolled back in the ring to barely beat the count. Stewart stomped on Rheingans. Stewart snapped up Rheingans, whipped Rheingans into ropes and looked to catch Rheingans coming off with a backdrop but Rheingans instead caught Stewart in a sunset flip for the pin. 1...2...thr... Stewart clapped his legs against the sides of Rheingans' head to escape the pinfall. Both men started to stand and Rheingans caught Stewart in a small package for the pin. 1...2...thr... Stewart kicked out. Crowd let out a collective groan. Both men up and Stewart stunned Rheingans with a knee to the gut. Stewart caught Rheingans with a couple of head shots and whipped Rheingans into the corner. Stewart followed Rheingans in with a running back elbow to the chest. Stewart whipped Rheingans into the opposite buckles and looked to nail Rheingans with the same move but Brad moved and Stewart crashed back-first into the buckles, stumbled out of the corner and went down to a knee as the crowd cheered. Rheingans snapped Stewart up and blasted Stewart with an atomic drop. Stewart walking around on his tip toes in the ring as many in the crowd roared with laughter. Stewart turned and walked right into Rheingan's arms and Rheingans caught Stewart with a belly-to-belly suplex. Surely this was it. Rheingans for the pin. 1...2... Stewart got his foot on the bottom rope. ...thr... Ref looked over and saw the foot on the bottom rope and patted Rheingans on the back. Rheingans jumped to his feet thinking he'd won and threw his arms in the victoriously. Ref went over and yanked Rheingans' arm down and gestured and told Rheingans he didn't win. As Rheingans had words with the ref, Stewart snuck up behind Rheingans and rolled Rheingans up for the pin. 1... Stewart grabbed a handful of tights. ...2...thr... Rheingans kicked Stewart off and Stewart hurtled through the top and middle rope down to the floor. Ref ordered Rheingans to stand back and began the 10-count. Stewart briefly shook out the effects of hitting the floor and climbed back up on the apron. Rheingans moved in and looked to grab Stewart but the ref intercepted him and ordered him to stand back. While Rheingans had words with the ref, Stewart turned facing the crowd and adjusted his left knee pad.
Marshall: There is some sort of foreign object in the knee pad!
Crowd yelling for the ref to turn around.
Rheingans broke away from the ref and came up behind Stewart, who was still facing the crowd on the apron, and grabbed Stewart and hit Stewart with a belly-to-back suplex into a bridgeout in the ring for the pin try. 1...2... Stewart kicked out. Crowd groaned. Rheingans snapped up Stewart and went to whip Stewart into the ropes but Stewart reversed and caught Rheingans coming off with his loaded flying knee to the gut finisher. Rheingans down. Stewart for the cover and hooked the leg. 1...2...3! Ref called for the bell as most the crowd vociferously voiced their displeasure at what just happened.
Stewart had his hand raised and quickly dropped to the floor, walked over to the timekeeper's table and grabbed the mic.
Stewart: Tonight was just the beginning for the Wrestler of the '90s!
Four more wins and I'm the first Pro Wrestling Heritage Champion in history!
You losers enjoy watching me in the winner's circle!
Crowd booed as Stewart tossed the mic and left ringside and headed back up the heel aisle the victor.
WINNER: Stewart - Pinfall - 8:37
In-Studio: Nelson talked about something being in Stewart's knee pad that helped him beat Rheingans to advance to the tournament in Anaheim.
Nelson said that after the break, the coal miner's glove match!
Commercials
In-Studio: Nelson intro'd the coal miner's glove match from BISP 2.
# PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW:
Eric Bischoff was standing backstage with Col. DeBeers. DeBeers was in his ring attire.
Eric: Colonel, you're about to go out to the ring and face Tom Zenk in the dangerous coal miner's glove match.
What are you thinking right now?
DeBeers: What am I thinking?
DeBeers chuckled.
DeBeers: I'm thinking about what a stupid American Tom Zenk is.
What kind of a man in his right mind challenges a wrestler to a wrestler's own specialty match?
Deep thinking is not an American strongsuit and Tom Zenk is living proof of that.
I've never lost a coal miner's glove match before. And I don't expect things to change tonight.
When I get my hands on the glove, I'm not just gonna use it to beat Zenk. I'm gonna use it to punish him without mercy.
Americans always have to learn the hard way and Tom Zenk is no different from the rest of you stars n stripes flag waving fools.
You Americans may be witnessing something very special tonight.
Eric: What's that?
DeBeers: The horrifying end of Tom Zenk's career.
COAL MINER'S GLOVE MATCH: Col. DeBeers vs. Tom Zenk
Shot of the coal miner's glove hanging from a post attached to one of the ring posts.
CMG MATCH RULES: First wrestler to climb up the ropes in the corner and grab the glove off the clip can use the glove as they see fit. No pinfalls or submissions until the glove has been retrieved off the post.
Zenk came to the ring first. He was in his ring attire. The son of Minnesota got a decent ovation coming down the face aisle.
Zenk climbed in the ring and did not acknowledge the fans. He was all business.
Strong boos as DeBeers came to the ring down the heel aisle.
DeBeers climbed up on the apron, twirled his mustache and climbed into the ring.
Ref Marty Miller called both me to the middle of the ring.
DeBeers and Zenk glared at one another as the ref laid down the rules and patted each man down for illegal weapons.
Ref sent each man back to his corner.
As Zenk turned to walk to his corner, DeBeers feigned going to his corner and hooked a u-turn and jumped Zenk from behind.
Ref called for the bell. DeBeers pounded on Zenk
DeBeers kept hammering on Zenk and slammed Zenk's head into the top buckle. Zenk spun around on the corner and DeBeers pounded Zenk with forearms to the chest. DeBeers went to whip Zenk into the opposite buckles but Zenk reversed and sent DeBeers crashing into them. Zenk briefly hesitated and then charged over looking to hit DeBeers with a running clothesline but DeBeers moved and Zenk crashed front-first into the buckles.
Blears: That brief hesitation by Zenk caused him to miss hitting that running clothesline on DeBeers.
Zenk turned out of the corner and DeBeers caught Zenk with a kick to the side of the ribs. DeBeers caught Zenk with some punches and then picked up Zenk and bodyslammed Zenk. DeBeers backed up and moved in looking to his Zenk with a kneedrop to the head but Zenk rolled out of the way and DeBeers crashed knee-first to the mat. Crowd cheered. DeBeers grabbing his knee. Both men up and Zenk charged over and pummeled DeBeers with a running clothesline. DeBeers crashed to the mat. Zenk went over and started the climb up the ropes to grab the glove. Zenk got a hand on it but couldn't pull it off. DeBeers recovered enough to come over and club Zenk in the back and pull Zenk off the middle rope. Zenk crashed to the mat. DeBeers stomped on Zenk and then dropped down and started choking Zenk.
Marshall: There's nothing the ref can do about the choke because the glove is not yet in play.
DeBeers up and Zenk rolled over on his side holding his throat. DeBeers stomped Zenk repeatedly in the back. DeBeers snapped up Zenk and went to finish Zenk off with his face-first piledriver finisher but Zenk twice blocked the move and backdropped DeBeers to the mat, Crowd buzzing. Zenk regained his bearings as DeBeers got up next to the ropes. Zenk charged wildly at DeBeers and DeBeers backdropped Zenk over the top rope down to the floor.
Marshall: To repeat, there's nothing the ref can do until the glove comes into play.
DeBeers left the ring and dropped to the floor. DeBeers yelling for Zenk to get up. Zenk started getting up bent over and DeBeers caught him with a kick to the chest. Zenk stumbled back grabbing his chest. DeBeers grabbed Zenk and deliberately slammed his head into the ring apron three times. DeBeers grabbed Zenk by the hair and walked Zenk over to the announcer's table and DeBeers went to slam Zenk's head into one of the TV monitors but Zenk twice blocked the attempt, caught DeBeers with a trio of elbows to the side of the ribs and freed himself from DeBeers' grasp. Zenk grabbed DeBeers' by the hair and slammed DeBeers' head into the top of the monitor. Thud could be heard in the arena when DeBeers' head hit it. DeBeers went down on the floor. Zenk briefly re-gathered himself on the floor. DeBeers on his knees and bleeding. Zenk snapped DeBeers up and walked him over and slammed DeBeers' head into the top ring step. Zenk then grabbed DeBeers and rammed him back-first into the apron. DeBeers down to a knee on the floor.
Marshall: These guys seem more interested in maiming each other right now!
Zenk, feeling the effects of the match, was slow to climb back into the ring. Zenk briefly regained his bearings and went over to the corner where the glove was hanging and, after a brief pause, started to climb up the ropes to grab the glove, DeBeers found the strength to get to his feet, quickly climb back into the ring and come up behind Zenk, who was on the middle rope and reaching up for glove when DeBeers clubbed Zenk in the lower back and hoisted Zenk up on his shoulders, backed up in the ring and blasted Zenk with an electric chair slam. Both men down. Ref just watching. Both men slowly made it to their feet and DeBeers went to hit Zenk and Zenk blocked the punch try and nailed DeBeers with a trio of head shots. Zenk went to whip DeBeers into the ropes but DeBeers reversed and caught Zenk coming off with an inverted atomic drop. Zenk crashed to mat holding the jewels. DeBeers stumbled and fell back against the ropes. DeBeers quickly gathered himself and went over and, after a brief pause, started to climb up the ropes in the corner to grab the glove. Zenk made it to his feet and, while in great nut pain, managed to move over and, just as DeBeers got a hand on the glove, hit DeBeers with a low-blow to the groin. Heel move that the crowd popped for. DeBeers now singing soprano toppled off the middle rope to the mat. Zenk dropped down on top of the injured DeBeers and pounded the back of DeBeers' head repeatedly into the mat. Now, both of DeBeers' heads hurt. Zenk snapped up DeBeers, whipped DeBeers into the ropes and blasted DeBeers coming off with a flying dropkick. DeBeers crashed to the mat. DeBeers up and walked right into Zenk's waiting arms for a bodyslam. Zenk climbed out on the apron.
Blears: If Zenk hits the missle dropkick on DeBeers, there's no way DeBeers recovers. Zenk grabs the glove and DeBeers is a sitting duck.
Zenk mounted the top buckle as DeBeers made it to his feet. DeBeers turned and Zenk went for this missle dropkick finisher but DeBeers fell out of the way and Zenk crashed to the mat. Both men down. DeBeers made it to his feet, stomped Zenk and hit Zenk with a fist-drop to the head. DeBeers turned his attention to the corner. DeBeers started the slow climb up the ropes. Zenk to his feet. Just as DeBeers firmly grabbed the glove. Zenk came up behind DeBeers, grabbed DeBeers around the waist and yanked DeBeers off the ropes and threw DeBeers down to the ground. Zenk climbed up to the middle rope and got his hand on the glove when DeBeers got to his feet and grabbed Zenk's lower legs and yanked Zenk off the middle rope. Zenk's head slammed into the top buckle. Zenk down to a knee by the ropes. DeBeers moved in and hit Zenk with punches. DeBeers snapped up Zenk and Zenk and went to pop Zenk with another punch but Zenk blocked the punch try and fired away on DeBeers with a series of punches as the crowd popped. DeBeers staggered off. Zenk stalked DeBeers and clubbed DeBeers in the back and whipped DeBeers into the corner where the glove was hanging. Zenk charged in on DeBeers but DeBeers fell out of the way and Zenk slammed hard into the buckles, bounced out and crashed to the mat. DeBeers used the ropes to get to his feet. Zenk stirred and made his way to his feet behind DeBeers. DeBeers, facing away from Zenk, reached into the right side pocket of his camo pants as Zenk started to climb the ropes to grab the glove.
DeBeers pulled out his hand and raised it in the air.
Marshall: He's got that blue chemical on his thumb that he used to beat Zenk at Super Clash 4!
Crowd popped as Zenk was able to grab the glove off the clip. DeBeers held his thumb close to his gut to conceal it from Zenk. Zenk standing on the mat put the glove on. DeBeers turned to use the blue substance on Zenk again but...WHAM!...Zenk instead drilled DeBeers right in the face with the coal miner's glove. DeBeers crashed to the mat like a finely cut Christmas tree falls on the snow. Crowd really into Zenk for probably the first time in his career. Zenk looked down at DeBeers for a second and then covered him for the pin. 1...2...3! Ref called for the bell as the fans roared.
Zenk stood up and the ref raised his hand in victory.
Zenk looking down at the defeated DeBeers. DeBeers barely moving. Zenk then stood over DeBeers and grabbed DeBeers by the hair and pulled DeBeers into the sit-up position. Zenk raised his gloved right fist in the air and looked out at the crowd for approval to maul DeBeers with the glove. Crowd approved. Zenk, still holding DeBeers' by the hair, raised his right fist like he was gonna pummel DeBeers with the coal miner's glove. DeBeers weakly put his hands up to beg off. Zenk stood over DeBeers for a few seconds with the gloved hand raised to tear into the South African. Zenk then let go of DeBeers' hair and DeBeers fell helplessly back to the mat. Zenk stepped away from DeBeers. Zenk staring down at DeBeers. Zenk then climbed out on the apron and raised his right fist in the air victoriously as the fans roared. Ref checking on the injured DeBeers in the ring. Shot of Zenk walking back up the face aisle still wearing the glove.
WINNER: Zenk - Pinfall - 10:51
END PROGRAM