Pro Wrestling USA 1/5/1985

Pro Wrestling USA 1/5/1985

This is Pro Wrestling USA. It was the AWA's and the NWA's idea to fight off Vince. It didn't work and was never going to as wrestling promoters are carnies, but it's a real "what could have been?" promotion.

Ken Resnick welcomes us to the show.

Verne is interviewed and tells us about Jim Brunzell. His neck is injured and he has a slight concussion thanks to The Sheik and friends. Verne promises to kick Sheik out of the NWA, AWA and the country if he does it again.

The Masked Superstar vs Tom Zenk

MS is with Sheik Adnan Al-Kassie and Mr. Saito. Zenk gets pounded on and takes a nice bodyslam. MS back elbows him and beats him against the top rope. Zenk gets thrown out and MS takes shots at him from the apron before ramming him into the apron. MS then pulls Zenk's neck down over the top rope.

Zenk hits a nice lay back flying clothesline then hits a spinning neckbreaker for the win in a total squash. Everything MS did here looked good.

 

 

Sheik, Superstar and Saito are interviewed after. Sheik says Saito is #1 in Japan. Superstar says nobody in the back wants part of them. He says Sheik has money and tells Ken to talk to Sheik to get money, and recommends he try beating up Zenk to get some.

Kamala vs Jerry Monte

The dreaded ARMPIT HOLD~!

 

I don't like Jerry's chances here. He's wearing boots with tassles. Jerry climbs Kamala's back and gets clubbed and choked in the corner. The ref yells at Kamala and Kamala slaps his belly at him before continuing the clubbing. Kamala grabs both of Jerry's armpits and clubs him more.

Kamala chokes him more and punches him in the armpit then chops him in the throat. Kamala hits the double throat thrust and splashes him on the back to win in a quick squash.

The ref and his handler Friday try to pull him off after. Kamala goes up top but Friday talks him out of it. The announcers say he needs to be chained and put in a cage.

Ken Resnick takes us to:

The Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant vs The Invader

Invader eats some hiptosses and takes a back elbow. Valiant then wins with an elbow drop in less than a minute. The Invader was a bump machine here.

The Fabulous Ones vs Eddie Sullivan & Zulu

Stan Lane ain't got nothin' on Eddie Sullivan

 

  

Zulu's a big dude. Lane armdrags Eddie then Keirn headlock takedowns Eddie. Eddie kind of blows a headlock takedown then gets chinlocked by Lane. Paul Ellering is down at ringisde and is yelling at Keirn. The jobbers take over and barely get Lane up for a double slam.

Lane drops down and Keirn nails Eddie with a forearm to win it. Zulu only got to do the double bodyslam and nothing else in another quick squash.

The Fabulous Ones are interviewed. Keirn says they will take on The Roadwarriors anytime and tells them to come out on tv against them. Lane tells them to sign the contract and get them some.

Baron Von Raschke & Jerry Blackwell vs Dennis Stamp & Billy Robinson

Billy Robinson

 

 

Billy is "The British Empire Champion". The announcers outright say Baron and Jerry are an unusual team. Baron hiptosses Stamp and Stamp tags out. Billy gets some strikes in on Baron and is slammed and tags back out.

Jerry armdrags Stamp and drops the leg on his arm. Stamp gets his arm worked over more and takes a double kick to the chest. Baron bangs Stamp's head off the buckle and gets kicked when he bends over. Billy gets tagged in, hits some punches and hits a nice neckbreaker for 2 on Baron. Baron gets the claw but Billy tags out.

Stamp gets a bunch of punches in but is poked in the eye by Baron. Blackwell headbutts him and drops a jumping elbow on him. Billy breaks the count on a powerslam but Baron claws Billy for it. Blackwell then hits a samoan drop for the win.

This was short but wasn't bad at all with everyone getting some decent looking offense in.

Da kids love Da Baron

Resnick interviews Blackwell and Baron. Blackwell says it is easy to look and be good with the Baron. He asks the Roadwarriors to put the AWA Tag Titles to come put the belts on the line against them. Baron says they are the greatest of friends and says they want the world tag titles. Baron says they mean business and Blackwell brings in some kids to pose with them in a good promo that really makes you want to see that match.

AWA Title -  Rick Martel vs Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin with Precious

 

 

The announcer says "its the bout you've been waiting for". Garvin has a great sparkly red robe on and Martel skips his entrance to get in the ring at Garvin. Rick is fired up and ready to go here.

Jimmy hits some knees to the gut and Martel hurricanrana's him then punch flurries him. Martel hits some fiery punches and Garvin falls out of the ring. Precious gets on the apron and Jimmy goes ofr the sneak attack but takes an atomic drop.

Martel slingshots Garvin in and pulls him off the ropes, making him hit his head. Martel hits some nice punches and works the arm then hammerlocks him. Garvin grabs the hair, chokes him and puts him in a chinlock to make it look clean.

Garvin gets thrown into the buckle but clotheslines Martel then Martel takes a big bump as he is thrown over the top. Martel is thrown out and Jimmy gets knocking him away from the apron. Martel's getting mad and hits a big punch that Jimmy does a great sell for. Jimmy gets his head banged off the buckle then Martel slingshot splashes in for 2.

Jimm rolls to the corner and they get the fans counting for Martel's stomps on him.  Precious hands Jimmy brass knucks and he nails Martel with it. Precious distracts the ref and Jimmy gets a 3 count! The ref holds up his hand though and sees it while Jimmy grabs the title belt. The ref takes the belt back and gives it to Martel for the DQ win.

Garvin kicks Martel in the back of the head hard and throws him over the top.

This was great. Everything these two did looked good. Martel threw some awesome punches and had fire like no face I have seen for a long time and Garvin took some great bumps for him. I'm sure this was a nothing match by 1980's standards, but this is mind blowing work in 2022.

Resnick interviews Garvin after. Garvin says he won the title and is furious. Garvin says Martel had the brass knucks and he tried to take it from Martel, but the ref blamed him for it. Garvin again says he is the champion and Resnick corrects him.

Resnick interviews Verne Gagne again. Verne said he is thankful the ref saw what happened and said he did the right thing. He says he doesn't want stuff like to happen in the NWA or the AWA. Verne tells us to hang onto our seats and announces The Fabulous Ones vs The Road Warriors for next week plus another surprise.

Overall thoughts: A fun hour of wrestling. The main was great with both guys doing textbook face and heel work. The interview after was great too. I thought the semi-main wasn't bad for being so short and I liked the Baron/Blackwell promo after.

I expected nothing going into this, but I really ended up liking this and wanting to see more.