AWF Warriors of Wrestling 2/25/1995

AWF Warriors of Wrestling 2/25/1995

This is the American Wrestling Federation. This was short lived promotion that started in 1995. They used a lot of 80's wrestlers and some younger wrestlers who were available at the time. This is their debut show. 

All the matches have three 4-minute rounds with a 1 minute break between rounds. If the match goes the distance, the ref keeps score and the judges determine the winner.  They have a blue ring with red, white and blue ropes and buckles.

Sgt. Slaughter says all Americans have the freedom of choice and says our choice for wrestling should be the American Wrestling Federation.

Mick Karch and Terry Taylor are on commentary. They say we will see action and Terry runs down the card. Bill Anderson is our ring announcer.

Tito Santana vs The Ultimate Destroyer

Round 1 - UD has a mask with a silver and black singlet over a white shirt. Terry says there's no bigger of a star in wrestling than Tito Santana. They say don't know much about The Ultimate Destroyer. Terry then runs down the rules.

UD and Tito lock-up. UD waistlock takedowns him then rides him. Tito flings him off. UD throws him down and Tito headscissors him. Tito waistlocks him and UD hits a back elbow. UD shoulders him over then Tito hiptosses and armdrags him. Tito armlocks him. UD grabs the hair and knees him in the gut. UD hits headbutts. Tito atomic drops him and UD goes over the top.

Terry calls foul on UD going over the top. Tito armdrags UD and grounds him with a hammerlock. UD hits knees to the gut. UD slams him then misses a big splash. Tito boots him then hits a back body drop. Tito dropkicks him. The round then ends.

Round 2 - UD wants a longer break but the ref says no. UD offers a handshake. UD backs Tito up in the corner and eye rakes him. Tito hiptosses him and armdrags him. UD drops him throat first on the top rope. UD misses a slingshot swanton then Tito slams him. Tito dropkicks him. Tito hits a flying burrito and gets the pin.

Thoughts: I had no issues with this. UD is a bigger guy who could move and Tito's offense looked good like it always does. But, I could watch Tito vs anyone and not really complain. It was fine. They likely went to the 2nd round purposely here so people could see what it was like from the start.

Ken Resnick interviews Tito Santana. Tito says he's feeling real good about the rounds system and wrestling in the AWF. He says you gotta know how to wrestle if you are going to make it here and he says he knows how to wrestle. Tito says being in shape will be an asset and knowing how to wrestle will pay off.

Greg "The Hammer" Valentine vs Billy Joe Eaton

Rico Suave is Greg's manager. He kind of looks like a taxi driver with a tux on. They say Rico has all the money and class.

Round 1 - Greg backs up Bill in the corner then Bill armdrags him. Bill armlocks him. Greg blocks a hiptoss and lariats bill. Greg gutbusters Bill then drops some knees on the body. Greg then tries to pull Bill's arm out. Greg back elbows Bill. Chris Adams does an inset promo as Bill gets thrown out. Chris says they use the rounds system just like they did in England. Chris says he'll be here next week. Greg clubs on Bill's chest on the ropes then slams him.

Bill hits boots and spears to the gut. Bill runs into Greg's elbow then Greg 2nd rope elbows him in the head. Greg elbow drops him then submits him with the figure four.

Thoughts: It was all squash here with Bill getting beaten as expected. Greg did his usual shtick with elbows but it looked fine so I was okay with it. You know what you are getting into with Greg Valentine matches.

Tony Atlas vs Sonny Rogers

Round 1 - Sonny hits Tony from behind and eye rakes him. Sonny clubs on him then 2nd rope double axe handles him. Sonny elbows Tony's neck then jawbreakers him. Sonny ear claps him and shoulderblocks him. Tony shoulders him over.

Sonny runs at him and gets slammed. Tony picks him up by the throat and throws him. Tony then hits a jumping headbutt. Sonny then goes out. Sonny stalls on the apron and Tony back body drops him.

Sonny eye rakes him. Sonny hits a dropkick and various elbow drops. Sonny goes the pin and Tony lifts him up onto the ref. Sonny hits punches on Tony and Tony starts to hulk up. Sonny is sent into the buckles chest first then Tony hiptosses him. Tony throws him on a backdrop lift. Tony bangs Sonny's head off the mat and bearhugs him with 30 seconds left in the round. Sonny eye gouges him and makes it through the round.

Round 2 - We are told Sonny was admonished by the ref for eye gouges and Tony was given the round because of it. Tony hiptosses him then hits a nice running lariat. Johnny Gunn does an inset promo. He says we are the luckiest fans in the world to see the debut of the AWF. Gunn says to tune in next week as he will be on.

Tony headbutt drops Sonny's gut. Sonny's head is banged off the buckles and Sonny does a bad flop down. Tony gorilla press slams him. Tony then hits a splash to get the win.

Thoughts: This went longer than it needed to. Sonny got some offense in though it was mostly eye gouges. It was average for the most part but nothing was wrong with it.

Paul Alperstein, owner of the AWF, is interviewed by Ken Resnick. Paul says he's been a fan of wrestling for years. He said he saw wrestling change dramatically and wanted to bring it back to the roots of the sport. Paul says the rules with be enforced. He says there's throwing people over the top, there's no touching the ref and there's a break on the 10 count. He says if you don't do that, you will be disqualified. He says he though it would be phenomenal to create something unique and chose the rounds system. He says the rounds system will be something the fans will want to see around the world. Paul says they will tour the US and foreign countries in the very near future.

Nails vs Rick Thunder

Round 1 - They say Nails is the most diabolical and sadistic man in wrestling. Nails boots him and sends him into the buckles. Nail chokes him in the corner then he throws him. Nail chokes him more and throws him out. Rick's head is banged off the rails. Nails throws a chair at Rick then chairs him. The ref then DQ's Nails.

Nail chairs Rick more after and chokes him with a cable. Nails then hangs him with the cable. Nails then backbreakers him.

Thoughts: It was a a quick one here with Nails getting all the offense in and looking like a maniac. I thought Nails did an okay job here and I bought him as a lunatic you don't want to mess with.

Sir Oliver Humperdink is interviewed. He says he didn't stay around as long as he has by being a slouch. He says there's a lot of good things happening in the AWF. He says some people are unhappy to see him but says to get used to it as he will be around a long time. He says he has a new tag team from Texas and it's The Hangmen. The Hangmen say they were the biggest, baddest pieces of meat to ever step out of Texas. Humperdink says it starts next week.

Sgt. Slaughter vs Ken McGuire

Round 1 - Ken has some goofy looking pink tights and kneepads on, making him look like Adrian Adonis. Sarge backs up Ken in the corner. Ken hits a chest club in the corner. Sarge chest clubs him in the corner. Sheik Adnan Al-Kassie does an inset promo. He has no beard here. He says he needs no intro and says he has the greatest wrestler in the world who will be here next week.

Ken bangs Sarge's head off the buckles and chokes him on the ropes. Sarge boots and clubs him. Sarge knees him in the gut and gutbusters him. Sarge lariats him. Sarge then taps him out with the cobra clutch.

Thoughts: It wasn't an impressive outing from Sarge. He looked old here and was showing signs of not moving well. Sarge also tends to be better as a heel where he can bump more.

Sgt. Slaughter is interviewed by Ken Resnick. He gives Ken a mini American flag. He says it's great to be here in the AWF. He says he's happy Paul Alperstein brought the rules and the regulations back. Sarge says he likes the rounds system and asks if you can imagine a guy walking into the ring with him with pink tights on? (referencing Ken McGuire).

Koko B. Ware vs Bobby Bradley

Round 1 - Terry Taylor says he thought Koko was from Alcatraz. Bob backs up Koko in the corner and chest clubs him. Koko hiptosses him. Bob hits an uppercut. Koko leapfrogs him then hits a dropkick. Bob drops down and gets a fist drop for it.

They lock up again. Bob hits knees to the gut and bites him. Bob bangs Koko's head off the buckles then punches him off the side headlock. Bob chokes Koko on the ropes. Bob sleeperholds him. Koko hits elbows to the gut then is lariated over. Bob chinlocks him again. Koko sleepers him and the round ends.

Round 2 - Bob tries to hit Koko with a stool between the rounds. Bob elbows Koko in the back of the head then slams Koko. Mr. Hughes does an inset promo. He says whoever steps in his face next week will go down with the sidewalk slam. Koko is thrown into the corner and misses a 2nd rope twisting crossbody. Bob elbow drops him for 2. Koko suplexes him. Koko like does a stomp off the second rope while Bob is standing. Koko brainbusters Bob and wins.

Thoughts: I was really surprised to see Bob get so much offense in. He definitely got put over here in what might have been a squash otherwise. The match was very average and basic. Koko's brainbuster looked good here.

Ken Resnick interviews Rico Suave. Rico says he has the best, most talented and best looking wrestlers in the world. He says the girl at ringside with the computer belongs to him. He says the computer came up with 3 names who will take his family to the top but won't say who. Greg Valentine comes in. Rico calls him "Gregory". Greg says all you had to do on the computer was put in greatness and you'll get him. He says he's the master of the figure four which will take him all the way to the top.

Sarge say we made the right choice with the AWF and says until next week, we're dismissed.

Overall thoughts: It wasn't the greatest debut by the AWF. There were no great matches and the only people featured were older names. The rounds system didn't add much in this episode and may as well have not even been there. I thought The Ultimate Destroyer showed some promise. There wasn't much going on storyline wise though a bunch of people promised to appear next week. This was about as average as it comes and I'd give it a 4 out of 10.