KEJB
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,302
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 18:02:15 GMT -5
Post by KEJB on Nov 21, 2006 18:02:15 GMT -5
Well,it's old school so of course I must get it... I remember tuning on weeknights on ESPN to catch the AWA;actually that was the first 2 hour wrestling program I can remember.As far as talent goes,being AWA it is almost required to have some Nick Bockwinkel,and I am always down to watch some Nick Bockwinkel matches;I'd also really like to see some East-West Connection on there,and some Billy Robinson.Oh,and as far as jobbers of the week don't forget Kenny Jay. Yes,by today's standards most of the matches are boring,but its really not a good comparison as they did things differently back then,esp. in the AWA,it was alot more "slow build" rather than the all out spotfests you see now.Really it is a double eged sword since if you judge most today's matches by the standards of back then,today's matches totally suck;they are all just crazy impossible stuff and are over way too fast. Oh by all means, I am a fan of the slow build. Bryan Danielson is great with that match style, and he is one of my current favorites. Ric Flair is my all time favorite and he was awesome at it as well. However, seeing what these athletes are capable of today, I could only really enjoy watching the old days, in small amounts. I would much rather read about everything else that went on back in those days, then watch 85% of the matches.
|
|
ronf
AC Slater
Posts: 163
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 18:28:20 GMT -5
Post by ronf on Nov 21, 2006 18:28:20 GMT -5
I remember reading about the A.W.A. in the "Apter Mags" and then watching them on television in the mid eighties. My first live show was an N.W.A./A.W.A. show in 1986. For the A.W.A. there was a Texas Death Match between Nick Bonkwinkel vs Larry Zbyszko, Mike Rotundo vs Doug Somers w Sheri Martel and Buddy Rose, World Champion Stan Hansen vs Leon White (Vader pre Vader) and a few others including a 2 cage matches.
|
|
nisi
Vegeta
Da Bears
Posts: 9,868
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 18:58:08 GMT -5
Post by nisi on Nov 21, 2006 18:58:08 GMT -5
Yes,by today's standards most of the matches are boring,but its really not a good comparison as they did things differently back then,esp. in the AWA,it was alot more "slow build" rather than the all out spotfests you see now.Really it is a double eged sword since if you judge most today's matches by the standards of back then,today's matches totally suck;they are all just crazy impossible stuff and are over way too fast. And even today, in a lot of small (make that tiny) regional indy feds, old school "slow" wrestling is pretty much still the norm. Some of the younger workers are spot artists, but most of the guys on a card will be older and slower, which is actually good mat wrestling to watch live and ringside.
|
|
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 19:05:10 GMT -5
Post by Will Has 'Til Five, Ref on Nov 21, 2006 19:05:10 GMT -5
I really want to see this, too. I hope they have... 1) the Lawler-Hennig match where Zybszko helps and Hennig turns heel. 2) Colonel DeBeers piledriving Jimmy Snuka on the concrete. 3) Bloom and Enos: Tag Team Champions. 4) Bockwinkel. 5) Hansen. ... and the "Turkey on a Pole" match BETTER be an Easter Egg somewhere! I always thought that it was the Bockwinkel/Hennig match which turned Hennig heel, with an assist from Zybyzsko? I think you're right if I remember correctly. Larry handed Henning a roll of coins to knock out Bockwinkle.
|
|
Grendel
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
But ... why is all the rum gone?
Posts: 17,593
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 20:19:48 GMT -5
Post by Grendel on Nov 21, 2006 20:19:48 GMT -5
I always thought that it was the Bockwinkel/Hennig match which turned Hennig heel, with an assist from Zybyzsko? I think you're right if I remember correctly. Larry handed Henning a roll of coins to knock out Bockwinkle. Yeah. And after he handed the coins back to Larry, Ray "The Crippler" Stevens pulled his hand out and coins went flying everywhere. I remember this because the AWA opened with the announcers having grave looks on thier faces. And they showed the match in it's entirety, which wasn't something they usually did for matches that didn't occur at a television taping. Then I believe during the rematch Zybyszko hit Bockwinkle with a pair of nun chucks while he had Hennig set up in a Piledriver. Ah yes, the AWA. I cut my teeth on the AWA long before I even heard of any other wrestling organization. Then came the WWE on television, and then I got to see the NWA and I was like, "Wow ..." when I got to see the Four Horsemen in action, something that I only read about in the Apter mags. Gawds, that was back in the day when it was still wrestling, long before Vince used the term sports entertainment.
|
|
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 21:14:50 GMT -5
Post by Psicosis Auto Theft on Nov 21, 2006 21:14:50 GMT -5
^ I've had the same experience too. You'd go to one of their live shows and it truly felt like a real sporting event. Even if it was a character like the Raod Warriors or Jesse Ventura you'd believe in them as athletes much the same way you think about a pro-football or hockey player just alittle more flamboyant than the usual. It feel like you're at a serious competition. I really miss those days. I hope to get this DVD.
|
|
TuneinTokyo
Hank Scorpio
The Mountain from Stone Mountain
Posts: 6,431
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 21:42:31 GMT -5
Post by TuneinTokyo on Nov 21, 2006 21:42:31 GMT -5
They used to have the whole announcer thing where he talks about the state of California commision on whatever in conjunction with such and such promoter and then they do the Star Spangled Banner. They would even introduce the bell guy.
|
|
Midnight Rider
Team Rocket
Don't tell anyone I'm actually Blackjack Mulligan
Posts: 844
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 22:00:21 GMT -5
Post by Midnight Rider on Nov 21, 2006 22:00:21 GMT -5
I remember that also,they would announce the Athletic Commission members,then "Doctor in attendance at ringside",the same as professional boxing matches.In the case of the AWA it made sense since technically Verne's organization's name was "The Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling Club".The way they did the matches in those days,they really made you believe that a wrestler might give up at any moment from a basic move like a Hammerlock or Wristlock.
Any word on what years it is going to concentrate on? I am really hoping for some 70's stuff so I can see Bruiser &Crusher, and also Bockwinkle & Stevens;and of course no AWA DVD would be complete without at least one appearance by Mad Dog Vachon.I imagine there will probably be at least one Lawler vs. Bockwinkle match on there too,which is fine by me as pretty much every match they had is a clinic in ring psychology and story telling.
Really,I guess what makes it difficult for people who were around to watch it back then when they shows matches now is you really don't get to see any of the weeks and weeks of buildup and story that went into the match they show you;you really do need a sense of how what is happens fits in the bigger picture to really get into it.
|
|
El Pollo Guerrera
Grimlock
His name has chicken in it, and he is good at makin' .gifs, so that's cool.
Status: Runner
Posts: 14,772
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 22:34:57 GMT -5
Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Nov 21, 2006 22:34:57 GMT -5
I think you're right if I remember correctly. Larry handed Henning a roll of coins to knock out Bockwinkle. My bad... it's been a while since I saw it. By the way, the image in my signature is from IWA-MS Strong Style Revolution 2004... the semi-main event is CM Punk, Ace Steel, Danny Daniels and Matt Sydal vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Nigel McGuinness, Steve Stone and Chris Candido.
|
|
kevinhardy
Dennis Stamp
Because I can become a better Champion than this person.
Posts: 4,115
|
AWA DVD
Nov 21, 2006 23:19:52 GMT -5
Post by kevinhardy on Nov 21, 2006 23:19:52 GMT -5
wow I dance like Punk, yet another thing in common
AWA dvd: at least it has old lawler and hulk matches
|
|
|
AWA DVD
Nov 23, 2006 17:37:42 GMT -5
Post by darthpipes on Nov 23, 2006 17:37:42 GMT -5
Anyone find any easter eggs?
|
|
|
AWA DVD
Nov 25, 2006 10:47:55 GMT -5
Post by DownWithGravity on Nov 25, 2006 10:47:55 GMT -5
The AWA had the worst commentators...Larry Nelson, Ross Trongard, Lord James Blairs, those dull-ass Gagnes, Ray Stevens, "Big K". When Lee Marshall and Eric Bischoff are the cream of the crop, it's a sad thing.
I hope there's an alternate audio track on the DVD for some of the matches. The AWA made Ed Whalen sound like Jim Ross.
|
|
TuneinTokyo
Hank Scorpio
The Mountain from Stone Mountain
Posts: 6,431
|
AWA DVD
Nov 25, 2006 16:40:19 GMT -5
Post by TuneinTokyo on Nov 25, 2006 16:40:19 GMT -5
got the DVD last night, and I must say I am really impressed. Bravo WWE for this one.
It has matches, interviews, heartfelt story.
Highlights for me -
Hogan being interviewed "Rock and Roll who?"
Ventura interview "I'd like to say hi to Phil Lesh and jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead.
The Milkman wins the Battle Royal for the Team Challenge Series. I still ask why I haven't seen the Milkster as JOTW. All hail Milliman..
|
|
vinniemac
Don Corleone
No Chance In Hell
Posts: 1,967
|
AWA DVD
Nov 25, 2006 17:00:51 GMT -5
Post by vinniemac on Nov 25, 2006 17:00:51 GMT -5
wow I dance like Punk, yet another thing in common AWA dvd: at least it has old lawler and hulk matches Hulk Hogan matches are not an "extra," but actually denigrate the package. They're as much a "bonus" as a kick in the gnads.
|
|
vinniemac
Don Corleone
No Chance In Hell
Posts: 1,967
|
AWA DVD
Nov 25, 2006 17:03:41 GMT -5
Post by vinniemac on Nov 25, 2006 17:03:41 GMT -5
The AWA had the worst commentators...Larry Nelson, Ross Trongard, Lord James Blairs, those dull-ass Gagnes, Ray Stevens, "Big K". When Lee Marshall and Eric Bischoff are the cream of the crop, it's a sad thing. "B'ah gawd kang, I dun think he's heard the WWE-me when he made thsoe comments!"WWF/E Jim Ross is the death of mainstream wrestling. I say the same thing with WWE progamming. God bless Spanish announcing!
|
|
|
AWA DVD
Nov 25, 2006 19:09:16 GMT -5
Post by TRMcGillicutty on Nov 25, 2006 19:09:16 GMT -5
I can't wait to own this. The closest thing I've ever seen to an AWA match has been Lawler-Von Erich and that Gagne/Bockwinkel Slamboree 93 match, so I really wanna see what they offered. Plus, I'm always up for some wrestling history, even if it is in a slanted view.
|
|
TuneinTokyo
Hank Scorpio
The Mountain from Stone Mountain
Posts: 6,431
|
AWA DVD
Nov 26, 2006 0:19:46 GMT -5
Post by TuneinTokyo on Nov 26, 2006 0:19:46 GMT -5
They offer loose ring ropes and really springy mats. And Rock and Roll WHO???
|
|