One of the most popular baby-face
tag teams in 1986 was Curt Hennig and "Big" Scott Hall. Check out
Hall feeling Hennig's bicep as they show off the tag straps.
Meanwhile, the most hated,
and most entertaining Heel Team in the A.W.A. was "Play-Boy" Buddy Rose
and "Pretty-Boy" Doug Somers.
So lets see what happened
on May 17th, 1986 when the studs put their belts on the line against these
cocky blonds.
The Play Boy and Pretty Boy
enter the arena to a chorus of boos. The fans really hated the dirty
heel wrestlers back then, especially the flamboyant bleach-blond sissies.
By the way, did you know ESPN
Classic is now showing AWA wrestling from the '80s late at night?? Check
your local listings and don't miss this great old-school action.
They announce Buddy's weight
at 271, and he grabs the mic to argue that his weight is actually 217.
That was his schtick, and it got the fans riled up because he was
so fat.
Of course the fans go crazy
for the champs, Hall and Hennig. I guess because they are so darn
handsome and smiley, and have fit bodies compared to their cocky blond opponents.
The announcers stoke up the
heat as well, by constantly talking about the amazing physiques on these
young lions who the ladies just adore, and how they must spend hours in
the gym.
The 411 Mania
website is also posting descriptions and analysis of these classic AWA episodes,
so check it out if you want the behind-the-scenes details.
Hennig and Hall continue to
talk strategy as the announcers go on and on about the great body on this
Big Scott Hall. Whoa, nice chest.
According to an on-line biography
of Scott Hall, he was "reportedly 'discovered'
by Barry Windham while shopping in a Florida grocery store in late 1984."
Why was Barry checking out the other dudes at the store, or is that
how they find new rasslin talent??
As the ref checks for weapons
on the champs, the cocky blonds stare them down. This adds more drama and
heat to a championship bout.
Curt Hennig,
the smaller man on his team, has to start the match because Scott Hall
has a neck injury thanks to being Pile-Driven on the floor by his enemy
Col. DeBeers the prior week.
You can tell which rookie
pro wrestlers are destined for greatness by their facial expressions. Check
out Hennig's intense look, showing the fans his drive and determination.
Buddy Rose secures a grinding
head-lock. Rose is proof that a fat, pale white guy CAN be entertaining
and fun to watch in the wrestling ring.
The eager young grappler secures
an arm bar, and both wrestlers sell it. Hennig flexes and grits his
teeth, while Rose groans in pain and begs for mercy.
Hennig was 28 when this match took place, but he grew up around
wrestling, so he already understood the ring psychology, the give and take,
and knew how to deliver great intensity.
Playboy Buddy Rose was quite
a talent as well. Even if he was a fat dude, his matches are truly a pleasure
to watch. Look at him selling the agony as Hennig continues to work
the hold.
The fat cheater grabs the
ropes like a coward to break the hold. He tags in his partner, the
Pretty Boy.
Doug Somers gets the exact
same punishment from this handsome rookie. Hennig works the Arm Bar
and forces the flamboyant blond to his knees.
Hall watches his partner torture
their opponent. Clearly these studs are the dominant team and deserve
to keep their belts, unless those blond cheaters use dirty tactics to win!
The baby-faces tag up and
Hall works over the Pretty Boy's arm. Check out their intense facial
expressions, looking like two dogs baring their teeth. Nice!
This Doug Somers really knows
how to suffer, I am impressed. He uses his whole body and some over-the-top
facial expressions to demonstrate the level of pain he is feeling.
According to one article, Doug
Somers is still wrestling:
"Signed
by All Star Championship Wrestling in 2007, Doug is a rule breaker who has
a devastating power driver. He has been a mid card and lower level talent
who is ranked in the top ten. His goal is to become the Southern Heavyweight
Champion and part of the World Tag Team Champions."
Scott Hall is so much stronger
and more powerful than most men, as the announcers have told us several
times. Doug Somers can't even rise up off his knees.
Buddy Rose climbs on the top
rope, planning to jump down on Hall and break up that painful Arm-lock.
Hennig shakes the ropes, causing the fat baffoon to fall on his crotch
on the top rope. OOFFF!
The Play-Boy's manhood has
been destroyed. He squeals in pain and rubs his crotch outside the
ring, totally impotent.
Meanwhile the strong man in
the white speedo and cowboy boots (that's not a gay look) tries to break
his opponent's arm. Somers suffers nicely.
Now Hennig tags back in and
the arm torture continues. The champs are just toying with their wimpy
blond opponent, bending and twisting him around like a Gumby Doll.
Meanwhile Somers continues
to chew the scenery, holding up his free hand in a pose of begging, rather
than using it to attack Hennig.
Speaking of attacking Hennig,
the Pretty-Boy inserts his fingers in the front of Hennig's trunks. What
is he doing down there?
Illegally pulling on his trunks,
Somers slams a knee in Hennig's belly to stun him. See, I told
you these blonds would cheat to gain the advantage!
Now the Play-Boy, or as the
fans call him, the Dough-Boy, enters the ring and begins slapping Hennig
around like some mouthy white-trash broad on Cops.
The shady rule-breaking continues
as the fat man presses the stud's neck right on the ropes. He's trying
to strangle this tan young athlete -- that is illegal!!
As Hennig gasps for air on
the mat, big Buddy Rose hitches up his trunks and plans his next attack.
This is terrible, get up Curt!!
The blonds are expert Tag
Team technicians, cutting the ring in half to prevent their helpless opponent
from making a Tag. This is such a brutal scene as Hennig lies on his
back at the mercy of these flamboyant cheaters, miles away from his partner!
Just look at that fat piece
of trash, standing with one foot on the helpless man's throat! This is
horrible, Curt should not be degraded by that out-of-shape tub of goo!
Oh DAMN! That cheater
stands his entire 271 pound -- or as he claims, 217 pound -- body
on the young man's neck! The ref just stands there watching as Rose
tries to crush Hennig's throat!
The ref reminds Buddy Rose
that you aren't really supposed to strangle your opponent. As usual,
Hennig plays the "baby-face in peril" who needs Big Scott Hall to rescue
his gorgeous ass from the brutal beating he is taking.
Hennig can barely defend himself
as Buddy Rose pushes him around like a rhino pushing around a gazelle.
Rose sets him up for an Irish Whip across the ring.
Hennig surprises everyone
by leaping over his opponent and making the hot tag to his partner. The
fans go wild.
Scott Hall is still fresh.
He leaps into the ring like a house afire, and easily flips big Buddy
Rose ass-over-applecart across the ring.
Showing off his super-human
strength, Hall picks up the fat man and holds him in a choke. Didn't
Darth Vader do this to one of his minions?
Hey, what the hell?? Col.
DeBeers has climbed on the ring apron, so Scott Hall drops Buddy Rose to
attack his sworn enemy. Stay focused, Scott!
As Hall
is distracted, Buddy Rose attacks him from behind and spikes his face into
the ring post.
Hall is dazed on the floor, and the ref counts him out. Those dirty
cheaters have defeated Hennig and Hall!
The baby-faces are outraged
and shocked by the ref's decision. The fans are in an uproar. Ahhh,
the good old days!
Sure enough, the ref raises
the Heels' arms in victory and awards them the Tag Team championship belts.
This is a travesty!
Hennig is hot. He feels
the cheaters should be disqualified, for illegal interference, for spiking
Hall into the ring post, for choking him over and over. Is there no
justice in Pro Wrestling??
Also, since when does the
Title change hands on a count-out?? Every wrestling fan knows it takes
a pinfall or submission to win the belts, so why in this one case, did the
cheaters win the belts on a count-out??
Oh no,
Scott was busted open when his head hit the post! Blood runs down his
face further humiliating him for being out-smarted and beaten down by the
blond sissies.
Sherri Martel, meanwhile,
laughs at the loser's suffering and outrage. She celebrates with her
team as the former champs bitch and moan.
It seems that the hot new
Tag Team, the Midnite Rockers, were due for a push in the AWA. Therefore,
the bad guys had to steal the belts from Hall and Hennig, so that the Rockers
could then win the belts and launch a long, bloody feud with Rose and Somers.
Hennig and Hall obediently
surrendered their titles, and Hall even agreed to wear the humiliating
Crimson Mask. This willing compliance pays off later as they both
eventually join the WWE and become huge stars.
The two beaten studs scream
at the ref, so he explains that you must get back in the ring before the
10-count. (But since when do the belts change hands due to a count-out?)
Hall is
covered in blood, sweat, and tears as they continue to express their outrage,
getting the fans all worked up as well.
Wow, I may sound like Rod
Trongard and Lord James Blears for saying this, but just look at the amazing
physique on this young man! Clearly he must spend hours in the gym
each day.
Wow Big Scott Hall looks about
twice as big as his partner. No wonder Hennig was the one who took
most of the bumps and had to constantly be saved by his larger partner.
The former champs give an interview
at ringside. Hennig expresses his anger and frustration.
Wow, young Curt Hennig is just
as handsome as a Hollywood movie star, and he's a better actor than most
of them as well. He passionately describes his bitter hatred for the
cruel cheaters who humiliated his partner and stole the belts.
The camera zooms in on Hall's
bloody face, giving the fans at home the full effect of his agony and suffering.
Couldn't they clean him up or at least give him a towel before the
nation-wide interview??
Scott Hall vows that he and his partner will seek revenge on those
cheaters. But actually, Hennig and Hall broke up soon after this match,
and both went on to other gimmicks. After all, the Midnite Rockers
were the more popular baby-face team at this point.
