By: Brian Hoops, PW Torch.com Nostalgia Specialist
Old AWA wrestling television shows have been re-running on ESPN Classic for over 2 months now. The original programming aired from 1986-1989 on ESPN, and with ESPN retaining the rights to the original programming; they have been able to offer AWA wrestling each weekday night. I thought it would be fun to look at the stars of the AWA during the ESPN era and how they impacted the business.
I grew up watching AWA wrestling during the arguable “glory” period of the AWA from 1980-1985. As strange as this sounds; as a kid growing up on a farm in Iowa, I didn’t have cable TV so my only TV access to wrestling was through local syndicated TV. The WWF took over local syndication in approximately 1985 leaving me without AWA TV access. Whenever I would visit a friend or relative that had cable, I would commandeer the TV set to watch any wrestling I could find. Thus a lot of these AWA ESPN re-runs are first time viewing for me.
Curt Henning- Held the AWA World Heavyweight Title once, defeating Nick Bockwinkel for the belt in May 1987. Hennig would go on to greater fame as Mr. Perfect in the WWF as a two time Intercontinental Title holder. Back injuries would cut his career short. Also had a short run in the WCW in the mid-90’s, once held the WCW U.S. Heavyweight Title. Hennig was inducted into the WWE Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007. Henning went to Robbinsdale, Minnesota high school with other fellow professional wrestlers Tom Zenk, Rick Rude, John Nord, Barry Darsow, Brady Boone, and Nikita Koloff.
Nick Bockwinkel- 6 time AWA World Heavyweight Champion. On the tail end of his incredible career during the ESPN era. Would have his final AWA World Title run in 1986 and early 1987. Would be inducted into the WWE Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007.
Larry Zbyzsko – Has the distinction of being the last AWA World Heavyweight Champion, winning a battle royal in St. Paul for the title in 1989. After the AWA folded, Zbyzsko left for the WCW and finished his active wrestling career in 1992 although he was a television announcer for WCW for several more years. Was once married to Verne Gagne’s daughter Donna.
Shawn Michaels – Michaels would work mostly tag team matches in the AWA with Marty Jannetty in a team called the Midnight Rockers. One of the most exciting tag teams in the AWA since the High Flyers; the Rockers copied the successful gimmicks of the Rock & Roll Express and the Midnight Express. Michaels would go on to become arguably the greatest in ring performer in the history of professional wrestling. Michaels is a shoe in for the WWE Hall of Fame.
Marty Jannetty – Teamed with Michaels in the AWA as the Midnight Rockers and the WWF as the Rockers. Spent majority of their time chasing Buddy Rose and Doug Somers for the AWA World Tag Team Titles, finally capturing the title in January, 1987. They would hold the titles twice before leaving for the WWF. Jannetty’s best single’s run of his career was when he worked as a babyface in 1992 against Michaels following the split of the Rockers.
Leon White – White was very early in his career in the AWA in 1986, but showed tremendous athleticism and potential. White would go to Japan after the AWA folded, where he worked as Big Van Vader and really developed into a tremendous worker. White worked in WCW in the early 1990’s, winning the WCW World Heavyweight Title on two occasions. White would also work in the WWF before retiring in the late 1990’s. White was trained by Brad Rheingans and is arguably the greatest “big man” worker of all time. White is currently working the Denver, Colorado area.
Scott Hall – Was just beginning his career and was very green as a worker. He always had a good look and size, but never received a major push until going to the WWF in 1992 and becoming Razor Ramon. Hall held the WWF Intercontinental Title on several occasions, became even more famous after jumping to the WCW in 1996 as one of the Outsiders and founding members of the NWO.
Bruiser Brody – Brody was a tremendous heel worker, using a brawling style. Brody worked mainly in Japan during this time and refused to do any jobs to anyone in the AWA or any of the U.S. independent promotions. Brody also worked in WCCW regularly before his life was cut short before a match in Puerto Rico in 1988. Interestingly, Brody briefly played football at West Texas State University where several of his teammates wound up leaving their mark on professional wrestling including Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Scott Casey and Bobby Duncum.
Jerry Blackwell – Blackwell was an AWA mainstay, having worked during the glory period of the AWA and was nearing the end of his career during the ESPN days. Blackwell was a tremendous athlete for his size and was one of the biggest heels during the AWA glory days, but finished his career as a face following a tremendous angle with Bruiser Brody that turned him face in 1984. Blackwell passed away in 1995 due to complications from pneumonia.
Stan Hansen – Was a one time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, however refused to lose the title in 1986 to Nick Bockwinkel and left for Japan, taking the AWA title with him. Hansen added some legitimacy to the AWA title, however was difficult to work with as he choose work in Japan over the AWA. Hansen also worked in the WCW, winning the U.S. Heavyweight Title in 1990.
Brad Rheingans – Member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic wrestling team that was forced to boycott the Olympic games that year. Rheingans placed fourth in the 1976 Olympic games. Rheingans was a one time AWA World Tag Team Champion with Ken Patera; however is better known as a trainer for Verne Gagne in the AWA. Notable wrestlers Rheingans trained are John Bradshaw Layfield, Tom Zenk, Leon White and Jerry Lynn. I believe Rheingans is currently involved in training athletes for MMA competition in the Minneapolis area.
Greg Gagne – Gagne was near the tail end of his career during the ESPN years. Gagne was doing a lot of the promotional work and booking duties for the AWA during this time and very little time wrestling. His greatest in ring accomplishments came as a member of the High Flyers tag team with Jim Brunzell when they twice won AWA World Tag Team Titles. Gagne would work in the front offices of the WCW in the early 1990’s and work briefly for the WWE. I believe Gagne is currently working for a Mitsubishi dealership in the Twin Cities area.
Nord the Barbarian – John Nord worked a take off of the Bruiser Brody gimmick in the AWA and briefly worked in World Class Championship Wrestling, managed by Gary Hart in the late 1980’s. Nord went to the WWF and worked as the Berserker in 1991. He briefly worked in All Japan Pro Wrestling and the WCW before retiring in the late 1990’s.
Sheri Martel – Martel is best remembered as Sensational Sheri in the WWF as manager of Randy Savage and Shawn Michaels and also in the WCW as Sister Sheri as manager of Harlem Heat. Martel was also manager of Doug Somers/Buddy Rose in the AWA and a four time AWA Women’s Champion and one time WWF Women’s Champion. Martel was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
Doug Somers/Buddy Rose – AWA World Tag Team Champions from May, 1986 to January, 1987. This was their only major push as a tag team and feuded with the Midnight Rockers in a series of fantastic matches in this timeframe.
Sgt. Slaughter – Slaughter wrestled in the AWA, NWA and the WWF and was a one-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion. Slaughter had great mainstream appeal and was almost solely responsible for the AWA appearing on ESPN as he was the most recognizable name on the AWA roster.
Scott LeDeux – LeDeux worked mostly as a trouble shooting referee for the AWA, but did wrestle a few matches with Larry Zbyzsko; most notably at WrestleRock 1986. LeDeux’s is currently the head of the Minnesota Athletic Commission, presiding over the growing popularity of mixed martial arts in the Twin Cities.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s column. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to contact me at bhoops@iw.net.
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