[INDY] AWWA Fresno CA 7/3/1992

[shellshock]

AWWA WRESTLING
The Wrestle Rock Tour in FRESNO
July 3rd HOLIDAY SPECIAL CARD
FCC Gym, Fresno California Bell time 8 PM

We.re in the tunnel outside the locker room. The ring crew is awaiting further directions (hoping for their big break). Promoter Dale Gagne pops out. He has good news and bad news.

"The NWA says we have to use THEIR referees so none of you will be allowed. Tony, there's a LOT of your people here - GOOD job. Here's another ten, you can do some ring announcing, Spanish and English, OK? So, Vinnie, you got the stopwatch and bell figured out and Wesley, do your best with that ghetto blaster, watch for feedback. And Lumpy, we had a great idea - get in the locker room, Jonnie will fill you in - your in-ring debut, big boy! Eat your Wheaties this morning?"

The keeners that have further work tonight get high-fives, especially grinning chubby teenager "Lumpy".


It is magic time - 8 o'clock and the gym fills with the squeal of feedback! Wesley moves a house microphone away from his ghetto blaster and we barely recognize the Anthem.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, my name is Dale Gagne and on behalf of the NWA AND the AW(cough)A it is a pleasure to bring the Wrestle Rock 1992 to Northern California! Right up through the intermission, The Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant is in the lobby where you can get a personal photo with the LEGEND"

Voice from cheap seats "25 bucks is a ripoff!"

"Also in the lobby area ALL SORTS of souvenirs AND a licensed beverage area for your enjoyment. I'll turn things over to our new ring announcer Tony"

Scattered shout outs "Go Tony!" etc.

Young fellow recaps Gagne en espanol and the lights dim. Tony DeNucci is the ref.

Match 1
Professor Bergstrom pins Sangre Chicana after a leg sweep and very conspicuous trunk hold pin. Bergstrom had entered with empty horn rims, a mortar-board, black gown and pointer. He did a routine insulting the largely Latino audience. After the match he is pelted with projectiles. Good warm up for the house.

Tony has gotten over any jitters. Does a hell of a bilingual introduction for our FIRST special attraction! Igor the Giant enters and takes the mic.

"I see I wrestle ONE MAN named Rex Farmer. That is NOT FAIR. Give him a partner as I am used to beating any size mob. GRRRR" Very weak scary-movie voice. Many think of Count Von Count.

Match 2
Igor the Giant, the 9th Wonder of the World vs. Rex Farmer AND MYSTERY PARTNER

Not much mystery as Sangre Chicana had been hovering around anyways. Igor plays a by-the-book scary / funny handicap squash

Tony on a roll as he points out we will be seeing the ORIGINAL Moondog - Moondog Moretti.

Match 3
"Moondog" Moretti submits Carl "Crusher Cyclops" Styles with a sleeper. Moretti being a smiling good natured type plays face. Styles uses the back rakes and face rips to be the heel. Meat and potatoes work from the Portland mid-card vets. Ran nearly 15 minutes

Tony introduces our first MANAGER. Jonathon Holliday takes over

"My name is Jonathon Holliday and I am assembling the newest, meanest, greatest stable in wrestling right here on the West Coast. My newest acquisition is SO great, I am giving the REST of my stable the night off and I will be the partner for King Kong Bundy!"

Mike Phillips enters doing the KKB copycat

Match 4
Jonathon Holliday and King Kong Bundy Junior beat Jim and Karl Pope. A controversial affair, The Pope "Twins" were holding their own. Holliday does a craven coward show. The Popes are double teaming the big monster. "Bundy" splashes Jim but Karl hits a bolo punch. Jonathon signals for a save. A large figure in plain black body suit and black mask enters the ring. His appearances causes Karl to freeze. The lumpy tubby mystery man pulls Bundy on top of Jim while referee DeNucci was distracted. As the invader leaves there is a 3 count

Holliday has the mic "That masked man was one of THE ROAD WARRIORS! I can't say which one and he has to wear a mask because he isn't licensed to wrestle in California! But I guarantee the next time we are here in Fresno the Road Warriors challenge the winners of tonight's huge main event"

Dale Gagne reappears, "WOW that is huge news from Jonathon Holliday! Next time is going to be even GREATER! You know what we need here are HOT BABES! The A(cough)WA will have Ladies Tag Team action coming to Fresno (he is waving the microphone quite a bit - some of the rest is a bit garbled) We will have all the BIG names!

Macho (zzbbbzzz) WARRIOR! WHOOOO, we'll have Ric...(ssssppppssssh) HOGAN too! Don't be disappointed get the tickets for our show here on the 17th TONIGHT!"

Tony translates best he can. And there is a change to the card.

Match 5
Jeff Bronsky pins Alex Knight.. Knight is much smaller and we have sort of a track meet as Bronsky has to chase and deal with some acrobatics. Bronsky is pretty well-built and delivers a credible running powerslam

WE GO TO INTERMISSION

Let's listen in to the management team as they sit in a rented van with Minnesota plates. The cargo area has some gear with AWA and other logos.

Gagner: "Cracked me up with the Road Warriors. I thought the Macho Warrior was pushing things!"

Holliday: "Hey those Canadian guys brought that BC bud, Valiant thinks we've paid him for the whole week already. But **** that cretin sucks with the music"

Stewart: "All in all so far so good. But we should be careful. Some of the Mex fans seem a bit hinky. We should do the Volador match straight"

Jimmy V knocks on the window. "Got some matches dude?"

Back inside the gym we are ready for the rest of the show.

Match 6 Tonga Kid pins The Exterminator. Good crowd of Bay Area Polynesians have made the trip and liven the cheering. Tama delivers a good performance finishing the guy using a red mask with a top turnbuckle dive. Who doesn't love that and he threw in the Snuka hand gestures

After young Tony has done his announcements including Jonathon Holliday is now the referee we will have more audio entertainment. First we get a large young fellow.

"I'm THE ANVIL! I am JASON Neidhart and when my UNCLE JIM can't make a show I get the win for him!"

He has no goatee to pull but has the maniac twitching laugh down.

Now we get a smaller guy that has splurged on a ring robe and has a scarf around his neck.

"How typical, the HART FOUNDATION is too scared to face ME, Michael "Wall Street" Modest! I OWN Money Inc. I own half of Fresno. Maybe I will buy THE HART FOUNDATION just as a TOY and I will start with YOU. What you don't know Anvil-head is these matches on the Wrestle Rock tour will crown a NEW CALIFORNIA STATE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, who will be Michael "Wall Street" Modest, the TYCOON of wrestling"

Match 7 Mr. Modest plays the superior, loathsome millionaire type right into a win in the alleged big tournament. This required plenty of assistance from his Money Inc. cohorts

The threesome is strutting in celebration. Dale Gagne looks angry as he enters for an announcement.

"Michael Wall Street, that was no way to treat a member of the HART FOUNDATION. I am fining you and the other members of your team Jonnie Stewart and Tony DeNucci $10,000! I know you can afford it but the entire (cough)WA won't stand for you trying to BUY your way to the top! And as far as the tournament to CROWN the champ YOU will face The Tonga Kid when we return to Fresno in two weeks!"

The millionaire group is upset hearing about The Tonga Kid but the ring clears.

Match 8 Volador (c) pins Al Santos. This was for the AW(cough)A Mexican strap but there have been no straps on hand all night. Volador whips the fans into a frenzy as he overwhelms the much bigger Santos with his acrobatics. Santos was going to do some talking as a sophisticated citified Latino and run down the Mexicans including the largely immigrant crowd. As Stewart said some looked a bit "hinky" so he downplayed the heeling.

Loud booing as Tony announces that the bar has closed. Out comes the HEADLINER guest Jimmy Valiant. Wesley has improved on using the ghetto blaster and "Boy from New York City" is pretty clear. ****, this entrance gets longer and longer. He has a young guy in a matching do-rag as his tag partner who waits in the ring as the whacky old coot does his tomfoolery and eventually stumbles up to take the microphone.

Match 9 The Valiant Brothers (c) defend the California State tag belts against Money Inc., managed by Michael Wall Street!

"Lawd ha' MERCY chillun, the Boogie WOOGIE Man is HEEEEAH! An' I got ma brothuh - from a diff'rent mothuh - wi' me! An' he gonna deee-FEND these heah belts (huh?) 'gainst them BILLIONAIRES!

ALLLL the money, chillun, CAIN"T buy the VALIANT BROTHAHS, the Boogie Woogie Man an' Mark..."

Seems to have lost the old train of thought and is mumbling.

"Mothuh....


....mothUH....



Mother-LOVING MARK VALIANT! WHOOOoooo babies!"

Wesley has Pink Floyd "Money" cued and Money Inc. returns to great hate. Michael Wall Street has a few words.

"The Valiants have won Tag championships all over the world but now you are broken-down hillbillies. Money Inc. are the rightful California Tag champs and Dale Gagne can bring in The Hart Foundation, The Road Warriors or any other superstar team! Money Inc. says the buck stops here"

The Valiants are irate being called hillbillies, Jimmy spits on his fist and starts throwing ephus punches. Referee calls for the bell as a pier six donnybrook ensues. Jimmy looks gassed (2:00) and lets "Mother-Loving Mark" carry the ball. Jimmy V remembers to do the stroll along the apron leading the hand clapping. Jimmy has tagged in but the heels are doubleteaming him in their corner with Modest helping. Jimmy battles out but is streaming blood! Huge pop as he pulls off the do-rag and rubs some red into the mangy beard. He clears the ring with a war dance and bolo punches to Stewart, DeNucci and Modest. Referee "restores order" with Stewart and Jimmy pushing and shoving. DeNucci flies off the top turnbuckle with a cross-body tackle that hits his partner. Jimmy stacks them up and pins both as the crowd screams in delight.

Tony thanks the fans and we will be back in two weeks.

Fast forward ten minutes. Gagne is at the box office with the nervous summer student in charge of the booking. Holliday and Stewart arrive. Jonathon still in striped shirt, Jonnie has thrown on a track suit.

"Boys, Ms. Hancock here has gone over some things, let's step in here...there is the cash from tonight, receipts from tonight and sales from the next show"

"But I am still holding the check"

"That is really appreciated, you hang on to it and make that for the NEXT deposit, see? Now, here is CASH for all the charges and taxes and stuff for tonight, just what your invoice shows, right?"

Holliday pipes up "As an NWA official I will need to witness and initial all your receipts, Miss, just a formality"

The three stare and smile at the bamboozled woman.

"You mean ANOTHER receipt? Oh I see, tonight and the deposit on the 17th...that sounds right. And don't forget the cash at the bar and your souvenir stand"

More smiles "Oh, we won't. See you on the 17th"

Stewart gives her a big wink, she nervously smiles back.

As Gagne adds the bar cash he slips a stray bottle of vodka into the cash bag as the bartender checks his payoff.

"That bimbo won't get the paperwork sorted out for a month!"

NOW to the locker room.

"OK who's in for Stockton on Friday"


RECAP

Professor Bergstrom def. Sangre Chicana
Igor the Giant def. Rex Farmer & Sangre Chicana
Moondog Moretti def. Carl Styles
King Kong Bundy Jr. & Jonathon Holliday def. Jim & Karl Pope
Jeff Bronsky def. Alex Knight
Tonga Kid def. The Exterminator
Michael "Wall Street" Modest def. Jason "The Anvil" Neidhart
Volador def. Al Santos ("AWA Mexican Title")
Jimmy & Mark Valiant def. Money Inc. ("California State Tag Title")

[Deleted]

Show was fun. Love the knock off gimmicks really makes it feel like an early 90s indy. One small thing I didn't quits understand was Modest calling Valiant a hillbilly. Jimmy was a New York City guy and all, it's up there with calling a southeener a Yankee. Still show was a lot of fun man. Hope to see more!

[shellshock]

Were you the **** in Section 14, running his mouth that Moretti was NOT the original Moondog and Igor was probably NOT from Transylvania? Good luck getting past security at the next show, we don't cater to smarks here.

Jimmy = hillbilly based on place of birth, upbringing, where he usually worked and resided and accent and routine. Jimmy = "New York City guy and all" based on his entrance music and absurdist billing. It is a close call but I'll stick with what I wrote here, he was getting dissed for his career having devolved to working indy level in Tennessee & the Virginias. Reminding me not to run Full Blooded Italians, Blue Bloods like Eaton and Charlie Brown from Outta Town.

Kindly read what is written and critique it as it is presented rather than adding what you think you know. If a little girl at the show had run up to me crying "Jimmy isn't a hillbilly", she would get a free autographed picture or something. If a grown man pulled the same gripe, I would laugh in his face.

Otherwise, thanks for reading and the note.

[Deleted]

His gimmick was that he was from NYC man, he was billed from there throughout his career even in the South, so I'm confused. So Modest went against the script and billing of his opposition? Was that a shoot comment or something? I'm so confused by your response here. Have you changed where he's built from thus negating one of the cool parts of the character? (Street tough New Yorker)

[somethingsavage]

I'm with Drew. Valiant has forever been billed as a New Yorker. Practically every rivalry he had through his Memphis & Mid-Atlantic stints blatantly highlighted that fact. It not only helped him stand out, but it also ran the idea of him being an outsider, trying to fit in with the region's fans.

Not a big fan of a lot of things. Sure, it represents that indy 90's feel. But it felt a little sloppy & all over the place. For an early show, that's not exactly the best way to hook people or reel them in. Just my opinion though. I did enjoy the mic work from Handsome Jimmy. The Boogie Woogie Man sounded SO freaking true to life out there, man. Great job with channeling his fun-loving character.

... Even if you don't know your way around a map. ;D

All kidding aside, I found enough enjoyment with the Valiant character to give your next card a look. Just not a big fan of the narrative style & everything here. Feels like too much unnecessary stuff going on. I'd like more of an emphasis on the in-ring stuff - with the actual shows and performers - than any of the promoters' problems or backstage garbage. Might just be me though.

[shellshock]

Calm down. We are at a live show, any fans familiar with him will know him as working mainly in the south mainly. Being regularly billed as being the New York street tough guy was sold and bought. Would you have a heel millionaire character (inference HE is from "Wall Street" to boot), be expected to support the absurdist billing, or would he run him down - such as pointing out that, being a hillbilly, he's also a fraud claiming to be from NYC. It served the purpose of this show at this moment.

If we are interested in this sort of stuff, there is a "buying in" required. INDY. 1992. FRESNO. That is the context, NOT what you or I know to be fabrication by either the reality or my effort.

The "hillbilly" remark would be used if the Wall Street character was dealing with The Renegade, Italian Stallion or Koko B. Ware. It has more believability when applied to Jimmy Valiant, who anyone would likely guess the NYC billing was long engrained in the suspension of disbelief..

That is all I'm going to say. I don't play "last word" or "I'm smarter than you" and separate literalism from both wrestling IRL and Fantasy wrestling. I'll take my medicine if you let me know Valiant was actually retired in 1992 or something along those lines - that would be a useful and valid "fact check".

[Grape Ape]

No Savage, you're not the only who feels that way. I'm on board with what you're saying here as well. Throw in Drew's comments and I'm on board with them as well.

Just like elsewhere, you have some fun things in your cards to draw people in but then you go and nail us between the eyes with some of that humor and insider stuff that really is a turn-off (at least for me it is).

Also, have a look at your PMs on the rules for running an Indy, if you would.

Loved Jimmy on the mic but how could you not play up him being from NY City? You used his music afterall.

[Deleted]

Sorry disagree with your post all together. It's not like we're talking about a young guy who isn't a star here. He's on top of your show for a reason. The hillbilly remark just doesn't make any sense no matter how you try to spin it dude.

If you wanted to run an angle where his outed as not being from NYC that's one thing but a throw away insult like that just doesn't work.

[shellshock]

Give me a pass on my "last word" claim please. Just saw another review. Fair enough, the narrative stuff was to give context to what we are dealing with and is not likely to stay a priority.

Which ties into the other two points. It IS local, one legit name and mainly local types (or with ties to the three ringleaders) is about the level the roster will be as far as "reeling in" - guest stars like Iron Sheik, Honky Tonk types. I will be living off the leftovers rather than trying to corral an unrealistic roster of legitimate headliners.

Leading to what you got as far as describing the matches - at this level, there is not a pretty picture to describe!

[somethingsavage]

Wow. Harsh response, man. I was just offering constructive criticism. Seems to be an acceptable part of online communities. Otherwise, keep a private booking diary.

With that being said, I'm done. No need for me to check out your future shows & drop feedback on them. You clearly have a bad attitude towards the entire concept, so I'll gladly leave you to those who will simply offer a pat on the back & a "Atta Boy" for everything you do. I'm not the type.

Best of luck to ya, bro.

[shellshock]

Sorry you thought I was being harsh about your comment. Basically I was just saying what the premise was. Not saying your thoughts had no value, just that some of the stuff was very unlikely to be implemented such as what I can describe as the in ring stuff. And I totally buy the backstage stuff. Not a bad review and not a bad response to tell the truth.

[Grape Ape]

Not to pile on or anything but I think some NY City references to being homeless, a bum or from the Bowery might have been more effective. Jimmy Valiant, who supposedly retired a year or two ago, is very active in 1992 and even in Fresno, CA., should be a well enough known commodity, even in California. Yeah, it is California but I think Jimmy could get over with just about any crowd in the US with his antics alone ... God knows, it isn't because of his wrestling!

[Deleted]

Jul 4, 2012 18:11:18 GMT -5 Grape Ape said:

Not to pile on or anything but I think some NY City references to being homeless, a bum or from the Bowery might have been more effective. Jimmy Valiant, who supposedly retired a year or two ago, is very active in 1992 and even in Fresno, CA., should be a well enough known commodity, even in California. Yeah, it is California but I think Jimmy could get over with just about any crowd in the US with his antics alone ... God knows, it isn't because of his wrestling!

Going on the FBI reference shellshock made perhaps he's confused about the Valiants and how they were presented all together. They were presented as legit "brothers" from the streets of New York simple as that. Wasn't an FBI/Dudley Boys thing, no one ever questioned it nor were jokes made about it.

[appstorm]

As I was a fan in 1992, I can say this is how I would have reacted.

First, in seeeing your ads (assuming there were event posters giving the card like you gave us in the promo post) and looking who actually came out to wrestle, I may have chuckled. This use of sound alikes is as old as the hills. I would have looked a the quality of the wrestling and, hopefully, there would have been some things I could hang my hat on. Styles, Moretti, and Holliday would have been familiar enough to give me something to look forward to.

As far as your treatment of Jimmy Valiant is concerned, I can but Valiant as a Southerner. His character in MACW was more of a partying redneck than a NY tough guy. I won't deny the "shadiness" you portrayed but I just didn't care for it. Didn't find it added greatly to the post. The quick results at the end appealed to me more than the stuff at the beginning and the end.

Hey, just a personal feeling here. More detailing of the matches would help.

[somethingsavage]

The receipts, power struggles, backstage politics, inner workings, and all that nonsense is ANYTHING but at home in 1992. Especially for a Cali indy card. Nobody in the seats would be on board with that stuff. I don't care how much disbelief is suspended. People aren't buying tickets to indy shows to be treated to that sort of stuff. They want a good, fun show of matches & characters. That's it. Not much else is needed.

This is why I praised your mic work from Jimmy Valiant. You nailed his character with the dialogue. He was energetic, vibrant, and excitable. Indy fans would eat that up. His larger than life personality would be endearing to that small environment.

And nah. Still not on board for Valiant ever being portrayed as a partying redneck. Even throughout all his southern tenures, the guy was FOREVER billed as being from New York. I can't name a single rivalry he had in Mid-Atlantic or Memphis where his foe didn't point out that he was a New York boy. Paul Jones? Adrian Street? Lawler? Dundee? You name it. They called him out on being from New York. It was ALWAYS out there. And, on the other end, it's NEVER been implied that he's been from the south.

So he's been known to like some Hank Williams & whiskey... Doesn't make him a southerner. Whether that makes me a "fact checker" or a contestant on "I'm smarter than you" or whatever, but facts are facts. If you put yourself out there for criticism, then you can expect obvious errors like that to come back & bite ya. Sorry. It is what it is.