I watch them in Wrestlemania, Summer Slam, Survivor series and the Royal rumble. However, where did these wrestlers come from and how did they get started? Just like any other profession, before you make it to the big leagues you have to pay your dues somewhere. The AWA Wrestling association so you how the wrestlers got there start and the dues that they had to paid to before making it big in the WWF. Sergeant Slaughter and Jerry Blackwell take on the Road Warriors Hawk and Animal for the AWA Tag Team Championship. The Incredible Hulk Hogan takes on Mr. Saito and Dr. Dave Shultz in a handy cap match. You'll here Mean gene Okerland name mention as the time keeper. Rick Martel and Tito Santana face of against Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne for some AWA Gold inside of a steel cage. You'll also see the East and West Connection also know as Jessie The Body Ventura and Adorable Adrian Adonis. Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwenkle takes on terry Allen who went on to WCW as Magnum TA. Now let's talk about the legend of Andre the Giant. Andre was born may 19th 1946. His grandmother measured in at 7 foot 8 inches. At age 12, Andre was already a very big boy standing 6'4 and weigh over 200lbs. Andre was working as furniture maker when he was approached about being a wrestler. Andre started wrestling when he was 17 years old. At the age of 19, Andre was over 7 feet tall and 335 lbs. One of Andre matches in AWA was against Jerry Blackwell who weighs over 473 lbs himself. This was a $5000.00 slam match on 11-4-80 with the first wrestler to slam the other gets the cash. Andre was introduced to his first battle royal on October 17 1982, where the winner of this match gets 100 thousand dollars. Some of the wrestlers that were in the ring at the time were jerry Blackwell, Jessie Ventura, Bobby Heenan, Nick Bockwenkle, and Ken Patera. Then on November 11th 1982 Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant teamed up together to face the Nick Bockwenkle, Ken Patera, Dungam and Heenan himself. Wahoo McDaniel also made his debut in the AWA in 1969 before he went to WCW also. Other wrestlers that came up through the AWA were The Fabulous Freebirds, Curt Henning, Rick Flair, and Magnum TA. Larry Zbysko, Superstar Billy Graham. If you think that Vince McMahon is the only owner to get into a ring then you never saw Verne Gagne wrestle. I believe that most of Vince McMahon's ideas in the early years were taken from the AWA. At Wrestlemania, two when Rowdy Roddy Piper faces Mr. T in a boxing match that idea had already been used by the AWA. The idea of the Heenan family also was used in the AWA. Vince didn't make Hulk Hogan the legend that he is because he also use the same name in the AWA it was also funny watching Mean Gene Okerland move up the ranks from a time keeper, to doing locker-room interviews to doing wrestling commentary. The match between the Andre the Giant and Big John Studd at Wrestlemania one as the 15 thousand dollar slam match also came from AWA. If you think about it, most of McMahon idea came from other wrestling organization. If you really watch this DVD, you'll fine that if it wasn't for the AWA, I don't think the WWF would be where it's at today. In addition, you see that some of the wrestlers were in two different organizations also. For instant Ric flair was wrestling in the AWA at the same time that he was wrestling for World Championship Wrestling. Overall, I give this picture 10 weasel stars because it was such a revelation as far as understanding the world of professional wrestling back in the late 70s and early 80s.
