[1986-04-20-AWA-Wrestlerock '86] Stan Hansen vs Nick Bockwinkel

[Superstar Sleeze]

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Nick Bockwinkel - AWA Wrestlerock '86 4/20/86

 

Nick Bockwinkel with the bullwhip is just the most awesome thing ever. He is pretty over at the Metrodome. Hansen bowls over Larry Nelson and kicks when he is down. New most awesome thing ever! I love Hansen charging around the ring during the ring introduction and Bock keeping him at bay with the bullwhip. Bockwinkel establishes early that he is not going to be bullied by Hansen. His fight fire with fire strategy is badass. Neither man gives an inch to the other and they just wail on each other the whole time. Hansen goes after the bullwhip at the outset, they tussle over it and Bock is able to start on top. Neither man really sells in this match, but it is ok because this match feels like a fight. Bock starts throwing really heavy blows at Hansen's body and arm almost in an attempt to force him to sell. Bock is a pretty snug wrestler, but he is punching Hansen pretty damn hard. Hansen would bully him, but Bock would always use some quickness or leverage to take him back down. He would keep him at bay in a hold and then unleashes some heavy blows onto the arm and body. There is one moment it feel like Bock loses his mind and just starts going to town on Hansen's arm. Hansen does not feel human. He is this crazed monster always moving forward. Bock is trying to use his superior wrestling to launch new offensives, but Hansen looks invulnerable. They are both yanking hair and clawing each other's face. BOCKWINKEL SLEEPER!!! This is Nick's best chance, but they both fall to the outside. It is during this match that realize how big Bockwinkel is. He is almost the size of Hansen. He throws Hansen around in a bodyslam that is pretty damn cool. Unfortunately this bumps the ref. He hits a crossbody and piledriver! But there is no ref! He actually looks like he may have phased the monster. By the time the ref gets up, Hansen dumps Bock over the top rope for the DQ. This was a great war, that felt closer to a shoot than work given how each guy would just randomly throw the other around and how they were clawing at each other. There were some times I did wish there was more selling and the transition did feel a little capricious. Overall, I think it added to the nature how they borderline uncooperative with each other. The finish was pretty damn lame. I really dug this. ****1/4