High Expectations

In 1985, the American Wrestling Association decided to join forces with the National Wrestling Alliance to answer the growing popularity of the WWF after Wrestlemania by holding SuperClash. Two more companies, World Class Championship Wrestling and All Japan Wrestling even joined. The show turned out somewhat of a success when 21,000 fans filled Comiskey Park in Chicago. In some featured bouts, Sherri Martel won the AWA Women's Title, WCCW Champion Kerry Von Erich defeated Jimmy Garvin, and The Road Warriors def. the Freebirds by DQ to retain the AWA Tag Titles. The AWA's main events were Greg Gagne, Curt Henning, and Scott Hall def. Nick Bockwinklel, Ray Stevens, and Larry Zbysko, and the World Title bout between Stan Hansen and Rick Martel ended in a double count out. The NWA main evented with Ric Flair def. Magnum T.A. to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. The first SuperClash was considered a success , but SuperClash III would result in the eventual death of AWA when half the superstars on the show, including Champion Jerry Lawler, didn't even recieve a night's pay. The AWA would go on to be the first major company to be swallowed up by the WWF. After 40+ years, the AWA ended in 1991. To this day, Verne still holds a "personal grudge" on VInce McMahon. Several wrestlers who wrestled for the AWA today say they were contractually mistreated and didn't get the attention they deserved. Even though for years the AWA seemed great to the fans, there was always a troubled locker room scene.