AWA LEGENDS: RICK MARTEL vol. 1:  1982-1983 (VERY GOOD – GOOD QUALITY) 2 HRS
By Kevin Cerutti

Rick Martel came to the AWA by way of the WWF, where he was primarily known as a tag-team specialist. His early matches in the AWA were also tag bouts.
1) An early interview with Martel and the High Flyers, Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell, regarding a challenge by Sheik Kaissie and his         

     army.
2) Rick Martel & The High Flyers vs. Sheiks Blackwell, Patera, and Kaissie, from St. Paul , MN (JIP)
3) Rick Martel and Tito Santana vs. Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell ( AWA World Tag Team Champions)—July 1982, St. Paul , MN .     

     The last 5 minutes of a GREAT tag bout is shown. When you see the pace, remember they are about 25 minutes into the bout at  

     this point.
4) Rick Martel and Tito Santana vs. Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell ( AWA World Tag team Champions)—August 1982, rematch, St.

     Paul , MN . This one’s even better than the first match! One of my all-time favourite bouts, everything a tag bout should be.

After their unsuccessful run at the tag titles, Martel began to get more singles matches and established himself as a contender to the AWA World title quickly.
5) Rick Martel vs. Billy Robinson, Winnipeg , Manitoba . (JIP)

6) Rick Martel vs. Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie, Winnipeg , Manitoba (JIP)

7) Rick Martel vs. Blackjack Lanza, Winnipeg , Manitoba (JIP)

Finally, Martel had established himself as a serious singles competitor. He began to receive matches for the AWA World title in late     1982.
8) Rick Martel vs. Nick Bockwinkel ( AWA World Champion), Thanksgiving, November 1982, St. Paul , MN . End Clip. The fans are

     on the edge of their seats as Martel pushes the Champion to his limits.
9) Rick Martel vs. Nick Bockwinkel ( AWA World Champion), March 13th, 1983 , St. Paul , MN . Raw Footage with no commentary.

    Really good match!
After not winning the World title, Martel began to re-establish himself in the tag team scene of the AWA .
10) Rick Martel, Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell vs. Blackjack Lanza, Jesse Ventura and Ken Patera (April 20th, 1983, St. Paul, MN).

      Super Sunday sees Rick in a hot tag bout with some of the AWA ’s biggest names.
11) A rare interview with Rick Martel and Steve O from an AWA Iowa TV taping, regarding challenging Ken Patera and Jerry          

      Blackwell in an upcoming bout.

12) Rick Martel and Steve O vs. Ken Patera and Jerry Blackwell ( AWA World tag Champions), TV match, 1983. Martel and O win

       the first fall but TV time runs out before they can claim the second fall.
13) Rick Martel and Mad Dog Vachon vs. Ken Patera and Jerry Blackwell ( AWA World tag Champions), St. Paul , MN , 1983, JIP.

      Martel and Vachon made for an interesting combination, to say the least. Non-title bout.
Despite his further successes as a tag wrestler, Rick went back into the singles scene in the AWA . For some time he was losing a lot of his bouts against Mr. Saito, Brad Rheingans 

and others and appeared to be being jobbed out. But this changed in the latter portion of 1983:
14) Rick Martel vs. “Dr. D.” David Schultz, St. Paul, MN, 1983, JIP. Interesting pairing. The Fans taunt Schultz with Hulk Hogan            

      chants and Martel takes advantage of the distraction to dominate the end of the bout.

15) Rick Martel vs. Dino Bravo (Canadian International Champion), Quebec , Canada .

       Introductions and some early action is shown, no finish. Commentary is in French. This was a HUGE bout in Quebec. Edouard

      Carpentier was brought in to referee, Verne Gagne made the trip up and stood in Martel’s corner, and the crowd is really hot for

      both guys. I wish I had the whole match. Rare  clip. Martel, at this point, was almost back to being the top challenger for the AWA

       World title again.
 
AWA LEGENDS: RICK MARTEL vol. 2:  Late1983 – Mid 1984 (VERY GOOD – GOOD QUALITY) 2 HRS
“Winning, and Defending, the AWA World Title”
By Kevin Cerutti

As 1983 drew to a close, Rick Martel had clearly established himself as a player in the AWA title picture once again..
1) Rick Martel vs. Jim Brunzell, St. Paul , MN , 1983, JIP with French Commentary. A Solid scientific encounter with something of a

     surprise ending. ( 16:40 , G+/VG-)
2) Rick Martel vs. Nick Bockwinkel ( AWA World Champion), Winnipeg , September 29th, 1983 . Martel once again takes up the title

     chase. Really good match that the crowd is really into. (18:00, VG+)
Martel stayed in the title picture but then a complication arose. Jumbo Tsuruta defeated Nick Bockwinkel for the title in Japan on February 22, 1984 . Though the AWA was better than

 most at allowing scientific challengers, Martel knew it could be sometime before he got his chance again. A 30-second clip of Jumbo winning the title is shown here.

Finally, Martel was given an opportunity to earn a match with the champion:

3) Rick Martel vs. Nick Bockwinkel, St. Paul, MN, April 15th, 1984, #1 Contenders match. JIP. I think the entire building was

    shocked by the result! (7:05, VG/VG+)

4) Rick Martel vs. Jumbo Tsuruta ( AWA World Champion), May 13th, 1984 , St. Paul , MN , JIP. Martel wins the AWA title in a solid          

     match. (15:00, EX-)

5) Rick Martel is interviewed in the locker room following his AWA title win. Bockwinkel and Heenan show up to issue a challenge.

     (2:30, VG)

Thus, the title reign of Rick Martel was underway.

6) Rick Martel interview (dubbed over in Japanese, but if you listen you can hear he’s basically just introducing himself to the fans.)

7) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. “The Spoiler”. I heard this Spoiler was Frank Morrell. Definitely not Don Jardine! (4:00,            

     VG+)

8) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Eddie Gilbert. Eddie is still pretty young, but it’s a good short bout (6:00, VG+)

9) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Jumbo Tsuruta, July 31, 1984 , Japan. Jumbo’s rematch, on his home turf. Good bout, and

     the crowd is really into it. (22:00, G+/VG-)

10) Interview: Nick Bockwinkel, Bobby Heenan and Mr. Saito, talking about an upcoming challenge to the World title by Nick. (3:00,

      VG+)

11) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Nick Bockwinkel, Winnipeg . I think this is from 1985, but I’ve put it here to represent

      Bock’s rematches after Rick got the title. Good bout (20:00, VG+)

12) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Jerry “the King” Lawler, (Nashville, TN, 1984, JIP). Martel plays the subtle heel role.             

      (7:00, VG)

AWA LEGENDS: RICK MARTEL vol. 3 (VERY GOOD – GOOD QUALITY) 2 HRS
Rick vs. The “International” contingent

By Kevin Cerutti
1) A Nick Bockwinkel interview regarding an upcoming title shot vs. Martel.
2) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Nick Bockwinkel (JIP, Winnipeg): The crowd is really into this one as Rick and Nick 

     have maybe their best bout against each other.
Upon turning back the challenge of Nick Bockwinkel (though he would see him again later in his reign), Rick was next allowed to display his versatility as a wrestler, taking on 

challengers with a variety of gimmicks and styles throughout the AWA .
3) Interviews with Mr. Saito and Nick Bockwinkel on Saito being named the newest number one contender for the AWA title.
4) Pre-match interviews from both Martel and Saito
5) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Mr. Saito (Winnipeg). Some feel this was the best title defence of Martel’s reign as

     champion. I don’t agree but it is a GREAT match nonetheless.
6) Rick Martel and Jacques Rougeau vs. King Tonga and Richard Charland (Montreal, Quebec, 1985, end clip). Tonga (aka Haku,

     Meng) and Martel feuded in Montreal as well as the regular AWA . This was one of a series of tag bouts that set up some of their 

     title matches.
7) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. King Tonga ( New Jersey )—This is a good match. The Masked Superstar makes an

     appearance at the beginning of the match in Tonga ’s corner.
8) An interview with Martel and Jacques Rougeau from Montreal. Martel comments on the upcoming challenge of Sheik Ali.
9) An interview with Eddie “the Brain” Creatchman and Sheik Ali about Martel and the World title.
10) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Sheik Ali (Quebec, end clip)—wish I would have had more of this one on tape because

       the last few moments are quite good.
11) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Riki Chosu ( Japan )—This is a weird bout because Martel is thoroughly dominated by

      Chosu. The fans are really into it. The ending is weird, some sort of draw is declared but I don’t know why. Solid bout.
12) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Kamala ( St. Paul )—Martel against probably the biggest challenger of his title reign.

       Larry Zbyszko is in Kamala’s corner at the start of the bout.
13) A Rick Martel interview from TSN regarding wrestling around the world, defending the title and who he thinks the top challengers

      are.
14) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Boris Zurkov ( Winnipeg )—This, believe it or not, was a good feud that I think only

       ever played Winnipeg . Martel was attacked the month previous by Boris, setting up the first match. There would be more:
15) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Boris Zurkov (Rematch, Winnipeg )—Mad Dog Vachon comes out in Martel’s corner.
16) Rick Martel ( AWA World Champion) vs. Boris Zurkov (CAGE MATCH, Winnipeg)—the culmination of their feud sees ex-

       Montreal Canadiens Enforcer John Ferguson act as a special referee. He is, to say the least, inept. Rick and Boris work hard

       enough to make this a good, bloody ending to a nezt series of bouts. Only in Winnipeg!

AWA LEGENDS: RICK MARTEL Volume 4: Rarities (VERY GOOD QUALITY) 2 HRS
This tape features some incredible footage of some of Rick Martel’s best and most talked about matches during his tenure in the  

AWA . Most of this footage has never been readily available before now. Very rare stuff here!
By Kevin Cerutti

1) Nick Bockwinkel ( AWA Champion) vs. Rick Martel (January 1983, St. Paul Civic Center, JIP). This was the second match of a

     three match series that these two had before Bockwinkel’s Super Sunday matchup vs. Hulk Hogan. (13:00)
2) Rick Martel vs. Nick Bockwinkel (Number one Contenders match, April 15, 1984 , St. Paul, JIP) RAW FOOTAGE shot with a

     ringside camera. Martel wins the match to set up a title shot against Champion Jumbo Tsuruta. (4:45)
3) Jumbo Tsuruta ( AWA Champion) vs. Rick Martel (May 13, 1984, St. Paul, JIP) RAW FOOTAGE shot with a ringside camera.

    Martel wins the AWA title and celebrates in the ring with Verne and Greg Gagne, Curt Hennig, and others. ( 10:00 )
4) Rick Martel ( AWA Champion) vs. Brad Rheingans (September 9, 1984, St. Paul, clipped). RAW FOOTAGE shot from an alternate

     camera angle. A much talked about matchup of two scientific stars with Verne Gagne refereeing. This match is a lot better than the

     crowd gives it credit for. Ultra Rare! ( 17:00 )
5) Rick Martel ( AWA Champion) vs. Billy Robinson (November 22, 1984, St. Paul, clipped). RAW FOOTAGE shot from an

     alternate camera angle. This is a really good match! The crowd gets into it, which is surprising because Billy really wasn’t            

     considered a viable challenger by most fans at the time. Ultra Rare! (16:10)
6) Rick Martel ( AWA Champion) vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin (January 1985, St. Paul, clipped). RAW FOOTAGE shot from an

     alternate camera angle. The second of three St. Paul matches. Garvin was great, the fans really hate him! Rare! (8:50)
7) Rick Martel ( AWA Champion) vs. Freebird Buddy Roberts (Chicago, May 1985, end clip). From the Rosemont Horizon. Roberts is

     a sub for King Tonga. This match marked the start of the Martel vs. Freebirds feud as the ‘birds beat down Rick after the match.

     Unique because there isn’t a lot available from Chicago in terms of Arena clips in the 80’s.
8)  Maybe the most passionate Rick Martel interview I’ve ever seen, immediately after the above match in the dressing room. Rick

     vows revenge on the Freebirds and actually gets so upset he starts calling them out in French! Excellent stuff! (combined time of 7

     and 8: 7:25)
9) Rick Martel ( AWA Champion) vs. Michael Hayes (Chicago, June 1985, end clip). Hayes wins due to some interference and leaves

     the ring as the new AWA champion. From the Rosemont Horizon.
10) A post-match dressing Room interview with Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts. Hayes gives a thank you speech as

       the new AWA Champion. The celebration continues until promoter Dennis Hildergart comes in and says Stanley Blackburn had

       overturned the decision due to the other Freebirds’ interference. (combined time of clips 9 and 10: 7:00)
11) A 20-second clip of Martel vs. Hayes from St. Paul that was shown on the local Minneapolis news. Alternate camera coverage.
12) Rick Martel ( AWA Champion) vs. Michael Hayes (St. Paul, summer 1985, JIP). Multi-Camera angles. This is the rematch of

      Hayes’s non-title win. Gordy and Roberts are in Hayes’ corner, and Da Crusher is in the corner of Martel. Another wild finish.       

       ( 10:00 )
13) Ring Entrances of Rick Martel with “Bertha” Von Raschke and Jimmy Garvin with Precious. This was the third and final bout

       between the two in St. Paul . RAW FOOTAGE from an alternate camera angle.
14) Rick Martel ( AWA Champion) w/ Bertha Von Raschke vs. Jimmy Garvin w/ Precious (End clip of the above match from a local

       Minneapolis news station. Finish of the match only shown). I had only ever seen the “Bertha” Von Raschke stuff from Winnipeg

       before I came across this clip. (combined time of clips 13 and 14: 2:10)
15) Rick Martel ( AWA Champion) vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (September 29, 1985, St. Paul. Missing first 2 minutes only). This might just be

       the best match of Martel’s title reign. GREAT action from start to finish. The crowd is noticeably small which is a shame because

       more people should have seen this bout. Trivia note—this is from the same card as the Road Warriors title loss to Jim Garvin and

       Steve Regal. ( 17:00 )
16) Stan Hansen ( AWA Champion) vs. Rick Martel (Quebec City, Canada, May 1986, JIP.) Non-title match with French commentary.

      This was one of very few rematches that Martel got against Hansen. (Note-VQ is a bit iffy here compared to the rest of the tape,           

      but it’s a very rare clip so I included it). (4:00)

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