AWA #46 Page #2

Vachon and Martel had several matches against Patera and Blackwell even scoring a few victories in non-title bouts. Andre the Giant was even brought in to team with Mad Dog and Rick in six man tags against Blackwell, Patera and Sheik Adnan. This feud was short lived though as Rick Martel moved on to another series of matches against AWA champion Nick Bockwinkel. 

Here is a short listing of Rick Martel's matches against Nick Bockwinkel during the latter part of 1983. 

11/13/83 Salt Lake City- Rick Martel beat Nick Bockwinkel DQ 

12/4/83 Las Vegas- Nick Bockwinkel vs Rick Martel 

12/8/83 Winnipeg- Nick Bockwinkel beat Rick Martel 

12/10/83 Milwaukee- Nick Bockwinkel beat Rick Martel 

12/27/83 Phoenix- Nick Bockwinkel vs Rick Martel 

12/29/83 Salt Lake City- Nick Bockwinkel vs Rick Martel 

After the series of matches versus Bockwinkel, Rick Martel left the AWA and went home to Quebec to weigh his options. The whole wrestling world was in a state of flux in January of 1984. WWF head honcho Vince McMahon had taken his promotion national and was signing blue chip wrestlers left and right. By staying at home in Quebec and only wrestling occasionally for the local Quebec promotion, Martel saw his market value go up. Already having lost Hulk Hogan and Dr. D David Shults among others to the WWF, Verne Gagne did not want Rick Martel to end up there too. Gagne promised Martel an AWA heavyweight title reign if Rick would re-sign with the AWA and not jump to the WWF. Martel took Verne Gagne up on his offer. 

All Japan Pro Wrestling boss Shohei "Giant" Baba brokered a deal with Verne Gagne for Japanese superstar Jumbo Tsuruta to have a brief AWA title reign before Rick Martel got his chance to wear the gold. Nick Bockwinkel lost the AWA heavyweight title to Jumbo Tsuruta on February 22, 1984 in Tokyo, Japan. Jumbo defended the AWA title in both Japan and North America. Martel returned to the AWA on April 15, 1984 in St. Paul Minnesota for a number one contender match with Nick Bockwinkel. Rick Martel beat Bockwinkel in St. Paul and was awarded an AWA title match against Jumbo Tsuruta on the next St. Paul card. Rick Martel beat Jumbo Tsuruta on May 13, 1984 in St. Paul Minnesota to capture the AWA heavyweight championship. As part of his deal with Verne Gagne, Rick Martel defended the AWA championship in Japan for All Japan Pro Wrestling for Shohei Baba, in  the northeast portion of the United States on Pro Wrestling USA cards,  in his native Quebec for the International Wrestling Association and in the AWA wherever Gagne decided to promote cards.  

In closing this month's column, all I can say is Rick Martel becoming AWA champion shocked me. Martel was certainly well qualified to hold the strap, I just didn't expect him to win it. I don't think there were many AWA onlookers who would have predicted it.  

Special thanks to all those who helped me compile results for this piece.  

Comments, questions and corrections can be sent to jcz64@yahoo.com.