AWA #47 Page #2

Robinson wasn't really on a roll but was granted a shot against AWA champion Rick Martel anyway. Just like with Rheingans, nobody thought Billy Robinson had a chance to beat Rick Martel. At least this time on November 22nd in St. Paul, Rick Martel went over cleanly by defeating Billy Robinson. 

Bizarre booking aside, Rick Martel faced a few other problems as AWA champion. The fact is the beginning of Martel's reign as AWA champion was not only overshadowed by Jerry Blackwell's face turn and Blackwell's subsequent feud with King Kong Brody but also by the AWA debut of the Road Warriors. The Road Warriors in particular drew a rougher type of crowd to AWA arenas, an audience that wasn't all that enamored with good looking babyfaces such as Rick Martel. That being said, Rick's matches as AWA champion on the whole were quite good even if a portion of the audience didn't appreciate them. 

Like Nick Bockwinkel before him, Rick Martel did his fair share of traveling as AWA champion. One of Rick's most frequent stops was his home province of Quebec. Among the wrestlers Martel defended the AWA title against in Montreal and Quebec City were Nick Bockwinkel, King Tonga and Sailor White. Here's a list of Rick Martel's matches in Quebec from August of 1984 until February of 1985. 

8/13/84 Montreal- Rick Martel beat King Tonga by disqualification 

8/14/84 Quebec City- Rick Martel beat Nick Bockwinkel 

8/20/84 Montreal- King Tonga beat Rick Martel by disqualification 

8/27/84 Montreal- King Tonga and Masked Superstar beat Rick Martel and Dino Bravo by disqualification 

9/10/84 Montreal- Rick Martel and Dino Bravo beat King Tonga and Masked Superstar 

9/19/84 Quebec City- Rick Martel and Dino Bravo beat King Tonga and Masked Superstar 

12/23/84 Montreal- Rick Martel beat Nick Bockwinkel 

12/26/84 Quebec City- Rick Martel and Dino Bravo beat Nick Bockwinkel and King Tonga 

2/11/85 Montreal- Rick Martel beat Sailor White 

2/12/85 Quebec City- Rick Martel beat King Tonga 

Rick Martel continued the trend of AWA heavyweight champions defending their strap for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Being that Martel beat All Japan's top star Jumbo Tsuruta for the AWA title in St. Paul, Minnesota, a natural rivalry woth Tsuruta was already established in Japan before Martel had even defended his title there. Here is a listing of Rick Martel's matches in All Japan Pro Wrestling during 1984. 

7/25/84 Fukouka- International champion Jumbo Tsuruta beat Rick Martel by countout in 22:02. Martel's AWA title was not on the line. Only Tsuruta's International title was at stake. 

7/27/84 Otsu- Rick Martel and Dick Slater beat Genichiro Tenyru and Ashura Hara in 11:43 when Martel pinned Hara with a lateral press. 

7/28/84 Chigasaki- Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenyru and The Great Kabuki beat Rick Martel and Dick Slater and Johnny Mantell in 12:35 when Tenyru pinned Johnny Mantell with a lateral press. 

7/29/84 Aikawa- Rick Martel beat Takashi Ishikawa at 8:37 in a non title match. 

7/30/84 Tokyo- Rick Martel and Dick Slater beat Atsushi Onita and Ashura Hara when Martel pinned Onita in 12:08. 

7/31/84 Tokyo- AWA champion Rick Martel fought Jumbo Tsuruta to a double countout in 19:27. Martel retained the AWA title. Tsuruta's International title was not at stake. 

10/5/84 Yokohama- Rick Martel beat Ashura Hara at 6:10 in a non title match. 

10/6/84 Furukawa- Rick Martel & Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes beat Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta & Takashi Ishikawa when Gordy pinned Ishikawa with a lateral press in 9:46. 

10/7/84 Toda- Rick Martel beat Masa Fuchi at 8:02 in a non title match. 

10/8/84 Takasaki- Rick Martel and Michael Hayes fought Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenyru to a double countout in 15:58. 

10/9/84 Tokyo- Rick Martel and Terry Gordy foght Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenyru to a no contest in 14:08. 

10/10/84 Shizuoka- Rick Martel and Michael Hayes beat Genichiro Tenyru and Takashi Ishikawa when Martel pinned Ishikawa with a lateral press in 14:02. 

10/11/84 Osaka- Jumbo Tsuruta beat AWA champion Rick Martel by countout in 22:42. Martel retained the AWA title. Tsuruta's International title was not at stake.   

Special thanks to Shogun for providing the Japanese results. A big tip of the cap to Andrew Calvert and Steve LaFlamme for their help with the Quebec results. Kudos as well to Jim Melby, Mike Rodgers, George Lentz, George Schire and One Fan Gang for all the AWA results they've provided me with over the years. Without the help of all these men, columns like this one would not be possible.  

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