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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on May 24, 2020 1:02:07 GMT -5
For the hardcore wrestling fans, you probably remember in 1988 that WCCW and CWA merged together to create the USWA and joined forces with the AWA to compete with the WWF and NWA. In doing so, Jerry Lawler, the CWA and AWA World Champion who was a part of CWA defeated Kerry Von Erich to win the WCCW Championship, thus owning all three title belts.
I noticed though in the 90s that the USWA World Title always looked a lot like the AWA World Title. And I think (I could be wrong) but I think Lawler legit kept the AWA Title on Verne Gagne and never returned it.
That's it. And it even does say AWA on the side plates.
There's Owen Hart with the USWA Title when he won it in 1993. Again, that is identical to the AWA World Title for sure.
So does anyone know the back story on this?? Did Lawler keep the AWA World Title on Verne and used it for the Memphis USWA World Title?? Because I am 100% sure that the belt is the AWA World Title belt, plus AWA on the side plates helps with that too.
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Post by MKSavage on May 24, 2020 1:11:48 GMT -5
I can't remember if this is right, but that is the AWA world title that Lawler won from Curt Hennig, I believe Lawler said he kept it because of a pay dispute over SuperClash III with Vern Gagne or some other disagreement. I believe Lawler talked about this in the AWA DVD that WWE released a while back.
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Post by The Brain on May 24, 2020 1:22:47 GMT -5
Yeah if IIRC The issues between the two stem from SuperClash 3 in which Vern got cold feet on Lawler being unified champ so he asked for the AWA belt back with Lawler saying pay me for the show itself with Verne not obliging so in the end Lawler kept the belt for his promotion while Verne had to make a new one.
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Post by PJ on May 24, 2020 12:59:23 GMT -5
I will say it wasn’t the best looking title back in the day.
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Post by JokerFC on May 24, 2020 13:22:07 GMT -5
Yeah I think its on that AWA docu about the pay. That was a great match between Hennig & Lawler.
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Post by MKSavage on May 24, 2020 14:41:31 GMT -5
I guess to be fair to both sides, Greg Gagne said that the pay dispute was Jerry Jarrett's fault. According the Greg, the agreement was Verne was supposed to pay his wrestlers (AWA wrestlers) and Jarrett was supposed to pay his wrestlers (Memphis wrestlers) who worked the show and after that the two companies would split the profits from the PPV. However, Greg said that there were no profits from the PPV, I guess it didn't do well, and he said that Verne paid his guys but Jarrett didn't pay the Memphis wrestlers. When Lawler asked Jarrett about his pay for the event, Jarrett told him that Verne stiffed him (Jarrett) on the payout (which Greg denies) and that Lawler should ask Verne about being paid for the event. Apparently Lawler asked Verne about being paid for the PPV but Verne said no so, Lawler refused to work any future events until he was paid, Lawler wasn't paid so he kept the title as payment. I guess it depends on who you believe. Either way, Lawler still has that belt today.
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Post by The Brain on May 24, 2020 18:22:12 GMT -5
Looking back it doesn't surprise me Verne put the new AWA belt on his son in law Larry Z in 89. He was probably thinking ''I'm not getting screwed over again'' lol.
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on May 25, 2020 0:01:48 GMT -5
Looking back it doesn't surprise me Verne put the new AWA belt on his son in law Larry Z in 89. He was probably thinking ''I'm not getting screwed over again'' lol.
So does that mean.... Jerry Lawler and Jerry Jarrett were behind the "Memphis Screw Job"?? Ha ha ha It seems that way at least! Verne got screwed out of his AWA Title, and no matter if he did make a new one, the fact that it was the same exact title that the USWA was using had to bother Verne a lot.
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