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The Cauliflower Alley Club has announced the unfortunate news that Nick Bockwinkel is no longer with us. At age 80 he had a good run, especially for a professional wrestler. Chances are that if you never watched AWA you will only be familiar with him by reputation, but the man had some great feuds and promos. So take this time and share your favourite moments of a great man. Lets start with the famous one, his feud with Lawler and the $500 punches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL3LJMQmKpA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmsHSzMIcLU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUoVjxavJS0 The man was a great promo though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTEk450boz4
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Nov 15, 2015 17:41
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7fEGnm-_hA Bockwinkel on Hollywood Squares
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Nov 15, 2015 17:45
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He was the champion of my youth, growing up watching AWA All-Star Wrestling at 11AM Sunday mornings. He was without a doubt one of the best heels of the territory era.
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Nov 15, 2015 17:47
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Despite getting into wrestling in 2011 Bockwinkel is a guy I could go back and watch his matches and promo's and love them just as much as the day they were done. One of my favorites, RIP Nick.
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Nov 15, 2015 17:50
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He was largely before my time and I knew he's been in poor health for quite some time, but sill obv a shame and from the stories I've heard and the clips I've seen I know he was one of the greats of his era.@davemelzterWON posted:
@LanceStorm posted:
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Nov 15, 2015 18:04
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Bockwinkel vs. Curt Hennig (1 hour draw) Part 1 - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1nwwgy_nick-bockwinkel-vs-curt-hennig-awa-part-1_sport Part 2 - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1nwwap_nick-bockwinkel-vs-curt-hennig-awa-part-2_sport
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Nov 15, 2015 18:39
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It's a shame not much footage is available of his peak years. The stuff we have is GOAT-quality, but the quantity isn't there like there is for a Flair. Maybe the greatest American-style technical wrestler. There's an AJPW match vs. Terry Funk where they're doing stuff on the mat I've never seen anyone else do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waV8hjefiBo And this is one of the greatest AJPW matches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmY8IMmdhFo The Hennig broadway linked above is great too, so long as you can get past Rod Trongard and James Blears rambling on and on.
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Nov 15, 2015 19:41
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Bockwinkel was in his early 50s during that broadway with Hennig. Absolute master of his craft; his shortest AWA reign was over 300 days, and despite not winning the AWA title until he was 40 he still managed to rack up over eight years as the top man in the Gagne-dominated AWA. Bockwinkel was the ace of the initial Heenan family & that tandem was a big reason they both had such successful careers. As the wrestling world turned towards physiques, characters and loud, bombastic promos Nick Bockwinkel remained one of the top heels of his generation through pure wrestling talent, psychology and intelligence. He's been in poor health for a while and his memory was deteriorating in his final years, but it's still an absolute shame that he's gone. The Nick Bockwinkel Interviews; playlist of 59 of Bockwinkel's AWA promos
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Nov 15, 2015 20:05
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bockwinkel/lawler is basically perfect
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Nov 15, 2015 20:22
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It's amazing to watch Bockwinkle get his point across in 90 seconds, whereas today the wrestlers ramble for 20 minutes without saying anything.
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Nov 15, 2015 21:38
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Davros1 posted:It's amazing to watch Bockwinkle get his point across in 90 seconds, whereas today the wrestlers ramble for 20 minutes without saying anything. If it doesn't already exist, somebody needs to make a generic wrestler promo bingo card with spots for generic lines like "you see", "the fact of the matter", "you people", "quite frankly" and all the others I'm missing.
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Nov 15, 2015 22:38
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El Gallinero Gros posted:If it doesn't already exist, somebody needs to make a generic wrestler promo bingo card with spots for generic lines like "you see", "the fact of the matter", "you people", "quite frankly" and all the others I'm missing. "I didn't sell out, I"
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Nov 15, 2015 23:18
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Thauros posted:Lance Storm: He said "You do some really nice stuff, I hope you live to be 30" That's fantastic 
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Nov 15, 2015 23:38
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Growing up in Crockett country, I didn't get to see much of the AWA, but thanks to YouTube, I have come to enjoy Nick Bockwinkel's work. His promos were absolutely magnificent. These are my three favorites. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7hVP0HSMNo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0jvCtQsWa4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvliV0cJwpc
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Nov 15, 2015 23:41
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drat, that sucks  gonna miss Bockwinkel, he had a great style and amazing promos. I miss these old school guys, the upside being that he had a good long life compared to a lot of guys from the past 20-30 years. RIP Mr. Bockwinkel, you were one of the greats.oldskool posted:Bockwinkel was in his early 50s during that broadway with Hennig. Absolute master of his craft; his shortest AWA reign was over 300 days, and despite not winning the AWA title until he was 40 he still managed to rack up over eight years as the top man in the Gagne-dominated AWA. Bockwinkel was the ace of the initial Heenan family & that tandem was a big reason they both had such successful careers. As the wrestling world turned towards physiques, characters and loud, bombastic promos Nick Bockwinkel remained one of the top heels of his generation through pure wrestling talent, psychology and intelligence. He's been in poor health for a while and his memory was deteriorating in his final years, but it's still an absolute shame that he's gone. It's a cruel irony that some of these great wrestlers ended up with some disease or affliction that took away their best abilities. Bockwinkel with his wit and smarts, he ends up with Alzheimer's. Heenan was a fantastic talker, ends up with cancer that destroys his jaw. It's the strangest and most heartbreaking thing to see that kind of stuff happen 
BOOTY-ADE fucked around with this message at 00:21 on Nov 16, 2015 |
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Nov 16, 2015 00:08
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El Gallinero Gros posted:If it doesn't already exist, somebody needs to make a generic wrestler promo bingo card with spots for generic lines like "you see", "the fact of the matter", "you people", "quite frankly" and all the others I'm missing. Each and every single one of you people, ya'see, the thing about it, is that there's one thing you missed, and that thing is that there's just. One. Thing.
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Nov 16, 2015 01:14
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15 years ago Nick Bockwinkel was probably the most underrated historical American wrestler. Now he's probably slightly overrated but I'm cool with that. He's my all time favorite promo, even though he wasn't the best and one of my all time favorite workers. I just love to watch the man. Classic look and a great interview too. It's been a matter of time ever since the news broke about his condition but it's still sad to see the end. I'll be doing a Nick Bockwinkel (plus dog movies night) starting at 7:30: http://www.psp-tv.com/r/BadMoviesWorseWrestling
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Nov 16, 2015 01:25
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I always wondered how he would've fared in WWF had they ever been able to snag him up in the big talent raids of the 80s.
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Nov 16, 2015 01:37
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sticklefifer posted:I always wondered how he would've fared in WWF had they ever been able to snag him up in the big talent raids of the 80s. I get the impression they could have had him, but he was super loyal to Verne and I don't think he liked the dog and pony show Vince was running. Plus it probably meant he'd have to job for Hogan.
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Nov 16, 2015 01:50
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sticklefifer posted:I always wondered how he would've fared in WWF had they ever been able to snag him up in the big talent raids of the 80s. Probably lower card fodder like Vachon due to his age. Maybe a bit better because he looked young.
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Nov 16, 2015 01:56
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El Gallinero Gros posted:If it doesn't already exist, somebody needs to make a generic wrestler promo bingo card with spots for generic lines like "you see", "the fact of the matter", "you people", "quite frankly" and all the others I'm missing. It's my understanding that most of those placeholder phrases are essentially there to stall for time while the wrestler is mentally improvising what to say next without creating an awkward pause in his speech.
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Nov 16, 2015 02:30
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Grozz Nuy posted:It's my understanding that most of those placeholder phrases are essentially there to stall for time while the wrestler is mentally improvising what to say next without creating an awkward pause in his speech. I get that, but you can drat near set your watch to it
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Nov 16, 2015 02:36
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One of my coworkers is a big wrestling fan, and he'll often tell me about the matches, and cool guys he got to see thru out the 70's. He got to see Dick The Bruiser vs. Nick Bockwinkel in Chicago. The match consisted of Dick punching Bockwinkel in the face, sending him to the mat, picking him back up, and punching him again, sending him to the mat, ect. For 40 minutes. Punch, Drop, Pick up, Punch, Drop, Pick Up.... while the whole place chanted "Make Him Bleed!" Again, going on for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes of punching, dropping and the fans screaming for blood, Bockwinkel gets busted open, crowed is on their feet screaming and going crazy. I can't remember who he said won, but hearing that Nick Bockwinkel had passed made me think of this story.
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Nov 16, 2015 11:11
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Bockwinkel is also probably my favorite promo in wrestling, or maybe just my favorite overall talker. I'll always remember his post match tantrums in Memphis where he'd scream that Stanley Blackburn would get the result thrown out and he'd get his title back. The Lawlwer/Bockwinkel feud was about as close to perfection from soup to nuts as you can possibly get. Great talkers, great characters, great presentation, and great matches. This was from the Wrestling Observer in April, which should give an idea of how bad it was at the end. Life can be cruel. quote:Brian Blair has taken over the Presidency of the club from Bockwinkel, although that is something of a figurehead role. The sad news is that Blair said that this was likely the 80-year-old Bockwinkel’s last reunion due to his declining health, calling Bockwinkel “One of the dearest people I know.”
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Nov 16, 2015 13:49
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Strenuous Manflurry posted:Bockwinkel is also probably my favorite promo in wrestling, or maybe just my favorite overall talker. I'll always remember his post match tantrums in Memphis where he'd scream that Stanley Blackburn would get the result thrown out and he'd get his title back. The Lawlwer/Bockwinkel feud was about as close to perfection from soup to nuts as you can possibly get. Great talkers, great characters, great presentation, and great matches. That was really cool of Blair to do.
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Nov 16, 2015 18:41
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Very sad to hear about Bockwinkel. I didn't watch AWA growing up but whenever I was exposed to it, I was immediately drawn to Bockwinkel even as a teen. The guy was a legit star and carried himself like one.
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Nov 16, 2015 21:52
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Bockwinkel also had pretty decent flow (see 1:45) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdnB7OLHNwM he will be missed
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Nov 16, 2015 22:15
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WWE posted a tribute video: http://www.wwe.com/videos/wwe-honors-the-life-and-career-of-wwe-hall-of-famer-nick-bockwinkel-28223607
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Nov 19, 2015 16:25
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a retard posted:Bockwinkel also had pretty decent flow (see 1:45) Was Bockwinkel vs. Hansen from that show any good? That sounds intriguing on paper. Also, I just learned that Misawa (as TM II) wrestled Buck Zumhofe on that show 
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Nov 19, 2015 18:22
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Thauros posted:Was Bockwinkel vs. Hansen from that show any good? That sounds intriguing on paper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK4yr6ZLMcs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfejwsDckZQ
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Nov 19, 2015 19:07
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