August 21, 1978 - The first meeting of Jerry Lawler vs. Nick Bockwinkel (c), with manager Bobby Heenan ringside, for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. A near sellout crowd of 11,000 fans attended this main event match at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. In the summer of 1978, Jerry Jarrett began a relationship with the AWA, providing Lawler with quality competition on his quest for a world title. With the Memphis promotion hitting its stride in the late 1970s, Nick Bockwinkel, as AWA cha

Curt Hennig challenged Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship at AWA SuperClash II on this day in 1987! | WWE Network

The AWA World Heavyweight Championship was ON THE LINE on this day in 1987! | WWE Network

On July 20, 1987 AWA Championship Wrestling aired on ESPN from the Showboat Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, AWA World Heavyweight Champion Curt Hennig faces Greg Gagne. Commentary is handled by Rod Trongard and Ray “The Crippler” Stevens. Before the match gets underway, Larry Zbyszko demands to face the winner of the match. In September 1985, the AWA began airing weekly programming on ESPN, giving the promotion the national exposure until the AWA lost its contract with E