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WWF Superstars of Wrestling [Mar. 21 1987]

Leave a Comment / WWF, WWF Superstars / By The Internationalist / Alex Knight, Barry O, Billy Anderson, Blackjack Mulligan, Bobby Heenan, British Bulldogs, Bruno Sammartino, Brutus Beefcake, Can-Am Connection, Craig DeGeorge, Davey Boy Smith, Dusty Wolfe, Dynamite Kid, Gene Okerlund, Harley Race, Hillbilly Jim, Honky Tonk Man, Hulk Hogan, Iron Sheik, Jake Roberts, Jerry Allen, Jesse Cortez, Jesse Hernandez, Jesse Ventura, Jim Duggan, Joe Mirto, Kamala, Ken Patera, Kim Chee, Kim Duk, Mr Fuji, Nevada, Nikolai Volkoff, Outback Jack, Paradise, Rick Martel, Ron Bass, Sika, Slick, Steve Lombardi, Thomas & Mack Center, Tiger Chung Lee, Tom Zenk, USA, Vince McMahon, World Wrestling Federation, WWE, WWF

World Wrestling Federation
Superstars of Wrestling
—
Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, United States
21st March 1987
—
Lead announcers: Bruno Sammartino, Jesse Ventura & Vince McMahon

Line-up:
Barry O & Dusty Wolfe vs The Can-Am Connection
—
Alex Knight vs Ron Bass
—
Jim Duggan vs Tiger Chung Lee
—
Jerry Allen & Jesse Cortez vs Kamala & Sika
—
Jake Roberts vs Joe Mirto
—
Billy Anderson vs King Harley Race

Vince McMahon opens proceedings with Bruno Sammartino and Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura who “tells it like it is”. This show was recorded before WrestleMania III, however aired a month later. Ah, the days of TV tapings and PPVs. This is a good example of the general TV shows WWF put out back then, so you can imagine how much more important the PPVs felt. Despite that, there is a huge crowd on hand.

Barry O & Dusty Wolfe vs The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel & Tom Zenk)

Vince marvels at the “young ladies at ringside” as they approve of the Can-Ams. Put that in the Vince Files.

And here’s our pal Dusty Wolfe, from WCCW! Hello again! Barry O is of course Barry Orton, brother to ‘Cowboy’ Bob in the Orton clan.

Wolfe takes the initiative, and seems to throw Zenk directly into his own partner on the apron, but it’s Zenk who is stunned by this. Martel sneaks in to catch Zenk out of a suplex attempt, assists Zenk with a lifting front dropkick to Barry and then Dusty, then they hit stereo dropkicks. As always, Jesse points out the blatant cheating by the good guys here. A nice drop-down and dropkick combo from the Can-Ams has Dusty rocked. A bridging German suplex (or “that manouvre!” as per Vince) from Zenk almost finishes this one quickly, but Barry O breaks up the pin.

Martel enters the fray legally this time and Wolfe takes a double dropkick, tagging out to Barry. During this there’s an in-frame promo from the Can-Ams targeting the current tag champions, The Hart Foundation. Commentary makes a good point about the Can-Ams having no manager, which is rare in this golden age of managers.

Martel takes a knucklelock into a headscissor, climbs the ropes with his hands and then twists Barry across the ring with a headscissor takeover, very nice! Martel runs rings around O, rolling through a failed O’Connor roll, cartwheeling and leapfrogging around with pace. O catches Martel mid-jump and hangs him out on the top rope. The heels are happy to poke eyes, ignore rope breaks and use closed fists, but Martel breaks away and tags out to Zenk who fires away with dropkicks and hiptosses. Zenk whips Wolfe into O on the apron and follows up with a slick whirling body slam. Martel takes the tag and gets the pin after an assisted slingshot splash! ■

“Very impressive – very illegal”. Jesse’s not wrong to be fair.

Craig DeGeorge introduces the ‘new’ Brutus Beefcake

This contains some WrestleMania III spoilers. Beefcake talks about being able to take a pounding. We’ll come to know why when we come to Mania itself. In other news, it looks like Beefcake has that classic Hasbro attire on. Nice.

‘Entertaining’ shenanigans

Hillbilly Jim and Outback Jack have a discussion about country living and cuisine, to the amusement of Vince McMahon alone.

Alex Knight vs ‘Outlaw’ Ron Bass

Alex Knight may be familiar to AWA fans, but he is much of an unknown to me. He is giving up a lot of height and weight to Bass. Much to my delight, Ventura asks Sammartino if he’s ever eaten any outback foods, prompting Vince to ask what a possum is. Highlight of the match already? Yes. Bass appears to have a beautiful valet, however Vince lets us know it’s “Betty Federette”, one of the Federettes who I have never seen featured so clearly on a broadcast before. They were essentially ring cabaret.

Bass dominates with strikes, a falling body slam and a back body drop. In-frame promo from Bass calls out Blackjack Mulligan. Fishhooks from Bass shows he’s a mean “hombre”, he must be getting revenge for his brother Sea Bass. Bass asks his opponent to hit him, giving away a few free shots, but Knight remains overpowered and is swiftly pinned after a diving back elbow from Bass. ■ Quick work for these boys tonight.

‘Mean’ Gene time!

Okerlund is hyping the upcoming Boston Garden show. The Duke of Dorchester is on the card, woo!

He is joined by The British Bulldogs, discussing the fallout from WrestleMania III regarding the Hart Foundation and Danny Davis. Davey Boy promises “no mercy” while Dynamite Kid is barely intelligible but says they are “stronger and more efficient”.

‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan vs Tiger Chung Lee

This is one of Duggan’s first TV matches in WWF following a highly successful run in Mid-South.

Tiger Chung Lee is a Korean-Japanese wrestler more famously known as Kim Duk, but in WWF he is probably best known as one of Mr Fuji’s former tag partners.

Duggan hits a lot of his repertoire early, clotheslining, knee dropping and body pressing Lee. In-frame promo from Slick with the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff targeting Duggan. Duggan and Volkoff know each other well from Mid-South.

Duggan misses a charge in the corner allowing some offence for Lee. This is quickly reversed with a quick elbow and a delayed body slam. 3-Point Stance Clothesline is enough for the pin. ■ Duggan’s in full stomping, cross-eyed, thumbs up “hooooo”ing form already. It’s impressive how long this shtick worked for him. This is even before he donned his trademark blue trunks.

Hulk Hogan rant time

Hogan addresses Bobby Heenan and King Harley Race, implying Heenan butters up his clients only for them to fail to beat him. Hogan states that Race is his “next victim”. I wonder how differently NWA or AWA would have treated a Hogan/Race match. That would have been interesting.

Savage squad antics

Mr Fuji is the new manager for the group and speaks with Sika, Kamala and Kim Chee, where he encourages Sika to munch on a giant raw fish…which Sika does, wide-eyed. Kamala’s wailing makes this even more questionable, with the big man trying to snatch some fish as we cut away. Vince seems to make some unusual noises himself as we go back to ringside. I wonder what Roman Reigns thinks when he sees stuff where his dad is featured like this.

Jerry Allen & Jesse Cortez vs Kamala & Sika with Kim Chee & Mr Fuji

Cortez is the future trainer-to-the-stars and referee Jesse Hernandez, while Jerry Allen may be known by AWA, Portland and Memphis fans as Jerry O or Oski. Jerry even had a run with UWF in Japan in ’84, so these are fairly notable jobbers.

I hate to say it, but I kind of loved Kamala’s entrance music. Fuji is noted as being new to the group and sports Kamala-esque face paint much like when he sported Powers of Pain paint. They come out as quite the stable of oddities.

Jerry looks quick and sharp in there, gaining advantage over Sika, but Kamala gets the tag, leapfrogs Jerry and lands a thrust kick. Cortez tags in but is floored by chops and headbutts from Kamala and Sika. Cortez looks so awkwardly stiff in the ring and takes the pin after a running splash from big Kamala. ■ Sika adds insult to the loss by choking out Cortez after the match.

Blackjack Country

Craig DeGeorge catches up with Blackjack Mulligan out in the desert, in what may actually be Mulligan’s private land. It seems Mulligan and Bass are at odds over the love of “Sarah-Jo Puckit”, who apparently spits tobacco better than any man Mulligan knows. Who says romance is dead?

Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts vs Joe Mirto

Mirto is a longtime WWF job guy, but looking jacked here! Reminds me of Lance Cade a little bit. Jake is so over at this stage in his career, it’s always great to watch the crowd get behind him. He’s like the original Steve Austin or Razor Ramon anti-hero type for WWF. And what’s in the bag, Jake…look at the genuine fear on faces at ringside. Gold.

Jake is looking quite trim here, maybe the best shape I’ve personally ever seen him in. Mirto manages to body tackle Jake to the mat. The advantage is lost early as Jake pounds and floors Mirto with an arm lock, trying to pull Mirto’s shoulder out. Jake is flagrant with his hair pulls and facewashing, wearing down Mirto with a half-nelson. Jake reaches for the snake bag from the corner which stirs the crowd again. Instead he uses the knee and elbow to wear down Mirto’s left shoulder.

There’s discussion from commentary and from an in-frame promo from the Honky Tonk Man about banning the DDT from WWF rings due to it being a “dangerous hold”.

A short comeback from Mirto as he stops Jake with a knee, however Jake responds with a knee lift, short-arm clothesline and it’s a thumbs up and thumbs down from Jake. The DDT!! Jake slithers over into a pin and it’s all over. ■ Jake rapidly releases his snake Damien and wraps him around Mirto’s neck. That’s what the people came to see.

Patera’s penance

‘Mean’ Gene details the sad arrest and imprisonment of Ken Patera following the infamous McDonalds incident which saw him sentenced to prison for two years, and how he is accepting of his punishment and returning to WWF a changed man. Patera appears from behind bars in the clip and blames Bobby Heenan for being abandoned. Patera wants to return to take out guys like Heenan. It’s a shame he never changed his hairstyle when he was in the slammer, he looks like my auntie Margaret.

Billy Anderson vs King Harley Race with Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan

Young Anderson is perhaps better known as The Black Knight, and in Japan as one of the Mercenarios Americanos (as well as Star Man). Having wrestled in Mexico at this point in his career, Billy doesn’t feel like your typical jobber on paper.

Not a huge fan of Race’s King gimmick, but Bobby Heenan is always welcome in a managerial role. He demands the humanoids pay homage to the King, and wonders why there is no ovation. He blames the mic and becomes the bearer of the crown for King Harley at ringside.

Race dominates early with knees, body slams and a hip-breaker. Heenan delivers a reply to Ken Patera with an in-frame video calling Patera “garbage”.

Prolonged butterfly lock into a butterfly suplex, then following up with some classic Harley knees. Race busts out a thumping fisherman suplex with a tight cradle for the easy win. ■ Poor Billy barely got out of the blocks.

Heenan re-crowns Race following the match and demands recognition from the crowd once more.

‘Mean’ Gene’s promotes the Boston show with Jake Roberts

This is the hilarious skit where Gene talks about upcoming show at the Boston Garden, posing with a golf club and a gavel, tossing the gavel behind the camera and getting an “OH!” from someone. “Sorry about that, pal”, as he tries to hide his smile. I love it when Gene breaks on camera!

Bulldogs vs Hart Foundation catches my attention as always. Jake faces Honky Tonk Man also! Which leads to a little chat with Jake Roberts…

“Just let me say this. I don’t mind being abused, I’ve been abused all my life. But then I like to return the favour from time to time, y’know, that way I feel like I’ve got something to live for. Y’know, it’s sorta like-Gene-you ever get on an airplane, man, and you’re up there in the air, and you’re flying along at 40,000 feet, and that plane starts to shake, and it’s creaking and flying from side to side, things flying through the roof, people jumping up and down and screaming, praying? You ever been through something like that?”

A worried Gene replies, “I’ve been uh…I guess a time or two.”

“What choice do you have when you’re up there? You can’t get out. No, no, you see the doors are shut, you’re 40,000 feet, you ain’t got no choice, you better ride this one all the way to the ground! Well, Honky Tonk Man, you took your shot, and it was a good one, it was a great one, and I can appreciate that! But my man, it’s my turn now, and when you shut that door by planting me with that guitar, man…you’ll have to ride it out. All the way down. And it’s a ride you can’t hold on to. It’s too much for him.”

Gene, again, looking somewhat worried, “It was a blast from the past, so to speak”.

Jake giving little laughs during his promos is always so devious. Easily my favourite interview guy, ever. I may end up writing out everything he says on here. I just love him.

“You’ll sing too”. Chilling.

Highlights:
Rick Martel is the man.
WWF’s Jim Duggan early days.
DUSTY WOLFE! The search for a win goes on. 0-2.
Jake the Snake takes the cake.

Thoughts:
Superstars shows itself to be mostly a quick enhancement show, but at least we get some segments with Gene. I forgot Craig DeGeorge existed and he features here quite a bit. I don’t have much high hopes for future episodes of Superstars, but we’re in it for the long haul.

Verdict: Very skippable, especially since I’m on a WrestleMania III hype train right now. I wanted more substance. Only Jake really stood out.

Available here on Dailymotion.

WWF Prime Time Wrestling [Mar. 23 1987]

Leave a Comment / WWF, WWF Prime Time Wrestling / By The Internationalist / André the Giant, Ax, Barry Darsow, battle royale, Bill Eadie, Billy Jack Haynes, Blackjack Mulligan, Bob Orton, Bob Uecker, Bobby Heenan, Bret Hart, Brian Blair, Butch Reed, Can-Am Connection, Canada, Danny Davis, Demolition, Dino Bravo, Don Muraco, Frank Tunney Memorial, Gene Okerlund, Gorilla Monsoon, Haku, Hart Foundation, Hercules, Hillbilly Jim, Honky Tonk Man, Ivan MacDonald, Jim Brunzell, Jim Harris, Jim Neidhart, Jimmy Hart, Johnny K-9, Johnny Valiant, Jose Luis Rivera, Kamala, Killer Bees, Kim Chee, King Kong Bundy, Koko B Ware, Lanny Poffo, LJN, London Gardens, London Ontario, Maple Leaf Gardens, Mary Hart, Mr Fuji, Nikolai Volkoff, Ontario, Paul Orndorff, Prime Time Wrestling, Red Demon, Rick Martel, Ron Bass, SD Jones, Sika, Sivi Afi, Smash, Steve Lombardi, Tama, Tom Zenk, Toronto, Tournament, World Wrestling Federation, WrestleMania III, WWE, WWE Network, WWF

World Wrestling Federation
Prime Time Wrestling
—
Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto / London Gardens, London, Ontario, Canada
15th-16th March 1987
—
Lead announcers: Bobby Heenan & Gorilla Monsoon
Guest announcers: Jimmy Hart & Johnny Valiant

Line-up:
Dino Bravo vs Hillbilly Jim
—
Ivan MacDonald vs Sivi Afi
—
Frank Tunney Memorial Tournament
The Can-Am Connection vs Demolition
—
The Red Demon vs SD Jones
—
Frank Tunney Memorial Tournament
Kamala & Sika vs The Killer Bees
—
Johnny K-9 vs José Luis Rivera
—
Frank Tunney Memorial Tournament
Bob Orton & Don Muraco vs King Kong Bundy & Paul Orndorff

I’m visiting the WWF for the first time in the journey, and for the first time ever I get to see Prime Time Wrestling! Chuffed to see Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon opening things from their famed studio, which I assume is at Titan Towers. What’s that? Old school LJN WWF figures! Nostalgia much? I had the smaller André LJN because finding the Hasbro one was a nightmare, but I did eventually find the Hasbro one after scouring many a car boot sale. Anyway, the point of this episode of PTW? WRESTLEMANIA III IS ON THE HORIZON.

Much of this episode’s in-ring action is from the Maple Leaf Gardens, which hosted the Frank Tunney Sr Memorial Tag Team Tournament on the 15th. Maybe this was WWF’s answer to the Crockett Cup? Frank was the uncle of WWF President Jack Tunney who passed away in 1983. Check out the distinct camera angle used when WWF would hit MLG with the rarely seen rampway (for WWF that is). We’re also in London, Ontario for some matches.

Dino Bravo with Johnny Valiant vs Hillbilly Jim

The hillbilly hoss takes on Canadian strongman Dino Bravo, who is sporting black hair(!). Sadly we have Jimmy Hart joining Gorilla instead of ‘The Brain’ on commentary. Powerhouse match up here.

Hometown heel Bravo claims Jim is cheating, the crowd unsure of their allegiance. Johnny Valiant is clearly trying his best to get the crowd to hate on Bravo. Jim displays his fairly standard acrobatic skills which make him stand out in the era of useless giants. An interesting headscissors reversal from Jim in the corner impressed me! Oddly, Bravo’s wearing the Canadian flag on his arse, the maple leaf directly over his anus. A heel-ish message? Bravo takes control and throws Jim around, dropping a big leg drop for a two-count, somewhere Hogan is absolutely raging. Jim uses his power to retake control but Bravo goes to the eyes and accidentally crushes the referee who jumps in front of his hammer fist. A lame disqualification win for Jim. ■

Johnny V is rightly angered but the crowd loves it! Unclear what the disqualification is for, maybe for the eye attack before what looked like a genuinely accidental collision.

WrestleMania III promotion!

The hype train for WrestleMania III goes on here, with Hart, Heenan and Monsoon making allusions to the big one on the horizon. This studio feels quite claustrophobic and in a weird vacuum. I think we’ll get more hype for ‘Mania before the end of the show.

Ivan MacDonald vs Sivi Afi

We now have a Scottish lad called Ivan MacDonald, who I’ve never heard of, up against Samoan islander Sivi Afi who I’ve never seen wrestle. This one is from the London Gardens in Ontario. Sivi looks pretty jacked, like a Samoan Snuka, bare feet and everything. Ivan’s name sounds like a pun, “I’ve a McDonalds”, does this guy like McNuggets or something? Maybe he’ll turn Afi into a Happy Meal? Okay, I’ll stop.

Afi takes early control and Ivan diverts himself before landing on the commentary table. Phew! Some loose lock-ups and slow grappling, Afi wakes up the crowd a bit with a chop-fest which Monsoon thinks is “kung fu”. Bizarre…surely Gorilla’s seen a Bruce Lee film by this stage in life? Afi targets the left leg with submission holds, including a sore looking step-inside toe hold bridging into a pin, to an inverted scorpion deathlock! I was not expecting such complicated and uncommon moves, is this Afi’s thing? Ivan escapes via rope break. Afi works the leg and teases a nut shot for some reason. Headbutt to the abdomen instead. Ivan goes for the eyes but his offense is poor, he appears untrained and sloppy. Afi hoofs him in the ear when he tries to pin him with an extended arm press and gives a few kicks to the face and head. Lovely gutwrench suplex followed by a underwhelming running headbutt gets the pin for Afi. ■

Afi definitely impressed me and the crowd liked him! Ivan, go home pal.

Gorilla and ‘The Brain’ discuss WrestleMania III and Saturday Night’s Main Event, André addresses Hogan

Monsoon and Heenan casually chat about the “midget” match coming up at WrestleMania. Surprised that word is allowed on the Network.

Gene Okerlund lists the entire WrestleMania III card! I am so ready to revisit it.

Recap of the Saturday Night’s Main Event 20-man battle royale, which had an impressive roster of entrants: Hillbilly Jim, Ron Bass, Butch Reed, Haku, Demolition, Hercules Hernandez, Nikolai Volkoff, Sika, Paul Orndorff, The Honky Tonk Man, André the Giant, Billy Jack Haynes, The Killer Bees, Blackjack Mulligan, Koko B Ware, Tama and Lanny Poffo! Seems a bit heel-heavy, huh? Good thing Hulk Hogan is here to sort them all out! André as a heel has a kind of cool factor, he knows how to express himself as a bad guy.

But Hogan’s out! André grabs Hogan from behind, headbutts him and dumps the champion! André is later shown being dumped out by almost all the guys left in the ring.

André makes a basic statement that it only took one giant to take out Hogan, whereas it took a whole team to put André out.

Stars Bob Uecker and Mary Hart are up next, whoever they are. Uecker does a sort of parody promo in his grandpa jumper then appears to grope Mary…okay then.

Why not Alice Cooper or Aretha Franklin for this segment? Gene Okerlund is in total promo mode here, quite nostalgic. Heenan tries to defend André’s elimination, they “rolled” him out.

The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel & Tom Zenk) vs Demolition (Ax & Smash) with Johnny Valiant
Frank Tunney Sr Memorial Tag Team Tournament

I’m a big Rick Martel fan so I always love seeing him wrestle. Loved Demolition too, so colour me excited here, full costumed Demolition, no less! Not much of a reaction for the Can-Ams in Canada. Johnny V is out again for Demolition, had no idea he managed them and for some reason he is wearing wrestling gear! Valiant almost gets Demolition disqualified before the match by refusing to leave the ring! Not seen that before, he was given a sort of reverse count out to get out. Demolition are slow to remove their spiked BDSM gimp masks.

Tom Zenk starts off with Smash who is covered in glitter. Rock and roll. Some blatant cheating by the good guys, as Martel jumps in to give double dropkicks, no tags. Referee lets it go for some reason. Martel in and injects some energy, working on the left arms of Demolition. Ax (Bill Eadie) looks in incredible shape, I’m kind of stunned. Some great teamwork by both teams with tags a-plenty. The match is suddenly interrupted by Heenan and Monsoon for a commercial…so this is when this nonsense started. I hate adverts during a match. Johnny V allows Demolition to build an advantage, Martel taking a lot of punishment. Zenk’s tag is missed and Martel continues to get thrown around. Martel’s quickness is his salvation and Zenk makes another tag to unleash some tag team synergy on Demolition! Zenk chases out Ax, but eats the ring post. Ax wins by beating the count, while Zenk has been counted out! ■ Zenk is slow to recover outside, probably wondering how a ten count was administered in what was possibly less than ten seconds.

Martel and Valiant have a showdown on the ramp, but Johnny thinks better of it and scurries away. Monsoon discusses the referee’s decision.

Randy Savage addresses Ricky Steamboat

‘The Brain’ loves using his telephone prop to call for segues.

‘Macho Man’ is interviewed by Okerlund, sporting a little cup to signify Ricky Steamboat’s “cup of coffee” in the “big time”. Sadly, it actually was. Steamboat was horribly underutilised in WWF but you probably already know that. This is peak Savage, before he was pseudo-cucked – intense but in control.

The Red Demon vs SD Jones

The Red Demon is José Luis Rivera, who was also one of the Conquistadors and otherwise known as enhancement guy Mac Rivera. I’m surprised this dude isn’t in the WWE Hall of Fame as a legendary jobber. This is also from the London Gardens.

He’s in control as we join the match in progress, sporting a jaguar pattern mask. King from Tekken would be proud. Demon is gesturing to the crowd, then chokes SD Jones with his wrist tape which the referee doesn’t seem to realise. Jones looks to have a stab scar on his back which I’ve never noticed before, yikes.

Demon digs around his trunks and appears to load his mask with something before he slides into a headbutt on the recovering SD. He hides the evidence again. Awkward bump and possible clash of heads as commentary absolutely bury SD Jones for being slightly off his game and a bit chonky. These guys are a sign of the changing eras for me. Demon’s gesturing gets him caught and SD takes control, but throws himself into the post! Demon distracts the ref for a choke but gets caught showboating again. SD slams and tries to unmask the Demon.

Looks like SD takes a blind back kick to his left knee and suddenly he is in trouble. Demon targets the knee consistently afterwards but SD starts boxing his way out. SD gets the upper hand with a punch to the gut, then flies up and over with a sunset flip! Hooks the arms perfectly for the winning pin! ■ A nice pinning combination out of nowhere for the win, injured but victorious. Makes me wonder why commentary were slagging off the winner at the start of the match.

Sweet relief for Gorilla Monsoon

Heenan’s phone stops working thankfully. These segments are quite funny if you’re a fan of Heenan and Gorilla’s pairing but I prefer the wrestling.

Kamala & Sika with Kim Chee vs The Killer Bees (B Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell)
Frank Tunney Sr Memorial Tag Team Tournament

Now we have Kamala & Sika vs The Killer Bees! Thankfully the Bees have the masks off now. Call me a little boy, but I always loved the Killer Bee gimmick and attire, simple and fun.

The Ugandan-Samoan Connection have Sika starting. Jim Brunzell is the starting Bee. Nice tagging and teaming by the Bees on Sika, who makes the tag to Kamala, who gets a big crowd reaction. Brian Blair goes for a slam but barely budges the Ugandan Giant. The speed of the Bees is key, avoiding the big splash and getting a tag! A double body slam gets Kamala to the mat, Sika making the save. Kamala using a throat chop and the ropes, handing over to Sika.

I’m weirdly finding Johnny V quite funny on commentary, ripping into the Killer Bee outfits and comparing Kamala to a Lincoln. They really hype the Bees as the #3 team in the federation right now.

We are interrupted by a studio segment, with Monsoon laughing his ass off at Heenan breaking his phone with a pencil. That seemed important enough to interrupt the action I guess. It’s supposed to make the commercial breaks less jarring, but really just adds more fluff.

Sika with some basic strikes and goes to the eyes. B Brian Blair fails to fight out as Sika continues to choke and gouge, Kamala coming in to sidekick and choke-lift Blair! I wish we had seen James Harris turn face and use his personality more. Decent tagging from the ‘savage’ team, Blair struggling to escape the onslaught. Ref misses the Bees’ tag, but Kamala accidentally smashes into Sika. Lovely dropdown dropkick combination by the Bees to Sika and a quick pin! ■ Jimmy Hart says they weren’t the legal men, but they were in fact legal!

For reasons unknown, Kim Chee (Steve Lombardi?) raises his men’s hands in defeat.

Monsoon gets more relief from Heenan, The Hart Foundation and Danny Davis address The British Bulldogs and Tito Santana

Heenan now has a headset, but can’t hear Monsoon. Hilarity ensues.

The Hart Foundation and Danny Davis are with Gene. The Harts are in need of some promo practice, weirdly Davis carries this segment. They call Santana a “chihuahua” which is a fun idea. Davis says he’s been trained by Bret and Neidhart 8 hours a day minimum and will “slap ’em around”. Davis has an odd accent, he sounds English at times. Neidhart explains the titles aren’t coffee cans, and that they’ve been lending their expertise to Davis, then ends off with his big laugh.

Johnny K-9 vs José Luis Rivera

Infamous lunatic Johnny K-9 faces José Luis Rivera (yeah, Rivera gets two matches here). Quite a different look for Rivera. Only ever seen K-9 in Smoky Mountain so this should be fun. London Gardens again for Rivera’s double duty.

Rivera gets jumped before the bell and dumped to the floor. Johnny V replaces Jimmy Hart on commentary. Quick paced stuff, K-9 takes a powder. K-9 goes for hair, then clubbing forearms and knees from K-9 changes the flow, sending Rivera to the floor again. K-9 makes the “X” sign before Mike Chioda made it a dreaded visual, for unknown reasons. Monsoon thinks it’s a reference to the “1984” movie. I reckon K-9’s a time traveller and just loves CM Punk. K-9 runs into a big knee and Rivera gets the pin after a second-rope missile dropkick. ■

José Luis seems to be getting a bit of a push here, but sadly nothing I know of came of it. Had an imposing physique as well. I really wonder why.

Monsoon’s revenge

Monsoon takes the chance to slag Heenan while he wears the headset (and is deaf). He is later informed of the same.

Bob Orton & Don Muraco with Mr Fuji vs King Kong Bundy & Paul Orndorff
Frank Tunney Sr Memorial Tag Team Tournament

Thankfully, we go back to the ring. This match-up feels very heel vs heel. The fans don’t want to cheer anyone, lots of boos and whistles. Monsoon, Jimmy Hart and Johnny V are commentating. Mr Fuji offers his comments during the match too.

Beef showdown as Muraco locks up with Orndorff but it’s the eyes again which are exploited. Orton is in, bouncing around like nobody’s business and the fans are excited when Bundy comes in to squish him. It’s strange to see Bundy and Orndorff slide into a good guy role.

Orton dives out to avoid the corner avalanche. Orndorff gets isolated. Bundy’s anger at Muraco and Orton’s repeated double-teams and chokes almost gets him disqualified, but Muraco brings it to the centre for a bearhug. Orndorff constantly reaches for the tag.

Bell clapper saves Orndorff to unleash Bundy, huge avalanche to Muraco in the corner! Orton pokes the eye of the big Bundy and tags himself in (illegally), knocking Bundy to the ground after a fierce elbow to the head. Bundy throws Orton into the air during a kick out and tags out, Orndorff hitting his atomic drop! Saved by Muraco! Mr Fuji slips the cane to Muraco! It’s a mess-up! Orndorff ducks and Orton gets cracked by the cane, right on the chin! Orndorff bundles out Muraco and gets the pin! ■

The strange teaming of Bundy and Orndorff gets a big win. I wonder if they used this to see how fans would react to a possible face run for Orndorff, or maybe even Bundy? I’d have dug that. They don’t hang around to lap up any applause or anything.

Heenan exposes his IQ

Heenan says “this is just a phone with earflaps”, he almost calls it a “piece of shit”! His headset allows Monsoon to make fun of him some more before hyping up Muraco and Fuji for the next show. I guess they have been doing some skits. Oh boy.

That’s all for this episode!

Highlights:
Randy Savage promo!
Heenan/Monsoon comedy dynamic.
Unusual tag team pairings that only a tournament can bring us.
A win for Rivera?!
Sivi Afi was surprisingly good.
WrestleMania III nostalgia.

Thoughts:
I had assumed this was going to be a strong show to lead into WrestleMania so I’m a bit worried going forward. At least I got to see a few new guys (Afi, K-9, Ivan, etc). The segments with Heenan and Monsoon are fun, but get a bit tedious. I appreciate this is an old TV format and it worked for the time.

Verdict: Decent in-ring action, but entirely skippable.

Available here on WWE Network.

NWA World Championship Wrestling [Mar. 28 1987]

Leave a Comment / NWA, NWA WCW / By The Internationalist / Armstrongs, Arn Anderson, Atlanta, Baron von Raschke, Barry Windham, Big Bubba, Bill Dundee, Bill Mulkey, Bill Tabb, Bob Armstrong, Bobby Eaton, Bobby Jaggers, Brad Armstrong, Chance McQuade, Cougar Jay, Crockett Cup, Dave Spearman, David Crockett, Denny Brown, Dick Murdoch, Dusty Rhodes, Dutch Mantel, Frances Crockett, Gary Royal, George South, Georgia, Gladiators, Horsemen, Ivan Koloff, JCP, Jim Cornette, Jimmy Garvin, JJ Dillon, Kansas Jayhawks, Kent Glover, Kevin Sullivan, Larry Clarke, Larry Stephens, Legion of Doom, Lex Luger, MACW, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Mike Force, Mike Rotunda, Mod Squad, MulkeyMania, Mulkeys, National Wrestling Alliance, Nikita Koloff, NWA, NWA WCW, Ole Anderson, Paul Ellering, Paul Jones, Precious, Randy Barber, Randy Mulkey, Ray Traylor, Ric Flair, Rick Rude, Rick Sullivan, Ricky Morton, Road Warriors, Robert Gibson, Rock n Roll Express, Ronnie Garvin, Thunderfoot, Tim Horner, Todd Champion, Tony Schiavone, Tully Blanchard, USA, Vernon Deaton, Vladimir Petrov, Wahoo McDaniel, WTBS Studios, WWE Network

National Wrestling Alliance
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
—
WTBS Studios, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
22nd March 1987
—
Lead announcers: David Crockett & Tony Schiavone

Line-up:
Bill Tabb & Chance McQuade vs The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express
—
Bobby Eaton vs Vernon Deaton
—
Kent Glover vs Ole Anderson
—
The Kansas Jayhawks vs Mike Force & Randy Barber
—
Baron von Raschke & Wahoo McDaniel vs Larry Clarke & Rick Sullivan
—
Big Bubba vs Cougar Jay
—
Denny Brown & Todd Champion vs Lex Luger & Tully Blanchard
—
Arn Anderson vs Tim Horner
—
Barry Windham vs Dave Spearman
—
Larry Stephens vs Rick Rude
—
The Gladiators vs The Mulkeys

Time to see what the NWA are doing at this stage in history. World Championship Wrestling airs from from Atlanta, Georgia! Sounds good, doesn’t it? Not long now until this part of the NWA morphs into what we would later know and love as WCW!

A cold open into Ric Flair berating Ole Anderson who confronts Flair about a lack of shots at the NWA World title. Clips of Flair’s Four Horsemen stablemates Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson and Lex Luger in six-man tag action. I’m really interested to see what Flair is up to in ’87, since my earliest memories of him are from ’91.

Tony Schiavone and David Crockett hype the NWA’s famed tag team tournament, the Crockett Cup! Nikita Koloff’s injury at the hands of Dick Murdoch will also be reported on.

Bill Tabb & Chance McQuade vs The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)

Unclear if this is a Crockett Cup match, seemingly it’s not. Just a warm-up match I suppose. RnRs give up size but are quick and powerful in their own right, tossing around Tabb with ease. Chance McQuade takes over, but is easily subdued by Morton. Don’t know anything about Chance unfortunately. The girls are vocally behind the RnRs, nice tags and continued wearing down. Classic leapfrog and double dropkick is enough to pin Chance. ■

Schiavone catches up with them after the match. The Rock ‘n’ Rolls make it clear they are coming for the Crockett Cup and the cash prize, keeping it concise but purposeful.

Jim Cornette with Big Bubba address Dusty Rhodes & Ole Anderson

Cornette with Big Bubba (Ray Traylor) running down Dusty Rhodes before their big cage match. Classic line about Ole Anderson and the idea of legends: “You’re a legend, that’s right, you’re a legend. You know what a legend is? A legend is a story that when it first got told it was maybe a little bit exaggerated, and as it got told and told and told, it got blowed up and blowed up and blowed up as a legend, until now, it don’t resemble nothing of the truth!”

Bubba is the ‘baddest and toughest man in the world’, as he stands there looking like a lost Blues Brother. Okay.

Bobby Eaton vs Vernon Deaton

Bobby Eaton gets a segue, entering to face Vernon Deaton. These badly dubbed songs really make me hate the WWE Network. Kills the vibe entirely. Pay for the music rights, you cowards.

Eaton dominates and gives a flying knee drop. Big Bubba interferes but only to return Deaton to the ring. Cornette rips “ol’ Vernon” apart on commentary and no one is safe from ridicule. Eaton wins following the Alabama Jam guillotine leg drop, or the “Haemorrhoid Hop” as per Cornette. ■

It is impressive that Eaton didn’t just shatter his tailbone after years of using that leg drop.

Ric Flair and Ole Anderson address each other

We return to the Flair/Ole confrontation where Ole jumps Flair for being a ‘pretty boy’ and literally strips him of his clothes. Maybe Ole is a little repressed with these compliments and assaultive behaviour? Anyway, the NWA belt goes flying and the Horsemen (Arn, Tully and Luger) arrive to ward off Ole.

Flair recovers and then goes absolutely ballistic! JJ Dillon holds the belt for a great visual as Flair declares Ole has made the “mistake of a lifetime“! The Horsemen plan to disfigure Ole and assure Ole will “die a Horseman“.

45 year old Ole gives a confident response saying he has “one more ride left” as he prepares to face Kent Glover.

Kent Glover vs Ole Anderson

NWA seemed to have so many of these guys who would just take an absolute beating and appear entirely incapable of defending themselves. It’s kind of sad. Ole pummels away on Glover then throws himself into Glover with a “classic knee”, which was a very generous call from Tony. Kneeling armbar wins it for Ole. ■

Francis Crockett reports from Baltimore

They decide to showcase the host town for the Crockett Cup. Were NWA paid for this? Is it to entice fans to the city to see the show? Unusual promotion.

The Kansas Jayhawks (Bobby Jaggers & Dutch Mantel) vs Mike Force & Randy Barber

Another showcase for a Crockett Cup team as Jaggers immediately takes control. Mantel makes the mistake of getting too close to the corner as Mike Force tags in, but Force is overpowered, despite his clear bodybuilder physique. Mantel with a heavy forearm across the chest. Jaggers is vicious with his elbows. A snap suplex from Dutch! Force is taking a lot of punishment but gives a flurry of forearms from Force! Mantel quickly resumes control. Force is trying to get back into the game by reversing arm wringers but his partner feels like miles away. The Jayhawks have a great series of quick tags and vicious strikes, Force pinned after a jumping elbow drop. ■

Barber barely featured here. The Jayhawks look quite competent, which surprises me. Never was a huge fan of Mantel, maybe my journey will change my mind.

Tony speaks with Paul Ellering

So weird seeing Paul with hair. He’s such a calm, eloquent talker, but resorts to some Japan-bashing since the “Legion of Doom” won the NWA International Tag Titles from Gen’ichirō Tenryū & Jumbo Tsuruta. Road Warriors want the cup again! The Road Warriors would turn out to be the final champions before a unification match was commissioned to create the ‘Double Cup’ – All Japan’s current World Tag Team Championships. I’m sure they would be seen as one of the favourites to win the Crockett Cup!

It’s good to see NWA making sure the Road Warriors they are represented on TV even when they are “out of the country”. They were actually facing the Midnight Express in Texas this day!

Nikita Koloff and Dusty Rhodes talk about Koloff’s neck injury

We are shown Dick Murdoch jumping Nikita after a match with one of the Thunderfoots and he proceeds to crush Koloff on the concrete floor with a brainbuster! Koloff’s ‘Superpowers’ tag partner Rhodes arrives to ward off Murdoch, but the damage is done. A heavy fine for Murdoch is announced without further details.

Dusty Rhodes speaks somewhat sombrely to camera with Nikita in a neckbrace, the big ‘Russian’ uncharacteristically showing weakness. Koloff’s accent is awful but his character is classic. He explains how the injury has made things hard but that he will definitely enter the cup with Rhodes. The Superpowers are in!

The Armstrongs state Crockett Cup and NWA World Heavyweight Title intentions

‘Bullet’ Bob and Brad Armstrong appear as another strong entry to the cup, with Brad also challenging Flair for the NWA World Title! Bob gives a military career recap of Dick Murdoch and how much of a failure he was, saying Murdoch was sent to Canada as mounted police on a mule. I laughed.

Baron von Raschke & Wahoo McDaniel vs Larry Clarke & Rick Sullivan

Another team getting an exhibition is odd couple veterans Wahoo McDaniel & Baron von Raschke! Larry Clarke & Rick Sullivan will be accepting the ass-kicking in this one. I have to say, Crockett’s commentary is annoying me but he makes a good point about having a reserve team for the cup. Raschke injecting a bit of comedy, hopping trips and slapping on a headlock. Before there was Walter, we had Wahoo, chop-master. Somehow, Sullivan’s eyebrow is busted open from being thrown into the buckle. Raschke hiptosses Sullivan a bit too far and a tag is made to Clarke. Wahoo even at this stage in his career looks great in the ring. Lovely belly-to-belly and chops. Again a Raschke hiptoss results in a tag and Sullivan resumes his beating. Wahoo pins the bloody Sullivan after a rudimentary suplex. ■ The boy’s been chopped to bits.

We’ll catch up with Wahoo and the Baron shortly.

Mike Rotunda reveals his Crockett Cup tag partner

Rotunda says he is teaming with Tim Horner in such a dry promo, it almost feels like a rib. I can kind of see why he would later be cast in the role of IRS.

Wahoo and von Raschke state Crockett Cup intentions

Wahoo & Raschke state they want more than just the million bucks and the cup, they want competition! Wahoo says he isn’t taking it easy anymore! Hide all the rookies! Run!

Big Bubba with Jim Cornette vs Cougar Jay

Crazy how much weight Bubba would lose, because here he is looking like +400lbs. Jay is a speedy guy, bouncing off of Bubba but getting caught mid-pounce with a powerbomb. Even at this size Bubba delivers a flying axehandle off the top! Gutwrench into a clumsy shoulderbreaker, then a very loose looking hammerlock somehow gets the submission win. ■

Cougar Jay survives the match to live another day. Or he has nine lives. Cornette rants about Ole working on the arm, this match proves that Bubba can do that too, apparently.

Ivan Koloff and Vlad Petrov are joined by Dick Murdoch

Ivan Koloff & Vladimir Petrov are the NWA US Tag Champions, and I honestly have no idea who Petrov is. He looks very nervous as Ivan slags off Nikita Koloff and says Nikita is suffering in the same way the USSR and Ivan have suffered. Murdoch accepts some sort of trucker cap with a Soviet symbol. Murdoch responds to the Armstrongs by hilariously calling ‘Bullet’ Bob Armstrong “a little .22 calibre bullet“, that cracked me up. Ivan’s accent was a bit better but this ‘foreigners only talk in growls’ trope is funny only in retrospect. Murdoch looks like he wants to Make America Great Again with that hat on.

Bill Dundee introduces The Mod Squad

Dundee looking like Gary Glitter shows up with his fading Scottish accent and what appears to be two big biker lads from the Village People. Apparently this is the NWA Florida Tag Champions, The Mod Squad. I’ve never heard of them either, don’t worry. The pair are Basher and Spike, also known as Mac and Jim Jeffers, for anyone curious.

Denny Brown & Todd Champion vs Lex Luger & Tully Blanchard with JJ Dillon

Man, this feels like a very long show. We have Horsemen, so this one could be a good one! This is during Blanchard’s legendary NWA TV Title run and Luger looks like the real life He-Man.

Tully starts off struggling to overpower Todd, nice tag to Lex. Luger is more successful, controlling Champion until a quick armdrag forces Luger to the ropes. Instead of being worried Luger appears irritated by that. Todd able to reverse the hammerlock and get Denny in, immediately springs off the second rope and attacks the arm and shoulder of Lex. Luger quickly realises he is 95% muscle and just slams Denny Brown with ease. Blanchard tags in to let Lex’s arm recover but he gets socked senseless by Brown and thrown pillar to post. Tully struggles to out-wrestle Denny and is dropkicked to the apron, however Denny grabs him before he can catch a rest. Denny’s attempt to suplex Blanchard back in is stopped by a sneaky ankle trip from Luger on the apron. Denny escapes the pin, but is finished off by Blanchard’s slingshot suplex. ■ The Horsemen squeaked their way out of that one!

JJ Dillon attacks Ole verbally for having kids and being financially less off as a result? Strange tangent. Blanchard is so annoying because he’s a sneaky wrestler but talks like he earns all his wins. Best Luger promo I’ve ever heard, shades of Flair here. Luger wants Nikita’s NWA US Title.

Arn Anderson vs Tim Horner

There’s a lot going on in these NWA WCW shows, it’s rapid-fire. Also, I had no idea Horner was named ‘White Lightning’, which is a cheap alcoholic drink where I’m from. It’s evident that the Horsemen were awesome because they gave you hope that they’d lose no matter who they faced.

The way Arn scurries out makes even me think that Horner has a chance here. The AA aggression resurfaces, cheapshotting the clean break and throwing Horner to the floor, but Horner wisely snatches the leg and uses the ring post to clatter Arn’s leg! Arn is in trouble here and is forced to use the hair to fend off Horner’s focus on his leg. An inverted spinning toehold countered by a classic thumb to the eye, but Horner is able to target Arn’s left leg to regain control. “If you break a horse’s leg, don’t you shoot him?” asks Crockett. Damn! A hobbled Arn fights free but gets a shinbreaker for his trouble. Such a random comment, but Arn’s probably got the best boots in wrestling. Arn escapes a few holds but Horner flips through a monkey flip onto his feet and continues going after the leg, he is tenacious! Arn again goes for hair. Vicious headbutts give Arn a reprieve but foolishly uses his injured leg to land a kitchen sink knee. He’s grounded himself! Fighting up, Horner gets whipped to the corner but launches himself out with a revolving cross-body block much like Kevin von Erich, almost a 3! Again into the corner and a sunset rollup! Almost 3 again! Arn seems wakened up by these close calls, drops an elbow on an attempted back drop and goes for the brainbuster! Countered into an O’Connor roll with a nice bridge! 3?! Blanchard hits the ring and stops the count. Luger and Dillon hit the ring too! It’s ruled a DQ! ■ Great match! Horner clearly had Anderson beat!

Arn is in full denial mode, claiming he had Horner beat and that Horner “took a powder” when he was actually escaping a gang beatdown. Pardon me for miss-calling the gourdbuster as a brainbuster by the way. Horsemen are still upset with Ole, Arn calling it a “family squabble” and announces he has a new partner! Dillon appears to cut him off before he reveals anything else, the Horsemen will focus on the $1,000,000 prize money for the Crockett Cup and then seek their revenge.

Kevin Sullivan is shown elsewhere and claims he is the partner for Arn for the cup! Now there’s an odd pair. I love Kevin Sullivan but he appears to be reading off a prompt and it really kills the promo for me. Damn HD televisions. Kudos if he needed them, but by this stage of his career Sullivan already had a crazy career in Florida.

Tony speaks with NWA Champion Ric Flair regarding Jimmy Garvin

The champ, Ric Flair joins Schiavone. Flair demands a full body camera shot and rants about Horsemen being the “franchise” of the NWA. A young Shane Douglas taking notes furiously, for sure. Flair addresses Jimmy Garvin who somehow has a world title shot, saying Precious will be “coming round the mountain, when I come“! Oh my.

Barry Windham vs Dave Spearman

This show feels longer than WrestleMania now.

Windham towers over Spearman who is pinned after a wicked lariat in about ten seconds. ■ Damn.

Not sure what the point of that was. Windham clearly not getting paid by the hour.

Tony speak with Paul Jones with Rick Rude about the Crockett Cup

The ravishing one, Rick Rude appears with Schiavone, however Paul Jones is the one doing the talking. They run through the teams in the Crockett Cup but Rude and Manny Fernandez are the current NWA World Tag Team champions and go in as the highest ranked team. Manny is absent and I’m not sure why. Answers on a postcard, please.

Larry Stephens vs Rick Rude

The awful music dubs on the WWE Network ruin the broadcast for me. Play ‘Smooth Operator’, or play nothing. Those tag belts are easily one of the best designed belts, glad NWA still use that design.

I expect this will be another quick one. Oh wow. It’s already over! A neck-snapping clothesline and a DDT (called the ‘Rude Awakening’ by Schiavone) is enough for the pin. ■

Rude addresses the Horsemen through the camera as he sits on Stephens’ face to add insult to insult. Rude appears to have skipped many leg days, his physique is so top heavy.

The Garvins with Precious address the Crockett Cup, Jim Cornette and Ric Flair

We have Ronnie and Jimmy Garvin making their Crockett Cup intentions known. Ronnie targets Jim Cornette for trying to “blind” and “cripple” him, salivating over the the scheduled cage match with Cornette. Jimmy targets Flair and thinks he is better dressed than him…oh dear. Jimmy literally looks like Lou Albano wearing white jeans and a white leather jacket, like a cleaner or lab worker. Precious is here and her honour will be defended by Jimmy as he faces Flair not just for the world title. They are “America’s Couple”.

How are these guys related? Seriously. Also, I just want to say, Tony’s reactions to some of these things on this show have been hilarious. He is perfect at doing the ‘I need to bite my tongue’ professional responses.

The Gladiators vs The Mulkeys (Bill & Randy Mulkey)

Now we have the “West Coast champions” (not really) The Gladiators coming out in full navy blue bodysuits and masks. All I can say is c’mon Mulkeys! I am genuinely confused why The Gladiators have been hyped up so much, they don’t even come out with fake title belts (they weren’t champions). This is Gary Royal and legendary jobber George South under the hoods, I just wish I knew who was who. George still wrestles to this day.

The Glads come out swinging, charging the ring and taking Bill & Randy by surprise, one of the Mulkeys goes flying out the ring. Slam, backbreaker, the Glads are cheating to no end here but the referee eventually gets one out onto the apron. The second Mulkey climbs up…but gets hitched into a suplex and is in danger of being superplexed onto his brother! In the suplex position the Gladiator trips over the downed Mulkey, it ends up landing awkwardly in a pinning combination! It’s a 3!! ■ Without delivering a single offensive move, the Mulkeys have beaten Crockett Cup contenders The Gladiators! That was good for a laugh.

The Mulkeys can’t believe they won! Hopefully this means MulkeyMania is going to the cup! The Glads rant and rave about coming in from California with the least Californian accents ever. They demand a rematch but David Crockett laughs them off. It seems they’re still in the cup despite losing in embarrassing fashion here tonight.

Highlights:
Arn Anderson showing why he is a great wrestler!
Big Bubba is so agile!
Wahoo killing jobbers.
Dick Murdoch’s comedic chops.
Tim Horner gets a chance to shine.
The quest for a George South victory begins here!
MULKEYMANIA!!
A classic Ric Flair promo.

Thoughts:
A funny way to end a very long episode. This feels like it would have been better if the show didn’t feel crammed with so many things. They definitely hype the Crockett Cup and give lots of teams a chance to look like legitimate contenders. The NWA is boasting a huge roster of talent at this time, and we’ve only just peeked into Mid-Atlantic here.

Verdict: More ‘meh’ than good, but the good is worth digging for. Check out the highlights.

Available here on WWE Network.

World Class Championship Wrestling TV [Mar. 21, 1987]

Leave a Comment / WCCW, WCCW TV / By The Internationalist / Al Madril, Bill Mercer, Black Bart, Bob Bradley, Bobby Fulton, Bruiser Brody, Dallas, Dusty Wolfe, Fantastics, Gary Hart, Jack Victory, Jeep Swenson, John Nord, Kevin von Erich, Lance von Erich, Matt Borne, Mike Davis, Percy Pringle, Red River Jack, Rock n Roll RPMs, Scott Casey, Steve Doll, Texas, Tommy Lane, Tommy Rogers, USA, Von Erichs, WCCW, WCWA, World Class Championship Wrestling, World Class Wrestling Association, WWE Network

World Class Wrestling Association
World Class Championship Wrestling
—
The Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas, United States
6th March 1987
—
Lead announcers: Bill Mercer

Line-up:
Al Madril vs Scott Casey
—
Bob Bradley & Jack Victory vs The Fantastics
—
Kevin von Erich vs Matt Borne
—
Dusty Wolfe & Steve Doll vs The Rock ‘n’ Roll RPMs
—
2-Minute Challenge
Jeep Swenson vs Red River Jack

Al Madril vs Scott Casey

Back to the Sportatorium in Dallas for World Class. It’s easy to see why Bill Mercer is so fondly remembered, he’s seems the kind of guy to go drinking and sing karaoke with until dawn.

First up is wiley vet Al Madril against the autograph-inundated cowboy Scott Casey. Madril sporting a lovely rat-tail and being easily put off by the partisan crowd “Go Scott, go!” Madril again taking hip tosses like he is being thrown from a moving car! His hips must have been hurting. Madril tries to con the ref into thinking Casey pulled his trendy hair. He of course follows up by gaining the advantage by pulling Casey’s hair! Devious! A little kiss (or maybe a bite to the lip) by Madril before throwing him to the floor. These refs in WCCW are more lax than ECW’s.

Casey using his fists and knees, but is cut off by cheap tactics. A huge shoulder tackle in the corner avoided by Casey, who takes control. A toe punt is reversed into a back body drop, and Madril appears to have been disqualified for putting the man over the top rope. ■ This dumb rule applies here in World Class? I hate this rule so much.

Black Bart arrives? Bart and Pringle challenge Casey to a “drug store cowboy match”, which sounds awesome if you ask me. Sadly, it just means the loser gets ridden with a saddle. Threats are made to Casey’s family and he just accepts it while the ref barely holds Casey back. Way to make Casey look like a chump.

Bob Bradley & Jack Victory vs The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers)

Potentially a good match here with the tag champs involved. Bradley looks different than a few weeks ago but still billed as ‘The Cat’. Lovely tag leapfrogs as per the Fantastics’ norm. Tommy Rogers has a great dropkick, huge height! Bradley goes for the eyes in response. The Fantastics bounce back as commentary compare Bradley & Victory’s stylish looks to jaguars and civets (not joking). Fulton scores a nice headscissors setting off a tag move cascade and a double Fargo strut! I am curious who trained both these guys, their moves are lucha-esque. A nice parallel armbar by Rogers to Victory, while taunting Bradley into a trap! Cameras miss it, but Bradley goes to the top rope and it appears Fulton shakes the ropes from the other side resulting in Bradley’s beans getting smashed on the top turnbuckle! Ouch. Rogers trying his best to make the inexperienced Victory look good out there, huge leaping ability from Rogers. Fulton teases bashing Victory’s beans with his boot, but he escapes to get Bradley back in.

Bradley decides a backwards handspring will show the Fantastics. It does not. The girls favour Fulton in the exchange of moves and hip thrusts, but Fulton is blindsided by a knee to the lower lumber when getting a little too close to the fresh man. Again the refs look very silly here for missing everything. Huge hair-slam is also ignored while Rogers goes ballistic, allowing more illegalities to take place behind the ref’s back. Nice flying forearm by Bradley puts down Fulton but he misses a fish-flop headbutt. We have four men in, The Fantastics are able to leapfrog out of each others’ way and send Victory to the floor with a double dropkick! Interesting finish, where Rogers pins Bradley with an assisted sunset flip! ■

The Fantastics hit the floor to celebrate with the fans, they are very popular at the Sportatorium indeed!

Interview segment

Bill Mercer speaks to Gary Hart and Nord the Barbarian

Nord is being hyped as a trainee of Brody and being of the same level of danger, basically being hyped as a future champion of WCCW. He’ll have to beat Kevin von Erich if that’s the case. Lance von Erich shows up for some reason, so Nord batters him after a sucker punch. I guess this was the set-up for the last show we watched. Lance repping a Gold’s Gym tanktop, this is so 80s. Shame he’s not in Zubaz and shades. The security team hold back Lance before he can get his ass kicked any further.

Kevin von Erich vs ‘Maniac’ Matt Borne with Percy Pringle

Hugely interesting match up now, with the future Doink, Matt Borne vs current WCWA World Champion Kevin von Erich! Matt already had a great run in Mid-South at this point and both lads are second-gen pro wrestlers.

Borne has Pringle in his corner and immediately bends the rules. The ref tries to create a rope break, but Kevin decides to fight out and gets cheap-shotted for his trouble. Ref is already losing control here. Barefooted Kevin with a vicious double corner kick, heels first into Borne’s chin followed by a lovely flying dropkick to the face! While Borne kills time, we are shown the WCWA World title belt, so I guess this is for the title? It wasn’t announced as such. Pringle’s facial reactions are fantastic, such a great manager.

Borne takes a shortcut out of a Greco-Roman knucklelock and the ref counts for a rope break…and gets to five. No DQ however! Nice recovery to pull off a rolling flying headscissors on Borne, going for the submission but Borne able to squeeze out. Borne just looks constantly angry. Caught by a flying body scissor, Kevin playing the part of a boa constrictor this match. The mat game countered by heavy strikes. Borne’s forehead gets clamped by the Iron Claw but he manages to push Kevin to the corner for the break. No wait! Pringle jabs his cane full force into Kevin’s lower back and running away like a pig on fire. The distraction helps Borne big time, nailing a suplex and backbreaker. Kevin is thrust into the corner but springs back out like Spider-Man with a spinning cross body block! He got the pin! ■

Bit of an awkward stand-off following the match for unexplained reasons.

Dusty Wolfe & Steve Doll vs The Rock ‘n’ Roll RPMs (Mike Davis & Tommy Lane)

Steve Doll & Dusty Wolfe, wow, what a team! Enhancement Fodder would be a good name.

The RPMs jump these famous jobbers before the bell, Lowrance almost gets caught in the crossfire! I was curious to see if Wolfe or Doll would get any offense here, since I can’t recall either of them ever dealing any damage in WWF or WCW. So far Lane and Davis are dominating. Dusty almost takes out the cameraman when hitting the ropes, but that’s his only offense thus far. Quick tags for the RPMs, keeping it simple with basic strikes. Dusty kicks away a back drop attempt to get Doll the tag! Dropkick by Doll! Dropkick by doll!! A second is blocked! Tommy Lane lifts Doll into a spinebuster position while Mike Davis lands a second-rope clothesline, a bit like the Hart Attack! It’s over. ■ RPMs with an easy win here.

Subdued celebrations from the RPMs, and my hopes to see Dusty Wolfe win a match continue on.

Jeep Swenson vs Red River Jack
2-Minute Challenge

This has been named as a “two minute challenge”. But no real clue as to why this is a two minute challenge. I assume because Swenson can only wrestle for two minutes before passing out. The guy is built like a brick shithouse and literally portrayed Bane in Batman & Robin (1997), delivering the stiffest clothesline and kicks the Sportatorium may have ever seen. Brody still wearing a white Super Médico mask for his Red River gimmick – he is apparently from Arizona. This is a mess. Brody is able to go strike for strike with Swenson until landing a big running boot. Brody grabs a chair, goes to the top and waffles Jeep with the chair off the top! Swenson barely kneels and throws punches and forearms in a rage. Time limit expires! ■

Ref goes flying! It’s chaos! So, despite using a steel chair, Red River Jack wins the challenge I guess? He did last over two minutes with Jeep Swenson and that appears to have been the only goal of match with no other rules stated. A weird one.

Highlights:
Some nice tag work from the Fantastics!
More rare Red River Jack.
Jeep Swenson having a rare match.
DUSTY WOLFE! The search for a win begins here!
Borne and Kevin were an intriguing match up.

Thoughts:
I swear WCCW is supposed to be better than this…isn’t it? Not absolutely awful, but I do expect more from the weekly TV shows.

Verdict: Another skippable show.

Available here on WWE Network.

NJPW Spring Flare-Up ’87 Finale

Leave a Comment / NJPW, NJPW Major Events, NJPW Series / By The Internationalist / Akira Maeda, IWGP Tag Team Title, Japan, Keiji Mutoh, Korakuen Hall, Masahiro Chono, New Japan, New Japan Pro Wrestling, NJPW, NJPWWorld, Nobuhiko Takada, One-Offs, Shinya Hashimoto, Shiro Koshinaka, Special Referee, Tag League, Tatsumi Fujinami, Tokyo, Tournament, Watch This, Young Lion Cup

New Japan Pro Wrestling
Spring Flare-Up ’87
スプリングフレアーアップ’87
—
Kōrakuen Hall, Bunkyō, Tōkyō, Japan
20th March 1987
—
No English commentary

Line-up:
Young Lion Cup
Referee: Tatsumi Fujinami
Masahiro Chōno vs Shin’ya Hashimoto
—
IWGP Tag Team Title League
Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada vs Keiji Mutō & Shirō Koshinaka

It’s off to Japan for a foray in New Japan with their Spring Flare Up series finale. This is somewhat of a unique event, as the ‘Flare Up’ series name has never been used again and likely reflects the rivalry between NJPW and former-UWF talent, and the culmination of both tournaments. A Young Lion Cup Final? Shin’ya Hashimoto faces Masa Chōno!? Young guys at this stage of their careers, but this should be a pleasure to take in. Two thirds of the future Tōkon Sanjūshi (literally Fighting Spirit Three Musketeers) face off in the middle of the ring to show who is the best of the Young Lions! Let’s go!

Masahiro Chōno vs Shin’ya Hashimoto
Young Lion Cup Final, Referee: Tatsumi Fujinami

These two previously went to a 20-minute draw on the 16th of March, and Hashimoto comes into this match with 37 points whereas Chōno has accumulated 32. Other competitors in the round-robin were Tatsuo Nakano, Yūji (Masakatsu) Funaki, Yōji Anjō, Osamu Matsuda (El Samurai), Akira Nogami, Ken’ichi (Hisakatsu) Ōya & Akira Katayama. Hashimoto is coming in with the advantage, but both men won their previous matches and have equal momentum for the final. After a brief and modest introduction the future legends face off in the famous bare-bones black trunks of the NJPW Dōjō.

Hashimoto gains a quick advantage, but Chōno replies after composing himself. A fast-paced technical exchange, avoiding rope breaks and keeping a steady flow. Hashimoto benefits from physical exchanges, whereas Chōno excels with submission techniques. Kimura lock employed. Hashimoto is forced to use the ropes to get the break, and then a desperate leg-scissor to take Chōno by surprise. Chōno looks very comfortable on the mat, even when in a tough hold he is very capable of finding an escape. Hashimoto wisely goes to open-palm strikes and body kicks, both men collapsing to the mat. Huge chest kick by Hashimoto, really taking advantage by slamming Chōno hard. Perhaps unwisely going for an armbar, which Chōno easily counters and is able to return to his feet.

Shin’ya seems to be on a mission to prove he can mat wrestle, at risk of losing his overall advantage. Hashimoto attempts a Kimura lock, but it’s Chōno using the ropes now to escape. A single leg crab forces Hashimoto to the ropes in response. A beautiful back suplex by Masa, a diving front dropkick then a heaving Samoan drop! Single leg crab forces Hashimoto to the ropes again, a great flurry of offense! Chōno follows up with a butterfly suplex and a Boston crab in the middle of the ring, but somehow Hashimoto manages to get to the ropes again.

Shin’ya reverses Chōno’s underhook and eventually catches him with a sleeper, transitioning to a triangle choke. Lovely stuff, Shin’ya in control. Hashimoto releases the hold but has a plan! Flurry of body kicks and a reverse spin kick, and a beautiful snap belly-to-belly suplex! Chōno is barely hanging on! Crazy suplex-lift body slam and a perfect jumping heel kick, fans thought it was over but Chōno kicks out again! Great comeback Shin’ya! Lovely bridging fallaway slam from Shin’ya! Chōno kicks out, and suddenly scores the win with a small package cradle! ■

Hashimoto is momentarily angry but composes himself, as Masahiro Chōno is crowned Young Lion Cup winner! Beautiful trophy! We get a sporting handshake between the Musketeers.

Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada vs Keiji Mutō & Shirō Koshinaka
IWGP Tag Team Title League Final

This is the final of the IWGP Tag Title League, put together after the titles were vacated when then-champions Tatsumi Fujinami and Kengo Kimura split as a team. Takada & Maeda are in plain black trunks which state their no-frills MMA-style which they have brought over with them from the doomed UWF organisation. Takada is a catch-style grappler and Maeda an accomplished karateka who have accumulated 17 points. Mutō and Shirō bring pro wrestling to the fight and have accumulated 18 points, so could be tseen as the slight favourites. Other teams in the league were Rick Steiner & Steve Williams, Osamu Kido & Yoshiaki Fujiwara, The Sheepherders, George Takano & Tatsumi Fujinami, Kendo Nagasaki (Kazuo Sakurada) & Mr Pōgo.

Huge crowd reactions for both teams, tense atmosphere! Takada notably with the taped fingers if you are struggling to keep track of who is in the ring.

Takada immediately tries to kill the match, Shirō however is able to dodge his head kicks. Eventually Shirō lures Takada into a grapple and takes him down, it looks like it will be a proverbial striker vs grappler showdown until Takada snatches the arm, Shirō barely escaping. Mutō gets tagged. Mutō and Shirō lose a chance to double team, but Mutō is confident in engaging Takada on the mat. Takada swipes a kick instead of allowing a clean break, and almost a sumo style exchange results in Mutō being backed to Maeda in the corner. Clean tag in for Maeda, fans are hot for this so far! Maeda quickly has Mutō in danger, a cross arm breaker and leg lace, making it look easy. Wise tag to Shirō who is immediately reeling from Maeda’s body kicks, hitting air on a flying heel kick, but then catches Shirō’s hip attack in mid-air to fold him into a German suplex!!

Shirō is fired up after getting lit up by Takada’s strikes, employs a figure four neck lock and a slick tag to Mutō who flies in with a diving knee drop! Nice series of reversals, Mutō with a wild dropkick and back suplex to slow Takada down. Mutō ends up on the apron taking kicks. Beautiful belly-to-belly to Mutō to allow Maeda back in, merciless head kicks. Maeda busts out a crossface chickenwing, much to my surprise, really nice grip. Mutō’s forced to rope break and gets a spinning heel kick for his trouble. Shirō snatches a tag as Mutō goes flying!

Maeda catches Shirō and teases a scorpion deathlock before getting Takada back in. More submission attempts from Takada, a cross armbreaker sees Shirō squeak to the ropes and gets pummeled again by kicks. There’s simply no respite for Mutō & Shirō here. An interesting powering-through body slam by Takada, and here comes Maeda to add to the suffering. Shirō ducks a huge rolling kick in the corner and locks in a Boston crab! Takada jumps in and blasts a defenceless Shirō with a reverse spin kick to break it up, the referee lets it roll. Maeda uses a pretty dangerous looking double underarm suplex, almost dropping Shirō on his noggin. Casual leg lace applied, Shirō easily escaping and Mutō in to deliver a vicious brainbustaaahhhh, then missing his patented handspring elbow in the corner. Takada and then Maeda rain in the kicks. Mutō tries to return this to a grappling match, using a Greco-Roman lock-up and going for a judo throw, unable to take Maeda off his feet. Shirō resorts to an old fashioned backbreaker to get Maeda down!

Takada tags in and smashes Shirō with a snapping tombstone piledriver! Shirō somehow survives this but finds himself in a scorpion deathlock! Slow escape via ropes but Takada is merciless, reapplying the move, forcing a second rope break. Head kick! Reverse heel kick! And a head kick from Maeda! Dragon suplex! Shirō saved by Mutō but remains in serious trouble! A beautiful spinning heel kick by Maeda forces another Mutō save. I don’t know how Koshinaka is still in this but he almost steals the win with a small package! Unclear if it’s a 3 count, but Mutō gets a hot tag and hits his momentous moonsault! Maeda is forced to make the save now! A brutal spike piledriver by Mutō and Shirō! Takada in peril but is able to use his kicks to create distance and avoids a dropkick from Shirō. Maeda lands a beautiful reverse heel kick across the neck but Shirō almost pins him with a backslide! Takada is in and hits a back suplex! A lot of saves required at this stage in the match, it feels like almost any move could put anyone away!

Mutō gets tossed out by Takada who tries to get Shirō in the scorpion deathlock again, but Shirō shrinks and pulls Takada down into a pinning combo! It’s 3! Or is it? Yes! ■ Shirō snuck the win!

What a great match! Keiji Mutō & Shirō Koshinaka are the new IWGP Tag Team Champions! The crowd is jubilant! Shirō himself had to check it was a 3 count. Both teams shake hands as the title belts are presented with the tournament trophy. A fitting main event and a high bar of quality set by New Japan.

Highlights:
Where to start? Legends early in their careers!
A fitting climax to the Young Lion Cup, which is a lovely trophy.
An excellent climax to the IWGP Tag Title League.

Thoughts:
Two great matches from a series finale makes me wish I had the entire show. This IWGP Tag Title League is not to be confused with the Japan Cup or World Tag League. I kind of wish NJPW showcased the Young Lions like this nowadays.

Verdict: Watch these matches. Now.

First match available here on NJPWWorld.
Second match available here on NJPWWorld.

World Class Championship Wrestling TV [Apr. 04, 1987]

Leave a Comment / WCCW, WCCW TV / By The Internationalist / Al Madril, Bill Mercer, Black Bart, Bobby Fulton, Brian Adias, Bruiser Brody, Dallas, Eli the Eliminator, Fantastics, Gary Hart, Henry Wilborn, Jack Victory, Jim Holliday, John Nord, Lance von Erich, Percy Pringle, Red River Jack, Rick DuBois, Scott Casey, Steve Simpson, Texas, The Sportatorium, Tommy Rogers, USA, Von Erichs, WCCW, WCWA, World Class Championship Wrestling, World Class Wrestling Association, WWE Network

World Class Wrestling Association
World Class Championship Wrestling
—
The Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas, United States
20th March 1987
—
Lead announcers: Bill Mercer

Line-up:
Black Bart & Jack Victory vs Red River Jack & Scott Casey
—
Rick DuBois vs Steve Simpson
—
Al Madril & Brian Adias vs The Fantastics
—
Eli the Eliminator vs Henry Wilborn
—
Lance von Erich vs Nord the Barbarian

Black Bart & Jack Victory with Percy Pringle vs Red River Jack & Scott Casey

Casey looks like a powerhouse Jake Roberts and is throwing Bart around like a wet paper towel. Victory’s skunk-like hairdo is eye-catching for sure. Really high-pace tag match here. Casey/Brody mostly dominating the bad lads. A reckless dropkick from Casey turns the tide. Oh? It’s apparently Casey’s birthday! 40 years young. Epic chops until he is double-teamed. Brody gets a hot tag and kills Victory with a yakuza kick. Nice. Masked Brody gets the pinfall. ■

Bart tried to make the save using a saddle as a weapon but was cut off by Casey! Bart ends up wearing the saddle and taking a smack on the ass before running like a scolded, er, horse. Percy should maybe have slid him the branding iron instead!

Rick DuBois vs Steve Simpson

Now we have Steve Simpson vs our old pal Rick DuBois! The commentary tries to explain it’s pronounced “DuBo” in Texas or something, as if French is different there. Suidafrikaans Simpson was a decent wrestler. It’s a shame we never saw him feature for NWA, WWF or even World of Sport. A nice body-scissors, including pinning combinations, I love seeing guys always looking for the pin, even during a submission move. Simpson charges into DuBois’ back drop attempt and gets a legit pin? Bronko Lubich seems to say shoulder was up, but it’s clearly not. DuBois might be shaken up. DuBois does kick out of a body slam and elbow, but is legit pinned again with a small package. What is Lubich doing? A backslide finally finishes off DuBois, mercifully. ■ Painful to watch.

Both guys storm to the back, I doubt either wish this match was recorded. I can only assume someone got injured and failed to advise Lubich of the same. Or it’s Bronko You-bitch.

Interview segment
Bill Mercer speaks to Lance von Erich and The Fantastics about recent events

Lance von Erich, looking strangely like Steve Borden, says Nord is no ‘big man’ inside, since he cowardly jumped Lance from behind. He is rambling a little bit. Oh thank fuck, The Fantastics are here to make up for Lance’s lack of promo skill. The Fantastics are one of those underrated teams of the 80s. They dress like jackasses, but they talk and wrestle very well. Rogers & Fulton never really got a big chance possibly due to their height. They hype the tag ranks, including the Rock ‘n’ Roll RPMs.

Al Madril & Brian Adias vs The Fantastics (c) – non-title

The Fantastics take control using their leapfrog attacks, and a huge hiptoss by Rogers to Madril, good teamwork from the Fantastics, followed by dual Fargo struts! Madril goes flying when he takes these hiptosses, crazy. Double wishbone rower from the Fantastics! The girls love it! Madril and Adias resort to some basic cheating to turn the tide, wearing down Fulton. Suddenly Madril gets floored when attempting a double-axehandle and Rogers gets a hot tag! He’s so fast the ref is in the way, and while short he flies around like he’s Rey Mysterio’s cousin. Fulton goes for an O’Connor Roll on Adias, but neither man is legal. The referee starts counting anyway! Madril chucks Fulton to the floor and they deliver a double clothesline, double atomic drop and a double suplex before Fulton can fully re-enter. Ref has called this chaos off, it’s a double disqualification! ■

Highly audible “bullshit” chants from the fans after that one. I think a little bit more time would have been kind if the finish was going to be so random.

Eli the Eliminator with Jim Holliday vs ‘Handsome’ Henry Wilborn

Eli is entering on his motorbike into the Sportatorium! Seemingly with his girlfriend Jim Holliday, riding on his backseat. Don’t know much about Eli, but clearly he’s an American Badass™. He’s facing Québecois Henry (or Hank) Wilborn who I have never heard of before. ‘Handsome Henry’ as he is called, looking like Jake Roberts stole Eddie Guerrero’s tights. Eli bulldozes Wilborn, throwing him into the buckles and ropes. Massive lariat, but Eli stops his own pin attempt. Lovely swinging neckbreaker followed by a tombstone piledriver finishes off Wilborn. ■

I can’t help but think a young Mark Calaway was watching and taking notes. Either that or Percy Pringle was. Eli did look quite impressive here.

Lance von Erich vs Nord the Barbarian with Gary Hart

Nord wearing his cut-up carpet waistcoat thing. He comes across as such a dangerous goof, kind of perfect for World Class. For unknown reasons, Jeep Swenson and Jim Holliday leave ringside, so only Gary Hart is out there for Nord.

Nord husses Lance down with a headlock takeover, and I find myself asking why they allowed Lance to be a ‘cousin’ von Erich. Nord is half-rocked by Lance’s big strikes, but basically shrugs off the offense. Huge gutwrench suplex, almost a powerbomb, isn’t enough to finish Lance. Nord using a lot of gridiron style body tackles, almost like he’s actually not a barbarian after all. Lance is able to land his own power moves and a big missile dropkick, well landed! I thought that was it! Nord gets caught with a crossbody block, but tosses Lance out the ring. Lance survives the distraction from Hart and cheap-shots from Nord, but once back in the ring it just takes a big boot to keep Lance down for the 3 count. ■ Really flat finish there.

Nord decides to flat-back repeatedly in celebration, maybe to match the fans’ enjoyment levels. Felt like a very sudden end but Mercer hypes next week’s show at length so it’s not as if time was a factor.

Highlights
Brody stiffing the hell out of Jack Victory.
Percy’s mannerisms.
The Fantastics living up to their name.
I’m. An. American Badass.

Thoughts
A fairly weak episode with a lot of fucked finishes. At least Madril, Adias, The Fantastics and Eli looked good out there.

Verdict: Skippable.

Available here on WWE Network.

World Class Championship Wrestling TV [Mar. 28, 1987]

Leave a Comment / WCCW, WCCW TV / By The Internationalist / Bill Mercer, Bob Bradley, Brian Adias, Bruiser Brody, Dallas, David Manning, Dingo Warrior, Eli the Eliminator, Eric Embry, Gary Hart, Grappler, Jeep Swenson, John Nord, Len Denton, Mike Davis, Mike von Erich, Red River Jack, Rick DuBois, Rock n Roll RPMs, Super Médico, Texas, The Sportatorium, Tim Brooks, Tommy Lane, Ultimate Warrior, USA, Von Erichs, WCCW, WCWA, World Class Championship Wrestling, World Class Wrestling Association, WWE Network

World Class Wrestling Association
World Class Championship Wrestling
—
The Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas, United States
ca. 13th-20th March 1987
—
Lead announcers: Bill Mercer

Line-up:
Red River Jack vs Tim Brooks
—
Eric Embry vs Rick DuBois
—
David Manning & The Dingo Warrior vs Gary Hart & Nord the Barbarian
—
Bob Bradley & The Grappler vs The Rock ‘n’ Roll RPMs
—
$2,500 Challenge
Brian Adias vs Mike von Erich

Red River Jack vs ‘Killer’ Tim Brooks

‘Killer’ Tim Brooks, trainer of many, taking on the white-masked Bruiser Brody under the suspiciously WWF-sounding ring name Red River Jack. Fashion statements are being made as Brooks seems to be wearing a Nazi SS skull-inspired waistcoat. Brody seems to be wearing a Super Médico mask (Staff of Hermes on the side of the mask). I guess he picked it up in Puerto Rico since it usually belongs to José Estrada Jr.

It’s a basic contest, some hard chops and slaps exchanged with Brody using a big boot, an effortless-looking body slam and a driving knee drop to get the pinfall. ■

Evil manager Gary Hart pops up to challenge “Red River Brody” to face Nord the Barbarian, who tosses chairs with reckless abandon. Genuinely scary. Nord is “HUSS”ing loudly at ringside long before his run as The Berzerker while commentary more or less confirm it’s Brody under the mask. What is the point of the mask if everyone calls him Brody? Maybe they will eventually explain why it’s an open secret.

Eric Embry vs Rick DuBois

Eric Embry, who I only know from USWA, faces Rick DuBois, or “DeBro” as he is announced. Mercer also calls him “Mark” on commentary, bit harsh. Never heard of him so I guess he’s getting squashed. Embry decided to bring his “powder-puff box” to ringside and surprisingly it’s not filled with cocaine, or hell, maybe it is! Embry sexily eyes the camera for unknown reasons. It’s always strange to me seeing relatively average-looking guys portray pretty boy wrestlers, seeming to be especially prevalent in Southern promotions. Is it part of the heel appeal or are these guys genuinely seen as handsome? Eric may be “flamboyant” but DuBois is the one wearing the white tiger-striped tights. Embry enjoys some attention from the “World Class Girls” who are the ring attendants. The powder box is shown, appears to be a floral-design black plastic hinge box. I was kind of expecting porcelain.

Embry’s hammerlocks and arm wringers are reversed when he is patting himself on the back a bit too much. A rather silly looking flying headbutt by Embry followed by a fist drop and piledriver gets the pinfall. ■ Shades of Jerry Lawler while wooing like Ric Flair. Embry carefully powders the semi-conscious “puff” (DuBois) after the match.

The Formation of H&H International
Bill Mercer speaks with Gary Hart, Jim Holliday and Nord the Barbarian with Jeep Swenson

Gary Hart introduces ‘Gentleman’ Jim Holliday as a sports agent he is now working with. Hart & Holliday will now co-manage guys like Nord, Eli the Eliminator, Jeep Swenson and whoever else under the name “H&H International”. Nord asks if he looks like a “local yokel from K-Mart”. Well…I don’t know how to tell you this, but you absolutely do, Mr Nord.

David Manning & The Dingo Warrior vs Gary Hart & Nord the Barbarian

They cut to a different date at the Sportatorium where Red River Jack’s flight was delayed or missed, so the Dingo (not quite Ultimate) Warrior had made for an unusual substitution! This particular match appears to be from the 13th of March.

Referee Manning had wronged Gary Hart leading into this match it seems, no specifics given unfortunately. Huge Argentine backbreaker on Manning by Nord! Dingo Warrior and Nord boringly hammer on each other until *gasp* it’s Red River Jack! Looking way smaller now. And Bruiser Brody shows up too! Hart and Nord technically win by disqualification as Nord got Jack’s suitcase smashed over his dome. ■

I have no idea what’s going on. Partial match, partial explanation, and we have Brody and “Jack” in the same ring at the same time. Help! According to various online sources, Rick Davidson was under the mask here. Brody had lost a ‘loser leaves town’ matched with Abdullah the Butcher the Christmas of 1986 so this was their way around that stipulation. I don’t normally look things up if I feel like the show will explain or remind me of things, but I am picking up this story half-way in.

I suppose having a way to portray Bruiser Brody with someone else under the mask would also be useful if Brody refused to play ball. Interesting.

Bob Bradley & The Grappler (Len Denton) vs The Rock ‘n’ Roll RPMs (Mike Davis & Tommy Lane)

I assume Len Denton is the masked Grappler because he is built. Bradley has some fetching tiger-print trunks for this bout. I always felt the RPMs were underrated, always in the shadow of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, the Freebirds and so on, let’s see shall we?

RPMs working with The Grappler was good, Denton is quick on his feet! Bradley the odd-man-out until he delivers a soaring headbutt from the top behind the ref’s back! Lane makes the save, gets bundled out by Bradley, who then catches a rather lame clothesline takedown from Davis. He’s not even the legal man but takes the pinfall. ■

The RPMs celebrate on the floor, the crowd couldn’t care less about that one. Bob Bradley looks like he’s absolutely flummoxed. Me too, pal.

Brian Adias vs Mike von Erich
$2,500 10-Minute Pinfall Challenge

Here’s the main event, which appears to be from the 20th March. This is a time limit challenge with $2,500 of Adias’ money going to Mike if he can score a pinfall in under 10 minutes. Mike boasts a 5-second pinfall over Adias so this is Adias’ chance to save face and prove it was a fluke. I’ve never seen Mike wrestle in a singles match but I’m not expecting much. This is shortly after Adias turned his back on Mike, the Von Erichs and the fans.

Small package from Mike to start off! Teasing a very early win, much like the “world record” 5-second pinfall victory Mike previously scored. Huge fan support for Mike, they want him to get that cash! Adias is already trying to time-waste to hit the 10 minute time limit. Rough attempts at pinning combinations, desperation maybe? Evil Adias is quite enjoyable, but it’s a bit silly he’s almost being pinned after sustaining little damage. The Iron Claw gets applied to the abdomen of Adias! Mike isn’t too bad in the ring, bit wild at times. Tragically, Mike von Erich died 23 days after this match by suicide – this may actually be his final singles match. By this stage of his life, he had suffered brain damage, but I’m sure he would have improved over time too. He was almost expected to take the place of his deceased brother David, whose memorial show was heavily plugged on this show. Anyway, back to the match. Adias is taking trips to the outside to eat away at the time limit, so Mike ramps it up near the end of the time limit by hitting a glancing missile dropkick! It might have been enough but pandering to the crowd cost Mike big time! The 10 minutes are up! This match is a draw. ■ Well, that finish makes Mike look very dim indeed, and makes both guys come across as losers to a certain degree.

Adias quickly leaves with his cash in a bag with some of his pride restored but it very much looks like Mike von Erich has his number. Not an awful final match if this is it for Mike.

Highlights
Mike von Erich wrestles 1-on-1 – Note: This was his final singles match.
Brian Adias as a heel.
Ultimate Warrior’s early days.
Bruiser Brody with a masked gimmick.
Len Denton defies his bulk.
The expressive Sportatorium crowd.
Gary Hart verbally swatting Bill Mercer.

Thoughts
I wasn’t sure what to expect from WCCW as I had only seen a few matches and shows. They cater well to their wild crowd and boast some good talent but the matches are mostly casual. The refereeing and match quality can be a little rough but you can see why World Class were popular.

Verdict: Historically interesting, skippable.

Available here on WWE Network.