Tonight’s edition of World Class Championship Wrestling features replays from Wrestling Star Wars in Reunion Arena just a few short days ago! In a huge singles match, King Kong Bundy takes on Harley Race. Also for the television audience tonight, we are treated to Kevin & David Von Erich squaring off with The Great Kabuki & Magic Dragon!
WCCW TV*
Date: 08/21/1982 (originally 08/15/1982)
From: Dallas, Texas
MATCHES
1. King Kong Bundy vs. Harley Race (Taped replay)
2. David Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich vs. The Great Kabuki & Magic Dragon (Taped replay)
*BROADCAST NOTE
This playback copy has been presented in the most complete form possible, due to original production technical difficulties. Reported on Peacock as of 02/05/2024.
BREAKDOWN & REVIEW
- Bill Mercer welcomed us to Reunion Arena and ran down some of the featured matches. No sign of Jay Saldi anywhere, not that I’m really missing him.
- Bill Mercer met up with King Kong Bundy and Arman Hussein backstage in the locker room. Bundy flexed while Arman said that despite Harley Race being a six-time world champion, he has built King Kong as a champion at only nineteen years old! King Kong Bundy will retire Harley Race tonight. Nothing flashy as far as a promo here, it is crazy to think that Bundy was only nineteen years old here!
- Next up, Harley Race had the opportunity to speak about King Kong Bundy with Bill Mercer backstage. He said anytime you face a challenger that is nearly double your size, you don’t take them lightly. He is the only man in wrestling to pick up André the Giant and slam him. Bundy will pay the price for being in Harley’s way to his next reign as champion. Harley is the man and isn’t shy with making Bundy feel like a viable opponent for him. He made me more excited for this one in ninety seconds than I have been since seeing the match card.
- King Kong Bundy vs. Harley Race: This match was set for one fall with a sixty minute time limit for the WCCW American Heavyweight Championship. Marc Lowrance also announced that Kevin Von Erich will face the winner of this bout as the number one contender on Sunday, September 5th. This one started off slow, with Bundy locking in a tight headlock. Bundy cranked up the punishment with strikes in the corner and a knee drop for a near fall. Race started to swing the momentum with a couple of his own stiff strikes and a standing headbutt to stagger the bigger man. His momentum was stopped when Bundy sent him into the ringpost shoulder first between the ropes. Moments later, Race found himself in a bear hug in the middle of the ring. The crowd roared when Harley Race was able to lift and slam King Kong Bundy and follow up with his falling headbutt off the top for a two count! Disappointingly, this one ended in an double count-out. After the match, Bundy and Hussein attempted a beatdown but Race was able to hold them off. I was kind of surprised to see how well these guys meshed, as they are classically two heels going at it. Bundy has matured quite a bit as a performer and as a big man. Race sold for him well and this one felt bigtime. Some points lost for a dumb finish, though.
- After the match, Bill Mercer met King Kong Bundy and Arman Hussein at ringside for a post match interview. Arman says that Kevin Von Erich doesn’t have a chance against Bundy. Bundy then demanded that Kevin pu up his hair to fight Bundy. He continued by saying that he was shaved bald in San Antonio and it is time he repay the favor to the Von Erichs. The only way he is agreeing to the match, is if Kevin’s hair is also on the line! Kind of a nice call back, though it solidifies that Bundy won’t be walking out of that match still the champion as there is NO WAY Kevin Von Erich is getting shaved bald…
- David Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich vs. The Great Kabuki & Magic Dragon: This one was set for one fall with a sixty minute time limit, no disqualification, for the WCCW All-Asia Tag Team Championship. Kevin and Kabuki started things off, with Von Erich getting the better of Kabuki. David was in next and was a house of fire, almost getting an Iron Claw on Kabuki’s forehead, but was only able to get the midsection instead. The heels worked over David for a few minutes, targeting his injured arm and shoulder. Kevin finally got the hot tag and came in to put Magic Dragon down with a few well-placed dropkicks. A double dropkick to Magic Dragon got David back into the action and he and Kevin were fired up. Kabuki would rally back on Kevin, eventually ending up on the time keeper’s table in a scuffle. Tag format broke at this point and all four men were going at it. The heels again would gain control, Kabuki working over Kevin. The finish came when David dropped a knee drop on Magic Dragon for a three count while Kevin came off the top to stop The Great Kabuki from breaking up the pin! The Von Erichs were then awarded the titles. Though not as good as their match in Texas Stadium, these two teams never disappoint. This was a nice way to have David Von Erich return to the territory and slay the evil heels for a feel good moment.
- After match, Bill Mercer met Kevin & David Von Erich at ringside for a post match interview. David Von Erich said he told everyone so. There is something magic with him and Kevin in the ring. Kevin said it was so good to have his brother back home in Texas!
- A ‘Road to the World Championship’ video packages was presented. It featured Ric Flair showing exactly what he does to prepare for a big match. He takes two woman to the Hyatt Regency, shopping for suits, a tour of the arena, and sipping drinks. He isn’t down in the gym sweating, feeding the pigs, or being a down home cowboy like Kerry Von Erich. Ric Flair is the real champion and says that this is just a peak into what it is like being Ric Flair, the World Champion, for a day. A package was then shown for Kerry as a fighter, flashing clips of him training, riding a horse, jogging, battling opponents, and pushing himself to the limit. Kerry Von Erich is being presented as not only a great challenge for Flair, but ready to be a World Champion. As much as Flair flashed his wealth, Kerry flashed his hunger in this package. Pretty effective.
- Bill Mercer closed us out an confirmed that Kevin Von Erich will now have a shot at the American Heavyweight Champion, King Kong Bundy, on September 5th!
FINAL THOUGHTS
David as the returning as the hometown hero to win the titles with his brother Kevin was great. It will be nice to have Dave around more on weekly television now that his Florida run has come to a close. King Kong Bundy has also emerged as a superstar, perhaps about ready bigger and better things than second or third fiddle in H&H Limited. I would like him in a more featured heel position. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the year shapes out now. Kevin Von Erich will meet Bundy for the American Championship in a few weeks, David and Kevin are the All-Asia Tag Team Champions for a second time. Who knows what we’re in store for next…
See you all then!