As the year comes closer to a close, the action continues to ramp up in Dallas days ahead of this years Christmas Star Wars of Wrestling event in Reunion Arena! On this episode, Magic Dragon and The Checkmate meet Al Madril and Bugsy McGraw in an explosive tag team match. In our main event, the daring David Von Erich challenges the dangerous Great Kabuki. Plus, much more!
WCCW TV
Date: 12/18/1982
From: Dallas, Texas
MATCHES
1. “Killer” Tim Brooks vs. Brian Adidas
2. Magic Dragon & The Checkmate vs. Bugsy McGraw & Al Madril
3. The Great Kabuki vs. David Von Erich
BREAKDOWN & REVIEW
- An excited Bill Mercer welcomed to the Sportatorium in downtown Dallas, Texas. He read through some of the items on the card tonight and showed us a reply from David Von Erich taking on The Great Kabuki, when David was jumped by Magic Dragon and Kerry made the save.
- “Killer” Tim Brooks vs. Brian Adidas: Our opening contest was set for one fall with a ten minute time limit. The crowd was noticeably empty for this match, might have been taped very early or very late in the lineup. These two guys started off with some testing of each other’s strength. Adidas had a burst or two of offense, but his momentum would be quickly cut short by Brooks. A lazy leapfrog and a decent dropkick led to a super sloppy armdrag by Brian Adidas. I was starting to think this was more a Brooks problem than a Adidas problem. A pair of dropkicks set Brooks to the mat, but he was able to recover quickly and surprisingly pin Adidas’ shoulders down to the mat for what looked like a mistaken three-count. Both men were basically tied up in the ropes, with Brooks standing over Adidas using the ropes for leverage, where David Manning was able to count his shoulders down for three. Bronko Lubich rushed to the ring and disputed the finish with David Manning, who ultimately decided to reverse the decision due to Brooks using the ropes illegally.
- I’m not really sure that was supposed to be the finish here…? Having Brooks go over Adidas is a little baffling to me, especially because Brian Adidas has been featured as one of the promotion’s most promising starts next-in-line behind the Von Erichs. I mean, I am really supposed to think World Class expects Brooks to stick around long-term? The guy has retired and returned seven times, or something. Sloppy with a silly finish? Dud.
- Back at the commentary booth, Bill Mercer threw to a pre-taped interview featuring Arman Hussein and Gary Hart, both of H&H Limited. At ringside, Hart recapped what happened between David Von Erich, The Great Kabuki, and Magic Dragon. Hart mentioned that later tonight, Kabuki would be defending his All Asia Championship against David in a rematch. He asked Arman if he got himself involved when David Von Erich attacked him. Arman said no, and that the choke hold he had on Kabuki was illegal and that he was out of line for doing so. Hart said David wouldn’t get a chance to apply that sleeper, he wouldn’t get to apply anything, because it will be goodnight sweet Lucy!
- I feel like Gary Hart and Arman Hussein had fun doing this segment, as both were a little more upbeat rather than deadly serious for this interview. Not sure Gary Hart is very invested in this angle, but at least he’s on TV. It seems like it has been like pulling teeth to see Gary Hart on weekly television, in my opinion.
- Next, Bill Mercer said that David Von Erich has some words to share of his own, regarding whether what he used was an illegal choke or a legal sleeper hold. David was standing ringside for his pre-taped interview. David Von Erich started off by saying that all the people listening know, that his hold is not a choke hold, it is a sleeper, because he when puts it on his opponents go to sleep! As far as Arman Hussein is concerned, he can call it whatever he wants. He said that if Arman Hussein wanted to argue whether it was a sleeper or a choke, he should bring his fanny down to the ring to find out first-hand, because he will be put out real quick!
- I think the more Dave gets to chew on when it comes to these promos, the better. He doesn’t come off as ‘playing wrestler’, he’s just David Von Erich. No real gimmick. I like that about David, as his promos are the most fluid and fired up of the three featured brothers at this time. Sometimes, it feels as though Kevin and Kerry are going through the motions on the microphone, but with Dave, you feel he really believes what’s he’s saying.
- Magic Dragon & The Checkmate vs. Bugsy McGraw & Al Madril: This tag team bout was scheduled for one fall to a finish, forty-five minutes for a limit. Al Madril and Magic Dragon started things off for this one. A nice arm drag caught Dragon off-guard. Checkmate tagged in shortly after and took over a hammerlock that Dragon had on Madril. Checkmate backed off into a corner, only to come out and get a cheapshot in on Madril. Magic Dragon was back in and at this point Bugsy had yet to see any ring time. Madril continued to get worn down by the heels during a few quick tags. Bugsy finally had enough and rushed into the ring to get some strikes in on Magic Dragon before being forced back out on the apron by the referee. Bugsy eventually got a legal tag and cleared house with some of his silly strikes on both heels. Bugsy got a sunset flip on Dragon out of the corner and to avoid a pin breakup, Al Madril went to the top rope and hit a diving sunset flip on The Checkmate for a set of pins in stereo!
- This one was unfortunately pretty dull, but the finish was cool. It was a completely one-sided bout, with Bugsy barely being in and then getting the win for his team after the heels had dominated Al Madril. I don’t think a team of Al Madril and Bugsy McGraw really works, as Al is far too serious a competitor to be saddled with Bugsy by his side. Still, this one was more entertaining than the first match, so a full star it is.
- Back from commercial, Bill Mercer reviewed the storyline thus far between Kerry Von Erich and the NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Following their last match during the August Star Wars event in Reunion Arena, some of WCCW’s wrestlers shared some of their own opinions on the matter. Up first, was King Kong Bundy. He said that the pressures that they were both feeling was something he was familiar with after also holding major titles. Ric Flair was the World’s Champion for a reason, and he said that the title would stay with Flair on Christmas. Al Madril got a chance to share his thoughts next, saying that he’s wrestled Flair and worked out and tagged with Kerry. Kerry is more than capable and if anybody can beat Flair, its him! Wild Bill Irwin was next to give an opinion on the matter, saying that anytime you’re going for a championship, you get nervous and you just have to get in there and explode. He said that he didn’t feel any of the Von Erichs had it in them to really explode and capture the NWA World Championship. We kept it going with some words from Bugsy McGraw, who said that this was for all the marbles and what guys prepare their whole selves for in this profession. The will to win and the will to prepare to win are two seperate things and the crowd was going to be excited to see it all unfold. The Checkmate weighed in and said that there was no doubt in his mind that if it was to be a pure wrestling match, Kerry would have a shot, but ultimately the craft and the savvy of the World Champion always reigns supreme. The price is high, but he believes Kerry Von Erich might be able to pay it.
- Jesus, they had damn-near every guy on the roster talk about this thing. Of course, nearly all the answers given were in gimmick, but still it was an interesting choice to have guys putting over a match that wasn’t theirs. I guess, it is more of a big picture thing for World Class to get another opportunity at bring home the richest prize in professional wrestling. Kind of a nice rally cry for WCCW and maybe that’s what they were going for here having both good and bad guys talking about the Christmas Star Wars match coming up.
- Following the last segment with the separate opinion interviews, Bill Mercer then threw to a replay of the verbal faceoff between “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and Fritz Von Erich from last week. I broke this down at length last week, so for a recap of what was said, you can check out that here. Bill Mercer again confirmed that Kerry Von Erich and Ric Flair would meet on Christmas in Reunion Arena in an NWA-sanctioned cage match for the NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship!
- As I mentioned last week, this was absolutely awesome! Hands-down the best verbal confrontation we’ve seen on World Class television. Seek it out and watch Flair and Fritz lose it on each other.
- The Great Kabuki vs. David Von Erich: Our main event was scheduled for one fall with forty-five minutes for a time limit with the WCCW All Asia Heavyweight Championship on the line! David went to work quickly on Kabuki, smashing his head into the turnbuckle and nailing him with a dropkick for a one-count. Kabuki regained the pace with a overhand chop off the top rope onto David. A nerve hold put David a little further behind in offense. An Iron Claw to the forehead was blocked by Kabuki, but a Claw to the abdomen found it’s hold on him for a few seconds before he was able to break away. Another nerve hold was applied by Kabuki and it grounded Von Erich for a few minutes. The crowd rallied behind Von Erich, helping him get back to his feet to again try for an Iron Claw. He locked it on, pulled Kabuki away from the ropes, and kept it on for a good few minutes. Kabuki clawed at David’s eyes and with his hands still stained with the mist, causing David temporary blindness. At this point, the referee took a bump and Arman Hussein jumped to the apron to hold David Von Erich for a free shot from Kabuki. Instead, David broke away and Kabuki sprayed his green mist into the face of Arman Hussein! The crowd erupted as the bell rang, with David Von Erich being declared the winner following a disqualification. After the match, Kabuki helped a still blinded Arman Hussein up.
- A little underwhelming… I was hoping for more of a match between these two guys, but this thing only went a couple of minutes. It was made up of an Iron Claw and a nerve hold, so if you like those two moves, and only those two moves, you’ll love this one. Otherwise, I think there’s plenty of better things on the horizon for both of these guys. I did like that David was able to get a little revenge on Kabuki and Arman Hussein in the finish, though! Star and a half from me.
- Bill Mercer closed us out for the evening back at the commentary both. He mentioned that David Von Erich did not win the All Asia Heavyweight Championship due to title not changing hands on a disqualification. We got a recap of the finish showing Arman Hussein getting misted again. Bill told us that next week, we can expect to see some footage from Christmas Star Wars!
FINAL THOUGHTS
For a go-home episode heading into perhaps World Class’ highest-profile show of the year, on top of closing out the calendar year of 1982, to say this episode was a let down would be an understatement. The action was bottom of the barrel and our interviews and promo spots really killed the pacing of this show. I’d say out of the forty-five minute runtime here, it felt like less than half of that was spent in the ring. Between pre-tapes, promos, and interview segments, we heard from Gary Hart, Arman Hussein, David Von Erich, King Kong Bundy, Al Madril, Wild Bill Irwin, Bugsy McGraw, The Checkmate, Ric Flair, and Fritz Von Erich. That’s not even too, that’s three much… but hey, Christmas Star Wars is up to take a look at next! It’s the show I’ve looked forward to since I started reviewing World Class television from the beginning! The impact and trajectory of World Class Championship Wrestling drastically changes on December 25th, 1982.
See you all then!