With only a few days of 1982 left, Christmas Star Wars hits the television waves when World Class Championship Wrestling treats us to some match replays from Reunion Arena two nights ago! Presented tonight will be the first-ever WCCW Six Man Tag Team Championship match, pitting The Freebirds and David Von Erich against Tom Steele, Ben Sharpe, & Mike Sharpe! Plus, $10,000 is on the line… and on a pole, in a huge battle royal main event!
WCCW TV
Date: 12/27/1982 (originally 12/25/1982)
From: Dallas, Texas
MATCHES
1. Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, & David Von Erich vs. Tom Steele, Ben Sharpe, & Mike Sharpe (Taped replay)
2. The Spoiler vs. Ken Mantell vs. The Checkmate vs. Ben Sharpe vs. “Captain” Frank Dusek vs. Tom Steele vs. King Kong Bundy vs. Wild Bill Irwin vs. Mike Sharpe vs. Bugsy McGraw vs. Al Madril vs. José Lothario vs. David Von Erich vs. Brian Adidas vs. Magic Dragon (Taped replay)
BREAKDOWN & REVIEW
- Bill Mercer welcomed us to Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas. He covered a few of the featured matches, and announced the first time that the World Class Six-Man Tag Team Championship would be on the line tonight!
- Back from commercial, Bill Mercer threw to a pre-taped interview in the locker room with David Von Erich and his brother Kevin Von Erich, in regard to the new Six-Man Championship being awarded for the first time tonight. David started it off by saying that they looked forward to finding out who the first champions would be, because they are next in. Once Kerry is freed up and is the new World Champion, they’ll be gunning for that Six-Man Tag Team Championship. Kevin said that The Freebirds were a tough team and he wishes they had a shot at them tonight. David closed out by promising a chase of those belts soon enough.
- I liked this interview, as it felt natural for both boys to just be talking about wishing they were in there fighting to become the first-ever champions. I must say, these belts felt like they were specifically MADE for Kerry, David, and Kevin to hold in short order. So, that is kind of lame. Nonetheless, I look forward to more guys being able to showcase their positives on television. I feel like WCCW could trade the typical short, lackluster squashes for six-man matches with a little more substance.
- Prior to the next match, Michael Hayes grabbed a microphone and wished everybody a Merry Christmas. He announced that Buddy Rogers had been tied up in Denver due to the weather, but it didn’t matter because he and Bam Bam have never backed down from a fight in their life! So, they planned on taking on their opponents a man down. Suddenly, David Von Erich made his way to ringside and said that if it was his brothers stuck in a snowstorm, he knows The Freebirds would’ve been there to back him up. He is giving them his body tonight to make a proper six-man team!
- I was wondering why, on paper, this seemed so wonky. The added context is definitely appreciated, as without saying anything to the live crowd, I feel people would’ve been left completely confused.
- Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, & David Von Erich vs. Tom Steele, Ben Sharpe, & Mike Sharpe: This six-man tag team match was scheduled for one fall to a finish with a forty-five minute time limit and was for the WCCW Six-Man Tag Team Championship! Terry Gordy began things with Mike Sharpe. A few stalemate lockups between the two biggest men in the match resulting in some heavy rounds being fired off by both. Michael Hayes tagged in quickly to work a side headlock and David was tagged in right behind him. David was bumped around by Ben Sharpe who tagged in on the heel side. Then, it was Terry Gordy who tagged in and hit a nice back bodydrop and knee drop for a near fall on Sharpe. Hayes was back in and hit a nice elbow off the second rope for a near fall on Ben Sharpe. Tom Steele didn’t have much luck with Hayes either and soon David was back in to continue the onslaught, hitting a Texas Piledriver. Tags and action quickened in pace, until Mike Sharpe was tagged in and went out to the floor for a powder a couple of times to slow things down. Sharpe kept begging off, keeping Hayes off his game. Hayes was worked over for a few minutes by the heels who isolated their weakened opponent from his corner. A bearhug from Mike Sharpe almost put Hayes out, but he was able to break the hold with the point of his elbow. Tom Steele was in next and put Hayes into a tight sleeper hold that also almost put him out. The crowd popped big when Terry Gordy finally got a hot tag into the match! He was unable to capture any significant offense and was forced to then tag in David. Quickly, all six men ended up in the ring as the two officials scrambled to maintain order. In the chaos, David Von Erich nailed Mike Sharpe with a running high knee to put him down for a three count! Hayes and Gordy celebrated while David was kind of left out to dry until The Freebirds realized and brought him in for a hug.
- Wow. For the first official match for the six-man titles, I can already see why people remember this championship so fondly. For what should’ve been a less-than-challenging set of opponents, this one turned out pretty good! The drama was there and despite me really being annoyed with Michael Hayes’ cartoonish dancing around between moves and Mike Sharpe’s silly overselling, I think these six guys put on an exciting match! Not sure if David is just a temporary fix, or if he’ll stick alongside Hayes and Gordy, but regardless, I liked this one!
- After the match, Bill Mercer caught up with Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, and David Von Erich at ringside for a post-match interview. David had one thing to say, he was officially relinquishing his third of the championship out of respect for Buddy. He said that three brothers should hold this championship first and that The Freebirds deserve it. Terry Gordy said that they worked toward an opportunity like this opportunity for a long time and they’re real excited to be the first-ever champions!
- Michael Hayes wasn’t given a chance to speak here, as Bill wrapped up the interview quickly. I found that odd, as Hayes’ mic work is arguably the best thing he has to offer. Oh well. I’m surprised to see that David IMMEDIATELY gave his title up. Kind of weird for a belt you want to start with some prestige and a third of its holder just gives it up before even hitting the curtain. I would’ve let Dave keep it warm until Buddy showed up and then do a promo in the ring to pass it along? I’m not sure… I didn’t like this, though. Kinda soured our high note.
- Prior to this $10,000 On A Pole Battle Royal, Bill Mercer was standing by with Referee David Manning in a pre-taped interview to discuss the rules of the bout. Manning said that a man could be pinned, thrown over the top rope, or submitted. The match will continue until three men are left in the ring. Then, the match will stop and the money will be placed on the pole and no further elimination will be required, as the object just becomes retrieving the money. He said a lot of things could happen in a pole match and that things usually come right down to the wire.
- Sounds like a big ole’ cluster fuck will be closing us out tonight! A battle royal of sorts seems to close out all the World Class supercards, thinking back to the Bodyslam Challenge at the Superbowl of Wrestling in June, etc…
- The Spoiler vs. Ken Mantell vs. The Checkmate vs. Ben Sharpe vs. “Captain” Frank Dusek vs. Tom Steele vs. King Kong Bundy vs. Wild Bill Irwin vs. Mike Sharpe vs. Bugsy McGraw vs. Al Madril vs. José Lothario vs. David Von Erich vs. Brian Adidas vs. Magic Dragon: It took a couple of minutes to get all these guys in the ring and get through the rules before the bell rang. Irwin and Dusek worked Ken Mantell over in the corner, but Mantell ducked one of Dusek’s chops which landed on Irwin. David was forced over the top rope in an upset elimination carried out by King Kong Bundy. A lot of walking and talking here. Four men attempted to pin Bundy, but he threw them all off. He was instead eliminated by Bugsy who dropkicked him and sent him up and over the top rope. The Spoiler pinned Ben Sharpe. Checkmate and Lothario went out over the top and Ken Mantell dumped out Frank Dusek. The Spoiler was the next to go, followed quickly by Wild Bill thanks to Bugsy McGraw. Bugsy was thrown over the top by Mike Sharpe, who I was surprised to still see in. Brian Adidas was able to pin Magic Dragon after rolling through a bodyslam. The action slowed considerably with just five men left here. Tom Steele went over the top after Al Madril ducked his big punch. The four men paired off and it was Al Madril who was thrown out by two men, bringing us to our final three. The check was set on top of the pole and the match was restarted. All three rushed to the pole and Brian Adidas got very close to grabbing it before Sharpe pulled him down by his hair. Brian Adidas was thrown over the top rope by Sharpe, leaving Mantell an opening to head up the pole. Sharpe went up after him but was kicked away which allowed Ken to retrieve the check!
- I don’t think we really needed the ‘on-a-pole’ gimmick to close out this battle royal, as I feel the battle royal itself was exciting but the pole segment was a drag. I was surprised to see Ken Mantell go the distance and be the winner here, as I would’ve bet money it would be a guy like Al Madril or Brian Adidas. Nothing special here, just a fun, light-hearted way to close out this Christmas night of action.
- After the match, Bill Mercer was able to catch Ken Mantell at ringside for a quick interview. Ken Mantell started by saying what a Christmas present $10,000 was! He never thought he had a chance against so many men in there. He kissed the check and told Bill that this would make a fabulous Christmas present for he and his whole family.
- See, this felt nice. I’m almost sure Ken Mantell didn’t actually get ten grand, but he sold it as if he did, getting pretty sentimental there at the end. Good win for Mantell!
- From ringside, Bill Mercer closed us out as he reviewed some of the action that had unfolded tonight in Reunion Arena. He promised a replay of the NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship Cage Match between “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and Kerry Von Erich for next week and more!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well, if you were able to catch Christmas Star Wars in person, there was nothing new for you to see here. Otherwise, a solid night of big matches for television were presented! I look forward to what the New Year brings from many of the men featured tonight. Onto next week!
See you all then!