Double main events have been promised tonight, pitting Kerry Von Erich against “Freebird” Michael Hayes in singles action, plus his brothers Kevin & David get a crack at Hayes’ fellow Freebirds, Buddy Roberts & Terry Gordy! Also tonight, we get a little better idea of what Iceman King Parsons is all about, Wild Bill Irwin is in singles action, and much more.
WCCW TV*
Date: 03/12/1983
From: Dallas, Texas
MATCHES
1. Johnny Mantell vs. Wild Bill Irwin
2. Mike Bond vs. The Great Yatsu
3. Kerry Von Erich vs. Michael Hayes
4. Kevin & David Von Erich vs. Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts
*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 05/18/2025.
BREAKDOWN & REVIEW
- Bill Mercer welcomed us to the Dallas Sportatorium tonight for another exciting night of World Class Wrestling. He was then interrupted by “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin and Sunshine. Garvin sat at the table with Mercer and explained that he had a change of heart about being filmed during his matches, because a certain young man has yet to accept his challenge. He has studied his films, hour after hour, that skinny punk David Von Erich. He may have the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title, but if David Von Erich is man enough, Garvin will allow a match to be filmed tonight only if David puts up the title! Garvin and Sunshine exited and Mercer finished running down the show.
- I really hope we get to see Jimmy Garvin in action tonight. I’ve been dying to see if his mouth matches his mustard in the ring… only time will tell! I like the pairing of he and David against one another, too. Words-wise, I think they make for nice opponents.
- Johnny Mantell vs. Wild Bill Irwin: The opening contest was set for one fall with a ten minute time limit. The crowd was on Wild Bill immediately with the ‘Chauncy’ chants. Mantell worked over Wild Bill’s arm and shoulder early on here, being grounded and controller by the smaller man. Some deep arm drags kept Irwin off his game, as the warm work continued. The tape was in pretty rough shape in spots for this one, as Wild Bill struggled to land one ounce of offense. This whole match was turning into an armlock. Finally, Wild Bill was able to get some strikes in, with a few good punches and a nice back elbow for a near fall. Mantell almost got Irwin with a sunset flip pin, but he was able to kick away and follow up with a big back body drop. A couple of pin attempts were traded back and forth going into the last minute of the match. I thought the finish would come with Irwin’s running kneedrop, but Mantell was able to kick out. Mantell even hit a butterfly suplex, with Wild Bill hanging on. The match ended up in a time limit draw, no declared winner.
- I really didn’t like the first half of this match. It was slower than slow and Wild Bill was kind of looking like a chump. Then, once we got down to the wire with time, it became something decent. I’m going one star here, not really sure this pairing worked, but I was glad to see Wild Bill not eating a pin from a guy we’ve never seen before.
- As the next contest was set to get underway, King Kong Bundy came down to address Arman Hussein on behalf of the MAN, Skandor Akbar. On a house mic from ringside, Bundy explained that this wrestling organization wasn’t big enough for both of their groups to exist, therefore it was time for a showdown. The Great Kabuki would be back at one-hundred percent, and once he was, he promised that Arman Hussein would be gone. The Great Yatsu stepped up on Arman’s behalf and he and Bundy nearly came to blows. As the smoke cleared between the parties, the ring was cleared of outsiders and the match was allowed to get underway.
- I agree with Bundy. World Class isn’t big enough for two full-fledged heel stables, let alone with them being confused versions of one another. Without Gary Hart, I say let us leave H&H Limited & Associates stay back in 1982. Maybe Hussein should have stayed there, too…
- Mike Bond vs. The Great Yatsu: The next contest was set for one fall to a finish, ten minutes for a limit. I can’t say that I’ve enjoyed Yatsu’s stuff so far, so I wasn’t expecting much here. He started out with his karate poses, his typical ‘ceremonial routine’. Yatsu then went right to work with some chops, a gutwrench suplex, and a choke over the top rope. A chop to the back of the head only got Yatsu a near fall early on here. Bond tried firing up with some strikes and a monkey flip of out the corner. He attempted a second one, but was thrown away by Yatsu and then back body dropped for his troubles. A rebound scoop slam and the modified abdominal claw awarded Yatsu the match via submission.
- This may be the best The Great Yatsu has looked since landing in World Class. There was a few minor slip-ups, but for the most part, Yatsu did look devastating against Bond here. I’d say it was a little better than the first bout, with plenty more action provided for your viewing time. I look forward to Kabuki’s return, just so he can reclaim his rightful place as the resident scary, martial arts knowing, Japanese guy in World Class.
- At ringside, Bill Mercer caught Arman Hussein & The Great Yatsu for a post-match interview to ask about Bundy’s challenge. Hussein said that it didn’t matter who Devastation Inc. threw at them, because he had the greatest wrestler in the world right next to him. Anywhere Kabuki, Bundy, Kamala, or whoever wants to meet, they will be there!
- Dang. I hope it is Kamala who comes in and steamrolls over Hussein and Yatsu. That would be a hell of a way to debut, taking out the revival attempt of H&H Limited?! I like it.
- Back from commercial, Bill Mercer presented our featurette for the evening, featuring a day in the life of Iceman King Parsons. We then were presented with a montage of Parsons in and outside of a warehouse and loading dock, hauling huge blocks of ice up on his arms and back. As the music continued, he threw in some poses between ice carrying and some highlights of recent matches played.
- This felt a little… inconsequential. I liked the featurettes better from last week, as I feel they at least provided a nice look at what guys like Kabuki and Kamala could really be up to. To think King Parsons poses between loads of ice was funny to me. I hope he doesn’t turn into the next Bugsy McGraw, because I actually like what we’ve seen of Parsons thus far!
- Bill Mercer was then joined in the commentary booth by current NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion, David Von Erich. David said everybody in Dallas, Fort Worth, and the rest of Texas wants to see Jimmy Garvin wrestle on television. So, next week, he has his shot. David accepts his challenge and they will wrestle for the championship on TV!
- Well, we aren’t getting it tonight, but at least we’re getting Garvin in the ring soon! That should be a really solid matchup. This feud is starting to heat up and I can already tell it is going to be one of my favorites of the year.
- Kerry Von Erich vs. Michael Hayes: This was billed as one of two main event matches tonight, one fall, with a forty-five minute time limit. More tape issues here. As soon as the bell rang, Hayes went on the run around ringside, but Kerry was right on him and they were back in the ring. Punches and a back body drop sent Hayes bailing out the floor again in an attempt to kill Kerry’s momentum. Kerry stayed ahead of Hayes, working over the arm and wrist, fighting off some hair pulling. Hayes was bouncing from pillar to post in this one, until he got Kerry into a corner for some strikes. Hayes’ head then met three of the four corner pads before dropping on his way to a fourth. The Freebird became desperate, resorting to attacking Von Erich’s recently previously injured knee, ripping the kneepad down, and twisting it hard in a hold. Kerry finished the match with a stolen rollup and out of frustration, Hayes jumped Kerry after the bell and the rest of The Freebirds ran down to ringside to join in on the attack. Kevin and David ran down, but the damage may have been done as Kerry rolled around the mat in pain.
- As soon as both Hayes and Kerry were in the ring, the crowd stayed on their feet and hung onto every move thrown in this one. To say that The Freebirds versus The Von Erichs is the most over angle in World Class, would be an understatement. Regardless of the combo of these six men, the fans absolutely eat it up. This match was no exception, but that isn’t saying that it set the world on fire for me. It was a solid two stars and suffered from a lack of good developing time. It felt like they were avoiding giving too much offense between the two away here tonight, trying to save up for bigger matches in the future.
- Prior to the next match, while Kerry was still in the ring trying to get feeling in his knee, David Manning announced that the next bout would start immediately and that The Freebirds need to get right back down to the ring for the match!
- Kevin & David Von Erich vs. Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts: The second main event tonight was set to go tonight, one fall to a finish in television time remaining. David kicked off with Gordy, but he tagged Kevin in quick, throwing Gordy off guard. Once they got going, Kevin threw a tornado of strikes at Gordy and Buddy was in to eat a dropkick. Kevin tagged in Dave who nailed Buddy with a high running knee for a near fall. Roberts was then stuck with backbreaker and stretched in a surfboard. Gordy tagged in and slapped on a sleeper hold that cooled David off immediately. It wouldn’t last long, as David applied a sleeper of his own. Roberts tagged in and almost got pinned with a running cross body. Kevin then tagged in only to get worked over in the heel corner for a moment. A lot of quick tags in and out here by both sides. Out of nowhere, Kevin landed a huge flying cross body off the top rope three-quarters across the ring onto Buddy Roberts. Tag format was then pretty much abandoned at this point. All four men battled and Kevin locked on an Iron Claw on Terry Gordy who was tied up in the ropes. The match was determined a no contest due to a double disqualification and the bell finally sounded as Kevin had to be pulled away by Dave.
- That was a spitfire of a match. It was hard to keep up with the tags and flurry of rounds thrown by all four men in this one. The crowd was red hot for everything and the action never stopped. Three stars from me, these guys gave a lot out there tonight, I think Kevin was the most fired up that I have ever seen him!
- After the match, David and Kevin Von Erich, along with Kerry, were at ringside with Bill Mercer for a quick interview in passing. David started off by calling this one a moral victory. They hurt The Freebirds tonight! Kevin then pushed his way into the shot and said that wasn’t it. He wants Terry Gordy in a no disqualification, no rules, no referee, no nothing match! He wants his belt, but more importantly, he wants Gordy. He doesn’t want to just beat him, he wants to hurt him. Kerry then stepped up to say that The Freebirds made this brothers against brothers, but sometimes you have to crawl on your belly with snakes in order to catch them. They tried to injure his knee again tonight, but they didn’t succeed. So, next time the Von Erichs get them in the ring, they’ll see who ends up tied up and down on the mat!
- Whoa! This may have been Kerry’s best, most fiery promo yet! Same could probably be said about Kevin. This is the version of the Von Erichs I like. Each one came off like a main event talent in this segment. The Freebirds have already, without a doubt, helped elevate the Von Erichs within their own promotion. This angle just seems to have each of the boys really focused and actively engaged within the story, different than we’ve seen in the past. Each time any or all of them meet, it feels big and important.
- While Kerry, Kevin, & David quickly exited, Bill Mercer thanked viewers at home for tuning in and promised another exciting episode for them next week as we rushed off the air.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This was a pretty explosive episode of World Class television. The action just got better and better as the night went on, with the crowd getting more excited, too. Our featurette was kind of lackluster, but the matches this week made up for it. When we do get The Freebirds and Von Erichs in one ring, at one time, for one match… the roof may blow off the Sportatorium! Not to mention, David Von Erich will have his hands full with Jimmy Garvin next week. The difference in quality between the first three months of 1983 compared to the first three months of 1982 is night and day. It feels like talent and match quality has jumped way, way up. I can’t wait to see what next week delivers!
See you all then!