We’re action-packed this week in The World-Famous Sportatorium as we roll through the end of July. Kevin Von Erich looks to get his hands on one of his brother’s biggest rivals, “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin, in tonight’s main event! Plus, the dangerous “Ugandan Giant” Kamala is in action, José Lothario returns to Dallas, the “Iceman” and the “Gentleman” join forces in tag team action, and much more!
WCCW TV*
Date: 07/30/1983
From: Dallas, Texas
MATCHES
1. Gran Marcus II vs. José Lothario
2. “Iceman” King Parsons & “Gentleman” Chris Adams vs. Terry Gordy & The Mongol
3. Kamala vs. Rock Riddle
4. Kevin Von Erich vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin
*BROADCAST NOTE
This playback copy has been presented in the most complete form possible, due to original production technical difficulties. Reported by the WWE as of 03/23/2026.
BREAKDOWN & REVIEW
- Bill Mercer welcomed us to The Sportatorium then covered what the main event had waiting for us tonight before throwing to commercial.
- Gran Marcus II vs. José Lothario: Our opening contest was set for one fall to a finish with a fifteen minute time limit. It has been awhile since we have seen Marcus II, an enhancement guy here in WCCW. These guys had similar styles, so I was hoping we were up for a sleeper here. A standoff series started things off, with each man trying to one-up the other. It did seem like these two older guys were working in slow motion as they traded standing headlocks. Lothario got Marcus with a set of rolling headscissors, sending him bailing to the floor. Back in the ring, Marcus applied a toe hold, slowing the pace even further. Lothario then took control with a hammerlock on the mat around the five-minute mark. Then, for several minutes, Gran Marcus applied pressure in a standing side headlock. Each man ended up on the floor for a powder, first Marcus, then Lothario. This thing was going forever! In one of the most awkward pins I’ve ever seen, Marcus reversed a monkey flip by balancing on Lothario’s legs and using the top rope for leverage with his own feet to keep Lothario’s shoulders down for a three count. The crowd absolutely hated this finish and were vocally upset.
- This one took up nearly a third of the episode… my only question? For what? Lothario has been a visiting attraction since the beginning of World Class television, but is never really a featured talent. Plus, we haven’t seen Marcus II in more than a year. This was a slow match with no satisfying finish for two talents that really have no bearing on our main storylines… again, for what? DUD.
- Back from commercial, Bill Mercer was standing by at ringside for a pre-match interview with Skandor Akbar and The Mongol. Mercer asked Akbar when a match between Kamala and Bruiser Brody will be signed. Akbar said that all Brody had to do was come on down to the ring and meet the Ugandan Warrior, Kamala! If has only had a taste of what Kamala had to offer, but next time, he’s going to get the full course. Akbar taunted Brody, begging him to come on out before storming off.
- So, between Mercer teasing the match during the opening contest tonight and the interview here, it definitely looks like one of our next big matchups will be between Kamala and Bruiser Brody. Does that mean Kamala is gearing up for his first loss? If so, I fear it’ll be far too early in his run for that. We shall see!
- “Iceman” King Parsons & “Gentleman” Chris Adams vs. Terry Gordy & The Mongol: This tag team match was schedule for one fall with a twenty minute time limit. I was kind of looking forward to seeing how Parsons and Adams do as a team together, as I think their styles will complement each other well. Still hat that here and there a Freebird will tag up with a Devastation Inc. guy in the middle of the card… The Freebirds are a main event act. Adams started off hot with Gordy, surprising him with a Super Kick and a back bodydrop that sent him up and over high. Parsons was in next and he helped Adams clear house with both Gordy and The Mongol. The heels paced on the outside for nearly a full count before, with Gordy even breaking the count to continue his stroll on the outside. Once back in the ring, Adams threw Gordy from pillar to post, with Parsons even getting a few shots in from the corner. I did not like how much Gordy was getting taken to task here, but finally he tagged in The Mongol who began working on Adams. A hot tag brought the “Iceman” in, which had The Mongol begging off into the corner after taking a back bodydrop himself. The heels got some cheapshots in on Parsons, choking him over the ropes, throwing some illegal kicks, and working together using quick tags. The punishment continued as the crowd began to fire up for a Chris Adams hot tag. Adams got the tag, ran the two heels into each other, and hit a nice Super Kick on Gordy who was stunned in the corner. Gordy would recover and send Adams into two of the four corners hard. A stalling suplex put Adams down for a near fall and then it was The Mongol back in to put the englishman into the corner for some tree-of-woe kicks. A bearhug zapped Adams’ energy even more. The Mongol and Gordy traded bearhugs on Adams. Finally, Parsons was in and his running hip attack, the Butt-Butt on The Mongol. Gordy came in and hit a weak-looking running knee on Parsons’ back to pick up a quick pin and finish the match.
- I was surprised to see another heel finish here tonight, as this finish seemed to come out of nowhere. Not sure if they had to wrap things up quickly or what happened, but either way, this finish was super lackluster. Gordy and Adams did all the heavy lifting in this match, with The Mongol and King Parsons being in for a cup of coffee total in this one. I think Adams and Gordy could have a hell of a singles match down the road. That said, this one wasn’t terrible and the action stayed steady throughout. Two stars, but would’ve scored higher with a better finish.
- Kamala vs. Rock Riddle: Our next match was set for one fall with a forty-five minute time limit. That was laughable, as there was no way this one was going more than five minutes. Friday prepped Kamala for action in the corner as Riddle paced on the other side. Riddle ducked under a few grapple attempts until Kamala finally got his hands on him. Chops popped Riddle off his feet time after time again, as Kamala beat him into dust. The crowd chanted for Bruiser Brody as Kamala landed his set of reverse running splashes on Riddle’s back. Riddle was thrown to the floor where The Mongol picked him and threw him right back in. More chops and a splash put Riddle down for what was looking like an easy three count until Bruiser Brody came storming down to the ring. As the bell sounded, Brody and Kamala met in a tornado of strikes, with the crowd going nuts. The brawl never slowed until some wrestlers from the back came out to help keep these guys separated. Brody was still able to throw a punch that sent Kamala up and over the top rope to the floor. The heels pulled Kamala out and away as Brody was going berserk in the ring.
- Not much to rate here as what little of a match there was, was interrupted by Brody. Kamala’s strikes look absolutely devastating, which is funny, because I think his finishing splashes look the weakest of all when it comes to his offense. There’s no doubt he’s over as a monster here and going toe-to-toe with Brody and holding your own is a big sign of confidence from the office, I’d say. I’m sure whenever Kamala and Brody do meet officially, we’re probably looking at some sort of screwy finish that protects them both… not sure booking-wise there will be any other choice. This match was a dud but the heat and interest is definitely there for things to come!
- Back from commercial, Bill Mercer was in the commentary booth to recap what “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin and Sunshine had to do for chores around David Von Erich’s ranch. He said Garvin and Dave are still far at odds to which he threw to more of that video out on the ranch following their brawl that closed the segment last week. Mercer stood inside the barn next to the wreckage caused by the two wrestlers and said that NWA officials were here to witness the chores being carried out and that Dave was still cooling off from the confrontation as Garvin and Sunshine were released from his valet services for the day. At that point, Dave stormed into frame and said he was done cooling off and had more to say about Jimmy Garvin. Garvin has touched him in a personal way and when he gets him in the ring the next chance he gets… Dave’s words trailed off as he stormed back out of frame and Mercer threw us back to the area for the main event.
- Not sure why we needed this extra bit from our featurette last week, as it didn’t add much except to say that Garvin’s chores were officially done, stipulation officially served. I’m glad we haven’t seen the last of this feud though, as things definitely still seem as bitter as ever between the NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion, Jimmy Garvin, and the Yellow Rose of Texas!
- Kevin Von Erich vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin: Our main event was set for one fall, forty-five minutes to a finish or television time remaining. A lockup and shove-off got us going. Kevin went to work on Garvin with a flying headscissors takedown and a dropkick that sent Garvin out to the floor early. Another dropkick landed once Garvin was back in and after getting two knees down on his shoulder, Garvin began to beg off. Kevin fell for it enough for Garvin to drive a headbutt low into his gut to pick up a cheap advantage. Garvin pummeled Kevin in the corner and raked his eyes to avoid a desperation Claw attempt. The referee ended up distracted with Sunshine when she seemingly tried to give her purse or something to Garvin. Unphased, Kevin worked in a bodyslam and a huge running splash down on Garvin. The referee’s attention refocused in just enough time to count Garvin’s shoulders down for a three following Kevin’s splash. The crowd came unglued as Sunshine stormed into the ring to dispute the finish. She raised Garvin’s hand as the boos rained down on him.
- Of course, they didn’t have much time to go here for this one. With what they had left for time, they tried making the best of it. Seeing Garvin get beat up sells tickets, so obviously the fans ate this match up, but it was sub-par as far as real in-ring action. By the time we started on a roll, here came the finish. Star and a half from me, but with more time and build, these guys are more than capable of putting on an awesome match together, that much was obvious. That said, at least we got one babyface victory when it counted tonight, because the rest of the card was dominated by heels.
- Back from commercial, Bill Mercer was standing in the commentary area with Freebirds Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts. Roberts, who was wearing an obvious wig, saying that he had an appointment with the hairdresser tomorrow, he’s got hair and it’s all a big lie. Michael Hayes said Brody aside, all that promoters are talking about around the country is the coming six-man tag team rematch between The Freebirds and Von Erichs. Ever promotor wants it on their card and Hayes said he couldn’t promise where it would take place, but guaranteed it was coming and the Von Erich’s were in for a fight as the Freebirds stormed off.
- Hayes probably isn’t lying here when he said that every promoter in the country would probably like to have that match on one of their cards. At this point in 1983, it has to be one of (if not THE) hottest tickets in pro wrestling.
- With The Freebirds out of frame, Bill Mercer announced that next week, The Von Erich would be in six-man tag team action against Michael Hayes, Buddy Roberts, and “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin in a non-title match!
FINAL THOUGHTS
This episode was pretty match-heavy, with Lothario and Marcus getting a frankly absurd amount of television time this week. The stars were out tonight though, as we saw a little bit of The Fabulous Freebirds, David Von Erich, Kevin Von Erich, “Iceman” King Parsons, “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin, Kamala, Devastation Inc., and “Gentleman” Chris Adams! Again, the level of talent up and down the card here in 1983 compared to 1982 is unbelievable. WCCW has changed considerably in the last year and I only expect things to go up from here. We have a huge six-man tag team match for next week, plus so much still cooking between Bruiser Brody and Kamala, Dave and Garvin, The Mongol and Chris Adams… and so much more to look forward to!
See you all then!