In another exciting episode of WCCW television, “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin defends his WCCW American Heavyweight Championship against “Gentleman” Chris Adams in singles action, and a third of The Fabulous Freebirds meets a third of the Von Erichs when Michael Hayes squares off with Kerry Von Erich in tonight’s main event! Plus, The Mongol in action, Buddy Roberts, and much more.
WCCW TV*
Date: 09/10/1983
From: Dallas, Texas
MATCHES
1. Buddy Roberts vs. Johnny Mantell
2. The Mongol vs. Mike Bond
3. “Gentleman” Chris Adams vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin
4. Kerry Von Erich vs. Michael Hayes
*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 05/05/2026.
BREAKDOWN & REVIEW
- Bill Mercer welcomed us to WCCW from The Sportatorium in downtown Dallas, Texas! He ran down the card and tonight’s double-main events.
- Buddy Roberts vs. Johnny Mantell: Our opening contest was set for one fall to a finish with a fifteen minute time limit. Mantell dove for Buddy’s legs to start off, but Buddy jump out to the apron in avoidance. Mantell stayed a step ahead of Roberts, keeping arm control, grounding Buddy for a few minutes. A tackle, dropdown, and an armdrag kept Mantell in control. Buddy had basically no offense at this point and I was shocked to see one of The Freebirds getting worn out like this in an opening contest against a guy like Johnny Mantell. Suddenly, Roberts used his loaded headgear in a headbutt that dropped Mantell immediately. Then, it was all Buddy Roberts. Some choking over the bottom rope followed by a running elbow drop got Buddy a two count. A running bulldog out of the corner earned Buddy another near fall. Mantell fired up with some huge punches and a knee lift, eventually pinning Roberts with a backslide pin for an upset victory!
- Ummm… a Freebird losing on weekly television to a guy like Mantell? Not the route I would’ve gone here by any means. They should’ve just gone with the finish they teased when Roberts headbutted Mantell with the loaded headgear. Cooling some of the heat off of Buddy with having him lose here was a poor judgement call, in my opinion. That said, the match was okay, minus Buddy barely getting any offense in. Star and a half.
- Next, Bill Mercer threw to Methodist Central Hospital where Kevin Von Erich was visiting a friend of his. We followed Kevin into a patient room where a young man in a wheelchair was waiting for him. Kevin spoke to him a bit and asked to wheel him down to therapy. This kid’s name was Doyle Nash, who had apparently been in an auto accident recently. Kevin accompanied Doyle in physical therapy, helping him work through his back injury, as he voiced over the footage explaining the day.
- This was a nice PR piece for Kevin, not that he needs it. I’m sure the boys found themselves doing things like this on a few different occasions around Dallas. Good on you, Kev… and shoutout to Doyle, where ever he is!
- Back from commercial, we joined Bill Mercer at ringside with Skandor Akbar and The Mongol for a pre-match interview. Mercer asked why The Mongol was being matched up against Mike Bond. Akbar simply stately that nobody else will get in there with The Mongol! Akbar then went on a tirade, explaining how Kamala was unbeatable and invincible! He begged Bruiser Brody to come up with a new stipulation to challenge Kamala in, as they have beaten Brody in every stipulation they’ve faced so far. He also called out the Von Erichs, wondering why they won’t address any of the members of Devastation Inc., what would it take? Are they yellow? He threw out open challenges for “Iceman”, Adams, or any of the Von Erichs before storming off.
- I’d wager a guess as to why the Von Erichs haven’t addressed Devastation Inc. It is probably because they simply don’t matter enough! The Mongol is nobody special, Kamala has been consistently tied up with Brody, and we haven’t seen Bundy regularly in months!
- The Mongol vs. Mike Bond: This next match was set for one fall, ten minutes for a limit. Punches were thrown back and forth to start us out, with The Mongol obviously getting the better of Mike Bond. A running back elbow and a bodyslam spelled disaster for Mike Bond really early on here. Some elbows to the back of the head and axe handles to the back continued the punishment. Bond tried to get something going for himself, but met a backbreaker for his troubles. A running powerslam out of the corner put Bond away for an easily-gained three count.
- Not much to say here… I don’t think this one even went three minutes. Not even a creative squash match for Mongol here, as they teed it up before the thing even began! DUD.
- “Gentleman” Chris Adams vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin: This match was set for one fall, ten minutes, for the WCCW American Heavyweight Championship! Just ten minutes made me think this one was definitely going to a time limit draw. We started this one at a million miles an hour here, with Adams hitting three dropkicks and two armdrags to send Garvin out to the floor in confusion. Garvin was pulled back in the hard way, ate two quick bodyslams, and found himself in a seated side headlock. Garvin definitely had his hands full here, as his shoulders were almost counted to the mat twice in this headlock on the mat! For the next few minutes, any time Garvin tried to get momentum going, he found himself back in this side headlock. Finally, Garvin broke loose and smashed Adams’ head into the corner, hit a huge suplex, and got a near fall. Adams was then tossed out to the floor, giving Garvin a chance to taunt the crowd. Back in the ring, Adams’ got back on his roll, until Garvin dropped him throat-first over the top rope to reverse a running crossbody attempt. At this point, I really wasn’t sure who was going to win this one! A Super Kick out of nowhere found its mark on Garvin, sending him stumbling through the second ropes to the floor. Adams pulled Garvin back up into the ring by his hair, getting him back in for a suplex and a two count. Another Super Kick landed hard, but Garvin was able to get his foot on the bottom rope to break the pin attempt. Garvin was able to survive to keep the title as the time limit expired and the bell rang. Sunshine jumped into the ring to protect Garvin, using her heel to keep Adams away, as she handed Garvin the title.
- This was non-stop action from the moment the opening bell sounded. Everything landed nicely and Garvin bumped his ass off for Chris Adams. These guys put together one of the best television matches we’ve seen on a weekly episode. Great in-ring chemistry and Adams continues to show a fire that’s almost contagious between he and men he stands across the ring from. Despite things ending up how I thought they might from the beginning, this was a three star bout all day long.
- After the match, Bill Mercer met “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin at ringside while he was recuperating, seated in a corner still in the ring. Mercer asked Garvin if he still planned on defending his championship again next week. Garvin said enough was enough and he has proved what a great champion he is. He isn’t doing this anymore, as that one was too close. The American Heavyweight Championship was his title and he is going to keep it that way, too!
- So, I guess this whole ‘one title defense a week’ thing for Garvin was all being used a build up to he and Adams squaring off. Kind of a cheap booking move, as it circumvents a need for a story. Nonetheless, I am very open to more Garvin/Adams matches in the future!
- Kerry Von Erich vs. Michael Hayes: Our main event was scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit. A special stipulation was also announced as having “Iceman” King Parsons and Buddy Roberts handcuffed together at ringside for the duration of the match. Roberts was beside himself, as Parsons was wearing a similar set of headgear to him! As Roberts and Parsons argued and headed to the floor, the bell rang and the action was on. Oddly enough, Kerry was wrestling barefooted for this one. Kerry bounced Hayes’ head off the turnbuckle a bunch, causing him to beg off and away. Kerry ran into a back elbow and then it was Hayes’ turn to lay in some strikes. A discus punch sent Hayes out through the second rope and Roberts was looking to go over after him, but Parsons pulled him right back and told him to sit down! Back in the ring, Kerry dropped a set of elbows down on the inner knee of Michael Hayes. A brawl ensued, with both men rolling around and trading punches before the official had to pull them apart to reset. Kerry was then whipped into the corner but caught himself, perched to the second rope, and his a turning crossbody on Michael Hayes to catch him with a quick three count! After the match, Parsons dragged Roberts into the ring to be unhandcuffed. Once free, Buddy jumped Parsons and handcuffed him to the ropes to land some cheap punches as Hayes jumped Kerry. Kerry was able to run the heels off before checking on the trapped King Parsons.
- The focus wasn’t really on the match here. We got plenty of cutaways to the situation on the outside and it just seemed both Kerry and Michael Hayes were only going at about half-speed. No drama to the finish and not too much memorable action made this one feel like a throwaway match to me. One star.
- Back from commercial, Bill Mercer recapped the winners of the evening from ringside. He also announced that next week, Terry Gordy will be back from his Japanese excursion to meet Bruiser Brody in the ring for a battle of the big men!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Kind of a mixed bag of action this week but quickly, how about that matched announced for next week!? I really can’t wait for that one, as two of who would become some of Japan’s greatest foreign talents meet in Dallas! Back to tonight, Garvin and Adams tore the house down and if I’m being honest, that’s about all that stood out in the ring tonight for me. I’m guess Garvin has officially moved on from he and David’s feud? If so, that’s a shame, as we never really got closure for that fued on television. I’m not too sure… either way, I really look forward to next week.
See you all then!