It is a busy night of action in the world-famous Sportatorium tonight, all capped off by a clash of the big men for our main event when Bruiser Brody takes on the returning Terry Gordy! Plus, the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion, “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin is action, Kerry Von Erich takes on a member of Devastation Incorporated, and more!
WCCW TV*
Date: 09/17/1983
From: Dallas, Texas
MATCHES
1. “Gentleman” Chris Adams vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin (Taped replay)
2. “Iceman” King Parsons vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin
3. Kerry Von Erich vs. Mr. Ebony
4. Terry Gordy vs. Bruiser Brody
*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 06/01/2026.
BREAKDOWN & REVIEW
- Bill Mercer welcomed us to the world’s most famous wrestling arena, The Dallas Sportatorium. He covered our main event tonight and mentioned the upcoming replay of Jimmy Garvin taking on Chris Adams for the WCCW American Heavyweight Championship from last week.
- “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.
- Continuing as part of the taped replay, 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!
- “Iceman” King Parsons vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin: Our first match of the evening was set to be one fall to a finish, ten minutes for a limit, with the title NOT on the line. Jimmy strutted around the ring while Bill Mercer mentioned that Harley Race would be in Dallas soon, the current NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion. Parsons found a headscissors quickly, forcing Jimmy to break it and beg off. A seated side headlock had Jimmy doing a little more begging as “Iceman” stayed in firm control. Garvin took a shoulder tackle and a punch to the face that sent him out to the floor to regroup. At this point, Garvin was in trouble, as he found himself in another side headlock hold as the crowd chanted, “Go King, go!”. A scoop slam and a standing elbow drop landed for King, but he seemed to have hit his face or something, as he sold it and was suddenly on the receiving end of punishment for the first time in this bout! Some big, clubbing blows landed hard across Parsons’ chest, but “Iceman” quickly found his groove again with sets of arm drags and dropkicks. Garvin went for a suplex, but Parsons was able to reverse it by rolling the champion up into a small package for a stolen three count!
- This was a pretty slow match here for these guys… I was just expecting something more. It only went a few minutes and I just feel like both guys were kind of working at half-speed. I think the continued frustration for Garvin due to suffering another loss on television is an interesting take, as I’m assuming this is all leading to a title loss for him? Not sure. Either way, I gave this one a star and a half. Nothing special.
- Kerry Von Erich vs. Mr. Ebony: Our next match was set for one fall, fifteen minute time limit. Kerry was looking extra shedded here! Our lockup ended in a shove off, but Kerry was all over Ebony with some quick offense. A test of strength was up next, with Ebony quickly ending up on one knee. The test continued, with Ebony using a kick to the midsection to battle back and get Kerry down onto his back. Kerry rallied back and landed a nice punch to the midsection that sent Ebony out to regroup with The Mongol and Skandor Akbar. Back in the ring, Ebony got a knee up in the corner and sent Kerry head-first into the corner pad a couple of times. A throat thrust had Kerry in trouble, but he was able to reverse a running attack into a powerslam that kept Mr. Ebony down for a surprise three count! After the match, The Mongol jumped Kerry, but it didn’t last long, as Kerry was able to rally back and sent The Mongol running for the hills!
- Again, nothing special here. I think Kerry gave Ebony a good match here, as this was the most substance we’ve seen from him. That said, Kerry is still the obvious star… he just outshines nearly anybody he’s in the ring with. He feels big. The crowd LOVES him. So, a good win for Kerry on television here. Akbar has been crying for his men to get a shot at the Von Erichs and has to eat his words this week… one star from me.
- Tonight’s featurette was presented by Bill Mercer from the commentary booth. We were to get a special look at the feud between the Von Erichs and The Fabulous Freebirds. Bill covered some of the history between the six men, mentioning the Christmas Star Wars 1982 cage match incident specifically. We then got some replay footage from Christmas night last year. Then, we went to footage from the handcuff match between David Von Erich and Terry Gordy a few months ago, where Dave ended up handcuffed to the ropes and beaten down by all three Freebirds! Mercer closed out the segment by saying that, at this point, the feud has grown to astronomical proportions…
- This was a slightly odd use of time on television here, but I get why they did it. Firstly, it is nice for the viewing audience to be reminded of all that has happened between the two factions. Secondly, World Class knows what is drawing heat AKA money… put more of that on TV! I just wish we would’ve gotten something new, either footage or interview-wise.
- Terry Gordy vs. Bruiser Brody: Back in the arena, we returned from commercial and Terry Gordy were already going at it! Gordy was ahead in offense, sending Brody into the ring steps on the outside and landing on him with a running splash! Back in the ring, Goryd continued the assault, going for the eyes of the big man. Back on his feet, Brody landed some nice strikes and ended up sending Terry Gordy into the corner hard, turning Gordy inside out! A bodyslam again slowed the giant, with a standing elbow drop keeping him down for a two count. Gordy ran into a boot and the momentum seemed as though it was going to swing into Brody’s favor. A one-armed bodyslam found its mark twice and the crowd exploded for Brody. A signature running knee drop missed, though. Gordy followed this up with a fist off the second rope onto a standing Bruiser Brody. Out of desperation, Brody hit a running crossbody to get a three count over Gordy. After the match, Gordy used the point of his thumb in the pressure point of Brody’s neck, something Bill Mercer was putting over as the ‘Oriental Spike’, inflicting bigtime pain! Brody ended up busted open between the thumb and the punches inflicted by Gordy. The bell continued to ring as Gordy used this spike on the big man. Mercer claimed that during Gordy’s trip to Japan, this spike was something he was taught to him by a trainer over there.
- Seeing these two titans clash was cool, no matter how quick and/or short it was. To see two of Japan’s greatest foreigners lock horns here on American television felt special. Crowd atmosphere and the brawling to start us out kept things feeling hot throughout the match. I’m personally not a fan of this ‘Oriental Spike’ thing for Gordy, so hopefully, it doesn’t stick. Otherwise, I’m giving this one two stars. There was no way we were getting a clean finish for Gordy here, so Bruiser winning with kind of a lame move did take away from this one a bit for me.
- After commercial, Bill Mercer was at ringside, saying that he tried to have a word with Bruiser Brody, but he was unable to do so. Mercer said that he had asked Brody for confirmation on whether or not that was the feared ‘Oriental Spike’ being used by Gordy, to which Bruiser supposedly just gave Mercer a look and continued to grasp at his throat on his way out.
- Another commercial down, led us to Mercer cluing us in on some matches for next week. In tag action, Kevin & Kerry Von Erich would be taking on Devastation Incorporated Mr. Ebony & The Mongol. Kevin would be taking David’s place due to injury, at the hands of Terry Gordy!
- Again, Akbar getting his wish… if attention from the Von Erichs is what he wanted, he’s definitely got it now!
- Bill Mercer was again at ringside, this time standing by at ringside with Buddy Roberts and Terry Gordy of The Fabulous Freebirds! Buddy Roberts started the interview off by putting over Gordy’s newly-learned ‘Oriental Spike’. He said a lot of wrestlers around here are in serious trouble. Buddy tried to show off Gordy’s thumb, but Gordy pulled it away. Gordy then got on the mic and said he’s been learning plenty of stuff to help him do his job. Gordy said that he was taught by ‘The Professor’ after a very successful tour of Japan, closing by saying that his thumb right here was going to get the job done… and he didn’t mind breaking a nerve or two while doing it!
- Ughhhh. Come on. Big bad Terry Gordy using a… thumb? I really don’t like that. Give that to a random, masked, asian guy. Not Terry frigging Gordy! Gordy should just be powerbombing people into the mat. I’m almost sure this won’t last.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Kind of another filler week of television here tonight, in my opinion. We got a replay, some recapping, and an ‘Oriental Spike’. That said, Kerry in a singles match is usually a treat, Bruiser Brody being on the card definitely helps, and a reminder of the looming NWA World’s Champion being on his way to the territory did keep me intrigued throughout. When will Race show up? Who will be his challenger? Is Jimmy Garvin’s reign set to come to a close? Will Devastation Inc. be able to topple the Von Erichs? What else should we expect next week? Only one way to find out…
See you all then!