In a tag team battle, The Fabulous Freebirds take on the team of “Gentleman” Chris Adams and Johnny Mantell in our main event. Plus, Junkyard Dog makes his WCCW television debut when he looks to teach the Ugandan Giant, Kamala, a lesson he won’t soon forget! Also a ladies singles match, a special look at Kevin Von Erich, and much more!
WCCW TV*
Date: 11/05/1983
From: Dallas, Texas
MATCHES
1. Mike Reed vs. Black Gordman
2. Princess Victoria vs. Judy Martin
3. Kamala vs. Junkyard Dog
4. Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy vs. “Gentleman” Chris Adams & Johnny Mantell
*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 09/02/2026.
BREAKDOWN & REVIEW
- Bill Mercer welcomed us to World Class Championship Wrestling and got right into our main event of the evening. Mercer, who was standing at ringside, also mentioned the ladies match that would be featured here tonight!
- Mike Reed vs. Black Gordman: Our opening contest was set for one fall with a fifteen minute time limit. Gordman got big boo’s, especially after his confrontation with José Lothario last week. On commentary, Bill Mercer mentioned a big Star Wars coming up for the holiday later this month, Thanksgiving Star Wars! Also, at some point, Kerry Von Erich would be taking on Michael Hayes in a match that would force the loser to leave Dallas for a year! Back in the ring, we were exchanging arm holds and wrist locks, with Gordman getting the better of Reed. A set of shoulder blocks put Gordman down momentarily, but Reed was unable to follow up and it was Gordman on the attack again. Reed fired up and went for a dropkick, of which Gorman was able to dodge. Gordman then bailed to the floor for a breather. Once Gordman was back in, he went after the knee of his opponent, working a modified bow-and-arrow type STF. Reed was in a bad way here at this point, being forced to use an eye rake to break a standing hold. A hammer lock grounded Gordman for the first real time in the match, but then it was he who went to the eyes to break a hold. Some definite miscues in several parts of this match thus far, with some collisions and mistimed moves. A rolling DDT finished this one off and it was Black Gordman who walked away with his hand raised.
- This one wasn’t horrible, though the pacing was painful. Slow, plodding, and super basic stuff here. As far as I’m concerned, both of these guys are enhancement talent. To get the opening match of the card, I would’ve rather seen a more mainstay talent spotlighted… that said, I’m giving this one a full star. Not a dud, but skippable nonetheless.
- Princess Victoria vs. Judy Martin: This special attraction match was set for one fall, twenty minutes for a time limit. Judy Martin was working heel here, with Victoria oppositely being cheered pretty well. On commentary, Mercer was putting both ladies over huge as Martin swatted away a handshake attempt. Martin used the hair to get Victoria down in a wrist lock. A nice sweep brought Martin down in a lock applied by Victoria. The hair came into play again for Martin who pulled Victoria to the mat in a trapped pin attempt. The referee gave Martin a final warning just in time for Victoria to land a nice chest chop that popped the crowd. Victoria continued the punishment with a leglock and some clubbing blows to the back. A loud “BOOORINGGG” heckle could be heard by some drunk in the crowd. A body slam seemed like it was going to end things for Martin, but Martin got her legs up for a running splash to swing the momentum again. She puts the boots to Victoria and smashed her down on the mat before picking her up and hitting a nice clothesline for a near fall. Martin then used Victoria’s own braids to choke her for a moment! Victoria was sent out to the floor by the hair, much to the displeasure of the official. Back in the ring, Victoria made her comeback and beat Martin from pillar to post, only to pick up a two count! Victoria then ducked a clothesline and hit a running crossbody on her way back. She landed on top of Martin and ended up with a three count win here!
- Now, when this started, I thought for sure it was going to be a dud. That said, the second half really surprised me with the quality of the work, as they were able to get the crowd back into it heading into the finish. For a cold match with no promotion or build, I think the crowd ended up decently invested by the end. Star and a half for me, as I definitely enjoyed this one more than our opening match.
- Back from commercial, we were treated to a special music video that spotlighted Kevin Von Erich. We saw slo-mo shots of Kevin entering through the crowd and being kissed by women on his way by. His crossbody off the top rope was also shown. Some cool underneath shots of Kevin diving off the top rope was shown, too.
- So, this was basically pointless, but it was cool. Those underneath shots would’ve gotten my attention as a kid in the 1980’s. Kevin looked like a flying jungle cat coming off the top rope. So, as this was meant to make Kevin look even more badass, I’d say they succeeded.
- Kamala vs. Junkyard Dog: Our next match was announced as a semi-main event, one fall, with a forty-five minute time limit. This marks the first appearance of Junkyard Dog on weekly WCCW TV. These two big men collided with chops and strikes right off the bat. Kamala applied a choke that slowly brought Dog down, but Dog brought Kamala right down with him! Both refused to let go of one another as they struggled back to their feet. Dog was able to get a Sleeper on Kamala, popping the crowd even more. Kamala dropped to one knee as Dog continued to apply pressure. Unfortunately up to this point, these guys had just basically been grabbing each other. A double throat thrust dropped Dog long enough for Kamala to hit a signature splash… for only a two count! Dog popped up and went after Kamala until Skandor Akbar tripped him from ringside. Akbar would again try to interfere and Dog had had enough, pulling him up and over the top rope to get his comeuppance. The referee called the match off for the interference and soon, Kamala was back up. He attempted to club Dog from the back, but Dog was able to get Akbar in the way of Kamala himself. With Akbar back on the floor, Kamala was sent right out after him, complements of the Junkyard Dog! Kamala circled the ring and had to be kept back by Friday and Akbar.
- I was pretty disappointed with this being the first time we saw Junkyard Dog, as we got a lot of nerve holds and prolonged choking in this one. Once things got going a little bit, this one played out a lot like a Brody / Kamala match, with Dog getting a couple up on Kamala before the matched ended in some sort of no contest. Regardless, Dog is so over with the crowd, I’d be more than happy to see more of him here in Dallas! One star from me here, pretty much for star power alone.
- Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy vs. “Gentleman” Chris Adams & Johnny Mantell: Our main event of the evening was set for one fall to a finish, forty-five minutes for a limit. Going into this one, I felt The Freebirds needed a victory here, so we’ll see what happens. As soon as the bell rang, The Freebirds went on a rampage. Gordy was able to get his Oriental Spike on Mantell immediately, doing so much damage so quickly, that Mantell dropped lifelessly out to the floor. Adams and the referee went to the outside to check on Mantell and this match was looking to be over before it even started here! Mantell was helped out and it seemed that Chris Adams was going to have to face these two in a handicap match, or forfeit the match. Adams was up to the challenge and got right to work on Michael Hayes. Hayes ran away from Adams and quickly tagged Gordy in. Adams was going one hundred miles an hour on Gordy, finishing his flurry with a standing side headlock. Hayes came in to break up the hold and then he tagged in to get some offense in on Adams. Suddenly, Kevin Von Erich ran to ringside in jeans and boots and apparently joined Adams in this match! Kevin was tagged in and Michael Hayes was quickly eating strikes from Von Erich. Kevin knocked the heels into each other and then landed a sunset flip pin to keep Hayes’ shoulders down to the mat for an upset pin victory here! In the ring, Gordy threw an absolute fit while Michael paced around in confusion with being pinned by Von Erich!
- This was a feel-good moment to send the crowd home on, which was awesome. That said, I think I would’ve preferred a competitive match between the announced participants, with Gordy and Hayes coming out on top. Even though that isn’t what we got here, it was still fun and kept my attention. Two stars from me, even though we didn’t get much of a match either way, things were kept short and semi-sweet.
- Back from commercial, Bill Mercer was standing in the ring with Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy after the live crowd had gone. Mercer said that it would be Kevin and Kerry Von Erich that they’d have next week and it was Gordy who spoke up. Nobody messes with Terry Gordy and his money and the money of The Fabulous Freebirds! When Kevin tried to smash his thumb in the turnbuckle last week, that was him sticking his nose in business where it doesn’t belong! Nobody and he means nobody sticks their nose in Freebird business!
- Pretty run-of-the-mill promo from Gordy here, he has used some of these lines a time or two before, so it was nothing groundbreaking. Still, that’s a huge match announced for next week!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think the thing I appreciated most tonight was the variety of talent. We saw ladies, Mexican stars, The Freebirds, Junkyard Dog, the Ugandan Giant, a Brit, and a good ole’ boy from Texas. That said, the action was rather lackluster this week, yet the crowd was as hot as ever for the big stars presented tonight. I want to see Junkyard Dog back, even if it is for a return bout with Kamala. Plus, I am really looking forward to that giant tag team match next week!
See you all then!