Tonight, we close out our replay footage of Thanksgiving Star Wars, seemingly saving the best for last! In our main event, the replay of the WCCW American Heavyweight Championship match between champion, “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin, and “Gentleman” Chris Adams. Plus, will David Von Erich be able to slay the beast, Kamala? All this, plus more from Reunion Arena!
WCCW TV
Date: 12/10/1983
From: Dallas, Texas
MATCHES
1. Kevin Von Erich vs. Terry Gordy (Taped replay)
2. David Von Erich vs. Kamala (Taped replay)
3. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin vs. “Gentleman” Chris Adams (Taped replay)
BREAKDOWN & REVIEW
- Our opening video package brought us right back into Reunion Arena for some footage from Thanksgiving Star Wars. We got a bit of a recap of the issues between David Von Erich and Kamala as well as the story so far between “Gentleman” Chris Adams and “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin as they battle over the WCCW American Heavyweight Championship in the main event tonight.
- Kevin Von Erich vs. Terry Gordy: Our first replay bout was set for one fall to a finish, with a twenty minute time limit. We started this one off with some clean breaks by Kevin as the feeling out process began. Several arm drags in a row had Gordy on his back While Kevin kept tight arm control. Some knees into the shoulder were next, before Kevin got Gordy right back into an arm submission. Godry was able to break free with a big boot, but went to the well too many times as he found himself hung up on the top rope. Kevin kicked him the rest of the way up and over to the floor. Back in the ring, it was time to see a test of strength. Gordy took over early, forcing Kevin almost all the way down to the mat, but the crowd rallied behind Kevin. He worked his way up into a dropkick and another arm drag, once again locking Gordy into an arm submission! Kevin then dropped a knee down on Gordy’s hand, signalling that he was attacking the thumb of Gordy next! Back on their feet, Kevin was going to try to smash the thumb of Gordy in the turnbuckle, but Gordy fought it off and instead got an Iron Claw! It was only on a little while before Gordy broke look, only to be on the receiving end of a running cross body for a near fall. Gordy kept with it and hit a running clothesline, followed by dropping Kevin over the top rope throat-first. A sleeper hold further cooled Kevin off for a few moments. Gordy went for the Oriental Spike, but Kevin was able to escape the attempt and was nearly thrown out over the top rope for it! Frustrated, Gordy went to the top rope to try to hit a knee drop, but again Kevin moved out of the way! Back on their feet, Gordy chased Kevin into the corner and fell victim to Kevin’s flying crossbody off the top rope into a pin to finish the match! As soon as the bell rang, Buddy Roberts rushed the ring, but quickly got an Iron Claw. Gordy and Roberts were able to start working Kevin over, even trying to smash and stomp his hand before David and Kerry Von Erich ran down to the ring to make the save!
- This was a solid bout and it was worked very well by both men here. Each man played his roll perfectly and the false finishes going into the last few moments of the match made for an exciting watch. I do wish Gordy got more of a run at offense here, though. Given that we got a solid bout, it nicely paced, with a clean finish… it all goes a long way for this Freebird / Von Erich clash here. I’m giving this one two and half stars.
- Before our next bout, we threw to a pre-taped interview with Bill Mercer speaking with David Von Erich at ringside about his opponent, Kamala, tonight. Mercer said that he has never seen any other living human being have a leg up over Kamala. Von Erich said that everybody knows that Kamala is a dangerous man, including Bruiser Brody. Despite Skandor Akbar trying to have the Iron Claw banned, it will be here, and be on Kamala’s forehead later tonight… and he can bet his bottom dollar on that! He said that if Akbar sticks his nose into the ring tonight, he’ll bust him wide open with the Claw and stack him right in a little line next to Kamala, flat on the mat.
- To no fault of his own, Dave says some funny things sometimes… the busting Akbar’s head wide open thing cracked me up. His words are so brutal for a babyface wrestler, half the time, his promos sound like heel promos. Nonetheless, I fully expect Dave to walk away from tonight’s match having gotten the better of the Ugandan Giant.
- David Von Erich vs. Kamala: Our next match, set for one fall, twenty minutes. The bell rang and Kamala began slapping his belly. David threatened the Claw which kept Kamala from going right into an attack. Then, we exploded with strikes being traded back and forth. Kamala then grabbed Dave by the throat and hit an overhead chop that rocked Dave. More big chops stumbled Dave around the ring as Kamala slapped his belly in between strikes. A punch and a dropkick brought Kamala to one knee. Dave then followed up with his running high knee, but it had little effect, as Kamala chopped him away again without going down. Kamala bit at David’s forehead, before hitting Dave with a chop that sent him up and over the top rope to the floor. Dave was busted open at this point, which excited Kamala as he paced around in the ring. Back in the ring, Kamala went right to work on Dave’s split forehead with chops. Again, he bit at the wound, picking up the pace. A running splash, Kamala’s typical finish, only kept Dave down for a two cout. Then, it was time for Kamala to feel the wrath of the Iron Claw, which caused the crowd to erupt with excitement! Dave kept it on tight as Kamala dropped to both knees in pain. Friday was able to get Kamala’s leg on the bottom rope to break the hold. So, Dave shifted his focus and got a Claw on Friday! Then Skandor Akbar jumped up to the apron and got a Claw of his own, too! The bell sounded as a disqualification due to outside interference was decided. Kamala then jumped David from behind, but it was Kerry Von Erich who made the save for Dave this time. Kerry slammed Kamla and the crowd went even more nuts. Dave’s arm was raised as the heels, including a bleeding Kamala, headed to the exit. Bill Mercer reminded us that Skandor Akbar had a $10,000 dollar open challenge for any man who was able to slam Kamala and Kerry had done it!
- Again, this one was played perfectly by both men here. Kamala having to work more of a match didn’t hurt him a bit here. Plus, him picking up his pace in a sort of excitement when he realized Dave had been busted open was a nice touch for his character having cannibalistic tendencies. I really enjoyed this match and so far, this was the loudest the crowd has been. Three stars from me, believe it or not!
- “Gentleman” Chris Adams was then standing by with Bill Mercer for another pre-taped interview conducted at ringside. Mercer mentioned that Sunshine would be in Adams’ corner for this championship match and Adams said that he feels confident going into this one, as he is confident that Sunshine will ensure Precious does not interfere in their match.
- Up next, pre-match comments from “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin were collected, once again at ringside with Bill Mercer. Garvin said that everywhere he goes, thousands and thousands of wrestling fans follow, because he is the champion to watch in World Class Championship Wrestling. He called Sunshine a poor excuse for a woman who didn’t even have a manager’s license and shouldn’t even be in Adams’ corner tonight! Precious grabbed the mic and said that Sunshine better stay away from her tonight, as she hates her guts! Garvin agreed and said that Sunshine has been trying to push he weight around with Precious and tonight it’s all going to come to an end tonight.
- So, her name is Precious we learned here. I was pumped heading into this one, as this has been a big story in the territory the last handful of months here.
- “Gentleman” Chris Adams vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin: Our final replay match, scheduled for one fall to a finish, forty-five minute time limit, was for the WCCW American Heavyweight Championship. The ladies yelled at each other while the introductions were made and David Manning tried to keep control. Some chain wrestling followed by a scoop slam and a arm bar had Garvin on defense big time to start this one. More quick work finished with an arm drag and a submission, again in favor of Adams. A rollup kept Garvin down for a near fall and then it was an arm bar that had him in trouble next. At ringside, Sunshine kept moving closer and closer to Precious, one corner at a time. Action was kept at a quick pace in the ring, as Garvin continually ended up on the receiving end of punishment. Adams ran into a knee in the corner, opening the door for Garvin to slap on a prone front face lock. Garvin then ran Adams’ head into the top turnbuckle a few times to taunt Sunshine at ringside. Adams fired up and returned the favor, smashing Garvin into the corner and sending him up and over with a back body drop. A Super Kick then sent Garvin out over the top rope! Adams then suplexed Garvin back in, but his legs were pulled out from underneath him by Precious from under the bottom rope. Garvin landed on top of him for a near fall. After this, Garvin hit the ropes but Sunshine jumped on the apron and caught him by the hair to scratch at his eyes. This kept Garvin down just long enough for Adams to cover him for a three count! Pandemonium broke out with the fans and in the ring after the bell, as Precious jumped in, only to be tossed around by Sunshine. Precious bailed and then it was Garvin who was getting clawed at again before he bailed. Adams was then awarded the championship as he and Sunshine celebrated!
- Wow, the fans went crazy for this one from start to finish. Any time Sunshine moved at ringside, they erupted. I think the payoff of Sunshine finally getting some revenge on Garvin and Precious was well delivered here. Plus, Adams was due for a big win, as he has been consistently one of the best in-ring performers the promotion has had this year. The matches continue to deliver tonight and this one was no different. Garvin and Adams worked at a fast pace and got as much out of this one as they could with the time they were given. Three and a half stars from me, I just wish we would’ve saw a Super Kick properly finish this one. Maybe when Garvin got his eyes scratched, he could’ve turned around into a Super Kick? That would’ve given this one a slight bump up, in my opinion. Either way, this was a fun match and the right results came through in the end.
- After our final commercial tonight, we again joined Bill Mercer at ringside. He called Thanksgiving Star Wars a stupendous event. He mentioned title changes, a Von Erich debut, and more all contributing to making a historic night in downtown Dallas, Texas.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I feel these three matches were the strongest of the Thanksgiving Star Wars show, hands down. So, having been able to see these on TV back in December of 1983 would’ve been a real holiday treat. That said, I’m still surprised we haven’t gotten any fresh content going into another super show, arguably the biggest of the year, Christmas Star Wars! I’m assuming next week will restart the fresh content going into the end of the year, as all the Thanksgiving Star Wars footage has been run on TV. So, really, next week we should get a good idea of what direction World Class will be going in heading into 1984.
See you all then!