Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: December 18, 1982 (taped 12/3)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Bill Mercer
Can David earn more gold and get even more revenge against Kabuki? What additional stipulation has been added to the cage match for the World title? Will Checkmate get another victory over McGraw and Madril? Also, who will be my special guest host for tonight’s reflection?
Thanks, Chris, but it won’t be as hard as Olympic tryouts.
Opening montage.
To begin the show, we revisit the 11/27 episode when Dragon interfered in a match between Kabuki and David. Tonight, David can get his revenge!
Match 1: Brian Adias versus “Killer” Tim Brooks
Highlights:
- Brooks executed a double leg takedown for 2.
- When Adias leap-frogged Brooks, he followed with a dropkick.
- Adias then delivered another pair of dropkicks, but Brooks countered with another double leg takedown.
- With assistance from the ropes, Brooks pinned Adias.
Rating: *
Summary: Adias continues to pay his dues, and Brooks gets a much-needed win over the rookie.
After the match, referee Bronko Lubich comes to the ring to inform David Manning of Brooks’ shenanigans. Despite Brooks’ pleading, Manning reverses the decision. People complain of Dusty Rhodes’ liberal use of this booking strategy, but it’s happened a few times recently here in WCCW albeit to the delight of the Dallas faithful.
Following a commercial break, Gary Hart and Hussein cut a promo on David Von Erich. Next, David disputes Hussein’s claim of a choke hold and will put Kabuki to sleep.
Prior to the next match, we revisit the 11/20 episode when Checkmate used chicanery to steal a win from McGraw and Madril.
Match 2: Bugsy McGraw & Al Madril versus Checkmate & Magic Dragon (w/ Arman Hussein)
Highlights:
- While McGraw distracted Lubich by grabbing Checkmate, Dragon nailed Madril. How dastardly!
- With Madril in peril at the mercy of Dragon, McGraw stormed into the ring to distract Lubich again.
- The heels then double-teamed Madril much to the dismay of the Dallas faithful. SNEAKY!
- As Dragon backdropped Madril, he got 2.
- Checkmate tagged in, but Madril sent him face-first to the top turnbuckle.
- Hot tag McGraw.
- When McGraw gave Dragon a cross corner whip, he ate a kick to the midsection on his follow-through.
- Dragon then gave McGraw a cross corner whip, but McGraw hooked a sunset flip during Dragon’s follow-through.
- After Checkmate tried to interfere, Madril mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a top-rope sunset flip. Wow!
- 1-2-3.
- Madril and McGraw won.
Rating: **½
Summary: Excellent use of the tag formula to rally the Dallas faithful. Also, keeping McGraw on the apron for an extended portion of the match caused the hot tag to generate a great pop. Solid work, gentlemen!
To hype the upcoming NWA World title match at Christmas Star Wars between Flair and Kerry, wrestlers offered their opinions as to who will win. First, King Kong Bundy believes Flair will win due to “experience and desire.” Second, Madril, wearing an Elvis t-shirt, informs Flair that Kerry “is more than ready.” Third, “Wild” Bill Irwin thinks that Kerry doesn’t “have enough explosion in him to beat (Flair).” Fourth, McGraw lets us know that “excitement is in the air.” Fifth, Checkmate, despite mentioning “craft and savvy of a World champion remain supreme” with regards to Flair, chooses Kerry to overcome the odds.
Following that, a replay of the terse argument from last week between Flair and Fritz is shown.
Match 3 for the (bogus) All-Asia title: The Great Kabuki (champion w/ Arman Hussein) versus NWA Texas champion David Von Erich
Highlights:
- David dropkicked Kabuki for 2.
- When he delivered a knee drop, David attempted a second one but missed.
- Kabuki then mounted the second turnbuckle and hit a flying chop.
- As the Dallas faithful chanted “go David, go,” Kabuki landed a thrust kick to David’s midsection.
- He then applied a nerve hold and thwarted David’s attempt at an Iron claw.
- After David switched to an abdominal claw, Kabuki escaped.
- David then delivered a knee lift and applied the Iron claw to Kabuki’s head.
- When Kabuki tried to break the hold by grabbing the bottom rope, David dragged him with the claw to the center of the ring. He then earned a pair of 2-counts.
- Kabuki escaped again by raking David’s eyes causing David to spill down to the floor.
- As David returned to the ring, he hit a high knee.
- He then reapplied the Iron claw, but Kabuki escaped again. This time, he sent David into referee Bronko Lubich.
- With Lubich down, Hussein got up on the apron and grabbed David from behind.
- Kabuki then sprayed the green mist but got Hussein instead of David.
- While David and Kabuki brawled, Lubich called for the bell.
- Again, David won by DQ; thus, Kabuki retained.
Rating: **
Summary: Hot main event with David getting some, but not all, type of revenge against Kabuki.
After the match, David tosses Kabuki to the floor., and Lubich restrains him from going after Kabuki. Hussein then receives assistance at ringside from Kabuki.
Conclusion: Surprisingly, the tag match is the highlight of the show. The road to Christmas Star Wars has been paved, and it awaits us next week!
Can’t wait, Chris. Thanks for hanging out!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 12-27-82!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202). Also, please check out all of my reflections at rockstargary.com.