The 25 Days of Von Erichs – Day One

For 25 days until Iron Claw is released, I present to you genuine moments in World Class Championship Wrestling history in chronological order.

Today, we look at June 12, 1982 from Texas Stadium:

NWA Texas champion “Wild” Bill Irwin defeated Ken Mantell (yes, THAT Ken Mantell) in a non-title match.

Match 2 (eight-man battle royal):

Participants: Andre the Giant, Al Madril, “Wild “ Bill Irwin, the Spoiler, Bugsy McGraw, T-Jon Thibodeaux, Jose Lothario

Highlights:

• In order to eliminate your opponent, a wrestler must slam him rather than toss him over the top rope.
• While this was supposed to contain eight men, Bundy couldn’t compete due to his involvement in the American title match.
• When Andre held McGraw, Thibodeaux sandwiched him in the corner.
• Andre slammed the Spoiler eliminating him.
• As Thibodeaux and McGraw re-entered the ring, Andre slammed Lothario eliminating him.
• McGraw and Irwin gave Thibodeaux a double slam eliminating him.
• Final four: Irwin, Madril, McGraw, and Andre.
• Speaking of Andre, he gave Irwin an atomic drop.
• He head-butted, slammed, and eliminated Irwin.
• When McGraw dropkicked him, Andre tied himself up in the ropes.
• Madril hit a flying shoulder block, leaped to the second turnbuckle, but missed a cross body block.
• After McGraw eliminated Madril with a slam, he sought advice from Arman Hussein at ringside.
• He tried to slam Andre to no avail.
• As he made a second attempt, Andre landed on top.
• McGraw then came off the ropes, but Andre caught and slammed him.
• Andre won $10,000.

Rating: NONE

After the match, Hussein gets in Andre’s face, but Andre slams him too. McGraw then throws a tantrum in the ring.

Match 3 for the All-Asia tag team titles: Kabuki & Dragon (champions w/ Gary Hart) versus Kevin & David Von Erich

Highlights:

• Dragon tagged in and hit a thrust kick.
• As David tagged in, he gave Dragon a knee lift.
• He leap-frogged and dropkicked Dragon.
• When Kevin tagged in, he ate another thrust kick but dropkicked Dragon.
• He attempted the Iron claw to Dragon’s head, but Dragon blocked it.
• After Kevin applied it to the midsection, Dragon escaped.
• Kabuki tagged in, but Kevin gave him a cross corner whip.
• Unfortunately for Kevin, he ate a thrust kick during his follow-through.
• Shortly after, David tagged in and gave Dragon a high knee.
• He tossed Dragon across the ring and dealt him a flying headscissors.
• As David missed a dropkick, Dragon mounted the top turnbuckle, performed a back flip, and hit a superkick.
• Kabuki tagged in, but David gave him a cross corner whip.
• When Dragon back-flipped off him, Kabuki demolished David with a superkick.
• Dragon tagged in, performed another back flip, and hit a second thrust kick.
• While the Irving faithful chanted “go David go,” Kevin tagged in and chopped Dragon.
• Kabuki tagged in, but Kevin gave him a cross body block for 2.
• Upon delivering a knee drop, Kevin got another 2.
• He secured the Iron claw on Kabuki’s forehead, but Kabuki escaped.
• As tags were exchanged on both sides, Dragon sent David into referee Nick Roberts.
• He hooked a rolling sleeper on David, but Kevin made the save.
• With all four wrestlers in the ring, David tossed Dragon over the top rope to the turf.
• David suplexed Dragon back into the ring.
• 1-2-3.
• WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!
• Can you smell it?
• Yep, Roberts returned the belts back to Kabuki and Dragon because the Von Erichs were disqualified.

Rating: **

Summary: Yes, folks, I believe David borrowed one of Dusty Rhodes’ favorite booking tactics from Florida and brought it to Texas with him. While the crowd was hot, this match did not follow the tag formula for success and suffered because of it.

Stay tuned for more WCCW goodness tomorrow!