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The 25 Days of Von Erichs – Day Twenty-One

By Rock Star Gary on 17 December 2023

With 5 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 January 5, 1985 from Reunion Arena:

Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy was the sole survivor of a six-man elimination match involving Missing Link, General Skandor Akbar, Chic Donovan, Buddy “Jack” Roberts, and Mr. X.

Match 2 for the NWA World title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (champion) versus the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich

Highlights:

  • Flair attempted a vertical suplex, but Kerry blocked it.
  • As the Dallas faithful chanted “go, Kerry, go,” their hero hip-tossed Flair and followed with a flying headscissors.
  • Flair leapfrogged Kerry but ate a dropkick.
  • When Kerry hooked another flying headscissors, he got 2.
  • Flair bonked Kerry on the nose and had a shoving contest with referee David Manning.
  • After Flair delivered a knee drop, he got 2.
  • He then suplexed Kerry for another 2.
  • While Flair tossed him to the floor, Kerry’s midsection was BUSTED OPEN hardway.
  • Flair snapmared Kerry back into the ring and brawled with him in the corner.
  • As Kerry unloaded a discus punch, he reversed an Irish whip and applied a sleeper.
  • Flair countered with a knee crusher, but Kerry countered a snapmare with a backslide.
  • Do we have a new champion?
  • 1-2-NO!
  • When Kerry gorilla-press-slammed Flair, he got another 2.
  • He then suplexed Flair.
  • 1-2-3.
  • WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
  • Nope, Flair’s foot was under the bottom rope, so Manning restarted the match.
  • Flair tried to pin Kerry with his feet on the second rope, but Manning curtailed those shenanigans immediately.
  • After Kerry gave Flair a cross corner whip, a Flair flip ensued.
  • Flair caught his balance on the apron, mounted the top turnbuckle, and leaped.
  • While Kerry snagged Flair in an Iron claw, a BUSTED OPEN Flair escaped with a knee to the midsection.
  • A Flair flop led to both wrestlers down on the mat.
  • As Kerry blocked a knee drop, he locked Flair in a figure-four leg lock.
  • Flair tossed Manning completely out of the ring, but Manning refused to disqualify him.
  • When Flair reached the bottom rope, he used momentum sending Kerry face-first into the top turnbuckle.
  • He mounted the top turnbuckle, but Kerry caught and slammed him down to the mat.
  • After Kerry reapplied an Iron claw, Flair hip-tossed him over the top rope to the floor.
  • Will Manning disqualify him now?
  • Unfortunately for Kerry, the answer was yes.
  • Kerry won by DQ, but Flair retained at 18:20.

Rating: ***

Summary: Since the DQ stipulation wasn’t waived this time around, Flair used it to his advantage to save his title. Extremely hot match as the Dallas faithful believed Kerry could snag another victory and title reign against Flair.

After the match, Nick Roberts gets up on the apron and confers with Manning regarding the decision.

Following another commercial break, Lowrance interviews Roberts with Manning in the ring. Nick accuses Flair of “abusing the NWA ruling.” Next, he explains that he, Crockett, and Graham consulted NWA President Bob Geigel via telephone, and a “rematch must be scheduled immediately in Texas.” Afterward, he notes that, during the rematch, should Flair get disqualified, “the title will change hands.” Manning confirms that the rematch should occur within the next couple of weeks.

A quick search reveals that Flair and Kerry battled on 1/7 in Fort Worth, 1/8 in Austin, and 1/10 in San Antonio. Two matches ended in a draw while another ended with Kerry losing by disqualification.

Also, Billy Jack Haynes & Mike Von Erich defeated the “Handsome Half-Breed” Gino Hernandez & Jake “The Snake” Roberts.

Stay tuned for more WCCW goodness tomorrow!