The 25 Days of Von Erichs – Day Twenty-Two

With 4 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 May 18, 1985 from Texas Stadium:https://rockstargary.com/reflections/pictures/gino051885.jpg

Match 1 (12-man, 3 out of 5 falls):

Babyfaces: Kevin, Kerry, & Mike Von Erich, Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, & Buddy Roberts

Heels: “Gentleman” Chris Adams, the “Handsome Half-Breed” Gino Hernandez, Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, One Man Gang, The “Crippler” Rip Oliver, Kamala (w/ Gary Hart, Jim Cornette, & General Skandor Akbar)

Highlights:

FOURTH FALL:

• Adams attempted to suplex Gordy but got suplexed himself.
• When Hayes scored with a back elbow to Adams, Roberts bulldogged Adams.
• He hooked an inside cradle upon Adams for 2.
• As Mike dropkicked Kamala, he followed with an elbow drop.
• Hayes tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and unloaded upon Gino.
• After the Von Erichs launched a triple dropkick to Oliver, the Freebirds triple-teamed Gino with a Hart Attack.
• Roberts pinned Gino at 13:11, and the match was tied at 2 apiece.

FIFTH FALL:

• Before the bell rang to begin the deciding fall, Adams uncorked a superkick to Roberts. How dastardly!
• Kerry attempted to slam Kamala but lost his balance.
• While Kamala got 2 on Kerry, Hayes clotheslined Adams for 1.
• Hayes hooked a sunset flip for another 2.
• When Hayes slammed Adams, he landed an elbow drop but couldn’t get 3.
• Kevin launched himself from ring #1 to ring #2 tackling Williams in the process. Wow!
• As Kevin pinned Williams at 15:43, the babyfaces won the match 3-2.
• While the babyfaces won $100,000, Kevin won the Lincoln.

Rating: ****

Summary: Fantastic match with non-stop action from both sides and a definite classic if you’ve never seen it. The only issue I had with it was the directing as some action was missed in one ring when the camera was capturing some non-action in the other one. C’mon, Keith Mitchell!

After the match, Hart grabs the microphone, summons Gang, and orders him to “destroy that damn car…with the chain.” Before Gang can unleash his chain upon the Lincoln, Mike flies at him with a cross body block to knock Gang down.

Once Gang goes backstage, Gino steals the chain from referee David Manning. He whips the chain and smashes the windshield! Adams kicks it for more damage, and the Dynamic Duo has vandalized Kevin’s Lincoln. Officials prevent an irate trio of Von Erichs from storming after them. Justice will have to wait.

HOT TAKE: Excellent post-match chicanery to fuel a huge crowd against the Dynamic Duo. They fucked up a $25,000 luxury car! How can you not want the Von Erichs to punish them for their misdeed?

Also, Mike Von Erich defeated Rip Oliver.

Match 3 for the vacant NWA American tag titles (no-DQ): The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette) versus the Fantastics (w/ Little John)

Highlights:

• This match took place in both rings, and Cornette was forced to sit next to Little John at ringside.
• When Rogers hooked a sunset flip on Condrey, he got 2.
• Eaton slammed Fulton for 2.
• As Rogers mounted the second turnbuckle, he missed a fist drop.
• Eaton tried to bring Fulton from the apron into the ring the hard way, but Fulton used momentum to send Eaton down to the stadium floor.
• After Eaton charged at him, Fulton backdropped him on the stadium floor. OUCH!
• Fulton fed Condrey a ten-punch count-along and got 2.
• While the Midnight Express attempted to ram them together, the Fantastics performed a do-si-do and dropkicked them.
• Rogers dropkicked Condrey thrice more, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a missile dropkick.
• That only got 1 due to Condrey’s leg on the bottom rope.
• When Eaton mounted the top turnbuckle, he unloaded a flying elbow smash to Fulton.
• Condrey clotheslined Rogers for 2.
• As Eaton brought a plastic chair into the ring, Condrey rammed Rogers face-first into it.
• Eaton WHACKED each Fantastic in the back with the chair, and Condrey whipped Rogers into another chair shot. Wicked! Both Rogers and Fulton were BUSTED OPEN.
• After referee David Manning disposed of the chair, Eaton press-slammed Fulton between the rings.
• Condrey sent Rogers from ring #2 into #1, and the Midnight Express uncorked a double back elbow to him.
• While Rogers powerslammed Eaton, he got 2.
• Eaton reversed a cross corner whip that sent Rogers directly into Manning.
• With Eaton atop both Rogers and Manning, Little John smacked Eaton.
• Since Little John was distracted, Cornette CREAMED Fulton with the tennis racquet. Nefarious!
• Condrey pinned Fulton, yet Rogers pinned Eaton.
• WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!
• But who are they?
• Referee Rick Hazzard raised Condrey’s hand, but Manning suspensefully reversed the decision.
• The Fantastics won in 8:43.

Rating: ***

Summary: Quite the convoluted finish as the camera barely shot Cornette’s interference. I would love to rate this higher, but that finish was TERRIBLE.

After the match, Hazzard presents the Fantastics with the belts, but Cornette BREAKS his racquet across the back of Little John. Since it doesn’t faze him, Little John briefly saunters after Cornette, but he’s long gone.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: According to Cornette during a podcast, he instructed Little John to slap Eaton sooner than he did. Since that was mistimed, the “simultaneous” pins weren’t simultaneous. Also, the racquet wasn’t supposed to break across Little John’s back. Instead, Little John was supposed to break it, but it broke off before he was given the chance. Ultimately, Cornette and the Midnight Express left WCCW once their checks cleared. Since they’re on WCCW TV on 6/10, I guess those checks took their time getting to them.

Stay tuned for more WCCW goodness tomorrow!