The 25 Days of Von Erichs – Day Twenty-Five

With Iron Claw coming out tomorrow, I present to you genuine moments in World Class Championship Wrestling history in chronological order.

Today, we look at May 17, 1986 from Texas Stadium:

Match 1 for the WCWA World Six-Man titles (elimination/lumberjack): The Fabulous Freebirds (champions) versus Kerry & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson

Highlights:

• In addition to being lumberjacks, the wrestlers have straps to coerce the participants to stay in the ring.
• Both Fritz and Mike Von Erich were among the lumberjacks.
• Chris Von Erich handed Fritz a leather strap, and Fritz tanned Gordy’s hide.
• When Gordy mounted the top turnbuckle, he launched a cross body block, but Kerry used momentum to land on top for 2.
• Kerry blasted Gordy with a discus punch, but Hayes tagged in and tossed Kerry to the turf.
• Without being touched, a very fortunate Kerry jumped back into the ring immediately.
• Kerry dumped him out, but Hayes also returned without incident.
• As Kerry sent him packing again, Hayes got SPANKED by Fritz among others.
• Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Simpson mounted the top turnbuckle to lower the boom upon Roberts.
• Forgetting the stipulations, Roberts mistakenly exited the ring only to take a few lashes.
• Roberts rammed Simpson face-first into the mat and tagged in Gordy.
• After Gordy guillotined him across the top rope, he snap-suplexed Simpson.
• Gordy fed Simpson a fist drop, and Hayes tagged in.
• While Hayes dealt him a kick to the midsection, he tossed Simpson down to the turf.
• Grappler, Regal, and Tatum took their turns whipping Simpson before he re-entered.
• Tagging in, Gordy joined Hayes in a double boot to Simpson.
• Gordy folded Simpson like an accordion with a belly-to-back suplex for 2.
• Substituting for Gordy, Roberts guillotined Simpson with the top rope but got strapped by Fritz again.
• Hayes tagged in and dealt Simpson a swinging neckbreaker.
• Following Simpson’s escape of a bulldog, tags were exchanged on both sides, and Kerry backdropped Gordy.
• Chaos ensued as all six wrestlers spilled into the ring until referee Rick Hazzard regained control.
• Although Hayes was standing in the Freebird corner, Mike opened a can on him.
• In the meantime, Hayes and Gordy double-clotheslined Kerry while Hazzard shooed Simpson back to the Von Erich corner.
• 1-2-3.
• Kerry was eliminated at 6:41.
• Following a commercial break, Lance connected with a cross body block to Hayes but delivered knuckle sandwiches in lieu of a cover.
• Nevertheless, Gordy tagged in, yet Lance gave him a cross corner whip.
• He charged but ate some Gordy boot on his follow-through.
• Piledriving Lance, Gordy tagged out to Hayes who mounted the second turnbuckle.
• Hayes smacked Lance with a fist drop followed by his DEVASTATING LEFT HAND.
• Ejected to the turf, Lance got belted left and right by Grappler, Tatum, and Regal.
• Roberts tagged in, and he along with Hayes knocked Lance silly with a double elbow smash..
• Hooking his own swinging neckbreaker, Roberts tagged in Hayes who antagonized Simpson with his moonwalk.
• Hayes rammed Lance face-first into the mat twice, but Fritz whipped him from ringside.
• Joining Fritz on the turf, Hayes got annihilated by straps from everyone named Von Erich and Brian Adias.
• Mike entered the ring, gave Gordy a shot, but referee David Manning, back from an extended vacation, ejected Fritz and Kevin from ringside for their aggressiveness.
• Taking another turn, Gordy tagged in, but a mid-ring collision occurred.
• Hot tag Simpson.
• Dropkicking Hayes, Simpson backdropped him.
• He gave Hayes a cross corner whip followed by a monkey flip.
• Upon giving Hayes another cross corner whip, Simpson fell victim to a bulldog.
• Hayes hit a sidewalk slam yet celebrated prematurely.
• Wisely, Simpson hooked a sunset flip and pinned Hayes at 14:30.
• The sides were even at 2 apiece.
• Following another commercial break, Simpson sent Gordy to the turf to be punished.
• Shown sitting at ringside was Dr. William Sutker—the doctor who saved Mike’s life.
• Gordy flattened Simpson with a Samoan drop and tagged in Roberts.
• In the wake of a Gordy clothesline, Roberts mounted the top turnbuckle and pummeled him with a flying elbow smash.
• 1-2-3.
• Simpson was eliminated at 17:08.
• Unfortunately for Lance, that left him alone against Gordy and Roberts.
• He gave Roberts a cross corner whip but ate knee on his follow-through.
• Mounting the second turnbuckle, Roberts unloaded a big elbow.
• Interchanging with Roberts, Gordy splattered Lance with a big boot for 2.
• Gordy unleashed a German suplex for another 2.
• Exchanging tags, the Freebirds tried the same tactic used to eliminate Simpson upon Lance.
• It didn’t work as a dropkick by Lance sent Gordy over the top rope to the turf. Gordy was eliminated at 18:44.
• Since the match was now one apiece, Lance applied an Iron claw to Roberts.
• 1-2-3.
• Lance won at 18:56.
• WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Rating: ****½

Summary: Sensing Freebird devastation, Lance overcame the odds and won the titles for the Von Erich family. Gordy’s workrate combined with some aerial maneuvers by Simpson and Roberts make this an extremely worthwhile match. Of course, the Irving faithful LOST ITS DAMN MIND with the Von Erich victory.

After the match, the babyfaces including Mike flood the ring to congratulate Lance.

Enjoy the film, and get ready for my reflection of it.