Coming In 

Few fans of World Class Championship Wrestling could have imagined that Chris Adams would go on to become a legend of the Texas pro wrestling scene. His debut was so unassuming. Chris was good looking youngster from Stratford on Avon, England. He started his career in his native land, but felt that his best chances for success lied in the United States. In 1982 or so Chris headed for California where he held the Americas Title in the crumbling Los Angeles territory promoted by Mike LeBell. On Christmas 1982 while the Von Erichs vs. Freebirds war was igniting, the Los Angeles promotion held its final show before going out of business. The wrestlers needed to find new employers. After a short time Chris made it to World Class. Los Angeles’ loss was Texas’ gain. Chris’ energetic style, infectious smile, and martial arts moves helped set him apart. In due time he’d make the leap from popular up and comer to superstar. 

Chavo Guerrero was another veteran of the Los Angeles wrestling scene who had competed extensively in San Antonio, Houston, and Mexico in recent years. His enthusiasm combined with moonsaults and planchas not typically seen in U.S. wrestling made him popular from the get go. Alas Chavo did not stay long in World Class. 

Johnny Mantell was frequently described by Marc Lowrance as an “opportunistic wrestler” this was meant as high praise and I second the thought. Johnny was always a blue-collar wrestler who would make his opponents pay for their mistakes. Johnny was similar to his older brother Ken in that he was well respected by fans as he combined straight ahead, scientific wrestling with a rough and tumble brawling style. Johnny Mantell started on the undercard for World Class. He was the sort of wrestler who would lose to a big star on TV, but always look good in defeat, while getting wins at house shows over lesser wrestlers and the odd TV win as well. Johnny would eventually climb to midcard status and in a different era might have received more of a push. 

The masked man Mr. Ebony also briefly made his home in World Class Championship Wrestling for a time. He was a member of Devastation Incorporated, but never really rose past preliminary status although he and The Mongol did team up from time to time. Mr. Ebony competed in many promotions without a mask under his own name, Tom Jones. 

Going Out 

During this quarter of the year, World Class Championship Wrestling’s talent pool remained fairly stable. Al Madril finally departed, but for the most part talent flowed in rather than out of the promotion. Most of the major departures occurred earlier or later in the year. 

Summer Wrestling Star Wars Friday June, 17, 1983, Reunion Arena, Dallas 

Through the spring and early summer, World Class Championship Wrestling had been building towards its latest Reunion Arena show. As always, like all Star Wars cards, this event featured the culmination of months of feuds and saw wrestlers of international renown make special appearances in World Class Championship Wrestling. By examining these special bouts, we have a window towards the feuds that created them. 

Genichiro Tenyru defeated Johnny Mantell 

Genichiro Tenyru was a fantastic scientific talent visiting from All Japan Pro Wrestling where he remains a major star to this day. Mantell was a solid and very underrated wrestler. This was not Johnny’s day, but he’d get more of a chance to make a mark as the year progressed. 

Vicki Carranza defeated Lola Gonzales to win the Mexican Women’s Title 

As was customary for the big World Class shows of this era, a women’s match was brought in from Mexico. The idea was to both appeal to the Mexican-American and Mexican immigrant populations in the region, but also to provide the fans with something they wouldn’t normally see. 

Chris Adams, Jose Lothario, and Chavo Guerrero defeated The Mongol, Wild Bill Irwin, and Fishman 

This was an extremely eclectic six-man tag as far as the participants are concerned. Veteran Jose Lothario and Chavo Guerrero were veterans of the Lucha Libre scene. No doubt Mexican veteran Fishman was brought in to work that style with them and Adams who faced many luchadores during his time in Los Angeles. Wild Bill Irwin returned just for the day. At this time he made Georgia Championship Wrestling his home base. The massive Mongol filled out the heel team and held down a place in General Skandor Akbar’s Devastation Incorporated. 

Buddy Roberts defeated Iceman Parsons in a hair vs. hair match 

With The Freebirds adopting Jimmy Garvin as an ally, the Von Erichs responded in kind. They turned to the popular Iceman to help even the odds. Within the larger feud, Iceman and Buddy Roberts developed a heated rivalry. For both men this was a welcome opportunity to shine. For Iceman, this was his first major singles feud in World Class. Meanwhile Buddy had the opportunity to step out of the shadows of his brothers and be the focal point of a feud. The bad blood eventually led to Buddy accosting Iceman with a pair of scissors and cutting off a couple of the braids from Iceman’s signature hair style. This infuriated Iceman to no end. The angle ultimately led to a hair vs. hair match at Reunion Arena. The loser would not only have his head shaved, but the hair would be removed not by clippers, but rather by a gooey concoction known as “Freebird Hair Cream”. The fans were electric for this bout, as they were for all the matches that evening. Every time Iceman had a chance to pull out the win, Buddy countered with a dirty trick. Finally Buddy scored a cheap win by pulling the tights. Iceman’s hair was history, or so Buddy thought. As Buddy celebrated, Iceman dumped the entire container of “Freebird Hair Cream” in to Buddy’s scalp. Michael Hayes ran to the rescue, but immediately headed for higher ground when Iceman threatened his long locks with the hair cream. Buddy was now bald and his attempts to deny the obvious and hide his embarrassment will be covered in detail next time. 

David Von Erich defeated Jimmy Garvin to win the held up Texas Title and the services of Jimmy Garvin and Sunshine as his valets for a day 

This was more than just about a title. This was about values. David was a rough and tough, down home Texas cowboy. Jimmy was a preening pretty boy with a big city flavor. David had an easygoing demeanor, but don’t make him mad. Garvin tended to act as if life was just a lark and would moan and complain when things didn’t go his way. David was all business in the ring. Garvin would occasionally break from the action to get a kiss on the cheek or a shoulder rub from his main squeeze Sunshine. It was this great clash of personalities and styles that made the feud work. While David was an absolutely outstanding competitor, Jimmy Garvin was not quite at his level in his in ring performer. A big part of what brought it all together was that Jimmy was a smart worker who knew what to do in the ring and knew how to push the fans buttons to emotionally bring them to the point of rioting with his tactics. 

This feud really got rolling in March when Jimmy Garvin used underhanded tactics, namely some interference from Sunshine, to win the Texas Title from David at The Sportatorium. A rematch in Fort Worth ended with the belt held up and a rematch needed. During the buildup Jimmy and David clashed repeatedly and the fists and the insults flew back and forth. Not only was Jimmy taking shots at David, but so was Sunshine. In one of the truly memorable moments of World Class Championship, David threw Sunshine over his knee and gave her a spanking as payback for her months of misbehavior. The whole issue of valets led to an interesting stipulation for the big Reunion Arena rematch. The winner got the loser as his valet for a day.  After a wild and thrilling bout David emerged as the Texas Champion and as the employer of the day of Jimmy Garvin and Sunshine. 

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Ted DiBiase; time limit draw, Tsuruta retains the United National Title 

Jumbo Tsuruta was another star from All Japan making a rare appearance on this card. Speaking of rare, Ted DiBiase made one of his only appearances in a World Class ring. Ted made Mid-South his home promotion and was on the verge of returning to Georgia. 

Giant Baba defeated King Kong Bundy to retain the PWF Title 

Shohei “Giant” Baba owned All Japan Pro Wrestling and as its biggest star was Pacific Wrestling Federation Champion. He was also a 3 time former NWA World Champion. This bout gave the fans a chance to see a star they may have heard or read about, but had probably never seen before. King Kong Bundy, by this time competing in the Mid-South territory, returned for the day. The angle here was seeing the 6’10” 300 lbs. Baba square off with the 6’3” 450 lbs. Bundy. 

Kamala defeated Arman Hussein, N’Tollah Yatsu, and Mike Bond in a loser leaves town match 

As 1983 progressed, Arman Hussein’s attempts to destroy Devastation had taken on an increasingly desperate tone. At one point Hussein had managed a stable of international superstars and had been a power broker in World Class Championship Wrestling. Now only N’Tollah Yatsu fit the description of a star. Otherwise Hussein was reduced to managing jobbers like Mike Bond (who only wore one kneepad for some reason) or Big Bill Rathke. Hussein, long past his prime as a wrestler, often wrestled as well. Devastation Incorporated was a different matter. Kamala was running rampant and General Skandor Akbar seemed to be on the verge of having World Class Championship Wrestling in a vice grip. For Hussein and company this was endgame. Win and stay. Lose and leave. Despite the 3 on 1 disadvantage facing Kamala, this bout only had one possible outcome. Kamala devastated his foes and sent Hussein and company packing. 

Harley Race defeated Kevin Von Erich by disqualification to retain the NWA World Title 

1982 had seen Kerry make a push for the NWA World Title. This time it was Kevin’s turn and deservedly so. Kevin had dominated the American Title over the past year and in recent months had turned back the challenge of Terry Gordy. His opponent Harley Race had turned back a challenger himself. Or should that be a champion? On June 10, 1983 one week prior to this event, Harley regained the NWA World Title for the first time in nearly two years by defeating Ric Flair in St. Louis. Race thus assumed Flair’s schedule of title defenses including this match. Race used his tough methodical style to break down his challenger. Kevin countered with his aerial attack and by using his underrated brawling technique. During the course of the bout Kevin suffered an arm injury. Of course Race took advantage, brutally punishing the arm. Kevin fought through the pain, but it was clear that he was in trouble. Eventually David came to ringside to offer moral support. Of course the brutal Harley Race taunted and goaded David. Eventually Race’s actions and Kevin’s suffering became too much. David was unable to hold his temper any further and entered the ring. He and Race brawled and brought Reunion Arena to its feet. Race finally retreated to the back to escape David’s onslaught. The drawback was that Kevin had been disqualified, but at least he had fought the good fight and given it his all. David meanwhile had clearly made his mark on the NWA World Title scene.  

Kerry Von Erich and Bruiser Brody defeated Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy to win the American Tag Team Title 

The principals in the moment that started World Class on the road to glory returned to the scene of the crime. Since that fateful Christmas night, the Von Erichs and The Freebirds had practically torn down the state of Texas with their feud. Kerry Von Erich especially targeted Michael Hayes. Unfortunately for Kerry, wrestling Hayes usually meant getting clobbered by Terry Gordy in the process. Kerry needed help. He needed someone rough enough and tough enough to put The Fabulous Freebirds in their place. That man was Bruiser Brody. Needless to say, Michael Hayes was livid to find out that Kerry was bringing Brody back to Texas and even more livid that he and Terry Gordy would have to put their rarely defended American Tag Team Title on the line. Bruiser Brody had not competed in Texas for a couple of years, but had been a massive favorite in the past. The fans couldn’t wait for Brody to help Kerry get revenge in what was certain to be an out of control pier six brawl. With two bulls like Brody and Gordy going at it, this naturally was a total brawl. They would have a more developed feud in 1986. Kerry and Hayes got their share of the fight as well. When the dust had settled, Kerry had tasted a bit of revenge against his Freebird tormenters. He and Brody were the new American Tag Team Champions. 

This event tied up some loose ends while also setting the stage for some major action and events of the second half of 1983. Iceman Parsons and Buddy Roberts still had scores to settle. Devastation Inc. was ready to make its presence felt to an even greater extent. Jimmy Garvin still had issues with David Von Erich who now had his own sights set on Harley Race and the NWA World Title. Of course the entire Von Erichs vs. Freebirds feud raged on. For World Class Championship Wrestling so much glory and excitement had occurred and so much was still to come.  

NEXT MONTH:

1983 rolls onward as next time we look at all the action and excitement of the summer of 1983.