WCCW #19 Page #2
Killer Khan and The Missing
Link also received some title shots. Chris Adams maintained his grip on the Fort
Worth based TV Title while fending off Kevin Von Erich. Adams and Hernandez held
the now sparsely defended Six Man Tag Team Championship. The only title to
change hands was the American Title. It no longer served a purpose to have Gino
holding three titles at once. Thus on Monday October 29, 1984 Kerry Von Erich
won the title in Fort Worth. The title was to be the focus of the feud between
Kerry and Butch Reed. Reed’s departure put that idea permanently on the shelf,
but at least Kerry got the rub from being the champ.
Thanksgiving
Wrestling Star Wars, Thursday November 22, 1984, Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX
The
Missing Link defeated Buck Zumhofe
A quick win for the Link over the soon to be
departing Zumhofe.
Stella
Mae French defeated Nicola Roberts
This
was the climax of this feud. Earlier in the month Nicola and Gino Hernandez had
jumped Stella Mae in Fort Worth and cut off much of her hair. With Sunshine and
Mike Von Erich in her corner to counteract Gino, Stella got her win and cut off
a bit of Nicola’s hair for revenge. With Sunshine back on the scene,
Stella’s purpose had been served and she departed. Meanwhile Nicola headed to
the Carolinas to become Tully Blanchard’s valet Baby Doll.
Chic
Donovan defeated General Skandor Akbar by disqualification
Chic Donovan is best known to
fans as an enhancement guy on Georgia Championship Wrestling, but in 1984 he was
in line for a nice midcard push in World Class. Unfortunately for Chic he
suffered a knee injury just as his push was gaining momentum, leaving him
sidelined for several months. The injury was sold as having been inflicted by
Devastation Incorporated. Thus in his comeback bout Chic avenged himself against
that stable’s evil mastermind General Skandor Akbar.
The
Fantastics defeated The PYTs to retain the American Tag Team Title
This bout represented The
PYTs swan song in World Class. Norvell Austin and Koko Ware were fine wrestlers
and in this bout gave Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers a heck of a fight. However
during their stay in World Class, The PYTs just never quite got over as had been
hoped. They were bound for Florida after this bout. For The Fantastics this bout
solidified their hold on the spot as World Class Championship Wrestling’s top
tag team. Unlike in Mid-South where they had kept the seat warm for the Rock n
Roll Express, The Fantastics had established themselves as the home team in
World Class.
Kerry
Von Erich and Iceman Parsons defeated Jake Roberts and Kelly Kiniski
The impact of Butch Reed’s
unplanned early departure from World Class is clearly on display here. Reed’s
feud with Kerry was scrubbed and thus low midcarder Kelly Kiniski received an
increasingly rare moment in the spotlight by taking his place. The other focus
of this bout the feud between Jake Roberts and Iceman Parsons. Kerry and Iceman
used better teamwork and were able to overcome the deviousness of their foes.
Mike
Von Erich defeated Gino Hernandez in a non-title match
Mike Von Erich won the
battle, defeating his archenemy Gino Hernandez. However as this was a non-title
match, Gino retained the Texas Title. Still, Mike had proven himself against one
of the top wrestlers in the promotion and a long time enemy of the Von Erich
family.
Terry
Gordy defeated Killer Khan in a Texas Death Match
This was one of the most
brutal bouts of all time. This was the final conflict between these two former
friends and they let it all hang out. To say that a little blood spilled would
be a minor understatement to put it mildly. Gordy, Khan, special guest referee
Kerry Von Erich, and Khan’s manager General Skandor Akbar were covered in the
combatants’ blood. In fact this match was so bloody that to my knowledge it
never ran on the Legends of World Class Championship Wrestling series on ESPN.
Gordy of course was looking for retribution for his former friend and mentor
Khan selling out The Fabulous Freebirds in favor of Devastation. As he had not
pursued a vendetta against the Von Erichs since returning, Terry Gordy’s past
misdeeds had been largely forgotten and he had 100% support of the crowd on this
night. It took some time and some violence, but Gordy got the victory. After
dispatching his former mentor, Gordy participated in an incredible moment. He
and Kerry shook hands. Kerry congratulated the victorious Freebird. Gordy
thanked Kerry for calling the match fairly. It seemed as if some sort of Von
Erich – Freebird union was afoot, but Gordy’s stay in World Class was ending
soon and the angle was not pursued. Still it fully established Gordy as a
babyface and set the stage for some future Von Erich – Freebirds encounters
down the line.
Chris
Adams defeated Kevin Von Erich
This bout only lasted about
five minutes, but no fan was disappointed. Dollar for dollar, minute for minute,
this was one of the most exciting matches you’ll see, a total brawl. The match
didn’t stay in the ring and moved around the ringside area. Gary Hart made his
presence felt by interfering. In the end Hart blocked a Kevin Von Erich
superplex and then held down Kevin’s leg to prevent a kickout to enable a win
by Chris Adams. That was hardly the end. In the build up to the match Kevin had
promised to avenge The Cotton Bowl by sending Chris out of Reunion Arena on a
stretcher and he aimed to keep his word. Kevin snatched a wooden chair from
ringside and cold cocked The Gentleman. As Gary Hart and security guards helped
a groggy and bloody Adams from the ring, Kevin was furious. He angrily shouted
for them to bring Adams back so that he could beat him further. He made it very
clear that he wanted Adams to leave on a stretcher. Kevin even said “damn
it” on the house microphone. I don’t bring that up flippantly. Such was the
Von Erich image that the idea of Kevin or any family member swearing seemed
unthinkable. This comment from Kevin just underlined the intensity of this feud
and it was just beginning.
NEXT
MONTH:
The Adams vs. Kevin feud moves to new levels of violence. Ric Flair and Kerry Von Erich go to battle again. Plus some major new names make their World Class debuts. There’s a lot to cover. We’ll see you then.