The Fritz Von Erich Retirement Spectacular, Friday, June 4, 1982, Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

The first big card of World Class Championship Wrestling came on June 4, 1982, The Fritz Von Erich Retirement Spectacular. Fritz Von Erich, long the top star and greatest hero of the Texas wrestling scene, would be bringing down the curtain of his full time wrestling career. To mark the occasion World Class went to Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, for a supercard. The attendance was frankly disappointing. About 6,000 fans attended, well down from Texas Stadium shows in 1972 and 1976 that drew in excess of 20,000 fans each. Still, the show served notice that World Class Championship Wrestling was on the map and that a new era of Texas wrestling had begun. Let’s take a look at the results and matches of that card as it is a perfect way to familiarize us with the wrestlers, feuds, and angles of World Class wrestling at the promotion’s inception.

Neither of these wrestlers were regular combatants in World Class. It was common at this time for Texas based promotions to bring talent in from Mexico in order to boost the gate by appealing to the large Mexican-American and Mexican immigrant populations in the region. El Solitario and Rene Guarjado served not only as a draw for that segment of the audience, but also to give Texas fans a rare look at the Lucha Libre style and a fresh change of pace.

In 1982 Andre the Giant was one of the biggest stars in wrestling figuratively, and at 7’4 and nearly 500 lbs., literally as well. At this time Andre was still touring in all of the territories. An appearance by Andre was an event unto itself and was always a special treat for the fans who were drawn by his not only his size, but his incredible charisma as well. Bugsy McGraw meanwhile was a member of H and H, held the Texas Brass Knuckles Title, co-held American Tag Team Title with King Kong Bundy, and was defining the role of the crazy heel. Fans never knew what Bugsy might say or do next. Crazy interviews and unorthodox, often foreign object strewn brawls were the order of the day.

Speaking of interviews, Bugsy threw out a lot of rash challenges and made many questionable boasts, including some unkind statements about Andre the Giant, as a prelude to the Bodyslam Battle Royal that would be featured on this card. Andre was never one to take things lying down, so a match was made. Bugsy had size and his chaotic style, but could not compare to the towering Andre the Giant and his sheer strength. The match played for laughs with Bugsy continuously trying and failing to slam and generally overpower Andre who often brushed away his smaller opponent with laughable ease. Bugsy McGraw’s humorous frustration only added to the occasion.

Both of these ladies hailed from Mexico, and were presented as special attractions rather than regular combatants in World Class. Irma Gonzales had a long career that began in the 1950s and stretched well into the 1980s, perhaps even the 1990s. She can rightfully be compared with The Fabulous Moolah for her longevity, staying power, and influence on the women’s wrestling scene in Mexico. Lola Gonzales was in her prime at this time and around 1981-1984 Lola and Irma Gonzales feuded regularly over the Women’s World Title in the then highly influential, Mexican promotion UWA.

There was no big feud here. This was just a standard title defense featuring a tough heel champ and an equally tough babyface challenger whose styles meshed well together.

Wild Bill Irwin was a tough brawler who was really making a mark as Texas Champion at this time. He was using a prototype of the biker gimmick he and his brother Scott would use years later as the Long Riders. Irwin was a member of H and H Ltd., usually seconded by the honorable Arman Hussein and Hussein’s ever present whistle. World Class fans loved to torment Irwin by calling him Chauncey, his middle name. Irwin’s angry responses to the Chauncey chants only made the fans chant it louder and more often. I’ve heard that even in the mid 1990s Irwin would still be taunted with Chauncey chants at Texas independent shows.

Ken Mantell was a solid veteran of the Texas wrestling wars and a former NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champ. Ken’s style was light on frills and heavy on a combination of scientific mat wrestling and no-nonsense brawling. Ken’s workmanlike performances and blue-collar ethic made him popular with the fans. After retiring Ken would become an influential and innovative booker for both World Class and Mid-South/UWF.

The Spoiler was a hated heel in most promotions, but in recent times had become a beloved figure among the Texas fans. The Spoiler was just as vicious as he had ever been, but now used his wrestling skills, deceptive power, and intelligence on the heels he had once considered his allies. Part of what made The Spoiler so dangerous was his unusual agility considering his size, 6’4" 270 lbs. of steel and toughness. The Undertaker’s tight rope walking moves were actually taught to him by his teacher The Spoiler, who performed those moves for years.

Captain Frank Dusek had made quite a splash in the Dallas-Fort Worth area 1981 and early 1982 by commanding an army of heels. By this point Dusek was without a stable and had settled into mid-card heel status. Dusek was nobody’s fool. He could get on the mat and trade holds with the best of them and always had a full stockpile of dirty tricks and foreign objects when the going got rough. Dusek simply had no answer for The Spoiler on this day.

The Great Kabuki and The Magic Dragon defeated Kevin and David Von Erich to win the All – Asian Tag Team Title

Kevin and David Von Erich had the world at their feet at this time. Kevin was built, had a great look and high-flying style that was innovative for the era. David was more apt to stay on the mat and trade holds and was never shy about brawling if necessary. Although a lanky 6’5", David had a presence that was impossible to deny. Back in 1981 Kevin and David had held the All-Asian Tag Team Title on a tour of All-Japan. Much was made of this title reign back in Texas in order to put over Kevin and David as international superstars. Although Kevin and David’s title reign had actually been rather brief, World Class commissioned its own version of the title, separate and distinct from the All-Japan version, and passed it off as the same version they had held in All-Japan. Regardless of the title’s pedigree and history it was presented as a valuable and coveted prize.

Kabuki and his masked partner The Magic Dragon were worthy and highly formidable challengers, combining scientific skills with martial arts maneuvers that were unusual for the time. The Asian superstars won the titles using highly underhanded means, setting a feud in motion. Kabuki was the centerpiece of H and H Ltd. and very innovative and distinct from the many Asian heels that wrestling had seen in the post World War II era. He did not play the role of devious salt thrower. Instead Kabuki evoked the ninja and martial arts with his ring attire and nunchuks. Kabuki’s face paint and mysterious, blinding green and red mist captured the imagination of wrestling fans. From Kendo Nagasaki to The Great Muta to Yoshihiro Tajiri wrestlers have used and adapted the gimmick made famous by The Great Kabuki. Magic Dragon was less well known, but served as solid counterpart to Kabuki, relying on a more conventional wrestling style.

Off topic: This was a somewhat rare Texas appearance for David during this period. David was competing regularly in Florida as a heel teaming with Dory Funk Jr. at this point. David’s Florida heel run was a very touchy subject in World Class. The promotion knew that fans read the magazines and learned about the situation in Florida. In response World Class did everything possible to deflect any spillover heel heat in Texas by insisting that David was merely defending Texas’ honor or that Florida fans held a grudge against David for the Cowboys beating Tampa Bay 38 – 0 in the NFC Playoffs. In this pre-internet age, fans generally bought these explanations without question.

I’m going from memory on this one, but the participants were Andre the Giant, Bugsy McGraw, The Spoiler, Frank Dusek, Wild Bill Irwin, Ken Mantell, Al Madril, and T. John Thibedaux. The object was to avoid the bodyslam at all costs. Fall victim to the maneuver and to the back you’d go. Slamming Andre would be a problem for sure, but if two or more wrestlers could team up it was possible. Slamming T. John Thibedaux would also be problematic. The enormous farmer from the bayous of Louisiana weighed in at near 500 lbs. himself. Bugsy McGraw had not only made a lot of disparaging comments about Andre the Giant in the buildup to this match and their earlier clash, but had plenty of bad things to say about T. John as well. This would not be their first encounter. They had battled in Texas rings the previous year and Bugsy vowed to avenge those defeats. Bugsy didn’t slam T. John, but did outlast his enemy. As always, the King of the Battle Royal, Andre the Giant prevailed before an adoring crowd, glad for a rare Texas visit for the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Off topic: In the late 1970s and early 1980s wrestling promoters attempted to turn T. John into a special attractions along the lines of Haystacks Calhoun, a wrestler who might only come to town once or twice per year. Alas T. John never really caught on with fans and this in fact was his final appearance in the promotion.

1982 was a key year for Kerry Von Erich. His physique and athletic ability enabled him to combine fast paced scientific moves with a power-based attack that would be more in vogue later in the decade. He also had an unmistakable charisma that set him apart from Kevin and even David. It was in 1982 that Kerry stepped forward as the biggest star of the Von Erich brothers and began to stake his claim as a worthy contender for the NWA World Title. The promotion grabbed this opportunity by the horns. Soon Kerry was being referred to as the uncrowned World Champion and an NWA World Title bout with Champion Ric Flair was in the offing. However, to gain a match with Flair, Kerry had to defeat a top contender to the title. Kerry had to pin a man who was as worthy of the NWA World Title as any top contender or even Flair himself.

Enter Harley Race. Race was at this time a six-time former NWA World Champ who was less than a year removed from his most recent reign and little more than a year away from his seventh reign. In other words, Race stood among the top wrestlers in the World. For this card Race ventured in from his usual haunts in Kansas City and St. Louis to Texas Stadium to serve as the toughest foe in the most important match of Kerry Von Erich’s career to date.

There was only ever going to be one outcome to this bout, with destiny on his side and the importance of the match and the card as a whole, Kerry prevailed. However, Kerry only gained victory after taking everything Race had in an often-brutal encounter. By defeating Harley in this encounter, Kerry served notice that he belonged in the elite class of wrestlers as well and that the NWA World Title was now within his grasp. In the coming months Kerry’s pursuit of the NWA World Title not only excited fans, but ultimately led to events that changed the course of professional wrestling history, as we will discuss in future articles.

If you’ve never seen this bout, or other matches from this era, you may not realize at first that the large man facing Fritz is King Kong Bundy. Not only did Bundy wear slightly different ring attire than most people remember and weigh about 75 lbs. less than his WWF prime, but he also had a full head of hair! King Kong Bundy had initially been a fan favorite and friend of the Von Erich family when he came to Texas. However, Gary Hart’s and Arman Hussein’s money proved to be more important than friendship and fan admiration to Bundy. The big man, then billed as being from Nome, Alaska, betrayed his friends and fans and became the centerpiece of H and H Limited. Bundy had the American Heavyweight Title in hand and half of the American Tag Team Title with Bugsy McGraw as well. Bundy also had a devious management team behind him, a bad attitude, and, at 400 lbs., more size than any other regular in World Class Championship Wrestling, King Kong Bundy stood on the verge of totally dominating the Texas wrestling scene. Only one man could stop him, the legendary Fritz Von Erich.

Fritz Von Erich had had a long and fruitful career. After wrestling in various parts of the country as a heel, Fritz had made Dallas-Fort Worth his permanent wrestling home. Fritz combined size and an ornery toughness with a down-home, personable demeanor that had made him the most popular wrestler in Texas history. Fritz could certainly get on the mat and trade holds, but his willingness to brawl when necessary made him a particular favorite. Fritz backed down from no one. He usually ended his matches with the Iron Claw, a vice like grip of the skull. Once Fritz clamped on the Iron Claw, escape was impossible. Fritz would later teach his sons the move and it became a Von Erich family trademark. By the late 1970s, as his sons began their careers, Fritz began to curtail his wrestling activities, only wrestling occasionally in special matches. By 1982 he had decided to call it a career. But before stepping out of the ring for good, Fritz had one last score to settle.

This bout was a no-disqualification; falls count anywhere match with Bundy’s second Gary Hart banned from ringside. There were no pretences about rules or holds and maneuvers. This was a brawl plain and simple. Fritz himself had no qualms about nailing Bundy with a steel chair. The bout climaxed with Fritz incapacitating Bundy with the Iron Claw and pinning him in the end zone of Texas Stadium. As Fritz raised the American Heavyweight Title for the final time, his sons Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris embraced him as the fans celebrated his triumph as well. The Fritz Von Erich era had ended, but the new era of World Class Championship Wrestling had begun with a bang.

We’ve seen the formation of World Class Championship Wrestling and its first major card. In our next edition we’ll examine the wrestlers, exciting angles, major matches, and heated feuds of the summer of 1982.