Christmas night 1982 was a turning point for World Class Championship Wrestling. The act of Terry Gordy slamming the steel cage door on Kerry Von Erich began the glorious era of World Class Championship Wrestling that fans fondly remember to this day. The effects on business were immediately noticeable. Crowds at The Sportatorium had been healthy in 1982, but sellouts were rare and empty seats were noticeable on TV. After the Christmas show, it all changed. Suddenly sellouts became the norm as The Sportatorium was filled to the gills weekly and would be for much of the next two or three years. One angle had acted like the snowflake that started the avalanche. World Class Championship Wrestling had truly arrived.

Comings, Goings, and Stayings

As 1983 began, the talent pool began to change. The wrestlers who had played a major role in 1982 and even 1981 began to filter out of the promotion. In their places came a new breed of stars that over time would become institutions and in the case of some, legends. By the time March had ended, such recent mainstays as Bugsy McGraw, King Kong Bundy, Kabuki, Magic Dragon, Checkmate, Ken Mantell, Frank Dusek, Wild Bill Irwin, and Gary Hart all departed. Coming through the in door were Kamala, General Skandor Akbar, Iceman King Parsons, Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin, and Sunshine all of whom are synonymous with World Class Championship Wrestling to this day. Other notables like Johnny Mantell and The Mongol also debuted. Sticking with the promotion were Jose Lothario, Al Madril, and of course Kerry, Kevin, and David Von Erich as well as their new arch enemies The Fabulous Freebirds. Let’s take a closer look at some of these stars and in the process get a view of the promotion in general.     

Free As A Bird