WCCW #15 Page #2

Iceman Parsons and Buck Zumhofe defeated The Super Destroyers to win the American Tag Team Title 

Since late 1983 Iceman had warred with The Super Ds and General Skandor Akbar. He teamed with Brian Adias, Junkyard Dog, and Andre the Giant, but never seemed to find the right partner. At last that partner had arrived. Buck Zumhofe had taken World Class by storm in April. The AWA mainstay with his Elvis jumpsuit and ever-present boom box had debuted in World Class by pinning Buddy Roberts in under a minute. Bound by a love of music and a hatred of Devastation Inc., Buck and Iceman formed the Rock n Soul Connection. The team clicked and they won the American Tag Team Title. This was not the end, but rather the beginning of a feud that would rage all summer long. 

Fritz, Kevin, and Mike Von Erich defeated The Fabulous Freebirds to win the World Class Six Man Tag Team Title 

The Von Erichs vs. Freebirds war continued to rage as 1984 continued. With the two teams scheduled to meet at Texas Stadium in a Badstreet Match, there was just one problem. With Kerry facing Flair, Kevin and Mike were a man short. It was announced that a special partner would join them for the big match. During the build up to the card, Michael Hayes grew angrier and angrier as he demanded to know the identity of the new partner. Finally Fritz came to the ring to face down the Freebird. Hayes name checked many big stars like Tommy Rich and Dusty Rhodes as being unavailable, but still had no idea who it was. Fritz then told him that mystery partner would be the next person to hit him right between the eyes. Fritz then flattened Hayes with a punch to the delight of the crowd in Fort Worth. The bout itself was a war, loaded with blood and foreign objects. Fritz, in his first bout in nearly two years, was heavier and slower, but could still brawl with the best. All three Freebirds sold big time for him and made it all more dramatic. The end came as Fritz immobilized Hayes and Gordy with an Iron Claw with each hand. Kevin then nailed Buddy Roberts with a cross body block off the top rope to get the pin and the Six Man Title. 

Kerry Von Erich defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World Title 

In the 1960s Fritz Von Erich briefly held the AWA World Title. After losing the title, Fritz tried throughout the remainder of the decade and the 1970s to regain the status of World Champion, this time the NWA version. His quest went unfulfilled, but his sons began their careers as Fritz’s wound down and took up the baton. By the end of 1983 David Von Erich seemed to have surpassed Kerry as the most likely of the Von Erichs to win the title. David’s untimely death ended that hope. Now on the day honoring David and indeed the biggest day in the promotion’s history, Kerry Von Erich had his date with destiny.

Ric Flair’s past title defenses in World Class had been rife with controversy. There were apparently corrupt referees, outside interference, and intentional disqualifications of the champ, all designed to protect Flair’s championship reign. This time there would be no shenanigans. World Class’ head referee David Manning had charge of the bout. More importantly Flair could not disqualify himself to retain the title. Flair would have to battle Kerry head on. Kerry, wearing yellow tights with a black stripe as David had, was ready. This bout differed from many of their bouts in that it was not lengthy. The intense heat of the afternoon sun made a long, drawn out bout impractical. Furthermore this bout was to be rebroadcast on TV and it made for better television to have a shorter, faster paced bout. No matter what Flair tried, Kerry had the answer. An attempt to come off the top rope failed. Attempts at the figure four leg lock failed. Kerry continuously wore down the champ while Flair just couldn’t make any headway. Finally Flair went for a backslide, but Kerry reversed the move into a backslide of his own and made history with a pin after 11 minutes of action to win the NWA World Title.  

Texas Stadium erupted. 43,000 fans sounded like 143,000 fans. The ring filled with the rest of the Von Erich family and all the babyfaces. Even Ric Flair showed class by shaking Kerry’s hand and declaring him the better man on the day, although he did vow to triumph in the future. As Kerry basked in the glory and cheers, many fans threw yellow roses into the ring in honor of David. As he prepared to depart the ring, Kerry held the Texas flag, a yellow rose, and the NWA World Title belt aloft. Kerry wrapped the rose and the belt in the flag and raised them in tribute to David.  Then, with a deep look of satisfaction on his face, he left the ring as the World Champion and the top man in his business. 

Chris Adams and Sunshine defeated Jimmy Garvin and Precious 

This feud had raged for six months. Garvin and Adams sweat many gallons and lost a lot of blood, but it all played second fiddle to the ladies. Hair pulling and cat fighting in wrestling never looked as real as this. Sunshine and Precious gave it everything and the heat they drew was as intense as anything in a hot promotion. Sunshine and Adams got the win in this match and this feud. Garvin and Precious would soon be moving on to the AWA, but they left behind a lot of great memories. Meanwhile new memories were about to be formed. Before the bout Gino Hernandez dramatically returned to Dallas after a long absence. Things were about to get much more interesting. 

NEXT MONTH:

As the summer of 2002 rolls on, next time we’ll look in depth at the wild happenings of the summer of 1984.

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