A Busy Month 

Coming out of the Cotton Bowl Spectacular World Class Championship Wrestling was on fire. There were hot feuds, a strong talent base that was about to get stronger, and a whole atmosphere in which it seemed like anything and everything was possible. So much was going on at that time that in this month’s article we’re going to cover one just month, November 1984, during which the promotion was building towards its Thanksgiving Wrestling Star Wars.  

The Roster 

The roster did not change greatly from the fall months. There were a few departures and a major return, but mainly the talent pool remained stable. As ever the Von Erichs remained the top babyfaces. Kevin was getting the biggest push of the three, but Kerry remained strong and Mike was closer to parity with his brothers that any other time in his career. Iceman Parsons remained popular. The Fantastics were gaining popularity. Chic Donovan was back after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury. The Rock n Roller Buck Zumhofe had by this time slid to the undercard. Stella Mae French remained on the scene and more significantly Sunshine had returned.  

Over on the heel side the main man was undoubtedly Chris Adams. Gary Hart continued to serve as his manager. Gino Hernandez also wielded a great deal of influence on the heel side of the fence. Nicola Roberts backed him up as usual. Jake Roberts was also doing well. Devastation Incorporated was now reduced to the duo of Killer Khan and The Missing Link, but they remained dangerous with General Skandor Akbar in their corner. The PYTs, Norvell Austin and Koko Ware, battled for the American Tag Team Title, but were starting to head for the exit as Florida beckoned. Kelly Kiniski remained a force in the low midcard to undercard. 

The big addition was Terry Gordy. The Freebirds had left in September and moved on to the WWF and expected fame and fortune. Things did not work out at all. The Freebirds just never fit in with the WWF and had a variety of disciplinary from the start. Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts in particular felt slighted by what they saw was the promotion’s interest in Michael Hayes and disinterest in them. Eventually Gordy and Roberts departed the WWF and Hayes soon followed. While Michael Hayes settled in as booker in Florida joined by Buddy Roberts, Terry Gordy made a shocking return to Texas. Gordy came out of nowhere to attack Killer Khan in Fort Worth at Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium. This came out of nowhere and needless to say the fans went crazy. Gordy made it clear. Things had been not been finished between him and Killer Khan and it was now time to settle the score. The battle was on.  

The Feuds 

The first and last word in feuds was Chris Adams vs. Kevin Von Erich. These two former friends battled with intensity that at times surpassed the violence that raged during the Von Erichs vs. Freebirds feud. Speaking of violence, the revived Terry Gordy vs. Killer Khan feud spilled enough blood to seemingly supply the average hospital for a week or two. I keep mentioning this, but the Kerry Von Erich vs. Butch Reed feud was scrubbed. Sorry about that, but that would have been a fun feud between two wrestlers who at the top of their games at this time. Gino Hernandez still feuded with Mike Von Erich and of course Nicola Roberts and Stella Mae French did battle as well, Stella now backed up by Sunshine. 

The Titles 

As far as the championship scene was concerned, stability was the name of the game. Gino Hernandez maintained his long-term grip on the Texas Heavyweight Title with Mike Von Erich providing his main opposition. The Fantastics were settling into their reign as American Tag Team Champs, mainly doing battle with the Pretty Young Things.   More...