The SmarK 24/7 Rant for World Class Championship Wrestling – March 26 1983
– Nice to see Michael Hayes still employed, although this could have been shot months ago.
– Hosted by Bill Mercer.
– Texas Title: Jimmy Garvin v. Jose Lothario. Jose of course went on to some fame as Shawn Michaels’ mentor in 1996 before everyone got sick of him. Garvin starts accusing Jose of pulling hair right away, and really with that giant perm how can you resist? Garvin tries working the arm, but gets booted out of the ring and gets some hair maintenance from Sunshine. Back in, Jose goes for the arm and works on a wristlock, but Garvin makes the ropes. Garvin grabs a headlock and they criss-cross into a monkey-flip from Jose, and he sends Garvin running with a pair of armdrags. Back in, Garvin grabs another headlock and takes him down, but Jose counters out with a kneecrusher and Garvin bails. Back in, Jose with his own headlock and a cheapshot, and Garvin runs away yet again. After some more concern about the state of his hair, he heads back in and shoulderblocks Jose down to take over. He pounds away in the corner and snapmares him into a chinlock, which he holds for a while. Jose escapes with a backbreaker, into a snapmare. Garvin tries a boston crab, but Jose reverses with a bodyscissors. Another try and Jose reverses again, but Garvin holds the legs (and the ropes) and gets the pin to retain at 11:39. Jose kept up pretty well here for an aging vet. ***
– Meanwhile, Skandor Akbar and King Kong Bundy meet up with Bill Mercer at their headquarters to discuss oil prices and wrestling. Even then, Arabs bragging about fixing gas prices was guaranteed heat. And in 1983, gas was only $1.24 a gallon (or 32 cents a liter for us Canadians)! Really funny watching this stuff from back then given all the hatred surrounding oil prices today. In fact, I hate to say it, but Vince might be missing the boat by not coming up with a character to cash in on that hatred. Akbar insinuates that Ric Flair is part of his Devastation Inc. group.
– King Kong Bundy v. The Great Yatsu. Bundy immediately takes him down with an armbar and holds that for a while. Yatsu actually manages to knock Bundy down and throws chops, but that gets him nowhere. Bundy sells a surprising amount of them, but then comes back with a backdrop and the Avalanche. Armand Hussein grabs Bundy’s leg to stop him, however, and Yatsu uses a kendo stick for the DQ at 5:38. Nothing here. *1/2
– Video package for Kamala, who looks WAY thinner in 1983 and a lot more bad-ass. Like Ahmed Johnson as an African savage.
– Kevin & Kerry Von Erich v. Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy. This is a Texas Tornado match as amazingly they are incapable of burning out this feud. Big brawl to start and Kerry unloads on Gordy, and Hayes gets tossed. The Von Erichs double-team Gordy in the corner and hiptoss him out, then follow with a double dropkick. Kevin grabs a chinlock while Hayes attacks Kerry from behind, but Kevin pounds on him in the corner in return. Hayes manages to toss Kevin, and Gordy slams Kerry onto Hayes’ knee, then again with Kevin. The Von Erichs fire back and Kerry gets a sleeper on Gordy, but Hayes breaks it up with an elbow. The Freebirds double-team Kevin in the corner, but Kerry breaks it up and the Birds have a meeting of the minds. Kevin drops a knee on Gordy for two. Kevin gets tossed again, allowing Hayes the chance to beat on Kerry, but Kevin breaks it up and gets tossed again as a result. Kerry gets tied in the ropes and the Birds pound on him while he’s helpless, but Kevin saves with an enzuigiri and chinlocks Gordy while Kerry drops elbows on Hayes. IRON CLAW on Gordy and IRON CLAW for Hayes and the crowd is losing it, but Kevin goes over the top again, a familiar position for him in this match. And even with TWO referees they both miss it. The Birds double-team Kerry again and hang him in the Tree of Woe, but Kevin makes the save again. And this time he sends Gordy to the floor and now the Von Erichs tie Hayes up and get their revenge on him. And finally David Von Erich and Buddy Roberts run in for the inevitable DQ at 7:30. As usual with these teams, total chaos and a super hot crowd equal a lot of fun. ***
