The SmarK Rant for World Class Championship Wrestling – December 26 1982
They skipped this one on the original run of 24/7, so thanks to the Network I can now catch up again!
David & Kevin Von Erich wish the Freebirds the best of luck tonight in the six-man tag title finals, as they are unable to compete due to Kerry going for the World title.
World Class Six-Man Tag title: The Freebirds v. Iron Mike Sharpe, Ben Sharpe & Tom Steele
Buddy Roberts is regrettably hung up in Atlanta due to snowstorm at the airport, so David Von Erich graciously offers to step in as the third man on his behalf. Gordy slugs on Mike Sharpe to start and the babyfaces take turns beating on him, and it’s over to Ben Sharpe for more of the same. Gordy with a backdrop and powerslam for two. Delayed suplex gets two. Back to the Freebird corner for some more double-teaming, and Hayes drops an elbow from the middle rope for two. Hayes gets caught in the corner, but ignores the offense and hauls Tom Steele back to the babyface corner for a piledriver from David. Finally the heels get some offense as Iron Mike pounds on David with forearms, but he quickly tags Hayes back in and we get a goofy comedy spot with Sharpe fleeing in terror from each potential punch from the three babyfaces. Random fact: Apparently Canada’s Greatest Athlete has OCD, which must make being a wrestler a really tough deal. Hayes showboats for too long and gets clobbered down by the Sharpes, as Ben goes to the chinlock. Steele comes in with his own chinlock and it somehow only makes the crowd even hotter. Mike gets the bearhug and Steele goes with the sleeper, but Hayes slugs out of it while a frustrated Gordy chases off the other heels. Hayes fights out, but misses an elbow. Steele charges and hits the post, and Hayes makes the HOT tag to Gordy. And he quickly misses a blind charge and runs into the post. Mike slugs away on him, but misses a senton and now it’s David with the hot tag as it’s BONZO GONZO. David wins the titles with the high knee on Mike Sharpe at 18:01…but the Freebirds totally ignore him and celebrate on their own. What a great touch. ***1/2
David Von Erich immediately gives up his share of the titles to Buddy Roberts. These guys will be best friends forever, I bet!
David Manning explains the rather complex rules of the $10,000 battle royale that’s up next.
$10,000 Battle Royale / Pole Match
So the guys are doing a standard battle royale, and when there’s only three left then they switch to having to retrieve the cheque from on top of the pole. David Von Erich is actually the first guy out, tossed by King Kong Bundy while applying the clawhold on the ropes. Everyone dogpiles Bundy but the ref can’t get there in time, so he gets dropkicked over the top instead to eliminate him. Ben Sharpe, Joso Lothario, Checkmate and Frank Dusek all get thrown out in rapid succession, and Wild Bill Irwin charges Bugsy McGraw and gets backdropped out. But then Bugsy gets backdropped out as well. Brian Adias rolls up and pins The Magic Dragon, and Al Madril gets Tom Steele out, leaving us with Ken Mantell, Adias, Madrill and Iron Mike Sharpe. Mantell and Adias team up to dump Madrill, and we take a break as we’re down to the final three.
Back with the last three fighting over the pole, and it ends quickly with Sharpe tossing Adias out to eliminate him, allowing Ken Mantell (who was booking the promotion at the time, wasn’t he?) to climb the pole and get the money.
The Pulse
Big things were of course coming soon in the Freebirds-Von Erich storyline, and this was the start of it. Only two matches, but both were good and entertaining.
