WCCW Parade of Champions '87

While dedicated to the memory of David Von Erich, this show is also dedicated to the memory of Mike Von Erich who passed away twenty-three days prior (4/12/87). Additionally, Kerry Von Erich was severely injured in a motorcycle accident on 6/4/86 and remained out of action for this show.

For those unaware, Jeep Swenson was a 400-pound bodybuilder with 25-27 inch biceps. Calm down, ladies! Previously, I included him in my dreaded WCW Uncensored ’96 reflection; however, he was most famous for portraying the character Bane in Batman & Robin. Unfortunately, more than likely due to his admitted use of anabolic steroids, Swenson passed away in 1997. RIP Jeep Swenson.
As the show began, these two behemoths fought on their way to the ring.
When they got to ringside, Swenson rammed Brody face-first into the timekeeper’s table.
Regrettably, the size of the stadium dwarfed the crowd making it appear mostly empty.
When the bell rang, Brody was already BUSTED OPEN.
A clothesline by Swenson knocked Brody down to the mat.
After Swenson beat on Brody in the corner and rammed him face-first into the scaffold, Brody climbed up said scaffold to give Swenson a boot to the face.
Upon tossing Swenson outside the ring, Brody followed him then nailed him with a chair.
He then rammed Swenson face-first into the timekeeper’s table again, hammered him with a microphone, and walloped him with a chair once again.
As you would expect, Swenson was BUSTED OPEN.
Back in the ring, Swenson raked Brody’s face against the scaffold.
After a brief moment outside the ring, Swenson brought a chair into the ring but missed Brody; thus, he smacked the top turnbuckle.
With Swenson dazed, Brody got ahold of the chair and SMASHED it across Swenson’s chest.
1-2-3.

Summary: The crowd absolutely loved Brody here. Technically, this was crap, but if you’ve never seen Swenson, check this out.

Match 2 (scaffold): The Fantastics & Steve Simpson versus Eric Embry & the Rock’n’Roll RPMs

As the Rock’n’Roll RPMs and Embry climbed the scaffold, the Fantastics made their entrance to ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.”
Early in the match, Embry almost lost his balance and his life had he fallen off the scaffold.
When Fulton and Rogers climbed underneath the scaffold, Fulton almost fell to the potential heartbreak of the teenage girls in attendance.
Meanwhile, Mike Davis almost committed suicide falling off the end of the scaffold.
While on the ladder, Davis was kicked by both of the Fantastics.
Afterward, Embry and Davis pummeled Fulton as Rogers climbed up to the top again.
In a neat yet distressing visual, a cameraman practically gave me vertigo by shooting the scaffold from underneath it.
Above the cameraman and the ring, Rogers and Davis fought while both men clung to the ladder.
On the other end of the scaffold, Fulton pulled Lane by the arm to the edge.
Fulton was BUSTED OPEN!
While Embry held the bloody Fulton, Davis threw powder but mistakenly hit Embry.
Next, Fulton nailed the blinded Embry who then hung on the side of the scaffold.
Upon having his head bounced on the scaffold, Embry was BUSTED OPEN.
Finally, the Fantastics caused Embry to lose his grip and fall to the mat below.

Summary: Although extremely dangerous, a dropkick by one of the Fantastics would have been historic. As it is, this match is comparable to the Skywalkers match at Starrcade ’86.

After the match, a bloodied Embry holds his left leg. Although I cannot locate any further information, he more than likely either sprained or blew out his knee. That was a LONG fall.

For those unaware, Steve Doll also went by the name Steven Dunn of the tag team Well Dunn. He was also involved in Scott Hall’s return to WCW in 1996.
Early on, Brooks blocked a back drop by grabbing a front face lock.
Next, an Irish whip by Doll sent Brooks shoulder-first into the scaffold.
Shortly afterward, Brooks countered a side headlock with a knee crusher.
He then hooked a rope-assisted leg bar, but referee Bronco Lubich caught him.
While in a bear hug from Brooks, Doll rang his bell to escape.
Afterward, a cross-corner whip by Doll sent Brooks directly into the cameraman. Oops!
After receiving a shot to the back, Doll countered a slam attempt with an inside cradle for 2.
Upon ducking a clothesline, Doll delivered a dropkick.
Following that, he gave Brooks a powerslam.
Brooks tried to slam him again but fell victim to another inside cradle.
1-2-3.

Summary: You would think a veteran like Brooks wouldn’t fall for that trick twice.

Almost immediately, Mascaras tied Madril up in a bow-and-arrow.
Mascaras then won a test of strength and took Madril down with a flying headscissors.
After giving Madril a pair of hip tosses, Mascaras hooked the abdominal stretch.
Mascaras cradled him for a pin attempt; however, Madril’s foot was in the ropes.
Upon receiving an atomic drop by Mascaras, Madril nailed him sending him to the turf.
Back in the ring, a pair of flying head butts by Mascaras preceded a vertical suplex.
Mascaras then mounted the top turnbuckle, hit the flying body press, and got the pin.

Summary: If Madril did anything worthwhile in this match, he made Mascaras look good.

Match 5: Abdullah the Butcher & Eli the Eliminator versus Red River Jack & Spike Huber

Special stipulations for this match: If Abdullah and Eli win, Red River Jack gets unmasked. However, if Red River Jack and Huber win, Red River Jack gets five minutes with Gary Hart.
For those unaware, Red River Jack was the alternate persona of Bruiser Brody. A similar gimmick was used by Dusty Rhodes as the Midnight Rider.
To show this program aired on ESPN, a “:28/:58” update was shown including some MLB scores.
As the match began, a double shoulder block put both Huber and Eli down.
After a slam, Eli delivered a leg drop to Huber, but leg drop #2 missed.
Jack tagged in, tossed Eli outside the ring, and rammed him face-first into the timekeeper’s table.
Meanwhile, Mercer pointed out the blood seeping through the white mask of Jack. I wonder how that happened.
Nevertheless, Abdullah came to his partner’s aid and rammed Jack’s head into the timekeeper’s table.
As Eli repeatedly rammed Jack’s head into the table, Abdullah WHACKED Jack on the back with a chair. If I accidently put “Yakety Yak” by the Coasters in your head, I apologize.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of our system, Huber attempted to rescue Jack, but Abdullah made him taste the scaffold. OUCH!
Back in the ring, Abdullah tagged in and nailed Jack with a plastic knife behind referee Rick Hazzard’s back.
He then rammed Jack face-first into the scaffold.
Due to his size, Abdullah was able to shield Hazzard from seeing him stab Brody in the head with the plastic knife. SNEAKY!
On the other hand, kicks by Jack turned the tide and knocked Abdullah down to the mat.
Huber tagged in, gave Eli a back drop, and dropkicked Abdullah on the apron.
After slamming Eli, Huber gave him a pair of leg drops for 2.
Subsequently, a backbreaker by Huber got another 2 thanks to a save by Abdullah.
All four men were in the ring.
Eli’s manager Jim Holiday came into the ring to put the boots to Huber.
Jack then booted Holiday down causing Eli to lose his balance.
Huber landed atop Eli thanks to an inadvertent assist from Holiday and got the pin.

Summary: Exciting finish to a match that was mostly a brawl. Jack now can get his hands on Hart.

While Abdullah held Jack, Hart nailed him with Abdullah’s knife.
Next, Hart pounded on Jack and tried to remove the mask.
Jack came back with a big boot and tore Hart’s shirt.
After Jack ripped Hart’s shirt off, Hart retaliated by nailing him with a chair.
Upon choking Hart with his own shirt, Jack hammered him with the chair.
Seeing their manager had received enough punishment, Eli and Abdullah escorted Hart back to the locker room.

Summary: After all the crap Hart gave Jack, the latter finally got his comeuppance. Solid work by Hart here.

Match 7 for the WCWA World title: Kevin Von Erich (champion) versus Nord the Barbarian (w/o Gary Hart)

Kevin came to the ring to Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold” wearing Mike’s ring jacket.
As the match was joined in progress, Nord delivered a back elbow for 2.
Next, he applied a sleeper, but Kevin escaped with elbows to Nord’s midsection.
Nord then delivered a powerslam for 2.
After a pair of mule kicks by Kevin, Nord slammed him.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle but missed the guillotine leg drop.
A subsequent powerslam by Kevin only got 2.
He then mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a missile dropkick for 2.
Following that, he attempted a splash but ate boot instead.
Nord then delivered a backbreaker followed by a leg drop.
In an effort to put Kevin away, he hooked an over-the-shoulder backbreaker.
However, Kevin instinctively applied the Iron Claw while in the hold.
Both men then spilled over the top rope to the floor.
Outside the ring, Kevin rammed Nord face-first into the ring post.
In a finish no one wanted, both men were counted out.

Summary: Didn’t Kevin just lose another brother less than a month before this match? Was there a reason he couldn’t have pinned Nord here? I realize the NWA title victory by Kerry was only three years prior, but the timing should have signaled Kevin to go over clean here.

After the match, Kevin and Nord brawl on the turf. After Nord boots referee Rick Hazzard down, Kevin rams Nord into the retaining wall. As officials and wrestlers finish pulling them apart, Kevin returns to the ring to retrieve his belt and receive accolades from the crowd.

Conclusion: Unfortunately, with the sparse crowd, the thrill of this show being in Texas Stadium had definitely passed. If you’re a fan of Bruiser Brody, then this was YOUR show. As it is, the finish to the main event truly signified that things were not going smoothly in WCWA.