Hosted by Fritz Von Erich
Since this videotape is being advertised during the recent episodes of WCCW I cover, I’ll give it a look. Allegedly, there is rare footage and/or “never before seen” footage involving the Von Erichs.
Since the Von Erichs are known outdoorsmen outside of the ring, Fritz Von Erich welcomes us standing alongside a pond while feeding ducks. We see Fritz’s ranch, and he introduces his family–Chris, Mike, Kerry, Doris, and Kevin. Before he forgets, we meet Julio— “the wonder dog.”
Opening montage.
FRITZ
In a vintage interview, Fritz gets asked “who’s the best wrestler of all time?” Since Fritz is a heel during this period, his arrogance speaks for itself, and the announcer fills in the obvious. Reminds me of the Rock.
As Fritz welcomes us from inside the ring within the Sportatorium, footage of his match against Joe Blanchard is shown when Fritz traps Blanchard in an Iron claw. Incidentally, both become promoters after their wrestling careers completed as Blanchard owns Southwest Championship Wrestling out of San Antonio until 1985.
Kevin describes Fritz’s parenting skills as “spare the rod, spoil the child.” Therefore, Fritz believed in discipline. Kevin further explains that “if (he) did something wrong, then (Fritz) would have a size 12 waiting for my kiester when (Kevin) got home.” To say discipline was different than today would be putting it mildly.
Kerry details Fritz as a “man’s man” and would “never go back on his word.”
Next, Fritz lists opponents he faced during his “6,000” match career: Gene Kiniski, Johnny Valentine, Bobo Brazil, and the Funks (e.g. Dory Sr., Dory Jr., and Terry). He introduces his retirement match.
Match 1 for the NWA American title (no DQ): King Kong Bundy (champion w/o Gary Hart) versus Fritz Von Erich
Highlights:
- This match occurred on June 4, 1982 in one of the end zones at Texas Stadium with Bill Mercer and Jay Saldi on the call.
- For those unaware, this happened before Bundy began shaving his head.
- When Fritz tried to remove his t-shirt, Bundy ambushed him.
- Fritz rebounded with an Iron claw, but Bundy escaped instantly.
- As Bundy landed a knee drop, he got 1.
- Fritz retaliated with an Iron claw to Bundy’s ample midsection.
- After Bundy escaped, Fritz fed him a knee lift.
- He chopped Bundy down and got 2.
- While Fritz sent him down to the astroturf, Bundy returned with a vengeance.
- Upon Bundy’s return, Fritz dumped him on the other side of the ring.
- He joined and made Bundy HIT THE POLE twice.
- Back in the ring, Fritz reapplied the Iron claw until Bundy fell out of the ring.
- On the astroturf, Fritz once again applied the Iron claw, but Bundy broke free.
- Bundy grabbed a chair, but Fritz kicked him in the midsection causing him to drop it.
- Grabbing the chair, Fritz BLASTED Bundy in the back of the head with it.
- He attempted to crown Bundy with it but HIT THE POLE.
- Since it must have grazed Bundy’s head, Fritz made the cover.
- 1-2-3.
- Fritz won at 7:39.
- WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Rating: **
Summary: Despite the outdoor setting, the Irving faithful was at a fever pitch for their patriarchal hero. The rule-breaking and implementation of a foreign object worked with the no-DQ stipulation and led to Fritz’s final victory as a singles competitor.
On the astroturf, Mercer interviews Fritz who celebrates with his five sons and promises a World championship for each of them. That might be stretching it a bit, but he’s winded and overjoyed at his success.
KEVIN
Fritz describes Kevin as a true athlete. Meanwhile, Kerry refers to his older brother as “the quickest.” On his own accord, Kevin details his battle against Gordy.
Match 2 for the NWA American title: Kevin Von Erich (champion) versus Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy
Highlights:
- This match occurred in Fort Worth and was joined in progress with Marc Lowrance on the call.
- As Kevin blocked a hip toss, he fed Gordy one of his own.
- Kevin locked a bodyscissors, but Gordy escaped.
- When Gordy gave him a cross corner whip, Kevin reapplied the bodyscissors from a standing position. Impressive!
- Gordy dealt him a double axe handle to break, but Kevin hooked a sunset flip for 2.
- After Kevin reversed an Irish whip, he trapped Gordy in an abdominal stretch.
- Gordy escaped via hip toss, yet Kevin attempted an Iron claw.
- While Gordy blocked it, Kevin hooked a sleeper.
- Gordy made the ropes with his boots, reversed an Irish whip, and caught Kevin with his own sleeper.
- Elbowing Gordy in the midsection, Kevin escaped and continued to concentrate on the area.
- Hopefully, Gordy didn’t eat too much Taco Bell before coming to work.
- Gordy suplexed Kevin and got 2.
- Attempting a piledriver, Gordy got backed into the corner.
- He attempted another piledriver, but Kevin countered with a back drop.
- Getting reversed on a cross corner whip, Gordy leaped to the second turnbuckle but came up empty on a cross body block.
- Kevin sprung to the top turnbuckle and launched his own cross body block.
- 1-2-3.
- Kevin retained at 10:44 shown.
Rating: ***
Summary: Solid chemistry combined with strong psychology kept the match flowing. Kevin’s keen high-flying was the difference maker that gained him the victory.
To finish his segment, Kevin compliments Gordy as a well-rounded wrestler. While Charles Barkley may be the “round mound of rebound,” Gordy, in the 80s, was the “round mound of ground and pound.”
DAVID
Following a match between “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin and Mike Bond, Sunshine gets between Garvin and David and slaps him. David pulls her out of the way and belts Garvin to the concrete floor. Subsequently, he spanks the BEJEEZUS out of Sunshine much to the sheer delight of the Dallas faithful.
Next, Gary Hart interferes in a match between Kabuki and Fritz during the 1981 Christmas show. David storms the ring and takes care of Hart. As he dropkicks Kabuki, David follows with a back drop enabling Fritz to attain victory in another no-DQ match.
Fritz states “if there’s wrestling in Heaven, then David’s a main-eventer.” As Kevin discusses David’s time in St. Louis, we witness:
Match 3 (non-title): NWA World champion Harley Race versus David Von Erich
Highlights:
- This match occurred on May 27, 1977 in St. Louis, MO with Larry Matysik on the call.
- Joined in progress, Race mounted the second turnbuckle but missed.
- When David hooked an Iron claw, Race was BUSTED OPEN!
- Since Race was unable to continue, David won at 1:42 shown.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Too short to rate, but THAT’S how you put a young talent over.
Kevin describes David formidable hands and segues to David’s feud with Kamala.
During a match between Garvin and David on October 7, 1983, General Skandor Akbar leads Kamala with Friday to the ring. Kamala enters the ring and attacks David. Upon returning to his feet, David traps Kamala in an Iron claw. According to Mercer, this is the first time Kamala has backed down from anyone.
Kevin details the phone call he received from Japan that David passed away. Instead of devastating the family, David’s spirit lives within them.
KERRY
Kerry talks about not only the loss of David but also David’s title shot at Texas Stadium. As shown within the movie Iron Claw, Kerry won a coin toss to take David’s place.
Match 4 for the NWA World title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (champion) versus Kerry Von Erich
Highlights:
- Although many of you already know, I’ll reiterate this match occurred on May 6, 1984 in front of 32,123 with Lowrance, who claimed 50,000, on the call.
- The disqualification protection rule was waived because “there must be a winner.”
- As the Irving faithful LOUDLY chanted “go, Kerry, go,” their hero stunned Flair with a pair of dropkicks.
- Kerry gorilla-press-slammed Flair who sought refuge on the astroturf.
- When Flair sent him to the turf, Kerry stormed back to the apron.
- Kerry re-entered the ring via sunset flip and got 2.
- After Kerry reversed a cross corner whip, he hooked a sleeper.
- Flair countered with a belly-to-back suplex and fed Kerry a knee drop.
- While Flair suplexed Kerry, he got 2.
- Kerry rebounded with a dropkick and trapped Flair in an abdominal stretch.
- Escaping, Flair ate a pair of knee drops followed by an Iron claw.
- Flair nailed Kerry down near Brownsville, mounted the top turnbuckle, bot got caught.
- Slamming Flair down to the mat, Kerry gave him a cross corner whip that culminated in a Flair flip.
- Flair attempted a figure-four leg lock, but Kerry blocked it.
- Upon blocking a hip toss, Kerry secured a backslide.
- 1-2-3.
- Kerry won at 10:45.
- WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION, and the Irving faithful LOST ITS DAMN MIND.
Rating: ****
Summary: Too hot outside to have a lengthy main event, but Flair and Kerry danced as well as they possibly could go. What a heartfelt moment for a grieving family which earns the match an extra *.
Afterward, Flair swears to Kerry that he’ll “be back.” In fact, Kerry wrestled Flair five more times that month (May 8, 9, 11, 12, & 24). Outstanding!
MIKE
Mike details how nervous he was for his debut in autumn 1983.
Match 5: Mike Von Erich versus General Skandor Akbar (w/ Friday)
Highlights:
- This match occurred on November 24, 1983 at Reunion Arena with Mercer on the call.
- Following a clip, Mike missed a dropkick.
- Akbar slammed Mike and requested a whip from Friday.
- When Mike rolled him up, he pinned Akbar at 2:07 shown.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Too short to rate, but Mike’s career had to start somewhere.
After the match, Kevin keeps Friday at bay while Mike backdrops a charging Akbar. Mike grabs the whip and shoos Akbar from the ring.
We head to the Sportatorium as “Hollywood” John Tatum stunguns Mike who rebounds with a cross body block for the pin on December 14, 1984.
Next, Fritz discusses Mike’s unfortunate shoulder injury that led to a major complication—toxic shock syndrome. With footage from the press conference along with never-before-seen photos of Mike’s recuperation, Fritz bestows the harrowing details of Mike’s fight for survival. Kerry mentions the hundreds of phone calls the hospital received regarding Mike as well as his family’s praying.
Mike expresses his gratitude to both his family and friends for his recovery. After Fritz states that “Mike will be back,” we see Mike’s release from the hospital. We head to the Cotton Bowl as Mike makes an appearance on October 6, 1985. Following that, we head to Fort Worth for his return to the ring alongside Kevin and Lance on July 4, 1986.
CHRIS
During an interview, Buddy “Jack” Roberts interrupts Mike and Chris. As Chris advises him to drink a cup of shut the hell up, Roberts pie-faces him. Mike stands up for his little brother and blasts Roberts. Always sensing an opening, a fiendish Michael Hayes jumps into the ring so that the Freebirds can double-team Mike. Chris returns to the ring with a chair and CREAMS Roberts in the back with it.
Kevin describes Chris as “explosive,” as we return to the 1985 Cotton Bowl show where Chris tackles Gino Hernandez for his contractually obligated haircut. Kevin notes that Chris “will lead the Von Erichs into the future.”
Kerry touts his brothers as “the greatest six-man tag team.”
Match 6 (non-title): NWA World Six-Man tag champions Michael Hayes, Buddy Roberts, & “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin versus David, Kevin, & Kerry Von Erich
Highlights:
- This match occurred at the Sportatorium on July 29, 1983 with Mercer on the call.
- Due to Gordy’s being “stuck in Japan” per Kerry, Garvin took his place.
- We’re joined in progress as David dealt Roberts a knee lift.
- Kerry tagged in, and the Von Erichs triple-dropkicked Roberts. Awesome!
- As Kevin tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle and lowered the boom onto Roberts.
- We jump to Roberts’ suplex of Kerry back into the ring for a 2-count.
- When Hayes tagged in, he fed Kerry a back elbow.
- Garvin tagged in and landed a knee drop for 2.
- After Garvin missed a second attempt, David tagged in.
- He gave Garvin a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
- While both David and Roberts attempted a leapfrog, they inadvertently conducted an impromptu meeting of the minds.
- Hot tag Kevin.
- With all six wrestlers in the ring, Garvin delivered a belly-to-back suplex to Kerry.
- Kevin mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a cross body block to Garvin.
- 1-2-3.
- Kevin, David, and Kerry won.
Rating: ***
Summary: HOT main event as expected between the Von Erichs and Freebirds.
Kevin sums up the Von Erichs: “Nothing can come between (us). We’re too tight.”
A preview of an upcoming video shows family footage with the Von Erichs together at Fritz’s ranch.
Analysis: If you want to learn about or relive fond memories of the Von Erichs, this is the tape for you. Each brother, along with Fritz, gets at least one great moment to shine in this just over one-hour long spectacle. I recommend this video to those who don’t have a list of Von Erich memories stored; however, I also endorse it for historical purposes.
Is it a fluff piece? You’d better believe it. Fritz is not rolling in dough by 1987, and pushing out this videotape is evidence that WCCW needs another revenue stream. Although the tragedies of the loss of David along with Mike’s flirtation with death are chronicled, Fritz wants to showcase WCCW history as well as the future with his sons going forward. Let’s hope the future’s bright.
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 03-21-87!
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