Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: December 19, 1987 (taped 12/04)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Marc Lowrance
How will SBS fare against the World champion? Can Shaun overcome and defeat Apollo? What happens when Embry and Madril collide? Plus, a special Christmas gift for all WCCW fans! Assemble your holiday meal and enjoy some Texas ‘rasslin’!
Opening montage.
Match 1: Eric Embry versus Al Madril
Highlights:
- Embry ambushed Madril before the bell as Lowrance mentioned that Shaun Simpson defeated Embry for the Light Heavyweight title on Thanksgiving night.
- Due to “adverse and unpleasant weather conditions,” the Sportatorium was practically EMPTY. Although the month of December that year was cold in Dallas, I call…
- Embry landed a knee drop and got 2.
- When Embry missed a diving head butt, Madril scored with a flying head butt.
- According to Lowrance, Kerry and Kevin captured the World tag team titles. Per my research, they defeated Frankie Lancaster and Brian Adias on 11/25 in Shreveport, LA. I’m sure “Cowboy” Bill Watts was thrilled.
- Embry attempted a piledriver, but Madril countered with a back drop that also took out referee John Keaton.
- With Keaton down, Embry tossed Madril over the top rope to the floor. SNEAKY!
- He joined Madril and PILEDROVE him on the floor.
- As Keaton revived, he counted Madril out at 2:54.
Rating: *
Summary: The entire story of the match was the piledriver on the floor.
After the match, Vic Steamboat and Scott Casey scrape Madril off the floor and help him back to the locker room.
At ringside, Lowrance interviews Embry who denies losing the title to Shaun. We see footage of the match as Shaun hooks a victory roll to capture the belt. Afterward, Embry challenges Shaun RIGHT NOW. Shaun storms the ring, and the brawl is ON. Reversing an Irish whip, Shaun dropkicks Embry and hooks another victory roll. Conveniently, referee Bronko Lubich was in the ring and counted the pin much to the delight of the empty bleachers.
We return to Reunion Arena, and Kevin and Perez battle in a Texas Death match. As Kevin traps Perez in an Iron claw, Gary Hart enters the ring to thwart him. A double team fails due to heel miscommunication, and Kevin reapplies the Iron claw for the pin. Obviously, the World title was NOT at stake.
Match 2 (non-title): WCWA World champion Al Perez (w/ Gary Hart) versus Sweet Brown Sugar
Highlights:
- Perez landed a knee drop while Lowrance mentioned that despite Kevin’s being the #1 contender, Kerry will challenge Perez for the World title on Christmas night.
- As SBS dealt Perez a head butt, he got reversed on a cross corner whip.
- Perez charged but came up empty, so SBS slammed him.
- When Perez gave him a cross corner whip, he nailed SBS in the midsection.
- SBS took Perez down and got 1.
- According to Lowrance, New Age Management has obtained the services of The Thing.
- SBS attempted an enziguri, but Perez ducked.
- After SBS caught him in the midsection, he headbutted Perez again.
- Perez took SBS down, put his feet on the ropes, and got 2.
- While Perez hooked a stepover toe hold, SBS kicked him away.
- SBS gave him a cross corner whip, but Perez blocked a monkey flip attempt sending him crashing down to the mat.
- Rolling up SBS, Perez pinned him at 9:31.
Rating: *
Summary: Perez tries to use both heel tactics and psychology in his matches and SUCKS at both.
Match 3 (non-title): WCWA Light Heavyweight champion Shaun Simpson versus “Playboy” Vince Apollo
Highlights:
- Apollo uncorked a sidewalk slam and tied Shaun to the Tree of Woe.
- When he dealt Shaun a knee lift, Apollo connected with a back elbow.
- He mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but missed a flying elbow.
- As he slammed Shaun, Apollo attempted a springboard splash but ate knees.
- Apollo attempted a vertical suplex, but Shaun blocked it and scored with one of his own.
- After he gave Apollo a cross corner whip, Shaun backdropped him.
- He hooked a victory roll and pinned Apollo at 2:46.
Rating: **
Summary: Solid selling by Shaun prior to his comeback. Also, the Dallas faithful are truly behind the 18-year-old.
Following the match, Embry returns to fight Shaun some more. He steals the belt and CLOCKS Shaun with it. With Embry’s consent, Apollo straps the belt around his waist. When Embry dispatches referee John Keaton from the ring, he cuts some of Shaun’s hair. Shaun escapes, sends Apollo packing, and gives Embry some comeuppance. Before Embry can leave, Shaun retrieves his belt along with the scissors.
Match 4 (non-title): WCWA Texas champion “Maniac” Matt Borne versus the “Thumper” Frankie Lancaster
Highlights:
- Lancaster slammed Borne but missed an elbow drop.
- As Borne slammed him twice, Lancaster sought refuge on the floor.
- Borne powerslammed Lancaster, mounted the top turnbuckle, and scored with a flying senton splash.
- 1-2-3.
- Borne won at 2:06.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for the Texas titleholder.
At ringside, Lowrance interviews Steve Corey who states the WCWA will tour the Midwest and South in early 1988, but the Northeast must wait until the spring.
Outside the Sportatorium, Lowrance and Toni stand alongside a red 1988 Chevrolet Corvette which will be awarded on Christmas night to the winner of the 24-man battle royal with its keys atop a pole. I bet Vince Russo was eating this up with a spoon.
From WCCW, a Christmas gift to all of you:
Highlights of past Christmas shows:
- Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts cut a promo, and Roberts’ hair has grown back from the dreaded Freebird hair cream.
- Kevin and Mike battle Gordy and Roberts, and Kevin pins Gordy with a sunset flip. Suddenly, Santa Claus jumps into the ring and attacks the Von Erichs. Of course, Claus is portrayed by Michael Hayes. To ruin everyone’s Christmas, he piledrives poor Mike.
- Kerry battles Kamala. Akbar interferes leading to a DQ victory by Kerry. To send the Dallas faithful home happy, Kerry slams Kamala.
- Chris Adams faces Jimmy Garvin who is BUSTED OPEN. Garvin escapes an O’Connor roll, rolls up Adams, grabs the trunks, and steals the victory. During the fallout, a catfight erupts between Precious and Sunshine.
- The Midnight Express squares off against the Fantastics, and the Fantastics score the pin much to the dismay of Jim Cornette.
Conclusion: With the Christmas gift and the hot Shaun-Embry feud combined with the nefarious piledriver on the floor, this was an extremely entertaining episode. It sets the table nicely for the Christmas show which I will review next. Certainly, check out this episode as a meaningful appetizer.
Next week, Christmas Star Wars from Reunion Arena!
TV Rating: NONE
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