Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: January 16, 1988 (taped 01/02)
Attendance: 4,000
Hosted by Marc Lowrance
What happens between Embry and Shaun? What’s new with the World champion? Plus, Borne, the Fantastics, Adams, Freebirds, and more!
Opening montage.
Match 1 (non-title): WCWA Texas champion “Maniac” Matt Borne versus the Hood
Highlights:
- For those unaware, the Hood was not being portrayed by Arthur Fonzarelli but instead Jeff Gaylord.
- Hood slammed Borne and followed with a hip toss.
- When Borne slammed him, Hood sought refuge on the floor.
- Meanwhile, Lowrance shilled the WCWA mail-order catalog. Send your name and address to WCWA Mail Order 1000 S. Industrial Blvd. Dallas, TX 75207. In case you didn’t know, that’s the address to the Sportatorium.
- The Dallas faithful chanted “go Matt go,” but their hero suffered a clothesline from Hood.
- As Hood mounted the second turnbuckle, he clobbered Borne with a double axe handle for 2.
- He landed an elbow drop to the back and followed with another double axe handle.
- After Hood gave him a cross corner whip, Borne exploded from the corner with a clothesline.
- He dealt Hood a belly-to-belly suplex followed by a vertical suplex.
- While Borne employed a stepover toe hold, Hood kicked him face-first into the second turnbuckle.
- Hood unleashed a shoulder breaker but only got 1.
- Giving a cross corner whip to Borne, Hood booted him in the chest for 2.
- Hood mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
- Borne delivered an atomic drop, mounted the top turnbuckle, and destroyed Hood with a flying senton splash.
- 1-2-3.
- Borne won at 8:22.
Rating: **½
Summary: Hood appeared cocky at times when he should have been on offense. Good workrate as usual by Borne, and Hood’s style didn’t clash.
In the ring, Lowrance interviews the Freebirds. Roberts cuts a promo on the Von Erichs and is proud of knocking Fritz out of action. As Parsons refers to the Von Erichs as “rudy-poots,” Gordy and his large belt buckle advises Fritz that he’s “not John Wayne.” In the meantime, the Angel of Death remains stoic yet useless.
We revisit last week when Kevin cut a promo on the Freebirds which led to PANDEMONIUM.
Match 2 for the WCWA World Light Heavyweight title (cage): Shaun Simpson (champion) versus Eric Embry
Highlights:
- This match occurred on 12/25/87 at Reunion Arena and was joined in progress.
- As Shaun pounded on a BUSTED OPEN and blond Embry, he got 2.
- He rammed Embry face-first into the cage, nailed him, and got another 2.
- When he hooked an inside cradle, Shaun couldn’t get 3.
- He secured a sunset flip and earned yet another 2-count.
- After they climbed to the top of the cage, Shaun blasted Embry who crotched himself on the top rope.
- Shaun mounted the top turnbuckle, launched a cross body block, but Embry used momentum and the trunks to land on top.
- 1-2-3.
- Embry won at 1:53 shown.
- WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Rating: **
Summary: Unquestionably, the rating for the entire match would be higher, but they only gave us the final two minutes. As you’d expect, Embry implemented chicanery to regain steal the title. With bleached-blond hair and copious amounts of blood, Embry did his best to resemble Ric Flair.
We return to the Sporatorium…
Prior to the next match, Shaun interrupts before the bell. He talks with Raitz and requests to take the match in his place. With a handshake, Raitz agrees.
Match 3 (non-title): WCWA Light Heavyweight champion Eric Embry versus Jeff Raitz Shaun Simpson
Highlights:
- Shaun gave Embry a cross corner whip resulting in a sternum-first bump.
- When he backdropped Embry, Shaun sauntered after him on the floor and returned him to the ring.
- Embry clotheslined him, but Shaun escaped a slam to roll him up for 2.
- As Embry caught him with a lariat, he slammed Shaun.
- He landed a diving head butt and got 2.
- After he scored with a slingshot suplex, Embry got another 2.
- He slammed Shaun again but missed a second diving head butt.
- While Shaun backdropped him again, he dealt Embry a dropkick.
- He gave Embry a cross corner whip but ate knee on his follow-through.
- Reversing a cross corner whip, Embry ate boot on his follow-through.
- Shaun mounted the top turnbuckle, delivered a sunset flip, and got 2.
- Catching Shaun mid-cross body block, Embry attempted another slam.
- Shaun countered with an inside cradle and pinned Embry at 4:51.
- As anticipated, the Dallas faithful LOST ITS DAMN MIND.
Rating: **½
Summary: Turnabout is fair play as Shaun pins the champion in a non-title match.
Now we head to Fort Worth…
Match 4 for the WCWA World title: Al Perez (champion w/ Gary Hart) versus “Gentleman” Chris Adams
Highlights:
- Joined in progress, Perez dodged Adams sending him reeling into referee John Keaton.
- Adams blasted Perez with a superkick, but Keaton was OUT COLD on the concrete floor.
- As Adams earned a false pin, Hart jumped onto the apron.
- Adams knocked him into the middle of 1989 while Bronko Lubich subbed for Keaton.
- When he finished beating up Hart, Adams only got 2 on Perez.
- Adams uncorked an airplane spin, and both wrestlers spilled over the top rope to the concrete floor.
- After Lubich reached the count of twenty, he called for the bell.
- The result was a double countout at 1:53 shown.
Rating: **
Summary: Again, with the full match, I’m certain that the match rating would be higher. Due to the decision, Perez retains.
We return to the Sportatorium…
Promo airs for WRESTLING THUNDERDOME.
Prior to the next match, Gordy enters the ring and grabs the microphone. He insults Perez to Hart and challenges the World champion. Suddenly, Adams enters the ring, grabs the microphone, and demands another title shot. He cuts a promo on Gordy who won’t tolerate it one bit. As Adams and Gordy brawl, Grundy sandwiches Roberts in the corner. Adams creams Gordy with an enziguri, but Perez hammers him from behind. With Adams down, Gordy attacks him with an Asiatic spike. Kevin saves Adams’ bacon by chasing Gordy from the ring.
Match 5 (non-title): WCWA World champion Al Perez (w/ Gary Hart) versus Solomon Grundy
Highlights:
- For those unaware, Grundy was portrayed by Mike Shaw.
- The match was joined in progress when Grundy reversed a cross corner whip.
- When Perez thwarted Grundy’s follow-through with a boot, he landed an elbow drop.
- He planted Grundy with a knee drop and got 2.
- As Lowrance provides a brief FRITZ VON ERICH UPDATE, Grundy slammed Perez but missed an elbow drop. Needless to say, but Fritz was still on the mend.
- Grundy reversed an Irish whip, and Perez bounced off him like he hit a brick wall.
- After Grundy charged, he came up empty.
- Perez corralled Grundy with a flying forearm and pinned him at 3:48 shown.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for the World champion.
Match 6: The Fantastics versus “Playboy” Vince Apollo & Cowboy Tony
Highlights:
- Apollo tagged in while Lowrance plugged the World Class Wrestling Academy.
- As tags were exchanged on both sides, Fulton mounted the top turnbuckle and lowered the boom onto Tony.
- With all four wrestlers in the ring, the Fantastics unfurled a double dropkick to Tony.
- They launched Apollo into Tony, and the heels fled the ring to regroup.
- When tags were exchanged on both sides for a second time, all four wrestlers were in the ring again.
- The heels tried to ram the Fantastics together but fell victim to a meeting of the minds.
- After Tony reversed an Irish whip, Rogers leapfrogged him.
- The Fantastics double-dropkicked him again, and Fulton hoisted Apollo.
- While Rogers launched a cross body block, the Fantastics won at 3:22.
Rating: **
Summary: Showcase match for the Fantastics.
After the match, “Hollywood” John Tatum and Jack Victory storm the ring to attack the Fantastics. They pummel the beloved babyfaces while the credits roll to end the show.
Conclusion: Quite the action-packed episode as they sandwiched six matches into an hour with plenty of excitement. Perez has plenty of contenders on his tail while Embry and Shaun battle it out for the Light Heavyweight title. The Fantastics aren’t finished with Tatum and Victory yet while Parsons electrifies a young Dwayne Johnson with his nifty catchphrase.
Next week, Kevin battles Adias in an “I Quit” match!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 01-23-88!
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