World Class Wrestling Association January 30, 1988

by

Taped from Dallas, TX

Airdate: January 30, 1988 (taped 01/15)

Attendance: unknown

Hosted by Marc Lowrance

Can Shaun recapture the Light Heavyweight title from Embry? What happens when Kerry squares off against Parsons? Who are the new guys? Will this show be better than last week’s dreck? Or will it be even worse?

Opening montage.

Remember last week when the main event didn’t have a conclusion? Here’s the conclusion.

Match 1 (non-title): WCWA Texas tag team champions “Hollywood” John Tatum & the “Heartthrob of New Jersey” Jack Victory versus the Missing Link & Solomon Grundy (w/ Sheena)

Highlights:

  • Victory baited Grundy into the ring to distract referee Rick Hazzard.
  • Meanwhile, the heels double-teamed Link and clocked him with a cowbell. How dastardly!
  • Tatum tagged in, gave Link a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through.
  • When Link crotched Tatum on the top rope, Victory tried to help but went flying into the front row.
  • Link whipped each heel consecutively into Grundy, and each bounced off him like a ball in gym class.
  • As Grundy clotheslined Victory in the ring, Link joined Tatum on the floor.
  • Grundy shoulder-blocked Victory who tripped and pummeled him.
  • After Tatum grabbed a steel chair, he CROWNED Link with it.
  • Vince Apollo and the Real Thing stormed the ring to attack Link.
  • Therefore, Hazzard called for the bell to disqualify Tatum & Victory.
  • Link and Grundy won at 1:57 shown.

Rating: *

Summary: Rather chaotic ending with a BS finish which means things aren’t settled.

After the match, Apollo and Thing double-team Link while Tatum hammers Grundy with the cowbell. To save Link and Grundy’s bacon, “Wild” Bill Irwin infiltrates the ring with a bull whip.

Match 2: The Hood versus Mr. Hito

Highlights:

  • Some of you may recall Hito from Stampede, but this was my introduction to him.
  • As Hood slammed him, he dealt Hito a backbreaker for 2.
  • He suplexed Hito and followed with a clothesline.
  • When he fed Hito a fist drop, Hood got another 2.
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  • After Hito applied a trapezius hold, Hood escaped.
  • According to Lowrance, Kevin appeared late for a title match, so the WCWA World Six-Man titles changed hands to the Freebirds via DQ. Really?
  • Hood unloaded a sidewalk slam and got 2.
  • While Hood delivered a second backbreaker, he got another 2.
  • Hito chopped Hood and followed with a slam.
  • Mounting the second turnbuckle, Hito launched a flying chop.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Hito won at 6:40.

Rating: ½*

Summary: Complete contrast of styles that didn’t mesh well in the ring whatsoever.

Match 3: Pat Tanaka & Ron Starr versus Steve Casey & Jason Sterling

Highlights:

  • For those unaware, Tanaka was between Memphis and the AWA working with Ron Starr in WOW. Starr would hold the WOW tag team titles later in 1988 with some kid named Bob Holly.
  • Casey reversed a cross corner whip and backdropped Tanaka.
  • When he chopped Tanaka, Casey got 2.
  • Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Starr slapped the BEJEEZUS out of Sterling.
  • As Starr dealt him an elbow smash, he followed with a gutwrench suplex for 1.
  • Sterling reversed a cross corner whip, but Starr exploded from the corner with a clothesline.
  • After Tanaka tagged in, he unloaded a flying head butt to Sterling.
  • Speaking of Sterling, he rebounded with a slam but only got 1.
  • Starr tagged in and sandwiched Sterling in the corner.
  • While he hip-tossed Sterling, Starr decimated him with a knee lift.
  • Sterling scored with a sunset flip and got 2.
  • Ducking a clothesline, Sterling launched a cross body block for another 2.
  • Sterling leapfrogged Starr but missed a dropkick.
  • Tagging in, Tanaka connected with a thrust kick that knocked Sterling silly.
  • Starr tagged in, but Sterling reversed an Irish whip only to eat a high knee.
  • Earning a 2-count, Starr untangled a knee strike for another 2.
  • Starr suplexed Sterling but didn’t go down with him.
  • Landing a leg drop, Starr couldn’t get 3.
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  • In the meantime, Starr gave Sterling a cross corner whip and followed with a forearm smash.
  • Starr gave him another cross corner whip but ate foot on his follow-through.
  • Preventing the hot tag, Starr slammed Sterling, mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
  • Hot tag Casey.
  • Dropkicking Starr twice, Casey gorilla-press-slammed Tanaka.
  • Casey brought Starr in the hard way and unloaded a lariat for 2.
  • Rejoining the match, the heels destroyed Casey with an elbow/DDT tandem maneuver. Methinks that was Badd Company’s finisher.
  • 1-2-3.
  • Tanaka and Starr won at 8:17.

Rating: **½

Summary: Another heel victory as they roughed up Sterling and demolished Casey.

At ringside, Lowrance interviews Tatum and Victory. Tatum crows about being both Texas and Wild West tag team champions. As Tatum runs down the Fantastics, Apollo interrupts to offer them a contract. Tatum turns down the offer, but Apollo shows Victory a dollar amount on a Post-It note. To say that Victory’s surprised beyond belief would be an understatement.

Victory shows the note to Tatum who clarifies it with Apollo. Before Apollo gives his answer, he recommends they discuss it at his New Age Management office. Tatum’s so overwhelmed that he can’t finish the interview. I smell new clients.

Promo airs for WRESTLING THUNDERDOME with Kevin’s endorsement.

Match 4: Buddy “Jack” Roberts (w/ “Iceman” King Parsons & Angel of Death) versus Sweet Brown Sugar

Highlights:

  • Joined in progress, SBS scored with a cross body block for 2.
  • Roberts tossed SBS down to the floor and distracted referee Bronko Lubich.
  • Seeing an opportunity, Parsons put the boots to SBS. SNEAKY!
  • Roberts guillotined SBS with the top rope, and the Dallas faithful chanted “go, Skip, go.”
  • As SBS rebounded with a pair of head butts, he rang Roberts’ bell.
  • Parsons tripped SBS coming off the ropes, and Roberts stole the pin at 3:10 shown.

Rating: **

Summary: Freebird shenanigans directly led to a victory for Roberts.

Following the match, SBS beckons Parsons into the ring much to the approval of the Dallas faithful. We clip to a Freebird double-team of SBS, and Angel of Death finally stops being useless and pummels the Dallas native. Next, Roberts and Angel of Death hold up Parsons’ instrument of mass destruction, and the Freebirds clothesline SBS with it. Evil!

Match 5 for the WCWA World Light Heavyweight title: Eric Embry (champion) versus Shaun Simpson

Highlights:

  • The Dallas faithful chided Embry with an “Eric-a” chant, and Shaun hooked a sunset flip for 2.
  • When he trapped Embry with a backslide, Shaun got another 2.
  • He secured an inside cradle but couldn’t get 3.
  • As he tried a second sunset flip, Shaun could only muster another 2-count.
  • Shaun caught Embry with a second inside cradle but couldn’t score a pin.
  • After he blocked a hip toss, Shaun dealt Embry one of his own.
  • Embry rebounded with a lariat and followed with a slingshot gourdbuster for 2.
  • Undoubtedly, Embry must have been a huge fan of the Four Horsemen.
  • Shaun implemented a double leg takedown and got 2.
  • While he mounted the second turnbuckle, Embry leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
  • Shaun gave Embry a cross corner whip followed by a monkey flip.
  • Dropkicking Embry, Shaun got 2.
  • He backdropped Embry and followed with another dropkick.
  • Leapfrogging Shaun, Embry plowed into referee Rick Hazzard.
  • Shaun KO’d Embry but couldn’t earn more than a false pin due to Hazzard’s being OUT COLD on the floor.
  • Unfathomably, Sterling jumped into the ring and counted 2.
  • Shaun snared Embry with a third inside cradle, and Sterling counted the pin at 6:15.
  • WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Rating: ***

Summary: This outcome unquestionably tastes like a Dusty finish. Let’s see what transpires.

Afterward, Sterling hands Shaun the belt, but here comes Bronko Lubich. As I anticipated, Lubich takes the belt from Shaun and returns it to Embry. How many fucking times can they book this and not piss off the fans? The official decision is a no-contest; thus, Embry retains.

Match 6: The “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich versus “Iceman” King Parsons

Highlights:

  • Following a commercial break, the Von Erichs handcuffed Parsons to the top rope.
  • Kerry and Kevin disposed of Roberts and Angel of Death while Parsons remained quite upset about being detained.
  • As Kerry clobbered Roberts into the penalty box, Kevin shoved Angel of Death in there as well.
  • The credits rolled, and WE’RE OUTTA TIME!

Rating: NONE

Summary: Mere appetizer for what happens next week.

Conclusion: For the second week in a row, we’re shortchanged on a main event. Nevertheless, the Embry-Shaun match was extremely entertaining until the inevitable Dusty finish. While Starr may have been a solid hand in Alabama, he’s no Paul Diamond when it comes to tagging with Tanaka. The less we remember about Hito the better; however, pitting Tatum/Victory with Apollo gives them a manager who can build heat and wreak havoc when necessary.

Next week, the Von Erichs and Adams battle the Freebirds in a PENALTY BOX match!

TV Rating: NONE

Stay tuned for WCCW 02-06-88!

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