Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: April 9, 1988 (taped 03/25)
Attendance: 1,700
Hosted by Marc Lowrance
Can Adams and Irwin topple Taylor and Thing? Who wins the Texas Round-Up? What triumphant announcement does Parsons declare? Plus, Missing Link & more! Fix yourself a plate and enjoy some Texas ‘rasslin’ excitement!
Opening montage.
Match 1: The Missing Link (w/ Sheena) versus “Playboy” Vince Apollo
Highlights:
- Apollo rolled up Link and got 2.
- When the Dallas faithful chanted “go, Link, go,” their hero fell victim to a sunset flip resulting in a 2-count for Apollo.
- Sheena distracted Apollo, so Link dealt him an atomic drop.
- As he followed with an inverted atomic drop, Link mounted the second turnbuckle.
- He delivered a flying head butt and pinned Apollo at 2:49.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Showcase match for Link.
Match 2: Texas Round-Up
Participants: “Playboy” Vince Apollo, Angel of Death, “Flamboyant” Eric Embry, “Iceman” King Parsons, Real Thing, Grim Reaper, Buddy “Jack” Roberts, Shaun Simpson, Steve Simpson, Jason Sterling, “Hollywood” John Tatum, Terry Taylor, The “Heartthrob of New Jersey” Jack Victory, the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich, & Kevin Von Erich.
Highlights:
- For those unaware, Reaper was portrayed by Rob Monroe according to my research.
- Also, for those needing enlightenment, this was WCCW’s version of the Royal Rumble with EXTREMELY similar rules.
- Kevin jumped into the ring, but Reaper and Thing double-teamed him.
- As all three wrestlers spilled over the top rope, both Thing and Reaper hit the floor.
- Kevin, on the other hand, skinned the cat to remain in the ring, and all was right with the world.
- Following a clip, Tatum ate a standing dropkick from Kevin.
- Kevin locked a bodyscissors on Tatum, but Victory entered the ring.
- When the former tag champs tried to double-team Kevin, heel miscommunication ensued.
- Tatum mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but succumbed to an Iron claw.
- After the former tag champs double-clotheslined Kevin, Sterling joined the party.
- Tatum mounted the second turnbuckle and successfully hit a double axe handle to Kevin.
- While Sterling backdropped Tatum, he dealt Tatum a ten-punch count-along.
- Roberts entered the fray and pounded all four combatants.
- Blasting Roberts from behind, Kevin, along with the tag champs, eliminated Roberts in no time flat.
- The former tag champs disposed of Sterling rather easily onto Pulley’s table.
- Following another clip, Kerry arrived to a big cheer from the Dallas faithful.
- The former tag champs reversed stereo Irish whips, but the Von Erichs performed stereo leap frogs.
- Due to stereo dropkicks, both Tatum and Victory were sent packing.
- Parsons was next but rightfully reluctant to be double-teamed by the Von Erichs.
- Unfortunately, Angel of Death took his turn, yet, after another clip, he and Parsons were locked in Iron claws by the Von Erichs.
- Kerry annihilated Angel of Death with a discus punch that sent him between the ropes onto Pulley’s table.
- Joining him on the floor, Kerry rammed Angel of Death face-first into Pulley’s table.
- Another clip occurred, and Kevin won a battle of chairs against Parsons.
- Standing alone, Taylor awaited the other four wrestlers to return to the ring.
- All four men spilled out the fire door and into the parking lot, but were they eliminated?
- According to Lowrance, all four wrestlers were eliminated.
- Embry’s turn approached, but Shaun soon followed.
- Pounding on Embry, Shaun got nailed from behind by Taylor.
- Apollo came in, and it appeared to be 3-on-1 on Shaun.
- To a raucous ovation, Steve stepped in to assist his brother.
- Taylor was sitting atop the top turnbuckle, so Steve yanked him down to the floor.
- With stereo cross corner whips, the Simpson brothers rammed Embry and Apollo together.
- Steve monkey-flipped Embry, but Taylor interfered yanking Shaun down to the floor.
- Charging Steve who had Embry in a side head lock, Apollo got backdropped out of the ring.
- Embry ensured Steve’s Friday night plans were scrapped by crotching him on the top rope.
- Giving Steve a cross corner whip, Embry came up empty on his follow-through.
- Steve dropkicked Embry ending his night and won the match at 9:27 shown.
Rating: ***
Summary: Since the Royal Rumble concept was novel back in 1988, the booking for this match was either predictable or sluggish.
After the match, Shaun returns to the ring to celebrate with his older brother.
With merchandise hanging behind them, the Simpson brothers cut promos on Tatum and Victory.
Match 3: Black Bart versus Jim Richardson
Highlights:
- Richardson was making his WCCW debut.
- When Bart slammed him, he mounted the second turnbuckle.
- Bart delivered a flying leg drop and pinned Richardson at 2:02.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for Bart.
Backstage, NEW World champion “Iceman” King Parsons declares himself to be the “first black heavyweight champion of the world.”
Parsons states the hypothesis of Gordy and Roberts orchestrating the blackout is downright false and claims it was all his doing. As he describes knocking Michael Hayes into the middle of 1990, Parsons blasted Kerry from here to kingdom come.
We revisit last week when everything went DARK and Kerry lost the title to Parsons.
Backstage, Kerry cuts a promo on Parsons.
Following a commercial break, referee John Keaton describes the World title match. He sent a report to the Board of Governors but maintains that as of right now Parsons remains champion.
Prior to the main event, Apollo grabs the microphone, and Thing performs the New Zealand war chant. Meanwhile, I find an adult beverage.
Match 4: “Gentleman” Chris Adams & “Wild” Bill Irwin versus Terry Taylor & the Real Thing (w/ “Playboy” Vince Apollo)
Highlights:
- Thing gave Irwin a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
- As Adams tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle and lowered the boom onto Thing.
- Adams tries to force a tag, but Taylor wouldn’t cooperate.
- When Adams connected with a running forearm smash, Thing clotheslined him on a second attempt.
- Taylor tagged in and slammed Adams.
- After Taylor missed an elbow drop, he tagged out.
- Adams backdropped Thing and tagged in Irwin.
- While Irwin scored with a bicycle kick, he followed with a back elbow.
- Thing distracted referee Bronko Lubich allowing Apollo to give Irwin the business. SNEAKY!
- Tagging in, Taylor dealt Irwin a big boot.
- He baited Adams into the ring prompting Lubich to be distracted.
- In the meantime, the heels double-teamed Irwin. How dastardly!
- An illegal switch transpired, and Thing got 2.
- Slamming Irwin, Thing missed an elbow drop.
- Irwin also missed an elbow drop, and Taylor tagged in.
- Blocking a suplex attempt, Irwin dealt Taylor a suplex of his own.
- Hot tag Adams.
- Adams gave Thing an Irish whip directly into a big boot from Irwin.
- Connecting with a superkick, Adams pinned Thing.
- Adams and Irwin won at 7:26.
Rating: **
Summary: Quality main event, yet Taylor and Adams didn’t spend enough time together in the ring.
Following the match, Adams brings Taylor into the ring the hard way. Apollo jumps onto the apron only to be restrained by Irwin. While Taylor gets the upper hand on Adams by stomping on the broken hand, Thing and Apollo double-team Irwin. Taylor ties Adams up in the rope, unbandages the broken hand, and does more damage. Somehow, Irwin escapes, grabs his bull whip, and clears the ring.
Conclusion: The only light shed on how Parsons became World champion was shone by Parsons himself. Is it the truth? Or is he lying to protect someone?
With respect to the matches, the main event was solid and the Texas Round-Up was something different. The fallout of the World title change continues on the road to Texas Stadium.
Next week, Hayes battles Angel of Death!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 04-16-88!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).