Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: April 30, 1988 (taped 04/15)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Marc Lowrance
What in the blue hell is happening between Hayes and Gordy? Can Kerry and Steve get the better of Parsons and Roberts? Who’s this guy wrestling alongside Mike George? The water is boiling and ready, so get ready for some truly exciting Texas ‘rasslin’!
Opening montage.
Backstage, a brawl erupts between Hayes and Gordy. Hayes is BUSTED OPEN! The fight continues until the babyfaces break it up.
Prior to the opening match, Gordy jumps into the ring and swipes the microphone away from ring announcer Ralph Pulley. He’s not worried about getting suspended by WCWA but wants Hayes in the ring RIGHT NOW. C’mon, Hayes, be a man and fight this guy!
Never to back down, Hayes enters the ring, and the melee continues. As they spill from the ring to the floor, the locker room empties to separate them. The Dallas faithful chants “Ker-ry,” yet the former friends are both bloody and battling with chairs. Ultimately, the brawl ends up with Hayes in the parking lot. Wild stuff!
Match 1: Shaun Simpson versus Bob Bradley
Highlights:
- For those curious, the Sportatorium was unusually DARK for this episode, yet it appeared that there’s a sustainable crowd. Upon further review, it appeared that the hard camera was placed on the opposite side of the arena FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!
- Shaun slammed him, but Bradley returned the favor.
- When he connected with a diving head butt, Bradley fell victim to a cross body block.
- Shaun got 2.
- Suddenly, Jack Victory and John Tatum stormed the ring to beat up Shaun.
- Referee Bronko Lubich called for the bell, and Shaun won by DQ at 1:51.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Mere backstory for the ongoing drama between the Simpson brothers and Tatum/Victory.
After the match, Steve joins the fray, but the Texas tag champs dispose of them quickly. With Shaun on one top turnbuckle and Steve on an adjacent one, they launch stereo cross body blocks, and Lubich inexplicably counts the pin. As the Simpson brothers escape, the heels remain flustered.
Backstage, General Skandor Akbar has returned! He stands alongside Black Bart and cuts a promo on “Wild” Bill Irwin. Black Bart adds his $.02 and cements it with a “DADGUMIT!”
Match 2: “Wild” Bill Irwin versus “Killer” Tim Brooks
Highlights:
- Irwin leapfrogged Brooks and followed with a bicycle kick.
- 1-2-3.
- Irwin won at 1:13.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for Irwin.
Backstage, Tatum along with Victory crows about meeting the Simpson brothers in a title-for-title match at Texas Stadium. I’d hope they tear the house down, but Cowboys fans would be PISSED.
Match 3 (non-title): NWA Central States champion DJ Peterson versus the Hood
Highlights:
- Look who’s back!
- Hood countered a side head lock with a belly-to-back suplex.
- When Peterson scored with a cross body block, he got 2.
- Peterson hip-tossed him, but Hood rebounded with a vertical suplex.
- As he gave Peterson a cross corner whip, Hood came up empty on his follow-through.
- He slammed Peterson and followed with an elbow drop.
- After Peterson dropkicked him, he suplexed Hood.
- He mounted the top turnbuckle and soared with a flying clothesline.
- 1-2-3.
- Peterson won at 4:13.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Peterson.
Following the match, WCWA Board of Governors member Frank Dusek enters the ring and announces that “no one interrupts (his) matches.” Put your foot down, Frank! He changes the card for the 5th annual Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions by declaring that Hayes and Gordy will battle against one another in the TRIPLE DOME OF TERROR.
Match 4: WWA World champion Mike George & Masahiro Chono versus Jeff Raitz & Mike Reed
Highlights:
- Chono spent time between New Japan and WWA (KC-based) at this point in his career.
- Raitz escaped a hammerlock and dropkicked George.
- As Raitz slammed George, Chono tagged in.
- He dealt Raitz a cross corner whip followed by a handspring back elbow.
- When George tagged in, he suplexed Raitz and got 2.
- Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Chono leveled Reed with a spinning heel kick.
- After George tagged in, he stymied Reed with a belly-to-back suplex.
- 1-2-3.
- George and Chono won at 3:14.
Rating: **
Summary: You can foresee the 90s coming with this match. Chono’s style is fresh and exciting. George, compared to his days in Mid-South in 1982, looks older and less chiseled.
Backstage, the Simpson brothers cut a promo on Tatum and Victory. They’re ready to win both titles at Texas Stadium.
Elsewhere backstage, Kerry mentions that the WCWA Board of Governors has deemed that “Iceman” King Parsons MUST defend the WCWA World title at Texas Stadium. His opponent will be none other than…
No, indeed it’s Kerry. Although Kerry forgets which year he won the NWA World title, he cuts a quick promo on Parsons.
Match 5: “Iceman” King Parsons & Buddy “Jack” Roberts versus the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich & Steve Simpson
Highlights:
- Due to the bloody brawl, neither Hayes nor Gordy could compete in this match.
- Roberts fed Kerry a boot to the midsection and followed with a knee lift.
- When Parsons met Kerry on the floor, he sandwiched him against the ring post.
- The Dallas faithful chided the World champion by chanting “Iceman is a traitor.” HA!
- As Roberts suplexed Kerry back into the ring, Parsons tagged in.
- Kerry blasted Parsons with a discus punch, and tags were exchanged on both sides.
- After Steve gave him a cross corner whip, he dealt Roberts a monkey flip.
- Kerry tagged in, took Roberts down with a snap mare, but missed an elbow drop.
- While Roberts rammed Kerry face-first into the mat, Steve tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and lowered the boom onto the elder Freebird.
- Steve rolled up Roberts and got 2.
- Countering a side head lock, Roberts dumped Steve with a belly-to-back suplex.
- Parsons tagged in, mounted the second turnbuckle, and unloaded a flying elbow smash.
- Snap-suplexing Steve, Parsons got 2.
- Roberts tagged in and floored Steve with a swinging neckbreaker for another 2.
- Tagging in, Parsons denied Steve a chance to tag out, unfurled an airplane spin, but knocked down referee Rick Hazzard.
- Parsons chucked Steve over the top rope to the floor since Hazzard was incapacitated. How dastardly!
- Storming into the ring, Kerry got quickly double-teamed but overcame it with a meeting of the minds.
- Roberts bulldogged Kerry, and he and Parsons attempted another double-team.
- In lieu of nailing Kerry, Parsons inadvertently caught Roberts with a butt butt.
- Kerry rolled up and pinned Parsons at 7:30.
Rating: ***
Summary: The World champion has been pinned! If Kerry hadn’t already been awarded a rematch against Parsons, this result would have cemented one for him.
Conclusion: What did you expect? It’s the go-home show before the big spectacular at Texas Stadium. Tickets need to be sold. Hotel rooms must be reserved. Transportation arrangements shall be arranged. Get your tickets NOW!
Whereas last year there was a scaffold match, this year there’ll be a TRIPLE DOME OF TERROR!
Without uttering a single word, Hayes and Gordy sold their rivalry like death in this episode. Also, Kerry upended Parsons albeit in a tag match. Will lightning strike twice, and he’ll do the same for the World title?
The Simpson brothers established they can get the better of Tatum and Victory, but will that occur with the belts on the line?
Let’s all celebrate with some grub for the upcoming MEATY show!
Next week, who knows what’ll happen on the precipice of the Texas Stadium spectacular!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 05-07-88!
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