Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: July 16, 1988 (taped 07/08)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Marc Lowrance
Will Kerry retain the World title, or will Kamala crush his dreams? Will Kevin win the Texas title against Taylor? Who will win the second match of a best of three series–Casey or Embry?
Opening montage.
Match 1: Solomon Grundy versus Bob “The Cat” Bradley
Highlights:
- Bradley dealt Grundy a diving head butt, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
- When Grundy slammed him, he landed an elbow drop.
- Grundy gave him a cross corner whip, but Bradley leaped to the second turnbuckle.
- As Bradley launched a cross body block, he got 1.
- Bradley attempted a slam, but Grundy hooked an inside cradle.
- 1-2-3.
- Grundy won at 3:18.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for Grundy.
At ringside, Buddy “Jack” Roberts has begun “a new family” consisting of the Samoan SWAT Team. He cuts a promo on Michael Hayes and will mentor the SST to destroy either the Von Erichs or Simpson brothers.
Before Taylor can be introduced for the next match, booker Frank Dusek grabs the microphone and announces that on July 3 Taylor was injured. According to Dusek, Taylor is neither cleared to wrestle nor “in the building.” Therefore…
Match 2 for the WCWA Texas title: Terry Taylor (champion) versus Kevin Von Erich
Highlights:
- Since Taylor did not appear…
- WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Rating: NONE
Summary: Due to forfeit, Kevin won the Texas title. Taylor’s final appearance happened on 7/3 in Fort Worth. Hopefully, he will be clucky, er, I mean lucky in his next venture.
Upon winning the title, Kevin grabs the microphone and is ecstatic to win the Texas title the same way he lost the World title last year. He offers Taylor a challenge that will go unanswered.
Steve Simpson cuts a promo on “Hollywood” John Tatum and Jack Victory and promises to “get real dirty.” Sorry, Steve, but Missy’s moved on.
We revisit the Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions when Black Bart flattened “Wild” Bill Irwin with a branding iron. Afterward, he along with Akbar hanged Irwin with a noose.
Match 3: “Wild” Bill Irwin versus Black Bart (w/ General Skandor Akbar)
Highlights:
- From Wild West Wrestling with Bill Mercer on the call.
- Before Lowrance could announce Bart, Irwin strangled Akbar with his bull whip.
- Bart yanked his manager out of the ring to save his bacon, but Irwin dragged him onto the apron to receive a beating.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Just the next chapter in the Irwin-Bart feud.
At ringside, Akbar stands alongside “Iceman” King Parsons and claims the Von Erichs are “hiding.”
Nevertheless, Kamala and the former World champion will take care of them. Parsons rhymes his promo and runs down Kerry.
We revisit last week when Roberts “apologized” to Hayes before he and SST demolished him.
At ringside, Kevin’s ready to tag with anyone to handle Akbar’s charges.
Match 4 for the WCWA Light Heavyweight title: Eric Embry (champion) versus Steve Casey
Highlights:
- According to ring announcer Ralph Pulley, this was match #2 in their $10,000 challenge series. Casey won the first match.
- Casey hooked a sunset flip and got 2.
- As he secured a backslide, Casey got another 2.
- He trapped Embry with an inside cradle but couldn’t get 3.
- When Embry stalled worse than a Ford Pinto, Casey reversed a cross corner whip and backdropped him.
- Embry attempted to backslide him, but Casey had other ideas and got 2.
- After he escaped an arm bar, Embry clotheslined Casey.
- He snap-suplexed Casey and followed with a diving head butt.
- While he mounted the second turnbuckle, Embry launched a flying fist drop for 2.
- He mounted an adjacent second turnbuckle, dove, but found the river dry.
- Ramming Embry face-first into the mat, Casey backdropped him again.
- He dropkicked Embry and got 2.
- Suplexing Embry, Casey got another 2.
- Embry exited the ring for the umpteenth time, so Casey chased after him.
- Catching Casey coming through the ropes, Embry snared him with an inside cradle.
- 1-2-3.
- Embry won at 8:14.
Rating: **
Summary: Too much stalling; however, it was a key element of Embry’s strategy to victory. The series was tied at one apiece.
Match 5 for the WCWA World title: the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich (champion) versus Kamala (w/ General Skandor Akbar)
Highlights:
- If you recall, Kamala defeated Kerry a couple of weeks ago to earn this title shot.
- Kerry bounced Kamala head-first off a pair of top turnbuckles before uncorking a discus punch.
- Although Kerry won a test-of-strength, Kamala headbutted him.
- He unleashed a thrust kick to Kerry’s midsection and applied a nerve hold.
- When Kerry escaped, he blasted Kamala with a pair of discus punches.
- Kamala remained on his feet, so Kerry applied an Iron claw.
- As Akbar jumped onto the apron, Kerry released the hold and placed it upon Akbar.
- Kamala took advantage of the distraction and nailed Kerry.
- After he headbutted Kerry again, Kamala slammed him.
- He splashed Kerry, but WE’RE OUTTA TIME!
Rating: NONE
Summary: Are you serious? They could have cut out a promo or two to include the finish.
Conclusion: Despite the lack of a finish in the main event, this was an exciting episode with stuff like the title change due to a departing Taylor.
Also, Embry evens the series against Casey, so the deciding match should be very thrilling. The Irwin-Bart feud looks to be quite wicked while the SST has a new manager.
Next week, the culmination of the trilogy between Embry and Casey—in a STEEL CAGE!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 07-23-88!
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