Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: August 6, 1988 (taped 07/29)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Marc Lowrance
Can Kerry climb the mountain and defeat Kamala? How will Hayes fare against the wily Samu? Will Borne and Casey survive against Funk and Embry? What happens next in the battle between Shaun and Victory? Folks, it’s REALLY hot in Texas in August, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids.
Opening montage.
Match 1: Shaun Simpson versus the “Heartthrob of New Jersey” Jack Victory
Highlights:
- According to my research, the Simpson brothers defeated Tatum and Victory for the Wild West tag titles in Temple, TX on July 25. Shaun brought his belt to the ring to showcase it.
- Shaun leapfrogged Victory, rolled him up, and got 2.
- When Victory mauled him, he dealt Shaun an elbow smash.
- Lowrance paid tribute to the late Bruiser Brody while Shaun gave Victory a cross corner whip.
- As Victory spoiled Shaun’s follow-through with a clothesline, he got 2.
- Shaun reversed a cross corner whip and backdropped Victory.
- After he caught Victory with a flying back elbow, Shaun dropkicked him twice.
- He mounted the top turnbuckle and soared with a cross body block.
- While Victory used momentum and the trunks, he landed atop Shaun.
- 1-2-3.
- Victory won at 5:15.
Rating: **
Summary: For a moment, I thought Shaun had done everything possible to defeat Victory, yet chicanery by the latter diffused that theory.
After the match, referee Bronko Lubich approached the ring and advised referee John Keaton about Victory’s shenanigans. Keaton reversed the decision as we have another infamous Lubich-flavored Dusty Finish.
At ringside, General Skandor Akbar stands alongside “Iceman” King Parsons. He cuts a promo on Kerry while Parsons claims to have another title shot thanks to Akbar.
POINT OF ORDER: I must say that Parsons stepped up his game by 1988, and he was worth backing as a fan; therefore, I find it 100% necessary to associate him with Akbar to fuel the heel vibe.
Match 2: “Maniac” Matt Borne & Steve Casey versus Jimmy Jack Funk & Eric Embry
Highlights:
- Funk tagged in, slammed Casey, but missed an elbow drop.
- As Embry tagged in, he missed a diving head butt.
- Casey dealt him an atomic drop and hooked a sleeper.
- When all four wrestlers were in the ring, Borne tossed Funk to the floor.
- He leaped from the apron and unleashed a flying elbow smash.
- After Funk made Borne HIT THE POLE, he returned to the heel corner and leveled Casey from behind. SNEAKY!
- 1-2-3.
- Funk and Embry won at 5:05.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Quick greasy match with a fluke finish to further make Casey look weak.
Following the match, Funk tries to clobber Casey with his cowbell, but Borne cuts him off. They brawl over the top rope to the floor, and Borne bounces Funk’s head off the apron.
At ringside, Embry calls out any and all comers including Mike Graham and Jeff Jarrett for his Light Heavyweight title.
Match 3: Steve “Do It to It” Cox versus “Killer” Tim Brooks
Highlights:
- Cox slammed Brooks but missed an elbow drop.
- When Brooks landed a knee drop, he got 1.
- Cox reversed a cross corner whip and almost botched a monkey flip.
- As he caught Brooks with a lariat, he got 1 again.
- He dropkicked Brooks and followed with a side-Russian leg sweep.
- 1-2-3.
- Cox won at 2:45.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Cox.
At ringside, Roberts demands respect for the SST who join him. Can you imagine the Freebirds, Von Erichs, and SST partying together?
We head to Fort Worth for our next match.
Match 4: Michael “P.S.” Hayes versus Samu (w/ Buddy “Jack” Roberts)
Highlights:
- As Lowrance touted the 8/5 card at the Sportatorium, Hayes dropkicked Samu.
- Speaking of Samu, he blocked a slam but botched an inside cradle.
- Fatu approached ringside, yet Hayes bulldogged Samu.
- When he attempted to pin Samu, Fatu charged into the ring to break it up.
- Referee John Keaton called for the bell, and Hayes won by DQ at 2:47.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Barely got started before they went to the finish. Samu has tag team wrestler written all over him at this point.
Afterward, Fatu nails Hayes WAY DOWNTOWN and floors him with a thrust kick. Kerry storms the ring to even the odds, and the feed leaves the air mid-brawl.
At ringside, Hayes introduces his partner Cox who’s ready for “a whole lotta fightin’.”
Match 5 (non-title): WCWA World champion the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich versus Kamala (w/ General Skandor Akbar)
Highlights:
- For those unaware, Kerry substituted for the late Bruiser Brody in this match.
- Kerry hammered him with a discus punch, and Kamala fell like a house of cards.
- When Kerry gave Kamala a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
- Kamala clotheslined him and astonishingly leapfrogged Kerry.
- As Kerry rebounded with a clothesline, he threatened Kamala with an Iron claw.
- Kamala scampered to the floor out of sheer fright.
- After Kerry got distracted by Akbar, Kamala belted him down to the floor.
- The match resumed there, and Kerry blasted him with another discus punch.
- While Akbar intervened, Kerry fed him a knuckle sandwich.
- He made Kamala HIT THE POLE, but Akbar grabbed Kerry by the boot. Be careful there!
- Since neither wrestler could answer the 20-count, referee Bronko Lubich called for the bell.
- He ruled the bout a double-countout at 4:38.
- BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Rating: *
Summary: On one hand, it’s a fill-in match for Brody, so the decision may have already been written in stone. On the other hand, Kerry and Kamala had previous encounters that would have looked better on TV than this mess.
After the match, Kerry and Kamala brawl on the floor while Akbar keeps Kerry at bay with a chair.
Conclusion: Another action-packed episode with a quick fill-in for the main event book-ended by a Dusty Finish. Let’s hope Borne plays a bigger role in the weeks to come as he can challenge the truly dastardly heels like Funk and get them over. Week by week, Embry does a great job of making me hate him more and more. Conversely, Cox, as a babyface, working with Hayes could shine if given the Ricky Morton role. Meanwhile, the Simpsons-Tatum/Victory feud continues much to the delight of highly-excited women around the world.
Next week, Hayes and Cox battle the SST!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 08-13-88!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).