Taped from Mesquite, TX
Airdate: July 18, 1987 (taped 07/05)
Attendance: 6,500
Hosted by Marc Lowrance & the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich
Can Kevin conquer Adias? Will Madril and Villalobos succeed against the RPMs? How will Borne fare against the mighty Arcidi? And who’s in Matt’s corner this week? Stop yer scramblin’ and enjoy some fine Texas ‘rasslin’!
Opening montage.
Match 1: Steve Simpson (w/ Shaun Simpson) versus Cowboy Tony
Highlights:
- Steve blocked a hip toss and fed Tony one of his own.
- When he reversed a cross corner whip, Steve backdropped Tony.
- According to Kerry, Shaun will turn 18 on 7/22.
- Therefore, he will be old enough to compete in the WCWA.
- Nevertheless, Tony clotheslined Steve and followed with a knee drop for 2.
- Tony dealt Steve another knee drop and migrated to the apron.
- As Tony tried to kick Shaun, he mounted the top turnbuckle.
- For reasons unbeknownst to the rest of the world, referee Bronko Lubich checked on Steve rather than pay attention to Tony on the apron.
- That allowed Shaun to jump onto the apron and dump Tony down to the mat.
- 1-2-3.
- Steve won at 4:58.
Rating: *
Summary: Quite the prelim match until the finish. The Mesquite faithful were solidly behind Shaun’s shenanigans, but they didn’t blow the roof off the Mesquite Arena (yet).
After the match, Tony grabs the microphone and is “embarrassed.” He should be with both your physique and tights. Regardless, he challenges Shaun to his first match.
POINT OF ORDER: With the new TV production crew, they’ve found it difficult to balance the crowd noise with the commentating. For example, at times, you’ll hear one but not the other. Methinks these guys got used to the smaller crowds at the Sportatorium and are struggling with the bigger Mesquite crowd.
Match 2: Ted Arcidi (w/ Percy Pringle) versus “Maniac” Matt Borne (w/ “Tough” Tony Borne)
Highlights:
- Arcidi clotheslined and guillotined Matt with the top rope.
- As he slammed Matt, Arcidi landed an elbow drop.
- Borne rebounded with a dropkick but missed an elbow drop.
- When Arcidi connected with a back elbow, he followed with a knee lift.
- He gave Matt a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
- After Matt leapfrogged him, he knocked Arcidi silly with a pair of lefts.
- He dealt Arcidi a release German suplex but only got 2 thanks to a foot on the ropes courtesy of Pringle. SNEAKY!
- While Tony beat up Pringle at ringside, the bell rang.
- Arcidi reversed a cross corner whip and delivered an avalanche thanks to Pringle’s cane subduing Matt.
- Taking more exception to Pringle’s involvement, Tony plastered him.
- Lowrance stated that referee Ralph Pulley was “screaming for the bell,” and Pulley awarded the match to Matt by DQ at 4:51.
Rating: *
Summary: It was a battle of Matt’s wrestling acumen versus Arcidi’s brawn until the managers got involved. Obviously, the bellringing was premature, but the decision made sense with the storytelling.
Match 3: The Rock’n’Roll RPMs (w/o Percy Pringle) versus Al Madril & Manuel Villalobos
Highlights:
- Rodeo legend Don Gay joined the broadcast table for this match. For those unaware, Gay was a professional bull rider who won eight World championships. Hopefully, I’ll never have to endorse anything rodeo-related ever again, ‘cuz it’s just not my thing.
- When Madril tagged in, he popped Lane like a can of Lone Star beer.
- Lane gave Madril a pair of cross corner whips, but Villalobos softened the blow on the second whip.
- As Madril gave Lane a pair of cross corner whips, he whipped him again but reversed field when Davis tried to soften the blow for Lane. Crafty!
- Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Villalobos leapfrogged Davis before dropkicking him.
- After Madril tagged in, he baited Lane into the ring prompting referee Bronko Lubich to get involved.
- Villalobos pantomimed a tag yet illegally switched with Madril much to the delight of the Mesquite faithful.
- While Lane tagged in, Villalobos reversed a cross corner whip but ate a clothesline.
- Davis tagged in and fed Villalobos a clothesline of his own for 2.
- Planting a knee into the midsection, Davis landed an elbow drop.
- Tagging in, Lane slammed Villalobos and followed with a series of fist drops for another 2.
- Tags were exchanged on both sides again, and Madril conducted a meeting of the minds between the RPMs. Conceivably, there’d be biscuits’n’gravy with a side of grits for it.
- Nonetheless, Madril popped Davis like he’s serving popcorn at the local cinema.
- He dealt Davis a pair of flying shoulder blocks and tagged in Villalobos.
- Scoring with a superkick, Villalobos splashed Davis.
- 1-2-3.
- Villalobos and Madril won at 8:54.
Rating: ***
Summary: With Villalobos in the ring, my first thought was that he’d eat the pin. On the other hand, Madril and Villalobos thrilled the Mesquite faithful with solid babyface wrestling en route to victory.
WORLD CLASS WRESTLER PROFILE: Matt compares his wrestling style to his father as Matt has “more moves” whereas Tony was more “rugged.” Speaking of Tony, he chimes in with enormous pride for his son while we witness them grilling hamburgers. They’re in the ring at the Sportatorium, and Tony offers a chain to Matt for potential Texas chain matches. Appreciative, Matt’s proud to carry on his father’s tradition.
Prior to the main event, Adias grabs the microphone and wants to “let bygones be bygones.” Smelling a ruse, Kevin notices Al Perez trying to sneak up on him and clobbers him.
Match 4 for the WCWA World title: Kevin Von Erich (champion) versus Brian Adias
Highlights:
- Kevin pounded Adias and applied an Iron claw to him.
- As Perez mounted the top turnbuckle, Kevin unlocked the claw and tossed Perez down to the mat.
- He dropkicked Perez out of the ring and reapplied the Iron claw to Adias.
- When Perez re-entered the ring with a chair, he WALLOPED Kevin with it.
- The Simpsons arrived to assist Kevin, but Perez blasts Shaun in the head with it. Welcome to pro wrestling, kid.
- Sorry, Chester.
- After Perez exited the ring, he assisted a BUSTED OPEN Adias.
- Ring announcer Chris Kerson mentioned that referee Bronko Lubich ruled the match a no-contest.
Rating: NONE
Summary: More of an angle than match to set up a future cage match between Kevin and Adias as well as upcoming matches against Perez.
Afterward, Kevin grabs the microphone and vows to send Adias to the hospital.
Conclusion: First, let’s address the venue. It’s always exciting when WCCW holds TV tapings outside the Sportatorium. Not to besmirch the legendary arena, but it adds anticipation to what WCCW can bring to the venue.
Next, let’s talk about the matches. While the main event was merely an angle to promote upcoming main events, the tag match was way more entertaining than I thought it’d be. Villalobos looks like a solid up-and-comer. The Arcidi-Borne match had way more than expected as Tony Borne got his mitts on Pringle.
Somewhere, a Fritz’s scrapbook got scrapped by the WWE Network. Perhaps Fritz was trying to con the public once again, and his actions would not be tolerated.
Next week, Brody versus Abdullah!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 07-25-87!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).