Taped from Mesquite, TX
Airdate: August 22, 1987 (taped 08/02)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Don Gay & Fritz Von Erich
What’s this? Kevin versus Adias? In a STEEL CAGE? Also, who’s the new guy? Who wins between either Cowboy Tony or an ornery bull? Grab some grub and get settled for some exciting ‘rasslin’ action!
Opening montage.
Match 1: The Spoiler versus Tommy Lane (w/o Mike Davis)
Highlights:
- Spoiler hip-tossed Lane but ate a knee to the midsection.
- When Lane connected with a back elbow, he got 2.
- He fed Spoiler a backbreaker for another 2.
- As Spoiler mounted the second turnbuckle, he dealt Lane a lariat.
- 1-2-3.
- Spoiler won at 2:41.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Relatively quick and harmless showcase match for Spoiler.
Match 2: Vic Steamboat versus Len Denton (w/ Percy Pringle)
Highlights:
- For those unaware, Steamboat is the younger brother of Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.
- Denton slammed Steamboat and followed with a hip toss.
- As he escaped another slam attempt, Steamboat returned the favor.
- Steamboat hip-tossed Denton as Kerry replaced his father on commentary.
- When they botched a leapfrog sequence, Steamboat connected with a cross body block for 2.
- The Mesquite faithful chastised Pringle, and Denton distracted referee Mullett Warrior.
- Afterward, Pringle clobbered Steamboat with his cane. How dastardly!
- Denton suplexed Ssteamboat for 2.
- While he fed Steamboat an atomic drop, Denton got another 2.
- He dealt Steamboat a backbreaker but couldn’t get 3.
- Giving Steamboat a cross corner whip, Denton ate knees on his follow-through.
- Steamboat mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a flying splash.
- 1-2-3.
- Steamboat won at 7:00.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for the newcomer, but that botch was gruesome.
Match 3: Tony Atlas versus “Killer” Tim Brooks (w/ Percy Pringle)
Highlights:
- Atlas leapfrogged Brooks twice and followed with a head butt.
- When Brooks distracted referee Bronko Lubich, Pringle blasted Atlas with his cane. Devious!
- Brooks fed Atlas a knee to the midsection and landed a leg drop for 2, brother.
- As Atlas rebounded with another head butt, he military-press-slammed Brooks.
- He scored with a splash and pinned Brooks at 5:42.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Atlas.
After the match, Atlas chases after Pringle to give the fat man some exercise.
Nevertheless, Cowboy Tony mounts a bull, but as soon as the bull starts to object, he bails quicker than a hiccup. Eric Embry and Frankie Lancaster assist the “injured” Tony backstage. Although I understand the point of this was to generate heat, it made Tony look like a sissy instead of a heel.
WORLD CLASS WRESTLER PROFILE: At ringside, Ralph Pulley interviews Steamboat who stumbles yet ultimately remembers that he’s in Mesquite. He details his beginnings in Florida tagging with Kendall Windham and is ready to challenge any and all comers here in the WCWA. Perhaps he can find a partner who knows Texas a lot better than he does.
Match 4 for the WCWA World title (steel cage): Kevin Von Erich (champion) versus Brian Adias
Highlights:
- In case you missed this nugget last time, Kerry’s return was slated for “13 weeks” at this point.
- Kevin dropkicked Adias, mounted the second turnbuckle, and creamed him with a flying elbow smash.
- As Adias tried to escape, Kevin joined and rammed him face-first into the cage.
- He stood atop the top turnbuckle and planted Adias with another elbow smash.
- When he trapped Adias in a leg scissors, Kevin rolled him over for 2.
- He reversed an Irish whip and locked another leg scissors upon Adias albeit this time in mid-air. Impressive!
- After he escaped, Adias sent Kevin face-first into the cage.
- Adias missed a knee drop, so Kevin mule-kicked him.
- While Kevin mounted the top turnbuckle, he attempted a flying Iron claw, but Adias caught him in the midsection.
- Kevin attempted another Iron claw, but Adias blocked it.
- Changing angles, Kevin applied the Iron claw to the midsection.
- Adias escaped, but Kevin made him eat the steel again twice.
- Slamming Adias, Kevin ate knees during a splash attempt.
- Adias gave him a cross corner whip, but Kevin responded with his fists.
- Sending Kevin into the cage, Adias got 2.
- Kevin countered a reverse chin lock by sandwiching Adias in the corner.
- Attempting the Iron claw again, Kevin got blocked.
- Adias bounced Kevin off the steel again and followed with a back elbow for 2.
- Slamming Kevin, Adias mounted the second turnbuckle, leaped, but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
- Kevin caromed Adias against the cage once again and applied an Iron claw.
- Taking Adias down, Kevin pinned him at 11:55.
Rating: ***
Summary: Solid grudge match as Kevin gave Adias the comeuppance he deserved for betraying the Von Erich clan.
Following the match, Al Perez jumps into the cage and manhandles referee Mullett Warrior. He quickly escorts a BUSTED OPEN Adias backstage.
After a commercial break, Kevin sprints backstage into the Sports Medicine Center. He drags Perez out, and a brawl erupts, As Gary Hart gets involved, Fritz makes him pay. The Mesquite faithful LOSES ITS DAMN MIND as Fritz takes care of Hart and nails Perez to end both the melee and the show.
Conclusion: It’s a one-match show, but, boy, is that match great or what? With Perez being involved at the end, he’ll transition into the #1 contender spot for Kevin’s World title. Meanwhile, Atlas, Spoiler, and the newcomer all prevailed to build up the excitement for the main event.
Next week, CONTROVERSY surrounds the World title.
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 08-29-87!
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