Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: December 5, 1987 (taped 11/13)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Marc Lowrance & “Playboy Vince Apollo
How will Kerry fare on Thanksgiving night? Will Borne retain the Texas title? Or will Arcidi squeeze it out of him? Who wins the next battle in the war of words between Hart and Pringle?
Opening montage.
Match 1: “Gentleman” Chris Adams versus Super Pole
Highlights:
- When Adams attempted a cross body block, Pole caught and slammed him.
- Pole missed an elbow drop, so Adams dropkicked him twice.
- As he ducked a clothesline, Adams connected with a superkick.
- 1-2-3.
- Adams won at 2:20.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Adams.
After the match, ring announcer Ralph Pulley interviews Adams who cuts a promo on Al Perez.
Match 2 (non-title): WCWA World Light Heavyweight champion “Flamboyant” Eric Embry versus Vic Steamboat
Highlights:
- Embry gave Steamboat a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
- As Embry dealt him a lariat, Steamboat hip-tossed him across the ring.
- Steamboat hooked a sunset flip and got 2.
- When he trapped Embry with a backslide, Steamboat got another 2.
- He secured an inside cradle but couldn’t get 3.
- After Embry rolled up Steamboat, he placed his feet on the second rope.
- 1-2-3.
- Embry won at 4:50.
Rating: **
Summary: Offense isn’t Steamboat’s strength, but Embry’s conniving enough to cheat to win.
Following the match, Embry deals Steamboat a knee in the back and applies a figure-four leg lock. After referee John Keaton is powerless to stop him, Shaun Simpson jumps into the ring to confront Embry.
Although Shaun removes his jacket and shirt, Embry refuses to fight and exits the ring. Shaun grabs his clothes, but Embry blasts him. SNEAKY! He piledrives Shaun much to the dismay of the screaming girls in the Sportatorium.
POINT OF ORDER: Since I’m unsure if they’ll air it, Shaun defeated Embry to win the Light Heavyweight title on Thanksgiving. As you can see, this segment was taped prior to the show, so the roles were reversed.
THE HART ATTACK: In split-screen, a hostile Pringle addresses both Perez and Gary Hart, but Hart rebuts with insults toward him and the Von Erichs. Pringle states that Arcidi can take him, so Perez advises him to “bring the gorilla.” HA!
Match 3: Mil Mascaras versus Chico Cabella
Highlights:
- Mascaras hip-tossed and took down Cabella with a flying headscissors.
- When Lowrance announced cities in the Mid-Atlantic region for upcoming tour dates…
- Mascaras stymied Cabella with a pair of flying head butts followed by a suplex.
- As he mounted the top turnbuckle, Mascaras launched a cross body block.
- 1-2-3.
- Mascaras won at 4:13.
Rating: *
Summary: Showcase match for Mascaras; yet, the Dallas faithful sought Jack’s French Fry’s.
Match 4 for the WCWA Texas title: “Maniac” Matt Borne (champion) versus Ted Arcidi w/ Percy Pringle
Highlights:
- Borne ducked a clothesline and fed Arcidi one of his own.
- As he mounted the top turnbuckle, Borne soared with a flying elbow smash for 2.
- Arcidi rebounded with a clothesline followed by a double axe handle.
- When he dealt Borne a backbreaker, he only got 2 thanks to a foot on the bottom rope.
- Arcidi applied a bear hug while the Dallas faithful chanted “go, Matt, go.”
- After Borne rang Arcidi’s bell to escape, Arcidi gave him a cross corner whip.
- He delivered a knee lift, slammed Borne, but missed an elbow drop.
- While Borne mounted the top turnbuckle, Pringle hooked his foot with a cane.
- Referee Bronko Lubich called for the bell, and Borne won by DQ at 5:33.
Rating: **
Summary: This had potential with Borne playing the small man against the big man Arcidi, but it was cut short due to some Pringle shenanigans.
Afterward, Arcidi slams Borne down to the mat, and Pringle joins him to double-team. Lubich sends Arcidi down to the floor, so Borne takes advantage and pummels Pringle much to the delight of the Dallas faithful.
Match 5: The “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich versus Brian Adias (w/ Vince Apollo)
Highlights:
- Kerry made his full-time singles comeback on 11/26 in Reunion Arena in Dallas with 7,000 in attendance.
- According to Lowrance, Adias slipped in a contractual obligation that Kerry must face and defeat the Thing before facing him. There’s no footage of that match, but Kerry prevailed.
- Kerry attempted an Iron claw, but Adias applied the brakes and sought refuge on the concrete floor.
- When Adias attempted a vertical suplex, Kerry blocked it.
- Adias made a second attempt, but Kerry blocked it again and dealt him one of his own for 2.
- As Adias reversed an Irish whip, he hooked a sleeper.
- Kerry survived and sent Adias reeling into the top turnbuckle.
- After Kerry reversed an Irish whip, he trapped Adias in his own sleeper.
- Adias nailed Kerry WAY DOWNTOWN to escape, and a mid-ring collision occurred.
- While they traded rights, each wrestler collapsed again.
- Kerry gave Adias a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
- Being joined on the concrete floor by Adias, Kerry made him HIT THE POLE.
- Adias secured an abdominal stretch and grabbed the trunks unbeknownst to referee John Keaton. How dastardly!
- Escaping, Kerry locked Adias in his own abdominal stretch.
- To add insult to injury, Kerry applied an Iron claw to Adias’ midsection. Ingenious!
- Escaping, Adias used momentum and the trunks to send Kerry atop ring announcer Joe Rinelli’s table.
- Kerry applied an Iron claw to Adias’ head, but Apollo mounted the top turnbuckle.
- Despite Kerry’s vaulting Apollo across the ring, Adias blocked a discus punch.
- Adias mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but Kerry barely evaded him.
- Connecting with a discus punch, Kerry pinned Adias at 10:24 shown.
Rating: ***
Summary: Kerry’s comeback is complete with a big victory over his former friend and current rival Adias.
After the match, Iron Sheik jumps into the ring and brawls with Kerry. Adias and Sheik double-team Kerry until Kevin storms the ring like a tornado to even the odds. While Kevin slams Sheik, Kerry lands another discus punch sending Adias to the concrete floor.
Although there’s “more to come” when the segment ends, the WWE Network, due to “technical difficulties,” ended the episode.
Conclusion: You owe it to yourself to see Kerry’s true comeback match against Adias. On top of that, the Borne-Arcidi match is worthwhile. Embry’s destruction of Shaun continues their battle over the Light Heavyweight title.
If I can be frank for a moment, where does Fritz get these ham’n’eggers for job duty? The Pole? Cabella? They’re HORRID!
Next week, Al Madril and Mascaras challenge Adias and Frankie Lancaster!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 12-12-87!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).