Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: March 12, 1988 (taped 02/26)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Marc Lowrance
What happens to Michael Hayes? Can Kerry, Kevin, and Steve beat the Freebirds and win back the six-man titles? How will Fulton fare against Taylor? The action’s hot and heavy, so get ready!
Opening montage.
We see highlights of Michael Hayes and the Badstreet Band from the March 4 concert at the Sportatoriium. During the show, “Iceman” King Parsons and Buddy Roberts ambushed Hayes. Kerry and Kevin Von Erich had been invited to join Hayes onstage, so they brawled with Parsons and Roberts. You know it’s a real fight when Kerry can lay in a discus punch.
Nonetheless, Roberts kicked Kerry WAY DOWNTOWN while Kevin connected with a standing dropkick to Parsons. As Roberts grabbed an electric guitar, he CLOBBERED Hayes with it. Heinous!
Prior to the opening match, Apollo grabs the microphone and requests silence for Thing’s war dance. They perform it together, and you could hear a mouse fart in the Sportatorium.
Match 1: “Wild” Bill Irwin versus the Real Thing (w/ “Playboy” Vince Apollo)
Highlights:
- Lowrance shilled an upcoming Star Wars card on 3/24 in Fort Worth, and Thing gave Irwin a cross corner whip followed by a back elbow.
- When the match segued to the floor, Thing rammed Irwin face-first into the apron.
- Irwin countered a back drop attempt with an inside cradle for 2.
- As Irwin stymied him with a sidewalk slam, he dealt Thing a bicycle kick.
- He rammed Thing face-first into the mat, gave him a cross corner whip, and followed with a knee to the midsection.
- After Angel of Death approached ringside, Thing reversed an Irish whip.
- Irwin leapfrogged and hammered Thing with a more solid bicycle kick.
- Before Irwin could pin Thing, Angel of Death jumped into the ring to brawl with him.
- Referee Bronko Lubich called for the bell, and Irwin won by DQ at 4:16.
Rating: *
Summary: Very little resting made this short match fascinating until the schmozz finish.
After the match, Apollo jumps into the ring, and the heels triple-team Irwin. How horrifying! The heels grab Irwin’s bull whip and try to clothesline him with it. However, Irwin escapes, and the heels inadvertently knock Apollo from the ring with it. The double-team continues until Missing Link arrives to steamroll the heels with head butts.
Match 2 (non-title): WCWA Texas tag team champions “Hollywood” John Tatum & the “Heartthrob of New Jersey” Jack Victory versus Jason Sterling & Jeff Raitz
Highlights:
- Victory slammed Raitz who returned the favor and gave him one more for good luck.
- As tags were exchanged on both sides, Sterling blocked a hip toss and dealt Tatum one of his own.
- In case you’re wondering, the Fantastics fought Tatum & Victory to a draw in a match for the Texas tag titles. According to my research, Tatum & Victory won the titles based upon a high card draw.
- Victory tagged in, gave Sterling a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through.
- When Sterling rolled up Victory, he got 2.
- Raitz tagged in, yet the Simpson brothers approached ringside.
- After Tatum tagged in, Raitz leapfrogged Victory but ate a clothesline from Tatum.
- Raitz got rammed face-first into the mat, and Victory tagged in.
- While Victory unleashed a pair of elbow smashes to him, he got distracted by the Simpson brothers.
- Raitz rolled up Victory but only got 1.
- Taking another turn, Tatum caught Raitz mid-cross-body-block and powerslammed him.
- Raitz leapfrogged Tatum and followed with a dropkick.
- Hot tag Sterling.
- Following a pair of dropkicks to Victory, Sterling missed a third one.
- Tatum tagged in, but Sterling jumped onto Victory’s back.
- From the top turnbuckle, Tatum uncorked a flying clothesline to Sterling. Nifty!
- 1-2-3.
- Tatum and Victory won at 7:11.
Rating: **
Summary: Showcase match for the champs.
Following the match, Tatum baits the Simpson brothers into the ring, but the heels head for higher ground.
We revisit two weeks ago when Taylor turned on and pummeled Adams. Next, we revisit last week when Borne had a chance to retain, but Taylor used momentum and the trunks to steal the Texas title from him.
At ringside, Lowrance interviews Taylor who cuts a cocky promo.
Match 3 (non-title): WCWA Texas champion Terry Taylor versus Bobby Fulton
Highlights:
- Fulton unloaded a knee lift, scored with a Thesz press, and got 2.
- When Fulton leapfrogged him, Taylor thwarted another Thesz press attempt with a stun gun.
- He dealt Fulton a knee drop and got 2.
- As he caught Fulton midway through a cross body block, Taylor attempted to slam him.
- On the other hand, Fulton used momentum to land on top for 2.
- Fulton missed a dropkick so Taylor annihilated him with a SPINEBUSTER for 2.
- After Taylor tossed him to the floor, Fulton landed on his feet.
- He returned to the apron and re-entered the ring via sunset flip.
- While Taylor blocked the move, he grabbed the second rope for leverage. SNEAKY!
- 1-2-3.
- Taylor won at 5:12.
Rating: **
Summary: Fulton had his chances, but the wily veteran Taylor found a nefarious way to win.
Match 4 for the WCWA World Six-Man titles: Buddy Roberts, “Iceman” King Parsons, & the Angel of Death (champions) versus the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich, Kevin Von Erich, & Steve Simpson (w/ “Gentleman” Chris Adams)
Highlights:
- Joined in progress, chaos ensued with all six wrestlers in the ring.
- The babyfaces ejected the heels from the ring while Parsons landed atop Pulley’s table.
- As Roberts tagged in, he connected with a cross body block and got 2.
- He clotheslined Kerry and tagged in Angel of Death.
- When Kevin tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle and lowered the boom onto Angel of Death.
- He dropkicked Angel of Death and tagged in Simpson.
- Following a commercial break, Parsons tagged in and knocked Kerry not only silly but also over the top rope to the floor.
- Parsons brought him back into the ring the hard way, but Kerry responded with a discus punch.
- After Angel of Death tagged in, he unfurled a big boot to Kerry.
- Angel of Death grabbed Kerry’s foot but ate an enziguri.
- Hot tag Kevin.
- While Kevin double-dropkicked Parsons and Roberts, he attempted an Iron claw.
- Roberts blocked it, so Kevin locked him in a legscissors.
- Tagging in, Simpson held a rear chin lock on Roberts.
- Meanwhile, Kerry and Kevin leaped from their corner to pound on Parsons and Angel of Death.
- Simpson reversed an Irish whip and trapped Roberts in a sleeper.
- Getting his turn, Angel of Death snap-suplexed Simpson for 1.
- The Dallas faithful rang out a LOUD “go Steve, go” chant, and their hero launched a cross body block for 2.
- Making the tag, Roberts succumbed to a sunset flip, and Simpson got 2.
- Parsons tagged in but mistakenly clobbered Roberts while aiming for Simpson.
- Receiving the tag, Kerry slammed Parsons, mounted the top turnbuckle, but missed a flying elbow drop.
- Off-camera, Taylor approached ringside and “cold-cocked” Adams according to Lowrance. The rooster jokes tell themselves, don’t they?
- Kevin monkey-flipped Roberts, yet Simpson mounted the top turnbuckle.
- Soaring with another cross body block, Simpson couldn’t earn a count since referee Bronko Lubich was distracted by the chaos perpetrated by Taylor at ringside.
- Angel of Death snuck into the ring, planted Simpson with an elbow drop, and placed Roberts atop him. How dastardly!
- 1-2-3.
- Roberts, Parsons, & Angel of Death retained at 12:25 shown.
Rating: ***
Summary: Wild match with shenanigans outside the ring leading to chicanery inside the ring giving the champions the victory.
Afterward, Adams writhes in pain on the floor as Taylor has apparently done more damage to Adams’ already-broken hand.
Conclusion: Despite the Angel of Death’s presence on this episode, this was a truly fun show. The Von Erichs got to wow the Dallas faithful albeit in defeat. Also, Taylor’s overconfidence was his best characteristic. The Texas tag champs were riding high while the Link-Irwin tag team seemed poised to maintain younger fan interest.
By the way, the chyron, which had reverted to its original state upon Ken Mantell’s return, has been updated as of this episode.
Next week, Kevin battles Roberts and more!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 03-19-88!
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