Taped from Irving, TX
Airdate: May 8, 1988
Attendance: 7,000
Hosted by Marc Lowrance
Can Kerry recapture the World title, or will Parsons find a way to retain? Who will win the TRIPLE DOME OF TERROR? With both titles on the line, will the Simpson brothers thrill the Irving faithful, or can Tatum and Victory squeak out a win? We’re in the house that Tom Landry built, so get ready for some hard-hitting action from Big D!
In lieu of a recap show a.k.a. the May 7 episode, I bring you the spectacular itself. Unfortunately, complete footage of the event was neither broadcast in full nor sold via videotape. I SCOURED the Internet and came up empty like I just gave someone a cross corner whip. On the other hand, “highlights” of some of the matches are available, so I will cover them for you, my loyal RSG-ites.
POINT OF ORDER: This is a fair warning. These “highlights” are piecemealed together haphazardly. Your friendly neighborhood Rock Star will untangle this mess as best as humanly possible. As expected, ALL matches are joined in progress.
Opening montage.
Match 1: Black Bart (w/ General Skandor Akbar) versus “Wild” Bill Irwin
Highlights:
- Irwin slammed and blasted Bart with a bicycle kick.
- When Akbar slid the branding iron into the ring, Bart took and hammered Irwin with it. How dastardly!
- Referee Bronko Lubich called for the bell, and Irwin won by DQ at 0:18 shown.
Rating: NONE
Summary: The feud MUST continue as Bart would rather cheat than win.
After the match, Bart pummels Irwin while Akbar brings a hangman’s noose into the ring. They shove down Lubich and hang Irwin over the top rope. Will he survive? Let me go deeper.
Match 2 (Texas round-up):
Participants: Angel of Death, Black Bart, Steve Casey, Eric Embry, Mike George, Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy, Michael “P.S.” Hayes, “Wild” Bill Irwin, “Iceman” King Parsons, Buddy “Jack” Roberts, Shaun Simpson, Steve Simpson, Jason Sterling, “Hollywood” John Tatum, & Jack Victory
Highlights:
- Irwin lives!
- As a bandaged and BUSTED OPEN Irwin whipped the BEJEEZUS out of Bart with his whip on the 10-yard line, Victory and Tatum pummeled the Simpson brothers.
- Tragically, it appeared that Shaun had suffered a knee injury and could not continue.
- When the trap door opened, Tatum climbed up to the third cage but got pulled back down to the second one.
- Casey climbed up to the third cage and grabbed prize #1.
- After Sterling climbed up, he grabbed prize #2.
- Evidently, Tatum was awarded prize #3 although it wasn’t shown.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Thank goodness they put a cameraman at ringside to capture some close-up action; otherwise, it would have been a convoluted mess.
Match 3 (TRIPLE DOME OF TERROR): Michael “P.S.” Hayes versus Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy
Highlights:
- Gordy stood over a BUSTED OPEN Michael Hayes prepared to shear his glorious mane.
- Oh, no! Please don’t tell me Gordy pulled an X-Pac!
- When Buddy Roberts and Angel of Death joined him, they egged on Gordy.
- Abruptly, Gordy walked away from Hayes, yet Roberts and Angel of Death pleaded with him to cut Hayes’ hair.
- Angel of Death prevented him from leaving, so he shoved Gordy. BIG MISTAKE!
- As Gordy flattened him with one punch, he beat up Angel of Death like there’s no tomorrow.
- Thanks, Apollo.
- After Roberts attacked him from behind, Gordy knocked him into the middle of 1990.
- WE HAVE A FACE TURN!
- To the delight of the Irving faithful, Gordy trimmed some blond locks from Roberts’ head.
- Parsons entered the triple cage and pounded on Gordy.
- While the numbers game caught up to Gordy, Hayes remained OUT COLD.
- What will happen to our newest hero?
- Although the heels dumped referee Rick Hazzard like a bag of garbage, the Simpson brothers arrived to rescue Gordy.
- The heels fled, and the match was over.
- According to my research, Gordy was declared the winner.
Rating: NONE
Summary: The Gordy face turn is quite a surprise, although I wonder how he compensates the Simpson brothers for their assistance.
Following the match, Hayes regains consciousness and annihilates Gordy not realizing that Gordy didn’t screw him over. Hayes grabs the scissors, but the Simpson brothers stop him while trying to convince him that Gordy has left the dark side.
Prior to the next match, Steve pleads to take on Tatum and Victory by himself. That was until Gordy arrives to reimburse Steve for his earlier heroism. Yeah!
Match 4 for the WCWA Texas and Wild West tag team titles (unification): Steve & Shaun Simpson (Wild West champions) versus “Hollywood” John Tatum & Jack Victory (Texas champions)
Highlights:
- Fast-forward to the climax as Roberts approached the ring and handed something to Tatum.
- Oh no! It’s the dreaded Freebird hair cream!
- Tatum tried to ruin Gordy’s life forever, but Steve intervened.
- Regrettably, Steve got gooped RIGHT IN THE EYE!
- Steve writhed in pain in the end zone, and Gordy went to check on him.
- Due to Gordy’s being counted out, Tatum and Victory won.
- WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!
Rating: NONE
Summary: Cheap way to win the belts, but it appears that Steve needed time off to heal his previously-injured eye. I foresee a July return.
Afterward, the trainer checks on Steve while the Irving faithful chants…
Match 5 for the WCWA World title: “Iceman” King Parsons (champion) versus the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich
Highlights:
- Parsons nailed Kerry in the midsection and tried to pin him with his feet on the ropes. SNEAKY!
- When referee Rick Hazzard noticed the shenanigans, he stopped the count.
- Parsons attempted a slam, but Kerry countered with an inside cradle.
- 1-2-3.
- Kerry won at 0:19 shown.
- WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Rating: NONE
Summary: For the third time in his career, Kerry became World champion, and the Irving faithful LOST ITS DAMN MIND!
Other matches:
- Mike George defeated Jeff Raitz to retain the WWA title.
- Steve Casey beat Eric Embry.
- Missing Link & Jason Sterling defeated Angel of Death & Vince Apollo.
- Terry Taylor beat Chris Adams to retain the WCWA Texas title.
- Bruiser Brody & Kevin Von Erich defeated Buddy Roberts & Solomon Grundy (replacing Abdullah the Butcher).
POINT OF ORDER: I truly wish footage of this match existed as it was Brody’s final appearance in the WCWA prior to his untimely death.
Conclusion: Due to Michael Hayes’ defection from WCW, World Class became the first promotion to use the triple cage. WCW used it for their Great American Bash PPV in July. To send the Irving faithful home happy, Kerry recaptured the World title.
Alas, I cannot offer a recommendation as I tried my best to make jambalaya out of this.
Next week, can Adams settle the score with Taylor?
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 05-14-88!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).