Taped from Dallas, TX
Airdate: July 2, 1988 (taped 6/17)
Attendance: 2,623
Hosted by Marc Lowrance
Can Kerry conquer Kamala? Or will Akbar get involved? Who wins in a steel cage? With many moments of Freebird mayhem, you must comb through this colorful column or be convicted.
Opening montage.
Match 1: Shaun Simpson (w/ Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy) versus the “Heartthrob of New Jersey” Jack Victory
Highlights:
- We’re off and running with the match already in progress.
- When Victory reversed an Irish whip, Shaun hooked a sunset flip for 2.
- He dealt Victory a knee lift but fell victim to a back drop.
- As Victory unloaded a short-arm clothesline, he tossed Shaun down to the floor.
- He attempted to suplex Shaun from the apron back into the ring; however, Shaun landed on top for 2.
- After he gave Victory a cross corner whip, Shaun came up empty on his follow-through.
- A double clothesline put both wrestlers down on the mat, and Shaun connected with a flying back elbow.
- While Victory sailed over the top rope to the floor, Gordy immediately returned him to the ring.
- Shaun ping-ponged him out of the ring twice more, and Gordy reciprocated by depositing Victory back inside.
- Charging from the heel locker room, Tatum launched himself at Gordy only to be dumped into the ring too.
- Shaun nailed the stunned Tatum sending him back into Gordy’s clutches.
- On the other hand, Victory secured an O’Connor roll.
- Shaun’s kick-out sent Victory into Tatum who went spiraling down to the floor.
- Jumping into the ring, Gordy vaulted Shaun into a splash upon Victory.
- 1-2-3.
- Shaun won at 4:47 shown.
Rating: **
Summary: Improbable victory by Shaun thanks to Gordy.
At ringside, Ralph Pulley interviews General Skandor Akbar and “Iceman” King Parsons. Akbar cuts a promo on Kerry for Kamala’s sake. Meanwhile, Parsons adds his usual exclamation point to the interview.
Match 2: Jimmy Jack Funk versus Jeff Raitz
Highlights:
- Raitz scored with a cross body block and got 2.
- As Funk kicked him in the midsection, he dealt Raitz a knee lift.
- He clotheslined and guillotined Raitz with the top rope.
- When Raitz reversed a cross corner whip, he ate knee on his follow-through.
- Funk powerslammed Raitz, mounted the second turnbuckle, and landed a flying fist drop.
- 1-2-3.
- Funk won at 2:20.
Rating: ½*
Summary: Showcase match for Funk.
At ringside, Pulley interviews Shaun who’s ecstatic about his brother’s return and cuts a promo on Tatum and Victory.
Match 3 (non-title): WCWA Light Heavyweight champion Eric Embry versus Chico Cabello
Highlights:
- Embry planted him with a knee drop, yet Cabello leapfrogged him.
- When Embry responded with a lariat, he decimated Cabello with a piledriver.
- 1-2-3.
- Embry won in 2:00.
Rating: DUD
Summary: Showcase match for Embry.
At ringside, Pulley interviews Kerry along with Hayes. Kerry cuts a promo on both Kamala and Parsons while Hayes refers to their tandem as the odd couple.
Match 4: Samoan SWAT Team versus Steve Casey & Mike Reed
Highlights:
- Casey leapfrogged Fatu and followed with a dropkick.
- As tags were exchanged on both sides, the SST double-headbutted Reed.
- Samu dealt Reed a thrust kick, hoisted him atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and demolished him with a belly-to-back superplex. Impressive!
- When Fatu tagged in, he mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a flying splash.
- 1-2-3.
- SST won at 2:29.
Rating: **
Summary: Showcase match for SST.
After the match, SST gang up on the fallen Reed, so Casey saves his bacon. Unfortunately for Casey, the numbers game catches up to him. SST continues to destroy Reed until the babyface locker room empties. Raitz and Jason Sterling try to stop them but get annihilated. As the segment ends, SST disintegrates Reed with a sidewalk slam and diving head butt.
Match 5 (cage, Freebird rules): Michael “P.S.” Hayes versus Buddy “Jack” Roberts
Highlights:
- Joined in progress, Hayes removed Roberts’ boot as both wrestlers were BUSTED OPEN.
- Hayes attempted a bulldog, but Roberts shoved him face-first into the cage.
- When they fought atop the cage, Hayes bounced Roberts’ head off the steel sending him reeling down to the mat.
- Hayes attempted a flying splash but there wasn’t any water in the pool.
- As Roberts got 2, he placed Black Beauty on his right hand.
- Hayes dropkicked Roberts sending him face-first into the cage.
- After Black Beauty fell to the mat, referee Bronko Lubich pocketed it. HA!
- Hayes planted Roberts with a DDT and pinned him at 1:54 shown.
Rating: NONE
Summary: Too short to rate, but without Black Beauty, Roberts couldn’t overcome his estranged brother from another mother.
Following the match, Roberts nails Lubich and retrieves Black Beauty. Parsons and Kamala enter the cage, and Parsons flattens Hayes with a butt butt. As Roberts dons Black Beauty, he knocks Hayes OUT COLD. Parsons and Roberts hold Hayes at bay, and Kamala splashes him twice. How dastardly!
At ringside, Pulley interviews the Texas tag team champions. Victory and Tatum lie like politicians as they cut a promo on the Simpson brothers.
Match 6: Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy versus “Hollywood” John Tatum (w/ the “Heartthrob of New Jersey” Jack Victory & Buddy “Jack” Roberts
Highlights:
- At the onset, Gordy appeared to be outmanned.
- The heels triple-teamed Gordy, and the bell rang to throw the match out at 0:04.
Rating: NONE
Afterward, Gordy rallies to stymy the heels as he gives Victory a cross corner whip and corner clothesline. Shaun joins his tag team partner in the ring, but Tatum disposes of Gordy. Next, the heels triple-team Shaun until Hayes arrives. Although the heels initially topple Hayes, Shaun and Gordy assist him in vanquishing them back to the locker room. I smell an upcoming six-man tag match. Upon grabbing the microphone, Hayes tells Gordy “now, we’re even.”
Match 7 (non-title): WCWA World champion the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich versus Kamala (w/ General Skandor Akbar)
Highlights:
- Joined in progress, Kerry blasted him with a series of blows, but Kamala somehow maintained his feet.
- The Dallas faithful chanted “go, Kerry, go,” and their hero reversed a cross corner whip.
- When Kamala headbutted him, he unloaded a thrust kick.
- Kerry attempted an Iron claw, but Kamala retreated to the floor instead.
- As Lowrance noted that David was the first to beat Kamala with an Iron claw, Kerry chased after Akbar.
- Kamala headbutted Kerry before making him HIT THE POLE.
- After Kerry rebounded with a discus punch, he tried to slam Kamala to no avail.
- Kamala landed on top and got 2.
- While he slammed Kerry, Kamala splashed him.
- Kerry placed his foot on the bottom rope, but Akbar knocked it off. SNEAKY!
- 1-2-3.
- Kamala won at 4:29.
Rating: **
Summary: Quite an upset despite the chicanery. I wonder when Kamala will receive a title shot.
Conclusion: Fast-paced episode containing both comeuppance and shenanigans. Since Kamala’s return is fresh, his victory over Kerry makes sense. As much as Von Erich fans would like, Kerry must lose some of the time.
The hostility between the Freebirds hit quite a peak with Hayes’ rescue of Gordy. Later that night, despite it being shown earlier in the episode, Roberts, Parsons, and Kamala devastated Hayes to show their dominance.
In the meantime, the SST rolls on to a quick victory and beats the tar out of Reed for YOUR pleasure. Also, Embry stays strong. Funk looks sharp while Gordy assists Shaun en route to glory over Victory.
Next week, Steve returns to tag with Shaun against the Texas tag champs!
TV Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for WCCW 07-09-88!
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