WCCW 02-23-1985

How will the Midnight Express handle Adias and Mike? Will Sunshine have something to say with it? And who will join me for this reprisal of an episode?

Prior to the opening match, we revisit last week’s episode when Adams stole the American title from Kerry.

Match 1: One Man Gang (w/ Gary Hart) versus “Rock’n’Roll” Buck Zumhofe

Zumhofe attempted a dropkick, but Gang swatted him away.

When Zumhofe jumped on Gang’s back, Gang SQUISHED him in the corner.
He then delivered a running guillotine followed by a clothesline.
As he transformed Zumhofe into a chalk outline with a 747, Gang pinned him at 2:01.

Summary: Showcase match for Gang. In case you’re curious, this was Zumhofe’s final TV appearance in WCCW. I know you’re all heartbroken. For those who are curious, Zumhofe would head to the AWA.

After the match, Gang whipped the fallen Zumhofe with his chain before leaving the ring.

Match 2 (non-title): NWA Texas champion the “Handsome Half-Breed” Gino Hernandez versus Mark Ragin

Who?
For those unaware, Ragin was portrayed by Mark Regan who had previously worked in Continental.
As Mercer planted the seeds for the 2nd annual David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, Hernandez planted his back elbow into Ragin.
Speaking of Ragin, he rebounded with a knee lift, monkey-flipped Hernandez, and followed with a dropkick.
When Hernandez delivered his own dropkick, he got 2.
Ragin supplied him with another knee lift but suffered a spin kick to the midsection.
After Ragin hooked a sunset flip, he got 2.
Hernandez then suplexed Ragin for 2.
While he gave Ragin a cross corner whip, Hernandez came up empty on his follow-through.
Ragin hip-tossed him and attempted a flying headscissors.
On the other hand, Hernandez countered with a guillotine on the top rope.
He then provided Ragin with a hangman’s neckbreaker and a Russian leg sweep.
1-2-3.
Hernandez won in 4:35.

Summary: Showcase match for Hernandez. Methinks the only competitor Ragin could beat would be Walter Mondale.

At ringside, Mercer interviews Cornette with the Midnight Express who confirms that Rip Oliver will join the Midnight Express in a quest to capture the WCCW Six-Man tag titles. When Mercer addresses Cornette’s being on Sunshine’s list, Cornette makes a snide comment in her general direction.

Match 3 (non-title): NWA American tag champions the Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette) versus Mike Von Erich & Brian Adias (w/ Sunshine)

When Adias leapfrogged Eaton, Mike tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and lowered the boom upon Eaton.
Shortly after, Mike entered the ring in the same fashion while the Dallas faithful chanted “we want the claw.”
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Condrey slammed Adias.
As Eaton tagged in, he supplied Adias with a back elbow for 2.
Condrey tagged in and delivered a double underhook suplex for another 2.
After Eaton tagged in, he distracted referee Bronko Lubich. In the meantime, Condrey guillotined Adias with the top rope. SNEAKY!
Eaton slammed Adias, mounted the second turnbuckle, and launched a big elbow.
While Condrey tagged in, Eaton baited Mike into the ring.
Since that caused a distraction to Lubich, the Midnight Express double-teamed Adias. How dastardly!
Condrey scored with a back elbow to Adias and prevented the hot tag.
When Eaton tagged in, he planted a boot into Adias’ midsection.
He then slammed Adias for 2.
As Condrey tagged in, the Dallas faithful chanted “go, Brian, go.”
Condrey then reversed an Irish whip and hooked a sleeper on Adias.
After Adias made the hot tag, all four wrestlers were in the ring.
Mike then applied a sleeper to Condrey while Adias and Eaton brawled in the corner.
While Lubich was occupied with Adias and Eaton, Cornette BLASTED Mike in the back with the tennis racquet. Nefarious!
Condrey held Mike so that Cornette could whack him, but Sunshine physically intervened.

When Adias slammed Eaton, he vaulted Mike atop him.
1-2-3.
Mike and Adias won in 14:40.

Summary: Solid tag match where Adias guided Mike very well. In addition, the tag formula was followed perfectly, and the ending brought the house down. I genuinely enjoyed Mike’s flying tactics as it suits a wrestler of his size. Hopefully, he’ll implement the style going forward.

Conclusion: A fascinating main event carries this episode with solid tag team work and shenanigans between Sunshine and Cornette. Unusually, next week’s episode was not promoted. What are your thoughts, Pee Wee?