WCCW 07-26-1986

How will Kevin fare against a “Mad Dog”? Can Brody and Simpson topple Brooks and Grappler 2? Who’s the new guy? Some Australian guy from Queens?

Match 1: US Express versus “Maniac” Matt Borne & the Dingo Warrior (w/ Gary Hart)

Yes, folks. It’s the Dallas debut of Jim Hellwig. He made his WCCW debut on 6/30 in Ft. Worth. He had previously been working in Memphis and the UWF with some cat named Sting.
Brad leapfrogged Borne and followed with a hip toss.
When Bart tagged in, Brad reversed an Irish whip, and Borne suffered a double back drop.
For those unaware, WCCW employed ringside microphones coupled with numerous camera angles. It was quite innovative for pro wrestling TV. For this match, Hart was overheard VERY LOUDLY telling Warrior to cheat like there’s no tomorrow.

Thanks, Apollo.
Bart reversed a cross corner whip and monkey-flipped Borne.
As Brad tagged in, Borne distracted referee Ralph Pulley.
That enabled Dingo to cheat by mauling Bart in the babyface corner. SNEAKY!
After Bart reversed another cross corner whip, he attempted another monkey flip; however, Borne countered with an inverted atomic drop.
Borne slammed Bart and tagged in Warrior.
While he manhandled Bart with a standing choke, Warrior demolished an incoming Brad with a clothesline.
He gorilla-pressed Bart and dropped him like a bad habit face-first down to the mat.
Tagging in, Borne landed an elbow drop.
1-2-3.
Borne and Warrior won at 4:17.

Following a commercial break, Mercer interviews Hart with Warrior. According to Hart, Warrior is “hungry.” He runs down Brody and hands a contract to Mercer offering $10,000 if Brody can defeat Abdullah the Butcher. Needless to say, but Warrior wasn’t ready to handle a promo just yet.

Match 2: “Ravishing” Rick Rude (w/ Percy Pringle) versus Mark Youngblood

Rude missed a clothesline as well as a dropkick to start the match.
As Youngblood scored with his own dropkick, Rude rebounded with a snap suplex for 2.
He guillotined Youngblood with the top rope and got another 2.
When Mercer plugged the upcoming house show in Mesquite, where’s the mention of Chicago or New Orleans?

Youngblood countered a rear chin lock with an electric chair, reversed an Irish whip, and backdropped Rude.
After Rude reversed a cross corner whip, Youngblood leaped to the second turnbuckle but missed a cross body block.
Rude hooked a side-Russian leg sweep and pinned Youngblood at 3:37.

Highlights from Reunion Arena include Sawyer’s victory for the Texas title. Adias deals Sawyer a belly-to-back suplex from the apron into the ring but neglects to raise his shoulder.

Since Sawyer remembers to do so, he becomes the new champion. Also, Brody destroys Marc Lowrance’s table during his battle with Abdullah. Later, Hart interferes allowing Abdullah to annihilate referee Rick Hazzard as well as a double team against Brody. Kevin rescues Brody and applies an Iron claw to Abdullah. Upon destroying referee Ralph Pulley, Abdullah feels the wrath of Brody’s size 18 fuzzy boot. The match drifts among the Dallas faithful before the segment ends.

When we return to the Sportatorium, Sawyer, prior to the bell, grabs the microphone and gives an insane promo running down Mike, Kerry, and ultimately Kevin. He refers to Mike as a “miracle worker.” Not sure if Mike’s writing matches the quality of Mark Twain.

Match 3 (non-title): WCWA Texas champion “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer versus Kevin Von Erich

Kevin traded blows with Sawyer until he dumped him onto Lowrance’s table.
When he slammed Sawyer, Kevin fed him a forearm smash.
He mounted the second turnbuckle and unloaded a flying elbow smash.
As Kevin applied an Iron claw, Sawyer escaped due to an eye rake.
Kevin blocked a slam and hooked an inside cradle for 2.
After Kevin escaped another slam attempt, he secured an O’Connor roll for another 2.
Kevin dumped Sawyer down to the floor again, joined, but ate a chair shot to the midsection.
While Sawyer attempted to behead him, Kevin ducked causing Sawyer to blast the ring post with the chair instead.
Kevin reapplied the Iron claw while both wrestlers remained on the floor.
Once Sawyer escaped, Kevin continued to ruin his evening by making him HIT THE POLE.
Sawyer was BUSTED OPEN!
Yet again, Kevin applied an Iron claw and summarily tossed him out of the Sportatorium.
The bell rung, and referee Bronko Lubich threw the match out at 5:32.

Summary: While he may not have minded it, Sawyer appeared shocked at how stiff Kevin is. Since it was way too early for Sawyer to taste defeat, Kevin sent him down the street for some chicken fried steak instead.

Afterward, Sawyer returns to the ring a bloody mess. Kevin slams him and reapplies the claw. As Sawyer escapes, he attempts to suplex Kevin back into the ring, but Kevin lands on top of him. Next, Kevin pounds on him and tosses him to the floor. Bloodied and smiling, Sawyer returns only to get beaten up. Before the segment ends, Sawyer tries to toss the steps into the ring, but they bounce back down to the floor. Truly, the Von Erichs can do no wrong in the fans’ eyes.

Match 4: Bruiser Brody & Steve Simpson versus “Killer” Tim Brooks & Grappler 2

Brody leveled Brooks with a big boot and tagged out.
As Simpson mounted the top turnbuckle, he lowered the boom onto Brooks.
Grappler 2 tagged in, and Mercer finally noted the upcoming Chicago and New Orleans dates on the house show circuit.

When Simpson monkey-flipped Grappler 2, tags were exchanged on both sides.
Brooks clotheslined Brody and tagged in Grappler 2.
After he gave Brody a cross corner whip, Grappler 2 ate boot on his follow-through.
Brody slammed Grappler 2, followed with a piledriver, but only got 1 thanks to a save by Brooks.
While Simpson tagged in, Grappler 2 mistimed a clothesline.
He repeated the spot and got 2.
Tagging in, Brooks split Simpson’s uprights.
Brody distracted referee Bronko Lubich which allowed the heels to mercilessly decimate Simpson. How dastardly!
Earning a 2-count, Grappler 2 got removed for not being the legal man.
Brooks fed Simpson a high knee and tagged in Grappler 2.
Slamming Simpson, Grappler 2 dealt him a leg drop for another 2.
Although the Dallas faithful chanted “go Steve, go,” Grappler 2’s voice was overheard with Rick Hazzard’s voice being unmistakable.
A double clothesline put both wrestlers down on the mat leading to..
Hot tag Brody.
Upon dispatching Brooks to the floor, Brody slammed Grappler 2, scored with a running leg drop, and blasted him with a big boot.
Simpson tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a cross body block.
1-2-3.
Simpson and Brody won at 7:36.

Summary: Well-booked match as the tag formula led to an extremely hot finishing sequence by both Brody and Simpson.

Conclusion: Highlight of the episode is the Kevin-Mad Dog matchup, yet the main event was a solid tag team match. Rude giving Youngbloos some shine shows how much of a professional he is. Lastly, Warrior’s debut hidden in a tag match where his partner does 90% of the work is one of the smartest booking decisions of the entire decade.

Next week, Brian Adias takes his life into his own hands as he squares off against Abdullah.