WCCW 08-16-1986

Can Simpson capture the Texas title from Sawyer? How will the Grappler fare against Adams? Grab a seat and get ready for some hot ‘rasslin’ action!

For those unaware, Zulu was portrayed by Ron Pope who began his career in 1972 but most recently in the AWA.
Zulu bored the bejeezus out of the Dallas faithful, yet Mercer announced an upcoming tournament for the World tag team championship. As you recall, I mentioned that 1986 was a year well known for tag teams, and this tournament, along with the inaugural Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup, helps to cement that fact.
Regardless, Jackson attempted a couple of shoulder blocks, but Zulu didn’t budge.
Upon a third try, Zulu fed Jackson a big boot.
Zulu applied a bear hug, and Jackson submitted at 3:28.

Summary: There’s a reason Verne Gagne used this guy as enhancement talent, and it showed here.

Following a commercial break, Mercer interviews Percy Pringle who will be bringing Jos LeDuc to the WCWA. NOT ANOTHER OLD WRESTLER!

Nonetheless, he’s irritated that it took this long for Rude to FINALLY get a rematch that’s long overdue. Next, he takes a photo of Gary Hart from a wrestling magazine and rips it up. This was YEARS before Sinead O’Connor did the same with the Pope’s photo on SNL.

Mercer informs Pringle that he has received fan mail from Mobile, AL telling him to stop announcing Pringle from there. Initially, Pringle is excited about his hometown but gets frustrated immediately upon learning this news. HA!

Match 2 (non-title): WCWA World champion “Gentleman” Chris Adams versus the Grappler

A criss-cross ensued, and Adams backdropped Grappler.
As Adams tried to unload a superkick, Grappler sought refuge outside the ring.
Adams avoided a monkey flip by performing a cartwheel.
When Grappler avoided getting nailed, he complained to referee Bronko Lubich.
That enabled Adams to dropkick Grappler over the top rope to the floor.
After Grappler rebounded by ramming Adams face-first into the mat, he got 1.
He fed Adams a backbreaker for 2.
While he dealt Adams a back elbow, Grappler couldn’t get 3.
The Dallas faithful clamored for vegetable shortening, and their hero delivered a knee lift.
Countering a back drop with a punt, Grappler got 2.
Adams clotheslined him, but Grappler responded with his own knee lift.
Knocking the World champion down with a forearm to the chest, Grappler earned another 2-count.
Grappler clotheslined him but still couldn’t get 3.
Hooking a sunset flip, Adams got 2.
At the ten-minute mark, Grappler hit a swinging neckbreaker for 2.
Grappler mounted the top turnbuckle, but Adams caught and slammed him down to the mat.
Landing a knee drop, Adams mounted the top turnbuckle and attempted a flying splash.
Unfortunately, Adams ate knees, so Grappler suplexed him for 2.
Grappler missed a clothesline but ate a superkick.
1-2-3.
An extremely sweaty Adams won at 11:38.

We head to Fort Worth for an interview by Bruiser Brody, but Gary Hart interrupts him. They argue back and forth until Brody manhandles him to the ring. As fast as he possibly can which isn’t saying much, Abdullah the Butcher saves Hart’s bacon by blasting Brody. Brody and Abdullah battle, but Hart ropes his necktie around Brody’s neck from behind. Evil! When referee David Manning grabs the microphone, he warns Hart about a possible suspension for Abdullah. Nevertheless, Brody is BUSTED OPEN while the segment ends.

POINT OF FACT: An Acura ad aired using Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile,” and my first thought was “Hollywood Hogan????”

Match 3 for the WCWA Texas title: “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer (champion) versus Steve Simpson

Sawyer gave Simpson a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
When Sawyer leapfrogged him, Simpson rewarded him with an arm drag.
Simpson blocked a hip toss and fed Sawyer one of his own.
As Simpson worked the arm, Sawyer escaped and dealt Simpson a back elbow.
He missed an elbow drop allowing Simpson to continue working on the arm.
After Sawyer countered an arm bar with a backbreaker, Simpson maintained his grasp on the arm.
Sawyer dumped him to the floor and belted Simpson on the apron.
While Simpson regained control, Sawyer tried to escape by any means including biting.
If this match happened in today’s wrestling atmosphere, the crowd would chant “Sawyer bites.”
However, Sawyer leapfrogged Simpson again and unleashed a clothesline.
He tortured Simpson with a swinging neckbreaker and got 2.
Upon suplexing Simpson, Sawyer got another 2.
Ramming Simpson face-first into the mat twice, Sawyer attempted a piledriver.
On the other hand, Simpson countered with a back drop followed by a dropkick.
Another back drop sent Sawyer flailing, so Simpson hooked an O’Connor roll.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Sawyer rolled through, grabbed two handfuls of trunks, and pinned Simpson.
As a result, Sawyer retained at 14:49.

Summary: Simpson’s psychology carried the bulk of the match, yet Sawyer’s shenanigans enabled him to retain his title.

Conclusion: Sawyer retains the Texas title while bringing Simpson up to his level. Also, Adams, perspiring like a floosy in church, defeats the Grappler. The Brody/Abdullah war continues with some nefariousness by Hart this week. Let’s hope Zulu doesn’t stink up the ring too often going forward.

Next week’s episode contains another battle between Brody and Abdullah, Sawyer/Matt Borne versus Brian Adias & Mark Youngblood, and some highlights of the “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich. Where’s Mike?