World Class Championship Wrestling - January 5, 1985
by Erick Von Erich
We're officially into 1985, but 1984 isn't entirely in the books, just yet. We have World Class (Christmas) Holiday Wrestling Star Wars to get through. We're at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas for some pretty big matches-- both in terms of match-ups and storyline advancements. Bill Mercer is back in the booth as our host and PBP guy, once again. But with so much going on in World Class Championship Wrestling, let's get down to ringside for..
6-Man Elimination Match: Chic Donovan, Buddy Roberts & Terry Gordy vs. The Missing Link, Mr. X, and General Skandar Akbar
Ring announcer Marc Lowrance details the rules, as you can be eliinated by pinfall, submisison, or being thrown over the top rope. There's also the added stipulation that the loser of each fall will not only leave the match, but the entire area (World Class), as well! Technically, this is a tag team match with Texas Tornado rules, as everyone is in the ring at the same time. It seems like "Mr. X" would be a prime candidate for a big reveal or angle advancement, but it's journeyman Mike York making a one-time appearance. Lowrance tells us that he simply "wishes to remain annonymous". My guess is that somebody no-showed and that York was an 11th hour replacement. Also, this is Buddy Roberts' return to World Class TV, after a quick stint with his fellow Freebrids in the WWF. Yet, it's not really played up.As expected, it's a big brawl to start. Gordy and the Link try to do an Irish whip spot, but there's too much traffic in the ring. Gordy has a big "X" written in Sharpie over his heart; and I forget the reasoning for that. Link gets a flying second rope headbutt on Donovan, while Mr. X tries to lift Gordy up and over the corner. Donovan targets Akbar's knee, seeking revenge for their last match. Gordy gets a one-arm slam on the Link, while Roberts and Mr. X brawl at ringside. Both play-by-play guy Bill Mercer and the cameras miss a lot of what's going on. Link delivers a headbutt on Chic Donovan and all three heels dog pile to get the 3 count and send the "Golden Boy" packing out of World Class. Wow. I can't recall a babyface being dominated in a feud as much as Donovan was! Killer Khan put him out of action with a knee injury, yet when Donovan returned he went after Khan's manager, Akbar. Akbar then handled himself pretty well and Donovan couldn't get a win against him. I mean, that's like Johnny V pinning Brutus Beefcake. In his final (TV) appearance, he is literally squashed by the heels. What. A. Geek.
Gordy and Roberts finally team-up and get a double clothesline spot on Mr. X. Roberts sunset flips over X and pins him. 3 second later, the Link headbutts Roberts over the top and OUT of the promotion. For awhile, at least. Thank you for coming, Buddy. Gordy then cleans house on all three heels and the crowd is loving it. Link gets caught in the ropes, allowing Gordy to slam and nail Akbar with the Oriental Spike. Link makes the save and Devastation, Inc. goes into double-team mode. They do the ol' heel spot where Akbar holds him up in front of the ropes; but Link charges, Gordy dodges, and Link "accidentally" eliminates Akbar over the top. You knew it was coming, because you could see Akbar duck and turn his shoulder into Link's charge, just a bit. Gordy then quickly tosses the Link over the top and wins. Marc Lowrance: "at 8:15, Terry Gordy SURVIVES the elimination match."
Another wow, as Gordy didn't just get his revenge on Killer Khan and Devastation, he completely destroyed them and ran them out of town! Akbar wouldn't return until 1988, so this is essentially the END of Devastation, Inc. (version 1.0) in World Class. Devastation, Inc. and Akbar would soon resurface over in the Mid-South area. Regardless, they're probably one of my favorite go-to heel stables of the 80's and definitely THE coolest name for a faction, ever. When I did my own little "fantasy league" bookings in my youth, I had "Damage, Inc." Named after the Metallica song, but inspired by Devastation, Inc.
Bill Mercer has the NEW American Champion Kerry Von Erich in the entryway for an interview. In a few moments, Kerry will be getting a rematch for the NWA Worlds Championship, which he lost to Ric Flair under (allegedly) dubious circumstances, over in Japan. Kerry's then all over the place with his promo, almost going into Tugboat Mode, as he thanks the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and all the cities in the US. He works in a reference to his departed borther, David Von Erich, for good measure. Kerry tries to tie things up by saying that, if he loses, it'll be squarely on him. That would be it...but he rambles on some more, saying "that's the great thing about professional wrestling. If you lose, it's not on your teammate or anybody else, it's all on you." Well, that's not exactly pumping up the audience, dude.
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship:
Ric Flair © vs. Kerry Von Erich
First televised rematch since their famous bout in May 1984 at Texas Stadium and the David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions. Mercer mentions NWA reps Jim Crockett, Eddie Graham and Nick Roberts are in attendance. You probably know Crockett and Graham, but Roberts was the father of Nickla Roberts, aka "Andrea the Lady Giant". He's supposedly an executive for "NWA South", but I think that's all kayfabe. Crokett and Graham are only mentioned, not shown. FWIW, Flair has a bejeweled white robe with a large matching headband.
Bout begins with some chain wrestling, with go-behind armbars and Kerry working a hammerlock to the mat. Both guys trade float overs as they jockey for position and referee David Manning accidentally gets bumped; selling it like a shotgun blast. Back up, Flair tries for a vertical suplex, but Kerry powers him off and they go into a STAREDOWN. They each work a side headlock as we reach the announced 5 mintue mark. Flair forces Kerry into the corner, but Kerry tosses him across the ring then charges with a flying head scissors to take things to the mat, again. Flair works it into a reverse toehold, then Kerry counters with a headlock to break. They hits the ropes, where Kerry returns with a shoulderblock, leapfrog, drop-kick and that flying head scissors again. That's a somewhat rare move for Kerry, as it's definitely shades of brother Kevin. Flair comes back with some chops into the corner as we get to 10 minutes. Charging kneedrop gets a 2 count for the Nature Boy. Flair with a verical suplex for another 2, then he tosses Kerry out to the floot. Kerry has a random trickle of blood on his midsection, as Flair attacks him on the apron and drags him in. They brawl in the corner until Kerry hits a Discus Punch and hooks a sleeper. Flair escapes by attacking the knee, then hits the ropes. Kerry goes for the BACKSLIDE, but only gets 2! Appropriately, Mercer mentions that it was the move that won him the championship, back in May. Kerry goes for a verical press-slam and his own vertical suplex...and referee David Manning counts to 3... but then calls it off as Flair's foot was under the rope.
Flair gets a series of pins with his feet using "leverage" on the ropes; and of course Manning tries to get the spotlight again by pulling the legs off. Kerry fights back, whips Flair to the corner for the famous Flair Flip, as he runs to the other corner, clmbs up and top, leaps and...right into the IRON CLAW! Flair delivers a knee to the tummy to break, then does the Flair Flop and he faceplants the canvas. When he gets up, Flair is blading to sell the Claw, so I'm guessing he did it when he faceplanted. He goes for a kneedop, but Kerry catches it and hooks him in the figure four! Flair tosses the referee, but Manning waves it off and says it's NOT a disqualification. Flair makes the ropes to break the FF, then suckers Kerry into the corner. He goes up top, again, and this time Kerry stops him with a press-slam and another IRON CLAW. With blood trickling down his face, Flair flails around and tosses Kerry over the top rope and THAT signals the DQ at 18:20. Mercer says that "Manning had no choice". I guess it was all the ref's discretion, then, to distinguish between the two incident that could've triggered a DQ. Stinky ending, but the actual in-ring moves were just as good; if not better; than their original match.
Nick Roberts is in the ring to confirm the decision. He says he confirmed with Bob Geigel by phone, and there MUST be a rematch as soon as a building is made availalable in Texas. Furthermore, Roberts says that shold Flair be disqualified, he will LOSE the title. Manning then grabs the house mic from Roberts and basically says the same thing. I haven't had a problem with Manning's actions until now, so I get the modern criticism that he's showboating and trying to steal some of the spotlight from the wrestlers. And fictional NWA executives, to boot. Dweeb.
Mike Von Erich & Billy Haynes (w/Sunshine) vs. Gino Hernandez and Jake "The Snake" Roberts
He's "Billy Haynes", now, as we're told he's doing it in honor of his sick dad. I think they officially touch on this is about two episodes. MVE starts locking up with Jake, slams him, but misses an elbowdrop. Gino comes in and whips MVE for a backdrop attempt, but Haynes is tagged. Haynes comes in hot with a slam and an ear-clap, then misses ...something... from the second ropes. Jake comes in and they hit a double-team clothesline and work him over in their corner. Mike returns and backdrops Roberts. He whips him to the ropes, but Gino catches Jake and Mike falls to the mat as he misses his dropkick. Jake then goes for the DDT, but Haynes makes the save. All four men enter the ring and brawl. Jake goes up to the rope rope and is caught by Mike who uses the IRON CLAW for the fist-time ever! Mike takes Jake to the mat and cleanly pins him at about 5 minutes. Haynes comes in to hoist Mike up, but the latter looks constipated.No credits or sign off, as this segment was probably "lost to time".
Why'd You Watch This?
Unfortunately, I think this was Jake's LAST televised match for WCCW. He does a few house shows in January, 1985, but then leaves Texas. Obviously, I'm bummed, because Evil Hobo Jake the Snake Roberts was great. Sure, it would've been cool if he had stuck around longer, but heels in World Class usually seemed to have a limited shelf-life, so it's good that he's getting out and going on to bigger things. He really turned some heads in this run, as it's not something you think about when you reflect on Jake's career.
Boom-da-da-da-boom, da-da-da-boom, da-da-da-boom
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