World Class Championship Wrestling - November 24, 1984
by Erick Von Erich
Strange things are afoot at the Sportatorium, as this episode features that nefarious so-called "Gentleman" Chris Adams challening the NWA Worlds Champion, Ric Flair! As our host, Bill Mercer, tells us in the opening preamble, Adams is "someone who has lost favor here in World Class Championship Wrestling." We'll also some (slightly) new faces and, surprisingly, NO Von Erich matches. But with so much going on in World Class Championship Wrestling, let's get down to ringside for...
"Iceman" King Parsons vs. Kelly Kiniski (w/Jake "The Snake" Roberts)
Wha?! Jake the Snake?! As Mercer tells us, Jake has agreed to mentor Kiniski and thinks that he could groom him into "one of the all-time greats". Spoiler: that doesn't happen. Kiniski starts with a single-leg takedown, but Iceman kicks him off and responds with a monkey-flip. More grapplin', as they fight over a hammerlock, then take into an armbar, which Iceman easily boogies out of. To the mat and Kiniski takes control with a head-scissors, then targets the lower back. Side back-breaker from Kiniski gets a quick 1 count, so he continues working the back. Iceman whips to the ropes for a surprise sunset flip attempt for 1, then a small packae for another 1. They lock-up and Kiniski forces Iceman to the ropes, where Jake gets in a cheap shot on Iceman's lower back. Referee Bronko Lubich is over to admonish Jake, but Jake simply looks away into the crowd with a "who?! Me?!" expression. Taking advantage of the disraction, Kiniski then flings Iceman over the top rope, on the other side of the ring. That would be grounds for a disqualification per NWA rules, but Lubich didn't see it. Proud of himself, Kiniski does the ol' "point to the head" bit to let us know that their dastardly plan worked. BUT... Iceman quickly slides back into the ring and rolls up Kiniski from behind for the 3 count at 6:20! After the bell, it's a Heel Beatdown. Jake DDT's Iceman, then instructs Kiniski to drop a series of elbows on him. The calvary finally arrives in the form of... referee Mark Hazzard. The bad guys leave, their damage done. Hmm. So, by my score, Jake just made a frickin' KELLY KINISKI match entertaining! Sorry, I know I've been singing the praises of Jake's World Class run, but I'm continually amazed at how good he's been!The Fantastics (Tommy Robers & Bobby Fulton) vs. El Diablo Grande & Dave Veasel
Veasel is announced a "Veasey" and he's a guy I don't think I've ever seen before. Has a good build, but nothing special about him. I'm pretty sure El Diablo is still "Omar Atlas" under a mask. Fantastics are the reigning American Tag Team Champions and have the belts with them, but as ring announcer Marc Lowrance tells us, this is non-title. Fantastics start out working on Veasel and, by golly, does Fulton LOVE bouncing off the ropes! He ducks under a clothesline, then baseball slides out to ringisde to high-five and hug as many fans as he can. Rogers comes in to do a little grapevine/leg-drop action, then it's back to Fulton for more rope-bouncing. They criss-cross (JUMP! JUMP!) and Fulton blows a drop-kick, as his enthusiasm got the best of him. Diablo takes over, briefly, then a 4-way brawl errupts as ther Fantastics clear the ring to allow the crowd to pop. FWIW, Fulton does the "Fargo Strut". Things resume as the Fantastics work on Veasel's arm, but since he's a heel he goes to the EYES of Rogers to take over. Rogers gets caught in the opposite corner and gets worked over. Fulton runs over to interfere, then hip-tosses Rogers back to the other corner! Rogers then makes a legal tag and Fulton cleans house. He lifts up Veasel for their finisher: a Fulton slam, followed by a flying top-rope splash from Rogers to get the pin at 7:14. I think this is the first televised Sportatrium squash for the Fantastics as it works to introduce them to the fans; and it worked very well. From my standpoint, I'd say that Fulton has more physical charisma and that Rogers is the better worker of the two.Back from the breask, Mercer informs us that, starting next week, we'll see the Thanksgiving Star Wars show, where "every match is a main event"!
Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. Buck "Rock and Roll" Zumhofe
Jakes starts with some uppercuts and a vertical slam, then whips Zumhofe to the ropes and misses a drop-kick. Yeah...was Jake ever known for hitting a drop-kick? Zumhofe thumps Jake into the mat, stomps, then works a standing side headlock. After a 2 count, Jake slithers out to ringside to take a breather. Back in, Jake hits a kneelift, then jabs him in the neck. They trade blows and Zumhofe rams Jake into the corner and hits a charging elbow. Zumhofe comes off the rope for a cross-body press, put Jake lifts him up and drops him, neck-first, on the top rope. Jake drapes him on the top rope with a suplex... then pulls him to the center of the ring for a 3 count at 4:20. Wha? No DDT? A ringisde fan could be heard asking for the "DDT"...so I guess Jake didn't use it, just for spite? If so, that's awesome.A Very Special Sunshine Music Video
This was originally set to the tune of Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money", as it's clips of Sunshine working alongisde "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin. The famous Von Erich Ranch segments are included, plus some in-ring action of Sunshine interfering with the Von Erichs, Daivd and Kevin. Notable is her grabbing David's leg on a suplex attmept, allowing Garvin to win one of his Texas Heavyweight Championships. Okay, so there's our Von Erich matches, I suppose.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair © vs. "Gentleman" Chris Adams (w/Gary Hart)
The storyline, here, is that Kerry Von Erich has been unable to get another shot at Flair's championship, but Adams has been able to; thanks to his new attitude and hiring of Gary Hart. It's technically heel vs. heel, but Flair gets less boo's and ...whoa... even a "Go Ric, go" chant! Flair does his usual strutting and teases a lock-up with a hair smooth. Lock-up into an overhead hammerlock, but Adams pulls the hair to tick off Flair! Fun segment, where Adams tries to show off his gymnastics flips, but Flair simply struts arond the ring. Adams works a side headlock into the corner, but Flair pokes him in the eyes to a big pop. Hart hollers in: "wrestle! That's what you're her to do. Don't let him get to you"...so Adams cinches a hammerlcok and takes Flair to the mat... to a a huge chorus of boo's. Adams keeps using the bottom rope for additional leverage, until referee Rick Hazzard makes him break, but then Adams misses an elbowdrop and Flair is in command. Snapmare and kneedrop for 2, then a front facelock to the mat. Adams reverses into an armbar and another hammerlock. Adams works him into a pinning predicament a few times, then throws Flair into the cornerlock for a forearm shot, hip-toss, s;am, kneedrop, then back to the left arm. Flair tries to fight out, but Adams keeps pulling his hair. They finally break into the corner and Flair comes back with his trademark chops. Adams is quick to go back to the arm, however. Yet Flair lifts him up into an airplane spin and both guys hit the mat. Turnabout it fairplay as Flair works Adams' left arm, then tosses him through the ropes to ringside. Flair tries to suplex him back in, from the apron, but Adams counters and hooks a sleeper in mid-ring! Flair is fading, but still has enough to hit a belly-to-back suplex to break the sleeper. They stagger up and trade blows and Adams is whipped to the corner. He climbs up, twists, and launches for a flying body-press, but takes out referee Mark Hazzard. Flair tries a suplex, but Adams counters into a small package for 2. Mercer mentions that, had Hazzard not been dazed, Adams might've won. Flair rolls Adams up, off the ropes, for 2. Flair works Adams over into a Boston crab, but Gsry Hart comes an smacks him with a blackjack for the disqualification at 13:18. Adams and Hart both do a beatdown on Flair until more referees arrive.The final segment and credits aren't included, as they've probably been lost to time and video degradation.
Why'd You Watch This?
The main event is great, as both guys had the crowd firmly in their hands. It's a good example of two types of heels going at it: the a-hole heel (Adams) vs. the cocky heel (Flair). The ending is a little suspect, as I'm curious if this leads to dissention between Adams and Hart. If so, it wasn't displayed, as they raised their hands in tandem, post-beatdown. Still, I'm sure Adams and Hart will say that he beat Flair, had it not been for the ref bump. Honestly, Hazzard didn't really seem to have a "slow" count, so we'll see what happens. Regardless, World Class seems to becoming "The Chris Adams Show"...and that's not a bad thing.
Boom-da-da-da-boom, da-da-da-boom, da-da-da-boom
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