Rick Rude vs Bruiser Brody (WCWA, 5-4-1986)

WCWA 3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, Irving, TX

A request! This is for World Class’ world heavyweight title, held by Rude here in their post-NWA period. The belt can change hands on a disqualification here, and they’ve got a 60-minute time limit.

Brody also did a barbed wire match with Terry Gordy on this show. A lot of people worked double duty on this show, which still did a little over 24,000 at Texas Stadium.

(Requests open and tips always appreciated!)

Iceman King Parsons vs Buddy Roberts (WCCW, 6-17-1983)

WCCW Wrestling Star Wars, Dallas, TX

From Reunion Arena for another big show. The main event (well, last match) of this was an OK but disappointing Hayes/Gordy vs Brody/Kerry tag match, but there was a LOT more on this show.

This is the famous Freebird Hair Cream angle and a hair vs hair match. The Birds had snipped a chunk of Parsons’ hair, the Iceman had come back to return the favor on Buddy, and now the Freebirds have a “not pharmaceutical” hair removal cream they got from some drunk they know, and they intend to use it on Iceman when Buddy wins this match.

(Requests open and tips always appreciated!)

Great Kabuki vs Fritz Von Erich (NWA Big Time, 2-22-1981)

NWA Big Time Wrestling Star Wars, Dallas, TX

World Class was still “Big Time Wrestling” until 1982, when their boom really started in earnest, but it was already a notable territory and all that. This is the ’81 Star Wars show, which has super bare bones production but is well-shot and all that.

(Requests open and tips always appreciated!)

TAPE’s YouTube Wrestling Travels: Vol. 2

I’m back, and better than sometimes.

Let’s watch some wrestling on the magical internet site, YouTube.

Rick Rude vs Lance Von Erich (WCCW, 12-25-1985)

WCCW Christmas Star Wars, Dallas, GA

Request via Ko-fi. To say that 1985 is no longer the height of World Class would be an understatement. The request was an amended one and for “World Class Star Wars shows matches, particularly Von Erichs-Freebirds stuff,” but there’s only so much of that available in full, so I wanted to chuck this in, too.

Kevin & Mike Von Erich vs Fabulous Freebirds (WCCW, 12-25-1983)

WCCW Christmas Star Wars, Dallas, TX

Request via Ko-fi. Mike Von Erich really never seemed like he actually wanted to be a pro wrestler, unlike David and Kevin and Kerry, and also unlike Chris, who wanted it more than anything in the world but just wasn’t cut out for it physically. Mike also wasn’t really cut out for it physically but for very different reasons. But I suppose what else was Mike gonna do to make good money? Sell cars in Lake Dallas? I mean, maybe.

Kevin Von Erich vs Terry Gordy (WCCW, 11-24-1983)

WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars, Dallas, TX

Request via Ko-fi. The Von Erichs-Freebirds war is still roaring toward the end of ’83, and here we’ve got Kevin taking on Terry Gordy in a singles match at Reunion Arena, about 19,000 in attendance. Same day, over in Greensboro, NC, about 15K in the building for the first Starrcade. But actually wrestling was not popular until Vince McMahon Jr and Cyndi Lauper–

Fabulous Freebirds vs Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody (WCCW, 6-17-1983)

WCCW International Wrestling Star Wars, Dallas, TX

Request via Ko-fi. This is for the NWA American tag team title held by the Freebirds, represented here by Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy. The ‘Birds are in the midst of their war with the Von Erichs, and Kerry has brought in Bruiser Brody. There’s a great pre-match promo where Hayes is stunned that Brody has actually showed up with Kerry, and also displays a sincere fear of Brody himself: “He’s an animal. He’s wild. … Brody might be big, but I got a brother that stands 290 lbs of walkin’, talkin’, rompin’, stompin’ graveyard destruction, baby! And he don’t back up from nobody, man! And he’ll protect me!”

Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich (WCCW, 5-6-1984)

WCCW Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, Irving, TX

This request was for a big time WCCW match. They get no bigger than this one, Ric Flair coming to Texas Stadium to defend the NWA world heavyweight title against Kerry Von Erich at the show dedicated to Kerry’s late brother David.

Ric Flair vs Terry Gordy (WCCW, 1-19-1985)

WCCW, Dallas, TX

This is a request for a Gordy match of my choosing. Jan. 19 is the air date, match was recorded Jan. 11 at the Sportatorium. Flair’s back in town to defend the NWA world heavyweight championship and this time it’s Bamm Bamm stepping up.