This week Throwback Thursday heads deep into the heart of Texas for a Christmas Star Wars ’83 themed edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling, as seen on the WWE Network and Peacock, that aired 40 years ago this month!
As 1983 drew to a close Fritz Von Erich’s World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) was fast becoming one of the most talked about, popular, and successful wrestling promotions in the country.
Behind the scenes Fritz Von Erich’s push to gain more power within the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), which included securing a World title run for his son David, seemed to be showing signs of progress when famed Kansas City promoter Bob Geigel was elected President of the NWA in the autumn of 1983.
David Von Erich’s World title clash with Ric Flair at Christmas Star Wars ’83, in front of nearly 20,000 of the Dallas faithful, was seen by some in the NWA as a test of David’s potential as touring World Champion and top drawing card for the cartel.
But with the incredible success of Jim Crockett Promotions’ (JCP) Starrcade ’83 the prior month, Bob Geigel (among others) believed the future of the NWA lie not in Dallas but in the Mid-Atlantic region, where JCP’s World Championship Wrestling (JCP’s showcase WTBS Saturday night show) reached more homes than any other pro wrestling program on cable television.
Run almost exactly one month apart the two marquee events (Starrcade ’83 and Christmas Star Wars ’83) perfectly illustrated the place of both promotions within the NWA.
While Christmas Star Wars ’83 drew a monster live crowd and huge syndication numbers it was, for all intents and purposes, a “regional show” that flew largely under the radar, lost in the shadow of JCP’s inaugural Starrcade event.
Starrcade ’83, meanwhile, featured a Who’s Who of top cartel talent (including from Puerto Rico) and was simulcast via closed circuit to almost every major city in the Alliance (including in Dallas), reaching nearly three times the audience of the Von Erich’s Christmas night card.
With a stacked roster of talent, a bold creative initiative, innovative television production standards, and a rabid fan base, Fritz Von Erich firmly believed that the best was yet to come for Dallas wrestling and the Von Erich family.
Sadly, though, the Christmas Star Wars ’83 card is viewed, in hindsight, as the last true triumph for the Von Erich’s before the tragedy that would come to overshadow the family’s incredible legacy—swallowing everything that had worked so hard to build—began to manifest itself.
The top story in WCCW the week this edition of NWA WCCW aired was the fallout from the second annual Christmas Star Wars event where “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin, thanks to handful of tights, defeated “Gentleman” Chris Adams to (briefly) win the NWA American Heavyweight title; Kerry Von Erich got a small measure of revenge against Kimala; Mike & Kevin Von Erich defeated the Freebirds in a “loser leaves town” match that drove Terry Gordy out of Dallas for the next year; and David Von Erich nearly dethroned NWA World Champion Ric Flair in a thrilling main event that Flair escaped by the skin of his teeth (and the use of ringside microphone), setting up one of the biggest rematches in the history of Texas wrestling.
Outside of the ring the top song in the nation the week this edition of NWA WCCW aired was Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson’s “Say Say Say” while the top album belonged to Michael Jackson’s iconic Thriller. On television ABC’s Hotel was the ratings winner as James L. Brooks beloved Terms of Endearment (the eventual “Best Picture” winner at the 56th Academy Awards), starring Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels, and John Lithgow, was the top film in theaters.
With all of that out of the way let’s head on over to the WWE Network on Peacock and see how well this Christmas Star Wars ’83 edition of NWA WCCW holds up in 2023!
Edits are not an issue with this edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling on the WWE Network and Peacock. It should be noted that this is the “WWE 24/7” version of the show. Context, meanwhile, is solid, with every prior edition of the series, including a few “Hidden Gems”, available for you to enjoy right now on the WWE Network and Peacock.
NWA World Class Championship Wrestling #106 (WATCH)
Date: December 31, 1983 (TAPED: Dec. 25, 1983, NWA WCCW Christmas Star Wars ’83) – Location: Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 19,675 – TV Ratings: N/A
Commentators: Bill Mercer – Interviews: Bill Mercer
CHAMPIONS AT THE TIME:
NWA World Heavyweight Champion: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (November 24, 1983, NWA Starrcade ’83, from “Handsome” Harley Race; this was a “steel cage” match)
NWA American Heavyweight Champion: “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin (December 25, 1983, NWA WCCW Christmas Star Wars ’83, from “Gentleman” Chris Adams; this title would be vacated in the coming days after the NWA reviewed footage of the bout in which Garvin used Adams’ own tights to secure the pinfall, though the vacating of the title is not listed in the “official” title history)
NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion: David Von Erich (August 1, 1983, Fort Worth, Texas, defeated “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin to fill the title vacancy left in the wake of a disputed finish between Garvin and David Von Erich on July 11, 1983)
NWA American Tag Team Champions: Brian Adias & “Iceman” King Parsons (December 25, 1983, NWA WCCW Christmas Star Wars ’83, from the Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer #1 & Super Destroyer #2))
NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions (Texas): The Von Erichs (David, Kerry, & Kevin) (December 2, 1983, Dallas, Texas, from the Fabulous Freebirds (Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy & Buddy Roberts) & NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair; Flair was subbing for Freebird Michael “P.S.” Hayes who had lost a “loser leaves town” match to Kerry Von Erich at the November 24, 1983, Thanksgiving Star Wars ’83 event and was, for the next year, banned from competing in the territory)
WCCW Television Champion: Brian Adias (December 5, 1983, Fort Worth, Texas, from Super Destroyer #1 (Scott Irwin))
NWA Brass Knuckles Champion (Texas): “Gentleman” Chris Adams (September 1983, from Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy; records for the Texas version of the NWA Brass Knuckles title are incomplete at this time; there is no record, at the time of this writing, to indicate the Gordy/Adias match actually took place or that Gordy lost the title to Adias in any form or fashion; this appears to be a “phantom” title switch, a common occurrence of the territory era)
Following the standard NWA WCCW open of the era we head inside Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas where Bill Mercer welcomes us to the show. After giving us a rundown of this week’s card, taped at the recent Christmas Star Wars ’83 event, we head to our first Peacock ad-break.
We return from break in time to hear the tail end of Ralph Pulley’s rendition of “God Bless America”. The lights then go dark as Richard Strauss’ “Also spach Zarathustra” plays and Mercer discusses the card to come and the atmosphere in Reunion Arena.
When the lights come up we find Missing Link and Ken Mantell already in the ring for our opening contest. Ring announcer Marc Lowrance then takes care of the standard promotional housekeeping before introducing the wrestlers.
—Singles Match (4:32)
The Missing Link vs. Johnny Mantell
Johnny Mantell uses his speed and experience to frustrate Missing Link for the bulk of this match, working Link’s arm as he goes. Eventually Missing Link attempts to suplex Mantell but Mantell holds on to Link’s leg.
Link drives Mantell to the mat, knees Johnny in the chest, and chokes the snort out of Mantell to ice Mantell’s momentum. Missing Link punishes a game Mantell, pounding, biting, choking, and beating on Mantell along the way.
Soon enough, though, Mantell rocks Link with a solid European uppercut that staggers Link. But, as Mantell goes to town on Link, Mantell inadvertently jumps into a Manhattan drop that stops Mantell cold.
As Mantell writhes on the mat Link scales the ropes, delivering a diving headbutt to Mantell’s kidney’s for the pinfall win at 6:08.
WINNER is The Missing Link (Pin, 6:08)
After the match Missing Link celebrates his win as we head to the next Peacock ad-break with replay of the finish.
Coming out of the break Bill Mercer tosses to a pre-taped interview with Brian Adias & “Iceman” King Parsons, the challengers for the Super Destroyers’ American Tag Team titles on tonight’s Christmas Star Wars ’83 card.
“Iceman” King Parsons has a “score to settle” after being brutally burned by Skandor Akbar some weeks back. Parsons, in unintentionally hilarious fashion, says it’s he and Adias going after the Super D’s tonight.
It’s not just for the titles, Parsons says, pointing to the large pink burn on his face. Tonight Akbar and the Super D’s are his, “Iceman says before storming off.
Bill Mercer turns to Brian Adias, who reiterates Parsons personal views. Adias believes that he and Parsons won’t be stopped tonight, not even by the Super Destroyers. Asked about the Super D’s lethal superplex Adias says his goal is stay out of it and “stay on top”.
Mercer then wraps the interview and tosses to a pre-taped promo from Skandor Akbar and the American Tag Team Champion Super Destroyers.
Akbar stars by recounting his warning to Adias to “get outta town” for associating with the “no good” “Iceman” King Parsons, that “something bad” was going to happen to Adias.
Akbar warns Adias that Adias is going to get the same thing Parsons got when Adias steps in the ring with the Super D’s tonight.
But if Adias & Parsons persist in getting in Akbar’s business then Adias & Parsons are going to get the worst beating of their careers. Akbar says he’s tired of looking as Parsons’ “misfigured face” and all but promises that “Iceman” will be superplexed and carried from the ring tonight, his career ended.
We then head to the next Peacock ad-break with replay of Akbar burning “Iceman” King Parsons.
—NWA American Tag Team Championship – “Tag Team Grudge Match” (12:42)
Brian Adias & “Iceman” King Parsons vs. The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer #1 & Super Destroyer #2)(c) w/Skandor Akbar
Adias starts hot, sending the Super D’s to regroup on the floor, before “Iceman” tags in and goes to work. Parsons & Adias continue to control and frustrate the Super D’s, cutting off a number of their hope spots, as they use quick tags and smart wrestling to ground the Super D’s for the first ten minutes of the bout.
Slowly but surely the Super D’s wear down Adias before catching Adias with a big sidewalk slam that turns the tide in the champions favor.
The Super D’s employ their own quick tags as they deliver one high impact maneuver after another to Adias for a number of near-falls, cutting off hope spots and preventing the hot tag.
Finally, after fighting out of a side headlock and back dropping one of the Super D’s, Adias makes the hot tag to Parsons, blowing the roof off of Reunion Arena!
A ball of fire, “Iceman” takes the fight to both Super D’s before telegraphing a back body drop and eating a kick. The champs take the fight to Parsons until “Iceman”, out of nowhere, catches one of the Super D’s in an inside cradle for the flash three-count at 15:35 to win the American Tag Team Championship.
This marked the first American Tag title win for both Adias & Parsons and ended Scott & Bill Irwin’s first (of an eventual five) American Tag title reign, though exact dates of this specific reign are unknown at this time.
WINNERS and NEW NWA American Tag Team Champions, Brian Adias & “Iceman” King Parsons (Pin, 15:35)
Following the match the Super D’s go on the attack. After tossing Brian Adias from the ring the Super D’s drop “Iceman” with the superplex and a diving headbutt.
A weary Brian Adias reenters the ring and runs the former champions off. As Adias tends to the injured Parsons we head to the next Peacock ad-break with a replay of the post-match superplex on Parsons.
After the break Bill Mercer tosses to pre-taped interview with Kerry Von Erich.
Mercer notes that David Von Erich put the Iron Claw on Kimala while Kerry has successfully slammed the big man. What’s been done, Kerry says, doesn’t matter.
Kerry may have slammed Kimala but, since Akbar says it didn’t happen in a sanctioned match, he didn’t earn the $10,000 bounty. Tonight is sanctioned, Kerry says, and the “air is filled with electricity”.
The fans can feel the electricity and this “area” is “full of it”. Kerry promises to slam Kimala and earn the $10,000, saying that Akbar can’t “razzle dazzle” his way out of it.
It’s not ten thousand that Akbar will owe Kerry but $20,000, ten grand for the last slam and ten grand for tonight. Mercer wraps the interview and tosses to pre-taped comments from Skandor Akbar.
Akbar says that Kerry Von Erich is “screaming” for $10,000 that Kerry doesn’t deserve because he caught Kimala “off balance” and Kerry knows it. What Kerry does deserve, though, are the 10,000 ways Kimala will bruise Kerry’s body.
Tonight Kerry Von Erich will get the beating of his life, Akbar shouts. It will be a “banner evening” for Akbar’s “might forces”, and no better night to end Kerry’s career!
After he’s done with Kerry, Akbar says, he’s going to take out Kerry’s brothers David, Kevin, & Mike Von Erich later in the night. Kerry is going down because, Akbar claims, Kerry cannot slam the “Ugandan Warrior”.
After the promo Bill Mercer hypes next week’s card before tossing to the next Peacock ad-break with another replay of Kerry slamming Kimala.
—“Grudge Match” (33:30)354
“Ugandan Giant” Kimala w/Skandor Akbar & Friday vs. “The Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich
Kerry has the advantage early until Kimala goes to Kerry’s throat. Kerry survives Kimala’s attack before firing up and trying for the Iron Claw, driving Kimala fleeing to the floor.
Kerry continues to use his speed and athleticism to frustrate Kimala before catching Kerry in the throat again and working a nerve hold on Kerry’s pectoral muscles. Soon enough Kerry fights out of the nerve hold and comes storming back yet again.
Kerry peppers Kimala with shots, setting Kimala up for the body slam, when Akbar trips Kerry right in front of the referee to give Kerry the DQ win at 5:09.
WINNER is “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich (Disqualification, 5:09)
As the bell ring Kimala tries to splash a dazed Kerry Von Erich but Kerry rolls out of the way. Kerry quickly cinches in the Iron Claw on Kimala before delivering another body slam that pops the Dallas faithful.
As the heels powder from the ring Kevin Von Erich joins his brother in the ring. Ring announcer Marc Lowrance then announces that Kerry has in fact won the $10,000 prize for slamming Kimala.
Akbar threatens referee David Manning as we see a replay of Akbar tripping Kerry. We then head to our final Peacock ad-break with a slow-motion replay of the match ending trip.
Back from break Bill Mercer, at ringside, hypes next week’s Christmas Star Wars ’83 card before wrapping this week’s card and signing off, bringing another great edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling to a close!
Final Thoughts
This is, as we’ve become accustomed to, another excellent, exciting edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling!
The promos and action is all top-notch, particularly the American Tag Team title bout. For those who are new to World Class and may not yet understand why this promotion was and is so beloved, this is a perfect place to start!
So if you haven’t seen this Christmas Star Wars ’83 edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling, or it’s been some time, you owe yourself an early wrestling Christmas gift by seeking this show out on the WWE Network and Peacock. Who knows, you may end up liking it, and that’s never a bad thing!
Already subscribed to the WWE Network on Peacock? Then you can relive this classic Christmas Star Wars ’83 edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling right now or experience it for the very first time! As always, let us know what you think in the comments section below!
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