This week Throwback Thursday heads back to the world famous Dallas Sportatorium as we examine an early edition of the Von Erich’s World Class Championship Wrestling, as seen on the WWE Network and Peacock, that aired 42 years ago this month!
In the fall of 1982, Fritz Von Erich’s World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) was entering a brave new world.
Fritz Von Erich’s full-time retirement in Texas Stadium on June 6, 1982, truly marked the end of an era for wrestling in Dallas. With Fritz out of the picture it fell to the Von Erich sons, Kevin, David, & Kerry, to carry on the family business and, hopefully, take the territory to new, unheard of heights.
The overhaul began in late 1981, when Fritz’s “Big Time Wrestling” became World Class Championship Wrestling, and continued into the summer of 1982.
Soon World Class would depart the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in favor of CBS affiliate superstation KTVT-11, a move that put the Dallas territory into more than 60 markets (including Japan and Israel). Soon renowned broadcaster Bill Mercer, famous for his work with Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers, arrived to lead the newly revamped shows.
Television production began to modernize, with cameras picking up the action from inside the ring (a first) and ringside microphones catching all of the grunts, groans, and gasps of not only the wrestlers but the fans as well.
As the program modernized to match the growing tastes of the local youth, including the use of music videos, so too did the booking.
Behind the clever leadership of Gary Hart, who understood the bond between Dallas and the Von Erichs in ways few ever did, World Class began to air more competitive matches on television rather than the typical squash bouts.
Key to the success of World Class at this time was their use of television to build big angles. Rather than have the major swerves occur at house shows and air in edited form on the weekly TV show, Gary Hart booked the big angles and swerves for TV, giving fans yet another reason not miss even a minute of World Class TV.
At the moment this edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling aired Kerry Von Erich was in the opening stages of his feud with NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, a feud that would, over the next several months, reshape World Class and help usher in a period of unprecedented growth and popularity that would come to forever define, for better or worse, both World Class Championship Wrestling and the Von Erichs.
The top story in WCCW the week this edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling aired was Kerry Von Erich’s feud with NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
Other top stories included David Von Erichs war with King Kong Bundy and Bugsy McGraw’s troubles with Gary Hart & Arman Hussein.
Now let’s head on over to the WWE Network on Peacock, hit ‘play’, and see how well this edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling holds up in 2024!
Edits for this edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling are not an issue on the WWE Network and Peacock. Context, meanwhile, is decent. All prior editions of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling, dating back to January 2, 1982, along with a few “hidden gem” cards on the WWE Network, are ready for you to enjoy right now on the WWE Network and Peacock!
NWA World Class Championship Wrestling #39 (WATCH)
Date: September 11, 1982 (TAPED: Aug. 31, 1982) – Location: Dallas Sportatorium, Dallas, Texas
Attendance: N/A – TV Ratings: N/A
Commentators: Bill Mercer & Jay Saldi – Interviews: Bill Mercer
IN POP CULTURE:
Number One Song: “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” (Chicago)
Number One Album: Mirage (Fleetwood Mac)
Number One on Television: M*A*S*H (CBS)
Number One Film in Theaters: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, & Drew Barrymore)
U.S. President & Vice President: Ronald Reagan & George H.W. Bush
CHAMPIONS AT THE TIME:
NWA World Heavyweight Champion: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (September 17, 1981, Kansas City, Missouri, from “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes)
NWA American Heavyweight Champion: Kevin Von Erich (September 6, 1982, Fort Worth, Texas, from King Kong Bundy; at the time of this taping, however, Bundy was still recognized as the American Heavyweight Champion)
NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion: “Wild” Bill Irwin (September 1, 1982, Lawton, Oklahoma, defeating Al Madril to win the vacant title; the title was vacated after a disputed finish between Al Madril and Irwin at the July 4, 1982, television tapings in Dallas)
NWA Brass Knuckles Champion: Bugsy McGraw (March 29, 1982, Fort Worth, Texas, from Jose Lothario)
WCCW American Tag Team Champions: The Von Erichs (Kerry & Kevin) (July 5, 1982, Fort Worth, Texas, from King Kong Bundy & NWA Brass Knuckles Champion Bugsy McGraw)
WCCW Television Champion: Bugsy McGraw (August 30, 1982, Fort Worth, Texas, from Brian Adias; McGraw previously defeated Adias for the TV title on July 19, 1982 in Fort Worth; records are incomplete at this time and do not indicate where or when a title change occurred, if it happened at all, between July 19 and August 30, 1982)
Following the standard NWA World Class Championship Wrestling open of the era we head inside the “world famous” Dallas Sportatorium where Bill Mercer, with Jay Saldi, welcomes us to the show.
Bill Mercer & Saldi break down the card to come, with Saldi providing his unique insight into the scheduled matches, before Bill Mercer wraps the segment and tosses to our first Peacock ad-break of the hour.
—Singles Match (1:11)
Brian Adias vs. Roberto Renesto
Brian Adias easily gets the better of Renesto as this one gets going, with Adias working Renesto’s arm. Soon enough, though, Renesto fights free of Adias’ armbar and begins to stage a rally.
As Renesto fights back into the match, Bill Mercer announces that Dizzy Hogan (the future Brutus Beefcake), the “younger brother” of Hulk Hogan, will be arriving in Dallas soon. Jay Saldi gives us the rundown on “Hulkamania” and Hogan’s popularity, noting that “everybody wants to get a look” at Hulk Hogan. It should be noted that despite the hype here neither Dizzy Hogan nor Hulk Hogan ever appear for the promotion.
Renesto, meanwhile, continues to control Adias, grounding Adias with a rear chinlock and an armbar. Adias fights his way free and mounts a comeback that ends when Adias tries, and fails, use a head scissors to bring Renesto to the floor.
Renesto puts on the brakes and continues to batter Adias. Jay Saldi, who earlier said Adias wouldn’t have any issues with Renesto, admits that it “slipped” his mind that Renesto actually defeated Adias last week in Fort Worth.
Renesto grounds Adias with a modified rear chinlock before transitioning to a nerve hold that Adias soon fights his way out of, scoring a near-fall on a body slam.
Renesto drops the straps, seemingly to signal that Renesto now means business, when Adias corners Renesto with kicks. Renesto turns it around, though, delivering a few cheap shots, before Adias leap frogs a back body drop attempt.
Adias tries to leap onto Renesto’s shoulders for a victory roll but the move falls apart almost from the start. A frustrated Adias picks up Renesto and cinches in an inside cradle for the pinfall win at 6:08.
WINNER is Brian Adias (Pin, 6:08)
Following the match Brian Adias celebrates his win as he stares daggers at Renesto. We then hear the ring announcement and head to our next Peacock ad-break with a replay of some of the action.
—Singles Match (8:27)
The Superfly w/Arman Hussein vs. Jose Lothario
As this one gets going we see Jose Lothario get the upper hand on the Superfly, grounding Superfly as Lothario works over the arm, forcing Superfly to regroup with Hussein.
Superfly grabs a headlock on Lothario, who tries in vain to escape. As Lothario looks set to pop free of the headlock, though, Superfly begins to outright choke Lothario before driving Lothario into the corner where Superfly begins to open up on Lothario.
As Lothario gets free Bill Mercer solicits opinion from the fans on the conclusion of the Ric Flair/Kerry Von Erich Worlds title match from the recent Star Wars card at Reunion Arena and a potential rematch.
In the ring Superfly takes Lothario down and attempts to work a leg lock when Lothario turns the hold around, again forcing Superfly to confer with Hussein.
Lothario tries to ground Superfly with the same leglock that Superfly failed to cinch in moments ago but Superfly, thanks to handful of hair, manages to separate from Lothario. In a flash, Superfly drives Lothario to the ropes where Superfly drops Lothario with a one-two combination.
Lothario fires up and looks to throw hands with Superfly but referee Bronko Lubich, despite the fans approval, won’t allow it. As Lothario and Superfly walk circles around one another Jay Saldi and Bill Mercer again talk about Hulk Hogan, with Saldi noting that since the release of Rocky III (in which Hogan played “Thunderlips”) pro wrestling has become the fastest growing spectator sport on America.
Eventually Lothario grounds Superfly, beginning to stretch Superfly’s arms, when Hussein spooks Lothario to other side of the ring. Superfly moves in for a shot but Lothario ducks to grab a bear hug on Superfly.
Superfly uses another cheap shot to escape the bear hug and, in short order, cinch in a nerve hold on Lothario. Lothario takes the fight to Lothario before Lothario, out of nowhere, clips Superfly with a left uppercut that floors Superfly.
Just then, as the referee begins his ten count, Arman Hussein gets on to the apron to shout at Superfly. Jose Lothario meets Hussein on the apron, though, and pulls Hussein into the ring, breaking the count and ending the bout in a DQ at 16:36..
WINNER is Jose Lothario (Disqualification, 10:36)
As the bell rings Superfly blast Lothario from behind. As Lothario turns to face Superfly, Arman Hussein grabs hold of Lothario, pinning Lothario’s arms.
Superfly attempts to attack Lothario but Lothario ducks at the last minute and Superfly clobbers Hussein instead before Lothario drops Superfly with right hand that sends Superfly to the floor.
Lothario stands tall in the ring, challenging Superfly to come at him again, as Hussein holds Superfly back on the floor. Even Jay Saldi has tired of the scene, openly asking to move on to the next bout. As the scene simmers down we head to the next Peacock ad-break with a replay of the action.
Coming out of the break we head to ringside where Bill Mercer is set to interview manager Gary Hart.
Mercer begins by congratulating Hart on Kabuki winning the “All-Asian Heavyweight” title, a title that didn’t actually exist in the territory. Much like the All-Asia Tag Team titles, the Heavyweight title was created as means of further pushing foreign, Japanese talent like Magic Dragon and Kabuki.
The “All-Asia Tag Team Championship”, currently “held” by Kabuki & Dragon, were based on the real All Asia Tag Team titles defended at the time in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) that David & Kevin Von Erich actually won on May 23, 1981. This title win was the closest any World Class talent got to actually winning the real All Asia Tag Team titles.
The “All-Asian Heavyweight Championship”, currently “held” by Kabuki, was based on the All Asia Heavyweight title that was actually held by Kintaro Oki at the time. Unlike the All Asia Tag Team titles, no Von Erich or member of the Dallas territory ever held the All Asia Heavyweight title prior to Oki winning the strap and the title being deactivated by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
Gary Hart says that he is very proud to hold the All-Asian, listing off a slew of names that have supposedly held the title, of which only Giant Baba is recorded to have actually won the real All Asia Heavyweight title.
As Kabuki mugs for the camera Bill Mercer asks Gary Hart about Kabuki developing a new “leg hold”, on that Hart describes as “very unique and very unusual”. If the “opportunity arises”, Hart says, Kabuki will use it.
Hart calls the hold “devastating” and comparable to the figure-four leglock and the spinning toe hold. It’s a “strong hold” that if applied properly will spell the end for most grapplers.
Mercer then brings up Hart’s efforts to expand his stable, mentioning that Hart has recently signed Checkmate and Dizzy Hogan (the future Brutus Beefcake). Hart, clearly surprised, asks Mercer how the announcer knew of Checkmate signing with Hart.
Mercer slyly says he has his ways as Hart abruptly ends the interview and Bill Mercer wraps the segment, sending us to the ring for our next bout.
—Singles Match (21:27)
Sal Olivares vs. The Great Kabuki w/Gary Hart
Quick squash match here. Olivares starts hot, going right after Kabuki until running headlong into a Kabuki superkick. Kabuki focuses on Olivares knee as he beats the bejabbers out of Olivares.
Soon enough, with Olivares grounded, Kabuki applies his new, innovative leg lock that causes Olivares to cry out on agony. Kabuki hits the move a second time before walking off, forcing the referee to stop the bout at 1:36.
WINNER is The Great Kabuki w/Gary Hart (Referee stoppage, 1:36)
After the match, as Gary Hart tries to calm the feisty Kabuki down, Bugsy McGraw rushes the ring, blasting Hart before going after Kabuki. McGraw has the upper hand until Hart, at ringside, trips McGraw.
Kabuki goes to work on McGraw before going to the top rope, where McGraw catches Kabuki for the big slam off the top. McGraw pounds his chest as Gary Hart pulls Kabuki to the floor.
Hart and Kabuki power to the back as McGraw grabs the microphone and challenges Kabuki to a fight right here and now.
As McGraw continues to call out Kabuki we head to the next Peacock ad-break with a slow-motion replay of Kabuki finishing off Sal Olivares.
Coming back from break we return to the ring where Arman Hussein leads King Kong Bundy, still the American Heavyweight Champion at this time, to the ring.
David Von Erich is out next, bull rope in hand. David challenges Bundy to tie up with bull rope for an old fashioned “Texas bunkhouse brawl” but both Bundy and the referee refuse to oblige David’s request.
—“Non-Title Grudge Match” (27:33)
David Von Erich vs. NWA American Heavyweight Champion King Kong Bundy
As mentioned in the opening section, Kevin Von Erich was the actual American Heavyweight Champion by the time this edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling aired. Bundy, who was still the Champion at the time this bout was taped, is still Champion at this time. The title switch to Kevin had not yet been addressed on World Class TV.
This is a fight to start, with Bundy and Von Erich trading shots and momentum before Bundy drives David to the floor. After regrouping on the floor David reenters the ring where Bundy is waiting.
David gets the better of Bundy then, cinching in the Iron Claw. Bundy sinks to one knee and looks to be fading when Bundy makes it to the ropes before tripping David to the mat.
David has the edge until Bundy gouges David’s eyes, scoring a near-fall after a slam and elbow drop, and cinches in a rear chinlock as Jay Saldi clarifies David’s actions in Florida during David’s sojourn there.
David Von Erich fights free and tries nearly everything, including running high knees to bring Bundy down. Now it’s Bundy’s turn to regroup on the floor with Hussein.
Bundy reenters the ring and promptly gets the edge on David, using his size and cheap shots to keep David on his back foot. Bundy, cutting off a number of David’s hope spots, has the advantage on David until David ducks a hard-charging Bundy, causing Bundy to wipe out referee Bronko Lubich.
As David tends to the injured Lubich, though, Bundy attacks, driving David to the corner where David and Bundy continue to brawl as a second referee arrives to try and break up the scrum.
But, as the second referee steps behind Bundy, David dropkicks Bundy, who squashes the new referee in the corner as Bronko Lubich calls for the bell at 7:05, tossing the match out.
NO WINNER declared (Double disqualification, 7:05)
Following the bell, David Von Erich and King Kong Bundy continue to brawl until a slew of officials and referees hit the ring to break the two apart. Jay Saldi lanments the amount of disqualifications in wrestling, saying that if they continue “the sport will lose it’s popularity.”
The two are separated just long enough before David lunges at Bundy. After the two are separated once again it’s Bundy who lunges at David.
This repeats, with the two being separated and the attacked lunging at the attacker, as the crowd growing more restless. Finally, Arman Hussein leads Bundy away from the ring to a chorus of boos as we head to the final Peacock ad-break.
After the break, rather than Bill Mercer wrapping the hour and hyping next week’s card, we jump straight to the show-closing credits to bring another exciting week of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling to a close!
Final Thoughts
This is a fun, action-packed, edition of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling that shows the promotion growing and evolving in real time.
While the hour highlights many of the weaknesses of the promotion at the time, from aging stars and ethnic booking to overlong, meandering TV matches and lack of direction, the pieces are pretty much in place for the boom to come.
The main event David Von Erich/King Kong Bundy match is the star of the hour, for sure, but each match delivers in its own right, illustrating what made World Class such a hot ticket in the past and what sorely needed to change for the territory to reach a younger audience.
Whether you’ve seen this hour of NWA World Class Championship Wrestling or this is the first you’ve heard of it, this is a fine hour of rasslin’ that’s sure to satiate the most jaded of wrestling fans. 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 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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