WCCW SPRING STAR WARS 28.04.1984
Irving, TX
Attendance: 56864
TV rating: 0.40
Show quality: 82
A video package hypes the Spring Tag Tournament and its participants, $10.000 and a match of the winners' choice are on the line tonight! (82)
SPRING TAG TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
ROCK & ROLL EXPRESS vs MAGNUM TA & TERRY TAYLOR (w/ Sherri and Bill Irwin)
Rock & Roll have been chasing the MNX for months to get the titles back, while TA and Taylor are a relatively new team, even though they are doing quite well so far as a unit. Magnum overpowers both Gibson and Morton during their one on one confrontations and looks really good, but it's clear that R&R are on a different level as a team due to their bigger experience. Magnum works most of the match and he gets quite tired, so he tags Taylor and he goes all out against Gibson at the end. Bill Irwin, drinking beer at ringside, tries to get involved but he's pushed away and the R&R hit a double dropkick on Taylor, with Gibson scoring the pinfall! (67) (10:04)
Postmatch R&R celebrate, while Magnum is not happy about the loss. He leaves the area with the East Coast Rednecks, while Tito Santana and Brian Adias come down the aisle for their match. Santana and Magnum go face to face again, but the referees are quick to separate them! (60)
SPRING TAG TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
MR. X & TULLY BLANCHARD vs TITO SANTANA & BRIAN ADIAS (w/ Sunshine)
This is technically a match between two babyface teams, but Blanchard works as a full heel and so X, while still trying to get the crowd's approval, ends up being involved in heelish attacks. X and Blanchard have great chemistry and the announcers seem surprised, as it's the first time they tag in WCCW. Adias plays the part of the babyface in perils for most of the match, but then Santana gets the hot tag and his freshness is clearly an edge. X and Santana have a good sequence, but then X tags Blanchard, who doesn't seem happy about it. X and Blanchard push each other and so Santana takes advantage of it, hitting a crossbody from the top on Blanchard! 1... 2... 3! (68) (7:57)
On stage Bill Mercer interviews The Freebirds, who are sure to win tonight, the numbers are on their side as well and they can't fail. Buddy Roberts stops the interview and tells Terry Gordy to go towards the ring, telling Michael Hayes to prepare his $10.000! (78)
SPRING TAG TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
TERRY GORDY & BUDDY ROBERTS vs THE FUNKS
Jim Ross says that the winning team will surely be one of the favourites in the Battle Royal, especially if the Freebirds win their match later on as well. Gordy is on a mission to get revenge on the Funks after their words on the last TV show, while Roberts just want to advance to the next round and shows respect to the Funks. The Funks are on another level, Roberts and Gordy are an experienced team, but haven't tagged in a bit and it's clear as the babyfaces' experience seems too much for them. Terry and Gordy throw punches at the end and the referee doesn't see that Gordy hits Terry low, as he was distracted by Ted DiBiase who runs at ringside to provoke Dory! Gordy hits a powerbomb on Terry and Roberts holds Funk's ankle to the ground! 1... 2... 3! What an upset! (81) (12:01)
Postmatch Dory helps Terry and is furious about the Horsemen ruining their match. Roberts walks away without speaking to Gordy, but Gordy attacks him from behind! Gordy hits a powerbomb on the concrete on Roberts!!! Referees get in the middle, while Gordy laughs about it and tells Roberts that, as promised, once in the battle royal it's every man for himself!!! (79)
SPRING TAG TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
CHRIS ADAMS & TOMMY RICH vs DEVASTATION INC (w/ Skandor Akbar)
They had a no contest a couple of weeks ago and then an upset win by Adams on Murdoch at the last TV Show, that is why Murdoch is more aggressive than usual and he wants to destroy Adams as quick as he can. The heels are clearly favourites, then their aggression make them commit a few mistakes that Rich and Adams are good enough to take advantage of. Rich also uses his size to go toe to toe with Bundy, but he still struggles against the giant. Adams hits a couple of dives, as he's the quickest of the bunch, but he lands on his back on a few occasions and Murdoch uses this to hit the backdrop suplex on Adams and get the pinfall! (71) (7:19)
On stage Bill Mercer interviews the Four Horsemen. Ric Flair says that all 4 of them will end up in the Battle Royal, they hold all the belts because they are the best in WCCW. Ted DiBiase adds that tonight they need to win to defend all the gold and they are more united than ever, while the other stables are not! (85)
SPRING TAG TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
RIC FLAIR & TED DIBIASE (w/ Bobby Heenan) vs STAN HANSEN & BRUISER BRODY
Hansen has made clear that he wants a title shot, but Brody wants one as well. Flair tells DiBiase to take it easy and they stall a lot at the beginning of the match, namely working on the legs of the bigger opponents, because there is clearly no way to match their power. Flair chops both Hansen and Brody furiously and they no sell them, forcing Flair to take a timeout. However, Brody follows Flair out of the ring and they battle at ringside! In the meantime, Heenan hands DiBiase his black glove and DiBiase puts it on, but Hansen lariats him out of nowhere! Flair sees it and tries to go back to the ring, but Brody stops him! Hansen pins DiBiase! 1... 2... 3! Hansen and Brody have done it! (84) (11:50)
Postmatch the babyfaces celebrate, but Flair takes a chair! Flair swings at Hansen, who moves out of the way, and the chair hits Brody instead! Flair quickly leaves the ring, while Hansen helps Brody! (80)
SPRING TAG TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (w/ Bobby Heenan) vs THE FANTASTICS
The announces talk about how the Fantastics turned the page, because they did the MNX's dirty work for a couple of months until they had enough and now they are there to chase the Tag Titles instead. Eaton and Condrey have extra pressure on themselves, as Flair and DiBiase won't be in the battle royal and for the Horsemen is important to win it to protect the belts. Futlon and Rogers take a lot of chances and dive around to get the fans' support, including a double crossbody from the top rope to the floor! All four men are on the floor, Eaton and Rogers are the legal men, but they can't make it back in the ring by 10 and it's a no contest! (70) (8:43)
On stage Bill Mercer interviews the von Erichs, saying that it's finally time for them to get an important victory. Kerry gets defensive, but Kevin calms him down and says that, yes, not only they want revenge on the Freebirds, but winning the battle royal would be great for them. Kevin and Kerry shake hands and go towards the ring for their match (81)
SPRING TAG TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
KEVIN VON ERICH & KERRY VON ERICH vs MICHAEL HAYES & JIMMY GARVIN
JR says that this match goes so much beyond the tournament, due to the infinite war between the two groups. Hayes and Garvin are not as experienced as the Hayes and Gordy duo, but they do really well together, also because the von Erichs' momentum is not the best and they faced a few losses lately. There's a lot of hate, as usual, and it gets bloody as predictable. Terry Gordy arrives at ringside, but the Funks do as well and they force him to leave! Kevin gets a hot tag from Kerry and clears the ring, while the fans go crazy! Kevin applies the claw on Garvin! Hayes tries to stop him, but Kerry claws Hayes as well! Kevin squeezes hard and Garvin has no way out... and Garvin taps out!!! But wait, the time limit has expired and it's a draw!!! (83) (15:00)
Postmatch the von Erichs are furious, but the referee speaks to the timekeeper and confirms that Garvin tapped out exactly at the 15:00 mark! the von Erichs want 5 more minutes, but a bloody Garvin is taken away by Hayes and so both teams are eliminated! (82)
On stage Bill Mercer is hyping the battle royal, but Fritz von Erich shows up! Fritz says that there have been a few incidents tonight and so nobody will be allowed at ringside for the main event, whether they are licensed managers or wrestlers! Gary Hart is not happy about Fritz crashing the party and leaves, so Ric Flair decides to join commentary! (80)
SPRING TAG TOURNAMENT BATTLE ROYAL
RICKY MORTON vs ROBERT GIBSON vs TITO SANTANA vs BRIAN ADIAS vs BUDDY ROBERTS vs TERRY GORDY vs KING KONG BUNDY vs DICK MURDOCH vs STAN HANSEN vs BRUISER BRODY
JR reminds us that $10.000 are at stake, plus the winner will be able to book a match for himself. A lot of the favourites are not in, namely there are no Horsemen and von Erichs, so anything can happen. Plus, Brody's head is taped after the chairshot and Murdoch is not even in the ring after the powerbomb he received. Brody gets quickly eliminated by his old enemies Bundy and Murdoch, leaving Hansen by himself! Devastation Inc. are on a roll and also eliminate Adias. Rock & Roll are by far the most cohesive team in the ring, but they take risks and Gordy eliminates Gibson with a big boot! Devastation Inc. keep dominating, though, and everyone else quickly decide to ally against them... Bundy can't be lifted, but Murdoch is sent over the top rope by everyone else! Roberts finally gets to the ring and seems in extreme pain, while his rival Gordy eliminates Morton and Hansen gets rid of Santana! Final four: Roberts, Gordy, Bundy and Hansen! Once again, everyone in the ring goes against Bundy and they finally manage to hit him and throw him over the top rope! Gordy and Hansen go face to face while the fans go crazy, they trade violent punches and nobody seems able to prevail! Roberts removes his cowboy boot to hit Gordy, Gordy falls over and unvoluntary pushes Hansen over the top rope! Gordy runs towards Roberts, but Roberts lariats him and Gordy is out as well Buddy Roberts just won this out of nowhere! (79) (15:26)
Postmatch Roberts can't even stand properly to celebrate, but he's almost in tears for the crowd support! Hansen comes back in the ring, shakes Roberts' hand and pats him on the back, while the Freebirds arrive to rescue Gordy and they are not happy at all! Flair doesn't seem thrilled either! (82)
Show notes
- I have to admit that I was a bit concerned here, as the Battle Royal is not as appealing as other matches and I needed a few "cheap finishes" to advance some stories, but things went well! Everything seemed to be placed correctly on the card and the fans were always quite responsive, which is nice. 58000 fans is not my record, but still quite good, I have 2 big shows coming up and I hope to sell 60000 tickets next time!
- I literally decided the winner of the Battle Royal just a few days ago, as was considering half a dozen choices, even people that didn't make it to the final. Why Roberts? Probably because he's the one that needs a boost, while the others are more established and over than he is. I think it was also refreshing to have a final four of an important matches without Flair, DiBiase, Funks, von Erichs and Hayes involved. That elevates whoever was involved, including Gordy that has mostly been involved in tag matches, but is only 23 and has huge potential
- Despite Brody being a bit lazy, his match was the best of the night. Flair and Hansen have "amazing chemistry" according to Frank Dusek, which is really nice to hear... Flair, Hansen and DiBiase were praised in public after the event
- Blanchard, the other "special guest", wasn't happy about going under in his match, despite Santana being more over than he is. He had a great chemistry with X, however, and his dad Joe was road agenting the match as well