WCCW SUMMER STAR WARS 28.08.1984
Irving, TX
Attendance: 62752
PPV buyrate: 1.21
TV rating: 0.03
Show quality: 79
A video package recaps the recent WCCW events! Jim Ross and Jim Cornette welcome us to the show! (80) (5 mins)
ROCK & ROLL EXPRESS & JUNKYARD DOG vs MIDNIGHT EXPRESS & TED DIBIASE (w/ Bobby Heenan)
JR recaps the long R&R/MNX feud, but Cornette also mentions JYD's recent arrival and DiBiase punching him with the black glove to avoid a title match. We got the Tag Team Champions and the Texas Heavyweight Champion here, but the titles are not on the line. As expected, the babyfaces steal the show with R&R's skills and JYD's charisma, but the Horsemen are clearly more united and work really well together. Morton is again isolated in the Horsemen's corner, but comes out of it thanks to punches and a brave crossbody on Eaton! There's a double hot tag, so it's finally JYD vs. DiBiase and JYD is on top of his opponent! JYD hits a lariat and tags Gibson so he can crossbody DiBiase, but Condrey pushes Gibson off the top rope and DiBiase hits the piledriver! 1... 2... 3! The Horsemen prevail! (82) (14:30 + 3)
On stage Bill Mercer interviews Stan Hansen and The Funks. Hansen says that they can't lose this match tonight, he carries the World Title with pride, but this hatred between them and the heels is so deep that, even with the belt not on the line tonight, he wants to win at all costs! Terry is happy about his brother being back, so he can watch their backs and also watch their opponents getting beaten down! (81) (3 mins)
MR. X (w/ Gary Hart and Chris Adams) vs TULLY BLANCHARD
JR continues to be annoyed by Gino still wearing the X mask, but Cornette defends X saying that he wants to protect his beautiful face against Blanchard's rudeness, there is nothing wrong with that. The match is really open, they formed the original Dynamic Duo and know each other really well, so they can predict each other quite well. However, Adams and Hart can make quite a difference at ringside and repeatedly interfere, so the referee sends Adams away from ringside! X gets a lot of momentum, but Blanchard dodges the flying elbow drop and has a good comeback. Blanchard gets on top of X and rips his mask off! The referee gets in the middle to take it away and that is when Gino kicks Blanchard in the nuts! Gino pins Blanchard and holds the tights, getting the pinfall on his former friend! (60) (11:03 + 2)
On stage Bill Mercer interviews Michael Hayes and has 3 questions for him: who was driving the car 3 days ago, what he think about the cage match and is he forming a new army? Hayes says that he usually likes to talk and show his smartness, but tonight actions will be his words! (75) (3 mins)
PARKING LOT BRAWL
DUTCH MANTELL vs BUDDY ROBERTS
The two are surrounded by cars, in a circle, and two referees are there. JR says that you can win by either pinning your opponent or escaping the circle of cars. Cornette says that they challenged each other to meet in the parking lot 2 weeks ago, so be careful what you wish for! Mantell and Roberts have a slugfest within the circle and Roberts throws Mantell head first into one of the cars, breaking the glass! Roberts comes back and seems ready to escape, so he climbs on a car... but the engine turns on! Roberts is surprised and this helps Mantell, who climbs on the car and hits Roberts with a backdrop on top of the car! Mantell is down too, but he rolls towards his left... and he escapes the circle to win the fight! (78) (9:36 + 2)
On stage Skandor Akbar introduces the mystery man and the new member of Devastation Inc., a man that was used by WCCW and then ignored once he got injured. A valid opponent that has now become part of his family... Butch Reed!!! (75) (4 mins)
KEVIN VON ERICH & KERRY VON ERICH vs DICK MURDOCH & BUTCH REED (w/ Skandor Akbar)
JR is surprised about Reed siding with Akbar, as he was brought in by Stan Hansen last year against Devastation Inc. Cornette notices that Reed, like the other stable mates, is now a skinhead and seems very focused. Kevin and Kerry seem surprised, but they still have an edge because they have been tagging for years now. However, Kerry's ribs hurt after the match against the Horsemen and that is where Murdoch and Reed focus all of their offense, so once again the Horsemen/Devastation alliance is paying dividends! Kevin claws Reed, who punches his ribs until Kevin lets go! Murdoch attacks Kerry, but Kerry hits a high knee on him and Kevin rolls up Murdoch to barely get the 3 count! (75) (11:41 + 2)
Postmatch David celebrates with his brothers and they say that Devastation Inc. is more dangerous than ever with Reed on their side too! David says that tonight he has the chance to k!ll the Freebirds' ghost and throw them out of WCCW for good! (87) (3 mins)
TERRY GORDY vs JIMMY GARVIN
JR says that Hayes hinted that he will recruit the winner of this match, but Cornette says that Hayes has better things to do now and this won't be pretty, because Garvin and Gordy have lost a 2 tag matches recently, apart from the cage match against the von Erichs. The match is quite clean at the beginning, but then Garvin starts working on Gordy's legs and bending the rules a bit, which infuriates Gordy! Garvin does all he can to control the pace and tame the beast, but Gordy's comebacks are always explosive! Garvin also slaps Gordy, a receipt from the last show, and tries to bombs away... but can't lift his opponent and so Gordy slaps him! Garvin tries to punch Gordy, who picks him up for the powerbomb! 1... 2... 3! (73) (11:39 + 2)
Postmatch Garvin holds his head while getting back up and Gordy offers him a handshake! Garvin thinks about it, but then shakes it! JR says that, while Hayes keeps plotting and talking in riddles, these two seem quite united! (80) (3 mins)
STEEL CAGE MATCH
DAVID VON ERICH vs MICHAEL HAYES
Cornette says that the Freebirds vs von Erich saga has been legendary, but this goes even beyond that and tonight we will finally get a conclusion to this personal issue! You can win by pinfall, submission or escaping the cage. Hayes provokes the crowd and David, while David stays calm in his corner... but then jumps on Hayes as soon as the door cage is shut! The crowd is all on David's side and this makes him even more violent that he would be, so Hayes is quickly bleeding! David seems fatigued, though, after the concussion of the previous cage match and then the attack last Thursday, so he slows down and Hayes uses this to make his comeback! Now David bleeds too and Hayes sadistically sends him to the cage head first! Hayes gets the door to be opened for him, while Garvin arrives at ringside to cheer for him! Gordy and the von Erichs make their way down too... but Gordy closes the cage door and throws the keys through the crowd! Hayes is furious, while Gordy goes away! Garvin tries to climb the cage to help Hayes, but Kerry and Kevin drag him away! Hayes then climbs the cage himself, but David stops him and locks in the sleeper hold while they are both hanging!!! Hayes moves his hands to keep some stability, but David lets him go... and Hayes falls in the ring! David climbs the cage and escapes to win!!! (87) (15:21 + 3 mins)
On stage Bill Mercer interviews Magnum TA and wants him to comment on Barry Windham's statement: is it true that Magnum brought him to WCCW? Magnum says that this doesn't matter, what matters is that he will be the one to put Windham out of WCCW! (72) (2 mins)
BARRY WINDHAM vs MAGNUM TA (w/ Sherri)
Tito Santana is on commentary and says that soon his shoulder will be 100% again, he wants to put his hands on Magnum, but has no knowledge of why and how he brought Windham in the company. They have a solid match, Magnum is very rough with Windham and is almost trying to make it personal, while Windham shows off a bit, maybe to prove to his opponent that he's good enough to be in WCCW by his own merits! Sherri helps Magnum and he gets the upper hand, being quite confrontational in his attacks and calling Windham an ungrateful bast*rd! Santana is irritated, but says that he won't interfere. Magnum has Windham up for the belly to bell suplex and yells at Santana, but wasting time costs him as Windham headbutts Magnum and he's the one to hit a belly to belly suplex! 1... 2... 3! Windham wins!!! (74) (9:46 + 2 mins)
On stage Bill Mercer interviews Ric Flair, who is happy about the Hosemen winning in the opener, but now it's time for the main eventer (DiBiase is not happy and holds the Texas Title high). Flair also critiques Akbar, saying that his boy better not mess this up again, he wants Stan Hansen and Terry Funk to go down and, as good as he is, he need a good partner to get it done! Heenan intervenes and says he will talk to Akbar, Flair can concentrate on the match! (79) (3 mins)
DOUBLE TEXAS BULLROPE MATCH
RIC FLAIR & KING KONG BUNDY (w/ Bobby Heenan and Skandor Akbar) vs STAN HANSEN & TERRY FUNK (w/ Dory Funk Jr)
JR reminds us the rules: the winner will have to touch 4 consecutive turnbuckles. Hansen and Flair's wrists are united by a bullrope, while the other one keeps Funk and Bundy tied to each other. As predicted, the match is a war both Flair and Funk quickly bleed from their foreheads! Hansen is the best man of the match, he loves the stipulation and Flair is lighter than him, so the heels manage to wrap their bullrope around the turnbuckle and Hansen is trapped at ringside now! Akbar and Heenan try to beat him up, but Dory chases them away! In the ring, Funk fights by himself against Flair and Bundy, managing to hit a double DDT! Funk starts touching the turnbuckles while Flair also does it, Bundy again jumps on Funk, but he kicks him low! Funk and Flair both have just one turnbuckle to touch and Funk seems on top, but Hansen (unaware of it) again shakes his bullrope to set him free, but the rope trips Funk! Flair goes towards the last turnbuckle, while finally Hansen comes back to the ring... but Flair touches the last turnbuckle and wins! (78) (13:09 + 3 mins)
Postmatch Flair puts the figure four on Terry, while he's defenceless and Bundy splashes him! Hansen comes to the rescue, but the damage has been done.... the Horsemen and Devastation Inc. celebrate, while Hansen and Dory help Terry! (74) (4 mins)
Show notes
- It's always hard to come up with a great show after a heated season finale, but I felt that this card was good and, despite being a solid show, it fell off the 80 mark that is always my quality benchmark. It still generated lots of business and increased my popularity anywhere except Texas
- David vs. Hayes was fantastic and they were both praised, but this is the end of Freebirds vs. von Erichs for now (at least for now, never say never and no spoilers)
- However, the problem is that nothing else got anywhere close to them when it comes to quality. The Birds against each other, the other von Erichs in a tag match, the heated main event... there is a clear gap between that cage match and all the rest, which I need to work on in the near future to avoid a drop in our quality and momentum. Still, it was the right time to put that feud on the side as the monthly PPV translate into quicker storylines
- I had a bit of backstage drama when Roberts was furious about putting Mantell over, despite the finish nature, the interference and all the rest. Roberts needs to be careful, I have plans for him and they are quite decent, but he's not a top star and pushing 40. Let's see how he behaves from now on
- Speaking of backstage drama, Murdoch and Gibson ate the pinfalls tonight because of their recent argument. No protest from any of them
- More notes: Gino will finally wrestle as himself now, but he keeps being a bit flat in the ring; Windham and Magnum did great as they were asked to have a slower pace because the main event was next; I wanted to use Reed in Dev. Inc. last year, but he got injured and so I had to postpone the idea
