Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes vs. Kerry Von Erich & Chris Adams (15:24)

 

Two of the big feuds going into Holiday Star Wars mash up, and it's about as good as you expect, which is to say it's fantastic. I mean, when Chris Adams comes off as the least wrestler in the match, you know you've got something good. Part of that might just be the other three really slugging it out, while Adams usually tries to take things to the mat (plus he doesn't throw any kicks, which is disappointing), but damn if there isn't some great punching going on in this match, particularly from Kerry and Garvin. Also loved the way Hayes would freak out when Kerry got tagged in, and Garvin would do the same for Adams. Near the end, Kerry hurts his knee and plays face-in-peril, really selling it like a champ while Hayes is just viciously stomping on it. The finish, with Sunshine running in to chase Precious, distracts the cameraman, so we don't see how Kerry escapes his predicament, which was my one real complaint with this match. But other than that, it was really exciting stuff, and the post-match was pretty cool, too, so I'd still say it's an easy nomination.

 

Michael Hayes Interview/ Fritz Von Erich-Michael Hayes confrontation (6:42)

 

Hayes plugs his record, and then Fritz comes out and reveals that the loser leaves town match between Hayes and Kerry will now be a steel cage match with Fritz himself watching the door. Then Gordy and Kerry show up and there's a pull apart. This was actually a really well done twist to the angle, and I could see this having a place as an extra.

 

Chris Adams Interview w/ Sunshine

Gordy, Garvin & Hayes Interview

 

I'm inclined to think any and all Garvin vs. Sunshine stuff belongs by default. The first bit is Adams formally introducing Sunshine as his second, the second has Precious officially being given her name after she gets sick of being called "Sunshine II", as well as the 'Birds bitching about Fritz trying to stack the deck against them.

 

Iceman King Parsons vs. Super Destroyer

 

This is 2/3 falls. Wasn't crazy about the other Super D's matches I've seen so far, but I actually really enjoyed this one. Parsons is usually pretty reliable bringing the hot fire, but whichever Irwin was under this hood also put in a really spirited performance. Really capable bruiser roughing up the much smaller Parsons, and also had some fine comedy stooging when Parsons was in control. Liked him trying to punch Iceman to escape an armbar, only for Iceman to duck out of the way and put another twist on it. Also had a simple but clever escape from an armdrag where he just sort of turned away when Parsons tried to take him over, and then booted him in the head. There were some slow points to this match, as well as a botched leapfrog in the first fall that was a real close call for Super D, and generally kinda think this would've been better if all the good stuff had been condensed into a one-fall match. Still, I think it works as a low-end nomination.

 

Ten-Man Battle Royale (6:38)

 

This was one of those deals where they would have a battle royale at the beginning of the show, and then the order of eliminations would determine the card for the rest of the night (plus the previous Parsons/Super D match). Good enough. If I was paying attention, the matches it set up were Kamala vs. a pre-Barbarian Tonga John, Kerry vs. Hayes, Adams vs. Johnny Mantel, Garvin vs. The Mongol, and....

 

Buddy Roberts vs. David Von Erich (10:18)

 

....this, all of which are match-ups I'm kinda interested in seeing, but this is the only one they show on this disc. Unfortunately, it's a bit underwhelming. David wins and gets $5,000 in the process.

 

Kerry Von Erich & Chris Adams vs. Terry Gordy & Jimmy Garvin (34:20)

 

2/3 falls match where Adams' partner was supposed to be Iceman King Parsons, but Parsons couldn't compete after being Hadokened by Skandor Akbar at Star Wars. This match has what you want. All four guys beat the living daylights out of one another. Plenty of back and forth action, with Kerry and Adams both get face-in-peril sections, Adams' being particularly good. He gets tossed around by Gordy, who hits a big vertical suplex on him (and gets hit with a big one of his own), as well as hitting a particularly nasty Demolition Decapitation on Adams. Then Garvin drags Adams by the hair over to Sunshine at ringside and starts yelling "Look! Here he is! Here's your new man! Why don't you come and get him?" before slamming his face into the mat and otherwise beating the shit out of him. This is roughly the point where Garvin crosses the line from irritating jerk to genuinely cruel and slightly alarming heel. Adams makes the hot tag, but Kerry gets thrown over the top rope by Gordy while the ref isn't looking. I think he finds out about it and DQ's the heels anyway. It's not made entirely clear, because Kerry just keeps on fighting once he gets back in the ring. Then everyone is in at once, and the whole thing gets completely out of control before Sunshine and Precious get into it on the apron, and Garvin roughly throws Sunshine in the ring and holds her for Precious to slap around. Sunshine is left in a heap in the middle of the ring, and these were the good old days when a heel attacking a woman was actually considered a heel move, so there's a real sense that Garvin went too far here. Adams, Kerry, and David Manning are looking over her as the show ends. Adams: "Why did you let 'im do this, David?". Easy nomination.

 

Jimmy Garvin - Chris Adams Confrontation

 

Garvin demands to be taken seriously. Adams comes out and offers him a rematch for the American Title, on the condition that if he wins, Sunshine gets five minutes in the ring with Precious.

Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes vs. Kerry Von Erich & Chris Adams

 

I thought this was all shades of awesome. The work was top of the line with all 4 men looking great. This is a nomination. Just a fun tag that sets the table foe Star Wars.

 

Iceman King Parsons vs. Super Destroyer

 

This was a fun meat and potatoes bout. The Super D's I have liked so far. Just good solid workers. Parson's has looked great throughout and has shown tons of charisma. The men here work a good bout that tells a story. The heat wasn't horrible it just wasn't that good. Though both men good a good job at working a body part. I really dug Super D's work on Parson's neck. I think this is a bout that will get cut in the end, but I'll co sign the nom.

 

Ten-Man Battle Royale

 

Buddy Roberts vs. David Von Erich

 

This was mediocre at best.

 

Kerry Von Erich & Chris Adams vs. Terry Gordy & Jimmy Garvin

 

I thought this was solid, but seemed disjointed at times. Though their is a lot of high end off. maneuvers in the bout. Gordy's lariot on Adams in the 2nd fall was just sick. That over the top rope bump KVE took was hardcore. I don't like it as much as SLL does but I'll move it ahead.I might be holding it back because the expectation level was so high. We have the best face worker, the 2 best heel workers, and the most over person in the company.

"Gentleman" Chris Adams & "Modern Day Warrior" Kerry Von Erich vs. "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes (10/31/83)

 

This match takes place on the same show as the Sunshine turn so Precious is solo with Garvin for the first time. These are the two main feuds going in the territory and this match shows why as there is a lot of hatred here between these four. Kerry & Hayes especially are stiff here just throwing big shots on each other early in the match. I really liked the Garvin & Kerry sections because these two never really had many matches and it was pretty unique to see them facing off against each other. Adams really took it to the mat here and even broke out the wakigatame on Garvin at one point but being on the mat was Adams' problem here because Garvin & Hayes wanted to brawl. Adams would oblige though and they had a cool spot where put Hayes in a slingshot right into a Kerry fist. The heels then would just ruthlessly attack Kerry's right leg with Garvin wrenching in a spinning toehold and Hayes following with a figure-four leglock. Kerry would reverse but the heels would maintain their advantage until Sunshine showed up to chase away Precious which would distract Garvin enough for Kerry to get the hot tag to Adams. A 4-way brawl would break out before Sunshine would pull Garvin off the top rope allowing Adams to get the pin. This was very fun and heated and a definite nomination.

 

Next is a promo by Hayes who wants to plug his upcoming record and his match with Kerry at Reunion before Fritz shows up to tell Hayes that not only is it loser leaves town but it would be inside a cage with Fritz watching the door. Definite extra.

 

Then we get a promo by Adams & Sunshine regarding Garvin leading to a brawl and this is more extra material.

 

Garvin then cuts a promo with Precious finally revealing her name and responds to what Adams & Sunshine said earlier with Gordy & Hayes joining in.

 

2 out of 3 falls: Iceman King Parsons vs. Super Destroyer (Scott Irwin) (11/14/83)

 

This was really basic stuff to start with Iceman working over the left arm and Super D selling pretty damn good and Iceman ends up taking the first fall with an inside cradle. Iceman would start the next fall back to working over the left arm although Super D would get some offense in but he couldn't get full control until he blocked an Iceman armdrag with a kick to the face. Super D would then just pound Iceman leading up to finishing him off with a kneedrop to the neck to win the second fall. Super D started the 3rd fall where the last one ended just working over Iceman including choking him with his shoulder strap. Iceman would make his comeback and chunked Super D to the floor where of course the switch would take place and Super D #2 would cradle Iceman just like the Dallas match for the win. Adams would come out to tell what really happened and along with Iceman would run off the Super D's. This would've been better as a 1-fall match for sure and I'm not sold on a nomination.

 

Next is a fun little battle royal that sets up matches for the card.

 

David Von Erich vs. Buddy Roberts (11/14/83)

 

This was a decent match but one of the lesser matches of the family feud.

 

2 out of 3 falls: "Gentleman" Chris Adams & "Modern Day Warrior" Kerry Von Erich vs. "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin & Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy (11/28/83)

 

Iceman was supposed to team with Adams here but Kerry takes his place. Sunshine is wearing quite the low cut top here which Adams gives her his jacket to wear to cover up which was funny. This started out with some really good action with all four men working hard and crisply. Everybody gave as well as they took with everyone selling very well for the others. Adams would jack Gordy's jaw with a Superkick to take the first fall in a small surprise. Kerry took a boatload of punishment in the second fall from the heels who were great here at working him over before getting the hot tag to Adams who would just get brutalized by a clothesline by Gordy to even the falls. Gordy would start the next fall going back to work on Adams including a near deadlift vertical suplex before tagging in Garvin. Garvin beating on Adams while taunting Sunshine was great. Adams would get the hot tag to Kerry who ran wild on the heels before Gordy just threw him to the floor viciously where Kerry would get his second chance to play FIP. Adams would again get the hot tag and went off on Garvin before taking a knee in the back by Gordy as he tried to run the ropes. Adams would then eat a nice backbreaker/diving kneedrop combo by the heels before being thrown to the floor where Precious would attack him leading to Sunshine being thrown in the ring prompting a DQ and she would be assaulted until Adams ran them out. This was a damn solid match and a definite nomination as everyone was great here.

 

Then we get a great confrontation the next week between Adams & Garvin and the valets. Extra material.