Posted October 17, 200817 yr comment_5435254 Andre the Giant vs. Kimala (10:55) I got a kick out of this. Probably not something I would actually nominate, but a lot of fun. The Freebirds vs. The Von Erichs (Six-man tag) (31:30) This is the match from WCCW Dallas/Ft. Worth 6/83 - 7/83 Disc 2 that I was ready to nominate were it not for a mysterious edit that cut out a crucial moment near the end. That edit is not here, and this was about as good as any match these teams had against each other, so I'm gonna go ahead and put it up on the block. Ric Flair vs. David Von Erich (9:00) J pretty deep IP. These two never really seemed to click, anyway. Freebirds Interview (4:24) These are usually a good time. Junkyard Dog vs. Kimala I've seen these two wrestle each other twice, and at this point, and kinda resigned to the fact that they just don't match up well for whatever reason. Super Destroyers vs. Iceman King Parsons & Brian Adias 2/3 Falls for the American Tag Team Titles, and regardless of the outcome, Parsons gets five minutes with Akbar afterwords. Generally, my praise of the Super Destroyers comes from the combination of their comedy stooging and their heavyweight bruising, but it usually leans more towards the former than the latter. This match flips that on it's ear. I got some laughs from hearing Super D #1 yell "Stick to the plan, 2!" while #2 was trapped on the mat in an Adias headlock, and #2 waving back at him as if to say "it's cool, I've got this". But the match really gets good when the Super D's take over on offense. I mean, they really beat the hell out of Iceman and Adias. Really harsh looking clubbing forearms and kneelifts. Some throws like a side slam, a backbreaker, and a gutwrench suplex that all look huge. And they win - cleanly, I might add - with a leaping big boot that really looks like a match ender. Parsons holds up his end of the bargain, as usual, and Adias is inoffensive here. The post-match match between Parsons and Akbar is not so good, but I think the match proper is a solid nomination. Missing Link vs. David Von Erich Not as good as Link's match with Kerry. I kinda hate to say it, as his life is rapidly drawing to a close at this point, but looking back, David was pretty clearly the least of the three actual good Von Erichs. That shouldn't be read as too big of a knock on him, because Kerry and Kevin were phenomenal, but he actually struck me as being kinda bad until the Garvin feud, and while he developed into something great during that, not sure I'd ever say he was better than Kerry, and definitely wouldn't say he was better than Kevin. Watching this match kinda hammered that home, as you realize that when comparing common opponents, he didn't really have better matches against the Link, Kamala, or Ric Flair than Kerry did. Didn't have better matches with Garvin than Kevin did. Might have had the best singles match with Gordy of any of his brothers. I'd need to think about that one. Still, with an admittedly largely second-hand understanding of World Class, was always under the impression that David was "the" Von Erich before he croaked, and now having actually watched him over the last year-and-a-half of his life, really don't come away feeling that anymore. I don't want to be too down on him, because he was great for a time, just not as great as some of the other guys I've come across here.
October 24, 200916 yr comment_5445353 Andre the Giant vs. Kamala I thought this was neat. I liked the bout, but I viewed Hansen/Andre right before this and that bout ruled it. Still this is fun, but not a nomination. The Freebirds vs. The Von Erichs This is amazing, and it might have been their most heated bout between the teams. This kicked ass and a mortal lock for a top 10 spot. Ric Flair vs. David Von Erich JIP Junkyard Dog vs. Kimala I thought this sucked. Super Destroyers vs. Iceman King Parsons & Brian Adias I loved this bout and it will finish high on my ballot. I thought the Super D's looked tremendous here, and would say they were an underrated tag team of the 80's. That 1st fall was awesome and had the crowd going nuts. In the 2nd fall the wrestlers took the crowd down, the finish was good and Parsons ate a mean looking back breaker that set the awesome work up of the 3rd fall. I also dug how the Superplex set up Parsons taking a beating from Akbar post match. Strong nomination. Missing Link vs. David Von Erich This did nothing for me, but thought the headlock spot on the mat was cool.
November 30, 200915 yr comment_5446086 Andre the Giant vs. Kamala (1/2/84) I agree that this was fun as Kamala was an awesome opponent for Andre as he sold everything Andre did like a madman. Andre was starting to go downward as a worker at this time but still was pretty good here. The Andre of 1980 would've made this a nomination probably but the 1984 version not so much plus the finish didn't help either but it was sorta expected. David Von Erich vs. "Nature Boy" Ric Flair (11/28/83) This is JIP big time and a shame because David gets a win over the champ. Next we get the return of the Freebirds from All-Japan in a promo. Junkyard Dog vs. Kamala (1/30/84) If the JYD of 1981 showed up here then we would probably have a nomination but not this one. Too bad for Kamala that he got guys past their primes as workers. Of course there was another screwy finish as well. 2 out of 3 falls for the American Tag Titles: Brian Adias & Iceman King Parsons © vs. The Super Destroyers (Wild Bill & Scott Irwin) (1/30/84) Akbar is wearing tights here because he must wrestle Parsons after this match for 5 minutes. Basic stuff to start as Adias threw some good armdrags but it picked up when Iceman came in the ring throwing great punches and a headbutt to Super D #2. Iceman was totally in the zone here before tagging Adias back in and this is where the pace changed as Super D #2 got the tag in to #1 who immediately went to work on Adias. The fans would get behind Adias as the heels made quick tags to keep the advantage and he would finally get to Iceman for the tag who cleaned house on the D's hitting the Butt Butt on #1 to take the first fall. The second fall was more of the same to start with Iceman really working a headlock on #1 then on #2 after he got a blind tag. Adias would come in and continued the headlock scheme getting a couple of nearfalls and held his own before bringing Iceman back in for more punishment until he would get killed with a sideslam by #2 before he got the tag to #1. Iceman would then get brutalized and ate a big backbreaker by #1 to lose the second fall. I loved the start of the third fall with Iceman being forced to start after losing the second fall trying to bait #1 into his corner so he can tag in Adias but being immediately taken to the heel corner after being pounded. Iceman would just get brutalized here and took a big superplex which actually hurt #1 allowing Iceman to roll to Adias for the hot tag and the fans went nuts. Adias ran wild on both heels before being nuked on a bicycle kick by #2 to regain the titles. This was a damn good match and a solid nomination. Iceman King Parsons vs. Skandor Akbar (1/30/84) This was what it was. David Von Erich vs. The Missing Link (2/6/84) This was David's last match in Fort Worth and even though the match wasn't anything of note, this needs to be an extra because it was his last match in Fort Worth. Regarding what SLL said, the deal with David was that he was the most complete of the Von Erichs hence why he was considered the best of the bunch because he could work, cut promos, and had charisma. He also was a pretty damn good heel in Florida which is what opened a lot of eyes among the NWA higherups in 1982. Kerry had the look, Kevin had the athleticism, but David had the intangibles that earned him his reputation.
