This starts with more of the Cornette jacket angle and this is extra material.

 

“The Crippler” Rip Oliver vs. Scott Casey (5/31/85)

 

Both men have their entourages with them to offset each other on the floor. This starts out straight with Casey working over Oliver’s left arm which he sold tremendously. Oliver would throw good punches trying to fight back but Casey would keep up the pressure. Cornette would hit Casey behind Rick Hazzard’s back with the tennis racket with Oliver getting the pin and we had a schmozz after the match.

 

“Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich vs. One Man Gang (5/31/85)

 

Kerry again comes out hot against the Gang using dropkicks to keep him stunned but Gang would fight back before Kerry would turn it into a slugfest using loads of punches including the discus punch. Kerry would go for the iron claw but Gang would counter into a bearhug. Kerry would fight back though with a sleeper before locking in the iron claw but Gang would get his chain to bash Kerry over the head with it for the DQ. Fun stuff but not as good as their Texas Stadium match.

 

Then we get a Gary Hart promo introducing the return of Killer Brooks where he says that he and the Gang injured Mike Von Erich in Detroit. Okay.

 

Iceman King Parsons & Kevin Von Erich vs. Killer Brooks & One Man Gang (6/28/85)

 

This was supposed to be Parsons vs. Brooks but Kevin would come out to counter the Gang and this turned into an impromptu tag match. Both teams brawl at the bell with the faces sending the heels to the floor then brandshing chairs in the ring ready for more. The heels would leave the area to regroup as they decide to make this an official match which would start where they left off before with everyone brawling with each other. Iceman & Brooks start the match having a STRONG STYLE SHOWDOWN with both men chopping each other in the chest seeing who was the toughest before Iceman poked Brooks in the eyes. It wasn’t long before it became a 4-way brawl again but it would soon settle back down with Kevin getting his great body scissors on Brooks. Iceman would soon get worked over by the heels although Kevin kept coming in trying to help out and this was a fairly long FIP section before Brooks would hit Gang by accident allowing Iceman to get the tag. Kevin comes in and locks on the iron claw on the Gang but he would fall prey to the doubleteams and the heels work him over. The chain would come into play and Bronko Lubich would get knocked down causing the heels to get DQed. Fun match but sorta on the sloppy side at times and not a nomination.

 

Then we get clips of the Dynamic Duo/Von Erichs in Fort Worth.

 

Gary Hart then cuts a promo with Brooks & Gang promising to win the 6-man titles.

 

The Great Kabuki vs. “Gentleman” Chris Adams (6/28/85)

 

It’s a battle of the Superkicks and Adams comes out with his belts the American Heavyweight and ½ of the the American Tag titles. I loved the martial arts standoff before the match with both men teasing their kicks before Kabuki took it to the mat where he was fairly good. Adams would fight back with the match turning into a battle of strikes before Adams would drop Kabuki throat first on the top rope. Adams ties Kabuki up in the ropes and delivers a Superkick before working on Kabuki’s right knee setting up Adams using the sasorigatame but sitting down with it in a cool variation. Adams continues to work on Kabuki’s leg which is the one he uses for the Superkick but he would use it anyway to knock down Adams before missing a running kick into the corner where he would hang upside down. Adams then drops to the floor bringing a chair back with him but Sunshine pulls it away so Kabuki could get a schoolboy on Adams for the win. Kabuki would eat a Superkick after the match and Adams throws Sunshine down on the mat angering Kabuki who would pull Adams down and swung his right leg around the ringpost twice before leaving. This was a damn good match especially for Kabuki being involved and I’m throwing it on the block.

 

Gary Hart then has a press conference announcing that his crew has won the 6-man titles in Las Vegas, which never happened and Mercer cuts a promo with Kevin Von Erich at the airport.

 

Chicago Death Match: “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich vs. One Man Gang (7/4/85)

 

This is from Fort Worth and is a wild slugfest with both men throwing some shots but Kerry would get the win after Gary Hart threw a chain into the ring that Kerry would get and use to KO the Gang who didn’t answer the 10 count. Fun stuff and a nomination.

 

Maniac Mark Lewin vs. Scott Casey (7/12/85)

 

There was a clip in the middle here and Lewin was doing his schtick so not a good match.

 

Next we get Bill Mercer joining the Dynamic Duo at a night club in Dallas where they make the challenge for the hair match and this is extra material.

 

Mike Von Erich vs. Killer Brooks (7/12/85)

 

Fairly quick match with Mike getting an O’Connor Roll to win.

 

Lumberjack Match: One Man Gang vs. The Great Kabuki (7/12/85)

 

This has an awesome start as Kabuki throws a webbing like fucking Arachnaman on the Gang to get him off his game so he can beat his ass. Kabuki works over Gang and it was funny when Kabuki dropped to the floor then started spinning around intimidating the heels forcing Hart to cover Lewin’s eyes. Gang would soon take control though using a bearhug both standing and grounded and keeping him grounded before throwing him to the floor where it was funny watching the Von Erichs sheltering Kabuki while on the floor. Kabuki would make a comeback until Hart jumped on the apron to distract him allowing Gang to use his chain to hit Kabuki and finishing him off with a clothesline. Fun match but not a nomination.

- Jim Cornette promo

 

 

- highlights Sunshine/Cornette fighting - Ft Worth

 

The Judo throw was sweet.An extra. This is the precursor to the Baby Doll stuff.

 

 

 

1. Rip Oliver vs Scott Casey

 

I liked Casey boot scrapes to Olivers face. I was liking Casey's arm work on Oliver. This was solid textbook stuff. Nothing awesome just a good basic match. Not a nomination though.

 

2. Kerry Von Erich vs One Man Gang

 

These guys have a good chemistry with one another. I love OMG's over the top rope bump. KVE throws a great dropkick. This was another good bout between them and another nomination.

 

int: Gart Hart w/ Killer Brooks

 

A potential extra. Harts interaction with the drive by fan was great. Hart's disgust of Brooks was great.

 

3. Kevin Von Erich + Iceman Parsons vs One Man Gang + Killer Brooks

 

Kevin catching the thrown chair was cool.This had its moments. For the most part I was disinterested.

 

4. Kerry + Kevin Von Erich vs Chris Adams + Gino Hernandez - Ft Worth

 

This is JIP about 2 minutes in. This is another incredible match between the 4.Kerry was great in his FIP role. The Duo was like a pack of wolves getting the heat. The Tope' from Adams onto Kerry was sweet, and then the wrestlers continue fighting even when they were tangled in the crowd ropes. The ref bump that Manning took was 5*. I wonder if we have this in full? A nomination to be sure.

 

int: Gary Hart w/ One Man Gang + Killer Brooks

 

 

5. Kabuki vs Chris Adams

 

I dug the opening karate spots. To me what sold me on the match was how awesome Adams was in working over Kabuki's leg. The work was unique, but well done. To me this goes forward as a low end nomination, but in the long run I feel it won't make the final list. What makes it stand out is how different it is worked.

 

- press conference w/ Gary Hart announcing One Mang Gang, Mark Lewin, + Killer Brooks won 6 man title in Las Vegas

 

int: Kevin Von Erich arriving at airport from Las Vegas

 

int: Brian Adias

 

6. Kerry Von Erich vs One Man Gang - Chicago death match; Ft Worth

 

This was alright. I was expecting more from this. I wan't feeling it.

 

- Kevin Von Erich/Chris Adams feud recap

 

7. Kevin Von Erich vs Chris Adams - lumberjack match; Reunion Arena

 

A repeat that has been talked about earlier.

 

8. Mark Lewin vs Scott Casey

 

Not good.

 

Awesome interview from the Duo and a sure fire extra.

 

9. Mike Von Erich vs Killer Brooks

 

 

int: Kevin + Mike Von Erich

 

10. One Man Gang vs Kabuki - lumberjack match

 

I thought parts of this was interesting.I liked how Kabuki attempted to cut the OMG down like a tree with his Karate. Gang was good putting the Karate over. This was solid, but not a nomination.

- Jim Cornette promo

- highlights Sunshine/Cornette fighting - Ft Worth

 

I think the green jacket angle works better in compressed form. This should be an extra.

 

“The Crippler” Rip Oliver vs. Scott Casey (5/31/85)

 

Good match. Agreed that it's not a nomination.

 

“Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich vs. One Man Gang (5/31/85)

 

I thought this was better than the Texas Stadium match. That match was too one-sided for my tastes. This, by contrast, was extremely even, with momentum going back and forth pretty rapidly. Kerry looks great, and Gang gets to do a lot more here, delivering a nice clobbering and taking some great big bumps. Weird how fast they cut away from the match after the finish. No matter, though. I second the nomination.

 

int: Gart Hart w/ Killer Brooks

 

I don't know why, but I'm suddenly really hungry for a NEW McDLT. Brooks and Terry Gordy really needed to have a promo duel to see who could out-crazy the other. Extra.

 

Kerry vs. Gang "In the Hall of the Mountain King" music video

 

Awesome. Possible extra material.

 

Iceman King Parsons & Kevin Von Erich vs. Killer Brooks & One Man Gang (6/28/85)

 

OK, I can see how Gang vs. Kabuki might not have had universal appeal, but how did you guys both manage to say "no" to this? Wild, out-of-control brawling, great classic tag team formula work, a quick hit of comedy and matwork, a wild pre-match angle, all four guys coming up big....this is a slam dunk pick.

 

Kerry + Kevin Von Erich vs Chris Adams + Gino Hernandez - Ft Worth

 

If you want a good idea of how crazy this feud was, we only missed the first two minutes of this match, and it already looks like they've had a war. I second the nomination.

 

int: Gary Hart w/ One Man Gang + Killer Brooks

 

Bill Mercer apologizes for his prior matriculation, and Hart threatens to send 1,001 lbs. of madness after the Von Erichs. Maybe extra.

 

The Great Kabuki vs. “Gentleman” Chris Adams (6/28/85)

 

Man, Kabuki is really on a roll here. I am absolutely stunned at how much better he is as a babyface than as a heel, and it's really a shame he didn't spend more time in this role. I mean he is a guy who had mediocre-looking offense (to be charitable) outside of some of his kicks, but was charismatic and apparently did babyface selling really well, so booking him in matches like this where he ate a lot of offense and got to make dramatic babyface comebacks really suited him way better than being a heel who dominated matches with hokey-looking martial arts stuff. Don't want to take anything away from Adams. He looks great as always. And at this point, I'm pretty much convinced that Sunshine was the greatest valet ever. She gets her role and she's always really easy to get behind. She gets how she should be interacting with different wrestlers. Managed Adams differently than she managed The Missing Link differently than she managed Scott Casey differently than she manages Kabuki, who she treats like someone she knows is on her side, but it still a little afraid of because of how unpredictable he is. She is like the valet equivalent of early-90's Brad Armstrong, who was being given a different gimmick seemingly every other week by WCW, and would always change up his style to better suit the gimmick. But the real thing I come away with here is that Kabuki was a secret great babyface worker. This moves forward.

 

Chicago Death Match: “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich vs. One Man Gang (7/4/85)

 

Good match. Better than the Texas Stadium bout, not as good as the 5/31 rematch. Ending was abrupt. I'll pass on this one.

 

Dynamic Duo Interview

 

Extra.

 

Lumberjack Match: One Man Gang vs. The Great Kabuki (7/12/85)

 

This is another great chapter in a great feud. Unfortunately, no one seems to be as high on it as me. I think this is nomination worthy, but it wasn't as good as their match two months earlier, and I don't feel strongly enough about this one to blow against the wind over it.