Hair vs. Hair: “Gentleman” Chris Adams vs. “Handsome Halfbreed” Gino Hernandez (1/27/86)

 

This is from Fort Worth and makes me so sad to see the Duo feuding with each other. Adams starts the match by kicking Gino’s ass all over the ring before he would miss a diving body press off the top rope allowing Gino to get the advantage. Gino would work over Adams with a sleeper before hitting a suplex to set up his diving elbow off the top rope but Gino would miss allowing Adams a chance to recover. There would be a double collision before Adams would recover to hit the Superkick knocking Gino to the floor. Adams would then post Gino a couple of times before going back to the ring so he could punish Gino and even broke out a piledriver but would pull Gino up from a pinfall situation allowing Gino to get the FREEBIRD HAIRCREAM and blinded Adams with it for the DQ. Unfortunately this was Gino’s last official match as he would be murdered 6 days later in a controversial case. I’m throwing this on the block because of everything surrounding this match but it might be more of an extra nonetheless it absolutely must make the set.

 

Rude & Pringle cut a promo on the Von Erichs begging them to challenge for his title.

 

“Hollywood” John Tatum vs. The Missing Link (1/24/86)

 

Link is now with Sunshine as only a women could control him which is an angle that Ken Mantell would bring to the UWF using Dark Journey 6 months later. Tatum takes some wild bumps here for the Link’s headbutt but would actually get a lot of offense in on Link. Link would make his comeback though with headbutts to Tatum’s leg which was pretty cool before going higher on the body. Sunshine & Missy would have their normal fight during the match this time with Link getting involved that would lead him to being schoolboyed by Tatum for the upset win. Tatum was ecstatic after the match and this was fun for what it was.

 

“Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich vs. Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy (1/24/86)

 

It’s great to see these two matched up again. Man was this a fucking great start as Kerry was throwing punches like crazy before Gordy nailed him with a clothesline that Kerry bumped right on his neck for. Gordy would return the favor on a Kerry clothesline as well before the match slowed down a notch with both men trying to one up each other with holds until both men tried a cross body block at the same time with Gordy getting a knee in Kerry’s ribs. Both men would then throw some great punches before Gordy would break out a superplex that would hurt both men. Gordy would go to a reverse chinlock to keep Kerry grounded until Kerry would make his comeback getting a flash sunset flip to get the win. Gordy would attack Kerry after the match nailing him with a clothesline before using the Oriental Spike until Kerry broke free and locked on the iron claw before they broke apart. Hayes & Roberts came out to talk shit after the match which would bring out Lance for a standoff. The match was awesome and an easy nomination.

 

Bill Mercer opens the next show to announce the death of Gino Hernandez and this is so sad.

 

Then we get the Badstreet USA video again.

 

Iceman King Parsons & Lance Von Erich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts) (1/24/86)

 

Roberts wants to face Iceman one-on-one as he hasn’t forgotten about Iceman taking his hair over 2 years before. Gordy would show up and they jumped Lance while attacking Iceman as well and bloodying Lance with a cowboy boot. Kerry would come out to make the save and would replace Lance in the match while wearing street clothes and the Birds would threaten to leave but would come back before a countout. The Birds were so awesome here being chickenshits taking big bumps and being scared to make tags with the other. Iceman would take a hard bump into the turnbuckle though allowing the Birds to take the advantage until Iceman can get the tag to Kerry. It would soon turn into a 4-way brawl with the faces throwing punches like crazy and the Birds flying. Kerry would lock the iron claw on Hayes as Iceman pounded on Buddy before Gordy would run in for the DQ making it 3-on-2 until a bandaged Lance came running out to brawl with Gordy around the ring. This was lots of fun and I think it’s more of an extra though than an actual match.

 

Next we get Bill Apter presenting Mike Von Erich a special PWI award for fighting for his life to return to the ring.

 

The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts) vs. Iceman King Parsons & Mark Youngblood (2/7/86)

 

The Birds are again awesome here as chickenshit heels with Buddy flying around the ring and Hayes posing and dancing around the ring. David Manning refereeing while wearing a 80’s style silk windbreaker is hilarious. Roberts takes so much abuse here and really makes the faces look good while Hayes didn’t do much outside of getting some offense in between playing to the crowd. The match would soon break down into a 4-way brawl where the Birds would get a double-team on Youngblood and allowing Buddy to get the win. Fun match but not a nomination.

 

Next we get a great tribute by the wrestlers regarding Gino’s death and this is a definite extra.

 

But then we get a video of Chris Adams leaving for England to sell his blindness angle with Gino who was dead. Terrible idea by World Class to keep the Adams angle going after Gino’s death but what else would you expect.

 

Then we get a Dynamic Duo tribute video set to Bad to the Bone and this is a slam dunk extra.

 

American Heavyweight Title: “Ravishing” Rick Rude © vs. Lance Von Erich (2/7/86)

 

Rude would take forever taking off his robe which caused Lance to rip him on the house mic and pissed Rude off. Rude would start the match getting dominated by Lance pretty easily but he would get some offense in before Lance made his comeback which the crowd was really into as he locked in a sleeper hold. Rude fought to the ropes and sprung off knocking everyone down including David Manning. Lance would go for an O’Connor Roll but Percy would KO him with his cane and Rude would get the pin to retain his title. Okay match.

 

Then we get highlights of the Freebirds making their return to World Class in Fort Worth on 12/9/85 by destroying the Von Erichs followed up with a promo. Definite extra.

 

The Dynamic Duo (“Gentleman” Chris Adams & “Handsome Halfbreed” Gino Hernandez) vs. Brian Adias & Mark Youngblood (12/13/85)

 

Gino takes a pounding by both faces to start the match and actually has fans chanting for him while in peril. Gino would finally tag in Adams after getting his bearing back and getting a busted lip from a bunch by Adias. Adams would keep Youngblood grounded for a while before turning up the pressure as both members of the Duo took their shots on him with Adams hitting a piledriver. Youngblood would get the tag to Adias though as Adams missed a diving body press frm the top rope but Adias would soon fall prey to the Duo. The Duo had another fairly long control section before Adias shook the top rope as Adams was on it so he could crotch himself and allow Adias to get the hot tag to Youngblood. Youngblood cleans house before Adias joins him but that would allow Lubich to get distracted and as Youngblood got an O’Connor Roll on Adams, Gino would deck him allowing Adams to counter with a cradle to get the win. This was a very good match thanks to the greatness of the Duo and I’m throwing it on the block.

 

Scott Casey & Iceman King Parsons vs. The Great Kabuki & The Missing Link (12/13/85)

 

The match was basically to setup the story of Link turning on Kabuki and saving Sunshine.

1. Chris Adams vs Gino Hernandez - Gino throws substance into Chris' eyes; Ft Worth

 

A battle of former partners. This feud could have been big business. This is a good fight berween the 2. If this would have gone longer it would be a nomination. The work was good between the of the wrestlers. Gino was great at bumping for all of Adams high end offense. This should be an extra though. The angle would have heated up this feud big time. It was obvious the fans were already behind Adams in this feud. The blinding angle would have put the heat off the charts.

 

int: Rick Rude w/ Percy Pringle

 

2. John Tatum vs Missing Link

 

Tatum and Missy had a pretty good act in Texas.

 

3. Kerry Von Erich vs Terry Gordy

 

Fuck Kerry took a 360 bump off a Gordy clothesline. The opening minutes were super hot. This is the pinnacle of KVE as a worker. This is another good match between the 2. I was getting a little bored with the headlock, and the finish was abrupt. To me the first few minutes are great enough for this to move forward as a nomination. Post match was fun.

 

- Bill Mercer announces the passing of Gino Hernandez

 

Sad, extra material.

 

We get the Badstreet video. Of course this is a slam dunk extra.

 

4. Lance Von Erich + Iceman Parsons vs Michael Hayes + Buddy Roberts - Kerry Von Erich replaces Lance

 

Roberts cuts a promo that is setting up an angle. In the background you here Mercer cackling at the promo. I loved Robert's facials when Michael tried to tag him. Roberts looked like Michael was tagging him with shit.This was fun while it lasted.

 

- Bill Apter presents Mike Von Erich a PWI award

 

 

5. Michael Hayes + Buddy Roberts vs Iceman Parsons + Mark Youngblood

 

I thought this was a good solid tag bout. I wouldn't call it a nomination though. The finish was swank though.

 

- wrestlers speak about the loss of Gino Hernandez

 

 

- Bill Mercer at the stateside home of Chris Adams before he goes back to England

 

 

- video tribute to Chris Adams + Gino Hernandez

Extra material. What a great heel team.

 

 

6. Rick Rude vs Lance Von Erich

I liked this. It was a basic match that told a story. Rude's facials were awesome in his selling of LVE arm work.Rude took another big back drop. Plus, I dug the finish. I'm giving this a lukewarm nomination.

 

- highlights Kerry + Kevin Von Erich vs John Tatum + One Man Gang - freebirds attack Von Erichs; Ft Worth

 

An awesome angle, and a possible extra.

 

- Freebirds promo

 

A great promo and an extra.

 

7. Chris Adams + Gino Hernandez vs Mark Youngblood + Brian Adias

 

This looked good. It got a lot of time and delivered. Nomination

 

8. kabuki + Missing Link vs Iceman Parsons + Scott Casey - Missing Link carries away a fallen Sunshine

Iceman King Parsons & Lance Von Erich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts) (1/24/86)

 

Iceman had one of the best shoulder-first corner bumps this side of Psicosis. This could be an extra.

 

- highlights Kerry + Kevin Von Erich vs John Tatum + One Man Gang - freebirds attack Von Erichs; Ft Worth

- Freebirds promo

 

Extras.

 

The Dynamic Duo (“Gentleman” Chris Adams & “Handsome Halfbreed” Gino Hernandez) vs. Brian Adias & Mark Youngblood (12/13/85)

 

I wasn't really feeling this one. I'm gonna pass on it.

 

Scott Casey & Iceman King Parsons vs. The Great Kabuki & The Missing Link (12/13/85)

 

Good little match. The post-match stuff is what you're really here for. It's already included in the overview of the angle that's been seen elsewhere, and that really makes the better extra.