“Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich vs. Michael Hayes (3/4/83)

 

Kevin & Gordy may have been the big brothers but these were the stars of their respective families so this match meant a little more. Good back and forth action to start until Kerry missed a diving kneedrop which let Hayes work over the left knee relentessly and that was the knee that was injured 6 months previously. Kerry would make a comeback though and got a flash schoolboy to get the win but the Birds would attack him after the match until David & Kevin made the save. This was too short for a nomination but this should be an extra for the feud.

 

The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy & Buddy Roberts) vs. David & Kevin Von Erich (3/4/83)

 

David Manning orders this match to start right after the previous one. Von Erichs are just ass kickers here avenging the beatdown of brother Kerry and the Birds bump all over the place for them but they would get some offense in although not much. Kevin hit a fucking sweet 180 degree diving body press of the top rope on Roberts but went for Gordy instead of getting the pin and this led to a 4-way brawl. Gordy would get tied up in the ropes allowing Kevin to put the claw on him. Bronko Lubich tried to pull him off but Kevin threw him down a couple of times prompting him to call for a DQ and it would take Bronko & David to pull him off of Gordy. Kevin was a fucking maniac here just not wanting to to quit killing Gordy as David would pound on Roberts. I loved this even with the DQ finish and I’m throwing this on the block.

 

Iceman King Parsons vs. Buddy Roberts (3/4/83)

 

Hayes is at ringside with Roberts and insults Iceman before the match so he slaps him in the face then starts in on Roberts giving him the BUTT BUTT for the win in 4 seconds. The Birds then demand Iceman come back after the match and he does but with the Von Erichs in tow so the Birds run off. Definite extra that would kickstart the Iceman/Roberts feud.

 

Mercer then returns to David Von Erich’s ranch for a personality profile and this is extra material.

 

Texas Heavyweight Title: David Von Erich © vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin (3/4/83)

 

This is their first match of their feud that would take up a lot of 1983 and Garvin’s first on TV. This had a good dynamic with Garvin as the prettyboy cocky heel against the country boy David and Garvin was great in his role even if he wasn’t a great worker. Garvin was great at talking shit and made it where you wanted to see him get his ass kicked but he would fight back everytime David tried something like the claw. David would then try for his high kneelift but Garvin ducked and he went flying over the top rope to the floor injuring his shoulder. Garvin would then make sure David came back in the ring and hit a brainbuster for the win. Garvin becomes a huge name on this and with his character flourished here with this feud being the catalyst. I think this deserves to be on the block for consideration as it was a solid match.

 

“Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich vs. The Great Kabuki (3/21/83)

 

Kerry gets a fast start but eats a nasty thrust kick to the face as he charges Kabuki in the corner. The action would be back-and-forth for a bit until Yoshiaki Yatsu shows up and pops Kabuki with a kendo stick as Kerry has him in the ropes with Kerry getting the pin to follow. Nothing much to this.

 

Texas Tornado Match: The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry “Bamm Bamm” Gordy & Michael Hayes) vs. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich (3/18/83)

 

Now this is the key four men of the feud having an all out war with David & Buddy on the floor. The action was fast and furious with all four men beating each other’s asses throwing bombs on each other. We would get double claw holds but Gordy would launch Kevin over the top rope but it didn’t matter as he came back in blazing. David & Buddy would get involved for the DDQ and once again even with a crappy DDQ finish, this is a nomination.

 

David Von Erich vs. Buddy Roberts (3/18/83)

 

And now we have the other members of the family feud facing each other in a singles match. I liked this a lot as it was both men going out there and having a good basic smart wrestling match with everything looking fine and the crowd getting really behind it. Buddy almost had David with the bulldog headlock and kept up the pressure on David but he would go for the bulldog again that would be blocked and David would hit the big high knee on Buddy for the win. Once again a really smartly worked match and one that should go on the block as a low-end nomination.

 

Iceman Parsons vs. The Great Kabuki (3/18/83)

 

This was okay for what it was which was to give Iceman a huge win over one of the top heels.

 

“Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin vs. Mike Bond (4/1/83)

 

This is from the State Fair Coliseum and David Von Erich comes out before the match demanding a rematch at the Texas title and it ends up with Garvin attacking David who would have to be held back. Garvin is awesome here and would win easily but David would come back and would end up spanking Sunshine. Extra material.

 

Michael Hayes vs. Iceman King Parsons (4/1/83)

 

Hayes was great here selling and bumping his ass off for Iceman and there was an interesting finish as Iceman hit a cross body block with Hayes rolling over getting the pin with his feet on the ropes. Fun while it lasted.

 

Dragon-Shi Match: Yoshiaki Yatsu vs. The Great Kabuki (4/1/83)

 

Kabuki gets the kendo stick first but they both would use it to beat on each other and the fans were cheering for Kabuki here which was odd. Yatsu would knock Kabuki off of top rope leading to him getting counted out in a cheap finish.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair © vs. Kevin Von Erich (4/1/83)

 

It’s Kevin’s turn now at Flair and this is a rare head-to-head match between these two because Flair would always get either David or Kerry for the big matches. Some early highlights was Kevin using his MUGA style leg-scissors work on Flair leading to a great flying headscissors spot then using some good looking knee strikes in the corner. Flair would then hit some of his signature spots before eating the iron claw after doing his patented corner bump but he would soom break out of it. Kevin would later hit a cross body block for a nearfall with Flair throwing him on top of Bronko Lubich then as Flair tries to drop an elbow on Kevin, he hit Lubich instead. Flair then decided to throw Kevin over the top rope then posted him shoulder first. Lubich then puts the count to Kevin and almost counts him out but Kevin would come back in the ring. Flair would go to work on Kevin but Kevin would fight back before hitting Bronko Lubich again after ducking under a leapfrog. Lubich went to the floor this time and this time Kevin throws Flair over the top rope but he comes back into the ring so he decides to throw him over again this time in front of David Manning who was with Lubich on the floor. Kevin then posts Flair who juices as the battle goes back to the ring with Manning taking over as referee. Kevin would then hit a fucking swank reverse cross body block off the top rope on Flair as Manning counts the fall. The fans go nuts as David jumps in the ring to celebrate with Kevin but Bronko Lubich comes back in the ring and says that Kevin threw Flair over the top rope and would be DQed. The decision was overturned and the Von Erich finish strikes again. This was a very fun match although not on the par of other Flair matches this still deserves a nomination.

“Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich vs. The Great Kabuki (3/21/83)

 

I liked this match quite a bit more than Kris did, but it's a bit short and not really a nomination.

 

David Von Erich vs. Buddy Roberts (3/18/83)

 

Here's another positive we can throw David's way - I don't think Kerry or Kevin ever had a better singles match with Buddy than this. In fact, I would probably argue that there aren't too many Texas matches from anyone better than this. Probably a minority opinion, but I seriously see this being a top 20 pick for me, as these two are at their very best here. David has completely turned the corner as a worker at this point. He's more interesting working holds, his brawling is a lot more intense, and his bumping and selling are great. He was always pretty expressive, but he got better with that, too, especially his facial expressions while Buddy had him in the neck twist. The look of rage right before he escaped the first time and went for the claw was fantastic. Buddy is Buddy, and you can pretty much always count on him. Bonus points for his post-match stooging, including him stumbling off of the apron while yelling at the fans. Not too many people did "angry little man" quite like him. Fuck, I might have liked this even more than any of Buddy's matches with Iceman. Full speed ahead.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair © vs. Kevin Von Erich (4/1/83)

 

I have been waiting a while to see these two match up, and they did not disappoint. Definitely one of a growing number of matches that people should be forced to watch "Clockwork Orange"-style whenever they say that Flair could only work one match. As shoe noted, he looks great working outside his comfort zone, his work in Kevin's headscissors early on being a great example. Kevin looks great as usual, and these two really bring the fight to one another. Great finishing stretch, I had forgotten how this match ended, and I really thought that Kevin was going to get counted out. When he made it back in, I totally lost my shit. After that, you can see the Dusty Finish coming about a mile in advance, but this may have been the best executed Dusty Finish ever. Both guys keep chucking each other over the top rope while Lubich is out. Watching these matches, the over the top rope DQ is looking more and more wrong to me. It's a rule I could get behind, but when guys get thrown over the top rope, they don't really sell it as being something that serious. You see guys get thrown over the top rope, get back up, and then rush the ring ready to keep fighting. It doesn't come off as something that merits a DQ. Here, Flair and Kevin keep coming back, but each time they do, it's obvious that they've taken a big hit, and the final minutes of the match are almost like the final rounds of a great heavyweight title fight (well, that is what this is supposed to be, right?), with both guys clearly worn out in a way that adds weight to every move they hit. The finish itself is spectacular, too. Kevin wasn't eloquent on the mic, but he was really and truly charismatic. Seeing him celebrating with his newly won title, and his brothers rushing out to celebrate with him...and then watching his face just sink when he's told that Flair retained the belt is incredible. And Flair, wearing the veritable crimson mask, being given his belt back and yelling "IT'S MINE!" over and over in the over the top, psycho manner that only he could was the cherry on the sundae of this match. Oh yeah, this baby moves forward.