Posted June 29, 200916 yr comment_5441299 Present Day Introduction from Kevin Von Erich and David Manning "You Might Think" Music Video Well...the video with a generic unlicensed tune playing behind it. Kevin Von Erich, David Von Erich, & Iceman King Parsons vs. The Freebirds Well, they shelled out the money for the wrestlers' entrance themes, but not the music videos. This is from early '83, as the Iceman/Roberts feud is still in it's infancy. This is a set that will be loaded with great six-mans, but I'm sure it won't hurt to throw another on the block. The faces get the jump on the Birds at the bell. The Freebirds bail to the outside for a while, trying to get safe entrance into the match, but the face team still ends up dominating early, with some great Hayes stooging, Iceman lighting up Roberts, and the usual greatness from Kevin and Gordy. But the real fun surprise here is David. I didn't really dig his work in this period, but he looked really good here, which certainly helps since he spent much of the match as face-in-peril. Looked sharp on offense and was also great taking a beating. A lot of really well-done near tags and false tags, too. Everyone was really working overtime to get David's and Kevin's hands as close as possible while making it look like the Freebirds were doing everything in their power to keep the tag from happening. House afire segment leading to the end is a bit short, but I won't complain too much, as this still feels like an easy nomination. Kevin Von Erich music video I don't know what the the original music was, but I'm it's the same deal as all the other videos on here. Kevin Von Erich vs. Chris Adams From Texas Stadium in the midst of Adams' heel turn. At the top of the match, Adams grabs the mic and demands that Kevin "keep his punches and his kicks to himself", because he wants to have a clean wrestling match. Kevin obliges. This immediately establishes two things: 1. Kevin and Chris are going to spend some time trading holds, and that's going to be awesome. 2. This will eventually break down into a slugfest. #1 holds true. Kevin and Chris do spend a lot of the match trading holds, and it is awesome (although I can't help but notice Adams getting drop toe held and immediately putting his legs in deathlock position before Kevin can even apply the hold). The trick is with #2. It takes a while before we get there, and it's not a straight jump from working totally clean to Adams losing his cool and brawling, either. Adams gets mad after losing some early exchanges, but then goes to Irish whipping Kevin hard into the corner and locking in a really aggressive chinlock. They get rougher, but still "keep their punches and their kicks to themselves". Then the first ones show up, but they pop in rather surreptitiously - Adams throws some closed fists while they're turned away from the ref, and Kevin drives his feet into Adams' chest when he carges the corner, making him look around in shock. And even after that they restrain themselves a little while longer, but soon enough Adams is violating the spirit of his request - throwing knees and clotheslines - but not the letter - no punches, no kicks. Kevin similarly fights back with a rising shoulderblock before Adams finally, finally has enough. But even then, this never breaks down into a knock down drag out brawl. We don't get a cluster bomb of punches and kicks, but rather a few precision strikes - Adams throwing punches in the corner (and really relishing the moment right before he starts in), and superkicking Kevin on his knees to send him to the outside. Then he blasts Kevin with a tope, pretty much just because he can. Of course, it's not long after that that Kevin grabs the flash pin, but I can forgive the abrupt ending when you have the kind of action they had before it. Afterwords, Kevin offers to forgive and forget if Adams fires Gary Hart, which goes about as well as you might imagine. All in all, definitely a solid nomination. Kevin Von Erich vs. Chris Adams Their Thanksgiving '84 Star Wars match. "Way too short, but too action-packed to ignore. Should go on as an extra." Kerry Von Erich vs. Terry Gordy (lumberjack match) This was supposed to be Kerry vs. Hayes, but Michael had some unspecified travel problems, so Gordy fills in. This was way better than their other lumberjack match. Kerry really tees off on Gordy, and Gordy gives it right back to him. Great intense slugfest, and both men also do a really nice job playing with the gimmick - Kerry being really quick to get back in the ring before any of the lumberjacks before they can get to him, and Gordy flailing wildly at them anytime they come close. Killer Khan runs out at the end to attack Gordy, and everything goes crazy. A bit of a sudden ending, and the match is a little on the short side, but the action was great, and I think it's a strong nomination. Kerry Von Erich vs. Gino Hernandez JIP of a good but not great match. David, Kevin, & Kerry Von Erich vs. The Freebirds The one with the rebel soldiers and Kevin's famous promo, which certainly belongs on the set. That said, I actually think this is one of their less interesting matches, but I'm probably in the minority there. Kerry Von Erich "Eye of the Tiger" video Without Eye of the Tiger, of course. Kerry Von Erich vs. Michael Hayes From early '83. This has all the stuff you want from these two. Some really fun comedy stooging as Kerry has control early (liked Kerry breaking a hold in the corner, turning to walk away, and then dropping down when Hayes tried to charge him from behind, only to go sailing over him to the mat). Kerry does a nice job working Hayes' arm with a not-quite-jujigatame, which Hayes escapes by getting to his feet and stomping Kerry in the face to turn things around. He tears up Kerry's leg, unfortunately Kerry doesn't have much of a comeback, he just sort of grabs the fluke pin out of nowhere. Still, body of the match is really strong, I think it merits a nomination. Present Day Outro from Kevin Von Erich and David Manning
