RESULTS: 1955

Promoter:  ED McLEMORE (Dallas), KEN MOORE (Fort Worth)
Have corrections or additions? Please send to: wccwmemories (at) gmail (dot) com

1/4/55 Dallas
Jim Blood & Duke Keomuka beat Otto Kuss & Dick Raines
Larry Chene drew Maurice Vachon
Billy Darnell drew Polo Torres
Rocky Columbo beat Leo Newman
Tony Baillargeon beat Buck Weaver

1/11/55 Dallas
Jim Blood (seconded by KIng Kong Cox) beat Bull Curry COR
Polo Torres beat Vern Taft
Larry Chene drew Billy Darnell
Tony Baillargeon beat Leo Newman
Duke Keomuka beat Otto Kuss
Rocky Columbo beat Maurice Vachon DQ

1/18/55 Dallas
Bull Curry beat Jim Blood, no holds barred
Tony Baillargeon & Larry Chene beat Killer Joe Christie & Duke Keomuka
Billy Darnell drew Dick Raines
Maurice Vachon drew Tony Ross
Polo Torres beat Leo Newman
Rocky Columbo beat Prof. Roy Shire

1/25/55 Dallas
Benefit card for the March of Dimes.
Bull Curry beat Don Eagle DQ
Duke Keomuka & Danny Savich beat Tony Baillargeon & Larry Chene
Maurice Vachon beat Pete Mendietta (sub for Ray Gunkel)
Rocky Columbo beat Jim Blood DQ
Billy Two Rivers beat Vern Taft DQ

2/1/55 Dallas
Bull Curry beat Ray Gunkel
Larry Chene NCO Danny Savich
Don Eagle beat Sheik of Araby
Billy Two Rivers drew Maurice Vachon
Rocky Columbo beat Prof. Roy Shire
Tony Baillargeon drew Duke Keomuka

2/8/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka & Danny Savich beat Tony Baillargeon & Larry Chene
Don Eagle beat Bull Curry DQ
Ray Gunkel beat Roy Graham
Bob McCune beat Jim Blood
Rocky Columbo drew Maurice Vachon

2/15/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Bull Curry
Ray Gunkel beat Danny Savich DQ
Larry Chene beat Rey Urbano
Tony Baillargeon drew Maurice Vachon
Tonina beat Joe McCarthy

2/22/55 Dallas
Otto Kuss beat Jim Blood, loser leaves town
Danny Savich beat Bull Curry
Tonina beat Duke Keomuka DQ
Larry Chene drew Maurice Vachon
Ray Gunkel beat Sheik of Araby
Tony Baillargeon beat Leo Newman

3/1/55 Dallas
Bull Curry beat Danny Savich, referee's decision, ten-round "Australian rules" match, loser leaves town
Duke Keomuka beat Tony Baillargeon
Larry Chene beat Tommy Phelps
Sheik of Araby & Maurice Vachon beat Big Humphrey Pennyworth & Tonina
Big Humphrey Pennyworth drew Sheik of Araby
Tonina beat Maurice Vachon DQ

3/8/55 Dallas
Bull Curry beat Duke Keomuka COR
Larry Chene beat Tommy Phelps COR
Tonina beat Killer Joe Christie DQ
Sheik of Araby beat Leo Newman
Tony Baillargeon beat Bob McCune

 3/15/55 Dallas
Texas Brass Knuckles champion Bull Curry beat Killer Joe Christie
Texas Junior Heavyweight champion Larry Chene beat Duke Keomuka DQ
Tommy Phelps beat Tonina
Billy Darnell drew Sheik of Araby
Vern Taft beat Bob McCune

3/22/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Paul Boesch
Tommy Phelps beat Killer Joe Christie
Tonina beat Vern Taft
Larry Chene beat Billy Darnell
Ray Gunkel beat Sheik of Araby

3/29/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Ray Gunkel DQ
Tarzan Mike beat Tommy Phelps
Cyclona Anaya beat Bob McCune
Larry Chene beat Leo Newman
Ronnie Etchison beat Killer Joe Christie, referee's decision

4/5/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Ray Gunkel
Tarzan Mike beat Killer Joe Christie
Millie Stafford beat Judy Glover
Cyclone Anaya drew Maurice Vachon
Larry Chene beat Herb Parks
Ronnie Etchison beat Art Nelson

4/12/55 Dallas
Tarzan Mike beat Duke Keomuka COR
Ray Gunkel beat Maurice Vachon
Ethel Brown beat Millie Stafford
Cyclone Anaya beat Larry Chene
Art Nelson beat Herb Parks
Johnny Rougeau beat Killer Joe Christie
Ronnie Etchison drew Pierre LaSalle

4/19/55 Dallas
Ray Gunkel & Tarzan Mike beat Bull Curry & Duke Keomuka
Johnny Rougeau beat Maurice Vachon, referee's decision
Cyclone Anaya drew Pierre LaSalle
Ronnie Etchison beat Tony Baillargeon
Rocky Columbo beat Jose Castillo

4/26/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Tarzan Mike DQ
Pepper Gomez beat Bull Curry
Masked A-Bomber beat Tony Baillargeon
Johnny Rougeau beat Tonina
Cyclone Anaya drew Ronnie Etchison
Ray Gunkel beat Pierre LaSalle, referee's decision

5/3/55 Dallas
Tarzan Mike beat Duke Keomuka to earn NWA World Heavyweight title match with Lou Thesz
Pepper Gomez & Tonina beat Bull Curry & Pierre LaSalle
Pepper Gomez beat Pierre LaSalle DQ
Bull Curry beat Tonina
Ronnie Etchison beat Son of Ali Baba
Masked A-Bomber drew Johnny Rougeau

5/10/55 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz beat Tarzan Mike
Duke Keomuka beat Dick Raines
Pepper Gomez beat Stu Gibson, referee's decision
Johnny Rougeau beat Bull Curry, referee's decision
Masked A-Bomber drew Ronnie Etchison

 5/17/55 Dallas
Leo Nomellini beat Ray Gunkel
Duke Keomuka beat Johnny Rougeau
Pepper Gomez beat Stu Gibson DQ
Pierre LaSalle beat Tonina
Ronnie Etchison & Dick Raines drew Hard Boiled Haggerty & Masked A-Bomber (unmasked as Bob Geigel)

5/24/55 Dallas
NWA World Junior Heavyweight champion Edmund Francis beat Duke Keomuka DQ
Tarzan Mike beat Pierre LaSalle DQ
Pepper Gomez beat Johnny Rougeau
Stu Gibson drew Ray Gunkel
Hard Boiled Haggerty beat Tonina
Ronnie Etchison beat Son of Ali Baba

5/31/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Tarzan Mike
Ronnie Etchison drew Raul Zapata
Larry Chene drew Stu Gibson
Ray Gunkel beat Hard Boiled Haggerty DQ
Pepper Gomez beat Maurice Vachon

6/7/55 Dallas
Pepper Gomez NCO Duke Keomuka, blood stoppage
Texas Tag Team champions Stu Ginson & Hard Boiled Haggerty beat Larry Chene & Tarzan Mike
Stu Gibson drew Tarzan Mike
Larry Chene beat Hard Boiled Haggerty DQ
Tonina beat Paul Murdock
Renato El Hermoso beat Raul Zapata

6/14/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Pepper Gomez
Tarzan Mike beat Hard Boiled Haggerty DQ
Cyclone Anaya beat Sheik of Araby
Renato El Hermoso beat Tommy Phelps
Larry Chene drew Raul Zapata

6/21/55 Dallas
Hard Boiled Haggerty & Duke Keomuka beat Pepper Gomez & Tarzan Mike
Texas Women's champion Nell Stewart beat Olga Zepeda
Larry Chene beat Renato El Hermoso DQ
Tommy Phelps beat Tonina
Ray Piret beat Cyclone Anaya

6/28/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka & Mr. Moto beat Paul Boesch & Otto Kuss
Hard Boiled Haggerty beat Pepper Gomez DQ
Belle Starr beat Kathy Branch (sub for Nell Stewart)
Ray Piret drew Raul Zapata
Tarzan Mike drew Polo Torres

7/5/55 Dallas
Pepper Gomez beat Duke Keomuka, Texas Death Match
Tommy Phelps beat Renato El Hermoso
Rito Romero beat Hard Boiled Haggerty DQ
Mr. Moto beat Larry Chene
Ray Piret drew Hans Schnabel
Tony Martin beat Tonina

7/12/55 Dallas (no results available)
Larry Chene vs Tommy Phelps, non-televised match
Pepper Gomez vs Mr. Moto
Texas Heavyweight champion Polo Torres vs Marvin Jones (sub for Duke Keomuka, knifed by fan during 7/6/55 San Antonio card)
Tony Martin vs Ray Piret
Killer Karl Davis vs Rito Romero
Hard Boiled Haggerty vs Hans Schnabel

7/19/55 Dallas
Mr. Moto & Hans Schnabel beat Pepper Gomez & Rito Romero
Tommy Phelps vs Otto Kuss (masked referee is unmasked as Al Lovelock)
Lou Newman beat Raul Zapata
Larry Chene beat Tony Martin
Ronnie Etchison beat Stu Gibson, referee's decision

7/26/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka, Mr. Moto & Hans Schnabel beat Paul Boesch, Pepper Gomez & Rito Romero
Otto Kuss beat Tommy Phelps
Mike Clancy drew Al Lovelock
Stu Gibson beat Killer Karl Davis
Ronnie Etchison beat Lou Newman

8/2/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Pepper Gomez UTC
Rito Romero beat Stu Gibson
Ronnie Etchison & Wilbur Snyder beat Lou Newman & Hans Schnabel
Tony Martin beat Johnny James
Mike Clancy beat Killer Karl Davis

8/9/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Rito Romero, reversed decision
Pepper Gomez beat Hans Schnabel
Ronnie Etchison & Wilbur Snyder beat George Bollas & Tony Martin
Wilbur Snyder beat Tony Martin
Ronnie Etchison beat George Bollas
Mike Clancy drew Lou Newman
Stu Gibson beat Ray Piret

8/16/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Rito Romero
George Bollas & Stu Gibson beat Polo Torres & Rito Romero (sub for injured Mike Clancy)
Wilbur Snyder beat Tarzan Mike
Lou Newman beat Jack O'Brien
Ronnie Etchison drew Tony Martin

8/23/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka drew Wilbur Snyder
Rito Romero beat George Bollas
Sky Low Low beat Lord Littlebrook
Ronnie Etchison drew Stu Gibson
Tarzan Mike beat Lou Newman COR
Tony Martin beat Mike Clancy

8/30/55 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz beat Ray Gunkel UTC
Duke Keomuka beat Tarzan Mike
JImmy James beat Bozo Brown DQ
Mike Clancy drew Lou Newman
Stu Gibson & George Bollas beat Rito Romero & Polo Torres

9/6/55 Dallas
Texas Heavyweight champion Pepper Gomez beat Stu Gibson
Duke Keomuka & Tommy Phelps beat Tarzan Mike, handicap match
Ray Gunkel & Wilbur Snyder beat George Bollas & Bozo Brown
Ray Gunkel beat George Bollas, referee's decision
Wilbur Snyder beat Bozo Brown
Lou Newman beat Jimmy James

9/13/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Dick Raines
Ray Gunkel beat Stu Gibson DQ
Pepper Gomez beat George Bollas DQ
Larry Chene beat Mike Clancy
Wilbur Snyder beat George Scott, referee's decision

9/20/55 Dallas
Stu Gibson, George Scott & Duke Keomuka beat Pepper Gomez & Wilbur Snyder (scheduled teammate Ray Gunkel unable to wrestle due to earlier injury)
Duke Keomuka NCO Ray Gunkel (match does not take place due to attack by Keomuka and Danny Savich, injuring Gunkel)
Pepper Gomez beat George Scott DQ
Wilbur Snyder beat Stu Gibson
Larry Chene drew Roy Heffernan
Gino Nicolini beat Jack O'Brien (sub for Dick Raines)

9/27/55 Dallas
Ray Gunkel beat Danny Savich, reversed decision
Pepper Gomez & Wilbur Snyder beat Stu Gibson & Duke Keomuka
Gino Nicolini beat Al Lovelock
Doug Donovan beat Mike Clancy
Roy Heffernan drew Tony Martin

10/4/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka & Danny Savich beat Pepper Gomez & Rito Romero to win Texas Tag Team titles
Ray Gunkel beat Stu Gibson DQ
Doug Donovan drew Gino NIcolini
Jim Dobie beat Tony Martin, referee's decision
Roy Heffernan beat Jack O'Brien

10/11/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka drew Wilbur Snyder
Pepper Gomez beat Danny Savich DQ
The Mongol drew Gino Nicolini
Tiny Mills beat Roy Heffernan
Dick Raines beat Hans Hermann DQ

10/18/55 Dallas
"UNITED NATIONS" TOURNAMENT (winner receives $5000, runner-up $1750, third place $750)
First Round:
Tiny Mills beat Wilbur Snyder
Pepper Gomez beat George Bollas
Other first round matches (no results available):
Duke Keomuka vs The Mongol
Gino Nicolini vs Danny Savich
Leo Garibaldi vs Stu Gibson
Hans Hermann vs Gregario Jarque
Final:
Pepper Gomez drew Tiny Mills (first and second place purses held-up pending 10/25 rematch)

10/25/55 Dallas
Pepper Gomez beat Tiny Mills to win held-up combined purse of $6750 from previous week's tournament
Hans Hermann & Wilbur Snyder beat Duke Keomuka & Danny Savich
Jack Laskin beat Bozo Brown
Stu Gibson beat The Mongol
Tony Morelli drew Gino Nicolini

11/1/55 Dallas
Danny Savich beat Duke Keomuka
Ray Gunkel drew Tiny Mills
Hans Hermann beat Tommy Phelps
Gino Nicolini beat Jack O'Brien
Pierre DeGalles beat The Mongol
Wilbur Snyder beat Jim Dobie

11/8/55 Dallas
Pepper Gomez won 10-man battle royal
Hans Hermann beat Danny Savich
Pepper Gomez beat Paul DeGalles, referee's decision
Tiny Mills beat Gregario Jarque
Tony Borne beat Gino Nicolini
Gina Marie (sub for Lee Chona LaClaire) beat Dot Dotson

11/15/55 Dallas
Paul DeGalles, Tiny Mills & Danny Savich beat Pepper Gomez, Rito Romero & Hans Hermann
World Women's champion June Byers beat China Mira
Rito Romero beat Danny Savich DQ
Pepper Gomez beat Paul DeGalles
Hans Hermann beat Tiny Mills COR
Tony Borne beat Jack Laskin
Doug Donovan beat Larry Chene

11/22/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Danny Savich, no falls, no time limit
Texas Heavyweight champion Pepper Gomez beat Hans Hermann
Tommy Phelps beat Jim Dobie
Doug Donovan drew Rito Romero
Larry Chene beat Paul DeGalles DQ
Tony Borne beat Gregario Jarque

11/29/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Texas Heavyweight champion Pepper Gomez DQ
Larry Chene beat Tony Borne
Doug Donovan drew Rito Romero
Ray Gunkel beat Paul DeGalles
Danny Savich beat Jack Laskin

12/6/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Danny Savich to win Texas Brass Knuckles title, Texas Death Match, ring surrounded by fence topped with barbed wire
Pepper Gomez beat Tommy Phelps COR
Gregario Jarque beat Jack Laskin
Doug Donovan drew Ray Gunkel
Larry Chene drew Rito Romero

12/13/55 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Gorgeous George
Luther Lindsey beat Tex Grady to win Texas Negro Heavyweight title
Rito Romero & Luther Lindsey (sub for Larry Chene) beat Doug Donovan & Stu Gibson
Ray Gunkel beat Tony Morelli
Danny Savich beat Gregario Jarque

12/20/55 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz drew Luther Lindsey (Thesz counted out on mat, Lindsey COR)
Texas Tag Team champions Duke Keomuka & Tiny Mills beat Stu Gibson & Tommy Phelps
Texas Heavyweight champion Pepper Gomez drew Texas Junior Heavyweight champion Doug Donovan
Larry Chene beat Paul DeGalles
Hans Hermann beat Jack Laskin

12/27/55 Dallas
Otto Kuss beat Tommy Phelps, loser leaves town
Texas Tag Team champions Duke Keomuka & Tiny Mills beat Pepper Gomez & Ray Gunkel
Tony Borne beat Paul DeGalles
Larry Chene NCO Killer Joe Christie
Rocky Columbo beat Hans Hermann

RESULTS: 1943

Promoters: ED McLEMORE (Dallas)
Have corrections or additions? Please send to: wccwmemories (at) gmail (dot) com

1/5/43 Dallas
Wild Bill Longson beat Juan Humberto
Women's World champion Mildred Burke beat Mae Weston
Elviry Snodgrass beat Purple Flash (Mae Weston)
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Sterling Davis
Karl Davis drew Roy Graham

1/12/43 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff beat Juan Humberto
Wild Bill Longson beat Gorilla Macias
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Karl Davis
Ed "Strangler" White beat Chief Little Beaver, referee's decision

1/19/43 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff beat Juan Humberto
Ray Eckert beat Gorilla Macias
Irish Jack Kennedy drew Karl Davis
Ellis Bashara beat Sterling Davis

 1/26/43 Dallas
Wild Bill Longson beat Ray Eckert
Juan Humberto beat Irish Jack Kennedy
Ed "Strangler" White beat Roy Graham
Ellis Bashara drew Sterling Davis

2/2/43 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff beat Ray Eckert
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Roy Graham
Ellis Bashara beat Miguel Torres
Chief Little Beaver drew Sterling Davis

2/9/43 Dallas
Juan Humberto beat Irish Jack Kennedy, special referee Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Ray Eckert beat Roy Graham
Gorilla Macias beat Ellis Bashara DQ
Chief Little Beaver drew Ed "Strangler" White

2/16/43 Dallas
Juan Humberto beat Ray Eckert
Karl Davis beat Ed "Strangler" Lewis
Ellis Bashara drew Chief Little Beaver
Sterling Davis beat Gorilla Macias, referee's decision

2/23/43 Dallas
Juan Humberto beat Joe Cox
Karl Davis beat Gorilla Macias
Angelo Cistoldi beat Chief Little Beaver
Sterling Davis beat Miguel Torres

3/2/43 Dallas
Juan Humberto beat Irish Jack Kennedy, reversed decision
Angelo Cistoldi drew Karl Davis
Ellis Bashara drew Sterling Davis
Chief Little Beaver beat Ed "Strangler" White

3/9/43 Dallas
Juan Humberto drew Yvon Robert
Bobby Managoff beat Larry Robert
Angelo Cistoldi drew Karl Davis
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Chief Little Beaver

3/16/43 Dallas
Bobby Managoff beat Karl Davis
Yvon Robert beat Juan Humberto
Irish Jack Kennedy drew Larry Robert
Sterling Davis beat Dutch Schultz
Angelo Cistoldi beat Babe Zaharias

3/23/43 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Wild Bill Longson beat Bobby Managoff
Juan Humberto drew Yvon Robert
Karl Davis beat Dutch Schultz
Angelo Cistoldi drew Babe Zaharias

3/30/43 Dallas
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Juan Humberto (billed as "city championship" match)
Angelo Cistoldi beat Sterling Davis
Ellis Bashara drew Karl Davis
Jack Curtis drew Babe Zaharias

4/6/43 Dallas
Angelo Cistoldi beat Sterling Davis
Ellis Bashara beat Juan Humberto DQ
Paul Jones drew Babe Zaharias
Jack Curtis beat Chief Little Beaver, referee's decision

4/20/43 Dallas
Juan Humberto beat Ellis Bashara
Bobby Managoff beat Yellow Flash DQ
Sterling Davis beat Jack Curtis
Chief Little Beaver drew Karl Davis

4/27/43 Dallas
Angelo Cistoldi beat Juan Humberto
Karl Davis beat Yellow Flash (unmasked as Sailor Barto)
Sterling Davis beat Chief Little Beaver
Ellis Bashara drew Babe Zaharias

5/4/43 Dallas
Juan Humberto beat Angelo Cistoldi
Sterling Davis beat Ellis Bashara
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Chief Little Beaver
Gene Blackley beat Dutch Schultz

5/11/43 Dallas
Sterling Davis beat Ellis Bashara
Juan Humberto beat Irish Jack Kennedy
Cliff Olson beat Angelo Cistoldi DQ
Chief Little Beaver drew Babe Zaharias

5/18/43 Dallas
Ellis Bashara & Angelo Cistoldi beat Karl Davis & Sterling Davis
Juan Humberto beat Irish Jack Kennedy DQ
Chief Little Beaver drew Cliff Olson

5/25/43 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Wild Bill Longson beat Angelo Cistoldi
Juan Humberto beat Irish Jack Kennedy
Sterling Davis beat Babe Zaharias DQ
Ellis Bashara drew Karl Davis

6/1/43 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Wild Bill Longson beat Juan Humberto
Ellis Bashara & Angelo Cistoldi beat Karl Davis & Sterling Davis
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Babe Zaharias

6/8/43 Dallas
Juan Humberto beat Sterling Davis
Karl Davis & Irish Jack Kennedy beat Ellis Bashara & Angelo Cistoldi
Chief Little Beaver drew Paul Jones

6/15/43 Dallas
Ellis Bashara & Angelo Cistoldi beat Irish Jack Kennedy & Karl Davis
Juan Humberto beat Paul Jones
Sterling Davis beat Herbie Schultz

 6/22/43 Dallas
Sandor Szabo beat Juan Humberto UTC
Angelo Cistoldi drew Sterling Davis
Ellis Bashara drew Irish Jack Kennedy
Chief Little Beaver drew Karl Davis

6/29/43 Dallas
World Junior Heavyweight champion Leroy McGuirk beat Ellis Bashara
Juan Humberto beat Sterling Davis DQ
Chief Little Beaver drew Angelo Cistoldi
Ronnie Etchison beat Herbie Schultz, referee's decision

INTERVIEW: Dewey "The Missing Link" Robertson

In this email interview conducted by John Dananay in 2005 (with help from biographer Meredith Renwick), the late Dewey "The Missing Link" Robertson revealed the origins of his WCCW character.

What initially attracted you into coming to WCCW?

I had always wanted to go there and after a year in Kansas City, where there was a lot of work but no money, something told me that World Class was the place to go. I sent my friend Mean Gene Lewis there first, told him to go down to Texas and revive the Mongol gimmick and I would follow him in a year to become the second Mongol and we’d be a tag team. When he got there he told me how well World Class was doing, and I followed him there within a year as promised. That would have been early summer of 1983. I didn’t get hired there right away, there was no work and so I went to Louisiana to work for Mid-South for about 6 months first. That’s where the “second Mongol” gradually developed into the Missing Link. My official debut in World Class was Thanksgiving of 1983.


How does it compare in retrospect to other promotions you have competed in?

When I first got there World Class was having good times, and in good times everything runs very smoothly, so it was easy to fit in there and develop the character of the Missing Link. Fritz was truly a professional, and treated all of us younger wrestlers with great respect. I noticed a difference in payoffs right off the bat. My second full week in World Class was $2,800, one of the highest payoffs I’d ever seen.

Compare the atmosphere of WCCW, circa 1983-84, compared to when you returned to the promotion in the late 1980's. Did you notice a significant change in how things were run, etc?

As I had mentioned, when I first got there things were going very well and wherever we went there was a great following, with lots of adulation, which made the ship’s course very easy. When I got back from the WWF, the payoffs weren’t as high but the company was very comfortable to be around after New York.

Did you enjoy working with Skandor Akbar as a heel in WCCW, or did you enjoy your time as a face better?

Skandor was an old friend of mine, I knew him from the early 1970s when I tag-teamed with Dennis Stamp against the Hollywood Blondes in the Tri-State territory (the forerunner of Mid-South). Skandor had the sort of personality that he could befriend anybody.

I always thought the Link’s character was in the middle of the road. He put humour and aggressiveness into any match, and because I was a veteran the Link could wrestle any style. I started wrestling as a heel, but I knew the people liked me - and that’s why the powers that be had me change to a babyface when I came back from New York.

Do you feel that wrestlers had more of a chance to develop as a heel or face in WCCW?

I realized after being there a while, if I’d gone to World Class as Dewey Robertson after reaching my potential as a heel in Kansas City, I could have been a top heel because of the opposition of the Von Erich family. I would say the chance to be a heel there was unbelievable, because of them. By the same token it would have been a lot harder to go in as a face and excel, because even if you were really good you’d always be playing second fiddle to the Von Erichs. I think the heels had an easier time.

What was the morale and atmosphere of the locker room on the day of the first Parade of Champions in 1984?

Morale was always high in World Class.

Did you worry about the future of WCCW, due to the fact they had just lost their top face in David Von Erich?

I never, ever worried about the future. I thought it would go on forever. Because of alcohol and marijuana, I never worried about the future.

Did you enjoy your stay in WCCW?

Totally.

What do you think its legacy will be to the sport of professional wrestling?

The first word I think of when I think about World Class is longevity, because it was around so long. It gave its title away, it truly was a world class operation for a long time. When people talk about World Class in the future they will always remember the Von Erichs and the many stars that came in to face them.

RESULTS: 1942

Promoters: ED McLEMORE (Dallas)
Have corrections or additions? Please send to: wccwmemories (at) gmail (dot) com

 2/17/42 Dallas

Juan Humberto beat Bobby Managoff in tournament final to win initial Texas Heavyweight title (no other results or pairings available)

2/24/42 Dallas

Sandor Szabo beat Juan Humberto

Bobby Managoff beat Babe Zaharias

Paul Boesch beat Fred Von Schacht

Ray Clements beat Cecil McGill

7/7/42 Dallas

NWA World Heavyweight champion Wild Bill Longson beat Bobby Managoff

Juan Humberto drew Ray Steele

Vincent Lopez beat Rudy LaDitzi, referee's decision

8/11/42 Dallas

Lee Henning beat Don Louis Thesz

Women's World champion Mildred Burke beat Marie (Mae) Young

Pat Fraley drew Juan Humberto

11/3/42 Dallas

Juan Humberto beat Irish Jack Kennedy

Purple Flash beat Mae Weston

Ray Eckert drew Bobby Managoff

Flash Clifford drew Jim Henry

11/10/42 Dallas

Lou Thesz beat Juan Humberto

Purple Flash beat Elviry Snodgrass

Irish Jack Kennedy beat Ellis Bashara

Chief Little Beaver beat Gorilla Macias

Flash Clifford drew Roy Graham

11/17/42 Dallas

Ray Eckert beat Juan Humberto

Bobby Managoff beat Irish Jack Kennedy

Gladys Gillam & Purple Flash beat Elviry Snodgrass and Mae Weston

Chief Little Beaver drew Jim Henry

Ellis Bashara drew Ray Clements

11/24/42 Dallas

NWA World Heavyweight champion Yvon Robert beat Juan Humberto

Women's World champion Mildred Burke beat Purple Flash

Bobby Managoff beat Jim Henry

Ray Eckert DCOR Irish Jack Kennedy

Chief Little Beaver drew Roy Graham

12/1/42 Dallas

NWA World Heavyweight champion Bobby Managoff beat Juan Humberto

Chief Little Beaver beat Ray Eckert DQ

Irish Jack Kennedy beat The Green Shadow (unmasked as Miguel Torres)

Roy Graham drew Ed "Strangler" White

12/8/42 Dallas

Yvon Robert DCOR Lou Thesz

Chief Little Beaver beat Irish Jack Kennedy

Roy Graham DDQ Ed "Strangler" White

Ellis Bashara beat Miguel Torres

12/15/42 Dallas

Joe Cox beat Juan Humberto DQ

Roy Graham beat Irish Jack Kennedy

Chief Little Beaver beat Ed "Strangler" White

Flash Clifford beat Miguel Torres

12/22/42 Dallas

Main event is the first tag team match ever held at the Sportatorium.

Juan Humberto & Gorilla Macias beat Ellis Bashara & Irish Jack Kennedy, two-hour time limit

Flash Clifford beat Roy Graham DQ

Chief Little Beaver beat Miguel Torres

12/29/42 Dallas

Juan Humberto & Gorilla Macias beat Chief Little Beaver & Irish Jack Kennedy

Roy Graham beat Miguel Torres

Ed "Strangler" White beat Flash Clifford

RESULTS: 1941

Promoters: ED McLEMORE (Dallas)
Have corrections or additions? Please send to: wccwmemories (at) gmail (dot) com

9/2/41 Dallas
King Kong Cox beat Roy Graham

Ray Clements beat Don Evans DQ

Ellis Bashara drew Al Lovelock

Otto Kuss beat Babe Zaharias

9/9/41 Dallas
Sol Slagel beat King Kong Cox DQ

Roy Graham beat Al Lovelock

Don Evans beat Ray Clements

Don Lee beat Babe Zaharias

9/16/41 Dallas
Sol Slagel beat Roy Graham

King Kong Cox beat Ray Clements DQ

Don Lee beat Ellis Bashara DQ

Paul Bozzell drew Al Lovelock

9/23/41 Dallas
Don Evans beat Sol Slagel, blood stoppage

King Kong Cox beat Ray Clements

Roy Graham beat Billy Venable

Al Lovelock drew Babe Zaharias

9/30/41 Dallas
King Kong Cox beat Don Evans

Bobby Managoff beat Babe Zaharias

Roy Graham beat Ellis Bashara

Count Von Schacht beat Al Lovelock

10/7/41 Dallas
King Kong Cox beat Don Evans UTC

Bobby Managoff beat Roy Graham DQ

Sol Slagel drew Count Von Schacht

Ray Clements beat Babe Zaharias

10/14/41 Dallas
Roy Graham beat Ellis Bashara, mustache vs mustache, special referee King Kong Cox

Bobby Managoff drew Don Evans

Paul Bozzell drew Masked Cowboy

Count Von Schacht beat Ray Clements

10/21/41 Dallas
Juan Humberto beat Don Evans

King Kong Cox beat Roy Graham

Hans Kampfer drew Sol Slagel

Joe Hill beat Paul Bozzell

10/28/41 Dallas
King Kong Cox beat Juan Humberto

Bobby Managoff drew Roy Graham

Ellis Bashara beat Ray Clements

Dan Baxter drew Joe Hill

RESULTS: 1950

Promoter:  ED McLEMORE (Dallas), KEN MOORE (Fort Worth)
Have corrections or additions? Please send to: wccwmemories (at) gmail (dot) com

10/10/50 Dallas
Texas Heavyweight champion Verne Gagne beat Wild Red Berry
Cyclone Anaya beat Sheik Lawrence
Johnny Balbo drew Billy Varga
Rito Romero beat Buckskin Leslie
Duke Keomuka beat Buddy Knox

10/17/50 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz drew Rito Romero (sub for Cyclone Anaya)
Little Beaver drew Irish Jackie Cusic
Duke Keomuka beat Verne Gagne, judo jacket submission match
MIguel Guzman & Sheik Lawrence beat Buckskin Leslie & Wild Red Berry
Johnny Balbo drew Dennis Clary

10/24/50 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Verne Gagne, combination judo jacket/catch-as-catch-can match
Johnny Balbo beat Miguel Guzman, blood stoppage
Little Beaver & Jimmy Little beat Irish Jackie Cusic & Tom Thumb
Rito Romero beat Ali Pasha
Gorilla Macias beat Leon Kirilenko

10/31/50 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Rito Romero
Miguel Guzman beat Johnny Balbo
Verne Gagne beat Sheik Lawrence
Billy Varga beat Danny Savich DQ
Yaqui Tepraka beat Buddy Knox

11/7/50 Dallas
Texas Heavyweight champion Rito Romero NCO Duke Keomuka, blood stoppage
Ellis Bashara & Wild Red Berry drew Verne Gagne & Billy Varga
Danny Savich beat Johnny Balbo
Dennis Clary beat Sheik Lawrence
Emerson Crozier beat Willie Love

11/14/50 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Miguel Guzman (sub for injured Rito Romero, who was originally scheduled to defend Texas Heavyweight title against Keomuka)
Verne Gagne drew Danny Savich
Miguel Guzman beat Wild Red Berry DQ
Little Beaver beat Tom Thumb
Johnny Balbo & Billy Varga beat Ellis Bashara & Abe Stein

11/21/50 Dallas
Texas Heavyweight champion Verne Gagne beat Duke Keomuka DQ
Rito Romero beat Danny Savich
Ellis Bashara & Little Beaver beat Tiny Roe & Billy Varga
Wild Red Berry beat Dennis Clary
Bob Gurley beat Tommy Phelps

11/28/50 Dallas
Duke Keomuka beat Danny McShain DQ
Texas Heavyweight champion Verne Gagne beat Miguel Guzman
Rito Romero drew Danny Savich
Dutch Hefner drew Sonny Kurgis
Chico Garcia beat Bad Boy Brown

12/5/50 Dallas
Killer Kowalski beat Duke Keomuka UTC
Danny McShain beat Dutch Hefner
Rito Romero beat Danny Savich DQ
Ellis Bashara beat Sonny Kurgis
Chico Garcia beat Abe Stein

12/11/50 Fort Worth
Killer Kowalski beat Duke Keomuka & Danny Savich in handicap match to win Texas Tag Team titles (later awarded back to Keomuka & Savich when Kowalski vacates)

12/12/50 Dallas
Killer Kowalski beat Danny McShain
Rito Romero beat Duke Keomuka
Ellis Bashara drew Danny Savich
Leo Voss beat Wild Red Berry (Berry unable to pin Voss three times for win per stipulation)
Dutch Hefner beat Chico Garcia

 12/15/50 Dallas (no results available)
Special benefit card for Exchange Clubs of Dallas.
Chico Garcia vs Duke Keomuka
Bob Gurley vs Sonny Kurgis
Dutch Hefner vs Pearshape Powell
Jim Moore vs Tommy Phelps
Bob Huddleston vs Woodrow Wilson

12/19/50 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz beat Killer Kowalski (accompanied by Ed "Strangler" Lewis)
Wild Bill Longson drew Danny McShain
Duke Keomuka beat Rito Romero
Billy Raburn beat Dutch Hefner
Ellis Bashara beat Wild Red Berry

RESULTS: 1949

Promoter:  ED McLEMORE (Dallas), KEN MOORE (Fort Worth)
Have corrections or additions? Please send to: wccwmemories (at) gmail (dot) com

3/22/49 Dallas
Texas Heavyweight champion Miguel Guzman drew Whipper Billy Watson
Bobby & George Becker beat Tony Morelli & Tarzan Orth
Cowboy Orville Carlson beat Leo Newman DQ
Ruffy Silverstein beat Tony Martin

7/12/49 Dallas
Miguel Guzman & Rito Romero beat Leo Newman & Roy Graham DQ
June Byers beat Ellen Olson
Jesse James drew Sonny Myers
Duke Keomuka (Dallas debut) beat Bill Sledge

7/19/49 Dallas
Miguel Guzman beat Irish Jack Kennedy
Juanita Coffman beat June Byers
Sandy O'Donnell beat Leo Newman
Duke Keomuka drew Sonny Myers
Roy Graham beat Al Lovelock

7/26/49 Dallas
Texas Heavyweight champion Sonny Myers NCO Sandy O'Donnell (title held up)
MIguel Guzman beat Roy Graham DQ
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Paul Boesch (sub for Ruffy Silverstein)
Jesse James drew John Swenski
Al Lovelock drew Herb Welch

8/30/49 Dallas
NWA World Heavyweight champion Orville Brown beat Sandy O'Donnell
Miguel Guzman beat Abe Kashey DQ
Hardboiled Haggerty drew Sonny Myers
Roy Graham beat Antone Leone
Al Lovelock beat Ellis Bashara, referee's decision

9/6/49 Dallas
Texas Heavyweight champion Miguel Guzman beat Ruffy Silverstein
NWA World Heavyweight champion Orville Brown beat Roy Graham UTC
Abe Kashey drew Irish Jack Kennedy
Sambra beat Hardboiled Haggerty

9/27/49 Dallas
Texas Heavyweight champion Miguel Guzman beat Leo Newman
Danny McShain beat El Sombra
Al Lovelock drew Billy Varga
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Abe Kashey
Cowboy Orville Carlson beat Roy Graham DQ

 10/11/49 Dallas
Wild Red Berry beat Danny McShain
Miguel Guzman & Rito Romero beat Al Lovelock & Billy Varga
Cowboy Orville Carlson beat Leo Newman
Vic Holbrook drew Irish Jack Kennedy
Johnny Valentine (Dallas debut) beat Nick Elitch

10/25/49 Dallas
Wild Red Berry beat Miguel Guzman to win Texas Heavyweight title
Hans Schnabel beat Irish Jack Kennedy, blood stoppage
Johnny Valentine beat Fritz Schnabel DQ
Joe Pazandak beat Vic Holbrook
Cowboy Orville Carlson beat Paul Orth, referee's decision

11/1/49 Dallas
Hans Schnabel beat Irish Jack Kennedy DQ
Leo Newman beat Wild Red Berry
MIguel Guzman beat Cowboy Orville Carlson
Joe Pazandak drew Johnny Valentine
Ace Freeman beat Fritz Schnabel, referee's decision

11/15/49 Dallas
NWA World Junior Heavyweight champion Leroy McGuirk beat Wild Red Berry
June Byers beat Mae Weston
Verne Gagne & Dutch Hefner beat Hans & Fritz Schnabel
Rito Romero drew Billy Varga

11/29/49 Dallas
Leo Newman beat Wild Red Berry to win Texas Heavyweight title
Violet Viann beat Mae Young
Irish Jack Kennedy beat Chief Chewacki
Cowboy Orville Carlson drew Rito Romero
Dutch Hefner beat Dennis Clary

RESULTS: 1940

Promoters: ED McLEMORE (Dallas)
Have corrections or additions? Please send to: wccwmemories (at) gmail (dot) com

Late January
Ed McLemore becomes Sportatorium wrestling promoter following buyout of Bert Willoughby's group.

6/4/40 Dallas (att. 4300)
NWA World Heavyweight champion Ray Steele beat Pat Fraley
Masked Superman beat Ben "Sampson" Morgan
Dutch Hefner drew Lew Plummer
Karl Davis beat Pancho Valdez

11/10/40 Dallas
Dorv Roche beat Ivan Managoff DQ
Dutch Hefner beat John Grandovich COR
Ellis Bashara beat Irish Jack Kennedy
Al Lovelock beat Jim Henry, referee's decision

INTERVIEW: Dusty Wolfe

The veteran wrestler describes his experiences in WCCW during its declining days.

How would you describe your tenure in World Class? Was it a positive or a negative experience compared to the other promotions you have worked in? Was there anything that truly set it apart in your mind?

I came in at the very end of their big run. They had already done their best business, but there was still some magic left. You could feel a part of being in the middle of something special. Looking back, World Class was one of the best places to work. Being close to home didn't hurt matters.

How were the wrestling fans of Texas (WCCW) towards the wrestlers? What kind of wrestlers and wrestling styles do you think they preferred? Does it surprise you that many fans still talk about WCCW so passionately after all these years?

WCCW was special in a way that they connected with Texas. Fritz and his bookers knew what Texas wanted. And that was a hard hitting style. Texas had always been known as a place that the work was tough and stiff. Just like Texans like to think of themselves. The boys in WCCW were only a step or two below the Dallas Cowboys in the minds of a lot of Texans.

Do you think by 1987, there was any logical chance of turning WCCW around back to its glory days?

There was no way anyone to get "back" to the glory days by that time. Vince and the WWF was just too big. That would like thinking the cattle would all be just fine after leaving the gate open all weekend. Never happens.

If you were around WCCW right after Mike Von Erich's death, what was the atmosphere in the dressing room like? Did you notice any changes in the wrestlers or the Von Erich family themselves?

I was Mike's last scheduled match. For obvious reasons, he never made that Friday in Dallas. The majority of the boys didn't have too hard of a time believing this happened. Mike was a suicide waiting to happen. True, as bad as it may sound.

Who were some of the best ribbers of the WCCW locker rooms? Were there any classic ribs you could remember?

Don't remember any specific ribs. Percy and John Tatum were the leaders of that pack.

Who was booking World Class during your tenure?

Bruiser Brody.

Do you feel Kevin had been dealt a lot of pressure to carry on the Von Erich legacy after Mike's passing, with Kerry being out indefinitely?

Yes. But Kevin really didn't seem to care like others would think he would. Kevin was in a pretty bad place in his life at the time.

If you were there during Kerry's initial comeback match with Brian Adias, do you feel he was being pushed to come back because the gates were down?

I wasn't there, but that's what I've heard.

What was it like working with Bruiser Brody?

Frank was a friend. He didn't have a lot of friends because Frank took care of Frank. But when he liked you, he was a good friend. He was triple tough in the ring, and that's what made Bruiser Brody a legend.

Do you think there will ever be a resurgence of wrestling outside of the WWE in Texas again?

Not like what we knew. Just too many smart marks fighting each other to be the king of their little sand pile, with no eye on making money.

What was WCCW's legacy to professional wrestling?

They did a lot for the production values we take for granted today. More cameras, better lighting, better graphics, etc. The wrestling was always exciting, even when the talent level wasn't the best.

INTERVIEW: Ron Mullinax

The author of Fritz Von Erich: Master of the Iron Claw shares his thoughts on Fritz's last days, and relates his memories of the events which led to the book's creation, in this 2005 email interview.

First off, congratulations on winning the 2005 Pinnacle Achievement Book Award, from the North American Bookdealers Exchange, for your book Fritz Von Erich: Master of the Iron Claw. For the fans who have not yet read your book, how did you come about meeting Fritz and writing a book about his life?

Thank you for the interview. I first met Kevin, Fritz's oldest son, thru a mutual friend in Dallas, Texas in 1993 shortly after Kerry committed suicide. Kevin and his family were living in Jefferson, Texas at the time and Kevin would drive to Denton to check on his dad and take care of other business. Fritz lived alone in a small frame house on his 150 acre ranch near Lake Dallas. I was living in Irving and Kevin would often stop by my house on his way back to Jefferson to let the traffic die down and visit for a while. I was connected to the internet, which was new at the time, and Kevin and I would spend countless hours on my computer surfing the net.

After knowing Kevin for almost two years, Fritz had a house built for Kevin and his family on the 150 acre ranch just down the road from his small frame house. Kevin called me one day and asked if I would help him move some of his family's belongings from Jefferson to his new house. I am a couple of years older than Kevin and on many occasions I had related to him how I had considered his dad my childhood hero. As Kevin and I finished unloading the truck that afternoon Fritz walked into the room to ask how everything was going and Kevin introduced the two of us.

Kevin had told his dad about the internet and all the wrestling sites that mentioned the Von Erichs. Fritz was heavily invested in the stock market and wanted to know as much as I could tell him about tracking his stocks in real time on a computer. I invited him to come by my house sometime and he and I would sit down at my computer and surf the net. About two weeks later Kevin called and said he and Fritz were on their way over. Fritz would later hire me to teach him as much as I knew about computers, the internet and electronic investing.

After Fritz and I had been friends for just over a year, he became ill and was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. It was during this time that he wanted me to write a book about his life, from him to all the Von Erich fans around the world. Fritz wanted everyone to hear the Von Erich story from him and not to believe the many rumors that had been circulating over the past several years. I had never written a book and tried to talk Fritz into letting me find someone that could take on such a task. But Fritz said he did not have the time to find a professional writer and made me promise to give it my best. So, for the last four months of his life he related one story after another while I took notes that he would always check after each story was completed.

Fritz passed away in September of 1997; five years later I published The Secret of the Iron Claw. I was not satisfied with the first book because I felt I had left out many important stories Fritz had passed along to me. So I went to work rewriting the book and in February 2005 I published Fritz Von Erich: Master of the Iron Claw. I feel Fritz himself would be proud of this edition.

Do you know if Kevin or any other members of the Adkisson family have read the book? If so, what kind of feedback have you received from them? Do you still keep in touch with the Adkisson family?

I still eat at a sushi bar in Irving, Texas that Kevin and I regularly visited years ago. The owner and I are close friends and I autographed a copy of my book to her and she put it on the shelf for all the customers to see. Kevin and his two sons came in to eat one day and Kevin noticed the book and asked the owner if he could take it home and read it, said he would bring it back in a couple of days. The owner agreed and Kevin took the book home and never brought it back, so I know he's read it, but I have had no feedback on what his thoughts were. The ending of the book does not paint a good picture of Kevin, but it's the way Fritz wanted the story told. I have not had any contact with the Adkisson family since shortly after Fritz's death in 1997. In my book, I explain everything that took place in the last few days of Fritz's life. After reading my book, I think the readers will understand why I no longer stay in contact with Kevin.

What was it like developing a relationship with Fritz after idolizing him for so many years? Looking back, what do you cherish most about that friendship?

It was 1962 and I was ten years old when I first watched Fritz wrestle on TV in Wichita Falls, Texas. My wife, daughter, son and I were at Texas Stadium to watch Fritz in his retirement match with King Kong Bundy in 1982. I thought Fritz Von Erich was one of the most exciting wrestlers I had ever seen, so to meet this man and become his friend was unbelievable. I used to sit across the table and stare at Fritz as he told me the most amazing stories. Before Fritz passed away, Gene Kiniski came down from Canada to spend a week with his longtime friend. The two of them would talk for hours about the old days of professional wrestling and I sat there with my mouth open, not believing I was in the same room with two former giants of the wrestling world.

I guess what I cherish most about our friendship is the time I spent with Fritz before he passed away. I could never understand why that man chose me to be at his side in the final moments of his life. And I guess that's the main reason I worked so hard to fulfill his last wishes and tell his life's story just the way he told it to me.

Many people that knew Fritz describe his last few years as being alone and sad. While I know he suffered unimaginable tragedies in his lifetime, and would later become very ill, could you describe what Fritz's, say, last six months were like?

Fritz locked himself in that small frame house on Lake Dallas for years after Kerry committed suicide. He didn't want to go anywhere or speak to anyone, just think about all the misfortunes that had taken place in his life. Fritz was having the battle of his life trying to understand why GOD could allow his precious family to slowly disappear from his life one by one. He told me on several occasions that he had lost his faith in GOD, and was not sure he existed. But, he also told me before he died that it would be so wonderful if there was a Heaven and he could be with all his sons just one more time. I have always wondered if GOD somehow put the two of us together so Fritz would have someone by his side that would listen to all the hurt that had built up in his heart for so many years. To outlive five of your six children has to leave very deep scars. I think the last three months of Fritz's life was a bit different. After Fritz found out that he only had a few short months left to live, he became obsessed with telling me the Von Erich story in hopes that I would fulfill his last wishes and write a book about his life. I think that by reliving his life with me it made him feel better in the end.

As a huge fan of the Von Erich family, I have to ask: did you get to see any ring memorabilia, or personal family mementos that you were just in awe of? If so, would you mind sharing what they were?

Before I met Fritz, Kevin called me one weekend and asked if I would like to drive to Vicksburg, Mississippi with him and meet his mother (Doris).  I jumped at the chance; we drove to his mother's on Thursday and returned to Dallas on Saturday. The two days I spent in Vicksburg were unbelievable! For two days, Kevin's mother showed me family pictures, news articles and all kinds of mementos she had collected over the years the family were traveling together. I have seen the NWA World Championship belt that Kerry won from Ric Flair and the ring jacket he wore that night. The mementos Doris showed me are just too many to mention.

What I thought was interesting was walking into Fritz's house. You would have never known Fritz was ever a wrestler; there was nothing in his house, not even a picture of anything to do with wrestling. He did show me the .44 Magnum handgun Kerry shot himself with. And just before he passed away, he gave me two Zippo cigarette lighters (that I still have) that have two wrestlers on the front with the words TAKEN BY FORCE FROM FRITZ VON ERICH, which I am very proud of.

Master of the Iron Claw is the first comprehensive Von Erich book, being very thorough. Do you have any further plans, i.e. a possible movie screenplay, or a follow-up book?

I entered an agreement with Richard Lack, an actor/independent producer in L.A. to write the Fritz Von Erich screenplay almost 3 years ago.  The screenplay was finished just after the first of the year and is in the copyright stage now. There are several studios that are interested in reading the screenplay after all the legal stuff is over with. I have a website at: http://www.fritzvonerich.com that fans can go to and check for updates under "News and Reviews".

Jack Adkisson sometimes gets a bad rap for being very gruff and intimidating.  Is there something you would like to share with our web visitors about Fritz that would surprise them?

I think it was his deep voice that made him seem so intimidating. There were times when I would be trying to show him something new on the computer and he would get frustrated and raise his voice, it would send chills down my spine. Jack Adkisson (Fritz) was a very nice man; he helped so many people and organizations in his lifetime. One short story I would like to share with your readers that's not in the book is the time he and I were at the grocery store in Denton. We had just finished doing our shopping and loading everything into the back of the pickup truck. Fritz said he wanted to walk next door and pick up a pair of eyeglasses that were being repaired. After picking up his glasses, we started back to the pickup when both of us looked up and saw a car pulled up behind the truck. A guy and a young woman were busy loading our groceries into their car. I told Fritz that I would take care of it and started walking towards them. Fritz grabbed my arm and said, "Ron, let them have the groceries, there's kids in the car."  I looked at the car and saw two heads looking over the backseat. "Those kids are hungry," Fritz said. "We can buy more groceries, just let them have them."  The two of us turned around and walked back into the store and bought groceries a second time.

Lastly, Ron, how can fans order a copy of Fritz Von Erich: Master of the Iron Claw?

Fans can pick up a copy of my book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble.com or almost any online bookstore. Or, you can ask your local bookstore to order you a copy. On my website you can also see a list of bookstores with links to my book. In closing, I would like to thank you again for the interview.        

INTERVIEW: Jerry Jarrett

The current TNA co-owner, who in 1988 purchased WCCW and guided the promotion through its final successful run as the Dallas branch of the USWA, talks about his experiences promoting in Texas.

What were your original plans once you bought the World Class promotion? Did you plan on combining both the Texas and Memphis territories to compete with the WWF and WCW on more of a national level?

We did in fact combine the talent in the two areas. I really never thought of competing with WWF or WCW. We did not have the resources nor the inclination to take our business to a national level. I saw it as simply a chance to reproduce our profitable efforts in Tennessee in the Texas market.

What was your impressions of the Texas wrestling prior to you buying World Class?

The Texas wrestling at one time was very good and profitable. Fritz believed in a traditional format and at the same time was 'cutting edge' in some of his approach. The later years left the area in a sad shape because Fritz's sons had zero business experience. Their lack of business experience combined with personal problems left them with no money and basically no business.

They were not running shows, the syndication arm with Max Andrews was closed, and they owed considerable money to the building and Channel 11, when Kerry called and asked if I was interested in coming to Texas and talking to them about their business.

I have read in a previous interview with you that some of your fondest memories in wrestling were from your Texas days. What would some of them be?

Of course making money from your efforts is always rewarding. However, the personal satisfaction of accomplishing a goal that most people think is impossible is even more rewarding. We went to Texas and got the building back, got the television back, build the gates at the Sportatorium from zero to sell-out in about 8 weeks, paid off all the bills from the past, and enjoyed great profits in about 6 months. I have fond memories of working with people who really loved the business to the extent that they would sleep in their cars or at the Sportatorium to make ends meet until we made the business profitable.

Eric Embry and Frank Dusek made unbelievable personal sacrifice in the early weeks to keep the business going. I still enjoy the memory of taking them both new cars to Texas after we turned the corner.

The excitement of the rebuild of Texas wrestling was good for me personally because it was at this time that I started the Monster Truck business in Dallas.

What do you feel World Class' legacy will be to professional wrestling?

Unfortunately, I fear that the personal problems of the Von Erich family will overshadow their glory days in the wrestiling business. Our rebuilding was not of sufficient time to be remembered and again for those that do remember, the Von Erichs' personal problems will be pointed out as ending their second chance at success.

What was the reason for giving Eric Embry the book, with such a huge push? (It obviously worked, but he was never a huge name prior to this run. Was it a hunch?)

Eric was/and is a bright person with tremendous drive and a strong work ethic. He was full of good ideas, knew the wrestling history of the promotion, and was willing to make great sacrifice to rebuild the business.

From the beginning, I relied on Eric to help me. After we turned the corner and I realized we could make the promotion successful, I gave Eric more authority in the creative end of the business. I was strecthing myself pretty thin in that I was very involved in Tennessee, very involved in Texas, and very involved in the Monster Truck launch. I suppose you could say Eric was in the right place at the right time, but I don't feel Eric was given anything that he did not deserve.

BIO: Buddy "Jack" Roberts

Real Name: Dale Hey

Hometown: Del City, Oklahoma

Height/Weight: 6'2"/235

Signature Moves: Russian leg sweep, swinging neckbreaker

WCCW Titles Held: NWA Texas Heavyweight title, WCCW TV title, WCCW Six-Man Tag Team titles (five times with Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy, once with Gordy and Iceman King Parsons)

Notable WCCW Feuds: The Von Erichs, Iceman King Parsons, Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy.

Need to Know Facts: Born Dale Hey in 1945, Buddy began his storied wrestling career in 1965 as Dale Valentine, the fictitious brother of the legendary Johnny Valentine.

Changing his name to Buddy Roberts in 1970 (the "Jack" nickname, a reference to his fondness for Jack Daniel's whiskey, came later in his career), Dale formed the original Hollywood Blonds with Jerry Brown, and they won numerous regional tag team titles across the United States throughout the '70s.  Toward the end of the decade, Buddy split from Brown, making his first stop in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during 1978.  Reverting back to the Dale Valentine gimmick, he was accompanied at ringside by Johnny Valentine, who was by then confined to a wheelchair due to the injuries he had suffered in a career-ending 1975 plane crash (which also sidelined the young Ric Flair for a brief period).  Though Dale proved to be a popular babyface during this time, Johnny was obviously able to do very little as his manager and the pairing was short-lived.

By the time the Fabulous Freebirds left the Mid-South promotion for Georgia in 1980, Roberts had joined the team at the suggestion of promoter Bill Watts.  Original members Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy immediately won a tournament for the Georgia Tag Team titles upon entering the territory, defeating Mr. Wrestling I & II (Tim Woods and Johnny Walker) and the Assassins (Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto).  Eventually, however, Gordy and Roberts turned on Hayes, making him a fan favorite.  While Hayes and Gordy feuded, Roberts soon disappeared from the area.

In the fall of 1982, shortly after reuniting as babyfaces, Hayes and Gordy were fired by Georgia promoter Ole Anderson.  Hayes soon resurfaced in WCCW, immediately becoming wildly popular with D/FW area fans, and contacted Gordy and Roberts, urging them to join him in Texas.  Buddy arrived to reform the trio just as the Freebirds' historic feud with the Von Erich family was beginning. The rivalry would last off and on for nearly seven years.

In spring 1983, World Class fans first got the opportunity to appreciate the singles wrestling talents of Roberts when he clashed with the extremely popular "Iceman" King Parsons.  Their feud started when Buddy cut off a few of Iceman's trademarked braids, which naturally incensed Parsons.  The dastardly act would ultimately result in a hair vs. hair match at Reunion Arena, in which the loser would have his hair removed with the soon-to-become-infamous Freebird hair cream.  Buddy did win the match (albeit in a devious manner), but wound up losing his own hair as Parsons smeared the cream onto Buddy's scalp while his back was turned.  What followed was pure hilarity for World Class fans as Roberts would now attempt to deny the obvious and cover his dome with an obvious wig and boxing headgear while claiming that his hair had miraculously "grown back" overnight.

In addition to the Parsons feud, Buddy and his "brothers" Hayes and Gordy would go on to hold the prestigious Six-Man trophy on five separate occasions from 1983-1986, and the team would be a key factor in selling out World Class venues throughout the Southwest area during this time.

After another brief run in World Class during the first half of 1986, the Freebirds -- as did many other WCCW stars during this time -- entered Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation with Sunshine as their manager. During their UWF stint, they feuded with The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers), Ted DiBiase, "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Terry Taylor and Watts.  On September 28, 1986, Roberts defeated Taylor for the UWF TV title in Oklahoma City.  Following the sale of the UWF to Jim Crockett Promotions in mid-1987, Buddy turned up in Ken Mantell's short-lived Wild West Wrestling group based in Fort Worth, ironically teaming with his former bitter enemy, Iceman King Parsons.

The Freebirds' final stint in World Class began in late 1987 as Wild West was absorbed into WCCW.  This run was unlike either of their previous WCCW stays, as Roberts and Iceman joined forces with Gordy and the Angel of Death, again feuding violently with Kevin and Kerry Von Erich after Fritz's notorious post-attack "collapse" at Reunion Arena.  Michael Hayes also returned early in 1988, but to the fans' surprise and delight, became an ally of the Von Erichs -- and his babyface turn was cemented after Roberts, during a concert performance by Hayes at the Sportatorium, clocked Michael with a solid-body electric guitar!

After Gordy left for Japan in mid-1988, Michael Hayes took on former UWF alumnus Steve Cox as his regular tag team partner, and Roberts became the manager for the vicious Samoan Swat Team. The two teams exchanged the WCCW World Tag titles on two different occasions.

After the World Class promotion dissolved, Roberts would make the occasional managerial appearance (managing Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin in a match against Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers in the NWA), but largely remained retired.  In the later 1990's, Buddy discovered he had developed throat cancer, which he attributed to many years of heavy smoking; however, he was treated successfully.

Buddy Roberts passed away on November 29, 2012.

BIO: Percy Pringle III

Real Name: William Moody
   
Hometown: Mobile, AL

Notable WCCW Feuds: Iceman Parsons, the Von Erichs, the Dingo Warrior, Chris Adams, Devastation Inc.

Need to Know Facts: Born William Alvin Moody in Mobile, Alabama on April 10, 1954, Percival (Percy) Pringle III was every bit as much a wrestling fan as he was a wrestling legend. Percy "got his foot in the door" via the Gulf Coast Wrestling promotion, where he served as a photographer during his high school years.

Upon his high school graduation, Percy joined the U.S. Air Force. While in the service (during which he had debuted as “Mr. X”), he developed an interest in the funeral industry in addition to his growing enthusiasm for pro wrestling.

In early 1978, while working at a funeral home during the day and attending school at night, Percy somehow managed to lay the foundation for a remarkable managing career when he was named as a last minute replacement by Mississippi promoters George Culkin and Frankie Cain (the latter better known to wrestling fans as the legendary Great Mephisto). Being thrust into a prominent position on a wrestling card seemingly convinced Percy to put his mortuary career and education on hold for the time being.

Percy would take a lengthy leave of absence from wrestling after the birth of his first son, returning to the funeral profession and college. He would go on to receive a degree in Mortuary Science and earned his Funeral Director and Embalmer’s Certification from San Antonio College -- licenses he maintained until his death.

In 1984 the wrestling bug bit Percy once again and he returned to the sport full time. Florida is where fans caught up with the flamboyant manager, as he managed “Ravishing” Rick Rude to the region’s top singles title. Percy also managed a rookie by the name of Lex Luger, who was to serve as Percy’s bodyguard briefly in Florida, in Luger’s first professional match.

Pringle and Rude left the Florida region for World Class in 1985, and just as he had done in the Sunshine State, Pringle led Rude to World Class’ top title, the NWA American Heavyweight Championship. Rude would eventually become the first WCWA World Heavyweight champ when World Class withdrew its membership from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in February 1986.

Throughout his WCCW career Percy would go on to manage numerous stars including not only Rude, but also the Dingo Warrior (Jim Hellwig, who would later go on to worldwide stardom in the World Wrestling Federation as The Ultimate Warrior) and one of the most underrated tag teams of the 1980’s, Buzz Sawyer and Matt Borne, a team Percy led to the WCCW World Tag Team titles.

Though known primarily through his career as a heel, Percy suddenly began to hear cheers for the first time in Texas in early 1989, when he chose to stand up against General Skandor Akbar’s attempted takeover of World Class. Pringle enlisted the help of an unlikely ally, “suspended” wrestler Eric Embry. So confident was Percy in Embry’s abilities that he organized a write-in campaign to have Embry reinstated. It is believed that the reinstatement campaign drew over 25,000 legitimate responses from wrestling fans throughout the world.

On Friday, August 4, 1989, newfound WCCW hero Embry, seconded by manager Pringle, defeated Devastation Inc. member P.Y. Chu-Hi in a steel cage main event at the Dallas Sportatorium to gain controllership of the promotion, the majority of which was “owned” by General Skandor Akbar and his evil associates. With this victory, World Class Championship Wrestling officially became the Dallas branch of the Memphis-based United States Wrestling Association (USWA). The subsequent removal of the WCCW banner from the wall of the Sportatorium by Embry and Percy is one of the most legendary moments in Texas wrestling history.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you probably know that Percy went on to become the WWF's Paul Bearer in late 1990. He guided such icons as the Undertaker, Kane, and Mick Foley to WWF championship gold, had his own interview segment (The Funeral Parlor) on the federation's weekly programming, and could rival any former World Class superstar -- including the Ultimate Warrior and the Von Erichs -- for having the most merchandise available with his likeness on it.

Signed to a legends contract by the WWE in 2005, Bearer would go on to work occasionally as manager of Undertaker and Kane  He made a short-lived attempt at promoting with the Gulf South Wrestling fed from 2005 to 2007, while returning to his former career as a mortician full-time in 2006.  His beloved wife Dianna passed away due to breast cancer and chemotherapy complications in January 2009, and on March 5, 2013, Percy himself died shortly after attending a Gulf Coast Wrestlers Reunion in Mobile.  Percy and Dianna had two sons, Michael and Daniel (who now wrestles as D.J. Pringle).

BIO: Al Perez

Real Name: Alberto Perez

Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Height/Weight: 6'1"/238

Signature Moves: Spinning power bomb, spinning toe hold, sleeperhold

WCCW Titles Held: WCCW World Heavyweight title, WCCW Texas Heavyweight title

Notable WCCW Feuds: The Dingo Warrior, Kevin and Kerry Von Erich.

Need to Know Facts: Born Alberto Perez on July 23, 1960, the "Latin Heartthrob" was a standout amateur wrestler in the Tampa area who was trained for a pro career by wrestling legend Boris Malenko.

Perez started his career as a babyface, bouncing around several areas including stints in Canada, California and ICW (where he teamed with "Jumpin'" Joe Savoldi to form the New York Rockers) before going to work for Joe Blanchard's Southwest Championship Wrestling.

After his stint in SCW (where he co-held the group's tag team title with Manny "Ragin' Bull" Fernandez), Perez entered Bill Watts' Mid-South promotion where he teamed frequently with "Wildcat" Wendell Cooley, with whom he co-held the Mid-South Tag team titles.  Perez also wrestled in Puerto Rico from 1985 to 1987 for Carlos Colon's World Wrestling Council, where he achieved a great deal of success, winning the company's World Tag Team titles (again with Savoldi) and holding the North American and Puerto Rican Heavyweight titles simultaneously.

Perez made his first real impact in the United States when he entered World Class in 1987, working as a heel for the first time in his career under the guidance of manager extraordinaire "Playboy" Gary Hart.  He won the prestigious WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship from the Dingo Warrior (future WWF superstar Ultimate Warrior) in June of 1987, and was awarded the World Class World Heavyweight title two months later when champ Kevin Von Erich was forced to relinquish the belt due to an injury.

Much like "Nature Boy" Ric Flair during his multiple reigns as NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Perez defended the WCCW World title with class and dignity, and presented himself well as a champion. However, also like Flair, Perez would use any dirty trick available to hold onto his title, and was World Class' top heel for nearly a year.  It was during this time that  Perez felt he truly came into his own in the ranks of professional wrestling; he has credited WCCW owner Jack Adkisson (Fritz Von Erich) and the legendary Bruiser Brody for helping him learn every aspect of the industry.

In March 1988, Perez followed manager Hart (who had resigned from WCCW after a dispute with Fritz) into Jim Crockett Jr.'s National Wrestling Alliance. He feuded with "Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff and formed a successful tag team with "Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko.  When the company's infamous Black Scorpion storyline was launched in mid-1990, Perez briefly played the mysterious hooded heel but soon bowed out due to a disagreement over booking, leaving Dave "Angel of Death" Sheldon, and finally Ric Flair, to take over the role.

Perez's next stop was in the WWF, and his stay there was by and large an uneventful one, as he detested the federation's "cartoon gimmickry" and refused several offbeat gimmicks thrown at him by its officials.  This resulted in Perez wrestling frequently in preliminary bouts, often jobbing to wrestlers who were inferior to him in terms of skill.

After Perez left the WWF, he wrestled in the USWA as well as the short lived Global Wrestling Federation before retiring from the sport in 1996 due to an elbow injury. He did make a brief comeback for the Philadelphia-based Liberty All-Star Wrestling promotion in 2001 (where many fans remarked about how good Perez still looked); however, he retired again shortly thereafter.

BIO: Iceman King Parsons

Real Name: King Parsons

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Height/Weight: 5’10''/245

Signature Moves: Butt-butt, headbutt, boxing jabs

WCCW Titles Held: WCWA World Heavyweight Champion, WCCW American Heavyweight Champion, WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion, WCWA World Tag Team Championship (with Terry Taylor), WCCW American Tag Team Championship (with Buck Zumhofe) and WCCW Six-Man Tag Team Championship (with Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts).

Notable WCCW Feuds: Buddy Roberts, Devastation Inc., Rick Rude, Gino Hernandez, Chris Adams, Kerry Von Erich, Kevin Von Erich, Michael Hayes and Eric Embry.

Need to Know Facts: Born in 1950 in St. Louis, Parsons was trained by wrestling veteran Nick Kozak. In 1979 Parsons made his wrestling debut in Don Owen's Portland territory. Parsons teamed with “Soulman” Rocky Johnson to capture the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship. With less than 3 years' experience in the industry, he moved on to Jim Crockett Promotions where he teamed with Porkchop Cash and feuded with Don Kernodle and Jim Nelson over the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship.

Having swapped talent between the Portland and Dallas promotions for many years, WCCW owner Fritz Von Erich acquired Parsons from Owen's territory at a pivotal time in the history of the promotion, and would go on to enjoy the greatest success of his career.

During early 1983, WCCW had several young lions such as Parsons, “Gentleman” Chris Adams, the Fabulous Freebirds and “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin to accompany their biggest draws, the Von Erich sons, which quickly made the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex a hotbed for professional wrestling.

Parsons was first introduced to WCCW viewers in early 1983, in a vignette produced by WCCW television producer Mickey Grant which showed him working in an ice factory, hauling large blocks of ice on his shoulders in a demonstration of his strength, and of how he acquired his nickname.

Parsons burst onto the World Class scene, allying himself with the Von Erichs in their feud against the Fabulous Freebirds, and was second only to them in popularity during the initial years of WCCW’s syndication. When his theme song, Sister Sledge’s hit “We Are Family”, hit an arena’s speakers, the crowd went into a frenzy. From the start of the match until its end, Parsons had the D/FW area in the palm of his hands.

From the Von Erich-Freebird feud, a separate feud was spun off between Iceman and Buddy Roberts, which resulted in Parsons applying a hair removal cream to Roberts, leaving him bald and humiliated. As a result of losing his hair, Roberts wore a wig secured by protective headgear, which brought many classic comedic moments in the annals of World Class.

In addition to his wrestling ability, Iceman was among the best microphone workers in the industry, using many catch phrases such as "rooty poot" (on which The Rock's "rooty-poo candy ass" in WWE was based), "Hubba Bubba, not a speck of trubba!" and "Like Momma says, it be's that way sometimes -- have mercy!"

During his first tenure in World Class, Parsons would also team up with “Rock 'n' Roll” Buck Zumhofe, calling their tandem “Rock and Soul”, trading the NWA American Tag Team Titles with General Skandor Akbar’s Super Destroyers (the Irwin Brothers) on two separate occasions. At this period of time, Parsons was feuding heavily with Devastation Inc., having been a victim of one of General Skandor Akbar's fireballs during a late 1983 match in which he teamed with the Junkyard Dog against the Super D's.

In 1985 and 1986, Parsons would also wrestle briefly in the Texas All-Star Wrestling promotion, forming the "Dream Team" with Tiger Conway, Jr., and feuding with Mike & Dizzy Golden.

Like numerous others wrestling for World Class, Parsons left the group in mid-1986 to join Mid-South promoter Bill Watts’ Universal Wrestling Federation. It was in the UWF that Parsons first turned heel, turning against tag team partner (and fellow WCCW alumnus) “Gentleman” Chris Adams during a tournament to crown UWF Tag Team Champions. Parsons would feud with Adams in the UWF, World Class, USWA and Global promotions as well as other independent federations until Adams' sudden death in 2001.

Parsons would return to WCCW in 1987, joining Freebirds Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts in their war against estranged ’Bird Michael Hayes. Parsons was known as the Blackbird during this feud and would eventually form a trio called The Blackbirds with Perry "Action" Jackson and referee-turned-manager Harold T. Harris.

In 1992, Parsons went to the Global Wrestling Federation with Jackson and won the tag team titles with him, and also won their top belt, the North American title. Parsons and Jackson feuded with The Ebony Experience (Booker T. and Stevie Ray, later known as Harlem Heat in WCW). He also worked for the United States Wrestling Association, where he was managed by Skandor Akbar and Percy Pringle III.

Iceman was sidelined for a time due to a serious back injury suffered in an automobile accident, but later returned to the North Texas indy ring wars, again feuding with Action Jackson in Denton's Xtreme Championship Wrestling before retiring from the sport.