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.
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.
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.
