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.

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.

INTERVIEW: Missy Hyatt

Launching her career in 1985 as valet for her then-boyfriend John Tatum in WCCW, Missy Hyatt quickly became one of the most famous and recognizable women in professional wrestling.  She is still active today as a wrestler, valet and commentator, and her successful adult website, Missy Hyatt and Friends, continues to feature alluring images of herself and many more of the sport's most beautiful women.  We wish to thank Ms. Hyatt for taking time out of her busy schedule for this exclusive email interview with John Dananay.

How did you get involved specifically in World Class Championship Wrestling? What was your first impression of Fritz Von Erich and his sons?

I was dating John Tatum at the time. We both watched an episode of World Class Championship Wrestling after David Von Erich passed away.  We both realized that we had to get to Dallas, since this company was mega-hot, we wanted to be a part of it.

Ken Mantell thought that Tatum was missing “a piece of the puzzle” in the presentation of his character.  The missing piece ended up being me. I can honestly say that out of everybody that I ever managed in my career, I had the most chemistry with John.  We played the roles of the “bratty-bitchy girlfriend” and “dumb jock boyfriend” roles to perfection.  I still have kept in contact with John over the last two years.  I think people underestimate what a great wrestler he was during that time period.

I love Fritz and have nothing bad to say about him on a personal or professional level.  He treated me better than any promoter in my entire career. I never had any issues with pay.  I never got screamed at.  I never had to worry about politics.  The greatest times in my career was working for Fritz.  I could never duplicate the fun that I had in Dallas for the rest of my career.

I never really had much interaction with Fritz' children, due to kayfabe.  I got along with all of them.  I even got to work with Kerry's daughter, Lacey over the last two years for WSU and Kayfabecommentaries.com.  I thought it was funny how Lacey once asked me why I was so nice to her.  I said "it’s the least I could do, since your granddaddy was responsible for my career."  I still have my first check from Fritz framed on my wall.

Kerry had a rock star presence that none of the current wrestlers have.  He could walk anywhere, and you immediately thought he was a star.  I saw tons of people mob him for autographs, including the security.  I found Kevin & Mike to be nice guys.  

How were women treated versus the way male workers were treated in the promotion? Did you or Sunshine (that you know) ever have any negative encounters with talent or management because of your gender?

I never had any problems.  We were considered one big family.  I did get ribbed by the Freebirds, but it was not malicious.  Sunshine and I were treated properly.  Sunshine was very respected.

I have heard you had a crush on Gino Hernandez when you were younger, so I must ask, what made him so special? Do you think he had what so many wrestling "insiders" refer to as the "it" factor to make an eventual impact to a Crockett or WWF? Or is it more of mystique due to him dying in his prime?

I never had a crush on Gino; I believe Baby Doll had a crush on him.  The character that Gino portrayed was similar to the real Gino.  I remember asking Gino about his Louis Vuitton luggage.  Gino told me it doesn't matter, since I can never afford it.  Gino did apologize to me about being rude.  I remember Gino had an idea for me to manage him.

Gino had the qualities of a Horseman.  He was similar to Tully Blanchard.  They both had the heel quality that struck a nerve in most people.  I've only seen bits and pieces of their work together for Southwest Championship Wrestling, and I believe they could have been great together on a national level.  Sorry for losing focus on the question.  I became a big fan of Tully Blanchard later in life.

I still get a kick out of the match that Gino & Chris Adams lost their hair to Kevin & Kerry Von Erich [at the Cotton Bowl in October 1985].  I still giggle at the image of all of the guys holding Gino down as they shave his head.

How was it to work under Ken Mantell? In Gary Hart's book [My Life in Wrestling...with a Little Help from My Friends], he was VERY critical of Ken.  Do you think such criticism was warranted?

I've got nothing bad to say about Ken.  I was upset that Bill Watts knocked Ken in his book [The Cowboy and the Cross: The Bill Watts Story -- Rebellion, Wrestling and Redemption].  Ken was one of the best bookers that I ever worked for.  He was partly responsible for the boom period in WCCW.  He was also instrumental in raiding WCCW in order to build up the UWF for Bill Watts.  I respect Gary Hart and I would love to read his book in order to hear about his opinion about the matter.

When Ken Mantell defected to the UWF in the early summer of 1986, and took yourself and numerous other talents with him from World Class, was it something that was extensively planned in advance, or was "the writing on the wall" with World Class pulling out of the NWA, the death of Gino, and Kerry's motorcycle accident? How was the mass exodus executed and how was it discussed?

My departure from WCCW had nothing to do with personal issues.  UWF was expanding to go national and I wanted to get on board.  I looked at it as more money, more exposure, and more markets to work in front of.  The departure was out of business.  Everybody who left fulfilled their notices.

I do have remorse that the UWF exodus sparked the downfall of WCCW.  Fritz lost the Freebirds, Skandor Akbar, Ken Mantell, Sunshine, John Tatum, Fantastics, and myself.  Unfortunately Kerry would get into a major motorcycle accident a few weeks later.  Kevin was drifting out of the business.  Mike was suffering from toxic shock syndrome.  These were too many hardships for any promoter to be able to maintain their business.

I had remorse about leaving up until recently.  I realized if I never left, I could have been one of those performers that never made it out of fear in having to get over in front of a new audience.  Even if I stayed, the houses were decreasing after the spring of 1986.  The exposure I got from UWF would get me a tryout in the WWF and a job with NWA.  I made the right move for my career.  I'm still grateful to Fritz and my jump [to the UWF] had nothing to do with hurting him on a personal level.

Looking back, what was your favorite memory of World Class? Does the territory hold a special place in your heart still, or was it "just another promotion"?

My favorite memory of WCCW was having the last match at the 1986 Parade of Champions with Sunshine.  It helped that our match was a mud match, that was the only reason we went on last.  But at least it gives me ammunition in my own mind to say that I main-evented the show. My greatest memories were being provided an opportunity and being partly responsible for being in several programs that drew money.  I will always be grateful that John Tatum was willing to share the spotlight with me.

WCCW was not just another promotion to me.  Calendars, trading cards, posters, & bigger checks from WCW still does not have the same place in my heart that I had in WCCW.  I try not to remember the dark side of WCCW that it would later be known for in Heroes of World Class or Gentleman’s Choice.   I instead would prefer to reminisce about the happiest times in my life and career.

What could have kept World Class going longer than it did in your opinion?

The defection of talent to the UWF was a major catalyst to the downfall of WCCW.

They also needed several babyfaces that were not Von Erichs in order to carry the company.  I think if Fritz went national, he could have risked failing like Jim Crockett and Bill Watts.  Fritz should have focused on staying regional, since Vince McMahon had been the only promoter to go national successfully.

I think Fritz could have focused on touring foreign countries, since we ran a successful tour in Israel.  I don't think Fritz had enough staff and talent to become a national touring promotion.

Were you close to Sunshine away from the ring? Did she offer to mentor you in any way? Do you feel she often gets overlooked in the history of professional wrestling?

Sunshine carried me in WCCW and taught me to respect the business.  I remember laughing during one of our first cat-fights.  Nobody could tell, since our hair was hiding our faces.  Sunshine screamed at me when we got backstage to take it seriously and I will never forget it.

I remember having a party at my old place in Dallas.  We still believed in kayfabe, but Sunshine wanted to attend the party.  Sunshine ended up climbing from the outside into my window and we hung out in my bedroom with several friends.  I would love to know how Sunshine is doing in life and hopefully she can get in contact with me if she hears about this article.

Sunshine is overlooked as a valet.  Sunshine was one of the pioneers in the “valet versus valet” programs that gave many women like me a job in the wrestling business.

Almost any program she was involved in got over.  She didn't need implants to get over, instead she had talent.

Who were your favorite workers from World Class?

My favorite workers from a fan’s perspective would be The Freebirds.  I remember switching through the TV channels on WTBS and saw them on Georgia Championship Wrestling.  It totally changed my life.

I was obviously a big fan of working with John Tatum.  I believe our UWF stuff still holds up, especially the interviews we did together.

I was in total awe of Bruiser Brody.  I don't recall talking to Brody much in WCCW.

I enjoyed working with The Fantastics.  I think WCCW could have done a lot more with making them into a drawing card.

I enjoyed working with Ken Mantell.  Many of his booking ideas were ahead of (the other wrestling bookers) at the time.

INTERVIEW: Brian Harrison

The director and co-producer of Heroes of World Class -- an avid fan of the promotion during his childhood years in Chicago -- discusses the production of the documentary, and what compelled him to make it.  (NOTE: This interview was conducted in 2006, prior to the original mail order-only release of the film.  It has since been reissued twice by Big Vision Entertainment.)

What was it about the Von Erichs and World Class that drove you to create a documentary that is, for a lot of people, probably one of the most anticipated professional wrestling DVD’s ever to come out?

Having the same experience as a lot of  the fans is what inspired me to make Heroes of World Class.  Watching what appeared to be a fun, entertaining show as a kid that, in the end, became sad and not at all entertaining. I was also left with a lot of questions brought about, I'm sure, by the feeling of loss that I didn't really think anyone could relate to. As a 10-year-old you're not really smart to anything, especially life and death.

I mean, to put things in proper perspective for those who didn't see World Class in its prime, the Von Erichs could have rivaled the birth of Hulkamania in popularity.  Anyone who saw them would agree and it was all because of the syndicated World Class show.

Did you find the WCCW alumni you interviewed for the documentary more than eager to share their stories or, due to the tragedy one usually associates with World Class, a bit more apprehensive?

I couldn't have been more excited, not only that they agreed to give me their time, but in how candid they were. It was a real privilege.  There's so much I had to cut that I agonized over, because it was great stuff, but just didn't fit the story. The movie was originally about four hours long.

What aspects of the Von Erichs/World Class and its wrestlers will the movie touch upon? What can a diehard Von Erich/World Class fan look forward to when they obtain their copy of the movie?

Hopefully closure. That's what it has given me.

As far as content, people can expect to hear about how World Class came into existence. The film really gives kudos to the production side and what Mickey Grant and Bill Mercer brought to the table in a way I feel is appropriate to their contributions. I feel that way about everyone, but the element that rarely gets the credit it deserves are those envisioning and bringing to fruition the production side of the card.

Fans will really enjoy how much show footage was used to tell the story. I wanted to tell the story of WCCW in four parts: how it originated, the most famous stars and angles during its glory days, when and how it shot to stardom, and how and when it began its descent. What we’re talking about through all of this is a television show. So I wanted to show as many of its highlights as I possibly could.

There are certain things I couldn’t get my hands on like the classic Gordy-Khan match from Star Wars ’84. So I had to tell that time period without it. But some of the things I DID find were extraordinary to me, like the pilot episode and the promo they used to sell syndication to different stations around the country.

I tried to tell that part of the story as a fan -- what I would want to see.  It spends a lot of time on David’s death, which I thought was appropriate being that it was really the turning point in the promotion (and family).  We tried to stay away from the dramatics in terms of who liked working with who, etc.  We tried to refrain from judgment and just tell the facts as we know them.

There were a few things that were shocking revelations. The film actually begins with one, Kevin discussing Fritz's upbringing around the Depression. His dad, a town sheriff in Jewett [Texas], taking Fritz to the town square and having all the townspeople gather around as he proceeds to make a teenaged Fritz fight other kids for money.  Fast forward forty years to the Dallas Sportatorium.  Fritz is booking “fights” for five thousand townspeople every Friday night, and who is in the main event? His sons. I found that parallel pretty amazing.

Being a World Class fan from the Chicago-land area (as I am), what was like to visit with the former superstars of the World Class era, and to visit a place like the historic Dallas Sportatorium? What kind of emotions (if any) did they bring out in you? 

It was surreal at times. Walking into the Sportatorium with Kevin on 2/10/03 -- the day demolition began -- will always be one of those moments I’ll be most proud of.  He was the first image of the World Class show I ever had back in November of ’83.  Walking in that building for the first time with him during his last time in the building is something I’ll never forget.

The stadium interview was shot on the floor of Texas Stadium with Kevin on the twentieth anniversary of the first David Memorial Parade of Champions. That was another. One of Gary Hart’s interviews was shot at the Will Rogers Coliseum. All highlights.  Returning to Chicago from a Dallas shoot with the pilot episode and other master tapes was pretty cool too.

While you were working on this project, the possibility of the World Class footage being sold to the WWE loomed over every fan’s head, and at numerous times, nearly became a reality. Did you worry about the sale of the World Class video library to the WWE in that it might affect the release of Heroes?

I was a little nervous -- which made me finish the film without making some final changes I had hoped to make. But in the end Kevin and I have a pre-existing agreement, so one is really not affected by the other. 

Most World Class fans have had to suffer through low-quality shoot interviews done by less-than-knowledgeable interviewers (often done in a few hours), and a documentary like Heroes of World Class is, for this fan, LONG overdue. Why do you think it has taken so long for a proper documentary about World Class to occur?

I have no idea! I’ve been waiting too -- LOL. Actually I think the reason no one has made this film until now is because of the complexities. Not only did I have to track everyone down (and thankfully people like Vince Fahey at Kayfabe Memories were gracious enough to help), but I had to pitch every single person on being involved, including Kevin, AND get permission to license the library.  Beyond that, choosing the direction in which to tell the story is a process in itself. It literally took years to find the way I thought was best to tell it. There are through lines and a spine to the story that might not be seen until watched a few times. Some things might not even make sense at first in terms of why something was put where it was put, etc. But there is a chronology to the story I wanted to adhere to, both from the standpoint of the family and the promotion.  It was the most difficult thing I have ever done. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is why others have been hesitant to make it before now.

As for the shoot interviews, I actually used some shoot interview footage in HOWC because I thought it would help fill out certain moments of the story structurally -- which I think it did. But I really tried to balance them within the overall context of the film with archival footage and our own interviews.

How will this documentary stack up against the likes of Beyond the Mat, Forever Hardcore and the other wrestling-related documentaries that have been released in the last few years?

This is more of an “indie” project than any of those films. It’s gritty and non-polished in certain ways.  But there are so many projects out there with endless funding that have all the gloss in the world that are just crap.

It was made on a shoestring budget -- a half a shoestring actually with no shoe.  It’s bound to leave people wanting to have seen more of this pre-WCCW or more of that stuff from post-1986, '87 or, “Man, I would have loved to hear this person talk more”… about this or that.  But hopefully it will also leave fans with some answers and understanding they’ve been wanting, and for others an understanding for history's sake of what World Class was, how it came to be, who the main participants in the prime of World Class were, the impact it had and the footprint it left on the business.

INTERVIEW: Vince Fahey

The owner of Kayfabe Memories, one of the most popular and respected websites dealing with pro wrestling's territorial era, discusses WCCW's historical importance and fan loyalty in this email interview.

What did you find intriguing about the World Class promotion?

WCCW wasn't a large territory, yet it was extremely popular with its fans, it was able to get major syndication with ESPN, and at least during the early to mid-80s, had some really exciting wrestling.  On top of that, the entire Von Erich mystique cannot be denied.  Regardless of the tragedies that came, the Von Erich family ruled that area like no other wrestling family, and to this day, inspires tremendous dedication and loyalty from their fans.  For me, growing up in Arizona, outside of the WWF which everyone got during the days of Hulkamania, and besides the AWA which also shared ESPN syndication, World Class was my early introduction to "real" pro wrestling, by that I mean, besides the WWF circus.

What do you think was World Class' greatest success?

In terms of specific workers, I'd say Kerry, who not only gained the NWA Championship, but also eventually broke out of the Texas scene, and appeared albeit briefly, in the WWF.  Overall, the promotions greatest success was getting onto ESPN.  That was a major coup and a huge benefit to them as a company.... No longer were they a regional promotion... They were nationwide, with a great mid-day time slot that surely brought them a lot of new fans. 

What do you think was World Class' greatest mistake?

Hard for me to say.  I'm not as well qualified to answer this question as others might be.

Does it surprise you that fans still today have such strong emotions for the promotion and its wrestlers? 

To some degree.  Running Kayfabe Memories, and watching the continued participation in the WCCW forum, certainly shows that these fans are out there.  Funny story... I had a pair of women who early on in KM's history, were writing monthly pieces for me on WCCW on the main site.  Someone on the WCCW forum on the message board, said something disparaging, at least in their minds, about whether or not Chris Von Erich should've been encouraged or allowed to get into wrestling.  Because of this, and mind you, these opinions about Chris were completely respectful of all parties involved, these two women felt they could no longer write for KM.... They were so offended by someone speaking against the Von Erichs, that they felt it their duty or something to step down.  Now I don't hold this against them... Not at all.  It's just one of those peculiar Von Erich fan things.... Say a negative word, in even the most respectful and polite terms, and VE fans come out of the woodwork to refute and defend, regardless of the validity of the statement they're reacting to.

I think that reaction lends itself to the incredible impact the promotion had on wrestling fans.  And above you asked what some of the promotion's greatest success were... I guess this fan loyalty could be another viable success...

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

Certainly the Von Erich family.  Though Mike and Chris never had any great impact, at least not to the degree their three brothers did or even their father before them, the Von Erich name is well known amongst wrestling fans and holds even still some serious weight.  Outside of the Von Erichs, the promotion created or further propelled some major wrestling talent: Jimmy Garvin, Rick Rude, the Freebirds, Iceman King Parsons, Chris Adams, Steve Austin, and many more... The promotion was able to create some bonafide stars within their promotion and make the best of their talents.  It was at one point, one of the most exciting territories running and its impact and place in wrestling history cannot be denied by any wrestling historian.

INTERVIEW: James Beard

The internationally-respected referee shares his thoughts on the mystique surrounding the Von Erichs and the decline of World Class in this email interview.

How long did you work for the World Class Championship Wrestling organization? In what capacity did you work for them?

John, I was working, primarily, in Japan during the last days of World Class. However, I did work for some for them at that time and was around the World Class talent often when home. I was around during the transition period when Jerry Jarrett took over and started USWA/Texas (though my Japanese tours regularly interupted my appearances) and worked for Kevin when he tried to restart WCCW. So, I actually didn't work a lot for World Class during it's most productive period. My experiences with the WCCW talent was fairly extensive, though, because I had come to know and had worked with many of them.

What do you think WCCW's legacy to professional wrestling will be? How well do you think it would have fared, had it maintained all of its top stars like David Von Erich, Gino Hernandez, etc., against the likes of Vince McMahon and Jim Crockett, Jr.?

That's a hard question to answer because of all the "what ifs" involved. I believe World Class, had David and Gino lived and Kerry and Kevin had been at the top of their form, would have been formidable. The problem is direction....Would someone have (perhaps David) been able to keep the company's direction focused and progressive? Vince McMahon saw the potential of World Class and wanted to join forces with Fritz at one time...Fritz turned down the proposal. So many things would have had to have been different to imagine what could have been. World Class was a very popular and well accepted promotion. But, that was based, in a large part, on the incredible popularity of the Von Erich brothers and the main supporting cast Chris Adams, Gino, Bruiser Brody, Iceman Parsons, etc.).....When some of these guys were lost, the glitter of success fell off the promotion.

David had the personality and talent to have been the leader of the company....As much as I liked Kerry and like Kevin, I'm not so sure either had that kind of personality and work ethic to be the guy in charge of a high profile company. In my opinion, David's death kicked a significant part of the foundation away from the company and nobody could reinforce what was lost.

Do you ever foresee another promotion that will be able to capture the spirit of WCCW, or wrestlers that will capture its audience's hearts the Von Erich brothers and other WCCW talent had?

I really don't see that ever happening....It's kind of a Camelot sort of happening that rose up out of the mist and was there a short time but was taken away because of human failure. The Von Erich boys and the personas they represented to their fan base captured the imagination and fascination of a generation of wrestling fans. We are too sophisticated, jaded and exposed a society today to buy into those values that the Von Erich boys represented. At least right now....That's sad to say, but I believe it to be true. I do believe there is a place for a more believable promotion if someone had the foresight, patience and creativity it would take to get it off the ground. But, you can't create the unique popularity of World Class and the Von Erich brothers, it just has to happen and that's hard to imagine in this day and time.

What made the Sportatorium so unique to the the wrestling fan? What made it so unique to those who worked matches in the building?
The atmosphere....There was no other place like it. It was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, but it had a charm that, like the Von Erich popularity, you cannot manufacture. There were no bad seats, it was loud and it was perfect for wrestling. I saw a lot of big names come in there for the first time and react as if it were a temple. I loved the old place and miss going there every week for TV tapings. I feel very fortunate to have been have had the opportunity to have a place in the wrestling business that allowed me to call the Sportatorium home and spend so much time there. I believe all of us who based our careers in the Dallas Area in those days feel that way.

Whose decision was it to make Eric Embry a booker in WCCW? Do you sense any resentment towards him from the veteran WCCW wrestlers like the Von Erichs, Adams, etc.?

That period of time was very difficult for the promotion. David had been lost, Gino passed away and Kerry had gone through a tough time because of the motorcycle accident. Plus, Kevin seemed to have lost a little interest and focus which was understandable considering all that had happened regarding his family and the effect those things had on the World Class promotion. Plus, the WWF and WCW were being very aggressive as far as cable TV was concerned. Everything was cutting into the World Class piece of the wrestling pie and there didn't seem to be anyone capable of bringing it back to prominence.

Ak (Skandor Akbar) and Bronko Lubich were sort of the mainstays in the office and this guy and that was suggesting things to do. I'm not sure how the decision to give Eric so much latitude came about, but he certainly turned things around (at least for a while). It's hard to believe a guy who isn't particularly impressive physically could have gotten over the way Eric did. He was everything the Von Erichs weren't, but maybe that was what was needed at the time....sort of an anti-hero the fans could get behind.

Whatever the reasons, it worked and you had Eric involved in everything it seemed. I'm sure some of the talent had some resentment, but I don't think it was expressed outwardly the way you might expect. It's hard to argue with success and Eric was certainly bringing back the fans, at least compared to the way it was for several months before he became "SuperEric".

What did Embry bring to WCCW that had been lacking since the heydays of the Von Erichs vs. Freebirds & Dynamic Duo feuds?

As I stated above, he was the anti-hero and the opposite of all that had made World Class so popular before. I think it was timing and Eric's unexplainable appeal that gave the promotion the boost it got. The fans were looking for a hero and Eric stood up and became one, albeit in a converse manner to the way expected. Looking back, he was sort of the Stone Cold of that time because of the way he spit in the eye of everyone who got in his way. He certainly wasn't the traditional babyface.

During your stay in WCCW, what was the morale like amongst its employees?

Unfortunately, my regular appearances there were during tough times and I never got to experience the great successes of the earlier period. The morale was mixed....Some were optimistic and some didn't seem to care anymore. Success spoils you and it was difficult to get some to work as hard as needed to get things on track because they were used to it coming easy. Although I spent a great deal of time in Japan in those days, I was dedicated to doing all I could do to get the Dallas promotion back into the mix and that included staying around during the USWA days, the failed attempt to revive World Class, the GWF days, the attempt to restart the NWA there (Jim Crockett) and the CWF.....up 'til the day the Sportatorium saw its last regular promotion tape TV in the old building I stuck around. And, the reason I stayed has a lot to do with my feelings for the old World Class promotion and those that made it so popular. In my way of thinking, all that came after the mega success of the early days were an extension of that promotion and had ties rooted in the traditions and fanbase it created. My dream was to be a part of it rising up again.....But, there were too many things and too much time in the way......

INTERVIEW: Paul Barton

Current Texas indy manager (and WCCW fan) Barton shares his memories of the promotion and comments on its influence.

How would you describe the atmosphere at the first Parade of Champions in 1984, having attended the event live?

It was weird. I think I knew that Kerry was going to walk out with the belt, but it seemed surreal. Like "Is this really going to happen? What will the ramifications be if Kerry does win the belt?" I knew something special was going to happen because I saw Bill Apter & Craig Peters (from PWI) there taking photos that day and they never appeared at World Class events, so I knew something was up. I got their autographs on some PWI mags that I brought with me and I think they were flattered that I recognized them. The "electricity" was high that day and the crowd I was sitting around was popping big for anything. We all loved seeing Fritz in the 6-man match and it was hard to see for us, since we were in the second to last row ringside, by the entrances. It was VERY hot that day, like over 100 degrees. I remember that the match between Kerry and Flair was not spectacular, but it seemed that the crowd was just ready for the finish & see Kerry walk out NWA World Champion. I knew I was going to see history and that a NWA World Title change was rare and I appreciated the fact I was there. I was only a fan since '82 and I knew how important the World Title meant. What I thought was weird was the fact it wasn't the last match. I thought that would be a good way to send the crowd home happy from the big World Title win, but the last match was the mixed tag between Sunshine & Chris Adams vs. Precious & Jimmy Garvin. But all in all, it was great being there and seeing it all first hand.

Were there any noticeable differences you could see as a fan between the first two Parade of Champions?

The atmosphere was very different. We all thought that Kevin would not pull it off. That something screwy would happen and the finish would be a screw-job of some sort (not that Kevin would take the pinfall). The big hype around this event was the 2-ring, 10 man Elimination Match, that the winning team would win $100,000. Since it was the best 3 out of 5 falls, the winner of the last fall would win a new Cadillac. The World Title seemed secondary to that match on this particular show. But it was neat seeing all those guys on one show: Steve "Dr. Death" Williams, Kamala, One Man Gang, The Von Erichs, The Freebirds, The Midnight Express, The Fantastics, Rip Oliver, Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams.

What, as a fan, attracted you to the World Class promotion?

I grew up here and my first exposure to wrestling was the local wrestling, which was World Class Wrestling. The Von Erichs were billed as hometown heroes and that means a lot here. Look at The Dallas Cowboys football team. There are die-hard fans that love them no matter what. That was the same with the Von Erichs. We all got caught up with the boys and their feud with H&H, Inc., The Freebirds and later Gino & Chris. Good over Evil.

What do you think World Class' legacy to professional wrestling is?

World Class popularized a lot that goes on in wrestling. The TV production was top notch. A 3 camera shoot (two on the floor, one stationary camera) and the editing was top notch. The videotaped promos on the syndicated show, the heat of the feuds, the personal feeling that it gave us, was the talk of the town. Syndication was big deal, and still is, but we here locally had no idea of the impact that we were having across the nation and internationally. I was in Jr. High when David Von Erich died and they had a moment of silence in our school. If someone died in the indy ranks here today (God forbid) no casual fan would care. Wrestling made the legit news here in that day. Nothing compares to that today. World Class had coverage in all the local papers (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Times Herald) and TV. If it has a legacy, I think that building heat in a feud owes a huge debt to the Von Erich/Freebird war. It was a war and perceived by the fans as that. Feuds that have that intensity are what are missing these days. Kayfabe may have been broken, but you could still build a feud like that today, but those in charge don't care enough to do that. It's all about TV ratings and product placement in today's age. A legacy? Building superstars is World Class's legacy.

Did you ever sense any of the camaraderie between WCCW fans during the live events?

Yes. We all seemed like we were "into it" and there always seemed to be that proverbial phrase "electricity in the air." The fans seemed to care about the drama and not how many dangerous bumps someone took. We cared if Kerry lost, we cared if Adams lost, we cared if Devastation, Inc. won, and we cared about a lot. We didn't criticize the wrestling, if it was technical or not. We cared about the individual wrestler or wrestlers and we cared about them as people.

If you ever attended a live event of another federation, how would you compare it to the WCCW promotion?

The magic was gone. I did not attend a live show between 1985 and 1990. When I took my then girlfriend to a WWF show, that even had Kerry Von Erich on it, it did not "feel" the same. It was "fake" feeling. The wrestling was good, but I felt I cared less who went over in any match. There was a separation from the show and the fans and it was not going to be bridged. There was no personal feeling to it. Nothing compares to the days when we thought it was real and we cared about the wrestling product. I miss that intimacy.