The WCCW Parade of Champions was a series of professional wrestling supercards promoted by Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling first in 1961, in 1972 and then annually from 1984 through 1988. Von Erich used the "Parade of Champions" name in 1984 as a way to honor his recently deceased son, David and the subsequent Parade of Champions were all "Von Erich Memorial" Parades of Champions. At the inaugural Von Erich Memorial event, in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a pro wrestling event in the United States up to that point, Kerry Von Erich defeated Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, only to lose it back to Flair 18 days later in Yokohama, Japan. Over the next few years, Von Erich altered the names as tragedy repeatedly struck his family. The Parade of Champions was the most recognized event that World Class Championship Wrestling, later known as World Class Wrestling Association, promoted. There was a Parade of Champions super card held by Southern Sports (precursor to WCCW) in 1961 and another held by Big Time Wrestling (the previous name of WCCW) in 1972. All Parade of Champions supercards were held at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. A wrestling organization out of Texas called NWA Southwest ran an event in late August, 2010, called Parade of Champions, which it claimed was the "Longest Running Wrestling Event In Texas History Dating Back To 1972," but there was no actual connection between the WCCW show event other than the name.
Southwest Sports Parade of Champions
Southwest Sports Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | Southwest Sports | ||
Date | January 31, 1961 | ||
City | Dallas, Texas | ||
Venue | Dallas Sportatorium | ||
Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The Southwest Sports Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based Southwest Sports on January 31, 1961 at the Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas. With a capacity crowd in attendance, the event celebrated Ed McLemore's 22nd anniversary promoting pro wrestling in Dallas and also served as a benefit show for the March of Dimes.[1] Southwest Sports would later be named Big Time Wrestling, then World Class Championship Wrestling and finally World Class Wrestling Association.
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Wild" Bull Curry (c) defeated Tosh Togo | Singles match for the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship | — | ||
2 | Hogan Wharton and Pepper Gomez (c) defeated Jet Monroe and Sputnik Monroe | Tag team match for the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship | — | ||
3 | Don Manoukian (c) defeated Alex Perez | Singles match for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | — | ||
4 | Danny Hodge (c) defeated Jerry Kozak 2-0 | Two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship | — | ||
5 | Pat O'Connor (c) vs. Dory Dixon ended in a draw | Two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | 90:00 | ||
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Southwest Sports Parade of Champions
Southwest Sports Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | Southwest Sports | ||
Date | January 29, 1963 | ||
City | Dallas, Texas | ||
Venue | Dallas Sportatorium | ||
Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The Southwest Sports Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based Southwest Sports on January 29, 1963 at the Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas. Southwest Sports would later be named Big Time Wrestling, then World Class Championship Wrestling and finally World Class Wrestling Association.
No. | Results | Stipulations | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dolly Darcel defeated Baby Cheryl | Singles match | ||
2 | Rock Hunter vs. Tarzan Tyler ended in a draw | Singles match | ||
3 | Bill Dromo defeated Rip Hawk (c) by disqualification | Singles match for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | ||
4 | "Wild" Bull Curry and Relampago Cubano defeated Ivan the Terrible and Tony Borne (c) | Tag team match for the NWA World Tag Team Championship | ||
5 | Lou Thesz (c) vs. Ray Gunkel ended in a double count-out | Two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | ||
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Southwest Sports Parade of Champions
Southwest Sports Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | Southwest Sports | ||
Date | June 4, 1963 | ||
City | Dallas, Texas | ||
Venue | Dallas Sportatorium | ||
Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The Southwest Sports Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based Southwest Sports on June 4, 1963 at the Dallas Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas. Southwest Sports would later be named Big Time Wrestling, then World Class Championship Wrestling and finally World Class Wrestling Association.
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Johnny Weaver defeated Tony Borne | Singles match | — | ||
2 | Chuck Conley defeated Black Bart | Singles match | — | ||
3 | Penny Banner (c) defeated Madame X | Singles match for the NWA Texas Women's Championship | — | ||
4 | Bill Watts (c) defeated Mark Lewin | Singles match for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | — | ||
5 | The Kozak Brothers (Jerry Kozak and Nick Kozak) (c) defeated Jack Donovan and Louie Tillet by disqualification | Tag team match for the NWA World Tag Team Championship | — | ||
6 | Lou Thesz (c) defeated Dory Dixon | Two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | 2:01 | ||
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Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions
Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | Big Time Wrestling | ||
Date | June 24, 1972 | ||
City | Irving, Texas | ||
Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based Big Time Wrestling on June 24, 1972 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. Southwest Sports would later be named World Class Championship Wrestling and later on World Class Wrestling Association.
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | El Santo and Jose Lothario defeated Terry Funk and Mr. Fuji | Tag team match | — | ||
2 | George Scott vs. Tommy Seigler ended in a time-limit draw | Singles match | — | ||
3 | Lord Littlebrook (c) defeated Cowboy Lang | Singles match for the NWA World Midget Championship | — | ||
4 | Mil Máscaras defeated The Alaskan | Singles match | — | ||
5 | Bearcat Wright won | 7-man Roulette match | — | ||
6 | Billy Red Lyons defeated The Spoiler (c) | Singles match for the NWA American Heavyweight Championship | — | ||
7 | Stan Stasiak defeated Red Bastien (c) | Singles match for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | — | ||
8 | Dory Funk, Jr. (c) vs. Fritz Von Erich ended in a time-limit draw | Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | 60:00 | ||
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Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions
Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | Big Time Wrestling | ||
Date | March 26, 1974 | ||
City | Dallas, Texas | ||
Venue | Memorial Auditorium | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based Big Time Wrestling on March 26, 1974 at the Memorial Auditorium in Dallas, Texas. Big Time Wrestling would later be named World Class Championship Wrestling and later on World Class Wrestling Association.
No. | Results | Stipulations | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bob Orton Jr. defeated Jerry Oates | Singles match | ||
2 | Bull Ramos and Roger Kirby defeated Bob Roop and Doug Somers | Tag team match | ||
3 | Black Angus defeated Blackjack Lanza | Singles match | ||
4 | Ivan Putski vs. the Great Mephisto ended in a draw | Singles match | ||
5 | The Texan defeated Fritz Von Erich (c) | Singles match for the NWA American Heavyweight Championship | ||
6 | Jack Brisco (c) defeated Clay Spencer | Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | ||
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Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions
Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | Big Time Wrestling | ||
Date | March 27, 1974 | ||
City | San Antonio, Texas | ||
Venue | Municipal Auditorium | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based Big Time Wrestling on March 27, 1974 at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas. Big Time Wrestling would later be named World Class Championship Wrestling and later on World Class Wrestling Association.
No. | Results | Stipulations | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bob Roop vs. Bull Ramos ended in a draw | Singles match | ||
2 | Roger Kirby defeated the Great Mephisto (c) by disqualification | Singles match | ||
3 | Blackjack Lanza and the Texan defeated Black Angus and Ivan Putski | Tag team match | ||
4 | Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens (c) defeated Bob Orton Jr. and Jose Lothario | Tag team match for the AWA World Tag Team Championship | ||
5 | Jack Brisco (c) vs. Dory Funk Jr. ended in a draw | Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | ||
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Superbowl of Wrestling
Superbowl of Wrestling | |||
---|---|---|---|
Promotion | Big Time Wrestling | ||
Date | June 5, 1976 | ||
City | Irving, Texas | ||
Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
Event chronology | |||
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The Superbowl of Wrestling was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based Big Time Wrestling on June 5, 1976 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. Big Time Wrestling would later be named World Class Championship Wrestling and later on World Class Wrestling Association.
No. | Results | Stipulations | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peter Maivia defeated Don Fargo | Singles match | ||
2 | Red Bastien vs. Rick Martel ended in a draw | Singles match | ||
3 | Rocky Johnson defeated Larry Sharpe | Singles match | ||
4 | Andre the Giant defeated J. J. Dillon and the Mongolian Stomper | Handicap match | ||
5 | Diamond Lil defeated Darling Degmar | Singles match | ||
6 | El Santo and Jose Lothario defeated Paul Perschmann and Tim Brooks | Tag team match | ||
7 | Terry Funk (c) vs. Fritz Von Erich ended in a double count-out | Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | ||
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1st Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
1st Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | World Class Championship Wrestling | ||
Date | May 6, 1984[2][3] | ||
City | Irving, Texas | ||
Venue | Texas Stadium[4] | ||
Attendance | 32,123 | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The 1st Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) on May 6, 1984 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his son David Von Erich, who had died in February, 1984. In the main event David's brother Kerry Von Erich faced the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, taking the title match that was originally planned for David Von Erich that same year. In a very emotional match Von Erich defeated Flair to win the championship in honor of his brother.
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kelly Kiniski vs. Johnny Mantell ended in a time-limit draw | Singles match | 15:00 | ||
2 | Chris Adams and Sunshine defeated Jimmy Garvin and Precious | Mixed tag team match | 06:00 | ||
3 | Butch Reed defeated Chick Donovan | Singles match | 4:23 | ||
4 | Kamala (with Skandor Akbar and Friday) vs. The Great Kabuki (with Gary Hart) ended in a double disqualification | Singles match | 12:00 | ||
5 | Junkyard Dog defeated The Missing Link by disqualification. | Singles match | — | ||
6 | Rock & Soul (Buck Zumhofe and Iceman King Parsons) defeated The Super Destroyers (Bill Irwin and Scott Irwin) (c) | Tag team match for the NWA American Tag Team Championship[4] | — | ||
7 | Fritz Von Erich, Kevin Von Erich, and Mike Von Erich defeated the Fabulous Freebirds (Buddy Roberts, Michael Hayes, and Terry Gordy) (c) | Six-man tag team for the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship[4] | — | ||
8 | Kerry Von Erich defeated Ric Flair (c) via pinfall | Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[4] This match had no time limit and the title could change hands on a disqualification. | 11:24 | ||
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2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | World Class Championship Wrestling | ||
Date | May 5, 1985[5][6] | ||
City | Irving, Texas | ||
Venue | Texas Stadium[7] | ||
Attendance | 26,153 | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The 2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) on May 5, 1985 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his son David Von Erich that had died in February, 1984. As a result of Kerry Von Erich's victory over the One Man Gang, manager Gary Hart had his head shaved bald. If Kerry lost, Fritz would have to come out of retirement and face One Man Gang one-on-one. The match between The Fantastics and The Midnight Express for the vacant NWA American Tag Team Championship was held in two rings side-by-side. The Midnight Express' manager Jim Cornette was handcuffed to the Fantastics cornerman, "Little John", who stood over 7 feet tall. Referee David Manning awarded the match and the title to the Fantastics, although Manning's pin count of a Fantastics member pinning a Midnight Express member started after referee Rick Hazzard's pin count of a Midnight Express member pinning a Fantastics member ended at 3. This match appears on the WWE Home Video "The Triumphs and Tragedies of World Class Championship Wrestling" DVD. Per stipulations, the winning team of the main event split $100,000 and the wrestler who eliminated the last wrestler won a brand new Lincoln Continental. Kevin Von Erich won the event with a spectacular dive from one ring over the ropes to another to pin Steve Williams. After the match, Gino Hernandez destroyed the windshield of the Lincoln Continental with a chain, with Chris Adams placing a boot on the destroyed windshield for good measure causing it to cave in.
3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | World Class Wrestling Association | ||
Date | May 4, 1986[8][9] | ||
City | Irving, Texas | ||
Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
Attendance | 24,121 | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The 3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Championship Wrestling Association (WCWA) on May 4, 1986 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his son David Von Erich who died in 1984. On the show the Great Kabuki was to have faced four wrestlers in this handicap match, one at a time. The fourth wrestler he was to have faced was Chris Adams. Michael Hayes began berating Adams after Steve Simpson defeated Kabuki, prompting Adams to superkick both Hayes and Kabuki out of the ring.
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sunshine defeated Missy Hyatt | Mud match | — | ||
2 | The Missing Link and King Parsons defeated One Man Gang and Skandor Akbar | Tag team match | — | ||
3 | The Great Kabuki defeated Mark Youngblood | Singles match: Gauntlet Match #1 | — | ||
4 | The Great Kabuki defeated Jerry Allen. | Singles match: Gauntlet Match #2 | — | ||
5 | Steve Simpson defeated The Great Kabuki | Singles match: Gauntlet Match #3 | — | ||
6 | Brian Adias (c) defeated Steve Regal | Singles match for the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | 13:00 | ||
7 | Chris Adams and Brickhouse Brown defeated John Tatum and The Grappler | Tag team match | 12:00 | ||
8 | Bruiser Brody defeated Terry Gordy | Barbed wire match | — | ||
9 | Rick Rude (c) (with Percy Pringle III) defeated Bruiser Brody by disqualification | Singles match for the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship | 07:30 | ||
10 | Steve Simpson, Kerry Von Erich and Lance Von Erich defeated the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts) (c)
| Lumberjack elimination match for the WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship | — | ||
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4th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
4th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | World Class Wrestling Association | ||
Date | May 3, 1987[10][11] | ||
City | Irving, Texas | ||
Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
Attendance | 5,900 | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The 4th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Championship Wrestling Association (WCWA) on May 3, 1987 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his sons David Von Erich and Mike Von Erich.
This event won the 1987 award for Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter; the combination of Mike Von Erich's name attached to the event (his suicide had been less than a month before it) and use of stipulations such as a scaffold match and women's mud wrestling was seen as exploitative.
No. | Results | Stipulations | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Matt Borne and Scott Casey defeated Black Bart and Jack Victory | Tag team match | ||
2 | Steve Doll defeated Killer Tim Brooks | Singles match | ||
3 | Cousin Junior defeated The Grappler | Singles match | ||
4 | Red River Jack and Spike Huber defeated Abdullah the Butcher and Eli the Eliminator | If the team of Jack and Huber wins Red River Jack gets a match with manager Gary Hart | ||
5 | Red River Jack defeated Gary Hart by count-out | Singles match | ||
6 | Mil Máscaras defeated Al Madril | Singles match | ||
7 | Skip Young defeated Brian Adias | Lumberjack match | ||
8 | Kevin Von Erich (c) vs. Nord the Barbarian ended in a double countout | Singles match for the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship | ||
9 | The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) and Steve Simpson defeated the Rock 'n' Roll RPMs (Mike Davis and Tommy Lane) and Eric Embry | Six-man Scaffold match | ||
10 | Bruiser Brody defeated Jeep Swenson | Singles match | ||
11 | Candi Divine defeated five other wrestlers | Six-woman Mud Pit Match | ||
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5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
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Promotion | World Class Wrestling Association | ||
Date | May 8, 1988[12][13] | ||
City | Irving, Texas | ||
Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
Attendance | 7,000 | ||
Event chronology | |||
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Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The 5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Championship Wrestling Association (WCWA) on May 7, 1988 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his sons David Von Erich and Mike Von Erich. The fifth version of the Parade of Champions would be the last show promoted under that name by the Von Erich family. Also only highlights of select matches aired on ESPN.
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Missing Link and Jason Sterling defeated Vince Apollo and The Angel of Death. | Tag team match | — | ||
2 | Mike George (c) defeated Jeff Raitz | Singles match for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship | — | ||
3 | Steve Casey defeated Eric Embry | Singles match | 00:19 | ||
4 | Black Bart defeated Bill Irwin by disqualification. | Singles match | — | ||
5 | Terry Gordy defeated Michael Hayes | "Triple Dome of Terror" Match | — | ||
6 | Terry Taylor (c) defeated Chris Adams | Singles match for the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | — | ||
7 | Jason Sterling, Steve Casey and John Tatum won by defeating Angel of Death, Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, King Parsons, Buddy Roberts, Jack Victory, Shaun Simpson and six others | "Triple Dome Texas Roundup" Match | — | ||
8 | Bruiser Brody and Kevin Von Erich defeated Buddy Roberts and a Masked Man | Tag team match | — | ||
9 | John Tatum and Jack Victory defeated Terry Gordy and Steve Simpson by count-out | Tag team match for the vacant Wild West Tag Team Championship | — | ||
10 | Kerry Von Erich defeated Iceman Parsons (c) | Singles match for the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship | — | ||
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References
External sources
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