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Post: #1043993
PT: #1/13
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I’ve recently watched a number of episodes of WCCW from September 1982 and noticed that in spite of David, Kerry, and Kevin Von Erich appearing on nearly every show, the crowds at the Sportatorium are anemic. The first few rows of seats are filled, and the fans who are there are heavily invested in the action, but there are rows upon rows of empty seats that appear on camera.
This makes me wonder if perhaps the Fabulous Freebirds were more responsible for WCCW’s booming success in the 1980s than the Von Erichs were. Every hero is only as good as his opposing villains; it’s odd to see a near empty Sportatorium with Von Erichs in nearly every match on the card before the Freebirds arrive.
Also, I’d like to know from those who lived in and around Dallas in the 1980s how high school football impacted attendance at the matches on Friday nights. Texas’ love of football is well-known. Did local games steal fans’ attention during football season? It would make sense in this case, as the shows I’m watching took place in the Fall…
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 cman73 |
September 26th, 2022 16:59 GMT |
 
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Topics: 35
Replies: 241
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Post: #1044000
PT: #2/13
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I lived about 200 miles south of there, and in my opinion, just based on the roster, the Von Erichs (I guess you throw in Brian Adias for a shot time he was there) were the youngest on the roster (at least those that were main eventing). I'm thinking (perhaps incorrectly) that the fans grew tired of the same veterans and needed some young, new blood to oppose the Von Erichs. The Freebirds provided just that.
With Hayes MTV like rock star appearance, Gordy's brute strength, as well as both of them being in their early 20's, could have flocked more of the younger audience (especially the girls) to attend the matches. Once the Freebirds turned, then it really took off.
Just my opinion
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Post: #1044003
PT: #3/13
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Thanks for sharing, cman73.
Aside from the Von Erich boys, the WCCW roster in late 1982 will never be confused with matinee idols.
There's King Kong Bundy, Bugsy McGraw, Jose Lathario, and Al Madril, just to name a few of the less debonair wrestlers on-hand.
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Topics: 10
Replies: 127
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Post: #1044070
PT: #4/13
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Don't discount the impact Devastation Inc had on popping the territory. People always talk about the 'birds but Akbar's stable had a lot of impact between Kamala, Missing Link and Abdullah the Butcher coming in for shots they really helped blow things up.
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| rwp |
September 27th, 2022 20:17 GMT |
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Topics: 111
Replies: 297
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Post: #1044072
PT: #5/13
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How big was the crowd at the Aug 15/82 Reunion Arena show for Kerry/Flair?
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Topics: 2521
Replies: 17960
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Post: #1044074
PT: #6/13
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6/6/82 Irving, TX (Texas Stadium, att. 6,000)
8/15/82 Dallas (Reunion Arena, att. 18,000)
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Topics: 2521
Replies: 17960
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Post: #1044075
PT: #7/13
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Anyone have attendance numbers for these cards?
2/22/81 Dallas (Reunion Arena)
The first Wrestling Star Wars card held at Reunion.
Kevin Von Erich/David Von Erich beat Hercules Ayala/Ali Mustafa to win World Tag titles
Bruiser Brody won battle royal
NWA World Heavyweight champion Harley Race and Kerry Von Erich battled to a double count out
Fritz Von Erich beat Kabuki in a no DQ match
Mil Mascaras beat Killer Brooks
Bruiser Brody beat Chan Chung
6/4/81 Dallas (Reunion Arena) (no results available)
Bruiser Brody vs Kabuki in a Texas Death cage match
Kerry Von Erich vs Ernie Ladd
Spoiler vs Chan Chung
Killer Brooks/Rene Guajardo vs. Jose Lothario/El Santo
Ten Gu vs Jesse Barr/Ricky Romero in a handicap match
Austin Idol vs Al Madril
Brian Blair vs Carlos Zapata
10/25/81 Dallas (Reunion Arena)
Kerry Von Erich/Terry Orndorff (sub for Kevin Von Erich; team seconded by Fritz Von Erich) beat Kabuki/Chan Chung to win World Tag titles, Gary Hart goes in penalty cage with Fritz if he interferes
David Von Erich beat Killer Brooks in a bunkhouse match
Ernie Ladd beat Jose Lothario
Al Madril beat Bill Irwin by DQ
Junkyard Dog beat Arman Hussein
Chan Chung beat Big Daddy Bundy by DQ
Terry Orndorff beat Richard Blood
Frank Dusek beat Jesse Leon
12/25/81 Dallas (Reunion Arena)
Big Daddy Bundy won two-ring battle royal (other participants: Bill Irwin, David and Kerry Von Erich, Frank Dusek, Ten Gu, Killer Brooks, Carlos Zapata, Al Madril, Jose Lothario, Arman Hussein, Richard Blood, Blue Demon, El Negro Assassin)
Kevin Von Erich/David Von Erich/Kerry Von Erich beat Bill Irwin/Frank Dusek/Ten Gu in a two-ring tag match
Kabuki beat Fritz Von Erich in a two-ring Texas Death Match
World Light-Heavyweight champion El Solitario beat Killer Brooks
Jose Lothario beat Ernie Ladd to win Texas Brass Knuckles title
No results available:
Little Tokyo vs Tiny Tom
Al Madril/Blue Demon vs Arman Hussein/Carlos Zapata
El Negro Assassin vs Richard Blood
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| cman73 |
October 04th, 2022 17:15 GMT |
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Topics: 35
Replies: 241
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Post: #1044561
PT: #8/13
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I don't have any attedance figures, but here are the results of the 3 results not listed from 12/25/81.. I'll see if I can find results online for the June 81 card.
El Negro Assassin DREW Richard Blood (Tommy Wright)
Tiny Tom d. Little Tokyo
Al Madril and The Blue Demon d. Armand Hussein and Carlos Zapata
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| cman73 |
October 04th, 2022 17:55 GMT |
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Topics: 35
Replies: 241
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Post: #1044562
PT: #9/13
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6/7/81 Dallas, TX - Reunion Arena
Kerry Von Erich d. Ernie Ladd
Fritz Von Erich d. Gary Hart
Bruiser Brody d. The Great Kabuki (Texas Death Steel Cage, if Brody wins, Fritz gets 5 minutes with Gary Hart)
Fritz Von Erich (sub El Santo?) and Jose Lothario d. Tim Brooks and Rene Guajardo
Ten Gu d. Jesse Barr and Ricky Romero (Handicap)
The Spoiler vs Chan Chung (Loser Unmasks) (no result)
Austin Idol vs Al Madril (no result)
Brian Blair vs Carlos Zapata (no result)
--this was from the Dallas Morning News, courtesy of geneaologybank.com For some reason, they listed The Sportatorium as the venue in the 6/8/81 writeup, probably just customary, since that's typically where they were at every Sunday at that time.
Couldn't find results of the last 3, but most llikely The Spoiler didn't lose, Brian Blair probably won, Madril probably beats Idol.
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Topics: 601
Replies: 4064
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Post: #1044595
PT: #10/13
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Quoted from: 1Fall, September 26th, 2022 16:17 GMTI’ve recently watched a number of episodes of WCCW from September 1982 and noticed that in spite of David, Kerry, and Kevin Von Erich appearing on nearly every show, the crowds at the Sportatorium are anemic. The first few rows of seats are filled, and the fans who are there are heavily invested in the action, but there are rows upon rows of empty seats that appear on camera.
This makes me wonder if perhaps the Fabulous Freebirds were more responsible for WCCW’s booming success in the 1980s than the Von Erichs were. Every hero is only as good as his opposing villains; it’s odd to see a near empty Sportatorium with Von Erichs in nearly every match on the card before the Freebirds arrive.
Also, I’d like to know from those who lived in and around Dallas in the 1980s how high school football impacted attendance at the matches on Friday nights. Texas’ love of football is well-known. Did local games steal fans’ attention during football season? It would make sense in this case, as the shows I’m watching took place in the Fall…
I think it was that magical combination of The Von Erichs and The Freebirds that made everything work. Or course, the angle that lead to everything was the key.
My guess is the Friday Night Football thing carried less weight in the bigger cities in Texas as there were always more entertainment options in the bigger markets.
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Topics: 2521
Replies: 17960
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Post: #1044597
PT: #11/13
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Gary Hart was a genius as a booker. He completely turned around the Dallas/Fort Worth area from January 1976 until January 1983. Fritz should have paid him what was due to him.
Wonder how things would have played out had Gary managed the Freebirds.
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Topics: 1098
Replies: 14352
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Post: #1044608
PT: #12/13
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This message was edited by Dan Shocket's Ghost on October 05th, 2022 16:13 GMT
The Von Erich boys were ready made teen idol babyfaces they just needed charismatic heels to oppose them. The Von Erichs early enemies consisted of older heels managed by H&H Unlimited or Capt. Frank Dusek and his stable, none of whom seemed to pose much of a threat to the Von Erichs.
Enter the Freebirds who were as exciting, charismatic, youthful, and as rock & roll oriented as the VE themselves. As someone else said a hero is only as good as the villian he opposes. It was a magical combonation.
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Topics: 184
Replies: 1308
Member
Post: #1044622
PT: #13/13
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looked up chan chung = Mr. Sakurada = Kendo Nagasaki = Dragon Master in WCW
Ten Gu = Mr. Ito
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