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Monday Week 3, June 1983
Event – World Class Tag Team Cup
Dallas, TX
Attendance: 15000 (Sell out)
Pay per view: Buy Rate 0.53
Pre-Show
Hulk Hogan, Jim Duggan and David Von Erich do a meet and greet with the fans and it goes over quite well (B)
Main Show
In a match that had some good action but not much in the way of heat, King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang defeated Spike Huber and Brian Adias in 9:37 when King Kong Bundy defeated Brian Adias by pinfall with a Big Splash as the Tag team cup gets underway, Bundy was solid, Adias was off. (C-)
In a match that had some good action and average heat, The Freebirds defeated Iceman King Parsons and Sweet Brown Sugar in 11:13 when Tommy Rich defeated Sweet Brown Sugar by pinfall while using the ropes for leverage as Hayes distracted the referee, Rich looked good, Parson’s injury held him back. (C+)
In a bout that featured great action and average heat, Kevin & Kerry Von Erich defeated The Long Riders in 11:55 when Kerry Von Erich defeated Bill Irwin by submission with an Iron Claw. During the match we also had Gary Hart attack Kevin Von Erich, but he was promptly sent crashing to the floor. (B)
In a bout that featured great action and average heat, Ricky Steamboat and Curt Hennig defeated Greg Valentine and Eddie Gilbert in 14:19 when Ricky Steamboat defeated Eddie Gilbert by pinfall with a roll up, while Greg Valentine was busy jawing with the crowd and didn’t make the save in time. (C-)
First round of the Tag Team cup is complete
In a bout that featured great action and average heat, Assassin #1 defeated Hulk Hogan in 13:36 by submission with an Assassin Lock after interference from Stan Hansen, earning the right to stay in Hanson’s corner for his match against Jim Duggan, while Hogan is banned from the building. (C+) Stan Hansen grabs a microphone and laughs about how Jim Duggan has an ice cubes chance in hell of beating him now with the Assassin in his corner. Hansen was splendid on the stick. (A)
In a bout that featured great action and average heat, Kevin & Kerry Von Erich defeated King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang in 12:20 when Kerry Von Erich defeated One Man Gang by pinfall with a Discus Punch as the Von Erichs move on to the finals. Akbar was good at ringside. (B-)
In a bout that featured great action and average heat, The Freebirds 4 defeated Ricky Steamboat and Curt Hennig in 16:11 when Tommy Rich defeated Curt Hennig by pinfall with a handful of tights. Michael Hayes distracted Steamboat, who left the apron to chase him just as Hennig stumbled over the tag out, before getting pinned. The Freebirds are also in the finals (C+)
In a match that had excellent in-ring action and a good crowd, Jim Duggan defeated Stan Hansen in a 1 vs 1 Alley Fight match in 20:04 by pinfall with a Running Clothesline Tackle. The Assassin passed over several attempts to help Hansen, including a half hearted attempt to save him. Jim Duggan wins the NWA American Heavyweight title. Match rating was hurt as it did not exceed previous matches between the two (D+) As Hansen looks at the Assassin in the corner incredulously, a second Assassin stumbles out from the back, holding his head. (C+) Hansen rises in confusion as the Assassin in the ring removes his mask to reveal Dusty Rhodes!!! Hansen goes berserk and attacks Rhodes, and they brawl into the crowd and out an exit door. (B)
In a bout that featured great action and a good crowd, Kevin & Kerry Von Erich defeated The Freebirds in 19:02 when Buddy Roberts was disqualified when Michael Hayes ran in and attacked Kerry Von Erich, just as Tommy Rich hit a Thesz press on Kevin, the legal man in the ring, which looked to set up a pin. (B-) After the match Hayes and Rich get into a heated argument, with Rich pointing his finger in Hayes face, obviously upset about the DQ, before storming off into the back. Both improvised well (B+)
In a bout that featured great action and a good crowd, Bob Backlund defeated David Von Erich in 23:25 by submission with a Cross Face Chicken Wing after interference from the Masked Bully, who power bombed David through a table, before rolling him back into the ring for Backlund to finish. Bob Backlund wins the NWA Texas Heavyweight title. (B-)
Final Rating: B- (Popularity bump in 11 regions thanks to pay per view!)
Our first PPV has to be considered a success as the sheets all heap praise on the show and we have a solid buy rate for a first time PPV (77K in revenue). Hopefully this helps get cash flow moving in the right direction again. I compliment Rich, David Von Erich and Backlund. Rich and David seem pleased, Backlund doesn’t even acknowledge me because he is a dick, who also started a fight with Hogan before the show. I fine him 25% of his salary for that, which pisses him off, but saves me money, hehe. Also One Man Gang and Buddy Roberts were used too much and Kevin Von Erich could use a new gimmick
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