Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 6: David Von Erich, Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy vs. The Sharpe Brothers & Tom Steele (12/25/82)

This clever little match was on the Christmas day card, cementing the Von Erich’s trust and overall babyface love felt towards the Freebirds going into the main event.

Before I watched this match I viewed the recommended clips of the Badstreet USA video (same as Mid South video, I’m guessing was cool for the time—as wrestling standards go. It was essentially Michael Hayes trying to be David Lee Roth, as he was apt to do. After that I watched the Mid-October debut of Hayes on World Class TV. He did a promo putting over Texas, World Class, and promised to bring his “big brother,” Terry Gordy, to town. He’s sleezy and corny, but the fans ate it up. This would lead to a short babyface run, and this match, where they were creating the Six Man titles (trios titles for you Lucha fans.) To really put the Freebirds over David agreed to be on the team, lending the Von Erich seal of approval.

Michael Hayes cuts a good promo saying Buddy Roberts, his Freebird third man, is stuck in Colorado because of weather. He does have a bizarre line about he and Gordy being proud to be the American delegation for this world title match (The Sharpes and Steele look American to me). He builds it up until David makes his way out to the ring. He gives a good talk about if his brothers were stranded, the Freebirds would back him up. He’s in for this match, and the crowd goes wild. As a side note—Gordy is Andre the Giant ugly. Had to be said.

Nice start work Gordy working the bigger of the Sharpe Brothers. I like Mike Sharpe as a heel. He does what he needs to do without being flashy. The faces each get a turn, and I actually see more in Hayes than David. This is my second time seeing David, and I just can’t get over how awkward he is. Gordy is an offensive powerhouse in there. Ben Sharpe does not look good bumping for the Freebirds. Tom Steele is a pretty generic jobber (you had to know the faces were taking this one even if you believed wrestling was real), but I like his beating better than Ben Sharpe’s selling.

Hayes was so miscast as a babyface, doing a stupid run in place before he’d run the ropes. Mike Sharpe is old-style, but he’s carrying his team, with the Freebirds being made to look good. “Free living, Michael Hayes” the announcer Bill Mercer says when Hayes gyrates. Sure, if that’s what you want to call it. Hayes doesn’t shine with babyface offense—wasn’t his calling—but he sells alright when the heels get the heat. This match was really effective for what it was mean tto do, babyface the Freebirds more, especially Hayes, leading to the main event when Hayes was to be the referee for Kerry vs Flair in the cage.

A very dull middle to this one. Fully capable, that’s why it’s on the set, and it’s certainly important as a prologue to the Freebird/Von Erich feud to come, but as a match it doesn’t catch me. The Sharpes/Steele are boring, with only flashes from Mike Sharpe as the saving grace, and Hayes selling as they go on isn’t lighting me on fire. I’ve just noticed they have to inept old men refs in there. Why crowd the ring and limit movement?

Long sleeper on Hayes is a struggle, but bores me, especially as it drags on. Gordy comes in hot, but takes a great looking bump through the turnbuckle to the ringpost, shoulder first. Von Erich gets the hot tag and manages to look horrible before getting the pin. Big hugs go around. Post-match promo where David relinquishes his third of the titles because he thinks it should be held by all three Freebird “brothers.” Effective storytelling, but it doesn’t save the match. Anti-climatic, and at 18 minutes it dragged for me. Other than Gordy and sometimes Mike Sharpe there was nothing for me. Average match. 2 ½ stars and 5/10.