Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match #15: Iceman King Parsons, Kevin & David Von Erich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (5/13/83)

Another six-man match, no penalty box, Freebirds and Von Erichs (with the Ice Man). The rivalry continues. I’m a little more excited for Kevin than David, and a little is putting it mildly.

Announcer Bill Mercer mentions the history of David winning the six man titles with the Freebirds, vacating his third to Buddy Roberts, and the Freebirds turn later in the evening on Christmas night. Five months later the war rages on. You can feel the hate between Parsons and Buddy Roberts early, and it spreads to the others. The Freebirds stall for a long time, letting the crowd get worked up while they conspire to sneak attacks. Slow start, but these are main event personalities that can pull this off (like Flair). I love that Hayes can’t handle David, so he tags in big bad Gordy. I enjoy the tough Kevin/Gordy brawling even if Kevin is a tad over the top at times. I also like that David went right for the pin on Roberts after hitting him with a running high knee (one of his big moves). Hayes is dancing and gleeful to get in with David while he’s hurt.

The match is clipped slightly as when we come back Gordy is working with David. David gets the Iron Claw on Gordy and Hayes, then gets bumped to the outside. The Freebirds work over David with some great quick tags and dirty tactics. Gordy holds David for thirty full seconds in front of his partners and won’t let him tag. Great stuff. The cutting off the ring stuff is priceless and vicious. The moves of the Freebird aren’t always visually interesting, but the tactics are. Hot tag to Parsons but it all breaks down like it’s Mid South (read my Mid South Diaries. Hot tag means it all breaks down and goes to the finish, and every match had big back body drops.) In the brawl Buddy Roberts gets up on the apron and decks Parsons, Gordy covering for the clean pin. The Freebirds retain the WCCW Six Man Titles.

Good old school tag with the heels shining during the heat and the faces remaining over despite the clean loss. A lot of it was “run of the mill,” but in a good way. A little short to be great, but with the story and development of characters to be pretty good. I felt lie the Penalty box match (World Class Diaries # 16) had more action while having enough of a story to rank this below it, even if this one had a finish I liked more. 3 ¼ stars and 6.4/10.