Press Conference from the Sportatorium in Dallas!!!
Nov 17, 2016 4:44:02 GMT
Post by grigs on Nov 17, 2016 4:44:02 GMT
Special Press Conference
11/16/1987
Welcome to the world famous Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas!
We go inside where several members of the wrestling press are seated in ringside seats. A table is set up in the middle of the ring and several familiar figures are seated there behind microphones...
BILL MERCER: Welcome to the world famous Sportatorium! Today, we have some big news for the wrestling press! World Class Championship Wrestling is back! We will be doing a TV taping right here in this historic building on November 25th! So, after Thanksgiving day and Christmas shopping, bring the whole family down to the Sportatorium for a great night of action! On that card, all of the Champions recognized by WCCW will be in action! First, let's hear from the man who recently won a tournament in Louisville, KY to become the American Heavyweight Champion, Austin Idol!
IDOL: Yes, Bill Mercer, the Universal Heartthrob, the ladies' pet and the men's regret and your American Champion has come to Texas! I hope all of you Texans feel grateful to have the greatest wrestler and the sexiest man in the world in your midst! I won this title by going through wrestlers like Jerry “the King” Lawler, Jimmy Valiant, and the man sitting to my left, Chris Adams! Chris, after the tail kicking I gave you, I'm surprised you are showing your face!
MERCER: Gentleman Chris Adams, one of the most popular wrestlers we've ever had in World Class: Do you have a response to Mr. Idol's comments?
ADAMS: I certainly do! Austin, you and I must have different definitions of “tail kicking”! I completely outwrestled you! Then, you got desperate and pulled something out of your tights! I don't know what you hit me with, but it knocked me out longer than the time Giant Haystacks over in England punched me in the face! If that's the type of American Champion you'll be, I think World Class can do better! I'm putting you on notice: I'm coming after your title, Austin!
MERCER: It's also great to have our Texas Champion Superstar Bill Dundee back! Any comments from the Texas Champion?
DUNDEE: Just let me say that I'm proud to be your Texas Champion and I'm not the biggest in the world, but nobody in wrestling fights harder than the Superstar! I don't care how big and bad they are, just bring 'em on, jack and the Superstar will give 'em the fight of their life!
OFF CAMERA VOICE: This is just great! You invite that sawed off Australian, but not me!
DUNDEE: What are you doin here?
ERIC EMBRY IS IN THE RING!
EMBRY: It's real simple, man! I'm here to demand respect! Everybody knows that I'm the uncrowned Texas Champion, but I ain't got the belt! You ripped me off last time, Dundee and I want a rematch!
DUNDEE: (standing) I'll give you your stinkin rematch! You be here on November 25th and we'll get it on, you loudmouth! Or we can clear the furniture outta the ring and do it now!
LOWRANCE: Please, guys!
FRITZ: I'll tell ya what! If you guys want to go at it, the Texas Title match between you will be the Main Event on our first TV program!
DUNDEE: That's exactly what I want!
EMBRY: I got what I wanted! I'm outta here!
MERCER: Wow! Fireworks already! Now, I'm sure that the President of World Class, Fritz Von Erich has a statement!
FRITZ: Bill, I was proud of the work I did with the USWA, but it wasn't the same! I'm a Texan and I missed giving the Texas fans a promotion they could call their own! This building is like my second home and these fans are like a family! We have a lot of big things planned for the coming months. If you are wondering what to expect, just look at this talent assembled here. And this isn't all! Men like Wahoo McDaniel, Tito Santana, the Great Kabuki, Brian Adias, Manny Fernandez, Al Madril, Carlos Colon, Mil Mascaras, the Youngblood Brothers, Killer Brooks, and many, many others will be here starting the day after Thanksgiving!
MERCER: Finally, we will hear from the American Tag Team Champions! A team consisting of the only two brothers to both hold the NWA World Championship! They recently won the American Titles in Jacksonville, FL. They really need no introduction! Welcome to World Class, Terry Funk & Dory Funk, Jr.!
TERRY: Bill Mercer, in spite of what our old friend Fritz might tell you, you are looking at the real first family of professional wrestling, the Fabulous Funks! This man(pointing to Dory) held the World Championship for nearly five years! That's unheard of! Then, I defeated the great Jack Brisco right in the middle of the ring to win the World Title and I held it for over one year! I know Fritz is proud of his boy, but, let's tell it like it is! Kerry lost that belt almost before he won it! Junior, we are the greatest team the world has ver seen and we're ready to prove it here in our home state!
DORY: Fritz mentioned a lot of great wrestlers! People like Wahoo and Fernandez who have a long history with Terry and myself. The Youngblood boys are a hot young team. I defended the NWA Title against their daddy and now, we'll have to deal with the sons! World Class will be the hottest promotion in the country and the Funks will be the reason why!
MERCER: Now, our panel will be glad to take questions from the members of the wrestling press assembled here. First, I recognize Bill Apter from Pro Wrestling Illustrated...
APTER: I have a question for Fritz: Since the beginning, your family has been a cornerstone of the promotion. Now, Kerry and Kevin have signed with the WWF and won't be a part of the new edition of WCCW. Can World Class survive without an active Von Erich?
FRITZ: Bill, I appreciate the kind words about my family. Especially after the unkind words from my old friends Dory and Terry. Yes, I do believe World Class will survive and thrive! We have signed an awesome roster of talent here and I think our fans will be pleased with what we have to offer them! I am proud of Kerry and Kevin and I know that they will do well and make millions of fans up there working for Vince McMahon in New York. But, I'm concentrating on World Class. We are back and we are going to set Texas on fire with some of the best action you've ever seen! And we will have one Von Erich wrestling: I talked to my nephew Lance the other night on the phone and he's on his way!
APTER: I have a followup: There has been talk in recent years about your son Chris entering the sport. Is that a possibility in the near future?
FRITZ: Bill, right now, Chris's priorities are God, his family, getting an education, his girlfriend, and enjoying life. (chuckles) Not necessarily in that order. Someday, my youngest boy might want to be a professional wrestler, but he's not looking to do that any time soon.
MERCER: Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer.
MELTZER: What can we expect as far as the television? Will we see the same cutting edge production that this promotion has been known for? Also, what about the “Championship Sports” Saturday night program?
MERCER: Dave, Mickey Grant is at the helm of the TV and it will be the best produced syndicated wrestling program in the world. World Class has set the standard and we will continue to do so. As far as the Saturday night show, I'll defer to the President...
FRITZ: We are in negotiations with the Will Rogers Coliseum and KTVT to bring back Championship Sports. I 'm hopeful we will see it back sometime in 1988.
LOWRANCE: That's welcome news. I really enjoy hosting that program and I'm proud of the fact that we had higher ratings than even Saturday Night Live.
FRITZ: I'm also negotiating a deal that will make World Class fans very happy. I was hoping to announce it this evening, but I 'm still in the process of finalizing the deal. Friends, trust me, this will be huge!
MERCER: Freelance wrestling journalist Matt Resling...
RESLING: Austin Idol, you seemed to have changed your attitude since you won the American Title. Why the switch?
IDOL: What you see is the attitude of a champion and a winner! Fritz is talking big announcements and, never one to be outdone, I have a blockbuster of my own! As you know, I'm from Las Vegas and I am a ramblin, gamblin man! Every gambler always has a hole card! I wanna introduce my ace in the hole, darlin! The real giant of professional wrestling! 6'10, 365 of badness! Big John Studd!
John Studd steps over the top rope and stands, arms crossed, behind Idol!
IDOL: One more reason why I am the ladies' pet, but ooooh, the men's regret!
MERCER: Eddie Ellner has a question...
ELLNER: Question for the Funks: Will you limit yourselves to tag team matches or will you also wrestle in singles matches?
TERRY: The Funks have never avoided any kind of competition, Eddie! Single matches, tag team matches, it doesn't matter! In fact, I like the idea of the two of us holding the tag belts, one of us being Texas Champion, and the other being American Champion!
DORY: Like my brother said earlier, we're the first family of professional wrestling! Terry, I like the idea of all of the belts belonging to our family!
MERCER: Our first TV taping is the day after Thanksgiving. Fritz, we already have a Texas Title match between Superstar Bill Dundee and Eric Embry. What else cam we expect?
FRITZ: We'll also have a $20,000.00 Battle Royal. All of our champions will be in action that night. We'll have great wrestlers like Chris Adams, Wahoo McDaniel, Tito Santana, Mil Mascaras, Manny Fernandez, the Missing Link, the Great Kabuki, and many others on the show!
11/16/1987
Welcome to the world famous Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas!
We go inside where several members of the wrestling press are seated in ringside seats. A table is set up in the middle of the ring and several familiar figures are seated there behind microphones...
BILL MERCER: Welcome to the world famous Sportatorium! Today, we have some big news for the wrestling press! World Class Championship Wrestling is back! We will be doing a TV taping right here in this historic building on November 25th! So, after Thanksgiving day and Christmas shopping, bring the whole family down to the Sportatorium for a great night of action! On that card, all of the Champions recognized by WCCW will be in action! First, let's hear from the man who recently won a tournament in Louisville, KY to become the American Heavyweight Champion, Austin Idol!
IDOL: Yes, Bill Mercer, the Universal Heartthrob, the ladies' pet and the men's regret and your American Champion has come to Texas! I hope all of you Texans feel grateful to have the greatest wrestler and the sexiest man in the world in your midst! I won this title by going through wrestlers like Jerry “the King” Lawler, Jimmy Valiant, and the man sitting to my left, Chris Adams! Chris, after the tail kicking I gave you, I'm surprised you are showing your face!
MERCER: Gentleman Chris Adams, one of the most popular wrestlers we've ever had in World Class: Do you have a response to Mr. Idol's comments?
ADAMS: I certainly do! Austin, you and I must have different definitions of “tail kicking”! I completely outwrestled you! Then, you got desperate and pulled something out of your tights! I don't know what you hit me with, but it knocked me out longer than the time Giant Haystacks over in England punched me in the face! If that's the type of American Champion you'll be, I think World Class can do better! I'm putting you on notice: I'm coming after your title, Austin!
MERCER: It's also great to have our Texas Champion Superstar Bill Dundee back! Any comments from the Texas Champion?
DUNDEE: Just let me say that I'm proud to be your Texas Champion and I'm not the biggest in the world, but nobody in wrestling fights harder than the Superstar! I don't care how big and bad they are, just bring 'em on, jack and the Superstar will give 'em the fight of their life!
OFF CAMERA VOICE: This is just great! You invite that sawed off Australian, but not me!
DUNDEE: What are you doin here?
ERIC EMBRY IS IN THE RING!
EMBRY: It's real simple, man! I'm here to demand respect! Everybody knows that I'm the uncrowned Texas Champion, but I ain't got the belt! You ripped me off last time, Dundee and I want a rematch!
DUNDEE: (standing) I'll give you your stinkin rematch! You be here on November 25th and we'll get it on, you loudmouth! Or we can clear the furniture outta the ring and do it now!
LOWRANCE: Please, guys!
FRITZ: I'll tell ya what! If you guys want to go at it, the Texas Title match between you will be the Main Event on our first TV program!
DUNDEE: That's exactly what I want!
EMBRY: I got what I wanted! I'm outta here!
MERCER: Wow! Fireworks already! Now, I'm sure that the President of World Class, Fritz Von Erich has a statement!
FRITZ: Bill, I was proud of the work I did with the USWA, but it wasn't the same! I'm a Texan and I missed giving the Texas fans a promotion they could call their own! This building is like my second home and these fans are like a family! We have a lot of big things planned for the coming months. If you are wondering what to expect, just look at this talent assembled here. And this isn't all! Men like Wahoo McDaniel, Tito Santana, the Great Kabuki, Brian Adias, Manny Fernandez, Al Madril, Carlos Colon, Mil Mascaras, the Youngblood Brothers, Killer Brooks, and many, many others will be here starting the day after Thanksgiving!
MERCER: Finally, we will hear from the American Tag Team Champions! A team consisting of the only two brothers to both hold the NWA World Championship! They recently won the American Titles in Jacksonville, FL. They really need no introduction! Welcome to World Class, Terry Funk & Dory Funk, Jr.!
TERRY: Bill Mercer, in spite of what our old friend Fritz might tell you, you are looking at the real first family of professional wrestling, the Fabulous Funks! This man(pointing to Dory) held the World Championship for nearly five years! That's unheard of! Then, I defeated the great Jack Brisco right in the middle of the ring to win the World Title and I held it for over one year! I know Fritz is proud of his boy, but, let's tell it like it is! Kerry lost that belt almost before he won it! Junior, we are the greatest team the world has ver seen and we're ready to prove it here in our home state!
DORY: Fritz mentioned a lot of great wrestlers! People like Wahoo and Fernandez who have a long history with Terry and myself. The Youngblood boys are a hot young team. I defended the NWA Title against their daddy and now, we'll have to deal with the sons! World Class will be the hottest promotion in the country and the Funks will be the reason why!
MERCER: Now, our panel will be glad to take questions from the members of the wrestling press assembled here. First, I recognize Bill Apter from Pro Wrestling Illustrated...
APTER: I have a question for Fritz: Since the beginning, your family has been a cornerstone of the promotion. Now, Kerry and Kevin have signed with the WWF and won't be a part of the new edition of WCCW. Can World Class survive without an active Von Erich?
FRITZ: Bill, I appreciate the kind words about my family. Especially after the unkind words from my old friends Dory and Terry. Yes, I do believe World Class will survive and thrive! We have signed an awesome roster of talent here and I think our fans will be pleased with what we have to offer them! I am proud of Kerry and Kevin and I know that they will do well and make millions of fans up there working for Vince McMahon in New York. But, I'm concentrating on World Class. We are back and we are going to set Texas on fire with some of the best action you've ever seen! And we will have one Von Erich wrestling: I talked to my nephew Lance the other night on the phone and he's on his way!
APTER: I have a followup: There has been talk in recent years about your son Chris entering the sport. Is that a possibility in the near future?
FRITZ: Bill, right now, Chris's priorities are God, his family, getting an education, his girlfriend, and enjoying life. (chuckles) Not necessarily in that order. Someday, my youngest boy might want to be a professional wrestler, but he's not looking to do that any time soon.
MERCER: Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer.
MELTZER: What can we expect as far as the television? Will we see the same cutting edge production that this promotion has been known for? Also, what about the “Championship Sports” Saturday night program?
MERCER: Dave, Mickey Grant is at the helm of the TV and it will be the best produced syndicated wrestling program in the world. World Class has set the standard and we will continue to do so. As far as the Saturday night show, I'll defer to the President...
FRITZ: We are in negotiations with the Will Rogers Coliseum and KTVT to bring back Championship Sports. I 'm hopeful we will see it back sometime in 1988.
LOWRANCE: That's welcome news. I really enjoy hosting that program and I'm proud of the fact that we had higher ratings than even Saturday Night Live.
FRITZ: I'm also negotiating a deal that will make World Class fans very happy. I was hoping to announce it this evening, but I 'm still in the process of finalizing the deal. Friends, trust me, this will be huge!
MERCER: Freelance wrestling journalist Matt Resling...
RESLING: Austin Idol, you seemed to have changed your attitude since you won the American Title. Why the switch?
IDOL: What you see is the attitude of a champion and a winner! Fritz is talking big announcements and, never one to be outdone, I have a blockbuster of my own! As you know, I'm from Las Vegas and I am a ramblin, gamblin man! Every gambler always has a hole card! I wanna introduce my ace in the hole, darlin! The real giant of professional wrestling! 6'10, 365 of badness! Big John Studd!
John Studd steps over the top rope and stands, arms crossed, behind Idol!
IDOL: One more reason why I am the ladies' pet, but ooooh, the men's regret!
MERCER: Eddie Ellner has a question...
ELLNER: Question for the Funks: Will you limit yourselves to tag team matches or will you also wrestle in singles matches?
TERRY: The Funks have never avoided any kind of competition, Eddie! Single matches, tag team matches, it doesn't matter! In fact, I like the idea of the two of us holding the tag belts, one of us being Texas Champion, and the other being American Champion!
DORY: Like my brother said earlier, we're the first family of professional wrestling! Terry, I like the idea of all of the belts belonging to our family!
MERCER: Our first TV taping is the day after Thanksgiving. Fritz, we already have a Texas Title match between Superstar Bill Dundee and Eric Embry. What else cam we expect?
FRITZ: We'll also have a $20,000.00 Battle Royal. All of our champions will be in action that night. We'll have great wrestlers like Chris Adams, Wahoo McDaniel, Tito Santana, Mil Mascaras, Manny Fernandez, the Missing Link, the Great Kabuki, and many others on the show!
Working on it now.