Episode Details

***WATCHALONG WITH THE TEXAS BUNCH AT THIS LINK***
https://rumble.com/v7fwvg2-rwr-wccw-ep.-12-2583-the-freebirds-take-over-texas-wguest-jammie-ward.html

On Episode #12 of the RWR WCCW Podcast, Robb Helt and Scottie Wince welcome special guest Jammie Ward for a deep dive into the February 5, 1983 episode of World Class Championship Wrestling and this one feels like World Class is finally hitting another gear.

Jammie brings a completely different layer to the discussion. Long before wrestling podcasts and streaming archives, he was following the business through newsletters, tape trading, conventions, and the old school fan networking. He was already reading the Wrestling Observer when the Freebirds turned on Kerry Von Erich, and he remembers getting World Class tapes just a few months after they originally aired. That makes him a perfect guest for an episode built around the growing Von Erich vs. Freebirds war.

That leads to one of the best discussions of the episode: Who was actually the best Von Erich? Kerry looked like a million dollars, Kevin had more promo ability than he sometimes gets credit for, but Jammie argues David was the most complete package. Then the guys take it one step farther and imagine what could have happened if one of the brothers had turned against the family and aligned with the Freebirds.

Here’s the thing: this is where World Class really starts feeling different from most wrestling television of the era. Mercer’s straight faced delivery, the location shooting, the way Hayes talks directly to him instead of cutting a traditional studio promo it makes the whole feud feel more real.

Jammie is also a perfect fit for the non-match portions of this episode. His stories about Dennis Corluzzo, Philadelphia wrestling fandom, tape trading, conventions, early ECW, Memphis trips, and old newsletters turn this into much more than another watchalong. By the end, Robb and Scottie are already talking about bringing him back just to hear more stories.

And then Jammie closes with a classic Corluzzo tale involving a restaurant, a free meal, and Dennis convincing the staff that a table full of wrestling fans were actually Gene Okerlund, Paul E. Dangerously, Tito Santana, Brutus Beefcake, and Eddie Gilbert.

That story alone is worth the price of admission.

This week, the Freebirds gain more gold.

Kevin Von Erich loses the American Title.

And World Class Championship Wrestling is starting to feel like the hottest wrestling territory in America in 1983.