Parade of Champions
The WCCW Parade of Champions was a series of professional wrestling supercards promoted by Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling first in 1961, in 1972 and then annually from 1984 through 1988. Von Erich used the "Parade of Champions" name in 1984 as a way to honor his recently deceased son, David and the subsequent Parade of Champions were all "Von Erich Memorial" Parades of Champions. At the inaugural Von Erich Memorial event, in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a pro wrestling event in the United States up to that point, Kerry Von Erich defeated Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, only to lose it back to Flair 18 days later in Yokohama, Japan. Over the next few years, Von Erich altered the names as tragedy repeatedly struck his family. The Parade of Champions was the most recognized event that World Class Championship Wrestling, later known as World Class Wrestling Association, promoted. There was a Parade of Champions super card held by Southern Sports (precursor to WCCW) in 1961 and another held by Big Time Wrestling (the previous name of WCCW) in 1972. All Parade of Champions supercards were held at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. A wrestling organization out of Texas called NWA Southwest ran an event in late August, 2010, called Parade of Champions, which it claimed was the "Longest Running Wrestling Event In Texas History Dating Back To 1972," but there was no actual connection between the WCCW show event other than the name.
Southwest Sports Parade of Champions
| Southwest Sports Parade of Champions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Southwest Sports | ||
| Date | January 31, 1961 | ||
| City | Irving, Texas | ||
| Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
| Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The Southwest Sports Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based Southwest Sports on January 31, 1961 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. Southwest Sports would later be named Big Time Wrestling, then World Class Championship Wrestling and finally World Class Wrestling Association.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Wild" Bull Curry (c) defeated Tosh Togo | Singles match for the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship | |
| 2 | Hogan Wharton and Pepper Gomez (c) defeated Jet Monroe and Sputnik Monroe | Tag team match for the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship | |
| 3 | Don Manoukian (c) defeats Alex Perez | Singles match for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | |
| 4 | Danny Hodge (c) defeated Jerry Kozak 2-0 | Two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship | |
| 5 | Pat O'Connor (c) vs. Dory Dixon ended in a draw | Two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | 90:00 |
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Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions
| Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | Big Time Wrestling | ||
| Date | June 24, 1972 | ||
| City | Irving, Texas | ||
| Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
| Event chronology | |||
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The Big Time Wrestling Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based Big Time Wrestling on June 24, 1972 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. Southwest Sports would later be named World Class Championship Wrestling and later on World Class Wrestling Association.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Santo and Jose Lothario defeated Terry Funk and Mr. Fuji | Tag team match | |
| 2 | George Scott and Tommy Siegler wrestled to a time-limit draw. | Singles match | |
| 3 | Lord Littlebrook (c) defeated Cowboy Lang | Singles match for the NWA World Midget Championship | |
| 4 | Mil Máscaras defeated The Alaskan | Singles match | |
| 5 | Bearcat Wright won | 7-man Roulette match | |
| 6 | Billy Red Lyons defeated The Spoiler (c) | Singles match for the NWA American Heavyweight Championship | |
| 7 | Stan Stasiak defeated Red Bastien (c) | Singles match for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | |
| 8 | Dory Funk, Jr. (c) wrestled Fritz Von Erich to a time-limit draw | Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | 60:00 |
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1st Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
| 1st Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | World Class Championship Wrestling | ||
| Date | May 6, 1984[1][2] | ||
| City | Irving, Texas | ||
| Venue | Texas Stadium[3] | ||
| Attendance | 50,123 (43,517 paid) | ||
| Event chronology | |||
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The 1st Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) on May 6, 1984 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his son David Von Erich, who had died in February, 1984. In the main event David's brother Kerry Von Erich faced the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, taking the title match that was originally planned for David Von Erich that same year. In a very emotional match Von Erich defeated Flair to win the championship in honor of his brother.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelly Kiniski wrestled Johnny Mantell to a time-limit draw | Singles match | 15:00 |
| 2 | Chris Adams and Sunshine defeated Jimmy Garvin and Precious | Mixed tag team match | 06"00 |
| 3 | Butch Reed defeated Chick Donovan | Singles match | 4:23; |
| 4 | Kamala (with Skandor Akbar and Friday) wrestled to a double disqualification against the Great Kabuki (with Gary Hart) | Singles match | 12:00 |
| 5 | Junkyard Dog defeated The Missing Link by disqualification. | Singles match | |
| 6 | Rock & Soul (Buck Zumhofe and Iceman King Parsons) defeated The Super Destroyers (Bill Irwin and Scott Irwin) (c) | Tag team match for the NWA American Tag Team Championship | [3] |
| 7 | Kevin, Mike and Fritz Von Erich defeated the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts) (c) | Six-man tag team for the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship | [3] |
| 8 | Kerry Von Erich defeated Ric Flair (c) | Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | 11:24[3] |
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2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
| 2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | World Class Championship Wrestling | ||
| Date | May 5, 1985[4][5] | ||
| City | Irving, Texas | ||
| Venue | Texas Stadium[6] | ||
| Attendance | 26,153 | ||
| Event chronology | |||
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The 2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) on May 5, 1985 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his son David Von Erich that had died in February, 1984. As a result of Kerry Von Erich's victory over the One Man Gang, manager Gary Hart had his head shaved bald. If Kerry lost, Fritz would have to come out of retirement and face One Man Gang one-on-one. The match between The Fantastics and The Midnight Express for the vacant NWA American Tag Team Championship was held in two rings side-by-side. The Midnight Express' manager Jim Cornette was handcuffed to the Fantastics cornerman, "Little John", who stood over 7 feet tall. Referee David Manning awarded the match and the title to the Fantastics despite of the fact that Manning's pin count of a Fantastics member pinning a Midnight Express member started after referee Rick Hazzard's pin count of a Midnight Express member pinning a Fantastics member ended at 3. This match appears on the WWE Home Video "The Triumphs and Tragedies of World Class Championship Wrestling" DVD. Per stipulations, the winning team of the main event split $100,000 and the wrestler who eliminated the last wrestler won a brand new Lincoln Continental. Kevin Von Erich won the event with a spectacular dive from one ring over the ropes to another to pin Steve Williams. After the match, Gino Hernandez destroyed the windshield of the Lincoln Continental with a chain, with Chris Adams placing a boot on the destroyed windshield for good measure causing it to cave in.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnny Mantell went to a draw against Skip Young | Singles match | |
| 2 | Scott Casey and Brian Adias defeated Kelly and Nick Kiniski | Tag team match | |
| 3 | Terry Gordy defeated Kamala the Ugandan Giant | Singles match | |
| 4 | Mike Von Erich defeated Rip Oliver | Singles match | |
| 5 | Gino Hernandez and Chris Adams defeated The Great Kabuki and Scott Casey. Casey subbed for Hercules Hernandez who quit the promotion immediately before this event. | Tag team match | |
| 6 | The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) defeated The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey) (with Jim Cornette) | Tag team match for the vacant NWA American Tag Team Championship | [6] |
| 7 | The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich, Kevin Von Erich and Mike Von Erich) and the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts) defeated Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez, Rip Oliver, One Man Gang, Kamala and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams (with Skandor Akbar and Gary Hart) | 12-man two-ring tag team match | |
| 8 | Ric Flair (c) and Kevin Von Erich wrestled to a double count-out | Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship | |
| 9 | Kerry Von Erich (with Fritz Von Erich) defeated One Man Gang (with Gary Hart) | Hair vs. One Man Gang facing Fritz Von Erich match | |
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3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
| 3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | World Class Wrestling Association | ||
| Date | May 4, 1986[7][8] | ||
| City | Irving, Texas | ||
| Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
| Attendance | 24,121 | ||
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The 3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Championship Wrestling Association (WCWA) on May 4, 1986 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his son David Von Erich who died in 1984. On the show the Great Kabuki was to have faced four wrestlers in this handicap match, one at a time. The fourth wrestler he was to have faced was Chris Adams. Michael Hayes began berating Adams after Steve Simpson defeated Kabuki, prompting Adams to superkick both Hayes and Kabuki out of the ring.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunshine defeated Missy Hyatt | Mud match | |
| 2 | The Missing Link and King Parsons defeated One Man Gang and Skandor Akbar | Tag team match | |
| 3 | the Great Kabuki defeated Mark Youngblood | Singles match: Gauntlet Match #1 | |
| 4 | the Great Kabuki defeated Jerry Allen. | Singles match: Gauntlet Match #2 | |
| 5 | Steve Simpson defeated the Great Kabuki | Singles match: Gauntlet Match #3 | |
| 6 | Brian Adias (c) defeated Steve Regal | Singles match for the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | 13:00 |
| 7 | Chris Adams and Brickhouse Brown defeated John Tatum and The Grappler | Tag team match | 12:00 |
| 8 | Bruiser Brody defeated Terry Gordy | Barbed wire match | |
| 9 | Rick Rude (c) (with Percy Pringle III) defeated Bruiser Brody by disqualification | Singles match for the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship | 07:30 |
| 10 | Steve Simpson, Kerry Von Erich and Lance Von Erich defeated the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts) (c)
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Lumberjack elimination match for the WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship | |
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4th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
| 4th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | World Class Wrestling Association | ||
| Date | May 3, 1987[9][10] | ||
| City | Irving, Texas | ||
| Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
| Attendance | 5,900 | ||
| Event chronology | |||
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| Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The 4th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Championship Wrestling Association (WCWA) on May 3, 1987 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his sons David Von Erich and Mike Von Erich.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Borne and Scott Casey defeated Black Bart and Jack Victory | Tag team match | |
| 2 | Steve Doll defeated Killer Tim Brooks | Singles match | |
| 3 | Cousin Junior defeated The Grappler | Singles match | |
| 4 | Red River Jack and Spike Huber defeated Abdullah the Butcher and Eli the Eliminator | If the team of Jack and Huber wins Red River Jack gets a match with manager Gary Hart | |
| 5 | Red River Jack defeated Gary Hart by count-out | Singles match | |
| 6 | Mil Máscaras defeated Al Madril | Singles match | |
| 7 | Skip Young defeated Brian Adias | Lumberjack match | |
| 8 | Kevin Von Erich (c) wrestled Nord the Barbarian to a double countout. | Singles match for the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship | |
| 9 | The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) and Steve Simpson defeated the Rock 'n' Roll RPMs (Mike Davis and Tommy Lane) and Eric Embry | Six-man Scaffold match | |
| 10 | Bruiser Brody defeated Jeep Swenson | Singles match | |
| 11 | Candi Divine defeated five other wrestlers | Six-woman Mud Pit Match | |
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5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
| 5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotion | World Class Wrestling Association | ||
| Date | May 8, 1988[11][12] | ||
| City | Irving, Texas | ||
| Venue | Texas Stadium | ||
| Attendance | 7,000 | ||
| Event chronology | |||
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| Parade of Champions chronology | |||
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The 5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions was a major professional wrestling event held by Dallas, Texas based World Championship Wrestling Association (WCWA) on May 7, 1988 at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The event was held by WCCW promoter Fritz Von Erich in memory of his sons David Von Erich and Mike Von Erich. The fifth version of the Parade of Champions would be the last show promoted under that name by the Von Erich family.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Missing Link and Jason Sterling defeated Vince Apollo and The Angel of Death. | Tag team match | |
| 2 | Mike George (c) defeated Jeff Raitz | Singles match for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship | |
| 3 | Steve Casey defeated Eric Embry | Singles match | 00:19 |
| 4 | Black Bart defeated Bill Irwin by disqualification. | Singles match | |
| 5 | Terry Gordy defeated Michael Hayes | "Triple Dome of Terror" Match | |
| 6 | Terry Taylor (c) defeated Chris Adams | Singles match for the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | |
| 7 | Jason Sterling, Steve Casey and John Tatum won by defeating Angel of Death, Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, King Parsons, Buddy Roberts, Jack Victory, Shaun Simpson and six others | "Triple Dome Texas Roundup" Match | |
| 8 | Bruiser Brody and Kevin Von Erich defeated Buddy Roberts and a Masked Man | Tag team match | |
| 9 | John Tatum and Jack Victory defeated Terry Gordy and Steve Simpson by count-out | Tag team match for the vacant Wild West Tag Team Championship | |
| 10 | Kerry Von Erich defeated Iceman Parsons (c) | Singles match for the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship | |
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References
- "Historical Cards: David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions (May 5, 1984. Irving, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 172. 2007 Edition.
- "1st Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Pro Wrestling History. May 6, 1984. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- F4W Staff (May 6, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 6): Verne Gagne Vs. Danny Hodge, 1st Annual Von Erich Parade of Champions show". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
- "Historical Cards: Parade of Champions 2 (May 5, 1985. Irving, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 172. 2007 Edition.
- "2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Pro Wrestling History. May 5, 1985. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- F4W Staff (May 5, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 5): Bruno Vs. Gorilla in Puerto Rico, 2nd annual Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
- "Historical Cards: Parade of Champions 3 (May 5, 1986. Irving, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 172. 2007 Edition.
- "3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Pro Wrestling History. May 4, 1986. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- "Historical Cards: Parade of Champions 4 (May 3, 1987. Irving, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 173. 2007 Edition.
- "4th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Pro Wrestling History. May 3, 1987. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- "Historical Cards: Parade of Champions 5 (May 8, 1988. Irving, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 173. 2007 Edition.
- "5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Pro Wrestling History. May 8, 1988. Retrieved April 10, 2015.