WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship

The WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area-based World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA) from 1982 until 1988. The company was known as World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) in 1982 as they introduced the WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship, on occasion billed as the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Texas version). As it is a professional wrestling championship, it is won not by actual competition, but by a scripted ending to a match.[a]

WCWA World Tag Team Championship
Championship belt
Details
Promotion
Date establishedDecember 25, 1982[1][2]
Date retired1988[1][2]
Other name(s)
  • WCCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championship[1][2]
  • NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Texas version)[1][2]
Statistics
First champion(s)The Fabulous Freebirds
Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts
Final champion(s)Michael Hayes, Kevin and Kerry Von Erich[1][2]
Most reignsAs team: The Fabulous Freebirds
(Hayes, Gordy and Roberts) (5 times)
Individual: Kevin Von Erich (11 reigns)[1][2]
Longest reignKevin, Mike and Lance Von Erich (282 days)[1][2]
Shortest reignFritz, Kevin and Mike Von Erich (1 hour)[1][2]

The first champions were The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts), who won the championship on December 25, 1982 as part of WCCW's annual Christmas Star Wars show.[1][2] For storyline purposes David Von Erich actually substituted for Buddy Roberts in the match, citing "travel difficulties". After winning the match Von Erich gave the belt to Buddy Roberts, which was part of a building storyline feud between the Freebird and The Von Erichs.[4] The Von Erich/Freebird storyline feud played a major part in the history of the championship as various combinations of Freebirds and Von Erichs were involved in 17 of the 19 reigns.[1][2] Michael Hayes, Kevin Von Erich and Kerry Von Erich were the last team to hold the championship as it was abandoned in 1988.

The Freebird combination of Hayes, Roberts and Gordy held the championship a total of five times, the most of any trio.[1][2] Kevin Von Erich held the championship 11 times with various partners including his father Fritz Von Erich, brothers Kerry, David and Mike Von Erich, as well as Michael Hayes, Brian Adias, Chris Adams, Steve Simpson and Lance Von Erich.[1][2] The longest individual reign lasted 282 days as Kevin, Mike and Lance held the title from July 4, 1986 to April 12, 1987. The Freebirds' five reigns combined to at least 581 days, the longest combined of any team. Fritz, Kevin and Mike Von Erich held the championship for a matter of hours, as Fritz gave his third of the championship to Kerry Von Erich at the end of the show where they won it.[1][2]

Title history

edit
Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific team—reign numbers for the individuals are in parentheses, if different
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
WCCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
1The Fabulous Freebirds
(Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts)
December 25, 1982Christmas Star WarsDallas, Texas1191Defeated Iron Mike Sharpe, Ben Sharpe, and Tom Steele. David Von Erich worked as a substitute for Buddy Roberts and immediately gave up his share of championship to Roberts[4][1][2]
2The Von Erichs
(Kevin, David and Kerry Von Erich)
July 4, 1983Independence Day Star WarsFt. Worth, Texas139 [1][2][5]
3The Fabulous Freebirds
(Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts)
August 12, 1983WCCW Episode #86Dallas, Texas2112Aired on August 20, 1983.[1][2]
4The Von Erichs
(Kevin, David and Kerry Von Erich)
December 2, 1983WCCW showDallas, Texas2[b]Defeated Gordy, Roberts, and Ric Flair after Hayes loses to loser-leaves-town match to Kerry on November 24, 1983.[1][2]
5The Fabulous Freebirds
(Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts)
January 10, 1984N/AGeorgia3[c]Reportedly won the match and the championship by disqualification, no match actually took place.[1][2]
6The Von Erichs
(Fritz, Kevin (3) and Mike Von Erich)
May 6, 1984Parade of ChampionsIrving, Texas10This was a "Badstreet Rules Match" in which there were no rules. The illegal Von Erich made the pinfall.[1][2][6]
7The Von Erichs
(Kevin (4), Kerry (3) and Mike Von Erich (2))
May 6, 1984N/AIrving, Texas148Kerry replaced Fritz who had come out of retirement for one night only.[1][2]
VacatedJune 23, 1984WCCW Episode #130An NWA representative vacated the title due to the illegal Von Erich winning the match[1][2]
8The Fabulous Freebirds
(Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts)
July 4, 1984Independence Day Star WarsFt. Worth, Texas461Won the rematch between the Freebirds and the Von Erichs[1][2][7]
9The Von Erichs
(Kevin (5), Kerry (4) and Mike Von Erich (3))
September 3, 1984Labor Day Star WarsFt. Worth, Texas254Mike Von Erich did not wrestle in the match due to an injury.[1][2][8][9]
10Gino Hernandez, Chris Adams and Jake RobertsOctober 27, 1984Cotton Bowl ExtravaganzaDallas, Texas165Defeated Kerry, Mike Von Erich, and Bobby Fulton, substituting for Kevin Von Erich.[1][2][10]
11The Von Erichs
(Kevin (6), Kerry (5) and Mike Von Erich (4))
December 31, 1984WCCW showFt. Worth, Texas3188 [1][2]
12Mark Lewin, Killer Tim Brooks and One Man GangJuly 7, 1985WCCW showReno, Nevada157Defeated Kevin and Kerry Von Erich with Mike being unable to work the match.[1][2]
13Brian Adias, Kevin (7) and Kerry Von Erich (6)September 2, 1985Labor Day Star WarsFt. Worth, Texas1123Defeated Mark Lewin, One Man Gang, and Jack Victory.[1][2][11]
WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
14The Fabulous Freebirds
(Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts)
January 3, 1986WCCW showDallas, Texas5121 [1][2]
15The Von Erichs
(Kevin (8), Kerry (7) and Lance Von Erich)
May 4, 1986Parade of ChampionsIrving, Texas161Steve Simpson substituted Kevin Von Erich in the championship match.[1][2][12]
16The Von Erichs
(Kevin (9), Mike (5) and Lance Von Erich (2))
July 4, 1986WCWA showN/A1282Mike returned from illness and replaced Kerry, who was injured in a motorcycle accident[1][2]
VacatedApril 12, 1987Vacated after Mike Von Erich committed suicide.[13][1][2]
17Kevin Von Erich (10), Chris Adams (2) and Steve SimpsonDecember 25, 1987Christmas Star WarsDallas, Texas110Defeated Terry Gordy, Buddy Roberts and Iceman Parsons for the vacant championship.[1][2][14]
18The Fabulous Freebirds
(Terry Gordy (6), Buddy Roberts (6) and Iceman Parsons)
January 4, 1988WCWA showDallas, Texas1186Defeated Steve Simpson, Chris Adams, and Matt Borne, substituting for Kevin Von Erich.[1][2][15]
19Michael Hayes (6), Kevin (11) and Kerry Von Erich (8)July 8, 1988WCWA showDallas, Texas1[d]Defeated Roberts, Parsons, and Kimala, substituting Terry Gordy.[1][2]
DeactivatedJuly 22, 1988[1][2]

Team reigns by combined length

edit
Key
SymbolMeaning
¤The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used.
RankTeam# of reignsCombined days
1The Fabulous Freebirds
(Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts)
5581¤[c]
2The Von Erichs
(Kevin, Kerry and Mike Von Erich)
3290
3The Von Erichs
(Kevin, Mike and Lance Von Erich)
1282
4The Fabulous Freebirds
(Terry Gordy, Buddy Roberts and Iceman Parsons)
1186
5Brian Adias, Kevin Von Erich and Kerry Von Erich1123
6The Von Erichs
(Kevin, David and Kerry Von Erich)
269¤[b]
7Gino Hernandez, Chris Adams and Jake Roberts165
8The Von Erichs
(Kevin, Kerry and Lance Von Erich)
161
9Mark Lewin, Killer Tim Brooks and One Man Gang157
10Kevin Von Erich, Chris Adams and Steve Simpson110
11Michael Hayes, Kevin Von Erich and Kerry Von Erich1[d]
12The Von Erichs
(Fritz, Kevin and Mike Von Erich)
10

Individual reigns by combined length

edit
Key
SymbolMeaning
¤The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used.
RankWrestler# of reignsCombined days
1Kevin Von Erich11788¤[b][d]
2Terry Gordy6657¤[c]
3Michael Hayes6582¤[c][d]
4Buddy Roberts5581¤[c]
5Mike Von Erich5524
6Kerry Von Erich8496¤[b][d]
7Lance Von Erich2343
8Iceman Parsons1186
9Brian Adias1123
10Chris Adams275
11David Von Erich269¤[b]
12Gino Hernandez165
13Jake Roberts165
14Killer Tim Brooks157
15Mark Lewin157
16One Man Gang157
17Steve Simpson110
18Fritz Von Erich10

Footnotes

edit
  1. ^ Hornbaker (2016) p. 550: "Professional wrestling is a sport in which match finishes are predetermined. Thus, win–loss records are not indicative of a wrestler's genuine success based on their legitimate abilities – but on now much, or how little they were pushed by promoters"[3]
  2. ^ a b c d e The exact date on which the Von Erich lost the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between 30 and 60 days.
  3. ^ a b c d e The exact date on which the Freebirds won the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between 96 and 126 days.
  4. ^ a b c d e The exact date on which the championship was abandoned is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between 1 day and 176 days.

References

edit
  • Hornbaker, Tim (2016). "Statistical notes". Legends of Pro Wrestling - 150 years of headlocks, body slams, and piledrivers (Revised ed.). New York, New York: Sports Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61321-808-2.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Texas) Dallas: World Class 6-Man Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 271–272. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak "World 6-man tag team title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  3. ^ Hornbaker 2016, p. 550.
  4. ^ a b "Christmas Star Wars 1982". Pro Wrestling History. December 25, 1982. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  5. ^ "Labor day Star Wars (1983)". Pro Wrestling History. July 4, 1983. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Independence Day Star Wars (1984)". Pro Wrestling History. July 4, 1983. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  8. ^ "Labor Day Star Wars". Pro Wrestling History. September 3, 1984. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  9. ^ Hoops, Brian (September 3, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (Sept. 3): Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk Texas Death Match, Great Muta vs. Sting, Ted DiBiase and Stan Hansen wins AJPW Tag Titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  10. ^ "Historical Cards: 2nd Cotton Bowl Extravaganza (October 6, 1985. Dallas, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 172. 2007 Edition.
  11. ^ "Labor Day Star Wars (1985)". Pro Wrestling History. September 2, 1985. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  12. ^ "3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Pro Wrestling History. May 4, 1986. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  13. ^ Hollandsworth, Skip. "The Fall of the House of Von Erich (February 1988)". D Magazine. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  14. ^ "Christmas Star Wars (1987)". Pro Wrestling History. December 25, 1987. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  15. ^ Hoops, Brian (January 4, 2016). "Daily pro wrestling history (1/4): Huge history of Tokyo Dome shows. Fingerpoke 'Doom". Figure Four Wrestling Observer Online. Retrieved December 26, 2019.