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HEROES OF WORLD CLASS: The Story of the Von Erichs and The
Rise and Fall of World Class Championship Wrestling
Release Date: June 15th, 2006
Available on DVD
Available at www.rightherepictures.com
.
Total running time: Approximately 2hours 40minutes.
Directed by Brian Harrison
Music by Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble, Mike Datz, Peter Adams,
Jeff Freling and The Flaming Lips
Review By Brett Schwan.
Brian Harrison brings us this DVD which chronicles the history
of World Class Championship Wrestling as well as it’s primary stars,
the Von Erich family.
The DVD consists of interviews with numerous people who were involved
with WCCW and puts that alongside footage that hasn't been seen in quite
some time (making for a great experience for wrestling fans).
Some of the DVD's highlights include:
Kevin Adkisson talked about how his granddad would have
Fritz fight other children and they would pass around a hat for money.
He couldn’t imagine doing that to his kids but that helped him understand
why his father was the way he was.
That seemed to set the stage for Kevin’s memories of his dad and
the way he seemed to take everything his dad ever did (that seemed cruel
or negative) and turn it as to place the blame on someone else.
We start of by learning that World Class was the invention of Mickey Grant.
The original show ran on Saturday nights, against Saturday Night Live,
and was shot with only two cameras (one without a cameraman). The show
was getting a 14 rating while SNL was only a 9 or 10.
After getting such good ratings on the local station, WCCW got a break
and debuted on CBN. By this time they were up to 6 cameras, music, and
microphones (some of the things that wrestling shows at the time never
even considered).
Within 9 months, the show was on over 85 stations in 25 countries. In
NY, where I was able to watch the show, they drew a bigger rating than
Vince.
We learned from Gary Hart that Ric Flair would get 13% of the gross (3%
would go to the NWA, 10% to Ric).
WCCW seemed to be ready to break through to the big time and make a solid
run at becoming the top promotion when David Von Erich died on February
10, 1984. David died overseas prior to a scheduled title match with Ric
Flair (in which the strap was going to be given to David).
Thus the demise of WCCW began. It seemed no one had the charisma that
David had and, while many other “faces’ wrestled in Texas, none
drew the pop or crowd that David could.
Footage from the February 18th television show was shown. Clips of Jimmy
Garvin, Michael Hayes, Harley Race, and Ric Flair talking about David
were played on that telecast.
Footage of Kerry Von Erich’s title win at the David Von Erich Memorial
Parade of Champions was then shown.
We then turn to Chirs Adams who became one of the most popular wrestlers
in WCCW and then became one of the biggest heels when he turned on the
Von Erich’s and teamed up with Gino Hernandez (who according to everyone
who spoke about him on the DVD, would have been a huge star with Vince
had he not died so young.
More tragedy strikes WCCW as Mike Von Erich becomes one of only 4 athletes
to live past the inset of Toxic Shock Syndrome. Unfortunately, it took
it’s toll on Mike and he was never the same.
Lance Von Erich (not related but just a character to fill the void) was
brought in to start teaming with the brothers. The entire family was against
it but Fritz wanted it and since “majority ruled”, Fritz got
it his way.
Ken Mantell’s goal was to take WCCW worldwide when they pulled out
of the NWA. Fritz chose to stay in Dallas and not to run against some
of his people or to continue with syndication. (which is the exact opposite
of what Vince did, which put WWF on the map).
Mike Von Erich, having never been able to fully recover, killed himself
in 1987.
To show the change in WCCW’s domination… The 1984 David Von
Erich Memorial drew 43,000 fans. The David/Mike memorial show, in 1987,
drew 4,900.
Between 1986 and 1988 several failed attempts were made to revive WCCW
until Kevin sold it to CWA owner Jerry Jarrett, who renamed it USWA.
The documentary continues by discussing the deaths of Bruiser Brody (who
was killed in Puerto Rico), Chris Von Erich (who shot himself), and Kerry
Von Erich (who also shot himself). In 1997, Fritz Von Erich was diagnosed
with cancer and died on September 10.
Kevin’s loyalty to his father and family simply amazed me. To this
day, even after telling about the time his father pulled a gun on him,
he continues to blame his father’s actions on the brain cancer and
on the fact that Kevin was a constant reminder to his father of all the
sons he had lost.
The Sportatorium became a refuge for the homeless until 2003 when the
decision was made to demolish it.
The list of WCCW performers who passed away is like a who’s who of
wrestling. David Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, Gino Hernandez, Bruiser Brody,
Magic Dragon, Tojo Yamamato, Chris Von Erich, Scott Irwin, Buzz Sawyer,
Killer Karl Krup, Kerry Von Erich, Ralph Riley, DJ Peterson, Frank Dalton,
Mike Davis, Joe LeDuc, Jeff Raitz, Jeep Swenson, Terry Gordy, Chris Adams,
JunkYard Dog, Rick Rude, and Billy Travis all passed away (and some consider
it all part of the curse of WCCW).
In one of the most emotional parts of this DVD, a camera follows Kevin
Von Erich as he returned to the Sportatorium one last time, on February
10, 2003. While crews were outside, removing asbestos shingles from the
face of the building, Kevin had the chain on the door cut and entered
it. He gave us a tour of he building, from the ring to the entrance way
to the locker rooms and even his father’s office. He told us all
the stuff that he lost in the building (that he never went back to get)
like two rings, trailer, and hundreds of photographs. He talked about
the scars he still has on his back and shoulders from the fans reaching
out to touch him as he made his way to the ring.
The DVD closes with footage of the empty lot where the Sportatorium once
stood. The lot, now desolate and empty, as if nothing ever existed there.
Luckily, for us, this DVD allows us to relive all the great history that
took place there.
Having been able to watch WCCW when I was younger, it was great to be
able to relive some of my favorite wrestling moments. I never knew about
Gary Hart or Bruiser Brody having ever booked in the area. I had never
seen a shot of the outside of the Sportatorium before.
The classic clips and footage that is gathered on this DVD is simply phenomenal.
From the Chris Adams and Jimmy Garvin feud to the debut of the Freebirds
to the Dynamic Duo (my favorite tag team of the era), to Jim Cornette
and the Midnight Express, to Garvin and Sunshine as David Von Erich’s
valet for a day, none of WCCW’s most classic moments were overlooked.
Interviews with Gary Hart, Skandar Akbar, Marc Lowrance, Kevin Adkisson,
Bill Mercer, Mickey Grant, David Manning, John Mantell, Chris Adams, and
more are used to help tell the amazing story of the rise and fall of one
of the most memorable wrestling promotions the world has ever seen.
I highly recommend this amazing DVD to any fan of wrestling. Von Erich
fan or not, it is one of the best pieces of filmmaking I have ever had
the pleasure of viewing.
-------
May 21, 2006
Press Release
Long awaited documentary about Texas’ legendary Von Erichs/World
Class Championship Wrestling to be released.
HEROES OF WORLD CLASS: THE STORY OF THE VON ERICHS
AND THE RISE AND FALL OF WORLD CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING
is the story of filmmaker Brian Harrison’s childhood heroes: The
Von Erich Brothers. It tells of the small Dallas promotion run by Fritz
Von Erich in the 1980’s that became the innovator of professional
wrestling’s worldwide exposure via television syndication.
With his three oldest sons as the franchise stars, WCCW was one of the
most syndicated shows in the world, until a string of shocking tragedies
drove the family and the promotion down a path no one could have imagined.
Today one Von Erich, Kevin, remains, his four younger brothers among the
stars who found a tragic end in the downfall of World Class.
HEROES OF WORLD CLASS is a story of surviving unspeakable tragedy and
a tribute to an unforgettable era.
Release Date: June 15th, 2006
Available on DVD
Pre-ordering is scheduled to begin as of May 25th at www.rightherepictures.com
.
Based on the overwhelming number of people who have subscribed to the
RHP Newsletter, it is entirely possible that the first run of HEROES OF
WORLD CLASS will sell out.
Don't wait any longer! Order your copy of HEROES OF WORLD CLASS May 25th!
Total running time: Approximately 2hours 40minutes.
Directed by Brian Harrison
Music by Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble,
Mike Datz, Peter Adams, Jeff Freling
and The Flaming Lips
Media Contact:
Brian Harrison
Harrison@rightherepictures.com
