Written and Produced by Tony Richards
December 25th in the Time Tunnel:
It’s the Christmas Day Edition of The Daily Chronicle! Merry Christmas from all us at the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel to all of you!
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Gus Schoenlein\Americus 1883
Cal Farley 1895
Mike Mazurki 1907
Bronko Lubich 1925
Woody Farmer 1935
Shozo “Strong” Kobayashi 1940
Happy Birthday:
Wildcat Chris Harris (52)
Miroslav Barnyashev\Rusev (40)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Charlie Cutler 12-25-1952 at the age of 68
Wilbur Snyder 12-25-1991 at the age of 62
Mike Davis 12-25-2001 at the age of 45
Jay Clayton 12-25-2005 at the age of 64
40 Year Flahsback
12-25-1985: World Class Championship Wrestling Christmas Star Wars Show
In 1985, WCCW was at the height of its popularity, largely fueled by the Von Erich family—brothers Kerry, Kevin, and their cousin Lance—who embodied the heroic, all-American spirit against villainous heels like the Fabulous Freebirds. The promotion, owned by Fritz Von Erich, emphasized athleticism, dramatic rivalries, and a mix of local talent with international stars, often taping matches for syndicated television broadcasts. The year had seen several Star Wars events, including high-profile shows at Texas Stadium and the Cotton Bowl, building momentum toward the holiday climax. Christmas Star Wars ‘85 was particularly significant as it occurred amid personal tragedies for the Von Erichs, including the recent death of David Von Erich in 1984, which added emotional depth to their storylines. The event drew an estimated 7,840 attendees to Reunion Arena, a venue with a capacity of around 21,000, reflecting WCCW’s strong regional draw despite competition from national promotions like the WWF.
Some reports suggest attendance reached 14,000, highlighting the event’s appeal during a peak era for Texas wrestling. The card for Christmas Star Wars ‘85 was stacked with 11 matches, ranging from undercard bouts to main-event spectacles, many of which advanced key angles for future TV episodes. The night kicked off with preliminary action, including John Mantell defeating Tommy Montana in a singles match, setting a fast-paced tone. Japanese star Tatsumi Fujinami added global prestige by defeating The Masked Demon, while Lance Von Erich challenged Rick Rude for the WCCW American Championship, winning by disqualification after interference— a common trope in WCCW to protect titles while extending feuds.
Mid-card highlights included the Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts) overpowering Mark Youngblood and Dave Peterson in a tag team match, reinforcing the Freebirds’ heel dominance. The Missing Link, a bizarre and fan-favorite character, quickly dispatched Jack Victory, providing a brief, crowd-pleasing monster squash. Tensions escalated in the WCCW American Tag Team Championship match, where Kerry and Kevin Von Erich faced the Dynamic Duo (Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez), ending in another disqualification victory for the challengers due to underhanded tactics. This outcome fueled the Von Erichs’ ongoing quest for justice. A mixed tag team bout saw Scott Casey and Sunshine defeat John Tatum and Missy Hyatt, incorporating women’s roles in a era when female wrestlers were often managers or valets, adding variety to the card.
The upper card featured high-stakes international and hardcore elements. Antonio Inoki defended his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, retaining the title in a hard-hitting encounter that bridged Japanese and American styles. Bruiser Brody, a legendary brawler, clashed with the One Man Gang in a brutal chain match, emerging victorious in what was likely a blood-soaked affair typical of Brody’s no-holds-barred reputation. The main event pitted Kerry, Kevin, and Lance Von Erich against the full Fabulous Freebirds trio (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, and Buddy Roberts) in a six-man tag team Lights Out Match. The Von Erichs prevailed, delivering a feel-good holiday ending that sent the Dallas crowd home happy and advanced the iconic Von Erich-Freebirds rivalry, which defined WCCW for years.
Beyond the in-ring results, Christmas Star Wars ‘85 held cultural significance as a family-oriented holiday event in a wrestling hotbed. Many matches were taped for WCCW’s weekly TV show, extending their impact into 1986 and helping maintain the promotion’s syndicated reach across the U.S. The inclusion of stars like Inoki and Fujinami underscored WCCW’s alliances with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, while the Von Erichs’ heroism resonated with Texas audiences amid the promotion’s real-life struggles. However, this era also foreshadowed WCCW’s decline, as drug issues, tragedies, and competition from Vince McMahon’s expanding WWF would erode its dominance by the late 1980s.
In retrospect, the 1985 Christmas Star Wars stands as a snapshot of territorial wrestling’s golden age—raw, regional, and riveting. It encapsulated the spirit of WCCW: larger-than-life characters, heated rivalries, and a connection to its Dallas roots that made every supercard feel like a hometown celebration. For fans of classic wrestling, this event remains a cherished holiday memory, blending yuletide cheer with the thunderous drama of the squared circle.
The Card:
Johnny Mantell defeated Tommy Montana
Tatsumi Fujinami defeated The Masked Demon (Bob Sweetan)
Antonio Inoki defeated Steve Williams
Lance Von Erich defeated Rick Rude by DQ for the NWA American Heavyweight Title
The Missing Link defeated Jack Victory
Scott Casey & Sunshine defeated John Tatum & Missy Hyatt
Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts defeated Mark Youngblood & Dave Peterson
Kevin & Kerry Von Erich defeated Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams (ch) by DQ for the NWA American Tag Team Titles
Bruiser BRosy defeated The One Man Gang in a chain match
Brian Adias & Iceman Parsons defeated The GRappler & The Great Kabuki
Kevin, Kerry & Lance Von Erich defeated Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts in a Lights Out Tag Team Match
Thank You for Reading
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
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