Wrestling Observer Flashback–04.27.87

Thankfully this issue didn’t come up in the rotation yesterday, because I was just at a funeral and in no mood for what was about to happen. It’s really kind of strange and creepy how we’ve been watching someone self-destruct for months now, helpless to do anything but see it unfold far in the past.

– So the top story is of course the suicide of Mike Von Erich, apparently from an overdose of tranquilizers on 4/12. Mike was 23 years old, and this is the third tragic death of a Von Erich son thus far. David’s death in a hotel room, of causes that have been “lied about so many times that it’s not even worth speculating about the real cause”, of course came three years earlier. Mike had previously contracted toxic shock syndrome, then miraculously survived and came back as some kind of walking zombie after getting pushed back into the business far too soon. Really, he was pushed into the business far too soon even before that accident, built up as the greatest athlete in the family when really all he ever wanted to do was work behind the scenes. Many other promoters predicted that pushing Mike would be the death of the territory.

– Mike’s downfall after his comeback started, with a series of run-ins with police and various DUIs (and many other escapades that likely got buried by the press). His last one came on 4/11, when he was arrested for a DUI and possession, and then bailed out and disappeared completely on 4/13. Eventually his truck was found with a suicide note in it, but no body. The lake was combed and finally police dogs found him zipped into his sleeping bag, beside the lake, dead for approximately 5 days.

– Dave hopes that the Texas Stadium doesn’t become the “David and Mike Memorial Show” (which it did) and that Fritz doesn’t continue to cash in on him with shirts and photos at the matches (which he did). Fritz already went down that road with David, raising prices of shirts to $20 after his death.

– The NWA takeover of the UWF has begun, with the only big name moving over being Big Bubba Rogers. The TV product is becoming more Crockett-ized, with ring introductions removed, and Magnum TA will now do color with Jim Ross. Also, all live events have been suspended as of the end of April, and only TV is being taped at the moment.

– The purge of the talent pool has begun, with Buzz Sawyer on the way out, plus Sam Houston, Missy Hyatt and Baby Doll. One Man Gang is off to the WWF to be the newest Hogan monster. Houston is also headed to the WWF because of his connection with Jake Roberts. The biggest question mark is Ted Dibiase, who is currently in Japan and not tipping his hand either way. He’s likely gone, but the question is where.

– Jim Neidhart’s trial began on 4/13, with Jerry McDevitt as his lawyer. Apparently Jerry will produce a parade of witnesses who did not see any of the alleged slapping or punching that Neidhart is accused of.

– Riki Choshu has officially jumped to New Japan, and announced the formation of his new Ishingun group to take down Inoki. Baba is demanding $600,000 from Inoki to let Choshu out of his contract, or otherwise the whole thing will get dragged into court and get even uglier. Thus far, Inoki has refused. He’s probably going to have to give in, though, because his TV situation is dire.

– Speaking of dire TV, Ken Patera has begun showing up on WWF TV again as they try to play up the redemption angle. Dave finds this funny because Vince is making Patera go out there and talk about how remorseful he is about what he did, when in fact he spent the previous two years maintaining his innocence, to the point where he was denied parole multiple times because he wouldn’t take responsibility for his actions. (I also hear that he lost several prison fights when he charged blindly at someone in the corner of the yard and then knocked himself out.)

– Another tentative Hogan-Andre rematch has been set for 8/10 at Montreal’s Olympic stadium, to go along with the rumored 7/4 rematch at Shea Stadium.

– The next SNME, on 5/2, will actually be the first one ever without Hulk Hogan.

– To World Class, where Dingo Warrior apparently refused to do a job for Nord the Barbarian and was fired by Bruiser Brody. Yes, BRODY fired someone for refusing to do a job. Lance Von Erich also went for elbow surgery and will quietly never be brought back.

– To Crockett, where they’re doing yet another tournament for the US tag team titles on TBS.

– Ricky Morton’s eye injury, thought to be a detached retina, is merely a scratched retina and he’ll be back in two weeks. (Sadly, Robert Gibson’s lazy eye is all too real.)

– John Tatum, still recovering from his car accident, has been running a sandwich shop in Texas. (I feel like he was really close to living out the plot of The Wrestler in real life.)

– Terry Taylor and Chris Adams continue losing to Sting & Rick Steiner in title matches, with Taylor doing more and more subtle heel mannerisms to build up the split.

– Terry Gordy reinjured his knee on 4/17, but apparently has the freakish ability to somehow be even BETTER while working on it.

– Central States continues to fall apart under Geigel. The latest angle is the Warlord getting a big push as a Russian who was trained by Ivan Koloff and has been posing as an American all this time. Dave clarifies that in fact the real story is that he’s a statue that has been posing as a wrestler and no one’s figured it out quite yet.

– In Memphis, Paul E. Dangerously is now managing Austin Idol, and Dave hopes that Paul can talk because Idol will run circles around him on the mic otherwise. (This pairing actually kicked off a fantastic period for the territory, one of my favorites)

– Curt Hennig turned heel (for real this time) by turning on Greg Gagne on 4/19 in Minneapolis. Although you’d be hard-pressed to tell because everyone cheered so loud when it happened.

– The AWA version of the Crockett Cup saw the Russians (Ustinov and Zhukov) beating the Rockers in the finals. (Ugh, we know where THAT was going)

– Jim Neidhart was found innocent of all charges in his trial. Dave thinks it’s funny that every paper in the country reported the arrest and trial, and then no one reported the verdict.

And finally, scrawled in pen at the end as usual, Big Bubba Rogers wins the UWF title from One Man Gang on 4/19 to send the Gang packing for the WWF.

Happier times next week, hopefully.