1980s Texas Set Ballot Discs 1-3

I haven't been doing much around here lately so I thought this would be a good chance to put up some content. I've been working on a draft of a review for the DGUSA DVD Mercury Rising for a month, which I may post eventually, but it's boring to write because it boils down to this- don't buy the DVD, it's not very good. In the meantime I'm thoroughly enjoying the Texas set in the ongoing Best of the 80s DVDVR projects, so I figured it'd make more sense to write about something that I'm finding engaging.

This is my third set I've participated in, the first being Mid South and second was New Japan. Before these sets I watched a bit of 80s wrestling (aside from the stuff growing up), a Steamboat/Youngblood VS Slaughter/Kernodle cage match here, an All Japan Real World Tag League with the Funks there. But these projects have really given me the foundation to understand and appreciate wrestling from the decade I was born. When I first got the Mid South set I had my reservations about whether or not I'd actually be able to finish and get a ballot in on time. I was surprised at how quickly I tore through the set. Any reservations I had about lowering my expectations for a slower/looser style were completely unfounded. Brawling has always been my favorite style of wrestling and Mid South was really built around great brawling supplemented by strong athletic work in the ring. On top of that Bill Watts may have become my favorite booker all time over the course of the set. New Japan, despite being full of great wrestling, was a bit more of a chore towards the end for me. But WCCW has a somewhat similar feel to the Watts stuff both in terms of booking and the style in the ring, so I'm keeping a good pace with this set so far with no need to take significant breaks.

Kerry Von Erich was always one of the 80s wrestlers who I naturally enjoyed the most. I bought a Best of Kerry comp back when I still barely watched any 80s wrestling, and enjoyed every match on it. So the Texas set was really a no brainer for me. And it's been a blast so far. I knew I liked the Von Erichs coming in, but I've been especially impressed through the first three discs with "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin and Sunshine. Garvin I had only seen later in his career and thought very little of coming in. Sunshine I had honestly never even heard of as Precious was the valet I always associated with him. Well Sunshine has quickly sky rocketed on my list of all time great valets and managers, and Garvin has had a bunch of matches that are locks to stay high on my ballot. Their chemistry is amazing and Sunshine has an ability to tell the entire story of match with her facial expressions that most wrestlers never even come close to. I think those two, along with Kerry, have been at the very top of the set through the first 3 discs.

The Freebirds and Kevin Von Erich have been just about on the same level, with the main event scene in general looking very strong. I have some issues with Kevin's selling in some matches, then in others such as against Race he'll put on an absolute clinic. So he's been a bit hard to pin down. Some people have considered him for one of the greatest in the world around this era, others I've heard similar complaints from regarding his selling. But he's always fun to watch. He might have my favorite flying cross body block of all time, and his offense is unique and exciting. All three Freebirds have been great and it'd be hard for me to definitely say one has been better than another thus far. Otherwise David Von Erich, "Iceman" King Parsons and Chris Adams have had some good showings and some mediocre ones, but have generally been good. And as far as the touring talent, Flair has not surprisingly been pretty great and Race has been good as well.

Here's my ballot through these first three discs, which I hope to update after then next three discs, and then once or twice more through the last four. Some of these matches are in line for a rewatch and of course this is all subject to revision as I go. Also keep in mind that other than a small handful of matches at the bottom, I actively enjoyed all of these and would gladly sit down to them again.

1. The Fabulous Freebirds vs. The Von Erichs (7/4/83)
2. Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich (Cage Match) (12/25/82)
3. Jimmy Garvin & Terry Gordy vs. David & Kevin Von Erich (2/3 Falls) (8/15/83)
4. Harley Race vs. Kevin Von Erich (6/17/83)
5. Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes vs. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich (Country Whipping Match) (11/4/83)
6. Jimmy Garvin vs. Kevin Von Erich (7/25/83)
7. The Fabulous Freebirds & Jimmy Garvin vs. The Von Erichs & Iceman King Parsons (Elimination Match) (5/27/83)
8. Jimmy Garvin vs. Kevin Von Erich (7/18/83)
9. Kevin Von Erich vs. King Kong Bundy (5/30/82)
10. Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich (2/3 falls) (8/15/82)
11. Iceman King Parsons vs. Harley Race (10/7/83)
12. Jimmy Garvin vs. David Von Erich (6/17/83)
13. Chris Adams, Iceman King Parsons & David Von Erich vs. Michael Hayes, Kamala & The Mongol (10/3/83)
14. Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes vs. Kerry Von Erich & Chris Adams (10/31/83)
15. Terry Gordy vs. Kerry Von Erich (No DQ) (6/10/83)
16. The Fabulous Freebirds vs. The Von Erichs (Lumberjack Match) (2/18/83)
17. Jimmy Garvin vs. David Von Erich (5/27/83)
18. Buddy Roberts vs. David Von Erich (3/18/83)
19. Terry Gordy vs. Kevin Von Erich (1/10/83)
20. Ric Flair vs. Kevin Von Erich (4/1/83)
21. The Fabulous Freebirds vs. The Von Erichs (8/12/83)
22. Terry Gordy vs. Chris Adams (7/15/83)
23. Jimmy Garvin vs. Chris Adams (8/26/83)
24. Iceman King Parsons vs. Buddy Roberts (2/3 Falls) (8/8/83)
25. Chavo Guerrero, Iceman King Parsons & Kerry Von Erich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Penalty Box Match) (4/29/83)
26. Jimmy Garvin vs. Chris Adams (10/24/83)
27. Iceman King Parsons, Kevin & David Von Erich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (5/13/83)
28. Checkmate & Magic Dragon vs. Al Madril & Bugsy McGraw (10/26/82)
29. Michael Hayes vs. Kerry Von Erich (Country Whipping Match) (9/5/83)
30. Checkmate & Magic Dragon vs. Jose Lothario & Al Madril (10/12/82)
31. Ric Flair vs. David Von Erich (10/11/82)
32. Terry Gordy vs. David Von Erich (2/3 Falls) (9/5/83)
33. Ric Flair vs. Terry Gordy (2/4/83)
34. Kevin Von Erich vs. Terry Gordy (10/21/83)
35. The Fabulous Freebirds vs. The Von Erichs (9/5/83)
36. David Von Erich, Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy vs. The Sharpe Brothers & Tom Steele (12/25/82)
37. Michael Hayes vs. Kerry Von Erich (2/7/83)
38. Jimmy Garvin vs. Johnny Mantel (10/31/83)
39. Jimmy Garvin vs. Chris Adams (9/12/83)
40. Buddy Roberts & Terry Gordy vs. Kerry Von Erich & Johnny Mantel (10/17/83)