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World Class Announcer Bill Mercer Talks Von Erichs In Hall Of Fame

World Class Announcer Bill Mercer Talks Von Erichs In Hall Of Fame

Posted: Apr 4th 2009 By: CMBurnham

Lacey & Bill were welcomed by The Mayhem Crew (The Big Mosh & Blade), as we are counting down the hours from witnessing the legendary Von Erich family being enshrined into the WWE Hall Of Fame, as part of WrestleMania XXV weekend in Houston, TX. As mentioned above fans, it turns out that Bill & Lacey have never, but Lacey does remember him from her childhood days & watching her father wrestle on television. As part of this momentous weekend for one of the greatest families in the history of professional wrestling, Bill recalls his very fond memories of The Von Erichs: "I was at her (Lacey's) father's wedding, so in a way I'm in the family. But I feel like I'm in the Von Erich family, because I have known those kids since they were little guys, and (they) grew up & became famous." Both Lacey & Bill discussed Kevin Von Erich's current status, as he is now leaving in Hawaii, and according to Bill, "deserves some peace & quiet." He went on to add that at the zenith of WCCW, "there was no greater threesome (Kerry, Kevin, & David) in wrestling, probably in any other sport, than those three guys. They just carried the world."

Fans across the globe know the trials & tribulations the Von Erich family has gone through over the years. This weekend, however, will serve reason for anyone who was ever a part of World Class to celebrate & smile proudly, as the entire Von Erich family will be honored by World Wrestling Entertainment into their Hall Of Fame, as part of the "Class of 2009." Mosh & Blade directed the next question at Lacey on her emotions when she found out her uncles & her father were being inducted into the WWE HOF & just how excited she is to be in Houston for the ceremonies & the entire WrestleMania weekend. "I did call my sister, and she was ecstatic....We were like 'Yay, daddy is being remembered. My biggest thing on why I even got into wrestling was not the money, but to have daddy remembered."

Many of today's wrestling fans are not quite familiar with the Von Erichs, their rich body of work, or even World Class Championship Wrestling as a promotion, so Lacey was asked how is it going to feel to mingle with the fans at the WWE Hall Of Fame Ceremonies, as well as her feelings about Michael "P.S." Hayes inducting the family. "I'm pretty excited about it. I think that it's nice that both sides of the generation will be able to get to know or remember & appreciate it." Bill added that Michael Hayes "owes a lot to WCCW," and that he sees Hayes as the perfect person to do the Von Erich induction speech. Jokingly, Mercer said that he wonders if Michael will take his three allotted minutes to showcase to the Toyota Center crowd.

The Mayhem took the listening audience back to infamous Freebirds/Von Erichs feud from the heyday of WCCW & just how their clashes were some of the most-brutal in the history of professional wrestling. Bill was asked by Mosh & Blade about the feud & how it made WCCW thrive as a viable company in the wrestling industry. "It was a great battle between those six guys," and that the fans definitely got their money's worth, "because because the Von Erichs were the All-American guys...They had such a tremendous one-sided fan base." Mercer also wished to add that whenever those six guys got together in the squared circle that "it was a great spectacle" to behold.

Lacey was asked how the McMahon family have treated the Von Erich legacy & the portrayal of the World Class product since her uncle (Kevin Von Erich) sold the WCCW video library in 2006. "I think they did a great job, because I think if Uncle Kevin (Von Erich) didn't help produce it all, I don't think it turned out how it would have...He had it first-hand, and he knows my daddy better than anyone obviously." She feels like they (the family) were portrayed in a good light, and sometimes her father (Kerry) is looked on in a bad light/fashion. Lacey strongly believes that the WWE did a good job of portraying her dad when he was alive & not just how when/after died leading into this weekend's Hall Of Fame Ceremonies. One of the most-emotional interviews you fans will have the chance to every hear, as Lacey looks back at her father's memories/career, only on "Your Home Of Wrestling Radio."

In closing, Mosh asked Bill about this weekend & his feelings on not just The Von Erichs being honored, but World Class Championship Wrestling being honored as well. "I always was amazed at how successful it was." He went on to say that it was like "a flash...that it was there, it was exciting, it was worldwide, everybody was enjoying it, everybody had a great time, and then it was like 'OK...you guys have had enough,' and somebody pulled the plug."

More in discussed in this exclusive interview (pairing up Lacey & Bill for the first time ever), including their like their comments of a future WrestleMania taking place at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium (in the Dallas/Arlington area). the current local wrestling scene in Texas (and if it is as strong as it once was), Bill's thoughts on today's younger crop of wrestlers & what sets those apart from The Von Erichs, & so much more!

 

Tags: Bill Mercer, Von Erichs, WWE, Kevin Von Erich, WCCW, Kerry Von Erich, David Von Erich, Michael Hayes, Fabulous Feebirds

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Spotlight in History

  • 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion

Week of Sun 04-28 to Sat: 05-04

  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Champion
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1964 Mike Clancy & Al Lovelock def. Karol Krauser & Stan Pulaski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Champion
  • 05-03 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-03 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 05-04 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion
04-28
  • Siva Afi Apr 28th Today!
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th Today!
  • Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th Today!
  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Shane Rawls May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Psycho May 11th

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