Jun 30th 2026 01:44am

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

A glimpse into the golden age of wrestling in North Texas

A glimpse into the golden age of wrestling in North Texas

Posted: Oct 1st 2015 By: KERA.org

In the 1980s, North Texas was a professional wrestling hot spot. World Class Championship Wrestling was televised to fans across the globe from Dallas-Fort Worth. A new exhibit at UT Arlington shows off the group?s outrageous outfits, the high drama, and the loud crowds that gathered to take it all in.

This Arlington library has been transformed into a wrestling showcase, featuring 34 black-and-white photos taken in the 1980s by Cirrus Bonneau. He?s a photographer who wasn?t really interested in wrestling, but he lived near the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth.

A friend convinced him to go.

"And when he was taking photos because he wasn't really interested in pro-wrestling he became interested in the interplay between the crowd and the wrestlers," said Oliver Bateman, a professor at UT Arlington and curator of the exhibit "Ringside: Memories of World Class Championship Wrestling." "When he took all the photos in this exhibit, he tried to take them so that you could see both what the
wrestlers are doing in the ring and what the crowd was doing."

A popular TV show featured WCCW wrestlers weekly in the 1980s.

Photos from the Arlington exhibit show grandmas screaming at wrestlers, kids cheering for their favorites, and one competitor wearing a cowboy hat and a whip. This mix of crowd interaction and show biz helped build the championship wrestling organization based in Dallas-Fort Worth.

"For people in the Metroplex, the World Class Championship Wrestling was synonymous with the Von Erich family," Bateman said. "They produced three of the brightest stars in 1980s wrestling: Kerry Von Erich, who was an extremely muscular wrestler in the mold of the ultimate warrior. David Von Erich was 6-foot-6, 6-foot-7 and touted as a future world champion, and Kevin Von Erich was very muscular. [He] had played football at North Texas and was known for wrestling barefoot."

The Von Erichs owned World Class Championship Wrestling. Photos of the family fill the Arlington exhibit. But is wasn?t just the Von Erichs that made the group popular with the fans.

Cowboy Johnny Mantell dropped by to check out the exhibit.

"My name is John Lusk; my real name is John Lusk," he said. "But I wrestled for many years as Johnny Mantell."

Professor Oliver Bateman and John Lusk in front of the exhibit entrance at UT Arlington. He duked it out in the World Class Championship ring for years. Over time, he?s gotten used to people asking if
wrestling is real.

"Well, let me see - 10 knee surgeries, they've rebuilt my shoulder, my ankle," Mantell said. "Concussions? I can't even tell you how many concussions I've had."

The rings back then were more personal, Mantell says. They didn?t have any rails or staff members to keep back the fans, he said. It was a more intimate level of audience interaction that some say is missing from today?s wrestling.

"Wrestling was a sport, good versus bad, it was a great release for people," Mantell said. "They would come and they could yell and scream and scream at the ones they hated and blow kisses to the ones they loved."

World Class Championship Wrestling?s glory days are long gone. The Sportatorium in Dallas where many of the matches were held was demolished in 2003. The organization?s video rights were sold off in 2006.

But the heroes, the villains, and the drama are in Arlington, preserved in pictures.

The wrestling exhibit is on display at UT-Arlington until Jan. 16. Bateman and several wrestlers from the era plan on holding a get-together at the library in November.

 

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

1
Missy Hyatt says she needs surgery following car accident

Missy Hyatt says she needs surgery following car accident

Wrestling veteran Missy Hyatt announced needing surgery following a recent car accident. Former WCW star Missy... Read More

All News

The Scoop

The Scoop

NEWS WWE Vault has a WWE Mixtape compilation featuring Shawn Michaels. Later in the week, they uploaded a full Mid-South Wrestling episode fr... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1957 Bull Curry def. El Medico for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1970 Killer Kowalski def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. The Assassin & Angel [1st] for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Matt Borne def. The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 2002 Outcast def. Justin Lee for the OCW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 2007 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Title
  • 2007 Kareem Sadat def. Damien Morte for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 2008 C. M. Punk def. Edge for the WWE RAW World Title
  • 2012 The Extreme Avengers (Jake O'Brien & Kid Krazy) def. The Future Endeavours (Crossfire Morrison & Sam Stackhouse) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 2017 Mr. Nasty def. Cody Burns for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Mr. Nasty for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 2024 Dan Webber became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 2024 Father Padge became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 2024 GBA (Drake Gallows, Bang Bang Bennett, & Colton Kinnamon) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 2024 Gatekeeper def. Tino Valentino for the ASP Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 06-28 to Sat: 07-04

  • 06-28 2009 Kevin Morgan def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-28 2009 Ky-ote Joe became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 06-28 2009 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Rage Logan) def. The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-28 2009 Montego Seeka & Li'l Joe def. T. M. S. (Seth Allen & Dane Griffin) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-28 2014 Angel Camacho def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-28 2014 Gary Tool became the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-28 2024 Seth Daniels became the UWE Apex Champion
  • 06-28 2025 Skidz def. Bishop Simon for the RWE Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-29 1987 Tony Atlas & Skip Young became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
  • 06-29 2003 Tyler Bateman def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-29 2003 Tod Deathridge def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-29 2003 John O'Malley def. Tod Deathridge for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-29 2013 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-29 2019 Alex Royal def. Fuel for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-29 2019 The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. Maniac Mike & Duncan Kincaid (Subbing for Kareem Sadat) for the EmpCW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-29 2024 Tribal Nation (Nashoba & Brandon Warhawk & Marlboro Slim) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 06-29 2026 Brixton Barricade def. Bang Bang Bennett for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
  • 06-30 1957 Bull Curry def. El Medico for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-30 1970 Killer Kowalski def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-30 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. The Assassin & Angel [1st] for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 06-30 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-30 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Matt Borne def. The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-30 2002 Outcast def. Justin Lee for the OCW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-30 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 06-30 2007 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Title
  • 06-30 2007 Kareem Sadat def. Damien Morte for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 06-30 2008 C. M. Punk def. Edge for the WWE RAW World Title
  • 06-30 2012 The Extreme Avengers (Jake O'Brien & Kid Krazy) def. The Future Endeavours (Crossfire Morrison & Sam Stackhouse) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-30 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 06-30 2017 Mr. Nasty def. Cody Burns for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 06-30 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Mr. Nasty for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 06-30 2024 Dan Webber became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 06-30 2024 Father Padge became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 06-30 2024 GBA (Drake Gallows, Bang Bang Bennett, & Colton Kinnamon) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 06-30 2024 Gatekeeper def. Tino Valentino for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 07-01 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 07-01 1988 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. King Parsons & Terry Taylor for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 07-01 2005 Paul Linam def. C.G. Mullins for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
  • 07-01 2016 Mr. Barnes def. Drake Gallows for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 07-01 2022 Mr. Wobble became the TexPro Texas Champion
  • 07-02 1962 The Daltons (Jim Dalton & Jack Dalton [1st]) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 07-02 1962 Don Kent def. Red McKim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 07-03 1989 P.Y. Chu-Hi def. Eric Embry for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 07-03 1996 Jimmy Kane became the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-03 2015 Mascara La Parka became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 07-04 1981 Paul Orndorff def. Jake Roberts for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 07-04 1983 The Von Erichs (David Von Erich & Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
  • 07-04 1983 David Von Erich became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 07-04 1984 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts) def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich, Kevin Von Erich, & Mike Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
  • 07-04 1984 The Rock & Soul Connection (King Parsons & Buck Zumhofe) def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 07-04 1986 Chris Adams def. Rick Rude for the WCCW World Title
  • 07-04 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Brian Adias for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 07-04 1986 Abdullah the Butcher def. The Great Kabuki for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 07-04 1988 Kevin Von Erich became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
06-30
  • Ed Lewis Jun 30th Today!
  • Terry Funk Jun 30th Today!
  • Kenneth Caine Jun 30th Today!
  • Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
  • Jake Hollister Jul 1st
  • Li'l Joe Jul 1st
  • Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
  • Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
  • Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
  • Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
  • Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
  • Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
  • Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
  • Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
  • Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
  • Blake Wilson Jul 4th
  • Bree Ann Jul 4th
  • Barry Windham Jul 4th
  • Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
  • Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
  • Richard Pierce Jul 5th
  • Little Tokyo Jul 5th
  • Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th
  • Terry Kage Jul 5th
  • Dalton Bragg Jul 6th
  • Steven Sterling Jul 7th
  • Sandor Kovacs Jul 7th
  • Toby Keith Jul 8th
  • Thunderbolt Patterson Jul 8th
  • Tuck Davion Jul 8th
  • Ralph Hammonds Jul 9th
  • Alexander Gold Jul 9th
  • Jerry Grey Jul 9th
  • Skidz Jul 9th
  • AXL Jul 9th
  • Daemon Storm Jul 10th
  • Billy Jack Haynes Jul 10th
  • Gary Poppins Jul 10th
  • Jim White Jul 11th
  • Raydin Taylor Jul 11th
  • Butch Reed Jul 11th
  • Xavior Jul 11th
  • Garrett Murphy Jul 11th
  • Cody Burns Jul 11th
  • Clint Cassidy Jul 12th
  • Rene Goulet Jul 12th
  • Sam Stackhouse Jul 12th
  • Summer Rain Jul 12th
  • Oscar Dotson Jul 13th
  • Frankie Taylor Jul 13th
  • Kenny Ackles Jul 13th
  • Tony Borne Jul 13th

More Look Back In History

Card Results

1