Jim Cornette on David Von Erich & Magnum T.A. 

I never tire of world class talk...

MJF left the media scrum by shooting "Thank you, F you, bye", Corny must be in heaven right now. 😂

Props to the guy who emailed this excellent question. Fascinating topic.

Two of the great "what-ifs" of 80s wrestling. If neither tragedy happens, the decade probably plays out so much differently.

The 80s. Were the greatest time to be a wrestling fan…. All the territories. Wwe. Nwa. Awa. World class from texas. Mid south. All territorys. Were stacked with talent……. Glad i got to. Grow up and watch it all…. 💯

Territory stories are just so old school and fascinating I never get enough

From most of the shoot interviews I've read, David, with a lot of help from Brody, kept the boys in line. Kevin has stated that Fritz loved David best because he reminded him of himself the most, but feared him for that very same reason. When David died, the rest of the VE boys just went off the rails because Fritz was in denial.

That is such a great question! Kudos to Jim how he answered it!

Magnum and Nikita could have been sensational in WCW going into the 90’s with guys like the horseman LOD Sting Luger and the Steiner’s. Do many what if’s.

I apologize.. I saw the Von Erichs wrestle live in the late 70's to '83.. I love watching Magnum also.. David's death really took a toll on me. He was a natural at professional wrestling, I always said that Barry Windham's movements and style was based off David.. Love to both great men.. Thank you🙏🏿❤✊🏿

I assure you that Shawn D Brock IS my given name. One of my thoughts that wasn't talked about is that if David had a longer run with the title (it certainly would have been longer than Kerry's), Crockett doesn't get to monopolize it. Also Fritz doesn't leave the NWA when he did.

If David had lived and Magnum not been in that accident, Flair would not have been champion as many times.

Michael Hayes said that David hands down understood the business best of the boys.

GOOD JOB, BRIAN! Whenever people discuss the demise of WORLD CLASS they always leave out those 2 key events: The loss of their main production and booking people to the WWF and elsewhere-- and the decision to withdraw from the NWA! These losses began to affect the in ring product regardless of personal losses! No wonder why I listen to Cornette and Brian more than other wrestling related shows: you're both entertaining and informative and neither seem like they're angling for a job at WWE or AEW!

Mike’s return was incredibly sad. There was no doubt in my mind the poor guy suffered brain damage from what he went through. His family should’ve protected him from coming back. His dignity and self respect wasn’t considered. It was all about the gate.

Magnum is possibly the biggest what if in professional wrestling history. The Von Erichs already had the name. But Magnum, people would go INSANE for him EVERYWHERE.

From what I’ve heard of the two, I’d say David probably had more of an impact on the business. He was liked by so many and even Harley Race and Ric Flair both put him over as a future world champ. Magnum was also a world champ in the making but I’m not sure if he was as established as David at the time of his accident. Always a great what if scenario.

Ironically the big winner in both scenarios was Flair. With David dying and Terry being incapacitated, keeping the belt on Flair became the fallback. I guess the real question is how does it affect Flair's legacy of either and or both tragedies don't happen?

Imagine if Chris Von Erich, instead of trying to be a wrestler had become a heel manager turning against his family. His whole gimmick could have been that he was the bitter black sheep of the family because he was smaller and shunned by his father.

I seen video of David in Florida as a heel helping flair against butch Reed that was a great storyline.

David was also the biggest star in the capital of the NWA, St.Louis.

Finally a episode where we talk about the old days and not dumb ass shit going on today, wtf

This is an awesome question and conversation! If David lives, is Mike even pushed? Maybe he never get injured and contracts TSS and gets his brain fried. Does Kerry totally go over the deep end? Could he have kept from crashing and losing the foot etc….So many dominoes with David’s unfortunate death.

David Von Erich was a generation behind the direction the business was going towards. He would have been great for World Class, he'd probably gone to Turner and had an ok run but he wouldn't have ever been a tippy top of the card guy for anyone but World Class. Magnum T.A. was a big reason Crocket got so hot. He looked great, he's a guy that had charisma just standing there, he could work. Magnum could have been what Sting became in terms of popularity.

If Magnum hadn't had to retire is my favorite what if in wrestling. He was JCP's answer to Hogan. But he could work,and he wasn't a cartoon character.

I always figured that if Magnum didn't get over at Starrcade 86, it would have been during the Bash in the summer of 87. I really didn't start watching WCCW until around late 85. But yes, both had a huge impact

Magnum TA is to me the biggest what if image if he didn’t get that accident I definitely say he be NWA heavyweight champion and Flair knew be right for the business to do, when I first saw Magnum, I was like when did Tom Selleck take up wrestling

David was also the best interview/promo of the three brothers. And I wonder if it would have been better for the actual NWA, not JCP, if David would have gotten a run with the NWA Heavyweight Title. JCP by far was the strongest of the NWA members, but Crockett locked up the exclusive rights to Ric Flair's dates after some time and other promoters were having to pay Crockett NOT to have the NWA Champion make dates in their territories, but DID to have Ric Flair appear in their territories....who WAS the NWA Champion. Kind of the same thing, but a technicality. For some time,Flair was going to the PNW, Continental, All Japan, and especially Florida. Central States, St. Louis, the promotions in Canada, etc. were dying. Memphis was still strong, but didn't need the NWA Champion as much as other territories did. In 1986, when World Class pulled out of their NWA membership, it was WAS a loss to the NWA, but an even bigger loss to World Class. The NWA Champion in the DFW market was so important, and they billed the NWA Title as being the most important Championship in the sport. To just say "The American Champion is now recognized as the World Heavyweight Champion,...but with a title not the NWA Title", just didn't seem to go over with fans.

It might have been David The Undertaker Von Erich in WWF 1990 or Tag Team The Undertakers 1& 2 ( David Von Erich & Mark Callous )

Also, David did the best promos of the VEs

Magnum was going to get a "Hogan Size Push."

If either of them won the belt, wouldn’t they have just lost it back to Flair a month later like everyone else?

Magnum was a shinning star in JCP. The Von Erichs were Texas wrestling. David was a better worker than Magnum. I think both would have been world champions. David 1st, back to Flair, concluding with Magnum over the course of 5 or 6 years.

Lance Von Erich.....terrible idea I don't know what Fritz was thinking

Happy thanksgiving and Starcade season! Love these speculative questions. Magnum TA vs. The Hitman Brett Hart! Dude!

David would have been the go to. He was established in a higher level. Mushcnik in STL loved him and that was the key to the NWA.

About 2 years after I started watching wrestling I was sitting there in the living room on a Saturday night and heard the announcement that David had died. Since then I've heard all this talk about how wonderful he was. And I never really understood it. Now yeah, it was my early teen years but I just never saw what everybody else saw in David. Maybe if I were older I would have seen it.

Loved Magnum T.A.

I think Magnum's accident really changed things most for Sting. I think Sting probably still becomes what he did, but the accident sped up the process.

MagnumTA was one of my first memories of wrestling.

Magnum wouldve had a run in wwf as well eventually.

David would have been NWA Champion if he and World Class had gotten hot earlier than 1983. He could talk, work heel and babyface, and was the most technically solid brother. Magnum was going to be huge during the 80's boom, was a great wrestler, and could have been a great heel.

to me , Magnum couldn't cut a promo for nothing.

Anyone remember a young Terry Allen (Magnum T.A.) vs. Nick Bockwinkle in AWA?

Flair dodged two bullets. … but then Jim Crockett believed in having heel champions.

Don't forget TA was destined to turn heel on duthtay

1986 was a great year in NWA and World Class Championship Wrestling

William Shakespeare would have looked at the Von Erichs and said, “Nah people will never believe this tragedy.”

Magnum vs Flair..vs Nikita..vs Tully..vs Windham...would have been classic title defenses And even if he did a heal turn...vs Dusty..vs Sting It would have carried to the WCW buyout Oct 14th 1986...changed alot

I was watching some world class episodes on the network. And theirs a great episode were Fritz and Kevin have to explain why David was acting differnt out in Florida.

We were stole of Magnum T.A. & David Von Erich. I personally think both would've been over huge, let's not forget the push that Magnum T.A. was going to get. A case of we will never truly know with both.

David absolutely would have been bigger than Magnum TA. David was a large, athletic guy - 6' 7" and an moved with stealth abilities. David was a fantastic rival throughout the decade to Flair, and also a great counter to the larger than life mystique of Hulk Hogan. Not to mention how World Class and the NWA could have used Kerry and Kevin as ancillary pieces... Magnum was great, but David was believably dangerous.

As to David - I think if they had made an alliance with JCP - maybe they could have had a means to establish a southern stronghold against Vince - but that would mean Fritz would have to smarten up - so probably not, but a guy can dream. As to Magnum - I still think a heel turn would have been revolutionary - where he Magnum joins the Horsemen - and slowly becomes the leader and he oust Flair and then Flair on the outside battling him. Now that I think about it - Flair and Hart - that would have beeeeeeeeeen great.

If you were going to do some sort of crossover, Magnum vs Savage would have been $$$.

I loved that Magnum's finisher was the Belly To Belly.

Salt of the Earth baby!🏆💪

David and it ain’t close.

David Von Erich

Vice had that good WCCW show on the other day, I like how they went to lengths to talk about how great of an athlete Kevin was, I didn't really know much about him besides the barefoot thing. Kerry was the Texas Tornado, David died so that was a big deal, but Kevin kinda got the short end especially being the last guy left, but now that opens the door for him and his kids, and that's cool

I think Vince would have had to have a different plan of attack. Nothing about what WWF/WWE would become was for certain at that time. I feel like Vince along with the great minds he surrounded himself with would have found another way to succeed. He had his Stick Michael too, helping to build that eventual juggernaut. Vince didn't build this empire by himself.

DVE vs Magnum would have been serious money.

U could see empty seats at Reunion Arena in late 1985.

So sad yet so fun to "what if" about World Class and the Von Erichs had David not passed.

It was my impression that "Lance" was brought in to replace Mike during Mike's health crisis. His debut was in the Cotton Bowl riding in a convertible with Mike, who you could clearly see was not able to ever step back in the ring.

To me, when Magnum had his accident it just affected Crockett. When David died it affected several promotions due to the far reach of the NWA at the time.

Fritz Vonerich and Jim Crockett would have to have a great relationship in order for David to have any real run with the belt

Magnum affected business but David Dying affected wresting much more. Everyone mourned when David Died. Business though,nobody knows for sure if David would have been champion. People think he would of but Magnum definitely was. It was in the works when he had his car accident,they were in the process of setting that up. I always loved that the people in Texas lost faith in The Vin Reich's when they brought Lance in. They were liars. A sport where the entire point of it is lying to you but they get mad when someone lies?

just awesome convo from Corny

I remember hearing a little about Magnum TA as a kid and wondering what happened to him. i didnt know till i passed my casual stage

I think I remember hearing that Mike wanted to work as a cameraman and do the behind the scenes stuff, but Fritz basically pushed him into the ring and told him to be David

As a Kid,I thought Magnum was unstoppable.He'd been one of the all time greats if the accident hadn't occured.He was on fire those last 2 years.

Let's not forget that "Lance Von Erich" was in Portland (Billy Jack's home territory) prior to arriving in Texas. He was known there as Ricky Vaughn and almost being presented as a Von Erich-like hero of sorts. Perhaps Billy Jack was prepping him for his eventual move to World Class. Thoughts?

The Heart Wants What It Wants

I'd make that Fateful Rivalry a Triple Threat and add the very charismatic Gino Hernandez to the mix. He could've been a Top Heel in practically any NWA Territory around.🤔🎤🐴🤼‍♂️B.W.

I think Vince would have come after David had he lived. Could you imagine him starring down the undertaker they were physically identical

Magnum was on the rise and that accident was so sad and tragic. David dying was a tragedy and very sad. Magnum was on his way to be champion and was a great baby face. Magnum would of been a star in any company he was good and got the Dusty Rhodes rub.

I guess the ultimate "what if" is wondering how the NWA title reigns would have been given out to either wrestler had both tragedies not taken place. The years between 1984 and 1990 would have certainly been interesting. Because you had Flair, Dusty, Von Erich, Magnum, along with Luger and Sting coming up. So deciding angles between those guys would have been quite difficult.

As a kid I didn’t even know about WCW/NWA. I was only exposed to WWF in the 80s. As an adult, I watch WCW/NWA and think to myself “this is real fn wrestling”.

In my opinion, with David's death, it was the beginning of the end of WCCW. And remember, WCCW had a "green" Dingo Warrior (Ultimate Warrior) & Sting. If David didn't die, would the Ultimate Warrior & Sting, be who we know them today?

Kevin Von Erich briefly worked for WWF in MSG under Vince Sr.

I honestly feel like if David had lived and Magnum wouldn’t have had the wreck, Flair would have went to WWF in 86 and Magnum would have become and stayed The Guy for the NWA. Either way, Vince still would have ended up winning by 1990

DvE had much better psychology, speaking, AND wrestling skills than MTA. He would’ve been a more credible champion than MTA. However, let’s not forget about Nikita. He also had the skills needed to be a classic champ. I personally believe that (in those days), the three finest candidates that could carry a world title are… - Bret Hart - Curt Hennig - David von Erich (no offense to MTA) All these wrestlers had an incredible ring psychology, came from a wrestling family background, and were loved by fans globally. The most important factor is that all three would have equal success being a heel or a baby face. Not all wrestlers can do that.

I felt what would have been good is that Fritz had brought Waldo in where Waldo intoduced another wrestler as his son. That would have avoided that whole cluster with the Lance situation

1986 in World Class also had Gino's fatal cocaine overdose

In case I forget, happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow cult members

Makes me wonder what would have happened to Sting.

Kevin Von Erich is from my hometown of Belleville, IL.. *fun fact*😁

I don't know what some people are smoking! Mid Atlantic (NWA- Crockett Country) was mostly a tag team promotion until the late 70s. The NWA Missouri State Title was the second most prestigious title in the National Wrestling Alliance, until it left the alliance- that belonged to the KC office (Central States) and St. Louis Club. World Class NWA was the biggest money making promotional affiliate of the NWA from 1981 to 1984. After Crockett combined Georgia and Mid Atlantic, and after World Class loss the power struggle in the NWA's Board of Directors (Fritz loss to Crockett), the NWA Dallas office (World Class) left the NWA in February 1986. As a result of World Class's succession, both the NWA as a whole, and WCCW or now WCWA loss. NWA became weaker and weaker as the 'whole was no longer stronger than the sum of its parts". NWA Crockett Country of World Championship Wrestling controlled the NWA and the travelling champion days were over for the most part. In name only, WCW stayed within the 'nwa' framework; it seceded in 1991, rejoined in 1992, with another former NWA affiliate NWA New Japan, and then it finally seceded for the last time in October 1993.

Kerry followed David to Florida for a stint as well. Butch Reed was chasing Flair during that period and DVE & Kerry sided with him on TV. I was 6 or 7, but I remember it clearly.

David was going to be the Stone Cold in world class,he would beat up faces and heels except for his brothers, Magnum would have gotten over and would have been a huge cross over star, Mike never wanted to wrestle he wanted to be his dad right hand man...

Its pretty even on potential success. Von erichs were wild ,all of f them. Even their father told that to Jerry Jarrett,trying to get him to buy him out.

WCCW should have never left the NWA. If they stay in, Crockett would HAVE to address their situation at some point. Just like he did with the other NWA territories at the time. WCCW had the DFW metroplex, The Von Erichs, and Brody to still offer. Crockett bought out other NWA terrritories. And tried to continue to run them for awhile. WCCW had way more to offer. EVEN though they were past their glory days. And outside of the WWF and JCP, Kerry, Kevin, and Brody were the three biggest stars in the US in my opinion at that time. Either JCP offers to buy them out. OR WCCW gets a major boost by having JCP stars appear in WCCW. I think they some type of working relationship could have eventually happened. When Turner buys out JCP, WCCW could have also been figured in somehow. If anything, the new WCW could have continued the partnership. Of Turner buys out JCP and WCCW! My point is WCCW staying in the NWA wouldn't have hurt.

Magnum T.A. vs. either David Von Erich, Bret Hart of Barry Windham would have been one hell of a match.

I think David dying was the bigger tragedy. The trajectories that death changed were more encompassing than Magnum's accident: the death spiral of World Class, the eventual destruction of the whole family. Magnum's accident really didn't alter the course of Mid-Atlantic or the NWA, because there were still such huge stars to come with Luger and Sting, plus Flair was still the undisputed top wrestler of the 80s. Magnum is more of a "what-if" while David's death did have major ramifications for the business. As far as how well Magnum would have done as champ in 86 or 87, I don't think his first title reign would have been especially long. It might have been a trial balloon sent up, just to see how fans took to him as champ. He would have probably dropped the belt back to Flair before long and then, if fans really liked Magnum even more and business was either as good or better with him as champ, he and Flair would have possibly traded it a couple of times before Magnum eventaully became "the guy". You still would have had Luger and Sting coming in too, which would have meant some interesting things to consider. Maybe Magnum would have turned heel, or those guys would have been heel challengers to him. The possibilities...

Damn good question, this.

It was definitely TA

I'm a big time Magnum TA & Vonerichs fan, I believe all would of been industry changing scenarios for the better, Wow, what if 🤔

David was a heel in St Louis !

Finally a segment worth listening too. I'm so sick of even Corny talking about new wrestling.. give me the old history type shit.. I know they gotta make shows but I'm so over hearing about all the new current crap wrestling

But Mike doesn't die because he may never had to wrestle if David was still alive. Maybe Mike can put his foot down ans stay on as a camera man. It was on the Rise and Fall of WCCW DVD