by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway
On Tuesday, August 9, 1977, Wahoo McDaniel regained the Mid-Atlantic heavyweight championship from Greg Valentine at Dorton Arena in Raleigh, NC. Valentine had defeated the Chief earlier that summer in Greensboro.
The next night at the taping of "Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling", David Crockett introduced the studio audience at WRAL-TV to the new champion, and the crowd gave Wahoo a huge ovation.
These were always some of my favorite moments - - when a new champion was introduced at the beginning of that week's TV show.
Wahoo's celebration was cut short when he was interrupted by United States Champion Ric Flair, who made it clear that Wahoo had no chance of getting the U.S. title from him.
Wahoo told host Bob Caudle that he was going to make history that week, as he had shots at both the U.S. title held by Flair and the NWA world title held by Harley Race.
"If the man wrestled with his mouth, he'd be unbeatable. But he has to get in there and defend that title, and I'm on a lucky streak right now, I'm gonna take his title and get Harley Race - - I got a chance at the world title. Three belts in one week - - it's never been done." - Wahoo McDaniel
Here are the first 5 minutes of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling that aired on Saturday, August 13, 1977.
Flair and Wahoo left the WRAL TV studio in Raleigh (separately, I'm sure!) and drove to nearby Rocky Mount, NC where Wahoo fought Flair for the U.S. title that same night. He had another shot at Flair two nights later in Richmond. Then on Sunday, he challenged Race for the NWA world title in Greensboro.
WAHOO WEEK IN REVIEW (AUGUST 1977)
- Tuesday, 08/09, Raleigh, NC - Wahoo McDaniel beat Greg Valentine to win NWA Mid Atlantic Title
- Wednesday, 08/10, Raleigh, NC - WRAL TV studio confrontation with Ric Flair
- Wednesday, 08/10, Rocky Mount, NC - Ric Flair beat Wahoo McDaniel (U.S. title match)
- Thursday, 08/11, Lynchburg, VA - Wahoo McDaniel & Mighty Igor beat Blackjack Mulligan & Masked Superstar
- Friday, 08/12, Richmond, VA - Ric Flair beat Wahoo McDaniel (U.S. title match)
- Saturday, 08/13, Spartanburg, SC - Wahoo McDaniel double DQ Greg Valentine (Mid-Atlantic title defense)
- Sunday, 08/14, Greensboro, NC - Harley Race beat Wahoo McDaniel (NWA world title match)
While Wahoo wasn't successful in winning three belts in that week, it was nevertheless quite a successful week at the box office for Jim Crockett Promotions and a number of big pay-days for the Chief!
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Edited from a post originally published December 4, 2015 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.
