Tuesday, June 29, 2021

The World's Oldest Living Wrestler (Setting the Record Straight)

ABE JACOBS
We recently received a nice email from Mrs. Evelyn Jacobs, the wife of wrestling legend Abe Jacobs. She was making note of the fact that she had seen several mentions online that the oldest living wrestler was thought to be "Cowboy" Bob Ellis.

She wanted us to know, at least, that this information was not true.

"My husband is the oldest," Mrs. Jacobs wrote. "He was born June 18th, 1928. He's about eight months older than Bob Ellis. Just thought this info would be of interest to you."

We are happy to have this information and pleased to help Evelyn set the record straight! And we wish her and Abe all the best.

For more on Abe Jacobs:
Gateway Interview: Abe Jacobs by David Chappell (Archive site.)
Meeting Abe Jacobs by Don Holbrook

Monday, June 28, 2021

American Dreams Do Come True

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Back in 2016, on the eve of the 30th Anniversary of Dusty Rhodes' historic third NWA World Heavyweight Championship win over Ric Flair at the Great American Bash in Greensboro on July 26, 1986, Dusty's son Cody Rhodes posted these thoughts in a 4-part tweet (the original tweets are embedded at the bottom of this post):
"If you've read "Big Gold" by Dick Bourne you know the nameplate for my Father was never on the actual Title after my Father defeated Ric at The GAB. It was rumored to not even exist, but it was ordered and it does exist. I found it in a cigar-box. And on the eve of the 30th ANNIVERSARY and with @HeyHeyItsConrad 's help, it officially goes on the original "Big Gold". The "hard times" for you Pop are over. Just good times ahead sir." - Cody Rhodes
Needless to say, I'm honored that Cody has my book, and thrilled that the discussion within its pages regarding the "Dusty Rhodes" nameplate led to his sentimental post on Twitter celebrating one of his father's greatest victories.


American Dreams do come true: for the first time since Dusty Rhodes won
the Big Gold in 1986, the nameplate finally goes on the belt.

Fans of this legendary belt owe Cody a debt of thanks for sharing the nameplate with all of us. Stars truly aligned for this to have ever happened to begin with.

The back story, if you don't own the book (but you really ought to own the book), is that a nameplate was ordered to go on the belt after Dusty's big win at the Great American Bash in Greensboro. Nelson Royal, on behalf of Jim Crockett Promotions, placed the order with Crumrine Jewelers in Nevada (the company that made the Big Gold Belt) on July 29, three days after Dusty's victory.

http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/p/big-gold.htmlOn the same day that order was placed, Jim Crockett, Jr. appeared with Dusty on a television taping of "World Wide Wrestling" and told fans that a new nameplate had been ordered and would go on the belt, replacing the Ric Flair plate.

But before the nameplate was delivered, Dusty lost the NWA championship back to Flair after a Horseman ambush in Kansas City led to an injured Rhodes dropping the title back to Flair in St. Louis only a few weeks later.

Crumrine provided scans of the original paperwork for the book showing the special order form and the artwork for the Rhodes nameplate. (Cody's first tweet shows the book opened to that page.) But because we never got to see the nameplate appear on the Big Gold belt, we never knew if the order for that nameplate had ever really been filled and delivered.

Until now.

A few months back, Cody Rhodes read about the nameplate in "Big Gold" and with the help of Conrad Thompson, Ric Flair, and the collector who owns the belt today, arranged for a dream to come true - - an American Dream, if you will. What for the last 30 years would have seemed unthinkable has now been made possible - - the original 1986 Dusty Rhodes nameplate was placed on the original 1986 NWA world heavyweight championship belt for the very first time.

Sparks actually flew when the two pieces of gold first touched. Stardust. (That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.)



 Here are the original tweets from the official Twitter account of Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes):








Edited from an original post from July 25, 2016 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway. 
Special thanks to Cody Rhodes.

http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/p/big-gold.html

Saturday, June 26, 2021

The Chicken Coop (2007)

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Originally Published April 2007 

Note: The article below was originally published here on the Gateway in April of 2007.  Price's Chicken Coop in Charlotte closed for good on June 19, 2021, creating great sadness here at the Mid-Atlantic Gateway. We acknowledged that earlier in this post:  Darkness Falls on Old Charlotte: The Sad Demise of the Chicken Coop.  I am re-publishing this story to share my good memories of the day I first discovered "the Coop" and its loose connections to Mid-Atlantic Wrestling.

Riding around Charlotte with George South is like being on a guided bus tour of famous wrestling-related landmarks for Jim Crockett Promotions. And not just the more obvious significant sites like the Park Center, the original Coliseum, or the location of the Crockett offices on Briarbend Drive. The smallest details, the places and things that might seem insignificant to others, are the things that are often the most special to George.

“Now ladies and gentlemen, over on your right is Little Hardware, where Klondike Bill would purchase the special colored duct tape used on Crockett’s rings.”

You think I’m joking.

Actually, it’s not quite like that, but you get my point. Everywhere we go, George can relate where we are to Mid-Atlantic wrestling. That’s one of the things I love about George South. Everything in life has some connection to wrestling (as it should, you know, when you’ve got the sickness like we do.)

So off we go. We’re on a tight schedule, we’ve only got an hour or so before we go pick up the Sotos and El Reyo when they get out of school. Just enough time to make my first visit to another Crockett landmark, Charlotte’s world famous Chicken Coop.

Price’s Chicken Coop has been written up in national magazines and featured on television all over the country. It fits the description of hole-in-the-wall. The Chicken Coop has to look just like it did 30 years ago, which is pretty amazing given it’s smack in the middle of Charlotte’s trendy fast growing up-scale South End district, just south of the downtown financial center, blocks from the Panther’s NFL stadium and the new NBA basketball arena. But the yuppie, hipsters, movers and shakers haven’t changed this special place, a step back in time, and the best fried chicken I think I've ever had. That covers some territory for me. I’m already a fried chicken or two over my limit for a lifetime.

This is starting to sound like a restaurant review, so I’ll stop here. I'll leave it at this: my first bite of Price’s Chicken Coop chicken and I was taken back 30 years ago to my grandmother Nana’s kitchen at her cabin on Lake Summit, in North Carolina. She pan-fried the chicken, of course. That was the best fried chicken I’d ever had, until now. I’m not going to say Mr. Price does it better than Nana, but let’s just say Nana and Mr. Price would have gotten along pretty well.

So what does all this have to do with Jim Crockett Promotions and Mid-Atlantic Wrestling?

“You ain’t seen nothing until you see Tully Blanchard in a three piece suit, diamond rings and shades, digging into a box of chicken from the Chicken Coop,” George tells me.

Beginning in the early-to-mid 1980s, after the main TV tapings had moved from the studio to the arenas, Crockett would tape the local promos for each town at a small make-shift studio at the Briarbend Drive office during the day on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays, rushing to get done so everyone can head out to whatever town they were running that night. It was a non-stop taping marathon that lasted sometimes as many as eight hours, and during that time, the wrestlers couldn’t leave.

My first box of chicken at "the Coop."
“The guys would have me run down to the Chicken Coop and pick up these huge boxes of chicken,” George told me. “The dinners all came with sides and fixin’s , but the boys just wanted the chicken. I’d bring it back, and they’d all dig in. Sometimes, Jackie Crockett would drag things out so they’d be waiting for a break to get to that chicken. There it is, this big box of fried chicken and every big name in this business is all digging in at the same time.”

But what about George? Surely he didn't get left out.

“You got that right! I’d sneak a piece on the way back to the office, and I’d always have to shake the box up to level it out so there wouldn’t be this big hole where I had pulled out a piece of chicken.”

Of course, if the chicken cost $20, George made ten times that in tips form the boys. 

“Tully would tip me $20 bucks, and Arn and Flair would be looking out of the corner of their eye, and they’d have to tip me $25 just to out-do each other. I made more in tips on Tuesday promo tapings than I ever made wrestling.” 

Price’s chicken is take-out only. So there we are, George and I sitting in his car, Journey on the radio, 70 degrees, sunny blue skies, prettiest day of the year so far. We’re slamming down the fried chicken, hush puppies and sweet tea as fast as we can. We ran out of napkins, I had to wipe my fingers on a Texaco road map. Best fried chicken I’ve ever had in my life. 

And of course, we had to drive by the old Crockett office location and reminisce. Those days are gone forever, I guess we should just let ’em go.

Nah.

I’m going to get out my old 1985 wrestling tapes, maybe I’ll spot a small greasy spot on Tully Blanchard’s tie while he’s cutting one of those promos. I’ll know then that George has just made a run to the Coop. 

 

A Charlotte light-rail train approaches (far left) on the tracks across the street from
Price's Chicken Coop (far right) just minutes before closing time on an early November evening.


From the old Gateway site archives.
Originally published in April of 2007 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

Friday, June 25, 2021

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: September 3, 1983

The WWE Network is no longer available
in the United States.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it once appeared on the WWE Network. Results are included for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as available. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. Follow @TaubGVWire

For links to all available summaries as well as links to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast, visit our TV Summary Index.

Please note
: The WWE Network ceased operation in the United States on April 4, 2021. Their press release stated that their entire archive of material (which would include the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling shows) would be transitioned to NBC's Peacock streaming service by the end of the summer 2021. We'll update as we know more.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 09/03/83
Taped 08/24/83 in Shelby, NC - Shelby Recreation Center)
Review is from the now defunct WWE Network (U.S.) feed. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Caudle talks about the Briscos interfering in a Jimmy Valiant vs. Kabuki & Gary Hart match, and that is why Valiant is gone. Jerry denies Caudle’s accusations. Caudle says Hart and the Briscos stole the tape. Jerry talks about the incident in Greensboro (August 21). Jerry says no tape, no proof.
A heard, but not seen David Crockett makes the ring introductions.

[Break]

Match 1
Non-Title: Greg Valentine [U.S. Champion] d. Keith Larson

Tommy Young is the referee for the hour. Caudle talks about the controversial loser leaves town match, and Valiant is gone, and the stolen tape. Charlie Brown will be here! Valentine wins with an elbow drop.

[Break]

Match 2
Charlie Brown d. Jerry Grey

This match joins in progress. Probably a Network edit. Jerry Brisco joins Caudle on the commentary, and isn’t buying Charlie Brown from Outta Town’s identity. Brown wins with a sleeper hold. And, a quick edit out of the match.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel
Flair welcomes Wahoo back. Wahoo says the Briscos embarrass him. Flair says they are in town to party. Wooooo!

[Break]

Match 3
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel d. Ron Rossi & Bill Howard

Flair and Wahoo slapped Howard around in the ring. Wahoo butterfly suplexes Rossi on his head. Flair giving a lot of offense. Flair finishes Howard off with the Figure Four.
(Gateway note: This match would be shown several weeks later on the WWF's Sunday morning "All American Wrestling" program on the USA Cable Network, which was at that time airing lots of tapes from territories of guys that Vince McMahon hoped to talk into coming to the WWF. While it's doubtful they were interested in Wahoo at this point in his career, they certainly were interested in Ric Flair.)

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jerry Brisco & Jack Brisco
Jerry does all the talking. They are not worried about Jay Youngblood coming back.
Back to the ring, where the unseen voice of David Crockett announces the next match.

[Break]

Match 4
The Assassins d. Steve Muslin & Mark Fleming

Muslin is dressed like the third Fabulous Rougeau Brother of 1988 WWF fame, blue tights and yellow boots/pads. Hamilton Assassin gets the hammerlock submission on Fleming.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: The Assassins
As usual, Hamilton Assassin does the talking. He says no one will get in their way, and no one better interfere in their matches. Paul Jones joined in on commentary.

[Break]

Match 5
Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Ben Alexander & Tom Lentz

Easy match for the heroes. Steamboat pins Alexander with a flying bodypress. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Paul Jones and Jake Roberts; Dick Slater
Roberts is in a sports coat and tie. Jones is complaining about Jimmy Valiant. Caudle is playing dumb. I guess this is when the four-year war of Jones vs. Valiant started, right at this moment. Up until then, they kept their own distance. Slater talks about being a bounty hunter. He warns Flair and Wahoo.

“So long for now!”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Results for the week, 8/29/83-9/04/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 8/29/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Ric Flair & Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine & Dick Slater
Bob Orton, Jr. beat Great Kabuki by DQ
The Assassins beat Mike Rotundo & Johnny Weaver
Gene Anderson beat Steve Muslin
Magic Dragon beat Ric McCord

Tue., 8/30/83 Raleigh, NC
Keith Larson d. Golden Boy Grey
Tom Lentz d. Brett Hart
Mike Rotundo d. Magic Dragon
Jimmy Valiant & Bob Orton Jr. d. Great Kabuki & Gary Hart
Non-World tag team championship: Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco [ch.]

Tue., 8/30/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine in a Canadian lumberjack match
Ric Flair beat Dick Slater by CO
Rufus R. Jones beat Jake Roberts
The Assassins beat Bugsy McGraw & Johnny Weaver
Kelly Kiniski beat Mike Davis
Vinnie Valentino beat Bill Howard

Wed., 8/31/83 Greenwood, SC; Greenwood Civic Center (TV)
MACW:
Charlie Brown d. Bill Howard; Stu Schwartz
Bob Orton Jr. d. Terrible Link; Stu Schwartz
Rufus R. Jones & Wahoo McDaniel d. Ben Alexander & Bill White; Stu Schwartz
NWA World Heavyweight championship: Ric Flair d. Harley Race [ch.] by DQ; Stu Schwartz

Thu., 9/01/83 Norfolk, VA; Scope Coliseum
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Roddy Piper & Ricky Steamboat
Greg Valentine beat Rufus R. Jones
Wahoo McDaniel & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Dick Slater & Jake Roberts
Gene Anderson beat Mike Davis
Ric McCord beat Jacques Goulet
Keith Larson beat Tom Lentz

Thu., 9/01/83 Sumter, SC; Exhibition Center County of Sumter (Eccos)
Bugsy McGraw & Charlie Brown vs. Great Kabuki & Gary Hart in a steel cage match
The Assassins vs. Johnny Weaver & Mike Rotundo
Brett Hart vs. Bill Howard
Magic Dragon vs. Vinnie Valentino
Kelly Kiniski vs. Steve Muslin

Fri., 9/02/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Charlie Brown (Jimmy Valiant) & Bugsy McGraw beat Great Kabuki & Gary Hart
The Assassins beat Mike Rotundo & Johnny Weaver
Brett Hart beat Kelly Kiniski
Magic Dragon beat Jerry Grey
Bill Howard beat Vinnie Valentino

Fri., 9/02/83 Richmond, VA; Richmond Coliseum
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Wahoo McDaniel & Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine & Dick Slater
Rufus R. Jones beat Jake Roberts
Bob Orton, Jr. beat Jacques Goulet
Gene Anderson beat Ric McCord
Keith Larsen beat Steve Muslim
Tom Lentz beat Mike Davis

Sat., 9/03/83 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco by DQ
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine in a lumberjack match
Wahoo McDaniel & Rufus R. Jones beat Dick Slater & Jake Roberts
Kelly Kiniski beat Mike Rotundo
Gene Anderson beat Vinnie Valentino
Keith Larsen beat Jacques Goulet
Bill Howard beat Mike Davis

Sun., 9/04/83 Asheville, NC; Asheville Civic Center
Keith Larson beat Tom Lentz
Billy Howard beat Mark Fleming
Bugsy McGraw beat Jacques Goulet
Wahoo McDaniel no contest with Dick Slater
Charlie Brown & Rufus R. Jones beat Great Kabuki & Gary Hart
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine

Sun., 9/04/83 Savannah, GA; Savannah Civic Center
Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater in a lumberjack match
Greg Valentine beat Roddy Piper by DQ
Charlie Brown & Rufus R. Jones beat Kabuki & Gary Hart in a steel cage match
The Assassins beat Mike Rotundo & Johnny Weaver
Kelly Kiniski beat Vinnie Valentino
Magic Dragon beat Ric McCord
Brett Hart beat Jerry Grey 

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Poster: Flair Returns to Action and Steamboat Debuts in Roanoke (1977)

An email from Thom Brewer
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contribu
tor

I really got a kick from the article about people thinking Wahoo had killed Flair. (See: Please Note: Wahoo McDaniel did not kill Ric Flair!) It was funny while reading it to see that Flair's return to the ring was on 3/05/77 in Roanoke.  I looked about a foot to my left and there is the poster from that night.

 


I was there that night and none of us there knew about the rumors out of Lynchburg. 

I don't remember much about that main event that night, but there is one thing I will never forget. It was the first time I, or anyone else in Roanoke, saw Ricky Steamboat. Believe it or not, he was the first match of the night against Two Ton Harris.  We had never heard of Steamboat at this point as it was his first appearance in the Star City. He squashed Harris in just a couple minutes and beat him with a body press off the top rope.  We all knew he was destined for great things. 

Anyway, it was a real kick reading that article and remembering that night. 

- Thom

Monday, June 21, 2021

Darkness Falls on Old Charlotte: The Sad Demise of the Chicken Coop


by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

George South sent a text to me last Thursday morning with the sad news that was spreading like wildfire around Charlotte and the local area - - after nearly six decades, the iconic Chicken Coop had announced it was closing its doors for good.  

This news broke my fried-chicken-loving heart. Another piece of the old Charlotte dies a sad, tragic and needless death. Price's Chicken Coop had stood strong and steadfast at its location on Camden Road downtown. It had and survived the economic recessions of the 1970s and the 2000s, the homogeneous gentrification of the the South End neighborhood, and even the worst worldwide plague in a century in the form of the covid pandemic. Ironically after all that, the reasons given for what finally brought this beloved walk-in, take-out, cash-only institution to its knees were conditions largely unnecessary: (1) a labor shortage (as we continue to pay people not to work), (2) out-of-control price inflation of raw chicken, and (3) a coin shortage. Yes, a freakin' coin shortage, which cripples a cash-only business. What is happening to this country? Mr. Price is wondering the same thing, I guarantee you. 

So a tradition beloved by families going back three generations dies a needless death, casualty of the modern world we live in. 

Back in 2006, George South first took me to get fried chicken at Prices Chicken Coop. Not living in Charlotte, I had never heard of the place until he told me about it and its loose connections (for George, anyway) to Mid-Atlantic Wrestling. I just  dove elbow deep into that take-out box of chicken and tater-tots, and thus began a culinary love affair that I've enjoyed over the last 16 years. 

So in love was I with that perfect fried chicken and the stories George told about running errands to pick up boxes of it for the Crockett wrestlers stuck in day-long promo TV tapings on Briarbend Drive, I actually wrote about it on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway. That original article is still on the old Gateway Archive site. I'll be re-publishing it here later this week. That article reflects on a great memory for me of that little hole-in-the-wall chicken shack, a memory that will now have to fill the hole in my heart left by its closing. 

A box of fried chicken, tater tots, slaw,
hush puppies and a roll from
Price's Chicken Coop in Charlotte.


I created my own wrestling connections to the Coop, too, spearheading a side trip for a group of out-of-town friends during a Charlotte wrestling fanfest to picnic at nearby Latta Park with boxes full of Chicken Coop fried chicken. I even returned to the Coop after that picnic to pick up one more box to take back to the convention hotel where Bob Caudle and his lovely wife Jackie eagerly awaited my return. Jackie had insisted I bring the Chicken Coop to her, having heard me go on about it after Bob had read the article on the Gateway. I happily obliged.

I must admit that I haven't been to the Coop as often in recent years because of the horrendous traffic problems in the South End neighborhood created by the out-of-control development in that area. The Chicken Coop is one of the last holdouts not to sell to the developers, and so the condos and office buildings just grew up all around it, nearly swallowing whole the tiny little brick building that remained just as it had looked for the last several decades. Mr. Price apparently still owns the building and the parking lots around it, estimated in recent news reports to be worth nearly 1.7 million dollars in total. If he chooses to sell the property, I hope he holds out for twice as much. This last little bit of the old Charlotte now just fades away and the next generation of upwardly mobile hipsters to move in to those expensive condos will have no idea it was ever there to begin with. 

"There will always be more fried chicken. There will always be debates over the best fried chicken. But the announcement that Price’s Chicken Coop will close Saturday after 59 years is about more than dark meat vs. white or whether you’ll sneak in an order of gizzards on the side. The loss burns a deep-fryer-sized hole in Charlotte’s soul."- Kathleen Purvis, Charlotte Magazine

Traditions die hard. This one has finally done the job, taken the three count, looked up at the lights. I wish the long-term employees there all the best in their lives after the Coop. They always took your order with smiles on their faces, quick service, and delivered a box of good food for a fair price. Those things are becoming rarer in this world, too. They certainly are rarer after last Thursday in Charlotte.

****

Photos from that Final Saturday

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: August 27, 1983

The WWE Network is no longer available
in the United States.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it once appeared on the WWE Network. Results are included for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as available. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. Follow @TaubGVWire

For links to all available summaries as well as links to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast, visit our TV Summary Index.

Please note
: The WWE Network ceased operation in the United States on April 4, 2021. Their press release stated that their entire archive of material (which would include the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling shows) would be transitioned to NBC's Peacock streaming service by the end of the summer 2021. We'll update as we know more.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 08/27/83
Taped 08/17/83 taped in Winston-Salem, NC at the Winston Salem Memorial Coliseum
Review is from the now defunct WWE Network (U.S.) feed. 

Match 1
Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Bill Howard & Jerry Grey

Youngblood is back. Stu Schwartz the referee. Plenty of visible empty seats. Did something happen in Winston-Salem that night to depress the fans? No “Golden Boy” nickhame this week. Youngblood locks in his leglock/bridge without a name to garner the submission on Grey.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: New Mid-Atlantic Champion Rufus R. Jones
Jones is in a suit, and the new Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight champion. He talks about Paul Jones and Dick Slater.

[Break]

Not sure if this ever aired on the show, but here on this Network version, a man with a mic asks fans at ringside if they are enjoying the wrestling and who their favorite wrestler is. Most say Ric Flair. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
We got to a series of clips over the last few months of the Briscos vs. Steamboat & Youngblood. All the fighting, attacks and shenanigans. Youngblood said he suffered three cracked ribs from the shot from Jack Brisco. They should have put him out for good.  

[Break]

Match 2
Ric Flair d. Ben Alexander

Now we go to school. Suplex, figure four, submission victory. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: The Assassins
This is in lieu of local promos. They want to be World tag team champions. Don’t take them lightly. 

[Break]

Match 3
The Assassins d. Keith Larson & Gene Ligon

Caudle is impressed with Hercules Assassin. No names (1 or 2, or Mr. and Sir) this week. Hamilton Assassin gets the submission on Ligon with the hammerlock.

[Break]

We get another segment of fans talking about their favorite wrestlers. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ric Flair & Bob Orton Jr. & Roddy Piper
Orton says he has Flair’s back with Harley Race’s bounty over his head. Flair isn’t happy that Race won’t give him another title shot. Piper talks about chasing Valentine. It must have been on World Wide Wrestling, when Flair appeared with his son, and Orton held little David Flair.

[Break]

Match 4
Non- Title: Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco [World Tag Team ch.] NC Mike Davis & Mark Fleming

Just as the bell rung, Steamboat & Youngblood come and convince Davis & Fleming to leave. The Briscos bail. There is no contract this time. The Briscos attack all four men. Steamboat & Youngblood make their own comeback. Big atomic drop on Jack on the floor. The brawl is happening on the floor. Briscos finally bail. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Paul Jones, Jake Roberts, Dick Slater
This is in lieu of local promos. Paul Jones says they will get the Mid-Atlantic championship back from Rufus R. Jones. Caudle looks uncomfortable at some of the questionable stuff Paul is saying. He asks Slater about going after the bounty on Flair. 

[Break]

Match 5
Jake Roberts & Dick Slater (w/Paul Jones) d. Steve Muslin & Vinnie Valentino

Roberts & Slater are wrenching Valentino’s knee. Old school leverage cheating by the heels. Slater lays Muslin over his shoulder, and Roberts knee lifts the prone opponent. Slater pins Muslin after the unnamed Samoan drop. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle:  Greg Valentine; The Assassins
Valentine calls Piper Rowdy. First time I remember hearing the nick name. Valentine says Piper is a maniac and unworthy of a title shot. Next time, he will take all of Piper’s hearing. After impatiently waiting, the Assassins close the show. Hamilton says they are a team to be reckoned with. They warn Steamboat & Youngblood not to jump them, like they did the Briscos. Same to any other team.

“So long for now!

* * * * * * * *  *

Results for the week, 8/22/83-8/28/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 8/22/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ricky Steamboat & Wahoo McDaniel by DQ
Lumberjack match: Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine
Dick Slater beat Johnny Weaver
Mike Davis beat Kelly Kiniski
Brett Hart beat Bill Howard
Vinnie Valentino beat Jerry Grey

Tue., 8/23/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Vinnie Valentino d. Ben Alexander
Keith Larson d. Tom Lentz
Gene Anderson d. Brett Hart
Non-Mid-Atlantic championship Jake Roberts d. Rufus R. Jones
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ricky Steamboat & Wahoo McDaniel by DQ

Tue., 8/23/83 South Hill, VA ;  Park View High School
Magic Dragon beat Mark Fleming
Rick McCord beat Jerry Grey
Abe Jacobs beat Cy Jernigan
The Assassins beat Jay Youngblood(sub for Bugsy McGraw) & Johnny Weaver
Bob Orton, Jr. beat Great Kabuki

Wed., 8/24/83 Shelby, NC; Recreation Center (TV)
MACW:
Non-United States Heavyweight championship: Greg Valentine [ch.] d. Keith Larson; Tommy Young
Charlie Brown d. Jerry Grey; Tommy Young
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel d. Ron Rossi & Bill Howard; Tommy Young
The Assassins d. Steve Musulin & Mark Fleming; Tommy Young
Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Ben Alexander & Tom Lentz; Tommy Young
WWW:
Charlie Brown beat Ben Alexander
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Rick McCord & Keith Larson
Dick Slater & Jake Roberts beat Gene Ligon & Brett Hart
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Tom Lentz & Jerry Grey
Greg Valentine beat Steve Muslin

Thu., 8/25/83 Harrisonburg, VA; Harrisonburg High School
Jerry Grey vs. Cy Jernigan
Joel Deaton vs. Vinnie Valentino
Kelly Kiniski vs. Mike Davis
Dick Slater vs. Bugsy McGraw
Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper 

Thu., 8/25/83 Newberry, SC; Hedgepath Stadium
Great Kabuki vs. Jay Youngblood
Johnny Weaver & Rufus R. Jones vs. The Assassins
Magic Dragon vs. Mike Rotundo
Tom Lentz vs. Ric McCord
Ben Alexander vs. Abe Jacobs

Thu., Rocky Mount, NC; Municipal Stadium
Wahoo McDaniel & Ricky Steamboat beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco by DQ
Jake Roberts beat Bob Orton, Jr.
Gene Anderson beat Brett Hart
Keith Larson beat Jacques Goulet
Steve Muslin beat Bill Howard

Fri., 8/26/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Non-Mid-Atlantic championship: Jake Roberts beat Rufus R. Jones [ch.]
The Assassins beat Mike Rotundo & Johnny Weaver
NWA TV championship: Jay Youngblood beat Great Kabuki [ch.], but the title did not switch
Jacques Goulet beat Rick McCord
Keith Larson beat Tom Lentz

Sat., 8/27/83 Charlottesville, VA; Scott Stadium
Jimmy Valiant & Rufus R. Jones beat Kabuki & Gary Hart in a steel cage match
Dick Slater beat Jay Youngblood
The Assassins beat Bugsy McGraw & Cy Jernigan
Kelly Kiniski beat Brett Hart
Mike Davis beat Tom Lentz
Vinnie Valentino beat Bill Howard 

Sun., 8/28/83 Roanoke, VA; Roanoke Civic Center (3p)
Magic Dragon d. Rick McCord
Gene Anderson d. Keith Larson
The Assassins -draw- Bob Orton Jr. & Bugsy McGraw
NWA TV title: Jimmy Valiant d. Great Kabuki [ch.], but after the 15-minute mark when the title was on the line
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight championship: Rufus R. Jones [ch.] d. Jake Roberts
United States Heavyweight championship: Greg Valentine [ch.] d. Roddy Piper by CO

Sun., 8/28/83 Toronto, Ontario; Maple Leaf Gardens (Maple Leaf Wrestling)
Nick DeCarlo beat Tim Gerrard
Bob Marcus beat Jerry Grey
Jacques Goulet beat Brett Hart
Billy Red Lyons beat Bill Howard
Johnny Weaver beat Kelly Kiniski
Mike Rotundo beat Don Kernodle
Greg Valentine & Jake Roberts beat Roddy Piper & Jimmy Valiant by DQ
Sgt. Slaughter beat Angelo Mosca by countout

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Remembering Ken Steel: Sandy Scott and Bob Caudle Reunite at NICW Event in 2007

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Back in 2007, Jim Nelson (aka Boris Zhukov) introduced me to a nice fellow named Kenny Pack, who ran a small independent promotion in Floyd, VA called NICW (National Independent Championship Wrestling). Kenny wrestled as "The Machine" Ken Steel, both for his own group and for Mike Weddle's indy out of Rocky Mount, VA.

I received the sad news last week that Kenny Pack had passed away. He was only 53 years old.

Kenny Pack
aka, "The Machine" Ken Steel


Back in the mid-2000s, Kenny took an old vacant retail store in Floyd and created a wrestling venue that was designed to look just like the old TV studios where wrestling once took place back in the 1970s. Complete with the big blue studio curtains, and hanging flags from various countries, walking into the NICW Arena was like taking a step back in time.

Jim had called me and told me about Ken's group and how badly Ken wanted to have Bob Caudle come and make an appearance there. They knew I kept in touch with Bob and his wife Jackie, and asked could I make the contact for them. I was happy to do so and Bob and Jackie made the trip up to Floyd from Raleigh, NC for the Saturday night NICW show. 

Bob was impressed with the studio-like setting and even did a little commentary for the video production of the event. He said it really had been a nice surprise.

But the biggest surprise for Bob was yet to come. He wasn't the only Mid-Atlantic Wrestling royalty in attendance that night. Sandy Scott was also in the house, unbeknownst to Bob and Jackie. Sandy, who lived in Roanoke VA, made the trip down to Floyd with Mike Weddle (local wrestling legend Eclipso.) He wanted to surprise Bob. The two had not seen each other since their days when both worked for Jim Cornette in Smokey Mountain Wrestling some 15 years earlier. And of course, they had a long history working together for Jim Crockett Promotions going all the way back to the 1960s.

Sandy Scott and Bob Caudle greet each other in 2007
in Floyd VA for Kenny Pack's NICW


When Sandy came out to see Bob before the doors had opened for the show, Bob's eyes lit up and a huge smile came across his face. The two hugged like long lost brothers, and spent a good half-hour reminiscing and catching up on each other's lives before it was time for the wrestling show to start. 

Bob and Jackie had a ball that night, not only enjoying the reunion with Sandy, but Bob got a chance to catch up with Jim Nelson (that's Pvt. Jim Nelson to Mid-Atlantic fans from the early 80s), and Jackie Caudle got a huge kick out of the antics of manager Douglas J. Wentworth, III, and the two became friends afterwards. To this day Jackie will still ask me about "Wentworth." Ken made all of that possible that night.

Seeing Bob and Sandy together again was very special and I've always appreciated Ken inviting me up to his show and treating me with such hospitality, allowing me to see the special reunion between Bob and Sandy up close.    

The online obituary for Ken read, in part:

We all know he never met a stranger. He was the life of the party; always cutting up with his quick wit filling every room with laughter. We will all hold a special place in our hearts for him.

Ken was indeed a nice fellow and will be missed by his family, friends, and the southwest Virginia wrestling community. 

I called Bob to let him know of Ken's passing. He remembered that night fondly and said he would always be grateful to Ken for the chance to reunite with Sandy Scott that night in Floyd.

Rest in Peace, Ken Steel.

Mid-Atlantic Wrestling legends Sandy Scott and Bob Caudle
Floyd VA, May 19, 2007


Wrestling's Most Celebrated Championship Belt

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Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Greenville's Ring Bell: Nikita Mulkovich Made More Than Championship Belts

Greenville SC Memories
by Don Holbrook
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

PROMOTER PAUL WINKHAUS
The Greenville Memorial Auditorium had a Crockett-owned ring that was kept in the building. It was used each Monday night but also used in Anderson and any other show in the area except Spartanburg. That building had their own ring. 

One Monday the maintenance crew began setting up the ring for the night's show and discovered the ring bell was missing. They never found it. 

One of the maintenance guys remembered they had a telephone speaker/bell in the supply room. They quickly wired up a push button, placed the bell on the ringside table and ran a drop cord power. It didn't work real well. That night the wrestlers in the ring could hardly hear the little bell with all the crowd noise. It caused confusion in every match.

NIKITA MULKOVICH

The following Monday, Paul Winkhaus (Crockett's local promoter for Greenville, Asheville, and area shows) came in carrying a brand new gold-colored bell mounted on a beautiful gold colored wooden base with a nice little eagle attached to the base with a handle for carrying. I asked him about it and he said a fellow made it for him. It was several months later when I found out that fellow was Nikita Mulkovich- the famous belt maker.

I remembered back to the only night they used the electric telephone bell - -  during intermission, Mulkovich came out to the ringside table and with his arms folded, stared at that electric bell for a minute or so, then he walked away shaking his head.

Mulkovich made some on-of-a-kind championship belts. I thought it was cool that Greenville had what was obviously a unique one-of-a-kind ring bell!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

More Greenville SC Memories from Don Holbrook 
Two Ton Harris, Angelo Martinelli, Wally Dusek, Wahoo McDaniel, Abe Jacobs, Super Destroyer, the "Big Brown Box", and more!

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Crocket Cup '85: Midnight Express vs. British Bulldogs

THE QUARTER FINALS
by Mike Rickard

Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor 

UPDATED BRACKETS


THIS WEEK'S MATCH
THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS vs. THE BRITISH BULLDOGS
Quarter Final Round Match #2
(Tournament Match #42)


The 1985 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament is underway. Wait, did you just say 1985? It’s time to take a look at one of wrestling’s biggest events from the mid-80s and see what it might have been like with a few historical alterations. What if Jim Crockett Promotions hosted its tag team tournament the Crockett Cup in 1985 and included teams from promotions outside the National Wrestling Alliance (“NWA”) including the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), All Japan Pro Wrestling, and more? In this case, you’d have 48 of the greatest tag teams in the world battling in a winner take all tournament for $1,000,000 and the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Trophy. 

The 1985 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament is underway. Wait, did you just say 1985? It’s time to take a look at one of wrestling’s biggest events from the mid-80s and see what it might have been like with a few historical alterations. What if Jim Crockett Promotions hosted its tag team tournament the Crockett Cup in 1985 and included teams from promotions outside the National Wrestling Alliance (“NWA”) including the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), All Japan Pro Wrestling, and more? In this case, you’d have 48 of the greatest tag teams in the world battling in a winner take all tournament for $1,000,000 and the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Trophy. 

The first round saw 32 teams competing to advance to round two with 16 teams making it in. Round two followed as these 16 teams battled the 16 top-seeded tag teams that received a first-round bye. Round three continued with the remaining 16 teams slugging it out with eight making their way to round four. As round four begins, let’s take a look at what to expect with “The Elite Eight.”

Fourth Round Rules: Here are the rules for the round four of our tournament. A pool of referees from the NWA, AWA, and WWF have been appointed for the tournament and randomly selected for each match. The fourth-round matches have a sixty-minute time limit and are sanctioned under NWA rules (throwing an opponent over the top rope is an automatic disqualification). The matches are one fall with a win obtained by a pinfall, submission, count-out, or disqualification.
The fourth-round matches are being held at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The four matches will take place on Friday April 26. Your commentators for the matches are Bob Caudle and David Crockett, but as always, you never know when a special guest will show up. 

Round four’s first match saw the Rock-n-Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) defeat the double-tough team of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Ole and Arn Anderson). Now, the Midnight Express (one of the top-seeded teams) take on the British Bulldogs in what should be a fantastic encounter. 

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEWS
Tony Schiavone is backstage with the Midnight Express (“Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey) along with manager Jim Cornette. “The Louisville Lip” asks Tony what dime store he got his suit at. Before Tony can respond, Stan Hansen comes rolling in and he doesn’t look happy. Stan shouts “Somebody said I had a phone call and I went to the front office only to find out I was lied to. This ain’t one of your tricks is it Cornette?” Cornette looks mortified and says “Don’t know what you’re talking about Stan but if I had to guess, I’d say it was the Dynamite Kid” Hansen storms off as Schiavone looks confused. Cornette tells Tony “Speaking of reach out and touch someone, those British bozos are never going to know what hit them tonight after ‘Beautiful’ Bobby and ‘Loverboy’ Dennis get their hands on them.” Tony points out that Davey Boy Smith and the Dynamite Kid are one of the top-ranked teams in the world to which “The Louisville Lip” replies, “Tony, why should anyone listen to you? You’re so stupid I hear it takes you an hour-and-a-half to watch 60 Minutes.” Cornette walks off with the Midnight Express as Tony sends things to Johnny Weaver. 

Just outside the babyface locker room, Johnny Weaver is interviewing the British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and the Dynamite Kid).  Johnny Weaver welcomes the Bulldogs to the Superdome and asks them what they think about making it to round four of the tournament. Dynamite says it’s great to finally be here. The American fans have been big supporters from the start and they’ve made them feel right at home. They’re sure the fans in the Superdome will be no different. Johnny Weaver turns the microphone over to Davey Boy Smith. Smith says it’s taken them a long time to make their way to the United States and they feel they’ve finally established themselves as one of the top contenders for the world tag team championship. Making it to round four of the tournament makes them feel like they’ve arrived, but they know they’ve got two tough opponents ahead of them.  

The Midnight Express (“Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey) with Jim Cornette vs. the British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and the Dynamite Kid)
The Midnight Express’ entrance music plays as the fans boo before the team even gets out. Jim Cornette leads the team into the ring and grabs the microphone, telling the fans in the Superdome that his team needs no introduction. The boos are deafening now.  “Rule Britannia” plays as the British Bulldogs enter the arena and the fans cheer them on. Davey Boy and Dynamite slap some fans’ hands as they dive into the ring, ready to fight. WWF referee Joey Marella will be officiating this one and he does the routine pre-match inspection.

Davey Boy starts off against Dennis Condrey. Condrey starts off with a Greco-Roman thumb to the eye then slugs Smith in the choppers. Irish whip sends Smith into the ropes and “Loverboy” Dennis elbows him in the chest, knocking him down. Condrey drops an elbow, but Smith rolls out of the way. Smith gets up and slams Condrey to the mat. David Crockett says all four men are speedsters as Bob Caudle adds, “This is going to be a great match for the fans” Smith rams Condrey’s head into the Bulldogs’ corner turnbuckle and tags in Dynamite who quickly climbs the top rope and hits a flying bodypress on Condrey. Cover for a two count. Condrey rolls out of the ring as the Midnights regroup with Jim Cornette. David Crockett says the Midnight Express weren’t expecting things to heat up this fast. No they weren’t Bob Caudle adds. The British Bulldogs are a team that can defeat you in the blink of an eye. 

After some stalling, Condrey gets back into the ring. He goes to slug Dynamite, but the Kid blocks the punch and hits him with a forearm uppercut, stunning him. Dynamite whips Condrey into the ropes and hits a back body-drop. Dynamite wastes no time and drops a knee across Dennis’ head. He then picks him up and hits a snap suplex. Cover on Condrey as Eaton comes in to make the save, dropping an elbow on Dynamite. Davey Boy runs in and starts dishing out lefts and rights to Eaton. Condrey knees Davey Boy in the back as the Midnight Express unload with punches. However, Davey Boy isn’t having it and he fights back, delivering a double nogging knocker to the team and sending them down to the mat. Joey Marella orders Davey Boy back to his corner as Dynamite whips Condrey into the ropes and knocks him down with a shoulderblock. Dynamite bounces off the ropes but Jim Cornette grabs his foot. Marella missed it, possibly because Dynamite didn’t get tripped up. Dynamite rolls outside the ring and starts chasing Cornette around the ring as the fans cheer him on. David Crockett says he’d love to see Dynamite get his hands on Cornette. Bob Caudle adds that he thinks every fan in the arena would like that too.

Dynamite chases Jim Cornette into the ring as “Loverboy” Dennis kicks him, but Davey Boy catches his foot and spins him around, delivering a beautiful atomic drop that sends Condrey right into Eaton, knocking “Beautiful” Bobby off the mat apron. Cornette runs over to check on Eaton and as Bobby gets up, Cornette hugs him, drawing boos from the fans. 

The Dynamite Kid tags in Davey Boy Smith as the Bulldogs stand tall, taunting the Midnight Express and daring them to get back in the ring. Finally, Condrey gets in the ring. Collar and elbow tie-up. Side headlock on Condrey who bounces off the ropes and escapes, bouncing off the ropes only for Smith to catch him with a shoulderblock, knocking Dennis down. Dennis bounces off the ropes again, but this time Smith catches him with a military press slam in an incredible display of strength. Condrey is on rubber-leg street as Smith catapults him into the corner. Lateral press on Condrey as Eaton runs in to break up the pin. Smith tags in Dynamite who whips Condrey into the heels’ corner. Condrey eagerly tags in “Beautiful Bobby.” Dynamite hits a big arm-drag takedown on Eaton. Front facelock by Dynamite as Bob Caudle says Dynamite Kid is a powerful wrestler and Eaton needs to get out of the facelock. Eaton goes up against the ropes and tries to throw Dynamite into the ropes, but he isn’t budging. Jim Cornette gets up on the mat apron and begins arguing with Joey Marella. David Crockett says Jim Cornette’s getting as much time in the ring as Eaton and Condrey. Distracted momentarily by the Jim Cornette sideshow, Dynamite pauses for a moment, allowing Eaton to throw him into the ropes. Dennis Condrey trips Dynamite then pulls him out of the ring. Condrey slams Dynamite’s head into the steel post then gives him a neckbreaker on the cement. Davey Boy runs over and chases Condrey off as Eaton points to Davey Boy. Joey Marella walks over and tells Davey Boy to get back to his corner as Condrey stands back on the mat apron, raising his arms. Davey Boy reluctantly goes back to his corner as Joey Marella makes sure he does. In the meantime, Condrey jumps outside the ring and rolls Dynamite back in. Eaton and Condrey drop the boots on Dynamite’s head until the referee finally turns around and asks Condrey if he made the tag. Condrey is nodding his head as the fans boo and make some not-so-family-friendly remarks about the Midnights. David Crockett tells Bob he can’t believe this referee is letting the Midnights get away with this. Where’s Tommy Young when you need him? Bob reminds David that the referees are randomly selected from a pool of all the promotions that have sent talent. Condrey and Eaton pick Dynamite up for a double suplex, dropping him down to the mat. Condrey covers Dynamite but the Bulldog gets his leg on the rope. Condrey drops an elbow on the leg then covers Dynamite again. 1, 2—kickout at 2-and-a-half. 

Tag to Eaton who comes in and starts stomping Dynamite in the heels’ corner. Joey Marella starts a five-count as Eaton argues with him. Things are getting heated, so much that Marella doesn’t see Condrey come in and drape Dynamite’s neck across the rope, pressing his knee down to impede the airflow. Condrey slithers back to his corner and raises his arms as Marella turns around. Nothing to see here as far as Condrey is concerned. Of course, the fans have seen everything and they’re ready to riot. Eaton sees Dynamite’s neck across the bottom rope and decides to give his knee a rest. Joey Marella starts a five-count and Eaton stands up. Eaton takes Dynamite and slams him to the mat. “Beautiful” Bobby drags the Dynamite Kid towards the neutral corner and begins climbing the top rope. Eaton makes his way to the top rope and goes for the Alabama Jam, but somehow, Dynamite rolls out of the way. Both men are down and David Crockett wonders if Dynamite can even move. The fans cheer Dynamite on as he slowly comes to life. Dynamite crawls towards Davey Boy as Jim Cornette bangs the mat apron with his tennis racket, trying to rally “Beautiful” Bobby. Dynamite inches closer as Bobby gets to one knee. Eaton shakes the cobwebs out and gets to his feet as Dynamite moves ever so closer. Davey Boy has his arm out, holding onto the tag rope. Eaton grabs Dynamite’s leg and goes to pull him back, but Dynamite kicks him with the other leg. Eaton tries again only for Dynamite to kick him again, knocking him down. Eaton goes to grab Dynamite’s leg again, but he’s not there as the Dynamite Kid makes it to the Bulldogs’ corner!

Hot tag to Davey Boy Smith who is a house afire. Eaton swings at Smith who blocks the punch and floors him with a right hand. Condrey runs in and Smith headbutts him down to the mat. Smith whips Eaton into the ropes and hits a big back body-drop. Condrey takes a swing at Smith, but the Bulldog blocks him and slugs him with a big right hand. The fans are cheering as Davey Boy is cleaning house. Referee Joey Marella orders Condrey back to his corner and as he does, Jim Cornette throws the tennis racket to Bobby Eaton but Smith intercepts it! Davey Boy looks to the fans and it appears he’s going to use the racket. Instead, he throws it down to the mat and headbutts Eaton. Smith picks up Eaton and delivers a running powerslam, covering him in the center of the ring. Joey Marella is out of position as he has finally got Condrey back in his corner. Jim Cornette gets up on the mat apron as Smith has “Beautiful” Bobby down for the count. Davey Boy gets up and goes after Cornette as the referee starts arguing with Cornette and Cornette conveniently argues with Marella while “Loverboy” Dennis grabs the tennis racket and clobbers Davey Boy in the back of the head. Condrey throws the racket out of the ring. It’s time for the old switcheroo as Condrey places Eaton on top of Smith. The referee turns around and makes the three-count as Condrey intercepts a seriously beat-up Dynamite Kid, preventing him from breaking up the pin.

Winners: The Midnight Express

David Crockett protests that Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express have stolen another win. The fans are booing the Midnights and things could be dicey for Cornette and Company getting back to the dressing room. Bob Caudle tells David Crockett he’s got word that something is going on in the backstage area. Bob sends it to the back. Tony Schiavone leads a camera crew to where Stan Hansen is down on the floor clutching his leg. Hansen is shouting and swearing. Bruiser Brody storms in to check on his fallen partner. Tony Schiavone steps in and asks what’s happened. “What does it look like happened, you idiot!” Hansen shouts “Someone jumped me outside the dressing room and hit me with this!” The “Bad Man from Borger” holds up a tire iron. NWA President Jim Crockett Jr. is on the scene. Tony Schiavone asks him what this means for the next match. The NWA President says at this point, he doesn’t know. 

Join us next time as Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen take on the Oklahoma Cowboys (or will they?) Which team will advance to round five in the quest for tag team glory and some serious cash? 


* * * * * * * * * * * *

PREVIOUS POSTS IN THE CROCKETT CUP '85 FANTASY SERIES

Original Tournament Announcement (May 2020)

Seedings and First Round Pairings Announced

FOURTH ROUND MATCHES (QUARTER FINALS)
[ Preview ] [ Brackets ]

Fourth Round: Match 1 (Tournament Match #41)
    
The Rock & Roll Express vs. Ole and Arn Anderson

Fourth Round: Match 2 (Tournament Match #42)
     Midnight Express vs. British Bulldogs


THIRD ROUND MATCHES
[ Scouting Report ] [ Brackets ]

Third Round: Match 1 (Tournament Match #33)
     The Rock & Roll Express vs. The Russians
Third Round: Match 2 (Tournament Match #34)
     Ole & Arn Anderson vs. Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi
Third Round: Match 3 (Tournament Match #35)
     Midnight Express vs. High Flyers
Third Round: Match 4 (Tournament Match #36)
     Kevin and Mike Von Erich vs. The British Bulldogs
Third Round: Match 5 (Tournament Match #37)
     Road Warriors vs. Brody and Hansen
Third Round: Match 6 (Tournament Match #38)
     Funk Brothers vs. Oklahoma Cowboys
Third Round: match #7 (Tournament Match #39)
    Texas Outlaws vs. Iron Sheik/Nikolai Volkoff
Third Round: match #8 (Tournament Match #40)

    Fantastics vs. Freebirds


SECOND ROUND MATCHES
Second Round: Matches 1 & 2 (Tournament 17 & 18)

     Mulligan/McDaniel vs. The Russians
    Rock & Roll Express vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki
Second Round: Matches 3 & 4 (Tournament 19 & 20)
    Brown/Jannetty vs. Inoki & Sakaguchi
    Ole & Arn Anderson vs. Windham/Rotunda)
Second Round: Matches 5 & 6 (Tournament 21 & 22)

    Midnight Express vs. Hart Foundation
    PYT Express vs. High Flyers
Second Round: Matches 7 & 8 (Tournament 23 & 24) 
    Rude/Barr (with Percy Pringle III) vs. Kevin and Mike Von Erich
    Fujinami/Kimura vs. British Bulldogs
Second Round: Matches 9 & 10 (Tournament 25 & 26)
    Brody/Hansen vs. Williams/DiBiase
    Road Warriros vs. Lawler/Dundee
Second Round: Matches 11 & 12 (Tournament 27 & 28)
    Piper & Orton vs. The Oklahoma Cowboys
    The Funk Brothers vs. The Younglood Brothers
Second Round: Matches 13 & 14 (Tournament 29 & 30)
    Rhodes/Murdoch vs. Adams/Hernandez
    Sheik/Volkoff vs. Steamboat/Snuka
Second Round: Matches 15 & 16 (Tournament 31 & 32)
    Fantastics vs. Fabulous Ones
    Sheepherders vs. Freebirds


FIRST ROUND MATCHES

First Round: Matches 1 & 2
    Hennig/Blackwell vs. Mulligan/McDaniel
    Tyler/Whatley vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki
First Round: Matches 3 & 4
    Windham/Rotunda vs. Bockwinkel/Saito
    Rougeaus vs. Inoki/Sakaguchi
First Round: Matches 5 &6
    Barbarian/Graham vs. Hart Foundation (Hart/Neidhart)
    High Flyers (Brunzell/Gagne) vs. Savage/Poffo
First Round: Matches 7 & 8:
    The Von Erich vs. Blanchard/Abdullah the Butcher
    Tenryu/Tsuruta vs. The British Bulldogs
First Round: Matches 9 & 10:
    Graham/Blair vs. DiBiase/Williams
    Valiant/McGraw vs. Lawler/Dundee
First Round: Matches 11 & 12:
    Piper/Orton vs. Patterson/Fernandez
    Rock & Roll RPMs vs. Youngblood Brothers
First Round: Matches 13 and 14:
    Dynamic Duo (Gino & Chris) vs. American Starship
    Sawyer Bros. vs. Steamboat/Snuka
First Round: Matches 15 and 16
    Batten Twins vs. Fabulous Ones
    Weaver/Houston vs. Sheepherders

Friday, June 11, 2021

Poster: Wahoo McDaniel and Johnny Valentine Battle it Out in Greensboro


by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

Here we have a poster promoting a spectacular triple main event at the Greensboro Coliseum dated Thursday, March 13th, 1975. The famous feud between Johnny Valentine and Wahoo McDaniel continued this night with an Indian strap match, and I'll bet the fans in Greensboro were on their feet bell to bell. 

It was a matchup of masked men with The Super Destroyer vs. The Avenger, Reggie Parks himself, the legendary belt maker. Reggie's belts were handmade pieces of art that showed his great talent other than professional wrestling. 

Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes faced off in a return grudge match, and three new names not so familiar to Mid-Atlantic fans at the time appear on the undercard: Blackjack Mulligan, Mr. Fuji, and Chris Taylor.

Southern Poster did a great layout on this one showing black print on a two-tone pastel blue and bright yellow background with the date and three main events in high impact red. I like how the older Greensboro posters say "War Memorial Coliseum" as opposed to the later "Greensboro Coliseum" and this one also has the familiar "Wrestling" splash in the top left corner. 

One other thing that stands out here is the six images of completely contrasting individuals, a Chief, a tough guy, a big masked man, a brash young blonde, an up and coming African American star, and a bald lunatic. Something for everyone I suppose.

 NO. 7 IN A SERIES

* * * * * * * * * 

Gateway Notes:
This was during Blackjack Mulligan's first short run in the Mid-Atlantic area before moving on to the WWWF where he and Blackjack Lanza would hold the WWWF Tag Team titles. Later that same year of 1975, though, Mulligan would be recruited by JCP booker George Scott to come back to the area to replace Johnny Valentine as the top heel in the promotion following Valentine's career ending injury in the October 1975 Wilmington plane crash. Read more about that first short stint for Mulligan in our series "Mulligan Faces the Indian Strap."

The Flair/Rhodes confrontation was one of the earliest matches between the two men who would later be involved in a feud that defined pro-wrestling in the 1980s. Flair and Rhodes met several times in Greensboro in the 1970s. 

Chris Taylor was a bronze-medal winner in the 1972 Munich Olympics in wrestling, and was making a short string of appearances in the territory at this time. Check out Chris Taylor's Mid-Atlantic Cup of Coffee on the Gateway.

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: August 20, 1983

The WWE Network is no longer available
in the United States.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it once appeared on the WWE Network. Results are included for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as available. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. Follow @TaubGVWire

For links to all available summaries as well as links to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast, visit our TV Summary Index.

Please note
: The WWE Network ceased operation in the United States on April 4, 2021. Their press release stated that their entire archive of material (which would include the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling shows) would be transitioned to NBC's Peacock streaming service by the end of the summer 2021. We'll update as we know more.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 08/20/83
Taped 08/03/83 in Spartanburg SC - Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Review is from the now defunct WWE Network (U.S.) feed. 

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: August 20, 1983 (taped 8/03/83 in Spartanburg, SC; Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium)
WWE Network feed

Match 1
Roddy Piper & Rick Steamboat d. Bill Howard & Joel Deaton

We start with the match in progress. Tommy Young is the referee for this match. Steamboat pins Deaton with the flying bodypress.

[Break]

[VIDEO FEATURE]
-Comments from Rick Steamboat
Steamboat is in a park, talking about his injured partner, Jay Youngblood. We now see Jay working out in the park, skipping rope, running and other exercises with Steamboat. A 1980s inspired montage video. Wonder what the original sound track was, as we have a lame Network dub over. Youngblood’s ribs are taped over his shirt. Steamboat is pounding his partner’s ribs, and Youngblood takes off his tape. They hug, and go for the slow motion high five.

[Break]

Match 2
Greg Valentine & Dick Slater d. Vinnie Valentino & Mike Davis

Loud “We Want Piper” chant from the crowd. Aggressive wrestling by the heels. Slater pins Valentino after a running knee to the head.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Bugsy McGraw
McGraw tells a story about wanting a pony as a child. Something about becoming tough. A reference to his knee surgery.

[Break]

Match 3
Bugsy McGraw d. Golden Boy Grey

Sonny Fargo is the referee. First time I recall seeing two referees for a TV episode. A big splash wins it for Bugsy.

[Break]

Match 4
The Assassins d. Brett Hart & Keith Larson

Fargo is the referee. Caudle is back to calling The Assassins by numbers, 1 & 2. Good teaming by the masked team. The start the flash tags with the hammerlock, knees to the back combo until the referee calls for the bell. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Mike Rotundo & Rufus R. Jones
Rotundo has a softball type shirt on. He and Jones talk about teaming up with Orton in a six-man later in the show. Rufus also talks about going after the money and the Mid-Atlantic title from Dory Funk Jr. Caudle seems caught off guard after they left. He had about 45 seconds to fill.

[Break]

Match 5
Bob Orton Jr. & Mike Rotundo & Rufus R. Jones
d. Magic Dragon (w/Gary Hart) & Tom Lentz & Sgt. Jacques Goulet

Hart disappears after the start of the match. Sonny Fargo is the referee. Some experimental long range camera shots in the corner shows the capacity crowd well. The heels are making this a competitive match. Loud “Go Mike Go!” chant when Rotundo gets in trouble. Orton superplexes Lentz for the finish. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ricky Steamboat & Roddy Piper & Ric Flair
Steamboat says Youngblood is healing up. He thanks Rodney Piper, and Flair despite the bounty over his head. Mutual admiration society going on. Piper grabs a few kids and jokes around. Flair says the support of the fans keeps them going. Three Hall of Famers right there.

“So long for now!”

* * * * * * * *

Results for the week 8/15/83-8/21/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock

Mon., 8/15/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine by reverse decision
The Assassins beat Mike Rotundo & Johnny Weaver
Rufus R. Jones beat Jake Roberts
Dick Slater beat Bugsy McGraw
Gene Anderson beat Keith Larsen
Jacques Goulet beat Cy Jernigan

Tue., 8/16/83 Raleigh, NC
Mike Davis d. Bill Howard
Kelly Kiniski d. Brett Hart
Non-Mid-Atlantic championship: Jake Roberts d. Rufus R. Jones [ch.]
Roddy Piper & Bob Orton Jr. d. Dick Slater & Greg Valentine by CO
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ric Flair & Ricky Steamboat

Wed., 8/17/83 Winston-Salem NC; Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum (TV)
MACW:
Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Bill Howard & Jerry Grey; Stu Schwartz
Ric Flair d. Ben Alexander; Stu Schwartz
The Assassins d. Keith Larson & Gene Ligon; Stu Schwartz
Non-World tag team championship: Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco [ch.] NC Mike Davis & Mark Fleming; Stu Schwartz
Jake Roberts & Dick Slater (w/Paul Jones) d. Steve Muslin & Vinnie Valentino; Stu Schwartz
WWW:
Roddy Piper & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Bill Howard & Kelly Kiniski
Greg Valentine beat Vinnie Valentino
Bugsy McGraw beat Ben Alexander
The Assassins beat Rick McCord & Steve Muslin
Ric Flair beat Jerry Grey

Thu., 8/18/83 Sumter, SC; Exhibition Center County of Sumter (Eccos)
Jimmy Valiant beat Great Kabuki
Bob Orton, Jr. beat Jake Roberts
Magic Dragon beat Brett Hart
Jacques Goulet & Bill Howard beat Rick McCord & Steve Muslin
Mike Davis beat Jerry Grey

Thu., 8/18/83 Norfolk, VA
Tom Lentz d. Cy Jerningan
Gene Anderson d. Vinnie Valentino
Bugsy McGraw d. Kelly Kiniski
The Assassins d. Mike Rotundo & Johnny Weaver
Ric Flair d. Dick Slater
Rufus R. Jones d. Greg Valentine
Ricky Steamboat & Roddy Piper d. Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco by DQ

Fri., 8/19/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Greg Valentine beat Roddy Piper via pinfall
Bob Orton, Jr. & Mike Rotundo draw The Assassins
Mike Davis beat Magic Dragon
Jacques Goulet beat Vinnie Valentino
Brett Hart beat Bill Howard

Fri., 8/19/83 Richmond, VA; Richmond Coliseum
Mark Fleming beat Tom Lentz
Gene Anderson & Kelly Kiniski beat Johnny Weaver & Cy Jernigan
Dick Slater beat Bugsy McGraw
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Rufus R. Jones
Jimmy Valiant beat Great Kabuki
World tag team championship: Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco [ch.] d.  Ric Flair & Ricky Steamboat

Sun., 8/21/83 Asheville, NC; Asheville Civic Center
Mike Davis beat Billy Howard
Magic Dragon beat Vinnie Valentino
Johnny Weaver beat Kelly Kiniski
Wahoo McDaniel & Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine & Dick Slater in a double Indian strap match
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ric Flair & Ricky Steamboat

Sun., 8/21/83 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ricky Steamboat & Wahoo McDaniel by DQ
Great Kabuki beat Jimmy Valiant in a loser leaves town match
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine
Rufus R. Jones beat Jake Roberts
Gene Anderson beat Cy Jernigan
Bugsy McGraw beat Jerry Grey
The Assassins beat Mike Rotundo & Bob Orton, Jr.

Wednesday, June 09, 2021

Les Thatcher: Auto Racing and Pro Wrestlers

Wrestler's Eye View: Auto Racing Wrestlers
by Les Thatcher
originally published in Wrestling News Magazine, Summer 1974
 
I had a great Sunday afternoon, just a couple of weeks back. I went out to Charlotte Motor Speedway to watch the International Hot Rod Association Southern Nationals. The sun was hot, I got the smell of burning rubber and nitro fuel in my nostrils, my mouth was dry, my hands itched to grab a steering wheel, and I loved it!

These are the feelings of an ex-race driver. There are several in the ranks of professional wrestling. Along with myself, the ones I know of are Johnny Walker, Johnny Weaver, Tim Woods and Mike Graham. The only one who is active now is Mike. I ran into him last winter in Atlanta and at that time, he was in the process of putting together a Corvette to run in Class C modified production at the drags.

Once you have felt the power of a race car under you, then you're addicted. You'll find any one of this bunch, on any given Sunday, wide-eyed at some track around the country, wishing it were they, not someone else, driving those cars on the track.

Johnny Weaver drove stock cars on the roundy-round tracks of the Midwest before turning to pro wrestling as a way of life. That's been over 14 years ago, but don't think for a minute he has let it slip his mind. Johnny makes four or five of the NASCAR big races every summer around the Southeast, watches the rest on television, and never misses an article in the newspaper about racing. When we both sit down in some dressing room, within five minutes the talk turns to racing.

 
 

Tim Woods hasn't handled a race car in about five years, but he had one of the fastest 442 Oldsmobiles, running the eighth mile drags in the Carolinas, and was very close to the national record in his class. A funny sideline to Tim's racing career was when he was beaten by a girl running a Chevy digger in his class in Shuffletown, North Carolina. It was a long time before the other wrestlers would let him live that one down. The story still comes up once in a while.

Johnny Walker drove stock cars for some years and was a top handler in his field. In 1969, they were holding wrestling matches at the speedway in Bowling Green, KY. John's ability was questioned by another wrestler who thought that he could outdrive him. Well, they were loaned two stock cars by local drivers and went at it for ten laps. After about three laps, Walker was so far ahead that he backed off to give the other wrestler a chance. Then finally before the finish, he lapped the surprised challenger. John hadn't lost his touch.

The first time I met Mike Graham, he was sixteen and, along with a buddy, had built a '55 Chevy to drag race. He has gone through a few cars since then and each one has excelled in its class throughout the Sunshine State of Florida. Graham's current "Vette" should be on the track by now, and I'm sure it will do well, also. 

 

I started my drag racing at age fifteen, and during my racing days handled Fords, Chevys, Pontiacs and Plymouths. I was lucky enough to win a N.H.R.A. division title and to race several times at the National Hot Rod Association Nationals in Indianapolis. Like it's been for me in wrestling, it's been the same for me in racing. I just couldn't win that big one. I think I speak for all of the above when I say that racing was a great time in our lives and we are all still drivers at heart.

From the Summer 1974 issue of the Wrestling News magazine. We found these clippings posted on the Kayfabe Memories wrestling message board, posted by "Mr. Ambivalent" in the Southeastern Wrestling forum. Thanks to Peggy Lathan for transcription services.

Originally published September 9, 2008 on the Johnny Weaver Blog by the Mid-Atlantic Gateway