Tuesday, August 31, 2021

The Pride of the Carolinas, Don Kernodle: The Last of the Territorial Stars

Gateway Note: The following is a text version of Mike Sempervive's wonderful career retrospective and tribute podcast to Don Kernodle, who passed away May 17, 2021.  Sempervive writes, produces, and voices the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast heard on the Arcadian Vanguard podcasting network. He also co-hosts the nationally broadcast Wrestling Observer Live daily radio program with Brian Alverez for WrestlingObserver.com.

We are proud to host and archive this special text version of the 5 1/2 hour audio podcast of the Kernodle tribute that was originally published in two parts over the summer of 2021. The complete unabridged version of the podcast tribute (including a wealth of audio clips) can be found here at MidAtlanticPod.com. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MidAtlanticPod.

* * * * * * * * * *

By Mike Sempervive
Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast (@midatlanticpod)
Special to the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Born on May 2, 1950 and hailing from Burlington, North Carolina, at the age of 7, young Don Kernodle knew what his life goal was as soon as he saw professional wrestling on television. 

Photograph by Ginger Layman Lynch

Attending high school at Eastern Alamance before moving on to Elon College, located ten minutes west of his hometown, Kernodle was a very good athlete. Not only would he serve the school as a four-year member of the wrestling team, Kernodle also got into powerlifting, as well as becoming a national championship-level arm wrestler, as well a practitioner of judo - which was a rarity, at the time, especially for those not in the military. That variety of physical talents in his toolbox would become Kernodle’s saving grace during his first experience with the pro wrestling business, which he was so smitten by.

At a Tuesday night house show at Dorton Arena, Kernodle mustered up the nerve to approach then-president of Jim Crockett Promotions John Ringley about getting into the sport. To his surprise, Ringley told Kernodle to come to the studios at WRAL-TV, the next day.

When he arrived, he found out he’d be facing off against Bob Roop, who represented America as a heavyweight wrestler during the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. A newcomer to the area, Roop was doing an open challenge where he’d offer $2000 to any layperson who could defeat him in less than ten minutes.

After signing a battery of hold-harmless release forms presented to him by the company’s jack-of-all-trades, Les Thatcher, Kernodle was then placed into a dressing room. The only other person in said room? Bob Roop.  

According to the interview he did with the Mid-Atlantic Gateway website, Kernodle said: “I’m nervous; I’m scared. I didn’t know what to expect. So, when I sit down, I’m only about ten feet away from Roop as he’s lacing up his boots. He’s bent over, and he hasn’t even raised his head yet… finally he raised up his head, looked at me and said, ‘You must be the guy that I’m wrestling tonight.’”
 
Kerndole continued, “‘Yes sir, Mr. Roop, I am.’ I walked over to him and shook his hand and said, ‘My name is Don Kernodle. This is nothing personal with you…this is the only chance I’ve got to get into professional wrestling, so I want to try it… they were trying to intimidate me. Yeah, they were really trying to psyche me out…which they did!”

Sunday, August 29, 2021

The Tony Schiavone Interview

Back in February of 2017, the Gateway conducted an interview with longtime JCP/NWA/WCW announcer and broadcaster Tony Schiavone.

The multi-part interview covered Tony's time as a Mid-Atlantic Wrestling fan growing up as well as his early career with Jim Crockett Promotions in Charlotte, both in baseball and wrestling.

Check out the entire seven-part interview on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/2017/03/tony-schiavone-interview-complete.html

PARTS 1 - 7 COMPLETE

Tony talks Blackjack Mulligan, Paul Jones, the Andersons, Dick Murdoch, Wahoo McDaniel, Ric Flair, the Hat and Robe, I Broke Wahoo's Leg, road trips to Greensboro, Big Bill Ward, Charlotte O's baseball and Frances Crockett, David Crockett, Bob Caudle, Uncle John, Harrisonburg, VA, Truckin' Tom Miller, Paul Orndorf and Jimmy Snuka, The Baron, Joe Murnick, and the early days of his new podcast with Conrad Thompson. Much, much more about the great days of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.

Complete interview as one post originally posted Sept. 2019. Interview originally published in  Feb. 2017.

http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: October 29, 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 (now on Peacock). 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 and programming transitioned to NBC's Peacock streaming service. The Mid-Atlantic shows returned in July of 2021. Links are provided where available.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 10/29/83
Taped 10/19/83 taped in Shelby NC at the Shelby Recreation Center
Review is from WWE Network/Peacock Network feed.

Match 1
Chavo Guerrero d. Gary Royal

Watch the top of the show, bottom of the screen. A big fan seems perturbed he can’t be in the front row because of the cameraman. Stu Schwartz is the referee for the hour. Caudle promises more info on Starrcade ’83. Some good mat wrestling here. Chavo backflips over Royal, then finishes him off with the Victory Roll.

Caudle throws to a clip of the Starrcade ’83 news conference from last week. All but the reaction from Race and Flair.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jim Crockett Jr.
Crockett thanks the fans for making this possible. This will be the most spectacular wrestling event ever. The fans want to see a match he would never sanction. But, since the fans want it, and NWA President Bob Geigel approved, we will have Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper in a dog collar match.

[Break]

[VIDEO TAPE] World Wide Wrestling
Ric Flair & Roddy Piper & Mark Youngblood vs. Dic Slater & Mark Lewin & Dory Funk Jr.
This match is from last week’s World Wide Wrestling. Johnny Weaver is solo on the mic. Slater avoids Flair. Piper executes a flying head scissors on Funk! Things get wild in the end, with Flair eventually pinning Funk. We cut to Jones getting in Funk’s face for losing. Funk isn’t taking it. Mainly verbal. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Dory Funk Jr.
Funk says he’s had all of Paul Jones he could stand. It’s no disgrace to lose to Ric Flair. He thinks Flair will beat Race. Funk says he’ll get even with Paul Jones.

[Break]

Match 2
The Assassins (w/Paul Jones) NC Charlie Brown & Bugsy McGraw

A short brawl. The Assassins double team Brown, which leads to a pin attempt. Dory Funk Jr. comes to ringside and pulls Brown out. Brown, unsure of where Funk’s loyalties lie, takes some swings at Funk, but doesn’t connect. Funk is now in the ring, and fights off a double team from the Assassins. Brown evens the odd, and Funk breaks free and does after Jones. Hamilton Assassin saves his manager, who escapes. The Assassins escape too. Post-match action a little disjointed.

[Break]

Match 3
Non-Title: The Great Kabuki [NWA TV ch.] (w/Gary Hart) d. Steve Muslin

Assuming non-title, since no mention of this being a title shot. At least the belt is there. First Kabuki appearance in a few weeks. Caudle reminds us that Kabuki is the one who defeated Jimmy Valiant, forcing him out of town. Kabuki wins with a chop from the second rope. 

[Break] 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ric Flair and Roddy Piper
Both men are in suits. Piper is happy to get his dog collar match versus Valentine. Somewhat bland interview for the men involved.

[Break]

Match 4
Bob Orton Jr. d. Rick McCord

We Want Flair chant from the fans. Caudle hyping Starrcade ’83. Orton pins McCord following the superplex.

[Break]

Match 5
Kevin Sullivan (w/Gary Hart & Mark Lewin) d. Tim Gerrard

First appearance for Gerrard. Caudle makes the point (again) that Hart promised the promoters he can control Sullivan & Lewin. Caudle has his doubts. More Starrcade talk. Sullivan wins after a double stomp to Gerrard’s gut. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine; Paul Jones and The Assassins
Valentine, looking good in a suit, is livid he must wrestle in a dog collar match. They gave Piper a lethal weapon! He compares his situation to Harley Race. But, he’s The Hammer, he’s a man, and he’ll fight tooth and nail.

Jones says Dory Funk Jr. is a nut. He would fight, but he didn’t want to ruin his tuxedo. Jones turns his attention to Jimmy Valiant. He knows he’s not Charlie Brown. Don’t stick your nose in The Assassins’ business (and the four-year feud is about to begin). Hamilton Assassin says he’s angry. Don’t put your hands on their masks or Jones. Assassin manages to sneak in a middle finer.

“So long for now!”

Results for the week, 10/24/83-10/30/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 10/24/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver
Scott McGhee beat The Ninja
Vinnie Valentino beat Tom Lentz
Angelo Mosca beat Gene Anderson

Tue., 10/25/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Ric Flair, Roddy Piper & Wahoo McDaniel double DQ Greg Valentine, Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater
Chavo Guerrero beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver & Terry Gibbs
Angelo Mosca beat Tom Lentz
Bugsy McGraw beat Magic Dragon

Wed., 10/26/83 Winston-Salem, NC; Memorial Coliseum (TV)
MACW:
Greg Valentine beat Gary Royal
Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Scott McGee & Steve Muslin
Great Kabuki beat John Bonello
Charlie Brown, Rufus R. Jones & Dory Funk, Jr. beat Bill Howard, Kelly Kiniski & Tom Lentz
WWW:
Wahoo McDaniel beat Magic Dragon
Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr. beat John Bonello & Vinnie Valentino
Great Kabuki beat Gary Royal
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Brett Hart & Steve Muslin
Charlie Brown, Bugsy McGraw & Rufus R. Jones beat Jerry Grey, Bill Howard & Ben Alexander
Dark:
Ric Flair, Wahoo McDaniel & Roddy Piper vs. Bob Orton, Jr., Dick Slater & Greg Valentine

Thu., 10/27/83 Abbeville, SC; Civic Center
Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper
The Assassins vs. Rufus R. Jones & Bugsy McGraw
Brickhouse Brown vs. Magic Dragon
Vinnie Valentino vs. Bill Howard
Keith Larson vs. Jerry Grey

Fri., 10/28/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
The Assassins beat Scott McGhee & Mark Youngblood
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel double DQ Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater
Gene Anderson beat Keith Larson
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Steve Muslin
Brickhouse Brown beat Gary Royal

Sun., 10/30/83 Toronto, ON; Maple Leaf Gardens
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke (8:09) via pinfall
Blackjack Mulligan beat Sgt. Slaughter (6:13) by DQ
Tito Santana beat Leo Burke (17:32) via pinfall
Don Kernodle beat Johnny Weaver (14:14)
Rudy Kay & Terry Kay beat Nick DeCarlo & Mark Fleming (10:11)
Kelly Kiniski beat Vinnie Valentino (7:06)
Kurt Von Hess draw Bob Marcus (20:00)
Joe Marcus beat Tom Lentz (14:36)

Sun., 10/30/83 Charlotte, NC; Charlotte Coliseum
Ric Flair beat Bob Orton, Jr. in a steel cage match
Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper in a Texas death match
Wahoo McDaniel vs. Dick Slater in a taped fist match
Plus other matches

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Poster: Andersons battle Keirn and Conway on Plane Crash Saturday

by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

October 4th, 1975 is an infamous date in Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling history and for that matter, professional wrestling history as a whole. The participants on this card at the Starland Arena in Roanoke, VA  must have been grateful that they were not booked on that ill-fated chartered flight out of Charlotte to Wilmington which ended the careers of "The Champ" Johnny Valentine and Bob Bruggers, injured Tim Woods and David Crockett, and almost stopped Ric Flair's rise to the top of the wrestling world. The Wilmington plane crash this Saturday evening no doubt changed the landscape of wrestling. 

The Starland main event featured Tiger Conway Jr. and Steve Keirn continuing their quest for Gene and Ole Anderson's NWA World Tag Team belts with an undercard that included Ken Patera, Mike " The Judge" Dubois, Johnny Weaver, and Two Ton Harris.

This vertical poster, as most all Starland posters were, has a pretty basic layout with all black print on a bright yellow background and the western style "Wrestling" logo.

Imagine how different the wrestling world would have become if the Roanoke and Wilmington cards had been reversed.

NO. 12 IN A SERIES

Monday, August 23, 2021

Abe Jacobs Returns to County Hall in Charleston


by Andy McDaniel
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

As a kid, I honestly had no idea who Abe Jacobs was other than a guy who always lost his television matches. I say that with the utmost respect for Abe. I did not know any better as a young person. However, in 1998 I got to know Abe Jacobs personally, and my viewpoint would never be the same again. It was during the time of preparation for a reunion of legends show that Mike Mooneyham and I were putting together that I learned about the storied career of Abe and the true legend of, as Mike would often say, "the venerable New Zealander."

It was such a joy getting to know Abe. He was so kind to me from the first time we talked, and that has never changed no matter how many times we have seen each other or how much time has passed. It is always special to hear him tell stories from his wrestling years. 

So, friends, "let me tell you something," this guy was a star back in his day, and to me, he still is. Thanks for all the memories, my old friend.

Previous Videos:
Johnny Valentine

Ole Anderson

Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson 

 * * * * *

Video produced by Andy McDaniel. Check out Andy's book Reunion at County Hall: The Night the Wrestling Legends Returned to Charleston. Available on Amazon.com.

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Matt Striker Always Makes Us Smile

Twitter: @badguywrassler

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway
EDITED FROM AN ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JULY 22, 2018 

What fun to come across this photo on Twitter of Matt Striker and "Good Ol' J.R." Jim Ross. It was taken at a World Class Revolution wrestling event at Southfork Ranch outside Dallas, Texas. 

Conrad Thompson noticed something about the t-shirt Matt is wearing, and pointed the photo out to me. It is an old Mid-Atlantic Gateway t-shirt which was sold here many years ago. That made me smile. 

A former WWE Superstar and broadcaster, Striker is most recently known in wrestling for being the lead announcer for "Lucha Underground", which aired for four seasons on the El Rey Network. During that time, it was one of my favorite hours of television every week. Although the program showcased modern-day styles in wrestling (along with a heavy dose of superhero/science-fiction story telling), Matt managed to weave many "old school" wrestling references into his commentary on the show, my favorite being a nod to Greg Valentine's famous t-shirt "I Broke Wahoo's Leg" from season one. I always get a kick out of those references. Even though he is a veteran of the pro wrestling business, Matt is at heart an old school wrestling fan like the rest of us. A very nice fellow, as well.

J.R. digs the our little website, too, we're told. He even told Bruce Mitchell once on his podcast that the Gateway was "an icon on my iPad."

We have great respect for both of these gentlemen, so it goes without saying we're honored.


EDITED FROM AN ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JULY 22, 2018

* * * * *

See also: "For Matt Striker, the Past is Prologue" (A look at a couple of those early Mid-Atlantic references on Lucha Underground.)

Friday, August 20, 2021

Don Kernodle Tribute Part Two

Don't miss the long awaited, eagerly anticipated PART TWO of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast's tribute to the life and career of Don Kernodle. An incredibly detailed look at one of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling's iconic home-grown stars.

From their website:

In this second and final part, we continue the story of how a lifelong wrestling fan became one of the most respected workers in the business. We pick up at the legendary Road To Greensboro, and follow Don through his many adventures. Over three and a half hours, we cover everything. The match and the fallout of the legendary battle against Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood, his team with Sgt. Slaughter is forced to end, traveling to the World Wrestling Federation, successes in Toronto for Maple Leaf Wrestling, brief – but legendary – teams with Bob Orton Jr and Ivan Koloff, his creation of Nikita Koloff, semi-retirement, Atlantic Coast Wrestling, and so much more!
The first part of the special looked at how Kernodle broke into the business, his wrestling education, his big break as one of Sarge’s Privates with Jim Nelson, and all of the angles that led up to the famous night on March 12, 1983.

With tons of audio clips throughout, it is a tour de force! 

 

Links to both episodes: 

SPECIAL EPISODE: DON KERNODLE TRIBUTE SHOW PART 1
SPECIAL EPISODE: DON KERNODLE TRIBUTE SHOW PART 2

 

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: October 22, 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 (now on Peacock). 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 and programming transitioned to NBC's Peacock streaming service. The Mid-Atlantic shows returned in July of 2021. Links are provided where available.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 10/22/83
Taped 10/12/83 taped in Spartanburg SC at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Review is from WWE Network/Peacock Network feed.

Match 1
Non-Title: Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood [World Tag ch.] d. Bill Howard & Magic Dragon

Tommy Young is the referee for the hour. Caudle says to beware of the Briscos. Steamboat misses a flying a bodypress on Howard. More of a botch than anything else. They recover. Steamboat tries again a few minutes later and pins Howard after a top-rope flying body press.

[Break]

SPECIAL VIDEO FEATURE
Championship Wrestling from Florida - Starrcade '83 Press Conference Coverage

Barbara Clarey reports from outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Tampa. The NWA Board of Directors is meeting to arrange a Race vs. Flair rematch. It will take place in a cage with no DQ. The promoters are determining where the match will take place. Clarey notes that Tampa Bay has been selected to host Super Bowl XVIII. Clarey throws it to Gordon Solie inside.

Gordon is reporting from the corner of the room. We see Eddie Graham, Hiro Matsuda, Bill Alfonso, and Buddy Colt on one side of the table. Jim Crockett Jr. and two others are on the other side. NWA president Bob Geigel walks in. He announces the match has been awarded to Jim Crockett. Jim speaks. There are three mic flags at the table, Ch. 10, 13 and 11 in Tampa. Crockett calls this more than the fight of the decade. He says this will take place in Greensboro on Thanksgiving. He’s going to call it Starrcade ’83.

Solie throws it via satellite to Harley Race in Kansas City
David Manning from KTVT Ch. 11 approaches Race who just arrived at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. Of course, this is Fort Worth, not Kansas City (taped 10/03/83 in a bit of meaningless trivia). Why let those facts get in the way. Manning, normally the referee for World Class, plays the role of TV reporter. He asks Race for his reaction to the match being signed in Greensboro. Race says he knew this was going to happen. He had his people bidding on the match, but Crockett came up with more cash. But, if that’s the way it is, that’s the way it will be. Flair may have just signed his final match. Manning doesn’t even know where the camera is when concluding the segment.

Solie then throws to a satellite to Ric Flair’s home in Charlotte.

Low and behold, it’s Tony Schiavone! It's his first appearance during the body of the Mid-Atlantic show. Flair says he has a flare for the nice things in a life. He says he has a “Flare for the Gold.”

Back to Gordon Solie. He repeats Flair’s line. Jim Crockett wraps up thanking the NWA for granting his promotion the title match.

[Break]

Match 2
Dick Slater d. Steve Muslin

Thanks to the bumper graphic, the official spelling is Muslin. His real name is spelled Musulin. We get an inset interview for the first time on this program, with Bob Orton Jr. He says he may take Flair out again before his Starrcade ’83 match. Race having to wrestle in a cage is a disgrace. Slater uses a double hammerlock at one point. He wins with the unnamed Samoan drop.

-Int. w/Tony Schiavone: Roddy Piper
This appears to be a local promo for Savannah, Georgia, in front of the blue NWA set. Tony tells us Savannah has been selected host a satellite broadcast of Starrcade ’83. Piper has the dog collar and chain with him. He notes the collar has spiked studs to prevent choking with the hands. The chain is 12 feet, 40 pounds. This match hasn’t been officially announced on the main body of the show, indicating Savannah got the program a few weeks after the first airing.

[Break]

Match 3
Mark Lewin & Kevin Sullivan (w/Gary Hart) d. Brett Hart & Vinnie Valentino

Roddy Piper is on commentary. He is mostly excited about Starrcade ’83. Lewin uses the Tree of Woe. Perhaps that’s where Sullivan picked it up from. The finish sees Lewin & Sullivan taking turns twisting Valentino’s arm. Like a maypole. And, that garners a submission!

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ric Flair
A subdued Flair (compared to the last few episodes) is glad to have Race right where he wants him, in a no DQ cage match.

[Break]

Match 4
Bugsy McGraw & Chavo Guerrero d. Tom Lentz & Kelly Kiniski

The return of Angelo Mosca! He joins Caudle on the mic. He talks about how big Starrcade ’83 is. Mosca has a big announcement coming soon. In the ring, Chavo pins Lentz with a victory roll. Mosca says he no longer King Kong, he goes back to his old self, Big Nasty. (A familiar moniker from his 1976 run in JCP.)

[Break]

[VIDEO TAPE] NWA Champion Harley Race
This appears to be taped at the studio in Kansas City. Mainly, Race is unhappy and feels backstabbed he has to face Flair in the cage.

-Int. w/Tony Schiavone: Greg Valentine
Another local promo for the Starrcade showing in Savannah. Despite the heel interview subject, there is the blue NWA set backdrop. Valentine says the chain is 20 feet. He’s not happy about it.

[Break]

Match 5
Mark Youngblood & Scott McGhee d. The Assassins (w/Paul Jones)

Third week in a row we see this match. The babyfaces start off fast and never let up. Hamilton Assassin and McGhee are fighting in the ropes. Youngblood whips Hercules Assassin into Hamilton Assassin. That takes him and McGhee out. Youngblood hits a legdrop and makes the pin.

Jones and Hamilton Assassin ram McGhee into the post. Then, a triple team in the ring on Youngblood. Hamilton Assassin loads his mask. Referee Tommy Young runs and jumps on Hamilton Assassin’s back. He gets flipped out and takes hard bump on the floor. Bugsy McGraw enters with a chair and makes the save. He nails Hamilton Assassin a few times and nearly pulls off his mask. The Assassins run away. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine; Gary Hart; Dick Slater
Valentine says Starrcade ’83 is a big deal. But, he won’t be set up like Harley Race. There is no way he will face Piper in a dog collar match [no continuity with the local promos on this tape) Hart complains about Charlie Brown’s mask. Slater has nasty words for Flair to close the show.

“So long for now!”

* * * * * * *

Results for the week, 10/17/83-10/23/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 10/17/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel
Jerry Brisco beat Ricky Steamboat
The Assassins beat Mark Youngblood & Terry Gibbs
Chavo Guerrero beat Magic Dragon
Mark Lewin beat Vinnie Valentino
John Bonello beat Jerry Grey

Tue., 10/18/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
The Assassins beat Charlie Brown & Mark Youngblood
Kevin Sullivan beat Terry Gibbs
Keith Larson beat Bill Howard
Gene Anderson beat Steve Muslim

Tue., 10/18/83 Henderson, NC; South Vance High School
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel vs. Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
Bugsy McGraw vs. Mark Lewin
Scott McGhee vs. Kelly Kiniski
Brickhouse Brown vs. Jerry Grey
Vinnie Valentino vs. Tim Gerard

Wed., 10/19/83 Shelby, NC; Recreation Center (TV)
MACW:
Chavo Guerrero beat Gary Royal
The Assassins double DQ Charlie Brown & Bugsy McGraw
Great Kabuki beat Steve Muslin
Bob Orton, Jr. beat Rick McCord
Kevin Sullivan beat Tim Gerrard
WWW:
Great Kabuki beat Keith Larson
Wahoo McDaniel & Chavo Guerrero beat Kelly Kiniski & Tom Lentz
Mark Youngblood & Rufus R. Jones beat Bill Howard & Gary Royal
The Assassins beat Steve Muslim & Tim Gerrard
Dark:
Ric Flair, Roddy Piper & Wahoo McDaniel vs. Bob Orton, Jr., Dick Slater & Dory Funk, Jr. 

Thu., 10/20/83 Norfolk, VA; Scope Coliseum
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel no contest with Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
Charlie Brown beat Great Kabuki
The Assassins beat Johnny Weaver & Terry Gibbs
Mark Lewin beat Bugsy McGraw
Mark Youngblood beat Gene Anderson
Scott McGhee beat Kelly Kiniski

Thu., 10/20/83 Sumter, SC; Exhibition Center County of Sumter (ECCOS)
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Rufus R. Jones beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Kevin Sullivan beat Keith Larson
Chavo Guerrero beat The Ninja
Gary Royal beat Rick McCord
Vinnie Valentino beat Tim Gerrard 

Fri., 10/21/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Greg Valentine beat Roddy Piper
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Rufus R. Jones
Kevin Sullivan beat Keith Larson
The Ninja beat Chavo Guerrero
Magic Dragon beat John Bonello
Brett Hart beat Tom Lentz

Fri., 10/21/83 Richmond, VA; Richmond Coliseum
The Assassins beat Charlie Brown & Mark Youngblood
Kabuki beat Scott McGhee
Bugsy McGraw beat Gene Anderson
Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver
Terry Gibbs beat Kelly Kiniski
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood to win NWA World Tag Title
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater

Sat., 10/22/83 Conway, SC
Vinnie Valentino beat Jerry Grey
Gene Anderson beat Brett Hart
Scott McGhee beat Kelly Kiniski
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Mark Youngblood
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel double DQ Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.

Sat., 10/22/83 Collinsville, VA; Patrick Henry Community College Gym
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco vs. Jay Youngblood & Ricky Steamboat
The Assassins vs. Bugsy McGraw & Rufus R. Jones
Chavo Guerrero vs. The Ninja
Tom Lentz vs. Keith Larson
Bill Howard vs. Rick McCord

Sun., 10/23/83 Asheville, NC; Civic Center
Kelly Kiniski beat John Bonello
Vinnie Valentino beat Jerry Grey
Bugsy McGraw beat Magic Dragon
The Assassins beat Rufus R. Jones & Mark Youngblood
Charlie Brown beat Great Kabuki
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood by DQ

Sun., 10/23/83 Roanoke, VA; Roanoke Civic Center
Ric Flair & Roddy Piper no contest with Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
United States Heavyweight championship: Wahoo McDaniel beat Greg Valentine [ch.] by CO
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver & Terry Gibbs
Brett Hart beat Tom Lentz
Keith Larson beat Tim Gerrard
Rick McCord beat Bill Howard

10/23/83 Charlotte, NC; Charlotte Coliseum
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel no contest with Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Greg Valentine beat Roddy Piper
Rufus R. Jones & Bugsy McGraw beat The Assassins
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Mark Youngblood
Angelo Mosca beat Gene Anderson
Scott McGhee beat The Ninja
Brickhouse Brown beat Gary Royal

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson return to County Hall in Charleston

 

Oh my goodness, we had so many memorable moments take place at our reunion, but few could top the reuniting of the "Blonde Bombers" Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson. 

These two old friends had not seen each other in over 20 years. To see their faces light up and witness the enormous embrace that took place between them is something I will never forget. It was a special moment and one I am so happy we could make happen. 

Unfortunately, Rip and Swede are no longer with us, but we will never forget the memories they left behind. As I sit here typing this note, the massive rumbling of thunder I hear outside my office reminds me of Swede moving the ring when he hit the corner. 

Those were the days.                - Andy McDaniel

 Previous Videos:
Johnny Valentine

Ole Anderson

 * * * * *

Video produced by Andy McDaniel. Check out Andy's book Reunion at County Hall: The Night the Wrestling Legends Returned to Charleston. Available on Amazon.com.

 

Monday, August 16, 2021

Poster: Wahoo and Andre challenge Flair and Valentine in Charlotte

 
by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

The old Charlotte Coliseum, nowadays named the Bojangles Coliseum, was and still is an awesome venue for live events. On Sunday March 27th, 1977 it hosted a great card of Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling with a tag team main event of NWA Worlds Tag Team champions Ric Flair and Greg Valentine defending against Andre the Giant and Wahoo McDaniel. 

The odds would seem to be on the Giant and the Chief and sure enough they walked out of the arena this night with a victory, but by disqualification, allowing the champions to retain their titles.

Blackjack Mulligan continued to defend his U.S. title against Dino Bravo and the Hollywood Blondes defended their Mid-Atlantic tag team titles vs. Ron Starr and Rick McGraw. The undercard included young Ricky Steamboat who would soon catch fire in the territory. 

The poster itself has a seldom seen off-white background with black print and the venue, date, and main event in high impact red, along with 5 great images of the main event participants and Jerry Brown of the Blondes. 

NO. 11 IN A SERIES

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Crockett Cup 85: The Texas Outlaws vs. The Fabulous Freebirds

THE QUARTER FINALS
by Mike Rickard

Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor 

UPDATED BRACKETS

THIS WEEK'S MATCH:
The Texas Outlaws vs. The Fabulous Freebirds

Quarter Final Match #4
(Tournament Match #44)

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 third match saw the Oklahoma Cowboys (Tex and Roy) defeat the tough as nails team of Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen, thus advancing to round five. Now, it’s the Texas Outlaws (Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch) vs. The Fabulous Freebirds.


Pre-Match Interviews
Johnny Weaver has the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes, Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy, and Buddy Roberts). “The Buzzsaw” asks the ‘Birds if they’re ready for their round four match against the reunited Texas Outlaws. Hayes tells Johnny “Ready? We were born ready Johnny Weaver. Let me ask you a question. What would you do for one million dollars?” Johnny thinks about it but Hayes doesn’t wait for an answer. The Freebirds’ leader says “I’d run over my momma and daddy and back up just to make sure they were done.” “Bam Bam” and “Jack” laugh at Hayes’ remark. Hayes adds “If I’m willin’ to do that, what chance do you two think you have? You’re about to get a lesson on why Badstreet is the baddest block on the planet!”

Murdoch aka the Texas Outlaws. Dusty wastes no time doing what he does best—cutting a promo. “Tony Schiavone, you know when I looked for a tag partner, there were many men who came to mind—Wahoo, Magnum, and “The Raging Bull.” However, when things get down and dirty, I knew only one man for the job— ‘Dirty’ Dick Murdoch. We’re talking big money and the defeating 47 other times for the prestige that is the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Trophy. We’ve defeated the Dynamic Duo, the Sheik and Volkoff, and now we got three of the nastiest men in wrestling—the Fabulous Freebirds. Hayes, Gordy, and that Harpo Marx-lookin’ clown Buddy Roberts may have the numbers advantage, but we’ve got the fans watching our backs. Stardust and the Captain are ready to rumble and we’re gonna dance all over your faces!”

Captain Murdoch adds to Dusty’s words of wisdom, “Boys, you may think you’re tough…you may think Badstreet is bad…but Badstreet ain’t even close to our neighborhood. We’re from the great state of Texas and we’re about to send you packin’ back to mommy and daddy.”


The Texas Outlaws (“The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and “Captain Redneck” Dick Murdoch) vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes and Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy) with Buddy Roberts
The Outlaws come out to the ring to loud cheers followed by the ‘Birds who seem to have their fair share of fans. Some trash-talking between the Freebirds and the Outlaws while referee Joey Marella goes to do a pre-match inspection on Rhodes and Murdoch. Hayes and Gordy get in Dusty’s face and things quickly go downhill as the Freebirds throw punches at “Stardust” and “Dirty” Dick. However, the Outlaws seem to dish it out even better than they’re taking it. “Jack” Roberts tries to get into the fray, but Dusty delivers a Bionic Elbow that sends Roberts through the ropes and outside the ring.

Marella orders a man from each team to get back into their corner, giving them a five count. Bob Caudle says that with one million dollars on the line, you know that no one wants to get disqualified. Murdoch starts off against Hayes, with Hayes going for a collar and elbow tie-up. Murdoch steps in and Hayes slaps him in the face. Murdoch responds with a slap that knocks “P.S.” to the ground. Hayes charges him only for “Captain Redneck” deliver a smooth arm-drag takedown that he follows up with an armbar. Murdoch applies the pressure and with Hayes down on the mat, Murdoch drops a knee onto Hayes’ arm. Murdoch goes back to the arm bar but Hayes is able to get a boot on the rope, forcing a break. Hayes gets up and tries a headlock, but Murdoch slips out, whipping Hayes into the ropes. Murdoch sends Hayes back to the mat with a shoulderblock. Hayes stomps the mat and tags in “Bam Bam.” Dick Murdoch points to Dusty and the fans begin cheering. Tag to Rhodes and in comes “The American Dream.”

Collar and elbow tie-up as both men struggle to gain control. David Crockett says it’s a battle of two bulls in the woods. Bob Caudle says Dusty has always claimed to be the bull of the woods. David Crockett says that Dusty doesn’t have his pencil right now and Bob Caudle’s jaw drops. In the ring, the two big men are now on the ropes. Rake of the eyes by Gordy, who whips Dusty into the ropes. Stardust bounces off the ropes and ducks under a clothesline by Gordy. Dusty bounces off the ropes and Gordy leap frogs over him, pointing to his head, apparently quite proud with himself. He turns around and gets a Bionic Elbow for his trouble, falling to the mat. Side headlock by Dusty who keeps Gordy on the mat. Bob Caudle says this is the best way to keep the big man at bay. David Crockett adds that both men like to brawl, but they also know how to wrestle. Bob Caudle agrees and says this match should be full of plenty of surprises.

Five minutes have now elapsed as “The Dream” keeps Gordy on the mat. However, Gordy scrambles around the mat and gets up, whipping Dusty into the ropes. Shoulderblock knocks Dusty down. “Bam Bam” bounces off the ropes and drops an elbow but no one is home as Dusty rolls out of the way. Dusty bounces off the ropes and hits an elbow on Gordy, covering him for a one-count. Both men get up and Rhodes body slams Gordy, then drops another elbow on the Freebird. The fans are cheering as Dusty whips Gordy into the ropes and hits a big back body drop. Gordy gets to one knee as Dusty looks at the fans, then drops a big elbow onto Terry Gordy. Cover on Gordy for almost a two-count. Dusty drops an elbow on Gordy’s leg. Stardust follows up by dropping a knee on Gordy’s leg. Bob Caudle says it looks like Dusty is setting Gordy up for the figure four leglock. David Crockett says Gordy had better do everything he can to avoid the hold. Dusty changes things up and delivers a fist drop to Gordy’s head. “The American Dream” then grabs the leg he’s been targeting and twists it as Gordy struggles for the ropes. “Bam Bam” gets to the ropes and referee Marella orders Dusty to break the hold. Apparently, Dusty thinks he said break the leg as Dusty places Gordy’s weakened leg on the bottom rope and drops an elbow on it. Marella issues a warning to Rhodes who laughs and plays things up with the fans. Michael Hayes is furious and stomping the mat apron but seems reluctant to get in the ring with “The American Dream.”

The ring announcer notes ten minutes have elapsed. Gordy gets to his feet as he’s on the ropes. Dusty moves in but the referee warns him back. As he does, Gordy sees his opportunity and sucker punches Dusty, knocking him down. Gordy drops an elbow on Dusty then whips him into the ‘Birds’ corner where Michael Hayes has a boot waiting for Dusty’s head. Gordy limps over towards Hayes as Buddy Roberts gets on the mat apron. Hayes grabs the tag rope and decides to test its tensile strength across Rhodes’ neck. Surprised at the rope’s durability, Hayes continues his experiment. “Captain Redneck” isn’t happy and charges in, but Buddy Roberts quickly points out Murdoch’s illegal entry into the ring. The referee orders Murdoch back and as Murdoch argues with the referee, Hayes continues choking Rhodes while Gordy knees Dusty in the gut. Roberts even gets in a shot before returning to the mat apron. Tag to Hayes who stomps at Dusty in the corner. Dusty is on his back as Hayes sticks his boot in Dusty’s throat in a blatant choke. Finally, referee Joey Marella shows up and begins a five-count. Hayes breaks at four and grabs Dusty by a leg, dragging him into the center of the ring. Hayes covers Rhodes. 1, 2, Dusty kicks out. Hayes drops an elbow on Dusty and covers him again, but only gets a two count. Hayes stomps Dusty in the head then begins choking him as the referee begins his five count. Hayes breaks then lifts Dusty up and whips him into the ropes. Hayes delivers a big elbow to Dusty’s head and covers Rhodes as he falls to the mat. Another two count! David Crockett says it looks like Hayes is getting frustrated. “P.S.” whips Dusty into the ropes, but Dusty reverses and tags Hayes with an elbow! Both men are down. Dusty crawls to his corner as Hayes gets to his feet. Hayes closes in on Dusty, but Dusty gets to a knee and slugs Hayes in the bread basket. Hayes throws a punch as Dusty gets up, but Rhodes blocks it, firing off a punch of his own. “Dusty! Dusty!” the fans cheer as Dusty rallies, and it’s time for the flip, flop, and fly! Hayes goes down and Dusty dives to his corner, tagging in Dick Murdoch. Murdoch runs in and whips Hayes into the ropes, hitting a big back body drop. It’s now fifteen minutes into the bout as Murdoch kicks Hayes in the gut; following up with an Irish whip into a neutral corner. Murdoch starts unloading on Hayes with punches as the referee comes in again. Murdoch whips Hayes into the opposite corner and charges in, but Hayes gets out of the way. Hayes goes for a bodyslam on “Captain Redneck” but Murdoch surprises him with a small package. Gordy runs in and stomps Murdoch in the back of the head before he can steal a win. Dusty comes in and brawls with Gordy. Hayes slugs away at Murdoch, getting him into a neutral corner. However, Murdoch is still fresh and he slugs away at Hayes. Murdoch rakes the eyes and elbows him in the head, knocking him down. Murdoch rolls outside the ring. “Captain Redneck” grabs Hayes by his long flowing locks and pulls him out of the ring, elbowing him in the head before dragging Hayes to the floor. Murdoch whips Hayes into the security fence where he crashes hard. Back in the ring, Joey Marella is counting to five on Dusty and “Bam Bam,” his back turned to the outside action. This gives Buddy Roberts the chance to smash a wooden chair over Murdoch’s back. The chair doesn’t break, but Murdoch crumbles to the mat. Roberts and Hayes throw him back into the ring. Hayes slowly slides into the ring and covers “Captain Redneck” for an easy win.

Dusty is getting back to his corner when an opportunistic Gordy points to Michael Hayes, who is covering a semi-conscious Murdoch. 1, 2,…No! The fans’ shouts alerted Dusty and he dove in, dropping a big elbow on Hayes. His work done, Dusty returns to his corner as Hayes fights off the effect of “Stardust’s” elbow. Hayes pauses then covers Murdoch again. “Captain Redneck” has the wherewithal to get a boot on the bottom rope, breaking the count.

The Freebirds are astonished that they haven’t been able to put Murdoch away. Hayes tags in “Bam Bam” who goes for the coup de grace, lifting Murdoch up for a piledriver. However, Murdoch is fighting back and reverses the piledriver into a backdrop. Murdoch collapses to the mat and slowly gets up as does Gordy. Gordy is crawling to his corner as is “Captain Redneck.” Thankfully for Murdoch, he’s closer to Dusty than Gordy is to Hayes and he tags in Dusty! The fans erupt as Dusty runs in, grabbing Gordy and delivering a big chop. Dusty elbows Gordy in the head then picks him up for a big bodyslam. Dusty grabs Gordy’s leg and locks in the figure four leglock. Dusty has the hold in the center of the ring as the timekeeper announces twenty minutes have gone by. Dusty keeps the hold locked in as “Bam Bam” struggles to make it to the ropes while he fights the pain. Bob Caudle says Gordy may not be softened up enough by now, but Dusty is going to deliver some serious damage the longer the hold is applied. Perhaps realizing this, Michael Hayes runs in and stomps Dusty in he head, which leads to Dusty breaking the hold.

Rhodes isn’t wasting any time however as he has Gordy in trouble. “The American Dream” goes to suplex “Doc” when Roberts trips up Dusty while the referee is trying to get Hayes and Murdoch separated. “Stardust” gets up and sticks his head through the ropes trying to get at the Freebird outside the ring. However, Roberts clobbers “The American Dream” with a metal water pitcher he has conveniently purloined from the announce table. David Crockett protests that the pitcher belongs to Jim Crockett Promotions, but no one is listening. Gordy takes the dazed “Dream” and piledrives him onto the mat. Hayes points the referee to the cover and the referee makes the count while Hayes stops Murdoch from making the save. 1-2-3. The Freebirds have done it, defeating the Texas Outlaws in 23 minutes and 3 seconds.

Winners: The Fabulous Freebirds

Buddy Roberts throws the water pitcher back at the announce table, but David Crockett has the wherewithal to duck, as does Bob Caudle. Unfortunately, Pro Wrestling Illustrated photographer Bill Apter isn’t so lucky and he goes down like a sack of potatoes. David Crockett asks Bob Caudle if he thinks this will affect Mr. Apter’s coverage of the tournament.

Round four is complete and it’s time for round five as “The Final Four” battle to see who will compete in the 1985 Jim Crockett Memorial Finals. Things have been heating up every round and you can be sure there will be some big surprises ahead.

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

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
Fourth Round: Match 3 (Tournament Match #43)
    Brody/Hansen vs. The Oklahoma Cowboys
Fourth Round: Match 4 (Tournament Match #44)
    Rhodes & Murdoch vs. The Fabulous Freebirds


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

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Remembering Peggy Lathan: The First Lady of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Peggy Lathan never wrestled a match for Jim Crockett Promotions, she never cut a promo on the set of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television show, and she never refereed, booked or ring announced a Mid-Atlantic bout. But the shadow she cast over the enduring legacy of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling territory is every bit as profound as all of those that did.  

When I received the news that Peggy had passed away yesterday, it was as if time just stood still. Many of you that are reading this knew Peggy, or at least knew of her. For those of you that didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Peggy, to know her was to love her. As I was embarking on my lengthy commute to work early yesterday, I had deep thoughts of Peggy and her dad come over me and the health issues they were battling. I remember the exact time and stretch of I-95 I was on when those thoughts rushed over me. I later found out that same time was the time Peggy was found unresponsive in her home. Coincidence? Perhaps. But I think not.

Peggy Lathan and David Chappell

It's not an exaggeration to say that the Mid-Atlantic Gateway as you see it now would not exist, or at the very least would not have flourished as it has for twenty-one years, without the behind-the-scenes assistance of Peggy Lathan. I was told by Peggy that the first time we were “together” was at a show in Hartwell, Georgia when I was there to interview the Masked Superstar, Bill Eadie, for the Gateway. Peggy recognized me at that show from a photo or two of myself that was on the Gateway, the site that Dick Bourne and I created in 2000 still being very much in its infancy then. Peggy in later years scolded me for not talking to her at that show. My first instinct was to tell her that I didn’t know who she was at that time, so why would I just come up and talk to her out of the blue? I’m glad I didn’t argue that point with her, as I soon came to learn that Peggy never met a stranger. Even being a lawyer who argues for a living, that’s an argument I would have lost.

When I got to know Peggy, I discovered a wresting sister that matched my unbridled love of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. We both worked in the legal field that provided us many common experiences, but Mid-Atlantic Wrestling was our unbreakable bond. While we were at the geographical extremes of the Crockett territory, me living north of Richmond, Virginia and Peggy residing southwest of Greenville, South Carolina our passion for Crockett wrestling crossed the many miles between us. I was immediately drawn in by Peggy’s bubbly personality, her infectious smile and laugh and that incredible Upstate South Carolina drawl! But more so I was captivated by her unique relationship with Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.

Peggy would often tell me that we both had the “sickness,” another way of saying our love for Mid-Atlantic Wrestling was a bit on the extreme side. But my experience as a Mid-Atlantic fan back in the day couldn’t have been more different than Peggy’s. I admired my wrestling heroes from afar, never daring to have any real contact with these larger-than-life icons other than watching them on TV and seeing them from a general admission seat on Friday nights at the Richmond Coliseum. 

In contrast, Peggy would tell me about her weekly front row seats at multiple Upstate South Carolina venues, and her friendships with the wrestlers and their families! Friendships that continued long past the demise of Jim Crockett Promotions. And the stories she could tell. My eyes must have been as big as saucers as I hung on every word of Peggy’s Mid-Atlantic tales! But Peggy was far more than a mere storyteller to me and the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

When the young Gateway started to gain its footing in the early 2000s, many of the “boys” were intrigued by the site but skeptical of our motives. Many would openly opine that we wanted to make money off them by talking to them. Peggy Lathan came to the rescue. I soon learned that when Peggy “put you over,” you needed no further stamp of approval from anyone within the business. Many early interviews that I did on the Gateway, were as a direct result of Peggy vouching for our site and its sole purpose being to preserve the rich history of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. 

Never having the gumption to seek out my Mid-Atlantic heroes back in the 1970s, Peggy did it for me about thirty years later. Peggy ingratiated me with such Mid-Atlantic icons as Johnny Weaver, Rip Hawk, Paul Jones, Don Kernodle, Ivan Koloff, Tommy Young and Ole Anderson just to name a few. Many of these icons became dear friends of mine, and the interaction I was able to have with my wrestling heroes is something that means the world to me. To this day, I have trouble comprehending that those friendships happened. One thing is for sure, they wouldn’t have happened without Peggy.

Along those lines, my all-time favorite memory involving Peggy occurred at one of the early Charlotte Fanfests. With Peggy’s help, the legendary Rip “The Profile” Hawk had become a cherished friend of mine who I was able to interview for the Gateway and kept in close contact with. Rip got booked for that Fanfest and was flying into Charlotte for two days at the most. While Johnny Weaver was not coming to that Fanfest, he worked for the Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office close by. Peggy and I co-conspired to try and get Rip and Johnny, arch-rivals in the 1960s and early 1970s, together for the first time in decades!

Suffice it to say, this reunion between Johnny and Rip was not an easy one to pull off logistically. At times it felt like Peggy and I were trying to put together a summit for two superpower leaders, and in a manner of speaking that’s exactly what we were doing. At least superpowers in the world of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling! After several fits and starts, Johnny and Rip were united over breakfast near the site of Fanfest. The sight of Rip and Johnny seeing each other after decades was worth all the effort Peggy and I put in and much, much more. Not only did I get to see two Mid-Atlantic legends reunited, but thanks to Peggy, two of my wresting heroes turned friends.

Several years after that I had the occasion to visit Peggy and her mom and dad when they toured Washington, D.C. and I made the trip up from Richmond. Peggy was a devoted daughter to both her parents, and that was never more on full display when both her parents had serious health issues befall them in recent times. That day in northern Virginia the love between all three of them was in full display. I still remember Peggy’s mom extolling the virtues of “Skins" hot dogs down their way during that visit. And Helen, I promise you I will eat several in your memory before all is said and done!

Dick Bourne and Peggy Lathan

During the intervening years and right up to Peggy’s passing, she was a selfless and invaluable asset to me and the Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Peggy came into possession of a treasure trove of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling audio cassettes from the mid-1970s and she immediately gave them away to Dick Bourne and me for use on the site. She has provided us many photos and other memorabilia in addition to authoring numerous articles for the Gateway. She helped edit and proof several of the Mid-Atlantic Gateway books. When it was announced that Dick and I were going to be included in the 2016 Hall of Heroes class, predictably Peggy was the first one to call and offer her congratulations.

Life is fleeting, and that was proven again yesterday with Peggy’s sudden and unexpected passing. In recent years my connection with Peggy was not to the level it had been previously, and I regret that. A lot of miles separated us, but anyone that knows me knows I’m not adverse to long road trips. I have a cell phone that’s pretty much an appendage to my body with calling, texting and emailing capabilities. It’s often said we need to let important people in our lives know how much they mean to us while they are alive, because they could be gone tomorrow. Today is that “tomorrow” for Peggy and me, and I hope she knew how much I loved her. I believe that she did. 

The professional wrestling fraternity is unique, and it’s an extended family that defies any neat definition or categorization. While we all come from every background imaginable, we are tight…very tight. And today we collectively mourn Peggy’s passing. And while Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling was a business, it was a family-run business. The fans meant a great deal back in the day, and with the advent of the Internet we fans have come together now as we couldn’t in earlier times. Every gathering of Mid-Atlantic fans from now on will have an unimaginable gap in it, but Peggy’s memory will burn brightly for all of us. Thank you, my wrestling sister, for all you did to bring untold hours of Mid-Atlantic Wresting joy to my life. We’ve lost an incomparable Jim Crockett Promotions super-fan, but Heaven has received a Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling angel like no other.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The Archives: Peggy Lathan on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

We are so sad to learn of the death of our dear and sweet friend Peggy Lathan. Both David Chappell and I  are heartbroken over this news, and extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to her many friends in and around the world of wrestling.  - Dick Bourne
https://twitter.com/magateway/status/1425217169990766592


Articles by Peggy Lathan
on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

From time to time, I would nag Peggy to write something for the Gateway. She had so many wonderful stories to tell. She never wanted to do it, but would eventually relent, and then of course was always happy to see the positive reaction they got. I wish now I had nagged her to write more. Here they are.
 
Other Gateway Features Involving Peggy

Photo Albums
Peggy's Favorites (1978-1981)
From the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, Peggy took lots of photographs of the wrestlers she knew, many of them in candid moments in the back. These were some of her favorites. (Page is on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archives Website)

Peggy's Ric Flair Photo Album
While Don Kernodle, Johnny Weaver, and Tommy Young became three of her best friends and part of her extended family, it was Ric Flair that was always her favorite in the ring. And she later became good friends with the Nature Boy, too. Anyone remember Ric stopping during his big speech at his first Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Legends Fanfest in Charlotte in 2008 to go and hug Peggy? That was a cool moment. These were some of her favorite photos she took of Ric in his first 4-5 years with Jim Crockett Promotions. (Page is on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archives Website)

 

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: October 15, 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 (now on Peacock). 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 and the majority of programming transitioned to NBC's Peacock streaming service. The Mid-Atlantic shows returned in July of 2021. Links are provided where available.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 10/15/83
Taped 10/05/83 taped in Greenwood SC at the Greenwood Civic Center
Review is from WWE Network/Peacock Network feed.

We skip the 10/08/83 show on the WWE Network.

Match 1
Non-Title: Greg Valentine [U.S. champion] d. Steve Muslin

Caudle promises some exciting news coming up soon. Is it the announcement of Starrcade? Nick Patrick is the referee for the hour. Valentine finishes off Muslin (or Musulin as his real name is spelled) with an elbow from the second turnbuckle, followed by a half-crab submission.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Our exciting news is Steamboat & Youngblood are the new World tag team champions. No date or location mentioned (10/03/83 in Greenville, for the record). Steamboat praises The Briscos, how hard they were to beat and how long they chased them. They talk about being four-time champions, tying with the Andersons (which isn't true. Andresons held the titles six times.)

[Break] 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ric Flair
Flair is still hyper angry, carrying around his bat. He looks like a blonde Scarface. We got to a clip from the 9/03/93 World Wide Wrestling. David Crockett is interviewing Flair, Bob Orton Jr. and Roddy Piper. Flair brings his children, David and Meagan. Orton holds David while Flair is talking.

Back to the current interview. Flair is incensed that Orton touched his kid. Sandy Scott comes out and tells Flair he can’t carry the bat to the arena. Flair reluctantly relinquishes his weapon.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Roddy Piper
Piper brings out a gift box. He says he knows it’s premature, but Valentine is premature too. He asks Caudle to present the gift to Valentine, but to say it’s from a big fan.

Match 2
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco d. Vinnie Valentino & John Bonello
Bob Caudle lists all of the amateur credentials of both Brisco brothers.
Jerry scored the win with the Figure Four on Bonello. Jack splashes Bonello’s legs after the match for good measure. 

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine
Caudle presents Valentine with the gift box. Valentine knows it’s from Piper. Caudle plays dumb. Valentine reveals a dog collar. He goes nuts. There is no way he will wrestle Piper in a dog collar match. He storms off.

Match 3
The Assassins (w/Paul Jones) d. Mark Youngblood & Scott McGhee

Caudle says this is a return match from last week. Apparently, The Assassins used the loaded mask to win. A back-and-forth battle. McGhee is about to unmask Hercules Assassin. The referee is tied up with Youngblood and Paul Jones. McGhee hits a sweet looking German suplex. But, no referee to count the pin. Hamilton Assassin comes off the top rope to break up the pin, makes the switcheroo, and pins McGhee.

LOCAL PROMO SPOT
-Int. w/Tony Schiavone: Ric Flair
This is in lieu of local promos. We are in front of the blue NWA set. First time Schiavone appears on a WWE Network broadcast. Schiavone talks about Starrcade. Flair talks about his cage match versus Harley Race. Flair sounds hoarse. They haven’t mentioned Starrcade yet on the main body of the show, so some context is missing here. [Context is from the missing show from 10/08.]  Flair thanks Jim Crockett Promotions for bringing the match to the southeast. He won’t let the fans down.

[Break] 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Mark Youngblood & Scott McGhee
Mark is unhappy they got cheated two weeks in a row. McGhee wants one more chance. A no holds barred match.

Match 4
Wahoo McDaniel & Chavo Guerrero d. Magic Dragon & Golden Boy Grey

A one-sided affair. Chavo pins Grey with a German suplex into a bridge. 

[Break]

[VIDEO TAPE] -Comments from Harley Race
Race is in a back hallway at an arena in Florida. He says he will never return to North Carolina. He has no remorse what happened to Flair. Race says Flair can chase him. The word “butt” is bleeped out. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Dick Slater & Bob Orton
Slater says Flair is just a man without his baseball bat. Orton said if Flair’s kid had a bounty on him, he would collect on that too.

[Break] 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Gar Hart, Mark Lewin and Kevin Sullivan
"Markie" has been Hart’s lifelong friend. Hart talks about his men’s superior bodies. Sullivan keeps spouting off, seemingly annoying Hart. 

[Break] 

LOCAL PROMO SPOT
-Int. w/Tony Schiavone: Ric Flair
This may be in lieu of local promos. Another Starrcade promo. Flair thanks the Crockett family. Lots of context missing, given the promo we just heard from Race. Wondering how these Flair promos got mixed into this tape.

Match 5
Dick Slater & Bob Orton Jr. NC Keith Larson & Rick McCord

On the prior bumper, a long-term question finally gets answered. The correct spelling is Larson, not Larsen. About a minute into the match, Flair charges into the ring with a broomstick. The referee gets the stick away, and Flair is taking care of Orton & Slater. Wahoo comes in to help Flair. The brawl continues.

The overdub music plays, and the credits roll as the brawl continues. The video freeze frames, which is kind of odd.

* * * * * * *

Results for the weeks 10/03/83-10/16/83 
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 10/03/83 Fayetteville, NC; Cumberland County Civic Center
Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel by DQ
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Rufus R. Jones
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Keith Larson & Rick McCord
Terry Gibbs beat Jerry Grey

Mon., 10/03/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke
The Assassins beat Bugsy McGraw & Mark Youngblood
Scott McGhee beat Kelly Kiniski
Brickhouse Brown beat Bill Howard

Tue., 10/04/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater beat Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel by DQ
Greg Valentine beat Bugsy McGraw
Kevin Sullivan beat Brett Hart
Gene Anderson beat John Bonello
Terry Gibbs beat Tom Lentz
Magic Dragon draw Vinnie Valentino

Tue., 10/04/83 Raleigh, NC; Dorton Arena
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke in a steel cage, bounty match
Johnny Weaver beat Steve Muslim
Brickhouse Brown beat Bill Howard
Rick McCord beat Gene Ligon
Kelly Kiniski beat Mark Fleming

Wed., 10/05/83 Greenwood, SC; Greenwood Civic Center (TV)

Thu., 10/06/83 Sumter, SC; Exhibition Center County of Sumpter (ECCOS)
Andre The Giant, Charlie Brown & Bugsy McGraw beat Baron Von Raschke & The Assassins
Rufus R. Jones beat Dory Funk, Jr. by DQ
Mark Youngblood beat Magic Dragon
Scott McGhee beat Kelly Kiniski 

Thu., 10/6/83 Norfolk, VA; Scope Coliseum
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine in a lumberjack match
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Kevin Sullivan beat Johnny Weaver
Mark Lewin beat Brett Hart
Gene Anderson beat Terry Gibbs
Brickhouse Brown beat Bill Howard

Fri., 10/07/83 Richmond, VA; Richmond Coliseum
Baron Von Raschke beat Charlie Brown in a steel cage, bounty match
Johnny Weaver beat Dory Funk, Jr. in a 2-ring, 18-man battle royal that also included Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, Wahoo McDaniel, Dick Slater, Bob Orton, Jr., Kevin Sullivan, Rufus R. Jones, Gene Anderson, Brett Hart, Keith Larson, Vinnie Valentino, Jerry Grey, Tom Lentz, Terry Gibbs, Bill White and others
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Johnny Weaver
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Vinnie Valentino & Brett Hart
Terry Gibbs beat Tom Lentz
Brickhouse Brown beat Jerry Grey

Fri., 10/07/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco in a no DQ match
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine in a lumberjack strap match
Mark Youngblood vs. Assassin #1
Scott McGhee vs. Assassin #2
Kelly Kiniski vs. Rick McCord

Sat., 10/08/83 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Rick McCord beat Tom Lentz
Mark Lewin & Kevin Sullivan beat Vinnie Valentino & John Bonello
Rufus R. Jones beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Bugsy McGraw & Mark Youngblood beat The Assassins
Roddy Piper & Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke & Gary Hart
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel double DQ Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater

Sat., 10/08/83 Lincolnton, NC
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Greg Valentine beat Johnny Weaver
Scott McGhee beat Magic Dragon
Kelly Kiniski beat Steve Muslim
Brickhouse Brown beat Jerry Grey

Sun., 10/09/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke in a steel cage, bounty match
Rufus R. Jones & Mark Youngblood beat The Assassins
Kevin Sullivan beat Steve Muslim
Mark Lewin beat Brett Hart
Magic Dragon beat Brickhouse Brown

Mon., 10/10/83 Greenville, SC;  Memorial Auditorium
Ric Flair & Roddy Piper beat Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater by DQ
Wahoo McDaniel beat Greg Valentine by countout
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver & Rick McCord
Chavo Guerrero beat The Ninja
Gene Anderson beat Keith Larson

Tue., 10/11/83 Rocky Mount, NC; Municipal Stadium
Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater beat Ric Flair & Roddy Piper by DQ
Mark Lewin & Kevin Sullivan beat Steve Muslin & Brickhouse Brown
Scott McGhee beat Bill Howard
Chavo Guerrero beat Magic Dragon
Vinnie Valentino beat Tom Lentz

Wed., 10/12/83 Spartanburg, SC; Memorial Auditorium (TV)
MACW:
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Magic Dragon & Bill Howard
Dick Slater beat Steve Muslin
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Brett Hart & Vinnie Valentino
Charlie Brown & Bugsy McGraw beat Kelly Kiniski & Tom Lentz
Mark Youngblood & Scott McGhee beat The Assassins
WWW:
Chavo Guerrero beat Magic Dragon
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Brett Hart & John Bonello
Dick Slater beat Keith Larson
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Bill Howard & Tom Lentz
The Assassins beat Terry Gibbs & Steve Muslin

Thu., 10/13/83 Orange, VA
Ric Flair beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Jimmy Valiant & Johnny Weaver beat Bob Orton, Jr. & Baron Von Raschke by DQ
Chavo Guerrero beat The Ninja
Mark Lewin beat Steve Muslin
Kevin Sullivan beat Vinnie Valentino

Thu., 10/13/83 Marion, NC
Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater by countout
The Assassins beat Mark Youngblood & Bugsy McGraw
Scott McGhee beat Bill White

Fri., 10/14/83 Hampton, VA; Hampton Coliseum
Ric Flair & Roddy Piper beat Bob Orton, Jr. & Dory Funk, Jr.
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver & Terry Gibbs
Chavo Guerrero beat The Ninja
Magic Dragon beat Brett Hart
Vinnie Valentino beat Jerry Grey

Fri., 10/14/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater
The Assassin beat Mark Youngblood & Bugsy McGraw
Brickhouse Brown vs. Bill Howard
Scott McGhee beat Bill Howard(sub for Gene Anderson)
Keith Larson beat Tom Lentz

Sat., 10/15/83 Culpeper, VA
Vinnie Valentino beat The Ninja
Brett Hart beat Jerry Grey
Chavo Guerrero beat Magic Dragon
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver & Terry Gibbs
Ric Flair beat Bob Orton, Jr. by countout

Sat., 10/15/83 Roanoke, VA; Roanoke Civic Center
Charlie Brown & Mark Youngblood beat Baron Von Raschke & Gary Hart in a steel cage match
Winner to get Ric Flair: Dick Slater beat Dory Funk, Jr. via pinfall
The Assassins beat Bugsy McGraw & Brickhouse Brown
Scott McGhee beat Kelly Kiniski via pinfall
Gene Anderson beat Keith Larson
Rick McCord beat Tom Lentz

Sun., 10/16/83 Toronto, Ontario; Maple Leaf Gardens
Nick DeCarlo beat Scrap Iron Sheppard(12:32)
Rudy Kay & Terry Kay beat Bob Marcus & Joe Marcus(11:10)
Kelly Kiniski beat Big Mac(7:19)
Johnny Weaver beat Bill Howard (11:28)
Leo Burke beat Brett Hart (14:46)
Don Kernodle beat Mike Rotundo (13:02) to win NWA Canadian Television Title
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine (14:51)
Angelo Mosca beat Sgt. Slaughter (12:41) via pinfall in a lumberjack match

Sun., 10/16/83 Fayetteville, NC; Cumberland County Civic Center
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke in a street fight match
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Chavo Guerrero
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Scott McGhee & John Bonello
Vinnie Valentino beat The Ninja
Brickhouse Brown beat Jerry Grey

Sun., 10/16/83 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Ric Flair beat Bob Orton, Jr.
Baron Von Raschke vs. Charlie Brown in a cage match
Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater by DQ
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco vs. Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Gene Anderson beat Keith Larson
Terry Gibbs beat Tom Lentz
Scott McGhee beat Magic Dragon
Dory Funk, Jr., Bugsy McGraw & Mark Youngblood beat The Assassins & Paul Jones