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