We kick off our new series on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway this week with the first of a large series of photographs of action figures taken by collector Mike Simmerman.
Mike has created a replica of the old Mid-Atlantic Wrestling TV studios similar to that we saw from WRAL in Raleigh or WPCQ studio in Charlotte. He has then taken modern day action figures and put a little old-school spin on them, using custom clothing and custom belts to better represent that era.
The result are some very unique photographs that we look forward to sharing each week.
To kick things off, we feature a photograph conjuring up great memories of what most folks would consider the top tag team feud of 1975, and many would say it was one of the best feuds of the 1970s and maybe the greatest feud ever in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling. That last statement is highly debatable of course. The photo depicts Wahoo McDaniel and Paul Jones preparing to battle Gene and Ole Anderson, the Minnesota Wrecking Crew.
Notice the great detail of the TV studio, along with small details like a custom made ring jacket for Paul (his famous jacket from that era), the NWA world tag team belts the Andersons are wearing, and even the signature maroon and gold stripes on the Anderson's boots.
Their match on June 11, 1975, taped in the studios of WRAL-TV in Raleigh NC and broadcast throughout the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling area, is considered on of the greatest tag team matches held on TV at that time and ended with one of the most remembered angles of the era, the "supreme sacrifice" where Ole Anderson rammed Wahoo McDaniel's head into the head of his brother Gene, injuring both, but resulting in the Anderson Brothers reclaiming their tag team championships.
This photo, however, is more representative of their brief reunion in 1981. The give-away is the style of the NWA world tag team title belts, which were the belts used in the late 1970s through mid-1980s. Ole and Gene won the world tag titles for a final time in 1981 and had a few nostalgic matches with a reuniting Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel in the arenas.
Check back next Friday when we will have another great shot from Mike Simmerman that will bring back some great memories from Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling!