Tuesday, April 30, 2019

"Final Bell" Remembers Legends of the Mat

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

I've enjoyed Mike Mooneyham's wrestling columns in the Charleston Post & Courier since I first discovered them on this new thing called the Internet in the 1990s. Mike instinctively knows how to connect with both casual and hardcore fans, exploring the modern but also mining the historical, often in a very nostalgic way, which has always appealed to me directly.


Part of what I liked about many of his columns was that much of his subject matter came from the same territory I had grown up in. It was clear we both had a love and deep appreciation for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. So whenever a legend from our area passed away, I anticipated the column that would soon follow where Mike would perfectly frame the life, career, and death of these legendary wrestlers.

Mike collects many of those tributes, not only on the stars from our area, but from the wide world of pro-wrestling, and presents them in this amazing volume published by Evening Post Books.

"Final Bell" presents over 35 of Mike's columns going back decades, and is divided into various sections thematically: "Champions" such as Jack Brisco, Bruno Sammartino, and Randy Savage; "Originals" like Wahoo McDaniel, Fred Blassie, and Johnny Valentine; "Braintrust" featuring Jim Barnett, Lance Russell, and the longtime local promoter from his hometown of Charleston, Henry Marcus.

And of course, there is a large section on "Mid-Atlantic Mainstays and Stars" including such legends as Rip Hawk and Swede Hansen, George and Sandy Scott, Tim Woods, and Johnny Weaver.

And so many others.

I had read many of these articles before, but I had missed many, too. I was captivated by the material new to me, and enjoyed reliving the others. Throughout I was moved to laugh and cry, and as with most of what Mike writes, I continued my education in the history of professional wrestling.

For more information and to order your copy of this impressive collection of essays, visit "Final Bell" at Evening Post Books.

* * * * * * * *

From the publisher:
Best-selling author Mike Mooneyham is back with a collection of his previous columns that remember some of pro-wrestling’s finest movers and shakers. From their rise to fame to the end of their days, Final Bell: Legends of the Mat Remembered pays tribute to fallen wrestlers such as Dusty Rhodes, Roddy Piper and the Fabulous Moolah. The book also includes quotes from the industry’s favorite wrestling professionals like JJ Dillon, Jerry Brisco and Jim Cornette. Showcasing two forewords by industry pros Les Thatcher and Jim Ross, this book is a must-have for all dedicated wrestling fans!

Mike Mooneyham began covering pro-wrestling in the mid-1960s for a number of national wrestling publications. He was a writer, editor and columnist with The Post and Courier in Charleston, SC, for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2016 but continuing to write his popular Sunday wrestling column, which he started in 1989, making it the longest-running pro wrestling column in the country. In 2002, he co-authored the New York Times best-selling book, Sex, Lies and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. Mooneyham is a member of several halls of fame, including the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa; the South Carolina Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame; the Lowcountry Wrestling Hall of Fame; and the Mid-Atlantic Legends Hall of Heroes. He received the James C. Melby Award, the industry’s top writing award, in 2009.

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Cool Photo: Rich Landrum and Gene Anderson arrive at WRAL

Photo by Steve Davies

While it appears Rich Landrum didn't offer to carry Gene Anderson's bags on this night, he was happy to carry his belt!

Landrum, the host of "World Wide Wrestling" from 1978-1982, arrives at the studios of WRAL TV in Raleigh, NC, with his trademark tuxedo in a travel bag in his hand and one of the NWA World Tag Team title belts over his shoulder.

To Landrum's right is Gene Anderson, one half of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew and also one half of the then-reigning NWA World Tag Team Champions with his brother Ole Anderson.

A great behind-the-scenes photograph taken by Steve Davies in the summer of 1981.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Mike Rickard Reviews our 1975 Yearbook

"Wrestling's Greatest Moments" author Mike Rickard II has written a great review of our 1975 Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Yearbook which appears on the Canadian Bulldog's World website.

We appreciate the kind words and are always happy when folks enjoy the trip back in time with us.

An excerpt:
Ever wonder what it was like growing up as a fan of wrestling during the territory days? Thanks to Dick Bourne and David Chappell’s Mid-Atlantic Wrestling 1975 Yearbook, readers can experience the thrills and action that took place in Jim Crockett Promotions’ legendary Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling territory. This oversized book is bursting with photos, newspaper articles, and reproductions of house show program books, giving fans the chance to step back into 1975.

The wrestling experience was so different for a fan in 1975. Cable television was in its infancy and the Internet was still two decades away from becoming more than a curiosity.....

Read the entire review here:
Reviews: Mid-Atlantic Wrestling 1975 Yearbook

You can purchase the 1975 Yearbook in our bookstore here.

* * * * * * * * * *
Mike Rickard is the author of "Wrestling's Greatest Moments", as well as the autobiographical "Laughing All the Way to the Bank (Robbery): How An Attorney Survived Prison" and the new novel "Flunky: Pawns and  Kings." His website is located at MichaelRickard.com.

Friday, April 26, 2019

Action Figures Friday: Two Champions from Oklahoma!


This week, NWA Champion Jack Brisco brings out a big bottle of J.R.'s Original Family Bar-B-Q Sauce on the set of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling!

For real, though, we are excited about J.R.'s new podcasting venture with the king of podcasting, the Podfather himself, Conrad Thompson.

J.R. announced on Twitter that he and Conrad would be launching their new Slobberknocker Audio Show next week, recording in Las Vegas, the site of Cauliflower Alley activities as well as the upcoming Starrcast II convention at Caesars Palace.

We can't wait! For more information on the show, follow Jim Ross @JRsBBQ and Conrad Thompson @HeyHeyItsConrad.


Visit J.R.'s Barbeque restaurant when in Culver City, CA! Can't beat original Memphis style BBQ.
You can also buy J.R.'s sauce on line here. Follow J.R. on Twitter at @JRsBBQ.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Blooper from Toronto!

 

Thanks to Andrew Calvert at MapleLeafWrestling.com for sending us this ad from November 1980 featuring an interesting nickname for Jimmy Snuka! 

"When you first started posting the bloopers I went through the Toronto ads thinking there must be a ton of them," Andrew wrote me. "It was the only one I could find!"

What a great card at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. A significant amount of talent booked on Toronto cards during this era (1978-1983) came from the Charlotte booking office of the NWA, Jim Crockett Promotions. 

All the Crockett championships were defended there during this time, along with the Canadian title. And both the NWA and WWF world titles were defended there, too. It was a unique city and special place for wrestling in those days.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

N.W.A. Official Wrestling Rules (1975)

The following is from a 1975 issue of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Magazine.

1975 N.W.A. Official Wrestling Rules as Sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance

MAJOR RULE CHANGES
The count on the floor is no longer 20, but has been changed to a 10 count. The rule went into effect August 11, 1973. Intentional striking of referee will result in an automatic disqualification or suspension.

1.    No hair pulling, eye gouging, strangle holds or biting.
2.    No pulling of trunks, masks or any other equipment.
3.    No straight punches or kicks with point of toe.

NOTE:  Contestants who repeatedly violate any of the above rules will be disqualified. The following violations are automatic disqualification:
1.    Throwing opponent over top rope.
2.    Karate thrusts to the throat.
3.    The piledriver hold.
4.    Failing to break an illegal hold before the referee’s five count.
5.    The use of any foreign object.
6.    Any interference with the duties of the referee.
7.    Continuing to abuse a defeated opponent.
8.    Any interference by managers, seconds or corner men.
9.    Tag team save rule:  automatic disqualification when one team member saves another on any sure pinning or submission combination more than once.
10.    No intentional punching or kicking in the groin or kidney area.

The following maneuvers are legal:
1.    Judo chops, forearm blows, bolo punches, instep and flat-of-foot kicks.
2.    The use of the ropes to gain leverage – contestants may spring against ropes as in tackles and other such maneuvers providing the contact with the rope is momentary.
3.    It is legal to continue wrestling your opponent until he is clearly entangled in ropes and referee calls for a break (wrestlers cautioned to protect themselves on the break).

Additionally:

1. Contestants will get 10 counts on the apron of the ring and 10 on the floor.

2. Championships cannot change hands when the victory is gained by disqualification or count-out.

In any situation not covered by these rules, the N.W.A. will honor the judgment and discretion of the appointed referee.


$50.00 REWARD

For information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons throwing objects in the arena during wrestling matches.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
The preceding was from a 1975 issue of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Magazine. 

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Almanac History - July 1980 (Part Three)

David Chappell's
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling History

ALMANAC DIRECTORY

JULY 1980 - PART 3

CLICK FOR THE ALMANAC INDEX
SECOND WEEK OF JULY 1980 (Cont.)
After Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood inserted themselves in a match with NWA World Tag Team Champions Ray Stevens and Jimmy Snuka on the July 9, 1980 Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television program, announcer Bob Caudle had a hard time believing what he was seeing. Caudle marveled, "It goes to show you, anything can happen on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling! The fans in our TV arena are about to go nuts here, along with Gene Anderson who keeps beating on the ring...he's gonna break that cane!" The ultra excitable color commentator David Crockett added, "I've already blown one mic!"

Gene Anderson
Manager of the NWA World
Tag Team Champions
 
The exciting back-and-forth bout came to an end when Steamboat appeared to secure the win for the "good guys" when he captured Stevens in his surfboard hold with no hope for escape, as the "bad guys" already had one save and Youngblood had chased Snuka out of the ring. The bell then rung, seemingly signaling the end of the match by submission and Steamboat dropped the flailing "Crippler" to the mat and the fan favorites began celebrating!

However, there was more to this story. In all the excitement, it became clear that the floor manager didn't ring the bell signaling the end of the match...but rather Gene Anderson, Snuka and Stevens’ diabolical manager, snuck around the ring to where the bell was and started ringing it! This controversial ending brought out a very rare verbal explanation from referee Tommy Young.

Young explained, "I heard the bell and figured the time was out---so the match is a draw." Crockett then bellowed, "The floor manager says he didn't ring the bell...Gene Anderson rang the bell!" Tommy responded, "Well, that could very well be; I don't know. But all I know is I heard the bell, and when I looked back there Gene Anderson was not there. The official verdict...this is a draw. I'm sorry, this is a draw." Crockett went ballistic, yelling, "BUT GENE ANDERSON RANG THE BELL!" Young then calmly talked Crockett down off the ledge explaining, "I did not see it. I'm sorry David, but it's a draw. It's all I can do."

Steamboat and Youngblood were no happier about the outcome than Crockett was. Ricky complained to Caudle and Crockett later in the same show, "What can the NWA do about Anderson? What can we do about that man? Every time we turn around he's doin' something behind our backs!” Youngblood concurred, "Bob, it was plain to see we had them beat right in the middle. Plain to see! Anderson has been comin' around doin' all this kind of stuff. He's been takin' everybody's eyes off the match, and doin' a lot of stuff."

Jay Youngblood and
Ricky Steamboat
Ricky was becoming even angrier and blurted out, "When we sign contracts, we sign contracts to wrestle Stevens and Snuka, not Anderson---he's a manager! He's not supposed to interfere; he's not supposed to be involved. And every time we wrestle 'em he's always runnin' up and down to the ring and he's sticking his cane in there and he's hittin' people with it!"

Seeking and searching for relief from Gene Anderson, Steamboat opined, "What can we do about that particular man? I think what we may have to do is check into that and possibly get a man in our corner also."

While that stipulation was going to come about shortly, around the second week of July the one unique stipulation that was employed was a “Falls Count Anywhere” contest in Columbia, South Carolina at the Township Auditorium on July 15th. On that night, the champs retained their belts against Steamboat and Youngblood in a match where the participants battled into every nook and cranny of the arena!

The two teams split their other two matches during the week. On July 11th in Lynchburg, Virginia Ray and the “Superfly” successfully defended their belts in a title encounter, while Ricky and Jay exacted a bit of revenge in Greenville, South Carolina at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium on July 14th by besting the champs in a non-title bout.

In two other noteworthy matches that occurred around the area in and around the second week of July, starting in Sumter, South Carolina on July 10th, Andre the Giant and Sweet Ebony Diamond defeated Snuka and Stevens in a non-title bout as Andre wound down his latest tour of the Mid-Atlantic area in impressive fashion. And at the end of the week and bleeding into the third week of the month, Ric Flair defeated former partner Greg Valentine in a bloody bout at the Raleigh Civic Center, retaining his United States Heavyweight Title in the process.

More from July 1980 in PART FOUR                       ALMANAC DIRECTORY


http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Friday, April 19, 2019

Action Figures Friday: Greg Valentine & The Valentine Trophy Case

Mid-Atlantic Gateway Photo
(Inspired by the work of Reggie Richardson!)
by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Yes, this may be considered gimmick infringement!

If you've been keeping up with our latest pics on Action Figures Friday, you'll remember that we have been featuring some images from Reggie Richardson over at Wrestler Weekly. These have combined classic Mid-Atlantic Wrestling magazine covers with custom action figures for a fun little blast of nostalgia.

We were inspired by Reggie to create our own similar set-up. The North Carolina branch office of the Gateway doesn't have many action figures, but we do love this one of Greg Valentine sporting his classic "I Broke Wahoo's Leg" t-shirt and the Mid-Atlantic Championship belt. He's positioned in front of a Volume 3 Issue 3 of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Magazine, published in the late summer of 1977 by Les Thatcher for Jim Crockett Promotions. it spotlights the famous Valentine Family Trophy Case!

So thanks to Reggie for the inspiration and click here for more Action Figures Friday images, including another we worked up with this particular figure.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

The "Red Cover"



This is the cover of a photo album sold at the wrestling events in 1974, one of two distinct issues that year with this theme. Known to collectors as "the Red Cover", there was also a second photo album released that year (known as "the Blue Cover").

The album featured about 16 pages of black and white promotional photos of the wrestlers of that era including Johnny Valentine, Rip Hawk, Swede Hansen, Johnny Weaver, Jack Brisco, Jerry Brisco, and many others. Even a very young Ric Flair, his first year in the territory.

One of the distinguishing features of this issue that makes it special to collectors is the designation on the cover "Produced by Ringley and Crockett." John Ringley, then married to Frances Crockett, had been pegged to run the company following the death of Jim Crockett Sr. in 1973. Up until that point, the company Ringley & Crockett, Inc. had handled all the non-wrestling related promotions of Jim Sr.'s empire including concerts, Globetrotters basketball, fishing tournaments, etc. It appeared that perhaps now that company name would absorb the wrestling related business as well, or maybe not. Perhaps it was just going to undertake the publishing of the photo albums, magazines, and programs.

Regardless, it wasn't long after this particular album was published that John Ringley and Frances Crockett divorced, and the wrestling business was known from that point forward solely as Jim Crockett Promotions, Inc.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Mid-Atlantic TV - September 26, 1981

http://network.wwe.com/video/v1870847183
Mid-Atlantic Wrestling
on the WWE Network
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it 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. 

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 9/26/81
(taped 9/26/81 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network feed. 


Bob Caudle & David Crockett open the show giddy. Crockett, wearing the Augusta green jacket special, announce that Ric Flair won the World Heavyweight championship from Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City (although no date is given). This is the first show Mid-Atlantic show taped since Flair defeated Rhodes on 9/17/81.
Caudle & Crockett run down the show, with Jay Youngblood taking on Ole.

—Interview w/Bob Caudle: Jake Roberts & “Bad Bad” Leroy Brown
Brown does most of the talking, saying they are going to clean things up.
Caudle introduces the next match via magic blue screen.

[Break]

Match 1
Austin Idol d. Scott McGee
Our referee for this and all matches this hour is a blue-romper wearing Sonny Fargo.
Idol at times yells “Come on, Flair.” Announcers put McGee over as a contender for the junior heavyweight championship. Idol applies the figure-4 (not called the Las Vegas Leglock). Idol’s facials look like he is selling the hold more than McGee. A submission win for Idol.

[Break]

Match 2
NWA TV championship: Ron Bass [ch.] d. Jim Nelson
A competitive match for a while. Nelson at one point has Bass cornered and starts laying in the forearms. Bass no sells and bulls his way out of the corner. A few moves later, Bass gets the pin with the running slam.

Match 3
Sgt. Slaughter d. Frank Monte, in a replay from 9/19/81 World Wide Wrestling.
Rick Landrum & Johnny Weaver on the mic, Tommy Young is the referee. Sarge wins with the cobra.

—Interview w/David Crockett: Scott McGee
In this spot on tapes that aired around the market, local promos would air. I suppose these are the “generic” promos that stayed on the tape, and last on the Network. McGee talks about his ascent in wrestling.

[Break]

Match 4
The Grappler & Super Destroyer d. Ron Ritchie & Johnny Weaver
Super D has a white mask on. While Weaver is battling Grappler on the outside, Super D nails the superplex for the pin. Jake Roberts comes into the ring to complain to the referee about the masked heel duo’s illegal switching during the match.

—Interview w/Bob Caudle: Grappler & Destroyer; Austin Idol; Ole Anderson
Rapid interview time. Not much from the masked team. Rambling by Idol, challenging Flair. Ole is surly, only as Ole can be. He said he will take the belt from Flair. Runs down the other babyfaces on the show.

Magic screen intro for the next match.

[Break]

Match 5
Jake Roberts & Leroy Brown d. Ricky Harris & Mike Miller
Crockett announces that the United States Heavyweight championship is vacant, with a tournament upcoming. Crockett is a little vague, saying Piper won the match, with Abdullah’s interference, but not going into detail. Lots of big names to wrestle for the title.
Brown picks up the win for his team after a big splash onto Miller.

—Interview w/David Crockett: Jim Nelson, Ricky Harris, and Mike Miller
Filler spot where local promos would normally go. More of a straightforward interview with why each man lost their respective match on the show.

[Break]

Match 6
Jay Youngblood d. Ole Anderson by DQ
The Grappler joins Caudle & Crockett. He gets involved by tossing Youngblood into the ring after Ole sent him out. Grappler remain at ringside. Sure enough, Grappler gets int the ring, attacking Youngblood for the DQ. Roberts, Bass and Leroy Brown make the save, and the heels retreat.

—Interview w/Bob Caudle: Bass, Brown, Roberts, Youngblood
In rapid fire, all four babyfaces are tired of the interference by Ole and the crew. Times they say, are a changing.

“So long for now!”


TV Summary Index

Results for the week of 9/21-9/27 after the jump......

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Best of the Gateway: Les Thatcher's Peacock Masterpiece

THE PRIDE OF THE PEACOCK
by Dick Bourne
From the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archives




          “The pride of the Peacock is the glory of God.”
                     
                            – William Blake, 19th Century English Poet


Nineteenth century poet William Blake may have been onto something here in this line from a proverb he wrote on expression and relationships. The relationship between Ric Flair and his fans has indeed been a glorious manifestation of the unique way he has connected with them over his long career. Even as a “bad guy”, most fans have never been able to escape the irresistible bad-boy charms of the Nature Boy.

One of those charms has always been his collection of resplendent robes, especially in the 1970s, early in his career, something in which he took great pride. It wasn’t long into Flair’s career that Les Thatcher recognized that Flair’s colorful robes had become his signature, and he put that to work in one of his projects.

Les Thatcher
Les Thatcher is known within the wrestling industry as one of the most versatile and creative minds in the business. For over four decades, he has literally done it all: wrestler, television announcer, television producer, magazine editor, magazine writer, promoter, booker, trainer - - you name it, he’s done it, and done it pretty darn well.

In the 1970s, Thatcher’s work in television and magazine publishing was cutting edge for the wrestling business at that time. He hosted and produced the “Southeastern Championship Wrestling” program in Knoxville TN for Ron Fuller, and created unique segments for the show, such as the “Personality Profile”, ideas that had never really been tried before on wrestling programs. He convinced Jim Crockett Jr. to allow him to publish an in-house full color wrestling magazine, a risky prospect unheard of at the time primarily because of the additional costs involved. Within the pages of those magazines, he would come up with increasingly clever ideas to feature the wrestlers.

When Ric Flair exploded onto the national wrestling scene in the mid-1970s, he had successfully crafted the image of the “Nature Boy”. It wasn’t always going to be that way. Flair originally wanted to be a cowboy, asking promoter Verne Gagne if he could be “Cowboy” Ricky Rhodes, and be billed as the younger brother of his idol at the time, Dusty Rhodes. In a moment of great wisdom and judgment, Gagne emphatically told him “no”.

The “Nature Boy” was born a few years later when booker George Scott had a vision of Flair as the second coming of the flamboyant “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, a former world heavyweight champion and one of wrestling’s top stars in the 1960s. Rogers made famous the peacock-like strut that Flair would later adopt and custom in his own image.

Flair carried Scott’s vision, not to mention Roger’s style, to an entirely different level. He became a peacock, embodied in the colorful robes he quickly collected in the years following his return from the 1975 plane crash. Flair commissioned his robes crafted by the great Olivia Walker who made some of the most famous robes in wrestling for some of the greatest names in the business. In fact, one of his most popular robes was a gorgeous creation adorned in colorful peacock feathers. Sadly (and infamously) that robe was destroyed in the “hat and robe” angle in 1978; Blackjack Mulligan ripping it to shreds in response to Flair destroying Mulligan’s cowboy hat given to him by Waylon Jennings.

In 1977, Les Thatcher came up with an idea for Mid-Atlantic Wrestling magazine to further allow Ric Flair his expression as the most colorful wrestler in the territory. The famous peacock graphic was born.

Flair at this point had amassed an impressive collection of robes in many different designs and colors. Thatcher conceived of a montage of photographs of Flair in each of his robes, each representing a single feather in a peacock’s plumage.

Thatcher brought photographer Woody Smith into the project. They met at Flair’s house one afternoon and set up a tripod in the backyard. Smith had Flair stand in the same spot so that he would be in identical proportion in each shot. Flair would put a robe on, Smith would take a photo, Flair would change into the next robe, hit his mark, next photo taken, and so forth. In all of the photos Flair had his back turned to the camera, showing off the “Nature Boy” inscribed on each, except for one. The one photo where Flair faced forward was the one where he wore that now famous peacock robe. Flair squared with the camera, arms open wide, seemingly ready at any moment to break into that famous strut. You can almost hear the “Wooooo!”



Thatcher and art director Cal Byers took a drawing of a peacock and placed the photos of Flair inside each of the peacock’s feathers. It was the perfect way to highlight Flair’s colorful, cocky character and to feature the robes which had quickly become his trademark.

It was a very creative idea (as most of Les's ideas were) that resulted in a special graphic image that is still enjoyed today, and kept alive forever here on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

See also: The Hat & The Robe


This feature was originally published on the old Mid-Atlantic Gateway 
in February 2009 and was republished on the new 
website on July 27, 2015.



http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Friday, April 12, 2019

Action Figure Friday: The Iron Sheik



Another classic staging from Reggie Richardson over at Scottie Richardson's Wrestler Weekly. A great Sheik figure wearing a custom Mid-Atlantic title belt standing in from of an old 1980 issue of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Magazine.


I love these set ups that Reggie is doing with the magazines. Keep 'em coming!

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Mid-Atlantic TV - September 19, 1981

http://network.wwe.com/video/v1870847183
Mid-Atlantic Wrestling
on the WWE Network
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it 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. 



Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 9/19/81
(taped 9/16/81 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network feed. 

Caudle & Crockett open the show. By popular demand, Abdullah, Piper and Wahoo are allowed back on the show.

—Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ron Bass
Bass talks mostly about Piper vs. Wahoo, and Flair vs. Ole.

[Break]

Match 1
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Mike Miller & Rick Harris.
Tommy Young is the referee for this and all matches for the hour.
The match gets the blue screen introduction before the break. Steamboat pins Miller after the top-rope flying bodypress after about five minutes.

[Break]

Match 2
Sgt. Slaughter d. Ron Ritchie
For some reason, no one is in the ring as we come back from break. Can you say live to tape with no edits? We finally get our talent. Caudle does mention that last week was our first look at Slaughter, so I guess that was his debut. Slaughter finishes off Ritchie with a knee to the gut. No cobra this week.

[Break]

Match 3
Jake Roberts d. Jim Nelson
Caudle notes Nelson’s crew cut, and how he looks like he belongs in the Marines. Ole Anderson and Roddy Piper come to ringside mid-match to taunt The Snake. Roberts hits the “oh oh oh oh,” ie Crockett’s description of the unnamed DDT. Roberts finishes Nelson off with the knee lift for the win.

Post-match, Piper and Ole get on the apron. Both retreat as Roberts nearly gets a right hand on Ole. Bass comes to the ring to back up his fellow Texan (as Jake was billed from).

[Break]

—Interview w/Bob Caudle: Ole Anderson & Roddy Piper; Sgt. Slaughter
Ole says he didn’t jump in the ring because he didn’t want to get fined. Ole talks about how injured Wahoo and Flair are. Piper has a “Satisfaction Guaranteed” on the front of the shirt, with “Mr. Mean Machine” on the back. Another Piper interview classic talking about Wahoo’s injuries.
As Ole & Piper exit, Slaughter enters. He vows to win a major title soon.

Caudle introduces the next match on the blue screen before the break.

[Break]

Match 4
NWA TV championship: Ron Bass d. Charlie Fulton
The TV championship is on the line for the first 15 minutes. Bass needs about six to finish Fulton off with the running power slam.

[Break]

Match 5
Paul Jones & Frank Monte d. Ole Anderson & Roddy Piper by DQ
Piper regales Caudle with the bagpipes pre-match, but stops. Ahhh. Piper has his yellow-and-green checker trunks. The finish has all four men brawl in the ring. Monte gets sent outside. Jones gets double teamed. Steamboat and Bass make the save. Tommy Young disqualifies Ole & Piper.

—Interview w/Bob Caudle: Steamboat & Bass
Bass warns Ole & Piper, mentioning a falls count anywhere contest coming up, with Wahoo involved as well. Steamboat echoes Bass’s statements. The records show a few falls county anywhere matches, involving combinations of Piper, Ole, Flair, Wahoo, etc. over the next few weeks.

“So long for now!”

TV Summary Index 

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

Available results for the week, Sept. 14-20
Mon., 9/14/81 Greenville, SC
Wahoo McDaniel & Ron Bass beat Roddy Piper & Nikolai Volkoff
Jay Youngblood beat Austin Idol by DQ
Johnny Weaver beat Chris Markoff
Jacques Goulet beat Dewey Robertson
Scott McGhee beat Ricky Harris
Don Kernodle beat Charlie Fulton

Tue., 9/15/81 Columbia, SC
Siva Afi d. Laurent Soucie
Scott McGee d. Ricky Harris
Terry Latham d. Charlie Fulton
Paul Jones d. Mike Miller
Leroy Brown d. Ole Anderson
Ricky Steamboat d. Ivan Koloff by DQ
(Wrestling ‘81/Shedlock)

Tue., 9/15/81 Durham NC
Wahoo McDaniel & Ric Flair vs. Roddy Piper & Greg Valentine
Ron Bass vs. ??
Jake Roberts vs. ??
The Grappler & Super Destroyer vs. ?? & ??
Plus other matches

Tue., 9/15/81 Mount Airy, NC
Nikolai Volkoff & Chris Markoff vs. Johnny Weaver & Jay Youngblood
Austin Idol vs. Sweet Ebony Diamond
Jacques Goulet vs. Steve Muslin
Ali Bey vs. Don Kernodle
El Toro vs. Mike Davis


Thu., 9/17/81 Spartanburg, SC
Johnny Weaver & Paul Jones beat Nikolai Volkoff & Chris Markoff by DQ
Frank Monte beat Tony Tosi
Terry Lathan beat Charlie Fulton
Dewey Robertson beat Jim nelson
Austin Idol beat Jay Youngblood

Thu., 9/17/81 Sumter, SC
Wahoo McDaniel & Leroy Brown beat Roddy Piper & Greg Valentine
Jake Roberts beat Ricky Harris
Don Kernodle beat Ali Bey
Scott McGee beat Mike Miller
Steve Muslin beat Mike Reed

Fri., 9/18/81 Charleston, WV
Leroy Brown beat Greg Valentine in a Lumberjack match
Jake Roberts, Paul Jones & Johnny Weaver beat Nikolai Volkoff, Chris Markoff & Austin Idol
Mike Davis beat Jacques Goulet
Don Kernodle beat Ricky Harris
Sivi Afi beat Mike Miller

Fri., 9/18/81 Richmond, VA – Richmond Coliseum
Ron Ritchie beat Charlie Fulton
Terry Latham beat Mike Reed
Super Destroyer & Grappler beat Dewey Robertson & Steve Muslin
Ron Bass beat Ivan Koloff by DQ
Ricky Steamboat beat Ole Anderson
Wahoo McDaniel & Jay Youngblood (sub for Ric Flair) beat Abdullah The Butcher & Roddy Piper by DQ

Fri., 9/18/81 Knoxville, TN (Mulligan/Flair promotion)
Blackjack Mulligan, Jr., Terry Taylor & Jay Strongbow beat Kevin Sullivan, John Studd & Crippler Canyon
Wayne Farris beat Rick Connors
Jeff Sword & Doug Vines beat Tim Horner & Keith Larson
Don Carson beat Dennis Brown
Ron Wright beat Izzy Slapowitz
Mike Fever beat Tony Russo

Sat., 9/19/81 Charlotte, NC — Charlotte Coliseum
Charlie Fulton d. Steve Muslin
Ron Ritchie d. Jim Nelson
Super Destroyer &The Grappler d. Terry Latham & Dewey Robertson
Ivan Koloff d. Jay Youngblood
Wahoo McDaniel & Ricky Steamboat & Jake Roberts d. Ole Anderson & Roddy Piper & Abdullah The Butcher [Roberts sub for Flair]

Sun., 9/20/81 Asheville, NC
Steve Muslin d. Mike Miller
Scott McGee d. Jim Nelson
Frank Monte d. Mike Reed
Leroy Brown d. Ivan Koloff
The Grappler & Super Destroyer d. Johnny Weaver & Dewey Robertson
Wahoo McDaniel & Ric Flair d. Ole Anderson & Roddy Piper in an Indian strap match
(Wrestling ‘81/Shedlock)

Sun., 9/20/81 Toronto, Ontario (Maple Leaf Wrestling/Frank Tunney)
Frankie Laine beat Terry Latham
Ron Ritchie beat Goldie Rogers
Steve Bolus beat Kurt Von Hess
Leroy Brown & Johnny Weaver beat Nikolai Volkoff & Chris Markoff
Greg Valentine beat Jay Youngblood
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Roddy Piper & Ole Anderson by DQ
John Studd beat Angelo Mosca (15:10) to win Canadian Title


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Please note: This summary and review was written by David Taub and does not necessarily represent the views of the Mid-Atlantic Gateway or its publishers or editors. It is for information purposes only and is published here with permission. This material is not affiliated in any way with the WWE Network, WWE.com, or World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Direct Link to this program on the WWE Network:
http://network.wwe.com/video/v1870847283
Subscription required. They offer a free 30-day trial.

TV Summary Index


http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Monday, April 08, 2019

BBQ with the Caudles!

We had the pleasure of sharing some barbecue with Bob and Jackie Caudle in Raleigh this weekend. Two of our favorite people on the planet! We love them dearly and are happy to report they are both doing well.

Bob thanks all his fans for asking about him and says he looks forward to seeing you down the road. And we all thank Diana Chappell for the early Easter goodies!

Always a thrill to spend time with the great voice of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Bob Caudle. And Jackie is always the life of any party!

Sunday, April 07, 2019

Debbie Ringley at the Crockett Foundation Talks About the 2019 Crockett Cup

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway
Late edit: The NWA has announced that the Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) will be competing (!) in the 2019 Crockett Cup.  Also, they plan to announce the seeding for the tournament this Tuesday 4/9.) 

Later this month the National Wrestling Alliance will present the 2019 NWA Crockett Cup, bringing back the tournament that was originally presented by Jim Crockett Promotions in the mid-to-late 1980s. (Event is Saturday 4/27: More information.)

The tournament was originally named the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup in honor of the longtime promoter of pro-wrestling and other entertainment events in the Carolinas and Virginias going all the way back to 1935.

The tournament was discontinued after the Crockett family sold their business to media mogul Ted Turner in November of 1988. In 2017, The Crockett Foundation in Charlotte revived the idea of a tournament in the family name promoting the Crockett Foundation Cup in conjunction with Classic Pro Wrestling, an independent promotion in eastern Virginia. That tradition continued with Charlotte area PWX Wrestling at BB&T Ballpark in 2018.

Now the Crockett Cup returns as part of the modern day NWA, working with Ring of Honor Wrestling as well as the Crockett Foundation to present the tournament on a national stage once again.


I recently conducted a makeshift "email interview" with Debbie Ringley about how the tournament came together. Debbie is the granddaughter of Jim Crockett, Sr. (daughter of Frances Crockett and John Ringley) and president of the Crockett Foundation in Charlotte, a charitable organization helping veterans and service animals.


Mid-Atlantic Gateway: Your family has been out of the wrestling business now for over 30 years, as hard as that is to believe. You now have this opportunity to continue the Crockett tradition in pro wrestling with the renewal of the Crockett Cup. It’s very exciting for fans, especially those of us that go back in time a bit. How did all of this come together with the NWA and Ring of Honor Wrestling?

Debbie Ringley: David Lagana with the NWA came to the Crockett Cup that was held by PWX Wrestling at BB&T Ballpark last summer. He brought [NWA World Champion] Nick Aldis with him as part of the main event that night. The conversation pretty much started through follow up emails and conversations following that meeting.

Mid-Atlantic Gateway: Were you aware that the National Wrestling Alliance was in the middle of a renaissance? Or did this hit you out of nowhere?

Debbie Ringley: I did not know that it even still existed. I have found out that if wasn’t exactly being taken care of in the way it should have been, but I believe the new owner has the respect for the organization that it deserves.

Mid-Atlantic Gateway: The annual tournament that your family put on from 1986-1988 honored your grandfather, Jim Crockett, Sr.  Will the new tournament honor his legacy as well? Or will it be more to honor the family business broadly and their legacy in wrestling, and specifically in Charlotte?

Debbie Ringley: From what I understand, it will be a more broad look at my family’s legacy.

Mid-Atlantic Gateway: I see that they have announced that several stars from JCP in the 1980s will be making appearances at the Crockett Cup: Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson (the Rock & Roll Express), Magnum T.A., Nikita Koloff, as well as Jim Cornette and all three members of the Midnight Express: Bobby Eaton, Dennis Condrey and Stan Lane. Many of these same wrestling legends are also “tag team partners” with the Crockett Foundation. What other presence will the Crockett Foundation have at the event itself?

Debbie Ringley: We will be there with all of our swag and of course the books you were so kind to help us put together.

Mid-Atlantic Gateway: Will this show benefit the charitable work of Crockett Foundation in any way?

Debbie Ringley: Yes. The NWA has said they will be making a donation to the Crockett Foundation that night. I have heard through the grapevine that Billy Corgan (the new owner) is a big fan of veterans organizations.

Mid-Atlantic Gateway: Will any other members of the Crockett family (your mom or your uncles) be involved in any way?

Debbie Ringley: I hope so but nothing has been confirmed as of this date.

Mid-Atlantic Gateway: What have been some recent activities and events connected with the Crockett Foundation and what do you have upcoming in 2019?

Debbie Ringley: In July we will have our annual Crockett Foundation Night at BB&T Ballpark. We will also be attending TMPT Con 3 in Richmond, VA on May 18, 2019. There are about 3 other things that will be announced in the coming months.

Mid-Atlantic Gateway:  Thanks Debbie! David and I look forward to seeing you there that night. It's very exciting to see the Crockett Cup return, especially to the Charlotte area.

Debbie Ringley: Thank you, Dick. See you there!

* * * * *
The 2019 Crockett Cup presented by the NWA, ROH, and the Crockett Foundation, will take place Saturday night, April 27, at Cabarrus Arena in Concord, NC, just northeast of Charlotte. Tickets are on sale now. There will also be several other special events surrounding the tournament including a fanfest Saturday afternoon where you take pictures and get autographs of the NWA wrestling legends in attendance that day including Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson (the Rock & Roll Express), Magnum T.A., Nikita Koloff, as well as Jim Cornette and all three members of the Midnight Express: Bobby Eaton, Dennis Condrey and Stan Lane!

Nick Aldis will defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship that night (as is tradition with the Crockett Cup tournaments of the 1980s). There is a special dinner to be held the night before (Friday April 26) with Aldis as well his opponent Marty Scurll, and NWA National Heavyweight Champion Willie Mack.

http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/p/crockett-cup.html

For links to Twitter and Facebook information about the Friday dinner, Saturday afternoon fanfest, and Crockett Cup event Saturday night, visit our Crockett Cup update page on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway or the specific links below.

Follow the NWA (@nwa), the NWA World Champion Nick Aldis (@RealNickAldsis), and Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) on Twitter.


Support the Crockett Foundation by visiting their online store, filled with lots of wrestling goodies. For more information on the Crockett Foundation, visit https://crockettfoundation.com 

http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Wednesday, April 03, 2019

Johnny Weaver and Jay Youngblood win the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship



On the Friday night after Thanksgiving, November 27, 1981, Johnny Weaver and Jay Youngblood formed an unlikely duo and upset the Russian team of Chris Markoff and Nikolia Volkoff (managed by Lord Alfred Hayes) to win the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team championship. The match took place at a small spot show in the town of Appalachia, VA, for the Knoxville TN based NWA promotion affiliated with Jim Crockett Promotions.

The next morning Johnny and Jay appeared on the TV taping of NWA Championship Wrestling in Knoxville hosted by Les Thatcher, who conducted one of his trademark "Personality Profile" segments with Weaver. Weaver talked about all the times he held the same title with partner George Becker. He was, of course, talking about the Atlantic Coast Tag Team championship that was renamed the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team championship in 1973. But the Mid-Atlantic tag title does trace its lineage back to that amazing string of title reigns held by Weaver and Becker.

Jay Youngblood wrestled in a singles match, but Johnny did not wrestle on this show.

The two appeared together on the show in an interview with Thatcher following Youngblood's match. Photos from that interview are included here. Special thanks to Wendi Weaver for providing these photographs from her father's personal collection.

Earlier that same week, Johnny and Jay served as Grand Marshalls at the annual Christmas parade in China Grove NC. A link to an article about that day and a photograph can be found here: Grand Marshalls.


(This feature is edited from the original story posted on the Johnny Weaver Blog, Jan. 9, 2009.) 
http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/p/crockett-cup.html

Monday, April 01, 2019

Mid-Atlantic TV - September 12, 1981

http://network.wwe.com/video/v1870847183
Mid-Atlantic Wrestling
on the WWE Network
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

An introduction: I will review these episodes of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as they appear on the WWE Network. I will attempt to note Network edits, and catalogue what is going on in the episode. I won’t go heavy on the play by play of each match, as I’m looking for context of the storylines going on at the time. I will also include results for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as I find them. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. 


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 9/12/81
(taped 9/09/81 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network feed

[WWE Network edit: the theme song is replaced by a similar groovy jazz theme. It plays throughout the bumpers and close as well.]

Bob Caudle & David Crockett introduce the show, announcing Ron Bass is the new TV champion. Although not mentioned, he defeated Greg Valentine Sept. 6 in Asheville. Apparently, no TV footage of the title switch which kind of defeats the purpose of the title. They also discuss Wahoo vs. Piper feud and they will both be kept off television. BTW, Caudle wearing his Augusta green jacket special.

—Interview w/Bob Caudle: Ron Bass
Basic babyface interview from Bass, fighting for the fans.

Match 1
Rick Steamboat & Jake Roberts d. Jim Nelson & Mike Miller.
Stu Schwartz is the referee for this and all matches for the hour.
Steamboat has just returned from Japan. Roberts finishes off Nelson with the knee lift, then a back suplex for the pin. Steamboat cuts off Miller to secure the victory.

[Break]

Match 2
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight champion Ivan Koloff d. Terry Lathan in a non-title match

Koloff dominance. Wins with coming off the top rope with the knee to the back of the head. Interesting that Mid-Atlantic never had a no top-rope move rule, while Georgia and Mid-South did.

Caudle & Crockett throw to a clip of Wahoo McDaniel vs. Sgt. Jacques Goulet, presumably from last week’s Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Piper distracts Wahoo, and Abdullah the Butcher appears, bludgeoning Wahoo in the corner with an object, just carving up his forehead. The tape goes into that black inverted footage (better than a censored X, I suppose). Three underneath wrestlers, including Mike Davis, try to break it up to no avail.

As a result of this, Wahoo had to vacate his United States Heavyweight championship. Many station managers legit received complaint calls because of the violence involved.

[Break]

Match 3
Super Destroyer & The Grappler d. Don Kernodle & Scott McGee
Is it McGee or McGhee? No graphics. It’s been spelled both ways throughout the years. Kernodle looks strong, but the masked heels win with a Super D superplex on McGee.

—Interview w/Bob Caudle: Rick Steamboat & Jake Roberts; Ron Bass & Jay Youngblood
This could be the “generic” interviews in the usual local promo spot. Steamboat talks about learning while wrestling in Japan. Jake is wearing a cowboy hat, with a snake band, and a head. Generic threats to the heels.

Next up is Youngblood and Bass. Bass name drops the heels, saying they are ready to face them in singles or tag. Youngblood puts over Bass.

Caudle introduces the following match on the magic blue screen (which never fully works If you watch close enough).

[Break]

Match 4
Sgt. Slaughter d. Mike Davis
This is Slaughter’s TV debut. Dominance by Slaughter, finishing off Davis with the “cobra hold.” Ole Anderson is at ringside, cheering for Slaughter.

[Break]

Match 5
Abdullah the Butcher (w/Roddy Piper) d. Ron Ritchie.
Sonny Fargo is the referee.
This is from World Wide Wrestling, with Rick Landrum and Johnny Weaver on the mic. Abdullah goes outside and rams Ritchie’s head on the announcer table. It’s finished quickly with an Abdullah elbow for the pin.

Match 6
Ron Bass & Jay Youngblood d. Ali Bey & Rick Harris
Longest match on the show, about seven minutes. Bass pins Harris with the running power slam.

—Interview w/Bob Caudle: Ivan Koloff; Austin Idol; Sgt. Slaughter; Ole Anderson
Quickie interviews to close the show. Koloff is impressed with Slaughter. Willing to face any challenger for the Mid-Atlantic championship. Idol rambles about himself.

Slaughter asked the green jacket announcer what his name is. “Bob.” “From now on, your name is Jack.”

“So Long For Now” Caudle signs off.



Results for the week: Sept. 7-13
(results form Sports and Wrestling blog)

Mon., 9/07/81 Greenville, SC
Ivan Koloff vs. Ricky Steamboat
Ole Anderson vs. Ric Flair in a bullrope match
Nikolai Volkoff & Chris Markoff vs. Johnny Weaver & Leroy Brown
Jake Roberts vs. Jim Nelson
El Toro vs. Mike Davis
Ali Bey vs. Laurent Soucie

Tue., 9/08/81 Columbia, SC
Ron Ritchie d. El Toro
Mike Miller d. Frank Monte
Don Kernodle d. Ricky Harris
Paul Jones d. Mr. Fuji
Ricky Steamboat & Leroy Brown & Ron Bass d. Jimmy Valiant & Greg Valentine & Austin Idol
(Wrestling ‘81/Shedlock)

Tue., 9/08/81 Raleigh, NC
Wahoo McDaniel beat Ivan Koloff by DQ
Roddy Piper vs. Jay Youngblood
Johnny Weaver vs. Chris Markoff
The Grappler & Super Destroyer vs. Jake Roberts & Terry Lathan
Plus other matches

Thu., 9/10/81 Norfolk, VA
Ric Flair vs. Ole Anderson
Wahoo McDaniel & Leroy Brown vs. Roddy Piper & Abdullah The Butcher
The Grappler & Super Destroyer vs. Jay Youngblood & Dewey Robertson
Austin Idol vs. Paul Jones
Jake Roberts vs. Jacques Goulet
Jim Nelson vs. Don Kernodle

Fri., 9/11/81 Knoxville, TN (Mulligan/Flair promotion)
Kevin Sullivan & John Studd vs. Jay Strongbow & Terry Taylor
Tennessee Brass Knuckles Champion Rick Connors vs. Ron Wright
Blackjack Mulligan, Jr. & Wayne Farris vs. Tony Anthony & Crippler Canyon
Randy Rose vs. Mike Fever
Plus 2 other matches

Fri., 9/11/81 Charleston, SC
Mike Miller beat Frank Monte
The Grappler & Super Destroyer beat Mike Davis & Terry Latham
Jake Roberts beat Les Thornton
Ricky Steamboat & Leroy Brown beat Greg Valentine & Ivan Koloff

Fri., 9/11/81 Spartanburg, SC (Special Friday Card)
Scott McGee d. El Toro
Sgt. Jacques Goulet d. Ron Ritchie
Dewey Robertson d. Mr. Fuji
Nikolai Volkoff, Chris Markoff & Alfred Hayes NC Johnny Weaver, Ron Bass & Jay Youngblood
Ric Flair beat Roddy Piper

Sun., 9/13/81 Hampton, VA
Wahoo McDaniel beat Abdullah The Butcher
Ric Flair & Leroy Brown beat Roddy Piper & Greg Valentine
Grappler & Super Destroyer beat Dewey Robertson & Jake Roberts
Ron Bass beat Jimmy Valiant
Plus other matches

Sun., 9/13/81 Columbia, SC
Wahoo McDaniel beat Abdullah The Butcher

Copyright © David Taub
Please email any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Please note: This summary and review was written by David Taub and does not necessarily represent the views of the Mid-Atlantic Gateway or its publishers or editors. It is for information purposes only and is published here with permission. This material is not affiliated in any way with the WWE Network, WWE.com, or World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.



http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com