Sunday, June 28, 2020

Joe Murnick Leaves Charlotte for Raleigh (1961)

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Joe Murnick had worked for Jim Crockett in Charlotte for several years in the 1950s before moving to Raleigh. He held many roles for Jim Crockett Promotions, including promoting the Raleigh area and central North Carolina back into the late 1950s. But he did so raising his young family in Charlotte.

When longtime Richmond VA promoter Bill Lewis died in March of 1961, Murnick assumed his territory of Eastern Virginia, including Richmond and Norfolk, all under the Crockett umbrella. He relocated his family to Raleigh in the summer of 1961. C&M Promotions was born.

Murnick had been very involved in many civic functions is Charlotte, including the Charlotte Park and Recreation Commission, which oversaw the Park Center and Memorial Stadium.

The following article appeared in the Charlotte News in July of 1961, announcing Murnick leaving Charlotte for Raleigh.

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JOE MURNICK, PARK LEADER, LEAVING TOWN
The Charlotte News, July 17, 1961

The resignation of Joe H. Murnick as vice chairman of the Charlotte Park and Recreation Commission will be acknowledged today at a 4 pm meeting of the park board in Park Center.

Mr Murnick, a prominent sports promoter and member of the board for 10 years, will move to Raleigh Aug 1. His resignation is effective today and City Council will name a successor.

Mr Murnick, best known for his role in salvaging plans to rebuild the burned-out Armory Auditorium, has been promoting wrestling and other sports events in the Raleigh-Durham area. He said he is moving to Raleigh to be closer to his work.

He has served as chairman of the Park Center and Memorial Stadium committees of the commission. After the armory burned in 1954, he and Ernest Sifford, another board member, led the fight to rebuild the controversial structure as Park Center.

"Mr Sifford and I were the only two people in favor of re-building the armory" he recalled. "Many people thought that it would be competitive with the Coliseum, but results have proved otherwise."

The Coliseum handles big attractions and Park Center the smaller ores.

As chairman of the Memorial Stadium Committee, Mr. Murnick was also instrumental in bringing college football here.

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More about Joe Murnick on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

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Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Crockett Cup '85 Continues: Matches 7 and 8

MIKE RICKARD'S FANTASY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
ROUND ONE CONTINUES

Catching up? Here is the background info:
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings

BRACKETS
Updated brackets going into tonight's matches.
[Links to previous matches at the bottom of this post.]


THIS WEEK'S MATCHES: #7 & #8
The Von Erich vs. Blanchard/Abdullah the Butcher
Tenryu/Tsuruta vs. The British Bulldogs

The 1985 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament is ready to begin. 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.

First Round Rules: Here are the rules for the first-round matches. A pool of referees from the NWA, AWA, and WWF have been appointed for the tournament and randomly selected for each match. The first-round matches have a thirty-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 first-round matches are being held over two nights, with the first eight matches taking place at the Baltimore Civic Center on Thursday April 11. Bob Caudle and David Crockett are calling the matches tonight.

Matches So Far:  The first two matches saw Blackjack Mulligan and Wahoo McDaniel defeat Larry “The Ax” Hennig and “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell while Mega Maharishi and Kendo Nagasaki stole a win from Buzz Tyler and “Pistol” Pez Whatley. Matches three and four saw the WWF’s U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda) defeat the AWA’s Nick Bockwinkel and Mr. Saito while New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi defeated Montreal’s Raymond and Jacques Jr.  Rougeau. Match five saw the WWF’s Hart Foundation score a controversial win over Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling’s the Barbarian and Superstar Billy Graham. In match six, the AWA’s “High Flyers” (“Jumping” Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne) defeated Memphis’ CWA promotion’s brother team of Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Lanny Poffo. The next two matches promise to be instant classic as they compete for more than just bragging rights—they compete for the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Trophy and a cool one million dollars. (Links to all previous matches at the bottom of this post.)

Tony Schiavone is backstage with the British Bulldogs, Davey Boy Smith and the Dynamite Kid. Schiavone says both wrestlers are two talented young men who have impressed fans wherever they wrestle. Dynamite says it’s wonderful to be here tonight and he hopes the fans will cheer them on. Davey Boy Smith tells Tony they’ve wrestled in Japan and they know some of the world’s best teams hail from there. They’re not going to take Genichiro Tenryu and Jumbo Tsuruta lightly.

MATCH #7
Kevin and Mike Von Erich vs. Tully Blanchard and Abdullah the Butcher
It’s time for another brother duo as Kevin and Mike Von Erich clash with the odd pairing of Tully Blanchard and Abdullah the Butcher. Kevin and Tully start for their respective teams with Tully extending his hand. Kevin hesitates but shakes Blanchard’s hand. Collar and elbow tie-up. Blanchard gets the advantage and positions Kevin against the ropes, giving him a clean break. The two lock up again with Tully going for a waist lock as Kevin reverses it. The two are close to the corner and the referee orders a break, with Blanchard giving another clean break. David Crockett says he’s surprised by Blanchard’s unusual show of sportsmanship. Right now, it looks like a wrestling match Bob Caudle says as Blanchard applies a side headlock on Kevin. As Kevin seems to be getting out, Blanchard grabs a handful of Kevin’s long locks and pulls him to the mat. WWF referee Gilberto Roman warns Blanchard about the hair and he says it won’t happen again. Tully switches things up and knees Kevin in the gut as they go to lock up. Kevin fires off with a series of punches that knocks Blanchard into a neutral corner. Hip toss by Von Erich as Blanchard comes out and Kevin applies a front headlock on Tully on the mat. Tully slips out and applies a go-behind as Kevin tries to escape. Blanchard releases the hold and drops a knee on Kevin’s back. Tully picks up Kevin and slams him to the mat. Tully drops an elbow on the back of Kevin’s neck. Tully applies a front facelock and goes to wear Kevin down.

The fans start clapping and cheering Kevin. Bob Caudle notes the fans need no excuse to get behind the Von Erichs as they hate Blanchard and Abdullah. Tully continues the facelock until Kevin begins to rally. David Crockett tells Bob he’s never seen a wrestler work barefoot but Bob reminds him about Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka. David quickly changes the subject and marvels at Von Erich’s athleticism. Kevin is on his feet but Tully grabs him by the hair again, yanking him down to the mat.

Tag to Abdullah and Tully grabs Kevin’s arms while the Butcher unloads with some chops. Abdullah rakes his nails across Kevin’s back then takes his face and runs it down the ropes, with Bob Caudle saying that will inflict a lot of pain. Kevin grabs his face as Abdullah chops him then headbutts him down to the mat. The Butcher whips Kevin towards the heel corner where Tully is ready to tag.

Blanchard whips Kevin into the ropes and goes for a back body-drop, but Kevin manages to lift a knee, knocking Blanchard down. Kevin is on rubber-leg street though and stumbles backward into a neutral corner. Tully quickly regroups and picks Kevin up, going for a suplex, but Kevin blocks it. Tully tries it again, but Von Erich blocks it again then reverses it. Both men are down as Gilberto Roman begins counting both men. Kevin gets to his feet and tags in Mike as the fans cheer.

Mike runs in and grabs Tully, whipping him into the ropes and hitting a big back body-drop on Blanchard. Mike whips Tully into the babyface corner and he crashes hard. Kevin slugs Tully as the referee admonishes him for the fisticuffs. Mike rams Tully’s head into the turnbuckle and tags in Kevin. Kevin whips Tully into the ropes and applies the Von Erich Claw!
Kevin has the claw on Tully in the center of the ring. Bob Caudle says things are looking bad for Tully as he drops to one knee. David Crockett shouts “Here comes Abdullah!” as the Butcher drops a forearm across Kevin’s back. Mike runs in and slugs away at Abdullah. Tully is still woozy as he Kevin whips him into Abdullah, dazing the “Madman from the Sudan.” Tully is down on the mat as Kevin climbs to the top rope and hits a flying bodysplash, covering Blanchard for the 1-2-3. The Von Erichs advance to round two.

Winners: Kevin and Mike Von Erich

After the match, Abdullah and Tully decide to take out their frustrations by beating down the Von Erichs. Tully throws Kevin over the top rope with Von Erich crashing hard outside the ring. Abdullah begins brawling with Mike who is fighting back until Tully joins in, with the numbers game quickly catching up. The Butcher pulls out a fork and starts carving up Mike’s forehead and he’s busted open. Kevin tries to get in the ring but Tully stomps him in the head. The fans cheer as the Italian Stallion, Rocky King, and Mike Jackson run in for the save, but Tully and Abdullah beat them down before going back to slicing and dicing poor Mike. Finally, Kevin rolls in with a steel chair, causing the heels to take a powder. Bob Caudle says Mike is looking bad as a ringside physician comes in to check on him. David Crockett says Blanchard and Abdullah may have lost the match, but they may have taken Mike Von Erich out of the tournament.

MATCH #8
Genichiro Tenryu and Jumbo Tsuruta vs. the British Bulldogs
It’s a huge match-up with two Japanese superstars battling two of England’s best. Davey Boy Smith starts off against Tsuruta. They go to lock up but Tsuruta shoves him into the corner, seemingly effortlessly. Smith goes at Jumbo but the Japanese legend slaps on a headlock. Smith gets out and applies his own headlock, with Caudle remarking that Smith is a powerful man for his size. Jumbo whips Smith into the ropes and goes for what may be a lariat, but Smith ducks under and bounces off the ropes, hitting a cross bodyblock on Jumbo, knocking him down. Tag to Dynamite as the British Bulldogs whip Jumbo into the ropes, hitting a double clothesline. Fast tag to Davey Boy who climbs to the top rope and hits a missile dropkick on Jumbo. Cover for a two count by Pacific Northwest referee Sandy Barr. Another tag to Dynamite who kicks Jumbo in the gut. Dynamite picks up the big man and slams him down hard. Elbow drop on Tsuruta followed by yet another tag. Bob Caudle says this team has speed and knows how to use it. Davey Boy headbutts Jumbo and David Crockett says it looks like Smith’s headbutts pack quite a punch. Suplex on Tsuruta followed by a cover for a two-count.

Yet another tag and this time Davey Boy hoists Dynamite into the air, dropping him on top of Tsuruta. Dynamite hits a legdrop and goes to the second rope. Diving headbutt, but there’s nobody home. Tag to Tenryu who has been waiting to get into the match. Big chop by Tenryu sends Dynamite back into the corner. Another one nearly sends him through the ropes. Bob Caudle remarks that these chops are legal and that both Japanese stars are known for their crushing chops. Genichiro applies a side headlock and quickly wears the Dynamite Kid down to the mat. The majority of the fans are cheering the Bulldogs, but a sizable minority are applauding Genichiro and Jumbo. The Dynamite Kid starts to get to his feet so Genichiro hits a side suplex on him, covering him for a two-count. Davey Boy is eager to tag in but Dynamite is nowhere close.

Genichiro applies a corkscrew neckbreaker on the Kid, adding to his woes. Things are looking bad for Dynamite as Tenryu goes for the diving back elbow drop. Bob Caudle says it’s curtains for the Bulldogs if he hits this, but incredibly, Dynamite gets out of the way. With what looks to be one last burst of energy, Dynamite whips Tenryu into the corner where Davey Boy Smith is waiting, standing on the top rope with his head pointing out into the ring. Tenryu collides with Smith’s head and stumbles back as Dynamite covers him. In an incredible stroke of bad luck, Jumbo trips on the bottom rope and is unable to break up the pin. 1-2-3 and the Bulldogs advance! Bob Caudle says if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Ole and Gene Anderson must be very flattered.

Winners: The British Bulldogs

Eight matches in with eight more remaining in round one. Join us next time as Florida Championship Wrestling’s Mike Graham and B. Brian Blair battle Mid-South Wrestling’s Ted DiBiase and Steve “Dr. Death” Williams and hometown heroes Jimmy Valiant and Bugsy McGraw take on two of Memphis CWA’s best—Jerry “The King” Lawler and “Superstar” Bill Dundee.


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PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS FANTASY SERIES
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings Announced 
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: Matchs 7 & 8:
    The Von Erich vs. Blanchard/Abdullah the Butcher
    Tenryu/Tsuruta vs. The British Bulldogs

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Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Monday, June 22, 2020

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Canadian Champion Dino Bravo vs. Len Denton (WRAL Studio)



http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/p/canadian-heavyweight-title.html


More video at WrestlingClassics.com
http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=156572

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Blackjack Mulligan's Honky-Tonkin' Did Him In! (1977)

DINO BRAVO DEFEATS BLACKJACK MULLIGAN ON TELEVISION
by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Over the course of the rich history of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, there were any number of surprising results in televised bouts. One that certainly stands out was when Dino Bravo defeated the United States Heavyweight Champion Blackjack Mulligan not once, but TWICE, on television in early 1977. As expected, the big man from Eagle Pass, Texas did not react well to the defeat(s), but Mully’s explanation for the loss(es) was one for the ages!

Dino Bravo & Mr. Wrestling Tim Woods
NWA World Tag Team Champions (1976)
But first, a little background on how this TV match came about is in order, and how Bravo justifiably had a chip on his shoulder when he stepped into the ring on TV against Mulligan.

When Dino entered the Mid-Atlantic area in April of 1976, he almost immediately became one-half of the World Tag Team Champions with “Mr. Wrestling” Tim Woods and later in 1976 Dino and Woods also aced the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team belts. But by the time 1977 rolled around, Bravo was looking to establish himself as a singles force in Jim Crockett Promotions.

In early 1977 the promotion started a new feature called “Dream Match ‘77” where the fans would write in requesting matches they would like to see take place on Mid-Atlantic television. Announcer David Crockett came out on the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling show dated February 23, 1977 and told the fans that they had voted for a number of different wrestlers to be paired up against Mulligan, so the promotion decided that Blackjack would be called upon to narrow the fan’s favorites down to one grappler to face Mulligan in a “Dream Match” the following week on TV.

The list of wrestlers Mulligan had to choose from was Wahoo McDaniel, Paul Jones, Rufus R. Jones, Tiger Conway and Dino Bravo. Paul Jones, Conway and Bravo were brought out on the set with Mulligan for Blackjack’s decision. Mulligan immediately eliminated Rufus from contention saying Rufus was scared to death of him, and also Wahoo was taken out of the mix as Mully stated the Indian had a yellow streak down his back and was wrestling in Texas at that time.

Things got more interesting when Mulligan had to confront face-to-face the three remaining wrestlers who the fans wanted him to square off against. Mulligan summarily dismissed Paul Jones from the group referring to him as “crybaby,” and told Jones he was doing the choosing and, “you’ve had too many chances at my belt, you get out of here…you’re eliminated right now!” It then came down to Bravo and Conway, with Tiger saying, “pick me Texan, let’s see what you’re made of,” while Dino remained silent.

Blackjack Mulligan
U.S. Heavyweight Champion
Mulligan inquired to Crockett, “I gotta wrestle one of these two guys?” When Crockett answered in the affirmative, Mulligan blurted out, “I’ll pick Bravo!” An indignant Bravo replied, “I never thought I’d have to thank you for anything Blackjack, but I have to thank you tonight, giving me the biggest opportunity of my career to wrestle the U.S. champ right here on TV. It might be a dream match for the fans, but it’s gonna be your nightmare because I’m gonna defeat you right here, Blackjack.” Mulligan dismissively answered, “I’ll give him the wrasslin’ lesson of his life…he doesn’t stand a chance!”

After Bravo pulled the upset the following week against Blackjack in their televised “Dream Match,” and followed that with another pinfall in a post-match fracas, the question then became how would Mulligan react to the embarrassment on TV, one which elevated Bravo to the number one contender status for the United States Heavyweight Title. The short two-word answer to that question would be an emphatic…‘not well.’

Mulligan spent much of the next month of March ducking and dodging Bravo before he appeared on the April 6, 1977 edition of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV show and told announcer Bob Caudle that he was leaving and was not going to wrestle on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television any more as a result of the debacle with Bravo. Blackjack declared, “[Bravo’s] calling me a coward and saying things behind my back, it’s easy to say things behind a man’s back but let me tell you something…he told everybody he beat me twice on national TV, is that right?” Crockett shot back, “It’s a fact!”

Mulligan then explained, “Oh let me tell you something, me and [Ric] Flair, the night before that match had been out all night honky-tonkin’ with two of the best lookin’ women from Las Vegas, drank two bottles of wild turkey and I wasn’t feelin’ good and my eyeballs were standing out on their stems!” Crockett wisecracked, “That’s your fault!” Blackjack continued, “But I want to tell you something, if you think beating a man in that condition is a big deal…”

At that moment Dino Bravo appeared in the interview area and Mulligan addressed him directly, “I’ll tell you something little boy, I’ll tell you something little Italian boy…” Bravo cut Blackjack off and shouted, “Realize the facts as they are, I can beat you anytime I want to and I’ve proven it to you! It’s only a matter of time…this [U.S.] belt is gonna belong to me, buddy! You wanna wrestle me anytime, I’ll take that belt from you! If you’re man enough, get up in that ring and wrestle me right now!”

Caudle asked, “What about that Blackjack?” Mulligan stuttered and stammered, “I’ve gotta catch my plane, and besides I don’t want to hurt him anyway…I’ve gotta catch my plane” and then exited the interview area. Crockett commented, “[Mulligan] has to wrestle him, the NWA says he has to…[Bravo] is the number one contender.” Caudle followed, “And what a match that’s gonna be! Dino Bravo is as ready as anybody I’ve ever seen!” Crockett then concluded, “That’s right, [Bravo] is full of fire…he’s ready for that match!”

Despite Blackjack’s protestations, he and Bravo then embarked on a three month program battling over Mulligan’s United States Heavyweight Championship. During the month of April 1977, Dino came the closest to winning the Title, beating Blackjack a number of times by disqualification and count-outs in championship bouts. Bravo was so hot during April that he even captured one-half of the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles with partner Tiger Conway while simultaneously going toe-to-toe with Mulligan.

During May and going into June of 1977, the tide of this feud slowly turned in Blackjack’s favor, though Bravo still scored sporadic wins but never was able to capture the trophy he so prized, the United States Heavyweight Championship belt. Coming up empty despite such a valiant struggle, Dino would leave the Mid-Atlantic area altogether in July of 1977.

When Dino Bravo left the Mid-Atlantic territory in July of 1977, Blackjack Mulligan must have breathed a huge sigh of relief. A three-month titanic struggle over the U.S Championship belt with Bravo he was left recovering from that could well have been avoided, in Mulligan’s own words, if Blackjack had just kept his honky-tonkin’ with Ric Flair in check that one fateful night!


http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/p/yearbooks.html

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: October 23, 1982

Mid-Atlantic Championship 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. Follow @TaubGVWire

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


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 10/23/82
(taped 10/20/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network Direct Link to this show: Mid-Atlantic10/23/82
WWE Network feed.   [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]


Bob Caudle opens the show saying we will see “the conclusion of that match, Ric Flair vs. Roddy Piper.” Something got cut off in the Network version. We go to a still of Flair vs. Piper as we head to break.

[Break]

Match 1:
Jimmy Valiant d. Ken Timbs

Tommy Young is the referee for the hour. Valiant has “California” on the back of his trunks. Caudle mentions Jack Brisco regained the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight championship, although no date or location is mentioned. Valiant wins with the back elbow. After, Jos LeDuc runs in, attacking Valiant. Jimmy makes his own save, and gets his hands on Humperdink, ripping his sports coat.
[Break]

Match 2:
Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Ben Alexander & Jim Dalton

Caudle mentions Dusty Rhodes and Sweet Brown Sugar will come in soon. All babyfaces here. Youngblood pins Dalton after Steamboat slingshots him in.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ron Ritchie
Typical in lieu of local promos. Ritchie is confident about his match against Greg Valentine. Talk turns to the World tag team championship.

[Break]

Match 3:
Greg Valentine (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Ron Ritchie

Humperdink, sans coat, shoves Tommy Young. Valentine gives the referee a light push as well. Caudle promises “more” footage of Flair-Piper. All Valentine. Greg secures the submission, not quite with the Figure Four, but more of a leg grapevine. It was the same move he broke Wahoo’s leg in 1977.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle; Sir Oliver Humperdink, Jos LeDuc, and Greg Valentine
The champs are dressed up. “$300 suits” Slaughter says. He’s wearing a cream-colored number; surprised it isn’t a camo suit. He says they have no competition. Last week, their opponents didn’t even show up. Kernodle echoes Slaughter’s points. Slaughter says they are champs because “I’m an officer, and he’s (Kernodle) is a gentleman.

Humperdink and LeDuc join Caudle. Humperdink is upset at Valiant. LeDuc is dressed nice (for him). LeDuc reminds Valiant he’s the TV champion. He won’t be able to get to Humperdink no more. In comes Greg Valentine. He called that finisher the “English” figure-four hold. He’s chasing Wahoo McDaniel and the U.S. championship.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Wahoo McDaniel
[FILM FOOTAGE: Ric Flair vs. Roddy Piper]
We go to the promised Flair vs. Piper footage. No mention of when or where this is taking place, but it’s 10/17/82 at the Charlotte Coliseum. Wahoo is narrating. Piper is walloping Flair. Fight spills to the outside. Both men are bleeding. Piper knocks Flair back outside. Wahoo, already at ringside, gets into a shoving match with Flair. As referee Tommy Young tries to separate the men, Greg Valentine (in a PWI shirt) attacks Piper. Wahoo makes the save, as the match is stopped. Flair & Valentine double-team Wahoo. McDaniel talks about upcoming tag matches with Piper vs. Flair & Valentine, and singles matches against Valentine.

Match 4:
Jerry Brisco d. Bill White

Mostly mat wrestling. Caudle goes over all the potential contenders to Ric Flair’s title. Brisco finishes White off with a butterfly suplex, followed by the Figure Four leglock.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Mike Rotundo
This is in lieu of local promos. Mike is wearing a “WCBY 108 FM” shirt, a Charlotte rock station. His neck is improving. They talk about the House of Humperdink.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Paul Jones & Sir Oliver Humperdink
While Jack Brisco waits in the ring, Jones joins Caudle and calls him a thief. Humperdink is yelling in agreement. Jones calls him a coward for not putting the Mid-Atlantic championship on the line. Brisco eventually agrees. Jones calls him an idiot for doing so.

Match 5
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight championship
Jack Brisco [ch.] d. Paul Jones (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink)
Caudle notes how Jones and Humperdink baited Brisco. Action starts off with a hot brawl. The match is back and forth. While Brisco is pounding Jones in the corner, Humperdink pulls his leg. Jones lands on top of Brisco, and Tommy Young makes the two count, when he sees Humperdink holding on to Brisco’s leg. Jones gets up, thinking he won. In the confusion, Brisco dropkicks Jones into Humerdink, who was on the apron. Brisco gets the 1-2-3. In the post-match, Jones and Humperdink double-team Brisco. In comes Jos LeDuc.

The show is ending. No music. Just the copyright credit, not the full credit roll. Caudle voices over

“So long for now!” 
as the show goes off the air. Second week in a row with a Memphis-type feel.

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HOUSE SHOW RESULTS FOR THE WEEK

Monday, June 15, 2020

Remembering the Jim Crockett Scholarship Fund (1973)

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Ticket stub from Thanksgiving Night in Greensboro 1973

The Territory's Biggest Night

When Jim Crockett passed away in 1973, the family decided to establish a scholarship in his name. According to a report in the Greensboro News & Record, the traditional Thanksgiving night event in the Greensboro Coliseum was the first in a series of scholarship events to be held in the coming weeks to honor the legacy and memory of James Allen Crockett, Sr. Proceeds from the event would go to that fund.

The Thanksgiving event in Greensboro, which was always a big affair and one of the biggest shows of the year in the entire territory, was particularly loaded that evening. The NWA world champion Jack Brisco was booked to defend the ten pounds of gold against former champion Dory Funk, Jr. in what was another in a series of classic battles between the two wrestlers who defined pro-wrestling in the 1970s. Jack had defeated Harley Race in July of that same year for the title, and the angle now was that Brisco had never defeated his arch-rival Funk, Jr. in a title match.  This was a huge deal at the time and billed as a special event selected for Greensboro. To add even more star power to that main event, former legendary champion Lou Thesz was brought in to act as special referee for the title contest.

A number of other big names were brought in from outside the area for the show, which wasn't that unusual for big shows in Greensboro. Terry Funk was in to challenge Eastern heavyweight champion Jerry Brisco in a battle of the younger brothers who were in the main event that night. Indeed, Thanksgiving night in Greensboro was a Funk vs. Brisco showcase.



Also in were the father and son combination of Eddie and Mike Graham. Eddie and Mike were top stars for Championship Wrestling from Florida, and Eddie was also the promoter of that territory. They squared off against one of the Mid-Atlantic territory's top legendary heel tag teams Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson. What a classic brawl that must have been.

Another top star in for the big card that didn't wrestle regularly in the territory was Cowboy Bill Watts. A regular in Georgia and Florida, Watts had made several special appearances in Greensboro that year, but was not a regular member of the Crockett roster.


TRANSCRIPTS

Championships At Stake In Thanksgiving Wrestling  
Thanksgiving night in the Greensboro Coliseum will be wrestling championship night, the finest card ever presented to Piedmont sports fans. 
Jack Brisco, the new world heavyweight title-holder, will risk his crown against Dory Funk Jr. of Texas, the former champion. Funk lost his title some time ago to Harley Race, who in turn was beaten by Brisco ... and Jack Brisco has never beaten Funk in a title match. Lou Thesz, a former world champ, will be the special referee. 
Younger brothers of both champions clash In the Eastern Heavyweight title match. Jerry Brisco, who holds the crown, will take on Terry Funk. Both title features will be one hour time limit.  
This Thanksgiving special, which usually draws the season's largest wrestling crowd at the Greensboro Coliseum, will be the first in a series of Jim Crockett Scholarship Fund events throughout the area. Wrestlers and promoters alike are working to set up a series of college scholarships to honor the late Jim Crockett, regarded as the South's outstanding promoter at the time of his death last spring.  
Other matches include Cowboy Bill Watts versus Beauregard, Bob Bruggers versus El Gaucho and The Destroyer versus Rufus R. Jones. A special tag team match will have Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson against Eddie and Mike Graham. 

Wrestling Set Tonight  
The late Jim Crockett will be honored tonight during professional wrestling in the Greensboro Coliseum tonight involving world champions. 
Lou Thesz, who held the world crown for many years, will referee a match between current champ Jack Brisco and Dory Funk Jr.  Funk lost his title to Harley Race who was beaten by Brisco.
The Eastern Heavyweight title is also at stake with present titlist Jerry Brisco being challenged by Terry Funk. Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson will have a tag team battle against Eddie and Mike Graham and there will be several singles events. 


A Rare Thanksgiving Night Card in Charlotte

With so many big outside names taking the top spots on the Greensboro card, one could easily wonder where the rest of the Mid-Atlantic roster was that night. Typically, Norfolk, VA, also hosted a big card of wrestling on Thanksgiving night. But in 1973, Charlotte instead played host to a rare Thanksgiving night show that, like Greensboro, also featured some special guest stars.


The headline event for the Charlotte Coliseum featured the top two singles stars in the territory at the time, Johnny Valentine vs. Johnny Weaver. In the semi-main event, the Mid-Atlantic tag team titles were on the line as new champions Jay York and Brute Bernard defended against the area's most popular tag-team combination, former champs Sandy Scott and Nelson Royal. As an added bonus, former world boxing champion Joe Louis was in town and had been assigned as special referee for the title contest.

Two big outside names were brought in for the show as well. Area favorite Paul Jones had been campaigning in the state of Florida for the last couple of years and had won the Florida heavyweight championship. He was in the midst of a red-hot feud with Buddy Colt. The two had traded the Florida title several times during the year of 1973 and now they brought their heated rivalry to Charlotte for Thanksgiving night. The Florida title was not on the line in Charlotte, but it was a bit of a homecoming for Jones who had wrestled on cards throughout the Mid-Atlantic territory for years before moving down to the sunshine state. Charlotte fans were well familiar with the feud because "Championship Wrestling from Florida" was seen on Charlotte area television in those years.

Charlotte's traditional night for wrestling was Monday night, and as a testament to the city's ability to support pro-wreslting, Jim Crockett Promotions returned to the city the very next Monday night 11/26, only four days following the big Thanksgiving night show. The main event back at the cozy confines of the Charlotte Park Center was Johnny Valentine vs. Rufus R. "Freight Train" Jones.

The death of Jim Crockett had saddened the entire Mid-Atlantic area earlier that year, but on this big night Jim Jr., David, Jackie, and Frances did their father proud with one huge night of wrestling in their showcase cities. It was the territory's biggest night of the year and was 1973's shining moment.

 Originally published June 30, 2015 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway


Other articles:


http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Friday, June 12, 2020

Crockett Cup '85 Rolls On with Matches 5 and 6

MIKE RICKARD'S FANTASY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
ROUND ONE CONTINUES

Catching up? Here is the background info:
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings

BRACKETS
Updated brackets going into tonight's matches.
[Links to previous matches at the bottom of this post.]



THIS WEEK'S MATCHES (begin below)
Barbarian/Graham (w/ Paul Jones) vs. Hart Foundation (w/ Jimmy Hart)
High Flyers (Brunzell/Gagne) vs. Randy Savage and Lanny Poffo 
The 1985 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament is ready to begin. 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.

First Round Rules: Here are the rules for the first-round matches. A pool of referees from the NWA, AWA, and WWF have been appointed for the tournament and randomly selected for each match. The first-round matches have a thirty-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 first-round matches are being held over two nights, with the first eight matches taking place at the Baltimore Civic Center on Thursday April 11. Bob Caudle and David Crockett are calling the matches tonight. 
The first two matches saw Blackjack Mulligan and Wahoo McDaniel defeat Larry “The Ax” Hennig and “Crusher” Jerry Blackwell while Mega Maharishi and Kendo Nagasaki stole a win from Buzz Tyler and “Pistol” Pez Whatley. Matches three and four saw the WWF’s U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda) defeated the AWA’s Nick Bockwinkel and Mr. Saito while New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi defeated Montreal’s Raymond and Jacques Jr.  Rougeau. The next two matches should be just as good as the top teams from around the world compete for more than just bragging rights—they compete for the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Trophy and a cool one million dollars.

Tony Schiavone is backstage with the team of Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Lanny Poffo (joined by manager and father, Angelo Poffo). Tony interviews the brother team about their match against former AWA World Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell. Angelo Poffo steps in and tells Schiavone that Poffo-mania has come from the center of the wrestling universe to this backwater territory in order to prove its dominance (Angelo may not make it out of the parking lot tonight after that crack). Randy Savage steps in telling Tony that the High Flyers are going to get shot down once they step into the danger zone with him and his brother. Randy says he hated working in Mid-Atlantic back in the 70s and he hates being back. Lanny, who is wearing a suit of armor, states Gagne and Brunzell were once a mighty team, but they’ll fall tonight thanks to Angelo’s scheme. Lanny Poffo seems to like his quip as the action returns to Bob Caudle and David Crockett at the announcer’s table.

5.  The Barbarian and Superstar Billy Graham with “Number One” Paul Jones vs. the Hart Foundation (Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) with Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart: It’s a battle of two heel teams and the fans aren’t sure who to cheer before deciding to go with the home team, getting behind the Barbarian and Superstar Billy Graham. Bret Hart starts against Superstar Graham. Collar and elbow tie-up. The former WWWF Champion shows off his strength advantage, powering Hart into the corner. Hart looks a bit dazed and Graham moves in, only to get kicked in the gut. Headlock on Graham who escapes by whipping “The Hitman” into the ropes, knocking Bret down with a shoulderblock. Hart tags in Neidhart whose strength is more evenly matched.

Neidhart challenges Graham to shoulderblock him so the karate master bounces off the ropes and hits “The Anvil,” who lives up to his name. Graham tells Neidhart to try and he does the same with little results. Graham wants one more try and Neidhart gestures to try again. Graham bounces off the ropes again, but this time Neidhart applies a double-leg takedown. Neidhart starts stomping Graham as he laughs at his opponent’s blunder. Bodyslam by Neidhart onto Graham. Tag to Hart who performs a knee twist on the Superstar. Graham winces in pain as Hart places his leg on the bottom rope and drops a knee onto Graham’s leg. Memphis referee Jerry Calhoun steps in and starts counting as Hart steps on Graham’s chest, holding the top rope for leverage. Hart turns to Calhoun as Graham uses the ropes to get up, propping himself up against the ropes. Hart yells at Calhoun who tells him he’ll disqualify him if he doesn’t back off. Neidhart starts yelling too as Calhoun turns towards him. Hart steps in towards Graham and the Superstar plants a karate chop right to the throat. Hart crumbles to the mat and is flopping like a fish out of water. Bob Caudle notes that’s an automatic disqualification, but the referee was distracted by Hart’s partner.

Graham limps towards his corner, walking off the damage to his leg and tags in the Barbarian. Hart is still dazed as the Barbarian kicks him. Paul Jones encourages his men but it’s difficult to be heard with Jimmy Hart’s megaphone amplifying the already-considerable vocal power of “The Mouth of the South.”  The Barbarian lifts “The Hitman” up and slams him down hard to the mat. Using his incredible strength, the Barbarian picks Hart up and places him in a bearhug. Bob Caudle explains this move could wear Hart down quickly, regardless of his conditioning. Hart’s arms are free though and he has not qualms about raking the Barbarian’s eyes, forcing a break. However, this angers the Barbarian and he headbutts Hart down to the mat before choking him. Referee Jerry Calhoun starts the count and Barbarian breaks at four only to pause and start choking him again. Barbarian lifts Hart and whips him into the ropes. Somehow, Hart manages to hang on to the rope, avoiding a running big boot. Hart stumbles into the neutral corner as the Barbarian charges in only to get a raised boot from Hart. “The Hitman” gets up to the second rope and drops an elbow on the Barbarian, knocking him back. David Crockett can’t believe how quickly Hart has recovered as “The Hitman” slugs the Barbarian. Hart’s a house afire as he whips the big man into the ropes and catches him with a back body-drop. Bob Caudle says manager Paul Jones is looking concerned. Superstar Billy Graham decides to lend a hand, but “The Anvil” is ready, running in.

Things are heating up as all four men are in the ring slugging it out. Jerry Calhoun is trying to restore order as the pier-six brawl continues. Paul Jones gets up on the mat apron, as Bob Caudle speculates Jones may be trying to shout instructions over Hart’s megaphone-powered voice. All he does is draw the attention of referee Jerry Calhoun who Jones begins arguing with. Jimmy Hart tosses the megaphone to Neidhart, who clobbers Graham in the back of the head. The Barbarian turns around and goes after Neidhart, allowing Bret Hart to chop block the Barbarian. Neidhart grabs the Barbarian in a bear hug as Bret Hart bounces off the ropes and hits the clothesline—Hart Attack! Jimmy Hart yells for the referee while Paul Jones chases after “The Mouth of the South.” Calhoun turns around and makes the count and it’s over.

Winners: The Hart Foundation 
Jimmy Hart runs into the ring and congratulates his men as they bask in their first-round triumph.  


6. The High Flyers (“Jumping” Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne) vs. Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Lanny Poffo: The action gets underway as Mid-South Championship Wrestling referee Carl Fergie signals for the bell. It’s Jim Brunzell locking up with “The Macho Man” as David Crockett says the Mid-Atlantic fans remember “Jumping” Jim from his run as Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Bob Caudle says Savage and Lanny are just one of several brother teams in the tournament including the legendary Terry and Dory Funk Jr., who each held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Brunzell extends his hand before the match and Savage slaps Brunzell in the face. “Jumping” Jim responds with a slap of his own that knocks Savage on his back. As “The Macho Man” gets to his feet, Brunzell hits a beautiful dropkick and covers Savage. 1,2, Savage is close enough to the ropes that he gets his foot on the rope at the last second. Bob Caudle says this one could have ended right there if Brunzell had Savage in the corner of the ring.

Still dazed, Savage is helpless as Brunzell whips him hard into the babyface corner. Tag to Greg Gagne who locks up one of Savage’s arms. Tag to Brunzell who comes off the second rope, targeting Savage’s arm. Armlock as Brunzell turns it into a hammerlock, taking Randy down to the mat. “The Macho Man” is doing his best to escape, but can’t seem to get the right leverage. Finally, he manages to get his leg on a ring rope, forcing the break. “Jumping” Jim moves in to reapply the hold but Savage stops him with an eyerake, earning an admonition from the referee. Kick to the gut followed by a snapmare as Savage shakes his arm around. Incredible recuperative powers as Savage whips Brunzell towards his corner. However, Brunzell reverses and sends Savage towards the heel corner, nearly sending Savage into his brother. Brunzell makes the tag to Gagne as Poffo comes in.

Poffo goes for a collar-and-elbow tie-up only to hit a thumb to the eye. Punch knocks Brunzell into a neutral corner. Poffo motions for the clean break then knees Gagne in the midsection. Snapmare on Gagne as Poffo drops a knee across Greg’s face. Poffo shows off with a cartwheel before stomping Gagne in the head. David Crockett says the fans don’t know what to think of Lanny’s performance. Bob gently reminds Crockett that Lanny and Randy wrestled back in the area back in the 1970s. Bob says Greg Gagne isn’t a big fan as Poffo throws Gagne through the ropes. Gagne tries to come in and Poffo kicks him in the head, earning a warning from the referee. Poffo lets Gagne in and slams him into the corner. Poffo climbs to the top rope and hits a moonsault, covering Gagne. However, Brunzell breaks up the count.

Poffo whips Gagne into the ropes and as he bounces off the ropes, “The Macho Man” knees him in the back, sending Gagne to the mat. Poffo tags in his big brother who effortlessly hops over the top rope.  Savage slugs Gagne with a big right then slams him in his corner. Savage picks up Gagne and drops his neck onto the top rope. Savage climbs to the top rope with ease and delivers a flying axe handle to Greg just as he’s getting to one knee. Randy grabs Gagne’s head and slams it into the heel corner’s top turnbuckle.

Bob Caudle is impressed with Gagne’s resiliency as he’s been taking a beating for ten minutes. Tag to Lanny as the fast tags are taking their toll on Gagne, who can’t seem to catch a break. Lanny dropkicks Gagne, weakening the second-generation wrestler further. Lanny lifts Greg up for an atomic kneedrop, but unbeknownst to him (or perhaps simply a case of arrogantly not caring, he’s close to the babyface corner and Jim Brunzell makes the blind tag. “Jumping” Jim hits one of his legendary high-elevation dropkicks on Poffo, knocking him senseless. Savage runs in and gets dropkicked as well. Cover on Lanny Poffo as Carl Fergie makes the three-count and Gagne trips Savage in his last-ditch effort to break up the pin.

Winners: The High Flyers

After the match, Lanny Poffo awakens at King Arthur’s Court—that is until Papa Poffo throws a bucket of water on him and he wakes up in the dressing room. Angelo tells his sons they’d better get while the getting’s good as the Mid-Atlantic wrestlers are giving them the ‘ol hairy eyeball after their “backwater territory” comments. 

The 1985 Crockett Cup Continues 
Six matches in with twelve more remaining in round one. Join us next time as World Class Championship Wrestling’s Kevin and Mike Von Erich battle Mid-Atlantic villains Tully Blanchard and Abdullah the Butcher while Japan’s Genichiro Tenryu and Jumbo Tsuruta take on the WWF’s British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and the Dynamite Kid).

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

PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS FANTASY SERIES
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings Announced 
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

http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: October 16, 1982

Mid-Atlantic Championship 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. Follow @TaubGVWire

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


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 10/16/82
(taped 10/13/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network feed.  [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]
WWE Network Direct Link to this show: Mid-Atlantic10/16/82

Bob Caudle opens the show. Funk vs. Youngblood, LeDuc vs. Steamboat.

[Break]

Match 1:
Dory Funk, Jr. d. Jay Youngblood

Stu Schwartz is the referee for the hour. This is the $100,000 Golden Challenge match. Rick Steamboat can be seen looking from ringside. Good match as you would expect. Funk cheats to win, holding on to the ropes when he has Youngblood in the spinning toe hold. Steamboat comes into the ring to protest. He gets into it with Funk and rolls him up. Youngblood counts the pin, but of course, it is unofficial.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Caudle gets a quick word with Steamboat and Youngblood. Youngblood notes Steamboat pinned Funk in 10 seconds. We get a replay as we go to break.

[Break]

Match 2:
NWA TV championship: Rick Steamboat d. Jos LeDuc [ch.] (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) by DQ

Steamboat is taking it to LeDuc. This is the toughest challenge LeDuc has had since entering Mid-Atlantic. Just when it seems that Steamboat is going to win the championship, Dory Funk, Jr. enters the ring to cause the DQ. Youngblood comes in for the save, but gets cut off by Funk. Eventually, the babyfaces take control, with a series of dual chops and the heels flee.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Gene Anderson & Jim Nelson
This is in lieu of local promos. Anderson belittles his opponent, Mike Rotundo. Gene says he likes to hurt people. Nelson is still wearing his private gear. He praises Slaughter & Kernodle winning the tag team championship. Nelson also talks smack about his opponent, Johnny Weaver. Nelson mentions they have a grudge from an incident in Canada.

[Break]

Match 3:
Mike Rotundo d. Gene Anderson

Rotundo is wearing a neck collar, thanks to a Leroy Brown piledriver from last week. Lots of mat wrestling. Anderson goes for a roll up and gets a two; Rotundo reverses it and gets the three count

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Mike Rotundo
Rotundo talks about his victory. He says he’s wearing a smaller neckbrace than normal. We go to a replay of last week of Brown piledriving Rotundo. Rotundo looks forward to getting revenge. We then go to taped comments from Jimmy Valiant. He says he is in New York City. Well, there is a backdrop of the NYC skyline. Valiant says he has a surprise for Humperdink and LeDuc. He’ll be back next week, and they are as good as dead. Back to Caudle and Rotundo who wrap things up.
Caudle introduces the next match via magic blue screen.

[Break]

Match 4:
Don Kernodle (w/Sgt. Slaughter) d. Glenn Lane
This was supposed to be a tag match, with King parsons as Lane’s partner. They mention Parsons’ name, but no reason why he isn’t there. Slaughter joins Caudle on commentary. He notes Kernodle took the winning fall in the tag tournament championship match. Kerndole wins with the clothesline off the second turnbuckle. Slaughter is almost perturbed that the match lasted so short.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Johnny Weaver
This is in lieu of local promos. Weaver and Caudle talk about the matches we saw earlier, as we have brief clips of Funk vs. Youngblood and LeDuc vs. Steamboat. Weaver says this is like the playoffs. He then talks about Valiant going after the House of Humperdink

[Break]

Match 5:
Johnny Weaver d. Jim Nelson
Humperdink joins Caudle on commentary, complaining about Steamboat & Youngblood, then Valiant. Nelson has his camo, but isn’t referred to as “Private.” The match ends abruptly, with Weaver rolling up Nelson for the win.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood; Johnny Weaver
Youngblood and Steamboat talk about their matches earlier. They also talk about going after the tag championship. Johnny Weaver joins in for a final comment on what we saw during the hour. Close up, Weaver has lots of scar tissue on his forehead.

“So Long for Now!”

End notes: This show had a Memphis feel, with the run-ins, an episodic feel, and sudden ending to a match because the show was running out of time. My notes indicate that the syndicated feed started with a clip of Flair vs. Tsuruta. Don’t know why it wouldn’t air here. One theory: it was from Japan, and there was a rights issue to play it on the Network?

Results for the week, 10/11/82-10/17/82 (Click the link to continue.)

Sunday, June 07, 2020

Connecting the Dots: Funk, Brisco, Race, and Rhodes

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

During the first years of my hardcore fandom of pro wrestling, 1975-1976, there were four main singles stars in the Mid-Atlantic area. Those wrestlers were Wahoo McDaniel, Paul Jones, Ric Flair, and Blackjack Mulligan. This was my "A-list."

But there was another "A-list" I was fascinated by, too, and that was a group of four wrestlers that were atop the NWA's world championship picture during those years. That group included Jack Brisco, Terry Funk, Harley Race, and Dusty Rhodes.

During the mid-to-late 1970s, these were the guys that dominated the NWA coverage in the newsstand magazines. And even though Rhodes didn't win the NWA title until 1979 (and really only seriously in 1981), he was always in the title picture, and the darling of the magazines. He was also a special attraction in our area, especially in the 1970s, as much or more than the NWA champions.

I was always fascinated by how these four always were interconnected from a storyline and title-lineage perspective. I remember this first really dawned on me when our TV programs showed the tape of Harley Race beating Terry Funk for the NWA title in Toronto in 1977, and Whipper Billy Watson (a former NWA champion and Toronto legend doing commentary for the match) made the observation that not only was Race now a 2-time champion, but he had defeated both of the Funk brothers in doing so.

From that point forward, the Funk/Brisco/Race triangle (with Rhodes thrown in there causing trouble) was one of my favorite subjects to dwell on.

So it was with great pleasure that I recently came across this wonderful little article from the Tampa Tribune published two days after Race defeated Funk in that very match in Toronto, and promoting the matches later that night at the Hesterly Armory in Tampa. The article is un-credited, but whoever wrote it knew their stuff, and it was a delight reading how he sorted through all of the these connections I used to think about as a young teenage wrestling fan, and related them beautifully to the current events in Florida.

From the article in the Tampa Tribune, February 8, 1977, via Newspapers.com:

Race Regains NWA Title, Defends Against Brisco

Harley Race won the National Wrestling Alliance world heavyweight championship against Terry Funk in Toronto Sunday night and will defend the title against Jack Brisco tonight at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory.

As far as Brisco is concerned, their championship fight is three nights too late. Brisco beat Race Saturday night at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg.

The turn of events involving Funk, Race, Brisco and Dusty Rhodes make soap operas seem awfully dull.

Rhodes beat Funk in the featured title match Saturday night at the Bayfront, but Funk was disqualified for kayoing the referee and the title didn't change hands.

Funk, however, injured a knee in that match and against better judgment went ahead with his scheduled match with Race in Toronto Sunday night.

Race beat Funk in a quick 14 minutes, 10 seconds with an Indian death lock, which places pressure on the knee and ankle.

NWA rules require a new champion to fulfill the former champion's match commitments. Interestingly, this brings Race right back against Brisco on tonight's Gasparilla Championships starting at 8:30 at Hesterly.

Terry Funk defeated Brisco for the championship in Miami in December of 1975.

Race previously held the title by defeating Dory Funk Jr. - - Terry's brother - - in March of 1973 and Race lost it to Brisco the following July.

An interesting triangle.

And who does Rhodes, the popular "American Dream wrestle tonight at Hesterly? Dory Funk Jr.

So, tonight's intriguing lineup pits Race vs. Brisco and Rhodes vs. Funk -- one champion and two ex-champs in the top two bouts.

It was in the same Gasparilla week of 1969 that Dory Funk Jr., lifted the heavyweight championship from Gene Kiniski at Hesterly.

Race has been wrestling professionally for 17 years. He turned pro with the NWA at 16, the youngest wrestler ever to do so.

Race makes his home in Kansas City.

I learned another little NWA title history storyline nugget in this article, too. I never knew the bit about Terry Funk injuring his knee in St. Petersburg the night before the title change in Toronto. Maybe I'd read that before and just forgotten it, but it was a nice little twist to NWA title lore.


http://www.tenpoundsofgold.com

Saturday, June 06, 2020

The "Terrible Andersons" Revisited

From the "Vintage TV & Wrestling Nostalgia" Blog
by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Carroll Hall posted these newspaper ads from 1974 on his "Vintage TV & Wrestling Nostalgia" blog several months back, but we somehow missed them at the time.

Graphics for the second weekly taping of
"Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling"
hosted by Les Thatcher
I love the reference in the second ad to "the terrible Andersons." Right around this time, the Andersons were feuding primarily with Sandy Scott who was taking various different partners to challenge the Minnesota Wrecking Crew including Bearcat Wright, Bob Bruggers, Danny Miller, Jerry Brisco, and occasionally his brother George Scott (who was booking the territory at the time and not wrestling full-time.)

I love seeing these ads. Growing up, WLOS-13 out of Asheville, NC, was one of the two stations I was able to watch Mid-Atlantic Wrestling on. I grew up in east Tennessee but was fortunate that our cable company carried this station back before cable ops were prohibited from carrying out-of-market stations.


MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING ON WLOS 
During the time period reflected in these ads, WLOS carried a second, separate version of the "Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling" show hosted by Les Thatcher. Just like the primary show hosted by Bob Caudle, it was taped at the studios of WRAL-TV in Raleigh, NC.

Les Thatcher and Bob Caudle
Hosts for the two separate hours of "Mid-Atlantic
Championship Wrestling" in 1974
The Thatcher show had huge ratings in the Asheville market, sometimes garnering a 60-share in the Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville TV market. This meant that 60% of the televisions that were on during that hour in that market were tuned to "Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling." These were huge numbers for any program at any time in any era.

In October of 1975, that second hour of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling was replaced by a new program called "Wide World Wrestling" that was hosted by longtime Atlanta announcer Ed Capral. This gave that second JCP show a distinct name and identity.

Thatcher also hosted the localized promotional spots that were inserted into the programs in each market that promoted the arena house shows.
 
 Originally published August 17, 2017 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

There are two more of these WLOS-13 ads on the page on Carroll's blog. Visit this link for the others:
http://vintagetvwrestlingnostalgia.blogspot.com/2017/03/wlos-13-ashevillenc-in-1974.html

For more on these shows and where they were taped, check out our Studio Wrestling feature on WRAL-5 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.


http://midatlanticwrestling.net/yearbooks.htm

Friday, June 05, 2020

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: October 9, 1982

Mid-Atlantic Championship 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. Follow @TaubGVWire

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


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 10/09/82
(taped 10/6/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network feed.  [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]
WWE Network Direct Link to this show: Mid-Atlantic10/09/82

Match 1
Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Bill White & Juan Reynosa
The show starts with the match in progress. Something seems off in the quality of the tape. Don’t know if it is a Network thing, or this is the best remaining copy available. Also, the camera angles are from the floor. Usually, there is at least one looking down in the ring. Tommy Young is the referee for the hour. Bill White looks like he got a shave and haircut. Babyfaces win when Steamboat catapults Youngblood onto White.

-Int. w/ Bob Caudle: Jack Brisco & Wahoo McDaniel [with taped comments from Ric Flair]
Brisco talks about how Paul Jones stole the Mid-Atlantic championship, and he’s gunning for him. He mentions a hold-for-hold match, with each man’s leg locks. Wahoo talks about Valentine. We go to a clip from I believe 1978, when Valentine broke Wahoo’s leg. For the record, it wasn’t with the Figure Four, and Wahoo said it was ankle, then his leg. Wahoo said he was out for 72 days. He says Valentine wants his U.S. championship. Talk turns to Ric Flair. We go to taped comments from Flair, recorded in Florida. A typical playboy, arrogant Ric Flair promo. Somewhat generic, but he name drops Wahoo, Brisco and (Jake) Roberts. I think they showed this earlier in the summer.

[Break]

Match 2
[From World Wide Wrestling]
Wahoo McDaniel & Roddy Piper d. Ken Timbs & Jim Dalton
Educated guess this is from the 8/21/82 World Wide. David Crockett and Johnny Weaver have the call, with Stu Schwartz as the referee. Piper has the big bandage on his chest. As the match starts, Piper tells Wahoo he won’t turn on him, if Wahoo won’t turn on him either. Piper is super aggressive, a babyface wrestling a heel style. Wahoo pins Dalton following the chop.

[Break]

Match 3
Non-Title: Paul Jones [Mid-Atlantic ch.] (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Keith Larson
A quick victory by Jones. He makes Larson submit to the Indian Death Lock.

-Int. w/ Bob Caudle: Jerry Brisco and Mike Rotundo
This is in lieu of local promos. Caudles calls him Jack. “JERRY!” is the response. Bob covers for his mistake. Brisco says Rotundo acquired the nickname “Zipper” in college for the way he zipped down the football field. Rotundo has a big bruise on his face. He talks about turning down the House of Humperdink. Jerry issues a warning to Paul Jones and company. Rotundo closes with a comment on the Dory Funk, Jr. $100,000 challenge.

[Break]

Match 4
Mike Rotundo d. Mike Reed
A leisurely-clad Humperdink and Leroy Brown challenge Rotundo prior to the match. Rotundo sticks with his current match. Humperdink sticks around the announcer’s desk, taking non-stop about Rotundo. In the ring, Rotundo pins Reed with a leg drop following an airplane spin.
After the match, Leroy Brown jumps in the ring, attacking Rotundo. But, Rotundo gets the comeback and gets Brown in the airplane spin. Humperdink then trips Rotundo. Brown recovers and piledrives Routndo. Brown walks away as Rotundo writhes on the mat.

[Break]

-Int. w/ Bob Caudle: Sir Oliver Humperdink, Leroy Brown, Greg Valentine
Brown said Rotundo paid the price. He says what just happened, will happen again. Humperdink says Rotundo got what he deserved. Humperdink turns to Greg Valentine. Another mention of Valentine breaking Wahoo’s leg. Valentine says they didn’t show enough of that old clip. Valentine wants the U.S. belt, and will break Wahoo’s leg again if he needs to.
Caudle introduces the next match via blue screen.

[Break]

Match 5
Jos LeDuc & Dory Funk, Jr. (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. King Parsons & Abe Jacobs by DQ
Jacobs is from New Zealand? Didn’t know that. Dory is the new booker of JCP, in case I didn’t mention that. Jerry Brisco joins in for commentary. Wide-range of commentary — Jack’s feud with Paul Jones, the Briscos possibly challenging for the World tag team championship, Ric Flair, and a little bit of the action I the ring. Heels are in control foremost of the match, but not dominating. All of the sudden, Jimmy Valiant charges into the ring out of nowhere to go after LeDuc, and the referee calls for the bell, awarding the match to Funk & LeDuc by DQ. Valiant won’t calm down post-match.

-Int. w/ Bob Caudle: Ron Richie & Porkchop Cash
This is in lieu of local promos. Ritchie says they will give it their all in the next match. Cash says the same thing, but with more charisma.

[Break]

Match 6
Non-Title: Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle [World Tag ch.] d. Ron Richie & Porkchop Cash
Brisco sticks around for commentary. Slaughter & Kernodle in control for all the match. Slaughter drops Cash’s neck over the top rope. Kernodle tags in with the cannon from the top rope for the pin.

-Int. w/ Bob Caudle: Humperdink, LeDuc and Paul Jones
Humperdink complains about Jimmy Valiant. LeDuc is pacing around. The veins on his neck are pulsing. He then explodes on the mic against Valiant. His eyes are bugging out. Scary stuff. Jones talks about his upcoming hold vs. hold match against Jack Brisco. He repeats his line about the Indian Death Lock being invented by a white man to use against Indians. Funk is upset over Valiant interfering with his match. Funk says he has pull with the NWA, and can have Valiant suspended.

“So long for now!”

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Click the link for Results for the week, 10/04/82-10/10/82