Poster: Flair & Superstar battle Bobo and Igor in in Winston-Salem

by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

Promoting a card held at the Winston-Salem, NC Memorial Coliseum on Saturday June 25th, 1977, this poster features two very interesting tag team matchups.

In the main event, fan favorites Bobo Brazil and the Mighty Igor faced off with Ric Flair and the Masked Superstar while in the semi, Johnny Weaver and Ricky Steamboat took on Kim Duk and Great Malenko. With familiar names on the undercard such as Danny Miller, Big Bill Dromo, Two Ton Harris, and Klondike Bill, it made for quite an exciting night of Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling.

The poster has a horizontal layout with both black and high impact red print over a light pink background and five nice wrestler images.

No. 40 in the Beasley Poster Collection Series

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Mid-Atlantic Gateway Note
Interesting to see Malenko on this poster billed as 'Great Melanko.' He was known that way in most southern territories during this era, but in our territory, he was almost always known as Professor Boris Malenko.

Poster: Valentine and Wahoo Headline Stacked Card in Greensboro (1975)

by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This poster takes us back to Sunday, September 28th, 1975 and features an absolutely loaded card at the Greensboro Coliseum. 

Johnny Valentine defended his United States Heavyweight title in the main event against perennial foe Wahoo McDaniel in what was sure to be a hard hitting, violent affair. Unfortunately, it turned out to be Valentine's last match in Greensboro due to the Wilmington, NC plane crash less than a week later. 

In the semi, Gene and Ole Anderson put their NWA World Tag Team belts on the line against the exciting duo of Dusty Rhodes and Paul Jones, while Ray Stevens came into town trying to collect Valentine's bounty on Tim Woods. 

The mid-card match had Ric Flair vs. Tiger Conway Jr. and the undercard included Ken Patera, The Avenger (Reggie Parks), Great Malenko, Spoiler No. 2, Danny Miller, and Steve Keirn. 

The poster's horizontal layout has red and black print over a two tone hot pink and yellow background. In addition, images of seven wrestlers adorn both sides and are accompanied by the signatures of Wahoo and Ole. 

Oh, what we wouldn't do to go back maybe just once and experience an event such as this one, professional wrestling as it should be.

NO. 37 IN THE BRACK BEASLEY POSTER SERIES

Poster: The Anderson Brothers battle the Mongols in Roanoke

by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

Here is a poster promoting a great card from the Roanoke, VA Civic Center on May 1, 1976. 

This was a unique double main event with a chain match followed by a cage match. Such a promotion usually meant there would be plenty of bloodshed and I'm confident that was the case this Saturday night in Roanoke.  

The Mongols and the Anderson Brothers continued their famous feud of 1976 locked in a steel cage. I wonder who the fans in Roanoke were pulling for? 

Wahoo McDaniel was known for his strap matches, but on this night he faced the Great Malenko in his specialty, the chain match. This was nothing new for Wahoo and Malenko as they competed in  both types of matches all over the state of Texas in 1970. 

Wahoo would regain the Mid Atlantic title from Ric Flair two nights later on May 3rd in Charlotte, NC. 

The layout on this poster is pretty basic with all black print on a light pink background and words at the top "Roanoke Sports Club Presents," found on Roanoke posters for many years.

NO. 4 IN A SERIES

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Gateway Notes: 

Roanoke was final battle ground for these two teams that had been battling off and on for months by the time of this battle in May 1976. They would have one more battle many months later that also took place in Roanoke.

For more on the legendary matches between the Anderson Brothers and the Mongols (unbilled NWA vs. IWA World Tag Team battles!) check out these earlier posts on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway:

Worlds Collide: The Andersons Battle the Mongols in 1976
Roanoke: The Mongolian Waterloo

All the Andersons/Mongols details in the 1976 Yearbook

Mid-Atlantic Wrestling comes to Augusta GA to Challenge for Georgia Titles (1977)

PART THREE IN A SERIES

by Dick Bourne & Mark Eastridge
Mid-Atlantic Gateway
Edited from our 2015 Series on the Mid-Atlantic/Georgia Talent Sharing Arrangements

When we think of springtime in Augusta, we typically think of the PGA Masters Championship taking place annually at Augusta National Golf Club.

But in 1977, Augusta was ground zero for a series of unofficial talent exchanges between Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and Georgia Championship Wrestling that was a showcase for a master class of talent at that time. 

Augusta GA was located right at the Georgia/South Carolina border and in the television mix of both promotions. The May 2nd, 1977 card at the legendary Bell Auditorium had an unusual line-up where all of the challengers for the Georgia titles were current regulars from the Mid-Atlantic territory.


Paul Jones (c) vs. The Masked Superstar for the Georgia Heavyweight Championship
Paul Jones was the reigning Georgia Heavyweight champion. He had been a regular in the Mid-Atlantic territory for many years, but was campaigning in the state of Georgia for the spring and summer of 1977. His challenger for the Georgia championship was the Masked Superstar (Bill Eadie), who was currently one of the top heels in the Mid-Atlantic territory and in the middle of a red-hot feud with the Mighty Igor there. This Augusta match-up foreshadowed their heated and violent feud in the Mid-Atlantic territory that would blossom in the fall of 1977, even resulting in the Superstar cutting Paul Jones hair. The Masked Superstar would later become a regular in the Georgia territory in the early 1980s. But for this one night, he unsuccessfully challenged Jones for the Georgia title, losing on disqualification for outside interference by Boris Malenko. Malenko was the Superstar's manager in the Mid-Atlantic territory, but was also a challenger for a title on this special card.

Thunderbolt Patterson (c) vs. Boris Malenko for the Georgia TV Title
The second main event that night was "Professor" Boris Malenko challenging Thunderbolt Patterson for the Georgia TV championship. Malenko was a veteran of all the southern NWA territories and was a recognized name in Georgia. Thunderbolt had already been a big part of this talent-sharing period with the Mid-Atlantic territory, and had just days earlier been in Hampton, VA teaming with Wahoo McDaniel to challenge Ric Flair and Greg Valentine for the NWA world tag team championships in a Mid-Atlantic main event. The Wahoo/Thunderbolt pairing was a rare and special combination to challenge Flair and Valentine.

The Anderson Brothers (c) vs. Johnny Weaver and Tiger Conway, Jr. for the Georgia Tag Team Titles
The third main event that night featured the reigning Georgia Tag Team champions Gene and Ole Anderson being challenged for those belts by the Mid-Atlantic duo of Johnny Weaver and Tiger Conway, Jr. The Anderson Brothers were Georgia regulars during this time, but were still making regular Mid-Atlantic appearances in their old home territory trying to regain the NWA World Tag Team championship from Ric Flair and Greg Valentine. The Andersons brought the world tag team titles to Georgia in the fall of 1976 and planned to keep them there until Flair and Valentine had snatched them away right after Christmas of 1976.  In the meantime, the Andersons won the Georgia tag titles and were taking on all challengers, including the unusual Mid-Atlantic challenge of Weaver and Conway this night in Augusta.


A "MID-ATLANTIC FEEL" TO THE CARD
Fans in Augusta had to be thrilled to see some of the top Mid-Atlantic stars making their town and challenging for the top titles in the Georgia territory. Not many towns in either territory got a mixed-roster line-up like this.

The Mid-Atlantic challengers appeared to be in for one-shot deals as the Masked Superstar, Boris Malenko (managing Superstar at that time), and Tiger Conway were back in the Mid-Atlantic territory the next night in Raleigh NC, and Johnny Weaver was in Columbia, SC the next night as well.

This Georgia card had a great Mid-Atlantic feel to it with all of the Mid-Atlantic challengers and former Mid-Atlantic regulars in the main events. But the undercard had a Mid-Atlantic feel to it as well with the opening two matches featuring all guys who had been regulars in the Mid-Atlantic territory in 1975-1976:

(1) Randy Savage (who had teamed under his real name Randy Poffo with his brother Randy Poffo in 1975)
(2) Roberto Soto (also teaming earlier in the Carolinas and Virginia with his brother Manuel Soto and battling the Anderson brothers)
(3) Charlie Fulton and Don Kernodle (who had been opening card talent for Jim Crockett Promotions for several years.)

The following week, however, the crossover of Mid-Atlantic/Georgia talent would present one of the most amazing breaks from kayfabe during an era where those breaks were very rare. Tune in for May 9 in Augusta, GA when we visit the Mid-Atlantic/Georgia talent exchange!

 

Originally posted September 28, 2015 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

 

The article above was from our 2015 series spotlighting the talent exchange between Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1977.

In PART ONE, we looked at the Valentine's night show in Augusta. PART TWO featured a look at one of Georgia's top babyface Thunderbolt Patterson making special appearances in the Mid-Atlantic area challenging for the U.S. title and the world tag team titles. See links below for a guide to all the posts in this series.

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Summary of articles in the Mid-Atlantic/Georgia series.
View all current articles in this series on one page.

An Introduction Fit for a 'Superstar' (Part Two)

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Catch up on Part One.

PART TWO
Fans of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television program were introduced to the “Superstar” for the first time at the beginning of the show that was taped on September 29, 1976. Later in the broadcast, the Superstar and his cane-carrying manager Boris Malenko were unexpectedly confronted in a way that drew the ire of the masked newcomer.

Prof. Boris Malenko
with the Masked Superstar

Starting the interview that ran during the middle of the show, host Bob Caudle began, “Here is Boris Malenko with his new star, Superstar, and Malenko things must really be changing for you as you look quite a bit different from last time we saw you.” Malenko replied, “You have to spend money to make money, and talking about spending money, it cost me a fortune but it’s worth it. Every single penny that I’ve spent is worth it because what’s cheap at the beginning is costly in the end run…I’ve found that out all too often in the past.”

After his clear dig at the team of the Mongols who he had previously managed, Boris continued, “Now let me just say this, and I want you people to pay close attention. I’ve looked to the four corners of the earth for such a person as my Superstar. Where did I find him? Right here in the United States as I said before. Never has a man with such credentials come forth to you people in the Mid-Atlantic area. Can you imagine, can you imagine a former gold medal winner of the Olympics? A man that holds a ‘docrtine’ degree in two situations…psychology and also neurology? Now, what else can you ask for? This in itself, this is the ingredients itself…wrestling is a mind situation also. When it comes to mind and equipment that he has…”

Interrupting Malenko’s rant at this juncture was none other than the president of Jim Crockett Promotions, Jim Crockett, Jr. Crockett explained, “I hate to interrupt, but I just talked to Eddie Graham, President of the National Wrestling Alliance. Mr. Malenko, you’ve been here for several months, you’ve wrestled…as far as we know you have no physical ailment at all, and Eddie Graham has ruled that you will not be allowed to carry a cane in a TV studio or an arena where there’s a wrestling match being held. Thank you very much.”

A wide-eyed Caudle could only then say amazingly, “Oh my!”

A clearly riled up Superstar immediately addressed the exiting Jim Crockett, “Excuse me Mr. Crockett. You have the audacity, the unmitigated gall, to approach my associate here Boris Malenko. Now, these are some of the incidents that Mr. Malenko has warned me of before I came into this particular area. Time and time again, he said he’s been insulted, embarrassed in front of the public. I’m here for one purpose and one purpose only and that’s to reestablish the credentials of Mr. Boris Malenko…and, I’m going to do that.”

Caudle followed up to Malenko, “I tell you, he has some great credentials to live up to after what you’ve said about him and he’s gonna have some really tough competition I’m sure he must know that.”

Malenko concluded, “When Superstar talks it puts a chill up and down your spine because what he says is the truth, it’s spoken from his heart. What he says he means, because I know I have an understanding with him that’s beyond anything else and he’ll not only show it, but he’ll prove it!”

Having the President of Jim Crockett Promotions making an exceedingly rare on-air appearance reinforced that this masked newcomer was indeed a high-end talent that was coming into the territory right at the top of the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling hierarchy. Add that to all the platitudes that Boris Malenko heaped on his new charge, and this was undoubtedly an introduction that was fit for a Superstar!

 

An Introduction Fit for a "Superstar"

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Fans of Jim Crockett Promotions that turned their television sets on to view the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television program that was taped on September 29, 1976 knew from the opening moments of the show that they were going to witness a very special episode. 

Prof. Boris Malenko
with the Masked Superstar

At the outset of the show, venerable announcer Bob Caudle talked with Chief Wahoo McDaniel who had just dispatched Bolo Mongol in a Hair versus Hair, Loser Leaves Town match days earlier in the Greensboro Coliseum. Wahoo and Caudle, with color commentator David Crockett at their side, commented on a film clip where Wahoo defeated Bolo Mongol, and with the help of Dusty Rhodes shaved off the top knot of the Mongol’s hair. Wahoo gave the viewers a tease as to what was to come by referencing Mongol’s manager “Professor” Boris Malenko and saying, “Well you know, Malenko is out searching and I’ve heard he’s got somebody bigger and better than the Mongol, but that remains to be seen, let him bring him on…we’ll take him!”

After a short break Caudle told the fans, “All right, in the center of the ring David [Crockett] there stands Boris Malenko, evidently the Superstar is his new man that we’ve heard so much about. He wants to say a few words.”  Crockett added, “He won’t wrestle until he’s given permission to talk.” Malenko blurted out, “Just one moment, referee!” Referee Tommy Young yelled back, “Let’s go!!” 

Undeterred, Malenko continued, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to make an announcement. I’ve been harassed, humiliated, almost driven out of the ends of my wits here, by such persons as Wahoo McDaniel, Paul Jones and others I know you know that don’t need mentioning. But because I’ve been put in such an embarrassing position and also the people that I’ve managed such as Bolo and Geto Mongol have left me, I have by some stroke of good fortune, some luck, have come up with a person that I would look from the four corners of the earth to meet up with, but where did I meet him right here in the United States of America.”

With the masked newcomer fidgeting next to him, the “Professor” carried on without taking a breath, “A learned individual, an ex, a former gold medal winner of the Olympics, a learned individual, holding a ‘doctrine’ degree of neurology, holding a ‘doctrine’ degree of psychology, the greatest athlete that has ever been seen here in the Mid-Atlantic area or any other area in the world today, I give you my new champion, the greatest wrestler today that will ever be seen and the greatest wrestler that is ever going to enter this ring or any other ring, my champion…SUPERSTAR!!”

Stepping to the front of the interview set, the hooded newcomer finally spoke in measured tones, “Thank you very much Mr. Malenko. Referee, will you tell these idiots, these ‘mediocracy’ people, I am here for one reason. My friend Mr. Malenko has asked me to come here and settle some personal issues…I’m going to begin this evening. And I want everybody here to realize that they are now at once and for all going to appreciate…stardom.”

A wide-eyed Caudle concluded the segment, “All right fans and David, there you have the story from Boris Malenko and his new wrestler, or protégé, or whatever it might be, he calls him Superstar and he says he’s just fantastic!”

Later in the same show, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling President Jim Crockett, Jr. confronts the Superstar and Professor Boris Malenko…to be continued in Part 2!

A Look Back at JAWS: Mid-Atlantic Wrestling's Land-Shark

 

If you've hung around the Mid-Atlantic Gateway for very long, you know we like to seek out the niche and the obscure. It's hard to argue that we haven't succeeded in that quest with our posts on Professor Boris Malenko's assassin JAWS. 

 

A look back to 1977:

JAWS: Prof. Boris Malenko's Forgotten Assassin 
http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/2017/01/jaws.html

JAWS 2: The Mystery of Charlotte's Land-Shark
http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/2017/02/jaws-2-charlottes-land-shark.html

VINTAGE AUDIO RECORDING 
FEATURING BOB CAUDLE AND PROF. BORIS MALENKO!

Photo courtesy of Danny Miller's daughter, Corinna Miller.

Professor Boris Malenko Returns to the Mid-Atlantic Area

School's Back in Session in 1975

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

For fans of Jim Crockett Promotions in the mid 1960s, the “Great Malenko” was a menacing grappler who tore through the territory from September of 1965 through January of 1967. While having his share of singles successes, Malenko was particularly lethal with his equally nefarious partners Bob Orton, Sr. and Larry Hamilton, the Missouri Mauler. While holding one-half of the Southern Tag Team Titles, Malenko engaged in vicious battles with the likes of fan favorites George and Sandy Scott and George Becker and Johnny Weaver. Malenko was so despised that he was even stabbed by an irate fan at the Fairgrounds in Richmond, Virginia after a tag team match where he teamed with Orton, suffering a severe wound to his abdomen requiring in excess of 30 stitches to close.

Bob Caudle with The Great Malenko and the Missouri Mauler (circa 1967)

After the passage of nearly eight and a half years, Malenko would return to Jim Crockett Promotions in the late spring of 1975. By that time, both Malenko and the territory had undergone a name change. Malenko was called “Professor” rather than “Great,” and the territory was now called Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. At the television taping on June 4, 1975, announcer Bob Caudle told the fans who had just viewed and booed the returning Malenko in the ring, “Our guest with us here at ringside is Professor Boris Malenko, and Professor Malenko has a middle name, but I can’t pronounce it!”

Malenko responded, “For your information Mr. TV announcer, the middle name is Maximilianovich…Boris Maximilianovich Malenko. I can’t tell you people how good it did me to come into this television studio today and listen to that warm reception when I climbed into the ring. It was beautiful; it was heart warming! You know something? Take a whiff; take a good smell…I smell excitement in the air!”

The Professor continued, “You know why this professorship has been bestowed upon me in six different countries? Because I truly am a professor! I come from the college of hard knocks, black and blue is our color; our school yell is ‘ouch.’ I am 230 pounds of mind and muscular coordination that is unbeatable; the greatest piece of wrestling machinery that has ever been composed; a human destruction machine that can destroy and will destroy all of its opposition.”

Malenko concluded, “I’ve proved myself time and time again, even here once long time ago. And I’ll continue to do it once again. I will get into your hearts, and you’ll welcome me! Because you need somebody you can look up to, and I will be that person.”

Caudle commented, “All right fans, Professor Boris Malenko, and I’m sure we’re going to be hearing a lot more and seeing a lot more of Professor Boris Malenko in the very near future.” Caudle was right, and immediately the Professor was dominating fan favorite wrestlers with his highly effective “Russian sickle” finishing hold. Boris teamed back up with his old comrade the Missouri Mauler, and the two were a formidable upper mid card tag team for the remainder of 1975.

In 1976, Malenko segued to a managerial role, though he would continue to don the tights occasionally. The Professor initially managed the Mongols, Bolo and Geeto, but was probably best remembered for managing the hated Masked Superstar from the fall of 1976 through the early months of 1978. And probably the most infamous incident of Malenko’s managerial run was when his victory cigar was stuck in the eye of the popular Mighty Igor, damaging the eye of the Polish powerhouse. And who could forget Wahoo McDaniel stomping on Malenko’s false teeth in separate incidents in 1975 and 1976, with Boris threatening lawsuits against Wahoo on both occasions.

Yes, just as school was letting out for kids in the Mid-Atlantic area in June of 1975, a very different type of Professor was starting school back up in the wrestling world of Jim Crockett Promotions. And conducting himself much like he did as the “Great” Malenko during his first run in the area nearly a decade earlier, Boris Malenko’s actions as a “Professor” would frequently land him in the principal’s office in his school of hard knocks.

Originally published January 23, 2017 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

Masked Superstar Sends a Message from the Land of the Rising Sun

A CHILLING MESSAGE FROM JAPAN  
by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway 


The early spring of 1978 was one of the most volatile and exciting times in the history of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Major titles were changing at breakneck speed, big names were entering and exiting the area at a rapid pace and mega stars Blackjack Mulligan and Ken Patera would shockingly change their wrestling personas at this juncture.

Prof. Boris Malenko
and the Masked Superstar

The first sign that big changes were on the territory’s horizon occurred on the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television show that was taped on March 22, 1978. In a short video insert that followed a local in your area promo, the Masked Superstar and his manager Boris Malenko appeared before a backdrop that featured a number of international flags. Malenko, who had been recently suspended by Jim Crockett Promotions, was strangely silent while the Superstar was clearly agitated as he began speaking.

“Boris and I are over here in Japan,” the Superstar started. “A lot of people said 'where’d the Superstar go, where’s he gone? Has he run away from the United States?' Well, the purpose of this video tape…this is a message to you people particularly in the Mid-Atlantic area. I’m talking about Wahoo McDaniel, Paul Jones, the Mighty Igor and a host of the others. I haven’t run away. I’ve come to Japan because there’s a World tour here, and they recognize my ability, they recognize my wrestling prowess. Now, I don’t have to prove anything to you and I don’t have to prove anything to anyone in the United States,” the masked man emphasized.

Superstar continued, “The reason I came to Japan and entered this World tournament is that I have to prove to myself that I’m the best wrestler around. You know, they have individuals here from Russia, China, Japan, Africa, England, Canada…all across the World and I’m representing the United States and I’ve got the $5,000.00 stipulation up and I’ve got the mask at stake. And when I return to the United States and when I return to the Mid-Atlantic area I’m going to bring back the World tournament championship, be assured of that.”

Then a subject was broached that had everybody in the Mid-Atlantic area talking. “You know, I had to travel 12,000 miles with Boris Malenko to find out that one of my close friends, one of the individuals that I confided in periodically and that I talked to, one of my close friends, is responsible for your suspension Boris,” the Superstar boldly announced.  “I’m not going to mention any names because I don’t want the people to get too excited but I want to promise you one thing friend, ex-friend of mine. When I get back to the Mid-Atlantic area you’re gonna pay for the suspension. I’ve had a long, long time to think about you. You know, they say that a fool is gonna be betrayed by his friends and that’s what you did. But when I get back to the Mid-Atlantic area, I’m gonna pay you back friend, so you think about the Superstar because I’ll be back,” Superstar pronounced to a shocked fan base.

This short segment would be the last time the Mid-Atlantic faithful would ever see Boris Malenko on a Jim Crockett Promotions TV show. And as things evolved over the next few weeks, it became clear that Blackjack Mulligan was the friend that Superstar believed had betrayed him. Mulligan and Superstar would then engage in an epic six month program against each other over a $10,000.00 bounty put on Mulligan’s head by former friend Ric Flair that would eventually cost Superstar his prized mask.

When I think back on all the monumental changes that occurred in the Mid-Atlantic area during the spring of 1978 from the Hat and Robe angle to Ric Flair and Greg Valentine being stripped of their NWA World Tag Team Titles to Wahoo McDaniel leaving and Tony Atlas and Dick Murdock arriving and so much more, to me, all these profound changes were foreshadowed and began in earnest with a chilling message from Japan.

 Originally published in July of 2017 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

Prof. Malenko on newcomer Kim Duk: "1977, Here We Come!"

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

On the first Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television program that aired in 1977, New Year’s Day to be exact, the Masked Superstar and his manager “Professor” Boris Malenko unveiled a new addition to their “family.” Kim Duk, nicknamed the Korean Assassin, had been teased as coming soon to the Mid-Atlantic area for several weeks leading up to this show. I remember thinking how large Kim Duk looked in his first live television appearance, appearing nearly as big as the Superstar who weighed in at about 285 pounds. Normally, grapplers from the Far East were much smaller. Duk looked the part of a wrecking ball who could do real damage.

Kim Duk (right) with tag team partner Masked
Superstar and manager Prof. Boris Malenko
(Photograph by Bill Janosik)

Legendary announcer Bob Caudle opened the segment saying, “Fans with us at ringside right now…Boris Malenko, Kim Duk and the Superstar. And Superstar, your partner is here with you now.” The masked man responded, “My partner’s here after a long awaited time and investment on our part…Boris’ and my part. And I think it’s gonna be a very prosperous and Happy New Year for our family, and I call it the family because we’re so close.”

Superstar brought a beautiful sparkling new watch into view and continued, “I wanna make note of the gift that I gave Boris over the holidays, I want you to make note of this. I gave it to Boris because he’s a 24 carat first class…” Malenko then chimed in loudly, “HUMAN BEING! Now, I’d like to say something also. Being a human being, being what you’d call a person who has humane feelings…I’ve brought in here, along with the Superstar, the greatest karate, judo, any kind of martial arts person that has ever been seen here in the United States!”

The Professor went on to say, “And we are teaching him a little English. He is from Korea, he is a Korean ASSASSIN! And he will get whatever we tell him to do. Isn’t that right?” Duk then responded in extreme broken English, “That’s right, I come to state, America. I love it, I’m happy I’m here.”

A proud Malenko then exclaimed, “What else can you say, he’s happy to be here! And he will make us happy that he’s here, because with him and with what we have to tell him and what he will do when we tell him to do it, he will be the BEST, the MOST, the colossal individual that there is in the wrestling world today! There is no way that he will go wrong with our advice. Because we have plans for him!”

Boris concluded, “We will take championship after championship for the year of 1977! It’s a one way street, and he’s going right up there in the right direction along with the guidance of Superstar and myself. Because we own him, we own his contract and we will not let him down and he promises to us he will not let us down. Need I say more, we’re on our way for 1977…HERE WE COME!”

After such a buildup, it seemed that Kim Duk would be a major force in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. And during the first several months of 1977, Duk and Superstar were a top tag team in the area. Duk also broke boards on TV with his bare hands in a memorable demonstration and when Wahoo McDaniel said he could break just as many boards with his famous chops Duk suckered Wahoo, rupturing a blood vessel in Wahoo’s throat. This set up a brief program between Duk and Wahoo over McDaniel’s Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship, with Wahoo dominating those bouts.

As the spring of 1977 wore on Duk and Superstar stopped teaming frequently and Duk’s association with the Malenko family was no longer mentioned on TV. The Superstar concentrated on an epic feud with the Mighty Igor while Kim Duk slipped to mid-card status before departing Jim Crockett Promotions during the fall of 1977.

The ringing in my ears of Boris Malenko, with Kim Duk by his side, yelling “HERE WE COME” 1977 on New Year’s Day had me completely convinced that his Korean Assassin would wreck havoc in the Mid-Atlantic area. But Duk had already peaked by March of 1977 and much like it’s said about the windy month of March…Duk came in ferociously like a lion but left out more like a lamb.

Blooper! Rocky Mount NC

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

An interesting blooper this week from March 23, 1977 in Rocky Mount, NC, where the team of Wahoo McDaniel and Rufus R. JOYNER is billed to be taking on Kim Duk and Boris Malenko.

Except, of course, Wahoo's partner was the legendary "Freight Train" Rufus R. Jones, not Rufus R. Joyner. Perhaps the person putting together this ad was concentrating on the locations for advance tickets, one of which was JOYNER's Athletic House in Rocky Mount.

Wahoo and Rufus were former NWA world tag team champions a year earlier, having held the title for exactly one week in late January and early February 1976, winning it from and then losing it back to the Anderson Brothers.

Boris Malenko was actually Kim Duk's manager at the time. Duk's regular partner was the Masked Superstar, but Malenko was filling in here.

Mark Eastridge points out that this was somewhat of an an unusual indoor venue for Rocky Mount as most of their shows took place in the local baseball park outdoors.

I always enjoyed seeing the line-ups for these Wednesday night Rocky Mount shows, as it was fun to imagine the guys having to sprint from the WRAL TV tapings in nearby Raleigh to make these show on that Wednesday night double-shot.

Usually the guys in the main event of the Rocky Mount show would wrestle on the first hour of the WRAL tapings in Raleigh, but not the second, to allow for travel time to the Rocky Mount venue. It was about an hour's drive, although wrestlers drove like maniacs most of the time and their travel time between the two was likely a little less.

Thanks to Mark Eastridge for the clippings.

A Chilling Message from Japan

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

The early spring of 1978 was one of the most volatile and exciting times in the history of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Major titles were changing at breakneck speed, big names were entering and exiting the area at a rapid pace and mega stars Blackjack Mulligan and Ken Patera would shockingly change their wrestling personas at this juncture.

Prof. Boris Malenko
and the Masked Superstar

The first sign that big changes were on the territory’s horizon occurred on the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television show that was taped on March 22, 1978. In a short video insert that followed a local in your area promo, the Masked Superstar and his manager Boris Malenko appeared before a backdrop that featured a number of international flags. Malenko, who had been recently suspended by Jim Crockett Promotions, was strangely silent while the Superstar was clearly agitated as he began speaking.

“Boris and I are over here in Japan,” the Superstar started. “A lot of people said 'where’d the Superstar go, where’s he gone? Has he run away from the United States?' Well, the purpose of this video tape…this is a message to you people particularly in the Mid-Atlantic area. I’m talking about Wahoo McDaniel, Paul Jones, the Mighty Igor and a host of the others. I haven’t run away. I’ve come to Japan because there’s a World tour here, and they recognize my ability, they recognize my wrestling prowess. Now, I don’t have to prove anything to you and I don’t have to prove anything to anyone in the United States,” the masked man emphasized.

Superstar continued, “The reason I came to Japan and entered this World tournament is that I have to prove to myself that I’m the best wrestler around. You know, they have individuals here from Russia, China, Japan, Africa, England, Canada…all across the World and I’m representing the United States and I’ve got the $5,000.00 stipulation up and I’ve got the mask at stake. And when I return to the United States and when I return to the Mid-Atlantic area I’m going to bring back the World tournament championship, be assured of that.”

Then a subject was broached that had everybody in the Mid-Atlantic area talking. “You know, I had to travel 12,000 miles with Boris Malenko to find out that one of my close friends, one of the individuals that I confided in periodically and that I talked to, one of my close friends, is responsible for your suspension Boris,” the Superstar boldly announced.  “I’m not going to mention any names because I don’t want the people to get too excited but I want to promise you one thing friend, ex-friend of mine. When I get back to the Mid-Atlantic area you’re gonna pay for the suspension. I’ve had a long, long time to think about you. You know, they say that a fool is gonna be betrayed by his friends and that’s what you did. But when I get back to the Mid-Atlantic area, I’m gonna pay you back friend, so you think about the Superstar because I’ll be back,” Superstar pronounced to a shocked fan base.

This short segment would be the last time the Mid-Atlantic faithful would ever see Boris Malenko on a Jim Crockett Promotions TV show. And as things evolved over the next few weeks, it became clear that Blackjack Mulligan was the friend that Superstar believed had betrayed him. Mulligan and Superstar would then engage in an epic six month program against each other over a $10,000.00 bounty put on Mulligan’s head by former friend Ric Flair that would eventually cost Superstar his prized mask.

When I think back on all the monumental changes that occurred in the Mid-Atlantic area during the spring of 1978 from the Hat and Robe angle to Ric Flair and Greg Valentine being stripped of their NWA World Tag Team Titles to Wahoo McDaniel leaving and Tony Atlas and Dick Murdock arriving and so much more, to me, all these profound changes were foreshadowed and began in earnest with a chilling message from Japan.

School's Back in Session in 1975 - The "Professor" Returns

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

For fans of Jim Crockett Promotions in the mid 1960s, the “Great Malenko” was a menacing grappler who tore through the territory from September of 1965 through January of 1967. While having his share of singles successes, Malenko was particularly lethal with his equally nefarious partners Bob Orton, Sr. and Larry Hamilton, the Missouri Mauler. While holding one-half of the Southern Tag Team Titles, Malenko engaged in vicious battles with the likes of fan favorites George and Sandy Scott and George Becker and Johnny Weaver. Malenko was so despised that he was even stabbed by an irate fan at the Fairgrounds in Richmond, Virginia after a tag team match where he teamed with Orton, suffering a severe wound to his abdomen requiring in excess of 30 stitches to close.

Bob Caudle with The Great Malenko and the Missouri Mauler (circa 1967)

After the passage of nearly eight and a half years, Malenko would return to Jim Crockett Promotions in the late spring of 1975. By that time, both Malenko and the territory had undergone a name change. Malenko was called “Professor” rather than “Great,” and the territory was now called Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. At the television taping on June 4, 1975, announcer Bob Caudle told the fans who had just viewed and booed the returning Malenko in the ring, “Our guest with us here at ringside is Professor Boris Malenko, and Professor Malenko has a middle name, but I can’t pronounce it!”

Malenko responded, “For your information Mr. TV announcer, the middle name is Maximilianovich…Boris Maximilianovich Malenko. I can’t tell you people how good it did me to come into this television studio today and listen to that warm reception when I climbed into the ring. It was beautiful; it was heart warming! You know something? Take a whiff; take a good smell…I smell excitement in the air!”

The Professor continued, “You know why this professorship has been bestowed upon me in six different countries? Because I truly am a professor! I come from the college of hard knocks, black and blue is our color; our school yell is ‘ouch.’ I am 230 pounds of mind and muscular coordination that is unbeatable; the greatest piece of wrestling machinery that has ever been composed; a human destruction machine that can destroy and will destroy all of its opposition.”

Malenko concluded, “I’ve proved myself time and time again, even here once long time ago. And I’ll continue to do it once again. I will get into your hearts, and you’ll welcome me! Because you need somebody you can look up to, and I will be that person.”

Caudle commented, “All right fans, Professor Boris Malenko, and I’m sure we’re going to be hearing a lot more and seeing a lot more of Professor Boris Malenko in the very near future.” Caudle was right, and immediately the Professor was dominating fan favorite wrestlers with his highly effective “Russian sickle” finishing hold. Boris teamed back up with his old comrade the Missouri Mauler, and the two were a formidable upper mid card tag team for the remainder of 1975.

In 1976, Malenko segued to a managerial role, though he would continue to don the tights occasionally. The Professor initially managed the Mongols, Bolo and Geeto, but was probably best remembered for managing the hated Masked Superstar from the fall of 1976 through the early months of 1978. And probably the most infamous incident of Malenko’s managerial run was when his victory cigar was stuck in the eye of the popular Mighty Igor, damaging the eye of the Polish powerhouse. And who could forget Wahoo McDaniel stomping on Malenko’s false teeth in separate incidents in 1975 and 1976, with Boris threatening lawsuits against Wahoo on both occasions.

Yes, just as school was letting out for kids in the Mid-Atlantic area in June of 1975, a very different type of Professor was starting school back up in the wrestling world of Jim Crockett Promotions. And conducting himself much like he did as the “Great” Malenko during his first run in the area nearly a decade earlier, Boris Malenko’s actions as a “Professor” would frequently land him in the principal’s office in his school of hard knocks.

Additionally republished 12/9/19

JAWS: Prof. Boris Malenko's Forgotten Assassin

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

If you've hung around the Mid-Atlantic Gateway for very long, you know we like to seek out the obscure. Hard to argue that we haven't succeeded in that quest with this.

First, it was David Chappell's look back at Enforcer Luciano. Now we take a look at Boris Malenko's henchman JAWS.

JAWS
Photograph by Jackie Crockett
© Crockett Foundation. Used with permission.

In 1977, the Mighty Igor was embroiled in a bitter war with the camp of Professor Boris Malenko -- which included The Masked Superstar and the "Korean Assassin" Kim Duk. Malenko liked to call his group "the Malenko Family." Despite the Professor's best efforts, he had continually failed to eliminate the Polish strongman from the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling scene. Igor remained a perpetual thorn in Malenko's side.

During a brief few weeks in the spring of 1977 when the Masked Superstar was on a tour of Japan, Malenko brought in a third member to his family, a masked wrestler named JAWS. With this new masked assassin, he hoped to finally rid the territory of the Mighty Igor.

Now I can't seem to remember important things about work from last week, yet I typically can remember the smallest little details about Mid-Atlantic Wrestling from 40 years ago. However, even I had completely forgotten about Jaws until I was sorting through the photographs Jackie Crockett had taken back in the late 1970s and early 1980s that I was helping prepare for the Crockett Foundation's book "When Wrestling Was Wrestling."

There among the photos of legends like Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair, and the Brisco Brothers were two photographs of a masked wrestler I didn't recognize at first. But something about the mask looked familiar - - my goodness, it was the open mouth of a shark - - these were photographs from 1977 of the long forgotten henchman in the family of Professor Malenko. This was JAWS!

We have never known there to be any pictures of Jaws before, none in the Crockett publications of that era, and none in the news stand magazines. These photographs were a rare find, indeed.

There is no mistaking the mask, though; the open jaws of a shark surrounding the front face of the mask, with a small emblem of a shark on the side.

It's unknown who thought up the idea of Jaws as a wrestler, but it wasn't unusual for pro-wrestling to play off something very hot in popular culture. In 1975, Steven Spielberg directed his first massive theatrical hit, the Academy award winning film "Jaws", an adaptation of the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley. "Jaws" was a massively popular movie, setting all-time box office records that stood until toppled by "Star Wars" a few years later. "Jaws" was so popular in the summer of 1975, it was re-released again in the summer of 1976 to huge business. It is widely considered one of the greatest movies of all time.

Even further, playing of the popularity of the film, a character was created for the 1977 James Bond motion picture "The Spy Who Loved Me", a steel-toothed villain called Jaws, played by actor Richard Kiel.

So why not in wrestling? And Jaws was born.

I asked David Chappell if he also remembered Jaws, and he quickly confirmed that not only did he remember him, but he had a brief bit of an audio recording where Boris Malenko was talking about him on TV.

So from Chap's archival audio recording straight from the TV broadcast, here is Prof. Boris Malenko extolling the virtues of Jaws to Bob Caudle and David Crockett on "Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling" taped 4/20/77:

Prof. Malenko: "I have imported this fellow Jaws here, and he's going to take care of Igor for once and for all! He's gonna get rid of him, I don't want any more menacing of the Malenko Family."

David Crockett: He's not doing a very good job of it right now, he's laying on his back!"

Jaws wasn't around long, apparently for only a matter of weeks, and he did not headline against Igor as best we can tell from exploring newspaper ads from that time. He did wrestle on TV (as heard here) and wrestled mid-card on a few house shows and in tag matches against Igor that spring of 1977.

So how's that for the rare and the obscure? Only on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway. We celebrate this kind of stuff.

And if you're interested in more rare photographs from that era, this photo of the wrestler Jaws is but just a small example of the amazing collection of rare pictures to be found in "When Wrestling Was Wrestling", a collection of photographs taken by Jackie Crockett of the famous Crockett wrestling family. Proceeds from the sale of the book support the charitable work of the Crockett Foundation. The book can be purchased on their website (click here for their online store) or in person at selected fan conventions.

The Masked Superstar vs. The Mighty Igor (Final) (Part 5)

OPPOSITES ATTRACT - Part 5 (Conclusion)
by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

(Catch up on what you missed in PART 1,  PART 2, PART 3, and PART 4!)

By the end of July 1977 with the result of their feud hanging in the balance, Igor and Superstar entered a new and dangerous phase of their bitter rivalry that went on into the month of August through and until the last week of September.  At the urging of the “Mad Russian” Boris Malenko, vicious Russian Chain matches were scheduled between Igor and Superstar, the first of which occurred on July 26th in Columbia, South Carolina. In addition to the Russian Chain matches, Lumberjack matches between the two adversaries were also set, the first of which occurred on August 9, 1977 in Raleigh.

To show the intensity for the build-up to the brutal chain matches, the combatants talked about it prior to an August 12, 1977 Russian Chain match in Richmond, Virginia. The Superstar began his promo by saying, “As you well know, and the people well know, a Russian Chain match is probably the most dangerous type match. And Igor, FINALLY, you’re gonna get your just due. It’s finally come to this…one of us is definitely gonna be hurt, and I think it’s gonna be you. As a matter of fact, I want Boris Malenko, the Father of the chain match, to show you and the people a little demonstration of what this steel chain can do.”


Malenko moved into camera range carrying a thick chain and said, “Let me just say this…this is the most dangerous match there is in professional wrestling today, or any other day. Both men will be tied over here by the cuffs of this chain. In order to win this match, you must drag your opponent around the ring two complete times. The only way this is humanly possible is if the man that you’re dragging is completely unconscious. This chain can maim you, it can put out your eye, it can end your wrestling career…and that’s what we have in mind.”

The Professor then brought a steel chair onto the set with announcer Ed Capral, and smashed steel again steel for affect. Malenko explained, “Just let me give you a little demonstration. This [chain] is steel…this chair is steel also. Look at the indentations. This chair right over here…it’s steel against steel. See what it did? Can you imagine what it could do to the human body? Well I know what it can do, and I taught my Superstar to do it! And he will do it right here in Richmond…you can count on that!”

When Igor got his turn to talk about the chain match, he didn’t appear to be intimidated by Superstar and Malenko at all and said, “He thinks because Malenko taught him this Russian match here with the chain. What do you think, he can’t get away from me either. I don’t want him to get away. I’m gonna give you punishment ten times over because you hurt my mother and you hurt all the people that I know.”

Igor then addressed the Richmond fans directly by saying, “You people of Richmond, Igor is gonna be in there. Malenko, you’re gonna be very dissatisfied when I get done with that Super-chicken because the day has come that he cannot run away no more. No more runnin’ away, no more. My eye is not right yet. But you will get it because, it’s in the eyes of the people what you did to me, and you are gonna get paid. I still feel hurt inside but you didn’t change me…I’m still gonna be good and you’re gonna be destroyed sooner or later or you’re gonna be crippled. Because one of us is gonna leave that ring, and I plan for me to leave it!”

Despite the natural advantage Superstar seemed to have with Malenko in his corner for the Russian Chain matches, Igor prevailed in the vast majority of these bruising battles with the steel chain in August and much of September. Because there was no pinfall or submission possible in this type of bout, the Superstar maintained his mask and $5,000.00 despite losing most of these contests. However, in the Lumberjack matches that were held during that very same time frame, the Superstar came out the victor in a high percentage of them. Thus, when the 1977 calendar hit the last week in September the winner of this epic feud was very much still in doubt.

The colossal program between the Superstar and Igor that began in the frigid cold of February 1977 would reach its end in the crisp fall air of late September. During the last week of September, the Superstar defeated Igor in brutal fence matches (starting to be called cage matches) in Roanoke, Virginia on September 25th, and in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on September 28th. Also during that last week of September, the masked man punished Igor in Charlotte, North Carolina and Fishersville, Virginia in two bloodbaths of matches. That led to a fence match in Richmond, Virginia on Friday night, September 30th. This would be the last match ever between these two arch-enemies.

The in-your-area promos leading up to the fence match in Richmond had the feel of an upcoming battle that would decide this program once and for all. An agitated Superstar told announcer Ed Capral, “I’ll tell ya, for the first time, I’m a little befuddled…I’m almost at a loss for words. Because Igor has evidently gone to the promoter and he’s pressured the promoter once again to put in another stipulation. I really don’t know what to say because I don’t particularly like this kind of match. I’ve seen cage matches before…they’re very devastating. There’s no way out. There’s no way out for me, and there’s no way out for Igor. And I don’t mind telling you that I don’t like the situation I’m put in. I DON’T LIKE IT IGOR! You’ve got me in a corner. You think you’ve got an advantage; well, this cage may be your downfall. I don’t particularly like Richmond, and I hate you Igor. And it’s come to either you or me, AND IT’S GONNA BE YOU!!”

Igor appeared to be brimming with confidence as he addressed the Richmond fans before this monumental steel cage contest. Laughing, the powerful Polish grappler announced, “I wait a long time for this! He said he don’t particularly like this cage match, but I like it; I love it! This is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. Hey mom, look, I finally got the Super-chicken in a cage…he can’t go nowhere! His feathers can’t fly him away or nothing! He’s all mine! Oh momma, you should be happy for your son…I’m happy for myself!”

Igor then approached announcer Ed Capral and offered, “Oh boy, good kielbasa, you like some?” Capral politely declined! Igor concluded, “Oh, you’re gonna get it Super-chicken, I’ve been waiting a long time! Malenko, you stay out of this cause Igor’s gonna win!!”

The climactic match in Richmond between Superstar and Igor certainly lived up to the hype. Eight months of animosity between these two seemed to all come out within the confines of the unforgiving cage. The steel was used as a weapon by both combatants, and the blood was flowing freely on both sides. Ultimately, the Superstar reached down deeper than he ever had before, and vanquished a battered Igor. As the Polish strongman lay prone on the mat in the Richmond ring, it signaled the end of the bitterest of feuds. Igor was laughing no more, and the fans were stunned.

Graphic courtesy Mike Cline / Mid-Atlantic Grapplin' Greats

On the next Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV show, that was taped on October 5, 1977, Superstar addressed the situation with Igor with Bob Caudle. Superstar gloated, “I want to make note…you hear all these people chanting ‘Igor, Igor, Igor?’ Well, I have the pleasure to announce that Igor isn’t gonna be around any longer. He and I were involved in a very, very brutal cage match. And I got some scars and I got some bruises, but I got rid of that fat thorn that was in my side. Igor’s not gonna be around here any longer! You don’t see him here today?”

A shaken Caudle commented, “No, but it’s hard for me to believe that he’s not gonna be around anymore.” Superstar countered, “You just take my word for it, because I don’t tell any lies. If you don’t ask me, ask [Malenko], I’ve never lied to him.” Malenko predictably exclaimed, “Never!” Superstar concluded, “I’ve moved on to bigger and better things. I’m looking forward to some championship belts myself, and I’m looking forward to some matches with some so-called heroes around this area…Paul Jones, Wahoo McDaniel. I’m gonna come after these people now!”

Superstar was accurate for the most part. The Mighty Igor, after a short hiatus after the Richmond defeat, returned to the Mid-Atlantic area, but was never a major factor with the promotion again. The Polish strongman had a short and unsuccessful program with Blackjack Mulligan at the tail end of 1977, and then dropped into the middle of the cards before leaving Jim Crockett Promotions for good in March of 1978.

After finally dispatching Igor, the Superstar moved on to a heated feud with Paul Jones that lasted into early 1978, though the masked man’s attempt to collect a $10,000.00 bounty on Blackjack Mulligan’s head was probably the more memorable program, that lasted from April until September of 1978. Mulligan unmasked the Superstar in several cage matches that September, doing what Igor could not do a year earlier, and the masked man retreated from Jim Crockett Promotion’s to the Georgia territory.

The feud between the Masked Superstar and the Mighty Igor had it all, and was an amazing contrast in styles and personalities. It featured the athletic and cerebral Superstar against the gentle giant, the child-like, Mighty Igor. For me, this feud ran parallel with a memorable time in my life…my last semester in high school, to high school graduation, and into my first semester in college. And the program ended in my wrestling hometown of Richmond, Virginia. So, the feud was quite memorable for me, but nothing like it must have been for the two warriors involved, the Masked Superstar and the Mighty Igor. They had the scars to prove it. And they proved something else…opposites really do attract, but in this case, in the most violent way possible.

The Masked Superstar vs. The Mighty Igor (Part 4)

OPPOSITES ATTRACT - Part 4
by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

(Catch up on what you missed in PART 1,  PART 2 and PART 3!)

After the Superstar reluctantly signed to face Igor on the June 8, 1977 Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV show, the tag team bouts involving Igor and Superstar morphed into mainly singles confrontations between the two. One reason for this was that Kim Duk, Superstar’s primary partner, shifted down to mid-card status. The last match involving Duk and Superstar teaming against Igor was on June 24, 1977 in Charleston, South Carolina, where Igor and Bobo Brazil defeated Duk and Superstar.

A wild singles match between Igor and Superstar in June occurred on June 18, 1977 in Hampton, Virginia, where Igor tore Superstar’s mask off! Much like the match on TV where Superstar lost his hood, Superstar was able to obscure his face before anybody could identify him. Greenville, South Carolina and Raleigh, North Carolina also saw ferocious bouts between these two during the end of the month of June. In each of these bloody encounters, Igor had his hand raised in disqualification victories.

As the calendar flipped to July, noteworthy tag team matches pitting Igor and Superstar on opposing sides occurred, with none other than the “Eighth Wonder of the World” Andre the Giant teaming with Igor! On July 3, 1977 in Greensboro, North Carolina, Andre and Igor teamed up to defeat the burly duo of the Superstar and Blackjack Mulligan. On July 7th (7/7/77!), Igor and Andre again joined forces to subdue the tandem of the Superstar and the Missouri Mauler in Colonial Heights, Virginia.

After the Giant left the area, Superstar and Igor had an even-steven month of July, with the bouts between these two bitter adversaries being highly competitive. On July 5th, the Superstar gained a hard fought count out victory over Igor in Lynchburg, Virginia. However, almost immediately the Polish strongman turned the tables, defeating the Superstar by count out in Hampton, in a wild melee where Wahoo McDaniel tried to keep order as special referee.

The last noteworthy tag team bouts that featured Igor and Superstar occurred in mid July in two Texas Tornado matches, where all four men were in the ring at the same time. Somewhat predictably, these two high-energy contests saw a split decision in the results. On July 13th in Roxboro, North Carolina, Igor and Ricky Steamboat combined to vanquish Superstar and Ric Flair. But on July 16th in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Superstar got back in the win column, teaming with the Missouri Mauler to defeat Igor and Dino Bravo.

By the end of July with the result of their feud hanging in the balance, Igor and Superstar entered a new and dangerous phase of their bitter rivalry - - Professor Malenko was pushing for a chain match!

Will the Professor have his demands met for a chain match? How will this brutal match affect the heated rivalry between Superstar and Igor?

The final chapter, PART 5!

The Masked Superstar vs. The Mighty Igor (Part 3)

OPPOSITES ATTRACT - Part 3
by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

(Catch up on what you missed in PART 1 and PART 2.)

David Crockett and JCP lawyers were demanding the Masked Superstar present a doctor's note as to why he couldn't wrestle the Mighty Igor.

Later on the same TV show, announcer Bob Caudle spoke to Igor about the earlier segment involving the Superstar.  Igor said, “Mr. Crockett was kind enough to get lawyers to make him show certificate… blueprint.  He don’t wanna show it because there’s nothing wrong with his leg, you see. He’s afraid of Igor and I’ve been chasing him all this time. But I must thank Crockett, Mr. Crockett, thank you very much! Because this way he’s got to show his face to wrestle Igor! No more runnin’ away from Igor…the kielbasa is good! And I feel good ‘cause Mr. Crockett really helped me!!” Igor then started lavishing kisses on Bob Caudle before the announcer could escape the affection of the Polish strongman!

On the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling TV program the next week, taped on June 8, 1977, the issues between the Masked Superstar and the Mighty Igor had become so serious, that the President of Jim Crockett Promotions, Jim Crockett, Jr., became involved in a television segment with the two adversaries. Jim Crockett started off the show by telling the fans, “I have an important signing right now. The Superstar has taken his cast off, for whatever reason. He knows, to wrestle again, he must sign a contract to meet the Mighty Igor, who is also here.”

The President then directed Igor, saying, “Mighty Igor, sign your name.”  An ecstatic Igor joyfully responded giggling, “I will…I love you!” The Superstar, not happy in the least barked out, “What happens if he can’t write…can’t sign his name? And get your stinkin’ kielbasa out of here!” An indignant Igor explained to the masked man, “My mother taught me how to write…what’s the matter with you? I’ve waited a long time for this moment, you’re gonna get it now because Mr. Crockett fixed it up for me…you gotta wrestle me first! And don’t knock my kielbasa…my momma make that!” Superstar retorted, “Get your kielbasa outta my face.” Igor pushed back saying, “I’ll put this [fist] in your face instead of the kielbasa. This is a moment I’ve been waiting for, for such a long time!”

With all of Igor’s yapping, the Superstar was worried the Polish powerhouse couldn’t even execute the contract, as he told Mr. Crockett, “Make sure he signs that properly!” Professor Malenko had similar concerns stating, “I’d like to take a look at that, I’d like to take a look at that...one moment here I want look at this. This doesn’t state where this is going to be held at.” An agitated Jim Crockett curtly replied, “I will decide when and where the Superstar will meet the Mighty Igor, not you.” Malenko answered by saying, “You’re trying to railroad us…that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

The masked man echoed Malenko’s position saying, “I don’t like this situation at all. I’m being pushed back into a corner, this has happened time and time again…” Fed up, Jim Crockett interrupted with an ultimatum, “Just sign it or don’t wrestle…it’s that simple.” Malenko complained, “You’ve got our backs up against the wall! We can’t make a living unless we do…we’ve tried every promoter there is in the country.” The Superstar backed up his manager stating, “We’ve called all over this country, and you’ve gotten ahead of us at every phone call…you know I’m not allowed to wrestle anywhere on account of this man and on account of YOU!! I don’t like it one bit!”

The Mighty Igor had heard enough belly-aching insisting, “I don’t care what you like…you sign your name you creep. Chicken…Super-chicken.” Jim Crockett further infuriated the Superstar by chastising him for attempting to sign his name on the wrong line of the contract, instructing the Superstar, “Don’t mess up the contract…sign right here.” At this point, the Superstar was livid and shot back at Mr. Crockett, “I’m getting quite tired of your insolence…and I’ll sign it, but that doesn’t mean I like it.” Bob Caudle, amazed that the contract signing actually happened said to the fans and David Crockett, “Alright fans, there it is, Superstar is putting his signature on it, and that’s it. He has done it…it’s all signed, sealed and delivered, David!” David Crockett enthusiastically replied, “Fantastic…so the Superstar has to meet the Mighty Igor.” Caudle excitedly added, “It’s gonna happen!”


What happens now that the Superstar has been forced to sign the contract?
Stay tuned as the Masked Superstar / Might Igor saga continues in Part 4!

The Masked Superstar vs. The Mighty Igor (Part 2)

OPPOSITES ATTRACT - Part 2
by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

(Catch up on everything that happened in PART 1 by clicking here. )

After the Masked Superstar's suspension was lifted, Igor tore into the Superstar on television and ripped his mask off, though with some quick thinking the masked man was able to preserve the secret of his identity.

Igor bearhugs Masked Superstar

Upon his return from suspension, Superstar told Bob Caudle, “I’m a little leaner, but I’m a little meaner. I’ve had five weeks, over five weeks, to think of Igor…and that’s all I’ve been thinking about! Igor…you’ve cost me a lot of money, you’ve cost me a lot of headache, you’ve caused me a lot of heartache. All I’ve been able to think about is Polish people! And I’m tellin’ you Igor…don’t get in the ring with me. Because what I did to you was unintentional, but it’s premeditated now. I’ve been thinkin’ and I’ve been plannin’ and I’ve been waitin’ for five and a half weeks to get Igor. Igor, when I catch you, wherever you’re at, you’ll wish you never saw this mask, you never saw the Superstar.”  Professor Malenko echoed these sentiments, admonishing Igor, “Stay away from my Superstar!!”

During the month of April, Igor and the Superstar met in the ring, but normally as part of action packed tag team and six-man tag team bouts that included Malenko and Kim Duk on the Superstar’s side. In many of these matches, Superstar would avoid getting into the ring with Igor at all costs.

To show how much the “Malenko family” wanted to get rid of Igor, on the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV show that was taped on April 20th, Malenko brought in a masked wrestler named “Jaws” to put Igor out of wrestling. Malenko told the viewing audience, “I have imported this fellow Jaws in here, and he’s gonna take care of Igor for once and for all! We’re gonna get rid of him; I don’t want any more menace to the Malenko family. When Malenko brings somebody in to do the job, he’s gonna get it done! He’s gonna destroy Igor for once and for all. He’s been a pain in the side of the Malenko family!”

The Mighty Igor dispatched Jaws with relative ease, and after the match told the fans, “Malenko brought in that…Jaws. And at the last moment I showed him what I’m gonna do to Superstar, but only worse. I don’t know this Jaws, but you see what I do. I’ve been training, and workin’ out real hard. Not eating so much sausage, but lots of effort towards Superstar.”

During the month of May 1977, Igor and Superstar continued to battle in specialty tag team bouts, such as elimination matches and Texas Tornado matches. The Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Wahoo McDaniel was Igor’s most consistent tag team partner at this time. There were also a few singles matches between these two in May, including ferocious battles in Roanoke, Virginia on May 6th, Savannah, Georgia on May 8th and in Charlottesville, Virginia at the University Hall on May 20th.

On the May 24, 1977 taping of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV show, in another move to avoid facing Igor, the Superstar came on the set sporting crutches, and a cast on his leg. Announcer David Crockett was skeptical that Superstar’s supposed injury was legitimate. Superstar responded, “I don’t care if you believe me or not. If you don’t believe an honest man, you ask Mr. Malenko. Now Igor broke this, and everybody that’s been watching this program from week to week…it’s all premeditated. I was suspended for something I did not do purposely…it was an accident. Now, Igor’s got in here and boasted and he’s told everybody across this country that he was going to get even. And he purposely broke my leg. Now we’ve contacted the President Eddie Graham, president of the National Wrestling Alliance, and Mr. Malenko has a little notice to give to Igor.”

Professor Malenko then commented, “My lawyers are now working on the situation, and they’re going to get with Eddie Graham, and I’m going to tell you something. [Igor’s] not only going to be completely suspended indefinitely, but he will be suspended entirely for all time and forever.” David Crockett remained unconvinced, saying to Bob Caudle, “We’ll see about that. I just wonder whether his leg really is broken.” Caudle jumped in, “Well, the rumor is that it’s not, that he’s got that cast on really just to duck another match with Igor.” Crockett concurred, “That’s right; that’s what I think. But you know, we can’t decide.”

The following week on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television, the saga of Superstar’s supposed broken leg continued. Announcer David Crockett said, “The Superstar is here, you’re not on your crutches now, but you still haven’t brought the excuse from the doctor.” A visibly upset Masked Superstar replied, “Every time I’m on this program, I get accused and you make all kinds of allegations that this leg is not broken. I’m gonna tell you one time and you better listen. I don’t have to bring you a certificate. I said it’s broken, Mr. Malenko said it’s broken, and our doctor said my leg is broken. Now, that’s all I’m gonna say about it. I’m not gonna bring in a certificate, because I don’t have to.” Crockett commented, “Well, I guess you’re not wrestling, then.” A highly agitated Superstar retorted, “As you can see I’m not wrestling…I’ve been suspended for the simple fact that I didn’t bring you a note, like a little school boy, saying I was allowed to come back. Now, as far as my wrestling, you’re going to force me to wrestle Igor, but only when I’m ready, and not before. When I’M ready…not when you say, not when you say, or not when the promoters say.” Professor Malenko vociferously added, “WHEN HE IS READY, and that’s all! There is no more subject matter to be discussed here!”



Can the Crockett's lawyers force the Masked Superstar to wrestle?
Stay tuned for the answer and much more to come in PART THREE!