Poster: Funk vs. Brisco in Greensboro (1972)

By Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This poster takes us way back to early 1972, February 17th to be exact, and promotes a card held at the Greensboro War Memorial Coliseum.

The NWA World Heavyweight Championship was up for grabs as champion Dory Funk, Jr. defended against perennial foe Jack Brisco. Funk retained his title as this classic match-up ended in a one hour draw and I have no doubt these two men put on a professional wrestling clinic for the fans in Greensboro. 

Johnny Weaver and Art Nelson topped Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson (managed by Gary Hart) in the semi while the undercard featured familiar names like Missouri Mauler, Brute Bernard, Sandy Scott, Jerry Brisco, Jim Dillon, and The Kentuckian Luke Brown.

The poster features a horizontal layout with the two main events listed side by side, black and red print over a two-tone pink and yellow background, and six great wrestler images adorning the sides.

 NO. 46 IN THE BEASLEY POSTER SERIES

Magic!

Tully Blanchard wears the original Crockett 1983-1986 United States Title belt and FTR wear the original Crockett 1987 NWA World Tag team title belts on their way to the ring on AEW television 3/3/21.

James J. Dillon accompanies them - - icing on the cake!

Top guys, indeed.

Tweet

Make it Good! - Dusty Rhodes Channels His Inner Marlon Brando

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

On a long-ago episode of The J.J. Dillon Show podcast (mlwradio.com), J.J. and co-host Rich Bocchini discussed the infamous incident in October of 1986 where the Four Horsemen jumped Dusty Rhodes in the parking lot of Jim Crockett Promotions on Briarbend Drive in Charlotte. That ambush left the American Dream with a broken arm as he prepared for a big steel cage tag-team battle with the Horsemen that weekend in Charlotte.

Dusty got the inspiration for this scene where he is tied to Klondike Bill's ring truck
from Marlon Brando in the movie "One Eyed Jacks."

As it played out, the Horsemen, in two separate vehicles, followed an unsuspecting Rhodes in his little red convertible to the offices of Jim Crockett Promotions where they attacked Rhodes in the parking lot, beat him down, and tied him to a ring-truck, arms stretched out as if he were to be crucified.

One of the most often-discussed moments in that big angle was when Dusty cried out three famous words just before the Horsemen whacked his right hand with a baseball bat - -

"Make it good!"

There was much discussion by fans at the time suggesting this was Rhodes' attempt to verbally direct the action in the skit taking place that he was a part of. But J.J. maintains that wasn't the case.

"There were critics that didn't like Dusty," Dillon told Bocchini, "who said, 'Oh, there's Dusty, he had to let everyone know that he was orchestrating everything' - - which was not true."

J.J. explained that it all had to do with Dusty's fondness for the cinema. Especially westerns.

"Dusty was somebody who loved the movies," Dillon said. "and he loved seeing moments in a movie and re-creating those moments. And one of those moments was in the movie 'One Eyed Jacks' where Marlon Brando was this gunslinger who was terrorizing this town."

In the movie, Marlon Brandon's character Rio had been betrayed by his partner and fellow-outlaw "Dad" Longworth (portrayed by Karl Malden) following a bank robbery the two had committed together. Many years later, Longworth had become Sheriff, and when Rio returns to town to confront Longworth, Rio is captured, tied to a hitching post and whipped. But the worst blow of all was still yet to come.

Sheriff "Dad" Longworth (Karl Malden) taunts Rio (Marlon Brando) in the 1961 film "One Eyed Jacks."

Rio, barely able to speak, tells Longworth, "You better kill me." His meaning was that after all you've done to me - - you've betrayed me, you've whipped me - - you might as well kill me. Because if you don't, I'll be back to kill you.

But Longworth says killing him isn't necessary. He picks up his rifle and smashes it down on Rio's right hand, the hand this gunslinger used to draw and shoot his gun. Without the use of that right hand, he would be no threat to anyone.

J.J. said it is this scene that Rhodes was channeling in the angle with the Horsemen. Rhodes was telling the Horsemen that if you are going to try and take me out, you better make it good. 

In Dusty's recreation of the scene from "One Eyed Jacks" with the Horsemen, the rifle became Ole's baseball bat, and the hitching post became one of Klondike Bill's ring trucks. The Horsemen tied him to the truck, and you hear Ole telling J.J. to make sure his paid cameraman zooms in close. Even though Rhodes was tied to the truck, Ole and Arn held him tightly as Tully Blanchard wielded the blow of the baseball bat on Rhodes' right hand.

You better kill me. Make it good. 

It was a bit of revenge for Blanchard in particular, who was on crutches due to an earlier injury from a match in Greensboro when Rhodes refused to release a figure-four leg lock.

At the very end of the video tape of the Horsemen angle, you hear J.J. Dillon tell Dusty, "I want this to serve as a warning, Rhodes. We'll see you tomorrow night in Charlotte, you cripple!"

At the end of the movie "One Eyed Jack," Longworth might have wished he had killed Rio because, with his drawing hand now healed, Brando returns to kill Malden in a final showdown.

And even though Rhodes had warned the Horsemen to "make it good", they didn't make it good enough. The next night in Charlotte, Ole and J.J. Dillon (substituting for the injured Blanchard) entered the cage in Charlotte. Rhodes, his right hand and arm in a cast, introduced his mystery partner - - - Nikita Koloff. The hated "Russian Nightmare" had joined the "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes to battle the Four Horsemen in the wake of Magnum T.A.'s career-ending automobile accident.

The huge crowd in Charlotte loved it. It wound up being one of the most dramatic, emotional moments of the year.

 

Edited from a post originally published on September 26, 2017 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

New J.J. Dillon Podcast from Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling

Happy to hear that the "leader of the Four Horsemen" James J. Dillon is back on the podcast scene. 

The premiere of the J.J. podcast can be found here:

JJ's Executive Direction:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/tmptow/episodes/2019-09-28T15_00_00-07_00

"JJ: The JJ Dillon Podcast" is a collaboration between James J. Dillon and The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling's Podcasting Empire. TMPT's John Poz (JP) joins JJ as co-host to discuss the former manager of The Four Horsemen's history in professional wrestling both in and out of the ring. This podcast journey for J.J. will give him the opportunity to share with longtime wrestling fans stories, anecdotes and observations from his over 60 years of wrestling experience.

The new show drops every Saturday at 6:05 PM.

Great American Bash 1986

Behind the Scenes at The Great American Bash 1986

Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

 All Photographs © Eddie Cheslock

Originally posted July 3, 2015 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway 

Late Edit: The WWE Network has just added this complete show from 7/5/86 to the Hidden Gems section of the Vault, as well as the complete Greensboro show from 7/26/86.

Best of the Gateway: James J. Dillon & The Limousine

by Dick Bourne

Mid-Atlantic Gateway

It's been a long time since I've written about my departed friend Rob Riddick here. I don't want him to be forgotten in the wrestling world. Rob was a wrestling photographer in the 1980s and many of his photographs were published in the magazines edited by George Napolitano.  

I have many photos Rob sent me in the years we knew each other. Some have been published here, many more I need to include.

The following is one of the first articles I wrote about Rob on the Gateway back in 2015. 

Honoring photographer and friend Robert Riddick, Jr.

One of Rob Riddick's favorite photographs that he shot was of James J. Dillon outside of his hotel in Baltimore the weekend of the second Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup tag team tournament. It was April of 1987, and J.J. was waiting for Ric Flair and the rest of the Four Horsemen to join him as they prepared to depart in their limousine.  Rob was shooting for George Napolitano and his series of pro-wrestling news stand magazines at this time.

Rob once told me the context of the photo, but I don't recall when during the weekend this was or where he said the Horsemen were headed. He told me he had taken this photo for himself. 

Twenty six years later, in the summer of 2013, my friend Conrad Thompson was looking for a unique photo he could have enlarged and signed by J.J. at a private gathering in Huntsville, AL. I suggested Rob's limousine photo and Conrad thought it was perfect. He had the photo of J.J. and the limousine blown up into a nice 16 x 20" foam-board poster. Since Rob allowed us to use his photograph, I asked J.J. to sign one for him, too, and explained to him that it was Rob who had taken the photo all those years ago and that it was one of his favorites.

J.J. took great care in signing the print to Rob. The inscription read:

"To Robert: 

Thanks for the great photo. 

J.J. Dillon

The Leader of the Four Horsemen forever!"

I was so excited to be able to get this for Rob.  J.J. was one of his favorite wrestlers and managers. The photo of J.J. and the limousine had been used on the cover of one of J.J.'s recent shoot-interview DVDs, which Rob was very proud of all these years later. I called him and told him I had it for him and that I would mail it to him, but needed to get the right packaging for it because it was on foam-board and could not be rolled up. He told me not to worry with it, as we were planning on trying to see each other soon, and I could give it to him then. I sent him a photo via e-mail of the signed print so he could see what J.J. had written. But even with that, I had every good intention to go ahead and mail it to him.

But it was not to be.

I believe it was Thomas Edison who once said something like "Good intentions, with poor execution, often lead to poor results.” Rob passed away a short time later, before our planned get-together. I had not yet mailed the signed photograph to him. I still feel bad about that to this day.

* * * * *

This article was originally published on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway June 26, 2015.

"FOUR HORSEMEN" available directly from James J. Dillon

For appearance information, visit JJDillon.midatlanticgateway.com

To buy the book from the Gateway, visit Horsemen.midatlanticgateway.com 

To buy the book on Amazon, visit Four Horsemen on Amazon

Flagship interview J.J. Dillon - Part 3

George "Yiorgio" Pantas recently interviewed James J. Dillon for "The Flagship", a military newspaper in eastern Virginia. The interview took place a few days before a VCW show in Suffolk, VA. We posted the first two parts earlier and now post a link to the third and final installment.

PART THREE includes JJ's podcast co-host Rich Bocchini in on the conversation and the discussion centers around JJ's new podcast, "The JJ Dillon Show"  on the MLW Radio Network. 

If you missed the earlier installments, you can check those out here:
PART ONE      PART TWO 

Check out the final part of the interview with the Leader of the Four Horsemen as he discusses how his podcast came about.

Rich Bocchini and Tony Schiavone (MLWRadio.com)

JJ Dillon and Rich Bocchini:
The newest podcast tag-team on the MLW Network
http://www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/sports/professional_wrestling/jj-dillon-and-rich-bocchini-the-newest-podcast-tag-team/article_f48875fd-7a16-53b3-9fe3-3366577cc466.html

J.J.'s podcast "The JJ Dillon Show" can be found at MLWRadio or anywhere you download your podcast.

You can find out where J.J. will be appearing by checking out our JJ Dillon page right here on the Gateway.

Part Two of the Flagship Interview with James J. Dillon

George "Yiorgio" Pantas recently interviewed James J. Dillon for "The Flagship", a military newspaper in eastern Virginia. The interview took place a few days before a VCW show in Suffolk, VA. We posted PART ONE of the interview back on 9/14

Now we present PART TWO. 

Check out this next part of the interview with the Leader of the Four Horsemen about once wrestling David Crockett, his thoughts on the "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, his favorite version of the Four Horsemen, working for Vince McMahon Sr., and more.


JJ Dillon: "I'm the Luckiest Man Alive"
http://www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/sports/professional_wrestling/jj-dillon-i-m-the-luckiest-guy-alive/article_93648229-9608-507d-8c97-af818243108e.html

Make It Good: Dusty Rhodes channels his inner Marlon Brando

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

On a recent episode of "The JJ Dillon Show" podcast (mlwradio.com), JJ and co-host Rich Bocchini discussed the infamous incident in October of 1986 where the Four Horsemen jumped Dusty Rhodes in the parking lot of Jim Crockett Promotions on Briarbend Drive in Charlotte. That ambush left the American Dream with a broken arm as he prepared for a big steel cage tag-team battle with the Horsemen that weekend in Charlotte.

Dusty got the inspiration for this scene where he is tied to Klondike Bill's ring truck
from Marlon Brando in the movie "One Eyed Jacks."

As it played out, the Horsemen, in two separate vehicles, followed an unsuspecting Rhodes in his little red convertible to the offices of Jim Crockett Promotions where they attacked Rhodes in the parking lot, beat him down, and tied him to a ring-truck, arms stretched out as if he were to be crucified.

One of the most often-discussed moments in that big angle was when Dusty cried out three famous words just before the Horsemen smashed his right hand with a baseball bat - -

"Make it good!"

There was much discussion by fans at the time suggesting this was Rhodes' exposed attempt to verbally direct the action in the skit taking place that he was a part of. But JJ maintains that wasn't the case.

"There were critics that didn't like Dusty," Dillon told Bocchini, "who said, 'Oh, there's Dusty, he had to let everyone know that he was orchestrating everything' - - which was not true."

JJ explained that it all had to do with Dusty's fondness for the cinema. Especially westerns.

"Dusty was somebody who loved the movies," Dillon said. "and he loved seeing moments in a movie and re-creating those moments. And one of those moments was in the movie 'One Eyed Jacks' where Marlon Brando was this gunslinger who was terrorizing this town."

In the movie, Marlon Brandon's character Rio had been betrayed by partner and fellow-outlaw "Dad" Longworth (portrayed by Karl Malden) following a bank robbery the two had committed together. Many years later, Longworth had become Sheriff, and when Rio returns to town to confront Longworth, Rio is captured, tied to a hitching post and whipped. But the worst blow of all was still yet to come.

Sheriff "Dad" Longworth (Karl Malden) taunts Rio (Marlon Brando) in the 1961 film "One Eyed Jacks."

Rio, barely able to speak, tells Longworth, "You better kill me." His meaning was that after all you've done to me - - you've betrayed me, you've whipped me - - you might as well kill me. Because if you don't, I'll be back to kill you.

But Longworth says killing him isn't necessary. He picks up his rifle and smashes it down on Rio's right hand, the hand this gunslinger used to draw and shoot his gun. Without the use of that right hand, he would be no threat to anyone.

JJ said it is this scene that Rhodes was channeling in the angle with the Horsemen. Rhodes was telling the Horsemen that if you are going to try and take me out, you better make it good. 

In Dusty's recreation of the scene from "One Eyed Jacks" with the Horsemen, the rifle became Ole's baseball bat, and the hitching post became one of Klondike Bill's ring trucks. The Horsemen tied him to the truck, and you could hear Ole telling JJ to make sure his paid cameraman zooms in close. Even though Rhodes was tied to the truck, Ole and Arn held him still as Tully Blanchard wielded the blow of the baseball bat on Rhodes' right hand.

Make it good.  You better kill me.

It was a bit of revenge for Blanchard in particular, who was on crutches due to an earlier injury from a match in Greensboro when Rhodes refused to release a figure-four leg lock.

At the very end of the video tape of the Horsemen angle, you hear JJ Dillon tell Dusty, "I want this to serve as a warning, Rhodes. We'll see you tomorrow night in Charlotte, you cripple!"

In the movie "One Eyed Jack," Marlon Brando warns Karl Malden he'd better kill him. But Malden chose not to do so and at the end of the movie, his drawing hand healed, Brando returns to kill Malden in a final showdown.

And even though Rhodes had warned the Horsemen to "make it good", they didn't make it good enough. The next night in Charlotte, Ole and JJ Dillon (substituting for the injured Blanchard) entered the cage in Charlotte. Rhodes, his right hand and arm in a cast, introduced his mystery partner - - - Nikita Koloff. The hated "Russian Nightmare" had joined the "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes to battle the Four Horsemen in the wake of Magnum T.A.'s career-ending automobile accident. The huge crowd in Charlotte loved it. It wound up being the most dramatic and emotional moment of the year.

This post was republished in edited form on Friday, February 27, 2021.

The Flagship Interview with James J. Dillon

George "Yiorgio" Pantas recently interviewed James J. Dillon for "The Flagship", a military newspaper in eastern Virginia. The interview took place a few days before a VCW show in Suffolk, VA.

Check out this interview with the Leader of the Four Horsemen on his return to the Mid-Atlantic area, memories of his early years in wrestling, legends he worked with, and challenging the NWA world champion early in his career.

This link is to part 1 of the interview. We'll update with a link to part 2 when it posts.

JJ Dillon, leader of the Four Horsemen, comes to Suffolk
http://www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/sports/professional_wrestling/jj-dillon-leader-of-the-four-horsemen-comes-to-suffolk/article_cabd1684-49fb-5e10-8a48-5b9b88c5b4a8.html

J.J.'s podcast "The JJ Dillon Show" can be found at MLWRadio or anywhere you download your podcast.

You can find out where J.J. will be appearing by checking out our JJ Dillon page right here on the Gateway.

Arn Anderson & James J. Dillon appear on the Peanut City Showdown

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Arn Anderson, VCW Commissioner George Pantas, and James J. Dillon in Suffolk, VA for VCW
Pantas is holding his copy of our book "Four Horsemen."

This past Saturday night at the VCW (Vanguard Championship Wrestling) show in Suffolk, VA, two of the original members of the Four Horsemen made appearances for the group, signing autographs and taking photos with the fans. Both men had copies of their books and photos for sale, and Dillon also made available the book "Four Horsemen", seen in the photo above.

J.J. also got involved with the show itself, coming out of retirement to manage Caleb Konley who was challenging Brandon Scott for the VCW Heavyweight championship. Scott's manager, Jerry Stephanitsis, had been banned from ringside by commissioner George Pantas for his constant interference which had helped Scott keep his title. Dillon would manage Konley to insure he got a fair shot at the championship this time.

Or so we thought.

In a huge swerve, J.J. took off one of his famous loafers as the referee had been knocked down and whacked Konley in the head with it to help Scott retain his VCW championship yet again. Commissioner Pantas came in afterwards as Scott celebrated to investigate and he got whacked in the head by Dillon as well!

Post match video:

J.J. showed why he is associated with champions and lived up to his reputation as one of the shrewdest businessmen and managers of all time!

The photo of Pantas with Anderson and Dillon at the top of this page was taken before the show. One might imagine things weren't so friendly between Commissioner Pantas and James J. Dillon after the show.

It was a great night of VCW action in Suffolk presented by promoter Travis Bradshaw and crew, which benefited the Salvation Army. VCW returns to action on October 7 in Norfolk, VA at the Masonic Temple (1001 Granby St.) with Billy Gunn challenging Brandon Scott for the VCW championship (which he still holds thanks to the assistance of the leader of the Four Horsemen James J. Dillon!)

Sunday Get-Togethers with Paul Jones, Ole Anderson, and J.J. Dillon

This past Sunday, September 3, the Gateway family had two different get-togethers that made for nice gatherings with Mid-Atlantic Wrestling legends on Labor Day Weekend.

First, Peggy Lathan and Paul Jones's son, Paul Jr., organized a reunion with Paul and Ole Anderson, as well as Ole's son, Bryant. They all got together at a restaurant in Commerce, GA. on Sunday morning.

A little later that same day, Dick Bourne got together for an early afternoon lunch in Charlotte organized by Debbie Ringley that included Debbie's boyfriend Scott and the leader of the Four Horsemen James J. Dillon! J.J. was in town for the big "Crockett Foundation Night" at the Charlotte Knights baseball game at BB&T Ballpark. Debbie is the grand-daughter of Jim Crockett, Sr. and president of the Crockett Foundation.  

Ole Anderson (seated) and Paul Jones (far right) enjoyed visiting again. Ole's son Bryant (far left)
and Paul's son, Paul Jr. (center) joined them for this special get-together.

J.J. Dillon, Dick Bourne, Scott Whiting, and Debbie Ringley enjoy lunch in Charlotte
prior to "Crockett Foundation Night"at BB&T Ballpark.

Peggy and Paul Jr. put the lunch together with Ole Anderson & Paul Jones in Commerce, GA

Ole Anderson and Paul Jones with Paul Jr.
Is Ole actually smiling?

Peggy had the difficult task of trying to keep Paul Jones quiet!

* * * * * * *

JJ Dillon will be appearing for Vanguard Championship Wrestling this Saturday 9/9. For details and links to further info, check out the James J. Dillon Appearance Schedule Page on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

Ric Flair and JJ Dillon Back on Top after Starrcade '87

Crockett Night at Charlotte's BB&T Ballpark Sunday 9/3

BaseballParks.com    

On Sunday, September 3, it's Crockett Night at the ol' ballgame.

This coming Labor Day weekend, make your plans to head out to BB&T Ballpark, home of the Charlotte Knights baseball team, for a great evening of baseball and to visit with some of the great legends of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions.

It's the 2017 Crockett Foundation Night at the ballpark, part of the final weekend of the regular season for the triple-A Charlotte Knights.The event is organized by the Crockett Foundation, the charitable organization run now by Jim Crockett, Sr.'s granddaughter Debbie Ringley.

Crockett Foundation

DATE: Sunday evening, September 3, 2017
WHERE: BB&T Park, 324 South Mint Street Charlotte, NC (Parking & Directions)
TIME: Gates open at 6:00 PM, First Pitch at 7:05 PM (Wrestlers available before the game)
SPECIAL EVENTS: NWA Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Legends plus Fireworks after the game!

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

INTERVIEW WITH DEBBIE RINGLEY

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Debbie about what's planned for Crockett Night this year.
  
Dick Bourne: How did "Crockett Night” at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte come about?

Debbie Ringley: It came about as a way to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Jim Crockett Promotions, both baseball and wrestling, last year. I had to come up with a way to put what Granddaddy created and the things that came after his death. Hosting wrestlers at a baseball game seemed to be the perfect way of bringing the two together. Last year’s event went so well that the Knights asked us back and we are going to make it a staple of both the Foundations and Knights events schedule each year.

Bourne: So the purpose for the event is to help raise awareness for the Foundation?

Ringley: It is to raise awareness. The wrestlers will not charge for their picture or autograph but they will be asking fans to throw some money in a jug towards a donation.

Bourne: You guys have some very cool wrestling-related merchandise that you sell on the Crockett Foundation website. Will some of that be available for fans to purchase at this event?

Ringley: We will have shirts, including our new "TBS 6:05" shirt, for sale and we will also have both of our wrestling books.

Bourne: I've seen the new "TBS 6:05" shirt - - very cool, it immediately conjures up memories of so many Saturday evenings where I wouldn't miss "World Championship Wrestling" out of Atlanta with David Crockett and Tony Schiavone.

Crockett Foundation / Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Ringley: The back of the shirt is awesome, too, with our Crockett Foundation logo and signatures of many of the wrestling personalities that are "tag team partners" of the Crockett Foundation.

Ringley: Jackie will be there to autograph his ["When Wrestling Was Wrestling"] and our second book contains stories about three of the wrestlers that will be there that night so it would be a great opportunity for a fan to get the books autographed by the subjects in the books. Both the books and the shirts will be on sale for $15.00

Bourne: Nice to have Jackie Crockett there to sign his book of photographs. He took some really amazing photos in the late 1970s and early 1980s. That is a wonderful collection.

Ringley: Both the books and the shirts will be on sale for $15.00

Bourne: What wrestling celebrities will be there?

Ringley: Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson of the Rock n Roll Express, Magnum T.A., J.J. Dillon, Baby Doll, Tommy Young, and Jackie Crockett.

Bourne: Wow, that's a great line-up and a small "who's who" of some of the big names of Jim Crockett Promotions in the hot period of the mid 1980s.

Ringley: It is, and since there was no [Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Legends] Fanfest this year, it may be the only gathering of this type in the Charlotte area this year. I don’t know of any opportunity like this around.

Bourne: I always enjoy seeing these guys get recognized and for fans to be able to show their appreciation for all they gave to the wrestling business. Will there be a special introduction of your special wrestling guests that evening at the game?

Ringley: All of the attendees will be introduced on the field prior to the game and just like last year Baby Doll will arrive on her Harley. I will be throwing out the first pitch but don’t expect much from that!

Bourne: Excellent! No pressure there, right?

Ringley: No, not at all!

Bourne: How will fans be able to interact with your special guests that night?

Ringley: They will be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans. All they will ask is a donation of some kind. Or a swag purchase from our merchandise table will get them pictures and autographs.

Bourne: Will Frances be there? Your mom [Frances Crockett] is such an important part of both the family history and baseball history in Charlotte.

Ringley: Yes, she should be. I think one of my sisters is bringing her. I have my hands full with all the others!

Bourne: I'll bet! Debbie, thanks for filling us in on Crockett Foundation Night 2017. I know both wrestling fans and baseball fans will have a blast.

Ringley: Thanks! Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

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

DATE: Sunday evening, September 3, 2017
WHERE: BB&T Ballpark, 324 South Mint Street Charlotte, NC (Parking & Directions)
TIME: Gates open at 6:00 PM, First Pitch at 7:05 PM


If you are in the Charlotte area over Labor Day weekend, come out and support the Crockett Foundation and Charlotte Knights baseball. Buy some peanuts and some Cracker Jack and spend some time with the great legends of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling.

Win a Copy of "FOUR HORSEMEN" and a Phone Call from James J. Dillon!

Win a copy of the book "FOUR HORSEMEN", signed by J.J. Dillon, and a personal phone call from J.J. himself. 

All you have to do is:

1. Post a rating and review of the "JJ Dillon Show" podcast in iTunes. 
2. Then email JJ at jjdillonshow@mlw.com and tell him in the email which review is yours. 

You are then automatically entered to win!

Two winners will be selected at random and both will receive a copy of the "FOUR HORSEMEN" book signed to you by J.J., as well as a personal phone call from J.J. to say thanks.

For more information, email that same address jjdillonshow@mlw.com or check out the most recent podcasrt (Episode #7, published 8/4/17) with all the information there.

Late edit:
Here is the relevant audio information pulled directly from the 8/4/17 episode of the podcast:




Don't miss JJ on his big Pennsylvania tour this weekend! He will have both his autobiography "Wrestlers Are Like Seagulls" as well as the new "Four Horsemen" book available at his booth or table.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
1CW Wrestling
NTW Presents 1CW/Showcase Pro Wrestling
Celebration Hall at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church
6:30pm Doors Open for Meet & Greet, 7:30pm Bell Time
139 Craigs Meadow Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
Icons of Wrestling & Comic Book Collectorfest
Bud Carson table guest from 9am to 3pm at the 2300 Arena
2300 S. Swanson St., Philadelphia, PA 
For tickets and more info go to http://www.thecollectorfest.com/
For more information on Icons of Wrestling & Comic Book Collectorfest 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
Bud Carson's Pro Wrestling World
12pm to 2pm at the Pro Wrestling World store in Allentown
1901 S. 12th St. Allentown, PA
For more info call 610-798-9900 or email prowrestling1@aol.com.

For more of J.J.'s schedule, click here.

James J. Dillon on his way to the Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame Weekend in Waterloo

"The Leader of the Four Horsemen" James J. Dillon will be appearing once again at the Trago/Thesz Wrestling Hall of Fame Weekend at the Dan Gable Wrestling Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, July 20-23.

The weekend is a great gathering of pro-wrestling legends, modern day superstars, fans, journalists, and everyone in between as wrestling is celebrated there with great tradition.

"Anybody who is a wrestling fan, this has to be on your bucket list," J.J. told WrestlingINC.com in a video-podcast interview this week.  

Last year, J.J. was recognized with the Lou Thesz Award, presented to him by Charlie Thesz, the widow of the great heavyweight champion Lou Thesz, for whom the award is named.

Paul Orndorff and Dusty Rhodes will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Magnum T.A. (Lou Thesz World Heavyweight Championship Award), Stan Hansen (Frank Gotch Award), Mike Van Arsdale (George Tragos Award), and Scott Williams (Jim Melby Award).

Other distinguished guests confirmed to appear along with J.J. Dillon include Jim Ross, Gerry Brisco, Wes Brisco, Sabu, Chad Gable, Jason Jordan, Dan Gable, Shelton Benjamin, Brian Blair, Jim Brunzell, Baron Von Raschke, Larry Hennig, Penta el 0M, Magnum T.A., Paul Orndorff, Stan Hansen, Shane Strickland, Myron Reed, Curt Stallion, ACH, Chuck Taylor, AJ Smooth, Wade Keller, Bruce Hart, Jason Sanderson, Mike Van Arsdale, Bill Murdock and Charlie Thesz.

Honorees and distinguished guests at last year's Trago/Thesz Wrestling Hall of Fame Weekend in Waterloo

All-Access Passes (available from dgmstaff@nwhof.org or (319) 233-0745) provide an opportunity to attend all weekend events, including a ticket to the Hall of Fame Banquet, a ringside seat to the Impact Pro Wrestling show (while available), and preferred access at the autograph signing. There are also events that are limited to All-Access Pass Holders and distinguished guests.

J.J. will have with him copies of his highly respected autobiography "Wrestlers Are Like Seagulls" (co-written with Scott Teal) as well as the new book from the Mid-Atlantic Gateway "Four Horsemen." He recently said of the book on his podcast, "It's a great historical book and I look at it as kind of a diary, a journal of the peak of my career."

For more information on the big weekend in Waterloo, including a complete schedule of events over the weekend, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/791276277677764/ or visit NWHOF.org.

And don't miss J.J.'s excellent new podcast, The JJ Dillon Show, with co-host Rich Bocchini. A new episode primers every Thursday on the MLW Radio Network.

* * * * * * *

Check Out this recent video podcast interview with J.J. Dillon by the good folks at WrestleINC.com.