Kiniski: A Chip Off the Old Block

 One of Gene Kiniski's trademark moments during ring introductions when he was NWA World Champion was to lift up his ring jacket to show off the NWA World title belt he wore underneath. He was known for it. So much so, a great color photo of him doing that exact thing with the NWA 1959-1973 "crown belt" graced the cover of his biography. 

Years later, when his son Kelly Kiniski worked in the Mid-Atlantic territory, he briefly teamed with One Man Gang (George Grey) and the two held the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team championships under the management of Sir Oliver Humperdink as part of Hump's stable, the House of Humperdink.

As a tribute to his father, Kelly would often do the same thing, holding up his ring jacket for photos and ring introductions, as seen in the photo above from 1983.

Incidentally, Kiniski and Gang were the last team to hold these particular belts, title straps that went all the way back to 1975 beginning with the Gene and Ole, the Anderson Brothers. 

I was happy to come across this photograph, as it's a nice call back from son to father, the latter being one of the great NWA World Champions.

Originally published October of 2020 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

The No. 1 Team That Never Held the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (But Should Have)

 by Dick Bourne and David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

We finish our countdown of the 5 teams that competed in the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling area that never held the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships - - but should have. For our explanation of the process and our thinking behind this countdown, visit the original page here.

We've selected five teams that we felt fit that mold and should have been recognized or rewarded by the booker or the promotion with the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships, but for whatever reason were never given that shot.

We have spotlighted those five teams over the past few weeks, counting down to the number one team we thought should have been given that championship - - but wasn't.

The countdown so far:

5. Randy and Lanny Poffo

4. Roberto and Manuel Soto (El Rayo

3. Ted and Jerry Oates

2. Steve Keirn and Tiger Conway, Jr.

It's time to look at our pick for #1!

NUMBER ONE:
Mike "The Judge" DuBois & Sgt. Jacques Goulet (1976)

DC: This team featured two talented stars, with "The Judge" being known to Mid-Atlantic fans from previous successful stints in the area. DuBois and Goulet shined for much of 1976, battling babyface teams like Johnny Weaver and Ronnie Garvin and Tiger Conway and Ronnie Garvin with an exciting roughhouse style.

When Dino Bravo and Tim Woods held the World Tag Team Titles in the late spring and early summer of 1976, Duois and Goulet gave the champs all they could handle in several Title bouts. During this time frame, the promotion gave the Judge and the Sergeant several TV interviews, and Goulet provided a rambling, but very entertaining interview style! When the autumn of 1976 rolled around, the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title belts were pulled out of the mothballs and a tournament was set on TV to crown new Mid-Atlantic Tag Team champs. In a rushed match that started with only about 5 minutes of TV time remaining in the program, Tim Woods and Dino Bravo defeated DuBois and Goulet for the revived Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles. This loss effectively ended the DuBois/Goulet team.

I have always felt the promotion erred in not putting the belts on DuBois and Goulet in this tournament. Tim Woods would leave the area in early 1977 and Dino Bravo began concentrating on singles matches, so winning the Mid-Atlantic Tag belts did nothing to enhance them. If Dubois and Goulet would have won the Tournament, they would have kept the "undercard" tag team scene vibrant as the Anderson's and Ric Flair and Greg Valentine were beginning their epic feud over the World Tag Team Titles.


DB: More than any of the other teams that were overlooked for championship gold in the Mid-Atlantic tag team division, this team by far was the best in my book. They had great chemistry and were a tough, physical team. And they were straight out of the French Foreign Legion!

The Judge had been around for some time in the Mid-Atlantic area, most memorably as the tag team partner of Freddie Sweetan in 1973. The Sarge was a relative newcomer to the area, but would be around for several years, most notably forming a regular tag team with Gene Anderson (a team featured as one of our honorable mentions.) But these two together were tremendous.

They came close to gold once, going to the finals of the fall 1976 tournament for the vacant Mid-Atlantic tag team championships only to lose in the finals of the tournament to former NWA world tag champs Dino Bravo and "Mr. Wrestling" Tim Woods. This made no sense to me at the time. The tournament was on TV and it seemed like the better course would have been to have the heels go over and then fans would pay to see Woods and Bravo chase the titles. Plus it would have obviously elevated Goulet and Dubois in the process.

But maybe the best thing to me about this team was hearing ring announcer Joe Murnick introduce them with that wonderful North Carolina drawl. From Mid-Atlantic Wrestling in December 1976:

Joe Murnick Ring Introduction of DuBois and Goulet


You just can't beat a classic Joe Murnick ring introduction!

And so there you have it; our choices for the 5 tag teams that never held the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships - - but should have!

Here is one final review of our top 5. If you missed any of these features, click the links and explore the history. Great memories!

1. Mike "The Judge" DuBois & Sgt. Jacques Goulet

2. Steve Keirn and Tiger Conway, Jr.

3. Ted and Jerry Oates

4. Roberto and Manuel Soto (El Rayo)

5. Randy and Lanny Poffo

Take a look at our honorable mentions.

 

Originally published October 24, 2015

Best of the Gateway: Five Teams That Never Held the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles (But Should Have)

by Dick Bourne and David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Growing up watching Mid-Atlantic Wrestling in the 1970s, there seemed to always be an up-and-coming tag team combination that got your attention, that stood out from the rest. I'm not talking about established main-eventers who are paired together like Wahoo McDaniel and Paul Jones were in 1975. We knew they were headed for a world championship. I'm talking about two new-comers to the area or perhaps the pairing of two guys that had been toiling away on the undercard. You see them, and you think, "Hey, these guys have got something."

After the NWA world tag team titles were established in early 1975, the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships were a good place for teams to take that next step. Previously, that title had been the number one tag team title in the territory. But with the world tag team championship making its home here, the Mid-Atlantic tag titles seemed an appropriate way to recognize other teams. These should be  teams that weren't necessarily going to make it on the world title level, but were championship calibre none-the-less.

COUNTDOWN

We've selected five teams that we felt fit that mold and should have been recognized or rewarded by the booker or the promotion with the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships but for whatever reason were never given that shot.

We are going to spotlight those five teams over the next few weeks, counting down to the number one team we thought should have been given that championship - - but wasn't.



NUMBER FIVE: Randy and Lanny Poffo (1976)

DC: These two young and talented performers teamed in the Mid-Atlantic area during much of 1976, and for the large majority of time when the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles were inactive. The Poffos came into the territory with a bit of a push, and getting the Mid-Atlantic tag belts would have been a great way to give them a major rub. Despite their youth at the time, with their athletic ability and work on the mics that we saw in later years, there is little chance the Poffos wouldn't have thrived as the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champions.

DB: One could easily argue that this legit-brother team deserved to be higher on this list. They got a decent mid-card push and were second generation wrestlers (father was Angelo Poffo) that already showed a good amount of ring savvy. Randy would go on to have a monster solo career as Randy "Macho Man" Savage. Both were gifted on the mic. This team above all others would have been a great excuse for Jim Crockett Promotions to bring back the Mid-Atlantic tag titles a lot earlier than they did when the titles were dormant in 1975 and the first half of 1976.


Coming up next in the countdown - a high-flying team comes in at #4! 

* * * * *

This first in a series of six posts was originally published on September 25, 2015.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(This feature is edited from the original story posted on the Johnny Weaver Blog, Jan. 9, 2009.) 

Mr. Fuji Passes Away

Tenryu and Mr. Fuji
Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champions (1981)

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Fuji (Harry Fujiwara) this past weekend.

While remembered more today for his work in the WWE, both as an in ring competitor and manager, the Mid-Atlantic Gateway remembers Mr. Fuji fondly as a champion in the Mid-Atlantic territory, teaming with a young Genichiro Tenryu in 1981 to defeat Dewey Robertson and George Wells for the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship.

He was also in the territory in the early 1970s. Les Thatcher once wrote in one of the promotional magazines for Jim Crockett Promotions:

"His pet hold "the cobra" is the move to watch for. When he locks it on his man, you can start to put on your coat."

Our condolences go out to Mr. Fuji's friends, family, and colleagues.

From the WWE Network
WWE HOF Career Highlights Video

Teams That Never Held the Mid-Atlantic Tag Titles (But Should Have) - #1

by Dick Bourne and David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

We finish our countdown of the 5 teams that competed in the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling area that never held the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships - - but should have. For our explanation of the process and our thinking behind this countdown, visit the original page here.

We've selected five teams that we felt fit that mold and should have been recognized or rewarded by the booker or the promotion with the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships, but for whatever reason were never given that shot.

We have spotlighted those five teams over the past few weeks, counting down to the number one team we thought should have been given that championship - - but wasn't.

The countdown so far:

5. Randy and Lanny Poffo

4. Roberto and Manuel Soto (El Rayo

3. Ted and Jerry Oates

2. Steve Keirn and Tiger Conway, Jr.

It's time to look at our pick for #1!

NUMBER ONE:
Mike "The Judge" DuBois & Sgt. Jacques Goulet (1976)

DC: This team featured two talented stars, with "The Judge" being known to Mid-Atlantic fans from previous successful stints in the area. DuBois and Goulet shined for much of 1976, battling babyface teams like Johnny Weaver and Ronnie Garvin and Tiger Conway and Ronnie Garvin with an exciting roughhouse style.

When Dino Bravo and Tim Woods held the World Tag Team Titles in the late spring and early summer of 1976, Duois and Goulet gave the champs all they could handle in several Title bouts. During this time frame, the promotion gave the Judge and the Sergeant several TV interviews, and Goulet provided a rambling, but very entertaining interview style! When the autumn of 1976 rolled around, the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title belts were pulled out of the mothballs and a tournament was set on TV to crown new Mid-Atlantic Tag Team champs. In a rushed match that started with only about 5 minutes of TV time remaining in the program, Tim Woods and Dino Bravo defeated DuBois and Goulet for the revived Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles. This loss effectively ended the DuBois/Goulet team.

I have always felt the promotion erred in not putting the belts on DuBois and Goulet in this tournament. Tim Woods would leave the area in early 1977 and Dino Bravo began concentrating on singles matches, so winning the Mid-Atlantic Tag belts did nothing to enhance them. If Dubois and Goulet would have won the Tournament, they would have kept the "undercard" tag team scene vibrant as the Anderson's and Ric Flair and Greg Valentine were beginning their epic feud over the World Tag Team Titles.


DB: More than any of the other teams that were overlooked for championship gold in the Mid-Atlantic tag team division, this team by far was the best in my book. They had great chemistry and were a tough, physical team. And they were straight out of the French Foreign Legion!

The Judge had been around for some time in the Mid-Atlantic area, most memorably as the tag team partner of Freddie Sweetan in 1973. The Sarge was a relative newcomer to the area, but would be around for several years, most notably forming a regular tag team with Gene Anderson (a team featured as one of our honorable mentions.) But these two together were tremendous.

They came close to gold once, going to the finals of the fall 1976 tournament for the vacant Mid-Atlantic tag team championships only to lose in the finals of the tournament to former NWA world tag champs Dino Bravo and "Mr. Wrestling" Tim Woods. This made no sense to me at the time. The tournament was on TV and it seemed like the better course would have been to have the heels go over and then fans would pay to see Woods and Bravo chase the titles. Plus it would have obviously elevated Goulet and Dubois in the process.

But maybe the best thing to me about this team was hearing ring announcer Joe Murnick introduce them with that wonderful North Carolina drawl. From Mid-Atlantic Wrestling in December 1976:

Joe Murnick Ring Introduction of DuBois and Goulet


You just can't beat a classic Joe Murnick ring introduction!

And so there you have it; our choices for the 5 tag teams that never held the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships - - but should have!

Here is one final review of our top 5. If you missed any of these features, click the links and explore the history. Great memories!

1. Mike "The Judge" DuBois & Sgt. Jacques Goulet

2. Steve Keirn and Tiger Conway, Jr.

3. Ted and Jerry Oates

4. Roberto and Manuel Soto (El Rayo)

5. Randy and Lanny Poffo

Take a look at our honorable mentions.

Look for more Countdown features to come here on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

Republished on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway May 7, 2020.

Teams That Never Held the Mid-Atlantic Tag Titles (But Should Have) - Honorable Mentions

by Dick Bourne and David Chappell

Mid-Atlantic Gateway

We continue our countdown of the 5 teams that competed in the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling area that never held the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships - - but should have.

The countdown so far:

1. (Who was number 1?)

2. Steve Keirn and Tiger Conway, Jr.

3. Ted and Jerry Oates

4. Roberto and Manuel Soto (El Rayo)

5. Randy and Lanny Poffo

Before we announce our choice for the #1 tag team that never held the Mid-Atlantic tag team titles - - but should have -- we look at a few other great teams that didn't make the top five cut but would have also made great tag champs. They are our "honorable mentions."

HONERABLE MENTIONS

Masked Superstar and Kim Duk
managed by Prof. Boris Malenko

Masked Superstar and Kim Duk 
(managed by "Professor" Boris Malenko)

DB: You could easily argue that this colorful team should have made our top-5 list. This team wasn't together very long, but they were a memorable combination under the able tutelage of Professor Boris Malenko, who would manage the Masked Superstar's singles career for several years here. They had a great look and worked well as a team, and with both guys working at or near the top of many of the cards at that time, they seemed destined for a tag title run. But it never happened.

DC: An outstanding team during the first half of 1977. But the promotion wanted these two in singles programs: Duk against Wahoo McDaniel and Superstar against the Mighty Igor.

The Mongols

The Mongols 
(managed by "Professor" Boris Malenko)

DC: Coming into the area as the "International Tag Team Champions" in early 1976, their push was to be the World Tag Team Champions. Bolo and Geeto had a short program with the Anderson's for the World Tag Team belts, but came up short. The Mongols didn't seem as suited for a "secondary" tag title as some of the other contenders.


Sgt. Jacques Goulet and Gene Anderson

DB: This team was a regular combination for well over a year in 1978-1979 and had great credibility because each had been a partner in another established tag team - - Goulet with Mike "The Judge" Dubois, and of course Gene with Ole as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, the Anderson Brothers. Goulet and Anderson were always in the tag match just before the main events and would have been a perfect combination to hold the tag belts in those years when not much was being done with them anyway.

DC: A veteran duo that could hold their own with anybody. During portions of 1978 and 1979, this team was a tough out for any Mid-Atlantic opponent.

Bob Caudle with Boris Malenko and Missouri Mauler

Mr. X #1 and #2

DC: If you want a masked team that could have been Mid-Atlantic Tag Team champs, look no further than this team. During portions of 1977 and 1978, these two masked marvels befuddled many a team with their unorthodox style.


Boris Malenko and the Missouri Mauler

DB: Another tough combination that flirted with main events but never quite got there. They would have been perfect for the Mid-Atlantic tag team titles.

GATEWAY COUNTDOWN

NEXT TIME: It is time to unveil our choice for #1. Until then, so long for now!

5 Teams That Never Held the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles (But Should Have) - #3

by Dick Bourne and David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

We continue our countdown of the 5 teams that competed in the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling area that never held the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships - - but should have. For our explanation of the process and our thinking behind this countdown, visit the original page here.

We've selected five teams that we felt fit that mold and should have been recognized or rewarded by the booker or the promotion with the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships, but for whatever reason were never given that shot.

We are going to spotlight those five teams over the next few weeks, counting down to the number one team we thought should have been given that championship - - but wasn't.

The past two weeks, we selected teams for #5 and #4 in the countdown that were brother teams. This week we make it three brother teams in a row.


NUMBER THREE: Ted and Jerry Oates (1978)

Ted and Jerry Oates

DB: This brother team from Columbus, GA seemed like a natural for tag team championship gold in the Mid-Atlantic area. Ted actually stayed around longer than Jerry. They were an outstanding combination, though a bit lackluster on the stick. But that didn't hurt other combinations from being given a run with the Mid-Atlantic tag straps, especially on into the early 1980s. To the contrary; these titles were the perfect vehicle to elevate a solid tag team that lacked in other areas. The Oates brothers would have made great Mid-Atlantic team champions and would have given us some solid championship matches in semi-main events. I liked Jerry's style in particular; he always reminded me of Terry Funk, and was clearly influenced by him. Jerry even used the spinning toe hold as his finisher.

DC: The "Oates Brothers" formed an impressive duo in the Mid-Atlantic area in the summer of 1978, and they teamed in the area through early 1979. Ted and Jerry were given a limited push by the promotion, and were a smooth and steady team in the ring. While not dynamic by any means on promos, they could hold their own. On sheer wrestling ability and continuity as a team, the Oates' would have benefited the territory with a run as Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champions.


Next time: We look at a dynamic young team that shocked the world when they toppled the world tag team champs on television. Join us in a few days when we take a look at team #2 in our countdown.

The countdown so far:

1. 

2.

3. Ted and Jerry Oates

4. Roberto and Manuel Soto (El Rayo)

5. Randy and Lanny Poffo

Teams That Never Held the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles (But Should Have) - #4

by Dick Bourne and David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

We continue our countdown of the 5 teams that competed in the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling area that never held the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships - - but should have. For our explanation of the process and our thinking behind this countdown, visit the original page here.

We've selected five teams that we felt fit that mold and should have been recognized or rewarded by the booker or the promotion with the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships but for whatever reason were never given that shot.

We are going to spotlight those five teams over the next few weeks, counting down to the number one team we thought should have been given that championship - - but wasn't.

Last week we discussed #5, the brother team of Randy and Lanny Poffo. This week we take a look at another brother team, although originally, fans didn't know they were brothers. 

NUMBER FOUR: Roberto and Manuel Soto (El Rayo)

Manuel and Roberto Soto
as Louisiana Tag Champs

DC: At the very beginning of 1976, it looked like this high flying duo would be a major threat to the World Tag Team Champions Gene and Ole Anderson. After coming close to upsetting the Anderson's, the "Soto Brothers" team lost steam, particularly after El Rayo unmasked to reveal himself to be Roberto's brother, Manuel. Regardless, the Soto's exciting ring style would have made them formidable Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champions, when the area's landscape was filled with talented tag teams.

DB: This great tag team from Puerto Rico earned several shots at the world tag team titles in great matches with the Anderson Brothers. El Rayo unmasked on TV to reveal himself to be Roberto's brother Manuel Soto. These two had a style unique to the area, especially for that time. One of the most "high-flying" teams we had here in those years, they held great promise for a short time, but could have greatly benefitted from a small push as Mid-Atlantic tag champs.

Next time: We look at a team that held regional championships elsewhere, but didn't here. They should have! Joins us in a few days when we take a look at team #3 in our countdown.

The countdown so far:

1. 

2.

3.

4. Roberto and Manuel Soto (El Rayo)

5. Randy and Lanny Poffo

Five Teams That Never Held the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles (But Should Have)

by Dick Bourne and David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Growing up watching Mid-Atlantic Wrestling in the 1970s, there seemed to always be an up-and-coming tag team combination that got your attention, that stood out from the rest. I'm not talking about established main-eventers who are paired together like Wahoo McDaniel and Paul Jones were in 1975. We knew they were headed for a world championship. I'm talking about two new-comers to the area or perhaps the pairing of two guys that had been toiling away on the undercard. You see them, and you think, "Hey, these guys have got something."

After the NWA world tag team titles were established in early 1975, the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships were a good place for teams to take that next step. Previously, that title had been the number one tag team title in the territory. But with the world tag team championship making its home here, the Mid-Atlantic tag titles seemed an appropriate way to recognize other teams. These should be  teams that weren't necessarily going to make it on the world title level, but were championship calibre none-the-less.

COUNTDOWN

We've selected five teams that we felt fit that mold and should have been recognized or rewarded by the booker or the promotion with the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships but for whatever reason were never given that shot.

We are going to spotlight those five teams over the next few weeks, counting down to the number one team we thought should have been given that championship - - but wasn't.



NUMBER FIVE: Randy and Lanny Poffo (1976)

DC: These two young and talented performers teamed in the Mid-Atlantic area during much of 1976, and for the large majority of time when the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles were inactive. The Poffos came into the territory with a bit of a push, and getting the Mid-Atlantic tag belts would have been a great way to give them a major rub. Despite their youth at the time, with their athletic ability and work on the mics that we saw in later years, there is little chance the Poffos wouldn't have thrived as the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champions.

DB: One could easily argue that this legit-brother team deserved to be higher on this list. They got a decent mid-card push and were second generation wrestlers (father was Angelo Poffo) that already showed a good amount of ring savvy. Randy would go on to have a monster solo career as Randy "Macho Man" Savage. Both were gifted on the mic. This team above all others would have been a great excuse for Jim Crockett Promotions to bring back the Mid-Atlantic tag titles a lot earlier than they did when the titles were dormant in 1975 and the first half of 1976.


Coming up next in the countdown - a high-flying team comes in at #4!