A Look Back at Big Swede Hanson's Defining Moment

Swede Hanson

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

My earliest professional wrestling memories came about from watching All-Star Wrestling, the precursor to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, on television in the late 1960s. Two of the most noteworthy stars of that time were Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson, the dastardly duo that ran roughshod in Jim Crockett Promotions through the 60’s into the early 1970’s. These two villains were almost inseparable, with Rip being sly and sneaky with the gift of gab, while Swede was the silent partner, and a big brutish enforcer.

By late 1973, the winds of change were blowing in the Carolinas territory which was by then called Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Rip Hawk exited the area for about a three month period in December of 1973. While the “Ripper” was gone, Swede had his contract purchased by none other than the notorious Super Destroyer! The Super D. “managed” and had Swede in tow as his enforcer, and big Swede’s first major target was Johnny Weaver, as Hanson interfered in a huge match between Weaver and the Destroyer on December 28, 1973 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. Swede saved the Destroyer from losing his mask in that bout, with his antics giving Weaver an unsatisfying disqualification victory.

In January of 1974, Swede Hanson and the Super Destroyer formed an imposing tag team combination, dispatching such high-end “good guy” tag teams as Johnny Weaver and Art Nelson, and Nelson Royal and Sandy Scott during that month. In early February, Swede took to wearing a hood as “Mr. X” when teaming with the Destroyer. This chicanery came to an end after a couple of tag team bouts, when Mr. X was unceremoniously unmasked by Danny Miller and Johnny Weaver as being big Swede Hanson under the hood.

The unholy alliance between Swede Hanson and the Super Destroyer began showing cracks almost as quickly as it began. For the many years that Swede teamed up with Rip Hawk, the Ripper did not always treat Hanson with a boatload of respect. But Swede was the “good soldier,” never really challenging Rip even when Hawk was condescending to him. However, when the Super Destroyer started talking down to Swede and chastising him for supposed inadequacies in the ring, the big 300 pounder from Newark, New Jersey didn’t care for that treatment in the least. The slights mounted, and an inner rage started to build in the big Swede. A defining moment in the career of Swede Hanson was about to happen!

On February 13, 1974 at the television tapings for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Swede Hanson reached his breaking point. During a televised bout the Destroyer not only berated the big Swede verbally, but had the audacity to SLAP him in front of the TV studio audience and all the thousands of fans watching at home! Swede Hanson finally had enough! After being content to stay in the background and take the snide insults for many years, Swede decided to control his own destiny. His defining moment in Jim Crockett Promotions had arrived!

Announcer Elliot Murnick said, “I’m up at the ring now and Swede Hanson is pacing around here.” Hanson interrupted, “Let me tell you something Murnick. You don’t pull something like that with me. I’m not a whipping dog for these people! If this guy thinks I’m a whipping dog for him he’s out of his mind! I don’t know what’s the matter with this character. He’s not gonna get away with it with me. I’ve had enough of this stuff. For years, I’ve had enough of garbage like him!”

1974 Concludes With a Bang!

By David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway 

One of the most memorable televised matches ever on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV wasn’t actually a scheduled match at all. And occurring in the middle of 1974, it in many ways was “Exhibit A” in the evolving change of Jim Crockett Promotions from a tag team based territory to an area focused on a hard-hitting singles style.

Indian star Wahoo McDaniel was on his way to the Carolina’s in early July of 1974 when he came by the High Point, North Carolina TV studios to help announcer Charlie Harville with color commentary. Johnny “The Champ” Valentine was in the squared circle and was none too happy to see Wahoo in the territory, goaded McDaniel into the ring, and the two proceeded to have an impromptu slugfest that was talked about for years hence! In fact, a clip on the Wahoo-Valentine brawl was shown due to popular demand on a Jim Crockett Promotions highlight year-in-review show way off in 1980!

And on the subject of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling year-in-review shows, the December of 1974 version featured the Wahoo-Valentine in-ring brawl in one of its segments. Wahoo and the Super Destroyer were both in the studio when the tape of the High Point fracas was shown to the viewers.

Announcer Sam Menacker began, “This is really a highlight, boy-o-boy, Wahoo McDaniel and Johnny Valentine! What a feud these two men have. Look at these punches and chops! It’s just a testimony of the condition of both of you.”

Wahoo commented, “I want the Destroyer to be sure and take a good close look at this, because this could happen to him at any time too.” Menacker noted, “The Destroyer is sitting here watching intently, very intently.” The Super Destroyer chimed in, “Well Mr. Wahoo, it just goes to show one thing, that you pick, like you pick your opponents. You picked that tape to make yourself look good. They should show a few of the tapes where I beat you decisively in the center of the ring, with a one, two, three count that really counts.”

Watching the wild action Menacker exclaimed, “Wahoo, boy I’m telling you, I can’t remember ever seeing anything like this, all these chops! You didn’t beat him, I mean he gets up. He’s tough, but you’re still withstanding his punches too.” McDaniel agreed, “That’s right, it’s just a tough battle. In a short period of time like this, it’s hard to tell who the best man is. As you can see he’s holding his own and I’m holding my own.”

Menacker continued excitedly, “You dropped him there! The fans are cheering you on!” Wahoo then added some important context, “Sam, I want to bring up one thing. This was one of the first weeks I was here. Valentine wanted to test me early. He got a good showing early that I wasn’t gonna back down from him. I want the Destroyer to answer this, because he waited an extra week to see what I could do. They wanted to feel me out ahead of time. He’s felt me out since; he knows how I am. Now Valentine knows that you’re not gonna run over me.”

Sam, still awe-stuck at the ferocity of the spontaneous brawl stated to Wahoo, “Here [Valentine’s] wasting time, you dropped him there. He’s purposely wasting time here, he’s regaining his bearings a bit in doing this. He’s trying to get his second wind. Again, look at these punches fly! Another chop! And that stops him; that backs him up.”

The Super Destroyer then interjected, “It just goes to show the great condition of the Super Destroyer and as you can see on your screen, Johnny Valentine.” McDaniel disgustedly retorted, “Yeah, he looks in real good shape there. I tell you, I’m tired of sitting out here. I don’t want to sit at the table with this man.” Wahoo then stormed off from the announcer’s table leaving Menacker and the Super D. behind as the segment wrapped up.

Sam concluded, “I certainly don’t blame Wahoo for leaving. Say fans, in this match you’ve seen a lot of punching and a lot of toughness on the part of both these wrestlers. Oh, look at that chop by Wahoo McDaniel! Another chop to the back of the head! That shakes up Valentine as the Destroyer watches intently, and we now must go to a commercial break.”

Mid-Atlantic Arm Wrestling: The Most Obscure Championship (Part 4)

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Catch up on PART 1   PART 2    PART 3

PART FOUR:
The Aftermath

Despite the tremendous buildup for this event, to the point of the President of Jim Crockett Promotions being its TV announcer, the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling Arm-Wrestling Championship vanished from the scene as quickly as it arrived. To my best recollection, this championship was never defended. In fact, I don’t believe that it was ever even mentioned again after the Avenger hoisted the trophy signifying his championship victory.

The two finalists in the championship match, the Avenger and the Super Destroyer, were in the early stages of an extremely rare program of masked man versus masked man that would go on for a number of additional months. It seems odd that this battle for a championship would not have factored in and played some kind of role in what would become a red-hot feud between the masked men. But, alas, it never did.

There would be several times later in the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling years where arm-wrestling would work its way into feuds and angles. A couple that come immediately to mind were the Mighty Igor versus Blackjack Mulligan in 1977 and Tony Atlas versus Ken Patera in 1978. If there was ever a time that the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling Arm-Wrestling Championship would have become relevant again, these two programs should have brought it out of the mothballs. But again, it didn’t happen.

To me, the saga of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling Arm-Wrestling Championship will always leave me wondering why this championship was created with such fanfare on television, but was never followed up on despite the fact that the Avenger and the Super Destroyer, the two finalists, were in the midst of a heated program that was about to get a lot more heated. None of that is clear to me looking back. The only thing that is clear to me, is that the “one and done” Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling Arm-Wrestling Championship had to the most obscure championship in the promotion’s history!

Avenger vs. Super Destroyer: Mid-Atlantic's Most Obscure Championship (Part 3)

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Catch Up on PART 1 and PART 2 

PART THREE:
THE AVENGER VS. THE SUPER DESTROYER

It would be a battle of the masked men as the Super Destroyer and the Avenger battled for the Mid-Atlantic Television Arm-Wrestling Championship as the President of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Jim Crockett, Jr., announced to the fans “This is for the Championship.”

In this championship encounter, the glove of the Super Destroyer would not be an issue as the Avenger forcefully announced, “Leave the glove on!”

Crockett exclaimed twice in the early seconds of the match, “The Avenger has the advantage,” as the Super D’s arm was being pushed downward to the delight of the WRAL studio audience who were screaming their approval. The Destroyer made a brief comeback, only to have the Avenger again gain the upper hand. Crockett noted, [the Destroyer’s] arm is about halfway down…[the Avenger]became within a few inches of being the winner!”

The contest then leveled out a bit as Crockett noted, “It’s all even now…straight up.” The Super Destroyer then claimed the edge, but almost immediate Mr. Crockett said, “It’s straight up now; no one has the advantage.”

Then came a back and forth flurry of action that would soon produce our winner. Jim Crockett commented, “The Avenger now has the advantage; has his arm halfway down. But wait, the Destroyer is coming back…the Destroyer has a slight advantage. And now the Destroyer has his arm halfway down!”

The tide would now turn once again, but for the last time. As the crowd in the studio audience roared, Mr. Crockett exclaimed, “The Avenger now has a slight advantage…now [the Destroyer’s] arm is about halfway down! THE AVENGER HAS WON!!”

Announcer Bob Caudle then reclaimed the mic saying, “There [is the Avenger] being given the trophy by referee Sonny Fargo!” Color commentator Big Bill Ward added, “Listen to that crowd Bob, they are tickled to death! The Wrestling Arm-Wrestling Champ—The Avenger!” Caudle confirmed, “He defeated the Super Destroyer!”

The Destroyer was beaten, but not unbowed. The next match on the studio card was Wahoo McDaniel versus the Super D’s new associate, Brute Bernard. After Wahoo got the Brute in the abdominal stretch hold, the Super Destroyer jumped into the fray causing the Brute to lose via disqualification. Wahoo then proceeded to clean house, dispatching the Destroyer back to the dressing room ending his forgettable evening!

CONTINUED IN PART 4!

The Most Obscure Championship (Part Two)

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Mid-Atlantic Wrestling's Most Obscure Championship
Catch up on Part One

PART TWO

THE SUPER DESTROYER
(Don Jardine)

Paul Jones versus the Super Destroyer would have been a Main Event wrestling match in any Jim Crockett Promotions venue, much less on television, but their meeting in the semifinal of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling Arm-Wrestling Championship was a truly unique spectacle.

Announcers Bob Caudle and Big Bill Ward had earlier in the show signaled their belief that Jones was the favorite in their eyes to emerge as the Champion. However, Paul himself cast some doubt on that prediction just before the match saying that his shoulder was definitely ailing him, so on balance this encounter with the Super D. rated as a toss-up before the two adversaries hooked up.

Of concern to Paul Jones’ fans was Paul’s demeanor as he approached the Destroyer yelling to the masked man, “Take you glove off!!” The Super Destroyer laughed off Jones’ demand, seemingly getting inside Paul’s head. The Destroyer’s glove had become a concern for his opponents, as it was the hand that the masked man used to apply his deadly claw hold. The Super D.’s grip was so tight, almost like a suction cup, that many speculated that his glove must have played a role in him having such a vice-like grip.

When Jones and the Destroyer finally locked up, Jim Crockett, Jr. exclaimed, “The match has begun!” Crockett quickly told the viewing audience that the Super Destroyer had the early advantage. Crockett then reported, “Paul Jones’ shoulder is giving way slightly!” Then after just a few more seconds Crockett concluded, “The Destroyer has the advantage…the Super Destroyer is the winner!”

Thus, the favorite to win the Championship had been eliminated in about 30 seconds as Jones’ injured shoulder was clearly more of a hinderance to him than anyone thought heading into the semifinal bout.

Crockett then announced, “The Destroyer will now meet the Avenger.” An exuberant Ivan Koloff had reentered the ring to congratulate the Destroyer, prompting Mr. Crockett to admonish Sonny Fargo yet again, “Get Mr. Koloff out of the ring!” As before, Ivan reluctantly exited the squared circle.

Mr. Crockett then reiterated, “The winner of this match will be the Mid-Atlantic Television Arm-Wrestling Champion! The Super Destroyer will meet the Avenger!”

Continued in Part 3!

July 4th Flashback: Andre and the Andersons Headline Richmond (1975)

A GIANT 4th of July Card in Richmond

The Andersons Battle Wahoo McDaniel and Paul Jones in Richmond

by David Chappell

Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Like most cities, Richmond, Virginia back in 1975 had its share of spectacular fireworks displays to commemorate the Independence Day holiday. But none of those displays held a candle to the “fireworks” that were unleashed on fans inside the Richmond Coliseum, watching a super spectacular card of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling on the evening of July 4, 1975!

To those that have followed the Mid-Atlantic Gateway, you may recall that this card ranked #21 on my listing of Richmond’s greatest Mid-Atlantic cards. The most intriguing match to me going in was a rare Richmond appearance of Andre the Giant, going against the seemingly indestructible Super Destroyer, who was saying at the time that he had held onto his mask for thirteen years. But the match that really stole the show was a NWA World Tag Team Title bout between champions Gene and Ole Anderson against Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel.

About three weeks prior to this Richmond show, the Anderson Brothers had regained the World Tag Team Title belts on television in the dramatic “Supreme Sacrifice” match, where Ole ran Wahoo’s head into Gene’s head, knocking Gene out in the process. This return bout in Richmond had the big match feel of a title change, and the apparent sellout crown at the Coliseum was at a fever pitch anticipating a win for the challengers. But…it wasn’t meant to be on this night. An even bout turned the challengers way towards the end, but it was too little too late. The Andersons stalled out the final minutes, and escaped with a 60 minute draw. This match set up four return bouts between these four during the summer and fall of 1975, with the challengers coming tantalizingly close to winning back the belts.

In the semi-final, many in attendance thought Andre the Giant would finally be the man to unmask the Super Destroyer. After all, if a GIANT couldn’t do the deed nobody else had in 13 years, who possibly could? Andre physically manhandled the masked man to a degree that nobody could believe, but that didn’t stop the Destroyer’s active mind from escaping one precarious predicament after another. A disqualification win for Andre got the Giant’s hand raised and validated a dominating performance, but at the same time frustrated many fans who were expecting a hood to come off. However, the Super Destroyer haters were about to get the last laugh. As fate would have it, the masked man would wrestle only one more time in Richmond and within a month or so was out of the area under a cloud, never to return, with his unmasked face plastered all over the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television shows.

The supporting card, honestly, was not as strong as many Richmond saw, but it did have its moments. The “best of the rest” was a unique pairing of the Mid-Atlantic TV Champion Ric Flair and the underrated Doug Gilbert, against the “good guy” duo of big Swede Hanson and Sonny King. Flair was rising fast at this juncture, so I expected the “bad guys” would take this one. The big Swede was dropping down the cards, and Sonny King was being de-emphasized and would be leaving the area in about two weeks as time would tell. However, Flair and Gilbert couldn’t control their anger issues, giving Hanson and King a disqualification victory to the delight of the Richmond fans.

The other tag team match of the night saw Bob Bruggers and Sandy Scott dispatch the team of Charlie Fulton and the Blue Scorpion. The Bruggers/Scott combination was a smooth one, and they ran circles around their confounded opponents this night. Unfortunately for his many fans, Sandy Scott wrestled very little after this Richmond match, though he did continue to stay active with the promotion, primarily behind the scenes. And after a promising start as a main event performer a year and a half before, Bruggers continued to drop down the cards until the airplane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina in early October of 1975 brought his wrestling career to an end.

Three single matches rounded out this holiday spectacular, and the curtain raiser was by far the best of the bunch! The good guys notched a couple of wins as Greg Peterson outlasted Larry Sharpe, and the highly popular Klondike Bill took the measure of Joe Soto. But the first bout of the night stood out, and was really outstanding. 1974 NWA rookie of the year Steve Keirn and veteran Art Nelson wrestled to a 20 minute draw, which was a battle of contrasting styles and youth versus experience. Nelson, the aging veteran, was still in exceptional condition, but had trouble dealing the speed of Keirn. Conversely, the strength of Nelson gave the youngster Keirn fits. Each man had their chances at victory, but ultimately had to settle for a draw. As clearly Keirn was going up the “Mid-Atlantic ladder” as Nelson was going down that same ladder, it was befitting that they would meet in the middle of that proverbial ladder in this early July 1975 confrontation. But to show how this trend continued over the next few months for both, by October of 1975 Keirn was in a main event program with Tiger Conway, while Nelson was set to depart the Mid-Atlantic area, and would never return.

Originally published July 4, 2015, and republished in July of 2018, and 2021
on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Mid-Atlantic Wrestling's Most Obscure Championship (1974)

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

PART ONE

Fans in most Jim Crockett Promotions television markets that tuned into the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling show that aired on December 7, 1974 were treated to a most improbable milestone. The most obscure championship in the history of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling was about to be decided right before their eyes!

Announcers Bob Caudle and Big Bill Ward could hardly contain their excitement about the upcoming championship event, as they hardly paid any attention at all to the ongoing bout between Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Johnny Valentine and Klondike Bill. Ward exuded, “We will have a Champion crowned on this program,” to which Caudle replied, “I’m really interested in this arm-wrestling!” Then the predictions began as Ward queried Caudle, ‘Who’s it gonna be, what’s your guess? I’m saying Paul Jones!’ Caudle concurred with that prediction, replying, ‘I’m going to have to go along with that.’ Ward responded, ‘He’s about the best I’ve seen yet!’

To add to the importance of this new championship, none other than the President of Jim Crockett Promotions, Mr. Jim Crockett, Jr., came out to the ring to set the stage for this TV event. Crockett began, “This is the Finals of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling Arm-Wrestling Championship. There are three Finalists—Paul Jones, the Avenger and the Super Destroyer.”

While looking directly at Ivan Koloff and Wahoo McDaniel who were standing menacingly in the ring, Crockett sternly announced, “There will be NO seconds in the ring during the Finals.” Mr. Crockett then turned and faced referee Sony Fargo and firmly stated, “Referee, please ask Mr. Koloff and Mr. McDaniel to leave the ring. There will be NO seconds.”

Referee Fargo relayed Mr. Crockett’s message, but neither the “Russian Bear” nor the “Indian Chief” seemed very receptive. At that time, Koloff and Jones were locked in a struggle over the Mid-Atlantic Television Title, while Wahoo was friends with both Paul and the Avenger, and the Chief had absolutely no love for the Super Destroyer. Koloff, on the other hand, was great friends with the masked Super D.

Jim Crockett then explained the championship format to the fans in attendance at the WRAL TV studio and to the many thousands upon thousands watching at home. “By draw, Paul Jones will meet the Super Destroyer first,” Crockett announced. Immediately, Jones interrupted saying, “Let me tell you something—my shoulder is killing me but I know one thing, this is the Finals tonight. And if I don’t arm wrestle tonight I’ll never get another chance! So, I don’t know how strong [the Super Destroyer] is, but we’ll find out in a few minutes.”

A clearly agitated Jim Crockett, Jr. then tersely told Koloff and McDaniel to leave the ring again, and then said to the pacing masked Avenger, “Mr. Avenger, will you just please wait and you will take on the winner.”

Referee Sonny Fargo, sensing Mr. Crockett’s frustration that none of the wrestlers had exited the ring, told everybody except Jones and the Super Destroyer, “I hate to ask you all to leave, but I have to or you’re gonna forfeit the match. I hate to do it.”

Wahoo was incensed and shouted back at Fargo, “Where’d you get all that authority?!?” Sonny then turned towards Jim Crockett, and Mr. Crockett retorted, “Koloff and McDaniel, out of the ring! You cannot be in the ring.”

When the boss spoke, everybody listened and finally left the ring except the combatants Paul Jones and the Super Destroyer, along with referee Fargo. Jones and the Super Destroyer approached the arm-wrestling table and the noise from the studio audience built up to a deafening crescendo. Paul seemed particularly annoyed as he approached the Super Destroyer who appeared to be smiling through his mask…

Continued in Part 2!

Poster: Super Destroyer and Paul Jones Battle in Lynchburg (1975)

by Jody Shifflett
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This poster is from July 25, 1975 and took place at the Lynchburg Armory, a venue that saw a lot of great Mid-Atlantic wrestling action. Just look at the rundown on this poster, from the Super Destroyer to Paul Jones to Ric Flair to Swede Hanson. Also featured are Kevin Sullivan and Bob Bruggers. This is when men were men.

This event took place roughly two months before the October plane crash, of which Ric Flair and Bob Bruggers were a part. I was only three years old at the time of this event but how great it would be to travel back in time and see these guys perform when wrestling truly was wrestling.

Features great light pink to blue coloring, and as always the historic 8:15 start time!

NO. 3 IN THE SHIFFLETT POSTER SERIES

Poster: Early Wahoo/Flair Face-Off in 1974 Tag Team Action

by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

Let's go back to the Twin City of Winston-Salem, NC with this poster promoting a card held on Friday October 18th, 1974. It was one of the earlier matches with Ric Flair and Wahoo McDaniel as opponents, albeit in tag team action. 

 

The Nature Boy's partner in the main event was the Super Destroyer (Don Jardine) and the Big Chief would team with Sonny King. 

The semi-main event was a big six man tag affair featuring Rip Hawk, Art Nelson, and Chuck O'Connor (future Big John Studd) against Paul Jones, Swede Hanson, and Johnny Weaver while preliminaries consisted of three singles match-ups that included Abe Jacobs, Cowboy Parker, and Bob Bruggers. Bruggers was a former teammate of Wahoo on the NFL expansion Miami Dolphins of the late 1960s. 

The poster has an attractive horizontal design with black print on a pink background and the date, the four main eventers, and the "Wrestling" splash really stands out in high impact red. It's neat to see how Southern Poster laid out the tag teams side by side instead of over and under with a vertical "Versus" in between. The six great images of the Mid Atlantic stars of the day help complete this classic.

NO. 19 IN A SERIES

4th of July Flashback: The Andersons Battle Wahoo McDaniel and Paul Jones in Richmond

A GIANT 4th of July Card in Richmond

by David Chappell

Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Like most cities, Richmond, Virginia back in 1975 had its share of spectacular fireworks displays to commemorate the Independence Day holiday. But none of those displays held a candle to the “fireworks” that were unleashed on fans inside the Richmond Coliseum, watching a super spectacular card of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling on the evening of July 4, 1975!

To those that have followed the Mid-Atlantic Gateway, you may recall that this card ranked #21 on my listing of Richmond’s greatest Mid-Atlantic cards. The most intriguing match to me going in was a rare Richmond appearance of Andre the Giant, going against the seemingly indestructible Super Destroyer, who was saying at the time that he had held onto his mask for thirteen years. But the match that really stole the show was a NWA World Tag Team Title bout between champions Gene and Ole Anderson against Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel.

About three weeks prior to this Richmond show, the Anderson Brothers had regained the World Tag Team Title belts on television in the dramatic “Supreme Sacrifice” match, where Ole ran Wahoo’s head into Gene’s head, knocking Gene out in the process. This return bout in Richmond had the big match feel of a title change, and the apparent sellout crown at the Coliseum was at a fever pitch anticipating a win for the challengers. But…it wasn’t meant to be on this night. An even bout turned the challengers way towards the end, but it was too little too late. The Andersons stalled out the final minutes, and escaped with a 60 minute draw. This match set up four return bouts between these four during the summer and fall of 1975, with the challengers coming tantalizingly close to winning back the belts.

In the semi-final, many in attendance thought Andre the Giant would finally be the man to unmask the Super Destroyer. After all, if a GIANT couldn’t do the deed nobody else had in 13 years, who possibly could? Andre physically manhandled the masked man to a degree that nobody could believe, but that didn’t stop the Destroyer’s active mind from escaping one precarious predicament after another. A disqualification win for Andre got the Giant’s hand raised and validated a dominating performance, but at the same time frustrated many fans who were expecting a hood to come off. However, the Super Destroyer haters were about to get the last laugh. As fate would have it, the masked man would wrestle only one more time in Richmond and within a month or so was out of the area under a cloud, never to return, with his unmasked face plastered all over the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television shows.

The supporting card, honestly, was not as strong as many Richmond saw, but it did have its moments. The “best of the rest” was a unique pairing of the Mid-Atlantic TV Champion Ric Flair and the underrated Doug Gilbert, against the “good guy” duo of big Swede Hanson and Sonny King. Flair was rising fast at this juncture, so I expected the “bad guys” would take this one. The big Swede was dropping down the cards, and Sonny King was being de-emphasized and would be leaving the area in about two weeks as time would tell. However, Flair and Gilbert couldn’t control their anger issues, giving Hanson and King a disqualification victory to the delight of the Richmond fans.

The other tag team match of the night saw Bob Bruggers and Sandy Scott dispatch the team of Charlie Fulton and the Blue Scorpion. The Bruggers/Scott combination was a smooth one, and they ran circles around their confounded opponents this night. Unfortunately for his many fans, Sandy Scott wrestled very little after this Richmond match, though he did continue to stay active with the promotion, primarily behind the scenes. And after a promising start as a main event performer a year and a half before, Bruggers continued to drop down the cards until the airplane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina in early October of 1975 brought his wrestling career to an end.

Three single matches rounded out this holiday spectacular, and the curtain raiser was by far the best of the bunch! The good guys notched a couple of wins as Greg Peterson outlasted Larry Sharpe, and the highly popular Klondike Bill took the measure of Joe Soto. But the first bout of the night stood out, and was really outstanding. 1974 NWA rookie of the year Steve Keirn and veteran Art Nelson wrestled to a 20 minute draw, which was a battle of contrasting styles and youth versus experience. Nelson, the aging veteran, was still in exceptional condition, but had trouble dealing the speed of Keirn. Conversely, the strength of Nelson gave the youngster Keirn fits. Each man had their chances at victory, but ultimately had to settle for a draw. As clearly Keirn was going up the “Mid-Atlantic ladder” as Nelson was going down that same ladder, it was befitting that they would meet in the middle of that proverbial ladder in this early July 1975 confrontation. But to show how this trend continued over the next few months for both, by October of 1975 Keirn was in a main event program with Tiger Conway, while Nelson was set to depart the Mid-Atlantic area, and would never return.

As everyone celebrates July 4, 2015, I hope there are Independence Day Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling memories that will find their way into those festivities. For me, a GIANT Richmond Coliseum card 40 years ago will always without question be part of my 4th of July remembrances!
 

Originally published July 4, 2015, and republished July 4, 2018
on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Poster: Wahoo McDaniel and Johnny Valentine Battle it Out in Greensboro

by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

Here we have a poster promoting a spectacular triple main event at the Greensboro Coliseum dated Thursday, March 13th, 1975. The famous feud between Johnny Valentine and Wahoo McDaniel continued this night with an Indian strap match, and I'll bet the fans in Greensboro were on their feet bell to bell. 

It was a matchup of masked men with The Super Destroyer vs. The Avenger, Reggie Parks himself, the legendary belt maker. Reggie's belts were handmade pieces of art that showed his great talent other than professional wrestling. 

Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes faced off in a return grudge match, and three new names not so familiar to Mid-Atlantic fans at the time appear on the undercard: Blackjack Mulligan, Mr. Fuji, and Chris Taylor.

Southern Poster did a great layout on this one showing black print on a two-tone pastel blue and bright yellow background with the date and three main events in high impact red. I like how the older Greensboro posters say "War Memorial Coliseum" as opposed to the later "Greensboro Coliseum" and this one also has the familiar "Wrestling" splash in the top left corner. 

One other thing that stands out here is the six images of completely contrasting individuals, a Chief, a tough guy, a big masked man, a brash young blonde, an up and coming African American star, and a bald lunatic. Something for everyone I suppose.

 NO. 7 IN A SERIES

* * * * * * * * * 

Gateway Notes:
This was during Blackjack Mulligan's first short run in the Mid-Atlantic area before moving on to the WWWF where he and Blackjack Lanza would hold the WWWF Tag Team titles. Later that same year of 1975, though, Mulligan would be recruited by JCP booker George Scott to come back to the area to replace Johnny Valentine as the top heel in the promotion following Valentine's career ending injury in the October 1975 Wilmington plane crash. Read more about that first short stint for Mulligan in our series "Mulligan Faces the Indian Strap."

The Flair/Rhodes confrontation was one of the earliest matches between the two men who would later be involved in a feud that defined pro-wrestling in the 1980s. Flair and Rhodes met several times in Greensboro in the 1970s. 

Chris Taylor was a bronze-medal winner in the 1972 Munich Olympics in wrestling, and was making a short string of appearances in the territory at this time. Check out Chris Taylor's Mid-Atlantic Cup of Coffee on the Gateway.

Poster: Andre the Giant's First Night in Greensboro (1974)

by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This poster is from the famed Greensboro Coliseum and dated June 6, 1974. It represents Andre the Giant's first appearance in Greensboro, during his first tour of the Mid Atlantic territory. 

Can you imagine the reaction of the fans that night to seeing the Giant in person? I know I'll never forget the first time seeing Andre in the late 1970s, also in a battle royal. 

The layout is pretty simple on this one with black print standing out against a light orange background but as usual, it promotes a loaded Greensboro card. 

While Johnny Valentine is most remembered for his singles work, the team of himself and the Super Destroyer Don Jardine appears quite intimidating. Other Mid-Atlantic legends such as Rip Hawk, Swede Hanson, Johnny Weaver, Abe Jacobs, Sandy Scott, and Danny Miller are also featured.

Andre the Giant, announcer Big Bill Ward, and Andre's friend,
driver, and interpreter Frank Valois.

 

Notice Frank Valois is in an early match vs. Sandy Scott. Valois was Andre's driver and interpreter (and great friend.)

My apologies in advance if any of these posters have been posted on the Gateway in the past but maybe some of the newer visitors will see them for the first time. 

* * * * 

For more on Andre the Giant's first tour of the Mid-Atlantic area, see the following articles by Dick Bourne and Les Thatcher:

• Andre The Giant's First Tour Through the Mid-Atlantic Area - Part One
• Les Thatcher's Lost Opus: Andre the Giant Arrives - Part Two
• Andre The Giant's First Tour Through the Mid-Atlantic Area - Part Three
• Andre the Giant's First Night in Charlotte

Previous poster: Flair/Valentine vs. Wahoo/Steamboat (Winston-Salem 1977)

NO. 2 IN A SERIES

4th of July Flashback: The Andersons Battle Wahoo McDaniel and Paul Jones in Richmond

A GIANT 4th of July Card in Richmond

by David Chappell

Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Like most cities, Richmond, Virginia back in 1975 had its share of spectacular fireworks displays to commemorate the Independence Day holiday. But none of those displays held a candle to the “fireworks” that were unleashed on fans inside the Richmond Coliseum, watching a super spectacular card of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling on the evening of July 4, 1975!

To those that have followed the Mid-Atlantic Gateway, you may recall that this card ranked #21 on my listing of Richmond’s greatest Mid-Atlantic cards. The most intriguing match to me going in was a rare Richmond appearance of Andre the Giant, going against the seemingly indestructible Super Destroyer, who was saying at the time that he had held onto his mask for thirteen years. But the match that really stole the show was a NWA World Tag Team Title bout between champions Gene and Ole Anderson against Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel.

About three weeks prior to this Richmond show, the Anderson Brothers had regained the World Tag Team Title belts on television in the dramatic “Supreme Sacrifice” match, where Ole ran Wahoo’s head into Gene’s head, knocking Gene out in the process. This return bout in Richmond had the big match feel of a title change, and the apparent sellout crown at the Coliseum was at a fever pitch anticipating a win for the challengers. But…it wasn’t meant to be on this night. An even bout turned the challengers way towards the end, but it was too little too late. The Andersons stalled out the final minutes, and escaped with a 60 minute draw. This match set up four return bouts between these four during the summer and fall of 1975, with the challengers coming tantalizingly close to winning back the belts.

In the semi-final, many in attendance thought Andre the Giant would finally be the man to unmask the Super Destroyer. After all, if a GIANT couldn’t do the deed nobody else had in 13 years, who possibly could? Andre physically manhandled the masked man to a degree that nobody could believe, but that didn’t stop the Destroyer’s active mind from escaping one precarious predicament after another. A disqualification win for Andre got the Giant’s hand raised and validated a dominating performance, but at the same time frustrated many fans who were expecting a hood to come off. However, the Super Destroyer haters were about to get the last laugh. As fate would have it, the masked man would wrestle only one more time in Richmond and within a month or so was out of the area under a cloud, never to return, with his unmasked face plastered all over the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television shows.

The supporting card, honestly, was not as strong as many Richmond saw, but it did have its moments. The “best of the rest” was a unique pairing of the Mid-Atlantic TV Champion Ric Flair and the underrated Doug Gilbert, against the “good guy” duo of big Swede Hanson and Sonny King. Flair was rising fast at this juncture, so I expected the “bad guys” would take this one. The big Swede was dropping down the cards, and Sonny King was being de-emphasized and would be leaving the area in about two weeks as time would tell. However, Flair and Gilbert couldn’t control their anger issues, giving Hanson and King a disqualification victory to the delight of the Richmond fans.

The other tag team match of the night saw Bob Bruggers and Sandy Scott dispatch the team of Charlie Fulton and the Blue Scorpion. The Bruggers/Scott combination was a smooth one, and they ran circles around their confounded opponents this night. Unfortunately for his many fans, Sandy Scott wrestled very little after this Richmond match, though he did continue to stay active with the promotion, primarily behind the scenes. And after a promising start as a main event performer a year and a half before, Bruggers continued to drop down the cards until the airplane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina in early October of 1975 brought his wrestling career to an end.

Three single matches rounded out this holiday spectacular, and the curtain raiser was by far the best of the bunch! The good guys notched a couple of wins as Greg Peterson outlasted Larry Sharpe, and the highly popular Klondike Bill took the measure of Joe Soto. But the first bout of the night stood out, and was really outstanding. 1974 NWA rookie of the year Steve Keirn and veteran Art Nelson wrestled to a 20 minute draw, which was a battle of contrasting styles and youth versus experience. Nelson, the aging veteran, was still in exceptional condition, but had trouble dealing the speed of Keirn. Conversely, the strength of Nelson gave the youngster Keirn fits. Each man had their chances at victory, but ultimately had to settle for a draw. As clearly Keirn was going up the “Mid-Atlantic ladder” as Nelson was going down that same ladder, it was befitting that they would meet in the middle of that proverbial ladder in this early July 1975 confrontation. But to show how this trend continued over the next few months for both, by October of 1975 Keirn was in a main event program with Tiger Conway, while Nelson was set to depart the Mid-Atlantic area, and would never return.

As everyone celebrates July 4, 2015, I hope there are Independence Day Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling memories that will find their way into those festivities. For me, a GIANT Richmond Coliseum card 40 years ago will always without question be part of my 4th of July remembrances!

(This story was originally published on July 4, 2015.)

IF

Sonny King sets to Battle The Super Destroyer in Richmond

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

As short as the word “if” is, it can carry meaning and significance in a very large way. “If” was used in such a meaningful way by the masked Super Destroyer in a memorable local promo leading up to a match at the Richmond Arena on May 23, 1975 against top challenger Sonny King.

By this juncture, the Destroyer and King were entering the climactic stages of their feud that had been going off and on for nearly a year after the Destroyer collected a $7,500 bounty on King’s brother, Bearcat Wright.

The imposing masked man told announcer Les Thatcher, “Mr. Sonny King, all you can think about is going in the ring and at the opportune time when you think myself the Super Destroyer, or some other opponent, you have him beaten or he’s half beaten, then you put the so called finishing touches on. Well Mr. Sonny King, it proves one thing, that in Richmond I have given you a chance in the past. And now it’s the future and it’s too late for you Sonny King because you’ve already missed your chance Sonny King and I really feel sorry for you. Very soon now…very, very soon after next week in the Richmond Arena you will be joining your brother. Because you’ve got to remember one thing Sonny, the bounty hunter is still here, the Super Destroyer!”

The Destroyer continued, “Through the generosity of the Super Destroyer, I’m going to give you another chance, and that is IF you can go in the ring, IF you can beat the Super Destroyer and IF you can take the mask off…but you don’t have to do it because IF, the big possibility that you won’t do it Sonny King. But nevertheless, IF you do it I will stand in the center of the ring as the gentleman I am, and with my head down with the mask in one hand, but that’s a big IF for you Sonny King, because you are on a losing streak.”

Sonny King responded to the masked Destroyer when he got his turn at the mic telling Thatcher, “Yes Les, like I heard the guy out here and I heard exactly what he said about all these ‘ifs’ you know, but then Les I want to tell you something…there’s no IF in Sonny King’s mind. He’s not gonna stand in the center of the ring and take the mask off, I’m not gonna take it off, but when the people come to put him on the stretcher to take him to the hospital in order to get the oxygen mask on, they’re gonna have to take the mask off! Can you dig it? So Les, I wanna say this to the people in Richmond…like you’ve seen Sonny King before, and you’ve seen me, I’ve come to Richmond pretty mad. Well Les, like I’m gonna do just the opposite because this is precisely what the Destroyer wants. He figures if he gets to me mentally he’s gonna do it physically. Les, I proved to him on TV, he hurt me Les…I got up and trained and I’m coming back and I’m healthy and I want to say to the Destroyer that I’m ready for you daddy!”

In this Richmond Arena battle of the ‘ifs,’ the Super D. would defeat Sonny King in a fiery bout that helped ignite the fire for another month of intense contests between these two in fence matches, boxing matches, lumberjack matches and no disqualification matches. As soon as this brutal series of clashes ended, King immediately left the Mid-Atlantic area with the Destroyer leaving right behind him several weeks later. Neither ever returned to Jim Crockett Promotions. One has to wonder IF one had anything to do with the other? Alas, that tiny little word “if” doesn’t always supply us with readily apparent answers.

As Close To Perfect as it Gets: The Greenville Memorial Auditorium

There was hardly a better arena for pro-wrestling than the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, SC. There wasn't a bad seat in the house in the "old brown box" as it was known to locals.

The photograph above appeared in the Greenville newspaper following a big card on October 28, 1974. The main event that night was a big six-man tag team match. On one team you had the superstar tandem of Wahoo McDaniel, Paul Jones, and Andre the Giant. Across the ring was Ivan Koloff, the Super Destroyer (Don Jardine), and Chuck O'Connor (who would later be better known as Big John Studd.) This main event drew a sellout crowd with a huge turn-away crowd, as described in the caption above. The photo caption states there were approximately 3000 people turned away for this show.

The undercard featured Brute Bernard vs. Tommy Seigler, Klondike Bill vs. Frank Valois, and Joe Furr vs. Johnny Heidman.


Thanks as always to Mark Eastridge.

Main Event Memories: Brisco, Valentine Defend Titles

MAIN EVENT MEMORIES - 42 YEARS AGO TODAY!
by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Forty two years ago, two of the NWA's top stars defended their titles on one big card on an early September Friday night in Richmond, VA at the Richmond Coliseum. The card was loaded with current and, in one particular case, future stars.

The Super Destroyer (Don Jardine) challenged Jack Brisco for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a match where if he won the title, he promised to unmask. The stipulation grew out of the fact that the NWA had declared they would not recognize as champion someone whose identity could not be verified. The Super Destoyer already had as a condition that he would unmask if he were defeated by pinfall or submission. Brisco was in his 14 month as NWA champion, having defeated Harley Race for the title in July of 1973 in Houston, TX.

The Super Destroyer applies his feared claw-hold to Jack Brisco during their
NWA world championship bout. (Bill Janosik Photo)

In the second main event, Johnny Valentine met arch-rival Wahoo McDaniel. It's a pretty sure bet that Valentine's Mid-Atlantic title was on the line here, although that was not stipulated in this newspaper ad. Valentine and Wahoo's rivalry went way back to their days battling in Texas. The two had renewed their feud in the Mid-Atlantic area and Wahoo spent the better part of a year chasing Valentine for the Mid-Atlantic Championship, which he finally won from Valentine in July of 1975.

Brisco was fortunate to have kept the title
after his battle with the Super Destroyer

A young Ric Flair, who had only been in the Mid-Atlantic territory only seven months at this time, would battle Paul Jones on the undercard. Jones, a very popular and established star in the area, would be a frequent opponent of Flair's in 1974 and early 1975, mentoring him toward main event status. Flair would defeat Jones for the Mid-Atlantic TV title early in 1975.

Also on the card were The Avenger (Reggie Parks), former NFL player Bob Bruggers, Mr. Ota, and many others.

David Chappell wrote about this card in his "Richmond Countdown" feature several years ago:

This card was one of the most intriguing nights in Richmond wrestling history. On top was a NWA World Heavyweight Title bout between the titleholder Jack Brisco and the masked Super Destroyer. Many fans believed that there would be a title change or an unmasking, as the Super Destroyer vowed not only to unmask if he lost by pinfall or submission, but also if he won the World Title. Alas, neither happened. The semifinal produced another classic championship battle between Wahoo McDaniel and Mid-Atlantic Champion Johnny Valentine. Third from the top was a bout between Paul Jones and the youngster Ric Flair. This was the first top flight singles opponent that Flair had wrestled in Richmond. A lot of fans, me included at the time, didn’t believe Flair could hang with the area’s "big boys" in singles competition. Ric used this match to start winning the naysayers over.

Reserved ringside seats were only $5.00 for this show in 1974, an amazing price especially considering the NWA champion was on the card. 

"Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling" aired in Richmond each Saturday at 2 PM on WTVR channel 6.

Thanks as always to Mark Eastridge for the newspaper clipping. Thanks also to Bill Janosik for his amazing photographs.

Featured Photo: Johnny Weaver vs. The Super Destroyer

We love old black and white wrestling photos. And no one shot them better in the 1970s than Richmond area photographer Bill Janosik.

This classic photo shows The Super Destroyer (Don Jardine) applying his feared claw hold to the head of Johnny Weaver in the old Richmond Arena.

Big Swede's Defining Moment

Swede Hanson

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

My earliest professional wrestling memories came about from watching All-Star Wrestling, the precursor to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, on television in the late 1960s. Two of the most noteworthy stars of that time were Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson, the dastardly duo that ran roughshod in Jim Crockett Promotions through the 60’s into the early 1970’s. These two villains were almost inseparable, with Rip being sly and sneaky with the gift of gab, while Swede was the silent partner, and a big brutish enforcer.

By late 1973, the winds of change were blowing in the Carolinas territory which was by then called Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Rip Hawk exited the area for about a three month period in December of 1973. While the “Ripper” was gone, Swede had his contract purchased by none other than the notorious Super Destroyer! The Super D. “managed” and had Swede in tow as his enforcer, and big Swede’s first major target was Johnny Weaver, as Hanson interfered in a huge match between Weaver and the Destroyer on December 28, 1973 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. Swede saved the Destroyer from losing his mask in that bout, with his antics giving Weaver an unsatisfying disqualification victory.

In January of 1974, Swede Hanson and the Super Destroyer formed an imposing tag team combination, dispatching such high-end “good guy” tag teams as Johnny Weaver and Art Nelson, and Nelson Royal and Sandy Scott during that month. In early February, Swede took to wearing a hood as “Mr. X” when teaming with the Destroyer. This chicanery came to an end after a couple of tag team bouts, when Mr. X was unceremoniously unmasked by Danny Miller and Johnny Weaver as being big Swede Hanson under the hood.

The unholy alliance between Swede Hanson and the Super Destroyer began showing cracks almost as quickly as it began. For the many years that Swede teamed up with Rip Hawk, the Ripper did not always treat Hanson with a boatload of respect. But Swede was the “good soldier,” never really challenging Rip even when Hawk was condescending to him. However, when the Super Destroyer started talking down to Swede and chastising him for supposed inadequacies in the ring, the big 300 pounder from Newark, New Jersey didn’t care for that treatment in the least. The slights mounted, and an inner rage started to build in the big Swede. A defining moment in the career of Swede Hanson was about to happen!

On February 13, 1974 at the television tapings for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Swede Hanson reached his breaking point. During a televised bout the Destroyer not only berated the big Swede verbally, but had the audacity to SLAP him in front of the TV studio audience and all the thousands of fans watching at home! Swede Hanson finally had enough! After being content to stay in the background and take the snide insults for many years, Swede decided to control his own destiny. His defining moment in Jim Crockett Promotions had arrived!

Announcer Elliot Murnick said, “I’m up at the ring now and Swede Hanson is pacing around here.” Hanson interrupted, “Let me tell you something Murnick. You don’t pull something like that with me. I’m not a whipping dog for these people! If this guy thinks I’m a whipping dog for him he’s out of his mind! I don’t know what’s the matter with this character. He’s not gonna get away with it with me. I’ve had enough of this stuff. For years, I’ve had enough of garbage like him!”

Remembering the Super Destroyer

Greenville SC Memories
by Don Holbrook
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

During the mid-1970s, Jim Crockett Promotions hired a man named Don Jardine. Some people may not recognize him by that name because he was better known as the masked wrestler The Super Destroyer.

Signed photo to Don Holbrook from Don Jardine.
Jardine wrestled as both the Spoiler and Super Destroyer

Upon his arrival in the Mid-Atlantic area, Jardine had already had great success in other areas as The Spoiler. Jardine brought something unique to Crockett Promotions. A big man by the standards of that era, he could not only wrestle but he could move like a cat. Many times in the matches, he would walk the top rope like a cat. He was also able to work the crowd, draw heat and motivate fans to buy a ticket.

Some of Jardine’s biggest feuds while in the Mid-Atlantic area were with Wahoo McDaniel, Jerry Brisco, and Sonny King. He also teamed quite frequently with men like Johnny Valentine, Ivan Koloff, Brute Bernard, and others.

I will never forget seeing the Super Destroyer Monday nights in Greenville, SC, at the Memorial Auditorium and on Saturday nights in Spartanburg, SC. Like many of the other heels that appeared in the Spartanburg memorial Auditorium, Jardine would usually park on the campus of Wofford College, which sits directly behind the Auditorium. As he would make his way toward the Auditorium, he would walk right past a dormitory where students would be standing at their windows, some cheering and some booing and swearing at him. I remember seeing the little kids, mostly little black children, standing on the bank that looked down at the back side of the auditorium and I remember seeing one of them one night getting up enough nerve to chunk a rock at the Super D and Johnny Valentine, narrowly missing them. I will always remember Super D turning around and looking up at the kids and all of them scattering as quickly as possible, scared to death.

To this day, I regret that Jardine left Crockett’s territory so suddenly after having a disagreement with booker George Scott. It was, to me at least, a sad day for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Jardine never returned to the Mid-Atlantic area, but will never be forgotten by many of us who followed wrestling in the Carolinas during the 1970s. The Super Destroyer was the consummate performer. People loved to hate him. He could make any bout with any opponent interesting.

Don Jardine is now retired from wrestling living in his native Canada. I am so fortunate to chat with him from time to time on the computer. He is a true gentleman and a great guy. I know from talking to him that he still loves the wrestling business and misses it. He always responds to my e-mail and in my opinion, he is one of the all time greats masked wrestlers.

This article, originally titled "I Remember the Super Destroyer",
 was published on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway in the early 2000s, 
 before Don Jardine's death.

Wahoo McDaniel vs. The Super Destroyer: Round 1

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

When “Chief” Wahoo McDaniel entered the Mid-Atlantic area in the summer of 1974, he knew he was walking into a “lion’s den” of top villains who were looking to further their impressive reputations by knocking off the former NFL star. One of the biggest and meanest of that bunch was none other than the masked Super Destroyer.

On an edition of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television show that was taped on August 14, 1974, and that aired in many markets on August 17, 1974, the Destroyer decided to make his move against the Native American Mid-Atlantic newcomer. It was a move that the masked man would immediately regret!

After belittling Wahoo’s NFL career that had ended several years earlier, calling him a “has-been,” the Super D. laughed at how inferior McDaniel was to his former New York Jet teammate, quarterback Joe Namath. These reprehensible words were bad enough, but then the Destroyer, still in his street clothes, tried to get physical with Wahoo. Bad move!! The Destroyer lost a nice dress shirt, and a lot of his dignity, when Wahoo got hold of him briefly. The Destroyer then ran to the safe confines of the dressing room, at least for the short term dodging any more physical damage from the Indian.

But after a commercial break, Wahoo had plenty to say about this first confrontation against his masked rival. When speaking to announcer Bob Caudle, McDaniel was every bit as serious as President Richard Nixon was when he was addressing the nation six days earlier announcing his resignation from office. Wahoo told the viewing audience and the Destroyer, “I’ll rip that mask right off your face…I’ll rip it off! I know what you look like! I’ll rip it right off!” Caudle then commented, “Well, I tell you, you ripped his shirt right off up there in the ring, Wahoo. I’ll tell you, when they say when you get an Indian mad you got trouble, here’s a mad Indian right now!”

Wahoo was trying to cool down, but it was difficult! The Indian continued, “If you don’t think there’s any good competition around here, you just come poking your nose in my business. Because that’s the reason I came here, because there’s some good wrestlers here. And I’m not taking anything away from you. You’re probably great, you’re big, but you’re not super to me. I don’t think there’s anybody that’s super in that ring…there’s good and better.”

Bob Caudle then interjected, “Well, of course you know, he claims, and I don’t know whether it’s a fact or not, but that he’s had the mask for 12 years Wahoo, and he claims that he’s got to be great and he’s got to be super because nobody in the 12 years has been able to defeat him and unmask him.” A defiant McDaniel retorted, “No such words as ‘never’ and ‘can’t.’ If he messes with me, I promise you the mask will go. That little cheap shirt I tore off you…it’s nothing! When I rip that mask off you, and the people see who you are, and you don’t make any money, and that’s what you’re in the business for is to make money, and everybody knows who you are…then you can go somewhere else and wrestle. I’ll say Destroyer, I’m not going to say Super Destroyer, but like I said…there’s nobody super.”

However, Wahoo certainly wasn’t taking the Destroyer lightly. “He’s great…no doubt about that. But if you want some competition I’m here, and I’m here to stay. A lot of Indians around this area, I have a lot of pride. Been pushing Indians around for many years, well, the pushing is over! I’m stopping right here, the Carolinas, I’m going to spend a long two or three years here playing golf and wrestling. You the Destroyer, Valentine, Koloff, any of you, bring ‘em on. I’m here to stay,” McDaniel exclaimed.

What seemed to gall Wahoo the most was the Super D. downplaying his professional skills, particularly when he was playing football. Wahoo explained, “I’ve got a good background. When you said has-been, boy, you got my dander up. Because I’ll tell you what, being a has-been is better than being a never-was! And my record speaks for itself. And I don’t want to be like Joe Namath.” Caudle backed the Chief saying, “No, I agree, I don’t think you would be one to look up to a fellow like Joe Namath, Wahoo.” McDaniel shot back, “That’s right! I did my share in football, and I’m doing my share right in this ring. If you don’t think I have…check the records!”

This was the first salvo of an on- and- off war between Wahoo and the Destroyer over the next year. There were multiple battles between these two, with a number of stipulations involved. While the matches were often inconclusive as to their outcomes, Wahoo made several comments along the way about taking the Super Destroyer’s mask off before the end of the year 1975. And as it turned out, nearly a year after “Round 1” between Wahoo and the Destroyer, August 20, 1975 to be exact, it was announced on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV that the Super Destroyer was unmasked by Wahoo and two others, and was revealed to be Don Jardine. Wahoo was then no doubt harkening back to “Round 1” between these two and thinking to himself…not too bad for a has-been, huh?