The Ever Thoughtful J.C. Dykes

From the Charlotte paper, July 14, 1970 - - a quote from the legendary manager of the Infernos J.C. Dykes.

Thanks to Mark Eastridge for passing this along to us.

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: July 24, 1982

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
on the WWE Network

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it appeared on the WWE Network. Results are included for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as available. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. Follow @TaubGVWire

For links to all available summaries, visit our TV Summary Index.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 7/24/82
(taped 7/21/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network feed.  [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]

WWE Network Direct Link to this show: Mid-Atlantic 7/24/82

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Leroy Brown & Sir Oliver Humperdink
What is Bad, Bad Leroy Brown doing back, and with Humperdinck? M-O-N-E-Y. Humperdink promises this is the last time you’ll see Brown in ratty clothes. He promises to make Brown the first black NWA World Heavyweight champion. Caudle refers to this stable as the House of Humperdink

[Break]

Match 1
Leroy Brown (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Keith Larson
Stu Schwartz is the referee for the hour. Larson has a red-white-blue French flag tights. Brown nails Larson with the big elbow drop. He picks him up at two, then pins him. Brown continues the pounding. Steamboat tries to make the save, and Brown seems to get the better of him. Steamboat just gets out of the way of a big splash. Jack Brisco and Wahoo McDaniel come out and Brown and Humperdink takes a powder.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sir Oliver Humperdink
We go to the same VTR from last week’s World Wide of Piper & Muraco vs. Larson & Abe Jacobs. After, Humperdink talks more about classing up Leroy Brown.

[Break]

Match 2
Jimmy Valiant d. Jeff Sword
WWE Network edit brings out Valiant. Ivan Koloff comes to ringside, saying he is proud to be Russian, and rants about Valiant. Dave Hebner is the referee for this match. Come to think of it, this is the same match the 1/09/82 episode. Valiant wins with the elbow drop.

-Comments from Ivan Koloff and Sir Oliver Humperdink
Humperdink is by himself in front of a mic stand. He says he can’t get more TV time, so he had to buy this. Not sure if this is supposed to be local promo time. Koloff has the boxing head gear and a shovel. The pair rant about rock and roll music, and fence matches. They are sick of Valiant. The WWE Network edit music plays. We see a garbage can fly through the screen. In comes Valiant, as Humperdink and Koloff run. The edited music drowns out most of what Valiant has to say. He pulls out a small chain and wants a New York street fight.

[Break]

Match 3
Non-Title Match: Sgt. Slaughter [U.S. Champion) d. Tim Horner
Caudle is still talking about Leroy Brown joining the House of Humperdink. Slaughter picks up the win after the leaping clothesline.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sgt. Slaughter
Slaughter says there is a conspiracy. He says he was supposed to face Abe Jacobs, but instead gets Horner. He blames Wahoo McDaniel. As Slaughter is ranting, Wahoo attacks him from behind with an Indian strap. Slaughter retreats to the ring. He refers to getting hit in the belt last week with the Marine belt. Must have been on World Wide. Wahoo talks about a series of Canadian lumberjack matches versus Slaughter.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: David Patterson & Ken Timbs
If it is Patterson, it must be in lieu of local promos. Same promo as always. They are confident in their next TV match. Patterson lays in some Spanish. Caudle asks for a translation. Pretty much, Patterson is ready for Steamboat & Brisco.

Match 4:
Jack Brisco & Rick Steamboat d. David Patterson & Ken Timbs
Brisco gets Timbs in the figure four early, but Patterson breaks it up. After some brief offense by the heels, the babyfaces take over and toy with Timbs. Despite that, Timbs is actually kicking out of suplexes and the heels just can’t put him away. Not a chop, not a suplex, not a knee to the head, not an Oklahoma roll. Caudle mentions that Patterson already used his save. Double shoulder block sends Timbs and Brisco to the mat. What? A competitive match? Finally, Brisco holds Timbs as Steamboat comes off the top with a splash for the pin.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Rick Steamboat & Jack Brisco
Steamboat has a starter’s beard for the record. Both men are blown up. Steamboat talks about Leroy Brown. Brisco wants Piper or Muraco in a Texas Death match. Jerry Brisco is coming back.
Not even the “So Long for Now.” It appears cut off. Also unusual as the WWE Network is playing its version of the out theme, it plays the opening notes not heard before.

 * * * * * * * * * * *

Results for the week, 7/19/82-7/25/82
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock

Mon., 7/19/82 Greenville, SC
Mike Davis beat Ali Bey
Mike Rotundo beat Ken Timbs
Kelly Kiniski draw David Patterson
Matt Borne beat Johnny Weaver
Angelo Mosca, Masked Superstar & Ivan Koloff beat Jimmy Valiant, Jack Brisco & Ricky Steamboat

Tue., 7/20/82 Columbia, SC— Township Auditorium
Johnny Weaver beat David Patterson
Kelly Kiniski beat Bill White
Sgt. Slaughter beat Wahoo McDaniel
Mike Davis beat Ken Timbs
Tim Horner beat Juan Reynosa
Ricky Steamboat & Jack Brisco beat Angelo Mosca & Gene Anderson

Tue., 7/20/82 Raleigh, NC — Raleigh Civic Center
Keith Larson d. Ali Bey
Ron Ritchie d. The Monk
Mike Rotundo d. Jim Dalton
Jay Youngblood d. Matt Borne
Pvt. Nelson & Pvt. Kernodle d. Paul Jones & Jake Roberts
Leroy Brown d. The Ninja
Cage match: Jimmy Valiant d. Ivan Koloff

Fri., 7/23/82 Charleston, SC — Charleston County Hall
Jimmy Valiant beat Ivan Koloff in a steel cage match
Pvt. Nelson & Pvt. Kernodle beat Jay Youngblood & Jake Roberts
Leroy Brown beat The Ninja
Gene Anderson beat Porkchop Cash
Mike Rotundo beat David Patterson
Tim Horner beat Bill White

Fri., 7/23/82 Richmond, VA — Richmond Coliseum
King Parsons d. Juan Reynoso
Paul Jones d. Matt Borne
Johnny Weaver d. Jim Dalton
Rick Steamboat -draw- Magnificent Muraco
Jack Brisco d. Roddy Piper by CO
Canadian lumberjack match: Sgt. Slaughter d. Wahoo McDaniel

Sat., 7/24/82 Charlotte, NC — Charlotte Coliseum
Wahoo McDaniel beat Sgt. Slaughter in a lumberjack match
Jimmy Valiant beat Ivan Koloff in a New York street fight
Jack & Jerry Brisco beat Roddy Piper & Don Muraco in a Texas death match
Paul Jones & Jake Roberts beat Pvt. Nelson & Pvt. Kernodle
Mike Rotundo beat Bill White
Tim Horner draw David Patterson

Sun., 7/25/82 Toronto, ON — Maple Leaf Gardens (Maple Leaf Wrestling)
The Destroyer beat Nick DeCarlo
Tony Parisi beat Tim Gerrard
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Pvt. Nelson & Pvt. Kernodle
Jimmy Snuka beat WWF World Champion Bob Backlund by countout
The Ninja beat Johnny Weaver
Andre The Giant beat John Studd by DQ
Angelo Mosca beat Gene Kiniski in a lumberjack match

Sun., 7/25/82 Asheville, NC
Jack Brisco & Wahoo McDaniel beat Roddy Piper & Sgt. Slaughter
Jimmy Valiant beat Ivan Koloff
Jake Roberts beat Matt Borne
Paul Jones beat Gene Anderson
Kelly Kiniski draw David Patterson
Ron Ritchie beat Juan Reynosa
Mike Rotundo beat Jim Dalton

Blackjack Mulligan Faces The Indian Strap (Part 3)

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Before reading this,

catch up on PART ONE and PART TWO of this series.

* * * * * * * 

PART THREE
Jim Crockett Promotions wrestling fans tuning into the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television program on Saturday July 12, 1975 were quite taken aback when announcer David Crockett appeared on an inserted in-your-area promo with none other than big Blackjack Mulligan at his side! The last time the Richmond fans had seen the big man from Eagle Pass, Texas, Mulligan had been soundly defeated in an Indian Strap Match in the Richmond Arena back in May, and Blackjack had not been seen or heard from in the Richmond area since. That lack of contact from Blackjack Mulligan was about to change in a very big way.

Blackjack Mulligan battles Wahoo McDaniel in
in an Indian Strap Match in Richmond
(Photo by Bill Janosik)

A highly emotional Blackjack Mulligan appeared alongside David Crockett on the interview set. The massive Texan began addressing the Richmond fans by saying, “Everyone remembers exactly what happened between myself and the Indian in the Indian Strap Match. I’ll never forget it! Since that match I’ve been travelling and wrestling the best in the world all over the country. Here’s a letter that caught up with me in Boston, here’s one in New York, another one in San Francisco…on and on and on it goes!”

Mulligan’s face reddened as he reminisced, “I dream about it at night Indian, I dream about that strap being lashed across my face! I dream about looking at you, but never for a minute were you standing over me! Now we’re gonna do some soul searching because I have every minute since the thing happened. I wasn’t beaten, I was standing there strong and tall like a man, and the referee said the match was over! I never gave up! On any given night I can beat you anywhere Indian!”

Blackjack then revealed his plans to even the score with Wahoo back in Richmond. Snarling, he advised Wahoo and the fans, “I tell you what I’m gonna do…I can’t stand the thought of letters catching up with me across the world that I was defeated in an Indian Strap Match! I had no idea what I was doing. But I’ll tell you something Wahoo McDaniel, if you got guts enough, if you’re man enough, I’m gonna give you another chance!”

Mully continued, “Because I know what I’m doing, I got it right here! Here’s the contract, all you gotta do is put your lousy yellow name on the bottom of it and wrestle me in a Texas Death Match. Not some Indian Strap Match that a savage thought up, but a Texas Death Match to the finish where only one man is standing and it’s one man alone…there will be a decisive winner! MY kind of match, this is the match YOU won’t know what’s happenin’, YOU won’t know what’s goin’ on! ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH, HAVE YOU GOT GUTS ENOUGH TO SIGN IT? SIGN IT AND I’LL FINISH YOU!”

Wahoo McDaniel did indeed have guts enough to sign Blackjack’s contract, and the revenge match to end all revenge matches was set for the Richmond Coliseum on July 18, 1975 under Texas Death Match rules. But before the bout commenced, Wahoo and Mulligan’s friend Ric Flair weighed in on this upcoming mega Cowboy versus Indian match!


CONTINUED IN PART 4…
Wahoo and Ric Flair opine on the Texas Death Match in Richmond set for July 18, 1975!

Grapplin' Greats: Bolo Brutality

by Mike Cline
Mid-Atlantic Grapplin' Greats

* * * * * * * * * * *

Mike Cline publishes the excellent Mid-Atlantic Grapplin' Greats blog that regularly looks back at wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions in the 1960s and early 1970s. From time to time we like to republish some of his posts here, with his permission of course, and we consider Mike a friend of the Gateway as well as a Gateway Contributor.

Check out all of the wonderful nostalgia on Mike Cline's Mid-Atlantic Grapplin' Greats.

* * * * * * * * * * *

BOLO BRUTALITY

We don't hear much talk anymore about JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS wrestling as far back as the late 1950s. Many of the adult fans (and wrestlers) of that era have passed away. But there are a few of us who were just youngsters at that time who remember many of the stars of sixty years ago.

Good guy-wise, there were GEORGE BECKER, 'Irish' MIKE CLANCY, DICK STEINBORN and RED BASTEIN, to name a few. On the other side of right and wrong were guys like THE SMITH BROTHERS, DUKE KEOMUKA and MR. MOTO. But many fans of today, even though they don't remember them or weren't around to see them, have heard of THE BOLOS.

JCP wrestling fans still talk about THE BOLOS.

Graphic by Mike Cline / Mid-Atlantic Grapplin' Greats

There were probably as many guys at my elementary school who tried to make a BOLO mask out of one of their Mom's discarded pillow cases who wore bath towels as Superman capes.Making a BOLO mask wasn't easy. I found that out.

First, in the late 1950s, there was THE GREAT BOLO (Tom Renesto). Then, in the early 1960s, the masked man added an identical-looking partner, BOLO (Jody Hamilton). THE GREAT BOLO and/or BOLO were the top heels in JCP for close to six years, before heading further south, eventually changing their names to THE ASSASSINS.

Fans all over the MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING territory bought many a ticket to the matches to see THE BOLOS not only lose, but be unmasked. Hero grapplers such as THE KENTUCKIANS, BECKER, WEAVER, THE SCOTTS, CHIEF BIG HEART, BILLY TWO RIVERS, HAYSTACK CALHOUN and MIKE CLANCY all tried over and over to expose the identities of the hooded hoodlums, but, alas, it never happened. Occasionally, THE BOLOS lost a match and even a mask here and there, but they always escaped protecting their identities.

Not until years later in Georgia, when Tom Renesto retired from active wrestling and voluntarily removed his mask on television, did the public ever know the identity of either of these men.


Originally published 2/28/20 on Mid-Atlantic Grapplin' Greats.
Original Story Link

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: July 17, 1982

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
on the WWE Network

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it appeared on the WWE Network. Results are included for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as available. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. Follow @TaubGVWire

For links to all available summaries, visit our TV Summary Index.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 7/17/82
(taped 7/14/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network feed.  [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]

WWE Network Direct Link to this show: Mid-Atlantic 7/17/82

Bob Caudle opens the show and is joined by Jack Brisco. A very low key Jack talks about losing to Piper last week. We see a brief clip of Piper nailing Brisco with a roll of coins from last week. Jack isn’t sure what Piper had but vows to get his belt back.
[Break]

Match 1:
Jake Roberts & Jimmy Valiant d. Jim Dalton & Juan Reynoso
The WWE Network edit of Valiant’s music plays. As he’s dancing around ringside, Roberts is already starting the match. The blue-romper wearing Sonny Fargo is the referee for the hour. It’s tag team day on MACW. Valiant wrestling more aggressive than normal. He finishes Reynoso with the elbow drop.

[Break]

Match 2:
Non-Title Match: Pvt. Jim Nelson & Pvt. Don Kernodle [Mid-A Tag Champs] d. Mike Davis & Porkchop Cash
Still no mention of when The Privates regained the Mid-Atlantic tag championship. The Privates are wearing matching singlet instead of the camouflage pants/black shirt garb. Kernodle finished off a groggy Davis with the clothelsine off the middle rope.

-Int. w/Caudle: Nelson & Kernodle
A lot of smack talk from The Privates. They say they want to go after the world tag team title. At least someone wants to go after it.

[Break]

Match 3:
Sgt. Slaughter & Matt Borne & Ivan Koloff (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Ron Ritchie & King Parsons & Abe Jacobs
Some good back and forth, with Parsons looking strong. Jacobs does a lot of wrestling. He gets a small package for a two on Slaughter. Sarge returns with a clothesline and gets the pin.

[Break]

-Int. w/Caudle: Sgt. Slaughter; Koloff and Humperdink
Slaughter wants Wahoo in any match, including a Indian strap match. Slaughter admits he is so beat up, even the barracks, his wife, his gardener and his dog don’t recognize him.  Pardon the pun, but it’s going to be a slaughter when he faces Wahoo. Ivan has boxing head gear, a shovel, and still the TV title belt. Koloff is incomprehensible. Lots of talk about Jimmy Valiant. Humperdink says Piper and Muraco are ready for the Brisco Brothers.

Caudle introduces the next match via blue screen. From Texas, The Monk?

[Break]

Match 4
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Bill White & The Monk
Humperdink sticks on commentator. Caudle asks why he was in the corner in the last match. Strength in numbers. Commentary revolves around Piper vs. Brisco. Steamboat pins The Monk after a Samoan drop.

-Int. w/Caudle: David Patterson & Ben Alexander
This is in lieu of a local promo.  Patterson says Alexander tells him Wahoo chops like a butterfly. Caudle has his doubts. Alexander can handle Wahoo. Patterson is confident in his team.

[Break]

-Int. w/Caudle: Jack Brisco, Ricky Steamboat
Brisco talks about Piper. We go to a VTR from World Wide of Piper & Muraco vs. Keith Larson & Abe Jacobs. Brisco narrates the clip. Steamboat chimes in on Piper, and says both Briscos will be going after him. They play another VTR (with no sound) from World Wide of David Crockett talking with Slaugther, Mosca and Piper. Piper has dollar bills pinned all over his short. For some reason he pours champagne into a trash can.

Match 5:
Wahoo McDaniel & Jack Brisco d. David Patterson & Ben Alexander
Caudle references Patterson and Alexander’s remarks from before, so maybe those weren’t in lieu of local proms. Of course we see lots of Wahoo chops. A cool finishing sequence sees a Wahoo chop knock Alexander down, prone to a Brisco figure four for the submission.

-Int. w/Caudle: McDaniel & Brisco
Brisco says his brother Jerry is ready to come back. Watch out Piper and Muraco. Wahoo doesn’t have much sympathy for Slaughter. He wants the United States championship back.

“So long for now!”

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

Results for the week, 7/12/82-7/18/82
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 7/12/82 Greenville, SC
Jimmy Valiant beat Ivan Koloff in a New York street fight
Ricky Steamboat beat Angelo Mosca
Jake Roberts beat The Ninja
Evelyn Stevens beat Winona Little Heart
Mike Davis beat Ben Alexander
Kelly Kiniski beat Ken Timbs
Mike Rotundo beat Bill White

Tue., 7/13/82 Columbia, SC — Township Auditorium
Mike Davis beat Ken Timbs
Jimmy Valiant beat Ivan Koloff by DQ in a New York street fight
Paul Jones beat Matt Borne by DQ
Pvt. Nelson & Pvt. Kernodle beat Porkchop Cash & King Parsons
Mike Rotundo beat Ali Bey

Sat., 7/17/82 Greensboro, NC —Greensboro Coliseum
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Don Muraco & Roddy Piper
Sgt. Slaughter beat Wahoo McDaniel by DQ
Paul Jones beat Angelo Mosca
Winona Little Heart beat Evelyn Stevens
Pvt. Nelson & Pvt. Kernodle beat King Parsons & Porkchop Cash
Gene Anderson beat Johnny Weaver
Mike Rotundo beat Juan Reynosa
Ron Ritchie beat The Monk

Sat., 7/17/82 Wilmington, NC — Legion Stadium
Jimmy Valiant vs. Ivan Koloff in a steel cage match
Leroy Brown vs. The Ninja
Jake Roberts vs. Matt Borne
Johnny Weaver vs. David Patterson
Kelly Kiniski vs. Jim Dalton
Tim Horner vs. Steve Sybert
Keith Larson vs. Ken Timbs
Mike Davis vs. Ali Bey

Sun., 7/18/82 Kingsport, TN
Wahoo McDaniel beat Sgt. Slaughter
Jimmy Valiant beat Ivan Koloff
Ricky Steamboat beat Gene Anderson
Tim Horner beat The Monk
Keith Larson beat Bill White
Jay Youngblood & Jake Roberts beat Pvt. Nelson & Pvt. Kernodle by DQ

Sun., 7/18/82 (8 p.m.) Roanoke, VA — Roanoke Civic Center
Leroy Brown vs. Ninja (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink)
Chain match: Jimmy Valiant vs. Ivan Koloff
U.S. Heavyweight championship: Sgt. Slaughter vs. Wahoo McDaniel

JCP Promotion Kit

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway
Vintage documents provided by Les Thatcher

A substantial percentage of revenue generated by Jim Crockett Promotions back in the territory days (and most all other territorial promotions of that era) was made through partnerships with local organizations in medium to small size towns. These sponsor organizations would provide local resources to promote the "spot show" and in turn would share in the profits from the event. It was a way for local schools and civic organizations (for example) to raise funds for their various projects, charities, or their operating budgets.

In the mid-1970s, Les Thatcher, who was working in the front office of Jim Crockett Promotions at that point, put together a packet that the company could provide to those various local organizations to help them properly prepare for the wrestling event to ensure its success and thereby be profitable for both. The package was called a Promotion Kit and contained several documents helpful to those on the ground with the local organization responsible for helping put on the event.

Les recently came across a complete Promotion Kit in some of the memorabilia he has kept over the years. Knowing of our interest in this sort of thing, he graciously sent it to us so that we could share it here for all of you to enjoy.

"This all came about as a result of conversations with Sandy Scott and Danny Miller, who set up many of these spot shows, and worked with the sponsors," Les told me. "The idea in making this kit up was that most sponsors were not knowledgeable about promoting. Often they would miss getting the word out as well as they should and this kit would help on that end."

Scott and Miller, wrestling legends in the territory who were now retired from the ring and working for the JCP office as well, would frequently have Les write up press releases or ads to pass along to their sponsors. Promoter Jim Crockett, Jr. quickly saw the need to provide Scott and Miller with helpful material that they could then provide to the organizations they were working with in the local communities.

"Jimmy mentioned that we need some sort of guide for those folks," Les said. "So Francis Crockett, Don Swofford (Advertising and Business Manager), and I put our heads together and came up with this."

Promotional Kit - Folder Cover

The kit included several documents and pieces of information that would prove to be helpful to the local sponsor. These included a letter from Jim Crockett, Jr., a checklist of everything that needed to be done, advertising information (radio, newspapers, posters), a typical seating diagram, a sample newspaper ad, and a template to help the sponsor and their newspaper's art department create a suitable ad for their show.

I've included images of each of these documents below.

Letter from Jim Crockett, Jr.

Sponsor Checklist

You'll notice the type-font at the top of some of these documents was the same as the type-font used in headers and titles in the old Mid-Atlantic Wrestling magazines sold b JCP in those years. Les produced those, too.

Advertising Information

The sponsor was responsible for radio, newspaper, and poster advertising. The Crockett office provided the posters, but it was the sponsor's responsibility to get them placed in the local area where the show was taking place.

TV advertising was provide by Jim Crockett Promotions. The date, time, and location of the local spot show would be included in the television programs airing in the markets that covered the spot show town. "The shows were plugged on the TV outlet nearest them during those 2:20 second spots," Les told me. These were the local promo spots where wrestlers would have a chance to do interviews hyping up cards coming to that area. "If the sponsor was able to get interview spots locally, then they would contact the office or Danny or Sandy to line up one of the wrestlers for it." 

Seating Diagram

I loved seeing these ad templates in the kit. They are in a style that is immediately recognizable to fans from that era. The sponsor would work with the local newspaper, providing this template so that an ad could be created listing the matches. The Crockett office would provide photos of the stars appearing on the card that could be used in the ad.

A sample ad was also provided in the kit.

"Danny and Sandy would touch base with the sponsors from time to time leading up to the event," Les said, "to see if they needed any help and to remind them to be sure the posters were out and advance ticket outlet or outlets were set up."

The kit proved to be an effective way to help ensure the success of the sponsored shows for both the local organization and for Jim Crockett Promotions.

My special thanks to Les Thatcher for sharing this unique piece of memorabilia from the territory days with us and all our visitors to the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

Championship Podcast: March 6, 1982

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

The new episode of the "Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast" has dropped and features a look at the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling episode from March 6, 1982.

This show is a sentimental favorite of mine because I was living and working in Alexander City, AL, having just moved there a couple of months before this show aired. I was really homesick for the wrestling I loved so much in the Mid-Atlantic area. But on this particular weekend, I was making my very first return trip to the Mid-Atlantic area, visiting my grandparents in Spartanburg, SC, and this was one of the shows I was able to catch while on that visit.

This show features the return of the Briscos to the Mid-Atlantic area. You'll hear audio on the podcast of Caudle introducing them saying, "It's been a long, long time - Jack and Jerry Brisco!" It had indeed been almost a decade since the Briscos regualrly wrestled here, although they made many special appearances here, particularly in Greensboro, over the years. Both Jack and Jerry had held the Eastern/Mid-Atlantic heavyweight title here, and Jerry had been part of exciting tag team combinations with Thunderbolt Patterson, Sandy Scott, and of course his brother Jack.

The two brothers had been appearing as a team in the ongoing NWA World Tag Team tournament, having wrestled in both the Charlotte and Richmond regional tournaments. But this would be their first TV appearance in the WPCQ studio, and it would be a full-time return for Jack for roughly the next two years. Piper was funny in this segment. When Bob said he wanted to introduce the Briscos, Piper said, "It will be a pleasure, and I am sure it will be a pleasure for them to meet me, too." This was a classic segment, foreshadowing right away the classic feud that would develop between Jack Brisco and Roddy Piper.  

It's a tiny little detail, but it was cool to hear Mike Sempervive give mention on the podcast to the bright red sport coat Roddy Piper was wearing on this show while doing color commentary with Bob Caudle. I had been watching a lot of Georgia Championship Wrestling over the past months and Roddy frequently wore that same sport coat while doing color commentary with Gordon Solie on that show. Most famously, though, it is the same sport coat Piper is wearing on the cover of the (now hard to find) Georgia Wrestling 1983 calendar, which is has become something of a collectors item. Anyway, whenever I see Piper in that red coat, I think of that Saturday I reunited with Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, if only for one weekend. 

Regarding the podcast, if you're still unfamiliar (and if you are a Mid-Atlantic fan, you should be checking this great podcast out every week), Mike Sempervive and Roman Gomez  review another episode form the series that is currently available in the In-Ring/Territories section of the WWE Network. The podcast is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network and is available to stream on their website and anywhere else you get your podcasts (such as iTunes, etc.)

We continue to enjoy this weekly deep dive into each of these Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling episodes and encourage you to check it out if you haven't already done so.

Also available from the podcast is a special "Prelude Episode" that set the stage for the year 1982 and things to come, as well as two "bonus" episodes, one looking back at Starrcade '84, the other a special bio/profile of the patriarch of the Crockett promotional empire Jim Crockett, Sr. Both of these bonus shows are excellent!

Previous Episodes of the podcast can be found on their website as well as linked from our TV and Podcast Summary Index.

* * * * *

From the "Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast" website for this episode:

Welcome to The Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast. On this episode of the show, Mike Sempervive returns alongside Roman Gomez, to take a look at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from March 6, 1982, featuring:

• Another showcase performance for Roddy Piper, and where was he better at doing color: the Carolinas or Atlanta?
• In the wake of Greensboro, the Sarge’s Privates are proving to be a handful.
• Austin Idol continues to ascend, while Jimmy Valiant gets under everyone’s skin.
• Promos from this week’s Maple Leaf Wrestling, hyping the snow-delayed $27,000 Cadillac Cup tournament on March 7.

Plus results from around the loop – including Tri-State still on life support. Would Ricky Steamboat have made a good heel? Promo Trifecta, and so much more, on another exciting edition of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast!

Also, be sure to also check out David Taub's summaries of the Mid-Atlantic shows that are on the WWE Network. We will be cross-referencing that listing with links to the podcast episodes as well.

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: July 10, 1982

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
on the WWE Network

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV Summaries & Reviews
by David Taub
Mid-Atlantic Gateway Contributor

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it appeared on the WWE Network. Results are included for the week (Monday-Sunday of the given week) as available. Please email with any corrections, typos, results, other details at 1davidtaub@gmail.com. Follow @TaubGVWire

For links to all available summaries, visit our TV Summary Index.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 7/10/82     Piper vs. Brisco!
(taped 07/07/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network feed.  [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]

WWE Network Direct Link to this show: Mid-Atlantic 7/03/82 

 

 

midatlanticpod.com

 

 

Bob Caudle with his green jacket, welcomes us to the show. He introduces Roddy Piper as the Mid-Atlantic champion. Piper is out with the title belt, but notes Mid-Atlantic is threatening to fine him if he doesn’t return the title. We go to a clip of Muraco vs. Jim Dalton, then some taped comments from Magnificent Muraco (in front of the magic screen showing an image of Muraco surfing).

Back to Piper, who challenges Jack Brisco to any type of match.

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: July 10, 1982 (taped 7/07/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network feed

Bob Caudle welcomes us to the show, joined by David Crockett. Finally, that context I wanted last week. Crockett explains Piper stole the Mid-Atlantic championship. Jack Brisco is the champion. Piper agreed to wrestle Brisco for $10,000 cash.

Piper comes in and agrees to surrender the title belt. Crockett hands a wad of cash. But … “you’re scum. That’s what you are.” Piper goes nuts because that’s not $10,000. Out come Wahoo McDaniel and Rick Steamboat. Wahoo says you got Brisco on short notice because the banks are closed on the holiday. (Huh? What holiday is July 7?) Steamboat and Wahoo each drop down $2,000.

Piper hands the money and belt to referee Stu Schwartz. Piper has one more demand — Wahoo and Steamboat have to leave. If they enter the studio, Brisco loses automatically.

That match is next!

[Break]

We are back, and Piper is still arguing with Caudle. He hands the money again to Schwartz. “You leave the studio, and it’s going to be your life.” Piper is insistent that if Wahoo and Steamboat enter the studio, he automatically wins. Piper points to the referee “If you leave the studio, I’ll kill you!” Crockett is getting perturbed. We’ll finally have the match next.

[Break]

Match 1: 
Roddy Piper d. Jack Brisco to win Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight championship.
Sonny Fargo in his blue romper is the referee for the hour. This is probably the most famous match of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV series. Immortalized on tape trading in the 1980s. Brisco with the good amateur-style wrestling. The two battle for go-behinds. Brisco continue to gets the better of Piper. Brisco hits a huge clothesline in a series that saw Piper go high on the leapfrog. Brisco works the headlock and if you want to know why Brisco is a legend (and Piper too), the way they worked this headlock for minutes is incredible. Piper did everything to break out of it, and Brisco continued to hold on. Finally, as Brisco went to run up the corner for a leverage move with the headlock, Piper reversed into a back suplex to break the hold.
The two trade sleeper holds. This is one of the most intense TV matches ever! Piper gets knocked to the outside. It looks like grabbed something out of his tights. Fargo tries to back Brisco up. Brisco shoves him aside. That distraction allows Piper to nail Brisco in the head. Caudle right away calls it for what it was, a roll of coins. The camera shows a close up of the coins on the mat.
An exhausted Piper grabs the belt, and sit against the studio wall, wailing.  He kisses the cash. And the classic excuse about the money in the ring.
“That’s people. People threw it in the ring.”
Piper gloats. “Who? Who’s the winner?”
“I hit him with nothing but power. Power and money. I told you Piper pays back.”

[Break]

-Int. w/Caudle: King Parsons
Parsons talks about Piper vs. Brisco. He says for that amount of money, he might of done the same thing himself. Parsons talks about his background. Five years mature, two-time Golden Gloves champion in Chicago. Says this is the toughest training he’s ever done. A pro for four years. He’s been to Germany, the northwest. Mid-Atlantic is the toughest.

[Break]

Match 2:
Non-Title Match: Sgt. Slaughter [United States ch.] d. King Parsons
Sir Oliver Humperdink joins Caudle. They still talk about Brisco vs. Piper. Slaughter looks beat up, with tape on his nose, a little out of shape. Parsons hits two dropkicks. ON the third, Slaughter catches him in mid-air with a tackle. The Slaughter Cannon finishes off Parsons.

[Break]

-Int. w/Caudle: Roddy Piper & Sgt. Slaughter
A calmer Piper wants to be introduced as the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight champion. Piper gloats about winning the money. He says he made Brisco look like a squaw. Slaughter comes in and says they have the belts, and the power. Slaughter is angry at Wahoo for busting his face. He holds a pair of 3-D glasses saying Wahoo will need those. (Pop culture note: “Friday the 13th: 3D” would be released in the next moth).

[Break]

Match 3:
Greg Valentine d. Keith Larson
All Valentine. The big elbow smash gets the win.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine
Caudle praises Valentine seeing he’s in the best shape he’s been in. Of course, Valentine is blown up doing the interview. He says he’s back from a tour of the northeast. He mentions he won the world title from Bob Backlund, but Backlund won’t admit it. He reminds everyone that he busted Wahoo’s leg. He’s the master of about 1,000 holds, including the Figure Four. Valentine drops Flair’s name. He says he busted Flair’s nose. He likes the competition in Mid-Atlantic.

[Break]

Match 4:
Jay Youngblood & Ricky Steamboat d. Bill White & Ali Bey
Ali Bey is short, stocky and barefoot, because all Turkish wrestlers are short, stocky and barefoot. Humperdink ponders a Youngblood & Steamboat vs. Ninja & Mosca match up. Steamboat presses Youngblood onto White for the pin. Humperdink takes a powder, not wanting to associate with the men coming to the interview desk.

-Int. w/Caudle: Wahoo McDaniel; Jack Brisco; Jay Youngblood
McDaniel talks about Brisco losing, and losing the money. He says somewhere down the line, he’ll take $2,000 out of somebody’s hide. We go to a replay of the Brisco vs. Piper finish. Brisco is out. He says he’s never been hit that hard. He feels bad for losing the money. He’ll pay Piper back.

“So long for now!”


* * * * *  * * *

Results for the week, 7/05/82-7/11/82  (source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock

Mon., 7/05/82 Greenville, SC
Sgt. Slaughter beat Wahoo McDaniel
Ricky Steamboat beat Angelo Mosca by DQ
The Ninja beat Jake Roberts
Jay Youngblood beat Gene Anderson
Ron Ritchie beat Jim Dalton
Tim Horner beat Juan Reynosa
Pvt. Kernodle & Pvt. Nelson beat Porkchop Cash & King Parsons

Tue., 7/06/82 Columbia, SC — Township Auditorium
Wahoo McDaniel beat Sgt. Slaughter
Keith Larson beat Ali Bey
Matt Borne draw Mike Rotundo
Kelly Kiniski beat Jim Dalton
Jack Brisco beat Roddy Piper
Paul Jones & Jay Youngblood beat Angelo Mosca & Gene Anderson

Tue., 7/06/82 Raleigh, NC — Raleigh Civic Center
Ron Ritchie d. Juan Reynoso
Tim Horner d. Bill White
The Monk d. Mike Davis
Mid-Atlantic tag team championship: Pvt. Nelson & Pvt. Kernodle Pork Chop Cash & King Parsons
Ricky Steamboat vs. Greg Valentine
Ninja (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) vs. Jake Roberts
Russian chain match: Ivan Koloff vs. Jimmy Valiant

Thu., 7/08/82 Hendersonville, NC — East Henderson High School Stadium
Jack Brisco beat Roddy Piper
Ricky Steamboat beat Greg Valentine
Paul Jones & Jake Roberts vs. Gene Anderson & Ninja
Kelly Kiniski vs. Jim Dalton
Mike Rotundo vs. David Patterson
Tim Horner vs. The Monk

Thu., 7/8/82 Sumter, SC
Jimmy Valiant vs. Ivan Koloff in a cage match
Wahoo McDaniel vs. Sgt Slaughter
Pvt. Kernodle & Pvt. Nelson vs. Porkchop Cash & King Parsons
Evelyn Stevens vs. Winona Little Heart
Jay Youngblood vs. Angelo Mosca
Ron Ritchie vs. Matt Borne
Keith Larsen vs. Ken Timbs

Fri., 7/09/82 Charleston, SC — Charleston Town Hall
Sgt Slaughter vs. Ricky Steamboat
Jack Brisco vs. Roddy Piper
Jay Youngblood vs. Angelo Mosca
David Patterson & Juan Reynosa vs. Porkchop Cash & King Parsons
Plus 3 other matches

Sat., 7/10/82 Charlotte, NC
Jack Brisco & Ricky Steamboat beat Roddy Piper & Don Muraco in a cage match
Sgt. Slaughter beat Wahoo McDaniel
Jay Youngblood beat Greg Valentine by DQ
Matt Borne draw Mike Rotundo
Kelly Kiniski beat Ken Timbs
Ron Ritchie beat Juan Reynosa
Bill White beat Keith Larson

Sun., 7/11/82 Toronto, ON
Maple Leaf Gardens (Maple Leaf Wrestling)
Ivan Koloff beat Jimmy Valiant
Jake Roberts beat The Ninja by DQ
Johnny Weaver beat Tim Gerrard
Sgt. Slaughter beat Wahoo McDaniel
Jack Brisco beat Roddy Piper
Tony Parisi beat Bob Marcus
WWF World Champion Bob Backlund beat Greg Valentine

1976 Provided a Leap Year Bonaza

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway


With leap year only hitting our calendars once every four years, you might think there would be a dearth of dynamic leap day cards during the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling era. But that wasn’t the case, and in fact, on February 29, 1976 there were TWO major cards both of which arguably had historical significance.

Greenville, South Carolina received a special leap day treat, as the Memorial Auditorium hosted an extremely rare Sunday card on February 29, 1976. Monday was Greenville’s regular wrestling day. But on this Sunday star-studded leap day lineup, NWA World Tag Team Champions Gene and Ole Anderson battled to a wild double disqualification result with the charismatic team of the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and Rufus R. “Freight Train” Jones! Dusty was brought in as a special attraction from outside the Mid-Atlantic area for this bout. The fans in Greenville also got to see Geeto and Bolo Mongol dominate Tiger Conway and Swede Hanson, and the Mongol’s manager “Professor” Boris Malenko make an increasingly rare visit into the ring, dispatching the young but talented Larry Zbyszko. Rounding out the leap day card in Greenville, rough and tumble Ronnie Garvin whipped up on the crafty Bill Howard, while the curtain raiser saw Tio Tio draw with “Dynamite” Jack Evans.

The second leap day card in 1976 occurred at none other than the cavernous Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. And it featured a spectacular main event, with NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk defending his prized belt against number one contender and reigning United States Heavyweight Champion, Paul Jones!

At this point in time, Paul Jones was at the absolute zenith of his Mid-Atlantic career. Paul had beaten Terry Funk on November 27, 1975 in Greensboro for the U.S. belt, and widely proclaimed to the fans that he had Funk’s number. Jones was defending his U.S. Title impressively against the mammoth Blackjack Mulligan, and Paul’s popularity was through the roof. It appeared to many that Jones would ride his wave of staggering momentum to a World’s Title victory on this night. Alas, it was not to be as Terry Funk disappointed everybody in Greensboro with a pinfall victory.

In my opinion, Paul Jones never recovered from this loss fully, as within two weeks he would drop the U.S. Title to Blackjack Mulligan. Paul was never again the number one contender to the World belt, and as tantalizingly close to the NWA World Title as he was that leap year’s night in Greensboro, though Jones certainly had his fair share of triumphs throughout the remainder of the Mid-Atlantic years.

Despite the bitter disappointment of the Paul Jones defeat, the fans in Greensboro did have a lot to cheer about on this leap day, 1976. In the semi-final, they saw the skillful Tim Woods heap a rare defeat on the brutish Blackjack Mulligan. These two had been battling since around the time of the big U.S. Title Tournament in Greensboro on November 9, 1975, when Woods had cost Mulligan a chance to advance in that epic tournament. Dusty Rhodes continued his leap day “double shot” in the Mid-Atlantic area, dropping a disputed decision to the chicanery of Ric Flair, which of course silenced the fan’s cheers again for a bit. 

The undercard of this Greensboro leap day show was excellent, and was very fan friendly! The high-flying duo of Roberto Soto and El Rayo outlasted the powerhouse duo of Angelo Mosca and Steve Strong. A significant losing streak for Strong was continued by this bout. The impressive new duo of Mike “The Judge” DuBois and “Sergeant” Jacques Goulet battled to an entertaining time limit draw with Johnny Weaver and the powerful Tony Atlas. Ronnie Garvin completed his leap day “double shot” 2-0 with a win over the always obnoxious George “Two Ton” Harris. Klondike Bill opened the festivities with a decision over big Jim Lancaster.

Yes, in 1976, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling was the place to be on leap day! With leap day cards like that, it’s a shame there was a four year wait for the next leap year to roll back around!

Two of the Greatest Ever "On the Face of God's Green Earth!"

Former NWA World Champions "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and "Handsome" Harley Race

What a great shot of two of the greatest champions to ever lace up the boots: Ric Flair and Harley Race.

When Harley was NWA World Champion, he would regularly say he had proven himself to be "the greatest wrestler on the face of God's green earth."

Buddy.

Later on, Race would declare that his long time rival (and friend) Ric Flair was the greatest wrestler in the history of the business.

We're happy just calling it a tie.

The wonderful photo was taken on August 29, 2015 in advance of World League Wrestling's "Night of Champions" event in tonight in Troy, MO.

That's Harley's personal replica of the domed-globe version of the NWA World title belt, better known as the "Ten Pounds of Gold."

Harley Race passed away on August 1, 2019.