The Archives: Peggy Lathan on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

We are so sad to learn of the death of our dear and sweet friend Peggy Lathan. Both David Chappell and I  are heartbroken over this news, and extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to her many friends in and around the world of wrestling.  - Dick Bourne
https://twitter.com/magateway/status/1425217169990766592

Articles by Peggy Lathan
on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway
From time to time, I would nag Peggy to write something for the Gateway. She had so many wonderful stories to tell. She never wanted to do it, but would eventually relent, and then of course was always happy to see the positive reaction they got. I wish now I had nagged her to write more. Here they are.

• A Friend Says Goodbye to Don Kernodle
  
• Ric Flair Shuts Down The Pantry
• Ole Anderson: Good Sammaritan
• Gene Anderson was No Help at All!
• Ronnie Garvin: Air Planes and Rear View Mirrors
• Meeting Baby Doll

 

Other Gateway Features Involving Peggy

• Remembering Peggy Lathan: The First Lady of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling
  
• Paul Jones and Peggy Lathan (Posted shortly after Paul's death.)
  
• Every Wrestling Crowd Had One: The Little Old Lady Ringside  
• Sunday Get-Togethers with Paul Jones, Ole Anderson, and James J. Dillon
  
• Gordon Solie Gives a Shout-Out to Peggy Lathan
• The Big Brown Box 

Photo Albums
Peggy's Favorites (1978-1981)
From the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, Peggy took lots of photographs of the wrestlers she knew, many of them in candid moments in the back. These were some of her favorites. (Page is on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archives Website)

Peggy's Ric Flair Photo Album
While Don Kernodle, Johnny Weaver, and Tommy Young became three of her best friends and part of her extended family, it was Ric Flair that was always her favorite in the ring. And she later became good friends with the Nature Boy, too. Anyone remember Ric stopping during his big speech at his first Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Legends Fanfest in Charlotte in 2008 to go and hug Peggy? That was a cool moment. These were some of her favorite photos she took of Ric in his first 4-5 years with Jim Crockett Promotions. (Page is on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archives Website)

 

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: October 15, 1983

The WWE Network is no longer available
in the United States.

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

This is a review of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling as it once appeared on the WWE Network (now on Peacock). 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 as well as links to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast, visit our TV Summary Index.

Please note: The WWE Network ceased operation in the United States on April 4, 2021 and the majority of programming transitioned to NBC's Peacock streaming service. The Mid-Atlantic shows returned in July of 2021. Links are provided where available.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 10/15/83
Taped 10/05/83 taped in Greenwood SC at the Greenwood Civic Center
Review is from WWE Network/Peacock Network feed.

We skip the 10/08/83 show on the WWE Network.

Match 1
Non-Title: Greg Valentine [U.S. champion] d. Steve Muslin
Caudle promises some exciting news coming up soon. Is it the announcement of Starrcade? Nick Patrick is the referee for the hour. Valentine finishes off Muslin (or Musulin as his real name is spelled) with an elbow from the second turnbuckle, followed by a half-crab submission.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Our exciting news is Steamboat & Youngblood are the new World tag team champions. No date or location mentioned (10/03/83 in Greenville, for the record). Steamboat praises The Briscos, how hard they were to beat and how long they chased them. They talk about being four-time champions, tying with the Andersons (which isn't true. Andresons held the titles six times.)

[Break] 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ric Flair
Flair is still hyper angry, carrying around his bat. He looks like a blonde Scarface. We got to a clip from the 9/03/93 World Wide Wrestling. David Crockett is interviewing Flair, Bob Orton Jr. and Roddy Piper. Flair brings his children, David and Meagan. Orton holds David while Flair is talking.

Back to the current interview. Flair is incensed that Orton touched his kid. Sandy Scott comes out and tells Flair he can’t carry the bat to the arena. Flair reluctantly relinquishes his weapon.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Roddy Piper
Piper brings out a gift box. He says he knows it’s premature, but Valentine is premature too. He asks Caudle to present the gift to Valentine, but to say it’s from a big fan.

Match 2
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco d. Vinnie Valentino & John Bonello
Bob Caudle lists all of the amateur credentials of both Brisco brothers.
Jerry scored the win with the Figure Four on Bonello. Jack splashes Bonello’s legs after the match for good measure. 

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine
Caudle presents Valentine with the gift box. Valentine knows it’s from Piper. Caudle plays dumb. Valentine reveals a dog collar. He goes nuts. There is no way he will wrestle Piper in a dog collar match. He storms off.

Match 3
The Assassins (w/Paul Jones) d. Mark Youngblood & Scott McGhee
Caudle says this is a return match from last week. Apparently, The Assassins used the loaded mask to win. A back-and-forth battle. McGhee is about to unmask Hercules Assassin. The referee is tied up with Youngblood and Paul Jones. McGhee hits a sweet looking German suplex. But, no referee to count the pin. Hamilton Assassin comes off the top rope to break up the pin, makes the switcheroo, and pins McGhee.

LOCAL PROMO SPOT
-Int. w/Tony Schiavone: Ric Flair
This is in lieu of local promos. We are in front of the blue NWA set. First time Schiavone appears on a WWE Network broadcast. Schiavone talks about Starrcade. Flair talks about his cage match versus Harley Race. Flair sounds hoarse. They haven’t mentioned Starrcade yet on the main body of the show, so some context is missing here. [Context is from the missing show from 10/08.]  Flair thanks Jim Crockett Promotions for bringing the match to the southeast. He won’t let the fans down.

[Break] 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Mark Youngblood & Scott McGhee
Mark is unhappy they got cheated two weeks in a row. McGhee wants one more chance. A no holds barred match.

Match 4
Wahoo McDaniel & Chavo Guerrero d. Magic Dragon & Golden Boy Grey
A one-sided affair. Chavo pins Grey with a German suplex into a bridge. 

[Break]

[VIDEO TAPE] -Comments from Harley Race
Race is in a back hallway at an arena in Florida. He says he will never return to North Carolina. He has no remorse what happened to Flair. Race says Flair can chase him. The word “butt” is bleeped out. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Dick Slater & Bob Orton
Slater says Flair is just a man without his baseball bat. Orton said if Flair’s kid had a bounty on him, he would collect on that too.

[Break] 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Gar Hart, Mark Lewin and Kevin Sullivan
"Markie" has been Hart’s lifelong friend. Hart talks about his men’s superior bodies. Sullivan keeps spouting off, seemingly annoying Hart. 

[Break] 

LOCAL PROMO SPOT
-Int. w/Tony Schiavone: Ric Flair
This may be in lieu of local promos. Another Starrcade promo. Flair thanks the Crockett family. Lots of context missing, given the promo we just heard from Race. Wondering how these Flair promos got mixed into this tape.

Match 5
Dick Slater & Bob Orton Jr. NC Keith Larson & Rick McCord
On the prior bumper, a long-term question finally gets answered. The correct spelling is Larson, not Larsen. About a minute into the match, Flair charges into the ring with a broomstick. The referee gets the stick away, and Flair is taking care of Orton & Slater. Wahoo comes in to help Flair. The brawl continues.

The overdub music plays, and the credits roll as the brawl continues. The video freeze frames, which is kind of odd.

* * * * * * *

Results for the weeks 10/03/83-10/16/83 
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 10/03/83 Fayetteville, NC; Cumberland County Civic Center
Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel by DQ
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Rufus R. Jones
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Keith Larson & Rick McCord
Terry Gibbs beat Jerry Grey

Mon., 10/03/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke
The Assassins beat Bugsy McGraw & Mark Youngblood
Scott McGhee beat Kelly Kiniski
Brickhouse Brown beat Bill Howard

Tue., 10/04/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater beat Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel by DQ
Greg Valentine beat Bugsy McGraw
Kevin Sullivan beat Brett Hart
Gene Anderson beat John Bonello
Terry Gibbs beat Tom Lentz
Magic Dragon draw Vinnie Valentino

Tue., 10/04/83 Raleigh, NC; Dorton Arena
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke in a steel cage, bounty match
Johnny Weaver beat Steve Muslim
Brickhouse Brown beat Bill Howard
Rick McCord beat Gene Ligon
Kelly Kiniski beat Mark Fleming

Wed., 10/05/83 Greenwood, SC; Greenwood Civic Center (TV)

Thu., 10/06/83 Sumter, SC; Exhibition Center County of Sumpter (ECCOS)
Andre The Giant, Charlie Brown & Bugsy McGraw beat Baron Von Raschke & The Assassins
Rufus R. Jones beat Dory Funk, Jr. by DQ
Mark Youngblood beat Magic Dragon
Scott McGhee beat Kelly Kiniski 

Thu., 10/6/83 Norfolk, VA; Scope Coliseum
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine in a lumberjack match
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Kevin Sullivan beat Johnny Weaver
Mark Lewin beat Brett Hart
Gene Anderson beat Terry Gibbs
Brickhouse Brown beat Bill Howard

Fri., 10/07/83 Richmond, VA; Richmond Coliseum
Baron Von Raschke beat Charlie Brown in a steel cage, bounty match
Johnny Weaver beat Dory Funk, Jr. in a 2-ring, 18-man battle royal that also included Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, Wahoo McDaniel, Dick Slater, Bob Orton, Jr., Kevin Sullivan, Rufus R. Jones, Gene Anderson, Brett Hart, Keith Larson, Vinnie Valentino, Jerry Grey, Tom Lentz, Terry Gibbs, Bill White and others
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Johnny Weaver
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Vinnie Valentino & Brett Hart
Terry Gibbs beat Tom Lentz
Brickhouse Brown beat Jerry Grey

Fri., 10/07/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco in a no DQ match
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine in a lumberjack strap match
Mark Youngblood vs. Assassin #1
Scott McGhee vs. Assassin #2
Kelly Kiniski vs. Rick McCord

Sat., 10/08/83 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Rick McCord beat Tom Lentz
Mark Lewin & Kevin Sullivan beat Vinnie Valentino & John Bonello
Rufus R. Jones beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Bugsy McGraw & Mark Youngblood beat The Assassins
Roddy Piper & Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke & Gary Hart
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel double DQ Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater

Sat., 10/08/83 Lincolnton, NC
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
Greg Valentine beat Johnny Weaver
Scott McGhee beat Magic Dragon
Kelly Kiniski beat Steve Muslim
Brickhouse Brown beat Jerry Grey

Sun., 10/09/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke in a steel cage, bounty match
Rufus R. Jones & Mark Youngblood beat The Assassins
Kevin Sullivan beat Steve Muslim
Mark Lewin beat Brett Hart
Magic Dragon beat Brickhouse Brown

Mon., 10/10/83 Greenville, SC;  Memorial Auditorium
Ric Flair & Roddy Piper beat Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater by DQ
Wahoo McDaniel beat Greg Valentine by countout
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver & Rick McCord
Chavo Guerrero beat The Ninja
Gene Anderson beat Keith Larson

Tue., 10/11/83 Rocky Mount, NC; Municipal Stadium
Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater beat Ric Flair & Roddy Piper by DQ
Mark Lewin & Kevin Sullivan beat Steve Muslin & Brickhouse Brown
Scott McGhee beat Bill Howard
Chavo Guerrero beat Magic Dragon
Vinnie Valentino beat Tom Lentz

Wed., 10/12/83 Spartanburg, SC; Memorial Auditorium (TV)
MACW:
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Magic Dragon & Bill Howard
Dick Slater beat Steve Muslin
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Brett Hart & Vinnie Valentino
Charlie Brown & Bugsy McGraw beat Kelly Kiniski & Tom Lentz
Mark Youngblood & Scott McGhee beat The Assassins
WWW:
Chavo Guerrero beat Magic Dragon
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Brett Hart & John Bonello
Dick Slater beat Keith Larson
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Bill Howard & Tom Lentz
The Assassins beat Terry Gibbs & Steve Muslin

Thu., 10/13/83 Orange, VA
Ric Flair beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Jimmy Valiant & Johnny Weaver beat Bob Orton, Jr. & Baron Von Raschke by DQ
Chavo Guerrero beat The Ninja
Mark Lewin beat Steve Muslin
Kevin Sullivan beat Vinnie Valentino

Thu., 10/13/83 Marion, NC
Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater by countout
The Assassins beat Mark Youngblood & Bugsy McGraw
Scott McGhee beat Bill White

Fri., 10/14/83 Hampton, VA; Hampton Coliseum
Ric Flair & Roddy Piper beat Bob Orton, Jr. & Dory Funk, Jr.
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver & Terry Gibbs
Chavo Guerrero beat The Ninja
Magic Dragon beat Brett Hart
Vinnie Valentino beat Jerry Grey

Fri., 10/14/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater
The Assassin beat Mark Youngblood & Bugsy McGraw
Brickhouse Brown vs. Bill Howard
Scott McGhee beat Bill Howard(sub for Gene Anderson)
Keith Larson beat Tom Lentz

Sat., 10/15/83 Culpeper, VA
Vinnie Valentino beat The Ninja
Brett Hart beat Jerry Grey
Chavo Guerrero beat Magic Dragon
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Johnny Weaver & Terry Gibbs
Ric Flair beat Bob Orton, Jr. by countout

Sat., 10/15/83 Roanoke, VA; Roanoke Civic Center
Charlie Brown & Mark Youngblood beat Baron Von Raschke & Gary Hart in a steel cage match
Winner to get Ric Flair: Dick Slater beat Dory Funk, Jr. via pinfall
The Assassins beat Bugsy McGraw & Brickhouse Brown
Scott McGhee beat Kelly Kiniski via pinfall
Gene Anderson beat Keith Larson
Rick McCord beat Tom Lentz

Sun., 10/16/83 Toronto, Ontario; Maple Leaf Gardens
Nick DeCarlo beat Scrap Iron Sheppard(12:32)
Rudy Kay & Terry Kay beat Bob Marcus & Joe Marcus(11:10)
Kelly Kiniski beat Big Mac(7:19)
Johnny Weaver beat Bill Howard (11:28)
Leo Burke beat Brett Hart (14:46)
Don Kernodle beat Mike Rotundo (13:02) to win NWA Canadian Television Title
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine (14:51)
Angelo Mosca beat Sgt. Slaughter (12:41) via pinfall in a lumberjack match

Sun., 10/16/83 Fayetteville, NC; Cumberland County Civic Center
Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr.
Charlie Brown beat Baron Von Raschke in a street fight match
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Chavo Guerrero
Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Scott McGhee & John Bonello
Vinnie Valentino beat The Ninja
Brickhouse Brown beat Jerry Grey

Sun., 10/16/83 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Ric Flair beat Bob Orton, Jr.
Baron Von Raschke vs. Charlie Brown in a cage match
Wahoo McDaniel beat Dick Slater by DQ
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco vs. Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Gene Anderson beat Keith Larson
Terry Gibbs beat Tom Lentz
Scott McGhee beat Magic Dragon
Dory Funk, Jr., Bugsy McGraw & Mark Youngblood beat The Assassins & Paul Jones

Ole Anderson Returns to Charleston's County Hall

 

Ole Anderson is one of those names that probably every Mid-Atlantic fan knows. The Anderson brothers (Ole & Gene) are legendary in the ranks of wrestling history. So on our special reunion weekend in Charleston, it was a true honor to have Ole with us. 

 

While the internet seems to write many negative things about Ole, and those who know him are well aware of how grumpy he can be, as you can see in this short clip, he had fun while back in Charleston, and we had fun with him. Ole told so many stories during our time together. What a joy it was to relive that history with him.  

 

Thanks for all the great memories Ole, you were an honored guest for sure    - Andy McDaniel 

 

Previous Videos:

Johnny Valentine

 

 * * * * *

Video produced by Andy McDaniel. Check out Andy's book Reunion at County Hall: The Night the Wrestling Legends Returned to Charleston. Available on Amazon.com.

My Sweetest Memory of Bobby Eaton

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

With the recent sad passing of Bobby Eaton, the one common thread among all the tweets and Facebook posts - - even more than the comments on what a great performer and worker he was - -  was that he was one of the sweetest, kindest people you would ever meet. He always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. In good times and bad.

My fondest memory of Bobby as a person goes back to the mid-2000s, attending shows promoted by George South in Mooresville, NC and surrounding areas. George booked Bobby somewhat frequently on his "trainee" shows back in those days, primarily because George loved Bobby, and Bobby was so easy to deal with and would happily do anything you asked and could still help draw a crowd to those little independent shows at that time. 

Being a friend of George's, I had the privilege to hang out with Bobby on a handful of occasions before the shows after he had arrived at the building. I was bit in awe of him at first because, well, he was "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton and one of the greatest in ring performers to ever lace up a pair of boots. But Bobby's friendly, gentle nature immediately put you at ease and before you knew it, it was like you had known him forever. He treated most everyone that way, that I could see. It said something about him.

During that time, I was collecting replica belts of the old territory championships. Crafted by Dave Millican from legendary beltmaker Reggie Park's original artwork, these belts were so special to me, and George and I decided to have a little fun with them. Whenever George booked one of our favorites on his shows (Bobby, Masked Superstar Bill Eadie, Jimmy Valiant, etc.) he would make them a champion for that night and we would come up with some outlandish pro-wrestling tale that explained why the Georgia or Missouri or Florida champion was defending that title in North Carolina. Some of George's students at that time (Ricky Steamboat Jr., Cedric Alexander, Tessa Blanchard, Jason Jones, Caleb Konnely, Mike Lee, to name a few) also held those mythical EWA regional titles. It was so much fun.

One night in Charlotte, Bobby was made EWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion. I will never forget the look on his face as George had me try to explain to Bobby why he was Georgia champion and why he was defending the Georgia championship in North Carolina. He thought it was hilarious. And he had such fun with it. 

Years later, when I would run into Bobby at conventions or at indy shows, he wouldn't always remember my name, but he knew me from George, and he would break into that smile, and hug me and whisper into my ear, "Am I still Georgia champion?" It was like we were both 12-year old kids or something. It was just Bobby's sweet way of reconnecting with you and letting you know he had fun memories with you. That little gesture just meant the world me, and was so Bobby Eaton.

I can only imagine the grief shared by Bobby's friends, family, and the hundreds of his peers who thought so much of him personally and professionally. He will be remembered by fans as one of the greatest wrestlers ever, and is forever associated with one of wrestling's greatest tag teams, the Midnight Express.  

Rest in peace, "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton. Your beautiful heart made the world a better place.

Poster: Wahoo battles Flair in Patrick County, VA

by Brack Beasley
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

This poster takes us back to a terrific card held Thursday, June 16th, 1977 in beautiful Patrick County, VA at the high school in Stuart. It promotes a belt vs. belt main event with Wahoo McDaniel putting his Mid-Atlantic Championship title on the line against Ric Flair and his Mid-Atlantic Television title.

Per TV title stipulations, Flair's belt would be at stake for the first 15 minutes but unfortunately Wahoo lost his Mid Atlantic belt only 5 nights before to Greg Valentine in Greensboro, NC, so the belt vs. belt match did not transpire.

The Hollywood Blondes defended their Mid-Atlantic Tag Team titles against the exciting duo of Dino Bravo and Tiger Conway Jr., and the mid-card match featured Ricky Steamboat who was in the midst of his rise to being a true superstar.

The poster has an attractive two-tone vertical design with all black print on an orange-fading-to-yellow background and a western style  "WRESTLING" script on top. The two main eventers really stand out as well in big block letters with the stipulations of the match just below and it's always neat to see the local businesses where you could buy advance tickets.

Patrick County really hasn't changed too much since 1977, I wish I could say the same about professional wrestling.

NO. 10 IN A SERIES

Johnny Weaver's Big Angle in 1977: Greg Valentine (Part 2)

JOHNNY WEAVER 1975-1984
NOT GOING GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
A Multi-Part Series
by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Series Introduction
1976 - Greg Valentine (Part One)


1977 - GREG VALENTINE (PART 2)
Johnny Weaver’s big angle of 1977 was a natural continuation of his being put out of wresting by Greg Valentine in the fall of 1976. After an extended absence, Johnny returned to action in the Mid-Atlantic area in late February of 1977 and he had but one thing on his mind…and that was to exact revenge on Valentine!

While being absent from Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling during the autumn and winter of 1976 until mid-February of 1977, Johnny had a successful stint in the Amarillo territory winning the NWA International Title and even battling old Crockett foes Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson in tag team competition. When Johnny returned to the Carolina’s, his immediate goal was to get revenge on Valentine as Greg was on top of the mountain as one half of the NWA World Tag Team Champions.

The Johnny Weaver revenge tour began almost immediately upon Johnny’s return to the Crockett territory. Initially, it began with Weaver and Valentine being on opposing tag teams. On March 7, 1977 in Charlotte, Ric Flair and Valentine defeated Weaver and Paul Jones, and the following night in Columbia, South Carolina Johnny and Greg faced off as part of six-man tag team competition. 

The singles battles between Weaver and Valentine started soon thereafter, with the first such singles confrontation being in Gastonia, North Carolina on March 10th. The following night in Richmond, Virginia saw Johnny and Greg square off in their most brutal match to date!

The promos leading up the match at the Richmond Arena on March 11, 1977 showed the intensity of both combatants leading up to that Richmond encounter. Announcer Les Thatcher began, “In main event number two, Johnny Weaver returns to battle Greg Valentine.” 

Valentine began, “You know Lester, I’ve got to admit it to you and I’ve got to admit it to the fans…that Johnny Weaver has got a lot of guts. The man has been out for four or five months now, and the first thing he wants to do is get back in the ring with the man that put him out of action for over five months.” 

Greg continued, “Well look at me Johnny Weaver, I’m a World Champion now! I’m one-half of the World Tag Team Champions! And when I come to that Richmond Arena, Johnny Weaver, I’m gonna teach you some respect and I’m gonna teach all those fans some respect. I’m gonna use you as another example, Johnny Weaver. Don’t forget about the elbow, don’t forget about the man that jumped off the top rope on your throat! This time I’m not gonna do it just once Weaver, I’ll do it two, maybe three times, and then you’re gonna take a long, long vacation!”

On the same Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television show that was taped on March 2, 1977, Weaver came out and confronted Valentine before Greg’s TV match with Danny Miller. Weaver called out Valentine, “We’re here in front of the television audience and I don’t want no excuses or hem hawing around about it, I want what’s left of you after this match and if you’re as man as you say you are you’ll put your name on that contract.”

Valentine’s tag team partner, Ric Flair, was with Greg and weighed into this situation. Flair yelled out, “Weaver, my partner right here has a $1000 match coming up, but I’m going to tell you something and I want everybody out there that thinks Johnny Weaver is a heck of a dude, a big man, to hear what I’ve got to say. When we think you’re worth 1000 bucks, then we’ll wrestle you! That’s me, him or anybody else.”

Flair finished up, “When we think you’re worth 1000 bucks. And let me tell you something else, the day we think you’re worth 1000 bucks you’ll be in a lot of trouble. You better get back in the mothballs where you belong, brother!”

Les Thatcher then returned for promos and spoke with Weaver saying, “In main event number two, Johnny Weaver returns to battle Greg Valentine. Johnny, welcome back and I know revenge is certainly on your mind.”

Weaver began, “It certainly is, and you know one thing about Greg Valentine…he put me out of wrestling for four or five months. People all know that, they witnessed how he did it. He got the job done, but it wasn’t too professional. But it’s not over, and I’m back!”

Johnny continued, “And I’ve been hurt before in wrestling, I’ve been hurt by guys…I’ve had every joint in my body hurt and dislocated. I’ve been busted in my head, you can see all the scars, I was even burnt once by fire! But not one of them guys that hurt me before is still around here to wrestle. Not one of them will come around and show their face Valentine, they’ve all been beaten, humiliated and gone, and you’re the last one.”

Weaver concluded, “And I’m not gonna let a half tough punk come in here and run Johnny Weaver over because the fans here have been behind me for a long time, and they know that I’m not gonna get on here and say anything that I don’t think I can do. I’m back, and I’m a 100 percent. You said something about using me, well if you think you’re gonna use me as a steppingstone, you’re gonna find out that it’s still a little slippery! And you talk about a fan’s Dream Match, well this is gonna be a Dream Match because you installed something in me that I had almost lost in this wrestling business…and that’s when I get you down not let you up. Just stomp and kick you when you’re down, because you’re gonna do it when I get up!”

The Richmond bout was a wild affair that saw Valentine completely lose control, giving Johnny the victory by disqualification. The same result occurred in Charlotte three days later. And on March 15th in Raleigh, North Carolina, Johnny teamed with Rufus R, Jones, losing to Greg and Ric Flair in a thrilling contest.

The end of the month of March 1977 had lots of action for Johnny as he battled Valentine tooth-and-nail as Weaver’s revenge tour continued to barrel ahead. On March 17th at the Augusta Expo in Fishersville, Virginia Weaver and Valentine met again in singles competition in a bloody contest. The Weaver/Valentine feud closed the month of March out as on March 21st in Greenville, South Carolina, Johnny and Rufus dropped a spirited challenge to Ric Flair and Greg Valentine. The last match for Johnny and Greg for the month of March was in Raleigh the next night where the two had a stellar bout with lots of blood that saw both participants disqualified for being totally uncontrollable!

Johnny’s main event revenge contests with Valentine continued to be competitive bouts, with Greg slowly gaining the upper hand as spring turned to summer. On April 3rd in Greensboro, Johnny was the one who couldn’t keep his composure, leading to Greg being declared the victor by DQ. The following evening in Greenville, South Carolina saw Greg get the dukes, while the night after in Columbia, South Carolina Johnny prevailed by disqualification when Greg ran afoul of the referee!

The following week in April saw Johnny team with Rufus R. Jones, Wahoo McDaniel and Thunderbolt Patterson against Valentine and Flair with the bad guys coming out on top on each occasion. In the middle of the month of April, Weaver and Valentine went back to singles matches in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Anderson, South Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina. While the bouts were competitive, Valentine was continuing to be more dominant.

May of 1977 saw the Weaver revenge tour essentially come to an end. On May 3rd Flair and Valentine prevailed against Weaver and Bobo Brazil in Columbia, South Carolina. The remainder of the month of May saw Greg defeat Johnny in Texas Death Matches in Columbia, Greensboro and Greenville. The final confrontation in this program occurred on June 24th back in Richmond, where Flair and Valentine defeated Weaver and Wahoo in dominant fashion. 

Johnny Weaver battled Greg Valentine for approximately three months in Johnny’s main event angle for 1977 in a spirited quest for revenge for Greg’s injuring him in 1976. After the program ran its course, Weaver settled into a solid mid-card role for the rest of 1977. But it didn’t take long when the calendar flipped over to 1978 for Johnny to rise back into the main event ranks against a world-renowned newcomer to the Mid-Atlantic area!

UP NEXT---Johnny Weaver’s 1978 main event angles with Baron von Raschke!

The Voice of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling

Johnny Valentine Returns to County Hall

"I will never forget this town. Because there was a time I was a sellout for wrestling. There was a time - - it was hot in this building but I loved the town, and I still do, and I love the town today. You know, it hasn't changed, the people are great, and it's a pleasure to be here."
- Johnny Valentine, Charleston SC, 1998

 

County Hall in Charleston SC hosted many matches over the years. My journey there started in 1974. The legendary figures that passed through the hallowed hall were many, but there was something special about Johnny Valentine. He just stood out. His battles with Wahoo were something to behold in person. I will never forget.

After all the years had passed and the limited appearances that he made, it was an incredible honor to have him back at County Hall in 1998. Unfortunately, Johnny would pass away a couple of years later, making this one of his last personal appearances at a wrestling event. However, his memory lives on in the heart of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling fans to this day.    - Andy McDaniel

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Video produced by Andy McDaniel. Check out Andy's book Reunion at County Hall: The Night the Wrestling Legends Returned to Charleston. Available on Amazon.com.

Big Gold: Wrestling's Most Celebrated Championship Belt

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A Look Back at July on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

• JULY 2021 IN REVIEW
  
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