"Final Bell" Remembers Legends of the Mat

by Dick Bourne

Mid-Atlantic Gateway

I've enjoyed Mike Mooneyham's wrestling columns in the Charleston Post & Courier since I first discovered them on this new thing called the Internet in the 1990s. Mike instinctively knows how to connect with both casual and hardcore fans, exploring the modern but also mining the historical, often in a very nostalgic way, which has always appealed to me directly.

Part of what I liked about many of his columns was that much of his subject matter came from the same territory I had grown up in. It was clear we both had a love and deep appreciation for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. So whenever a legend from our area passed away, I anticipated the column that would soon follow where Mike would perfectly frame the life, career, and death of these legendary wrestlers.

Mike collects many of those tributes, not only on the stars from our area, but from the wide world of pro-wrestling, and presents them in this amazing volume published by Evening Post Books.

"Final Bell" presents over 35 of Mike's columns going back decades, and is divided into various sections thematically: "Champions" such as Jack Brisco, Bruno Sammartino, and Randy Savage; "Originals" like Wahoo McDaniel, Fred Blassie, and Johnny Valentine; "Braintrust" featuring Jim Barnett, Lance Russell, and the longtime local promoter from his hometown of Charleston, Henry Marcus.

And of course, there is a large section on "Mid-Atlantic Mainstays and Stars" including such legends as Rip Hawk and Swede Hansen, George and Sandy Scott, Tim Woods, and Johnny Weaver.

And so many others.

I had read many of these articles before, but I had missed many, too. I was captivated by the material new to me, and enjoyed reliving the others. Throughout I was moved to laugh and cry, and as with most of what Mike writes, I continued my education in the history of professional wrestling.

For more information and to order your copy of this impressive collection of essays, visit "Final Bell" at Evening Post Books.

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From the publisher:

Best-selling author Mike Mooneyham is back with a collection of his previous columns that remember some of pro-wrestling’s finest movers and shakers. From their rise to fame to the end of their days, Final Bell: Legends of the Mat Remembered pays tribute to fallen wrestlers such as Dusty Rhodes, Roddy Piper and the Fabulous Moolah. The book also includes quotes from the industry’s favorite wrestling professionals like JJ Dillon, Jerry Brisco and Jim Cornette. Showcasing two forewords by industry pros Les Thatcher and Jim Ross, this book is a must-have for all dedicated wrestling fans!

Mike Mooneyham began covering pro-wrestling in the mid-1960s for a number of national wrestling publications. He was a writer, editor and columnist with The Post and Courier in Charleston, SC, for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2016 but continuing to write his popular Sunday wrestling column, which he started in 1989, making it the longest-running pro wrestling column in the country. In 2002, he co-authored the New York Times best-selling book, Sex, Lies and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. Mooneyham is a member of several halls of fame, including the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa; the South Carolina Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame; the Lowcountry Wrestling Hall of Fame; and the Mid-Atlantic Legends Hall of Heroes. He received the James C. Melby Award, the industry’s top writing award, in 2009.

Cool Photo: Rich Landrum and Gene Anderson arrive at WRAL

Photo by Steve Davies

While it appears Rich Landrum didn't offer to carry Gene Anderson's bags on this night, he was happy to carry his belt!

Landrum, the host of "World Wide Wrestling" from 1978-1982, arrives at the studios of WRAL TV in Raleigh, NC, with his trademark tuxedo in a travel bag in his hand and one of the NWA World Tag Team title belts over his shoulder.

To Landrum's right is Gene Anderson, one half of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew and also one half of the then-reigning NWA World Tag Team Champions with his brother Ole Anderson.

A great behind-the-scenes photograph taken by Steve Davies in the summer of 1981.

Mike Rickard Reviews our 1975 Yearbook

"Wrestling's Greatest Moments" author Mike Rickard II has written a great review of our 1975 Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Yearbook which appears on the Canadian Bulldog's World website.

We appreciate the kind words and are always happy when folks enjoy the trip back in time with us.

An excerpt:

Ever wonder what it was like growing up as a fan of wrestling during the territory days? Thanks to Dick Bourne and David Chappell’s Mid-Atlantic Wrestling 1975 Yearbook, readers can experience the thrills and action that took place in Jim Crockett Promotions’ legendary Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling territory. This oversized book is bursting with photos, newspaper articles, and reproductions of house show program books, giving fans the chance to step back into 1975.

The wrestling experience was so different for a fan in 1975. Cable television was in its infancy and the Internet was still two decades away from becoming more than a curiosity.....

Read the entire review here:
Reviews: Mid-Atlantic Wrestling 1975 Yearbook

You can purchase the 1975 Yearbook in our bookstore here.

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Mike Rickard is the author of "Wrestling's Greatest Moments", as well as the autobiographical "Laughing All the Way to the Bank (Robbery): How An Attorney Survived Prison" and the new novel "Flunky: Pawns and  Kings." His website is located at MichaelRickard.com.

Action Figures Friday: Two Champions from Oklahoma!

This week, NWA Champion Jack Brisco brings out a big bottle of J.R.'s Original Family Bar-B-Q Sauce on the set of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling!

For real, though, we are excited about J.R.'s new podcasting venture with the king of podcasting, the Podfather himself, Conrad Thompson.

J.R. announced on Twitter that he and Conrad would be launching their new Slobberknocker Audio Show next week, recording in Las Vegas, the site of Cauliflower Alley activities as well as the upcoming Starrcast II convention at Caesars Palace.

We can't wait! For more information on the show, follow Jim Ross @JRsBBQ and Conrad Thompson @HeyHeyItsConrad.

Visit J.R.'s Barbeque restaurant when in Culver City, CA! Can't beat original Memphis style BBQ.
You can also buy J.R.'s sauce on line here. Follow J.R. on Twitter at @JRsBBQ.

Blooper from Toronto!

 

Thanks to Andrew Calvert at MapleLeafWrestling.com for sending us this ad from November 1980 featuring an interesting nickname for Jimmy Snuka! 

"When you first started posting the bloopers I went through the Toronto ads thinking there must be a ton of them," Andrew wrote me. "It was the only one I could find!"

What a great card at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. A significant amount of talent booked on Toronto cards during this era (1978-1983) came from the Charlotte booking office of the NWA, Jim Crockett Promotions. 

All the Crockett championships were defended there during this time, along with the Canadian title. And both the NWA and WWF world titles were defended there, too. It was a unique city and special place for wrestling in those days.

For more Boopers, visit here.

N.W.A. Official Wrestling Rules (1975)

The following is from a 1975 issue of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Magazine.

1975 N.W.A. Official Wrestling Rules as Sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance

MAJOR RULE CHANGES
The count on the floor is no longer 20, but has been changed to a 10 count. The rule went into effect August 11, 1973. Intentional striking of referee will result in an automatic disqualification or suspension.

1.    No hair pulling, eye gouging, strangle holds or biting.
2.    No pulling of trunks, masks or any other equipment.
3.    No straight punches or kicks with point of toe.

NOTE:  Contestants who repeatedly violate any of the above rules will be disqualified. The following violations are automatic disqualification:
1.    Throwing opponent over top rope.
2.    Karate thrusts to the throat.
3.    The piledriver hold.
4.    Failing to break an illegal hold before the referee’s five count.
5.    The use of any foreign object.
6.    Any interference with the duties of the referee.
7.    Continuing to abuse a defeated opponent.
8.    Any interference by managers, seconds or corner men.
9.    Tag team save rule:  automatic disqualification when one team member saves another on any sure pinning or submission combination more than once.
10.    No intentional punching or kicking in the groin or kidney area.

The following maneuvers are legal:
1.    Judo chops, forearm blows, bolo punches, instep and flat-of-foot kicks.
2.    The use of the ropes to gain leverage – contestants may spring against ropes as in tackles and other such maneuvers providing the contact with the rope is momentary.
3.    It is legal to continue wrestling your opponent until he is clearly entangled in ropes and referee calls for a break (wrestlers cautioned to protect themselves on the break).

Additionally:

1. Contestants will get 10 counts on the apron of the ring and 10 on the floor.

2. Championships cannot change hands when the victory is gained by disqualification or count-out.

In any situation not covered by these rules, the N.W.A. will honor the judgment and discretion of the appointed referee.


$50.00 REWARD

For information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons throwing objects in the arena during wrestling matches.

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The preceding was from a 1975 issue of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Magazine. 

Almanac History - July 1980 (Part Three)

David Chappell's
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling History
ALMANAC DIRECTORY

JULY 1980 - PART 3

CLICK FOR THE ALMANAC INDEX

SECOND WEEK OF JULY 1980 (Cont.)
After Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood inserted themselves in a match with NWA World Tag Team Champions Ray Stevens and Jimmy Snuka on the July 9, 1980 Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television program, announcer Bob Caudle had a hard time believing what he was seeing. Caudle marveled, "It goes to show you, anything can happen on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling! The fans in our TV arena are about to go nuts here, along with Gene Anderson who keeps beating on the ring...he's gonna break that cane!" The ultra excitable color commentator David Crockett added, "I've already blown one mic!"

Gene Anderson
Manager of the NWA World
Tag Team Champions
 

The exciting back-and-forth bout came to an end when Steamboat appeared to secure the win for the "good guys" when he captured Stevens in his surfboard hold with no hope for escape, as the "bad guys" already had one save and Youngblood had chased Snuka out of the ring. The bell then rung, seemingly signaling the end of the match by submission and Steamboat dropped the flailing "Crippler" to the mat and the fan favorites began celebrating!

However, there was more to this story. In all the excitement, it became clear that the floor manager didn't ring the bell signaling the end of the match...but rather Gene Anderson, Snuka and Stevens’ diabolical manager, snuck around the ring to where the bell was and started ringing it! This controversial ending brought out a very rare verbal explanation from referee Tommy Young.

Young explained, "I heard the bell and figured the time was out---so the match is a draw." Crockett then bellowed, "The floor manager says he didn't ring the bell...Gene Anderson rang the bell!" Tommy responded, "Well, that could very well be; I don't know. But all I know is I heard the bell, and when I looked back there Gene Anderson was not there. The official verdict...this is a draw. I'm sorry, this is a draw." Crockett went ballistic, yelling, "BUT GENE ANDERSON RANG THE BELL!" Young then calmly talked Crockett down off the ledge explaining, "I did not see it. I'm sorry David, but it's a draw. It's all I can do."

Steamboat and Youngblood were no happier about the outcome than Crockett was. Ricky complained to Caudle and Crockett later in the same show, "What can the NWA do about Anderson? What can we do about that man? Every time we turn around he's doin' something behind our backs!” Youngblood concurred, "Bob, it was plain to see we had them beat right in the middle. Plain to see! Anderson has been comin' around doin' all this kind of stuff. He's been takin' everybody's eyes off the match, and doin' a lot of stuff."

Jay Youngblood and
Ricky Steamboat

Ricky was becoming even angrier and blurted out, "When we sign contracts, we sign contracts to wrestle Stevens and Snuka, not Anderson---he's a manager! He's not supposed to interfere; he's not supposed to be involved. And every time we wrestle 'em he's always runnin' up and down to the ring and he's sticking his cane in there and he's hittin' people with it!"

Seeking and searching for relief from Gene Anderson, Steamboat opined, "What can we do about that particular man? I think what we may have to do is check into that and possibly get a man in our corner also."

While that stipulation was going to come about shortly, around the second week of July the one unique stipulation that was employed was a “Falls Count Anywhere” contest in Columbia, South Carolina at the Township Auditorium on July 15th. On that night, the champs retained their belts against Steamboat and Youngblood in a match where the participants battled into every nook and cranny of the arena!

The two teams split their other two matches during the week. On July 11th in Lynchburg, Virginia Ray and the “Superfly” successfully defended their belts in a title encounter, while Ricky and Jay exacted a bit of revenge in Greenville, South Carolina at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium on July 14th by besting the champs in a non-title bout.

In two other noteworthy matches that occurred around the area in and around the second week of July, starting in Sumter, South Carolina on July 10th, Andre the Giant and Sweet Ebony Diamond defeated Snuka and Stevens in a non-title bout as Andre wound down his latest tour of the Mid-Atlantic area in impressive fashion. And at the end of the week and bleeding into the third week of the month, Ric Flair defeated former partner Greg Valentine in a bloody bout at the Raleigh Civic Center, retaining his United States Heavyweight Title in the process.

More from July 1980 in PART FOUR                       ALMANAC DIRECTORY

Action Figures Friday: Greg Valentine & The Valentine Trophy Case

Mid-Atlantic Gateway Photo
(Inspired by the work of Reggie Richardson!)

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Yes, this may be considered gimmick infringement!

If you've been keeping up with our latest pics on Action Figures Friday, you'll remember that we have been featuring some images from Reggie Richardson over at Wrestler Weekly. These have combined classic Mid-Atlantic Wrestling magazine covers with custom action figures for a fun little blast of nostalgia.

We were inspired by Reggie to create our own similar set-up. The North Carolina branch office of the Gateway doesn't have many action figures, but we do love this one of Greg Valentine sporting his classic "I Broke Wahoo's Leg" t-shirt and the Mid-Atlantic Championship belt. He's positioned in front of a Volume 3 Issue 3 of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Magazine, published in the late summer of 1977 by Les Thatcher for Jim Crockett Promotions. it spotlights the famous Valentine Family Trophy Case!

So thanks to Reggie for the inspiration and click here for more Action Figures Friday images, including another we worked up with this particular figure.

The "Red Cover"

This is the cover of a photo album sold at the wrestling events in 1974, one of two distinct issues that year with this theme. Known to collectors as "the Red Cover", there was also a second photo album released that year (known as "the Blue Cover").

The album featured about 16 pages of black and white promotional photos of the wrestlers of that era including Johnny Valentine, Rip Hawk, Swede Hansen, Johnny Weaver, Jack Brisco, Jerry Brisco, and many others. Even a very young Ric Flair, his first year in the territory.

One of the distinguishing features of this issue that makes it special to collectors is the designation on the cover "Produced by Ringley and Crockett." John Ringley, then married to Frances Crockett, had been pegged to run the company following the death of Jim Crockett Sr. in 1973. Up until that point, the company Ringley & Crockett, Inc. had handled all the non-wrestling related promotions of Jim Sr.'s empire including concerts, Globetrotters basketball, fishing tournaments, etc. It appeared that perhaps now that company name would absorb the wrestling related business as well, or maybe not. Perhaps it was just going to undertake the publishing of the photo albums, magazines, and programs.

Regardless, it wasn't long after this particular album was published that John Ringley and Frances Crockett divorced, and the wrestling business was known from that point forward solely as Jim Crockett Promotions, Inc.

Arn Anderson Unleashed at Starrcast II in Las Vegas