Local Boy Gets His Shot: Don Kernodle and Ric Flair team up in Burlington (1981)

"Headlining the schedule will be a tag team match pitting Burlington's Don Kernodle and Ric Flair against Greg Valentine and Roddy Piper."

A quick glance at the newspaper ad above and one might not think anything unusual about Don Kernodle teaming with Ric Flair in the early 1980s. Flair was the Mid-Atlantic territory's beloved top star at that time, on his way to be coming NWA world champion for the first time later that year.

However, Don Kernodle was still wrestling the circuit as a mid-card babyface, having been in that role for over seven years, and struggling to break out to the next level. That break would indeed come in early 1982 when Sgt. Slaughter selected him and Jim Nelson to become his Marine privates. Pvts. Nelson and Kernodle became one of the top tag teams in the territory with Sgt. Slaughter as their mentor, winning the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships. Kernodle later became the partner of Sarge himself, and the two had one of the biggest box-office feuds of the early 1980s with Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood.

But in March of 1981, Kernodle was still toiling away as a mid-carder, one of the top workers in the ring, but never getting the chance to get over at the next level. But on this one night in March in his hometown of Burlington, NC, Don got an opportunity to shine.

Jim Crockett Promotions ran semi-regular spot shows at Cummings High School in Burlington.  Kernodle had grown up in Burlington and was a four-year standout high school wrestler before going on to success as a wrestler for Elon College in Elon, NC (adjacent to Burlington). He lettered in wrestling all four years at Elon, and also dabbled in Judo and arm wrestling where he was a 2-time national champion. So he was a well known local name in the area, plus he had been seen on Mid-Atlantic Wrestling television shows for years.

In March of 1981, Ric Flair was in the middle of a tag team feud with his two arch-rivals that had dubbed themselves "the dream team" - - Roddy Piper and Greg Valentine. Flair's regular partner during this run was Ricky Steamboat. So the normal main event for Burlington could have easily been Flair and Steamboat vs. Piper and Valentine, which was headlining major venues all over the territory.  But on this Thursday in March of 1981, booker Ole Anderson had the idea to take advantage of Don Kernodle's local name in the Burlington area and team him with Flair for one special night at the local high school spot show.

Needless to say, that angle worked well, drawing not only the hardcore fans, but also many in the community who knew the Kernodle family and turned out to support Don in what was surely the biggest match of his career by this point. Kernodle and Flair tore the house down and scored a big victory over the "dream team" of Piper and Valentine.

Less than a year later, in early 1982, Kernodle would finally get the push he longed for (and well deserved) when he turned heel and became part of Sgt. Slaughter's marine unit.

 

Originally published August 29, 2015 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

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Newspaper clippings from the collection of Mark Eastridge.
Check out all the Main Event Memories on the Gateway.

Labor Day Weekend Memories 1981: Superstars Headline Charlotte

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

INCLUDES RARE VIDEO BELOW

The summer of 1981 was a crazy one for the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. He had become distracted from regaining the United States championship that he had lost in January to Roddy Piper. The primary distraction took the form of yet another round in the ongoing family-drama with his cousins Gene and Ole Anderson. The Andersons, along with the help of Ivan Koloff, had attacked Flair inside a steel cage and left their cousin badly beaten. Flair was all about getting revenge and had even started bringing a baseball bat with him to the TV studio and the arena. He was banned from some buildings as a result of this bad behavior, and resorted to buying a ticket himself to gain entry, only to hit the ring and attack the Andersons again.

Ric's main beef appeared to be with Ole. They trash talked each other throughout most of the summer, and things were heated to say the least. Finally, the Crocketts decided that the issue between the two needed to be settled once and for all. They booked a series of matches across the territory where Ole and Ric were bound together in some way. In some towns it was an Indian strap match, with Wahoo McDaniel coaching up Ric on the tricks of the trade. In other cases it was a Russian chain match, with Ivan Koloff coaching up Ole.

On Sunday, September 6 on a big Labor Day holiday card at the Charlotte Coliseum it would be a Texas bullrope match with the unlikeliest person of all coming in to coach up Ric. The American Dream (the reigning NWA World heavyweight champion) Dusty Rhodes was there to school Ric in the strategies of the famed Texas bullrope match!

Tensions were already running high between the two. Rhodes had won the NWA title from Harley Race earlier that June, but everyone knew (especially Rhodes) that Ric Flair was gunning for his shot at that world title. They had been at odds with each other on the national cable broadcast of "Georgia Championship Wrestling." And even though they wrestled out of the same locker room in the Mid-Atlantic territory, it was a surprise - - even a bit surreal - - to see Ric Flair standing side by side with the American Dream in a promo leading up to to the match.

A day earlier, on Saturday 9/5, I had just returned to Davidson College for my junior year, and learned of this big match from a print ad in the Charlotte Observer. Not only was Ric Flair fighting Ole Anderson in a Texas bullrope match, but Dusty Rhodes was defending the NWA World championship that night against Greg Valentine! This was a huge card I didn't want to miss.

The problem was, I didn't have a car. My only other college friend who both had a car and liked wrestling wasn't back to school yet from New Jersey. I decided to beg and plead my roommate Flint to go with me and drive us to Charlotte for the big Sunday night show. He had no interest in wrestling. But rooming with me, he knew I did.  And being the great guy he was, he agreed. I had to buy the tickets, refreshments, and fill that tank up with gas of course, but it was a small price to pay.

The Charlotte Coliseum was nearly old out for the show. We got there just before bell-time and were sitting way up about six rows from the top of the Coliseum.

That night, there was no doubting what the main event was. Dusty may have been there defending the NWA World tile, but the match that drew the near-sellout house was the Texas bullrope contest between Flair and Anderson. In fact, Dusty and Valentine went on before the bullrope match.

Another big match that night was part of the ongoing feud between Wahoo McDaniel and Roddy Piper where they each took a partner. Piper's hired gun was the "Madman from the Sudan" Abdullah The Butcher.

Dusty successfully defended the "ten pounds of gold," pinning Greg Valentine. Flair and Ole Anderson had a long, bloody, bullrope battle that finally resulted in Flair dragging Ole completely around the ring and touching all four corners. There was a huge pop at the Charlotte Coliseum for that.

A few weeks ago, our friend Charles Robinson sent me a photo he had taken at that show. He certainly had better seats than Flint and I did.

Charles grew up a Mid-Atlantic Wrestling fan in the 1970s and went to many shows at the Coliseum. He later followed in the footsteps of the great referees of that era like Tommy Young, Stu Schwartz, and Sonny Fargo and became a referee himself for WCW. He made the transition to WWE after they bought the Turner company, and he remains arguably the best referee in the business today.

Charles Robinson's photo taken from ringside, 1981. (Click to enlarge.)

So when I first saw the photo of Flair and Ole tied together with a bullrope, and he told me it was taken in Charlotte, I immediately knew it was from the same show I had attended, too.

That was 34 years ago today as I post this. Sunday, September 6, 1981.

It got me to thinking about this big card and big match. I mentioned earlier Ric being distracted that summer from his quest to regain the U.S. title from Piper. One of those distractions might have been his greater quest to win a bigger prize. Exactly 11 days later at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Ric defeated Dusty Rhodes for the NWA title to win his first world championship.

That didn't put an end to Ric and Ole's feud, though. Ole Anderson became Flair's top challenger for the NWA title in the Mid-Atlantic area, as well as other towns Crockett was booking like Toronto, ON and Buffalo, NY.

We've rounded up a little bit of video promoting the big bull rope match, Ric and Dusty side by side with "World Wide Wrestling" host Rich Landrum. The quality isn't the best, but it's still fun to see. You'll notice that Dusty sends a message to Ole in the promo that no matter whether he liked Ric or not, things had to be settled between Ole Anderson and Ric Flair.

Great memories of a great time in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling!

Originally published September 6, 2015 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

The First Mid-Atlantic Champion: Jerry Brisco

Jerry Brisco: First Ever Mid-Atlantic Champion 
by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway 

Today we spotlight the very first Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion, Oklahoma State's Jerry Brisco.

Jerry was the first wrestler to hold the title known by name as the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship, although that title evolved from (and shares a direct lineage with) the Eastern States Heavyweight title. Jerry was the reigning 4-time Eastern States champion when the title's name was changed in October of 1973, and as such is recognized as the first Mid-Atlantic champion.

Jerry Brisco's Four Mid-Atlantic/Eastern States Title Victories

Defeated Rip Hawk on 6/13/72 in Columbia, SC

Defeated Rip Hawk on 9/4/72 in Greenville, SC

Defeated Rip Hawk on 3/3/73 in Winston-Salem, NC

Defeated Ole Anderson on 7/3/73 in Columbia, SC

In his WWE Hall of Fame induction speech in 2008, Jerry took time to thank promoter Jim Crockett, Sr. for giving him a chance to shine as a singles competitor on a main event level. It was a special moment for fans of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling and the old Mid-Atlantic territory to hear Brisco invoke the name of the man who promoted wrestling in our area for over 40 years:

"I’d like to thank Jim Crockett, Sr., the great promoter in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling. They gave me my first opportunity to bust out on my own. I won the Eastern United States Championship there, I won the Mid-Atlantic Championship there…”

 - Jerry Brisco, WWE Hall of Fame speech, Class of 2008

At the Mid-Atlantic Legends Fanfest in 2010, I asked Jerry to take a photo with a replica of the first Mid-Atlantic championship title belt. The photo is seen in the collage above. The replica belt was made by Dave Millican from the original artwork created by Reggie Parks, who made the original belt in 1973. It was a special opportunity to recapture great championship imagery from the territory's past.

Jerry Brisco talks with "Championship Wrestling" host Big Bill Ward in Charlotte in 1972.
Jerry was in the middle of chasing Eastern States champion Rip Hawk in effort to regain that title.

In another bit of trivia, Jerry and his brother, Jack Brisco, were the only two wrestlers to hold both the Eastern States and Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight titles. "Sounds like one of us must have been booking," Jack joked to me during an autograph signing at Fanfest.

Jerry left the area in early 1974, but returned in the early 1980s to team with Jack in a memorable feud with Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood over the NWA world tag team championships, a title they held on several occasions.

Regardless of what period you look at in Mid-Atlantic history, whether it be his run in the 1970s or the 1980s, Jerry Brisco is one of the most distinguished champions to ever hold gold in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Originally published July 28, 2016 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

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Read all about Jerry Brisco's four Eastern and Mid-Atlantic title reigns and all the storylines associated with his landmark singles run for Jim Crockett Promotions in our book 'The Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship", available in the Gateway Book Store and on Amazon.com.

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: January 8, 1983

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 as well as links to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast, visit our TV Summary Index.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 01/08/83
(taped 01/05/83 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network Direct Link to this show Mid-Atlantic 01/08/83
WWE Network feed.   [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]

Match 1
NWA TV championship: Mike Rotundo [ch.] d. Ken Timbs
We start with action already going in the ring. Tommy Young is the referee for the hour. Caudle praises Rotundo for staying after Leroy Brown and winning the championship. Rotundo gets the pin following the airplane spin.
As Slaughter and Kernodle approach the set, Caudle introduces the next match via magic blue screen.
[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle
Slaughter wears a camouflage shirt, while Kernodle is in a suit. It’s a $300 coat and $50 shirt Slaughter says. Sarge brags about his team, and they exit stage left.

Match 2
Dick Slater & Bob Orton, Jr. & Jerry Brisco -no contest- Greg Valentine & Dory Funk, Jr. & Red Dog Lane (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink)
This is Slater’s first TV appearance, at least for this run. His right hand is taped, and the heels are scared of his punch. Slater is kind of acting crazy. Decent wrestling throughout. The finish sees Orton and Funk collide and both go down in the ring. Lane comes in, leading to Brisco getting in the ring. As the referee tries to put Brisco out, Slater come sin and knee drops his own partner Orton! Brisco pulls Slater off and shoves him. Slater responds by tossing Brisco out of the ring. Valentine and Slater double team Orton. Piper, in a Pro Wrestling Illustrated shirt, and the recovering Brisco clear house.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sir Oliver Humperdink
Humperdink gloats about One Mang Gang taking care of Jimmy Valiant. We go to a clip from an unnamed arena of Gang and Jos LeDuc beating on Valiant in the ring.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine and Sir Oliver Humperdink
This in lieu of local promos. Humperdink says they are having a problem with Barry Windham in Florida. Valentine talks about the Southern title (which Windham holds) and his own U.S. title. Valentine then talks about Piper. He moves on to Dickie Slater, saying he was unsure about him. But, Slater saw the light, and wants to be his partner.

[Break]

Match 3
Jay Youngblood d. Ricky Harris
Roddy Piper joins Caudle on the mic. Mostly insults for the likes of Slater, Slaughter & Kernodle and the rest. Some loud chops by Youngblood. He finishes off Harris with the “Tommyhawk” and the elbow.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jerry Brisco & Bob Orton, Jr.; Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood.
Brisco says they should have known better about the unpredictable Slater. Orton vows revenge, even calling Slater an a$$hole (edited out). Steamboat & Youngblood say its personal against Slaughter & Kernodle. Youngblood agrees.

[Break]

Match 4
Johnny Weaver d. Don Kernodle by DQ
Fairly even match. Kernodle locks in the Cobra Clutch. Weaver tries to kick off the ropes to break the hold, but Kernodle holds on. Steamboat runs in, but Kernodle grabs him by the sports coat. Steamboat slips out, and Kernodle rips up the coat. Steamboat joins Caudle and yells at Kernodle. He calls him a fool. Steamboat then grabs the coat, and yells and laughs at Kernodle. It turns out it was his own coat. The match continues sin the ring. Kernodle realizes what he did, and yells at Steamboat. Kernodle drops Weaver over the top rope and causes the disqualification.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle
Kernodle is frustrated and beside himself. Slaughter storms in and says he was in the back on the phone. He wants to know how Steamboat got the coat. Both are livid. Slaughter calls it a conspiracy.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jerry Brisco
Brisco mainly laments about Slater turning on him and Orton.

Match 5
Tommy Gilbert d. Ben Alexander
Caudle praises Steamboat’s plan. Piper rejoins Caudle and he is gloating and laughing at Kernodle. Gilbert wins a relatively nondescript match with a mule kick followed by a knee lift for the pin.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine, Dick Slater, and Sir Oliver Humperdink
Humperdink says he pulled the greatest move of 1983. “I don’t your name, and it doesn’t matter,” Slater starts. He says the money Humperdink paid him doesn’t matter. He answers Orton, Brisco and “Rodney” Piper. He doesn’t owe anyone an explanation. He is the greatest wrestler. “What I am, is violence.”
Slater leaves, and Valentine steps up. His New Year’s resolution is to keep the title all year. He praises Slater.

“So long for now!”

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Results for the week, 1/03/83-1/09/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock.)

Mon., 1/03/83 Fayetteville, NC; Cumberland County Civic Center
Tommy Gilbert & Abe Jacobs beat Red Dog Lane & Jim Dalton
One Man Gang beat Johnny Weaver
Bob Orton, Jr. beat Bruiser Brody
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Sweet Brown Sugar
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle by DQ

Tue., 1/04/83 Raleigh, NC; Raleigh Civic Center
Vinnie Valentino beat Ken Timbs
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Pvt. Nelson
Mike Rotundo beat Jim Dalton [poster listed as Larry Lane]
Jimmy Valiant, Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Dory Funk, Jr., Paul Jones & One Man Gang
Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine 

Tue., 1/04/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Dizzy Hogan beat Mike Davis
Porkchop Cash & King Parsons beat Masa Fuchi & Frank Monte
Gene Anderson beat Tommy Gilbert
Bob Orton, Jr. beat Bruiser Brody by DQ
Abdullah the Butcher beat Jos LeDuc
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle

Wed., 1/05/83 Charlotte, NC; WCPQ-TV studio
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Mike Rotundo beat Ken Timbs
Jerry Brisco, Bob Orton, Jr. & Dick Slater beat Red Dog Lane, Dory Funk, Jr. & Greg Valentine by DQ
Jay Youngblood beat Ricky Harris
Johnny Weaver beat Pvt. Kernodle by DQ
Tommy Gilbert beat Ben Alexander
World Wide Wrestling
Roddy Piper beat Ken Timbs
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Ricky Harris & Masa Fuchi
Dick Slater & Greg Valentine beat Timmy Gilbert & Mark Fleming
Bob Orton, Jr. beat Frank Monte
Mike Rotundo beat Red Dog Lane

Wed., 1/05/83 Sumter, SC; Exhibition Center
Abdullah The Butcher, Jimmy Valiant & Sweet Brown Sugar beat Bruiser Brody, Paul Jones & One Man Gang
Jack Brisco beat Pvt. Nelson
Mike Davis beat Dizzy Hogan
King Parsons beat Jim Dalton
Bill White beat Vinnie Valentino

Thu., 1/06/83 Shelby, NC
Tommy Gilbert beat Ben Alexander
Jerry Bryant beat Red Dog Lane
Johnny Weaver beat Ricky Harris
Jack Brisco beat Dizzy Hogan
Abdullah The Butcher & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Paul Jones & One Man Gang 

Thu., 1/06/83 Norfolk, VA; Scope Coliseum
Pvt. Nelson beat Vinnie Valentino
One Man Gang beat Mike Davis
Tommy Gilbert & Johnny Weaver beat Red Dog Lane & Ken Timbs
Abdullah the Butcher, Sweet Brown Sugar & Jimmy Valiant beat Gene Anderson, Dory Funk, Jr. & Greg Valentine
Mike Rotundo beat Leroy Brown
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d.  Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle by DQ

Fri., 1/07/83 Richmond, VA; Richmond Coliseum
Mike Davis beat Masa Fuchi
Jim Nelson beat King Parsons
Vinnie Valentino & Johnny Weaver beat Gene Anderson & Red Dog Lane
Abdullah the Butcher & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Jos LeDuc & One Man Gang
Jimmy Valiant beat Greg Valentine
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood double countout with Don Kernodle & Sgt. Slaughter

Fri., 1/07/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Ricky Harris beat Abe Jacobs
Frank Monte beat Mark Fleming
Tommy Gilbert draw Dizzy Hogan
Porkchop Cash beat Bill White
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Paul Jones
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Mike Rotundo

Sat., 1/08/83 Conway, SC
Jim Dalton d. Mark Fleming
Bill Whtie d. Vinnie Valentino
Pvt. Nelson d. Abe Jacobs
Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle

Sun., 1/09/83 Savannah, GA; Civic Center
Abe Jacobs beat Bill White
Red Dog Lane beat Mike Davis
Porkchop Cash beat Ricky Harris by DQ
Jack Brisco, Mike Rotundo & Abdullah the Butcher beat Red Dog Lane, Gene Anderson & Paul Jones
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle

Sun., 1/9/83 Hampton, VA; Hampton Coliseum
Tommy Gilbert beat Jim Dalton
Masa Fuchi beat Vinnie Valentino
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Dizzy Hogan
Jimmy Valiant beat One Man Gang
Bob Orton, Jr. beat Greg Valentine by DQ
Jack Brisco d. Dory Funk, Jr.

Round Two of The Crockett Cup Continues!

MIKE RICKARD'S FANTASY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
ROUND TWO CONTINUES:

Catching up? Here is the background info:
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings

BRACKETS
Updated brackets going into tonight's matches.
[Links to previous matches at the bottom of this post.]



THIS WEEK'S MATCHES: #19 AND #20
(Second Round Matches #3 and #4):
“Bulldog” Bob Brown & Marty Jannetty vs. Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi
Ole & Arn Anderson vs. The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda)

The 1985 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament is underway. Wait, did you just say 1985? It’s time to take a look at one of wrestling’s biggest events from the mid-80s and see what it might have been like with a few historical alterations. What if Jim Crockett Promotions hosted its tag team tournament the Crockett Cup in 1985 and included teams from promotions outside the National Wrestling Alliance (“NWA”) including the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), All Japan Pro Wrestling, and more? In this case, you’d have 48 of the greatest tag teams in the world battling in a winner take all tournament for $1,000,000 and the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Trophy. 

The first round saw 16 teams competing to advance to round two with eight teams making it in. Now, these eight teams will battle the 16 top-seeded tag teams that received a first-round bye. As we saw in round one, some wrestlers are willing to bend or break the rules in order to get closer to the $1,000,000 prize so expect the unexpected as round two begins.

Second Round Rules: Here are the rules for the round two of our tournament. A pool of referees from the NWA, AWA, and WWF have been appointed for the tournament and randomly selected for each match. The second-round matches have a forty-five-minute time limit and are sanctioned under NWA rules (throwing an opponent over the top rope is an automatic disqualification). The matches are one fall with a win obtained by a pinfall, submission, count-out, or disqualification. 

The second-round matches are being held over two nights. The first eight matches will take place took place at the Richmond Coliseum on Saturday April 13. Bob Caudle and David Crockett are calling the matches tonight. The remaining eight matches in round one take place at the Asheville Civic Center on Sunday April 14. Last time around, the Russian Team of Ivan and Nikita Koloff defeated Blackjack Mulligan and Chief Wahoo McDaniel, but not without controversy as the Russians got an assist from a steel chain. In match two, the Rock-n-Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) scored a decisive win over the Mega Maharishi and Kendo Nagasaki. As we head into the next two matches of round two, keep in mind that these titanic teams are battling for more than just bragging rights—they’re competing for the prestigious Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Trophy and a cool one million dollars.

The next two matches in round two pit four incredible teams. In our first encounter, Ole and Arn Anderson will battle Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda while the second one pits Marty Jannetty and “Bulldog” Bob Brown against Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi.

Gordon Solie is backstage with the U.S. Express, Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda. Solie says he’s followed their careers since their time in Florida and that they look better than ever. There are a lot of teams to watch, but Windham and Rotunda are two young lions who he thinks could go all the way. Barry Windham thanks Gordon for his kind words and he said while it’s good to be back in the Mid-Atlantic area, it’s distressing to see there are still teams like Ole and Arn Anderson taking shortcuts to get ahead. He promises he and Mike are going to remind them you don’t have to cut corners to win. Out of nowhere, Arn Anderson smashes Mike Rotunda in the back with a chair as Ole Anderson clips Barry Windham in the right knee. Gordon stands back as Ole holds Windham’s leg, and Arn comes down hard on it with the chair. Ole grabs the microphone and tells Gordon “That’s not a shortcut, that’s the Anderson way!” Arn and Ole start brawling with Denny Brown, and Rocky and Don Kernodle who run out for the failed save. However, when Johnny Weaver, Jimmy Valiant, Buzz Sawyer, and Sam Houston run out, the Andersons bid a hasty retreat. 

Johnny Weaver talks to Gordon Solie while Mike Rotunda helps Barry Windham to his feet. “The Dean of Wrestling” tells “The Dean of Wrestling Announcers” that this is another example of the carnage being caused by guys like the Andersons and the Koloffs. He says that the wrestlers like Dusty Rhodes and Magnum T.A. have to form their own group to deal with these gang tactics. 

Gordon sends things back to Bob Caudle and David Crockett who are seated at ringside. David says he can’t believe what he just saw. Things keep getting crazier and crazier in this tournament. Bob Caudle tells David they’re going backstage as NWA President Jim Crockett is waiting with an important announcement. 

Gordon Solie interviews Jim Crockett Jr. who tells Gordon he’s trying to keep his composure. He said there are a lot of guests from other promotions and he’s embarrassed by what the Andersons just did to the U.S. Express. Crockett announces that he’s fining the Andersons $10,000 each and he’s waiting for the ringside doctor to examine Windham’s knee. In the meantime, they’ll run the match between “Bulldog” Bob Brown and Marty Jannetty vs. Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi.

“Bulldog” Bob Brown and Marty Jannetty vs. Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi
Referee Jerry Calhoun gives each wrestler a quick look to make sure there’s no funny business like foreign objects then signals for the bell. Jannetty seems eager to get in, but “Bulldog” Brown is holding his hands up and starts the match against Antonio Inoki. Collar and elbow tie-up as Brown gets Inoki in a side headlock. Inoki tries to whip Brown into the ropes, but Brown isn’t going anywhere. Bob Caudle notes that Brown is built like a fire hydrant and he knows how to put the pressure on. Inoki starts to maneuver, moving to Brown’s side and then behind him as Brown finds Inoki slipping out. David Crockett says “What a reversal!” as Inoki escapes, applying a top wrist lock on Brown. Now, the pressure is on the Bulldog as Inoki guides his opponent towards Sakaguchi, tagging him in. Inoki holds Brown as Sakaguchi chops “Bulldog” then applies an armbar. 

Sakaguchi keeps the armbar on as Brown works to escape or reverse it. Bob Caudle says Brown is an experienced wrestler, but so are Inoki and Sakaguchi, and they have the size advantage. Brown continues his efforts to escape, finally reversing the arm bar and turning it into a hammer lock. Brown leverages Seiji into his corner and tags Jannetty. Brown and Jannetty whip Sakaguchi into the ropes and they hit a double back-drop on their foe. Elbow-drop by Brown followed by one by Jannetty as Brown goes to his corner, beating Jerry Calhoun’s five-count. Jannetty drops a knee across Sakaguchi’s head then picks him up, hip tossing him into the corner. Sakaguchi gets up and walks into a dropkick from the future Rocker. Jannetty whips Sakaguchi into the ropes and goes for a back body-drop, but Sakaguchi gives him a boot to the head for his trouble. 

Sakaguchi is looking to regain the momentum and whips Jannetty into the ropes, but Jannetty rolls out of the way of Sakaguchi’s attack and bounces off the ropes with a cross body-block. Cover on Seiji, but he kicks out at two. Jannetty drops an elbow on his opponent, but no one is home. Sakaguchi whips Jannetty into the corner and charges in, but Jannetty raises a knee, Victory roll by Jannetty but once again Sakaguchi kicks out at two. David Crockett says Jannetty is using his speed to keep the pressure on his opponent and if Seiji Sakaguchi slips, he may find himself out of the tournament. 

Jannetty picks Sakaguchi up and whips him towards Bulldog Brown, but Sakaguchi reverses, sending Marty towards Antonio Inoki. Inoki moves quickly as Marty crashes into the corner and Inoki holds Jannetty as Sakaguchi charges in with a running knee. Inoki and Sakaguchi hit a double suplex on Jannetty as Inoki follows up with the Inoki Driver. Things are breaking down fast as Jannetty is on his back. Inoki climbs to the top rope and hits a flying knee on Jannetty, covering him as Bulldog Brown comes in, only to be intercepted by Sakaguchi. While Brown and Sakaguchi exchange blows, Jerry Calhoun counts Jannetty’s shoulders down for the 1-2-3. 

Winners: Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi.

Referee Jerry Calhoun raises Inoki and Sakaguchi’s arms in victory while Bob Brown checks on Marty Jannetty. 

Gordon Solie. is backstage with Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda. Windham’s knee is bandaged up. He says he might be a bit banged up, but the Andersons are going to pay. Rotunda tells Gordon the Minnesota Wrecking Crew tried to put out their fire, but they’ve started an inferno instead. 

Ole and Arn Anderson vs. the U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda)
Referee Sonny Fargo doesn’t get a chance to do his pre-match preliminaries as Windham and Rotunda charge the Andersons, with Barry slugging away at Ole and Mike laying in to Arn. The U.S. Express start getting the upper hand as Rotunda whips Ole into the ropes and dropkicks him, sending him through the ropes. Windham whips Arn into the ropes and hits an elbow to the chest. Rotunda hip tosses “Double A” into the corner as Barry walks towards the babyface corner. Sonny Fargo motions for the bell to ring, starting the match. 

Rotunda doesn’t waste any time and applies a deep armbar on Arn, but Anderson is close enough to the ropes that he reaches it forcing a break. Ole has made it over to the heels’ corner and looks ready for action. David Crockett says the U.S. Express are hot and looking for revenge. Bob Caudle reminds David they can’t let the Andersons get under their skin and throw off their game plan. Arn throws a punch at Rotunda after he breaks the armbar, but Rotunda fires back, knocking Arn down. Rotunda picks him up and slams him down hard onto the mat before bouncing off the ropes and dropping an elbow. Rotunda picks up Anderson and whips him towards Windham, who is waiting to tag in. Tag to Barry as Rotunda holds out Anderson’s right arm. Windham comes off the second rope with a double axe-handle as Arn writhes in pain. Barry whips Arn into the ropes and hits a shoulderblock, knocking Arn down. Snapmare on “The Enforcer” as Barry applies a chinlock to Anderson. Arn works his way to the ropes again as Bob Caudle points out Anderson’s good ring awareness. David Crockett points out that Windham isn’t slowing down as Windham whips Arn into the ropes, hitting a dropkick. Another whip into the ropes, but this time Arn hangs onto the ropes and Barry dropkicks thin air, crashing to the mat. Arn tags in Ole then drags Barry towards the heel corner. 

It’s time for the Andersons to perform some unwanted ring surgery. Dr. Arn provides an assist by placing Barry’s taped knee on the bottom rope while Dr. Ole drops his own knee onto it. Jerry Calhoun tells Arn to get back to his corner so he does, jumping out of the ring, grabbing Barry’s bum knee, and smashing it onto the ring apron. Calhoun warns Arn to get back to his corner as Ole continues targeting Barry’s tender knee. Ole drops an elbow to Barry’s right leg as David Crockett says this is the classic Anderson strategy—take a body part and make it useless. 

Bob Caudle says David’s got that right as Ole stomps at Barry’s bad leg, tagging in Arn.    
Barry’s woes continue as Ole holds Barry’s right leg down while Arn drops a knee down. David Crockett says you don’t see many uncle and nephew teams in wrestling and Bob Caudle points out that Ole and Arn are cousins. David isn’t so sure and Bob admits there is some confusion about that before reminding David of the uncle and nephew team of Rip Hawk and Ric Flair. David quickly changes the subject and notes what a terrific team the U.S. Express are. 

Arn runs over towards Rotunda and punches him, leading to Mike running in and referee Jerry Calhoun ordering him back to his corner. Rotunda protests and as he does, the Anderson’s double-team Windham, with Ole exiting the ring, grabbing Barry’s right leg, and slamming it into the steel ring post. David Crockett implores the referee to turn around and he does, just as Arn pins Barry. Two-count, but Windham apparently isn’t done yet. Arn goes to bodyslam Barry, but the wily Windham rolls him up for a small package…1, 2, Arn kicks out. 

Barry gets up as Bob Caudle points out Windham seems unable to put any weight on his right leg. Anderson punches Windham but Barry fires back. Barry fights back, slugging away at “Double A,” but Anderson is close enough to Ole to make the tag and Ole comes in, kneeing Windham in the back. The Andersons start stomping away at Barry and Rotunda has enough, entering the ring and dropkicking Ole into the corner then dropkicking Arn out of the ring. Rotunda goes out after Arn, slugging away at his foe. 

Back in the ring, Windham is brawling with Ole, with neither man getting the advantage until Ole kicks Barry in his bad wheel. Ole goes for a suplex, but Windham blocks it, hitting a swinging neckbreaker out of nowhere. David Crockett says that’s a move you don’t see very often from Windham, but Bob Caudle says at this point, Windham needs any weapon available in his arsenal. Cover on Ole, but he kicks out at two. Outside the ring, Rotunda and Arn continue to brawl while Barry continues punishing Ole. Arn gets the upper hand for a moment when he whips Rotunda into the post, but “Double A” is clearly running on fumes and he leans against the mat apron. Back in the ring, Barry lifts Ole up for a suplex but his right knee buckles and Ole falls on top of him hard. Ole covers Barry but Windham gets his leg on the bottom rope. However, “The Enforcer” knocks it off before the referee sees it and Ole gets the 1-2-3.

Winner: Ole and Arn Anderson

Ole rolls out of the ring as he and Arn head to the back. They’re going to round three while the U.S. Express are headed back to the WWF. 

NEXT UP:
Join us next time as round two of the tournament continues with Jim Cornette’s Midnight Express (“Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and “Loverboy” Dennis Condrey) taking on Jimmy Hart’s Hart Foundation (Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) and the PYT Express (Norvell Austin and Koko Ware) taking on “The High Flyers” (“Jumping” Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne). Stay tuned wrestling fans as the quest for tag team immortality continues!

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PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS FANTASY SERIES
Tournament Announcement
Seedings and First Round Pairings Announced  

SECOND ROUND
Second Round: Matches 1 & 2 (Tournament 17 & 18)
     Mulligan/McDaniel vs. The Russians
    Rock & Roll Express vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki
Second Round: Matches 3 & 4 (Tournament 19 & 20)
    Brown/Jannetty vs. Inoki & Sakaguchi
    Ole & Arn Anderson vs. Windham/Rotunda)

FIRST ROUND
First Round: Matches 1 & 2
    Hennig/Blackwell vs. Mulligan/McDaniel
    Tyler/Whatley vs. Maharishi/Nagasaki
First Round: Matches 3 & 4
    Windham/Rotunda vs. Bockwinkel/Saito
    Rougeaus vs. Inoki/Sakaguchi
First Round: Matches 5 &6
    Barbarian/Graham vs. Hart Foundation (Hart/Neidhart)
    High Flyers (Brunzell/Gagne) vs. Savage/Poffo
First Round: Matches 7 & 8:
    The Von Erich vs. Blanchard/Abdullah the Butcher
    Tenryu/Tsuruta vs. The British Bulldogs
First Round: Matches 9 & 10:
    Graham/Blair vs. DiBiase/Williams
    Valiant/McGraw vs. Lawler/Dundee
First Round: Matches 11 & 12:
    Piper/Orton vs. Patterson/Fernandez
    Rock & Roll RPMs vs. Youngblood Brothers
First Round: Matches 13 and 14:
    Dynamic Duo (Gino & Chris) vs. American Starship
    Sawyer Bros. vs. Steamboat/Snuka
First Round: Matches 15 and 16
    Batten Twins vs. Fabulous Ones
    Weaver/Houston vs. Sheepherders

Bob Armstrong Passes Away

Bob Armstrong with his son Brad
Georgia Championship Wrestling 1982
Reunited.

Our heartlfelt condolences to our friend Jillian on the death of her grandfather, and to all the family and friends of "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. Rest in peace.

****

My first vivid memories of Bob Armstrong were from the Knoxville territory in the mid-1970s under a mask as the Georgia Jaw-Jacker. 

 

My fondest memories though, are of him as the foil to Roddy Piper in early 1982 on Georgia Championship Wrestling, including an angle with his son Brad. They brought that feud simultaneously to the Mid-Atlantic area, too, and it headlined several Mid-Atlantic towns off the exposure it had on the Superstation.

 

Another cool moment was Bob appearing as the surprise partner of his son Brad against Jimmy Garvin and Bill Dundee on WTBS World Championship Wrestling the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 1986. 

 

Those are just three small memories of what was nearly five decades of wonderful memories Bob Armstrong gave to his many fans. Rest in peace. - DB

It is with a very heavy heart we announce the passing of our Father and @WWE Hall of Famer “Bullet” Bob Armstrong. Information regarding funeral arrangements will come at a later date.

— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) August 28, 2020

Masked Superstar: The First Twist of the Turn

by David Chappell
Mid-Atlantic Gateway 

August of 1980 would see a gradual change developing in one of the Mid-Atlantic area’s most feared “bad guys,” the Masked Superstar. From the Superstar’s first stint in Jim Crockett Promotions that began in September of 1976 through about six months of his second stint in the territory that began in the winter months of 1980, there was no hint that the masked marvel would be gravitating towards becoming a “fan favorite.” 

The Mid-Atlantic wrestling television tapings that took place at the WRAL TV studios in Raleigh, North Carolina on August 13, 1980 would in hindsight, provide the first clues that the Superstar would be turning into a “good guy.” The first TV show taped that evening, the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling television program, didn’t seem to offer much out of the ordinary. On that show, Superstar teamed with fellow rulebreakers Greg Valentine and the Iron Sheik for an easy win. But it would be the second show taped later that night, World Wide Wrestling, that would provide the first twist in the turn to come.

The Superstar had a match earlier in the World Wide Wrestling show against young Brett Wayne, and came out in the show’s final segment for an interview with announcer Rich Landrum. Joining the masked man on the set were the NWA World Tag Team Champions Ray Stevens and Jimmy Snuka, along with their manager Gene Anderson. From the get-go, something seemed amiss during this interview segment.

Anderson immediately took control of the interview, extolling the virtues of his team, then claiming, “The Superfly and the Crippler, the greatest and the best World’s Champions that have ever held the belts!” At that time, Landrum turned toward the Superstar, but Stevens immediately cut in and asked Landum why his announcing partner, Johnny Weaver, wasn’t asking him questions. Stevens bellowed, “You know, I’d like to ask you a question. How come you come out here and interview us? Why doesn’t Johnny Weaver come out here and interview us sometime? I’d like to slap him right across the mouth! What’s the matter with him, doesn’t he have any guts?”

Rich responded, “I don’t think that plays a part in it in an interview…you want to come out and tell us how great you are.” Stevens then proceeded to tell the viewing audience that he and Snuka along with manager Gene Anderson were an unbeatable combination. Landrum answered, “It’s difficult to compete with a three-man team like that.” 

At that juncture Landrum attempted to bring the Superstar into the interview saying, “Superstar…” But Gene Anderson cut in immediately saying, “Hold it, hold it…” before Superstar could even get in a word. Anderson continued, “Jimmy, show ‘em that body! Flex that body, show ‘em that belt!” Gene continued extolling the virtues of Snuka’s physique and Stevens’ knowledge and experience, which Ray readily agreed with. 

Stevens then asked, “What do you think Superstar?” The masked man only got out, “I was just going to say…” before Stevens interrupted him and explained, “Well, I’ll tell you what, they [Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood] don’t have a chance! There’s nobody that can compare to us, the athlete that Jimmy Snuka is, the wrestling that I know, and like I said with our main man [Gene Anderson] behind us right here, nobody’s gonna come close to beatin’ us.” 

A clearly frustrated Landrum then stated, “You know ya’ll are fine champions [but] I’d like to talk to the TV champion the Superstar about…” Surprisingly Landrum was then cut off by Snuka, who rarely spoke but on this occasion blurted out, “We wanna talk about these belts!” Anderson immediately picked up where Jimmy had left off reeling off the names of the area’s good guys and shouted, “You don’t have a chance, you get that through your head, you don’t have a chance and if any of you people want to sign a contract with the World’s champions, you just put your names on the dotted line and I’ll sign ‘em and I’ll have ‘em in the ring.”

Landrum again engaged the Superstar saying, “Superstar, you…” before Stevens butted in and bellowed, “If they wanna pay the price to try and win this [belt], they have to pay dearly with PAIN, and I mean a lotta pain because my partner and I enjoy hurting people and that’s exactly what we do.” Ray continued on about that subject and when he finished, Rich took a final stab at bringing the Superstar into the segment saying, “Super, I’d like to hear from you.” The Masked man replied, “It’s about time, I’d like to…”

At that instant there was a commotion on the set with the floor manager coming over to Landrum, whispered something in his ear which Landrum followed up on by explaining, “I’m sorry, they took all the time. Well fans, as always, too short on time [so] that’s it for this week, look forward to seeing you next week right here on World Wide Wrestling.”

Over the next couple of weeks, several more circumstances continued to push the Superstar towards a “good guy” turn, including showing compassion for Brett Wayne during another television match with him after a clothesline maneuver clearly hurt the youngster, and holding back Greg Valentine to keep the sides even when Blackjack Mulligan and Valentine’s friend Bobby Duncum had a dust-up on TV.

Superstar’s good guy turn was completed at the beginning of September 1980 when Anderson came out to the TV interview area and again interrupted the Superstar’s interview, leading to Anderson hitting the Superstar with his cane and soon thereafter the Superstar turning the tables and breaking the cane on Anderson and throwing Stevens through the air onto Snuka. In his interview after that incident, Superstar pointed to the interview interruption on August 13th as a big component of his turn to the good side.

The Masked Superstar had a solid run as a good guy, winning the NWA World Tag Team Titles with Paul Jones on Thanksgiving night of 1980 and then again in early 1981 before leaving the Mid-Atlantic area for good in the late spring of 1981. And looking back on it, the good guy persona of the Masked Superstar was born because of the disrespect shown to him during an otherwise normal interview segment at the end of the August 13th World Wide Wrestling taping…the first twist of the turn.

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: January 1, 1983

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 as well as links to the Mid-Atlantic Championship Podcast, visit our TV Summary Index.


Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Original broadcast: 01/01/83
(taped 12/29/82 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network Direct Link to this show Mid-Atlantic 01/01/83
WWE Network feed.   [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.]

Match 1
One Man Gang & Paul Jones (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Mike Rotundo & Jimmy Valiant
Stu Schwartz is the referee for the hour. Caudle notes that Mike Rotundo defeated Leroy Brown on Christmas to win the TV title. Anytime Valiant came in, his Network overdub music played for a moment. No idea why. Valiant is able to handle Gang. As the referee becomes distracted by seemingly nothing at all, Jones trips Rotundo. Gang follows with a big splash for the win.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Bill Apter
Apter is in studio. Caudle holds a copy with Bob Backlund on the cover. Apter has the Inspirational Wrestler of the Year award. It goes to Roddy Piper, but Piper isn’t there to accept it. Caudle throws it to a TV clip from Flair and Valentine destroying Piper’s face from the 12/04/82 episode. Caudle then throws it to taped comments from Piper, recorded from the World Wide set. This is recent, as Piper’s face is healed. Piper says this isn’t the first time someone took a shot at him, but this will be the last time for you (Flair).

As a side note, Apter appeared at a taping that morning in Tampa for Championship Wrestling from Florida. He presented Barry Windham the Most Improved Wrestler of the Year. And yes, Apter wore the same outfit on both shows.

[Break]

Match 2
Bruiser Brody d. Vinnie Valentino
Wow, Bruiser Brody in studio. All Bruiser, winning with a knee to the throat.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Mike Rotundo
Caudle says what a Christmas present for Rotundo to win the TV title. Rotundo thanks the fans in Charlotte, and all the babyfaces who supported him. Valiant showed him how to fight guys. Valiant comes out with a hug and kiss. The Network overdub drowns most of it out.

[Break]

Match 3
Tommy Gilbert d. Don Kernodle by reverse decision DQ
This is Gilbert’s first appearance, at least for this run. Caudle is impressed with Brody. Gilbert makes a fight of things, with some reverse kicks. But, Kernodle utilizes a top-rope clothesline, and finishes Gilbert with the Cobra Clutch. Kernodle refuses to break. Steamboat comes in and jumps off the top rope to lay a chop on Kernodle. Kernodle scatters and the referee officially reverses the decision.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Don Kernodle; Paul Jones, One Man Gang and Sir Oliver Humperdink
Kernodle says Slaughter couldn’t be there because he is meeting President Reagan at the White House. He complains about Steamboat interfering in his match. Their goal in 1983 is to put them out for good.
Humperdink is sporting a bandage on his head. He talks about how his House will take care of Jimmy Valiant, Roddy Piper and company. Jones says the House of Humperdink is not dad.

[Break]

Match 4
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco d. Jim Dalton & Ken Timbs
Jack works a long period of mat wrestling with Dalton. Jerry works on Timbs’ leg. Timbs is back in a singlet this week. Jerry forces Dalton to submit to the Figure Four. Timbs tries to make the save, but Jerry comes in and rolls him up.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco
This is in lieu of local promos. Jerry says it’s a thrill to team with his brother. Jack says the House of Humperdink is crumbling. He talks about One Man Gang and Bruiser Brody arriving. They will run them off. He is glad Youngblood is back, and thinks he and Steamboat will win the tag team title. Then, the Briscos can challenge for it. Jerry also mentions Dory Funk, Jr.’s $100,000 challenge. Jack says he’s beat him before.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jack Brisco
Brisco holds a Polaroid of Piper and a fan, Gerard. Brisco talks about the House of Humperdink, but they’re ready.

Match 5
Rick Steamboat d. Masa Fuchi
Fuchi works on Steamboat’s left arm. Caudle says his use of the Kiwi Roll reminds him of Abe Jacobs. Steamboat breaks free, and eventually hooks on the Octopus hold (although it is not called that) to secure the submission.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Ricky Steamboat
Steamboat talks about the ways of Slaughter and Kernodle and their run-ins. He says they need to fight fire with fire. Kernodle comes out and asks Steamboat “in a nice way” to get out of there. Steamboat doesn’t. Steamboat wears a shirt that says “Great Hawaiian Punch.” Kernodle tears Steamboat’s shirt and we have a brawl going on. Credits start rolling. Caudle is still calling the action. Steamboat gets the better of it.

Caudle closes it with “Fans we’ll see you next week.”

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

Note: As we start a new year, a review of the champions at the star of 1983:
NWA World Heavyweight: Ric Flair
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight: Jack Brisco
United States Heavyweight: Greg Valentine
TV: Mike Rotundo
World tag team: Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle
The Mid-Atlantic tag team champions were unofficially discontinued by Oct. 1982.
 

Jim Crockett Promotions ran man towns on a weekly basis: Fayetteville, NC and Greenville, SC on Mondays; Columbia and Raleigh on Tuesdays; TV taping in Charlotte and Sumpter, SC on Wednesdays; and Charleston, SC on Fridays. Many other cities ran every two-, three- or four weeks: Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheville, Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke, and many others I’m sure I’m leaving out.

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

Results for the week, 12/27/82-1/02/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 12/27/82 Greenville, SC; Greenville Memorial Auditorium
Mark Fleming beat Ken Timbs
Keith Larsen beat Jim Dalton
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Bruiser Brody & Gene Anderson
Jimmy Valiant beat One Man Gang by DQ
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle

Tue., 12/28/82 Raleigh, NC; Raleigh Civic Center
Bruiser Brody d Pork Chop Cash
Mike Davis d. Ricky Harris
Jimmy Valiant d. One Man Gang [listed on ad as John Gray]
Paul Jones d. Jerry Brisco
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight championship: Jack Brisco d. One Man Gang [sub. for Jos LeDuc]
Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle d. Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood

Tue., 12/28/82 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
King Parsons beat Jim Dalton by referee’s decision
Ben Alexander beat Frank Monte
Mark Fleming beat Ken Timbs
Johnny Weaver draw Tommy Gilbert
Mike Rotundo beat Gene Anderson
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Roddy Piper & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ric Flair & Greg Valentine

Wed., 12/29/82 Charlotte, NC; WPCQ-TV studio
Paul Jones & One Man Gang beat Jimmy Valiant & Mike Rotundo
Bruiser Brody beat Vinnie Valentino
Tommy Gilbert beat Don Kernodle by DQ
Jack & Jerry Brisco beat Jim Dalton & Ken Timbs
Ricky Steamboat beat Masa Fuchi
Ricky Steamboat beat Frank Monte
Tommy Gilbert beat Ken Timbs
Mike Rotundo beat Masa Fuchi
Bruiser Brody beat Mark Fleming
Jack & Jerry Brisco beat Ben Alexander & Jim Dalton

Wed., 12/29/82 Sumter, SC

Thu., 12/30/82 Norfolk, VA
King Parson beat Bill White
Pvt. Nelson beat Porkchop Cash
One Man Gang beat Johnny Weaver
Sweet Brown Sugar & Jimmy Valiant beat Bruiser Brody & Dory Funk, Jr.
Sgt. Slaughter beat Ricky Steamboat by DQ
Jimmy Valiant beat Jos LeDuc by countout
Roddy Piper & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ric Flair & Greg Valentine

Fri., 12/31/82 Richmond, VA

Sat., 1/01/83 Charlotte, NC; Charlotte Coliseum
NWA World Champion Ric Flair beat Roddy Piper
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Greg Valentine beat Bob Orton, Jr.
Johnny Weaver, Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Pvt. Nelson, Paul Jones & Gene Anderson
Abdullah the Butcher & Jimmy Valiant beat Jos Leduc & One Man Gang
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Dory Funk, Jr.
Tommy Gilbert beat Ricky Harris

Sun., 1/02/83 Roanoke, VA; Roanoke Civic Center
Frank Monte beat Mark Fleming
Tommy Gilbert beat Ricky Harris
King Parsons & Porkchop Cash beat Masa Fuchi & Gene Anderson
Jimmy Valiant, Sweet Brown Sugar & Abdullah the Butcher beat Dory Funk, Jr., Paul Jones & One Man Gang
Roddy Piper & Bob Orton, Jr. beat Ric Flair & Greg Valentine

Sun., 1/02/83 Asheville, NC; Asheville Civic Center
Mike Davis beat Ken Timbs
Johnny Weaver & Jerry Brisco beat Pvt. Nelson & Jim Dalton
Mike Rotundo beat Dizzy Hogan
Jack Brisco beat Paul Jones
Jay Youngblood beat Pvt. Kernodle
Ricky Steamboat beat Sgt. Slaughter by DQ

Sun., 1/02/83 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Frank Monte beat Ricky Harris
Vinnie Valentino beat Bill White
Tommy Gilbert beat Masa Fuchi
Jimmy Valiant & Abdullah the Butcher beat Gene Anderson & One Man Gang
Greg Valentine beat Bob Orton, Jr.
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle by DQ
NWA World Champion Ric Flair double DQ Roddy Piper

Vindication: The Heel Turn of Chief Wahoo McDaniel (Part 4)

The Story of the Heel Turn of Chief Wahoo McDaniel (Part 4)
The Finale: Part Four in a Four-Part Series
by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Catch up on the earlier parts of this series:
PART ONE: Wahoo's Black Saturday
PART TWO: The Conspiracy
PART THREE: The Awesome Twosome

As summer turned to autumn in 1984, the "Awesome Twosome" of Wahoo McDaniel and Tully Blanchard were blazing a trail of terror through the Mid-Atlantic area, but it became clear that Wahoo wasn't interested in long term tag team action. He wanted his U.S. title back. The NWA held up the belt back in August and Jim Crockett Promotions had been dragging its feet on figuring out how the whole situation between Wahoo and Ricky Steamboat would be settled. Each wrestler made a credible claim to the title.

Eventually, the decision was made not return the title to either Wahoo or Steamboat, and the issue would be resolved in a tournament to be held in Charlotte, NC on October 7, 1984.

Charlotte had hosted a United States title tournament once before, back in October of 1981 when Jimmy Snuka won the honors after, interestingly enough, Wahoo McDaniel had been stripped of the same title under questionable circumstances in a wild feud with Roddy Piper that involved Abdullah the Butcher. The fact that the title had been taken from him again and put in a tournament obviously angered and frustrated the Chief, and he made that point abundantly clear to David Crockett and Bob Caudle on the two JCP television programs.

THE TOURNAMENT
Initially sixteen wrestlers were entered in the tournament. Barry Windham, one of the original 16,  defaulted by no-showing the event, having left days earlier to enter the World Wrestling Federation.

The tournament featured three wrestlers from outside of the territory. Superstar Billy Graham came in from Florida and Carlos Colon flew in from Puerto Rico. The third outsider was Manny Fernandez, who had arrived full-time a few weeks earlier and who would stay with the promotion for the next several years.

The Charlotte card was part of a huge weekend for Jim Crockett Promotions. The night before in Greensboro was the big “Starrcade Rally” show, with a concert and autograph signings, and where announcements of the big matches would take place for the upcoming mega-event Starrcade ’84. Originally, the card was to have been the launching point for a big push for Barry Windham, who had recently arrived to the territory from Florida. Instead, Barry and his father, Blackjack Mulligan, jumped ship to the World Wrestling Federation. The defection left a big hole in Jim Crockett’s long-term plans moving forward.

History will never know for sure what the original plans for the tournament were and how the departure of Barry Windham might have affected them. There seems little doubt that the finals would have come down to Windham and Wahoo McDaniel, building toward a title match between the two at Starrcade ’84. However, it’s less certain who would have won that final match in the tournament had Windham stayed with Crockett.

The likelihood is that Wahoo McDaniel would still have won this tournament, which would have set up Windham winning the U.S. title from him at Starrcade ‘84. Windham had been introduced on television in early August as having signed the most lucrative contract in pro-wrestling history (!) with Jim Crockett giving him the keys to a brand new sports car as well. He was clearly in line for the huge push, and would have no doubt been the top contender in the area for Ric Flair’s NWA world championship, just as he had been in Florida over the last couple of years. The other less likely possibility was to put Barry over strong by having him win this tournament and then defeat Wahoo again at Starrcade.

Manny Fernandez assumed Barry Windham’s spot in the tournament. He defeated Superstar Billy Graham and reigning TV champion Tully Blanchard before eventually losing to McDaniel in the  finals.

Wahoo defeated former tag-team partner Mark Youngblood, as well as Mike Rotundo, and  finally Fernandez on his way to his 5th United States championship.

 First Round Matches
• Wahoo McDaniel defeated Mark Youngblood
• Mike Rotundo defeated The Assassin #1 (Jody Hammilton) by DQ
• Ivan Koloff defeated Brian Adias
• Dusty Rhodes defeated Don Kernodle
• Superstar Billy Graham defeated Carlos Colon by count-out
• Manny Fernandez received a bye when Barry Windham defaults
• Tully Blanchard defeated Jimmy Valiant
• Ricky Steamboat and Ron Bass wrestled to a draw – Both eliminated

Second Round Matches - Quarter Finals
• Wahoo McDaniel defeated Mike Rotundo
• Dusty Rhodes and Ivan Koloff double-DQ – Both Eliminated

• Manny Fernandez defeated Superstar Billy Graham via DQ
• Tully Blanchard received a bye due to Steamboat/Bass draw.

Third Round Matches – Semi Finals
• Wahoo McDaniel received a bye due to the Rhodes/Koloff double DQ

• Manny Fernandez defeated Tully Blanchard

Final Round – Tournament Championship
• Wahoo McDaniel defeated Manny Fernandez to win the U.S. Championship

Needless to say, after Wahoo had regained the title by winning the tournament, he was on cloud nine and cocky as ever. But you really couldn't blame him. It had been a long, hot, controversial summer, and he had finally been vindicated.

Wahoo went on to defend the U.S. title Thanksgiving night at Starrcade '84, soundly defeating Superstar Billy Graham. As 1984 came to a close, a new challenger appeared on the horizon.  Magnum T.A., having just arrived from the Mid-South territory, quickly established himself as the number one contender for the United States Championship and eventually defeated Wahoo for the title in a dramatic moment on "World Wide Wrestling" taped March 23, 1985 in Charlotte.

THE SUNSHINE STATE
Wahoo immediately left the Mid-Atlantic area after the loss to Magnum, and became the booker for the Florida territory, as well as its number one popular star. When he entered the sunshine state, he left his "bad guy" days behind him.

Later that summer, Dusty Rhodes would recruit Wahoo to return to the Mid-Atlantic area for a few select appearances over the next months. He asked Wahoo to be his partner against Tully Blanchard and his paid henchman Abdullah the Butcher.  Wahoo sent in a tape from the set of "Championship Wrestling from Florida" asking Dusty for his forgiveness and his trust, and telling him he would be there if he needed him. Wahoo received a heroes welcome when he did return.

In the early fall, Wahoo returned once more to team with Dusty and Magnum in their battles with Tully Blanchard and the Andersons, only a few months before the latter would join NWA Champion Ric Flair and form the Four Horsemen.

Originally posted 5/1/20 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway 

 

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

For more on the history of the United States title, check out our book "Jim Crockett Promotions' United States Championship."

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

Series Breakdown:

Part One: Wahoo McDaniel's Black Saturday

Part Two: The Conspiracy Against Wahoo McDaniel

Part Three: The Awesome Twosome

Part Four: Vindication (This Article)

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

Happy Anniversary

Twenty years ago today - - August 24, 2000 - - I uploaded the very first posts to the Mid-Atlantic Gateway. That was at the old midatlanticwrestling.net address. (Our old site is still archived there.) Then in 2015, we moved over to the blogging format that you see now. 

David Chappell and I would like to thank all of you for following along with us over the past twenty years as we continue our look back at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions.

Hopefully, twenty more years to come!

- Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway